West of Scotland's Kylie, Pamela and Megan are today's Stars at Bogside

Scotland celebrate the win against the English after the Morning's Foursomes - Click to enlarge

Scotland is the only team with a 100 per cent record going into the third and final day of the Women’s Home International matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0. The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider. Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland.

England’s fightback from a 0-3 lunchtime deficit began with their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass beating Carly Booth by 3 and 2 in the lead-off singles tite. Carly won the first two holes but lost the third and fourth to be pulled back to all square. Douglas continued to prosper with wins at the fifth and sixth to lead by two holes at the turn. Booth rallied to win the11th and 12th to regain equality but Douglass quickened again to win the 13th and 14th and then the 16th with a birdie 2 for the match by 3 and 2. It was Douglass’s third win in four ties. The England fightback continued with Rachel Jennings beat Pamela Pretswell 3 and 1 to narrow the gap to one point in Scotland’s favour overall. Jennings was three holes to the good on the sixth tee but Pretswell fought back to square the match by winning the 14th. Jennings then produced a master stroke, holing a chip for a birdie 3 to win the 15th and regain the lead. The English player prompt went two up with a par at the short 16th and then was conceded the 17th for a 3 and 1 victory. It was Pretswell’s first defeat in four ties and Jennings’ first win in two outings. England levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 when Hannah Barwood beat Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1. Barwood took a grip on the outcome by winning the first, the third and the eighth to be three up, although MacDonald won back the ninth and the 11th to be only one down. Barwood went two up again at the 13th and was able to maintain that lead until MacDonald ran out of holes. Kylie Walker stopped the slide for Scotland by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 2. The Scot led throughout and a birdie 4 at the long 11th put her three up. It was Kylie’s third win in a row. With Scotland leading 4-3 overall, the match was finely poised. The two ties still to finish were both all square with two and three holes respectively to play. Scottish champion Megan Briggs, who had been three down after five holes to English girls title-holder Holly Clyburn, fought back to win the seventh, eighth and ninth. Then she birdied the 11th to lead for the first time. Briggs went two up at the 14th but Clyburn was not finished yet. She won the 15th with a par and the short 16th with a birdie 2 to square the match. In a thrilling finish, Briggs edged ahead again with a par 4 at the 17th, which meant she was assured of a halved match at least and that half-point would guarantee Scotland at least a halved match overall with England. Briggs in fact was able to clinch overall victory for Scotland, beating Clyburn by two holes when the English player conceded the 18th. The last match of the day to finish ended with honours even between Louise Kenney and Charlotte Ellis. Kenney had been two up after 12 holes but, in the end, was glad to hole a putt on the last for a half in 4. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0.
The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider.
Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland

SCOTLAND WIN AGAINST IRELAND - DAY 1

Pamela Pretswell a winner for Scotland today - Click to enlarge

Scotland showed true grit to come from behind to beat Ireland 5-4 on the opening day of the women's home internationals at bright and breezy Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire today
The bonus for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad was that Wales walloped England 7-2 in the other match.
"The girls put me through it today but they got there in the end," said Lesley.
"I'm delighted. They did so well to turn it around from what could have been a losing position."
Scotland made up their one-point foursomes deficit by winning the first two singles to finish against Ireland.

West of Scotland Players did well today with Pamela winning both her foursomes and singles ties. Megan Briggs played very well in the morning with an under form Kylie. However Kylie got her game back together in the afternoon to bring in the winning result. --- WELL DONE TO YOU ALL

Teenager Carly Booth beat the new British women‘s open amateur stroke play champion Danielle McVeigh by 2 and 1 in the top singles tie.
Booth lost the first hole but squared it at the second – and was never in arrears again after that.
One up at the turn, Booth lost the 10th but hit back with a birdie 4 at the long 11th to regain the lead. Booth conceded the 12th to lose the advantage again but won the 13th and then birdied the 14th to take a vital two-hole lead.
McVeigh won back the 15th but after a half in 3s at the short 16th, Carly won the 17th for a 2 and 1 margin of victory.
Kelsey MacDonald put Scotland 3-2 ahead by beating Mary Dowling 3 and 2. Kelsey always held the whiphand but could not shake off a determined opponent. MacDonald’s eagle 3 at the ninth enabled her to go two up but Dowling won the 12th only for Kelsey to birdie the 13th to regain a two-hole advantage. The 15th was the decisive hole. The Scot won it to go three up with three to play and a half at the 16th finished the match in her favour.
But Ireland had the advantage in the ties still to finish and Gillian O’Leary’s 3 and 2 win over Laura Murray levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3. Gillian built up a two-hole lead on the outward half and won the 11th and 12th to double that advantage before losing the 14th.
With three matches to finish and Scotland three up in one and Ireland three up in another, it was clear that the Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) v Aedin Murphy (Ireland) tie – all square after 17 – was going to have an important bearing on the overall result.
Pretswell was two down with five to play but won the 14th with a birdie 3 and squared the match with a par 3 at the short 16th.
After a half at the next, Pamela hit a massive drive off the 18th and won the hole and the match with a 4.
Kylie Walker beat Niamh Kitching by 3 and 2 in a match that was all square after 11 holes. Walker won the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in an strong finish.
Charlene Reid got Ireland’s fourth point by beating Louise Kenney 3 and 1. Reid won the seventh, eighth and nine to go three up and she stayed in the driving seat for the rest of the match.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

To see some (Mainly un edited) photos from today click on the small thumbnail below

Scotland v Ireland

Day 1 results
ENGLAND 2, WALES 7
Foursomes (1-2)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Lucy Gould & Sam Birkes 1 hole.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 2 holes.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy lost to Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Singles
Douglass bt Davies 2 holes.
Barwood lost to Thomas 3 and 2.
Clyburn lost to Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Charlotte Ellis lost to Katie Bradbury 2 holes.
Tidy lost to Boulden 4 and 3.
Nikki Foster lost to Gould 8 and 7.

SCOTLAND 5, IRELAND 4
Foursomes (1-2)
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth lost to Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 3 and 2.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw 4 and 3.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs lost to Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham 5 and 4.
Singles (4-2)
Booth bt McVeigh 2 and 1.
Pretswell bt Murphy 1 hole.
MacDonald bt Dowling 3 and 2.
Walker bt Niamh Kitching 3 and 2.
Laura Murray lost to O’Leary 3 and 2.
Kenney lost to Reid 3 and 1.

Kylie and Megan play together in tomorrow mornings foursomes

Back Row From L to R: Claire Hargan (Team Manager),Kylie Walker,

Pamela Pretswell,Louise Kenney, Laura Murray, Kevin Craggs

Front Row: Kelsey MacDonald, Carly Booth,Lesley Nicholson (Captain),Megan Briggs and Jane Turner

IMAGE COURTESY OF COLIN FARQUHARSON, CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY -- Click to enlarge

Report by Colin Farquharson
IRVINE WET BUT PLAYABLE FOR WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Fingers crossed, there’s no danger that the Women’s Home Internationals will not tee off on time tomorrow morning at Irvine Golf Club even though there was more heavy rain at the Ayrshire venue today.
There were big pools of water in the car park but not so many out on the course, thanks to the hard work of head greenkeeper Derek Wilson and his staff.
“Believe it or not but we have had rain here at some time or other during the day or night for the past 54 consecutive days,” said Wilson.
“This summer the course has never had the chance to dry out and play the way it should. The greens, like the fairways, are much softer than I would like them but these players will probably prefer that they can fire the ball at the flag rather than have to drop their approach shots short and hope to judge the bounce.”
Home skipper Lesley Nicholson is optimistic her squad can win the Miller Trophy for the first time since the Scotland were champions in 1990 and 1991.
Top-10 individual form by her team members in the recent British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen and the European women’s amateur team championship in Sweden, where Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) was runner-up and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) joint sixth, suggests her confidence is not ill-founded.
In the opening foursomes against Ireland, Lesley Nicholson has paired Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Carly Booth (Comrie) against the new British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), leader of the SLGA Order of Merit table, and Pamela Pretswell, are Scotland’s No 2 foursomes pairing for the tie against Gillian O’Leary and Victoria Bradshaw.
Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) is paired with the big-hitting Kylie Walker against Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.
Wales, defending the title they won on home turf at Wrexham 12 months ago, open their campaign against an England line-up loaded with talent. Scotland’s prospects would be considerably enhanced if Wales could claim England’s scalp. But England will start favourites.

Wednesday morning’s foursomes:
ENGLAND v WALES
8.30 am
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn v Lucy Gould & Sam Birks.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood v Rhian WynThomas & Gemma Bradbury.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy v Tara Davies & Amy Boulden..

SCOTLAND v IRELAND
9am
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth v Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell v Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs v Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham.

2.20pm
Six singles

Kylie Walker hopes to turn professional at the end of the year but first hopes to help Scotland win this week

by ELSPETH BURNSIDE

Buchanan Castle’s Kylie Walker is competing in her fourth Home Internationals at Irvine this week, and she’s hoping it is her last as she aims to turn professional at the end of the year. But she is determined to go out on a high note by helping Scotland win for a first time in 18 years.

The 23-year-old is certainly confident that the amateur team can add to Catriona Matthew’s terrific victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open last month and make it a summer to remember for the women’s game.

“Catriona’s win has done so much for Scottish golf, and Scottish women’s golf in particular,” said Kylie. “Now we’re all really up for victory this week. It’s a great team and this year feels different from before.

“There is terrific strength in depth and not a single weakness. Lesley Nicholson (team captain) has also been brilliant. She’s still young and she’d done it all, playing at Curtis Cup level and as a professional. She knows exactly what we need and want.

“National Coach Kevin Craggs is so upbeat and the team manager, Claire Hargan, still competes on the circuit and also has huge experience. Overall, there is such a good team spirit.”

Kylie reckons that home advantage could also be the key to ending a victory drought stretching back to Aberdovey in 1991, when Scotland successfully defended the title.

“We had a match against a Scottish Golf Union team of men in March and Irvine kindly allowed potential team members to have the courtesy of the course throughout the year. That has been really good and has let us all to get to know the course.”

Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and West of Scotland Champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) are the other West of Scotland players in the team.

The other five are Carly Booth (Comrie), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and the one new cap, Jane Turner (Craigielaw).

Thanks go to Elspeth Burnside for this report --- To read some more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Kylie is Runner Up in the European Amateur Championship

The three medal winners, left to right, Larsson, Hedwall and Walker -- FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON (Cal Carson Golf Agency)

Buchanan Castle's Kylie Walker and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle),both Great Britain & Ireland team internationals, finished second and joint fourth respectively in the European women's amateur golf championship at Falsterbo Golf Club, Sweden today (Saturday).
In very windy conditions, Caroline Hedwall (Sweden) won by 10 strokes with a 75 for one-over-par 285.
Kylie Walker returned a 78 for 295 and Sweden's Louise Larsson a 74 for 296.
Pamela Pretswell, the halfway leader after a second-round 69, finished with a 75 for 297, the same total as Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh who signed off with a 77. Danielle won the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen in her last tournament before the European.
Only one player matched the par of 72 on the last day.

LEADING SCORES:
1 Caroline Hedwall SWEDEN 70 74 66 75 --- 285
2 Kylie Walker SCOTLAND 70 76 71 78 --- 295
3 Louise Larsson SWEDEN 70 78 74 74 --- 296
4 Marieke Nivard HOLLAND 74 75 74 74 --- 297
Pamela Pretswell SCOTLAND 73 69 80 75 --- 297
Danielle McVeigh IRELAND 70 75 75 77 --- 297

To see some more photos of Kylie Click on the this Link and then go to the Prize Ceremony

4th Round Scores at the European Championships

4th Round Scores at the European Championships CLICK HERE

Leaderboard

Kylie is now 2nd at the European Women's Amateur Championship as Pamela struggles in the 3rd round

Buchanan Castle’s Kylie Walker moved into second place as overnight leader Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) had a disastrous round to drop out of contention with one round to go in the European women’s amateur championship at Falsterbo Golf Club today
Kylie matched the par of 71 for a 54-hole tally of four-over 217 but finished the day seven strokes adrift the leader, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall who shot a brilliant inward half of 31 for a 66 and a three-under-par total of 210.
Majorca-based Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle) the third Scot in the field, missed the cut – 60 players with totals of 233 or better – with an 83 for 243 and joint 101st place.
The Top 60 now play tomorrow in the 4th and final round.

THIRD ROUND LEADERS
Par 213 (3x71)
210 Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 70 74 66.
217 Kylie Walker (Sco) 70 76 71.
219 Marion Ricordeau (Fra) 74 74 71.
220 Lara Katzy (Ger) 74 75 71, Daisy Nielson (Den) 71 77 72, Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 70 75 75.
221 Rachel Jennings (Eng) 74 75 72, Lucie Andre (Fra) 72 72 77.
222 Emma Nilsson (Swe) 76 77 69, Louise Larsson (Swe) 70 78 74, Holly Clyburn (Eng) 76 72 74, Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 73 69 80.

Click on the following link for the Leaderboard

Pamela Pretswell leads by 2 Strokes after Round 2 at the European Championship

Another great round of 69 by Pamela Pretswell (pictured above) this time in Sweden to take the European amateur championship lead with two rounds to go at Falsterbo Golf Club.
Glasgow University student Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)opened up a two-stroke halfway lead with a sparkling two-under-par second round of 69 in the European women's amateur golf championship at Falsterbo Golf Club on the southern tip of Sweden today (Thursday). There are two Scots in the limelight as Pamela's fellow GB&I Vagliano Trophy team player Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) is in fifth place.
It was a final round of 69 at Royal Aberdeen last Friday that earned the 20-year-old Pretswell from Hamilton the Taunton Trophy for the best round over the three days of the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship in which she finished joint seventh.
And Bothwell Castle member Pamela hit that 69 mark again, thanks to a grandstand finish of an eagle 3 at the 18th hole. She had earlier bogeyed the first, the only shot she dropped, and birdied the long 13th in halves of 35 (one over) and 34 (three under).
Showing an improvement of four shots on her first-day 73, Pretswell is on the 142 mark for the par-71 course.
Late last summer Pretswell won the Swiss women's international open amateur championship on what was primarily a holiday trip!
In Sweden, she leads by two shots from France's Lucie Andre, No 1 in the European Golf Association rankings, and Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, a US college circuit player who was beaten in the final of the British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick last year.
Then comes Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh, winner of the British title at Balgownie last Friday, on 145, one shot ahead of fifth placed Kylie Walker who slipped back from a 70 to a 76, thanks to a double bogey 7 at the long 18th, the same hole that Pretswell reduced to three strokes.
Walker had earlier bogeyed the fifth, sixth, 10th and 12th but looked to have stopped the bleeding of strokes when she got a birdie 2 at the short 14th. Then came the calamitous 18th hole which meant she had taken 40 shots to cover the inward nine.
The third Scot in the field of 133, Majorca-based Lauren Mackin had three double bogeys in a round of 83 (37-46) for 160.
SECOND ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)
142 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 73 69.
144 Lucie Andre (Fra) 72 72, Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 70 74.
145 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 70 75.
146 Kylie Walker (Sco) 70 76.
147 Maaike Naafs (Net) 73 74.
148 Holly Clyburn (Eng) 76 72, Marion Ricordeau (Fra) 74 74, Josephine Janson (Swe) 73 75, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 73 75, Daisyt Nielsen (Den) 71 77, Louise Larsson (Swe) 70 78.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Kylie sharing 2nd Place, Pamela 8th and Lauren 33rd Place in the 1st Round of the European Amateur Championship

Kylie Walker and Pamela Pretswell, top 10 finishers in last week’s British women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship, carried on at Falsterbo, Sweden in the European Women’s Individual Amateur Championship where they left off at Royal Aberdeen.
Kylie (Buchanan Castle), shot a one-under-par 70 to be sharing second place, one behind pacemaker Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands).
Pamela (Bothwell Castle) returned a 73 to be joint eighth at the end of the opening day.
Majorca-based Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle) did not do so well as her compatriots. She had a 77 for a share of 33rd place.
The long-hitting Walker deviated from par only five times, which was a sign that she was hitting the fairways again as she did at Balgownie. She birdied the seventh, the long 12th and the long 18th, dropping shots only at the first and 36th in halves of 34 and 36.
Also on the 70 mark was Danielle McVeigh, the six-footer from Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, winner of the British stroke play title last Friday.
Pretswell started with eight pars and then dropped a shot at the ninth to be out in one-over-par 35.
A bogey at the 14th put the Glasgow University student two over par but she got a shot back with a birdie at the 17th before she bogeyed the 18th for her 73.
Lauren Mackin wasn’t doing too badly when she got her second birdie of the day at the 12th –the first was at the third – to get her score back to two-over-par. Then she bogeyed four of the last five holes for 40 home and a 77.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (34-37)
69 Karlijn Zaanen (Net) 35-34.
70 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 32-38, Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 35-35, Louise Larsson (Swe) 35-35, Kylie Walker (Sco) 34-36.
71 Daisy Nielsen (Den) 36-35.
72 Lucie Andrew (Fra) 33-39.
73 Josephine Janson (Swe) 34-39, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 34-39, Maaike Naafs (Net) 35-38, Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 35-38, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) 35-38.
Selected scores:
74 Rachel Jennings (Eng) 36-38 (jt 13th).
76 Holly Clyburn (Eng) 38-38 (jt 25th).
77 Lauren Mackin (Sco) 37-40, Amy Boulden (Wal) 36-41.(jt 33rd)
78 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) 39-39 (jt 49th).
To see the 1st round leaderboard --- CLICK HERE
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Scottish Team named for Women's Home Internationals - West of Scotland's Kylie, Megan and Pamela

Click to enlarge

The Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club, September 9 to 11
The following players will represent Scotland in the 2009 Home International Matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire from September 9 to 11:
SCOTLAND
Captain - Lesley Nicholson
Manager - Claire Hargan
Carly Booth (Comrie)
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie)
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
Laura Murray (Alford)
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)
Jane Turner (Craigielaw)
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)
Reserves:
Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies)
Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze),
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)

Three Scots compete in European Individual Championship

The Scots competing in the European women's individual amateur golf championship at Falsterbo Golf Club, Sweden, today are Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), both GB&I Vagliano Trophy players, and Majorca-based Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle) --- They tee off this afternoon
To see how they are doing CLICK HERE

Kylie and Pamela finish in the Top Ten at the British

In what must rank as one of the greatest turn-arounds in Ladies Golf Union tournament history, Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) came from six shots in arrears to catch long-time leader, 15-year-old Hannah Turland (Tidworth), down the home stretch of Royal Aberdeen's classic links to win the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship.

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), determined to break 80 at the fourth and last attempt, went further than that - she broke 70!

Lanarkshire's Pamela returned the lowest round by anyone over the three days in the fourth round – a three-under-par 69, which earned her the Taunton Trophy.
It was a good tournament for the Scots in the field of 99.
Apart from Louise Kenney, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) finished sixth on 308, highlighting her final day with a third-round 71.
Pamela Pretswell, Carly Booth (Comrie), who closed with her best round of 74, Alford's Laura Murray finished joint seventh on 310.
Jane Turner (Craigielaw), chasing a first cap for Scotland in the home internationals, just made the top 20 with a total of 315.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Pamela Pretswell and Kylie Walker qualify for the last stages of the British Open

Report from Colin Farquharson
Nine Scots figured among the 44 qualifiers for Friday's final two rounds with two-round aggregates of 22-over-par 166 or better.
Leading Scot in joint fourth place is international Laura Murray who almost qualifies for the "local " tag. She hails from Alford.
Laura shot a great 76 in the horrendous conditions for a tally of 155 – four shots behind shock leader Hannah – and then said she couldn't have done it without her caddie, her mum Mary.
Tournament director Susan Simpson from Carnoustie admitted later that around 11am she did go out to the exposed 10th green to check the wind-and-ball situation.
"We had been getting reports from the course that balls were being moved by the wind on the greens. I went out and it was touch and go whether we suspended play but just when we were about to make a decision, the wind did drop a little bit and saved us a lot of bother."
Other Scots who made the cut were Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 80 for 159, West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 80 for 161, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 79 for 162, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 77 for 162, defending champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 82 for 163, and, right on the limit mark, former Scottish title-holder Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 86 for 166 and repeating Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 85 for 166.
Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) was agonisingly close – one shot too many with a 81 for 167.
Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) who was out in the worst of the weather crashed out with a 91 for 169, one shot better than North of Scotland champion Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie), 89 for 170.
QUALIFIERS (166 and better) Par 144 (2x72).
151 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 79 72.
154 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 75 79, Lucie Andre (France) 73 81..
155 Laura Murray (Alford) 79 76, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 78 77.
156 Charlotte Wild (Mere) 79 77.
157 Lucy Williams (Mid Herts) 81 76.
158 Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 80 78, Ciara Butler (Newlands) 78 80, Carly Booth (Comrie) 82 76..
159 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 79 80, Rachel Connor (Manchester) 80 79.
160 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 80, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 79 81, Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) 84 76.
161 Pamela Pretswelll (Bothwell Castle) 81 80, Myrte Eikenaar (Netherlands) 82 79..
162 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 79 83, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 83 79, Marion Ricordeau (France) 85 77, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 85 77, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 85 77.
163 Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 81 82, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 76 87.
164 Eleana Collins (US) 80 84, Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 85 79, Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 85 79, Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 87 77.
165 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 81 84, Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 78 87, Hannah Ralph (Cowdray Park) 79 86, Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 76 89, Isabelle Boineau (France) 86 79, Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 86 79, Margarita Ramosa (Mexico) 87 78, Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) 84 81, Natalie Lowe (Macclesfield) 82 83, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton) 81 84.
166 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 85 81, Rachel Jennings (IzaakWalton) 76 90, Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 79 87, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 80 86, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 81 85, Marion Duverney (France) 86 80.
SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT :
167 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 86 81,
169 Megan Briggs (Kilmaolm) 78 91
170 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 89, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 79 91,
171 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 91 80
172 Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 88 84,
173 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 84 89, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 90 83
175 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 87 88.
177 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 90 87
186 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 90 96.
188 Morag MacPherson (Troon Ladies) 96 92, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 95 93
192 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 92 100..
No Returns: Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 89 NR, Annabel Niven (Crieff) 99 NR, Fiona Hay (Deeside) 98 NR, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 95 NR.
To read the full report from todays play -- CLICK HERE

Megan Briggs is the leading Scot after the first round at the British Women's Open Amateur Championship

Leading Scores:
FIRST ROUND TOTALS FROM BALGOWNIE
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. ------ Par 72. 6,231yd
READ THE FULL REPORT AT THE GILLIAN KIRKWOOD WEBSITE

73 Lucie Andre (France) 34-39.
75 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 37-38.
76 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 37-39, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 35-41, Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 39-37.
77 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 38-39
78 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 35-43, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 38-40, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 38-40, Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 36-42, Jeanne Metivier (France) 42-36.


Other Scots:
79 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 38-41, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 39-40,Laura Murray Alford36-43,
80 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 40-40.
81 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).39-42, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 38-43, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 37-44, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 38-43.
82 Carly Booth (Comrie) 41-41,
83 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 42-41,
84 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 42-42,
85 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 39-46,
86 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 40-46,
87 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 39-48,
89 Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 45-44,
90 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 49-41, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 45-45, Tara Davies (Holyhead) 44-46, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 39-51,
91 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 44-47.
95 Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 48-47, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 47-48,
96 Morag MacPherson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 42-54.
97 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 44-53..
98 Fiona Hay (Deeside) 50-48.
99 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 41-58.

GB&I win final set of singles but Continent of Europe win the Vagliano Trophy

Pamela Pretswell, Kylie Walker and Sally Watson - courtesy of Gillian Kirkwood - Click to enlarge The GB&I Team -- Courtesy of Gillian Kirkwood - Click to enlarge

Skipper Mary McKenna's Great Britain & Ireland team finished with their tails up by winning the final singles 5-3 - the only one of the four sessions of play over the two days that they did not lose - but the Continent of Europe retained the Vagliano Trophy women's biennial amateur international trophy by a 13-11 margin at Hamburger Golf Club, Falkenstein in Germany.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) halved their foursomes tie this morning and Pamela had a comfortable win in the singles this afternoon.

To read the full report go to the Gillan Kirkwood Website

(Gillian -- pictured left --was a referee at the event)

For a printout of all the results Click Here

GB&I trail to Continent of Europe at Vagliano Trophy halfway stage

GB&I And Continent of Europe Teams -- Click to enlarge (Courtesy of Colin Farquharson)

Great Britain & Ireland, seeking to avenge a record 15-9 defeat at St Andrews two years ago, are trailing the Continent of Europe who lead 7 ½-4 ½ at the halfway stage of the two-day women’s amateur international team golf match for the Vagliano Trophy at Hamburger Golf Club, Germany.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell) - 5th from the right and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 4th from the right in the above photo are in the Team -- Click on this following link for today's full report --- Gillian Kirkwood Website
To print out today's results --- CLICK HERE

Scotland finish top of Flight B and Pamela and Kylie are winners

Scotland beat Wales 5-0 to earn ninth place ranking, Silver medals for England

Scotland defeated Switzerland 4 1/2 to 1/2 in the European Team Championships and then went on to beat Wales 5-0 in their final Flight B match to be officially ranked ninth of the 18 competing countries in the European women's amateur team golf championship at Bled, Slovenia.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) won the foursomes by 4 and 3 over Amy Boulden and Gemma Bradbury.
In the singles, the Scotland dominance continued. Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) beat left-handed Stephanie Evans by 3 and 2. Carly Booth (Comrie) was a one-hole winner over Rhian Wyn Thomas. Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) beat Tara Davies 4 and 3 while Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) also won by 4 and 3 over Lucy Gould.
Considering they were a little unlucky to lose out on eighth place in the Championship Flight, it was not a bad performance at all by the Scots. Ninth was the highest finish they could achieve after that - and they did it with a little bit of style.
The official rankings at the conclusion of the championship were:
1 Germany, 2 England, 3 France, 4 Spain, 5 Sweden, 6 Netherlands, 7 Denmark, 8 Norway.
9 Scotland, 10 Wales, 11 Austria, 12 Switzerland, 13 Italy, 14 Finland, 15 Belgium, 16 Iceland.17 Ireland, 18 Slovenia.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Pamela and Kylie play well for Scotland but Scots miss out for the Top Flight by one

Scotland missed out by one in the Championship Flight of the European women's amateur team championship at Bled, Slovenia.
The Scots finished ninth in the 36-hole qualifying stroke-play which put them into the Second Flight - along with Wales and Ireland.
France are the top seeds with a three-over-par team total over two rounds, which represents some quality scoring in there.
England qualified in fourth place at 14 over par.
The Scots (29 over par) therefore join Wales (44 over par) and Ireland (46 over par) in the Second Flight Matches.
Top scorer for the Scots over the qualifying rounds was Swiss women's open amateur champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) with 77 and 71 for 148.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) all totalled 152, Louise with a pair of 76s, Kyle with scores of 78 and 75 while Sally followed up a 79 with a 73.
Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) improved by five shots with a 75 for 155 but Carly Booth (Comrie) is still not at her best with scores of 79 and 77 for 156.

Kylie and Pamela miss the cut

Kylie and Pamela miss the cut at the Irish Open --- Click Here to see all the 2nd round Scores

First Round Scores at the Ladies Irish Open - Kylie is 2nd leading Amateur

The first round of the AIB Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland is underway at Portmarnock Hotel and Links near Dublin.
West of Scotland Amateurs Kylie Walker and Pamela Pretswell both do well today. ------ Kylie is the 2nd leading Amateur
To see all the results Click Here --- for European Tour Scoreboard
When you get there -- Click on the card link to see how the players have done

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