West of Scotland's Alyson & Rachael Lead at Royal Ashdown Forest

From the LGU Website
Two teenage Scots, Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) - pictured left  and Germany-based Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor, (pictured right) were the only two players in the first half of the field of 113 to match the testing par of 72 over the Royal Ashdown Forest course, East Sussex in the first round of the Ladies British Open amateur championship today.

There was no wind to speak of and there is not a single bunker anywhere under an old forest conservation act so the only explanation for the general level of high scoring was that the woodland/heathland course, a royal hunting forest in ancient times, is an extremely testing lay-out on which to score well.
Bogeys, double bogeys and higher were common. Birdies were rare and eagles an endangered species.
Royal Ashdown Forest has been used by the R&A as an Open championship qualifying venue – and today the competitors in this LGU tournament could see why for themselves.
This south-east of England course, where there is less rainfall than most other parts of the country, has not staged many tournaments for female amateur golfers, outwith local members, in recent years and that lack of familiarity in particular with the hard greens that required pitch and run shots "a la" links golf but were not nearly as fast as links greens for putting was a problem that most of the contestants failed to solve on the first day.
As defending champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), remarked after a returning a four-over-par 76: “I think it’s going to be a high-scoring tournament.” Which could turn out to be the understatement of the season.
Playing partner and fellow Curtis Cup player Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) looked set to prove all the pundits wrong when she cruised to the turn in two-under-par 34 wit birdies at the fifth and eighth and not a suggestion of a bogey.
But Royal Ashdown Forest bit back – hard – on the 16-year-old Irish player after the turn. Leona required 41 shots (five over par) to get home, starting with a double bogey 6 and ended the back nin with a double bogey 7 at 17 and bogey 5 at the last for a 75.
Incidentally, Pamela Pretswell birdied the 17th where Leona had the 7 so where’s the logic of that?
Leona’s twin Lisa had a 77 which included a double bogey 6 at the 10th. Also on 77 is another highly promising 16-year-old, Bronte Law (Bramhall). Bronte had a double bogey 6 at the 15th in halves of 38 and 40.
Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy team player Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) later joined Leona Maguire on the 75 mark.
Britain’s youngest ever women’s open amateur champion, 16-year-old Lauren Taylor (Woburn), pulling her own clubs, had the same score as Pamela Pretswell, a 76. The only 6 on Lauren had on her card was at the 17th.
Alyson  a member of the Scotland team in the girls’ home internationals the week before last, had birdies at the second, 12th, 16th and 18th in halves of 37 (one over par) and 35 (one under). She bogeyed the first, seventh, 11th and 17th.
Rachael Taylor, whose Airdrie-born father is a golf professional in Germany, had halves of 34 and 38 with birdies at the third, eighth and 17th. She did not drop a shot until the 10th – where she dropped two with a 6, followed by a bogey at the 11th, then covered the last seven holes in one-under par.
Welsh teenager Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) and two other youngsters, England girl cap Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) and Belgium’s Laurence Herman, are tucked in behind the Scots. Boulden’s 73 was so steady – 15 pars, one birdie, two bogeys – she could have been playing a different course from those who shot in the high 70s and 80s.
Amy started with a bogey and had her only other dropped shot at the 10th. The Astor Trophy and Vagliano Trophy team player birdied the 17th in halves of 37 and 36.

Scots Scores -- Round 1:

Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72 - Lanarkshire
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 - Renfrewshire
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 - Lanarkshire
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78
Hannah Mccook (Grantown on Spey) 78
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 80
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies') 81
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 81
Laura Murray (Alford) 82
Lesley Atkins(Gullane Ladies) 82
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 83 - Renfrewshire
Katie Reid (Monifieth) 88

LGU PEUGEOT WINNERS - SCOTTISH AREA WINNERS

Sheena Gardner and Lesley Irvine (Douglas Park)

North Edzell, Angus 8 August 2011

Winners: Sheena Gardiner & Lesley Irvine (Douglas Park) 41 points
Runners-up: Kathleen Stalker & Caroline Gordon (Murcar Links) 37 points (counback)
Third: Anne Middleton & Clare Burnett (Edzell) 37 points

East Longniddry, East Lothian 21 July 2011

Winners: Betty Caw & Marion Kloepfer (The Glen) 35 points (countback)
Runners-up: Fiona Kelly & Mhairi Chambers (Niddry Castle) 35 points
Third: H Saunders & C Smith (Dirleton Castle) 35 points

West Whitecraigs, Renfrewshire 27 July 2011

Winners: Kirstin Everett & Joan Shanks (Merchants of Edinburgh) 37 points
Runners-up: Sheila Dawson & Julie Bennett (Vale of Leven) 35 points
Third: Linda Mathewson & Anne Griffen (Stirling) 34 points (countback)

Hayston Stag Mixed Foursomes -- get your entry form

Hayston Open Mixed Foursomes is on Sunday 18th September.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR YOUR ENTRY FORM:-

HAYSTON STAG OPEN MIXED FOURSOMES ENTRY FORM

Scottish Entrants for the British Open Amateur Strokeplay

Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) defends the Ladies' British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship title which begins tomorrow at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club

Scottish Entrants
ATKINS, Lesley (Gullane Ladies')
BRIGGS, Megan (Kilmacolm)
MACDONALD, Gabrielle (Craigielaw)
MCCOOK, Hannah (Grantown on Spey)
MCKECHIN, Alyson (Elderslie)
MONTEITH, Gillian (Portpatrick Dunskey)
MURRAY, Laura (Alford)
PRETSWELL, Pamela (Bothwell Castle)
REID, Katie (Monifieth)
SNEDDON, Jacqueline (Alyth)
SUMMERS, Ailsa (Carnoustie Ladies')
TAYLOR, Rachael (Hartl)
WATTON, Rachael (Mortonhall)

Windyhill Ladies Open Day – Bob Collinson Trophy

Sandra Chudleigh (Ladies Captain), Bob Collinson, Elaine Robb, Lily Collinson

34 players battled it out for the Bob Colllinson Trophy at Windyhill Golf Club on Sunday 14th August. The sun made a welcome appearance and the course was in remarkable condition considering the amount of rain that had fallen over the past week.

Elaine Robb was the overall winner with 37points(bih). The win was all the more special for Elaine as Bob Collinson, who was the Club Professional at Windyhill at the time, took her to the practice ground to hit her first golf ball and teach her the game. The trophy was kindly donated by the Collinson family a number of years ago in memory of Bob.

Many thanks must go to Wiseman Dairies, Burn Stewart Distillers, Bearsden Golf Range, Lesley McKay (Playsport), Bob Collinson (Bearsden Golf Range) and all the members for their the kind prize donations and gifts for the goody bags.

Lindsay Mathie
Vice Captain

Prizewinners
Par 72 CSS 73

Overall Winner of Bob Collinson Trophy Elaine Robb (Windyhill) 37pts (bih)
1st Scratch Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 74
1st Silver Lindsay Mathie (Windyhill) 37pts
2nd Silver Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 33pts
3rd Silver Liz Stewart (Greenburn) 31pts (bih)
4th Silver Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 31pts
1st Bronze Joyce Ferguson (Douglas Park) 30pts
2nd Bronze Marie Miller (Windyhill) 29pts (bih)
3rd Bronze Claire Smith (Windyhill) 29pts
4th Bronze Frances Fee (Renfrew) 28pts

Milngavie Invitation Day Success

Some Prizewinners - Click to enlarge

Milngavie's Invitatation Day was held today in pretty good weather !!
Katy MacAulay (Milngavie), Lynn McColl (Bearsden) and Irene Dixon (Clober) were the winners (75 points) - 2 scores to count.
Pictured above are some of the prizewinners. Mary Smith of Milngavie was thanked for all the organisation

Think we need some humour on this website !!

Phil Wylie, oldest Curtis Cup survivor celebrates her 100th Birthday in Troon

Phyllis Wade Wylie – “Phil” to her many friends – the oldest surviving Curtis Cup team player, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday in Troon, where she has lived for many years.
Phil played for Great Britain &Ireland against the United States in the fourth Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachussets in 1938.
The GB & I team, which included legendary Scots Helen Holm and Jessie Valentine, had crossed the Atlantic by ship in those pre-commercial flight days.
In 1938 the Curtis Cup ties, foursomes and singles, were all played over 36 holes. GB & I led 2 ½- ½ at the end of the first-day foursomes but an American team, with Patty Berg in its line-up, won five of the six singles on Day 2 to claim the Cup 5 ½-2 ½.
“The United States won the match but my abiding memory is how happy I was to be playing in a Curtis Cup match and what great fun we had,” recalls Phil.
“I think that’s the biggest difference between players of then and now. We all enjoyed ourselves, win or lose, and we weren’t afraid to show it.”
In 1939, Phyllis Wade married Surgeon-Capt J I Wylie, a Scot who was a naval officer. They had one son, Ian.
“I have been a widow for many years but living happily in Troon,” says Phil whose home overlooks the 17th green of the Royal Troon course.
"I don't get about so much these days; I'm a bit unsteady on my feet."
But she has a twinkle in her eye.
She had a dream come true at the 2008 Curtis Cup match at the Old Course, St Andrews where she entered the hallowed Royal & Ancient clubhouse to attend the Past Curtis Cup Players’ Dinner and was able to hold the Curtis Cup in her grasp.
She was English women’s amateur champion as Phil Wade in 1934 and 1936 and was Hampshire county champion in 1933, 1935, 1937 and 1938. By now rated as one of England’s leading players, she was first reserve in attendance for the 1936 Curtis Cup match at Gleneagles.
Remarkably, she did not take up golf until she was 16 or 17 years old and not until she was 18 (1929) when she left school did she play regularly.
“Father was a keen golfer and got me lessons with Reg Whitcombe (the pro at Parkstone Golf Club) who had been a Ryder Cup player,” said
Phil played regularly in international matches against France from 1934 to 1949.
She toured Australia and NewZealand with the GB team in 1935- it took the party some time to reach there by ship and the tour lasted more than a couple of months – and Phil won the New Zealand women's foursomes with Mrs. Greenlees in 1935.
Having moved up to Scotland, Phil became Ayrshire champion in 1954, which was no mean feat with players of the calibre of Helen Holm to beat, and is currently the Hon. President of the Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association.
The members of her “next-door neighbours” Troon Ladies Golf Club planned a celebration tea for Phil which was by another Troon resident, Shona Malcolm, CEO of the Ladies Golf Union.

Scottish Vets are 3rd in the Veteran Ladies' Jamboree

Scotland were trounced 8.5-0.5 by South on the final day of the Veteran Ladies Jamboree at Wellingborough Golf Club.
The Scots, having taken 1.5pt out of a possible 2 from the first 2 days play. They beat Midlands 6-3 on Day 1, and then drew with North on Day 2 and were strong challengers to win the trophy once again but, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip ...
The writing was on the wall in large letters that it was not going to be Scotland's day when South made a 3-0 clean sweep in the foursomes.
The singles session was not much better from a Scotland point of view. South took that 5.5-0.5.
The final placings were:
1 South 2pt (on countback)
2 Midlands 2pt
3 Scotland 1.5pt
4 North 0.5pt

To read all the results and reports go to the West Vets Website

Scottish Girls Under 14's Championship at Aberdour

This Championship is jointly run by the SGU and SLGA for leading under 14 male and female golfers. First contested in 2001, the event is the youngest national age group championhip in Scotland, which also features an U12 category within. The event has been greatly supported by the Loretto School Golf Academy who have been sponsors since 2004 and attracts talented young golfers from across the UK. It shall comprise 18 holes of stroke play.
Click on the following link to see the scores today after the Competition was reduced to one round due to rain !
Loretta Schools Under 14 Scottish Girls Championships

Not a good day for the home players in the rain-abbreviated Loretto School Scottish Under-14 girls' open championship at Aberdour Golf Club, Fife today .

Leading Scottish girls were Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) and Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) who tied for fourth place with Samantha Fuller (Roehampton).

LEADING GIRLS
Par 68 CSS tbc
74 Susana Vik (Nor).
77 Clara Kelly (Hagley), Emily Lyle (Worksop).
78 Samantha Fuller (Roehampton), Chloe Goadby (St Regulus), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
79 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Victoria Mallett (Sutton Coldfield), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies).
80 Angharad Evans (St Pierre).
81 Sophie Newlove (Notts Ladies), Fiona Liddell (Ger).

RESULTS FROM THE BRITISH GIRLS MATCHPLAY

West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) are now playing in the matchplay stages of the British Girls at Gullane
To keep up to date with the play click on the following link
Alyson McKechin's opponent that beat her in the 2nd round from Belgium has now reached the semi finals

CLICK HERE FOR MATCHPLAY RESULTS

SLGA Ladies Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes Draws

The Scottish Mixed Foursomes will take place at Mortonhall Golf Club on Sunday 21st August and the Scottish Ladies Open Foursomes will be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28 August. The draws for these competitions can be found below. There are still some spaces available for both of these events - please contact the SLGA office if you would like a late entry.
MIXED FOURSOMES DRAW
SCOTTISH LADIES STROKEPLAY FOURSOMES

SCOTTISH BOYS AND GIRLS U14s NOW A ONE-ROUNDER ON FRIDAY

FROM THE SLGA WEBSITE
The first round of the Scottish Girls and Boys Under 14's Championship at Aberdour has been cancelled today (because of very heavy rain and flooding).
The Championship will now be held over 18 holes tomorrow (Friday, August 12). Tee times for tomorrow will be as per the Round 2 (Friday) tee-times on the draw. Competitors should register tomorrow 30 minutes before their tee-time.

Claire Hargan
Championship Manager

Charity Mixed Greensomes --- Gleddoch

Gleddoch Golf Course -- Great Views - Click to enlarge

Charity Mixed Greensomes on Sunday September 18th

All profits will go to Maggie's (Glasgow) and the event is in memory of Gleddoch's late Past Captain, Sheila Hughes, who was also a Past Captain at Fereneze. Her family donated a wonderful trophy, as Sheila did a lot of after dinner speaking for Maggie's whilst undergoing her treatment.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

Pamela loses at the 19th in the US Matchplay 1st Round

Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell lost at the 19th against Kim in the first round of the US Amateur Match play stages
US Amateur Matchplay results

No Scots left in the British Girls' Matchplay

Report by Colin Farquharson
McKECHIN LOSES - NO SCOTS IN LAST 16 OF BRITISH GIRLS
There are no Scots in tomorrow morning's line-up of the last 16 in the British girls open amateur championship after an awful day of rain at the Gullane No 2 course.
The last host country representative to bow out was Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
Having beat compatriot Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) by 4 and 2 in the worst of the morning rain, Alyson went down by 2 and 1 to Belgium's Margaux Vanmol in the second round.
The 18-year-old lost the first but bounced back by winning the second, fourth and fifth for a two-hole lead - but that was as good as it got for McKechin.
"I was still two up at the turn but she birdied the long 10th to get one back and after we had halved the long 11th in birdie 4s, Margaux birdied the 13th to square the match," said Alyson who intends playing full-time amateur golf for the rest of the year.
"Then I bogeyed the 14th to go one down for the first time."
After halves in pars at the 15th and 16th, Vanmol clinched a come-from-behind 2 and 1 win by winning the 17th.
The roads around Gullane were flooded after overnight rain continued into the day but the Gullane linkes continued to drain it all away.
"It was simply horrific out there," said 16-year-old Bronte Law (Bramhall), the No 5 seed and one of the favourites.
She beat Marian Tonnessen (Norway) and then Daisy Nielsen (Denmark) both by 4 and 3 margins to reach the third round.
Bronte won the Scottish Under-16 girls' open amateur title at Strathmore in April.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) lost by 5 and 3 to England international Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) who was three up after seven and two up at the turn.
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) was one up after 13 against English girls champion Hayley Davis (Ferndown) but lost at the 19th
Scottish U18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) was two down after only four holes to Norway's Olivia Hullert. The Scot stopped the rot but was still two down after seven and again at the turn.
She got into her stride to birdie the 11th and 13th, lost the 14th but birdied 15th and 17th to take the match down the 19th were Eilidh's hopes ended in a bunker.
To read the full report and results go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

3 Ayrshire Girls qualify for the Highland Spring Junior Masters Tournament

Two Ayrshire boys and three Ayrshire girls are off to the Grand Final of the Highland Spring Junior Masters Tournament at Gleneagles in September, after coming through qualifying at Loudoun Gowf Club this week.
In the boys event, the cut off score was 31 pts to determine the 11 qualifiers who will play over the Queens Course at Gleneagles on Sunday 9th October.
Connor Mackay of the host club was second qualifier whilst David Robinson (Largs) claimed the 11th and final qualifying space.
In the girls event, 33 pts was the score which decided who the 9 qualifier for the finals would be.
Connie Jaffrey (Ayrshire Ladies) was second qualifier on 37 pts, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) was third also on 37 pts and Emma Paterson (Loudoun Gowf) claimed the seventh qualifying place on 34 pts.

Regional Medal Finals at East Kilbride

From the SLGA Website
The West Division SLGA Regional Medal Finals took place at a sunny East Kilbride yesterday (Tuesday 9 August). 72 ladies enjoyed the course as well as the newly opened East Kilbride Clubhouse in the competition which was rearranged from the beginning of July.

Valarie Davidson from Whitecraigs pipped Pamela Gray of Lochwinnoch on the better inward half to win the Bronze Division and to lead the qualifiers for the Grand Medal Finals at Crieff on 4th September. Both players had a nett score of 71 off handicaps of 28 and 21 respectively. They will be joined at the medal finals by Kirsty Flockhart of Milnathort who had a nett 72 off a handicap of 21.

Sandra Goldie (Eastwood) was the winner of the Silver section with a nett 73 off a handicap of 12 and will be joined at Crieff by Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) and Marsha Hull (Strathaven).

Silver Division

1st = Sandra Goldie (Eastwood) 85 - 12 = 73 (Better last 6) Q
2nd = Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) 87 - 14 = 73 Q
3rd = Marsha Hull (Strathaven) 84 - 9 = 75 (Better 18th hole) Q
4th = Lorna Fury (Thornton) 78 - 3 = 75

Bronze Division

1st = Valerie Davidson (Whitecraigs) 99 - 28 = 71 (Better inward half) Q
2nd = Pamela Gray (Lochwinnoch) 92 - 21 = 71 Q
3rd = Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) 93 - 21 = 72 Q
4th = Lorna Brown (Dunblane New) 95 - 21 = 74

Q = qualifiers for the SLGA Grand Medal Final at Crieff Golf Club on 4th September.

CSS = 74

Pamela has another great round to qualify for the Match Play Stages of the US Amateur Championships

Bothwell Castle's Pamela Pretswell had another good round yesterday in the US Ladies Amateur Championship at Rhode Island Country Club. She added a 1 over par round to her first round of 2 under to finish in in 7th place in the stroke play championship. She now plays Stephanie Kim, Tempe, Arizona in the 1st round.
She is joined by the only other Scot in the field Sally Watson who qualified in 55th place

To see all the scores --- CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DRAW FOR THE MATCHPLAY

Ranfurly Castle Open Day raises £700 for the Accord Hospice

Karin present Norman with a cheque for £700 - Click to enlarge

The sun shone on the Annual Ladies Open Day on Monday, 8th August.
47 teams played with Ladies playing from as far a field as Aberdeen.
The charity raffle raised £700.00. A fantastic amount and many thanks to all the members who donated prizes. A cheque for the above amount was presented by the Lady Captain, Karin MacKenzie, to Mr Norman Walker, Chairman of the Accord Hospice.
Norman Walker , a past member and Captain of Ranfurly Castle thanked all the ladies for their donation and gave a small resume of the cost of running the hospice.

The Results:
1st Prize -- W. Chung( Cathcart), F. Yip ( Cowglen) & M. Lin ( East Kiblride) --- nett 63 .
2nd Prize-- D. Barton , G. Malone & C. McIntyre ( All Largs) --- nett 64 ( bih).
3rd Prize -- G.Cragg, M. Kirkham & l. Wilkie ( all Milngavie) --- nett 64.
4th Prize---- M. Hamilton, R. Brown & E.Wales ( all Dullater) --- nett 66.

Nearest Pin; Silver- M. Cook : Bronze- M. Lin.
Longest drive; Silver- J. Potter : Bronze - P. Taggart.

Thanks go to Jean Irvine for  the photographs and Ranfurly Castle's Lady Captain Karin MacKenzie for the report