EUROPE WINS SOLHEIM CUP AFTER SENSATIONAL FINISH

From the Solheim Cup Website 

Europe won The Solheim Cup for the first time since 2013 after an incredible finish to the final day singles, which ended with Suzann Pettersen holing the decisive putt on the 18th green to send the thousands of fans into raptures.

Team USA looked set to retain the trophy when they needed a half point from any of the final three matches, but Europe won all of them to secure a sensational victory.

With Anna Nordqvist closing out a 4&3 win over Morgan Pressel and Bronte Law beating Ally McDonald 2&1 in the final two groups in the minutes preceding, Pettersen and Marina Alex were both on the 18th green and with makeable putts for birdie.

Alex missed and Pettersen, one of Captain Catriona Matthew’s wildcard picks, stepped up and rolled in an eight-footer to give Europe the point they needed to get to the all-important 14½.

Team Europe went wild; the Americans were stunned.

All day the momentum swung either way, with Carlota Ciganda beating Danielle Kang on the last in the top group followed by Nelly Korda putting some red on the board with a two-hole win over Caroline Hedwall.

The next two points went to Europe, Georgia Hall defeating world number three Lexi Thompson and Celine Boutier seeing off Annie Park 2&1. Devastating as a pair, Hall and Boutier showed they could produce the goods individually too as both secured their fourth point from four matches this week.

The middle order matches all went America’s way and put them on the brink of a triumph which would have been Juli Inkster’s third in a row as Captain. First Angel Yin beat Azahara Munoz in the fifth match, then Meghan Khang won the 18th hole to claim a half from Charley Hull.

Next up was Lizette Salas who downed Anne Van Dam by one hole, and there were easy wins for Jessica Korda, 3&2 against Caroline Masson, and Brittany Altomare, 5&4 over Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

Team USA, on 13½ points, were preparing to pop the champagne corks on the 18th green, but a dramatic finish then ensued as the final three Europeans completed a remarkable comeback.

Pettersen, whose selection by Matthew last month raised eyebrows because of her lack of competitive action since having her son at the end of 2017, struggled to hold in the emotion after winning the Solheim Cup for her team.

“Can you ask for more?” she said. “The last putt to win the Cup, when it’s that close? History was just made, to win here in front of the Scottish crowd, to be here most of all. I could never in a million years dream of this.

“I mean, to hole the winning putt, to win the Cup. Nothing beats The Solheim Cup in my career.

“I honestly didn’t know when I stood over the putt that that was to win it. It was left centre and I couldn’t have hit it any better. I’m on the best team ever.”

USA Captain Juli Inkster was philosophical after the narrow defeat, saying: “The Europeans played great. You tip your hat.

“We had a few tears. And I said it’s okay. But the bottom line is we had a great week, the Europeans played great and we’re going to have a great party.

“The sun’s going to come up tomorrow. This will give them the fuel and fire for another two years to work at their game, to be on that team, to try to get that Cup back. I just said, ‘Hold your heads up because you should not be disappointed’.”

EUROPE AND USA TIED AFTER DAY 2 OF THE SOLHEIM CUP

Photo courtesy of Solheim Cup Europe Facebook Page

From Women and Golf

It's all square, Europe 8 - USA 8 after day two of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, so a thrilling day of singles matches lies ahead to decide the winning team.

Unlike the first day of the Solheim Cup, players had to contend with winds gusting over 30 miles an hour over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles today.

Europe began the second day with a slender lead, 4½–3 ½, but that lead soon disappeared when sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda continued their scintillating form from the previous day to beat the undefeated Spanish and English pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law in a convincing fashion, 6&5.

Anna Nordqvist and Anne van Dam made a fast start against USA’s Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex and were 3up after 8 holes, but the tide changed dramatically as the Americans responded with four straight birdies to edge ahead 1up. The US pair kept the momentum going to move to three up with three holes to play, and whilst Europe pulled a hole back on the 16th, the Americans clinched victory with a par on the following hole.

Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz, who partnered each other to European success on the opening foursomes session, matched this with a 4&3 win over Danielle Kang and Meghan Khang.

Similarly, the winning European pairing of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier impressed again, beating Lizete Salas and Amy McDonald 3&2, to complete the foursomes on level footing, 2-2, and keep the Europeans clinging onto their one point lead.

In the afternoon fourballs, Suzann Pettersen and Ann van Dam led team Europe, geeing up the crowd on the first tee, and whilst the European pair never got their noses in front of Britany Altomare and Annie Park, it was a closely fought match that van Dam extended to the 18th hole after securing a lengthy putt for a half, before the Americans won 1 up after making par on the final hole.

Europe's impressive pairing of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier versus Ally McDonald and Angel Yin found themselves 4 down after 7 holes, but they made a gallant comeback to level the match on 16. A winning par putt from Hall took them to 1up on the par-3 17th and Boutier's birdie on 18 secured a 2up victory.

A point was shared between Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson and Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex. This was a see-saw match with the lead changing between both pairings, but never more than 1up. Europe's Caroline Masson had a good chance to seal the match with a birdie putt on 18, but there was a deep sigh from Captain Catriona Matthew and fellow players looking on as Masson's putt slid past.

The final match out on the course tippped in the American's favour as Lizete Salas and Danielle Kang beat the Spanish pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz 2up.

At 8-8, it should be a thrilling final day with 12 singles matches to decide the contest. Europe require 14½ points to win the trophy and the USA need 14 points to retain it.

Sunday Singles:
11:40 Danielle Kang v Carlota Ciganda 
11:52 Nelly Korda v Caroline Hedwall 
12:04 Lexi Thompson v Georgia Hall 
12:16 Annie Park v Celine Boutier 
12:28 Angel Yin v Azahara Munoz 1
12:40 Megan Khang v Charley Hull 
12: 52 Lizette Salas v Anne Van Dam 
13:04 Jessica Korda v Caroline Masson 
13:16 Brittany Altomare v Jodi Ewart Shadoff 
13:28 Marina Alex v Suzann Pettersen 
13:40 Ally McDonald v Bronte Law 
13:52 Morgan Pressel v Anna Nordqvist

EUROPE LEAD AFTER DAY 1 OF THE SOLHEIM CUP -- GREAT SUPPORT BY MANY

Scottish Vets are out helping and supporting at the Solheim Cup

Europe 4.5, USA 3.5 

FROM THE EUROPEAN LADIES TOUR WEBSITE

Europe will take a narrow one point lead into the second day of the 16th Solheim Cup at the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles.

The home team are 4 ½ – 3 ½ in front heading into the second series of foursomes and fourballs but it is the American team who have momentum on their side after a dramatic finish to the day in which they came from behind to salvage halves in both of the last two fourball matches.

The home side took a slender 2 ½ – 1 ½ lead into the fourballs but it disappeared when in the second match on the course Ally McDonald and Angel Yin, both left out of the morning foursomes, took just 13 holes to beat Swedish duo Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall 7 & 5.

The Americans good off to a fast start with birdies at the first three holes and they also birdied the fifth, ninth, tenth and 11th to increase that advantage to seven. Nordqvist did get one hole back with a birdie at the 12th before McDonald, a late replacement for the injured Stacy Lewis, closed out the match with a par on the next.

The 7 & 5 score tied the record for the biggest margin of victory in a Solheim Cup fourball, set by one of this year’s US Vice-Captains, Pat Hurst, and her partner Rosie Jones in their match against Lisa Hall and Sophie Gustafson at Muirfield Village in 1998.

“That was the year I was born,” laughed a delighted Yin.

“I would say we’re ham and eggs. We’ve always got each other’s back, no matter what, and we work together as a team, communicate well. We’re just such a good pairing.”

Her partner McDonald added: “When Juli called me in to replace Stacy, I knew it could go either way, so to be able to go into my first match and get a point for the US means a lot.”

The USA won the first fourball series 4-0 two years ago in Iowa but any hopes they had of replicating that feat disappeared when the veteran Swede, Suzann Pettersen, and the rookie Dutchwoman, Anne Van Dam, beat Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas 4 & 2. It was a significant win for Pettersen because it was her ninth Solheim Cup fourball victory, tying the European record, held by Laura Davies.

“I just want to say I had the best partner in the world today,” said the Norwegian. “I told you we don’t have any rookie on the team. I mean, this girl, I think she’s the best golfer I’ve ever seen on the women’s side. Today, she was an absolute rock star.”

Van Dam added: “Walking through that tunnel, especially to play with Suzann who has been my idol growing up, for her to say, ‘Let’s enjoy this,’ that is what I was going to do. I was just hitting it solid from the beginning. It is not an easy golf course. Even from the tee you have to hit it in the fairway. If I hit it in the rough I lose my advantage a little bit from the tee, but it was great. I’m happy I played well and I was happy and comfortable around Suzann today.”

At that stage, the Europeans were one point clear of the Americans and that is how it remained when Lexi Thompson holed a curling 25-foot birdie putt across the last green to secure a halve for her and partner Jessica Korda against Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda.

Then, in the final match, and with the sun starting to set at the end of a long but riveting day, the Europeans, Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz, also lost the last to a birdie to tie their match with Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare, having been four up with five to play. This time it was rookie Altomare who did the damage, also holing out from long range to keep her side within one point of their rivals.

“Those two half points at the end of the day were huge,” said US captain, Juli Inkster. “For two rookies (Nelly Korda and Altomare) to be four down with five holes left and come back and tie, you can’t teach that. It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them. It was a great end to the day.”

European captain, Catriona Matthew, said: “Obviously, we got off to a great start in the foursomes. Our objective was to win every session.

“The finish wasn’t what we were looking for, everyone’s a little disappointed with that, but I think you have to take the positives. We’re leading. We’re a point up. If we’re leading at the end of each day, that would be great.”

SOLHEIM CUP AMBASSADORS

Some photos from the Solheim Practice Round on Tuesday

Your Webmaster Carol managed to get to the practice round of the Solheim Cup on Tuesday -- Great venue and sorry not to be able to make it to support over the weekend --

Nancy and her daughter Lindsey

Maureen McKerrow - picture right

Good to meet up with past SLGA President Nancy Chisholm and her daughter Lindsey and SVLGA President Maureen McKerrow - Maureen was very much involved with the Perthshire juniors that were being introduced to golf

CLICK HER TO SEE SOME PHOTOS

THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP

Watch the 2019 Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony  from Gleneagles, September 12 – 15.

You can watch the action LIVE on Thursday through to Sunday at the following times:

LIVE Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony 

Thurs (12.09.2019)           17:30-18:30 local (16:30-17:30gmt)

Unfortunately in this country we can not live stream the 3 days of matches!! -- PITY 

UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND

SKY SPORTS GOLF (GMT+1) SKY SPORTS MIX

CLICK HERE TO GO TO EUROPEAN LADIES TOUR WEBSITE TO READ MORE

BRAVE EUROPE COME UP JUST SHORT IN PING JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP

Europe’s brave bid to win the PING Junior Solheim Cup ended in disappointment when the American team beat the home team 13-11 in cold and blustery conditions over the King’s course at Gleneagles.

Europe won the closing singles series 6 ½ – 5 ½ but that was not quite enough to turn around the three-point deficit from the previous day’s fourball matches after the two teams tied the opening foursome series 3-3.

Nevertheless, it was still an admirable performance from a young European team about half of whom will be eligible to represent Europe for a second time in Toledo, Ohio, in two years’ time.

Ping European Junior Team on final day singles
Photo courtesy of the European Tour

The closing day of the 10th PING Junior Solheim Cup started under leaden skies but home heroine Hannah Darling soon heated up the action when she halved the top singles against World No. 5 Lucy Li. That result coupled with the point she won in partnership with England’s Annabell Fuller in the opening foursomes represented a fine return for the 16-year-old Scot, who was playing with the hopes of a nation on her shoulders.

To read the full report go to the European Tour Website

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS.

GREENLEES TROPHY UPDATE - REARRANGED FIXTURES

Greenlees Trophies

The 3 matches that were to be played on Monday 9th September were all postponed due to the home clubs having to close their courses because of the heavy rain.

The rearranged dates are as follows:

Division 1:

Wed 25th September: Cathkin Braes v Douglas Park 

Division 2:
Thursday 19th September: Lenzie v Old Ranfurly 

Tues 24th September:  Whitecraigs  v Old Ranfurly 

Fri 27th September : Haggs Castle v Lenzie

JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP -- LIVE SCORING

Junior Solheim Cup Teams

The 10th edition of the PING Junior Solheim Cup is under way over the King’s Course at Gleneagles.

The match comprises three sessions – six foursomes and six four balls on day one (Tuesday 10th September) and 12 singles matches on day two (Wednesday 11th September). AFTER day 1 the USA leads 7.5 - 4.5

Following LIVE SCORING HERE. -- Singles - final Day 

Inaugurated in 2002, the PING Junior Solheim Cup is a version of The Solheim Cup for female amateurs aged 18 and under and follows a similar format to the senior event, featuring the top 12 European juniors against their American counterparts.

GLEDDOCH MIXED FOURSOMES

Team is £20 per couple although a better ball competition 

To enter Contact

secretary.gleddochcommittee@outlook.com

European Junior Solheim team trail on Day 1

The PING Junior Solheim Cup is poised for a nailbiting final singles session after the USA edged ahead 7½-4½ on day one thanks to a dominant afternoon fourball session.

The match was tied at 3-3 after the morning foursomes after three convincing wins for the Europeans, but Team USA took control after lunch, winning four and a half points from six in the fourball format.

Europe has not won the competition since 2007 – when Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Hedwall were in the team – but gave a strong showing in the opening session. Scotland’s own Hannah Darling and her English partner Annabell Fuller put the home side’s first point on the board with a 4&3 victory against Sadie Englemann and Lucy Li.

English duo Lily May Humphreys and Mimi Rhodes won by the same margin against Amanda Sambach and Alexa Pano, and it was also a 4&3 rout for Italian Benedetta Moresco and Lucie Malchirand of France against Zoe Campos and Rose Zhang.

The Americans kept in touch though with 1 up wins for Michaele Morard and Rachel Heck over Pia Babnik and Alessia Nobilio, and Briana Chacon and Brianna Navarrosa against Lilas Pinthier and Paula Schulz-Hanssen, while Phoebe Brinker and Christine Wang saw off Danish pair Amalie Leth-Nissen and Anne Normann 4&3.

In the afternoon it was a different story, however. Darling and Fuller lost by one hole to Englemann and Heck, Babnik and Nobilio were downed 3&1 to Morard and Zhang, Sambach and Chacon defeated Humphreys and Rhodes 2&1, and Li and Wang saw off Moresco and Malchirand (also 2&1).

Pinthier and Schulz-Hanssen snatched a half point against Pano and Brinker, and there was a change in fortune for the Danes, Leth-NIssen and Norman, who beat Campos and Navarrosa 4&3.

European Captain Mickey Walker said: “We played a lot of good golf. The Americans just played better. We made bogeys at a couple of critical points and gave the hole away.

“When we looked on to get something from a match, we’d take three to get down and lose the hole. They were very fine margins but we were the ones making the errors at critical times. The girls know that. Matches can be so tight and then go in an instant.

“The Americans were tighter around the greens and putted better. The girls are very honest with themselves. Pia and Alessia are disappointed because they played really well but they just came up against Americans who played outstanding golf. I think they were six under and the Americans were eight under, so the it was fantastic golf.

“They know and I know that we can still win this, but we’re going to have to play exceptional golf tomorrow.”

Team USA Captain Mary Bea Porter-King said: “Until it’s over it’s not over, there’s a lot of golf to play. There’s 12 singles matches, that can go any way and momentum is a funny thing and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

“These girls have more wisdom than I, I don’t want to even get in their heads, they are confident and I don’t know there is much you can say to them. I have a text from Michelle Wie that I’m going to read to them tonight so I hope that will inspire them. Michelle came out of my junior program in Hawaii and she sent a nice text today, so that will fire them up.”

Wednesday Tee Times

08.00 Hannah Darling vs Lucy Li
08:10 Annabell Fuller vs Michaela Morard
08:20 Alessia Nobilio vs Rose Zhang
08:30 Amalie Leth-Nissen vs Sadie Englemann
08:40 Pia Bapnik vs Rachel Heck
08:50 Lilas Pinthier vs Amanda Sambach
09:00 Lily May-Humphreys vs Briana Chacon
09:10 Mimi Rhodes vs Brianna Navarrosa
09:20 Anne Normann vs Zoe Campos
09:30 Paula Schulz-Hanssen vs Christine Wang
09:40 Benedetta Moresco vs Phoebe Brinker
09:50 Lucie Malchirand vs Alexa Pano

LORRAINE CAMPBELL WINS CARDROSS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Cardross Golf Club held their Final’s Day on Saturday 7 September. It was a glorious day for the players and spectators. 

The Ladies Championship was between Lorraine Campbell and Ann Shanks. It was a good game which was won by Lorraine. 

Evelyn McPerson, Kath Brown, Lorraine Campbell and Ann Shanks

The Bronze Championship was between Evelyn McPherson and Kath Brown. Again very good match but, on form Kath came out on top.

Thanks go to Lorraine for the report and photos -- and many congrats Lorraine

SLGA, LGU AND RENFREWSHIRE STALWART ROSEMARY DYKES HAS DIED

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Rosemary Dykes from Turnberry on Friday 6th September at the age of 89.

She was involved in many adminstrative roles through out her golfing career :-- 

1979- 1981 Captain - Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association

1985 - 1986  -  Chairman LGU Executive Council,

1987 : Honorary Member of Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association

1999 - 2004 - Honorary President of RLCGA

She was one of 13 SLGA Vice Presidents. - The others are Catriona Matthew, Marigold Speir (deceased)  Jean Cameron, Pat Cairns Smith, Joan Lawrence MBE, Joyce Cooper, Ethel Jack (deceased)  Wendy Cameron, Belle Robertson MBE, Margo Bauer, Mary Greig (deceased) and Nancy Chisholm MBE

SLGA Centenary Lunch 2004
Back : L to R - Audrey Sturgess, Fiona Roger, Beth Paterson,
Jennifer Mack, Evi Park, Dorothea Hastings
Front L to R - Pamela MacKenzie, Rosemary Dykes, Carol Fell,
Christeen Finlayson and Moyra Gordon

Eleven ladies represented Renfrewshire at the SLGA Centenary luncheon held in Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh on Sarturday 9th October 2004 -- A historic day - the opening of he new Scottish Parliament building took place on that day

She lived on the South side of Glasgow and was a member of Bonnyton Golf Club and then moved to Turnberry and enjoyed living there with her husband Harry and playing golf at Turnberry.
Harold died in 2012 at the age of 93.

 In the 1980's and 1990's Turnberry  was in the 1st Division of the Greenlees Trophy and played alongside the McKay sisters Mhairi and Fiona (Norris)  
She  was interviewed by the  Telegraph Newspaper in 2002 (Click to read more)  and told them she remembered when the 12-year-old Mhairi McKay would play in the women's Greenlees team. "Little old ladies were horrified when they found they had to play her," Dykes said. They would lose every time but they would also be won over by the child's charm and chat. 

RLCGA Past Captains Lunch - 2007 at Erskine GC.
Rosemary - far left.

She continued to support Renfrewshire at many of the County events going to the West of Scotland Jamboree's and RLCGA Past Captain Lunches and Championships.

She was still able to come along and support at the West of Scotland County Jamboree in 2014 at Haggs Castle and the 2017 Jamboree at Hamilton where she caught up with many old friends and players.

At Haggs Castle there was an incident then when A VISOR was lost and with a bit of detective work the problem was solved --- CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Wendy Cameron, Pearl Orr, Margaret Horne, Rosemary Dykes and Christeen Finlayson
2014 - Haggs Castle

2017  Hamilton - Rosemary Dykes, Morag Key, Wendy Cameron,
Aileen Wilson and Jennifer Graham
Photo courtesy of Jean MacIntyre

Morag Key also said that they all had a good chinwag as you can see from the photo below that she sent me and said "Rosemary was a real character."
 "I remember her well as Handicap Advisor for the West as I was Handicap Secretary at the time"

Photo courtesy of Morag Key

I know she will be missed by many and we send her family our deepest sympathy. 

The Funeral is on Tuesday 10th September at the Jewish Cemetery , Cathcart at 1:15pm - No flowers please -- 
Address -- 131 Netherlee Road

Glasgow G44 3YL

by Carol Fell

Some Messages that have been received through Facebook 

Pearl Orr -  I am devastated. Such a lovely person. Unfortunately I am in Ireland at the moment and will not be able to attend the funeral. If possible please convey my sincere condolences.

Pearl

Christeen Finlayson — So sorry to hear the news of Rosemary's death.  She was a marvellous lady - gracious, so enthusiastic and full of fun.  I remember her well as an outstanding County President

Mo Neilson — That's sad news. She was a very charming friendly and inspiring lady. 

Wilma Leburn — Such sad news Rosemary was a wonderful lady 

Mo Ferrington —Rosemary was always so kind to Everyone no matter who RIP xx

Donna Jackson - Rosemary was a lovely lady and a great supporter of RLCGA and women’s golf sorry to hear this sad news x

Jill Balloch - Bless. What a lovely lady.

Janice Paterson - What a lady

Carol Fell - I am so sorry you have lost your Mum who was so important and special in your life - she certainly was a very special lady. 

Reply from -- 

Vicci Frutin (Rosemary’s daughter) —Thank you everybody for kind words about our mother, Rosemary Dykes. She had so many wonderful friends within the golfing world and we will all miss her very much.

Peter Dykes (Rosemary’s son) - I would like to add my thanks too ,Golf was such a big part of Mum’s life and so lovely to hear all the kind words.x

Hazel MacGarvie wins the Stirling International

Hazel MacGarvie

The first event of the R&A Student Tour Series was played at the Fairmont St Andrews over the weekend hosted by the Stirling International.

 Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon) - Stirling  was the winner defeating Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)- SRUC and Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) - Stirling by 1 shot over 3 rounds. There were 9 Scots in the field of 24 players.

CLICK HERE FOR LEADERBOARD

WHAT THE SERIES IS ABOUT

The R&A is launching a major new initiative for student golf with The R&A Student Tour Series which teed off at the Fairmont St Andrews yesterday, hosted by The Stirling International.

Taking place on prestigious world class golf courses in four countries between September 2019 and April 2020, the aim of this new Series is to enhance high performance competition amongst the leading student golfers in the UK and Europe.

Duncan Weir, Executive Director of Golf Development and Amateur Championships at The R&A, said, “The R&A has been a long-time supporter of student golf and we are delighted to be extending our involvement in this important area through The R&A Student Tour Series.

“This Series provides students with the opportunity to compete with their international peers regularly in championship conditions and on some of the best courses that Europe has to offer. We want to help leading student golfers to continue developing as players while they undertake their studies.”

Consisting of four championships, The R&A Student Tour Series will be played in Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal at venues that have hosted The Open or been a venue for The Open Qualifying Series or the European Tour including Carton House, Centro Nacional de Golf and Troia.   

Players who compete in two or more championships will earn points on the Tour Series Order of Merit with the leaders progressing to the Tour Series Final to be held at the Old Course, Carnoustie and the Eden Course.

The R&A Student Tour Series extends The R&A’s support of student golf. Each year, The R&A invests almost £500,000 in student and university golf through the Foundation Scholars programme. Currently, the organisation supports golf programmes at 17 universities and in the 2018/2019 academic year, awarded 170 individual Foundation scholarships.

The R&A has supported university and student golf for over 35 years with former scholars including: 2018 Champion Golfer of the Year Francesco Molinari (University of Turin); five-time PGA TOUR winner Hideki Matsuyama; and Catriona Matthew (University of Stirling), the 2019 European Solheim Cup Captain and former Women’s British Open Champion.

Scotland delivers again with Solheim Cup set up

By Martin Dempster 

The Scotsman Newspaper

Forget the muckle stand they had behind the first tee at last year’s Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France. That may have accommodated 6,500 fans, but it wasn’t a patch for a variety of reasons on the one for the same event four years earlier at Gleneagles. And, judging by Catriona Matthew’s “wow” reaction, Scotland has delivered again with that opening-tee arena for this week’s Solheim Cup at the Perthshire venue.

Anyone who was there on the opening morning of the 2014 Ryder Cup still talk about it. Minutes before the players appeared on the first tee to get the eagerly-anticipated event underway, the sun climbed above the Ochil Hills and created a view to behold down towards Glen Devon. The weather was fantastic over the three days, playing its part in the event being a resounding success overall.

Mother Nature may have delivered a wet start this time and the remnants of Storm Dorian could be a factor on Wednesday. But, by the look of it, we could get lucky again with the weather as Scotland steps back into the golfing spotlight in particular and also draws wider attention as is always the case with big team events.

A week ago, almost 80,000 tickets had already been sold for the third Solheim Cup staging in Scotland after matches at Dalmahoy and Loch Lomond in 1992 and 2000 respectively.

It will set a new attendance record for the biennial match on this side of the Atlantic and will also be the UK’s best-attended women’s golf event. No wonder people involved in delivering what is arguably Scotland’s biggest sporting event of the year are a tad excited about the week ahead.

“Anyone who sees the size and scale of the infrastructure around the 2019 Solheim Cup will be left in no doubt that this is a major international sporting event,” said Paul Bush, director of events at Visit Scotland. “Having hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup here just five years ago, we were determined to deliver a similar infrastructure and I think people will be blown away with what we have achieved here.

“The atmosphere on the first tee will be electric and unlike anything many will have seen at a golf event before. As well as being a world-class sporting spectacle, the event will be a fully accessible family day out and that’s something we’re hugely proud of. I can’t wait to get started and to further showcase Scotland’s credentials as one of the world’s leading event destinations.”

In what ended up as a straight fight, Scotland was given the nod ahead of Sweden to stage this event after the two countries were short-listed by the Ladies European Tour from an initial 10 countries from all over Europe. That decision was announced just under four years ago and the intervening period has been spent coming up with a plan to deliver something special for players and fans alike.

“We are very proud of our role in delivering what we believe will be a spectacular event, in keeping with the remit we were set by Visit Scotland – to make this the best Solheim Cup to date,” said Ross Hallett, IMG’s executive tournament director. “Planning started more than four years ago with a team that has grown to more than 50, utilising expertise from our global resources. We are extremely proud to play a key role in the event and are excited about this week. Having focussed on the three pillars of experience, equality and innovation, I have no doubt that we will deliver both a memorable and world-class event for Scotland.”

Europe won both of those previous encounters on Scottish soil and now Matthew is aiming to keep that run going. Rarely can an honour have been more deserving in someone’s home country. The North Berwick woman has been an amazing ambassador for Scottish golf around the world over the past 30-odd years. Her Women’s British Open win in 2009 a few weeks after giving birth to her second daughter will forever be remembered in the game, as will her part in three Solheim Cup successes in nine playing appearances in the event.

Having first come across her when she was still in the amateur ranks, I count myself lucky to have reported on Matthew’s glittering career. She’ll have nothing but respect from her players and don’t worry about her being the quiet type. What’s more important when it comes to this event is bringing bags of experience and a winning mentality to the role.

Roll on Friday morning.

West Girls win the Portland Cup against Troon Ladies

The following girls played in the Annual Portland Cup against Troon Ladies today - Sunday 8th September

West Girls Team

Leah Bryce   (Sandyhills)

Neve Ferguson  (Cathkin Braes)

Jodie Graham  (Hamilton)

Katie Graham  (Hamilton )

Jennifer Lynagh  (Caldwell)

Kittie Maslanka  (Kirkhill)

Sophie Murphy  (Clydebank & District)

Freya Russell  (Royal Troon)

The girls won 3-1.

Big thank you to Troon Ladies for organising and the courtesy of their fabulous course and clubhouse 

Thanks go to Allison Bell for the photograph and report

WHO WILL BE THE 2019 GREENLEES CHAMPIONS ???

The Greenlees Matches for 2019 are coming to an end with some very exciting fixtures to finish off the season.  

2 fixtures are left in Division One with Cathkin Braes having 2 games left and Kilmarnock Barassie one left -- Kilmarnock's  final match on the 16th September is against Cathkin -- Which could be the decider to win the title and trophy.
Douglas Park are hoping to get 1.5 points against Cathkin away to remain in Division 1 for next season. 

1st Division - Fixtures

9th September: Cathkin Braes v Douglas Park

16th September: Kilmarnock Barassie v Cathkin Braes

Division 1 -With 2 fixtures left

The 2nd Division has certainly been close with only  4 points separating the first 7 teams !!
Who will win there ??? -- Looks like -- Haggs Castle or Whitecraigs but who knows. !!
 Both teams have ONE fixture left -- both are Home matches

2nd Division - Fixtures

9th September: Whitecraigs v Old Ranfurly

9th September: Haggs Castle v Lenzie

16th September: Lenzie v Old Ranfurly

Division 2 with 3 matches to be played

3rd Division -- All matches are complete and Bothwell Castle are the winners. Further Calculations are needed for Hilton Park and Cowglen to see who are runners Up.

Keep up to date with all the Greenlees results and photos of past years CLICK HERE

CLOBER'S CAROLINE KING WINS THE WEST VETS AUTUMN MEETING AT SANDYHILLS G.C.

The West Vets Autumn Meeting was held today at Sandyhills Golf Club in difficult conditions.

Caroline King of Clober GC. was the overall winner of the Autumn Meeting and the recipient of the May Craddock Trophy.

Some West Vets  - Photos courtesy of Chris Fowler (Captain)

RESULTS: 

SSS, 73 Par 64 CSS 76 RO

LEADING SCORES:

Scratch: 

Caroline King (Clober)   84

Silver:

Caroline King (Clober) 84 (9) 75

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 87 (7) 80 

Irene Papworth (Skelmorlie) 98 (17) 81(BIH)
Liz Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 87 (6) 81 bih
Moira McLeod (Milngavie) 90 (9) 81

Bronze:

Barbara Cunningham  (Hilton Park) 108 (22) 86

For the full report go to the West Vets Website