GINA Brown is on course to become only the second player to successfully defend the JJB Sports Manchester Evening News Women`s Championship after easing into the final at Swinton Park yesterday.

But opponent Zoe Styles fired a warning shot at her ahead of next Friday`s showdown at Marriott Worsley Park when she was equally as ruthless extinguishing the hopes of fire-fighter Catherine Stewart.

Gina, 17, a four handicapper from Mere and runner-up in the Northern Girls 92 Championship over the same course three weeks ago, admitted she was not on her game early in her round against Dukinfield`s Julia Mason.

"We moved house this week which is more stressful than I every imagined," she said.

But Julia, too, has played better and despite receiving seven strokes f rom her rival she was always behind.

"I know I could have given her a bigger challenge," she said ruefully after losing six and five.

There was only two in it at the turn but then Gina stepped up a gear and won the next four holes to settle the issue.

Neither semi-final went the distance.

Seven ranked Zoe, 36, from Crompton and Royton, was four up after nine and Catherine capitulated when she drove into the bushes at the 14th to concede the hole and the match six and four.

"I had a bad day. I kept fighting back but this was my biggest experi ence in golf. I`ve only been playing two years," said the Glossop handicapper who works for Greater Manchester Fire Brigade who has an intriguing third place play-off with Julia.

They played hockey together for Glossop and but Catherine, 22, lost to her with their respective partners in the Alliance Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes earlier this season.

Zoe, a beaten finalist two years ago by Chorley`s double champion Caroline Atherton, added:

"I`ve not played Gina before but I know I `ll have to give it my best shot.

"I hit some solid irons and pitched well against Catherine which gave me the advantage over her. "

Gina, meanwhile, has another big date today. She is in the Mereside competing in the semi-finals of a national team event from which the winners battle for the trophy in Spain.

The Marriott finals are at 9.15am.

THE Manchester Evening News thank Swinton Park for courtesy of their course and facilities.