Lancashire pair triumph in ‘Spoons’ final Lancashire golfers Karen Dunkeld and Vicki Heap teamed up to win the national final of England Golf’s Australian Spoons competition. They saw off the challenge of five other pairs – each representing an England Golf region – and won the stableford foursomes competition at their first attempt. Karen and Vicki, from Lancaster Golf Club, (Image © Leaderboard Photography) came through club and regional rounds to reach the final at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire where they scored 31 points. Second place went to Hilly Armitage and Sandra Bruce from Donnington Valley in Berkshire, while Angie Odera-Patel and Maritza Stitcher of Stanmore, Middlesex, were third. The competition is contested with pairs with handicaps of 15 and over.  “We are well chuffed,” said Karen, while Vicki added: “We’re so thrilled. We came with no expectations but the more we got into it the more we realised how good it would be to win.” Karen, who plays off 30 and Vicki, a 27-handicapper, both took up golf about five years ago – following their husbands. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” said Vicki while Karen added: “My husband used to go on a lot of golf holidays with his mates and I was left at home!” Now, the two couples are planning a golfing weekend together. The pair play together quite regularly and have found they can keep each other calm. “We don’t panic, we are quite chilled,” said Karen. Vicki added: “We just think every game of golf is different. We just give it a good try and do our best.” The Australian Spoons finalists, who were the overnight guests of England Golf, were: Karen Dunkeld and Vicki Heap of Lancaster Golf Club, Lancashire, representing the North Hilly Armitage and Sandra Bruce of Donnington Valley Golf Club, Berkshire, representing Midlands South Angie Odera-Patel and Maritza Stitcher of Stanmore Golf Club, Middlesex, representing the South Frances Johnson and Susan Filby of Ryston Park Golf Club, Norfolk, representing the East Linda Short and Jane Sugar of Portmore, Devon, representing the South West Aileen Kynoch and Abigail Chambers of The Nottinghamshire Golf Club, representing Midlands North Click here for the championship webpage Caption:  Karen Dunkeld (left) and Vicki Heap with the Australian Spoons Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193