ENGLISH SENIORS
CAROLE SHARES ENGLISH SENIORS' LEAD ON HOME COURSE
Former Curtis Cup player Carole Caldwell shares the lead after the first round of the English senior women's (close) championship at her home club, Sunningdale.
Carole shot a three-over-par 75 on the New Course, matching the score posted by Yorkshire's Laraine Hague (Rotherham).
"There's a certain amount of pressure playing at home because everyone assumes you are going to do well. I was pleased to get round in a reasonable score," said Carole.
"I putted very well and didn't get into any trouble, but just frittered a few shots on the back nine."
Carole had one birdie in her round, on the long sixth where her approach finished 3ft from the hole, and she reached the turn at one-under par. Her dropped shots came on par-4s on the way home:
"I didn't hit my driver as well as I should have done and, because the course was playing long, I had some awkward second shots."
One shot off the lead is Suffolk's Deborah Backhouse whose round included five birdies. "I had a fantastic time," said the Aldeburgh player.
"The ball was running for me and I slotted a few putts on the back nine." Among them was a monster putt across the green on the 13th for a birdie 4.
Warwickshire's Bev Belcher (Olton) marked her first appearance in the championship with a score of 78. The six-handicapper has given herself two years to see how far she can take her golf - and she started the right way.
She birdied the first two holes of her round and reached the turn at level par. "Then I got a tad nervous and tightened up a little but I came back pretty steadily. I was delighted. I felt I was swinging well, although a little nervously," added Bev, who has just finished three years as Warwickshire's second team captain.
Meanwhile defending champion Chris Quinn (Hockley) is well in touch after scoring 80, which included two triple bogeys in the middle of her round when she tangled with the heather.
"I just lost a little concentration but once I got through that I finished quite strongly with a string of pars," said Chris, who is aiming for a hat-trick of successive titles. "Overall I was very happy with the rest of my round."
After two stroke-play qualifying rounds the leading 16 competitors in each of two divisions will go forward to the match-play stages of the championship.
Former Curtis Cup player Carole Caldwell shares the lead after the first round of the English senior women's (close) championship at her home club, Sunningdale.
Carole shot a three-over-par 75 on the New Course, matching the score posted by Yorkshire's Laraine Hague (Rotherham).
"There's a certain amount of pressure playing at home because everyone assumes you are going to do well. I was pleased to get round in a reasonable score," said Carole.
"I putted very well and didn't get into any trouble, but just frittered a few shots on the back nine."
Carole had one birdie in her round, on the long sixth where her approach finished 3ft from the hole, and she reached the turn at one-under par. Her dropped shots came on par-4s on the way home:
"I didn't hit my driver as well as I should have done and, because the course was playing long, I had some awkward second shots."
One shot off the lead is Suffolk's Deborah Backhouse whose round included five birdies. "I had a fantastic time," said the Aldeburgh player.
"The ball was running for me and I slotted a few putts on the back nine." Among them was a monster putt across the green on the 13th for a birdie 4.
Warwickshire's Bev Belcher (Olton) marked her first appearance in the championship with a score of 78. The six-handicapper has given herself two years to see how far she can take her golf - and she started the right way.
She birdied the first two holes of her round and reached the turn at level par. "Then I got a tad nervous and tightened up a little but I came back pretty steadily. I was delighted. I felt I was swinging well, although a little nervously," added Bev, who has just finished three years as Warwickshire's second team captain.
Meanwhile defending champion Chris Quinn (Hockley) is well in touch after scoring 80, which included two triple bogeys in the middle of her round when she tangled with the heather.
"I just lost a little concentration but once I got through that I finished quite strongly with a string of pars," said Chris, who is aiming for a hat-trick of successive titles. "Overall I was very happy with the rest of my round."
After two stroke-play qualifying rounds the leading 16 competitors in each of two divisions will go forward to the match-play stages of the championship.
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 9:25:00 pm
<< Home