Rebbeca still in the hunt at British Open

And to cap a fine day for the region’s golfers, Rotherham’s Daniel Willett booked his place in the 36-hole final of the English Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich.

The 19-year-old, who is on a golfing scholarship in Florida, will face Matthew Cryer from Coventry, is looking to add the title to the Yorkshire Championship and the South of England Stroke Play at Walton Heath trophies he has already captured this season.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew produced a superb 68 to move on to the heels of world number one Ochoa in the Ricoh event - but for Michelle Wie it was yet another sorry tale.

While Matthew, twice a winner on the course in her amateur days, kept a bogey off her card in the windy conditions Wie's woes returned with an 80 that sent her crashing out of the event at halfway on seven over.

The 17-year-old of whom so much was expected is now 89 over par for the season and could soon fall out of the top 50 on the world rankings - almost unthinkable for one of the highest off-course earners in women's sport.

On five under par, Matthew is only one behind Ochoa, who bogeyed the last to add a 73 to her sparkling opening 66, and said: "You would not be normal unless you were nervous, but I'm playing well so there's no reason why I can't have two more good rounds.”