WEST OF SCOTLAND PLAYERS JILLIAN, EILIDH, HAZEL, JENNIFER AND EMMA ALL MAKE THE CUT AT THE HELEN HOLM

Jillian Farrell - Leading West of Scotland Player
Photo - Courtesy of Lorraine Campbell

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 

with player quotes from Iona Scott of Scottish Golf 
Much colder and windier conditions on Day 2 of the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke play championship made scoring a bit more difficult (CSS 80 compared with a CSS of 79 yesterday) than Day 1 with overnight leader Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) slipping back from a five-under 67 on Friday to a two-over 74 at Troon Portland.

That gave the 18-year-old defending champion from Northern Ireland, ranked No. 9 female amateur in the world, a 36-hole tally of three-under 141, a mark which was equalled late in the day by Sweden's Linda Lundqvist with rounds of 69 and 72.

Linda's world ranking is No. 872 and her handicap is +1.5, compared with Mehaffey's +4.5 

In fact, Lundqvist should have gone into Sunday's final round over the Royal Troon championship links with a one-shot lead but she bogeyed the 18th.
 The 19-year-old from Sweden said: “I am very pleased as it is my second time in Scotland and I’m not used to this wind. I did not expect to be leading going into the final round, so I am very happy.”
 Mehaffey, who will enrol at Arizona State University in August, said:

“I got off to a bad start with two bogeys and I was a wee bit shaken up coming away with a bogey on one of the easier holes but then I made some really good pars out there and a couple of birdies. So I felt in control even though I had a couple of bad shots and still managed to get  pars out of it, and that’s what it was about today.

“To put yourself into contention after two rounds is all you have to do and so I’m looking forward to tomorrow. If it blows, it will just make it more exciting.”

The joint leaders are two shots clear of  Belfast Queens University student Jessica Ross (70-73 for 143) who had six birdies over the first 13 holes but bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the 18th.

Anna Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), one of the very early starters, is lying tied fourth on 144 with a pair of 72s, alongside Ireland's Maria Dunne whose second-round 73 saw her run up  double bogey 7 at the long 15th and also a bogey 5 at the 18th. 

Leading Scot is 16 year old Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) who led with only six holes to play in this tournament last year before finishing third. This time round she is tied 10th on 147 (72-75) alongside Abertay Dundee University student Nastja Banovec from Slovenia (73-74).

McWilliam was going well after birdies at the 10th and 11th but, into the stiff breeze over the closing holes, she bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 18th.

Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), winner of a USA college conference title - her eighth win in America over the past four years - earlier in the week, slumped to a 79 for 151. 

Meghan had a triple bogey 7 at the sixth  and six bogeys. Her only two birdies came at the fourth and 17th.

The wind was into the players' faces for most of the inward half so they had to make their score on the front nine. 

At the end of the day a total of 68 players with tallies of 162 and better qualified for the final round on Sunday over the testing Royal Troon links. 
The most notable non-qualifier was young Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe). Sophie and Rochelle Morris (Woodsome Hall), are well placed in the LGU Order of Merit table to gain the two automatic selection places for the Curtis Cup match in June - provided the table positions remain the same AFTER the "Helen Holm," the last counting event before the GB and I team for Dun Laoghaire in June is named at 2pm next Thursday. 
Sophie, who tied for eighth place in last year's "Helen Holm," missed the cut at Troon out by one stroke with 80-83 for 163. 
Rochelle made cut the OK.
Ireland won the international team event run in conjunction with the first two rounds of the "Helen Holm."
FINAL TEAM TOTALS
291 IRELAND (O Mehaffey and C Ryan)
300 ENGLAND ( M MacLaren and I Mehmet)
302 SCOTLAND (C Goadby and S McWilliam)
321 WALES (C Williams and N Greville). 

.

SECOND ROUND SCORES 

par 144 (2x72): SSS 77, CSS 79 (Rd 1), 80 reduction only (Rd 2)

141 O Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) 67 74, L Lundqvist (Swe) 69 72.

143 J Ross (Queens Univ) 70 73 
144 A Bailey (Kirby Muxloe) 72 72, M Dunne (Skerries) 71 73

145 B Popel (Long Ashton) 74 71, O Winning (Rotherham) 73 72 

146 P Grant (Lisburn) 70 76, B Garton (Royal Lytham) 74 72

147 N Banovec (Slovenia) 73 74, S McWilliam (Aboyne) 72 75.

148 M Lockett (Huddersfield) 76 72, H Muse (W Lancs) 75 73 

149 I Mehmet (Royal Mid Surrey) 70 79, E Esborn (Swe) 70 79. 

150 J Farrell (Cardross) 72 78, C Ryan (Castletroy) 73 77, C Frankish (Chart Hills) 71 79, L Horsford (Wimbledon Park) 75 75, L Brunt (Royal Birkdale) 73 77. 

151 M MacLaren (Wellingborough) 72 79 

152 G Clews (Delamere Forest) 79 73 

153 G Coughlin (St Annes Old Links) 77 76, K Brodie (Strathmore) 77 76, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 73 80, H Macgarvie (Troon Ladies) 78 75, P Finlay (Vicars Cross) 76 77.

154 T Mactaggart (Minto) 78 76,  F Moork (Swe) 75 79, S Giles (St Mellion) 76 78, E Healey (W Lncs) 77 77, C Williams (Wrexham) 75 79.

155 K Wright (Stranraer) 79 76, K Gillum (Lilleshall) 76 79, J Free (Gullane) 77 78, S Nilsson (Swe) 79 76, A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 76 79, L Bailey (Kirby Muxloe) 75 80, C Goadby (St Regulus) 76 79.

156 K McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 76 80.

157 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 81 76, G Batty (Moffat) 77 80, S Fuller (Roehampton) 74 83, G Macdonald (Craigielaw) 80 77 

158 R Taylor (Laytown and Bettystown) 82 76, F McCann (Royal Cinque Ports) 80 78, A Murphy (Carlow) 75 83; R Morris (Woodsome Hall) 82 76, H Morgan (Hallamshire) 80 78.

159 A Barnes (West Sussex) 85 74

160 J Saxton (Muckhart) 79 81, E Hale (Troon Ladies) 79 81, S Burke (Ballinrobe) 79 81, I Wardle (Prestbury) 79 81, E Slater (Ely City) 79 81 

161 B-J Smith (Woodhall Spa) 83 78, G Lewis (Llanishen) 80 81, J Cope (Weston-super-Mare) 79 82, R Barton (Carden Park) 77 84, J Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 76 85, R Thompson (Cork) 83 78, H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 82 79 

162 J Guest (Gog Magog) 82 80, M Doyle (The Heath) 82 80, M Lawrence (Rochester and Cobham) 81 81, O Bugnard (Fra) 79 83.

MISSED THE CUT

163 K Griffin (USA) 84 79, S Lamb (Clitheroe) 83 80. 

164 K-J Stanley (Manchester) 83 81, J Bowers (Prestbury) 79 85, T Husavora (Slovakia) 81 83, A B Magnusdottir (Ice) 77 87, I Posledni (Cze) 87 77 

165 B Bjornsdottir (Ice) 86 79, G Paton (Royal Montrose) 83 82 L Klimentova (Slovakia) 81 84, N Slater (Furness) 82 83.

166 N Callander (Welwyn GC) 84 82

167 N Greville (Ashburnham) 82 85

168 G Macpherson (Loudoun Gowf) 84 84, V Craig (Royal Belfast) 81 87 

169 L Morrison (Garforth) 79 90

170 S Leslie (Kemnay) 83 87, C Taylor (Nairn) 86 84.

171 K Ferguson-Sneddon (Liberton) 82 89 

173 G Allman (Stanmore) 85 88, C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 79 74.

175 J Graham (Southerness) 84 91

CLICK HERE FOR TEE OFF TIMES OVER ROYAL TROON

RENFREWSHIRE, AYRSHIRE, D&A AND LANARKSHIRE COUNTIES WINTER FOURSOMES WINNERS

Brigit Clark , Jennifer Mack  (RLCGA President) and Marilyn Muir

Renfrewshire ladies the last county to play their final of the Winter Foursomes had the courtesy of East Renfrewshire Golf Club yesterday (Friday 22nd April) 

The match was played between Fiona Roger and Evy McGregor (Ranfurly Castle) and Birgit Clark and Marilyn Muir (Old Ranfurly) with RLCGA President Jennifer Mack refereeing the match 

Brigit and Marilyn won by 3&2

To read the full report ---  CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE RLCGA WEBSITE


AYRSHIRE COUNTY WINTER FOURSOMES WINNERS:  --  Helen McGibbon and Fiona Brawley (Kilmarnock Barassie) --- CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT FROM THE AYRSHIRE WEBSITE

D&A COUNTY WINTER FOURSOMES WINNERS:  Liz MacLean and Ann Shanks (Dumbarton) ---- CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT FROM D&A WEBSITE

LANARKSHIRE COUNTY WINTER FOURSOMES WINNERS:   Jean Allan and Marion Brodie  (Strathaven) 
 -- CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT FROM THE LANARKSHIRE WEBSITE

CARDROSS'S JILLIAN FARRELL IS THE LEADING WEST OF SCOTLAND PLAYER ON DAY 1 OF THE HELEN HOLM

Jillian Farrell (Cardross) - courtesy of Lorraine Campbell

Three Scots are in the leading 13 at the end of the first round , but for a host country that has not provided the winner of the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship since Heather Stirling in 2002, it's been an encouraging start at Troon Portland.
West of Scotland's Jillian Farrell (Cardross) returned commendable par 72s to be sharing ninth place in a strong field.
Jillian who birdied the third, 12th and 17th. But for a bogey at the 18th, she would have had a par 71.

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) played in the 2014 Curtis Cup match in America but an injury ruined her 2015 season and she dropped well down the world rankings.

However, Eilidh won the Renfrewshire county championship last week and her opening round of one-over 73 at Troon confirms the impression that she is on the way back. She had only one birdie, at the fifth, sandwiched between bogeys at the second and eighth but Briggs reeled off 10 straight pars after that - a good performance.
The leading 66 players and ties after the end of Saturday play will advance to Sunday's third round over the Royal Troon Open Championship links.
At the moment the cut will be at nine-over-par which would be 153 and ties if the weather stays the same.
LEADING SCORES
Par 72
67 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) 32-35
69 Linda Lundqvist (Swe) 35-34
70 I Mehmet (Royal Mid Surrey) 35-35, P Grant (Lisburn) 37-33, J Ross (Queens Sports) 36-34, E Esborn (Swe) 34-36.
71 C Frankish (Chart Hills) 34-37, M Dunne (Skerries) 36-35

72 M MacLaren (Wellingborough) 38-34, S McWilliam (Aboyne) 37-35, A Bailey (Kirby Muxloe) 37-35, J Farrell (Cardross) 35-37
73 E Briggs (Kilmacolm), C Ryan (Castletroy), O Winning (Rotherham), N Banovec (Slovenia), L Brunt (Royal Birkdale)
74 B Popel (Long Ashton), S Fuller (Roehampton), B Garton (Royal Lytham)
75 F Moork (Swe), H Muse (W Lancs), C Williams (Wrexham), L Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), L Horsford (Wimbledon Park), A Murphy (Carlow)
76 S Giles (St Mellion), C Goadby (St Regulus), A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), P Finlay (Vicars Cross), K McIntosh (Broomieknowe), K Gillum (Lilleshall), M Lockett (Huddersfield), J Mackintosh (Hazlehead).
77 A B Magnusdottir (Ice), E Healey (W Lancs), G Batty (Moffat), E Goodall (Selby), K Brodie (Strathmore), J Free (Gullane), G Coughlin (St Annes Old Links), R Barton (Carden Park)
78 H Macgarvie (Troon Ladies), S Sexton (Lahinch), T Mactaggart (Minto).
79 S Nilsson (Swe), G Clews (Delamere Forest), I Wardle (Prestbury), O Bugnard (Fra), K Wright (Stranraer), C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies), J Saxton (Muckhart), E Hale (Troon Ladies), J Cope (Weston-super-Mare), E Slater (Ely City), J Bowers (Prestbury), S Burke (Ballinrobe), L Morrison (Garforth).

80 H Morgan (Hallamshire), G Macdonald (Craigielaw), G Lewis (Llanishen), F McCann (Royal Cinque Ports).
81 M Lawrence (Rochester and Cobham), L Klimentova (Slovakia), T Husarova (Slovakia), J Rankine (Haggs Castle), V Craig (Royal Belfast)
==== PROJECTED CUT-OFF MARK (9 over par) AFTER SECOND ROUND ==
82 R Morris (Woodsome Hall), H McCook (Grantown on Spey), M Doyle (The Heath, Ire), N Slater (Furness), N Greville (Ashburnham), J Guest (Gog Magog), R Taylor (Laytown and Bettystown), K Ferguson-Snedden (Liberton).
83 S Lamb (Clitheroe), G Paton (Royal Montrose), B-J Smith (Woodhall Spa), S Leslie (Kemnay), K-J Stanley (Manchester).
84 K Griffin (USA), S Birks (Wolstanton), N Callander (Welwyn Garden City), J Graham (Southerness), G Macpherson (Loudoun Gowf).
85 A Barnes (W Sussex), G Allman (Stanmore)
86 B Bjornsdottir (Ice), C Taylor (Nairn).
87 I Posledni (Cze)
Retired L Lau (Fra)

LIZ STEWART WINS THE SCRATCH AWARD AT THE WEST VETS SPRING MEETING

On a VERY BLUSTERY but mostly dry day 78 ladies played in the the West Vets Spring Meeting at Hayston Golf Club.

Liz Stewart (Greenburn) - pictured left had an excellent round of 76 and won the Scratch event .

Jean Irvine (Ranfurly Castle)  won the Silver handicap division and the Super Vets Trophy with a nett 73.

Par 71 SSS 71, CSS 74 RO





RESULTS FROM SPRING MEETING AT HAYSTON -- CLICK HERE

SCOTTISH VETS NEATEN BY IRISH VETS

Scottish and Irish Vets Team

Scottish players, back row, left to right: Fiona De Vries, Lorna McKinlay, Carol Whyte, Meg Sievwright, Kathleen Sutherland (capt), Lesley Lloyd, Lorna Bennett, Alison Bartlett, Sheena Wood
Irish players, front row, left to right: Gertie McMullen, Carol Wickham Mary Dowling, Pat Doran, Pauline Walsh, Capt, Sheena McIlroy, Laura Webb, Mary MacLaren, Suzanne Corcoran

Ireland's senior women's team beat the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association Select 10-2 in the annual two-day match for the Mary McKenna Trophy at Lahinch Golf Club, Co Clare.
The Irish went into the second day leading 3-1 from the four-ball matches and then took the singles - played over 14 holes so that the Scots could be sure of catching their flights homes - by a 7-1 margin.
Scotland's only winner in the singles was Lorna Bennett who had a bag of five birdies as she beat Mary Dowling 3 and 2
RESULTS

FOUR-BALLS (3-1)
(Irish names first)
Carol Wickham and Pat Doran beat Sheena Wood and Meg Sievwright 3 and 2
Laura Webb and Mary MacLaren beat Lorna Bennett and Lesley Lloyd 6 and 5
Susanne Corcoran and Sheena McIlroy lost to Lorna McKinlay and Carol Whyte 1 hole
Mary Dowling and Gerty McMullen beat Fiona de Vries and Alison Bartlett 1 hole
SINGLES (7-1)
(played over 14 holes)
Wickham beat Sievwright 2 and 1
Webb beat Wood 2 and 1
Corcoran beat Lloyd 2 and 1
MacLaren beat Whyte 3 and 2
Dowling lost to Bennett 3 and 2
McIlroy beat Bartlett 1 hole
Doran beat McKinlay 1 hole
McMullen beat De Vries 6 and 5

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

 The West of Scotland Championship takes place at Bonnyton Golf Club on Sunday May 1st, teeing off from 12noon.
Players with handicaps of 15 and below are eligible to enter. Please enter by contacting Fiona Scott on 07815 784404 or  fionafscott@googlemail.com to enter.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM -- Entries close Friday 22nd April

D&A COUNTY FOURSOMES RESULTS

D&A held their Inter County Foursomes qualifier on Friday 15th April at Windyhill in exceedingly testing conditions (Baltic and the odd snow shower)

 CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESULTS

EILIDH BRIGGS WINS RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Eilidh Briggs and Jennifer Rankine 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT 

EILIDH BRIGGS AND DONNA JACKSON CONTINUE WELL IN THE MATCHPLAY STAGES ON DAY 1 OF THE RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Leading qualifiers Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) and Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)  continued their good form today to progress to to Semi finals of the RLCGA County Championship.

 CLICK HERE  to read the full report 

EMMA HALE IS THE NEW AYRSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPION

Emma Hale - Ayrshire County Champion

Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), top qualifier for the match-play stages, is the new Ayrshire women's champion after beating Lorna Ronnie (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 5 and 3 in this afternoon's final at Prestwick Golf Club.
It was a close match in the early stages with Emma edging ahead at the sixth after Lorna found bunker trouble with her second shot. A birdie from Emma at the eighth put her two up at the turn, having halved the ninth in par
Halves followed at 10, 11 and 12.
Two up playing 13, Emma's tee shot found 'Willie Campbell's Grave', the fairway bunker between the 13th and 16th but she managed to salvage a par 5 to take the hole and go three up.
Hale then birdied 14 with a 5ft putt to go four up with four to play and finished the match off in style with another birdie at 15. It was the first time Hale had won her county championship.
Past champion Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) was beaten in the semi-finals 6 and 5 by clubmate Ronnie, a past champion at Strathaven and a former Lanarkshire county player who moved to Ayrshire five years ago and recently became an Ayrshire county member.
Lorna was also the 1986 West of Scotland girls champion and, as a student, played for the Stirling University
In the other semi-final, Hale beat Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) by 2 and 1. It was a closely fought match with both girls making birdies. Emma went one hole up at 13 before halving 14, 15 and 16. On 17 Louise played two fabulous shots but
faced a tricky chip shot onto the green.
Having laid up, Emma played a nice shot onto the green and a 5 was good enough to win the match

QUARTER-FINALS
Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) beat Pauline Patrick (Irvine) 8 and 7
Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) beat Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle) 7 and 6
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Lesley Barker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 5 and 4
Lorna Ronnie (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) 1 hole.

SEMI-FINALS
Ronnie beat Glennie 6 and 5.
Hale beat Duncan 2 and 1.

FINAL
Hale beat Ronnie 5 and 3.

RENFREWSHIRE LADIES CGA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

Eilidh and Donna the leading Qualifiers

Donna Jackson leads qualifiers with a 71 at East Renfrewshire

FROM FREDA TUCK
Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) headed a field of 37 players for the qualifying round of the Renfrewshire LCGA Championship at East Renfrewshire Golf ClubAlthough the course was very wet underfoot, the greens were in excellent condition and the rain stayed away.
Top seed for the championship match-play is Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) with a gross 71, closely followed by Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), coming back after injury, with a 72. Defending champion Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) qualified in third place with a 77.
Tracy Masterton (Milngavie) qualified in first place for the Irvine Trophy with a score of 89 - 12 = 77.
The Peggy Clark Trophy was won by Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) with a score of 71 - 2 = 69.
The CSS was74 and the SSS 71.

Championship Match-play qualifiers

71 Donna Jackson
72 Eilidh Briggs
77 Gillian Kyle
79 Denise Cowan
80 Jennifer Rankine
81 Carol Whyte
82 Shirley Back
83 Gillian McGinlay
84 Heather Mushet
86 Jan Macnab (bih)
86 Carol Fell
87 Liz Stewart
88 Fiona Roger
89 Anne Judge (bih)
89 June Lockhart
89 Jennifer Mack

Match Play Draw
THURSDAY
09 15 D. Jackson v J. Mack
09 22 H. Mushet v G. McGinlay
09 30 J. Rankine v L. Stewart
09 37 F. Roger v D. Cowan
09 45 G. Kyle v A. Judge
09 52 C. Fell v C. Whyte
10 00 S. Back v J. Macnab
10 07 J. Lockart v E. Briggs

Irvine Trophy (handicap) Qualifiers
77 Tracy Masterton (12).
78 Anita McMillan (16) (bih)
79 Elizabeth Russell (12)
81 Linda Ellery (18)

Match Play Draw
14 02 T. Masterton v L. Ellery
14 10 E. Russell v A. McMillan

AYRSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS

The Ayrshire women's County Championship at Prestwick Golf Course  was a wet and windy affair again today.

Emma Hale, Troon Ladies, won by 8&7 this afternoon against Pauline Patrick (Irvine) to book her place in tomorrows semi-final of the Ayrshire Ladies County Championship. In the morning she will face Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) who beat Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle) 7&6.

The other semi final will be between Alex Glennie, (Kilmarnock Barassie) champion at West Kilbride in 2004, and club mate Lorna Ronnie, a new member to Ayrshire ladies.

Alex won through this afternoon against another Barassie member, Lesley Barker, by 5&4 whereas Lorna had a tougher route to the semi final going to the 18th green against losing 2013 finalist Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) eventually winning by 1 hole.

1ST ROUND

Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) beat Barbara Beckett (Loudoun) 7 and 5.
Pauline Patrick (Irvine) beat Joanne Sharp (Barassie) 3 and 1.
Debbie Watt beat Linda McDonald (Barassie) 5 and 4.
Louise Duncan beat Margaret Miller (Troon Ladies) 8 and 7.
Lesley Barker (Barassie) beat Sally Hamilton (Loudoun) 4 and 3.
Alex Glennie (Barassie) beat Annie Howie (Troon Ladies) 3 and 2.
Lorna Ronnie (Barasssie) beat Liz Wilson (Barassie) 3 and 2.
Audrey Thompson beat Liz Keohone (Loudoun) 3 and 2.

QUARTER-FINALS

Emma Hale beat Pauline Patrick 8&7
Louise Duncan beat Debbie Watt 7&6
Alex Glennie beat Lesley Barker 5&4
Lorna Ronnie beat Audrey Thompson 1 Hole

Tomorrow's play tees off at 8:45am with Hale v Duncan followed by Glennie v Ronnie at 9:00am.

Final will be at about 1:30pm 

GB & I CURTIS CUP TEAM WILL WARM UP WITH MATCH AGAINST CASTLE GOLF CLUB TEAM

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LADIES’ GOLF UNION
Issued 12th April 2016

The Great Britain and Ireland team to challenge the United States of America, at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, near Dublin from June 10 to 12, will warm up for the international contest with a "friendly" match against a members' men's team from Castle Golf Club on the south side of Dublin.
The GB and I team of eight players will be finalised immediately after the Helen Holm Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Troon and will be announced on Thursday 28th April at 2pm.

Six of the home line-up will earn automatic selection - the leading four eligible players in the Women's World Amateur Rankings at the designated cut-off point and also the leading two players on the Ladies’ Golf Union Order of Merit not selected through the World Rankings.
The remaining places in the team will go to two players selected by the LGU Selection Panel.

Elaine Farquharson-Black (Deeside), the first Scot to captain the GB and I Curtis Cup team since Belle Robertson in 1976, played in two Curtis Cup and two Vagliano Trophy matches during her playing career. She was also a member of the winning line-up when the match was played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 1992.

Elaine said
"It is very kind of the Castle Golf Club to allow the GB & I team to use their marvellous facilities to prepare for the Curtis Cup match. I know they have a wonderful short game facility and course and I thank the members for allowing us to visit. “
Elaine and team manager Helen Hewlett, also a past Curtis Cup player and a former British champion, will arrive with the GB and I squad at Castle Golf Club on Wednesday, June 1 and get straight down to practice in the afternoon.
The four-ball match against the Castle GC team will tee off at 1pm on Friday 3rd June.
They will have a further practice session at Castle Golf Club on the morning of Saturday 4th June before being given an organised tour of Dublin in the afternoon.

Castle Golf Club general manager John McCormack said,
"Our captains Bernadette Murray and Paul Williams, and all our members, are honoured to welcome the GB & I Curtis Cup team to our club in advance of the match against the United States and we will do everything possible to assist”
Castle Golf Club is a magnificent 18-hole parkland course in South Dublin. Nestled between Churchtown and Rathfarnham, the club offers its members and guests exceptional playing conditions and facilities. The club celebrated its centenary in 2013 and the course is a fine example of golf course design, originally by Harry Colt.

This will be only the second Curtis Cup match to be played in Ireland. The first, in 1996, was at Killarney and was won by GB and I. Four years ago, at Nairn Golf Club, GB and I came from behind to win the trophy after an excellent match, watched by big galleries.
Further information about the LGU and the Curtis Cup match is available on www.lgu.org.

About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)
Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain & Ireland. The LGU Board includes representatives of ladies’ golf’s national governing bodies in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Operational activities are undertaken by a wholly owned subsidiary, LGU Championships Limited (“LGUCL”), which in particular owns and runs the Ricoh Women’s British Open, founded by the LGU in 1976 and one of the five Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers. LGUCL also has responsibility for running British Amateur Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain & Ireland teams for representative matches, such as the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy.

For further information please contact;
Susan Simpson
Head of Golf Operations
Ladies’ Golf Union
championships@lgu.org

EMMA HALE IS LEADING QUALIFIER IN AYRSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

A total of 77 players battled against strong gusty winds at Prestwick Golf Club yesterday in the Ayrshire women's county qualifying round. Not surprisingly it was a reduction only outcome.
Unfortunately, last year's champion, Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert), was unable to defend her title having to withdraw due to illness.
Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) repeated her performance from last year by finishing top qualifier with an excellent score in the testing conditions of 83. Jenny Linklater (Largs) was second scratch with an 85 but is unavailable for the match-play stages.

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS

83 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies)
86 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun)
87 Sally Hamilton (Loudoun)
87 Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)
90 Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle)
92 Alex Glennie (Barassie)
93 Lorna Ronnie (Barassie)
93 Pauline Patrick (Irvine)
95 Joanne Sharp (Barassie)
95 Liz Wilson (Barassie)
101 Annie Howie (Troon Ladies)
101 Linda McDonald (Barassie)
101 Margaret Miller (Troon Ladies)
101 Lesley Barker (Barassie)
101 Liz Keohone (Loudoun)
103 Barbara Beckett (Loudoun)

Match-play Draw
Hale v Beckett
Sharp v Patrick
Watt v McDonald
Miller v Duncan

Hamilton v Barker
Howie v Glennie
Ronnie v Wilson
Keohone v Thompson

HAZEL IS TOP SCOT IN 7TH PLACE IN SCOTTISH UNDER 18'S OPEN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Emily Price made it three big wins in a row over the past two weeks when she beat 13-year-old Annabel Fuller in an all-England play-off for the inaugural Scottish Under-18 girls' open amateur stroke-play championship after they had tied at the end of the regulation 54 holes at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth.
It took only one play-off hole to determine the overall winner, with Price birdieing the 16th for the championship

Hazel MacGarvie from Troon Ladies was the leading Scot in seventh place, ending her week on level par 216 with scores of 71, 73 and 72. Birdies at the 11th and 14th helped to keep her in the top 10.
Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam just missed out on a top 10 finish with rounds of 74, 73 and 71 for two-over 218 and a share of 11th place.
Home course hope Kirsty Brodie finished joint 18th on 222 with 75-73-74.

West of Scotland players Jillian Farrell (Cardross) -- 224, Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) -- 228 and Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) -- 232 all played well on the final day to finish 21st, 29th and 38th respectively.

SCOTTISH UNDER-18 GIRLS' OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) SSS 73 CSS 73 73 73
213 E Price (Cleobury Mortimer) 72 72 69, A Fuller (Roehampton) 71 70 72 (Price won play-off at first extra hole)
214 S Johnson (Telford) 74 71 69, C Borge (Norway) 72 69 73, A Williamson (Royal Cromer) 71 72 71
215 K Lund (Norway) 75 71 69
216 H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 71 73 71
217 S Dutrieux (Wrotham Heath) 74 72 71, H Muse (West Lancs) 72 74 71

SELECTED SCOTTISH TOTALS
218 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 74 73 71 (T11)
222 K Brodie (Strathmore) 75 73 74 (T18)
224 J Farrell (Cardross) 76 75 73, J Free (Gullane) 74 77 72 (T21)
228 L Duncan (West Kilbride) 77 79 72, A Muirhead (Jumeirah) 74 78 76 (T29)
232 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 78 79 75 (T38)
233 J Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 74 82 77 (T40)
234 C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 74 83 77 (T46)
235 E Morrison (Craigmillar Park) 82 76 77, M Fraser (Powfoot) 79 77 79 (T50)
238 C Griffiths (Aboyne) 77 80 81 (T56)
240 M Robb (Peterculter) 82 77 81, P Wilson (Burntisland) 77 78 75 (T60)
246 L Lee (Musselburgh) 82 76 88 (62nd).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS - CLICK HERE

LEADING SCOT HAZEL MACGARVIE THREE OFF THE PACE

There are only three Scots in the top 20 with one round to go in the Scottish Under-18 girls' 54 hole open amateur stroke-play championship at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth.
They are Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) with scores of 71 and 73 for 144 and a share of fifth place; Aboyne's Shannon McWilliam, tied 16th on 147 (74-73) and local player Kirsty Brodie, joint 18th with 75-73 for 148
Norway's Celine Borge, who had six birdies in seven holes from the 10th to the 16th on her way to an inward 32 and a 69, and London's Annabell Fuller (Roehampton) (71-70) share the lead on three-under-par 141.

GB & I Junior Vagliano Trophy team player Hazel MacGarvie had birdies at the third, sixth, 10th and 14th but was dragged down by bogeys at the 11th,12th and 15th for 39 home.
West of Scotland players Jillian Farrell (Cardross),  Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) and Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) all made the cut of 159
Molly Richmond (Strathaven) was not so lucky. She missed the cut by one with 79-81 for 160.

SCOTTISH UNDER-18 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth
LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72) SSS 73. CSS 73
141 C Borge (Nor) 72 69, A Fuller (Roehampton) 71 70
143 A J Williamson (Royal Cromer) 71 72, M L Thomas (Beau Desert) 71 72
144 E Price (Cleobury Mortimer) 72 72, N Slater (Futness) 71 73, H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 71 73, J Guest (Gog Magog) 71 73

SELECTED SCOTTISH SCORES
146 H Muse (W Lancs) 72 74 (T11)
147 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 74 73 (17th)
148 K Brodie (Strathmore) 75 3 (T18)
151 J Free (Gullane) 74 77, J Farrell (Cardross) 76 75 (T27)
152 A Muirhead (Jumeirah) 77 75 (T28)
155 P Wilson (Burntisland) 77 78 (T36)
156 M Fraser (Powfoot) 79 77, L Duncan (W Kilbride) 77 79, J Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 74 82 (T39).
157 C Griffiths (Aboyne) 77 80, C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 74 83, J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 78 79 (T46)
158 E Morrison (Craigmillar Park) 82 76, L Lee (Musselburgh) 82 76 (T53).
159 M Robb (Peterculter) 82 77 (T59)


To view all the Round 2 scores
CLICK HERE

TROONS HAZEL MACGARVIE LEADS THE SCOTS CHALLENGE IN THE SCOTTISH GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Ayrshire's Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) led the home challenge with a one-under-par 71 to be joint second, one behind English leader Euphemie Rhodes (Burnham and Berrow), in a field of 102 for the inaugural Scottish Under-18 girls' open 54-holestroke-play championship at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
70 E Rhodes (Burnham and Berrow).
71 M L Thomas (Beau Desert), N Slater (Furness), A J Wiliamson (Royal Cromer), H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies), A Fuller (Roehampton), J Guest (Gog Magog).
72 E Price (Cleobury Manor), H Muse (W Lancs), C Borge (Norway).
SOME LEADING OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
74 J Mackintosh (Hazlehead), C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies), S McWilliam (Aboyne), J Free (Gullane), A Muirhead (Jumeirah) (T14)
75 K Brodie (Strathmore) (T24)
76 J Farrell (Cardross) (T27)
77 L Duncan (W Kilbride), C Griffiths (Aboyne), P Wilson (Burntisland).
78 J Rankine (Haggs Castle)
79 M Richmond (Strathaven), Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) (T45)
80 L McClymont (Milngavie) (T53)
81 K Scott (Strathaven), A Walker (Glenbervie) (T62)

Link to scores on the first day of the Scottish Under-18 girls' open stroke play championship at Strathmore Golf Centre, Blyth ---- CLICK HERE

2016 PEUGEOT LGU CORONATION FOURSOMES

Last years finalists  at the Swilken Bridge at the Old Course St Andrews

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LADIES’ GOLF UNION

Issued 6 April 2016

2016 will be the 53rd year of the Coronation Foursomes. The Ladies Golf Union is extremely grateful to Peugeot which,for the 15th successive year, has sponsored this hugely popular event that has gone from strength to strength with more than 27,000 lady golfers from 1,250 clubs competing in last year’s competition.

All affiliated clubs are eligible to enter and once they have played their qualifying round, the winners progress to any one of 16 Area Finals.
This year’s Scottish Area Finals will be held at the following venues:

SCOTLAND
North
Strathmore, Perthshire
Tues 9 Aug

East
Murrayfield, Midlothian
Tues 16 Aug

West
West Kilbride, Ayrshire
Thurs 28 July

The winners from each of the 16 Area Finals will take part in the Grand Final which will be held in St Andrews on Monday, September 19, 2016.
Winners will stay at the prestigious 5 star Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa for two nights and enjoy a drinks reception and Grand Final Dinner.
The overall winners will receive an invitation to take part in the 2017 Ricoh Women’s British Open Pro-am to be held at Kingsbarns Golf Links.

For further information and a full list of conditions and FAQs please visit the website www.lgu.org

For further information please contact:
Ladies’ Golf Union, info@lgu.org

SCOTTISH GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The Scottish Girls Open Championship at Strathmore Golf Club begins today 
Follow the results on www.scottishgolf.org
CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORING 

KYLIE WALKER TELLS OF LIFE ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Andy Carlton, Kylie Walker, Mishan Aubeeluck and Clare  

Approximately 60 ladies attended and thoroughly enjoyed a social evening at Paisley Golf Club on Thursday  24th March with Ladies European Tour Player - Kylie Walker

Mishan Aubeeluck who is a Performance Enhancement Specialist Personal Trainer demonstrated many exercises that are relevant to golf with flexibility being a key attribute to the golf swing.

Clothes from Glenmuir, Under Armour & Ivanhoe latest clothing samples along with Ping and Callaway demo clubs were all there to everyone to view, buy or order.

Clare-Marie Macaulay gave some coaching tips on the night on how you can lower your scores this season.

Kylie with D&A guests and prizewinner
Karen Maxwell

The prize draw for a lesson with Clare-Marie was won by D&A Captain Karen Maxwell.
Karen was thrilled to win and Kylie -- a past D&A County Champion and D&A'S Lynn McColl joined the celebration by giving her the thumbs up !!

KILMACOLM GOLF CLUB SOCIAL EVENING --- PAST CURTIS CUP STARS

L to R : Lady Angela Bonallack, Eilidh Briggs, Kilmacolm Ladies Captain Susan Reid,
Belle Robertson, Julie Otto and Mo Richmond 

Kilmacolm Golf Club who is celebrating their 125th Anniversary this year held their Ladies Social evening on Tuesday (22nd March) with Captain Susan Reid inviting some Past Curtis Cup players to join them. 

Susan introduced Angela Bonallack, Eilidh Briggs, Julie Otto, Mo Richmond and Belle Robertson to all that attended. She gave some history of the Curtis Cup and then questions from the audience were answered by the players - with many amusing stories and tales. 

The evening finished with an excellent supper enjoyed by all with the players joining to chat and mix with everyone around the room.  - A lovely evening was had by all

Susan's Introduction :

The Curtis Cup Match is contested every two years by teams of female amateurs representing Great Britain & Ireland and the United States. It is organised by the United States Golf Association and Ladies Golf Union, who select the respective teams of eight golfers. The Curtis Cup was first played in 1932, and is named after sisters Harriot and Margaret Curtis, who won four victories in the U.S. Women's Amateur. The Curtis sisters donated the trophy for the competition.The Curtis sisters had competed in the 1905 British Ladies Amateur at Royal Cromer Golf Club, where an informal match had occurred between teams of American and British golfers, and they wanted to promote the international friendships in the world of women's golf. The cup is inscribed, "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands." 

BELLE ROBERTSON O.B.E.

Belle started playing golf at Dunaverty GC at age 15.  Played in the Curtis Cup in 1960, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1982, 1986 and was the non-playing Captain of GB & Ireland in 1974 and 1976. She won the British Ladies Amateur title in 1981 plus winning the Scottish Amateur title on seven occasions. Received O.B.E for services to golf. Voted "Scottish Sportswoman of the Year" four times; voted "Women Golfer of the Year" three times; inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.  She also became one of the first female members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in February 2015.

From L to Right -- Angela Bonallack, Mary McKenna  and Maureen Richmond
at the 2012 Curtis Cup Match at  Nairn GC.

MAUREEN RICHMOND

Maureen began her golfing career here as a junior and she is now an Honorary Member of Kilmacolm.  She played in the Scottish Junior Team for 5 years; was the Scottish Girls Champion 1970, 1971, 1973; the British Girls Champion 1972.  Played in the 1974 Curtis Cup in San Francisco, which Belle Robertson captained!  She also played in the Vagliano Trophy in 1975 (UK & Ireland v Continental Europe) and was selected for the World Team in 1976.  Maureen is now a GP based in the Wirral, and now plays in the British Senior Women’s’ Golf Amateur competitions as well as in the Seniors in Spain (along with Barbara Biggart who is a former Kilmacolm member as well!)

LADY ANGELA BONALLACK

Angela started golfing in England when she was 12 years old. Was British Girls’Champion in 1955 and English Ladies Champion in 1958 and 1963.  She played in 6 Curtis Cup teams – 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1966. She is now a member of the R & A and won the 2015 Monthly May Medal  with a net 71, played on the New Course St Andrews. She was also the first woman to play in a match for the R & A against the St Andrews Link Trust Staff that same week. 

JULIE OTTO

Julie was brought up in Felixstowe where she was introduced to golf at the age of 11.  At age 19, she was selected to represent England in the European Lady Junior Team Championships in Germany.    Played in the Curtis Cup teams of 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996. She retired from international amateur golf after the 1996 Curtis Cup as the reigning British Amateur Champion and moved into golf administration becoming Assistant Director – Rules at the R & A.  In 2015, Julie became an Attached PGA Professional at the Fairmont St Andrews and she is also a PGA Teaching Professional at Elie Sports Club in Fife.

EILIDH BRIGGS

Eilidh Briggs at the 2014 Curtis Cup in the USA

Eilidh began playing golf at age 6; got her first handicap at age 9.  She has been the Renfrewshire Ladies County Champion three times; Scottish Girls Champion 2011; Scottish Champion of Champions 2011 & 2012. She played foursomes with her sister Megan, when Eilidh won her first ladies cap at Hillside Golf Club in the Ladies Home International matches in 2011. Eilidh first represented Scotland at the European Young Masters in 2008, returning to the competition in 2015 as the Team Captain. She played in the Curtis Cup in 2014 in St Louis, USA.

All these golfers have won numerous other Championships during their golfing careers – too many to list!

SCOTTISH GOLF LAUNCH NEW RADIO SHOW PODCAST

NEW PODCAST LAUNCHED TODAY - WITH ALAN TAIT 

LADIES NIGHT AT PAISLEY GOLF CLUB WITH KYLIE WALKER

Kylie Walker

Ladies Night at Paisley Golf Club -- Thursday 24th March 7pm

With the golf season just around the corner, we have a fun filled evening to kick start your season. The evening is for Ladies who already play or who are thinking of taking up the game.

We will be joined on the evening by Ladies European Tour Player - Kylie Walker, who will give us an insight into life on tour and what it takes to be a winner on Tour.

Mishan Aubeeluck who is a Performance Enhancement Specialist Personal Trainer will be educating us on golf specific exercises. Mishan is also a Pilates instructor which is very relevant to golf with flexibility being a key attribute to the golf swing.

If you are looking to upgrade your equipment or wardrobe this season we will have Glenmuir, Under Armour & Ivanhoe latest clothing samples along with Ping and Callaway demo clubs to try.

Clare-Marie Macaulay will be giving coaching tips on the night on how you can lower your scores this season. Everyone who attends the night will also be out into a prize draw to win a lesson with Clare-Marie.

Why not bring your friends along and enjoy a ladies night out, pick up some golf tips and have a look at the latest clothing available for 2016.

The cost of the evening is £3 per person, which includes a drink and light refreshment.

To book your place please phone Paisley Pro Shop on 0141 884 4114 or email Clare-Marie at cmmacaulay@hotmail.co.uk

WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY FORM AT BONNYTON

The West of Scotland Championship is at Bonnyton on May 1st, hosted by Renfrewshire County this year so please spread the word to those with handicaps of 15 and below. Let's have as many entrants as possible this year

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

You will also find the link on the RHS for the entry form on the RhS of this website

WEST OF SCOTLAND GIRLS GOLFING ASSOCIATION 60th ANNIVERSARY

CLICK HERE TO PRINT OUT THE POSTER

FUND RAISING EVENT IN MEMORY OF LYNN MITCHELL RAISES £1700 FOR THE BEATSON CANCER CHARITY

Moira Kerr, Ruth Wishart, June Lockhart, Margaret Milton
Annabel Goldie and Helen Faulds

June Lockhart and Bernie Mitchell

BEATSON FUND RAISER EVENING

Hillhead Sports Club was the perfect venue for the Jean Armour Night on Friday, 26th Feb.  An audience of 120 attended  drawn by the calibre of the main speakers Ruth Wishart and Annabel Goldie MSP, Helen Faulds ( poem) and the music of Moira Kerr.

June Lockhart - Vice Captain  of both the West Vets and Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association chaired the proceedings

The main organiser was Bernie Mitchell husband of the late D&A's Lynn Mitchell -- Past Ladies Captain of Clydebank and District and Gleddoch Golf Clubs and former Chief Scorer at Ladies Scottish Open and European Scottish Open.

Just over £1,700 was raised with the help of 2 of the Beatson Cancer Charity staff, Amy Dreszler and Kirsty McDonald.

Here are a couple of links from some of the photographs that were taken on what was a very successful evening.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/rlcga2009/tV41Ck

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153969910032640&type=1&l=32f9960a81

ATTENTION ALL WEST OF SCOTLAND GIRLS --- OPEN DAY AT THE GLASGOW INDOOR GOLF CENTRE

D&A's PAST CAPTAIN SALLY COSTER HAS DIED

 SVLGA President Sally Coster with SVLGA Vice President Gillian Kirkwood
Photo taken in 2013

2010 - Newly elected SVLGA Vice President Sally Coster is awarded her badge of office
from SVLGA Past President Isabel McIntosh

Scottish Vets Team - 2013
L to R Back  - Fiona De Vries, Lorna Bennett, Kathleen Sutherland,
Alison Bartlett, May Hughes, Sheena Wood, Mary Smith,
Front Row Sally Coster (President) Noreen Fenton (Captain) and Anna Telfer.

It is with great sadness I have to announce that West Vets'  Sally Coster died yesterday at home on Monday 9th February 2016. 

Sally played off a handicap of 4 in her early golfing years and was selected to play for the Scottish Vets Team at that time

A Past Captain of D&A and Past President of SVLGA had been a member of many clubs --St Andrews (St Rule), Crail, Hilton Park, Buchanan Castle  and Troon Ladies

Sally was President of the Scottish Vets Team when West Vets' Past Captain Helen Faulds was Captain of the Scottish Vets Team

Helen says -

"She was a huge help to me in many ways" .
"She was extremely knowledgeable about golfing matters, very observant at watching players and able to see faults in their swing. (I know that because she did it with me  !!)
"The players in the team were very happy to take her advice which was always given in a quiet measured manner. This ability was put to good use as she was asked to become a selector for the Scottish Teams which she really enjoyed."
"Sally had a very dry sense of humour and was extremely popular with our players, the Irish and the English players and the Presidents of all other divisions."

Sally will be most certainly missed by all.

The funeral will take place  at Maryhill Crematorium, G23 5AA, Glasgow at 3pm, Thursday 18th February.

To read more -- Go to the Kirkwood Golf Website

ENTRIES CAN NOW BE TAKEN FOR SCOTTISH GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Entries for the Scottish (Closed) Amateur Championship at West Kilbride, the Helen Holm at Troon, Scottish Girls Open Chmapionship at Alyth, the Scottish Seniors (Open) Championship  at Fortrose and Rosemarkie  and many more are now available by CLICKING HERE

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE