The final event of England Golf Week saw history being made as Surrey’s Sylvia Kempsell became the first woman to win the England Captains’ Grand Final.
The 78 qualifiers from 11 England Captains events staged in the early part of the summer gathered for the 18-hole final on the renowned Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, as Kempsell took the title.
Kempsell, who is a member at Leatherhead Golf Club, accumulated a total of 42 Stableford points to win by a single point from Ian Smith (playing off 12) representing Peterborough Milton.
The 71-year-old had booked her place in the final through the qualifier staged at Burhill in the first captains’ event of the season and carried on her good form into the final.
Six pars proved decisive as she scored points on every hole playing off a course handicap of 27.
Three players came in on 40 points, but it was Berrington Hall’s Chris Chisnall who snatched 3rd on countback thanks to 23 points on the back-nine, ahead of Martin Neal (The Players) and Paul Vass (Bungay & Waveney Valley).
England Captains is an exclusive membership community for past and present English club and county captains and vice-captains. The programme has been running since 1973, with more than 5,000 active members and is open to both men and women.
The 2025 England Captains Tournament Series will expand to 15 venues, including Silloth on Solway, Moortown, Saunton and Purdis Heath to name a few.