AMELIA Taylor retained her title in the annual Bury and District Golf Association Ladies’ Championship at Pike Fold Golf Club.

In the final, the Harwood golfer beat club-mate Clare MacLeod 4&3 to keep hold of the crown she won 12 months earlier at Bury Golf Club.

Taylor and MacLeod qualified on Sunday, June 10 to proceed to Monday night’s semi-finals.

In the first semi-final, MacLeod faced Rossendale lady captain Bev Dodd in a match that was closely fought until the 11th hole.

MacLeod then won that and the 12th to take a lead she never surrendered as she progressed to the final with a 2&1 triumph.

In the second last-four tie, reigning champion Taylor faced Breightmet’s 15-year-old Ellie Looker.

It was an extremely close affair with the match swinging back and forth with Taylor winning the match on the 20th hole.

This meant a final between two Harwood members – MacLeod a past ladies’ champion and Taylor the holder.

It was another tight match with nothing more than one hole in it until the turn came when Taylor birdied the 10th.

After a brief fightback by MacLeod, Taylor went on to win the match.

All ladies participating in the semi-finals should be commended for the manner in which they conducted themselves and the standard of golf they produced.

Nett prizes were awarded on the day for handicaps between 0 and 24 (Division One) and 25 to 36 (Division Two) to encourage more ladies to participate.

The nett prize winner in Division One was Angela Wilkinson, of Bury, with nett 73 and the Division Two winner was Josie Cordey (Rossendale), with nett 75.