Kylie and Pamela finish in the Top Ten at the British

In what must rank as one of the greatest turn-arounds in Ladies Golf Union tournament history, Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) came from six shots in arrears to catch long-time leader, 15-year-old Hannah Turland (Tidworth), down the home stretch of Royal Aberdeen's classic links to win the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship.

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), determined to break 80 at the fourth and last attempt, went further than that - she broke 70!

Lanarkshire's Pamela returned the lowest round by anyone over the three days in the fourth round – a three-under-par 69, which earned her the Taunton Trophy.
It was a good tournament for the Scots in the field of 99.
Apart from Louise Kenney, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) finished sixth on 308, highlighting her final day with a third-round 71.
Pamela Pretswell, Carly Booth (Comrie), who closed with her best round of 74, Alford's Laura Murray finished joint seventh on 310.
Jane Turner (Craigielaw), chasing a first cap for Scotland in the home internationals, just made the top 20 with a total of 315.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

British Open Strokeplay - Live Scoring

To follow the live scoring at the British Open Strokeplay go to the LGU Website

Kilmacolm Open Day postponed-- New date 15th September

Kilmacolm Golf Course on a "nice sunny day"

The Kilmacolm Open Greensomes was postponed yesterday due to overnight torrential rain. It has been rescheduled to Tuesday 15th September 2009. The closing date for entry is the 4th September
To print out the new entry form CLICK HERE
Kilmacolm is One of Scotland's most favoured Golf Clubs. Described by some as a "Mini Gleneagles" and offering a huge range of facilites to members, guests and visiting parties alike. The recently refurbished club house offers a warm welcome to all, and is indeed a prime location to meet and dine in excellence. http://www.kilmacolmgolfclub.com/

Pamela Pretswell and Kylie Walker qualify for the last stages of the British Open

Report from Colin Farquharson
Nine Scots figured among the 44 qualifiers for Friday's final two rounds with two-round aggregates of 22-over-par 166 or better.
Leading Scot in joint fourth place is international Laura Murray who almost qualifies for the "local " tag. She hails from Alford.
Laura shot a great 76 in the horrendous conditions for a tally of 155 – four shots behind shock leader Hannah – and then said she couldn't have done it without her caddie, her mum Mary.
Tournament director Susan Simpson from Carnoustie admitted later that around 11am she did go out to the exposed 10th green to check the wind-and-ball situation.
"We had been getting reports from the course that balls were being moved by the wind on the greens. I went out and it was touch and go whether we suspended play but just when we were about to make a decision, the wind did drop a little bit and saved us a lot of bother."
Other Scots who made the cut were Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 80 for 159, West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 80 for 161, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 79 for 162, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 77 for 162, defending champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 82 for 163, and, right on the limit mark, former Scottish title-holder Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 86 for 166 and repeating Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 85 for 166.
Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) was agonisingly close – one shot too many with a 81 for 167.
Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) who was out in the worst of the weather crashed out with a 91 for 169, one shot better than North of Scotland champion Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie), 89 for 170.
QUALIFIERS (166 and better) Par 144 (2x72).
151 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 79 72.
154 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 75 79, Lucie Andre (France) 73 81..
155 Laura Murray (Alford) 79 76, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 78 77.
156 Charlotte Wild (Mere) 79 77.
157 Lucy Williams (Mid Herts) 81 76.
158 Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 80 78, Ciara Butler (Newlands) 78 80, Carly Booth (Comrie) 82 76..
159 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 79 80, Rachel Connor (Manchester) 80 79.
160 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 80, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 79 81, Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) 84 76.
161 Pamela Pretswelll (Bothwell Castle) 81 80, Myrte Eikenaar (Netherlands) 82 79..
162 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 79 83, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 83 79, Marion Ricordeau (France) 85 77, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 85 77, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 85 77.
163 Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 81 82, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 76 87.
164 Eleana Collins (US) 80 84, Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 85 79, Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 85 79, Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 87 77.
165 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 81 84, Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 78 87, Hannah Ralph (Cowdray Park) 79 86, Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 76 89, Isabelle Boineau (France) 86 79, Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 86 79, Margarita Ramosa (Mexico) 87 78, Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) 84 81, Natalie Lowe (Macclesfield) 82 83, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton) 81 84.
166 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 85 81, Rachel Jennings (IzaakWalton) 76 90, Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 79 87, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 80 86, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 81 85, Marion Duverney (France) 86 80.
SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT :
167 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 86 81,
169 Megan Briggs (Kilmaolm) 78 91
170 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 89, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 79 91,
171 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 91 80
172 Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 88 84,
173 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 84 89, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 90 83
175 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 87 88.
177 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 90 87
186 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 90 96.
188 Morag MacPherson (Troon Ladies) 96 92, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 95 93
192 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 92 100..
No Returns: Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 89 NR, Annabel Niven (Crieff) 99 NR, Fiona Hay (Deeside) 98 NR, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 95 NR.
To read the full report from todays play -- CLICK HERE

Megan Briggs is the leading Scot after the first round at the British Women's Open Amateur Championship

Leading Scores:
FIRST ROUND TOTALS FROM BALGOWNIE
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. ------ Par 72. 6,231yd
READ THE FULL REPORT AT THE GILLIAN KIRKWOOD WEBSITE

73 Lucie Andre (France) 34-39.
75 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 37-38.
76 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 37-39, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 35-41, Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 39-37.
77 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 38-39
78 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 35-43, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 38-40, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 38-40, Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 36-42, Jeanne Metivier (France) 42-36.


Other Scots:
79 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 38-41, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 39-40,Laura Murray Alford36-43,
80 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 40-40.
81 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).39-42, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 38-43, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 37-44, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 38-43.
82 Carly Booth (Comrie) 41-41,
83 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 42-41,
84 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 42-42,
85 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 39-46,
86 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 40-46,
87 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 39-48,
89 Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 45-44,
90 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 49-41, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 45-45, Tara Davies (Holyhead) 44-46, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 39-51,
91 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 44-47.
95 Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 48-47, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 47-48,
96 Morag MacPherson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 42-54.
97 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 44-53..
98 Fiona Hay (Deeside) 50-48.
99 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 41-58.

Scottish Golf Open Mixed Foursomes

The closing date for entries for the Scottish Golf Open Mixed Foursomes has been extended to Monday 24 August. The event is to be played at Letham Grange on Sunday 13 September. Tee times are available between 10.00am and 1.00pm. Click here for an entry form from the SLGA

British Stroke play begins today

The British Open Stroke play begins today at Royal Aberdeen . To see the draw Click Here

To follow the live scoring go to the LGU Website

Anna Telfer and Annabel Kane are the West of Scotland Winners at Dullatur

Annabel Kane (Kilmacolm) - Winner of the Handicap Award -- click to enlarge

Milngavie's Anna Telfer won the top Silver Division scratch prize in a tight finish at the SLGA county open meeting at Dullatur Golf Club today.
Two other players, Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) and Nicola Ferguson (Clober) matched the 82 returned by Anna but lost out in the card countback. Anna had a better inward half than Louise and Nicola. Then Louise had a better last three than Nicola.
Annabel Kane (Kilmacolm) won the Silver Division handicap award with a net 73 off 12.
In the Bronze Division, Irene Gray (Musselburgh) won both the scratch and handicap awards
The par was 72, the standard scratch 73 and the CSS 76

Ranfurly Castle August Medal

Played 12&16 August 2009 27 Entries
SSS 73 CSS 76 R/O (both days)

Silver Winner L Robertson 76 (3)
Runner Up P Roulston 79 (80)
Bronze Winner H Abram 76 (23)
Runner Up V Rennie 77 (32)
Scratch Winner L Robertson 79

Lanarkshire County Centenary Texas Scramble Success

Lanarkshire County held their Centenary Texas Scramble last week over Bothwell Castle in which 84 ladies played.

To read the full report --- Go to the Lanarkshire Website

To see some Photographs from the event Click Here and then click slideshow (courtesy of Jean MacIntyre and May Hughes)

RYDER CUP GREATS MATCH REPORT FROM DOUGLAS PARK

The USA Team - Click to enlarge

The European Team - Click to enlarge

The Douglas Park Ladies Committee established that they are the ‘greatest’ when it comes to team play. Nine USA players went head to head with 9 Europeans, in an informal Ryder Cup Greats match at Auchterarder on 13th August 2009. The venue was appropriate recalling that the first informal matches that mark the origin of the Ryder Cup were held at Gleneagles in 1921. The Ladies had taken considerable trouble with their costumes , which were a blend of authenticity and humour.

The ‘Gentlemen’ were politely reminded that the wearing of flat caps is not permitted in the clubhouse. The match was fought in glorious sunshine amid flag waving and cheering. The USA won the trophy by 7 points with a score of 214. It was enormous fun.

The teams were:

USA
Arnold Palmer - Gladys Speedie, Ben Hogan - Ann O'Connell, John Daly - Janet Dow, Gene Sarazen - Alison White, Gill Hendry - Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus - Sheana Donald, Payne Stewart - Lindsay McLean, Tom Watson - Carol Fell and Bobby Jones - Christina Graham

EUROPE
Tony Jacklin - Helen Robertson, Sir Nick Faldo - Lesley Irvine , Bernard Langer - Anne Fergusson, Padraig Harrington - Lynda Smith, James Braid - Maggie Rutherford, Sir Henry Cotton - Hazel Hamilton, Seve Ballesteros- Jinty Hally, Colin Montgomerie -Olive MacKay and Sergio Garcia- Joan Pattison

Tony Jacklin and Sir Henry Cotton won the longest drives. Ben Hogan and Sergio Garcia won the ‘nearest to the pin’. James Braid won a special prize as the best dressed player.

To see some photos of the day's outing click on the small photo below of Captain Gladys Speedie and Vice Captain Ann O'Connell and then click on "slideshow"

Douglas Park Ladies Golf Outing

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CLUB NEWS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE THEN EMAIL YOUR WEBMASTER

St Andrews Links Trust Strathtyrum Tournament

It is almost unheard of for the top four seeds in a match-play tournament to make it through to the last four but that's what happened in the St Andrews Links Trust's Strathtyrum Trophy women's amateur tournament this past week.
Top qualifier Karen Marshall (Baberton), No 2 Ann Ramsay of Kirriemuir, No 3 Rachel Hanlon from the local St Regulus club and No 4 Elaine Clark, a Manchester-based Scot, all survived through to the semi-finals.
Rachel Hanlon who had beaten West of Scotland's Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) in the quarter finals was the eventual winner, beating Elaine Clark at the 19th in a thriller of a final.

NO SCOTS LEFT IN BRITISH GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

(THANKS GO TO COLIN FARQUHARSON FOR THE REPORT)

Two rounds of match-play have whittled the British girls' open amateur championship field of 64 qualifiers down to 16 players at West Lancashire Golf Club.
But it took only one round to snuff out the Scottish challenge.
Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm and Carly Booth from Comrie, who qualified in ninth and 10th position respectively, were beaten by Continental players who were 55th and 56th best at the end of the stroke-play eliminator.
After a fairly even start through four holes, Eilidh had slumped to three down against Clemence Abrahamian and her French opponent went on to win by 3 and 2.
Carly lost by 2 and 1 to Spain's Luna Sobron who had been one up after four and two up at the turn.
England have the biggest representation in the last 16 - six players - Wales have one, Ireland and Scotland 0. But Spain, to be fair, have only one.
To read who eventually won the title go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Ranfurly Castle Open Day raises £1350 for Charity

The Winning Greenock Team -- L to R :Margaret Austin, Anne Terrey, Ranfurly Castle Captain Helen Abram and Linda McDougall -- click to enlarge (Thanks go Jean Irvine for the photograph)

123 ladies played in the Open Day at Ranfurly Castle on Monday 10th August.
Despite a wet start spirits were high and by midday the sun was shining and the course was looking wonderful with very fast greens. A magnificent sum of £1,350 was raised, to be divided between Cruise Bereavement Care Scotland and St Vincent's Hospice. Congratulations to the winning team who came from Greenock Golf Club
Main Prize Winners:
1st:Anne Terrey, Linda McDougall and Margaret Austin (Greenock.)
2nd:Denise Cowan and Vivien Young (Cochrane Castle) and Maureen Cook (Lochwinnoch)
3rd: Lyn Black, Carol Anderson and Anna Hunter (Eastwood.)

EILIDH FROM KILMACOLM MAKES IT THRO' TO THE MATCH PLAY STAGES OF THE BRITISH GIRLS

West of Scotland player from Kilmacolm -- Eilidh Briggs (pictured above- Courtesy of Colin Farquharson - Click to enlarge) ) – qualified for the match-play stages after the two stroke-play eliminating rounds finished in wind and rain at West Lancashire Golf Club this evening.
Both Comrie's Carly Booth aged 17, and 16-year-old Elidh had totals of six-over-par 150, made up of two 75s each.
They qualified with ease quite high up among the 64 who made it through with totals of 158 or better.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) missed out with scores of 80 and 79 for 159, and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) bowed out on 168 with rounds of 82 and 86.
Borders women’s champion Lesley Atkins (Minto), who is enduring that loss of form which all young improving players go through at some time or other, had scores of 83 and 89 for 172.
Eilidh Briggs clinched her place with two late birdies, at the 14th and 16th in an inward 37 for 75 while Carly covered the last 13 holes with 12 pars and one bogey … the kind of form that wins match-play ties.
Rachael Watton had a nightmare 9 at the par-4 10th and had an inward half of 46.
Leading qualifier was the 15-year-old Spanish girl, Noemi Jimenez from Malaga, with rounds of 70 and 73 for 143.
For the all the scores go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

A Golf Poem

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, And Rather Small.
Oh How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.
By Its Size I Could Not Guess,
Or The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.
My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same,
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End,
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.
It Has Made Me Curse And Cry,
And Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises A Thing Called Par,
Even If I Can Hit It Straight And Far.
To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.
It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Even Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.
With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find The Hole.
It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows ... I'll Be Back Tomorrow.
Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of balls....

A recent study found the average golfer walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.
That means, on average, golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.
Kind of makes you proud. Almost feel like a hybrid.

Thanks go to Maggie Rutherford of Douglas Park for this poem

Live Scoring from the British Girls

West of Scotlands Eilidh Briggs and Alyson McKechin do well in first round of the British Girls

BRITISH GIRLS’ OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lancashire Golf Club.
FIRST OF TWO QUALIFYING ROUNDS Par 72. 6324 yards
Leading Scores:

70 Noemi Jimenez (Spa).
71 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry).
72 Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison), Delacour Perrine (Fra), Mandy Goyos (Spa).
73 Mara Puisite (Lat).
74 Anna-Lena Kraemer (Ger), Meghan McLaren (Wellingborough), Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies), Marlies Krenn (Aut), Justine Dreher (Fra).

75 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Carly Booth (Comrie).
Others:
80 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie)
82 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall),
83 Lesley Atkins (Minto),

The PROJECTED CUT-OFF POINT (i.e. 2 x 79 = 158) AFTER ROUND TWO FOR 64 MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS


To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

West Vets and East Vets draw at Troon Portland

West Vets Vice Captain Fiona Roger accepts the ASP Trophy from East Vets Vice Captain Noreen Fenton - Click to enlarge

The West Vets retained the ASP Trophy after a drawn match against the East Vets at Troon Portland today.
To read the full report go to the West Vets Website

Medal 10 - Douglas Park

Played 07/08/2009, SSS 72, CSS:72, 45 Entrants
Silver:
1st 84-12=72 Susan Griffin
2nd 88-15=73 Olive MacKay
3rd 93-20=73 Mairi Telfer
Bronze
1st 90-21=69 Pat Kennedy
2nd 104-30=74 Joyce Ferguson
3rd 106-31=75 Sheena Gardiner
Scratch: Joan Gemmell, Carol Fell 83