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COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007 - DAY 1
Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club - Monday 30th April 2007 - The Silver Division Medal and the qualifying rounds for the 2007 County Championships. Experience and youth topped the field for the qualifiers to the Matchplay section of your County Championship, in the form of multiple winner of trophies (now at seniors level) Sue Westall and this year's Junior Girls Captain Abbey Gittings.

Abbey took No1 seed position courtesy of her lower second round of 76 in the 154 total which Sue matched. In r1 Abbey bogied the first six holes, not difficult at Stratford where the start is always crucial but on a day when the stiff breeze and the hard conditions made Stratford's parkland course more like a links next to the sea.

Whilst others threw shots away, Abbey played the next 12 in level par. She did something similar in the afternoon, dropping shots on the first four, then the next 14 in level. Abbey's handicap of 4 is now very close to 3 and she has already had experience of making the second round of the County Championships when in 2005 she made it through - to play Fliss!

Sue will be a very formidable opponent especially if conditions stay tough and tricky when her experience can be vital. It is another two days of 36 holes so Sue will need all her resilience - but who knows?

Claire Howells and Lisa Barton will be seeds 3 and 4, with Tracy Atkin at No 5. 2003 Champion Hannah Coles is No 6 seed and new County Lady Alexandria Meek at No 7. The 8th seed will Charlotte Dalton, very disappointed with her qualifying scores but still will be a contender for the Championship Trophy.

The draw has not been kind to the host club who managed to get three players into the draw. Paula Winwood won a competition against Stratford men played from their tees this Sunday but will face Abbey in R1. Club Champion Sarah Haslam takes on Claire Howells whilst Lisa Barton plays Joy Trinder.

One Stratford member who won't be in action tomorrow morning is County Captain Anne Parry. Anne has changed her life by losing lots of weight but she still has to get used to her new athletic abilities. She missed out on count-back on the second 18.

Other notable first round draws include player vs caddie from a couple of years ago - Hannah Coles vs Bev Belcher and prospective new Warwickshire player Alexandria Meek against past Captain Marsha Button.

As for the Silver Division Trophy, that will go to young Hannah Crump, whose nett 68 on a day when the morning round CSS was 75, will see her 17 handicap tumble.

A GALLERY OF A PCITURE OF ALL THE COMPETITORS IS NOW AVAILABLE ON COUNTY LADIES / CHAMPIONSHIPS / SILVER DIVISION MEDAL / PICTURES

Matchplay Draw and scores

(1) Abbey Gittings (154) vs (16) Paula Winwood (172)

(8) Charlotte Dalton (167) vs (9) Paula Bargewell (164)

(5) Tracy Atkin vs (160) (12) Emma Bullock (168)

(13) Sarah Haslam vs (168) (4) Claire Howells (158)

(3) Lisa Barton vs (156) (14) Joy Trinder (170)

(11) Bev Belcher vs (167) (6) Hannah Coles (161)

(7) Alexandria Meeks (164) vs (10) Marsha Button (167)

(15) Liz Moverley vs (172) (2) Sue Westall (154)

David Morgan on 2007-04-30