Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire

score wins at County Finals

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
English women's county finals 2009 began with wins for Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire on the opening day of the tournament at Pleasington.

In the day’s other match there was nothing to separate the hosts, Lancashire, and Hertfordshire, who halved.

Six teams, each representing one of the regions of the English Women’s Golf Association, are battling it out in the round robin competition for the title of England’s champion county.

The first day was marked by excellent golf all round – the players include a number of England internationals – and a notable start for Lincolnshire. It’s 20 years since they last played at County Finals and, after they beat Surrey, team captain Linda Davey remarked:

“This is a new experience for everyone and needless to say we are delighted.”

Her players got off to a good start, winning two of the three morning foursomes, but Surrey came back strongly in the singles. Lincolnshire champion Helen Hewlett confidently secured her point but it was nip and tuck in the other matches.

“It was very, very close and after nine holes it looked as if it could go either way. Then Jessica Schiele and Sophie Beardsall pulled off two great wins and that did it,” said Linda.

Gloucestershire took their point with a 6-3 win over Warwickshire. They won all three foursomes and followed up with convincing singles victories from three of their top players: Charlotte Ellis (pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency), Linda Carruthers and Sian James.

Team captain Susan Reeve remarked: “We had a very strong start in the foursomes and this proved to be the difference. We are thrilled with this result from the first day, which was very much a team effort. Now, we shall just take each day as it comes.”

Lancashire and Hertfordshire were locked in a close battle all day. They shared the foursomes points and went on to also halve the singles. “It was a very fair result,” said Lancashire captain Linda Wilson.

“It was a good day with good matches played in the true spirit of the game.”

The afternoon session was particularly exciting as Lancashire got off to a quick start and were soon up in five of the six singles. But Hertfordshire turned it around and secured three wins, to the delight of their captain Jackie Foster, who said: “I am really proud of my girls.”

Tomorrow’s order of play is:

Gloucestershire v Hertfordshire

Surrey v Warwickshire

Lancashire v Lincolnshire.

DAY ONE RESULTS

LINCOLNSHIRE 5 1/2, SURREY 3½

(Lincolnshire names first)

Foursomes

Helen Hewlett & Holly Clyburn bt Lisa McGowan & Nicola Taylor 6 and 5.

Sophie Beardsall & Emilee Taylor lost to Katie Shepherd & Janine Snodgrass 3 and 1.

Jessica Wilcox & Jessica Schiele bt Katie Laud & Jo Stocks 5 and 3.

Singles

Hewlett bt McGowan 4 and 3.

Clyburn halved with Shepherd.

Taylor lost to Taylor 2 and 1.

Schiele bt Julia Brook 3 and 2.

Beardsall bt Snodgrass 3 and 1.

Wilcox lost to Laud 4 and 2.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE 6, WARWICKSHIRE 3

(Gloucestershire names first)

Foursomes

Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Ellis bt Lisa Barton & Charlotte Taylor 4 and 3.

Linda Carruthers & Alison Kelly bt Claire Howells & Elizabeth Haycock 4 and 2.

Sian James & Jo Hodge bt Charlotte Dalton & Hannah McLoughlin 2 and 1.

Singles

Ellis bt Dalton 5 and 4.

Hodge lost to Barton 3 and 2.

Shelby Smart lost to Howells 2 and 1.

Bethan Popel lost to Haycock 3 and 2.

Carruthers bt Taylor 4 and 3.

James bt McLoughlin 6 and 4.

HERTFORDSHIRE 4 1/2, LANCASHIRE 4 1/2

(Hertfordshire names first)

Foursomes

Charlie Douglass & Lucy Williams halved with Emily Taylor & Corisande Lee

Alison Franklin & Harriet Key lost to Sarah Walton & Catherine Roberts 5 and 4.

Charlotte Field & Tina Jeary bt Nikki Foster & Brogan Townend 2 holes.

Singles

Douglass lost to Lee 5 and 4.

Williams beat Foster 4 and 2.

Key bt Taylor 1 hole.

Field lost to Nicola Rawlinson 5 and 4.

Steph McEvoy bt Walton 3 and 2.

Franklin lost to Roberts 3 and 2.

***Follow the matches via the EWGA Tournament information Centre: www.englishwomensgolf.org
Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer