LINDA Carruthers has been crowned Gloucestershire Ladies golf champion.

The Broadway ace defeated Charlotte Ellis 2 and 1 in last Sunday's final on the Cheri-ngton Course at Minchin-hampton New.

A busy three days started last Friday on the Cherington Course where Carruthers carded a round of 75 to claim the morning gross honours and book her place in the knockout stages.

The matchplay format pitched Carruthers against Sue Worthington who was easily swept aside 8 and 6 by her Cotswolds opponent who then faced Clare Durbin in the quarter-finals.

Again, Carruthers was in fine form and a 5 and 3 success saw her safely into the last four where she faced Sian James in Sunday morning's semi-final.

The match again didn't get past the 15th green after the Broadway golfer eased to a 5 and 4 success to book a date with home member Ellis who had overcome defending champion Jo Hodge earlier in the day.

The final turned out to be a classic contest, littered with birdies from both players.

Ellis was one up after nine holes, but a tremendous tee shot on the par three tenth that ended three feet from the pin yielded a birdie to Carruthers and left the match all-square.

The 11th hole was halved before the host club player found the trees with her drives on the next two holes that left Carruthers two up.

A fine birdie on the 14th then left her three up with four to play and it looked as though a match of exceptionally high standard was going to end all too quickly for the spectators!

However, Ellis birdied the next and the battle continued as another birdie saw the Cotswolder's lead trimmed to one as the players reached the 17th tee.

Both players found the green in regulation but Ellis's putt to halve the hole, and continue down the 18th, lipped out, leaving Carruthers to hole a short putt to claim the prestigious title.

Inevitably, the new champion was named in the county's first team squad for winter training alongside Ellis, Hodge, Durbin, James, Hannah Barwood, Sharn Heeley and Leah Occleshaw.