LAURA Johnson celebrated her 24th birthday this week by successfully defending her title of Bolton Lady Champion at her home club.

Bolton Old Links Golf Club hosted this year’s Bolton Championship Week where the best lady golfers in Bolton battled the elements, and their fellow competitors, to decide the winner of the Preston Scratch Trophy.

The gales and rain throughout much of the week added to the challenges, with a number of competitors unable to complete their rounds in the Tuesday ancillary competition as they struggled with trolleys which were blown over in the wind.

Despite the weather, the competitors for the Trophy and Ladies Senior competition played impressive golf with many close matches.

The final of the competition was a tough contest between Laura and Karen Sawyer, also from Old Links, who seemed impervious to the conditions and had even reduced her handicap on Monday.

Her birdie on the 16th in the morning semi-final was repeated in the afternoon final and the match looked set for extra holes until Laura played a delicate chip to the 17th to clinch the match and the title.

Hilary Hibbert from Turton was successful in a hard fought match, wresting the title of Bolton Ladies Senior Champion from Rita Towler of Harwood Golf Club.

Turton Golf Club also featured strongly in the ancillary competitions, as winners (Val Hinchley/Elaine Hayes/Lynda Brawn) and runners up (Shirley Holland/Pat Laverick/Gwen Gregory) in the Tuesday team event.

The Turton team of Jenny Jones/Sue Mc Neill won the Thursday Greensome, with Elaine Hamer and Judith Lydon of Bolton Old Links as the runners up that day.

In total, over 150 ladies took part in this popular week and many thanks were expressed by Madam President of the Championship, Janet Hewitt, to Bolton Old Links for their hospitality.

Dunscar have kindly agreed to host the 2016 Championship week.