Kerr rolls back the years to book semi-final spot

IT IS 31 years since Janice Kerr last made it to the Daily Mail Foursomes grand finals and now she has gone one better, racing into today’s semi-finals with Redditch club-mate Vivienne Cranton. The Worcestershire pair got off to the perfect start at Slaley Hall in the world’s biggest amateur golf tournament. They beat former Derbyshire county champion Francesca Bougen, who is now going to turn professional, and Edith Rooney from Denton 4&3 in the last 16, before fighting back from two down to beat Warrington’s Fiona Davies and Liz Faulkner 7&6 in the quarter-finals. This is the first time the 57-year-old has competed in the competition since she was 26, when she teamed up with mum Margaret. ‘For me this is just really, really special,’ said 12-handicapper Kerr. ‘My mum passed away before Christmas. It has brought back some nice memories of a good time with her. We’re very proud.’ Cranton added: ‘We’re just enjoying our golf and encouraging each other. We’re excited. It is very special for amateur golfers to have this experience.’ Kirriemuir’s Irene Park and Audrey Aiken beat Scottish rivals Katie Wright and Jackie Hart at the second extra hole for a place in the semi-finals, taking full advantage of their 19 shots. Aiken praised her partner after she chipped out of the bunker to the pin on the final extra hole. She said: ‘That was a fantastic shot. We never expected this.’ In the men’s competition, Inverallochy’s Marc Palmer and Michael Alexander continued their charge to lift the trophy, having never been behind in nine matches. They beat Matthew Dann and James Tiltman from Sedlescombe 3&1 to clinch their place in the last four. slaleyhallhotel.com/golf/