SCOTTISH GOLF AIMS TO BOOST CLUB MEMBERSHIP WITH NEW CARD

Exclusive to members of SGU and SLGA affiliated golf clubs, the new Scottish Golf Membership Card will add value to your membership and bring you a number of national benefits and special offers to enhance your enjoyment of playing golf in Scotland. The Card will be sent to you via your club in June 2014!

Sponsored by SSE Scottish Hydro as part of their support of Scottish Golf, the Card has been created jointly by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, and is designed to identify golf club members and offer preferential benefits in addition to your existing club membership.

The Scottish Golf Membership Card will be personalised with your name, club and CDH (Centralised Database of Handicap) number. This will help identify you as a member when you are at other clubs, whether playing a Club Open or playing as a visitor, and can be used to access a number of member benefits including:

• Preferential green fee rates at leading Championship golf courses
• Member discounts at other participating Scottish clubs
• Exclusive competitions from our sponsors SSE Scottish Hydro
• Special offers with our partners including TaylorMade, adidas-Golf, Jewson and GolfKings Travel
• Discounted tickets for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and SSE Scottish Senior Open
• The chance to win a place in the Scottish Hydro Challenge Pro-Am and SSE Scottish Senior Open Pro-Am

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Scottish Under-18 Girls (Close) Championship

Scottish Under-18 Girls (Close) Championship
Dumfries and County Golf Club.
July 15 to 19, 2014

The closing date (Monday, June 16) for the above tournament is fast approaching, so get your entry in before it’s too late!
The championship is open to Scottish girls with a handicap of 34 or below and is a great chance for all to experience championship golf!
To enter online go to the SLGA WEBSITE -- CLICK HERE

Toni Melvin-Ffinch
Championship Manager

CONNIE MEGAN AND EILIDH ARE TO REPRESENT SCOTLAND

TEAMS
St Rule Trophy, 31st May-1st June 2014

Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies)
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw)

Ladies British Open Amateur Championship 24th-28th June 2014

Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield)
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Connie Jaffrey (Troon )

HANNAH McCOOK PIPS AILSA SUMMERS FOR MUNROSS TROPHY AT MONTROSE

Stirling student Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) pipped St Andrews student Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) for the Munross Trophy at the end of the 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit event at Montrose Links.
McCook, beaten by the eventual champion, Connie Jaffrey, in the second round of last week's 100th Scottish women's amateur championship, had rounds of 77 and a very good 69 for a total of 146.
That gave her a one-shot victory from Summers, the No 2 seed at Prestwick where she was a beaten quarter-finals.
Ailsa had rounds of 76 and 71 for 147.
Troon youngster Hazel MacGarvie (78-70) and Iona Stephen (Wentworth) (72-76) tied for third place on 148.
MacGarvie, who plays off three, won the top handicap award with a net 36-hole aggrgate of 142 - a shot ahead of Strathaven five-handicapper Kirsten Brown.
PRIZEWINNERS
Scratch: Hannah McCook 146, Ailsa Summers 147, Iona Stephen 148, Gillian Monteith 150
Handicap: H MacGarvie (3) 142; K Brown (5) 143; M Richmond (10) 145; K Reid (4) 146 (better second round).

To read the full report go to the Kirkwood Website

CONNIE JAFFREY IS THE LEADING QUALIFIER IN THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT PRESTWICK

From the SLGA Website
Connie Jaffrey added a 76 to her first round 73 and led the qualifiers on one over par 149 at the 100th staging of the Scottish Ladies’ Championship at Prestwick.

The Troon Ladies’ member maintained her four shot overnight lead with Carnoustie’s Ailsa Summers moving into second place after a best of Championship 72.

In joint third place on 154 were a strong trio of defending champion Alyson McKechin (77) and the Briggs’ sisters from Kilmacolm , Megan and Eildih.

Megan, the 2009 Champion at Southerness, posted a 75, while Eildih, who will represent GB and Ireland at next month’s Curtis Cup, shot 76.

Elderslie’s McKechin, who won the title at Longniddry 12 months ago, had three birdies on a near perfect golfing day on the south Ayrshire coast.

Jaffrey, the Scottish Girls’ Champion, highlighted her round with four birdies and the pick of the bunch came at the short second where she came close to a hole in one.

“I hit the ball to a foot and then did it again for another of my birdies at the 17th,” said the 17-year-old who is playing in the Championship for a first time. “I was delighted to maintain my four shot lead and t’s a good feeling to head the strokeplay qualifiers.”

Summers’ hole of the day was the long eighth – she made eagle – and she also had a handful of birdies in the two under round.

Eilidh Briggs was runner-up at Machrihanish three years ago and she had three birdies to finish among the top seeds. “The conditions were definitely easier,” said the 21-year-old Stirling University student. “The wind wasn’t nearly so fierce.”

Thirty-one players on 169 and better made it straight into the matchplay knock-out and Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies) clamed the 32nd and final spot by defeating beat Carol Whyte (Milngavie) at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Having halved the first extra hole (the 15th) in bogey fives, Whyte hit her second shot out of bounds at the 18th and eventually conceded the hole. Finnie’s reward is a first round match against clubmate Jaffrey.

100th SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 148 (2x74)
149 C Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 73 76
153 A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 72
154 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 75, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 77, A McKechin (Elderslie) 77 77
155 R Walker (Dumfries and Co) 78 77, C Young (North Berwick) 77 78
156 L Whyte (St Regulus) 81 75
158 N Ferguson (Milngavie) 78 80
159 G MacDonald (Craigielaw) 79 80
161 K Marshall (Baberton) 84 77, L Atkins (Gullane) 84 77
162 R Polson (Peterculter) 81 81, J Graham (Southerness) 81 81, E Moffat (St Regulus) 79 83
164 L MacGregor (Glenbervie) 84 80, H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 84 80, H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 82 82, K McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 87
165 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 88 77, K Brodie (Strathmore) 83 82, Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 82 83, N Stephen (Wentworth) 82 83
166 C Thompson (Royal Dornoch) 84 82, K Beveridge (Aboyne) 82 84, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 80 86
167 C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 86 81
168 K Wright (Stranraer) 81 87
169 L D'Ambrosio (Carluke) 89 80, E Watson (Muckhart) 85 84, J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 84 85
170 (after play-off) J Finnie (Troon Ladies) 87 83

OTHER SCORES
170 (after play-off) C Whyte (Milngavie) 86 84.
171 J Free (Gullane) 89 82, J Farrell (Cardross) 87 84, L Allan (West Kilbride) 87 84, L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 85 86
172 T Mactaggart (Minto) 89 83, A McBride (Harburn) 83 89
173 N Robertson (Stirling) 90 83, K Reid (Monifieth) 88 85, G Coughlin (Fairhaven) 87 86, E Bryce (Strathaven) 84 89.
174 R Rankin (Lanark) 91 83, A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 84 90.
175 H Munro (Monifieth) 95 80, J Potter (Cathkin Braes) 92 83, K Brown (Strathaven) 92 83, A Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) 86 89, E Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 93
176 I Moncrieff (Pitlochry) 95 82, W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 88 88
177 S Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies) 88 89
178 A Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 87 91, J Saxton (Kinross) 86 92
179 D Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 93 86, J Chalmers (Monifieth) 91 88, H Scott (Broomieknowe) 88 91, L Mathie (Troon Ladies) 87 92.
180 F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) 88 92, L Wilson (Kelso) 87 93,
181 D Young (North Berwick) 94 87
182 C Munro (Gullane) 96 86
183 G Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) 94 89, S L Cameron (Gullane) 92 81, L Lee (Musselburgh) 92 91
184 L Bain (Lochend) 95 89, J Mack (Haggs Castle) 94 90, P Hutton (Lanark) 88 96, K Malcolm (Dumfries and Co) 88 96
186 K Scott (Strathaven) 93 83
187 R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) 96 91
188 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 89 99
189 K Blackwood (Glencorse) 93 96
190 L McGeachy (Haggs Castle) 96 94, E Caddow (Strathaven) 95 95
191 C Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 100 91, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) 95 96
192 A Devine (Hamilton) 96 96
193 R Livingstone (Craigmillar Park) 98 95
194 H Anderson (Troon Ladies) 100 94, B Paterson (Eastwood) 96 98, S Goldie (Eastwood) 92 102
195 A Melvin-Ffinch (Hirsel) 99 96, K Burgess (Silverknowes) 95 100
197 B Waugh (Moor Hall) 98 99, M Gardner (Linlithgow) 86 111.
198 J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 105 93, S Ireland (Prestonfield) 102 96, L Barker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 99 99
200 W MacCallum (Falkirk) 101 99
201 E Wilson (Elie and Earlsferry) 93 108
206 E Irvine (Alford) 105 101
215 M McBain (Turnhouse) 114 101
219 M Miller (Blairgowrie) 114 105
220 L Cackett (Broomieknowe) 115 105
223 R Irvine (Largs) 122 101
226 E Gillespie (Lochend) 124 102.
232 F Findlay (Lochend) 114 118
233 A Joss (Alford) 117 116
243 L McTaggart (East Kilbride) 117 126

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH PLAY DRAW
CLARK ROSEBOWL DRAW

WEST OF SCOTLAND'S CONNIE JAFFREY LEADS THE FIELD AFTER THE FIRST ROUND

Connie Jaffrey - Photo courtesy of Colin Farquharson

Seventeen-year-old Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), the highest world-ranked player in the field of 110, took Prestwick's tough and tricky links by the scruff of the neck and shook out an excellent round of one-under-par 73 today in the first qualifying round of the 100th Scottish women's amateur championship.
With a misty morning giving way to a blustery wind, there was no prospect of anyone else in the field getting close to the Kilwinning teenager's score over the first 18 holes.
Runner-up in the "Helen Holm" at Troon last month, Jaffrey showed her class over a course that had the clubhouse awash with horror tales of 8s, 9s and even 10s.
You might think that Connie's local knowledge of this particular Ayrshire links was the basis for the skill with which she plotted her way past the out-of-bounds burn, the cavernous bunkers and the punishing rough which has apparently sprouted considerably over the past
couple of weeks.
In fact, Prestwick is a members' course and young Jaffrey has not played it all that many times in the past.
This is her debut in the Scottish ladies' championship and she marked it with the following figures:
OUT: 534 535 644 - 39 (one over par)
IN: 524 343 445 - 34 (two under par)
She had birdies at three par-5s on the way out - the third, eighth and ninth.
Then she had a marvellous run from 11th of birdie-birdie-par-birdie.
"I'm very pleased with a 73 because I bogeyed four of the first seven holes where my course management was not as good as it should have been and I didn't hole anything," said Connie.
"But I got up and down for a birdie 4 from about 70yds out and that seemed to settle me."
Next best on the leaderboard on the 77 mark are last year's finalists from Longniddry, defending champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and runner-up Clara Young (North Berwick), as well as Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
Curtis Cup GB and I selection Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) had a 78 and her older sister Megan, a former national champion, a 79 --  despite having a 9 at the the 3rd hole and a double bogey at the 9th hole -- she then had an inward half of 35 bettered only by Connie Jaffrey.

100th SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire
Par 74 (38-36)
73 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 39-34
77 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 38-39,
Clara Young (North Berwick) 39-38, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 39-38
78 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 41-37, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 42-36, Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie) 39-39
79 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 44-35, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 40-39, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 39-40
80 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 42-38
81 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 42-39, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 42-39, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 40-41, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 42-39, Katie Wright (Stranraer) 41-40
82 Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Iona Stephen (Wentworth), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Hazel Macgarvie (Troon Ladies)
83 Alison McBride (Harburn), Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore).
84 Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Lesley Atkins (Gullane), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Karen Marshall (Baberton), Louise MacGregor (Glenbervie), Cara Thompson (Royal Dornoch), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ellie Bryce (Strathaven).
85 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe)
86 Jennifer Saxton (Kinross), Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), Gale Macpherson (Loudoun Gowf), Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies), Carol Whyte (Milngavie), Margo Gardner (Linlithgow).
87 Linzi Allan (West Kilbride), Georgia Coughlin (Fairhaven), Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies), Jillian Farrell (Cardross), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Leanne Wilson (Kelso), Lindsay Mathie (Troon Ladies)
88 Sammy Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe), Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), Pat Hutton (Lanark), Katie Malcolm (Dumfries and Co).
89 Lauren D'Ambrosio (Carluke), Joanne Free (Gullane), Tara Mactaggart (Minto), Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle).
90 Nicola Robertson (Stirling), Karen Ferguson (Liberton)
91 Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth), Linda McDougall (Greenock)
92 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ruth Rankin (Lanark), Kirsten Brown (Strathaven), Sandra Goldie (Eastwood), Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), Lauren Lee (Musselburgh), Stacey Cameron (Gullane Ladies)
93 Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse), Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle), Emma Wilson (Elie and Earlsferry), Katie Scott (Strathaven)
94 Isla Moncrieff (Pitlochry), Gail Thomson (Ayr Belleisle), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Dawn Young (North Berwick), Diane Moncrieff (Lochend).
95 Heather Munro (Carnoustie Ladies), Emma Caddow (Strathaven), Fiona Scott (Bothwell Castle), Linda Bain (Lochend), Kirsty Burgess (Silverknowes).
96 Rosalind Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas), Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle), Charlotte Munro (Gullane), Angela Devine (Hamilton), Beth Paterson (Eastwood).
98 Rachael Livingstone (Craigmillar Park), Bobbi Waugh (Moor Hall).
99 Lesley Barker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Alison Melvin-Finch (Hirsel).
100 Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Heather Anderson (Troon Ladies)
101 Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk)
102 Suzanne Ireland (Prestonfield)
105 Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Elizabeth Irvine (Alford)
114 Mandy McBain (Turnhouse), Mary Miller (Blairgowrie), Fiona Findlay (Lochend)
115 Lynn Cackett (Broomieknowe).
117 Angela Joss (Alford), Lesley McTaggart (East Kilbride)
122 Rachel Irvine (Largs)
124 Eileen Gillelspie (Lochend)
Withdrew: Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).
No Returns: Fiona Farquharson (King James VI), Elizabeth Hale (Caldwell).

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

EILIDH v CONNIE WOULD BE DREAM FINAL FOR WEST OF SCOTLAND GOLF FANS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON at Prestwick
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Curtis Cup debutante Eilidh Briggs is about a 6-4 favourite to win the 100th staging of the Scottish women's amateur golf championship this week at Prestwick's ancient links, the birthplace of the Open championship from 1860 to 1870.

But it is one of the quirks of the World Amateur Golf Rankings - which run in 12-monthly cycles - that the Kilmacolm player is "only" the third best Scot after the most recent revision.
Aberdonian Gemma Dryburgh, a student at Tulane University, New Orleans, is the highest ranked female Scot in the world and, like Briggs, will be making her Curtis Cup debut against the Americans at St Louis, Missouri from June 6 to 8. But Dryburgh is still in America, and will be playing in the upcoming NCAA Division 1 women's team championship.
But the World No 2 in Scottish terms is in the field of 110, teeing off in the first stroke play qualifying round at Prestwick on Tuesday morning is Ayrshire-born and bred Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) who finished second to England's Annabel Dimmock in the Helen Holm Scottish women's amateur stroke play at Troon last month.

Connie Jaffrey

Connie had a stellar year in 2013 when she won the Ayrshire county title, the Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolgirls championship and the Scottish U18 girls championship.
As one SLGA official, who shall remain nameless. said on the eve of the event: "Eilidh Briggs versus Connie Jaffrey would be a terrific final on Saturday."
She can say that again. They could probably sell admission tickets, standing-room only if that were how things workd out this week.
But golf - and possibly more so in girls/women's golf for some reason - things don't always work out the way they should.
Only 12 months ago in the championship hosted by Longniddry Golf Club, leading qualifier Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) was beaten in the second round and No 2 seed Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) lost in the first round of the match-play.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) beat teenager Clara Young (North Berwick) in a downpour for last year's final.
Alyson is here again this week, keeping her plans to turn professional very close to her chest.
"I don't know if this will be may last Scottish ladies championship. This will be a decision I will make when the time is correct and aligned to my plans," she said.
"My big incentive this week is to follow the example of Anne Laing who was the last player to win this title two years in a row and she won for the second time here at Prestwick!"
Anne Laing, incidentally, is at Prestwick to play solely in the past champions' event staged in conjunction with the stroke play qualifying rounds. She will not take part in the championship proper.
Eilidh Briggs has been Scottish U18 girls champion but has yet to win the women's championship. She reached the final at Machrihanish in 2011.
"I'm looking forward to a good week with a good field and a traditional links course. Just hope the weather is kind
to us," said Stirling PE student Eilidh. "With regards to the Curtis Cup, I'm very excited about going over to the States for what will be an unbelievable experience."
Eilidh's big sister, Megan, won the "Scottish" at Southerness in 2009 and is also in the Prestwick field.
It was the youngest player in the field who won the very first Scottish women's amateur championship over the
Old Course, St Andrews in 1903 - 19-year-old Alexa Glover.
Could the 100th staging also be won by the youngest in the Prestwick field?

Not such a long stretch of coincidence for 14-year-old Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, won the Scottish Under-14 girls title last year and only a few weeks ago became the youngest ever winner of the Aberdeenshire women's county championship.
Another leading Aberdeenshire contender should be Rachel Polson (Peterculter), just home from Florida Tech University. She lost to Clara Young in last year's semi-finals at Longniddry.
If you believe in pointers to players who are going to have a good run, put your money on Rachel. Last year she played badly in the Peterculter women's open immediately prior to the "Scottish" but then rose to the occasion in the national championship the following week.
Last weekend Polson again had, by her standards, a poor performance in the Peterculter event. History about to repeat itself?
Northern Counties will be hoping their new champion Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), a senior international player, carries on where she left off in their recent county championship. Alison is also the Northern Counties secretary. It takes a bit of organising to run a competition, play in it - and win it, as Mrs Bartlett did.
From Angus the standard bearers should be Jess Meek, back home after her first year at the University of Missouri, St Andrews student Ailsa Summers and Heather Munro, one of a clutch of bright young Scottish prospects who will be enrolling at US colleges in August.
From Fyfe, expect US-bound Lauren Whyte to do well and Clara Young to keep the Lothians well to the fore.
The 32 leading players after the 36-hole stroke-playing opening to the championship will go into match-play on Thursday morning. The next 16 will contest the Clark Rosebowl match-play competition

LEADING TEE TIMES ON TUESDAY

08.00 Eilidh Briggs, Jessica Meek.
08.10 Ailsa Summers, Lauren Whyte.
08.20 Alyson McKechin, Megan Briggs, Gabrielle Macdonald.
08.30 Connie Jaffrey, Elaine Moffat, Clara Young.
08.40 Rachel Walker, Lesley Atkins, Hannah McCook.
08.50 Karen Marshall, Heather Munro, Sheena Wood.
09.00 Susan Wood, Kate McIntosh, Sammy Leslie.
09.10 Louise MacGregor, Noni Stephen, Emma Hale.
09.20 Lorna Bennett, Cara Thompson, Nichola Ferguson.
09.30 Rachel Polson, Hannah Scott.
09.40 STARTER'S TIME
09.50 Jordana Graham, Jennifer Saxton, Eilidh Watson.
10.00 Kimberley Beveridge, Alison Bartlett, Louise Fraser.
10.10 Gale Macpherson, Kirsten Blackwood, Rosalind Purdom.

EILIDH BRIGGS WINS WELSH OPEN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Eilidh Briggs

Stirling student Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) scored the best win of her amateur golf career so far today (Sunday) when she had several Curtis Cup-class players in her wake as she led the way home in the Welsh women's open amateur stroke play championship at Prestatyn Golf Club.
Eilidh scored 74, 68 and 74 over a testing par-75 course for a total of nine-under-par 216.
She won by a shot from the recent Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play winner and Curtis Cup selection certainty, Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth).
Dimmock had rounds of 71, 73 and 73 for 217.
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), runner-up in the "Helen Holm," finished a creditable joint ninth year, the Ayrshire teenager, last year's Scottish U18 girls champion, totalling 221 with rounds of 73, 74 and 74.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), who defends the Scottish closed title at Prestwick later this month, finished 18th on 225 with rounds of 74, 75 and 76.
St Andrews' Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) scored 77, 75 and 76 for a share of 25th plae on 228.
Stirling student Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) finished joint 38th on 232 with rounds of 81, 75 and 76.
WELSH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Prestatyn Golf club
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 225 (3x75)
216 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 74 68 74
217 A Dimmock (Wentworth) 71 73 73
218 Emma Goddard (Royal Liverpool) 72 73 73. Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) 75 71 72, Emily Pedersden (Denmark) 72 71 75, Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) 74 68 76
219 Bethan Popel (Long Ashton) 76 72 71
220 Gabriella Cowley (Hanbury Manor) 72 72 76
SELECTED TOTALS
221 C Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 73 74 74 (T9)
223 G Hall (Parkstone) 75 72 76 (T13)
225 A McKechin (Eldereslie) 74 75 76 (18th)
228 L Whyte (St Regulus) 77 75 76 (T25)
232 H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 75 76 (T38)

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report and the SLGA for the photo of Eilidh

EILIDH BRIGGS SHARING LEAD IN WELSH OPEN STROKE-PLAY

Kilmacolm's Eilidh Briggs is sharing the 36-hole lead with Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) in the
Welsh women's open amateur stroke play golf championship at Prestatyn Golf Club.
Both player shot 74-68 for eight-under-par tallies of 142 over the par-75 ladies course at the Welsh venue.
Briggs' seven-under 68 included an eagle 3 at the 10th and six birdies but her only bogey, at the very last hole, cost her the outright lead.
Next best Scot is Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), runner-up in last week's Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play championship at Troon and last year's Scottish Under-18 girls champion.
Connie has had rounds of 73 and 74 for 146.
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie)is on 149 (74-75), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 152 (77-75), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 156 (81-75) and Germany-based Scot Fiona Liddell 159 (82-77).

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 150 (2x75)
142 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 74 68, Gemma Clews (Eng) 74 68
143 E Pedersen (Den) 72 71
144 A Dimmock (Eng) 71 73, G Cowley (Eng) 72 72
145 E Goddard (Eng) 72 73
146 M MacLaren (Eng) 75 71, J Schiele (Eng) 75 71, E O'Driscoll (Ire) 75 71
147 C Jaffrey (Sco) 73 74, B Harries (Wal) 74 71, G Hall (Eng) 75 72, C Leathem (Eng) 77 70
OTHER SCOTS SCORES
149 A McKechin 74 75
152 L Whyte 77 75
156 H McCook 81 75
159 F Liddell 82 77.

WELSH OPEN STROKEPLAY -- LIVE SCORING

The following Scots are playing Eilidh Briggs, Connie Jaffrey Alyson McKechin, Hannah McCook, Lauren Whyte in the Welsh Open Strokeplay at Presatyn Golf Club which starts today Saturday 3rd May
CLICK HERE for live Scoring as the rounds are completed.

100TH SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP -- GET YOUR ENTRY IN

Calling all Silver Division golfers! 

 Your National Championship needs you! This year is the 100th playing fo the Scottish Ladies (Close) Amateur Championship from 20th-24th May; it is being played at the site of the first Open Championship, Prestwick Golf Club.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a minimum of 3 rounds on one of the finest links courses in the world for only £45.

The closing date for entries is 12noon Thursday 17th April 2014,  --- you can enter online by CLICKING HERE

GET YOUR MACKIE ROSEBOWL ENTRY FORM

MACKIE BOWL OVER 36 HOLES AT GULLANE ON JULY 27
The Mackie Bowl will be held on Sunday 27 July 2014. This is a SLGA Order of Merit Event played over 36 holes on Gullane No.1 course.
Entry forms are available for downloading from the SLGA website as are many of the other entry forms.

WEST OF SCOTLAND'S CONNIE JAFFREY AND EILIDH BRIGGS ARE SCOTTISH GOLF AWARD WINNERS

The full list of winners from the 2014 Scottish Golf Awards Amateur Golfer of the Year : James Ross SGU Seniors Order of merit : Lindsay Blair Shot of the Year : Phil Mickelson SLGA Girls Order of Merit : Connie Jaffrey SGU Boy's Order of Merit : Ewen Ferguson SLGA Ladies Order of Merit : Eilidh Briggs SGU Men's Order of Merit : Jack McDonald Adam Hunter Award : Robert MacIntyre Team of the Year : University of Stirling Junior Club of the Year : Fortrose & Rosemarkie Volunteer of the Year : Liz Taylor Player of the Year : Catriona Matthew Lifetime Achievement Award : Bernard Gallacher

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.

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.

SLGA to move from Perth to Edinburgh

The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is relocating from Perth to Edinburgh. After nine years at The Den on Dundee Road, the governing body will be based at Caledonia House, Sportscotland’s Offices at South Gyle.

A number of sport’s governing bodies are already situated at the offices at 1 Redheughs Rigg and the SLGA will be joining them next month. The switch will take place over the weekend of December 6-9.

WEST OF SCOTLAND'S CHAMPION MEGAN BRIGGS WINS THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

FROM THE SLGA WEBSITE

Left to right: Sammy Leslie, Megan Briggs and Ailsa Summers - Courtesy of the SLGA

West of Scotland Champion Megan Briggs continued the recent dominance of the Briggs family at the Champion of Champions by winning (Sunday 20th October) over Glasgow Gailes after her younger sister Eilidh had won the event for the previous two seasons.
On a day that saw some heavy showers mixed with bursts of sunshine a field of 11 players were competing in the season ending event and Megan with a score of 72, five shots under the CSS of 77, proved too strong for the quality field which included the current Scottish Champion Alyson McKechin and Girls Champion Connie Jaffrey.

WINNER:  Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 72
SECOND:  Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 75
THIRD:  Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 78
CSS 77

SGU DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS

CONNIE IS 3RD IN THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS

Connie Jaffrey, Lauren Whyte and Nicola Robertson - Photo Courtesy of the SLGA

Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) came out on top of a quality field yesterday (Sunday 13th October 2013), at the Girls' Junior Champion of Champions held at The Dukes course.  
Conditions were less than favourable with a strong cold wind and heavy showers making it very difficult, however the field made up of National Champions, County Champions and Internationalists battled the course and Lauren pipped team mate Nicola Robertson (Dunblane New) by 1 shot to win the title with an impressive 73.  
National Girls' Champion Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) was 3 shots back with a 76.

MURRAYFIELD PAIR WIN SLGA ADULT AND GIRL FOURSOMES

Caroline and Rachel Steedman (Murrayfield) had the best overall Stableford points score of 40, playing off a combined handicap of 18, in yesterday's (Sunday) SLGA adult and girl foursomes at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh.

 Category leaders: Class 1 (handicaps 0-11) - Jim and Heather Laing (Glencorse) (8) 37; Alasdair and Anna Mackenzie (Crail GS) (11) 34.
Class 2 (handicaps 12-18) - Alan and Abbi Kidd (Lenzie ) (12) 36; Neville (Glasgow) and Kate Prentice (Lenzie) (15) 35.
Class 3 (19-36) - Barry (Pollok) and Zoe Cuthbertson (Mearns Castle) (19_ 31; Colin and Caitlin (Turner) (Baberton) (19) 30.
Class 4 (no handicap - Karen and Ella Marshall (Baberton) (19) 36; Catherine and Alison Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas) (20) 35.