EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL CHP

SIX SCOTS LASSES BID FOR EUROPEAN GLORY

While Richie Ramsay was making the headlines in the US amateur championship, Scotland’s competitors did not cover themselves in glory at the European men’s individual amateur golf championship in Italy.
This week the spotlight falls on the Scotland female players in the European women’s individual amateur championship over four rounds, teeing off at Hamburg Golf Club, Germany on Wednesday.
The Scots sextet, who may or may not be inspired by Richie Ramsay’s achievement, is Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
No Scot has ever won this tournament which was first played in 1986. England has provided one winner – Emma Duggleby in 2000, and Wales one – Becky Brewerton in 2002.
The field of 146 contains all the Continental stars, including Katharina Schallenberg (Germany), who reached the final of the US women’s amateur championship a few weeks ago, defending champion Jade Schaeffer (France), Anna Rossi, the Italian who won last week’s British women’s open amateur stroke-play title, and Belen Mozo (Spain), who has won both the British women’s and British girls’ open amateur titles this summer.
Even teenager Belen (handicap +3.9) rates herself second to compatriot Carlota Ciganda who won the European title in 2004 when she was only 14. Carlota, who has a handicap of +4.3, is another member of the strong Spanish entry of 14.
England’s entries are Naomi Edwards (Ganton), Felicity Johnson (Harborne), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), Melissa Reid (Chevin), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).
Wales are represented by Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen), Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) and Sarah Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan).
Ireland had four players in the GB&I Curtis Cup team but there are no Irish players in the Hamburg field.