Well, it’s not every day you witness history on a golf course, but that’s exactly what happened at the England Captains Final.
Picture this: a balmy day at Woodhall Spa, the revered Hotchkin Course looking as intimidating as ever, and 78 hopefuls teeing off with dreams of glory.
Yet, by the time the last putt was holed, only one name was on everyone’s lips—Sylvia Kempsell.
Yes, you read that right. Super Sylvia, as she’ll now forever be known, became the first woman ever to win the England Captains Final.
At 71 years young and with a handicap of 27, she navigated the course like a seasoned general, racking up 42 Stableford points.
It wasn’t a walk in the park, mind you. She clinched the title by a single point over Ian Smith, who had the kind of round that would normally have seen him lifting the trophy. But there’s no normal when Sylvia’s around.
Ian, playing off a 12 handicap, was no slouch either. He tallied 11 pars and even birdied the par-5 18th with a flourish that would have made most pros jealous.
But golf, as we all know, is a cruel mistress. A double-bogey on the tricky par-4 16th was his undoing, and while he finished with a commendable 41 points, it wasn’t quite enough to stop Sylvia’s march into the history books.
Let’s not forget the other contenders who were hot on their heels. Three players finished with 40 points, but Chris Chisnall from Berrington Hall took third place on countback, thanks to a strong finish on the back-nine.
He outpaced Martin Neal of The Players and Paul Vass from Bungay & Waveney Valley, who were left wondering what might have been.
The England Captains Final isn’t just another golf tournament; it’s a gathering of the best and brightest from across the country’s clubs, an exclusive community of past and present club and county captains and vice-captains.
And this year’s event didn’t disappoint, proving once again why it’s been a staple of the golfing calendar since 1973.
The 2024 season saw players teeing off at some of the finest courses in the land, and judging by the buzz, the 2025 series is going to be even bigger.
With 15 top-tier venues, including Silloth on Solway, Moortown, Saunton, and Purdis Heath, already on the schedule, it’s clear that the England Captains Final is only going from strength to strength.
If you fancy your chances or just want to be part of this elite group, now’s the time to get involved.
The England Captains programme is open to both men and women and with more than 5,000 active members, it’s a community that celebrates the love of the game at its finest.
