Great Britain and Ireland teed up for final day shoot-out

29/10/2022

Great Britain and Ireland go into the final round of the Women’s PGA Cup on terrain once trod by legendary gunfighters Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp facing a shoot-out of the golfing kind.

Another collective display of determination, skill, and refusal to be cowed by the elements or challenging course has earned Sarah Bennett’s team the right to contest their own High Noon in the third and final round at Twin Warriors Golf Club, New Mexico.

And with just two shots spanning the three leading teams in the tournament, a tense and exciting showdown is in prospect.

Defending champions USA are a shot clear of Canada and two ahead of Great Britain and Ireland after the three scores that counted in the five-strong team resulted in an aggregate five-under par return.

That left the hosts and tournament favourites on one-over and represented a big improvement on their first day which saw them close on six-over, five shots off the lead.

Great Britain and Ireland, by contrast, were relative paragons of consistency. With Alison Nicholas (above) leading the way, they are on three-over having started on two-over.

Nicholas, who was Bennett’s wildcard selection, justified her captain’s faith with a two-under par round of 71.

Back in the land where she achieved her greatest individual triumph – winning the 1997 US Women’s Open – Nicholas came within a whisker of a hole-in-one at the par-three 15^th and was supported by the duo whose scores counted in round one - Suzanne Dickens and Heather MacRae.

Dickens posted a one-over par 74 while MacRae followed up her opening round of three-under with one of two-over.

That three-under from the Scot was matched on day two by the hosts’ Stephanie Connelly-Elswerth and is the joint-best for the tournament.

MacRae’s was achieved in far more testing conditions that were not replicated in the second round, however.

“It was nowhere near as windy today, but it was very cold,” said Bennett. Thankfully we were well-prepared for that although we were grateful for the blankets provided by the the PGA of America.

“As for the golf – Ali and Suzanne played really well but again this was a team(above) effort. We were a bit unfortunate insomuch that several putts didn’t drop but everyone played their part.

“More of the same is needed in the final round. We’re really up for it and the competition’s format means things can change really rapidly.

“Two-shot swings are common-place, so anything is possible.”

Great Britain and Ireland: Sarah Bennett (captain), Suzanne Dickens, Ali Gary, Heather MacRae, Alison Nicholas MBE, Jess Smart.

Team scores: ; USA +1, Canada +2; Great Britain and Ireland +3; Australia +18; Sweden +24; South Africa +66

CLICK HERE for a full list of individual scores