Gloucestershire edge ahead at County Finals

Gloucestershire opened up a narrow lead on the second day of the English County Finals at Pleasington where they kept up their winning form and beat Hertfordshire 5-4.
It means they have two wins from two matches and they are the only team among the six finalists to boast a 100 per cent record.
However, they’re being chased hard by the hosts, Lancashire, who came from behind to beat Lincolnshire and have 1½ points so far.
In the day’s other match, Surrey put their first point on the board when they beat the young Warwickshire side 6-3.
The finalists each represent one of the regions of the English Women’s Golf Association and they’re battling it out for the title of England’s champion county.
The golf is spectacular and, as Lancashire captain Linda Wilson pointed out, it’s all to play for. “Today’s results mean it is wide open and it’s going to be a very exciting event,” she said.
Her team trailed Lincolnshire 1-2 after the foursomes but they produced splendid stuff in the singles, winning four of the six available points.
Cori Lee, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, claimed the scalp of her second England international in two days when she defeated Holly Clyburn. Her captain remarked: “Cori is a very, very special player, she’s really impressive.”
Two of Lancashire’s points were scored by girls who are making their debut for the county team this week: Nicola Rawlinson and Jenna Birch.”I am absolutely thrilled with their wins – and thrilled for the whole team,” said Linda.
Gloucestershire also came through an intensely tight fight with Hertfordshire to claim their point. After sharing the foursomes they had edged narrowly ahead when the last pair came to the 18th tee, all square.
Sian James secured the vital half point which gave Gloucestershire their victory when she holed a nerve-tingling downhill putt of about 4½ft on the home green.
Earlier, in the foursomes, she’d missed almost exactly the same putt - but this time she made no mistakes. Team captain Susan Reeve said: “It was a very missable putt and all credit to Sian for holding her nerve and sinking it. It was a very exciting finish to the day and we have seen some stunning golf.
“It’s a great event, the weather is fantastic, everything is running very smoothly and all the matches have been played in a really good spirit.”
One of the highlights of the day for Gloucestershire was Charlotte Ellis’s win over her fellow international, English champion Charlie Douglass. Both players were under par when the match ended on the 16th.
Surrey, meanwhile, set up their win over Warwickshire when they took two foursomes in the morning.They followed up with an excellent singles performance, winning three matches, halving two and losing only one – and that only on the final hole.
After two days’ play Gloucestershire have two points, Lancashire 1½, Lincolnshire and Surrey both have one; Hertfordshire have a half point and Warwickshire have yet to score.
WEDNESDAY'S MATCHES
Warwickshire v Lancashire
Lincolnshire v Hertfordshire
Gloucestershire v Surrey
TODAY'S RESULTS
GLOUCESTERSHIRE 5, HERTFORDSHIRE 4
(Gloucestershire names first)
Foursomes
Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Ellis bt Alison Franklin & Harriet Key 3/2
Linda Carruthers & Alison Kelly lost to Charlotte Field & Lucy Williams 3/1
Sian James & Jo Hodge halved with Charlie Douglass & Steph McEvoy
Singles
Ellis bt Douglass 3/2
Hodge bt Franklin 1 hole.
Kelly lost to Williams 4/3
Carruthers lost to McEvoy 3 and 1
James halved with Field
Barwood bt Key 6/5.
SURREY 6, WARWICKSHIRE 3

(Surrey names first)
Foursomes

Katie Shepherd & Janine Snodgrass bt Charlotte Dalton & Lauren Taylor 4/3.
Nicola Taylor & Niamh O'Connor bt Rachel Rusted & Elizabeth Haycock 6/4.
Katie Laud & Jo Stocks lost to Lisa Barton & Claire Howells 3/2.
Singles
Shepherd bt Charlotte Taylor 3/1
Lisa McGowan halved with Lauren Taylor
Snodgrass bt Dalton 1 hole.
Julia Brook bt Ashley Cramond 1 hole.
O'Connor lost to Barton 1 hole.
Nicola Taylor halved with Howells
LANCASHIRE 5, LINCOLNSHIRE 4

(Lancashire names first)
Foursomes

Corisande Lee & Brogan Townend bt Helen Hewlett & Holly Clyburn 2/1.
Catherine Roberts & Sarah Walton lost to Sophie Beardsall &Emilee Taylor 3/2.
Nikki Foster & Nicola Rawlinson lost to Jessica Wilcox & Jessica Schiele 2 holes.
Singles

Lee beat Clyburn 3/2
Walton lost to Schiele 5/3
Townend lost to Hewlett 7/6
Rawlinson bt Taylor 3/2
Jenna Birch bt Beardsall 1 hole.
Roberts bt Wilcox 2/1
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer