TALENTED Ulverston player Natasha Slater has been crowned Cumbria Ladies County Golf Association champion.

The 17-year-old Ulverston Victoria High School Sixth Former edged out her club-mate Sarah Cousins to take the title.

Slater made up for the disappointment of being a beaten semi-finalist in last year’s county championship as she played consistently excellent golf throughout the three-day festival at Kendal Golf Club.

It was Cousins who shone on the first morning in the County Strokeplay Championship as she posted a superb Gross 71 round.

Unfortunately the weather on the first afternoon turned very wet, but that didn’t spoil too many cards, and Cousins – wife of Ulverston club professional Alyn – managed to hang on to her morning lead, to win the Strokeplay Championship with a score of 71-76=147.

Day two saw the sun shine brightly for the Matchplay pairings, with Cousins overcoming Rosie Waller (Kendal) and Natasha Slater beating Katie Sibley (Carlisle).

Joining them in the semi-finals were Abby Roper (Seascale ) who beat Nic Wood (Windermere/Gosforth Park) and Girls Championship winner Harriet Barker, of Carus Green, who defeated Rebecca McIntyre (Carlisle ).

The final day’s competition saw two very exciting semi-finals take place, with Cousins beating Roper on the 20th hole in a game which could have gone either way.

Slater just edged her way in front against Barker, and despite her opponent sinking a 40-foot putt on the 15th for a birdie to take the match down the 16th, it was the Ulverston and former England under-16s international who kept her cool and tasted victory.

Spectators were treated to some great golf in the final, even though the conditions had become very windy. In a match full of birdies Slater just managed to get herself in front once again and held onto her lead. Cousins was unlucky to hit her drive on the 15th just out of bounds, and she eventually conceded the hole and the match to her club mate.

Not surprisingly, Slater and Cousins have both been included in the county team for the upcoming Northern Counties Match Week at Morecambe Golf Club from June 19 to 23.

Cumbria team: Natasha Slater (Ulverston); Harriet Barker (Carus Green); Sarah Cousins (Ulverston); Abby Roper (Seascale); Katie Sibley (Carlisle); Hannah Smith (Silloth); Mel Temple (Seascale); Caitlin Whitehead (Kendal); Nic Wood (Windermere); Ellie Broome and Yolanda Metcalfe (both Kirkby Lonsdale) – non-travelling reserves.