Henni wins Welsh Strokeplay Championship
02 May 2005

Teenager Henni Brockway led a clean sweep for England yesterday when she won the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship at Pyle & Kenfig after a sudden death play-off.

“It was really amazing, really good, I couldn’t believe it,” said the 15-year-old from Yeovil, who birdied the third extra hole to beat another youngster, 16-year-old Kiran Matharu from Yorkshire.

Henni, the English girls’ U15 champion, also won the U21 award and topped a leaderboard which was dominated by England – and notably by young players

Another teenager, English girls’ champion Melissa Reid, 17, was third and the next three places were also filled by English players.

The team prize was won by the teenage line-up of England B – Kiran, Melissa and 18-year-old Felicity Johnson - while England A were runners-up.

The sudden death drama began after Henni and Kiran tied on 218 – seven under par – following a ding-dong final round in the 54-hole championship.

Kiran led by a shot at the start of the day and after seven holes Henni was trailing by five strokes. “I really wasn’t getting anything together,” she said. But that all changed when she birdied the 8th, then eagled the 9th and 11th to move a shot ahead of Kiran.

The Yorkshire girl struck back with an eagle on the 16th but Henni again moved level when she birdied the 17th. “It was really exciting, really good fun,” she said.

Leading final scores:

Yorkshire 's Kiran leads Welsh Open
01 May 2005

Yorkshire teenager Kiran Matharu is the 36-hole leader of the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship – on a great day for English players.

Four of the first five places were filled by English golfers after the first two rounds of the 54-hole championship at Pyle and Kenfig - and all the players were under par.

Kiran, 16, set yesterday's pace with a four under par 71, followed by a second round of 73. The 2004 Faldo Series girls' champion is one shot ahead of English U15 champion Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil), who had rounds of 73, 72.

Meanwhile, another English player, Michelle Smith, of The Oaks in Yorkshire , was in sixth place, while international Sophie Walker took 10 th spot

England names teams for Welsh open championship
22 April 2005

England has selected teams representing youth and experience for the Welsh 54-hole open amateur strokeplay championship, which takes place at Pyle & Kenfig on April 30 and May 1.

Three England internationals have been named in Team A. They are English champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville, Hampshire) with Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall, Northumberland) and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire). The reserve is Laura Eastwood (Yelverton, Devon).

Team B is made up of teenagers: English girls’ champion Melissa Reid, 17, (Chevin, Derbyshire); 2004 Faldo Series girls’ champion Kiran Matharu, 16, (Cookridge Hall, Yorkshire); and 2004 ELGA girls’ order of merit winner Felicity Johnson,18, (Harborne, Warwickshire). The reserve is Joanne Hodge,18, (Knowle, Gloucestershire).

Last year’s individual championship was won by Kent’s Danielle Masters, who later turned professional. Five other English players also finished in the top 10 places.

Above:
Henni Brockway winner
of the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship

Above:
The winning England team

Above:
Kiran Matharu

Picture from
Tom Ward Sport

Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union