Lauren Taylor ended her eight-year quest to claim the first victory of her career as a professional by winning the Hurlston Hall Women’s Championship.
And in banishing the metaphorical elephant from the room or dislodging the monkey on her back, the year two PGA Trainee did so decisively.
Given the length of her trophy drought and the lucrative prize on offer, it would have been understandable had the 27-year-old scrambled across the finishing line to claim that elusive first win and £4,250 winner’s cheque.
However, her six-under par negotiation of the Lancashire course left the remainder of the 54-strong field fighting for the runner’s up berth.
It was filled by two of them: Emma Allen, winner of the inaugural OCEANTEE WPGA Assistants’ Championship at Kedleston Park in July, and Lauren Horsford.
They posted three-under par totals of 69 to finish three shots shy of the winner and each earn a slice of £2475 from the £20,000 prize fund.
In doing so, Horsford matched Taylor’s tally of seven birdies but four dropped shots before landing the first of them proved terminal to her prospects of victory.
Allen (above), who signed off with a flourish by recording back-to-back birdies, was left to reflect on what ifs after bogeys cancelled out two of the three birdies she recorded on the front nine.
Taylor, meanwhile, experienced no such setbacks, aside from a solitary bogey at the par-four 17th, by which time she was effectively home and hosed.
“There weren’t really any anxious moments,” reflected Taylor, a regular competitor in the LET Access Series who represents Northampton Golf Club.
“I was pretty happy with 66. I made a lot of putts and played really well. I tried to keep going and make as many birdies as possible.
“It’s my first professional win, so when I was playing the last few holes my aim was to get the job done. I’m very happy I did.”
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