Sky-diving fan Suzanne Dickens was on cloud nine after she added the 2014 Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship title to her Order of Merit triumph.
The 42-year-old Thorpe Wood professional, who has a 13,000 foot jump lined up having achieved her aims for the year, eased to a seven-shot victory over Ormskirk’s Alison Gray in the premier women’s event on the PGA schedule at Blairgowrie Golf Club, Scotland.
Victory makes amends for her attempt last year when the Peterborough-based former Ladies European Tour player saw her bid hit by food poisoning.
But there were no such problems this year as she breezed to the title after carding a second round five-under-par 68 to lift the title and a cheque for £1,000.
Dickens admitted she was almost overcome by emotion after sinking an eagle on the par five 17th that ensured she could go down the last and take in the moment.
“I can’t believe I’ve won as it is something I have wanted to win and it has been one of my goals for the year,” said Dickens, who heaped plaudits on her caddie, and former pupil, for providing morale support.
“It means a lot as I’ve got a lump in my throat. When I was I was on the 18th green I had to get hold of my thoughts and concentrate on what I was doing as I could quite easily have burst into tears as I was that happy.
“It’s a really big tournament and everyone wants to win it. I’m just happy that I can get my name on the trophy.”
Dickens, who posted a first round level par 73, admitted the final round head-to-head with Gray was pivotal to her success.
“I had a great playing partner today as we spurred each other on,” she added.
“Ali had an awesome start going birdie, birdie and I was just like just keep doing your job and hitting your targets, pick up a few birdies as they’re going to come and luckily they did.
“Ali had a great back nine and got to within one shot and it was time to make a move. I had a couple of birdies and then an eagle on 17 and that gave me a lot of breathing space coming up 18 so I could enjoy the atmosphere.”
Having achieved her main aims for the year, Dickens is now plotting her next adrenaline rush – jumping from 13,000 feet.
“I’ve just got to get Forest Pines out the way next week and I can go and do my next sky dive which I’ve not been able to do as I didn’t want to risk injuring myself.
“I did a couple last year and really enjoyed it. My fiancé bought it for my birthday but said I couldn’t do it until after getting my golf tournaments out the way.”
WOMEN’S GLENMUIR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP at Blairgowrie Golf Club, 7-8 August 2014
Leaderboard – Final scores (par 73)
Pos Score Name Represents R1, R2
1 141 (-5) Suzanne Dickens Thorpe Wood GC 73, 68
2 148 (+2) Alison Gray Ormskirk GC 74, 74
3= 151 (+5) Claire Duffy Test Valley GC 80, 71
Catherine Panton-Lewis Berkshire GC 76, 75
5 153 (+7) Tracy Loveys Bigbury GC 77, 76
6= 156 (+10) Laura Harvey Cleveland GC 79, 77
Anna Smith London GC 77, 79
8 158 (+12) Sarah Walton Kington GC 81, 77
Image of Suzanne Dickens courtesy of Tony Marshall at Getty Images.
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