Heather MacRae wins PGA title as she fights cancer

Heather MacRae

By Martin Dempster (The Scotsman)

Heather MacRae vindicated her brave decision to continue playing competitive golf as she fights cancer by winning the Women’s PGA Professional Championship for the second time in four years.

The 35-year-old, who is going in for an operation on 14 June after being diagnosed with cervical cancer following a routine screening, overcame feeling tired in the final few holes of the 36-hole event to claim her victory at Trentham Golf Club in Stoke-on-Trent.

MacRae, who comes from Dunblane and is attached to Stirling, carded two 72s for a two-under total, winning by two shots from English duo Suzanne Dickens and Ali Gray in a field that also included former Solheim Cup player and captain Alison Nicholas.

“I am absolutely delighted and amazed, I can’t quite believe it,” admitted MacRae of her success, which, in addition to a top prize worth £1,000, secured a spot in the first women’s PGA Cup in Texas in October.

MacRae, a former British Women’s Stroke-Play champion who regularly plays against her male PGA professionals on the Tartan Tour, was two shots off the lead after an opening effort that included five birdies

She then made three birdies in the opening six holes in the afternoon to storm into the lead before running up a double-bogey 6 at the ninth but came home in one-under, a birdie at the 14th coming in the middle of eight pars.

The success came a day after MacRae had teamed up with Lee, a former European Tour player, to qualify for the PGA Fourball Championship..

RACHAEL TAYLOR TIES 2nd IN SWITZERLAND

Rachael Taylor

In the Lavaux Ladies Championship in Switzerland Spain’s Maria Beautell secured her maiden victory on the LET Access Series with a one shot victory over Finland's Sanna Nuutinen and Scotland’s Rachael Taylor.

The Spaniard shot a brilliant four-under 68 to end the tournament at -6, and was overjoyed to take the title at the Swiss course:

In the 54 holes of play Rachel had 43 pars, 9 birdies, 1 bogey & 1 triple bogey for a total of -5 and T2nd which was her best finish on the LET Access Series so far

Hannah McCook finished tied in 36th position

For all the scores CLICK HERE

INTER COUNTY FOURSOMES FINALS DRAW

INTER-COUNTY FOURSOMES FINALS - DRAW SHEET CARDROSS GOLF CLUB - Thursday 6 June 2019

SCRATCH

09:00 : Gemma Canham & Katy Rodgers (Dumbarton &Argyll) and Carol McNally & Alyson McGinnigle (Renfrewshire)

09:10 Sheila Steele & Margaret Stewar (Dumbarton & Argyll)  Jean Sloan & Jane Alexander (Renfrewshire)

09:20  Lisa Chan & Jo Chung (Lanarkshire)  Helen McGibbon & Fiona Browley (Ayrshire)

09:30 Jane Lees & Gail Campbell (Lanarkshire) Liz Wilson & Linda McDonald (Ayrshire)

HANDICAP

09:40 Margaret Jefferies & Margaret Grant (Dumbarton & Argyll)  Elizabeth Hale & Lesley Anderson (Renfrewshire)

09:50 Fiona Cowan & Morag McFarlane (Dumbarton & Argyll)  Shirley Back & Mhairi Bryce (Renfrewshire)

10:00 Lois Connell & Lana Macdonald (Dumbarton & Argyll) Valerie Crawford & Linda Ellery (Renfrewshire)

10:10 Susan Rattray & Edith Monachan (Dumbarton & Argyll) Audrey Barclay & Carole Spy (Renfrewshire)

10:20 Kay Cherrie & Jean Maddock (Lanarkshire) Sandra Inglis & Regina Milaszkiewing (Ayrshire)

10:30 Fay Chalmers & Alice Brown (Lanarkshire) Katie Hodge and June Dempster (Ayrshire)

10:40 Anne Lloyd & Pat Casey (Lanarkshire) Julie Mackie & Shirley Morran (Ayrshire)

10:50 Susan Greenshields & Jennifer Wiles (Lanarkshire) Margaret Miller & Jill West (Ayrshire)

                    

GET INTO GOLF AT ERSKINE GOLF CLUB

GET INTO GOLF DAY AT ERSKINE GOLF CLUB. On Sunday 2nd June 2019

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

THE WEST GIRLS WIN THE MHAIRI MCKAY TROPHY

West Girls Team with Jenny Gough and Jo Clark
West Girls captain Sophie Kyle and Katy Hill with Trophy
Photos -- Courtesy of Allison Bell

The Mhairi McKay Trophy was played on Sunday 26th May at Pollok Golf Club. 

The West Girls who  played and against the East Girls and won all 8 matches. 

Sophie Kyle (Captain) - East Renfrewshire 

Katy Hill (Vice Captain) - Prestwick St Cuthberts

Clare McLaughlin - East Renfrewshire ?

Katie Graham - Hamilton GC

Megan Docherty - Bishopbriggs

Luisa Gibson - Irvine 

Freya Russell - Royal Troon

Leah Bryce - Sandyhills

East Girls

Katie Liddle, Freya Constable, Mollaidh Nicholson, Lisa Macpherson, Abby Steedman, Alijca Gorka, Lucy Fraser, and Ellie Ferguson.

WEST VETS RETAIN THE MID WEST TROPHY AT FALKIRK CARMUIRS

West Vets retain the Mid West Trophy

The annual match between the West Vets and Midlands Vets took place at Falkirk Carmuirs today with the West Vets retaining the Trophy -- To read more go to the West Vets Website

Results (West names first) - West Vets 5 - Midlands Vets 2

Jean Sloan (Troon) beat Alison Houston (Ladybank) 4 & 2

Anabel Kane (Kilmalcolm) beat Christine Steedman (Pitreavie) 3 & 2

Janette McCartney (Erskine) beat Fiona Johnston (Blairgowrie) 2 & 1

Liz Hale (Caldwell) beat Emma Wilson (Ellie) 6 & 4

June Lockhart (Gleddoch) beat Myrtle Gilbert (Ladybank) 2up

Cathy Morton (Eastwood) lost to Joan Peden (Dunfermline) 6 & 5

Morag Key (Ralston) lost to Lindsay Wilson (Falkirk) 3 & 2

CLICK HERE FOR SOME PHOTOS

KYLIE HENRY FINISHES IN 10TH PLACE IN THE JABRA LADIES OPEN

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE – May 25, 2019: England’s Annabel Dimmock held off French amateur Pauline Roussin Bouchard to win her first Ladies European Tour title by one shot in the Jabra Ladies Open, as both players qualified for the Evian Championship.

Scot Kylie Henry shared 10th place

Leading Scores
1 Annabel Dimmock ENG 69 69 68 206 
2 Pauline Roussin Bouchard FRA (Amateur) 68 69 70 207 
3 Meghan MacLaren ENG 68 74 69 211 
4 Camilla Lennarth SWE 74 70 68 212
4 Hannah Burke ENG 71 70 71 212 
4 Olivia Cowan GER 71 69 72 212 
7 Marianne Skarpnord NOR 75 68 70 213 Par
7 Gabriella Cowley ENG 71 71 71 213 Par
9 Lejan Lewthwaite SAf 72 71 71 214 +1
10 Natalia Escuriola Martinez SPN 73 73 69 215
10 Kylie Henry SCO 74 68 73 215
30 Michele Thomson SCO 70 75 76 221 

FOR ALL THE SCORES CLICK HERE and the full report go to the European Tour Website

MyGolfRanking— KATIE WRIGHT TOPS THE SCOTTISH LADIES FOR WEEK 20 - 2109

Click to Enlarge

LESLEY LLOYD RETAINS THE WEST VETS CHAMPIONSHIP AT RENFREW

West Vets Captain presents Lesley Lloyd with Championship Trophy

Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) the 2018 West Vets champion retained the Championship title today at Renfrew Golf Club after beating Liz Stewart (Greenburn)in the mornings semi final and then beating Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) 2&1 in the final 

Donna and Lesley on the 1st Tee

The Championship final saw Lesley win the first two holes against Donna. They then took it in turns to win holes.

It was 2 up to Lesley at the turn. After a few halved holes, Donna pulled it back to one but Lesley stayed focused and won the game 2&1

Captain Chris Fowler presents Fiona Armour with the Stewart Trophy

Local Member Fiona Armour was the winner of the handicap Trophy

RESULTS

Semi Final Championship:
Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) bt Liz Stewart (Greenburn) 5&4
Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) bt Gillian Kyle ( East Renfrewshire) 3&2

Final Championship
Lesley Lloyd bt Donna Jackson 2&1

Stewart Cup (Handicap) Semi Final 
Sheila Sneddon (Prestwick St Nicholas) lost to Sandra MacDougall (Kilmacolm) one hole
Janet Buchanan (Dalmally GC) lost to Fiona Armour (Renfrew) 2&1

Final
Fiona Armour bt Sandra MacDougall 4&2

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE WEST VETS WEBSITE FOR SOME PHOTOS AND THE FULL REPORT

PICKELBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND IN GLASGOW

I know this has nothing to do with golf but --- WHY NOT GO ALONG TO THE PICKELBALL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND 

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world.  It is a central net, rebound game played with a ball and paddle (like a hard racket) and was invented in the USA over 50 years ago by a family who named it after their dog Pickles!

​

Pickleball is played on a court very similar to badminton and uses elements of racket skills from tennis, squash, badminton and table tennis.  However this game is unique - for one reason, no other sport has a 'kitchen' in the middle of the court!  The rules and scoring system also mean that pickleball is much more accessible by the young and not-so-young, making this a fantastic family activity for everyone to enjoy.​

Now in Scotland we have many golfers who have taken up this sport and this holiday week end and yo fancy seeing the game and perhaps many of your fellow golfers why not go along to the National Badminton Academy in Glasgow which has free parking, 10 fantastic courts and competition-standard lighting. 
 There is a cafe next door at Scotstoun Leisure Centre, and the campus is also home to Glasgow Warriors professional rugby club

CLICK HERE FOR AL THE INFORMATION


There are many golfers that you will know that are playing in the event :
To name just a few  
D&A'S:  Anna Telfer , Sheena MacDonald, Katy MacAuley, Lois Connell (Milngavie) - see Sheena driving a visitors car

Renfrewshire's:  Morag Key (Ralston), Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm),  Jinty Rodger (Williamwood) Liz Hale (Caldwell)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE ENTRANTS

WANT TO WATCH IT LIVE HERE -- IT DOES BECOME LIVE TOMORROW 

WEST VETS CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 1 RESULTS at RENFREW GOLF CLUB

Renfrew Golf Club - Photo courtesy of Fiona Armour

Championship  1st Round Results

Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) bt May Hughes (Lanark) 6&5

Liz Keohone (London Gowf) lost to Janice Paterson  (Drumpellier)

Liz Stewart (Greenburn)  bt Jean Sloan  (Troon Ladies) 7&5

Roz Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt Marion Mason (Milngavie)

Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) bt Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm) 5&4

Carol Whyte (Milngavie) bt Beth Paterson (Eastwood)

Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) v Brenda Conway (Renfrew)

Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) bt Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 4&3

Quarter Finals:

Lesley Lloyd bt Janice Paterson 2&1

Liz Stewart bt Roz Purdom 

Donna Jackson bt Carol Whyte 2&1

Gillian Kyle bt Lorraine Campbell 7&6

Thursday Semi Finals Matches:

Lesley Lloyd v Liz Stewart

Donna Jackson v Gillian Kyle

Stewart Trophy 1st round 

Anita McMillan (Erskine) lost Sheila Sneddon (Prestwick St Nicholas) 7&6

Barbara Cunningham (Hilton Park) lost to Sandra MacDougall(Kilmalcolm) 3&2

Janet Buchanan (Dalmally) bt Evy McGregor (Ranfurly Castle) 5&4

Cathy Morton (Eastwood) lost to Fiona Armour (Renfrew) 3&2

Thursday Semi Final Matches

Sheila Sneddon v Sandra MacDougall

Janet Buchanan v Fiona Armour

THE MACKIE BOWL AT GULLANE GOLF CLUB -- ENTRY FORM

The Mackie Bowl returns to the calendar this year after a one year absence on Sunday 28^thJuly at Gullane Golf Club. 

Entries are open however are very low so far. Entries close on the 15^thJuly however to help Gullane Ladies with plans for the event it would be helpful if they had a better idea of the number of likely entries.

The event counts for the Scottish Golf Women and Girls Order of Merits and involves 36 holes on the Gullane Number 1 course. 

 Entries can be made online via the Scottish Golf website at the following link  CLICK HERE

TARA MACTAGGART WINS THE MUNROSS TROPHY

Tara Mactaggart

Tara Mactaggart (Minto) won the Munross Trophy 36-hole women's tournament at Montrose Links with a better second-round score of 68 after she and Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) had both totalled five-under-par 141 

Tara, pictured below, has a handicap of +1 while Jess is a +4 player.  

Thirteen-year-old Freya Russell from Royal Troon won the leading handicap prize with a net total of 140 (70-70) playing off a handicap of 8.   

LEADING SCRATCH 

par 73. CSS 72 73

141 Tara Mactaggart (Minto) 73 68, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies)  70  71 (Mactaggart won with better second round)

143 Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) 75 68, Rachel Foster (Prestwick) 72 71

144 Katy Alexander (Blairgowrie) 73 71 

146 Ellie Docherty (Moray) 69 77, Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) 76 70, Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) 70 76,  Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart) 71 75 

147 Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 73 74

Freya Russell -

Thirteen-year-old Freya Russell from Royal Troon won the leading handicap prize with an aggregate handicap score of 140 (70 70),  playing off a handicap of 8.   

Scratch prizes

1^st Tara Mactaggart (Minto) 

2^nd Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 

3rd Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) 

4^th Rachel Foster (Prestwick)

Handicap prizes

1^st Freya Russell (Royal Troon) 

2^nd Jackie Brown (Monfieith) 

3^rd Ellie Docherty (Moray) 

4^th Katy Alexander (Blairgowrie)

KELSEY MACDONALD FINISHES IN 6th PLACE IN SOTOGRANDE

Kelsey MacDonald -- Photo courtesy of the European Ladies Tour

Céline Herbin from France won her second Ladies European Tour title with a one-shot victory at the inaugural La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational hosted by Annika Sörenstam. 

The 36-year-old was six-under for the tournament with a final round of 69, with Esther Henseleit a shot behind and Charlotte Thompson, Camille Chevalier and third-round leader Caroline Hedwall on two-under.

Kelsey MacDonald produced the best round of the day, a 67, to share sixth with Daniela Holmqvist and Spanish pair Carmen Alonso and Maria Parra.

Scots Carly Booth finished in 13th place, Kylie Henry in 21st place and Michele Thomson in 52nd place

LEADERBOARD
1 Celine Herbin FRA 70 70 73 69 282 -6 
2 Esther Henseleit GER 67 72 74 70 283 -5
3 Charlotte Thompson ENG 66 73 78 69 286 -2 
3 Camille Chevalier FRA 70 70 74 72 286 -2 
3 Caroline Hedwall SWE 72 70 70 74 286 -2 
6 Kelsey Macdonald SCO 72 76 72 67 287 -1
 
SCOTS
13 Carly Booth SCO 71 77 71 72 291 +3 
21 Kylie Henry SCO 71 77 70 74 292 +4
52 Michele Thomson SCO 77 74 81 70 302 +14 

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS

To read the full report go to  the European Ladies Tour Website

MEGAN BRIGGS WINS THE WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE 6TH TIME

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) successfully defended the West Championship with a score of 72 at Sandyhills Golf Club today.

Megan Briggs

Results:

1st Scratch (Champion) Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 72

2nd Scratch Fiona Norris (Hamilton)  75

3rd Scratch Julie Wilson (Williamwood) 77 BIH

Handicap Winner Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell Golf Club) 65

Senior Team Winners :

Renfrewshire Team: Megan Briggs ( Kilmacolm ) 72, Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) 79, Alyson McGinnigle (Cowglen) 78

Junior Team Winners 

Renfrewshire Junior Team : (best 2 handicap) Orla Rooney (Cowglen) 78, Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell) 65, Aaliyah Sandu (Haggs Castle) 70

Fiona Norris, Megan Briggs and Julie Wilson

Winning Renfrewshire Team - Donna, Alyson and Megan

Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell)  -- Winning Junior 

Aaliyah Sandu - Haggs Castle

Orla Rooney - Cowglen 

Many thanks go to Jean MacIntyre for the results and photographs from the Lanarkshire Website  -- Also some photos of all the competitors 

CLICK HERE - photos courtesy of Jean MacIntyre

Competition Result West Of Scotland Championship (19/05/2019) 
(CSS: 72 PAR: 74) -- Strokeplay Sandyhills (Red Tee) 

LEADING SCRATCH SCORES :

Megan Briggs	72
Fiona Norris	75
Julie Wilson	77
Eva O'Connor	77
Susan McGrenaghan	77
Liz Stewart	78
Alyson McGinnigle	78
Donna Jackson	79
Katie Graham	79
Alyson Hendry	80
Luisa Gibson (jnr)	81
Carol Whyte	81
Janice Paterson	81

LEADING HANDICAP SCORES:

1 Jennifer Lynagh (Caldwell) 85 (20) 65 
2 Aaliyah Sandhu (Haggs Castle) 84 (14) 70 
3 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)  72 (1) 71 
4 Leah Bryce (Sandyhills) 82 (10) 72 
5 Eva O'Connor  (Bothwell Castle) 77 (5) 72 
6 Julie Wilson  (Williamwood) 77 (4) 73 
7 Susan McGrenaghan (Hayston) 77 (4) 73 
8 Fiona Norris (Hamilton) 75 (2) 73 

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES

NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM SEMINARS

The World Handicap System (WHS) is set to launch in 2020 and will replace the six different systems currently in use by over 15 million golfers around the world.

It will bring these together into a single set of Rules for Handicapping, enabling golfers of different abilities to play and compete on a fair and equal basis, no matter where they play.

The R&A and The United States Golf Association (USGA) have developed the World Handicap System to include

• Course rating and slope rating
• Maximum Handicap of 54
• Abnormal course and weather conditions adjustment
• Competitive and recreational scores can count for handicap
• Handicaps calculated from an average of a player’s most recent scores

To help golf clubs prepare for the launch of WHS in 2020, Scottish Golf will be hosting an initial phase of 12 seminars around the country aimed at educating clubs to ease transition to the new system.

Seminars will take place between the 5th August and 29th August 2019. 

These evening Seminars will take place between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, with two delegates per club with responsibility for handicapping invited to attend.

To get all the various seminar dates go to the Scottish Golf Website

WEST KILBRIDE OPEN DAY

West Kilbride has a Ladies Open Day Stableford on Thursday 4th July -- Closing Date -- 31st May

 CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

For other various Open Days at West Kilbride -- CLICK HERE

KAREN MARSHALL AND LINDA DYBALL ARE REPRESENTING SCOTLAND IN THE HOLE IN ONE CLUB AT SAWGRASS

Karen and Linda at Sawgrass

Karen Marshall (Baberton)  and Linda Dyball (Dunfermline) are representing Scotland  in the Hole In One Club Grand Finals at TPC Sawgrass home of the Players Championship.

You to could this be you standing with your boarding pass in 2019? Have you signed up to our free HIO 12 month trial to win yourself a place on this years flight. www.hio-club.com 

First day of the HIO-CLUB GRAND FINAL at TPC Sawgrass, fantastic day with the storyteller tour and then our first round over the Dye Valley Course. 

Listen to Karen  explain why you are only ever one shot away from Sawgrass

Alternatively -- Go to You Tube to listen

MYGOLRRANKING -- LUCY RENTON OF THORNTON IS NO 1 IN WEEK 19 / 2019

 mygolfranking.net SCOTLAND LADIES GOLFER of WEEK 19/19 is LUCY RENTON of Thornton Ladies who moves up to NUMBER ONE on Scotland Ladies MGRanking.

Scotland

Click to enlarge

REGIONAL MEDAL FINALISTS FROM THE NORTH

The North Regional Medal Finals took place yesterday at Kirriemuir Golf Club. 

Fiona Seedhouse (Courtesy of Scottish Golf)

The  following Silver players have qualified for the Grand Final at the Eden Course, St Andrews on Sunday 16th June:

1) Fiona Seedhouse (Aberdeen Ladies)

2) Dawn Dargie (Grange)

3) Linda Craik (Portlethan)

4) Lorna Edwards (Oldmeldrum)

​5) Victoria Buchan (Inverallochy))

6) Rachel Mathieson (Hazelhead)

Anne MacIntosh (Courtesy of Scottish Golf)

The following Bronze players have qualified for the Grand Final at the Eden Course, St Andrews on Sunday 16th June:

1) Anne MacIntosh (Edzell)

2) Hazel Ewen (Duff House Royal)

3) Audrey Smith (Blair Atholl)

4) Hillary Wallace (Panmure)

5) Helen Cran (Oldmeldrum)

​6) Susan Ledger (Alyth)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS

STILL TIME TO ENTER THE WOMENS AND GIRLS SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Women's Scottish Open Championship this year is at Kilmarnock Barassie from the 28th June to the 30th June 2019

The closing date is the 27th May -- CLICK HERE TO ENTER

The Scottish Girls Open Championship is at Blairgowrie is on the 19th - 21st July 2019 

The Closing date is the 17th June 2019 -- CLICK HERE TO ENTER