Top Class Field for English Women’s Amateur

A top class field of the country's best female amateurs will gather at Wilmslow Golf Club in Cheshire next week for the English Women’s Closed Amateur Championship.

Local hopes will focus on Bel Wardle from Prestbury, who already holds the English open title and will be targeting a special double. The 18-year-old is one of a number of high-profile players in the 72-hole stroke play championship, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, 17-19 July. 

Among them are three members of the GB&I Curtis Cup team: India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Annabell Fuller (Roehampton) and Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe). The trio, together with Lianna Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), will arrive at Wilmslow straight after this week’s European women’s team championship, where they are defending England’s gold medal.

Another five players are representing England in the European girls’ team championship and will also be making the quick turnaround. They are Ebonie Lewis (Long Ashton), Martha Lewis (St George’s Hill), Hannah Screen (Berkhamsted), Caitlin Whitehead (Carus Green) and Amelia Williamson (Royal Cromer).

The championship has attracted a strong entry from Cheshire with 10 players in the field, including six members of the county team. Alongside county champion Bel Wardle are Poppy Finlay (Vicars Cross), Lucy Jamieson (Heswall), Lauren Jones (Mellor and Townscliffe), Charlotte Leathem, who has the advantage of local knowledge as a Wilmslow member, and Emily McBurney (Delamere Forest).

Also playing is Sue Dye of Delamere Forest, who is a past winner of England’s two senior women’s championships.

Wilmslow is one of the oldest golf clubs in Cheshire and has been on its present site for over 100 years. The course is well known as a great test of golf and has hosted regional qualifying for The Open, professional events and those for top amateurs, including the 2013 English Women’s County Finals.

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