Sunday 2 October 2011

2012 SLGA Fixture List (Draft)

A draft SLGA fixture list for 2012 is now available on the fixtures menu of the SLGA Website or from the link below. This will be updated as and when dates are confirmed.

2012 SLGA DRAFT FIXTURE LIST

Solheim Cup is over. Roll on the Curtis Cup 2012



www.lgu.org
Check out the programme of events for an exciting week in Nairn!

Saturday 1 October 2011

£300 raised for MacMillan Cancer Support at Douglas Park Golf Club

Lynda Smith , Anne Holley, Gillian Hendry and Maggie Rutherford
 Click to enlarge
The ladies section held a social evening on Friday 30th September.
The theme was -- THE HOUSE OF COLOUR. Maggie Rutherford's sister Anne Holley from www.houseofcolour.com  was the guest speaker who enlightened us all with how to step forward confidently, knowing that clothes and accessories you have chosen show the best you. Maggie was the her assistant and many admitted that perhaps we have about 85% of our wardrope that we never use !!
Captain Gillian Hendry welcomed about 45 ladies to the evening, Vice Captain Lynda Smith gave the vote of thanks and with the help of Social Convenor Janet Dow they were able to raise approximately £300 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
A buffet meal, some refreshments and much chat finished off a very enjoyable evening.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

RACHAEL FINDS IT TOUGHER GOING IN SECOND US COLLEGE TOURNAMENT

Rachael McQueen from Troon, now a student at McLennan Community College, Waco in Texas, opened her US college golf career with a victory - but she found the going harder in her second tournament - the ULM Fred Marx Invitational at Bayou DeStand Country Club, Monroe in Louisiana.
Rachael finished 38th in a field of 63 with scores of 84, 79 and 78 for a total of 241 over a par-72, 5,923yd course.
She finished 20 shots behind the joint winners, Langley Vannoy (Troy) (74-71-76) and Whitney McAleer (Northeastern State) (75-76-70) on 221.
McLennan (949) finished seventh of 11 in the team event won by Troy (896) from South Alabama (902).

Friday 30 September 2011

Scotland win against Wales and England are the Senior Home International Winners

From the LGU Website
England Champions again but fighting Irish ran them close .-- click here to read all
England retained the title in the Senior Ladies’ Home Internationals on a very wet afternoon at Tramore Golf Club in Ireland. But what an exciting finish it was to the weather-hit three-day programme.
After England and Ireland had completed Day 2 wins this morning over Scotland and Wales respectively, it meant that the England v Ireland match between the only two teams with 100 per cent winning records would be the title decider.
It went right down to the wire before England prevailed 4-3 with the last putt on the last green in the last match to finish.
Wales started well in the match for third place against Scotland. Christine Harries won by 5 and 4 against Heather Anderson in the lead-off singles, having been one up at the turn before adding to that with unanswered successes at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th.
But Lorna Bennett chalked up an outstanding win for Scotland by beating Welsh ace Vicki Thomas by the comprehensive margin of 6 and 5. Lorna was five up after seven holes and never allowed her opponent a chance to get back into the match.
Scotland went 2-1 ahead when Karen Ballantyne beat Karen Weatherley by 5 and 4 after winning three of the first four holes and still leading by two at the turn. Ballantyne quickened to win the 11th, 13th and 14th.
Scotland advanced to 3-1 with a one-hole victory by Mary Smith over Denise Richards who was twice two up on the outward half. Smith played the inward nine impeccably. She won the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th
Wales got a second point on the board when Jane Rees beat Alex Glennie by 2 and 1 after winning four of the first six holes. Glennie had a good spell approaching the turn, winning the eighth, ninth and 10th but Rees pulled away again by winning the 11th and 13th.
Elaine Allison, Scotland’s most successful player of the week, got the clinching fourth point by beating Janet Doleman 3 and 2. Allison went two up at the 10th and added successes at the 13th and 16th for victory.
The last match to finish was halved between Wales’ Ann Lewis and Scotland’s May Hughes. Lewis had looked set for victory when she won the 11th and 12th to go three up but Hughes finished strongly to salvage half a point. She won the 13th, 14th and 16th to square the match and the last two holes were halved.

WALES 2 1/2, SCOTLAND 4 1/2
Singles only match
Harries beat Anderson 5 and 4
Thomas lost to Bennett 6 and 5.
Richards lost to Smith 1 hole
Rees beat Alex Glennie 2 and 1..
Karen Weatherley lost to Ballantyne 5 and 4.
Lewis halved with May Hughes.




Overall Standings
TeamPtsWonHalvedLost
  England191823
  Ireland131229
  Scotland8114
  Wales5117

ENGLAND v IRELAND TITLE DECIDER AT SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONALS

ELAINE ALLISON ONLY SCOTS WINNER IN 7-1 DEFEAT BY ENGLAND

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
It’s an England versus Ireland title decider in this afternoon’s seven-singles finale to the 9th Senior Women’s Home Internationals at Tramore Golf Club, Ireland. Both teams have won twice this week.
Defending champions England, who beat Wales 8-0 on Day 1, completed a 7-1 victory over Scotland this morning after sea mist forced a suspension of play yesterday afternoon.
Ireland, who have never won the over-50s team championship, followed up their 5-3 win over Ireland by completing a 5-3 win over Wales this morning.
Senior Ladies British champion Felicity Christine, playing No 1 for England in the singles, beat Scotland’s Heather Anderson by 5 and 4. When the match resumed at the 13th, Christine was four up, having been six up at the turn.
Anderson, who had scored her first success of the match at the 12th, also won the 13th to cut her deficit to four but the English player won the 14th to finish the match.
England went into a 5-0 lead overall when Caroline Marron beat Mary Smith by one hole. Marron was two up when play resumed this morning at the 14th.
Smith won the 14th to be only one down but Marron regained a two-hole lead by taking the 16th. The Scot was not finished yet, however. She won the 17th to be one down with one to play. The last hole was halved.
Last year’s Senior Ladies British champion at West Kilbride, Bev New made it 6-0 for England when she beat Karen Ballantyne 3 and 2. This match resumed at the 13th with New three up. The 11th and 12th had been halved and the sequence was continued this morning with the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th beind halved, leaving New the winner by 3 and 2.
Janet Melville, former Ladies British open amateur champion, made it 7-0 for England with a hard-fought, one-hole win over Lorna Bennett. This match resumed all square at the 12th, the 10th and 11th holes being halved before the suspension of play.
The 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th were halved this morning before Melville ended the stalemate by winning the 17th to be one up with one to play. A half was all she needed at the 18th – and she got it.
Scotland’s Elaine Allison prevented England scoring an 8-0 win for the second day in a row. When her match against Rozalyn Adams resumed at the the 13th, the Scot was two up and she promptly went three up by winning the 13th.
Adams got it back to two down by winning the 16th but she had run out of holes and a half at the 17th ended the match in Allison’s favourite by 2 and 1.

THIS MORNING'S RESULTS

SCOTLAND 1, ENGLAND 7
Foursomes: 0-3
Singles (1-4)
Heather Anderson lost to Felicity Christine 5 and 4.
Mary Smith lost to Caroline Marron 1 hole.
Elaine Allison bt Rozalyn Adams 2 and 1.
Karen Ballantyne lost to Bev New 3 and 2.
Lorna Bennett lost to Janet Melville 1 hole.

IRELAND 5, WALES 3
Foursomes 2-1
Singles (3-2)
Sheena McElroy bt Christine Harries 5 and 3.
Pauline Walsh lost to Vicki Thomas 1 hole.
Carol Wickham lost to Jane Rees 1 hole.
Pat Doran bt Ann Lewis 2 and 1.
Helen Jones bt Denise Richards 2 holes.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Played suspended at the Senior Home Internationals in Foggy Ireland

Mary Smith, Heather Anderson and May Hughes - Not too happy in the mist
Courtesy of Fiona Cowan 

SCOTLAND 0, ENGLAND 3
FOURSOMES
Mary Smith and Elaine Allison lost to Sue Dye and Caroline Marron 5 and 3.
Heather Anderson and May Hughes lost to Janet Melville and Felicity Christine 4 and 3.
Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne lost to Bev New and Chris Quinn 2 holes.
SINGLES
Anderson v Christine. England 5 up after 12.
Smith v Marron. England 1 up after 13.
Allison v Rozalyn Adams. Scotland 2 up after 12.
Ballantyne v New. England 3 up after 12.
Bennett v Melville. All square after 11.

IRELAND 2, WALES 1
FOURSOMES
Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara bt Vicki Thomas and Jane Rees 3 and 2.
Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham lost to Ann Lewis and Denise Richards 1 hole.
Pat Doran and Helen Jones bt Christine Harries and Karen Weatherley 5 and 3.
SINGLES
McElroy v Harries. Ireland 3 up after 10.
Pauline Walsh v Thomas. All square after 10.
Wickham v Rees. Wales 1 up after 9.
Doran v Lewis. Ireland 2 up after 8.
Jones v Richards. Ireland 2 up after 8.

LATEST NEWS: PLAY SUSPENDED FOR THE DAY BETWEEN 4 and 4.30pm.
SEA MIST HALTS PLAY AT TRAMORE:

SINGLES RESUMED ON FRIDAY MORNING

NO FOURSOMES IN DAY 3 PROGRAMME

Sea mist forced the suspension of play just after 4pm on Day 2 of the Senior Women's Home Internationals at Tramore Golf Club in southeast Ireland.
Play will restart at 9.15am on Thursday from the positions the players are at in their singles matches.
The foursomes will be dropped from the Day 3 programme which will be truncated to seven singles ties between England v Ireland and Wales v Scotland.
When play was halted today, this was the position in all the singles ties:

SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
England won foursomes 3-0.
SINGLES
England up in three games, down in one and all square in the other.

IRELAND v WALES
Ireland won the foursomes 2-1
SINGLES
Ireland up in three games, down in one and all square in the other.

LATEST FROM THE SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

Tournament Director Gillian Roy reports from Tramore Golf Club that it is another foggy, drizzly day in southeast Ireland.
They should have played them in Scotland where ANOTHER summer-like day is forecast! In fact they will be played in Scotland next year.
Make a note of the date: October 2 to 4 at Elie and Earlsferry Golf Club in Fife.
News from the Scotland camp - they played 8-0 winners England - is that Elaine Allison (Stirling), who had a good win in the singles against Ireland, has taken the place of Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) in this morning's first foursome off the tee.
Alex has pulled out due to illness.
Rain forecast for the last day of the SWHI at Tranmore.

LIVE SCORING FROM THE SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW THE SCOTS ARE DOING IN TRAMORE, IRELAND

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Scotland lose to Ireland in the Senior Home Internationals

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE!  They'll have to be when they face up to an England team that thrashed Wales 8-0 on the first day of the Senior Women's Home Internationals while Scotland were a bit unlucky to go down 5-3 to Ireland. It might well have been 4-4 on a different day. Image by courtesy of LGU Tournament Director Gillian Roy.
On the First Tee - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan
Fog suspends play on Day 1 - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan
SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Tramore GC, Ireland.
FIRST DAY
IRELAND 5, SCOTLAND 3
Foursomes - Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham bt Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne 5 and 3, Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara lost to Heather Anderson and May Hughes 3 and 2, Pat Doran and Helen Jones bt Mary Smith and Alex Glennie 3 and 2 (2-1).
Singles - McElroy bt Anderson 3 and 2, Wickham lost to Bennett 5 and 4, Pauline Walsh lost to Elaine Allison 3 and 2, Doran bt Glennie 9 and 7, Jones bt Smith 1 hole.
WALES 0, ENGLAND 8
Foursomes - Vikki Thomas and Jane Rees lost to Sue Dye and Caroline Marron 3 and 1, Christine Harries and Janet Doleman lost to Christien Quinn and Bev New 7 and 6, Ann Lewis and Denise Richards lost to Felicity Christine and Janet Melville 2 and 1 (3-0).
Singles - Harries lost to Quinn 1 hole, Karen Weatherley lost to New 3 and 2, Lewis lost to Rozalyn Adams 2 and 1, Rees lost to Dye 4 and 2, Thomas lost to Christine 2 and 1.
THURSDAY MATCHES
Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
In the Ireland v Scotland singles, Sheena McElroy won the lead-off tie for Ireland, beating Heather Anderson 3 and 2.
McElroy won three of the first four holes and was two up at the turn. The first three holes of the inward half were halved before the Irish player went three up at the 13th. Three halves ended the match in her favour.
Lorna Bennett put Scotland’s first singles point on the board by beating Carol Wickham 5 and 4. Lorna established an edge on the outward half, standing two up after seven, having won the first, second, fourth and seventh against losses at the third and sixth. Three halved holes from the eighth to the 10th were followed by Bennett surging clear for victory.
The Scot went three up at the 11th and fourth up at the 12th before finishing off the tie by winning the 14th.
Scotland’s Elaine Allison made it 2-2 in the singles by beating Pauline Walsh 3 and 2. Alison dominated the outward half, not losing a hole and winning the third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth to be five up at the turn.
Walsh made a strong comeback to win the 10th and 12th, followed by the 14th and 15th after Allison had regained a four-hole lead at the 13th. Allison stopped the rot by winning the 16th for victory.
Ireland’s Pat Doran was a 9 and 7 winner over Alex Glennie who did not win a hole. Doran won seven and halved the other two on her way to a seven-hole lead at the turn. The Irish player finished the match by winning the 10th and 11th.
Mary Smith carried Scotland’s hopes of salvaging a draw if she could overturn a two-hole deficit at the turn against Helen Jones, one of Ireland’s top players - easier said than done. Jones doubled her lead by winning the 10th and 12th.but then Smith made a late charge. She won the 13th, 15th and 16th to slash her opponent’s lead to only one hole but halves at the 17th and 18th in pars saw Jones home by one hole.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

ALISON NICHOLAS STEPS DOWN FROM BEING SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO SEE THIS MORNINGS BBC NEWS INTERVIEW VIDEO


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/15073366.stm

news.bbc.co.uk
Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas is looking forward to a rest after epic win.

Scottish Senior's Home International start tomorrow --


Captains of the team in the Senior Women's Home Internationals which tee off at Tramore Golf Club, near Waterford in southeast Ireland tomorrow.Left to right:Ireland's Roma English, Scotland's Helen Faulds, Wales' Jean O'Connor and England's Hilary Smyth.Picture by Gillian Roy, LGU Tournament Director at Tramore.

THE MATCHES:
Three foursomes each morning; five afternoon singles.
WEDNESDAY - Wales v England, Ireland v Scotland
THURSDAY - Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
FRIDAY - England v ireland, Wales v Scotland.

FIRST MORNING FOURSOMES LINE-UP

WALES v ENGLAND
8.30 Vicki Thomas and Jane Rees versus Susan Dye and Caroline Marron.
8:40 Christine Harries and Janet Doleman v Christine Quinn and Bev New
8:50 Ann Lewis and Denise Richards v Felicity Christine and Janet Melville.

IRELAND v SCOTLAND
9:00 Sheena McElroy and Carol Wickham v Lorna Bennett and Karen Ballantyne.
9:10 Suzanne Corcoran and Mairead MacNamara v Heather Anderson and May Hughes. -
9:20 Pat Doran and Helen Jones v Mary Smith and Alex Glennie.

Monday 26 September 2011

2011 Senior Ladies' Home International Matches begin on Wednesday

The 9th Senior Ladies’ Home International Matches will be played at one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland, Tramore (founded in 1894), from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 September.

The SHI matches were not introduced to the Ladies Golf Union programme of events until 2003 and this will be the third time that Ireland has hosted them. England won at Kilkeel in 2004 and at Royal Tara in 2007.
In fact, England won the first five series of senior home internationals.
Wales ended the monopoly by winning the title at Little Aston in 2008 and Scotland followed suit in 2009. But England resumed their winning ways at Sheringham last year when they were crowned senior champions for a sixth time in eight years.

Scotland won the European senior Ladies’ team title last year and, on their day, can beat anyone. Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) and Mary Smith (Tain), who all played in the Senior British championship a couple of weeks ago are their key players.
Matches:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 28 – Wales v England, Ireland v Scotland.
THURSDAY, SEPT 29 – Scotland v England, Ireland v Wales.
FRIDAY, SEPT 30 – England v Ireland, Wales v Scotland.

Last year’s results at Sheringham:
Scotland 4, Wales 4; England 7, Ireland 1.
Ireland 4, Wales 4; England 6 ½, Scotland 1 ½.
Ireland 5, Scotland 3; England 5 ½. Wales 3 ½.

How they finished:
1st England 3pt; 2nd Ireland 1 ½ pt; 3rd Wales 1pt; 4th Scotland ½ pt.

Previous Senior Ladies’ Home International Champions

2003 ENGLAND (at Whittingham Heath).
2004 ENGLAND (at Kilkeel).
2005 ENGLAND (at Radyr, Cardiff)
2006 ENGLAND (at Hamilton).
2007 ENGLAND (at Royal Tara).
2008 WALES (at Little Aston).
2009 SCOTLAND (at Newport).
2010 ENGLAND (at Sheringham).

STRATHCLYDE LEAGUE 2011 END OF SEASON RESULTS - DRUMPELLIER GC ARE THE WINNERS

Drumpellier Golf Club are the 2011 winners of the Strathclyde League with Mount Ellon being to Runners Up.
Langlands are winners of the 2nd Division and are promoted the Division 1 with Airdrie being the Runners Up.
Click Here to see all the results

THANKS GO TO Joan Scott (Secretary and Treasurer of the Strathclyde Ladies Golf League) for all the results

Sunday 25 September 2011

PAISLEY DAUGHTER AND FATHER BEST SCORE AT SLGA ADULT-GIRL

The SLGA Daughter and Parent Winners - Click to enlarge - Courtesy of Dawn Butcher
FROM DAWN BUTCHART
The results from the SLGA Adult and Girl foursomes today at Auchterarder are as follows:
Overall winners:
Emma Kennedy and Iain Kennedy (Paisley) 39 points (daughter-father).
Cat One (HCP 0-11)
Alexandra and Khalid Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 34 points (daughter and father)
Catherine and Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie) 33 points (daughter and mother).

Cat two (HCP 12-18)
Kirsten and John Brown (Torrance House) 37 points (daughter and father)
Beth and Thomas Donoghue (Alloa/Brucefields) 35 points (daughter and father).

Cat three (HCP 19-36)
Fiona and John Rattray (Douglas Park) 36 points (daughter and father)
Caitlin and Douglas Turner (Swanston / Baberton) 35 points (daughter and father).

Cat Four pre - handicap girls
Sophie Meek and Chris Healy (Carnoustie Ladies) 31 points (unrelated)
Lisa McPherson and Douglas Hunter (Baberton) 27 points (assume unrelated)
Eilidh and Euan Henderson (Kirkcaldy) 26 points (daughter and father). This wee girl is only seven years of age!

CATRIONA BEATS PAULA AND EUROPE WIN SOLHEIM CUP 15-13

The Winning European Team
Scotland's Catriona Matthew after her 6 and 5 win


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
Report by Bethan Cutler, LET Media ManagerDunsany, Co Meath, Ireland: Stunning, dramatic and, finally, a day of celebration for the European team at The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland.
Following rain delays, lightning threats and the shock withdrawal of Cristie Kerr due to injury before the start of her match, Europe finally regained the Solheim Cup in thrilling fashion with the narrowest of 15-13 victories over the United States.
It all came down to the last three singles matches and a dramatic final half hour. The scoreboard was favouring the USA, but the pendulum swung firmly in Europe’s favour.
Azahara Munoz had the honour of clinching the vital point in the final match with a one hole win over Angela Stanford.
In the second last singles, Caroline Hedwall, two down two to play against Ryann O’Toole, won the last two holes for a vital half point.
Suzann Pettersen had started the great fightback. One down with three to play against Michelle Wie, she pulled out a final-hole win.
The world No.2 birdied the final three holes, holing from eight feet at the last. It was a first ever Solheim singles win for the 30-year-old Norwegian, and the perfect time to achieve it.
For Alison Nicholas’s European team the 7-5 singles score meant it was a fourth win from 12 contests, and they will go to Colorado Golf Club in two years’ time hoping to win in the USA for a first time.
Tied 8-all overnight, Europe received an early free point when Cristie Kerr was forced to withdraw from the final singles against Karen Stupples with an injured wrist.
Out on the course, Catriona Matthew gave Europe a great lead with a 6 and 5 victory over the USA talisman, Paula Creamer, in the top singles and Sophie Gustafson added a second point for the home side with a final green win over Stacy Lewis.
For Gustafson, it was four wins out of four and she was Europe’s top point scorer. Matthew was also unbeaten and contributed a healthy three points.
Brittany Lang claimed the first point for the USA with a 6 and 5 margin over Sandra Gal and Morgan Pressel made sure of four wins for her USA side with a great comeback against Anna Nordqvist.
The American was two down after eight holes but, following a short rain delay, she came back and won five holes in a row and went on to win by 2 and 1.
The much-awaited singles between 51-year-old Juli Inkster, the oldest ever Solheim player, and 47-year-old Laura Davies, the only one to play in all 12 contests, came down to the last hole.
Davies, with the backing of the majority of the 28,000 final day audience, was one up playing the par four 18th and both players bunkered their second shots.
But Inkster nearly holed her third from 30 yards, while the English woman failed to make a ten foot par putt. The match ended all square and it was a half point for the visitors.
Christina Kim comfortably defeated Maria Hjorth before two rookies both finally won their first Solheim Cup points. American Vicky Hurst beat Melissa Reid by two holes and Europe’s Christel Boeljon overcame Brittany Lincicome by the same margin.
With the score tied at 12 ½- 12 ½ it was then left for Europe’s final trio to compete the drama: and what a finale it was!

DAY THREE RESULTS

SCORE AFTER TWO DAYS: Europe 8, United States 8

FINAL SINGLES (Europe 7, United States 5).
Catriona Matthew beat Paula Creamer by 6 and 5
Sophie Gustafson beat Stacy Lewis by 2 holes
Anna Nordqvist lost to Morgan Pressel by 2 and 1
Laura Davies halved with Juli Inkster
Melissa Reid lost to Vicky Hurst by 2 holes
Christel Boeljon beat Brittany Lincicome by 2 holes
Sandra Gal lost to Brittany Lang by 6 and 5
Maria Hjorth lost to Christina Kim by 4 and 2
Suzann Pettersen beat Michelle Wie by 1 hole
Caroline Hedwall halved with Ryann O’Toole
Azahara Muñoz beat Angela Stanford by 1 hole
Karen Stupples w.o. over Cristie Kerr scr (injured)
The 2011 Solheim Cup --
LAST DAY SINGLES
http://www.solheimcup.com/live_scoring.php?s=5

Saturday 24 September 2011

Solheim Cup Day 2 -- Europeans 8 USA 8

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CUTLER, L E T Media Manager
It's all to play for on Sunday on the last day of the Solheim Cup with the scoreline tied up at European 8, United States 8 at Killeen Castle, Co Meath in Ireland.
Europe skipper Alison Nicholas, pictured, had expressed her fears that "America would fight back as usual" after Europe had gone 2pt ahead at the end of the Saturday morning session of foursomes.
As the afternoon four-ball matches streamed red instead of blue, her worst fears were realised as the Americans wiped out their two-point deficit to tie the Solheim Cup at 8-8 with Sunday's 12 singles to go.
Having trailed 5-7 after losing the morning foursomes 1 ½ -2 1/2, US skipper Rosie Jones found her stars and they earned their stripes to head into Sunday's singles in buoyant mood.
Laura Davies and Mel Reid beat Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie 4 and 3 in the lead-off match this afternoon but thereafter the rest of Europe fell as the Americans hit back.
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall narrowly went down by one hole to Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr, while rookie debutants Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost 2 and 1 to Stacey Lewis and Ryann O'Toole.
Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome edged out Azahara Munoz and Maria Horth 3 and 1.
This is the third time in the last four Solheim Cups (2005 and 2009) that the end-of-day-two score was or is 8-8.
Europe has won the singles three times and on two of those occasions they won The Solheim Cup, in 1992 and 2003. Europe won the singles in 1998 but lost the match 16-12.
Team skipper Nicholas knows it's going to be one hell of a final day battle ahead, but she refused to write off her side's chances despite America's superiority in the history of the singles.
"We needed more points this afternoon but we should never look back, only forwards," said Nicholas. "I know my girls are up for it and we're going to be doing everything we can to win this cup."
Pettersen was visibly disappointed to have lost on 18, given that she and Hedwall had fought so hard to get level. Brilliant birdies on 15 from the Swede and a monster 25 footer on the par 3 16th from the Norwegian ultimately counted for little as Pressel birdied 17 to give the USA the slender advantage they held onto in the second match.
"It was another tough tight match and we played well, so we're very disappointed to lose. We gave ourselves a chance with those birdies but I can tell you that all of us believe in ourselves and our chances in the singles. We will be ready," said Pettersen.
Earlier on, Laura Davies set a new Solheim Cup points record as she and Mel Reid did their best to set Europe on the right road.
The only player to compete in all 12 Solheim Cups, 47-year-old Davies was relieved as well as delighted to reach the 24 ½ points she needed to overtake Annika Sorenstam as the event’s all-time record points’ scorer.
I’ve played in every match,” said Davies.
"So it’s great to have made it. It’s cleared the pressure and now I can relax a bit more without that extra edge in the singles."
With four birdies in a row from the third, Davies’ all-English side was four up at the turn. Reid then made her own contribution with an eight foot eagle putt at the long 12th.
For the 24-year-old rookie, who had suffered two heartbreaking final green defeats on day one, it was her first Solheim point.
Earlier in the day, it was a clean sweep for the Swedes as Europe snatched a 2 ½ - 1 ½ victory in the second day foursomes and moved two points ahead in the bid to regain The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland.
Needing 14 ½ points for victory, the Europeans led 7-5 and Alison Nicholas’s team were in buoyant mood.
It’s been a dream Solheim debut for Caroline Hedwall, the ‘baby’ of the European team and a three-time winner in her first year as a professional.
She partnered Sophie Gustafson to a 5 and 4 win in the Friday fourballs and the Swedish duo again hit form to trounce Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford 6 and 5 in the top foursome.
“It’s so exciting, it’s unbelievable,” said 22-year-old Hedwall, who has her twin sister, Jacqueline, as her caddie. “Sophie is so confident and calm and that makes me the same and she is so easy to play with.”
Jacqueline managed to get time off from her studies at Louisiana State University to be part of the European set-up this week – she intends trying to qualify for the Ladies’ European Tour at the 2012 qualifying school.
“I love to caddie for my sister, especially this week,” she said. “The atmosphere and the fans are just awesome.”
And Sophie Gustafson, given a rest in the fourballs as she has a niggling knee injury, added: "In my first Solheim Cup as a rookie I lost 7 and 5, so I was working my ass off to make sure I erased that record! The putt to do that on 13 was just short but 6 and 5 is a great win and Caroline played very well."
In the third match, another all-Swedish partnership of Anna Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth beat Brittany Lang and Juli Inkster 3 and 2.
Europe’s half point came in a thrilling bottom match. One down playing the last, Catriona Matthew and Azahara Munoz won the hole when Cristie Kerr bunkered the American’s approach shot and then failed to make the seven foot par putt.
Aza Munoz was also delighted with the crowds supporting her and Matthew on the last - and she gave them something to cheer when she held her nerve to hole out from four feet to earn a vital half.
"I was just thinking I couldn't let Catriona down. We had been fighting so hard all day. I just said I've hit a million balls like this, so I just focused and I hit it.
Matthew said: "You feel a tremendous amount of pressure. It was kind of close all day, and we wanted to get the half a point so we could win that series. We hit some really good shots at some key holes."
(Catriona was rested from the Saturday afternoon session).
Karen Stupples and Christel Beoljon went down to the Americans Ryann O'Toole and Morgan Pressel 3 and 2 and was unhappy with the USA fans goading and laughing when her Dutch debutant partner left a bunker shot on 16 in the trap.
It was the Englishwoman's second foursomes defeat, having lost with Mel Reid on day one, and she was rested ahead of the singles match "she is doubly determined to win."
And when asked if being paired with rookies in each of her matches added a bit more burden, she said: "A little bit, but you know what, I'm happy to take that ball and take that putt. It's what it is. If it means that everybody else can see that Europe will win the session and win the point, that's what we're all about."
They did just that, to the joy of Captain Ali Nicholas. "It's been another great foursomes for us - just fantastic to win the session again. Sophie and Caroline got us off to a great start, they played awesome golf, while Anna and Maria got their point at just the right time, straight after Karen and Christel lost and the Americans were getting louder.
"But that stopped them and what more can I say about Aza and Catriona. That was a gutsy, brilliant half and it was vital for us. We wanted to win the session and to do it again means I'm very proud and pleased of the girls. It set us up for our four-balls nicely."

SATURDAY SCOREBOARD
DAY ONE RESULTS – Europe 4 1/2, United States 3 1/2.

DAY TWO RESULTS – Europe 3 1/2, United States 4 1/2

OVERALL SCORE AFTER TWO DAYS: EUROPE 8, UNITED STATES 8
Foursomes (Europe 2 1/2, US 1 1/2)
(Europe names first)
Caroline Hedwall and Sophie Gustafson bt Angela Stanford and Stacy Lewis 6 and 5
Karen Stupples and Christel Boeljon lost to Morgan Pressel and Ryann O’Toole 3 and 2
Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist bt Brittany Lang and Juki Inkster 3 and 2
Catriona Matthew and Azahara Muñoz halved with Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer
Four-balls (Europe 1, US 3)
Laura Davies and Melissa Reid bt Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie by 4 and 3
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall lost to Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr one hole
Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost to Stacy Lewis and Ryann O’Toole 2 and 1
Maria Hjorth and Azahara Muñoz lost to Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome 3 and 1

SUNDAY SINGLES THAT WILL DECIDE WHO WINS THE SOLHEIM CUP

10:10 Catriona Matthew v Paula Creamer
10:20 Sophie Gustafson v Stacy Lewis
10:30 Anna Nordqvist v Morgan Pressel
10:40 Laura Davies v Juli Inkster
10:50 Melissa Reid v Vicky Hurst
11:00 Christel Boeljon v Brittany Lincicome
11:10 Sandra Gal v Brittany Lang
11:20 Maria Hjorth v Christina Kim
11:30 Suzann Pettersen v Michelle Wie
11:40 Caroline Hedwall v Ryann O’Toole
11:50 Azahara Muñoz v Angela Stanford
12:00 Karen Stupples v Cristie Kerr

Friday 23 September 2011

Europe leads U.S. by a point at Solheim

From the Golf Channel

DUNSANY, Ireland – Europe survived a spirited fightback by the United States in the fourballs to lead, 4 1/2 - 3 1/2, after the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle.

With the sides level at 2-2 following the morning foursomes, rookie Caroline Hedwall and fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson put Europe 3-2 ahead with a 5-and-4 win over Vicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicome.

Europe were up in the other three matches at that stage but Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer came back from 1 down with two to play to beat Europe’s Laura Davies and Melissa Reid by one hole with Pressel holing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th for the win.

Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal were 2 up with three to play against Christina Kim and Ryann O’Toole. But the Americans salvaged a halved match when Kim birdied the 16th and O’Toole birdied the 17th to level before the 18th was shared at par.

Europe held on to win the fourball session, 2 1/2 -1 1/2, when Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist, who where three up at the turn, won the 18th to beat Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie by two holes.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Susan gets into the Solheim Spirit.



Susan Wood gets into the act at the Solheim Cup where Jenny Potter and Susan have won the Solheim Chant. Here she is chatting to Anika Sorestam

STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN PAIR WIN COMMONWEALTH SPOONS

Leading prizewinners at the SLGA Commonwealth Spoons foursomes Grand Final
(image by courtesy of Fiona Cowan of SLGA).
Winners of the SLGA Commonwealth Spoons foursomes Grand Final
Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane
(image by courtesy of Fiona Cowan of SLGA).
From Colin Farquharson

Stirling and Clackmannan's Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane won the SLGA's Commonwealth Spoons foursomes grand final at Forres Golf Club today.
In windy, sometimes wet conditions, they headed a field of 45 pairs who qualified through their counties' competitions.
Mhairi and Margaret had a net score of 73 off eight and won by the narrowest of margins - half-a-shot - from Dawn Butchart and Emily Ogilvy (Perth and Kinross) (3.5) and Fiona Ford and Barbara McGregor (Midlothian) (15.5). Dawn and Emily were placed second with the better inward half.
Fife's Irene Morrison and Janet Thompson, playing off 13, finished fourth with a net 74 while Barbara Duguid and Pat Forsyth (Midlothian) came fifth with a net score of 75.5 (better inward half) off 17.5.

SLGA COMMONWEALTH SPOONS GRAND FINAL
Forres Golf Club
Leading net scores
Mhairi Hall and Margaret McFarlane (Stirling and Clackmannan) (8) 73; Dawn Butchart and Emily Ogilvy (Perth and Kinross) (3.5) (better inward half), Fiona Ford and Barbara McGregor (Midlothian) (15.5) 73.5; Irene Morrison and Janet Thompson (Fife) (13) 74; Barbara Duguid and Pat Forsyth (Midlothian) (17.5) 75.5 (better inward half).