England qualify top in European ladies' championship

England, after qualifying at Stenungsund, Sweden will meet Denmark in the first matchplay round.

England finished three shots clear of Spain after the team put on a superb display in the second qualifying round. At one stage all six golfers were under par and at the end of the day, four players had returned sub-par scores.

Yorkshire s Jodi Ewart and Naomi Edwards were both three-under, while Staffordshire s Rachel Jennings and Hampshire s Kerry Smith were one-under.

Lancashire s Florentyna Parker added the final counting score with a level par 72. The discarded score, from Hampshire s Liz Bennett, was nothing worse than a one-over 73.  

It was fantastic scoring, said England captain Sally Watkins.  We were comfortable behind Spain after the first day but now we are exactly where we want to be.       

Play was suspended for over an hour because of torrential rain during the middle of the day. But when the golfers returned to the course the skies cleared and the sun shone.

England scores:

69 Naomi Edwards (Ganton), Jodi Ewart (Catterick)

71 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville)

72 Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale)

73 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor)

Leading teams:

England 14

Spain 11

Sweden 3

Netherlands 3

Austria +7

France +7

Scotland +7

Denmark +11

For further information visit www.englishwomensgolf.org