Leicestershire’s Kym Larratt is

top seed in English championship

Leicestershire’s Kym Larratt tamed the winds to lead the qualifiers for the match-play stages of the English women’s amateur championship at Lindrick, Yorkshire.
Kym added a solid 76 to her first-round 77 to finish one shot clear of the field on another day of strong and blustery winds.
“It’s fantastic,” she said “I really like match-play and if I can just keep playing steadily I should be fine.”
Her play won the approval of her father, Bob Larratt, a European seniors’ tour professional who gave her tips on course management during the practice round.
“He keeps ringing me straight after each round – and he’s happy!” said Kym whoo now meets England girl international Holly Clyburn in the first round.
The low score of the day came from another girl international, 15-year-old Heidi Baek who shot a one-over 73 for a total of 154 and qualified in second place. It’s her first appearance in the tournament and the Suffolk champion was excited to play alongside Yorkshire star Emma Brown.
“I was determined to qualify – that was my first goal,” said Heidi. “Now I will just try my best in the match-play. It’s going to be tough because the standard here is really high. I’ll learn something as well.”
Heidi was one under par for the outward half of her second round, helped by two birdies. She came home in two over, with one birdie, one bogey and a double – where she got stuck in a bunker – on her card.
England international Rachel Jennings, from Staffordshire, was third qualifier with rounds of 79, 75.
“That was good because it’s so windy and such a slog. You have to hit it, hit it and hit it again and just keep going. Now I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Lancashire’s Cori Lee also shot a second round 75 to reach the matchplay stages – and to celebrate her return to competitive golf. She played only one event last year because of an injury to her left arm.
“It’s really nice to be back playing again, whether it’s good or bad. I used to get a bit frustrated but now I can take the rough with the smooth. I’m just trying to get the sharpness back in my short game.”
Cori has been quick to return to good form. Already this season she has won the Leveret and had pleasing results at the Roehampton Gold Cup and the Whittington Trophy. Overnight leader Hannah Turland qualified comfortably when she returned 82 for a total of 158. The 14-year-old Wiltshire champion went through in 10th place.
It was a good day for the youngsters. Lancashire 14-year-old Emily Taylor and Lindrick’s Sophie Godley, 15, both secured places in the matchplay.
Defending champion Hannah Barwood, 18, from Gloucestershire, improved her position with a second round 77 and qualified 17th.
LEADING QUALFIERS
Par 144 (2x72). CSS 79 79
153 Kym Larratt (Kibworth) 77 76.
154 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 81 73.
154 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 79 75.
156 Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 78 78.
157 Laura Harvey (Richmond, Yorkshire) 80 77.
158 Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) 82 76, Kate Whitmore (Sandiway) 80 78, Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 80 78, Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 78 80, Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison) 76 82.
159 Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) 84 75, Natalie Lowe (Prestbury) 84 75, Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St. Annes) 83 76, Kimberley Bradbury (Cavendish) 82 77, Kimberley Crooks (Saltburn by the Sea) 81 78, Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 80 79.
160 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 83 77, Jessica Schiele (Kenwick Park) 83 77, Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) 82 78, Rachel Connor (Manchester) 80 80.
161 Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 84 77, Kelly Allen (Brokenhurst Manor) 79 82, Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) 78 83.
162 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 87 75, Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) 86 76, Sarah Lundy (Cookridge Hall) 84 78, Tilly Holder (Woburn) 83 79, Sophie Godley (Lindrick) 82 80, Jerry Lawrence (Rochester & Cobham Park) 82 80, Charlotte Wild (Mere) 82 80, Sara Garbutt (Ganton) 79 83, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 79 83.

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
FIRST ROUND
Kym Larratt v Holly Clyburn
Hannah Barwood v Nikki Foster
Hannah Coles v Charlie Douglass
Ellis Keenan v Naomi Edwards
Laura Harvey v Sophie Godley
Tracey Boyes v Natalie Lowe
Emily Taylor v Rachel Connor
Jerry Lawrence v Charlotte Dalton
Rachel Jennings v Charlotte Wild
Jane Binning v Kimberley Bradbury
Corisande Lee v Kelly Allen
Tilly Holder v Emma Brown
Kate Whitmore v Sarah Lundy
Tara Watters v Hannah Turland
Kimberley Crooks v Jessica Schiele
Sara Garbutt v Heidi Baek

Full details and hole-by- hole scoring:
www.englishwomensgolf.org
Championship images: www.leaderboardphotography.com

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Tel. 01603 507 416
Email:
lyndsey.hewison@ntlworld.com