Friday 6 July 2012

SCOTTISH SENIORS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP FROM KEMNAY - HEATHER ANDERSON BEATS WEST OF SCOTLAND JANICE PATERSON

L TO R: Karen Ballantyne, Margaret McNaughton (SLGA), Leigh Duff, Alison Bartlett (Strokeplay Champion),
Linda Urquhart, Heather Anderson (Matchplay Champion), Janice Paterson, Karen Burns, Caroline (Kemnay Ladies Captain)
Blairgowrie's Heather Anderson, playing in the final for the fourth successive year, beat first-time finalist West Vet Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) by 4 and 3 to win the Scottish senior women's amateur match-play golf championship at Kemnay Golf Club, Aberdeenshire this afternoon.
Heather last won the match-play title at Kinross in 2009 and was runner up in 2010 and 2011.
Anderson got off to a good start and was two up after three holes.
Janice fought back to all square after six.
Heather birdied the eighth and parred the ninth to be two up at the turn.
Heather increased her lead to three holes with a par at the 10th. Janice got one back by winning the 11th with a par but her opponent won the 12th and 13th with pars to go four up. Janice had a good par 3 to win the short 14th but she was running out of holes. Heather Anderson's par at the long 15th was enough to win the tie.
In the morning semi-finals, Janice had a good one-hole win over Linda Urquhart (Banchory) who had earlier beaten top seed Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) and former champion Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
Heather beat Karen Burns (Bathgate) 5 and 3 in the other semi-final.
The handicap championship was won by Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) who must like the air in the north-east. She won the scratch title a few years back when the tournament was played at Ballater GC.
In this week's handicap final Karen beat Leigh Duff (Cathkin Braes) by 3 and 2. Karen plays off five and Leigh 12.

MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI-FINALS
Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) beat Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 1 hole.

Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) beat Karen Burns (Bathgate) 5 and 3
FINAL
Heather Anderson beat Janice Paterson 4 and 3.
HANDICAP
SEMI-FINALS
Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) (5) beat Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine) (11) 5 and 3.
Leigh Duff (Cathkin Braes) (12) beat Gillian Wallace (Blairgowrie) (6) at 19th.
FINAL
Karen Ballantyne beat Leigh Duff 3 and 2.