Huddersfield’s Megan Lockett is the new Yorkshire Ladies Champion.
The Welsh Girls Matchplay champion claimed the prestigious title at Ganton last Sunday – but not without an almighty battle.
And it’s a tribute to the strength of local women’s golf that seven of the 16 qualifiers for the matchplay rounds were from Huddersfield and District – many of them are friends who have grown up and trained together.
Megan got off to a shaky start, qualifying in 12th position after what she described as “some serious bunker issues” in the notorious Ganton sand traps.
Other local qualifiers were Melissa Wood, Woodsome Hall, Olivia Hamilton, Cleckheaton, Harriet Richardson, Huddersfield, Megan Clarke, Cleckheaton, Hannah Holden, Lightcliffe, and Rochelle Morris, Woodsome Hall
In the first matchplay round Megan was one up with one to play against friend and rival Olivia Hamilton, of Cleckheaton, where Megan’s father, Warren, is club professional.
Olivia birdied the 18th to square the match. However, the Huddersfield teenager dug deep and won on the first extra hole.
She had to dig even deeper in the second matchplay round against Skipton’s Lucy Eaton. Megan was looking odds-on for victory at 2up with two to play when Lucy birdied the 17th and eagled the 18th.
The women had a gargantuan tussle, each scoring birdies and pars before Megan eventually fought her way through on the 22nd hole.
Dad Warren was on the end of the phone helping bolster confidence before the matchplay rounds and then turned up at Ganton last Sunday for the finals and a last-minute pep talk and coaching session.
It did the trick.
Greenhead College student Megan, 18, beat top qualifier Holly Morgan, of Lees Hall, 1up, in the semis.
She went on to beat veteran campaigner Emma Brown, Malton and Norton, 2&1 in the final.
It was sweet revenge – Emma had beaten Megan by exactly the same margin in the final at Bradford two years ago.
Megan said: “I am still stunned by my win.
“The quality of golf in the matchplay rounds was really high, but I struggled in the beginning and was disheartened with my game.
“I chatted with my dad on the phone and we know that I can get stuck in at matchplay, work hard and turn it around – and that’s what I did.
“It was the same with the Welsh Girls, I got off to a slow start there, as well.
“I’ll definitely be defending my title next May; the Championship is at my home club.
“Women’s golf is really strong in this area and lots of them know the Huddersfield course, so there will be some tough competition.”
After her A levels, Megan hopes to study Sports and Exercise Science at Birmingham University.
