ABERDEENSHIRE-MIDLOTHIAN OPENER COULD GIVE SCOTTISH TITLE POINTER AT ABOYNE
Aberdeenshire beat last year's national women's champions Angus in winning the North Division team title at Edzell in June.
That suggests they will start favourites to win the Scottish women's county championship finals, starting at Aboyne Golf Club today (FRIDAY), at the expense of the three other regional qualifiers, Midlothian, Dumfriesshire and Dunbartonshire & Argyll.
But team match-play golf is not quite so predictable as that. Midlothian, champions in 2011 and 2013, are Aberdeenshire's first opponents over three foursomes and six singles ties. The winners could go on to be crowned Scottish champions at the end of the all-play-all, three-day programme.
There are two players with +2 handicaps in the field of 32 players - Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), and Gemma Batty (Powfoot) who should improve Dumfriesshire's prospects.
Dunbartonshire & Argyll have Anne Laing (Troon Ladies), three times Scottish champion, and the experienced Claire Hargan (St Regulus) in their team.
TEAMS
ABERDEENSHIRE - Louise Anderson (Duff House Royal), Julie Lees (Westhill), Samantha Leslie (Kemnay), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead), Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Donna Pocock (Kemnay), Rachel Polson (Kemnay), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links).
DUMFRIESSHIRE - Fiona Allison (Dumfries & Co), Gemma Batty (Moffat), Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Jordana Graham (Southerness), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries & Co), Katie McCracken (Powfoot), Diane Macdonald (Dumfries & Co), Katie Malcolm jun (Dumfries & Co)
DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL - Lorraine Campbell (Cardross), Jillian Farrell (Cardross), Claire Hargan (St Regulus), Anne Laing (Troon Ladies), Lorna McClymont (Milngavie), Lori MacDonald (Cardross), Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle), Fiona Rattray (Douglas Park).
MIDLOTHIAN - Karen Ferguson-Snedden (Liberton), Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe), Alison McBride (Harburn), Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Karen Marshall (Barton), Wendy Nicholson (Baberton), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Caroline Steedman (Murrayfield).
PROGRAMME
FRIDAY
9:30 (foursomes) and 1.30 (singles)
Midlothian v Aberdeenshire
09:52 (foursomes) and 2.16 (singles)
Dumfriesshire v Dunbartonshire & Argyll
SATURDAY
Dumfriesshire v Midlothian
Aberdeenshire v Dunbartonshire & Argyll
SUNDAY
Aberdeenshire v Dumfriesshire
Dunbartonshire & Argyll v Midlothian
