Champ starts with a victory
SUE WELLFAIR made light of difficult conditions to open the defence of her island women's title with a victory.
SUE WELLFAIR made light of difficult conditions to open the defence of her island women's title with a victory. The first two days of the championships were blighted by strong winds or heavy downpours.
On day one, Carol Wood beat Claire Giles on the first extra hole, while Jenny Kimber beat La Grande Mare left-hander Geraldine Crispini.
For the first round proper, the wind was strong at the outset, although most matches finished before the heavy rain came.
Wellfair beat Debbie Richards 4 and 3, Sonia Graham defeated Mireille Woodcock 7 and 6 and Mandy Webber got past Claire Le Page on the 18th hole.
Fourth-seed Nikki Coquelin went down 5 and 3 to Wood, while Di Hudson put out Di Stenner, the 2006 bronze division champion, 4 and 2.
Kimber won again, this time 7 and 5 over Doreen Munroe, Elaine Ward benefited from a walkover from the injured Mandy Hardman and Joan Bichard, the number two seed, beat Laura Jeffrey 6 and 4.
