ENGLISH WOMEN'S STROKE-PLAY

FLORENTYNA, SOPHIE SHARE

LEAD AT HALFWAY

Florentyna Parker and Sophie Walker share the halfway lead in the English women's (close) stroke-play championship at Little Aston Golf Club.
Both players are on three-under par 143 after 36 holes. They are three shots clear of Joanne Hodge (Knowle), who has scored 146 (72, 74).
There's a two-stroke gap to the next group on 148: Rachel Jennings of Izaak Walton (73, 75), Hannah Ralph of Cowdray Park (74, 74) and Charlie Douglass of Brocket Hall (75, 73).

Conditions were difficult in close, muggy weather and Florentyna, the first round leader, felt she struggled all day.
The 16-year-old from Royal Birkdale added a two-over 75 to her opening 68 and said: "It was a good bad round. I struggled from start to finish but overall I'm happy with the result."
Sophie - a former champion - had her second sub-par round, returning a one-under 72.
She reached the turn at one under and came home in level par, with two bogeys and two birdies "The course was not running so fast today but it was difficult," she said. "I just played steadily and now I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
The low round of the day was a two-under 71 from former English champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) while Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Lisa Barton (Coventry) also beat par in the second rounds with 72.
Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) had an uncharacteristic slump - from 70 to 82 for 152.

Now, the leading 36 players, with a cut of 157 go forward to Thursday's final 36 holes.

LEADING QUALIFIERS

143 S Walker 71 72, F Parker 68 75.

146 J Hodge 72 74.

147 E Bennett 75 72.

148 K Smith 77 71, C Douglass 74 74, R Jennings 73 75.

150 H Burke 75 75.

151 F Johnson 76 75, L Ball 73 78, R wood 73 78.

152 L Barton 80 72, L Taylor 79 73, E Lyons 78 74, R Bell 75 77, E Duggleby 70 82.