ULVERSTON teenager Natasha Slater claimed one of the biggest wins of her career, with victory at the English County Champion of Champions.

The 17-year-old Cumbria player triumphed in a weather-hit championship at Woodhall Spa to be crowned women’s champion.

Torrential rain flooded the greens on the Bracken course and the tournaments were reduced to 18 holes.

Slater was not surprised. The Ulverston Victoria High School sixth-former had looked at the weather forecast, and said: “I thought it might be good to start well.”

She did exactly that, shooting a two-under-par round of 70 to win by three shots.

Slater had, in her own words, an interesting round.

She started on the 10th and was two-under at the turn, helped by three birdies and one dropped shot.

On her second nine, she did not have a par, but her five birdies, three bogeys and a double brought her safely home.

“It was my last comp of the season and I wanted to get a good result, so it was nice to win,” Slater said.

“It’s one of the biggest events I’ve ever won so it’s really good – and really good for the county.”

Slater was not fazed by the weather, comparing it to the conditions she often finds at home, where she has played many rounds at Ulverston and on the links at Furness.

“I don’t mind, it makes it a bit interesting – and it’s just like being at home!” she added.

Slater’s closest rivals for the women’s title, on one-over par 73, were defending champion Catherine Roberts, of Pleasington, Lancashire; Megan Garland, of The Oaks, Yorkshire; and Gemma Allman, of Stanmore, Middlesex.