Orla Rooney and Ellen Bentley |
Fifteen girls participated for the Renfrewshire County Junior Campbell Clock Stableford competition over 18 holes at Whitecraigs Golf Club yesterday, 22nd August.
Orla Rooney and Ellen Bentley |
FINAL LEADERBOARD AT CARNOUSTIE
WATCH INTERVIEW VIDEOS OF LOUISE AND ANNA - (The Daily Show) CLICK HERE -- plus interview video at end of post
Louise Duncan was delighted with the way she handled the increasing pressure and attention during the course of an unforgettable week at Carnoustie.
The 21-year-old Scot shot a level-par 72 on the final day to share in a tie for 10th and received a rapturous reception from her home crowd as she made her way over the Barry Burn to the 18th green.
The Women’s Amateur Champion now has more silverware for her collection having lifted the Smyth Salver – awarded to the leading amateur at the AIG Women’s Open.
It was a trophy lifted by newly-crowned Champion Anna Nordqvist in 2008 and Duncan’s performance has given her confidence she can take the increased expectations in her stride.
“I thought I handled it very well,” she said. “I thought I would crumble a wee bit but I seemed to hold my nerve out there and played well on the last day, which was ultimately my goal.
“It will maybe take a couple weeks to sink in. I feel over the moon with how I played and how I handled it.
“I had a great time, and yeah, really happy with how I played the past four days.
“It gives me a big confidence boost. I'll take this into my next few events and into next year as well.”
Duncan signalled her intent with a four-under 68 on the opening day at Carnoustie and, having comfortably made the cut, surged into Championship contention by repeating the trick on Saturday.
Resuming two shots adrift of the overnight leaders, a birdie at the first got her final round off to the perfect start before back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11, each greeted by hearty roars from the Scottish faithful, kept the fairytale dream alive.
The University of Stirling student could not make further inroads and bogeyed two of the testing final three holes but that did not stop her savouring the experience.
The Curtis Cup is next up from Thursday and, beyond that, Duncan admits she will now have to consider her options as she weighs up turning professional.
“I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen over the next year, year and a half or whatever,” she said.
“I’ve still got a couple years left at Uni and the amount of time I've been at Uni, I think I need a degree out of it.
“I don't really know what the plan is and I’ll have to sit down and have a wee think about it.
“[This week has been] outstanding, pretty surreal and yeah, just dead exciting.
“The 18th there, just the crowd cheering, I really appreciated the support. To have the fans behind me, it's been great.”
A Couple of photos from a fan - Courtesy of Susan Wood (Drumpellier) Scottish Girls -- Team Captain
Susan and Winner Anna |
Susan and leading Amateur Louise |
Playing against the pros for the first time in her career, Duncan had the home fans roaring as she started her final round with a birdie before going on to close with a level-par 72 for a seven-under 281 total.
The sensational effort earned the Women’s Amateur champion a tie for 10th, becoming the first Scot since Monifieth’s Kathryn Imrie in 1988 to claim the Smyth Salver as leading amateur and the first to do so since it became a major.
“I feel a bit mind-blown, as if it’s not happened yet,” admitted Duncan. “It will maybe take a couple of weeks to sink in. I feel over the moon about how I played and handled it. I had a great time and I am really happy how I played over the four days.
“I don’t know what the expectation was but it has definitely been exceeded. I couldn’t have written the week any better. I’m glad it’s not a fluke and I played well all four days.”
Duncan, who started the dayjusttwoshotsoffthelead after delighting the home fans with a stirring Saturday effort in the rain, received a huge cheer as she appeared on the first tee ahead of her 2.25pm tee time.
Playing alongside Swede Madalene Sagstrom in the third last group, the Scot calmed any nerves she may have had by safely finding the fairway with an iron, then raising an even bigger roar than the earlier one as she calmly rolled in an eightfooter for an opening birdie.
With Scottish Amateur champion Angus Carrick and Scottish Women’s Amateur runner-up Tara Mactaggart among those watching on, Duncan split the fairway with her drive at the second and wasn’t far away from making it a birdie-birdie start from around 15 feet.
Most players were taking an iron to lay up short of the two fairway bunkers at the third, but not Duncan. Oozing with confidence, she flew the trouble to leave herself with just a wedge. A bit heavy-handed with that, her putting touch was exquisite as a par-4 went down on the card.
That was repeated at the next, where a testing threefooter was confidently converted, before a 10-foot birdie chance went a-begging at the fifth after she’d taken dead aim at the flag on the back tier.
Duncan’s average driving distance heading into the final round had been 283 yards, bettered only by Lexi Thompson, while the Scot was tied for 22nd for fairways hit with an average of 67 per cent.
Duncan dropped her first shot of the day after being left off the tee at the ninth, then right behind a bunker with her approach,
But, not for the first time during the week, the Ayrshirewoman showed she’s made of stern stuff.
Only the second player to achieve the feat in the final round, she made a brilliant birdie from 15 feet at the 10th before making it back-toback gains with a two-putt 3 at the next, where the tee had been moved up to make the green driveable.
Four straight pars were followed by a bogey-4 at the 16th before she then dropped a shot at the last, but the rapturous reception for her at the end said it all. Scottish golf has a new star.
Nancy MacGadie |
They now look pretty certain of winning the division and being promoted back to Division One next season. CLICK HERE FOR GREENLEES TOTALS (subject to updates)
It was a the day that Nancy MacGadie (pictured above ) decided to have her final game in the team after playing for them for SEVEN DECADES !! -- She had played in Division 1 since 1978 until 2019 until they were demoted to Division 2 .
Nancy's first match was in 1964 was against Prestwick St Nicholas and her handicap at the time was 13
Her present Handicap is 15 and she managed to halve her final Greenlees match -- a fantastic finish to a long and wonderful time supporting her club team. -- True dedication and loyalty.
The current Ranfurly Castle team had a presentation for her after the match. Well done Nancy -- Enjoy your retirement -- You really deserve it
Its seems amazing how time flies when Nancy was recognised by the club for play in SIX DECADES - CLICK HERE
Thanks go to Anne Judge for the photo and news
Videos when you click on highlights after clicking on Louise Duncan's name on the leaderboard |
An ecstatic Louise Duncan revelled in the backing of the home crowd after her dream week at Carnoustie continued with another outstanding performance in round three.
The reigning Women’s Amateur Champion enhanced her chances of completing a remarkable double triumph by shooting a four-under 68 on Saturday.
At seven-under for the Championship, the 21-year-old trails leaders Anna Nordqvist and Nanna Koerstz Madsen by just two shots and will play in the third-last group in the final round.
“It’s not really sunk in, to be honest. I don’t really know what I’ve just done. I just really enjoyed it out there,” said Duncan after matching the opening-day score that thrust her into the limelight.
After surging into contention with the aid of five birdies, Duncan fired a stunning approach into the final hole and was afforded a rapturous reception as she crossed the Barry Burn.
“It was special. It doesn’t get much better than that, really,” she added.
“To come over that bridge, it was all very surreal and I loved every moment of it. It felt great, to have everyone supporting me and cheering me on like that is just phenomenal, and I couldn’t thank everyone enough
“My phone’s been going absolutely mental, along with my socials as well. It’s great to have all the support and have all of Scotland behind me.”
Another standout moment for Duncan came on the 15th, where she holed a lengthy birdie putt to the delight of the spectators gathered around the green.
“I’d missed a couple of relatively short ones the past two holes for birdies, so I felt like I was kind of due a long one,” she explained.
Duncan is firmly on course to claim the Smyth Salver after opening up a commanding lead over the two other amateurs to make the cut, Lauren Walsh and Annabell Fuller.
Yet an even bigger prize could yet come Duncan’s way on Sunday as she seeks to become the first amateur to win the AIG Women’s Open since Marta Figueras-Dotti at Royal Birkdale in 1982.
The youngster knows she will be nervous as she chases victory, but the events of the last three days provide her with increased belief.
“It gives me a bit of confidence, to know that I actually can go out there and play well on a big stage in front of quite a few folk,” she added.
“I wouldn’t say (I feel) pressure, but I’d definitely say nerves. I’ve spoken about it all week.
“They’re definitely there and they still are there. I don’t think they’ll go away tomorrow either. Just being able to handle it, taking a few deep breaths before every shot has really helped.”
"I think she's a lot like me,” she said. “Quite quiet, just lets her golf do the talking.
“She's a very natural golfer. She just goes up and hits it which I think is a lot like me, too. She's an amazing talent and it was really nice to play with her.”
Jennifer Rankine 2021 - RLCGA Champion |
Jan Macnab (Peggy Clark Trophy) Jennifer (RLCGA Champion) and Morag Cunningham (Irvine Trophy Winner) |
Well done to both finalists for producing an excellent game and a big “thank you” to those who came out to spectate and support this year’s final.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE MATCHPLAY RESULTS
Report by - Sandra Littlejohn (RLCGA Captain)
There were 112 entries in Kilmacolm's Open Day) yesterday (19th August) and in addition to some great golf, their guests raised over £510 for Beatson Cancer Charity.
The overall winners were :
Chantal Robertson (Old Ranfurly) & Alison Templeton (Ranfurly Castle) with 43 points
The Scoreboard - Click to enlarge |
RESULTS: )GREENSOMES STABLEFORD)
1st Place, £75 SGU Voucher each
43 points, Chantal Robertson (Old Ranfurly) & Alison Templeton (Ranfurly Castle),
2nd Place, £60 SGU Voucher Each
41 points, Anne Gordon (Ranfurly Castle) & Pauline MacEwen (Ranfurly Castle)
3rd Place, £50 SGU Voucher Each
40 points (countback), Emma Morton & Corinne Morton (Stratford on Avon)
4th Place, £40 SGU Voucher Each
40 points (countback), Una Fairley & Sheena Stewart (Irvine)
Nearest the Pin, £25 SGU Voucher
2nd, Silver (HCI <20.5) Shui Lin Yip (Cawder)
17th, Bronze (HCI>20.4), Angela Paterson (Old Course Ranfurly)
Longest Drive, £25 SGU Voucher
14th, Silver, Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert)
7th, Bronze, Competition declared Void, prize donated to Beatson Cancer Charity.
Thanks go to Patricia Briggs -- Captain, Ladies Section , Kilmacolm Golf Club for the results and photographs
Other Scots playing are Kylie Walker, Kelsey MacDonald, Gemma Dryburgh and Catriona Matthew
CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING LINK-- LEADERBOARD
From the AIG Website -- AND LISTEN TO HER POST ROUND INTERVIEW
Louise Duncan was understandably elated after overcoming her nerves to shoot a fantastic 68 on day one of the AIG Women’s Open.
The Women’s Amateur Champion had acknowledged in the build-up to her major debut that she was feeling the pressure of competing on the biggest stage.
Yet Duncan looked totally at home on the famous Carnoustie links as she went round in four under to trail leaders Nelly Korda, Madelene Sagstrom and Sei Young Kim by just a single stroke.
“I played great,” said a smiling Duncan after her magnificent performance.
“I was happy to get it off the first and find the fairway … but I played steady all the way round, putted well and hit the ball really nice.
"It’s a bit surreal really, to be playing with the best players in the world and some really big names. It’s all a bit mad.
“I don’t really know how I managed to keep (my nerves) under control. I just tried to find the clubface really.”
The highlight of Duncan’s day came at the par-5 14th, where she followed back-to-back birdies by holing a 30-foot eagle putt to spark roars of delight from spectators.
“That was a great feeling. I wouldn’t have ever pictured that, to be fair, but it was brilliant, and to hear all the crowd, it’s a different experience to anything I’ve ever had,” added the 21-year-old Scot.
Her opening-day score matched the performance of illustrious playing partner and 2018 AIG Women’s Open Champion Georgia Hall, who provided a helping hand on Duncan’s big day.
“Playing with Georgia, she really settled me in there,” added Duncan. “She was lovely and chatted to me quite a bit. It definitely helped with the nerves.
“I think it was about the eighth hole when I started to calm down a wee bit, but it was great to play with Georgia. She was really lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Ysobel Greenlees - 1935 |
The draw has been done by East Renfrewshire's Val Crawford with times from 9.30am until 12.34pm.
Each team will have ladies from 3 different clubs and divisions.
The format will be stroke play with the two best nett scores from three at each hole.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams and 4 individual spot prizes.
Further notification has been sent to all 26 Club Greenlees Captains
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The 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION was played over Cathcart Castle Golf Club.
CURRENT GREENLEES FIXTURES AND RESULTS - (subject to updates)
Kelsey MacDonald |
Ryann and Kelsey Photograph by Tristan Jones |
The 18-year-old Scot began the week with selection to the Great Britain and Ireland team for this month’s Curtis Cup at Conwy – and ended it in style by defeating Ireland’s Coulter by two holes yesterday.
Darling lived up to her status as the highest-ranked player in the field – currently 27th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® – and continues a superb spell of golf this year.
The Broomieknowe Golf Club member has also won the St Rule Trophy, finished runner-up at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, and reached the semi-finals of The Women’s Amateur Championship and Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship.
To read the full report go to the
R&A WEBSITE or the SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITETop - Joan Walker and Helen Climson Botton - Linda McDougall and Isabell Donnelly Photos courtesy of Fiona Armour |
32 ladies braved the elements and considering the conditions, which saw trolley’s being blown over and balls getting chased off the green, there were some remarkable points accrued despite the weather. The overall winner was new county member Joan Walker (Balfron) as was the 2nd Divisional winner Heather Climson (East Renfrewshire)
Overall Stableford Points Winner
Winner: Joan Walker (Balfron) 32 points
Division 1 (H'Cap index 0 to 15.9)
1st Joan Walker (Balfron) (15) 32 pointsLADIES TRI-AM
THURSDAY 26TH AUGUST
ENTRY FEE £24.00
Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams
3 hidden novelty team prizes
Handicap allowance 85% of Course Handicap. Maximum Handicap 36 (players with higher handicaps are welcome to play, but will be capped at maximum 36 after 85% applied)
Entry forms and online booking available via our website
Willeen McCallum |
Willeen, Anne and Fiona 75th Anniversary Celebration at Cathcart Castle |