Sian James, reached last 16 of "British" at Ganton last week (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Sian, top seed Tara in last eight

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Top seed Tara Watters of Middlesex has played her way safely into the quarter finals of the English women’s open mid-amateur championship at Bristol & Clifton.
Among those joining her in the last eight is Sian James, from the host club, who gave the local members much to cheer about with sub-par scores in both her matches today.
Tara, pictured below by leaderboardphotography.com, defeated Kent’s Jerry Lawrence in the first round before going on to beat Warwickshire’s Charlotte Dalton 4 and 3.
“I wasn’t very happy when I saw I was playing Charlotte. I’ve played her before and she’s really good, “ said Tara. “But I think it made me more focussed and I got off to a good start, winning three of the first four holes, and I kept my lead.
“After about five holes we both upped our game and played really well. It was a very good match and I think I was level or one-under when it finished.” Now she meets Michele Holzwarth of Germany.
Sian James was four under par in both of her games, first beating Emilee Taylor of Lincolnshire on the 13th and then knocking out Devon’s Rosie Davies on the 15th after trading birdies for much of the match.
“I played really solid and I had my putting boots on,” said Sian, who last week reached the last 16 in the British amateur championship.

“Rosie and I had a great game. I birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth, she birdied seven and we halved eight in birdies. I managed to be three up at the turn but Rosie birdied the 11th to get back to two.

“The 12th was a turning point. I hit a tree and had to take a drop, Rosie was almost on the green in two – it’s a par five – and putted up close. Then I chipped in and we ended up halving the hole in birdies! It was quite a save for me and I won the next two holes with par before halving the 15th with another par.”
Sian will meet Buckinghamshire’s Rachel Drummond in the quarter finals.
A second Gloucestershire player is also in the last eight. England international and past champion Charlotte Ellis beat Staffordshire’s Melissa Siviter in the first round and went on to knock out Lincolnshire’s Jessica Schiele. Earlier in the day, Jessica knocked out the defending champion, Katie Mundy of Hampshire, in a close match which ended on the last green. Charlotte, who won this title in 2006, now faces another Lincolnshire player, Jessica Wilcox of Blankney.
The other quarter final will be between Hampshire’s Raffi Dyer, who recently won the Critchley Salver at Sunningdale, and Somerset’s Hannah Grant.
Quarter final line-up
Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) v Michele Holzwarth (Germany)
Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) v Raffi Dyer (Hayling)
Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) v Sian James (Bristol and Clifton)
Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) v Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton)
TODAY'S RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tara Watters (Muswell Hil) bt Jerry Lawrence (Rochester and Cobham Park) 3 and 2.
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) bt Emma Sheffield (Newark) 5 and 4.
Sophie Beardsall (Greetham Valley) bt Georgina Dunn (Peterborough Milton) 1 hole.
Michele Holzwarth (Gatow, Germany) bt Clare Partridge (Moor Park) 3 and 2.
Tilly Magill (Woburn) bt Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred) 3 and 2.
Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) bt Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Royal Jersey) 4 and 3.
Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough) bt Hermione FitzGerald (Royal Worlington and Newmarket) 5 and 4.
Raffi Dyer (Hayling) bt Daisy Dywer (Chigwell) 4 and 3.
Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) bt Kimberley Bradbury (Cavendish) 3 and 2.
Elizabeth Haycock (Moseley) bt Chelsea Masters (Highwoods, Bexhill) 1 hole.
Sian James (Bristol and Clifton) bt Emilee Taylor (Gainsborough) 7 and 5.
Rosie Davies (Saunton) bt Kirsty Rands (Burhil) 2 and 1.
Jess Wilcox (Blankney) bt Lucinda Mileham (Aldwickbury Park) 8 and 7.
Stacey Rodger (West Hove) bt Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) 6 and 4.
Jessica Schiele (Kenwick Park) bt Katie Mundy (Dunwood Manor) 1 hole.
Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) bt Melissa Siviter (Envill) 3 and 2.
SECOND ROUND
Watters bt Dalton 4 and 3.
Holzwarth bt Beardsall 3 and 1.
Grant bt Magill 1 hole.
Raffi Dyer bt Robinson 2 and 1.
Drummond bt Haydock 1 hole.
James bt Davies 4 and 3.
Wilcox bt Rodger 2 and 1.
Ellis bt Schiele 2 holes.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA