Kiran and Melissa reach Weetabix final qualifying
11 July
2005
England teenager Kiran Matharu stormed through regional
qualifying for the Weetabix Women’s British
Open, topping the leaderboard with a two-under par
70.
The 16-year-old girl international was the only amateur
in a group of four players who shared first place
in the 18-hole event at The Berkshire.
Now, for the second year in a row, she goes forward
to final qualifying which takes place at Hillside
on Monday July 25. Also through is English girls’
champion Melissa Reid, 17, who tied for eighth place
at The Berkshire on one over par.
Both players had just returned from last weekend’s
triumph in the European Girls’ Team Championship
where they helped England win the gold medal.
Their top form continued at The Berkshire - although
both girls got off to a shaky start, each scoring
a double bogey five on the first hole. However, they
quickly repaired the damage in identical fashion,
with birdies on the 3rd and 5th.
Kiran (Cookridge Hall) had three more birdies in
her round, on the 6th, 16th and 17th and just one
dropped shot on the par four 15th. Melissa (Chevin)
meanwhile, dropped shots on 10, 11 and 17 but birdied
16 and 18.
The cut at The Berkshire fell at three-over par 75,
with 29 players successfully reaching final qualifying.
Among those who were disappointed was Laura Eastwood
(Yelverton) who missed out by one shot after returning
76; Jodi Ewart (Catterick) 78; and Emma Sheffield
(Newark) 79.
At final qualifying Kiran and Melissa will join English
champion Felicity Johnson (Harborne) and international
Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) who are exempt to this
stage of the competition. Altogether 92 players will
compete over 18 holes for one of 10 places in the
championship, which takes place at Royal Birkdale
from July 28-31.
Kiran, Melissa, Felicity and Sophie are all members
of ELGA’s Sport England lottery-funded World
Class training programme.
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