Wednesday 31 August 2011

Home International matches head to Hillside Golf Club next week.

FROM THE LGU WEBSITE

Next week’s Ladies’ Home Internationals, hosted by Hillside Golf Club, near Southport, Lancashire, will see defending champions Scotland, under a new captain, bidding to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 1990-91.
Not since Scotland were champions four years in a row from 1949 to 1952, have England had such a spell as fruitless as the present one. They last won the title in 2007 at Dunbar.

These are the 94th set of Ladies’ Home Internationals, involving at least England, Scotland and Ireland (Wales’ entry came later) since the tournament was started in 1902 at Deal for the T H Miller Trophy.

It was Scotland’s 9-0 defeat by England in 1902 that led to the founding of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association in 1904.
The all-time scoreboard reads:
England champions 56 times with one shared.
Scotland champions 27 times with one shared.
Ireland champions 6 times.
Wales champions 3 times (all since 1999)

Until World War II, the Ladies’ Home Internationals were played before or immediately after the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in the summer. In the years since then, the matches have become a late-season focal point and highlight for officials of the four home unions and, of cours, the players. Being capped for one’s country still means a lot.

Fiona Norris is Scotland’s captain with the task of following in the footsteps of Lesley Nicholson, the successful skipper at Whitchurch, Cardiff last year. It was Scotland’s first title win in 19 years.
Fiona, who played for Scotland three times, has previously worked alongside Ada O’Sullivan as manager of Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy teams as well as captainning Scotland in the 2008 world amateur championships in Australia.
Fiona is an older sister of Mhairi McKay-Smith, who plays on the LPGA Tour. Fiona and Mhairi played in the same Scotland team in 1993 and 1994. For the first time since then, there will be two sisters in the Scotland line-up at Hillside – Megan and Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm.
Eilidh won the Scottish Under-18 girls match-play title this year and also reached the final of the Scottish Ladies’s Amateur Championship.
Eilidh is one of three new HI caps in the Scotland line-up. Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Rebecca Wilson (Grange) are the others.

England field a young team, which includes three new teenage caps, British champion Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) and Bronte Law (Bramhall). Lauren, at 16, was the youngest-ever winner of the Ladies British open amateur championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland in June. Georgia, 15, was a semi-finalist in the British girls championship at Gullane in early August. Bronte won the Scottish Under-16 open title in the spring.
Charley Hull (Woburn), No 20 in the World Rankings, made her debut for the full England team 12 months ago at the age of 14 and keeps her place which means there will be four players aged 16 or under in the team captained by Chris Pascall.
Ireland, runners-up to Scotland last year after beating England 8-1 in their opening match, will lack the services of the new Ladies British open amateur stroke-play champion, 16-year-old Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), ranked No 6 in the world, and a former winner of that title, Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), who turned professional earlier this month.

Leona will be otherwise engaged in a Ladies European Tour event, but twin Lisa, the European women’s individual champion and World Ranked No 33, will be wearing the green.
There are three new caps in the Ireland team for Hillside – Ulster champion Louise Coffey (Malone), Irish girls champion Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Chloe Ryan (Castleroy) who played well in the Girls’ International matches and is having a good season.

Wales’ line-up includes two survivors – GB and I International Amy Boulden (Maesdu) and Lucy Gould (Bargoed) - from the squad that won the Home Internationals’ title two years in a row – at Wrexham in 2008 and Irvine, Scotland in 2009. Junior Vagliano Trophy player Chloe Wiliams (Wrexham) will be making her debut as a full Welsh cap.

The teams are:
ENGLAND
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak), Charley Hull (Woburn), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Kellly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Charlotte Wild (Mere).
Team captain: Chris Pascall (Hartlepool)

IRELAND
Louise Coffey (Malone), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Paul Grant (Lisburn), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Charlene Reid (Rooyal Portrush), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
Team captain: Claire Robinson

SCOTLAND
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nainr Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Grange).
Team captain: Fiona Norris (Hamilton).

WALES
Samantha Birks (Wolstanton), Amy Boulden (Maesdu), Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Katie Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Lucy Gould (Bargoed), Rebecca Harries (Haverfordwest), Katherine O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath), Chloe Williams (Wrexham).
Team captain: Sue Turner

Programme of events:
Three foursomes (8.30 - 9.20) and six singles (13.10 - 15.00) in each match

Wednesday 7 September
Scotland v Ireland
England v Wales

Thursday 8 September
Wales v Ireland
England v Scotland

Friday 9 September
Ireland v England
Scotland v Wales

Monday 29 August 2011

SGU and SLGA Golf Survey

The SGU and SLGA are inviting golfers to take part in a comprehensive Scottish Golf Player Survey to help them gain an insight into the playing habits of golfers across Scotland, with everyone who completes the questionnaire being entered into a draw to win a TaylorMade golf bag.

Questions include the frequency of your golf, both playing and practising, your thoughts on your club’s facilities and what you’d like to see improved at your golf club.

To find out more and take part in the Survey go to the Scottish Golf Union Website

ALISON NICHOLAS NAMES EUROPE'S SOLHEIM CUP TEAM

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY EUROPEAN TOUR
By Bethan Culter, Media Manager, Ladies European Tour

Alison Nicholas

Captain Alison Nicholas has named her European Team for The Solheim Cup, taking place at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25. Nicholas handed her wild cards to Spain’s Azahara Muñoz, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, England’s Karen Stupples and Sandra Gal of Germany.
The four complete the 12-woman team that will attempt to wrest The Cup back from the United States of America three weeks’ from now.
“I am confident in my team and I believe that we will do very well at Killeen Castle,” said Nicholas, who also captained the European side in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in America.
“These players represent the best of European women’s golf and we look forward to putting on a magnificent show for the fans.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew along with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson qualified from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
England’s Melissa Reid and Laura Davies, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands had already earned their places on the team from the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points’ list.
Nicholas has two assistant captains in Joanne Morley and Annika Sorenstam, while the United States Team Captain, Rosie Jones, also has two assistant captains. They are Sherri Steinhauer and Juli Inkster, who will be the first playing captain in Solheim Cup history. Jones named her team on August 21.
The United States has won the last three matches and eight of the 11 editions played against Europe since the inaugural event in 1990 with an overall score line of 8-3. However, Europe will be targeting a fourth home victory after their most recent success at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden in 2003.
EUROPE TEAM
Melissa Reid (England)
Laura Davies (England)
Suzann Pettersen (Norway)
Christel Boeljon (Netherlands)
Maria Hjorth (Sweden)
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)
Catriona Matthew (Scotland)
Sophie Gustafson (Sweden)
Azahara Muñoz (Spain)
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden)
Karen Stupples (England)
Sandra Gal (Germany)

CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas (England)
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley (England)
Annika Sorenstam (Sweden)

PROFILES
Melissa Reid, 23, England.
DOB: 19th September 1987
Interests: Playing football & supporting Derby County, and snowboarding
Reid will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having led the European points’ list. She also represented Europe on the 2005 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in the USA. She joined the LET in December 2007 and was Rookie of the Year in 2008. She has amassed two career victories at the 2010 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and the 2011 Deloitte Ladies Open in Holland.
Laura Davies, 47, England.
DOB: 5th October 1963
Interests: Playing football and supporting Liverpool Football Club, fast cars and gardening.
Davies is the only player from either the US or European teams to have played at every Solheim Cup since 1990 and she will be making her 12th Cup appearance. She secured her place on the team automatically after five wins on the Ladies European Tour in 2010, which took her overall victory total to 79. Included in that total are four major championships, with 20 LPGA Tour titles and 45 on the Ladies European Tour.
Suzann Pettersen, 30, Norway.
DOB: 7th April 1981.
Interests: Skiing, keeping fit and music.
World No.2 Suzann will be a dangerous opponent having earned a six stroke victory at Killeen Castle in the Irish Open as recently as early August. She has 13 career victories, including the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola won on the LPGA less than a fortnight ago and the 2007 LPGA Championship, which is a major. Pettersen is making her sixth Solheim Cup appearance having played in every contest from 2002-2009.
Christel Boeljon, 24, Netherlands.
DOB: 30th July 1987.
Interests: Field hockey, tennis, listening to music and reading.
Boeljon will make history as the first European team member from the Netherlands in the 22-year history of The Solheim Cup. She qualified automatically from the LET points’ standings after a consistent two seasons on Tour. In May of 2011, she earned a long overdue maiden victory at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and she has since posted five additional top ten finishes, including second places in Slovakia and Finland.
Maria Hjorth, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 5th October 1973.
Interests: Reading, listening to music and aerobics.
Hjorth will participate in her fifth Solheim Cup having previously represented Europe in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She qualified from the Rolex World Rankings after two consistent seasons, the highlights of which were victories at the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship and at the 2011 Avnet LPGA Classic in May. Hjorth has four LPGA victories and two on the LET.
Anna Nordqvist, 24, Sweden.
DOB: 10th June 1987.
Interests: Watching and playing all sports.
Nordqvist turned professional in January 2009 and burst onto the scene by becoming a first time winner at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola. Later that year she also won the LPGA Tour Championship presented by Rolex. She will make her second Solheim Cup appearance having been selected as a pick by Captain Alison Nicholas in 2009 as a rookie. Representing Sweden, she won the European Nations Cup in Spain playing alongside Sophie Gustafson in 2010 and the pair successfully defended their title in April. She has posted three top-10 finishes on the LPGA in 2011 with a season-best tie for 5th at the Shoprite LPGA Classic.
Catriona Matthew, 42, Scotland.
DOB: 25th August 1969
Interests: Fitness, tennis, reading.
Matthew earned the first of her seven career victories at the 1996 Australian Ladies Open and the most recent at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland in August, but the highlight of her career was winning her first Major Championship at the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, just 11 weeks after the birth of her second child. She will make her sixth Solheim Cup appearance in Ireland, having made her event debut in 1998. After earning a captain’s pick in 2003, she also qualified in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Sophie Gustafson, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 27th December 1973
Interests: Motor cycles, music and photography.
Gustafson earned her first of 26 professional titles in 1995 in the Swiss Open, and won her most recent at the 2011 European Nations Cup representing Sweden alongside Anna Nordqvist. The quality and consistency of Gustafson’s play can be demonstrated by her having topped the LET ranking four times in 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009. Having played in every Solheim Cup since 1998, she will make her eighth appearance on the European team at Killeen Castle, where she won her fourth Irish Open title in 2010.
Azahara Muñoz, 23, Spain.
DOB: 19th November 1987
Interests: Tennis, shopping and spending time with friends.
Muñoz will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland having received a wildcard pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. She turned professional in September 2009 and made an immediate impression, winning the Madrid Ladies Masters on her pro debut in October. In 2010, she was named LPGA Rookie of the Year with a season best tie for fourth at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic. In 2011 her best finish was second at the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle.
Caroline Hedwall, 22, Sweden.
DOB: 13th May 1989.
Interests: football, sports themed films.
Henderson Rookie Hedwall is in her first season on the Ladies European Tour and will also be a rookie on The European Solheim Cup Team having received a wild card pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. Hedwall won the LET’s Final Qualifying School in December and shortly after won the New South Wales Open on the Australian Tour on her professional debut in January. She has since earned two tournament victories on the LET at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open and at the Finnair Masters.
Karen Stupples, 38, England.
DOB: 24th June 1973
Interests: Cooking, watching movies, football and shopping.
Stupples will make her second appearance on the European team following a Captain’s selection. She made her event debut at Crooked Stick in the USA in 2005. With three career victories – at the 2004 Welch Fry’s Championship and Women’s British Open as well as the 2009 Wales Ladies Championship – she is a proven winner on both Tours. Her best finish this season has been a tie for ninth at the AVNET LPGA Classic.
Sandra Gal, 26, Germany.
DOB: 9th May 1985.
Interests: painting and design, dancing, wakeboarding, playing the violin and modeling.
Gal will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having earned a selection from Captain Alison Nicholas after a sterling season on the LPGA Tour. Gal joined the Ladies European Tour this year after her maiden victory at the KIA Classic, where she defeated Rolex Rankings No.2 Jiyai Shin with a 72nd hole birdie. She has amassed two further top ten finishes this season on the LPGA Tour.
CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas, 49, England.
DOB: 6th March 1962.
Interests: Golf days, clinics, coaching, commentary and charity work.
The winner of the U.S. Open in 1997, Nicholas made six straight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and was on the European team when it triumphed in Scotland in 1992 and 2000. She retired from tournament play in 2004, but was involved in the competition as Catrin Nilsmark’s assistant captain in 2003 and in 2005. She made her debut as Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois in 2009 and was re-appointed by the European Solheim Cup Committee.
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley, 44, England.
DOB: 30th December 1966.
Interests: Reading, music, sport.
Morley serves as assistant captain to Alison Nicholas for the second consecutive Solheim Cup and was a playing member of the European team in 1996. The two-time Ladies European Tour event winner captured the Ladies’ German Open in 1996 and 2000. She also spent much of her career on the LPGA.
Annika Sorenstam, 40, Sweden.
DOB: 9th October 1970.
Interests: Cooking, fitness and business projects.
Sorenstam was the most dominant player in women’s golf and stepped away from tournament play at the end of the 2008 season to focus on business projects and start a family. Throughout her career, she re-wrote the record books whilst earning 89 wins worldwide including 10 major championships. Sorenstam represented Europe on eight Solheim Cup teams from 1994 to 2007 and still holds a number of all-time records including most matches won (22) and most points earned (24).

Player comments:
Azahara Muñoz, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour. My goal this year, the only thing I was thinking about, was playing The Solheim Cup. I’m so excited and I don’t even have the words to describe how I feel right now. It’s always been a dream.”
Sandra Gal, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour and I’m so, so excited that I got picked. I really can’t wait for Solheim Cup week to start. I think we have a great team and I’m very confident.”
Caroline Hedwall, captain’s pick:
“Of course, it’s an honour and actually a dream. I couldn’t believe when I started this year that I would actually play The Solheim Cup this year. It’s just amazing and I’m very excited about it. I guess playing in front of the European crowd is going to be a lot of fun. I felt like after the Evian I felt I showed Alison and the assistant captains that I could compete against the European players. I think I had a pretty good week at the British, at the Evian and this week, so I felt like I could have a chance but you never know, so it just feels amazing. I remember when I played the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2007: that was awesome and I think this is going to be even better.”

ELAINE AND JILL WIN SCOTTISH WOMEN'S FOURSOMES

Jill Meldrum and Elaine Allison Winners of the SLGA Foursomes
Courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA) - Click to enlarge
Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte - Click to enlarge
Photo courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA)
Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Dullatur's Jill Meldrum won the SLGA' Scottish women's foursomes tournament at windswept Glenbervie Golf Club yesterday.
They had a gross round of 79 to win by two shots from the St Regulus, St Andrews partnership of former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte who gained the Club Trophy for the leading pair, entered from the same club.
All the prizewinners -- Click to enlarge
Courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA)
Two couples had 84s - Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart (Cochrane Castle) and Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank) and Royal Dornoch's Cara Gruber. Jackson and Stewart won third prize with the better last six holes.
LEADING RETURNS
79 Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
82 Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte (St Regulus).
84 Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart (Cochrane Castle) (better last 6 holes), Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank) and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
Handicap
Linda Lindsay and Mary Nicol (12) 77; Hannah Scott and Alison Scott (Broomieknowe) (14) 79; Elizabeth Goodwin and Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) (10 1/2) 79 1/2

CRICHTON PAIR WIN SLGA FOURS MATCH-PLAY at GLENBERVIE

Rachael Walker and Amy Little - SLGA Foursomes Matchplay Champions
Courtesy of Claire Hargan - Click to enlarge
Rachel Walker and Amy Little have won the SLGA Scottish women's foursomes club match-play title for Crichton Golf Club, Dumfries.
In yesterday's afternoon's final at windswept Glenbervie GC, they beat Dirleton Castle GC's Hazel Saunders and Terry Reekie by 7 and 6.
In the play-off for third place, Bridge of Allan (Carole Mackay and Janis Myles) beat Dunkeld and Birnam (Anne Walker and Sheila MacDougall) by 3 and 2.
In the morning semi-finals, Crichton beat Bridge of Allan 4 and 3 while Dirleton Castle beat Dunkeld and Birnham 1 hole.
Matchplay Semi Finalists and Finalists- Click to enlarge
Photo courtesy of Claire Hargan SLGA

Sunday 28 August 2011

West Kilbride Open - Nancy Chisholm Trophy won by Emma Hale

Group photo from West Kilbride
18 girls competed in the West Kilbride Girls Open played yesterday on a dry, breezy afternoon where the CSS went up to 76 against a SSS of 73.

Emma Hale
The Scratch prize and winner of the Nancy Chisholm trophy went to Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) pictured left with a 78.

Silver: 1st Rachel Irvine (Largs) 88 (12) 76
2nd Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 82 (6) 76
3rd Samantha Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 87 (11) 76

Bronze: 1st Bekki Allan (West Kilbride) 111 (32) 79
2nd Ali Roy (Maybole) 108 (28) 80
3rd Rachel Evans (Kilbirnie) 123 (36) 87

Rachael Irvine
Rachel Irvine won the Kandy Bar Cup for the best nett score.


Nearest the Pin prizes were won by:-

9th Mirren Fraser (Powfoot)
12th Mairi Gray (Williamwood)
16th in 2 shots (bronze) Jillian Farrell (Cardross)
18th in 2 shots (silver) Emma Kennedy (Paisley)

Pre Handicap Girls


Pre-Handicap Girls played 9 holes from junior tees.

Younger girls: 1st Gillian Sinclair (Caldwell)
2nd Abbi Hamilton (Caldwell)
3rd Emma Turner (West Kilbride)

Older girls: 1st Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)
2nd Caitlin McMail (West Kilbride)
3rd Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)

Ava Gornell won the June Kerr Trophy for the best Pre-handicap score which was 60.

Nearest the Pin at 4th Caitlin McMail

Putting Challenge younger girls winner Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)
Chipping Challenge younger girls Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)

Putting Challenge older girls Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)
Chipping Challenge older girls Hannah McGuire (Caldwell) and Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)


Thanks go to June Kerr for the report and photographs

Ayrshire Girls St. Nicholas Trophy

Lauren Gilbert 
Some of the Prizewinners
Lauren Gilbert (Largs) swept aside the rest of the field on her way to winning the St. Nicholas Trophy last week (21st August) at Brunston Castle Golf Club. Her nett 59 playing off 23 was undoubtedly 13 year old Lauren's best round to date and has now taken her handicap down to 18, and having started the season at 33 is no mean feat. Results are as follows:-

Silver: 1st Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 77 (6) 71
2nd Grace Mackie (Troon Ladies) 84 (11) 73

Bronze: 1st Lauren Gilbert (Largs) 82 (23) 59
2nd Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) 111 (29) 82

Scratch Winner of The Telegraph prize: Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 75

June Kerr (Ayrshire Girls Convenor)

Lanarkshire County Autumn Meeting

Played 24th August at Hayston Golf Club, SSS 71
1. Anne Cameron & Aileen Woodland (Strathaven) 69.2
2. Jean Allan & Marion Brodie (Strathaven ) 69.8
3. Pauline Warlow (Cathkin Braes) & Tracy Macpherson (Langlands) 69.8

Saturday 27 August 2011

ELDERSLIE'S ALYSON McKECHIN FINISHES FOURTH IN BELGIUM JUNIOR EVENT

Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) finished fourth in the rain-abbreviated Belgian international junior tournament, scheduled for four rounds but eventually reduced to only 36 holes with stormy weather wiping out two of the rounds and also the practice day at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels.
The Elderslie teenager had rounds of 73 and 75 for four-over-par 148.
Danish girls Caroline Nistrup (72-70 for 142), Henriette Nielsen (75-71 for 146) finished first and second ahead of Belgium's Margaux Vanmol who won the British girls open amateur title at Gullane earlier this month. She scored 75-72 in this event.
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) finished joint 20th on 159 with scores of 78 and 81.
Ireland's Amy Farrell finished joint 26th on 162 with 77-85.
Germany-based Scot Rebecca McGeehan was eliminated with an 80 after a cut to the leading 30 girls was imposed after the first round.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen (Germany) 69 69.
Selected scores
152 Jamie Savage (Sco) 75 77, Brian Casey (Ire) 78 74 (T31)
154 Ian O'Rourke (Ire) 78 76 (T42)
156 David Wilson (Sco) 78 78 (T46)
GIRLS
142 Caroline Nistrup (Den) 72 70
146 Henriette Nielsen (Den) 75 71
147 Margaux Vanmol (Bel) 75 72
148 Alyson McKechin (Sco) 73 75
Selected scores
159 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 78 81 (T20)
162 Amy Farrell (Ire) 77 85 (T26)
Missed cut
80 Rebecca McGeehan (Sco)
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report.

Friday 26 August 2011

Belgium Junior international -- 3rd round cancelled

This year's Belgian Junior International tournament will be decided over - at most - two rounds instead of four.
First Tuesday's practice round was cancelled because an overnight rainstorm had waterlogged the Royal Golf Club de Belgique course. Then a violent Tuesday night storm blew down 40 trees all over the course and play was impossible on Wednesday.
The tournament did start belatedly on Thursday but now today's (Friday) round has been cancelled because of further rain and another "terrible storm" forecast to the area near Brussels at 1pm.

As West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Eilidh Briggs(Kilmacolm) said
Alyson : I am so scared --- a huge I mean huge thunder storm here !!!! I've never seen anything like this in my life !!
Eilidh: In Belgium, just me and Alyson!--- and yes we are stuck in another storm This is mental..when is our flight home ?


EXTRACT FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
Friday 26th August
Due to unfavourable weather conditions the 2nd round is cancelled.
The rain and the terrible storm predicted at 1.PM will make the course unplayable.
Hence cut will be made after round 1
Leading 60 boys and ties
Leading 30 girls and ties

Thursday 25 August 2011

WEST OF SCOTLANDS ALYSON'S FAST START IN BELGIUM

Elderslie's Alyson McKechin was the star Scottish performer on the delayed opening day of the Belgian junior international championship at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels today (Thursday).
Alyson, who shared the first-round lead in last week's British women's open amateur stroke-play at Royal Ashdown Forest, again showed herself to be a fast starter with a one-over-par 73 which left her in joint second place in the girls' category.
McKechin, now a full-time amateur, is only one shot behind leader Caroline Nistrup (Denmark).
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), who enrols at Stirling University) next month, had a 78 to be joint 16th while Germany-based Rebecca McGeehan had an 80 to be joint 25th.
In the boys' championship, Jamie Savage (Cawder) had a 75 to be joint 22nd while Scottish Under-18 boys match-play champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) had a 78 to be joint 32nd, nine shots behind the leader from Germany, Nicolai Von Dellinghausen.

Click Here for all the scores and thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Wednesday 24 August 2011

RAIN IN BELGIUM WIPES OUT PRACTICE ROUND AND 1ST ROUND FOR EILIDH AND ALYSON

Hailstones in Brussels  --  No Golf Play
Five top young Scots golfers were deprived of a practice round  yesterday before the scheduled start today of the Belgian junior international tournament at Royal Golf Club Belgique near Brussels.
Scottish boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Scottish girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rebecca McGeehan (Hummelbachaue) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) were left with nothing to do all day as heavy overnight rain flooded the course and led to its closure.

Shortly after their announcement of yesterday morning another storm reached the course. In 20 minutes the course was totally washed out and more than 40 trees fell down. They then had 30 people from the maintenance team work to remove fallen trees and branches to get the course ready for today which was an impossible mission.

Therefore they then had to announce that the FIRST ROUND was  CANCELLED. If no other case of major force is met, they hope to be able to play on Thursday - tomorrow
The 72-hole stroke-play tournament (probably now 54 holes) has individual boys and girls' sections and a mixed team trophy.
To Read all about it go to the Total International Juniors Website
Hopefully with all the Greenstaff hard work --    Play will take place on tomorrow Thursday -- Click Here

SCOTLAND TEAM FOR SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL SEPT 12th


SCOTLAND v ENGLAND SCHOOLS GOLF INTERNATIONAL
Kilmarnock Barassie G C - Monday, September 12th 2011
BOYS' TEAM
Lawrence Allan (Alva Academy)
Daniel Flannery (Peebles High)
Craig Howie (Peebles High)
Willem Kerr (George Heriot's School)
Ben Kinsley (Madras Coll, St Andrews)
Daniel McConnachie (St Joseph's Coll, Dumfries)
Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie High)
Jamie Savage (Lenzie Academy)
Ewan Scott (Madras Coll, St Andrews)
James Steven (John Ogilivie High, Hamilton)
Euan Walker (Marr Coll, Troon)
David Wilson (Marr Coll, Troon)
Reserves
Cameron Mitchell (St Andrews High, Kirkcaldy)
Connor Syme (Dumfries High).
+Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne Academy) was unavailable for selection due to departure to college in the United States.
GIRLS' TEAM
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne Academy)
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie High)
Linsey Stevenson (Craigholme School, Glasgow)
Ailsa Summers (Dundee High)
Lauren Whyte (Madras Coll, St Andrews)
Clara Young (North Berwick High)
Reserves:
Connie Jaffrey (Kilwinning Academy)
Heather Munro (Grove Academy, Dundee)
+Eilidh Briggs, Hannah McCook and Katie McIntosh were all unavailable for selection as they start at university or college on the day of the international - Eilidh and Hannah at Stirling University, Kate at Elmwood College, Cupar.
+Lesley Atkins declined selection, opting to play in the Final of the Nick Faldo Series in Northern Ireland that week.

Monday 22 August 2011

SLGA INTERNATIONAL TEAMS ANNOUNCED

From the SLGA Website
Teams to represent Scotland at the forthcoming Home International Matches are:

Ladies Home Internationals, Hillside GC, 7-9 September: Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)
Captain - Fiona Norris (Hamilton)

Senior Home Internationals, Tramore GC, 28-30 September: Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie), Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock (Barassie)), May Hughes (Lanark), Anne Ryan (Tain), Mary Smith (Tain)
Captain - Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)

SLGA ADULT GIRL FOURSOMES --GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

Event: Adult Girl Foursomes
Venue: Auchterarder GC
Date: 25 September 2011
Details:
- This competition is an 18 hole foursomes stableford competition. It is open to junior girls (under 18 on 1/1/2011), partnered with a lady or gentleman with a CONGU handicap. There are separate sections for the various handicap categories and pairings with a junior without a CONGU handicap will also have their own section.
- This is a fun competition for girls of all abilities, for example last year we had girls of all abilities competing all the way through from international level to girls without handicaps.
Closing Date for entries: Monday 5 September
Entry Form:   CLICK HERE

Many Thanks
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

Loudoun Gowf Club -- Mixed Open Foursomes

Liz and Sam with the Winning Trophy - Courtesy of Liz Keohone 

Played Sunday 21st August 2011
1st: Sam Cox and Liz Keohone ( Loudon Gowf) 67.5
2nd: Alan and Audrey Thompson (Loudon Gowf) 68
3rd: Douglas Jardine and Betty Wallace (Loudon Gowf) 69
Scratch: Douglas and Wendy Hollingworth (Turnberry & Bellisle) 83

Sunday 21 August 2011

KINGSKNOWE'S LOUISE AND ALLYN WIN SCOTTISH MIXED TITLE

Kingsknowe’s Louise Fraser teamed up with clubmate Allyn Dick, a Scotland international, at comparatively short notice to win the Scottish mixed foursomes championship at Mortonhall Golf Club today.
“My usual partner wasn’t available and I still didn’t have a partner to play in this tournament until a week or so ago when I asked Allyn Dick if he would play with me. I think I chose wisely,” said Louise in her prizewinning speech.
The Fraser-Dick combination returned a gross score of 72 over a Mortonhall course that has a men’s par of 72 and a women’s par of 73.
They had two shots to spare from a home-course partnership, Scotland internaitonal Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson. Rachael leaves shortly to start a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Denver, Colorado.
The lowest net score was 71 ½ off a combined handicap of 12 ½ by the partnership of Sandra Dickson (Mortonhall) and Ian Dickson.(Gullane). They had so much in hand that they could afford to run up a 10 at the last and still win.
Katrina McKinlay (Ratho Park) had a hole in one at the 10th hole (109yd).
A total of 39 couples took part on a day when the fast greens produced higher scorers generally than expected. The competition was organised by the SLGA.

SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES
Mortonhall Golf Club
LEADING SCRATCH
72 Louise Fraser and Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe).
74 Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall).
77 Diane MacDonald (Dumfries and Co) and Derek Douglas (Southerness).
78 Linda Bain (Lochend) and Graham Robertson (Silverknowes).
LEADING HANDICAP
71 ½ Sandra Dickson and Ian Dickson (Mortonhall).(12 1/2).
73 Kirsty Burgess and Tom Caldwell (Silverknowes) (7).
75 Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) and Martin McLeod (Dullatur) (10).

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Ladies European Tour (LET) - Final round interview with Catriona Matthew

Ladies European Tour (LET) - Final round interview with Catriona Matthew

Saturday 20 August 2011

Cartriona Matthew wins the Scottish Ladies Open and West of Scotland's Kylie Walker has a great last round


Scotland’s Catriona Matthew earned a commanding 10-stroke victory at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland.
The 41-year-old from East Lothian held a four shot lead heading into the final round after a course record 65 at her home course on Friday.
Despite the pressure of playing just five minutes’ from her North Berwick home, she fired a closing six under par 66 on a fine and breezy last day at Archerfield Links, where she was given honorary membership after winning the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open. It paved the way for her fourth Ladies European Tour win and a first prize cheque of €33,000.

Matthew said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open on my home turf on a course I’m a member at and I live along the road. I felt a little bit of pressure at the start of the week, so I’m just delighted that I finished well.”
The five-time Solheim Cup player seemed to handle the situation with typical serenity but added: “Playing in front of a lot of family and friends, there was definitely pressure and it makes it extra special. I don’t get the chance to play in Scotland very often. It was great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd this week.”

It was her second victory in Scotland in a 17-year professional career and her first Scottish win since the 1998 WPGA Championship of Europe at Gleneagles.

“I played really well and got a hot putter and probably played my best golf today. I played really well on the front nine and knew I had eight shots, which in a way made it more difficult, but I managed to trot out a few pars,” she said.

Matthew will now head to next week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open and play two more events in the United States before returning to Europe for The Solheim Cup, from September 23-25.


Kylie tees off -- Click to enlarge (Photo Courtesy of Jean Campbell D&A)
West of Scotland's Kylie Walker (The Carrick Golf Club Loch Lomond) had a fantastic final round of 69 to push her up to equal 5th place --- Well Done and also many congrats to Clare Queen on a good performance as well.

Final Leading Scores:
201 - Catriona Matthew (SCO) 70 65 66
211 - Hannah Jun (USA) 66 73 72
212 - Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 71 71
213 - Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 73 72 68
214 - Kylie Walker (SCO) 73 72 69, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 72 71 71, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 71 72, Ashleigh Simon (SA) 69 72 73
215 - Trish Johnson (ENG) 74 72 69, Mhairi McKay (SCO) 74 71 70, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 74 70 71, Melissa Reid (ENG) 76 67 72, Sophie Walker (ENG) 71 71 73
216 - Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 75 69 72, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 72 71 73
217 - Vikki Laing (SCO) 73 72 72, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 73 71 73, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 74 69 74

Other Scots:
218 - Carly Booth (SCO) 72 74 72,
219 - Clare Queen (SCO) 71 72 76,
220 - Krystle Caithness (SCO) 77 71 72,
225 - Lynn Kenny (SCO) 75 76 74,
230 - Heather MacRae (SCO) 79 74 77
238 - Gemma Webster (SCO) 81 81 76

Report from the Ladies European Tour Website

A FEW WORDS FROM CATRIONA MATTHEW AND LIVE SCORING FROM DAY 3

CLICK HERE TO FIND LIVE SCORING

Friday 19 August 2011

Catriona Matthew shoots a course record in the 2nd Round of the Scottish Ladies Open Championship and Clare Queen says a few words

A superb course-record seven under par 65 saw Catriona Matthew take a four shot lead after the second round of the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland today

Archerfield Links Honorary Member Matthew was at nine under par overall thanks to a flawless round with seven birdies on the Fidra championship course.

The 41-year-old former Women’s British Open champion started on the back nine and turned in three under before adding four further birdies at the second third, sixth and ninth holes, rolling in a majestic 30-footer at her last in front of a vociferous home gallery.

West of Scotland's Clare Queen had another excellent 2nd round to be the next leading Scot.

Leading Scores:
1 135: Catriona Matthew (SCO) Scotland 70 65
2 139:  Hannah Jun (USA) USA 66 73
3= 141:  Caroline Afonso (FRA) Inst. Basque de Golf, Lacoste 70 71 Ashleigh Simon (SA) South Africa 69 72
5= 142: Lotta Wahlin (SWE) Landeryds GK, Sweden 72 70, Sophie Walker (ENG) Forest Pines Hotel and Spa 71 71,Veronica Zorzi (ITA) Animo,Dinarobin Hotel, Mondini 71 71
8= 143  Beth Allen (USA) USA 72 71, Clare Queen (SCO) Scotland 71 72, Melissa Reid (ENG) Rotana Hotel Group 76 67, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) South Africa 72 71, Becky Brewerton (WAL) Wales 72 71, Nikki Garrett (AUS) Oakley, Cross 74 69 , Caroline Masson (GER)  71 72
Other Scots:
19= 145  Vikki Laing (SCO) DST Group /Kings Acre Academy 73 72 , Mhairi McKay (SCO) Aberdeen Asset Management, M&M 74 71, Kylie Walker (SCO) The Carrick on Loch Lomond 73 72

Other Scots
26= 146 Carly Booth (SCO) Nike, Aberdeen Asset, Audi 72 74
34:  148 Krystle Caithness (SCO) Forgan of St Andrews Scotland 77 71
47: 151 Lynn Kenny Archerfield Links 75 76
55: 153 Heather MacRae (SCO) Scotland 79 74
56=  154  Lisa Hall (ENG) England 74 80 »»
60:  162  Gemma Webster (SCO) Scotland 81 81 »»

A MESSAGE FROM CLARE QUEEN
-- HOW ABOUT GOING TO SUPPORT TOMORROW ON THE LAST DAY

Lanarkshire's Pamela Pretswell and Rachael Taylor finish in joint 5th place in the British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship

Leona Maguire, one of the talented 16-year-old twins from the Slieve Russell club in Ireland scored another remarkable victory today in the Ladies British open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex.
Lanarkshire's Pamela Pretswell made a gallant defence of her 2010 title win. She was in a group of five players including Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor who finished joint fifth.
Alyson McKechin from Elderslie had terrific level par 72 last round to finish in the top 20
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 6,074. CSS 76 77 76 tbc

288 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 75 75 69 69.
294 Laurence Herman (Bel) 73 78 74 69
296 Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 73 77 74 72
297 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 73 76 75 73.
301 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 76 76 72 77, Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 76 76 73 76, Brogan Townend (Pleasington) 74 78 76 73, Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72 79 74 76, Charlotte Thomas (Singapore) 76 72 78 75.
302 Ellie Robinson (Brass Castle) 76 75 74 77
303 Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 76 78 77 72, Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 74 79 77 73
304 Laura Sedda (Ita) 75 81 75 73, Charley Hull (Woburn) 79 74 76 75
305 Claire Smith (Silsden) 78 76 77 74, Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 74 80 77 74
306 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 84 78 72, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 78 75 82 71, Charlotte Wild (The Mere) 74 76 78 78
307 Stacey Rodger (West Hove) 76 78 75 78
308 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 74 81 82 71, Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 77 78 78 75, Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 79 76 72 81, Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 74 80 77 77
309 Anais Maggetti (Swi) 80 77 80 72, Alison Knowles (Hickleton) 77 77 79 76, Shelby Smart (Knowle) 77 75 77 80
310 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro) 76 80 81 73
311 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) 75 81 78 77
312 Melissa McMahon (Yeovil) 79 78 73 82, Mandy Goyos (Spa) 76 79 79 78
313 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 75 82 78 78, Joelle Vanbaarle (Bel) 77 73 80 83
314 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 78 76 77 83
315 Kate Whitmore (Tadmarton Heath) 75 82 79 79
316 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 79 77 78 82, Silvia Banon Ibanez (Spa) 76 74 83 83
317 Lucy Evans (Wrekin) 75 82 80 80

LIVE SCORING FROM THE BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLICK HERE ---- LGU WEBSITE FOR LIVE SCORING

Thursday 18 August 2011

Belle and Phyl meet at Troon Ladies to Celebrate 100 years

Belle Robertson and Phyl Wylie
Belle and Phyl enjoy the chat - click to enlarge


Phyl and Shona Malcolm - click to enlarge
A lovely afternoon was held at Troon Ladies' Golf Club - celebrating Phyl Wylie's 100th birthday - she had some marvellous stories of Curtis Cup golf in the 1930's and is really a remarkable and very stylish lady. Belle Robertson - Curtis Cup Player and Shona Malcolm (SLGA) enjoyed their day.

West of Scotland's Clare Queen does well in the 1st Round of the Scottish Ladies Open at Archerfield

Hannah Jun of the United States shot a six under par 66 to lead by three strokes after the opening round of the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland.

The 25-year-old from San Diego carded six birdies on the Fidra course at Archerfield Links near Gullane in East Lothian to finish ahead of England’s Rebecca Hudson and South African Ashleigh Simon.

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew was one of four players a stroke back on 70 alongside Italian Diana Luna, England’s Henrietta Zuel and Caroline Afonso of France
Meanwhile Matthew cannot be ruled out sitting just four shots from the lead with two rounds to play.

“I’m quite happy. It’s always good to finish well,” said the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion from nearby North Berwick.

“I birdied three of the last five. I made a hash of the last: was in perfect position for two, a bad chip and raced the putt past so it was a good five from six feet.”

The next best placed Scot was Clare Queen on one under, alongside England’s Sophie Walker, Italian Veronica Zorzi and Germany’s Caroline Masson, the third round leader at Carnoustie last month.

Scottish Scores: --- Par 72
Catriona Matthew 70
Clare Queen 71
Carly Booth 72
Kylie Walker, Vikki Laing 73
Mhairi McKay 74
Lynn Kenny 75
Krystle Caithness 77
Heather MacRae 79
Gemma Webster 81

Pamela still in the hunt to retain her British Title and Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor still doing well

Defending champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) is still in the mix, sharing 10th place on 152 with a pair of 76s in the British Ladies' Open Amateur Championship today at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex. Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor added a 79 to her 1st round score to share 8th spot. Unfortunately Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) struggled today with a second round of 84 --7 over the CSS. However,she has made the cut.
The CSS was 77, one more than yesterday.

BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72). Yardage 6,074. CSS 76 77

148 Charlotte Thomas (Singapore) 76 72.
149 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 73 76
150 Joelie Vanbaarle (Bel) 77 73, Silvia Banon Ibanez (Spa) 76 74, Charlotte Wild (The Mere) 74 76, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 75 75, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 73 77
151 Laurence Herman (Bel) 73 78, Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72 79, Ellie Robinson (Brass Castle) 76 75
152 Brogan Townend (Pleasington) 74 78, Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 76 76, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 76 76
153 Charley Hull (Woburn) 79 74, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 75 78, Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 74 79, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 78 75, Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 74 80
154 Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 74 80, Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 78 76, Alison Knowles (Hickleton) 77 77, Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 76 78, Claire Smith (Silsden) 78 76, Stacey Rodger (West Hove) 76 78
155 Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 79 76, Mandy Goyos (Spa) 76 79, Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 77 78, Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 74 81
156 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro) 76 80, Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham St Annes) 75 81, Laura Sedda (Ita) 75 81, Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 79 77, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 84, Rachael Goodall (Heswall) 77 79
157 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 75 82, Kate Whitmore (Tadmarton Heath) 75 82, Melissa McMahon (Yeovil) 79 78, Anais Maggetti (Swi) 80 77.
MISSED THE CUT
158 Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) 76 82, Raphaela Dyer (Hayling Island) 81 77, Emma Sheffield (Newark) 79 80, Charlotte Thompson (Channel Islands) 77 81
159 Carley Warrington (Sickleholme) 81 78, Sophie Keech (Lyme Regis) 82 77, Steph McEvoy (Old Fold Manor) 83 76, Natalie Lowe (Styal) 76 83, Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 78 81, Samantha Birks (Wolstanton) 79 80, Bethan Popel (Long Ashton) 79 80, Alison Dalgleish (Malden) 76 83
160 Teresa Caballer (Spa) 81 79, Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 74 86, Emma Goddard (Royal Liverpool) 84 76, Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 84 76
161 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 80, Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 84 77, Lucy Williams (Mid Herts) 77 84, Katie Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 79 82, Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 83 78, Sian Evans (Faversham) 85 76, Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 79 82, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78 83, Fanny Vuignier (Swi) 82 79.
162 Katerina Slukova (Cze) 80 82, Paula Carver (Worthing) 82 80, Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) 84 78
163 Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest) 83 80, Lucy Goddard (Mid Herts) 76 87, Bronwyn Davies (Trentham) 84 79, Joanne Herd (Boyce Hill) 83 80, Lauren Blease (Burhill) 84 79, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 80 83, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 82 81, Sana Tufail (Woking) 84 79
164 Rebecca McGeehan (West Rhine) 79 85, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 82 82
165 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 83 82, Emilee Taylor (Holme Hall) 78 87
166 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 81 85, Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 82 84
167 Jerry Lawrence (Rochester/Cobham) 77 90, Charlie Field (Bishop Stotford) 81 86.
168 Chelsea Masters (Highwoods) 81 87, Tiffany Hewetson (East Brighton) 80 88, Nicola Taylor (Walton Heath) 85 83, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 88 80, Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 87 81
169 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 81 88
170 Dolores Brown (Royal Cinque Ports) 85 85
171 Lauren Smith (Arcot Hall) 84 87
172 Joanne Hodge (Kendleshhire) 78 94, Nicole Shaw (West Essex) 84 88, Laura Murray (Alford) 82 90
173 Victoria Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 86 93, Elizaveta Nikulina (Effingham) 86 87.
174 Emma Hargreaves (Beaconsfield) 89 85, Alica Fischer (Ger) 88 86.
175 Harriet Key (South Herts) 89 86, Hayley Todd (Royal Ashdown Forest) 85 90
176 Lauren Horsford (Wimbledon Park) 85 91
177 Lucy Evans (Wrekin) 75 82, Julia Burrows (Royal Mid Surrey) 93 84
179 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 88 91, Rachel Martin (Langley Park) 89 90
181 Sheila Quigley (Camberley Heath) 93 88
183 Delyth Roberts (Malden) 90 93
Withdrew: Kimberly Bradbury (Cavendish) 82 -, Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 75 -, Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 79 -, Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 82 -, Sophie Powell 86 -, Melissa Nicol (Moor Hall) 88 -.

Scottish Matchplay Championship

Defending Champions, Carnoustie Caledonia have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Scottish Match Play Foursomes. Claire Penman and Frances Millar who won the title for Carnoustie Caledonia at Douglas Park last year were beaten Dirleton Castle at the 1st extra hole over Gullane 2. The home side of Hazel Saunders and Terrie Reekie were three down after five holes and only squared the match at the 17th hole before the 18th was halved in par fours. When Dirleton Castle won the 19th hole with a nett par it was the first time they had been up in the match.

Dirleton Castle will be joined in the semi-finals by Bridge of Allan, Crichton and Dunkeld & Birnam.

Round 5 Results

Home Team Away Team Winners Score
Dunkeld & Birnam v Edzell Ladies Dunkeld & Birnam 4 & 3
Dirleton Castle v Carnoustie Caledonia Dirleton Castle Ladies 19th
Bridge of Allan v Mount Ellen Bridge of Allan 4 & 3
Kilmarnock Barassie v Crichton Crichton 2 holes
The semi finals, final and 3rd / 4th play off will be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28th August.

Semi-Final Draw

Dirleton Castle v Dunkeld & Birnam
Bridge of Allan v Crichton

The Scottish Ladies’ Stroke Play Foursomes will also be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28 August.
There are still some spaces available for both of these events - please contact the SLGA office if you would like a late entry.

Ladies Scottish Open begins today at Archerfield -- Why not go along and support

West of Scotland's Clare Queen said a few words last week all about the event



First Round Draw -- Click Here

You will find Live Scoring at the Ladies European Tour Website

Wednesday 17 August 2011

West of Scotland's Alyson & Rachael Lead at Royal Ashdown Forest

From the LGU Website
Two teenage Scots, Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) - pictured left  and Germany-based Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor, (pictured right) were the only two players in the first half of the field of 113 to match the testing par of 72 over the Royal Ashdown Forest course, East Sussex in the first round of the Ladies British Open amateur championship today.

There was no wind to speak of and there is not a single bunker anywhere under an old forest conservation act so the only explanation for the general level of high scoring was that the woodland/heathland course, a royal hunting forest in ancient times, is an extremely testing lay-out on which to score well.
Bogeys, double bogeys and higher were common. Birdies were rare and eagles an endangered species.
Royal Ashdown Forest has been used by the R&A as an Open championship qualifying venue – and today the competitors in this LGU tournament could see why for themselves.
This south-east of England course, where there is less rainfall than most other parts of the country, has not staged many tournaments for female amateur golfers, outwith local members, in recent years and that lack of familiarity in particular with the hard greens that required pitch and run shots "a la" links golf but were not nearly as fast as links greens for putting was a problem that most of the contestants failed to solve on the first day.
As defending champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), remarked after a returning a four-over-par 76: “I think it’s going to be a high-scoring tournament.” Which could turn out to be the understatement of the season.
Playing partner and fellow Curtis Cup player Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) looked set to prove all the pundits wrong when she cruised to the turn in two-under-par 34 wit birdies at the fifth and eighth and not a suggestion of a bogey.
But Royal Ashdown Forest bit back – hard – on the 16-year-old Irish player after the turn. Leona required 41 shots (five over par) to get home, starting with a double bogey 6 and ended the back nin with a double bogey 7 at 17 and bogey 5 at the last for a 75.
Incidentally, Pamela Pretswell birdied the 17th where Leona had the 7 so where’s the logic of that?
Leona’s twin Lisa had a 77 which included a double bogey 6 at the 10th. Also on 77 is another highly promising 16-year-old, Bronte Law (Bramhall). Bronte had a double bogey 6 at the 15th in halves of 38 and 40.
Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy team player Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) later joined Leona Maguire on the 75 mark.
Britain’s youngest ever women’s open amateur champion, 16-year-old Lauren Taylor (Woburn), pulling her own clubs, had the same score as Pamela Pretswell, a 76. The only 6 on Lauren had on her card was at the 17th.
Alyson  a member of the Scotland team in the girls’ home internationals the week before last, had birdies at the second, 12th, 16th and 18th in halves of 37 (one over par) and 35 (one under). She bogeyed the first, seventh, 11th and 17th.
Rachael Taylor, whose Airdrie-born father is a golf professional in Germany, had halves of 34 and 38 with birdies at the third, eighth and 17th. She did not drop a shot until the 10th – where she dropped two with a 6, followed by a bogey at the 11th, then covered the last seven holes in one-under par.
Welsh teenager Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) and two other youngsters, England girl cap Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) and Belgium’s Laurence Herman, are tucked in behind the Scots. Boulden’s 73 was so steady – 15 pars, one birdie, two bogeys – she could have been playing a different course from those who shot in the high 70s and 80s.
Amy started with a bogey and had her only other dropped shot at the 10th. The Astor Trophy and Vagliano Trophy team player birdied the 17th in halves of 37 and 36.

Scots Scores -- Round 1:

Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72 - Lanarkshire
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 - Renfrewshire
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 - Lanarkshire
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78
Hannah Mccook (Grantown on Spey) 78
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 80
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies') 81
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 81
Laura Murray (Alford) 82
Lesley Atkins(Gullane Ladies) 82
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 83 - Renfrewshire
Katie Reid (Monifieth) 88

LGU PEUGEOT WINNERS - SCOTTISH AREA WINNERS

Sheena Gardner and Lesley Irvine (Douglas Park)

North Edzell, Angus 8 August 2011

Winners: Sheena Gardiner & Lesley Irvine (Douglas Park) 41 points
Runners-up: Kathleen Stalker & Caroline Gordon (Murcar Links) 37 points (counback)
Third: Anne Middleton & Clare Burnett (Edzell) 37 points

East Longniddry, East Lothian 21 July 2011

Winners: Betty Caw & Marion Kloepfer (The Glen) 35 points (countback)
Runners-up: Fiona Kelly & Mhairi Chambers (Niddry Castle) 35 points
Third: H Saunders & C Smith (Dirleton Castle) 35 points

West Whitecraigs, Renfrewshire 27 July 2011

Winners: Kirstin Everett & Joan Shanks (Merchants of Edinburgh) 37 points
Runners-up: Sheila Dawson & Julie Bennett (Vale of Leven) 35 points
Third: Linda Mathewson & Anne Griffen (Stirling) 34 points (countback)

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Hayston Stag Mixed Foursomes -- get your entry form

Hayston Open Mixed Foursomes is on Sunday 18th September.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR YOUR ENTRY FORM:-

HAYSTON STAG OPEN MIXED FOURSOMES ENTRY FORM

Scottish Entrants for the British Open Amateur Strokeplay

Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) defends the Ladies' British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship title which begins tomorrow at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club

Scottish Entrants
ATKINS, Lesley (Gullane Ladies')
BRIGGS, Megan (Kilmacolm)
MACDONALD, Gabrielle (Craigielaw)
MCCOOK, Hannah (Grantown on Spey)
MCKECHIN, Alyson (Elderslie)
MONTEITH, Gillian (Portpatrick Dunskey)
MURRAY, Laura (Alford)
PRETSWELL, Pamela (Bothwell Castle)
REID, Katie (Monifieth)
SNEDDON, Jacqueline (Alyth)
SUMMERS, Ailsa (Carnoustie Ladies')
TAYLOR, Rachael (Hartl)
WATTON, Rachael (Mortonhall)

Monday 15 August 2011

Windyhill Ladies Open Day – Bob Collinson Trophy

Sandra Chudleigh (Ladies Captain), Bob Collinson, Elaine Robb, Lily Collinson

34 players battled it out for the Bob Colllinson Trophy at Windyhill Golf Club on Sunday 14th August. The sun made a welcome appearance and the course was in remarkable condition considering the amount of rain that had fallen over the past week.

Elaine Robb was the overall winner with 37points(bih). The win was all the more special for Elaine as Bob Collinson, who was the Club Professional at Windyhill at the time, took her to the practice ground to hit her first golf ball and teach her the game. The trophy was kindly donated by the Collinson family a number of years ago in memory of Bob.

Many thanks must go to Wiseman Dairies, Burn Stewart Distillers, Bearsden Golf Range, Lesley McKay (Playsport), Bob Collinson (Bearsden Golf Range) and all the members for their the kind prize donations and gifts for the goody bags.

Lindsay Mathie
Vice Captain


Prizewinners
Par 72 CSS 73

Overall Winner of Bob Collinson Trophy Elaine Robb (Windyhill) 37pts (bih)
1st Scratch Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 74
1st Silver Lindsay Mathie (Windyhill) 37pts
2nd Silver Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 33pts
3rd Silver Liz Stewart (Greenburn) 31pts (bih)
4th Silver Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 31pts
1st Bronze Joyce Ferguson (Douglas Park) 30pts
2nd Bronze Marie Miller (Windyhill) 29pts (bih)
3rd Bronze Claire Smith (Windyhill) 29pts
4th Bronze Frances Fee (Renfrew) 28pts

Sunday 14 August 2011

Milngavie Invitation Day Success

Some Prizewinners - Click to enlarge
Milngavie's Invitatation Day was held today in pretty good weather !!
Katy MacAulay (Milngavie), Lynn McColl (Bearsden) and Irene Dixon (Clober) were the winners (75 points) - 2 scores to count.
Pictured above are some of the prizewinners. Mary Smith of Milngavie was thanked for all the organisation

Saturday 13 August 2011

Think we need some humour on this website !!

Phil Wylie, oldest Curtis Cup survivor celebrates her 100th Birthday in Troon

Phyllis Wade Wylie – “Phil” to her many friends – the oldest surviving Curtis Cup team player, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday in Troon, where she has lived for many years.
Phil played for Great Britain &Ireland against the United States in the fourth Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachussets in 1938.
The GB & I team, which included legendary Scots Helen Holm and Jessie Valentine, had crossed the Atlantic by ship in those pre-commercial flight days.
In 1938 the Curtis Cup ties, foursomes and singles, were all played over 36 holes. GB & I led 2 ½- ½ at the end of the first-day foursomes but an American team, with Patty Berg in its line-up, won five of the six singles on Day 2 to claim the Cup 5 ½-2 ½.
“The United States won the match but my abiding memory is how happy I was to be playing in a Curtis Cup match and what great fun we had,” recalls Phil.
“I think that’s the biggest difference between players of then and now. We all enjoyed ourselves, win or lose, and we weren’t afraid to show it.”
In 1939, Phyllis Wade married Surgeon-Capt J I Wylie, a Scot who was a naval officer. They had one son, Ian.
“I have been a widow for many years but living happily in Troon,” says Phil whose home overlooks the 17th green of the Royal Troon course.
"I don't get about so much these days; I'm a bit unsteady on my feet."
But she has a twinkle in her eye.
She had a dream come true at the 2008 Curtis Cup match at the Old Course, St Andrews where she entered the hallowed Royal & Ancient clubhouse to attend the Past Curtis Cup Players’ Dinner and was able to hold the Curtis Cup in her grasp.
She was English women’s amateur champion as Phil Wade in 1934 and 1936 and was Hampshire county champion in 1933, 1935, 1937 and 1938. By now rated as one of England’s leading players, she was first reserve in attendance for the 1936 Curtis Cup match at Gleneagles.
Remarkably, she did not take up golf until she was 16 or 17 years old and not until she was 18 (1929) when she left school did she play regularly.
“Father was a keen golfer and got me lessons with Reg Whitcombe (the pro at Parkstone Golf Club) who had been a Ryder Cup player,” said
Phil played regularly in international matches against France from 1934 to 1949.
She toured Australia and NewZealand with the GB team in 1935- it took the party some time to reach there by ship and the tour lasted more than a couple of months – and Phil won the New Zealand women's foursomes with Mrs. Greenlees in 1935.
Having moved up to Scotland, Phil became Ayrshire champion in 1954, which was no mean feat with players of the calibre of Helen Holm to beat, and is currently the Hon. President of the Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association.
The members of her “next-door neighbours” Troon Ladies Golf Club planned a celebration tea for Phil which was by another Troon resident, Shona Malcolm, CEO of the Ladies Golf Union.

Scottish Vets are 3rd in the Veteran Ladies' Jamboree

Scotland were trounced 8.5-0.5 by South on the final day of the Veteran Ladies Jamboree at Wellingborough Golf Club.
The Scots, having taken 1.5pt out of a possible 2 from the first 2 days play. They beat Midlands 6-3 on Day 1, and then drew with North on Day 2 and were strong challengers to win the trophy once again but, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip ...
The writing was on the wall in large letters that it was not going to be Scotland's day when South made a 3-0 clean sweep in the foursomes.
The singles session was not much better from a Scotland point of view. South took that 5.5-0.5.
The final placings were:
1 South 2pt (on countback)
2 Midlands 2pt
3 Scotland 1.5pt
4 North 0.5pt

To read all the results and reports go to the West Vets Website

Friday 12 August 2011

Scottish Girls Under 14's Championship at Aberdour

This Championship is jointly run by the SGU and SLGA for leading under 14 male and female golfers. First contested in 2001, the event is the youngest national age group championhip in Scotland, which also features an U12 category within. The event has been greatly supported by the Loretto School Golf Academy who have been sponsors since 2004 and attracts talented young golfers from across the UK. It shall comprise 18 holes of stroke play.
Click on the following link to see the scores today after the Competition was reduced to one round due to rain !
Loretta Schools Under 14 Scottish Girls Championships

Not a good day for the home players in the rain-abbreviated Loretto School Scottish Under-14 girls' open championship at Aberdour Golf Club, Fife today .

Leading Scottish girls were Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) and Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) who tied for fourth place with Samantha Fuller (Roehampton).

LEADING GIRLS
Par 68 CSS tbc
74 Susana Vik (Nor).
77 Clara Kelly (Hagley), Emily Lyle (Worksop).
78 Samantha Fuller (Roehampton), Chloe Goadby (St Regulus), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
79 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Victoria Mallett (Sutton Coldfield), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies).
80 Angharad Evans (St Pierre).
81 Sophie Newlove (Notts Ladies), Fiona Liddell (Ger).



Thursday 11 August 2011

RESULTS FROM THE BRITISH GIRLS MATCHPLAY

West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) are now playing in the matchplay stages of the British Girls at Gullane
To keep up to date with the play click on the following link
Alyson McKechin's opponent that beat her in the 2nd round from Belgium has now reached the semi finals

CLICK HERE FOR MATCHPLAY RESULTS

SLGA Ladies Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes Draws

The Scottish Mixed Foursomes will take place at Mortonhall Golf Club on Sunday 21st August and the Scottish Ladies Open Foursomes will be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28 August. The draws for these competitions can be found below. There are still some spaces available for both of these events - please contact the SLGA office if you would like a late entry.
MIXED FOURSOMES DRAW
SCOTTISH LADIES STROKEPLAY FOURSOMES

SCOTTISH BOYS AND GIRLS U14s NOW A ONE-ROUNDER ON FRIDAY

FROM THE SLGA WEBSITE
The first round of the Scottish Girls and Boys Under 14's Championship at Aberdour has been cancelled today (because of very heavy rain and flooding).
The Championship will now be held over 18 holes tomorrow (Friday, August 12). Tee times for tomorrow will be as per the Round 2 (Friday) tee-times on the draw. Competitors should register tomorrow 30 minutes before their tee-time.

Claire Hargan
Championship Manager

Charity Mixed Greensomes --- Gleddoch

Gleddoch Golf Course -- Great Views - Click to enlarge

Charity Mixed Greensomes on Sunday September 18th

All profits will go to Maggie's (Glasgow) and the event is in memory of Gleddoch's late Past Captain, Sheila Hughes, who was also a Past Captain at Fereneze. Her family donated a wonderful trophy, as Sheila did a lot of after dinner speaking for Maggie's whilst undergoing her treatment.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Pamela loses at the 19th in the US Matchplay 1st Round

Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell lost at the 19th against Kim in the first round of the US Amateur Match play stages
US Amateur Matchplay results

No Scots left in the British Girls' Matchplay

Report by Colin Farquharson
McKECHIN LOSES - NO SCOTS IN LAST 16 OF BRITISH GIRLS
There are no Scots in tomorrow morning's line-up of the last 16 in the British girls open amateur championship after an awful day of rain at the Gullane No 2 course.
The last host country representative to bow out was Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
Having beat compatriot Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) by 4 and 2 in the worst of the morning rain, Alyson went down by 2 and 1 to Belgium's Margaux Vanmol in the second round.
The 18-year-old lost the first but bounced back by winning the second, fourth and fifth for a two-hole lead - but that was as good as it got for McKechin.
"I was still two up at the turn but she birdied the long 10th to get one back and after we had halved the long 11th in birdie 4s, Margaux birdied the 13th to square the match," said Alyson who intends playing full-time amateur golf for the rest of the year.
"Then I bogeyed the 14th to go one down for the first time."
After halves in pars at the 15th and 16th, Vanmol clinched a come-from-behind 2 and 1 win by winning the 17th.
The roads around Gullane were flooded after overnight rain continued into the day but the Gullane linkes continued to drain it all away.
"It was simply horrific out there," said 16-year-old Bronte Law (Bramhall), the No 5 seed and one of the favourites.
She beat Marian Tonnessen (Norway) and then Daisy Nielsen (Denmark) both by 4 and 3 margins to reach the third round.
Bronte won the Scottish Under-16 girls' open amateur title at Strathmore in April.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) lost by 5 and 3 to England international Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) who was three up after seven and two up at the turn.
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) was one up after 13 against English girls champion Hayley Davis (Ferndown) but lost at the 19th
Scottish U18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) was two down after only four holes to Norway's Olivia Hullert. The Scot stopped the rot but was still two down after seven and again at the turn.
She got into her stride to birdie the 11th and 13th, lost the 14th but birdied 15th and 17th to take the match down the 19th were Eilidh's hopes ended in a bunker.
To read the full report and results go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

3 Ayrshire Girls qualify for the Highland Spring Junior Masters Tournament

Two Ayrshire boys and three Ayrshire girls are off to the Grand Final of the Highland Spring Junior Masters Tournament at Gleneagles in September, after coming through qualifying at Loudoun Gowf Club this week.
In the boys event, the cut off score was 31 pts to determine the 11 qualifiers who will play over the Queens Course at Gleneagles on Sunday 9th October.
Connor Mackay of the host club was second qualifier whilst David Robinson (Largs) claimed the 11th and final qualifying space.
In the girls event, 33 pts was the score which decided who the 9 qualifier for the finals would be.
Connie Jaffrey (Ayrshire Ladies) was second qualifier on 37 pts, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) was third also on 37 pts and Emma Paterson (Loudoun Gowf) claimed the seventh qualifying place on 34 pts.

Regional Medal Finals at East Kilbride

From the SLGA Website
The West Division SLGA Regional Medal Finals took place at a sunny East Kilbride yesterday (Tuesday 9 August). 72 ladies enjoyed the course as well as the newly opened East Kilbride Clubhouse in the competition which was rearranged from the beginning of July.

Valarie Davidson from Whitecraigs pipped Pamela Gray of Lochwinnoch on the better inward half to win the Bronze Division and to lead the qualifiers for the Grand Medal Finals at Crieff on 4th September. Both players had a nett score of 71 off handicaps of 28 and 21 respectively. They will be joined at the medal finals by Kirsty Flockhart of Milnathort who had a nett 72 off a handicap of 21.

Sandra Goldie (Eastwood) was the winner of the Silver section with a nett 73 off a handicap of 12 and will be joined at Crieff by Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) and Marsha Hull (Strathaven).

Silver Division

1st = Sandra Goldie (Eastwood) 85 - 12 = 73 (Better last 6) Q
2nd = Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) 87 - 14 = 73 Q
3rd = Marsha Hull (Strathaven) 84 - 9 = 75 (Better 18th hole) Q
4th = Lorna Fury (Thornton) 78 - 3 = 75

Bronze Division

1st = Valerie Davidson (Whitecraigs) 99 - 28 = 71 (Better inward half) Q
2nd = Pamela Gray (Lochwinnoch) 92 - 21 = 71 Q
3rd = Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) 93 - 21 = 72 Q
4th = Lorna Brown (Dunblane New) 95 - 21 = 74

Q = qualifiers for the SLGA Grand Medal Final at Crieff Golf Club on 4th September.

CSS = 74

Pamela has another great round to qualify for the Match Play Stages of the US Amateur Championships

Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell had another good round yesterday in the US Ladies Amateur Championship at Rhode Island Country Club. She added a 1 over par round to her first round of 2 under to finish in in 7th place in the stroke play championship. She now plays Stephanie Kim, Tempe, Arizona in the 1st round.
She is joined by the only other Scot in the field Sally Watson who qualified in 55th place

To see all the scores --- CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DRAW FOR THE MATCHPLAY

Ranfurly Castle Open Day raises £700 for the Accord Hospice

Karin present Norman with a cheque for £700 - Click to enlarge
The sun shone on the Annual Ladies Open Day on Monday, 8th August.
47 teams played with Ladies playing from as far a field as Aberdeen.
The charity raffle raised £700.00. A fantastic amount and many thanks to all the members who donated prizes. A cheque for the above amount was presented by the Lady Captain, Karin MacKenzie, to Mr Norman Walker, Chairman of the Accord Hospice.
Norman Walker , a past member and Captain of Ranfurly Castle thanked all the ladies for their donation and gave a small resume of the cost of running the hospice.

The Results:
1st Prize -- W. Chung( Cathcart), F. Yip ( Cowglen) & M. Lin ( East Kiblride) --- nett 63 .
2nd Prize-- D. Barton , G. Malone & C. McIntyre ( All Largs) --- nett 64 ( bih).
3rd Prize -- G.Cragg, M. Kirkham & l. Wilkie ( all Milngavie) --- nett 64.
4th Prize---- M. Hamilton, R. Brown & E.Wales ( all Dullater) --- nett 66.

Nearest Pin; Silver- M. Cook : Bronze- M. Lin.
Longest drive; Silver- J. Potter : Bronze - P. Taggart.

Thanks go to Jean Irvine for  the photographs and Ranfurly Castle's Lady Captain Karin MacKenzie for the report