MERGER BETWEEN EWGA AND EGU COMES INTO EFFECT ON JAN 1

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The merger of the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was approved yesterday at simultaneous general meetings of both organisations.
The merger will come into effect on January 1 and will create England Golf, one national governing body to represent all amateur golfers in England.
The merger proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the EGU, meeting at its headquarters in Woodhall Spa; and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA, meeting at the National Motor Cycle Museum at Solihull. Both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to be successful.
The decision was immediately hailed as a triumph for golf and a vital step forward for the game.
Sylvia Perrins, EWGA Interim Chairman, and Nigel Evans, the EGU Chairman, said: “This merger is in the best interests of golf and we are delighted that it has been given overwhelming support by our members. We look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.
“England Golf will speak with one voice and send out the powerful, modern message that golf is a game for all, for men and women, boys and girls.
“A unified organisation, which promotes both the men’s and women’s game, will be more attractive to new golfers, will help us to grow the game, will be more appealing to commercial partners and sponsors and will mean we can be more cost effective.”
The merger vote followed a long period of consultation and preparation, which began in 2009 when a steering group was formed of members of both organisations.
Following lengthy discussions, and the involvement of ten working groups, the proposal was produced and ratified by the Boards of both organisations before being put to the voting members.
Key points of the merger
• The headquarters of England Golf will initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa. The EWGA offices in Edgbaston will continue in use until at least October 2012.
• The counties will continue to be the voting members. Counties will be encouraged to merge their Unions and Associations, but this will not be mandatory.
• The Board of England Golf will initially include 10 stakeholder non-executive directors, six nominated by the EGU and four women nominated by the EWGA. One of these 10 will be nominated as Chairman.
• The first sole President of England Golf will be a woman. The President will be supported by the immediate Past President and the President-Elect. One of these three will always be a woman.
• Club golf will go on, from day-to-day, as it does now, but members will benefit from the positive perceptions created by the merger and by the better support available for clubs.
• All the championships and tournaments currently run by the EWGA and the EGU will continue.
• The regional and group structures of the two organisations will continue to run competitions. The decision-making role of the EWGA regional committees will end.
• Affiliation fees for men and women will be harmonised and will be equal by January 1, 2014. Women will continue to pay an additional subscription to the Ladies Golf Union.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA

Pamela Wins on Day 2 of the Vagliano Trophy but GB&I lose

The Continent of Europe team won the Vagliano Trophy today for the third time in a row in the biennial women's amateur international golf match over two days at Royal Porthcawl's windswept links in South Wales .
They made light of the bad weather – a very strong, cool wind and intermittent rain – to beat Great Britain and Ireland 15 ½-8 ½.

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 8 ½, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 15 ½.

Second-day results (GB and I players first)

Foursomes (2-2)

K Tidy and A Boulden beat A Bonetti and M Gidali 3 and 1.

K MacDonald and L Kenney lost to M Silva and C Hedberg 2 and 1.

P Pretswell and S Meadow lost to S Popov and L Katzy 1 hole.

Leona Maguire and D McVreigh beat M Sagstgromn and T Koelbaek 6 and 4

Singles (2-6)

H Clyburn lost to Silva 1 hole.

Maguire beat C Boutier 3 and 1.

MacDonald lost to Bonetti 3 and 2.

Meadow lost to Koelbaek 1 hole.

Tidy lost to Katzy 5 and 4.

Boulden lost to Hedberg 2 and 1.

Pretswell beat Sagstrom 2 holes.

McVeigh lost to Popov 3 and 1.

To raed the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Vagliano Trophy Europe lead after Day 1

Great Britain and Ireland's Vagliano Trophy team with skipper Tegwen Matthews, centre front row (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency). Back row (left to right) Louise Kenney, Kelly Tidy, Stephanie Meadow, Pamela Pretswell, Holly Clyburn. Front row: Danielle McVeigh, Kelsey MacDonald, Tegwen Matthews, Amy Boulden, Leona Maguire.

Great Britain and Ireland's Vagliano Trophy team with skipper Tegwen Matthews, centre front row (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).
Back row (left to right) Louise Kenney, Kelly Tidy, Stephanie Meadow, Pamela Pretswell, Holly Clyburn.
Front row: Danielle McVeigh, Kelsey MacDonald, Tegwen Matthews, Amy Boulden, Leona Maguire.

In the Vagliano Trophy Match at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales, the Continent of Europe lead 7.5 to 4.5
Friday's results
Foursomes (2-2)
Kelly Tidy and Amy Boulden bt Sophia Popov and Lara Katzy 2 and 1.
Holly Clyburn and Danielle McVeigh lost to Alexandra Bonetti and Manon Gidali 4 and 3.
Kelsey MacDonald and Louise Kenney bt Marta Silva and Camilla Hedberg 1 hole.
Pamela Pretswell and Stephanie Meadow lost to Therese Koelbaek and Madelene Sagstrom 1 hole.
Singles (2.5-5.5)
Tidy lost to Bonetti 1 hole.
Boulden lost to Silva 4 and 2.
MacDonald bt Celine Boutier 1 hole.
Clyburn lost to Koelbaek 3 and 2.
Leona Maguire bt Gidali 3 and 2.
Meadow lost to Sagstrom 1 hole.
McVeigh halved with Hedberg.
Kenney lost to Popov 1 hole.
In the under 16 match the Continent of Europe lead by 6.5 to 2.5

GB & I retain the Astor Trophy

Left to right: Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Amy Boulden (Maesdu), captain Tegwen Matthews (Wenvoe Castle), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).--- Photo courtesy of Colin Farquharson - Click to enlarge

Great Britain and Ireland came back from 0-2 deficit after the foursomes to score a glorious closing 4-3 win over Canada to clinch the Astor Trophy by beating all four opposing countries at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire.
GB and I won the tournament the last time it was played, four years ago in South Africa.

Pamela and Kelsey win their singles on Day 3 of the Astor Trophy

Pamela Pretswell in action for G B and I at the AstorTrophy tournament today
(Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency)  Click to enlarge

GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND 4 1/2, NEW ZEALAND 2 ½
Foursomes (1-1)
Kelly Tidy and Holly Clyburn beat Julianne Alvarez and Chantelle Cassidy 1 hole.
Pamela Pretswell and Kelsey MacDonald lost to Cecilia Cho and Lydia Ko 3 and 2.
Singles (3 ½-1 ½)
MacDonald beat Alvarez 2 and 1.
Clyburn beat Cassidy 3 and 2.
Pretswell beat Emily Perry 6 and 5.
Amy Boulden halved Cho
Tidy lost to Ko 5 and 3

AUSTRALIA 4, CANADA 3

To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Alex Salmond's major announcement about £2million boost for Scottish amateur golf

First Minister Alex Salmond with a group including SLGA chairman Shona Malcolm, British Women's Open champion Catriona Matthew and Douglas Connon, chairman of the Scottish Golf Union Board, at North Berwick today when a major announcement about additional funding for Scottish amateur golf, particularly those who are turning professional., was made.

READ THE FULL STORY BY LOGGING ON TO Scottish Golf View

NO SCOTS LEFT IN BRITISH GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

(THANKS GO TO COLIN FARQUHARSON FOR THE REPORT)

Two rounds of match-play have whittled the British girls' open amateur championship field of 64 qualifiers down to 16 players at West Lancashire Golf Club.
But it took only one round to snuff out the Scottish challenge.
Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm and Carly Booth from Comrie, who qualified in ninth and 10th position respectively, were beaten by Continental players who were 55th and 56th best at the end of the stroke-play eliminator.
After a fairly even start through four holes, Eilidh had slumped to three down against Clemence Abrahamian and her French opponent went on to win by 3 and 2.
Carly lost by 2 and 1 to Spain's Luna Sobron who had been one up after four and two up at the turn.
England have the biggest representation in the last 16 - six players - Wales have one, Ireland and Scotland 0. But Spain, to be fair, have only one.
To read who eventually won the title go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Live Scoring from the LGU Website

Click on the following link ---- LGU Website for all today's play

in the Girls' Home Internationals