Friday, 27 August 2021

DAY 1 OF THE COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Scottish Women’s County Finals got underway today Friday (27 August) with Perth & Kinross representing the North Division, Midlothian the East and Dunbartonshire & Argyll the West in the three-day competition

Perth and Kinross 5.5 D&A 3.5

Midlothian 4.5 Northern Invitational 4.5

 CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS


nbartonshire and Argyll vs Perth and Kinross  
Dunbartonshire and ArgyllPtsScoreHolesScorePtsPerth and Kinross
FOURSOMES
Lorna McClymont [+6]
Aileen Baker
13&117  Jennifer Saxton [+2]
Eilidh Watson
»»
Laura Mcgeachy [4]
Lorraine Campbell
  155&31Katy Alexander [0]
Megan Ashley
»»
Lori MacDonald [6]
Fiona Rattray
½A/S18A/S½Laura Walker [3]
Laura Campbell
»»
Dunbartonshire and Argyll Perth and Kinross
SINGLES
Lorna McClymont14&216  Megan Ashley»»
Fiona Rattray13&117  Laura Campbell»»
Aileen Baker  173&11Eilidh Watson»»
Lorraine Campbell  173&11Isla Moncrieff»»
Laura Mcgeachy  172&11Katy Alexander»»
Lori MacDonald  136&51Jennifer Saxton»»
Dunbartonshire and Argyll2 4Perth and Kinross
 
Dunbartonshire and Argyll Perth and Kinross

  Midlothian vs North Invitational  
MidlothianPtsScoreHolesScorePtsNorth Invitational
FOURSOMES
Rachael Livingstone [0]
Freya Constable
13&117  Carinne Taylor [+2]
Rebecca Grant
»»
Hilary Laughland [4]
Caroline Steedman
13&117  Fiona Campbell [3]
Susie Macleod
»»
Emma Morrison [6]
Louise Fraser
12 UP18  Mhairi Donald [7]
Jenny Milne
»»
Midlothian3 0North Invitational
SINGLES
Freya Constable  145&41Carinne Taylor»»
Emma Morrison½A/S18A/S½Rebecca Grant»»
Caroline Steedman  155&31Susie Macleod»»
Kate Rorke11 UP18  Fiona Campbell»»
Hilary Laughland  181 UP1Debbie Bird»»
Anne Hanson  146&41Jenny Milne»»
Midlothian North Invitational
 
Midlothian North Invitationa

CURTIS CUP DAY 2 -- USA WIN AND LEVEL THE SCORES

USA 4.5 GB&I 1.5

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2

Thursday, 26 August 2021

CURTIS CUP DAY 1 - GB&I WIN 4.5 - 1.5

RESULTS DAY 1
GB&I 4.5 USA 1.5


Scotland’s two new amateur stars Louise Duncan and Hannah Darling were foursomes partners in the opening session of the Curtis Cup for Great Britain and Ireland at Conway


LIVE STREAMING  on You Tube daily 


Hannah Darling sank a memorable match-winning putt as Great Britain and Ireland got off to a dream start on the opening day of the 2021 Curtis Cup at Conwy.

The Scot holed her birdie attempt at the 18th to earn victory in the afternoon fourballs and help Elaine Radcliffe’s team to a threepoint lead at 4½ to 1½ over the USA – their biggest ever advantage after day one.

Darling had been paired alongside fellow Scot Louise Duncan in the morning foursomes where they shared the point with US duo Rose Zhang and Rachel Heck.

She then teamed up with England’s Annabell Fuller for the afternoon fourballs and after starting the 18th all square against Heck and Emilia Migliaccio, Darling made sure of the win with an 18-foot putt for birdie


Meet the GBI team 

LIVE SCORING

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

NO SCOTTISH SENIOR TEAM AT THE EUROPEAN SENIOR WOMEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR

The European Senior Women’s Team Championship 2021 are being held in Bulgaria from 31 August – 4 September. Current restriction on travel to Bulgaria don’t allow UK nationals to enter and sadly we are unable to send our Senior Women’s team to the event.

The Scottish Senior Men’s team however are heading to Slovakia and includes Scottish Senior Order of Merit leader Paul Moultrie from Royal Troon and team Captain Ronnie Clark (Erskine)  winner of the 2018 Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship, the same year he featured in the Concession Cup in Florida.

Ronnie Clark said: “After nearly 2 years of what has been difficult times for everyone, it’s great to be back competing in this event and we’re grateful to Scottish Golf for their support. We have a strong, experienced team whom I believe are more than capable of having an extremely successful week.”

Clare Queen, Head of Performance at Scottish Golf said: “Congratulations to the players on their selection, it’s a strong team with plenty of experience and we wish them well in Slovakia.”

A full team list for Scotland’s Senior Men’s Team can be found below:

Ronnie Clark, Erskine

Stewart Henderson, Hamilton

Maurice Lindsay, Grange 

Paul Moultrie, Royal Troon

Derek Paton, Dunnikier Park

Nick Robson, Royal Aberdeen

CURTIS CUP BEGINS THIS WEEK AT CONWAY GOLF CLUB WALES


After a year’s delay because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Curtis Cup will be contested this week at Conwy Golf Club in Wales.

This is the 41st edition of the biennial competition, which pits top female amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. The Americans hold a 29-8-3 advantage and are coming off a dominating performance in 2018.

Three years ago at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, the U.S. swept all eight singles matches en route to a 17-3 triumph.

GB&I, however, has won each of the last two competition on home soil, doing so in 2016 in Ireland and 2012 in Scotland.

This year’s event will begin tomorrow on Thursday, Aug. 26th The two teams will compete in foursomes and fourballs (three matches each session) each of the first two days and then eight singles matches on the last day  

GB&I:

  • Hannah Darling (Scotland; No. 25 on World Amateur Golf Ranking)
  • Louise Duncan (Scotland; No. 133, WAGR)
  • Annabell Fuller (England; No. 38, WAGR)
  • Charlotte Heath (England; No. 48, WAGR)
  • Caley McGinty (England; No. 51, WAGR)
  • Emily Toy (England; No. 85, WAGR)
  • Lauren Walsh (Ireland; No. 21, WAGR)
  • Annabel Wilson (Ireland; No. 64, WAGR)

U.S.:

  • Rose Zhang (No. 1, WAGR)
  • Rachel Heck (No. 2, WAGR)
  • Allisen Corpuz (No. 11, WAGR)
  • Jensen Castle (No. 150, WAGR)
  • Gina Kim (No. 18, WAGR)
  • Rachel Kuehn (No. 24, WAGR)
  • Brooke Matthews (No. 36, WAGR)
  • Emilia Migliaccio (No. 17, WAGR)

THE 2021 SCOTTISH COUNTY FINALS LINE UP IN FORRES

 Ayrshire -- 2019 County Team Champions 

The County Finals were last played in 2019 with none in 2020  due to Covid -- That year Ayrshire Ladies' County Golf Association became champions with Carnoustie's star -  amateur Louise Duncan in the team  -- Click here to read the full report then 


Three County teams will fight it out to be the 2021 Scottish County Champions at the finals in Forres from Friday 27th August - Sunday 29th August.
  
West Division Winners D&A
Photo courtesy of Lorraine Campbell

They are Dunbartonshire & Argyll, who are representing the West Division, Midlothian the East and Perth & Kinross the North. 

There is no team from the South Division this year as they were unable to get their County Jamboree played. 
Instead, Scottish Golf has invited Northern Counties to supply a team to keep the round robin format of the finals intact. 

Order of Play (Friday to Sunday) 
Day 1: D&A v Perth & Kinross - and - Midlothian v North 
Day 2: Midlothian v D&A - and - North v Perth & Kinross 
Day 3: Midlothian v Perth & Kinross - and - D&A v North 

Tee Times (all three days) 
Morning Foursomes: 09:00 to 09:37  
Afternoon Singles: 13:30 to 14:52

D&A team 
Lorraine Campbell (Cardross)
Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)
Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle)
Lori MacDonald (Cardross) 
Fiona Rattray (Douglas Park)
Vicky Hendren (Cardross)
Aileen Baker (Crail)
Maggie Kinvig. (The Cameron Club)


Perth & Kinross Team 
Katy Alexander (Blairgowrie) 
Megan Ashley (Blairgowrie) 
Laura Campbell (Whitemuir)
Jillian Milne (Blairgowrie) 
Isla Moncrieff (Aberfeldy) 
Jen Saxton (Dunfermline) 
Laura Walker (Muckhart) 
Eilidh Watson (St Regulus

Midlothian Team
Freya Constable, (Prestonfield) 
Louise Fraser, (Kingsknowe) 
Anne Hanson, (Turnhouse) 
Hilary Laughland, (Mortonhall) 
Rachael Livingstone, (Baberton)
Emma Morrison, (Gullane) 
Kate Rorke, (Kingsknowe )
Caroline Steedman, (Murrayfield)

Northern Counties Team (no details)

Tuesday, 24 August 2021

ERSKINE'S MARGOT STEWART HAS DIED

 

Margot in 2020
at lunch at Erskine GC

For those who knew Margot Stewart  (Erskine) - she died on the 15th August at the age of 99 . 

Margot was born in her parents house where she lived in all her days and died at home (not many people could have managed that) -- She was a real feisty lady in fact a bit of a legend.

She was also  Past Secretary of Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association (1989 - 1991) and treasurer for the West Vets for 5 years retiring in 1999

Many hockey players may remember Margot - She was a Scottish Internationalist (Centre Forward) and then a Scottish International and West District Selector in the 60's and 70's  

As she got older and took up golf she started to get a lot of bother with her knees (as many hockey players do !)  and when your webmaster met her at Erskine she would often ask me how my knees were !!

She used to meet the late Dorothea Hastings, Jean Brown and others every Friday for lunch regularly 

She was a real character who loved her regular wee dram at the Golf Club and was able to drive down to the club until she was about 95 - Her car did get a few dents and scrapes !!

She finally got a taxi down to Erskine after that and it took many of of her friends at the club about 15 minutes to get her out the lounge as she would talk non stop to everyone on the way.

You just had to admire her determination and spirit !! 

The Funeral is on Monday 30th and arrangements are in today’s Glasgow Herald - CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK  —- >>  GLASGOW HERALD


Susan O'Neill is the first Ladies Winner of the Inaugural Robertson Family Foursomes Rosebowl at the Glasgow Golf Club

 

Ewan and Susan and Jemma Robertson

The Glasgow Golf Club who recently opened its doors to female members held the inaugural Robertson Rosebowl Family Foursomes at Killermont GC on Sunday. 

Susan O'Neill (Milngavie) who is a new member was thrilled to win this new trophy donated by Colin Robertson in memory of his son Guy. 

Susan was partnered by her son Ewan and Jemma Robertson (daughter of Guy) is pictured with them with the new trophy.

For the full report go to ---->  the Glasgow Golf Club Website 

WHITECRAIGS PAIR BRENDA CONWAY AND FIONA ARMOUR WIN THE RLCGA COUNTY GREENSOMES

Brenda Conway and Fiona Armour 

In calm conditions 24 couples played in  the Renfrewshire's Ladies County Greensomes yesterday at Cochrane Castle GC. 

The winners of the competition, with an excellent score of 67, were Fiona Armour and Brenda Conway (both Whitecraigs). 

Leaderboard
1st: Fiona Armour (Whitecraigs) 67 Brenda Conway (Whitecraigs) 
2nd: Claire McGinty-Scott (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 June Irons (Caldwell) 
3rd: Pat Robertson (Caldwell) 70 Sheila Shaw (Caldwell) 

 Full results can be found on the following this  LINK. 
 
Thanks go to Cochrane Castle GC for hosting the event and making their clubhouse and facilities available to us. 

Thanks go to Marianne McKelvie Deputy Results Secretary for the report and photograph

Monday, 23 August 2021

Orla Rooney wins the RLCGA Junior Championship and Ellen Bentley the Campbell Clock

Orla Rooney and Ellen Bentley

Fifteen girls participated for the
Renfrewshire County Junior Campbell Clock Stableford competition over 18 holes at Whitecraigs Golf Club yesterday, 22nd August.

This was won by Ellen Bentley [Pollok] with 40 points, 2nd place was Jayla Kepler [Greenock] with 39 points and 3rd place was Lucie Barclay [Kilmacolm] with 38 points. (click on Ellen’s name and points to see her card)

Also played for today was the Junior County Championship trophy won by Orla Rooney [Cowglen]. with a fabulous gross score - click here of 75  

We also had some girls participating in the 8 hole and PAR 3 with Brooke McMeekin [Whitecraigs] winning the 8 hole and Jazyln Sandhu [Whitecraigs] the PAR 3.

This year we also had some off the intermediate ladies participating (over 18) , Alison MacNab [Lochwinnoch] won this category with a great 36 points.

There were some nearest the pin and putting competitions and it was great to see so many players and family members wait for the prize giving.

Thanks to our volunteers and for Whitecraigs Golf Club for the courtesy off the course

The RLCGA Juniors

PHOTOGRAPHS CLICK HERE -- COURTESY OF CLAIR BARCLAY AND JUNE LOCKHART

Thanks go to Clair Barclay (RLCGA Junior Convenor) for the report 


Duncan keeps her cool / Smyth Salver winner pleased to take pressure in her stride


 FROM THE AIG WOMEN'S OPEN WEBSITE  - Anna 
Nordqvist wins AIG Women's Open
 
/

FINAL LEADERBOARD AT CARNOUSTIE

WATCH INTERVIEW VIDEOS OF LOUISE AND ANNA - (The Daily Show) CLICK HERE -- plus interview video at end of post

Louise Duncan was delighted with the way she handled the increasing pressure and attention during the course of an unforgettable week at Carnoustie.

The 21-year-old Scot shot a level-par 72 on the final day to share in a tie for 10th and received a rapturous reception from her home crowd as she made her way over the Barry Burn to the 18th green.

The Women’s Amateur Champion now has more silverware for her collection having lifted the Smyth Salver – awarded to the leading amateur at the AIG Women’s Open.

It was a trophy lifted by newly-crowned Champion Anna Nordqvist in 2008 and Duncan’s performance has given her confidence she can take the increased expectations in her stride.

“I thought I handled it very well,” she said. “I thought I would crumble a wee bit but I seemed to hold my nerve out there and played well on the last day, which was ultimately my goal. 

“It will maybe take a couple weeks to sink in. I feel over the moon with how I played and how I handled it. 

“I had a great time, and yeah, really happy with how I played the past four days.

“It gives me a big confidence boost. I'll take this into my next few events and into next year as well.”

Duncan signalled her intent with a four-under 68 on the opening day at Carnoustie and, having comfortably made the cut, surged into Championship contention by repeating the trick on Saturday.

Resuming two shots adrift of the overnight leaders, a birdie at the first got her final round off to the perfect start before back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11, each greeted by hearty roars from the Scottish faithful, kept the fairytale dream alive.

The University of Stirling student could not make further inroads and bogeyed two of the testing final three holes but that did not stop her savouring the experience.

The Curtis Cup is next up from Thursday and, beyond that, Duncan admits she will now have to consider her options as she weighs up turning professional.

“I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen over the next year, year and a half or whatever,” she said.

“I’ve still got a couple years left at Uni and the amount of time I've been at Uni, I think I need a degree out of it.

“I don't really know what the plan is and I’ll have to sit down and have a wee think about it.

“[This week has been] outstanding, pretty surreal and yeah, just dead exciting.

“The 18th there, just the crowd cheering, I really appreciated the support. To have the fans behind me, it's been great.”

A Couple of photos from a fan - Courtesy of Susan Wood (Drumpellier) Scottish Girls -- Team Captain

Susan and Winner Anna

Susan and leading Amateur Louise



Louise Duncan - Top Ten Finish is mind-blowing - Report by Martin Dempster (The Scotsman)

  • The Scotsman
  • By MARTIN DEMPSTER
  • Playing against the pros for the first time in her career, Duncan had the home fans roaring as she started her final round with a birdie before going on to close with a level-par 72 for a seven-under 281 total.

    The sensational effort earned the Women’s Amateur champion a tie for 10th, becoming the first Scot since Monifieth’s Kathryn Imrie in 1988 to claim the Smyth Salver as leading amateur and the first to do so since it became a major.


    “I feel a bit mind-blown, as if it’s not happened yet,” admitted Duncan. “It will maybe take a couple of weeks to sink in. I feel over the moon about how I played and handled it. I had a great time and I am really happy how I played over the four days.

    “I don’t know what the expectation was but it has definitely been exceeded. I couldn’t have written the week any better. I’m glad it’s not a fluke and I played well all four days.”

    Duncan, who started the dayjusttwoshotsoffthelead after delighting the home fans with a stirring Saturday effort in the rain, received a huge cheer as she appeared on the first tee ahead of her 2.25pm tee time.


    Playing alongside Swede Madalene Sagstrom in the third last group, the Scot calmed any nerves she may have had by safely finding the fairway with an iron, then raising an even bigger roar than the earlier one as she calmly rolled in an eightfooter for an opening birdie.

    With Scottish Amateur champion Angus Carrick and Scottish Women’s Amateur runner-up Tara Mactaggart among those watching on, Duncan split the fairway with her drive at the second and wasn’t far away from making it a birdie-birdie start from around 15 feet.


    Most players were taking an iron to lay up short of the two fairway bunkers at the third, but not Duncan. Oozing with confidence, she flew the trouble to leave herself with just a wedge. A bit heavy-handed with that, her putting touch was exquisite as a par-4 went down on the card.


    That was repeated at the next, where a testing threefooter was confidently converted, before a 10-foot birdie chance went a-begging at the fifth after she’d taken dead aim at the flag on the back tier.

    Duncan’s average driving distance heading into the final round had been 283 yards, bettered only by Lexi Thompson, while the Scot was tied for 22nd for fairways hit with an average of 67 per cent.

    Duncan dropped her first shot of the day after being left off the tee at the ninth, then right behind a bunker with her approach,


    But, not for the first time during the week, the Ayrshirewoman showed she’s made of stern stuff.

    Only the second player to achieve the feat in the final round, she made a brilliant birdie from 15 feet at the 10th before making it back-toback gains with a two-putt 3 at the next, where the tee had been moved up to make the green driveable.


    Four straight pars were followed by a bogey-4 at the 16th before she then dropped a shot at the last, but the rapturous reception for her at the end said it all. Scottish golf has a new star.

    Sunday, 22 August 2021

    Nancy MacGadie finishes on a high after seven decades of Greenlees Matches

    Nancy MacGadie

    Ranfurly Castle played their final Greenlees Match last week in Division 2 and have ended up with a fantastic 47 points.

    They now look pretty certain of winning the division and being promoted back to Division One next season. CLICK HERE FOR GREENLEES TOTALS (subject to updates) 

    It was a the day that Nancy MacGadie (pictured above ) decided to have her final game in the team after playing for them for SEVEN DECADES !!  -- She  had played in Division 1 since 1978 until 2019 until they were demoted to Division 2 .

    Nancy's first match was in 1964 was against Prestwick St Nicholas and her handicap at the time was 13 

    Her present Handicap is 15 and she managed to halve her final Greenlees match -- a  fantastic finish to a long and wonderful time supporting her club team. -- True dedication and loyalty. 

    The current Ranfurly Castle team had a presentation for her after the match. Well done Nancy -- Enjoy your retirement -- You really deserve it 

    Its seems amazing how time flies when Nancy was recognised by the club for play in SIX DECADES - CLICK HERE

    Thanks go to Anne Judge for the photo and news