County of the Year 2026

Cheshire are the 2026 English Women's County Champions! Match report and photos to follow. Congratulations Team Cheshire!

Great day for Cheshire Junior boys Pryors Hayes Golf Club provided a great stage for some top talent in Cheshire Boys u16 and u14 age groups to show their skills. They provided a challenging course, good support for all of the players and county officials on and off the course. There was some great golf on the course admired by host club Lady Captain Linda Heaher who complimented the players on their talent and quality of play. The players also brought great credit to Cheshire, their clubs and parents for the immaculate way they conducted themselves on and off the course and showing great respect for the host club, county officials and fellow players- with great friendship throughout a long day. The top prizes were for the Top u16 and 14 gross scores and the best net score. The early pace was set by James Gilsenan (Chorlton GC, who had won his club’s Championship a few days previously as he posted a gross 73. Some of the lowest handicappers were in the later starters and James’ lead score was overtaken by Tom McCann (Hazel Grove) 72 and Jack Barnes (Romiley) 71, But the sting in the tail in the last group with Shane Clayton (Delamere Forest) posting a superb 68 to take the u16 trophy. In the u14 section the winner with 77 was Aidan Lam (Prestbury), one less than Ricky Mohun (Delamere Forest). The final prize for the best net score was won by Oscar Smith (Stamford) who celebrated his ninth birthday the day before the final. Oscar was probably the smallest as well the youngest player ever to win this section with an excellent net score of 67. The prizes were presented by Linda Heaher who also received a County Plaque from Cheshire Boys manager Andrew Henshall. Linda gave well deserved thanks to everyone who made this another special day for junior golf in Cheshire.

Cheshire are through to todays final v Yorkshire! Day 3 of the Women’s National Championships delivered all the drama as Cheshire showed incredible grit, talent and determination to battle back and secure a vital 4½ game points against a talented Kent side. After a tough morning, it was county stalwarts Lauren Jones and Emily McBurney who earned a crucial half point in the foursomes – a result that would prove invaluable by the end of the day. The afternoon singles began with Cheshire needing at least one match point from a drawn contest, and with matches finely balanced across the course it was impossible to predict how the afternoon would unfold. First blood went to Cheshire thanks to victories from County Champion Morgan Bollan and Mellor & Townscliffe’s Lauren Jones, putting the pressure firmly back on Kent. Kent responded with a point of their own, leaving everything resting on the final three matches. One of those had reached dormie four… That player was Heswall’s former English Amateur Champion, Lucy Jamieson. Lucy mounted an incredible comeback, reeling off birdies and eagles over the closing holes to keep her match alive, while Wallasey’s Sophie Clafton battled superbly in a tense, nip-and-tuck encounter. Sophie secured a priceless half point against a very strong Kent opponent, but with scores filtering through it looked as though Cheshire had agonisingly fallen just short of Friday’s final. Lucy had other ideas. Spectators suddenly turned to see Lucy standing in the 18th fairway – her match was still alive. A superb approach shot, followed by a near back-to-back eagle, secured another vital half point for Cheshire. Suddenly, just one more win from the final match would be enough to clinch the overall contest. Step forward Becky McGeehan from Chester Golf Club. The calm and composed Becky had quietly and superbly played her way into a two-hole lead standing on the 17th fairway, before sealing victory just as the Cheshire posse came racing back across the course to cheer her home. What a moment. What a comeback. What a team. Good luck to the team in today’s all-Northern final against Yorkshire. Let’s finish what you started! 💙💛

Monday 27th July saw the Northern Counties League match between Northumberland and Cheshire Boys at Wychwood Park Golf Course. Our hosts at Wychwood were magnificent and the course was in excellent condition with a lot of run on some very dry fairways but the greens were well tended and provided perfect surfaces. The course is well laid out in acres of land and with water on many holes to catch an errant shot an ideal location for a matchplay event. The morning started well with wins in the foursomes for Jack Barnes and Jack Tennant (5&4), Ben Davies and Will Furness (1up), Callum Woolley (3&2) and Lennon Smith & Jasper Hughes (2&1). But the afternoon saw Northumberland come roaring back winning 3 and drawing 2 of the first 6 matches, with only Captain Matty Griffiths coming out ahead (7&6) in these matches. However, wins by Lennon Smith (4&3), Jack Tennant (4&3) and Ben Davies (5&3) gave us an afternoon score of 5:5 and an overall victory of 9:6. Thanks to John Heggarty who was superb in his encouragement both on the practice round on the Sunday and throughout the matches on the Monday. Team Manager Andrew Henshall said “He was now looking forward to the remaining 2 matches against Lancashire and Yorkshire with much more confidence after overcoming a very good Northumberland side”. These matches take place on Monday 10th August at Stamford when supporters of the Boys team will be most welcome, and at Wheatley near Doncaster on Monday 17th August.

Day 2 of the English Women's County Finals and Cheshire Women have done us all proud with a 7-2 win over Dorset. A great performance by players, caddies, officials and supporters.