Northern Counties are the Scottish Champions

Report by Colin Farquharson

Northern Counties won the Scottish women's county team golf championship in a nail-biting finish to the three-day programme at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh today.

Northern Counties and Midlothian, the only two teams with 100 per cent records after two days, met in the title decider – and it ended in a 4 ½-4 ½ draw.
The countback of games won previously gave Northern Counties the title (14 ½-14).

It was Northern Counties' first title win in five years but their fourth win of the decade, having previously been national champions in 2000, 2003 and 2004.

And yet, Northern Counties looked to have suffered a body blow to their title prospects when Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University and Nairn Dunbar), Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, hurt her wrist hacking out of the rough during the morning foursomes and had to be taken to hospital where ligament damage was diagnosed.

With Midlothian taking a 2-1 foursomes lead into the six afternoon singles – and Kelsey hors de combat, it looked odds on that the East Division champions would regain the title they won in 2005 and again in 2007.
Midlothian increased their lunchtime advantage to 4-1 when Jane Turner beat Pam Mackay 4 and 3, and Claire Hargan won by 3 and 2 against Alison Bartlett.
But then Northern Counties tail wagged with a vengeance.
Elgin's Jenny Milne stopped the slide by halving her match with Scotland girl international Rachael Watton.
Then Counties won the last three singles to salvage a halved match and win the title on a countback.

Youngsters Julie Vass (15) and Hannah McCook (16) played like veterans to knock 2pt off the deficit. Tain's Julie beat Karen Marshall 5 and 4 while Hannah, the North of Scotland girls champion from Nethy Bridge, beat the experienced Louise Fraser by one hole.

Then the Northern Counties' ploy of saving their champion, Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) for the anchor role in the singles paid a huge dividend. In a tight match that went all the way to the 18th green, Cara beat Claire MacDonald by two holes.

Gruber was Counties' outstanding player of the tournament with 4 1/2pt out of six, just ahead of Hannah McCook and Mary Smith (Tain), each with 4pt. Mary, a senior Scotland international, did not play against Midlothian, either in the foursomes or the singles, after winning 4pt out of four through Friday and Saturday. It transpires she was playing in a veterans' tournament at Blairgowrie on Sunday!

Midlothian had the two most successful players over the three days – Jane Turner and Claire Hargan, both with 5pt. Jane won five games out of six, Hargan won all five ties in which she played.
Renfrewshire beat Galloway 7 1/2-1 1/2 to finish third in the table with 1pt. Megan Briggs won 4 1/2pt out of six for Renfrewshire wile sister Eilidh won 4pt.



Today's results:

RENFREWSHIRE 7 ½, GALLOWAY 1 ½

Foursomes: Eilidh Briggs and Megan Briggs bt Gillian Monteith and Tracy Milligan 4 and 3; Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart bt Christina Meldrum and Addi Shamash 2 and 1; lare-Marie Carlton and Gillian Kyle bt Sheila McMurtrie and Gwen Robson 1 hole (3-0).

Singles: Megan Briggs bt Monteith 1 hole, Carlton bt Shamash 5 and 4, Eilidh Briggs lost to McMurtrie 1 hole, Alyson McKechin bt Meldrum 5 and 3, Carol Whyte halved with Robson, Kyle bt Milligan 1 hole (4 ½-1 ½).
NORTHERN COUNTIES 4 ½, MIDLOTHIAN 4 ½

Foursomes: Kelsey MacDonald and Hannah McCook lost to Jane Turner and Rachael Watton 6 and 5; Cara Gruber and Pam Mackay lost to Claire Hargan and Wendy Nicholson 1 hole; Alison Bartlett and Jenny Milne bt Kirsten Blackwood and Claire MacDonald 1 hole (1-2).
Singles: Mackay lost to Turner 4 and 3, Bartlett lost to Hargan 3 and 2, Milne halved with Watton, Julie Vass bt Karen Marshall 5 and 4, McCook bt Louise Fraser 1 hole, Gruber bt Claire MacDonald 2 holes (3 ½-2 ½).

HOW THEY FINISHED

Northern Counties, Midlothian 2 1/2pt each (Northern Counties won 14 ½-14 on countback),
Renfrewshire 1pt, Galloway 0pt.


For todays printout at Baberton in the County Finals Click on the following link
RENFREWSHIRE v DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY -----County Finals -- Day 3 Results

County Finals -- The Final Day

NORTHERN COUNTIES. Back row (left to right): Pam Mackay, Cara Gruber, F Allan (vice-capt), Jan Corbett (capt), Jenny Milne, Mary Smith, Alison Bartlett. Front: Julie Vass, Kelsey MacDonald, Hannah McCook.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY. Back row (left to right): Helen Nesbitt (president), Sheila McMurtrie, S Huntly (capt), Christina Meldrum, Pat Magill, Caroline Merrick, Addi Shamash. Front row: Gillian Monteith, Gwen Robson, Tracy Milligan.

RENFREWSHIRE. Left to right: Megan Briggs, Clare-Marie Carlton, Donna Jackson, Eilidh Briggs, Gillian Kyle, Liz Stewart, Carol Whyte, Alyson McKechin, Christine Finlayson (capt).

Your Webmaster has now gone to Blairgowrie to the Scottish Vets Jamboree this morning (Sunday) and will therefore not have a photo of Midlothian has still to be taken -- hopefully one will be sent to her to add to the list (Click on photos to enlarge)

Therefore there will be no news posted on the website for a couple of days.

For todays results at Baberton in the County Finals Click on the following link
RENFREWSHIRE v DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY -----County Finals -- Day 3 Results

For all the news from the last day's play go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Midlothan and Northern Counties are both winners today at Baberton

Midlothian and Northern Counties, the East and North champions respectively, will meet in the title decider tomorrow (Sunday) on the third and last day of the Scottish women's county golf team championship at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh.

Both teams have played twice and won twice.

Today (Saturday), Midlothian followed up their 8 ½- ½ win over South title-holders Galloway by beating West champions Renfrewshire 5 ½ -3 ½ while Northern Counties, who had beaten Renfrewshire 7 ½- 1 ½ on Friday whipped Galloway 7-2.

After taking a 2-1 lead over Renfrewshire in the morning foursomes, the key singles match featured Scotland team-mates Jane Turner (Midlothian) and Renfrewshire and Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Renfrewshire).

Jane won by 2 and 1 after single putting on about 9 occasions and further Midlothian wins by Claire Hargan and Claire MacDonald gave them a 2 point win overall.Clare-Marie Carlton and Elidh Briggs were Renfrewshire's winners with Carol Whyte getting a very goof half

Northern Counties made a 3-0 clean sweep of the foursomes against Galloway but it was not quite so easy for them in the singles. Galloway's Gillian Monteith did well to halve the top match against Cara Gruber but wins by teenagers Kelsey MacDonald and Hannah McCook as well as senior international Mary Smith consolidated Northern's victory.

Saturday results

MIDLOTHIAN 5 ½, RENFREWSHIRE 3 ½

Foursomes: Jane Turner, Rachael Watton lost to Megan Briggs, Eilidh Briggs 2 and 1; Claire Hargan, Wendy Nicholson bt Alyson McKechin, Liz Stewart 5 and 4; Kirsten Blackwood, Claire MacDonald bt Claire-Marie Carlton, Donna Jackson 2 and 1 (2-1).

Singles: Turner bt Megan Briggs 2 and 1, Nicholson lost to Carlton 3 and 2, Hargan bt McKechin 3 and 2, Louise Fraser halved with Carol Whyte; Karen Marshall lost to Eilidh Briggs 7 and 6, MacDonald bt Jackson 2 holes (3 ½-2 ½).

GALLOWAY 2, NORTHERN COUNTIES 7

Foursomes: Gillian Monteith, Tracy Milligan lost to Kelsey MacDonald, Hannah McCook 1 hole; Christina Meldrum, Sheila McMurtrie lost to Cara Gruber, Pam Mackay 4 and 2; Addi Shamash, Gwen Robson lost to Mary Smith, Alison Bartlett 7 and 5 (0-3).

Singles: Monteith halved with Gruber, Milligan lost to MacDonald 4 and 2, Shamash bt Julie Vass 2 holes, Rob son lost to Smith 4 and 3, Meldrum lost to McCook 4 and 3, McMurtrie halved with Jenny Milne (2-4).

HOW THEY STAND

Midlothian 2 wins, Northern Counties 2 wins, Renfrewshire 2 losses, Galloway 2 losses.

FINAL MATCHES
Galloway v Renfrewshire, Northern Counties v Midlothian.

TO SEE SOME PHOTOS FROM TODAYS PLAY CLICK ON THE SMALL THUMBNAIL BELOW

County Finals Day2 - RLCGA v Midlothian

To print out today's results click on the following link RENFREWSHIRE v MIDLOTHIAN -----County Finals -- Day 2 Results

RENFREWSHIRE v MIDLOTHIAN -----County Finals -- Day 2 Results

Renfrewshire are well beaten by Northern Counties

Northern Counties and Midlothian look to be on course with the title at stake after the opening day of the Scottish women's county golf championship finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh.
Midlothian, East Division champions and the favourites with "home field advantage," whipped South title-holders Galloway 8 ½-½ while Northern Counties, the North Division champions, beat Renfrewshire, the West title-holders, by the surprisingly convincing margin of 7 ½-1 1/2 .
Northern Counties took the foursomes 2-1 against Renfrewshire before a cracking top singles tie between international team-mates, Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), and national under-21 Champion for the past two years, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) ended in a square match.
Between them they had five birdies over the last six holes. Megan was one up one the 18th tee before Kelsey won the last hole to share the honours.
Northern Counties then won the remaining five singles with wins by Cara Gruber, senior cap Mary Smith, Jenny Milne, and Northern Counties girls champion Hannah McCook, who birdied the 15th and 16th , and another youngster, Julie Vass.

Unfortunately Renfrewshire were without Clare- Marie Carlton today as she was unable to get time off work from her new job at Playsport Development in East Kilbride.
However, to be fair Northern Counties played well and were deserving winners on the day.

Day 1 results at Baberton:
GALLOWAY ½, MIDLOTHIAN 8 ½
Foursomes: Gillian Monteith & Tracy Milligan lost to Jane Turner & Rachael Watton 4 and 3; Christina Meldrum & Sheila McMurtrie halved with Louise Fraser & Karen Marshall; Addi Shamash & Gwen Robson lost to Claire MacDonald & Kirsten Blackwood 7 and 5 (1/2-2 ½).
Singles: Monteith lost to Turner 4 and 3, Milligan lost to Claire Hargan 4 and 3, Meldrum lost to Wendy Nicholson 6 and 4, McMurtrie lost to Fraser 1 hole, Shamash lost to Kirsten Blackwood 3 and 2, Robson lost to Watton 3 and 2 (0-6).

RENFREWSHIRE 1 ½, NORTHERN COUNTIES 7 ½
Foursomes: Eilidh Briggs & Megan Briggs bt Kelsey MacDonald & Hannah McCook 2 and 1; Liz Stewart & Donna Jackson lost to Cara Gruber & Pam Mackay 4 and 2; Alyson McKechin & Gillian Kyle lost to Mary Smith & Alison Bartlett 4 and 2 (1-2).
Singles: Megan Briggs halved with MacDonald, Eilidh Briggs lost to Gruber 2 and 1, Jackson lost to Smith 2 and 1, McKechin lost to Jenny Milne 3 and 2, Kyle lost to McCook 3 and 2, Carol Whyte lost to Julie Vass 3 and 2 (1/2-5 1/2).

TO PLAY:
Saturday - Galloway v Northern Counties, Midlothian v Renfrewshire.
Sunday - Midlothian v Northern Counties, Galloway v Renfrewshire

To print out all the results -- Click on he following Link
County Final Results Day 1

Click on the small picture of the 2 County Captains below to see some photos from today's match between Renfrewshire and Northern Counties

County Finals Day 1 - RLCGA v Northern Counties

Medal 11 - Douglas Park Golf Club

Played 18/09/2009 SSS: 72, CSS:72
SILVER:
1st 86-15=71 Patricia Ross
2nd 88-16=72 Alison Miller
3rd 88-16=72 Anne Paton
BRONZE:
1st 95-25=70 Mary Agnew
2nd 103-28=75 Evelyn Crombie
3rd 112-36=76 Norma Vallance
SCRATCH: Joan Gemmell 79

Kylie and Pamela in the 2010 Curtis Squad

LADIES GOLF UNON News Release 2010 GB & I CURTIS CUP SQUAD The following players have been named in the GB & I squad as part of the preparation for the 36th Curtis Cup match which will be played at Essex County Club, Massachusetts from June 11 to 13, 2010. Hannah BARWOOD (Knowle ) ENGLAND Age 19 Carly BOOTH (Comrie ) SCOTLAND Age 17 Amy BOULDEN (Maesdu) WALES Age 16 Gemma BRADBURY (Cottrell Park) WALES Age 18 Holly CLYBURN (Woodhall Spa) ENGLAND Age 18 Charlie DOUGLASS (Brocket Hall) ENGLAND Age 20 Jodi EWART (Catterick) ENGLAND Age 21 Lucy GOULD (Bargoed) WALES Age 22 Rachel JENNINGS (Izaak Walton) ENGLAND Age 21 Louise KENNEY (Pitreavie) SCOTLAND Age 26 Leona MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell) IRELAND Age 14 Lisa MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell) IRELAND Age 14 Danielle McVEIGH (Royal Co Down Ladies') IRELAND Age 22 Stephanie MEADOW (Royal Portrush ) IRELAND Age 17 Kelsey MacDONALD (Nairn Dunbar) SCOTLAND Age 18 Pamela PRETSWELL (Bothwell Castle) SCOTLAND Age 20 Kelly TIDY (Royal Birkdale) ENGLAND Age 17 Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) WALES Age 22 Kylie WALKER (Buchanan Castle) SCOTLAND Age 23 Sally WATSON (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies') SCOTLAND Age 18 Captain: Mary McKENNA (IRELAND). Team manager: Tegwen MATTHEWS (Wales). One of the youngest Great Britain & Ireland squads for the biennial Curtis Cup match against the United States has been named by the Ladies' Golf Union. Eleven of the 20 players listed are teenagers, the youngest being the Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, from Ballyconnel in Ireland's County Cavan. At the age of 14, the two Slieve Russell club members have already set an age record by appearing for GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy match at Hamburg on July 24 and 25 this year. They will celebrate their 15th birthdays in November which means, if selected for the May 2010 match, they will go into the record books alongside Carly Booth who was 15 when she became the youngest ever GB&I Curtis Cup team player at the 2008 match. (Michelle Wie, born October 10, 1989, was 14 when she played for the United States in the 2004 match on June 12-13 at Formby). Lisa Maguire is the 2009 Irish Ladies' Close Champion and also Irish Ladies' Open Stroke Play Champion. Both played in the European Junior Solheim Cup team in America and they were members of Ireland's winning team of four in the European Girls' Team Championship in Finland in early July. Leona beat Lisa in a memorable final of the 2008 Irish Ladies' Close Championship. This year Leona has won the Helen Holm Scottish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Troon (Lisa finished third) and the French Under-21 Open Championship. Another Irish youngster, Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) is one of the selected players who are based in the United States for most of the college year. Stephanie, who will be 18 next January, was the Irish Girls' Champion in 2006 and was a member of the Irish Girls' team of four who won the European title earlier this year. Stephanie, a resident student at the Hank Haney International Golf Academy at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is among the front rank of girls who compete on the American Junior Golf Association circuit. The other 2010 Curtis Cup squad members with strong USA connections are Jodi Ewart from Catterick, Yorkshire, and Sally Watson, who hails from South Queensferry, Edinburgh but who now plays out of the Fife club, Elie & Earlsferry Ladies'. Teenager Sally, after several years at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, enrolled on a golf scholarship in August at Stanford University, California, the alma mater of Tiger Woods and a former Curtis Cup Scot, Mhairi McKay. Twenty one year-old Jodi Ewart is now in her fourth and final year at the University of New Mexico where she is considered to be the best player ever to grace its female golf roster. A winner more than once on the American golf circuit, she has made an excellent start to the 2009-2010 college season, finishing runner-up in an event with the lowest 54-hole total she has ever had. Jodi Ewart, Sally Watson and 17-year-old Carly Booth all played for GB & I in the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews. The five other members of the home team have since turned professional. All nine members of the team who played the Continent of Europe in this summer's Vagliano Trophy have been named. The four Welsh players in the squad, Amy Boulden, Gemma Bradbury, Lucy Gould and Rhian Wyn Thomas will still be on a high from helping Wales win the Ladies' Home International Matches last week for the second year in a row. Gemma had an outstanding performance, winning five out of six matches in the three day tournament at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire. She was closely followed by Rhian who had four wins and a halved match and Amy with four points from four wins. Lucy Gould, Welsh Girls' Champion in 2002 and 2003, had three wins to her credit. Lucy has just completed four years playing on the US college circuit as a student at East Tennessee State University. Ireland's Danielle McVeigh, winner of the British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Aberdeen GC in August, played in America for two years as a student at Texas A&M University and is familiar with the different playing conditions in the USA. Danielle continues to study at the University of Ireland, Maynooth. England's six selections, with the exception of Kelly Tidy, formed the silver medal winning squad at this year's European Ladies' Team Championship at Bled, Slovenia. Kelly reached the final of the British Girls' Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 but was unable to play in this year's event as she was selected to play in the European Junior Solheim Cup team in America. Hannah Barwood was last year's English Ladies' Champion. Holly Clyburn is the current English Girls' and French Under-18 Open Champion. Left-hander Charlie Douglass is the English Ladies' Champion and has led the EWGA Order of Merit for most of the season. She was England's most successful player in the Ladies' Home Internationals with four wins. Rachel Jennings, who had three wins at the Home Internationals was runner-up to Danielle McVeigh in the Welsh Open Stroke Play Championship. Scotland's six includes Louise Kenney, Kylie Walker, Pamela Pretswell and Carly Booth who all finished in the top 10 of this year's British Open Stroke Play Championship. Kylie, the St Rule Trophy winner in 2008 and 2009, travelled to the European Ladies' Championship in Sweden with Pamela this summer where Kylie finished runner-up and Pamela joint fourth. Glasgow University student Pamela won the 2008 Swiss Ladies' Open Amateur Championship. The sixth Scot is Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald who successfully defended the Scottish Junior Open Stroke Play title this year. England and Scotland both have six representatives in the squad while Ireland and Wales each have four players chosen. Ireland's Mary McKenna will be captaining the GB&I side for the fourth time in a row. She was Captain at the 2007 and 2009 Vagliano Trophy matches and also the 2008 Curtis Cup match. "I am really delighted with this very talented and young squad," said Mary. "It is a great incentive for the girls to work really hard over the winter to be ready for the early season selection. Playing the Curtis Cup in the US is a wonderful experience but needs extra preparation and commitment to challenge the Americans on their home ground." Mary remains the most successful Curtis Cup player for GB&I. She played in 17 biennial matches from 1970 to 1986, winning 10 and halving four of her 30 ties. Wales' Tegwen Matthews, who played in the 1974-76-78-80 Curtis Cup matches as Tegwen Perkins Thomas, continues in the important role of team manager. TEAM SELECTION The GB&I team of eight for the 2010 Curtis Cup match will be selected on Sunday, April 25 following the Helen Holm Scottish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Troon. A player who have not been named in this preliminary squad, may still be selected for the 2010 team, and opportunities to show early season form are available at the following events; The Orange Blossom Tour – Florida - January Portuguese Women's Open Amateur Championship, 28 -31 January. Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival, Spain, 15 – 20 February. Spanish Women's Open Amateur Championship 3 – 7 March. THE 2010 VENUE Essex County Golf Club will be staging the Curtis Cup match for the second time. It hosted the 1938 match in the days when only three foursomes and six singles – all over 36 holes were played. The Essex County Golf Club opened in 1893 but the course was redesigned by Donald Ross who emigrated to the States from Dornoch in 1899 and became one of America's leading golf course architects, responsible for Pinehurst 2, Seminole, Oak Hill and Oakland Hills. Ross was the Essex County Golf Club professional from 1910 to 1917 and it was during these years that he redesigned the course. The third green is claimed to be the oldest in America. THE CURTIS CUP SISTERS The Curtis sisters, Harriot and Margaret, who donated the trophy, were the youngest of a affluent New England family. Their father had fought in the US Civil War and had built a summer house in Manchester, Massachusetts, close to the Essex County Club of which the Curtis family later became charter members. Thus a Curtis Cup match at this venue is of particular significance.

D&A -- Junior Girls Championship, Dumbarton

Junior Girls Championship, Dumbarton
Played -- September 13, 2009:
The Junior Girls Championships were held at Dumbarton Golf Club on 13 September 2009SSS 71, CSS 72. 7 entries

The girls enjoyed a lovely warm day.

The winner of the Championship was Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) with 81, who was presented with her trophy by Lesley Mackiggan, President.

Handicap Trophy was won by Nichola MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 94-20-74

RENFREWSHIRE ARE REPRESENTING THE WEST OF SCOTLAND IN THE COUNTY FINALS

THE TEAMS
Galloway: Pat Magill, Sheila McMurtrie, Christina Meldrum, Caroline Merrick, Tracy Milligan, Gillian Monteith, Gwen Robson and Addi Shamash.
Midlothian: Kirsten Blackwood, Louise Fraser, Claire Hargan, Claire MacDonald, Karen Marshall, Wendy Nicholson, Jane Turner and Rachael Watton.
Northern Counties: Alison Bartlett, Cara Gruber, Kelsey MacDonald, Pam Mackay, Hannah McCook, Jenny Milne, Mary Smith and Julie Vass.
Renfrewshire: Eilidh Briggs, Megan Briggs, Clare-Marie Carlton, Donna Jackson, Gillian Kyle, Alyson McKechin, Liz Stewart and Carol Whyte
Draw:
Friday 18th September 9.30am – 10.07am and 1.30pm – 2.52pm
Dumfries & Galloway v Midlothian
Renfrewshire v Northern Counties 9.52a.m. and 2.15p.m.

Saturday 19th September 9.30am – 10.07am and 1.30pm – 2.52pm
Midlothian v Renfrewshire 9.30a.m. and 1.30p.m.
Dumfries & Galloway v Northern Counties

Sunday 20th September 9.30am – 10.07am and 1.30pm – 2.52pm
Renfrewshire v Galloway 9.30a.m. and 1.30p.m.
Northern Counties v Midlothian

To get the directions for the County Finals at Baberton Golf Club Edinburgh go to the Renfrewshire County Website (plus see RLCGA Captain drum up some support)

Lanarkshire County Captain May Hughes is a Winner

Lanarkshire County Captain May Hughes won both the Scratch and the Silver Handicap prizes with a 75 (net 70) in the Lanarkshire September Spoon played at a warm and sunny Lanark Golf Club yesterday. To read the full report go to the Lanarkshire County Website

Some new Videos --- Here is Renfrewshire's Captain Christeen

Have added 3 more new short videos from the Home Internationals to my list . Go to your webmasters HOME VIDEO Page plus here is Renfrewshire's Centenary Greensomes Lunch Speeches at Pollok Golf Club at the beginning of this month

Some 2009 Club Champions - Helen Faulds is one of our Stars

Triple Club Champion - Helen Faulds

Helen Faulds achieved a long time ambition this year when she won the Club championships of all three golf clubs of which she is a member - Bearsden, Douglas Park and Elie & Earlsferry.
She has now won the Bearsden championship 14 times, the Douglas Park championship seven times and the Elie & Earlsferry Championship four times, which adds up to a glorious total of 25 club titles.
A Scottish Senior Internationalist, Helen is also presently the champion of the West of Scotland Veteran Ladies Association as well as being their Captain.
Just recently Helen and her partner Helen Robertson from Douglas Park were runners-up in the Scottish Ladies Foursomes, to Scottish Champion Megan and younger sister Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) with a scratch score of 74, played at Forfar Golf Club.

Bearsden - Helen Faulds
Cochrane Castle - Alyson McGinnigle
Cowglen - Lesley Cosh
Douglas Park - Helen Faulds
East Renfrewshire - Gillian Kyle
Elie - Helen Faulds
Gourock - Maureen Woodhead
Haggs Castle - Jennifer Mack
Kilmacolm - Megan Briggs
Ranfurly Castle - Natasha Qayum

Like to add you name to the list then EMAIL YOUR WEBMASTER

West of Scotland Girls Finals Day at Troon Portland

Silver
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) v Linsey Stevenson (Whitecraigs)
Emma Caddow (Colville Park) v Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride)
Bronze
Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) v Alexandra Duffy (Cathkin Braes)
Rachel Irvine (Largs) v Grace Mackie (Troon Ladies)

First semi tees off at 9.30, finals tee off at 2pm - spectators welcome Playing on Saturday October 3rd, Troon Portland.

Thanks go to Ann Wallace for the information

Stableford Competition - Douglas Park

Played 11/09/2009 (SSS: 72, CSS:74)

SILVER
1st 38pts Anne Paton
2nd 35pts Alison Miller
3rd 35pts Chris Dingwall
BRONZE:
1st 36pts Denise Macnaughton
2nd 32pts Edith Monachan
3rd 31pts Katie Morse

Carly Booth is Scotland's Winner at the Home Internationals

Photographs from Day 3 at the Home Internationals

Scotland v Wales -- Day 3

Click on the thumbnail above and then click on slideshow for today's photos. To see photos from Day 1 and 2 plus an interview of Curtis Cup Captain Mary McKenna Click Here

SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED

Sunday's Scottish Mixed Foursomes tournament at Letham Grange has been posptoned because two of the holes on the course are still unplayable due to excess water on the fairways.
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association is trying to find a new date.

Wales beats Scotland at Irvine to retain Home International title

Wales are the home international champions for the second year in a row. They followed up their countback victory at Wrexham 12 months ago with an emphatic last –day performance to overhaul overnight leaders Scotland at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire.
Wales needed to beat the Scots to retain the Miller Trophy and they did it with a brilliant performance in the singles.
Sue Turner, winning captain for the second time in succession, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The girls stayed focussed throughout and had a lot of self-belief. I just can’t speak highly enough of them as a squad. And I must pay tribute to our national coach Jeremy Bennett. He’s been with us the last two years – and what a difference he’s made.”
Scotland skipper Lesley Nicholson said: “I’m gutted by how it finished but I’m proud of my girls for their performance over the three days. Wales were a very strong side, even stronger than last year.”
Wales won the title with 2 1/2pt. Scotland were runners-up with 2pt.
England beat Ireland 7-2 to total 1pt and finish third ahead of Ireland with 1/2pt.
Scotland had taken a 2-1 lead from the foursomes and extended that advantage to 3-1 when Carly Booth beat Rhian Wyn Thomas in the singles.
That was the high point for Scotland – Wales won the remaining five singles for a 6-3victory.
Scotland needed a minimum of 2 ½ pt from the six afternoon singles to win the title and they got the first one from Carly Booth at the expense of Rhian Wyn Thomas. It was Carly’s fourth win and Rhian’s first defeat in six games.
Carly, two down after two, produced three-under-par figures in winning by 3 and 2 after trailing through the first seven holes. She squared it at the eighth and then went ahead at the ninth.
Booth won the 13th and 14th for a three-hole lead which the Welsh player could not peg back.
Wales hit back by winning the next two ties to level it overall at 3-3.
Welsh champion Tara Davies produced possibly the best individual performance by anyone over the three days. She was six under par against the luckless Jane Turner and beat her 6 and 4.
Davies went three up after only four holes and there was no way back for Turner against an opponent playing sub-par golf..
Gemma Bradbury beat Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1 in a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it either way until Gemma won the 16th and 17th for victory.
With three ties to finish, Wales were two up in one and all square in the two others, a position which would give them the championship if they held it to the finish.
Kath O’Connor, making only her second appearance, put Wales ahead 4-3 with a 2 and 1 win over West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) . O’Connor went two up after eight and though Pretswell twice reduced her deficit to one hole, she could not get on terms. The Welsh player, won the short 16th with a par to go two up and a half at the next was enough to clinch a good win.
Amy Boulden and Lucy Gould delivered victories for Wales in the last two matches to finish which gave Wales a 5-1 capture of the singles and 6-3 overall victory which retained the championship.
Boulden beat Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) by two holes after being one down with four to play. The Welsh player squared it with a par at the 15th and went one up with another par at the 16th.
Lucy Gould scored a 3 and 1 win over Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) again with a strong finish. The Scot was two up at one stage on the outward half and Gould did not get on terms until the 13th. She then led for the first time with a birdie at the 15th ; and went two up with a par at the 16th.
Report from the LGU Website

Scotland Lose to Wales on Day 3

WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 3
SCOTLAND 3, WALES 6
Foursomes (2-1)
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald beat Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Pamela Pretswell & Louise Kenney lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner beat Sam Birks & Lucy Gould 2 and 1.
Singles (1-5)
Booth beat Thomas 3 and 2.
MacDonald lost to Gemma Bradbury 2 and 1.
Turner lost to Davies 6 and 4.
Pretswell lost to Kath O'Connor 2 and 1.
Megan Briggs lost to Boulden 2 holes.
Walker lost to Gould 3 and 1.

ENGLAND 7, IRELAND 2
Foursomes (3-0)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn beat Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 1 hole.
Rachel Jennings & Charlotte Ellis beat Mary Dowling & Aedin Murphy 2 and 1.
Kelly Tidy & Hannah Barwood beat Gillian O'Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.3 and 1.
Singles (4-2)
Douglass lost to McVeigh 2 holes.
Jennings beat Reid 2 and 1.
Barwood beat Murphy 1 hole.
Nikki Foster beat Sarah Cunningham 4 and 2..
Charlotte Wild lost to Mary Dowling 1 hole.
Clyburn bt O'Leary 4 and 2.

FINAL PLACINGS
1 Wales 2 1/2pt
2 Scotland 2pt.
3 England 1pt
4 Ireland 1/2pt

LIVE SCORING FROM THE HOME INTERNATIONALS

Wales v Scotland decider tomorrow -- PLEASE SUPPORT SCOTLAND

Please do come and support Scotland tomorrow in the deciding match against Wales IN THE HOME INTERNATIONALS

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT -- IT IS 18 YEARS SINCE WE HAVE WON

MORNING FOURSOMES MATCHES

Tara Davies and Amy Boulden v Carly Booth and Kelsey MacDonald
Rhian Wyn Thomas and Gemma Bradbury v Pamela Pretswell and Louise Kenney
Samantha Birksand and Lucy Gould v Kylie Walker and Jane Turner

Curtis Cup Mary McKenna is interviewed at the Home Internationals and some photos from Day 2

Click on the small thumbnails below to see some photos from THE HOME INTERNATIONALS --- Unfortunately your Webmaster had to leave in the afternoon so there are no photos of the singles matches

Scotland v England Day 2

Scotland v Ireland Day 1

West of Scotland's Kylie, Pamela and Megan are today's Stars at Bogside

Scotland celebrate the win against the English after the Morning's Foursomes - Click to enlarge

Scotland is the only team with a 100 per cent record going into the third and final day of the Women’s Home International matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0. The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider. Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland.

England’s fightback from a 0-3 lunchtime deficit began with their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass beating Carly Booth by 3 and 2 in the lead-off singles tite. Carly won the first two holes but lost the third and fourth to be pulled back to all square. Douglas continued to prosper with wins at the fifth and sixth to lead by two holes at the turn. Booth rallied to win the11th and 12th to regain equality but Douglass quickened again to win the 13th and 14th and then the 16th with a birdie 2 for the match by 3 and 2. It was Douglass’s third win in four ties. The England fightback continued with Rachel Jennings beat Pamela Pretswell 3 and 1 to narrow the gap to one point in Scotland’s favour overall. Jennings was three holes to the good on the sixth tee but Pretswell fought back to square the match by winning the 14th. Jennings then produced a master stroke, holing a chip for a birdie 3 to win the 15th and regain the lead. The English player prompt went two up with a par at the short 16th and then was conceded the 17th for a 3 and 1 victory. It was Pretswell’s first defeat in four ties and Jennings’ first win in two outings. England levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 when Hannah Barwood beat Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1. Barwood took a grip on the outcome by winning the first, the third and the eighth to be three up, although MacDonald won back the ninth and the 11th to be only one down. Barwood went two up again at the 13th and was able to maintain that lead until MacDonald ran out of holes. Kylie Walker stopped the slide for Scotland by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 2. The Scot led throughout and a birdie 4 at the long 11th put her three up. It was Kylie’s third win in a row. With Scotland leading 4-3 overall, the match was finely poised. The two ties still to finish were both all square with two and three holes respectively to play. Scottish champion Megan Briggs, who had been three down after five holes to English girls title-holder Holly Clyburn, fought back to win the seventh, eighth and ninth. Then she birdied the 11th to lead for the first time. Briggs went two up at the 14th but Clyburn was not finished yet. She won the 15th with a par and the short 16th with a birdie 2 to square the match. In a thrilling finish, Briggs edged ahead again with a par 4 at the 17th, which meant she was assured of a halved match at least and that half-point would guarantee Scotland at least a halved match overall with England. Briggs in fact was able to clinch overall victory for Scotland, beating Clyburn by two holes when the English player conceded the 18th. The last match of the day to finish ended with honours even between Louise Kenney and Charlotte Ellis. Kenney had been two up after 12 holes but, in the end, was glad to hole a putt on the last for a half in 4. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0.
The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider.
Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland

Scotland win against England and Megan and Kylie are todays stars

WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 2
IRELAND 4 ½, WALES 4 1/2
Foursomes (2-1)
Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid bt Kath O’Connor & Katie Bradbury 2 and 1.
Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 6 and 4.
Singles (2 ½-3 ½)
McVeigh halved with Thomas.
Reid bt Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Aedin Murphy lost to Davies 1 hole.
O’Leary bt Katie Bradbury 5 and 4.
Bradshaw lost to Boulden 3 and 1.
Cunningham lost to Lucy Gould 4 and 2.

SCOTLAND 5 1/2, ENGLAND 3 1/2
Foursomes (3-0)
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn 2 and 1.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Wild 3 and 2.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Kelly Tidy & Charlotte Ellis 1 hole.
Singles (2 1/2-3 1/2)
Booth lost to Douglass 3 and 2.
Pretswell lost to Rachel Jennings 3 and 1.
MacDonald lost to Barwood 2 and 1.
Megan Briggs beat Clyburn 2 holes.
Walker beat Wild 3 and 2.
Kenney halved with Ellis

D&A September Medal over Milngavie

Played 9th September, SSS 71, CSS 74 Reduction Only, 46 entries
Scratch : Katy MacAulay (Milngavie) 81
1st Silver : Katie MacAulay (Milngavie) 81-7-74
2nd Silver : Sheila Hamilton (Hilton Park) 96-20-76
3rd Silver : Susanne Wilson (MilnGavie) 91-13-78
1st Bronze : May McGhee (Balmore) 102-23-79
2nd Bronze : Audrey Gardiner (Hilton Park) 103-22-81
Miss Hendry’s Quaich: Katy MacAualay (Milngavie)

D&A Outing to Auchterarder

D&A County Committee have an outing to Auchterarder on Monday 7th September. To see some photos from the day go to the D&A Website

Janice Paterson makes the cut in Ireland

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) continued her good form at the Irish Seniors Strokeplay by finishing in the top 10 after the 2nd round today at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club. Go to the WEST VETS WEBSITE for some of the scores

SCOTLAND WIN AGAINST IRELAND - DAY 1

Pamela Pretswell a winner for Scotland today - Click to enlarge

Scotland showed true grit to come from behind to beat Ireland 5-4 on the opening day of the women's home internationals at bright and breezy Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire today
The bonus for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad was that Wales walloped England 7-2 in the other match.
"The girls put me through it today but they got there in the end," said Lesley.
"I'm delighted. They did so well to turn it around from what could have been a losing position."
Scotland made up their one-point foursomes deficit by winning the first two singles to finish against Ireland.

West of Scotland Players did well today with Pamela winning both her foursomes and singles ties. Megan Briggs played very well in the morning with an under form Kylie. However Kylie got her game back together in the afternoon to bring in the winning result. --- WELL DONE TO YOU ALL

Teenager Carly Booth beat the new British women‘s open amateur stroke play champion Danielle McVeigh by 2 and 1 in the top singles tie.
Booth lost the first hole but squared it at the second – and was never in arrears again after that.
One up at the turn, Booth lost the 10th but hit back with a birdie 4 at the long 11th to regain the lead. Booth conceded the 12th to lose the advantage again but won the 13th and then birdied the 14th to take a vital two-hole lead.
McVeigh won back the 15th but after a half in 3s at the short 16th, Carly won the 17th for a 2 and 1 margin of victory.
Kelsey MacDonald put Scotland 3-2 ahead by beating Mary Dowling 3 and 2. Kelsey always held the whiphand but could not shake off a determined opponent. MacDonald’s eagle 3 at the ninth enabled her to go two up but Dowling won the 12th only for Kelsey to birdie the 13th to regain a two-hole advantage. The 15th was the decisive hole. The Scot won it to go three up with three to play and a half at the 16th finished the match in her favour.
But Ireland had the advantage in the ties still to finish and Gillian O’Leary’s 3 and 2 win over Laura Murray levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3. Gillian built up a two-hole lead on the outward half and won the 11th and 12th to double that advantage before losing the 14th.
With three matches to finish and Scotland three up in one and Ireland three up in another, it was clear that the Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) v Aedin Murphy (Ireland) tie – all square after 17 – was going to have an important bearing on the overall result.
Pretswell was two down with five to play but won the 14th with a birdie 3 and squared the match with a par 3 at the short 16th.
After a half at the next, Pamela hit a massive drive off the 18th and won the hole and the match with a 4.
Kylie Walker beat Niamh Kitching by 3 and 2 in a match that was all square after 11 holes. Walker won the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in an strong finish.
Charlene Reid got Ireland’s fourth point by beating Louise Kenney 3 and 1. Reid won the seventh, eighth and nine to go three up and she stayed in the driving seat for the rest of the match.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

To see some (Mainly un edited) photos from today click on the small thumbnail below

Scotland v Ireland

Day 1 results
ENGLAND 2, WALES 7
Foursomes (1-2)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Lucy Gould & Sam Birkes 1 hole.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 2 holes.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy lost to Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Singles
Douglass bt Davies 2 holes.
Barwood lost to Thomas 3 and 2.
Clyburn lost to Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Charlotte Ellis lost to Katie Bradbury 2 holes.
Tidy lost to Boulden 4 and 3.
Nikki Foster lost to Gould 8 and 7.

SCOTLAND 5, IRELAND 4
Foursomes (1-2)
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth lost to Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 3 and 2.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw 4 and 3.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs lost to Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham 5 and 4.
Singles (4-2)
Booth bt McVeigh 2 and 1.
Pretswell bt Murphy 1 hole.
MacDonald bt Dowling 3 and 2.
Walker bt Niamh Kitching 3 and 2.
Laura Murray lost to O’Leary 3 and 2.
Kenney lost to Reid 3 and 1.

Drumpellier's Janice Paterson does well in Ireland

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) is only 4 shots off the lead in the first round of Irish Seniors Open Strokeplay at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club today. To read all about it go to the West Vets Website

Kylie and Megan play together in tomorrow mornings foursomes

Back Row From L to R: Claire Hargan (Team Manager),Kylie Walker,

Pamela Pretswell,Louise Kenney, Laura Murray, Kevin Craggs

Front Row: Kelsey MacDonald, Carly Booth,Lesley Nicholson (Captain),Megan Briggs and Jane Turner

IMAGE COURTESY OF COLIN FARQUHARSON, CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY -- Click to enlarge

Report by Colin Farquharson
IRVINE WET BUT PLAYABLE FOR WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Fingers crossed, there’s no danger that the Women’s Home Internationals will not tee off on time tomorrow morning at Irvine Golf Club even though there was more heavy rain at the Ayrshire venue today.
There were big pools of water in the car park but not so many out on the course, thanks to the hard work of head greenkeeper Derek Wilson and his staff.
“Believe it or not but we have had rain here at some time or other during the day or night for the past 54 consecutive days,” said Wilson.
“This summer the course has never had the chance to dry out and play the way it should. The greens, like the fairways, are much softer than I would like them but these players will probably prefer that they can fire the ball at the flag rather than have to drop their approach shots short and hope to judge the bounce.”
Home skipper Lesley Nicholson is optimistic her squad can win the Miller Trophy for the first time since the Scotland were champions in 1990 and 1991.
Top-10 individual form by her team members in the recent British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen and the European women’s amateur team championship in Sweden, where Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) was runner-up and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) joint sixth, suggests her confidence is not ill-founded.
In the opening foursomes against Ireland, Lesley Nicholson has paired Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Carly Booth (Comrie) against the new British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), leader of the SLGA Order of Merit table, and Pamela Pretswell, are Scotland’s No 2 foursomes pairing for the tie against Gillian O’Leary and Victoria Bradshaw.
Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) is paired with the big-hitting Kylie Walker against Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.
Wales, defending the title they won on home turf at Wrexham 12 months ago, open their campaign against an England line-up loaded with talent. Scotland’s prospects would be considerably enhanced if Wales could claim England’s scalp. But England will start favourites.

Wednesday morning’s foursomes:
ENGLAND v WALES
8.30 am
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn v Lucy Gould & Sam Birks.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood v Rhian WynThomas & Gemma Bradbury.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy v Tara Davies & Amy Boulden..

SCOTLAND v IRELAND
9am
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth v Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell v Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs v Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham.

2.20pm
Six singles