Yorkshire golf: Karen Jobling one shot off lead in English senior women's championship

Richmond GC's Karen Jobling pictured during the first round of the English senior women's amateur championship
(Picture: Leaderboard Photography). — Richmond GC's Karen Jobling pictured during the first round of the English senior women's amateur championship (Picture: Leaderboard Photography).

“I wasn’t negative - and there were holes where I was really in trouble,” said Jobling, who shot 75 to sit one off the pace set by Hertfordshire’s Jackie Foster and Katherine Russell, of Sussex.

On the 11th Jobling was in the trees, but she saw a small gap to the target, went for it - and was rewarded with a birdie.

“It was a positive shot and it came off,” said the former England cricketer, who had two birdies in her two-over-par round, at holes three and 11.

In common with many of the players she was not cowed by the elements, commenting: “We get inclement weather in Yorkshire - I played Ganton the week before last in the snow.”

Chasing her is a group of three players on 76 including defending champion Helen Lowe (Scraptoft GC).

Wakefield GC’s Julie Wheeldon is on 80 with Huddersfield GC’s Pat Wrightson, who recently beat Jobling in the final of the Yorkshire veteran ladies championship, two shots further back.

Other Yorkshire players involved are Pauline Bramley and Val Swales (Hallamshire GC), on 87 and 89 respectively; Laraine Hague (Ganton GC), 92, and Sand Moor GC’s Helen Duckett, 97.

After Wednesday’s second round the top 16 players will go forward to the championship match play, which takes place on Thursday and Frida.

Players finishing 17th-64th go forward to play in Flight Two, taking part in a 36-hole stroke play competition, with 18 holes played on each day.