Jess hits top form to lead England  U14 girls' championship   Northumberland’s Jess Baker shot the best round of her life to lead the English U14 girls’ open championship at The Nottinghamshire.  The 13-year-old from Gosforth Park Ladies scored one-over par 73 on the Signature course and is one ahead of Finland’s Kerttu Hiltunen and Zanaib Jeppe of Mill Green in Hertfordshire.  Switzerland’s Elena Moosmann is two shots further back on four over, while four girls are tied on plus-five: Daisy Kennedy (Stoke Park), Diya Patel (Pinner Hill), Ffion Tynan (Minchinhampton) and Chloe Gibbs (Royal Norwich). Jess (Image © Leaderboard Photography) is playing in this event for the first time and she opened in style with birdies on the first two holes.  “I played really well this morning and I really like the course. It’s the best round I’ve ever had.”  Baker was armed with a new driver, which she used to good effect, and she putted well, avoiding any three-putts. After her opening birdies she played steadily, with just three bogeys, and she kept her momentum going when she holed a downhill 30-footer for par on the short 16th.  Jess also played in yesterday’s final of the Abraham Trophy for England’s most improved girl golfers, on the basis of handicap, and she tied second with a net score of three-under 69.  Jess was introduced to golf by her father three or four years ago and is improving rapidly.  Last year she was playing off 18 of a handicap. This season she’s come down from 10 to six and her results at The Nottinghamshire will bring her down further. She trains with England Golf's regional U16 North squad. A total of 46 girls are contesting the U14 championship. After tomorrow’s second round the field will be cut to the leading 18 players and ties who will qualify for the final 18 on Thursday.  Click here for full scores Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf