Issued 5th November, 2015

Partridge and Brown win England’s top senior spots for 2015 

Internationals Richard Partridge and Julie Brown have capped winning seasons by being named as England Golf’s top seniors for 2015. 

Partridge, the Irish and Scottish senior champion, and Brown, the British senior women’s champion, have each won their respective orders of merit. 

Brown, from Trentham in Staffordshire, scored a runaway win, amassing more than twice as many order of merit points as her closest rival, English senior amateur champion Helen Lowe. 

“I really wanted to win this, I was close last year and was pipped, so I’m very pleased,” she remarked.

The highlight of her season was realising a long-held ambition to hold a British title. “That was really special,” said Brown. “I always wanted to win a British title and I lost in the final of the British amateur in 1984 at Troon. So this did mean a lot to me – even though I had to wait a long time for it.” 

She added: “I also really enjoyed playing in the England team this year - I don’t think I have ever laughed so much, we had so much fun as a team.” They also had much success, taking the silver medal at the European championships and winning the Senior Women’s Home Internationals.” 

In addition Brown was runner-up in the English senior amateur, which she won in 2014, and tied fifth in the English senior stroke play. 

She has just completed her second year as a senior and her target is to keep on winning. “My goal is to do the same again next year, if I can, if it’s possible. I definitely want to win another title.” 

Richard Partridge, from Wildernesse in Kent, described his order of merit win as: “The pinnacle of a superb and very satisfying personal season. 

“To beat one’s fellow competitors and to be constantly to the fore throughout the season against some impressive foe is extremely gratifying and something of which I am very proud and I will be hoping to continue next season.” 

It was, he said, “a great and unexpected thrill” to win the Irish title and then to follow it up by winning the Scottish.  He was also runner-up in the Welsh championship, although he says that was the one which got away, having held a four-shot lead with eight holes to play. 

Partridge returned to the England senior team after an absence of a year and described his selection for the European championship and the Senior Home Internationals as “both a great honour and experience.”

Looking ahead, his priorities include trying to retain his titles and giving himself a chance of England team selection. He’d also like to regain the Kent senior title. “Consistent performance is the key to success and I will be doing my utmost to try and continue where this season has ended,” said Partridge. 

Leading final placings

Senior Women
1    Julie Brown (Trentham) 122187
2    Helen Lowe (Scraptoft) 54987
3    Lulu Housman (Wyke Green) 50570
4    Lindsey Shaw (Chevin) 47790
5    Caroline Berry (Bromborough) 41549
6    Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) 38421
7    Cath Rawthore (Sale) 24895
8    Aileen Greenfield (Pyecombe) 24300
9    Joanna Galway (Pyecombe) 18648
10  Janet Melville (Royal Birkdale) 18169

Senior Men 
1    Richard Partridge (Wildernesse) 87322
2    Ian Attoe (Worplesdon) 79320
3    Stephen East (Moortown) 59493
4    Alan Mew (Stoneham) 55271
5    Mark Stones (Boyce Hill) 50729
6    David Niven (Newbury & Crookham) 49159
7    Clive Jones (Golf de Toulouse Seilh) 40055
8    Keith Waters (West Byfleet) 37219
9    Andrew Atkinson (Windermere) 34478
10  Chris Reynolds (Littlestone) 29184

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