STRONG INTERNATIONAL FIELD FOR ENGLISH WOMEN'S STROKE-PLAY

International Alex Peters will defend her title against a strong field when the English women’s open stroke play championship takes place next week at Mannings Heath, Sussex, from August 6-8. The 19-year-old from Notts Ladies’ – who won by six shots last year – was also runner-up in this season’s English amateur, reached the last 16 in the British championship and represented GB and I in the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe. Alex (image © Leaderboard Photography) will be challenged for the title by leading players from across England and further afield. The host of internationals include English and British stroke play champion, Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro), who will make her way to Sussex after playing in this week’s Women’s British Open at St Andrews. Others include Hayley Davis (Ferndown), a past English women’s and girls’ champion, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), the Irish open stroke play champion, and Lauren Taylor (Woburn) who became the youngest winner of the British championship when she took the title in 2011 at the age of 16. There will be a strong contingent of Sussex players led by reigning English mid-amateur champion Emma Carberry (Highwoods) and British senior champion Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest). They’ll be joined by the Highwoods pair, Chelsea Masters and Belinda Whent, and by Alice Barnes (West Sussex), Amber Cockram (Goodwood) and Jelina Fernando (Pyecombe) . The championship has attracted competitors from all the home nations, including Welsh champion Becky Harries and Curtis Cup player Amy Boulden, also from Wales, and Scottish international Eilidh Briggs. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Nicole Garcia is taking part to gain experience as she makes her way to the LET qualifying school later in the season. The championship will be played on the Waterfall course at Mannings Heath, where  a combination of gold, white, yellow and red tees will be used to provide a layout measuring 6125 yards. It mixes a combination of heathland, downland and parkland. Steve Slinger, general manager at Mannings Heath, said: “To be chosen to host such a prestigious championship is a great honour and privilege for the club and Exclusive Golf. “The Waterfall course is held in great regard by golfers across the south of England. It is in fantastic condition and, with the way it is going to be set up, the players will be playing a truly unique course in what is a spectacular setting for golf.” The championship starts on Tuesday, 6 August and all competitors will play 36 holes over the first two days. The field will then be cut to the leading 36 players and ties who will play the final 36 holes on Thursday, 8 August. Spectators are welcome and there will be full reports, images and scores at www.englandgolf.org/championships Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193 EDITORS’ NOTES England Golf is the governing body for amateur golf in England. England Golf was formed on 1st January 2012 following the merger of the English Golf Union Ltd. and the English Women’s Golf Association and is one of the largest sports governing bodies in England looking after the interests of over 1,900 golf clubs and 770,000 men and women club members. Responsible for the training of the country’s top amateur golfers, England Golf also organises all the major English amateur championships. England Golf works to actively encourage new golfers and increase the continued interest and participation in golf through its golf development initiative ‘Get into Golf’. England Golf is a member of The England Golf Partnership (EGP) together with the PGA and supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England. Their Whole Sport Plan for golf identifies how England will achieve its vision of becoming ‘The Leading Golf Nation in the World by 2020’ from grass roots right through to elite level.

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