There they took on the challenge of pairs from five other regions and triumphed.
For Michelle it was a winning return, for she reached the final once before just after achieving her first handicap. Since then she has also won the English women’s Par 3 championship.
“I had always wanted to come back,” said Michelle, a 20-handicapper. “When I played in it for the first time we were really disappointed not to win so to be able to return and win is absolutely amazing.”
Tara, whose 16th birthday fell on the day of the South West regional final, was making her first appearance at this level and has been inspired to return home and work hard on her 19 handicap.
The Australian Spoons final is played alongside the last day of the English Women’s County Championship and Tara said: “Watching the girls playing here makes me want to get my handicap down.”
The runners-up were Lisa Hawkins and Sophie Tester of Sedlescombe Golf Club in Sussex, representing the South region. Third place on countback was taken by Megan Allen and Miyako Williams of Newark Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, representing Midlands North.
The competition is contested with pairs with handicaps of 15 and over. The finalists were all the overnight guests of England Golf.