Clare Queen finishes in 46th place in Eindhoven

Gwladys Nocera successfully defended the ABN AMRO Ladies Open at Eindhovensche Golf in the Netherlands today, winning by one shot with a spectacular birdie on the last hole. West of Scotlands Clare Queen had a last round of 75 to finish in 46th place
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Curtis Cup Michele Thomson wins the Munross Trophy and Kylie has a record 66

Curtis Cup player and Scottish champion Michele Thomson won the Munross Trophy over 36 holes at the Montrose Links today.
The McDonald Ellon Golf Club player had two rounds of 71 - the CSS was 73 and 74 - for a four-under-par total of 142, which gave her victory by three strokes from her Aberdeenshire county team-mate Laura Murray (Alford),
West of Scotland's players Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) finished third on 144 with a 73 and a 71 and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) set a new course record with second-round, seven-under-par 66, two shots better than the old mark held by Louise Kenney (Pitreavie).

Kylie's figures were:
OUT: 4 4 3 3 2 4 4 4 4: 32
IN: 4 3 3 2 5 5 4 4 4: 34
Kylie had eagle 2s at the fifth and 13th and birdies at the fourth, sixth, 11th and 17th. She had one bogey, at the 16th.
Leader Board :
Par 146 (2 x 73) CSS 73 74.
142 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 71 71.
143 L Murray (Alford) 76 67.
144 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 71 73.
145 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 79 66.
146 R Niven (Crieff) 74 72.
148 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 73 75.
Other West of Scotland scores:
150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76,
151 L Hendry (Routenburn) 78 73.
153 M Macpherson (Troon Ladies) 77 76.
155 R Rankin (Lanark) 77 78, J Meldrum (Dullatur)
157 E Cuthill (Lanark) 75 82.
160 J Linklater (Largs) 77 83,
163 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 80 83.
164 J Jenkins (Ralston) 77 87, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 85 79.

OUTWITH MAIN PRIZEWINNERS
Best first round - A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 73 (better inward half).Best second round - R Niven (Crieff) 72
Best net aggregate - M Macpherson (Troon Ladies) (4) 73 73: 145 (better second round).

June Medal - Ranfurly Castle

Played 4/6/08 and 8/6/08
41 entries, SSS 73, CSS 73
Silver: Sally Smyth 73 (12)bih, Lilias Snodgrass 73 (20)
Bronze: Helen Abram 71 (25), Helen Dunn 72 (31)
Scratch: Lesley Robertson 78

Clare Queen makes the cut

West of Scotland's Clare Queen added a 72 to her 70 posted yesterday to make the cut in the ABN Amro Ladies' Dutch Open in Eindhoven today to be 10 shots behind G Nocera (France) 67 65. To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Medal 5 - Douglas Park Golf Club

Played 6th June 2008, SSS 72, CSS 72, 54 Entrants
Silver:
Aileen MacIntyre 84 - 16 = 68
Alison Miller 86 - 15 = 71
Joan Gemmell 77 - 6 = 71
Bronze:
Alison White 97 - 25 = 72
Pauline Vannet 106 - 32 = 74
Marie Bryce 96 - 22 = 74
Scratch: Joan Gemmell 77

Elizabeth Weale Rosebowl Winner: Aileen McIntyre

Open Day at East Renfrewshire Golf Club

Played 5th June 2008, SSS 71 CSS 70
Silver:
Alison Miller (Douglas Park ) (16) 40 (acb)
Joyce Mitchell (Whitecraigs) (20) 40
Margo Dubrey (Loudoun) (20) 39
Bronze:
Shuming McCabe (Bonnyton) (26)41
Pamela Ferguson ( Whitecraigs) (26)40
Flora Cameron (Troon Ladies) (23) 36 (acb)

Clare Queen starts well in Eindhovan

West of Scotland's Clare Queen enjoyed one of her best starts of the season with a two under par 70 and was just three strokes behind the two French leaders, Gwladys Nocera and Jade Schaeffer, after the first round of yesterday's ABN Amro Ladies' Dutch Open in Eindhoven.
Queen started on the back nine and went out in 37. She then soared through the field with birdies at the fourth, sixth and ninth in a great second nine of 33 and was in a tie for tenth place.
Nocera (last month's winner at The Carrick, Loch Lomond) had three birdies and an eagle at the long ninth, while Schaeffer also highlighted her 67 with a three at the ninth.
The other three Scots failed to break par. Lynn Kenny had a 74, Jenna Wilson was on 77 and Kathryn Imrie 78.

County Challenge Bowls over Hilton Park

The Ladies Golf Union Challenge Bowls competition was played at Hilton Park Golf Club, today. The Fife golfer Susan Jackson (Ladybank) had a round of 73 to win the Wallace Williamson Bowl for the leading Silver Division scratch score.
The best net round in this division was a 66 off 14 by Merle Oxton (St Boswells). Runner-up was Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) with a net 72 off four.
In the Bronze Division the winner of the scratch trophy was Isobel Millar (Vale of Leven) with a score of 107. The best net score in the bronze section was by home-course player Rhonda Morris (Hilton Park)with a net 81
SSS 73, CSS 73
TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF RESULTS CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK --- County Challenge Bowl Results

Want to see some pictures of the winners --- click on the small photograph

2008 LGU Challange Bowls

RLCGA June Medal - Fereneze

Played 5th June 2008, SSS 71, CSS 71, Entries 21
Division 1:
1st Sheila Genders (West Kilbride) 82 (12) 70
2nd Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 79 (6) 73
3rd Sally Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) 86 (12) 74

Division 2:
1st Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm) 84 (13) 71
2nd Sheila Gray (Ranfurly Castle) 91 (18) 73
3rd Sheila Shaw (Lochwinnoch ) 88 (14) 74
The Medal finals from 2007 was played in conjunction with to-day's medal - the winner was Morag Turner of Kilmacolm with a net 82 off 10

Video of the Curtis Cup opening and closing ceremonies

Here is a 10 minute video of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Curtis Cup with extracts of the speeches made by Mary McKenna captain of the GB&I Team.

Alternatively view it at the YouTube Website where if you click to watch in higher quality you will get a quality of video.
Since Sky Sports did not have these ceremonies on there highlights this is about all you are going to get !!!

USA are the winners and here are some photographs from the Curtis Cup

United States won the 35th Curtis Cup competition for the 26th time in the history of the biennial transatlantic women’s amateur golf international contest.
In a historic match – the first to be staged over the Old Course, St Andrews and the first to be played over three days – the Americans triumphed easily in the end by a 13 points to seven margin.
After two warm almost summer-like days, the Sunday weather certainly turned in favour of the home team … much colder, windier and occasionally wet.
The Brits were soon trailing in the top four singles and things did not get much better although, to be fair, the home tail did wag with wins by Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) by 6 and 4 over Meghan Bolger and by home-course girl Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) by 2 and 1 over Mina Harigae.
And Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) gained a creditable half with Jennie Lee.
Another Scot, Sally Watson (Elie & Earslferry), came back from two down against Irish-born Alison Walshe in the final singles to be all square with five holes to play. But she lost the 16th and went down by one hole.
Watson, only 16, and 19-year-old Caithness were the top points producers for Great Britain with three points each. Watson played in every session of play while Caithness, home for the summer from Georgia University, and playing over her home course, won all three ties in which she was played.
For the Americans, Stacy Lewis was the MVP with five wins out of five.
Galway-born Alison Walshe, whose family emigrated to Boston when she was a youngster, was the second most successful player in the American squad she won all four of her ties.
Carly Booth (Comrie), at 15 the youngest GB&I player ever to be chosen for a Curtis Cup match – this was the youngest-ever GB&I team, had a nightmare last day. She went down by 6 and 5 to Tiffany Joh despite winning the first two holes.
Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), winner of all three of her Curtis Cup ties at Bandon Dunes two years ago, could win only one of four outings over the Old Course. Given the honour of playing in the lead-off singles tie, the Welsh girl lost by 3 and 1 to former US amateur champion, and still only 16, Kimberly Kim from Hawaii.
Jodi Ewart (Catterick), who plays on the US college circuit as a student at Texas A&M University, was drawn to play the top-ranked American player, Amanda Blumenherst and did well to take her to the 17th green before going down 2 and 1.
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), at 25 the oldest player in the home team, went down by 3 and 2 to Stacy Lewis, the No 2 ranked US college player, by 3 and 2.
The Sunday attendance was 4,800, not a bad figure considering the inclement weather, which gave a three-day total of 13,600.
Thanks go to the LGU for the reportHere are some photos from the event:

Curtis Cup 2008

I nearly got a pass to enable me to take photos on the course at the Curtis Cup -- but didn't quite manage it and just missed out. However, I have taken some photos of the Opening Ceremony, some on the course and also the Closing Ceremony.
Click on the small picture to see a few.
I hope to put on a short video of the opening and closing ceremonies when I have time to look at it

Captain's Prize -- Douglas Park

Played 30th May 2008, SSS 72, CSS 71, 80 Entries
Silver:
Karen Brodie (16) 42 points
Hilary Macnaughton (19) 39
Anne O'Connell (16) 38
Bronze:
Anne Reid (26) 42
Margaret McLaughlin (29) 40
Sandra Frew (21) 39

Charity Stableford / 9Hole Competition -- Kilmacolm

Charity Stableford
Played 27/5/08, SSS 72, CSS 73, Entries: 24
Silver:
1 C Anderson (17) 37pts
2 C Hibberd (20) 33
Bronze:
1 J Simpson (25) 36
2 M Boyle (25) 32
9 Hole Competition;
Played 29/5/08 CSS 71, 13 entries - one class
1 S Wilson (36) 38 pts
2 J Davidson (36) 35

Curtis Cup Day 3 Results --- USA win

The Winning 2008 Curtis Cup Team --- USA --- click to enlarge

Singles:
GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 2 1/2, UNITED STATES 5 1/2
GB&I players first
Breanne Loucks lost to Kimberly Kim 3 and 1.
Jodi Ewart lost to Amanda Blumenherst 2 and 1.
Liz Bennett lost to Stacy Lewis 3 and 2.
Carly Booth lost to Tiffany Joh 6 and 5.
Michele Thomson halved with Jennie Lee.
Florentyna Parker beat Meghan Bolger 6 and 4.
Krystle Caithness beat Mina Harigae 2 and 1
Sally Watson lost to Alison Walshe 1 hole.

Final Result : GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 7, UNITED STATES 13

Curtis Cup Day 2 Results

MORNING FOURSOMES

GBI & I 1.5 USA 1.5
Booth and Loucks won against Kim and Lee 3 and 2
Watson and Thompson lost Walshe and Lewis 3 and 2
Bennett and Ewart halved against Blumenhurst and Joh

Result after morning foursomes GB&I 3.5 USA 5.5

AFTERNOON FOURBALL

Carly Booth and Breanne Loucks lost to Kimberly Kim 2 and 1
Sally Watson and Krystle Caithness won against Amanda Blumenherst Meghan Bolger 3 and 2
Liz Bennett and Florentyna lost to Alison Walshe and Stacy Lewis 1 down

Final Total after day 2 GB&I 4.5 USA 7.5

Curtis Cup Day USA take a lead on Day 1

MORNING FOURSOMES
Great Britain & Ireland 1, United States 2

Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart (GB&I) lost to Stacy Lewis & Alison Walshe (USA) 3 and 1.
Sally Watson & Michele Thomson ((GB&I) beat Mina Harigae & Jennie Lee (USA) 1 hole.
Breanne Loucks & Florentyna Parker l(GB&I) lost to Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany
Joh (USA) 1 hole.

AFTERNOON FOURBALL
Great Britain & Ireland 1, United States 2
Carly Booth and Michele Thomson lost 3 and 2 to Kim and Harigae 3 and 2
Sally Watson and Krystle Caithness won 3&2 against Joh and Bolger
Parker and Bennett lost 3&1 to Blumenherst and Lewis

Days Result GB&I 2 USA 4

The Curtis Cup Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony took place this evening in glorious sunshine in front of the Old Course Clubhouse at St Andrews. The ceremony started with 4 sky divers landing on the 1st fairway 3 of them each carrying an Irish, UK and USA flag . The teams were introduced by the GB & I captain Mary McKenna and the USA Captain Carol Semple Thompson and the flags were raised.

The 2008 Curtis Cup begins --- Your webmaster is in St Andrews

The Curtis Cup begins tomorrow. Your Webmaster is away through to St Andrews to the Opening ceremony this evening and to watch all the action over the weekend.

D&A --- Colonel Brock Cup Played over Vale of Leven

Played 27th May 2008, 34 Entrants, SSS 67, CSS 70 (Reduction Only)
Silver:
Jean Paton 92 - 19 = 73
Fiona Cowan 91 - 17 = 74
Margaret Gibb 95 - 18 = 77
Bronze:
Eleanor Starling 102 - 22 = 80
Lindsay McCubbin 102 - 22 = 80
Mary Ainslie 105 - 22 = 83
Scratch: Fiona Cowan

Ranfurly Castle Strokeplay

Played 28th May, 8 entries, SSS 73, CSS 72
Silver Winner: Shona Gray 71 (19), R/Up Sheila Gray 74 (18)
Bronze Winner: Mary Hardie 73 (21), Helen Abram 74 (25)
Scratch Winner; Natasha Qayum 90

Ranfurly Castle Medal Finals

8 entries Played 28th May,SSS 73, CSS 72
Silver Winner: Sheila Gray 74 (18), R/Up Natasha Qayum 81 (8)
Bronze Winner: Shona Gray 71 (19), Helen Abram 74 (25)

Douglas Park progress to the 6th round of the Mail on Sunday

Douglas Park won 5 - 0 against Ayr Dalmilling in the the Mail on Sunday today. Despite the torrential rain, the course held up well with the 14 new greens and the match was able to be completed. They now progress to the 6th round

9 Hole Stableford - Whitecraigs Golf Club

Date: 23rd May 2008 SSS: 71 Entries: 39
Silver Win: Nicola Wilson (6) 16 pts
Silver R/Up: Elinor Watson (10) 14 pts
Bronze Win: Fiona Watson (15) 20 pts
Bronze R/Up: Pamela Ferguson (14) 19 pts

Old Ranfurly -- May Results

Played 12th May 2008 – Stableford, Entries 24 SSS 72 CSS 72
Winner: C Sweeney (36) 38 points
Runner-up: V MacKinnon (11) 37 points

Played 17th May 2008 – Spring Meeting (Jean Aitken Trophy), Entries 31 SSS 72 CSS 72
Winner: M Hogg (19) 68
Runner-up: K Thornton (19) 72

Played 19th May 2008 – LGU Medal, Entries 20 SSS 72 CSS 71
Silver: – M Downie (17) 67, S McKnight (12) 68
Bronze: – A Taylor (25) 66, D Garson (23) 73
Scratch: S McKnight 80

National Club Championship Cup 2008 -- Nichola Ferguson from Clober progresses to the 3rd round

17 year old Nichola Ferguson (Clober) had 1 eagle and 4 birdies in her 4 and 3 win against Carol Fell (Your Webmaster) --- representing Douglas Park in the National Club Champions Cup 2nd round played over Clober today. Carol quotes " It's great that the West of Scotland now has some young golfing talent coming through the ranks and it certainly was a delight to watch"
She also says " When I play a 5 wood and the youngsters play an 8 iron --- I think it is perhaps the time to take up tiddly winks or something !!
Anyway -- well done Nichola --- Good luck in your Biology Higher tomorrow and all the best in the future rounds

Traffic Accident causes West Girls v East Girls to be reduced to 6 matches

The annual match for the Mhairi McKay Trophy was being played at Murrayfield Golf Club in Edinburgh today. There was a serious accident on the M8 resulting in the road being closed. This meant that most of the girls from the west had a very long journey spending many hours stuck in traffic. Unfortunately Gillian Scanlon and Alyson McKechin were stuck in the traffic for more than 3 hours and had to return home without even arriving at Murrayfield Golf Club. The East Girls were very understanding and allowed us to play with the six girls who successfully arrived at the course. The result this year was West 4 East 2
RESULTS: East Players 1st
Gillian Simpson lost to Eilidh Briggs 4 and 3.
Rachael Watton bt Jill Meldrum 6 and 5.
Cara Easton v Gillian Scanlan - not played.
Camilla Tait lost to Zoe Differ 2 holes
Gabrielle Macdonald bt Nicola Ferguson 3 and 2.
Stacey Cameron lost to Natasha Qayum one hole.
Rachel Hanlon v Alyson McKechin - not played.
Helen Goodwin lost to Nicky Wilson 6 and 5.

Kylie Walker wins the St Rule Trophy

D&A's Kylie Walker is not one of the four Scots in the GB&I team for the Curtis Cup at the same venue this week but she must have given them a boost and a few pointers as she won the St Rule Trophy in a half-gale over the Old Course, St Andrews today (Sunday).

The 21-year-old Buchanan Castle player, who has a handicap of +2, led by one shot at the end of the first round with a one-under-par 75 in a bitterly cold north-easterly wind gusting up to 25mph. Then Kylie went out and again shot the joint lowest score in the second round – a three-under-par 73, for a four-under total of 148.

"I've scored lower over the Old Course before but that's the best I've ever played it when the wind's been blowing like that," said Kylie who was beaten semi-finalist in the recent Scottish women's championship at Lossiemouth and, last month, was top Scot and joint fourth overall in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon.

Hitting the ball around the 300yd mark off the tee, even when it was a cross-wind, Kylie was able to pick up two-putt birdie 3s by driving the greens at the ninth and 10th, Her strength off the tee also enabled her to birdie the par-5 second and fourth by hitting them with her second shots.

She also birdied the par-5 17th with a pitch-and-putt 4.

Kylie bogeyed only the 13th – "I made a mess of that and finished up three-putting" – and the 18th where she missed the green with her approach. But all in all Miss Walker looked a class player in very difficult conditions, the CSS for the first round was 79 against the par of 76 and 77 in the second round.

"It's all started to come together for me," said Kylie who also won the Dunbartonshire & Argyll county title earlier this season.

Too late to get her into Curtis Cup team contention but the capture of the St Rule Trophy – the biggest win on her golfing CV which includes the Scottish schoolgirls title four years ago - will go into the British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick from June 11 to 15 brimful of confidence.

French players filled second, third, fourth and joint fifth places. Not surprisingly, France (299) won the international team event from Scotland (309) with Ireland (314) third and Wales (318) fourth.

ST RULE TROPHY
Old Course, St Andrews
Final Leader Board
Par 152 (2 x 76)
148 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 75 73.
149 A Goumard (France) 76 73.
150 I Boineau (France) 76 74.
153 L Andre (France)76 77.

Other Scots:
156 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 81 75.
160 R Niven (Crieff) 80 80,
161 R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 80 81, K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 86 75, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 85.
162 A Bushby (Strathmore) 80 82, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 81 81, Sheena Wood (Hazlehead) 83 79.
163 A Davidson (Stirling) 79 84.
164 T Davies (Holyhead) 82 82, K Brotherton (Tulliallan) 83 81, J Turner (Craigielaw) 86 78.
165 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 85 80, R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 82 83.
166 S Jackson (Ladybank) 86 80, M Pow (Selkirk) 83 83, K Marshall (Baberton) 80 80.
167 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 87 80, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 83 84.
168 A Laing (Vale of Leven) 77 91, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 83 85.
169 L Murray (Alford) 84 85.
171 C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 90 81, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 81 90, J Carthew (Ladybank) 84 87.
173 E Cuthill (Lanark) 85 88.
174 L Walker (Muckhart) 91 83
177 R McQueen (Troon Ladies) 94 83.
182 Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 96 86, L McLardy (Murcar Links) 92 90, E Moffat (St Regulus) 92 90.
183 J Sneddon (Alyth) 92 91.

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Ranfurly Castle Extra Stableford

Played 25/5/08 2 entries CSS 73
Winner Helen Craig 35 pts (16)
R/UP Lesley Robertson 31 pts (2)

May Competitions -- Whitecraigs Golf Club

Competition: Wardhaugh Salver
Date: 16th May 2008 , SSS: 72 , CSS: 72 , Entries: 48
Winner: Julie Dickson (19) 66
Runner Up: Dorothy McKnight (22) 69

Competition: Coronation Foursomes
Date: 19th May 2008 , SSS: 72, Entries: 16 couples
Winners: Karen Brodie & Katie Keenan 38 points
Runners-up: Fiona Watson & Elizabeth Hall 34 points (bih)

Dorrie Hunter Strokeplay - Ranfurly Castle

Played 23/5/08 6 entries, SSS 73, CSS 73
One Class
Winner: Shona Gray (19) 74
Runner Up: Mary Craig (10) 75