Charlie Douglass through to final of

English women's closed championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Hertfordshire’s Charlie Douglass has played her way into the final of the English women’s amateur championship at Lindrick, Yorkshire – but she won’t know her opponent until Saturday morning.

Play in the semi-final between Yorkshire’s Emma Brown and Middlesex player Tara Watters was suspended at 6.30pm because of lightning. At that point Tara had just won the 14th to take a one-hole lead and it was hoped the players could return to the course.

But, with the storm continuing to rumble around the course it was eventually agreed that they would return to finish their match at 8.30am on Saturday.

It was the second weather disruption of the day after the morning quarter-finals were delayed by over an hour because of heavy rain. However, Charlie Douglass (pictured above at the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Festival in February) made short work of the weather by sweeping swiftly through both her matches.

She was two-under par when she beat England girl international Holly Clyburn 5 and 4 and level par when she knocked out Hampshire’s Tracey Boyes 6 and 5.

The 20-year-old left-hander from Brocket Hall has been on good form all season but she said: “This is probably the best I have played all year. I’ve been working extremely hard on my short game with Mark Roe and it’s paying off this week.”

She started the championship slowly with a first round 87 which left her wondering if she would even make the match-play stages. But since then she’s played great golf, first hauling herself up the leaderboard with a second round 75 and then working impressively through the knock-out stages.

Charlie is excited by the prospect of the final – but cautious. She still has fresh memories of reaching the 2006 final of the English girls’ championship, only to be disappointed. “I have learned the hard way never get ahead of myself. I shall play it one shot at a time and give every shot 110 per cent. That’s all I can do.”

Tara Watters reached the semi-final by beating England girl international, Heidi Baek of Suffolk. Tara was one down with two to play but won the last two holes to set up her semi-final with Emma Brown, who defeated Charlotte Wild of Cheshire on the 17th.

Results

QUARTER-FINALS

Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) bt Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 5 and 4.

Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) bt Jerry Lawrence (Rochester & Cobham Park) 3 and 2.

Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) bt Charlotte Wild (Mere) 2 and 1.

Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) bt Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 1 hole.

SEMI-FINALS

Douglass bt Boyes 6 and 5.

Watters one up on Brown after 14 holes (play suspended

Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer
Visit web site at http://www.englishwomensgolf.org/