AFTER a competition featuring more than 1,500 golf clubs from across the country, women from Warrington have emerged as the last team standing.

The seven-strong outfit from Culcheth-based Leigh Golf Club travelled to Spain for the concluding stages of the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic, and saw off Burntisland Golf House in the semi finals.

That earned them a decider against Bude and North Cornwall Golf Club, which they won to secure a momentous victory.

Team captain Mhairi Ferrol says the team are ‘still on cloud nine’ after returning home with the trophy.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have won this – it’s a dream come true,” she said.

“I don’t think any of us have come down from cloud nine yet.

“Going back into work was tough after getting home, but it was worth it for the experience we had.

“To go out and play in Spain was one thing, but to win the whole competition is just a remarkable achievement.

“When you consider there was more than a 1,000 teams that enterd the tournament in a straight knockout, that took some doing!”

After receiving a bye in round one, Leigh then ended the hopes of eight teams just to earn their place at the El Rompido course in Andalucia.

That sequence included a victory over Howley Hall in the quarter finals.

However, Ferrol says it was another victory that made them believe they could go all the way.

“We were drawn in the sixth round away to Formby, a prestigious club with lots of low-handicap players,” she said.

“I knew if we beat them then we’d have a great chance of winning the whole thing.”

They did exactly that, by 4-1.

In the semi finals in Spain, Leigh faced the tough prospect of Scottish champions Burntisland but came through a tight contest with a 3.5-1.5 victory.

The following day, Ferrol won her game 5&4 while inspiring her team to a 4-1 win over Bude and North Cornwall that secured the trophy.

“The whole experience made us feel like professional golfers,” Ferrol said.

“A lot of players at our level would only ever play in Spain on holiday, but to play in that environment was just memorable.

“We kept our focus throughout the whole weekend, making sure we had early nights, and it paid off in the end.

“Everyone back at the club was absolutely thrilled for us.”