Monday 20 July 2020

HEATHER MACRAE IS LATEST SCOT TO SHINE IN ROSE LADIES SERIES AS GEMMA DRYBURGH TAKES OFF ON THE LPGA TOUR


Heather MacRae said she was delighted to become the latest Scot to shine in the company of major winners and Solheim Cup starts on the new Rose Ladies Series in England.

On her debut, the Dunblane woman finished in a tie for second behind England's Gabriella Cowley last weeks event at JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire.

MacRae, who won a battle with cancer last year, shot a one-under-par 71 as she produced a brave bid to complete a Scottish hat-trick after Gemma Dryburgh's back-to-back wins over the previous fortnight.

"It was really nice to have a good result in such a strong field," admitted MacRae. "It’s difficult to know what to expect after such a long break.

"But my coach, Craig Lee, kept telling me I was swinging really well and playing well, so that gave me some confidence, too."

The reigning Women's PGA champion was level-par through 10 holes before reeling off three birdies in a row but had to settle for one-under after dropping shots at the 16th and 18th.

Scots Kylie Henry and Michele Thomson tied in 18th place

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Gemma Dryburgh was an absentee on this occasion, has headed off to the US earlier in the week to prepare for the LPGA Tour restarting at the end of the month.

It was a difficult decision. After back-to back wins, including an historic success in the first professional women’s event to be staged at Royal St George’s, Gemma Dryburgh was sorely tempted to stay in the UK to try to remain at the top of the Rose Ladies Series order of merit over the next few weeks.


The 27-year-old could have been based at home playing in four events leading up to a grand final at Wentworth and, in the process, not really be worrying too much about the world’s ongoing fight with the coronavirus. Instead, she jumped on a plane to the US earlier in the week and is now under a two-week quarantine in a country where the pandemic is really spiking.


Dryburgh has crossed the Atlantic for the LPGA Tour’s restart with two events in Ohio, the Drive On Championship taking place in Toledo from 31 July-2 August then the Marathon Classic in Sylvania on 6-9 August. 
They are being followed by a ‘Scottish Swing’ involving the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s British Open at The Renaissance Club and Royal Troon respectively.