Friday 30 September 2011

Scotland win against Wales and England are the Senior Home International Winners

From the LGU Website
England Champions again but fighting Irish ran them close .-- click here to read all
England retained the title in the Senior Ladies’ Home Internationals on a very wet afternoon at Tramore Golf Club in Ireland. But what an exciting finish it was to the weather-hit three-day programme.
After England and Ireland had completed Day 2 wins this morning over Scotland and Wales respectively, it meant that the England v Ireland match between the only two teams with 100 per cent winning records would be the title decider.
It went right down to the wire before England prevailed 4-3 with the last putt on the last green in the last match to finish.
Wales started well in the match for third place against Scotland. Christine Harries won by 5 and 4 against Heather Anderson in the lead-off singles, having been one up at the turn before adding to that with unanswered successes at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th.
But Lorna Bennett chalked up an outstanding win for Scotland by beating Welsh ace Vicki Thomas by the comprehensive margin of 6 and 5. Lorna was five up after seven holes and never allowed her opponent a chance to get back into the match.
Scotland went 2-1 ahead when Karen Ballantyne beat Karen Weatherley by 5 and 4 after winning three of the first four holes and still leading by two at the turn. Ballantyne quickened to win the 11th, 13th and 14th.
Scotland advanced to 3-1 with a one-hole victory by Mary Smith over Denise Richards who was twice two up on the outward half. Smith played the inward nine impeccably. She won the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th
Wales got a second point on the board when Jane Rees beat Alex Glennie by 2 and 1 after winning four of the first six holes. Glennie had a good spell approaching the turn, winning the eighth, ninth and 10th but Rees pulled away again by winning the 11th and 13th.
Elaine Allison, Scotland’s most successful player of the week, got the clinching fourth point by beating Janet Doleman 3 and 2. Allison went two up at the 10th and added successes at the 13th and 16th for victory.
The last match to finish was halved between Wales’ Ann Lewis and Scotland’s May Hughes. Lewis had looked set for victory when she won the 11th and 12th to go three up but Hughes finished strongly to salvage half a point. She won the 13th, 14th and 16th to square the match and the last two holes were halved.

WALES 2 1/2, SCOTLAND 4 1/2
Singles only match
Harries beat Anderson 5 and 4
Thomas lost to Bennett 6 and 5.
Richards lost to Smith 1 hole
Rees beat Alex Glennie 2 and 1..
Karen Weatherley lost to Ballantyne 5 and 4.
Lewis halved with May Hughes.




Overall Standings
TeamPtsWonHalvedLost
  England191823
  Ireland131229
  Scotland8114
  Wales5117

ENGLAND v IRELAND TITLE DECIDER AT SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONALS

ELAINE ALLISON ONLY SCOTS WINNER IN 7-1 DEFEAT BY ENGLAND

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
It’s an England versus Ireland title decider in this afternoon’s seven-singles finale to the 9th Senior Women’s Home Internationals at Tramore Golf Club, Ireland. Both teams have won twice this week.
Defending champions England, who beat Wales 8-0 on Day 1, completed a 7-1 victory over Scotland this morning after sea mist forced a suspension of play yesterday afternoon.
Ireland, who have never won the over-50s team championship, followed up their 5-3 win over Ireland by completing a 5-3 win over Wales this morning.
Senior Ladies British champion Felicity Christine, playing No 1 for England in the singles, beat Scotland’s Heather Anderson by 5 and 4. When the match resumed at the 13th, Christine was four up, having been six up at the turn.
Anderson, who had scored her first success of the match at the 12th, also won the 13th to cut her deficit to four but the English player won the 14th to finish the match.
England went into a 5-0 lead overall when Caroline Marron beat Mary Smith by one hole. Marron was two up when play resumed this morning at the 14th.
Smith won the 14th to be only one down but Marron regained a two-hole lead by taking the 16th. The Scot was not finished yet, however. She won the 17th to be one down with one to play. The last hole was halved.
Last year’s Senior Ladies British champion at West Kilbride, Bev New made it 6-0 for England when she beat Karen Ballantyne 3 and 2. This match resumed at the 13th with New three up. The 11th and 12th had been halved and the sequence was continued this morning with the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th beind halved, leaving New the winner by 3 and 2.
Janet Melville, former Ladies British open amateur champion, made it 7-0 for England with a hard-fought, one-hole win over Lorna Bennett. This match resumed all square at the 12th, the 10th and 11th holes being halved before the suspension of play.
The 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th were halved this morning before Melville ended the stalemate by winning the 17th to be one up with one to play. A half was all she needed at the 18th – and she got it.
Scotland’s Elaine Allison prevented England scoring an 8-0 win for the second day in a row. When her match against Rozalyn Adams resumed at the the 13th, the Scot was two up and she promptly went three up by winning the 13th.
Adams got it back to two down by winning the 16th but she had run out of holes and a half at the 17th ended the match in Allison’s favourite by 2 and 1.

THIS MORNING'S RESULTS

SCOTLAND 1, ENGLAND 7
Foursomes: 0-3
Singles (1-4)
Heather Anderson lost to Felicity Christine 5 and 4.
Mary Smith lost to Caroline Marron 1 hole.
Elaine Allison bt Rozalyn Adams 2 and 1.
Karen Ballantyne lost to Bev New 3 and 2.
Lorna Bennett lost to Janet Melville 1 hole.

IRELAND 5, WALES 3
Foursomes 2-1
Singles (3-2)
Sheena McElroy bt Christine Harries 5 and 3.
Pauline Walsh lost to Vicki Thomas 1 hole.
Carol Wickham lost to Jane Rees 1 hole.
Pat Doran bt Ann Lewis 2 and 1.
Helen Jones bt Denise Richards 2 holes.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Played suspended at the Senior Home Internationals in Foggy Ireland

Mary Smith, Heather Anderson and May Hughes - Not too happy in the mist
Courtesy of Fiona Cowan 

SCOTLAND 0, ENGLAND 3
FOURSOMES
Mary Smith and Elaine Allison lost to Sue Dye and Caroline Marron 5 and 3.
Heather Anderson and May Hughes lost to Janet Melville and Felicity Christine 4 and 3.
Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne lost to Bev New and Chris Quinn 2 holes.
SINGLES
Anderson v Christine. England 5 up after 12.
Smith v Marron. England 1 up after 13.
Allison v Rozalyn Adams. Scotland 2 up after 12.
Ballantyne v New. England 3 up after 12.
Bennett v Melville. All square after 11.

IRELAND 2, WALES 1
FOURSOMES
Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara bt Vicki Thomas and Jane Rees 3 and 2.
Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham lost to Ann Lewis and Denise Richards 1 hole.
Pat Doran and Helen Jones bt Christine Harries and Karen Weatherley 5 and 3.
SINGLES
McElroy v Harries. Ireland 3 up after 10.
Pauline Walsh v Thomas. All square after 10.
Wickham v Rees. Wales 1 up after 9.
Doran v Lewis. Ireland 2 up after 8.
Jones v Richards. Ireland 2 up after 8.

LATEST NEWS: PLAY SUSPENDED FOR THE DAY BETWEEN 4 and 4.30pm.
SEA MIST HALTS PLAY AT TRAMORE:

SINGLES RESUMED ON FRIDAY MORNING

NO FOURSOMES IN DAY 3 PROGRAMME

Sea mist forced the suspension of play just after 4pm on Day 2 of the Senior Women's Home Internationals at Tramore Golf Club in southeast Ireland.
Play will restart at 9.15am on Thursday from the positions the players are at in their singles matches.
The foursomes will be dropped from the Day 3 programme which will be truncated to seven singles ties between England v Ireland and Wales v Scotland.
When play was halted today, this was the position in all the singles ties:

SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
England won foursomes 3-0.
SINGLES
England up in three games, down in one and all square in the other.

IRELAND v WALES
Ireland won the foursomes 2-1
SINGLES
Ireland up in three games, down in one and all square in the other.

LATEST FROM THE SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

Tournament Director Gillian Roy reports from Tramore Golf Club that it is another foggy, drizzly day in southeast Ireland.
They should have played them in Scotland where ANOTHER summer-like day is forecast! In fact they will be played in Scotland next year.
Make a note of the date: October 2 to 4 at Elie and Earlsferry Golf Club in Fife.
News from the Scotland camp - they played 8-0 winners England - is that Elaine Allison (Stirling), who had a good win in the singles against Ireland, has taken the place of Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) in this morning's first foursome off the tee.
Alex has pulled out due to illness.
Rain forecast for the last day of the SWHI at Tranmore.

LIVE SCORING FROM THE SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW THE SCOTS ARE DOING IN TRAMORE, IRELAND

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Scotland lose to Ireland in the Senior Home Internationals

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE!  They'll have to be when they face up to an England team that thrashed Wales 8-0 on the first day of the Senior Women's Home Internationals while Scotland were a bit unlucky to go down 5-3 to Ireland. It might well have been 4-4 on a different day. Image by courtesy of LGU Tournament Director Gillian Roy.
On the First Tee - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan
Fog suspends play on Day 1 - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan
SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Tramore GC, Ireland.
FIRST DAY
IRELAND 5, SCOTLAND 3
Foursomes - Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham bt Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne 5 and 3, Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara lost to Heather Anderson and May Hughes 3 and 2, Pat Doran and Helen Jones bt Mary Smith and Alex Glennie 3 and 2 (2-1).
Singles - McElroy bt Anderson 3 and 2, Wickham lost to Bennett 5 and 4, Pauline Walsh lost to Elaine Allison 3 and 2, Doran bt Glennie 9 and 7, Jones bt Smith 1 hole.
WALES 0, ENGLAND 8
Foursomes - Vikki Thomas and Jane Rees lost to Sue Dye and Caroline Marron 3 and 1, Christine Harries and Janet Doleman lost to Christien Quinn and Bev New 7 and 6, Ann Lewis and Denise Richards lost to Felicity Christine and Janet Melville 2 and 1 (3-0).
Singles - Harries lost to Quinn 1 hole, Karen Weatherley lost to New 3 and 2, Lewis lost to Rozalyn Adams 2 and 1, Rees lost to Dye 4 and 2, Thomas lost to Christine 2 and 1.
THURSDAY MATCHES
Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
In the Ireland v Scotland singles, Sheena McElroy won the lead-off tie for Ireland, beating Heather Anderson 3 and 2.
McElroy won three of the first four holes and was two up at the turn. The first three holes of the inward half were halved before the Irish player went three up at the 13th. Three halves ended the match in her favour.
Lorna Bennett put Scotland’s first singles point on the board by beating Carol Wickham 5 and 4. Lorna established an edge on the outward half, standing two up after seven, having won the first, second, fourth and seventh against losses at the third and sixth. Three halved holes from the eighth to the 10th were followed by Bennett surging clear for victory.
The Scot went three up at the 11th and fourth up at the 12th before finishing off the tie by winning the 14th.
Scotland’s Elaine Allison made it 2-2 in the singles by beating Pauline Walsh 3 and 2. Alison dominated the outward half, not losing a hole and winning the third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth to be five up at the turn.
Walsh made a strong comeback to win the 10th and 12th, followed by the 14th and 15th after Allison had regained a four-hole lead at the 13th. Allison stopped the rot by winning the 16th for victory.
Ireland’s Pat Doran was a 9 and 7 winner over Alex Glennie who did not win a hole. Doran won seven and halved the other two on her way to a seven-hole lead at the turn. The Irish player finished the match by winning the 10th and 11th.
Mary Smith carried Scotland’s hopes of salvaging a draw if she could overturn a two-hole deficit at the turn against Helen Jones, one of Ireland’s top players - easier said than done. Jones doubled her lead by winning the 10th and 12th.but then Smith made a late charge. She won the 13th, 15th and 16th to slash her opponent’s lead to only one hole but halves at the 17th and 18th in pars saw Jones home by one hole.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

ALISON NICHOLAS STEPS DOWN FROM BEING SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO SEE THIS MORNINGS BBC NEWS INTERVIEW VIDEO


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/15073366.stm

news.bbc.co.uk
Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas is looking forward to a rest after epic win.

Scottish Senior's Home International start tomorrow --


Captains of the team in the Senior Women's Home Internationals which tee off at Tramore Golf Club, near Waterford in southeast Ireland tomorrow.Left to right:Ireland's Roma English, Scotland's Helen Faulds, Wales' Jean O'Connor and England's Hilary Smyth.Picture by Gillian Roy, LGU Tournament Director at Tramore.

THE MATCHES:
Three foursomes each morning; five afternoon singles.
WEDNESDAY - Wales v England, Ireland v Scotland
THURSDAY - Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
FRIDAY - England v ireland, Wales v Scotland.

FIRST MORNING FOURSOMES LINE-UP

WALES v ENGLAND
8.30 Vicki Thomas and Jane Rees versus Susan Dye and Caroline Marron.
8:40 Christine Harries and Janet Doleman v Christine Quinn and Bev New
8:50 Ann Lewis and Denise Richards v Felicity Christine and Janet Melville.

IRELAND v SCOTLAND
9:00 Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham v Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne.
9:10 Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara v Heather Anderson and May Hughes. -
9:20 Pat Doran and Helen Jones v Mary Smith and Alex Glennie.

Monday 26 September 2011

2011 Senior Ladies' Home International Matches begin on Wednesday

The 9th Senior Ladies’ Home International Matches will be played at one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland, Tramore (founded in 1894), from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 September.

The SHI matches were not introduced to the Ladies Golf Union programme of events until 2003 and this will be the third time that Ireland has hosted them. England won at Kilkeel in 2004 and at Royal Tara in 2007.
In fact, England won the first five series of senior home internationals.
Wales ended the monopoly by winning the title at Little Aston in 2008 and Scotland followed suit in 2009. But England resumed their winning ways at Sheringham last year when they were crowned senior champions for a sixth time in eight years.

Scotland won the European senior Ladies’ team title last year and, on their day, can beat anyone. Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) and Mary Smith (Tain), who all played in the Senior British championship a couple of weeks ago are their key players.
Matches:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 28 – Wales v England, Ireland v Scotland.
THURSDAY, SEPT 29 – Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
FRIDAY, SEPT 30 – England v Ireland, Wales v Scotland.

Last year’s results at Sheringham:
Scotland 4, Wales 4; England 7, Ireland 1.
Ireland 4, Wales 4; England 6 ½, Scotland 1 ½.
Ireland 5, Scotland 3; England 5 ½. Wales 3 ½.

How they finished:
1st England 3pt; 2nd Ireland 1 ½ pt; 3rd Wales 1pt; 4th Scotland ½ pt.

Previous Senior Ladies’ Home International Champions

2003 ENGLAND (at Whittingham Heath).
2004 ENGLAND (at Kilkeel).
2005 ENGLAND (at Radyr, Cardiff)
2006 ENGLAND (at Hamilton).
2007 ENGLAND (at Royal Tara).
2008 WALES (at Little Aston).
2009 SCOTLAND (at Newport).
2010 ENGLAND (at Sheringham).

STRATHCLYDE LEAGUE 2011 END OF SEASON RESULTS - DRUMPELLIER GC ARE THE WINNERS

Drumpellier Golf Club are the 2011 winners of the Strathclyde League with Mount Ellon being to Runners Up.
Langlands are winners of the 2nd Division and are promoted the Division 1 with Airdrie being the Runners Up.
Click Here to see all the results

THANKS GO TO Joan Scott (Secretary and Treasurer of the Strathclyde Ladies Golf League) for all the results

Sunday 25 September 2011

PAISLEY DAUGHTER AND FATHER BEST SCORE AT SLGA ADULT-GIRL

The SLGA Daughter and Parent Winners - Click to enlarge - Courtesy of Dawn Butcher
FROM DAWN BUTCHART
The results from the SLGA Adult and Girl foursomes today at Auchterarder are as follows:
Overall winners:
Emma Kennedy and Iain Kennedy (Paisley) 39 points (daughter-father).
Cat One (HCP 0-11)
Alexandra and Khalid Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 34 points (daughter and father)
Catherine and Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie) 33 points (daughter and mother).

Cat two (HCP 12-18)
Kirsten and John Brown (Torrance House) 37 points (daughter and father)
Beth and Thomas Donoghue (Alloa/Brucefields) 35 points (daughter and father).

Cat three (HCP 19-36)
Fiona and John Rattray (Douglas Park) 36 points (daughter and father)
Caitlin and Douglas Turner (Swanston / Baberton) 35 points (daughter and father).

Cat Four pre - handicap girls
Sophie Meek and Chris Healy (Carnoustie Ladies) 31 points (unrelated)
Lisa McPherson and Douglas Hunter (Baberton) 27 points (assume unrelated)
Eilidh and Euan Henderson (Kirkcaldy) 26 points (daughter and father). This wee girl is only seven years of age!

CATRIONA BEATS PAULA AND EUROPE WIN SOLHEIM CUP 15-13

The Winning European Team
Scotland's Catriona Matthew after her 6 and 5 win


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
Report by Bethan Cutler, LET Media ManagerDunsany, Co Meath, Ireland: Stunning, dramatic and, finally, a day of celebration for the European team at The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland.
Following rain delays, lightning threats and the shock withdrawal of Cristie Kerr due to injury before the start of her match, Europe finally regained the Solheim Cup in thrilling fashion with the narrowest of 15-13 victories over the United States.
It all came down to the last three singles matches and a dramatic final half hour. The scoreboard was favouring the USA, but the pendulum swung firmly in Europe’s favour.
Azahara Munoz had the honour of clinching the vital point in the final match with a one hole win over Angela Stanford.
In the second last singles, Caroline Hedwall, two down two to play against Ryann O’Toole, won the last two holes for a vital half point.
Suzann Pettersen had started the great fightback. One down with three to play against Michelle Wie, she pulled out a final-hole win.
The world No.2 birdied the final three holes, holing from eight feet at the last. It was a first ever Solheim singles win for the 30-year-old Norwegian, and the perfect time to achieve it.
For Alison Nicholas’s European team the 7-5 singles score meant it was a fourth win from 12 contests, and they will go to Colorado Golf Club in two years’ time hoping to win in the USA for a first time.
Tied 8-all overnight, Europe received an early free point when Cristie Kerr was forced to withdraw from the final singles against Karen Stupples with an injured wrist.
Out on the course, Catriona Matthew gave Europe a great lead with a 6 and 5 victory over the USA talisman, Paula Creamer, in the top singles and Sophie Gustafson added a second point for the home side with a final green win over Stacy Lewis.
For Gustafson, it was four wins out of four and she was Europe’s top point scorer. Matthew was also unbeaten and contributed a healthy three points.
Brittany Lang claimed the first point for the USA with a 6 and 5 margin over Sandra Gal and Morgan Pressel made sure of four wins for her USA side with a great comeback against Anna Nordqvist.
The American was two down after eight holes but, following a short rain delay, she came back and won five holes in a row and went on to win by 2 and 1.
The much-awaited singles between 51-year-old Juli Inkster, the oldest ever Solheim player, and 47-year-old Laura Davies, the only one to play in all 12 contests, came down to the last hole.
Davies, with the backing of the majority of the 28,000 final day audience, was one up playing the par four 18th and both players bunkered their second shots.
But Inkster nearly holed her third from 30 yards, while the English woman failed to make a ten foot par putt. The match ended all square and it was a half point for the visitors.
Christina Kim comfortably defeated Maria Hjorth before two rookies both finally won their first Solheim Cup points. American Vicky Hurst beat Melissa Reid by two holes and Europe’s Christel Boeljon overcame Brittany Lincicome by the same margin.
With the score tied at 12 ½- 12 ½ it was then left for Europe’s final trio to compete the drama: and what a finale it was!

DAY THREE RESULTS

SCORE AFTER TWO DAYS: Europe 8, United States 8

FINAL SINGLES (Europe 7, United States 5).
Catriona Matthew beat Paula Creamer by 6 and 5
Sophie Gustafson beat Stacy Lewis by 2 holes
Anna Nordqvist lost to Morgan Pressel by 2 and 1
Laura Davies halved with Juli Inkster
Melissa Reid lost to Vicky Hurst by 2 holes
Christel Boeljon beat Brittany Lincicome by 2 holes
Sandra Gal lost to Brittany Lang by 6 and 5
Maria Hjorth lost to Christina Kim by 4 and 2
Suzann Pettersen beat Michelle Wie by 1 hole
Caroline Hedwall halved with Ryann O’Toole
Azahara Muñoz beat Angela Stanford by 1 hole
Karen Stupples w.o. over Cristie Kerr scr (injured)
The 2011 Solheim Cup --
LAST DAY SINGLES
http://www.solheimcup.com/live_scoring.php?s=5

Saturday 24 September 2011

Solheim Cup Day 2 -- Europeans 8 USA 8

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CUTLER, L E T Media Manager
It's all to play for on Sunday on the last day of the Solheim Cup with the scoreline tied up at European 8, United States 8 at Killeen Castle, Co Meath in Ireland.
Europe skipper Alison Nicholas, pictured, had expressed her fears that "America would fight back as usual" after Europe had gone 2pt ahead at the end of the Saturday morning session of foursomes.
As the afternoon four-ball matches streamed red instead of blue, her worst fears were realised as the Americans wiped out their two-point deficit to tie the Solheim Cup at 8-8 with Sunday's 12 singles to go.
Having trailed 5-7 after losing the morning foursomes 1 ½ -2 1/2, US skipper Rosie Jones found her stars and they earned their stripes to head into Sunday's singles in buoyant mood.
Laura Davies and Mel Reid beat Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie 4 and 3 in the lead-off match this afternoon but thereafter the rest of Europe fell as the Americans hit back.
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall narrowly went down by one hole to Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr, while rookie debutants Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost 2 and 1 to Stacey Lewis and Ryann O'Toole.
Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome edged out Azahara Munoz and Maria Horth 3 and 1.
This is the third time in the last four Solheim Cups (2005 and 2009) that the end-of-day-two score was or is 8-8.
Europe has won the singles three times and on two of those occasions they won The Solheim Cup, in 1992 and 2003. Europe won the singles in 1998 but lost the match 16-12.
Team skipper Nicholas knows it's going to be one hell of a final day battle ahead, but she refused to write off her side's chances despite America's superiority in the history of the singles.
"We needed more points this afternoon but we should never look back, only forwards," said Nicholas. "I know my girls are up for it and we're going to be doing everything we can to win this cup."
Pettersen was visibly disappointed to have lost on 18, given that she and Hedwall had fought so hard to get level. Brilliant birdies on 15 from the Swede and a monster 25 footer on the par 3 16th from the Norwegian ultimately counted for little as Pressel birdied 17 to give the USA the slender advantage they held onto in the second match.
"It was another tough tight match and we played well, so we're very disappointed to lose. We gave ourselves a chance with those birdies but I can tell you that all of us believe in ourselves and our chances in the singles. We will be ready," said Pettersen.
Earlier on, Laura Davies set a new Solheim Cup points record as she and Mel Reid did their best to set Europe on the right road.
The only player to compete in all 12 Solheim Cups, 47-year-old Davies was relieved as well as delighted to reach the 24 ½ points she needed to overtake Annika Sorenstam as the event’s all-time record points’ scorer.
I’ve played in every match,” said Davies.
"So it’s great to have made it. It’s cleared the pressure and now I can relax a bit more without that extra edge in the singles."
With four birdies in a row from the third, Davies’ all-English side was four up at the turn. Reid then made her own contribution with an eight foot eagle putt at the long 12th.
For the 24-year-old rookie, who had suffered two heartbreaking final green defeats on day one, it was her first Solheim point.
Earlier in the day, it was a clean sweep for the Swedes as Europe snatched a 2 ½ - 1 ½ victory in the second day foursomes and moved two points ahead in the bid to regain The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland.
Needing 14 ½ points for victory, the Europeans led 7-5 and Alison Nicholas’s team were in buoyant mood.
It’s been a dream Solheim debut for Caroline Hedwall, the ‘baby’ of the European team and a three-time winner in her first year as a professional.
She partnered Sophie Gustafson to a 5 and 4 win in the Friday fourballs and the Swedish duo again hit form to trounce Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford 6 and 5 in the top foursome.
“It’s so exciting, it’s unbelievable,” said 22-year-old Hedwall, who has her twin sister, Jacqueline, as her caddie. “Sophie is so confident and calm and that makes me the same and she is so easy to play with.”
Jacqueline managed to get time off from her studies at Louisiana State University to be part of the European set-up this week – she intends trying to qualify for the Ladies’ European Tour at the 2012 qualifying school.
“I love to caddie for my sister, especially this week,” she said. “The atmosphere and the fans are just awesome.”
And Sophie Gustafson, given a rest in the fourballs as she has a niggling knee injury, added: "In my first Solheim Cup as a rookie I lost 7 and 5, so I was working my ass off to make sure I erased that record! The putt to do that on 13 was just short but 6 and 5 is a great win and Caroline played very well."
In the third match, another all-Swedish partnership of Anna Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth beat Brittany Lang and Juli Inkster 3 and 2.
Europe’s half point came in a thrilling bottom match. One down playing the last, Catriona Matthew and Azahara Munoz won the hole when Cristie Kerr bunkered the American’s approach shot and then failed to make the seven foot par putt.
Aza Munoz was also delighted with the crowds supporting her and Matthew on the last - and she gave them something to cheer when she held her nerve to hole out from four feet to earn a vital half.
"I was just thinking I couldn't let Catriona down. We had been fighting so hard all day. I just said I've hit a million balls like this, so I just focused and I hit it.
Matthew said: "You feel a tremendous amount of pressure. It was kind of close all day, and we wanted to get the half a point so we could win that series. We hit some really good shots at some key holes."
(Catriona was rested from the Saturday afternoon session).
Karen Stupples and Christel Beoljon went down to the Americans Ryann O'Toole and Morgan Pressel 3 and 2 and was unhappy with the USA fans goading and laughing when her Dutch debutant partner left a bunker shot on 16 in the trap.
It was the Englishwoman's second foursomes defeat, having lost with Mel Reid on day one, and she was rested ahead of the singles match "she is doubly determined to win."
And when asked if being paired with rookies in each of her matches added a bit more burden, she said: "A little bit, but you know what, I'm happy to take that ball and take that putt. It's what it is. If it means that everybody else can see that Europe will win the session and win the point, that's what we're all about."
They did just that, to the joy of Captain Ali Nicholas. "It's been another great foursomes for us - just fantastic to win the session again. Sophie and Caroline got us off to a great start, they played awesome golf, while Anna and Maria got their point at just the right time, straight after Karen and Christel lost and the Americans were getting louder.
"But that stopped them and what more can I say about Aza and Catriona. That was a gutsy, brilliant half and it was vital for us. We wanted to win the session and to do it again means I'm very proud and pleased of the girls. It set us up for our four-balls nicely."

SATURDAY SCOREBOARD
DAY ONE RESULTS – Europe 4 1/2, United States 3 1/2.

DAY TWO RESULTS – Europe 3 1/2, United States 4 1/2

OVERALL SCORE AFTER TWO DAYS: EUROPE 8, UNITED STATES 8
Foursomes (Europe 2 1/2, US 1 1/2)
(Europe names first)
Caroline Hedwall and Sophie Gustafson bt Angela Stanford and Stacy Lewis 6 and 5
Karen Stupples and Christel Boeljon lost to Morgan Pressel and Ryann O’Toole 3 and 2
Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist bt Brittany Lang and Juki Inkster 3 and 2
Catriona Matthew and Azahara Muñoz halved with Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer
Four-balls (Europe 1, US 3)
Laura Davies and Melissa Reid bt Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie by 4 and 3
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall lost to Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr one hole
Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost to Stacy Lewis and Ryann O’Toole 2 and 1
Maria Hjorth and Azahara Muñoz lost to Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome 3 and 1

SUNDAY SINGLES THAT WILL DECIDE WHO WINS THE SOLHEIM CUP

10:10 Catriona Matthew v Paula Creamer
10:20 Sophie Gustafson v Stacy Lewis
10:30 Anna Nordqvist v Morgan Pressel
10:40 Laura Davies v Juli Inkster
10:50 Melissa Reid v Vicky Hurst
11:00 Christel Boeljon v Brittany Lincicome
11:10 Sandra Gal v Brittany Lang
11:20 Maria Hjorth v Christina Kim
11:30 Suzann Pettersen v Michelle Wie
11:40 Caroline Hedwall v Ryann O’Toole
11:50 Azahara Muñoz v Angela Stanford
12:00 Karen Stupples v Cristie Kerr

Friday 23 September 2011

Europe leads U.S. by a point at Solheim

From the Golf Channel

DUNSANY, Ireland – Europe survived a spirited fightback by the United States in the fourballs to lead, 4 1/2 - 3 1/2, after the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle.

With the sides level at 2-2 following the morning foursomes, rookie Caroline Hedwall and fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson put Europe 3-2 ahead with a 5-and-4 win over Vicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicome.

Europe were up in the other three matches at that stage but Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer came back from 1 down with two to play to beat Europe’s Laura Davies and Melissa Reid by one hole with Pressel holing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th for the win.

Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal were 2 up with three to play against Christina Kim and Ryann O’Toole. But the Americans salvaged a halved match when Kim birdied the 16th and O’Toole birdied the 17th to level before the 18th was shared at par.

Europe held on to win the fourball session, 2 1/2 -1 1/2, when Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist, who where three up at the turn, won the 18th to beat Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie by two holes.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Susan gets into the Solheim Spirit.



Susan Wood gets into the act at the Solheim Cup where Jenny Potter and Susan have won the Solheim Chant. Here she is chatting to Anika Sorestam

STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN PAIR WIN COMMONWEALTH SPOONS

Leading prizewinners at the SLGA Commonwealth Spoons foursomes Grand Final
(image by courtesy of Fiona Cowan of SLGA).
Winners of the SLGA Commonwealth Spoons foursomes Grand Final
Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane
(image by courtesy of Fiona Cowan of SLGA).
From Colin Farquharson

Stirling and Clackmannan's Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane won the SLGA's Commonwealth Spoons foursomes grand final at Forres Golf Club today.
In windy, sometimes wet conditions, they headed a field of 45 pairs who qualified through their counties' competitions.
Mhairi and Margaret had a net score of 73 off eight and won by the narrowest of margins - half-a-shot - from Dawn Butchart and Emily Ogilvy (Perth and Kinross) (3.5) and Fiona Ford and Barbara McGregor (Midlothian) (15.5). Dawn and Emily were placed second with the better inward half.
Fife's Irene Morrison and Janet Thompson, playing off 13, finished fourth with a net 74 while Barbara Duguid and Pat Forsyth (Midlothian) came fifth with a net score of 75.5 (better inward half) off 17.5.

SLGA COMMONWEALTH SPOONS GRAND FINAL
Forres Golf Club
Leading net scores
Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane (Stirling and Clackmannan) (8) 73; Dawn Butchart and Emily Ogilvy (Perth and Kinross) (3.5) (better inward half), Fiona Ford and Barbara McGregor (Midlothian) (15.5) 73.5; Irene Morrison and Janet Thompson (Fife) (13) 74; Barbara Duguid and Pat Forsyth (Midlothian) (17.5) 75.5 (better inward half).

Lanarkshire's Susan Wood and Jenny Potter have won the Solheim Cup Chant Competition



This is the song that Lanarkshire County Team Players Jenny Potter and Susan Wood have won for the Solheim Cup Song competition.
Watch the Solheim Cup on TV and you may see them

Wednesday 21 September 2011

The Scottish Vets Captain is Helen Faulds and News from the Scottish Vets Jamboree

Blairgowrie Golf Club was a very busy place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this week as 120 Vets from all over Scotland arrived to play in their annual competitions. Weather was kind to us again this year and the courses were in very good condition.
The Championship played on the Lansdowne Course featured the divisional champions in a knockout competition and Pat Hutton (Lanark)  the West Vets Champion, lost in the to Linda Dyball (Midlands) in the quarter finals. Noreen Fenton the East Vets Champion won the title to add to her Scottish Seniors Championship title earlier this year.
Carol Fell and Helen Faulds - Click to enlarge

The Scottish Vet's Greensomes was played over the Lansdowne Course on Tuesday and  Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) and Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)  retained the Tony Moffat Memorial Trophy for the best Scratch  Score of 78 (3 over the SSS OF 75) and the Beddows Quaich for 1st handicap 78-7-71 that they had won in 2010.
Sally Coster SVLGA Vice president  from Hilton Park chaired the AGM due to President Jean Thomas being unwell and  Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) took over from Pam Williamson as the new Scottish Vets Captain. She thanked Pam for all her hard work over the years (see video at end).  East Vet Noreen Fenton was appointed the Scottish Vets Vice Captain

Pam Williamson pins on the Captain's Badge of Office to Helen Faulds
Noreen Fenton (SLVGA Vice Captain) and Helen Faulds (SLVGA Captain) - Click to enlarge



To read the full report go to the West Vets Website.

Monday 19 September 2011

EAST VET NOREEN FENTON WINS SCOTTISH VETERANS' CHAMPIONSHIP


Dunbar's Noreen Fenton, (pictured left) is the 2011 Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association Champion.
Having qualified as winner of the East vets' title, Noreen beat the North champion, over-50s "rookie" Linda Urquhart (Banchory), by 2 and 1 in this afternoon's final over the Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie.
In this morning's semi-finals, Linda Urquhart beat Pitreavie's Linda Dyball (Midland) by 5 and 3 and Noreen Fenton beat Val McKean (Borders) by 4 and 2.

Many Congratulations go to Noreen who has completed the double this year by winning both the Scottish Seniors Championship at Dunskey Portpatrick earlier in the season and now the Scottish Vets championship. - What a fantastic achievement

Sunday 18 September 2011

Hilton Park Golf Club are the Winners of the Patrick Trophy and the Harper Kennedy Trophy

Hilton Park - Winners of the Patrick Trophy and Harper Kennedy League
Hilton Park has won the Patrick Trophy. They joined the league in 1995 and have won the league 13 times in the 17 years since joining. Other clubs in league are Cawder, Bishopbriggs, Douglas Park, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie and Hayston.

They also won the Harper Kennedy League for the first time since 2002. Other clubs in league are Dunblane, Stirling, Glenbervie, Buchanan Castle, Balmore and Helensburgh.

They have finished 3rd in Division 2 of the Greenlees League and 4th in the Allander League.

Thanks go to Aileen Baker for the the report

Midlothian win the 2011 County Finals at Dumfries and Ayrshire are Runners Up

Ayrshire County are Runners Up
Midlothian, title-winners in 2007 but pipped on a countback in 2009 and 2010 for the Scottish women's county championship, finally prevailed on a three-way countback in the closest finish for years to the tournament hosted by Dumfries and County Golf Club.
Midlothian, Ayrshire and Dumfries-shire all finished with two wins and one defeat while Perth and Kinross lost all three of their matches.
Because rain caused a long suspension of play on Saturday, there was no time to play the Day 2 singles until Sunday morning. That forced the SLGA organisers to rule that the final matches - Ayrshire v Perth and Kinross, and Dumfries-shire v Midlothian - would be decided on six singles alone, instead of the usual foursomes-singles format.
Midlothian went into the final session of play with a 100 per cent record but they lost 4-2 to Dumfries-shire in their singles-only clash. Midlothian's Kate McIntosh, the SLGA junior champion of champions, put a point on the board for them very early on but at one stage Dumfries-shire led in all the other five singles with only a few holes to play.
If Dumfries-shire had manage to maintain that position and win the match 5-1, they would have won the championship for the first time. As it was, Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall, playing Nos 4 and 6 in the "batting order" were able to rally and halve their ties against Katie McCracken and Rachel Walker respectively.
Wendy Nicholson and Kate McIntosh were Midlothian's most successful players over the three days with 4pt apiece.
Emma Greenlees was tops for Dumfries-shire with 4pt.
Ayrshire won their last singles-only match 3 1/2-2 1/2 against Perth and Kinross. Here again, Ayrshire could have been champions for the first time since 1970 had they been able to beat P and K by a bigger margin.
Jenny Linklater won all five times for Ayrshire.


RESULTS:

PERTH and KINROSS 2 1/2, MIDLOTHIAN 6 1/2
Foursomes (0-3)
Laura Walker and Eilidh Watson lost to Karen Marshall and Wendy Nicholson 2 and 1.
Stephen Crolla and Nicola Robertson lost to Kate McIntosh and Linda Bain 2 holes.
Nicola Robertson halved with Sally Shepherd.
Jill Milne and Eve Macdonad lost to Gabrielle Macdonald and Kirsten Blackwood 5 and 4.
Singles (2 1/2-3 1/2)
Walker lost to Turner 4 and 2.
Fiona Ramsay lost to McIntosh 3 and 2.
Crolla halved with Nicholson.
Robertson halved halved with Shepherd.
Watson bt Bain 5 and 4.
Milne halved with Macdonald

DUMFRIES-SHIRE 2 1/2, AYRSHIRE 6 1/2
Foursomes (1/2-2 1/2)
Jordana Graham and Emma Greenlees lost to Lesley Hendry and Jenny Linklater 3 and 2.
Diane Macdonald and Lindsay Kirkwood halved with Gillian Arnott and Debbie Watt.
Rachel Walker and Katie McCracken lost to Connie Jaffrey and Audrey Thompson 7 and 5.
Singles (2-4)
Macdonald beat Jaffrey 6 and 4.
Graham lost to Linlater 5 and 4.
Greenlees beat Watt 2 and 1.
McCracken lost to Gillian Arnott 4 and 3.
Kirkwood lost to Hendry 5 and 3.
Walker lost to Thompson 2 holes

FINAL MATCHES DECIDED ON SINGLES ONLY:

AYRSHIRE 3 1/2, PERTH and KINROSS 2 1/2
Catherine Malcolm lost to Jill Milne 3 and 2.
Jenny Linklater beat Fiona Ramsay 4 and 3.
Gillian Arnott halved with Steph Crolla.
Lesley Hendry beat Nicola Robertson 4 and 3.
Audrey Thompson lost to Eilidh Watson 4 and 3.
Connie Jaffrey beat Emily Ogilvy 2 holes.

DUMFRIES-SHIRE 4, MIDLOTHIAN 2
Diane Macdonald bt Jane Turner 2 and 1.
Jordana Graham lost to Kate McIntosh 5 and 3.
Lindsay Kirkwood beat Gabrielle Macdonald 3 and 2.
Katie McCracken halved with Wendy Nicholson.
Emma Greenlees beat Kirsten Blackwood 3 and 2.
Rachel Walker halved with Karen Marshall.

HOW THEY FINISHED
1 Midlothian 2 pt (14 1/2-9 1/2)
2 Ayrshire 2pt (13-11), Dumfries-shire 2pt (13-11)
4 Perth and Kinross 0pt (7 1/2-16 1/2)

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Saturday 17 September 2011

Greenlees League 2011 is almost complete

The 2011 Greenlees fixtures are almost complete. I hope all the teams have enjoyed their matches although the weather has caused a bit of disruption with some of the fixtures. Greenock have been particularly unfortunate in the latter half of the season and have still to play 3 matches. There are 9 matches in all still to be played, 2 in Division1, 3 in Division 2 and 4 in Division 3.
 I hope the teams involved have more luck with the weather than in recent weeks.

Division 1, has once more been a very closely run affair, and the Greenlees Trophy will be decided with the very last fixture to be played between Cathkin Braes and Prestwick St. Nicholas.
Cathkin Braes need 9 points to draw level with Milngavie who have completed their matches with 46.5 points.  --- A big ask!  ---   Good luck!  In 2009 and 2010 the Trophy was won by Milngavie,  - 2009 by half a point and last year by l point. Troon have one more match to play and they are still in a position to catch Cathkin Braes and finish 2nd to Milngavie and win the runner up Trophy. All very exciting.

Division 2 has been won by West Kilbride with a great total of 50 points, Largs second with 47.5.


Division 3 has been won by Loudoun Gowf with a amazing total of 54 points. Second place behind Loudoun Gowf has still to be finalised. Well done to both those teams and a very big congratulations to Loudoun Gowf who joined the Greenlees league this season and find themselves already a Division winner.

The Greenlees Lunch and presentation of Trophies takes place on 26th October at Whitecraigs GC and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Looking to see all the Greenlees Results -- Click on the LINK ON THE RHS that says Greenlees Results and Totals


Fiona

Hailstorm at County Finals in Dumfries cuts short the 2nd Day's Play


Thanks go to Jane Turner for the photograph.
From the SLGA Website

Day 2 of the Scottish County Finals at Dumfries & County Golf Club saw Perth & Kinross take on Midlothian and Dumfriesshire cut short due to the weather.

Play got back underway at 3:20pm having been suspended for two hours and 30 minutes following torrential rain and hail showers.  The foursomes games between Perth & Kinross and Midlothian had been completed with Midlothian taking a three nil lead.  All three foursomes games in the second match between Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire were still on the course, although Ayrshire quickly finished the 1st and 3rd matches, winning them 3&2 and 7&5 respectively.  The second match resumed on the 12th green with Diane Macdonald and Lindsay Kirkwood two up for Dumfriesshire, however they were quickly brought back to all square by Gillian Arnott and Debbie Watt.  After a half in birdie 3's at the 17th, Ayrshire looked favourites to win the tie when Debbie Watt found the 18th green in two with her wood approach.  Dumfriesshire had left their second shot 20 yards short of the green, however Lindsay Kirkwood pitched to 8 feet and Diane Macdonald duely holed the testing par putt to half the hole and the match.  Ayrshire will take a 2.5 - 0.5 lead into the singles matches.

The six singles games from the round two matches will now be played tomorrow morning teeing off from 8:30am (Sunday 18 September) while the round three matches between Ayrshire and Perth & Kinross and between Dumfriesshire and Midlothian will be contested over 6 singles games tomorrow afternoon teeing off from 1.45pm.


MIDLOTHIAN lead PERTH and KINROSS 3-0
Karen Marshall and Wendy Nicholson beat Laura Walker and Eilidh Watson 2 and 1.
Kate McIntosh and Linda Bain beat Steph Crolla and Nicola Robertson 2 holes.
Gabrielle Macdonald and Kirsten Blackwood bt Jill Milne and Eve Muirhead 5 and 4.
AYRSHIRE lead DUMFRIES-SHIRE 2 1/2- 1/2
Lesley Hendry and Jenny Linklater beat Jordana Graham and Emma Greenlees 3 and 2.
Gillian Arnott and Debbie Watt halved with Diane Macdonald and Lindsay Kirkwood.
Connie Jaffrey and Audrey Thompson beat Rachel Walker and Katie McCracken 7 and 5.

Friday 16 September 2011

Scotland's Lynn Kenny and Carly Booth make the cut in Spain

Tania Elósegui opened up a four-stroke lead over Beth Allen and Lee-Anne Pace on day two of the Open de España at La Quinta Golf Resort in Benahavis, Spain
SCOTSWATCH: Lynn Kenny and Carly Booth were the only Scots to survive the cut in
SECOND-ROUND LEADING TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
133 - Tania Elosegui (ESP) 68 65
137 - Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 68 69 , Beth Allen (USA) 69 68
138 - Stacey Keating (AUS) 69 69
139 - Becky Brewerton (WAL) 67 72
Scots who qualified;
144 -  Lynn Kenny (SCO) 71 73 ,
149 - Carly Booth (SCO) 76 73
SCOTS THAT MISSED THE CUT
151 - Vikki Laing (SCO) 82 69, Kylie Walker (SCO) 75 76
152 - Clare Queen (SCO) 78 74
154 - Heather MacRae (SCO) 78 76 ,
Pamela Feggans (SCO) 86 RTD

Ayrshire lose to Midlothians on Day 1 of the County Finals

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Midlothian made light of the absence of international player Rachael Watton, now at Denver University, and the unavailability of another to squad members, to make a flying start to this weekend's Scottish women's county championship finals at Dumfries and County Golf Club.
Winners of the title in 2007 and runners-up in 2009 and 2010, it was felt that Midlothian might struggle to go chalk up a second championship win in five years. How wrong can you be!
Midlothian took the foursomes 2-1 from Ayrshire, the West Division champions, and then the singles 4-2 with wins by Kate McIntosh, Wendy Nicholson, Gabrielle Macdonald and current international Jane Turner.
Nicholson, Turner and Macdonald had also been successful in the foursomes.
Ayrshire last won the county finals in 1970.
South Division champions Dumfries-shire scored a very good opening 6 1/2-2 1/2 win over North Division qualifiers Perth and Kinross in the opening day's other match. The Doonhamers took the foursomes 2-1 which would have been 3-0 but for a last-green win by P and K's third pairing, world-class curler Eve Muirhead and Jill Milne.
If P and K thought they could still turn their fortunes around in the singles, Dumfries-shire had other ideas. The home county's Jordana Graham beat former Scottish girls champion Laura Walker in the top singles and there were other wins for Katie McCracken, Emma Greenlees and Rachel Walker.
Graham, Greenlees and Rachel Walker had also won in the foursomes.
Dumfries-shire have never won the national title. Could this be their year at last? Their clash with Midlothian on Sunday could provide the answer to that question
Saturday's ties are: Midlothian v Perth and Kinross, Dumfries-shire v Ayrshire.


SCOTTISH WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Dumfries and County Golf Club.

MIDLOTHIAN 6, AYRSHIRE 3
Foursomes (2-1)
Karen Marshall and Wendy Nicholson beat Cathering Malcolm and Debbie Watt 3 and 2.
Sally Shepherd and Linda Bain lost to Lesley Hendery and Jenny Linklater 2 holes.
Jane Turner and Gabrielle Macdonald beat Audrey Thompson and Connie Jaffrey 2 holes.
Singles (4-2)
Marshall lost to Malcolm 2 holes.
Kate McIntosh beat Gillian Arnott 5 and 3.
Nicholson beat Lesley Arnott 3 and 1.
Kirsten Blackwood lost to Linklater 2 and 1
Macdonald beat Thompson 4 and 3.
Turner beat Jaffrey 2 and 1.

PERTH and KINROSS 2 1/2, DUMFRIES-SHIRE 6 1/2
Foursomes (1-2)
Emily Ogilvy and Fiona Ramsay lost to Jordana Graham and Emma Greenlees 1 hole.
Laura Walker and Eilidh Watson lost to Rachel Walker and Kate McCracken 2 holes.
Jill Milne and Eve Muirhead bt Diane Macdonald and Lindsey Kirkwood 1 hole.
Singles (1 1/2-4 1/2)
Laura Walker lost to Graham 1 hole.
Watson beat Macdonald 2 and 1.
Steph Crolla lost to McCracken 1 aand 1.
Nicola Robertson halved with Kirkwood.
Ramsay lost to Greenles 2 and 1.
Milne lost to Rachel Walker 4 and 3.

Thursday 15 September 2011

Scotland's Lynn Kenny has a good start in Spain

Becky Brewerton continued her sparkling run of form in Spain by taking the first round lead at the Open de España Femenino.

The Welsh 28-year-old shot a five under par 67 in warm and calm conditions on the opening morning at La Quinta Golf Resort in Marbella, Benahavis on the Costa del Sol.
Scotland's Lynn Kenny had a very good 71 and West of Scotland's Kyle Walker was the next best placed Scot on 75.
1 67(-5) Becky Brewerton (WAL)
2= 68(-4) Liebelei Elena Lawrence (LU) Lee-Anne Pace (SA) Tania Elosegui (ESP)
5= 69(-3)Stacey Keating (AUS) Beth Allen (USA)
7= 70(-2) Line Vedel (DEN) Frances Bondad (AUS)Carin Koch (SWE)
10= 71(-1) Lynn Kenny (SCO) Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) Caroline Hedwall (SWE) Diana Luna (ITA) Melissa Reid (ENG) Veronica Zorzi (ITA) Kristie Smith (AUS) Trish Johnson (ENG)
Louise Larsson (SWE) Caroline Westrup (SWE)
Other Scots:
59= 75(+3) Kylie Walker (SCO)
73= 76(+4) Carly Booth (SCO)
95= 78(+6) Heather MacRae (SCO) Clare Queen (SCO)
121= 82(+10 ) Vikki Laing (SCO)
126 86 (+14) Pamela Feggans (SCO)

Live Scoring from the British Seniors

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORING

TROON'S RACHAEL McQUEEN MAKES WINNING DEBUT IN AMERICA

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Rachael McQueen, a member of Troon Ladies Golf Club, has made a winning debut on the United States women's college golf circuit.
A freshman student at McLennan Community College, Waco in Texas, Rachael won the Lady Bulldog Fall Classic at Starke Park Golf Club, Segun in Texas with scores of 76 and 74 for a six-over-par total of 150.
Rachael won by a single shot from Charlotte Gibson (UC Santa Cruz) who had rounds of 77 and 74 for 151.
Rachael's splendid debut help McLennan CC win the team title by 15 shots from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in a field of 12 teams.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Equality Act ---- Please Help with some answers

Carol Whyte from Windyhill would like to ask some questions about  the adoption of the Equality Act and the implications for Lady Members. 
1) What category of membership did Ladies fit into prior to the adoption of the Equality Act? ---- Detail playing rights, voting rights and % gents fees.
2) What options were made available to Ladies upon the adoption of the Equality Act? ----  Detail playing rights, voting rights and fee options
3) If one category of membership was offered eg Full Membership.  What impact has this had on the ladies section
Please return details along with club name to c.ewhyte@btinternet.com
Thanks      Carol Whyte

Four Scots Qualify for the Final Round of the British Seniors in Belfast

Former women’s world amateur champion Maria de Orueta from Madrid , making her debut in the championship, leads the Senior Ladies British open amateur championship with one round to go at Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast.
The 50-year-old, who was 26 when she won the individual title at the women’s world championship (Espirito Santo Trophy) in Venezuela, has had rounds of 78 and 74 for a 36-hole tally of eight-over-par 152 on a day when the wind dropped, the rain was not so heavy or frequent – yet there was no significant improvement in the general standard of scoring.
The CSS was 75 (par is 72), the same as for the first round although it was "Reduction Only" on Tuesday but not so today.
A total of 41 players qualified for the final round with aggregates of 168 or better.
Leading Scot to qualify for the last round was Mary Smith from Tain.
Unfortunately West Vet Janice Paterson had 3 disaster holes today (12 shots dropped) to ruin her score and  did not qualify for the last round.

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL ROUND
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 5635 CSS 75 75.
152 Maria de Orueta (Spa) 78 74
154 Sue Dye ( Delamere Forest ) 77 77.
155 Felicity Christine ( Woking ) 78 77.
156 Vicki Thomas ( Carmarthen ) 79 77, Pat Doran (Donabate) 77 79
157 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 77 80.
158 Rocio Ruiz de Velasco (Spa) 83 75, Ruth Lindley ( Hartlepool ) 81 77, Caroline Marron (Bromborough) 80 78.
160 Helen Jones (Strabane) 83 77, Marleen Nijhof (Net) 83 77, Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest ) 80 80. Rozalyn Adams ( Addington Court Ladies) 80 80..
161 Mary Smith (Tain) 82 79, Christina Birke (Swe) 81 80, Minna Kaarnalahti (Fin) 80 81, Viveca Hoff (Swe) 80 81, Jane Rees (Hendon) 75 86..
162 Catalina Castillejo (Spa) 89 73, Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) 81 81, Violet McBride ( Belvoir Park ) 80 82.
163 Gertie McMullen (The Island ) 84 79, Ivy Steinberg (Can) 83 80, Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 81 82.
164 Lena Tornros (Swe) 86 78, Jean O’Connor ( Newport ) 85 79.
165 Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool) 86 79, Niamh Giblin ( Dun Laoghaire ) 85 80, Diane Williams (Can) 84 81, Bev New (Lansdown) 82 83.
166 Cristina Marsans (Spa) 84 82, Debbie Richards (Burhill) 82 84.
167 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 90 77, Marion Kaufmann (Ger) 85 82, Jeannie O’Keeffe (Hankley Common) 85 82, Metie Meyer (Den) 85 82, Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 84 83, Mimmi Guglielmone (Swi) 83 84, Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) 82 85
168 Birgitta Ljung (Swe) 88 80, Ginny Marshall (Can) 84 84.

SCOTS THAT MISSED THE CUT
170 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 82 88..
171 Anne Ryan (Tain) 85 86.
172 89 83, Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 89 83,
177 Barbara Biggart ( North Berwick ) 87 90.
184 Janice Paterson (Drumpelleir) 91 93.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Brutal Weather at the British Seniors in Belfast

London-based Welsh international Jane Rees is the first-round leader by two shots with a three-over-par 75 at the end of an opening day of high winds and periodic rain for the Senior Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship at the woodland course of Belvoir Park Golf Club in the southern suburbs of Belfast.

Eighty-eight players endured the day’s weather – described as “brutal” at times by some – and there was not a single No Return.
Best Scot at present is Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) with an 81 followed closely by Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Mary Smith from Tain on 82.
West of Scotland's Janice Paterson went out much later in the day, and she unfortunately hit the more severe weather and had an 91.

BRITISH SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast

FIRST ROUND: Par 72. Yardage: 5,635

75 Jane Rees (Hendon).
77 Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Pat Doran (Donabate).
78 Maria De Orueta (Spa), Felicity Christine (Woking).
79 Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen).
80 Caroline Marron (Bromborough), Viveca Hoff (Swe), Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court Ladies), Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest), Minna Kaarnalahti (Fin), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park).
81 Christina Birke (Swe), Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie).
82 Alison Grant (Ringway), Bev New (Lansdown), Mary Smith (Tain), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe), Debbie Richards (Burhill), Pamela Williamson (Baberton)
83 Mimmi Guglielmone (Swi), Marleen Nijhof (Net), Ivy Steinberg (Can), Rocio Ruiz de Velasco (Spa), Helen Jones (Strabane).
84 Cristina Marsans (Spa), Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell), Ginny Marshall (Can), Diane Williams (Can), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Gertie McMullen (The Island)..
85 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire), Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire), Anne Gowing (Frilford Heath), Mette Meyer (Den), Jeannie O’Keeffe (Hankley Common). Cathy Armstrong (Ellesborough), Anne Ryan (Tain), Marion Kaufmann (Ger), Allyson Harrison (Can).
Other Scots:
86 Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool)
87 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick),
89 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch)
91 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier),

AYRSHIRE TEAM FOR COUNTY FINALS AND PROGRAMME

The Ayrshire team for this weekend's Scottish women's county golf championship finals at Dumfries and County Golf Club is:

Gillian Arnott (Largs), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn), Jenny Linklater (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas), Audrey Thomson (Loudoun), Debbie Watt (Belleisle Ladies).

Programme:

Friday - Midlothian v Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross v Dumfries-shire.
Saturday - Midlothian v Perth and Kinross, Dumfries-shire v Ayrshire.
Sunday - Midlothian v Dumfries-shire, Perth and Kinross v Ayrshire.

Monday 12 September 2011

TROON FERRY CANCELLATION KNOCKS OUT SCOTS GOLFERS GOING TO THE BRITISH SENIORS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
The cancellation of the Troon to Belfast ferry today because of the abnormal weather conditions cost three Scots - Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) and Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) - their places in the Senior British women's open amateur golf championship which tees off at Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast tomorrow
Most of nine other Scots in the international field for the over-50s' tournament over 54 holes were possibly "saved" from a similar fate because they were competing at Greenore GC, Co Louth in the Irish senior women's open stroke-play championship which finished on Friday and drove up to the Belfast venue over the weekend.
Royal Dornoch's Alison Barlett finished joint second in the Irish event, her best ever performance on the international stage, and her confidence will be sky high.
Other Scots in the field are Pamela Williamson (Baberton), Mary Smith (Tain), Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), Barbara Biggart (North Berwick), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Anne Ryan (Tain) and Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie).
Cruden Bay's Lynne Terry had to withdraw after a mishap while engaged in that sometimes dangerous past time - gardening! She fell awkardly in her garden and had to have several stitches inserted in a nasty leg wound.
The tournament is run by the Ladies Golf Union whose Head of Golf Operations Susan Simpson said:
"I sympathise with the Scots who have not made it to Belfast but the people I really feel sorry for are the Belvoir Park Golf Club greenstaff.
"They had this woodland course looking immaculate at the weekend. Then the winds arrived and undid all their good work. Trees have been blown over, branches have blown down, and there are leaves all over the place. The greenkeepers have been hard at it all day repairing the damage."

Skelmorlie Ladies' Open Greensomes.

Due to the atrocious weather on Sunday we had to cancel our Open day but have rescheduled it for Sunday, 2nd October. There are still places available and anyone interested should contact
Kath Mackellar by emailing her at kathmackellar@googlemail.com
or Tel. 01475 521090. The cost is £12 per couple

County September Medals are put off due to bad weather

Both Renfrewshire and D&A Counties have called off their September Medal Competitions due to be played at Eastwood and Helensburgh today, 12th September. Both counties hope hope that their competitions can be re-arranged

Senior Ladies British Seniors Amateur Championship

LADIES GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE
SENIOR LADIES BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Over 54 holes at Belvoir Park GC, Belfast
September 13 to 15, 2011


All six top finishers in last week’s Irish Senior Ladies’ Open Stroke Play Championship at Greenore Golf Club (September 7 to 9) are in the field for this week’s Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Chamionship at Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast.
Finland ’s Minna Kaarnalahti will be bidding for back-to-back victories on the Emerald Isle.
She won the Irish title at Greenore by one shot from joint runners-up Pauline Walsh (Headfort), Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) and Helen Jones (Strabane).
Winning the British title would go some way towards compensating Helen Jones for losing the Irish championship as a result of a Rules infringement.
Helen Jones was in the field at wild and windy West Kilbride Golf Club, Ayrshire 12 months ago when England’s Bev New, from the Lansdown Golf Club, Somerset, making her debut in the event, having reached her 50th birthday, came through on the final day from joint fifth place overnight with a three-birdie performance and the low round of the tournament, a 73, to win with a three-round total of 19-over-par 235 – one shot ahead of another debutante, Pat Doran (Donabate), with Vicki Thomas, the 2009 champion, third on 238 and Scotland’s Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool), the joint second-round leader, fourth on 239.
Bev New, pictured above with a local piper after her West Kilbride victory, turned pro after a stellar amateur career which saw her win the English title and play for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup. She was reinstated as an amateur after continuing her successful golfing career as a professional on the Ladies European Tour.
Running a busy coffee shop in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset , does not leave Bev much time for golf but she has reached the quarter-finals of the English seniors’ close championship this year and also finished third in the English seniors’ stroke-play championship.
A truly international field will be assembling at Belvoir Park with thirteen countries represented.
The Belvoir Park Golf Club course is sited in 136 acres of mature woodland, but only two miles from Belfast ’s City Centre.
Harry S Colt was the course designer in the 1920s and there are those who rate Belvoir Park as one of the best inland courses, not only in Ireland but further afield.
The 54-hole championship tees off on Tuesday and there will be a cut to the leading 40 and ties after Wednesday’s second round for the final 18 holes on Thursday. In the event of a tie for first place after the third round, there will be a sudden-death play-off.

I believe the only Scots that are there are Janice Paterson (Drumpellier), Pam Williamson, Barbara Biggart and Maureen Richmond, Heather Anderson , Lorna Bennett, Kathleen Sutherland and the sisters from Tain Mary Smith and Anne Ryan

Jen Mack (Haggs Castle), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) and Noreen Fenton have called off -- (Probably the weather conditions today) - Will confirm
Remember last year at West Kilbride in that awful weather ---- CLICK HERE TO REMIND YOURSELF

West of Scotland's Kylie Walker does well in the Prague Masters

France’s Jade Schaeffer earned her second Ladies European Tour title at the inaugural Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters in the Czech Republic.
The 25-year-old from Paris, who last won two years ago in Germany, shot a final round 70 to win by two shots on a hot and sunny afternoon at Albatross Golf Resort.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 - Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 69 64 70
205 - Julie Greciet (FRA) 69 71 65
206 - Linda Wessberg (SWE) 69 69 68
207 - Kym Larratt (ENG) 70 70 67, Kylie Walker (SCO) 69 71 67, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 69 70 68
208 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 70 71 67, Louise Stahle (SWE) 69 70 69
Other Scots:
213 Carly Booth (SCO) 72 72 69,
215 Lynn Kenny (SCO) 72 71 72,
218 Vikki Laing (SCO) 69 72 77

Friday 9 September 2011

Scotland lose 5-4 to Wales

CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
AT HILLSIDE GC, LANCS

England are Women's Home International champions for the first time since Dunbar Golf Club was the venue in 2007. And captain Chris Pascall's squad finished the job in style with an 8-1 victory over Ireland on a sunny last day at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire.
England did not win a match at Whitchurch, Cardiff 12 months ago. This time round England won three out of three, having already beaten both Wales and Scotland by 6-3.
Wales finished runners-up with two wins to their credit by beating Scotland, the defending champions, 5-4. It was the Scots' third defeat of the week. Twelve months ago they won three out of three. This time round they finished last.
Scots skipper Fiona Norris reinstated the Briggs sisters, Megan and Eilidh, to the line-up for the final set of singles after leaving them out of two sessions of play.
They responded with two good wins. Megan beat Lucy Gould 4 and 2 while Eilidh was a 5 and 4 winner over Katherine O'Connor.
Wales' Amy Boulden beat international team-mate Pamela Pretswell by 5 and 4 in the lead-off singles. The Welsh player was two up on the Scot after five holes and increased her lead to three after eight and four with a birdie at the 10th
A half in birdie 3s ended the match at the 14th.
Kelsey MacDonald came back from two down after 12 to salvage a square match with Katie Bradbury. Kelsey birdied the 13th, 15th and 17th in her storming finish.
In a match between two teenagers, Scotland's Alyson McKechin halved with Wales' Chloe Williams who was two holes up after five. McKechin birdied the sixth and seventh to square the match.
Williams had regained a two-hole lead by winning three in a row from the 12th but the Scot won the 15th and 17th to gain half a point/
Welsh champion Becky Harries notched up her sixth win in six appearances by beating Scottish champion Louise Kenney 3 and 1 in the final tie to finish.
Harries was three up after five but Kenney got her back to one by winning the sixth with a birdie and the ninth.
Harries pulled away again by winning the 10th and 11th with a birdie. The 12th was halved in birdies and Kenney won the 13th to be two down with five to play. After three halves in a row from the 14th, Harries clinched a 3 and 1 victory by winning the 17th.

WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Hillside GC, Lancashire
Day 3
ENGLAND 8, IRELAND 1
FOURSOMES (2 ½- ½)
Charlotte Ellis and Charlotte Wild halved with Gillian O'Leary and Charlene Reid.
Bronte Law and Georgia Hall bt Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant 2 holes.
Lauren Taylor and Kelly Tidy bt Louise Coffey and Karen Delaney 1 hole.
SINGLES (5 ½- ½)
Taylor bt Coffey 2 and 1.
Tidy bt O'Leary 2 and 1.
Charley Hull halved with Delaney.
Hall bt Reid 3 and 2.
Holly Clyburn bt Grant 2 and 1.
Law bt Maguire 2 holes

WALES 5, SCOTLAND 4
FOURSOMES (2-1)
Amy Boulden and Becky Harries bt Pamela Pretswell and Alyson McKechin 3 and 2.
Chloe Williams and Katie Bradbury bt Jane Turner and Rebecca Wilson 6 and 4.
Katherine O'Connor and Lucy Gould lost to Louise Kenney and Kelsey MacDonald 1 hole.
SINGLES (3-3)
Boulden bt Pretswell 5 and 4.
Katie Bradbury halved with MacDonald
Williams halved with McKechin
Gould lost to Megan Briggs 4 and 2.
O'Connor lost to Eilidh Briggs 5 and 4.
Harries bt Kenney 3 and 1..

HOW THEY FINISHED
England 3 wins, Wales 2 wins, Ireland 1 win, Scotland 0 wins.