Top teenagers to challenge for English girls’ title next week

Over 100 of England’s top teenage golfers, led by a Curtis Cup player, will challenge for honours in next week’s English girls’ open amateur championship at Oake Manor Golf Club, near Taunton in Somerset. The 72-hole event – which will be played from Tuesday, 30 July to Thursday, 1 August – has attracted players from the length and breadth of the country. Among those making the trek from the north is Curtis Cup player, Bronte Law of Bramhall in Cheshire (Image © Leaderboard Photography), who is taking one last tilt at this title before leaving junior ranks at the end of the season. She was third last year, behind Emily Taylor of Lancashire, who now plays on the Ladies European Tour. Another northerner to watch is Olivia Winning of Rotherham, Yorkshire, who won the Scottish open stroke play championship earlier this year, leading the international ladies’ event from start to finish. She’ll be joined in the field by two fellow girl internationals, Alice Hewson of Hertfordshire – who is the Scottish U16 champion – and Sophie Lamb of Lancashire. They recently helped England into fourth place in the European girls’ team championship in Sweden  Bronte, Alice and fellow England performance squad player Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) will be well travelled by the time they tee up in the championship. The day before it starts, they’ll be taking part in final qualifying for the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns in Scotland and will make the long trip south after play. The field from closer to home includes the South West ladies’ champion, Bethan Popel of Long Ashton, Gloucestershire, and the South West girls’ champion, Sophie Keech of Lyme Regis, Dorset. Local interest will focus on two Somerset girls who are taking part:  Megan Dennett of Enmore Park and Annabelle Faragher of Wheathill. The competitors will play a lengthened course of 6018 yards, with a par of 71. Their challenges will include a series of lakes, cascades and a natural trout stream which run through the course, creating water hazards on ten of the 18 holes. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of Tuesday and Wednesday, 30 and 31 July. The field will then be cut to the top 36 players and ties who will contest the final 36 holes on Thursday, 1 August. There will be prizes for the top eight scratch scores. Spectators are welcome. Companion events for U15 and U13 girl golfers will be played simultaneously at Tiverton Golf Club, Devon. Full scores, images and information will be available at www.englandgolf.org/championships Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193