From the LGU Website:
West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin, who played for Scotland in last week’s Girls Home Internationals, might well have broken 70 today in the 1st round of the British Girl's Strokeplay at Gullane No 1, which would have been great scoring in none-too easy conditions.
A weekend of heavy rain has left the fairways soft and the greens receptive but the rough is long and very wet – and a strong, swirling wind is making the conditions tough to score well.
McKechin, a member of Elderslie Golf Club, was ahead of the game right away with a superb approach shot with a 52 degree wedge to within 2ft of the flagstick for a tap-in birdie 3.
She bogeyed the fourth, failing to get up and down after missing the green, but got home in two downwind at the long fifth with a four-iron second and two-putted for a birdie 4.
The tall Scot had birdie chances on seven and eight but couldn’t take them … until the 10th and 11th. Alyson hit the green in two at the par-5 10th with a drive and a rescue club for a two-putt birdie 4, and she holed a 15ft putt for her fourth birdie of the round at the 11th.
Birdie No 5 was marked at the downwind 15th (487yd) where McKechin was on in 2 with an eight-iron second and two-putted for a 4.
Standing on the 17th tee, Alyson is four-under-par. Two 4s to finish will give her a 69 …. But she stumbled to a bogey-double bogey end to her round.
“I missed the green at the seventeenth and could not get up and down to save par. Then I drove it into the left rough at the 18th. The rough is difficult to get out of and it took me four shots to reach the green and two-putted for a 6,” she said.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) who started with 3 bogeys in the first 4 holes recovered well to end up only 3 over par in what was obviously very difficult conditions.
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND LEADING SCORES
Par 73.Yardage 6267
69 Ileen Nieuwenhuis (Net), Bronte Law (Bramhall).
70 Caroline Nistrup (Den), Linnea Strom (Swe), Olivia Hullert (Nor).
71 Noemi Jimenez (Spa), Emelie Alonso (Fra), Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies), Natalia Escuriola (Spa)
72 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Frida Gustafsson (Swe), Amy Boulden (Maesdu), Celine Boutier (Fra).
73 Emma Nilsson (Swe), Shannon Aubert (Fra), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Anna-Lena Kraemer (Ger), Jade Down (Boothberry), Isabel Gadea (Ger).
74 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Roberta Roeller (Ger), Josephine Farrando (Fra), Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield), Laura Christiaens (Bel), Annette Lyche (Nor), Clara Young (North Berwick), Nicole Larsen (Den).
75 Hayley Davis (Ferndown), Daisy Nielsen (Den), Chloe Williams (Wrexham), Camille Richelle (Bel), Brogan Townend (Pleasington), Virginia Carta (Ita), Stefania Avanzo (Ita), Shelby Smart (Knowle), Merle Kasperek (Ger), Ho Rang Lee (Spa), Luna Sobron (Spa), Perrine Delacour (Fra), Julia Neumann (Ger), Laure Castelain (Fra), Marlies Krenn (Aut)..
76 Julie Christine Lied (Nor), Sophie Keech (Lyme Regis), Margaux Vanmol (Bel), Marta Martin (Spa), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Laura Lornardi (Ita), Ellie Goodall (Selby),Miranda Brain (Gog Magog).
+Leading 64 after Round 2 on Tuesday will qualify for match-play stages starting on Wednesday morning. There will be no play-off to separate those tieing for 64th place - card countback will decide.
Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
Monday, 8 August 2011
Lanark Golf Club Open Day - A Better Ball Team Event
Lanark Golf Club --- Ladies Section --- Open Day (4 ball better ball)
Sunday 28th August 2011
Please send entry form with entry fee of £12.50 per pair and S.A.E. by Mon 22nd August 2011.
To: Marion Mitchell, 20 Kirkfield Road, Kirkfieldbank
LANARK ML11 9JL
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM
Sunday 28th August 2011
Please send entry form with entry fee of £12.50 per pair and S.A.E. by Mon 22nd August 2011.
To: Marion Mitchell, 20 Kirkfield Road, Kirkfieldbank
LANARK ML11 9JL
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Medal 7 & Bionic Trophy - Douglas Park Golf Club
Medal 7 & Bionic Trophy Played 05/08/2011 SSS 72,CSS 73
Silver:
1st 85-13=72 Mrs Lynda Smith
2nd 90-17=73 Mrs Alison Miller
3rd 91-17=74 Mrs Janice McIlwraith
Bronze:
1st 105-34=71 Mrs Linda Robertson
2nd 98-26=72 Mrs. Yvonne Currie
3rd 102-27=75 Mrs. Margaret Brodie
Silver:
1st 85-13=72 Mrs Lynda Smith
2nd 90-17=73 Mrs Alison Miller
3rd 91-17=74 Mrs Janice McIlwraith
Bronze:
1st 105-34=71 Mrs Linda Robertson
2nd 98-26=72 Mrs. Yvonne Currie
3rd 102-27=75 Mrs. Margaret Brodie
KYLIE WALKER MAKES THE CUT IN THE LADIES IRISH OPEN
A stunning round of nine under par 63 took world no.3 Suzann Pettersen to the top of the leader board at 10 under par on the second day of the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland.
Her course record at Killeen Castle in Co Meath included seven birdies and an eagle at the par five 12th hole.
West of Scotland's Kylie Walker (pictured above) has made the cut in the Ladies Irish Open today with a great round of 70 to be 1 under after 2 rounds Catriona Matthew is 5 under and Lynn Kenney has also made the cut at +2
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORE
Friday, 5 August 2011
Scotland Girls beat Wales and England win the Stroyan Trophy
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| The Scottish Girls Team - Click to enlarge (Courtesy of Colin Farquharson) |
Scotland, for the first time in three days, went into the singles with a lead from the foursomes, a two-point lead which the Welsh overcame with a 3 and 2 win by Amy Boulden over Alyson McKechin and a 3 and 1 victory by Katie Bradbury over Gemma Dryburgh.
But Eilidh Briggs, two down with six to play, squared the match by winning the 13th and 14th (with a birdie) but then lost the 16th to be one down again … winning the 18th with another birdie to gain an honourable halved match.
Scotland won the last three singles with Ailsa Summers beating Myrian Hassan by 2 and 1 after winning the seventh, ninth and 11th for a three-hole lead.
Lauren Whyte won by 5 and 3 against Sara Ree-Evans who was three down after the fifth and never won a hole.
Hannah McCook completed Scotland’s first win with a 4 and 3 win over Jessica Evans. A close match suddenly swung the Scot’s way when she won the 13th, 14th and 15th
GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS
Gullane No 2 course
Day 3
IRELAND 1.5, ENGLAND 7.5
Foursomes
Paula Grant and Jessica Carty lost to Bronte Law and Emily Taylor 2 and 1.
Ariana Coyle-Diez and Jean O’Driscoll lost to Hayley Davis and Georgia Hall 3 and 1.
Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sexton lost to Alex Peters and Meghan MacLaren 2 and 1 (0-3)
Singles
O’Driscoll lost to Davis 1 hole.
Carty lost to Law 3 and 1.
Grant halved with Hall.
Coyle-Diez lost to Brogan Townend 6 and 5.
Olivia Mehaffey beat Peters 1 hole.
Ryan lost to Taylor 7 and 5 (1.5-4.5).
SCOTLAND 6, WALES 3
Foursomes
Alyson McKechin and Eilidh Briggs beat Amy Boulden and Chloe Williams 4 and 3.
Gemma Dryburgh and Ailsa Summers halved with Katie Bradbury and Jessica Evans,.
Hannah McCook and Clara Young beat Myriam Hassan and Sara Rees-Evans 2 and 1 (2.5-0.5)
Singles
Briggs halved with Williams.
McKechin lost to Boulden 3 and 2.
Dryburgh lost to Bradbury 3 and 1.
Summers beat Hassan 2 and 1.
Lauren Whyte beat Rees-Evans 5 and 3.
McCook beat Jessica Evans 4 and 3 (3.5-2.5)
HOW THEY FINISHED
1st England 2.5pt
2nd Ireland 2pt.
3rd Scotland 1pt.
4th Wales 1/2pt
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
Thursday, 4 August 2011
KILMACOLM'S MEGAN BRIGGS FINISHES IN 5TH PLACE IN THE ENGLISH STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
This event was taking place this week just outside Leeds. --- The event finished today.
Of the 120 or so entries only 3 came from Scotland, Megan Briggs [Kilmacolm], Gillian Monteith [Portpatrick] and Katie Reid [Monifieth].
The event started on Tuesday with one round of Stroke Play followed by a second on Wednesday.
The leading 36 players and ties play another 2 rounds today.
Unfortunately only one Scot made the cut. -- Brilliantly the one Scot KILMACOLM'S Megan Briggs
She then completed the last two rounds to finish in 5th place. England's Charley Hull was the overall winner
All results are on the EWGA website.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN --- FROM ALL IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND.
Of the 120 or so entries only 3 came from Scotland, Megan Briggs [Kilmacolm], Gillian Monteith [Portpatrick] and Katie Reid [Monifieth].
The event started on Tuesday with one round of Stroke Play followed by a second on Wednesday.
The leading 36 players and ties play another 2 rounds today.
Unfortunately only one Scot made the cut. -- Brilliantly the one Scot KILMACOLM'S Megan Briggs
She then completed the last two rounds to finish in 5th place. England's Charley Hull was the overall winner
All results are on the EWGA website.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN --- FROM ALL IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND.
Scotland lose to England and Ireland win to set them up for the Title decider
Scotland, whitewashed 3-0 by England in the morning foursomes, staged a great fightback in the singles but lost narrowly, 5-4, in the rain on Day 2 of the Girls Home Internationals over the Gullane No 2 links.
Ireland made it two wins out of two by beating Wales 5-4 and meet England, winners of the Stroyan Cup for the past three years in the title decider on Friday.
The Scots picked themselves up well after their morning drubbing with Eilidh Briggs scoring a splendid 3 and 1 win over Hayley Davis in a battle between the girls champions of their respective countries.
Alyson McKechin put another point on the board for the Scots by beating Georgia Hall by one hole.
Gemma Dryburgh finished well to get a halved match with Brogan Townend.
Lesley Atkins lost by 4 and 3 to Bronte Law but Ailsa Summers won by 2 and 1 against Elizabeth Mallett.
With England leading by 4.5 to 3.5, Scotland's hopes of salvaging a creditable draw rested on the shoulders of 14-year-old Clara Young, the Junior Vagliano Trophy player from North Berwick.
Clara went one up on Alex Peters by winning the 16th with the rain pouring down but not damping the mounting tension in both camps. The 17th was halved but Peters won the last hole with an excellent approach shot to within 3ft of the flagstick setting up a birdie 3 to gallant Clara's par 4 to halve an absorbing contest which England scraped home to a 5-4 victory.
Day 2
WALES 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes
Amy Boulden and Chloe Williams halved with Paula Grant and Jessica Carty.
Katie Bradbury and Jessica Evans bt Ariana Coyle-Diez and Jean O'Driscoll 1 hole.
Myriam Hassan and Sara Rees-Evans lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sexton 8 and 7 (1.5-1.5)
Singles
Williams halved with Grant.
Boulden bt Carty 3 and 2.
Bradbury bt Sexton 3 and 2.
Georgia Lewis lost to Coyle-Diez 4 and 3.
Nia Greville lost to O'Driscoll 5 and 4.
Evans lost to Ryan 3 and 2 (2.5-3.5)
ENGLAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
Foursomes
Hayley Davis and Georgia Hall bt Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh 4 and 3.
Alex Peters and Meghan MacLaren bt Alyson McKechin and Clara Young 2 and 1.
Bronte Law and Emily Taylor bt Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook 4 and 3 (3-0).
Singles
Davis lost to Briggs 3 and 1.
Hall lost to McKechin 1 hole
Brogan Townend halved with Dryburgh.
Elizabeth Mallett lost to Ailsa Summers 2 and 1.
Peters halves with Young
Law bt Lesley Atkins 4 and 3.
HOW THEY STAND
Ireland 2pt, England 1.5, Wales 0.5, Scotland 0
FRIDAY'S FINAL MATCHES
8.30 and 13.10 Ireland v England
9.00 and 14.10 Scotland v Wales
ends
Thanks go to Colin Farquarson for the report.
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
Ireland made it two wins out of two by beating Wales 5-4 and meet England, winners of the Stroyan Cup for the past three years in the title decider on Friday.
The Scots picked themselves up well after their morning drubbing with Eilidh Briggs scoring a splendid 3 and 1 win over Hayley Davis in a battle between the girls champions of their respective countries.
Alyson McKechin put another point on the board for the Scots by beating Georgia Hall by one hole.
Gemma Dryburgh finished well to get a halved match with Brogan Townend.
Lesley Atkins lost by 4 and 3 to Bronte Law but Ailsa Summers won by 2 and 1 against Elizabeth Mallett.
With England leading by 4.5 to 3.5, Scotland's hopes of salvaging a creditable draw rested on the shoulders of 14-year-old Clara Young, the Junior Vagliano Trophy player from North Berwick.
Clara went one up on Alex Peters by winning the 16th with the rain pouring down but not damping the mounting tension in both camps. The 17th was halved but Peters won the last hole with an excellent approach shot to within 3ft of the flagstick setting up a birdie 3 to gallant Clara's par 4 to halve an absorbing contest which England scraped home to a 5-4 victory.
Day 2
WALES 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes
Amy Boulden and Chloe Williams halved with Paula Grant and Jessica Carty.
Katie Bradbury and Jessica Evans bt Ariana Coyle-Diez and Jean O'Driscoll 1 hole.
Myriam Hassan and Sara Rees-Evans lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sexton 8 and 7 (1.5-1.5)
Singles
Williams halved with Grant.
Boulden bt Carty 3 and 2.
Bradbury bt Sexton 3 and 2.
Georgia Lewis lost to Coyle-Diez 4 and 3.
Nia Greville lost to O'Driscoll 5 and 4.
Evans lost to Ryan 3 and 2 (2.5-3.5)
ENGLAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
Foursomes
Hayley Davis and Georgia Hall bt Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh 4 and 3.
Alex Peters and Meghan MacLaren bt Alyson McKechin and Clara Young 2 and 1.
Bronte Law and Emily Taylor bt Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook 4 and 3 (3-0).
Singles
Davis lost to Briggs 3 and 1.
Hall lost to McKechin 1 hole
Brogan Townend halved with Dryburgh.
Elizabeth Mallett lost to Ailsa Summers 2 and 1.
Peters halves with Young
Law bt Lesley Atkins 4 and 3.
HOW THEY STAND
Ireland 2pt, England 1.5, Wales 0.5, Scotland 0
FRIDAY'S FINAL MATCHES
8.30 and 13.10 Ireland v England
9.00 and 14.10 Scotland v Wales
ends
Thanks go to Colin Farquarson for the report.
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
DOUGLAS PARK GC LADIES OUTING TO ROWALLAN GOLF CLUB
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| Alison, Ginette and Lindsay - Winners of the Outing Click to enlarge |
Prize winners for the day were:
1st Team Prize: Lindsay McLean; Ginette Evans; Alison White
2nd Team Prize: Lynda Smith; Lesley Irvine; Vivien Hamilton
Nearest to the Pin - Silver: Ginette Evans; Bronze: Lesley Irvine.
Longest Drive - Silver: Helen Robertson; Bronze: Alison White.
Click on the small thumbnail below to see some Photographs from the days outing
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| Douglas Park Outing to Rowallan Golf Club |
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
SCOTLAND LOSE TO IRELAND ON DAY 1 OF THE GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS
Scotland's hopes of winning the Girls Home Internationals' Stroyan Cup for the first time in four years all but evaporated under a hot summer sun at the Gullane No 2 links today.
Scotland trailed 2-1 from the foursomes against Ireland but girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and beaten finalist Gemma Dryburgh from Aberdeen looked to have turned it round by winning the top two singles.
Unfortunately, Scotland then lost the last four singles with Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) all going under.
RESULTS
SCOTLAND 3, IRELAND 6
Foursomes - Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh lost to Paula Grant and Jessica Carty 2 and 1; Alyson McKechin and Clara Young beat Olivia Mehaffey and Hannah Henderson 1 hole; Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sextion 1 hole (1-2).
Singles - Briggs beat Grant 5 and 4, Dryburgh beat Carty 5 and 4, McKechin lost to Ariana Coyle-Diez 2 and 1, Whyte lost to Mehaffey 2 holes, Lesley Atkins lost to Jean O'Driscoll 4 and 3, Ailsa Summers lost to Ryan 2 holes (2-4).
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
Scotland trailed 2-1 from the foursomes against Ireland but girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and beaten finalist Gemma Dryburgh from Aberdeen looked to have turned it round by winning the top two singles.
Unfortunately, Scotland then lost the last four singles with Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) all going under.
RESULTS
SCOTLAND 3, IRELAND 6
Foursomes - Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh lost to Paula Grant and Jessica Carty 2 and 1; Alyson McKechin and Clara Young beat Olivia Mehaffey and Hannah Henderson 1 hole; Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sextion 1 hole (1-2).
Singles - Briggs beat Grant 5 and 4, Dryburgh beat Carty 5 and 4, McKechin lost to Ariana Coyle-Diez 2 and 1, Whyte lost to Mehaffey 2 holes, Lesley Atkins lost to Jean O'Driscoll 4 and 3, Ailsa Summers lost to Ryan 2 holes (2-4).
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Riccarton Rosebowl at Hamilton Golf Club is cancelled
Unfortunately the Riccarton Rosebowl and Salver have been cancelled this year due to the lack of support --- Only 26 entries received. All entry fees will be refunded in due course. The 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit tournament was scheduled for Sunday, August 7th.
Monday, 1 August 2011
2011 GIRLS' HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
The following players are representing their countries in the 2011 Girls' Home International Matches.
The matches will be played over Gullane No.2 from 3th - 5th August 2011.
Spectators are welcome :: Entry is Free
ENGLAND
Heidi Baek Felixstowe
Hayley Davis Ferndown
Georgia Hall Remedy Oak
Bronte Law Bramhall
Elizabeth Mallett Sutton Coldfield
Alexandra Peters Notts' Ladies'
Emily Taylor Royal Lytham & St Annes
Brogan Townend Pleasington
Captain - Chris Pascal
SCOTLAND
Lesley Atkins Gullane Ladies'
Eilidh Briggs Kilmacolm
Gemma Dryburgh Beaconsfield
Hannah McCook Grantown-on-Spey
Alyson McKechin Elderslie
Ailsa Summers Carnoustie Ladies'
Lauren Whyte St Regulus
Clara Young North Berwick
Captain - Karen Marshall
IRELAND
Jessica Carty Holywood
Ariana Coyle Diez Elm Park
Paula Grant Lisburn
Hannah Henderson Ballyclare
Olivia Mehaffey Royal Co.Down Ladies'
Jean O'Driscoll Muskerry
Chloe Ryan Castletroy
Sinead Sexton Lahinch
Captain - Niamh Kitching
WALES
Amy Boulden Llandudno, Maesdu
Katie Bradbury Cottrell Park
Jessica Evans Newport
Nia Greville Ashburnham
Myriam Hassan Southerndown
Georgia Lewis Llanishen
Sara Rees-Evans Penrhos
Chloe Williams Wrexham
Captain - Anna Hubbard
DRAWS & TIMINGS
Monday 1st August: Official Practice Day 1
Tuesday 2nd August: Official Practice Day 2
Wednesday 3rd August: Scotland v Ireland and England v Wales
Thursday 4th August: Wales v Ireland England v Scotland
Friday 5th August: Ireland v England Scotland v Wales
Foursomes: 8.30am – 9.20am
Singles: 1.10pm – 3.00pm
The matches will be played over Gullane No.2 from 3th - 5th August 2011.
Spectators are welcome :: Entry is Free
ENGLAND
Heidi Baek Felixstowe
Hayley Davis Ferndown
Georgia Hall Remedy Oak
Bronte Law Bramhall
Elizabeth Mallett Sutton Coldfield
Alexandra Peters Notts' Ladies'
Emily Taylor Royal Lytham & St Annes
Brogan Townend Pleasington
Captain - Chris Pascal
SCOTLAND
Lesley Atkins Gullane Ladies'
Eilidh Briggs Kilmacolm
Gemma Dryburgh Beaconsfield
Hannah McCook Grantown-on-Spey
Alyson McKechin Elderslie
Ailsa Summers Carnoustie Ladies'
Lauren Whyte St Regulus
Clara Young North Berwick
Captain - Karen Marshall
IRELAND
Jessica Carty Holywood
Ariana Coyle Diez Elm Park
Paula Grant Lisburn
Hannah Henderson Ballyclare
Olivia Mehaffey Royal Co.Down Ladies'
Jean O'Driscoll Muskerry
Chloe Ryan Castletroy
Sinead Sexton Lahinch
Captain - Niamh Kitching
WALES
Amy Boulden Llandudno, Maesdu
Katie Bradbury Cottrell Park
Jessica Evans Newport
Nia Greville Ashburnham
Myriam Hassan Southerndown
Georgia Lewis Llanishen
Sara Rees-Evans Penrhos
Chloe Williams Wrexham
Captain - Anna Hubbard
DRAWS & TIMINGS
Monday 1st August: Official Practice Day 1
Tuesday 2nd August: Official Practice Day 2
Wednesday 3rd August: Scotland v Ireland and England v Wales
Thursday 4th August: Wales v Ireland England v Scotland
Friday 5th August: Ireland v England Scotland v Wales
Foursomes: 8.30am – 9.20am
Singles: 1.10pm – 3.00pm
Photos from the SLGA Junior Open Championship at Cardross
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| Rachel Walker, Alyson McKechin, Kelsey MacDonald, Nichola Ferguson and Gemma Dryburgh |
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS by SLGA's Claire Hargan taken at last week's Scottish Junior Championship at Cardross
Some More great Photos below --- Courtesy of Lanarkshire's JEAN MACINTYRE ----CLICK HERE
Click to enlarge
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Photos from the Ricoh Women's British Open from Carnoustie
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| West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell at Carnoustie - Click to enlarge |
Click on the small thumbnail to see some photographs from the day.
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| Carnoustie - 3rd Round of the 2011 Women's British Open |
Sport Saturday 30th July | URTV Helensburgh-- Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Video
CLICK HERE to see a video from the Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Championship from Cardross. SLGA Tournament Manager Claire Hargan is interviewed by local TV station URTV Helensburgh
The video includes news about tennis athletics and golf --- To see the video on the golf section move the timeline slide to approximately 2mins 15 secs
The video includes news about tennis athletics and golf --- To see the video on the golf section move the timeline slide to approximately 2mins 15 secs
YANI TSENG WINS HER FIFTH MAJOR AND CATRIONA MATTHEW SLIDES OUT OF THE TOP 3 AT THE 18TH
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Yani Tseng, 22 year old Florida-based player from Taipei, wrote herself into the golfing history books at Carnoustie today when she strolled to a second successive victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship.
She thus became the youngest ever golfer, male or female, to win five Major golf titles.
In women’s pro golf, the record had been set by the legendary Patty Berg as long ago as 1943 when she was 25 years old.
Defending champion Yani started the final day at Carnoustie at 13-under-par, two shots behind the surprise leader, another 22-year-old, Germany’s Caroline Masson who has been a pro for only 20 months.
Within three holes, Tseng had draw level with Masson and by the eighth, she had surged two shots clear, winning in the end by four strokes with a closing 69 for 16-under-par 272.
The first prize was £239,047 but the importance of winning a fifth major at such a record pace probably meant more than the money to Yani Tseng.
“To win the Ricoh Women’s British Open in Scotland – the Home of Golf – is really special and for it to be my fifth major, faster than anyone else, also makes this a very special day in my life,” she said.
“I not only feel really happy, I feel it is an honour for me to achieve my fifth major in Scotland.
“I played really consistently today and I just had fun. But I was a little nervous before I teed off. My stomach was hurting and I felt really nervous. But after the first tee, I felt really good. I just needed to be patient.”
Tani began her momentous round on a low note – a bogey 5 – but she soon picked up a full head of steam to leave the hapless Caroline Masson trailing in her wake.
Tseng birdied the third and the sixth, reaching the turn in one-under 35.
A birdied at the 11th made her 15 under par for the tournament and opened up a four-shot lead over the field with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew moving into second place.
Back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th, brought Yani down to earth, but she birdied the long 14th to get back to 14 under par and a three-shot lead.
The World No 1 showed her class by covering the last five holes in three under par by following up that 14th hole bitrdie with birdies at te long 17th and also the 18t in halves of 35 and 34.
“I took a nine-iron for my second shot at the 18th. I was thinking coming down that hole about Jean Van de Velde (the Frenchman who lost a three-shot lead and the 1999 men’s Open down Carnoustie’s famed last hole.
“I too had a three-shot lead so on the tee I said to myself that I’d better hit a good drive to win the tournament. So I did hit a good drive, then a nine-iron. I feel a little bit juiced up at the time and so I hit that nine iron something like 135 yards. It was a great shot to set up a birdie 3 finish.”
Yani has now won four of the last ladies’ majors. Is she think already of next season’s Majors?
“Yeah, always the US Open is one of the tournaments I want to win. To win the US Open will be my goal next year. But I just want to keep improving myself, skill, mental and how I feel.
“There’s a long way to go.”
In the end it was a fast-finishing American, Brittany Lang, who took the £149,850 prize for second place. She had four very stead, very good rounds of 70, 70, 69 and 67 to finis four behind Tseng wit a 12-under-par total fo 276.
Brittany birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th in an inward half of 32 which saw her climb into second place over the closing holes of the championship. So what did Lang think about finishing second to the World No 1 winning her fifth Major?
“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t even imagine being 22 years old and winning five majors and all the other events she has won apart from the majors. She’s sp mentally strong and she’s so aggressive and confident. Yani’s just to it all. It’s pretty cool, cool to watch.”
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, like Brittany Lang, came like an express train up the leaderboard at the finish. She birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th for a 68 to finish third on 11-under-par 277. Ger earlier rounds were 68, 71 and 70.
She earned £104,895.
Amy Yang (South Korea) also improved late in the day with a 67 to finish fourth on 10 under par 278.
Joint fifth on nine-under-par 209 were overnight leader Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew. Caroline had rounds of 68, 65, 68 and 78 – a sad finish to a great tournament for the 22-year-old in only her second year as a pro and competing in only her second major.
She bogeyed the second, third and seventh to turn in 39, having begun to fall farther and farther behind Tseng, her playing partner.
The German player then had a nightmare run of bogey-bogey-double bogey from te 10th and yet another bogey at the 15 saw her descend to her lowest point of seven under par, having started the day at 15 under.
But Caroline has got guts. She never showed any signs of distress, deserving to finish on a high with birdies at the 17th and 18th, her first of the round.
Which perhaps explained why she was so upbeat and far from downhearted in her post-championship interviews.
“I did my best, tried to play all the shots that had worked so well for me and put me in the lead but it just wasn’t my day. But I will learn from it. I will learn from playing that last round with such a great player as Yani is,” said Caroline.
Catriona Matthew, winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open two years ago at Royal Birkdale, birdied te sixth and ninth to get to 11 under par and was only two shots off te lead round about the 13th – but generally the putts were not dropping for her.
She went a remarkable 47 holes without a bogey, startibg at the 16th on Friday’s thid round … until the very last hole of the championship, which cost er a double bogey 6 for a level par round of 72 for a total of nine-under 207, having got to 11 under par at one stage.
The Scot went out of bounds with her second shot at the 18t.,
“I struggled a bit today, didn’t hit that many good shots. I chipped and putted well but didn’t give myself enough birdie chances after the turn,” said Catriona.
And that out of bounds shot at the 18th?
“I tried to hit a little five-iron and the ball was just a little bit above my feet. In hindsight I should have chipped out but decided to go for it, “ she said.
“At the moment I am disappointed with the way I finished but I think overall I had not too bad a week.”
And Carnoustie as a Ricoh Women’s British Open venue?
“Oh definitely. It’s one of the best courses there is. Everyone has enjoyed their week here and look forward to coming back again to Carnoustie.”
American Katie Futcher showed the low-scoring potential when the strong wind that was forecast never really materialised.
Ktie became the third player in the championship to return an eight-under-p-ar 64 and she was the only player to score less than 30 for either half. She came home in seven-under-par 29 with an eagle (14th), five birdies (10-13-15-16-17) and only three pars. Some shooting.
The Smyt Silver Medal to the leading amateur was won by 18 year Danielle Kang, a student at Pepperdine University, Las Vegas and last year’s American girls’ champion. She had rounds of 72, 69, 75 and 74 for a two-over-par total of 290.
The only other amateur to survive the halfway cut always plays on the US college circuit – Germany’s Sophie Popov, a student at the University of Southern California.
Sophie scored 70, 75, 77 and 77 for 299 round Carnoustie.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Yani Tseng (Tpe) 71 66 66 69 (£238,047).
276 Brittany Lang (US) 70 70 69 67 (£149,850)
277 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 71 70 68 (£104,895)
278 Amy Yang (SKo) 68 70 73 67 (£82,061)
279 Caroline Masson (Ger) 68 65 68 78, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 69 68 72 (£62,795 each).
280 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 70 71 69 70, Sun Young Yoo (SKo) 71 70 69 70, Na Yeon Choi (SKo) 69 67 72 72, In-Bee Park (SKo) 70 74 73 73 (£45,850 each)
281 Stacy Lewis (US) 74 68 71 68, Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net) 70 66 74 71.
282 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 69 73 68,.
283 Katie Futcher (US) 71 74 74 64, Cristie Kerr (US) 72 69 74 68, Candie Kung (Tpe) 72 73 69 69, Song-Hee Kim (SKo) 69 72 71 71, Sun Ju Ahn (SKo) 71 71 70 71, Mika Miyazato (Jap) 69 69 72 73, Se Ri Park (SKo) 72 64 73 74
284 Jiyai Shin (SKo) 75 66 72 71
285 Karen Stupples (Eng) 74 68 72 71, Hee-Kyung Seo (SKo) 72 71 71 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 72 72, Rachel Jennings (Eng) 71 73 69 72, Momoko UJeda (Jap) 69 71 72 73, Angela Stanford (US) 68 72 72 73
286 Michelle Wie (US) 74 68 72, Vicky Hurst (US) 70 71 71 74
287 Amy Hung (Tpe) 69 72 78 69, Harji Kang (SKo) 75 70 73 69, Beth Allen (US) 71 70 75 71, Tiffany Joh (US) 71 69 75 72, ~Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 69 69 76 74, Brittany Lincicome (US) 67 71 76 67, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 70 75 67 75
288 Melissa Reid (Eng) 75 70 73 70, Eun Hee Ji (SKo) 70 71 75 72, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 76 76 73 73, Meena Lee (SKo) 65 69 80 74,Linda Wessbnerg (Swe) 73 66 75 74, In Kyung Kim (S Korea) 71 72 71 74
289 Hiromi Mogi (Jap) 72 72 74 71, Hee Won Han (SKo) 73 71 74 71, Lorie Kane (Can) 69 76 73 71, Hee Young Park (SKo) 70 70 76 73, Kristy McPherson (US) 71 71 74 73, Paula Creamer (US) 69 70 71 79
290 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 71 73 73, Danielle Kang (US) (am) 72 69 75 74, Morgan Pressel (U~S) 70 71 75 74, Pat Hurst (US) 70 69 74 77, Cindy LaCrosse (US) 72 69 72 77
291 Christel Boeljon (Net) 75 69 73 79, Janice Moodie (Sco) 75 67 75 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 70 74 76, Chelia Choi (SKo) 74 70 71 76, Amanda Blumenherst (US) 73 71 70 77
292 Miki Saiki (Jap) 72 72 76 72, Kylie Walker (Sco) 72 72 74 74, Holly Aitchison (Eng) 71 74 72 75, Julieta Granada (Para) 71 74 70 77, Sopie Giquel-Bettan (Fra) 71 68 72 71
295 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 75 70 73 77, Jaclyn Sweeney (US) 74 71 72 74.
297 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 71 73 79 74.
299 Sophie Popov (Ger) (am) 70 75 77 77
Retired (after 6 holes): Jimin Kang (Sko) 74 70 72 ret.
ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT CARNOUSTIE
(Royal Birkdale last year in brackets)
WEDNESDAY - 800 (1,500)
THURSDAY - 5,200 (11,650)
FRIDAY - 6,900 (10,500)
SATURDAY - 7,800 (15,400)
SUNDAY - 9,600 (16,100)
WEEK'S TOTAL: 30,300 (55,150 at Royal Birkdale)
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Yani Tseng, 22 year old Florida-based player from Taipei, wrote herself into the golfing history books at Carnoustie today when she strolled to a second successive victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship.
She thus became the youngest ever golfer, male or female, to win five Major golf titles.
In women’s pro golf, the record had been set by the legendary Patty Berg as long ago as 1943 when she was 25 years old.
Defending champion Yani started the final day at Carnoustie at 13-under-par, two shots behind the surprise leader, another 22-year-old, Germany’s Caroline Masson who has been a pro for only 20 months.
Within three holes, Tseng had draw level with Masson and by the eighth, she had surged two shots clear, winning in the end by four strokes with a closing 69 for 16-under-par 272.
The first prize was £239,047 but the importance of winning a fifth major at such a record pace probably meant more than the money to Yani Tseng.
“To win the Ricoh Women’s British Open in Scotland – the Home of Golf – is really special and for it to be my fifth major, faster than anyone else, also makes this a very special day in my life,” she said.
“I not only feel really happy, I feel it is an honour for me to achieve my fifth major in Scotland.
“I played really consistently today and I just had fun. But I was a little nervous before I teed off. My stomach was hurting and I felt really nervous. But after the first tee, I felt really good. I just needed to be patient.”
Tani began her momentous round on a low note – a bogey 5 – but she soon picked up a full head of steam to leave the hapless Caroline Masson trailing in her wake.
Tseng birdied the third and the sixth, reaching the turn in one-under 35.
A birdied at the 11th made her 15 under par for the tournament and opened up a four-shot lead over the field with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew moving into second place.
Back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th, brought Yani down to earth, but she birdied the long 14th to get back to 14 under par and a three-shot lead.
The World No 1 showed her class by covering the last five holes in three under par by following up that 14th hole bitrdie with birdies at te long 17th and also the 18t in halves of 35 and 34.
“I took a nine-iron for my second shot at the 18th. I was thinking coming down that hole about Jean Van de Velde (the Frenchman who lost a three-shot lead and the 1999 men’s Open down Carnoustie’s famed last hole.
“I too had a three-shot lead so on the tee I said to myself that I’d better hit a good drive to win the tournament. So I did hit a good drive, then a nine-iron. I feel a little bit juiced up at the time and so I hit that nine iron something like 135 yards. It was a great shot to set up a birdie 3 finish.”
Yani has now won four of the last ladies’ majors. Is she think already of next season’s Majors?
“Yeah, always the US Open is one of the tournaments I want to win. To win the US Open will be my goal next year. But I just want to keep improving myself, skill, mental and how I feel.
“There’s a long way to go.”
In the end it was a fast-finishing American, Brittany Lang, who took the £149,850 prize for second place. She had four very stead, very good rounds of 70, 70, 69 and 67 to finis four behind Tseng wit a 12-under-par total fo 276.
Brittany birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th in an inward half of 32 which saw her climb into second place over the closing holes of the championship. So what did Lang think about finishing second to the World No 1 winning her fifth Major?
“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t even imagine being 22 years old and winning five majors and all the other events she has won apart from the majors. She’s sp mentally strong and she’s so aggressive and confident. Yani’s just to it all. It’s pretty cool, cool to watch.”
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, like Brittany Lang, came like an express train up the leaderboard at the finish. She birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th for a 68 to finish third on 11-under-par 277. Ger earlier rounds were 68, 71 and 70.
She earned £104,895.
Amy Yang (South Korea) also improved late in the day with a 67 to finish fourth on 10 under par 278.
Joint fifth on nine-under-par 209 were overnight leader Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew. Caroline had rounds of 68, 65, 68 and 78 – a sad finish to a great tournament for the 22-year-old in only her second year as a pro and competing in only her second major.
She bogeyed the second, third and seventh to turn in 39, having begun to fall farther and farther behind Tseng, her playing partner.
The German player then had a nightmare run of bogey-bogey-double bogey from te 10th and yet another bogey at the 15 saw her descend to her lowest point of seven under par, having started the day at 15 under.
But Caroline has got guts. She never showed any signs of distress, deserving to finish on a high with birdies at the 17th and 18th, her first of the round.
Which perhaps explained why she was so upbeat and far from downhearted in her post-championship interviews.
“I did my best, tried to play all the shots that had worked so well for me and put me in the lead but it just wasn’t my day. But I will learn from it. I will learn from playing that last round with such a great player as Yani is,” said Caroline.
Catriona Matthew, winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open two years ago at Royal Birkdale, birdied te sixth and ninth to get to 11 under par and was only two shots off te lead round about the 13th – but generally the putts were not dropping for her.
She went a remarkable 47 holes without a bogey, startibg at the 16th on Friday’s thid round … until the very last hole of the championship, which cost er a double bogey 6 for a level par round of 72 for a total of nine-under 207, having got to 11 under par at one stage.
The Scot went out of bounds with her second shot at the 18t.,
“I struggled a bit today, didn’t hit that many good shots. I chipped and putted well but didn’t give myself enough birdie chances after the turn,” said Catriona.
And that out of bounds shot at the 18th?
“I tried to hit a little five-iron and the ball was just a little bit above my feet. In hindsight I should have chipped out but decided to go for it, “ she said.
“At the moment I am disappointed with the way I finished but I think overall I had not too bad a week.”
And Carnoustie as a Ricoh Women’s British Open venue?
“Oh definitely. It’s one of the best courses there is. Everyone has enjoyed their week here and look forward to coming back again to Carnoustie.”
American Katie Futcher showed the low-scoring potential when the strong wind that was forecast never really materialised.
Ktie became the third player in the championship to return an eight-under-p-ar 64 and she was the only player to score less than 30 for either half. She came home in seven-under-par 29 with an eagle (14th), five birdies (10-13-15-16-17) and only three pars. Some shooting.
The Smyt Silver Medal to the leading amateur was won by 18 year Danielle Kang, a student at Pepperdine University, Las Vegas and last year’s American girls’ champion. She had rounds of 72, 69, 75 and 74 for a two-over-par total of 290.
The only other amateur to survive the halfway cut always plays on the US college circuit – Germany’s Sophie Popov, a student at the University of Southern California.
Sophie scored 70, 75, 77 and 77 for 299 round Carnoustie.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Yani Tseng (Tpe) 71 66 66 69 (£238,047).
276 Brittany Lang (US) 70 70 69 67 (£149,850)
277 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 71 70 68 (£104,895)
278 Amy Yang (SKo) 68 70 73 67 (£82,061)
279 Caroline Masson (Ger) 68 65 68 78, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 69 68 72 (£62,795 each).
280 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 70 71 69 70, Sun Young Yoo (SKo) 71 70 69 70, Na Yeon Choi (SKo) 69 67 72 72, In-Bee Park (SKo) 70 74 73 73 (£45,850 each)
281 Stacy Lewis (US) 74 68 71 68, Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net) 70 66 74 71.
282 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 69 73 68,.
283 Katie Futcher (US) 71 74 74 64, Cristie Kerr (US) 72 69 74 68, Candie Kung (Tpe) 72 73 69 69, Song-Hee Kim (SKo) 69 72 71 71, Sun Ju Ahn (SKo) 71 71 70 71, Mika Miyazato (Jap) 69 69 72 73, Se Ri Park (SKo) 72 64 73 74
284 Jiyai Shin (SKo) 75 66 72 71
285 Karen Stupples (Eng) 74 68 72 71, Hee-Kyung Seo (SKo) 72 71 71 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 72 72, Rachel Jennings (Eng) 71 73 69 72, Momoko UJeda (Jap) 69 71 72 73, Angela Stanford (US) 68 72 72 73
286 Michelle Wie (US) 74 68 72, Vicky Hurst (US) 70 71 71 74
287 Amy Hung (Tpe) 69 72 78 69, Harji Kang (SKo) 75 70 73 69, Beth Allen (US) 71 70 75 71, Tiffany Joh (US) 71 69 75 72, ~Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 69 69 76 74, Brittany Lincicome (US) 67 71 76 67, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 70 75 67 75
288 Melissa Reid (Eng) 75 70 73 70, Eun Hee Ji (SKo) 70 71 75 72, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 76 76 73 73, Meena Lee (SKo) 65 69 80 74,Linda Wessbnerg (Swe) 73 66 75 74, In Kyung Kim (S Korea) 71 72 71 74
289 Hiromi Mogi (Jap) 72 72 74 71, Hee Won Han (SKo) 73 71 74 71, Lorie Kane (Can) 69 76 73 71, Hee Young Park (SKo) 70 70 76 73, Kristy McPherson (US) 71 71 74 73, Paula Creamer (US) 69 70 71 79
290 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 71 73 73, Danielle Kang (US) (am) 72 69 75 74, Morgan Pressel (U~S) 70 71 75 74, Pat Hurst (US) 70 69 74 77, Cindy LaCrosse (US) 72 69 72 77
291 Christel Boeljon (Net) 75 69 73 79, Janice Moodie (Sco) 75 67 75 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 70 74 76, Chelia Choi (SKo) 74 70 71 76, Amanda Blumenherst (US) 73 71 70 77
292 Miki Saiki (Jap) 72 72 76 72, Kylie Walker (Sco) 72 72 74 74, Holly Aitchison (Eng) 71 74 72 75, Julieta Granada (Para) 71 74 70 77, Sopie Giquel-Bettan (Fra) 71 68 72 71
295 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 75 70 73 77, Jaclyn Sweeney (US) 74 71 72 74.
297 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 71 73 79 74.
299 Sophie Popov (Ger) (am) 70 75 77 77
Retired (after 6 holes): Jimin Kang (Sko) 74 70 72 ret.
ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT CARNOUSTIE
(Royal Birkdale last year in brackets)
WEDNESDAY - 800 (1,500)
THURSDAY - 5,200 (11,650)
FRIDAY - 6,900 (10,500)
SATURDAY - 7,800 (15,400)
SUNDAY - 9,600 (16,100)
WEEK'S TOTAL: 30,300 (55,150 at Royal Birkdale)
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, today visited the RICOH Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links.
Reinforcing Scotland’s support of women’s golf, she posed for a photograph with the Curtis Cup trophy which will be played at Nairn in 2012. She was joined by Louise Martin, Chair of sportscotland; Shona Malcolm, Chief Executive of the Ladies Golf Union; and George Asher, Championship Committee, Nairn 2012. EventScotland is a proud supporter of the RICOH Women’s British Open and the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open which takes place at Archerfield Links from 18-20 August.
There was also time to visit the ‘Scotland the Home of Golf - Hole in One Challenge’. The free competition, funded through the Scottish Government’s year of Active Scotland, encourages spectators to have a go at emulating the world’s best female golfers who are competing in the third round of the tournament today.
Ms Hyslop said: “This is the only women’s major tournament currently played in Europe. Under a deal secured by EventScotland, it will be returning to Scotland for five of the next 10 years.
“That is a real coup for Scotland - which also plays host to The Ryder Cup in 2014 and the ideal way to promote Scotland around the world as ‘The Home of Golf’ whilst encouraging more people to get active and take up this great game.
“Golf tourism already contributes £220 million every year to the Scottish economy and supports over 4,000 jobs. Our unique golfing heritage is recognised around the world, and Scotland is the perfect stage for world-class golf events.”
For further information please contact Lorna Campbell – Lorna.Campbell@eventscotland.org
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
There was also time to visit the ‘Scotland the Home of Golf - Hole in One Challenge’. The free competition, funded through the Scottish Government’s year of Active Scotland, encourages spectators to have a go at emulating the world’s best female golfers who are competing in the third round of the tournament today.
Ms Hyslop said: “This is the only women’s major tournament currently played in Europe. Under a deal secured by EventScotland, it will be returning to Scotland for five of the next 10 years.
“That is a real coup for Scotland - which also plays host to The Ryder Cup in 2014 and the ideal way to promote Scotland around the world as ‘The Home of Golf’ whilst encouraging more people to get active and take up this great game.
“Golf tourism already contributes £220 million every year to the Scottish economy and supports over 4,000 jobs. Our unique golfing heritage is recognised around the world, and Scotland is the perfect stage for world-class golf events.”
For further information please contact Lorna Campbell – Lorna.Campbell@eventscotland.org
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
Catriona Mathew in 3rd place after 3rd round at Carnoustie
by Colin Farquharson
Germany’s 22-year-old Caroline Masson, ranked 141st in the world and without a win since she turned pro in January 2010, leads the star-studded field into Sunday’s final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship over the Carnoustie links.
Overnight leader by one shot at 11 under par, the girl from Gladbeck raised the bar to 15 under par by the end of an incredible round in which she had increased her advantage to five shots after only six holes – despite starting the day with a bogey which immediately raised doubts about whether she had the experience to withstand the pressure of being in the Major spotlight with world-class players snapping at her heels.
Caroline demolished the doubts by birdieing the second, fifth and sixth.
Out in two-under-34, she had further birdies at the 11th, 14th and 17th before finishing her round as she had started it – with a one-putt bogey after being in a bunker.
Unexpectedly, it was her nearest challengers at the halfway oint that could not keep up with her blistering pace.
So the stage is set for a crowd-pulling last day at this famous venue.
Masson, with rounds of 68, 65 and 68 against the par of 72, leads on 15-under-par 201.
Lying second is the defending champion and World No 1 from Taiwan, Yani Tseng, 22 years old but already winner of four Majors. Yani has shot 71, 66 and 66 to be only two shots off the lead on 13-under-par 203.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew from North Berwick, winner of this title two years ago and ranked No 5 in the world, played herself into the reckoning with a bogey-free round and scores of 70, 69 and 68 (Ben Hogan improved every round when he won the Open at Carnoustie in 1953) for nine-under-par 207 put her in joint third place with the World No 13 and former US Open winner, Inbee Park (South Korea) who had scores of 70, 64 and 73.
Next comes another South Korean, World No 5 Na Yeon Choi ho is on eight-under 208 after scores of 69, 67 and 72.
Se Ri Pak, the legendary South Korean trailblazer is joint sixth on 209 with rouonds of 72, 64 and 73. On the ame mark is the leading American in this event, Brittany Lang (70-70-69) and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson (68-71-70).
“I was quite nervous at the beginning and I bogeyed the first,” said Caroline Masson, “but I got a few birdies after that and that boosted my confidence.
“I hit some really good shots even though the pins were in much tougher places and there was more of a wind than the previous days.”
This is only Caroline’s second major tournament appearance. So what does she think about it all?
“To be honest, I can’t really believe it. It’s a strange feeling and I am just trying to enjoy every moment. I slept well last night and I am very excited about playing with the World No 1, Yani Tseng, in the final round.”
Does she have any inkling why she has done so well out of the blue in the Ricoh Women’s British Open?
“It’s hard to say. I’ve been kind of waiting for everything to fall into place. I’ve been waiting for all the parts I’ve been practising and working on to come together – and it has happened over the past three days at Carnoustie.”
Yani Tseng, not surprisingly, is feeling on top of the world after stringing together a second successive 66. If she finishes up on Sunday by winning back-to-back titles, the pundits will say she started her charge over the first five holes of the inward half today.
From the 10th, Yani scored 3-3-4-2-3 which translates into birdie-birdie-par,birdie-eagle! What a sensational run – and leader Caroline heard the roars of the gallery.
“I just can’t wait to get out there again on Sunday,” said the chirpy, cheerful Taiwanese. “ I am going to be aggressive, as I was today, and try my best on every shot. I can do no more than that,
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by saying I can do this or that. As I say I will try my best on every shot.”
Catriona Matthew had a flawless round of 68 with birdies at te fifth, 11th, 14th and 17th in halves of 35 and 33.
She will start te final day, six shots behind Caroline Masson and four behind Yani Tseng.
“I’d like to probably be a little bit closer but I think it’s supposed to be a little bit windier tomorrow so five or six shots can be picked up pretty quickly in those sort of conditions,” said Catriona.
“I was very pleased with the way I played today. I made a couple of good par saves in the first couple of holes, then birdied the fifth. That was a really good birdie with a six-iron approach.”
Quite a few of the South Koreans seemed to struggle over their third rounds. For instance, first-round leader Meena Lee, still in contention at the start of the day, ran up an 8 at one hole and finished with an 80 for 214 and a share of 28th place. Se Ri Park could do no better than 73, the same as Inbee Park
Said Catriona Matthew:
“Certainly I think the pin positions were tougher. You had to play away from a lot of the pins, certainly over the first few holes and it was windier today, so the course was playing a little bit trickier than for the first two rounds. Maybe they’re not used to playing this kind of links course in the wind. Although Yani Tseng is te world No 1 and I think she knows how to play in it.”
The duel for the Smythe Silver Medal for the leading amateur is favouring last year’s United States girls champion, Danielle King, who had a 75 for level par 216. She is six shots ahead of the only other amateur qualifier for the last two rounds, Germany’s Sophia Popov who is highly rated on the US college circuit. Sopia had a 77 for 222.
SUNDAY'S LEADING TEE TIMES
07.40 Kylie Walker and Hee=Won Han.
08.10 Janice Moodie and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.
08.40 Danielle Kang (amateur) and Morgan Pressel.
09.20 Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen
09.40 Meena Lee and Caroline Hedwall.
10.10 Michelle Wie and Hee-Kyung Seo.
10.55 Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
11.55 Mika Miyazato and Paula Creamer.
12.05 Sun Young Yoo and Anna Nordqvist.
12.15 Se Ri Pak and Sophie Gustafson.
12.25 Brittany Lang and Na Yeon Choi
12.35 Inbee Park and Catriona Matthew.
12.45 Yani Tseng and Caroline Masson
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
Germany’s 22-year-old Caroline Masson, ranked 141st in the world and without a win since she turned pro in January 2010, leads the star-studded field into Sunday’s final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship over the Carnoustie links.
Overnight leader by one shot at 11 under par, the girl from Gladbeck raised the bar to 15 under par by the end of an incredible round in which she had increased her advantage to five shots after only six holes – despite starting the day with a bogey which immediately raised doubts about whether she had the experience to withstand the pressure of being in the Major spotlight with world-class players snapping at her heels.
Caroline demolished the doubts by birdieing the second, fifth and sixth.
Out in two-under-34, she had further birdies at the 11th, 14th and 17th before finishing her round as she had started it – with a one-putt bogey after being in a bunker.
Unexpectedly, it was her nearest challengers at the halfway oint that could not keep up with her blistering pace.
So the stage is set for a crowd-pulling last day at this famous venue.
Masson, with rounds of 68, 65 and 68 against the par of 72, leads on 15-under-par 201.
Lying second is the defending champion and World No 1 from Taiwan, Yani Tseng, 22 years old but already winner of four Majors. Yani has shot 71, 66 and 66 to be only two shots off the lead on 13-under-par 203.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew from North Berwick, winner of this title two years ago and ranked No 5 in the world, played herself into the reckoning with a bogey-free round and scores of 70, 69 and 68 (Ben Hogan improved every round when he won the Open at Carnoustie in 1953) for nine-under-par 207 put her in joint third place with the World No 13 and former US Open winner, Inbee Park (South Korea) who had scores of 70, 64 and 73.
Next comes another South Korean, World No 5 Na Yeon Choi ho is on eight-under 208 after scores of 69, 67 and 72.
Se Ri Pak, the legendary South Korean trailblazer is joint sixth on 209 with rouonds of 72, 64 and 73. On the ame mark is the leading American in this event, Brittany Lang (70-70-69) and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson (68-71-70).
“I was quite nervous at the beginning and I bogeyed the first,” said Caroline Masson, “but I got a few birdies after that and that boosted my confidence.
“I hit some really good shots even though the pins were in much tougher places and there was more of a wind than the previous days.”
This is only Caroline’s second major tournament appearance. So what does she think about it all?
“To be honest, I can’t really believe it. It’s a strange feeling and I am just trying to enjoy every moment. I slept well last night and I am very excited about playing with the World No 1, Yani Tseng, in the final round.”
Does she have any inkling why she has done so well out of the blue in the Ricoh Women’s British Open?
“It’s hard to say. I’ve been kind of waiting for everything to fall into place. I’ve been waiting for all the parts I’ve been practising and working on to come together – and it has happened over the past three days at Carnoustie.”
Yani Tseng, not surprisingly, is feeling on top of the world after stringing together a second successive 66. If she finishes up on Sunday by winning back-to-back titles, the pundits will say she started her charge over the first five holes of the inward half today.
From the 10th, Yani scored 3-3-4-2-3 which translates into birdie-birdie-par,birdie-eagle! What a sensational run – and leader Caroline heard the roars of the gallery.
“I just can’t wait to get out there again on Sunday,” said the chirpy, cheerful Taiwanese. “ I am going to be aggressive, as I was today, and try my best on every shot. I can do no more than that,
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by saying I can do this or that. As I say I will try my best on every shot.”
Catriona Matthew had a flawless round of 68 with birdies at te fifth, 11th, 14th and 17th in halves of 35 and 33.
She will start te final day, six shots behind Caroline Masson and four behind Yani Tseng.
“I’d like to probably be a little bit closer but I think it’s supposed to be a little bit windier tomorrow so five or six shots can be picked up pretty quickly in those sort of conditions,” said Catriona.
“I was very pleased with the way I played today. I made a couple of good par saves in the first couple of holes, then birdied the fifth. That was a really good birdie with a six-iron approach.”
Quite a few of the South Koreans seemed to struggle over their third rounds. For instance, first-round leader Meena Lee, still in contention at the start of the day, ran up an 8 at one hole and finished with an 80 for 214 and a share of 28th place. Se Ri Park could do no better than 73, the same as Inbee Park
Said Catriona Matthew:
“Certainly I think the pin positions were tougher. You had to play away from a lot of the pins, certainly over the first few holes and it was windier today, so the course was playing a little bit trickier than for the first two rounds. Maybe they’re not used to playing this kind of links course in the wind. Although Yani Tseng is te world No 1 and I think she knows how to play in it.”
The duel for the Smythe Silver Medal for the leading amateur is favouring last year’s United States girls champion, Danielle King, who had a 75 for level par 216. She is six shots ahead of the only other amateur qualifier for the last two rounds, Germany’s Sophia Popov who is highly rated on the US college circuit. Sopia had a 77 for 222.
SUNDAY'S LEADING TEE TIMES
07.40 Kylie Walker and Hee=Won Han.
08.10 Janice Moodie and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.
08.40 Danielle Kang (amateur) and Morgan Pressel.
09.20 Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen
09.40 Meena Lee and Caroline Hedwall.
10.10 Michelle Wie and Hee-Kyung Seo.
10.55 Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
11.55 Mika Miyazato and Paula Creamer.
12.05 Sun Young Yoo and Anna Nordqvist.
12.15 Se Ri Pak and Sophie Gustafson.
12.25 Brittany Lang and Na Yeon Choi
12.35 Inbee Park and Catriona Matthew.
12.45 Yani Tseng and Caroline Masson
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Friday, 29 July 2011
Kylie Walker and Janice Moodie make the cut at Carboustie
Three Scots have made the cut at the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie. Catriona Mathew, Janice Moodie and Kylie Walker. Unfortunately West of Scotland amateur Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) missed the cut by one shot.
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- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone
Kelsey wins again and Clober's Nichola Ferguson is runner up
By Colin Farquharson
KELSEY SUPERMAC WINS FOUR IN A ROW IN STYLE
Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald, in the end, outclassed her contemporaries in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championsip for a record fourth year in a row by the commanding margin of six strokes at Cardross Golf Club today .
Nairn Dunbar GC member Kelsey came into the tournament on a low, having failed - not by much - to be among the 18 qualifiers at Panmure for the Ricoh British Women's Open championship at Carnoustie.
That perhaps explained her opening round of one-over-par 75 in the junior women's championship which left her joint eighth. But Kelsey banished the blues in no uncertain fashion after that.
She covered the remaining 36 holes in eight under par with a pair of 70s for a seven-under-par winning total of 215.
She is a Great Britain and Ireland international these days and over the last two days at Cardross she played like one.
The surprise packet of the tournament was Nichola Ferguson from Clober who finished second on 221 with scores of 75, 73 and 73.
Nichola did so well to shake of one triple bogey and two double bogeys over her first 36 holes and finished in great style wit a bogey free inward half studded with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.
Ferguson relegated four highly-rated players into joint third place on level par 222 - Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 222 (3x74)
215 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70 70.
221 Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 73 73.
222 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)- (Disqualified)75 74 73, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74 73, Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72 74, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74 77.
223 Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76 74,
225 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75 77.
226 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77 77.
229 Rachel Taylor (Germany) 76 77 76.
231 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74 75, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77 75, Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73 76, Alice Boothroud (Rudding Park) 73 82 76.
232 Linsey Steveenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77 79,Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75 78.
233 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75 78, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77 77, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79 75.
234 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 76 78 80.
235 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77 80, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 77 81 77, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77 81, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84 74.
236 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75 82.
238 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79 78.
240 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76 82, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79 82, Ashley Smith (Monfieth) 79 82 79
242 Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81 87.
243 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76 84, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80 81, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80 81..
244 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81 83, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85 83, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82 81, Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85 80, Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81 79,Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84 76
245 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85 89, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79 84, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82 79..
246 Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82 77, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85 81.
247 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78 86, Katie Reid (Monifiet) 79 87 81..
249 Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81 84.
251 Gillian Arnott (Largs) 83 86 82, Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 82 89 90, Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 90 82 79.
252 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85 91, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 90 80 82, Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 84 88 80.
253 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88 83.
254 Alexandra Tait (St Reguolus) 82 88 84
255 Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86 87.
258 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus) 86 85 87.
259 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 89 83 87.
262 Hannah Robb (Strathmore ) 89 82 91.
263 Jessica Dalgetty (Glencorse) 97 82 84.
264 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) 88 88 88.
269 Emma Kennedy (Paisley) 91 87 91.
271 Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley) 91 90 90.
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KELSEY SUPERMAC WINS FOUR IN A ROW IN STYLE
Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald, in the end, outclassed her contemporaries in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championsip for a record fourth year in a row by the commanding margin of six strokes at Cardross Golf Club today .
Nairn Dunbar GC member Kelsey came into the tournament on a low, having failed - not by much - to be among the 18 qualifiers at Panmure for the Ricoh British Women's Open championship at Carnoustie.
That perhaps explained her opening round of one-over-par 75 in the junior women's championship which left her joint eighth. But Kelsey banished the blues in no uncertain fashion after that.
She covered the remaining 36 holes in eight under par with a pair of 70s for a seven-under-par winning total of 215.
She is a Great Britain and Ireland international these days and over the last two days at Cardross she played like one.
The surprise packet of the tournament was Nichola Ferguson from Clober who finished second on 221 with scores of 75, 73 and 73.
Nichola did so well to shake of one triple bogey and two double bogeys over her first 36 holes and finished in great style wit a bogey free inward half studded with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.
Ferguson relegated four highly-rated players into joint third place on level par 222 - Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 222 (3x74)
215 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70 70.
221 Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 73 73.
222 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)- (Disqualified)75 74 73, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74 73, Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72 74, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74 77.
223 Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76 74,
225 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75 77.
226 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77 77.
229 Rachel Taylor (Germany) 76 77 76.
231 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74 75, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77 75, Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73 76, Alice Boothroud (Rudding Park) 73 82 76.
232 Linsey Steveenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77 79,Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75 78.
233 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75 78, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77 77, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79 75.
234 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 76 78 80.
235 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77 80, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 77 81 77, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77 81, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84 74.
236 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75 82.
238 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79 78.
240 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76 82, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79 82, Ashley Smith (Monfieth) 79 82 79
242 Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81 87.
243 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76 84, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80 81, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80 81..
244 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81 83, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85 83, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82 81, Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85 80, Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81 79,Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84 76
245 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85 89, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79 84, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82 79..
246 Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82 77, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85 81.
247 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78 86, Katie Reid (Monifiet) 79 87 81..
249 Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81 84.
251 Gillian Arnott (Largs) 83 86 82, Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 82 89 90, Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 90 82 79.
252 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85 91, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 90 80 82, Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 84 88 80.
253 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88 83.
254 Alexandra Tait (St Reguolus) 82 88 84
255 Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86 87.
258 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus) 86 85 87.
259 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 89 83 87.
262 Hannah Robb (Strathmore ) 89 82 91.
263 Jessica Dalgetty (Glencorse) 97 82 84.
264 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) 88 88 88.
269 Emma Kennedy (Paisley) 91 87 91.
271 Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley) 91 90 90.
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Thursday, 28 July 2011
KELSEY JOINS ALYSON AT THE TOP AT UNDER-21 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
A four-under-par second round of 70 has drastically shortened the odds against Kelsey MacDonald completing a record-setting fourth win in a row in the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play golf championship at Cardoss Golf Club tomorrow.
Starting the day in joint eighth position, four shots off the pace, the Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar member slipped into top gear with a six-birdie, two-bogey round to share the lead on three-under 148 with Elderslie's Alyson McKechin.
Kelsey had her usual mixture of birdies and bogeys in an outward 35 but the last nine holes she completed without a blemish and studded with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th.
But Alyson is not going to roll over and let her rival walk away with the title unchallenged. McKechin was three over par to the turn but birdies at the 13th, 17th and 18th saw her match MacDonald's inward half – and it could be a battle royal over the final round.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh had the second-best round of the day, a 72 for 148 and the beaten finalist in the recent Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship at Glenisla is saring third place with Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick (73-75).
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 148 (2x74)
145 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74.
148 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75.
149 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74, Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77, Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 74.
150 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 75.
153 Rachael Taylor (Germany) 76 77,Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77.
154 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75, Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
76 78, Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77.
155 Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81, Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) 73 82, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75.
156 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77.
158 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 77 81, anna Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79.
159 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76, Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82.
160 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79.
161 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81, Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 79 82, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85, Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85.
162 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80.
163 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82.
164 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85.
165 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85, Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81.
166 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 79 87.
168 Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84, Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 77 91.
169 Gillian Arnott (Largsw) 83 86, Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) 89 90.
170 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 82 88, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 80 80, Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88.
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Starting the day in joint eighth position, four shots off the pace, the Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar member slipped into top gear with a six-birdie, two-bogey round to share the lead on three-under 148 with Elderslie's Alyson McKechin.
Kelsey had her usual mixture of birdies and bogeys in an outward 35 but the last nine holes she completed without a blemish and studded with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th.
But Alyson is not going to roll over and let her rival walk away with the title unchallenged. McKechin was three over par to the turn but birdies at the 13th, 17th and 18th saw her match MacDonald's inward half – and it could be a battle royal over the final round.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh had the second-best round of the day, a 72 for 148 and the beaten finalist in the recent Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship at Glenisla is saring third place with Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick (73-75).
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 148 (2x74)
145 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74.
148 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75.
149 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74, Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77, Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 74.
150 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 75.
153 Rachael Taylor (Germany) 76 77,Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77.
154 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75, Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
76 78, Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77.
155 Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81, Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) 73 82, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75.
156 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77.
158 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 77 81, anna Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79.
159 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76, Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82.
160 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79.
161 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81, Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 79 82, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85, Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85.
162 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80.
163 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82.
164 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85.
165 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85, Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81.
166 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 79 87.
168 Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84, Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 77 91.
169 Gillian Arnott (Largsw) 83 86, Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) 89 90.
170 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 82 88, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 80 80, Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88.
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Your Webmaster is away for a few days
In case I have difficulty with Internet Access please go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website for all updates in the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie and the Scottish Girls Strokeplay at Cardross
LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- LADIES BRITISH OPEN
LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- CLICK HERE
ALSO READ MORE BY GOING TO THE RICOH BRITISH OPEN WEBSITE
ALSO READ MORE BY GOING TO THE RICOH BRITISH OPEN WEBSITE
SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - LIVE SCORING
Live scoring will be in operation from approximately 9:15am.- CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE SCORING
Blisters or no blisters, Pamela would have crawled on to the first tee at Carnoustie
From the LGU Website 27.07.2011
Pamela Pretswell, the Hamilton girl who might have become the Andy Murray of the female tennis world, says she has no regrets at turning her back on tennis seven years ago when she was 15 and was Scotland’s top-ranked girl player at tennis – and No 2 in junior badminton!
Speaking at Carnoustie where the Bothwell Castle GC member is one of six amateurs in a field of the best female golfers in the world, assembled for the Ricoh British Women’s Open championship, the 22-year-old business and management degree graduate from Glasgow University, said:
“Giving up tennis was the best decision I ever made. To be as dedicated to a career in tennis as Andy Murray (two years older) was, I would have had to give up the idea of going to university, completing an education and having a life,” she said.
“I turned my attentions to golf because I knew I could play and practise golf and still get a university education. And seven years later I had won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship and played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy, so I have absolutely no regrets at all. I have not swung a tennis racquet again since the day I walked away from the sport.”
It was winning last year’s British stroke-play title at Tenby that won Pamela a place in the Ricoh Women’s British Open this week and even though she had to withdraw from last Saturday’s final round in Holland of the European women’s amateur championship, there was never any doubt that she would be there when her name is called on the first tee at Carnoustie on Thursday.
“I have a tendency to get blisters on my feet and I had them last week in Holland. I had them lanced but it would have been too painful to play in the last round. I could have finished in the top 20, maybe better, but it would have been too sore,” said Pamela.
“Different story this week, of course, I would have crawled on to the first tee if I had had to, blisters or no blisters and taken 10 hours to get round if need be …. I’ve looked forward to the Ricoh British Women’s Open championship since the day last August I knew I had won a place in the field by winning the British stroke-play.
“Carnoustie is quite simply the best course I have ever played. There is no easy shot or easy hole on the course. It just doesn’t give you a break … and that’s the way I like it. The tougher the course, the better I like it.
“And I’m right in the mood for this week. I’m just come off the best bucket of balls I’ve probably ever hit on a practice range.”
Pamela’s dad William Pretswell is her caddie and though Kevin Craggs is her coach, her father, who was a scratch player – he’s not 55 – and a Scottish universities champion in his day.
“He’s a good caddie. Knows when to speak up, knows when to keep quiet and he obviously knows the game, having been a scratch player,” said Pamela who might now win the Ricoh Women’s British Open this week but could certainly do a Tom Lewis, winner of the R&A Amateur Silver Medal at Royal St George’s a week or two back.
Yes, there is a Silver medal for the leading ladies amateur in the women’s Major but, the same rules apply as in the men’s Open, making the halfway cut is mandatory in qualifying to win the Smythe Medal on Sunday.
So what does the future hold for Pamela Pretswell?
“I intend going to the Ladies European Tour School later in the year and I think I have the game to make the grade,” she said. “If not, then I would probably set up a business to make the most of my university qualifications.”
She’s a smart girl is our Pamela.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
The Ladies Golf Union and IMG Confirms The Royal Birkdale Golf Club as the Venue for the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open
The Ladies Golf Union and IMG Confirms The Royal Birkdale Golf Club as the Venue for the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open
The Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2014, continuing the Championship Committee's commitment to ensure that the World's best women players showcase their talents on the World's best golf courses in years to come.
The Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host its sixth Women's British Open when the Championship is staged there in 2014, continuing a strong association with the event that goes back to 1982 when Marta Figueras-Dotti took home the coveted title. The Championship returned in 1986 when England's Laura Davies triumphed. Sophie Gustafson won in 2000 and five years later Korea's Jeong Jang claimed her first professional victory by defeating Gustafson and another Korean, Young Kim, by four shots on 16-under par 272. In 2010 Yani Tseng, Number One on the Rolex Rankings, came out on top.
This celebrated club has a rich heritage in hosting the most important golf tournaments in the world and, in addition to five Women's British Opens, has also welcomed two Ryder Cups in 1965 and 1969 and nine Open championships, the last won by the popular Irishman, Padraig Harrington in 2008.
As the only women's Major currently played outside the USA, the Championship Committee has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that the Ricoh Women's British Open visits only world class championship courses and this celebrated venue fits the brief to a tee.
Yani Tseng recently added the Wegmans LPGA Championship to her haul of four Major titles and, at the age of 22 years 5 months 3 days, is the youngest player ever- male or female – since Young Tom Morris in 1872 to amass four Majors. She expressed delight at the news that the Championship would be returning to Royal Birkdale, "Of course I am a little biased but I think Royal Birkdale is an unbelievable course and I feel so proud to have won there. It has hosted so many great Championships and I look forward to returning there in 2014 where I hope I will win again."
Michael Hadden, Captain of Royal Birkdale Golf Club added, "We are very much looking forward to the return of the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2014. The positive feedback from our members and the spectators after last year's Championship was universal and we look forward to welcoming the world's best women back in 2014 to show us how it is done."
Loudoun Gowf Ladies Open -- some places are still available
There are still some spaces remaining for the Loudoun Gowf Ladies Open day on Monday 5th September.The cost is £8 and there are scratch, handicap and fun prizes available. In the event of bad weather and the course closing an alternative date of 12th September has been reserved.An application form can be found at
West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin shares lead after the first round of the Scottish Junior Strokeplay
The Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar GC member, Kelsey MacDonald, is lying joint eighth at the end of the first round at Cardross Golf Club, four shots behind the two pacemakers on three-under 71, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), bound for Denver University in a couple of weeks, is in third place, only one shot off the pace with a 72.
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) and Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) are bracketed in fourth place on 73, one shot aead of Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
Kate McIntosh had seven birdies but four bogeys while Alyson McKechin had fewer birdies – six – but only three bogeys.
Rachael Watton had an eagle at the long 18th., which cancelled out a double bogey 5 at te short 13th. Birdies at the fourth and 13th enabled her to finish the day two under par.
Kelsey MacDonald had a roller-coaster round of birdies at the second, 10th, 13th and 18th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, 12th, 16th and 17th If she can eliminate the negative over the remaining rounds, there are enough positives to make up the lost ground over the remaining 36 holes.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74
71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
72 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
73 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park), Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill).
74 Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
75 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co).
76 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Rachael Taylor (Germany), Louise McGillivray (Banchory), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry).
77 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Katerina Slukova (Olomouc), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies).
79 Jordana Graham (Southerness), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Jennifer Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ashley Smith (Monifieth), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Charlotte Austwick (Fulford), IKimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Lesley Cosh (Cowglen).
80 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Rebecca McGeehan (Germany).
81 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride).
82 Rebecca Wilson (Grange), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch), Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Claire Gadsby (Crieff).
83 Gillian Arnott (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Heather Munro (Monifieth).
84 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Hannah Mannion (Teeside), India Friswell (Wrexham).
86 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle).
88 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies).
89 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse).
90 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie).
91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley).
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), bound for Denver University in a couple of weeks, is in third place, only one shot off the pace with a 72.
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) and Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) are bracketed in fourth place on 73, one shot aead of Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
Kate McIntosh had seven birdies but four bogeys while Alyson McKechin had fewer birdies – six – but only three bogeys.
Rachael Watton had an eagle at the long 18th., which cancelled out a double bogey 5 at te short 13th. Birdies at the fourth and 13th enabled her to finish the day two under par.
Kelsey MacDonald had a roller-coaster round of birdies at the second, 10th, 13th and 18th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, 12th, 16th and 17th If she can eliminate the negative over the remaining rounds, there are enough positives to make up the lost ground over the remaining 36 holes.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74
71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
72 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
73 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park), Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill).
74 Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
75 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co).
76 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Rachael Taylor (Germany), Louise McGillivray (Banchory), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry).
77 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Katerina Slukova (Olomouc), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies).
79 Jordana Graham (Southerness), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Jennifer Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ashley Smith (Monifieth), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Charlotte Austwick (Fulford), IKimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Lesley Cosh (Cowglen).
80 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Rebecca McGeehan (Germany).
81 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride).
82 Rebecca Wilson (Grange), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch), Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Claire Gadsby (Crieff).
83 Gillian Arnott (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Heather Munro (Monifieth).
84 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Hannah Mannion (Teeside), India Friswell (Wrexham).
86 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle).
88 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies).
89 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse).
90 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie).
91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley).
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Monday, 25 July 2011
Kylie qualifies for the Ricoh British Open at Carnoustie
West of Scotland's Kylie Walker was the only one of six Scots to survive the Final Qualifying competition at Panmure Golf Club today and win one of the 18 places up for grabs in the Ricoh Women’s British Open which tees off over the neighbouring Carnoustie championship links on Thursday.Kylie, -- pictured left - (courtesy of calcarson agency) who plays out of The Carrick at Loch Lomond, came through a play-off between eight players who matched the par of 71 on the Ladies Golf Union’s composite women’s course at Panmure. She had kept her nerve with six solid pars to finish her round and she was remarkably at ease in the sudden-death eliminator to reduce the eight to five who would advance to rub shoulders with the big name LPGA Tour stars.
Walker birdied the long second hole to be one of the five who advanced to the main event.
Was she nervous about it all? Not a bit!
“I really enjoyed the play-off. It was great fun. At the second I hit a four-iron for my second pin high and was able to two-putt for a birdie 4 to go through,” said Kylie, who will be 25 at the end of next month.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open. I’ve played in the Final Qualifying before but never made it through so I’m delighted.
"I’ve played Carnoustie once before. Catriona Matthew and I have the same coach, Kevin Craggs, and she is very supportive of me. Catriona took me along to play Carnoustie about a couple of months ago. And that was a great experience."
Kylie joins Catriona, Janice Moodie and Bothwell Castle amateur Pamela Pretswell (exempt from pre-qualifying because she won the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Tenby last August) as the four Scots in the all-star field for the Big Show.
The Scots who failed to make it were Carly Booth (72), Kelsey MacDonald (73), Clare Queen (76), Vikki Laing (75) and Gemma Dryburgh (76).
Carly was two under par with five holes to play but bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 16th. She did get a brave up and down to save par at the last but it was not enough. She was involved in a play-off for the last of the four alternate (reserve) spots but lost out in that as well.
Kelsey ran up a double bogey 6 at the 17th.
Kym Larratt (23), a second-year Ladies European Tour pro from Leicestershire, and New Zealander Lynnette Brooky, a four time winner on the LET, headed the 18 qualifiers with matching three-under-par 68s.
QUALIFIERS
Par 71
68 Kym Larratt (Eng), Kim Brooky (NZ).
69 Jessica Korda (US), Jenny Shin (S Korea), Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net), Nikki Foster (Eng), Veronica Zorzi (Ita).
70 Frances Bondad (Aust), Holly Aitchison (Eng), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Anna Rossi (Ita), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Joanna Klatten (Fra).
71 Beth Allen (US), Stephanie Meadow (Ire) (am), Kylie Walker (Sco), Jaclyn Sweeney (US), Rebecca Codd (Ire) (eliminated in play-off: Isabella Ramsay (Swe), Louise Larsson (Swe), Samantha Richards (unatt).
SCOTS SCORES
72 Carly Booth.
73 Kelsey MacDonald.
74 Clare Queen.
75 Vikki Laing.
76 Gemma Dryburgh
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Paula Creamer Ricoh Women's British Open Special Interview
Ricoh Ambassador Paula Creamer took to the fairways of Carnoustie at the weekend to get a sneak preview of what lies ahead at the final Major of the year.
Click here to watch a special Ricoh Women's British Open exclusive interview with Paula as she talks all about her first impressions of the famous Carnoustie Golf Links, her life as a professional, her season so far and her impressions of Scotland.
We hope to see you all at this year's Ricoh Women's British Open at the Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland, 28th to 31st July, 2011.
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