Defending champion Jan Chamberlain lines up a putt last evening on her way to victory over Di Hudson. In today’s semi-finals she faces 13-year-old Aimee Ponte. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0779498)

KAY MAPLEY found her putting touch at the crucial time last evening to reach the semi-finals of the Island Women’s Championship silver division.

The former champion was taken to an extra hole by junior Abigail Howard, who showed true grit as well as talent on a windy night at L’Ancresse.

Having trailed for a fair chunk of the match, Howard doggedly kept at her task and it paid off with an excellent par five straight into the wind on the 15th.

The solid Mapley replied by winning 16 as her young opponent found thick rough off the tee, but a well made five up 17 was the perfect reply from the junior starlet and it was enough to level the match going down the last.

Both found the green with their tee shots before Howard hit a superb long-range putt that almost dropped but secured her three.

Mapley left her birdie attempt three feet short before knocking in the remaining ‘knee trembler’.

As she moved to the first tee, Mapley quipped to the spectators, ‘that was the first putt I have made all night’.