Ricoh Women's British Open Final Qualifier

Bronte Law disqualified: Charlotte Ellis leads 

with 69 in the rain at Irvine links

By COLIN FARQUHASON
The disqualification of World No 2 amateur Bronte Law and a five-under-par 69 by Charlotte Ellis, first off the tee at 7.30am, were the major lunchtime talking points in the clubhouse at Irvine Golf Club, venue for the Final Qualifying competition over 18 holes for the Ricoh Women's British Open at Turnberry, also in
Ayrshire, later in the week.

"I just wasn't thinking but as soon as I did it, I realised what I had done" Bronte Law, the repeating English women's amateur champion from Bramhall, Cheshire, told LGU tournament controller Gillian Roy.
"There are plenty of notices saying that DMDs are not permitted at this tournament but I had one up to my eyes at the fourth ths morning before I realised what I was doing! I knew it meant disqualification but it was too late by then."
The world's top three female amateurs - No 1 Leona Maguire from Ireland, No 2 Bronte Law and No 3 Madelene Sagstrom from Sweden - are taking part in this eliminator to produce 12 qualifiers for the main event at Turnberry. Now Bronte has ruled herself out of appearing on the big stage at the Ricoh's Women's British
Open.
The qualifier began in miserable conditions of rain, coldness and a bit of wind, forecast to rise as the day progressed. But that did not stop 29-year-old Charlotte Ellis from Cheltenham, first off the tee at 7.30am, from posting a five-under-par 69 round the classic Scottish links at Irvine.

"Since I turned pro, it's always been an ambition to play in the Ricoh Women's British Open. One box to be ticked - and I'm excited that I seemed to have done the trick," said Charlotte (pictured left).
"My brother Phil, who lives in London, had said that he would come up and caddie for me if I made it to Turnberry. So I've called him and told him he had better be ready to book his flights!"
Charlotte, one of whose amateur career highlights was winning the 2011 Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke play championship at Troon - also in Ayrshire - had six birdies and one bogey (at the very last hole) - in halves of 34 (two under par) and 35 (three under).
She birdied the third, fourth, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th before driving into a fairway bunker - her only visit to did psad the whole round - which cost her a bogey 5.
"My local caddie, Barry Hollywood, who is a pro golfer among other things, was a big help but I did play well. Used a driver off the tee occasionally but when it was too risky I played a three wood and even a five-iron off the tee at the fifth," said Charlotte..
The game plan certainly worked for her.
 The next best score by 1pm was a four-under 70 by former British women's and girls amateur chanpion Georgia Hall (19) from Bournemouth. 
Georgia bogeyed the first where she drove into the wet  rough but she covered her next 10 holes in four under par with birdies at the second, fifth, seventh and 11th.
A three-putt bogey at the 15th did not knock her out of her stride because she holed an 8ft putt for a birdie on the 17th and a 12-footer for a birdie on the 18th.
"I've played in the Ricoh Women's British Open twice as an amateur and I would be delighted to make it for the first time as a pro," said Georgia.
"I holed some good putts but the most important thing was to stay positive and not let the cold and the wet conditions get you down."
World No 1 female amateur Leona Maguire from Ireland did not have a good day on the Ayrshire links. She had a four-over-par 78 after going out in 40 (four over par) and running up a double bogey 6 at the 12th.
Leona perked up after that disaster by covering the last six holes in two under par with birdies at the 13th and 14th and pars at the rest but, in terms of qualifying for Turnberry, it was probably too little too late.