Smith and Wigmore shoot to the top

Two female PGA Professionals – at contrasting stages of their career – were both celebrating after sharing the honours in the fourth event of the WPGA One Day Series at Kedleston Park.

Newly-qualified Hayleigh Wigmore (Mid Sussex GC) and former Ladies European Tour regular Anna Smith (The London Golf Club) both shot level par 73 to top the leaderboard ahead of Order of Merit leader Suzanne Dickens (Nene Park), Fern Grimshaw (Wessex Golf Centre) and Katrina Holford (Chase Golf Club), who carded one-over-par 74s.

It was a first win of the season for both, with 22-year-old Wigmore recovering from a double bogey on the short par-three 16th to close eagle-birdie to bring a share of the spoils.

The finishing flurry also secured Wigmore an automatic spot in the PGA-supported Ladies European Tour Access Series event at Stoke by Nayland in September, following a card countback.

Wigmore, who having completed her three-year PGA Foundation degree, was playing her first WPGA event of 2013 and is now looking to compete at every opportunity.

“I really enjoy playing the One Day Series events and will play as many as possible around my schedule of playing LETAS events,” she said.

“LETAS events take up quite a lot of time along with the travelling but I am also trying to play as many on the WPGA series and do well on the Order of Merit.

“I’m playing the next one in Salisbury and will also be having a go at Women’s British Open qualifying, which will be an achievement if I get in.”

Reflecting on the dramatic finale to her round, Wigmore added: “I took the wrong club on 16 and left it short and just struggled from there.

“I then hit a good drive and seven iron on 17 to leave me a putt for the eagle and then got the birdie on the last to finish level.

“My score could’ve been better as I didn’t drop many putts despite playing pretty well.”

As for Smith (pictured), she is enjoying being back on the competitive scene having taken a break due to motherhood.

The 42-year-old mum of two, aged six and four, whose round comprised of four birdies and four bogeys, said: “This is my first year back having taken the time off playing to have children.

“It’s really good to be back out there playing and with a completely different outlook to how I used to be when I was on Tour.

“Now it’s more about going home and telling the kids how I’ve done rather than how I’ve done for myself.

“I’m enjoying competing and it has given me fresh motivation.

“It’s nice to win, I scrambled very well, but I don’t have any big plans. It would be nice to qualify for the LETAS event at Stoke by Nayland and maybe finish in the top five on the Order of Merit.”

The next WPGA One Day Series event is at Salisbury & South Wilts Golf Club on Tuesday July 2.