Staff WriterThe Surrey Women’s County Finals have a new chapter in the history books, and it’s painted pink. At Selby Golf Club, Surrey were crowned 2025 English Women’s County Champions for the tenth time, but more importantly, for the first time since 2021. Five matches played, five matches won — a clean sweep that would make a laundromat blush.
The Pinkies marched through the week like they had dinner reservations, dismantling Northumberland (5-0), Somerset (4-1), Lincolnshire (4-1), and Norfolk (4-1) before saving their best for last. A final-day, winner-takes-all clash against Buckinghamshire ended the way all sporting stories should — with the underdog’s nemesis finally slain.
Last year, Surrey went unbeaten yet somehow watched Nottinghamshire nick the title on a technicality. This year, they weren’t leaving room for accountants.
“It feels pretty amazing,” said Surrey First Team Captain Katie Laud. “I’ve been playing for Surrey for 21 years and I never managed to win a county final, so for me personally it’s pretty amazing and I’m proud of the team.
“We went unbeaten last year and just lost out, so to come back this year, go unbeaten, and lift the trophy is extra special.
“We had a lot of motivation and our coach spent a lot of the year telling us we were going to get to the finals and lift the trophy, so to actually do this is pretty amazing.”
Standouts in Surrey’s march to glory
If trophies were handed out for nerves of steel, young England Golf Girls’ Squad member Annabel Peaford would already have a cabinet full. She secured five wins from five in singles — a perfect record that reads like Tiger Woods’ résumé from the early 2000s.
Her partner in pink, Issy Simpson, wasn’t far behind. Four singles victories and a foursomes success with Holly Justice put her firmly in Surrey folklore, and it was Simpson’s putt that officially sealed the title.
In the foursomes, Amelia Matthews and Lottie Woodham made the impossible look routine, delivering maximum points with three wins from three. Consistency wins championships, and this pair had it by the bucketful.
Youth and depth: Surrey’s secret sauce
Laud was quick to credit the conveyor belt of talent fueling the team’s success.
“We’ve had lots of girls chip in at different times,” she said. “When I look back to County Week, we had players who got us points to get here, but couldn’t play, because they’re in America. We’re very fortunate in Surrey to have a lot of depth and half of our team are 16 and under.
“We have an extremely hard-working junior committee and junior coaches, and I think it’s shown as we’ve won Junior County Week, our second team won, and now we’ve secured this trophy.”
What stands out about Surrey’s Women’s County Finals victory isn’t just the silverware, but the scale of the achievement. With teenagers making up half the roster, veterans like Laud providing leadership, and coaches who seem to have found the secret recipe for golf’s future stars, Surrey aren’t just winning trophies — they’re building dynasties.
At Selby, the Pinkies proved that persistence, patience, and a bit of pink magic can turn last year’s heartbreak into this year’s history.
Click on the links below to find out more from the action and who excelled across each day:
Day 1 – Surrey and Buckinghamshire start with double-delight
Day 2 – Buckinghamshire and Surrey ready for winner takes all showdown
Day 3 – Surrey crowned county champions
