Williamwood win through to the Annodata Quarter Finals

Williamwood Team are all smiles
Gill Unick; Gill McLeod
Front row L TO R : Lorraine Morris; Diane Dryden; Mary Scott.

Congratulations to Williamwood Golf Club Ladies on reaching the last 8 of the Annodata UK Golf Club Classic with a 3.5 - 1.5 win over Glenbervie Golf Club Ladies

They now have the last  8 Ladies teams confirmed in the Annodata UK Golf Club Classic.

Williamwood now representing Scotland, they have a home drawn tie against Kenwick Park of Lincolnshire for a place in semis in Spain. 

Match to take place 3rd October.

Clubs in the Quarter Finals

Kenwick Park Golf Club 
Playgolf Colchester 
Mill Ride Golf Club 
Foxhills 
Williamwood Golf Club 
Perranporth Golf Club 
Shrewsbury Golf Club 
Lee on the Solent Golf Club Ladies Section

Entries open for 2020 - www.matchplaygolf.co.uk/enter

Disaster for West Vet Lesley Lloyd on way to Blairgowrie

The quarter finals of the Scorttish Vet Championships teed off today over the Lansdowne Golf Course at Blairgowrie..

Unfortunately West Vet Champion Lesley Lloyd was involved in a car accident on the way up to Blairgowrie

A replacement was tried to be acquired but West Vets were unable to meet the 2pm tee time. As a result Lynda Robertson (Dumfries) representative  from Dumfries got a walk over.

Thankfully Lesley was ok. 

Quarter Finals
Sheena Wood (Northern) beat Janice Whiteford (Borders) 8&6

Mary Smith (Highland) lost to Lynda Dyball (Midland) 2&1

Jennifer Bryans (East) lost to Fiona Hunter (Galloway) 3&2

Lesley Lloyd (West) lost to Lynda Robertson (Dumfries) W/O

 CLICK HERE FOR TODAYS QUARTER FINALS

Scottish Vets Championship at Blairgowrie begins tomorrow

Lesley Lloyd (2019 West Vet Champion) with West Captain Chris Fowler

From the West Vets and Scottish Vets Websites 

West Vets Champion Lesley Lloyd  is playing in the Scottish Vets Championship which begins tomorrow

Sunday 22nd September 2019 - Quarter Finals of SVLGA Championship - Lansdowne

Sheena Wood (Northern) v Janice Whiteford (Borders)

Mary Smith (Highland) v Lynda Dyball (Midland)

Jennifer Bryans (East0 v Fiona Hunter (Galloway)

Lesley Lloyd (West) v Lynda Robertson (Dumfries) 

CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW

Monday 23rd September 2019 - Semi Finals and Final of SVLGA Championship - Lansdowne

Patrick Rosebowl Draw - Singles - Rosemount

SVLGA AGM - evening in Clubhouse

Tuesday 24th September 2018 - Beddows Quaich - Greensomes Draw- Lansdowne

Go to the SVLGA WEBSITE FOR THE SINGLES AND GREENSOMES DRAWS

ELAINE MOFFAT FINISHES IN 7th PLACE IN THE BRITISH SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Lara Tennant of the United States of America won the R&A Women’s Senior Amateur Championship after a dramatic three-hole play-off at Royal St David’s yesterday.

To read the full report go to the  R&A WEBSITE

Leaderboard - Click to enlarge

Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) finished well up the field in 7th place,  Karen Ferguson- Sneddon (Mortonhall) in 26th place and Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool) in 34th place

LEADERBOARD

Many congrats go to Elaine who won the 50 - 54 years Category prize 

Elaine Moffat - Leading Scot at the British Seniors Amateur Championship after the 2nd round

Ireland’s Alison Taylor stayed at the top of the leaderboard but had her advantage cut by half after adding a 75 to her opening 70 at the R&A Women’s Senior Amateur Championship at Royal St David’s. 
 On another day of glorious weather, Taylor, four shots ahead overnight, will go into the final round on five under par, two strokes ahead of American Lara Tennant and three clear of Canadian Judith Kyrinis. Tennant and Kyrinis both made headway with matching rounds of 73 - the joint best of the day. 

Tennant, a two-time US Senior Women’s Champion, had five birdies, while Kyrinis managed four, including a rare one at the tricky, par three 18th.

Scot Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) had a 76 to add to her 1st round of 77 to be 3 over par at a total of 153 to be in 12th place.

Karen Ferguson- Sneddon (Mortonhall) finished on 157 (7 over par) in 23rd place. and Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool) finished on 161 (11 over par) 
Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire)  did not make the cut for the 3rd round


LIVE SCORING 

LIVE SCORING FROM THE BRITISH WOMEN'S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Elaine Moffat(St Regulus), Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) and Karen Ferguson- Sneddon (Mortonhall) are playing in the British Women's Senior Championship at Royal St. Davids 

Impressive first Senior Competition for Karen who finished ‘eagle, birdie’ to be in 8th position after Day 1 yesterday.
Elaine is in 13th and Gillian in 35th position

The top 40 players after today’s round will progress to the final day tomorrow

LIVE SCORING 

West Girls play well in Scotland v England Schools International Matches

Scotland v England schools international matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire.
Despite losing to England Schools West Girls Freya Russell, Luisa Gibson and Megan Docherty  contributed all the points for Scotland -- Well done Girls

GIRLS
SCOTLAND 3.5, ENGLAND 5.5
FOURSOMES (1.5-1.5)
Scotland names first
Ellen Caton (St Leonards School, St Andrews) and Freya Russell
(Marr College, Troon) lost to Rachel Gourley and Zara Naughton (England) 2 and 1
Luisa Gibson (St Matthews Acad, Saltcoats) and Rachel Mathieson (Hazlehead Acad, Aberdeen) beat Estelle Ingram and Amelia Wan (England) 3 and 1
Megan Docherty (Turnbull HS, Bishopbriggs) and Grace Crawford (Loretto School, Musselburgh) halved with Louse Burke and Ellen Yates (England).

SINGLES (2-4)
Crawford lost to Burke 7 and 6
Gibson beat Wan 2 holes
Docherty halved with Naughton
Russell halved with Ingram
Caton lost to Yates 1 hole
Mathieson lost to Gourley 5 and 4

Scottish Golf announces the new Handicap System will be introduced on November 2, 2020

‪⛳️ | Scottish Golf is pleased to announce that the new World Handicap System will be introduced on November 2, 2020. ‬

The governing bodies of amateur golf in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales are delighted to announce that they have signed the licence for the new World Handicap System (WHS) which will come into operation on November 2, 2020.

As members of the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU), Scottish Golf, England Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Irish Ladies Golfing Union and Wales Golf have been driving forces in planning for the new system in alliance with The R&A and USGA.

The current Golf Handicapping System maintained by CONGU will be replaced by WHS which will unify the six different structures currently in operation throughout the world of golf.

With one single, global system in place for the first time, golfers will be able to obtain and maintain a handicap index and use this on any course around the world.

In addition they will be able to compete or simply play a casual round with fellow golfers anywhere on a fair and equal basis.

As well as encouraging players new to the sport to obtain a handicap with ease, the WHS will also modernise the game for those already well versed in the game of golf.

Under the new system a player’s handicap will be based on the average of eight best scores from their last 20 rounds.

WHS will also take into account factors currently not fully represented in the existing handicapping procedure through a course and slope rating system.

“Following recent education seminars across the country, Scottish Golf is pleased to confirm that the new World Handicap System will be implemented on time on November 2, 2020. We believe that moving to a more unified handicap system will be beneficial to all golfers,” said Scottish Golf CEO Andrew McKinlay.

“The team here at Scottish Golf will continue to liaise with, and support clubs across the country to ensure the transition between now and next year is as seamless as possible for everyone involved.”

 CLICK HERE TO GO THE THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE to read more and a link to portal resources

HANDICAP PORTAL RESOURCES 

MyGolfRanking - Week 39 / 2019 in the West of Scotland

mygolfranking.net WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES GOLFER of Week 19/37 is JAN MACNAB of Ranfurly Castle Ladies who re-enters WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES MGRanking at No 5 and climbs into the TOP 500 of the OVERALL MGRANKING at No 355.

WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES CLUB of the Week is KIRKHILL LADIES – up to No 2 on WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES Club MGRanking.

Click to enlarge

Some WEST OF SCOTLAND clubs have not signed the MGR Permission Form required to feature on MGR. If your club wishes to participate in MGR andrequires a form, please contact davidmoir@mail.com.

For up-to-date ranking lists of Clubs, Regional, National and International Rankings, How It Works and free registration for golfers and Clubs, visit mygolfranking.net

Douglas Park's Secretary Ann Scott at the Solheim Cup

🏌️‍♀️ | @DouglasParkGC1 is one of Scottish Golf’s 4️⃣ new Women & Girls’ Golf Hubs.

Ann hopes that the buzz and excitement of the @2019solheimcup will encourage more women and girls into the game 👇 pic.twitter.com/qx5SXfOu24

— Scottish Golf (@ScottishGolf) September 15, 2019

Provisional GB&I Curtis Cup Squad Announced

Hazel MacGarvie, Shannon McWilliam, and Hannah Darling have all been named in 🇬🇧&🇮🇪’s initial squad for next year’s Curtis Cup. 

Read more 👉 bit.ly/CurtisCupTeam

An initial Great Britain and Ireland squad of ten players has been announced by The R&A ahead of next year’s Curtis Cup match at Conwy Golf Club, Wales.

The 41st Curtis Cup match will be played from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 June 2020 with GB&I attempting to regain the historic trophy after the United States recorded a commanding 17-3 victory at Quaker Ridge in New York last year.

Strong player pool

Elaine Ratcliffe, who will captain GB&I in the Curtis Cup for the first time, said, “We have a strong pool of players to choose from throughout GB&I and I’m delighted with the ten players we have selected for the initial squad. Each player’s performance and results will be monitored closely over the coming months and we will be looking for each of them to maintain a high standard as they try to secure their places in the team. 

“There are many other talented players who can be added to this squad over the next few months. We will be following performances closely before the Curtis Cup team is announced in May.”

World Amateur Golf Ranking™

Olivia Mehaffey, the highest-ranked member of the squad at number 19 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, is aiming to make her third Curtis Cup appearance. Having made her debut in 2016, where she secured 3½ points for the victorious GB&I team, Mehaffey was also a standout player in last year’s tough defeat at the 2018 Curtis Cup where she helped achieve 2½ of the team’s 3 point total. Currently attending Arizona State University, Mehaffey has recorded three collegiate wins this year. 

Also in contention for the 2020 team are Mehaffey’s team mates from  2018, Shannon McWilliam, Annabell Fuller and Lily May Humphreys, who has enjoyed an excellent 2019, winning the Annika Invitational Europe, Irish Women’s Open and Welsh Ladies’ Open stroke play championships. 

Emily Toy, the Women’s Amateur Champion and an R&A Foundation scholar, has been named in the initial squad and is hoping to make her Curtis Cup debut in 2020. The squad features a further five potential debutants including Hannah Darling, the Scottish Girls’ Open champion, Annabel Wilson, the Irish Women’s Close champion, Hazel MacGarvie, Julie McCarthy and Isobel Wardle. 

The GB&I squad:

Hannah Darling (16, Broomieknowe, Scotland) Shannon McWilliam (20, Aboyne, Scotland) Annabell Fuller (17, Roehampton, England) Olivia Mehaffey (21, Royal County Down Ladies, Ireland) Lily May Humphreys (17, Stoke by Nayland, England) Emily Toy (21, Carlyon Bay, England) Hazel MacGarvie (19, Royal Troon, Scotland) Isobel Wardle (19, Prestbury, England)  Julie McCarthy (20, Forrest Little, Ireland) Annabel Wilson (18, Lurgan, Ireland)

The final eight player GB&I team will be announced on 11 May 2020 and will include the two golfers who are placed highest in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ in the week prior. A further six players will be selected by The R&A Women’s Selection Committee. Up to four non-travelling reserves will also be announced.

RLCGA COUNTY TRI AM WINNERS

The Winning Team - Morag, Margaret and Jan

The last Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association competition of the 2019 season was held on an absolutely glorious day at Greenock Golf Club in the form of a tri am. 

In form Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) winner of the County Rosebowl yesterday and her team of Morag Turner (Kilmacolm) and Margaret Gray (Old Ranfurly) had fantastic 43 points on the outward 9 holes and 34 on the inward 9 to win by 6 shots (2 scores to count) !!

Leaderboard:
1st: J. Macnab (Ranfurly Castle),  M. Turner (Kilmacolm) M. Gray (Old Ranfurly) 77 points
2nd C. Fowler (Cowglen) M. Dunlop (Old Ranfurly)  S. Ferguson (Caldwell) 71 points
3rd: L. Bradley (Kilmacolm)  C. McGinty-Scott (Troon Welbeck) and I. MacInnes (Williamwood) 70 (bih) points

CLICK HERE FOR SOME PHOTOS

To read the full report go to the RLCGA Website

Cathkin Braes Greenlees Team on course to take the Title

Totals before the final tie 

Cathkin Braes beat Kilmarnock Barassie AWAY at Kilmarnock  yesterday 5.5 - 3.5
They now have their final match at home next week against Douglas Park.  3.5 points is required to win the title from Troon Ladies

Remaining matches 

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

Jan Macnab wins the Renfrewshire Ladies County Rosebowl Final

June Lockhart (Captain), Jan Macnab (Rosebowl Winner)
Linda McDougall (Runner Up)

2019 RLCGA COUNTY ROSEBOWL FINAL
The final of the 2019 RLCGA County Rosebowl was played today  (Monday 16th September 2019) at Gleddoch GC

Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) and Linda McDougall (Greenock) played some wonderful golf despite the wind being a major factor at times.  

Jan quickly went ahead after Linda found trouble at the first, but the next 4 holes were halved.  However Jan took 3 of the last 4 holes in the outward nine to be 3 up.

Then Linda hit a superb burst of 3 birdies (including one at the 452 yard 11^th!)  but Jan continued to play steady golf to finish with a birdie of her own at the 17^th, to record a 3 &1 victory.

Despite the course playing long, both ladies should feel proud of their performances – Linda in particular for her putting, and Jan with her long iron approach shots.

Thanks go to Gleddoch GC for the use of their course, which overall has held up pretty well despite the recent weather.

CLICK HERE FOR SOME PHOTOS FROM THE DAY

Thanks go to Captain June Lockhart for the report and photos

Jan with the winners Trophy --
Photo courtesy of Ranfurly Castle Website

Jan  said after the match --- "I am absolutely delighted to win the trophy again for Ranfurly Castle - looking back at the trophy there have been 6 Ranfurly winners in the last 8 years - starting in 2012 with Iona Stephen (now a big-time Sky Sports presenter hobnobbing with the Solheim Cup girls but back then a Ranfurly Castle mere mortal!), then Denise Cowan won three years in a row (wow)  and last year Anne Judge won at Cathcart Castle. Whose turn could it be next year??"

CLICK HERE TO SEE 2012 PHOTOS WITH IONA IN THEM

The qualifiers for the 2019 Renfrewshire County Rosebowl (also known as the Challenge Bowl), which this year was based on the aggregate of the two best nett scores from the County Championship qualifier, Spring Meeting and June Medal:

Draw and results:

Qual No.	1st Round	Semi Final	Final
	To be played by  Monday 22nd July 2019	To be played by  Monday 19th August 2019	To be played on the 16th September 2019 at Gleddoch GC
1	Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle)	Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle)	Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) (Winner)
8	Liz Hale (Caldwell)
5	Fiona Armour  (Renfrew)	Fiona Armour (Renfrew)
4	Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle)
3	Fiona Cameron (Cowglen)	Fiona Cameron (Cowglen)	Linda McDougall (Greenock) (Runner Up)
6	Anita McMillan (Erskine)
7	Linda Ellery (East Renfrewshire)	Linda McDougall (Greenock)
2	Linda McDougall (Greenock)

WEST GIRLS WIN AT ROYAL TROON

Photo courtesy of Allison Bell

Following in the European Solheim Team footsteps the West Girls also had a great win this weekend🏆!

In the inaugural match against the Royal Troon Junior Team the West Girls won 3-2.

What a brilliant day for the girls ! After enjoying lunch in the clubhouse, they  played the match over the fantastic Royal Troon course.

The team was:

Megan Docherty 

Rachel Foster

Luisa Gibson

Jodie Graham

Katie Graham 

Kittie Maslanka

Abigail McCafferty

Sophie Murphy 

Reserves who also played:

Lindsay Main

Lauren Agnew

Thanks go to Allison Bell for the report and photo

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.

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