MALTON and Norton ace Emma Duggleby has found her trip to South Africa a useful exercise after she won the gruelling SA Ladies Open Amateur Championship in Cape Town.

The competition saw Duggleby cruise through the three 18-hole stroke-play rounds in joint-first place - usually enough to guarantee victory.

However, from here the 30-year-old had to negotiate her way through the match-play stages of the event.

But, in glorious conditions, this proved to pose little problems for Duggleby as beat all before her.

After early victories over Kim Brookes and Sandra Winter, both South African, Duggleby overcame Scot Lesley Mackay one-up.

Another one-up victory, this time over another South African, Lee Anne Pace followed in the semi-final to set up a clash with Chesterfield's Fame More in the 36-hole final.

Duggleby, part of the 12-strong Great Britain and Ireland elite squad that will take on the host nation in a two-Test series next week, led two-up after the first 18 before going on to take the title three and two.

Updated: 11:15 Saturday, March 16, 2002