May 2006 Archive

Wednesday 31st May 2006

Ayrshire announce team.
The Team for the 2006 West Inter-County Championships is: Lesley Hendry, Jane Finnie, Alex Glennie, Roslyn Kennedy, Liz Keohone, Catherine Malcolm, Morag McPherson and Debbie Watt. Reserves: Audrey Thompson, Roz Purdom.

Irish seniors mens amateur open championship
PAR-BREAKER BARRY LEADS IRISH SENIORS
Barry Reddan from County Louth recorded a one-unde-par 70 to lead the way at Limerick Golf Club after the first round of the Irish seniors amateur open championship, sponsored by the Portuguese Tourist Board.
The former Irish International birdied the second, sixth, eighth and 11th holes. He was the only player to break par on the day. Reddan leads by one from Seamus McParland (Greenore) who, in turn, is a further stroke clear of a group of players including former Walker Cup star, Arthur Pierse (Tipperary)
IRISH SENIOR MEN'S AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Limerick Golf Club.
First round leading scores
70 B Reddan (Co Louth).
71 S McParland (Greenore).
72 J Baldwin (US), N Duke (Killiney), A Pierse (Tipperary), J O'Donoghue (Tipperary)
73 D Cash (Rosslare), D Lane (England), C Reynolds (England), P Cowley (Cork)
74 T Goode (Lucan), J Gilhooly (Edmondstown), G Rees (Wales), L Isaksson (Sweden), R Mason (Old Conna), H Smyth (Mourne), P Jones (Wales)
75 B McCarroll (Ballyliffin), B Berney (East Brighton), M Kelly (Killeen), C Moir
(England), M Morris (Portmarnock), B Karlsson (Sweden).
Scottish scores:
76 B Edgar.
77 P Kinloch, J Kinloch, J Broadfoot.
78 A Laird.
79 D McCart.
81 R Gill.

ONLY TWO SCOTS IN FIELD FOR EUROPEAN MID-AMATEUR MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Mid-amateur golf championships - for those aged 25 or over - continues to have little or no interest for competitive golfers in general.
The European men's mid-amateur championship starts at the Grand Ducal Golf Club in Luxemburg on Thursday.
There is a field of 144 for the 54-hole stroke-play event.
The biggest "name" is Walker Cup veteran Gary Wolstenholme from Kilworth Springs.
Scotland has two entrants - neither of whom lives in Scotland. Stuart McAllister is a member of the host club while Craig Townsend is playing out of Teignmouth Golf Club, Devon.
On the other hand, competitive golf at senior level (men 55 and over; ladies 50 and over) is getting more and more popular.
++ E-mail us with your view on why mid-am golf is a non-event.

SCOTLAND SENIOR WOMEN BID FOR HAMILTON BREAKTHROUGH
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has named a Scotland seniors’ training squad in preparation for the senior women’s home international matches, to be held at Hamilton Golf Club from October 3 to 5. The squad, under the team captaincy of Pam Gordon (Inverness), will have practice sessions at the venue as part of bid to win the over-50s title for the first time.
The first three senior women’s home international series have all been won by England at venues in England, Ireland and Wales.
The Scotland team of seven for the internationals will be named after the Scottish senior women’s stroke play and match-play championships at Machrichanish from August 31 to September.
The training and practice squad is:
Rose Anderson (Huntly), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee), Fiona De Vries (St Rule), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), Pat Hutton (Lanark), Christine McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier), Ann Smart (Banchory), Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), Anna Telfer (Milngavie), Moira Thomson (North Berwick), Margaret Tough (Falkirk), Pamela Williamson (Baberton), Emma Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry).

LESLEY AND ISOBEL SCORE DOUBLE WHAMMIES AT DUNBLANE
Ayrshire champion Lesley Hendry’s trip over to Dunblane for the LGU Challenge Bowls tournament was well worthwhile. The Routenburn player won the Wallace Williamson Bowl for the best scratch score of 68 in a field of 38 and she made it a double whammy by winning the Silver Division’s LGU Challenge Bowl with her net score of 66.
Under the rules of the competition, Lesley could win both trophies but not first prize in the handicap section which went to Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) with a net 70 off six. Janette McCartney (Erskine) was runner-up with a net 72 off eight.
For the second year in a row Isobel Millar (Vale of Leven) won both the trophies in the Bronze Division. She took the Scratch Cup with a score of 90 and the Bronze Division LGU Challenge with a net 67 off 23, the same handicap as last year.
Doris Reid (Tillicoultry), with a net 72 off 22, won the first handicap prize in the Bronze Division. Sandra Perrie (Vale of Leven) was runner-up with a net 73 off 25.
The par for the women’s course at Dunblane is 71. The CSS on the day was also 71.

EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS WILL DECIDE 10 OF 12 PLACES IN JUNIOR RYDER CUP
Selection for this year's Junior Ryder Cup match - for boy and girl golfers under the age of 16 on January 1, 2006 - will depend on the European Young Masters tournament at Styrian Golf Club, Austria from July 27 to 29.
The leading five boys and the leading five girls will gain automatic selection for the European team to play the United States at Celtic Manor earlier in Ryder Cup week.
Welshman Andy Ingram, skipper of the European junior team, will have the privilege of two captain's picks to complete the 12-strong line-up for the match over the Roam Road course on Monday and Tuesday, September 18 and 19.
Ingram is a former captain of the Welsh boys' team and the Welsh men's side from 1999 to 2003. Under his inspired leadership in 2002, Wales recorded their first victory in the amateur Home Internationals for 70 years.
He said at today's Press Conference: "It was a wonderful honour to captain the Junior Ryder Cup side in 2004 and an even bigger one to be given the chance to defend the trophy close to home at the Celtic Manor Resort in September.
"We were overwhelmed by the hospitality and courtesy we received in America two years ago and Sir Terry Matthews has promised both teams an unforgettable experience here in four months time."
Andy Morgan, president of the European Golf Association, commented: "The Junior Ryder Cup is an outstanding breeding ground for the next generation of golfers and it is satisfying to see so many youngsters who have played in the match go on to make an impact in the game."
Zac Gould, 17, one of Welsh golf's most exciting young prospects and a former European Young Master Golfer, was part of the successful European Junior Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States 8 ½ - 3 ½ at Westfield Group Country Club in Ohio in 2004.
Sergio Garcia won the inaugural European Young Masters at Wentworth Club in England in 1995, thereby qualifying for the first European Junior Ryder Cup Team which travelled to Rochester, New York State, in September that year. Garcia was the first player to represent Europe in the both that junior and men's Ryder Cup Teams and has been hugely supportive of the event ever since his arrival on the scene in 1995.
Europe's Ryder Cup Director, Richard Hills, commented: "The PGA of America and the European Tour are delighted that the Junior Ryder Cup has become an integral part of Ryder Cup week. The contests are always played in a wonderful spirit, fostering close relations between the two continents and providing the perfect launch pad for a glorious weeklong celebration of team golf."
Europe has won the last three Junior Ryder Cups, beating the Americans 10 ½ - 1 ½ at Cape Cod, Massachusetts; 9 ½ - 2 ½ at The K Club in Ireland, in 2002 and 8 ½ - 3 ½ in Cleveland, Ohio, two years ago.

Land Rover announce terrific Golf Show comp!
Land Rover has announced a fantastic competition for visitors to this weekend’s TGI Scottish Golf Show, taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston.
The leading car manufacturer are the title-sponsors of Green Fee Savers – the half-price golf discount scheme run by the show’s media partner, Bunkered golf magazine – and they have confirmed that they will be there in force with a fun and easy-to-enter competition.
They will be filling one of their Freelander vehicles with golf balls and will be inviting show visitors to guess how many golf balls are in it. There are superb prizes up for grabs for the winners, with the person who guesses correctly – or closest to the correct number – winning a brand new full set of clubs custom-fitted for them by Mizuno at their custom-fit centre in Cumbernauld.
Second prize wins a weekend break for two to the Hilton Hotel in Dunkeld in Perthshire, with a half-day of off-roading thrown in, whilst third place wins a state-of-the-art his or her’s Land Rover mountain bike and a Land Rover/Bunkered polo shirt.
Rover’s Regional Marketing Manager Mike Currie commented: “The Scottish Land Rover dealers are delighted to be present at the TGI Scottish Golf Show, further underlining our involvement in golf in Scotland. Land Rover’s range of 4x4 vehicles is ideally suited for the adventurous golfer. See the new Range Rover Sport on Stand M4.”
To book your tickets for the TGI Scottish Golf Show, call 0141 950 2400 or log-on to www.tgiscottishgolfshow.co.uk to order online.
Remember, children under 16 years of age go free when accompanied by an adult.

Tuesday 30th May 2006

Latest county teams named for upcoming divisional championships:
ANGUS
Aileen Hunter (Monifieth), Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), Frances Millar (Carnoustie Ladies), Susan Murray (Brechin), Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir),Mary Summers (Panmure Barry), Jane Tough (Brechin), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
LANARKSHIRE
Elaine Cuthill (Lanark), Alyson Hendry (Hamailton), May Hughes (Lanark), Lesley Lloyd (Hayston), Ruth Rankin (Lanark), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Ales Young (Horsforth).

West Vets Summer Meeting
Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm) had the best scratch score of the day in the Summer Meeting at Drumpellier today with a gross 85. Her net score of 76 was also the best Handicap score in the Silver Division. Moira Hogg (Old Ranfurly) and Anita McMillan (Erskine) were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Silver Division with Moira receiving the net prize as Marion cannot receive both the Scratch and handicap award. Helen Crichton (Ranfurly Castle) was the winner of the Bronze Division with a net 75.
Have a look at the West Vets Website for all the details plus print out your Handicap exchange letter to take back to your club

Scottish Youths team Back row (left to right): Barclay Howard (team captain), Scott Hendry (Cardross), Paul O'Hara (Colville Park), Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw). Front row: Peter McLachlan (Eastwood), Stephen McEwan (Barassie), Philip Reid (Peterhead).

Irish Youths Team

SCOTS LOSE TO IRISH BUT SKIPPER BARCLAY STILL DEFIANT
Scotland can still win the European youths championship again this summer. That was skipper Barclay Howard's defiant message after he watched his team go down 5 1/2-3 1/2 to Ireland in a friendly Under-21 interational over the Landsowne course, Blairgowrie today.
"We've got the potential within our squad of players to keep the European title. We've just got to get them to play to that potential," said Barclay.
The damage was done as far as the Scots were concerned in the morning foursomes. Scotland were not able to win any of the three ties. Lloyd Saltman and Paul O'Hara lost by one hole after very tight match against Seamus Power and Aaron O'Callaghan.
Scott Henry and Steven McEwan did come back from one down after 16 to get a square game with Fergal Rafferty and Neil O'Briain but Philip McLean and Peter McLachlan were well beaten, 6 and 4, by Shane Lowry and Simon Ward.
Saltman, O'Hara and Henry won the top three singles for Scotland - which was an encouraging sign with July's European youth championship in mind - but Ireland took the last three singles.
Saltman, who is favorite to win the Scottish open amateur stroke play championship over his home Craigielaw course this coming weekend, was three down after eight holes to Seamus Power, the Irish youths champion.
Then Walker Cup man Lloyd showed his class and grit by fighting his way back to square the match on the 16th. The 17th was halved and then Saltman won the 18th when Power missed the green on the left with his approach and could not get up and down. It was the first time in the tie that the Scot had led.
"If I had holed the birdie putt which Seamus conceded on the last green, I would have been round in level par, which doesn't sound too bad but I felt I could have played a lot better than that," said Lloyd.
Paul O'Hara had amazing run of success after slumping to three down against Aaron O'Callaghan after only eight holes.
"I won six holes in a row from the nine, with two or three birdies and the rest pars. I don't think I've every had a run like that in a match-play tie before, " said a cock-a-hoop O'Hara, who was roughly one under par when he won by one hole.
After an indifferent start against Neil O'Briain, Scott Hendry settled to play steady golf that saw hm go two up after nne and three up after 11 holes.
"I did just enough to win after that," said Scott. "Neil birdied the 13th but we halved the rest of the holes from there."
International debutant Philip McLean from Peterhead was on the receiving end of big defeats in the foursomes and singles but the bare 6 and 5 scoreline against Fergal Rafferty did not do the Buchan lad justice.
"I was only two over par when the match finished. Fergal was five under par. He played some great golf. I enjoyed the experience and I learned a lot from playing at this level for the first time," said Philip.
Scottish youths champion Peter McLachlan lost by 5 and 4 to Shane Lowry in the afternon after sliding quickly out of contention from two down at the turn.
Scottish boys' stroke-play title-holder Steven McEwan was two up after 11 holes on Simon Ward. Had he been able to maintain that position, Scotland would have escaped with a 4-4 draw. But it was not to be. By the 16 tee, the Irishman had turned the tables to be one up and he clinched victory of the Irish by a 2 and 1 margin.
SCOREBOARD
SCOTLAND 3 1/2, IRELAND 5 1/2
Youth international match
Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie
FOURSOMES
L Saltman (Craigielaw) & P O'Hara (Colville Park) lost to S Power (West Waterford) & A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 1 hole.
S Henry (Cardross) & S McEwan (Barassie) halved with F Rafferty (Dungannon) & N O'Briain (Royal Dublin).
P McLean (Peterhead) & P McLachlan (Eastwood) lost to S Lowry (Esker Hills) & S Ward (Co Louth) 6 and 4 (1/2-2)
SINGLES
Saltman bt Power 1 hole.
O'Hara bt O'Callaghan 1 hole.
Henry bt O'Briain 2 and 1.
McLean lost to Rafferty 6 and 5.
McLachlan lost to Lowry 5 and 4.
McEwan lost to Ward 2 and 1 (3-3).

LGU Press Release
LADIES’ BRITISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
In two weeks time, the Ladies British Amateur Championship returns to Royal County Down after a break of over 40 years and little will the 144 players know of the history inexorably linking the championship and the venue.
This will be the eighth time the championship has been played over the rugged links in Newcastle but it was the first there, in 1899, that is etched in the records. Then, May Hezlet, just one week past her 17th birthday, became and remains the youngest ever winner of the title. She went on to win a further two British Championships.
Nowadays, to emulate that win aged only 17 would be almost impossible and with the strength of the field competing at Royal County Down from 13-17 June it is likely that the winner will be a competitor with experience of competition at the highest international level.
Last year at Littlestone Louise Stahle of Sweden successfully defended her title but now, since she has turned professional, the way is open for a new name on the trophy.
Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan was close to putting her name on the trophy at Littlestone but in the end was edged out by Louise, one of the longer hitters in the amateur circuit. This year Claire will be competing against one of the strongest ever fields with almost 180 players with handicaps as low as +4.5 entered.
Spanish youngster Carlota Ciganda, the 2004 European Ladies’ Champion has shown she can win at the highest level and is quite capable of adding the British to her collection of titles. However French player Jade Schaeffer, last year’s European winner in Madeira is only one of several players from 17 countries who must consider they can lift the trophy.
Dewi Schreefel, one of a strong squad from the Netherlands, had her greatest success to date with her win last week in the NCAA Women’s Division 1 Championship. The 20 year old student at Southern California University shot a final round of 69, three-under-par, to win by two strokes. Other top finishers in the U.S. and travelling to Ireland are Sandra Gal of Germany and Azahara Munoz of Spain
Kiran Matharu, 17, is one of the rising stars of English golf and confirmed that promise last week by winning the English Ladies’ Championship at West Lancs, beating Ganton’s Naomi Edwards 5 and 4 in the final. Both players will be competing at Royal County Down alongside Felicity Johnson, the 2005 English Ladies Champion.
Scotland will be hoping for a good performance from Martine Pow this year’s national title holder, Anne Laing and Fiona Lockhart, both former winners of the domestic title.
The last Irish winner of the Ladies Amateur was Lillian Behan in 1985, one of only four in the past 50 years, none of which were on native soil. In addition to Claire Coughlan, Alison Coffey and Maria Dunne, Tricia Mangan, their 2005 and 2006 Champion and Martina Gillen, this year’s beaten finalist, will be the players on whose shoulders rest the hopes of a nation.
Welsh supporters will be hoping for a title-winning performance from Stephanie Evans, the recent winner of their national title at Tenby.
Susan Simpson, Director of Championships for the LGU said, “We are delighted that after a break of over half a century we are returning to Royal County Down, truly one of Ireland’s great links courses.”
“This reputation is also reflected in the size and quality of the entry which includes many of the world’s top amateurs attempting to add their name to the list of winners of the Ladies’ British Amateur, one of golf’s most revered championships.”
Competitors play one round on each of Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June and the top 64 enter the match play stage starting on Thursday 15 June.

ILGU Press Release
ILGU Selects Teams for Upcoming International Events
The Irish adies Golf Union has selected four underage level teams to represent Ireland at various upcoming International events in June and July.
For the first time in the same year, Ireland will send teams to the Under-21 and Under-18 European Team Championships which take place in the Netherlands and Denmark.“ A new approach to our underage training programme is producing young players capable of competing at both levels simultaneously” commented ILGU Chief Executive Sinead Heraty following the team announcements. “We are pleased with our continued development of the game at all levels and can look forward to a bright and healthy future for our sport” she added.
All players selected on the Under-21 side are experienced Under-18 Internationals who have competed in various international events over the past number of years. The side is captained by Donabate’s Mary McKenna who will bring her vast knowledge as player and Team Captain to the squad. The Under-18 side is not lacking in international exposure either and once again Co. Louth’s Jackie Quinn will be at the helm in Denmark.
Additionally, the Union has announced that Curtis Cup hopefuls Claire Coughlan (Cork), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) and Tricia Mangan (Ennis) will form the Irish team to play in the British Amateur Championship at Royal Co. Down, 13-17 June. The GB&I Curtis Cup team to play the USA at Pacific Dunes, Oregon, 29-30 July will be announced following the event.
U-21 European Team Championships, Golf Club de Pan, Netherlands, 11-15 July 2006
Fiona Carroll (Athenry), Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies), Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway), Catherine Tucker (Limerick)
Reserves in order: Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
Captain: Mary McKenna (Donabate) Manager: Anita McCaw (Royal Co. Down Ladies)
U-18 European Team Championships, Esbjerg Golf Club, Denmark, 11-15 July 2006
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Sarah Faller (Galway), Holli Snelling (Killarney), Linda Toomey (Limerick)
Reserves in order: Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Anne McCormack (Roscommon)
Captain: Jackie Quinn (Co. Louth) Manager: Rose Doyle (Shannon)
European Young Masters Styrian, Murhof, Austria, 27-29 July 2006
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush)
Reserve: Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy)
R&A Junior Open Heswall Golf Club 17-19 July 2006
Hannah O’Brien (Lahinch)
British Amateur Team Award Team Royal Co. Down, 13-17 June 2006
Claire Coughlan (Cork), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Tricia Mangan (Ennis)
Reserve: Tara Delaney (Carlow)

Midlothian announce team
Midlothian Ladies County Golf Association are pleased to announce their County Team for the East Division Matches which will be held at Dunbar Golf Club from Monday June 26th to Wednesday June 28th 2006
County Team
Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse)
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall)
Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall)
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old)
Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies)
Karen Marshall (Baberton)
Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall)
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe)
Reserves:
Tracy Laughland (Mortonhall)
Jane Turner (Mortonhall)

Monday 29th May 2006

SKIPPER HOWARD LOOKS FOR INSPIRATIONAL LEAD FROM SALTMAN AT BLAIRGOWRIE
Scotland, under the captaincy of Barclay Howard, limber up for their defence of the European youths team championship in Spain in July, with a friendly Under-21 international against Ireland over the Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie tomorrow.
Howard will be looking for an inspirational performance from the 20-year-old star of his line-up, Walker Cup man and Open championship silver medallist Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw).
Lloyd leads off for Scotland in the morning foursomes (8.30am) and again in the singles (1pm).
Saltman’s foursomes partner is the highly-rated Paul O’Hara (Colville Park). They play Seamus Power (West Waterford) and Aaron O’Callaghan (Douglas).
Saltman will cross swords again in the singles with Seamus Power, the reigning Irish youths champion and the latest generation of the Power golfing dynasty in the Waterford area. Seamus has a handicap of +2.5, so Lloyd will need to be on his game.
Three times Scottish boys’ champion (twice in match-play and once in stroke-play) Scott Henry, recently runner-up in the Craigmillar Park Open, is another big name in the youths’ line-up. He is paired with Steven McEwan (Barassie), last year’s Scottish boys’ open stroke-play champion.
Peterhead’s Philip McLean, with a first-class match-play record in North-east junior circles, makes his international debut with Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) as a partner in the foursomes. McLachlan has been playing on the American college circuit for the University of Kansas-Missouri, since he won the Scottish youths championship at Glenbervie last summer.
PROGRAMME
FOURSOMES
8.30 Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) & Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) v Seamus Power (West Waterford) & Aaron O’Callaghan (Douglas).
8.40 Scott Henry (Cardross) & Steven McEwan (Barassie) v Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) & Neil O’Briain (Royal Dublin).
8.50 Philip McLean (Peterhead) & Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) v Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) & Simon Ward (Co Louth).
SINGLES
1.0 Saltman v Power.
1.10 O’Hara v O’Callaghan.
1.20 Henry v O’Briain.
1.30 McLean v Rafferty.
1.40 McLachlan v Lowry.
1.50 McEwan v Ward.

Ayrshire Girls v Lanarkshire Girls (Thanks to June Kerr for this report)
Ayrshire (pictured above right) were hosts to Lanarkshire (below right) in a friendly match played over Ravenspark yesterday. Although sunny and dry, there was a cold, extremely strong wind blowing which occasionally played havoc with direction! However, the girls coped very well and all looked very weather beaten at the end of their games. The match result was close, Ayrshire just finishing ahead with 5 games to 3. Judging by the laughter and chatting afterwards they all enjoyed the day and no doubt new friendships have been made.
Results are as follows: (Ayrshire names first)
Linzi Allan beat Gillian Scanlon 2/1
Rachel McQueen lost to Anna Paton 4/3
Sarah Hutton lost to Lucy Clark 4/3
Gillian Arnott beat Leanne Jardin 2 holes
Hannah Gaunt beat Sara Jane McKenzie 4/3
Lynsey Weaton beat Jennifer Black 4/3
Katie Macpherson lost to Abigail Gliksten 3/1
Kathryn Rae beat Fiona McKay 7/6

AMERICAN STUDENTS NAMED FOR PALMER CUP MATCH AT PRESTWICK
Brian Harman, a member of the United States’ Walker Cup-winning team at Chicago Golf Club last summer, is in the American line-up for the 10th Palmer Cup student golf match between the United States and Europe at Prestwick Golf Club on June 29 and 30.
The full US team is:
Ryan Blaum (Duke), Ryan Baca (Baylor), Robert Castro, Kevin Larsen (both Georgia Tech), Brian Harman, Chris Kirk (both Georgia), Luke List (Vanderbilt), Clay Ogden (Brigham Young).
Chris Haack (Georgia) will be the American head coach and team manager.
The United States leads the series 5-3 with one halved.

CARLY IN RECORD-BREAKING FORM AT COMRIE
Carly Booth has lowered her own Comrie Golf Club women’s course record from 70 to 69 to 67 in the space of four days.
The 13-year-old – her 14th birthday is on June 21 - was competing in the qualifying rounds of the women’s club championship. Janet Griffiths is the holder.
Comrie’s nine-hole women’s course has a par of 74 and an SSS of 72. Conditions when she shot the 67 were very windy.

MHAIRI BACK IN THE LPGA MONEY
Mhairi McKay enjoyed her best LPGA tournament performance for three years when she finished fourth in the Corning Classic at the weekend.
Mhairi, now 31, had rounds of 70, 67,70 and 68 for a 13-under-par total of 275 to earn $61,950.
She had 20 birdies and an eagle over the four rounds.
South Koreans Hee-Luan Han and Meena Lee tied for victory, only two shots ahead of Mhairi on 273. Hee-Luan Han won the play-off for the £180,000 top prize.

RHIND WINS FISTFUL OF DOLLARS IN TEXAS
Lee Rhind from Uphall, winner of the Scottish boys’ open amateur stroke-play championship at Downfield in 1997, won $2,760 for an eighth-place finish in the latest event on the Tight Lies Tour, the Lubbock Open at Hillcrest Country Club, Lubbock in Texas.
Rhind shot 12-under-par 276 with scores of 72, 68, 69 and 67. In his final round the 27-year-old Lee, based in Midland, Texas, had eagle 3s at the fourth and 11th and birdies at the third, 10th, 15th and 18th.
He also had a double bogey at the eighth and a bogey at the 17th.
The winner of the $13,260 first prize was American Daniel Fox with 18-under-par 270 (67-70-67-66).
Rhind has won $6,262 from the four Tight Lies Tour events he has played in since the end of April.

Glenbervie Ladies Open
There are still some times available for the Glenbervie Ladies' Open on Sunday 11 June. Entry fee is £8 and the handicap limit is 35. There are prizes for Scratch, Silver Handicap, Bronze Handicap and Senior Ladies (!) sections. Raffle proceeds etc are in aid of CHAS. Entry Form

NATIONAL GOLF COACHES ASSOCIATION
2005–2006 DIVISION I AWARD WINNERS
Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) has been named the winner of four awards, including Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, by the National Golf Coaches Association of America.
The only British or Irish player to get a mention was Ireland’s Tara Delaney (Kent State) who received an “Honorable Mention,” an acknowledgement that she was considered for the First and Second All-American Teams on the basis of her performances during the 2005-2006 US women’s college golf season
The full list of awards:
Division I Player the Year : Amanda Blumenherst – Duke
Division I Freshman the Year: Amanda Blumenherst – Duke
Golfstat Cup: Amanda Blumenherst – Duke
Division I Kim Moore Spirit Award: Hayley Wilkinson – Long Beach State
Dinah Shore Trophy Award: Erica Battle – South Carolina
Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award: Amanda Blumenherst – Duke
Division I National Coach the Year: Devon Brouse – Purdue
Division I Regional Coaches the Year
East Region: Dan Brooks – Duke
Central Region: Devon Brouse – Purdue
West Region: Melissa Luellen – Arizona State

Division I All–American Teams

Sunday 28th May 2006

Does anyone have any photos of the Scottish Ladies Championship at Dunbar that they would like to share with the rest of us? Email me

TARA DELANEY IS TOP BRITISH AND IRISH PLAYER IN FINAL US COLLEGE RANKINGS
BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
You have to look long and hard to find the winner of last week’s NCAA Division 1 women’s championship – the premier tournament of the women’s college golf season in America – in the end-of-season GolfWeek/Sagarin rankings.
To save you the bother, I’ll tell you that Dewi Schreefel, the Dutch girl who is a student at the University of Southern California, is ranked No 45 with a stroke rating of 73.39.
Which gives you some idea of how much of a long-shot outsider Dewi was going into the championship.
Good for Miss Schreefel! But doesn’t it devalue the rankings a bit? What’s the point of being No 1, 2 or 3 if you cannot win the major tournament at the end of the season?
Ironically, her USC team-mate Irene Cho, is No 2 in the rankings with 70.42, second only to Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) who is No 1 with 69.96.
By the way, if the USGA selectors use the final top 10 as the basis of their deliberations over the team of eight to defend the Curtis Cup against GB&I at Bandon Dunes, Oregon at the end of June, it’s going to be a team of unknowns, at least to anyone who does not follow the results on the US college circuit.
Maria Martinez and Azahara Munoz, who finished third and eighth in the rankings, are ineligible to play for the USA anyway. Maria comes from Venezuela and Azahara is the Spanish girl who won the British girls’ open championship at Lanark a couple of years ago.
Only Jane Park (sixth) and Liz Janangelo (seventh) played for the United States in their 10-8 win over GB&I at Formby two years ago.
The top British or Irish player in the rankings was Tara Delaney (Kent State) despite her disappointing performance – well below her best – in the NCAA women’s championship.
She finished 49th with a stroke rating of 73.58. The top British player was Tara’s Kent State team-mate Becky Wood from Glossop in 80th place with 74.28.
Top Scot was Heather Macrae (San Diego State) on 141 with an average of 75.05 from 7 events.
GOLFWEEK/SAGARIN 2005-2006 RANKINGS
1 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 69.96
2 Irene Cho (Southern California) 70.42
3 Maria Martinez (Auburn) 70.84
4 Paige Mackenzie (Washington) 70.87
5 Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) 70.99
6 Jane Park (UCLA) 71.45
7 Liz Janangelo (Duke) 71.59
8 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 71.64
9 Taylor Leon(Georgia) 71.72
10 Tiffany Joh (UCLA) 71.73
Other placings;
45 Dewi Schreefel (Southern Cal) 73.39
49 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 73.58
80 Becky Wood (Kent State) 74.28
126 Anna Scott (Georgia State) 74.93
141 Heather Macrae (San Diago State) 75.05
151 Sian Reddick (Baylor) 75.18
256 Gemma Webster (Ohio State) 76.57
328 Emily Ogilvy (Arkansas Little Rock) 77.24
332 Maria Dunne (Bethune Cookman) 77.29
400 Karen Delaney (Kent State) 77.97
431 Louise Fleming (Jacksonville State) 78.18
535 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 79.18
583 Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) 79.68
644 Suzie Hayes (Notre Dame) 80.39
658 Fern Grimshaw (Bethune Cookman) 80.53
683 Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota) 80.85
737 Kate O’Sullivan (High Point) 81.30
761 Ann-Marie Dalton (High Point) 81.71
814 Becky Dowell (Bethune Cookman) 82.43
831 Jenna Kinnear (High Point) 82.70
1019 Stephanie Crolla (Nicholls State) 87.17
++ Kelly Brotherton (Colorado State) had a stroke rating of 77.01 but played in only three events, not enough to earn a official placing in the table.

SALLY WATSON FINISHES SEVENTH IN SWEDEN
Scottish Under-18 girls’ champion Sally Watson from South Queensferry finished a creditable seventh in a field of 49 for the Skandia Junior Girls Open over 54 holes at Kungsback Golf Club, near Gothenburg in Sweden at the weekend.
Sally, only 14 years old and a member of Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club in Fife, had rounds of 78, 76 and 79 for an aggregate of 233. She was the only British competitor in what is one of the leading Under-21 girls’ open events on the Continent.
Sally improved from 13th to joint fifth with a 76 on Saturday but she had her worst nine holes of the three days when she reached the turn in seven-over-par 43 on Sunday.
She had a triple bogey 6 at the short opening hole, another 6 at the long third and a double-bogey 6 at the fifth before going over par again at the seventh and eighth.
A birdie 3 at the ninth cheered up Miss Watson and she covered the inward nine holes in level par 36 with a birdie at the 12th and only one bogey, at the 14th.
Anna Nordqvist, pictured right, from Sweden, winner of the British girls’ open championship last year, outclassed the field with scores of 75, 70 and 73 for a two-over-par total of 218. She won by 10 shots from two compatriots, herese Nilsson and Linn Gustafsson.
Scoreboard
SKANDIA JUNIOR GIRLS OPEN
Kungsbacka Golf Club, nr Gothenburg, Sweden
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 72
218 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 75 70 73.
228 Therese Nilsson (Swe) 76 78 74, Linn Gustafsson (Swe) 78 73 77.
230 Amalie Val (Nor) 74 77 79.
231 Linda Persson (Sw4e) 80 74 77, Sara Monberg (Den) 72 80 79.
233 Sally Watson (Sco) 78 76 79.

LYNN KENNY'S TOP 30 FINISH IN FRENCH OPEN
Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) strung together four steady rounds of 73, 75, 76 and 72 to finish in joint 29th place in the French Women's Open at Le Golf d'Arras.
Lynn's total of 296 earned her 3,217 Euros.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon finished on 297 with scores of 78, 71, 75 and 73 to earn 2,827 Euros for a share of 32nd place.
Veronica Zorzi, with a seven-under-par total of 281, retained the title but only by one shot from Laura Davies.
The Italian had started the final round four shots clear of the field.
SCOREBOARD
281 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 71 69 69 72 (48,750 Euros).
282 Laura Davies (Eng) 72 73 69 68 (32,750 Euros).
285 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 73 70 70 72 (22,7850 Euros).
Other totals:
296 Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) 73 75 76 72 (3,217 Euros).
297 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 78 71 75 73 (2,827 Euros).

DUNCAN'S A YANKEE DOODLE DANDY BACK OF HOME TURF
Duncan Stewart, just home from a very good season for Jacksonville University, Florida on the American college golf circuit, continued in good form in his first tournament back in Scotland.
Stewart, from Grantown-on-Spey won the North District championship at windswept Lossiemouth on Saturday.
Duncan held his game together over the Moray Golf Club Old Course to post and opening 76, one above the CSS. At that point Duncan was four shots behind defending champion Michael MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) and Bruce Thomson (Inverness).
Stewart wiped out three shots of the deficit with birdies at the first, second and ninth holes in 32 to the turn. He then birdie the 13th and 17th - dropping only one shot, at the 17th, in a brilliant score of four-under-par 67 for a total of 143 to win by two shots from MacDonald with Thomson in third place on 146.
John Forbes (Inverness) and Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) tied for the North District youths' championship, staged in conjunction with the main event. The title went to Forbes on the better inward half in their second round 78s.
NORTH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
Old Course, Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth
LEADING FINAL TOTALS (CSS 75 74)
143 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 76 67.
145 M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 72 73.
146 B Thomson (Inverness) 72 74.
148 R Sheils (Moray) 73 75.
149 M Ross (Elgin) 75 74.
150 G Thomson(Moray) 73 77.
152 J Gunn(Royal Dornoch) 76 76, G Paterson (Moray) 76 76.
YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP
153 J Forbes (Inverness) 75 78, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 75 78 (Forbes won on better inward half of second rounds).
154 D Hexley (Inverness) 77 77.
157 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 81 76.

BYRNE TOP SCOT IN SWEDISH JUNIOR OPEN
Banchory’s James Byrne, finished a creditable joint 11th in a field of 97 for the Skandia Junior Under-21 Open tournament over three rounds at Boras Golf Club, near Gothenburg, Sweden at the weekend.
Byrne, only 17 and beaten semi-finalist in the recent Scottish boys’ championship, had scores of 76, 71 and 71 for a two-over-par total of 218.
He finished the tournament strongly with birdies at the 17th and 18th after reaching the turn in one-under-par 34, thanks to a birdie at the long opening hole and another at the eighth after dropping a shot at the second.
James lost a bit of ground when he shed shots at the 10th and 11th but a birdie at the 12th put him back on course and he dropped only one further shot, at the sixth, before his back-to-back birdies at the last two holes.
The other teenagers who made up the Scottish Golf Union party were Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) who tied for 26th place on seven-over-par 223; Scottish boys champion James White (Lundin), who finished 51st with 230, and Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), 51st with 237.
Kirton, who had rounds of 73, 76 and 74, birdied the third but dropped shots at the fifth, 10th and 12th in halves of 35 and 39 in his final outings.
White had improving scores of 80, 77 and 73, birdieing the 10th and 12th in his final round with bogeys at the ninth, 14th and 15th in halves of 36 and 37.
Gray scored 75, 82 and 80. His last round had halves of 38 and 42, including double bogeys at the 12th and 14th.
The tournament was won by Denmark’s Anders Kristiansen with scores of 72, 70 and 68 for an excellent, six-under-par total of 210.
He won by two shots from Englishman Nick McCarthy (Moortown, Leeds) with scores of 71, 71 and 70, and Sweden’s Jakob Nordstrom (70-71-71).
SCOREBOARD
SKANDIA JUNIOR UNDER-21 OPEN
Boras Golf Club, nr Gothenburg, Sweden.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
210 A Kristiansen (Nor) 72 70 68.
212 N McCarthy (Moortown) 71 71 70, J Nordstrom (Swe) 70 71 71.
Other totals:
218 J Byrne (Banchory) 76 71 71.
220 D Whitnell (Forrester Park, Essex) 80 70 70.
223 L Kirton (Newmachar) 73 76 74.
230 J White (Lundin) 80 77 73.
227 L Joy (Broadstone) 73 73 81.
237 C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 82 80.

Calling all County Secretaries!
Could you let me or Colin know of your County Team selection so that we can publicise it on this website? Thanks!

ORDER OF PLAY CONFIRMED FOR THE 2006 RYDER CUP AT THE K CLUB
European Captain, Ian Woosnam, has confirmed that the Order of Play for The 2006 Ryder Cup against the United States at The K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland, will follow the same format as the last contest at Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan, in 2004.
Woosnam has elected to play the two series of four-balls on the mornings of Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 with two series of foursomes each afternoon. The 12 singles ties will complete the 28-point match on Sunday, September 24.
Woosnam has opted for the same format as the one adopted by past captain Seve Ballesteros at Valderrama in Spain in 1997. Sam Torrance, the last captain on European soil at The De Vere Belfry in 2002, started with the four-balls followed by foursomes on Friday, but reversed the order on Saturday.

Saturday 27th May 2006

LYNN KENNY SHARING 35TH PLACE
Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) had a third-round 76 for an aggregate of 224 in the French Women's Open championship at Le Golf d'Arras today.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon was also sharing 35th place on 224 after a 75.
Italy's Veronica Zorzi increased her halfway lead to four shots with a repeat 69 for seven-under-par 209.
Laura Davies and Stephanie Arricau (France) are her nearest rivals on 213. Laura had a third-round 68 while Stephanie shot a 70.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
209 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 71 69 69.
213 Laura Davies (Eng) 72 73 68, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 73 70 70.
Other scores:
224 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 78 71 75, Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) 73 75 76.

TROON TEENAGER TAMES NEWMACHAR ON WAY TO SECOND SGU JUNIOR TOUR WIN
Troon teenager Michael Stewart shot a five-under-par round of 67 over Newmachar Hawkshill course, near Aberdeen today on his way to a second win on the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour this season.
Stewart, only 16, had six birdies in his brilliant first round which put him five shots clear of the field going into the afternoon round.
Michael had a 74 in the afternoon for a three-under-par tally of 141 – seven shots under the combined CSS - to win by five shots from Chris Robinson (Wigtown) with Ross Kellett (Colville Park) third on 157.
This was the fourth of five 36-hole events that make up the SGU Junior Tour on which participation is by invitation only. Stewart won the second event at North Berwick.
Play was suspended for an hour in the afternoon when torrential rain flooded the greens temporarily.
SGU JUNIOR TOUR - Event No 4
Newmachar Hawkshill Course
LEADING TOTALS (Par 72, CSS 74 74)
141 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 67 74.
146 C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 72 74.
147 R Kellett (Colville Park) 75 72.
148 G Mitchell (Northern) 72 76.
151 T Higson (Eyemouth) 74 77.
152 M Main (Thornton) 75 77, C Storrier (Downfield) 77 75, N Henderson (The Glen) 74 78, S Fraser (Northern) 77 75, M Bookless (Sandyhills) 78 74, M Williams (Craigielaw) 76 76.
153 S Barras (Helensburgh) 78 75, M Daily (Erskine) 76 77.
154 R Bell (Downfield) 76 78, J Bradley (Paisley) 79 75.
155 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 75 80, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 76 79.
156 K Harper (Carnoustie) 85 75, T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 80 76.
157 A Moir (Thornton) 76 81, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 80 77, E Brown (Barassie) 79 78.
158 J Meechan (Dullatur) 76 82, K Smith (Barassie) 79 79.
159 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 78 81.
160 R Leeds (Muckhart) 77 83, D Fitzpatrick (Greenock) 81 79.
161 A Willemars (Blairgowrie) 79 82, J Neilson (Dunbar) 80 81.
163 S McLaren (King James VI) 83 80.
164 D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 80 84, A Killen (St Andrews) 86 78, K McClung (Wigtownshire) 81 83.
166 J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 85 81.
171 A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 89 82.

SALLY IMPROVES TO FIFTH PLACE IN SWEDEN
Scottish girls’ champion Sally Watson from South Queensferry improved to joint fifth position with a second-round 76 for a two-round rally of 154 in the Skandia Junior Girls Open tournament at Kungsbacka Golf Club, near Gothenburg Sweden today (Sat).
Sally, a 14-year-old member of Elie & Earslferry Golf Club, birdied the long 12th but dropped shots at the second, fourth, seventh, 11th and 18th, in halves of 39 and 37. The only British player in the field, she had a 78 in the first round.
Anna Nordqvist, the Swedish girl who won the British girls’ open title last year, is six shots clear of the field of 57 with one round to play. She has had rounds of 75 and 70 for 145.
LEADERBOARD
145 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 75 70.
151 Linn Gustafsson (Swe) 78 73, Amalie Valle (Nor) 74 77.
152 Sara Monberg (Den) 72 80.
154 Linda Persson (Swe) 80 74, Sally Watson (Sco) 78 76,Therese Nilsson (Swe) 76 78, Sara Wilkstrom (Swe) 75 79.

BYRNE TOP SCOTS BOY IN SWEDEN
James Byrne from Banchory was the best placed of the four Scots in the field of 97 with one round to go in the Skandia Junior Boys’ Open golf tournament at Boras Golf Club, near Gothenburg, Sweden today (Sat).
Byrne has had rounds of 76 and 71 for a three-over-par total of 147 – six shots off the pace.
James had five birdies – at the first, third, seventh, 14th and 18th, in his second round which also included bogeys at the second, fourth, sixth and ninth.
Another North-east teenager, Lewis Kirton from Newmachar, has had scores of 73 and 76 for 149. Lewis had birdies at the ninth, 16th, 17th and 18th in his second round but had double bogeys at the sixth and 10th.
New Scottish boys’ champion James White (Ludin) has had rounds of 80 and 77 for 157. He started his second round with a double bogey 6 but did later birdie the third, fifth, ninth and 10th
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) has shot 75 and 82 for 157. Cameron had a triple bogey 8 at the 12th in his second round.
Fredrik Qvicker (Sweden) led the field with 71 and 70 for three-under 141.
Nick McCarthy (Moortown, Leeds) was one shot behind after a pair of 71s.
Luke Joy (Broadstone) had a pair of 73s for 146.
Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park, Essex) improved by 10 shots with a 70 for 150.
LEADERBOARD
141 Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 71 70.
142 Nick McCarthy (Moortown) 71 71.
Other scores:
146 Luke Joy (Broadstone) 73 73.
147 James Byrne (Banchory) 76 71.
149 Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) 73 76.
150 Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park) 80 70.
157 James White (Lundin) 80 77.
157 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 75 82.

WELSH CALL OFF STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Welsh men's open amateur stroke-play golf championship was cancelled at Southerndown Golf Club today.
The 72-hole tournament was reduced to 54 holes when the course was flooded on Friday It was planned to play one round today with the top 36 advancing to Sunday's final two rounds.
But the weather did not improve overnight and the Welsh Golfing Union finally called off the event, citing "extreme weather conditons" as the reason.
Several leading Scottish players had made the long trip down to Bridgend, South Wales.

Kiran Matharu, 17, wins English championship
Yorkshire teenager Kiran Matharu is the 2006 English Ladies Close Amateur Champion, sweeping away with the title with a 5/4 win over Naomi Edwards in the final at West Lancashire Golf Club.
"This is my first major win and I am so happy," said the 17-year-old international from Cookridge Hall, whose aim now is to win a place in the Curtis Cup team.
Kiran had never before been past the first round of this competition but this year she made no mistakes, comfortably defeating a series of opponents including the holder, Felicity Johnson (Harborne).
In the final, played in windy, overcast conditions, she was three-under par at the end of the match. She was never behind and lost only one hole, the 9th, to reach the turn at 3up.
Kiran went further ahead on the short 12th where she holed a 30-footer for a two and then sealed the title with another - brave - birdie on the long 14th.
"I hit my drive a bit right and had to go over the trees with a five wood. It was bit risky but I went for it anyway, got it on the green and two-putted. Normally I'm quite a safe player - but I wasn't today."
Kiran was determined to win and prepared herself well for the challenge. The green staff were astonished and impressed by the number of questions she asked about the course and the conditions.
She also knew the strength of her opposition. Naomi Edwards, 22, is a fellow Yorkshire player from Ganton and is the English mid-amateur and Welsh open strokeplay champion. "I have played with Naomi quite a lot and I know what she can do.
"I had a good idea of what I need to do and I played really well."
In the past Kiran's strength has been strokeplay and in this event she concentrated on playing the course and achieving sub-par scores. It was a strategy which rewarded her well.
The result was also a pay-off for the hard work she's put in since the Scottish open strokeplay championship earlier this year. "I was awful there," she said frankly "and I've been working hard with my coach since then."
Kiran progressed through the matchplay stages of the tournament by beating Hannah Bews (Broadstone) 3/2; Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 2/1; Clara Leathers (Ellesborough) 3/1; and, in the semi-final, Felicity Johnson (Harborne) 5/4.

England names team for European Lady Juniors' Team Championship.
New English champion Kiran Matharu is a member of the strong England team for next month's European Under 21 Lady Juniors' Team Championship to be held at Ultrechtse De Pann Golf Club, Holland from 11th to 15th July 2006
Captain: Jenny Clink (Lilley Brook)
Jodi Ewart Catterick
Felicity Johnson Harborne
Kiran Matharu Cookridge Hall
Florentyna Parker Royal Birkdale
Melissa Reid Chevin
Anna Scott Consett & District
Reserves (no order)
Joanne Hodge Knowle
Corisande Lee West Lancashire

England names team for the European Girls' Team Championship
Esbjerg Golf Club, Denmark
11th to 15th July 2006
Captain: Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall)
Hannah Barwood Knowle
Rachel Connor Manchester
Eleanor Givens Blackwell Grange
Rachel Jennings Izaak Walton
Reserve: Gemma Hardie Forest Pines

GLENEAGLES DATE FOR JUNIOR MASTERS
The Grand Final of the Scottish Golf USnion Junior Masters tournament will be played of the Queen's Course, Gleneagles Hotel on Sunday, October 8

DUTCH GIRL DEWI WINS NCAA TITLE
20 year old Dewi Schreefel, pictured right, from Deventer in the Netherlands has won the NCAA Women’s Division 1 college championship over the Scarlet course at Ohio State University.
The 5ft 4in sophomore student at Southern California University shot a final round of three-under-par 69 to win the title by two strokes with a two-under-par total of 286.
Dewi – pronounce it DEVI – has been playing in European events since her very early teens. Now all that experience has come together for a great victory.
Only one of the leading five players – runner-up Jennie Lee (Duke) – is an American.
Third-placed Dal Sol Chung (UNLV) comes from Seoul, Korea and joint fourth-placed Sandra Gal and long-time leader Eileen Vargas come from Germany and Colombia respectively.
Another European to do well was Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), the Spaniard who won the British girls’ open championship at Lanark two years ago. Azahara finished joint fifth on 292.
It was not such a happy tournament for the Kent State University, Ohio trio of the Delaney sisters from Carlow and Becky Wood from Glossop.
Becky finished joint 68th with a total of 307 with scores of 77, 79, 77 and 74. She had no birdies in her last round, the best of the four.
Tara tied for 98th place on 315 with scores of 76, 76, 85 and 78. She simply could not keep the really destructive figures off her card. In her final round she had a double bogey a the long fourth and a triple bogey at the short 17th.
Over the 72 holes, Tara had 1 quadruple bogey, one triple bogey and six double bogeys – which is not her style at all.
Sister Karen finished joint 120th on 326 with scores of 85,85, 80 and 80. She had double bogeys at the second and 18th in her final round. Over the four rounds, she had 3 triple bogeys and six double bogeys.
Duke (1167) retained the team title by 10 shots from Southern California with Pepperdine (1887) third. Kent State (1229) finished 21st of 24.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
286 Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 73 74 70 69.
288 Jennie Lee (Duke) 76 72 70 72.
291 Sandra Gal (Florida) 74 72 71 74, Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) 68 71 75 77.

2006 Troon Junior Golf Open for the Tom Lehman Trophies
2006 will mark the ninth anniversary of this hugely successful, and reputedly World’s largest, one-day junior golf tournament. The quality of the Troon Junior Open, in golfing terms, has developed to such an extent that in recent years the boys’ scratch competition over Darley Golf Course has required balloting for handicaps of twelve and under. The two silver replica claret jugs are presented to the best boy’s and girl’s gross score.
The 2006 Troon Junior Golf Open will be held on Tuesday 1st August and will, as in previous years, consist five separate handicap competitions, each open to boys and girls from eight to eighteen years of age.
New for 2006 – South Ayrshire Junior Golf Pre-handicap Open
Monday 31st July 2006 will herald a brand new junior golf event. The South Ayrshire Junior Golf Pre-handicap Open has been introduced for all boys and girls aged between eight and eighteen years of age who have not yet achieved an official golf handicap. The aim is to introduce young golfers to ‘open’ competitions at an early stage and it is hoped that those who play in 2006 will have obtained a handicap and will be able to play in the Troon Junior Open next year.
The competition will be played from specially installed forward junior tees on Troon Fullarton Golf Course with boys and girls playing from the same tees. The emphasis of this competition is on participation and as such a goody bag will be given to each competitor rather than having a prize list that only rewards those who score well.
A trophy will be presented to the lowest score in each age category. The categories will be displayed on the draw sheet.
Do not miss out on the opportunity to play in either of these events. Places are limited
Click here for further information and an entry form.

ST RULE TROPHY ATTRACTS STONG ENTRY
The St Rule Trophy has attracted its strongest entry for many years, reflected in the number of countries represented and in the handicap cut-off at 2.7.
With over 100 players entered for 72 places in the 54-hole stroke play tournament over the Old Course and New Course, St Andrews on 3 and 4 June, its position as one of the top events in the British Isles has been underlined.
The defending champion, Ganton’s Naomi Edwards, is one of 21 English players hoping to take the trophy south of the border for only the third time in ten years and she will be assisted in that quest by a squad of talented players who include youngsters Kiran Matharu and Henrietta Brockway, Sophie Walker and Rachael Bell.
Martine Pow, the winner last week at Dunbar of the Scottish title, heads a strong Scottish entry that includes three-times Scottish champion Anne Laing and 2005 title holder Fiona Lockhart who last year prevented Laing winning a third successive national title. Also from Scotland are 2000 champion Louise Kenny and last year’s winner of the Ladies’ British Stroke Play title, Heather MacRae from Dunblane.
Irish players expected to challenge for the Trophy include 2005 runner-up in the British Amateur at Littleston, Claire Coughlan, 2005 Irish Champion Tricia Mangan, Alison Coffey and Martina Gillen.
The overseas entry is particularly strong with eight of the German national team competing, five players from Australia and players from the United States, Norway and a Swedish entry that includes 2005 British Girls Champion Anna Nordqvist.
All of the 72 competitors will play 18 holes over the New Course on Saturday 3 June and a further 36 holes over the Old Course on Sunday 4 June.

R&A Press Release
R&A PUBLISHES 2005 ANNUAL REVIEW
The R&A, golf’s world rules and development body and organiser of The Open Championship, has published its 2005 Annual Review covering rules, championships, development, course management and heritage activities. The review also reports an increased operating profit for the second year of operations in a corporate structure.
Commercial success is inextricably linked to the performance of The Open Championship and with television and other major commercial rights fully taken up, and near record attendances at the event in St Andrews, operating profit advanced to £9.1m (£5.25m) in the year to 31 December 2005.
Ensuring that The R&A’s worldwide governance role can be guaranteed into the future, the organisation again added to its reserves.
Commenting on the financial outcome R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson said:
“Revenue is traditionally strongest when The Open is staged at the home of golf in St Andrews and 2005 was no exception, with even more spectators turning out to see Jack Nicklaus play his last championship round”.
“Our stated ambition, to deliver more than £50m of grant aid and other benefits to the game by the end of the decade, from the new ownership structures put in place in 2004, remains on track”, added Dawson.
In the year, R&A development grants to the game totalled £3.7m (£3.6m), and a further £3.5m (£3.3m) was provided to support governance activities and other championship events, including the Amateur, the Walker Cup and the Senior British Open.
Highlights of 2005 included:
- An independent study commissioned by The R&A found The Open at St Andrews to be worth £72m to the Scottish economy
- A new host broadcaster television rights agreement for coverage of The Open Championship was agreed through to 2011 with the BBC
- Open Championship broadcast distribution reached record totals for level of coverage (1,700 hours), the number of broadcasters transmitting coverage (47), and the number of territories reached worldwide (194)
- Lexus joined MMC, Nikon, Rolex, Royal Bank of Scotland and Unisys as a Patron of The Open Championship
- R&A funding support for the China-Scotland Golf Partnership passed £1m in the year
- The Gabonaise and Serbia and Montenegro Golf Associations affiliated to The R&A
- Work started on a new R&A Equipment Test Centre on the St Andrews Links
- Student athlete support from The R&A reached £250,000 in the year
- The R&A took Rules of Golf Schools to: China, Italy, Korea, Singapore, South Africa and Switzerland and ran a tournament organisation seminar in Beijing
- The R&A Best Practice Website on sustainable course management was made available in 5 languages and over 1,600 courses from 93 countries were registered at the year end
- The R&A funded PGA coaching visits to14 countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, India, Iran, Peru, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Venezuela
- The British Golf Museum, substantially funded by The R&A Foundation, attracted over 63,000 visitors following major front of house and retail redevelopment
During the year The R&A’s founding club, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews again gifted listed investments to The R&A Foundation, raising net assets at the charity to £11.4m (£6.4m) at the year end.

R&A Press Release
THE JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY
The Jacques Leglise Trophy match between boys of Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe will be played at Marianske Lazne Golf Club on 1 & 2 September.
The team will be picked after the Boys Championship at Royal Aberdeen and prior to that, R&A selectors will be in attendance at major events both here and abroad.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of the Boys Selection Committee said, “We have a talented group of youngsters coming through the system and with players now maturing so quickly, it is essential that the selectors attend as many events as possible.
“Although we have several names ‘pencilled in’ for possible selection, there are many players out there who, with good performances between now and August have every chance of making the team.”
In recent years the annual match has been evenly balanced with the Continent winning last year at Royal Porthcawl by 14-10.
R&A Selectors will be in attendance at:
Scottish Boys (West Kilbride) - Already Played
Peter McEvoy Trophy (Copt Heath) - Already Played
European Boys Team Championship - Malmo, Sweden, July 11 - 15
English Boys Strokeplay Championship (Carris Trophy) - Sherwood Forest, July 25 - 27
Scottish Boys Strokeplay Championship - Alloa, July 25 - 27
Welsh Boys Championship - Pennard, July 25 - 27
Boys Home Internationals - Moray, 8 - 10 August
Boys Championship - Royal Aberdeen, 14 - 19 August
The R&A Boys’ Selection Committee is: Roy Case, Richard Cusack, Mark Heames, Jim Miller and Jeff Toye.

Friday 26th May 2006

SALLY WATSON BEST-PLACED SCOT
Scottish Under-18 match-play girls champion Sally Watson was the best-placed Scot with a share of 13th place in a field of 57 players for the girls’ competition when the 54-hole Skandia Junior Open began at Boras Golf Club, near Gothenburg, Sweden.
Sally shot a 78 (39-39). Two-shot leader was Sara Monberg (Denmark) with a 72. British girls’ open champion Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) was joint third on 75.
In the boys' section, Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) was joint 18th with a 73 (35-38), the same score as Luke Joy from Broadstone.
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) had a poor inward half of 41 after very good play in an outward 34. His 75 put him in joint 31st place.
J ames Byrne from Banchory, had a 76 (39-37) to be joint 46th in a field of 97 boys.
New Scottish boys champion James White (Lundin) had a disappointing 80 after halves of 37 and 43. He is in joint 72nd place alongwith Dale Whitenll (Forrester Park) (44-36).
Christoffer Palfi (Sweden) had a two-shot lead with a 68.
LEADING SCORES
GIRLS
72 Sara Monberg (Den).
74 Rachel Raastad (Nor), Johanna Rodert (Swe).
75 Sara Wikstrom (Swe), Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Anna Wall (Swe).
Also:
78 Sally Watson (Sco).
BOYS
68 Christoffer Palfi (Swe).
70 Jakob Nordstrom (Swe), Mikael J Moberg (Swe), Knut Borsheim (Nor), Niklaez Rasmussen (Den).
Also:
71 Nick McCarthy (Moortown).
73 Lewis Kirton (Newmacdhar), Luke Joy (Broadstone).
75 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride).
76 James Byrne (Banchory).
80 James White (Lundin), Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park).

RECORD ENTRY FOR BRITISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR
A record number of entries for next month's British women's open amateur championship has resulted in the cut falling at 2.2 of a handicap.
All entries with 2.2 or less of a handicap are certain starters in the field.
Among those on the waiting list is Dawn Dewar (Monifieth & Stirling University) in 13th place.
The top players worldwide will converge on The Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle in Northern Ireland for the championship, to be played from June 13 to 17.
The prestigious British title carries with it a full exemption for the winner to the Weetabix Women's British Open.
Louise Stahle from Sweden, title-winner in 2004 and 2005, will not be defending the title. She is now a tour professional.

LYNN SURVIVES BUT CLARE, JULIE MISS CUT
Lynn Kenny beat the cut in the French Women's Open but Clare Queen and Julie Forbes are on the sidelines at Le Golf d'Arras.
Lynn, representing Brucefields Family Golf Centre, had rounds of 73 and 75 for four-over-par 148. Players with 152 and better qualified.
Clare had 76 and and 80 (double bogeys at the seventh and 12th) for 156 while Julie scored 80 and 77 for 157.
Italy's Veronicaa Zorzi leads on four-under 140 (71-69) - three shots ahead of England's Kirsty Taylor (71-72) and Stephanie Arricau (France) (73-70).

FIFE WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM FOR DUNBAR
Fife women's county golf team to play East Lothian, Midlothian and Stirling & Clackmannan in the East Division women's inter-county team championship at Dunbar Golf Club from June 26 to 28 is:
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), Becky Copland (Scotscraig), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), Katrina Milne (Dunfermline).
The four divisional winners qualify for the Scottish women's county finals at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream from September 22 to 24.

CLARINS LEINSTER LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Defending champion and Irish international Maria Dunne (Skerries) has safely made it through to the semi-finals of the CLARINS Leinster women's amateur golf championship at Grange Golf Club.
Dunne will face strongly fancied Curtis Cup hopeful Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) in the first semi-final.
Martina beat Sinead Keane (Curragh) and Anne McCormack (Roscommon) on the 19th earlier today.
Dunne was pushed all the way to the 17th green by local favourite and recently crowned Irish senior champion Therese O'Reilly while O'Reilly herself had disposed of clubmate Sheena O'Brien Kenney on the home green in the morning.
Play continues at Grange Golf Club at 9am on Saturday morning with the final due to tee off at lunchtime.
FRIDAY'S RESULTS:
FIRST ROUND
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) beat Anne McCormack (Roscommon) at 19th
Sinead Keane (Curragh) beat Ann Geoghegan (Atrhlone 3 and 2.
Maria Dunne (Skerries) beat Miriam Abernethy (Cork) 4 and 3.
Therese O’Reilly (Grange) beat Sheena O’Brien Kenney (Grange) 1 hole.
Maura Morrin (Curragh) w/o Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) scr.
Vicki Power (Brampton Park) beat Deirdre Walsh (Milltown) 4 and 3.
Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) beat Sue Phillips (Woodbrook) 3 and 2.
Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) beat Gillian O’Leary (Cork) 4 and 2.
SECOND ROUND
Gillen beat Keane 4 and 3.
Dunne beat O’Reilly 2 and 1.
Morrin beat Power 5 and 3.
Gannon beat Conaty 5 and 4.
CLARINS LEINSTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
Sheila Richardson (Kilcoole) beat Anne Barry (Glen of the Downs) 5 and 4.
Triona McAllister (Grange) beat Mary Inglis (Foxrock) 2 holes.
Audrey Kavanagh (Grange) beat Ciara Bourke (Foxrock) 1 hole.
Sandra McCaffrey (Lucan) beat Marie Sudway (Carton House) 6 and 5.
Anne Hayden (Foxrock) beat Deirdre Malone (Beech Park) 6 and 5.
Angie O'Briain (Glen of the Downs) beat Patricia Collins (Lucan) 3 and 2.
Sandra Smyth (Grange) beat Paula Murray (Naas) 3 and 2.
Oralith Keogh (St. Anne's) beat Genevieve McKenna (Grange) 2 holes.
SECOND ROUND
Richardson beat McAllister 3 and 2.
McCaffrey beat Kavanagh 5 and 4.
O'Briain beat Hayden 1 hole.
Smyth beat Keogh 4 and 3.

KIRAN (17) PLAYS NAOMI FOR ENGLISH TITLE
Internationals Kiran Matharu and Naomi Edwards will battle it out in an all-Yorkshire final of the English women's close amateur championship at West Lancashire Golf Club on Saturday.
Kiran, 17, beat defending champion Felicity Johnson (Harborne) by 5 and 4 to claim her place in the final. This is the first time the Cookridge Hall player has got past the first round of this event and she's determined to make the most of her chance.
"I'm really hoping and wanting to win this," said Kiran, who was two-under-par when she closed out 19-year-old Felicity with a birdie on the long 14th. Miss Matharu dominated the semi-final, winning the first hole and reaching the turn at 3 up.
"This is the best I've played in the championship so far," added Kiran, who has been working hard with coach Peter Tupling on swing changes and short game technique. "It's all paying off," added the teenager.
Naomi Edwards, the reigning English mid-amateur champion, Welsh open stroke-play champion and last year's St Rule Trophy winner, claimed her place in the final when she beat Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) 4 and 2.
The Ganton player was never behind in the semi-final but she said: "It was tough out there in the strong winds and it was an up and down match. I was really pleased to win."
This will be Naomi's second final. She was runner-up in the 2003 English championship at Aldeburgh. "I shall give it a shot and see how it goes," she said.
Kiran is the No 4 seed whilte Naomi qualified in 18th place.
Friday's results:
QUARTER-FINALS
F Johnson beat E Duggleby 2 holes.
Kiran Matharu beat Clara Leathers 3 and 1.
Danielle Montgomery beat Corisande Lee 2 and 1.
Naomi Edwards beat Rachel Bell 3 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
Matharu beat Johnson 5 and 4.
Edwards beat Montgomery 4 and 2.

WELSH OPEN STROKE-PLAY HIT BY WEATHER
Friday's bad weather is nationwide. No play was possible today in the Welsh men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Southerdown Golf Club. The championship has been reduced from 72 to 54 holes with the cut being made after one round. Only the leading 36 players and ties will contest the final two rounds.

LOCHWINNOCH PRO-AM ABANDONED
The Lochwinnoch Golf Club pro-am was abandoned today when the greens began to flood after incessant rain. The last group were on the third green when conditions became impossible. It is hoped to rearrange the pro-am for later in the season.

PAUL LAWRIE SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
The Paul Lawrie Schools Team Challenge at Peterculter Golf Club, near Aberdeen on Monday, September 4 is open to all schools in Scotland. Each school can enter a team of three (boys and/or girls) for the 18-hole event in which the Paul Lawrie Trophy goes to the school team (all three scores to count) with the lowest gross aggregate.
The A T Personnel Trophy goes to the school team with the lowest net aggregate.
Tournament organiser is Derek Johnstone of Torry Academy, Aberdeen. Deadline for entries is June 30 and the entry fee, payable by the school, is £21 per team (cheques made payable to Torry Academy).
It is hoped that Paul Lawrie will be available to make the presentations and meet the competitors.
ends

JOHNSON v MATHARU, MONTGOMERY v EDWARDS IN ENGLISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR SEMI-FINALS
Felicity Johnson (Harborne) has found her form just in time to defend the English women's close amateur championship at West Lancashire Golf Club this week.
This morning, the Birmingham player beat Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton), one of the leading English players over more than a decade, in the first quarter-final. Felicity won by two holes.
Miss Johnson will now play teenager Kiran Matharu (Cookridge) for a place in the final. Kiran won by 3 and 1 against Clara Leathers in the second quarter-final.
The other semi-final will feature another teenager, Danielle Montgomery, who has arrived from Australia this year, against Naomi Edwards.
Danielle bt Corisande Lee 2 and 1 while Naomi beat Rachel Bell 3 and 1.
So the semi-finals line-up is:
Johnson v Matharu.
Montgomery v Edwards.

US College golf - NCAA Championships
TARA RUNS UP A 9 IN NIGHTMARE 85
Tara Delaney had one of her worst rounds since she went to Kent State University, Ohio on the third day of the NCAA Division 1 women's college championship over the Ohio State University Scarlet course at Columbus.
The Irish international player shot a 13-over-par 85 to be in joint 102nd place on 21-over-par 237 with one round to go.
Tara started at the 10th and ran up double bogeys at the 11th and 17th - but much worse was to come. She had a quadruple bogey 9 at the long fourth and that seemed to dispirit her. Tara then bogeyed the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth for an "inward" half of 45. Her only bogey had come at the 14th.
Team-mate Becky Wood from Glossop had a 77 for 233 and a share of 77th place while Karen Delaney returned and 80 for 246 and joint 122nd place.
Duke have taken over the team leadership from Southern California.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
214 Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) 68 71 75.
217 Sandra Gal (Florida) 74 72 71, Jennie Lee (Duke) 73 72 72, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 73 74 70, Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana (Stanford) 74 71 72.
Also:
223 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 73 74 76 (jt 23rd).
233 Becky Wood (Kent State) 77 79 77 (jt 77th).
237 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 76 76 85 (jt 102nd).
246 Karen Delaney (Kent State) 83 83 80 (jt 122nd).
LEADING TEAMS
876 Duke.
889 Southern California.
894 Pepperdine.
Also:
923 Kent State (21st of 24).

Thursday 25th May 2006

STEPHEN ELLIS WINS SCOTTISH SENIORS' TITLE
Stephen Ellis, a 59-year-old from Yorkshire who now lives in Cowal , won the Scottish seniors' open amateur stroke-play championship on a final day of fluctuating fortunes at Ranfurly Castle.
American John Baldwin posted the clubhouse target of 225 early in the afternoon after a third-round 69, the lowest score of the tournament.
Only one of the later finishers was able to beat Baldwin's score – Ellis, a Scotland senior international team member, who finished with a 75 for 224.
Defending champion Gordon MacDonald (Callander) posted a final score of 75 to be one of four players who matched John Baldwin's aggregate of 225. The American was officially placed second because he had the lowest last round.
Overnight leader Jim Watt (Edzell) finished a creditable seventh with a 79 for 227.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS AT RANFURLY CASTLE
CSS 74-74-72
224 S Ellis (Cowal) 73 74 75.
225 J Baldwin (US) 77 79 69, G MacBryde (Newcastle-under-Lyme) 74 80 71, B Grieve (King James VI) 72 81 72, G MacDonald (Callander) 73 77 75, D Lane (Goring & Streatley) 73 76 76.
227 J Watt (Edzell) 73 75 79.
228 J Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 76 79 73, I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 74 80 74
229 C Christy (Kilmacolm) 74 79 76.
230 B Edgar (Blackpool North) 79 77 74, O Browne (The Richmond) 74 80 76.
231 Donald McCart (Castlerock) 77 79 75, N Swenson(US) 76 78 77, D Miller (Murrayfield) 78 77 76.
232 J Kinloch (Cardross) 76 80 76, B Humble (Kilspindie) 75 81 76.
233 R Walker (Crewe) 74 82 77, S MacDonald (Dunfermline) 76 80 77, G Payne (Prestbury) 76 79 80.

English women's amateur championship
TOP SEEDS GO OUT: IT'S EMMA DUGGLEBY v FELICITY JOHNSON IN LAST EIGHT
Defending champion Felicity Johnson will take on twice title-winner Emma Duggleby in the quarter finals of the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at West Lancashire Golf Club on Friday.
Emma (Malton & Norton) eased comfortably through her first two matches. In the first round she beat international Jodi Ewart (Catterick) 4 and 3 before going on to knock out the top seed, Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), by the same margin.
"That's the best I have played in the championship so far and I really enjoyed the course," she said. "Now, bring on the next round!"
Meanwhile Felicity, (Harborne) 19, beat two teenage stars to prove that she has found her form after struggling in the qualifying stages.
In the first round she ground out the pars to beat English girls' and Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play champion Melissa Reid (Chevin), 18, by 2 and 1. Then, with growing confidence, Felicity beat 16-year-old girl international Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 4 and 3.
Corisande Lee continued to fly the flag for West Lancashire, where she is a member. She reached the quarter-finals with a good second-round win over girl international Joanne Hodge (Knowle).
Her next match is against 17-year-old Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) who is making impressive progress through her first championship after recently moving to England from Australia.
The upset of the tournament was provided in the first round by Jenny Pease (Braintree), the 31st qualifier, who knocked out the No 2 seed and last year's runner-up, Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).
Jenny won her place in the match-play only after taking part in a six-way play-off and she held her nerve again through a tight match with Sophie, eventually holing a birdie putt on the 18th to win by one hole.
However, her run was ended by English mid-amateur champion Naomi Edwards (Ganton) who won their second round encounter 5 and 4..
ALL THURSDAY'S RESULTS
:FIRST ROUND
K Smith bt S-J Eaves 2 holes.
E Duggleby bt J Ewart 4 and 3.
F Johnson bt M Reid 2 and 1.
F Parker bt L Ball 4 and 3.
L Jones bt E Lyons 1 hole.
C Leathers bt C Aitken 1 hole.
R Jennings bt L Eastwood 4 and 2.
K Matharu bt H Bews 3 and 2.
D Montgomery bt S Tyson 3 and 2.
C Warrington bt F Sanderson 1 hole.
J Hodge bt J Ross 5 and 4.
C Lee bt H Fitzgerald 3 and 1.
E Sheffield bt E Bennett 5 and 4.
R Bell bt T Boyes 2 and 1.
N Edwards bt C Gray 3 and 1.
J Pease bt S Walker 1 hole.
SECOND ROUND
Duggleby bt Smith 4 and 3.
Johnson bt Parker 4 and 3.
Leathers bt Jones 6 and 5.
Matharu bt Jennings 2 and 1.
Montgomery bt Warrington 1 hole.
Lee bt Hodge 3 and 2.
Bell bt Sheffield 6 and 5.
Edwards bt Pearce 5 and 4.
QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP
Duggleby v Johnson
Leathers v Matharu.
Montgomery v Lee
Bell v Edwards

AMERICAN SHOOTS 69 TO POST SENIORS' TARGET
American John Baldwin posted the clubhouse target of 225 after returning the lowest score so far of the 54-hole tournament - a three-under-par 69 in the Scottish senior men's open stroke-play championship at Ranfurly Castle today.

ENGLISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
SOPHIE WALKER'S SHOCK DEFEAT IN ROUND 1
West Lancashire Golf Club
FIRST ROUND
K Smith bt S-J Eaves 2 holes.
E Duggleby bt J Ewart 4 and 3.
F Johnson bt M Reid 2 and 1.
F Parker bt L Ball 4 and 3.
L Jones bt E Lyons 1 hole.
C Leathers bt C Aitken 1 hole.
R Jennings bt L Eastwood 4 and 2.
K Matharu bt H Bews 3 and 2.
D Montgomery bt S Tyson 3 and 2.
C Warrington bt F Sanderson 1 hole.
J Hodge bt J Ross 5 and 4.
C Lee bt H Fitzgerald 3 and 1.
E Sheffield bt E Bennett 5 and 4.
R Bell bt T Boyes 2 and 1.
N Edwards bt C Gray 3 and 1.
J Pease bt S Walker 1 hole.

ABERDEENSHIRE TEAM FOR CRIEFF
Aberdeenshire women’s golf team to compete against Angus, Northern Counties and Perth & Kinross in the Northern Division inter-county team championship at Crieff Golf Club from June 24 to 26 is:
Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Laura McLardy (Murcar Links), Laura Murray (Alford), Donna Pocock (Murcar Links), Katie Thomson (Kintore), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
Reserves: 1 Kim Moggach (Hazlehead), 2 Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), 3 Sjavon Wilson (Murcar Links).
Linda Urquhart (Banchory) has retired from county golf after being a member of the Aberdeenshire team for 21 consecutive years.
“Linda’s contribution and wisdom will be greatly missed,” said Aberdeenshire county captain Ros Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay).
Julie Henderson (Inverurie), last year’s county champion and beaten finalist this year, declined selection along with Fiona Hay (Deeside) due to personal commitments.

CHRISTINE STIRLING DEFENDS TITLE
Hampshire's Christine Stirling will defend her title when the Senior English Ladies' close amateur stroke-play championship is played at Hillside Golf Club on June 6 and 7..
The two-handicapper from Meon Valley is among 99 players who have entered the 36-hole championship.
They include the new English seniors' champion, Christine Watson (Beaconsfield), who will be aiming to complete a double with a win in this event.
The field ranges in handicap from the scratch golfer and former champion, Carole Caldwell (Sunningdale) to players off 13.
The field will compete over the par-75 ladies' course at Hillside, which measures 5,919yd and they will play one round on each day of the championship. Competitors will be divided into two divisions: plus to six handicap and seven and over.
This is the first time ELGA has run this championship following the merger with the English Senior Ladies' Golf Association at the end of last year.
As a result, ELGA now runs an extended tournament schedule for senior ladies. These events are open to all its members aged over 50.

ANOTHER 76 BY TARA DELANEY
Ireland’s Tara Delaney dropped to joint 49th at the halfway stage with a second round of four-over-par 76 for a tally of 152 in the NCAA Division 1 women’s college championship at Ohio State University, Columbus.
Tara started her second round with a double bogey 6 and finished it with a double bogey 6.
She did birdied the ninth, 11th and 14th but three double bogeys over 36 holes have been costly at the highest level in women’s college golf over a course measuring 6,203yd with a par of 72.
Kent State University, Ohio team-mate Becky Wood from Glossop had no birdies in here second-round 79 for 156 and a share of 88th place.
Tara’s sister Karen Delaney had an 81 for 166 to be sharing 123rd place in a field of 126. She had a triple bogey 7 at the 16th but did birdie the fifth and seventh.
Leading the field with 36 holes to go is Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) on 139, four strokes clear of Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State).
Arizona State (586) lead the team event by three shots from Duke. Kent State (619) are 23rd in a field of 24.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
139 Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) 68 71.
143 Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State) 70 73.
Also:
147 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 73 74, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 73 74 (jt 10th).
152 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 76 76 (jt 49th).
156 Becky Wood (Kent State) 77 79 (jt 88th).
166 Karen Delaney (Kent State) 85 81 (jt 123rd).
LEADING TEAMS
586 Arizona State.
589 Duke.
591 Southern California.
Also:
619 Kent State (23rd of 24).

Wednesday 24th May 2006

ELGA Press Release
Kerry Smith and Sophie Walker lead qualifiers in English championship
Internationals Kerry Smith, pictured right, and Sophie Walker shared top billing at the end of the strokeplay qualifying rounds in the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at West Lancashire Golf Club.
Both players returned 36-hole totals of 153 but Kerry - who won this title in 2004 - is top seed for the matchplay by virtue of her better second round.
The Waterlooville player added a two-over par 76 to her opening 77 - and was disappointed not to do better. She reached the turn at one-under par but was tricked by the strong winds on the way home, dropping three shots on the last four holes.
Now she plays Sarah-Janes Eaves (Cosby) who had to battle to the 9th extra hole in a marathon play-off, which finished after 9pm, to claim the final place in the knockout stages.
Sophie, (Kenwick Park) who is ELGA's order of merit titleholder, also dropped shots on the inward half as she battled the 30 mph winds to return 79. She will play Jenny Pease (Braintree) in the first round of matchplay. Jenny also won her place in the play-off, in her case on the third extra hole.
Four shots behind in third place is Danielle Montgomery of Lambourne, Buckinghamshire, who has recently moved from Australia to England to play the amateur golf circuit.
She's one shot clear of 17-year-old international Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) and local heroine Corisande Lee, who is a member of the host club.
Defending champion Felicity Johnson (Harborne) repaired the damage of her first day's 86 - which included an 11 - with an 81. It helped her to climb the leaderboard safely into the 32 qualifying places, and now she meets Melissa Reid (Chevin) the English girls' and Scottish open strokeplay champion.
Six players who all finished on 170 took part in the play-off for the final two places in the matchplay stages. The unsuccessful competitors were Georgina Dunn (Peterborough Milton) who went out on the first extra hole, Gemma Hardie (Forest Pines) on the second extra hole, Hannah Moul (Chelmsford) on the third extra hole and Rachael Goodall (Wirral Ladies) on the 9th extra hole.
ENGLISH WOMEN’S CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lancashire Golf Club, Liverpool
QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
153 K Smith (Waterloville) 77 76, S Walker (Kenwick Park) 74 79.
157 D Montgomery (Lambourne) 80 77.
158 K Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 82 76, E Lyons (West Surrey) 81 77, C Lee (West Lancs) 80 78.
159 E Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 81 78.
160 F Parker (Royal Birkdale) 82 78, M Reid (Chevin) 83 78, T Boyes (Meon Valley) 82 79.
162 J Ross (Whitley Bay) 83 798, C Leathers (Ellesborough) 82 80, L Eastwood (*Yelverton) 80 82.
163 C Warrington (Sickleholme 83 80, C Gay (Rothley Park) 82 81, J Edward (Catterick) 81 82, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 80 83, N Edwards (Ganton) 79 84.
164 F Sanderson (Heworth) 82 82.
165 R Jennings (Izaak Walton) 85 80, C Aitken (Mid-Kent) 80 85.
166 J Hodge (Knowle) 83 83, R Bell (Ganton) 83 83.
167 F Johnson (Harborne) 86 81, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 79 88.
168 E Sheffield (Newark) 86 82, H Fitzgerald (Links) 84 84.
169 L Jones (Royal Liverpool) 86 83, H Bews (Broadstone) 86 83, S Tyson (Redlibbets) 84 85.
170 S-J Eaves (Cosby) 89 81, H Moul (Chelmsford) 86 84.
(Four players on 170 were eliminated in a nine-hole play-off: J Pease (Braintree) 86 84, G Dunn (Peterborough) 84 86, G Hardie (Forest Pines) 80 90, R Goodall (Gog Magog) 76 94).
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
K Smith v S-J Eaves.
E Duggleby v J Ewart.
M Reid v F Johnson.
L Ball v F Parker.
E Lyons v L Jones.
C Aitken v C Leathers.
L Eastwood v R Jennings.
H Bews v K Matharu.
D Montgomery v S Tyson.
F Sanderson v C Warrington.
J Ross v J Hodge
H Fitzgerald v C Lee
E Bennett v E Sheffield
R Bell v T Boyes
C Gray v N Edwards
J Pease v S Walker.

Calling all West of Scotland Old Girls!
Are you remembering it's the 50th anniversary of West of Scotland Girls to be held at Ladies Golf Club, Troon, on 9th August?
Entries close on 9th June so get your entry in now!
Entries to chairman Marjorie Seymour , 5 Thorn Drive, Burnside, Rutherglen G73 4RH , Tel 0141 570 3925
Entry cost £15 includes buffet lunch - entry open to all current, former West Girls and committee members
The format is tri am stableford - emphasis on fun - non counting!
Come along and see old friends and meet new ones....

JIM WATT LEADS AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF SCOTTISH SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Edzell's Jim Watt is the surprise leader after 36 holes of the Scottish senior men's amateur stroke-play championship at Ranfurly Castle.
Perhaps not so much a surprise because Watt is an experienced county player for Angus and he played well as an amateur in last year's British Seniors Open at Royal Aberdeen.
Jim has had rounds of 73 and 75 for a tally of 148 and a one-stroke lead with 18 holes to go.
Englishman David Lane (Goring & Streatley), winner of the title in 2001 and 2002, is sharing second place with Stephen Ellis (Cowal) on 149.
Defending champion Gordon MacDonald slipped from an opening 73 to a 77 but is by no means out of the hunt on the 150 mark.
Overnight leader Brian Grive from Perth slipped even further ... from 72 to an 81 for 153.
LEADING 36-HOLE TOTALS
148 Jim Watt (Edzell) 73 75.
149 Stephen Ellis (Cowal) 75 74, David Lane (Goring & Streatley) 73 76.
150 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 73 77.
153 Jonathan Marks (Woodbridge) 76 77, Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 74 79, Brian Grieve (King James VI) 72 81.
154 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 74 80, Glen MacBryde (Newcastle-under-Lyme) 74 80.
155 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 73 82, Derek Miller (Murrayfield) 78 77, George Payne (Prestbury) 76 78, Howard Moxon (Royoal Cinque Ports) 76 79, John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 76 79

East Lothian Team announced
The East Lothian Team for the County Matches at Dunbar 26-28 June is as follows:
Kelly Brotherton, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), Lynne Fortune (Kilspindie), Sharon McMaster (Gullane Ladies), Line Mortensen (Gullane Ladies), Fiona Prior (Gullane Ladies), Jayne Smith (Gullane Ladies), Moira Thomson (North Berwick)

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR BRITISH MID-AMATEUR AT NAIRN
June 19 is the deadline for entries to the British women's mid-amateur stroke-play golf championship, to be hosted by Nairn Golf Club from July 7 to 9.
Entry fee is £30 and you can enter through the Ladies Golf Union website (www.lgu.org).
Sara Bishop (Windyhill) was runner-up at Walton Heath last year and Anne Laing was the winner of the inaugural tournament at The Berkshire in 2002.
Competitors have to be over 25 years of age on January 1, 2006.

DUNBAR STAGES WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Dunbar Golf Club, 150 years old this year, will host another major women's amateur golf tournament in 2007 - the women's home internationals from September 12 to 14.

US College Golf
TARA 76 AFTER LATE DOUBLE BOGEY IN NCAA DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Ireland’s Tara Delaney, pictured right, had a hat-trick of birdies and a double bogey on her way to a round of four-over-par 76 on the opening day of the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship over the Scarlet course at Ohio State University, Columbus.
Tara, a student at Kent State University, Ohio, started at the 10th with a bogey and also bogeyed the 11th, 17th, second and third before she birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth. She then gave back two shots to par with a double-bogey 6 at the seventh.
She will start the second round in a share of 46th place.
Ohio State team-mates Becky Wood from Glossop and Tara’s sister, Karen Delaney, had scores of 77 and 85 respectively to be in 70th and 124th place.
Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) had the lowest score of the first round, an excellent four-under-par 68 over a longish, 6,203yd course.
Tiffany Chudy (Florida) was her nearest rival on 69 with Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State) in third place on 70.
Spaniard Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), winner of the British girls’ open title at Lanark a couple of years ago, was in joint 10th place after a 73, the same score as Holland’s Dewi Schreefel (Southern California).
Southern California (291) lead the team event by one stroke from Arizona State with Florida (293) in third place. Kent State (321) were in 23rd place in a field of 24 teams.

Renfrewshire team announced
The Renfrewshire team for the Inter CountyJamboree (Monday 26th June - Wednesday 28th June) has been selected and it is as follows:-
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Clare - Marie Carlton (Fereneze), Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston), Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire), Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), Kate O'Sullivan (Cochrane Castle) and Lesley Robertson (Ranfurly Castle)

New Open Championship Exhibition at British Golf Museum
Four stunning new exhibitions have been unveiled at The British Golf Museum.
The new Open Championships since 1946 Gallery takes the visitor on a unique tour of the venues of The Open Championship around the United Kingdom since 1946. The exciting new exhibits bring the events at each venue to life through various objects including 'Poulter's Pants', trousers designed in a BBC competition for Ian Poulter and worn by him on the first day of the 2005 Open and clubs used by Champions such as Paul Lawrie, Roberto de Vicenzo and Lee Trevino when they won the coveted title. The exhibition is accompanied by film of each Open Championship from 1923 right up until last year's memorable 2005 Open in St Andrews.
Three new temporary exhibitions have also opened. The new International Team Events display focuses on the Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup, the Curtis Cup and the World Amateur Team Championship. Colourful image panels alongside an array of objects from our exceptional collections bring this exhibit to life.
A remarkable new Cabinet of Curiosities highlights some of the more quirky parts of the museum's collections and the ephemera of the game.
Finally there is the new R&A Room, which tells the story of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and that of The R&A. The colourful space recounts the story of the Club's 250th Anniversary in 2004 and guides the visitor through the governance and championship activities of The R&A. The highly acclaimed inter-active DVD's Pages of History from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and What is The R&A accompany the display.
Take the perfect break from playing golf and see the new exhibitions from May 2006.

CLARE, LLOYD TO GET EUROPEAN MEDALS
The European Golf Association championship and executive committees have decided that the European Amateur Rankings, introduced last year, should receive formal recognition.
Subsequently, the top three-placed men and ladies will be awarded EGA medal prizes at a formal gathering.
Lady winners for 2005 will be awarded their medals this year at the European women's individual championship in Hamburg, Germany at the end of August. The top three ranked lady players for 2005 were:
1 Alexandra Vilatte (France) 225pt
2 Maria Hernandez (Spain) 175pt
3 Clare Queen (pictured right), (Scotland) 160pt
Other Scottish top-20 placings
11 Jenna Wilson 132.50pt
19 Heather MacRae 114.13pt
Men's winners for 2005 will be awarded their medals this year at the St. Andrews Trophy in the Czech Republic. The top three ranked men's players for 2005 were:
1 Lloyd Saltman (Scotland) 302.50pt
2 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 226.53pt
3 Joost Luiten (Netherlands) 225pt
Other Scottish placings:
7 Richie Ramsay 209.50.
20 Andrew McArthur 120.50.

HEATHER LEADS P&W RANKINGS
New Scottish women’s amateur golf champion Martine Pow from Selkirk is only ninth in the updated Paull and Williamsons SLGA Stroke-Play Rankings.
But Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), beaten by Martine in the semi-fnals at Dunbar last week, takes over at No 1 with an average of 2.2 strokes under the CSS after two events.
Only the qualifying rounds from the “Scottish” counted towards the stroke-play averages and Miss MacRae was leading qualifier with a total of 138, eight under the CSS at Dunbar.
In contrast, Miss Pow shot 141, five under the CSS, but not enough to wipe out her seven-over tally from the opening event at Troon, the Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play championship.
Sara Bishop (Windyhill) is in second place with an average score of 1.5 under CSS. Anne Laing, beaten last week in her seventh appearance in the final, is joint third on -1.4 with Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) who smashed the Dunbar course record with a score of 65.
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) is sharing seventh place with Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir).
LATEST RANKINGS
1 Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) -2.2.
2 Sara Bishop (Windyhill) -1.5.
3 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) -1.4.
3 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) -1.4
5 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) -1.0.
6 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) -0.4.
7 Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 0.0.
7 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 0.0.
9 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 0.4.
10 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 1.0.
10 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 1.0
10 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 1.0
10 Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 1.0.
14 Carly Booth (Comrie) 1.3.
15 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 1.5
16 Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 2.0.
16 Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) 2.0
16 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 2.0
19 Kerri Harper (Inverness) 2.5.
20 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 2.6

World Golf Hall of Fame to Have Presence at 2006 Open Championship
St. Augustine, Fla. (May 24, 2006) – The World Golf Hall of Fame will have an exhibition on display at the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England. The Hall of Fame’s stand will be on display in the Exhibition Marquee the week of the tournament, Monday, July 17 through Sunday, July 23.
“We look forward to sharing the fascinating and historically significant stories of Hall of Fame members and their connections to Hoylake with The Open Championship spectators, who are among the most passionate golf fans in the world,” said Jack Peter, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. “We are grateful to our supporting organization, The R&A, for the opportunity.”
The exhibition will tell stories of Hall of Fame members with ties to the tournament at Hoylake, including J.H. Taylor, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Peter Thomson and Roberto de Vicenzo, plus John Ball Jr. and Harold Hilton, who were natives of the area. The exhibition also will give spectators an opportunity to learn more about the Hall of Fame and its mission.
This exhibition will mark the first time the Hall of Fame has had a presence at The Open Championship. The Exhibition Marquee will be open to spectators Monday, July 17 through Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the 2006 Open Championship, visit www.opengolf.com. For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame, visit www.wgv.com.
About World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame, located in St. Augustine, Fla., is the ultimate destination for the celebration and recognition of golf’s greatest players and contributors and an inspiration to golfers and fans throughout the world. A collaboration of 26 national and international golf organizations support the Hall of Fame, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, PGA of America and The R&A. The museum houses interactive exhibits and historic and personal artefacts that tell the stories of its members and the game of golf. Adjacent is the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theatre. For more information, visit www.wgv.com.

SGU Press Release
SALTMAN AIMING TO MAKE HOME ADVANTAGE COUNT
Scotland’s leading amateur Lloyd Saltman will be back on home turf hoping to make full use of his local knowledge when the Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship gets underway at Craigielaw on Friday 2nd June.
Following a stout defence of the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton where he finished sixth and fresh from making the cut in only his second European Tour event at the British Masters, Saltman goes into the Championship in good form.
However, the 20-year old isn't the only host club star hoping to make home advantage count, with elder brother Elliot and younger brother Zack also in the field for the SGU’s premier stroke play event.
An impressive line-up has been assembled for the thirty-ninth staging of the championship on the impressive East Lothian links, with amateur stars from Scotland, the rest of the UK and further afield aiming to join Colin Montgomerie, Stephen Gallacher and Alistair Forsyth as winners.
Saltman’s Walker Cup team-mate Richard Dinwiddie (Barnard Castle) returns to Scotland to defend the title he won at Royal Aberdeen last year, on the back of his success at the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton last week. The County Durham man now has the distinction of holding the Scottish, English and Welsh stroke play titles at the same time and few would bet against him adding to his tally at Craigielaw.
Earlsferry Thistle’s George Murray is another man on form just now, with several top five finishes under his belt already this season, and the Fifer will be looking to emulate his 2004 Scottish Amateur success which he won just a few miles down the road at Gullane.
Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) takes a welcome break from his studies at Stirling University to make a bid for the title he won two years ago, whilst newly crowned Scottish Boys champion James White (Lundin Links) will be looking to make his mark among the men.
No fewer than eleven nationalities are represented in the field, with competitors from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States and among the favourites from outwith the host country will be Welshman Rhys Davies. The Walker Cup star is currently one of the leading players on the American collegiate circuit and he will be aiming to become the event’s fourth non-Scottish winner in the last six years.
The 6,678 par 71 Craigielaw course is one of Scotland’s best new courses, set on the Firth of Forth coastline just outside Aberlady. Director of Golf Derek Scott believes that the modern links will provide a tough test for the strong field:
“We are looking forward to hosting what is one of the best events in European amateur golf. I’m sure the players will enjoy the challenge Craigielaw presents and they can expect the course to be in great condition.”
“The greens are quick and true with some tricky slopes to contend with and if the wind blows off the sea, then low scoring won’t be easy,” he added.

Tuesday 23rd May 2006

Welsh Ladies Championship
BY THE LEFT - STEPHANIE WINS WELSH TITLE
Left-hander Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) won the Welsh women's amateur golf championship for the first time on Tuesday. Stephanie, beaten finalist last year and leading qualifier on Sunday, beat Becky Harries (Haverfordwest), the No 6 qualifier, by 3 and 2 in the final at Tenby Golf Club.
Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen), winner of the Welsh title eight times between 1979 and 1994, retained the Welsh seniors' title. She beat Janet Roleman (Rushcliffe) by 5 and 4 in the final.
Lucy Gould (Bargoed) bt Rosie Vaughan Jones (Cardigan) by 7 and 6 in the Valentine Plate final.
RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP
First round
S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) bt L J Roberts (Holyhead) 4 and 3, H Watkins (Tenby) bt K Milloer (Penhros) at 19th, S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) bt N Gobey (Rhondda) 3 and 1, T Davies (Holyhead) bt K Boulden (Llandudno) 1 hole, J Nicolson (Wrexham) bt D Richards (Bargoed) 4 and 3, B Harries (Haverfordwest) bt S Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 5 and 3, R Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) bt H Jenkins (Cradock) 3 and 2, B Loucks (Wrexham) bt L Hall (Royal Pothcawl) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals
Evans bt Miller 7 and 6.
Davies bt Hassan 5 and 3.
Harries bt Nicolson 3 and 2.
Wyn Thomas bt Loucks 4 and 3.
Semi-finals
Evans bt Davies 3 and 2, Harries bt Wyn Thomas 3 and 1.
Final
Evans bt Harries 3 and 2.
VALENTINE PLATE
Semi-finals
L Gould (Bargoed) bt H Boulden (Llandudno) 5 and 4.
Rosie Vaughan-Jones (Cardigan) bt R Lewis (Pontypool at 19th.
Final
Gould bt Vaughan-Jones 7 and 6.
SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals
T Carradice (Pyle & Kenfig) bt H Morgan (Tenby) 6 and 4, H Joyce (Long Ashton) bt J O’Connor (Newport) at 22nd, V Thomas (Carmarthen) bt A Owen (Haverfordwest) 7 and 6.
Semi-finals
Doleman bt Carradice 2 and 1.
Thomas bt Joyce 1 hole.
Final
Thomas bt Doleman 5 and 4.

ELGA Press Release
Sophie Walker sets pace in English championship
International Sophie Walker shot a level par 74 in strong winds to lead the first round of the English Ladies' Close Amateur Championship at West Lancashire Golf Club.
"I'm ecstatic," she said. "It's nice to get a good round under my belt and it gives me a bit of confidence.
"The wind made it quite difficult out there at times and we've just got be thankful it didn't rain. On one hole I hit a four-iron 134 yards and on the last I could only get to the front edge. That's how windy it was." The par four 18th measures 404 yards.
The 21-year-old from Kenwick Park in Lincolnshire played steadily through the conditions, with one bogey and one birdie on each half.
"I was really pleased with my ball striking and my club selection was pretty good in the wind," said Sophie, who was runner-up last year.
The winds strengthened throughout the day and were particularly tough in the late afternoon. Defending champion Felicity Johnson (Harborne) described conditions over the closing holes as some of the toughest she had ever played in.
The weather took its toll on the par four 15th where the 19-year-old scored a nightmare 11 after tangling with the railway line and losing three balls. She eventually returned a first round score of 86.
West Lancashire member Cori Lee made the most of her local knowledge to compile an 80 in the worst of the weather and take her place among the top 10 players.
Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) reached the turn at one-under par but dropped shots on the way home to return 82.
Earlier 15-year-old Rachael Goodall from Wirral Ladies in Cheshire returned a two-over par 76. The five-handicapper is a member of ELGA's Select North squad.
After two rounds of strokeplay qualifying the top 32 players will go forward to the matchplay knockout stages of the championship.

Monday 22nd May 2006

Is this the new fashion?
Jill Meldrum at the Scottish last week.

EGU Press Release
Dinwiddie beats the rain to complete title treble
Robert Dinwiddie overcame miserable conditions as well as a tough golf course to win the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton.
The 23 year old from County Durham carded a closing 69 for 282, two under par, for a three stroke winning margin over Surrey’s Ross McGowan, who finished with 73. The victory means Dinwiddie (pictured - (Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)) now holds the Welsh, Scottish and English Stroke Play titles, a remarkable record on top of a remarkable display on a taxing day.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “Apart from winning I have a lot of reasons to be happy, especially the way I played and to only run up one bogey in the final round in those conditions. I’ve been in this position before, one shot behind going into the final round and the key is not to drop shots and I did that well.”
The weather presented another day of torment for the players with morning sunshine turning to driving rain and dipping temperatures more akin to March than May. Determination and a brave heart were needed and while almost every one was shedding shots as they were ground down by the elements, seeking the shelter of the clubhouse, Dinwiddie kept his resolve and his game together admirably.
It was a remarkable display from Dinwiddie. Beginning the final round a shot behind McGowan, he was soon forging ahead and by the 13th had opened a three shot lead. It was a margin McGowan was never able to close in the conditions and left the Surrey man with his third runner-up spot of the year.
“I battled hard but it was not enough,” said McGowan. “After 11 holes I knew what was going on and I knew I had to pick up shots. But it was very difficult in that weather.”
The two Englishmen finished six shots ahead of the third placed trio, Jean-Jacques Wolff from France, Norway’s Knut Bersheim, and Jamie Moul, who made a sterling recovery from his second round disaster.
The Henriques Salver for the best performance by a GB&I player aged under 20 was shared between Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Jamie Abbott from Suffolk, both on 293.

KIRSTIE JENNINGS TAKES ON NEW ROLE WITH ENGLAND GOLF
Kirstie Jennings, who has spent five years spearheading ELGA’s golf development plans, has taken on a new role with England Golf, specialising in child protection and equality.
She has been appointed compliance officer for England Golf, a partnership which brings together ELGA, the English Golf Union and the Professional Golfers’ Association, supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England.
She is responsible for making sure that the partnership meets increasingly testing standards in both child protection and equality. She also works to encourage golf clubs to follow suit.
“My job is to make sure that we meet the standards right across England Golf and the national governing bodies are succeeding,” she said. “But we have to get golf clubs on board too and often these areas require huge culture changes. We want to give them every opportunity to talk to us and ask questions.”
Kirstie brings a wealth of experience to her new post. She has spent over five years leading ELGA’s golf development projects and gaining a specialised knowledge of child protection issues. Previously she was a trading standards officer and a legal assistant in the food industry.
“I am really enjoying this work which makes use of my skills from previous jobs,” she said.
Her new post as compliance officer will involve working closely with the ELGA and English Golf Union development officers who are at the sharp end of helping golf clubs and county unions/associations across the country embrace the standards.

Northern Counties Press Release
The Northern Counties Womens Golf Association have since they were formed in 1967 held various events for girls, women and seniors throughout their mainland area that extends from Banff in the east to the Perthshire border and Caithness in the north but on the weekend of May 27th and 28th they are beaking new ground by visiting the Orkney Isles for a County Fixture on the Orkney Golf Club at Kirkwall.
Northern Counties Captain Mairi Orr (Tain) is excited about the trip and in a press issue to the local Kirkwall paper states " Northern Counties has been successfull with its County team in recent years. We have won the Scottish County finals on several occasions and in defence of the championship last year were runners up to a powerful Midlothian team. We pride ourselves in stength in depth and hopefully our visit will encourage more ladies and girls to get out on to the fairways at Kirkwall and Stromness. Without the support of clubs throughout our area it is awfully difficult to sustain such a successfull team and County Association, but having Opens as we are in Kirkwall every member gets to feel part of our success and we are indebted to the Orkney Golf Club for their hospitality. One of our main tasks is to encourage the game of golf".
Pam Gordon (Inverness), a Scottish Team captain, and the area course assessor will arrive ahead of an expected 24 mainland golfers who have entered to rate both the Kirkwall and Stromness courses . She will be accompoanied by County President Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) also a past Scottish International team captain.
The Kirkwall event is being played on Saturday May 27th but unfortunately the planned competition at Thurso on the following day has been cancelled.

R&A Press Release
MUIRFIELD & HILLSIDE TO HOST 2010 & 2011 AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Amateur Championship, 2010, will be played at Muirfield, the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, from 14-19 June and the following year, 2011, Hillside will host the Amateur from 20-25 June.
Both venues have in the past hosted R&A Championships but it is Muirfield, with a timeline stretching back to 1744 that has an almost unrivalled ‘collection’ of Open and Amateur Championships. The Open has been played there no fewer than 15 times while in 2010, the Amateur will be returning for the eleventh time since it was first played over the East Lothian links in 1897.
In 2011, Hillside will be celebrating the centenary of its founding with a welcome return of the Amateur Championship after a break of 32 years. The only time the Amateur was played there was in 1979 when Jay Sigel of the U.S. defeated fellow countryman Scott Hoch 3/2 in the final.
Other R&A Championships hosted by Hillside include the Boys in 2000 and the British Mid-Amateur in 1996.

Sunday 21st May 2006

SLGA NAME TEAMS FOR TOURNAMENTS
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association announced the following team selections at the conclusion of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Dunbar:
EUROPEAN JUNIOR WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (GC de Pan, Netherlands, July 11-15): Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ), Louise Fleming (Roxburghe), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kylie Walker (Stirling Univ), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry), Gemma Webster (Hilton Park). Reserves: 1 Laura Murray (Alford), 2 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), 3 Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), 4 Kerri Harper (Inverness).
EUROPEAN GIRLS’ TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (Esbjerg GC, Denmark, July 11-15): Carly Booth (Comrie), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Roseanne Niven (Crieff). Reserves: 1 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), 2 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
EUROPEAN JUNIOR MASTERS (Styrian GC, Austria, July 27-29): Carly Booth (Comrie), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry). Reserves: 1 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 2 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
R&A JUNIOR OPEN (Heswall, July 17-19): Carly Booth (Comrie). Reserve – Mhairi Johnstone (Northern).
ST RULE TROPHY (St Andrews, June 3-4): Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), capt. Reserves: 1 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), 2 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus).
BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP (Royal County Down GC, June 13-17): Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Martine Pow (Selkirk) capt. Reserves: 1 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), 2 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), 3 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park).
IRISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP (County Sligo GC, July 1-2): Sara Bishop (Windyhill) capt, Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder). Travelling reserve: Emma Fairnie (Dunbar). Non-travelling: Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall).
DANISH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP (Silkeborg GC, July 1-2): Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven). Reserve: Claire Hargan (Mortonhall).

US College Golf
KEIR AND GAVIN HELP US UNIVERSITY TO BEST EVER FINISH IN CHAMPIONSHIP
Carnoustie’s Keir McNicoll rang down the curtain on his American college golfing career by helping Lynn University from Boca Raton, Florida to finished fourth of 20 teams in the NCAA Division 2 men’s championship at The Resort at Glades Springs, Daniels in West Virginia.
Lynn University’s best previous finish in the championship was eighth.
McNicoll, who has played well all season, could finished only joint 23rd with scores of 78, 73, 72 and 72 for a 15-over-par total of 295.
Team-mate Gavin Dear from Perth, who has also completed his senior term, shared 35th place on 299 with scores of 75, 72, 74 and 78.
South Carolina-Aiken won the team title with a total of 1148, 12 shots ahead of Columbus State with Lynn University fourth on 1178.
The individual title was won by Jamie Amoretti (St Mary’s, Texas) with 70, 69, 70 and 71 for level par 280.
“All week long we just couldn’t get a break out there,” said Keir McNicoll. “But we’ll walk away with our heads high because the Lynn University team have a lot to be proud of this season.
During his four years in the States, McNicoll was Sunshine State Conference freshman of the year in 2003 and the conference player of the year in 2004.

US College Golf
FINDLAY’S TEAM-MATES GET HIM PLACE IN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay will be competing at the premier American college golf championships – the NCAA – at Sunriver, Oregon from May 31 to June 3 although he has his East Tennessee State University golf team-mates to thank for it.
Jordan played poorly by his standards in the NCAA West Regional qualifying tournament over Tucson National golf course in Arizona. He had scores of 79, 74 and 77 over the par-72, 7,200yd course for a total of 14-over-par 230.
The former British boys’ champion finished 129th equal in a field of 141 players.
But the rest of the ETSU team played well enough to finish a collective eighth of 27 teams – and the top 10 automatically qualified for the season-ending NCAA championship.
Rhys Davies, also a past British boys’ champion, finished joint third on 12-under-par 204, one shot behind the joint individual winners, Billy Horschel (Florida) and Casey Watabu (Nevada).
Ulsterman Gareth Shaw scored 69, 67 and 72 for a share of 11th place on 208 and Irishman Cian McNamara, another ETSU player, totalled 218 with scores of 72, 73 and 77.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
203 B Horschel (Florida) 67 70 66, C Watabu (Nevada) 70 69 64.
204 R Davies (East Tennessee State) 70 66 68, Z Bixler (Washington) 69 68 67.
Other totals:
208 G Shaw (East Tennessee State) 69 67 72.
210 S Lewton (North Carolina State) 73 67 70.
218 C McNamara (East Tennessee State) 72 73 73.
220 Adam Hodkinson (East Tennessee State) 73 75 72
230 J Findlay (East Tennessee State) 79 74 77.
LEADING TEAMS
827 Arizona, Florida.
840 Arizona State, Washington State.
845 North Carolina State.
Also:
849 East Tennessee State.

NORTHERN TEAM FOR CRIEFF
Northern Counties have named the following team for the Northern Division inter-county women’s team championship against Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perth & Kinross at Crieff Golf Club from June 24 to 26.
Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eileen Manson(Thurso), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Donna Sinclair (Tain), Mary Smith (Tain), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
Reserves – Marion Howieson (Inverness), Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), Sammy Vass (Tain).
The four division-winning teams meet in the Scottish women’s county championship finals at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream, from September 22 to 24.

SURPRISE OMISSION FROM P&K COUNTY LINE-UP AT CRIEFF
Perth & Kinross women's golf officials have announced a county team that does not include 13-year-old Carly Booth, winner of the Scottish Under-16 girls' open title in April and one of the best prospects in Britain - and possibly farther afield.
Miss Booth did not enter the P & K county championship, played at Blairgowrie at the weekend.
It is understood that the P&K officials were told that Carly was unavailable for selection to play in the team of eight against Northern Counties, Aberdeenshire and Angus at the Northern Division women's inter-county team championship, to be hosted by P&K, at Crieff Golf Club from June 24 to 26.
Carly is also absent from the field for this week's Scottish women's amateur championship at Dunbar.
The winners of the Northern Division team championship meet the other three divisional winners at the Scottish women's county team championship finals from September 22 to 24 at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream in the Borders.
The P and K line-up is:
Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore), Sally Kettlewell (Dunblane New), Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill), Emma Napper (Craigie Hill), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), Fiona Ramsay (Crieff), Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall).
Reserves - 1 Sal Shepherd (Pitlochry), 2 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).

Ladies British Open Amateur Championship - Royal County Down - June
The entry list has closed and the ballot for places in the Championship is at handicap 2.2
See LGU website for further details

Irish (Close) Championship
Trish Mangan (Ennis) has retained the Irish women's (closed) championship. She beat former champion Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) on the 17th green in the final of a rain-extended tournament.

Scottish Ladies Championship
First photoalbum of the Scottish Championship from Colin Farquharson (Photos Courtesy and Copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency)

Friday 19th May 2006

Scottish women's amateur golf championship
SEVENTH FINAL FOR ANNE, FIRST FOR MARTINE
Curtis Cup player Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) is through to her seventh final of the Scottish women's amateur golf championship. She will play first-time finalist Martine Pow (Selkirk) over 18 holes on Saturday morning at Dunbar Golf Club.
Three times title-winner Anne gained revenge over Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), who beat her in last year's final at Cruden Bay, with a 5 and 3 win in the morning quarter-finals. Then Anne came back from two down at the turn to grind out a one-hole win over the No 2 seed and new course record-holder Louise Kenney (Pitreavie). Anne was round in roughly par figures.
The top seed, Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) shot seven birdies in her quarter-final win by 5 and 3 over Lesley Hendry (Routenburn). But the British women's open amateur stroke-play champion should have saved some for the afternoon semi-final against Martine Pow (Selkirk).
Martine, never in arrears, scored an upset win by one hole with three-over-par figures. Both Martine and Heather looked nervous and stressed from the start and holes were halved in bogeys. Miss Pow even won one hole with a bogey - the 15th were she went two up.
"I'm just as excited to reach the final for a seventh time as I was when I made if for the first time - especially in a Curtis Cup year. It helps to keep you in the selectors' thoughts," said 31-year-old Anne, a lecturer at Elmwood College, Cupar.
"I'm very pleased to reach the final for the first time," said 41-year-old Martine Pow who is a partner with her dad in a scaffolding firm. "But I felt sorry for Heather. She had played so well to get to the semi-finals. I hope she still gets picked for the Curtis Cup because she's a great player."
Loretto School pupil and host club member Emma Fairnie, pictured right, won the No 2 match-play tournament of championship week - the Clark Rosebowl. Emma beat the holder, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) by one hole in the final.
Friday results
QUARTER-FINALS
H MacRae (Dunblane New) bt L Hendry (Routenburn) 5 and 3.
M Pow (Selkirk) bt E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 2 and 1.
A Laing (Vale of Leven) bt F Lockhart (St Regulus) 5 and 4.
L Kenney (Pitreave) bt H Laughland (Mortonhall) at 20th
SEMI-FINALS
Pow bt MacRae 1 hole.
Laing bt Kenney 1 hole.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
Semi-finals - D Pocock (Murcar Links) bt R Brown (Lothianburn) 1 hole, E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt M Easton (Dalmahoy) 2 and 1.
Final - Fairnie beat Pocock 1 hole.

Lunch-time report
SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Top seed Heather MacRae continued her impressive progress in the Scottish women's amateur golf championship at Dunbar today when the four leading qualifiers claimed their places in the semi-finals.
That meant a last four line-up of Heather MacRae v Martine Pow and Anne Laing v Louise Kenney.
The 22-year-old Heather from Dunblane was five under par and shot seven birdies in all in winning by 5 and 3 against 20-year-old Lesley Hendry, winner of the Ayrshire county championship for the past two years.
"I got to four under par in the first qualifying round so this was my best scoring of the week so far," said Heather.
She cut short her final term at San Diego State University a few weeks ago so that she could come home and make an impact on the early-season tournaments she would have otherwise have missed.
A place in the GB&I team for the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon at the end of July is her target and she is bang on schedule for that.
Such was the quality of Miss MacRae's game today that her opponent was two under par herself for the first nine holes - and still one down.
Heather covered the last seven holes of the quarter-final in five under par. She birdied the ninth, 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th, winning them all to surge from all square after seven holes to match over on the 15th green.
Miss MacRae's semi-final opponent will be Martine Pow. The Selkirk player won by 2 and 1 against Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) who had been two up after five holes, having birdied the second.
Martine got it back to all square at the turn with successive birdies at the eighth and ninth.
Emily regained the lead at the 11th but Miss Pow never lost a hole after that. She squared with a par at the 12th and went one up for the first time with a birdie 4 at the long 14th before she won the hole and the match after a concession at the 17th.
Fiona Lockhart's reign as Scottish champion is over. Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) gained a measure of revenge over Fiona who beat her 3 and 2 in last year's championship final at Cruden Bay. This time round Anne triumphed by 5 and 4 with approximate figures of two under par. She was never in arrears after birdieing the short fifth to cancel out Fiona's winning birdie at the short third.
Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall) gave No 2 seed and new course record-holder Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) a run for her money before losing at the 20th. Hilary went two up after only three holes to give her the confidence to take on her highly-rated opponent.
Louise turned the tide to be one up after 16 holes but Hilary played a fine approach shot to within 3ft of the flagstick to birdie the 17th and square the contest. Then the Lothians player holed out bravely from 4ft on the 18th green to take the tie down the 19th after Louise had sunk a 15ft putt for a par 4.
Miss Kenney won through to the last four with a pitch-and-putt birdie 4 at the long 20th where Hilary was in a greenside bunker in two.
QUARTER-FINALS
H MacRae (Dunblane New) bt L Hendry (Routenburn) 5 and 3.
M Pow (Selkirk) bt E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 2 and 1.
A Laing (Vale of Leven) bt F Lockhart (St Regulus) 5 and 4.
L Kenney (Pitreave) bt H Laughland (Mortonhall) at 20th

Thursday 18th May 2006

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Title-holder Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) and Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), whom she beat by 3 and 2 in last year's final at Cruden Bay, will cross match-play swords for the first time since then in Friday morning's quarter-finals of the Scottish women's amateur championship.
On a day, when a strong south-westerly freshened to gale proportions, every player in the field - winners and losers - struggled to control their shots in a mainly cross-wind.
Anne Laing and Louise Kenney, both through to the last eight, thought the wind was the toughest they had ever played in.
Anne Laing beat Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) by 2 and 1 in the second round while Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) came from behind to beat Kerri Harper (Inverness) 3 and 1.
Top seed Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) continued her impressive form and looks a worthy favourite for the title. She plays 20-year-old repeating Ayrshire county champion Lesley Hendry in the first of the quarter-finals at 8.30am.
That tie is followed by Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) versus Martine Pow (Selkirk).
After that comes the "big one" - Anne Laing v Fiona Lockhart - followed by Louise Kenney against Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall).
Second seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) was taken to the 18th by Karen Marshall (Baberton) when the match-play stages got under way in the Scottish women's amateur championship at Dunbar.
Karen, who ousted the top seed, Clare Queen, 12 months ago at Cruden Bay, gave Louise a terrific match before losing by one hole. She was in a greenside bunker at the 18th.
Three times champion Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) was two down at the turn to 15-year-old Rebecca Wilson (Monfieth) before fighting back to beat the youngster by 2 and 1
SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Dunbar Golf Club
Match-play stages
FIRST ROUND
H MacRae (Dunblane New) bt G Lockhart (Barassie) 4 and 2.
M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt A Hunter (Monifieth) 1 hole.
K Blackwood (Glencorse) bt J Carthew (Ladybank) 1 hole.
L Hendry (Routenburn) bt W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) at 19th.
S Bishop (Windyhill) bt N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 2 holes.
E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) at 22nd.
J Wilson (Strathaven) bt C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 4 and 2.
M Pow (Selkirk) bt T Laughland (Mortonhall) 6 and 5.
A Laing (Vale of Leven) bt R Wilson (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) bt C Hargan (Mortonhall) 1 hole.
E Moffat (St Regulus) bt B Murphy (Mortonhall) 4 and 3.
F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt S McMaster (Gullane Ladies) 4 and 3.
A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt P Williamson (Baberton) 1 hole.
H Laughland (Mortonhall) bt E Cuthill (Lanark) 5 and 4.
K Harper (Inverness) bt S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) at 19th.
L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt K Marshall (Baberton) 1 hole.
SECOND ROUND
MacRae bt Thomson 2 and 1.
Hendry bt Blackwood 4 and 3.
Ogilvy bt Bishop 1 hole.
Pow bt Wilson 5 and 4.
Laing bt Gruber 2 and 1.
F Lockhart bt Moffat 4 and 3.
H Laughland bt Ramsay 2 and 1.
Kenney bt Harper 3 and 1.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
First round - R Brown (Lothianburn) bt C Wilson (Murcar Links) 1 hole, D Dewar (Sgtirling Univ) bt L Mackin (Poniente) 3 and 2, D Pocock (Murcar Links) bt E Napper (Craigie Hill) 4 and 2, L McLardy (Murcar Links) bt Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 4 and 3, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt R MacLennan (Baberton) 6 and 5, M Easton (Dalmahoy) bt J Meldrum (Dullatur) 7 and 6, J Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 1hole, E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt L Meldrum (Dullatur) at 20th.
Quarter-finals - Brown bt Dewar 2 and 1, Pocock bt McLardy 5 and 4, Easton bt Kyle 8 and 7, Fairnie bt Harrison 1 hole.

Wednesday 17th May 2006

Prizewinners after the Stroke Play stage of the Scottish Women's Amateur Championship
L to R: Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), Linda Caine (Marchants of Edinburgh), Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Karen Marshall (Baberton), Pamela Williamson (Baberton)

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
There was a late heartbreak for 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Murcar Links' Carol Wilson when they lost out in a three-way play-off for the last of the 32 places in the match-play stages of the Scottish women's amateur golf championship at Dunbar Golf Club.
Kelsey had a second-round 77 and Carol a 78 to hit the 157 mark for the 36-hole qualifying test. Also on the joint 32nd mark was Gillian Lockhart from Kilmarnock Barassie.
In the early evening, several hours after they had finished their second rounds, Kelsey and Carol set out again to see if they could make the most of their reprieve. It was three playing for one spot in the draw against the leading qualifier Heather MacRae (Dunblane New).
Carol was eliminated at the first hole. The second was halved and then Kelsey was bunkered at the short third, came out to 15ft but couldn't hole the putt to save a par.
Gillian Lockhart, safely on the green from the elevated tee, two-putted for a 3 to take her through.
After two qualifying rounds of rare quality, stand by for some classic ties over the next three days as the 93rd Scottish women's amateur golf championship enters the match-play stages.
Three times champion Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) and Martine Powe from Selkirk joined the sub-70 club in the second qualifying round when a slight breeze made low scoring marginally more difficult.
Anne shot four-under-par 68 and Martine a 69, both totalling 141. But the trail-blazers of the opening day - Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Louise Kennedy (Pitreavie) - still hogged the limelight.
They tied at the top of the leaderboard on the same mark - six-under-par 138, a professional-class scoring which must rank with the best ever achieved since this championship started in 1903.
Heather claimed the top seed spot by virtue of having the better second round, a 70 to Louise's 73.
"The match-play can't come quickly enough for me," said Heather who cut short her last year at San Diego State University so that she could start impressing the Curtis Cup selectors a lot earlier than if she had stayed on for the full term in California. So far Miss MacRae, winner of the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Nairn last August, is bang on target to be a member of the Great Britain & Ireland squad of eight for the Bandon Dunes, Oregon contest in late July.
There seem to be more genuine title candidates than usual over a short course which will give the shorter hitters a chance of upsetting the odds.
Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), who prevented an Anne Laing hat-trick of titles at Cruden Bay 12 months ago, maintained she played "a lot better" for her opening-day 75 than she did for a two-under-par 70.
Then there's another Curtis Cup team place contender Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) who was brutally honest after she returned a 76 for 148 but still qualified with ease. "I played absolute rubbish!" she said.
Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) made it safely through on 149, one ahead of 18-year-old Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and two in front of Kerri Harper (Inverness).
Cara, who put the record straight by telling your reporter that she has shed four stones (not two) over the winter and looking much the better for it, improved by a shot for a 74 which included a roller-coaster ride of 38 to the turn. She had only two par figures on the front nine against three birdies and four bogeys. But after a final bogey at the 10th, Miss Gruber steadied up to reel off eight straight pars.
Sheena Wood ran up a triple bogey 6 with two shots in a bunker at the sixth and then a dojble bogey at the 15th with more trouble.
"Apart from these two bad holes, I played quite well," said Sheena whose 78 also included an eagle 3 at the 14th with a drive, five iron and and a 10ft putt as well as birdies at the ninth, and 17th.
Michele Thomson had a 68 in her last practice round at Dunbar so she was disappointed to take 77 in the first round. A 73 today was more to the liking of the big-hitting youngster who is off to Jacksonville State University, Alabama and the American college golf circuit in the autumn.
She did well to get it round in one-over par after hooking on to the beach at the fourth and running up a double bogey 6. After going three over par with a bogey at the short 10th, Michele, encouraged by her caddie-dad, birdied the 404-yd 14th (a debatable par-5 hole on the card) with a drive and a seven-iron on to the putting surface.
Then Miss Thomson showed her strength again with a pitch-and-putt birdie at the 15th where she almost drove the green at this 303yd hole.
SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Dunbar Golf Club. Par 72, CSS 73 both rounds
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
138 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 68 70, L Kenney (Pitreavie) 65 73.
141 A Laing (Vale of Leven) 73 68, M Pow (Selkirk) 72 69.
143 S Bishop (Windyhill) 72 71.
145 F Lockhart (St Regulus) 75 70.
146 A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 74 72, W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 73 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 72 74.
148 E Cuthill (Lanark) 76 72, E Moffat (St Regulus) 76 72, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 74 74, J Wilson (Strathaven) 72 76.
149 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 75 74, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 71 78.
150 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 77 73, A Hunter (Monifieth) 76 74.
151 K Harper (Inverness) 74 77.
152 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 77 75, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 76 76, C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) 75 77.
153 B Murphy (Mortonhall) 79 74, H Laughland (Mortonhall) 78 75, K Blackwood (Glencorse) 74 79.
154 L Hendry (Routenburn) 76 78, P Williamson (Baberton) 75 79.
155 S McMaster (Gullane Ladies) 79 76, N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 78 77, T Laughland (Mortonhall) 77 78, R Wilson (Monifieth) 75 80, K Marshall (Baberton) 74 81.
157 G Lockhart (Barassie) 78 79.
*K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 80 77 and C Wilson (Murcar Links) 79 78 were eliminated after a three-way play-off on 157 for last place in match-play draw.
MATCH-PLAY DRAWS
8.30 MacRae v G Lockhart, Hunter v Thomson, Carthew v Blackwood, Hendry v Nicholson, Bishop v Fenton, Carlton v Ogilvy, J Wilson v C MacDonald, T Laughland v Pow.
9.34 Laing v R Wlson, Hargan v Gruber, Moffat v Murphy, Mcaster v F Lockhart, Ramsay v Williamson, H Laughland v Cuthill, Wood v Harper, Marshall v Kenney.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
10.46 C Wilson v R Brown, L Mackin v D Dewar, D Pocock v E Napper, K Ballantyne v L McLardy.
11.18 R MacLennan v G Kyle, J Meldrum v M Easton, J Harrison v L Terry, L Meldrum v E Fairnie.
REST OF AGGREGATES
158 E Fairnie (Dunbar) 82 76, R MacLennan (Baberton) 81 77, D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 80 78.
159 L McLardy (Murcar Links) 86 73, D Pocock (Murcar Links) 83 76, M Easton (Dalmahoy) 80 79.
160 J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 78 82.
161 D Dewar (Stirling Univ) 83 78.
162 G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 84 78, L Mackin (Poniente) 82 80, L Terry (Cruden Bay) 81 81, W Wells (Peebles) 79 83, J Meldrum (Dullatur) 79 83.
163 E Napper (Craigie Hill) 80 83, K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 80 83.
164 G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 82 82.
165 L Meldrum (Dullatur) 85 80.
166 R Brown (Lothianburn) 85 81.
167 A Brownie (Lothianburn) 85 82, T Milligan (Stranraer) 83 84.
168 L Walker (Nairn Dunbar) 88 80, B Paterson (Eastwood) 88 80, L Douglas (Hawick) 86 82, C Easton (Dalmahoy) 84 84, C Taylor (Royal Dornoch) 80 88, L Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 80 88.
169 A Niven (Crieff) 86 83, S Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) 83 86.
170 S Wilson (Murcar Links) 83 87.
173 R McIntyre (Windyhill) 88 85, S Ireland (Prestonfield) 87 86, L McDougall (Greenock) 85 88.
174 M Morrison (Hawick) 86 88.
175 I Harvey (St Rule) 89 86.
176 E Black (Haddington) 87 89.
177 J Peden (Dunfermline) 88 89, C Purves (Selkirk) 87 90.
178 L MacCallum (Loretto School) 92 86, M Neilson (Geenock) 88 90.
180 K Hughes (Minto) 91 89, F McFadzean (Craigmillar Park) 87 93, C Stewart (Lothianburn) 87 93.
184 N Smith (Downfield) 91 93.
191 A MacDonald Windyhill) 105 86.
192 E Whyte (Windyhill) 97 95.
195 P Stephenson (Glencorse) 99 96.
198 A Terrey (Greenock) 100 98

Tuesday 16th May 2006

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT DUNBAR
On a "normal" opening day to the Scottish women's amateur golf championship, Sheena Wood's one-under-par round of 71 would have been mighty close to leading the first qualifying round.
But this was an exceptional start to the national tournament and Sheena ended it in "only" third place. The limelight, deservedly it has to be said, was stolen from the Aberdonian by Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Heather MacRae (Dunblane New).
Playing partners, the two 23-year-olds sparked off each other and produced sub-70 scores of which even Annika Sorenstam and Michele Wie would have proud.
Fifer Louise sliced four strokes off the women's course record with a seven-under-par 65 which three times Scottish champion Anne Laing described as "fantastic.".
The previous lowest mark of 69 for the 5,696yd, par-72 links was set 16 years ago by LPGA Tour player Catriona Matthew when she was still Catriona Lambert. It had stood unchallenged since then.
To beat it by such a big margin was a tribute to how well 23-year-old Louise played in well-nigh perfect scoring conditions.
And Heather MacRae was not all that far behind Louise in the hit parade with deserved a bogey-free round of 68 which was, of course, also inside the old record.
The star player on the Iowa State University on the American college circuit for four years, Louise has no thoughts of turning pro. She is taking a post-graduate course at Dundee University in the autumn with a view to becoming a primary school teacher.
"It was just my lucky day," said a modest Miss Kenney who saw the Dunbar course for the first time on Sunday.
"For example, at the long 14th, I drove on to the face of a bunker. I should have played safe but took a five-iron from there and hit the ball miles up in the air - it could have gone anywhere - but it came down 40ft from the pin and I holed the putt for an eagle 3!"
The Fifer, who was Scottish girls champion in 2000 at Dunblane, also had birdies at the first, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, 11th and 12th in halves of 33 (four under par) and 32 (three under).
But for bogeys at the third and 18th, Louise would have set a record that would have stood for another 16 years at least!
"You know what golf's like. I'll probably go out and play rubbish in the second round," said Louise as she looked at the leaderboard which had her four shots clear of playing partner, Heather MacRae had birdies at the first, fourth, 12th and 14th.
For Sheena Wood a one-under-par 71 in the national championship represented a great fightback to top form after breaking an arm early last year and missing not only the "Scottish" at Cruden Bay but also most of the other leading tournaments for many months
"It was so frustrating last year and it's great to think I can still come back and score so well. The secret was my putting. I putted really well so," said Sheena who birdied the fourth, fifth, ninth and 13th and bogeyed the sixth and seventh.
The leading North player was not 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald, the repeating Northern Counties champion from Nairn Dunbar. She started with a double-bogey 7 and never recovered, finishing on 80 (41-39).
No, the Highland Brigade were led by Kerri Harper from Inverness with a 74, closely followed on 75 by the stream-lined Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) who has shed a couple of stone since last year.
Collated scoreboard
First qualifying round
Par 72
65 L Kenney (Pitreavie).
68 H MacRae (Dunblane New).
71 S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
72 J Carthew (Ladybank), S Bishop (Windyhill), J Wilson (Strathaven), M Pow (Selkirk).
73 A Laing (Vale of Leven), W Nicholson (Broomieknowe).
74 K Blackwood (Glencorse), K Harper (Inverness), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder), Ann F Ramsay (Kirriemuir), K Marshall (Baberton).
75 F Lockhart (St Regulus), P Williamson (Baberton), C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), R Wilson (Monifieth).
76 E Cuthill (Lanark), A Hunter (Monifieth), E Moffat (St Regulus), C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies), L Hendry (Routenburn).
77 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), C Hargan (Mortonhall), T Laughland (Mortonhall).
78 G Lockhart (Barassie), H Laughland (Mortonhall), J Harrison (Cruden Bay), N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh).
79 S McMaster (Gullane Ladies), B Murphy (Mortonhall), W Wells (Peebles), C Wilson (Murcar Links), J Meldrum (Dullatur).
80 C Taylor (Royal Dornoch), D Jackson (Cochrane Castle), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), E Napper (Craigie Hill), M Easton (Dalmahoy), L Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh), K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park).
81 L Terry (Cruden Bay), R MacLennan (Baberton).
82 G Kyle (East Renfrewshire), E Fairnie (Dunbar), L Mackin (Poniente).
83 S Shepherd (Craigmillar Park), T Milligan (Stranraer), S Wilson (Murcar Links), D Dewar (Stirling Univ), D Pocock (Murcar Links).
84 G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), C Easton (Dalmahoy).
85 A Brownie (Lothianburn), L McDougall (Greenock), R Brown (Lothianburn), L Meldrum (Dullatur).
86 L McLardy (Murcar Links), M Morrison (Hawick), L Douglas (Hawick), A Niven (Crieff).
87 E Black (Haddington), S Ireland (Prestonfield), F McFadzean (Craigmillar Park), B Waugh (Moor Hall), C Stewart (Lothianburn), C Purves (Selkirk).
88 L Walker (Nairn Dunbar), B Paterson (Eastwood), M Neilson (Greenock), J Peden (Dunfermline), R McIntyre (Windyhill).
89 I Harvey (St Rule).
91 K Hughes (Minto), N Smith (Downfield).
92 L MacCallum (Loretto School).
99 P Stephenson (Glencorse).
97 E Whyte (Windyhill).
100 A Terrey.
105 A MacDonald (Windyhill).

Monday 15th May 2006

FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR VIKKI
Vikki Laing earned $300 for a finishing joint 48th in the Tucson Duramed Futures Tour Classic at Tucson, Arizona. The Musselburgh player had rounds of 71, 70 and 70 over the 6,15yd, par-70 course for a one-over-par total of 211. In her final round, she birdied the sixth,13th and 15th but bogeyed the fourth, 12th and 16th .
Charlotte Mayorkas from Las Vegas won the top prize of $10,500 with a birdie at the second hole of a play-off against Karen Dennison from Indiana.
They had both finished 11-under-par 199.
Charlotte had rounds of 66, 65 and 68 to Karen’s 67, 67 and 65.

JOEL HENDRY DOWN THE FIELD IN ARKANSAS
Elgin exile Joel Hendry tied for 64th place in the Rheem Classic, the latest event on the US Nationwide Tour at Hardscrabble Country Club, Fort Smith in Arkansas.
Joel, twice Scottish youths champion, had rounds of 72, 68, 73 and 73 over the par-70 lay-out for a total of six-over-par 286. He had only one birdie, at the seventh, in his finial round which had bogeys at the third, fifth, 14th and 16th.
Darron Stiles beat Mchael Putnam in a play-off for the title after they had both finished on 13-under-par 267. Stiles shot 66, 66, 64 and 71 to Putnam’s 68, 67, 65 and 67.
Hendry has earned $3,706 on three starts on the No 2 men’s pro tour in the States.

Sunday 14th May 2006

Perth and Kinross Championship Prize Winners.
Back Row LtoR: runner up Sandy Young (Auchterarder) handicap, Janet Griffiths Captain and Jane Yellowlees Runner Up Scratch,
Front Row Jillian Milne, Champion, Liz Miskimmin President and Carol Turner (Alyth) Gibb Trophy (Handicap)

JILLIAN MILNE WINS P AND K TITLE
Craigie Hill Golf Club member Jillian Milne won the Perth & Kinross women’s county championship for the first time today (SUNDAY), thanks to a sparkling inward half over Blairgowrie’s Rosemount course.
Jillian, the No 4 qualifier, was three down after nine holes of the final to twice former champion, Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall), the No 2 seed.
Then Jillian, who plays off five, covered the inward nine holes with two-under-par figures to eat up the deficit and win in the end by two holes.
“It was an excellent final,” said Dawn Butchart (Strathmore), the county Vice-Captain who lost in the first round of the match-play.
The top seed, Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) lost by 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals to Jillian Milne while Jane Yellowlees beat Norma Fleming (Alyth) by 5 and 4.
Carly Booth (Comrie) did not defend the title she won at the age of 12 last year.
PERTH & KINROSS WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Rosemount course, Blairgowrie Golf Club.
Semi-finals – J Milne (Craigie Hill) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) 3 and 2, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) bt N Fleming (Alyth) 5 and 4.
Final – Milne bt Yellowlees 2 holes.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals – C Turner (Alyth) (14) bt M Robertson (Strathmore) (19) 3 and 2, S Young (Auchterarder) (12) bt J Heaney (Callander) (12) 3 and 2.
Final – Turner bt Young 5 and 3.

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Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship
The European Club, Co. Wicklow
Defending champion Tricia Mangan (Ennis) led the qualifiers at the 2006 Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at The European Club, 13-17 May.
The course, in immaculate condition, withstood a second night of torrential rain to once again play to its full length and when the easterly breeze strengthened in the afternoon, the leading competitors coped admirably in the challenging conditions.
Mangan’s opening 80 was swiftly put aside as the 2005 Champion added a 73 to lead the qualifiers on a 3-way tie, 2 shots clear of the chasing pack. Mangan birdied 3, 12 and 18 while Mary Dowling (New Ross) eagled 9 and 12 on her way to a 73. Both tied with Martina Gillen who added an 80 to her opening 73.
Monday’s draw sees Mangan take on local player Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) while Dowling plays Miriam Abernethy (Cork) and Gillen faces USA Collegiate Anne Marie Dalton (Coollattin).
11 year old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire (Castle Hume) both carded 90s to make it safely through to Monday’s matchplay stages.
Qualifying Scores
Total Rnd1 Rnd 2
153 80 73 Tricia Mangan (Ennis)
153 80 73 Mary Dowling (New Ross)
153 73 80 Martina Gillen (Beaverstown)
155 77 78 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway)
159 79 80 Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
162 79 83 Marian Riordan (Tipperary)
162 79 83 Maura Morrin (The Curragh)
162 78 84 Sinead Keane (The Curragh)
164 81 83 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth)
164 80 84 Danielle McVeigh (RCDL)
165 84 81 Maria Dunne (Skerries)
165 78 87 Gillian O'Leary (Cork)
166 85 81 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar)
166 80 86 Claire Coughlan (Cork)
167 83 84 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor)
167 77 90 Fiona Carroll (Athenry)
168 84 84 Deirdre Walsh (Milltown)
169 79 90 Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume)
170 85 85 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne)
171 88 83 Sarah Faller (Galway)
171 85 86 Holli Snelling (Killarney)
173 86 87 Suzanne Phillips (Woodbrook)
175 81 94 Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
177 88 89 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis)
177 87 90 Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange)
177 87 90 Leona Maguire (Castle Hume)
178 90 88 Linda Toomey (Limerick)
178 88 90 Joanne Black (Knock)
179 85 94 Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook)
180 92 88 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin)
180 89 91 Miriam Abernethy (Cork)
180 84 96 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)
Ita Wallace Plate:
181 88 93 Gertie McMullen (The Island)
181 83 98 Sarah Carty (The Island)
182 88 94 Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portush)
182 85 97 Ailish McCartan (Greenore)
183 92 91 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew)
184 96 88 Siobhan McCartan (Greenore)
184 89 95 Angela Kilmartin (Warrenpoint)
185 93 92 Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush)
186 94 92 Anita McCaw (RCDL)
186 90 96 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon)
186 89 97 Aedin Murphy (Carlow)
188 96 92 Jean Farrell (Youghal)
189 89 100 Helen Purtill (East Clare)
190 97 93 Anne McCormack (Roscommon)
191 88 103 Aisling Parker (Greenore)
192 88 104 Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy)
Championship:
10:30 Mangan v Mernagh
10.39 Walsh v Carroll
10.48 Gannon v Cunningham
10.57 O’Brien Kenney v Keane
11.06 Smith v Black
11.15 Snelling v O’Leary
11.24 McGowan v Faller
11.33 Atkinson v O’Sullivan
11.42 Gillen v Dalton
11.51 Conaty v Coughlan
12.00 Dunne v Phillips
12.09 Toomey v Riordan
12.18 Morrin v Leona Maguire
12.27 Power v McVeigh
12.36 Bradshawv Lisa Maguire
12.45 Abernethy v Dowling
Ita Wallace Plate:
09.00 McMullan v Sharkey
09.09 McCaw v Diamond
09.18 Gilmore v Farrell
09.27 Purtill v McCartan
09.36 Meadow v McCormack
09.45 Murphy v McCartan
09.54 Kilmartin v McMahon
10.03 Parker v Carty

SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Kathryn Imrie, the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut, finished joint 33rd in the Spanish Women's Open at Panoramica Golf Club.
Kathryn had rounds of 71, 74, 72 and 72 for a one-over-par total of 289. She earned 2,351 Euros.
Lynnette Brooky (NZ) won her fourth Ladies European Tour title by three shots from Gwladys Nocera (France).
Lynnette had rounds of 66, 74, 65 and 70 for a 13-under-par total of 275 to win the top prize of 41,250 Euros.
Gwladys shot 67, 68, 73 and 70 for 278.

ABERDONIAN McINNES WINS NORTH OF SCOTLAND BOYS' TITLE
.Graeme McInnes (Northern), son of the former Aberdeen Links champion of the same name, became the first Aberdeen youngster since Bruce Scott (Hazlehead) in 1993 to win the North of Scotland boys' golf championship for the H R Spence Trophy at Hopeman Golf Club yesterday (Sun).
Mitchell had rounds of 66 and 70 for a level par aggregate of 136 to win by three shots from Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) and Michael Brand (Tain).
McInnes's first round of 66 was made up of halves of 37 (two over par) and 29 (four under par). In that brilliant inward half, Graeme had an eagle at the 10th and birdies at the 11th and 14th.
NORTH OF SCOTLAND BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Hopeman Golf Club
LEADING TOTALS (Par 68, CSS 68 68).
136 G Mitchell (Northern) 66 70.
139 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 71 68, Michael Brand (Tain) 68 71.
142 K T Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 70 72.
145 J Duff (Newmachar) 72 73.
147 L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 76 71.

VIKKI MAKES CUT IN LOW-SCORING FUTURES TOUR EVENT IN TUCSON
Vikki Laing, now campaigning on the Duramed Futures Tour in the United States, is beginning to build up the confidence she lost over the months with hanging around the fringes of the LPGA Tour, waiting for the chance to play – and then playing badly.
The Musselburgh 25-year-old former Curtis Cup player survived her second cut in the Tucson Classic at the Tucson Golf Complez, Arizona with scores of 71 and 70 for a one-over-par tally of 141.
In one of the lowest scoring events on the No 2 women’s pro circuit in America, 76 players with 36-hole aggregates of two-over-par 142 survived the cut. There were two second-round 64s and one 63 by 17-year-old In-Bee Park.
Vikki went into the third and final round of the $75,000 tournament in joint 50th place.
Londoner Polly Willlett did not make it. She shot 68 and 75 for 143 – one stroke too many
Charlotte Mayorkas (Las Vegas) and Kristy McPherson (South Carolina) headed the qualifiers on nine-under-par 131. Charlotte had scores of 66 and 65, Kristy had 65 and 66.

KATY SHARES 14TH PLACE IN MICHIGAN FINALE TO HER FIRST YEAR IN USA
Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll finished a creditable 14th equal in a field of 48 for the NCAA Division 2 women’s college championship over The Meadows course at Allendale, Michigan.
Katy, a first-year student at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, had rounds of 77, 82 and 79 for a total of 238 over the par-72, 5,882yd course.
Mariana De Biase (Rollins College) won the event with 74, 74 and 72 for 220.
Miss McNicoll started well in her final round with birdies at the first and fourth but began to fight a losing battle with par after bogeying the fifth.
That was followed by bogeys at the sixth and eighth and then a horrific triple-bogey 8 at the long ninth. More shots were shed at the 10th, 11th, 14th and 16th but she got a birdie 2 at the 17th in an inward 38 so she was able to finish with a smile.
Two double bogeys in her second round cost her a top-10 placing in what was her final tournament of the 2005-2006 college season.
Katy's placing was the highest ever achieved by a freshman (first-year student) in the NCAA women's championship since the Lynn University golf programme began.
Rollins College (919) won the team event from Ferris State (925) with Lynn University third of eight on the 951 mark.
Miss McNicoll, only 18 years old, had to withdraw from the Scottish women’s amateur championship starting at Dunbar Golf Club on Tuesday because she could not get flights home in time to Scotland to make her Tuesday morning tee time in the first qualifying round.

GEMMA AND LOUISE COMING HOME ON A LOW NOTE FROM AMERICA
Irish eyes were smiling but the Scots were none too happy at the end of the NCAA Division 1 women’s Central Regional college tournament at Traditions Golf Club, Bryan in Texas.
Tara Delaney, a Kent State University student from Carlow, jumped up from a share of 14th place overnight to a final finish of joint fourth with rounds of 74, 77 and 71 for a total of 221 over the 6,289yd, par-72 course.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Gemma Webster (Ohio State) from Glasgow shot 82, 85 and 82 for joint 89th place on 248 and Scottish Under-21 champion Louise Fleming (Jacksonville State) from Kelso came 96th equal with 85, 88 and 81 for 255.
Gemma had two triple bogeys and nine double bogeys over the 54 holes but played the last nine in one under par with eight pars and a birdie at the 17th
Louise had a triple bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the third in her final round in which she had birdies at the second, 10th and 15th.
Miss Fleming had a total of four birdies, one triple bogey and six double bogeys over the 54 holes.
The college season is now over for the Scots pair as only the leading eight teams go on to the NCAA championships. Southern California (883) led the qualifiers from Duke (885). Kent State (919) made it through in a share of sixth place which means that Tara Delaney won’t be back in Ireland for a little while yet.
Ohio State (945) finished 16th and Jacksonville State (1025) 20th of the 21 teams.
Other British and Irish players in the field were Becky Wood from Glossop and a Kent State team player with scores of 77, 77 and 74 for 21st place on 228; Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa) from England. She finished 85th equal with 81, 83 and 83 for 246. Tara’s sister, Karen Delaney, also a student at Kent State, scored 87, 85 and 77 for 92nd place on 249.
Irene Cho (Southern California) won with 71, 74 and 69 for 214, four shots ahead of Amanda Blumenherst (Duke).

ANNA DISAPPOINTS IN FINAL OUTING
Anna Scott (Georgia State University) from Consett, Co Durham ended her US college season with a disappointing joint 66th place finish in the NCAA Division 1 women’s West Regional tournament at Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Washington State.
Anna, who had played well earlier in the 2005-2006 college season, finished with rounds of 78, 82 and 76 – including a double bogey at the fourth in her third round – for a total fo 236.
Individual winner was Paige Mackenzie (Washington) with eight-under-par 208 (68-69-71).
Only the top eight teams go forward to the NCAA championship, headed by Purdue (881) and UCLA (887). Georgia State (919) finished 11th

Clackmannan Boys Match Play Championship
YOUNG GOLFING STARS START TO SHINE.
The 2006 Boys match Play Championships were played over Tillicoultry, Alva, and Braehead Golf Courses last week. Qualifiers came from the top scores at the Boys Championships held the previous week at Tulliallan -- the winners of the finals can aptly be described as the best of the best ! With two titles going to Dollar and one to Alva, it was a good week for the Hillfoots junior golfers. It was a pleasure to see the smartly turned out contestants (again) playing their matches with high standards of sportsmanship as well as first class golfing skills, and they all provided good role models for other junior golfers.
In the premier event for the PONTON SHIELD, Scott Chalmers (Dollar) took the title with a fine win over the Braehead home player and County Boys Stroke Play Champion, Blair Hutton. A deficit of six holes at the turn was too much to claw back, and Scott ran out an easy winner by 7 and 6.
FULL RESULTS Round 1
Andrew Borek(Braehead) beat Jamie Struthers (Braehead) 3/2
Scott Chalmers (Dollar beat Craig Phillip (Alloa) at 20th
Blair Hutton (Braehead) beat Jamie McPhail (Tulliallan) w/o
Scott Macdonald (Alva) beat Martin Scott (Tulliallan) 5/4
SEMIFINALS Chalmers beat Borek; Hutton beat Macdonald
FINAL Chalmers beat Hutton 7/6
The under 14 boys contested the ANDERSON TROPHY, with all the matches producing high quality golf, especially long hitting and good putting. Tom Hogarth (Dollar) the defending champion saw off the challenges fairly easily with a fair bit of style. In the final against Grant Dowie the junior Stroke Play Champion, Tom raced to the turn and established a 5 hole lead. Grant did however make some inroads into the lead, but ran out of holes losing 2 and 1. In the semifinal, Grant ended the hopes of Gary Chalmers who must have been hoping to keep up with the good work of his brother Scott in the Senior section. Youngest competitor 11year old Lawrence Allan (Alva) fell at the first hurdle to the highly competent John McPherson (Braehead). Never mind Lawrence, you still have another 7 years of boys golf!!
FULL RESULTS Round 1
Grant Dowie (Alloa) beat Scott Reston (Tulliallan) 6/5
Gary Chalmers (Alloa) beat Scott Baird (Tillicoultry) 1 hole
Tom Hogarth (Dollar) beat Steven Macpherson (Dollar) 5/4
John McPherson (Braehead) beat Lawrence Allan (Alva) 7/6
SEMIFINALS Dowie beat Chalmers; Hogarth beat McPherson
FINAL Hogarth beat Dowie 2/1
The last event is the handicap event for the JUBILEE TROPHY, with qualifiers from both Senior and Junior Boys. 14year old Daniel Ashe (Alva) triumphed over Ewan Jamieson (Tillicoultry). A good outward nine put Daniel 6 up, and he held on to win by 3 and 2. His win ensured that the trophy stayed with Alva Golf Club, since the 2005 winner was Lawrence Allan aged 10 at the time.
FULL RESULTS Round 1
Sean Sarafilovic (Dollar) beat Grant McIntosh (Alloa) 3/2
Ewan Jamieson (Tillicoultry) beat Darren Clark (Braehead) 3/2
Scott Hunter (Tillicoultry) beat John Salmond (Alloa) 1 hole
Daniel Ashe (Alva) beat Grant Ross (Alloa) 3/2
SEMIFINALS Jamieson beat Sarafilovic; Ashe beat Hunter
FINAL Ashe beat Jamieson 3/2

Saturday 13th May 2006

Baberton - winners of the Edinburgh Interclub Tournament
L to R: Linda Allan, Karen Marshall, Pamela Williamson, Rhona Maclennan
[Photo Courtesy: Pamela Williamson]

Edinburgh Interclub Tournament
The holders, Baberton, continued their winning streak by beating Lothianburn in the final of the Edinburgh Interclub tournament at Liberton today. Baberton's first couple of Karen Marshall and Rhona Maclennan were three up on Lothianburn's Anne Brownie and Catherine Stewart and Baberton second couple Pamela Williamson and Linda Allan were five up on Ruth Brown and Valerie Thomson when the match finished.
Lothianburn had a close tie in the morning when their match against the home club, Liberton, went to the 18th green whilst Baberton had a comfortable win over Royal Musselburgh.

Ann Hunter, Monifeith, after receiving her award at the Belfry

Golf Foundation Award for Ann Hunter
Ann Hunter from Monifieth has received an award from the Golf Foundation at their Annual President's awards.
The Gallacher Award is presented to an individual who has, as a direct results of his or her efforts, made a significant impact in the development of grass roots junior golf. Ann was cited 'the most worthy recipient' for the work she has done to develop girl's golf at Monifieth. Around 40 girls play regularly at Monifieth, and also in local and national competitions across the country. Many of them would not have started the game - or stuck at it - without Ann's support, encouragement and fantastic organisational skills. She's out with them on the practice ground, the course, or at professional coaching sessions at least 2-3 times a week all year round. The phone's red hot - ask her daughter who can never get through! It's a huge commitment in terms of time and effort, but it's truly paid off.
Ann received her award from Sir Michael Bonallack at a ceremony at the PGA Training Academy at the Belfry on Thursday. In receiving it she thanked the Golf Foundation for this great honour and their support. She added that Monifieth Golf Club were proud of what they did for both boys and girls golf.
Ann was accompanied to the awards ceremony by Isla Gilbert, who also goes out with the 'wee ones' for their seven holes on a Sunday. This year, some of the organisational tasks have been taken on by parents and some of the older girls. Ann really appreciates all the help she gets.
Her daughter was also there to take the photo of the award presentation - but forgot to switch on her camera! So here's one she took later. in the glorious Belfry sunshine.
[Thanks for the news, Aileen,... and well done Ann, you certainly deserve the award.. Congratulations!]

Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship
The European Club, Co. Wicklow
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) leads after the first qualifying round of the 2006 Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at The European Club, 13-17 May.
With torrential rain overnight, the par 74 course played to its full 6,095 yards. Gillen’s opening one under par 73 was 4 shots clear of next best Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) and Fiona Carroll (Athenry). Gillen opened solidly dropping a shot on the 4th to turn one over par but returned to par with a birdie on the long 12th. A bogey on 16 was followed by two solid pars on 17 and a birdie on 18 to lead the chasing pack on one under par.
O’Sullivan eagled the 12th but a wretched 7 on the 13th cost her dearly while Carroll’s one over par back 9 made amends for her slow start. Curragh’s Sinead Keane birdied the 3rd in her outward journey but found trouble on the inward nine recording a double bogey on 18 for a 78, a score also recorded by Cork’s Gillian O’Leary who birdied 7, 10, 12 and 14.
11 year old Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume) carded 4 birdies on the backnine to return a marvellous 79 while defending champion Trisha Mangan (Ennis) opened with an 80. Other youngsters Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire found the going tough and recorded debut rounds of 87 and 88 resp.
Sunday sees the completion of round two after which the leading 32 players will go into the Championship Draw on Monday. The next 16 play for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
Round 1 Scores (Par 74)
73 Martina Gillen (Beaverstown)
77 Fiona Carroll (Athenry), Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway)
78 Sinead Keane (Curragh), Gillian O’Leary (Cork)
79 Maura Morrin (Curragh), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth), Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume)
80 Claire Coughlan (Cork), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Danielle McVeigh (RCDL)
82 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth), Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
83 Victoria Bradshaw (Balgor), Sarah Carty (The Island)
84 Maria Dunne (Skerries), Ann Geoghegan (Athlone), Deirdre Walsh (Milltown), Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)
85 Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook), Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne), Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar), Holli Snelling (Killarney), Ailish McCartan (Greenore)
86 Sue Phillips (Woodbrook), Patrica McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown)
87 Leona Maguire (Castle Hume), Sheena O’Brien Kenney (Grange)
88 Joanne Black (Knock), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Sarah Faller (Galway), Gertie McMullen (The Island), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), Aisling Parker (Greenore), Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy)
89 Miriam Abernethy (Cork), Angela Kilmartin (Warrenpoint), Helen Purtill (East Clare), Aedin Murphy (Carlow)
90 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon), Linda Toomey (Limerick)
92 Anne Marie Dalton (Coollattin), Yvonne Daly Ryan (Tipperary), Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew), Shirley Harvey (Ballyclare)
93 Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush)
94 Anita McCaw (RCDL), Fiona Healy (Headfort)
95 Orla Barry (Galway), Niamh Henry-Bezy (Ashbourne), Theresa Delahunty (Rathdowney)
96 Jean Farrell (Youghal), Lillian Kilmartin (Tipperary), Siobhan McCartan (Greenore), Nikki Taggart (Greenisland)
97 Ann McCormack (Roscommon), Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook), Dearbhla Behan (Balbriggan)
98 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
99 Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown), Paula Murray (Naas)
101 Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge), Elizabeth Reid (Arklow)
103 Grainne O’Connor (Skerries)
105 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo), Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown)
107 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix)

P&K Championship
JACQUELINE STILL IN GOOD FORM AT BLAIRGOWRIE
Leading qualifier Jacqueline Sneddon from Alyth continued her good form in the match-play stages of the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship over Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne course today (Saturday).
The youngster overpowered county secretary Dawn Butchart (Strathmore) by 5 and 3 – not always a good tactic to beat one of the organisers! – and then reached Sunday morning’s semi-finals with a two-hole win over Gillian Wallace (Glenisla), the No 8 qualifier.
Jacqueline will now play Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill who scraped through at the 19th in her quarter-final against Fiona Ramsay (Crieff).
Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall), county champion in 1998 and 2001 and the No 2 seed, is also through to the last four.
Collated
PERTH & KINROSS WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie Golf Club.
First round – J Sneddon (Alyth) bt D Butchart (Strathmore) 5 and 3, G Wallace (Glenisla) bt E Davidson (Comrie) 6 and 4, F Ramsay (Criff) bt A Niven (Crieff) 2 holes, J Milne (Craigie Hill) bt E Napper (Craigie Hill) 3 and 2, A Ker (Craigie Hill) bt E Donaldson (Alyth) 3 and 2, N Fleming (Alyth) bt J Griffiths (Crieff) 2 and 1, J French (Alyth) bt B Clough (Blairgowrie) at 19th, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) bt S Shepherd (Blairgowrie) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals – Sneddon bt Wallace 2 holes, Milne bt Ramsay at 19th, Fleming bt Ker 2 and 1, Yellowlees bt French 7 and 6.
HANDICAP
Quarter-finals – M Robertson (Strathmore) (19) bt S Johnston (Alyth) (12) at 21st, C Turner (Alyth) (14) bt C Lambie (Dunkeld (15) 4 and 2, S Young (Auchterarder) (12) bt M Brass (Blairgowrie) (15) 1 hole, J Heaney (Callander) (12) bt L Gilmour (Strathmore) (16) 5 and 4.

Futures Tour
VIKKI ONE OVER PAR IN ARIZONA
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh was in joint 57th place in a field of 141 at the end of the first round of the Tucson Duramed Futures Tour tournament at the Tucson Golf Complex, Arizona.
Vikki shot a one-over-par 71 with birdies at the first and sixth but bogeys at the second, third and fifth on a day when 56 players scored par or better over the 6,1256yd course.
Polly Willett from London was sharing 13th place after a 68 – four off the pace being set by Randi Meadows from San Antonio, Texas.

US College Golf
SCOTS TOIL IN TEXAS
Scotland international player Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) and Louise Fleming (Jacksonville State University), the Scottish Under-21 champion from Kelso continued to run up bogeys galore in the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Central Region women’s college tournament at Traditions Golf Club, Bryan in Texas.
Hilton Park GC member Gemma has had rounds of 82 and 85 for 24-over-par 167 and joint 86th place. Miss Webster had double bogeys at the fourth, seventh, and 12th and a triple bogey at the 13th in halves of 43 and 42 in her second round.
Louise dropped six shots to par over three long holes with double bogeys at the sixth, 12th and 15th in halves of 44 for her 88. She is sharing 100th place in a field of 106.
Ireland’s Tara Delaney (Kent State) is in joint 14th place with 74 and 77 for 151. The Carlow youngster birdied the 11th, 12th and 14th but had a double bogey at the 13th.
Kent State team-mate Becky Wood has had a pair of 77s for 154 and a share of 29th place.
Another English player, Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa) is sharing 78th place on 163 after an 81 and 82.
Tara Delaney’s sister Karen, also a student at Kent State University, Ohio, had four double bogeys in a second-round 85 for joint 98th place on 172.
Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) (76-75) and Irene Cho (Southern California) were sharing the lead on 145.
Only the top eight teams will go on to the NCAA championship. Kent State, in eighth place on 620, have a good chance of making it but the prospects remain bleak for Ohio State (15th on 634) and Jacksonville State (19th on 656).
Duke (594) lead from Southern California (597).

US College Golf
TOUGH FOR KATY IN MICHIGAN
Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll, a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, had to settle for a second-round 82 and a share of 15th place on 159 after a day of bad weather for the second round of the NCAA Division 2 women’s college championship at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
Over a course of only 5,882yd, the best second-day score was a two-over-par 74 and there were lots of scores in the 80s and 90s.
Katy’s only birdie came at the fourth and she had double bogeys at the 10th and 12th.
Lindsey Bergeon (Florida State) (72-76) and Mariana De Biase (Rollins College) (74-74) lead the field of 48 players on 148.
Lynn University (636) are in third place in a field of eight teams. Rollins (611) lead from Ferris State (625).

US College Golf
WASHINGTON WOE FOR ANNA SCOTT
Anna Scott from Consett, Co Durham, a student at Georgia State University had two double bogeys and a triple in returning a second-round 82 for a 36-hole tally of 160 in the NCAA Division 1 West Region women’s tournament at Washington National Golf Club, Auburn in Washington State.
Annais in joint 78th position in a field of 107.
Paige Mackenzie (Washington) leads on 137 with scores of 68 and 69.
Only the top eight teams advance to the NCAA championship at Georgia State are in 12th place on 616. Purdue (583) lead from UCLA and Washington, both on 591.

Friday 12th May 2006

Edinburgh InterClub Tournament
Liberton play Lothianburn and Baberton play Royal Musselburgh in the semi-finals of the Edinburgh Interclub Tournament at Liberton tomorrow. This popular scratch double foursome matchplay event continues to come up with a few surprises.. Royal Musselburgh are having an excellent run, beating Broomieknowe last night and Glencorse tonight. How will they fare against Baberton tomorrow?
Results (again sorry for lack of scores)
Liberton beat Merchants
Lothianburn beat Murrayfield
Baberton beat Newbattle
Royal Musselburgh beat Glencorse.

KATHRYN IMRIE ONLY SCOT TO SURVIVE CUT IN SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN
Only Kathryn Imrie of the Scots competing in the Spanish Women's Open at the Panoramica Golf Club survived the 36-hole cut.
Kathryn scored 71 and 74 to be in joint 38th place on 145. She had only one shot to spare.
Lynn Kenny, with 73 and 75 for 148, missed out by two shots.
Inverness-based Kiwi, Liz McKinnon had rounds of 75 and 74 for 149.
Clare Queen had a great second round of 71 but unfortunately that couldn't make up for a first-round 80 and 151 put her on the sidelines for the second LET event in a row.
Julie Forbes had 79 and 75 for 154.

Winning University of Stirling Team

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING RETAINS ITS BRITISH UNIVERSITIES TEAM MATCHPLAY TITLE
Stirling University capped off another successful year in student golf by beating Birmingham University in a closely fought final at Woddhall Spa to win the British Universities Team Matchplay Championship and retain the Wallace Crinson Trophy. Stirling had defeated Exeter and Birmingham were victorious over Northumbria in the semi-final stages.
The final produced some sparkling golf. Stirling led 2-1 after the morning foursomes thanks to 3 consecutive birdies over the last 3 holes from Walker Cup player Richie Ramsay and his Scottish Youths internationalist partner, Euan Polson. The afternoon singles saw Stirling extend its lead thanks to comfortable victories for Gordon Yates and Paul Betty. However, Birmingham clawed there way back into the match by winning 2 singles matches and halving 1 match to help create a tense finish. In the final match out on the course, Stirling's Blair Paterson faced intense pressure when he found himself 1-down on the last hole after being 3 up with 5 to play. Blair held his nerve to hit 2 stunning shots into the final green and holed out from 25ft for an eagle and a half point to help Stirling to a 5-4 victory.
In the other BUSA final matches, Loughborough eased to a 7-2 victory over Heriot Watt to win the BUSA Shield, whilst Exeter 2nds won the BUSA Plate.

DISAPPOINTING DAY FOR GEMMA AND LOUISE DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
Scotland international Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) and Scotland Under-21 champion Louise Fleming (Jacksonville State University) failed to break 80 in a disappointing start to the NCAA Division 1 Central Regional women’s college championship at Traditions Golf Club, Bryan in Texas.
Hilton Park Golf Club member Gemma had an 10-over-par 82 to be sharing 69th place in a field of 106 while Louise was tied for 89th place after an 85 over the 6,289yd course.
Gemma had double bogeys at the sixth, 13th and 16th and also shed shots at the second, fifth, seventh, eighth, and 11th in halves of 42 and 40. She had one birdie, at the 10th.
Louise from Kelso had two double bogeys, at the 10th and 14th , and also went over par at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th in halves of 42 and 43. She birdied the 17th.
Ireland’s Tara Delaney (Kent State) was the best of the British and Irish contingent with a 74 (39-35) for a share of 12th place. A double-bogey 7 at the long third was cancelled out by birdies at the second, 14th and 15th.
Tara’s team-mate, Becky Wood from Glossop, is sharing 30th place on 77. Another English player, Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa) is alongside Louise Fleming on the 85 mark.
At the top of the leaderboard are Devan Andersen (Texas) and Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) on two-under-par 70.
Only the top eight teams will advance to the NCAA championship.
Southern California (293) lead from Duke (294) with Florida (301) third. Kent State and Ohio State (both on 309) are sharing seventh place. But Jacksonville State (343) are way back in 19th place of the 21 teams and their season looks about to end with this tournament.

RAIN DAY OFF FOR KATY IN MICHIGAN
Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll (Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida) faced a 36 holes in one day Friday schedule after rain washed out the second round of the NCAA Division 2 women’s championship at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
Katy was sharing 16th place after a first-round 77 – five shots off the pace.

DOUBLE BOGEY START FOR ANNA IN WASHINGTON
Anna Scott (Georgia State) from County Durham had a 78 to be joint 55th at the end of the first day of the NCAA Division 1 women’s West Regional tournament at Washington National Golf club.
Anna started at the 10th with a double bogey 6 and took 40 shots for her first nine holes. Another double bogey went on her card at the third but she steadied up and dropped only one more shot, at the eighth.
Three players – Paige Mackenzie and Amber Prange, both Washington, and Amanda McCurdy (Arkansas) – share the lead on four-under-par 68 over the 6,289yd course.
Only the top eight teams go forward to the NCAA championship and UCLA are tied with Washington for the lead on 288. Georgia State are not out of it even though they are in 16th place. Their first-round total was 308, which was only five shots behind the teams occupying eighth place.

SGU Press Release
Last Call for Entries to the DM Hall Scottish Mid-Amateur Championship
Thursday 18th May is the closing date for entries to the 2006 DM Hall Scottish Mid-Amateur Championship, to be played over the Carrickstone course at Dullatur from 17-19 June.
Last year’s winner Allyn Dick is amongst the field and the Shotts man will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy, having finished 15th in the SGU Order of Merit last year. Dick, who also won the West of Scotland Open in 2005, finished runner-up to England’s Roger Roper in the 2004 event and the 27-year old will be looking to maintain his impressive record in the DM Hall sponsored championship.
This year will be the 13th staging of the Championship, with an impressive list of former winners including reigning Scottish Amateur Champion Glenn Campbell, former British Amateur Champion Craig Watson and current Scotland team captain George Crawford. Entry to the event costs £30 and players must be aged 25 and over on the 17th June to be eligible, with a handicap of 5.4 or less.
The DM Hall Scottish Open Mid-Amateur Championship features 36 holes of stroke play qualifying on the Saturday, followed by knock out Matchplay on the Sunday and Monday.
Dullatur – based on the outskirts of Cumbernauld – provides a great venue for this year’s event, with a challenging 6248 yard course and a fantastic modern clubhouse facility.
For further information and advice on entering this year’s Championship, please contact the SGU Events Department on 01382 549500. Alternatively, to download the entry form, please visit the Scottish Golf Union’s website at www.scottishgolfunion.org.

Thursday 11th May 2006

Linda Robertson accepts the Striling and Clackmannan Championship trophy from Doris Dunn, S&C Captain, with beaten finalist Vicki Stevenson looking on.

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR LINDA IN STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN FINAL
It was third time lucky for Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) in tonight’s final of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at West Lothian.
Beaten in the 1987 and 2004 finals, Linda at last got her hands on the trophy beating youngster Vikki Stevenson (Stirling), playing in her first final, by 4 and 3.
Vicki was the second seed and Linda the fifth qualifier.
Linda, who putted well, was three up at the turn. Vikki threatened a revival when she cut her deficit to two by winning the 11th but her opponent hit back immediately by winning the 12th.
Linda clinched her victory by winning the 15th.
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club
Final – Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) bt Vicki Stevenson (Stirling) 4 and 3.

Edinburgh Interclub Tournament
There were some exciting ties at the Edinburgh Interclub Tournament at Liberton tonight. This double foursome scratch match-play event is always keenly contest by 16 clubs in the Edinburgh area.
Perhaps the biggest upset of the night was Newbattle's win over Craigmillar Park after a marathon third extra hole.
Lothianburn's game against Ratho Park was also a close one with Lothianburn just winning on the 18th.
Mandy Bell of the home club, Liberton, had a hole-in-one on the 13th (106 yards)
Results (sorry about the lack of scores)
Liberton beat Kingsknowe
Merchants beat Musselburgh
Murrayfield beat Prestonfield
Lothianburn beat Ratho Park
Baberton beat Turnhouse
Newbattle beat Craigmillar Park
Royal Musselburgh beat Broomieknowe
Glencorse beat Torphin Hill

TOP SCRATCH FIONA MISSES OUT ON NET QUALIFIERS FOR CRIEFF
Curtis Cup team manager Fiona Norris (Hamilton) had the best scratch score of 76 – four over the CSS – in the LGU Medal Area Final (West) at Hayston Golf Club today (Thursday).
Unfortunately for Fiona, only the eight qualifiers for the Grand Final at Crieff on June 4 was decided on net scores only.
The qualifiers were:
Silver Division – Jill West (Troon Welbeck) (18) 68; Jane Ashdown (Largs Kelburne) (14) 70; Beth Paterson (Eastwood) (6) (better inward half), Cherry Jamieson (Hilton Park) (14) (better last 3) 71.
Bronze Division – Jill Carrick (Whitecraigs) (28) 62; Irene McDonnell (Caprington) (21) 72; Janine Strang (Beith) (20) (bih) 73; Anne Fisher (Prestwick St Nicholas (27) 73.

ELAINE A CONTENDER FOR ABERDEEN HALL OF FAME
Elaine Farquharson-Black, former Scottish girls' and women's champion, past Curtis Cup & Vagliano Trophy player, winner of the last women's world amateur better-ball championship to be played (with Helen Dobson), etc, is the only female golfer nominated for a place in the inaugural Aberdeen Sports Council Hall of Fame.
There are 38 nominees - all of whom must have been born in the city - submitted by the public.
The three nominees receiving the most votes will automatically be inducted to the new Hall of Fame. A total of 21 will form the initial rollof honour, designed as a lasting trbut to the Aberdeen Sports Council's 21st anniversary of its founding.
The 18 remaining places after the public vote will be filled by the nominees selected by a panel from the Aberdeen Sports Council, Aberdeen City Council and the Press and Journal.
June 1 is the deadline for public voting.
If you want to help Elaine make it into a Hall of Fame, all you have to do is send an E-mail with her name as your vote to info@aberdeensportscouncil.com

Midland Vets, who beat North Vets today

MIDLAND BEAT NORTH IN VETS MATCH AT GLENISLA
Midland beat North in a tight finish to their SVLGA inter-divisional match at Glenisla Golf Club today.
Midlands won the trophy by 3 1/2-2 1/2 after winning the top two ties. Lorna Bennett beat Ann Smart by one hole while Fiona De Vries beat Kathleen Sutherland by 2 and 1.
Liz Miskimmin got the victory-clinching point by beating Aberdeenshire county captain Ros Dunsmuir 2 and 1.
Details:
NORTH 2 1/2, MIDLAND 3 1/2
Ann Smart lost to Lorna Bennett 1 hole.
Kathleen Sutherland lost to Fiona De Vries 2 and 1.
Sue McGregor halved with Emma Wilson.
Frances Neish halved with Margaret Tough.
Lynne Terry bt Shelagh Quinn 3 and 2.
Ros Dunsmuir lost to Liz Miskimmin 2 and 1.
Morag Clapperton bt Katherine Keir 2 and 1.

North Vets

TOP SCRATCH FIONA MISSES OUT ON NET QUALIFIERS FOR CRIEFF
Curtis Cup team manager Fiona Norris (Hamilton) had the best scratch score of 76 – four over the CSS – in the LGU Medal Area Final (West) at Hayston Golf Club today (Thursday).
Unfortunately for Fiona, only the eight qualifiers for the Grand Final at Crieff on June 4 was decided on net scores only.
The qualifiers were:
Silver Division – Jill West (Troon Welbeck) (18) 68; Jane Ashdown (Largs Kelburne) (14) 70; Beth Paterson (Eastwood) (6) (better inward half), Cherry Jamieson (Hilton Park) (14) (better last 3) 71.
Bronze Division – Jill Carrick (Whitecraigs) (28) 62; Irene McDonnell (Caprington) (21) 72; Janine Strang (Beith) (20) (bih) 73; Anne Fisher (Prestwick St Nicholas (27) 73.

CLARE FACES EARLY EXIT IN SPAIN
Clare Queen's disappointing start to her Ladies European Tour career continued today when she returned an eight-over-par 80 in the first round of the Spanish Women's Open at Panoramica Golf & Country Club.
The Drumpellier player, in 123rd place in a field of 126, is in great danger of missing the cut for the second time in a row.
Her problems really piled up when she had a double bogey 5 at the short seventh and shed two more shots at the eighth and ninth to be out in four-over 40. Then Clare had another double bogey, at the 10th, followed by three bogeys before birding the 18th to be home in 40.
Kathryn Imrie from Monifieth was the best placed Scot in a share of 18th place with a 71. In a very steady round, Kathryn had only three deviations from par - a bogey at the fifth and birdies at the 12th and 17th.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon is in joint 88th place with a three-over 75.
Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) was in joint 50th place with a 73. She birdied the short fifth, 11th and 12th but had bogeys at the second, 10th, 15th and 16th.
Julie Forbes from Aboyne was back in a share of 119th place after a 79.
New Zealander Lynette Brooky showed the low-scoring potential of the course to lead with a six-under 66.

LGU Press Release
MARY MCKENNA APPOINTED CAPTAIN AND TEGWEN MATTHEWS APPOINTED MANAGER TO CURTIS CUP AND VAGLIANO TROPHY TEAMS
Mary McKenna, Ireland’s most successful woman amateur golfer, has been appointed Captain of the teams that will represent Great Britain & Ireland in the 2007 Vagliano Trophy and the 2008 Curtis Cup. She will be assisted by Tegwen Matthews who has accepted the position of Manager of both teams.
Ms McKenna has an unrivalled record that includes winning eight Irish Championships between 1969 and 1989 – she also finished runner-up four times – playing in nine successive Curtis Cup matches and playing in nine Vagliano Trophies. She was capped for her native Ireland on innumerable occasions and played in the Home Internationals between 1968 and 1991.
In 2000, she was captain of the GB&I team competing in the World Amateur Team Championship at the Sporting Club, Berlin, the fourth time Ms McKenna had been in that position. Twenty six years earlier Ms McKenna, in one of her four playing appearances in the Espirito Santo Trophy, helped GB&I to second place in the Dominican Republic.
“I am very really delighted with this great honour and look forward to both events. With the 2008 Curtis Cup match being played early in the year, at the beginning of June, it will be a challenge to pull the players together into a cohesive team,” Ms McKenna said, “Obviously at that stage, we will not have had a reasonable chance to see the team members in real competitive action. “
“After this year’s match in America, I will sit down with the Training Committee to plan out the next two years and build on what Ada has done over the past four years. However I do feel that it will be essential to give the squad members as much time playing in match play conditions as possible.”
Tegwen Matthews, the manager of both teams is delighted to be assisting Mary with the two matches.
“Mary and I have been friends for years, in fact since I was in my teens and just starting on my international playing career, she said. “I am certainly looking forward to working with her and with the talented crop of players who are certain to be selected for the matches.”
Mrs Matthews (Perkins) is Captain of this year’s Welsh team following a career in golf that started when she represented Wales aged only 14. She played in four Curtis Cup matches, six Vagliano Trophy teams, two Commonwealth tournaments, the same Espirito Santo team as Ms McKenna and was Welsh champion in 1976 and 1977.
++The 2007 Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe will be played at St Andrews Bay Hotel & Golf Resort on July 27 and 28.
++The 2008 Curtis Cup match against the United States will be played over the Old Course, St Andrews on May 31 and June 1.

P&W Rankings
The 2006 Paull & Williamsons’ Scottish Stroke Play Rankings, of which Clare Queen (Drumpellier) topped the women’s table and Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) the girls’ section last year, have begun with the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay championship at Troon and the SLGA St Leonards Under 16 Stroke Play Championship at St Andrews. The top 10 in each section are shown below. The number after each player's name is their average score to the CSS.

US College Golf
INWARD BOGEYS SPOIL KATY’S CARD IN MICHIGAN
Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll was in joint 16th place at the end of the first round of the NCAA Division 2 women’s golf championship at The Meadows, Allendale in Michigan.
Katy had a round of 77 over the 5,882yd course with a par of 72. She birdied the sixth and eighth but bogeyed the fifth, seventh and nine in an outward one-over 38 and then bogeyed the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th for four-over 39 coming home.
Katy was joint best of the Lynn University team from Boca Raton, Florida.
Lindsey Bergeon (Florida Southern) and Kate MacDonald (Grand Valley State) were sharing the lead on level par 72.
Rollins College (297) were the first-round team leaders on 297 – 10 shots ahead of Ferris State with Grand Valley State (308) in third place and Lynn (311) lying fourth of the eight competing teams.

Wednesday 10th May 2006

LINDA v VICKI FOR STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN TITLE
Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) is through to the final of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship for a third time. She beat top seed Elaine Allison (Stirling) by two holes in the first semi-final at West Lothian Golf Club tonight (WEDNESDAY).
Linda, the No 5 qualifier, got off to a flying start by birdieing the first two holes and she reached the turn in one under par. Elaine kept pegging away and was only one down on the 18th tee but Linda won the last hole.
Linda, the county captain when Stirling & Clackmannan won the Scottish county championship twice, lost in the 1987 and 2004 finals.
Youngster Vikki Stevenson (Stirling) will be playing in her first final which tees off at 5.30pm on Thursday.
Vikki, the No 2 seed, scored a 3 and 2 win over Margaret Tough (Falkirk), the sixth qualifier, in the other semi-final with roughly par golf.
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club
Semi-finals – Linda Robertson (Falitk Tryst) bt Elaine Allison (Stirling) 2 holes; Vicki Stevenson (Stirling) bt Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 3 and 2.

R&A Press Release
2008 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP REGIONAL QUALIFYING COURSES
Berwick-upon-Tweed Golf Club, Coventry, Ferndown and Lindrick are named as new additions to the list of 16 clubs that will host Regional Qualifying for the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale.
The other 12 are Ashridge, Effingham, Enville, The Gog Magog, Musselburgh, Old Fold Manor, Pannal, Pleasington, Prestbury, Rochester & Cobham Park, Royal Ashdown Forest and The Island.
Berwick-upon-Tweed members play over Goswick Links, a stretch of land that lies seven miles south of the town and whose name bears reference to the annual appearance of large flocks of migratory geese on fields adjoining the club. The course has a typical links terrain and is a challenging test in the ever-present wind.
Coventry was formed in 1887 and has occupied its present site since 1911. However during the war, six holes were used for agricultural production and it was only in 1950 that these holes were fully restored to their previous condition and incorporated back into the present layout.
Ferndown is located five miles north of Bournemouth on a course laid out in 1914 by twice Open Champion Harold Hilton. Soon after its opening, a period of financial handicap resulted in the course reverting to farmland and it was six years later, in 1920, that renovation work started, resulting in an official opening in October 1921.
From its earliest years Lindrick was recognised by the Yorkshire Union as a course of championship quality. However, it was only in 1957 that the club gained wider international recognition when it hosted the Ryder Cup. That year, GB&I defeated the U.S. for the first time since 1929, a victory that was not repeated until 1985.
Regional Qualifying has been a regular part of The Open qualifying process since the 1977 Open at Turnberry.

Tuesday 9th May 2006

Anniversary of the Foundation of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The British Golf Museum is offering free admission this weekend to commemorate the anniversary of the foundation of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
On 14th May 1754, fifteen competitors played in the first Challenge for the Silver Club over the links of St Andrews. From this annual competition, the Society of St Andrews Golfers evolved.
The Society was honoured by the patronage of King William IV in 1834 and was granted permission to be re-named The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
A special exhibition in the Museum entitled, A Celebration of 250 years of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, explores the history of the club and the memorable festivities that surrounded its 250th anniversary in 2004. Take the opportunity to view early archive material from the Club, which features in our Pages of History interactive.
Don't miss the opportunity to see the monumental painting Medal Day 1894, which features 191 portraits, including many leading members of the day. This magnificent work captures the spirit of the Club when it was only 140 years old.
Entry to the Museum will be free on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14thMay, making it the perfect break from playing golf.

ILGU Press Release
Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship, The European Club, Co. Wicklow, Saturday 13 to Wednesday 17 May, 2006
Tricia Mangan (Ennis), fresh from her 7th place finish at the Welsh Open Strokeplay, defends her Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at The European Club, 13-17 May 2006. Tricia, currently on the GB&I Panel, plans to add to last year’s title won at Portsalon and impress the LGU selectors in attendance who will shortly announce the Curtis Cup team to play the USA at Bandon Dunes, Oregon, 29-30 July 2006.
The Championship begins Saturday May 13 with the first round of the Leitrim Cup, a 36-hole qualifying strokeplay event. Sunday sees the completion of round two after which the leading 32 players will go into the Championship Draw on Monday, concluding Wednesday afternoon. The next 16 play for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
Claire Coughlan (Cork), runner-up at last year’s British Amateur, and Beaverstown’s Martina Gillen, 4th in last week’s Welsh Strokeplay, will arguably pose the most serious threat to Mangan’s title aspirations. Another player in form is Co. Louth’s Deirdre Smith who last weekend added the McLoughlin’s Hermitage Scratch Trophy to those won at Cork and Royal Co. Down in April.
The Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close was first played in 1894, just one year after the foundation of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union, the oldest national union or association in ladies’ golf. 2006 sees another consecutive year’s hosting of the event, excluding the war years.
The draw boasts a significant number of Senior and Junior Internationals. The Junior players will be particularly keen to impress the Irish selectors as the under-21 and under-18 teams to play in the European Team Championships in Nertherlands and Denmark, 11-15 July, will be announced before the end of the month.
Draw – Saturday 13th May:
09.00 (at 10 min intervals) Tricia Mangan (Ennis) Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Maura Morrin (The Curragh); Claire Coughlan (Cork) Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) Sinead Keane (The Curragh); Heather Nolan (Shannon) Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) Marian Riordan (Tipperary); Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) Maria Dunne (Skerries) Mary Dowling (New Ross); Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) Gillian O'Leary (Cork) Vicki Power (Brampton Park); Suzanne Phillips (Woodbrook) Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) Fiona Carroll (Athenry)
10.00 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush); Helen Jones (Strabane) Deirdre Walsh (Milltown) Sarah Faller (Galway); Deirdre Judge (Roscommon) Nikki Taggart (Greenisland) Linda Toomey (Limerick); Anita McCaw (RCDL) Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) Anne McCormack (Roscommon); Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Joanne Black (Knock)
11.00 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) Yvonne Daly Ryan (Tipperary) Shauna McVeigh (RCDL); Helen Purtil (East Clare) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Angela Kilmartin(Warrenpoint); Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) Lillian Kilmartin (Tipperary) Shirley Harvey (Ballyclare); Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) Jean Farrell (Youghal) Sarah Carty (The Island); Miriam Abernethy (Cork) Siobhan McCartan (Greenore) Sarah Cunningham (Ennis); Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange) Fiona Healy (Headfort) Emma Getty (Carrickfergus)
12.00 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Aisling Parker (Greenore) Holli Snelling (Killarney); Viv Johnston (Castle) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy); Patricia McAllister (Laytown/Bettystown) Derbhla Behan (Balbriggan) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook); Carol Kinsella (Waterford) Ailish McCartan (Greenore) Orla Barry (Galway); Theresa Delahunty (Rathdowney) Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume) Aedin Murphy (Carlow);
13.00 Niamh Henry-Bezy (Ashbourne) Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown) Marie Sudway (Carton House); Mary Lalor (Roscommon) Leona Maguire (Castle Hume) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo); Paula Murray (Naas) Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge) Barbara Cooney (Laytown/Bettystown); Elizabeth Reid (Arklow) Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix) Grainne O'Connor (Skerries)

SGU & SLGA JOIN FORCES TO WORK ON ONE PLAN FOR GOLF IN SCOTLAND
THE Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) and Scottish Golf Union (SGU) have formed a joint working group to look after the best interests of the amateur game in Scotland.
The working group will discuss how the ruling bodies of Scottish amateur golf can work together for the betterment of the game, irrespective of gender.
Three representatives of each body are on the group led by Margaret Rodgers, SLGA Chairman, and SGU Chair, Alistair Low. The group has three stated aims:
- To grow the game, by attracting new people to the sport, encouraging club membership, and improving access to coaching;
- To develop talent, through specialist coaching for the most talented male and female amateurs, running national teams, competing in and staging national and international events; and
- To support member clubs, by governing handicaps, providing training for club staff, and lobbying on behalf of clubs.
This ground-breaking new group was established in February 2006. It is intended that over the coming months it will establish increasingly closer links as it looks at how it will achieve the three main objectives, assigning each organisation specific tasks to avoid duplication of resources.
The group is considering how the SLGA and SGU can work more closely on the Clubgolf initiative to get more male and female youngsters playing golf, in staging tournaments, in agreeing joint working methods for handicapping and course rating, and implementing coaching systems to best develop future Scottish talent, both male and female.
This undoubtedly will result in more formal and closer working relations between the two bodies. Once the joint strategy is complete both organisations are committed to implementing the best structure for Scottish golf to deliver the agreed actions.
The SLGA’s Shona Malcolm said: “The SLGA and SGU have been working increasingly closely together for the past few years, most notably in the areas of Clubgolf, handicapping and course rating. The success of these initiatives has led us to consider more formally how we work together and investigate what will be best for Scottish golf in the future.”
SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey said One Plan for Golf is a major step forward for both organisations.
Grey said: “This is an exciting time for Scottish amateur golf and for both sexes playing the game. We hope that this group leads to an increasingly close working relationship between the SLGA and the SGU.
“Both organisations have the same goals, namely introducing as many men, women and children to this great game as possible, helping them get the most out of it at whatever level, and ensuring our clubs have the best support network possible.”

Monday 8th May 2006

JACQUELINE LEADS P AND K QUALIFIERS IN HIGH WINDS AT BLAIRGOWRIE
Alyth Golf Club women’s champion Jacqueline Sneddon earned the No 1 seeded position in next weekend’s match-play stages when the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship qualifying round was played in high winds over the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course today (MONDAY).
Play finished in fading light with Jacqueleine leading the way with an 81, eight over par. The CSS was 76 (reduction only).
Neither Carly Booth (Comrie), the champion, nor former title-winner Roseanne Niven (Crieff), both still schoolgirls, were able to play in the qualifying round.
Roseanne’s younger sister Annabel qualified in fifth place with a creditable 83.
County secretary and tournament organiser Dawn Butchart (Strathmore) squeezed through as the last of the 16 qualifiers with an 88.
PERTH & KINROSS WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Blairgowrie Lansdowne course. Par 73. CSS 76 (reduction only)
QUALIFIERS
81 J Sneddon (Alyth). 82 J Yellowlees (Alyth), A Ker (Craigie Hill), J Milne (Craigiehill). 83 A Niven (Crieff), N Fleming (Aluyth). 85 J French (Alyth), G Wallace (Glendevon). 86 E Davidson(Comrie), B Clough (Blairgowrnie), J Griffiths (Crieff), F Ramsay (Crieff). 87 E Napper (Craigie Hill), E Donaldson (Alyth), S Shepherd Blairgowrie). 88 D Butchart (Strathmore).
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
Saturday: 9.30 – Sneddon v Butchart, Davidson v Wallace, Niven v Ramsay, Napper v Milne, Ker v Donaldson, Griffiths v Fleming, French v Clough, Shepherd v Yellowlees.
+Sunday’s semi-finals (9.30) and final (2.07) will be played over the Rosemount course.
HANDICAP QUALIFIERS
72 M Robertson (Strathmore) (19). 76 L Gilmour (Strathmore) (16), M rass (Blairgowrie) (15), C Lambie (Dunkeld (15). 77 C Turner (Alyth) (14), S Young (Auchterarder) (12), J Heaney (Callander) (12). 78 S Johnston (Alyth) (12).
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
Saturday: 10.30 – Robertson v Johnston, Turner v Lambie, Brass v Young, Hearney v Gilmour.

TOUGH GOING FOR TRISH CHILLAS IN STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN TIE
Margaret Tough (Falkirk) squeezed Trish Chillas (Stirling), wife of European Seniors Tour player John Chillas, out of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship in the best of the quarter-finals at West Lothian Golf Club this evening.
Margaret, the No 3 seed, finally entered the semi-finals with a par at the 19th hole, bringing to an end a nip-and-tuck tie that had its share of birdies.
Mrs Tough now plays youngster Vikki Stevenson (Stirling), the No 2 qualifier who was back in the clubhouse early after an 8 and 7 win over Jill Harrison (Linlithgow), the county champion in 1987 and 1988.
The other semi-final, to be played on Wednesday evening, will feature the No 1 seed Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst). Linda beat the Stirling and Clackmannan captain, Doris Dunn (Dunblane) 4 and 2 while top seed Elaine was a 3 and 1 winner over Gillian McNeil (West Lothian).
There has to be a new name on the championship trophy. None of the semi-finalists has won it before.
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club
Quarter-finals – Elaine Allison (Stirling) bt Gillian McNeill (West Lothian) 3 and 1, Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) bt Doris Dunn (Dunblane) 4 and 2, Margaret Tough (Falkirk) bt Tricia Chillas (Stirling) at 19th, Vicki Stevenson (Stirling) bt Jill Harrison (Linlithgow) 8 and 7.

HONOUR FOR STEPHEN LEWTON
Stephen Lewton from Milton Keynes, a senior golf scholarship student at North Carolina State University, has been named a member of the All-Atlantic Coast Conference golf team, an indication of his standing as one of the top players in the conference.
Lewton led the Wolfpack over the 2005-2006 college golf season with seven top-10 finishes, including winning both the Seminole Intercollegiate and the Cavalier Classic last weekend.

QUALIFIERS FROM FORFAR FOR LGU MEDAL FINAL
Prizewinners in today’s LGU Medal area final (North Division) at Forfar Golf Club ranged from Auchterarder to Inverness, Tain and Kemnay.
Ann Hay from Letham Grange had the best scratch score of 78 in the Silver Division.
Fiona Webster (Kemnay) had the best scratch score of 92 in the Bronze Division.
Qualification for the LGU Medal grand final at Crieff on Sunday, June 4 was on net scores only and the six qualifiers from the two divisions were:
Silver – Linda Brown (Aberdeen Petroleum Club) (18) 74 (better inward half), Kay Jarvie (Auchterader) (15) 74 (bih), Carolyne Barclay (Milnathort) (20) 74 (bih).
Bronze – Irene Park (Kirriemuir) (28) 63; Diana Fraser (Inverness) (36) 68; Hannah MacKay (Tain) (23) 70. Grace Porter (Inchmarlo) (29) 71 gained a fourth-place prize but only the leading three players qualified.
Louise Westwood (Whitemoss) had the best net score in the Silver Division – a 71 off 15 – but she will be on holiday at the time of the grand final and had to withdraw from the list of qualifiers.

ANYBODY HERE SEEN KELLY? CHRIS LEADS BY TWO SHOTS AT ST ANDREWS BAY
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Chris Kelly has jumped into a two-shot lead after only one round of the Scottish Wateraid 54-hole tournament at St Andrews Bay Golf Resort today (Monday).
The Fifer, playing out of Cawder Golf Club, kept a bogey off his card in fairly windy conditions to shoot a great score of seven-under-par 65 over the Torrance Course.
Kelly’s flawless round had birdies at the fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 13th in halves of 32 (four under par) and 33 (three under-par). He parred the last five holes in a row.
This event, which will see the pros partnered by amateur teams over the next two days, is the first Tartan Tour Order of Merit three-rounder of the season with a not to be sniffed at first prize of $2,910 and 96 pence.
Chris Kelly finished runner-up in last year’s Order of Merit, beaten only by the man who is on his tail going into the second round at St Andrews Bay – Chris Doak.
Northern Open winner Doak highlighted his 67 with an eagle 2 at the 339yd fifth where he drove the green and holed the putt. He also had birdies at the third, seventh, eighth, 10th and 15th in halves of 33 and 34. Considering he bogeyed two of the first three holes, to finish up the day lying second in the field of 50 was not a bad effort at all.
As far as eagles fly, it was anything Chris Doak can do, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) can do better. Jason had TWO eagles in his 68 which tied him for third place with Ross Drummond (Prestwick Driving Range).
The big-hitting Jason got an eagle 2 after driving the green at the 335yd second hole and then “halved” the par-5 fifth in eagle 2s with playing partner Doak.
Scott Henderson (Kings Links), pictured right, who has a good record in events at St Andrews Bay, will not look back on yesterday’s round – a two-over-par 74 – as one of his finer efforts.
Making his seasonal debut on the Tartan Tour after a spring campaign on the Tight Lies Tour in Texas and Louisiana, was not going too badly when he turned in 36 with a birdie at the long fourth being cancelled out by a bogey at the fifth.
With eight holes to go, the Aberdonian was still level par. Then he started leaking shots every second hole. He bogeyed the 12th, 14th and 16th. a birdie 4 at the last kept him in the top 20, but only just.
SCOTTISH WATERAID 54-HOLE TOURNAMENT
St Andrews Bay Torrance Course.
FIRST ROUND (Par 72)
65 C Kelly (Cawder).
67 C Doak (unatt).
68 R Drummond (Prestwick DR), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
69 C Russell (Dunbar).
70 A Lockhart (Ladybank), M Urquhart (Inverness), C Gillies (Kingsfield).
71 G Hutcheon (unatt), M Loftus (Cowglen), A Crerar (King James VI).
72 D Orr (East Renfrewshire).
73 D Robertson (unatt), G Law (Uphall), C Ronald (Carluke), C Lee (Stirling), G McFarlane (World of Golf).
74 S Syme (Dumfries & Co), J Stevenson (Braehead), G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch), Billy Marchbank (Auchterarder), M King (Kingsfield GR), S Henderson (Kings Links), K Walker (Sprignifeld Royal).
75 P Arthur (Aberdour), S Whiteford (Blairgowrie), C Imlah (Peebles), E Cameron (Hamilton), S Martin (North Engineering), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), R Gray (Torrance House), G Harvey (Bearsden GR), A Reid (unatt), J McKinnon (Irvine), D McCormack (Inchmarlo),. I Donaldson (Meldrum House).
76 P Wardell (Whitekirk), K Hutton (Downfield).
77 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR).
78 S Aird jun (Forres), B Dunbar (Deer Park), D Gray (Westin Turnberry), A Purdie (Kingsbarns GL), S Cairns (Westerwood).
81 A Marshall (Houston GR), S Dunsmore (Falkirk Tryst).
82 J Erskine (Dumfries & Galloway).
83 S Rettie (Royal Troon).

LGU Press Release
JOAN NEVILLE J.P. TO BE PROPOSED PRESIDENT OF THE LADIES’ GOLF UNION
Joan Neville J.P., the Chairman of the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1990, will be proposed as President by the Executive Council of the LGU at the Annual General meeting in January 2007.
Mrs Neville will be the 22nd President since the position was instigated in 1908 and will commence her three years in office in succession to Catherine Booth.
Her career in golf administration started soon after she had joined her home club of The Monmouthshire in Abergavenny in 1962. She was the ladies captain there in 1972 and again in 1992 and is now a Vice President of the club. She has also been a member of Royal Porthcawl since 1980.
Mrs Neville commenced a 16 year spell on the Executive Council of the Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union in 1980 and was Chairman in 1995-1996. She served on the LGU from 1987-1990.
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s Mrs Neville played for both club and county teams, a leisure activity that had to dovetail with her duties as a Justice of the Peace which ran from 1967-2006.
Mrs Neville is married to Kevin, a retired GP, and they live in Blaina in the ‘Welsh Valleys’, 10 miles from Abergavenny.
In expressing surprise at being asked to be President she said, “I retired from the court at the end of March and had started to wonder how I would fill my day when, out of the blue, four days later, I received the call inviting me to be President.
“It is a great honour to be asked and I am delighted to accept the nomination. I am certainly looking forward to working with our team of dedicated staff and officials in our common aim of taking the LGU forward into the 21st Century.”

R&A Press Release
ROYAL ABERDEEN TO HOST 2011 WALKER CUP
The 2011 Walker Cup match has been awarded to Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, the sixth oldest in the world.
In announcing the date (10-11 September 2011) and venue for the biennial match between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States, The R&A will be staging the contest at one of Scotland’s true and most historic links courses located on the outskirts of Aberdeen and overlooked by the North Sea.
David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A said: “We are delighted to be staging the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen which will provide a fitting showcase for amateur golf’s premier match between countries.
“Last year, the Senior British Open Championship was a huge success at Royal Aberdeen with the world’s top over-50’s players full of praise for the layout at Balgownie and with the condition of the course.
“I have no doubt that with the support of the knowledgeable golfing public in the North East, that the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen will match that success.”
Royal Aberdeen has been a venue over the years for championships at every level. It has hosted the Scottish Amateur Championship at regular intervals from 1924, the Scottish Stoke Play, the Scottish Boys, the Boys Amateur, the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur and most recently, in 2005, the Senior British Open Championship, one of the five senior majors.
In 2007 the Walker Cup will be played at Royal County Down, Newcastle, Northern Ireland and in 2009 at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania.

MOUL WINS LYTHAM TROPHY AFTER PLAY-OFF
Jamie Moul gave England captain Cec Bloice a timely boost ahead of this week's international against France in Bordeaux when he won the Lytham Trophy after a three-hole play off with Scotland's George Murray.
Already a member of England’s Elite training squad, it was arguably the 21-year-old Stoke-by-Nayland player's biggest success of his career (pictured left - photo courtesy of David Birtill), following on from his second place in the St Andrews Links Trophy last season.
"It's a massive step for me” said Moul, as he eyes a place in the England team to play in October's Eisenhower Trophy in South Africa. And he could ultimately have done his prospects for next year's Walker Cup no harm after narrowly failing to earn selection for Chicago last season.
Moul held a one-shot advantage on the final hole but was forced to accept a bogey after driving into a bunker for a closing round of 70, five-under-par for the four rounds.
Murray, a former Scottish Amateur champion from Fife club Earls Ferry, had a chance to win outright on the last green but his 16-foot putt turned its nose up at the hole. He then skimmed a chip through the green to double bogey the second play-off hole as Moul went on to take the title.
FINAL SCORES
279 J Moul (Stoke-by-Nayland) 68 72 69 70
279 G Murray (Earls Ferry) 73 66 73 67
Moul won three-hole play-off.
280 L Saltman (Craigelaw) 71 72 68 69
280 R McIlroy (Holywood) 71 71 67 71
280 L Dodd (Thetford) 71 71 67 71
281 D Horsey (Styal) 68 71 73 69
282 F De Vries (Salland) 70 72 72 68,
282 S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) 68 74 70 70
283 T Sistonen ( Finnish GU) 70 67 77 69
283 J Grillon (RFC La Boulie) 68 77 66 72.

VIKKI STEADIES UP ON FUTURES TOUR
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh shot three rounds of 74 to finish joint 49th on six-over-par 222 in the Duramed Futures Tour Classic at the US Army military base, Fort Bliss, near El Paso in Texas.
She earned $274 for her steady play over the Sunrise Course at the Underwood Golf Complex. The Scot has not made many cuts nor picked up many cheques since she turned pro after a brilliant amateur career.
Hopefully, she will start to rebuild her confidence on America’s No 2 female professional circuit.
Lisa Hall from Stoke scored 72, 76 and 69 for a share of 18th place on 217. Her reward amounted to $928.
Samantha Head from Bedford picked up $325 for joint 4th place on 221 with scores of 71, 73 and 77.
Londoner Polly Willett earned $195 for 64th place on 224 with scores of 77, 73 and 74.
A record-equalling nine-hole play-off settled the destination of the $10,500 top prize. It was claimed by 17-year-old Korean Song-Hee Kim, winning for the second time in six starts.
She beat Sara Huarte from Shingle Springs, California with a par at the ninth extra hole of a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on 208. Son-Hee Kim scored 70, 68 and 70 while Sara scored 70, 71 and 67. Sara earned runner-up prize of $7,500.
Angela Park from Torrance, California, another 17-year-old, finished third on 209 with 69, 71 and 69.

ENGLAND 1-2-3 IN WELSH STROKE-PLAY: HEATHER TOP SCOT IN JOINT 11TH
Naomi Edwards, pictured below right, from Ganton,Yorkshire – winner of the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews last June, won the Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff on Sunday.
With rounds of 73, 74 and 74 for a four-under-par 54-hole total of 221, Naomi won by a single shot from English champion Felicity Johnson (Harborne) with young Henni Brockway (Yeovil), winner of this tournament 12 months ago, finished a highly creditable third on 223.
British stroke-play champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane) was the top Scot in joint 11th place with scores of 75, 79 and 76 and for 230 – nine shots behind the winner.
Carly Booth (Comrie) did play after all – her father drove her down to Cardiff on Friday – and the 13-year-old made the journey worthwhile by finishing the second Scot of the eight who travelled.
Carly had scores of 79, 76 and 78 for a total of 233 and a share of 16th place.
Scotland’s A team of Heather MacRae, Kylie Walker and Jeann Wilson) finished fourth behind England B.
Scotland’s B team of Cara Gruber, Louise Kenney and Martine Powe finished last of eight.
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 75, CSS 76-76-76
1 221 Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 73 74 74
2 222 Felicity Johnson (Harborne) 71 72 79
3 223 Henni Brockway (Yeovil) 76 74 73
4 224 Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) 75 74 75
5 225 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 75 74 76
6 226 Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) 73 79 74
7 226 Vittoria Valvassori (Italy) 75 75 76
8 229 Melissa Reid (Chevin) 76 77 76
8 229 Tricia Mangan (Ennis) 76 76 77
8 229 Laura Eastwood (Yelverton) 72 79 78
11 230 Joanne Hodge (Knowle) 74 83 73
11 230 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glam’gn) 80 75 75
11 230 Heather MacRae (Dunblane) 75 79 76
11 230 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 77 72 81
15 231 Rachael Lomas (Hallowes) 78 73 80
16 233 Danielle Montgomery (Lambrne) 79 78 76
16 233 Carly Booth (Comrie) 79 76 78
16 233 Sarah Tyson (Redlibbets) 77 78 78
16 233 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 75 80 78
20 234 Corisande Lee (West Lancs) 81 79 74
21 235 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Mnr) 78 79 78
22 236 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 80 76 80
22 236 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 79 80
Other Scots scores:
33 242 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 82 80 80
33 242 Kylie Walker (Buchanan C) 81 78 83
44 245 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 82 81 82
53 254 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 83 83 88
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
1 446 ENGLAND B (N Edwards, M Reid, K Smith).
2 446 ENGLAND A (L Eastwood, F Johnson, S Walker).
3 453 IRELAND A (M Gillen, T Mangan).
4 465 SCOTLAND A (H MacRae, K Walker, J Wilson).
5 465 WALES B (S Birks, K Boulden, T Davies).
6 467 ITALY (A Rossi, V Valvassori).
7 469 WALES A (S Evans, L Hall, S Hassan).
8 478 SCOTLAND B (C Gruber, L Kenney, M Pow).

Children and volunteer coaches on Muckhart GC’s clubgolf course last week, by Rob Eyton-Jones

Press Release
clubgolf on a roll at Muckhart
Muckhart Golf Club, which last autumn declared its greens and fairways open to local children who had experienced an introduction to golf on the curriculum through Clackmannanshire Council’s School Sport Programme, re-started it’s clubgolf Stage One course last week.
Before joining the strategy, Muckhart had already built its junior section well into the double figures. Over 100 children regularly attend Friday night’s junior session. The club’s leading youngster, Ross Leeds, was part of the Scottish under 18 team which won this year’s Quandrangular event against France, Germany and Italy.
By teaming up with Clackmannanshire Council, clubgolf and Tillicoultry Golf Club to form the Clackmannanshire Junior Golf Partnership, Muckhart has forged strong links with Strathdevon and Muckhart Primary Schools. Both schools are giving nine year old pupils an early golf experience as part of Clackmannanshire Council's School Sport Programme
The Partnership aims to develop a long term pathway in golf by introducing children and young people from Clackmannanshire to golf in schools and after school clubs. Those who are keen are then transferred straight into their local golf club for Stage One and Two Coaching delivered by trained volunteers.
Jim Harrower, Muckhart's Junior Convenor and his eight-strong team of PGA clubgolf Level 1 volunteer coaches, began giving 18 children a solid grounding in the fundamentals of the game. The course was adjourned in the autumn before resuming last week.
"The course was very popular last year and we are delighted to see that so many of the children have returned to complete it this summer,” said Mr Harrower, who plans to run the clubgolf course until this October.
"We have over 100 junior members already and we start them at nine years old so these children can join if they are interested. All of these children have improved, some in leaps and bounds, so we hope they will take up the game and become members."
Said Boushra Oussellam, Active Schools Co-ordinator at Clackmannanshire Council: "Last year was the first time we have ever done anything like this. The children loved the game, the coaches at the club have been fantastic with the children and we’re delighted that so many have returned to complete the course.”

Sunday 7th May 2006

Group pic after presentation of prizes at Aberdeenshire girls' medal at Alford.
Left to right: Sarah Beattie, Nikita Lamond, Lauren Duncan, Laura Murray, Caitlin Geddes, Gail Stewart.

LAURA MURRAY (71) HEADS SHIRE GIRLS
Scottish schoolgirls champion Laura Murray from Alford bounced back from her quarter-final defeat in the Aberdeenshire women’s county championship, to return the lowest scratch score of one-over-par 71 in the Aberdeenshire girls’ medal competition over her home course today (Sunday).
The lowest net score was returned by Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) who had a net 63 off 28 despite an 8 at the first hole.
Nikita Lamond (McDonald Ellon) gained a special prize for a gross eagle 2 at the seventh hole.
ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS’ MEDAL
Alford Golf Club. Par 70. CSS 69.
LEADING SCRATCH
71 Laura Murray (Alford).
84 Gillian Stewart (Newmachar).
87 Claire Prouse (Hazlehead), Nikita Lamond (McDonald Ellon).
88 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne)
89 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly), Sarah Beattie (Hazlehead).
LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1 – Nikita Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (22) 65; Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) (22) 66; Sarah Beattie (Hazlehead) (21); Gillian Stewart (Newmachar) (16) 68; Laura Murray (Alford) (2) 69; Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (17) 70.
Class 2 – Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) (28) 63; Caitlin Geddes (Northern) (29), Rachael Polson (Peterculter) (28), Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (23) 66; Sophie Alexander (Deeside) 70; Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) (27) 71.

JUDITH ANDERSON WINS BORDERS TITLE FOR SEVENTH TIME
In the absence of teenager Emma Fairnie, winner for the past two years, Judith Anderson from Hawick got her hands on the Border Counties women’s championship trophy for a seventh time at The Roxburghe, Kelso today (Sunday).
Judith beat Wendy Wells (Peebles) by 6 and 4 in the final .
Top seed Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) lost to Wendy at the 20th in the semi-finals where Judith beat Julie Birdsall (The Roxburghe) by 3 and 2.
No 2 qualifier Philippa Costello (Hirsel) lost to Julie Birdsall in the quarter-finals.
[Photographed at the Roxburghe today left to right: Borders Captain,Susan Cowe, Judith Anderson, Ann Teague and Borders President, Helen Cuthbertson.
Photo Courtesy Jenny Pearson]
Results:
BORDER COUNTIES WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
The Roxburghe Golf Club, Kelso
First round – Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) bt Kirsty Inkpen (Duns) 5 and 4, Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) bt Sharon Paterson (Kelso) 1 hole, Wendy Wells (Peebles) bt Karen Hughes (Minto) 5 and 4, Isla Craigie (Torwoodlee) bt Venetia Scott (Torwoodlee) 1 hole, Judith Anderson (Hawick) bt Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 6 and 5, Lynn Douglas (Hawick) bt Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 4 and 3, Julie Birsdall (Roxburghe) bt Kirsty Moralee (Hirsel) 7 and 6, Philippa Costello (Hirsel) bt Ailsa Mitchell (Hawick) 9 and 7.
Quarter-finals – Campbell bt Oliver 2 and 1, Wells bt Craigie 6 and 5, Anderson bt Douglas 3 and 2, Birdsall bt Costello 5 and 3.
Semi-finals – Wells bt Campbell at 20th, Anderson bt Birsdall 3 and 2.
Final – Anderson bt Wells 6 and 4.

TOUGH AT THE TOP - AT LAST JANE WINS ANGUS TITLE
Brechin’s Jane Tough, playing in her fifth county final since 1992, won the Angus women’s county golf championship for the first time at Brechin Golf Club on Sunday.
She beat six-times title-winner Mary Summers (Panmure Barry), the leading qualifier, by 2 and 1 in the final. As Miss Baird, Jane lost to Mary in the 1992 and 1994 finals.
Mrs Tough beat the No 2 seed, Lynn Fotheringham (Abertay), beaten finalist last year, at the 20th in the quarter-finals.
The handicap championship was won by Julie Ganson who beat Louise Graham by 4 and 3 in the final.
Results:
ANGUS WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Brechin Golf Club
Leading qualifiers: 1 Mary Summers (Panmure Barry), 2 Lynne Fotheringham (Abertay).
Match-play
First round - Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) bt Fiona Blair (Monifieth) 2 holes, Lynne Fenton (Abertay) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 3 and 1, Frances Millar (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Sandy Bushby (Strathmore) at 19th, Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) bt Julie Taylor at 19th, Susan Murray (Brechin) bt Elaine Easton (Brechin) 2 and 1, Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) bt Ann Hay (Letham Grange) 3 and 2, Jane Tough (Brechin) bt Susan McGregor at 19th, Lynn Fotheringham v Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals – Summers bt Fenton 1 hole, Hunter bt Millar 2 and 1, Sutherland bt Murray 3 and 2, Tough bt Fotheringham at 20th.
Semi-finals – Summers bt Hunter 4 and 3, Tough bt Sutherland 1 hole.
Final – Tough bt Summers 2 and 1.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals – Louise Graham bt Norma Turner 1 hole, Julie Ganson bt Jackie Tunstall-Pedoe 3 and 2.
Final – Ganson bt Graham 4 and 3.
++SORRY CLUBS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP

COUNTY CAPTAIN DORIS DUNN’S GOOD WIN IN STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN CHAMPIONSHIP
County captain Doris Dunn (Dunblane) had one of the best wins of the opening match-play stages of the Stirling and Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at West Lothian Golf Club on Sunday.
Doris beat the host club champion, Lesley Gibb, the fourth seed, on the 18th green. Doris was the 14th of the 16 qualifiers.
Top seed Elaine Allison had a 5 and 4 win over Margaret Logan (Bathgate).
The championship continues Monday evening with the semi-finals on Wednesday evening and the final on Thursday evening.
Results
STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf club
First round – E Allison (Stirling) bt M Logan (Bathgate) 5 and 4, G McNeill (West Lothian) bt H Hunter (Linlithgow) 2 and 1, L Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) bt M Shanks (West Lothian) 3 and 2; D Dunn (Dunblane) bt L Gibb (West Lothian) 1 hole, T Chillas (Stirling) bt G Haley (Falkirk Tryst) 7 and 5, M Tought (Falkirk) bt Ray Topping (Bathgate) 4 and 3, J Harrison (Linlithgow) bt S Mitchell (Falkirk Tryst) 1 hole, V Stevenson (Stirling) bt L McDonach (West Lothian) 4 and 3.

TOP TWO SOUTH DIVISION PLAYERS CAN’T TRAVEL TO CRIEFF FOR FINAL
The players with the best two net scores in the Silver Division of the LGU Medal area final (South Division) at Wigtownshire County Golf Club on Sunday are unavailable to make it through to the grand final at Crieff Golf Club on June 4.
Violet Neil (Wigtownshire Co) had a net 75 off 20 and Isobell Forest (Stranraer) had a net 76 off 13.
The third and fourth-placed players who will go through as the Silver Division qualifiers are: Helena Fox (Newton Stewart) (16) 77 and Anne McQueen (New Galloway (13) 78.
The best scratch score in the Silver category was an 83 by Gillian Monteith. Scratch scores do not count for qualification.
In the Bronze Division the qualifiers were Melanie Landale (Southerness) (35) 68 and Carol Dalgleish (Melrose) (22) 70.
Carol also won the best scratch score prize in this section with a 92.
Linda Jack (Moffat) did not qualify but received the second-best handicap prize in the Bronze Division with a 72 off 26.

Northern Counties Captain, Mairi Orr, and President, Isobel Macintosh, flank the prizewinners at the Championship presentation

KELSEY (15) RETAINS NORTHERN TITLE AFTER SMASHING RECORD WITH A 64
Nairn Dunbar’s Kelsey MacDonald, only 15 years old, smashed the Forrest Golf Club women’s record on Saturday, on her way to retaining the Northern Counties women’s championship on Sunday.
Kelsey topped the match-play qualifiers by a staggering 12 shots after a brilliant score of eight-under-par 64. She had eagles at the sixth and ninth and birdies at the first, third, seventh,12th and 15th in halves of 30 (six under par) and 34 (two under par).
Amazingly, it could have been a 62 because Kelsey bogeyed the second and the 14th.
The previous record of 68 was set by Pat MacLennan over her home course in August 1997.
In the match-play stages, Miss MacDonald bt Northern Counties team-mate Jenny Milne (Elgin) by 4 and 2 in the final.
The handicap final for the Chetham Trophy was contested by two juniors and it completed a double triumph for the Nairn Dunbar club. Chloe MacLeod, 16 years old, followed the example of clubmate Kelsey by beating 12-year-old Julie Vass (Tain) by 2 and 1 in the final.
Results
NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Forres Golf Club
QUALIFIERS (Par 72)
64 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
76 Kerri Harper (Inverness), Jenny Milne (Elgin).
77 Anne Ryan (Tain), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
79 Christine MacAndrew (Nairn Dunbar), Donna Sinclair (Tain).
81 Ashton Ingram (Fort William).
Match-play
Quarter-finals – MacDonald bt Ingram 7 and 6, Ryan bt Walker 2 and 1, Milne bt Sinclair 3 and 1, Harper bt McAndrew 2 and 1.
Semi-finals – MacDonald bt Ryan 5 and 3, Milne bt Harper at 21st.
Final – MacDonald bt Milne 4 and 2.
Handicap championship
Semi-finals – J Vass (Tain) (29) bt L Coghill (Royal Dornoch) (12) 2 and 1, C Macleod (Nairn Dunbar) bt A Taylor (Forres) 3 and 2.
Final – Macleod bt Vass 2 and 1.

Aberdeenshire leading prizewinners (left to right) beaten semi-finalist Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), beaten finalist Julie Henderson (Inverurie), county president Mary Robinson, county captain Ros Dunsmuir, new champion Katie Thomson(Kintore) and beaten semi-finalist Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).

KATIE WINS SHIRE TITLE FOR FIRST TIME
Kintore’s Katie Thomson, 21 years old this Friday, played the best of of her life over three consecutive days at Ballater Golf Club to win the Aberdeenshire women’s county championship for the first time on Sunday.
She beat the defending champion Julie Henderson (Inverurie) by 2 and 1 with one-under-par figures in the final after knocking out the teenage North of Scotland champion, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) by 2 and 1 in the semi-finals.
“I’m thrilled to bits,” said Katy who works as assistant in the shop of Aspire Golf Centre. “I used the Aspire facilities to do more practice than I have ever done over the past few weeks – and it paid off in the county championship.”
Miss Thomson may not be able to defend the Shire title next year because her ambition is to become a club and teaching professional and she will proably have begun her PGA training at Aspire Golf Centre by next May.
Julie Henderson, the No 1 seed, compared to Katie’s 14th of the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages, did not do anything wrong in the final. It was Katie who did almost everything right.
Miss Thomson birdied the first hole and went two up with a par at the second. Although she was pulled back to square after Julie had an eagle 3 at the fourth and a winning par 4 at the sixth, Katie was never in arrears.
She regained a two-hole lead with a birdie 2 at the ninth and a birdie 3 at the 12th.
Julie was conceded a winnin birdie 3 at the 14th but it was Katie’s title – and surely a first Aberdeenshire county team cap assured – when she took the 17th with a par 3 for a 2 and 1 victory.
Weekend results
ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballater Golf Club.
First round – J Henderson (Inverurie) bt L McPherson (Deeside) 8 and 6, J Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt J Lees (Westhill) 5 and 3, L Murray (Alford) bt C Wilson (Murcar Links) 3 and 2, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 6 and 5, K Thomson (Kintore) bt A Smart (Banchory) 1 hole, F Hay (Deeside) bt K Moggach )Hazlehead) at 22nd, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 2 holes, L McLardy (Murcar Links) bt D MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals - Henderson bt Harrison 1 hole, Wood bt Murray 6 and 5, K Thomson bt Hay 2 holes, M Thomson bt McLardy 6 and 5.
Semi-finals – Henderson bt Wood 2 and 1, K Thomson bt M Thomson 2 and 1.
Final – K Thomson bt Henderson 2 and 1.

MONSOON IN THE WEST
West Division Championship cancelled
Hi Gill - just got home from Hilton Park where the competition has been cancelled. This picture is Anne Laing and Claire-Marie Carlton - Anne was just about to tee off when she was told that play would be suspended for one hour when they would review the situation. The players out on the course were advised to return to the clubhouse - it certainly never looked possible that play would continue.
Jean Campbell
[Thanks to Jean for photo]

HEATHER AND CARLY LEADING SCOTS IN WALES
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Carly Booth (Comrie) were the leading Scots on 154 and 155 respectively after the first two rounds of the 54-hole Welsh women’s open amateur championship at Whitchurch Golf Club Cardiff.
Heather had scores of 75 and 79 while Carly had 79 and 76.
English champion Felicity Johnson from Harborne, Birmingham had a four-shot lead going into the final round after scores of 71 and 72 for 143. Naomi Edwards (Ganton) was second on 147.
The Scots, who have a good record in this event, do not look as if they are going to be in the hunt this year.
LEADING SCORES
143 Felicity Johnston (Harborne) 71 72.
147 Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 73 74.
149 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 75 74, Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) 75 74, Hannah Barwood 77 72.
150 Henni Brockway (Yeovil) 76 74, Vittoria Valvasorri (Italy) 75 75.
Scottish scores:
154 Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) 75 79.
155 Carly Booth (Comrie) 79 76.
156 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 80 76, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 79.
159 Kylie Walker (Stirling University) 81 78.
162 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 82 80.
163 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 82 81.
166 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 83 83.
++All the first-day scores are available on www.wlgu.org

VIKKI HAS A PAIR OF 74s IN TEXAS
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh was lying in joint 46th place with one round to go in the Duramed Futures Classic tournament over the Sunrise Course at the Underwood Golf Complex in the US Army’s Fort Bliss military base at El Paso, Texas.
Vikki had a pair of 74s for a four-over-par tally of 148 – 10 shots behind the leader, 17-year-old Korean Song-Hee Kim who shot 70 and 68. Another 17-year-old, Angela Park from Torrance, California, was in second place on 140 after rounds of 69 and 71.
Samantha Head from Bedford was best placed of the four British players who survived the cut at seven-over-par 151.
Samantha scored 71 and 73 for 144 and a share of 20th place.
Lisa Hall from Stoke was on the same mark as Vikki Laing with scores of 72 and 76.
Polly Willett from London was tied for 64th place with 77 and 73 for 150.
The forecast temperature in Texas for the final round was the mid-80s with a 5mph wind.

Saturday 6th May 2006

MARY SUMMERS THROUGH TO ANGUS SEMI-FINALS
Title-holder and top seed Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) is through to the last four of the Angus women’s county golf championship at Brechin Golf Club but the No 2 qualifier and beaten finalist last year, Lynn Fotheringham (Abertay) is on the sidelines.
Mary, winner of the championship five times since 1985, beat Lynne Fenton (Abertay), the 1998-99 champion, by one hole to reach Sunday morning’s semi-final in which she will play Aileen Hunter (Monifieth).
Lynn Fotheringham lost at the 20th to Jane Tough (Brechin) in the quarter-finals. Jane plays former Scottish seniors champion Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), winner of the Angus title in 1990 and 1995, in the other semi-final.
The handicap championship semi-finalists are Louise Graham, Norma Turner, Jackie Dunstall-Pedoe and Julie Ganson.
Results:
ANGUS WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Brechin Golf Club
Leading qualifiers: 1 Mary Summers (Panmure Barry), 2 Lynne Fotheringham (Abertay).
Match-play
First round - Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) bt Fiona Blair (Monifieth) 2 holes, Lynne Fenton (Abertay) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 3 and 1, Frances Millar (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Sandy Bushby (Strathmore) at 19th, Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) bt Julie Taylor at 19th, Susan Murray (Brechin) bt Elaine Easton (Brechin) 2 and 1, Kathleen Sutheland (Royal Montrose) bt Ann Hay (Letham Grange) 3 and 2, Jane Tough (Brechin) bt Susan McGregor at 19th, Lynn Fotheringham v Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals – Summers bt Fenton 1 hole, Hunter bt Millar 2 and 1, Sutherland bt Murray 3 and 2, Tough bt Fotheringham at 20th.

ST ANDREWS RETAIN FIFE MEN’S TEAM TITLE
St Andrews Golf Club won the Fife Golfing Association men’s team championship at Elmwood Golf Club, Cupar on Saturday. Ian Heddle (65), Neil Steven (67), Gary Sharp (70) and Jamie Farmer (71) totalled 273 for the one-round event.
They won by six shots from Kinghorn (279). Ladybank, Aberdour and New Club St Andrews all finished with 282. Ladybank were placed thirfd, ahead of Aberdour.
FIFE MEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Elmwood Golf Club, Cupar
LEADING TOTALS (CSS 68)
273 St Andrews (I Heddle 65, N Steven 67, G Sharp 70, J Farmer 71).
279 Kinghorn (G Wilkinson 64, C Palmer 68, L Clark 71, D Cunningham 76).
282 Ladybank (D Gould 67, G Mackie 69, P Stewart 71, C Calley 75), Aberdour (S Meiklejohn 68, P Brown 67, P Hempseed 73, N Hill 74), New Club St Andrews (R Price 67, J Bunch 71, K Mackay 71, R Bunch 73).
283 Leven Thistle (B Soutar 569, G McNab 71, M Anderson 71, J Adie 72.
285 St Andrews Thistle (J Wood 64, A Greenwood 71, J McAughtrie 74, B Henderson 76).
286 Kirkcaldy (S Elder 65, R Dickson 70, K Blyth 72, R Napier 79), Burntisland (J Noble 69, W Beveridge 71, S McAughey 73, R Farnan 73).

KELLETT BACK IN FORM TO WIN SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT AT CARDRONA
Scotland boy international player Ross Kellett (Colville Park) returned to form at Cardrona Golf & Country Club today (SAT) in winning the third event on the SGU Junior Tour.
Kellett, a member of the winning Scotland team in a quadrangular match in France in early March but weakened by a sickness bug in recent weeks, shot rounds of 70 and 69 for an impressive tally of seven-under-par 146 over the par-73 lay-out at Peebles.
Ross had an eagle 2 at the par-4 second hole in his second round, followed by birdies at the long first, short fifth, long sixth and 12th and the par-4 17th. He bogeyed the par-4 third and seventh and the short 11th. in halves of 33 (three under par) and 36 (one under).
First-round leader with a seven-under-par 66, Alex Moir (Thornton) subsided to a 74 in the afternoon for a total of 140 which relegated him to second place, one behind the winner.
Two more events will complete the SGU Junior Tour – at Newmachar on May 27 and Barassie on June 18.
SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 3
MacDonald Cardona Hotel Golf & Country Club, Peebles
LEADING TOTALS (Par 73)
139 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 70 69.
140 Alex Moir (Thornton) 66 74.
144 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 75 69.
146 James Byrne (Banchory) 74 72, Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 74 72.
147 David Morrison (Duff House Royal) 71 76.
148 Chris Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 74 74, Sam McLaren (King James VI) 76 72.
149 Adam Killen (St Andrews) 74 75, Graeme Mitchell (Northern) 76 73.
150 Jack Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 75 75.
151 John Shanks (Ardeer) 74 77, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 74 77, Kyle Smith (Barassie) 76 75.
152 Alastair Willemars (Blairgowrie) 77 75, Neil Henderson (The Glen) 79 73.

JULIE HENDERSON CONTINUES IN GOOD FORM IN ABERDEENSHIRE DEFENCE
Title-holder and top seed Julie Henderson from Inverurie is through to the semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf championship at Ballater Golf Club.
Accountant Julie has played in three of the last four county championship finals but (tomorrow) on Sunday morning she will meet four-times title-winner Sheena Wood (Hazlehead) who came from behind over the closing holes to beat Julie in the 2002 final at Cruden Bay.
Miss Henderson won her quarter-final tie by one hole against another former champion, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) while Sheena Wood beat tLaura Murrayh (Alford), the Scottish schoolgirls champion, by 6 and 5.
The second semi-final will be won by a Thomson – Katie and Michele of that ilk, but not related – having won their quarter-finals to set up the battle for a place in the afternoon final (2.30pm).
Katie from Kintore won by two holes against Fiona Hay (Deeside) who had won at the 22nd in the first round.
Michele from Ellon, the teenage North of Scotland champion, won by a surprisingly big margin, 6 and 5, over the No 2 seed, Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) in the last quarter-final.
Results:
ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballater Golf Club
First round – Julie Henderson beat (Inverurie) bt Lynne McPherson (Deeside) 8 and 6, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt Julie Lees (Westhill) 5 and 3, Laura Murray (Alford) bt Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) 3 and 2, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 6 and 5, Katie Thomson (Kintore) bt Ann Smart (Banchory) 1 hole, Fiona Hay (Deeside) bt Kim Moggach (Hazlehead) at 22nd, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 2 holes, Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) bt Dot MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals – Henderson bt Harrison 1 hole, Wood bt Murray 6 and 5, K Thomson bt Hay 2 holes, M Thomson bt McLardy 6 and 5.

KELSEY (15) CRUISES INTO LAST FOUR AFTER RECORD 64 IN MORNING
Title-holder Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn), pictured right, only 15 years old, smashed the Forres Golf Club women’s record with a brilliant round of eight-under-par 64 in the qualifying round of the Northern Counties women’s championship today (SAT).
Then she went back on the course to reach the semi-finals with a 7 and 6 win over Ashton Ingram (Fort William). Kelsey will now play Anne Ryan (Tain) for a place in Sunday afternoon’s final.
Anne had a good 2 and 1 win over former Scottish girls’ match-play champion Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
Kelsey, who finished a staggering 12 shots ahead of the qualifying field, had eagles at the sixth and ninth and birdies at the first, third, seventh, 12th and 15th in halves of 30 (six under par) and 34 (two under par).
Amazingly, it could have been a 62 because Kelsey bogeyed the second and the 14th.
The previous record of 68 was set by Pat MacLennan over her home course in August 1997.
NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Forres Golf Club
QUALIFIERS (Par 72)
64 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn).
76 Kerri Harper (Inverness), Jenny Milne (Elgin).
77 Anne Ryan (Tain), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
79 Christine MacAndrew (Nairn Dunbar), Donna Sinclair (Tain).
81 Ashton Ingram (Fort William).
MATCH-PLAY
First round - MacDonald bt Ingram 7 and 6, Ryan b Walker 2 and 1, Milne bt Sinclair 3 and 1, Harper bt McAndrew 2 and 1.

TOP TWO SEEDS SWEEP THROUGH TO BORDER COUNTIES’ QUARTER-FINALS
The Border Counties women’s championship is up for grabs this weekend with the absence from the field of teenager Emma Fairnie, winner for the past two years.
A Loretto School pupil at Musselburgh, she has joined Dunbar Golf Club and competed in the East Lothian championship recently.
Players cannot play in two different county championships in the same season.
No 1 seed Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee), a former Scottish veteran women’s champion, cleared her first hurdle in the match-play stages with a 5 and 4 win over Kirsty Inkpen (Duns).
Philippa Costello (Hirsel), the second leading qualifier had a big win, by 9 and 7, over Ailsa Mitchell (Hawick).
Results:
BORDER COUNTIES WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
The Roxburghe Golf Club, Kelso
First round – Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) bt Kirsty Inkpen (Duns) 5 and 4, Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) bt Sharon Paterson (Kelso) 1 hole, Wendy Wells (Peebles) bt Karen Hughes (Minto) 5 and 4, Isla Craigie (Torwoodlee) bt Venetia Scott (Torwoodlee) 1 hole, Judith Anderson (Hawick) bt Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 6 and 5, Lynn Douglas (Hawick) bt Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 4 and 3, Julie Birsdall (Roxburghe) bt Kirsty Moralee (Hirsel) 7 and 6, Philippa Costello (Hirsel) bt Ailsa Mitchell (Hawick) 9 and 7.

CARLY IS AT THE WELSH!
Here is a photo taken today... My spies are everywhere!
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

JULIE HENDERSON CONTINUES IN GOOD FORM IN ABERDEENSHIRE DEFENCE
Defending champion Julie Henderson (Inverurie) set herself up for a quarter-final meeting with Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), winner of the title in 1995, in the Aberdeenshire women’s county championship at Ballater Golf Club.
Julie, who headed the 16 qualifiers with a two-under-par 69 on Friday night, continued in fine form with an 8 and 6 win over Lynne McPherson (Deeside).
Mrs Harrison was a 5 and 3 winner over Julie Lees (Westhill).
No 2 seed Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) beat Dot MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) to earn herself a tough tie against teenager Michele Thomson, another Ellon player and holder of the North of Scotland championship.
Upset of the first round was the one-hole defeat of No 3 seed Ann Smart by Katie Thomson, the 14th qualifier from Kintore).
Results:
ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballater Golf Club
First round – Julie Henderson beat (Inverurie) bt Lynne McPherson (Deeside) 8 and 6, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt Julie Lees (Westhill) 5 and 3, Laura Murray (Alford) bt Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) 3 and 2, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 6 and 5, Katie Thomson (Kintore) bt Ann Smart (Banchory) 1 hole, Fiona Hay (Deeside) bt Kim Moggach (Hazlehead) at 22nd, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 2 holes, Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) bt Dot
MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 3 and 2.

KELSEY (15) SMASHES FORRES COURSE RECORD WITH A SUPER 64
Title-holder Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn), only 15 years old, smashed the Forres Golf Club women’s record with a brilliant round of eight-under-par 64 in the qualifying round of the Northern Counties women’s championship today (SAT)
Kelsey, who finished a staggering 12 shots ahead of the field, had eagles at the sixth and ninth and birdies at the first, third, seventh, 12th and 15th in halves of 30 (six under par) and 34 (two under par).
Amazingly, it could have been a 62 because Kelsey bogeyed the second and the 14th.
The previous record of 67 was set by Pat MacLennan over her home course in August 1997.
NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Forres Golf Club
QUALIFIERS (Par 72)
64 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn).
76 Kerri Harper (Inverness), Jenny Milne (Elgin).
77 Anne Ryan (Tain), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
79 Christine MacAndrew (Nairn Dunbar), Donna Sinclair (Tain).
81 Ashton Ingram (Fort William).
Match-play draw: MacDonald v Ingram, Ryan v Walker, Milne v Sinclair, MacAndrew v Harper.

VICKI SHOOTS TWO OVER PAR IN TEXAS WIND
Musselburgh’s Vikki Laing shot a two-over-par 74 on a windy day in Texas – so what’s new? -in the first round of the Duramed Futures Tour Classic at El Paso.
Vikki had halves of 39 and 35 over a 6,447yd, par-72 Sunrise Course at Underwood Golf Complex. The Scot is in joint 29th position in a field of 135.
How windy was it? Well, strong enough to be able to hit a seven-iron 180yd downwind!
Samantha Head from Bedford was the leading British player with a 71 (37-34), one better than Lisa Hall – who used to be Lisa Hackney – from Stoke who had halves of 39 and 33. Samantha is in joint eighth place, Lisa is sharing 14th position.
Polly Willett from London is back in a joint 77th place with a 77 (40-37).
Leading the field are two Americans, Randi Meadows from San Antonio, Texas and Angela Park from Torrance, California.
Both hit the three-under-par 69 mark, Randi with halves of 36 and 33, Angela 35-34.
Long on to www.duramedfuturestour.com for all the scores and another expert and entertaining summary of the play from Lisa D Mickey.

Friday 5th May 2006

JULIE LEADS ABERDEENSHIRE QUALIFIERS
INVERURIE accountant Julie Henderson, with a sparkling round of two-under-par 69 in glorious sunshine at Ballater Golf Club, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Aberdeenshire women's county championship.
"I've never broken 70 away from Inverurie before so I'm thrilled to bits," said Julie who has appeared in three of the last four Aberdeenshire county finals and won two of them, including last year in a downpour at Murcar where she beat teenager Laura Murray (Alford) for the title.
Julie, one of the tea-time starters because of her work, got herself in the mood for a good score with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth to the seventh. She then dropped a shot when she missed the green at the eighth before turning in two-under-par 34.
Miss Henderson birdied the 11th with an excellent four-iron second shot to within 3ft of the flag and gained her fifth birdie of the evening with a pitch-and-putt 3 at the last. Bogeys at the 10th and 17th - where she overclubbed and cleared the green at this 152yd hole with a four-iron.
Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) was the second-best qualifier with a 71 (35-36) while Ann Smart (Banchory) and four times title-winner Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) both had 72s. Ann's 36 to Sheena's 37 for the inward half meant that the Banchory player is the third seed and Sheena the fourth.
ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballater Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS (Par 71; CSS 70)
69 J Henderson (Inverurie).
71 L McLardy (Murcar Links).
72 A Smart (Banchory), S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
73 L Murray (Alford).
74 F Hay (Deeside).
75 L Terry (Cruden Bay), J Lees (Westhill), J Harrison (Cruden Bay), M Thomson
(McDonald Ellon), K Moggach (Hazlehead),
76 C Wilson (Murcar), D Pocock (Murcar Links).
78 K Thomson (Kintore), D MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon).
79 L McPherson (Deeside): L McPherson won card countback against L McCallum
(Loretto School) and J Whiehead (Kemnay)who also returned 79s.
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
Today (Saturday): 10.0 Henderson v McPherson, Harrison v Lees, Murray v Wilson,
Pocock v Wood. 10.28 Smart v K Thomson, Moggach v Hay, Terry v M Thomson,
MacKinnon v McLardy.
Quarter-finals at 2.30.
Sunday: Semi-finals (10.0 & 10.10). Final 2.30.

ELAINE ALLISON TOP SEED IN STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Elaine Allison (Stirling) won the Captain’s Prize as leading qualifier for the Stirling and Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at West Lothian Golf Club.
A beaten finalist in 1998, Elaine earned the No 1 seed rating in the match-play stages of the championship with a rund of 79, seven over the LGU standard scratch but only four over the CSS on the night.
She is seeded to meet Stirling clubmate Vikki Stevenson on the final. Vikki had an 80 while Trish Chillas, also a Stirling Golf Club member and the wife of European Seniors Tour player John Chillas, was third best qualifier after a card countback against Lesley Gibb (West Lothian) who also had an 81.
Six players returned scores that would have been good enough to qualify but they withdrew because they were unable to play in the match-play rounds.
They were: F Campbell 85, E Goodwin 85, F McArthur 88, C Capocci 90, M Forsyth 91, G Eadie 91.
Also missing is last year’s champion, Alison Davidson (Stirling) who was unable to play in the qualifying round.
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS (SS 72, CSS 75).
79 E Allison (Stirling). 80 V Stevenson (Stirling). 81 T Chillas (Stirling), L Gibb (West Lothian). 84 L Robertson (Falkirk Tryst), M Tough (Falkirk). 85 J Harrison (Linlithgow). 86 G McNeill (West Lothian), H Hunter (Linlithgow). 89 S Mitchell (Falkirk Tryst), M Noble (Stirling), R Topping (Bathgate). 90 M Shanks (West Lothian). 91 D Dunn (Dunblane), G Haley (Falkirk Tryst), L McDonach (West Lothian).
Match-play draw
Sunday: 2.0 Allison v McDonach, Hunter v McNeill, Robertson v Topping, Shanks v Gibb.
2.30 Chillas v Dunn, Noble v Tough, Harrison v Mitchell, Haley v Stevenson.

P AND W RENEW SPONSORSHIP OF SLGA STROKE-PLAY RANKINGS
Leading Scottish commercial law practice, Paull and Williamsons, is renewing its sponsorship of the Stroke Play Rankings run for the first time in 2005 by the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association for ladies and girls. The firm, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, is also sponsoring the Scottish Open Amateur Mixed Foursomes to be held at Deeside Golf Club on 10 September.
The 2006 Paull & Williamsons’ Scottish Stroke Play Rankings, of which Clare Queen (Drumpellier) topped the women’s table and Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) the girls’ section last year, have begun with the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay championship at Troon.
Clare Queen is now playing on the Ladies’ European Tour, while Krystle Caithness is in the Ladies’ Golf Union Elite Squad from whom the Great Britain & Ireland team will be chosen to play the United States in the Curtis Cup biennial international match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon on July 29 and 30.
“We were delighted to support and encourage ladies’ and girls’ golf in Scotland last year and the low scoring reflects a depth of talent”, advised Bruce Smith, the firm’s Chairman. “We are sure that we shall see new names coming forward this year. With many of our partners, staff and clients being keen golfers, the Scottish Mixed Foursomes is another opportunity to support golf in this area and Elaine Farquharson-Black, one of our partners and former Scottish champion is already encouraging us all to enter!”
The next counting event for the Paull and Williamsons’ Scottish Stroke Play Rankings is the Scottish Ladies’ (Close) Amateur Championship at Dunbar from May 16 to 20.
That is followed by:
St Rule Trophy (at St Andrews), June 3 and 4.
Munross Trophy (at Royal Montrose), June 8.
Mackie Bowl (at Gullane), July 30.
Riccarton Rose Bowl (at Hamilton), August 6.
Mary McCallay Trophy (at Dumfries & Galloway), August 13.
Ness Open (at Inverness), August 27.
Also: County Championship qualifying and Divisional Championships.
The ranking events for girls are:
St Leonards’ Open Stroke-play Championship, (St Andrews) April 6 and 7.
Scottish Schoolgirls’ Championship (Troon), June 12.
Janice Moodie Trophy (Windyhill), July 7.
Scottish Under-14 Girls Championship (Deeside), July 14.
Scottish Girls (Close) Amateur Championship (Peebles), July 18-21.
Scottish Junior Women’s Open Amateur Championship (Stirling), July 27-28.
St Andrews Junior Women’s Open tournament (St Andrews), July 31-August 3.
Also: County junior stroke-play events.
Margaret Rodgers, chairman of the SLGA, commented:
“We are delighted that Paull and Williamsons is again sponsoring the SLGA Ranking System for ladies and girls this year after its very successful debut in 2005. This system measures the players’ stroke average against the CSS and determines the best players over named ranking events during the golf season.
“We would also like to thank Paull and Williamsons for sponsoring the Scottish Open Mixed Foursomes at Deeside Golf Club in September. This is a new venture for them and we hope that the North-east will support them in their home territory.”

QUALIFYING COURSES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2007 SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT
The European Seniors Tour and The R&A have confirmed two qualifying venues for The 2007 Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, which is to take place at Muirfield for the first time from July 26-29, 2007.
In the region of 200 golfers will battle it out over 18 holes at Craigielaw Golf Club and the historic North Berwick Golf Club in the hope of landing a place in a star-studded field for the 21st edition of the Championship.
The West Links at North Berwick Golf Club, which was founded in 1832, has evolved over the years into a true links test and has previously hosted Final Qualifying for The Open Championship. The 6,456 yard, par 71 layout stretches from the town centre along the shores of the Firth of Forth and is complete with revetted bunkers, blind holes and drives over walls and burns.
By contrast, Craigielaw in Aberlady is one of East Lothian’s newest courses but meets the challenging standards set by its more established neighbours. Measuring 6,601 yards and playing to a par of 71, the links is managed in traditional fashion with minimal watering, but it is the greens that are special. Each is defended by an armoury of bunkers and the putting surfaces all conform to USGA standards.
David Hill, Director of Championships at The R&A, commented: “We are delighted to add Craigielaw and North Berwick to what is a hugely impressive golfing schedule for the East Coast of Scotland in the summer of 2007.
“The Open Championship is being played at Carnoustie the week before The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, makes its first visit to Muirfield, producing massive enjoyment for golf fans and considerable economic benefits for the surrounding communities.”

Thursday 4th May 2006

By popular demand... second grandson Robert (Robbie) McDowell aged 6 1/2 weeks

EIGHT SCOTS OFF TO WELSH WOMEN’S OPEN STROKE-PLAY AT CARDIFF
This weekend’s Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship over 54 holes at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff has attracted one of the strongest challenges from Scotland on record.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane) and Jenny Wilson (Strathaven), both +2 players, will be attempting to repeat their “Helen Holm” success in the international stroke-play team event which is staged in conjunction with the individual championship.
They are backed up by six more Scots – Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Martine Pow (Selkirk), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Carly Booth (Comrie) – all playing off +1 – scratch player Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) and three-handicap Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
Teenager Melissa Reid (Chevin), winner of the Helen Holm Scottish open amateur stroke-play title at Troon two weeks ago, will be bidding for a notable early-season double to boost her prospects of selection for the GB&I Curtis Cup team in late July but a very strong field is lined up against her.
There are 23 players with plus handicaps and six others who have a scratch rating.

NOW KEIR McNICOLL IS GOING TO THE NCAA DIV 2 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH LYNN UNIVERSITY
Carnoustie’s Keir McNicoll has followed the example of his younger sister Katy by winning a place in the NCAA Division 2 college golf championships later this month.
Both are students at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida. Earlier this week Katy shot her lowest round in her first year on the United States women’s circuit as the women’s team finished runners-up in their regional tournament, which meant they qualified for the nationwide Division 2 women’s championship.
Now Keir, coming to the end of his four-year golf scholarship in America, has achieved his lowest ever 54-hole total – six-under-par 210 – to finish fourth in the NCAA Division 2 men’s South/South Central Super regional championship.
Lynn University (861) finished second to Florida Southern University (857) and that also booked them a place at the national Division 2 men’s championship at Glade Springs Resort, Daniels in West Virginia from May 18 to 20.
The 6ft 2in Keir had ever-improving rounds of 72, 70 and 68 over a longish course, some 7,077yd with a par of 72, at The Territory Golf Club, Duncan in Oklahoma. He finished only two shots behind the winner, Will Grace (West Florida) who scored 69,70 and 69 for eight-under-par 208.
Keir started his final round at the 10th and birdied the 11th, 12th and 14th and had a bogey at the 13th in a two-under-par half of 34.
He then birdied the first, seventh and ninth with one bogey, at the fifth, in a two-under 34.
It was Keir's sixth consecutive top-10 finish and his seventh in all this college season
Lynn team-mate Gavin Dear from Perth finished 19th on 223 with scores of 75, 75 and 73. He also started at the 10th and had birdies at the 12th, 18th, second and seventh in halves of 36 and 39.
Matt Bookatz from London is a third British player in the Lynn team. Matt, a junior student, had scores of 77, 72 and 75 for 21st place on 224.
[Photo above right: Lynn University's successful team with Gavin Dear on the extreme left and Keir McNicoll next to him]
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
208 Will Grace (West Florida) 69 70 69.
209 Heath Jones (North Alabama) 70 68 71; Dan Walters (Rollins College) 73 71 65.
210 Keith McNicoll (Lynn) 72 70 68.
Also:
223 Gavin Dear (Lynn) 75 75 73.
224 Matt Bookatz (Lynn) 77 72 75.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
857 Florida Southern.
861 Lynn.
875 North Alabama.
877 Rollins College.

NOMINATION OF THE CAPTAIN FOR THE YEAR 2006-2007
The Past Captains, having conferred together, are pleased to announce that they have nominated Michael Stanley Randle Lunt as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the year 2006-2007. He will assume the office of Captain at the traditional ‘Driving In’ ceremony on Thursday 21 September.
Michael Lunt, 70, was educated at Uppingham School and on leaving was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with whom he served in Egypt from 1953 – 1955.
Following that brief spell overseas, he became a director of the family wholesale textile business in Birmingham and when the company was taken over by Courtaulds, he took up the position of European golf sales manager for Slazenger. He retired in 1998 after 11 years as secretary/manager of Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club.
Michael Lunt followed his father, Stanley, the English Amateur Champion of 1934, into a glittering career in amateur golf. This started when, aged only 14, he represented England as a boy international for the first of four successive years.
Among his many tournament successes were his wins in the Amateur Championship at St Andrews in 1963 – he finished runner-up in 1964 - and the English Amateur Championship in 1966 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. He played in four Walker Cup matches between 1959 and 1965 and in his last appearance was a member of the side that gained a halved match (11-11) at Five Farms, Maryland. In 1964 he was in the Great Britain & Ireland team that won the Eisenhower Trophy at Olgiata, Rome.
In addition to representing England between 1956 and 1966, he was their non-playing captain in the four years from 1972 – 1975
Michael joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1963 and has served on The R&A’s Championship Committee and the Rules of Golf Committee.
He is a member of several clubs and plays most of his golf at Walton Heath to a handicap of four.
Michael and his wife Vicki live in Surrey and have a daughter, a son and two grandchildren.

EGU Press Release
TEENAGE TRIO NAMED IN BMW CHAMPIONSHIP PRO-AM TEAM
The English Golf Union has selected three of its talented 15 year olds after accepting an invitation from the sponsors to provide a team to play in the BMW Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth on Wednesday 24th May.
The trio, Tommy Fleetwood, Adam Myers and Eddie Pepperell, are all members of the EGU’s under 16 squad and destined for a glowing future in the game.
Fleetwood (pictured - photo courtesy of Tom Ward), from the Formby Hall club, is the Lancashire under 15 champion and was capped by England against Scotland at under 16 level last year. He was also runner-up in the 2005 England Under 16 Championship for the McGregor Trophy at Radcliffe on Trent and runner-up in the under 14 championship in last year’s Golf Foundation Age Group Championships.
Myers, from the Northamptonshire County club, is the reigning England Under 16 champion and finished runner-up in the Northants County Championship. He was also fourth to Pepperell in the Boys Under 14 Championship before also being capped at under 16 level against Scotland last autumn.
Pepperell, from the Frilford Heath club at Abingdon in Oxfordshire, led from start to finish to win the English Under 14 Championship at Bristol & Clifton last year and he also won the BB&O Under 14 title. After being named in the England under 16 squad for this year, Pepperell recently helped a south regional team beat a team of Swedish boys at Meon Valley.
The inclusion of a team in the BMW Championship Pro-Am is part of BMW’s commitment to junior golf and follows the selection of a girls squad in last year’s event.

STRONG OVERSEAS ENTRY FOR ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY
A strong list of overseas entries, particularly from southern hemisphere countries, point to the St Andrews Links Trophy perhaps leaving the British Isles for only the second time in the 18 year history of the event.
When 144 competitors tee-off on Friday 9 June for the first of 72 holes over the New Course and Old Course, St Andrews, will one of them match the feat of Stuart Bouvier in 1990 of taking the trophy on its only trip overseas?
A crop of young, talented Australians have again entered with Won Joon Lee, one of the world’s top amateurs and the winner of both the New South Wales Medal and the NSW Amateur, leading their assault on the Trophy. Countryman Andrew Martin was the winner of the Saga Invitational and Stephen Dartnall tied for first place in the recent Tasmanian Open.
South Africa has nine players entered with George Coetzee already this year having shown impressive form with his win in the Northern Open, while David Hewan and Brandon Grace, winner of the Boland Open Amateur, are the backmarkers off +4 in their country’s strong entry.
Other overseas competitors who might be expected to challenge for the Trophy are Jason Wellings of Canada, Hugo Leon of Chile, Netherlands competitors Taco Remkes and Jan-Willem Van Hoof, and American Benjamin Choe
The St Andrews Links Trophy is now generally accepted as the world’s strongest stroke play competition and gives players the opportunity to compete over St Andrews historic courses
Competitors play 18 holes over the New Course on Friday 9 June, 18 holes over The Old Course on Saturday 10 June and the top 40 and ties play a further 36 holes on the Old Course on Sunday 11 June.

Former Scottish Golf Union president Colin Wood (Trustee); extreme left, Tom Garvey (Chairman of Golf Environment Europe); Jaime Ortiz-Patino (Trustee); Jonathan Smith (Chief Executive of GEE) and David Probyn (Assistant Director of Tour Operations) at the formation of Golf Environment Europe by the Trustees of the European Foundation for Golf and Environment. The photocall was held at The Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, England.

NEW EUROPEAN INITIATIVE ON GOLF AND ENVIRONMENT
A new European initiative addressing environmental issues relating to golf - supported by the powerful European Commission - has today been announced at The European Tour headquarters at, Wentworth Club, Surrey.Golf Environment Europe (GEE) has been formed by the Trustees of the European Foundation for Golf and Environment (formerly the Committed to Green Foundation).
The programme of GEE's activities will be led by the European Forum for Golf and Environment - a partnership of golfing and environmental organisations.
Timo Makela, Depute Director General of Environment at the European Commission, said: "I am pleased to see the birth of a new initiative aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues in the European golf sector. I hope that this initiative will help golf facilities across Europe to share best practices and achieve the highest level of environmental protection".

Wednesday 3rd May 2006

CARNOUSTIE’S KATY HAS TO WITHDRAW FROM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Success in the United States has its downside for Carnoustie teenager Katy McNicoll in Scotland.
Earlier this week Katy, a first-year student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, shot her lowest round so far on the American college golf circuit – a one under par 71 – in helping her college win through to the NCAA Division 2 women’s national championship in Michigan from May 10-13.
Unfortunately for 18-year-old Miss McNicoll, the Scottish women’s amateur championship tees off at Dunbar Golf Club on May 16.
As Katy’s father, Carnoustie Golf Shop owner Dave McNicoll, explained, there is simply not enough time between the two events for his daughter to make it back to Scotland in time to play in the first qualifying round at Dunbar.
“Katy will have to withdraw from the ‘Scottish’ because we cannot get her a flight home until May 16 which is the day she was supposed to be playing her first round,” said Dave.
“She’s thrilled about making a national championship as a member of the Lynn University team at the end of her first year in the States but she disappointed about missing the Scottish championship because she was keen to show that her game is good enough to be considered for selection to a Scotland side.”
The European junior women’s team championship is being played at Golf Club de Pan in the Netherlands from July 11 to 15. It is for Under-21s, so Katy must have a chance of making the six-strong Scotland line-up.

SGU Press Release
SALTMAN LEADS SCOTTISH YOUTHS IRISH CHALLENGE
Open Championship silver medallist Lloyd Saltman, pictured right, will lead a strong Scottish Youths team against their Irish counterparts in an international friendly match on Tuesday 30 May at Blairgowrie.
Twenty-year old Saltman will be joined by reigning Scottish Youths champion Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) and current Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie) as the Scots begin the build up towards their defence of the European Youths Team Championship in July in Sweden.
Scott Henry (Cardross) – fresh from finishing second in the Craigmillar Park Open – and Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) are also selected, whilst Peterhead’s Philip McLean makes his debut on the international stage. The match will comprise of foursomes play in the morning followed by six afternoon singles.
Meanwhile, newly crowned Scottish Boys Champion James White will be one of four young Scots hoping to add to Scotland’s Boys Quadrangular success as they take part in the Scandia Junior Open in Gothenburg, Sweden on 26 – 28 May.
The Lundin Links youngster will travel to Sweden along with Scottish Boys semi-finalist James Byrne from Banchory, as well as Scotland Boys regulars Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) and Newmacher’s Lewis Kirton. The championship is a 54-hole stroke play event for boys and girls run by the Swedish Golf Federation and one of the premier events in the European junior golf calendar.
The championship is an U21 event with the Scots selectors opting to give some of the country’s brightest young prospects experience of top class international competition.
The Scotland teams are as follows:
Scottish Youths v Irish Youths, Friendly International Match, Blairgowrie Golf Club, 30 May 2006
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), Scott Henry (Cardross), Paul O’Hara (Colville Park), Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie), Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) and Philip McLean (Peterhead).
Scandia Junior Open, Boras Golf Club, Gothenburg, Sweden, 26 – 28 May 2006
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), Lewis Kirton (Newmacher), James White (Lundin), James Byrne (Banchory)

US College Golf
NOW KATY’S BROTHER KEIR IS IN THE LYNN UNIVERSITY LIMELIGHT
Katy McNicoll’s older brother Keir, also a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, moved up to joint fourth place with a two-under-par round of 70 in the NCAA South/South Central Super regional college golf championship.
Keir had a first round of par 72 over the 7,077yd course at The Territory Golf Club, Duncan in Oklahoma.
He was one-over-par 37 to the turn, having bogeyed the fourth and sixth and birdied the seventh. Coming home, Keir had birdies at the 11th, 12th and 15th and no bogeys in a three-under-par 33.
Lynn University team-mate Gavin Dear from Perth is in joint 27th place after a pair of 75s.
Play was suspended for 3hr 43min during the afternoon because of lightning in the area.
Heath Jones (North Alabama) shot 70-68 to lead by one shot at six-under 138.
Lynn (578) are lying second in the team event, nine shots behind leaders Florida Southern with West Florida (582) in third place.
Keir’s father, Dave who owns the Carnoustie Golf Shop, said: “Keir and the rest of the Lynn University team will be gutted if they don’t make the national championships because for four of the team this is their last year at university. They know they have a great chance to win the national title … if they get there!”
Katy McNicoll and the Lynn University women’s golf team qualified earlier this week for the NCAA Division 2 women’s national championship to be played in Michigan from May 10 to 13.

Clackmannanshire Primary school children with Special Educational Needs
enjoying a day out at Brucefields Family Golf Centre

Press Release
clubgolf pilots Scotland’s first programme for Forth Valley children with Additional Support Need
A new project, backed by Clackmannanshire and Falkirk Councils and Active Stirling, which will provide children with additional support needs from five SEN (Special Educational Needs) schools in Forth Valley access to golf is set to tee off this month.
Scotland’s first ever SEN Pilot, organised by the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf together with Scottish Disability Sport, will give children with learning, physical and sensory disabilities the opportunity to experience golf in school by 2009 by providing appropriate in-school activities, plus a pathway to play the game in the local community.
Last week 13 teachers, Active Schools Co-ordinators, Sports Development Officers and Support for Learning Assistants from six local schools and local authorities took part in a coach education course to prepare and qualify them to introduce children to the firstclubgolf equipment.
Launched last year by Paul Lawrie, firstclubgolf uses multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberized balls and Velcro targets to give children an enjoyable introduction to the game. clubgolf is giving firstclubgolf equipment to each school involved in the pilot.
“The training and the equipment were of a very high standard and the kids are really excited and looking forward to it,” said Riverside Primary School teacher, Ruth Chalmers, who attended the course.
“We are a mainstream school which has a Language and Communication facility. I have a class of seven autistic children and I think that golf is a sport which they can really access.
“The equipment has been thought out very well to make it as easy to use as possible. The clubs are weighted to feel like proper clubs, which makes hitting the ball far easier. They are so easy to grip which is important for children with sensory impairments.”
Children who enjoy their golf introduction can progress to Stage 1 of the game at Brucefields Family Golf Centre, a recognised clubgolf centre, with wheelchair access, less than 30 minutes away from the schools.
The SEN pilot’s clubgolf Stage 1 course is delivered by the Centre’s professional coaching staff experienced in working with children who have additional support needs. A modified version of the 23-week programme, the children will use real equipment and cover the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette.
The schools participating in the pilot will provide clubgolf with feedback from the programme to shape the delivery of the clubgolf programme for children with disabilities.
“Linking in with Brucefields will open up a whole load of new activities which the children, their parents and siblings will all have access to,” said Ruth Chalmers.
Meanwhile 12 primary school children with Special Educational Needs from Clackmannanshire enjoyed a preview to clubgolf’s Stage 1 course when they were invited on a surprise visit to Brucefields last month as part of a sports activity week.
“The children had a week of activities and sport,” said Jean Duncan, Active Schools Co-ordinator (SEN), Clackmannanshire Council. “The aim was to cram in as much as possible by taking them on an outing each day during the week to give them a holistic view of as many sports that are taking place.
“We played golf on the last day and it was a big surprise for the children to arrive at Brucefields. They have experienced golf at school but they have never used real equipment at a real course. .
“It was a nice experience for the kids to see golf on a grand scale, playing with real clubs, at a place like this. They really enjoyed it and some of them were doing really well.
“Sports Development in Clackmannanshire has taken clubgolf on board and this is a nice stepping stone for the SEN Pilot as we are trying to get parents and kids involved.”

Tuesday 2nd May 2006

US College Golf
KATY HELPS LYNN UNIVERSITY REACH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Carnoustie golfer Katy McNicoll played the best round of her first year on the American college circuit – and, as a result, faces a hectic dash back to Scotland in time to tee off in the first qualifying round of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Dunbar Golf Club on Tuesday, May 16.
Katy, who birdied five of the first six holes in her third and final round of the NCAA Division 2 women’s south regional championship at Stonebook Golf Club in Florida on Tuesday, went on to finish with a one-under-par 71 (33-38).
Katy was two under par with three holes to play but bogeyed the 17th. She had nine birdies in all over the 54 holes plus five double bogeys.
Her earlier rounds were 82 and 78. A final total of 231 gave her a highly creditable placing of 14th equal – an improvement of 11 places from her standing overnight.
A student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, Lynn saw her team-mates Natasha Morgan and Liz Whitehouse finish first and second in the individual scoreboard with totals of two-over-par 218 and 220 but victory in the team event went to Rollins College who had three players in the top six.
Lynn got to within one shot of Rollins at one stage over the final round, thanks to Katy’s great effort but in the end Rollins took the title with a total of 899 with Lynn (906) filling second place ahead of Nova South-eastern (925) and Florida Southern (926).
The first two teams qualified to go forward to the NCAA Division 2 women’s championship, hosted by Grand Valley State University in Michigan, from May 10 to 13.
Lynn University have not reached the national championship final since 1997.
Now Katy has to work out a travel plan to get her from Michigan after the end of play on May 13 to Dunbar Golf Club for the morning of May 16.
It’s a tall order and, with the danger of jet lag thrown in, it might be that the Scottish youngster will decide that competing in an American college championship for the first time is enough excitement for the month of May.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Natasha Morgan (Lynn Univ) 75 72 71.
220 Liz Whitehead (Lynn Univ) 75 75 70.
222 Mariana De Biase (Rollins Coll) 71 78 73.
Also:
231 Katy McNicoll (Lynn Univ) 81 78 71 (jt 14th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
899 Rollins College.
906 Lynn Univ.
925 Nova South-eastern Univ.
926 Florida Southern Univ.
930 West Florida Univ, Barry Univ.

US College Golf
NORTHERN IRELAND GIRLS DO WELL FOR PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY
Charlene Reid from Antrim and Nikki Taggart from Belfast – both students at Pfeiffer University, North Carolina – were named to the all-tournament team – at the conclusion of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Association Conference women’s golf title at Hartsville, South Carolina.
Pfeiffer dominated the championship by winning the team title by the huge margin of 85 strokes from runners-up Anderson University.
Pfeiffer’s Britany Beltran was the individual winner with a three-round total of 225 – nine shots ahead of runner-up Holly Tompkins (Limestone).
Charlene Reid finished joint third on 236 and Nikki Taggart eighth on 244.

Runner-up Emma Fairnie with East Lothian Champion Fiona Prior

East Lothian Championship
FIONA PRIOR ADDS EAST LOTHIAN CHAMPIONSHIP TO LANARKSHIRE TITLES
Gullane Golf Club member Fiona Prior joined the select band of players who have been champions of two different counties when she won the East Lothian women’s title at Musselburgh Golf Club today (Tuesday).
After ousting top seed Lynne Fortune (Kilspindie) by 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals, Fiona, the No 4 seed, beat teenager Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), the third leading qualifier, by 3 and 2 in the final.
Emma had scored a 6 and 4 win over home-course player Jane Herd in the other semi-final.
Emma, 18-year-old pupil at Loretto School, Musselburgh, has been Borders champion for the past two years but was eligible to play in the East Lothian championship because she has become a member of Dunbar Golf Club.
Fiona, as a Cawder Golf Club member, won the Lanarkshire women’s county championship in 1998 and 1999.
She gained a stranglehold on the destination of the East Lothian title when she surged into a four-hole lead over Emma after the first nine holes which she covered in one-under-par.
Emma got one hole back but it was so far and no further and a half at the 16th clinched victory for Miss Prior by 3 and 2.
The Handicap Quaich final was won by Christine Reid (Kilspindie), pictured right in photograph on right, the leading qualifier in this section. Christine, who plays off 27, won by 4 and 3 against Kitty Austin (North Berwick), the No 2 seed who plays off 22, by 4 and 3.
EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Musselburgh Golf Club
Semi-finals – Fiona Prior (Gullane) bt Lynne Fortune (Kilrpindie) 3 and 2, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) bt Jane Herd (Musselburgh) 6 and 4.
Final – Prior bt Fernie 3 and 2.
Handicap Quaich
Semi-finals – Christine Reid (Kilspindie) bt Rosemary Carmichael (North Berwick) at 19th, Kitty Austin (North Berwick) bt Viv Skinner (Dunbar) 6 and 5.
Final – Reid bt Austin 4 and 3.

DOUBLE BOGEYS DRAG KATY DOWN IN US REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Katy McNicoll from Carnoustie, a golf scholarship student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, was sharing 25th place in a field of 33 at the end of the first two rounds of the NCAA Division 2 women’s south regional college golf championship at Stonebrook Golf Club, Pace in Florida.
Katy had rounds of 82 and 78 for a 16-over-par total of 160 over the 5,984yd, par-72 course. Generally the scoring was high – a nine-over-par tally for 36 holes was good enough to make the top 10.
Katy opened with a double bogey 6 and reached the turn in 43. She got her first birdie at the 10th but ended her inward half with a double bogey 6 for 39 home.
In her second round the Scot improve by four shots but still had two double bogeys – at the sixth and 11th. She did birdie the 10th and 17th in halves of 41 and 37.
Lynn University team-mate Natasha Morgan leads the field with one round to go. She has had scores of 75 and 73 for three-over-par 147 and a two-shot lead.
Katy has the third-best total of the five Lynn University players in the field.
Rollins College (602) lead the team event from Lynn University (614) with West Florida (617) third.
Changed days for Florida Southern University who were always title contenders when Pamela Feggans from Ayrshire was a student. Now that she is no longer there, Florida Southern are last of six on 628.

Monday 1st May 2006

East Lothian Championship
SECOND SEED MOIRA IS KNOCKED OUT IN EAST LOTHIAN QUARTER-FINALS
Three of the top four seeds in the East Lothian women’s county championship qualified for tomorrow’s (TUESDAY) semi-finals at Musselburgh Golf Club.
The odd one out was Scottish senior women’s champion Moira Thomson (North Berwick). The second leading qualifier, Moira lost by 2 and 1 to home-course player Jane Herd in the second round. Jane will now play young Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) for a place in the final.
Leading qualifier Lynne Fortune (Kilspindie) will meet No 4 seed Fiona Prior (Gullane) in the other semi-final.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
L Fortune (Kilspindie) bt J Henderson (North Berwick) 4 and 2, M L Renton (Gifford) bt C Guthrie (Longniddry) 3 and 2, B McIntosh (Gullane) bt L McNicoll (Longniddry) at 22nd, F Prior (Gullane) w.o. S McMaster (Gullane) scr, E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt R Thoresen (North Berwick) 5 and 4, D Huish (North Berwick) bt M Woodward (Gullane) 5 and 4, J Herd (Musselburgh) bt E Borthwick (Musselburgh) 3 and 2,
M Thomson (North Berwck) bt M Barbour (North Berwick) 6 and 5.
SECOND ROUND
Fortune bt Renton 6 and 5, Prior bt McIntosh 6 and 5, Fairnie bt Huish 8 and 7, Herd bt Thomson 2 and 1.
B Championship
Christine Reid beat Duce Lawson 3 and 2, Rosemary Carmichael beat Nancy Davidson 1up
Viv Skinner beat Nan Cook 4 and 3, Kitty Austin beat Beth Mackay 2 up.

Joint Roehampton Gold Challenge Cup winners, Joanne Oliver (left) and Tracey Loveys.

JOANNE AND TRACEY SHARE ROEHAMPTON GOLD CHALLENGE CUP AFTER TIE ON 147
English professionals Joanne Oliver, from Quindell Golf Club, Fareham in Hampshire, and Tracey Loveys from Broadstone Golf Club, Dorset tied for first place at the head of a field of 60 for the Roehampton Gold Challenge Cup women’s open tournament over 36 holes at the London Club.
Joanne shot 77 and 70 for three-over-par 147, a total matched by Tracey Loveys with rounds of 74 and 73.
On a card countback, Miss Oliver won the top cash prize of £1,000 with the better second round, Miss Loveys receiving in the region of £800.
As far as the Gold Cup was concerned, Joanne and Tracey were declared joint winners of the trophy, thus following in the footsteps of some famous names since the tournament was inaugurated in 1926, including Molly Gourlay, Cecil Leith, Enid Wilson, Pam Barton, Frances Stephens, Marley Spearman, Ann Irvin, Belle Robertson, Angela Bonallack, Vicki Thomas, Cathy Panton, Catriona Lambert and Kathryn Marshall.
Joanne Oliver also tied for victory with Aboyne’s Julie Forbes in 1997 while Tracey won the Gold Cup in 2001 and 2003.
The best placed amateur in one of the few women’s events in Britain open to both amateur and professionals was Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) who was runner-up in the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon recently.
Emma had never entered the Roehampton Gold Cup previously and played this year without the benefit of a practice round. She has reiterated her decision made after the last Curtis Cup match in 2004 to retire from women’s amateur international team golf at Great Britain & Ireland level.
What a pity for GB&I’s chances of regaining the Curtis Cup this summer!
Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) had the shot of the day - holing her tee shot at the 133yd 13th during her morning round.
The field of 60 was made up of 20 professionals and 40 amateurs all unDer four of a handicap.
SCOREBOARD
ROEHAMPTON GOLF CHALLENGE CUP WOMEN’S OPEN TOURNAMENT.
Roehampton Club, London.
LEADING TOTALS
*denotes amateur players
147 Joanne Oliver (Quindell) 77 70, Tracey Loveys (Broadstone) 74 73.
148 Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) 78 70, Vanessa Bell (Ipswich) 75 73, *Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 73 74.
149 Nicky Lawrenson (Emirates) 77 72.
151 *Natasha Podmore (Delamere Forest) 74 77.
153 Kerry Knowles (unatt) 77 76, *Claire Aitken (Mid Kent) 76 77, *Jo Hodge (Knowle) 75 78.

SAMANTHA HEAD JOINT FOURTH IN TEXAS HEAT
Samantha Head from Bedford, pictured right, finished joint fourth in the Jalapeno Futures Classic at McAllen, South Texas in mid-90 temperatures on Sunday.
The 33-year-old from Bedford, a winner twice on the Ladies European Tour in her 11 years as a professional, had rounds of 73, 70 and 69 for a four-under-par total of 212 over the 6,377yd, par-72 Palm View Course. The closing day weather was in contrast to the gale-force winds that swept the venue in Friday’s first round.
Miss Head collected $3,736 for her efforts.
Winner of the top prize of $9,800 was Kristy McPherson from Conway, South Carolina. She shot 72, 68 and 65 for 11-under-par 205. It was her first win in three years on the Futures Tour. She has never missed a cut in 49 starts after being a winner several times on the US women’s college circuit as a University of South Carolina student.
Kristy won by one shot from Jin Young Park, one of the many female Koreans playing pro golf in the United States.
Mrs Lisa Hall – Miss Hackney that was – from Stoke tied for 51st place with scores of 79, 69 and 74 for 222 to earn $266.
The third English player in the field, Polly Willett from London, had rounds of 77, 71 and 77 for 225 and a pay-out of $185.
Vicki Laing, who played in the last Futures Tour event, did not play in this one.
LEADING TOTALS
205 Kristy McPherson (US) 72 68 65.
206 Jin Young Pak (Korea) 70 70 76.
211 Ashley Prange (US) 70 68 73.
212 Samantha Head (England) 73 70 69, Marie-Josee Rouleau (Canada) 71 70 71.
Also:
222 Lisa Hall (England) 79 69 74 (51st equal).
225 Polly Willett (England) 77 71 77 (63rd equal).

Ayrshire Girls’ Medal – Troon Portland – 30 April 2006 (Thanks to June Kerr for this report)
Linzi Allan with an excellent nett score of 7 under par, won the Ayrshire Girls’ Medal at Troon Portland yesterday. Vicki Smith returned the best scratch score of 80. Details as follows:-
Category 1 (Handicaps 0-16)
1st Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie) 84 (16) 68
2nd Vicki Smith (Barassie) 80 (10) 70
Category 2 (Handicaps 17-36)
1st Emma Duncan (Barassie) 100 (25) 75
2nd Rachael McQueen (Bentinck) 95 (19) 76
Pre-Handicap Girls
19 girls played 9 holes over the Par 3 Craigend Course, followed by a putting competition. The winners are as follows:-
Age 10 and Under 1st Connie Jaffrey (Bentinck) 37
2nd Katie McGarva (Bentinck) 43
3rd Rachel Evans (Kilbirnie) 56
Ages 11 – 12 1st Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 40
2nd Rachel Irvine (Kilbirnie) 44
3rd Rosalind Dunlop (Bentinck) 45
Age 13 and above 1st Emily McGarva (Bentinck) 38
2nd Rachel Smith (Bentinck) 42
3rd Gail Woodburn (Ballochmyle) 44
Picture right: Some of the girls who competed yesterday.