Laura-Jane wins English Schools U16 title
22 July 2005

Fifteen-year-old Laura-Jane Mabley completed a rare double for Hampshire when she won the NASUWT English Schools’ U16 girls’ championship by three shots.

Her triumph, at Leighton Buzzard, came just weeks after county colleague, 13-year-old Katie Thompson, won the NASUWT English Schools’ National championship at Trentham.

Now Laura-Jane will join Katie in the English Schools’ team for the annual international against Wales at Moseley Golf Club on August 31.

Laura-Jane (Dunwood Manor) won her title with rounds of 77 and 80 on a tight golf course and playing in strengthening winds.

Her closest challengers were Oxfordshire’s Katherine O’Connor (Tadmartin Heath) and Katie Thompson (Corhampton) who both shot 160. Katherine was runner-up on countback.

The shot of the day was played by Lincolnshire’s Holly Clyburn, 14, (Kenwick Park), who had a hole-in-one on the 14th in the afternoon round. It helped her into seventh place.

All four girls are members of ELGA squads and part of the Sport England, lottery-funded World Class training programme.

Leading scores (CSS am 73, pm 72):
157 Laura-Jane Mabley (The Toynbee School, Hampshire) 77, 80.
160 Katherine O’Connor (Warriner School, Oxfordshire) 80, 80; Katie Thompson (Swanmore Technb College, Hampshire) 79, 81.
161 Heidi Baek (Heath Primary School, Suffolk) 80, 81.
165 Lizzie Over (Vale of Ancholme, Lincolnshire) 86, 79; Alice Ruane (Lady Manner, Derbyshire) 84, 81.
166 Holly Clyburn (Humberstone School, Lincolnshire) 85, 81.

Photograph by Paul Jenkins

Laura-Jane Mabley