SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED

Sunday's Scottish Mixed Foursomes tournament at Letham Grange has been posptoned because two of the holes on the course are still unplayable due to excess water on the fairways.
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association is trying to find a new date.

Wales beats Scotland at Irvine to retain Home International title

Wales are the home international champions for the second year in a row. They followed up their countback victory at Wrexham 12 months ago with an emphatic last –day performance to overhaul overnight leaders Scotland at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire.
Wales needed to beat the Scots to retain the Miller Trophy and they did it with a brilliant performance in the singles.
Sue Turner, winning captain for the second time in succession, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The girls stayed focussed throughout and had a lot of self-belief. I just can’t speak highly enough of them as a squad. And I must pay tribute to our national coach Jeremy Bennett. He’s been with us the last two years – and what a difference he’s made.”
Scotland skipper Lesley Nicholson said: “I’m gutted by how it finished but I’m proud of my girls for their performance over the three days. Wales were a very strong side, even stronger than last year.”
Wales won the title with 2 1/2pt. Scotland were runners-up with 2pt.
England beat Ireland 7-2 to total 1pt and finish third ahead of Ireland with 1/2pt.
Scotland had taken a 2-1 lead from the foursomes and extended that advantage to 3-1 when Carly Booth beat Rhian Wyn Thomas in the singles.
That was the high point for Scotland – Wales won the remaining five singles for a 6-3victory.
Scotland needed a minimum of 2 ½ pt from the six afternoon singles to win the title and they got the first one from Carly Booth at the expense of Rhian Wyn Thomas. It was Carly’s fourth win and Rhian’s first defeat in six games.
Carly, two down after two, produced three-under-par figures in winning by 3 and 2 after trailing through the first seven holes. She squared it at the eighth and then went ahead at the ninth.
Booth won the 13th and 14th for a three-hole lead which the Welsh player could not peg back.
Wales hit back by winning the next two ties to level it overall at 3-3.
Welsh champion Tara Davies produced possibly the best individual performance by anyone over the three days. She was six under par against the luckless Jane Turner and beat her 6 and 4.
Davies went three up after only four holes and there was no way back for Turner against an opponent playing sub-par golf..
Gemma Bradbury beat Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1 in a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it either way until Gemma won the 16th and 17th for victory.
With three ties to finish, Wales were two up in one and all square in the two others, a position which would give them the championship if they held it to the finish.
Kath O’Connor, making only her second appearance, put Wales ahead 4-3 with a 2 and 1 win over West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) . O’Connor went two up after eight and though Pretswell twice reduced her deficit to one hole, she could not get on terms. The Welsh player, won the short 16th with a par to go two up and a half at the next was enough to clinch a good win.
Amy Boulden and Lucy Gould delivered victories for Wales in the last two matches to finish which gave Wales a 5-1 capture of the singles and 6-3 overall victory which retained the championship.
Boulden beat Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) by two holes after being one down with four to play. The Welsh player squared it with a par at the 15th and went one up with another par at the 16th.
Lucy Gould scored a 3 and 1 win over Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) again with a strong finish. The Scot was two up at one stage on the outward half and Gould did not get on terms until the 13th. She then led for the first time with a birdie at the 15th ; and went two up with a par at the 16th.
Report from the LGU Website

Scotland Lose to Wales on Day 3

WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 3
SCOTLAND 3, WALES 6
Foursomes (2-1)
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald beat Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Pamela Pretswell & Louise Kenney lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner beat Sam Birks & Lucy Gould 2 and 1.
Singles (1-5)
Booth beat Thomas 3 and 2.
MacDonald lost to Gemma Bradbury 2 and 1.
Turner lost to Davies 6 and 4.
Pretswell lost to Kath O'Connor 2 and 1.
Megan Briggs lost to Boulden 2 holes.
Walker lost to Gould 3 and 1.

ENGLAND 7, IRELAND 2
Foursomes (3-0)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn beat Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 1 hole.
Rachel Jennings & Charlotte Ellis beat Mary Dowling & Aedin Murphy 2 and 1.
Kelly Tidy & Hannah Barwood beat Gillian O'Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.3 and 1.
Singles (4-2)
Douglass lost to McVeigh 2 holes.
Jennings beat Reid 2 and 1.
Barwood beat Murphy 1 hole.
Nikki Foster beat Sarah Cunningham 4 and 2..
Charlotte Wild lost to Mary Dowling 1 hole.
Clyburn bt O'Leary 4 and 2.

FINAL PLACINGS
1 Wales 2 1/2pt
2 Scotland 2pt.
3 England 1pt
4 Ireland 1/2pt

LIVE SCORING FROM THE HOME INTERNATIONALS

Wales v Scotland decider tomorrow -- PLEASE SUPPORT SCOTLAND

Please do come and support Scotland tomorrow in the deciding match against Wales IN THE HOME INTERNATIONALS

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT -- IT IS 18 YEARS SINCE WE HAVE WON

MORNING FOURSOMES MATCHES

Tara Davies and Amy Boulden v Carly Booth and Kelsey MacDonald
Rhian Wyn Thomas and Gemma Bradbury v Pamela Pretswell and Louise Kenney
Samantha Birksand and Lucy Gould v Kylie Walker and Jane Turner

Curtis Cup Mary McKenna is interviewed at the Home Internationals and some photos from Day 2

Click on the small thumbnails below to see some photos from THE HOME INTERNATIONALS --- Unfortunately your Webmaster had to leave in the afternoon so there are no photos of the singles matches

Scotland v England Day 2

Scotland v Ireland Day 1

West of Scotland's Kylie, Pamela and Megan are today's Stars at Bogside

Scotland celebrate the win against the English after the Morning's Foursomes - Click to enlarge

Scotland is the only team with a 100 per cent record going into the third and final day of the Women’s Home International matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0. The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider. Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland.

England’s fightback from a 0-3 lunchtime deficit began with their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass beating Carly Booth by 3 and 2 in the lead-off singles tite. Carly won the first two holes but lost the third and fourth to be pulled back to all square. Douglas continued to prosper with wins at the fifth and sixth to lead by two holes at the turn. Booth rallied to win the11th and 12th to regain equality but Douglass quickened again to win the 13th and 14th and then the 16th with a birdie 2 for the match by 3 and 2. It was Douglass’s third win in four ties. The England fightback continued with Rachel Jennings beat Pamela Pretswell 3 and 1 to narrow the gap to one point in Scotland’s favour overall. Jennings was three holes to the good on the sixth tee but Pretswell fought back to square the match by winning the 14th. Jennings then produced a master stroke, holing a chip for a birdie 3 to win the 15th and regain the lead. The English player prompt went two up with a par at the short 16th and then was conceded the 17th for a 3 and 1 victory. It was Pretswell’s first defeat in four ties and Jennings’ first win in two outings. England levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 when Hannah Barwood beat Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1. Barwood took a grip on the outcome by winning the first, the third and the eighth to be three up, although MacDonald won back the ninth and the 11th to be only one down. Barwood went two up again at the 13th and was able to maintain that lead until MacDonald ran out of holes. Kylie Walker stopped the slide for Scotland by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 2. The Scot led throughout and a birdie 4 at the long 11th put her three up. It was Kylie’s third win in a row. With Scotland leading 4-3 overall, the match was finely poised. The two ties still to finish were both all square with two and three holes respectively to play. Scottish champion Megan Briggs, who had been three down after five holes to English girls title-holder Holly Clyburn, fought back to win the seventh, eighth and ninth. Then she birdied the 11th to lead for the first time. Briggs went two up at the 14th but Clyburn was not finished yet. She won the 15th with a par and the short 16th with a birdie 2 to square the match. In a thrilling finish, Briggs edged ahead again with a par 4 at the 17th, which meant she was assured of a halved match at least and that half-point would guarantee Scotland at least a halved match overall with England. Briggs in fact was able to clinch overall victory for Scotland, beating Clyburn by two holes when the English player conceded the 18th. The last match of the day to finish ended with honours even between Louise Kenney and Charlotte Ellis. Kenney had been two up after 12 holes but, in the end, was glad to hole a putt on the last for a half in 4. They followed up their first-day 5-4 win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2 although they made hard work of clinching victory in the the singles after taking the morning foursomes 3-0.
The Scots’ match against defending champions Wales will be the title decider.
Wales, who beat England on Day 1, won the last three singles to finish to salvage a 4 ½-4 ½ draw with Ireland

Scotland win against England and Megan and Kylie are todays stars

WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 2
IRELAND 4 ½, WALES 4 1/2
Foursomes (2-1)
Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid bt Kath O’Connor & Katie Bradbury 2 and 1.
Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 6 and 4.
Singles (2 ½-3 ½)
McVeigh halved with Thomas.
Reid bt Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Aedin Murphy lost to Davies 1 hole.
O’Leary bt Katie Bradbury 5 and 4.
Bradshaw lost to Boulden 3 and 1.
Cunningham lost to Lucy Gould 4 and 2.

SCOTLAND 5 1/2, ENGLAND 3 1/2
Foursomes (3-0)
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn 2 and 1.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Wild 3 and 2.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Kelly Tidy & Charlotte Ellis 1 hole.
Singles (2 1/2-3 1/2)
Booth lost to Douglass 3 and 2.
Pretswell lost to Rachel Jennings 3 and 1.
MacDonald lost to Barwood 2 and 1.
Megan Briggs beat Clyburn 2 holes.
Walker beat Wild 3 and 2.
Kenney halved with Ellis

D&A September Medal over Milngavie

Played 9th September, SSS 71, CSS 74 Reduction Only, 46 entries
Scratch : Katy MacAulay (Milngavie) 81
1st Silver : Katie MacAulay (Milngavie) 81-7-74
2nd Silver : Sheila Hamilton (Hilton Park) 96-20-76
3rd Silver : Susanne Wilson (MilnGavie) 91-13-78
1st Bronze : May McGhee (Balmore) 102-23-79
2nd Bronze : Audrey Gardiner (Hilton Park) 103-22-81
Miss Hendry’s Quaich: Katy MacAualay (Milngavie)

D&A Outing to Auchterarder

D&A County Committee have an outing to Auchterarder on Monday 7th September. To see some photos from the day go to the D&A Website

Janice Paterson makes the cut in Ireland

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) continued her good form at the Irish Seniors Strokeplay by finishing in the top 10 after the 2nd round today at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club. Go to the WEST VETS WEBSITE for some of the scores

SCOTLAND WIN AGAINST IRELAND - DAY 1

Pamela Pretswell a winner for Scotland today - Click to enlarge

Scotland showed true grit to come from behind to beat Ireland 5-4 on the opening day of the women's home internationals at bright and breezy Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire today
The bonus for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad was that Wales walloped England 7-2 in the other match.
"The girls put me through it today but they got there in the end," said Lesley.
"I'm delighted. They did so well to turn it around from what could have been a losing position."
Scotland made up their one-point foursomes deficit by winning the first two singles to finish against Ireland.

West of Scotland Players did well today with Pamela winning both her foursomes and singles ties. Megan Briggs played very well in the morning with an under form Kylie. However Kylie got her game back together in the afternoon to bring in the winning result. --- WELL DONE TO YOU ALL

Teenager Carly Booth beat the new British women‘s open amateur stroke play champion Danielle McVeigh by 2 and 1 in the top singles tie.
Booth lost the first hole but squared it at the second – and was never in arrears again after that.
One up at the turn, Booth lost the 10th but hit back with a birdie 4 at the long 11th to regain the lead. Booth conceded the 12th to lose the advantage again but won the 13th and then birdied the 14th to take a vital two-hole lead.
McVeigh won back the 15th but after a half in 3s at the short 16th, Carly won the 17th for a 2 and 1 margin of victory.
Kelsey MacDonald put Scotland 3-2 ahead by beating Mary Dowling 3 and 2. Kelsey always held the whiphand but could not shake off a determined opponent. MacDonald’s eagle 3 at the ninth enabled her to go two up but Dowling won the 12th only for Kelsey to birdie the 13th to regain a two-hole advantage. The 15th was the decisive hole. The Scot won it to go three up with three to play and a half at the 16th finished the match in her favour.
But Ireland had the advantage in the ties still to finish and Gillian O’Leary’s 3 and 2 win over Laura Murray levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3. Gillian built up a two-hole lead on the outward half and won the 11th and 12th to double that advantage before losing the 14th.
With three matches to finish and Scotland three up in one and Ireland three up in another, it was clear that the Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) v Aedin Murphy (Ireland) tie – all square after 17 – was going to have an important bearing on the overall result.
Pretswell was two down with five to play but won the 14th with a birdie 3 and squared the match with a par 3 at the short 16th.
After a half at the next, Pamela hit a massive drive off the 18th and won the hole and the match with a 4.
Kylie Walker beat Niamh Kitching by 3 and 2 in a match that was all square after 11 holes. Walker won the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in an strong finish.
Charlene Reid got Ireland’s fourth point by beating Louise Kenney 3 and 1. Reid won the seventh, eighth and nine to go three up and she stayed in the driving seat for the rest of the match.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

To see some (Mainly un edited) photos from today click on the small thumbnail below

Scotland v Ireland

Day 1 results
ENGLAND 2, WALES 7
Foursomes (1-2)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Lucy Gould & Sam Birkes 1 hole.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 2 holes.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy lost to Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Singles
Douglass bt Davies 2 holes.
Barwood lost to Thomas 3 and 2.
Clyburn lost to Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Charlotte Ellis lost to Katie Bradbury 2 holes.
Tidy lost to Boulden 4 and 3.
Nikki Foster lost to Gould 8 and 7.

SCOTLAND 5, IRELAND 4
Foursomes (1-2)
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth lost to Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 3 and 2.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw 4 and 3.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs lost to Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham 5 and 4.
Singles (4-2)
Booth bt McVeigh 2 and 1.
Pretswell bt Murphy 1 hole.
MacDonald bt Dowling 3 and 2.
Walker bt Niamh Kitching 3 and 2.
Laura Murray lost to O’Leary 3 and 2.
Kenney lost to Reid 3 and 1.

Drumpellier's Janice Paterson does well in Ireland

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) is only 4 shots off the lead in the first round of Irish Seniors Open Strokeplay at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club today. To read all about it go to the West Vets Website

Kylie and Megan play together in tomorrow mornings foursomes

Back Row From L to R: Claire Hargan (Team Manager),Kylie Walker,

Pamela Pretswell,Louise Kenney, Laura Murray, Kevin Craggs

Front Row: Kelsey MacDonald, Carly Booth,Lesley Nicholson (Captain),Megan Briggs and Jane Turner

IMAGE COURTESY OF COLIN FARQUHARSON, CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY -- Click to enlarge

Report by Colin Farquharson
IRVINE WET BUT PLAYABLE FOR WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Fingers crossed, there’s no danger that the Women’s Home Internationals will not tee off on time tomorrow morning at Irvine Golf Club even though there was more heavy rain at the Ayrshire venue today.
There were big pools of water in the car park but not so many out on the course, thanks to the hard work of head greenkeeper Derek Wilson and his staff.
“Believe it or not but we have had rain here at some time or other during the day or night for the past 54 consecutive days,” said Wilson.
“This summer the course has never had the chance to dry out and play the way it should. The greens, like the fairways, are much softer than I would like them but these players will probably prefer that they can fire the ball at the flag rather than have to drop their approach shots short and hope to judge the bounce.”
Home skipper Lesley Nicholson is optimistic her squad can win the Miller Trophy for the first time since the Scotland were champions in 1990 and 1991.
Top-10 individual form by her team members in the recent British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen and the European women’s amateur team championship in Sweden, where Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) was runner-up and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) joint sixth, suggests her confidence is not ill-founded.
In the opening foursomes against Ireland, Lesley Nicholson has paired Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Carly Booth (Comrie) against the new British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), leader of the SLGA Order of Merit table, and Pamela Pretswell, are Scotland’s No 2 foursomes pairing for the tie against Gillian O’Leary and Victoria Bradshaw.
Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) is paired with the big-hitting Kylie Walker against Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.
Wales, defending the title they won on home turf at Wrexham 12 months ago, open their campaign against an England line-up loaded with talent. Scotland’s prospects would be considerably enhanced if Wales could claim England’s scalp. But England will start favourites.

Wednesday morning’s foursomes:
ENGLAND v WALES
8.30 am
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn v Lucy Gould & Sam Birks.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood v Rhian WynThomas & Gemma Bradbury.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy v Tara Davies & Amy Boulden..

SCOTLAND v IRELAND
9am
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth v Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell v Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs v Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham.

2.20pm
Six singles

Kylie Walker hopes to turn professional at the end of the year but first hopes to help Scotland win this week

by ELSPETH BURNSIDE

Buchanan Castle’s Kylie Walker is competing in her fourth Home Internationals at Irvine this week, and she’s hoping it is her last as she aims to turn professional at the end of the year. But she is determined to go out on a high note by helping Scotland win for a first time in 18 years.

The 23-year-old is certainly confident that the amateur team can add to Catriona Matthew’s terrific victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open last month and make it a summer to remember for the women’s game.

“Catriona’s win has done so much for Scottish golf, and Scottish women’s golf in particular,” said Kylie. “Now we’re all really up for victory this week. It’s a great team and this year feels different from before.

“There is terrific strength in depth and not a single weakness. Lesley Nicholson (team captain) has also been brilliant. She’s still young and she’d done it all, playing at Curtis Cup level and as a professional. She knows exactly what we need and want.

“National Coach Kevin Craggs is so upbeat and the team manager, Claire Hargan, still competes on the circuit and also has huge experience. Overall, there is such a good team spirit.”

Kylie reckons that home advantage could also be the key to ending a victory drought stretching back to Aberdovey in 1991, when Scotland successfully defended the title.

“We had a match against a Scottish Golf Union team of men in March and Irvine kindly allowed potential team members to have the courtesy of the course throughout the year. That has been really good and has let us all to get to know the course.”

Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and West of Scotland Champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) are the other West of Scotland players in the team.

The other five are Carly Booth (Comrie), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and the one new cap, Jane Turner (Craigielaw).

Thanks go to Elspeth Burnside for this report --- To read some more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Come and Support Scotland at Irvine Bogside

Click to enlarge

Irvine Bogside Golf Club 9th to 11th September 2009
Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales

The Scottish team has 3 West of Scotland players namely Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)

Please come and support Scotland’s top 8 lady amateur golfers. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

Scotland Team:
Carly Booth
Megan Briggs
Louise Kenney
Kelsey MacDonald
Laura Murray
Pamela Pretswell
Jane Turner
Kylie Walker

Wednesday 9th: Scotland vs Ireland – 9am and 2pm
Thursday 10th: Scotland vs England - 9am and 2pm
Friday 11th: Scotland vs Wales – 8.30am and 1pm

Some Young Golfing Talent at Williamwood Golf Club - Stars of the Future

Some of the Juniors with Laura Johnston and Mairi Gray (both Williamwood) in the middle - Click to enlarge

Williamwood Golf Club have some young up and coming golfing stars. Mairi Gray who won the Renfrewshire Junior Stableford at Whitecraigs Golf Club yesterday, started the season with a junior handicap of 41 and has reduced it to 21 this season --- She is certainly a youngster to keep an eye on for the future.
Laura Johnston (Williamwood) was the winner of the 8 hole competition and Heather Fleming (Elderslie) won the Par 3 Competition
To read the full report go to THE RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY WEBSITE

Stroke Competition -- Douglas Park

Played 06/09/2009 SSS: 72, CSS:73
Silver:
1st 78-5=73 Helen Faulds
2nd 93-15=78 Aileen MacIntyre
3rd 106-17=89 Paula Galloway
Bronze:
1st 112-33=79 Ann Settle
2nd 109-27=82 Margaret Brodie
3rd 105-21=84 Joan Pattison
Scratch: Helen Faulds 78 (Winner of SLGA Brooch)

Ranfurly Castle - September Medal

Played 2/9/09 and 6/9/09, 19 Entries
Wed CSS 73, Sun CSS 76 R/O
Silver Winner: Agnes Williamson 75 (bih) (20)
Runner Up: Sheila Gray 75 (17)
Bronze Winner: Vicky Rennie 77 (31)
Runner Up: Anne Nicoll 78 (22)
Scratch Winner: Lesley Robertson 79

Renfrewshire County Centenary Shotgun

Some of the RLCGA Members - Click to enlarge

Renfrewshire Ladies County Association held their Centenary Shotgun Greensomes Stableford at Pollok Golf Club today. To read all about it go the Renfrewshire County Website