Sian James scores second university win

EWGA Press release

Gloucestershire student Sian James (right) won the latest qualifier for the British universities strokeplay championship by the hefty margin of 12 shots.

Sian, who plays at Bristol & Clifton and is a student at Birmingham University, was the only woman player to beat par at St Annes Old Links, Lancashire, with two rounds of one-under 71.

Although most of the country was covered in snow, the golf course had escaped – but the competitors still had to contend with wintry conditions. . Sian remarked: “There wasn't any snow in sight on the first day but the frost and sleet arrived for the second round. On the whole, despite it being very cold and at times windy, the course held up well.”

This was the second of four England and Wales qualifying events for the championship and Sian, 20, has wo n them both.

English mid-amateur champion Lucy Williams was runner-up in the first event and just pipped for the same place in the latest qualifier by virtue of her second round score. Lucy, from Mid-Herts and Birmingham University, and Sian have both been members of English Women’s Golf Association squads.

At the end of the series the top seven players will go through to the final at Notts Golf Club from 21-24 April, where they will be joined by competitors from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The championship is run by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

Final scores

Par 72 CSS 74, 75
142 Sian James (Birmingham University) 71, 71;
154 Christina Petersson (Northumbria) 77, 77; Lucy Williams (Birmingham) 75, 79
158 Charlotte Hope (Birmingham) 78, 80; Amelie Bernsdof (Northumbria) 79, 81
163 Lauren Spray (Birmingham) 83, 80
164 Johanna Rosen (Central Lancashire) 81, 83; Claire Fry (Birmingham) 78, 86;
172 Katie Barraclough (Exeter) 92, 80