Michele Thomson makes

debut on North-east

Alliance men's circuit

Curtis Cup player and Scottish women’s champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) made her debut on the North-east Golfers' Alliance circuit at Edzell Golf Club today.

The only female player in a field of 104, Michele, pictured in action at this year's women's home internationals by Cal Carson Golf Agency, playing off the men's back tees, a course of 6,427yd, had a creditable round of five-over-par 76.

She had birdies at the fourth and 17th but a bogey 6 at the long 18th.

The last female player on the NE Alliance circuit was Elaine Wilson, who was an assistant professional at Banchory and later Blairgowrie. Before that Sarah MacLennan, Julie Forbes and one or two others, whose names cannot be recalled, also played for a season or so on the autumn-winter-spring nominally men's circuit in and around the North-east.

"We are delighted to have the reigning Scottish women's amateur champion, and a Curtis Cup player to boot, in Michele Thomson joining us on the North-east Alliance circuit," said secretary Ron Menzies.

"I gave Michele the option of playing off the LGU tees but she chose to play off the men's tees. I adjusted her handicap from +1 to 1 for the net scores, taking into account the yardage difference."
In an interview with Elspeth Burnside in the new issue of "Bunkered" magazine, Michele says she is going to enter the Ladies European Tour School at La Manga in January. What better way to keep her game in good nick than to play on the North-east Alliance circuit until then - and maybe after January?

+Log on to www.scottishgolfview.com to see the report and leading scores at today's North-east Alliance competition at Edzell.