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Alex Peters wins Abu Dhabi Championship
29 November 2009
England girl international Alex Peters swept away with the girls’ title at the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship presented by the Daily Telegraph. She was five-under par for the 54-hole event.
The 16-year-old from Notts’ Ladies beat par in every round and was five strokes clear of her closest challenger, Jess Wilcox of Blankney, Lincolnshire. The two players both shot three-under par 69 in the last round, which was the low score of the girls’ championship.
Alex was at the top of the leaderboard throughout the event at The Abu Dhabi Golf Club. After the first round she shared the lead with English girls’ champion Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) and Yorkshire’s Sophie Godley (Lindrick) after they all returned one-under 71. After the second round, Alex held a four shot lead after again scoring 71, while Holly and Sophie both returned 75.
In the final round Alex picked up an early birdie to extend her advantage before dropping a shot on the par five eighth. Meanwhile Jess Wilcox began her charge with a run of three birdies, overtaking other competitors and, at one time, getting within three shots of the lead. However, Alex moved further ahead with more birdies on the 13th and 14th.
This was Alex’s third appearance in the championship. The teenager is one of England’s leading young players and is a member of the English Women’s Golf Association’s top-ranking Performance squad. This season she was in England’s winning team at the Girls’ Home Internationals, successfully defended her title in the Fairhaven Trophy and reached the semi-finals of the British girls’ championship.
The boys’ title was won by Chris Lloyd of The Kendleshire. During the championship, European Tour player David Howell helped local professionals to coach UAE children in a junior clinic. This initiative was supported by The R & A’s development committee, as well as Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Emirates Golf Federation. The finalists also took part in a challenge match when they each partnered a local UAE junior in a betterball stableford.
Girls’ results
Par 216 (3x72)
211 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 71 71 69. 216 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 73 74 69. 219 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73 74 72; Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 71 75 73. 224 Sophie Godley (Lindrick) 71 75 78. 228 Georgia Hall (Ferndown) 74 74 80. 233 Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills) 74 78 81. 234 Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison) 74 83 77. 255 Michaela Chivers (Farrington) 83 85 87.
