Yorkshire golf: Sandra Paul edges Huddersfield club-mate Harriet Richardson to win Festival match play title

Huddersfield, Halifax and District Festival's match play winner Sandra Paul, right, and runner-up Harriet Richardson, both of Huddersfield.

Paul was up against Fixby team-mate Harriet Richardson, who had won the trophy for best gross score in qualifying, carding an impressive 81 in strong winds and rain showers.

At the eighth hole of the final, with Paul holding a one-hole lead, Richardson rolled in a 12ft putt for birdie only to be followed into the cup by her opponent's 10ft birdie putt.

The eventual champion then compounded the psychological blow at the next hole by putting her second shot to within a couple of feet for an eagle at the par-5. She went on to win 3&2.

"We both played some great golf," recounted Paul. "Harriet was a worthy opponent and I knew I had to play my best golf to beat her.

"I celebrated my 60th birthday in April and what a present this is. I am absolutely thrilled to be the champion for the fifth time and look forward to defending next year at Dewsbury."

Richardson commented: "I think the match was fairly up and down until around the 11th hole where I made a few mistakes and Sandra capitalised on this. We had a few holes where we halved with birdies so generally we both played very well.

"I was glad to be in the final with Sandra as we get on very well, but also it was quite odd playing against your team-mate. It definitely made me feel better about coming runner-up.

"Sandra is an extremely skillful and knowledgeable match play player. I was very pleased for her as I know how much it meant for her to win."

In the first round Paul had beaten Gill Travis, from Crosland Heath, 3&1, and in the semi-final defeated Lily Hirst (Outlane) 4&3.

Richardson saw off the host club's Debbie Berry in the first round 3&2 and won by the same score against another Meltham player, Carol Walker, in her semi-final.

Meltham's Sheila Mellor qualified first overall in the net competition and got through to the final where she lost narrowly to Sam Macfadzean (Bradley Hall).

In the Tri-Am event, Outlane won with 73pts, with Meltham runners-up through Mellor, Berry and Joan Birks with 71.

Meltham players also excelled in the Greensome competition, Pauline Hazelden and Pat Smith winning with 35 points from club-mates Helen Hilton and Bronwyn Todd, who totalled 34.