Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
Friday 9 September 2011
Thursday 8 September 2011
Scotland lose to England on the 2nd day of the Home Internationals
From the LGU Website
England favourites for title after beating Scotland, Wales beat Ireland
England go into the final day of the Ladies’ Home Internationals at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire as the only team with a 100 per cent record and favourites to win the title for the first time since Dunbar in 2007.
Scotland, the defending champions, suffered their second defeat of the week when they lost 6-3 to England who took a grip on the outcome by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes. England had come from behind to beat Wales 6-3 on the first day.
They carried the momentum they built up in winning five of their singles on Wednesday into the match against the Scots.
Kelly Tidy extended the England lead to 4-0 by beating Jane Turner 5 and 3. Tidy never looked back after winning the first three holes.and had four birdies in all in a quality performance by the 2010 British champion.
Pamela Pretswell put Scotland’s first point of the day on the board by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 1 in the lead-off singles.
Pretswell was three up after six holes and was four up after 11 holes.
Holly Clyburn made it 5-1 for England with a 5 and 3 win over international debutante Rebecca Wilson. Clyburn won five holes in a row from the 12th
Bronte Law chalked up a sixth point for Scotland by beating Kelsey MacDonald 2 and 1. Youngster Law was two up at the turn and four up after 11. Then MacDonald rallied to win the 12th with a birdie 3, and also the 13th, 14th and 15th to be all square with three to play.
Law conjured up a birdie 2 at the 16th to halt the Scot’s charge and go one up again. She also won the 17th for a 2 and 1 victory.
Alyson McKechin scored a second point for Scotland by beating Charlotte Ellis by one hole. The Scots teenager made a great start by winning the first two holes but she was pulled back to square after four and had to fight her way back into a two-hole lead with a birdie 3 at the 14th. Ellis won the 15th to be one down going into the closing holes.
McKechin held on to her narrow lead by halving the last two holes, pitching dead for a 5 at the last after her first chip went over the green.
Scottish champion Louise Kenney, fielded as the tail-gunner by skipper Fiona Norris, won the last tie, beating young Georgia Hall 2 and 1 after going three up through eight holes.
So the Scots regained some pride by sharing the singles 3-3 after their blank sheet in the foursomes
FOURSOMES
Lauren Taylor and Charley Hull won 6&5 Louise Kenney and Kelsey Macdonald
Charlotte Ellis and Charlotte Wild won 3&2 Pamela Pretswell Alyson Mckechin
Georgia Hall and Bronte Law won 6&5 Megan Briggs and Eilidh Briggs
England 3 Scotland 0
SINGLES
Pamela Pretswell beat Charlotte Wild 3&1
Kelly Tidy beat Jane Turner 5&3
Alyson Mckechin beat Charlotte Ellis 1 UP
Bronte Law beat Kelsey Macdonald 2&1
Holly Clyburn beat Rebecca Wilson 4&3
Louise Kenney beat Georgia Hall 2&1
England 3 Scotland 3
Scotland 3 England 6
Wales 6 Ireland 3
England favourites for title after beating Scotland, Wales beat Ireland
England go into the final day of the Ladies’ Home Internationals at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire as the only team with a 100 per cent record and favourites to win the title for the first time since Dunbar in 2007.
Scotland, the defending champions, suffered their second defeat of the week when they lost 6-3 to England who took a grip on the outcome by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes. England had come from behind to beat Wales 6-3 on the first day.
They carried the momentum they built up in winning five of their singles on Wednesday into the match against the Scots.
Kelly Tidy extended the England lead to 4-0 by beating Jane Turner 5 and 3. Tidy never looked back after winning the first three holes.and had four birdies in all in a quality performance by the 2010 British champion.
Pamela Pretswell put Scotland’s first point of the day on the board by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 1 in the lead-off singles.
Pretswell was three up after six holes and was four up after 11 holes.
Holly Clyburn made it 5-1 for England with a 5 and 3 win over international debutante Rebecca Wilson. Clyburn won five holes in a row from the 12th
Bronte Law chalked up a sixth point for Scotland by beating Kelsey MacDonald 2 and 1. Youngster Law was two up at the turn and four up after 11. Then MacDonald rallied to win the 12th with a birdie 3, and also the 13th, 14th and 15th to be all square with three to play.
Law conjured up a birdie 2 at the 16th to halt the Scot’s charge and go one up again. She also won the 17th for a 2 and 1 victory.
Alyson McKechin scored a second point for Scotland by beating Charlotte Ellis by one hole. The Scots teenager made a great start by winning the first two holes but she was pulled back to square after four and had to fight her way back into a two-hole lead with a birdie 3 at the 14th. Ellis won the 15th to be one down going into the closing holes.
McKechin held on to her narrow lead by halving the last two holes, pitching dead for a 5 at the last after her first chip went over the green.
Scottish champion Louise Kenney, fielded as the tail-gunner by skipper Fiona Norris, won the last tie, beating young Georgia Hall 2 and 1 after going three up through eight holes.
So the Scots regained some pride by sharing the singles 3-3 after their blank sheet in the foursomes
FOURSOMES
Lauren Taylor and Charley Hull won 6&5 Louise Kenney and Kelsey Macdonald
Charlotte Ellis and Charlotte Wild won 3&2 Pamela Pretswell Alyson Mckechin
Georgia Hall and Bronte Law won 6&5 Megan Briggs and Eilidh Briggs
England 3 Scotland 0
SINGLES
Pamela Pretswell beat Charlotte Wild 3&1
Kelly Tidy beat Jane Turner 5&3
Alyson Mckechin beat Charlotte Ellis 1 UP
Bronte Law beat Kelsey Macdonald 2&1
Holly Clyburn beat Rebecca Wilson 4&3
Louise Kenney beat Georgia Hall 2&1
England 3 Scotland 3
Scotland 3 England 6
Wales 6 Ireland 3
West Vets Autumn Meeting at Cardross
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| Suzanne and Joanna - Click to enlarge |
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| Suzanne's ball gets stuck up a tree at the 6th - She has to take a penalty Click to enlarge |
The prizewinners are as follows:-
Silver
Scratch - Suzanne Cadden (78) BIH
1 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes) - 78 (6) 72
2 Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) - 78 (5) 73
3 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) - 85 (6) 79
Bronze
1 E. Jane Thomson (Troon) - 111 (25) 86
2 Agnes Robertson (Erskine) - 118 (29) 89
Super Vet
Anne McKellar (Whitecraigs) 86
May Craddock trophy for best nett - Joanna Scott -72
Wednesday 7 September 2011
IRELAND DENT SCOTLAND'S TITLE
SCOTLAND BLOW 2 POINT LEAD IN SINGLES
GOLF COPY AND RESULTS
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
IRELAND DENT SCOTLAND'S TITLE AND ENGLAND PEG BACK WALES
Title-holders Scotland's hopes of retaining the Women's Home Internationals title at Hillside Golf Club took a potentially fatal blow on another very windy and latterly very wet day at the Lancashire links.
The Scots led Ireland by 2 points after the morning foursomes but the Irish took the singles by 3 points to finish as 5-4 winners.
Meanwhile, England, trailing 2-1 to Wales after the morning foursomes, won five of the six singles to win the match 6-3.
Scotland play England and Ireland play Wales on Day 2
Scotland looked set for a comfortable start to the defence of the title they won at Whitchurch (Cardiff) 12 months ago when Pamela Pretswell beat Lisa Maguire 5 and 4 to stretch the Scots' lunchtime lead to 3.5 to 0.5.
But it was a false dawn. Scotland did not win another singles tie.
Louise Coffey started the swing Ireland's way when she beat Louise Kenney 4 and 3,
Gillian O'Leary had a very good 3 and 1 win over Kelsey MacDonald and Charlene Reid chalked up a 5 and 4 win over former Scottish champion Megan Briggs.
That left the overall scoreline level at 3.5pt each with two matches to finish.
Ireland's Paula Grant, two down to Monifieth debutante Rebecca Wilson at the turn, fought back to gain a square match by winning the last hole.
And Ireland got the clinching victory point in the last match to finish with Emma O'Driscoll winning the 16th and 17th and halving the last for a come-from-behind one hole victory over Craigielaw's Jane Turner.
England came storming back in the singles against Wales, quickly making up their one-point deficit from the singles, winning five of the six afternoon ties.
A rampant England is bad news for Scotland's second match particularly after the morale blow they must have suffered with their collapse in the singles.
WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire
DAY 1
SCOTLAND 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes (2.5-0.5)
Louise Kenney and Kelsey MacDonald beat Louise Coffey and Karen Delaney 4 and 3.
Pamela Pretswell and Alyson McKechin beat Gillian O'Leary and Charlene Reid 2 holes.
Megan Briggs and Eilidh Briggs halved with Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant
Singles (1.5-4.5)
Kenney lost to Coffey 4 and 3.
MacDonald lost to O'Leary 3 and 1.
Pretswell beat Maguire 5 and 4.
Megan Briggs lost to Reid 5 and 4.
Rebecca Wilson halved with Grant.
Turner lost to Emma O'Driscoll 1 hole
ENGLAND 6, WALES 3
Foursomes (1-2)
Georgia Hall and Bronte Law lost to Becky Harries and Amy Boulden 2 and 1.
Kelly Tidy and Holly Clyburn lost to Katie Bradbury and Chloe Williams 5 and 4.
Charlotte Ellis and Charlotte Wild bt Gemma Bradbury and Sam Birks 4 and 2.
Singles (5-1)
Lauren Taylor bt Williams 5 and 3.
Tidy beat Boulden 5 and 4.
Charley Hull bt Katie Bradbury 4 and 2.
Charlotte Ellis bt Gemma Bradbury 4 and 3
Clyburn beat Birks 6 and 5
Wild lost to Harries 5 and 3.
THURSDAY MATCHES
Wales v Ireland
England v Scotland
GOLF COPY AND RESULTS
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
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| The Scottish Team - Courtesy of Colin Farquharson Click to enlarge |
Title-holders Scotland's hopes of retaining the Women's Home Internationals title at Hillside Golf Club took a potentially fatal blow on another very windy and latterly very wet day at the Lancashire links.
The Scots led Ireland by 2 points after the morning foursomes but the Irish took the singles by 3 points to finish as 5-4 winners.
Meanwhile, England, trailing 2-1 to Wales after the morning foursomes, won five of the six singles to win the match 6-3.
Scotland play England and Ireland play Wales on Day 2
Scotland looked set for a comfortable start to the defence of the title they won at Whitchurch (Cardiff) 12 months ago when Pamela Pretswell beat Lisa Maguire 5 and 4 to stretch the Scots' lunchtime lead to 3.5 to 0.5.
But it was a false dawn. Scotland did not win another singles tie.
Louise Coffey started the swing Ireland's way when she beat Louise Kenney 4 and 3,
Gillian O'Leary had a very good 3 and 1 win over Kelsey MacDonald and Charlene Reid chalked up a 5 and 4 win over former Scottish champion Megan Briggs.
That left the overall scoreline level at 3.5pt each with two matches to finish.
Ireland's Paula Grant, two down to Monifieth debutante Rebecca Wilson at the turn, fought back to gain a square match by winning the last hole.
And Ireland got the clinching victory point in the last match to finish with Emma O'Driscoll winning the 16th and 17th and halving the last for a come-from-behind one hole victory over Craigielaw's Jane Turner.
England came storming back in the singles against Wales, quickly making up their one-point deficit from the singles, winning five of the six afternoon ties.
A rampant England is bad news for Scotland's second match particularly after the morale blow they must have suffered with their collapse in the singles.
WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire
DAY 1
SCOTLAND 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes (2.5-0.5)
Louise Kenney and Kelsey MacDonald beat Louise Coffey and Karen Delaney 4 and 3.
Pamela Pretswell and Alyson McKechin beat Gillian O'Leary and Charlene Reid 2 holes.
Megan Briggs and Eilidh Briggs halved with Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant
Singles (1.5-4.5)
Kenney lost to Coffey 4 and 3.
MacDonald lost to O'Leary 3 and 1.
Pretswell beat Maguire 5 and 4.
Megan Briggs lost to Reid 5 and 4.
Rebecca Wilson halved with Grant.
Turner lost to Emma O'Driscoll 1 hole
ENGLAND 6, WALES 3
Foursomes (1-2)
Georgia Hall and Bronte Law lost to Becky Harries and Amy Boulden 2 and 1.
Kelly Tidy and Holly Clyburn lost to Katie Bradbury and Chloe Williams 5 and 4.
Charlotte Ellis and Charlotte Wild bt Gemma Bradbury and Sam Birks 4 and 2.
Singles (5-1)
Lauren Taylor bt Williams 5 and 3.
Tidy beat Boulden 5 and 4.
Charley Hull bt Katie Bradbury 4 and 2.
Charlotte Ellis bt Gemma Bradbury 4 and 3
Clyburn beat Birks 6 and 5
Wild lost to Harries 5 and 3.
THURSDAY MATCHES
Wales v Ireland
England v Scotland
Tuesday 6 September 2011
SLGA Medal Finals at Crieff Golf Club- Stathaven's Marsha Hall is the Runaway Winner
Marsha Hull (Strathaven) scored a runaway win in the Silver Division handicap section of the SLGA Medal Final at Crieff Golf Club on a gloriously sunny Sunday.
Marsha had a net 69 off nine of a handicap and had six shots to spare from Silver runner-up Lorna Fury (Thornton), who had net 75 off three.
Third was Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) with a net 76 off 14.
In the Bronze Section, Leanne Wilson (Kelso Ladies) led the way with a net 77 off 14.
Runner-up was Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) with a net 78 off 20.
Third was Joanna Daley (Aberdour) with a net 80 off 25.
Over 400 players started the season-long competition at club/area level and 25 qualifiers contested the Final at Crieff where the par was 74 and the CSS 76
PRIZEWINNERS
Par 74 CSS 76
Silver Division
Marsha Hull (Strathaven) (9) 69
Lorna Fury (Thornton) (3) 75
Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) (14) 76.
Bronze Division
Leanne Wilson (Kelso Ladies) (14) 77
Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) (20) 78
Joanna Daley (Aberdour) (25) 80
Marsha had a net 69 off nine of a handicap and had six shots to spare from Silver runner-up Lorna Fury (Thornton), who had net 75 off three.
Third was Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) with a net 76 off 14.
In the Bronze Section, Leanne Wilson (Kelso Ladies) led the way with a net 77 off 14.
Runner-up was Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) with a net 78 off 20.
Third was Joanna Daley (Aberdour) with a net 80 off 25.
Over 400 players started the season-long competition at club/area level and 25 qualifiers contested the Final at Crieff where the par was 74 and the CSS 76
PRIZEWINNERS
Par 74 CSS 76
Silver Division
Marsha Hull (Strathaven) (9) 69
Lorna Fury (Thornton) (3) 75
Michelle Molloy (Cathkin Braes) (14) 76.
Bronze Division
Leanne Wilson (Kelso Ladies) (14) 77
Kirsty Flockhart (Milnathort) (20) 78
Joanna Daley (Aberdour) (25) 80
Monday 5 September 2011
West Kilbride Greenlees Team Outing - June scores a hat trick at Shiskine
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1st June Kerr 27 points
2nd Eileen Atkinson 25 points bih
3rd Janette Mair 25 points best last 3 holes
June Kerr, current Ladies Captain at West Kilbride Golf Club, not only won the competition, she had a hole in 1 at the 10th hole 'Paradise'! --- And to complete the hat trick she was presented with 'The West Kilbride Greenlees Team Player of the Year' award for her achievment of 8 wins out of 8 this season.
By the end of the day June was still in 'Paradise'!
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| June Kerr and Aileen Donaldson - Click to enlarge |
June with 'The West Kilbride Greenlees Player of the Year' Award -- with Aileen Donaldson who sent in the report and photographs
Kylie Walker does well in Austria
CAROLINE HEDWALL COMES FROM SEVEN BEHIND FOR AUSTRIA WIN
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Leading Scores:
204 - Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 73 67 64
208 - Caroline Afonso (FRA) 67 67 74
209 - Melissa Reid (ENG) 67 71 71 , Linda Wessberg (SWE) 69 69 71 , Giulia Sergas (ITA) 67 69 73 , Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 67 66 76
211 - Karen Lunn (AUS) 69 72 70
212 - Stacey Keating (AUS) 75 70 67 , Nikki Garrett (AUS) 72 70 70 , Caroline Masson (GER) 67 75 70, Kylie Walker (SCO) 71 67 74
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Leading Scores:
204 - Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 73 67 64
208 - Caroline Afonso (FRA) 67 67 74
209 - Melissa Reid (ENG) 67 71 71 , Linda Wessberg (SWE) 69 69 71 , Giulia Sergas (ITA) 67 69 73 , Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 67 66 76
211 - Karen Lunn (AUS) 69 72 70
212 - Stacey Keating (AUS) 75 70 67 , Nikki Garrett (AUS) 72 70 70 , Caroline Masson (GER) 67 75 70, Kylie Walker (SCO) 71 67 74
Saturday 3 September 2011
Read the latest news in Scottish Club Golfer
To register for Scottish Club Golfer Online Edition please go to www.scottishclubgolfer.com | ||||||||||||
Thursday 1 September 2011
D&A Autumn Meeting and Alexander Trophy
Played at Cardross Golf Club on Wednesday 31st August 2011, SSS 74, CSS 75 , 83 played
Scratch : Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 78
1st Silver : WINNER of the Moira Alexander Trophy: Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 80-6-74
2nd Silver : Kay McColl (Hilton Park) 94-19-75 (BIH)
3rd Silver : Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) 81-6-75
1st Bronze : Anne Cumberland (Hilton Park) 100-25-75
2nd Bronze : Barbara Robertson (Cardross) 99-22-77
Scratch : Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 78
1st Silver : WINNER of the Moira Alexander Trophy: Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 80-6-74
2nd Silver : Kay McColl (Hilton Park) 94-19-75 (BIH)
3rd Silver : Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) 81-6-75
1st Bronze : Anne Cumberland (Hilton Park) 100-25-75
2nd Bronze : Barbara Robertson (Cardross) 99-22-77
SLGA looking for a Golf Administrator
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is the governing body for ladies’ and girls’ amateur golf in Scotland. Applications are invited for the following position which will be based in Perth.
GOLF ADMINISTRATOR
(Full time or part time considered)
Applicants must be familiar with the structures of ladies’ golf and have a working knowledge of the CONGU® Unified Handicapping System and The Rules of Golf. They should be self motivated but able to work as part of a team and have strong IT, communication and organisational skills. Fully conversant with Microsoft Office the successful applicant will provide general administrative support to the SLGA’s operations including the updating of the SLGA website. Attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines are imperative.
Salary, in the range of £18,000 – £20,000 FTE, and benefits package will be commensurate with experience.
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is an equal opportunities employer.
Applications accompanied by a curriculum vitae should be emailed to:
secretary@slga.co.uk for the attention of Dr S E Hartley, Chief Operating Officer.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 29 September 2011.
Labels: SLGA
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Home International matches head to Hillside Golf Club next week.
FROM THE LGU WEBSITE
Next week’s Ladies’ Home Internationals, hosted by Hillside Golf Club, near Southport, Lancashire, will see defending champions Scotland, under a new captain, bidding to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 1990-91.
Not since Scotland were champions four years in a row from 1949 to 1952, have England had such a spell as fruitless as the present one. They last won the title in 2007 at Dunbar.
These are the 94th set of Ladies’ Home Internationals, involving at least England, Scotland and Ireland (Wales’ entry came later) since the tournament was started in 1902 at Deal for the T H Miller Trophy.
It was Scotland’s 9-0 defeat by England in 1902 that led to the founding of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association in 1904.
The all-time scoreboard reads:
England champions 56 times with one shared.
Scotland champions 27 times with one shared.
Ireland champions 6 times.
Wales champions 3 times (all since 1999)
Until World War II, the Ladies’ Home Internationals were played before or immediately after the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in the summer. In the years since then, the matches have become a late-season focal point and highlight for officials of the four home unions and, of cours, the players. Being capped for one’s country still means a lot.
Fiona Norris is Scotland’s captain with the task of following in the footsteps of Lesley Nicholson, the successful skipper at Whitchurch, Cardiff last year. It was Scotland’s first title win in 19 years.
Fiona, who played for Scotland three times, has previously worked alongside Ada O’Sullivan as manager of Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy teams as well as captainning Scotland in the 2008 world amateur championships in Australia.
Fiona is an older sister of Mhairi McKay-Smith, who plays on the LPGA Tour. Fiona and Mhairi played in the same Scotland team in 1993 and 1994. For the first time since then, there will be two sisters in the Scotland line-up at Hillside – Megan and Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm.
Eilidh won the Scottish Under-18 girls match-play title this year and also reached the final of the Scottish Ladies’s Amateur Championship.
Eilidh is one of three new HI caps in the Scotland line-up. Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Rebecca Wilson (Grange) are the others.
England field a young team, which includes three new teenage caps, British champion Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) and Bronte Law (Bramhall). Lauren, at 16, was the youngest-ever winner of the Ladies British open amateur championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland in June. Georgia, 15, was a semi-finalist in the British girls championship at Gullane in early August. Bronte won the Scottish Under-16 open title in the spring.
Charley Hull (Woburn), No 20 in the World Rankings, made her debut for the full England team 12 months ago at the age of 14 and keeps her place which means there will be four players aged 16 or under in the team captained by Chris Pascall.
Ireland, runners-up to Scotland last year after beating England 8-1 in their opening match, will lack the services of the new Ladies British open amateur stroke-play champion, 16-year-old Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), ranked No 6 in the world, and a former winner of that title, Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), who turned professional earlier this month.
Leona will be otherwise engaged in a Ladies European Tour event, but twin Lisa, the European women’s individual champion and World Ranked No 33, will be wearing the green.
There are three new caps in the Ireland team for Hillside – Ulster champion Louise Coffey (Malone), Irish girls champion Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Chloe Ryan (Castleroy) who played well in the Girls’ International matches and is having a good season.
Wales’ line-up includes two survivors – GB and I International Amy Boulden (Maesdu) and Lucy Gould (Bargoed) - from the squad that won the Home Internationals’ title two years in a row – at Wrexham in 2008 and Irvine, Scotland in 2009. Junior Vagliano Trophy player Chloe Wiliams (Wrexham) will be making her debut as a full Welsh cap.
The teams are:
ENGLAND
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak), Charley Hull (Woburn), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Kellly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Charlotte Wild (Mere).
Team captain: Chris Pascall (Hartlepool)
IRELAND
Louise Coffey (Malone), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Paul Grant (Lisburn), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Charlene Reid (Rooyal Portrush), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
Team captain: Claire Robinson
SCOTLAND
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nainr Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Grange).
Team captain: Fiona Norris (Hamilton).
WALES
Samantha Birks (Wolstanton), Amy Boulden (Maesdu), Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Katie Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Lucy Gould (Bargoed), Rebecca Harries (Haverfordwest), Katherine O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath), Chloe Williams (Wrexham).
Team captain: Sue Turner
Programme of events:
Three foursomes (8.30 - 9.20) and six singles (13.10 - 15.00) in each match
Wednesday 7 September
Scotland v Ireland
England v Wales
Thursday 8 September
Wales v Ireland
England v Scotland
Friday 9 September
Ireland v England
Scotland v Wales
Next week’s Ladies’ Home Internationals, hosted by Hillside Golf Club, near Southport, Lancashire, will see defending champions Scotland, under a new captain, bidding to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 1990-91.
Not since Scotland were champions four years in a row from 1949 to 1952, have England had such a spell as fruitless as the present one. They last won the title in 2007 at Dunbar.
These are the 94th set of Ladies’ Home Internationals, involving at least England, Scotland and Ireland (Wales’ entry came later) since the tournament was started in 1902 at Deal for the T H Miller Trophy.
It was Scotland’s 9-0 defeat by England in 1902 that led to the founding of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association in 1904.
The all-time scoreboard reads:
England champions 56 times with one shared.
Scotland champions 27 times with one shared.
Ireland champions 6 times.
Wales champions 3 times (all since 1999)
Until World War II, the Ladies’ Home Internationals were played before or immediately after the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in the summer. In the years since then, the matches have become a late-season focal point and highlight for officials of the four home unions and, of cours, the players. Being capped for one’s country still means a lot.
Fiona Norris is Scotland’s captain with the task of following in the footsteps of Lesley Nicholson, the successful skipper at Whitchurch, Cardiff last year. It was Scotland’s first title win in 19 years.
Fiona, who played for Scotland three times, has previously worked alongside Ada O’Sullivan as manager of Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy teams as well as captainning Scotland in the 2008 world amateur championships in Australia.
Fiona is an older sister of Mhairi McKay-Smith, who plays on the LPGA Tour. Fiona and Mhairi played in the same Scotland team in 1993 and 1994. For the first time since then, there will be two sisters in the Scotland line-up at Hillside – Megan and Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm.
Eilidh won the Scottish Under-18 girls match-play title this year and also reached the final of the Scottish Ladies’s Amateur Championship.
Eilidh is one of three new HI caps in the Scotland line-up. Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Rebecca Wilson (Grange) are the others.
England field a young team, which includes three new teenage caps, British champion Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) and Bronte Law (Bramhall). Lauren, at 16, was the youngest-ever winner of the Ladies British open amateur championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland in June. Georgia, 15, was a semi-finalist in the British girls championship at Gullane in early August. Bronte won the Scottish Under-16 open title in the spring.
Charley Hull (Woburn), No 20 in the World Rankings, made her debut for the full England team 12 months ago at the age of 14 and keeps her place which means there will be four players aged 16 or under in the team captained by Chris Pascall.
Ireland, runners-up to Scotland last year after beating England 8-1 in their opening match, will lack the services of the new Ladies British open amateur stroke-play champion, 16-year-old Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), ranked No 6 in the world, and a former winner of that title, Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), who turned professional earlier this month.
Leona will be otherwise engaged in a Ladies European Tour event, but twin Lisa, the European women’s individual champion and World Ranked No 33, will be wearing the green.
There are three new caps in the Ireland team for Hillside – Ulster champion Louise Coffey (Malone), Irish girls champion Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Chloe Ryan (Castleroy) who played well in the Girls’ International matches and is having a good season.
Wales’ line-up includes two survivors – GB and I International Amy Boulden (Maesdu) and Lucy Gould (Bargoed) - from the squad that won the Home Internationals’ title two years in a row – at Wrexham in 2008 and Irvine, Scotland in 2009. Junior Vagliano Trophy player Chloe Wiliams (Wrexham) will be making her debut as a full Welsh cap.
The teams are:
ENGLAND
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak), Charley Hull (Woburn), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Kellly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Charlotte Wild (Mere).
Team captain: Chris Pascall (Hartlepool)
IRELAND
Louise Coffey (Malone), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Paul Grant (Lisburn), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Charlene Reid (Rooyal Portrush), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
Team captain: Claire Robinson
SCOTLAND
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nainr Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Grange).
Team captain: Fiona Norris (Hamilton).
WALES
Samantha Birks (Wolstanton), Amy Boulden (Maesdu), Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Katie Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Lucy Gould (Bargoed), Rebecca Harries (Haverfordwest), Katherine O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath), Chloe Williams (Wrexham).
Team captain: Sue Turner
Programme of events:
Three foursomes (8.30 - 9.20) and six singles (13.10 - 15.00) in each match
Wednesday 7 September
Scotland v Ireland
England v Wales
Thursday 8 September
Wales v Ireland
England v Scotland
Friday 9 September
Ireland v England
Scotland v Wales
Monday 29 August 2011
SGU and SLGA Golf Survey
The SGU and SLGA are inviting golfers to take part in a comprehensive Scottish Golf Player Survey to help them gain an insight into the playing habits of golfers across Scotland, with everyone who completes the questionnaire being entered into a draw to win a TaylorMade golf bag.
Questions include the frequency of your golf, both playing and practising, your thoughts on your club’s facilities and what you’d like to see improved at your golf club.
To find out more and take part in the Survey go to the Scottish Golf Union Website
Questions include the frequency of your golf, both playing and practising, your thoughts on your club’s facilities and what you’d like to see improved at your golf club.
To find out more and take part in the Survey go to the Scottish Golf Union Website
ALISON NICHOLAS NAMES EUROPE'S SOLHEIM CUP TEAM
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY EUROPEAN TOUR
By Bethan Culter, Media Manager, Ladies European Tour
Captain Alison Nicholas has named her European Team for The Solheim Cup, taking place at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25. Nicholas handed her wild cards to Spain’s Azahara Muñoz, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, England’s Karen Stupples and Sandra Gal of Germany.
The four complete the 12-woman team that will attempt to wrest The Cup back from the United States of America three weeks’ from now.
“I am confident in my team and I believe that we will do very well at Killeen Castle,” said Nicholas, who also captained the European side in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in America.
“These players represent the best of European women’s golf and we look forward to putting on a magnificent show for the fans.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew along with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson qualified from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
England’s Melissa Reid and Laura Davies, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands had already earned their places on the team from the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points’ list.
Nicholas has two assistant captains in Joanne Morley and Annika Sorenstam, while the United States Team Captain, Rosie Jones, also has two assistant captains. They are Sherri Steinhauer and Juli Inkster, who will be the first playing captain in Solheim Cup history. Jones named her team on August 21.
The United States has won the last three matches and eight of the 11 editions played against Europe since the inaugural event in 1990 with an overall score line of 8-3. However, Europe will be targeting a fourth home victory after their most recent success at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden in 2003.
EUROPE TEAM
Melissa Reid (England)
Laura Davies (England)
Suzann Pettersen (Norway)
Christel Boeljon (Netherlands)
Maria Hjorth (Sweden)
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)
Catriona Matthew (Scotland)
Sophie Gustafson (Sweden)
Azahara Muñoz (Spain)
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden)
Karen Stupples (England)
Sandra Gal (Germany)
CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas (England)
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley (England)
Annika Sorenstam (Sweden)
PROFILES
Melissa Reid, 23, England.
DOB: 19th September 1987
Interests: Playing football & supporting Derby County, and snowboarding
Reid will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having led the European points’ list. She also represented Europe on the 2005 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in the USA. She joined the LET in December 2007 and was Rookie of the Year in 2008. She has amassed two career victories at the 2010 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and the 2011 Deloitte Ladies Open in Holland.
Laura Davies, 47, England.
DOB: 5th October 1963
Interests: Playing football and supporting Liverpool Football Club, fast cars and gardening.
Davies is the only player from either the US or European teams to have played at every Solheim Cup since 1990 and she will be making her 12th Cup appearance. She secured her place on the team automatically after five wins on the Ladies European Tour in 2010, which took her overall victory total to 79. Included in that total are four major championships, with 20 LPGA Tour titles and 45 on the Ladies European Tour.
Suzann Pettersen, 30, Norway.
DOB: 7th April 1981.
Interests: Skiing, keeping fit and music.
World No.2 Suzann will be a dangerous opponent having earned a six stroke victory at Killeen Castle in the Irish Open as recently as early August. She has 13 career victories, including the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola won on the LPGA less than a fortnight ago and the 2007 LPGA Championship, which is a major. Pettersen is making her sixth Solheim Cup appearance having played in every contest from 2002-2009.
Christel Boeljon, 24, Netherlands.
DOB: 30th July 1987.
Interests: Field hockey, tennis, listening to music and reading.
Boeljon will make history as the first European team member from the Netherlands in the 22-year history of The Solheim Cup. She qualified automatically from the LET points’ standings after a consistent two seasons on Tour. In May of 2011, she earned a long overdue maiden victory at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and she has since posted five additional top ten finishes, including second places in Slovakia and Finland.
Maria Hjorth, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 5th October 1973.
Interests: Reading, listening to music and aerobics.
Hjorth will participate in her fifth Solheim Cup having previously represented Europe in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She qualified from the Rolex World Rankings after two consistent seasons, the highlights of which were victories at the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship and at the 2011 Avnet LPGA Classic in May. Hjorth has four LPGA victories and two on the LET.
Anna Nordqvist, 24, Sweden.
DOB: 10th June 1987.
Interests: Watching and playing all sports.
Nordqvist turned professional in January 2009 and burst onto the scene by becoming a first time winner at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola. Later that year she also won the LPGA Tour Championship presented by Rolex. She will make her second Solheim Cup appearance having been selected as a pick by Captain Alison Nicholas in 2009 as a rookie. Representing Sweden, she won the European Nations Cup in Spain playing alongside Sophie Gustafson in 2010 and the pair successfully defended their title in April. She has posted three top-10 finishes on the LPGA in 2011 with a season-best tie for 5th at the Shoprite LPGA Classic.
Catriona Matthew, 42, Scotland.
DOB: 25th August 1969
Interests: Fitness, tennis, reading.
Matthew earned the first of her seven career victories at the 1996 Australian Ladies Open and the most recent at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland in August, but the highlight of her career was winning her first Major Championship at the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, just 11 weeks after the birth of her second child. She will make her sixth Solheim Cup appearance in Ireland, having made her event debut in 1998. After earning a captain’s pick in 2003, she also qualified in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Sophie Gustafson, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 27th December 1973
Interests: Motor cycles, music and photography.
Gustafson earned her first of 26 professional titles in 1995 in the Swiss Open, and won her most recent at the 2011 European Nations Cup representing Sweden alongside Anna Nordqvist. The quality and consistency of Gustafson’s play can be demonstrated by her having topped the LET ranking four times in 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009. Having played in every Solheim Cup since 1998, she will make her eighth appearance on the European team at Killeen Castle, where she won her fourth Irish Open title in 2010.
Azahara Muñoz, 23, Spain.
DOB: 19th November 1987
Interests: Tennis, shopping and spending time with friends.
Muñoz will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland having received a wildcard pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. She turned professional in September 2009 and made an immediate impression, winning the Madrid Ladies Masters on her pro debut in October. In 2010, she was named LPGA Rookie of the Year with a season best tie for fourth at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic. In 2011 her best finish was second at the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle.
Caroline Hedwall, 22, Sweden.
DOB: 13th May 1989.
Interests: football, sports themed films.
Henderson Rookie Hedwall is in her first season on the Ladies European Tour and will also be a rookie on The European Solheim Cup Team having received a wild card pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. Hedwall won the LET’s Final Qualifying School in December and shortly after won the New South Wales Open on the Australian Tour on her professional debut in January. She has since earned two tournament victories on the LET at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open and at the Finnair Masters.
Karen Stupples, 38, England.
DOB: 24th June 1973
Interests: Cooking, watching movies, football and shopping.
Stupples will make her second appearance on the European team following a Captain’s selection. She made her event debut at Crooked Stick in the USA in 2005. With three career victories – at the 2004 Welch Fry’s Championship and Women’s British Open as well as the 2009 Wales Ladies Championship – she is a proven winner on both Tours. Her best finish this season has been a tie for ninth at the AVNET LPGA Classic.
Sandra Gal, 26, Germany.
DOB: 9th May 1985.
Interests: painting and design, dancing, wakeboarding, playing the violin and modeling.
Gal will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having earned a selection from Captain Alison Nicholas after a sterling season on the LPGA Tour. Gal joined the Ladies European Tour this year after her maiden victory at the KIA Classic, where she defeated Rolex Rankings No.2 Jiyai Shin with a 72nd hole birdie. She has amassed two further top ten finishes this season on the LPGA Tour.
CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas, 49, England.
DOB: 6th March 1962.
Interests: Golf days, clinics, coaching, commentary and charity work.
The winner of the U.S. Open in 1997, Nicholas made six straight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and was on the European team when it triumphed in Scotland in 1992 and 2000. She retired from tournament play in 2004, but was involved in the competition as Catrin Nilsmark’s assistant captain in 2003 and in 2005. She made her debut as Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois in 2009 and was re-appointed by the European Solheim Cup Committee.
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley, 44, England.
DOB: 30th December 1966.
Interests: Reading, music, sport.
Morley serves as assistant captain to Alison Nicholas for the second consecutive Solheim Cup and was a playing member of the European team in 1996. The two-time Ladies European Tour event winner captured the Ladies’ German Open in 1996 and 2000. She also spent much of her career on the LPGA.
Annika Sorenstam, 40, Sweden.
DOB: 9th October 1970.
Interests: Cooking, fitness and business projects.
Sorenstam was the most dominant player in women’s golf and stepped away from tournament play at the end of the 2008 season to focus on business projects and start a family. Throughout her career, she re-wrote the record books whilst earning 89 wins worldwide including 10 major championships. Sorenstam represented Europe on eight Solheim Cup teams from 1994 to 2007 and still holds a number of all-time records including most matches won (22) and most points earned (24).
Player comments:
Azahara Muñoz, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour. My goal this year, the only thing I was thinking about, was playing The Solheim Cup. I’m so excited and I don’t even have the words to describe how I feel right now. It’s always been a dream.”
Sandra Gal, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour and I’m so, so excited that I got picked. I really can’t wait for Solheim Cup week to start. I think we have a great team and I’m very confident.”
Caroline Hedwall, captain’s pick:
“Of course, it’s an honour and actually a dream. I couldn’t believe when I started this year that I would actually play The Solheim Cup this year. It’s just amazing and I’m very excited about it. I guess playing in front of the European crowd is going to be a lot of fun. I felt like after the Evian I felt I showed Alison and the assistant captains that I could compete against the European players. I think I had a pretty good week at the British, at the Evian and this week, so I felt like I could have a chance but you never know, so it just feels amazing. I remember when I played the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2007: that was awesome and I think this is going to be even better.”
By Bethan Culter, Media Manager, Ladies European Tour
 |
| Alison Nicholas |
Captain Alison Nicholas has named her European Team for The Solheim Cup, taking place at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25. Nicholas handed her wild cards to Spain’s Azahara Muñoz, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, England’s Karen Stupples and Sandra Gal of Germany.
The four complete the 12-woman team that will attempt to wrest The Cup back from the United States of America three weeks’ from now.
“I am confident in my team and I believe that we will do very well at Killeen Castle,” said Nicholas, who also captained the European side in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in America.
“These players represent the best of European women’s golf and we look forward to putting on a magnificent show for the fans.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew along with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson qualified from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
England’s Melissa Reid and Laura Davies, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands had already earned their places on the team from the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points’ list.
Nicholas has two assistant captains in Joanne Morley and Annika Sorenstam, while the United States Team Captain, Rosie Jones, also has two assistant captains. They are Sherri Steinhauer and Juli Inkster, who will be the first playing captain in Solheim Cup history. Jones named her team on August 21.
The United States has won the last three matches and eight of the 11 editions played against Europe since the inaugural event in 1990 with an overall score line of 8-3. However, Europe will be targeting a fourth home victory after their most recent success at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden in 2003.
EUROPE TEAM
Melissa Reid (England)
Laura Davies (England)
Suzann Pettersen (Norway)
Christel Boeljon (Netherlands)
Maria Hjorth (Sweden)
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)
Catriona Matthew (Scotland)
Sophie Gustafson (Sweden)
Azahara Muñoz (Spain)
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden)
Karen Stupples (England)
Sandra Gal (Germany)
CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas (England)
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley (England)
Annika Sorenstam (Sweden)
PROFILES
Melissa Reid, 23, England.
DOB: 19th September 1987
Interests: Playing football & supporting Derby County, and snowboarding
Reid will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having led the European points’ list. She also represented Europe on the 2005 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in the USA. She joined the LET in December 2007 and was Rookie of the Year in 2008. She has amassed two career victories at the 2010 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and the 2011 Deloitte Ladies Open in Holland.
Laura Davies, 47, England.
DOB: 5th October 1963
Interests: Playing football and supporting Liverpool Football Club, fast cars and gardening.
Davies is the only player from either the US or European teams to have played at every Solheim Cup since 1990 and she will be making her 12th Cup appearance. She secured her place on the team automatically after five wins on the Ladies European Tour in 2010, which took her overall victory total to 79. Included in that total are four major championships, with 20 LPGA Tour titles and 45 on the Ladies European Tour.
Suzann Pettersen, 30, Norway.
DOB: 7th April 1981.
Interests: Skiing, keeping fit and music.
World No.2 Suzann will be a dangerous opponent having earned a six stroke victory at Killeen Castle in the Irish Open as recently as early August. She has 13 career victories, including the Safeway Classic presented by Coca-Cola won on the LPGA less than a fortnight ago and the 2007 LPGA Championship, which is a major. Pettersen is making her sixth Solheim Cup appearance having played in every contest from 2002-2009.
Christel Boeljon, 24, Netherlands.
DOB: 30th July 1987.
Interests: Field hockey, tennis, listening to music and reading.
Boeljon will make history as the first European team member from the Netherlands in the 22-year history of The Solheim Cup. She qualified automatically from the LET points’ standings after a consistent two seasons on Tour. In May of 2011, she earned a long overdue maiden victory at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and she has since posted five additional top ten finishes, including second places in Slovakia and Finland.
Maria Hjorth, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 5th October 1973.
Interests: Reading, listening to music and aerobics.
Hjorth will participate in her fifth Solheim Cup having previously represented Europe in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She qualified from the Rolex World Rankings after two consistent seasons, the highlights of which were victories at the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship and at the 2011 Avnet LPGA Classic in May. Hjorth has four LPGA victories and two on the LET.
Anna Nordqvist, 24, Sweden.
DOB: 10th June 1987.
Interests: Watching and playing all sports.
Nordqvist turned professional in January 2009 and burst onto the scene by becoming a first time winner at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola. Later that year she also won the LPGA Tour Championship presented by Rolex. She will make her second Solheim Cup appearance having been selected as a pick by Captain Alison Nicholas in 2009 as a rookie. Representing Sweden, she won the European Nations Cup in Spain playing alongside Sophie Gustafson in 2010 and the pair successfully defended their title in April. She has posted three top-10 finishes on the LPGA in 2011 with a season-best tie for 5th at the Shoprite LPGA Classic.
Catriona Matthew, 42, Scotland.
DOB: 25th August 1969
Interests: Fitness, tennis, reading.
Matthew earned the first of her seven career victories at the 1996 Australian Ladies Open and the most recent at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland in August, but the highlight of her career was winning her first Major Championship at the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, just 11 weeks after the birth of her second child. She will make her sixth Solheim Cup appearance in Ireland, having made her event debut in 1998. After earning a captain’s pick in 2003, she also qualified in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Sophie Gustafson, 37, Sweden.
DOB: 27th December 1973
Interests: Motor cycles, music and photography.
Gustafson earned her first of 26 professional titles in 1995 in the Swiss Open, and won her most recent at the 2011 European Nations Cup representing Sweden alongside Anna Nordqvist. The quality and consistency of Gustafson’s play can be demonstrated by her having topped the LET ranking four times in 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009. Having played in every Solheim Cup since 1998, she will make her eighth appearance on the European team at Killeen Castle, where she won her fourth Irish Open title in 2010.
Azahara Muñoz, 23, Spain.
DOB: 19th November 1987
Interests: Tennis, shopping and spending time with friends.
Muñoz will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland having received a wildcard pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. She turned professional in September 2009 and made an immediate impression, winning the Madrid Ladies Masters on her pro debut in October. In 2010, she was named LPGA Rookie of the Year with a season best tie for fourth at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic. In 2011 her best finish was second at the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle.
Caroline Hedwall, 22, Sweden.
DOB: 13th May 1989.
Interests: football, sports themed films.
Henderson Rookie Hedwall is in her first season on the Ladies European Tour and will also be a rookie on The European Solheim Cup Team having received a wild card pick from Captain Alison Nicholas. Hedwall won the LET’s Final Qualifying School in December and shortly after won the New South Wales Open on the Australian Tour on her professional debut in January. She has since earned two tournament victories on the LET at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open and at the Finnair Masters.
Karen Stupples, 38, England.
DOB: 24th June 1973
Interests: Cooking, watching movies, football and shopping.
Stupples will make her second appearance on the European team following a Captain’s selection. She made her event debut at Crooked Stick in the USA in 2005. With three career victories – at the 2004 Welch Fry’s Championship and Women’s British Open as well as the 2009 Wales Ladies Championship – she is a proven winner on both Tours. Her best finish this season has been a tie for ninth at the AVNET LPGA Classic.
Sandra Gal, 26, Germany.
DOB: 9th May 1985.
Interests: painting and design, dancing, wakeboarding, playing the violin and modeling.
Gal will make her Solheim Cup debut in Ireland, having earned a selection from Captain Alison Nicholas after a sterling season on the LPGA Tour. Gal joined the Ladies European Tour this year after her maiden victory at the KIA Classic, where she defeated Rolex Rankings No.2 Jiyai Shin with a 72nd hole birdie. She has amassed two further top ten finishes this season on the LPGA Tour.
CAPTAIN
Alison Nicholas, 49, England.
DOB: 6th March 1962.
Interests: Golf days, clinics, coaching, commentary and charity work.
The winner of the U.S. Open in 1997, Nicholas made six straight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and was on the European team when it triumphed in Scotland in 1992 and 2000. She retired from tournament play in 2004, but was involved in the competition as Catrin Nilsmark’s assistant captain in 2003 and in 2005. She made her debut as Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois in 2009 and was re-appointed by the European Solheim Cup Committee.
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Joanne Morley, 44, England.
DOB: 30th December 1966.
Interests: Reading, music, sport.
Morley serves as assistant captain to Alison Nicholas for the second consecutive Solheim Cup and was a playing member of the European team in 1996. The two-time Ladies European Tour event winner captured the Ladies’ German Open in 1996 and 2000. She also spent much of her career on the LPGA.
Annika Sorenstam, 40, Sweden.
DOB: 9th October 1970.
Interests: Cooking, fitness and business projects.
Sorenstam was the most dominant player in women’s golf and stepped away from tournament play at the end of the 2008 season to focus on business projects and start a family. Throughout her career, she re-wrote the record books whilst earning 89 wins worldwide including 10 major championships. Sorenstam represented Europe on eight Solheim Cup teams from 1994 to 2007 and still holds a number of all-time records including most matches won (22) and most points earned (24).
Player comments:
Azahara Muñoz, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour. My goal this year, the only thing I was thinking about, was playing The Solheim Cup. I’m so excited and I don’t even have the words to describe how I feel right now. It’s always been a dream.”
Sandra Gal, captain’s pick:
“It’s a huge honour and I’m so, so excited that I got picked. I really can’t wait for Solheim Cup week to start. I think we have a great team and I’m very confident.”
Caroline Hedwall, captain’s pick:
“Of course, it’s an honour and actually a dream. I couldn’t believe when I started this year that I would actually play The Solheim Cup this year. It’s just amazing and I’m very excited about it. I guess playing in front of the European crowd is going to be a lot of fun. I felt like after the Evian I felt I showed Alison and the assistant captains that I could compete against the European players. I think I had a pretty good week at the British, at the Evian and this week, so I felt like I could have a chance but you never know, so it just feels amazing. I remember when I played the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2007: that was awesome and I think this is going to be even better.”
ELAINE AND JILL WIN SCOTTISH WOMEN'S FOURSOMES
 |
| Jill Meldrum and Elaine Allison Winners of the SLGA Foursomes Courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA) - Click to enlarge |
 |
| Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte - Click to enlarge Photo courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA) |
They had a gross round of 79 to win by two shots from the St Regulus, St Andrews partnership of former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte who gained the Club Trophy for the leading pair, entered from the same club.
 |
| All the prizewinners -- Click to enlarge Courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA) |
LEADING RETURNS
79 Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
82 Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte (St Regulus).
84 Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart (Cochrane Castle) (better last 6 holes), Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank) and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
Handicap
Linda Lindsay and Mary Nicol (12) 77; Hannah Scott and Alison Scott (Broomieknowe) (14) 79; Elizabeth Goodwin and Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) (10 1/2) 79 1/2
CRICHTON PAIR WIN SLGA FOURS MATCH-PLAY at GLENBERVIE
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| Rachael Walker and Amy Little - SLGA Foursomes Matchplay Champions Courtesy of Claire Hargan - Click to enlarge |
In yesterday's afternoon's final at windswept Glenbervie GC, they beat Dirleton Castle GC's Hazel Saunders and Terry Reekie by 7 and 6.
In the play-off for third place, Bridge of Allan (Carole Mackay and Janis Myles) beat Dunkeld and Birnam (Anne Walker and Sheila MacDougall) by 3 and 2.
In the morning semi-finals, Crichton beat Bridge of Allan 4 and 3 while Dirleton Castle beat Dunkeld and Birnham 1 hole.
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| Matchplay Semi Finalists and Finalists- Click to enlarge Photo courtesy of Claire Hargan SLGA |
Sunday 28 August 2011
West Kilbride Open - Nancy Chisholm Trophy won by Emma Hale
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| Group photo from West Kilbride |
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| Emma Hale |
Silver: 1st Rachel Irvine (Largs) 88 (12) 76
2nd Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 82 (6) 76
3rd Samantha Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 87 (11) 76
Bronze: 1st Bekki Allan (West Kilbride) 111 (32) 79
2nd Ali Roy (Maybole) 108 (28) 80
3rd Rachel Evans (Kilbirnie) 123 (36) 87
 |
| Rachael Irvine |
Nearest the Pin prizes were won by:-
9th Mirren Fraser (Powfoot)
12th Mairi Gray (Williamwood)
16th in 2 shots (bronze) Jillian Farrell (Cardross)
18th in 2 shots (silver) Emma Kennedy (Paisley)
 |
| Pre Handicap Girls |
Pre-Handicap Girls played 9 holes from junior tees.
Younger girls: 1st Gillian Sinclair (Caldwell)
2nd Abbi Hamilton (Caldwell)
3rd Emma Turner (West Kilbride)
Older girls: 1st Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)
2nd Caitlin McMail (West Kilbride)
3rd Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)
Ava Gornell won the June Kerr Trophy for the best Pre-handicap score which was 60.
Nearest the Pin at 4th Caitlin McMail
Putting Challenge younger girls winner Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)
Chipping Challenge younger girls Caitlin McCartney (Caldwell)
Putting Challenge older girls Emily McAlpine (West Kilbride)
Chipping Challenge older girls Hannah McGuire (Caldwell) and Ava Gornell (West Kilbride)
Thanks go to June Kerr for the report and photographs
Ayrshire Girls St. Nicholas Trophy
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| Lauren Gilbert |
 |
| Some of the Prizewinners |
Silver: 1st Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 77 (6) 71
2nd Grace Mackie (Troon Ladies) 84 (11) 73
Bronze: 1st Lauren Gilbert (Largs) 82 (23) 59
2nd Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) 111 (29) 82
Scratch Winner of The Telegraph prize: Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 75
June Kerr (Ayrshire Girls Convenor)
Lanarkshire County Autumn Meeting
Played 24th August at Hayston Golf Club, SSS 71
1. Anne Cameron & Aileen Woodland (Strathaven) 69.2
2. Jean Allan & Marion Brodie (Strathaven ) 69.8
3. Pauline Warlow (Cathkin Braes) & Tracy Macpherson (Langlands) 69.8
1. Anne Cameron & Aileen Woodland (Strathaven) 69.2
2. Jean Allan & Marion Brodie (Strathaven ) 69.8
3. Pauline Warlow (Cathkin Braes) & Tracy Macpherson (Langlands) 69.8
Saturday 27 August 2011
ELDERSLIE'S ALYSON McKECHIN FINISHES FOURTH IN BELGIUM JUNIOR EVENT
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) finished fourth in the rain-abbreviated Belgian international junior tournament, scheduled for four rounds but eventually reduced to only 36 holes with stormy weather wiping out two of the rounds and also the practice day at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels.
The Elderslie teenager had rounds of 73 and 75 for four-over-par 148.
Danish girls Caroline Nistrup (72-70 for 142), Henriette Nielsen (75-71 for 146) finished first and second ahead of Belgium's Margaux Vanmol who won the British girls open amateur title at Gullane earlier this month. She scored 75-72 in this event.
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) finished joint 20th on 159 with scores of 78 and 81.
Ireland's Amy Farrell finished joint 26th on 162 with 77-85.
Germany-based Scot Rebecca McGeehan was eliminated with an 80 after a cut to the leading 30 girls was imposed after the first round.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen (Germany) 69 69.
Selected scores
152 Jamie Savage (Sco) 75 77, Brian Casey (Ire) 78 74 (T31)
154 Ian O'Rourke (Ire) 78 76 (T42)
156 David Wilson (Sco) 78 78 (T46)
GIRLS
142 Caroline Nistrup (Den) 72 70
146 Henriette Nielsen (Den) 75 71
147 Margaux Vanmol (Bel) 75 72
148 Alyson McKechin (Sco) 73 75
Selected scores
159 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 78 81 (T20)
162 Amy Farrell (Ire) 77 85 (T26)
Missed cut
80 Rebecca McGeehan (Sco)
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report.
The Elderslie teenager had rounds of 73 and 75 for four-over-par 148.
Danish girls Caroline Nistrup (72-70 for 142), Henriette Nielsen (75-71 for 146) finished first and second ahead of Belgium's Margaux Vanmol who won the British girls open amateur title at Gullane earlier this month. She scored 75-72 in this event.
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) finished joint 20th on 159 with scores of 78 and 81.
Ireland's Amy Farrell finished joint 26th on 162 with 77-85.
Germany-based Scot Rebecca McGeehan was eliminated with an 80 after a cut to the leading 30 girls was imposed after the first round.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen (Germany) 69 69.
Selected scores
152 Jamie Savage (Sco) 75 77, Brian Casey (Ire) 78 74 (T31)
154 Ian O'Rourke (Ire) 78 76 (T42)
156 David Wilson (Sco) 78 78 (T46)
GIRLS
142 Caroline Nistrup (Den) 72 70
146 Henriette Nielsen (Den) 75 71
147 Margaux Vanmol (Bel) 75 72
148 Alyson McKechin (Sco) 73 75
Selected scores
159 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 78 81 (T20)
162 Amy Farrell (Ire) 77 85 (T26)
Missed cut
80 Rebecca McGeehan (Sco)
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report.
Friday 26 August 2011
Belgium Junior international -- 3rd round cancelled
This year's Belgian Junior International tournament will be decided over - at most - two rounds instead of four.
First Tuesday's practice round was cancelled because an overnight rainstorm had waterlogged the Royal Golf Club de Belgique course. Then a violent Tuesday night storm blew down 40 trees all over the course and play was impossible on Wednesday.
The tournament did start belatedly on Thursday but now today's (Friday) round has been cancelled because of further rain and another "terrible storm" forecast to the area near Brussels at 1pm.
As West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Eilidh Briggs(Kilmacolm) said
Alyson : I am so scared --- a huge I mean huge thunder storm here !!!! I've never seen anything like this in my life !!
Eilidh: In Belgium, just me and Alyson!--- and yes we are stuck in another storm This is mental..when is our flight home ?
EXTRACT FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
Friday 26th August
Due to unfavourable weather conditions the 2nd round is cancelled.
The rain and the terrible storm predicted at 1.PM will make the course unplayable.
Hence cut will be made after round 1
Leading 60 boys and ties
Leading 30 girls and ties
First Tuesday's practice round was cancelled because an overnight rainstorm had waterlogged the Royal Golf Club de Belgique course. Then a violent Tuesday night storm blew down 40 trees all over the course and play was impossible on Wednesday.
The tournament did start belatedly on Thursday but now today's (Friday) round has been cancelled because of further rain and another "terrible storm" forecast to the area near Brussels at 1pm.
As West of Scotland's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Eilidh Briggs(Kilmacolm) said
Alyson : I am so scared --- a huge I mean huge thunder storm here !!!! I've never seen anything like this in my life !!
Eilidh: In Belgium, just me and Alyson!--- and yes we are stuck in another storm This is mental..when is our flight home ?
EXTRACT FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
Friday 26th August
Due to unfavourable weather conditions the 2nd round is cancelled.
The rain and the terrible storm predicted at 1.PM will make the course unplayable.
Hence cut will be made after round 1
Leading 60 boys and ties
Leading 30 girls and ties
Thursday 25 August 2011
WEST OF SCOTLANDS ALYSON'S FAST START IN BELGIUM
Elderslie's Alyson McKechin was the star Scottish performer on the delayed opening day of the Belgian junior international championship at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels today (Thursday).
Alyson, who shared the first-round lead in last week's British women's open amateur stroke-play at Royal Ashdown Forest, again showed herself to be a fast starter with a one-over-par 73 which left her in joint second place in the girls' category.McKechin, now a full-time amateur, is only one shot behind leader Caroline Nistrup (Denmark).Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), who enrols at Stirling University) next month, had a 78 to be joint 16th while Germany-based Rebecca McGeehan had an 80 to be joint 25th.In the boys' championship, Jamie Savage (Cawder) had a 75 to be joint 22nd while Scottish Under-18 boys match-play champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) had a 78 to be joint 32nd, nine shots behind the leader from Germany, Nicolai Von Dellinghausen.
Click Here for all the scores and thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Wednesday 24 August 2011
RAIN IN BELGIUM WIPES OUT PRACTICE ROUND AND 1ST ROUND FOR EILIDH AND ALYSON
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| Hailstones in Brussels -- No Golf Play |
Scottish boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Scottish girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rebecca McGeehan (Hummelbachaue) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) were left with nothing to do all day as heavy overnight rain flooded the course and led to its closure.
Shortly after their announcement of yesterday morning another storm reached the course. In 20 minutes the course was totally washed out and more than 40 trees fell down. They then had 30 people from the maintenance team work to remove fallen trees and branches to get the course ready for today which was an impossible mission.
Therefore they then had to announce that the FIRST ROUND was CANCELLED. If no other case of major force is met, they hope to be able to play on Thursday - tomorrow
The 72-hole stroke-play tournament (probably now 54 holes) has individual boys and girls' sections and a mixed team trophy.
To Read all about it go to the Total International Juniors Website
Hopefully with all the Greenstaff hard work -- Play will take place on tomorrow Thursday -- Click Here
SCOTLAND TEAM FOR SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL SEPT 12th
Monday 22 August 2011
SLGA INTERNATIONAL TEAMS ANNOUNCED
From the SLGA Website
Teams to represent Scotland at the forthcoming Home International Matches are:
Ladies Home Internationals, Hillside GC, 7-9 September: Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)
Captain - Fiona Norris (Hamilton)
Senior Home Internationals, Tramore GC, 28-30 September: Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie), Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock (Barassie)), May Hughes (Lanark), Anne Ryan (Tain), Mary Smith (Tain)
Captain - Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
Teams to represent Scotland at the forthcoming Home International Matches are:
Ladies Home Internationals, Hillside GC, 7-9 September: Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)
Captain - Fiona Norris (Hamilton)
Senior Home Internationals, Tramore GC, 28-30 September: Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie), Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock (Barassie)), May Hughes (Lanark), Anne Ryan (Tain), Mary Smith (Tain)
Captain - Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
SLGA ADULT GIRL FOURSOMES --GET YOUR ENTRY FORM
Event: Adult Girl Foursomes
Venue: Auchterarder GC
Date: 25 September 2011
Details:
- This competition is an 18 hole foursomes stableford competition. It is open to junior girls (under 18 on 1/1/2011), partnered with a lady or gentleman with a CONGU handicap. There are separate sections for the various handicap categories and pairings with a junior without a CONGU handicap will also have their own section.
- This is a fun competition for girls of all abilities, for example last year we had girls of all abilities competing all the way through from international level to girls without handicaps.
Closing Date for entries: Monday 5 September
Entry Form: CLICK HERE
Many Thanks
Claire Hargan
Championship Manager
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited
The Den
2 Dundee Road
Perth
PH2 7DW
01738 442357
Registration Number 308709
www.slga.co.uk
Venue: Auchterarder GC
Date: 25 September 2011
Details:
- This competition is an 18 hole foursomes stableford competition. It is open to junior girls (under 18 on 1/1/2011), partnered with a lady or gentleman with a CONGU handicap. There are separate sections for the various handicap categories and pairings with a junior without a CONGU handicap will also have their own section.
- This is a fun competition for girls of all abilities, for example last year we had girls of all abilities competing all the way through from international level to girls without handicaps.
Closing Date for entries: Monday 5 September
Entry Form: CLICK HERE
Many Thanks
Claire Hargan
Championship Manager
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited
The Den
2 Dundee Road
Perth
PH2 7DW
01738 442357
Registration Number 308709
www.slga.co.uk
Loudoun Gowf Club -- Mixed Open Foursomes
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| Liz and Sam with the Winning Trophy - Courtesy of Liz Keohone |
Played Sunday 21st August 2011
1st: Sam Cox and Liz Keohone ( Loudon Gowf) 67.5
2nd: Alan and Audrey Thompson (Loudon Gowf) 68
3rd: Douglas Jardine and Betty Wallace (Loudon Gowf) 69
Scratch: Douglas and Wendy Hollingworth (Turnberry & Bellisle) 83
Sunday 21 August 2011
KINGSKNOWE'S LOUISE AND ALLYN WIN SCOTTISH MIXED TITLE
Kingsknowe’s Louise Fraser teamed up with clubmate Allyn Dick, a Scotland international, at comparatively short notice to win the Scottish mixed foursomes championship at Mortonhall Golf Club today.
“My usual partner wasn’t available and I still didn’t have a partner to play in this tournament until a week or so ago when I asked Allyn Dick if he would play with me. I think I chose wisely,” said Louise in her prizewinning speech.
The Fraser-Dick combination returned a gross score of 72 over a Mortonhall course that has a men’s par of 72 and a women’s par of 73.
They had two shots to spare from a home-course partnership, Scotland internaitonal Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson. Rachael leaves shortly to start a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Denver, Colorado.
The lowest net score was 71 ½ off a combined handicap of 12 ½ by the partnership of Sandra Dickson (Mortonhall) and Ian Dickson.(Gullane). They had so much in hand that they could afford to run up a 10 at the last and still win.
Katrina McKinlay (Ratho Park) had a hole in one at the 10th hole (109yd).
A total of 39 couples took part on a day when the fast greens produced higher scorers generally than expected. The competition was organised by the SLGA.
SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES
Mortonhall Golf Club
LEADING SCRATCH
72 Louise Fraser and Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe).
74 Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall).
77 Diane MacDonald (Dumfries and Co) and Derek Douglas (Southerness).
78 Linda Bain (Lochend) and Graham Robertson (Silverknowes).
LEADING HANDICAP
71 ½ Sandra Dickson and Ian Dickson (Mortonhall).(12 1/2).
73 Kirsty Burgess and Tom Caldwell (Silverknowes) (7).
75 Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) and Martin McLeod (Dullatur) (10).
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
“My usual partner wasn’t available and I still didn’t have a partner to play in this tournament until a week or so ago when I asked Allyn Dick if he would play with me. I think I chose wisely,” said Louise in her prizewinning speech.
The Fraser-Dick combination returned a gross score of 72 over a Mortonhall course that has a men’s par of 72 and a women’s par of 73.
They had two shots to spare from a home-course partnership, Scotland internaitonal Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson. Rachael leaves shortly to start a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Denver, Colorado.
The lowest net score was 71 ½ off a combined handicap of 12 ½ by the partnership of Sandra Dickson (Mortonhall) and Ian Dickson.(Gullane). They had so much in hand that they could afford to run up a 10 at the last and still win.
Katrina McKinlay (Ratho Park) had a hole in one at the 10th hole (109yd).
A total of 39 couples took part on a day when the fast greens produced higher scorers generally than expected. The competition was organised by the SLGA.
SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES
Mortonhall Golf Club
LEADING SCRATCH
72 Louise Fraser and Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe).
74 Rachael Watton and Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall).
77 Diane MacDonald (Dumfries and Co) and Derek Douglas (Southerness).
78 Linda Bain (Lochend) and Graham Robertson (Silverknowes).
LEADING HANDICAP
71 ½ Sandra Dickson and Ian Dickson (Mortonhall).(12 1/2).
73 Kirsty Burgess and Tom Caldwell (Silverknowes) (7).
75 Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) and Martin McLeod (Dullatur) (10).
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Saturday 20 August 2011
Cartriona Matthew wins the Scottish Ladies Open and West of Scotland's Kylie Walker has a great last round
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew earned a commanding 10-stroke victory at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland.
The 41-year-old from East Lothian held a four shot lead heading into the final round after a course record 65 at her home course on Friday.
Despite the pressure of playing just five minutes’ from her North Berwick home, she fired a closing six under par 66 on a fine and breezy last day at Archerfield Links, where she was given honorary membership after winning the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open. It paved the way for her fourth Ladies European Tour win and a first prize cheque of €33,000.
Matthew said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open on my home turf on a course I’m a member at and I live along the road. I felt a little bit of pressure at the start of the week, so I’m just delighted that I finished well.”
The five-time Solheim Cup player seemed to handle the situation with typical serenity but added: “Playing in front of a lot of family and friends, there was definitely pressure and it makes it extra special. I don’t get the chance to play in Scotland very often. It was great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd this week.”
It was her second victory in Scotland in a 17-year professional career and her first Scottish win since the 1998 WPGA Championship of Europe at Gleneagles.
“I played really well and got a hot putter and probably played my best golf today. I played really well on the front nine and knew I had eight shots, which in a way made it more difficult, but I managed to trot out a few pars,” she said.
Matthew will now head to next week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open and play two more events in the United States before returning to Europe for The Solheim Cup, from September 23-25.
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| Kylie tees off -- Click to enlarge (Photo Courtesy of Jean Campbell D&A) |
Final Leading Scores:
201 - Catriona Matthew (SCO) 70 65 66
211 - Hannah Jun (USA) 66 73 72
212 - Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 71 71
213 - Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 73 72 68
214 - Kylie Walker (SCO) 73 72 69, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 72 71 71, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 71 72, Ashleigh Simon (SA) 69 72 73
215 - Trish Johnson (ENG) 74 72 69, Mhairi McKay (SCO) 74 71 70, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 74 70 71, Melissa Reid (ENG) 76 67 72, Sophie Walker (ENG) 71 71 73
216 - Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 75 69 72, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 72 71 73
217 - Vikki Laing (SCO) 73 72 72, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 73 71 73, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 74 69 74
Other Scots:
218 - Carly Booth (SCO) 72 74 72,
219 - Clare Queen (SCO) 71 72 76,
220 - Krystle Caithness (SCO) 77 71 72,
225 - Lynn Kenny (SCO) 75 76 74,
230 - Heather MacRae (SCO) 79 74 77
238 - Gemma Webster (SCO) 81 81 76
Report from the Ladies European Tour Website
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