Spanish women's open amateur championship

KERRY SMITH, BREANNE LOUCKS
ONLY BRITS TO MAKE IT
THROUGH TO LAST EIGHT

England's Kerry Smith and Breanne Loucks from Wales are the only British players to survive the first day of match-play in the Spanish women's open amateur golf championship at La Reserva Golf Club, Cadiz today.

Michelle Thomson from Ellon, 15th of the 32 qualifiers and chasing a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team to be named next week, won her opening tie by one hole against Spaniard Sonia Cologan but lost by 4 and 3 in the afternoon to the No 2 seed from Germany, Caroline Masson.

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), who qualified in 20th position, was beaten 6 and 5 in the first round by 13th qualifier Kerry Smith who is a chef her home golf club of Waterlooville in Hampshire.

Smith, pictured right, went on to reach the last eight by beating France's Isabelle Boineau, the No 4 qualifier, by 3 and 2 and now plays Caroline Hedwall, the fifth seed from Spain.

Loucks, the No 10 qualifier and, like Smith, looking to impress the GB&I selectors ahead of next week's meeting, beat Louise Larsson (Sweden) by 3 and 1 and then Spain's Ane Urchegui, the No 7 seed, by 6 and 4.

British women's open amateur champion Carlota Ciganda, the 17-year-old Spanish wonder-girl, remains the red-hot favourite to follow up her victory in the Portuguese women's open amateur championship at the start of February. The No 1 qualifier, the Pamplona player required to play only 24 holes in winning her first and second round ties.

Collated resullts

FIRST ROUND
C Ciganda (Spa) bt L Stempfle (Ger) 6 and 5.
N Jimenez (Spa) b t J Hedwall (Swe) 2 and 1.
S James (Eng) bt L Gonzalez-Escallon (Spa) 1 hole.
A Zwanck (Spa) bt B Buendia (Spa) 2 holes.
C Hedwall (Swe) bt S Popov (Ger) at 20th.
L Mar (Spa) bt L Andre (Fra) 5 and 3.
K Smith (Eng) bt K Walker (Sco) 6 and 5.
I Boineau (Fra) bt C Patussi (Ita) 3 and 2.
A Goumard (Fra) bt A Vilatte (Fra) 3 and 2.
R Connor (Eng) bt J Jansson (Swe) 2 and 1.
L Henriksson (Fin) bt H Aitchison (Eng) 1 hole.
E Alonso (Fra) bt A Bonetti (Fra) 1 hole.
A Urchegui (Spa) bt M Ricordeau (Fra) 2 and 1.
B Loucks (Wal) bt L Larsson (Swe) 3 and 1.
M Thomson (Sco) bt S Cologan (Spa) 1 hole.
C Masson (Ger) bt C Herbin (Fra) 3 and 2.

SECOND ROUND

Ciganda bt Jimenez 8 and 7.

Zwanck bt James 3 and 2.

C Hedwall bt Mar 5 and 3.

Smith bt Boineau 3 and 2.

Goumard bt Connor 2 holes.

Henriksson bt Alonso 4 and 3.

Loucks bt Urchegui 6 and 4.

Masson bt Thomson 4 and 3.