Felicity Johnson wins English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship 2005

Warwickshire teenager Felicity Johnson is the new English champion, winning the title at the 20th hole at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club after an epic battle against Lincolnshire’s Sophie Walker.

The 18-year-old from Harborne Golf Club is one of the youngest-ever winners of the English Ladies Close Amateur Championship and is playing only her second season of full-time amateur golf.

“It’s a fantastic feeling – and it’s just starting to sink in. I’m just taking it all in and enjoying the moment,” she said, after being presented with the trophy.

The final, which was played in strong breezes, intermittent rain and the threat of thunder, attracted a good crowd of spectators who were treated to much drama, including super-accurate shots, a wasp sting and a brave fightback.

On the first, Sophie hit the pin with her approach to set up a winning birdie but Felicity came straight back, levelling the score on the second and was never again behind in the match.

She went one up on the 4th, where her birdie putt was conceded, and was three up after seven, but lost the 8th to Sophie’s birdie.

The two players halved the next five holes, including the 11th, where both had birdies and where Sophie was stung by a wasp on the knuckle of her right hand.

Felicity almost holed her four-iron tee shot on the 168-yard 14th, where the ball finished about 12 inches from the cup, and her birdie again gave her a three-hole advantage.

But then Sophie struck back, winning the next three holes to take the score back to all square. Despite the setback Felicity was still confident: “I was still feeling all right. I knew I was hitting it well and that I just had to keep going. I was still feeling pretty confident."

Both players parred the 18th and the match went into extra time. They halved the 19th, before Felicity broke the deadlock on the 20th.

There, Sophie’s drive caught the rough and her second finished in a bunker about 40 yards short of the green. Her third found the green and she putted up to about 5ft. Meanwhile, Felicity played the hole in textbook fashion: a great drive, a sand wedge to 12ft, two putts for a par – and the championship.

Felicity’s mother, Jay, was waiting in the clubhouse to share her daughter’s triumph. But her step-father and coach, Paul Johnson, was absent – accompanying her seven-year-old brother at a Wee Wonders tournament!

Paul, the professional at Harborne, has taught Felicity since she started golf as a five-year-old. She also works with England coach Pat Smillie. “They’ve both been great,” said the new champion, who is reaping the rewards of hard practice through the winter.

Her next major date, in a schedule which includes women’s and junior events, is the British championship at Littlestone. “I’ve just got to try and keep the form going,” she said.

(Images available from Tom Ward)

17 - 21 May 2005

Handicap Limit: 6

Matchplay results

Qualify results

Burnham & Berrow Golf Club
St Christopher's Way
Burnham-on-Sea
Somerset
TA8 2PE
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Sophie Walker and Felicity Johnson in English Championship final

Lincolnshire’s Sophie Walker and Warwickshire teenager Felicity Johnson will meet in tomorrow’s final of the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset.

Sophie, 20, (Kenwick Park) ended the reign of defending champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) with a 3/2 win in their semi-final match.

“I’m really chuffed to get through, it’s brilliant,” said Sophie, who won the English strokeplay championship in 2003 and the English girls’ championship in 2000. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it should be a good game.”

She got off to a quick start in against Kerry, winning the first hole, and she held the advantage throughout the match, which was played in strong winds and some rain.

”I played steadily and I was two up early on, three up at the turn and then just held on,” said Sophie, whose score was around level par. “It was good golf in the conditions.”

In the morning quarter-finals, Sophie scored a one-hole win after a tight battle with English girls’ champion Melissa Reid (Chevin). Kerry beat Joanne Hodge (Knowle) 5/4.

The championship is providing Sophie with a break from her studies. She’s a sports science student at Loughborough University and will be taking her final exams in June. “This is a bit of a break, it’s a week away,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Felicity Johnson (Harborne) ended the run of England international Julie Ross (Whitley Bay), who survived a play-off to reach the matchplay stages of the championship.

Felicity, 18, quickly took charge of their semi-final, was up throughout the match and was a couple of shots under par when she won 5/4. She was two up at the turn and then won the 10th, 11th and 13th to set up her victory.

“It’s pretty exciting and I’m looking forward to the final,” said Felicity, who won ELGA’s 2004 girls’ order of merit. “It’s just nice to do well in this tournament, it’s the main one.” This will be her first final and she has reached it on only her second appearance in the championship.

In her quarter-final match Felicity beat Leah Occleshaw (Lansdown) 2/1, while Julie overwhelmed fellow international Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 6/5.

Kerry Smith safely through to semi-finals
Kerry defeated Joanne Hodge, 5&4 and now meets Sophie Walker who had to pull out all the stops to get past reigning English Girls' Champion Melissa Reid on the home green after a titanic struggle. In the other semi-final Felicity Johnson will play Julie Ross who overwhelmed Naomi Edwards 6&5.

Leah beats top seed in English Championship

First-time qualifier Leah Occleshaw staged a major upset when she defeated top seed Laura Eastwood in the second round of the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship.

“It was amazing, absolutely amazing. It's a real dream,” said 37-year-old Leah after her 2/1 victory at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset .

The four-handicapper from Lansdown has been playing in the championship since 1997 but this is the first time she's reached the matchplay stages. Now she's a quarter-finalist and due to play Felicity Johnson (Harborne), 18, winner of ELGA's 2004 girls order of merit.

Leah credits this and other recent successes to the work she's done on golf psychology. “I've always known I could do this, I've wanted it and worked for it for so long and now I'm actually letting it happen,” she said.

She took early control of the match and was five up after 11 holes. But Laura fought back and was just one down after the 16 th . “I just started to get a bit ahead of myself, a bit fidgety, and Laura played some great shots,” said Leah.

But, after watching Laura miss the green on the par three 17 th , the former Gloucestershire champion was determined to make no mistakes and secured her win with an accurate seven-iron shot. “I thought I'm absolutely going to commit to this shot and I hit it out of the middle and into the centre of the green.”

Another of the championship's early high-fliers was also beaten today. Kiran Matharu, the Yorkshire 16-year-old, led the first round of strokeplay qualifying with a three-under par 69, but her challenge ended in the first round of matchplay.

She was beaten 4/2 by England international Julie Ross ( Whitley Bay ), who had played alongside Kiran as she compiled her 69. “She was impressive,” said Julie. “But you need to be confident in your own game. I hit the fairways and made the most of it.” She won again in the afternoon and now plays Naomi Edwards (Ganton).

Another prominent teenager, 15-year-old Henni Brockway (Yeovil) has also bowed out. The Welsh Open Strokeplay Champion was beaten 2/1 in the second round by England international Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park), who goes on to meet English girls' champion Melissa Reid, 17, (Chevin). .

Defending champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) is safely through to the quarter-finals after defeating Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 3/2 and Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) 5/4. Now, she plays 18-year-old Joanne Hodge (Knowle) who had to go to the 19 th to beat Claire Aitken (Mid-Kent), 19.

Kiran bows out of English Championship
Round 2: 19 May 2005

First round leader Kiran Matharu has been knocked out of the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset .

The 16-year-old from Cookridge Hall was beaten 4/2 in the first round of matchplay by England international Julie Ross ( Whitley Bay ).

The two players were paired together on Tuesday when Kiran led the field with a three-under par 69. “She was impressive,” said Julie. “But you need to be confident in your own game. I hit the fairways and made the most of it.”

The match was finely balanced for the first nine holes with the players reaching the turn all square. Then, Julie took the advantage and went three up after 13, which she birdied. She lost the 14 th but came straight back to win the next two holes and close out Kiran on the 16 th.

Laura Eastwood leads qualifiers in English Championship

Round 1: 18 May 2005
Devon 's Laura Eastwood is the leading qualifier for the matchplay stages of the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club in Somerset .

“It feels good, I'm very pleased with that,” said the 21-year-old from Yelverton, who returned a level par 72 in the second qualifying round.

Her two-round total of 145 put her a shot ahead of Sophie Walker ( Kenwick Park ), who was the only other player to match par on a day of strong winds.

Laura prepared for today's challenge by practising her chipping for hours last night and this morning. “Yesterday I missed three greens with chips, which was just ridiculous, and I holed putts to save myself.

“I was very happy with my score yesterday but I knew it could have been better. I knew what I was doing wrong and the practice definitely paid off, although I also hit more greens and, again, I holed the putts.”

Laura describes Burnham and Berrow as the hardest links course she's ever played but it was kind to her today. “I had all the bounces going with me over the first few holes,” she remarked.

She birdied three of the four par fives, with the 13 th helping to illustrate the strength of the wind, which was against on the inward holes. Here she had to punch a four-iron 143 yards to reach the green in three. Her shot finished within 3ft of the hole and she rolled it in for a four.

Other players who comfortably reached the matchplay stages of the championship included defending champion Kerry Smith and overnight leader Kiran Matharu, who both had two-round totals of 147.

Henni Brockway, the 15-year-old Welsh Open Strokeplay Champion, had a tough day, scoring 86 – but her 160 total took made it through with room to spare.

However, six players who all tied on 163 had to battle it out in a sudden death play-off for the last five places in the matchplay draw.

The outcome was disappointment for Burnham and Berrow's ladies club champion Kate Charles, who bowed out with a triple bogey seven on the first hole.

The five successful players were Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), Julie Ross (Whitley Bay), Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog), Katrina Holford (Ingestre Park) and Cheryl Smith (The Oaks) – whose identical twin, Michelle, had already qualified.

Meanwhile, former champion Emma Duggleby, who shot scores of 77, 78 to qualify easily, has retired because of a wrist injury.

Kiran leads the way in English Championship

Round 1: 17 May 2005
Yorkshire teenager Kiran Matharu set today’s first round pace in the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship with a three-under par 69 at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club in Somerset.

The 16-year-old from Cookridge Hall is one shot ahead of defending champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) at the half-way stage of the two strokeplay qualifying rounds.

They were the only two players to break par on a sunny, breezy day when many competitors found the course difficult and the greens tricky.

“I didn’t expect to shoot that good a score,” said Kiran. “I knew it was possible but it’s a very tough course and if you’re not hitting it straight you are in trouble.”

However, Kiran’s shots were definitely on target and her putting was also hot as she fashioned five birdies in a round which included just two bogeys.

She settled her nerves by making birdie threes on the first two holes and then added another pair, on the par-five 11th, which she reached in two shots, and the 12th, where she holed from about 15ft.

She dropped a shot at the short 14th and on the 15th, where her tee shot found thick rough, but she bounced straight back with another birdie on the 326-yard 16th.

“That was really good. The pin was at the back of the two-tier green and I had to play a running 90-yard shot in – and it was just perfect,” said Kiran, whose ball finished 6ft from the hole.

Meanwhile, Kerry Smith began her title defence with a two-under par 70. She was out in level par 36 after a bogey on the first hole and a birdie on the short 9th.

On the way home she had mixed fortunes on the par fives, with an eagle on the 419-yard 11th and a dropped shot on the 506-yard 13th. However, another birdie on the par four 16th gave her an inward score of 34.

Other leading contenders on the first day included 19-year-old Cori Lee (West Lancashire), who has been a golf club member for less than four years. The Lancashire county champion returned a one-over par 73 and said: “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow after making such a great start.”

Joining her on 73 was former English girls’ champion Laura Eastwood, 21, (Yelverton), who was disappointed by some bad bounces and went off to practice her chipping after play.

Fifteen-year-old Henni Brockway, who won the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship earlier this month, was one shot further back on 74. The Yeovil player dropped four shots on her way to the turn, but came home in two-under 34 with birdies on the 11th, 14th and 17th. She got into difficulties on the last but salvaged a bogey when she chipped in from behind a bunker.

After two rounds of strokeplay qualifying the top 32 players will go forward to the matchplay knockout stages of the championship.

Kerry Smith to defend English championship:
Hampshire’s Kerry Smith will defend her title when the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship is played at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club in Somerset from May 17-21.

Kerry, 33, from Waterlooville GC, won the championship at her ninth attempt and went on to top ELGA’s 2004 Order of Merit.

To keep her title Kerry will have to beat a field, which includes fellow internationals and proven winners – and she will have to see off a strong youth challenge.

Just over a quarter of the 83 competitors are Under-18s and there are a host of other players in their late teens and early 20s.

The youngest is 14-year-old Nicola Dunn, a three-handicapper from Harrogate GC, who recently made news as overall winner at a Faldo Series regional event, beating male and female players up to seven years her senior.

Other teenagers who make winning headlines include 15-year-old Henni Brockway, 15, (Yeovil) who has just won the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship; Melissa Reid, 17 (Chevin) the English girls’ champion; Kiran Matharu, 16, (Cookridge Hall) the Faldo Series girls’ champion; and Felicity Johnson, 18, (Harborne), winner of ELGA’s 2004 girls’ order of merit.

Altogether, over 40 years span the competitors and Vivien Saunders is the senior player in the field. The plus-one handicapper from Cambridge Meridien GC had illustrious amateur and professional careers before returning to amateur ranks in 2003.

Burnham & Berrow is fielding four players: two teenagers, Donna O’Connell, 17, and Kelly Gallier, 18; the ladies’ club champion Kate Charles and the ladies’ vice captain Sue Severn. Another local youngster is 16-year-old Hannah Grant from Enmore Park, near Bridgewater, who was the losing finalist in the Somerset county championship.

The English championship is returning to Burnham and Berrow for the first time since 1989. The links course – with sea views to the Welsh coastline - is a long-established venue for championship golf and scores are usually shaped by the wind.

Ladies’ captain Sue Wall commented: “The wind is the main challenge here. It is very rare to play Burnham without some breeze – it all depends on which way it’s blowing!”

The course has been lengthened by 415 yards for the championship, using a mixture of ladies’ and men’s tees. It will measure 6159 yards, with a par of 74 and a USGA course rating scratch score of 76. The usual scratch score is 74.

All competitors play an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round on each of the first two days of the championship. The lowest 32 scores qualify for the matchplay knockout stages of the tournament.

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