It's anybody's title - well, almost - with

day to go in English senior stroke-play

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Three players – from Cheshire, Norfolk and Northumberland – lead the qualifiers for the final day of the English senior women’s stroke-play championship at Royal Ashdown Forest, Sussex.
First-round leader Jo Ashmore from Norfolk has been joined by former champion Sue Dye from Cheshire and Northumberland's Elaine Elliott.
They are just one shot clear of a tightly-packed field. Breathing down their necks are the members of an impressive group which includes defending champion Janet Melville from Nottinghamshire and English senior champion Chris Quinn of Hampshire.
The second day’s play featured strong, swirling winds which added to the challenge of the course. “It’s frustrating out there,” said Chris Quinn. “This isn’t a course you can attack because if you do it will attack you!”
In common with many players she found the greens tricky – particularly when the ball was above the hole. However, although she had three three-putts in her 79, she also had four birdies and declared herself satisfied overall.
Sue Dye, who won this title in 2007, was another who was adding up the three-putts but, after returning a second-round 78, she said: “I’m not complaining.”
Elaine Elliott is playing in her first national event of the year – having missed the seniors’ close championship when it coincided with the birth of her first grandchild. She was one of a number of players who improved on their first-round scores, in her case with a 78.
Jo Ashmore held on to her place at the top of the leaderboard with a second-round 80.
“I had a good first round and then lost momentum a bit in the middle – but I’m happy. It’s difficult out there.”
The low score of the day was returned by Caroline Marron of Cheshire, who is a first-year senior and a past winner of the English stroke-play championship. Her 77 improved on her first-round score by 10 shots.
“I was nervous yesterday. Being a senior is a new experience for me and I’m finding my feet,” she said.
Meanwhile, the battle for Division B honours is also tightly contested with four players tied for first place. Luci Foster (Bramhall), who led after the first round, is joined by Eppie Zandvoort (Eaton, Norwich), Sue Timberlake (Edgbaston) and Judy McCairns (Oxford Ladies).
A total of 26 players from Division A and 23 from Division B qualified to play the final round of the championship tomorrow.
Results

Par 146 (2x73). CSS 76
Division A qualifiers
158 Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) 80 78, Jo Ashmore (Barnham Broom) 78 80, Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay) 80 78
159 Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs) 81 78, Chris Quinn (Hockley) 80 79, Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest) 81 78
160 Paula Parker (Abbotsley) 78 82
161 Irene Brien (Wentworth) 82 79
162 Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court) 81 81
163 Andrea Stockdale (Mapperley Ladies) 81 82
164 Caroline Marron (Bromborough) 87 77, Sandra Paul (Huddersfield) 83 81
165 Patricia West (Spalding) 82 83, Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) 83 82, Sue McKeon (Gerrards Cross) 84 81.
166 Christine Stirling (Meon Valley) 84 82, Gillian Curley (Northants County) 79 87, Ally Hansen (Alnmouth) 79 87, Barbara Laird (Sandiway) 83 83
167 Pat Bennett (Reading) 84 83
168 Lesley Marsh (Ponteland) 82 86
169 Sue Westall (Copt Heath) 80 89, Karen Lobb (Northants County) 82 87, Gill Snelson (Branston) 83 86, Jenny Brown (Nizels) 82 87, Jeannie O'Keeffe (Hankley Common)
Division B qualifiers
169 Luci Foster (Bramhall) 81 88, Eppie Zandvoort (Eaton, Norwich) 87 82, Sue Timberlake (Edgbaston) 86 83, Judy McCairns (Oxford Ladies) 86 83
170 Lynn Griffiths (Reading) 87 83
175 Chris Means (Woodhall Spa) 89 86
178 Kate Rowe (West Sussex) 83 95, Carolyn Howell (Woburn) 93 85, Teresa Taylor (Mapledurham) 92 86
179 Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) 90 89
180 José Kellenberger (Camberley Heath) 93 87, Liz Clark (Effingham) 91 89
181 Janet Alldread (Sundridge Park) 93 88
182 Jane Bennett (Lee On The Solent) 87 95
183 Frances Lindley (Minchinhampton) 97 86, Sue Heathcote (Minchinhampton) 98 85
184 Gill McMillan (Littlestone) 93 91, Dianne Platt (Spalding) 96 88
185 Jane Shergold (Blackmoor) 88 97, Caroline Caswell (Stoneham) 89 96
186 Polly Brown (Gog Magog) 95 91, Dee Wood (Crane Valley) 86 100, Caroline Stirrat (Effingham) 91 95
Full hole-by-hole scores: http://www.englishwomensgolf.org/
Lyndsey Hewison


Press & PR Officer