A chance meeting at the Durham County Ladies Golf Association’s centenary lunch sparked an inspirational link between Jess Hall and trailblazer Jenny Lucas (nee Lee Smith).
Newcastle-born Jenny and Mickey Walker were the first British golfers to play on the LPGA Tour in the US in the 1970s. Winner of the first Women’s British Open in 1976, Jenny went on to win back-to-back WPGA order of merits in 1981 and 1982. Sadly, injuries curtailed her career, but she won 12 professional tournaments and remains the North East’s most successful female professional.
Back in the North East as guest speaker at the centenary lunch at Hardwick Hall, Jenny met up with Bishop Auckland-based 23-year-old Jess, who recently returned from the US after graduating from California State University, Fresno.
“What a lovely young lady she is,” said Jenny. “We had a chat about her ambitions and trying to get her Ladies European Tour card this December at La Manga. Her parents Carolynne and Graham are supporting her, and they are going out to Portugal beforehand so she can get some serious practise.
“I see a lot of my former self in Jess. She has such determination to succeed.”
The entry fee for qualifying school is more than €1,000, and the additional costs of travel and accommodation make it an expensive undertaking. Consequently, Jenny asked the DLCGA to donate her fee for speaking at the lunch to Jess’s GoFundMe page for Q school and hopes others will back her.
The North East currently boasts an impressive group of talented female golfers in their 20s, and Jess is hoping to lead the current crop in trying to emulate Jenny’s success.
“We’ve been chatting a bit since we met at the lunch,” said Jess, “We talked about turning professional, going to qualifying school and who she listened to, and I found it all really helpful.”
Jess brought the curtain down on her four years in the US with victory in the Fresno State Classic at Belmont Country Club. A plus-four handicapper with four Durham County Championship wins and seven course records, including Royal Birkdale’s, to her name, she added: “I’ve had a really good year and, hopefully, I can take that forward to La Manga. Ever since I started to play golf at the age of nine, I have wanted to become a professional, so I’ll be giving it my best shot.
“My journey so far would not have been possible without the support of my friends, family and members of Bishop Auckland Golf Club, for which I’m very grateful.”
