KirkwoodGolf: English Ladies Golf Association Press Release

Friday, August 03, 2007

English Ladies Golf Association Press Release

ELLIE AND KATIE MEET IN ENGLISH GIRLS' FINAL

County Durham’s Ellie Givens and Nottinghamshire’s Katie Best will meet tomorrow in the final of the English girls’ championship at Old Fold Manor in Hertfordshire.
Both players had poor preparation for their day’s golf after they were woken in the small hours by a fire alarm at their hotel. But both put on a sparkling display and won their semi-finals by comfortably margins.
Ellie played almost flawless golf to beat local player Lucy Williams (Mid-Herts) 4/3. Katie picked up four birdies in the early holes and defeated Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 5/4.
Both are eagerly anticipating the final.
Ellie, 18, an England girl international from Blackwell Grange, said: “I really, really want this and I feel I’m ready for it. I got to the semi-finals a couple of years ago and ever since I’ve wanted to take it a stage further. I am really excited.”
Ellie, who is going to Denver University in the USA at the end of August, played immaculate golf against Lucy Williams, who fought her hard all the way.
They started in great style with five birdies between them in the first seven holes. By then, Ellie was two up and, after a string of halves, she moved to four up with pars on the 13th and 14th. Another par for a half on the 15th sealed her place in the final.
Katie, who plays at Sherwood Forest, got off to a very quick start, throwing four early birdies at the sporting Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park). Katie was six up after 12 and, despite losing the long 13th where she drove into a bunker, she closed out the match with a half on the 14th.
“I got off to a good start and then kept plodding along with pars and kept it going,” said Katie, 17. She is a member of ELGA’s Select Midland squad and has found the training has particularly helped her course management and psychology.
“I’m really excited about the final, I can’t wait,” said Katie, who is the Nottinghamshire girls champion and won the 2006 Midland girls’ championship.
One of her biggest fans is 15-year-old scoreboard carrier Matthew Ready, who plays off nine at Old Fold Manor. He’s been greatly impressed by the girls’ play: “They are much better golfers than I am,” he remarked. In Flight Two the finalists are Hertfordshire’s Steph McEvoy and Nottinghamshire’s Harriet Owers-Bradley.
Steph is a member at Old Fold Manor, where her father, Peter, is professional. The seven-handicapper beat Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) by one hole. Harriet, who has been suffering a mystery stomach pain this week, plays at Wollaton Park and will soon be off to the USA to study at Yale University, where she will be on the golf team. She beat Nikki Dunn (Harrogate) 3 and 2.

Results:
Quarter finals:
Lucy Williams (Mid-Herts) beat Raffi Dyer (Hayling) 1 hole.
Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) beat Harriet Key (South Herts) 3 and 2.
Kastie Best (Sherwood Forest) beat Charlotte Field 2 holes.
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) beat Sian Evans (Faversham) at 19th.

Semi-finals: Ellie Givens beat Lucy Williams 4 and 3, Katie Best beat Charlotte Dalton 5 and 4.

Online scoring: www.englishladiesgolf.org

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