EILIDH SHARES 3rd PLACE IN PORTUGAL AFTER ROUND 3

Stirling student Eilidh Briggs has moved into a share of third place with one round to go in the Portuguese women's open amateur championship at Montado Golf Resort, on the Costa Azul, south of Lisbon.
But Briggs and English youngster Inci Mehmet who is also on the one-under 215 mark look to have too big a leeway to make up on the joint leaders over Saturday's fourth and final round.
Two Spanish players, Luna Sobron, beaten in the final of the British women's open amateur championship last year, and Silvia Banon Ibanez have surged five shots clear of the field on six-under 210.
Kilmacolm's Briggs has had rounds of 73, 71 and 71 and, with five players on 215, she faces tough competition even to finish third, which would be a very good achievement.
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) had her best score yet, a two-under 70 after a pair of 74s and her 218 tally has her in joint 10th position.
St Andrews' Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) also hit good form for the first time in Portugal with a 71, a mark improvement on her earlier efforts of 76 and 81. She is on 228.

PORTUGUESE WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Montago Golf Resort, Costa Azul.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES
Par 216 (3x72)
210 Luna Sobron (Spa) 71 68 68, Silvia Banon Ibanez (Spa) 69 69 72
215 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 73 74 71, Inci Mehmet (Eng) 70 71 74, Emma O'Driscoll (Ire) 73 74 68, Virginia Elena Carta (Ita) 72 69 74, Natalia Escuriola Martinez (Spa) 74 70 71
OTHER SCOTTISH SCORES
218 Alyson McKechin (Sco) 74 74 70
228 Lauren Whyte (Sco) 76 81 71

EILIDH BRIGGS SHARING FIFTH PLACE AT HALFWAY IN PORTUGAL

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) moved up to a share of fifth place at the halfway stage of the Portuguese women's open amateur championship with a one-under-par 71 at Montado Golf Resort.
That put the Stirling PE student on level par 144 - six shots behind the leader by three, Spain's Silvia Banon Ibanez who has had a pair of 69s.
Kilmacolm member Eilidh birdied two long holes - the second and 17th - and two short holes - the eighth and 12tyh. She bogeyed the third, 13th and 15th.
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) repeated her first-day 74 for 148 and a share of 13th place.
The Paisley player birdied the fifth and 17th but bogeyed the seventh, eighth, 16th and 18th.]
Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) slumped to an 81 for joint 47th place on 157.

PORTUGUESE WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Montado Golf Resort
LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72) Length 5,474 metres
138 Silvia Banon Ibanex (Spa) 69 69
141 Virginia Elena Carta (Ita) 72 69, Inci Mehmet (Eng) 70 71
142 Luna Sobron (Spa) 74 68
144 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 73 71, Natalia Escuriola Martinez (Spa) 74 70
145 Gabriella Cowley (Eng) 71 74

SELECTED SCORES
146 Bethan Popel (Eng) 72 74 (T8)
147 Lucy Goddard (Eng) 73 74, Emma O'Driscoll (Ire) 73 74 (T10)
148 Annabel Dimmock (Eng) 78 70, Paula Grant (Ire) 77 71, Alyson McKechin(Sco) 74 74 (T13).
149 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Eng) 76 73, Olivia Cowan (Ger) 78 71 (T17)
151 Mary Doyle (Ire) 78 73, Chloe Rogers (Eng) 76 75 (T22)
152 Becky Harries (Wal) 76 76, Rochelle Morris (Eng) 77 75 (T27)
156 Chloe Williams (Wal) 78 78 (T45)
157 Emma Allen (Eng) 78 69, Lauren Whyte (Sco) 76 81, Charlotte Austwick (Eng) 78 79 (T47)

KYLE WALKER HAS A TOP TEN FINISH IN AUSTRALIA

Frenchwoman Joanna Klatten fired a dazzling course record nine-under-par 63 closing round to win the Bing Lee Fujitsu General Women's NSW Open by three strokes.
The 28-year-old, who finished at 16-under-par, made nine birdies in a flawless display around on the Oatlands golf course, Sydney to triumph from Canberra's Nikki Campbell (66) with England's Hannah Burke (68) and South Australian Stephanie Na (70) a shot further back in a tie for third.

West of Scotland's Kylie Walker, following up a maiden pro win in the previous ALPG event, achieved a top 10 finish with rounds of 70, 67 and 70 for nine-under 207 and a share of ninth place.
Sally Watson had her best round of the three, a four-under-68, for a total of 209 and joint 13th place.
Vikki Laing had scores of 74, 71 and 72 for joint 20th place on 212.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) Players from Australia unless stated
200 Joanna Klatten (France) 70 67 63
203 Nikki Campbell 68 69 66
204 Hannah Burke (England) 68 68 68, Stephanie Na 68 66 70
205 MinJee Lee (am) 68 71 66, Kristie Smith 65 70 70, Lindsey Wright 70 64 71
206 Yan Jing (China) (am) 69 69 68

SELECTED OTHER SCORES
207 Kylie Walker (Scotland) 70 67 70 (T9)
209 Sally Watson (Scotland) 70 71 68 (T13)
211 Laura Davies (England) 69 70 72 (19th)
212 Felicity Johnson (England) 68 74 70, Liz Young (England) 71 70 71 (T20)
217 Becky Brewerton (Wales) 72 73 72, Vikki Laing (Scotland) 74 71 72 (T43)
218 Trish Johnson (England) 72 73 73 (T53)

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SLGA ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONAL TEAM CAPTAINS

The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has appointed the following team captains for the 2014 season:
Under-16s championship: Susan Wood
Home internationals: Karen Marshall
Girls’ Home Internationals: Laura Walker
Senior Home Internationals Anna Telfer
European girls’ team championship: Susan Wood
European women's team championship: Elaine Cuthill
European Senior Ladies’ Team Championship: Anna Telfer
European Young Masters: Laura Walker.

KYLIE WALKER SCORES FIRST PRO WIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES FOR $3750 PRIZE

Kylie with her "Big Cheque"

From the Australian Lady Pro Website

West of Scotland’s Kylie Walker fired a flawless round of seven-under-par, 67 to win the Renault Ladies Pro-am at Castle Hill Country Club, New South Wales today.
It was the 27-year-old Glasgow-born player's first professional win, having left the amateur ranks at the end of December 2009 - and understandably she was delighted, not least with the Aussie $3,500 first prize.
“That was really good, I loved it. We had a really enjoyable day, I had great playing partners," said Kylie, who is attached to The Carrick on Loch Lomond Golf Club.
She is now looking forward to playing Oatlands this week in the Bing Lee Fujitsu General Women’s NSW Open and then in New Zealand and up at RACV Royal Pines.
It looked like Swede Dani Holmqvist was going to go back to back with victories after going out in the calmer morning conditions and posting a very credible five-under-par to hold the clubhouse lead.
The wind got up for the afternoon field. However, Kylie Walker handled the conditions perfectly and seemed to thrive in the wind, it was indeed an impressive round of golf.
The 27-year-old took advantage of her length and birdied four out of the five par 5’s. She started on the par 3, 17th hole and got off to a solid start with two birdies in her first three holes. She then posted back-to-back birdies on the 4th and 5th holes to be four-under-par thru her first seven holes.
The former Scottish schoolgirls champion then parred the next two holes before she recorded another birdie on the short par 4 8th. She holed another two more birdie putts on the 10th and 13th holes to complete her fantastic round.

NANCY IS HONOURED FOR PLAYING IN THE RANFURLY CASTLE GREENLEES TEAM FOR 6 DECADES !!

Fiona Roger, Nancy MacGadie and Carol Fell with some of the Ranfurly Castle Greenlees Team

The West of Scotland Scratch League Trophy Greenlees Trophy was introduced in 1931. Ten teams played in one division - Troon, Prestwick St. Nicholas, Douglas Park, Paisley, Drumpellier, Sandyhills, Kilmacolm, Ranfurly Castle, Cathkin Braes and Cardross. At the end of the season Troon and Prestwick St. Nicholas both had 62 points, they had a play off over Western Gailes and Prestwick St Nicholas won by one match. Mrs Greenlees, on behalf of her husband who donated the trophy, presented it to Prestwick. --- In 2014 there are now 3 divisions with 9 teams with 9 players in each team.
Ranfurly Castle has only ever won this prestigious Trophy once and that was in 2004 but have managed to stay in the 1st Division since the late 1970's which is put down to the strength and depth of the whole team. --

Nancy MacGadie was presented with a beautiful bracelet at their Ladies AGM on 16th January 2014 in recognition of her dedication and loyalty to Ranfurly Golf Club. She first played for Ranfurly Castle's Greenlees Team in 1964 and is still playing in the team and winning -- a fantastic achievement to have played in 6 decades. 

Fiona Roger and Carol Fell were also given a mention as to both having played in 5 decades with Carol being the only player out of all the Greenlees Teams to have always played in the 1st division since that time.

PAMELA PRETSWELL FINISHES IN SIXTH PLACE IN AUSTRALIA

Swede Dani Holmqvist, captured her first Australian LPG title yesterday, the Mount Broughton Classic presented by McGills Transport at the New South Wales venue.
The talented Swede fired impressive consecutive rounds of five-under-par 67 on the challenging layout to finish at 10-under-par 144 and two shots clear of the field. She won a cheque for 7,500
Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (69-70), shared sixth on 139 and earned 1,875 Australian dollars each
Kylie Walker had scores of 74-73 for joint 34th place on 147. She earned 277.50.
Vikki Laing, the third Scot in the field, finished out of the money - so too did Laura Davies (150) - with rounds of 78 and 77 for 155.
The next stop in the Club Car Series is the Renault Ladies Pro-am at Castle Hill Country Club in Sydney.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72) Players from Australia unless stated. Prize money in Australian dollars
134 Daniela Holmqvist (Sweden) 70 66 (7,500)
136 Sarah Kemp 70 66 (5,000)
137 Trish Johnson (England) 70 67, Joanna Klatten (France) 67 70 (3,250 each).
138 Stacey Keating 69 69 (2,500)
139 Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) 69 70, Rebecca Artis 69 70, Frances Bondad 72 69, Marta Silva (Spa) 69 70 (1,875 each).
140 Lauren Hibbert 71 69 (1,400)
141 Hannah Burke (England) 68 73, Nikki Campbell 70 71, Rebecca Codd 68 73, Stephanie Na 71 70 (1,150 each)

SELECTED TOTALS
144 Felicity Johnson (England) 71 73 (T24) (437.50)
147 Kylie Walker (Scotland) 74 73, Liz Young (England) 73 74 (T34) (277.50 each).
150 Laura Davies (England) 75 75 (T44)
155 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 78 77 (T55)

SLGA AGM -- HAGGS CASTLE'S AUDREY STURGESS IS THE NEW SLGA FINANCE DIRECTOR AND OLD RANFURLY'S MARILYN MUIR JOINS THE BOARD.

The three new vice-presidents elected at today's Scottish Ladies Golfing Association annual general meeting in Perth - (left to right): Joan Marshall, Margaret MacNaughtan and Emma Wilson.


REPORT BY GILLIAN KIRKWOOD
Beth Paterson, Chairman of the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, opened the 2014 SLGA Annual General Meeting by welcoming a packed house to the Gannochy Suite in the Dewars Centre, Perth on Saturday.
During her report of the 2013 activities, she announced that a proposal on the amalgamation of the two amateur governing bodies for golf in Scotland, viz. the SLGA and the Scottish Golf Union, would be announced soon. Minutes of meetings of the Amalgamation committee can be found on the ON THIS LINK AT THE SLGA WEBSITE
Once again Beth reported on the steady decline in player numbers within Scotland.
"Membership figures show that between 2004 and 2013 we have lost a total of 44,376 playing members (17.4%). This comprises 37,193 adult playing members nationally – a 16.5% decrease. Of these 9,547 are female (26.9% decline) and 27,646 male (14.6% decline) "
Both organisations having been working hard to address this issue, with their joint objective… the Scottish Golf Strategy….
More Golfers - More Members - Stronger Clubs - Winning Golfers - Outstanding Championships - Excellent Governance - Strong Partnerships.
The first three elements of the Strategy are overseen by the Scottish Golf Development committee. Recognising that stronger club facilities are key to attracting golfers as members, in 2013 the SLGA contributed to the salaries of the three Scottish Golf Development Officers, who are central to the delivery of support to Scottish golf clubs.
Finance Director Pamela Malton took the audience through the SLGA accounts, and reported a very small profit of £10,000.
The decline in membership, and therefore subscriptions, has been the major topic in SLGA finances over the last few years. Managing the business with a declining income stream is difficult in any circumstances, and the SLGA is grateful to the grants and sponsorship it gets from SportsScotland, the R and A, Aberdeen Asset Management and others to keep it's head above water.
Pamela said "Throughout all activities of the SLGA, the Board and staff continue to keep costs as low as possible while working to maintain, or if possible raise, the standard of services provided. Costs inevitably have risen, but are still contained within income, due to the huge amount of work done by volunteers. The Board is very appreciative of all the time and effort contributed by volunteers.
No increase in subscription was proposed. Subscriptions have remained static now for six years. If necessary the SLGA intends to dip into its reserves if a deficit occurs.
A proposal to remove the minimum subscription of £75 per club as it is felt that this is unduly penal to clubs with very small numbers of ladies was approved later in the meeting.
Lorna Bennett, SLGA representative on the Ladies Golf Union, gave a report on the LGU activities throughout 2013.
Scots had not fared particularly well in LGU events, with no Scots in the Vagliano Team and only one, Fiona Liddell, in the U16 Junior Vagliano team. Nine Scots played in the British Amateur Championship in Wales with Jess Meek and Rachel Watton the only two qualifiers for the match play stages.
Gemma Dryburgh had perhaps the best result of the Scot in a LGU tournament when she finished runner-up to China's Jing Yan at Prestwick in the British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
The 38th Curtis Cup - the biennial contest between teams from Great Britain and Ireland and the USA will be played at St. Louis Country Club, Missouri, USA, from June 6 to 8, 2014

Margaret MacNaughtan, the outgoing President, nominated Janet Brown,  from Melrose as her successor, a proposal widely welcomed by the audience.
Unfortunately, Janet could not be there as she is in Australia, visiting her family. Margaret read out Janet's apology and how much she recognised the great honour bestowed upon her.
Joan Marshall, Emma Wilson and Margaret MacNaughtan were nominated as Vice-Presidents.

Marilyn Muir

Audrey Sturgess

Other changes in personnel were:
Audrey Sturgess (Haggs Castle) takes over from Pamela Malton as Finance Director and
Marilyn Muir (Old Ranfurly) steps in to complete Audrey's term of office on the Board of Directors.

Mary Richardson comes in as East Division director. Dawn Butchart retired and June McEwan replaces her as the Directors' nominee.
Laura McLardy comes in as North Division Selector.
The meeting finished with a vote of thanks from Midlothian Captain, Sheila Stuart.

EILIDH BRIGGS IS TOP SCOT IN " THE SALLY"

Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, the 16-year-old World No 6 female amateur from Smith Falls, near Ottawa, Ontario, added another title to her impressive CV with a four-stroke victory in "The Sally" - South Atlantic Amateur Championship - on a day of high winds and cool temperatures at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida.
Seventeen-year-old England international Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth), with Scot Kelsey MacDonald, a former winner on this Orange Blossom Tour before she turned pro last year, acting as her caddie, finished a gallant runner-up, four shots behind Henderson who also won the girls' Junior Orange Bowl at Coral Gables, Florida over the Festive period.
Stirling P.E. student Eilidh Briggs ( Kilmacolm) finished 10th on 304 with scores of 73, 78, 77 and a closing 76 which had birdies at the second and 10th but a double bogey 6 at the 11th in an inward 39.
St Andrews' Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) made the top 10 - joint 17th - with an 80 for 313. Like Briggs, a past Scottish U18 champion, Lauren had a triple bogey 8 at the long seventh and a double bogey 7 at the long 12th but deserves credit for covering the last six holes in one-under-par with five straight pars and a birdie at the 18th.
Ranfurly Castle's Iona Stephen finished her 4th round with a 77 to finish in 23rd place and Peterculter's Rachel Polson, a student at Florida Tech, signed off with an 82 for 31st place on 319.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
285 Brooke Mackenzie Henderson (Canada) 67 76 70 72.
289 Annabel Dimmock (England) 70 75 71 73
297 Chloe Williams (Wales) 75 69 70 83, Clara Teixeira (Brazil) 77 74 72 74.
298 Ashley Holder (USA) 75 74 75 74, Katie Mitchell (USA) 75 75 73 74
300 Shannon Aubert (France) 74 76 74 76.
302 Dree Fausnaugh (USA) 76 78 71 77
303 Meghan Stasi (USA) 74 82 72 75
304 Eilidh Briggs (Scotland) 73 78 77 76

SELECTED TOTALS
313 Lauren Whyte (Scotland) 77 82 74 80 (T17)
316 Iona Stephen (Scotland) 80 80 79 77 (T23)
317 Chloe Rogers (England) 78 82 75 82 (T26)
319 Rachel Polson (Scotland) 75 85 77 82 (31st)
323 Hannah McCook (Scotland) 80 82 83 78 (T34)
324 Georgia Gilling (England) 76 81 81 86 (36th)
333 Hannah Robb (Scotland) 84 90 76 83 (44th)
337 Jordana Graham (Scotland) 85 82 79 91 (T47)
Withdrew: Sammy Fuller (England) 86 wd, Tara Mactaggart (Scotland) 81 83 wd

LAUREN WHYTE AND EILIDH BRIGGS ARE BEST SCOTS AT THE 59th HARDER HALL INVITATIONAL

Four-time USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion Meghan Stasi of Oakland Park, Florida broke clear of the field with a final round of two-under-par 70 for a one-over-par 289 total in warm but windy conditions to win the 59th Harder Hall Invitational by the runaway margin of eight strokes at the Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida yesterday.
In sixth place was former Scottish girls U18 champion Lauren Whyte from the St Regulus Club, St Andrews followed by Stirling student Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm who shot an 80 in the last round to make the top 20 ... in 19th place.
Scot Iona Stephen, a Ranfurly Castle GC member, finished on 316 after a final round of 83
Stirling student Hannah McCook from Nethy Brige closed on 324 with an 83.
The final two Scottish Stirling students, Tara Mactaggart from Minto and Jordana Graham from Southerness finished on 334, and 344 respectively.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS - Par 288 (4x72)
Players from USA unless stated

289 Meghan Stasi 73 72 74 70
297 Hannah Pietila 76 67 76 78, Emmy Martin 76 67 76 78
299 Kristina Merkle 75 72 76 76
302 India Clyburn (England) 72 77 73 80
303 Lauren Whyte (Scotland) 73 76 76 78, Emma Pietila 81 75 75 72
304 Isabelle Lendl 79 78 69 78
305 Lauren Coughlin 80 75 70 80, Minami Levonowich 76 79 77 73
306 Chloe Williams (Wales) 75 74 79 78, Sammy Fuller (England) 73 79 77 77, Ali Cowan 76 77 77 76
307 Hally Leadbetter (England) 75 78 74 80, Annabel Dimmock (England) 80 73 77 77
308 August Kim 80 77 70 81, Briana Mao 78 79 74 77, Cecily Overbey 7t 78 79 76
309 Eilidh Briggs (Scotland) 74 78 77 80.
310 Cristine McQuiston 79 73 78 80, Chloe Rogers (England) 76 78 77 70.

SELECTED SCOTTISH FINAL TOTALS
316 Iona Stephen (Scotland) 77 79 77 83
324 Hannah McCook (Scotland) 81 79 81 83.
334 Tara Mactaggart 82 85 83 84
344 Jordana Graham (Scotland) 89 84 85 86

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