HEATHER SIXTH BEHIND TITLE

WINNER MELISSA IN BRITISH

AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY

Dunblane’s Heather MacRae, spurred on by her omission from the Scotland team for next month’s women’s home internationals at Dunbar, finished a creditable sixth behind title-winner Melissa Reid from Derby in the British women’s open amateur golf championship at Conwy Golf Club, Caernarvonshire today (Friday).
Heather, pictured right, winner of this tournament at Nairn two years ago, was heading for fourth place when she reached the turn in her final round in 36 but she took 42 for the inward nine, including a triple bogey 7 at the 17th for a 78 and a total of six-over-par 302.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) was the next best Scot in 11th place – her best tournament performance for some time. A third round of three under par 71 enabled her to improve her position significantly and may give her the confidence boost she needs.
Teenager Jane Turner (Mortonhall) can be proud to have finished in the top 20 of a “British” tournament. She finished with her best round of the week, a level par 74, for 320.
Laura Murray (Alford) had three double bogeys and a quadruple bogey in compiling an 89 for 328 and joint 38th place.
European Young Masters girls champion Carly Booth (Comrie) damaged her wrist during a third-round 80 and was unable to go out again for the final round.
New British girls champion Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil) was not well enough to play today after being sick all night with suspected food poisoning.
Melissa Reid held off a strong late challenge from Germany-based professional’s daughter Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) – her final round of 67 was the tournament’s lowest – by a stroke with a 73 for six-under-par 290.
Melissa, the leading amateur in the recent Women’s British Open, adds the British championship trophy to the silverware she has collected in Scotland this season – the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open stroke-play championship at Troon and the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews.

Miss Reid, 19, has unquestionably been the female amateur golfer of the season in Britain.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 296 (4 x 74)
290 M Reid (Chevin) 70 72 75 73.
291 F Parker (Royal Birkdale) 73 76 75 67.
293 E Cabrera (Spa) 75 73 69 76.
297 D-C Schreefel (Net) 75 74 73 75.
300 R Jennings (Izaak Walton) 71 76 74 79.
302 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 73 76 75 78.
303 E Lyons (West Surrey) 72 81 77 73, M Nivard (Net) 75 78 73 77.
304 N Edwards (Ganton) 72 76 77 79.
305 H Jenkins (Cradoc) 79 77 75 74.
316 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 80 79 71 76, K Zaanen (Net) 74 78 76 78.
Other scores:
320 J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 77 79 74 (jt 20th).
328 L Murray (Alford) 79 80 80 89 (jt 38th).
Retired: C Booth (Comrie) 80 78 80 -, H Brockway (Yeovil) 80 76 - -.