Welsh ladies going strong in Sotogrande

The Welsh ladies’ team find themselves second behind their Spanish hosts going in to day three of the European Nations Cup in Sotogrande.

Conwy’s Amy Boulden, Wrexham’s Chloe Williams and Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) have accumulated a gross total of 297 (two lowest scores counted each day) to leave them just three points behind the Spanish, and one ahead of Germany in third.

Williams has proved the most consistent, her scores of 76 and 72 making the card, alongside Harries’ 77 on day one, and top-ranked Welsh star Boulden equalling Williams’ 72 on Thursday (March 14).

With fourth-placed France six shots behind the Welsh total, a good score on day three would leave the ladies confident of a top three finish.

Williams, who was part of the triumphant Team GB side at the Australian Youth Olympics Festival in Sydney in January, finds herself third in singles play, her total of 148 just three strokes behind home-grown leader Patricia Sanz Barrio.

Boulden’s recovery from an opening round 81 has seen her rise to joint 10^th on 153, where she sits alongside compatriot Harries (77 and 76).

The Welsh men find themselves ninth in the table after two days of play. Will Jones (Oswestry) and Prestatyn’s Jason Shufflebotham have been the most consistent performers, posting 77 and 72, and 77 and 70 respectively. Jonathan Bale (Royal Porthcawl) made the card on day one with 79, while Trevose’s Ben Westgate shot a second round 74 to leave Wales’ gross score at 449.

France lead the men’s event on 432, while England are four behind in second and Germany two shots further back in third.

Shufflebotham finds himself tied for 13^th in the singles on 147, seven shots behind German leader Maximilian Roehrig. Jones is tied for 23^rd on 149, while Westgate is joint 54^th (154) and Bale is on 163 alongside Jaime Villar Arduan in 71^st.

Elsewhere in the men’s, Ireland are fourth, six shots behind the French, while Scotland find themselves 12^th on 453.

In the ladies’, England will probably be disappointed to find themselves in fifth, 11 shots off the lead, given that they have European No1 Georgia Hall, part of that victorious British team alongside Williams in Australia, and No3 Bronte Law in their ranks.