Northumberland’s Lucy Newton

leads English seniors’ title race
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Northumberland’s Lucy Newton made a dream debut in the English senior women’s championship at Hunstanton, Norfolk, where she shot a two-under par 73 to take the first round lead.
Lucy, who had six birdies in her round, is playing her first full season of senior golf.
“I came wide-eyed, eager and excited to see what standard I needed to be at!” she said.
“I am absolutely over the moon, but I was lucky in practice because I played with two ladies who had been members of Hunstanton and they were fantastic at guiding me round,” added Lucy, who plays off four and was last year’s Northumberland county captain.
She is three shots clear of the 2006 champion, Christine Watson, and five shots ahead of the next group, which includes Hunstanton’s Jean Johnson.
“I was very pleased with my score,” said Christine, who had three birdies in her round. “I’ve played in seven or eight championships here and never done any good - but I like the course and I’ve just kept on trying!”
She made the most of a benign day of brilliant sunshine and light breezes, to put on a display of solid and accurate ball striking. But she added: “I’ve got to do the same again tomorrow – and this course still has an awful lot of teeth.”
No-one knows that better than home player Jean Johnson, who led the Norfolk challenge with a three-over 78. Despite feeling the “huge pressure” of competing on her own course, she produced steady golf, hitting 15 greens in regulation, claiming three birdies – and suffering four three-putts.
Jean, who has been taking lessons from the club’s assistant professional, Henry Potter, commented: “It’s got to be an advantage to know the course and when you get in a good position it’s a matter of gritting your teeth and keeping it going.”
Norfolk’s other two representatives in the championship division are also well placed.
Sue Meadows, from Hunstanton, and Jo Ashmore, from Barnham Broom, both shot 81 and are in a group sharing 16th place, which includes defending champion, Sue Dye of Cheshire.
The field, of 114 players, is divided into two divisions. After Wednesday's second stroke-play round the top 16 players in each division will go forward to the match-play stages, with the finals taking place on Friday afternoon.
In Division B, Shropshire’s Sue Pidgeon made a good start to the defence of her title with a score of 82. She shares the first-round lead with Jaki White of Hertfordshire.Eaton’s Eppie Zandvoort was the best of the Norfolk players in this division and shares fifth place on 85.
She’s a shot ahead of county captain Nickie Clarke (Royal Norwich) and Cheryl Sanders (Hunstanton). Janie Preece (Royal West Norfolk) is a further stroke behind.
Full details and hole-by-hole scoring available by logginig on to: http://www.englishwomensgolf.org/

LEADING SCORES
Par 75
Championship division
73 Lucy Newton (Matfen Hall).
76 Christine Watson (Beaconsfield).
78 Jean Johnson (Hunstanton), Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield), Julia Smith (Rotherham), Anne Bridges (Mentmore).
79 Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court), Sheree Dove-Wilde (Chobham).
80 Christine Stirling (Meon Valley), Chris Quinn (Hockley), Jo Rumsey (Rochford Hundred), Andrea Stockdale (Mapperley Ladies), Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh), Denise Parker (Woodhall Spa), Cathy Armstrong (Ellesborough).
81 Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Sue Meadows (Hunstanton), Pat West (Spalding), Paula Parker (Abbotsley), Jo Ashmore (Barnham Broom), Hilary Smyth (Pannal).
Division B
82 Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin), Jaki White (Whipsnade Park).
83 Judy McCairns (Oxford Ladies), Marion Howells (Hankley Common).
85 Eppie Zandvoort (Eaton, Norwich), Lynn Griffiths (Reading).
86 Shelagh Cormack (Bedford & County), Nickie Clarke (Royal Norwich), Cheryl Sanders (Hunstanton), Elaine Hancock (Spalding).
87 Dee Wood (Crane Valley), Dianne Platt (Spalding), Janie Preece (Royal West Norfolk), Caroline Caswell (Stoneham).
88 Rosemary Farrow (St Neots Golf Club), Julie Ballard (Littlestone), Jane Shergold (Blackmoor), Liz Moverley (Copt Heath)
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
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