ENGLISH LADIES SENIOR INTERNATIONAL 2012

NEWS RELEASE

The English Ladies’ Senior International at Cambridge Meridian has again attracted an international field of top professionals and amateurs from countries including Poland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the USA and the Netherlands – plus, of course, the four home countries.

The tournament is hosted by Jenny Wisson and Vivien Saunders OBE, owners of Cambridge Meridian.

Jenny, “The tournament is has attracted some new competitors this year – from Finland, Poland and Switzerland – and is becoming a firm favourite on the seniors’ circuit.”

Vivien, “The only other tournament for senior women pros is that annual tournament at Chantaco in France, started and run by Catherine Lacoste. Catherine and I played plenty of golf together forty years ago. We both own golf courses and are privileged to be able to enjoy hosting tournaments for our friends!”

Cambridge Meridian is a tough Par 74 course, just outside Cambridge. It was designed by the legendary Peter Alliss, and is usually described as his best design project.

Day 1

Scotland’s Cathy Panton-Lewis has won the championship twice before. This year she started her defence of the title with an opening three under par score of 71. This included birdies on two of the tricky par 3’s. This year the tournament includes a £1,000 for a hole in one. Cathy came within a whisker of claiming this on the 17^th and just tapped in for her two.

Bev New, from Somerset, who regained her amateur status, won the British Seniors and then reverted to pro status this year, carded a superb one under par, 73. This included six birdies, including a two on the 17^th. But neither girl needs be too enthusiastic about making a hole in one there on Day Two. The Hole in One challenge moves to the 5^th for Day Two.

Leading amateur is Staffordshire’s Gill Snelson, with a one over par, 75. Minna Kaarnalahti from Finland, enjoying her first visit to the championship opened with a 79, sadly dropping 6 shots in the last six holes. (Perhaps she found the weather in sunny Cambridge too hot!!)

In the Nations Cup the American team of Susan Moon and Rica Comstock lead the way, on 151, just edging ahead of the English and Scottish teams 
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 74

71 – Cathy Panton Lewis (Scotland)
73 – Bev New (England)
74 – Susan Moon (USA)
75 – Gill Snelson (Amateur) England
77 – Rica Comstock (USA)
79 – Roz Adams (Amateur) England
79 - Minna Kaarnalahti (Amateur) Finland