Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
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
Photograph - Courtesy of Scottish Golf
Angus Carrick followed in his father’s footsteps when he beat Connor Wilson by two holes in the final of the 2021 Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship at Murcar Links in Aberdeen.
Father, David (Douglas Park) claimed the title at Southerness in 1985 and 36 years later son, Angus, emulated that feat to join an illustrious group of champions which also includes Ryder Cup players Colin Montgomerie, Stephen Gallacher and Eric Brown and current Scottish number one Robert MacIntyre.
With former Walker Cup player David watching on, 27-year-old Carrick won the second but soon found himself two down when Wilson won the fourth, sixth and seventh. Carrick pulled one hole back on the eighth but it was not until he claimed both the 13th and 14th that he edged in front again and not until a closing birdie on the 18th that his victory was finally secured.
“I’m absolutely speechless, it’s all been a blur,” said the new champion. “In fact, I’m still not sure what’s actually happened.
“I knew my game was good enough to compete and to win so I went out and gave it my all.
“It was a really tough game. We both hit some great shots and even after nine rounds of golf, or whatever it is, we were both playing very well. Yeah, there were a few tired swings in there, but not many. I think it was just the last six holes where I won it. I still can’t really remember what happened, but my caddie told me I had four birdies in the last six holes. So, I came back strong and ultimately that’s what won it for me.
“It’s great to emulate dad,” he added. “and great that we’ve now both got our names on the trophy. It’s nice, really nice, that we’ll always have that to share.”
One of the first people to congratulate the new champion was his father.
“I’m immensely proud of him”, Carrick Snr said. “He played great golf the last four rounds and thoroughly deserved to win. I’m delighted now to be known as Angus Carrick’s father, rather than Angus being my son. It’s a fantastic result.”
From the Scottish Golf Website
From your Webmaster - Angus was a former Junior at Douglas Park Golf Club
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| Carmen Griffiths - 2021 U 18 Scottish Strokeplay Champion Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf |
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| Katie Graham - Runner up with Carmen Griffiths Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf |
The 2019 European Junior Vagliano Trophy team member came into the championship in second place on the 2021 Scottish Girls’ Order of Merit and she showed why she is currently ranked only behind Curtis Cup hopeful, Hannah Darling, on that list with a series of impressive victories in her march to the final.
The new champion’s toughest match came in the second round when she was taken to the 18th hole by fellow Scottish international, Rachel Foster, from Prestwick St Nicholas but she then beat Parkstone’s Alice Webb 6 & 5 in the semi-finals before proving too strong for Graham in the afternoon.
Graham had previously knocked out top seed, Forfar’s Robyn Fowlie, in the second round and then beat Shrewsbury’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien 6 & 5 to earn her place in the final.
Griffiths went ahead as early as the second hole of the final and was three ahead after ten holes before Graham clawed one back on the 11th. Griffith increased her lead again with wins on the 12th and 14th and though Graham won the 15th that reprieve proved to be short-lived when Griffiths sealed victory on the very next hole.
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| Runner up Katie Dunn with Winner Lindsay Main Photo courtesy of Jean MacIntyre |
The Strathaven player beat Elderslie’s Ava Graham 2 & 1 in the semi-finals and then collected the trophy following an emphatic 7 & 6 triumph over Paisley’s Katie Dunn in the final. She was pulled back to two up when Dunn won the seventh but then won five successive holes from the eighth to clinch the Aynsley Reid Salver.
Earlier Dunn had reached the final after securing a 7 & 5 victory over Lucie Barclay from Kilmacolm.
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| Katie Graham from Hamilton Golf Club |
Graham secured a convincing 4 & 3 victory over Royal Troon’s Freya Russell in the morning but then had to come from behind to claim a last gasp victory over Forfar’s Fowlie on the 19th hole.
Graham’s opponent in the last four is Isla McDonald-O’Brien from Shrewsbury who also had to go to the 19th hole in the morning before beating Hazlehead’s Rachel Mathieson and then defeated Ruby Watt from the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre 4 & 2 in the last eight.
In the other semi-final Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths will face Alice Webb who plays out of Parkstone in Dorset who won against Jennifer Lynagh from Caldwell Golf Club by 2&1
Griffiths had a straightforward 8 & 7 victory over Strathmore’s Kirsten Miller in the first round but then had a much tougher test against Rachel Foster from Prestwick St Nicholas after lunch.
Foster reached the quarter finals of the recent Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship at Gullane where she lost to eventual champion Chloe Goadby and against Griffiths she led all the way until her opponent drew level on the 15th and then went ahead for the first time in the match on the 18th hole.
The semi-finals of the concurrent net match play competition will see Elderslie’s Ava Graham face Strathaven member Lindsay Main and Paisley’s Katie Dunne goes up against Lucie Barclay from Kilmacolm.
RESULTS :
Yesterday marked the start of this year’s Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship at Strathaven where Forfar Ladies Club champion Robyn Fowlie headed the 16 qualifiers with rounds of 71 and 73.
Fowlie’s level par total of 144 saw her finish a single shot ahead of Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths who carded rounds of 73 and 72.
Megan Docherty from Bishopbriggs and Shrewsbury’s Isla McDonald-obrien both returned scores of 73 and 74 to claim a share of third place on three over par 147 while Ailsa Brannock from Southerness was fifth with two rounds of 75.
QUALIFIERS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY
1 Carmen Griffiths Aboyne Golf Club
LIVE SCORING MATCHPLAY -- 17TH JULY
QUALIFIERS HANDICAP MATCHPLAY
1 Katrina Tan - Nairn Golf Club
The players have been named by Scottish Golf for their Senior Women’s Team who will compete in the Senior Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa from 4th - 6th August.
The Team is:Elaine Moffat (St Regulus)
The SVLGA and Captain Karen Ballantyne are delighted to announce the team to represent Scotland at the SVLGA Jamboree at Glenbervie GC from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 5th August.
The team is as follows:
Sheena Wood - Northern - Current SVLGA Champion
Linda Allan - Midland
Aileen Baker - Midland
Anne Hanson - East
Lesley Lloyd - West
Lorna McKinlay - Midland
Caroline Steedman - East
Liz Stewart - West
RESERVES:
Jennifer Bryans - East
Donna Jackson - West
Following the latest COVID Update from the First Minister, Scottish Golf has been working with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to receive approval on our latest COVID-19 Guidance ahead of mainland Scotland moving to Protection Level 0 on Monday 19 July 2021.
We have now updated our guidance and all clubs should note the key changes effective from Monday 19 July:
Ahead of implementing these changes, we would recommend that clubs carry out a risk assessment that is specific to the situation at their club.
While this latest update is a further step forward in the return to golf and its traditions as we know it, until such time as restrictions are lifted fully we would urge everyone to continue to risk assess for their specific environment and respect differing perspectives in relation to risk will still be evident across the wide range of golfers in Scotland.
We know that today’s update will have a positive impact on all affiliated clubs and their members, and on behalf of everyone at Scottish Golf, we would like to thank you for your continued patience and strict adherence to the restrictions that have been in place.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 Updates from Scottish Golf here.
Kind regards,
Scottish Golf
From the Scottish Golf Website
RLCGA'S Gillian Kyle - East Renfrewshire
Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf
Elaine Moffat remains on course to claim the Scottish Senior Women’s Match Play title for a third time in a row but only after surviving two tough matches on the opening day of this year’s Championship at Aberdour.
The senior international from the St Regulus club in St Andrews beat Lochend’s Mandy McBain 3&2 in the first round and then in the afternoon defeated fellow Fife senior county player Lorna McKinlay 2 & 1 although on both occasions she had to come from behind to make it into the next round.
The afternoon round against McKinlay proved particularly challenging. The two players were all square at the turn before Moffat won both 10th and the 13th. With the rain starting to fall McKinlay got one back at the 16th before the defending champion sealed victory on the 17th hole.
I found it difficult and I don’t mind admitting that,” said Moffat. “Both Mandy and Lorna played good, solid golf and made me work really hard. I was a wee bit erratic first thing this morning but managed to get it together and stick in after that.
“This afternoon I played my friend Lorna which is always really difficult. She’s my foursomes buddy from Fife. We know each other’s games so well and it was an absolutely cracking match. I’m just happy to get through.”
Moffat’s next opponent in her bid to regain the title she won at Prestwick St Nicholas in 2018 and again at Edzell in 2019 is another Fifer in the shape of Iona McKean from Ladybank. McKean had to go to the 18th hole to beat Anne Hanson from Turnhouse by one hole in the opening round before reaching the last four with a more comfortable 4 & 3 victory over Dunblane New’s Claire Capocci.
In the other half of the draw, Mortonhall’s Karen Ferguson-Snedden showed just why she finished second behind Moffat in the Stroke Play Championship earlier in the week by beating Liz Keohone from Loudoun Gowf by 6&5 but then needed all her resolve to beat Barberton’s Karen Marshall in a tight quarter-final match in which only three holes changed hands before the number two seed won the 17th hole to seal a 2 & 1 victory.
Arguably the most impressive performance of the day came from East Renfrewshire’s Gillian Kyle who needed just 26 holes to beat Harburn’s Jennifer Bryans 5 & 4 and Baberton’s Wendy Nicholson 8 & 6 to move on to a semi-final clash against Ferguson-Snedden. That means the number two and three seeds will face each other for a place in the final.
“I’m sharing a house with Elaine so we’re hoping to face each other in the final. That’s the dream anyway but there’s a lot to do to get there,” said Kyle.
“I live in Glasgow so we’ve had restrictions. I’ve had to self-isolate because a friend had tested positive for Covid. I missed all my County matches and was feeling a bit sorry for myself so I’m very pleased to get this far.
“It’s great to get back to competing after such a long break,” she added. “You just feel so grateful to be able to get back playing at your club but this is another level and you really have to concentrate.”
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| Scottish Seniors Matchplay Results Click to enlarge |
The semi-finals of the concurrent net competition will also be played at Aberdour in the morning. Jaci Moriarty from Comiston Ladies will face Gullane’s Sarah Ledingham in the first match on the course with the winner of that contest playing either Wakefield’s Elaine MacGregor or Turnhouse’s Morag Wardrop in the final.
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| Net Competition Matchplay Results Click to enlarge |
Moffat, from the St Regulus Ladies club in St Andrews, carded a six over par 75 to go into the second round of stroke play tied with Crail’s Aileen Baker and Ruth Hunter from Lanark and her performance was all-the-more impressive because just two weeks ago she was injured by two dogs on the beach and struggled to walk for a while.
“I’m a bit surprised to have a share of the lead because I didn’t get the prep I wanted,” admitted Moffat, who won both the stroke play and match play titles the last time this championship was played, at Edzell back in 2019.
“Just over two weeks ago, I got hit by two dogs on the beach and injured my leg quite badly. I couldn’t walk for a good week or so. I went to the chiro and got realigned but that was my practice out the window. I had to adapt and re-think everything.
“It hasn’t been ideal for any of us,” she added. “It has been a long time since we’ve competed at this sort of level so hasn’t been easy.
I felt a mixture of elation and absolutely nerves and I think a few of us felt a bit like that. We’re so excited but not used to being in this position after being out for so long.”
Moffat, Baker and Hunter topped a congested leaderboard with Karen Ferguson-Sneddon (Mortonhall) and Karen Marshall (Baberton) tied fourth on 76 and 2016 champion Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) and Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) in a share of sixth place on 77.
A total of 13 players go into the final round of stroke play within four shots of the lead. Iona McKean (Ladybank), Lorna McKinlay (Dunnikier Park), Linda Allan (Glenbervie) and Susie Macleod all share eighth place 78 while Anne Hanson (Turnhouse) and Wendy Nicholson (Baberton) are on 79.
The second round of stroke play is staged tomorrow with the top 16 qualifiers progressing to the match play stage of the competition. There is also a separate match play competition for the next 16 net qualifiers
LEADERBOARD
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| Elaine Moffat - Photo Courtesy of Scottish Golf |
Moffat, from the St Regulus Ladies club in St Andrews, won the match play title at Prestwick St Nicholas in 2018 and then completed the double by claiming both the stroke play and match play trophies at Edzell the last time the championship was staged back in 2019.
The senior international will start as the firm favourite but will face strong competition from a field that also includes 2016 champion Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) and Alison Davidson (nee Rose) from Stirling who was the last Scot to win the Women’s Amateur Championship (1997) before Louise Duncan’s triumph at Kilmarnock (Barassie) last weekend. Davidson is the low handicapper in the field with a playing handicap of plus three.
Aberdour is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and its stunning parkland will provide an excellent test of golf for the field. The course measures 5,447-yards (Par 69) from the white tees and is unusual in that it starts with two par threes. The first and several other holes enjoy a panoramic view towards the Firth of Forth while the second is played along the edge of the shore.
The commentary team will be led by Dougie Donnelly, Mickey Walker and Kit Alexander. They will be joined on course by Trish Johnson and George Harper Jnr.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE STREAMING ON YOU TUBE
LIVE SCORING OF THE FINAL OF THE BRITISH WOMENS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP -- 36 HOLES
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| Chloe Goadby - 2021 Scottish Amateur Champion Photo courtesy of Scottish Golf |
Goadby had played a couple of practice rounds at Gullane with Honorary member Matthew in the lead up to the championship and she admitted the advice she received helped her to beat great friend and rival and claim her women’s national match play title for the first time.
Goadby began the championship by finishing 14th behind Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) in the 36-hole stroke play and was taken to the fifth extra hole in her first round match against Penelope Brown (Auchterarder) before starting to find the sort of form that saw her earn a place in GB & I’s provisional Curtis Cup squad late last year.
She claimed a one hole victory over Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) in the second round and then beat St Rule Trophy winner Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) 5 & 4 in the semi-final before maintaining her momentum with a fast start Mactaggart in the final.
Goadby began the final by winning the second and third holes. The reigning Lothians champion from Minto briefly got back to all square with wins on the fourth and the eighth but Goadby raced into a three hole lead by winning the ninth, 10th and 11th before sealing her success with another win on the 466-yard par five 15th hole.
The final of the second flight Clark Rosebowl competition turned about to be an all Blairgowrie Golf Club affair with both Katy Alexander and Megan Ashley winning their semi-final matches against Megan Docherty (Bishopbriggs) and Isla McDonald-O’Brien (Shrewsbury) respectively.
In the final Ashley was one up at the turn before Alexander pulled away to win 3&2.
Go to the Scottish Golf Website for the full report
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE MATCHPLAY RESULTS
From the Scottish Golf Website
Hannah Darling’s hopes of claiming her first national women’s title remain very much alive after reaching the semi-finals of the 2021 Scottish Women’s Match Play Championship at Gullane.
Just six days after victory in the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews the 17-year-old Broomieknowe and Gullane member beat Ellen Caton (St Regulus) 5 & 4 in the first round and followed that up with a 4 & 3 victory over fellow GB & I Curtis Cup squad member Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) in the afternoon.
Darling will now face 2019 runner-up Chloe Goadby in the semi-finals after the St Regulus player beat Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) by one hole in their quarter final match. Earlier in the day she had needed to go all the way to the 23rd hole before getting the better of Auchterarder’s Penelope Brown so not unnaturally she was feeling a few aches and pains after her two games.
In the other half of the draw, 2015 champion East Lothian champion Tara Mactaggart (Minto) will face 2015 Scottish Women’s champion Clara Young (North Berwick) in the last four.
Mactaggart (Minto) reached the semi-final of the 2019 championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) and now has a chance of going one better after a two year interlude caused by Covid-19. She beat Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths by one hole in a tight match in the morning and then dispatched Luisa Gibson by 4 & 3 in the afternoon.
In the second flight competition for the Clark Rosebowl there is a chance that two Blairgowrie players will contest the final. Megan Ashley beat East Kilbride’s Susan Woodhouse 2 & 1 in their quarter final and will now come up against Isla McDonald-Obrien (Shrewsbury). Meanwhile Ashley’s Blairgowrie club-mate Katy Alexander will play Bishopbriggs’ Megan Docherty in the semi-finals after a 19th hole victory over Royal Troon’s Freya Russell.
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| Louise Duncan (Photo courtesy of Scottish Golf) |
Louise reached the semi-finals the last time the championship was played in 2019 and now she has the chance to go even further following an exceptional performance capped by a stunning eagle on her final hole.
The Scottish internationalist carded a one under par first round of 73 on Gullane’s No. 1 course before firing two eagles and four birdies in a bogey-free round on the host club’s No. 2 course to set a pace none of the other competitors could match.
Duncan’s nine under par 138 aggregate saw her top the list of 16 qualifiers a single shot ahead of fellow international Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Penelope Brown (Auchterarder) and first round leader Luisa Gibson (Irvine) while Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas) and Tara Mactaggart (Minto), another of the semi-finalists in 2019, also comfortably made it into the draw for the match play stage on seven under par 140.
Ellen Caton (St Regulus Ladies) and Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) also made the weekend with a minimum of fuss in a share of seventh place on 141, as did Jennifer Saxton (Dunfermline) who was alone in ninth place on 142, but it was a different story for Broomieknowe and Gullane member, Hannah Darling, who came into the championship as favourite following her win on Sunday at the St Rule Trophy but needed all her resolve to make it through after carding a morning round of 74 on No. 1.
In the end the teenaged GB & I Curtis Cup squad member showed why she is regarded as one of Scotland’s brightest prospects by carding six birdies in a battling four under par 69 which saw her climb up into a share of tenth place alongside Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) and Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) on four under par 143.
Chloe Goadby (St Regulus Ladies) reached the final two years ago at Kilmarnock (Barassie) and now has the chance to go one better after posting rounds of 72 and 73 to share 13th place with club-mate Gillian Paton and Katie Wright (Stranraer) on two under par 145.
It is the same for 2015 champion Clara Young (North Berwick) who posted rounds of 75 and 71 but then faced an anxious wait before claiming the sixteenth and last spot following a card countback on 146.
Carinne Taylor (Nairn) and Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie) were the unfortunate players to miss out on countback but they had the consolation of qualfying for the second flite competition involving those players finishing in 17th to 36th place in the stroke play.
The match play starts today (Saturday) and ends with the two finals on Sunday afternoon.
All scores from the 2021 Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship will be registered by players on the course using the Scottish Golf App. This means that live scores from Gullane will be available for everyone to follow on the Scottish Golf Website.
Since that time they have been researching, developing and testing their approach and are now in a position to provide you with details of their new subscription service OpenPlay which launched today.
OpenPlay is their independent golfer programme, where they have created a monthly digital subscription model for non-member golfers to obtain an official handicap in a way that their extensive research shows will more closely meet their needs and lifestyle.
As you can hear from Martin Gilbert, Chair of Scottish Golf, Martin Slumbers, CEO of the R&A and Open Champions Paul Lawrie and Catriona Matthew, they all strongly believe that OpenPlay will reach out to the estimated 500,000 golfers in Scotland, who are not members of a club, to create inclusivity and a pathway into membership
Shaeen Ahmad produced a grandstand finish to clinch a narrow victory in the women’s event at the Scottish Medal Finals Central 1 event at a wet Murrayshall Country House Hotel & Golf Club in Perthshire on Sunday 23rd May 2021
The 18-handicapper from Balmore Golf Club was level par when she stepped onto the tee at the 127-yard par-3 18th hole but holed out in two for a net one and a two under par net round of 69.
To Read the Full Report at Scottish Golf -- CLICK HERE