Top seniors head to the Isle of Wight
11th June 2013The English senior women’s stroke play championship will be played on the Isle of Wight for the first time when the event takes place at Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club from 18-20 June.
The field includes three IoW players, Maggie Ankers of Cowes, Jackie Mouat of Newport and Joanne Wright of Osborne.
Another islander in the mix is Jenny Deeley, the Jersey matchplay and stroke play champion from La Moye. Playing alongside them are eight Hampshire contestants, including the 2011 titleholder, Chris Quinn of Hockley.
The defending champion is Janet Melville of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire who is clearly in fine form, having also won the English senior women’s amateur title on her home course in April.
She will be challenged by the country’s leading seniors - and there’s much riding on this championship for all of them. As well as the chance to win a national title there is the opportunity to qualify to play for England in the European senior ladies’ team championship in Slovenia from 3-7 September. The team will be made up of the top six players on the senior order of merit following this championship.
Janet Melville and Chris Quinn – who was runner-up at Sherwood Forest - are currently the leading contenders for team places. Others on the order of merit and also in the championship field include Catherine Rawthore (Sale), Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Roz Adams (Addington Court Ladies’), Caroline Berry (Delamere Forest), Caron Harrison (Sherwood Forest), Felicity Christine (Woking), Amanda Mayne (Saltford) and Gillian Mellor (Prestbury).
The championship is contested over 54 holes. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of the first two days. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the leading 36 players and ties, who will play the final round on the third day.