EMILY PEDERSEN IS NEW BRITISH CHAMPION

Leslie Cloots (Belgium), left, and Emily Pedersen (Denmark) before the start of this afternoon's British women's open amateur championship final over 18 holes at Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich in Kent.  Picture by Gillian Kirkwood     :


PEDERSEN v CLOOTS IN BRITISH FINAL

This afternoon's 18-hole final of the British women's open amateur championship will be contested by the 2013 European champion Emily Pedersen (Denmark), ranked No 26 in the world, and Leslie Cloots (Belgium), the No 2 qualifier for the match-play stages at Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent, and ranked No 448 in the world.
Pedersen had a long hard struggle before winning her semi-final at the 19th against another Scandinavian, Jenny Haglund (Sweden).
In fact, the Copenhagen player had to win the 18th hole to avoid defeat and take the tie down the 19th.
Cloots won the first five holes of her semi-final against France's Marion Veysseyre and was five up at the turn and then six up after 12 holes before winning by 6 and 5.
Cloots, from Antwerp, is a student at North Carolina University.

SEMI-FINALS
Emily Pedersen (Denmark) bt Jenny Haglund (Sweden) at 19th.
Leslie Cloots (Belgium) bt Marion Veysseyre (France) 6 and 5.

FINAL
Pedersen bt Cloots 3 and 1