Alice Barlow of Hintlesham retained the Churchman Challenge Cup as Suffolk Ladies’ champion for the third successive year.

She beat Suffolk county captain Vanessa Bell 2 and 1 in the final at Woodbridge.

Barlow had a straightforward 5 and 4 semi-final victory over Amanda Norman. Bell had to battle to the fifth extra hole to beat a tenacious Abbie Symonds.

While Barlow had plenty of time to relax, Bell had the shortest of breaks before going back on the course once again. She held a narrow lead round the turn but perhaps exhaustion played its part. She won the Lady Eddis Silver Box as runner-up.

Symonds won the Berendt Handicap Jug and will be a key Suffolk player in East County Week.

The first round of the match play went according to form. It was in the quarter-finals that Norman beat Lottie Whyman 3 and 2 in a match that looked hard to predict.

Suffolk Ladies are sponsored by Detmar Hackman of Sabona, who was present to watch the final.

Bell, whose time on the course recently has been restricted by her new job with the Golf Foundation, won the Woodbridge Challenge Bowl as the 2018 Suffolk Ladies stroke play champion on Friday.

She had rounds of 76 and 77 to finish on 153, one ahead of Barlow who had 78 and 76 so had to settle for the Maggie Ivor-Jones Plate.

Third place with 156 went to Amanda Norman with 80 and 76.

The highlight of Norman’s round was an eagle at the par five 14th.

Lottie Whyman, one of the favourites, had an eight at the second in the morning which spoiled her chances. Her second round showed a 10-shot improvement.

Lils James had successive birdies at the eighth and ninth in a second round of 77.

As expected the seven county squad members of last year took the first seven places. With 17 in the field one of which was no return, everyone qualified for the match play.

Fiona Edmond, the English Senior Ladies’ champion, missed the Suffolk event to keep fresh to defend her national title at The Hallamshire this week. She has been suffering from an elbow injury.

Suffolk’s younger players found it tough. Georgia Parker’s dreams of keeping up with the established county players was dealt a blow with a 15 on the 303-yard fourth hole of her first round.

Fiona Stokes, who travelled with the Suffolk team for East County Week at Hunstanton last year, was on the back foot after taking seven at both the third and fourth holes in the morning.

Molly Newson had an eight at the fifth and 10 at the 17th which made recovery difficult.

Whyman, one of the favourites, had an eight at the second in the morning which spoiled her chances while Symonds dropped five shots on holes six and seven in her first round.

Suffolk Ladies’ Golf

Match play

First round: Bell beat Jing Steward 10 and 8, Trudy Read beat Samantha Annis one up, Lils James beat Molly Newson 5 and 3, Symonds beat Georgia Parker 8 and 7, Norman beat Fiona Stokes 5 and 4, Whyman beat May Bird 3 and 2, Sharon Luckman beat Sam Cooper 3 and 1, Barlow beat Elizabeth Bezance 3 and 1.

Quarter-finals: Bell beat Read 7 and 5, Symonds beat James 2 and 1, Norman beat Whyman 3 and 2, Barlow beat Luckman 3 and 2.

Semi-finals: Bell beat Symonds at the 23rd; Barlow beat Norman 5 and 4.

Final: Barlow beat Bell 2 and 1.

Stroke-play Championship (Woodbridge Challenge Bowl) at Woodbridge:

153: Bell (Ipswich) 76 77. Maggie Ivor Jones Plate: 154: Barlow (Hintlesham) 78 76. 156: Norman (Felixstowe Ferry) 80 76. 158: James (Bungay) 81 77, Symonds (Ipswich) 81 77. 160: Whyman (Ipswich) 85 75. 162: Sharon Luckman (Ipswich) 82 80. 175: Trudy Read (Rushmere) 88 87. 183: Samantha Annis (Stowmarket) 89 94.184: Sam Cooper (Bungay) 96 88. 185: May Bird (Fynn Valley) 94 91.186: Newson (Thorpeness) 93 93. 187: Parker (Bury St Edmunds) 99 88.188: Elizabeth Bezance (Bury St Edmunds) 94 94, Stokes (Haverhill) 98 90. 207: Jing Steward (Hintlesham) 99 108. No return: Jude Hanner (Felixstowe Ferry) 100 nr.

Suffolk Ladies’ Senior stroke-play: 82: Jane Darling (Stowmarket). 86: Anne-Marie Fosker (Felixstowe). 87: Vicki Hunt (Ipswich). 89: Lottie Edmunds (Aldeburgh). 92: Tanya McGregor (Bungay). 93: Irma Suttle (Woodbridge), Lynne Barrett (Hintlesham), Helen Lavis (Aldeburgh), Mariette Robertse (Bury St Edmunds) and Linda Warner (Woodbridge). 95: Sheila Jarvis (Felixstowe Ferry). 96: Judy Taylor (Rookery Park). 104: Sharon Davey (Fynn Valley). 109: Alison Nielsen (Bungay). 112: Ann Graves (Woodbridge) and Jane George (Rookery Park).

Senior match play: Semi-finals: Edmunds beat Darling 5 and 4, Hunt beat Fosker 8 and 7. Final: Hunt beat Edmunds 4 and 3.