Truro Golf Club's Sarah-Jane Boyd shot a two under par 70 today to head the 32 qualifiers for tomorrow's 36 hole shoot out for the England Women's Amateur Championship at Kings Norton in the West Midlands.
A member of the England performance squad Boyd (21), the reigning British Strokeplay champion, is on one under par after a 73 on the opening day of the competition.
The four times Cornwall champion is one shot clear of Gabriella Cowley (Brocket Hall) with Saunton's Emma Tayler a further two shots behind after a best of the second day 69.
Such results seemed most unlikely at the start of day. Heavy overnight rain meant play was delayed for an hour and the morning was notable for downpours, wind and chilly temperatures. But the green keepers produced the course in fine condition and, by dint of strategic squeegeeing, they kept play moving.
"The weather was awful on the front nine," said Boyd. "But everyone was facing the same conditions and I just kept going. I quite enjoy playing in the wind and rain and, coming from Cornwall, I'm used to it."
She started on the 10th hole and had five birdies in her round – including three in a row from the second – and her putt for 69 died on the lip on her last hole.
"The greens were hardly affected by the rain and putted nicely – they were a credit to the staff," she said.
Two other Cornwall competitors Sammy Giles (St Mellion) and Eugenie Knight (Carlyon Bay) did not fare so well missing the cut comfortably after finishing 49th and 61st respectively.
