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08 July, 2008

Pair Share The Spoils Again

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For the second time in four events Pontypool's Jo Pritchard and Devon's Tracy Loveys tied for first place at the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA One-Day Series event in Corhampton.

Less than a month after sharing top spot in Cardiff, the pair could not be separated again after both carded level-par 73s, two better than Emma Weeks (Bramshaw) and Catherine Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire).

Both players had chance to win it late in their rounds but Pritchard closed with two bogeys while Loveys dropped shots at 16 and 17.

However, the result strengthened further Pritchard's position at the top of the Order of Merit, and she now leads by 11.25 points - 10 points are available for an outright victory - with two events to go.

And with Loveys playing in only one more event, Pritchard's lead over Laura Eastwood (Tavistock) is almost 13 points.

Pritchard opened her round with two birdies and then had an eagle three at the 402-yard fifth to move to four under but she dropped three strokes in five holes around the turn.

A birdie at the short 12th stopped that run only to close with bogeys at 17 and 18.

Loveys, playing a couple of groups behind, began in complete contrast with three bogeys in her first four holes but then went birdie-birdie-eagle to get herself under par.

Another birdie at 10 took her to two under but then three bogeys and a birdie from 14 through 17 denied her the chance of snatching victory.

Nevertheless Loveys, whose playing time has been restricted since she became the professional at Bigbury in January, was more than satisfied with her performance.

"We must stop doing this," she joked about her tie with Pritchard.

"I am delighted with my second first place in four outings - especially not having been in the winner's circle at WPGA events for a couple of years.

"I was frustrated I finished bogey-bogey-par but level par is not to be sniffed at."
Loveys admitted her chances of overtaking Pritchard at the top of the Order of Merit were slim but said she would be happy to maintain her current position.

"I'm only going to the Little Aston event as Forest Pines (near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire) is just too far for me to travel," she said.

"But if I could still finish in the top three that would be great."

Pritchard was also disappointed with her finish but she accepted her position in the Order of Merit was more important.

"That is what I wanted - it is more about that than the points," said the 26-year-old, who capped a busy few days having won the WPGA event at Harpenden Common last Thursday before moving straight on to the European Tour's Ladies English Open at The Oxfordshire where she finished 26th.

"I wanted to be more consistent this year and it has been a really good week."