Ranfurly Castle Greenlees Team have an end of Season Outing

Anne, Evy and Lois - Cheers

13 Ranfurly Castle Greenlees Team players enjoyed an end of season outing to Dundonald Links last Friday--- 14th October 2011.
After a spot of lunch a Team Stableford Waltz was played (1 score to count at the first, 2 at the 2nd and 3 at the 3rd hole then back to one score again).
The weather held out apart from a bad shower in the middle.
The winning team who received 3/4 of their handicap (due to being a team of 4) was Anne Judge, Marion Munro, Maureen Cook and Sarah Ekford with 72 points. The Runners up team was Carol Fell, Iona Stephen and Nancy MacGadie with 63 points. Sarah and Iona had the best individual scores with 33 points each.
Fiona Roger was nearest the pin at the 6th. However, since she had donated a glove, Carol Fell received it for having a 2 at the 6th.
Unfortunately we were sorry that we had two call offs at the last moment ---  Lesley Robertson, who had  work commitments and Denise Cowan who has damaged her cruciate ligament -- Denise we wish you a speedy recovery.
We all then went to North Gailes after the match for refreshments and a lovely meal.

Ranfurly Castle's Greenlees Team Captain Anne Judge organised the event.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE PICTURES AND THEN CLICK ON SLIDESHOW TO SEE LARGER PHOTOS

If you have some end of season Greenlees News or Celebration please email me your story.

Adam Hunter - Mearns Castle Golf Academy

As you may have already heard, it is with great sadness that the Mearns Castle Golf Academy’s Director of Instruction, Adam Hunter, passed away on Friday night, after a 2 year battle with Leukaemia.

Adam was one of the key people in the original development of the Golf Academy, and played a huge part in creating a coaching school that has improved the standard of thousands of golfers in the West of Scotland.His philosophies and coaching methods have inspired so many golfers. His Kids @ the Castle coaching program, which he developed, continues to teach children across East Renfrewshire all about the wonderful game of golf in a fun and informative environment.
He turned the young, raw and enthusiastic talent of Conor O’Neil, into the Scottish Boys order of merit champion, and one of Scotland’s leading exciting amateur golfers. He has spent many an agonising hour in the wind and rain trying to ‘perfect’ John Inshaw’s short game. More importantly he has taught our team of professionals more than they could ever imagine about the true ethos of golf coaching. Knowledge that they will forever treasure and continue to pass on to others.

Many will remember Adam for famously coaching Paul Lawrie to the British Open in 1999, or for when he won the Portuguese Open in 1995, defeating Darren Clarke in the play off, however for all his friends, family and colleagues, he will simply be remembered as Adam; a hard working, dedicated and honest man, who’s love for golf went beyond that of anyone you will ever meet.

Adam leaves behind a golfing legacy at Mearns Castle, which we will forever cherish.

Adam's funeral will be held on Friday the 21st of October at the 10.15am at the Daldowie Crematorium.

SLGA Junior Order of Merit Award - Eilidh Briggs is the Winner

Eilidh with her Scottish Girls' Championship Trophy

West of Scotland's Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) has completed a great season and ended her Under-18 years junior golf career in style by winning the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association's Girls' Order of Merit title for the third year in a row.
Runner-up in the Scottish Women's Amateur Championship at Machrihanish the start of the season, Eilidh won the Scottish Girls' Championship at Glenisla Gof Club in July.
She also won the Renfrewshire County and West of Scotland titles and made her Scottish team senior debut at the Home Internationals at Hillside in September.
On Sunday Eilidh won the SLGA Champion of Champions tournament at Glasgow Gailes.
"It has been a great season and making the Home Internationals was a huge goal this year," said Eilidh. "In the foursomes, I had the chance to play alongside my sister (Megan) which was great."
Eilidh has just taken up a golf scholarship at Stirling University, following in the footsteps of Scotland's most successful female golfer, Catriona Matthew.

Eildih won the Order of Merit with 1,941 points and was closely followed by Rachel Walker (Dumfries and County), who finished second with 1,813 points.

Jessica Meek (Carnoustie) was third with 1,683 points and Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) was fourth with 1,550 points and in 5th position was Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin with 1485 point

To see the final positions --- CLICK HERE

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Final 2011 Greenlees Trophy Results

The Milngavie Team -- Celebrate their win - Courtesy of D&A
(With the Trophy they won in 2009 and 2010)

The 2011 West Of Scotland Inter Club Leagues for the Greenlees Trophies have been completed.

In Division 1, Troon beat Kilmacolm 9 - 0 in their final home match to snatch the runners up spot from Cathkin Braes, falling just one point behind the champions Milngavie.

Douglas Park and Prestwick St Nicholas will be relegated to Division 2 next season,

Final placings in Division 1 were :-

46.5 - Milngavie
45.5 - Troon
44.0 - Cathkin Braes
38.5 - Ranfurly Castle
37.5 - Kilmarnock (Barassie)
36.0 - Whitecraigs
30.0 - Kilmacolm
26.0 - Douglas Park - relegated
20.0 - Prestwick St Nicholas - relegated

West Kilbride (Division 2 Champions) and Largs (Division 2 Runners Up) have gained promotion to Division 1.
Williamwood and Cowglen are relegated to Division 3

Final placings in Division 2 were :-

50.5 - West Kilbride
47.5 - Largs
43.5 - Hilton Park
42.5 - Haggs Castle
36.0 - Erskine
32.5 - Cardross
32.0 - Eastwood
21.5 - Williamwood - relegated
18.0 - Cowglen - relegated

In Division 3, Loudoun Gowf Club, stormed through in their first season in the competition to take the division 3 title with ease and gain promotion along with Old Ranfurly to Division 2 for 2012.

Final placings in Division 3 were :-

57.0 - Loudoun
45.0 - Old Ranfurly
39.5 - Lanark
35.0 - Bothwell Castle
34.5 - Lenzie
30.0 - Greenock
29.0 - East Renfrewshire
27.0 - Cawder
27.0 - Cathcart Castle

Kilmacolm's Eilidh Briggs is the 2011 SLGA Champion of Champions

Ailsa Summers, Eilidh Briggs (Champion) and Susan Jackson

West of Scotland's Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) won the SLGA Champion of Champions today at Glasgow Gailes. She had a 75 --- 2 under the CSS to win by one shot.
Eilidh, pictured above, with the winners trophy has had a fantastic season by winning the Renfrewshire County Championship, the Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship at Glenisle and reaching the final of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Machrihanish. She also gained her first full cap, along with sister Megan, at the women's home internationals at Hillside.
Eilidh, with her dad Ian on her bag, matched the women's par of 75 and was two under the CSS for the day.
"I had never even seen the Glasgow Gailes course before," said Eilidh, "so it was a great help to have my dad guiding me round. He had previously caddied for my sister in this tournament so he knew a lot more about how to play Glasgow Gailes than I did."
Susan Jackson (Ladybank), runner-up with a 76, was in much the same boat as Elidh because she too had never seen the course before, let alone played a practice round over it. So she did very well to finish only one over par.
Young Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) was third with a 78, one shot ahead of Scottish women's champion Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), who also qualified as Fife county and East of Scotland champion..
Clara Young (North Berwick), the youngest player ever to win the East Lothian women's county champion was fifth with a 79. A total of 16 players made up the field.
SLGA CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Glasgow Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 75. SSS 77. CSS 77
75 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm).
76 Susan Jackson (Ladybank).
77 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
78 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie).
79 Clara Young (North Berwick).



CLICK HERE to see all the photos (including your webmaster who was playing behind the event with her husband Gordon and Bobby and Helen Faulds) Click on slideshow to see larger photographs. Thanks go to Maureen Woodhead and Claire Hargan for their contribution to the album

NOW WORLD-RANKED No 29, BUT PAMELA PRETSWELL MUST PRE-QUALIFY

Hamilton's Pamela Pretswell moved up three places to No 29 in the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings this midweek on the strength of her finishing third in rain-shortened French women's amateur international tournament at Morfontaine at the weekend.
This means the Bothwell Castle GC member will have to play in the 72-hole pre-qualifying event at the Ladies European Tour School at La Manga, Spain from January 8 to 11.
Had she been ranked in the leading 25 at the LET's closing date for entries, she would have been exempt from pre-qualifying and gone straight through to the Final Q School field for the 90-hole event from January 15 to 19.

SCOTS PAIR MATCH PARIS PAR ON LET DEVELOPMENTAL TOUR

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scots Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayrshire and Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) are sharing 18th place on par 72 after the first round of the LET development tour event, the Trophee Prevens tournament at Golf de Bussy near Paris today (Thursday).
Feggans, pictured, who birdied the sixth, ninth, 13th and 14th, was heading for a sub-par round until she ran up a double bogey 5 at the short 17th.
Katy McNicoll from Carnoustie had a 76, with only one birdie, to be in joint 44th position while Glasgow's Gemma Webster started with a double bogey 6, had another at the 15th followed by a triple bogey 7 at the 16th, which all added up to a 78 and a share of 51st place.
Joint leaders on six-under 66 are former British girls champion Henrietta Zuel from England and France's Melodie Bourdy.
Henrietta, whose surname was Brockway when she won the British Under-18 amateur title, has already won twice on the LET Access Series.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE LET WEBSITE
CLICK HERE

WORLD RANKING WILL DECIDE IF PAMELA PLAYS Q SCHOOL PRE-Q

Pamela at Carnoustie this year - Click to enlarge

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

British international amateur golfer Pamela Pretswell from Hamilton is waiting for the midweek updating of the Women’s World Amateur Rankings with more than her normal interest.
The top 25 world-ranked players at the closing date of December 7 for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at La Manga in January will be exempt from playing in the pre-qualifying tournament over 72 holes from January 8 to 11.
They will go straight into the Final Q School field over 90 holes at La Manga from January 15 to 19.
Bothwell Castle GC member Pamela, 22-year-old graduate of Glasgow University , finished third in the French women’s amateur international championship at the weekend when rain washed out the final round and deprived the Scot the opportunity of regaining the lead she held at the end of 18 holes.
“I have my fingers crossed that the revised rankings this week will push me up from my current ranking of No 32 into the top 25, but I have to be honest and say that I think is unlikely I will be moved up seven places on the strenth of finishing third in the French championship,” said down-to-earth Pamela.
“Therefore, I am planning to do both stages at La Manga. Exemption would be a very welcome bonus but I love the courses at the Spanish resort. I was a member of the Scotland side that won bronze medals at La Manga in the European women’s team championship last year.
“I love the courses and the La Manga resort as well so last year’s experience will surely be some benefit to me. I hope the happy times at La Manga will continue and I am hoping to play in the Ladies European Tour Access event at the Spanish venue next month.
“That would be perfect preparation for the Q School and a good opportunity to play with the professionals and see how I measure up to them.”
Pamela, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup of 2010, the Vagliano Trophy matches of 2009 and 2011 and the team of five that won the Astor Trophy at Fairhaven last summer, won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play at Tenby, South Wales last year.
The fact that she has never won a Scottish women’s or girls’ title might have something to do with the fact that tennis was her game – she was Junior Wimbledon class and in the same training squad as Andy Murray – until she was 14 or 15 years of age.
It was only then that Pamela made the decision to give up tennis, because of the demands of squad training were leaving her with no spare time and she knew she would be going to university.
Unearthing sponsors seems even harder for a girl who wants to be a tour professional than it is for her male equivalent and Pamela has nothing lined up. IMG have not come knocking on her door, and are unlikely to.
“I’ve had a very enjoyable season with the highlights definitely being winning the Astor Trophy with the GB and I team at Fairhaven in the summer and playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Carnoustie,” said Pamela.
“I am really looking forward to Tour School and will be working very hard over the next couple of months to give myself the best chance possible to win my tour card.”
I am sure the LGU's Curtis Cup selectors will wish her the best of luck at La Manga but one could hardly blame them if they have mixed feelings because the GB and I line-up will be weakened considerably if Pamela Pretswell is not available for selection for the match against the United States at Nairn next June.

PAMELA PRETSWELL FINISHES IN THIRD PLACE IN FRENCH EVENT AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS REDUCED TO 3 ROUNDS

Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell had a 72 today and was three shots off the pace after 3 rounds of the 72-hole event at Morfontaine Golf Club.
The Bothwell Castle player has had rounds of 69 74 and 72
Pamela, the first-round pacemaker with a 69, was deprived, however, of the opportunity to regain the lead when the fourth and final round of the French international women's amateur golf championship at Morfontaine was cancelled because of heavy rain.
The championship for the Cecile de Rothschild Trophy was cut to three rounds and Pamela finished third on 215 (69-74-72), three shots behind the winner, Perrine Delacour from Paris, winner of the British girls open title two years ago. Perrine scored 73, 66 and 73 for four-under-par 212.
Another French player, Fiona Puyo (72-72-70) finished second on 214, one ahead of Pretswell.
Rising English teenage star Charley Hull finished joint fourth on 217 with scores of 70, 74 and 73.
Compatriot Rachel Drummond shot 72, 74 and 73 and finished eighth on 219.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES

HIGHLAND SPRING JUNIOR MASTERS- KIRSTY IS TOP OF THE JUNIOR MASTERS CLASS AT GLENEAGLES

BY Colin Farquharson

Youngsters Liam McDowell (Wigtownshire County), a 14-year-old from Glenluce, and 11-year-old Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) from Alyth, headed the boys and girls categories in the Highland Spring Junior Masters on a wet and windy and sometimes sunny day at the Queens Course, Gleneagles today (Sunday).
They headed a field of 81 who qualified from regional events for this Under-16 years, handicap-based Stableford points competition organised by the Scottish Golf Union, assisted by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association and run in conjunction with clubgolf, Scotland's national junior golf development programme.
Liam, in the last boys threesome to finish broke a seven-way logjam on 34pt with an outstanding score of 36pt in the tough conditions (CSS was +2 for both the boys and girls).
Playing off 28 of a handicap – he's only been playing golf between two and three years – McDowell said he putted well in a gross round of 91.
He gained 19pt on the outward half and 17pt coming home.
Of the "gang" on 34pt, Michael Brodie (Strathmore) (6) was placed second on a card countback, just ahead of Calum Taggart (Eastwood) (12).
Kirsty Brodie, who has been playing the game since she was four years old, and has 13 of a handicap, had the best score of the day – an excellent total of 40pt.- round in 83 gross – 46 out, 36 in – Kirsty collected 18 pt before the turn and 22pt on the inward half.#
Kirsty won by 3pt from Jemma Brown (St Regulus) (9) with 37pt with Alexandra Mennie (Elie and Earlsferry Ladies) (21) third on 36pt.


GIRLS' POINTS
CSS +2
40 Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) (13).
37 Jemma Brown (St Regulus) (19).
36 Alexandra Mennie (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) (21).
35 Leanne Wilson (Kelso) (14).
34 Lara Frostwick (Gullane Ladies) (14), Emma Paterson (Loudoun Gowf) (36)..
33 Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley) (16).
32 Kaylan Grainger (Strathpeffer Spa) (9), Jessica Dalgetty (Glencorse) (11).
31 Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) (11), Kirsten Ireland (Dalbeattie) (12)..
30 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) (30), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) (5), Andrea Walker (Falkiirk) (20), Alexandra Duffy (Blairbeth) (21),
29 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) (6).
28 Lara Frostwick (Gullane Ladies) (14).
27 Sophie Bain (Musselburgh) (18).
26 Connie Jaffrey (Ayrshire Ladies) (1), Charlotte Munro (Gullane Ladies) (19)..
25 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) (10), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) (22).
24 Lauren Coventry (Greenock Whinhill) (36).
23 Shannon Young (Dunbar) (28).
22 Danielle Ker (Roxburghe) (6), Jess Dalziel (Burntisland) (36).
21 Leah Smart (Rosehearty) (28), Maria Cowan (St Meddan) (21)
12 Emily Glencorse (Millport) (17).

BOYS' POINTS
CSS +2
36 Liam McDowell (Wigtownshire Co) (28).
34 Michael Brodie (Strathmore) (6), Cameron Black (Cardross) (5). Euan McIntosh (Murrayfield) (9), Calum Taggart (Eastwood) (12), Lee MacKenzie (Bonar Bridge) (13), Calum Jackson (Gogarburn) (23), Cameron Grant (Loch Ness) (28)..
33 Alistair Thurlow (Murrayfield) (5), Connor Mackay (Loudoun Gowf) (8), Neil Jubb (Muckhart) (13), Stephen Craig (Aboyne) (5)
32 David Robinson (Largs) (10),
31 Gordon Yule (Bishopbriggs) (5).
30 Lewis Craik (Duns) (12).
29 Craig Black (Inverness) (4), Gregor McEwan (Alloa) (14), Jamie King (Turnhouse) (15).
28 Glen Burrett (Haggs Castle), Brian McAdam (Alloa) (9), Gavin Kinnear (Murcar Links) (9), Chris Martin (Cowglen) (13), Andrew Woods (Bothwell Castle) (14).
27 Ian Dawson (Elmwood) (12), Sam Fraser (Pitreavie) (12), Aidan Fortune (Kelso) (4), Andrew Burgess (Nairn) (1), Kieran Floyd (Glen) (16), Andrew Campbell (Dunfermline) (25).
26 Kyle Sutherland (Brora) (11), Alasdair Baird (Nairn) (12), Marc Britovsek (Nairn Dunbar) (25), Tom Flaherty (Banchory) (23).
25 Alexander Mackie (Powfoot) (6), Oliver Ladbrooke (Gullane) (5), Ryan Harker (Torphins) (21).
24 Scott Peebles-Brown (Vale of Leven) (24).
23 Oscar Howard (Gairloch) (23).
22 Andrew Thomson (Mouse Valley) (8), Jack Bulloch (Silverknowes) (9), Daniel Gibson (Thornhill (12).
21 Ruari McCartney (Reay) (14), Thomas Jordan (Machrihanish) (13).
20 Euan Gray (Turriff) (14), Andrew Baird (Whitecraigs) (17)..
19 Michael Carrell (Peterculter) (13), Callum Keane (Merchants of Edinburgh) (14).
18 Craig Sweenie (Kelso) (14).
17 Chris Kelly (Renfrew) (21).
16 Harry Johnstone (Cawder) (11).

Ladies European Tour (LET) - Christina Kim wins Sicilian Ladies Italian Open and Kylie Walker is 24th

Photograph - Courtesy of the LET

Ladies European Tour (LET) - Christina Kim wins Sicilian Ladies Italian Open ---- Click Here
Leading Scores:
1 209 -7 Christina Kim (USA)
2 213 -3 Giulia Sergas (ITA)
3= 214 -2 Stefania Croce (ITA)
3= 214 -2 Gwladys Nocera (FRA)
5= 215 -1 Beth Allen (USA)
5= 215 -1 Louise Stahle (SWE)
7= 216 Par Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)
7= 216 Par Kym Larratt (ENG)
7= 216 Par Anja Monke (GER)
10= 217 +1 Kiran Matharu (ENG)
10= 217 +1 Rebecca Hudson (ENG)
10= 217 +1 Stacey Keating (AUS)

Scots;
24 221 +5 Kylie Walker (Sco)
41 224 +8 Lynn Kenney (Sco)

PAMELA PRETSWELL IS IN JOINT FOURTH PLACE IN FRENCH EVENT AT THE HALFWAY STAGE

Pamela Pretswell the Scottish and British internationalist is four shots off the pace in joint fourth place at the halfway stage of the 72-hole event at Morfontaine Golf Club.
The Bothwell Castle player has had rounds of 69 and 74 for a one-under-par tally of 143.
Joint leaders on 139 are former British girls open champion Perrine Delacour from Paris with scores of 73 and 66, and Germany's Larissa Skodda with 71 and 68.
World-ranked English teenager Charley Hull (Woburn) also slipped back from a 70 to a 74 and is joint sixth on 144.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72)
139 Perrine Delacour (Fra) 73 66, Larissa Skodda (Ger) 71 68.
141 Agathe Sauzon (Fra) 71 70.
143 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 69 74, Minna Vuorenpaa Fin) 69 74.
144 Charley Hull (Eng) 70 74, Quirine Eijkenboom (Ger) 74 70, Fiona Puyo (Fra) 72 74.
Other British scores
146 Rachel Drummond (Eng) 72 74 (T12).
153 Charlotte Thompson (Eng) 77 76 (T34).
155 Nicole Whitmore (Eng) 73 82 (T49).

- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone

Some Photographs from the 2011 Seniors Home Internationals in Ireland

Go to the West Vets Website to see some photographs

SLGA CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TEE TIMES FOR GLASGOW GAILES

Holidays and other commitments have reduced the field for this year's SLGA Champion of Champions' 18-hole competition at Glasgow Gailes on Sunday, October 16th to only 16 at the moment - 17 if the winner of Sunday's East of Scotland women's championship at Gullane 2 accepts the invitation to play a week on Sunday.
Those unavailable include:
Rachel Walker, Alex Glennie, Donna Pocock, Rachel McQueen, Gillian Monteith, Jenny Milne and Kelsey MacDonald.
Tee times on October 16 are:
11.30 Louise MacGregor, Rebecca Wilson and East of Scotland women's champion.
11.40 Louise Kenney, Nichola Ferguson.
11.50 Rachael Taylor, Karen Marshall, Ailsa Summers.
12.00 Laura Murray, Eilidh Briggs, Ailsa Bain.
12.10 Jordana Graham, Clara Young, Susan Jackson.
12.20 Noreen Fenton, Nicola Robertson, Lauren Whyte.

How to set up a tee box !

Susan Simpson, the LGU's Head of Golf Operations, shows how to set a tee box at Carnoustie this summer - the same approach will be taken at the Curtis Cup and those of you up with the larks at Nairn should get to the course and watch how it should be done - 5.30 am (or maybe a wee bit earlier!) on 8,9 and 10 June 2012 - Be there or be square!

Watch the season's final edition of LGU Monthly on Sky Sports

Curtis Cup 2012

This season's final edition of LGU Monthly is due for screening on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 October. The Monday slots are:-
Sky Sports 4 - 5.30pm
Sky Sports 3 - 9.30pm
Timings for Tuesday are still to be confirmed, but the programme will be shown 3 times that day.
Enjoy!

SKELMORLIE LADIES’OPEN DAY WON BY 16 YEAR OLD TWINS SOPHIE AND GILLIAN

Trophy Winners Gillian and Sophie Love
with Club Captain Peter Rice and Lady Captain Kath Mackellar.
Click to enlarge

Having already had to reschedule their Open Day after the atrocious weather of 11th, September, the ladies of Skelmorlie Golf Club were somewhat despondent early on Sunday as they looked out on mist shrouded fairways and yet another heavy downpour. Fortunately though the rain gods decided that enough was enough and before long the clouds lifted, the rain ceased and the sun even appeared, lifting spirits considerably and causing the 30 pairs of competitors to doff waterproofs and search for the sunscreen buried deeply in the pockets of their golf bags.
So what looked like another soggy Sunday turned out to be a most enjoyable day’s golf. Yes, it was extremely wet and muddy underfoot but the green-keepers’ talents ensured that the greens were in excellent shape, despite the poor weather of the past few weeks, and some low scoring ensued.
The winners of the Ladies’ Open Greensome Trophy, with a wonderful score of 63.6, were 16 year old twins Sophie and Gillian Love from Wemyss Bay. The girls have been playing at Skelmorlie since they were 10 and could barely see above their golf bags, and since then they have continued to progress year on year, winning many trophies in both club and county competitions at junior level.
This however was their first big win against a field of mainly “more mature” and experienced ladies, and it will surely not be their last.
The other prize winners are as follows:
2nd. - Gillian Pollock and Janet Harkness (Skelmorlie) – 65.4
3rd. - Sandra Cook (Greenock) and Jenny McGee (Skelmorlie) – 66.4
4th. - Ann and Sara Murphy (Skelmorlie) - 70.8
5th. - Ahlana Taylor and Merope Dunlop (Old Ranfurly) - 72.2
Longest Drives: Silver Division – Fiona Alexander (Hilton Park), Bronze Division - Gillian Love (Skelmorlie)
Nearest the Pin: Silver Division - Aileen Donaldson (Skelmorlie), Bronze Division – Grace Fleming (Erskine)
The competition was sponsored by Brian Spence of the Wemyss Bay Pharmacy and further prizes were donated by Ken McLeod.
Pictured: Trophy Winners Gillian and Sophie Love with Club Captain Peter Rice and Lady Captain Kath Mackellar.

Thanks go to Jenny McGee for the report

2012 SLGA Fixture List (Draft)

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

2012 SLGA DRAFT FIXTURE LIST

Solheim Cup is over. Roll on the Curtis Cup 2012

LGU - The Ladies' Golf Union - Championships - The 37th Curtis Cup 2012 - Programme

www.lgu.org

Check out the programme of events for an exciting week in Nairn!

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

Lynda Smith , Anne Holley, Gillian Hendry and Maggie Rutherford
 Click to enlarge

The ladies section held a social evening on Friday 30th September.

The theme was -- THE HOUSE OF COLOUR. Maggie Rutherford's sister Anne Holley from www.houseofcolour.com  was the guest speaker who enlightened us all with how to step forward confidently, knowing that clothes and accessories you have chosen show the best you. Maggie was the her assistant and many admitted that perhaps we have about 85% of our wardrope that we never use !!

Captain Gillian Hendry welcomed about 45 ladies to the evening, Vice Captain Lynda Smith gave the vote of thanks and with the help of Social Convenor Janet Dow they were able to raise approximately £300 for MacMillan Cancer Support.

A buffet meal, some refreshments and much chat finished off a very enjoyable evening.

RACHAEL FINDS IT TOUGHER GOING IN SECOND US COLLEGE TOURNAMENT

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

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

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

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

Overall Standings Team Pts Won Halved Lost    England 19 18 2 3    Ireland 13 12 2 9    Scotland 8½ 8 1 14    Wales 5½ 5 1 17

ENGLAND v IRELAND TITLE DECIDER AT SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONALS

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

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

THIS MORNING'S RESULTS

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

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

Played suspended at the Senior Home Internationals in Foggy Ireland

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

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

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

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

SINGLES RESUMED ON FRIDAY MORNING

NO FOURSOMES IN DAY 3 PROGRAMME

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

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

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

LATEST FROM THE SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

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

LIVE SCORING FROM THE SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS

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

Scotland lose to Ireland in the Senior Home Internationals

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE!  They'll have to be when they face up to an England team that thrashed Wales 8-0 on the first day of the Senior Women's Home Internationals while Scotland were a bit unlucky to go down 5-3 to Ireland. It might well have been 4-4 on a different day. Image by courtesy of LGU Tournament Director Gillian Roy.

On the First Tee - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan

Fog suspends play on Day 1 - Photo courtesy of Fiona Cowan

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

ALISON NICHOLAS STEPS DOWN FROM BEING SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN

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

The 2011 Solheim Cup

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

BBC Sport - Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas says time is right to step down

news.bbc.co.uk

Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas is looking forward to a rest after epic win.

Scottish Senior's Home International start tomorrow --

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

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

FIRST MORNING FOURSOMES LINE-UP

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

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

2011 Senior Ladies' Home International Matches begin on Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

Previous Senior Ladies’ Home International Champions

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