Lancashire champions will spearhead title challenge Two Lancashire champions will spearhead the county’s challenge when the English women’s open stroke play championship is played next week at St Annes Old Links, from 4-6 August.  Brogan Townend (Pleasington) is the county women’s champion and Louisa Brunt (Royal Birkdale) is the girls’ titleholder (Image © Leaderboard Photography). They’ll be joined in the field by six other players from Lancashire clubs, including Georgia Coughlin from the host club.  Over 100 competitors from 10 countries have entered the 72-hole event and the field includes proven champions and internationals.  They include Sophie Keech (Parkstone) who won the English women’s matchplay and Cloe Frankish (Chart Hills) who has won the Scottish U21 and English U16 girls’ championships in the last two weeks.  Among the others in the field are internationals Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) and Bethan Popel (Long Ashton). Meanwhile, the visitors include Mary Doyle, the 2014 Irish close champion, and Scotland’s Ailsa Summers, a past winner of the St Rule Trophy.  The championship is played over 72 holes of stroke play. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of Tuesday, 4 August and Wednesday, 5 August. The field will then be cut to the top 36 players and ties who will play the final 36 holes on Thursday, 6 August. Admission is free and spectators are welcome. Draws, live scoring, news and images will be available on the championship webpage.   Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193