Megan Briggs is the 2009 Renfrewshire County Champion

Kilmacolm's 19-year-old Scotland international player Megan Briggs won the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship for the fourth year in a row at Whitecraigs Golf Club today.
The No 1 seed, Megan beat second best qualifier Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 title-winner and beaten finalist in 2007, by 3 and 2 in the final.
Both players were out in 38 and Briggs was two under par for her inward holes.
Clare - Marie had been in sparkling three-under-par form in the morning semi-finals in which she swept aside the challenge of 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), beating her 8 and 7.
The Briggs sisters had a real tussle in the other semi-final before Megan won by two holes over 15-year-old Eilidh. Last year they met in the final.The last player to win the Renfrewshire title four years in a row was Donna Jackson from 1989 to 1992. Before that it was Shirley Lawson, before she became Mrs Huggan, from 1985 to 1988.
Megan Briggs' target must now be to equal the five successive county title achieved by Wilma Aitken (later Mrs Leburn) from 1978 to 1982.
Today's results:
Semi-finals
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) beat Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 holes.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) beat Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 8 and 7.
Final
Megan Briggs beat Clare- Marie Carlton 3 and 2.

Lesley Hendry wins the 2009 Ayrshire Championship

Glasgow Golf Club vice-captain Ian Lockhart, who made the presentations at the Ayrshire women's county championship, is flanked by Lesley Hendry (left) and Hannah Gaunt

Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), the No 2 seed, won the Ayrshire women's county golf championship for the fourth time in the past five years at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club today
In the final, Lesley beat the surprise packet of the championship, 18-year-old Hannah Gaunt (Troon Ladies), who has a handicap of nine, by 4 and 3.
The finalists, Hannah on the left, are pictured above by courtesy of Alasdair Malcolm.

After a closely-fought first nine holes, the more experienced Hendry took a grip on the match to win on the 15th green.
In the morning semi-finals, No 4 qualifier Gaunt, who is bound for Stirling University on a law degree course, won by 4 and 3 against Liz Keohone (Loudoun Gowf), the No 8 qualifier but conqueror of top seed Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) in Thursday's second round. Hendry beat another former champion Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), the No 3 seed, by one hole.
Today's results:
Semi-finals - H Gaunt (Troon Ladies) bt L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 4 and 3, L Hendry (Routenburn) bt A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barasse) 1 hole.
Final - Hendry bt Gaunt 4 and 3.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

RLCGA Championship Top 4 Seeds thro' to Semi Finals

Donna Jackson and Alyson McKechin -- Click to enlarge

The top 4 seeds reached the semi finals of the Renfrewshire County Championships at Whitecraigs Golf Club this afternoon.
Defending Champion Megan Briggs won through by defeating Eva Thomson (East Renfrewshire) in the morning and then beat Carol Whyte (Windyhill) in the afternoon quarter finals. She now meets her younger sister Eilidh last years beaten finalist.
Clare- Marie Carlton displayed powerful golf against young Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) to meet 10 times past Champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle)
Donna was 1 down with 4 holes to play against the other up and coming youngster Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) . She then thewon the short par 3 16th to square the match and finally won 1 up with a wonderful sand save at the 18th
1st Round:
M Briggs (Kilmacolm) beat E Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 5 and 3
C Whyte ( Windyhill) beat G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 3 and 2
G Kyle ( East Renfrewshire) beat Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry and Whitecraigs) 3 and 2
E Briggs (Kilmacolm)beat L McDougall (Greenock)4 and 2
D Jackson (Cochrane Castle ) beat J Mack (Haggs Castle) 6 and 5
A McKechin (Elderslie) beat B Paterson (Eastwood) 6 and 4
N Qayum Ranfurly Castle) beat Linda Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 2 and 1
C- M Carlton (Fereneze) beat L Stewart (Greenburn)5 and 3

Quarter-finals :
M Briggs beat C Whyte 4 and 3
E Briggs beat G Kyle 4 and 3
D Jackson beat A McKechin 1 up
C -M Carlton beat N Qayum 6 and 5

To see some pictures and full slideshow from the day's events Click Here

Kylie Walker is the 2009 D&A Champion

Champion Kylie Walker with county president Lesley McKilligan.

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) won the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county golf championship for the third time in the past four years at Hayston Golf Club today.
Kylie, the No 1 seed, beat the sixth qualifier, Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) by 3 and 1 in an entertaining final.
Kylie (left) and Kirstin are pictured above (image by courtesy of Jean Campbell).
Kirstin chipped in from well of the green at the fourth for a par 4 and was two up at the eighth before losing her momentum.
Kylie won three holes in a row and was two up at the 14th before clinching the title at the 17th.
Jorden Ferrie, a 13-year-old, 24 handicap junior member at Kirkintilloch Golf Club, won the Bronze championship. She beat Morag Dunan (Milngavie) 9 and 7 in the final to win the Marion Anderson Trophy.
Results:
Semi-finals
K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt H Faulds (Douglas Park) 5 and 4.
K Scott (Milngavie) bt F McLean (Hilton Park) 2 and 1.
Final
Walker bt Scott 3 and 1
BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIP
Final
J Ferrie Kirkintilloch) bt M Dunan (Milngavie) 9 and 7.
To see some more photos go to the D&A WEBSITE

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Kylie Walker meets West Vets Captain Helen Faulds in the D&A Semi Final

Kylie Walker and Helen Faulds before their Semi Final Tie --Click to enlarge

Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) who was one down against Clober's Nichola Ferguson at the 18th in her quarter final tie but managed to square the match when Nichola drove out of bounds at the last and then found a bunker with her second shot. At the 19th, Nichola had to chip out from behind a tree and Helen, sank a 28ft putt for a place in this morning's semi-finals against top seed and defending champion Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).

Kirstin Scott and Fiona McLean - Click to enlarge

The other semi-final features No 6 qualifier Kirstin Scott (Milngavie), conqueror by 2 and 1 of Laura McGeachy (Windyhill) against No 10 Fiona McLean (Hilton Park), who was a 2 and 1 winner over Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
The Bronze champion final between Morag Dunan (Milngavie) and Kirkintilloch junior Jorden Ferrie will tee off at 9.20am.
Results:
First round - K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt P Cawley (Cardross) 4 and 3, L McColl (Bearsden) bt S Tryon (Gleddoch) 5 and 4, H Faulds (Douglas Park) bt S Hay (Kirkintilloch) 5 and 4, N Ferguson (Clober) bt I Harvie (St Rule) 6 and 5, L McGeachy (Windyhill) bt L Moffat (Helensburgh) 1 hole, K Scott (Milngavie) bt B Robertson (Helensburgh) 7 and 6, F McLean (Hilton Park) bt L Campbell (Cardross) 2 holes, A Telfer (Milngavie) bt E Young (Balmore) 1 hole.
Quarter-finals - Walker bt McColl 6 and 5, Faulds bt Ferguson at 19th, Scott bt McGeachy 2 and 1, McLean bt Telfer 4 and 2.
BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals - M Dunan (Milngavie) bt M Charters (Hayston) 1 hole, J Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) bt A Byiers (Milngavie) 7 and 6

Top seed Rachael McQueen knocked out in the Ayrshire Quarter Finals

Top seed Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) was toppled in the quarter-finals of the Ayrshire women's county golf championship at Glasgow Gailes today.
She went down by 4 and 3 to the No 6 qualifier Liz Keohone (Loudoun).
Results:
First round - R McQueen (Troon Ladies) bt G Arnott (Kilbirnie) 3 and 2, L Keohone (Loudoun) bt L Parry (Irvine) 5 and 4, R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt L Williamson (Kilmarnock barassie) 3 and 2, H Gaunt 9Troon Ladies) bt B Beckett 9Caprington) 3 and 2, A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt E Taylor (Troon Ladies) 3 and 2, A Thompson (Loudoun) bt R Donaldson (Troon Ladies) 6 and 5, G Smith (Ardeer) bt J West (Irvine) 5 and 4, L Hendry (Routenburn) bt L Allan (West Kilbride) 2 holes.
Quarter-finals - Keohone bt McQueen 4 and 3, Gaunt bt Purdom at 19th, Glennie bt Thompson at 19th, Hendry bt Smith 2 and 1.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Megan Briggs is the leading Renfrewshire qualifier

Scotland international Megan Briggs is bidding to win the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship for a fourth year in a row at Whitecraigs Golf Club this week.
The 19-year-old Kilmacolm player, made a good start by leading the 16 match-play qualifiers today in cold, raw and windy conditions with a round of 74, one more than the CSS.
Megan is seeded to meet the No 2 qualifier, Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 champion, in Friday's final. Clare-Marie had a 75.
Third best qualifier was Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) with a 76. Donna, a record 10 times county champion between 1989 and 2005, was the last player to win the Renfrewshire title four years in a row. She did it from 1989 to 1992.
Megan Briggs' 15-year-old sister Eilidh, whom she beat 4 and 3 in last year's final, qualified in fourth place with a 78. That puts the Briggs girls in the same half of the draw so a repeat of last year is impossible.
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
SSS 72. CSS 73. (55 entrants)

74 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
75 Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze).
76 Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
78 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm).
80 Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
81 Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), Carol White (Windyhill), Linda Stevenson (Whitecraigs).
82 Beth Paterson (Eastwood).
84 Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry).
85 Linda McDougall (Greenock)
86 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Liz Stewart (Greenburn).
87 Eva Thomson (East Renfrewshire)
DRAW
Top half
9.15 M Briggs v E Thomson.
9.22 C Whyte v G McGinlay.
9.30 G Kyle v Linsey Stevenson.
9.37 L McDougall v E Briggs.
Lower half
9.45 D Jackson v J Mack.
9.52 B Paterson v A McKechin.
10.0 N Qayum v Linda Stevenson.
10.07 L Stewart v C-M Carlton.
Quarter-finals at 1.30, 1.37, 1.45 and 1.52.

Kylie Walker is the D&A leading Qualifier by 5 shots

Defending champion Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) looked different class when she headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county golf championship by five strokes at Hayston Golf Club today.
Kylie, shot a 71, which matched par, the standard scratch , on a dry and cold, occasionally breezy day.
Anna Telfer (Milngavie), Laura McGeachy (Windyhill) and Nichola (Clober) all had the next best score of 76. Anna's inward half earned her the No 2 seeding in the opposite half of the draw from Kylie Walker, while the card countback made Laura the third best qualifier and Nichola the fourth.
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 71. SSS 71. CSS 73
71 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).
76 Anna Telfer (Milngavie) bih, Laura McGeachy (Windyhill) bih, Nichola Ferguson (Clober).
77 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
83 Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
84 Lorraine Campbell (Cardross).
85 Sarah Tryon (Gleddoch).
86 Lynn McColl (Bearsden).
88 Fiona McLean (Hilton Park).
89 Babs Robertson (Helensburgh).
90 Sandra Hay (Kirkintilloch), Isabel Harvey (St Rule).
92 Linda Moffat (Helensburgh) bih, Enid Young (Balmore).
96 Penny Cawley (Cardross).
DRAW
Walker v Cawley, McColl v Tryon, Faulds v Hay, Harvey v Ferguson, McGeachy v Moffat, Roberts v Scott, Campbell v McLean, Young v Telfer.
BRONZE QUALIFIERS
92 Margaret Charters (Hayston).
95 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch).
101 Anne Byiers (Milngavie).
103 Morag Dunan (Milngavie).
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Ayrshire County Championship Qualifier - Rachael McQueen is the Top Seed

Rachel McQueen (Troon Ladies), who has never won the title, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Ayrshire women's county golf championship at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club today.
Playing off the blue tees, scratch player Rachel returned a six-over-par 77 on a relatively wind-free day over a course in excellent condition, particularly the greens.
Hard on Rachel's heels were two former county champions, Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), who has a handicap of 2, with a 78 and six-handicapper Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) a 79.
Morag McPherson was unable to defend the title due to examinations.
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Blue tees: Par 71
77 R McQueen (Troon Ladies).
78 L Hendry (Routenburn).
79 A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie).
80 H Gaunt (Troon Ladies), R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas).
83 A Thompson (Loudoun Gowf).
84 G Smith (Ardeer).
85 L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf).
86 L Parry (Irvine), J West (Irvine).
87 R Donaldson (Troon Ladies).
88 L Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie).
89 B Beckett (Caprington), E Taylor (Troon Ladies), L Allan (West Kilbride), G Arnott (Kilbirnie).
DRAW (9am) (Yellow tees)
McQueen v Arnott, Parry v Keohone, Purdom v Williamson, Beckett v Gaunt, Glennie v Taylor, Donaldson v Thompson, Smith v West, Allan v Hendry.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Mark Your Members Card for Scottish Golf

The SGU and SLGA have launched the Scottish Golf Card exclusively for golf club members as an added incentive, enabling them to take advantage of a 50% reduction off standard green fees at golf clubs participating in the programme. To read more go to the SGU Website

Eighteen Great Benefits of Joining a Golf Club

As part of the Golf Awareness Week campaign, the Scottish Golf Union has compiled a list of eighteen compelling reasons why you should join a golf club, so if you are still undecided, here’s why you should decide yes!

Go to the SGU Website to read more

Spring Chicken Tri-am Competition - Douglas Park

Gladys Speedie --- Lady Captain of Douglas Park

This fun competition was played over 12 holes on Friday 10th April (Good Friday)
Winners: Nett 46 (after countback) Norma Campbell Elaine Park Nancy Smith
Runners up: Nett 46 Anne Fergusson Edith Monachan Norma Vallance
Congratulations go to the winners and their Lady Captain Gladys Speedie for her well planned organisation of this fun event.

Happy Easter to all our Readers

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Radio Scotland Interview of your webmaster

Radio Scotland Interview of your webmaster --- Please let it be noted that I did not set up the Centralised Handicapping System --- I was only a part of a technical group looking at it. Andy Salmon of the SGU is the main person involved

West Vets Spring Meeting

The West Vets Spring Meeting was held over Sandyhills Golf Club yesterday and West Vets Captain Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) had the best score of the day in difficult conditions. To read the full report go to the West Vets Website

D&A INTER COUNTY FOURSOMES QUALIFIERS

The D&A Inter County Foursomes was played over Cardross GC yesterday in rather wet and windy conditions. Joan Gemmell and Anne Fergusson (Douglas Park) were the scratch winners and I.Keywood & M.Duncan(Cardross)were the Handicap Winners

Inter County Foursomes - 3 Scratch & 3 Handicap Qualify

Scratch
1. J. Gemmell & A.Fergusson (Douglas Park.) 93
2.I. Harvey(St.Rule) & A.Baker (Hilton Park) 94(BIH)
3.F.McLean & C. MacPherson (Hilton Park) 94

Handicap
1.I.Keywood & M.Duncan (Cardross) 96-15-81
2.P.Cawley & P.Craig (Cardross) 97-13.5-83.5
3.D.Woodger & M.Grant (Hilton Park) 100-15.5-84.5

Live Scoring from the Under 16's Open Stroke Play Championship

Live scoring is available from the Under 16 Open Stroke Play Championship at Craigielaw

Listen to Radio Scotland this Saturday

Scottish Golf Development Manager Andy Salmon --- and your Webmaster Carol Fell were interviewed today by John Beattie ex Scottish Rugby Internationalist about the 2009 Scottish Golf Awareness Week and the new Centralised Handicapping System--- You can listen to the interview this Saturday (11th April) at 9am - 10am on Radio Scotland --- Click on the photos for enlargements

9 Hole Stableford -- Douglas Park

9 Hole Competition Played 06/04/2009 CSS:72
1st 19pts Brenda Murray
2nd 18pts Marjorie Lockhart
3rd 17pts Anne Strathdee

Renfrewshire County Medal over Caldwell

Played over Caldwell Golf Club on the 5th April 2009, SSS 72, CSS 75 (Reduction Only),
48 Entrants
Division 1: (Handicap Scratch - 12)
1st Sally Foster (Kilmacolm) 85 (11) 74
2nd Linda McDougall (Greenock) 84 (8) 76
3rd Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 84 (6) 78

Division 2 (Handicap 13 upwards)
1st Mary Gildea (Caldwell) 99 (19) 80
2nd Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 95 (13) 82
3rd June Irons (Caldwell) 101 (18) 83

Scratch :Donna Jackson 82

Click on this link to see the full results All The scores

SLGA April Medal -- East Renfrewshire Golf Club

SLGA April Medal Played 1st April 2009 (SSS 71, CSS 72)
Silver: Ann Harvie (18) [acb] 73, Gillian Kyle (4) 73, Audrey Barclay (13) 79,
Bronze : Liz McShane (33) [acb] 78, Fiona Leslie (30) 78 , Alison McKellar (30) 79.
Best Scratch Player: Gillian Kyle 77

April Medal --- Bearsden GC

Played 2nd April 2009: SSS 69, CSS 72

Silver:
Lynn McColl (8) 82
Pat Hutton (20) 86
Bronze :
Fiona Alexander (28) [acb] 71
Sheila Mumford (24) 71
Janet Wotton (29) 73

Daily Exercise for Golf !!

I came across this exercise suggested for the over-37s to build muscle strength in the arms & shoulders. The article suggested doing it 3 days a week, but I do it daily. 
 



1. Begin by standing on a comfortable, flat surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 2kg potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to hold for a full minute, then relax.



2. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit 
longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 5kg potato bag. Then a 25kg potato bag and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 50kg potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at that level).



3. When you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the 
bags.

Thanks go to Moira Jakobsson from Enjoy Music for that one

SLGA Medal - Prestwick St Nicholas

Played 2nd April 2009 ,SSS 72, CSS 73

Silver:
C Malcolm (3)70
W Hollingworth (14) 74
J Brown (13)75
Bronze:
M White (28) 73
P Baxter (30) 76
K Hodge (24)76

Scratch : C Malcolm 73

Medal 1 --- Douglas Park Golf Club

Played 4th April 2009, SSS 72, CSS 73, 40 Entrants
Silver:
1st 74-5=69 Helen Faulds
2nd 82-10=72 Carol Fell (bih)
3rd 91-19=72 Christina Graham

Bronze:
1st 101-30=71 Yvonne Currie
2nd 109-35=74 Denise Macnaughton (bih)
3rd 101-27=74 Anne Stevenson

Scratch: Helen Faulds 74

Scottish Golf Awareness Week -- Some Ideas

The Scottish Golf Awareness Week, 13-20 April, is an initiative to encourage those golfers who are not club members to join their local golf club. The campaign will start the week after The Masters and clubs are encouraged to embrace the "Love Golf? Join the Club" campaign throughout the year.
Here are some ideas to help clubs with a local campaign. Go to the SLGA Website to read all ablout it.

March Medal - Greenock

Played 2nd April 2009: (SSS 71, CSS 73)
Scratch: Mo Neilson (8) 74
Silver: Margaret Austin (17) 71< Mo Neilson (8) 74
Bronze: Sandra Cook (24) 80, Jessie McKillop (34) 80

Stableford - Cathcart Castle Golf Club

Stableford (SSS 69, CSS 72)Played 1st April 2009

Silver:
S. Mitchell (12)34
A. Ritchie (17) [acb] 33
M. Mitchell (10)33
Bronze:
M. McMurtrie (26)38
D. Sim (22)31
M. Madill (36)30

Denim Day at Hilton Park launches Scottish Golf Week

Scottish Golf’s Awareness Week gained momentum with the launch of the ‘Love Golf? Join the Club’ campaign on April Fools Day at Hilton Park Golf Club.

The joint SGU and SLGA campaign which was recently boosted by a £10,000 grant from the R&A, is the first of its kind and aims to promote the benefits of golf club membership, while helping clubs recruit and retain members.

In a break from tradition, SGU and SLGA executives sported jeans and T-shirts to demonstrate the sort of thinking which is helping clubs widen their appeal to a new target audience.

At a press conference officials of Hilton Park and Swanston New, another of the clubs that have embraced Golf Awareness Week, outlined some of the methods they have used in recent years to build their memberships at a time when the trend has been toward declining membership across Scotland.

Scottish Golf Development Manager Andy Salmon who is spear-heading this campaign, said: “The majority of clubs are already using our free of charge service within the Scottish Golf web-site, to market themselves and there are currently 300 clubs advertising membership vacancies. This is helping to break down the myth that clubs are difficult to get into because of closed memberships or lengthy waiting lists when many are actually actively looking to recruit new members.

“Swanston New and Hilton Park are great examples of clubs that are reaping the benefits of innovative thinking by adopting a more customer focussed approach to their membership. What we are keen to do is provide as many examples as possible of best practise so that other clubs can choose what best suits their particular needs.

“We are not suggesting that many clubs are likely to start allowing members or guests to turn up in T-shirt and jeans, but the purpose of today’s event was to invite them to think differently about how they promote themselves to a wider market, specifically targeting the nomadic golfer A more relaxed dress code is just one example of a successful change in golf clubs.”

Lynn Kenny, one of Scotland’s leading female professionals on the Ladies European Tour who was supporting today’s launch, added, “The Love Golf? Join the Club campaign is a great idea for Scotland’s clubs. Being a member of a golf club is a fantastic way to make life-long friendships and is often great value for money compared to other leisure pursuits.

“Attitudes within golf clubs have changed significantly for the better towards women and families and I’m sure this campaign will help attract many new members whilst also convincing existing members that they should remain at their club.”

April Medal - Ranfurly Castle

Played Sun 29 Mar 2009 [CSS 76 RO] and Wed 1 Apr 2009 [CSS 75], 34 Entries

Silver Winner: Mary Craig (11) 65
Runner Up: Anne Judge (7) 77
Bronze Winner: Agnes Williamson (21) 70
Runner Up: Karin MacKenzie (28) 77
Best Scratch: Mary Craig 76