SCOTS STROKE PLAY CHAMPION MELISSA REID IN ENGLISH

FINAL v NAOMI EDWARDS

Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play champion Melissa Reid, 19, from Chevin, Derby will play Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards (Ganton), 23, in the 18-hole final of the English women's amateur golf championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent tomorrow.

Both played for GB&I in last year's Curtis Cup match in the United States.

"Hopefully it will be third time lucky for me," said Naomi. "I've lost twice in the final."

She beat the top seed, English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), by 3 and 1 in the first semi-final.

Melissa, pictured above, reached her first English final by beating Anna Scott (Consett & District) by two holes.

Miss Reid clinched victory with a grandstand finish in which she birdied three of the last four holes.

This was the six-foot Miss Scott's first competition of the year. A student at the University of Georgia State, she had been ruled out of the game with injury for the past seven months.

In the other semi-final, Naomi Edwards surged three holes up after only six holes but Liz Bennett promply fired back with three consecutive birdies to be all square by the turn.

There after it was nip-and-tuck. Naomi edged ahead with a birdie at the 13th but was pulled back on the next. She went ahead again at the 15th and crucially moved to two holes up with a fine birdie at the long 16th.
The 173yd 17th was the decisive hole. Naomi fired a five-iron to the heart of the green while Liz's tee shot finished on the steep face of a greenside bunker. It was all she could do to hack the ball into the sand. Her next shot also stayed in the trap and she conceded the hole and the match.

RESULTS:

QUARTER-FINALS

Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) 5 and 4.

Naomi Edwards (Ganton) bt Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) at 19th.

Anna Scott (Consett & District) bt Emma Lyons (West Surrey) 3 and 1.

Melissa Reid (Chevin) bt Claire Aitken (The London) 4 and 2.

SEMI-FINALS

Reid bt Scott 2 holes.

Edwards bt Bennett 3 and 1.