KENT'S Littlestone Golf Club is preparing to welome the cream of the county's amateur ladies for the English ladies' close amateur championship next week.

The title has been captured by teenagers for the last two years, and Melissa Reid from Chevin and Derbyshire's Florentyna Parker will lead the challenge if that feat is to be repeated.

Kent is providing 11 of the 84 players, including the in-form Claire Aitken from The London, who has recently won two top scratch events: The Hampshire Rose, which she defended, and the Roehampton Gold Cup, which she shared.

Littlestone has two representatives with Julie Ballard joining Geraldine Bray in the competition.

This is the third time Littlestone has hosted this championship on its renowned links course. The ladies course has been extended by 354 yards to 6110 yards.

The championship begins on Tuesday and all competitors will play an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round on each of the first two days of the event.

The lowest 32 scores qualify for the matchplay knockout stages of the tournament which start on Thursday, May 24. The final will be played on Saturday, May 26.