September Archive

Monday 30th September

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship
HUNTLY'S Rose Anderson, pictured right, capped a remarkable debut in the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship at Blairgowrie by beating Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) 6 and 4 in the final over the Lansdowne course. Report

British Seniors (Winner Ros Page, pictured left)
Colin has been out with his camera again, and has taken photos of many of the stars of last week's Championship at Longniddry. I've put them in an album.
Photos, courtesy and copyright© of Cal Carson Golf Agency.

Robertson Trophy
Cruden Bay have won the Robertson Trophy
for the fourth year in a row
Report and photo

Sunday 29th September

Scottish Veterans Championship
DEFENDING champion Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) lost to Scotland team-mate Liz Campbell from Torwoodlee in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship over the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course. Report

Alford Mother and Son are Club Champs
FOR the first time since the opening of Alford as an 18-hole golf course 20 years ago, a mother and son have won the respective club championships. Report and photo

WEBMASTER KATHLEEN SETS UP GOLF DRAW SERVICE IN NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND
Kathleen Esslemont, has set up a website www.northeastgolfdraws.co.uk to promote open golf competitions in the North-east by publishing the dates and tee times of all open events, men's, ladies', senior men/women, juniors, as well as entry forms for these. Report and photo

Saturday 28th September

NOW SENIOR WOMEN GET HOME INTERNATIONALS
THE Ladies Golf Union has decided to introduce a three-day home internationals programme every October for senior women, which is those over 50 years, compared with over 55 years in men's amateur golf.
The senior women's home internationals will be played for the first time at a venue close to South Staffordshire Golf Club, three miles west of Wolverhampton, which will host next year's British open senior women's open amateur championship from Wednesday to Friday, September 24 to 26.
The dates for the senior women's home internationals will be Tuesday to Thursday, October 1 to 3.
This will be the pattern in future years with the senior women's home internationals being played the week following the British open senior women's championship and at a venue in the same region of the country.
"The Ladies Golf Council is recognising that the majority of golfers in this country are over 50 years, and it is a natural progression to have home internationals for the girls, home internationals for women and now home internationals for senior women," said Susan Simpson,
deputy secretary of the LGU and former secretary of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association.
The senior women's international teams will be selected by the four home unions in women's golf, not the Veteran Ladies Golf Association which is a competely separate, autonomous body which, for many years, has staged an inter-area team championship, featuring North, Midland and South representative sides alongwith Scotland.
"I like to think this is another example of what I describe as the 'New Ladies Golf Union,'" said LGU chairman Maureen Lockett. "At a recent reception, Prince Andrew said to me he had thought Ladies Golf Union officials wore tweeds all the time. I told him that I could not answer for the past but the LGU certainly did not deserve that image or description now. I told Prince Andrew that I was chairman of the "New Ladies Golf Union' and a decision to move with the times and
introduce senior home internationals fits in with the forward-thinking policies we are now pursuing."
Next week, at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, the second men's senior home international matches will be held and the Scottish Golf Union, for the first time, has selected a side of golfers from the over-55 years bracket to play for Scotland.
Last year, the SGU did not send a team to take part in the inaugural internationals and Sweden completed the quartet alongwith England, Ireland and Wales at Portmarnock.

US Student News
SCOTS SHINE IN US
SCOTS Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Laura Wells (Dumfries & Co) helped Iowa State University set a college record total and won a team event for the second week in a row on the United States women's college circuit.
Iowa State's total of 595 was eight shots inside their all-time low of 603 and they won the Pioneer Highlands Ranch International at Highlands Ranch, Colorado by three strokes from the University of Denver with Colorado (599) third.
Louise finished 16th individually with scores of 75 and 78 for 154. Laura had 83 and 78 for 161.

EUROPEAN U-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED
THE European Under-21 championships, won by Barry Hume and Emma Cabrera at Turnberry last year, have been cancelled only four weeks before they were due to be hosted again by the five-star Ayrshire hotel and golf resort.
Sponsors Lexus have pulled out very late in the day with golf unions all over Europe having selected young men and women to travel to Scotland for what was becoming a prestigious end-of-season event.
Paul Gillmon, IMG's tournament director, said:
"I am disappointed to announce that due to a very last minute withdreawl from Lexus on title sponsorship will be cancelling this event for 2002. Without Lexus sponsorship of the event, we cannot justify running the tournament as it is not financially viable.
"We are very disappointed with this decision, especially as it has had to come at such a late stage in the build-up to the event. We very much hope that with secure long-term sponsorship for 2003 and future years, that we will be able to run the event successfully again.
"I apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused to all who were supporting the event by nominating their players. I hope that in the future we will still be able to rely upon the federations to support the event, whatever format it should take."
The tournament had been arranged from Wednesday to Friday, October 30 to November 1 over the Turnberry Ailsa course.
Lexus are one of Colin Montgomery's sponsors.

Renfrewshire Girls Stableford 2002
Victoria McCulloch (Williamwood) won The Campbell Clock for the second time in 3 years at Whitecraigs.. Last years winner, home club player Wendy Gilchrist (Whitecraigs) was runner-up.
Report and results

Thursday 26th September

British Senior Ladies Open Amateur Championship
Colin's Report
ROS WINS BRITISH SENIOR WOMEN'S TITLE
Ros Page drove 400 miles from Bristol with her husband Mike to play in this week's British senior women's open amateur golf championship at Longniddry, near Edinburgh. The trip was well worthwhile as Ros, a 52-year-old two-handicapper who did not take up golf until she was 23, won the title by six strokes after a final round of two-over-par 76 for a 54-hole total of 229 with Mike as her caddie..
"That more than makes up for last year when I was level with Mary McKenna on the last tee and she birdied the last to win the title," said Mrs Page who plays for the England senior women's team after "not being good enough to win a cap before I turned 50."
Sweden's Christina Birke, winner of the Spanish senior women's open title and the Nordic senior women's championship this year, finished second with a 78 for 235.
Starting the final round four strokes behind, Mrs Page, Christina had slashed the deficit to two after only two holes. Ros was in two bunkers to run up a double bogey 6 at the first while the Swede dropped only one shot. Then Christina birdied the second by getting home in two at the 410yd hole which Mrs Page parred.
"It didn't worry me," said Ros later."I just took the view that I had got the bad shots out of the way very early on."
Mrs Page was right in her summing-up. By the turn she had stretched the lead to four again and reached a high point of a six-shot lead at the 14th, which Ros birdied and Christina bogeyed after sending her second shot into the burn that crosses the fairway.
Sue Westall (Copt Heath) and Diane Williams (Canada) both finished on 236 with the Canadian being officially placed third by virtue of a better inward half in their final-round 75s.
Top Scots in joint ninth place were Pam Williamson (Baberton) and Moira Thomson (North Berwick) on 241.
Mrs Williamson, winner of the Scottish and Irish senior titles within the last month, admitted that the pressure of being one of the favourites in the injured Miss McKenna's absence had got to her.
"I was so up tight for that first round 81," said Pam who won the award for the best aggregate by a 60-64 years player.
Anne Biggs (Tyneside) took the 65 and over prize with 251. Maj Heden (Sweden) was the winner of the 55 to 59 years group with 238 and Chris Watson (Beaconsfield) was best in the 50 to 54 years, also with 238.
Check up on the scores on the LGU website www.lgu.org

British Universities Home Nations Championship
Scotland beat England yesterday at Minchinhampton to take the Women's Home Nations Championship.
Here are the results (Scottish names first)
Clare Queen and Cara Gruber bt Gemma Pritchard and Sam Lovell 6&4
Ruth Rankin and Kate Parsley bt Emily Lowther and Kirsten Westgate 2&1
Addi Shamash and Elaine Cuthill halved with Jo Summers and Emily Lyons
Clare Queen bt Gemma Pritchard 2&1
Cara Gruber bt Sam Lovell 2&1
Kate Parsley bt Kirsten Westgate 1up
Ruth Rankin lost to Emily Lowther 1 down
Elaine Cuthill lost to Emma Lyons 2&1
Addi Shamash lost to Jo Summers 2&1
Scotland 5 1/2 England 3 1/2
On Tuesday England beat the combined Wales/Northern Ireland team by 8 matches to one.
Final totals were Scotland 2pts, England 1pt, Wales/NI 0pts
The Scottish Men's team beat Wales 9-3 on Tuesday but England beat them 8.5 - 3.5 after Scotland had led 3-1 in the morning foursomes.

Wednesday 25th September

British Senior Ladies Championship
FORMER Scottish girls golf champion Moira Thomson will start the final round of the British senior women's open amateur championship at Longniddry in joint second place, four shots behind the 36-hole leader, Ros Page from Henbury.
Ros, beaten into second place by Ireland's Mary McKenna last year at Aberdovey, battle on for a second-round 79 and a tally of 153.
Moira, from North Berwick, slipped back from an opening 74 to an 83 but that gave her a share of second place with Sweden's Christina Birke who had an 84 yesterday.
Former Curtis Cup player Carole Caldwell from Sunningdale is in fourth place after an 80 for 158.
Scottish seniors champion Pam Williamson (Baberton) was one of the few whose second-day scores did not go up by several shots in the much more testing conditions. Mrs Williamson repeated her opening 81 to be nine shots off the pace on 162.
A total of 51 players with 36-hole totals of 173 or better qualified for the third round. Results

County Finals
Anna Hunter of Stirling and Clackmannan writes
"Gillian ,I have attached a photo of the winning Stirling and Clackmannan team (see left, Christine Sikora vice-captain, Janice Taylor, Celia Kenny, Linda Robertson ,Captain, Katy Mathieson, Elaine Allison ,Laura Aitken and Heather Stirling .Lynn Kenny was in the team but had to leave before the photo call.
Heather had her first hole in one on Saturday at the 129 yard ,par 3 , 11th hole.She played a beatiful 7 iron but unfortuneately did not see it pop into the hole. I have attached a photo of Heather with the Captain of Portpatrick and Linda Robertson . Portpatick Golf Club were very good and presented Heather with a glass plate engraved with her name and Dunskey Golf Club as a momento .We were all so happy for her since this will be the last time she plays for Stirling and Clackmannan as she will be turning professional later in the year.
We had a great time at Portpatrick , it was very tough having lost to Borders but we kept the East Division flag flying abd won through in the end. Anna"

American Student Golf
Jamie 9th in US golf
Jamie McLeary from Scotlandwell finished ninth in the Kansas Invitational college golf tournament at Lawrence. The former Scottish youth champion had rounds of 72, 70 and 76 for two-over-par total of 218, nine shots behind Baylor University team-mate Ryan Baca who shot 68, 68 and 73 to win the individual event. Baylor won the team event by nine strokes.

British Universities Home Nations Team Championship
Cara phoned my answering machine with details of Monday's triumph over the combined Wales and Northern Ireland side. Apologies if I have got the opposing teams names wrong (they are phonetically spelt! )....(Scots names first)
Clare Queen and Cara Gruber beat Kay Dangerfield and Kay Tuplin 1 up
Elaine Cuthill and Ruth Rankin beat Roma Garvie and Cherie Connoll 1 up
Addi Shamash and Kate Parsley lost to Nell Jones and Elaine Nelson 2 down
Clare Queen beat Kay Dangerfield 6 and 5
Cara Gruber beat Kay Tuplin 6 and 5
Ruth Rankin beat Roma Garvie 5 and 4
Kate Parsley beat Cherie Connoll 4 and 3
Elaine Cuthill beat Nell jones 4 and 2
Addi Shamash beat Lynn Lawson 7 and 6

Tuesday 24th September

British Seniors at Longniddry
PAM SLUMPS, MOIRA LEADING SCOT
NORTH Berwick's Moira Thomson was the "surprise" Scot sharing the lead at the end of the first day of the British senior women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Longniddry Golf Club today.
Pam Williamson from Baberton, winner of the Scottish senior women's championship at Crail and the Irish senior women's open title the following week, earlier this month, had been expected to be the front-running home player.
But Pam left herself with a lot of ground to make up in the 54-hole event after a first-round of 81, seven over par.
Moira matched the card of 74 to share the pole position with last year's runner-up, Rosalind Page (Henbury) and Diane Williams from Canada, winner of the title in 1994.
Title-holder Mary McKenna from Donabate, Ireland, withdrew on Monday with no improvement in the ankle tendon problem which ruled her out of the Irish seniors championship last week.
Moira had no thoughts of ending the day looking down on the cosmopolitan field after a starting with a double-bogey 6, but she then birdied the second, fifth, seventh and eighth to improve to two under par before back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th pulled her back to level par for the round.
Rosalind Page and Diane Williams both bogeyed the last which Moira Thomson parred.
Rosland had birdied the 14th and produced an eagle 3 at the 15th to get to one under par.
Diane also played the long 14th and 15th well, birdieing both.
Christina Birke (Sweden) would have made it a four-way tie for the overnight lead but for stumbling to a double-bogey 7 at the 18th. Results

US Student News
JAMIE TIED FOR FOURTH IN US
SCOTTISH international player Jamie McLeary from Glenrothes was lying in joint fourth place with one round to play in the Kansas Invitational college golf tournament at Lawrence, Kansas (MONDAY USA TIME).
Jamie, a former Scottish youth champion, has had rounds of 72 and 70 for a two-under-par tally of 142, six behind leader team-mate Ryan Baca who has had a pair of 68s for 136.
McLeary's college, Baylor, lead the team event by 15 strokes with a total of 564.

East of Scotland Girls' Old Girls Reunion.
East of Scotland Girls are celebrating 25 years of existence with a game of golf and a meal at Aberdour on Sunday 20th October.
If any of you have received a letter from Marjory Ferguson about this event and are sending the form back... can you please put your name on it before you send it back to Marjory? Could the person who has already sent the form back without her name on it get in touch with Marjory? Also.. if you are an East of Scotland Old Girl and have not received a letter and you would like to attend the reunion please email Marjory. Thanks. Gill.

Monday 23rd September

Apologies if there is a lack of coverage on this website this week... I'm refereeing at the British Senior Ladies championship at Longniddry and out on the course all day, I don't expect to be home until late. The LGU are running live scoring at www.lgu.org

British Seniors at Longniddry
Colin's Preview
IRISH golfing legend Mary McKenna will not be defending the British senior women's open amateur championship at Longniddry Golf Club over the next three days (Tuesday-Thursday).
The 53-year-old eight times Irish champion and nine times Curtis Cup player between 1969 and 1989 has withdrawn with an ankle tendon injury. She won the title at Aberdovey 12 months ago with scores of 74, 76 and 80 for 230, one ahead of Rosland Page (Henbury) with Claudeen Lindberg (US) third on 234.
Mary also had to pull out her defence of the Irish senior women's open amateur championship at Co Louth last week for the same reason.
New Scottish senior women's champion Pam Williamson (Baberton) won the Irish title last week in Miss McKenna's absence and she will be one of the favourites to land a first British crown over three rounds of a course she knows very well.
Mrs Williamson, who finished fifth in the Canadian open women's seniors championship before winning the Scottish over-50s title for a second time earlier this month, has a good record in the British championship with a number of top-five finishes to her credit.

Universities Home Nation Team Championship
Scotland Women beat a combined Wales and Northern Ireland team by 8 games to 1 at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire today. Their only loss was one of the foursomes matches and they won all six singles by large margins (more details tomorrow). The girls have a day's rest while England play Wales/NI and then they take on England on Wednesday.
Scotland Men beat Northern Ireland by 9 matches to 3.

Commonwealth Spoons
East Lothian pair win at Cowglen
EAST Lothian partnership Elizabeth Hamilton and Jackie Smith were clear-cut winners of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Commonwealth Spoons foursomes final at Cowglen Golf Club today.
Elizabeth and Jackie, playing off 20 1/2 (half their combined handicap), had a net score of 70 1/2.
Daughter and mother, Fiona Hume and Anne Hume (Midlothian), playing off 17, were runners-up with 72 by virtue of a better inward half than Alison Smith and Aileen Simpson (East Lothian) who also had a 72, off 15.
All the competitors had qualified for the final through regional Commonwealth Spoons events.
PRIZEWINNERS
E Hamilton & J Smith (East Lothian) (20 1/2) 70 1/2.
F Hume & A Hume (Midlothian) (17) 72 (bih)
A Smith & A Simpson (East Lothian) (15) 72.
M Joss & H Backhouse (Aberdeenshire) (8 1/2) 72 11/2
A Ramsay & A Ramsay (Angus) (7 1/2) 73 1/2 (bih).
rest of the scores

Adult Girl foursomes
More prizewinners have been added to yesterday's list... I've never seen a tournament with so many categories!!!

County finals
Summary of the weekend's play.

Sunday 22nd September

SLGA Adult - Girl Foursomes at Arbroath
Best in the many categories were Becky Kirkland anf Gayle Carenduff (pictured right) from Strathaven with 41 points.
Results

County Finals
Stirling keep title on countback
Stirling & Clackmannan retained the Scottish women's county championship trophy _ but only after a games-won countback with Aberdeenshire at Portpatrick Dunskey yesterday (Sunday).
Stirling & Clackmannan beat Dunbartonshire & Argyll 6-3 while Aberdeenshire had a 5 1/2-3 1/2 victory over Borders on the final day of the three-day programme.
That meant that Stirling & Clackmannan tied with Aberdeenshire with two wins apiece. On the games-won countback Stirling & Clackmannan won the day with 15 to Aberdeenshire's 14 1/2.
ABERDEENSHIRE 5 1/2, BORDERS 3 1/2
Foursomes _ S Wood, C Wilson lost to J Anderson, A Hunter 6 and 5; L Urquhart, L McLardy beat J Birdsall-White, L Fleming 2 and 1; J Harrison, J Henderson beat C Johnstone, M Morrison 1 hole (2-1).
Singles _ Wood beat Anderson 4 and 3, Urquhart beat Fleming 2 and 1, L McPherson lost to Morrison 3 and 2, Harrison beat Johnsdtone 4 and 3, Wilson halved with Birdsall-White, G Melvin lost to Hunter 2 and 1 (3 1/2-2 1/2).
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 6, DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 3
Foursomes _ L Robertson, H Stirling beat A Laing, C McNeil 2 holes; C Kenny, L Kenny lost to C Hargan, L Ruane 3 and 1; L Aitken, K Mathieson beat J Galbraith, F McLean 3 and 2 (2-1).
Singles _ Stirling beat Laing 1 hole, L Kenny beat Hargan 2 holes, Robertson lost to Ruane 5 and 4, Mathieson beat G Webster 6 and 4, Aitken lost to Galbraith 1 hole, E Allison beat McNeil 4 and 3 (4-2).
Final totals: Stirling & Clackmann 2pts (games won 15), Aberdeenshire 2pts (games won 14 1/2), Dunbartonshire & Argyll 1pt, Borders 1pt.

Solheim Cup
Very disappointing!!!!

Something to cheer you up...
Alison Davidson gave birth to a little boy on Wednesday... congratulations!

Saturday 21st September

Today's County Finals
ANY one of the four competing teams could still win the Scottish women's county championship at Portpatrick Dunskey on the final day tomorrow.
After title-holders Stirling & Clackmannan's 5-4 win over Aberdeenshire and Dunbartonshire & Argyll beaten Borders 6-3, each county has a record of one win and one defeat at the end of two days. Report and full results

Yesterday's County Finals
IT was the day of the underdog as the Scottish women's county golf championship finals got underway at Portpatrick Dunskey yesterday (Friday).
Borders, favourites to land the wooden spoon, beat the defending champion Stirling & Clackmannan 5-4 and Aberdeenshire also won 5-4 against Dunbartonshire & Argyll, who had been expected to be the title-holders' strongest challengers.
Report and full results

British Golf Collectors Society Scotland v England Hickory match
Not perhaps played to the same standard as the rest of the golf on this website, but I'm delighted to report that Scotland beat England yesterday for the first time on foreign soil at Seaton Carew by four matches to three. Results will eventually be on the BGCS website www.golfcollectors.co.uk (when I get around to putting it on!)

Scotland team for Universities' Home Nations tournament.
Scotland play a combined Welsh and Northern Ireland team on Monday (23rd) and England on Wednesday (25th) at Michinhampton. The Scottish team is Clare Queen - Strathclyde University, Elaine Cuthill - Strathclyde, Ruth Rankin - Strathclyde, Addi Shamash - Glasgow, Cara Gruber - Stirling, Kate Parsley - Stirling. Good luck girls!

Thursday 19th September

Well folks... it had to happen sometime!!!!
I'm off today to Seaton Carew for the Scotland v England Hickory Match on Friday and not back until Saturday. This means that I can't relay the first day's results of the County Finals. Apologies to all concerned.... Fingers crossed that the SLGA website comes up trumps!

County Finals preview
STIRLINGSHIRE & Clackmannan's hopes of repeating their first-ever triumph in the Scottish women's county championship finals at Portpatrick Dunskey over the next three days have risen sharply with the unexpected unavailability of Curtis Cup player and Scottish champion Heather Stirling.
County skipper Linda Robertson had been resigned to doing without the services of Heather, a member of the Great Britain & Ireland trio for the women's world amateur team championship in Malaysia. Heather had been informed by the Ladies Golf Union that she would be required to go south for an official team practice weekend for the Espirito Santo Trophy event, even though it is not being played until the middle of October. Now, the get-together has been cancelled, releasing Miss Stirling to play at Portpatrick Dunskey in what will be her last appearances for Stirlingshire & Clackmannan. She will be attending the European Ladies Tour Qualifying School in France in November.
Two other notable absentees from the defending champions' line-up are former Scottish title-holder Linzi Morton, now in the United States, practising hard for the forthcoming Futures Tour Qualifying School, and Heather MacRae, last year's Scottish girls champion and winner of the Munross Trophy SLGA Order of Merit event at Montrose this season. Heather is also back in America and doing well as a member of the McLennan Community College women's golf team at Waco, Texas.
Cecilia and Scotland international Lynn Kenny will give Stirling & Clackmannan a mother and daughter in their team. When did that last happen at the Scottish women's county finals?
Aberdeenshire will miss North of Scotland champion Lyndsey Devenish (Cruden Bay) who has returned to San Francisco University.
Dunbartonshire & Argyll, title-winners in 1992, 1993 and 1997, might just have the strongest team in depth of the four, headed by British mid-amateur champion Anne Laing and past Scottish cap Claire Hargan.

ORDER OF PLAY

Solheim
Also coming up this weekend is the Solheim Cup, and Colin has sent me this interview with Maria Hjorth.
This is a picture of her when she won the St Rule Trophy in 1995.
"Trivia question for your viewers: Which other St Rule Trophy winner will be playing in this year's Solheim Cup match?"
The answer can be found somehere on this website... not sure of the prize... probably your name in lights!!

Cheerio folks... back on Saturday....

Wednesday 18th September

American Student News

Louise and Laura finish second and third
From the Iowa State Website "LINCOLN, NEB. - The Cyclone women's golf team capped off two successive weekends of strong play by capturing the team title at the Chip-N-Club Invitational in record-setting fashion. Iowa State capped off the tournament by firing a 306 final round team total. The Cyclones' 54-hole total of 914 was good enough to edge out second-place Missouri by three strokes. Kansas State, Nebraska and Arkansas-Little Rock rounded out the top-five team competitors.
"The Cyclones team victory was propelled by sophomore Louise Kenney [pictured right] and senior Laura Wells (left). Kenney carded a final round 73, giving her a 54-hole 220, good for medalist runner-up. Wells finished one stroke off Kenney's pace, firing a three round total of 221, and finishing in a tie for third place in individual competition. Sarah Sasse of Nebraska held on to claim medalist honors by a stroke with a 220." Further information

Heather second in Texas event
Scottish girls' match-play golf champion of 2001, Heather MacRae (left) from Dunblane has finished runner-up in the Lady Eagle Invitational, one of the big women's college tournaments held in Texas at Oakmont Country Club, Corith. Heather, who will be 19 on September 23 and is a golf scholarship student at McLennan Community College, Waco, had rounds of 72, 72 and 75 for a 54-hole total of 219. Only the individual winner, Randi Gauthier from North Texas, had a lower score: 212 with rounds of 69, 71 and 72.
Heather's college team-mate, Laura Walker, this year's Scottish girls' match-play champion from Nairn Dunbar, tied for 36th place with up-and-down scores of 82, 73 and 83 for 238.
Emily Ogilvie from Perthshire, who went out to Sam Houston State University only a few weeks ago, is still finding her feet in American conditions. Emily had rounds of 89, 82 and 83 to finish 60th on 254.
McLennan Community College finished sixth on 929 in the team event won by Oral Roberts University with a total of 898. Scores

Vikki Laing (right) takes second place in the Oregon State Invitational
From the Cal Bears website "CORVALLIS, Ore. - The California women's golf team claimed its third-straight Oregon State Invitational by carding a final round of 299 Tuesday at Trysting Tree Golf Course. The Golden Bears finished with a 54-hole total of 884, nine shots ahead of UCLA and host Oregon State, which tied for second at 893. "Experience on this course definitely paid off for us," said Cal head coach Nancy McDaniel. "We also showed great patience as we endured the rain each day. The team entered the tournament with unfinished business on their minds after NCAAs in the spring." Oregon (911) and Colorado (916) rounded out the Top 5 teams at the 18-team tournament. The Bears started the day two strokes ahead of the Bruins for first place and built on the lead behind the performance of junior Sarah Huarte. She led Cal in the final round with a par 72, moving from a tie for eighth to a tie for third at 220. Senior Vikki Laing paced Cal overall at the 2002-03 season opener with a second-place showing at 218, four-strokes behind Idaho's Nicole Keller (214). Laing posted a final round of 75 Tuesday." More info

Susie Laing (left) placed fifteenth in the same tournament to lead USF Lady Dons to seventh place
From the USF website "Corvallis, OR - USF women shot a final round of 308 on a rain-soaked Trysting Tree Golf Course for a three round total of 918 (313, 297, 308) to finish seventh at the 2002 Oregon State Shanico Invitational. California won the tournament for the second consecutive year, firing an impressive 884 (297, 288, 299), beating Pac-10 foes UCLA (291, 296, 306) and the host Beavers (298, 298, 297) who tied for second at 893. Oregon secured fourth with a 911 (308, 300, 303), while Colorado rounded out the top five with a 916 (301, 297, 308). Senior Susie Laing posted the top score for the Lady Dons finishing 15th with a 224 (76, 72, 76)." Lyndsey Devenish finished with a fine 76 to post a total of 237 (82, 79, 76). More info

Whew.. all these second places... when is one of them going to win something?

Grateful thanks to Cal Carson Golf Agency © for photographs

Tuesday 17th September

NEWS WORTH WAITING FOR!!!
Irish Seniors
Pam Williamson (right, Baberton) does the double.. Pam crowned Irish Champ after Scottish win last week. Report and scores

Solheim Cup
The anticipation for the Solheim Cup is building up in the press! This website is getting just a little excited too! Here is an interview with Laura Davies.

SLGA 2003 Fixture list
I'm very grateful to the SLGA for giving me/us a preview of the 2003 SLGA fixture list.

American Student News
Laura Wells (left, Dumfries and County) and Louise Kenney (right, Pitreavie) are tied for fourth place after two rounds in the Chip-N-Club Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska. Laura fired rounds of 75 and 72, and Louise had 73 and 74 for a total of 147, to put them two strokes off the leader Sarah Strasse of Nebraska. Their team, Iowa State, is lying second and trails the leaders Colorado State by one stroke. The three round tournament finishes tomorrow. For more information read this news item on the Iowa State Website.

Mary McKenna in doubt for Longniddry
IRISH golfing legend Mary McKenna from Donabate may be unable to defend the British senior women's open amateur golf championship at Longniddry next week (Tuesday to Thursday). She has had a tendon problem in an ankle for a number of weeks and had to pull out of the the defence of her Irish senior women's open amateur title at Co Louth Golf Club on Monday, the opening day.
Miss McKenna, who is 53, was eight times Irish women's amateur championbetween 1969 and 9189 and played in nine Curtis Cup matches and nine Vagliano Trophy matches for Great Britain & Ireland between 1969 and 1987.
Since she became elible to play in the over-50s women's senior circuit, Mary has started a fresh collection of titles, including the "British" which she won at Aberdovey 12 months ago.

Scottish Seniors at Crail
Finally managed to produce an album of Colin's pictures from the Scottish Seniors Championship last week. Enjoy!

Scottish Golf Mixed Foursomes
Photos have been added to the report on the Scottish Golf Mixed Foursomes Championship at Nairn Dunbar held on Sunday

Northern Counties v North-East Girls match for Farquharson Trophy
Photos of the teams and presentation of the trophy have been added to the report of Saturday's match.

Monday 16th September

Irish Seniors
Pam Williamson shares the lead Report and Scores

South Divisional Championship
Aileen Hunter writes "Louise Fleming from Hirsel triumphed for the first time in the South Divisional Championship at Stranraer. With scores of 76 75 she won the Sophie Gifford trophy by 3 strokes from Christina Meldrum of Stranraer (79 75). Judith Anderson from Hawick was 3rd with 77 79.
"The South Divisional championship is open to the 4 semi finalists (or equivalent) in the County Championships from Borders, Dumfriesshire and Galloway which makes it a particularly impressive win for Louise who recently turned 17 years of age.
"Her team mates will be hoping that she carries her good form along to the County Finals at Dunskey this week!"

Midlothian Girls Championship
Amanda Edwards (Liberton) won the Brown Trophy and the Midlothian Junior Girls Championship yesterday at Murrayfield with a score of 86. The runner-up was Jane Turner (Glencorse) with a score of 89. Report on the MCLGA website

Letter from America
Here's another message from Claire Hunter. Good Luck Claire!

Sunday 15th September

Scottish Golf Mixed Foursomes
ST Andrews pairing Kevin Hastie and Fiona Lockhart (right) returned a brilliant score of 71 against the men's and women's par of 72 and 75 respectively to win the Scottish open amateur mixed foursomes championship at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club today. Report and scores

East of Scotland Girls' Autumn Meeting
Six handicap Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), just 13 years old, won the scratch prize in the East of Scotland Girls' Autumn Meeting at Dunfermline Golf Club with an eight-over-par 80. Report and scores

Saturday 14th September

North-East v Northern Counties Girls match
NORTH-East beat Northern Counties in the annual inter-area girls' match for the Farquharson Cup at Meldrum House Golf Club, Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire on Saturday. Report

LPGA Pre-Qualifying School
SOLHEIM Cup team selection Paula Marti from Spain headed the 30 players who qualified for the LPGA Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach, Florida from October 8 to 11 by coming through the four-round Regional qualifying test at Landmark Golf Club, Indio in California.
The 30 players also included former Welsh amateur champion Eleanor Pilgrim.
The biggest surprise among the non-qualifiers was the British amateur champion, Rebecca Hudson, arguably the most successful female amateur in Europe over the past five years. Report

Friday 13th September

British Stroke-Play
SCOTS Claire Queen and Lynn Kenny finished second and third behind title-winner Becky Brewerton (right) from Wales in the British women's amateur golf championship which ended with two rounds in very windy conditions at Hunstanton Golf Club, Norfolk today (Friday). Final Report and scores
Report and third round scores
.

Stirling and Clackmannan Team for County Finals
There are three changes to the S&C team for next week's County Finals at Portpatrick Dunskey from the team that won the East Inter-County matches in June. Missing are Heather Stirling, who has a GB&I practice session with the Espirito Santo team, Heather Macrae, who is back at college in the States, and Linzi Morton, who is also over in the States to try her luck in professional golf. Cecilia Kenny and her daughter Lynn (both Dunblane) ;-) join the team, along with Christine Sikora (Braehead). The team is :-
Laura Aitken (Falkirk Tryst)
Elaine Allison (Stirling)
Cecilia Kenny (Dunblane)
Lynn Kenny (Dunblane)
Katy Mathieson (Glenbervie)
Linda Robertson (Falkirk Tryst) - Captain
Christine Sikora (Braehead) - Vice Captain
Janice Taylor (Alloa)

Schlumberger Pro-Am at St Andrews Bay
AUSTRALIAN Alison Munt took away the biggest cheque from today's £20,000 Schlumberger pro-am which featured 20 Tartan Tour pros and 20 European Ladies Tour competitors over the Torrance Course at St Andrews Bay Golf Resort. Report

LPGA Pre-Qualiying school
Eleanor Pilgrim and Rebecca Hudson looked set to be among the leading 30 players who will go forward to the LPGA Final Qualifying School in Florida next month after the third round of the regional eliminating tournament at Landmark Golf Club, Indio in California. Report

SLGA Commonwealth Spoons
The draw for the 2002 Commonwealth Spoons final at Cowglen on Monday 23rd Septembr is here.

Thursday 12th September

British Stroke-Play
SCOTLAND has two players - Clare Queen (Drumpellier) and Lynn Kenny (Stirling University) - in the leading six as the British women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship goes into its final two rounds at Hunstanton Golf Club, Norfolk on Friday. Report

LPGA Qualifying School
FORMER Welsh amateur champion Eleanor Pilgrim is well placed to qualify for the United States LPGA Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach, Florida next month but Rebecca Hudson, the British women's amateur champion from Doncaster, is in the danger zone at the halfway stage of the Regional eliminating contest at Indio, California. Report and Scores

Scottish Seniors Championship
Quote from the winner

ELGA announce new Vice-Chairman
Report

Wednesday 11th September

Scottish Seniors Championship at Crail
Pam Williamson (left) wins with a "wobble"
Report, scores and photographs.

Kirsty Fisher joins Rebecca Hudson at LPGA Qualifying School
England international Kirsty Fisher has joined her close friend Rebecca Hudson in the field for the LPGA Section Qualifying Tournament at Landmark Golf Club, Indio in California. Report

American Student News
HEATHER HELPS COLLEGE MAKE WINNING START
HEATHER Nolan (pictured right), who made her debut for Ireland in the women's home internationals at The Berkshire, Ascot in August, helped her American college, Eastern Michigan, make a winning start to the season on September 8.
Heather had rounds of 77 and 70 for a three-over-par total of 147, finishing third behind joint winners Erica Bieniek (Western Michigan) (73-72) and Kristin Hoff (Eastern Illinois) (73-72).
Miss Nolan was the top scorer for Eastern Michigan whose tally of 34-over-par 610 for the 36 holes won them the team title by five shots from Eastern Illinois with Ferris State third on 618.
Photo Courtesy and copyright © of Cal Carson Golf Agency

Meanwhile on the West Coast, USF women's golf fired a 300 in the final round to secure a sixth place finish at the 2002 Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic at the Ptarmigan Country Club. The Lady Dons finished the 54-hole tournament at 907 (301, 306, 300). Baylor (293, 291, 292) won the tournament, followed closely by host Colorado State (293, 291, 302).
Sophomore Mariko Shimozaki (76, 76, 73) was the top finisher for USF, placing 17th with a 225, while senior Susie Laing (73, 81, 74) (pictured left) and Jordan Auten (75, 76, 77) each shared 24th place with 228 and Lyndsey Devenish was one stroke behind in a tie for 26th with scores of 77 74 78 for 229.

Scottish Seniors at Crail
Pam Williamson (Baberton) out in front. Report and Results

Wee wonders playoff next summer?
Read about a Thai girl who might be coming to Scotland

Sunday 8th September

Ness Open another victim of the weather.
Inverness cut off by floods. Report

Saturday 7th September

Dunbartonshire and Argyll Ladies County Medal
Anna Telfer won the scratch in the Dunbartonshire and Argyll Ladies County Medal with an 85 over Westerwood G.C. She also took second place in the silver handicap event with a net 80. Sally Coster (8) had the best Silver score with a net 79 and the Bronze Handicap Prize was won by Ann Barraclough (22) with a net 90. Scoring was high on this long course (SSS 75) and the CSS went up to 78.

All-Ireland Senior Cup
COUNTY Louth had a convincing 4-1 win over Douglas in the final of the All-Ireland Senior Cup at Balbriggan Golf Club today . Report and results

Aberdeenshire Girls Championship
KATIE Thomson (Kintore) retained the Aberdeenshire girls' championship when she beat Caroline Henderson (Cruden Bay) by 3 and 1 in the final, played in intermittent rain, latterly very heavy indeed, at Oldmeldrum Golf Club. Report and results

English County Finals
LANCASHIRE have won the English women's county team championship for the first time since 1987. Colin's report and results

All-Ireland Seniors Cup
KILKENNY edged out Claremorris 3-2 to earn a semi-final place against County Louth in the All-Ireland Senior Cup women's tournament at Balbriggan Golf Club yesterday.
The other semi-final is between Royal County Down Ladies and Douglas. Report

Thursday 5th September

Scottish Golf Open Amateur Mixed Foursomes
There have been a couple of changes to the Draw.

Student Golf
Pam Feggans has emailed me to say that she is settling in at Florida Southern. All our American student golfers will have started their new session.. I'll be spending some time over the next few days, updating the student webpages. The list of Scottish golfers on the US Women's current players page is probably complete. There are twelve girls in the list, including freshmen Fiona Gilbert (University of Arkansas - Little Rock), Ilona Stubley (University of Central Arkansas) and Pam Feggans (Florida Southern) If you know of anyone else then please let me know. Next step is to find out what tournaments they are all playing in... time consuming to say the least!
With the boys I know of 6-7 new names to add to my list of approximately 16 who are returning. Once again... if anyone knows of anyone I might have missed... please let me know.
I was at a University Golf conference at the St Andrews Bay Hotel today, and speaking to Mary McKenna from Ireland. They have six girl students who have gone to the States and have exactly the same problem as us in tracking their progress.

English County Finals
OK... It's English results, but there might be some names you recognise e.g. Ann Lowe is Scottish and playing for Lancashire. Note that they play their matches to a conclusion.. no half matches here! Results

Preview of the Solheim.
Yes I know we are disappointed that Catriona and Janice were left out.... but that doesn't mean we are not interested.. in fact some of this website's viewers are going out to the US to watch...
Here are the Player Profiles Good Luck to Dale and her team!

Tuesday 3rd September

Scottish Golf Open Amateur Mixed Foursomes
Here is the Draw for the 2002 Scottish Golf Open Amateur Mixed Forsomes to be held at Nairn Dunbar on Sunday 15th September

SLGA Adult Girl Foursomes
Here is the Draw for the SLGA Adult - Girl Foursomes to be held at Arbroath on Sunday 22nd September

Monday 2nd September

Midlothian Ladies Autumn Meeting
Wendy Nicholson (Torphin Hill) won the Lady Ford cup for the best Scratch at the Midlothian Ladies' County Golf Association Autumn Meeting at Craigmillar Park today. Her score of 73 was matched by Elizabeth Dunn-Butler (Prestonfield), and Wendy won on the better inward half. Both players are 5 handicap, and they also tied for the McIntyre Trophy for the best net with 68s. Once again Wendy won on the better inward half. See Midlothian website www.mclga.co.uk for the rest of the scores

Northern Vets Open Meeting
Banchory member Pam Nicoll had the best stableford points score in a big field of 83 for the Northern Division open meeting of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Association at Aboyne on Monday. Report and results

Solheim 2005
Crooked Stick Golf Club, the famed Pete Dye-designed course and host of several memorable golf championships, has been selected as the site for the September 2005 Solheim Cup. Press Release

Midlothian Ladies Champion of Champions
Fiona Hunter (Dundas Park) (pictured right) won the Antonio Vase, awarded to the Midlothian Ladies Champion of Champions today, when she beat Wendy Nicolson (Torphin Hill) by 6 and 5. The game was played at the Royal Burgess Golf Club and sponsored by the Edinburgh Ladies Golf Centre. Check out the Midlothian Ladies website. www.mclga.co.uk for a fuller account
Picture courtesy of Karen Ballantyne, MCLGA captain.