D&A JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER IS SOPHIE MURPHY

D&A President Fiona Cowan presents Sophie Murphy
with the 2021 Claret Jug

While the D&A County Team were enjoying Forres, the D&A junior championship was being played at Clydebank and District Golf Club. 

This was not played in 2020 due to Covid  and yesterday the delighted Sophie Murphy (Glasgow Golf Club)  was the winner of the 2021 Claret Jug.

 The winner of the Cowan Cup (handicap) is Rebekah Sherry (Clober)

To see more photos go to the D&A website CLICK HERE

THE NEW SCOTTISH UNDER 16 CHAMPIONS

 Meet the new Scottish Girls Under 16 and Under 14's and Under 12's Champions 

Many congrats go to Freya Russell (Royal Troon) who had top ten finish in the Under 16s.

 Jodie Graham (Hamilton) who was 3rd in the Under 14's and Renfrewshire Junior Rosie McGuire (Pollok) who was 13th

Read full reports on Scottish Golf Website 👉 GIRLS UNDER 16'S

Boys reports on the website as well 👉 BOYS

Jennifer Lynagh is first girl to win the Caldwell Junior Championship.

Jennifer Lynagh

RLCGA Junior Jennifer Lynagh had a great day at Caldwell yesterday to round off a great week of superb golf golf by becoming the first girl to win the Junior Club Championship in the clubs history.

CARMEN GRIFFITHS WINS THE GIRLS PRO DREAM USA POLLOK JUNIOR MASTERS

Carmen Griffiths and Daniel Bullen 

Daniel Bullen from AuchterarderGC  won the Pollok Junior Masters in association with ProDreamUSA

He fired a final round 69 to finish on 7-under and one shot clear of Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) in a thrilling finish. - - CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULT

West of Scotland Girls featured well with  Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell) and Leah Bryce (Sandyhills)  being 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Under 18's net scores after today's final round -- UNDER 18'S NET LEADERBOARD -- CLICK HERE

In the Girls section Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne)  had the best scratch with Freya Russell (Royal Troon) being 4th and Megan Docherty (Bishopbriggs) 5th-- LEADERBOARD UNDER 18'S --  CLICK HERE .

Jennifer Lynagh said on twitter -- Day 2 of the Pollok Junior Masters. Left a few out there but still really pleased with my performance for the tournament Really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about my game. Round 3 - 81 (+8) T7 girls gross & just missed out on best overall net by 1

JENNIFER LYNAGH IS THE FIRST JUNIOR TO WIN THE CALDWELL LADIES CHAMPION

The Caldwell Club Championship was played yesterday (1st August) after the best 2 qualifying scores were taken from 3 medals played over the last three Wednesday's in July 

Up and coming Renfrewshire County Junior Jennifer Lynagh  the 2019 West of Scotland Bronze Champion and West of Scotland 2019 Handicap Trophy Winner reached the final with her best 2 gross scores which included a Gross 78 - 12 net 66 (6 under PAR!) -- Fantastic score.

In the final she played Liz Hale and won 4&3 and became the first Junior to ever win the Ladies' Championship

Jennifer said " I was up against her and it was a great match" --"Liz has supported me a lot since I joined the club and I am so grateful for everything she’s done for me"

A name for the future to follow -- Jennifer had a handicap of 35 in 2018  and his now down to 11 -- Well done Jennifer 

Link up with an Open champion aids Clare-Marie Macaulay's golf drive

By Nick Rodger Golf Correspondent - The Glasgow Herald -24th March

In this country, where the dank, grim days of winter are as short as a resigned sigh, the onset of some decent, dry spring weather doesn’t half raise the morale. Well, it would if the coronaviruswasn’t lurking all over the parish.

While nothing is more important than the health of all and sundry, the timing of the Covid-19 assault for those in the golfing industry has been as wonky as high handicapper’s swing.

Clare-Marie Macaulay’s admirable endeavours in spreading the game’s gospel into schools has been, temporarily, plunged into the rough but her enthusiasm for getting a new generation playing and, most of all, enjoying golf knows no bounds.

The grassroots work she performed in tandem with her PGA qualified brother, Andy Carlton, at Paisley Golf Club certainly made people sit up and take notice. One such person was a certain Open champion.

“Paul Lawrie approached me to see if I’d be interested in taking on a role in his Foundation,” said Macaulay of the 1999 Claret Jug winner’s advance. “It was an easy decision to make.

“It’s great to have Paul there as a figurehead. Some of the teachers in the schools we go to may not be golfers but they know of Paul.

“Even if the young kids don’t know him, it’s a nice, inspiring tale to tell about his rise, his Open win and what he does for golf. Paul wants the best for golf in Scotland, we all do and we need to keep driving it forward.”

In a joint venture which can only be beneficial for the young ’uns, Lawrie’s Foundation and the Foundation run by Stephen Gallacher have teamed up with the Junior Flag Challenge, an initiative Macaulay helped run, to form a nationwide under-12s development platform that is also backed by Scottish Golf.

“It’s the right thing to do,” she said of this combined fleet. “We’re getting a more joined-up approach now and that can only be good.

“Before I joined up with Paul people may have thought we were in competition with what he was doing and what Stevie was doing. That wasn’t the case at all.We just all wanted the same thing and that was to get more kids playing golf and give them more opportunities. Working together will help to do that.

“When I was a junior at Fereneze, I never struggled for a game in the juniors. We need to get the numbers back up. The Scottish Junior Flag Championship gives young players a bit more incentive. They don’t need a handicap and it’s a chance for them to represent their clubs through a local qualifier and then onto a regional event.

“The clubs across the country get involved too and there are a lot of very active people trying to do their bit for junior golf.”

Of course, the wild spread of the coronavirus continues to put a spanner in all manner of works. “Obviously now, I can’t go into the schools,” said Macaulay, the wife of former European Tour player Callum.

"This couldn’t have arrived at a worse time. But we just need to get on with it. It’s a shame as there was some real momentum building with the school programme.”

Her momentum may have been halted by this perilous pandemic but Macaulay’s eagerness remains undiminished. “There is huge potential to get golf into schools,” she added. “All the teachers seem very keen. It’s a bit different to other standard sports.

“I do ask the kids if they’ve ever touched a club and a lot haven’t. I’ll also ask them, ‘be honest, did you think golf was boring?’. But they love it and say it’s better than they thought.

“It’s aimed at primary five, six and seven and a few kids have been involved in the five week course at school and have gone on to do coaching at their local clubs.

“Ralston Golf Club, for example, started some junior coaching and six of them from the school programme went along which was encouraging. They were keen to keep going.

“A lot of the time with golf, kids have parents or grandparents who are into it but going into schools gives everybody a chance. It opens it up to all.”

NOMINATE A 15-17 YEAR OLD FEMALE GOLFER FROM SCOTLAND TO GO TO ARCHERFIELD

Archerfield Golf Club

From Lorne Kelly

As many people know, for the past three years I have been working with the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, an amazing program that helps high potential, but financially disadvantaged young people achieve their dream of playing college golf. 

Each summer, dozens of students get the opportunity to travel to one of the most incredible courses in America to learn the skills needed to reach their athletic and academic potential. 

This year, we’re also excited to add an additional CGGI camp at ARCHERFIELD, Scotland to help more students in Europe. 

WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR GIRLS FROM  SCOTLAND and would appreciate any recommendations. 

If you know of a deserving high school golfer who would be a good fit, please reach out for details on how to nominate them for the program. 
My email address is lornekelly100@gmail.com or by all means PM me -- CLOSING DATE 22ND JANUARY 2020 FOR NOMINATIONS

You can learn more about CGGI and Congaree Foundation play the video below

Register your club's interest in GolfSixes today !

Scottish Golf is excited to announce that expression of interest is now open for our 2020 GolfSixes Leagues. Run in partnership with the Golf Foundation, the leagues provides junior beginner golfers who have no handicap or 37 and above the opportunity to represent their club in team-based playing opportunity that is fast and fun.

This is an inter-club competition where local clubs work collaboratively to provide a positive playing experience through simple points scoring that will retain the children’s interest in the sport.

How does it work?

Teams take part in a standardised format which can be easily organised and administered by the PGA professional or club volunteer. The competition would consist of:

• Minimum 4 teams per league, up to a maximum of 6
• Up to 8 fixtures per league
• 6 short holes adapted depending on facility and number of teams
• Shotgun start where possible (peripheral activities if tee time start)
• Up to a squad of 12 where you may rotate players (ideally a minimum 4 girls per squad)
• Teams of 6 playing each match Pairs Texas Scramble using a point scoring system based on number of strokes taken e.g. 1 stroke = 10 points, 10 strokes = 1 point
• Clubs in the league share hosting the fixtures

READ MORE  -- Register your club's interest in GolfSixes today!

Juniors playing in adult events is no brainer

Hannah Darling, who developed her game in competitions at Broomieknowe,
in action at the junior Solheim Cup. Picture: Jamie Squire/IMG

By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman Newspaper

So, the “Pillocks of the Year” prize goes to the lady members who wanted to stop juniors from taking part in their club competitions before someone with a grasp on modern-day life intervened.

Well done to John Clark, the managing director of Ping, for quickly stepping in and avoiding any further embarassment for Thonock Park, which is owned by the equipment manufacturer, but what on earth possessed those lady members at the Lincolnshire club to pass such a vote?

Was it because they are precious wee souls and don’t like losing out to youngsters in competitions? If so, they should hang their heads in shame because such an attitude is just not acceptable in the sport.

No wonder there were lots of people expressing disbelief over the decision before Clark issued a statement from Ping’s European headquarters nearby to say that it had been revoked due to the fact it was “completely against the values, principles and philosophies” of the company.

“This shouldn’t even be a debate/question!” declared Bradley Neil, the 2014 Amateur champion, on Twitter and, in fairness, he should know, having played in men’s competitions at Blairgowrie as he came through the junior ranks.

“Most of the best golfers – if not all – this game has seen will have played adult competitions as a junior. How can we expect to grow the game if we deny them the chance to improve?”

Exactly and how ironic that this story came to light on the same day that 15-year-old Englishman Josh Hill earned a place in the record books by becoming the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event with his victory in the Al Ain Open on the MENA Tour, one of the game’s third-tier circuits. Like many players of his age, Hill has seen his game flourish through competing against adults from an early age.

There’s more to it than just that, though. Youngsters can learn life skills from spending time in adult company and, speaking from experience, 
a golf course can be one of 
the best places to appreciate that.

Yes, of course, there are some people out there who aren’t necessarily the ideal role models but, in the main, the majority of people that play the game can be instrumental in that respect and, what’s more, are happy to do so.

It really is a no brainer that juniors should be allowed to play in adult competitions and even more so these days when older members should feel a sense of duty when it comes to doing everything possible to proctect the future of their golf club.

If Ping hadn’t stepped in, those lady members at Thonock Park would have been scoring a shocking own goal as far as the club was concerned and also for the game itself in the bigger picture.

At a time when attracting new blood into the game is vital, the sport needs more players like Hannah Darling, for example, who has been encouraged by her home club, Broomieknowe, and has seen her talent blossom as a consequence.

Would she be on the verge of breaking into the world’s top 100 if she’d been stopped from playing against older and more experienced players over the last few years? Probably not.

SCOTTISH JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS AT KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

The West of Scotland Girls Golfing Association has entered two teams into this event which is being played today 29th September 2019 over Kilmarnock Barassie

The format is play will be in 3 balls with the best 5 stableford points scored out of 6 to count (full handicap allowance) 

TEAM A.  

Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas)

Katie Graham (Hamilton)

Megan Docherty (Bishopbriggs)

Luisa Gibson (Irvine)

Freya Russell (Royal Troon)
Leah Bryce (Sandyhills)

TEAM B.
Sophie Murphy(Clydebank & District)

Abigail McCafferty(Airdrie)

Orla Rooney (Cowglen)

Kittie Maslanka (Kirkhill)

Jodie Graham (Hamilton)

Hannah Carson ( East Renfrewshire)

Fantastic day and results for West Girls.

The West Girls 1 Team won the 1st Girls Team.  West Girls 2 were 2nd Girls Team.  

In relation to individual prize winners:

Rachel Foster - 1st Scratch Girl

Freya Russell - 1st Nett Girl

The Organisers will process scores through CDH etc but in the meantime the CSS was 76 (35 points).

Well done to all the girls and a big thank you to all the organisers.

Thanks go to Allison Bell for the update. 

Great win at St Andrews by Isla McCulloch

By Colin Farquharson

Isla McCulloch, winner of this year's St Andrews Junior Ladies Open Quaich, plays most of her golf at Moray and Rothes golf clubs but is also  a member at Cruden Bay where she first learned to swing a club.

At St Andrews, she qualified on the Monday round the Strathtyrum Course where she shot a net 69 ( 2 under) and gained one of the eight spots for the open Quaich quarter-finals.

In a hard-fought quarter-final match against Dominica Bobrikova (a member of the Slovakian team) Isla  came out on top by 2 and 1.

In the semi-finals she beat 18-year-old Taylor White from Cathkin Braes by 2 and 1 after a fantastic match.

The final was held on the Old Course where she met Lucy Hall from Gullane. 

Despite being two down after only four holes, Isla won the match on the Road Hole 17th with a par to clinch the title 2 and 1.

It was Isla's first competition in an international field. To qualify was a great achievement but to go on and win was unbelievable.

She has just started third year at Elgin Academy and has joined Elgin Golf Club which is now her nominated club.

Caldwell Golf Club Girls Golf Day

Caldwell Golf Club on Sunday 28th July

Kindly organsised by Liz Hale and Club Professional Mark Loftus (Contact details in the link below)

The format of the event is a Texas Scramble and exact timings to be decided, -- Open to all abilities and everyone most welcome

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND PRINT OUT THE POSTER

East Renfrewshire Junior Open Week

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE POSTER

Are you the next Tiger Woods, Franceso Molinari or Jin Young Ko?Then why not take part in The East Renfrewshire Golf Club’s Junior Week

A week of golf and fun for juniors aged 8 and over. Come along and enjoy a selection of events including: team and individual events, Stableford (individual and team), Texas Scramble and Match Play for the more accomplished players.
For the younger participants events to include : 6 hole competitions, target golf, putting challenges, longest drivers and team events. 
There will be something for everyone in a week designed to provide both enjoyment and competition

Times:

• 6 hole players – Monday to Thursday - 9am to 4pm
• 18 hole players – Monday to Thursday - 9am to 4pm
• 6 hole players – Friday - 9am to 12pm followed by Presentations and a BBQ for
  6 hole player Participants and Parents
• 18 hole players – Friday afternoon – Bonar Walker Trophy where a Parent, with a
  handicap, can join their children for a round of Golf
  Please bring golf clubs if possible. Contact the Pro Shop if required
  Closing date for entries: 22nd July 2019. Entry forms available at the Professional Shop or at the Club. Call the Club on 01355 500 256 or e-mail - golf@eastrengolfclub.co.uk
  
   CLICK HERE FOR EAST RENFREWSHIRE JUNIOR MEMBERS ENTRY FORM
  
  CLICK HERE - FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS FRIENDS ENTRY FORM
  
  

RENFREWSHIRE WIN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND KENNEDY SALVER

Renfrewshire County Juniors - Win the 2019 Kennedy Salver

The Junior West of Scotland Kennedy Salver was  played today at East Renfrewshire Golf Club

The Renfrewshire team listed below were the winners with a clean sweep in both the foursomes and singles.  --
Lanarkshire the 2017 and 2018 winners were the runners up.

Morning Foursomes Results:

As they stand after the morning foursomes - Click to enlarge

Kennedy Salver Single Results:

Sophie Kyle (Renfrewshire) bt Luisa Gibson(Ayrshire) 5&4

Emily Crusher (Renfrewshire) bt Taylor White (Lanarkshire) 4&3

Claire McLaughlin (Ayrshire) A/S Madeleine MacGregor (Lanarkshire)

Aaliyah Sandburg (Renfrewshire) bt Leah Bryce (Lanarkshire) 3&2

Freya Russell (Ayrshire) bt  Jennifer Reilly (Lanarkshire) 3&2

Orla Rooney (Renfrewshire) bt Katy Hill (Ayrshire) 2&1

Hannah  Carson (Renfrewshire) bt Jodie Graham(Lanarkshire) 7&6

Jennifer Lynagh (Renfrewshire) bt Cristina McCracken(Ayrshire ) 7&6

Abigail McCartney (Lanarkshire)  bt Louise Milligan(Ayrshire) 4&3

Full result: 

Winners; Renfrewshire 9points

2nd Lanarkshire 3:5

3rd. Ayrshire 2.5

Renfrewshire Team 
Aaliyah Sandhu (Haggs Castle)

Emily Crusher (Eastwood)

Hannah Carson (East Renfrewshire)

Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell)

Ella McGrath (Caldwell)

Orla Rooney (Cowglen)

Sophie Kyle (East Renfrewshire)

Morning Foursomes - Courtesy of Allison Bell

Thanks go to Allison Bell for photos and results

WEST OF SCOTLAND KENNEDY SALVER TEAMS START TO BE ANNOUNCED

LANARKSHIRE - THE 2017 AND 2018 KENNEDY SALVER CHAMPIONS

The Renfrewshire team for the above event on June 20^that East Renfrewshire Golf Club will be:

Aaliyah Sandhu (Haggs Castle)

Emily Crusher (Eastwood)

Hannah Carson (East Renfrewshire)

Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell)

Lauren Agnew (Eastwood)

Orla Rooney (Cowglen)

Sophie Kyle (East Renfrewshire)

Reserve Ella McGrath (Caldwell)

The team to represent Lanarkshire in the Junior Inter County Match for the Kennedy Salver is as follows;
Taylor White, Cathkin Braes (Capt)
Leah Bryce, Sandyhills
Jodie Graham, Hamilton
Madeleine MacGregor, Hamilton
Lindsay Main, Strathaven
Abigail McCafferty, Airdrie

Jennifer Reilly, Hamilton

To be announced:
Ayrshire Team
D&A Team 

The Foursome matches begin at 9.30 and Singles matches at 2pm.

All supporters welcome.

The Kennedy Salver is on the 20th June - Some juniors have a practice round

Left to Right: Orla Rooney, Jennifer Lynagh, Lauren Agnew,
Aaliyah Sandhu and Ella McGrath.

The Renfrewshire Juniors had a practice round over East Renfrewshire Golf Club yesterday. -- "Thanks to East Renfrewshire Golf Club for courtesy yesterday afternoon for the girls to see the course ahead of the Kennedy Salver on Thursday 20th June. "
-- LANARKSHIRE won in 2018 - CLICK HERE

On the 1st tee

The course was in lovely condition and we were lucky to have a sunny afternoon with light winds. The girls took part in a tri-am format for the first 12 and then a greensomes to finish over the last 6 holes. Some lovely golf on display and it was worthwhile for those girls that were available to help with locating some of the hazards and club selections.

Everyone is looking forward to the the Junior West of Scotland Kennedy Salver and hope as many supporters can make it along on the day.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Thanks go to Clair Barclay for the report and photos. 

CLAIRE MCLAUGHLIN FROM WEST KILBRIDE WINS THE FIRST 2019 JUNIOR TOUR EVENT

Claire Mclaughlin (West Kilbride) finished in first place in the Junior Tour event over Southerness on Saturday 6th April after the two rounds with a total score of 159. 
Carys Irvine (Craigielaw) was 2nd on 160
Luisa Gibson (Irvine) finished 3rd (161) 

 Full results can be found here

KATY HILL WINS THE AYRSHIRE JUNIOR SPRING SALVER

Ayrshire Vice Captain Joanne Sharp, trophy Winner Katy Hill and Junior Girls

Ten girls braved the elements at Troon Fullarton yesterday morning to contest the Ayrshire Junior Spring Salver. 
Four pre-handicappers played 7 holes and in the 18 hole competition for the salver there were some great scores with the winner, on the better inward half, being Katy Hill (Turnberry) playing off a handicap of 10 with a nett 61 

First silver was Freya Russell (Royal Troon)  nett 62 
First bronze was Louise Milligan (Irvine GC) nett 61 
Second bronze was Katie Ronnie (Kilmarnock Barassie) nett 69

To read more and see more photographs go to the Ayrshire County Website 

STRATHMORE GIRLS MAKE HISTORY

Junior Captains Megan Ashley and Amy Mitchell

From Iain Butchart - Junior Convenor, Strathmore Golf Club.

Testament to how far our girls have progressed. Strathmore Gents were struggling to field a Scratch League team and Gents Captain Norman Dyce suggested to the Perth and Kinross Executive that if Strathmore were to include Ladies or Girls then they could field a team. 

Being one of the most forward thinking Counties in Scotland this was agreed and as Junior Convenor I am personally delighted as I was instrumental in having Girls included in the Junior Scratch League 11 years ago and this year will field the first ever all Girl Junior Scratch League team and will have 2 in the Gents Team and 3 in the Ladies Team. 

This is unprecedented and probably does more to enhance the amalgamation currently going on within Golf. 

We have also recently started running Family Competitions within our Junior Section so that parents and grandparents can join in and these are gaining in popularity so if you want to grow golf make it inclusive. Strathmore and P&K are leaders not followers. 

Photographed above are our joint Junior Captains Megan Ashley and Amy Mitchell who will be eligible to play.

RAIN IN CYPRUS PUTS A DAMPNER ON SCOTTISH GIRLS

Nicos Severis Cyprus Junior Open 2019 Announcement:

 Play for Day 2 of the event cancelled due to weather conditions.

 The Championship (Boys and Girls) will recommence tomorrow, Sunday, 17 February, with a 2-tee start at 07:45.
The draw for the final day will be available from the event's webpage after 11:00 today. CGF greatly regrets to announce that, due to organizational constraints, today's Severis Cup (18-holes) and the 9-Hole competitions cannot be rescheduled and are therefore cancelled.

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL DAY DRAW

 Well another lost day in Cyprus , rain rain rain, poor girls all this way for golf and nothing course closed again hopefully they will get to play tomorrow 😔 and yes I know it’s nice back home  😓

Thanks go to Liz Keohone for the update.