Foursome achievement at Three Rivers

The Rule of Six was in danger of being invoked in the WPGA One-Day Series at Three Rivers Golf Club as no fewer than four players occupied pole position at the tournament’s close.

The quartet comprising Keely Chiericato, Anna Smith, Katie Rule and Ellie Brown posted three-over-par of rounds of 77 in what was the penultimate event in this year’s truncated series.

And on a day full of what might have beens at the Essex course, not least for three of the four on the final hole, Chiericato (above) had most cause for reflection.

The pro from Manston Golf Centre in Kent who won the Series in 2018 looked on course to claim outright victory when she teed-up on the par-four 18^th.

She was a shot clear of the field and, given what happened to her rivals on the hole, a bogey would have been sufficient to win the tournament.

However, a missed putt from close range that followed an expertly executed chip from just off the green resulted in a costly double bogey.

Similarly, the London Golf Club’s Anna Smith, who led the tournament at the halfway stage on level-par, and Ellie Brown of Barnham Broom Golf Club recorded bogeys when a par would have sufficed.

Conversely, Rule (above), who represents Mendip Spring Golf Club, gate-crashed the crowded winners’ enclosure by being the only member of the four to negotiate the hole in regulation.

All of which meant each earned £218.75 in prize money and five Order of Merit points.

As a result, Smith, who tied-first with Heather MacRae in the previous event at Kedleston Park, goes into the final tournament at Wrotham Heath Golf Club later this month leading the Order of Merit.

But only just. She is 2.70 points clear of Chiericato and three ahead of Maria Tulley who did not play at Three Rivers.

Full scores are accessible here

The Order of Merit is accessible here

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• The PGA
• WPGA One-Day Series