BECKY BREWERTON KOs LAURA DAVIES IN TENERIFE MATCN-PLAY

NEWS RELEASE

Becky Brewerton, Lee-Anne Pace and Carlota Ciganda were among the players to progress through to the final round of the Tenerife Ladies Match Play after securing victories in the second round at Golf Las Americas in the Canary Islands on Saturday.

In a clash of the European Solheim Cup partners, Becky Brewerton dispatched Laura Davies on the 19^th hole in an exciting finish.  

Brewerton, from Wales, took the advantage early in the round but Davies rallied. The English star was ahead after 13 holes, but came unstuck on the 280-yard, par-four 14^th hole.

Her drive came to rest right of the green under trees, making her approach to the hole extremely difficult. Her second shot rebounded from a palm tree and she played her third to the green and missed the putt, Brewerton squaring the match with a par.

Brewerton went one-up after her opponent three-putted from the edge of the 17^th green, but Davies showed her class at the next by striking a four-iron from 227 yards to seven feet from the hole. Brewerton conceded the eagle putt and the match went down the par-five first.

At the 19^th hole, Davies had 195 yards to the pin, but a ‘jumpy’ lie. Her six-iron approach shot didn’t quite make the green and found the water. Brewerton was then able to sink a 12 foot birdie putt to secure the win.

“I had to hit rescue in there. When she hit hers I thought it was comfortably over,” Brewerton said. “I think 14 was the turning point. I hit driver in there in the Pro Am. We said what she does, depends on what we do. I hit three-wood and played sensibly.”

Brewerton likes the course, where she was the runner-up as an amateur in 2003 and feels that her putting has improved.

“I think that matchplay has actually helped me because I have been more aggressive on the putts,” she said. “If I can take that attitude into the Strokeplay, hopefully I’ll do well.”

She will play in Sunday’s final round of Strokeplay alongside Frances Bondad, who defeated fellow Australian Karen Lunn 3 and 2 in the second round of matchplay after Lunn conceded a 15 foot eagle putt on the 16^th green.

In the other matches, Danielle Montgomery beat Tania Elosegui 3 and 2, while the 2008 Tenerife Ladies Open champion at Adeje, Rebecca Hudson, defeated Morgana Robbertze 3 and 2.

Rising star Carlota Ciganda, who is playing in her first tournament since turning professional in May, defeated Beth Allen with a five-foot birdie putt on the 18^th green and is the sole Spanish player remaining in the tournament.

The 21-year-old from Pamplona said: “It was a really tough day. I played great golf. I wasn’t very comfortable with my driver but my short game was very good.”

She denied feeling any weight of expectation from the home galleries, adding: “I’m just trying to focus on my game and playing golf. I know there are expectations and things but I cannot control that. I’m just trying to focus on things that I can control. I’m very happy that I’m playing tomorrow.”

Ciganda will play alongside Lydia Hall, from Wales, who defeated Felicity Johnson 4 and 3.

Nikki Garrett, the 2007 Tenerife Ladies Open champion, eliminated fellow Australian Stacey Keating 5 and 4.

In the last match, featuring two South Africans, last year’s European No.1 Lee-Anne Pace beat Stacy Lee Bregman on the 18^th green.

After two rounds of matchplay, the final round on Sunday will be played in the strokeplay format and this will determine the leading places eight places in the tournament. The first prize is €40,000, second place prize money is €20,000, third is €15,000, fourth is €10,000, fifth is €7,000 sixth is €5,000, seventh is €4,000.00 and eighth place €3,000. In the event of a tie for first place there will be a sudden-death play-off. 

Second Round Results

Frances Bondad beat Karen Lunn 3 and 2.

Becky Brewerton beat Laura Davies at 19^th

Danielle Montgomery beat Tania Elosegui 3 and 2

Rebecca Hudson beat Morgana Robbertze 3 and 2

Carlota Ciganda beat Beth Allen 1 hole

Lydia Hall beat Felicity Johnson 4 and 3.

Nikki Garrett beat Stacey Keating 5 and 4.

Lee-Anne Pace beat Stacy Lee Bregman 1 hole

Third round tee times

9:08        Frances Bondad

               Becky Brewerton

9:16        Danielle Montgomery

               Rebecca Hudson

9:24        Carlota Ciganda

               Lydia Hall

9:32        Nikki Garrett

               Lee-Anne Pace

More information:

www.tenerifematchplay.com