Sunday 31 July 2011

Photos from the Ricoh Women's British Open from Carnoustie

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell at Carnoustie - Click to enlarge
Your Webmaster has returned to a damp Glasgow and she enjoyed her day at Carnoustie on the 3rd day of the Women's British Open.
Click on the small thumbnail to see some photographs from the day.

Carnoustie - 3rd Round of the 2011 Women's British Open

Sport Saturday 30th July | URTV Helensburgh-- Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Video

CLICK HERE to see a video from the Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Championship from Cardross. SLGA Tournament Manager Claire Hargan is interviewed by local TV station URTV Helensburgh
The video includes news about tennis athletics and golf --- To see the video on the golf section move the timeline slide to approximately 2mins 15 secs

YANI TSENG WINS HER FIFTH MAJOR AND CATRIONA MATTHEW SLIDES OUT OF THE TOP 3 AT THE 18TH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Yani Tseng, 22 year old Florida-based player from Taipei, wrote herself into the golfing history books at Carnoustie today when she strolled to a second successive victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship.
She thus became the youngest ever golfer, male or female, to win five Major golf titles.
In women’s pro golf, the record had been set by the legendary Patty Berg as long ago as 1943 when she was 25 years old.
Defending champion Yani started the final day at Carnoustie at 13-under-par, two shots behind the surprise leader, another 22-year-old, Germany’s Caroline Masson who has been a pro for only 20 months.
Within three holes, Tseng had draw level with Masson and by the eighth, she had surged two shots clear, winning in the end by four strokes with a closing 69 for 16-under-par 272.
The first prize was £239,047 but the importance of winning a fifth major at such a record pace probably meant more than the money to Yani Tseng.
“To win the Ricoh Women’s British Open in Scotland – the Home of Golf – is really special and for it to be my fifth major, faster than anyone else, also makes this a very special day in my life,” she said.
“I not only feel really happy, I feel it is an honour for me to achieve my fifth major in Scotland.
“I played really consistently today and I just had fun. But I was a little nervous before I teed off. My stomach was hurting and I felt really nervous. But after the first tee, I felt really good. I just needed to be patient.”
Tani began her momentous round on a low note – a bogey 5 – but she soon picked up a full head of steam to leave the hapless Caroline Masson trailing in her wake.
Tseng birdied the third and the sixth, reaching the turn in one-under 35.
A birdied at the 11th made her 15 under par for the tournament and opened up a four-shot lead over the field with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew moving into second place.
Back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th, brought Yani down to earth, but she birdied the long 14th to get back to 14 under par and a three-shot lead.
The World No 1 showed her class by covering the last five holes in three under par by following up that 14th hole bitrdie with birdies at te long 17th and also the 18t in halves of 35 and 34.
“I took a nine-iron for my second shot at the 18th. I was thinking coming down that hole about Jean Van de Velde (the Frenchman who lost a three-shot lead and the 1999 men’s Open down Carnoustie’s famed last hole.
“I too had a three-shot lead so on the tee I said to myself that I’d better hit a good drive to win the tournament. So I did hit a good drive, then a nine-iron. I feel a little bit juiced up at the time and so I hit that nine iron something like 135 yards. It was a great shot to set up a birdie 3 finish.”
Yani has now won four of the last ladies’ majors. Is she think already of next season’s Majors?
“Yeah, always the US Open is one of the tournaments I want to win. To win the US Open will be my goal next year. But I just want to keep improving myself, skill, mental and how I feel.
“There’s a long way to go.”
In the end it was a fast-finishing American, Brittany Lang, who took the £149,850 prize for second place. She had four very stead, very good rounds of 70, 70, 69 and 67 to finis four behind Tseng wit a 12-under-par total fo 276.
Brittany birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th in an inward half of 32 which saw her climb into second place over the closing holes of the championship. So what did Lang think about finishing second to the World No 1 winning her fifth Major?
“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t even imagine being 22 years old and winning five majors and all the other events she has won apart from the majors. She’s sp mentally strong and she’s so aggressive and confident. Yani’s just to it all. It’s pretty cool, cool to watch.”
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, like Brittany Lang, came like an express train up the leaderboard at the finish. She birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th for a 68 to finish third on 11-under-par 277. Ger earlier rounds were 68, 71 and 70.
She earned £104,895.
Amy Yang (South Korea) also improved late in the day with a 67 to finish fourth on 10 under par 278.
Joint fifth on nine-under-par 209 were overnight leader Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew. Caroline had rounds of 68, 65, 68 and 78 – a sad finish to a great tournament for the 22-year-old in only her second year as a pro and competing in only her second major.
She bogeyed the second, third and seventh to turn in 39, having begun to fall farther and farther behind Tseng, her playing partner.
The German player then had a nightmare run of bogey-bogey-double bogey from te 10th and yet another bogey at the 15 saw her descend to her lowest point of seven under par, having started the day at 15 under.
But Caroline has got guts. She never showed any signs of distress, deserving to finish on a high with birdies at the 17th and 18th, her first of the round.
Which perhaps explained why she was so upbeat and far from downhearted in her post-championship interviews.
“I did my best, tried to play all the shots that had worked so well for me and put me in the lead but it just wasn’t my day. But I will learn from it. I will learn from playing that last round with such a great player as Yani is,” said Caroline.
Catriona Matthew, winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open two years ago at Royal Birkdale, birdied te sixth and ninth to get to 11 under par and was only two shots off te lead round about the 13th – but generally the putts were not dropping for her.
She went a remarkable 47 holes without a bogey, startibg at the 16th on Friday’s thid round … until the very last hole of the championship, which cost er a double bogey 6 for a level par round of 72 for a total of nine-under 207, having got to 11 under par at one stage.
The Scot went out of bounds with her second shot at the 18t.,
“I struggled a bit today, didn’t hit that many good shots. I chipped and putted well but didn’t give myself enough birdie chances after the turn,” said Catriona.
And that out of bounds shot at the 18th?
“I tried to hit a little five-iron and the ball was just a little bit above my feet. In hindsight I should have chipped out but decided to go for it, “ she said.
“At the moment I am disappointed with the way I finished but I think overall I had not too bad a week.”
And Carnoustie as a Ricoh Women’s British Open venue?
“Oh definitely. It’s one of the best courses there is. Everyone has enjoyed their week here and look forward to coming back again to Carnoustie.”
American Katie Futcher showed the low-scoring potential when the strong wind that was forecast never really materialised.
Ktie became the third player in the championship to return an eight-under-p-ar 64 and she was the only player to score less than 30 for either half. She came home in seven-under-par 29 with an eagle (14th), five birdies (10-13-15-16-17) and only three pars. Some shooting.
The Smyt Silver Medal to the leading amateur was won by 18 year Danielle Kang, a student at Pepperdine University, Las Vegas and last year’s American girls’ champion. She had rounds of 72, 69, 75 and 74 for a two-over-par total of 290.
The only other amateur to survive the halfway cut always plays on the US college circuit – Germany’s Sophie Popov, a student at the University of Southern California.
Sophie scored 70, 75, 77 and 77 for 299 round Carnoustie.

 FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Yani Tseng (Tpe) 71 66 66 69 (£238,047).
276 Brittany Lang (US) 70 70 69 67 (£149,850)
277 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 71 70 68 (£104,895)
278 Amy Yang (SKo) 68 70 73 67 (£82,061)
279 Caroline Masson (Ger) 68 65 68 78, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 69 68 72 (£62,795 each).
280 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 70 71 69 70, Sun Young Yoo (SKo) 71 70 69 70, Na Yeon Choi (SKo) 69 67 72 72, In-Bee Park (SKo) 70 74 73 73 (£45,850 each)
281 Stacy Lewis (US) 74 68 71 68, Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net) 70 66 74 71.
282 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 69 73 68,.
283 Katie Futcher (US) 71 74 74 64, Cristie Kerr (US) 72 69 74 68, Candie Kung (Tpe) 72 73 69 69, Song-Hee Kim (SKo) 69 72 71 71, Sun Ju Ahn (SKo) 71 71 70 71, Mika Miyazato (Jap) 69 69 72 73, Se Ri Park (SKo) 72 64 73 74
284 Jiyai Shin (SKo) 75 66 72 71
285 Karen Stupples (Eng) 74 68 72 71, Hee-Kyung Seo (SKo) 72 71 71 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 72 72, Rachel Jennings (Eng) 71 73 69 72, Momoko UJeda (Jap) 69 71 72 73, Angela Stanford (US) 68 72 72 73
286 Michelle Wie (US) 74 68 72, Vicky Hurst (US) 70 71 71 74
287 Amy Hung (Tpe) 69 72 78 69, Harji Kang (SKo) 75 70 73 69, Beth Allen (US) 71 70 75 71, Tiffany Joh (US) 71 69 75 72, ~Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 69 69 76 74, Brittany Lincicome (US) 67 71 76 67, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 70 75 67 75
288 Melissa Reid (Eng) 75 70 73 70, Eun Hee Ji (SKo) 70 71 75 72, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 76 76 73 73, Meena Lee (SKo) 65 69 80 74,Linda Wessbnerg (Swe) 73 66 75 74, In Kyung Kim (S Korea) 71 72 71 74
289 Hiromi Mogi (Jap) 72 72 74 71, Hee Won Han (SKo) 73 71 74 71, Lorie Kane (Can) 69 76 73 71, Hee Young Park (SKo) 70 70 76 73, Kristy McPherson (US) 71 71 74 73, Paula Creamer (US) 69 70 71 79
290 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 71 73 73, Danielle Kang (US) (am) 72 69 75 74, Morgan Pressel (U~S) 70 71 75 74, Pat Hurst (US) 70 69 74 77, Cindy LaCrosse (US) 72 69 72 77
291 Christel Boeljon (Net) 75 69 73 79, Janice Moodie (Sco) 75 67 75 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 70 74 76, Chelia Choi (SKo) 74 70 71 76, Amanda Blumenherst (US) 73 71 70 77
292 Miki Saiki (Jap) 72 72 76 72, Kylie Walker (Sco) 72 72 74 74, Holly Aitchison (Eng) 71 74 72 75, Julieta Granada (Para) 71 74 70 77, Sopie Giquel-Bettan (Fra) 71 68 72 71
295 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 75 70 73 77, Jaclyn Sweeney (US) 74 71 72 74.
297 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 71 73 79 74.
299 Sophie Popov (Ger) (am) 70 75 77 77
Retired (after 6 holes): Jimin Kang (Sko) 74 70 72 ret.

ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT CARNOUSTIE
(Royal Birkdale last year in brackets)
WEDNESDAY - 800 (1,500)
THURSDAY - 5,200 (11,650)
FRIDAY - 6,900 (10,500)
SATURDAY - 7,800 (15,400)
SUNDAY - 9,600 (16,100)

WEEK'S TOTAL: 30,300 (55,150 at Royal Birkdale)

Saturday 30 July 2011

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, today visited the RICOH Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links.

Reinforcing Scotland’s support of women’s golf, she posed for a photograph with the Curtis Cup trophy which will be played at Nairn in 2012. She was joined by Louise Martin, Chair of sportscotland; Shona Malcolm, Chief Executive of the Ladies Golf Union; and George Asher, Championship Committee, Nairn 2012. EventScotland is a proud supporter of the RICOH Women’s British Open and the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open which takes place at Archerfield Links from 18-20 August.

There was also time to visit the ‘Scotland the Home of Golf - Hole in One Challenge’. The free competition, funded through the Scottish Government’s year of Active Scotland, encourages spectators to have a go at emulating the world’s best female golfers who are competing in the third round of the tournament today.

Ms Hyslop said: “This is the only women’s major tournament currently played in Europe. Under a deal secured by EventScotland, it will be returning to Scotland for five of the next 10 years.

“That is a real coup for Scotland - which also plays host to The Ryder Cup in 2014 and the ideal way to promote Scotland around the world as ‘The Home of Golf’ whilst encouraging more people to get active and take up this great game.

“Golf tourism already contributes £220 million every year to the Scottish economy and supports over 4,000 jobs. Our unique golfing heritage is recognised around the world, and Scotland is the perfect stage for world-class golf events.”

For further information please contact Lorna Campbell – Lorna.Campbell@eventscotland.org


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Catriona Mathew in 3rd place after 3rd round at Carnoustie

by Colin Farquharson
Germany’s 22-year-old Caroline Masson, ranked 141st in the world and without a win since she turned pro in January 2010, leads the star-studded field into Sunday’s final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship over the Carnoustie links.
Overnight leader by one shot at 11 under par, the girl from Gladbeck raised the bar to 15 under par by the end of an incredible round in which she had increased her advantage to five shots after only six holes – despite starting the day with a bogey which immediately raised doubts about whether she had the experience to withstand the pressure of being in the Major spotlight with world-class players snapping at her heels.
Caroline demolished the doubts by birdieing the second, fifth and sixth.
Out in two-under-34, she had further birdies at the 11th, 14th and 17th before finishing her round as she had started it – with a one-putt bogey after being in a bunker.
Unexpectedly, it was her nearest challengers at the halfway oint that could not keep up with her blistering pace.
So the stage is set for a crowd-pulling last day at this famous venue.
Masson, with rounds of 68, 65 and 68 against the par of 72, leads on 15-under-par 201.
Lying second is the defending champion and World No 1 from Taiwan, Yani Tseng, 22 years old but already winner of four Majors. Yani has shot 71, 66 and 66 to be only two shots off the lead on 13-under-par 203.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew from North Berwick, winner of this title two years ago and ranked No 5 in the world, played herself into the reckoning with a bogey-free round and scores of 70, 69 and 68 (Ben Hogan improved every round when he won the Open at Carnoustie in 1953) for nine-under-par 207 put her in joint third place with the World No 13 and former US Open winner, Inbee Park (South Korea) who had scores of 70, 64 and 73.
Next comes another South Korean, World No 5 Na Yeon Choi ho is on eight-under 208 after scores of 69, 67 and 72.
Se Ri Pak, the legendary South Korean trailblazer is joint sixth on 209 with rouonds of 72, 64 and 73. On the ame mark is the leading American in this event, Brittany Lang (70-70-69) and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson (68-71-70).
“I was quite nervous at the beginning and I bogeyed the first,” said Caroline Masson, “but I got a few birdies after that and that boosted my confidence.
“I hit some really good shots even though the pins were in much tougher places and there was more of a wind than the previous days.”
This is only Caroline’s second major tournament appearance. So what does she think about it all?
“To be honest, I can’t really believe it. It’s a strange feeling and I am just trying to enjoy every moment. I slept well last night and I am very excited about playing with the World No 1, Yani Tseng, in the final round.”
Does she have any inkling why she has done so well out of the blue in the Ricoh Women’s British Open?
“It’s hard to say. I’ve been kind of waiting for everything to fall into place. I’ve been waiting for all the parts I’ve been practising and working on to come together – and it has happened over the past three days at Carnoustie.”
Yani Tseng, not surprisingly, is feeling on top of the world after stringing together a second successive 66. If she finishes up on Sunday by winning back-to-back titles, the pundits will say she started her charge over the first five holes of the inward half today.
From the 10th, Yani scored 3-3-4-2-3 which translates into birdie-birdie-par,birdie-eagle! What a sensational run – and leader Caroline heard the roars of the gallery.
“I just can’t wait to get out there again on Sunday,” said the chirpy, cheerful Taiwanese. “ I am going to be aggressive, as I was today, and try my best on every shot. I can do no more than that,
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by saying I can do this or that. As I say I will try my best on every shot.”
Catriona Matthew had a flawless round of 68 with birdies at te fifth, 11th, 14th and 17th in halves of 35 and 33.
She will start te final day, six shots behind Caroline Masson and four behind Yani Tseng.
“I’d like to probably be a little bit closer but I think it’s supposed to be a little bit windier tomorrow so five or six shots can be picked up pretty quickly in those sort of conditions,” said Catriona.
“I was very pleased with the way I played today. I made a couple of good par saves in the first couple of holes, then birdied the fifth. That was a really good birdie with a six-iron approach.”
Quite a few of the South Koreans seemed to struggle over their third rounds. For instance, first-round leader Meena Lee, still in contention at the start of the day, ran up an 8 at one hole and finished with an 80 for 214 and a share of 28th place. Se Ri Park could do no better than 73, the same as Inbee Park
Said Catriona Matthew:
“Certainly I think the pin positions were tougher. You had to play away from a lot of the pins, certainly over the first few holes and it was windier today, so the course was playing a little bit trickier than for the first two rounds. Maybe they’re not used to playing this kind of links course in the wind. Although Yani Tseng is te world No 1 and I think she knows how to play in it.”
The duel for the Smythe Silver Medal for the leading amateur is favouring last year’s United States girls champion, Danielle King, who had a 75 for level par 216. She is six shots ahead of the only other amateur qualifier for the last two rounds, Germany’s Sophia Popov who is highly rated on the US college circuit. Sopia had a 77 for 222.

SUNDAY'S LEADING TEE TIMES

07.40 Kylie Walker and Hee=Won Han.
08.10 Janice Moodie and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.
08.40 Danielle Kang (amateur) and Morgan Pressel.
09.20 Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen
09.40 Meena Lee and Caroline Hedwall.
10.10 Michelle Wie and Hee-Kyung Seo.
10.55 Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
11.55 Mika Miyazato and Paula Creamer.
12.05 Sun Young Yoo and Anna Nordqvist.
12.15 Se Ri Pak and Sophie Gustafson.
12.25 Brittany Lang and Na Yeon Choi
12.35 Inbee Park and Catriona Matthew.
12.45 Yani Tseng and Caroline Masson

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Friday 29 July 2011

Kylie Walker and Janice Moodie make the cut at Carboustie

Three Scots have made the cut at the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie. Catriona Mathew, Janice Moodie and Kylie Walker. Unfortunately West of Scotland amateur Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) missed the cut by one shot.
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Kelsey wins again and Clober's Nichola Ferguson is runner up

By Colin Farquharson
KELSEY SUPERMAC WINS FOUR IN A ROW IN STYLE
Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald, in the end, outclassed her contemporaries in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championsip for a record fourth year in a row by the commanding margin of six strokes at Cardross Golf Club today .
Nairn Dunbar GC member Kelsey came into the tournament on a low, having failed - not by much - to be among the 18 qualifiers at Panmure for the Ricoh British Women's Open championship at Carnoustie.
That perhaps explained her opening round of one-over-par 75 in the junior women's championship which left her joint eighth. But Kelsey banished the blues in no uncertain fashion after that.
She covered the remaining 36 holes in eight under par with a pair of 70s for a seven-under-par winning total of 215.
She is a Great Britain and Ireland international these days and over the last two days at Cardross she played like one.
The surprise packet of the tournament was Nichola Ferguson from Clober who finished second on 221 with scores of 75, 73 and 73.
Nichola did so well to shake of one triple bogey and two double bogeys over her first 36 holes and finished in great style wit a bogey free inward half studded with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.
Ferguson relegated four highly-rated players into joint third place on level par 222 - Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 222 (3x74)
215 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70 70.
221 Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 73 73.
222 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)- (Disqualified)75 74 73, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74 73, Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72 74, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74 77.
223 Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76 74,
225 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75 77.
226 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77 77.
229 Rachel Taylor (Germany) 76 77 76.
231 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74 75, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77 75, Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73 76, Alice Boothroud (Rudding Park) 73 82 76.
232 Linsey Steveenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77 79,Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75 78.
233 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75 78, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77 77, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79 75.
234 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 76 78 80.
235 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77 80, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 77 81 77, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77 81, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84 74.
236 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75 82.
238 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79 78.
240 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76 82, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79 82, Ashley Smith (Monfieth) 79 82 79
242 Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81 87.
243 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76 84, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80 81, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80 81..
244 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81 83, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85 83, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82 81, Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85 80, Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81 79,Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84 76
245 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85 89, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79 84, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82 79..
246 Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82 77, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85 81.
247 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78 86, Katie Reid (Monifiet) 79 87 81..
249 Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81 84.
251 Gillian Arnott (Largs) 83 86 82, Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 82 89 90, Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 90 82 79.
252 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85 91, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 90 80 82, Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 84 88 80.
253 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88 83.
254 Alexandra Tait (St Reguolus) 82 88 84
255 Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86 87.
258 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus) 86 85 87.
259 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 89 83 87.
262 Hannah Robb (Strathmore ) 89 82 91.
263 Jessica Dalgetty (Glencorse) 97 82 84.
264 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) 88 88 88.
269 Emma Kennedy (Paisley) 91 87 91.
271 Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley) 91 90 90.

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Thursday 28 July 2011

KELSEY JOINS ALYSON AT THE TOP AT UNDER-21 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

A four-under-par second round of 70 has drastically shortened the odds against Kelsey MacDonald completing a record-setting fourth win in a row in the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play golf championship at Cardoss Golf Club tomorrow.
Starting the day in joint eighth position, four shots off the pace, the Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar member slipped into top gear with a six-birdie, two-bogey round to share the lead on three-under 148 with Elderslie's Alyson McKechin.
Kelsey had her usual mixture of birdies and bogeys in an outward 35 but the last nine holes she completed without a blemish and studded with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th.
But Alyson is not going to roll over and let her rival walk away with the title unchallenged. McKechin was three over par to the turn but birdies at the 13th, 17th and 18th saw her match MacDonald's inward half – and it could be a battle royal over the final round.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh had the second-best round of the day, a 72 for 148 and the beaten finalist in the recent Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship at Glenisla is saring third place with Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick (73-75).

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 148 (2x74)
145 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74.
148 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75.
149 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74, Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77, Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 74.
150 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 75.
153 Rachael Taylor (Germany) 76 77,Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77.
154 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75, Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
76 78, Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77.
155 Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81, Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) 73 82, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75.
156 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77.
158 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 77 81, anna Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79.
159 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76, Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82.
160 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79.
161 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81, Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 79 82, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85, Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85.
162 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80.
163 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82.
164 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85.
165 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85, Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81.
166 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 79 87.
168 Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84, Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 77 91.
169 Gillian Arnott (Largsw) 83 86, Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) 89 90.
170 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 82 88, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 80 80, Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88.

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Your Webmaster is away for a few days

In case I have difficulty with Internet Access please go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website for all updates in the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie and the Scottish Girls Strokeplay at Cardross

LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- LADIES BRITISH OPEN

LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- CLICK HERE

ALSO READ MORE BY GOING TO THE RICOH BRITISH OPEN WEBSITE

SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - LIVE SCORING

Live scoring will be in operation from approximately 9:15am.- CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE SCORING

Blisters or no blisters, Pamela would have crawled on to the first tee at Carnoustie


From the LGU Website 27.07.2011

Pamela Pretswell, the Hamilton girl who might have become the Andy Murray of the female tennis world, says she has no regrets at turning her back on tennis seven years ago when she was 15 and was Scotland’s top-ranked girl player at tennis – and No 2 in junior badminton!
Speaking at Carnoustie where the Bothwell Castle GC member is one of six amateurs in a field of the best female golfers in the world, assembled for the Ricoh British Women’s Open championship, the 22-year-old business and management degree graduate from Glasgow University, said:
“Giving up tennis was the best decision I ever made. To be as dedicated to a career in tennis as Andy Murray (two years older) was, I would have had to give up the idea of going to university, completing an education and having a life,” she said.
“I turned my attentions to golf because I knew I could play and practise golf and still get a university education. And seven years later I had won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship and played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy, so I have absolutely no regrets at all. I have not swung a tennis racquet again since the day I walked away from the sport.”
It was winning last year’s British stroke-play title at Tenby that won Pamela a place in the Ricoh Women’s British Open this week and even though she had to withdraw from last Saturday’s final round in Holland of the European women’s amateur championship, there was never any doubt that she would be there when her name is called on the first tee at Carnoustie on Thursday.
“I have a tendency to get blisters on my feet and I had them last week in Holland. I had them lanced but it would have been too painful to play in the last round. I could have finished in the top 20, maybe better, but it would have been too sore,” said Pamela.
“Different story this week, of course, I would have crawled on to the first tee if I had had to, blisters or no blisters and taken 10 hours to get round if need be …. I’ve looked forward to the Ricoh British Women’s Open championship since the day last August I knew I had won a place in the field by winning the British stroke-play.
“Carnoustie is quite simply the best course I have ever played. There is no easy shot or easy hole on the course. It just doesn’t give you a break … and that’s the way I like it. The tougher the course, the better I like it.
“And I’m right in the mood for this week. I’m just come off the best bucket of balls I’ve probably ever hit on a practice range.”
Pamela’s dad William Pretswell is her caddie and though Kevin Craggs is her coach, her father, who was a scratch player – he’s not 55 – and a Scottish universities champion in his day.
“He’s a good caddie. Knows when to speak up, knows when to keep quiet and he obviously knows the game, having been a scratch player,” said Pamela who might now win the Ricoh Women’s British Open this week but could certainly do a Tom Lewis, winner of the R&A Amateur Silver Medal at Royal St George’s a week or two back.
Yes, there is a Silver medal for the leading ladies amateur in the women’s Major but, the same rules apply as in the men’s Open, making the halfway cut is mandatory in qualifying to win the Smythe Medal on Sunday.
So what does the future hold for Pamela Pretswell?
“I intend going to the Ladies European Tour School later in the year and I think I have the game to make the grade,” she said. “If not, then I would probably set up a business to make the most of my university qualifications.”
She’s a smart girl is our Pamela.

Wednesday 27 July 2011

The Ladies Golf Union and IMG Confirms The Royal Birkdale Golf Club as the Venue for the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open

The Ladies Golf Union and IMG Confirms The Royal Birkdale Golf Club as the Venue for the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open

The Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2014, continuing the Championship Committee's commitment to ensure that the World's best women players showcase their talents on the World's best golf courses in years to come.

The Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host its sixth Women's British Open when the Championship is staged there in 2014, continuing a strong association with the event that goes back to 1982 when Marta Figueras-Dotti took home the coveted title. The Championship returned in 1986 when England's Laura Davies triumphed. Sophie Gustafson won 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. In 2010 Yani Tseng, Number One on the Rolex Rankings, came out on top.

This celebrated club has a rich heritage in hosting the most important golf tournaments in the world and, in addition to five Women's British Opens, has also welcomed two Ryder Cups in 1965 and 1969 and nine Open championships, the last won by the popular Irishman, Padraig Harrington in 2008.

As the only women's Major currently played outside the USA, the Championship Committee has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that the Ricoh Women's British Open visits only world class championship courses and this celebrated venue fits the brief to a tee.

Yani Tseng recently added the Wegmans LPGA Championship to her haul of four Major titles and, at the age of 22 years 5 months 3 days, is the youngest player ever- male or female – since Young Tom Morris in 1872 to amass four Majors. She expressed delight at the news that the Championship would be returning to Royal Birkdale, "Of course I am a little biased but I think Royal Birkdale is an unbelievable course and I feel so proud to have won there. It has hosted so many great Championships and I look forward to returning there in 2014 where I hope I will win again."

Michael Hadden, Captain of Royal Birkdale Golf Club added, "We are very much looking forward to the return of the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2014. The positive feedback from our members and the spectators after last year's Championship was universal and we look forward to welcoming the world's best women back in 2014 to show us how it is done."


Loudoun Gowf Ladies Open -- some places are still available

There are still some spaces remaining for the Loudoun Gowf Ladies Open day on  Monday 5th September.
The cost is £8 and there are scratch, handicap and fun prizes available.  In the event of bad  weather and the course closing an alternative date of 12th September has been reserved. 
An application form can be found at


West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin shares lead after the first round of the Scottish Junior Strokeplay

The Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar GC member, Kelsey MacDonald, is lying joint eighth at the end of the first round at Cardross Golf Club, four shots behind the two pacemakers on three-under 71, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), bound for Denver University in a couple of weeks, is in third place, only one shot off the pace with a 72.
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) and Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) are bracketed in fourth place on 73, one shot aead of Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
Kate McIntosh had seven birdies but four bogeys while Alyson McKechin had fewer birdies – six – but only three bogeys.
Rachael Watton had an eagle at the long 18th., which cancelled out a double bogey 5 at te short 13th. Birdies at the fourth and 13th enabled her to finish the day two under par.
Kelsey MacDonald had a roller-coaster round of birdies at the second, 10th, 13th and 18th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, 12th, 16th and 17th If she can eliminate the negative over the remaining rounds, there are enough positives to make up the lost ground over the remaining 36 holes.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74
71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
72 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
73 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park), Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill).
74 Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
75 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co).
76 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Rachael Taylor (Germany), Louise McGillivray (Banchory), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry).
77 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Katerina Slukova (Olomouc), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies).
79 Jordana Graham (Southerness), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Jennifer Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ashley Smith (Monifieth), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Charlotte Austwick (Fulford), IKimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Lesley Cosh (Cowglen).
80 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Rebecca McGeehan (Germany).
81 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride).
82 Rebecca Wilson (Grange), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch), Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Claire Gadsby (Crieff).
83 Gillian Arnott (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Heather Munro (Monifieth).
84 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Hannah Mannion (Teeside), India Friswell (Wrexham).
86 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle).
88 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies).
89 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse).
90 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie).
91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley).

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Monday 25 July 2011

Kylie qualifies for the Ricoh British Open at Carnoustie

West of Scotland's Kylie Walker was the only one of six Scots to survive the Final Qualifying competition at Panmure Golf Club today and win one of the 18 places up for grabs in the Ricoh Women’s British Open which tees off over the neighbouring Carnoustie championship links on Thursday.
Kylie,  -- pictured left - (courtesy of calcarson agency) who plays out of The Carrick at Loch Lomond, came through a play-off between eight players who matched the par of 71 on the Ladies Golf Union’s composite women’s course at Panmure. She had kept her nerve with six solid pars to finish her round and she was remarkably at ease in the sudden-death eliminator to reduce the eight to five who would advance to rub shoulders with the big name LPGA Tour stars.
Walker birdied the long second hole to be one of the five who advanced to the main event.
Was she nervous about it all? Not a bit!
“I really enjoyed the play-off. It was great fun. At the second I hit a four-iron for my second pin high and was able to two-putt for a birdie 4 to go through,” said Kylie, who will be 25 at the end of next month.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open. I’ve played in the Final Qualifying before but never made it through so I’m delighted.
"I’ve played Carnoustie once before. Catriona Matthew and I have the same coach, Kevin Craggs, and she is very supportive of me. Catriona took me along to play Carnoustie about a couple of months ago. And that was a great experience."
Kylie joins Catriona, Janice Moodie and Bothwell Castle amateur Pamela Pretswell (exempt from pre-qualifying because she won the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Tenby last August) as the four Scots in the all-star field for the Big Show.
The Scots who failed to make it were Carly Booth (72), Kelsey MacDonald (73), Clare Queen (76), Vikki Laing (75) and Gemma Dryburgh (76).
Carly was two under par with five holes to play but bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 16th. She did get a brave up and down to save par at the last but it was not enough. She was involved in a play-off for the last of the four alternate (reserve) spots but lost out in that as well.
Kelsey ran up a double bogey 6 at the 17th.
Kym Larratt (23), a second-year Ladies European Tour pro from Leicestershire, and New Zealander Lynnette Brooky, a four time winner on the LET, headed the 18 qualifiers with matching three-under-par 68s.
QUALIFIERS
Par 71
68 Kym Larratt (Eng), Kim Brooky (NZ).
69 Jessica Korda (US), Jenny Shin (S Korea), Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net), Nikki Foster (Eng), Veronica Zorzi (Ita).
70 Frances Bondad (Aust), Holly Aitchison (Eng), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Anna Rossi (Ita), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Joanna Klatten (Fra).
71 Beth Allen (US), Stephanie Meadow (Ire) (am), Kylie Walker (Sco), Jaclyn Sweeney (US), Rebecca Codd (Ire) (eliminated in play-off: Isabella Ramsay (Swe), Louise Larsson (Swe), Samantha Richards (unatt).
SCOTS SCORES
72 Carly Booth.
73 Kelsey MacDonald.
74 Clare Queen.
75 Vikki Laing.
76 Gemma Dryburgh

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Paula Creamer Ricoh Women's British Open Special Interview



Ricoh Ambassador Paula Creamer took to the fairways of Carnoustie at the weekend to get a sneak preview of what lies ahead at the final Major of the year. 
Click here to watch a special Ricoh Women's British Open exclusive interview with Paula as she talks all about her first impressions of the famous Carnoustie Golf Links, her life as a professional, her season so far and her impressions of Scotland. 
We hope to see you all at this year's Ricoh Women's British Open at the Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland, 28th to 31st July, 2011.  

Girls Open Day at West Kilbride-- Get your Entry Form

Date: Saturday, 27th August, times from 2.30 p.m. 18 holes Medal play
Age: Girls under 18 on 1st January 2011 with Congu handicap
Nancy Chisholm Trophy for the Scratch winner
Kandy Bar Cup for best Nett score
Plus other Divisional prizes

Pre-Handicap Competition for June Kerr Trophy - 9 holes over a shortened course and includes Age Group prizes
Closing Date: 10th August
To get your Entry Form ------ CLICK HERE

Bob Collinson Open Day - Windyhill Golf Club

Open Day at Windyhill Golf Club; 14th August, 12-3pm; £10 entry

Are you looking for an Open day to play on a weekend? Then why not come along to the Windyhill Open Day on Sunday 14th August?
Scratch, handicap and fun prizes.
Tee times still available - entry forms available to download from the website, www.windyhillgolfclub.co.uk
OR contact Lindsay Mathie, 07905 881 496

Ranfurly Castle Open Day Tri Am - Some places are still available

Ranfurly Castle Clubhouse and 18th Green

The 2011 Ranfurly Castle Ladies' Open Day is on Monday the 8th August. The format is a Tri-Am and the entry fee is £10 per person
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM
Alternatively CLICK HERE to email your request to enter

Greenock Golf Club - Summer Meeting and Jenny Crawford Trophy

Summer Meeting Played 14th July (SSS 71, CSS 71)
Silver: Linda McDougall (6) 69; Sandra Macdougall (16) 72
Bronze: Christine Bryce (25) [acb] 72, Anne Terrey (22) [acb] 72
Scratch Linda MacDougall 75
Winner of the Jenny Crawford Trophy - Linda MacDougall

Sunday 24 July 2011

Mackie Bowl is won with a new Course Record and young Connie is pipped by the better second round

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Monifieth’s former Scotland junior cap Rebecca Wilson followed up her success in the Munross Trophy two-rounder at Montrose by winning the Mackie Bowl SLGA Order of Merit 36-hole event at Gullane today.
Rebecca, a member at Grange Golf Club, had several shots to spare at Montrose a few weeks back but it was a much tighter finish at Gullane.
Wilson and youngster Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) tied on 143, Rebecca with rounds of 75 and 68, Connie with 71 and 72 against a CSS of 74 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon.
Wilson won the Mackie Bowl with the better second round, the 68 being a new women’s course record for the Gullane No 1 course.

Scotland international and past national champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) had a two-shot lead after a first-round 69 but a 76 in the afternoon relegated her to third place on 145, two shots behind Wilson and Jaffrey.

MACKIE BOWL SCOREBOARD AT GULLANE
FINAL TOTALS
SSS 75 CSS 74 CSS 75
143 REBECCA WILSON Grange 75 68
143 CONNIE JAFFREY Troon Ladies 71 72
145 MEGAN BRIGGS Kilmacolm 69 76
146 SUSAN JACKSON Ladybank 76 70
146 RACHAEL TAYLOR GC am Reichswald 75 71
148 HANNAH MCCOOK Grantown-on-Spey 74 74
150 JESSICA MEEK Carnoustie Ladies 77 73
150 KATE MCINTOSH Broomieknowe 76 74
150 RACHAEL MCQUEEN Troon Ladies 76 74
150 LOUISE MACGREGOR Falkirk 74 76
152 HANNAH SCOTT Broomieknowe 76 76
152 ALYSON MCKECHIN Elderslie 74 78
153 LESLEY ATKINS Gullane Ladies 76 77
153 RACHEL WALKER Dumfries and County 72 81
154 AILSA SUMMERS Carnoustie Ladies 76 78
155 JACQUELINE SNEDDON Alyth 81 74
155 KEREN WARD Glen 77 78
155 ELEANOR TUNN Reay 76 79
156 JENNIFER LINKLATER Largs 82 74
157 KIMBERLEY BEVERIDGE Aboyne 82 75
158 GABRIELLE MACDONALD Craigielaw 82 76
159 JORDANA GRAHAM Southerness 77 82
159 EMMA GREENLEES Dumfries and Galloway 76 83
160 LINSEY STEVENSON Elie and Earlsferry Ladies 85 75
161 AMELIA TAYLOR St Anne's Old Links 85 76
162 CATHERINE SMALL Gullane Ladies 84 78
162 TARA MACTAGGART Minto 79 83
162 HAZEL SAUNDERS Gullane Ladies 78 84
163 JEMMA CHALMERS Monifieth 85 78
163 EMILY AIRD Blairgowrie 77 86
163 ASHLEY SMITH Monifieth 77 86
164 GILLIAN SCANLAN Hamilton 83 81
166 KATIE REID Monifieth 86 80
166 JULIE BIRDSALL Roxburghe 79 87
166 SHANNEN MCGUIRE Canmore 78 88
167 JORDEN FERRIE Kirkintilloch 85 82
169 GILLIAN DAVIDSON Saline 81 88
171 RUTH RANKIN Lanark 86 85
173 ANNE LAING Vale of Leven 83 90
176 LINDSAY MATHIE Windyhill 86 90
177 SARAH STICHBURY Merchants of Edinburgh 90 87
184 CARINA BUNYAN Roxburghe 90 94

The British Ladies Open begins at Carnoustie on Thursday



Go to the RICOH WEBSITE to keep up todate with all the news

Six Scots hoping to qualify for the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
The weekend withdrawal of South Korean Shy Hyun Ahn due to illness from the exempt field for the Ricoh Women's British Open, starting over the Carnoustie championship links on Thursday, means that there are now 18 places plus four reserve spots up for grabs in tomorrow's (Monday) 18-hole Final Qualifying competition at neighbouring Panmure Golf Club.
There are only three Scots at the moment in the Carnoustie field - Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie, because of their LPGA Tour status, and Bothwell Castle amateur Pamela Pretswell who earned a place in Thursday's field by winning the British women's open amateur stroke-play title at Tenby last August

Pretswell, however, is doubtful due to an injury. She withdrew from the final round of the European women's amateur championship in Holland on Saturday.

There are six Scots hoping to do a " Paul Lawrie" and come through the qualifying process and emerge as the winner of a Major at Carnoustie as the Aberdonian did in the 1999 Open.

At the moment, these six Scots would settle for being among the 18 to advance from the Panmure eliminator which has a field of 87 - Irish Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy star Leona Maguire having pulled out after finishing fourth to her 16-year-old twin Lisa in the European women's amateur championship on Saturday.
Leona's G B and I team status gave her a place in the Panmure field but twin Lisa did not get one because she was only a reserve for the Vagliano Trophy. Now neither twin will be playing in the Ricoh Women's British Open championship, which seems a shame for two of the best young female golfers not in Britain and Ireland but also Europe.
The Scots in action at Panmure tomorrow are Ladies European Tour pros Clare Queen, Vikki Laing, Carly Booth and Kylie Walker and amateurs Kelsey MacDonald and Gemma Dryburgh.
Queen, Booth and Aberdonian Dryburgh, beaten finalist in the recent Scottish Under-18 girls championship final at Glenisla, have already come through the first pre-qualifier at The Berkshire a couple of weeks ago.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Emma Caddow wins the scratch at the Ranfurly Castle Junior Open

Junior Open Competition, Played at Ranfurly Castle on 22nd July 2011
GIRLS SCRATCH:Emma Caddow (Strathaven) 77
GIRLS NET: Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 73



Emma Caddow with Ranfurly Castle's Junior Convenors



Alexandra Qayum -Winner of the handicap Award

European Amateur Championship won by Ireland's Lisa McGuire

Irish players dominated the final placings of the European women's individual amateur golf championship at Noordwijkse Golf Club in Holland today.
In very windy conditions, 16-year-old Lisa Maguire from Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, a member of the Slieve Russell club, became the first player from Ireland ever to win this prestigious title since the tournament was inaugurated in 1986.
Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland was runner up and Leona Maguire was fourth.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) withdrew from the competition before the start of the fourth round due to an injury.

Friday 22 July 2011

Pamela is the leading Scot in Norway after Round 3 of the European Amateur Championships

In the third round today of the European Championship Pamela Pretswell from Hamilton has regained the honour of being the leading Scot. She had a 75 for 228 and is in joint 17th position, three places abot Sally Watson who had a 75 for 229.
Kelsey MacDonald is having an up-and-down tournament. The Vagliano Trophy player from Nain has had scores of 79, 71 and 74 for 234 and is joint 43rd on 234.
Three Scots failed to make the cut on 237 or better.
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) shot 79, 83 and 79 to fail by four on 241.
Robert Gordon University student Jane Turner had an even bigger roller-coaster ride than Kelsey MacDonald with scores of 85, 72 and 85 for 242.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Lucy Williams, the respective Scottish and English national champions, both failed to qualify for the final round. Lucy had an 86 for 244, Louise an 83 for 247.
Lisa Maguire now has a four shot lead on 214. Her twin sister Leona is six shots behind.

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Noordwijkse GC, Netherlands
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
214 Lisa Maguire (Ire) 73 68 73.
218 Perrine Delacour (Fra) 75 69 74.
219 Charlotte Lorentzen (Den) 74 70 75.
220 Leona Maguire (Ire) 73 75 72.
SELECTED SCORES
224 Stephanie Meadow (Ire) 78 71 75 (7th).
228 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 74 79 75 (T17).
229 Sally Watson (Sco) 73 81 75 (20th).
230 Charlotte Ellis (Eng) 75 7976 (T21).
231 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 80 77 74, Amy Boulden (Wal) 76 76 79 (T29).
234 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 79 71 84 (T43).
237 Becky Harries (Wal) 79 78 80 (T60).
MISSED THE CUT (237 or better qualified for final round)
241 Rachael Watton (Sco) 79 83 79.
242 Jane Turner (Sco) 85 72 85.
247 Louise Kenney (Sco) 81 83 83.

Scottish Match Play Foursomes Quarter Final Draw

All of the round 4 ties in the Scottish Match Play Foursomes have now been completed with six of the eight home teams making home advantage count to win their ties. One of the away teams to come through their match were defending Champions Carnoustie Caledonia (represented by Claire Penman and Frances Millar) who beat Crail Golfing Society Ladies by 2&1 in their round 4 match. The only other away team to win through was Bridge of Allan who won the tie of the round when they finally beat Linlithgow at the third extra hole.

Round 4 Results

Dunkeld & Birnam v Muir of Ord Dunkeld & Birnam 5 & 4
Edzell Ladies v Aberdeen Ladies Edzell Ladies 4 & 3
Linlithgow v Bridge of Allan Bridge of Allan 21st
Crail Golfing Society Ladies v Carnoustie Caledonia Carnoustie Caledonia 2 & 1
Dirleton Castle Ladies v North Berwick Dirleton Castle Ladies 2 & 1
Crichton v Craigmillar Park Crichton 19th
Kilmarnock Barassie v Whitecraigs Kilmarnock Barassie 2 & 1
Mount Ellen v Douglas Park Mount Ellen 2 holes

The quarter final draw for the 2011 Scottish Match Play Foursomes is below and all ties must be played by Sunday 21st August. Full details were posted to these teams on Monday 18th July. The winners from each of the quarter finals will go on to play the semi-finals, final and 3rd/4th play-off at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28th August.

Quarter Final Draw

Home Team Away Team
Dunkeld & Birnam v Edzell Ladies
Dirleton Castle v Carnoustie Caledonia
Bridge of Allan v Mount Ellen
Kilmarnock Barassie v Crichton

Scottish Ladies Foursomes--- Why not Enter ?

The Entries for the Scottish Ladies Stroke Play Foursomes Championship which is to be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28 August are soon to close. Please note that the conditions for this competition have changed quite considerably this year in that a pair no longer have to be members of the same club – i.e. any two ladies from any two clubs can now play with each other providing they are members of clubs that are affiliated to the SLGA and providing their CONGU handicaps are each 35 or less.

I have attached a copy of the entry form as well as a link to the entry form on the SLGA web-site.
Entry Form for Scotiish Foursomes

The closing date for this competition is Monday 1 August.

Maybe you could even encourage some of your County squad members to play together for some foursomes practice!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this event or any other SLGA competition.

Kind Regards
Claire Hargan
Championship Manager
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited
The Den
2 Dundee Road
Perth
PH2 7DW
01738 442357
Registration Number 308709
www.slga.co.uk

Thursday 21 July 2011

Pamela in 30th Place after 2 rounds in the European Championships in Norway

Lisa Maguire (Ireland) is in the lead at the halfway stage of the European women's individual amateur golf championship at Noordwijkse GC in Holland. She shot a second-round 68 to lead the field of 144 by three shots with a three-under-par total of 141. West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell is now in joint 30th place after shooting 79 for a 153 total.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Great offers from Gleddoch House Hotel and Golf Club


Gleddoch Golf Club


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Cathkin Braes reach the last 16 in the Mail on Sunday Classic

Cathkin Braes Mail on Sunday Team -- Courtesy of Joanna Scott

Congratulations go to Cathkin Braes who have beaten Helensburgh 5-0 to progress to the last 16 in the Mail on Sunday Classic

Other Results to follow

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Susan Wood Wins the Lanarkshire Morison Cup for the 3rd Year in a row

Susan Wood - Courtesy of Jean MacIntyre - Click to enlarge
Played 19th July 2011 at Colville Park Golf Club, 
SSS: 71,  CSS : Morison Cup Round 1- 71, Morison Cup Round 2- 70, Blackjack Cup - 71, Junior Championship - 71
Morison Cup
Susan Wood 141 (69,72); Lesley Lloyd 152 (75,77); Tracy McPherson 154 (78,76); Jenny Potter 155 (79, 76)
Blackjack Cup
Susan Wood (0) 69; Margaret Noblett(16) 71; Marsha Hull (9) 73 acb
Junior Championship
Heather Neilson (18) 68; Ellie Bryce (17) 69 acb; Alexandra Duffy (21) 69
Scratch Emma Caddow 76


To read the full report go to the Lanarkshire County Website

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Worlds and Scottish Disable Golf Championships

 World Class Disabled Golf

Disabled golf teams from around the world have just concluded an inaugural 72-hole, World Team Cup
at the Westerwood Golf Resort in Cumbernauld. Just prior to the Cup was a 54-hole Scottish open event at the nearby Dullatur Golf Club.
The Scottish Championship gross and net events were won by Scot's!! Alisdair Berry of Ayrshire and Colin Brock of Fife took the titles after battling it out with almost 40 other golfers from countries including Eire, Germany, Canada and the Home Nations at the prestigious Dullatur Golf Club.
Stevie Cunningham, the Vice Chairman of Scottish Disability Golf, the event organisers, said, "No
other disabled group has organised such an intensive or comprehensive package of golf. We didn't give the players any practice rounds, just launched them into the mix and got them playing competitively. Dullatur Golf Club were wonderful hosts and looked after us very well. We were introduced to the club by one of our new members Ian White, who plays there regularly and he and the club officials and staff gave us a real treat of golf. We even had a day's golf at Balmoral Estate a few days earlier and that was a fantastic experience".
The World Team Cup consisted of 4 teams made up of 12 golfers + coaches on each team and was played over the Westerwood Course. The teams were Scotland, Celtic, England and a World squad and they played a Ryder Cup format over 72 holes, finishing off with singles, based on a stableford scoring system.

 England took an early lead after the first couple of days and managed to maintain that into the early session matches of the final day. Scotland rallied however, taking most of the points available and it went down to the last match of the last day to decide the winning team. England deservedly won that match with Scotland coming a very close second, followed by the World and Celtic squads. A replica trophy was presented to Tony Lloyd the English Captain and the World Cup will remain on display at the Westerwood Resort.

Steve Bramwell the SDGP's Secretary said, "We have received some fantastic support from Trusts and
Foundations from across the UK and the assistance from Scottish businesses which, in these difficult
times, is very welcome. North Lanarkshire Council and their Provost Tom Curley have provided huge support, not only through financial grants for the event, but the Provost hosted a Civic Reception at the world Cup. Additionally, over 50 MSP and MP's gave support to the event, some through a Parliamentary Motion".
Fiona McKellan, the Event Manager at the Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld, has kindly agreed to
represent the SDGP as Honorary Captain for 2011. Fiona has been helping to organise disabled golf
events at Westerwood for almost ten years and said, "It's always good to meet up with the guys from
the SDGP again and we hope that we can assist in promoting disabled golf more."
The SDGP now moves on to a 2-day event in Fife and are finalising details for August's events, which
will include games at Dalmahoy in Edinburgh and the Kittocks in St Andrews.
Full details on all the SDGP fixtures, can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk

Monday 18 July 2011

Eilidh Briggs and Alyson McKechin selected for the Scottish Girls Team for the Home Internationals

Eilidh Briggs (in front of Kilmacolm Golf Club)  -
2011 Scottish Girls Champion - Click to enlarge
The Scotland team for the Girls Home International Matches at Gullane 2 from August 3 to 5 is:
Team captain: Karen Marshall (Baberton)

LESLEY ATKINS (Gullane Ladies)
EILIDH BRIGGS (Kilmacolm)
GEMMA DRYBURGH (Beaconsfield)
HANNAH McCOOK (Grantown on Spey)
ALYSON McKECHIN (Elderslie)
AILSA SUMMERS (Carnoustie Ladies)
LAUREN WHYTE (St Regulus)
CLARA YOUNG (North Berwick)

+Players whose scores will count for Scotland in the International Team event, run in conjunction with the qualifying rounds of the British girls' amateur championship at Gullane 1 from August 8 to 12:

EILIDH BRIGGS (Kilmacolm) Captain.
GEMMA DRYBURGH (Beaconsfield)
ALYSON McKECHIN (Eldereslie)

Saturday 16 July 2011

EILIDH WINS THE 2011 SCOTTISH UNDER 18 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Katie McGarvie - Troon Ladies (Winner of the Ansley Reid Salver),
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Gemma Dryburgh
Courtesy of Colin Farquharson
Click to Enlarge
From the SLGA Website
Kilmacolm,s Eilidh Briggs is the 2011 Scottish Girls' Champion after a high quality final at Glenisla Golf Club.

After a significant amount of overnight rain the greenstaff at Glenisla Golf Club work extremely hard to ensure the course was playable for the final of the 2011 Scottish Girls Championship. With heavy rain forecast for throughout the day the finalists (and official) were delighted to watch the heaviest of the clouds circle the golf course during the morning, allowing the final to be played without delay.

Eilidh raced in to an early lead when she won the first two holes with pars and extended that lead to three holes when she won the 6th hole by chipping in for a birdie three. Gemma reduced the deficit to two with a winning par at the 7th hole before the next five holes were halved in pars. Gemma once again cut in to Eilidh's lead at the 14th hole when she hit her tee shot at the par three to 10 feet and sunk her birdie putt to win the hole.

Gemma had found her stride and put her approach shot at the 365 yard 15th hole to less than 8 feet, but Eilidh rose to the challenge and sunk her 12 foot birdie putt first. Gemma duely holed her putt to match Eilidh's birdie three to leave Eilidh one up with three holes to play. Both players put their tee shots at the par three 16th hole to less than five feet, however Gemma missed her birdie putt and Eilidh made no mistake in holing from three feet to go two up with only two holes to play.

The match was not over, however as Eilidh's approach shot to the 17th clipped a tree and dropped 50 yards short of the green. She did not manage to make her par from there and Gemma took the two putts she needed to win the hole. At the par four 18th hole Eilidh's put her approach shot to 8 feet leaving Gemma knowing she had to hole her 15 footer to have any chance of staying in the match. Unfortunately for Gemma, her putt just slid past the hole and Eilidh duely took the two putts required to give her the title.

Eilidh was approximately level par to Gemma's one over par figures.

To read the Colin Farquharson report on the final ---- CLICK HERE


Thanks go to Colin Farquharson and Claire Hargan for the photographs

LIVE SCORING FROM SCOTTISH GIRLS FINAL

Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh before the tee off at the
Scottish Under 18 Girl's Final
Click to enlarge - (Courtesy of Claire Hargan)

LIVE SCORING ----- CLICK HERE

Friday 15 July 2011

PHOTOS FROM THE SCOTTISH UNDER 18 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLICK HERE for lots of photographs fom the Scottish Under 18 Girls  Championships - Courtesy of Claire Hargan --- SLGA

Kilmacolm's Eilidh Briggs wins through to the Scottish Under 18's Championships

From the SLGA WEBSITE
Read the Full Report from Colin Farquharson---- CLICK HERE

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) has reached her second Scottish final of the year, this time at Glenisla Golf Club. She will aim to go one step further in tomorrow's Scottish Girls final at Glenisla than she did when she lost in the final of the Scottish Ladies' Championship at Machrihanish in May. Her opponent in tomorrow's final will be Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) who lost out at the semi-final stage last year.

The first semi-final in this year's Championship was a high quality match with Eilidh being approximately four under par in beating Rachel Walker (Dumfries & County) by 3&2. Eilidh was two up after two holes after a par and a birdie, but Rachel bounced back with a birdie of her own at the fourth hole to cut the deficit to one. The 7th and 8th holes were exchanged with winning birdies before Eilidh had her third birdie of the round at the ninth to go back to two up. Rachel yet again cut Eilidh's lead to one hole after another birdie at the 11th hole but a par was good enough for Eilidh at the 12th hole to once again extend her lead to two. The next three holes were halved in pars before Eilidh finished off the match by holing a 15 foot putt for a winning birdie 2 at the 16th hole.

Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) took an early lead in the second semi-final where approximately one over par figures were enough to see her take a three hole advantage over Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), however pars from Lauren at the 15th and 16th cut Gemma's lead back to one. Gemma finally clinched her place in the final with a winning par at the 17th hole to win the match 2&1.

This will be the last chance for both finalists to win the Scottish Girls Championship as both will be too old next year. The final will tee off at Glenisla Golf Club tomorrow (Saturday 16 July) at 9am. Spectators are welcome.

In the final of the Ansley Reid (second flight), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies) won the title in beating Emily Dalgetty (Glencourse) by 2&1 in another close match. There was never more than one hole in the match until the 17th hole when Katie finally took a two hole advange and the match with a winning par four.

Kilmacolm's Eilidh Briggs in Semi Finals of Scottish Under 18's Championships

From the SLGA Website
Girls Quarter Finals & Semi Finals
Top qualifier, Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm will play Rachel Walker from Dumfries & County while Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) will take on the second qualifier Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) in the semi-finals of the Scottish Girls' Championship at Glenisla Golf Club.

Eilidh Briggs played level par golf in defeating 14-year old Clara Young, while Rachel Walker was approximately 2 under par in beating another 14 year old, Connie Jaffrey in their morning quarter finals.

In the bottom half of the draw Lauren Whyte was approximately 1 over par in her win over fellow Scottish Girls cap Ailsa Summers and Gemma Dryburgh was approximately level par in beating defending Champion Lesley Atkins by 4&3.

Hole by hole live scoring is in operation for today's quarter finals and semi-finals of the Scottish Girls Championship at Glenisla Golf Club.

SCOTTISH GIRLS LIVE SCORING

In the Ansley Reid Salver (2nd flight), Emily Dalgetty from Glencourse beat Alexandra Tait from St Regulus golf club by 5&4 and will take on Katie McGarva of Troon Ladies who defeated Renfrewshire's Linsey Stevenson of Elie & Earlsferry by the same margin in this afternboon's final.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Eilidh Briggs and Connie Jaffrey reach the quarter finals of the Scottish under 18 Girls Championship

REPORT BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
There are some cracking quarter-final matches in prospect tomorrow morning in the Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth.
Top seed Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) is first off at 8.30am against 14-year-old Clara Young (North Berwick), the youngest ever winner of the East Lothian women's county championship and a member of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the recent Junior Vagliano Trophy team against the Continent at Royal Porthcawl.
Eilidh, Renfrewshire women's champion and beaten finalist in the Scottish women's amateur championship at Machrihanish, has a lot going for her so a great tie in store for spectators.
Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) collected notable scalp when she beat fifth seed Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) by 2 and 1 in the second round and Rachel now plays the No 4 qualifier, Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies).
Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) was a 7 and 5 winner over clubmate Chloe Goadby who toppled the No 3 seed and semi-finalist last year, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), and now plays Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) who has won both Angus women's and girls' county titles in recent seasons.
The last of the quarter-finals should also be a cracker with the No 2 seed, Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Aberdeen-born but a student at IMG Leadbetter Academy in Florida over the past two or three years, facing the defending champion Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) who looks to be coming back to the form that won her this title at Eyemouth 12 months ago.

MORNING REPORT
No 3 seed Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), a semi-finalist at Eyemouth 12 months ago, was beaten in the first round of the match-play stages of the Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth, Perthshire this morning.
She lost by 3 and 1 to Chloe Goadby (St Regulus), 30th of the 32 qualifiers for the match-play.
Another top the top eight players, seeded to get through to the quarter-finalists, went down at the first hurdle. Heather Munro (Monifieth), the No 8 qualifier, lost by 2 and 1 to Aboyne's Kimberley Beveridge.
And Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), seeded No 6, had to go to the 1st to bet the better of Canmore's Shannen McGuire.
Top seeds Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) both had comfortable first-round wins, Briggs by 7 and 5 over Hannah Robb (Strathmore) and Dryburgh by 5 and 3 against fellow-Aberdonian, Megan Clyne (Deeside).

FIRST ROUND
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt Hannah Robb (Strathmore) 7 and 5.
Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) bt Emily Aird (Blairgowrie) 6 and 4.
Clara Young (North Berwick) bt Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 65 and 5.
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) bt Heather Munro (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) bt Nicola Robertson (Dunblane New) 6 and 5.
Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) bt Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 5 and 4.
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 2 and 1.
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) bt Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 2 holes.


Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) bt Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 3 and 1.
Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) bt Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 2 and 1.
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Eleanor Tunn (Ready) 4 and 3.
Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey bt Shannen McGuire (Canmore) at 21st.
Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) bt Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon) 5 and 4.
Rachel Polson (Deeside) bt Keren Ward (Glen) l hole.
Tara MacTaggart (Minto) bt Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 3 and 1.
Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) bt Megan Clyne (Deeside) 5 and 3.

SECOND ROUND
Briggs bt Chalmers 4 and 3.
Young bt Beveridge 3 and 2.
Walker bt McKechin 2 and 1.
Jaffrey bt Meek 2 holes.
Whyte bt Broadby 7 and 5.
Summers bt McCook 3 and 2.
Atkins bt Polson 6 and 5.
Dryburgh bt MacTaggart 7 and 5

ANSLEY REID SALVER
FIRST ROUND
Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) bt Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 5 and 4.
Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) bt Emma Caddow (Strathmore) 4 and 3.
Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) bt Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.
Danielle Kerr (Roxburghe) bt Rosie Everett (Craigielaw) 3 and 2.


Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) bt Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 5 and 3.
Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies) bt Sophie Maguire (St Regulus) 3 and 1.
Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) bt Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 5 and 3.
Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) bt Catherine Small (Gullane Ladies) 4 and 3.

SECOND ROUND
Tait bt McKay 5 and 4.
Dalgetty bt Ker 4 and 3.
McGarva bt Taylor 5 and 4.
Stevenson bt Watson 2 holes.