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Friday, March 09, 2007


CLAIRE PUSHING FOR ANOTHER TOP
10 FINISH IN SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN


Clare Queen is on the trail of another top-10 finish as her professional golf career begins to take off this year.
The Scot, who will be 24 next month, is lying joint seventh after two rounds of the Women's South African Open at Durban Country Club.
Last month, Clare finished sixth in the ANZ Ladies Masters and she has carried on that form in South Africa with rounds of 73 and 71 for an aggregate of two-under-par 144 over a course lengthened to a par 73 just for this championship.
With just one round to go, the Drumpellier player is unlikely to be able to make up an 11-shot leeway on South African amateur Ashleigh Simon, 17, who shot a remarkable second-round 64 to go seven strokes clear on 13-under-par 133. Ashleigh also won this title in 2004.
But Miss Queen will have second-placed Rebecca Hudson from Wheatley, Doncaster - the defending champion - in her sights. Rebecca is on six-under 140 with rounds of 71 and 69, one ahead of South Africa's Stacy Bregman (72-69).
On the 144 mark alongside Clare in seventh place are England's Sophie Walker and Eleanor Pilgrim from Wales.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 146 (2 x 73)
Players from South Africa unless stated.
133 Ashleigh Simon (am) 69 64.
140 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 69.
141 Stacy Bregman 72 69.
143 Kelli Shean (am) 72 71, Morgana Robbertze 68 75, Laurette Maritz 73 70.
144 Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 70, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 773 71, Clare Queen (Sco) 73 71, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 76 68, Lisa Jean (Aus) 73 71.
Other qualifiers included:
147 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 75 72.
148 Sarah Heath (Eng) 74 74, Jo Clingan (Eng) 75 73..
151 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 75 76.
152 Claire Coughlan (Ire) 76 76.
DID NOT QUALIFY
159 Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 77 82, Martina Gillen (Ire) 78 81.
161 Michelle Smth (Eng) 77 84.
163 Cheryl Smith (Eng) 80 83.