SCOTLAND GIRLS GO TO THE CYPRUS FOR THE JUNIOR OPEN AND WARM WEATHER TRAINING

Evanna Hynd, Porscha Wilson, Grace Crawford, Rachel Foster, Carmen Griffiths,
Cameron Neilson, Liz Keohone, Karyn Dallas - photo courtesy of Karyn Dallas

A strong Scottish Girls team left today to fly out to Cyprus to join a strong international field in this year’s Nicos Severis Cyprus Junior Open which is being held from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th February at Minthis Golf Club near Paphos. 

Some 54 boys and 26 girls up to 18 years old from 14 countries will compete over three rounds of 18 holes. A strong team of nine local youngsters selected from the Cyprus Golf Federation’s (CGF) Junior Order of Merit system will be flying the flag for Cyprus. 

Since its inception seven years ago, the Severis Cyprus Junior Open has gone from strength to strength. It is now a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event for both boys and girls attracting ever stronger fields and producing golf of the highest quality. 

Coach Karyn Dallas said "This is a warm weather training to wrap up winter work in prep for playing season starting April....see what they have taken on board and what we still need to work on....having a competition (WAGR points!!) is an added bonus"

Karyn is being assisted by Past Ayrshire Captain Liz Keohone (Loudoun Gowf)

SCOTTISH GOLF AND THE PGA REGIONAL JUNIOR FORUMS

By Scottish Golf

Scottish Golf and The PGA  join forces to host new Regional Junior Forums across the country.

As part of Scottish Golf’s plans to develop a new National Junior Framework, the national governing body is delighted to announce that it will be staging a series of regional forums across the country in partnership with the PGA. These events will not only allow Scottish Golf to gather valuable insights from those currently involved on the front line in junior golf, but will also provide PGA professionals, junior convenors and other volunteers engaged in junior golf activity to work collaboratively with Scottish Golf’s Development Team on the new framework.

Led by Scottish Golf’s Junior Development Manager, Gavin Forrester and Allan Martin, Coach Education Manager for the PGA in Scotland, the forums will provide attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on a range of key topics, including coaching, competitions, club support and schools delivery, through interactive workshops and discussion. The forums will give also delegates the opportunity to share best practice and input into some new concepts, helping to ensure that the framework works for everyone involved.

Ross Duncan, Development Director at Scottish Golf, is looking forward to the upcoming forums and said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with the PGA to stage these forums across the country and it is vitally important that we get the views and insights of PGA professionals, junior convenors and others involved in running junior golf activity. By working with these key stakeholders, it will help shape our future framework. We hope the forums will attract good numbers, inspire good debate and encourage the sharing of good practice from some of the fantastic work being done by many different parties.”

Interested in attending one of our 17 Regional Forums? A full list of dates, venues and how to sign up can be found on the Scottish Golf Website

2019 GIRLS' AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP SWITCHED FROM MONTROSE TO PANMURE

The R and A will stage the 2019 British Girls Amateur Championship at Panmure from Tuesday to Saturday, August 13 to 17 following an agreement reached with Montrose Links to move the event to an alternative venue. 

 This change of venue has been made due to a recent announcement confirming that a series of music concerts are to be set up and staged on a site immediately adjacent to Montrose Links during the month of August. 

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Events at The R and A, said, “We have a responsibility to all competitors to provide a world class experience in which they can perform to their full potential and this includes minimising any adverse impacts on the staging of the championship. “There is a risk that the concerts and their setting up would have caused disruption to the players so we have come to a mutual agreement with Montrose Links that the championship will now be played at an alternative venue. 

“Montrose Links remains on our potential list of venues and we very much hope that the opportunity to stage another event there will present itself in the near future. We would like to thank Panmure for moving quickly to step in at such short notice to host this championship, which is again expected to attract a world class field.” 

 The British Girls Amateur Championship will celebrate its centenary year in 2019.

KYLIE HENRY FINISHES TIED 36TH IN ISPS HANDA VIC OPEN

Kylie Henry

Celine Boutier was the No.1 amateur in the world whose denouement was waiting to unfold. At 13th Beach, the Frenchwoman finally delivered on promise with the first LPGA Tour win of her career.

Kylie Henry finished with a 6 over par 78 to finish in 3 over and tied in 35th palace in the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia today.
Catriona Matthew finished tied 40th in 4 over par.

Scot David Law stood on the 18th fairway at 13th Beach today with a 195-metre shot over the swampy wasteland to negotiate, had an eagle to beat Australia's Wade Ormsby for his first European win.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL SCORES

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Hannah scores first outright win as a professional at Fortrose and Rosemarkie

 

by Colin Farquharson

Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), pictured, scored her first outright win as a professional when she headed the field by two strokes with a three-over 73 in testing conditions at Saturday's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance fixture at Fortrose and Rosemarkie.

High winds and heavy showers pushed up the scores

With one hole left to play, McCook and Kyle Godsman (Moray) were level in the lead but there was a two-stroke swing McCook's favour when she finished with a birdie while Godsman missed the green and bogeyed the hole.

 

LEADING SCORES

Par 70

73 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 

75 K Godsman (Moray), J Shaw (Boat of Garten)

77 J S D Campbell (Grantown on Spey), A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)

78 B Rennie (Inverness)

79 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten)

STIRLING GOLF CLUB OPEN DAY TRI AM

CLICK HERE TO BOOK 

Scotland's Most Improved Female Golfer in 2018 is Lucy Fraser

As part of #HandicapWeek, Scottish Golf visited Lucy Fraser at her home club of Murrayfield Golf Club to get her thoughts on becoming the 2018 Most Improved Female Golfer in Scotland.

Qualification fund benefits young Scots golfers

From the Scottish Golf Website

Young female golfers in Scotland with aspirations of playing in the PING Junior Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September can now benefit from a new joint fund established by The 2019 Solheim Cup Golf Development Programme and Scottish Golf.

With The Solheim Cup set to return to Scotland from 9-15 September, qualifying for the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup at Gleneagles is now underway, as last weekend’s Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship marked the first in a series of qualifying events for the biennial match.

The £9,000 pot has been established to provide financial assistance to those eligible to compete at various qualifying tournaments in the run up to this year’s event which will act as a curtain-raiser to The 2019 Solheim Cup as Catriona Matthew’s European team bid to regain the Cup from the USA.

Scotland’s Hannah Darling became the first beneficiary of the fund by competing in Portugal and impressed with a top-20 finish to start her bid to compete as part of Team Europe at Gleneagles.

A member at Broomieknowe Golf Club in Midlothian,.

15-year-old Darling is one of the nation’s rising stars, having climbed the amateur ranks in recent years. She enjoyed an excellent season in 2018, winning the inaugural R&A Girls’ U16 Open Championship and successfully defending her Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship title she won as a 14-year old in 2017. Now in the year of The Solheim Cup, Darling has her eyes firmly set on making the European Team for this year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup, saying: “I was fortunate enough to be part of the Project19 group who got to experience The 2017 Solheim Cup from inside the ropes and this opportunity confirmed my ambition of one day competing in the event myself. It has been an exciting couple of years since then and I am hugely grateful to Scottish Golf for their continued support. This new fund will help me compete across Europe as I look to qualify for Team Europe at the PING Junior Solheim Cup. To be part of such a big event on home soil would be an incredible experience and I am working hard to ensure that I can achieve this goal.”

Darling was one of six young female golfers to have self-started their own #Project19 initiative when they first learned of Scotland’s bid to host The 2019 Solheim Cup and PING Junior Solheim Cup. Comprising a WhatsApp group, the girl’s ambition was to motivate each other to qualify to represent Team Europe at the event in their home country.

The group included Rachel Foster (Prestwick St Nicholas), Eilidh Henderson (Kirkcaldy), Evanna Hynd (Balbirnie Park), Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) and Anna McKay (Crail Golfing Society) who alongside Darling were supported to attend The 2017 Solheim Cup in Des Moines, Iowa where they mingled with both US and European teams and even participated in the official handover ceremony to Scotland following close of play.

Andrew McKinlay, CEO at Scottish Golf welcomed today’s announcement and said: “With Gleneagles hosting the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2019, we are keen to ensure that we have Scottish representation in the European team and today’s announcement marks our commitment to supporting the next cohort of female golfers that would benefit massively from an opportunity like this.”

We are delighted to be working closely with our partners at The 2019 Solheim Cup Golf Development Group ahead of this year’s event and thank them for their support with our fund aimed at supporting the country’s top female junior golfers in qualifying for the PING Junior Solheim Cup.”

Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “This collaboration between the Solheim Cup Golf Development Group and Scottish Golf is a wonderful demonstration of the opportunity the Solheim Cup is giving us to support Scottish junior players and create a lasting legacy from the event. I wish Hannah and all our juniors vying for a qualifying position, the very best of luck in the coming months.”

The European team in the PING Junior Solheim Cup is captained by former Solheim Cup captain Mickey Walker and will see 12 of the best young female players in Europe take on their American counterparts. To be eligible, players must be aged 12-18 years old, having reached their 18^thbirthday as of January 1^st, 2019. The team will be comprised of six qualifiers from the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings as well as a further six captain’s picks.

The qualification journey will take place across 10 events in six more countries across Europe, before culminating at the Girls’ British Open Championship at Montrose Links, Scotland, from 13^th-17^thAugust.

For more information visit www.solheimcup2019.com

SCOTTISH VETS TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE MARY MCKENNA TROPHY

Top :Donna Jackson and Lesley Lloyd
Bottom : Gillian Kyle and Liz Stewart
Photos courtesy of Karen Ballantyne

From the SVLGA WEBSITE

The SVLGA and Captain Ellie Whyte are pleased to announce the following team to play against the Irish Senior Ladies for The Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy.

Three West Vets are in the team Donna Jackson, Gillian Kyle and Lesley Lloyd. Liz Stewart is a reserve. -- To see photos of other team members go to the  SVLGA WEBSITE

Scottish Vets Team
Alison Davidson MIDLAND

Donna Jackson WEST

Gillian Kyle WEST

Lesley Lloyd WEST

Lorna McKinlay MIDLAND

Frances Millar NORTHERN

Elaine Moffat MIDLAND

Sheena Wood NORTHERN

Reserve Liz Stewart WEST

The match will be played on the Troon Portland course. 

The format on Sunday 31st March, 10am - 10.30 am will be Fourball Better Ball.

On Monday 1st April, teeing off 9am - 10 am there will be 8 Singles matches.

With so many quality golfers in both teams, the golf will be of the highest standard. 

We would encourage supporters to attend especially as the scottish team includes three Troon Lady members. 

Wear something purple if you can !

New campaign to tempt women tourists to play golf in Scotland

By Martin Dempster 

In the countdown to the 
Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September, a campaign has been launched aimed at encouraging more women to travel to Scotland to play golf in the sport’s birthplace. 

The VisitScotland video content campaign, which has adopted the #HerScotland hashtag, is a concerted bid to grow the number of female visitors from its current figure of just 12 per cent at a time when female golf participation in some European countries is in excess of 35 per cent.

The campaign features four women, including LET player Kelsey MacDonald, who are filmed enjoying a golf break which also involves other fun activities off the course.

“VisitScotland is proud to be doing something that no other tourism body has done before by investing in a female focused golf destination 
marketing campaign,” said Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland’s chief executive.

“We pride ourselves on being a forward thinking and innovative organisation and I believe this campaign will 
help to put the focus on Scotland as a female friendly golf destination.

“Scotland’ commitment to women’s golf is unquestionable with an investment in excess of £23 million since 2007 through our staging of both the Women’s British Open and the Aberdeen Standard Invesments Ladies Scottish Open cementing our reputation as the home of golf.”

Joining MacDonald in a campaign that will also be used to help support raise awareness of the 2019 Solheim Cup are Mar Hall head pro Kirstin Scott, Castle Stuart operations assistant Ellie Docherty and amateur golfer Susan Wood.

“It is a huge year for women’s golf in Scotland as we are set to host the Solheim Cup at 
Gleneagles in September,” added Roughead of an event that aims to attract 100,000 spectators as North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew leads Europe into battle. 

“The event offers us a significant opportunity to increase the number of female golfing visitors to Scotland.

“Add in a TV broadcast audience with the potential to reach more than 600 million households it means a lot of eyes will be firmly fixed on Scotland.”

ABERDEENSHIRE FIXTURE LIST.

May 2: Open meeting, Aboyne​
 May 3-5: ALCGA County Championship, Murcar Links​
 May 9: Open meeting, Banchory​
 May 18: Open meeting, Fraserburgh​
 May 20: Watt Duffus Inter-Club Trophy, Inverurie

 June 13: Open meeting, Westhill   ​
 June 15-17: Northern Division Jamboree, Ballater
​ June 28: Open meeting, McDonald Ellon​

 July 1: Open meeting, Murcar Links​
 July 4: Open meeting, Kemnay​
 July 12: Tri-Am, Banchory​
 July 25: Open meeting, Cruden Bay​
 July 29: Open meeting, Deeside​

 August 2: Open meeting, Newmachar​
 August 5-6: Lyon Inter-Club Foursomes, Aboyne​
 August 19: Commonwealth Spoons, Duff House
 Royal​
 August 29: Open meeting, Peterculter

GABRIELLE MACDONALD IS TURNING PROFESSIONAL

Gabrielle Macdonald

From Facebook
Big smiles today as I am excited to announce that I am turning professional! 
I can’t wait to start this new chapter in my golfing career and I’m delighted to have Craigielaw’s continued support. 
I want to thank the club and to everyone who has helped me along the way. I’m very grateful for all the support I have received over the years. 
Ready to start my 2019 season out in South Africa in just over a week. 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO GABRIELLE'S WEBSITE

Good Luck Gabrielle

RENFREWSHIRE COACHING SESSION AT COWGLEN GOLF CLUB

Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell), Hannah Carson  (East Renfrewshire), 
Sophie Kyle (East Renfrewshire) , Lauren Agnew (Eastwood), 
Orla Rooney (Cowglen), Rachel Laidlaw (Eastwood)

18 Renfrewshire girls braved the cold morning to practise their golf at Cowglen Golf Club yesterday. 
They were divided into 3 groups and rotated between pitching into an inflatable fish!! and long game drills in the covered bays. 

Claudia Walker (Old Ranfurly), Abbie Hannah, Zoe Sayers, Natalie Sayers (all Kilmacolm)
Louise Clarke (Cowglen). Chloe Ham (Old Ranfurly)

The Covered Bays at Cowglen GC

Then putting challenges indoors with a rules quiz to follow. 

New friends were made considering the level of chatter and everyone seemed to enjoy the session. 
Grateful thanks go to Cowglen Golf Club for giving us the courtesy of their fabulous facilities and our volunteer coaching team of Clair, Lynda and Liz. 

The next session will be held at Caldwell Golf Club on February 24th. Details will be sent out nearer the time. 
If any other girl in Renfrewshire would like to come along, please email Gillian Kyle.

Thanks go to Gillian Kyle for the report and photos

SCOTTISH GOLF YOUNG PERSONS GOLF PANEL

Scottish Golf is excited to announce the members of its first ever Young Person’s Golf Panel following the group’s first meeting at Cluny Clays in Kirkcaldy last weekend.

The Panel was established as part of Scottish Golf’s commitment to growing the game and will provide the National Governing Body with a better understanding of young people and society today.

Speaking at the launch event, Gavin Forrester, Junior Development Manager at Scottish Golf said:

“The Young Person’s Panel is a huge opportunity to give young people in Scotland a platform to voice their opinions about the sport and the issues or barriers they may face, but it is also an opportunity for them to discuss innovative ideas together that can help overcome these issues. 

We had a really positive first meeting of the panel and those involved have already got some great ideas of what they would like to achieve as a group which is really exciting for us all to be a part of. 

The team at Scottish Golf are really looking forward to working with the group and wish them the best of luck as they embark on this exciting journey together.”

Scottish Golf Young Person’s Golf Panel:

Gregor Rawson    Carys Irvine    Ross Plant    Sophie Kyle    James Grainger    Kirsten Miller   Hannah Braidwood    Jack Chalmers    Rudy Brown   Matthew Lynas   Andrew Stuart   Sophie McGuire

The 2019 Junior Flag and Stableford Challenge

About the Junior Flag and Stableford Challenge 

We exist to get Junior golfers out playing this wonderful game. Whether you are challenging to win the county open or are just starting out on your golfing journey this is the place to be! 

Dates and Venues - Click Here

We cater for all, with our 18 hole and 9 hole stableford events to our flag events for those a little earlier in their career on the course we will get you out playing with those of similar ages and abilities. 
Our flag events consist of each player being awarded 36 shots to get as far round a shortened golf course as possible. Points are awarded based on each players finishing position in the flag event and stableford score in both the 9 and 18 hole stableford.

For those returning from previous years it is nice to see you back, for those new to the tour then a very warm welcome!

“The home of Junior Golf in the West”

2019 marks a big change for the tour, we will be able running over 30 events this year to help encourage junior golfers get into the game and more importantly stay in the game! 

This year we will also be offering two options for joining the tour, every member of the tour will pay a £20 joining fee which will get them a welcome pack at their first event and then each golfer will have the option to pay as they go per event or join the whole tour.

We will be running three different events within the tour, an 18 hole stableford, 9 hole stableford and our flag events.

Each event will allow golfers to accumulate points over the course of the season and the tour will culminate in our tour championship finals at some of the very best courses Scotland has to offer! 

We PROMISE that  nobody will be disappointed in the venues we have lined up for our finals!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ENTRIES FOR 2019 SCOTTISH GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Scottish Golf is delighted to announce that online entries are now OPEN for all 2019 Scottish Golf National Championships.

The National Governing Body will stage various events, catering for golfers of all abilities and age groups, providing golfers with an opportunity to play in competitions on some of the finest courses in the country.

Fresh for 2019 is the Scottish Men’s Medal Finals with all affiliated clubs invited to enter their Scratch and Net medal winners from the 2018 season into Regional Finals for the chance to qualify for the Grand Final in August which will be played over the seven-time Open Championship qualifier course, Ladybank.

To register your spot in one of our National Championships, or for more information, click HERE. 

RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY BEETLE DRIVE FUNDRAISER

Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association held their annual Beetle Drive Fundraiser at Haggs Castle yesterday, 

Over 80 ladies were present and competition was intense during the 9 games, as evidenced by the level of noise ! An incredible total of approximately £1,750 profit was raised, through Silent Auction items, a Star Draw for some 4-ball Vouchers from Renfrewshire Clubs, and a Raffle. 

Photos (courtesy of Fiona Armour) : - Click Here

TO READ MORE -- GO TO THE RLCGA WEBSITE

SOLHEIM ROUND OF GOLF FOR 4 - SILENT AUCTION FOR ANYONE

Renfrewshire  Ladies' County Golf Association are holding  Beetle Drive on Sunday 27th January at Haggs Castle GC where their are numerous prizes to be won

There are 4 main Golf Silent Auction prizes -- READ MORE 

• 4-ball at Glasgow Gailes GC (with meal), 
• 4-ball at Pollok GC
• A round for 3 with Gillian Kyle at Prestwick GC (kindly donated by Cammy Kyle)
• Solheim Round of Golf for 4 -valid until 30 April 2019

To celebrate the Solheim Cup over the PGA Course at Gleneagles this year and the 110th Anniversary of Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association  and of course many other counties your webmaster has donated  a round of golf for four over Gleneagles  

The recipient of this gift voucher will have the chance to enjoy a tee-time for four on their choice of any of Gleneagles  three championship courses.

• The PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and played host to The 2014 Ryder Cup Matches and will host The 2019 Solheim Cup. 
• The King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece of design. 
• The natural beauty of The Queen's Course inspires the world's most experienced players. 

From now until 31st March - Available seven days a week after 11am.
From 1 - 30 April 2019 - Available Monday to Thursday after 12pm - Available Friday to Sunday after 1.30pm

All tee time offers are subject to availability. Valid up to  30/04/2019 

Those who are going to the Beetle Drive can obviously bid on the day -- however, you do not need to be a member of the county to bid. If you are interested in any of the venues above then email Carol   -- or preferably 
BIDDING CLOSED

SCOTTISH SOLHEIM CUP CLUB AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME

Solheim European Captain, Catriona Matthew supports launch of new Scottish Golf Solheim Cup Club Ambassador Programme. 

Read more on what the new programme is all about, and how you can get involved here: CLICK HERE

RENFREWSHIRE GIRLS WINTER COACHING AT PAISLEY GOLF CLUB

The Junior RLCGA Girls have an enjoyable time indoors

Great session with Renfrewshire County Girls yesterday. Course was under snow so great use of Paisley Golf Club Performance Studio. 

The girls enjoyed putting challenges, learning the new rules and a fun par 3 competition to finish with.
 Good work girls! 

Clare- Marie Macaulay

GREENOCK OPEN DAY - GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

Greenock Golf Club Ladies are holding their Open Day Greensome on Thursday 27th June 2019 

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

IRISH GOLF HAVE VOTED FOR ONE GOVERNING BODY

Mary McKenna MBE, Lady Captain Grainne Synnott, Lady Vice Captain Mary Tobin and Pat Doran at the historic AGM of the ILGU on 19/1/2019.

The vote for the one governing body was passed in favour of proceeding to a new entity - Golf Ireland.  The vote was overwhelming in support of the motion - with the I.L.G.U. at 100% and the G.U.I. at 94%.  This is an exciting day in golfing history (19/1/19). A huge credit is due to the project teams who have worked tirelessly over the past 3 years to achieve this result.

RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY GIRLS COACHING SESSION AT GOUROCK GOLF CLUB

Renfrewshire Juniors have fun at Gourock Golf Club

A wild wet and windy day saw the start of the RLCGA girls golfing meet ups, today which was hosted hosted by Gourock Golf Club.  

Everyone was very grateful to leave the waterproofs behind and make use of the fabulous new indoor facility.  

The session was led by club professional Derek Watters and we were very well supported with 15 young ladies attending spilt into two session times.  

Thanks to the girls who took time out of their study sessions and to all the parents for bringing the girls along.  The girls participated in making use of the technology at the facility and many enjoyed the excitement of the fun Zombie game at the end of the second session.  

It was a good opportunity for the girls to meet each other and hopefully in the coming sessions build on their friendships.

  

Grateful thanks to Honorary President, Pearl Orr, County Captain June Lockhart and Vice-Captain Sandra Littlejohn for coming along to meet the girls and supporting the session.  

Thanks to Gillian Kyle (Junior Secretary) for leading the meet ups and for steering us all in the right direction and thanks also to Lynda Bradley (Junior Convenor, Kilmacolm) for supporting the session also.

The next session is planned for Sunday 3^rd February at Cowglen, anyone who hasn’t already intimated they would like to come along please get in touch with Gillian at gilliank17@sky.com.

Thanks go to Claire Barclay for the news

SHANNON McWILLIAM FINISHES EIGHTH IN CHILE

Elaine Farqharson and Shannon McWilliam

Aboyne Golf Club member Shannon McWilliam, finished eighth in a field of 32 final-day qualifiers at the South American women's amateur golf championship at Santiago, Chile today (Sunday).

The Curtis Cup player had ever-improving scores of 74, 73, 72 and 71 for a two-over-par aggregate of 290.

Connie Jaffrey, winner of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Royal Aberdeen last year, finished joint 16th with scores of 75, 74, 74 and 72 for seven-over 295.

Paraguay players finished first and second with Maria Escauriza winning by eight strokes with a 12-under par total of 276 which was made up of four sub-par rounds.
A classy effort.

SOUTH AMERICAN WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
 Los Leones Golf Club, Santiago, Chile
Leading final totals
par 288 (4x72)
276 M F Escauriza (Paraguay) 69 71 68 68
284 S Garcia (Paraguay) 77 70 68 69
286 M J  Bottorquez (Argentina) 75 71 72 69.
SELECTED TOTALS
290  S McWilliam (Sco) 74 73 72 71 (8th)
295 C Jaffrey (Sco) 75 74 74 72 (T16)
297 G Blackman (Eng) 73 74 77 73 (T20)
308 B Morris (Wal) 74 81 73 80 (T

CHARLEY HULL WINS IN DUBAI

Charley Hull

January 12, 2019; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: England’s Charley Hull made the best possible start to 2019 when she claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open to earn her second Ladies European Tour trophy.

Hull fired rounds of 67, 72 and 69 in warm and windy conditions for a total of eight-under-par 208 at the spectacular Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, ending one stroke ahead of Marianne Skarpnord

READ MORE

Scottish Scores

+3 Catriona Matthew (18th)

+8 Kylie Henry (38th)

+19 Carly Booth (55th)

Final Leaderboard

AYRSHIRE'S BRUNSTON CASTLE CLOSES

It is with great shock and sadness that it was learned today that Ayrshire's Brunston Castle Golf Club will close from midnight on Sunday 13th January. 

 The news was posted on their club's facebook page today, announcing:- "It is with great sadness that due to unforeseen circumstances Brunston Castle Golf Club is closing on Sunday 13th January. 
 The course was laid out in the early 1990's and developed a fine reputation over the years, hosting many county and national events, and the members also enjoyed success in a number of Ayrshire competitions over the years.

In 2003 The West of Scotland County Jamboree was held there
 and Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association were the winners that year. (Sorry no photos)
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 16th - 18th June 2003

RLCGA Team - Gillian McGinlay, Karen Fitzgerald, Maureen Woodhead, Jennifer Jenkins,
Lesley Robertson, Carol Whyte and Donna Jackson

Some photos from one of the matches CLICK HERE (Apologies - a couple of photos toward end no longer have links to main photo) - Go back to thumbnails and skip a couple

Shannon McWilliam is in 10th position with one round to go in Chile

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 

Liberton Golf Club member Kieran Cantley is in joint 12th position with Sunday's final round completing the South American men's amateur championship at Los Leones Golf Club, Santiago, Chile. 
 The Scot has had three par rounds of 72 for a running total of 21, seen shots behind the South American leader Luis Gagne who has scored 68, 72 and 69 for 209 to head the field by one stroke from Tom Plumb (England) 68, 74, 67 and South American Ivan Ramirez (69-72-68-69).  

In the women's championship Aboyne's Shannon McWilliam is in 10th spot with rounds of 74, 72 and 72 for 219 - 11 behind the leader by four, Paraguay's Maria F Escauriza with rounds of 69, 71 and 68. 

Former Scottish women's amateur champion Connie Jaffrey is 19th on 223. 

LEADING SCORES Par 216 (3x72) 
MEN 
209 L Gagne 68 72 69. 210 T Plumb (Eng) 68 75 67, I Ramirez 69 72 69. 

SELECTED SCORES 
216 K Cantley (Sco) 72 72 74 (T12) 
218 P O'Keefe (Ire) 74 72 72, B McKenzie (Eng) 71 75 72 (T22). 
220 T Froom (Wal) 73 76 71 (T28) 
222 M Roberts (Wal) 72 78 72, E Walker (Sco) 74 73 75 (T37). 

WOMEN 
208 M F Escauriza (Paraguay) 69 71 68. 
212 A Matte 71 71 70 
214 G Fernandez (Paraguay) 74 69 71 

SELECTED SCORES 
219 S McWilliam (Sco) 74 73 72 (10th) 220 E Brennan (Eng) 75 72 73 (T10) 
222 L A Bramwell (Wal) 74 76 72, A Wilson (Ire) 76 71 75 (T14) 
223 P Grant (Ire) 79 75 69, C Jaffrey (Sco) 75 74 74 (T19) 
224 G Blackman (Eng) 73 74 77 (T27) 
228 B Morris (Wal) 74 81 73 (36th)

D&A COUNTY JUNIOR COACHING

D&A Junior Coaching 

Come and join other girls from the Dunbartonshire & Argyll County for a fun coaching session on SATURDAY 2nd FEB at 10am.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 

Catriona Matthew glad to have Solheim Cup entourage sorted

Catriona Matthew

Catriona Matthew has most of her pieces in place for this year’s Solheim Cup – and is excited to now see how the battle for spots on the European team unfolds over the next six months.

The home skipper has appointed Laura Davies, Kathyrn Imrie and Suzann Pettersen as her vice-captains for September’s clash at Gleneagles, with others having also agreed to take on unofficial roles for the North Berwick woman.

“Three vice-captains is what it has been the last three or four. It’s nice to have that sorted and I also have my helpers organised. It’s nice, for a change, to be quite organised,” she said.

“I’ve got five helpers and I think you can have one or two more, which I will leave until nearer the time. They do whatever I tell them (laughing)!”

The fight for 12 spots on Matthew’s team for the match in Perthshire resumed today in Abu Dhabi as the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open marked the start of the 2019 LET.

Eight automatic spots are up for grabs, with the last counting event set to be the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. On August 12, the day after that event in East Lothian finishes, Matthew, a nine-time Solheim Cup player, will announce her four captain’s picks for the match on September 13-15.

“At the moment there are a lot of possibilities, but six months is a long time in golf, so we will see who is in form at that time,” she said. “The core of the team will end up being similar, as it usually is. There will then be a few for us to debate.

“I think this next six months will be quite exciting. For someone (on the LET) to get in, they are going to have to play exceptionally well, but the chance is there. Georgia Hall played her way in the last time.”

Matthew is starting her new campaign by teeing up in Abu Dhabi, where she’s been joined by fellow Scots Carly Booth and Kylie Henry, as well as Edinburgh-based American Beth Allen. The winner in 2016 en route to topping the LET Order of Merit, Allen is looking to get her new season off to a good start after a disappointing season and a half.

“The last 18 months have been tough,” she admitted. “But I’m starting to feel positive about my game again. I started working with Karl Morris around September, leaving the mental coach I had been with for eight years.

“That has helped me find another direction and that has been a good thing for me. I have also been working hard on my swing with Ian Rae, though I don’t think it is that different to what it was a few years back. It’s been more down to a loss of confidence.”

WEST KILBRIDE GOLF CLUB LOOKING FOR A PGA 1st YEAR TRAINEE

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