Marie Allen hailed the calming influence of her caddie as she captured the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship – bringing an end to Tracy Loveys’ three-year dominance.
Bag man – and boyfriend – Tom Martindale, proved to be the cool hand on the tiller for Hatfield-based Allen, who consolidated her position at the top of the leaderboard.
A second round four-over-par 77 over the PGA National course at The Belfry, where conditions were much tougher than the first round due to the wind, was more than enough for the 31-year-old to take the title by four shots from Loveys (Bigbury), who carded a 78 for an eight-over-par total.
The victory in the £5,000 championship, which saw Allen scoop a cheque or £1,000, was just reward for having put more effort into her golf this season after being encouraged to take it to a more competitive level by Martindale.
“Without Tom and the support he’s given me, who knows what might have happened,” said Allen. “He first started coming with me last year and he said there’s no point competing if you’re not going to take it seriously so he has been a massive influence and it’s fantastic he is here to share it with me.”
Allen ended with a bogey at the last but it was not enough to deny her victory and bring an end to Loveys’ three-year reign as champion.
The deposed title winner, who collected £800 said: “I’m disappointed. I was one-under for the day through 12 and had it going well and then I had three double bogeys in the last six holes, so naturally I’m disappointed.”
Huddersfield’s Alexander Keighley was third at 10-over-par after a second round 77.
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