Chloe Williams
(Golfweek Photo)
BELFAST, Ireland (August 31, 2016) -- Others headed
them or matched them at different stages of the round
but in the end they were the three in joint pole position
at the Ladies British Stroke Play at Knock Golf Club.
Lianna Bailey, 19, from Kirby Muxloe Golf Club,
Leicester, had the best outward half of four-under-par
33, which included an eagle 3 at the long third, a 2 at
the short fourth and birdie 3s at the par-4 eighth and
ninth. She made only one slip on the way out, a bogey
at the fifth, but it was a different story after the turn.
Lianna had a nightmare inward half of 44 strokes
which included a triple bogey 7 at the 18th for a round
that promised so much but ended in a disappointing
score of 77.
Lianna's sister Annabel, who had her 18th birthday
only a week ago, turned in one-under 36 and and
completed another half of 36 for a creditable 72, one
shot behind the joint leaders.
Annabels three birdies came at par-5 holes: the
third, the sixth and the 14th. She bogeyed the eighth
and 11th.
Chloe Williams birdied the fifth, long 10th, short
12th and short 16th in halves of 37 (level par) and 34
(two under). The Welsh player bogeyed the ninth and
the long 14th.
Inci Mehmet had more birdies - the second, long
third, long sixth, seventh and long 10th - but also more
bogeys, at the first, fifth and eighth, in halves of 36 and
35. She parred the last eight holes.
Mairead Martin had a bogey-free outward half of
35, highlighted by birdies at the par-5 third and fifth.
The Killarney player moved to three under with a 4 at
the long 10th but that was as good as it got for Mairead.
She bogeyed the 11th and parred her way in from there
for a 71.
Jessica Ross (Clandeboy), joint fourth in this event
last year, started solidly with two-under-par 35 to the
turn. She wobbled a bit on the inward half with bogeys
at the 11th, long 14th and 38th, and only one birdie, at
the short 16th, for 38 home and a par round of 73.
Georgia Price (Bude and North Cornwall) birdied the
15th and 18th to salvage a par round of 73 after
dropping three shots over three holes - a bogey at the
11th and a double bogey 6 at the 13th.
She had earlier birdies at two par-5 holes, the sixth
and the 10th, in halves of 37 and 36. She also dropped
a shot at the second.
Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) came back in 34
to post a 74 after being three over par at the turn to
post a 74.
English-born Gemma Batty (Moffat), who hopes to
play for Scotland once she has lived north of the Border
for long enough to meet the international requirements,
was sharing the lead at two under par after birdieing the
first, fourth and seventh on her way to a two-under-par
outward half of 35. But things went awry for Gemma
after the turn with a triple bogey 6 at the short 16th
and bogeys at the 10th, 11th, 13th and 18th. She had
only one birdie, at the long 14th, to offset the shots
dropped and 42 home for a 77 was a disappointing
finish to a potentially very good round.
There will be a cut made after 36 holes for the top
40 plus ties who will play the final 36 holes on Friday
2nd September.
ABOUT THE
Ladies British Stroke Play
The R&A has retired this event after its final
playing in 2017. The event, first played in 1969, is
traditionally contested at the end of the summer
season. Officials cited a crowded competition
calendar as part of the impetus to retire the event.
72 hole stroke play championship that draws an
international field.
View Complete Tournament Information