ALEX PETERS WINS ENGLISH WOMEN'S OPEN STROKE-PLAY

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Teenager Alex Peters made a stunning debut in the English women’s open stroke play championship at Little Aston, Staffordshire, when she scored a six-shot victory. The 18-year-old from Notts’ Ladies came from three behind at the half way stage to overtake the leader, Charlotte Thompson of Essex, and finish on three-under par for the event.
Alex also won the U23 and U21 trophies. English girls’ champion Emily Taylor (Hillside), who finished third overall, won the U18 trophy. The U23 County Team trophy was won by Charlotte Thompson (Channels) and Ashleigh Greenham (West Essex).
Alex, a former England girl international, said afterwards: “This is my biggest win. It's a big tournament which is open and attracts foreign players so I’m very happy to win it.”The success underlines her fine form this season, helped, she says, by finishing school and leaving exam stress behind. She’s already won the Independent Schools’ championship at Carnoustie, the Nottinghamshire ladies’ title and, with Charlotte Thompson, the Porters Park Centenary Cup.
Now, she’s looking ahead to the British stroke play and qualifying for the Women’s British Open, before taking up a golf scholarship in the USA in January.
But first, she’s celebrating this win. Alex played steadily throughout the championship and took her chances when she could, on a course which she really enjoys.
Charlotte Thompson had dominated the event over the opening two rounds, getting to four-under, but Alex was not discouraged to start the final day three behind.
“I knew Charlotte was playing well, we’d both won at Porters Park and we’d played the practice round together. But I started well and I was only one behind after four - with 32 holes to go.”
Alex gave herself a great morale boost on the par four sixth, where she hit her five-wood approach to within 2in of the hole. That helped her reach the turn in two under and she played the back nine in level par, with two bogeys and two birdies, for a two-under 71. Charlotte, meanwhile, slipped back with a third round score of 77.
In the last round the game plan was clear: “I just went for fairways, greens and two-putts,” said Alex. “If a putt went in, great, but I just wanted to play steady.” She was rewarded with a level par score of 73 – and the title.
Charlotte, who was celebrating her 20th birthday, finished as runner-up. She, too, is in having a successful season, having already taken third place in the English women’s open mid-amateur championship.
Emily Taylor, meanwhile, continued the form which won her the English girls’ title last week, by climbing the leaderboard on the last day. She was 10th at the halfway stage but finished in third place.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 292 (4x73)
289 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 73 72 71 73
295 Charlotte Thompson (Channels)71 71 77 76
296 Emily Taylor (Hillside) 73 77 72 74
298 Chloé Leurquin (BEL) 70 77 77 74
299 Charlotte Wild (Mere) 74 76 75 74
300 Charlotte Leathem (Styal) 77 73 80 70
301 Jane Turner (SCO), 75 76 77 73, Jessica Bradley (Tiverton) 75 74 73 79
303 Becky Harries (WAL) 73 77 78 75, Fanny Cnops (BEL) 81 68 75 79, Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 74 73 77 79
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
308 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 72 78 81 77 (T16)
311 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 74 80 80 (T31)

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