"Helen Holm" winner Barbara Genuini with the trophy, flanked by SLGA president Ethel Jack (left) and chairman Pat Wilson (right). Cal Carson Golf Agency image. All rights reserved.

FRENCH GIRL, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM
LOCAL CADDIE NEIL, WINS HELEN HOLM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

The French Golf Federation sent a record number of 22 players to the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon at the weekend.
And their flood-the-market gambit paid off in style when Barbara Genuini, a 24-year-old, from near Nice, won the prestigious title by two strokes with a total of 11-under-par 214 for the 54-hole event.
Genuini swept through to victory from an overnight position of joint sixth, thanks to a brilliant final round of five under par 70 over the testing Royal Troon Links.
Then she paid tribute to her local caddie Neil Boyes.
"Neil was fantastic. I did as he told me from the very first hole at Troon Portland on Friday until the last hole at Royal Troon," said the delighted Barbara.
"I holed a lot of putts, thanks to Neil giving me the right clubs and the right lines on the greens."
Barbara, who won the French women's amateur match-play championship last week, hopes she will not be back to defend the title!
"I have tried twice so far to get my Ladies European Tour card - and failed twice. I am 24 so I feel I have to make it when I try for a third time later this year."
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden), whose +6 handicap makes her, on paper at least, the best female amateur player in Europe, led the field at the start of the day but it was her 18-year-old twin sister Jacqueline who finished runner-up.
Jacqueline had the best round of the closing day, a marvellous, bogey-free, eight-birdie round of 67 over Royal Troon for a total of 216.
There was some consolation for Caroline, who signed off with a 78 for 219 and joint seventh place in that she and her sister won the international team event for Sweden who also had teenager Louise Larsson stepping up to collect the Under-18 trophy.
Scotland's highest finisher was Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), one of only two players to break 70 on the final day. Kylie's six-under 69 for joint fourth place on 218 included an eagle 3 at the 11th and seven birdies, at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, 10th 12th and 16th. She also dropped shots at the sixth, ninth and 13th in halves of 35 and 34.
Other Scots in the top 20 were Laura Murray from Alford with a final round of 73 for 221 and a share of 10 place with Curtis Cup selection Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) and GB&I second reserve Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) who had led the first-round field.
Pamela Pretswell, the Scottish universities champion from Bothwell Castle, tied for 13th place on 222 with a closing 74.
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) came joint 14th on 223, taking 76 shots to get round Royal Troon.