CHORLEY teenager Emily Taylor has put herself in contention for honours at the English U18 Girls’ Golf Championship at Sandiway after a stunning opening round in difficult conditions.

The 17-year-old is among 11 Lancashire girls competing at the prestigious 72-hole event in Cheshire this week.

And the England international made her intentions clear by carding a one over par 73 in difficult conditions.

The former St Michael’s High School student posted just two birdies, but limited any damage to her card with only three bogeys.

She is just four shots off the early leader, Wentworth’s Annabel Dimmock, but with the top 36 players making it through to the final two rounds on Thursday, Taylor has made a good early statement of intent.

Pleasington’s Brogan Townend has given herself a good chance of beating the cut after a gutsy six over par 78.

The Clitheroe Royal Grammar School student maintained a touch of respectability to her scorecard while many of her rivals posted much higher scores in miserable conditions.

Her Pleasington club-mate Hollie Vizard fared slightly better after a four-over 76, while Wilpshire's Elizabeth Stebbings has plenty of work to do after shooting 81.

Townend came joint 10th in the competition last year when it was held at Ellesborough.

In the Under 15 championships at Delamere Forest, in Cheshire, Clitheroe’s Sophie Lamb is among the chasing pack after an opening round four-over par 76. Her county colleague Eloise Healey of West Lancashire GC was the only golfer to break par with a stunning 69.