JUDITH Wenman hopes to keep her triumphant Newport squad together for the Welsh Ladies’ Team Championship in 2017 when a prestigious hat-trick of titles will be on the line.

Lauren Hillier, Jessica Evans, Jordan Ryan, Emma Miller, Cerys Jenkins and Ffion Vineall saw off St Pierre to win this year’s event as the Gwent club successfully defended their crown.

Newport could make it three in a row in 12 months’ time and ladies’ captain Wenman is keen for as many of her triumphant team to clinch another championship.

“We have been in the final five out of the last six years, this is the third of those we have won and means winning back-to-back titles,” said Wenman.

“They are a young team with a lot of long hitters and they just get on so well together. We hope that pretty much the same team will try to make it a hat-trick next year.”

She added: “Lauren won her match on the 21st hole after being four down with four to play, Jess Evans sank putts on the 18th in the semi and the final to win her matches, while Ffion won it for us at the age of 14 with her winning putt on the 17th.

“Emma managed to turn things round when her opponent's short game was immense, while Cerys won on the 11th hole in the semi-final.

“The competition this year was very strong, there were a lot of very young girls from different clubs coming through, and it looks good for the next few years of Welsh ladies’ golf.”

Newport beat Radyr in the first round, Newport Links in Pembrokeshire in the second, saw off Royal St David's in the quarter-finals and Wrexham in the semis.

St Pierre beat former champions Southerndown in a high quality first round match, hosts Wenvoe Castle in round two, Ashburnham and then Vale of Llangollen in the last eight and last four respectively to earn their place in the final.

“This was a very high quality Welsh Ladies’ Team Championship and Newport did well to come through to win it with a very strong team,” said Golf Union of Wales championships manager David Wilson.

“Wenvoe Castle provided an excellent venue with the course in fantastic condition, which helped challenge the players to produce some very good golf.

“With some Wales internationals among a host of very good players, competition was fierce, and there will be several clubs trying to prevent Newport making it a hat-trick of wins next year.”