HELEN Braddock completed a remarkable return to the top of the Bolton golf scene following cancer when she won the Bolton Ladies Championship.

The 52-year-old Old Links player won the title five times – the last of which was in 2003 – before she was diagnosed with the disease.

After fighting back to health she reached the 2007 final when she lost to Grainne Pendlebury.

She met the same opponent in last weekend’s final at Bolton Golf Club, gaining revenge by snatching victory on the last hole against the Bolton member.

Braddock was overjoyed to end her eight-year championship drought, saying: “I was delighted to reach the final again and am really over the moon to have won.

“I was beginning to think my time had gone. This win means a lot to me.”

Braddock took the early initiative with a win at the first but immediately gave it back when Pendlebury won the second with a par.

It remained even with Pendlebury holding a onehole lead at the turn.

Braddock came back and two early wins on the 10th and 11th put her narrowly in front. The tenacious Pendlebury reduced the deficit and looked to be homing in on the title when she won the 15th to go one-up with only three to play.

However, Braddock hit back on the 17th where she found the green in two.

Pendlebury was short, leaving Braddock only needing a par to square the match.

The pressure told on Pendlebury as she found the trees from her tee-shot on the 18th and, failing to recover, it was left to Braddock to take advantage and win the last.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Braddock beat Gemma Hunter of Breightmet 4&3, and Pendlebury beat Carol Helme of Old Links 2&1.

In the seniors championship, Rita Towler of Harwood beat reigning champion Hillary Hibbert of Turton on the first extra hole to finish one-up.