“I’m really chuffed to get through, it’s brilliant,” said Sophie, who won the English strokeplay championship in 2003 and the English girls’ championship in 2000. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it should be a good game.”

She got off to a quick start in against Kerry, winning the first hole, and she held the advantage throughout the match, which was played in strong winds and some rain.

”I played steadily and I was two up early on, three up at the turn and then just held on,” said Sophie, whose score was around level par. “It was good golf in the conditions.”

In the morning quarter-finals, Sophie scored a one-hole win after a tight battle with English girls’ champion Melissa Reid (Chevin). Kerry beat Joanne Hodge (Knowle) 5/4.

The championship is providing Sophie with a break from her studies. She’s a sports science student at Loughborough University and will be taking her final exams in June. “This is a bit of a break, it’s a week away,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Felicity Johnson (Harborne) ended the run of England international Julie Ross (Whitley Bay), who survived a play-off to reach the matchplay stages of the championship.

Felicity, 18, quickly took charge of their semi-final, was up throughout the match and was a couple of shots under par when she won 5/4. She was two up at the turn and then won the 10th, 11th and 13th to set up her victory.

“It’s pretty exciting and I’m looking forward to the final,” said Felicity, who won ELGA’s 2004 girls’ order of merit. “It’s just nice to do well in this tournament, it’s the main one.” This will be her first final and she has reached it on only her second appearance in the championship.

In her quarter-final match Felicity beat Leah Occleshaw (Lansdown) 2/1, while Julie overwhelmed fellow international Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 6/5.