MALTON & NORTON Golf Club's ladies are marching on in the National Golf Club Classic.

The Welham Park outfit, consisting of Jackie Roberts, Carol Simpson, Judy Butler, Wendy Jackson and Emma Brown, saw off Minto 4.5-0.5 to reach the quarter-finals of the prestigious competition.

The club, led by captain Sue Bellion, are now just one game away from the finals and a trip to Spain.

Up against Borders-based Minto and with all players giving away a plethora of shots, Malton still dominated their last 16 clash.

Simpson, playing off five and conceding nine shots, halved her match while Jackie Roberts, handing out 13 shots, won 3&2. Butler, conceding 15 strokes, was a comprehensive 5&4 victor while Wendy Jackson won by the same scoreline.

Brown, off plus three, was giving away a phenomenal 24 shots - up against a 21 handicap player - but still managed to draw out a 3&2 win.

She said: "It was a really good win and everyone is already looking forward to the next round. Hopefully we can win one more and we will get to the finals in Spain.

"We knew nothing at all about them but, early on, the feedback we were all getting on the course was that things were going well.

"That gives a lot of confidence to everyone.

"These were among the biggest number of shots we have ever had to give away and it makes you realise you are up against it and have to play well. Everyone got their heads down and got stuck in and got going quickly."

Now eagerly awaiting the draw, the side are keen to go one better than two years ago - when they also reached the last eight only to lose to Rothley Park in Leicestershire.

"We want to go one step further," Brown added. "We are a strong team and everyone played well against Minto. We have a great squad to pick from and there were some good players who weren't playing.

"It would be great to get to Spain and it shows that golf here is in really good shape."