SOUTHAMPTON'S biggest golfing event for years has been hijacked by an astonishing clash of international fixtures.

The English Women's Strokeplay Championship is at Stoneham from July 24-26 - in the same week that Italy stages the prestigious Bagliano Trophy in Venice.

The Bagliano is a big by-annual fixture between Great Britain & Ireland and the Rest of Europe.

And it takes away the top seven English players, including the defending strokeplay champion Rebecca Hudson, from the national event at Stoneham.

Another player missing will be Hampshire's own Kerry Smith, pictured, who has been selected to play for GB and Ireland in the Bagliano - the highspot of the Waterlooville girl's career after being an England regular in the Home International Championship for the last three years.

Stoneham haven't staged such a big event since hosting the Brabazon Trophy, the English Men's Strokeplay Championship, nearly ten years ago.

And they are clearly disappointed that the women's event will be stripped of the country's top players.

But the absence of stars like Hudson, Fiona Brown and Emma Duggleby could well open the door for another of Hampshire's top players, 22-year-old Kirsty Taylor from the Sandford Springs Club near Basingstoke.

It would leave the twice Hampshire champion among the top ten best players at Stoneham with Kerry Smith predicting: "It could open the way for Kirsty to do really well.

"But, for me, it is a disappointing clash of events. I know the Stoneham course well and would have enjoyed playing there in what is after all one of our major national tournaments."

Twice national intermediate champion, Kerry qualified 12th in the recent British Championship and went through to the third round of the matchplay competition.

She owes her Bagliano Trophy call-up to an outstanding matchplay record in the Home Internationals.