July 2003 Archive

Thursday 31st July 2003

ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST OPEN FINALS
PETER McLachlan (Eastwood) and Amy Alexander (Elie & Earlsferry) kept two of the four titles being contested at home in Scotland when the finals of the St Andrews Links Trust open boys' and girls' tournaments were played over the Old Course today (Thursday).
McLachlan, playing off four, beat five-handicapper Simon Lord (Burnham & Berrow) by two holes in the final of the Murray Mitchell Cup handicap match-play event.
Amy, playing off 22, beat Louise Birrell (Lundin) (12) by 2 and 1 in an all-Fife final of the Girls' Open Quaich handicap competition. In the morning semi-finals, Amy beat Fiona Blair (Monifieth) (13) by 5 and 4 while Louise beat Tanya Horsting (Thailand) (18) by 3 and 1.
In the Merchants Cup boys' scratch final Richard Gurney (Kings Norton) beat Rob Gardiner (Piltdown) by 3 and 2.
Defending champion Rachel Bell, pictured right, an England international team player from Ganton, beat the English intermediate women's champion and past English girls champion , Sophie Walker from Kenwick Park, by 4 and 3 in the final of the junor women's scratch event for the Golf Monthly Trophy.
In the morning semi-finals, Rachel, who reached the final of the British girls' championship at Blairgowrie two or three years ago, beat Claire McNeil (Milngavie) by 5 and 4 while Sophie beat Faye Anderson (Heworth) 5 and 4.
Results:
MERCHANTS CUP _ Final _ Richard Gurney (Kings Norton) beat Rob Gardiner (Piltown) 3 and 2.
MURRAY MITCHELL CUP _ Final _ Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) (4) beat Simon Lord (Burnham & Berrow) (5) 2 holes.
GOLF MONTHLY TROPHY _ Final _ Rachel Bell (Ganton) beat Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) 4 and 3.
GIRLS' OPEN QUAICH _ Final _ Amy Alexander (Elie & Earlsferry) (22) beat Louise Birrell (Lundin) (12) 2 and 1.

Student News
LOSSIE TO HOST STUDENT GOLF INTERNATIONALS
THE British Universities Sports Association have accepted an invitation from Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth to host the students' home nations golf internationals during the second week in September.
"Scottish Universities golf manager Dr Rob Macpherson and the very nice secretary of Moray Golf Club have been a huge help in setting it all up," said Lucy Crickmore, sports administrator of the BUSA.
"The dates are either Monday to Wednesday, September 8 to 10 or Tuesday to Thursday, September 9 to 11."

Scottish Ladies Team
CLAIRE OUT, NOW SLGA ARE FLYING FOUR HOME FROM USA FOR INTERNATIONALS
Centenary Scottish women's championship runner-up Claire Hargan (Prestonfield), pictured right, has withdrawn from the Scotland team selected to play in the women's home internationals at Cruden Bay from September 10 to 12. The Edinburgh-based player, who was a member of the Scotland squad in Frankfurt for the recent European women's team championships, is unable to get more time off her training to be an actuary.
Claire's withdrawal means a first full cap for Laura Wells, picured left, a 21-year-old Dumfries & Co player who has spent the past four years on a golf scholarship at Iowa State University. The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association will now be footing the bill for flying four players back from the United States to play at Cruden Bay. The others are: Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), who is also a student at Iowa State University, Pamela Feggans (Doon Valley), who is at Florida Southern University, and Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) who enrolls at San Diego State University this month (August) after two years at McLennan College at Waco, Texas.

West of Scotland Girls'
The West of Scotland Girls webpage has been updated with recent results.

Palmer Cup (USA v Europe Student match - Men only)
Winning European team.
David Inglis (University of Tulsa/Glencorse) is in the back row directly above the trophy.
Well done to David, who thoroughly deserved his place on the team, but Europe don't have much of a say on selection...the team consisted mostly of students at US Universities. There are plenty of UK based students who could/should have been there.

England team wins silver at the European Young Masters
Ausberg Golf Club, Germany 24 - 26 July 2003.
The 3 round championship took two girls and boys from each country, all under the age of 16 on January 1st. Ben Parker won the gold medal with a closing round of 68, 4 under par for a total of 211, Oliver Fisher was joint 4th , total 215. The English girls were Florentyne Parker (Royal Birkdale) who finished 5th over all, total 224 and Kiran Mataru (Sandmoor), 11th overall with, total 333.

Wednesday 30th July 2003

Prizewinners at Kilmalcolm this afternoon
L to R: Runner-up Heather Macrae (Dunblane New), Scottish Under 21 Strokeplay Champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven),
Ian Howarth (BP - sponsors), Winner of the Menzies trophy for Under 18's Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) and Joyce Cooper, SLGA President

Scottish Junior Ladies Open Stroke-play Championship, Kilmacolm
Jenna Wilson wins the BP Under-21 title after a playoff
I'm back after two very busy days at Kilmacolm. Colin was busy putting the results up on Hot News.. I hope you didn't miss anything! I've collated all the Scottish Under 21 Strokeplay reports into one webpage. Hope you enjoy!

St Andrews Girls' Tournament
Claire McNeil from Milngavie is the only Scottish player in Thursday morning's semi-finals of the St Andrews Links Trust junior women's open scratch match-play tournament over the Old Course. She will play England international and defending champion Rachel Bell (Ganton). The second semi-final is between Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park), a former English girls' match-play champion and recent winner of the English close intermediate stroke-play championship, and Faye Sanderson (Heworth).
Wednesday's quarter-final results over the Old Course:
Rachel Bell (Ganton) beat Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 6 and 5.
Claire McNeil (Milngavie) beat Christine Sparks (Mentmore) 4 and 3.
Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) beat Becky Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4.
Faye Sanderson (Heworth) beat Megan Barbour (The Glen) 5 and 4.
The semi-finals are at 6.50 am and 7am over the Old Course with the final teeing off at 1.30pm.
GIRLS' OPEN HANDICAP QUAICH
Wednesday results over the Old Course: Quarter-finals
Amy Alexander (22) beat Victoria McCulloch (19) 3 and 2.
Fiona Blair (13) beat Hilary Myles (St Leonards) (18) 5 and 3.
Louise Birrell (12) beat Rebecca Hyde (20) 2 holes.
Tanya Horsting (18) beat Alison Tait (13) 3 and 1.
Semi-finals (Alexander v Blair at 7.30am and Birrell v Horsting at 7.40am) will be played over the Old Course on Thursday. The final will tee off at 1.50pm.

English Girls' Championship
ENGLISH GIRLS LEADING QUALIFIER BEATEN IN MATCH-PLAY
Claire Aiken beats Sian Reddick, the stroke play field leader on the 18th with an eagle, this concluded the end of the Sian's dramatic start to the Championships. The match started pretty evenly on the front 9, Claire managed to win the 5th, leaving her one up at the turn. Sain won the 11th with a birdie, squaring up the match. The battle stayed even with Sain managing to win the 14th and finishing with a magnificent eagle at the 18th.Claire is a squad player and is very pleased with today's win.
Other results: Rachel Jennings beat Layla Ahmed 4/3. Joanne Hodge with eagles on the 10th and 13th beat Jodi Ewart 2/1,. Hannah Coles beat Catherine Roberts 3/2. Anna Scott beat Chloe Rogers 3/2. Felicity Johnson beat Charlotte Dean 1 hole. Kirsty Law beat Hannah Grant 2/1 . Kerry-Anne Haskell, a 16 year old, who has played twice in the Under 18 Championship, beat Jessica Pearcey 1 hole. Kerry-Anne put her excellent first round results 70 and 71, along with today's success down to a training session last weekend where she concentrated on her putting. This has brought her steady 'in the 80's scores' to a level which will not only see her handicap reduce but also put her in contention for Championships to come.

Tuesday 29th July 2003

Scottish Junior Ladies Open Stroke-play Championship, Kilmacolm
see collated report

MAUREEN WINS BABE ZAHARIAS TROPHY AFTER TRIPLE TIE AT WHITEKIRK
Maureen Woodward (Gullane) won the Babe Zaharias Trophy at Whitekirk Golf Club yesterday (Tuesday) after a triple tie for the lowest gross score award at the 40th annual tournament in memory of one of the world's greatest female athletes and golfers who died from cancer at the age of 45 in 1956.
Maureen and two Royal Liverpool members, H Philips and G Ward all had 79s and the card countback gave the magnificent trophy Maureen by virtue of having the best inward half of par.
Whitekirk members had a good day in a big field of 189. Susan Grant won the Silver Division leading handicap top award with a net 66 off 15.
Janice McLeod, also of Whitekirk, won the Bronze Division's Ultraplast Trophy with a net 65 off 32 and the Whitekirk trio of K Hewis, J McLeod and A Luetchford won the team event with a combined score of only 49.
The leading Bronze Division scratch prize was won by S Cowe (Minto) with a 93.
The day, which was sponsored by Hilton Lodge Private Nursing Home, raised in excess of pounds 2,700 for the East Lothian Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund.
PRIZELIST
Silver Division
Scratch - Babe Zaharias Trophy - M Woodward (Gullane) (best inward half), H Phillips (Royal Liverpool), G Ward (Royal Liverpool) 79.
Handicap _ S Grant (Whitekirk) (15) 66; N Thompson (Turnhouse) (13) 67; M Milligan (Gullane) (15) 68.
Bronze Division
Scratch _ S Cowe (Minto) 93; M Dickson (Whitekirk) 94; J Tuer (Whitekirk) 94.
Handicap _ Ultraplast Trophy _ J McLeod (Whitekirk) (32) 65; M Patey (Whitekirk) (36) (bih), C Rennie (Whitekirk) (32) 69.
Team event
Whitekirk (K Hewins, J McLeod, A Luetchford) 49.

ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST OPEN JUNIOR WOMEN'S TOURNAMENTS
Tuesday's results in the St Andrews Links Trust's junior women's scratch match-play tournament for the Golf Monthly Trophy over the Eden Course were:
FIRST ROUND
Rachel Bell beat A Robson-Crosby 7 and 6.
Naomi Edwards beat Gillian Barraclough 9 and 8.
Claire McNeil beat Eleana Collins 3 and 2.
Christine Sparks beat Catherine Baines 4 and 3.
Becky Copland beat Holly Aitchison 2 holes.
Sophie Walker beat Rachel Connor 5 and 4.
Faye Anderson beat Lauren Rogerson 7 and 5.
Megan Barbour beat Pamela Pretswell 2 and 1.
Wednesday's Quarter-finals over the Old Course:
1.20 Bell v Edwards.
1.30 McNeil v Sparks.
1.40 Copland v Walker.
1.50 Sanderson v Barbour.
Thursday's Semi-finals over Old Course.
6.50am & 7am.
Thursday's Final over Old Course
1.30pm.
GIRLS OPEN QUAICH
Wednesday's Quarter-finals over the Old Course.
12.40 Amy Alexander (22) v Victoria McCulloch (19).
12.50 Fiona Blair (13) v Hilary Myles (18).
1.0 Rebecca Hyde (20) v Louise Birrell (12).
1.10 Alison Tait (13) v Tanya Sookmanus (18).
Thursday's Semi-finals over Old Course
7.30am & 7.40am.
Thursday's Final over Old Course
1.50pm

Monday 28th July 2003

Scottish Junior Ladies Open Stroke-play Championship, Kilmacolm
see collated report

KATHRYN MARSHALL ONLY SCOTS QUALIFIER AT FAIRHAVEN
Monifieth's Kathryn Marshall was the only Scot to come through Monday's Final Qualifier at Fairhaven for the Weetabix Women's British Open which starts at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Thursday.
Only 13 places in the exempt field for the championship were on offer to a field of more than 80 competitors at Fairhaven and Kathryn made it with nothing to spare with a round of two-under-par 72.
Laurette Mariz (South Africa) was the No 1 qualifier with a fine round of seven-under-par 67 for the 6,275yd par-74 women's course.
Clare Queen (Drumpellier), a member of the victorious Great Britain & Ireland team in the Vagliano Trophy match at Co Louth last Friday and Saturday, fellow Scotland international Heather MacRae (Dunblane) and tour pro Lesley Nicholson from Haddington all hit the one-over 75 mark, three shots to many to get into the championship.
Former French Open champion Julie Forbes from Aboyne failed on 78 and there were disappointing rounds of 79 for Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) and Fame More (Chesterfield), two more from the Vagliano Trophy-winning team in Ireland.
QUALIFIERS
67 Laurette Maritz (SA).
70 Mandy Adamson (SA).
71 Diane Irvin (US), Karen Davies (Wal), Karen Margrethe Juul (Den), Asa Gottmo (Swe).
72 Georgina Simpson (Eng), Alex Keighley (am) (Eng), Kathryn Marshall (Sco), Christina Kuld (Den), Filippa Helmersson (Swe), Florence Descampe (Bel), Sarah Heath (Eng).
NON-QUALIFIERS
Included
73 Wendy Dicks (Eng), Tamara Hyett (Aus), Alexandra Armas (Spa), Nicole Dalkas (US), Anna Becker (Swe), Natascha Fink (Aut), Marina Arruti (Spa), Nienke Nijenhuis (Net).
74 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Tina Fischer (Ger), Federica Piovano (Ita), Mikaela Parmlid (am) (Swe), Jane Leary (Aus).
75 Heather MacRae (Sco), Clare Queen (Sco), Lesley Nicholson (Sco), Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Marieke Zelsman (Net), Kirsty S Taylor (Eng), Nicole Stillig (Ger), Maria Boden (Swe), Smriti Mehra (India).
76 Diane Barnard (Eng), Joanne Oliver (Eng).
77 Suzanne Dickens (Eng), Kerry Knowles (Eng).
78 Julie Forbes (Sco), Marta Prieto (Spa), Lisa Walters (Eng).
79 Fame More (Eng), Vikki Laing (Sco).
80 Hazel Kavanagh (Ire), Kirsty Fisher (Eng).
82 Anna Highgate (Wal).

CARLY BOOTH SKIPS ST ANDREWS JUNIOR MATCH-PLAY TO PLAY AT ROYAL LYTHAM
England international Rachel Bell from Ganton shot a two-under-par 66 to be the leading qualifier for the Golf Monthly Trophy over the Strathtyrum course at the start of the St Andrews Links Trust's open junior women's scratch match-play tournament.
Carly Booth, the 11-year-old five-handicapper from Comrie, had the 10th best gross score of 75 but scratched her name from the qualifiers as she has accepted an invitation to take part in the pro-am curtain-raiser on Wednesday to the Weetabix Women's British Open championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Many followers of the game thought that Carly should have entered the two-day BP Scottish Under-21 girls' open championship which begins at Kilmacolm on Tuesday.
LEADING SCORES AT STRATHTYRUM
66 Rachel Bell.
70 Megan Barbour.
71 Holly Aitchinson.
72 Christine Sparks, Claire McNeil, Sophie Walker, Faye Sanderson.
73 Naomi Edwards.
74 Gillian Barraclough.
75 Carly Booth.
76 Lauren Rogerson, Rachel Connor, Eleana Collins, CAtherine Baines.
77 Becky Copland.
79 Pamela Pretswell, Tanya Sookmanus, Alexandra Robson-Crosby.
80 Fiona Blair, Laura Jones, Fiona Crossley, Jenny Rainford.
81 Amy Alexander, Louise Birrell.
82 Alison Tait, Daria Anisimova.
84 Emma Lister.
85 HilaryMyles.
86 Rebecca Hyde.
88 Vicki Rainford.
89 Victoria McCulloch.
91 Annabel Niven.
Draws:
GOLF MONTHLY TROPHY
Eden Course (Tuesday)
10.12 Rachel Bell v Alexandra Robson-Crosby.
10.20 Gillian Barraclough v Naomi Edwards.
10.28 Claire McNeil v Eleana Collins.
10.36 Catherine Baines v Christine Sparks.
10.44 Holly Aitchison v Becky Copland.
10.52 Rachel Connor v Sophie Walker.
11.0 Faye Sanderson v Lauren Rogerson.
11.08 Pamela Pretswell v Megan Barbour.
GIRLS OPEN QUAICH
Old Course (Wednesday)
12.40 Amy Alexander (22) v Victoria McCulloch (19).
12.50 Fiona Blair (13) v Hilary Myles (18).
1.0 Rebecca Hyde (20) v Louise Birrell (12).
1.10 Alison Tait (13) v Tanya Sookmanus (18).

KERRY SMITH WINS WENTWORTH SCRATCH TROPHY
FORMER Curtis Cup player Kerry Smith from Waterlooville, Hampshire won the Wentworth Scratch Trophy by five strokes today.
Kerry had a brilliant, four-under-par score of 71 over the West Course and then a two-under-par 72 round the Edinburgh lay-out for a six-under-par total of 143.
Her nearest challenger was England team-mate, Nicola Timmins from Sene Valley. School teacher Nicola had scores of 73 and 75 for 148.
Former Irish champion and civil engineer Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint) finished third with an 80 on the West Course and a 71 on the No 2 circuit for 151.
LEADING SCORES
143 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 71 72.
148 Nicola Timmins (Sene Valley) 73 75.
151 Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint) 80 71.
153 Rachel Adby (Sandiway) 82 71.
154 Hayley Charlick (Highcliffe Castle).
155 Lea Occleshaw (Beaconsfield), Sue Spencer.
159 Christine Watson, Natalie Booth.
160 Lauren Diggle, Irene Brien, Elizabeth Bennett.

Sunday 27th July 2003

Laura Wells with Mackie Bowl

Laura Wells wins Mackie Bowl
Laura Wells (Dumfries and County) won the Mackie Bowl today over Gullane No 1. Her four under par 144 total was matched by Lindsey Anderson (Gullane Ladies') but Laura's second round of 71 gave her the trophy.
Katrina Milne (Dunfermline) led the field after the morning round with a 70 which included a hole in one at the 9th, where Katrina hit a 6 iron into a stiff breeze at the 134 yard hole. This is her fourth hole in one.
Laura's second round score of 71 included eight birdies and two 2's. She was 33 out and even par 38 coming back.
Lindsey, current Gullane Ladies' Club Champion and Scottish Girls' Captain had an eagle and three birdies on the back nine of her second round 72.
Martine Pow (Selkirk) took third place with 72, 73 for 145 and Scottish Internationalist Claire Hargan (Prestonfield) was fourth with 73,74 for 147.
Katrina Milne won the prize for the best morning round (70). Runner-up was Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) with a 71.
The wind got up slightly in the afternoon, and Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) took 74 and was awarded the best scratch outside the aggregate prize-winners, with Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 75 as runner-up.
CSS 74 both rounds
Top 20 scores
144 Laura Wells (Dumfries and County) 73 71
144 Lindsey Anderson (Gullane Ladies) 72 72
145 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 72 73
147 Claire Hargan (Prestonfield) 73 74
148 Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 71 77
149 Elizabeth McKinnon (Nairn) 74 75
149 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 74 75
150 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 73 77
150 Pamela Feggans (Doon Valley) 73 77
152 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 78 74
152 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 75, 77
152 Claire Macdonald (Gulane Ladies) 74 78
153 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 78 75
154 Katrina Milne (Dunfermline) 70 84
156 Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 78 78
158 Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies') 80 78
160 Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston) 82 78
160 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 78 82
161 Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) 79 82
163 Kirsty Wells ( Dumfries and County) 85 78

Well... back at my desk and trying to catch up... hope you haven't been having withdrawal symtoms!
The Vagliano was absolutely tremendous; our girls played superbly. The Continentals really came back at us in the last afternoon, and Danielle Masters is to be congratulated for holding her nerve over the closing holes and obtaining the essential half point necessary for GB&I to win.
I'm sorry my HotNews did not work after the first day.. technical hitch!! Hope you got all the results from the LGU site. I've added Colin's write-ups retrospectively to the site. Hope you enjoy!

Weetabix Women's British Open
US Open winner Hilary Lunke, Annika Sorenstam, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Karrie Webb, the current holders of the four major titles in women's golf, are in the list of 131 exempt players who will be competing for the Weetabix Women's British Open at Royal Lytham & St Anne's from 31st July to 3rd August.
The field of 144 will be the strongest yet assembled with 49 of the top 50 in the LPGA money list plus 39 of the top 40 in the LET points able competing for record prize money of £1.05 million and a first prize of £160,000.
Final Qualifying over 18 holes will be played at Fairhaven on Monday 28th July when at least 13 players will go forward to join the elite hield at Lytham.

Saturday 26th July 2003

Victorious GB&I team

VAGLIANO TROPHY
Co Louth Golf Club, Ireland
GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 12 1/2, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 11 1/2
First day: GB&I 8, Continent of Europe 4.
Second day: GB&I 4 1/2, Continent of Europe 7 1/2

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND WIN VAGLIANO TROPHY IN DRAMATIC FINISH AT CO LOUTH
Great Britain & Ireland regained the Vagliano Trophy they last won in 1993 after one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the biennial match against the Continent of Europe at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland today.
The two-day programme went down to the final green of the final match before a conclusive result was achieved with Great Britain & Ireland winning 12 1/2-11 1/2.
GB&I started the final session of singles with a 5pt lead (10 1/2-5 1/2), which meant they neby eded only 2pt from the eight ties for victory, but the Continent of Europe staged a tremendous rally to cut the lead to 12-11.
Young Welsh ace Becky Brewerton beat Lisa Holm Sorensen (Denmark) by 2 and 1 in the top singles to earn the "player of the tournament" honours ... the only one to win four out of four ties.
That meant GB&I needed only one more point. Emma Duggleby gained a half point with a square match against Sophie Giquel.
Then it all began to go pear-shaped for Great Britain & Ireland. Fame More, Centenary Scottish champion Anne Laing, Ireland's Tricia Mangan, Vikki Laing (who had won three out of three), and Lynn Kenny all lost.
Everything depended on the Danielle Masters v Tania Elosegui singles. With the match all square from the 11th, the last seven holes were shared and that half-point for Danielle was enough to win the trophy for Ada O'Sullivan's team.
Great Britain and Ireland had won second series of foursomes 2 1/2-1 1/2 (a reversal of the first series result), thus extending their 4pt overnight lead in progressing the overall scoreline to 10 1/2-5 1/2. with eight singles to come.
Ada had predicted success on the eve of the two-day match when she said: "If we don't win it this time, we'll never win it because we have, on paper, the stronger team, with four or five of them about to turn pro, and we have the advantage of playing on this great links course at County Louth."
Singles (2-6)
Brewerton beat Sorensen 2 and 1.
Duggleby halved with Giquel.
More lost to Cabrera 4 and 3.
A Laing lost to Cabrera 3 and 2.
Mangan lost to Schreefel 2 and 1.
V Laing lost to Serramia 2 and 1.
Kenny lost to Blomqvist 6 and 5.
Masters halved with Elosegui.

Lunch-time
VAGLIANO TROPHY
Co Louth Golf Club, Ireland
Musselburgh's Vikki Laing and young Welsh ace Becky Brewerton staged a grandstand finish to maintain their 100 per cent records and keep Great Britain & Ireland on course for a emphatic victory in the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland today,
Laing and Brewerton were one down with two holes to play in the top second-day foursomes tie against Sophie Giquel (France) and Bettina Hauert (Germany).
Then Vikki holed an 8ft par putt which squared the match at short 17th and she and Becky snatched victory with a pitch-and-putt birdie 4 at the last.
It was a third win three ties for both players who see their future as tournament pros and are likely to make moves in that direction sooner rather than later.
Clare Queen from Drumpellier and England's Fame More lost for the second day in a row. They went down by 2 and 1 to Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Netherlands) and Emma Cabrera (Spain). Clare was dropped for the singles, a repeat of skipper
of Ada O'Sullivan's team tactics on the first day.
Stirling University student Lynn Kenny and Ireland's Tricia Manga came back from two down with three to play to get a square match with Minea Blomqvist (Finland) and Lisa Holm Sorensen (Denmark). Mangan holed a 20ft putt for a
birdie 2 at the 17th to put the GB&I pair on level terms for the first time since the 12th. The long 18th was halved in birdie 4s.
Great Britain and Ireland won second series of foursomes 2 1/2-1 1/2 (a reversal of the first series result), thus extending their 4pt overnight lead in progressing the overall scoreline to 10 1/2-5 1/2 with eight singles to come.
Centenary Scottish champion Anne Laing from Vale of Leven was brought back into
the line-up for the final session of singles. She played in neither series of foursomes but won her singles tie on Friday.
Only 2 pt from the afternoon action were going to give Ada O'Sullivan's team a first victory by a Great Britain & Ireland team in the biennial Vagliano Trophy match since 1993.
Ada had predicted success on the eve of the two-day match when she said: "If we don't win it this time, we'll never win it because we have, on paper, the stronger team, with four or five of them about to turn pro, and we have the advantage of playing on this great links course at County Louth."

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 10 1/2, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 5 1/2
*with one singles session still to play
First Day: GB&I 8, Continent of Europe 4.
Saturday foursomes (2 1/2-1 1/2)
GB&I players first
V Laing (Sco) & B Brewerton (Wal) beat S Giquel (Fra) & B Hauert (Ger) 1 hole.
F More (Eng) & C Queen (Sco) lost to D-C Schreefel (Net) & E Cabrera (Spa) 2 and 1.
E Duggleby (Eng) & D Masters (Eng) beat T Elosegui (Spa) & E Serramia (Spa) 4 and 2.
L Kenny (Sco) & T Mangan (Ire) halved with M Blomqvist (Fin) & L H Sorensen (Den).
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Friday 25th July 2003

VAGLIANO TROPHY at Co Louth Golf Club, Ireland
Musselburgh's Vikki Laing shared top billing with Welsh ace Becky Brewerton as Great Britain and Ireland surged past the Continent of Europe in the afternoon singles to lead 8-4 at the halfway stage of the Vagliano Trophy women's amateur
international golf match at County Louth, Ireland yesterday (Friday).
Vikki and Becky were the only foursomes winners for Great Britain & Ireland as the Continentals carried a 2 1/2-1 1/2 lead into the eight afternoon singles.
Whatever skipper Ada O'Sullivan said in her lunchtime pep talk, it worked wonders.
Great Britain & Ireland won six ties - including victories by Vikki Laing and fellow-Scot Anne Laing - and halved another, thanks to Stirling University student Lynn Kenny.
The home team swamped the oppostion 6 1/2-1 1/2 in the singles to lead 8-4 at the end of the day.
Vikki Laing was one down to Dewi-Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands after 10 holes but then birdied the long 11th to draw level. Vikki produced another birdie to edge ahead for the first time at the 14th. She had victory in her sights when she won the 16th with a par and a half at 17th left her the winner by 2 and 1.
"I wasn't happy with my iron play but I pitched and putted well. I only had one bogey," said Vikki. "But it's not over yet. We've got to go out and do it all over again."
Anne Laing from Vale of Leven, left out of the morning foursomes, beat the brilliant teenage Spanish prospect Emma Cabrera by 2 and 1 after being one down with six to play. Anne squared it at the 13th but Emma hit back with a birdie at the next. Then it was Miss Laing's turn to produce a birdie when she needed it ... a 3 at the 16th to go one up and a par 4 at the 17th was enough to win the match by 2 and 1.
Lynn Kenny was one or two down for most of the journey to Finland's Minea Blomqvist but hung on with a very gritty display. Lynn started her revival with a birdie 3 at the 10th and squared the match at the 14th before coming up with a birdie 2 at the 17th to lead for the first time. Blomqvist denied the Scot victory by birdieing the long 18th to salvage a halved match.
Clare Queen (Drumpellier), the fourth Scot in the GB&I squad of nine, was dropped from the afternoon singles after partnering Fame More to a 4 and 3 defeat by Sophie Giquel and Bettina Hauert in the morning foursomes.
GB&I skipper Ada O'Sullivan was at pains to to calm down her players at the end of a terrific afternoon for the team.
"I've told them it's only halfway. We've got to treat this situation like the home internationals. We've won one point you could say, but we've got to go out and win again on the second day," said Ada.
DAY 1 END OF PLAY SCORELINE
GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 8, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 4
GB&I names first
FOURSOMES (1 1/2-2 1/2)
V Laing (Sco) & B Brewerton (Wal) beat D-C Schreefel (Net) & E Cabrera (Spa) 2 holes.
F More (Eng) & C Queen (Sco) lost to S Giquel (Fra) & B Hauert (Ger) 4 and 3.
L Kenny (Sco) & T Mangan (Ire) lost to M Blomqvist (Fin) & L H Sorensen (Den) 1 hole.
D Masters (Eng) & E Duggleby (Eng) halved with T Elosegui (Spa) & E Serramia (Spa).
SINGLES (6 1/2-1 1/2)
Brewerton beat Serramia 3 and 1.
Duggleby beat F Schaeffer (Fra) 4 and 3.
More lost to Hauert 1 hole.
A Laing beat Cabrera 2 and 1.
Mangan beat Sorensen 4 and 3.
V Laing beat Schreefel 2 and 1.
Kenny halved with Blomqvist.
Masters beat Elosegui 2 and 1.

Friday morning results
VAGLIANO TROPHY at Co Louth Golf Club, Ireland
Vikki Laing and Becky Brewerton were Great Britain & Ireland's only winners in the opening programme of four foursomes ties in the Vagliano Trophy match against the holders, the Continent of Europe.
The Scottish-Welsh combination won by two holes against Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Netherlands) and Emma Cabrera (Spain) after being all square at the turn.
Fame More and Clare Queen lost the second foursomes by 4 and 3 to Sophie Giquel (France) and Bettina Hauert (Germany) who won four holes in a row from the ninth.
The Continentals went 2-1 up overall when Minea Blomqvist (Finland) and Lisa Sorensen (Denmark) won by one hole over Lynn Kenny and Tricia Mangan who slipped three down after only four holes but fought back well to take the tie
to the last green.
The all-English pairing of Emma Duggleby and Danielle Masters came back from three down after eight holes to get a square match with the Spanish combination of Tania Elosegui and Elisa Serramia.
LUNCHTIME SCORELINE
GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 2 1/2, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 1 1/2 FOURSOMES
(GB&I names first)
V Laing (Sco) & B Brewerton (Wal) beat D-C Schreefel (Net) & E Cabrera (Spa) 2 holes.
F More (Eng) & C Queen (Sco) lost to S Giquel (Fra) & B Hauert (Ger) 4 and 3.
L Kenny (Sco) & T Mangan (Ire) lost to M Blomqvist (Fin) & L H Sorensen (Den) 1 hole.
D Masters (Eng) & E Duggleby (Eng) halved with T Elosegui (Spa) & E Serramia (Spa).

KAREN WINS JANICE MOODIE TROPHY
Home course player Karen Boyle won the main handicap trophy at the Janice Moodie Open tournament for girls at Windyhill Golf Club today.
Karen had a net score of 56 off a handicap of 40.
The scratch award went to Scottish schoolgirls champion Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) with a 74.
Prize list
SCRATCH _ Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 74.
HANDICAP
Janice Moodie Trophy _ Karen Boyle (Windyhill) (40) 56.
10 to 14 Years _ Vicki Smith (Bentinck) (26) 66.
15 to 17 Years _ Dawn Bell (Whitecraigs) (13) 67.
18 to 21 Years _ Elaine Massie (Windyhill) (17) 68.

Thursday 24th July 2003

GB&I Vagliano Team
Back row L to R: Fiona Norris (Manager), Emma Duggleby, Danielle Masters, Becky Brewerton, Tricia Mangan, Lynn Kenny
Front Row L to R: Anne Laing, Clare Queen, Ada O'Sullivan (Captain), Fame More, Vikki Laing
Photo courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward, official LGU photographer

Vagliano Trophy
Three Scots in opening Vagliano Trophy ties
Great Britain & Ireland skipper Ada O'Sullivan is fielding three of the four Scots in her squad in her foursomes line-up for today's (Friday) opening session of play in the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe at Co Louth Golf Club, north of Dublin.
There are no all-Scottish pairings. Vikki Laing from Musselburgh is teamed up with Becky Brewerton from Wales; Drumpellier's Clare Queen partners England's Fame More, and Stirling University student Lynn Kenny plays with Tricia
Mangan, the only Irish player in the home squad of nine.
Anne Laing from Vale of Leven is the only GB&I player to sit out the foursomes although Ada did say earlier that all of her team were playing well and it was a difficult decision whom to leave out.
The balance of power in this biennial women's amateur international match has swung from the Great Britain & Ireland years of domination _ the Continent won only once between 1971 and 1993 - to the mainland Europeans coming into this
match on a roll of four sucessive wins since 1995.
Skipper O'Sullivan admits she is under pressure to turn the tide before next year's Curtis Cup match against the United States at Formby but she is amazingly upbeat, considering that the recent European team championships in Frankfurt highlighted the fact that most of the leading players in Europe are to be found on the Continent.
"We've got excellent team spirit, no prima donnas at all. Vikki Laing and Becky Brewerton are our two strongest players. There's no doubt about that. But we have fantastic depth. I am treating everyone as an equal.
"As far as next year's Curtis Cup is concerned, I feel we do have to win the Vagliano Trophy this year from a players' point of view, from a Great Britain & Ireland point of view and also from a Ladies Golf Union point of view.
"I feel that if we can get a win under our belts over the next two days, it is going to help us enormously (in the Curtis Cup), whereas if we go into next year's Curtis Cup without a win in the Vagliano Trophy ... that's where the pressure is coming.
"We have an advantage with the match being played over a links course ... provided we use it to the best of our ability. We've been playing catch-up golf in recent Vagliano Trophy trophy matches. That is a thing we cannot afford to do tomorrow. We've have to make a good start
"I think there's always pressure on any captain of a Great Britain & Ireland team. You want your team to perform well. I honestly feel that if we don't win the Vagliano Trophy this year, then I don't know when we will.
"I've never personally played Curtis Cup or Vagliano Trophy matches but I feel that I've done my homework to the best I can actually do."
"Since our team arrived here on Monday, I would say that every single member of the team's game has improved. They've been growing in confidence each day.
Rather than me give them the belief, they've all come here with the belief that they can win. It's no longer a case that they are "afraid" of the Continentals.
This is our players' own backyard. Links is where they should win."
MORNING FOURSOMES
8.30 V Laing (Scotland) & B Brewerton (Wales) v D-C Schreefel (Netherlands) & E Cabrera (Spain).
8.40 F More (England) & C Queen (Scotland) v S Giquel (France) & B Hauert (Germany)
8.50 L Kenny (Scotland) & T Mangan (Ireland) v M Blomqvist (Finland) & L H Sorensen (Denmark).
9.0 D Masters (England) & E Duggleby (England) v T Elosegui (Spain) & E Serramia (Spain)

Wednesday 23rd July 2003

IT'S A YANKEE DOODLE DANDY SCOTS TEAM FOR CRUDEN BAY
American college circuit players Louise Kenney and Heather Macrae will make their first appearances for the full Scotland team in the women's home internationals at Cruden Bay from September 12 to 14.
A third player, Pamela Feggans, will be flying back from an American college to be a member of the eight-strong squad captained for the third year in a row by Elaine Farquharson-Black, a past Curtis Cup player and former Scottish champion.
Miss Feggans (Doon Valley & Florida Southern University) was a member of the Scotland team who were pipped by the narrowest of margins for the home internationals title by England at The Berkshire last year after beating Ireland and Wales.
Miss Kenney (Pitreavie and Iowa State) and Miss Macrae (Dunblane), about to move from McLennan College, Texas to San Diego State University, are both former Scottish girl champions and have played junior international golf.
Louise should have gained her first full cap two years ago but had to decline the invitation as the internationals were then being played in the third week of August, the very week that she had to enrol for the first time at Iowa State.
The Scotland team of eight is made up of five of the six who unaccountably flopped in the recent European women's team championship at Frankfurt, where they finished 10th of 14, plus Kenney, MacRae and Feggans.
The player who did best for the Scots in the European championships, Vikki Laing (Musselburgh), was, unfortunately, unavailable for selection for Cruden Bay. She has decided to compete at the LPGA Qualifying School in Florida next month and also finish off a degree course at the University of California before the end of the year.
Scotland team, with ages, is:
PAMELA FEGGANS (Doon Valley), 21.
CLAIRE HARGAN (Prestonfield), 27.
LOUISE KENNEY (Pitreavie), 20.
LYNN KENNY (Stirling Univ), 23.
ANNE LAING (Vale of Leven), 28.
LESLEY MACKAY (Stirling Univ), 25.
HEATHER MacRAE (Dunblane), 19.
CLARE QUEEN (Drumpellier), 20.
Reserves:
1 Laura Wells (Dumfries & Co), 21.
2 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), 19.
3 Lyndsey Devenish (Cruden Bay), 21.
4 Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan), 17.
Captain:
ELAINE FARQUHARSON-BLACK (Deeside)

Tuesday 22nd July 2003

Sarah Horsburgh (Dunbar), Stephanie Crolla (Gullane Ladies'), Jane Turner (Glencorse) and Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst)
pictured before the Eat of Scotland Girls' final today. Stephanie beat Jane by 5 & 4

East of Scotland Girls' Championship
Yesterday's leading qualifier, Stephanie Crolla (Gullane Ladies') , pictured left, completed a notable double today by winning the East of Scotland Girls' Championship at Newbattle Golf Club. Eighteen-year old Stephanie beat thirteen-year old Jane Turner (Glencorse), pictured right, by 5 & 4.
Stephanie, who is going to McLennan College Texas in August, was two up on Jane after four holes with par figures. Jane got back to square when Stephanie drove out of bounds at 5th and the East Lothian girl took 6 to Jane's par 5 at the 6th. Stephanie put her approach a foot from the pin at the 318 yard 7th for a birdie three and remained one up though 8,9 and 10 which were all halved in par. Jane then lost her touch round the greens, and Stephanie won the next four holes, polishing her opponent off with another birdie at the fourteenth. Stephanie was one over par for the holes played.
In the morning, Stephanie beat the defending champion, Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) by 4&3, and Jane Turner beat Sarah Horsburgh (Dunbar) by one hole.

Jane Turner and Stephanie Crolla after the prizegiving

Irish News
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) took the Under 23 award in the Irish Open Strokeplay Championship at the weekend.

VIKKI OUT OF HOME INTERNATIONALS
Great Britain & Ireland international Vikki Laing has almost certainly played her last game for Scotland. A member of the six-strong squad for the recent European women's amateur team championship in Frankfurt, the 22-year-old Musselburgh player has informed the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association that she will not be available for the home internationals at Cruden Bay from September 10 to 12.
Miss Laing is heading back to the United States, where she has spent the past four years as a golf scholarship student at the University of California Berkeley. She intends finishing off her degree course before December but will also take the first step along the road to a career in tour pro golf by competing in the LPGA Qualifying School regional qualifying at Venice, Florida from August 26 to 29.
If she makes the top 30 in that, Vikki would go forward to the Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach, Florida in late October.
The relaxation of the Rules of Amateur Status by the R&A in recent years means that Vikki can play in the Qualifying School without having to turn pro.
The Scotland team for Cruden Bay will be announced later this week.
Vikki is currently practising with the Great Britain & Ireland team at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe on Friday and Saturday.
Miss Laing made her Curtis Cup debut for GB&I against the United States at Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh last Summer.

Monday 21st July 2003

East of Scotland Girls' Championship
Stephanie Crolla (Gullane Ladies) , pictured right, took the first scratch prize at the East of Scotland Girls' Golfing Association Summer Meeting at Newbattle today. Her score of 80 was one ahead of another East Lothian girl, Sarah Horsburgh from Dunbar. sarah had an 81 and the better inward half from Amanda Edwards (Liberton). New Scottish Girls' cap Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) finished fourth on 83, and the reigning East of Scotland Girls' Champion, Laura Aitken took fifth place with 85 in a field of seventeen.
Overall Handicap prize was won by Sarah Horsburgh (Dunbar) with 81-10=71.
Three age-group handicap prizes were awarded. The Under 14 prize went to Jane Turner (Glencorse) with 85-9=76. Under 16 winner was Amanda Edwards (Liberton) with 81-7=74 and the under 18 prize went to Sarah Herd (Dunblane New) with 86-12=74. The CSS was 72.
Qualifiers for the matchplay stages were as follows:-
Stephanie Crolla (Gullane Ladies) 80
Sarah Horsburgh (Dunbar) 81
Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 81
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) 83
Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) 85
Jane Turner (Glencorse) 85
Sarah Herd (Dunblane New) 86
Jill McNicoll (Longniddry) 86
The first round of the matchplay produced some excellent ties and close games. Stephanie Crolla was taken to the 20th by Jill McNicoll before finally winning through. Krystle Caithness and Laura Aitken (pictured left) had a close game until the turn, when Laura gradually pulled away with steady play. Laura won by 4 & 2. Amanda Edwards and Jane Turner made it to the 18th, Jane winning by two holes. The two Sarah's, Herd and Horsburgh, also had a close contest right until the last putt on the final green with Sarah Horsburgh winning through to tomorrow's semifinals.
First Round
Stephane Crolla (Gullane Ladies) beat Jill McNicoll (Longniddry) at the 20th.
Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) beat Krystle Caithness 4&2
Jane Turner (Glencorse) beat Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 2 holes
Sarah Horsburgh (Dunbar) beat Sarah Herd (Dunblane New) 1 hole.
Spectators please note... Semifinals 9:30am and Final 2pm

Scottish Junior Ladies Open Stroke-play Championship
Clare pulls out!
VAGLIANO Trophy team selection Clare Queen has withdrawn from the BP Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championship at Kilmacolm next Tuesday and Wednesday (July 29 and 30). She is hoping that she will pre-qualify for the Weetabix Women's British Open at Royal Lytham from Thursday to Sunday, July 31 to August 3 but even if she does not make it Clare feels she will need a break after her taxing schedule over the next few days.
She is practising with the rest of the Great Britain & Ireland squad at Co Louth Golf Club in preparation for the match against the Continent of Europe on Friday and Saturday.
From Ireland, Miss Queen faces a dash back to England to squeeze in a practice round on Sunday at Fairhaven, the venue for the Weetabix Women's British Open final qualifying competition.
On Monday, she tees it up alongwith fellow Scots Vikki Laing, Heather MacRae, Julie Forbes, Kathryn Marshall and Lesley Nicholson in a field of 88 chasing a handful of places in the main event.
If she survives that, then it is over to Royal Lytham to get in a couple of practice rounds before the championship starts on the Thursday.
"Clare feels it is just too much for her to play in the BP Scottish Under-21 girls' championship at Kilmacolm. It would mean her coming straight from the Weetabix British Women's Open final qualifier at Fairhaven without the chance of a practice round at Kilmacolm," said Gillian Roy, the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association tournament secretary.

Futures Tour
HEATHER'S LACK OF STRONG FINISH COSTS HER A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
HEATHER Stirling is getting in more starting rounds under par. Now all she needs is to finish events on the US Futures Tour with sub-par scores.
On Sunday, with scores of 68 and 73 against the par of 71 in the bank, she needed to shoot something like 68 or 69 in the final round to grab a top 10 place and a four-figure cheque.
Instead last year's Scottish women's amateur champion and Curtis Cup player from Bridge of Allan signed off with a one-over-par 72 for a final total of level par 213. That got her joint 24th place in the GE Futures Classic at Orchard Creek Golf Club, New York State.
Heather earned dollars 582 for finishing eight shots behind the first-time pro winner, Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright who beat Lisa (Hackney) Hall from Stoke and Michelle Fuller from Florida with a birdie at the first extra hole in a three-way play-off for the dollars 8,400 top prize. They had tied on eight-under-par 205.
Lisa Hall earned dollars 5,250 to confirm her position as the most successful British player on the United States' No 2 women's pro tour.

Aberdeenshire News
Lyon foursomes
Deeside start defence in quarter-finals
Deeside 1, the holders, have received a bye, alongwith Aberdeen Ladies 1 and Murcar, into the quarter-finals of the Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association's Lyon Foursomes inter-club tournament on Monday and Tuesday, August 4 and 5.
Deeside were represented by Fiona Hay, Lynne McPherson, Vivian Harper and Mariva Millership when they beat Cruden Bay by seven holes in the final at Newmachar last year.
It was the third year in a row that Cruden Bay had been runners-up.
Deeside recently won the Aberdeenshire LCGA's Watt Duffus Trophy inter-club stroke-play tournament on their home course at Bieldside.
Draw is:
Monday First round - 9.30 Aberdeen Ladies 2 v Deeside 2. 9.45 Newmachar v Cruden Bay. 10.0 Banchory v Peterculter. 10.15 Peterhead v Aboyne, 10.30 Ballater v Hazlehead. Byes: Aberdeen Ladies 1, Deeside 1, Murcar.
Quarter-finals - From 2.30pm.
Tuesday Semi-finals - 9am. Final _ 2pm.

Sunday 20th July 2003

Aberdeenshire Girls
SJAVON WILSON CAPS GREAT WEEK BY WINNING MACROBERT THISTLE CUP
SJAVON Wilson (Murcar) on Sunday won Aberdeenshire girls' 36-hole competition for the MacRobert Thistle Cup at Alford. Report and scores

Pictured is the Fife County Girls Golf Team wearing shirts and skips donated by Kizwa Golf Wear and gloves donated by Evertan. From left to right they are Becky Copland, (Scotscraig), Krystle Caithness, (St Regulus), Hannah Harvey, (St. Leonards) and Pamela Meiklejohn, (Burntisland).
Krystle who is 14 and plays off 5 is the current Fife Junior Champion. She reached the last 16 at the Scottish Ladies Amateur Championship and was the runner-up in the Scottish Girls Championship. She is part of the Scottish Under 18 Development squad and has been picked to play for the Scottish team for the girls home internationals.
Becky is 15 and plays off 10, Hannah is 13 and plays off 12, both are members of the Scottish Under 16 Development Squad. Hannah has a golf scholarship at St. Leonards School in St. Andrews. Pamela is 15 and plays off 15 and has been doing well in local competitions.

Irish Strokeplay (evening)
LOUISE KENNEY FOURTH BEHIND SEVEN-SHOT IRISH WINNER
CLAIRE Coughlan from Cork scored an impressive seven-shot victory in the Suzuki Irish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Rathsallagh Golf Club, Co Wicklow on Sunday.
In mainly windy weather, little Miss Coughlin, a former Irish girls champion and runner-up, six shots behind Rebecca Coakley in this event in 2000, had very good scores of 72, 69 and 74 - against the par of 73 and a CSS of 75 - for a total of 215.
Home players filled the 1-2-3 places with Maura Morrin (The Curragh), who, like Miss Coughlan, was in the winning Ireland team against Scotland at the recent European women's amateur team championship, finishing second and Sean Keane, also The Curragh, third on 225.
Former Scottish girls champion Louise Kenney, pictured right, from Pitreavie came fourth on 227 and other Scots in the top 10 were Pamela Feggans (Doon Valley) 235, and Cara Gruber (Stirling University) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), both on 237.
Laura Wells (Dumfries & Co), after a slow start, made up a lot of ground to finish on 239.
Claire Hargan (Prestonfield) failed to break 80 in any of her three rounds and finished on 246.
Lyndsey Devenish (Cruden Bay) retired during her first round on Saturday.
Collated scoreboard

Irish Womens' Open Stroke-play Championship
LOUISE IS LEADING SCOT AS CLARE COUGHLAN LOOKS SET FOR IRISH WIN
CLAIRE Coughlan, pictured right, from Cork has never won the Irish women's open amateur stroke-play championship - sponsored this year by Suzuki - but she is odds-on favourite to put her name on the trophy today (Sunday) when she carries a three-stroke lead into the third and final round at Rathsallagh Golf Club at Dunlavin, County Wicklow. Report and scores

Futures Tour
HEATHER QUALIFIES BUT LINZI FAILS
It was a tale of two former Scottish amateur champions in the second round of the GE Futures Classic at Orchard Creek Golf Club in New York State. Heather Stirling from Bridge of Allan breezed through to the final day's action in joint 23rd place with a second-round 73 for a total of one-under-par 141.
But Linzi Morton from Alloa slumped to a 77 for 148 and failed by two strokes to survive the cut. A total of 75 players with scores of four-over-par 146 - the lowest mark on the Futures Tour this season - will contest the third and last round.
At the top of the heap are Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright and Isabelle Beisiegel from Norman, Okalahoma at eight-under-par 134.
Katherine Hull, another Australian and Miss Wright's golfing team-mate from Pepperdine University, Malibu - they both turned pro after graduating in May , is in third place, one shot behind the pacemakers.
Lisa Hall from Stoke, the most successful Brit on the United States No 2 women's pro circuit this season, is poised for another top-10 finish. She had a 70 to be tied for eighth lace on 137.
Rebecca Prout from Surrey beat the axe with nothing to spare. She shot a 71 for 146.

Saturday 19th July 2003

Irish Womens' Open Stroke-Play championship
YOUNG SCOTS TIED FOR FIFTH IN IRELAND
PAM Feggans from Ayrshire and Dunfermline's Louise Kenney, two contenders for places in the Scotland team for the women's home internationals at Cruden Bay in September, were the joint leading Scots at the end of first round in the Suzuki Irish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Rathsallagh Golf Club yesterday (Sat).
They both shot 77, four over par, to be tied for fifth place, five shots behind leader Clare Coughlan from Cork. Scores

TWO 14-YEAR-OLDS IN SCOTLAND TEAM FOR GIRLS' HOME INTERNATIONALS
There are two 14-year-olds - Krystle Caithness from St Andrews and Roseanne Niven of Crieff - among the four new caps in the Scottish team of eight for the girls' home internationals at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, South Wales from August 12 to 14.
Krystle, a member of the St Regulus club, was beaten finalist in the BP Scottish girls' championship at Newmachar last week, having been the youngest player since Jane Connachan in the 1970s to qualify for the match-play stages of the Scottish women's amateur championship over the Old Course, St Andrews in May.
Roseanne won the SLGA St Leonards Scottish Under-16 girls' open stroke-play championship at Drumoig in May; reached the final of the Perth & Kinross women's county championship and was the most successful P&K player on her debut in the North Division team championship at Murcar.
The others new to this level of under-18 play are Louise Fleming from the Borders and Sjavon Wilson who lives at Portlethen, just south of Aberdeen.
The team will be spearheaded by the current holder of both Scotland's girls championships - Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan). She won the BP Under-18 match-play title at Newmachar on Friday and last summer was the surprise winner of the BP Scottish Under-21 girls stroke-play championship at Baberton.
The team, captained again by Lindsey Anderson, is:
KELLY BROTHERTON (Tulliallan).
KRYSTLE CAITHNESS (St Regulus).
DAWN DEWAR (Monifieth).
LOUISE FLEMING (The Roxburghe).
ROSEANNE NIVEN (Crieff).
KATE O'SULLIVAN (Cochrane Castle).
GEMMA WEBSTER (Hilton Park).
SJAVON WILSON (Murcar).
Reserves:
1 LESLEY HENDRY (Routenburn).
2 LAURA MURRAY (Alford).
3 EMMA FAIRNIE (Minto).
4 KYLIE WALKER (Buchanan Castle).
+ + + +
Dawn Dewar, capt., Roseanne Niven and Sjavon Wilson will form Scotland's "team" of three in the British girls' open championship at Newport Golf Club from August 5 to 9. Their scores will count for Scotland in the international team event run in conjunction with the qualifying rounds of the championship. The reserves are Kerri Harper (Inverness) and Fiona Hindshaw (Gullane).

Irish News
KAREN DELANEY RETAINS IRISH GIRLS TITLE
The Delaney sisters from Carlow had the Lancome Irish girls' close championship final all to themselves at Ardee Golf Club today.
Karen retained the title by beating Tara 4 and 3.
Heather Nolan (Shannon), beaten in the last two Irish girls championship finals, stepped up an age bracket to win the Irish intermediate title. She beat Marian Riordan (Tipperary) by one hole in the final. Results

Futures Tour
HEATHER'S 68 IN UNITED STATES
Heather Stirling was tied for 14th place at the end of the first round of the GE Futures Tour Classic at Orchard Creek at Altamont, New York State (ON FRIDAY, USA TIME).
The rookie pro from Bridge of Allan shot a three-under-par 68 with halves of 32 and 36.
Another former Scottish women's amateur champion, Linzi Morton from Alloa, was joint 38th with a par 71 (37-34).
The leading British player in the 54-hole event is Lisa Hall from Stoke in tied sixth place with a 67 (31-36).
Joint leaders on 65 were Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright, South African Nadine Ash and Janell Howland from Texas.
Collated scoreboard
(Players from US unless stated)
GE FUTURES TOUR CLASSIC _ Orchard Creek, New York - Leading first round scores
65 Lindsey Wright (Aus), Nadine Ash (SA), Janell Howland.
66 Lesley Henderson, Kristin Dufour.
67 Marie-Josee Rouleau (Can), Lisa Hall (Eng),Christina Harrell, Allie Blomquist, Katherine Hull (Aus), Kim Augusta, Michelle Fuller, Jennifer Huber.
68 Heather Stirling (Sco), Stephanie George, Stacy Prammanasudh, Celeste Troche (Para), Laura Myerscough.
Other scores:
71 Linzi Morton (Sco).
75 Rebecca Prout (Eng).
76 Jo Clingan (Eng).

Friday 18th July 2003

Kelly Brotherton with Scottish Girls' Trophy
(photo courtesy and Copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency)

Scottish Girls' (Close) Championship
Kelly wins Scottish girls' title
KELLY Brotherton, left, the leading qualifier by 11 strokes at the start of this week's BP Scottish girls golf championship at Newmachar, ended it by winning the title today with a 3 and 2 win over Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), right, in the 18-hole final.
The 17-year-old one-handicapper from Tulliallan, who has spent the last year as a golf scholarship student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, was level par for the holes played and did not lost a hole until the 11th.
Krystle, only 14 years old with a handicap of five, has time on her side and it does not need any stretch of the imagination to see her stepping up to collect the trophy at least once in the four years she has left of eligibility for the under-18 championship. Fuller report of the final and previous reports (more pictures!)
Final Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) beat Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) 3 and 2.

Irish News
LANCOME IRISH CLOSE GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Leading qualifier Jenna Kinnear from Belvoir Park lost at the 19th in the quarter-finals of the Lancome Irish close girls championship at Ardee Golf Club. Her conqueror was Danielle McVeigh who will play Tara Delaney (Carlow) in the first semi-final. Tara's sister, Karen, will play Vicki Power (Brampton Park) in the other semi-final. Results including Plate and Intermediate Championship

English News
SOPHIE WALKER ADDS ENGLISH STROKE PLAY TITLE TO HER COLLECTION
Former English girls champion Sophie Walker, still only 18 years old, from Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire, collected another national title when she won the English women's close amateur stroke-play championship at Saunton Golf Club on Thursday. Sophie had to beat Lisa Ball (Parklands, Newcastle) in a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on 303 for the 72-hole regulation play.
The two leaders had been neck and neck from the 13th hole of the fourth round. Sophie scored 71 79 80 73, catching Lisa who started the day with a five-stroke lead Lisa's rounds were 74 75 76 78. Sophie's fourth round began steadily and she was one over par after nine holes. She nearly holed her second shot at the 10th - and she started to reel in Lisa Ball from then on. On the back nine Miss Walker had birdies on the 11th and 12th to cancel out bogeys on the 13th and 14th for a one-under-par round of 73. The pressure switched to long-time leader Lisa who had to conjure up a birdie at the 72nd hole to force a play-off ... and she did just that with a magnificent approach shot which hit the pin and finished up a yard away. Lisa downed the putt to tie with Sophie.
The clubhouse emptied for the dramatic play-off as Sophie kept swing thoughts from coach Eric Sharp in her head. The first hole was halved in one over par, Lisa having been on the green in two shots but three-putting. The play-off ended at the second extra hole where Lisa hit a shot in a ditch and got into further difficulties. Meanwhile Sophie was on in three and had two putts to win the title. Sophie said she was "Ecstatic" with the victory in her debut in the English stroke-play championship. Now she has set her sights on the English intermediate championship next month. Kerry Smith finished third.

British Amputee Open Golf Championships, Westerwood, Scotland, 26-30th August
I've received this message from Geraldine Saunders

Wednesday 16th July 2003

Scottish Girls' (Close) Championship
TOP SEED KELLY KOs YOUNG CARLY IN MARATHON TIE AT NEWMACHAR
LEADING qualifier Kelly Brotherton from Tulliallan birdied the seventh extra hole at Newmachar today (Wed) to beat 11-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie) and bring to an end arguably one of the best ties in the history of the BP Scottish girls' championship. Report and results

Irish News
LANCOME IRISH CLOSE GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Leading qualifier Jenna Kinnear (Belvoir Park) cleared her first match-play hurdle in the Lancome Irish close girls' championship at Ardee Golf Club today.
She beat Ciara Walsh from Headfort by two holes. Results

Scottish Girls (Close) Championship Newmacher lunchtime.
SCOTTISH schoolgirls golf champion Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) has failed in her bid to pull off a notable title double. She lost to 14-year-old Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), pictured right, by one hole after a very close encounter in the first round of the match-play stages of the BP Scottish girls' championship on another warm and sunny day at Newmachar.
Leading qualifier Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) and 11-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, one of the most talked about golfing youngsters in the country, were locked together in their second-round tie after both won in the morning.. Kelly won by 3 and 2 against Sarah Herd from Dunblane New while Carly was back in the clubhouse for lunch before her, having beaten Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) by 7 and 6.
Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), the Nos 2 and 3 seeds, cleared their first hurdles without too much trouble. Today's results:
FIRST ROUND K Brotherton (Tulliallan) beat S Herd (Dunblane New) 3 and 2. C Booth (Comrie) beat K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 6 and 5. G Webster (Hilton Park) beat K Harper (Inverness) 7 and 6. M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) beat K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 7 and 6 S Kettlewell (Dunblane New) beat F Hindshaw (Gullane) 5 and 4. J McNicoll (Longniddry) beat F Williamson (Barassie) 3 and 1. S-D Wilson (Murcar) beat K Thomson (Kintore) 2 and 1. L Fleming (The Roxburghe) beat H Myles (St Leonards) 8 and 7. R Niven (Crieff) beat K Fortune (Haddington) 4 and 3. E Fairnie (Minto) beat S Crolla (Longniddry) 4 and 3. K O'Sullivan (Cochrane Castle) beat J Turner (Glencorse) 5 and 4. D Neilson (Hilton Park) beat L Hendry (Routenburn) 2 holes. L Murray (Alford) beat C McLoughlin (Kilspindie) 2 and 1. K Caithness (St Regulus) beat K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 1 hole. D Dewar (Monifieth) beat A Ingram (Fort William) 6 and 5.

SGU News
THREE SCOTS COMPETE IN BIARRITZ
The Scottish Golf Union has sent three players - Graeme Brown (Royal Montrose), Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Robert Taylor (Downfield) to compete in the Chiberta Grand Prix 72-hole tournament which begins at Biarritz in southwest France tomorrow (Thursday). The event has no clearly defined age parameters and countries such as Scotland use it to send players who may not yet be full international team standard but are heading in the right direction and will benefit from experience of playing in a foreign competition.
Brown, 23, reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish amateur championship last year and finished ninth in the SGU Order of Merit. This season he has finished third in the East of Scotland Open at Lundin and tied for sixth in the Cameron Corbett Vase at Haggs Castle.
Ramsay, 21, is a boy and youth cap who spent a year at a US college and is now at Stirling University.
Taylor, only 18, was a boy international last year receives dedicated elite golf coaching from Steve McNally, the Scottish Institute of Sport's high performance coach.
Graham Fox (West Kilbride), in 1998, is the only Scot to have won the Chiberta Grand Prix.

Irish News
JENNA LEADS IRISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
Jenna Kinnear, an 18-year-old five-handicap member at Belvoir Park, headed the qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Lancome Irish girls' close championship at Ardee Golf Club today.
She birdied the seventh and 14th on her way to a round of 75, two over the Standard Scratch for the 5,809yd course. Scores and match-play draw

Irish News
IRISH INTER-PROVINCIALS
Draw and teams for the AIB Ladies’ Inter-provincial matches at Galway Golf Club from August 6 to 8:

Irish News
May Fitzgibbon Foursomes Final 2003 at Greystones Golf Club on Monday 28th July. Draw

English News
English Close Amateur Stroke Play Championship Saunton Golf Club, Devon from the 15 - 17 July
The first day saw top temperatures and rumblings of thunder, the storms stayed away and all 86 competitors enjoyed a warm day's play with perfect 'links course' conditions. The English Close Amateur Stroke Play Championship incorporates the Under 23, Under 21, Under 18 Championships and the Under 23 County Team Trophy.
At the end of round 1 Sophie Walker, 18 years old, from Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire leads the field on the par 74 Saunton course, with a score of 71. Sophie eagled the 4th having driven with her 5 wood to 12 feet, she had a good birdie down the 10th going slightly left off the tee into the rough and using a 9 iron to 12 feet. On the 14th Sophie had another birdie on this par 5. Sophie stated that "the greens had a good pace and ran true if you kept to the best side of the hole", she enjoyed family support and looks forward to an early 8.46 tee time for round 2.
Lisa Ball (Parklands, Newcastle-upon-Tyne) and Faye Sanderson (Heworth, Durham) lie equal second with 74. Sara Garbutt last years winner, is currently lying 15th on 77.
Players found the course increasingly tricky during the afternoon due to swirling winds and the very dry conditions.

2003 North of Scotland women's championship at Royal Dornoch.
Back row (l to r): Royal Dornoch GC vice-capt Rolly Bluck with championship winner Audrey Scott (Tain)
and Maureen Brennan (Royal Dornoch), the handicap title-winner, with (extreme right) Anne Ryan (Northern Counties LGA captain).
In front, left to right, are the beaten finalists: Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), scratch championship runner-up,
and Gail Christie (Banchory), handicap championship runner-up.

Tuesday 15th July 2003

Scottish Girls' Championship, Newmacher
ANYBODY THERE SEEN KELLY?
BROTHERTON OUTSTRIPS GIRLS FIELD AT NEWMACHAR
A year at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida has worked wonders for 17-year-old Kelly Brotherton, pictured right.
She simply outclassed the field over two rounds at a parched, fast-running Newmachar course today (Tuesday) to be the leading qualifier by the "which-way-did-she go?" margin of 11 shots in the BP Scottish girls' championship.
Match-play, of course, is totally different from the card-and-pencil game but any youngster who can shoot two rounds of 72 for a two-under-par total of 144 at a Hawkshill course which even many Tartan Tour pros find difficult has to be a hot favourite to win the title.
Let's not give the United States all the credit for Miss Brotherton's emergence as a classy young player. She was a surprise winner last summer, at the age of 16, of the BP Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play title at Baberton. It was that victory which led to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy scholarship.
On a warm and sunny day, Kelly tamed a fiery course where a watering system fault has been compounded by a mini-drought in the area. She had eight birdies in all and was strong in every department of her game.
"I drove well, played my irons well, pitched well and putted well all day.
It must be the best 36 holes I've every played in one day. My handicap went up last week to two and now, thanks to these two scores, it's come down to 0.7 (nought point seven)," said Kelly.
Only one other player broke 80 in both rounds - Dawn Dewar (Monifieth), Angus women's champion last year and semi-finalist in this tournament at Powfoot last year.
Watched by her Scottish Institute of Sport high-performance coach, Steve McNally, Dawn had rounds of 78 and 77 for 155 to be the second seed, which means, that if qualifying score form works out, it will be a Brotherton v . Dewar final on Friday.
Of course, there are many talented young players in the draw who will take great delight in lowering the colours of the headline-stealers. Roseanne Niven (Crieff), 14-year-old winner of the SLGA St Leonards Scottish Under-16 girls' open stroke-play championship at Drumoig in April, shared the first-round lead with Kelly Brotherton on 72, a brilliant performance by one so young and a five-handicapper to boot.
Golf has a habit of cutting you down to size pretty quickly and Roseanne had double-bogey 6s at the first and third in her afternoon round and two more 6s on the inward half on her way to an 83 for a total of 155, the same aggregate as Dawn Dewar.
The tie-breaker was a comparison of the respective second rounds, which put Miss Niven down the pecking order as No 3 qualifier.
Carly Booth, one of the youngest players in the field at the age of 11 years and five weeks but already playing off five of a handicap, encountered conditions she has probably never experienced before.
The Comrie lass had scores of 82 and 87 for 169 and 16th place among the 32 qualifiers.
Laura Murray (Alford) was the leading North-east qualifier in the No 7 spot after scores of 84 and 81 for 165. Sjavon-Dee Wilson (Murcar) came back from the disheartening experience of running up 7s at the second and third holes in her first round to finish with an 82 but she required 86 shots in the afternoon
for 168. Scores and Draw

Picture of Kelly Brotherton courtesy and copyright© Cal Carson Golf Agency

Student News
DAVID INGLIS IN HISTORY-MAKING EUROPEAN STUDENTS' LINE-UP
David Inglis from Glencorse helped Team Europe to score its first win on American soil in the transatlantic men's university golf match for the Palmer Cup.
At Kiawah Island's Cassique Course, Europe beat the United States 14-10 after establishing a 7-5 lead at the end of the first day.
Other British players in the Team Europe line-up were England's Oliver Skinns (Tennessee) and Oliver Wilson (Augusta State).
Inglis, a student at Tulsa University, teamed up with Welsh champion David Price to win an opening foursomes tie. David also gained a halved in the first-day singles.
Next year's Palmer Cup match will be hosted by Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland in July.

Scottish Junior Ladies Open Stroke-Play Championship
Kilmacolm 29-30 July Draw

Loretto Golf Summer School a UK First!
Some 25 young golfers are attending inaugural Loretto Golf Academy Summer School, near Edinburgh. It is believed to be the first dedicated residential golfing summer school for young players in the UK. Report

Monday 14th July 2003

Carly Booth bids to become youngest ever Scottish girls champion
Perthshire wee wonder golfing girl Carly Booth. pictured right, has been setting new age marks all season. Not long after her 11th birthday in June, little Carly became the youngest women's club champion in Britain ... the youngest five-handicap female golfer in the country ... then youngest ever player to qualify for the Grand Finals of the Nick Faldo Junior Series.
The last Scottish girl golfing prodigy was Jane Connachan from Musselburgh. She was a scratch golfer when she was 12 years old and a Curtis Cup player for Great Britain & Ireland when she was 16. But Jane, who quit as a tournament professional when she was only 27 because she had lost the desire to play the game, did not win the first of her hat-trick of Scottish girls' match-play titles until she was 14 years of age.
So, even if little Carly does not win the BP Scottish girls' championship which begins at Newmachar, near Aberdeen tomorrow (Tuesday), she will still have time on her side to claim another "youngest ever" title.
Carly is just one of a crop of very talented youngsters on the Scottish girls' golfing scene. Others include Roseanne Niven (Crieff), 14, pictured left, winner of the SLGA St Leonards Under-16 open girls' championship against all-comers at Drumoig in April and, only a week or two ago, Perth & Kinross's most successful team member in her debut for the women's county side at the Northern Division championships.
Then there's Krystle Caithness (St Regulas), pictured right, at 14 the youngest since Jane Connachan to qualify for the match-play stages of the Scottish women's championship over the Old Course, St Andrews in May.
The player with the lowest handicap in the field at Newmachar is Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) who plays off one. Kelly was a surprise winner of the BP Scottish girls Under-21 stroke-play championship at Baberton last summer, after which she gained a golf scholarship at a David Leadbetter golf academy in Florida. With all these starlets twinkling away, it promises to be one of the best Scottish girls championships in years. Draw

Veterans' News
SCOTTISH VLGA (Northern Division)
Murcar Strabathie _ Vintage Vets competition _ M Miller (Aberdeen Ladies) 83. Handicap _ Silver division _ Handicap _ M Miller (Aberdeen Ladies) (14) 69; S Reid (Murcar) (20) 76. Bronze division _ Handicap _ F Lyall (Edzell) (28) 77; M F Anderson (Newmachar) (22) 79. Rare Vintage Prize _ M Lindsay (Aboyne) (17) 83.

Victorious Ayrshire team after the West of Scotland Inter-County Championships last month
Back Row: Audrey Thomson, Lesley Hendry, Pamela Feggans, Morag McQueen, Sharon Lambie, Charlie Taylor.
Front Row: Laura Moffat, Marian Wilson {Capt] Gillan Lockhart, Liz Keohone, Eila MacLennen [Vice Capt]

GALLOWAY TITLE NO 8 FOR SHEILA
Dalbeatie Golf Club member Sheila McMurtrie has won the Galloway women's county championship at Brighouse Bay for the fourth time in a row and the eighth time in all. Mrs McMurtie had rounds of 77 and 80 for a total of 157 - three strokes ahead of runner-up Stella Booth from Portpatrick Dunskey. Stella won the Rennie Salver for the best net score in the first round. Playing off seven, she had a 70.
GALLOWAY WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP _ Brighouse Bay (CSS 72 73) _ Leading totals _ 157 Sheila McMurtrie (Dalbeattie) 77 80. 160 Stella Booth (Dunskey) 77 83. 161 Tracey Dodds (Stranraer) 81 80. 162 Christina Meldrum (Stranraer) 83 79. Rennie Salver (first round handicap) _ Stella Booth (Dunskey) (7) 70.

Futures tour
HEATHER WINS 891 DOLLARS ON FUTURES TOUR
Heather Stirling boosted her season's earnings to $4,298 from 10 events by earning $891 with a joint 17th finish in the Lincoln Financial Classic, the latest tournament on the United States Futures Tour, over the Blue Fox Run course at Avon, Connecticut.
The former Scottish women's amateur champion and Curtis Cup player last year from Bridge of Allan matched the par of 71 in her final round for a 54-hole total of 214 (previous rounds 74 and 69), 11 shots behind second-time winner Stacy Prammanasudh, the leading money-winner on America's No 2 women's pro circuit with $38,220.
The American from Enid, Oklahoma had scores of 67, 69 and 67 for a tournament record low of 10-under-par 203 to win the $8,400 top prize by one shot from Korea's Soo Young Moon. Third place was also filled by a player from Korea, Seol-An Jeon.
Lisa Hall from Stoke tied for 25th place and earned 598 dollars with scores of 73, 72 and 71 for 216. Mrs Hall (formerly Lisa Hackney) is fifth on the season's money list with $23,246. Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright came joint 50th on 220 for 192 dollars.
The second Scots-born rookie pro on the Futures Tour, Linzi Morton, the 2001 Scottish amateur champion from Alloa, did not play in this competition. Linzi is lying 107th (Heather Stirling is 55th) on the money list with $1,304 from 11 events.
Collated scoreboard
US FUTURES TOUR - Lincoln Financial Classic - Avon, Connecticut
Leading final totals (US players unless stated) 203 Stacy Prammanasudh 67 69 67. 204 Soo Young Moon (Kor) 68 69 67. 208 Seol-An Jeon (Kor) 67 70 71. 210 Kim Augusta 69 71 70. 211 Michelle Fuller 67 73 71, Lori Atsedes 71 68 72.
Other totals: 214 Heather Stirling (Sco) 74 69 71. 216 Lisa Hall (Eng) 73 72 71. 220 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 72 74 74.

Sunday 13th July 2003

SWEDEN OPT OUT OF VAGLIANO TROPHY
Sweden, runners-up, in the 2003 European women's amateur team golf championship, have decided, rather surprisingly, that none of their players can be members of the Continent of Europe side for the Vagliano Trophy match against Great Britain & Ireland later this month at Co Louth, Ireland.
The reason advanced by the Swedish Federation is that they have a big domestic tournament on that week and their officials would rather have the top Swedish players competing in that.
As the dates for the Vagliano Trophy match have been known for at least two years, it seems a surprising move by the Swedes.
Spain, the new European champions, deserve to have three players in the team, even if one of them, Emma Cabrera, unquestionably one of the best young players on the Continent was not a member of the Spanish team of six at Frankfurt.
If the Continent's team of nine had been chosen solely on form displayed this season then there would have been five Spaniards in it. But international golfing politics play a part in the selection process.
What is surprising is that Germany who have won four international team events this season and were just pipped for the No 1 qualifying spot in the European championship should have just one player selected.
The one German chosen - Bettina Hauert - would be ranked behind team-mates Pia Odefey (beaten finalist in the "British" at Lindrick in June), Denise Simon and Anja Monke by most neutral observers.
The Continent of Europe team, bidding to extending a winning sequence of GB&I in the biennal contest, is:

Minea Blomqvist (Finland).
Emma Cabrera (Spain).
Tania Elosegui (Spain).
Sophie Giquel (France).
Bettina Hauert (Germany).
Fany Schaeffer (France).
Lisa Holm Sorensen (Denmark).
Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Netherlands).
Elisa Serramia (Spain).
Reserves
Ursula Tuutti (Finland).
Tullia Calzavara (Italy).
Team captain
Macarena Campomanes (Spain).

Futures Tour
Heather shoots 69 in Futures Tour event
Heather Stirling had one of her better rounds on the US Futures Tour with a second-round score of 69, two under par, for a 36-hole tally of one-over-par 143.
The former Curtis Cup player from Bridge of Allan is lying joint 16th with one round to play in the Lincoln Financial Classic over the Blue Fox Run course at Avon, Connecticut.
American Stacy Prammanasudh, a winner once in six top-10 finishes out of eight tournaments this season, has had rounds of 67 and 69 for six-under 136. She has a one shot lead from two Koreans.
Lisa Hall from Stoke qualified with 73 and 72 for 145, one ahead of Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright (72 74).
Rebecca Prout from Surrey was nine shots over the limit with 75 and 83 for 158.
SCOREBOARD (players from US unless stated)
US FUTURES TOUR _ Lincoln Financial Classic _ Avon, Connecticut - Leading
scores _ 136 S Prammanasudh 67 69. 137 Soo Young Moon 69 69, Seol-An Jeon 67 70. 139 L Atsedes 71 68.
British scores
143 H Stirling (Sco) 74 69. 145 L Hall (Eng) 73 72.
Did not qualify
158 R Prout (Eng) 75 83.

Saturday 12th July 2003

European Ladies TEam Championship
SPAIN ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS AND WALES MISS OUT ON BRONZE MEDALS
SCOTLAND could no finish no better than a lowly 10th - one place worse than their male compatriots the previous week - of the 14th countries competing in the European women's amateur team golf championship at Frankfurt Golf Club.
Spain, the No 1 qualifiers for the match-play stages, beat the defending champions, Sweden, who had qualified seventh of eight for the top flight, by 4 1/2-2 1/2 in the final on yet another very warm conclusion to the five-day
programme. Report and results

European Ladies' Team Championship
ACE FOR VIKKI BUT SCOTS ARE TRUMPED BY IRISH IN FRANKFURT
Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing from Musselburgh achieved her fourth hole in one but that was one of the few bright spots for Scotland as they went down 4 1/2-2 1/2 to Ireland in the play-off for ninth and 10th places in a field of 14 countries at the European women's amateur team golf championship at Frankfurt today (Saturday) Report and Scotland v Ireland results

European Ladies Team Championship
Scotland and Ireland level after Frankfurt foursomes
Scotland looked to be in a strong position when they led in both foursomes against Ireland in the play-off for the leading position in the Second Flight of the European women's amateur team golf championship at Frankfurt today.
But, Ireland's champion Martina Gillen and Vagliano Trophy team player Tricia Mangan came back from two down at the turn to beat Scotland's Great Britain & Ireland pairing of Vikki Laing and Clare Queen by one hole.
Lesley Mackay and Lynn Kenny ensured a 1-1 lunchtime scoreline, with five singles to play, by beating Claire Coughlan and Helen Jones by two holes Report and foursomes results

Irish News
Press Release for the Lancome Irish Girls and Intermediate Close Championships

Futures Tour
Heather struggles in USA
This time last year Heather Stirling from Bridge of Allan was looking forward to her Curtis Cup debut for Great Britain & Ireland after winning the Scottish women's amateur match-play and open stroke-play titles as well as the St Rule Trophy.
Life as a rookie professional on the United States Futures Tour has taken the red-haired Scot back down to the bottom rung of the golfing ladder. The latest event, the Lincoln Financial Classic over the Blue Fox Run course at Avon, Connecticut has brought no change in Heather's fortunes.
She had a first-round score of three-over-par 74 and was lying in joint 61st place. Only the top 50 and ties after the second round will go forward to the third and final day.
Collated scoreboard (Friday USA time)
LINCOLN FINANCIAL FUTURES CLASSIC
Blue Fox Run course, Avon, Connecticut
Leading first round scores (players from US unless stated)
67 Stacy Prammanasudh, Michelle Fuller, Seol-An Jeon (Kor).
68 Kristy McPherson, Ju Kim (Kor), Soo Young Moon (Kor).
Other scores:
73 Lisa Hall (Eng).
74 Heather Stirling (Sco).
75 Rebecca Prout (Eng)

Friday 11th July 2003

European Ladies Team Championship
fron Colin Farquharson
SCOTLAND v IRELAND FOR SECOND FLIGHT HONOURS IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
The golfing Flowers of Scotland have blossomed too late to win the top prize in the European women's amateur team golf championship - but they have improved to such an extent over the past two days that they will play Ireland today (on Saturday) for the leading Second-Flight honours.
The Scots beat the Netherlands 4-3 yesterday while the Irish overcame Switzerland 4 1/2-2 1/2. Report and full results

Scottish Team at the European Ladies' Team Championship
L to R: Claire Hargan (Prestonfield), Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Clare Queen (Drumpellier),
Vikki Laing (Musselburgh), Lynn Kenny (University of Stirling),
Lesley Mackay (University of Stirling), Team Captain Alison Gemmill (Barassie)

Lunchtime edition
Scots lose marathon foursomes to Dutch in Frankfurt
Scotland were held to a 1-1 scoreline in the morning foursomes by Netherlands at Frankfurt Golf Club after Anne Laing and Lesley Mackay lost one of the longest ties in the history of the European women's amateur team championship. After a 5 1/2hr titantic struggle, the Scots lost at the eighth extra hole (the 26th) to Dewi-Claire Schreefel and Maire Louise Weeda. Report and morning results

Richard Hooper wins Boyd Quaich
Local student Richard Hooper (University of St Andrews) won the prestigious Boyd Quaich yesterday after a tie with team-mate Rob Hynson and Mark Kerr (Edinburgh). Their 287 total was one shot ahead of Alastair Love (Heriot-Watt). Joe Conway (East Anglia) on 290 completed a British 1-2-3-4-5. Report and leading scores

European Ladies' Team Championship
SCOTS GOLFERS IN FRANKFURT LIFT DRAMA
FIRST a nightmare flight from Edinburgh to Frankfurt ... then an abysmal failure on the first two days of the European women's team golf championship .. and last night (Thursday) the ill-starred trip threw up another little bit . of drama. The lift carrying Scotland skipper Alison Gemmill, Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association president Joyce Cooper, chairman Ethel Farquharson and her golf writer-husband Colin suddenly halted on its way up to the sixth floor at the five-star Frankfurt Intercontinental Hotel.
"We had no idea where it had broken down. But we couldn't open the doors and we didn't know if anybody knew that the lift had jammed with us inside it," said Alison. "We did a little bit of shouting. Tried pressing a few different buttons. There was no phone in the lift for us to phone for help and the signal was not strong enough to use a mobile telephone."
It was an anxious period for the players and officials.
"The temperature had touched 98 degrees at the Frankfurt golf course during the afternoon and it was beginning to get hotter and hotter by the minute in the confined space of the lift. The scary thing was not knowing when we were going to be rescued. The floor number indicator inside the lift had stopped registering so we had no way of knowing how far up the shaft we were," said Colin Farquharson. "It seemed like ages before we heard some scraping noises outside and eventually the doors began to be prised apart from outside. It was one of the hotel's workmen. The lift had risen about 3ft off the ground and we jumped down while the German guy held the doors open by brute strength.
"The funny thing was he never said a word yet. We were probably only stuck for about 20 to 25min but it's first lift crisis I've ever experienced and I hope it's the last."

Thursday 10th July 2003

European Ladies' Team Championship
from Colin Farquharson
On another very hot day, when Wales waltzed through to the semi-finals by shocking England, and pre-tournament favourites German were swept out of the title hunt by Sweden, the Scottish Lion found its voice again to give a little roar in beating Italy 5-2 as the match-play stages of the European women's amateur team golf championships got underway at Frankfurt. Report and results

Irish Open Stroke-Play Championship
Draw

Midland Vets
Cecilia Kenny (Dunblane New) wins the Midland Vets title
SVLGA (Midland Division) Summer Meeting and Championship Qualifier at Dunfermline GC on 8th July 2003
Scratch K Keir 79 C Kenny 82 [BIH]
Category 2 F Campbbell 83 (11) 72 EL Leisk 85 (12) 73
Category 3 J Mulgrew 81 (13) 68 A G Smith 92 (20) 72 [BIH] E Stewart 90 (18) 72
Bronze P Colquhoun 93 (21) 72 E Miller 97 (24) 73
Championship Qualifiers K Keir J Mulgrew C Kenny E Wilson
SS 72 CSS 73 Number of Players 73
In the morning semi-finals Emma Wilson beat Katherine Keir by 4 & 3 and Cecilia Kenny beat Joyce Mulgrew at the 18th. In the final Mrs Kenny fought back from being 4 down to win at the 22nd hole.

Lunchtime News
European Ladies Team Championship
from Colin Farquharson
SCOTS HELD BY ITALIANS IN FRANKFURT FOURSOMES
Scotland shared the morning foursomes 1-1 with Italy as they began a face-saving exercise after flopping in the stroke-play stages and failing to qualifying for the top match-play flight in the European women's amateur team golf championship on another very warm, sunny day at Frankfurt Golf Club. The best the Scots females can do after finishing 13th of the 14 competing countries in the 36-hole qualifying competition is to repeat the "achievement" of the Scotland men's squad at The Hague last week when they also failed to make the top eight qualifiers but won the second flight and so earned ninth place in the end of the week rankings.
At the turn in the foursomes, the Scots led in both ties but in the end Vikki Laing and Clare Queen were our only winners and then went one down to a birdie by the Italians at the 14th. The Scots pair responded brilliantly by winning the next three holes for a 2 and 1 win. They squared the match with a birdie 4 at the long 14th, went one up with a par at the 16th and finished the tie with a birdie at the 17th.
Anne Laing and Claire Hargan lost by 2 and 1 to Margharita Rigon and Tullia Calzavara, who won the British girls' championship at Blairgowrie three years ago. Calzavara pushed Italy's opening drive into the trees on the right and by the turn Anne and Claire were two holes up. They could not add to that healthy position, however, and the Italians came back at them on the inward half. A birdie for the Italian pair square the match at the 14th and the Scots went one down at the 15th. Calzavara and Rigon then polished off the Scots with a fine eagle 3 at the 17th.
Pre-tournament favourites Germany were in a little spot of bother after losing both foursomes to seventh qualifiers Sweden. But the biggest upset of the morning play was Wales establishing a 2-0 lead over England without too much of a struggle. Becky Brewerton and Sarah Jones beat Emma Duggleby and Fame More by 4 and 2 while Welsh champion Kate Phillips and Anna Highgate won by 5 and 4 over Kerry Smith and Nicola Timmins.
Ireland, competing in the second flight with Scotland, shared the foursomes 1-1 with the Czech Republic. Irish champion Martina Gillen and runner-up Maria Dunne were surprisingly beaten 3 and 2 by Petra Kvidova and Zusana Masinova. But Clare Coughlan and 45-year-old Helen Jones won at the 19th against Silvie Ditertova and Zuzana Potuznikova after taking a double-bogey 6 at the last to lose a one-hole lead.
FOURSOMES SCOREBOARD
Championship Flight Sweden lead Germany 2-0. Wales lead England 2-0. Finland lead France 2-0. Spain lead Denmark 2-0.
Second Flight Scotland 1, Italy 1. Ireland 1, Czech Republic 1 (Netherlands, Switzerland byes).

Midlothian Ladies' Summer Meeting
Claire MacDonald (Gullane) won the Jayne Dumayne Bowl for the best overall net score at the Summer Meeting at Deer Park on Tuesday. Her score of 77, less 6, net 71, was four below the CSS of 75. Claire also won the Corstorphine Salver with the best scratch score. The second scratch was won by Pamela Williamson with 78 (bih) from Fiona de Vries (St Rule). Results are on the MCLGA website