The outstanding success of Oxfordshire girls in winning the South Eastern County Championship is the culmination of an astonishing rise of girls golf in the county.

Less than ten years ago, Oxfordshire were incapable of raising a girls team on their own and provided few members of a combined BB & O side.

Now, they have an outstanding array of talent who recorded a memorable 5-2 victory over mighty Surrey in the final at Woburn.

Zoe Humphris, of Lyneham, won her match at the 20th hole, while Oxon's other victories came from the Frilford Heath trio of team captain Jane Binning, Jo Corkish and Narelle Ives, plus Henley's Sarah Owen-Pawson.

Samantha Round (Tadmarton Heath) and Lyneham's Debbie Bishop battled hard before losing.

Margaret Chaundy, Oxon's junior girls organiser, said: "It was an outstanding victory and a surprising one against Surrey, who started firm favourites."

Chaundy praised her predecessor, Barbara Round, whom she succeeded in July, for the transformation of girls golf in Oxfordshire.

"Barbara did wonders in bringing all the girls together. She also appointed Nesta Woolford as training officer, which was another important factor in this success story."

This triumph should not be a one-off as Barbara's daughter, Samantha, whose handicap has plummetted to 12 in the past year, is only 14 and can play in this team for another three years.