Masters shines in national event

Chelsea Masters reached the quarter-finals of the English Women’s Open Mid-Amateur Championship at John O’Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire.

Masters was tied ninth in the initial 36-hole strokeplay phase of the event with two rounds of 80 for a 160 total. With the top 32 players advancing to the knockout stage, Masters defeated Sarah Howe (Ipswich) 2&1 before thrashing Louisa Tarn (Sunningdale) 6&4 in the last 16.

Her splendid run came to an end on Saturday with a 3&2 loss in a low-scoring quarter-final against Charlotte Thomas. Between them they had nine birdies in the 16 holes that the match lasted.

The 20-year-old Thomas, who is based in Singapore and last year marked her debut appearance for the University of Washington in Seattle with a victory on the US women’s college circuit, went on to clinch the title.

Another Highwoods player, Emma Carberry, who won the English Women’s Open Mid-Amateur Championship last year, missed out on the knockout stages by one shot.

Several local male professionals, meanwhile, are in the field for the The Hotel Planner.com Championship at Dale Hill Golf Club, Ticehurst, on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

Colton Alleyne-Davis (Beauport Park), Luke Cornford (Cooden Beach), James Doswell (Highwoods), Staplecross-based Ben Evans and Liam Harper, from Camber Sands, are set to line up in the 54-hole event which runs from tomorrow (Wednesday) until Friday.