CLAIRE SMITH v JESS BRADLEY FOR ENGLISH WOMEN'S MID-AM TITLE
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Yorkshire’s Claire Smith and Devon’s Jessica Bradley will meet in tomorow’s final of the English women’s open mid-amateur championship at Collingtree Park, Northampton. The event is sponsored by Tourism Ireland.
It’s a first national final for both players and, judging by today’s play, it should be a close match. Both made their way through with good, steady play – and both won their semi-finals by the margin of 3 and 2.
Claire defeated Emma Sheffield (Newark) while Jess beat Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough).Jess (Tiverton) who is 18 and playing in the event for the first time, said: “I came here just hoping to qualify and then I was really pleased to get to the semi-final. Now I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it’s exciting!”
Claire (Silsden), 24, is a Yorkshire county player and while she has taken part in this event on previous occasions, she has never fared particularly well in the match-play.
“Tomorrow will be new territory. I’m just looking forward to it, I don’t have any expectations,” she said.
Claire, who was at university in the USA, is now studying physiotherapy at university in Northumberland. Jess, meanwhile, will be heading to the States in August, to join Lynn University in Florida.Jess won the first hole in her match and was never down, although she was twice pulled back to all square over the first nine holes. She also holed a couple of crunch 12ft putts, to halve the 7th and 9th and prevent her opponent getting ahead.
On the back nine she made the most of a lucky bounce over a bunker on to the green on the 11th to go to one up and then made steady progress, including a birdie on the 14th. Ellie, meanwhile, encountered some difficulties: a ball in a water hazard on the 12th, a shot which ended under a tree after a bad bounce on the 13th and a very difficult lie in a bunker on the 14th, when she went four down.She clawed one back on the short 15th but the match ended when the 16th was halved in par fours.
In the other semi-final the players traded the early holes but Claire Smith won the 5th, 6th ,9th and 10th to get to four up. Emma Sheffield’s steady play won the 11th but Claire again extended her advantage on the 13th.
Both players sank good putts to halve the 14th in birdies and Emma immediately followed up with a winning birdie on the short 15th, where she rolled a 25-footer into the cup to reduce the deficit to three.
But her challenge ended on the next when Claire won her place in the final. “It was a good game,” said Claire. “It was very close and the score doesn’t really reflect that.”
RESULTS
Quarter-finals
Emma Sheffield (Newark) bt Sian Evans (Faversham) 2 and 1.
Claire Smith (Silsden) bt Jo Hodge (The Kendleshire) 1 hole.
Jessica Bradley (Tiverton) bt Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 4 and 3.
Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough) bt Emilee Taylor (Holme Hall) 4 and 3.
Smith bt Sheffield 3 and 2.
Bradley bt Robinson 3 and 2.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA
Semi finals
Yorkshire’s Claire Smith and Devon’s Jessica Bradley will meet in tomorow’s final of the English women’s open mid-amateur championship at Collingtree Park, Northampton. The event is sponsored by Tourism Ireland.
It’s a first national final for both players and, judging by today’s play, it should be a close match. Both made their way through with good, steady play – and both won their semi-finals by the margin of 3 and 2.
Claire defeated Emma Sheffield (Newark) while Jess beat Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough).Jess (Tiverton) who is 18 and playing in the event for the first time, said: “I came here just hoping to qualify and then I was really pleased to get to the semi-final. Now I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it’s exciting!”
Claire (Silsden), 24, is a Yorkshire county player and while she has taken part in this event on previous occasions, she has never fared particularly well in the match-play.
“Tomorrow will be new territory. I’m just looking forward to it, I don’t have any expectations,” she said.
Claire, who was at university in the USA, is now studying physiotherapy at university in Northumberland. Jess, meanwhile, will be heading to the States in August, to join Lynn University in Florida.Jess won the first hole in her match and was never down, although she was twice pulled back to all square over the first nine holes. She also holed a couple of crunch 12ft putts, to halve the 7th and 9th and prevent her opponent getting ahead.
On the back nine she made the most of a lucky bounce over a bunker on to the green on the 11th to go to one up and then made steady progress, including a birdie on the 14th. Ellie, meanwhile, encountered some difficulties: a ball in a water hazard on the 12th, a shot which ended under a tree after a bad bounce on the 13th and a very difficult lie in a bunker on the 14th, when she went four down.She clawed one back on the short 15th but the match ended when the 16th was halved in par fours.
In the other semi-final the players traded the early holes but Claire Smith won the 5th, 6th ,9th and 10th to get to four up. Emma Sheffield’s steady play won the 11th but Claire again extended her advantage on the 13th.
Both players sank good putts to halve the 14th in birdies and Emma immediately followed up with a winning birdie on the short 15th, where she rolled a 25-footer into the cup to reduce the deficit to three.
But her challenge ended on the next when Claire won her place in the final. “It was a good game,” said Claire. “It was very close and the score doesn’t really reflect that.”
RESULTS
Quarter-finals
Emma Sheffield (Newark) bt Sian Evans (Faversham) 2 and 1.
Claire Smith (Silsden) bt Jo Hodge (The Kendleshire) 1 hole.
Jessica Bradley (Tiverton) bt Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 4 and 3.
Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough) bt Emilee Taylor (Holme Hall) 4 and 3.
Smith bt Sheffield 3 and 2.
Bradley bt Robinson 3 and 2.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA
Semi finals
Labels: Amateur Ladies, Girls
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