FARNHAM golfer Lottie Woad starred as England’s women made it safely through to the match play stages of the European Team Championships.

After two days of stroke play qualifying at venues in Belgium, Finland, France and Switzerland, England’s women, men, girls and boys comfortably qualified for the top flights and teed up head-to-head matches for today (Thursday).

Today’s match play encounters will comprise of two morning foursomes and five afternoon singles.

Woad posted seven birdies in her second round of 67 as she backed up her first score of 68 on another impressive day yesterday (Wednesday) for the 19-year-old at the Tawast Golf & Country Club in Finland.

Patience Rhodes was also in fine form as she carded four birdies to shoot 69, while team-mate Jess Baker wasn't far behind with a round of 72 on the second day.

The women's side will hope to take another step towards defending the title they won at Conwy Golf Club 12 months ago when they face Ireland in today's quarter-final at the Tawast Golf & Country Club. The two sides were separated by just two shots in the stroke play stages.