Leading pair defy the winds at English senior championship   Derbyshire’s Lindsey Shaw and Cheshire’s Caroline Berry led the way on a wind-tossed first day at the English senior women’s amateur championship at Woodhall Spa. They both returned impressive scores of four-over par 76 on a day when, for most players, the wind was definitely the winner. It gusted at over 40 mph and buffeted the players as they made their way round the Bracken course, with only four competitors managing to break 80.   And, with more bad weather forecast for tomorrow, the start sheet for the second round has been revised for a two-tee start. Shaw described herself as ‘battered’ after her round, but confessed the wind had not bothered her unduly. “It was difficult, but I had one of those days when it runs for you and my short game was pretty tidy.” She chipped in for a birdie on 15, on her way to a level par inward half. She also putted steadily on the challenging greens, although she laughed: “I don’t think anyone in the field will have avoided a three-putt. I had two doubles with three-putts in the wind, I could hardly stand up!” Shaw (Chevin) arrived at Woodhall Spa – the home of England Golf – in good form, having been runner-up in the recent Spanish senior amateur.  “It got me kick-started for the season and it made a difference to play in the sunshine in good conditions.” Caroline Berry (Bromborough, image © Leaderboard Photography), is a past winner of this title - and is also on form. She has just won the Cheshire senior championship at Royal Liverpool, where the wind on the Hoylake links was nowhere near as strong as today’s experience. Her response to the conditions was patience. “It was almost like playing links golf and it was difficult to get near the pins, so you had to be very patient. “I started off a little nervously but I had two good birdies on the 7th and 8th to settle me down and then played fairly steadily on the back nine, with another birdie on the 14th.”  Defending champion Julie Brown (Trentham) and Jo Shorrocks (Bigbury) both shot 79 to share third place. “The wind tested you on every single shot, even the 2ft putts,” said Brown. “The greens are very tricky, with lots and lots of borrows and, with the wind, you couldn’t just tap in.” She felt she could have improved on her score but, at the end of a testing round, remarked: “I’ll take it!” After tomorrow’s second round the top 16 players will go forward to the championship matchplay and the next 16 will contest flight two. For full scores and tee times please click here - Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193