Ponte's fine run in Hants

ONLY top seed and new course record holder Olivia Jordan-Higgins could stop Aimee Ponte's progress in the Hampshire Ladies' Championships yesterday.

The young Guernsey champion shot an excellent 76 in the opening round of Wednesday's 36-hole qualifying round at Bramshaw GC and followed it with 84 in the afternoon to qualify comfortably for the knockout stages comprising 16 of the 35 starters.

Only six other players bettered Ponte's aggregate of 160, with Royal Jersey star Jordan-Higgins leading the way on 144. The plus-two handicapper set a new course record of 71 in the morning – one of three players to better the previous mark of 75.

Ponte then met Elaine Barrow in yesterday's first round of the knockout stages, beating her Brokenhurst Manor opponent 2 and 1.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.