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May 2007 Archive


Friday 25th May 2007

DOUBLE BOGEY KNOCKS BACK CLARE IN BMW ITALIAN LADIES OPEN
A double bogey 7 at the long seventh knocked Clare Queen back to a share of 17th place in the third round of the BMW Italian Ladies Open ov er the Sheraton Golf Parco de Medici course in Rome today.
Clare had earlier moved one under par with a birdie at the fifth. Later she birdied the 16th and bogeyed the 18th in halves of 36 and 37 for a one-over-par 73 and a running total of five-under-par 211.
As she said before the round, Clare is still not holing the birdie chances she is setting up but a top-10 finish is still within her reach with a sub-par final round.
At the top of the leaderboard, a big gallery was assured for the Saturday finale with two Italians, veteran Stefania Croce and rookie Anna Rossi in first and second position after 54 holes.
Stefania, 39, from Bergamo has only once won as a tour pro and that was 15 years ago in her rookie season of 1992. It was the Ford Ladies Classic.
Stefania had a third-round 69 for 11-under-par 205. Anna had a 69 for 206. In third place on 207 are Becky Brewerton from Wales, Trish Johnson from England and Sophie Giquel of France.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
205 Stefania Croce (Italy) 72 64 68.
206 Anna Rossi (Italy) 69 68 69.
207 Sophie Giquel (Frfance) 73 69 65, Becky Brewerton (Wales0 69 71 67, Trish Johnson (England) 68 70 69.
Other score:
211 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 70 68 73.

SCOTS STROKE PLAY CHAMPION MELISSA REID IN ENGLISH WOMEN'S FINAL
Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play champion Melissa Reid, 19, from Chevin, Derby will play Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards (Ganton), 23, in the 18-hole final of the English women's amateur golf championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent tomorrow.
Both played for GB&I in last year's Curtis Cup match in the United States.
"Hopefully it will be third time lucky for me," said Naomi. "I've lost twice in the final."
She beat the top seed, English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) by 3 and 1 in the first semi-final.
Melissa reached her first English final by beating Anna Scott (Consett & District) by two holes.
Miss Reid clinched victory with a grandstand finish in which she birdied three of the last four holes.
This was the six-foot Miss Scott's first competition of the year. A student at the University of Georgia State, she had been ruled out of the game with injury for the past seven months.
In the first semi-final, Naomi Edwards surged three holes up after only six holes but Liz Bennett promply fired back with three consecutive birdies to be all square by the turn.
There after it was nip-and-tuck. Naomi edged ahead with a birdie at the 13th but was pulled back on the next. She went ahead again ont he 15th and crucially moved to two holes up with a fine birdie at the lont 16th.
The 173yd 17th was the decisive hole. Naomi fired a five-iron to the heart of the green while Liz's tee shot finished on the steep face of a greenside bunker. It was all she could do to hack the ball into the sand. Her next shot also stayed in the trap and she conceded the hole and the match.
RESULTS:
QUARTER-FINALS
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Danielle Montgomery (Lamnbourne) 5 and 4.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) bt Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) at 19th.
Anna Scott (Consett & District) bt Emma Lyons (West Surrey) 3 and 1.
Melissa Reid (Chevin) bt Claire Aitken (The Lond0 4 and 2.
SEMI-FINALS
Reid bt Scott 2 holes
Edwards bt Bennett 3 and 1.

SHIELDS IS TOP SCOT IN SKANDIA JUNIOR OPENS IN SWEDEN
Cambuslang teenager Paul Shields led the Scots challenge in the Skandia Junior Open at Falkenberg Golf Club, Sweden today.
The Kirkhill Golf Club junior member shot a two-under-par 70 (34-36) to be joint fourth after the first round, only one shot behind the three joint leaders.
Shields had three birdies (the first, sixth and seventh) and one bogey in an outward two-under-par 34.
After the turn, Paul had two more birdies, at the 10th and 12th but cancelled them out with bogeys at the 11th and 14th.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) was back in joint 56th place with a 79 (39-40). He had a double bogey 6 at the 16th .
Andrew Campbell from Dumbarton was in joint 76th place in a field of 95 with an 82 (42-40). He had a triple bogey 6 at the last and a double bogey 6 at the second
William Bremner (Edzell) was sharing 82nd place with an 83 (41-42). He had double bogeys at the second, sixth and 16th.
In the Skandia Girls’ Open at Bastad Golf Club, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, Perthshire, the only British or Irish player in the field, had a three-over-par 74 (37-37) to be in joint sixth place in a field of 71. .
Carly would have been a couple of shots closer to the joint leaders on 70 had she not run up a double-bogey 6 at the 16th
Earlier Miss Booth had birdied the third, 11th and 14th but dropped shots at the first, ninth and 10th.
LEADERBOARDS
BOYS
Par 72. Players from Sweden unless stated
69 Mark Jargren, Jens Dantorp, Mortan Emil Bergan.
70 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex), Fredrik Kollevold, Alexander Jacobsson.
Other scores:
73 Billy Britton (Pedham Place) (jt 15th).
79 Paul Ferrier (Baberton) (jt 56th).
80 Henry Smart (Walton Heath) (jt 67th).
82 Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) ()jt 76th).
83 William Bremner (Edzell) (jt 82nd).
GIRLS
Par 71.
70 Nathalie Mansson, Giulia Molinaro (Italy).
71 Amanda Strang.
72 Josephine Janson.
73 Therese Kolbaek.
74 Carly Booth (Comrie), Caroline Hedwall, Johanna Rodert, Alessia Knight.

JODI EWART SHARING 54TH PLACE IN NCAA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University) from Yorkshire is lying in joint 54th position in a class field of 126 with one round to go in the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship at LPGA International’s Legends Course, Daytona Beach in Florida.
Freshman Jodi, pictured right, has scored 76, 76 and 79 for a 15-over-par tally of 231 but plenty of other very good players have found the combination of the occasion- the season-ending grand finale to the US college golf season- and the difficult course a bit too much for them to handle.
In her third-round 79, Jodi required 42 shots for the outward nine, which is in complete contrast to the way she has played for the rest of the season. She got her only birdie at the 18th.
Only the leader, Christel Boeljon (Purdue) from the Netherlands, has really made anything of it. She has scored 72, 69 and 69 for a six-under-par score of 210 over the 6,969yd, par-72 course.
She leads by five shots from Paola Moreno (Southern California) with Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) in second place on 216 and three players, including top-ranked US Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke), sharing fourth place on one-over-par 217.
Defending champion Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) from the Netherlands is not going to win the title this year. She is in joint 73rd position on 234.
Duke, the favourites, lead the team event by eight shots from Purdue.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69 69.
215 Paola Moreno (Southern California) 73 72 70.
216 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71 74.
217 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 73 74, Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) 75 69 73, Catherine Matranga (Texas Christian) 72 71 74.
Other scores:
222 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 77 (jt 12th).
223 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 75 (jt 15th).
227 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 75 77 75 (jt 32nd).
229 Belen Mozo (Southeren California) 75 80 75 (jt 42nd).
230 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 77 78 75 (jt 49th).
231 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 79, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76 77 (jt 54th).
234 Dewi Schreefel (Southern Calirofnia) 76 78 80 (jt 73rd).
LEADING TEAMS
880 Duke.
888 Purdue.
893 UCLA.
902 Georgia.
903 Vanderbilt, Stanford.
905 Southern California, Pepperdine.
Other score::
939 New Mexico (22nd of 24 teams)

HAS CHRIS GOT ENOUGH BALLS LEFT TO COMPLETE THE AMERICAN COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP?
Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum, coming up to the end of his freshman year at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, is playing the toughest golf course he has ever experienced – and he’s got the scores to prove it!
Chis is competing in the NCAA Division 2 men’s championship over 72 holes at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
It’s a 6,992yd, par-71 course with, as one report has put it, “hard fairways and super-thick rough … so much so that lost balls have become an issue.”
The leading team, Barry University, are 38 over par with 890 for the three rounds so far. Chris’s college team, Belmont Abbey, are a combined 56 over par but are in ninth place of the 20 competing teams with a tally of 908.
Baron has himself scored 76, 80 and 87 for 30 over par 243 and he is in joint 93rd place in a field of 105 of the best NCAA Division 2 college golfers.
In his third round, Chris had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys – and a birdie at the fifth! If he has enough balls left for the final round, he deserves a medal for going the distance!
The leader, Christian Ries (Columbus State University, is the only player under par with one round to go. He has scored 73, 71 and 70 for 214 – to lead by three from team-mate Andrew Georgiou (73-71-73).


Thursday 24th May 2007

SURPRISE RESULTS IN ENGLISH CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP AT LITTLESTONE
There were some surprise results in the second round of the match-play stages in the English women's (close) amateur championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent today.
Although she had qualified only in 10th place, the biggest shock was possibily the 5 and 4 defeat of Britain's Commonwealth tournament victory heroine Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) by Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth), who has played on the American college circuit. Miss Grimshaw last in the second round to joint Roehampton Gold Cup winner Claire Aitken (London).
The No 3 seed, Rachel Bell from Ganton was beaten by the No 19 qualifier, Emma Lyons (West Surrey) by 2 and 1.
And the No 5 qualifier, Florentyna Parker 9Royal Birkdale) lost by 4 and 3 to Reachel Jennings, the 12th qualifier from the Izaak Walton club.
The top seeds, No 1 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), pictured above, and No 2 Melissa Reid (Chevin) are still there and playing well.
The quarter-finals line-up on Friday morning is (qualifying position in brackets):

Liz Bennett (1) v Danielle Montgomerie (9).
Rachel Jennings (12) v Naomi Edwards (4).
Emma Lyons (19) v Anna Scott (27).
Claire Aitken (7) v Melissa Reid (2).

RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 1 hole.
J Pease (Braintree) bt T Boyes (Meon Valley) 2 and 1.
D Montgomerie (Lambourne) bt L Jones (Royal Liverpool) 1 hole.
J Hodge (Knowle) bt C Marron (Bromborough) 2 holes.

F Parker (Royal Birkdale) bt S Attwood (Gog Magog) 5 and 4.
R Jennings (Izaak Walton) bt L Ball (Matfen Hall) 4 and 3.
H Barwood (Knowle) bt R Adams (Addington Court) 1 hole,
N Edwards (Ganton) bt D GVibb (Rochester & Cobham Park).

R Bell (Ganton) bt A Silk (Corhampton) 2 and 1.
E Lyons (West Surrey) bt L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 1 hole.
H Grant (Enmore Park) bt V Inglis (Woodbridge) 1 hole.
A Scott (Consett & Dist) bt H Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 5 and 4.

C Aitken (London) bt L Cutler (Warley Park) 1 hole.
F Grimshaw (Weymouth) bt K Smith (Waterlooville) 5 and 4.
C Ellis (Minchinhampton) bt R Connor (Manchester) 4 and 2.
M Reid (Chevin) bt C Wild (Mere) 2 and 1.

SECOND ROUND
Bennett bt Pease 4 and 3.
Montgomery bt Hodge 2 and 1.
Jennings bt Parker 4 and 3.
Edwards bt Barwood 1 hole.

Lyons bt Bell 2 and 1.
Scott bt Grant 4 and 3.
Aitken bt Grimshaw 4 and 3.
Reid bt Ellis 9 and 7.

CLARE QUEEN ONLY TWO BEHIND IN BMW LADIES ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME
Clare Queen goes into the final two rounds of the BMW Ladies Italian Open in Rome only two shots behind the triple joint leaders.
Clare has had rounds of 70 and 68 for six-under-par 138.
"It was steady stuff," said the Scot. "I'm hitting the ball really well but just not holing as many putts as I would like. In the first round I had a lot of chances and didn't take them. The way I'm playing I feel that I am going to make a few birdies over the weekend."
Former "Helen Holm" winner Karen-Margrethe Juul from Denmark, Australian Sarah Kemp and Italian veteran Stefania Croce are sharing the pole position on 136. Stefania, who has only ever won one event as a pro - the Ford Ladies Classic in 1992 - said that her second-round 64 was the lowest she had ever scored in 15 years as a tour pro.
Clubhouses can be dangerous places if you don't watch where you are putting your feet - as Lisa Holm Sorensen found out to her regret. She fell down a set of stairs in the Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici clubhouse before her second round. She started the round but eventually had to retire and had to go to hospital with a suspected broken wrist.
Second round scores & totals in the BMW Ladies Italian Open Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici in Rome:
(Par 144: 2 x 72)
136 Sarah Kemp (Aus) 68 68, Stefania Croce (Ita) 72 64, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 64 72
137 Anna Rossi (Ita) 69 68
138 Clare Queen (Sco) 70 68, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 70 68, Trish Johnson (Eng) 68 70
139 Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 69 70, Martina Eberl (Ger) 73 66, Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 67 72, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 70, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 68 71
140 Carmen Alonso (Spa) 70 70, Federica Piovano (Ita) 68 72, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 70 70, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 72, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 69 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 66 74
141 Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 68 73, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 70, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 68 73, Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 68 73, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 68 73, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 67 74
142 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 73 69, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 70, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 70, Mianne Bagger (Den) 74 68, Sara Beautell (Spa) 71 71, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 71 71, Mette Buus (Den) 71 71, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 74 68, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 71, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 67, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 69 73, Louise Friberg (Swe) 67 75, Iben Tinning (Den) 69 73
143 Anna Temple (USA) 73 70, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 77 66, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 75 68, Helena Alterby (Swe) 75 68, Sofia Renell (Swe) 71 72, Rebecca Stevenson (Aus) 73 70
144 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 75 69, Anna Rawson (Aus) 73 71, Paula Marti (Spa) 77 67, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 74, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 69, Leah Hart (Aus) 75 69, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 74 70, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 72, Diana Luna (Ita) 71 73, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 70 74, Joanne Mills (Aus) 73 71, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 70 74
145 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 70 75, Marta Prieto (Spa) 75 70, Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 73, Karen Lunn (Aus) 75 70, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 74 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 74 71, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 70 75
Missed the cut
146 Louise Stahle (Swe) 75 71, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 77, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 75, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 76 70, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 78 68, Katharina Schallenberg (Am) (Ger) 71 75, Barbara Paruscio (Ita) 72 74, Nina Karlsson (Swe) 75 71
147 Natascha Fink (Aut) 75 72, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 76 71, Bree Turnbull (Aus) 73 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 74 73, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 74, Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 76
148 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 74 74, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 77 71, Sophie Walker (Eng) 76 72, Virginie Auffret (Fra) 72 76, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 76 72
149 Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 74 75, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 79 70, Ellen Smets (Bel) 72 77, Marianna Causin (Am) (Ita) 74 75, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 73 76, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 76 73
150 Anja Monke (Ger) 76 74, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 76 74, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 75 75, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 76 74, Anna Tybring (Swe) 73 77, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 75 75, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 75 75, Marlene Hedblom (Swe) 76 74
151 Anna Knutsson (Swe) 79 72, Liza Walters (Eng) 74 77, Alessandra Averna (Ita) 75 76, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 74 77, Carlie Butler (Aus) 78 73
152 Katharina Werdinig (Aut) 77 75, Kris Lindstrom (USA) 78 74, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 77 75, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 80 72, Lisa Hall (Eng) 75 77, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 76 76
153 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 77 76, Vittoria Valvassori (Am) (Ita) 76 77, Anna Roscio (Am) (Ita) 78 75, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 78 75, Sarah Heath (Eng) 79 74
154 Shani Waugh (Aus) 78 76, Denise Simon (Ger) 73 81, Claire Coughlan (Irl) 75 79
156 Annamaria Milie (Ita) 77 79, Jo Clingan (Eng) 77 79, Itziar Elguezabal (Spa) 76 80
157 Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 80 77, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 82 75
158 Fame More (Eng) 80 78
Ret: Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Lisa Jean (Aus) 76, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 72, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe)

KAREN DELANEY RECAPTURES THE FORM THAT HAD DESERTED HER FOR SO LONG
If ever there was a result that should boost the spirits of anyone who has almost given up hope of being able to play the way they once played, Karen Delaney provided it on Wednesday by winning the Irish women's close amateur championship at Lahinch.
Followers of the American college circuit will know that Karen has just finished an abysmal season playing for Kent State University, Ohio. And the season before last was nothing to write home about either.
She is officially ranked 572nd on the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings with an average score per round of 78.07. She was an accumulative 103 over par in 15 rounds she played on the US college circuit.
In contrast, Karen's younger sister Tara, also a student at Kent State University, won the Lady Northern Invitational in America last September and she finished third in the prestigious Lady Bulleye Spring Invitational.
Tara is ranked 46th on the US college circuit with an average score of 74.32 per competitive round.
So, if a Delaney is going to win the "Irish," it has to be Tara, hasn't it?
No, Tara went out in the semi-finals and the title went to Karen, who, throughout the week, played golf of the quality and consistency that won her the Irish girls' championship in 2002 and 2003.
It's the kind of riches to rags and back to riches story that warms the cockles of your heat!
Good for you, Karen.
[Photo Courtesy ILGU]

CARLY CHASES JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP POINTS IN SWEDEN
Perthshire prospect Carly Booth, 15 years old next month, is the only British or Irish player in the field for the Skandia Junior Lady Open tournament over 54 holes at Bastad Golf Club, Sweden, beginning on Friday.
Last year Miss Booth played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match at Celtic Manor.
The Skandia Junior Lady Open is a qualifier for places in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup team to play the United States girls at the same venue on September 11 and 12.
Scottish boys’ champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton), William Bremner (Edzell), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) are competing in the Skandia Junior Open at Falkenberg Golf Club near Gothenburg, also over three rounds from Friday to Sunday inclusive.

JODI IS 11 SHOTS BEHIND DUTCH GIRL
Jodi Ewart reeled off nine straight pars to finish her second round of 76 in the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship over the LPGA International’s Legends course at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Unfortunately for the Yorkshire girl, who has been an outstanding freshman member of the New Mexico University golf team through the 2006-2007 college season, you need birdies to beat a field of this calibre. And Jodi did not have any sub-par figures on Tuesday, only bogeys at the first, sixth, eighth and ninth in an outward 40.
Catterick Golf Club member Jodi’s 36-hole tally of 152 sees her in joint 36th place with two rounds to go, 11 strokes behind Christel Boeljon (Purdue) from the Netherlands.
The Dutch girl, who has entered next month’s British women’s open amateur championship at Alwoodley, has had rounds of 72 and 69 for 141.
The only other player in the field to have broken 70 is surprise first-round leader Selanee Henderson (UC Irvine). But everything went wrong for her in a second-round 80 for 150.
Belen Mojo (Southern California), who will be defending that British women’s title at Leeds (remember, she also won the British girls’ title last summer, had the same sort of “bad day at the office” as Selanee – a second-round 80 for 155.
The best placed Continental is another past winner of the British girls’ title, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State). She is sharing eighth place on 145 with scores of 75 and 70.
LEADERBOARD
141 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69.
142 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71.
143 Amanda Bluymenherst (Duke) 70 73, Tiffany John (UCLA) 73 70, Catherine Matranga (Texas Christian) 72 71.
Other scores:
145 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 (jt 8th).
148 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 (jt 10th).
149 Selanee Henderson (UC Irvine) 69 80 (jt 14th).
152 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 (jt 36th).
154 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 76 78 (jt 55th).
155 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 75 80 (jt 63rd).
LEADING TEAMS
587 Duke. 594 UCLA. 597 Purdue. 599 Stanford. 601 Southern California. 602 Georgia.
Other score:
619 New Mexico (20th of 24).

SCOT CHRIS DOWN THE FIELD IN MICHIGAN
Aberdeenshire player Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum, a student at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, was sharing 76th place after rounds of 76 and 80 in the NCAA Division 2 men's championship at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
Chris had birdies at the fourth and 12th but a double-bogey 5 at the short seventh dragged him down.
The Scot is 15 strokes behind the leader, Jarin Todd (Sonoma State), who has scored 69 and 72 to lead by two from Hernan Boja (Barry University) with 70 and 73.
Barry (586) lead the team event from Florida Southern (591). Belmont Abbey College (608) are lying 123th of the 20 teams


Wednesday 23rd May 2007

KAREN DELANEY IS NEW IRISH WOMEN'S CHAMPION
Karen Delaney (Carlow) was crowned Irish Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Champion for the first time at Lahinch Golf Club today. She beat Marian Riordan (Tipperary) by 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final.
Delaney was two up after only three holes but Riordan won the fourth to close the gap that was doubled when Delaney birdied the ninth to turn two up.
Riordan replied immediately with a fine birdie 3 at the 10th but the two-hole gap was restored when Riordan found sand on the long 14th. Delaney closed out the match on the 16th with an up and down from the sand.
Earlier in the day, 12-year-old Lisa Maguire, who had punched well above her weight all week, started brightly in her semi-final and led by a single hole through to the ninth against Marian Riordan.
Riordan’s solid driving and accurate iron play overpowered her young opponent and her one-hole lead into the 18th helped her close out the match when her 30 foot putt died at the cup.
Delaney had struck the ball magnificently in her semi final match with Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and turned one up through the ninth.
Morrin eagled the 15th to level the match but missed from 6 feet at the next to let Delaney escape off her bunkered tee shot.
The 17th was halved in par and a fine up and down from the greenside bunker on 18 saw Delaney through after Morrin three putted from the front edge.
Karen Delaney, who was Irish girls champion in 2002 and 2003 and has been a student at Kent State University, Ohio, alongwith her younger sister Tara, will surely have impressed the selectors sufficiently to regain her international status and lead the Irish team at the European team championships in Italy from July 10 to 14..
Results:
Semi-finals - Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 1 hole, Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 1 hole.]
Final (18 holes) - Delaney bt Riordan 3 and 2.
The players selected to represent Ireland at the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews on June 2-3 are:
Tara Delaney (Carlow)
Maura Morrin (The Curragh)
Marian Riordan (Tipperary)
Reserve Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)

ELGA Press Release
Liz Bennett and Melissa Reid lead qualifiers at English championship

Internationals Liz Bennett (right) and Melissa Reid lead the qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the English ladies’ close amateur championship at Littlestone in Kent.
Both players were four-under par after the 36-hole strokeplay qualifying but Liz is top seed by virtue of her better second round. She shot three-under 69 while Melissa carded her second 70.
“It’s nice to qualify top, it’s good for the confidence, but qualifying is the main thing,” said Liz, 24, the English strokeplay champion from Brokenhurst Manor in Hampshire.
She described her second round as steady golf in which she found the measure of the greens. “A lot more putts went in today, especially from around 15ft,” said Liz, who had five birdies in her round, including one on the 18th.
Melissa, 19, was targeting the top of the leaderboard as part of her positive mindset to aim high at all times. “I worked really hard on my mindset over the winter and it’s paying off,” she said.
The Curtis Cup player from Chevin in Derbyshire has already won the 2007 Helen Holm Scottish strokeplay championship and was top qualifier in the French lady juniors’ championship. She also helped Great Britain win the Commonwealth Tournament.
Today, she signed off with two birdies. On the 184-yard 17th her four-iron into the wind finished six inches from the hole and on par five 18th she two-putted from about 60ft for her birdie.
Rachel Bell, an England international from Ganton, moved up to third place when she also scored 69, playing alongside Liz Bennett. She was another one to stage a fine finish with birdies on the par five 16th and 18th. She set up both with impressive driving and three-wood play. “It was solid,” she said.
Kent’s Claire Aitken, from The London club, moved confidently into the matchplay. She qualified in seventh place on two over par.
Among the other players to make it safely through to the matchplay stages are the Curtis Cup player Naomi Edwards (Ganton); the French lady juniors’ champion Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale); the Portuguese ladies’ champion Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire), ELGA order of merit titleholder Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), English girls’ champion Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), and English mid-amateur champion Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton).
But four other golfers had a battle on their hands. They tied on 12-over-par and had to play-off for the last three places in the matchplay draw. Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) lost out when she bogeyed the first hole, while Annabel Silk (Corhampton), Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) all had pars.
The matchplay starts at 9am and the games tee off at eight minute intervals. First round draw: Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) v Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall). Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) v Jenny Pease (Braintree). Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) v Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool). Caroline Marron (Bromborough) v Jo Hodge (Knowle). Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) v Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog). Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) v Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton). Hannah Barwood (Knowle) v Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court). Danielle Gibb (Rochester & Cobham Park) v Naomi Edwards (Ganton). Rachel Bell (Ganton) v Annabel Silk (Corhampton). Emma Lyons (West Surrey) v Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt). Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) v Victoria Inglis (Woodbridge). Anna Scott (Consett & District) v Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire). Claire Aitken (The London) v Laura Cutler (Warley Park). Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth) v Kerry Smith (Waterlooville). Rachel Connor (Manchester) v Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton). Charlotte Wild (Mere) v Melissa Reid (Chevin).

CLARE QUEEN JT 22nd AT END OF FIRST ROUND IN BMW LADIES ITALIAN OPEN
Karen-Margrethe Juul, the Danish player who won the Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play title at Troon in 1998, had ever lowest ever score as a professional - an eight-under-par 64 - to lead the BMW Ladies Italian Open at the Sheraton Golf Parco de Medici course by two shots from South African rookie Stacy Bregman.
Almost unbelievably, Karen did not have a practice round. Like many players, she found the Italian airline strikes made getting to the tournament an achievement in itself. Some, like Lora Fairclough from Lancashire abandoned the struggle to get to the venue in time.
Miss Juul flew to Nice and then drove eight hours in a hired car, arriving at her hotel at 10.30pm on Tuesday night ... and she had an early starting time!
"Maybe I should prepare this way more often for tournaments," she joked. "To be honest, I had played the course before, so I knew what to expect."
Clare Queen shot a two-under-par 70 to be lying joint 22nd at the end of the day. Clare had a very steady round. Only one bogey - at the first - and then everything pars and birdies after that. She birdied the fifth, 16th and 17th. Also on the 70 mark is England's Kristy S Taylor.
Kathryn Imrie from Monifieth did not have a good day. She finished with a 77 for a share of 104th place. Kathryn had a double bogey 7 at the third and bogeys at the fourth, fifth and 15th. She had no birdies.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
64 K-M Juul (Den).
66 S Bregman (SAf).
67 L Friberg (Swe), R Rasmussen (Den), R Coakley (Ire).
68 N C Booth (Eng), J Westerberg (Swse), F Piovano (Ita), V Lagbvoutte-Clement (Fra), N Garrett (Aus), T Johnson (Eng), L Wahlin (Swe), S Kemp (Aus), B Recari (Spa).
Other scores:
70 C Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) (jt 22nd).
77 K Imrie (Monifieth) (104th).

MCLGA summer foursomes ( Report from the Captain, Ellice Cackett)
The Midlothian Ladies Summer Foursomes were played on Monday 21st May at Ravelston Golf Club on a beautiful sunny day.
The course was in excellent condition. Thanks go to the green staff, caterers and to Ravelston members for allowing us to play the foursomes on their course.
52 couples took part in the competition.
Results
1st Scratch M. Mackay( Kingsknowe) and K. Logan( Merchants) 86
1st Handicap C. Mason ( Dalmahoy) and N. Bell ( Murrayfield) 87 (17) net 70
2nd handicap M. Logan( Dalmahoy) and S. Hay (Baberton) 95(22.5) net 72.5
3rd Handicap C. Clark and M. Richardson (both Craigmillar Park) 90 (17) net 73

MICHAEL LUNT (72) DIES SUDDENLY
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews regrets to announce that Michael Lunt, Captain of the Club, died suddenly on the night of Tuesday 22 May aged 72.
Michael Stanley Randle Lunt joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1963 and subsequently served on The R&A’s Championship Committee and on the Rules of Golf Committee. In May 2006 he was named Captain and drove himself into office on Thursday 21 September.
Michael Lunt had a distinguished career in golf both as an administrator and as a player that started, aged 14, with four years of international representation for England boys.
He won the Amateur Championship in 1963 at St Andrews and the English Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1966, a feat his father Stanley had achieved in 1934. Between 1959 and 1965 he played in four Walker Cup matches and in his last appearance was a member of the 1965 side that gained a halved match against the USA at Five Farms, Maryland, the first time Great Britain and Ireland had gained any success on American soil since the matches began in 1922.
He played for England between 1956 and 1966 and was the non-playing captain from 1972-1975.
After being educated at Uppingham School, Michael Lunt was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served in Egypt from 1953-1955 before taking up a directorship in the Birmingham based family textile business. This was followed by a time as Sales Manager for Slazenger and then, after 11 years as Secretary – Manager of Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, he retired in 1998.
He is survived by his wife Vicki, his daughter Sophie, his son Jason and two grandchildren.

IT'S MARIAN v KAREN FOR IRISH LADIES' CLOSE TITLE
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) and Karen Delaney (Carlow) will face each other in the final of the
Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at Lahinch Golf Club this afternoon.
Lisa Maguire, only 12 years old, had punched well above her weight all week and started brightly in her semi-final against Marian Riordan.
Lisa led by a single hole through to the ninth where Riordan birdied from 12 feet. Solid driving and accurate iron play saw her take a one-hole lead into 18 and closed out the match when her 30 foot putt died at the cup.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) struck the ball magnificently in her semi final match with Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and turned one up. Morrin eagled the 15th to level the match but missed from 6 feet at the next to let Delaney escape off her bunkered tee shot.
The 17th was halved in par and a fine up and down from the greenside bunker on 18 saw Delaney through after Morrin three putted from the front edge.
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 1 hole.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 1 hole.

12-YEAR-OLD MAGUIRE TWINS TO PLAY ALONGSIDE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR PROFESSIONALS
Ulster twins Lisa and Leona Maguire will both play in the Northern Ireland Ladies Open at Templepatrick next week.
The 12-year-olds from Co Cavan have both been given wild card entries to the event to compete with the top European players.
The official entry list was confirmed last night for the event which is played on June 1-3.
Back to back LET victor Nikki Garrett is confirmed to compete in the 126 professional player line up.
US Futures Tour competitor Brenda McLarnon, who hails from Belfast but is US based and Lynn McCool, the Strabane local who is K Club teaching professional, are also in the field. Australian Kirstie Newton, whose father Jack is a former Australian Open winner and runner up to Tom Watson in the Open in 1975, has inherited her father's love of the game and is consolidating her own burgeoning reputation as a respected professional golfer in looking for a top result at the NI Ladies Open.
The tournament has a prize fund of 200,000 Euros and will be broadcast to over 75 countries.Tickets, priced at £5 for a day pass or £10 for a three day weekend pass, with under 14s admiited free, are available through the Northern Ireland Events Company on 028 9066 6661 or via www.nievents.co.uk.

COSTLY DOUBLE BOGEY KNOCKS BACK JODI IN NCAA DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart was in joint 39th place in a field of 126 at the end of the first round in the highly competitive NCAA Division 1 women’s championship over the LPGA International Legends Course (6,351yd, par 72) at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Jodi had a four-over-par 76 which included a double bogey 7 at the long 14th.
Having started at the 10th, Catterick Bridge Golf Club member Jodi dropped a shot on her first hole but got it back with a birdie 2 at the short 12.
Then came her “disaster” at the 14th
Jodi parred the remainder of her first nine holes but then dropped a shot at the first and the fourth in halves of 38.
Surprise leader in a star-studdedd field is Selanee Henderson from UC Irvine. She had a 69 to be one stroke ahead of US Curtis Cup playere Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) and Lauren Todd (Stanford).
Spain’s Belen Mozo (Southern California), holder of both the British women’s and girls’ open titles, is sharing 22nd place on 75 with another past British girls’ champion, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) from Sweden.
Southern California (295) lead the team event by two shots from North Carolina and Louisville with Stanford (299) fourth and Duke, the favourites, back in fifth place on 300.
Jodi’s team, New Mexico, had a first-round score of 305 and are 13th of 24 teams at the moment.

 


Tuesday 22nd May 2007

BREANNE LOUCKS WINS WELSH TITLE FOR FIRST TIME
Canadian-born GB&I Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks, pictured right, from Wrexham won the Welsh women's closed amateur championship for the first time at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech today.
Breanne, the No 1 qualifier, beat the 2002 and 2003 Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (Bargoed) by 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals in which Tara Davies (Holyhead), the 2004 and 2006 Welsh girls title-winner, beat Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan), the 2005 Welsh girls champion, by one hole.
In the 18-hole final, Breanne won by one hole.
There was a surprise in the final of the Welsh senior women's match-play championship.
Vicki Thomas, many times a Curtis Cup player and Welsh women's champion just as often, failed in her bid to complete a hat-trick of titles at the over-50s level. Winner of the championship in 2005 and 2006, Vicki lost at the 19th to Ann Lewis, who made the most of her home-course knowledge.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals - B Loucks (Wrexham) bt L Gould (Bargoed) 3 and 2, T Davies (Holybhnead) bt S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 1 hole.
Final (18 holes) - Loucks bt Davies 1 hole.
SENIOR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Final (18 holes) - A Lewis (Royal St David's) bt V Thomas (Carmarthen) at 19th.

TEENAGERS MELISSA AND FLORENTYNA SET THE PACE WITH 70s IN ENGLISH QUALIFYING
Teenage internationals Melissa Reid, pictured right, and Florentyna Parker, pictured below left, both scored two-under par 70 to share the lead after the first qualifying round of the English women's close amateur championship at Littlestone in Kent.
Three other players also broke par on a fine golfing day with plenty of sunshine and light breezes. Among them is Kent golfer Claire Aitken who lives near Gravesend and plays at The London club.
Melissa, 19, from Chevin in Derbyshire, reached the turn at three-under par, helped by an eagle on the long fiftth, where her approach finished 4ft from the hole. The Curtis Cup player got to four-under on the back nine but also three-putted three times and had to settle for a 70.
“I’m a bit disappointed – but it’s not too bad really,” said Melissa, who is the Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play champion and has just helped Great Britain win the Commonwealth tournament in South Africa.
Florentyna, 17, from Royal Birkdale, produced two matching halves of one-under par – and was a relieved golfer when she came off the course.
“I didn’t expect it because I was playing so badly in practice yesterday. I lost four balls in six holes and I was a bit scared about today,” said Florentyna, the French lady junior champion. The difference, she explained, was hitting the fairways.
Another relieved golfer was English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) whose one-under 71 wiped out memories of her last outing at Littlestone in the 2002 championship.
“I didn’t play very well then and I didn’t come with good memories – but it’s all gone now for the rest of the week.
“This is a course which can grab you quickly and you have to minimise any damage and just keep the ball in play. That was my theory,” added Liz, who finished strongly with two birdies in the last three holes.
Claire Aitken spent all last week at Littlestone, representing Kent in county match week, and she put her knowledge to good use. She was two-under at the turn and was disappointed to bogey the short 17th and to only par the 18th.
“I felt I left a couple of shots out there but overall I’m quite happy,” said Claire who has already won two top scratch events this season.
Hannah Grant, 19, from Enmore in Somerset, had a stunning finish to her round, with an eagle and a birdie in her last three holes for one-under par 71. After the second stroke-play round the top 32 players will go forward to the match-play stages of the championship, which start on Thursday.
Online scoring: www.englishladiesgolf.org

TRICIA MANGAN LOSES GRIP ON IRISH WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AT LAHINCH
Defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell’s hopes of securing a third successive Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship ended at Lahinch Golf Club today when she was beaten at the 19th by Irish international Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) in a morning second-round tie..
McDonnell lost the 15th and a one-hole lead when she failed to get up and down from off the green. An expensive three putts saw the 16th halved before Tricia lost the 17th after missing the green left.
A solid par on 18 saw the tie go to extra time where Sinead slotted a downhill 8ft birdie putt to advance to the last eight.
O'Sullivan was herself knocked out of the championship in the afternoon quarter-finals. She was beaten 6 and 5 by Marian Riordan (Tipperary). Marian was in devastating form on the outward half, and had a three-hole lead at the turn.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) continued to impress the sizeable galleries as she despatched both Catherine Tucker (Limerick) and Sinea Keane (The Curragh). Fairway-splitting tee shots and tidy iron play saw the talented 12-year-old cope with everything her opponents could muster. She now faces a semi-final against Marian Riordan.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) showed exceptional short game skills when she saw off the 2004 champion, Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) by 4 and 3. Karen now plays Maura Morrin (The Curragh) who beat her younger sister and fellow student at Kent State University, Ohio - Tara Delaney by one hole in the quarter-finals.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP - SECOND ROUND
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Holli Snelling (Killarney) 3&2.
Maura Morrin (The Curragh) bt Mary Dowling (New Ross) 1 hole.
Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 5&4.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 2&1.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 4&3.
Sinead Keane (The Curragh) bt Maria Dunne (Skerries) 3&2.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) 5&4.
Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) bt Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Morrin bt T Delaney 1 hole.
K Delaney bt D Smith 4 and 3.
Maguire bt Keane 5 and 4.
Riordan bt O'Sullivan 6 and 5.
ITA WALLACE TROPHY - SEMI-FINALS
Sarah Carty (The Island) beat Anne McCormack (Roscommon) at 19th.
Helen Jones (Strabane) beat Jean Farrell (Youghal) at 19th.

NCLGA OPEN DAY AT STRATHPEFFER
The Northern Counties Ladies Golf Association had an open county day at Strathpeffer Spa last week when association president Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) returned the best gross score, a 78.
The Silver Division Handicap results were:
Lorraine Nixon (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (18) 61; Eilidh Syrjanen (Strathpeffer Spa) (13) 67; Maureen Ritchie (Muir of Ord) (17) 69.
Bronze Division - Aline Drummond (Fortrose & Rosemarkie ) (22) 65.
The next NCLGA county open is a first visit to the Isle of Skye Golf Club at Sconsor.
Meanwhile a touring group of 21 Northern members from Orkney arrived on the mainland on Monday to play at Royal Dornoch, Muir of Ord, Grantown on Spey, Inverness and Invergordon during the week.


Monday 21st May 2007

TOP QUALIFIER BREANNE LOUCKS IN LAST FOUR OF WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP
Top seed Breanne Loucks, the Curtis Cup player from Wrexham, has won her way through to the last four of the Welsh women's (closed) amateur championship at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech.
In the first of Tuesday morning's semi-finals, Breanne will play Lucy Gould (Bargoed), the 2002 and 2003 Welsh girls' champion, who has been playing on the US women's college circuit for East Tennessee State University over the past year or two.
Breanne beat clubmate Jo Nicolson by 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals in which Lucy beat Becky Harries (Haverfordwest), who lost in the final to Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) last year.
Stephanie lost her grip on the trophy when she was beaten by Sahra Hassan, the 2005 Welsh girls champion from Vale of Glamorgan. Sahra won their quarter-final tie by 2 and 1.
Now Miss Hassan plays Tara Davies, the Welsh girls title-winner in 2004 and 2006, in the second semi-final.
In the Welsh senior women's match-play championship at the same venue, former Curtis Cup player and many times Welsh women's champion, is through to her third final in a row. Winner of the seniors title for the past two years, Vicki plays Ann Lewis (Royal St David's) in Tuesday's final.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
First round - Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) bt Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 7 and 6, Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) bt Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 2 and 1, Lucy Gould (Bargoed) bt Beth Davies (Mold) 3 and 1, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) bt Hayley Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) 6 and 5, Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 3 and 2, Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) bt Rachael Lewis (Newport) 4 and 2, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) bt Hannah Jenkins (Creadoc) 1 hole, Tara Davies (Holyhead) bt Kirsty O'Connor (Nelson) 5 and 3.
Quarter-finals - Loucks bt Nicolson 3 and 2, Gould bt Harries 5 and 4, Hassan bt Evans 2 and 1, Davies bt Gobey 4 and 3.
SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
First round - Denise Richards (Bargoed) bt Anna Dywer 4 and 2, Chris Wheatley (Royal St David's) bt Fiona Parkin 5 and 4, Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe) bt Ann Owen 7 and 5, Trudy Carradice (Pyle & Kenfig) bt Heather Morgan 4 and 3, Sue Payne (Royal St David's) bt Marion Thomas 1 hole, Pam Valentine (Royal St David's) bt Delyth Tuffnell 2 holes, Ann Lewis (Royal St St David's) bt Gillian Roberts 9 and 8.
Quarter-finals - Thomas bt Richards 4 and 2, Doleman bt Wheatley 6 and 5, Payne bt Carradice 7 and 5, Lewis bt Valentine 7 and 6.
Semi-finals - Thomas bt Doleman 5 and 4, Lewis bt Payne 7 and 5.

New Scottish Champion Jenna Wilson heads a large Scottish entry for the British Championship
There will be 18 Scots travelling to Alwoodley, Leeds for the British women’s open amateur championship from June 12 to 16.
The Ladies Golf Union has announced that all entrants with handicaps of 0.8 or better have had their entries accepted.
The Scots are:
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) +2.5.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) +2.4.
Carly Booth (Comrie) +2.3.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) +1.9.
Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) +1.3.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) +1.1.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff) +1.0.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) +1.0.
Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) +0.6.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) +0.5.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh) +0.4.
Lauren Mackin (Majorca) 0.0.
Laura Murray (Alford) 0.1
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 0.2
Sara Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 0.4
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 0.4
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 0.4.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 0.5.
ON WAITING LIST
Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 2.4.

EILEEN ROSE POWER KOs MARY McKENNA IN BATTLE OF PAST IRISH CHAMPIONS
Leading qualifier Tara Delaney (Carlow) safely negotiated Charlotte Crowe’s challenge to make it through to the last 16 at the Lancôme Irish women's (close) championship at Lahinch in Co. Clare today.
Delaney, attempting to add her first Irish close match-play title to her brace of Irish open stroke-plays, was once again comfortably in control of her game in blustery conditions. She now faces up-and-coming Holli Snelling (Killarney).
Current internationals Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) also advanced, the latter just edging through on the home green after a nail-biting encounter with Woodenbridge rookie Louise Mernagh.
Defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell (Ennis), pictured above, overcame a gutsy display from Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) while Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) ended the hopes of Mary McKenna (Donabate) adding to her hatful of titles.
Twelve-year-old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) suffered different fates in their first-round encounters. Lisa continued her impressive form by ending the hopes of Irish junior international Vicki Power (Dundalk) on the 15th green while Leona was unlucky to lose out at the first extra hole to US collegiate Karen Delaney (Carlow).
Match of the day saw current international Sinead O’Sullivan find the bottom of the cup from over 40ft to halve the 19th hole with ever-improving Karen O’Neill (Douglas). O’Sullivan then drew on all of her experience to edge out her formidable opponent at the 20th.Sixteen continue to contest the championship over the next two days with the winner emerging on Wednesday afternoon.
The four provinces are each represented in the semi-final line-up of the Ita Wallace Trophy for non-qualifiers. This concludes tomorrow afternoon.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) 3&1.
Holli Snelling (Killarney) bt Ciara Butler (Newlands) 3&1.
Maura Morrin (The Curragh) bt Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) 4&3.
Mary Dowling (New Ross) bt Orla Barry (Galway) 5&4.
Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 4&3.
Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 5&4.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) at 19th.
Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) bt Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 1 hole.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Vicki Power (Brampton Park) 5&3.
Catherine Tucker (Limerick) bt Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 2&1.
Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Gertie McMullen (The Island) 5&3.
Sinead Keane (The Curragh) bt Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) 8&6.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) 3&2.
Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) bt Mary McKenna (Donabate) 3&2.
Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) bt Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 2 holes.
Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) bt Karen O'Neill (Douglas) at 20th
ITA WALLACE TROPHY
Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 7&6.
Anne McCormack (Roscommon) bt Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) 4&3.
Sarah Carty (The Island) bt Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) 5&4.
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 1 hole.
Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) bt Hannah McInerney (Gort) 2&1.
Helen Jones (Strabane) bt Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) 2&1
Jean Farrell (Youghal) bt Anna O’Brien(Athlone) 5&4.
Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) beat Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) 4&3.

R&A'S WORLD RANKINGS WILL DETERMINE FIELD FOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME
The World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), a weekly performance table of the world’s top 1,200 players in men’s amateur golf, has been used for the first time to determine the field for the Amateur Championship that will be played this year at Royal Lytham & St Annes and St Annes Old Links from June 18-23.
Created by The R&A as the universal standard for entry into the Amateur Championship, the ranking is a weekly table of playing performance for the world's top amateur players in 450 ranking events and currently includes players from almost 50 countries.
National handicapping systems will no longer be used as the primary condition to identify the international starting field of 288 players in the Amateur. An established number of exempt players will be joined by the leading players that enter from those in the top 800 of the new R&A ranking.
The R&A first proposed the WAGR as a means of clarifying entry into its championships but an 18-month trial introduction has gone further, with the criteria now seen as a valid indicator of player rankings throughout the elite amateur game.
Director of The R&A, Mike Tate, said: “WAGR clearly identifies the top amateur players in the world based on current form and presents them with the opportunity to play in the Amateur Championship."
Dates and venues for all R&A championships and the Walker Cup this year are:
Boys' Home Internationals, Machynys Peninsula, August 7-9.
Seniors Open Amateur Championship, Nairn and Nairn Dunbar, August 8-10.
Boys' Amateur Championship, Royal Porthcawl, August 13-18.
British Mid-Amateur Championship, Alwoodley, August 15-19.
Jacques Leglise Trophy, Notts, August 31-September 1.
Walker Cup, Royal County Down, September 8.

ST RULE TROPHY NEWS: JODI OUT, TARA IN
Jodi Ewart (Catterick), who has done so well in her freshman year at New Mexico University, has had to withdraw from the field for the St Rule Trophy the weekend after next. She has been replaced by Tara Davies (Holyhead).
Jodi will be playing in the NCAA Division 1 women's championship, leaving her not enough time to get back to Britain for the St Rule Trophy.

Slideshow of the Scottish Championship
Aileen Hunter has sent me a slideshow of the Scottish Ladies Championship, including scenes from "The Hut" and the Friday night party. It's a big file (over 5MB) and if you want to watch it you'll need broadband, Flash and a bit of patience as it takes a while to download.. Oh Yes.... and turn off your sound unless you want everyone in your office to know that you are not working! You have been warned!

VIKKI DOUBLES HER MONEY WITH JT THIRD FINISH AT KANSAS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
The improving Vikki Laing doubled her money from seven events on the US Futures Tour this season to $6,640 by finishing joint third on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship over a very tough 6,277yd, par-72 course at Leawood South Country Club.
Vikki, from Musselburgh but resident in America since her four years at the University of California Berkeley, earned $3,920 for scoring 71, 74 and 75 for a seven-over-par total of 220 over what was, by common consent, the toughest course the Futures Tour has visited this year – thick rough, narrow fairways, hard greens.
Former US Curtis Cup player Liz Janangelo from West Hartford beat former LPGA Tour player Emily Bastel from Ohio at the third extra hole of a play-off to take the $11,200 top prize after they had tied on four-over 217 at the end of three rounds.
Janangelo, who played for the US against GB&I at Formby in 2004, had rounds of 70, 71 and 76, was scoring her second win of the season. She tops the Futures Tour money table with $28,526. Bastel, a former LPGA Tour player, scored 70, 75 and 72. Her pay cheque was for $8,000.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
217 Liz Janangelo (Connecticut) 70 71 76, Emily Bastel (Ohio) 70 75 72 (Janangelo won play-off at third hole).
220 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 71 74 75, Rachel Bailey (Australia) 77 72 71, Allison Fouch (Michigan 74 75 71, Kim Augusta (Rhode Island) 70 74 76.


Sunday 20th May 2007

LEADING QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY STAGES OF THE WELSH WOMEN'S MATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
147 Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) 76 71.
148 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 75 73.
151 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 76.
154 Becky Harries (Haverford West) 75 79.
155 Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 79 76, Stephanie Evans (Val of Llangollen) 79 76, Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) 77 78.
158 Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) 78 80.
160 Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 80, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 79 81.
163 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 84 79.
164 Rachael Lewis (Newport, Gwent) 84 80.
165 Beth Davies (Mold) 87 78, Hayley Boulden (Llandudno, Maesdu) 82 83, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 85, Kirsty O'Connor (Nelson) 79 86.
167 Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 84 83, Amy Rees (Southerndown) 82 85.
168 Laura King (Ruthin-Pwllglas) 81 87.
169 Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdhu) 85 84, Sarah Morgan (Mountain Ash) 85 84, Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 84 85.
170 Rosie Vaughan-Jones (Carmarthen) 83 87.
174 Danielle Cobley (Newport (Gwent)) 87 87.

TARA DELANEY HEADS QUALIFIERS FOR IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY
Tara Delaney (Carlow), pictured right, led the qualifiers at a blustery Lahinch in the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship and faces a tricky assignment against the experienced Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) when the match-play stages get underway on Monday morning.
As Saturday’s gales abated, Tara, a Kent State University, Ohio student, was in devastating form, birdieng 1, 5, 8 and 9 to turn two under par. Further birdies at 12, 14 and 15 saw her complete her four under par best-of-the-day 70.
Holli Snelling (Killarney) had a double celebration when she followed her eagle at the first with a hole in one at the 133 yard 11th hole. Her six-iron found the bottom of the cup on her way to a comfortable 81.
Elsewhere, defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell from Ennis safely made it through with a resounding 76 while Maura Morrin (The Curragh) added a 79 to ease her qualification worries. Overnight leader Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) followed her sensational 74 with an equally impressive 77 to qualify second.
Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey/Stranorlar) proved the most unlucky competitor when she was the only player to lose out in the five-way play-off for the last four places.
Some interesting pairings on Monday. McDonnell plays Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) while Lisa Maguire has a tricky assignment with girls international Vicki Power (Dundalk) while sister Leona plays Karen Delaney (Carlow).
The battle of past champions sees Donabate’s Mary McKenna pitted against Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny).
The Championship runs Monday through Wednesday while those in positions 33 through 48 play for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
CSS 80 74.
150 Tara Delaney (Carlow) 80 70.
151 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) 74 77.
156 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 83 73, Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 80 76.
158 Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) 85 73, Sinead Keane (The Curragh) 80 78.
159 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) 80 79, Mary Dowling (New Ross) 79 80.
160 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) 87 73, Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) 81 79.
161 Maria Dunne (Skerries) 84 77, Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 83 78.
162 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 85 77.
163 Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 88 75, Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 83 80, Holli Snelling (Killarney) 82 81.
164 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 86 78.
166 Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) 90 76, Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 89 77.
167 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 88 79, Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 86 81.
168 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 86 82, Mary McKenna (Donabate) 81 87.
169 Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 90 79, Orla Barry (Galway) 87 82.
170 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) 89 81, Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) 86 84, Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 86 84.
171 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 97 74, Vicki Power (Dundalk) 91 80, Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 90 81, Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) 85 86.
ITA WALLACE TROPHY
171 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) 92 79.
172 Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) 89 83.
173 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) 96 77, Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) 93 80.
174 Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) 92 82, Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) 89 85, Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 84 90.
175 Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) 95 80, Jean Farrell (Youghal) 86 89.
176 Helen Jones (Strabane) 88 88.
178 Sarah Carty (The Island) 96 82.
179 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 91 88, Hannah McInerney (Gort) 89 90.
180 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) 94 86.
181 Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 98 83, Anna O'Brien (Athlone) 92 89.
NON-QUALIFIERS
182 Val Shannon (Douglas) 97 85 Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) 93 89.
183 Carmel Kearney (Mallow) 98 85
184 Judith McGann (Gort) 92 92
185 Fiona Healy (Headfort) 100 85 Zarah O'Reilly (Castle) 98 87 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 95 90 Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) 92 93 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) 85 100
187 Mary-T Real (Ballykisteen) 92 95
188 Fiona Carroll (Athenry) 92 96
193 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 105 88 Majella Hallinan (Ballykisteen) 103 90
194 Theresa Delahunty (Rathowney) 99 95 Karen Twomey (Spanish Point) 97 97
196 Lynda Maher (Charleville) 94 102
197 Marie Carr (Athenry) 103 94
206 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix) 104 102
207 Julie Barkman (Nenagh) 114 93 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) 107 100
Other scores:
162 Mary Sheehy (Tralee) 85 77
174 Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) 89 85 Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook) 88 86
180 Nora O'Connor (Mallow) 85 95
197 Kay Bermingham (Youghal) 97 100
198 Cathryn Mannion (Athlone) 103 95
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
10:30 Tara Delaney (Carlow) v Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary).
10:39 Ciara Butler (Newlands) v Holli Snelling (Killarney).
10:48 Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) v Maura Morrin (The Curragh).
10:57 Orla Barry (Galway) v Mary Dowling (New Ross).
11:06 Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) v Valerie Hassett (Ennis).
11:15 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) v Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne).
11:24 Karen Delaney (Carlow) v Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell).
11:33 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) v Niamh Kitching (Claremorris).
11:42 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) v Vicki Power (Brampton Park).
11:51 Catherine Tucker (Limerick) v Margaret Hayes (Tralee).
12:00 Maria Dunne (Skerries) v Gertie McMullen (The Island).
12:09 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) v Sinead Keane (The Curragh).
12:18 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) v Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin).
12:27 Mary McKenna (Donabate) v Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny).
12:36 Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) v Tricia McDonnell (Ennis).
12:45 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) v Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway).
ITA WALLACE MATCH-PLAY
9:00 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) v Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel).
9:09 Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) v Anne McCormack (Roscommon).
9:18 Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) v Sarah Carty (The Island).
9:27 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) v Kate Gallagher (Claremorris).
9:36 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) v Hannah McInerney (Gort).
9:45 Helen Jones (Strabane) v Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook).
9:54 Anna O’Brien(Athlone) v Jean Farrell (Youghal).
10:03 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) v Sarah Crowe (Tipperary).

CLARE QUEEN WINS 7,577 EUROS FOR JOINT 13th PLACE FINISH IN LADIES' SWISS OPEN
Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) earned herself Euros 7,577 for a joint 13th place finish in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone, Switzerland today.
Clare had rounds of 73, 71, 76 and 70 for two-over-par 290. In her final round she birdied the third, fourth and eighth and dropped only one shot at the fourth. After her birdie at the eighth she covered the remaining 10 holes in level par with a regulation figure at each.
Kathryn Imrie finished a shot behind her compatriot on three-over 291 with scores of 76, 73, 698 and 73. Kathryn's patchy last round had birdies at the eighth, 11th and 15th but a double bogey at the ninth and single bogeys at the third and fifth.
At the top of the leaderboard there was a three-way play-off for the title at the first prtize of 45,018 Euros.
It was won by 24-year-old German Bettina Hauert who thus scored her maiden professional win. She birdied the last seven holes she played, the 16th, 17th and 18th to return a fourth-round 72 and then a birdie at each of the four play-off holes, all of them halved at the last one.
The other play-off contestants were Paula Martin (Spain) who had birdied the 17th and 18th to get into the play-off and Anna Rawson (Australia) who birdied the 18th to tie on 285.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
285 Bettina Hauert (Germany) 68 73 72 72, Paula Marti (Spain) 73 73 69 70, Anna Rawson (Australia) 72 72 69 72 (Hauert won play-off at fourth extra hole).
286 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Denmark) 74 71 71 70.
287 Trish Johnson (England) 74 73 71 69, Eleanor Polgrim (Wales) 68 75 70 74.
Other totals:
290 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 73 71 76 70.
291 Kathryn Imrie (Monifieth) 76 73 69 73.

FINDLAY FIGURES IN BIRDIE BLITZ AND HE’S HEADING FOR NCAA GRAND FINALE
Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay will play in the NCAA Division 1 championships – the season-ending high spot of the American college golf season at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Williamsburg in Virginia.
Findlay, pictured right, and the rest of the East Tennessee State University won their place in the grand finale from May 30 to June 2 with a birdie blitz in a play-off against the five-man teams of Wake Forest University and Oregon State University in the NCAA Division 1 West Regional qualifying tournament.
Only the leading 10 teams go forward from a field of 27 colleges. East Tennessee State, Wake Forest and Oregon State tied for the last two places on 839.
In blistering hot temperatures on the Arizona desert course – the thermometer touched 99 degrees at its peak – the four players from each team had to play a sudden-death play-off.
East Tennessee State’s quartet – Jordan Findlay, Welsh Walker Cup player Rhys Davies and Irishmen Cian McNamara and Seamus Power – all birdied the first play-off hole to ensure their college team gained ninth place. Wake Forest won the 10th.
It was a great finish to a tournament in which Findlay did not do well over the regulation 54 holes. He had rounds of 76, 77 and 76 – including one triple bogey and three double bogeys – for a total of 13-over-par 229 over a 7,057yd, par-72 course which was playing short in the heat.
Jordan finished joint 131st in the field of 141 players but that was all forgotten as he added his play-off birdie to book the team’s trip to Virginia.
Rhys Davies scored 70, 67 and 68 to gain joint 14th place on four-under-par 205, seven shots behind the winner, Benjamin Alvarado (Arizona State) with 67, 65 and 66 for 198.
Augusta State’s Wallace Booth from Comrie finished tied 23rd on 207 with three rounds of 69.
INDIVIDUAL SCOREBOARD
198 Benjamin Alvarado (Arizona State) 67 65 66.
201 Kevin Chappell (UCLA) 66 68 67, Jon Curran (Vanderbilt0 71 65 65, Jamie Lovemark (Southern California) 69 63 69.
Other scores:
205 Rhys Davies (East Tenneessee State) 70 67 68 (jt 14th).
207 Wallace Booth (Augusta State) 69 69 69, Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 70 70 67 (jt 23rd).
216 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 69 74 73 (jt 81st).
229 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 76 77 76 (jt 131st).
TEAM TOTALS
820 South Carolina.
822 UCLA.
824 Southern California, Arizona State.
Other qualifiers:
839 (after play-off) East Tennessee State, Wake Forest.

MACAULAY’S LAST ROUND ON AMERICAN COLLEGE CIRCUIT
Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay had a disappointing end to his four years on the American college golf circuit as a student at the University of Mississippi.
Callum finished joint 90th in a field of 141 for the NCAA Division 1 men’s East Regional qualifying tournament for the NCAA championship grand final at the end of the month.
Macaulay had rounds of 79 72 and 69 for a total of 230.
Mississippi needed to finish in the top 10 to go forward to the NCAA championship but came 17th of 27.
Russell Knox (Jacksonville University) was the leading British player in joint 23rd place. A final round of 68 after scores of 74 and 78 boosted him 50 places in the final standings with a total of 220.
Knox, like Macaulay, playing his last round of college golf in the States had an eagle 2 at the fourth and an eagle 3 at the long 18th in halves of 33 and 35.
Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville University) had erratic rounds of 82, 71 and 81 for a share of 105th place on 234.
Billy Hotschel (Florida) and Brendan Todd (Georgia) tied at the top of the leaderboard on 210 over the par-72, 7,017yd course at the Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta.

VIKKI LAING SHOWING SIGNS OF TURNING CORNER IN HER TOUR PRO CAREER
Vikki Laing, the one-time wonder girl golfer from Musselburgh whose brilliant amateur career did not transfer with her to the professional ranks, may be turning the corner at last.
Based in America since she spent four years at the University of California, Berkeley, the 26-year-old’s form on the United States Futures Tour has taken an upsurge in the month of May. She is starting to make 36-hole cuts on a regular basis and, more important, achieve top-10 finishes.
In the weekend $80,000 Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship of Kansas City at Leawood South Country Club, Vikki scored 71 and 74 for three-over-par 145 over a testing 6,277yd, par-71 lay-out, to be lying in joint third place, four shots off the pace, going into the final round.
“I’ve three-putted three times in both rounds but still took only 28 putts in the second round,” said Vikki who won the Scottish Under-18 girls title four years in a row in the 1990s and also the Scottish Under-21 title before gaining Curtis Cup honours.
“I had one of those days when I got up and down from everywhere. The whole thing at this tournament is the rough. This is the toughest course by par we’ve played this season but it’s fair. The rough is going to punish you if you’re in there but the greens are pure.
LEADERBOARD
141 Liz Janangelo (Connecticutt) 70 71.
144 Kim Augusta (Rhode Island) 70 74.
145 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 71 74, Emily Bastel (Ohio) 70 75, Sin Ah Ham (California) 76 69, Jana Peterkova (Czech Rep0 75 70, Ji Min Jeong (Korea) 71 74.
MISSED CUT (at 157)
164 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 85 79.
166 Natasha Morgan (South Wales) (am) 85 81.

ANGUS TEAM FOR CRUDEN BAY JAMBOREE
Angus have named their team for the Northern Division women's inter-county team championship at Cruden Bay from June 23 to 25.
It is:
Heather Anderson (Downfield).
Dawn Dewar (Monifieth).
Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie).
Frances Millar (Carnoustie).
Shonagh Raitt (Forfar).
Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir).
Mary Summers (Panmure Barry).
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
Reserves:
Elaine Easton (Brechin).
Aileen Hunter (Monifieth).
*Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) and Rebecca Wilson were not available for selection.


Saturday 19th May 2007

Photos from the Scottish Ladies Championship at Barassie


Scottish Champion 2007
Jenna Wilson


Trophy Winners today
L to R: Michele Thomson (beaten semifinalist), Emily Ogilvy (runner-up), Scottish Champion Jenna Wilson, Heather Macrae (beaten semi-finalist), Wendy Nicholson (Clark Rosebowl winner)


Trophy winners after the Strokeplay qualifying rounds
Back Row L to R: Dawn Dewar, Aileen Hunter, Rebecca Wilson, Michele Thomson
Front Row L to R: Elaine Moffat, Jenna Wilson, Emily Ogilvy

JENNA WILSON WINS SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AMATEUR TITLE
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven won the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship for the first time at Kilmarnock Barassie today (Saturday).
In very windy and often wet conditions, the 22-year-old Scotland international beat Emily Ogilvy, a 23-year-old uncapped Auchterarder player, by 2 and 1 in the 18-hole final.
It was fitting that Emily gave Jenna her hardest game of the championship. Miss Wilson had not had to play the last four holes since the qualifying rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday but there was no way she was going to reproduce the sub-par golf that had swept her through the earlier ties.
“In many ways, these were the toughest conditions of the week – and apart from Tuesday, it’s been either wet or windy or both every day,” said Jenna.
“I stay focused right from the start of the championship and it’s a nice feeling to be Scottish champion. I’ve been once to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School and I will be going back there again later in the year.
“Becoming a tour pro is my future.”
Emily, who played four years on the American circuit as a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, boosted her confidence with a three-under-par 72 to lead the first qualifying round.
“That gave me the confidence to win my way through to the final. I only wish I had been able to putt as well in the final as I did on Tuesday. I just couldn’t hole any puts at all. But I enjoyed the whole week tremendously. To get to the final was almost beyond my wildest dreams."
The first two holes were exchanged before Jenna got her first birdie downwind at the long fifth. But Miss Ogilvy wasn’t phased by that. She promptly squared the match with a birdie 2 at the short sixth.
Miss Wilson then won the seventh and the eighth with par figures to be two up at the turn in roughly par or one-over par figures.
A birdie 3 at the 10th put Jenna seemingly in the driving seat with a three-hole lead. But give Emily credit for hanging on in there against an opponent with much more experience of top-level amateur play.
Miss Ogilvy, from Dunning in Perthshire, was able to win back the 11th and 13th with par 4s as heavy rain swept the course.
When Jenna Wilson ran up a double-bogey in deep rough at the short 14th, Emily was able to square the match with a bogey 4.
Jenna took it all in her stride. Now facing playing the last four holes for the first time since Wednesday, she won the 15th and 16th with par figures – Emily missing a three-footer for a half at the 16th.
A half in 5 at the 17th gave Jenna a 2 and 1 victory in roughly three over par figures and the coveted title.
The pace of play was admirable. The 17 holes were completed in 3hr 10min.
Result:
Final – Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 2 and 1.

SLGA NAME TEAMS FOR THREE STROKE-PLAY EVENTS
The following Scotland teams were named by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association after the championship concluded at Kilmarnock Barassie today:
St Rule Trophy, St Andrews, June 2-3: 1 Krystle Caithness, 2 Heather MacRaem 3 Jenna Wilson. Reserves: 1 Emily Ogilvy, 2 Michele Thomson.
Ladies British open amateur championship - Alwoodley, Leeds, June 12-16: 1 Krystle Caithness, 2 Heather MacRae, 3 Jenna Wilson. Reserves: 1 Sally Watson, 2 Carly Booth, 3 Emily Ogilvy.
Irish women's open amateur championship - Clandeboyne, June 30-July 1: 1 Claire Hargan, 2 Elaine Moffat. Reserve: 1 Sara Bishop.

KATHRYN IMRIE'S THIRD-ROUND 69 PUTS HER ONLY FIVE SHOTS BEHIND LEADERS IN SWITZERLAND
Monifieth's Kathryn Imrie had one of the best third rounds of the day - a three-under-par 69 - in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone in Switzerland.
Kathryn is on two-over-par 218 --five shots off the foursome setting the pace.
Clare Queen and Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon both had third-round 76s.
Miss Queen is on 220, one shot behind Liz.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Anna Rawson (Aus) 72 72 69, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 68 75 70, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 69 73 71, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 73 72
215 Paula Marti (Spa) 73 73 69
216 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 73 75 68, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 74 71 71, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 75 70 71
217 Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 70 74 73, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72 76
218 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 76 73 69, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 71 77 70, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 74 74 70, Trish Johnson (Eng) 74 73 71, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) (am) 73 72 73, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 77 73, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 74 70 74
219 Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 75 74 70, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 73 76 70, Carlie Butler (Aus) 76 72 71, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 72 75 72, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 75 72, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 75 72 72, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 72 75 72, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 71 75 73, Mianne Bagger (Den) 75 71 73, Stefania Croce (Ita) 73 72 74, Caroline Rominger (Am) (Swi) 73 72 74, Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ) 70 73 76, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 68 74 77
220 Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 77 72 71, Rebecca Stevenson (Aus) 73 74 73, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 76 73, Helena Alterby (Swe) 73 73 74, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 72 73 75, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 72 72 76, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 73 76, Clare Queen (Sco) 73 71 76, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 69 75 76
221 Kris Lindstrom (US) 73 76 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 74 74 73, Louise Stahle (Swe) 72 75 74, Anna Rossi (Ita) 76 71 74, Mette Buus (Den) 75 72 74, Lisa Hall (Eng) 76 71 74, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 75 75, Shani Waugh (Aus) 70 73 78
222 Fame More (Eng) 75 74 73, Anja Monke (Ger) 74 73 75, Lisa Jean (Aus) 72 74 76, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 72 77, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 71 73 78, Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 73 78
223 Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 73 76 74, Danielle Masters (Eng) 78 71 74, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 73 76 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 76 73 74, Natascha Fink (Aut) 74 75 74, Samantha Head (Eng) 74 74 75, Amy Yang (Kor) 73 74 76, Louise Friberg (Swe) 72 75 76, Marta Prieto (Spa) 76 71 76, Diana Luna (Ita) 69 78 76, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 72 75 76, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 74 77
225 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 73 75 77
227 Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 73 76 78, Sarah Heath (Eng) 73 74 80.

TITLE-HOLDER TRICIA IS BLOWN AWAY TO A 90 IN FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND OF "IRISH"
Defending champion Tricia McDonnell from the Ennis club found the going frustratingly tough at a windswept Lahinch in the first round of the Lancôme Irish women's (close) amateur championship today.
McDonnell, better known by her maiden name of Tricia Mangan, returned a dis-satisfying 90 as the Atlantic winds swept across the famously challenging links where the field battled bravely to keep the ball in play. Conditions on the undulating greens were particularly difficult with gusting winds making putting extremely arduous.
Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway), one of only two players to break 80, carded four birdies in a magnificent level par 74, covering the back nine holes in two under par.
Next best was Mary Dowling (New Ross) who birdied the seventh on her way to a 79.
Course record holder Marian Riordan (Tipperary), matched Tara Delaney (Carlow), Sinead Keane (The Curragh) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) with 80 while Mary McKenna (Donabate), who was one under par for the inward nine, and Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) were one shot further back on 81.
The in-form Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona struggled in the blustery conditions and carded 83 and 88 respectively.
Leitrim Cup qualifying concludes on Sunday with a second 18 holes after which the leading 32 players will go into the championship draw on Monday, concluding Wednesday afternoon. Players and tournament officials will be hoping for winds to abate overnight and more benign conditions to greet the players in the morning.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
(CSS 80)
74 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway)
79 Mary Dowling (New Ross)
80 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) Sinead Keane (The Curragh) Tara Delaney (Carlow)
81 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) Mary McKenna (Donabate)
82 Holli Snelling (Killarney)
83 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
84 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) Maria Dunne (Skerries)
85 Ciara Butler (Newlands) Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Mary Sheehy (Tralee) Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
86 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Jean Farrell (Youghal) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
87 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) Orla Barry (Galway)
88 Helen Jones (Strabane) Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) Margaret Hayes (Tralee) Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook)
89 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) Catherine Tucker (Limerick) Hannah McInerney (Gort) Nora O'Connor (Mallow) Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) Sarah Crowe (Tipperary)
90 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) Maura Morrin (The Curragh) Tricia McDonnell (Ennis)
91 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
92 Anna O'Brien (Athlone) Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) Fiona Carroll (Athenry) Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) Judith McGann (Gort) Mary-T Real (Ballykisteen) Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange)
93 Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) Kate Gallagher (Claremorris)
94 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) Lynda Maher (Charleville)
95 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary)
96 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) Sarah Carty (The Island)
97 Karen Twomey (Spanish Point) Kay Bermingham (Youghal) Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Val Shannon (Douglas)
98 Carmel Kearney (Mallow) Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) Zarah O'Reilly (Castle)
99 Theresa Delahunty (Rathowney)
100 Fiona Healy (Headfort)
103 Cathryn Mannion (Athlone) Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) Majella Hallinan (Ballykisteen) Marie Carr (Athenry)
104 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix)
105 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
107 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
114 Julie Barkman (Nenagh)

VIKKI ONE OFF THE PACE IN KANSAS CITY
Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing continued her improved run of form on the United States Futures Tour with one-under-par 71 in the first round of the $80,000 Mercedes Benz of Kansas City Championship at the Leawood South Country Club.
Vikki had an undistinguished outward half of two-over-par 38 over the 6,277, par-71 course before finding her touch with an inward two-under-par 33.
She is in joint fifth place, one shot behind the four joint leaders, Kim Augusta (Rhode Island), Brandi Jackson (South Carolina), Liz Janangelo (Connecticutt) and Emily Bastel (Ohio).
Natasha Morgan, from South Wales, a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, had an 85 (41-44).


Friday 18th May 2007

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES FOR SCOTTISH FINALIST EMILY FROM DUNNING!
Last Sunday, Emily Ogilvy, pictured right, from Dunning, an Auchterarder Golf Club member, lost in the final of the Perth & Kinross women's county championship.
Tomorrow morning at Kilmarnock Barassie, the same Emily, the No 6 qualifier, will play top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) in the 18-hole final of the 104th Scottish women's amateur golf championship.
So what's made the difference in a week for 23-year-old Emily?
"I think getting a three-under-par 72 on Tuesday in the first qualifying round really boosted my confidence and I've just taken it from there. I've had my bad moments but I like the course and I am on a roll, there's no doubt about it," said Miss Ogivly whose mum has travelled down to the Ayrshire venue.
For both 22-year-old Jenna, a Scotland international, and 23-year-old uncapped Emily Ogilvy it’s a first time in the national final.
“I won’t lose any sleep worrying about it. I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to it. I don’t suffer from nerves,” said Jenna, confident without being cocksure..
But Emily, who played four years on the American college golf circuit while a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, says she will be nervous – “very nervous, in fact!”
Jenna, pictured left, has been the most impressive performer all week and will start red-hot favourite. She was three under par in beating title-holder Martine Pow (Selkirk) by 7 and 6 in the morning quarter-finals and again three under par in beating the No 5 seed Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) by 5 and 4 even though the conditions suddenly deteriorated in mid-afternoon to a half-gale and lashing rain.
Miss Wilson has not had to play the last four holes since the match-play stages started.
"Jenna played very well but there was no excuse for me being six over par for the last five holes of the match. It just suddenly went all wrong for me. I had to take two penalty drops, I missed two putts of about 2 1/2 feet and I lost a ball. I had been playing so well until the semi-final. I lost in the semi-final last year," said Heather.
Emily Ogilvy, who has almost certainly earned herself a first Scotland honour in the team for the women's home internationals in September, cut the giant-killing Australian-born Edwina Lowery-Gold from Norwich - shock conqueror of Krystle Caithness - down to size in the quarter-finals by 3 and 1 and then produced a birdie at the 20th hole to win a cliff-hanger against 19-year-old Aberdeenshire county champion Michele Thomson from Ellon.
Emily was three up after five but big-hitting Michele clawed her way back to all square after 15 only to make a mess of the 17th and be one down playing the 18th.
Michele bravely holed a 5ft putt for par to square the contest on the 18th green but could not match Emily’s three-iron, nine-iron and 10ft putt for a birdie 3 at the 376yd second extra hole.
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) 5 and 4.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) at 20th.
CLARK ROSEBOWL FINAL
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 2 and 1.

INVERNESS-BASED KIWI LIZ IS IN CONTENTION AFTER 36 HOLES OF LADIES' SWISS OPEN
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon is enjoyed her best performance on the Ladies European Tour.
Liz has shot rounds of 70 and 73 to be lying joint fifth on 143 after 36 holes of the Deutsche Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) and Kathryn Imrie both qualified but Lynn Kenny did not.
Clare has had rounds of 73 and 71 to be joint eighth on 144.
Kathryn Imrie scored 76 and 73 to be joint 57th on 149.
Lynn Kenny missed the cut by a big margin. She was on 155 after rounds of 77 and 78.
Germany's Bettina Hauert and Italy's Federica Piovano are joint leaders on three-under-par 141.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
141 Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 73, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72.
142 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 68 74, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 69 73.
143 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 70 73, Shani Waugh (Aus) 70 73, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 68 75.
Scots qualifiers:
144 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 73 71 (jt 8th).
149 Kathryn Imrie 76 73.
Scots non-qualifier:
155 Lynn Kenny 77 78.

Scottish women's amateur championship at Barassie
IT'S WILSON v MacRAE and OGILVY v THOMSON IN THE SEMI-FINALS

This afternoon's semi-finals in the 104th staging of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie will feature:
Top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) versus the No 5 qualifier Heather MacRae (Dunblane New)
and No 6 qualifier Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) against the No 2 seed Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven ended the title defence of Martine Pow (Selkirk) in the quarter-finals on a morning that started off very wet and windy but cleared to be bright and sunny before lunchtime.
Jenna did not lose a hole and was three under par in beating Martine in under three hours.
Jenna, pictured above, has yet to play the last four holes in the match-play stages of the championship this week. This morning she did not have to play the last six.
Jenna's only bogey came at the second which was halved. She birdied the fifth, eighth, 11th and 12th.
For Martine, it was her last ever appearance in the championship.
"I had my 42nd birthday this week and now's the time to bow out and let the youngsters take over. I'm satisfied with what I achieved in tournament golf," said the British mid-amateur champion ... a title she will not be defending.
"I just don't have the time to play and to practise enough to hold my own at this level of golf. And it's better to step down than to struggle to keep up with the full-time amateurs, etc."
Heather MacRae, again striking the ball well and hitting the par-5s with iron seconds, was a 2 and 1 winner over the 1998 champion, 39-year-old Elaine Moffat from the St Regulus Club, St Andrews.
Heather was one up after nine holes but was pulled back to square when Elaine birdied the 10th.
Heather countered with a birdie to regain the lead at the 12th and the enthralling contest continued to see-saw one way and the other. Miss Moffat squared the match at the 13th. After a series of halves, Heather finished the stronger, winning the 16th with a par (one up) and the 17th with a birdie.
Heather lost in the semi-finals to Martine Pow at Dunbar 12 months ago.
Emily Ogilvy beat the surprise packet of the match-play stages, 18-year-old Brisbane-born daughter of an Edinburgh man, Edwina Lowery-Gold who lives in Norwich.
Emily won by 3 and 1 against Edwina who yesterday knocked out the No 3 seed Megan Briggs and then claimed the scalp of British international Krystle Caithness for the second time in nine months or so.
"I won but I thought I played terribly this morning," said 23-year Emily who had a three-under-par 72 in the first qualifying round and then a 10 at a short hole in the second round.
"I just couldn't putt at all.
Despite that honest assessment, Miss Ogilvy, who played four years on the American college circuit while a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, went one up at the 11th and two up at the 14th with par figures. Edwina held her at bay with a couple of halves before Emily won the long 17th with a par for a 3 and 1 victory.
Michele Thomson was level par approximately in beating the experienced Claire Hargan from Mortonhall by 2 and 1.
Michele birdied the first, second and fifth but lost the third and fourth. Many holes were halved in this match as Miss Hargan, winner of the Midlothian county title five years in a row, hung on to the bootlace of her younger and stronger opponent.
Claire unexpectedly three-putted the 11th to fall two down but she won back the 14th with a par to be one down on the 15th tee. Two tense halves followed before Miss Thomson used her strength to birdie the long 17th for the match.
The Clark Rosebowl final will be between two Lothians players - Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Martine Pow (Selkirk) 7 and 6.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) bt Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 2 and 1.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Edwina Lowery-Gold (Eaton) 3 and 1.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 2 and 1.
CLARK ROSEBOWL SEMI-FINALS
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
Pamela Williamson (Baberton) bt Liz Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 5 and 4.

INVERNESS-BASED LIZ OPENS SWISS ACCOUNT WITH THREE-UNDER-PAR 69
Inverness-based Liz McKinnon had her best round on the Ladies European Tour for many months when she shot a three-under-par 69 on the first day of the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerere Losone in Switzerland.
Clare Queen had the best score of the Scots - a one-over-par 73.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
68 Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal), Nikki Garrett (Aus), Bettina Hauert (Ger), Frederique Seeholzer (Swi)
69 Lora Fairclough (Eng), Federica Piovano (Ita), Diana Luna (Ita), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger)
70 Shani Waugh (Aus), Elizabeth McKinnon (Nzl), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin)
71 Sarah Kemp (Aus), Becky Brewerton (Wal), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Marina Arruti (Spa), Karen Lunn (Aus), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Asa Gottmo (Swe)
72 Maria Boden (Swe), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Louise Friberg (Swe), Louise Stahle (Swe), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Anna Rawson (Aus), Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Lisa Jean (Aus), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Ana Larraneta (Spa)
73 Jo Clingan (Eng), Sarah Heath (Eng), Fany Schaeffer (Fra), Clare Queen (Sco), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Paula Marti (Spa), Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Stefania Croce (Ita), Amy Yang (Kor), Natalie Claire Booth (Eng), Bree Turnbull (Aus), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Kris Lindstrom (USA), Elisa Serramia (Spa), Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Isabella Maconi (Ita), Martina Eberl (Ger), Katharina Schallenberg (Am) (Ger), Rebecca Stevenson (Aus), Helena Alterby (Swe), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Caroline Rominger (Am) (Swi)
74 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Trish Johnson (Eng), Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Samantha Head (Eng), Anja Monke (Ger), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), HannaLeena Salonen (Fin), Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Ellen Smets (Bel), Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned), Natascha Fink (Aut), Sophie Giquel (Fra), Georgina Simpson (Eng)
75 Anna Knutsson (Swe), Anne Lise Caudal (Fra), Mianne Bagger (Den), Rebecca Hudson (Eng), Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Fame More (Eng), Kiran Matharu (Eng), Iben Tinning (Den), Rebecca Coakley (Irl), Lara Tadiotto (Bel), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Mette Buus (Den), Julie Tvede (Den)
76 Carlie Butler (Aus), Anna Rossi (Ita), Virginie Auffret (Fra), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Joanne Mills (Aus), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Denise Simon (Ger), Claire Coughlan (Irl), Kathryn Imrie (Sco), Nora Angehrn (Swi), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Marta Prieto (Spa), Marlene Hedblom (Swe), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Amanda MoltkeLeth (Den), Lisa Hall (Eng), Kirsty S Taylor (Eng), Maria Verchenova (Rus)
77 Tullia Calzavara (Ita), Ashleigh Simon (Rsa), Leah Hart (Aus), Lynn Kenny (Sco), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Florence Luscher (Swi), Sophie Walker (Eng)
78 Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Nicole Gergely (Aut), Nathalie DavidMila (Fra), Danielle Masters (Eng), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Anna Temple (USA), Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Lynn Brooky (Nzl), Liza Walters (Eng), Fanny Vuignier (Am) (Swi)
79 Sofia Renell (Swe), Anna Tybring (Swe)
81 Sara Beautell (Spa), Carmen Alonso (Spa), Anais Maggetti (Am) (Swi), Catrin Nilsmark (Swe)
82 Rikke Rasmussen (Den), Barbara Paruscio (Ita)
Ret: Cassandra Kirkland (Fra)


Thursday 17th May 2007

Scottish women's championship match-play
WIZARD FROM OZ EDWINA BEATS NO 3 SEED MEGAN, THEN KOs KRYSTLE AT 20TH TO REACH LAST EIGHT

In golfing terms, lightning struck twice for Krystle Caithness in the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.
Last summer, the St Regulus player, then 17 and favourite for the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play title at Peebles lost to an unheralded, Australian-born girl called Edwina Lowery-Gold.
Today, in the second round of the match-play stages over the Ayrshire links, their paths crossed again .... the British international team player with a +3 handicap against Edwina who has been unable to improve her three-handicap since they last played many months ago.
It should have been a easy task for Miss Caithness. Instead she was beaten at the 20th hole in what must rank as one of the shock results of this or any other Scottish championship for many a long day.
Krystle, who was two holes up after seven and still one up with the 17th and 18th to play, was pulled back to square at the 17th. The nail-biting 18th was halved ... so too was the 19th ... and then Krystle, one of the favourites for the title she will not be able to contest for the next four years after going to the University of Georgia in the autumn, drove into a bush on the left at the 20th and there was no escape for that.
Krystle, of course, was a member of the Britain women’s team who won the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa last week.
The Caithness camp were making no excuses at all but there is no doubt that Krystle has not been well since she came home from South Africa at the weekend. With tired-looking rounds of 77 and 81, she qualified in 14th place for the match-play stages – mind you, Edwina squeezed through 30th of the 32 who advanced. Her qualifying rounds were 80 and 86.
“I’m in a state of shock,” said Edwina. “I beat Krystle in the Scottish girls championship at Peebles last summer but I don’t think that had any bearing on today’s results. My handicap has not improved at all in the months since then. I thought I played better in the morning first round when I beat Megan Briggs (the third seed) by 2 and 1.”
Brisbane-born Miss Lowery-Gold is the daughter of an Edinburgh man. The family moved from Australia to England three years ago and she is a member of Eaton Golf Club, Norwich.
Now the surprise packet of the championship meets Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) in this morning’s quarter-finals.
Top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) was first into the last eight, a good hour ahead of anyone else after being Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 6 and 4. Jenna plays defending champion Martine Pow (Selkirk) who, at the age of 42, says this will be her last big tournament.
“I am going to retire satisfied with what I have achieved in golf.”
Welsh women’s open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane) will meet the 1998 Scottish title-winner, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus).
Elaine, a St Regulus, St Andrews team-mate of Krystle Caithness, reckons that a move from Edinburgh to work for Fife Council has worked wonders for her golf.
“I’m able to play a lot more golf than I have done for ages and it shows in my game,” said the 39-year-old after beating Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), the No 4 seed, by one hole.
Rachael made a bad start and was three down after six holes but fought her way back into the match to be only one down playing the last.
Miss Moffat then used here experience to play for the half that would clinch a place in the quarter-finals.
Elaine now plays Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) who was roughly level par in beating Monifieth’s Dawn Dewar, a Stirling University student, by 2 and 1.
Heather’s striking of the ball was impressive and she got home at most of the par-5s with an iron for her second shots. Dawn was one up after seven holes but Miss MacRae won the eighth, ninth and 12th and held on to her advantage.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) was two up after four holes against former Scotland international Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) who several times cut the lead to one but could not get back on terms. Emily clinched the match with a birdie at the long 17th.
Nineteen-year-old Aberdeenshire champion Michele Thomson from Ellon ended the Anne Laing run of appearing in the last six “Scottish” finals. Michele won by 4 and 3 with two-under-par figures despite a double bogey at one hole against a player who was champion in 1996, 2003 and 2004.
“What a great sport she is,” said Michele.
Michele now plays the very experienced Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) who won at the 19th against Prestwick St Nicholas player Rosalind Purdom.


SECOND ROUND
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 6 and 4.
Martine Pow (Selkirk) bt Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) bt Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) bt Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 1 hole.
Edwina Lowery-Gold (Eaton) bt Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) at 20th.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 2 and 1.
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) bt Rosalind Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) at 19th.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 4 and 3.
Scroll down for the earlier results at Kilmarnock Barassie today.
CLARK ROSEBOWL - QUARTER-FINALS
Lesley Williamson bt Jill Harrison 1 hole.,
Wendy Nicholson bt Gillian Kyle 3 and 2.
Liz Keohone bt Sarah Herd at 20th.
Pamela Williamson bt Cara Easton 4 and 3.

AUSSIE 'UNKNOWN' TOPPLES NO. 3 SEED MEGAN BRIGGS AT BARASSIE
Megan Briggs, the 17-year-old Renfrewshire women's champion for the past two years, suffered an unexpected early exit from the match-play stages of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club today.
As the No 3 qualifier, Megan was expected to get at least as far as the quarter-finals, perhaps the semi-finals, but she was ousted in the first round by a relatively unknown player from south of the Border, Edwina Lowery-Gold who won by 2 and 1.
Although Edwina, 18, is entered from Eaton Golf Club, Norwich, she is actually Australian-born, Brisbane to be precise but her father hailed from Edinburgh originally. The Lowery-Gold family moved from Australia to England three years ago and Edwina, through her father's country of birth, opted to play for Scotland - if she were good enough - and in the Scottish championships.
She made her debut at Peebles in the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship last summer and knocked out the favourite, Krystle Caithness (St Regulus)
And golf being the funny game that is is .... Edwina will cross swords with Krystle again in the second round at Barassie.
In a match that augurs well for the future of Scottish women's golf, 16-year-old Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth edged out 15-year-old Annable Niven (Crieff) at the 20th hole in the first round.
Both youngsters played well and it was a pity that one had to lose. Rebecca was two down after two holes but fought back to level it and it was nip and tuck after that. Miss Wilson, the Angus girls' champion, finally won a place in the second round - a match against defending champion Martine Pow (Selkirk) - with a par at the second extra hole.
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven advanced to last 32 with a 5 and 4 win over Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) who came through a play-off last night to claim the very last spot in the match-play draw.
Jenna was one under par for the holes played.
"It was most enjoyable but I was outclassed," said Laura.
Another Laura and another Aberdeenshire team player, Laura Murray from Alford, lost by 3 and 2 to Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) who will play Jenna Wilson in this afternoon's second round.
Title-holder Martine Pow (Selkirk) was too strong for Heather Anderson, beating the Downfield player by 4 and 2.
Welsh women's open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae was trailing 14-year-old Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), the youngest of the qualifiers, after 12 holes and then stepped up a gear to win the the 15th, 16th and 17th for the match. Heather birdied the 16th and the 17th and now plays Dawn Dewar, the Monifieth and Stirling University playere who qaualified in 12th position.
Dawn had her best win for some time, beating Scotland cap Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) by 3 and 1.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) birdied the short hole that cost her a 10 in the second qualifying round. She beat Mortonhall teenager Jane Turner by 5 and 4.
No 2 seed Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) had two eagles during her 7 and 6 win over fellow Aberdeenshire team player Carol Wilson (Murcar Links). Now Michele, the Aberdeenshire women's champion, meets Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), who has played in the last six finals of the Scottish championship and eight in all since the 1990s when she beat Alison Davidson in the final at Royal Dornoch.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
J Wilson (Strathaven) bt L McLardy (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.
C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) bt L Murray (Alford) 3 and 2.
M Pow (Selkirk) bt H Anderson (Downfield) 4 and 2.
R Wilson (Monifieth) bt A Niven (Crieff) at 20th.
H MacRae (Dunblane New) bt J Meldrum (Dullatur) 3 and 1.
D Dewar (Monifieth) bt K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 3 and 1.
E Moffat (St Regulus) bt A Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 4 and 3.
R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) bt F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.
E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) bt M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1.
K Caithness (St Regulus) bt R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 2 and 1.
S Wood (Hazlehead) bt A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 4 and 3.
E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt J Turner (Mortonhall) 5 and 4.
R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt A Bushby (Strathmore) 1 hole.
C Hargan (Mortonhall) bt S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.
A Laing (Vale of Leven) bt J Carthew (Ladybank) 2 and 1.
M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt C Wilson (Murcar Links) 7 and 6.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
FIRST ROUND
L Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt M Easton (Dalmahoy) 5 and 4.
J Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt M Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) 7 and 6.
G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 3 and 2.
S Herd (Dunblane New) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 5 and 3.
L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) bt K Marshall (Baberton) 2 and 1.
C Easton (Dalmahoy) bt L McGeachy (Windyhill) 4 and 2.


Wednesday 16th May 2007


Trophy winners

Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Auchterarder's Emily Ogilvy both received two trophies at the traditional Scottish Ladies Golfing Association prizegiving evening at the conclusion of the 36-hole qualifying rounds.
Here is a list of who won what:
GLOVER 21ST ANNIVERSARY CUP (lowest gross score in second round)
Winner - Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 76.
Runner-up - Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 78 (better last six).
Third - Laura Murray (Alford) 78 (better inward half).
Fourth - Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) 78 (better inward half).
LYON SALVER (best net score in second round)
Winner - Dawn Dewar (Monifieth (5) 73 (better last three).
Runner-up - Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (5) 73.
Third - Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) (4) 74.
MARGARET SCOULER-BUCHANAN CUP (Aggregate gross)
Winner - Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 75 76 - 151.
McINNES SHAW CUP (Aggregate net)
Winner - Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 74 73 - 147.
ST RULE SALVER (Best gross aggregate from an Under-21)
Winner - Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 78 - 153.
NPFA CUP (Lowst net score in medal rounds)
Winner - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (scr) 72.
McROBERT THISTLE CUP (Lowest scratch score in qualifying rounds)
Winner - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 72.
DUNLOP HILL TROPHY (Best second-round score by a past champion)
Winner - Martine Pow (Selkirik) 78.

JENNA SWINGING IN THE RAIN TO BE TOP QUALIFIER AT BARASSIE
Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson stopped short of singing in the rain but she was certainly swinging very well in the non-stop drizzle that put a damper on the second qualifying round of the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.
Jenna, a 22-year-old full-time amateur, had easily the lowest score of the day – a one-over-par 76 – for a one-over par total of 151 to be the No 1 seed in the draw.
“I don’t mind the actual playing in wet conditions like that but the biggest problem is trying to keep the grips of your clubs dry when it’s non-stop rain like that. If they get too wet you’re in trouble” said Jenna who did not let the depressing conditions get to her.
She finished two shots ahead of a crop of talented teenagers in the top 10.
Michele Thomson, the Ellon 19-year-old who is the Aberdeenshire women’s champion, had a 78 to be the No 2 qualifier – two shots ahead of 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), who recently retained the Renfrewshire women’s county title.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), 19, was on 156 alongside the overnight leader Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), who ran up a 10 at a short hole in slipping from a 72 to an 84, and one of the favourites, Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) who had an 80.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), 18-year-old British women’s international, did not relish the rain after a week in the dry warmth of South Africa, and she had an 81 for 158.
The 32 players who qualified for the match-play had totals of 167 or better with one exception – home course player Lesley Williamson had that total but as eliminated in a three-way play-off for the last two spots in the draw.
Overnight leader Emily Ogilvy did not win the top qualifying honour in the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at rain-soaked Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club today.
But anyone who can run up a 10 at a short hole, as Emily did in her second-round 84 – 12 shots more than her first-day score – and finish with a big grin deserves a medal of some description for being the best of sports.
The 23-year-old Auchterarder member qualified with ease in No 6 spot on 156 and to Emily that was far more important at the end of the day than a one-hole disaster at the 155yard third.
“I hit my first tee shot into the burn. Took a drop under penalty and the ball hit a wall and finished back in the turn. Then I hit another ball into the water before I finally made it to the green,” said the former US college circuit player.
“It was more a laugh than a crisis although I obviously wasn’t trying to hit the ball into the water. I never lost my temper, never lost my head and I was quite proud to birdie the next hole!”
In thoroughly unpleasant conditions of non-stop drizzle, it was a good day for Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife players who are well represented in the 32 who will contest the match-play stages.
Alongside Emily Ogilvy on the 156 mark – five shots behind leading qualifier Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) – was Heather MacRae from Dunblane New. Heather did not play to her best form in the conditions and settled for an 80.
Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth, only 16 and with her dad as caddie, shot a 78 to be the eighth best qualifier on 157. Only Jenna Wilson, with a 76, had a lower score than Rebecca.
Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore), winner of the Perth & Kinross title at Kinross on Sunday, also had a 78 to qualify on 157, the same mark as Ann Ramsay from Kirriemuir with an 81.
Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) and the Fife trio of Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Jo Carthew (Ladybank) all got through with lots to spare on 158.
Krystle is having to adapt from the warmth and dryness of South Africa last week to the cool temperatures and wetness of Ayrshire and too much should not be read into her second-round 81.
Annabel Niven from Crieff is the second youngest of the 32 qualifiers at the age of 15. She had an 83 for 165, the same total as 14-year-old Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie) made it through on the same mark.
SCOTTISH WOMEN’S (CLOSE) AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
Par 150 (2 x 75). CSS 77 77.
151 J Wilson (Strathaven) 75 76.
153 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 78.
155 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 76 79.
156 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 77 79, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 72 84, H MacRae (Dunblane New) 76 80.
157 R Wilson (Monifieth) 79 78, A Bushby (Strathmore) 79 78, M Pow (Selkirk) 79 78, A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 76 81, S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 76 81.
158 D Dewar (Monifieth) 80 78, E Moffat (St Regulus) 78 80, K Caithness (St Regulus) 77 81, J Carthew (Ladybank) 75 83.
159 C MacDonald (Gullane) 79 80.
160 L Murray (Alford) 82 78, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 81 79, R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 77 83.
162 A Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 79 83.
163 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 77 86.
164 S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 80 84.
165 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 86 79, A Niven (Crieff) 82 83, H Anderson (Downfield) 82 83, J Meldrum (Dullatur) 81 84, J Turner (Mortonhall) 81 84, R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) 81 84, F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) 79 86.
166 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 80 86.
167 (after play-off) C Wilson (Murcar Links) 83 84, L McLardy (Murcar Links) 81 86.
NON-QUALIFIERS
167 (after play-off) L Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 85 82.
168 F De Vries (St Rule) 87 81.
169 P Williamson (Baberton) 85 84.
170 S Herd (Dunblane New) 88 82, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 84 86, W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 82 88, K Marshall (Baberton) 82 88.
172 F Macgregor (Thornhill_) 89 83.
174 L McGeachy (Windyhill) 89 85, M Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie) 89 85, J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 87 87, C Easton (Dalmahoy) 86 88, L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 85 89.
175 G Scanlan (Hamilton) 89 86, G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 88 87, L Terry (Cruden Bay) 87 88.
176 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 88 88.
177 M Easton (Dalmahoy) 91 86, C Taylor (Royal Dornoch) 90 87.
178 A Hunter (Monifieth) 87 91, J Sneddon (Alyth) 86 92, R Dunsmujir (Cruden Bay) 85 93.
179 L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 85 94.
181 A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle) 93 88, S Adams (Loudoun Gowf) 91 90.
182 B Waugh (Moor Hall) 93 89.
184 S Ireland (Prestonfield) 97 87, S Leslie (Westhill) 84 100.
185 B Paterson (Eastwood) 93 92.
187 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh) 101 86.
193 L McDougall (Greenock) 95 98.
194 R McIntyre (Windyhill) 97 97.
200 W MacCallum (Falkirk) 100 100, N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 99 101.
203 L Mathie (Cochrane Castle) 95 108.
206 C King (Windyhill) 103 103.
NRs D Moncrieff (Lochend) 96 NR, G Lockhart (Kilmarnock Barassie) 90 NR, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 85 NR.

SHIRE, NORTHERN COUNTIES and P&K TEAMS FOR CRUDEN BAY
Aberdeenshire, Northern Counties and title-holders Perth & Kinross have named their teams for the Northern Division inter-county women’s team golf championship at Cruden Bay from June 23 to 25.
Angus, the other county involved, have yet to announce their selection.
Sara Thomson (Murcar Links), semi-finalist in the recent Aberdeenshire county championship at Newmachar, gains her first county honour.
Scotland international curler Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry), Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) and Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham) play for P&K in the divisional championship for the first time although Gwen was in the team who contested the Scottish county finals at The Hirsel last autumn.
Teams:
ABERDEENSHIRE – Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Laura McLardy (Murcar Links), Laura Murray (Alford), Donna Pocock (Murcar Links), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Sara Thomson (Murcar Links), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), capt.
Reserves: Jill Murray (Cruden Bay), Marivi Millership (Deeside), Samantha Leslie (Westhill).
NORTHERN COUNTIES – Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Donna MacLeod (Inverness), Eileen Manson (Thurso), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Mary Smith (Tain),Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar).
Reserves: Marion Howieson (Inverness), Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), Sammy Vass (Tain).
PERTH & KINROSS – Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore), Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnam), Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), Fiona Ramsay (Crieff), Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall).
Reserves: Sal Shepherd (Blairgowrie), Annabel Niven (Crieff).


Tuesday 15th May 2007

PIZZA GIRL EMILY LEADS SCOTTISH FIELD AT BARASSIE WITH A 72
From delivering pizzas and caddieing at Little Rock, Arkansas to leading the field in the first qualifying round of the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.
That’s the never a dull moment life of 23-year-old Emily Ogilvy from Auchterarder.
Emily shot a three-under-par 72 to put three shots between her and the rest of the field with one more qualifying round to go on Wednesday before the 32 leaders get down to the nitty gritty of the match-play stages.
“I went back to Central Arkansas University to complete my four-year course in December and the weather is so nice out there I didn’t want to come home to the depths of winter in Scotland,” said Miss Ogilvy.
“So I stayed on and paid the bills by taking two jobs – one as a pizza delivery girl and the other as a caddie at a golf course in Little Rock.”
Emily bogeyed the third and fourth before catching fire and covering the nine holes from the fifth to 13th in five under par with six birdies and a bogey.
“You might not believe it but my driving was bad, really bad. It was a good thing my iron shots were really good and I putted well,” she said.
THREESOME ON 75
Sharing second place on level par 75 are Jo Carthew from Ladybank, Michele Thomson, the big-hitting 19-year-old Aberdeenshire women’s county champion from Ellon, and Scotland international Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
Jo was two after par after only four holes but birdieed the shot sixth and hadf an eagle 3 at the eighth to get out in 37.
Jenna did not have a birdie until the 12th but highlighted her card with an eagle 3 at the 17th in 37 home.
Michele bounced back from a double-bogey 6 at the second to birdied the fifth, eighth, 13th and 17th in halves of 38 aned 37.
Seventeen-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), who recently retained the Renfrewshire women’s county championship, Sara Bishop (Cochrane Castle), Welsh women’s open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) are on 76
Sara had the best finish of the day – eagle-birdie-birdie (3-4-3).
Heather MacRae, a finalist at Dunbar 12 months ago, felt that the two strong features of her game this season – her driving and putting – let her down today. She had bogeys at the first and ninth in a humdrum outward half and it was the 10th before wedged to 2ft for her first birdie of the round.
TEE SHOT INTO WATER
Having broken the ice, Heather birdied the 11th as well before dropping a shot by going in the water off the tee at the 13th. But she did two-putt for a birdie at the 17th, her 8ft putt for an eagle 3 hanging on the lip of the hole but not dropping. Then she finished on a low with a three-putt at the 18th.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) was a member of the five-strong Britain team who won the Commonwealth tournament in South Africa last week.
She ran up a quadruple, lost-ball bogey 9 at the eighth and a double-bogey 6 in a gorse bush at the 11th. All in all the 18-year-old did well to finish in 77, considering she did not feel 100 per cent, understandably, after making the transition from South Africa’s warmer climate to the cool May temperatures of Bonnie Scotland.
Title-holder Martine Pow (Selkirk), whose 42nd birthday it was, was not celebrating a disappointing round of 79 but it was two shots better than the player she beat in last year’s final, Anne Laing (Vale of Leven).
Anne has played in the last five finals of this championship and seven in all since 1996. This could be the end of her era.
Laura Murray, the 2005 Scottish schoolgirls champion from Alford, would like to start an era but lost-ball double-bogeys at both the 16th and 17th knocked her back to an 82. But she hasn’t given up hope of making the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages.
And that really is what the first two days are all about in this championship.
If you qualify, who remembers what you scored to get into the match-play?
SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AMATEUR (CLOSE) CHAMPIONSHIP
Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club
First qualifying round

Par 75 (37-38). 6,215yd
72 E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 37-35.
75 J Carthew (Ladybank) 37-38, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 38-37, J Wilson (Strathaven) 38-37.
76 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 39-37, S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 41-35, A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 39-37, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 39-37.
77 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 41-36, K Caithness (St Regulus) 40-37, R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 38-39, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 40-37.
78 E Moffat (St Regulus).
79 R Wilson (Monifieth), F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), M Pow (Selkirk), A Bushby (Strathmore), A Thompson (Loudoun Gowf), C MacDonald (Gullane).
80 S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton), D Dewar (Monifieth).
81 R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas), J Turner (Mortonhall), A Laing (Vale of Leven), L McLardy (Murcar Links), J Meldrum (Dullatur).
82 H Anderson (Downfield), L Murray (Alford), W Nicholson (Broomieknowe), K Marshall (Baberton), A Niven (Crieff).
83 C Wilson (Murcar Links).
84 G Kyle (East Renfrewshire), S Leslie (Westhill).
85 L Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie), R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay), L Fraser (Kingsknowe), L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), P Willliamson (Baberton).
86 C Hargan (Mortonhall), J Sneddon (Alyth), C Easton (Dalmahoy).
87 L Terry (Cruden Bay), J Harrison (Cruden Bay), A Hunter (Monifieth), F De Vries (St Rule).
88 E Briggs (Kilmacolm), G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), S Herd (Dunblane New).
89 M Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie), L McGeachy (Windyhill), F Macgregor (Thornhill), G Scanlan (Hamilton).
90 C Taylor (Royal Dornoch), G Lockhart (Kilmarnock Barassie)
91 M Easton (Dalmahoy), S Adams (Loudoun Gowf).
93 A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle), B Paterson (Eastwood), B Waugh (Moor Hall).
95 L Mathie (Cochrane Castle).
96 L McDougall (Greenock), D McIntyre (Windyhill).
97 S Ireland (Prestonfield), R McIntyre (Windyhill).
99 N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
101 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh).
103 C King (Windyhill).
104 A Anderson (Loudoun Gowf).
+The leading 32 players at the end of the second qualifying round will go forward to the championship match-play stages.
LEADING SCORECARDS
Par
OUT: 5-4-4-3-5-3-4-5-4-37.
IN: 4-4-5-4-3-4-5-5-4-38.
EMILY OGILVY 72
OUT: 5-4-5-4-4-3-3-4-5-37.
IN: 3-4-4-3-3-4-5-5-4-35.
JO CARTHEW 75
OUT: 6-4-4-4-5-2-4-3-5-37.
IN: 4-5-4-5-3-4-5-4-4-38.
MICHELE THOMSON 75
OUT: 5-4-6-3-4-3-5-4-4-38.
IN: 5-4-5-3-3-4-5-4-4-37.
JENNA WILSON 75
OUT: 5-5-4-3-5-3-4-5-4-38.
IN: 4-4-4-4-4-4-5-3-4-37.
HEATHER MACRAE 76
OUT: 6-4-4-3-5-3-4-5-5-39.
IN: 3-3-5-5-3-4-5-4-5-37.
SARA BISHOP 76
OUT: 5-4-5-4-4-4-5-4-6-41.
IN: 4-4-4-4-4-5-3-4-3-35
ANN RAMSAY 76
OUT: 5-5-5-3-4-4-4-4-5-39.
IN: 4-4-6-4-3-4-4-5-3-37.
MEGAN BRIGGS 76
OUT: 5-5-4-4-4-3-4-5-5-39.
IN: 4-3-5-4-3-5-4-5-4-37.
KRYSTLE CAITHNESS 77
OUT: 5-4-3-4-4-3-4-9-4-40.
IN: 3-6-5-4-2-4-4-5-4-37.
RACHAEL McQUEEN 77
OUT: 5-5-4-5-4-3-5-4-6-41.
IN: 3-4-4-3-3-5-6-5-3-36.
RACHAEL LIVINGSTONE 77
OUT: 4-4-6-4-4-3-4-5-4-38.
IN: 4-4-5-4-3-5-6-3-5-39.
KYLIE WALKER 77
OUT: 5-6-5-5-4-3-4-4-4-40.
IN: 4-5-4-4-3-4-5-4-4-37.

Pamela Pretswell gets into St Rule field
News from the St Rule Club that Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) has been drafted into the field for the St Rule Trophy early next month. The new Lanarkshire county champion takes the place of Roz Adams (Addington Court) who has withdraw.

ELGA Press Release
Rebecca Hudson tightens grip on Solheim Cup place

Rebecca Hudson – who was one of England’s best-ever amateurs – has strengthened her claim on a place in the European Solheim Cup Team after she finished runner-up in the Ladies Spanish Open at Castellon.
The 27-year-old from Doncaster lost a ding-dong battle for the title to Australia’s Nikki Garrett but the result moved her up to fourth place in the European Solheim standings. The top five players automatically qualify for the team; the next four players qualify from the Rolex World Rankings and there are three captain’s selections.
Rebecca also moved up to third place on the New Star Money List of the Ladies European Tour, with earnings of €32,651.90 from two events.
She appeared to have a firm grip on the Spanish championship, firing a course record 65 to lead by one after the opening round and after 54-holes, she was 13-under-par and two shots clear.
Rebecca was still a stroke ahead of Nikki Garrett when they stood on the 16th tee of the final round, but there she made a disastrous error.
Having played solidly all day, Rebecca hit her six-iron tee shot into the water protecting the front of the green and was forced to take a drop. She then chipped on and two-putted for a double-bogey five
She had birdie putts on both 17 and 18 but was unable to convert them and finished one stroke behind the 23-year-old Australian.
Rebecca said: “I got very nervous, which is unusual for me. I made a very bad nervous golf swing and it was not the hole to have a nervous golf swing.
“This week’s finished. I’ll just go to the Swiss Open next week and aim for another top ten finish. I got lots of Solheim Cup points and it should take me into the top 25 that get into the Women’s British Open so I’m pleased. I’d have taken second at the beginning of the week.”
As an amateur Rebecca was one of ELGA’s finest-ever players, winning a host of major titles and competing in all the top team events.

SAMMY'S 76 IS THE LOWEST SCORE SO FAR FROM THE LGU TEES AT LOCH NESS COURSE, INVERNESS
Sammy Vass, the 15-year-old Tain Golf Club top prospect, has returned the lowest score recorded from the LGU tees at the Loch Ness Course, Inverness in winning the Northern Counties' girls competition for the McDermott Trophy.
She returned a card for a 76 over a 5,387yd course which has a ladies' par of 71 and an SSS of 70.
Neil Hampton, Golf & Marketing Manager commented:
"The course was changed to the new lay-out in August 2005 and we have only been playing on it since then. Unfortunately the old lay-out was very tough and resulted in almost all of the lady members playing elsewhere and very few coming to visit."
"Sammy's score is the best that we have had over the new lay-out but I am hesitant to label it as a course record, given that we have had so little female play over the course so far."
"The changes we made have certainly attracted a lot of new members and scores have improved dramatically but once again the number of ladies playing has not really increased yet - apart from on our nine-hole course which has proved very popular with everyone."
"I am trying hard to change people's perception of Loch Ness Golf Course and lose the "monster" tag (from the playing sense) and I will be writing to Sammy to congratulate her on her excellent score and encourage her to return and shoot an even lower round."


Monday 14th May 2007

FAB FOUR HEAD FOR SKANDIA JUNIOR OPEN
Scottish Boys Champion Paul Ferrier is among the team of four selected to represent Scotland at the forthcoming Skandia Junior Open in Sweden later this month.
Fellow Boys finalist William Bremner (Edzell) joins the Baberton ace along with Dumbarton’s Andrew Campbell and Paul Shields (Kirkhill).
The four Scottish standard bearers were selected based on their current form and good performances at the Boys Championship, the first SGU major of the season held last month at Dunbar. Commenting on the team selection, SGU National Junior Coach Spencer Henderson said, “All of the boys have earned their place in the team and this event boasts a strong international field and will give them valuable experience playing at a higher level.”
For Andrew Campbell, selection to the Skandia Open marks a return to national representation, having last competed for Scotland two years ago at the McGregor Trophy. Campbell made it to the semi finals of the Scottish Boys Championship, but was ousted from the tournament by the current Baberton Boys Champion, Ferrier – who went on to secure the first national title of his career.
Edzell player Bremner, current Angus Boys Champion who heads for a US based golf scholarship later this summer, has proven his pedigree as a worthy compatriot, whilst sole national squad member within the team Paul Shields completes the quartet. Shields will hope to build on his early season success after securing the first SGU Junior Tour event of the year, hosted at Kingsbarns.
In preparation for the championship, which represents their first competitive outing as a team, the group recently benefited from a SGU training weekend held in St Andrews earlier this month. The training camp gave them the chance to train and play alongside U18 national squad members as well as provide the four players with a useful team building opportunity. The young players were also joined by US Amateur Champion Richie Ramsay and recently turned professional George Murray, who gave the group advice on tournament preparation.
With much sought after places up for grabs in the European Boys Championship and Home International teams later this season, the players will hope that strong performances at this event will prove their appetite for overseas action and place them in contention to represent their country again.
The Junior Open will also provide similar course conditions to the European Boys Championship held in Denmark this year, which the Scots will hope to master during the 54 hole tournament.
The Skandia Junior Open takes place from 25 – 27 May and is hosted at Falkenbergs Golf Club, near Gothenberg. The Scots will hope to be among the leading 48 players and ties to make the cut after the first two rounds, to go on to contest the final round.

NORWEGIAN WINS LPGA TOUR EVENT AFTER PLAY-OFF AGAINST KOREAN
Norwegian Suzann Pettersen won the weekend US LPGA Tour'S Michelob event at Kingsmills after a play-off against Koren Jee Young Lee.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)
274 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 66 72 68 68 (Won at the third play-off hole), Jee Young Lee (Kor) 68 71 63 72
277 Sarah Lee 63 68 72 74
278 Paula Creamer 70 69 67 72, Stacy Prammanasudh 67 70 73 68
279 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 69 71 66 73
280 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 73 69 65 73, Becky Morgan (Wal) 68 65 74 73, Sherri Steinhauer 70 68 70 72
281 Carin Koch (Swe) 67 69 70 75, Morgan Pressel 67 72 68 74, Karrie Webb (Aus) 68 73 68 72, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 70 71 70 70, Amy Hung (Tha) 67 68 74 72, Angela Stanford 69 70 75 67, Siew-Ai Lim (Mal) 66 72 71 72
282 Juli Inkster 68 73 68 73, Young Kim (Kor) 73 69 68 72, Angela Park 69 70 70 73
283 Natalie Gulbis 67 70 73 73, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 71 71 70 71, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 70 69 71 73
284 Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor) 64 75 70 75, Jimin Kang (Kor) 71 65 75 73, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 67 73 72, Christina Kim 68 71 71 74, Dorothy Delasin 69 68 74 73, Candie Kung (Tai) 70 70 73 71
285 Johanna Head (Eng) 69 72 70 74, Young-A Yang (Kor) 73 67 70 75, Sung Ah Yim (Kor) 68 75 70 72, Meena Lee (Kor) 68 70 68 79, Brittany Lincicome 66 71 72 76, Kristy McPherson 74 68 70 73, Katherine Hull (Aus) 68 73 70 74
286 Aree Song (Kor) 69 73 72 72, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 70 73 69 74, Cristie Kerr 69 69 72 76, Wendy Ward 73 69 69 75, Liselotte Neumann (Swe) 71 72 73 70
287 Gloria Park (Kor) 68 71 74 74, Julieta Granada (Par) 70 68 74 75
288 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 73 68 69 78, Nicole Perrot (Chi) 70 70 72 76, Michele Redman 70 72 72 74, Nina Reis (Swe) 68 73 73 74, Brittany Lang 70 73 73 72, Leta Lindley 71 71 70 76
289 Maru Martinez (Ven) 70 73 71 75, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 69 71 74 75, Birdie Kim (Kor) 65 72 74 78
290 Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 73 70 69 78, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 69 72 74 75, Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 73 68 78 71, Alena Sharp 73 68 72 77, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 72 68 75 75, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 71 67 75 77
291 Marisa Baena 73 70 75 73, Irene Cho 69 73 70 79
292 Brandie Burton 69 74 71 78, Christa Johnson 70 73 76 73
293 In Kyung Kim (Kor) 69 68 79 77, Tracy Hanson 71 72 69 81, Lorie Kane (Can) 68 72 74 79, Reilley Rankin 70 72 75 76, Diana D'Alessio 72 69 70 82
294 Sherri Turner 70 73 75 76, Charlotte Mayorkas 69 74 78 73, Dina Ammaccapane 71 72 76 75
295 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 72 70 71 82, Jamie Hullett 70 69 74 82, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 72 68 77 78, Kelly Robbins 74 69 74 78, Laura Davies (Eng) 65 74 79 77, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 72 69 75 79
296 Barb Mucha 73 70 75 78
302 Moira Dunn 73 70 81 78


Sunday 13th May 2007


Alex Bushby and Emily Ogilvy

ALEXANDRA BUSHBY WINS P&K TITLE FOR FIRST TIME
Strathmore’s Alexandra Bushby, a former North of Scotland women’s title-winner, won the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship for the first time after a very good final at Kinross Golf Club today (Sunday).
Miss Bushby, the No 4 qualifier, beat Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), the second seed by two holes in a classic contest.
Both finalists had three birdies. Alexandra was two up at the turn but, after the 11th was halved in birdies, Emily got one hole back with a birdie at the 15th. Miss Bushby maintained her narrow lead to the last where she was conceded a birdie and the match.
Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill) was unable to defend the title she won last year because she is expecting a baby in two weeks.
PERTH & KINROSS WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Kinross Golf Club
First round – Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) bt C Turner (Alyth) 7 and 6, G Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnam) 3 and 1. A Niven bt J Griffiths (Crieff) 4 and 3, A Bushby (Strahmore) bt D Butchart (Strathmore) 6 and 5, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) bt G Wallace (Glenisla) 1 hole, E Napper (Craigie Hill) bt M Begbie (Alyth) 4 and 3, S Shepherd (Blairgowrie) bt L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam) 4 and 3, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt N Morrison (Dunblane) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals – Lambie bt Sneddon 2 and 1, Bushby bt Niven 6 and 5, Yellowlees bt Napper 4 and 3, Ogilvy bt Shepherd 6 and 5.
Semi-finals – Bushby bt Lambie 3 and 2, Ogilvy bt Yellowlees 4 and 3.
Final – Bushby bt Ogilvy 2 holes.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals – G Pennycook (Alyth) (13) bt A Smith (Kinross) (15) 2 and 1, L Murray (Kinross) (12) bt C Peebles (Alyth) (21) 3 and 2, M Walker (Alyth) (25) bt Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (25) 1 hole, Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) bt S Crystal (Taymouth) (19) 3 and 2.
Semi-finals – Pennycook bt Murray2 and 1, Walker bt Jennifer Sneddon) 1 hole.
Final Walker bt Pennycook at 19th.


Pictured (left to right) leading prizewinners in Aberdeenshire girls' medal at Aboyne today:
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Laura Murray (Alford), Kirstin Seam (Torphins), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon)

LAURA MURRAY TURNS TABLE ON COUNTY CHAMPION MICHELE
Seven days after losing to Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the final of the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf championship at Newmachar, Alford’s Laura Murray outstripped her teenage rival and fellow scratch player by eight shots in the Aberdeenshire girls’ medal competition at Aboyne today.
Laura, 18, who is also a member at Aboyne, shot a two-under-par 70 in drizzling rain with birdies at the seventh, ninth and 12th in halves of 34 and 36. Her only bogey cam at the third.
Michele had halves of 39 for a 78. Both girls are competing in the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Barassie, starting on Tuesday. So too is Samantha Leslie (Westhill) matched Miss Thomson’s 78.
Leading scores (Par 72, CSS 71).
Scratch – 70 L Murray (Alford). 78 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), S Leslie (Westhill) (Daily Telegraph qualifier). 83 N Lamond (McDonald Ellon). 85 S Alexander (Deeside). 86 C Prouse (Hazlehead) 87 L Duncan (Aboyne). 88 M Clyne (Deeside). 89 S Beattie (Hazlehead), P Hazley (Ballater).
Handicap – Silver Division – S Alexander (Deeside) (17) 68; S Leslie (Westhill) (9) 69; L Murray (Alford) (scr) 70; M Clyne (Deeside) (17), N Lamond (McDonald Ellon (12) 71; C Prouse (Hazlehead) (13) 73; R Polson (Peterculter) (17) 74; L Duncan (Aboyne) (12) 75. Bronze Division – K Seam (Torphins) (22) 69; K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (36) 74; C Geddes (Northern) (23) 81.

US College Golf
JODI EWART’S LATE DOUBLE BOGEY – BUT SHE’S GOING TO THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Jodi Ewart from Yorkshire, pictured right, a student at the University of New Mexico, ran up a double bogey 6 at her very last holes after birdies at the third, seventh and 13th had her gunning for a top three or four place in the women’s West Regional championship at Estrada at Snow Canyon golf course, St George in Utah.
Freshman Jodi had rounds of 71, 75 and 72 to finish joint seventh on 218 over the 6,234yd, par-71 course.
Ireland’ Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) had a triple bogey and two double bogeys in requiring 47 shots for the first nine holes in her closing round of 88. She had earlier scored 82 and 79. She finished on 249 and 93rd place.
It was a Swedish 1-2 at the top of the leaderboard with Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) winning with a total of 206, made up of 68, 68 and 70. Runner-up was her compatriot, Anna Nordqvist, a former winner of the British girls’ title, with 72, 74 and 67 for 213.
Oklahoma State (874), Stanford (874) and Arizona State (876) headed the eight teams found for the NCAA championship finals. They included New Mexico which means that the season has not ended yet for Jodi Ewart. She has a chance to cap what has been an excellent first year on the US college circuit.
The University of California did not make the top eight so the college golf season is over for Scottish Under-18 match-play champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff who has been five months at the college.
Roseanne did not complete her second round. She scored 84 in her first and third rounds.

US College Golf
The American college golf season ended for Gemma Webster – and a lot of others – at the weekend when they failed to make it through to the NCAA championship finals.
Gemma, a student at Ohio State University, finished joint 67th in a field of 107 for the NCAA Division 1 women’s Central Regional tournament at the University of Michigan’s course at Ann Arbor.
She had rounds of 75, 84 and 76 for a total of 235 -27 shots behind the winner, Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) who shot 67, 68 and 73 for five-under 208.
Belen Mozo, (South Carolina), the Spanish player who won both the British girls’ and women’s open titles last summer, finished joint fourth on 213 with scores of 70, 72 and 71.
Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State) came joint 24th with 75, 74 and 77 for 226.
Her sister Karen, also a Kent State student, scored 82, 77 and 80 for 239 and a share of 81st place.
England’s two Baylor University, Texas players, Hannah Burke and Sian Reddick, finished joint 46th and 97th respectively. Hannah had rounds of 77,77 and 74 for 229 while Sian Reddick scored 83, 81 and 85 for 249.
Southern California (869), Georgia (880) and Texas Christian (883) headed the eight colleges whose teams qualified for the NCAA championship finals. Kent State just failed to make the final eight by 7 shots.

US College Golf
DANIELLE DROPS OUT OF LOUISIANA TOP TEN

Ireland’s Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) finished joint 25th in a field of 108 for the women’s East Regional championship at the University Club, Baton Rouge in Louisiana.
Danielle had rounds of 69, 71 and 77 for 217, dropping from joint 10th after 36 holes.
Sydnee Michaels (UCLA) won the individual title with 66, 68 and 69 for 13-under-par 203, despite a brilliant final round of 63 by US Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) who tied for second place on 206.
Duke (844), UCLA (846) and Wake Forest (858) headed the NCAA championship qualifiers. Texas A&M did not make the final eight.


Saturday 12th May 2007

Fife beat Angus in Friendly Greensomes
Eight seniors and 4 juniors from Angus competed in a friendly greensomes match against a Fife Select today. The overall result was a win for Fife by 4 matches to 2.
Results as follows, Angus names first:
Fran Millar & Aileen Hunter lost to Fiona Lockhart and Susan Jackson 3&2
Ann Ramsay & Rebecca Wilson beat Louise Kenney & Hannah Harvey 1 up
Dawn Dewar & Elaine Easton beat Lorna Fury & Diane Watson 2 holes
Shonagh Raitt & Mary Summers lost to Ann Chisolm & Dorothy Ford 3&2
Louise Smith & Heather Peebles lost to Camilla Tait & Rachel Hanlon 7&6
Ashley Smith & Laura Falconer lost to Gemma Brown & Nicola Taylor 2&1

Edinburgh Ladies Interclub
Baberton do it again.

Baberton beat Craigmillar Park by 4 up with 3 to play in this afternoon's final of the Edinburgh Ladies Interclub tournament at Lothianburn. This is their fifth win in six years. Both Craigmillar Park couples were up early on in the match, but Baberton turned the corner as the groups started down the hill, and both Baberton couples were up at the finish.

REBECCA HUDSON REGAINS LEAD IN SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN
First-round leader Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster regained the third-round advantage over the Spanish Women's Open field at Castellon ith a 69 for 13-under-par 203. She leads by two shots from France's Gwladys Nocera and the deposed leader, Australian Nikki Garrett.
Kathryn Imrie, the only Scot to make the cut, is on 219.
SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN - CC Mediterraneo, Castellon.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). Players from GB&I unless stated.
203 Rebecca Hudson 65 69 69.
205 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 66 68 71, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 65 72
206 Kirsty Taylor 66 70 70.
208 Laurette Maritz (SAf) 72 70 66.
211 Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (am) 69 75 67, Danielle Masters 67 71 73
212 Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 70 70, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 73 68 71, Louise Friberg (Swe) 68 71 73
213 Bettina Hauert (Ger) 71 74 68, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 73 72 68, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 70 73 70
214 Rebecca Coakley 74 70 70, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 70 71 73, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 71 74
215 Maria Boden (Swe) 72 74 69, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 71 73 71, Eleanor Pilgrim 71 72 72, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 70 74
216 Samantha Head 74 73 69, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 73 73 70, Helena Alterby (Swe) 70 74 72, Kiran Matharu 72 71 73, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 70 72 74, Iben Tinning (Den) 70 71 75, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 69 72 75
217 Anna Rawson (Aus) 71 75 71, Joanne Mills (Aus) 75 71 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 70 75 72, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 74 71 72, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 71 72 74, Fame More 73 69 75
218 Margherita Rigon (Ita) 73 74 71, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 75 71 72, Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) 72 73 73, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 70 73 75, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 68 73 77
219 Kathryn Imrie 73 74 72, Anna Tybring (Swe) 71 76 72, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 70 76 73, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 71 75 73, Lora Fairclough 72 73 74, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 69 76 74, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 71 72 76, Paula Marti (Spa) 71 71 77.
220 Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 76 73, Georgina Simpson 73 73 74, Suzanne Dickens 73 73 74, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 75 75.
221 Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 74 73 74, Mianne Bagger (Den) 73 74 74, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 73 75, Ellen Smets (Bel) 69 75 77, Federica Piovano (Ita) 71 70 80.
222 Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 76 71 75, Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) 74 73 75, Sara Beautell (Spa) 75 72 75, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 73 74 75, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 73 73 76, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 70 75 77
223 Shani Waugh (Aus) 76 71 76, Kirsty S Taylor 74 70 79
224 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 77 70 77.
228 Claire Coughlan 73 73 82.

GWEN PUTTS OUT THE TOP SEED IN P&K COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham) “putted like a demon” to knocked out the No 1 seed, Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) in this afternoon’s quarter-finals of the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship at Kinross Golf Club.
Gwen, the No 9 qualifier, toppled Jacqueline by 2 and 1 with her putting making the decisive difference. In Sunday morning’s semi-finals Gwen will play Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore), a 4 and 3 winner over 15-year-old Annabel Niven (Crieff) in the quarter-finals.
The other semi-final will feature twice champion Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall) against the No 2 seed, Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
Janye beat Emma Napper (Craigie Hill) 4 and 3 in the quarter-finals while Emily had a 6 and 5 win over Blairgowrie’s Sal Shepherd.
Saturday’s results:
First round – Jacqueline Sneddon bt C Turner (Alyth) 7 and 6, G Lambie bt C Dunbar (Aberfeldy) 3 and 1, A Niven (Crieff) bt J Griffiths (Crieff) 4 and 3, A Bushby (Strathmore) bt D Butchart (Strathmore) 6 and 5, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) bt G Wallace (Glenisla) 1 hole, E Napper (Craigie Hill) bt M Begbie (Alyth) 4 and 3, S Shepherd (Blairgowrie) bt L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam) 4 and 3, E Ogilvy (Auchtarder) bt N Morrison (Dunblane) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals – Lambie bt Sneddon 2 and 1, Bushby bt Niven 6 and 5, Yellowlees bt Napper 4 and 3, Ogilvy bt Shepherd 6 and 5.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals – G Pennycook (Alyth) (13) bt A Smith (Kinross) (15) 2 and 1, L Murray (Kinross) (12) bt C Peelbes (Alyth) (21) 3 and 2, M Walker (Alyth) (25) bt Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (23) 2 and 1, Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) bt S Crystal (Taynouth) (12).

Edinburgh Interclub
It's Baberton against Craigmillar Park in the final.

Baberton beat Broomieknowe and Craigmillar Park beat Liberton in this morning's semifinals of the Edinburgh Interclub at Lothianburn Golf Club. The conditions are very wet and miserable. The final has been delayed until 2:30pm.

SOUTH AFRICAN ACE ASHLEIGH SIMON (18) TURNS PRO AND SIGNS WITH IMG & NIKE
Fewer than 24 hours after helping South Africa beat new Commonwealth champions Britain, the 18-year-old Springbok ace, Ashleigh Simon, announced that she has both turned professional and signed with the global sports management company, IMG.
Ashleigh’s decision to turn professional follows an outstanding amateur career whereby she has broken almost every amateur record in South Africa. Her achievements include being the youngest player to receive full African colours, aged 14, playing No.1 for her country in the Commonwealth tournament, the youngest player to win the ladies SA amateur stroke-play and match-play double and the first player in 101 years to win the South African Open title three times.
The teenage sensation, who left school last month, has also made a huge impact on the SA women's professional circuit - as an amatuer! In 2004 she won the WPGA Ladies South African Open, the only amateur ever to have done so, and has underlined her extraordinary potential by winning a WGA Tour event each year since, including the 2007 WPGA Ladies Open in March. She capped her season off by finishing top points scorer of the 2007 WPGA Ladies Tour.
Ashleigh’s professional schedule is already shaping up, having been offered invitations to play in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open and the KLM Ladies Open and also one of the two sought-after invitations available for the $2million HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship on the strength of her amazing match-play record.
Ashleigh, who turned 18 yesterday, enthused, “I can’t wait to get out on the Tour. I have thoroughly enjoyed my amateur career and feel I am absolutely ready for the next stage of my golfing journey. I have been fortunate enough to have already experienced the professional environment so I know it is a place where I feel comfortable and I feel I have learnt a lot from the tournaments I have played so far.
"IMG look after many of the players I have admired and aspired to since I started playing golf, such as Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman and Gary Player and I am looking forward to benefiting from the wealth of experience IMG has amassed over the years.”
Gary Player, who has played with Ashleigh on several occasions, says "Ashleigh is an exceptionally talented young golfer. She has a very bright future ahead of her and she will be a wonderful ambassador for woman's golf and South Africa."
Guy Kinnings, IMG’s Managing Director of Golf in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Australia, whose team represents the world's best golfers including Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Morgan Pressel, , Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman, said;
“Ashleigh’s unprecedented amateur record has made her one of the most exciting prospects in golf. Her outstanding results both on the amateur and professional circuits over the past four years have certainly made the world of golf take notice and we are thrilled she has chosen to work with IMG as she takes this next step.”
It was also announced today that Ashleigh will be joining the elite stable of top athletes that represent Nike. Her exclusive media partner will be Golf Digest and their newly launched title Golf for Women. Another Proud Supporter of Ashleigh is SuperSport, the World Of Champions, one of the world's premier golf broadcasters, who will keep fans updated on her progress throughout the year.

BECKY MORGAN IN SECOND PLACE AS MHAIRI McKAY SHARES 19th WITH LAURA IN VIRGINIA
Mhairi McKay had a second-round 67 (four under par) to be sharing 19th place with Laura Davies (74) after two rounds of the $2,200,000 Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill Resort & Spa, Williamsburg in Virginia.
Catriona Matthew had a 71 for a share of 32nd place on 140.
Johanna Head made it through in joint 40th place on 141 after a 72.
But the best placed British player is Becky Morgan from Wales. Becky is in second place, two shots behind pacemaker Sarah Lee, after rounds of 68 and 65 for nine-under-par 133.
Janice Moodie missed the cut with 72 and 74 for 146.
LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 Sarah Lee (US) 63 68.
133 Becky Morgan (Wal) 68 65.
135 Amy Hung (Kor) 67 68.
Other qualifiers:
139 Laura Davies (Eng) 65 74, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 67 (jt 19th)
140 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 69 71 (jt 32nd).
141 Johanna Head (Eng) 69 72 (jt 40th).
Non-qualifier:
146 Janice Moodie (Sco) 72 74.

WELSH GIRLS BEATEN IN QUARTER-FINALS OF SPANISH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Three Welsh girls - Sahra Hassan, Tara Davies and Lydia Hall - qualified for the match-play stages of the Spanish junior open championship at La Cala Resort but they were eliminated by the end of the quarter-finals.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
136 Mireia Prat Caballeria (Spa) 68 68.
140 Patricia Sanz Barrio (Spa) 70 71.
143 Sahra Hassan (Wal) 71 71, Katerina Ruzickova (Cze) 71 71, Anna Arrese Cortadellas (Sp[a) 71 71.
148 Ane Urchegui (Spa) 74 74, Tara Davies (Wal) 74 73, Nina Muehl (Aut) 74 74, Maaike Naafs (Net) 74 74.
Other qualifiers included:
154 Lydia Hall (Wal) 77 77 (21st).
Non-qualifiers included:
162 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) 81 81 (49th)
MATCH-PLAY
First round
Lyda Hall bt Patricia Sanz (Spa) 2 and 1.
Tara Davies bt Mandy Goyos (Spa) 3 and 2.
Elia Folch (Spa) bt Sahra Hassan 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals
Ane Urchegui (Spa) bt Hall 2 holes.
I Greciet (Spa) bt Davies 5 and 3.



Friday 11th May 2007

COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONS BRITAIN BEATEN BY SPRINGBOKS ON FINAL DAY
Great Britain, having already clinched the Commonwealth Tournament title on Thursday, lost their 100 per cent record in their final match at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
After beating Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the British team lost 5 ½-1/2 to South Africa.
Australia beat New Zealand 5-2 in the other Friday match.
Britain topped the table with 3pt out of four.
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand each had 2pt. Australia, winners of the competition, played every four years, in 1995, 1999 and 2003, were the official runners-up to Britain.
The Aussies’ individual games-won tally of 16 ½ put them ahead of South Africa (14 ½) and Canada (10 ½).
New Zealand came bottom of the table with one point.
Ladies Golf Union chief executive Lesley Burn said from her St Andrews headquarters:
“Whoopee, what a fantastic win and what a start to the LGU’s most exciting year yet! It is 16 years since we last won the Commonwealth Tournament and this victory underlines the talent that now exists in the British Isles.
“I am a great believer that success breeds success, so we can now look forward with confidence to the Vagliano Trophy later this year.”
It was almost inevitable that the British team, on a high when Thursday’s events conspired to make them champions even on their rest day, would suffer some sort of reaction on the final day.
South Africa had a much bigger incentive to finish with a victory and they at last found the form that had made them one of the favourites following their triumph in the women’s world amateur team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy, also on home turf, earlier in the year.
The South Africans shared the foursomes with Britain and then cut the champions down to size in the singles by winning four of the five ties.
Krystle Caithness, the only Scot in the British squad, lost by 1 hole to Gina Switala.
The only British player not to lose in the final set of singles was Kerry Smith from the Waterlooville club, Hampshire. Kerry halved with Kelli Shean.
That meant that Miss Smith topped the individual British table with seven wins and a halved match – 7 1/2pt out of eight.
The other GB tallies were:
Naomi Edwards (six wins, two losses) 6pt.
Melissa Reid (four wins, one halved match, three losses): 4 1/2pt.
Breanne Loucks (four wins, one halved match, three losses) 4 1/2pt
Krystle Caithness (two wins, two losses) 2pt.
Friday results:
GREAT BRITAIN 1 ½, SOUTH AFRICA 5 ½
Foursomes: K Smith & N Edwards bt K Shean & I Verwey 1 hole; B Loucks & M Reid lost to G Switala & A Simon 1 hole (1-1).
Singles: Loucks lost to B Strauss 3 and 2, K Caithness lost to Switala 1 hole, Edwards lost to Verwey 2 and 1, Smith halved with Shean;l Reid lost to Simon 2 and 1 ( 1/2 -4 ½).
NEW ZEALAND 2, AUSTRALIA 5
Foursomes: T Clelland & P Smith lost to F Bondad & H Oh 6 and 4; Da Som Lee & Yeon Song Kim bt E Bennett & S Na 1 hole (1-1).
Singles – L Eruera lost to S Park 3 and 2, Smith lost to Na 4 and 2, Kim bt Oh 5 and 3, Lee lost to Bondad 1 hole, Clelland lost to Bennett 5 and 3 (1-4).
FINAL TABLE
1 Great Britain 3 pt (19)
2 Australia 2pt (16 ½).
3 South Africa 2pt (14 ½).
4 Canada 2pt (10 ½).
5 New Zealand 1pt (9 ½).
+Figures in brackets are individual games won.

Edinburgh Interclub at Lothainburn
Broomieknowe beat Lothianburn, Baberton beat Musselburgh
Craigmillar Park beat Merchants, Liberton beat Prestonfield

ALISON WINS STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN COUNTY TITLE FOR FIFTH TIME SINCE 1990
Former Curtis Cup player and past Scottish champion Alison Davidson, now 39, won the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship for a fifth time over a 17-year span at Alloa Golf Club this evening (Friday).
Mrs Davidson, a Stirling Golf Club member, never lost a hole in beating first-time finalist Margaret Tough (Falkirk) by 5 and 4 with level par figures.
Margaret put up stout resistance to halve the first five holes before her opponent went one up at the sixth, and two up at the ninth.
Mrs Davidson then wrapped up the title by winning the 11th, 12th and 14th holes.
This was Alison’s seventh county final. She had previously won the title in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2005. She was beaten in the finals of 2002 and 2003.
A mother of two, Mrs Davidson averages, if she is lucky, one round of golf a week nowadays.
Final – A Davidson (Stirling) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 5 and 4.

KATHRYN QUALIFIES BUT LYNN MISSES CUT BY 12 SHOTS IN SPANISH OPEN
Kathryn Imrie made it with nothing to spare but Lynn Kenny went crashing out of the Spanish Women's Open at the 36-hole stage at Mediterraneo Country Club, Castellon.
Kathryn had rounds of 73 and 74 for 147, dead on the cut-off mark.
Lynn Kenny had rounds of 75 and 84 (42-42) for 159 - 12 shots over the limit.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon also failed to qualify for the final round. She scored 76 and 79 for 155.
Australian Nikki Garrett leads by one shot with an 11-under-par tally of 133 (68-65).
Her closest challengers are Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson and Gwladys Nocera (France), both on 134. Rebecca has scored 65 and 69, Gwlaldys 66 and 68.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72).
133 Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 65.
134 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 65 69, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 66 68.
136 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 66 70.
138 Danielle Masters (Eng) 67 71.
139 Louise Friberg (Swe) 68 71.
Other qualifiers included:
147 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 73 74.
Non-qualifiers included:
155 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 76 79.
159 Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) 75 84.

US College Golf
GEMMA AND TARA BEST OF GB&I PLAYERS DOWN MEXICO WAY

British and Irish players did not have a particularly good first day in the NCAA Division 1 women's Central Regional championship over the University of Mexico's Par-71 course (6,116yd).
Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State) and Scotland cap Gemma Webster (Ohio State) did best of the bunch - and they were back in a share of 31st place in a field of 107 on the four-over-par 75 mark.
Tara had halves of 40 and 35, Gemma, also starting at the 10th, bogeyed the 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th and then parred holes one to nine.
England's Hannah Burke and Sian Reddick, both students at Baylor University, Texas, had rounds of 77 and 83 respectively. Hannah was in a share of 56th place. She had a double bogey 5 at the short 12th and no birdies.
Tara Delaney's sister Karen at an 82.
Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) led the field with a 67.
The three players on 68 included Belen Mozo (Southern California), the Spaniard who won both the British girls and women's open amateur titles in Northern Ireland last summer.
Southern California (283) lead the team event from Texas Christian and Indiana, both on 289.

US College Golf
ROSEANNE'S FORM SLUMPS IN UTAH

Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion Roseanne Niven's recent upsurge of form has nosedived in the NCAA Division 1 West Regional championship at Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Club, St George in Utah.
A student at the University of California Berkeley for five months, Roseanne had a first-round, 13-over-par 84 to be lying joint 105th in the field of 108 behind leader Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State). The Swedish player set the pace with a fine round of three-under-par 678 over the 6,274yd, par-71 course.
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) from Catterick was lying in joint sixth place after a 71.
Ireland's Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) had an 82 to be sharing 69th place.
LATER NEWS: Starting at the 10th hole in her second round, Roseanne covered her first nine holes in 12-over-par 48, including two triple bogeys and two double bogeys.

US College Golf
CONTRASTING FORTUNES FOR DANIELLE, PORTIA

Ireland's Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) and England's Portia Abbott (Jacksonville State) were lying joint ninth and joint 91st respectively at the end of the first round in the NCAA Division 1 women's East Regional championship at the University Club course (6,403yd, par-72), Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Danielle birdiedc the third, sixth, 16th and 18th, dropping only one shot, at the eight, in returning a three-under-par 69 to be shots behind joint leaders Nanette Hill (Wake Forest) and Sydnee Michaels (UCLA).
Portia had a 79.

Anniversary of the foundation of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The British Golf Museum will open its doors to the public for free on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May to commemorate the foundation of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
On May 14th 1754, a group of 22 noblemen and gentlemen of Fife, known as The Society of St Andrews Golfers, presented a Silver Club to be played for annually over the links of St Andrews. This was the beginning of what would later grow to be The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews when, in 1834, King William IV agreed to be to the patron of the club.
Inside the British Golf Museum you can visit our R&A Room. It contains an exclusive display of a selection of the gifts given to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club over the years. Alongside this is our fascinating display, A Celebration of 250 years of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews which explores the history of the club and looks into the memorable festivities that surrounded its 250th anniversary. You can also take this opportunity to flick through our virtual Pages of History and discover more about this famous governing body in our multi media display What is The R&A?


Thursday 10th May 2007

Edinburgh Interclub
The home team, Lothianburn, had an impressive 13 and 11 win over Turnhouse in the first round of the Edinburgh Ladies Inter-club tournament tonight.
The tournament format is scratch double foursomes matchplay, always exciting to watch, as demonstrated in the second tie. Broomieknowe's first couple, Wendy Nicholson and Lynn Cackett, were two down to Murrayfield youngsters, Rebecca Watson and Gillian Simpson, but Broomieknowe's second couple, Ellice Cackett and Sandra Hennessy finished three up against Murrayfield's Sarah Hannay and Sylvia Boyd, to give a one hole win for Broomieknowe.
Lothianburn now play Broomieknowe in the quarter finals tomorrow night.
Baberton, Musselburgh, Merchants, Craigmillar Park, Prestonfield and Liberton also won a place in tomorrow night's line up.
Linda Grieve from Musselburgh had a hole in one at the sixth.
The semifinals and final take place on Saturday.
Results
Lothianburn beat Turnhouse, Broomieknowe beat Murrayfield
Baberton beat Ratho, Musselburgh beat Glencorse
Merchants beat Kingsknowe, Craigmillar Park beat Royal Musselburgh
Prestonfield beat Torphin Hill, Liberton beat Newbattle

P&K Women's County Championship
Alyth’s Jacqueline Sneddon topped the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Perth & Kinross women’s county championship at Kinross today (Thursday) for the second year in a row.
On a day of non-stop rain, when the greens had to be repeatedly swept clear of excess water and the course played very long with no run on the ball, Jacqueline’s score of 82 was matched by Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) but the Alyth player was declared the top seed of a card countback.
The match-play starts over the same course at 9.28 on Saturday morning with the quarter-finals teeing off from 2.0. The semi-finals and final will be played on Sunday.
All three members of the Sneddon family who played in the qualifying round won their way through to the match-play. Apart from daughter Jacqueline, mother Jennifer and sister Jillian made it through in the handicap championship and could meet in the semi-finals.
QUALIFIERS
82 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
84 J Yellowlees (Murrayshall), A Bushby (Strathmore).
86 A Niven (Crieff), E Napper (Craigie Hill).
87 L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam), C Dunbar (Aberfeldy), G Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham).
90 S Shephered (Blairgowrie).
91 M Begbie (Alyth), J Griffiths (Crieff), D Butchart (Strathmore), G Wallace (Glenisla), N Morrison (Dunblane).
92 C Turner (Alyth).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Jacqueline Sneddon v Turner, Lambie v Dunbar, Niven v Griffiths,. Butchart v Bushby, Yellowlees v Wallace, Begbie v Napper, Fertacz v Shepherd, Morrison v Ogilvy.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
A Smith (Kinross) (15) v G Pennycook (Alyth) (13), L Murray (Kinross) (12) v C Peebles (Alyth) (21), M Walker (Alyth) (25) v Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (23), Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) v S Crystal (Taymouth) (19).

BRITAIN'S GOLF GIRLS WIN COMMONWEALTH TITLE AFTER SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA BOTH LOSE
Great Britain's female amateur golf squad today won the Commonwealth Tournament for the first time since 1991 - when they were miles away from the course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Britain still have to play host nation South Africa on Friday's final programme but Thursday's results meant that Sue Turner's team, with three wins out of three over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, cannot be overtaken at the top of the league table, whatever happens in the final session of play.
Today, the underdogs bit back. New Zealand, whipped by the Brits on Wednesday, beat South Africa 4-3 and Canada, thrashed 7-0 by Britain on Monday, shocked Australia by beating them 4-3.
Britain have 3pt, and their nearest challengers, Canada, have completed their programme of four matches and have 2pt. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have 1pt apiece. They are playing for runner-up place on Friday.
British skipper Sue Turner said: “We may be out of reach at the top of the table because no other team can catch us, but we are determined to win all of our four matches before we celebrate our victory.”
The British team - Scotland's Krystle Caithness, Breanne Loucks from Wales, and England's Melissa Reid, Kerry Smith and Naomi Edwards, were playing with lion cubs and on a shopping spree, when news filtered through of the shock defeats for their only challengers, South Africa and Australia.
The last British team to win the tournament, played every four years, comprised of two Scots, Catriona Lambert (Matthew), Elaine Farquharson, two English players, Julie Hall and Linzi Fletcher, and Vicki Thomas from Wales. They won in 1991 over the Northumberland Golf Club course.
Today's results:
COMMONWEALTH TOURNAMENT - Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club - Third day - New Zealand 4, South Africa 3; Canada 4, Australia 3.


Winning Northern Vets Team


Midland Vets

NORTHERN VETS BEAT MIDLANDS AT GLENISLA
Northern beat Midland 5-2 in a veteran women's inter-area golf match to win the Patrick Rosebowl at the third attempt at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth today (Thursday).at Glenisla.
Details (Northern names first):.
K Sutherland (Royal Montrose ) bt F De Vries (St Regulas) 4 and 3, H Anderson (Downfield ) lost to L Bennett (Ladybank) 6 and 5, L Terry (Cruden Bay ) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 2 and 1, F Neish (Murcar Links) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 5 and 4, A Smart (Banchory) bt A Chisholm 3 and 2, R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) bt K Keir (Elie & Earlsferry) 3 and 2, P Wilson (Murcar Links ) lost to I Harvey (St Regulus) 3 and 2.

QUALIFIERS FOR LGU MEDAL GRAND FINAL AT CRIEFF
Leading scores in the Ladies Golf Union Medal North area final at Monifieth today (THURSDAY) were:
Silver Division – Caroline Barclay (Milnathort) (15) 73; Ann B Ramsay (Kirriemuir) (10) better inward half, Lynne Fotheringham (Grange) (4) 74; Ruth Mitchell (Murcar Links) (15) 75 (bih).
Bronze Division – Judy Proudfoot (Taymouth Castle) (26) 66; Angie Isbister (Montrose Caledonia) (22) 69; Anne Geddes (Arbroath Artisans) (34) 70; Sheila Walton (Kintore) (23) 72.
Mrs Ramsay is unable to attend the Grand Final at Crieff on Sunday, June 3, which means the qualifiers are: Barclay, Fotheringham, Mitchell, Proudfoot, Isbister and Geddes.

KATHRYN IMRIE ON 73 AS REBECCA SETS PACE WITH 65 AT SPANISH LADIES OPEN
Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson was back at her best with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the Ladies Spanish Open by one shot at the end of the first round at Campo Mediterraneo in Castellon.
Rebecca started at the 10th and covered her first nine holes in 30, only one above the Ladies European Tour record low for nine holes.
Kathryn Imrie was the best of the two Scots in the field. She scored a 73 with birdies at the sixth, eighth, 13th and 17th to be sharing 49th place on 73.
Lynn Kenny had a 75 with no birdies and Liz McKinnon a 76, again with no birdies.
Clare Queen is not in the field for this one.
LEADERS
Par 72
65 Rebecca Hudson (Eng).
66 Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Gwladys Nocera (Fra).
67 Danielle Masters (Eng).
68 Louise Friberg (Swe), Ellen Smets (Bel).
Other scores:
73 Kathryn Imrie (Sco).
75 Lynn Kenny (Sco).
76 Liz McKinnon (NZ).

KATRINA SCHALLENBERG WITHDRAWS FROM STAR-STUDDED ST RULE TROPHY FIELD
Germany's Katrina Schallenberg, who failed by only one stroke to catch St Rule Trophy winner Krystle Caithness last year, has notified the St Rule Club organisers that she has had to withdraw from this year's 54-hole event on June 2-3.
The Osnabruck player, who went on to be beaten finalist in the United States women's amateur championship last summer and has already won the Spanish women's open amateur title this year, did not specify her reasons.
Rachel Jennings from Izaak Walton Golf Club has taken over Miss Schallenberg's slot in the draw.
All five members of the Great Britain team who are doing so well in the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa - Krystle Caithness, Breanne Loucks, Kerry Smith, Melissa Reid and Naomi Edwards - have entered.
Melissa Reid, of course, won the recent Helen Holm Scottish open amateur title at Troon for the second year in a row.
Heather MacRae, winner of the Welsh open amateur stroke-play at the weekend, is also in a star-studded field which also includes some of the fine crop of young girls coming through in Scottish Golf, Sally Watson, Carly Booth, Megan Briggs, Kelsey MacDonald and Roseanne Niven.
Saturday Draw (Excel File) Sunday Draw (Excel File)


Stirling University Golf Teams

STIRLING THE DOMINANT FORCE IN STUDENT GOLF
The University of Stirling proved its worth as the strongest institution for golf in Britain by winning two British Universities’ (BUSA) Team Matchplay titles at Royal Liverpool, yesterday. The men’s 1st team won the BUSA Championship for the 3rd year in succession after defeating Exeter 5.5-3.5 in a closely fought contest. As this match was unfolding, Stirling’s 2nd team came back from a 2-1 deficit after the morning foursomes to defeat the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) 5-4 and claim the BUSA Trophy. The wins are on the back of Stirling’s triumphs as Scottish Universities’ Winter Team Trophy and Annual Championship winners.
Head Coach, Gordon Niven, was delighted with the efforts of the players. He stated:
“The students have performed consistently well throughout this season. It’s good that they can take this form into the final stages of events and produce the golf that is required to win tournaments. Hopefully, their form can continue through to the British Universities’ Individual Championships in a month’s time.”
12 golfers from the University of Stirling have qualified for the 54-strong field for the BUSA individual event to be staged at De Vere Slaley Hall from 13th – 15th June 2007. Included in the Stirling contingency are Gordon Yates (Sports Studies), who represented the R&A in the Manuel Prado event in Peru recently, Gavin Dear (International Management) who finished 3rd at the Craigmillar Park Open last month and David Booth (Sports Studies), winner of the BUSA Regional Order of Merit (Scotland).
Stirling University first team: Gordon Yates, Gavin Dear, Scott Borrowman, Bobby Rushford, Paul Betty, James White, David Booth.
Stirling University second team: Rory Doran, Evan Bryceland, Craig Haugh, Bradley Brooke, Byron Campbell, Matt Dargie.

SELECTION TARGET FOR GB&I BOYS
Notts Golf Club at the end of August is the target for boys aiming to cap a successful season by being selected for the GB&I team to compete against the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
For many years GB&I had an unyielding grip on the trophy but the 19½ - 4½ win for Europe at Marianske Lazne in 2006 showed that they are now a force to be reckoned with.
Over the next few months, contenders for the GB&I team will be expected to compete in most of the major boys events and while a few names have already been ‘pencilled in’, the way is still open for relatively unknown boys to play their way into contention.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of the Boys Selection Committee said: “We will be naming the team after the Boys Championship therefore there is everything to play for in the events before that. There are only three of last year’s team still available for selection so we will be picking at least six players who have not previously played for GB&I.
“Even at this early stage of the season, there have been several outstanding performances and at the Lytham Trophy, no less than four boys who are eligible for selection, made the cut –a superb achievement that points to a stronger GB&I team this year.”
“From a selection point of view, the Boys Home Internationals and European Boys Team Championship in Denmark will be top of our list as all potential candidates are likely to be in their respective national teams.”
Events at which selectors will be present: -
Scottish Boys - Dunbar
Peter McEvoy Trophy - Copt Heath
Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters - Nizels
European Boys Team Championship - Denmark
Scottish Boys Open Strokeplay - Cardrona
English Boys Open Strokeplay - Saunton
Welsh Boys Championship - Nefyn & District
Boys Home Internationals - Machynys Peninsula
Boys Championship - Royal Porthcawl
Selection Committee: -
Jeff Toye – Chairman
Richard Cusack
Mark Heames
Jim Miller
Brian Roake

Opening Date set for The Carrick at the De Vere Deluxe Resort at Cameron House
The De Vere Deluxe resort at Cameron House, Scotland’s finest new golf and spa resort, will open the Carrick at Cameron House, its new championship standard golf course, to the public on the 6th June 2007.
The course is part of a multi million pound investment, by De Vere Deluxe Resorts which also owns some of the UK’s finest championship golf courses including Slaley Hall in Northumberland, Oulton Hall near Leeds and Carden Park near Chester
The par 71 Course, named after its designer Doug Carrick, extends from 5,200 yards, from the front tees, to 7,086 yards from the championship tees. The front nine holes lie in the Lowlands, spanning open meadows, rolling countryside and inland lagoons. Bordered by mature woodland, the back nine holes are situated in the Highlands and offer spectacular views to Ben Lomond and across Loch Lomond itself climaxing with a stretch of dramatic holes alongside the shores of the Loch.
The Carrick at Cameron House is part of the new De Vere deluxe resort at Cameron House. As the centrepiece of the resort, a refurbishment programme of more than £20 million will ensure that the five star Cameron House Hotel itself offer the best of Scottish hospitality and a world class resort experience.
Open champion Paul Lawrie and the European Ladies Tour’s Clare Queen represent The Carrick at Cameron House on their respective tours.
Complete golf and spa packages are available. For further information, please telephone 01389 755565, or see www.devere.co.uk. Customers looking to book golf only should contact Jane Thomson, Golf Sales Co-ordinator on 01389 755565 or at Jane.thomson@cameronhouse.co.uk. Details of the course can be found at www.devere.co.uk.

NOMINATION OF THE CAPTAIN FOR THE YEAR 2007-2008
The Past Captains, having conferred together, are pleased to announce that they have nominated David J Harrison as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the year 2007-2008. He will assume the office of Captain at the traditional ‘Driving In’ ceremony on Thursday 20th September.
David Harrison joined the R&A in 1981 and from 2003 - 2006 was Chairman of the General Committee. He also served on the Rules and Championship Committees and was a member of The R&A Training Panel for more than 10 years. He is a qualified Rules official and on many occasions has acted as a referee at The Open Championship and at other major golf events.
David Harrison was educated at Taunton’s, Southampton and then at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He was an Oxford Blue from 1959 – 1961. He is now retired after a successful business career.
In addition to his committee work at the R&A, David Harrison has spent over 30 years in golf administration, particularly at the English Golf Union where he was President in 1992. He has also held the positions of Joint Chairman of the International Golf Federation, President of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries and Chairman of the Championship Committee of The European Golf Association.
David Harrison’s golfing career started with an England Boys’ cap in 1954, a Youths’ cap the following year and then representation for the RAF from 1957 – 1958. He played for his county, Hampshire, from 1955 – 1980 and was county champion a record six times. He has been President of the Hampshire PGA since 1982 and is President of the Hampshire Schools Golf Association.
Living in rural Hampshire David is married to Gloria and they have two children, Anna and Claire. He is an honorary member of Stoneham and Alresford golf clubs and plays to a handicap of 5.


Wednesday 9th May 2007

BRITAIN MARCH CLOSER TO COMMONWEALTH TITLE BY BEATING NZ IN SOUTH AFRICA
Britain continued their march towards a first Commonwealth Tournament triumph since 1991 when they beat New Zealand 6 1/2-1/2 to maintain their 100 per cent record at the end of the third day of the women's amateur international team event, played every four years, at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club today (Wednesday).
Britain took the foursomes 1 1/2-1/2 and then the singles 5-0.
Krystle Caithness from Cellardyke, Fife, the only Scot in the six-strong British team, won her singles by 4 and 3 against Yeon Song Kim.
South Africa beat Canada 4 1/2-2 1/2 in the other match.
Britain, topping the all-play-all league table with three wins out of three, have a rest day on Thursday before coming back into action in the final programme on Friday when they play the host nation, South Africa.
Results:
BRITAIN 6 1/2, NEW ZEALAND 1/2
Foursomes: Naomi Edwards & Kerry Snmith bt Tammy Clelland & Penny Smith 2 holes; Breanne Loucks & Melissa Reid halved with Yeon Song Kim & Da Som Lee (1 1/2-1/2).
Singles: Loucks bt Larissa Eruera 3 and 2, Krystle Caithness bt Kim 4 and 34, Edwards bt Clelland 4 and 34, Kerry Smith bt Lee 5 and 4, Reid bt Smith 2 and 1 (5-0).
CANADA 2 1/2, SOUTH AFRICA 4 1/2
Foursomes: Mary Ann Lapointe & Meaghan Leblanc bt Gina Switala & Iliska Verwey 4 and 3; Sue Kim & Maude & Maude-Aimee LeBlanc lost to Kelli Shean & Ashleigh Simon 5 and 3 (1-1).
Singles: Lapointe lost to Bertine Strauss 1 hole, Kim lost to Switala 3 and 1, Meaghan Leblanc halved with Verwey; Lindsay Knowlton lost to Shean 5 and 4, Maude-Aimee Leblanc bt Simon 1 hole (1 1/2-3 1/2).
HOW THEY STAND
Britain 3pt, Australia 1pt, Canada 1pt, South Africa 1pt, New Zealand 0.
THURSDAY MATCHES
South Africa v New Zealand, Canada v Australia.
FINAL FRIDAY MATCHES
Australia v New Zealand, Britain v South Africa.

West Vets Championship
The final of the 2007 West Vets Championship took place today at Renfrew Golf Club. Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) completed a hatrick of West Vets Championship wins by defeating Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 5 and 4.

ALISON DAVIDSON THROUGH TO SEVENTH STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN FINAL
Former Scottish champion and past Curtis Cup star Alison Davidson is through to her seventh final of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county championship.
The Stirling Golf Club member, who will be 39 next month, recaptured some of her old form to be five under par in winning her semi-final this evening (Wed) by 6 and 5 against clubmate Elaine Allison at Alloa Golf club.
Now No 2 seed Mrs Davidson, a mother of two who plays golf only once a week on average these days, will play Margaret Tough (Falkirk) in Friday’s final (5.30pm).
Margaret, the No. 4 qualifier, also played very well to be level par in beating the top seed, 18-year-old clubmate Louise MacGregor by 5 and 4.
Margaret Tough is in the final for the first time. Mrs Davidson won the title in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2005. She was beaten in the finals of 2002 and 2003.
Results:
Semi-finals – M Tough (Falkirk) bt L MacGregor (Falkirk) 5 and 4, A Davidson (Stirling) bt E Allison (Stirling) 6 and 5.

ROOM FOR HANDICAP PLAYERS ON NEW SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S AMATEUR CIRCUIT
The new Scottish men's open amateur circuit this summer is not just for the elite over-55 golfers - anyone with a handicap of 12 or under will be able to enter the events at Stirling (June 28-29), Nairn Dunbar (July 19-20), Hamilton (July 26-27) and Monifieth (August 2-3).
Former Scottish seniors champion Gordon MacDonald (Callander), pictured right, winner of the Spanish Open seniors title for the past two years, is one of the leading lights in the SGU-backed drive to launch a mini-seniors tour.
"We are disappointed in the number of entries so far. Anything new takes time to establish itself but there are very few entries from players other than the ones you would expect from the low-handicap international team contenders," said Gordon.
"I want to stress that there are seven scratch prizes and seven HANDICAP prizes at each of the four two-round stroke tournaments. The maximum handicap is 12.4 and I want to squash the idea that this circuit is only for the top-notchers with low handicaps.
"We've got three age groups - 55 to 59, 60 to 64 and over 65, so there is something for everybody at these tournaments. We also want to encourage those who are over-50, and technically not senior golfers till they have their 55th birthdays, to come along and join us."
There will be an Order of Merit point scheme linking all four events and the top 30 players will compete in a special one-round tournament over Blairgowrie Lansdowne on August 30.
Anyone who is any doubt about how to enter any or all of the four Scottish senior open amateur circuit tournaments can get more information from the Scottish Golf Union website (http://www.scottishgolfunion.org/) or from their club secretaries.

LPGA TOURNAMENT WINNER GIVES $100,000 TO KANSAS TOWN DESTROYED BY TORNADO
Mi Hyun Kim, winner of the SemGroup Championship on the LPGA Tour, is to donate $100,000 of her $210,000 winner’s paycheck to the United Way Greensburg Disaster Fund to aid the victims of the tornado that destroyed the Kansas town last weekend.
“I was just happy that I won the tournament,” said Kim. “Sunday and during the week, the tornados came out of the middle of nowhere. I felt like I needed to do something for them. Winning a tournament on its own was a good thing, but I just decided to donate some money.”
Kim, 30, is currently seventh on the 2007 LPGA official money list with $315,341 in season earnings. She moved into 10th all-time on the LPGA Official Career Earnings List with her victory at the SemGroup Championship last week. She has earned more than $6.5 million since joining the Tour in 1999.
“Honestly, I made a lot of money in the United States on the LPGA Tour,” said Kim. “Most of time, I get the money here and donate to South Korea. But, I want to help people here, too. The win was a surprise for me and I think God gave it to me like a special present or he is using me like, ‘Okay, I give you this, but after that you give to help the people.’”

WALKER CUP CROWD LIMITED TO 10,000 PER DAY AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN
By MARK GARROD, Press Association
Demand is certain to exceed supply after the decision to put a crowd limit of 10,000 on Britain and Ireland's attempt to regain the Walker Cup - the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup - at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland on 8-9 September.
The figure is only a third of the daily attendance at last year's Ryder Cup in Dublin and Royal and Ancient Club championship director David Hill said: "If we could accommodate more people safely we would do so, but moving crowds around on this course is particularly difficult and we have to be mindful of that.
"The golf fraternity understands that the Walker Cup is very different to the Ryder Cup and we think that giving every club in Ireland an allocation of tickets is the fairest thing to do. There will be allocations for the United Kingdom and America as well."
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the crowd will be allowed to walk on the fairways behind matches - four foursomes followed by eight singles on each of the two days.
The United States won by a single point in Chicago two years ago, but Britain and Ireland were successful at Porthcawl in 1995 (Tiger Woods was part of the American line-up that year), Nairn in 1999, Sea Island in Georgia two years later and then again at Ganton in 2003.
The demand for the tickets will be huge, especially since the home team is almost certain to include Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy, the reigning European amateur champion. Team captain Colin Dalgleish said: "To have somebody of his extraordinary talent definitely ramps up the interest."
Dalgleish gave a broad hint that six players - McIlroy, United States amateur championship winner Richie Ramsay, his fellow Scot Lloyd Saltman, Welsh pair Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards and England's Jamie Moul - are likely to be in the 10-man line-up.


Tuesday 8th May 2007

KERRY THE HEROINE AS BRITAIN BEAT THE AUSSIES FOR SECOND VICTORY
Britain's amateur golfing girls are on course to win the Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa for the first time since 1991 after a second-day win over Australia at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
The British team followed up a 7-0 whitewash win over Canada on the first day by coming from behind to score a 4-3 win over the Aussies who had also started with a victory, 5 1/2-1 1/2 over hosts South Africa.
It was 1-1 at lunchtime today after the foursomes were shared. Then it looked as if the Australians were gaining the upperhand when they bounced back from losing the top singles (Breanne Loucks beating Helen Oh 3 and 2) to lead 3-2 with wins by Stephanie Na by 3 and 2 over Krystle Caithness from Fife and by Frances Bondad by 6 and 4 over Naomi Edwards.
But the very experienced Kerry Smith, a chef at Waterlooville Golf Club, Hampshire, landed the match-winning victory after Engish compatriot Melissa Reid from Derby, recent impressive winner of the Helen Holm Scottish women's open title for the second year in a row, had levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 by beating Emma Bennett 4 and 2.
Everything rest for Britain on Kerry's shoulders and she was equal to the task, beating Sunny Park on the last green by one hole.
It's an all-play-all league table format which ends on Friday with the team having the most points being declared the champions. Britain with two wins from two matches head the table from Australia and Canada (one win apiece) and the pointless New Zealand and South Africa.
On Wednesday, Britain play the Kiwis and then have the day off on Thursday before coming back into the fray on Friday to complete their programme with a match against South Africa.
"The team are hyper after that great win," said the Ladies Golf Union's Scottish chairman, Janet Brown from the Borders. "But Sue Turner, the skipper, will have got them all calmed down again in time for Wednesday's match against New Zealand. Every member of the team deserves praise but I would give Kerry Smith a special mention for winning the vital match at the end of the day."
Canada beat New Zealand 4-3 in the other match.
Tuesday results:
GREAT BRITAIN 4, AUSTRALIA 3
Foursomes: Kerry Smith & Naomi Edwards bt Frances Bondad & Helen Oh 1 hole; Breanne Loucks & Melissa Reid lost to Emma Bennett & Stephanie Na 3 and 2 (1-1).
Singles: Loucks bt Oh 3 and 2, Krystle Caithness lost to Na 3 and 2, Edards lost to Bondad 6 and 4, Smith bt Sunny Park 1 hole, Reid bt Bennett 4 and 2 (3-2).
CANADA 4, NEW ZEALAND 3
Foursomes: Maude Aimee LeBlanc & Sue Kim bt Tammy Clelland & Penny Smith 1 hole; Mary Ann Lapointe & Meaghan Leblanc bt Da Som Lee & Yeon Song Kim 5 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Lapointe bt Larissa Eruera 6 and 5, Lindsay Knowlton lost to Kim 2 holes, Meaghan Leblanc lost to Clelland 1 hole, Sue Kim lost to Lee 1 hole, Maude Aimee Leblanc bt Smith 4 and 3 (2-3).
HOW THEY STAND
Great Britain 2 wins, Australia 1 win, Canada 1 win, New Zealand 0 wins, South Africa 0 wins.
WEDNESDAY MATCHES
Canada v South Africa, Great Britain v New Zealand.


East Lothian Champion Kelly Brotherton and runner-up Emma Fairnie
[Photo Courtesy Fiona Playfair]

KELLY BEATS EMMA IN EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Former Scottish girls’ match-play champion Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) added the East Lothian women’s county title to her collection at North Berwick Golf Club today (Tuesday).
The 21-year-old, a student at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, first beat another past Scottish girls title-winner, Mrs Moira Thomson (North Berwick) by one hole in the semi-final before beating Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) by 3 and 1 in the final.
It was the second year in a row that Emma had suffered defeat in the final.
She had beaten the leading qualifier and former Scottish champion Mrs Jayne Smith (Gullane Ladies) by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-finals.
In a contest between two long-hitting players, Emma had the edge over the opening holes in the final and was one up on Kelly after seven holes. But Miss Brotherton had got into her stride by the turn and was two holes to the good after 13 holes.
Emma got a bad lie at the 14th but lost it anyway to a birdie to go three down.
Miss Fairnie kept her hopes alive by winning the 16th but Kelly clinched her victory with a birdie 4 at the 17th.
The Handicap Quaich final was won by Ros Thoresen (North Berwick) who beat Lynda Jeffrey (Dunbar) by 3 and 2.
EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
North Berwick Golf Club
Semi-finals – E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt J Smith (Gullane Ladies) 4 and 3, K Brotherton (Craigielaw) bt M Thomson (North Berwick) 1 hole.
Final – Brotherton bt Fairnie 3 and 1.
HANDICAP QUAICH
Final – R Thoresen (North Berwick) bt L Jeffrey (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

YOUNG EILIDH IN FORM AT HAGGS CASTLE
Eilidh Briggs, 14-year-old Kilmacolm Golf Club junior member, led Silver Division section with a net 71 off six in the West Division final of the Ladies Golf Union Medal at Haggs Castle Golf Club today (Tuesday). The CSS was 74 (+1).
The eight qualifiers for the Grand Final at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, June 3 were:
Silver Division – Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) (6) 71; Christine Whitelaw (Largs) (11) 72; Elaine Whyte (Windyhill) (12) 73; Pat McWhirter (Westerwood) (15) 75 (bih).
Bronze Division – Susan Campbell (Whitecraigs) (24) 63; Vivien Howe (Ranfurly Castle) (20) 69; Margaret McDevitt (Gourock) (22) (bih), Patricia Brown (Ralston) (21) 73 (bih).

SALTMAN BREAKS INTO R&A WORLD TOP TEN AMATEUR RANKINGS
Lytham Trophy winner Lloyd Saltman has broken into the top 10 of today's updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings for the first time on the back of his weekend victory in the prestigious English 72-hole stroke-play tournament.
Saltman, winner of the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven and then the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh in successive weekends prior to his all-the-way Lytham Trophy success, was 16th in the rankings last week.
Now he is officially the ninth best male amateur golf in the world - in fact some would say in effect he is really a lot higher than that.
Englishman Jamie Moul, who has been No 1 in the rankings for 13 weeks in a row, finished down the Lytham Trophy field behind Saltman. So too did Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and England's Gary Wolstenholme who are also still ahead in Lloyd in the sixth and seventh spots in the rankings.
Spaniard Pablo Martin, an American college student and winner of a recent European Tour event, is ranked No 2 behind Moul. Martin will turn pro after the NCAA championships at the end of this month.
Edinburgh-born Welsh Walker Cup playere Rhys Davies, another on the American college circuit, is ranked No 3.
US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), long-time No 1 in the world after his victory last autumn at Hazeltine, has dropped four places this week to No 12.
There are no other Scots in the world's top 50, according to the R&A rankings.
Scott Henry (Cardross) has improved from 77th to 64th while Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) has gone down from 55th to 76th, both on the strength of their Lytham Trophy performances.
Scottish amateur match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) has dropped from No 56 to 83 while John Gallagher (Swanston) has come into the top 100 from 106th place to 93rd.
LEADING RANKINGS
1 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1092.11.
2 Pablo Martin (Spa) 1068.97.
3 Rhys Davies (Wal) 1068.85.
4 Billy Horschel (US) 1061.40.
5 Jamioe Lovemark (US) 1054.00.
6 Rory McIlroy (Ire) 1049.09.
7 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng) 1034.43.
8 Chris Kirk (US) 1022.41.
9 Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 1015.00.
10 Bronson LaCassie (Aus) 1003.23.
11 Webb Simpson (US) 1003.17.
12 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 1002.27.
13 Niklas Lemke (Swe) 990.00.
14 John Parry (Eng) 987.88.
15 Kyle Stanley (US) 982.93.
16 Dustin Johnson (US) 980.00.
17 Jonathan Moore (US) 980.00.
18 Alan Wagner (Arg) 958.82.
19 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 953.66
20 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 949.35.
Other Scots in top 100:
64 Scott Henry.
76 Paul O'Hara.
83 Kevin McAlpine.
93 John Gallagher.

WEST VETS FINALISTS AT RENFREW
Defending champion Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) is through to Wednesday morning's final of the West of Scotland veterans' championship at Renfrew Golf Club.
She beat Sheila Shaw (Lochwinnoch) and then Anna Telfer (Milngavie) to earn a match against Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) for the title.
Mrs Mack beat leading qualifier Janice Patgerson (Drumpellier) in the morning and Pat Hutton (Lanark) in the semi-finals.
Mary Irving (Ranfurly Castle) will play Maureen Rennie (Douglas Park) in the final of the Bronze championship.
Today's (Tuesday) results:
Quarter-finals - Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) bt Janice Patgerson (Drumpellier) at 19th, Pat Hutton (Lanark) w.o. Heaher Anderson (Caldwell) scr, Anna Telfer (Milngavie) bt Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 2 and 1, Helen Falds (Douglas Park) bt Sheila Shaw (Lochwinnoch) 2 and 1.
Semi-finals - Mack bt Hutton 2 and 1, Faulds bt Telfer 6 and 5.

SCOT LESLEY IS PGA’S FEMALE ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Golspie-born Lesley Mackay, 29, collected one of the star awards at today’s Professional Golfers’ Association graduation ceremony at The Belfry headquarters in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Lesley, a former Scotland amateur international player, shrugged off a career-threatening wrist injury to come out of the PGA’s three-year foundation degree course as the Female Assistant Professional of the Year, sponsored by the Ladies European Tour.
Lesley, who started her pro career under the wing of Karyn Dallas at Kirriemuir Golf Club, is now based at Glasgow’s World of Golf.
She received a £1,000 cheque and became the first recipient of the Beverly Lewis Trophy, named in honour of the PGA’s first female captain.
Acushnet Europe managing director Gary Miller said: “We are constantly impressed by the quality of young men and women coming through the ranks of the PGA training programme. As we strive to grow and develop the game of golf and make it more accessible, it is reassuring to see that the high standard of PGA graduates, reflected in another outstanding crop of Titleist assistants of the year, is being maintained. The future of golf is in good shape, judging by these young professionals.”
Michael Langford from Lincolnshire’s Kenwick Park Golf Club collected the prestigious Whitecombe Cox Trophy and a chequye for £3,500 as the Titleist Assistant of the year.

BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA SHARE FOURSOMES ON COMMONWEALTH TOURNAMENT DAY TWO
Britain and Australia shared the two morning foursomes on the second day of the Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
Kerry Smith and Naomi Edards finished one up on Frances Bondad and Helen Oh.
The British No 2 pairing of Breanne Loucks and Melissa Reid lost by 3 and 2 to Emma Bennett and Stephanie Na.
Krystle Caithness will come back into the action in the No 2 singles spot against Stephanie Na.
In the other match, Canada who were beaten 7-0 by Britain yesterday, won both their foursomes ties against New Zealand who did not play on the opening day.

STEWART, KNOX END US COLLEGE GOLF CAREERS ON A HIGH NOTE
Highlanders Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey and Russell Knox from Inverness have ended their United States collegiate golf careers on a high note.
They were both selected for the all-Atlantic Sun Conference golf team for the second year in a row. The team never plays any matches but is selected by the golf coaches of all the colleges that play in the conference and is an indication of the recognised best players.
Stewart and Knox spent four years on golf scholarships at Jacksonville University, Florida. They finished their American careers as Nos 1 and 2 on the university team’s all-time scoring average table.
Stewart won eight tournaments on the US college circuit, including the Atlantic Sun Conference individual champion in 2005 and again in 2006.
Knox won three tournaments.
The Scots helped the Jacksonville University team – the Dolphins – to win four team titles during the 2006-2007 college season. That was the most in the university’s golf programme history.
“These two student-athletes raised the bar for the Jacksonville University program and, I am sure, they will be successful in their future endeavours,” said Jacksonville University head golf coach Jim Taketa.

BORDERS B CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST SARAH PLAYED 13 HOLES WITH A BROKEN ANKLE
Can you imagine playing 13 holes with a broken ankle! It's painful just even thinking about it.
But that's what Border Ladies County Golf Association vice-captain Sarah Bolton did in the final of the county's B championship at The Roxburghe, Kelso last Sunday.
Her husband Bob tells the story.
"Sarah fell over on the path to the fifth tee during the final. Thinking she had just twisted her ankle, she played on. She managed to keep going right to the 17th green where she finally lost by 2 and 1 to her Hirsel clubmate Corinne Campbell.
"Sarah was never behind in the match until the 16th when the pain just became too much for the adrenalin to keep it at bay. Later, we discovered she had broken her ankle!"

ALVA YOUNGSTERS DOMINATE AT DOLLAR
By HUGH HUNTER
Five Alva youngsters reached the semi-final stages in the three events over a windy and showery Dollar course on Monday evening, emphasising the strength of junior golf at the smallest club in Clackmannanshire
In the senior boys’ event, it was Gary Elliot who scraped through at the 18th against Andrew Borek. In the junior event, county junior champion Lawrence Allan held a lead of two holes at the turn, and upped his game to close out John Salmond on the 14th green with some skilful golf.
Daniel Ashe had a much easier passage with a 6 and 5 win after being five up at the turn against Grant Ross. Finally, in the handicap section, Martin Hall and Neil Forbes also had fairly easy wins.
County boys champion Grant Dowie stayed on course for a double when he defeated Andre Scotland on the 17th with a birdie. Comeback of the evening just had to belong to 10-year-old Brian McAdam with a last-hole win against R Hunter of Alva after being three down at the turn. His win no doubt made up for big brother Bruce’s loss at the 19th.
The event now moves to Tillicoultry for the semi-finals on Wednesday with the finals at Tulliallan on Thursday.
RESULTS
SENIOR BOYS
Quarter-finals – G Elliot (Alva) bt A Borek (Braehead) 2 holes, S Clark (Braehead) bt B McAdam (Alloa) at 19th, G Dowie (Alloa) bt A Scotland (Alloa) 3 and 2, S McPherson (Dollar) beat C Carberry (Tillicoultry) 4 and 3.
JUNIOR BOYS
Quarter-finals – L Allan (Alva) bt J Salmond (Alloa) 5 and 4, D Ashe (Alva) bt G Ross (Alloa) 6 and 5, G Chalmers (Dollar) beat A Ashe (Alva) 2 and 1, J Pollock (Braehead) w.o. S Nicol (Braehead) scr.
HANDICAP (SENIORS AND JUNIORS)
Quarter-finals – M Hall (Alva) bt J Ferguson (Alva) 8 and 7, N Forbes (Alva) bt S Thomson (Alva) 5 and 4, B McAdam (Alloa) bt R Hunter (Alva) 1 hole, W Nelson (Alloa) bt C Macdonald (Alva) 2 holes.

 


Monday 7th May 2007

EMMA MUST BEAT TOP SEED JAYNE TO GET BACK TO EAST LOTHIAN FINAL
Borders youngster Emma Fairnie, now a member at Dunbar Golf Club, is on the trail of repeating last year’s appearance in the final of the East Lothian women’s county golf championship.
At North Berwick Golf Club today (Monday), Emma, who lost at the last stage to Fiona Prior 12 months ago, reached the last four with wins over Linda Grieve (Musselburgh) and Diane Huish (North Berwick).
Miss Fairnie, the No 4 qualifier, will now play the No 1 seed, former Scottish champion Jayne Smith (Gullane Ladies) for a place in the final.
Jane beat Elinor Blair (North Berwick) and Joan Henderson (North Berwick) today.
Tuesday’s second semi-final will feature a clash between the Scottish girls’ champions of 1968 (Moira Thomson of North Berwick) and 2003 (Kelly Brotherton, now playing out of Craigielaw).
More recently Moira has won the Scottish veteran women’s title at Blairgowrie.
Kelly, the No 7 qualifier, ousted the No 2 seed, Mary Lou Renton (Gifford) by 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals while Mrs Thomson had a 6 and 5 win over the No 3 seed, Susan Penman (Gullane Ladies) to reach the semi-finals.
EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
North Berwick Golf Club.
First round – J Smith (Gullane Ladies) bt E Blair (North Berwick) 2 and 1, J Henderson (North Berwick) bt K Ward (Glen) 1 hole, D Huish (North Berwick) bt A Chainey (North Berwick) 4 and 3, E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt L Grieve (Musselburgh)5 and 4, S Penman (Gullane Ladies) bt V McKenzie (Longniddry) 8 and 6, M Thomson (North Berwick) bt J Herd (Musselburgh) 23 and 1, K Brotherton (Craigielaw) bt L Fortune (Kilspindie) 6 and 5, M L Renton (Gifford) bt E Black (Haddington) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals – Smith bt Henderson 4 and 2, Fairnie bt Huish 5 and 4, Thomson bt Penman 6 and 5, Brotherton bt Renton 3 and 2.

LOUISE (18) ON COURSE FOR STIRLING FINAL AGAINST CURTIS CUP STAR ALISON
Birthday girl Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) – she was 18 on Sunday – is on course for a place in the final against former Curtis Cup star Alison Davidson (Stirling) in the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at Alloa Golf Club.
Top seed Louise beat Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) by 5 and 4 with one-over-par figures in the quarter-finals tonight (MONDAY).
On Wednesday, Miss MacGregor will play Margaret Tough (Falkirk), the fourth-best qualifier, for a place in the final. Margaret won her quarter-final by one hole over Stella Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies).
The other midweek semi-final will be between Alison Davidson, the No 2 qualifier, who was level par in winning by 5 and 4 over senior tour professional John Chillas’s wife, Tricia, a Stirling member) and Elaine Allison (Stirling), the No 3 seed. Elaine won her quarter-final tie by 2 and 1 over the defending champion Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst).
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Alloa Golf Club
Quarter-finals – L MacGregor (Falkirk) bt C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 5 and 4, M Tough (Falkirk) bt S Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies) 1 hole, E Aliison (Stirling) bt L Allan (Falkirk Tryst) 2 and 1, A Davidson (Stirling) bt T Chillas (Stirling) 5 and 4.

KRYSTLE MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT AS BRITAIN SLAM CANADIANS 7-0
Britain could not have made a better start to the Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament for women’s amateur teams over the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club’s East championship course today.
They slammed Canada 7-0, beating them 2-0 in the foursomes and 5-0 in the singles.
On the second day of this all-play-all league format, the British
play Australia who beat the very highly-rated host country, South Africa, 5 ½-1 ½ .
The Brits – three English players, one Welsh and one Scot (Krystle Caithness from Cellardyke, Fife make up this week’s squad -have not won this prestigious tournament, played every four years, since 1991 at Northumberland Golf Club.
The Aussies, on the other hand, have been Commonwealth champions on the last three occasions – 1995-1999-2003.
Krystle Caithness, a member of the St Regulus, St Andrews club, had to wait until the afternoon before skipper Sue Turner brought her into the line-up to make her debut at British international level.
And quite an impressive debut it was because the 18-year-old Scot, who starts a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Georgia in the autumn, beat Sue Kim of Canada by 3 and 2.
In a tight match of some quality, both players reached the turn in an approximate par 37. The Canadian birdied the first to take an early lead but a par at the short second was good enough for the Scot to square the match.
Krystle went one up at the fourth with a birdie but bogeyed the next two holes.
Kim squared with a par at the fifth but could only match her opponent’s 6 at the par-5 sixth. Caithness edged ahead again with a birdie 4 at the long eight but Kim countered with a birdie of here own at the ninth to level matters.
After the first three holes of the inward half were halved, the Canadian was the first to crack. She bogeyed the 13th and 14th, which allowed Krystle to go two up at a vital stage with back-to-back pars.
The Scot closed out her opponent with halves in pars at the 15th, 16th and 17th. Krystle was level par for the holes played.
RESULTS
GREAT BRITAIN 7, CANADA 0
Foursomes: K Smith & N Edwards bt M A LeBlanc & L Knowlton 2 and 1;
B Loucks & M Reid bt M Lapointe & M Leblanc (2-0).
Singles – Loucks bt M A LeBlalnc 4 and 3, K Caithness bt S Kim 2 and 1; Edwards bt Knowlton 1 hole; Smith bt M Leblanc 3 and 1, M Reid bt Lapointe 6 and 4 (5-0).
AUSTRALIA 5 ½, SOUTH AFRICA 1 ½,
Foursomes: F Bondad & H Oh bt G Switala & I Verwey 2 and 1;
E Bennett & S Na bt K Shean & A Simon 3 and 2 (2-0).
Singles: Oh bt B Strauss 4 and 3, Na bt Switala 7 and 6, Bondad bt Verwey 4 and 3, S Park lost to Shean 4 and 3; Bennett halved with Simon (3 1.2-1 ½).
Tuesday matches:
Great Britain v Australia, Canada v New Zealand.


Leading prizewinners in Sunday's Clackmannan county boys' championship at Braehead.
Left to right: Brian McAdam, Grant Dowie (boys' winner),
Lawrence Allan (junior boys' winner), Gary Chalmers.

2007 CLACKMANNAN COUNTY BOYS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS.
By HUGH HUNTER
The 2007 Clackmannan County boys' golf championships were contested over Braehead Golf course in windy and showery conditions on Sunday. Over 50 boys competed in the two age group divisions (14 years and under; 15 – 17).
With 19 competitors, Alva provided the largest entry, and it was pleasing to the organisers and spectators to see all the boys smartly turned out.
In the senior boys' category, it was always going to be a contest between the present “Big Three” of Wee County boys' golf - Grant Dowie (Alloa), Andrew Borek (Braehead) and Andre Scotland (Alloa).
Grant posted a level par 35 on the outward nine to give him a six-shot advantage over the others, but they could not take advantage of Grant’s slip-ups on the homeward nine when he dropped seven shots to par, and they had to be content with second and third spots.
PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH
1 Grant Dowie (Alloa) 77.
2 Andrew Broek (Braehead) 79.
3 Andre Scotland (Alloa) 81.
HANDICAP
1 Callum Carberry (Tillicoultry) (9) 74.
2 Scott Clark (Braehead) (9) 74.
3 Bruce McAdam (Alloa) (11) 75.
FULL SCOREBOARD
77 G Dowie (Alloa).
79 A Borek (Braehead).
81 A Scotland (Alloa).
83 C Carberry (Tillicoultry), S Clark (Braehead).
85 S McPherson (Braehead).
86 B McAdam (Alloa).
87 G Elliot (Alva).
89 J Ferguson (Alva).
92 R Hunter(Alva).
93 N Forbes (Alva).
94 S Thomson (Alva)
In the Junior category there was a large entry, and two classy players, Lawrence Allan (Alva) and Gary Chalmers (Dollar), dominated the event. Gary, with steady play, held a comfortable lead over Lawrence until the 425yd par-4 18th where it all went wrong with a disastrous triple bogey 7.
Twelve-year-old Lawrence countered with a magnificent birdie 3 (the only one in the field) to snatch the title by one shot.
Top handicap prize went to local Steven Nicol with an unbelievable net 54 which will no doubt be dealt with by the handicap committee.
Finally, all credit to 10-year-old Angus Boyd (Alloa) -- undaunted by playing from the medal tees and showing great perseverance, he returned a card of 110 when many others threw in the towel during their round.
PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH
1 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 76.
2 Gary Chalmers (Dollar) 77.
3 Daniel Ashe (Alva) 78.
HANDICAP
1 Steven Nicol (Braehead) (31) 54.
2 Jamie Pollock (Braehead) (17) 64.
3 Grant Ross (Alloa) (17) 67.
FULL SCOREBOARD
76 L Allan (Alva).
77 G Chalmers (Dollar).
78 D Ashe (Alva).
81 J Pollock Braehead), J Salmond (Alloa).
82 A Ashe (Alva).
84 G Ross (Alloa).
85 M Hall (Alva), S Nicol (Braehead).
86 J Macpherson (Braehead).
88 K Ross (Tillicoultry), D Young (Alva).
90 W Nelson (Alloa).
91 B Hamilton (Alva).
92 C Macdonald (Alva).
93 C Boyd (Alloa), R Kennedy (Alva).
94 C Watson (Alloa).
96 G McIntosh (Alloa), S Buchanan (Alva) 97 C Graham (Alloa) B McAdam (Alloa) J Gardner (Alva) R Brown (Tillicoultry) 109 R Walker (Alva) 110 A Boyd (Alloa).
The top eight boys in each category qualify for the Match Play titles, and a Handicap title is contested by the top four handicap scores in each category.

KOREAN WINS LPGA TOUR PLAY-OFF
Korea's Mi Hyun Kim beat American veteran Juli Inkster in a sudden death play-off to win the :LPGA's SemGroup Championship at Cedar Ridge Country Club, Broken Arrow in Oklahoma.
The Korean had scores of 71, 68 and 71 to Jul's scores of 71, 70 and 69. The difference between winning and finishing second was substantial. Mi Hyun Kim collected $210,000, Juli Inkster $127,000.
Catriona Matthew and Laura Davies tied for 55th place on 220. Catriona scored 75, 71 and 74; Laura 74, 73 and 73. They both earned $3,832.
Janice Moodie scored 76, 70 and 76 to fill joint 68th place on 222. She won $2,863.
Mhairi McKay missed the 36-hole cut with a pair of 76s for 152.


Sunday 6th May 2007


Heather Macrae
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

HEATHER BLOOMING AGAIN WITH WIN IN WELSH WOMEN'S OPEN STROKE-PLAY
Dunblane’s Heather MacRae added her name to the list of Scottish winners of the Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Newport Golf Club today (Sunday).
Heather, 23, recaptured the form that won her the British stroke-play title at Nairn in 2005, with rounds of 70, 75 and 74 for a total of 219 – three shots ahead of runner-up Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place).
Two Manchester club players, Kelly Tidy and Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born professional, finished third and fourth on 223 and 225 respectively.
Heather made all the running in the 54-hole event to follow in the footsteps of compatriot winners Catriona Lambert (1992), Anne Walker (1999) and Vikki Laing (2001-2002-2003).
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) was the next best Scot this weekend with rounds of 79, 75 and 77 to share 13th place on 231.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) was joint 23rd opn 238 with scores of 80, 80 and 78.
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
WELSH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Newport Golf Club
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). CSS 75 75 75
219 Heather MacRae (Dunblane) 70 75 74.
222 Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place) 75 75 72.
223 Kelly Tidy (Manchester) 75 75 73.
225 Rachel Connor (Manchester) 76 75 74.
227 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 74 78.
228 Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 76 73 79, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 75 77 76.
229 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 76 77 76, Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 75 78 76.
230 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 81 74 75, Jenny Pease (Braintree) 80 76 74, Danielle Montgomery (The Lambourne) 80 75 75.
231 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 79 75 77, Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 73 78, Eleanor Givens (Blackwell Grange) 74 76 81.
Other Scottish scores:
238 Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ) 80 80 78 (jt 23rd).
245 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 80 82 83 (44th).
248 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 85 86 77 ( 45th).

SALTMAN MAKES ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN LYTHAM TROPHY BY THREE SHOTS
Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman, still only 21, added another great victory to an already impressive amateur golfing CV when he won the prestigious Lytham Trophy by three shots at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club today.
Saltman led from start to finish to add this win to his early-season Scottish double triumph in the Champion of Champions at Leven and then the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh.
Lloyd put together rounds of 65, 67, 74 and 73 for a total of 279 against a CSS of 74, 75, 75 and 77. That he could not break 70 over this tough Open championship course in today’s gale-force winds were to be expected but he held his game together to finish three strokes ahead of Welsh Walker Cup veteran Nigel Edwards and the brilliant teenager Rory McIlroy from Holywood, Belfast.
The next best Scot after Saltman was Scott Henry (Cardross) in 16th position on 293. He was followed by Banchory teenager James Byrne who slipped back to a share of 19th position on 295 with Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen).
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
279 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 65 67 74 73.
282 N Edwards (Whitchurch, Cardiff) 69 71 71 71, R McIlroy (Holywood, Belfast) 67 68 73 74.
285 B Parker (Gut Waldhof) 70 69 72 74.
286 B Grace (George GC) 69 73 70 74.
287 D Whitenell (Five Lakes) 70 73 72 72, M Cryer (Coventry) 71 72 69 75.
288 A Kaleka (Golf Marcilly) 72 70 74 72, K Kromer (Gutenhof) 72 69 72 75, G Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs) 69 70 73 76.
289 A Johnston (North Middlesex 71 75 72 71.
292 M Baldwin (Royal Birkdale) 745 72 74 72, G Boyd (Cherwell Edge) 73 72 73 74, L Matthews (Southerndown) 71 73 72 76, L Goddard (Hendon) 73 69 71 79.
293 S Henry (Cardross) 74 72 73 74.
294 J Parry (Harrogate) 73 73 75 73, J Moul (Stoke by Nayland) 75 70 75 74.
295 E Dubois (Bordeaux-Lac) 70 76 73 73, J Byrne (Banchroy) 73 70 77 75, R Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) 70 74 75 76, V Dubuisson (St Nom la Bretche) 73 73 73 76, J Abbott (Fynn Valley) 70 72 75 78.
296 K Le Sager (Ormesson) 68 77 76 75.
287 P Waring (Bromborough) 69 71 81 76.
298 S Uzzel (Hornsea) 72 74 77 75, S Hutsby (Liphook) 71 74 77 76, S McEwan (Caprington) 71 74 75 78.
300 V Guillame (St Cyprien) 75 71 79 75, T Lawson (Ellesborough) 70 76 78 76, S Einhaus (Germany) 69 75 75 81.
303 G Camnpbell (Blairgowrie) 69 77 78 79, F Schulte (Germany) 74 72 68 68, R Kind (Haagsche) 71 73 79 80.
304 M Kramer (Germany) 71 75 84 74, M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 70 73 82 79, N Chaudhuri (Leicestershire) 72 74 79 79.
306 G Dear (Murrayshall) 73 73 82 78, L Cambell (Rochester & Cobham Park).

VIKKI LAING MAKES EL PASO CUT WITH EASE
Vikki Laing maintained her recent upsurge in form by easily making the 36-hole cut in the weather-delayed El Paso Classic, the weekend US Futures Tour event, in Texas.
Vikki had rounds of 75 and 72 for three-over-par 147 to be sharing 25th place going into the final round.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast continues to miss cuts on a regular basis. She scored 78 and 81 for 149 - five shots too many.
Salimah Mussani from Canada and Caroline Larsson (Sweden) shared the lead at six-under-par 138, Salimah with 73 and 65, Caroline with 70 and 78.

NOT A HAPPY DAY FOR SCOTS AS NIKKI GARRETT WINS TENERIFE LADIES OPEN
Australian Nikki Garrett won the Tenerife Ladies Open by two shots from England’s Trish Johnson and Spain’s Tania Elosegui.
Nikki had a final round of 72 for 287 – two ahead of the joint runners-up.
The three Scots in the field did not have a happy final day.
Kathryn Imrie closed with a 77 for 299 after running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Clare Queen finished on 297 with a 78. She bogeyed five of her last six holes.
Lynn Kenny finished at the bottom of the heap on 311 with a nightmare round of 84 which include a quadruple bogey 8 at the first and a triple bogey 8 at the long fifth. She had started at the 10th and was out in 40.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
287 Nikki Garrett (Aus) 69 75 71 72
289 Trish Johnson (Eng) 71 70 77 71, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 71 75 71 72
290 Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 73 71 74, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 71 73 75
291 Stefania Croce (Ita) 73 71 77 70, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 67 73 76 75
292 Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 69 76 72 75, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 77 68 77
293 Paula Marti (Spa) 75 70 76 72
294 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 76 74 73, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 74 73 73 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 75 73 74, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 72 74 74 74, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 72 76 76
295 Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 71 79 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 73 73 74 75, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 71 75 73 76, Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 71 75 78, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 71 76 70 78, Sophie Walker (Eng) 71 73 72 79
296 Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 73 76 76, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 73 74 72 77, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe) 68 77 74 77
297 Federica Piovano (Ita) 68 76 78 75, Joanne Mills (Aus) 69 74 76 78, Clare Queen (Sco) 75 69 75 78
298 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 75 74 74 75, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 72 72 75 79
299 Lisa Hall (Eng) 70 79 72 78, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 72 76 74 77, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 73 75 75 76, Virginie Auffret (Fra) 71 73 74 81
300 Sofia Renell (Swe) 69 73 79 79, Jenni Kuosa (Fin)72 73 76 79, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 73 73 78 76, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 74 79 76, Mette Buus (Den) 72 75 78 75, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 78 70 77 75, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 74 75 78 73
301 Diana Luna (Ita) 72 73 75 81, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 73 72 77 79, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 74 70 80 77, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin)76 72 77 76, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 71 72 82 76
302 Helena Alterby (Swe) 72 75 75 80, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 72 77 78, Ellen Smets (Bel) 69 74 81 78, Frederique Seeholzer (SWI) 75 72 79 76, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin)73 76 78 75
303 Anna Rossi (Ita) 77 71 77 78
304 Margherita Rigon (Ita) 76 71 73 84
307 Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 72 74 78 83, Fame More (Eng) 76 73 78 80, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 75 73 81 78
308 Natascha Fink (Aut) 77 72 80 79
310 Carmen Alonso (Spa) 75 74 85 76.
311 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 76 72 79 84

LOUISE SCORES FIRST WIN ON 18TH BIRTHDAY AT ALLOA
Louise MacGregor (Falkirk), the top qualifier for the match-play stages of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at Alloa Golf Club, celebrated her 18th birthday by beating Rose Graham (Stirling) by 6 and 4 in the first round today (Sunday).
Former Curtis Cup player and past Scottish champion Alison Davidson (Stirling), the No 2 seed, also cleared her first hurdle by beating Elizabeth Graham (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Glenbervie Golf Club.
First round – L MacGregor (Falkirk) bt R Graham (Stirling) 6 and 4, C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) bt E Sneddon (Tillicoultry) 3 and 1, S Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies) bt L Thacker (Braehead) 3 and 2, M Tough (Falkirk) bt S McLean (Falkirk Tryst) 3 and 2, E Allison (Stirling) bt S Copland (Falkirk Tryst) 6 and 5, L Allan (Falkirk Tryst) bt L Fleming (Glenbervie) 3 and 2, T Chillas (Stirling) bt Dr S Hartley (Braehead) 5 and 4, A Davidson (Stirling) bt E Goodwin (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.

PHILLIPA THWARTS JUDITH BID FOR EIGHTH BORDER COUNTIES TITLE
Judith Anderson’s bid to win the Borders women’s county golf championship for a record eighth time was foiled in the final today (Sunday) by Phillipa Costello (Hirsel).
Judith, the No 2 seed from the Hawick club, was beaten on the last green, by two holes, by No 4 seed Phillipa.
Costello beat top qualifier Sharon Lees by two holes in the first semi-final while Judith Anderson beat Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) 6 and 5 in the other tie.
Details:
Semi-finals – Phillipa Costello (Hirsel) bt Sharon Lees (Kelso) 2 holes, Judith Anderson (Hawick) bt Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) 6 and 5.
Final – Costello bt Anderson 2 holes.

MOFFAT MEMBERS SCORE AT HOME
Moffat Golf Club, the hosts for the LGU Medal South Area Final competition today (Sunday) provided the winners of both the Silver and Bronze Divisions on a day of wind and rain..
The four qualifiers, who included the Moffat ladies’ captain, Bernice Williams, go forward to the Grand Final at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, June 3.
Qualifiers (SS 68, CSS 71:
Silver – Bernice Williams (Moffat) (18) 71; Frances Falconer (Melrose) (7) 77.
Bronze – Linda Jack (Moffat) (19) 75; Christine Duncan (Melrose) (22) 79 (better inward half).


Angus prizewinners with their President
L to R: Mary Faulkner, Ailsa Summers, Nancy Duncan (President), Lynne Fotheringham, Fiona Gilbert

LYNNE REGAINS ANGUS TITLE AT PANMURE BARRY
Lynne Fotheringham from Grange Golf Club, Monifieth won the Angus women’s county golf championship for the second time in three years on a horrendously windy day for the semi-finals and final at Panmure Barry today (Sunday).
Lynne, playing in her third final in four years, previously won the championship at Arbroath in 2004.
In a very closely fought final, Fotheringham beat Carnoustie’s Fiona Gilbert by 2 and 1 in a wind so strong that it made a difference of four or five clubs playing into it.
Lynne had earlier won her semi-final by 6 and 5 over the leading qualifier for the match-play stages, Heather Anderson from Downfield. Fiona edged out Scottish veterans’ champion Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) by 2 and 1.
Fotheringham had the upperhand in the first half of the final but let things slip a little by three-putting the short 11th were Fiona was able to square the match.
The turning point came at the par-5 14th when, after a 300yd-plus drive, Fiona took four from the edge of the green, giving a one-hole advantage back to Lynne.
After halving in pars at the 16th, Lynnt took the 17th for the match with a great up and down from 10 yards short of the green.
In the handicap match-play final, 13-year-old Ailsa Summers from Panmure Barry, playing off 18, triumphed over 14-handicapper Mary Faulkner (Royal Montrose) by 5 and 4.
ANGUS WOMEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Panmure Barry.
Semi-finals – Lynne Fotheringham (Grange) bt Heather Anderson (Downfield) 6 and 5, Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie) bt Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 2 and 1.
Final – Fotheringham bt Gilbert 2 and 1.
HANDICAP
Semi-finals – Ailsa Summers (Panmure Barry) (18) bt Fiona Blair (Monifieth) (5) 8 and 6, Mary Faulkner (Royal Montrose) (14) bt Anne Hutcheson (Panmure Barry) (17) 5 and 4.

HAILSTORM WIPES OUT WEST WOMEN’S SECOND ROUND, LESLEY WINS TITLE
A freak hailstorm in the midst of gale-force winds forced the cancellation of the second round of the scheduled 36-hole West of Scotland women’s amateur stroke-play championship at Drumpellier Golf Club today (Sunday).
Ayrshire county champion Lesley Hendry was declared the winner with a first-round 77, five over the standard scratch but a good score in such awful May weather.
Lesley had a stroke to spare from Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) with Liz Keohone (Loudoun) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), the new Lanarkshire women’s champion both on the 79 mark.
Lanarkshire (Elaine Cuthill, Pamela Pretswell and Susan Wood) won the team event with ease with a total of 238.
Kirsten Scott (Windyhill) won the handicap prize with a net 73 off 13, despite incurring a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently starting at the wrong hole.
WEST OF SCOTLAND WOMEN’S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Drumpellier GC. Second round cancelled because of bad weather.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS (CSS 72).
77 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn).
78 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
79 Liz Keohone (Loudoun), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
81 Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie).
83 Judy Galbraith (Cowal), Sara Harman (Williamwood), Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ruth Rankin (Lanark), Audrey Thompson (Loudoun).
84 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), May Hughes (Lanark).
HANDICAP – Kirsten Scott (Windyhill) (13) 73.

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR MICHELE IN ABERDEENSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
It was third time lucky for 19-year-old Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf championship over the Hawkshill course at Newmachar Golf Club.
She beat 18-year-old scratch player Laura Murray (Alford), the leading qualifier, by 4 and 2 in a final played in high winds.
Michele, who quit Jacksonville State University, Alabama at the Christmas break after six months, has already won the North of Scotland women’s championship two years in a row but she had not got past the semi-final stages in her two previous attempts to win the Aberdeenshire title.
Michele, the No 3 seed, birdied the fourth and eighth on her way to a three-hole lead at the turn.
Robert Gordon’s University student Laura, Scottish schoolgirls' champion in 2005, won back the 12th but lost the 13th and they also exchanged the 14th and 15th holes before Michele clinched the title with a third birdie at the 16th.
ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Newmachar Hawkshill
Match-play
First round – L Murray (Alford) bt C Neish (Kintore) 3 and 2, M Millership (Deeside) bt J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 1 hole, L McLardy (Murcar Links) bt F Hay (Deeside) 3 and 2, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 3 and 2, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt D McKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 6 and 5, J Murray (Cruden Bay) bt G Melvin (Hazlehead) 2 and 1, C Wilson (Murcar Links) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, S Thomson (Murcar Links) bt S Leslie (Westhill) 2 holes.
Quarter-finals – L Murray bt Millership 4 and 3, Wood bt McLardy at 21st, M Thomson bt J Murray 8 and 6, S Thomson bt Wilson at 19th.
Semi-finals – L Murray bt Wood 6 and 5, M Thomson bt S Thomson 3 and 1.
Final – M Thomson bt L Murray 4 and 2.


Claire Hargan and Tracy Laughland after the prizegiving at Newbattle
[Photos courtesy Ellice Cackett]

CLAIRE TAKES MIDLOTHIAN TITLE FOR FIFTH TIME
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) won the Midlothian Championship for the fifth consecutive time at windswept Newbatte this afternoon, when she beat her club-mate Tracy Laughland by 7&6 in the final.
Claire started with a cast-iron par four and was quickly four up after a birdie at the second and pars at the next two. Tracy won the fifth but Claire won the honour back immediately with a birdie at the sixth, and pars at the next three saw the reigning champion out in one-under 35 and six up.
Tracy won the tenth after a rare putting lapse from Claire, but a par 3 at the eleventh and a bogey 5 at twelve were sufficient to give Claire the title once again.
In the morning semifinals, Tracy beat the top qualifier, Belinda Murphy (also Mortonhall) by 3&2 and Claire beat Claire Macdonald (Gullane Ladies) by 2&1.
The B Championship final for handicaps 13 and above was a ding-dong battle between thirteen-year-old Kate Macintosh (Broomieknowe) and Denise Turnbull (Uphall). All square after thirteen, Kate won the next three to take the title. In the morning semifinals, Kate beat another youngster, Gabrielle Macdonald from Prestonfield, on the eighteenth and Denise beat Helen Warnock (Harburn).


The Midlothian B Championship winner, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and beaten semi-finalist Gabrielle Macdonald (Prestonfield). Gabrielle was the leading qualifier.

GALE-FORCE WINDS HALT FUTURES TOUR EVENT IN TEXAS: MONDAY FINISH POSSIBLE
EL PASO, Texas, May 5, 2007 – For the first time in the history of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, play was suspended due to high winds.
And while high wind always is expected each spring in this Western tip of Texas, winds reached a point where flagsticks were blowing out of holes and stationary golf balls were blowing off greens during today’s second round of the $80,000 El Paso Golf Classic. In one situation, the key in the ignition of a golf cart driven by a rules official was blown to the stop position, nearly throwing the official through the windshield of the cart.
“We had to decide, at what point, was the wind making the course unplayable?” said Christy Barks, director of tournament operations for the Tour. “In some cases, with large dust clouds blowing across the golf course, it also became unsafe.”
High winds pummeled the Sunrise Course at the Underwood Golf Complex during Friday’s first round, but the difference in wind power in Friday’s round and today’s second round was about 20 mph, said Barks. Play was suspended today at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Forty-four players completed second-round play, while 97 players will return to the course on Sunday at 7 a.m., to complete the second round.
Among those players who did not start the second round was first-round leader Mo Martin of Altadena, Calif. For Martin, the weather suspension was a stroke of serendipity. The Californian showed up at the course to play today after having spent the morning hooked up to an IV bag at a local hospital for dehydration. She was treated and released for a gastrointestinal infection.
“I was warming up and my feeling was, if I can walk, I’m playing,” said Martin, a second-year pro out of UCLA who began experiencing stomach problems Friday afternoon. “I was prepared to play today, but I can’t say I wasn’t happy [when play was suspended]. Right now, I’m on a liquid diet, so playing 36 holes tomorrow is going to have its challenges. I’ll just rest and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Head rules official Kelly Wergin said suspending play due to wind is much more subjective than calling play for lightning or excessive water on the course. But today’s high wind and the day’s forecast caused Tour staff members to begin discussions before play even began. Friday’s wind was sustained between 15-20 mph, with gusts up to 31 mph. As today’s second round continued, sustaining winds of up to 35 mph blew with gusts from 44-50 mph, she said.
“We had one situation where a ball on a green that was at rest blew all the way across the green,” said Wergin. “By the rules of golf, if the player has not addressed the ball on the putting green and the wind moves the ball, the ball is played from its new location.”
Three weeks ago in Hilton Head Island, S.C., the PGA Tour also suspended play due to high wind and completed the final round on a Monday.
Play may extend into Monday at this week’s El Paso Golf Classic if the final round cannot be completed by sunset on Sunday. The goal is to complete 54 holes at the sixth annual event.
“If pace of play goes well for the completion of the second round and throughout the final round, we have the capability to finish on Sunday,” said Barks. “That’s the goal.”
For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Weather: Partly cloudy with a high temperature of 80 degrees with wind around 31 mph and gusts up to 44 mph.
+Vikki Laing had a 75 and Brenda McLarnon from Belfast a 78 in the first round of the El Paso Classic.


Saturday 5th May 2007

HEATHER BLOOMING AGAIN - LEADS BY FOUR SHOTS IN WELSH STROKE-PLAY
Former British women’s open amateur stroke-play champion Heather MacRae, pictured right, from Dunblane recaptured that Nairn links form of 2005 to sweep four shots clear of the field in the Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Newport Golf Club today.
Heather, 23, a Curtis Cup reserve last year, strung together rounds of 70 and 75 for 145, compared with the par of 72 and a CSS of 75 for both rounds.
Portuguese Open winner earlier this season, Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) and Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) are Heather’s closest challengers on 149.
Next best Scot after Heather is her “sparring partner,” Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) in joint 14th position on 154 with scores of 79 and 75.
There is no cut in this event. Everyone who played today’s 36 holes will play the final 18 holes.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72. CSS 75 75
145 Heather MacRae (Dunblane) 70 75.
149 Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 76 73, Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 74.
150 Kelly Tidy (Manchester) 75 75, Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place) 75 75, Eleanor Givens (Blackwell Grange) 74 76.
151 Rachel Connor (Manchester) 75 75, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 74 77.
152 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 75 77.153 Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 73, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 76 77, Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 75 78, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 75 78.
154 Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 81 73, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 79 75, Sarah Tyson (The London) 71 83.
155 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 81 74, Danielle Montgomery (The Lambourne) 80 75, Lisa Barton (Coventry) 80 75.
156 Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 81 75, Sophie Stubbs (Shifnal) 81 75, Jenny Pease (Braintree) 80 76, Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool) 79 77.
157 Edwina Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 80 77, Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, Jacqueline Dittrich (Hubbelrath) 76 81.
158 Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt) 82 76.
159 Beth Davies (Mold) 83 76, Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) 81 78, Charlie Douglass (Brockett Hall) 79 80.
160 Kate Whitmore (Sandiway) 84 76, Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) 80 80, Laura Harvey (Richmond0 77 83.
161 Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 81 80, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 85.
162 Rachael Lewis (Newport) 82 80, Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 80 82, Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 80 82.
163 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 84 79, Amy Skoulding (Kings Lynn) 84 79, Amy Rees (Southerndown) 83 80.
164 Kerry-Anne Haskell (Broadstone) 87 77, Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) 85 79, Denise Richards (Bargoed) 82 82.
165 Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 88 77, Stephanie Farrar (Sandiway) 83 82, Hayley Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) 83 82, Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) 80 85.
167 Helen White (Worfield) 84 83, Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 82 85.
169 Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 83 86.
170 Laura King (Ruthin Pwllglas) 83 87.
171 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 85 86.
178 Laura Jane Roberts (Holyhead) 89 89.
Withdrew: Gemma Easton (Bargoed) 91 -..

JUDITH ANDERSON THROUGH TO LAST FOUR OF BORDER COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Hawick’s Judith Anderson, chasing an eighth Border Ladies County Golf Association championship, is through to the semi-finals of the tournament at The Roxburghe Golf Club, Kelso.
Judith, the No 2 seed, now plays Gillian Oliver (St Boswell). In the other semi-final, Sharon Lees (Kelso), the No 1 qualifier, will play Phillipa Costello (Hirsel).
Results:
First round – Sharon Lees (Kelso) bt Ailsa Mitchell (Hawick) 4 and 2, Anne Dods (Torwoodlee) w.o. Dorothy Elliot (Minto) scr, Lesley Atkins (Minto) bt Lynn Douglas (Hawick) 2 holes, Phillipa Costello (Hirself) bt Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 12 hole, Kirsty Inkpen (Duns) bt Isla Craigie (Torwoodlee) at 19th, Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) bt Julie Birdsall (Roxburghe) 4 and 3, Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) bt Wendy Wells (Peebles) 7 and 6, Judith Anderson (Hawick) bt Pauline Hogg (Jedburgh) 6 and 5.
Quarter-finals – Lees bt Dods 2 and 1, Costello bt Aitkins 4 and 3, Oliver bt Inkpen 4 and 3, Anderson bt Campbell 4 and 3.

CURRY IS HOT STUFF ON SCOTTISH GOLF UNION JUNIOR TOUR DEBUT
Kilmarnock Barassie member David Curry was called in off the reserve list to make his debut on the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour at MacDonald Cardona today (Saturday ) – and he headed the field of 39 by two strokes.
David was one of the few who came to terms with the parched, fast-running Peebles course and returned scores of 70 and 73 against the par of 72 and CSS of 73 for a total of 143
Runners-up on 145 were Scotland boys’ cap Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen). Mark had scores of 71 and 74, Scott 74 and 71.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 73 73.
143 D Curry (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 73.
145 M Bookless (Sandyhills) 71 74, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 71 74.
146 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 72 74.
147 N Henderson (Glen) 73 74.
148 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 73 75.
145 C Gray (West Kilbride) 74 75.
150 F McKenna (Balmore) 78 72, C Wyper (Hayston) 75 75.

CLARE QUEEN FOUR SHOTS BEHIND LEADERS AFTER WINDY DAY IN TENERIFE LADIES OPEN
Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) will start the final round of the Tenerife Ladies Open in joint 14th position, four shots off the pace.
High winds for today's third round saw a fair turnaround on the leaderboard with Spain's Ana Sanchez, who had a 76 for level par 216, dropping down to a triple tie for fourth place.
New leaders are Sophie Sandolo (Italy), who had a brilliant round of 68, Nikki Garrett (Australia), 71, and Becky Brewerton (Wales) who had a 71. They are all on one-under-par 215.
England's Trish Johnson, second-placed overnight, was blown away to a 77 for 218 and a share of 11th place.
Clare Queen's third-round 75 saw her actually gain ground with a 54-hole tally of three-over 219.
Kathryn Imrie also played well for a 74 and is sharing 34th place on 222.
Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) did not enjoy the wind and return a 79 for 227, which dropped her to a share of 54th place.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
215 Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 77 68, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 75 71, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 71 73.
216 Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 73 71, Sophie Walker (Eng) 71 73 72, Ana Sanchez (Spa) 67 73 76.
Other scores:
218 Trish Johnson (Eng) 71 70 77 (jt 11th).
219 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 75 69 75 (jt 14thy).
222 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 72 76 74 (jt 34th).
227 Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Lniks) 76 72 79 (jt 54th).

FOUR TOP SEEDS MAKE IT THROUGH TO ABERDEENSHIRE SEMI-FINALS
The four top seeds in the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf champion – leading qualifier Laura Murray (Alford), Sara Thomson (Murcar Links), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) – have all won their way through to Sunday morning’s semi-finals over the Newmachar Hawkshill course.
Sara Thomson and Sheena Wood had to go into extra holes to clinch their places in the last four.
Sara, the No 2 seed, was all square with clubmate Carol Wilson after 18 holes. At the first extra hole, Sara holed a 30ft birdie putt for victory and now plays namesake, Michele Thomson, for a place in the final.
Sheena Wood, several times winner of the title over the years, squared her quarter-final against Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) with a birdie 3 at the 18th. Then the 19th was halved in birdies with Laura pitching in from 50yd. Sheena finally prevailed at the 21st to earn a tie against the top seed, Laura Murray (Alford).
Results:
First round – L Murray (Alford) bt C Neish (Kintore) 3 and 2, M Millership (Deeside) bt J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 1 hole, L McLardy (Murcar Links) bt F Hay (Deeside) 3 and 2, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 3 and 2, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt D McKinnon (McDonald Ellon), J Murray (Cruden Bay) bt G Melvin (Hazlehead) 2 and 1, C Wilson (Murcar Links) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, S Thomson (Murcar Links) bt S Leslie (Westhill) 2 holes.
Quarter-finals – L Murray bt Millership 4 and 3, Wood bt McLardy at 21st, M Thomson bt J Murray 8 and 6, S Thomson bt C Wilson at 19th.

VIKKI'S 75 IN EL PASO CLASSIC
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh, who finished joint seventh in the last event, was lying in joint 40th position with a three-over-par 75 in the United States Futures Tour's El Paso Classic at the Underwood Golf Complex in Tecas.
Vikki had halves of 38 and 37 to be six shots behind leader Mo Martin from California whose 69 was made up of 33 and 36 halves.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast had a 78 (36-42).


Ashton Ingram with her Belmont Abbey team-mates

ASHTON INGRAM IN TITLE-WINNING COLLEGE TEAM AT END OF FIRST SEASON IN AMERICA
A tough first year at college in the United States ended on a high note for Ashton Ingram, a 19-year-old from Fort William.
She was a member of the Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina women’s golf team who won the CVAC Championship at the Salem Glen Golf &^ Country Club, Clemmons in North Carolina.
“It’s a big thing for us as the team has always been inconsistent but we finally played well together when it mattered,” said Ashton.
The Abbey team were trailing Pfeiffer by 12 shots with one round to go but then returned a tournament low record total of 293 – 11 shots better than the previous record – to total 927 and win the title by two strokes from Pfeiffer.
“I’m so thrilled for my team and how they finished up the season. There were four freshmen in the line-up so they had no championship experience to fall back on but the team worked very hard and they deserved this title,” said Belmont Abbey head golf coach Jim Haughey.
Ashton had rounds of 78, 84 and 81 to finish 11th with a 54-hole total of 243.


Friday 4th May 2007

LOUISE EDGES OUT ALISON TO TAKE STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN TOP SEEDING
Falkirk teenager Louise MacGregor – she has her 18th birthday on Sunday – edged out former Curtis Cup star Alison Davidson (Stirling) to take the No 1 seed position in the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship qualifying round at Alloa Golf Club this evening.
Louise and Alison both hit the 75 mark – three over the CSS but only two over par. In the card countback, Louise had the better inward half.
County captain Elaine Allison (Stirling) was the third best of the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages with a 76.
Dr Sheila Hartley (Braehead), secretary of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, qualified in 10th position with an 82, the same score as defending champion Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst)
QUALIFIERS
75 Louise MacGregor (Falkirk), Alison Davidson (Stirling).
76 Elaine Allison (Stirling).
77 Margaret Tough (Falkirk), Lynn Thacker (Braehead), Lynn Fleming (Glenbervie).
80 Tricia Chillas (Stirling), Claire Capocci (Breidge of Allan).
82 Evelyn Sneddon (Tillicoultry), Dr Sheila Hartley (Braehead), Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst), Stella Mitchell (Dunbracken), Shona McLean (Falkirk Tryst), Sylvia Copland (Falkirk Tryust).
83 Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie).
84 Rose Graham (Stirling).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Sunday – First round (4.15pm) – MacGregor v Graham, Sneddon v Capocci, Thacker v Mitchell, McLean v Tough, Allison v Copland, Allan v Fleming, Chillas v Hartley, Goodwin v Davidson.
Monday – Quarter-finals at 5pm.
Wednesday – Semi-finals at 5.30 and 5.45.
Friday –Final at 5.30pm.

TOP MARKS FOR STUDENT LAURA IN ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN’S QUALIFYING ROUND
Robert Gordon’s University student Laura Murray was top of the class at the Aberdeenshire women's county championship qualifying round over the Newmachar Hawkshill course this evening.
The 18-year-old from Alford, who lowered her handicap to scratch during the week with a 68 at Aboyne, led the 16 qualifiers for the county match-play stages with a 74, one over par but two under the CSS for the competition.
Laura won the North of Scotland girls title at Kirriemuir and the Ness Open at Inverness last year. Miss Murray won the Scottish schoolgirls’ title at St Andrews Bay in 2005, the year she reached the final of the Aberdeenshire county championship.
She had two shots to spare over a surprise No 2 seed for the championship, another student, Sara Thomson (Murcar Links), who is a talented hockey player.
QUALIFIERS
Pat 73. CSS 74
74 L Murray (Alford).
76 S Thomson (Murcar Links).
79 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
80 L McLardy (Murcar Links).
81 G Melvin (Hazlehead).
82 D Pocock (Murcar Links), J Harrison (Cruden Bay).
83 N Millership (Deeside).
874 C Wilson (Murcar Links), J Murray (Cruden Bay).
85 S Hay (Deeside), L Terry (Cruden Bay).
88 D McKinnon (McDonald Ellon).
89 S Leslie (Westhill).
90 C Neish (Kintore).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Tomorrow (Saturday): First round (10am, 7min intervals) – L Murray v Neish, Millership v Harrison, McLardy v Hay, Terry v Wood, M Thomson v McKinnon, J Murray v Melvin, Pocock v WSilson, Leslie v S Thomson.
Quarter-finals at 2.30.
Sunday – Semi-finals at 10.0 & 10.10. Final 2.30pm

CLARE QUEEN BOUNCES BACK WITH 69 AS THREE SCOTS SURVIVE HALFWAY CUT
Clare Queen bounced back from a disappointing opening round of 75 to return a three-under-par 69 for a 36-hole tally of level par 142 in the Tenerife Ladies Open today.
Clare birdied the fourth, fifth, 12th, 14th and 17th. The only blot on her scorecard was a double bogey 7 at the long seventh in halves of 36 and 33.
Clare - and the other two Scots in the field, Lynn Kenny and Kathryn Imrie - all survived the 36-hole cut which fell at 149, ie. 150 failed to make it.
Lynn Kenny had a 72 for 148 with birdies at the first, 10th and 17th. She bogeyed the ninth, 14th and 16th in two halves of 36.
Kathryn Imrie, after a level par 72 in the first round, could not buy a birdie in the second round and was five over par with three holes to play but was able to get a birdie at last at the 17th to finish with a 76, also for 148.
Liz McKinnon, the Inverness-based Kiwi , missed the cut with a two-round total of 151. She had scores of 77 and 74.
Trish Johnson moved into the clubhouse lead with rounds of 71 and 70 for a three-under-par total of 141 but was overtaken late in the day by the first-round leader, Spain's Ana B Sanchez, who had a 73 for 140.
TWO-ROUND LEADING TOTALS
140 Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 67 73.
141 Trish Johnson(Eng) 71 70.
142 Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 71, Sofia Renell (Swe) 69 73, Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 71, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 71, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 72.
143 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 71 72, Joanne Mills (Aus) 69 74, Ellen Smets (Bel) 69 74.
Other qualifiers:
144 Clare Queen (The Carrick at Cameron House) 75 69.
148 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 76 72, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 72 76.
Non-qualifiers included:
151 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 77 74.

HEATHER ANDERSON'S WINNING DEBUT IN NORTHERN VETS' GREENSOMES AT KIRRIEMUIR
Heather Anderson (Downfield) made a winning debut in the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association (Northern Division) greensomes competition on a dull but dry day today at Kirriemuir Club.
She and Nancy Duncan from Brechin had the lowest scratch and net scores.
The SSS was 72.
Leading scores:
SCRATCH
76 Heather Anderson (Downfield) & Nancy Duncan ( Brechin).
HANDICAP
70.4 Heather Anderson & Nancy Duncan (5.6).
72.8 K Agnew ( Murcar Links) & A Willox ( Murcar Links) (23.2).
73 Stella Hodge & Margaret McNaughton (Aberdeen Ladies) (10).

HARGAN CHASING FIFTH MIDLOTHIAN TITLE WIN IN A ROW AT NEWBATTLE
Mortonhall’s Claire Hargan is still on course to capture the Midlothian women’s county golf championship for the fifth year in a row.
In this year’s event at Newbattle Golf Club, Dalkeith, Claire swept into the last four today (Friday) with two smooth wins in which she did have to play the last three or four holes.
In Sunday’s second semi-final, Claire, who qualified in the No 3 position, will meet the No 2 seed, Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies).
The first semi-final will be an all-Mortonhall match between the top qualifier, Belinda Murphy, who lost at the 19th to Claire Hargan in last year’s final, and Tracy Laughland, the No 4 seed.
Results:
First round – B Murphy (Mortonhall) bt G Glen (Craigmillar Park) 3 and 1, N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) bt F De Vries (St Rule) 1 hole; K Marshall (Baberton) bt S Ireland (Prestonfield) 5 and 4, T Laughland (Mortonhall) w.o. A Edwards (Liberton) scr, F Hunter (Baberton) bt W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 5 and 4, A McGarty (Harburn) bt R Brown (Lothianburn) 1 hole, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) bt M Pollock (Craigmillar Park) 7 and 6.
Quarter-finals – Murphy bt Fenton 3 and 2, Laughland bt Marshall 2 and 1, Hargan bt Hunter 4 and 3, MacDonald bt McGarty 3 and 2.

JUDITH ANDERSON CHASING EIGHTH BORDER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Hawick’s Judith Anderson, the holder of the title, is chasing a record eighth victory in the Borders women’s county championship which reaches the match-play stages at The Roxburghe Golf Club tomorrow (Saturday).
Judith qualified in the No 2 position with a 78, one more than top seed Sharon Lees.
QUALIFIERS
77 S Lees.
78 J Anderson.
80 K Inkpen.
81 P Costello, L Atkins.
82 J Birdsall.
84 W Wells, D Elliot, A Dods.
86 L Campbell, G Oliver.
867 L Douglas, S Cuthbertson.
87 I Craigie.
88 P Hogg.
89 A Mitchell.
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Lees v Mitchell, Dods v Elliot, Atkins v Douglas, Cuthbertson v Costello, Inkpen v Craigie, Oliver v Birdsall, Wells v Campbell, Hogg v Anderson.
[NB Border Ladies website has changed to www.blcga.btik.com. I'll update the link on the left when I get a chance]

TOP THREE UNABLE TO PLAY IN EAST LOTHIAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY STAGES
Erstwhile Professional golfers Lesley Nicholson and Hilary Wardell (nee Monaghan) made a welcome return to the amateur ranks in the East Lothian County Championships at North Berwick yesterday.
Unfortunately leading scratch qualifier, Lesley (74), the title holder Fiona Prior (75), and former Scottish women's amateur champion Hilary (77) are unable to take part in the match-play stages on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
QUALIFIERS
Par 74. CSS 75.
77 Jayne Smith.
80 Mary Lou Renton.
81 Susan Penman, Emma Fairnie, Diane Huish.
82 Moira Thomson, Kelly Brotherton.
83 Keren Ward.
84 Joan Henderson, Lynne Fortune.
85 Jane Herd.
86 Anne Chainey.
87 Linda Grieve.
88 Valerie MacKenzie.
89 Eleanor Black.
90 Elinor Blair.
Match-play draw.
Monday - 10am
First round - Smith v Blair, Henderson v Ward, Huish v Chainey, Grieve v Fairnie, Penman v MacKenzie, Herd v Thomson, Brotherton v Fortune, Black v Renton.
HANDICAP QUAICH QUALIFIERS
Quarter-finals draw for Monday (11am).
Lynda Jeffrey v Kirstine McKenzie.
Gratian Andrew v Irene Gray.
Elise Guy v Ros Thoresen.
Patricia Savin v Wendy Thummanond.

Ness Open
Just a reminder that the Ness Open has switched its date from August to Sunday 27th May. This 36 hole tournament, played at Inverness Golf Club, is a counting competition in the SLGA Order of Merit. Entry forms can be found on the SLGA website. Closing date for entries is 9th May.

EGU Press Release
To support the English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) strategy to increase the number of women and girls particiapting in golf the English Golf Union (EGU) and ELGA are working together to implement their ‘Driving Women’s Golf’ initiative.
The EGU/ELGA Development Team has recently produced a ‘Women & Girls Golf’ brochure to help guide and provide advice to golf clubs on how to recruit and retain more women and girls. To support the brochure additional information is available online via the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org/womenandgirls, where fact sheets and further guidance can be accessed and downloaded.
Recent statistics from the EGU/ELGA 2006 Golf Club Membership Questionnaire identified that 85% of golf clubs have vacancies for female members (adults and juniors) and at least 70% of golf clubs are actively seeking more adult female and girl members.
Pauline Perla, ELGA Chief Executive Officer, “There has never been a better time for women and girls to get into golf, with clubs actively looking for female members. But we must all be as proactive as possible to make sure these opportunities are promoted. We hope that these latest resources will provide greater support to golf clubs and ultimately strengthen women and girls golf in England”.
This initial source of information is set to be the foundation of the ‘Driving Women's Golf' campaign and further resources will be available from EGU/ELGA to help support golf clubs and women and girls looking to get involved in the game.
All affiliated golf clubs and counties have been sent copies of the ‘Women & Girls Golf’ brochure and further copies are available from the EGU/ELGA Golf Development Team. The online resources are available at www.englishgolfunion.org/womenandgirls
‘Driving Women’s Golf’ is an initiative jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA linking in to England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and is an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.

PGA PRESS RELEASE
PGA professionals will have a pivotal role to play over the coming months as the England Golf Partnership bids to stimulate women's golf.
Despite growing interest in the women's professional game via star names Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie - and more women than ever joining the PGA's three year foundation degree - the knock-on effect is not trickling down to grassroots level with gaping holes in club memberships for women and girls.
A 2006 survey of golf club memberships identified 85 per cent of clubs having vacancies for female members - both adults and juniors - while 70 per cent of clubs are actively seeking more female members.
In a bid to get more women into golf, PGA pros are supporting EGP initiatives such as free taster sessions and 'Drive Women's Golf' throughout the summer utilising their coaching skills to bring the game to a new audience.
With a simple motto of 'give it a go' women and girls can find out more by just logging on to www.getintogolf.org to find their nearest participating club.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: "Growing the game, particularly among women, is an important target and with these initiatives the PGA in partnership with the EGP is giving women the opportunities to get started in golf.
The PGA is a key stakeholder in the EGP's 'Whole Sport Plan' which aims to make England a leading golf nation by 2020.

Gifford Pair Triumph at Whitekirk
The Gifford pairing of Ingrid Elgsaas and Georgene Parson won the Whitekirk Ladies Open Greensomes yesterday by the tightest of margins. Playing off a team handicap of 33, Ingrid and Georgene defeated Louise Stewart (Whitekirk) and Sue Warren (North Berwick West) also playing of 33, on a Better Inward Half, both teams returning 71 nett. In fact only 1.6 strokes separated st from 5th place. Third placed was Fiona Thomson (Eastwood) and Ann McVicor (Eastwood) playing off 25.2 with 71.8 nett. In forth place was Lynn Logan (Whitekirk) and Kim Johnston (Dunbar) with a nett 72.2 playing of 17.8. Liz Thom and Isobel Smith (both North Berwick West) completed the handicap prizes in 5th place on 72.6 nett playing off 25.4. Scratch prize went to the Harburn pairing of Jennifer Bryans and Aileen Kennedy who returned a gross 82. In one of the biggest ever turn outs at Whitekirk, 46 teams participated. The Whitekirk Ladies also ran a raffle in support of Macmillan Cancer Support, raising £398. This will be presented to Macmillan at the Babe Zaharias event, held by Macmillan at Whitekirk on Tuesday 24th July 2007.
Complete Listing of Prizewinners
1st - Ingrid Elgsaas (Gifford) & Georgene Parson (Gifford) 71 (bih)
2nd - Louise Stewart (Whitekirk) & Sue Warren (North Berwick West) 71
3rd - Fiona Thomson (Eastwood) & Ann McVicor (Eastwood) 71.8
4th - Lynn Logan (Whitekirk) & Kim Johnston (Dunbar) 72.2
5th - Liz Thom (North Berwick West) & Isobel Smith (North Berwick West) 72.6
Scratch - Aileen Kennedy (Harburn) & Jennifer Bryans (Harburn) 82
Nearest the Pin - Bronze - M Robertson (Kelso)
Nearest the Pin - Silver - Janette Main (Dunbar)
Longest Drive - Bronze - Janice MacLeod (Whitekirk)
Longest Drive - Silver - Diane Fergusson (Castlepark)
Hidden Hole - Margaret Scott(North Berwick West) & Pat Craig(North Berwick West)

SCOTTISH WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Competitors will leave the tee in threes at 9min intervals in the first qualifying round of the Scottish women’s (close) amateur golf championship at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club on Tuesday, May 15.
Martine Pow from Selkirk is the defending champion. Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), title-winner in 1996, 2003 and 2004, and Elane Moffat (1998) are the only other previous champions in the field.
After two qualifying rounds, the leading 32 players will advance to the championship match-play stages on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Order of play:
8.30 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck), L Fraser (Kingsknowe), G Kyle (East Renfrewshire); L Williamson (Barassie), E Briggs (Kilmacolm), L McDougall ( Greenock); R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay), R Wilson (Monifieth), H Anderson (Downfield); E Napper (Craigie Hill), C Taylor (Royal Dornoch), L Terry (Cruden Bay).
9.06 F Gilbert (Carnoustie), L Keohone (Loudoun), R Purdom (Prestwick St Nihcolas); M Easton (Dalmahoy), A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle), M Rae (Barassie); E Moffat (St Regulus), H MacRae (Dunblane New), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
9.33 J Turner (Mortonhall), K Caithness (St Regulus), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old); S Bishop (Cochrane Castle), A Lowe (Royal Birkdale), J Carthew (Ladybank).
10.0 C Hargan (Mortonhall), A Laing (Vale of Leven), L Murray (Alford); K Walker (Buchanan Castle), M Pow (Selkirk), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon); S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder), J Wilson (Strathaven); J Harrison (Cruden Bay), C-M Carlton (Fereneze), A Thompson (Loudoun).
10.36 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton), G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), A Bushby (Strathmore); P Williamson (Baberton), A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir), A Hunter (Monifieth); N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), L McLardy (Murcar Links),W Nicholson (Broomieknowe).
11.03 D Dewar (Monifieth), C MacDonald (Gullane), K Marshall (Baberton); F DeVries (St Rule), C Wilson (Murcar Links).
11.30 L McGeachy (Windyhill), B Paterson (Eastwood), B Waugh (Moore Hall); G Lockhart (Barassie), A Niven (Crieff), F Macgregor (Thornhill); R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh), S Ireland (Prestonfield), S Herd (Dunblane New); J Sneddon (Alyth), G Scanlan (Hamilton), S Leslie (Westhill).
12.06 S Adams (Loudoun), E McCowan (Ormskirk), J Meldrum (Dullatur); A Anderson (Loudoun), W MacCallum (Fakirk), C Easton (Dalmahoy); N Qayum Ranfurly Castle), A Wallace (Prestwick St Nicholas).
12.33 D Moncrieff (Lochend), C King (Windyhill), L Mathie (Cochrane Castle).

Death of P&K Past President
Janet Griffiths of Perth and Kinross has emailed in to say:-
"It is with great regret that I have to report the sad death of Perth & Kinross County member Mrs Sheena Dewar of Crieff. Sheena was a former President and Captain and a long serving member of the County team. Her regular partner in the team was past County President Evelyn Aitken of Auchterarder who told me that Sheena also looked after the County girls. She will be sadly missed. "


Thursday 3rd May 2007

KATHRYN ONLY SCOT TO MATCH PAR IN TENERIFE LADIES OPEN
Kathryn Imrie from Monifieth was the only Scots-based player to match the par of 72 in the first round of the Tenerife Ladies Open at Golf de Sur today (Thursday).
The 39-year-old one-time winner on the LPGA circuit, but now back to play the Ladies European Tour full-time, birdied the second, fourth and sixth but then sagged with bogeys at the eighth, 12th and 17th to finish five shots behind Ana Sanchez (Spain), leader by one with a five-under 67.
On a day of low scoring, Clare Queen and Lynn Kenny were left trailing with rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. Clare had a double bogey 7 at the long fifth. Birdies at the fourth, seventh and 17th could not repair all the damage done elsewhere with bogeys.
Lynn could muster only one birdie, at the sixth.
Inverness-based New Zealandeer Liz McKinnon started with a triple-bogey 7 on her way to an outward half of 42. She needed birdies at the 10th, 12th and 17th to salvage a 77.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
67 A Sanchez (Spa).
68 C Ekelundh (Swe), F Piovano (Ita).
69 T Plucksataporn (Thai), S Renell (Swe), N Garrett (Aus), J Mills (Aus), E Smets (Bel).
70 L Hall (Eng), S Sandolo (Ita), M Eberl (Ger).
71 S Walker (Eng), M Arruti (Spa), V Auffret (Fra), G Nocera (Fra), T Elosegui (Spa), A TGemple (US), R Hudson (Eng), L Kreutz (Fra), E Cabreera (Spa) (am), D Mastrs (Eng), K Matharu (Eng), L Wahlin (Swe), L Jean (Aus), B Brewerton (Wal).
Other scores:
72 K Imrie (Sco).
75 C Queen (Sco).
76 L Kenny (Sco).
77 L McKinnon (NZ).

US College Golf
RHYS DAVIES ON SHORT LEET OF THREE FOR THE BEN HOGAN AWARD

Colonial Country Club and The Friends of Golf (FOG) in cooperation with the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), has named East Tennessee State University's Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales), Georgia’s Chris Kirk and Pablo Martin of Oklahoma State as finalists for The Ben Hogan Award and invited the three players to attend the Hogan banquet at Colonial Country Club on Monday, May 21.
The most prestigious award in United Steates men’s college golf, "The Hogan" is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or junior college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months.
A two-time PING First-Team All-America selection, Davies has claimed medalist honours three times this season – the Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges, the Seminole Intercollegiate and the General Jim Hackler Championship.
In addition, the Edinburgh-born senior has recorded four other top-five finishes during his 2006-2007 campaign. Davies won the Scratch Players Championship this past summer and posted a 4-0 record to lead Europe to a record-setting victory at the Palmer Cup. He was recently named his conference’s player of the year for the third-straight time and to his fourth Palmer Cup. The Bucs’ all-time leader in victories with 10, Davies holds virtually every ETSU record.

LGU Press Release
Sunningdale, Royal Lytham & St Annes and Royal Birkdale set to be Venues for the 2008-2010 Ricoh Women’s British Open

Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club and Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2009 and 2010, with the Championship Committee in the final stages of negotiations with Sunningdale Golf Club to host the 2008 Championship, following this year’s historic visit to the Old Course, St Andrews.
With a new sponsor on board and four of the UK’s finest courses on the rota, the Ricoh Women’s British Open continues to be one of the most exciting Majors in golf. This announcement confirms that the World’s best women players will be showcasing their talents on the World’s best golf courses in years to come.
As the only women’s Major to be played outside the USA, the Championship Committee have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring the Ricoh Women’s British Open visits only world class championship courses and these celebrated golfing venues fit the brief to a tee.
Paula Creamer, who played a practice round at St Andrews last week, received the news of future venues enthusiastically, “I am always excited to travel internationally to play in golf tournaments, but particularly to events in the UK. Playing at St Andrews was one of the best golfing moments of my career. I can't wait to return in August for the Ricoh Women’s British Open. I really enjoyed playing in 2005 and 2006 at Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St Annes. I thrive on the different challenges that golf in the UK offers up and every year the British Open is a highlight on my schedule.”
English golf star, Laura Davies, added, "The Women's British Open Championship has gone from strength to strength in recent years as Europe's only Major. The confirmation of a new sponsor, such top class venues and quality courses over the next few years leaves me in no doubt that it will continue to be one of the most sought after titles in the women's game."
Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open Champion and a connoisseur of UK golf courses with particular experience of the next four courses on the Ricoh Women’s British Open rota added, “The women’s game is certainly going from strength to strength and it is very important that the Ricoh Women's British Open Championship Committee select world class courses to best showcase the players' talents. Professionals and amateurs alike are going to be enthralled to see how the World’s best women tackle both The Old Course this year, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Birkdale over the next few years.”
“The Ladies’ Golf Union is committed to playing the Women’s British Open at the best British courses and clearly the next four courses on the rota all fit that criteria,” said Lesley Burn, the Ladies’ Golf Union’s CEO. “All four are wonderful tests of golf and will provide an excellent challenge for the best women’s golfers in the world.”
This year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open is the first women’s professional event ever to be staged over the Old Course, St Andrews, and strong advance ticket sales suggest this historic occasion has struck a chord with golf fans.
“Early ticket sales have been very encouraging,” confirmed Burn. “Last year, just over 70,000 spectators saw America’s Sherri Steinhauer capture her third Women’s British Open title at Royal Lytham & St Annes and the early indications suggest that figure will be surpassed at the Home of Golf.
“Steinhauer and many of the other leading players have also told us how much they are looking forward to playing the Old Course, St Andrews for the first time. It promises to be a memorable occasion for all concerned.”
Subject to final discussions it will be the fourth time that Sunningdale has hosted the Championship. The Old Course at Sunningdale staged its first Women’s British Open in 1997 when Australia’s Karrie Webb won the title for the second time in three years. Korea’s Se Ri Pak emerged victorious when Sunningdale hosted its second Championship in 2001 and three years later England’s Karen Stupples sent local fans into raptures when she stormed through the field to claim the 2004 title.
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club will stage its fourth Women’s British Open when the Championship returns there in 2009. Steinhauer won the first Championship held at the venerable Lancashire venue back in 1998. Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam followed the American into the winner’s circle when the Championship was held there in 2003 and then Steinhauer emerged victorious for a third time – the American also won at Woburn Golf & Country Club in 1999 – when she closed with a level par 72 to defeat compatriot, Christie Kerr, in 2006.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host its fifth Women’s British Open when the Championship is staged there in 2010. Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson won the inaugural Championship held at the Southport club back in 2000 and five years later Korea’s Jeong Jang claimed her first professional victory by defeating Gustafson and another Korean, Young Kim, by four shots on 16-under par 272.
The LGU is currently offering a wide variety of tickets for the 2007 Women’s British Open at the Old Course, St Andrews – including 10% off all tickets purchased on its official website (www.lgu.org) prior to May 31st, 2007.
Full ticket prices for the 2007 Championship cost £5 for the official Pro-Am day (August 1st), £20 for a One Day Ticket (Concession £16) or £50 (£40) for a Season Ticket which is valid all week incl. Pro-Am). P & P is £1 per order (not per ticket). All juniors under the age of 16 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.lgu.org or on 01334 475811 (10% reduction does not apply to telephone sales).

LGU Press Release
Ricoh Announced As Title Sponsor Of Women’s British Open
Ricoh, the global leader in digital office solutions, were announced today as the new title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open.
Ricoh, founded in 1936 in Japan, with annual sales of $16.4 Billion and 81,900 employees and offices in over 100 countries, has been an official supplier to the Women’s British Open for a number of years and, after last year’s Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, were eager to further develop their relationship with one of golf’s most prestigious Majors.
The high profile of women’s golf in Asia, especially in Japan and Korea, made the Women’s British Open the ideal platform for Ricoh to promote their brand internationally. Seeped in history, with a winners list that reads like a ‘who’s who of women’s golf’, it is also the only Major played outside of the USA and boasts golf’s most international field with players representing over 25 countries at the 2006 tournament.
Ricoh’s move to title sponsor could not come at a more exciting time as the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open will be played over the Old Course, St Andrews from 2nd – 5th August. It will make history as the first Championship for women professionals to be played at the ‘Home of Golf,’ the scene of 26 Open Championships and many other professional men’s tournaments.
Already sponsors of the Ricoh Cup on the Japanese LPGA Tour, the World Cup Ski Jump, European ATP tennis events and various Marathons, Ricoh are thrilled to be adding the Women’s British Open to their sponsorship portfolio. Kirk Yoshida, CMO and Executive VP of Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Japan) commented, “We see the Ricoh Women’s British Open to be the perfect event to represent our brand on the global stage. Everything from the international flavour of the field, the rich heritage and its Major status make it the ideal property for us. It is especially exciting to our customers and employees that this year’s event will take place at the ‘Home of Golf’ and we are honoured to be working with the LGU and IMG to continue to grow and develop this great event.”
Lesley Burn, the Ladies’ Golf Union’s CEO added, “Ricoh have joined us at a fantastic time. The profile of the Women’s British Open in the world of golf continues to rise and with the backing of such a successful and established global company as Ricoh, the future is very bright. We are delighted that Ricoh have recognised the many benefits the women’s game offers to sponsors and look forward to a very successful partnership.
Carolyn Bivens, Commissioner of the LPGA commented, "I am delighted that Ricoh will be sponsoring one of our Major Championships. The tournament is played on some of the world's most famous courses and showcases many of the greatest golfers in the world. We are looking forward to travelling to St Andrews in August for the first of what I am sure will be many Ricoh Women's British Open Championships."
Alex Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said, “ To have an international company such as Ricoh support women's golf in Europe is great news for our Tour and I am delighted that they have decided to take over the title position of the Women's British Open from Weetabix who have been such a major contributor to the development of the tournament during the past 20 years."
Japan’s leading player Shiho Oyama said, “Ricoh are a very popular sponsor of golf in Japan and we are excited to hear that they will be the title sponsor at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Maybe their support will give Japanese golfers some sort of home advantage and one of us will win the Women’s British Open for the first time!”
Winner of the 2003 Women’s British Open, Annika Sorenstam, commented, “It is great to hear Ricoh have committed to this historic tournament. With all the rising stars of Asia, it is not surprising that a leading international company such as Ricoh would be keen to title sponsor a Major. We are all looking forward to playing at The Old Course and this news has certainly added to the excitement of the event.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew also enthused, “This is only the second time the Women’s British Open has been played in Scotland and obviously, as a Scot, winning a professional event on The Old Course would be a dream come true. Ricoh have come on board at the perfect time and I think, along with the players and spectators, they are in for an exciting week.”
The prize fund for the 31st Women’s British Open will be $2,000,000 and last year’s winner, Sherri Steinhauer, will be returning to defend her title. Millions will tune into the Ricoh Women’s British Open as it is televised around the world, including on the BBC in the UK, network television in the USA and on TV Asahi in Japan.
For further information about Ricoh, please visit www.ricoh.com and for additional information on the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open, please visit www.lgu.org

PAULA CREAMER PLAYED OLD COURSE LAST WEEK
United States Solheim Cup player Paula Creamer made a secret trip to Scotland last week to play the Old Course in preparation for the Women’s British Open at St Andrews from August 2 to 5.
"It was one of the best golfing moments of my career and I can't wait to return in August," said Paula who last visited Scotland in 2002 as one of United States’ representatives in the R&A Junior Open at Royal Musselburgh.
She didn’t win the girls’ title then but she will be among the favourites to capture Women’s British Open.

 


Wednesday 2nd May 2007

JILL (14) YOUNGEST EVER WINNER OF DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL TITLE
Dullatur Golf Club 14-year-old junior member Jill Meldrum today (Wed) became the youngest ever winner of the county title in the 98-year-history of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf association.
In the final at Milngavie Golf Club, Jill, winner of the Scottish Under-14 girls’ title at Deeside last summer, beat Scotland senior international Anna Telfer, playing over her home course, by 4 and 3.
Jill had been the No 1 seed while Anna was the third-best qualifier.
In the morning semi-finals, Jill won by 6 and 5 over Babs Robertson (Helensburgh) while Anna beat the No 2 seed, Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), another over-50s Scotland team player, with a birdie at the 18th.
Eleanor Starling (Balmore), the No 1 seed, beat No 2 qualifier Denise Harrow (Hilton Park) by 5 and 4 in the final of the Bronze Division championship.
Results:
SCRATCH – Semi-finals – J Meldrum (Dullatur) bt B Robertson (Helensburgh) 6 and 5, A Telfer (Milngavie) bt H Faulds (Douglas Park) 1 hole. Final – Meldrum bt Telfer 4 and 3.
BRONZE DIVISION – Final – E Starling (Balmore) bt D Harrow (Hilton Park) 5 and 4.


Tuesday 1st May 2007

KRYSTLE MAKES BRITISH INTERNATIONAL DEBUT IN COMMONWEALTH TOURNEY
The Great Britain team of Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), Melissa Reid (Chevin), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Naomi Edwards (Ganton) have flown to South Africa for the Commonwealth tournament at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
It is a first GB cap for Krystle, the Scottish Under-21 and Under-18 stroke-play champion and winner of the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews last year.
Krystle, pictured right, finished the weekend’s Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship with a very good round of two-under-par 73 over the Royal Troon championship links in a cold, easterly cross-wind which boosted the CSS to 77 (two over the par). No one did better than 73. In fact, only the French girl, who finished third, Audrey Decharne, equalled it.
The Commonwealth tournament is a five-a-side round-robin team match-play event, staged every four years, It will start next Monday and finish on the Friday.
Each match consists of two foursomes in the morning and five singles in the afternoon.
As there are five competing countries – Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – each team will have one rest day.
The team with the most points at the end of the week win the trophy.
South Africa, inspired by young Ashleigh Simon, winner of the South African Women’s Open (for a second time) against a field of professionals earlier this year, will be very hard to beat.
Earlier this year, Ashleigh starred in the South African team that won the women’s world amateur team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
Only Naomi Edwards of the British team did not play in that tournament so four of the other five have recent experience of playing conditions in South Africa.
Sue Turner is the Great Britain team captain and she is convinced that she has a potential team of trophy-winners under her charge.
Australia have won the last three Commonwealth tournaments – in 2003, 1999 and 1995.
The last Great Britain team to take the title – in 1991 - included two Scots in the five-strong line-up – Curtis Cup players Elaine Farquharson and Catriona Matthew - and their team-mates, also Curtis Cup players, were England’s Linzi Fletcher and Julie Hall, and Wales’ Vicki Thomas.
Elaine and Catriona, were and still are great friends who never lost a foursomes match as partners throughout their amateur career. In the Commonwealth tournament of 1991, the Scots pair won all their alternate-shot ties that week in 1991 at the Northumberland Golf Club course in the middle of the Newcastle racecourse.
Liz Boatman, the winning GB captain, said at the time: "With only 7pt at stake in each match, it was a very big advantage to have one point of a start every day, as it were, so well did Catriona and Elaine dovetail in all four foursomes matches."


Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) and Rachael Livingstone (Muselburgh Old)
with their record-breaking scorecards.

RACHAEL LOWERS NEWBATTLE RECORD BUT WILL MISS MIDLOTHIAN MATCH-PLAY
The Newbattle Golf Club women’s course record, first set by golf-writer-to-be Elspeth Burnside in 1977, was first equalled and then shaved by a shot a few hours later on a gloriously sunny day for the qualifying rounds of the Midlothian women’s county championship today (TUESDAY).
Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) equalled Elspeth’s mark of 70 with her morning round and, in the afternoon, 19-year-old Scotland girl international Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) lowered the record to 69 – three under par – and below the CCS of 71 (am) and 72 (pm).
Rachael had had a 77 in the morning and would have had an aggregate of 146 but, unfortunately, she cannot take part in the match-play stages on Friday and Sunday because she has entered the Welsh women’s open stroke-play championship at Newport at the weekend. But her second-round effort, in which she was six under par after 11 holes and shot seven birdies in all, will stand as a new course record.
Belinda Murphy’s second round was a 71 which gave her the No 1 qualifier spot with an aggregate of 141 – one stroke ahead of Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 71-71, and four ahead of former Scotland cap Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) who had 74 and 71 for 145 and the third seed berth.
Last year’s Miss Hargan won the Midlothian title for the fourth year in a row, beating clubmate Belinda Murphy at the nineteenth.
QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 X 72). CSS 71 72.
141 Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) 70 71.
142 Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 71 71.
145 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 74 71.
149 Tracy Laughland (Mortonhall)72 77 (better last 9), Karen Marshall (Baberton) 72 77.
150 Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 74 76.
151 Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) 74 77.
152 Fiona DeVries (St Rule) 75 77.
153 Noreen Fenton (Mertchants of Edinburgh) 75 78.
159 Arlene McGarty (Harburn) 82 77, Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 81 78.
163 Suzanne Ireland (Prestonfield) 81 82.
164 Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 83 81, Linda Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 82 82, Mairi Pollock (Craigmillar Park) 80 84.
181 Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park) 94 87.
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Friday – First round (9am) – Murphy v Glen, Fenton v DeVries, Marshall v Ireland, Edwards v Laughland, Hargan v Caine, Hunter v Nicholson, Brown v McGarty, Pollock v MacDonald. Quarter-finals at 2pm.
Sunday – Semi-finals and finals.

INJURY TO KAREN PUTS DAMPER ON MILNGAVIE MATCH-PLAY TIES
An injury to Karen Maxwell, the No 4 seed from the host club, Milngavie, took the shine off an excellent day’s match-play in glorious weather when the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf championship continued today (Tuesday).
Karen went over her ankle and had to retire from her first-round tie against the 13th qualifier, Margaret Kinvig (Vale of Leven). By the end of the day Karen was on crutches after receiving treatment.
Jill Meldrum, the 14-year-old top qualifier from Dullatur, continued her progress to the last four with good wins over Margaret Stirling (Cardross) and Jill Foggo (Milngavie).
On Wednesday morning, Jill, the Scottish Under-14 girls champion, will play Babs Robertson (Helensburgh), the No 5 qualifier, while the other semi-final will feature the No 2 seed, Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) against another Scotland senior team player, Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
Details:
First round - J Meldrum (Dullatur) bt M Stirling (Cardross) 3 and 2, J Foggo (Milngavie) bt K MacAulay (Milngavie) 3 and 2, B Robertson (Helensburgh) bt L McColl (Bearsden) 1 hole, M Kinvig (Vale of Leven) w.o. K Maxwell (Milngavie) retired.
A Telfer (Milngavie) bt A Struthers (Buchanan Castle) 6 and 5, L McGeachy (Windyhill) bt A Sinclair (Hilton Park) 2 holes, E Young (Balmore) bt I Harvey (St Rule) 1 hole, H Faulds (Douglas Park) bt L Johnston (Windyhill) 8 and 7.
Quarter-finals – Meldrum bt Foggo 2 and 1, Robertson bt Kinvig 4 and 2, Telfer bt MGeachy 3 and 1, Faulds bt Young 5 and 4.

ELGA LADIES TERMINATE MERGER TALKS WITH ENGLISH GOLF UNION MEN
According to an article by Lewine Mair in the "Daily Telegraph," the English Ladies Golf Association has called a halt to his talks with the English Golf Union over a possible merger.
Lewine writes in her article:
The English Ladies' Golf Association have called a halt to their talks with the English Golf Union over a possible merger. Though the women had visualised an equal partnership, they were dismayed to discover that, only three months into the talks, the men expected to have the upper hand.
The main stumbling block is the EGU's headquarters at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, a centre of golfing excellence which is not exactly in the centre.
At a meeting in St Andrews on March 20, the men said the women should leave their present headquarters in Birmingham and join them.
ELGA explained that they were not prepared to make a hasty decision on such a big issue. In the first place, they felt that the men should talk to their own membership to see if they believed that Woodhall was the best place for the EGU to be long-term. At the same time, ELGA said that they would need to get feedback from their members.
"If it turned out to be what both sets of members wanted," said Sarah Miller, the chairman of ELGA, "we would go."
Sport England have said repeatedly that they would like to see the two bodies unite, not least from a Lottery-funding point of view in that facilities and administrative costs could be shared. It would also help the women if their girls' squads were to practise more alongside the boys.
However, ELGA officials are not at all sure all the advantages that have been put to them would outweigh the disadvantages of being so out on a limb.
After discussing the women's concerns, the EGU went a step further in stating that relocation was a pre-condition to any merger.
There was a further meeting on April 3 at which nothing was resolved. "As a consequence of these unacceptable terms, talks have been suspended."

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