Sunday 29th April 2007

Melissa Reid (Chevin) with the Helen Holm Trophy

MELISSA REID RETAINS HELEN HOLM TITLE AFTER LAST-ROUND WOBBLE
Derby’s 19-year-old Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid, with the help of an incredible course-record round of 12-under-par 63 over Troon Portland, won the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship for the second year in a row today (Sunday) in very windy conditions.
The only other person to win the prestigious 54-hole tournament two years in a row was Muriel Thomson, now professional at Portlethen Golf Club, in 1975 and 1976.
Melissa’s second-round effort included a hole in one and, after two Saturday rounds over Troon Portland, she started today’s final round over the Royal Troon championship links with a six-shot lead from England team-mate Rachel Bell (Ganton) whose course-record 65 on Friday stood for only 24 hours!
But Miss Reid, who will probably turn professional at the end of this year – “I wouldn’t stay amateur just to get a second Curtis Cup honour at St Andrews in 2008, saw her considerable advantage disappear after only eight holes and she had to win the title all over again after that.
“The Royal Troon greens were a completely different pace from Troon Portland on Saturday and I was all at sea on them. I three-putted the first, third, seventh and eighth – and, standing on the ninth tee, I had lost my lead and Rachel was level with me,” said Melissa.
“I three-putted twice more before the finish but Rachel bogeyed the ninth and 10th and that gave me the breathing space to regroup and just take each hole at a time on the inward half.”
Melissa, who had been 17 under par after rounds of 70 and 63 at Troon Portland, signed off with a three-over-par 78 (40-38) at Royal Troon for a final total of 14-under-par 211, which equalled the tournament low record set by compatriot Emma Duggleby from Yorkshire in 2004.
Rachel Bell scored 65, 74 and 75 (35-40) to finished three shots behind on 204.
“I played like a wally on the inward half of the final round. I had little or no chance at the start, being six shots behind Melissa. But, having made up these six shots over the first eight holes on Royal Troon, I should have gone on from there to win. But I just couldn’t get the putts to drop and couldn’t get a birdie on the way home. Three putts on the last green meant I finished three shots behind her.”
Melissa Reid collected three awards at the prizegiving – the Helen Holm Trophy, the international team trophy for England in conjunction with Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), the Under-21 trophy and the Hole in One Trophy.
Scotland’s Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) finished runners-up in the international team event.
Jenna was the leading Scot, officially placed fifth with scores of 70, 73 and 77 for 220, having a better last six holes than the French girl, Caroline Afonso, who also totalled 220 and finished with a 77.
Heather Macrae (Dunblane New), third at the start of the third and last day and playing in the final threesome with Melissa Reid and Rachel Bell, finished joint seventh on 221 with scores of 70, 70 and 81.
The CSS for the third round went up to 77, a reflection of the higher scoring today due to a cold east wind.
HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
First two rounds over Troon Portland, third round over Royal Troon.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 225 (3 x 75). CSS 74 74 77
211 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63 78.
214 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74 75.
217 A Decharne (France) 71 73 73.
219 B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73 74.
220 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73 77, C Afonso (France) 73 70 77.
221 C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66 78, H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70 81.
222 K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73 73, A Vilatte (France) 69 79 74.
223 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73 81, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75 78.
224 M Bernard (France) 74 74 76, K Smith (Waterloovile) 72 73 79, R Connor (Manchester) 72 73 79, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70 79.
225 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76 75, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78 76.
226 C Wolf (Austria) 77 71 78, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69 79.
227 C Booth (Comrie) 74 72 81.
228 L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76 77, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75 77, N Muehl (Austria) 76 73 79, E Alonso (France) 72 76 80, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76 80, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76 80, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74 83, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72 82.
229 H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75 74, E Sheffield (Newark) 71 80 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75 80, E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73 81, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72 81, R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75 82.
230 J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76 78, R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73 83, L-A Stempfle (Germany) 73 72 85.
231 S Harju (Finland) 78 77 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80 77, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76 77, C Fallay (France) 78 74 79, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79 80, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71 84, L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73 85.
232 L Gendronneau (France) 75 75 82, L Bennett (Brokenhuret Manor) 70 76 86.
233 L Collin (John O’Gaunt) 77 77 79, T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75 81, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71 82, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72 87.
234 S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78 81, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75 81, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73 82, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70 85.
235 S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76 80, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74 81, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74 82.
236 N Craven (Brough) 74 81 81, S Faller (Galway) 76 79 81, R Crepiat (France) 79 76 81, A Riguelle (France) 75 75 86, B Genuini (France) 73 73 90.
237 T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81 82, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75 83.
238 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75 83, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77 84.
239 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79 86.
240 A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75 86, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75 89.
242 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74 91.
The following players missed the cut (155) after two rounds:
157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74, Kerri Harper (Inverness) 79 78.
158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.
159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.
160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.
161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.
162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.
174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
435 England (M Reid 211, K Smith 224).
442 Scotland (J Wilson 220, K Caithness 222).
448 France (C Afonso 220, E Alonso 228).
454 Austria (C Wolf 226, N Muehl 228).
456 Wales (B Loucks 219, T Davies 237)
460 Finland (R Svah 229, S Harju 231).
462 Ireland (D Smith 228, T McDonnell 234).
466 Sweden (L Gustafsson 228, E Westrup 238).

TAIN SMITH ONLY NORTHERN COUNTIES FORMER CHAMPION TO MAKE LAST FOUR AT ROYAL DORNOCH
Tain’s Mary Smith is the only previous title-winner through to Monday’s semi-finals of the Norther Counties Ladies Golfing Association championship at Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
In a bitterly cold North-east win, Mary advanced to a last-four meeting with the experienced Jenny Milne (Elgin) by beating Winnie Ross (Elgin) 7 and 6.
The other semi-final will feature the top qualifier, Donna MacLeod (Inverness) against clubmate Gillian Dowling.
QUALIFIERS
84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).
85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).
87 G Dowling (Inverness).
89 W Ross (Elgin).
91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).
93 D McKinnon (Durness).
94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).
Match-play
First round – MacLeod bt MacKenzie 8 and 7, MacVicar bt Weekes 7 and 5, Dowling bt Dunnett 1 hole, Manson bt McKinnon 3 and 2, Smith bt Howieson 4 and 3, Ross bt Vass 2 and 1, Hume bt MacDonald 4 and 3, Milne bt Morrison 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals – MacLeod bt MacVicar 6 and 4, Dowling bt Manson at 195th, Smith bt Ross 7 and 6, Milne bt Hume 5 and 3.

Vikki has 69 in Futures Tour
Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing had her best round for some time to qualify with easy for the final round of the Jalapeno Futures Classic at McAllen, Texas.
The Scot had rounds of 74 and 69 for a one-under-par tlaly of 143 - six shots inside the qualifying limit. Vikki is five shots behind the leader, Emily Bastel from Ohio, with 70 and 68 for 138. Emily leads by one shot from another American, Danah Ford, with 68 and 71 for 139.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast failed to beat the 36-hole cut. She had scores of 83 and 77 for 160.

Saturday 28th April 2007

TOP SCOT HEATHER LYING THIRD – BUT SEVEN SHOTS BEHIND LEADER MELISSA IN HELEN HOLM
Scotland’s leading challenger Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), pictured right, is in third place on 10-under-par 140 with one round to go in the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon.
But despite a pair 70s, Heather is seven shots behind the leader, defending champion Melissa Reid (below left)
The Derby girl played the round of her 19-dear-old life to score a 12-under-par 63 and go six strokes clear of the field after 36 holes.
Melissa, from Chevin Golf Club and a Curtis Cup player last year, had a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 156yd 16th plus two eagle 3s, at the sixth and 12th, and seven birdies, at the second, third, fourth, ninth, 10th, 15th and 18th in halves of 33 (five under par) and 30 (seven under par).
“I learned from the mistakes I made in my first-round 70. That’s basically why I was able to improve by seven shots,” said Melissa.
“My dad and I worked out a game plan on Friday night for the second round and, even though there was a much stronger wind, it worked like a dream.
“Yes, I believe I am a better all-round player than when I won the ‘Helen Holm’ last year but I think the biggest improvement I have made is in my mental approach. I’m going out there and thinking positive, not defensively.”
Melissa’s 63, which included only 28 putts, slashed two shots off the new record set only 24 hours earlier by England team-mate Rachel Bell from Ganton, Yorkshire.
Her figures were:
OUT – 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4 - 33.
IN – 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 4 4 - 30
With a 36-hole tally of a staggering 17-under-par 133 after two rounds over Troon Portland, Miss Reid carries a six-shot lead over Rachel and the rest into the final round over Royal Troon’s championship links which are likely to be a different kettle of finish, even although Melissa is playing “out of her skin” at the moment.
Rachel Bell “sagged” by nine shots to a second-round 74 – still one under par.
“I had a couple of three putts and didn’t get the breaks I did in the 65 but six shots to make up is not impossible. I was eight shots behind last year after two rounds and then had a 71 over Royal Troon and finished third behind Melissa, so I’m looking forward to the last round,” said Rachel.
The next best Scots after third-placed Heather MacRae are Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) on 143 (70-73), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) on 146 (74-72) and, also on that mark are 14-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie), home from America with scores of 74 and 72, and 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) with 74 and 72.
Carly was set to break 70 until she ran up a bogey and then a double bogey over the closing holes.
Players with two-round totals of 155 or better qualified for the final round.
HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland.
SECOND-R0UND TOTALS
Par 150 (2 x 75). CSS 74 74
133 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63.
139 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74.
140 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70.
142 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73.
143 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73, C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66, C Afonso (France) 73 70.
144 A Decharne (France) 71 73.
145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74, L Stempfle (Germany) 73 72, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75, B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70, K Smith (Waterlooville) 72 73.
146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72, B Genuini (France) 73 73, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70 76, C Booth (Comrie) 74 72, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72.
147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71.
148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72, M Bernard (France) 74 74, E Alonso (France) 72 76, A Vilatte (France) 69 79, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76.
149 N Muehl (Austria) 76 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 73 76, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70.
150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76, A Riguelle (France) 75 75, L Gendronneau (France) 75 75.
151 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75, L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76.
152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73, J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76, C Fallay (France) 78 74.
153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75.
154 L Collin (John O’Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75.
155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75, S Harju (Finland) 78 77, R Crepiat (France) 79 76.
DID NOT QUALIFY
157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74.
158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.
159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.
160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.
161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.
162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.
174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Donna MacLeod (Inverness) beat Jenny Milne (Elgin) in a card countback (better inward half) to earn the No 1 seed position at the end of the qualifying round today (Sat) for the match-play stages of the Northern Counties women’s golf championship at windswept Royal Dornoch.
They both returned 84s – eight over par on a day when the CSS was literally blown up to 79.
The championship continues Sunday and Monday with the match-play stages.
QUALIFIERS
84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).
85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).
87 G Dowling (Inverness).
89 W Ross (Elgin).
91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).
93 D McKinnon (Durness).
94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
8.30 MacLeod v MacKenzie, Weeks v MacVicar, Dowling v Dunnett, McKinnon v Manson.
9.02 Smith v Howieson, Vass v Ross, MacDonald v Hume, Morrison v Milne.

VIKKI OPENS WITH A 74 IN FUTURES CLASSIC EVENT
Vikki Laing returned a first-round score of two-over-par 74 (35-39) to be lying joint 47th in a field of 143 for the Jalapeno Futures Classic on the United States Futures Tour over the Palm View course at McAllen in southern Texas.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast had an 83 (41-42) to be 137th.
Danah Ford from Indianapolis led the field in the 54-hole event by two strokes with a 68 (35-33) over the par-72, 6,379yd course.

HEATHER ANDERSON TOPS QUALIFIERS IN ANGUS WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Downfield’s Heather Anderson was the surprise leading qualifier for the match-play stages of the Angus women’s county championship at Panmure Barry this evening.
She had a round of 77, four over par but only two over the CSS to claim the top seed spot ahead of Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) with a 78.
Two other players, Angus girls champion Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) and defending champion Jane Tough (Brechin), also returned 78s but were placed third and fourth in the draw on a scorecard countback.
One of the features of the qualifying was the closeness of the scoring, only nine shots covering all 16 players, which promises some close ties when the match-plY starts at the same venue on Sunday.
QUALIFIERS
Par 73. CSS 73.
77 H Anderson (Downfield).
78 F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), R Wilson (Monifieth), J Tough (Brechin).
79 F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies).
80 A Hunter (Monifieth), J Brown (Monifieth), S McGregor (Edzell).
81 S Murray (Edzell), J Taylor (Edzell), K Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
83 L Fotheringham (Grange), M Summers (Panmure Barry).
84 L Fenton (Grange).
85 A Hay (Letham Grange).
86 S Bushby (Letham Grange).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
10.0 Anderson v Bushby. Murray v McGregor, Millar v Fotheringham, Summers v Tough.
10.32 Wilson v Fenton, Sutherland v Hunter, Brown v Taylor, Hay v Gilbert.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
11.10 A Summers (Panmure Barry) v C Healey (Carnoustie Caledonian), A Chree (LPM) v S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry), S Baxby (Panmure Barry) v A Hemings (Ballumbie Castle), F Blair (Monifieth) v J Wilson (Downfield).
11.40 J Henderson (Royal Montrose) v N Turner (Grange), M Faulkner (Royal Montrose) v M Duthie (Panmure Barry), J Ganson (Arbroath) v S Todd (Panmure Barry), A Smith (Monifieth) v A Hutcheson (Panmure Barry).

Friday 27 April 2007

RACHEL BELL BURNS UP TROON PORTLAND WITH 65 IN HELEN HOLM FIRST ROUND
Yorkshire’s Rachel Bell led the sub-par surge in the first round of the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship with a magnificent round of 10-under-par 65 over the Troon Portland course.
It is almost certainly a record although the organising Scottish Ladies Golfing Association officials could not confirm this in the past. England’s Joanne Hockley and Fiona Brown had 67s over the same course on their way to victories in 1996 and 2001 respectively.
Miss Bell, a Ganton Golf Club member who spent four years on the American college golf circuit as a student at Southern California University, had one eagle and nine birdies in her halves of 30 and 35.
Astonishing for such a low round, Rachel had one bogey – at the 17th.
Her figures were:
OUT: 5 4 4 2 3 3 3 2 4 – 30.
IN: 3 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 – 35.
The eagle was a 3 at the sixth and the birdies came at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 12th, 15th and 18th.
She covered the six holes from the fourth to the ninth inclusive in seven under par with a run of five birdies and an eagle.
The par-5s at Troon Portland are two-shotters to the quality of player in this field, the strongest ever assembled for the championship. Even so, the scoring on the first of a three-day schedule for the first time, was very good. So much so that the CSS was 74 – one below par, which is unusual.
Rachel Bell has gone four strokes clear of Alexandrea Vilatte from France and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth. There are two rounds to go, another over Troon Portland on Saturday with the leading 66 players and ties at the end of 36 holes going forward to the testing championship links of Royal Troon on Sunday.
Leading the Scottish challenge on five-under-par 70 were Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Heather MacRae (Dunblane New). They are in joint fourth position with a score that in most years would have gone close to leading the first-round field.
HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland (Par 75)
FIRST ROUND
65 R Bell (Ganton).
69 A Vilatte(Fra), C Lennarth (Swe).
70 D Montgomery (The Lambourne), M Reid (Chevin), J Wilson (Strathaven), H MacRae (Dunblane New), L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor).
71 L Herman (Bel), A Decharne (Fra), H Barwood (Knowle)..
72 S Evans (Vale of Llangollen), C Lee (West Lancs), R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan), E Alonso (Fra), B Loucks (Wrexham), D Smith (Co Louth), K Smith (Waterlooville), R Connor (Manchester).
73 J Carthew (Ladybank), B Genuini (Fra), L Hendry (Routenburn), C Alonso (Fra), L Hall (Royal Porthcawl), L-A Stemple (Ger)..
74 F Hernandez (Fra), M Bernard (Fra), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), E Tipping (Sandiway), N Craven (Brough), T Davies (Holyhead), P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), R Svahn (Fin), C Booth (Comrie), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), B Mullins-Lane (Finchley).
75 A Riguelle (Fra), S Gendroneau (Fra), L Gustafsson (Swe), E Moffat (St Regulus), E Duggleby (Malton & Norton), S Atwood (Gog Magog).
76 C Hargan (Mortonhall), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), S Stubbs (Shifnal), N Muehl (Aut), S Faller (Galway), K Caithness (St Regulus), M Ricordeau (Fra), N Edwards (Ganton), J Hedwall (Swe)
77 L Ball (Matfen Hall), L Collin (John O’Gaunt), M Briggs (Kilmacolm), T Boyes (Meon Valley), C Hedwall (Swe), E Westrup (Swe), S Mantyniemi (Fin).
78 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), T McDonnell (Ennis), L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle), B Harries (Haverfordwest), C Fallay (Fra), A Korkeila (Fin), S Harju (Fin).
79 R Crepiat (Fra), A Laing (Vale of Leven), J Hodge (Knowle), A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir), C-M Carlton (Fereneze), S Garbutt (Ganton), F Lockhart (St Regulus).
80 H Schilling (Ger), C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies), C Douglass (Brocket Hall), H Aitchison (Bedfordshire), M Pow (Selkirk), L Murray (Alford), J Turner (Mortonhall).
82 D Dewar (Monifieth), L J Roberts (Holyhead).
83 M Bazin de Jessey (Fra).
84 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton).

Dorset’s Sue Ellis wins English seniors’ championship
Dorset’s Sue Ellis won the Senior Ladies’ English Close Championship at Delamere Forest when she beat Yorkshire’s Hilary Smyth 3/2 in the final.
“I’m exhilarated,” said the Ferndown player who has never before got past the first round of the championship. “I want to cry!”
She went on: “To be honest I had nothing to lose. I wanted to do a decent qualifying score and if I made the matchplay it would be a bonus. Then I went on and on – and I realised I could do it. I am simply thrilled – and thrilled for my club.”
Sue is a former Dorset county player whose ultimate aim is to play for England seniors. The final brought her up against a player, Hilary Smyth of Pannal, who represented her country in the 2005 seniors’ home internationals.
Both golfers put on a fine show, demonstrating some excellent ball striking and they claimed two birdies apiece during the 16 holes they played.
The match was finely balanced, with only one hole separating the two players for much of the game. But Sue gained momentum when she holed a 30-footer from the fringe on the 13th. It gave her a par four and a half, when moments before she’d looked odds-on to lose the hole and go one down. “I think that was the turning point,” she remarked.
She birdied the 14th to go one up, parred the 15th to go two up and won her first national title when she parred the short 16th, where her five iron finished within 10ft of the hole.
The championship’s B Division title was won by Frances Lindley of Minchinhampton who was helped by a hole-in-one on the 139-yard 12th where she hit a five iron into the wind. It was her fifth ace, it took her to three up against three-times titleholder udy McCairns (Oxford Ladies’) and put her en route for a 2/1 victory.
“I’m on top of the world – this is the top-most thing I have ever done,” Frances said afterwards. “I’ve never got to these heights before.”
In the championship semi-finals Hilary Smith beat former hockey international Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs) 1 up; Sue Ellis beat Sue Stradling (Worplesdon) 4/3.
B Division semi-finals: Judy McCairns beat Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh) 5/4; Frances Lindley beat Christine Stokes (Clitheroe) at the 19th.

US College Golf
FIFE STUDENT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, has been named Rookie of the Year in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Latimer, a winner on his first season on the American college golf circuit, was also named to the All-Old Dominion Athletic conference team, selected by the head golf coaches in the conference.

US College Golf
RHYS DAVIES RANKED NO 1 ON US COLLEGE CIRCUIT
Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies, in his final year at East Tennessee State University, tops GolfWeek’s US college golf rankings this week for the second time in two months.
Walker Cup player Davies, brought up at Bridgend, South Wales, has won 10 times in his four years on the American college circuit.
The next best placed British & Irish players in the latest rankings are Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Cork in 24th place; Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford in 45th place and Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) from Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 46th spot.

US College Golf
GLASGOW STUDENT JOINT FIFTH IN LOUISIANA
Stephen Clark from Glasgow, a junior student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, finished joint fifth in the Mid-Continent Championship college golf tournament at Golf Club at Stonebridge, Shreveport in Louisiana.
The high finish earned Clark a place in the All-Mid-Continent “team” of six, a team that never plays any matches but is chosen by the golf coaches in the conference and reflects a player’s high standing.
Clark had rounds of 74, 73 and 69 for a level par total of 216 over the par-72, 6,954yd course.
Team-mate Alex Hogben, a 6ft 3in freshman student from Manchester, finished joint 17th in a field of 35 players with scores of 76, 71 and 76 for 223.
Tim Streng (Western Illinois) won the individual honours by three strokes with rounds of 71, 69 and 68 for eight-undere-par 208.
Western Illinois (863) won the team event by one shot from Oral Roberts with Southern Utah (871) third and UMKC (875) fourth of seven contesting colleges

US College Golf
US UNIVERSITY COACHES BANNED FROM USING TEXT MESSAGE TO RECRUIT
Recruitment of new players for their college programmes plays a major part of a golf coach's life in the United States. Their hands are tied in more ways than you might think. There is a strict list of what they can do and what they cannot do to get the best players to sign Letters of Intent to join this or that university.
The NCAA board of directors have added one more restriction, which reflects the way communication between individuals has changed in recent times.
The ruling body of American college sport has imposed a ban this week on ALL text messages from coaches to potential recruits. It will come into effect in August.
E-mails and faxes and letters - remember them? - would still be permissible and subject to current NCAA guidelines, which include some time periods that prohibit coaches from contacting recruits in any form.
"The board was swayed very much by what the student-athletes themselves had to say,'' said an NCAA official. "We heard anecdotal stories of someone waking up and having 52 text messages.''
It is recognised that enforcing the new measure could prove difficult.
"You're not allowed to buy a kid a hamburger when he goes on the road, but that's tough to enforce, too. There are many rules that, on the face of them, are unenforceable,'' said the official.

DAY OF UPSETS IN ENGLISH SENIOR WOMEN'S MATCH-PLAY
Surrey’s Sue Stradling led a day of match-play upsets at the Senior Ladies’ English close amateur championship at Delamere Forest in Cheshire.
The Worplesdon player beat defending champion Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) by one hole in the first round and then knocked out the former Curtis Cup player, Carole Caldwell of Sunningdale, by 3 and 2.
Sue’s wins marked a successful comeback to seniors’ golf after a four-year absence when she concentrated on Surrey duties, where she has been county captain.
“When I saw the first round draw I thought how nice it would be to be beaten by the current champion,” she joked. In fact they battled round to reach the 18th tee all square and Sue went through when she parred the hole. “It was a surprise, a big surprise,” she said.
In the afternoon she took on another seniors’ international when she met Carole Caldwell. Sue’s attitude was “to think about my golf and nothing else” and it quickly moved her ahead in the match.
She was four-up twice and withstood a fightback from the Sunningdale player on the back nine, before closing out the match with a half in 3 on the 178-yard 16th.
Meanwhile, Ferndown’s Sue Ellis reached the semi-finals when she beat Geraldine Bray, the reigning seniors stroke-play champion from Littlestone.
Sue won the last three holes, finishing with a birdie on the 18th, and said: “I had nothing to lose – and it was a cracking match.”
Top seed and local hope, Sue Dye of Delamere Forest, was another player to suffer an upset. She was beaten in the first round by 16th qualifier Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs) who went on to defeat Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay).
In the other quarter final Hilary Smyth from Pannal, a member of England's 2005 seniors’ home international team, beat Rozalyn Adams (Addingon Court) 3 and 2.
Friday's semi-final line-up is:
Felicity Coulter v Hilary Smyth, Sue Stradling v Sue Ellis.
In the championship’s Division B, the top qualifier, Elaine James (Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands), was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh).
Semi-finals: Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh) v Judy McCairns (Oxford Ladies’). Frances Lindley (Minchinhampton) v Christine Stokes (Clitheroe).

Thursday 26th April 2007

Renfrewshire champion, Megan Briggs and runner-up Clare-Marie Carlton

YOUNG MEGAN BRIGGS RETAINS RENFREWSHIRE TITLE
Megan Briggs has retained the Renfrewshire women’s golf championship she won for the first time at the age of 16 last year.
At Erskine Golf Club, the Kilmacolm teenager, who qualified in fourth position, beat 10 times record county champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the leading qualifier, for the second year in a row, this time by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-final instead of in the final.
In the final Megan beat 20-year-old Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), who won the title in 2003, by one hole in a very tight match. They were all square after 16 holes. Then Megan won the 17th and halved the last to be champion again.
Clare-Marie, the No2 qualifier, had beaten the No 3 seed, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1 in her semi-final.
Results:
Semi-finals – M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 3 and 1.
Final – Briggs bt Carlton 1 hole.
[Thanks to Carol Fell for photos]

IN-FORM MELISSA FAVOURITE TO REPEAT HELEN HOLM WIN THIS WEEKEND AT TROON
Only two Scots – Lesley Nicholson (1999) and Heather Stirling (2002) – have won the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship in the last 14 years and it’s long odds against that record being improved at Troon over the next three days.
For the first time since Belle Robertson won the inaugural 54-hole tournament in 1973, the “Helen Holm” is being played from Friday to Sunday, instead of the traditional two days at Troon Portland and Royal Troon.
The field of 90 consists some of the best female amateurs in Great Britain & Ireland plus France, Sweden, Germany, Finlay and Austria. For some reason, the Spanish Federation continues to ignore the event even though it is now one of the tournaments that counts towards the European amateur rankings.
There are 45 players with handicaps of scratch or better, including the 19-year-old England international and Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid from Derby. Melissa won the title with a 13 under par total last year and a recent victory in the Whittington Heath Ladies’ Trophy 36-hole open event, in which she lowered the course record, indicates that she will be very hard to beat even though this is the best field ever assembled at Troon.
Scotland’s hopes of a home win may rest on the shoulders of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Martine Pow (Selkirk), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) or Carly Booth (Comrie).
There will be much interest in the performance of 14-year-old Carly, a Junior Ryder Cup player, who has flown back for the event from the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida where she has been a student since last autumn.
Has she become an even better player by becoming immersed in golf morning, noon and night over the past nine months? This weekend should provide a pointer
After the first and second rounds on Friday and Saturday over Troon Portland – whose par-5 holes are two-shotters for this class of player – the leading 66 and ties will qualify for Sunday’s final 18 holes over Royal Troon which is more of a test, particularly if the wind blows.

Ayrshire Girls who competed at Brunstane Castle

Ayrshire Girls’ Medal – 22 April 07
Rachael McQueen (Troon Bentinck) had the top score in the Ayrshire Girls’ Medal played over Brunston Castle last weekend. Rachael’s gross 72 (SS and CSS 73) included a dropped shot at the first hole which was compensated with birdies at the 7th and 17th.
Results
Division 1 (H’cap. 0-22)
Rachael McQueen (Troon Bentinck) 72(5) 67
Emma Duncan (Barassie) 108 (25) 83
Division 2 (H’cap. 23-36)
Rachel Irvine (Largs) 113 (36) 77
Alex Sargent (Skelmorlie) 85 (15) 70
The Pre-Handicap girls played 9 holes over a shortened course. Their results are as follows:-
Age 12 and over
Nicola Turner (West Kilbride) 50
Cara Black (Skelmorlie) 57
Age 11
Grace Mackie (Troon Ladies) 48
Sophie Love (Skelmorlie) 64
Age 10 and under
Carly Brown (Brunston) 59
Hazel McGarvie (Bentinck) 69
[Thanks to June Kerr for results and photos]

Pre-handicap girls in the Ayrshire girls medal.

MEGAN BEATS DONNA AGAIN TO REACH FINAL OF RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
Renfrewshire women's county title-holder Megan Briggs, 17, from Kilmacolm beat 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) for the second year in a row.
Last year, it was in the final. Today, at Erskine Golf Club, it was in the first semi-finao with Megan winning by 4 and 3.
Winner of the other semi-final was another former champion, Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze). She beat Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1.

DEATH OF KATHLEEN COPLEY, FORMER SLGA CHAIRMAN AND CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST
Mrs Kathleen Copley, one of the leading players and administrators in Scottish women’s amateur golf from the 1960s to the early 1990s, died earlier this week at Borders General Hospital. She was 63.
As Kathleen Lackie, playing out of Montrose Royal Albert Golf Club, she was a gifted young player who soon made her mark in the Montrose and Angus area.
In 1974, Kathleen reached the final of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Nairn and had an epic duel with Dr Aileen Wilson (Haggs Castle) before losing at the 22nd hole.
She was capped for Scotland in 1974 and 1975 before marrying Malcolm Copley.
Kathleen served on the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association executive in the late 1980s and became chairman in 1990.
She was a member of Gullane Ladies and Broomieknowe Golf Clubs.
Golf was not her only forte. She was an extremely good Bridge player.
The funeral service will be held at Warriston Crematorium Lorimer Chapel at 11am on Monday, April 30. All friends are invited.
A private interment will be held at Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose.
Our sympathies go to her husband, Malcolm.

ROSEANNE PRAISED BY CALIFORNIA COACH AFTER GRITTY COMEBACK IN FINAL ROUND
It can’t be easy going from Scotland in mid-winter to play on the American college circuit when you join it halfway through their season, so words of praise from the University of California Berkeley head golf coach Nancy McDaniel must have been music to the ears of Scottish Under-18 girls champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff.
Roseanne had rounds of 86, 81 and 76 for a total of 243 and a share of 36th position in a field of 50 players for the Women’s Pac-10 Championship over a par-72, 6,196yd course at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle.
Miss Niven, only 18, had two triple bogeys and two double bogeys in her first round and on double bogey in her second.
That would be enough to put anyone down in the dumps but Roseanne kept her chin up and was able to birdie the short seventh and long 11th in a morale-boosting final round which included bogeys at the second, third, ninth, 11th, 16th and 18th.
Miss Niven’s last-round effort counted for the California team and enabled them to finish fifth among 10 top-notch teams from the conference.
"Roseanne played better for us today," said coach Nancy McDaniel. "We really needed a solid effort from her today, and she came through."
Now Roseanne and the California Bears are looking forward to the regional championships in mid-May.
The individual Pac-10 title went to Tiffany Joh (UCLA) who birdied the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to beat Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), the 2005 British girls’ open champion.
Belen Mozo, the Spanish girl who won both the British women’s and British girls’ titles in Northern Ireland last summer, is taking time to settle in her first year with Southern California University. She finished joint 30th on 241 – only two shots ahead of Roseanne.
Compatriot Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), winner of the British girls title at Lanark in 2004, finished joint 15th.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Tiffany Joh (UCLA) 74 70 74, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 68 72 78 (Joh bt Nordqvist at second hole of sudden-death play-off).
219 Mari Chun (Stanford) 71 73 75.
Other totals:
231 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 76 77 78 (jt15th).
241 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 78 84 79 (jt 30th).
243 Roseanne Niven (California) 86 81 76 (jt 36th).
LEADING TEAM FINAL TOTALS
897 Arizona State. 915 UCLA. 921 Southern California. 923 Arizona. 926 California. 10 Teams took part.

Lesley shows what she can do!
Lesley Johnson (nee Hope), 1975 Scottish Champion and captain of the Scottish European team bound for Italy in July, had a 77 on Gullane No2 in very windy conditions yesterday. Lesley has recently been recruited to the Scottish Seniors Squad after reaching a significant birthday.

Wednesday 25th April 2007

New Lanarkshire Champion Pamela Pretswell and Runner-up Jenna Wilson

TEENAGER PAMELA BEATS FAVOURITE JENNA IN LANARKSHIRE WOMEN’S FINAL
Bothwell Castle teenager Pamela Pretswell achieved her best golf performance todate at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today (Wed) when she beat Scotland international Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) by one hole in the final.
It was 17-year-old Pamela’s first county title success and she prevented her more experienced opponent completing a hat-trick of title wins.
Miss Pretswell, the No 2 qualifier, won the second hole to square the match and went one up for the first time with an eagle at the fourth. The sixth was halved in birdies before Pamela went two up at the 10th.
Jenna Wilson, the top seed, then squared the game with a birdie at the 13th and a par at the 15th, but Pamela’s confidence was still high and she took what proved to be a winning lead by winning the 16th. The last two holes were halved.
In the morning semi-finals on a quite windy day, Jenna had beaten Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) by 6 and 5 while Pamela beat Susan Wood (Drumpellier), the No 3 qualifier, by 5 and 4.
Today's details:
Semi-finals – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt E Cuthill (Lanark) 6 and 5, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt S Wood (Drumpellier) 5 and 4.
Final – Pretswell bt Wilson 1 hole.

MEGAN MEETS DONNA IN SEMI-FINALS OF RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) will meet record-setting 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the No 1 qualifier, in the first of this morning's (Thu) semi-finals of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Erskine Golf Club.
It will be a repeat of last year's final in which the 17-year-old Megan beat Donna by 6 and 5 with five birdies in 13 holes.
In the other semi-final, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) will play Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 county champion and No 2 qualifier this week.
The semi-finals will tee off at 9.30 and 9.45 with the final at 2pm.
Results:
First round - D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt B Biggart (Kilmacom) 5 and 4, J McCartney (Erskine) bt A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole, L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt L Morrow (Erskine) 4 and 3, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt F Campbell (Erskine) 7 and 6, S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) at 19th ,G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 8 and 7, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt L McDougall (Greenock)1 hole.
Quarter-finals - Jackson bt McCartney 5 and 4, M Briggs bt Robertson 3 and 1, Kyle bt Smyth 4 and 3, Carlton bt McGinlay 4 and 3.

NIGHTMARE OUTWARD HALF FOR FIONA IN ENGLISH SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Blairgowrie-born Fiona Anderson had a nightmare outward half of 48 on her way to finishing joint 22nd in the English senior women’s closed amateur golf championship over 36 holes at Delamere Forest Golf Club today (Wednesday).
Fiona, who has lived in North-west England for a number of years and is a member of Formby Ladies, had rounds of 80 and 85 for 165.
Miss Anderson, who played in five Scottish women’s finals between 1980 and 1991 and won her native title in 1987, finished 19 shots behind the winner by eight strokes, Susan Dye, who scored 72 and 73 for a one-over-par total of 145 over her home course.
In the second round,Fiona had five double bogeys before the turn but then reeled off eight pars and one bogey to come home in 37.
Fiona failed to make the top 16 who go on to the matchplay stages on Thurday and Friday.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
145 S Dye (Delamere Forest) 72 73.
153 G Bray (Littlestone) 81 72.
155 C Caldwell (Sunningdale) 77 78.
156 C Watson (Beaconsfield) 75 81, J Rumsey (Rochford Hundred) 75 81, H Smyth (Pannal) 78 78.
157 R Lindley (Hartlepool) 82 75.
158 P Wrightso (Huddersfield) 84 75.
159 E Elliott (Whitley Bay) 78 80, S Ellis (Ferndown) 78 81.
160 S Stradling (Worplesdon) 78 82.
161 J Tootell (Lancaster) 77 84, R Adams (Addington Court) 80 81.
162 I Brien (Wentworth) 80 82, P Parker (Abbotsley) 85 77, A Vine (Stockport) 82 80, F Coulter (Banstead Downs) 81 81.
Other score:
165 F Anderson (Formby Ladies) 80 85.

US College Golf
PABLO WINS BIG 12 CONFERENCE TITLE
Pablo Martin, the Spanish student who won on the European Tour as an amateur a few weeks ago, is back in the winners' circle on the American college golf circuit.
Pablo, a student at Oklahoma State University, won the Big 12 Conference championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kansas with rounds of 70,73 and 68 for a two-under-par total of 211 over the par-70, 6611yd course.
He won by three strokes from team-mate Ryan Posey (Oklahoma State) who shot 73, 73 and 68.
Oklahoma State (866) also won the team title by 13 shots from Texas A&M (873) with Texas Tech (893) third and Texas (894) fourth of 12 teams.
Martin, a former British boys champion, will turn professional after the NCAA championships at the end of next month.

US College Golf
SHEFFIELD STUDENT WINS OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE TITLE IN AMAZING LAST NINE HOLES TURN-AROUND
Daniel Willett from Sheffield scored a double whammy success at the Ohio Valley Conference men's college golf championship at the Country Club of Paducah in Kentucky (tournament finished Tuesday).
Daniel, a sophomore student, won the individual title by six shots with an amazing, come-from-behind charge of the final round - and he helped his Jacksonville State University, Alabama team to win the team title.
Willett was seven shots behind the leader, Scott Schallings (Texas Tech) at the start of the final round of the 54-hole tournament. When Schallings reached the turn in 33 over the par 72, 6,872yd course, Daniel, even though he had birdied the first, fifth and eighth and dropped only one shot, at the second, had actually lost ground, falling eight strokes behind.
Then came an astonishing change of fortunes over the second nine holes. Schallings' game came apart at the seams and he took 47 strokes for a round of 80 and a total of 220.
Meanwhile Willett birdied the 10th and 11th, bogeyed the 14th, but then finished in style with birdies at the 17th and 18th for a five-under-par 67 - the lowest round of the championship - and a total of two-under-par 214. His earlier rounds were 73 and 74.
The unfortunate Schallings tied for second place with two of Willett's JSU team-mates, Julian Colmenares and Bryan Rozier.
Jacksonville State (884) won the team event by 22 strokes from Eastern Kentucky (906) with Austin Peay State (909) third in a field of 10 teams.
INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
214 Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) 73 74 67.
220 Julian Colmenares (Jacksonville State) 74 76 70, Bryan Rozier (Jacksonville State) 74 76 70, Scott Schallings (Texas Tech) 71 69 80.
LEADING TEAMS
884 Jacksonville State.
906 Eastern Kentucky.
909 Austin Peay State.
10 teams took part.

SGU Press Release
Aberdeen Asset MANAGEMENT to Invest in Scottish Golf Team
Aberdeen Asset Management added the Scotland amateur golf team to their growing sponsorship portfolio in a significant five figure sum boost to the Scottish Golf Union’s talent development programme.
One of the world’s leading investment managers, Aberdeen Asset Management will become the Official Sponsors of the Scotland Men’s Amateur Golf Team as well as a partner of the SGU’s Academy, in a new deal which will see the Aberdeen logo appearing on the clothing and bags of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers whilst representing their country.
Earlier this year, Aberdeen Asset Management announced a sponsorship agreement with Colin Montgomerie, whilst also extending their eight-year association with former Open Champion Paul Lawrie. The company is in its third year of partnership with the British Seniors Open, whilst also sponsoring golfers Simon Yates and Mark McNulty.
Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management Martin Gilbert said:
“We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Scottish Golf Union, the national team and the Academy programme. With the emergence of young players such as Richie Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman, it’s been a very exciting period for Scottish amateur golf and hopefully our investment will help that success continue.”
“As a company we are very proud of our Scottish heritage and it is important that we invest in the grass roots end of the game as well as supporting our top professionals like Colin and Paul.” he added.
Speaking at the launch, SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey, said:
“The performances of our leading young players over the past few years have created an unprecedented interest in Scottish amateur golf and the capture of Aberdeen Asset Management as sponsor of the Scotland team reflects that.”
“Golf plays an important role in the business community and it’s great that a company with the scale and profile of Aberdeen are putting so much back into the game. We are committed to growing the game and developing talent and this sponsorship will allow us to expand the work we are doing in these areas.”
The Scotland team will be hoping that the sponsorship will boost their chances of a home victory when Western Gailes hosts this summer’s European Amateur Team Championships (3 – 7 July), whilst a third consecutive Home Internationals title awaits them at County Louth in Ireland if successful in September.
Aberdeen Asset Management is an international investment management group managing assets totalling £78.4 billion (as at 28 February 2007) for clients around the world. The company joins leading golf brands adidas and TaylorMade – official apparel and equipment suppliers to the Scottish Golf Union – as partners of the Scotland golf team.

Tuesday 24th April 2007

JENNA WILSON GETS A GIMME EAGLE IN LANARKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
So bad was the weather at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today (TUESDAY), that at one stage the organisers of the Lanarkshire women’s county championship feared they would have to abandon the second day’s play.
But the competitors struggled on in awful conditions to produce a semi-final line-up on Wedneday morning of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) v Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) and Susan Wood (Drumpellier) v Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
For the second day in a row, Jenna had a eagle. This one came in her 10 and 8 first-round win over clubmate Marion Brodie. In fact, Jenna almost holed her second shot for an albatross 2. The ball came to rest so close to the flagstick, it was a “gimme.”
Jenna, bidding to complete a hat-trick of Lanarkshire title wins, went on to beat Pat Milligan (Hamilton) by 4 and 3 in the afternoon quarter-finals.
Young Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), the No 2 qualifier, beat clubmate Fiona Scott, an experienced campaigner and the No 7 seed, by 6 and 5 to reach the last four.
LANARKSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Cathkin Braes Golf Club.
First round – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt M Brodie (Strathaven) 10 and 8, P Milligan (Hamilton) bt J Scott (Cathkin Braes) 2 holes, E Cuthill (Lanark) bt I Robertson (East Kilbride) 6 and 5, M Hughes (Lanark) bt J McMillan (Hayston) 2 holes, S Wood (Drumpellier) bt L Lees (Hamilton) 2 and 1, A Devine (Hamilton) bt J Wiles (Drumpellier) 2 and 1, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) 1 hole, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt D McTaggart (Cambuslang) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals – Wilson bt Milligan 2 holes, Cuthill b Hughes 2 holes, Wood bt Devine 6 and 4, Oretswell bt F Scott 6 and 5.

DONNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES TITLE NO 11 IN RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
Donna Jackson, 10 times winner – and that’s a record – of the Renfrewshire women’s county golf championship, headed the 16 qualifiers at Erskine Golf Club today (Tuesday) for the match-play stages.
In wet conditions, the CSS went up to 76, three over par, and so Miss Jackson’s score of 74 was quite a good one in these circumstances.
She claimed the top seeding ahead of the 2003 title-winner, Clare-Marie Carlton) who shaded Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) on a card countback. They both had 77s.
The fourth best qualifier was the 17-year-old defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) with a 79.
RENFREWSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Erskine Golf Club.
Par 73. CSS 76
QUALIFIERS
74 D Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
77 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) better inward half, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire).
79 M Briggs (Kilmacolm).
82 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle).
85 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle), bih, Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle).
86 J McCartney (Erskine).
87 A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) bih, D Cowan (Cochrane Castle).
88 S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bih, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) better last hole, L Morrow (Erskine) (bih), F Campbell (Erskine).
89 L McDougal (Greenock).
90 B Biggart (Kilmacolm).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
First round: 9.15 Jackson v Biggart, Judge v McCartney. 9.30 Robertson v E Briggs, Morrow v M Briggs, Kyle v Campbell, Smith v Fell. 10.0 McGinlay v Cowan, McDougal v Carlton.
Quarter-finals: 1.15 to 2pm.

ELGA Press Release
Mother and daughter win Northern foursomes
The mother and daughter pairing of Jackie and Katie Barraclough won the Northern ladies’ close foursomes championship at Scarcroft Golf Club on their first appearance in the event.
They both play off five handicap at East Bierley Golf Club in Yorkshire and Katie, 17, is a member of the English Ladies’ Golf Association’s Select North Squad.
“I’m really pleased because it was our first time in the competition,” sad Jackie. “It was a bit of a surprise to win but we do play a lot of foursomes together.”
The Barracloughs beat Keighley’s Elaine Pearson & Adele Mitchell by 5/4 in the final. Adele is a former English seniors’ champion. The losing semi-finalists were Sue Warrington & Andrea Holt (Bury) and Helen Braddock & Carole Leece (Bolton Old Links).
Two other events were held alongside the championship. The stableford foursomes competition was won by Ruth Lindley and Penny Thompson (Hartlepool/ West Lancashire). Runners up were Patricia Simpson and Deborah Simpson (Brancepeth Castle) while third place went to Judy Leake & Joanna Hearld (Harrogate).
The foursomes team competition was won by Lynda Ireland and Val Exley, Ann Smith and Michelle Leatherland (Shipley). The runners-up were Rita Cullen and Sue Greasby, Mary Smith and Louise Scott (Wakefield).

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 – CARNOUSTIE
DISCOUNTED SEASON TICKETS
Time is running out for spectators to take advantage of discounted season tickets for The Open Championship to be played at Carnoustie from Sunday 15 to Sunday 22 July.
Until the end of April, £170 buys a season ticket which gives entry for the eight days of practice and Championship play, a saving of £105 on the full price daily tickets.
“We are continuing our policy of making The Open affordable to all spectators,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.
“While it will still be possible to pay at the gate, a season ticket represents particularly good value and spectators should take advantage of the discounted rate before this ceases at the end of the month.”
During the four days of the Championship, a daily ticket will cost £50, with concession tickets available. Juveniles, under the age of 16, will again be admitted free of charge by applying to The R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.
Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: ++44 1334 460010 or through on-line purchasing at www.opengolf.com.

US College Golf
DANIEL LYING SECOND BUT SEVEN SHOTS IN ARREARS
Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) from Sheffield is lying in second place of 49 players but seven shots behind the leader with one round to go in the Ohio Valley Conference men's college championship at Country Club of Paducah.
Daniel has scored 73 and 74 for 147 over the par-72, 6,872yd course. Leader Scott Stallings (Tennessee Tech) has had rounds of 71 and 69 for 140.
Jacksonville State (597) lead the team event from Eastern Kentucky (608) in a field of 10 teams.

US College Golf
FIFE STUDENT SLIDES TO SEVENTH WITH DISASTROUS LAST ROUND
It all went pear-shaped for Peter Latimer from Markinch, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, in the final round of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference college golf championship at Poplar Grove Golf Club, Amherst in Virginia.
Peter, a tournament winner just a week or two ago, was in contention again at level par with one round to go but a disastrous closing round of 80 relegated him to a final placing of joint seventh in a field of 45 players.
Latimer’s three rounds were 68, 76 and 80 over the par-72, 7,059yd course for a total of eight-over-par 224.
He finished 13 shots behind Guilford College team-mate Colin Clark who birdied the last six holes for a 66 and a total of five-under 211 after earlier scoring 72 and 73.
Consolation for Peter was that his effort helped Guilford College win the title by the runaway margin of 17 strokes from Washington & Lee University.

Monday 23rd April 2007

SVLGA (MIDLAND DIVISION) SPRING MEETING
Midland Vets held their Spring Meeting today in miserable, wet conditions at Falkirk Tryst. Scottish Seniors Champion Fiona De Vries won the scratch with 76 and the winner of the Allan Cup/Captain's Prize (best overall nett) was local member Anna Hunter, with a nett 71.
Leading Scores
(CSS 74 – 61 Players)
Allan Cup/Captain’s Prize – A. Hunter (Falkirk Tryst) 93-22=71.
1st Scratch – F. de Vries 76
2nd Scratch – C. Kenny 82 bih
Div. 1: 1st M. Macrae 83-11=72
2nd S. Hartley 83-10=73
3rd L. Cunningham 84-10=74
Div. 2: 1st M. Seymour 90-17=73
2nd D. Dunn 90-13=77 bih
3rd E. Murrison 92-15=77
Div. 3 1st A. Hunter 93-22=71
2nd A. McBay 98-23=75

JENNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES LANARK COUNTY TITLE TREBLE
Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson made a good start to her bid to win the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship three years in a row at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today (MONDAY).
The 22-year-old Scotland international headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages on a very wet and sometimes windy day with a par-matching round of 72 which was one under the CSS.
Jenna highlighted her card with an eagle and two birdies.
Teenager Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) did well to claim the No2 seed berth, only one shot behind Jenna.
Then there was a three-shot gap to the No 3 qualifier Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
The fourth seed, after an 81, is May Hughes (Lanark), Lanarkshire champion three times between 1993 and 2004 and also beaten finalist on three occasions.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72. CSS 73
72 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
73 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
76 Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
81 May Hughes (Lanark).
82 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
83 Angela Devine (Hamilton).
85 Fiona Scott (Bothwell Cstle).
89 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes).
90 Pat Milligan (Hamilton), Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
91 Jennifer Wiles (Drumpellier), Isa Robertson (East Kilbride).
92 Jan mcMillan (Hayston).
98 Liz Lees (Hamilton).
99 Dorothy McTaggart (Cambuslang).
100 Marion Brodie (Strathaven).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Wilson v Brodie, Milligan v J Scott, Cuthill v Robertson, McMillan v Hughes, Wood v Lees, Wiles v Devine, F Scott v Scanlan, McTaggart v Pretswell.

NO NEED TO GO WEST, YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN - UNIVERSITY GOLF HERE HAS MUCH TO OFFER
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Going to the States to combine competitive, inter-collegiate golf with gaining a degree works for some. Just ask Walker and Ryder Cup players Luke Donald and Paul Casey or Solheim Cup stars Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay, all of whom have prospered with the help of US golf scholarships.
But it does not work for all those who see America as the land of opportunity. In another era, even Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle failed to stay the course at their US university of choice and countless other promising British and Irish players have returned home early. Some come back disappointed at the lack of technical help available on the golf swing from their “college golf coaches.” Read more.......

ELGA Press Release
Liz and Alex score hat trick at Mothers and Daughters
Liz Boatman and Alex Howe (pictured right) completed a hat trick of consecutive wins when they scored a three-shot victory in the Mothers and Daughters 27-hole scratch foursomes at Royal Mid-Surrey.
Liz, a former victorious Curtis Cup captain and a previous chairman and president of the English Ladies’ Golf Association, is a member at Royal Worlington. Alex plays at Royal County Down. This was their fifth win overall, after previous successes in 1996 and 1999.
The runners-up were former Curtis Cup golfer, Jill Thornhill, and her daughter, Caroline Weeks, who have twice won this title. The Walton Heath pair staged a late surge but were frustrated by a couple of three putts over the closing holes – while Alex Howe found the measure of the greens and sank two birdie putts.
Third place went to competition newcomers, Gillian and Sarah Attwood from Gog Magog, who shared with the lead after 18 holes.
The handicap prize was won by Rita and Nicole Whitmore from Woburn. Rita plays off 26 while her 18-year-old daughter is a two-handicapper.
The youngster competitor in the field was 13-year-old Alexandra Peters, the English U13 champion and a member of ELGA’s Select Midlands Squad. She and her mother, Ann, from Notts Ladies’, shared fifth place.
Leading final scores
114 - E Boatman & A Howe (Royal Worlington/Royal County Down) 78, 36; 117 – J Thornhill & C Weeks (Walton Heath) 82, 35; 119 - G & S Atwood (Gog Magog) 78, 41; 120 – R & N Whitmore (Woburn) 79, 41; 121 – G & H Beasley (Woburn) 81, 40, A & A Peters ( Notts Ladies) 80, 41; 124 – J & E Hickson (Hockley/Royal Mid Surrey) 82, 42, S & J Hicks-Beach (Stover) 79, 45; 125- J & K Tenniswood (West Hill/Wentworth) 82, 43, A & N Taylor (Walton Heath) 84, 41, C & C Griffiths (Walton Heath) 80, 45, J & K Fallows (Manchester GC) 83, 42.

ELGA Press Release
Melissa Reid wins Whittington Trophy
Derbyshire’s Curtis Cup star Melissa Reid (pictured) won the Whittington Ladies’ Trophy for the third successive time – helped by equalling a new course record.
The 19-year-old England international from Chevin shot a second round 69 at Whittington Heath to secure her success over the highest quality field ever to enter the competition.
Melissa’s rivals included Naomi Edwards from Ganton in Yorkshire and Breanne Loucks from Wales who are both fellow Curtis Cup players and members of the GB team for the Commonwealth Tournament, which will be played in May.
Her afternoon score, which was three under par and four under CSS, equalled the new record set in the morning by English strokeplay champion Liz Bennett of Brokenhurst Manor. Liz was runner-up overall, one shot behind Melissa.
The competition also attracted the two youngest players ever to take part in the event: Elizabeth Mallet, 12, of Sutton Coldfield Ladies’, who has been playing two years and has a five handicap; and English U13 champion Alexandra Peters, 13, of Notts Ladies. They are both members of English Ladies’ Golf Association squads.
Leading scores. Par 72 CSS 73.
142 Melissa Reid (Chevin) 73, 69.
143 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 69, 74
144 Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Finchley) 74, 70
148 Clare Howells (Moor Hall) 73, 75.
149 Kerry-Anne Haskell (Broadstone) 77, 72.

NORTHERN COUNTIES 40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY COMPETITION RESULTS
By MAIRI ORR, Northern Counties LGA captain.
In almost tropical conditions at Elgin Golf Club on Sunday, 84 ladies played in the Northern Counties 40th birthday celebration competition.
The format had been specially thought out to allow all ages and abilities to feel they were contributing. It was teams of four, best stableford score to count and maximum six scores per player.
Teams were also tasked with labelling themselves. As you will see they were quite clever (and it broke the ice and gave them something else to do).
Results:
49pt Chuntering Grannies (Helen Stuart, Hazel Little, Alison Burnett, Chris Matheson.
49pt Northern Belles (Louise Hampton, Alison Gowie, May Alexander, Marina Webster).
47pt Next Week We Are Going Bowling (Linda Fraser, Dorothy Marshall, Louise Clark, Marion Howieson).
47pt The Final Four (Jenny Milne, Susan MacKenzie, Denise McBride, Maureen Ritchie).
47pt The Marvels (Susan McVicar, Trish Weekes, Elizabeth Sloan, Sheila Smith).
40pt The Fore Tease (Isobel McIntosh, Lorna Lloyd Baker, Ann Park, Sheilagh Ramsay).
Best name: Penultimate Prats (Liz Coghill, Rosemary Bruce, Lynne Fraser, Lucy Mackay).
Longest drive: Kelsey MacDonald.
Nearest pin: Sheila Smith.

SALLY RUNNER-UP TO JUNIOR RYDER CUP PLAYER IN FLORIDA GIRLS’ EVENT
Sally Watson from South Queensferry finished runner-up to European Junior Ryder Cup team player Giula Molinaro from Turin, Italy in the IMGA/DLGA Junior Girls championship at IMG Academies Golf & Country Club, Bradenton, Florida at the weekend.
Sally, a student at the IMG David Leadbetter Academy, at Bradenton had rounds of 76 and 69 for an aggregate of one-over-par 145.
Molinaro scored 72 and 69 for three-under-par 141.
Jessica Korda from Florida finished third on 146 with scores of 75 and 71.
Laetitia Beck (Israel) came fourth with 74 and 73 for 147.

CALLUM HAS FIVE DOUBLE BOGEYS BUT STILL MAKES TOP TEN AT SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA
Callum Macaulay, in his final month or two of a four-year course at Mississippi University, finished joint ninth in the Southeast Conference men’s college championship at Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia.
The Tulliallan Golf Club member must have been pressing too hard to produce results for he had an uncharacteristic five double bogeys over the 54 holes. Three of them came in his final round of three-over-par 73.
He had 6s at the par-4 eighth, 14th and 18th which wiped out the birdies he achieved at the sixth, seventh, 15th and 17th.
The Scot’s earlier rounds were 75 and 71, giving him a total of nine-over-par 219 over a tough par-70 course (6,991yd) where even the winner, Patton Kizzire (Auburn) was over par, returning 72, 69 and70 for 211 and a four-stroke advantage over a field of 60.
It may have been some consolation for Callum that he had three of the recently announced United States college team for the Palmer Cup match against Europe – Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Luke List – behind him in the final standings.
Chris Paisley (Tennessee) from Newcastle and team-mate Tino Weirr finished joint runners-up on 215. Paisley shot 76, 70 and 69.
Not surprisingly, Tennessee (869) won the team title from Alabama (871) with Auburn (874) third and Mississippi fourth (876) in a field of 12 college squads.

TARA THIRD, GEMMA JT 18TH IN FINAL LADY BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL PLACINGS
Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scottish cap Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) finished third and joint 18th respectively in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women’s college tournament over the Ohio State University’s Scarlet course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara had scores of 76, 73 and 74 for a total of 224 eight over par for the 6,228yd, par-72 course.
She had birdies at the fifth, 11th, 14th and 15th but also ran up a double boghey at the ninth and dropped single shots at the seventh, 12th, 13th, 17th and 18th. In her first round, Tara had a double-bogey 5 at the short eighth.
Gemma Webster scored 80, 78 and 79 for 237. She had no birdies in her final round which included a triple bogey 8 at the lont 14th and a double bobey 6 at the 11th. Over the 54 holes, the Scot had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys.
Tara’s older sister Karen Delaney, also a student at Kent State, scored 83, 85 and 83 for 251 and a share of 60th place in a field of 87. She had six consecutive bogeys from the 11th to the 16th in her final round.
Spaniard Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) scored her second win within a few weeks, scoring 72, 70 and 73 for one-under-par 215. Team-mate Christel Boeljon was runner-up on 218 with 71, 71 and 76.
Purdue won the team title by 20 shots with a total of 891. Michigan State (911) were runners-up with Kent State (933) third and Ohio State (935) fourth of the 14 competing teams.

Sunday 22nd April 2007

FIONA LOCKHART REGAINS FIFE TITLE
Leuchars-based Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) won the Fife women’s county golf championship at Dunfermline Golf Club today.
This is the second time that Fiona, a member of the Scottish Golf Union staff at Drumoig, has won the Fife title. The last time – two years ago – she went on to complete a notable double by winning the Scottish women’s title at Cruden Bay a few weeks later.
In Sunday’s semi-finals, Fiona, the No 6 seed,.was taken to the 18th green before beating Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) by two holes, but in the final, against Scottish senior international Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), the No 8 qualifier, Fiona stepped up a gear to win by 6 and 4.
Miss Lockhart was one under par in the final with two birdies and one bogey. Lorna struggled a bit on the greens.
Defending champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) and top seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) failed to make it through to the last four.
Elaine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) in the first round then lost by 2 and 1 to Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Lorna Bennett..
Weekend results:
First round – L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3, L Bennett (Ldybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4, L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th, K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford (Scotscraig) 4 and 3, J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Rule) 3 and 1, F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4, L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5, E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank) at 19th.
Quarter-finals – Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2, Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4, Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2, Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.
Semi-finals – Bennett bt Sharp 3 and 1, Lockhart bt Rolland 2 holes.
Final – Lockhart bt Bennett 6 and 4.

SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN – WINNER OF SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT AT GLEN
Perth’s Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Scottish Under-16 boys’ title at Deeside last year, won today’s (Sunday) Scottish Golf Junior Tour 36-hole event at Glen Golf Club, North Berwick by two strokes.
McLaren put together two par-matching rounds of 70 for a total of 140. Joint second to first-round pacemakers Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Royal Aberdeen’s Scott Fraser on 69, Sam started the afternoon badly with a couple of bogeys but a birdie at the third stopped the rot and another birdie at the seventh got him back to level par.
On the way home, McLaren dropped a shot at the 11th but birdied the 15th.
Joint runners-up on 142 were Scotland boys team-mates Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and James Byrne (Banchory). Stewart had rounds of 73 and 69, birdieing the sixth and 15th in his afternoon round. Byrne had two steady rounds of 71.
New Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) finished in joint 13th place with 74 and 72 for 146.
SGU JUNIOR TOUR – Event 2
Glen Golf Club, North Berwick
FINAL TOTALS
Par 70. SSS 70
140 Sam McLaren (King James VI) 70 70.
142 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 69, James Byrne (Banchory) 71 71.
143 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 71 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 70 73.
144 Neil Henderson (Glen) 71 73, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 69 74, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 69 75.
145 David Parlane (Helensburgh) 76 69, Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 76 69, William Bremner (Edzell) 72 73, Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) 70 75.
145 Michael Main (Thornton) 76 70, Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 76 70, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 74 72, Euan Brown (Barassie) 74 72, Jack Thow (Crieff 74 72, Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 74 72, Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 73 73.
147 Jack Bradley (Paisley) 73 74.
148 Kyle Smith (Barassie) 77 71, Craig Wyper (Hayston) 76 72, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 74 74.
149 Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 75.
150 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) 72 78.
152 Alan Murdoch (Stranraer) 76 76, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 75 77, David Law (Hazlehead) 75 77.
153 Simon Barras (Helensburgh) 77 76, Sean Thompson (St Andrews) 75 78.
159 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 82 77.
165 Alistair Lauder (Paisley) 81 84.
Withdrew: Fraser McKenna (Balmore).

JODI EWART SCORES FIRST US WIN IN THRILLING MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH
New Mexico University first-year student Jodi Ewart from Middleham, Yorkshire won the individual title at the Mountain West Conference women's college championship after a neck-and-neck finish with French girl, Valentine Derrey, who was a beaten finalist in the British girls' open championship at Lanark in 2004.
Jodi, pictured right, won by one stroke after a final round of one-over-par 72 for a seven-over total of 220 at the challenging par-72, 6,210yd Entrada at Snow Canyon course at St George, Utah.
Apart from chalking up her first win on the American women's college circuit - and becoming only the second New Mexico University freshman to be a winner - Miss Ewart was named Co-Player of the Year (2006-2007) and also Freshman of the Year for the Mountain West Women's Conference.
Jodi had to keep her nerve to hole a final putt of 4ft at the 18th for victory.
"The last four or five holes were extremely nerve wracking," explained Ewart. "I've been in that situation before so I just tried to stay calm. However, my hands were shaking on the last putt."
Ewart and Derrey started the final round tied for second place, two shots behind Brigham Young's Rachel Newren. While Newren droppped herself out of contention with a four-over 39 to the turn, Jodi and Valentine were steady in the early going before trading several leads over the final nine holes.
Jodi birdied the eighth and 11th but bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 16th.
Valentine birdied the first, 11th and 124th but bogeyed the 12th and 17th and had a disastrous triple bogey 8 at the long 16th.
Ewart held a one-shot lead after Derrey bogeyed the par-3 12th. Derrey regained the top spot when she birdied the par-3 14th and Ewart made bogey.
Derrey pushed her advantage to two shots after Ewart bogeyed the par-4 15th.
Derrey, however, lost the tournament at 16 when she ran up a triple-bogey 8. Ewart had her third straight bogey on 16, but the twosome were tied with two holes remaining.
The final lead of the tournament was in Ewart's hands, though, after Derrey made bogey 5 on 17. Ewart parred the final two holes to take medalist honors.
Ewart's first college season has been impressive - if not historic. Never finishing lower than 15th place in nine tournaments this year, she is on track to break her university's season scoring record of 73.40 set by Sweden's Mikaela Backstedt (the only other freshmen to win an event) a year ago.
Ewart has a 72.96 average after 27 rounds with at least one tournament remaining.
Next event for Jodi and the Lobos is the NCAA regional championship, starting on May 10.
HOW THEY FINISHED
Par 213 (3 x 71)
220 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 77 71 72.
221 Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) 76 72 73.
223 Rachel Newren (Brigham Young) 72 74 77.
TEAM TOTALS
903 Texas Christian. 904 Brigham Young. 926 New Mexico.

TARA JOINT FOURTH BUT GEMMA OUTSIDE TOP 20 IN LADY BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL
Irish cap Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scotland international Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) were lying joint fourth and joint 23rd respectively in a field of 87 players for the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women's college golf tournament over the Ohio State University's course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara has scored 76 and 73 for 149, bogeyed two of the last three holes in her second round after birdieing the third, 14th and 15th.
Gemma is on 158 for the par-72, 6,288yd Scarlet course after rounds of 80 and 78.
Gemma had a triple bogey 7 at the first and a double bogey 5 at the short fifth in her first round. Then she birdied the eighth and 10th in her second round before running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Tara Delaney's older sister Karen, also a student at Kent State, continues to score in the 80s. She had rounds of 83 and 85 for a 24-over-par tally of 168 and a share of 60th place. Karen has not had a birdie in the 36 holes.
Purdue (593) lead the team event from Michigan State (604) with Kent State (616) third and Ohio State and Iowa sharing fourth place on 626 in a field of 14.
Two Purdue University players, Christel Boeljon and Spain's Maria Hernandez share the lead on 141, Christel with a pair of 71s, Maria with 72 and 70.

DOUBLE BOGEY FINISH BLUNTS CALLUM'S CHALLENGE AT SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA
Callum Macaulay (Mississippi University) from Tulliallan was lying in joint ninth position in a field of 60 players with one round to go in the Southeast Conference men's college golf championship at Sea Island Golf Club, St Simon's Island, Georgia.
Callum had rounds of 75 and 71 for a six-over-par tally of 146 for the par-70, 6,991yd course.
Callum ruined a very good card with a double-bogey 6 at the 18th in his second round in which he had earlier birdied the first, fifth and 15th, dropping shots only at the second and 14th.
The Scot was five shots behind leader Patton Kizzire (Auburn) who shot 72 and 69 to lead by three from four players in joint second place on 144.
Charles Ford (Tennessee) from Leicester was on the same 146 mark as Macaulay with rounds of 75 and 71. A second Tennessee University player, Chris Paisley from Newcastle, was also on 146 with scores of 76 and 70.
Tennessee (584) led the team event from Alabama (586) with Florida and Mississippi joint third on 588 in a field of 12 college squads.

VIKKI MISSES CUT IN LOUISIANA PELICAN CLASSIC
Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing missed the 36-hole cut in the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's professional tournament at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette. Vikki had rounds of 78 and 72 over the 6,437yd, par-72 course for a total of 150, which was three strokes too many to qualify her for the final round.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, another former US women's college circuit player, missed out with an aggregate of 147, made up of rounds of 74 and 75.
The lead was shared on seven-under 137 by Jenny Gleason from Florida (68-69) and Janell Howland (Idaho) with 65 and 72.

Saturday 21st April 2007

TITLE-HOLDER ELAINE AND TOP SEED LOUISE FAIL TO REACH FIFE SEMI-FINALS
Defending champion Elaine Moffat and top seed Louise Kenney failed to make it through to Sunday morning's semi-finals of the Fife women's county championship at Dunfermline Golf Club.
Elaiine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) but then lost by 2 and 1 to the seventh qualifier Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) in the quarter-finals.
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Scottish senior cap Lorna Bennett by 3 and 2.
The semi-finals line-up is:
9.30am - Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) v Karin Sharp (Kirkcaldy).
9.37am - Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) v Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).
Results:
FIRST ROUND
L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3.
L Bennett (Ladybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4.
L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th.
K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford Scotscraig) 4 and 3.
J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Reule) 3 and 1.
F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4.
L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5.
E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2.
Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4.
Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2.
Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.

JODI SHARING SECOND PLACE IN UTAH WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Yorkshire girl Jodi Ewart, a first-year student at New Mexico University, was sharing second place with one round to go in the Mountain West Conference women's college golf championship at Entrada at Snow Canyon course, St George in Utah.
Catterick Bridge Golf Club member Jodi, from Middleham, has had rounds of 77 and 71 for a six-over-par tally of 148 over the 6,210yd, par-71 course.
Jodi's 71 was the lowest second-round score by anyone in the field of 35.
Miss Ewart had birdies at the second and fifth before bogeys at the eighth and ninth in matching the par of 35 to the turn. On the way home, Jodie parred every hole.
She shares second place with Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian University), the French player who was a beaten finalist in the British girls championship at Lanark in 2004. Valentine score 76 and 72.
Leading by two shots is Rachel Newren (Brigham Young University) with 72 and 74 for 146.

US College Golf
DOUBLE BOGEYS KNOCK BACK CALLUM AT SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA
Tulliallan Golf Club member Callum Macaulay, a final-year student at the University of Mississippi, was lying in joint 15th position in a quality field of 60 players for the South-east Conference Championship men’s college tournament at Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia.
Callum from Kincardine had a five-over-par score of 75 over the 6,991yd, par-70 Seaside course. The West of Scotland Open champion had birdies at the fourth, 13th and 16th but he also had two disastrous double bogeys – a 7 at the par-5 seventh and a 6 at the par-4 14th. He also dropped single shots at the second, eighth, ninth and 10th in halves of 39 and and 36.
Macaulay was six strokes behind the three-shot leader, Mississippi team-mate Will Roebuck with a 69.
Chris Paisley (Tennessee) from Newcastle had a 76 to be in joint 22nd player.
American Chris Kirk (Tennessee), one of the top-ranked players on the US college circuit and a member of the American team for the forthcoming Palmer Cup students’ match against Europe, was joint 46th in a field of 60 players. He struggled for a 10-over-par 80 which included two double bogeys.
The efforts of Macaulay and Roebuck helped Mississippi to jump into a three-shot lead with a first-round tally of 295 in the team event. Alabama (298) were lying second ahead of joint third Louisiana State and Tennessee (301) in a field of 12 teams.

Futures Tour
VIKKI STRUGGLING IN LOUISIANA PELICAN CLASSIC
Former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing from Musselburgh has a first-round score of six-over-par 78 to be lying joint 123rd in a field of 144 for the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's professional golf tournament at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette.
Vikki had halves of 39 (three over par both ways) to be 13 shots behind the leader, Janelle Howland, from Boise, Idaho.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, like Vikki a former US college circuit player, had a 74 (36-38) to be in joint 79th position.

Friday 20th April 2007

NOT A GOOD DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR JODI EWART IN 'MOUNTAIN WEST'
Jodi Ewart from Middleham, Yorkshire, a freshman student at New Mexico University, was sharing 12th place at the end of the first round in the Mountain West Conference women's college championship at Entrada at Snow Canyon golf course, St George in Utah.
Jodi, a member of Catterick Bridge Golf Club, was below her best in returning a six-over-par 77 for the 6,210yd, par-71 course.
She bogeyed the first, second, eighth and ninth to be four over par at the turn. Then came a disastrous double bogey 6 at the 13th and another shot dropped at the 15th. Her only birdie amd at the 17th in halves of 39 and 38.
The lead is shared by Cathering Matranga (Texas Christian) and Rachel Newren (Brigham Young) on one-over 72 in a field of 34 players.
Brigham Young (294) have opened up an early six-shot lead from Texas Christian (300) with New Mexico (314) in third place of the seven competing college teams.

TRICIA MANGAN GOING FOR TITLE HAT-TRICK IN IRISH LADIES CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT MONTH
FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE:
Tricia Mangan (Ennis), pictured right, looks to make it three in-a-row when she tees it up at this year’s Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at Lahinch, 19-23 May.
Not since Claire Hourihane’s victories at Cork, Co. Sligo and Waterville in the early eighties has the feat been achieved, although Alison Coffey surrendered her treble attempt to Rebecca Coakley in the final at Cork in 2002.
Ireland’s top amateurs will be keen to impress the LGU selectors who will announce the GB&I team to play Europe for the Vagliano Trophy at St. Andrews Bay following the British Matchplay in mid June.
The (Irish) Championship begins Saturday, May 19 with the first round of the Leitrim Cup, a 36-hole qualifying strokeplay event. Sunday sees the completion of round two after which the leading 32 players will go into the Championship Draw on Monday, concluding Wednesday afternoon. The next 16 qualifiers play for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
The Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close was first played in 1894, just one year after the foundation of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union, the oldest national union or association in ladies’ golf.
2007 sees another consecutive year’s hosting of the event, excluding the war years.
Munster Champion Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) and Maura Morrin (The Curragh) will arguably pose the most serious threat to Mangan’s title aspirations while Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) makes a welcome return to the ILGU’s blue riband event.
Entries received to date:
Orla Barry (Galway), Kay Bermingham (Youghal), Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne), Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary), Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth), Margaret Hayes (Tralee), Fiona Healy (Headfort), Gemma Heggarty (Greencastle), Vivienne Houston (City of Derry), Helen Jones (Strabane), Sinead Keane (The Curragh), Lynda Maher (Charleville), Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Mai McCann (Nairn & Portnoo), Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk), Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey/Stranorlar), Gertie McMullan (The Island), Ruth Maguire (Corrstown), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel), Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange), Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea), Sue Phillips (Woodbrook), Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth), Holli Snelling (Killarney), Catherine Tucker (Limerick).

Thursday 19th April 2007

AYRSHIRE HAT-TRICK OF TITLE WINS BY LESLEY HENDRY
Lesley Hendry of Routenburg Golf Club, Largs completed a hat-trick of title wins in the Ayrshire women’s county championship over the Troon Portland course today (Thursday).
Lesley, who qualified as the No 4 seed this year, beat the top qualifier, Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) by two holes in the morning semi-finals before winning the final by 6 and 5 over Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies), the No 10 seed, in the final.
In the final, Miss Hendry had a birdie at the sixth and an eagle 3 at the 11th. Morag’s putting was not good enough to put the defending champion under pressure.
In the semi-finals Morag beat the 14th qualifier Jennifer Linklater (Largs) by 3 and 2.
Lesley Hendry is the first player to win the Ayrshire county title three years in a row for many years. The nearest was former Scottish champion Alison Gemmill (Barassie) who won the Ayrshire title in three years out of four – 1994, 1996 and 1997.
AYRSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland
Semi-finals – L Hendry (Routenburn) bt A Thompson (Loudoun) 2 holes, M McPherson (Troon Ladies) bt J Linklater (Largs) 3 and 2.
Final – Hendry bt McPherson 6 and 5.

SCOTS’ CHALLENGE FADES ON FINAL DAY OF PETER McEVOY TROPHY
Perth’s Sam McLaren and Banchory’s James Byrne dropped out of their overnight top eight placing over the final two rounds of the Peter McEvoy Trophy boys’ tournament at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull today (Thursday).
The trophy was won by four shots by Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) with the highly respectable total of seven-under-par 277, made up of consistently good rounds of 70, 66, 71 and 70.
The third Scot to survive the halfway cut, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) climbed up past McLaren and Byrne with rounds of 73 and 71 to add to his first-day 73 and 71. Michael totalled 288 and finished joint ninth.
McLaren, Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion last year, could not maintain the form that put him in third place at the start of the day with ronds of 69 and 71. Sam finished with 77 and 75 for 292 and a share of 21st place.
Byrne, joint eighth after 36 holes with scores of 74 and 69, signed off with 74 and 77 for 294 and a share if 27th place.
The Scots were competing against the very best of Under-18 golfing talent south of the Border. It is an indication of the standard on parade that Matthew Nixon, the Manchester lad who won the British boys’ title at Royal Aberdeen last summer, did not beat the halfway cut in this event.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
PETER McEVOY TROPHY
Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull.
Par 284 (4 x 71). CSS 71 71 72 72
FINAL TOTALS
277 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66 71 70.
281 Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69 72 70, Billy Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71 67 73.
284 B Fowles (Wentworth) 72 73 70 69, E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72 70 72.
286 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69 72 70, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73 71 71.
287 O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75 71 73.
288 M Stewart (Troon Welgbeck) 73 71 73 71, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72 69 73.
289 G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72 75 68, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72 77 69,D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77 70 73, T Robson Rowlands Castle) 71 72 72 74, R Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69 73 75.
280 J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 77 71 71 71, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70 74 73.
291 J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69 76 72, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73 74 73, H Smart (Walton Heath) 72 75 70 74.
292 S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73 76 73, D Rowland (Boston West) 74 73 71 74, S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71 77 75, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75 70 76.
293 M Swan (Stoke by Nayland) 72 76 75 70, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71 73 74.
294 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70 73 76, J Byrne (Banchory) 74 69 74 77.
295 J Vickery (Newport) 71 76 74 74, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72 75 74, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74 76 74, R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71 72 77, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73 73 78.
296 T King (Cleveland) 77 71 76 72, O Glaze (The Kendleshire) 75 72 75 74.

LLOYD SALTMAN’S DOUBLE WIN BOOSTS HIM TO NO 15 IN R&A WORLD RANKINGS
Lloyd Saltman’s victory in both the Scottish champion of champions and Craigmillar Park Open has seen him rise to No 15 in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Craigielaw GC member Lloyd and US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), ranked No 3 behind Jamie Moul (England) and Rory McIlroy (Ireland), are the only Scots in the top 50.
The current top 50 are:
1 Jamie Moul (Eng).
2 Rory McIlroy (Ire).
3 Richie Ramsay (Sco).
4 Rhys Davies (Wal).
5 Billy Horschel (US).
6 Pablo Martin (Spa).
7 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng).
8 Chris Kirk (US).
9 Jamie Lovemark (US).
10 Webb Simpson (US).
11 Bronson LaCassie (Aus).
12 Jonathan Moore (US).
13 Kyle Stanley (US).
14 Niklas Lemke (Swe).
15 Lloyd Saltman (Sco).
16 John Parry (Eng).
17 Dustin Johnson (US).
18 Alan Wagner (Arg).
189 Gary Boyd (Eng).
20 Julien Guerrier (Fra).
21 Rohan Blizard (Aus).
22 Seve Benson (Eng).
23 Stephen Lewton (Eng).
24 Louis e Jager (SAf).
25 Kevin Chappell (US).]
26 David Horsey (Eng).
27 Charlie Beljan (US).
28 Marius Thorp ()Nor).
29 Rob Grube (US).
30 Cameron Tringale (US).
31 Johan Carlsson Swe).
32 Nigel Edwards (Wal).
33 Ruan Botha (SAf).
34 Dawie van der Walt (SAf).
35 Gary Woodland (US).
36 Rick Kulacz (Aus).
37 Colt Knost (US).
38 Hudson Swafford (US).
39 Brian Harman (US).
40 Alex Prugh (US).
41 Branden Grace (SAf).
42 Luke List (US).
43 Daniel Summerhays (US).
44 Trip Kuehne (US).
45 Andrew Dodt (Aus).
46 Lucas Lee (US).
47 Cennydd Mills (Wal).
48 Seung Su Han (Kor).
49 Roberto Castro (US).
50 Benhamin Alvarado (Chi).

AMERICANS FAVOURITES TO GAIN PALMER CUP REVENGE
The United States look like starting hot favourites to avenge last year’s Palmer Cup thrashing by the Europeans when the next transatlantic students’ international match is played at Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
The American team has just been selected and it includes four of the R&A World Rankings top 10 – Billy Horschel (Florida) (5), Chris Kirk (Georgia) (8), Jamie Lovemark (USC) (9), Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) (10).
The rest of the eight-man team, with their world rankings, are:
Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State) (12), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina) (17), Brian Harman (Georgia) (39) and Luke List Vanderbilt) (42).
The European team for the Palmer Cup contest has yet to be named but it will certainly include Richie Ramsay and Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), the Edinburgh-born Welsh Walker Cup player who has won 10 tournaments in four years on the US college circuit.

ELGA Press Release
ELGA launches online scoring for English championships
An online scoring service for national championships will be launched next week by the English Ladies’ Golf Association.
It will be available for the first time at the Senior Ladies’ English Close Championship, which takes place at Delamere Forest in Cheshire from April 24-27.
Visitors to the ELGA website – www.englishladiesgolf.org - will be able to see hole-by-hole details of players’ completed rounds.
ELGA tournament secretary Emma Lowe said: “As soon as players leave the scorers’ office their score will be live on the website. Scores will also be displayed on a large LCD screen in the clubhouse and can be accessed by anyone with a WAP-enabled phone.
“I think people will make great use of this service and it will add to the interest and excitement of the tournament.”
Score details will be accessed through the new Tournament Information Centre which will be prominently displayed on the website’s home page.
It will show the current leading scores and give visitors a range of options. These include checking score details of particular players and their tournament history as well as viewing the tournament leaderboard and those for each rounds.
The service will be available at all English ladies’ and girls’ championships throughout the season.

ELGA Press Release
Kent’s Claire Aitken retains the Hampshire Rose
Kent’s Claire Aitken set a course record 67 at North Hants Golf Club on her way to winning the Hampshire Rose for the second year in a row.
Claire, 21, set up her success in the morning round with her record breaking six-under par score. She added a two-under 71 in the afternoon – and won by three shots.
The play of The London golfer held off some high-profile opposition. The runner-up was the international Kerry Smith of Hampshire, who is the English order of merit titleholder. Third place went to Bedfordshire’s Holly Aitchison, the Portuguese ladies’ champion, and fourth to Hampshire’s Liz Bennett, the English strokeplay champion.
Leading scores:
138 Claire Aitken (The London) 67, 71.
141 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 69, 72.
142 Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 71, 71; Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70, 72.
145 Jenny Pease (Braintree) 73, 72; Jenny Kershaw (North Hants) 72, 73; Raffi Dyer (Hayling) 69, 76.
146 Katie Mundy (Dunwood Manor) 75, 71; Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place) 73, 73; Kate Whitmore (Sandiway) 71, 75; Jo Hodge (Knowle) 70, 76. 147 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 76, 71; Danielle Montgomery (The Lambourne) 73, 74.
149 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 75, 74; Charlotte Wild (Mere) 70, 79.

ELGA Press Release
Bronze medal for Staffordshire golfer
Staffordshire teenager Emily Priest – who belongs to one of England’s regional squads – has won a bronze medal in the final of a national championship for college golfers.
Emily, plays at Stourbridge and Enville Golf Clubs and studies at Filton College in Bristol. She is a member of the English Ladies’ Golf Association’s Select Midlands Squad.
The 16-year-old was playing in the British Colleges Sport national championships, which involved over 2000 students from the UK’s further education colleges competing in 15 different sports. The event took place at Loughborough University.

US College Golf
HANNAH AND SIAN HELP BAYLOR TO BEST-EVER BIG 12 FINISH
English pair Hannah Burke from Welwyn Garden City and Sian Reddick from Folkestone helped Baylor University, Texas to finished third in the Big 12 Women’s Conference championship at Ridgewood Country Club, Waco in Texas.
It was Baylor’s highest ever finish in the tournament.
Hannah scored 77, 77 and 76 to finish joint eighth on 230. She birdied the fourth, sixth and 18th in her final round.
Sian, a former English women’s open amateur stroke-play championship who has been plagued by injuries during the 2006-2007 US college season, slumped with a final round of 83, including double bogeys at the seventh and ninth in an outward 43, after earlier rounds of 77 and 77. Sian dropped from joint ninth at the start of the final day to a final placing of tied 28th in the field of 60 players.
Amanda Costner (Kansas) won the individual with the unusually high aggregate of five-over-par 221 for the 6,142yd, par-72 course. She had rounds of 71, 73 and 77 to win by three shots from Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M).
Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M), the 2005 Irish girls champion, did very well to finish joint fourth on 229 with scores of 78, 77 and 74. She birdied the seventh, 12th and 13th but had a double bogey at the 15th in rising from joint 13th overnight. Over her three rounds, Danielle had five double bogeys.
Texas A&M (911) won the team title from Oklahoma State (916) with Baylor (916) third of the 12 teams.

US College Golf
VICKI MAKES TWO 20 IN ARIZONA
Irish junior international Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) had scores of 82, 73 and 76 to finish joint 17th on 231 in a field of 40 players for the Big Sky women’s championship at Palm Valley Golf Club, Goodyear in Arizona.
The tournament was won by Margaux Sheehan (Sacramento State) with a total of 216 (71-69-76). Although that was “only” a level par aggregate, Margaux won by six strokes.
Sacramento State (884) won the team title ahead of Northern Arizona (909) in a field of eight teams.

US College Golf
NATASHA JOINT JUST OUTSIDE TOP 20 AT LAKE JOVITA
Natasha Morgan (Lynn University) from South Wales came joint 22nd in the Sunshine State Conference women’s championship AT Lake Jovita Country Club, St Leo in Florida, with scores of 85, 77 and 82 for 244 – 18 shots behind the joint winners, Daniela Iacobelli (Florida Tech) and Maria Garcia Austt (Nova Southeastern).
Florida Southern (929) won the team title from Rollins College (934) with Lynn University and Nova Southeastern tied for third place in a field of seven on 939.

US College Golf
PORTIA ABBOT FINISHES THIRD IN KENTUCKY
Portia Abbot (Jacksonville State) from Wiltshire finished third on 233 with scores of 82, 75 and 76 in the Ohio Valley Conference women’s championship at Drake Creek Golf Club, Ledbetter, Kentucky.
Over a tough course, Portia scored only two birdies in 54 holes.
Jacksonville State from Alabama – the college that Ellon girl Michele Thomson quit over the Festive period – had all five team places in the top 10 finishes and won the team championship with a total of 935. Runners-up Murray State were 16 shots behind in second place in a field of eight teams.
Katelyn Stanier (Samford) won the individual title by seven shots from Manuela Tarazona (Jacksonville State) with the high total of seven-over-par 223 (75-74-74)

US College Golf
FIONA BEATTIE DOWN THE SUN BELT FIELD
Fiona Beattie (Arkansas State) from Axbridge, Somerset, finished joint 43rd in a field of 55 in the Sun Belt Conference women’s championship at Disney’s Eagle Pines course, Orlando in Florida.
Fiona had scores of 83, 82 and 80 over the par-72, 5,997yd course.
Stephanie Sherlock (Denver) won the title with scores of 73, 71 and 75 for 219.
Denver (893) won the team event from Florida International (906) with Florida Atlantic third on 919. Arkansas State (953) finished ninth of 11.

US College Golf
KEARNEY SLIPS BACK TO FINISH JOINT SEVENTH
Ireland’s Thomas Kearney (Texas-San Antonio) slipped back to a final placing of joint seventh with a final round of 77 in the Southland Conference men’s championship at The Club at Comanche Trace.
Kearney had been joint third overnight after rounds of 70 and 69. His only birdie of the final day came at the 18th.
Another Irishman Peter O’Keeffe (Southeast Louisiana) and team-mate James Taverner, a Londoner, also finished on 216.
O’Keeffe scored 75, 68 and 73 while Taverner’s rounds were 74, 73 and 69.
There were two more Irishmen in the field. Fergal Rafferty (Sam Houston Stat tied for 21st place on 224 with 76, 75 and 74 while Aaron O’Callaghan (Southeast Louisiana) came 34th on 230 with 77, 83 and 70.
Lamar University’s South Africans Dawie Van Der Walt and Oliver Bekker finished first and second. In fact, Lamar proved the 1-2-3 and joint fourth finishes.
Van Der Walt scored 72, 65 and 66 for 13-under-par 203, very good scoring over a par-72, 7,103yd course. Bekker totalled 206.
Not surprisingly, Lamar (825) ran away with the team title – by a 34-stroke margin from runners-up Southeast Louisiana (859) with Texas-San Antonio (877) third of 10.

US College Golf
JORDAN FINDLAY HAS LAST LAUGH OVER FELLOW SCOTS IN ATLANTIC SUN
Highlanders Russell Knox from Inverness and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey finished ahead of Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay in the Atlantic Sun Conference men’s college championship at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly in Georgia.
But it was Findlay who was all smiles at the finish of the 54-hole tournament because his college, East Tennessee State, won the title for the first time by the resounding margin of 14 strokes.
Knox and Stewart had helped Jacksonville University, Florida to be Atlantic Sun Conference champions last year but they could finish only fourth behind East Tennessee State this time.
On the American college circuit, team performances are all-important because they can determine how much of a college’s budget goes to the golf programme.
Knox had rounds of 75, 80 and 67 for a total of 222 over the par-71, 7,003yd course. The 67 was the best by anyone in the third round. He birdied the third, seventh, ninth, 11th and 12th and had only one birdie, at the 13th.
Knox improved from joint 19th overnight to finish a creditable seventh in a field of 50.
Duncan Stewart finished 11th on 225 with scores of 77, 73 and 75. Double bogeys at the ninth and 17th took the shine off his birdies at the second, 11th and 18th and cost him a top-10 place.
Jordan Findlay finally strung two decent rounds together. He scored 82, 71 and 74 for a share of 15th place on 227. Findlay had only one birdie, at the 12th, in his final round but he is starting to keep the double bogeys – and worse- off his scorecards.
Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh score 79, 81 and 74 for 234 and joint 28th place. He had a double bogey at the 10th but birdies at the fourth, seventh, 16th and 18th.
Irish freshman Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford scored his first win on the American college circuit. He had an impressive tally of three-under-par 210 with rounds of 73, 67 and 70 to win by two shots from Michael O’Neal (North Florida).
Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), coming up to the end his four-year golf scholarship – during which he has won 10 tournaments – finished third on 215 with scores of 79, 68 and 68.
Ulsterman Gareth Shaw, another of the East Tennessee State squad from this side of the Atlantic, finished joint fifth on 218 with 73, 72 and 73.
LEADING FINAL INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71).
210 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 73 67 70.
212 Michael O’Neal (North Florida) 74 69 69.
215 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 79 68 68.
Other GB&I scores:
218 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 73 72 73 (jt 5th).
222 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 75 80 67 (7th).
225 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 77 73 75 (11th).
227 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 82 71 74 (jt 15th).
230 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 82 76 72 (jt 22nd).
234 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 79 81 74 (jt 28th).
TEAM TOTALS
868 East Tennessee State. 882 North Florida. 897 Campbell. 902 Jacksonville (10 teams took part).

Wednesday 18th April 2007

SCOTS BOYS TO FORE IN PETER McEVOY TROPHY OPENING ROUNDS
Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion Sam McLaren from Perth and James Byrne from Banchory are in the top eight at the halfway stage of the 72-hole Peter McEvoy Trophy, one of the most prestigious early-season boys’ golf tournaments, at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in the West Midlands.
Byrne’s international team-mate Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) also made the cut – top 40 and ties - with ease in joint 15th place but the fourth Scottish entry, Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) was three shots over the limit on the 148 mark.
Third-placed McLaren from the King James VI club had rounds of 69 and 71 over the 6,520yd par-71 parkland lay-out for a 376-hole tally of 140 – four shots behind the leader, Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park).
Haines had scores of 70 and 66 – against a CSS of 71 for both rounds – for 136 and starts the second day with a three-shot lead from another English boy, Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) (70-69).
Byrne broke 70 in his second round, scoring 74 and 69 for 143 and joint eighth place.
Michael Stewart shot 73 and 71 for 144.
A total of 46 players with scores of 148 and better qualified to play Thursday’s final two rounds.
Cameron Gray had 79 and 72 for 151 and a share of 55th place in the field of 70.
PETER McEVOY TROPHY BOYS’ TOURNAMENT
Copt Heath GC, Solihull, West Midlands.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71). CSS 145 (2 x 71)
136 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66.
139 A Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69.
140 S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71.
141 Richard Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69, Bily Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71.
142 E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72, James Weight (Woburn) 68 74.
143 James Byrne (Banchory) 74 69, J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70, T Robson (Rowlands Castle) 71 72, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72, S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73, O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75.
144 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 71, D Lloyd (Spalding) 73 71, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73, D Ginn (Sudbury) 68 76.
145 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70, B Fowles (Wentworth) 73 73, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74.
146 R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72, G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75, D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77.
Non-qualifiers included:
151 C Gray (West Kilbride) 79 72.

Ayrshire Championship
DEFENDING CHAMPION LESLEY NOW PLAYS TOP SEED IN AYRSHIRE SEMI-FINAL
Routenburn’s Lesley Hendry, chasing a hat-trick of title wins, will meet top seed Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) in the first semi-final of the Ayrshire women’s county golf championship today (THURSDAY).
Lesley, the fourth best qualifier for the match-play stages, won a tight quarter-final against 17-year-old Troon Bentinck player Rachael McQueen by one hole while Audrey came back from three down after 13 holes to beat Rosemary Donaldson (Troon Ladies) by one hole. A birdie at the 15th was crucial to Audrey’s winning charge.
Jenny Linklater (Largs) beat the Liz Kehone (Loudon), morning conqueror by 5 and 4 of the No 3 qualifier, Alex Glennie (Barassie). Jenny was two down on the 14th tee against Liz but birdied the 14th and her opponent was bunkered at the 18th to give Jenny a one-hole victory.
Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies), the 10th qualifier, knocked out the No 2 seed, Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies) at the 19th with an eagle 3 at the first extra hole.
Collated results:
AYRSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland course
First round – A Thompson (Loudoun) bt M MacGregor (Barassie) 10 and 8, R Donaldson (Troon Ladies) bt C Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas) at 20th, R McQueen (Troon Bentinck) bt L Laing (Troon Ladies) at 21st, L Hendry (Routenburn) bt L Parry (Irvine) 7 and 6, J Linklater (Largs) bt A Glennie (Barassie) 5 and 4, L Keohone (Loudoun) bt D Watt (Belleisle) 4 and 2, M McPherson (Troon Ladies) bt G Smith (Ardeer) 1 hole, J Finnie (Troon Ladies) w.o. C Williamson (Prestwick St Nicholas) scr.
Quarter-finals – Thomson bt MacGregor 1 hole, Hendry bt McQueen 1 hole, Linklater bt Keohone 1 hole, McPherson bt Finnie at 19th.

Gordon 22nd in Peru
Stirling University student Gordon Yates finished joint 22nd in an field of 64 in the the Martin Prado Cup international men's amateur tournament at Lima, Peru.
Gordon had rounds of 75, 76, 73 and 78 for a total of 14-over-par 302 - 18 shots behind the winner, Luciano Dodda from Argentina (74-69-71-70).
Yates earned the trip by winning the recent R&A Bursars' tournament over the Eden and Old Courses, St Andrews.
Another R&A Bursar, Edward Parker (Birmingham University), finished a creditable seventh in Peru with scores of 70, 71, 76 and 77 for 294.

US College Golf
KEARNEY IN THIRD PLACE WITH ONE ROUND TO GO IN SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Thomas Kearney from Donegal, a student at Texas-San Antonio University, is sharing third place on 139 with one round to go in the Southland Conference men's championship at The Club at Comanche Trace.
Thomas hs scored 70 and 69 for 139, two shots behind the South African leader, Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar) who has scored 72 and 65 for seven-under-par 137 over the 7,103yd course.
Peter O'Keeffe (South-east Louisiana) from Cork is sharing sevgenth place on143 with scores of 75 and 68.
Team-mate James Taverner from London is joint 10th on 147 with scores of 74 and 73.
Fergal Rafferty (Sam Houston State) from Carrickmore, Northern Ireland is sharing 20th place on 151 with scores of 76 and 75.
Lamar (552) have big lead over their nearest challengers, South-east Louisiana (576) with Texas-San Antonio (581) in third place of the 10 teams competing.

US College Golf
PORTIA HELPS JACKSONVILLE STATE LEAD IN OHIO VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Portia Abbot from Wiltshire, has helped Jacksonville State University, to lead by two shots with one round to play in the Ohio Valley Conference women's championship at Drake Creek Golf Club, Ledbetter in Kentucky.
Over the par-72, 6,178yd course, Portia, pictured right, had a birdie-less round of 75, an improvement of seven shots on her opening round. She bogeyed the first, sixth and 17th on her way to a 36-hole tally of 157 which put her in joint third place behind leader Katelyn Stanier (Samford), who has shot 75 and 74 for 149, seven strokes ahead of second-placed Andrea Downer (Murray State) (80-76).
Jacksonville State (629) lead the team event from Murray State (631) and Samford (641) in the eight-team field.

US College Golf
HANNAH AND SIAN IN TOP TEN OF BIG 12 WOMEN'S CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AT WACO
England's Hannah Burke and Sian Reddick, both students at Baylor University, Texas, are still locked together in joint ninth place as the Big 12 Women's Conference Championship m0ves into its third and final round on Wednesday at Ridgewood Country Club, Waco in Texas.
Freshman Hannah, pictured right, from Welwyn Garden City has scored 77 and 77 for 154. She had only one birdie, at the 12th in her second-round 77 (38-39).
Sian, a former English women's amateur stroke-play champion from Folkestone, has also reeled off a pair of 77s. She should have scored in the low 70s second time round because she ran up a quadruple bogey 7 at the short fifth in her second round in which she had only one birdie, at the 10th, in halves of 40 and 37.
Danielle McVeigh, the 2005 Irish girls champion from Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, had a double bogey 5 at the short fifth and a double bogey 6 at the eighth on her way to a second-round 77 for a two-round total of 155. She is in joint 13th position in a field of 60 players. Danielle did birdied the sixth, ninth and 16th in halves of 40 and 37.
Amanda Costner (Kansas) leads by the surprisingly big margin of seven shots even though her total so far is "only" level par 144 after scores of 71 and 73, perhaps an indication that this is a tough course to get birdies.
Oklahoma State (611) lead the team event from Texas A&M (615) with Baylor (619) lying third of the 12 teams in the field.

US College Golf
SCOTS PAIR DOWN THE FIELD IN GEORGIA
Neil McBride from Glasgow and Daniel Sommerville from St Andrews, both students at Clayton State University, Atlanta finished 32nd and 36th respectively in a field of 40 for the Peach Belt Conference college golf championship at Harbor Golf Club, Georgia.
Neil scored 82, 85 and 76 for a total of 243 over a tough par-72 course in excess of 7,000yd. Daniel scored 85, 81 and 80 for 246.
Baxter Culler (USC Upstate) won the individual honours with 69, 76 and 74 for 219.
Clayton State (943) finished seventh of eight in the team championship won by Columbus State University by 10 strokes with a total of 897.

US College Golf
THREE SCOTS IN TOP 20 OF ATLANTIC SUN COLLEGE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Scots Duncan Stewart, pictured right, from Grantown on Spey, Russell Knox from Inverness and Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay were all in the top 20 as the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship went into Wednesday’s third and final round at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly Golf Club in Georgia.
Stewart and Russell helped their college, Jacksonville University, Florida, to win this title last year and go on to the NCAA championships.
This is their final year at college in America and Russell’s parents and Duncan’s father have made the trip to watch their sons in action.
Stewart is in joint eighth position after scoring 77 and 73 for 150. Duncan had birdies at the sixth, seventh, 12th and 14th but a double-bogey 6 at the ninth was a costly mistake in halves of 38 and 35 over the par-71, 7,003yd course.
Duncan also bogeyed the third, fifth, 11th and 18th.
Jordan Findlay, in his second year at East Tennessee State, found his form at last with a par-match 71 – an improvement of 11 shots over his first round – and he is joint 12th position on 153.
Jordan, like Duncan Stewart, had a double-bogey 6 at the ninth in halves of 37 and 34. The Buchan teenager birdied the third, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th but had bogeys at the 10th, 11th and 17th.
Russell Knox dropped back to a share of 19th place on 155, made up on rounds of 75 and 80. Russell had a pair of double bogey 6s, at the 11th and 17th in a birdie-less halves of 37 and 43.
East Tennessee State surged into a 10-shot lead in the team championship with four players in the top 12 after 36 holes.
Seamus Power from Waterford has had rounds of 73 and 67 to lead by three strokes on two-under-par 140.
He had a roller-coaster ride in the second round, which include a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 195yd short 13th hole. He also had birdies at the second, 11th, 12th, 15th and 18th for halves of 38 and 29.
Amazingly, Seamus’s outward half included two double bogeys – at the short fourth and ninth – and a single bogey at the eighth.
Team-mate Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland is in fourth place with 73 and 72 for 145 and a third East Tennessee State team member, Walker Cup man Rhys Davies from South Wales (he was born in Edinburgh) climbing to a share of fifth place with 79 and 68 (35-33) for 147. Rhys birdied the sixth, 13th, 14th and 17th.
Another East Tennessee State player, Cian McNamara from Limerick is in joint 27th position in the field of 50 after rounds of 82 and 76 for 158.
Edinburgh’s Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) had a triple bogey 7 at the 11th in a second-round 81 for 160 and a share of 35th place.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Par 142 (2 x 71)
140 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 73 67.
143 Michael O’Neal (North Florida) 74 69.
Other GB&I players’ scores:
147 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 79 68 (jt 5th).
150 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 77 73 (jt 8th).
153 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 82 71 (jt 12th).
155 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 75 80 (jt 19th).
158 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 82 76 (jt 27th).
160 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 79 81 (jt 35th).
LEADING TEAM SCORES
585 East Tennessee State. 595 North Florida. 608 Gardner-Webb. 609 Campbell. 615 Jacksonville.

Tuesday 17th April 2007

KirkwoodGolf
is 5 years old today

AUDREY THOMPSON IS TOP SEED IN AYRSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Routenburn’s Lesley Hendry, bidding to win the title for a third year in a row, qualified as the fourth seed when the Ayrshire women’s county golf championship, with a starting field of 101 players from 17 clubs, began over Troon Portland today (Tuesday).
Lesley had birdies at the third and 18th in compiling an 83 in bright and very breezy conditions which produced a CSS of 76.
Audrey Thmpson (Loudoun) led the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages with a five-over-par 80, despite a triple bogey at the seventh. She birdied the first and 11th holes.
Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies) is the No 2 seeded after an 81.
Alex Glennie (Barassie) had the same score as Lesley Hendry, an 83, but the card comparison put her in third place.
Rachael McQueen (Troon Bentinck), only 17 years old, also had an 83 with birdies at the first, second and ninth. She was placed fifth in the draw on a card countback.
QUALIFIERS
80 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun).
81 Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies.
83 Alex Glennie (Barassie), Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), Rachael McQueen.
84 Debbie Watt (Belleisle), Greta Smith (Ardeer).
86 Rosemary Donaldson (Troon Ladies), Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas).
87 Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies).
88 Liz Keohone (Loudoun), Lynda Laing (Troon Ladies).
89 Linda Parry (Irvine).
90 Jennifer Linklater (Largs).
94 Catriona Williamson (Prestwick St Nicholas)
97 M Macgregor (Barassie).

GRANGEMOUTH PLAYER WINS PHOTO FINISH AT BALBIRNIE PARK
It was the tightest of finishes in the Silver Division of the Ladies Golf Union Medal East area final at Balbirnie Park Golf Club today (Tuesday).
Three players tied with net scores of 69 and victory went to Fiona Lawless (Grangemouth), playing off 13,who had the best last six holes.
Jenni Thomas (Gullane Ladies), playing off 11, was placed second with a better inward half than Fiona Corps (Anstruther), handicap 15.
In the Bronze Division Elaine Scott (Canmore) had a net 64 off 22 to win by two shots from Patricia Capaldi (Broomieknowe), handicap 21.
Fiona Lawless is unavailable to play in the LGU Medal Final at Crieff on June 3, so three qualifiers from the Silver Division are Jenni Thomas, Fiona Corps and fourth-placed Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk).
The three qualifiers for Crieff from the Bronze Division are Elaine Scott, Patricia Capaldi and Tracey-Anne Whitelaw (Alloa).
The SSS and CSS were both 70.
LGU MEDAL – East Area Final – Balbirnie GC.
SSS 70. CSS 70.
Silver Division – Fiona Lawless (Grangemouth) (13) better last 6 holes, Jenni Thomas (Gullane Ladies) (11) better inward half, Fiona Corps (Anstruther) (15) 69; Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) (8) 70 better inward half.
Bronze Division – Elaine Scott (Canmore) (22) 64; Patricia Capaldi (Broomieknowe) (21) 66; Tracey-Anne Whitelaw (Alloa) (29) 71l better inward half, Lesley Campbell (Kinghorn) (22) 71 better inward half.

US College Golf
NORTH YOUNGSTER MAKES TOP 10 IN TENNESSEE TOURNAMENT
Fort-William youngster Ashton Ingram, a student at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, has achieved her best golfing result since she went to America last autumn.
Ashton finished joint 10th in a big field of 99 players with scores of 80 and 77 for 157 in the Agnes McAmis Memorial Invitational women's college tournament at Link Hills Country Club, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Miss Ingram finished 12 shots behind the winner, Lorie Warren (Belmont University) with 74 and 71 for 145.

LONG DRIVE BY TOM IS A WINNER IN NICK FALDO SERIES AT BLAIRGOWRIE
Surrey youngster Tom Hayes made the long trip from West Byfleet to Blairgowrie to take part in the First Scottish qualifying round of the Nick Faldo Junior Series today (Tuesday) – and it was a journey that paid off.
Tom won the boys’ Under-21 years section with a round of 71, one shot ahead of Lothians champion Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) who will start a golf scholarship at Minnesota University in the autumn.
Masters Hayes was taking advantage of the absence of a rule saying that only Scottish-born competitors can play in the Scottish qualifying rounds. Some English competitors believe that it is easier to qualify for the Nick Faldo Series finals through the Scottish Region than it is from one of several regional venues in England.
Michael Daily (Erskine) had two shots to spare in the Under-18s with a 72.
Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) tied for victory in the Under-17s with 76 apiece.
Aberdeen youngster David Law, who plays at the municipal Hazlehead course), won the Under-16s section with a 73.
Perth boy Ian Redford (King James VI) claimed victory in the Under-15s with a 76.
And in the all-age girls’ category, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Scottish Under-14 girls’ champion in 2005, pipped Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), last year’s Scottish Under-14 title-winner, with an 84 to oan 85.
The 2nd Scottish qualifying round will be played at The Carrick on Loch Lomond on May 28. The Scottish final of the Nick Faldo Series will be held at The Roxburghe on August 23.
Collated scores
NICK FALDO JUNIOR SERIES – First Scottish qualifying round
Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie Golf Club.
BOYS
Under-21 years
71 Tom Hayes (West Byfleet).
72 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar).
73 Jamie Mackay (Barassie).
74 James Housby (Penrith), Jamie Neilson (Dunbar).
77 Robert Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy).
78 Jamie Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile), Euan Malcolm (Dunfermline).
79 Joshua Clarke (Montrose Mercantile), Steven Maxwell (Windyhill).
81 Karl Shepherd (Renishaw Park).
82 Scott Bordon (Carnwath).
Under-18 years
72 Michael Daily (Erskine).
74 Euan Brown (Barassie), Angus Cappi (Loretto School), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie).
77 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn).
78 Neil Henderson (The Glen).
80 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry).
81 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay).
82 Shaun Gordon (The Glen).
87 Simon Barras (Helensburgh).
Under-17 years
76 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Fraser McKenna (Balmore).
78 Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).
79 Alistair Lauder (Paisley), Peter Scanlan (Hamilton).
80 James Hendrick (Pollok), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co).
81 Mark Dickson (Gullane).
85 Alasdair Forsythe (Caldwell), Jack Thow (Crieff).
88 Ryan Penny (Portlethen).
90 Daniel Fitzpatrick (Greenock).
Under-16 years
73 David Law (Hazlehead).
74 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo).
77 James White (St Andrews New).
78 Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle), James Hendry (Douglas Park).
79 Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), Paul Shields (Kirkhill).
81 Nick MacAndrew (Cullen), Rudi McKenna (Cathkin Braes).
84 Matthew Reid (Downfield).
86 Peter Ramsay (Elgin).
87 Fraser Clarke (Westhill).
92 Lloyd Smith (Barassie).
95 Gordon Nelson (Thornhill).
Under-15 years
Ian Redford (King James VI).
77 Andrew McLachlan (Eastwood).
78 Paul McPhee (King James VI).
80 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist), Jack Scott (Deeside), Calum Stewart (Brora).
82 Neil Beattie (St Andrews).
88 Jack Thorburn (Forrester Park).
91 Conor O’Neil (Pollok).
94 Patrick O’Neil (Pollok.
GIRLS
84 Cara Easton (Dalmahoy).
85 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
87 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
88 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
90 Jordana Graham (Southerness),
91 Gillian Simpson (Baberton).

US College Golf
NORTH YOUNGSTER MAKES TOP 10 IN TENNESSEE TOURNAMENT
Fort-William youngster Ashton Ingram, a student at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, has achieved her best golfing result since she went to America last autumn.
Ashton finished joint 10th in a big field of 99 players with scores of 80 and 77 for 157 in the Agnes McAmis Memorial Invitational women's college tournament at Link Hills Country Club, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Miss Ingram finished 12 shots behind the winner, Lorie Warren (Belmont University) with 74 and 71 for 145.

US College Golf
JACKSONVILLE JOCKS IN TOP 10 IN ATLANTIC SUN CHAMPIONSHIP
Jacksonville University, Florida’s Scottish golf students Russell Knox from Inverness and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey were lying sixth and joint ninth respectively at the end of the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference’s men’s college golf championship at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly in Georgia.
On a day when the weather was against low scoring – three players shared the low on two-over-par 73 – Russell was not all that happy with a 75 over the 7,003yd, par-72 course.
That’s because he finished with a double bogey 6 at the 18th . He had two birdies, at the long seventh and 10th , but dropped other shots at the first, fourth, sixth and 10th in halves of 38 and 37.
Duncan also marred his scorecard with a double bogey 5 at the short 16th. He had birdies at the 11th, 12th and 17th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, eighth, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th in halves of 39 and 38.
If Knox and Stewart were rueing missed chances, compatriot Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) from Fraserburgh must have been wondering where his golf game has gone wrong this year.
He had another nightmare day in scoring an 11-over-par 82 for joint 32nd place. Jordan had triple bogey 7s at both the 17th and 18th, having run up double bogey 6s at the sixth and 14th in halves of 38 and 44.
Underlining the degree of difficulty of the course and the conditions, Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies from South Wales, winner of 10 tournaments in his four years at East Tennessee State University, could do no better than a 79 which put him in joint 16th place alongside Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh.
Irishmen Seamus Power and Gareth Shaw (both East Tennessee State) shared the lead on 73 with Jeff Dennis (North Florida).
LEADING SCORES
Par 71
73 J Dennis (North Florida), S Power (East Tennessee State), G Shaw (East Tennessee State).
74 D McAndrew (Stetson), M O’Neal (North Florida).
75 R Knox (Jacksonville).
Other GB scores:
77 D Stewart (Jacksonville) (jt 9th).
79 R Davies (East Tennessee State), J Kennedy (Jacksonville) (jt 16th).
82 J Findlay (East Tennessee State) (jt 32nd).
LEADING TEAMS
302 North Florida.
307 East Tennessee State.
310 Jacksonville.

East of Scotland Girls' Teams
The following teams were selected at the weekend:-

Scottish Girls Inter-Divisional Tournament at Balumbie Castle, Dundee on 9/10 June
Cara Easton, Hannah Dalrymple, Judy Sheilds, Gillian Simpson, Camilla Tait, Rachael Watton,
Reserves: Gemma Brown, Nicola Taylor, Rachel Hanlon, Helen Goodwin, Stacey Cameron.

East of Scotland Girls Golfing Association v West of Scotland Girls Golfing Association at Cathkin Braes, Rutherglen, Glasgow on Sunday 3rd June at 1:30pm
Cara Easton, Hannah Harvey, Susan Jackson, Louise Macgregor, Gillian Simpson, Camilla Tait, Jane Turner, Rachael Watton
Reserves: Judy Shields, Hannah Dalrymyple, Gemma Brown, Nicola Taylor

East of Scotland Girls Golfing Association v South of Scotland Girls at Baberton on Sunday 26th August at 1:30pm
Gemma Brown, Helen Goodwin, Rachel Hanlon, Jordynn Laird, Samantha Lamb, Gabrielle Macdonald, Gillian Ping. Nicola Taylor.
Reserves: Samantha Munro, Kate McIntosh, Alexandra Tait, Alison Goodwin

Monday 16th April 2007

SALLY MAKES TOP 20 IN US JUNIOR RANKINGS BUT CARLY IS ONLY 501st!
South Queensferry girl Sally Watson, 15, has entered the top 20 US junior golf rankings for the first time following a second-place finish in the recent Mizuno Junior Open in Florida.
A student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, Sally, pictured right, is ranked No 17 with a rating of 72.72 from the eight junior events she has played.
Astonishingly, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, who is also a live-in student at the David Leadbetter Academy, is ranked 501st!
Carly finished 10th in her most recent outing on the Florida junior circuit and she has played in only four in all. He rating is 77.96.
Sally plays off +3 and Carly +2.
Irish girls champion Stephanie Meadow, who is a student at the International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is ranked No 99 with a rating of 76.52 from six events.
The top-ranked girl in American junior golf is Esther Choe. Isabelle Lendl, one of the former tennis ace’s daughters, is ranked No 4.

Victorious Scottish Vets team
Back row L to R: Margaret Tough, Moira Thomson, Pam Williamson, Liz Campbell, Helen Faulds
Seated L to R: Fiona de Vries, Lorna Bennett, Pat Hutton (Captain), Noreen Fenton, Kathleen Sutherland

SCOTS WIN MARY McKENNA TROPHY FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW
Scotland’s veteran women golfers won the Mary McKenna Trophy for the fourth year in a row with a 9 ½-4 ½ win over their Irish counterparts, playing under the banner of “Mary McKenna Select” at Southerness Golf Club on the shores of the Solway Firth today (Monday).
The Scots carried over a 4-l lead from the first day and took the second-day singles 5 ½-3 ½.
Who played whom in the singles ties was decided by ballot rather than by the traditional manner of the respective captains choosing the order.
Fittingly, Mary McKenna won her tie, beating Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) by 4 and 3. But, as far as the Irish were concerned, it was too little too late as by that time Scotland had won the first five singles through Margaret Tough (Falkirk Carmuirs), Fiona DeVries (St Rule), Moira Thomson (North Berwick), Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
Ireland’s tail wagged to win 3 1/2pt from the last four ties.
SCOTTISH VETERANS 9 ½, MARY McKENNA SELECT 4 ½
Southerness Golf Club.
First-day score: Scottish Veterans 4, Mary Mckenna Select 1.
Second-day details (Scots first):
M Tough bt E McMullen 3 and 1, F DeVries bt V Hassett 2 and 1, M Thomson bt M Madden 4 and 2; K Sutherland bt A Molony 5 and 3, P Williamson bt M Henderson 3 and 2, H Faulds lost to M McKenna 4 and 3, L Bennett lost to R Fanagan 3 and 2, N Fenton halved with S O’Brien-Kenney; L Campbell lost to R English 1 hole (5 ½-3 1/2).

West of Scotland Girls Medal
West of Scotland Girls held their medal over Troon Portland on Saturday. Results were as follows:-
SS 75 CSS 74 16 entries
Silver: Lynsey Weadon, Barassie 18, 69
RU: Linzi Allan, Kilbirnie 13, 71
Bronze: Connie Jaffrey, West Kilbride 27, 70
RU: Mhairi Mackay, West Kilbride 25, 80 BIH Rachel Howie, West Kilbride
Scratch: Megan Briggs, Kilmacolm 72
For more information about West of Scotland Girls, check out their website www.wsgga.btik.com

Press Release
'FREE' GOLF COACHING ON COURSE FOR BEST EVER YEAR
The number of clubs offering free golf taster sessions has seen a dramatic rise compared to last year said the English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) today.
There are almost 50% more clubs offering the free taster sessions compared to this time last year. The first four months of 2007 already show a 6% increase when compared to the full twelve months of 2006 and the numbers are continuing to rise on a daily basis.
The EGU and ELGA provide a grant of £200 to clubs to run a series of sessions for beginners, all of which are provided by qualified PGA Professionals, to help introduce them to the game of golf and also to provide a small taste of the golf club environment.
The excellent response from clubs may be down to the positive feedback from the survey carried out on those who participated in the 2006 taster sessions. The results of the survey showed that 80% of those who attended a taster session continued to play more golf in some form, with 70% having visited a driving range, 43% booking further lessons and 14% taking up golf club membership.
This year the EGU and ELGA are encouraging golf clubs to assess whether there are specific sections of their membership that need a boost and, as a result, many clubs are offering a variety of sessions that focus on the recruitment of women, girls and families.
To view which golf clubs are participating in 2007, see www.getintogolf.org .
For further information on EGU/ELGA Free Golf Coaching and to read reviews from those golf clubs that participated in 2006 visit www.englishgolfunion.org and click on ‘For Golf Clubs’.
Funding is also available from the EGU/ELGA to support a club’s junior coaching programme.
The Free Golf Coaching and Junior Golf Coaching grants are initiatives jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and are an integral part of England Golf’s vision to ‘Grow the Game’.

US College Golf
WALLACE BOOTH JOINT 26TH
Former Scottish youths champion Wallace Booth from Comrie, coming up to the end of his fourth and final year as a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, finished joint 26th in a field of 81 players for the Courtyard by Marriott Inter-Collegiate tournament at Devil's Ridge Golf Club, Hollysprings in South Carolina at the weekend.
Wallace had rounds of 71, 75 and 73 for a three-over-par total of 219 over the par-72, 6,854yd course.
The winner was Mitch Cohlmia (Tulsa) with 72, 64 and 72 for seven-under-par 209.
Augusta State (873) finished seventh in the team event behind Charlotte (852).

US College Golf
CORK PLAYER HELPS MINNESOTA TO TIE FOR CALIFORNIA TITLE
Niall Turner from Cork, a student at Minnesota University, finished joint seventh in the United States Intercollegiate golf tournament hosted by Stanford University at Stanford, California.
Turner had rounds of 74, 67 and 70 for a total of 211 over the 6,742yd, par-70 course.
Niall's effort, which saw him finish nine shots behind winner Rob Grube (Stanford), playing over his home course, with an eight-under-par total of 202 (65-69-68), helped Minnesota to tie with the favourites, Stanford University, for the team title on 838 - 22 shots ahead of third-placed Oregton State in a field of 15 colleges.

US College Golf
KIRTON JOINT FOURTH IN US COLLEGE GOLF TOURNAMENT
Scotland boy interntional Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire achieved one of his best finishes in his freshman year at the University of Louisville, Kentucky in the weather-hit Robert Kepler Intercollegiate golf tournament over the Ohio State University's Scarlet course at Columbus, Ohio on Sunday.
Kirton finished joint fourth in a field of 90 with rounds of 71 and 77 for a total of 148 over a long course, 7,455yd, with a testing par of 71.
Michigan State's Matt Harmon was the two-stroke individual winner with two rounds of 71 for 142.
One of Kirton's team-mates, Derek Fathauer) finished runner-up on 144 (72-72).
Lewis's effort helped Louisville (591) to win the team title by nine shots from Michigan State with Penn State third on 606.
One of the many weekend sporting events hit by bad weather across the United States, the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament organisers cancelled the third and last round.

US College Golf
SCOT MACAULAY NAMED CONFERENCE GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Mississippi University senior-year student golfer Callum Macaulay has been named the South-East Conference Golfer of the Week on the American college circuit for his outstanding performance at the Palisades Collegiate Golf Classic last week.. This is the first such honour for Macaulay.
The Scot from Kincardine, a member at Tulliallan Golf Club, recorded his best 54-hole tournament finish with the Rebels, finishing joint second, just two strokes behind winner Brad Benjamin of Memphis. He carded a 71-68-70—209 to tie with Dawie VanDerWalt of Lamar, who is ranked No. 9 in the US college circuit.
Macaulay’s second-place showing marked his sixth top-five finish of the year.

Futures Tour
VIKKI LAING MISSED CUT BY ONE SHOT
Vikki Laing missed the second-round cut by one stroke in the Duramed Future's Tour $80,000 The Power of a Dream Classic at the 6,226yd, par-71 The Trails of Frisco Golf Club event on Sunday.
Allison Fouch from Grand Rapids, Michigan maintained her overnight lead to win the $11,200 first prize with rounds of 68, 72 and 72 for one-under-par 212.
She won by one shot from Mexico's Violeta Retamaza who scored 73, 73 and 67 to win $8,000.
Lisa Hall from Stoke on Trent finished on 221 (74-75-72) to win $880.
Another English-born player, Samantha Head from Bedford earned $550 for scores of 73, 79 and 75 for 227.

Sunday 15th April 2007

Stirling and Clackmannan's Captain Elaine Allison presents the Cuthbertson Cup
to the Midlothian Junior Team of Jane Turner, Cara Easton, Rachael Watton and Gillian Simpson

Midlothian Retain Cuthbertson Cup
Midlothian's Junior team of Jane Turner, Cara Easton, Gillian Simpson and Rachael Watton retained the East Division Junior Inter-county Trophy - the Cuthbertson Cup - at Glenbervie today.
In the morning singles matches (each match is worth 2 points) Midlothian beat Stirling and Clackmannan by 5 points to 3 and Fife beat East Lothian by 8 points to nil.
The two winning teams played each other in the afternoon and Midlothian beat Fife by six points to 2. The two losing teams played a foursomes match and Stirling and Clackmannan beat East Lothian by 4 points to nil
Final results
1. Midlothian
2. Fife
3. Stirling and Clackmannan
4. East Lothian
Stirling and Clackmanan 3 Midlothian 5 (S&C names first)
Louise Macgregor lost to Jane Turner 5&4
Judy Sheilds lost to Cara Easton 5&3
Hannah Dalrymple beat Gillian Simpson 6&4
Helen Goodwin and Rachel Watton halved
Fife 8 East Lothian 0 (Fife names first)
Susan Jackson beat Stacey Cameron 5&4
Hannah Harvey beat Keran Ward 3&2
Rachel Myles beat Kelly Thom 4&3
Camilla Tait beat Fiona Milne 6&4
Midlothian 6 Fife 2 (Midlothian names first)
Jane Turner beat Susan Jackson 5&4
Cara Easton beat Hannah Harvey 2up
Gillian Simpson lost to Rachel Myles 2&1
Rachael Watton beat Camilla Tait 7&6
Stirling and Clackmannan 4 East Lothian 0 (S&C names first)
Louise Macgregor & Judy Shields beat Stacey Cameron and Kelly Thom 3&2
Hannah Dalrymple and Helen Goodwin beat Keren Ward and Fiona Milne 5&4

Midlothian L to R: Cara Easton, Rachael Watton, Gillian Simpson, Jane Turner	Fife L to R: Rachel Myles, Camilla Tait, Hannah Harvey, Susan Jackson
Stirling and Clackmannan L to R: Hannah Dalrymple, Helen Goodwin, Judy Shields, Louise Macgregor	East Lothian L to R: Stacey Cameron, Keren Ward, Fiona Milne, Kelly Thom

The girls who took part in the Aberdeenshire girls' scratch competition
over the 9 hole Strabathie course at Murcar Links.

LAURA MURRAY PIPS MICHELE THOMSON IN ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS OPENER
Robert Gordon University student Laura Murray (Alford) scored a confidence-boosting victory from Scotland girls international Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the opening event of the Aberdeenshire girls’season at Murcar Links today.
Laura, a former Scottish schoolgirls champion, had a gross round of 75 – three over the par – to total 34 Stableford points off her handicap of one.
North of Scotland women’s champion Michele, who also plays off one, had a 76 for 33pt.
In the Bronze Division, 13-year-old Deeside junior member Sophie Alexander, playing off 19, was the winner with 41pt.
ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS – Murcar Links.
SILVER DIVISION – Stableford – L Murray (Alford) (1) 34pt; M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) (1) 33; L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (8) 30; S Leslie (Westhill) (8) 28; M Johnstone (Northern) (5), C Prouse (Hazlehead) (14) 27; L Duncan (Aboyne) (14), N Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (14) 24.
BRONZE DIVISION – S Alexander (Deeside) (19) 41pt; R Polson (Peterculter) (18) 35; E Franks (Ballater) (21), M Clyne (Deeside) (20) 33; K Seam (Torphins) (22) 27; C Geddes (Northern) (23) 23.
Strabathie nine hole scratch competition – K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 55; E Riddell (Alford) 64; K Robb (Alford) 68; H Bycroft (Alford) 71; C Harper (Alford), J Booth (Kemnay) 72.

Leading prizewinners from the Aberdeenshire girls' Stableford competition over the Murcar Links No 1 course. Left to right: Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Sophie Alexander (Deeside), Laura Murray (Alford), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon).

SCOTTISH VETERANS HAVE ONE HAND ON MARY McKENNA CUP
Scotland’s veteran women golfers took a commanding 4-1 lead over their Irish counterparts, playing under the banner of “Mary McKenna Select,” at the halfway stage of the annual match for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy at Southerness Golf Club on the Solway Firth today (Sunday).
Pamela Williamson (Baberton) set the ball rolling for the rampant Scots by beating Roma English 5 and 4 in the only singles tie of the day.
The rest of the matches were better-ball four-balls and Scotland’s winners were Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) & Fiona DeVries (St Rule), Moira Thomson (North Bewick) & Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) and Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) & Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).
Ireland’s only winners were Helen McMullen and Rhona Fanagan who beat Margaret Tough (Falkirk Tryst) and Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) by 4 and 2.
Details:
SCOTTISH VETERANS 4, MARY McKENNA SELECT 1
Southerness Golf Club.
First-day results (Scottish names first):
Single – P Williamson bt R English 5 and 4.
Four-balls – K Sutherland & F DeVries bt V Hassett & M Madden 2 holes; M Thomson & L Campbell bt M Henderson & S O’Brien-Kenney 2 holes; M Tough & H Faulds lost to H McMullen & R Fanagan 4 and 2; N Fenton & L Bennett bt M McKenna & A Mooney 5 and 4.

Craigmillar Park Open
LLOYD SALTMAN WINS CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN TO COMPLETE BIG EARLY-SEASON SCOTTISH DOUBLE
Lloyd Saltman, the 21-year-old Craigielaw player, showed his Walker Cup class in winning the Craigmillar Park Open with 16-under-par total of 233 at the Edinburgh parkland course today (Sunday).
The second round on Saturday was reduced to 10 holes because fog delayed the start of play by 2 ½ hr and there was not enough daylight left for all the field to get round twice.
Saltman became only the third player - Raymond Russell and Graham Rankin were the others - to complete the double in the big early-season events on the Scottish amateur circuit – the Scottish champion of champions’ tournament at Leven the previous weekend, followed by the Craigmillar Park Open, the first counting event for Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit points.
Saltman failed to beat the halfway cut in the Craigmillar Park Open last year and he admits that normally he takes a month or so to get into his stride on the home circuit.
“The big difference this year is that I played in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships in March and that definitely put an edge on my game which is not usually there at the time of the Craigmillar Park Open,” said Lloyd who also paid tribute to his coach Colin Brooks, twice winner of the Northern Open, for tightening up his game.
Saltman had rounds of 66 36 (for 10 holes) 64 and 67 for 233 and he won by only one shot in the end from 20-year-old Scott Henry, last year’s Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion fro Cardross.
Without any disrespect to Henry who is obviously set for another great season, he was slightly flattered by his proximity to Saltman in the final totals.
Lloyd, having reached the turn in 30 in his final round with an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, third and six, was well clear of the field after birdies at the 12th and 14th. But Saltman cooled off down the home stretch and dropped four strokes to par over the last four holes – a double bogey at the 15th and bogeys at the 17th and 18th for 37 home.
Henry, in contrast, birdied the 16th and 17th but bogeyed the 18th when a par would have earned him a play-off. Scott’s rounds were 66, 38-, 63 and 67.
Former American college circuit player Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) produced his best SGU Order of Merit performance by tying with Perthshire team-mate and former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) for third place on 236.
Dear scored 67 and 39 on Saturday and then peaked with a pair of five-under-par 65s on Sunday. He reached the turn in 31 in the fourth round.
Campbell shot 70, 37, 63 and 66 for 236. He had seven birdies in flawless halves of 32 and 31 for his third-round 63.
CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN
Craigmillar Park GC, Edinburgh
FINAL TOTALS
Par 249 (70-39-70-70).
*Second round reduced to 10 holes because of fog delay.
233 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 66 36 64 67.
234 S Henry (Cardross) 66 38 63 67.
236 G Dear (Murrayshall) 67 69 65 65, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 37 673 66.
239 M Kerr (Craigielaw) 69 37 66 67.
240 R Kellett (Colville Park) 66 38 65 71.
241 S McEwan (Caprington) 65 38 66 72, J King (Glasgow) 71 38 66 66.
242 A Lynch (Glenbervie) 67 40 68 67.
244 K McAlpine (Alyth) 63 42 75 64, C Wilkinson (Blyth) 65 40 70 69, S Armstrong (Turnhouse3) 71 35 71 67.
245 K McNicol (Carnoustie) 70 36 68 71, M Clarke (Kilmacolm) 75 32 70 68.
246 C Heslip (Monifieth) 71 35 71 69, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 65 43 69 69.
247 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 66 39 70 72, S Hume (Murrayshall) 71 39 66 71.
248 B Edmond (Bon Accord) 67 38 70 73, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 73 36 71 68.
249 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 69 38 72 70.
250 D Miller (Kilmacolm) 65 40 72 73, S Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 69 38 66 77, P McLean (Peterhead) 68 41 67 74.
251 R Bell (Downfield) 70 39, 72 70, B Soutar (Leven GS) 71 39 72 69.
252 D Miller (Duddingston) 66 39 72 75, P Betty (Hayston) 70 38 72 72, G Mitchell (Northern) 70 38 75 69, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 37 77 65.

Saturday 14th April 2007

Ratho Park Open
LLOYD SALTMAN ON COURSE FOR BIG EARLY-SEASON DOUBLE
Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman is on course to become only the third player to achieve victories in both the big early-season tournaments on the Scottish amateur golf circuit.
Last weekend the Craigielaw 21-year-old won the Scottish champion of champions’ title at Leven and tomorrow (Sunday) he starts the final two rounds of the Craigmillar Park Open with three bright young prospects, Steven McEwan (Caprington), Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and Scott Henry (Cardross) snapping at his heels.
Fog delayed the start of play by 2 ½ hr at the Edinburgh venue and meant there was not enough time left for all 78 players to complete two 18-hole circuits even though it was a gloriously warm and sunny day after the fog eventually disappeared in mid-morning.
The organisers decided to cut the second round to the first 10 holes on the course.
Saltman’s first-round, four-under-par 66 left him three shots behind leader Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), last year’s Scottish amateur match-play champion, but the truncated second round was still long enough for Lloyd to turn the tables on Kevin.
Saltman, who credits playing in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships in March with putting an edge on his game a month or two ahead of his usual schedule, got an eagle 2 at the 295yd eighth, and birdies at the first and third with only one bogey, at the fifth.
He returned a score of three-under-par 36 for the 10 holes. That hoisted him to the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 102.
In contract, McAlpine could add only one birdie, at the second, to the nine he achieved in his opening 63, and he bogeyed the first, fourth, fifth and ninth on his way to three-over 42.
Kevin thus sagged into a share of third place on 105 with former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire), Aberdonian Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord), David Miller (Kilmacolm) and North-east of England challenger Craig Wilkinson (Blyth).
Ross Kellett (Colville Park), who finished joint third in the Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play championship behind Scott Henry last year, slipped past that bunch by following up a 66 with 38 for the 10 holes, giving him a six-under-par tally of 103.
Then, in the last three to finish after 8pm, Steven McEwan, the 2005 Scottish boys’ stroke-play champion, narrowed the lead to one shot with 65 and 38 for 103 and Scott Henry (Cardross), last year’s Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play title-winner, joined Kellett in joint third place with 66 and 38 for 104.
A total of 31 players with totals of 110 or better qualified for the final 36 holes.
SECOND-ROUND AGGREGATES
Second round reduced to 10 holes because fog delayed play at start of day.
Par 109 (70+39)
102 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 66 36.
103 S McEwan (Caprington) 65 38.
104 R Kellett (Colville Park) 66 38, S Henry (Cardross) 66 38.
105 D Miller (Kilmacolm) 65 40, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 66 39, B Edmond (Bon Accord) 67 38, K McAlpine (Alyth) 63 42, C Wilkinson (Blyth) 65 40, D Miller (Duddingston) 66 39.
106 C Heslip (Monifieth) 71 35, S Armstrong (Turnhouse) 71 35, G Dear (Murrayshall) 67 39, M Kerr (Craigielaw) 69 37.
107 M Clarke (Kilmacolm) 75 32, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 37, A Lynch (Glenbervie) 67 40, S Neilsen (Craigmillar Park) 69 38, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 69 38.
108 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 65 43, P Betty (Hayston) 70 38, G Mitchell (Northern) 70 38.
109 P McLean (Peterhead) 68 41, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 73 36, J King (Glasgow) 71 38, R Bell (Downfield) 70 39.
110 C Swanston (Uphall) 72 38, S Hume (Murrayshall) 71 39, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 37, B Soutar (Leven GS) 71 39.
MISSED CUT
111 R Noon (Longniddry) 71 40, K Reilly (Silverknowes) 74 37, D Yeats (Newmachar) 71 40.
112 S Wilson (Forfar) 73 39, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 39, J Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 73 39, A Main (Thornton) 73 39, M Cameron (Alyth) 71 41, I Munro (Stirling) 72 40, G Robertson (Silverknowes) 71 41..
113 K Smyth (Windyhill) 74 39, S Graham (Blairgowrie) 74 39, K Mail (Craigmillar Park) 71 42, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 74 39, R Anderson (Duddingston) 73 40, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 70 43, S Borrowman (Dollar) 71 42.
114 I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 74 40, K Young (Glencorse) 73 41, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 71 43, M Greig (Bon Accord) 73 41, S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 71 43.
115 A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 72 43, K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 74 41, A Aitlafkih (Ivory Coast) 76 39, R McKnight (Barassie) 73 42.
116 D Henderson (Hamilton) 72 44, B Moore (Largs) 75 41.
117 J White jun (Lundin) 77 40, D Martin (Alyth) 71 46, M Main (Thornton) 74 43.
118 S Mann (Carnoustie) 75 43, D Gillespie (Craigmillar Park) 80 38, C Harper (Lenzie) 74 44.
119 C Colraine (Windyhill) 73 46, D Elder (Carnoustie) 83 38.
120 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 75 45.
122 G Thomson (Moray) 80 42.
124 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 81 43.
Retired during first round: J Gallagher (Swanston), M Buchan (Cruden Bay), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs).Withdrew after first round: B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) 77 -, G Robertson (Ravenspark) 79 -.
No Returns: B Young (Harrison) 74 NR, D Hultson (Dollar) 76 NR, P Logan (Craigmillar Park) 76 NR.

Scottish Boys Championship

The new Scottish boys Champion - Paul Ferrier from Baberton
He beat Willian Bremner from Edzell by one hole in an exciting 36 hole final at Dunbar this afternoon.

The morning round was delayed by one hour because of fog, and when they did start Bremner, pictured left, quickly took the upper hand and was 3 up after 4. Ferrier holed a 12 foot putt to avoid going 4 down at the 7th, and then won 8 and 9 to be 1 down at the turn. In fact he won four holes in a row, and by the 11th he was one up. Holes changed hands on the inward half and Ferrier went in for lunch 1 up.
Bremner squared the match with a 4 at the 20th, but Ferrier, pictured right, quickly regained a 1 hole advantage at the short 21st. Bremner won the short 23rd to square again, and then won the 25th after the Baberton boy found a bunker with his second shot. They halved the next three holes, and Ferrier squared the match again with a downhill birdie putt at the 29th.
The next two holes were halved in regulation, before Ferrier took three from the edge at the 32nd to be 1 down with 4 to play. However he did not stay down for long and birdied the 33rd to square the match, and then they both three putted the 16th, to reach the 35th tee all square.
With Ferrier safely on the green in two, Bremner came out to four feet from the bunker in front of the green, but missed the putt and so was 1 down playing the last. He was first to play his second shot to the 36th green, and left it short. His pitch finished four feet from the hole, but Ferrier, safely on in two, lagged his putt to a foot to win the Championship.
NB. The last Baberton player to win the Scottish Boys was Ewan Murray in 1971, over North Berwick.

LPGA Tour
Catriona and Mhairi still in the hunt
Catriona Matthew and Mhairi Mckay just scraped under the wire to stay for the weekend in the $2,600,000 Ginn Open at the 6505 yard Reunion Golf and Club, Orlando, Florida yesterday. They are both on two over par 146, with Catriona returning 74 and 72, and Mhairi taking 75 and 71. Janice Moodie was not so lucky and her 73 and 74 just missed the cut.
The tournament leaders, Laura Davies and Lorena Ochoa, both returned back to back 66s and are three strokes ahead of the field on 12 under par 132.
Nancy Lopez returned to tournament golf after a break of five years, but her scores of 83 and 80 put her at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Live scoring

Futures Tour
Vikki Laing beats the weather in Futures tour event
Former four times Scottish Girls Champion Vikki Laing from Musselburgh was lucky to be one of the early players and to have finished her first round before the weather closed the course in The Futures Tour "The Power of a Dream Golf Classic" at The Trails of Frisco Golf Club, a suburb of Dallas Texas yesterday. Reports of fierce tornadic activity and hailstones the size of tennis balls to the north and west, had everyone looking nervously to the skies, and at 5:53pm play was suspended with 22 groups still playing.
Vikki returned a two over par 73 and is currently tied for 35th place . Mollie Fankhauser, Sarah Martin and Allison Fouch share the lead on 68.
The groups still to finish will resume play at 7:30 a.m. today and those who completed the first round will remain in the same pairings and will simultaneously start the second round at 9:30 a.m.
Real-time scoring

Friday 13th April 2007

Ulster win the Irish Girls Inter-Provincial Championship
Ulster are crowned champions for the third year in succession over the links at Laytown and Bettystown. Munster fought strongly to finish runners up..
Final Points Table
Ulster 3
Munster 2
Leinster 1
Connacht 0
Draw Day 3 – Friday 13th April
Connacht 1 : 7 Leinster (Connacht names first)
Foursomes
Kate Gallagher & Hannah McInerney lost to Ciara Walsh & Aedin Murphy 2&1
Carmel O’Connor & Hannah O’Connor lost to Louise Mernagh & Ciara Butler 4&3
Singles
Kate Gallagher lost to Louise Mernagh 3&2
Hannah McInerney lost to Ciara Walsh 6&4
Carmel O’Connor lost to Aedin Murphy 6&5
Hannah O’Connor beat Ciara Sharkey 7&6
Sarah Helly lost to Niamh O’Connor by 2 holes
Julie O’Gara lost to Ciara Butler 3&2
Ulster 6 : 2 Munster (Ulster names first)
Foursomes
Victoria Bradshaw & Lucy Simpson beat Sarah Cunningham & Holli Snelling 3&2
Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire beat Emma O’Driscoll & Diandra O’Connell 3&2
Singles
Victoria Bradshaw lost to Sarah Cunningham 2&1
Lisa Maguier beat Holli Snelling 4&3
Lucy Simpson lost to Emma O’Driscoll 6&4
Leona Maguire beat Sarah Crowe 4&2
Caoimhe Quinn beat Laura McCarthy 2up
Sarah Louise Winter beat Diandra O’Connell 5&4
please see website www.ilgu.ie for full details and match reports.

It's official... Krystle Caithness Signs Golf Scholarship With Georgia
For Immediate Release -- Friday, April 13, 2007
Scotland's premier junior to join Bulldogs
Athens, Ga. -- Krystle Caithness, who has captured a half dozen Scottish amateur titles in the last three years, has signed a letter of intent to compete collegiately for the University of Georgia beginning this fall, head coach Todd McCorkle announced on Friday.
"We're really excited to have Krystle join our team," McCorkle said. "She has playing experience all over the world and I would expect her to come in and right away make an impact on our program."
Caithness, a native of Cellardyke, Scotland, secured the 2006 Scottish Under 21 Championship after shooting 20-under, including a 10-under 64. In addition, she won the 2005 and 2006 Under 18 stroke play titles, the 2004 Under 18 match play title and the 2004 and 2005 Under 16 championships.
Caithness also won the 2006 St Rule Trophy at St. Andrews after posting an 11-under tally that fell a stroke shy of the tournament record.
Caithness, who began playing golf as a 4-year-old and started competing when she was six, has been selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland in next month's Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa, and she was an alternate for the GB&I squad at last summer's Curtis Cup matches against the
U.S.
Georgia has long been one of the nation's premier women's golf programs.
The Bulldogs captured their first NCAA team championship in 2001 and also have produced three individual national champions -- Terri Moody in 1981, Cindy Schreyer in 1984 and Vicki Goetze in 1992. All told, Georgia has posted top-20 finishes at the national championships during 21 of the last 28 years, with 18 top-10 efforts and 10 top-five performances. Bulldog golfers have earned 36 All-America certificates, including current team members Mallory Hetzel, Taylor Leon and Whitney Wade. Numerous Georgia golfers have gone on to successful professional careers. A dozen Bulldogs have played on the LPGA Tour and combined to win more than $7.5 million.

TOP 10 FINISH FOR CARLY IN FLORIDA
Carly Booth from Comrie finished joint 10th in the Mission Inn Junior Open tournament at Howey in the Hills, near Orlando, Florida earlier this week.
A student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, 14-year-old Carly struggled with opening rounds of 84 and 80 before finishing in style with a par-matching round of 71 for a total of 235.
So-Hyun Park, from Bradenton, Florida, won by five strokes with scores of 75, 68 and 67 for 210.
A international field of 38 under-18 girls took part.
Carly, who has a handicap of +2, is returning to Scotland to play in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon Portland & Royal Troon from April 27 to 29.

Stirling University team who retained the Scottish men's universities team title
at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth last week
Back row (l to r): Graeme Turner, Rory Doran, Craig Haugh, Ed Shannley, Karl Shepherd.
Front row (l to r): Byron Campbell, Matt Dargie, Evan Bryceland (capt), Bradley Brooke,
Adrian Ait Lafkih.

Kerri Harper (Abertay University & Inverness Golf Club) with the Scottish universities' women's championship trophy

Colin Colraine (Strathclyde University) with Scottish universities' Men's individual championship trophy

Thursday 12th April 2007

MUNSTER v ULSTER FOR IRISH GIRLS' INTER-PROVINCIAL TITLE
Munster, after great wins over Leinster and Connacht, are set to take the Irish girls' inter-provincials' title for the first time since 1992 at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club - if they can beat Ulster on the final day.
Points totals at the end of Day 2: Ulster 2, Munster 2, Leinster 0, Connacht 0.
Today's results:
MUNSTER 7, CONNACHT 1
(Munster names first)
Foursomes (2-0)
Sarah Cunningham & Holli Snelling bt Kate Gallagher & Hannah O’Connor 5&3.
Emma O’Driscoll & Diandra O’Connell bt Carmel O’Connor & Sarah Helly 4&3.
Singles (5-1)
Sarah Cunningham bt Kate Gallagher 1 hole.
Holli Snelling bt Hannah McInerney 6&5.
Emma O’Driscoll bt Carmel O’Connor 4&2.
Sarah Crowe lost to Hannah O’Connor 6&5.
Laura McCarthy bt Sarah Helly 3&2.
Diandra O’Connell bt Julie O’Gara 6&5.
LEINSTER 2, ULSTER 6
(Leinster names first)
Foursomes (1/2-1 1/2)
Ciara Walsh & Aedin Murphy halved with Victoria Bradshaw & Lucy Simpson.
Louise Mernagh & Ciara Butler lost to Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire 5&4.
Singles (1 1/2-4 1/2)
Louise Mernagh bt Victoria Bradshaw 3&2.
Ciara Walsh lost to Lisa Maguire 6&5.
Aedin Murphy lost to Lucy Simpson 3&1.
Ciara Sharkey lost to Leona Maguire 2 holes.
Niamh O’Connor halved with Caoimhe Quinn.
Ciara Butler bt Sarah Louise Winter 6&4.
Report from Thursday's matches:
MUNSTER v CONNACHT
Foursomes
Munster maintained their excellent form with two wins out of two against Connacht in the morning foursomes. Sarah Cunningham and Holli Snelling proved too strong against Kate Gallagher and Hannah O’Connor.
Connacht had a glimmer of hope at the 13th with Munster in the bunker but Munster recovered well and halved the hole in 5. The pair then went four up on the 14th to put the match out of reach.
Emma O’Driscoll and Diandra O’Connell birdied the seventh to go one up in their match against Carmel O’Connor and Sarah Helly and went on to win 4 and 3.
Singles
Sarah Cunningham and Kate Gallagher had a great match with Kate playing a superb shot over the machinery shed on the second hole to hit the flag and keep the match level at the early stages. However, Sarah won out in the end by the narrowest of margins.
Munster kept the ball rolling with Holli Snelling securing a 6 and 5 win over Hannah McInerney despite injuring her wrist early on in the round while Emma O’Driscoll dominated her match against Carmel O’Connor and came away with a 4 and 2 victory.
Connacht's Hannah O’Connor claimed a win with an excellent 6 and 5 score against Sarah Crowe. But there was a sting in Munster's tail with Laura McCarthy and Diandra O’Connell securing good wins over Sarah Helly and Julie O’Gara respectively.
LEINSTER v ULSTER
Foursomes
Impeccable short play by Ulster's Leona & Lisa Maguire earned them a very commendable 5&3 win over Louise Mernagh and Ciara Butler.
The Ulster and Connacht pairings of Victoria Bradshaw and Lucy Simpson with Ciara Walsh and Aedin Murphy produced a nail-biting finish to their foursomes match. Both teams had amazing birdies on the 17th to keep the game alive. A superb approach by Ciara Walsh gave Leinster a win on the 18th hole thus giving them a halved match.
Singles
Superb playing by Leinster's Louise Mernagh saw her on the 10th tee with a very convincing lead of 4 shots in her match against Victoria Bradshaw. Victoria reduced the lead to one hole by the 14th but Louise claimed the match on the 16th green with an excellent par.
Lisa Maguire gained control of her match against Ciara Walsh in the opening holes. By the 13th hole Lisa had scored four birdies and won the match 6&5 despite Ciara’s steady play.
After losing the first hole Lucy Simpson won the third and fourth holes against Aedin Murphy. Thereafter the game was one of nip and tuck until Lucy finally won the match 3 and 1 on the 17th green.
The tussle between Ciara Sharkey and Leona Magurie continued onto the 18th. The match was tense with Leona being dormie two. Then that was reduced to dormie one, though she finally won the match on the 18th.
The most enthralling match of the afternoon was between Niamh O’Connor and Caoimhe Quinn. Both girls played great golf and the match was finally halved.
Ciara Butler’s steady golf gave her a comfortable win of 6&4 over Sarah Louise Winter. Whilst both girls’ long game was extremely good it was Ciara’s short game that proved too much for Sarah Louise.

Scottish Boys Championship
Results from the Scottish Boys Championship at Dunbar can be found on the SGU website and reports can be found on scottishgolfview.com

HotNews website banner
Perhaps the shortest competition in the history of the web... Carol Fell of Renfrewshire was first over the finishing line to tell me that the photo behind the banner is Gullane No1. Thanks to all the others who emailed their answer.... it's nice to know that some of you looked!
Now I will need to think of a suitable prize.......

East Lothian launch new website.
Spring has truly sprung as new websites (or re-vamped old ones) are popping up all over the place!
East Lothian have changed theirs... it's now www.ell-golf.com    Needless to say I have altered the list on the left to include the new link. Well done East Lothian!

SCOTS IN NORTH CAROLINA TOURNAMENT
Brevard College, North Carolina team-mates Myles Johnston from Bo'ness and Craig Galloway from West Lothian finished joint sixth and 31st respectively in the Independent Collegiate Invitational golf tournament at Etowah Valley Country Club, North Carolina.
Johnston scored 74 and 78 for 152 - five shots behind the winner, Scott Woodard (Mount Olive College) (74-73).
Galloway shot 88 and 82 for 170.
A third Brevard College student, Grant Carnie from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, finished tied 14th on 159 with 79 and 80.
Brevard College (617) finished third in the team event behind Mount Olive College (606) and Carson-Newman College (607) in a field of seven.

US College Golf
LAST-ROUND DOUBLE BOGEYS FOR JORDAN
Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State University) finished joint 62nd in a field of 76 after a disappointing final round of nine-over-par 81 for a total of 234 in the United States Collegiate championship at the Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta.
Findlay had birdies at the first, second and fourth but had double-bogey 5s at both the short third and sixth holes in halves of 40 and 41.
Walker Cup player Rhys Davies, a team-mate of Findlay’s finished joint eighth on 221 even though he including a double-bogey 6 at the fourth in compiling a six-birdie final round of 72.
Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) was the individual winner by three strokes with 72, 72 and 71 for one-under-par 215.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
215 Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) 72 72 71.
218 Hudson Swafford (Georgia) 74 72 72.
Other British & Irish student totals:
221 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 76 73 72 (jt 8th).
224 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 75 78 71, Ben Taylor (Georgia State) 73 73 78 (jt 16th).
225 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 77 75 73.
227 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 75 75 77 (jt 30th).
234 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 77 76 81 (jt 62nd).
235 Farren Keenan (Texas) 78 79 78 (jt 64th).
236 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 81 78 77 (jt 68th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
884 Georgia. 892 UCLA. 894 Wake Forest. Other total: 899 East Tennessee State (7th of 15).

US College Golf
KATE 22nd IN BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Kate O’Sullivan (High Point University) from Paisley finished 22nd in a field of 40 for the Big South Women’s Championship college tournament at Coosaw Creek Golf Club, Charleston in South Carolina.
Kate had scores of 86, 81 and 76 for a total of 243.
Kate’s Irish team-mate AnnMarie Dalton tied for sixth place on 231 with scores of 81, 73 and 77.
Olivia Higgings (Charleston Southern) from the Channel Islands came ninth on 232 with 80, 75 and 77 for 232.
A third High Point student, Jenna Kinnear from Belfast, scored 85, 86 and 86 for 257.
Jill Stupianski (Birmingham Southern Universty) won by six strokes with scores of 76, 70 and 72 for 218.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Jill Stupianski (Birmingham Southern) 76 70 72.
224 Araceli Felgueroso (Coastal Carolina) 76 77 71.
Other British & Irish student totals:
231 AnnMarie Dalton (High Point) 81 73 77 (jt 6th).
232 Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) 80 75 77 (9th).
243 Kate O’Sullivan (High Point) 86 81 76 (22nd).
257 Jenna Kinnear (High Point) 85 86 86 (29th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
897 BirminghaM Southern. 911 Coastal Carolina. Other total: 968 High Point (5th of 8).

US College Golf
LUCY FINISHES SIXTH IN NORTH CAROLINA
Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun Women’s Conference Championship over the Keith Hills No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Lucy scored 77, 76 and 77 for a total of 230 over the par-72, 6,012yd course. Team-mate and Irish international Sinead O'Sullivan finished joint 23rd in the final of 40 with scores of 80, 82 and 78 for 240.
Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) won by the staggering margin of 14 strokes with scores of 73, 69 and 70 for four-under-par 212.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
212 Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) 73 69 70.
226 Laura Jansone (East Tennessee State) 77 75 74.
Othere British & Irish student totals:
230 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 77 76 77 (6th).
240 Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 80 82 78 (jt 23rd).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
879 Campbell. 928 East Tennessee State. 929 Mercer. 934 Stetson. 948 Jacksonville.

Wednesday 11th April 2007

Angus Junior county Championship
Aileen Hunter writes:-
Rebecca Wilson, pictured right, from Monifieth got her year off to a good start by winning the Junior County Championship at Forfar today.
In the morning semi-finals, contested entirely by members of Monifeith, Rebecca beat Louise Smith by 6&4 and Ashley Smith beat Laura Falconer by 3&1.
Rebecca played really well this afternoon - her driving was long and straight and she only mis hit one iron which cost her a double bogey at the 10th. Despite that she was 1 under for the 14 holes. Ashley too kept going despite catching more than her fair share of bunkers. Her ability to get up and down was impressive and most certainly kept her in the game.
The results today -
Semifinals: Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) bt Louise Smith (Monifieth) 6&4, Ashley Smith (Monifieth) bt Laura Falconer (Monifieth) 3&1
Final: Rebecca bt Ashley 5&4

Changes to HotNews
You might notice that the Hot News webpages have undergone slight alterations today.
First of all I've altered the banner a little. Yes the photo in the background has changed.... there's a prize for the first person who tells me where it is!!!
You'll have noticed that I've removed the words "Hot News" as I am about to change the whole website around, and have the HotNews page as the kirkwoodgolf home page.
If you are still with me... the reason I am doing this is because I'm going to be away for at least 8 weeks this summer... and I don't want you to get frustrated by always seeing a message "Sorry I'm away.. look at Hot News" ... so instead you'll get Hot News automatically.
Hold onto your hats as the big changeover will happen soon!

Rebessa Wilson leads at Forfar
Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth led the qualifiers for the Angus Junior Championship yesterday at Forfar with a scratch 78. She was closely followed by Ashley Smith from Monifieth with 80. Third and fourth spots went to Laura Falconer and Louise Smith, both Monifieth, both 88.
Amy Taylor, pictured right, from Kirriemuir also had 88 but just missed out on qualification by virtue of the last six holes in a countback. However, consolation for Amy came in the way of her taking the first handicap prize in the Spring meeting with and excellent 88 (23) 65.
Laura Hunter from Monifieth was second with 90 (19) 71. Ashley Alston from Montrose was third with 90 (19) 72 on the better inward half from Louise Smith and Ashley Smith.
18 Junior girls took part.
The championship semi-finals are therefore as follows
Rebecca Wilson v Louise Smith
Laura Falconer v Ashley Smith.
First tee off time today at Forfar is 9.30am
The final will be held this afternoon at 2.30pm.
Many thanks go to Forfar GC for the courtesy of the course.
[Thanks to Aileen Hunter for this report]

US College Golf
MACAULAY JOINT RUNNER-UP IN NORTH CAROLINA
Callum Macaulay from Kincardine, in his final year at Mississippi University, finished joint second with a seven-under-par total of 209 in the Palisades Collegiate Classic at Palisades Golf Club, Charlotte, North Carolina.
It was Callum's highest final placing in a 54-hole event and his sixth top-5 finish of the 2006-2007 US college season.
Tulliallan Golf Club member Macaulay had rounds of 71, 68 and 70 over the 6,797yd, par-72 course for a total of 209, two shots behind the winner, Brad Benjamin (Memphis) with 70, 69 and 68.
Macaulay tied for second with South African Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar University), ranked No 9 on the American college circuit.
Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, a freshman student at Louisville University, finished joint 25th in a low-scoring tournament with rounds of 71, 73 and 73 for one-over-par 217.
Macaulay's fine effort helped Mississippi to finish third behind Charlotte and Lamar in a field of 18 for the team evnt. Louisville came joint fifth.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
207 Brad Benjamin (Memphis) 70 69 68.
209 Callum Macaulay (Mississippi) 71 68 70, Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar) 69 72 68.
Other total:
217 Lewis Kirton (Louisville) 71 73 73 (jt 25th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
849 Charlotte. 856 Lamar. 858 Mississippi. Other total: 862 Louisville (5th of 18).

US College Golf
BIRDIE-LESS DAY FOR FINDLAY IN US COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay is lying joint 37th in a field of 77 for the United States Collegiate Championship over the Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside course at Alpharetta.
Findlay has had rounds of 77 and 76 for a tally of 153 with one round to go.
Jordan, a second-year student at East Tennessee State University, had no birdies in his second round in which he bogeyed the first, third, seventh and 12th in halves of 39 and 37.
Team-mate Rhys Davies moved up to a share of 12th place with a second-round 73 for 149, birdieing the first, fourth, eighth and 18th in halves of 35 and 38.
Tanner Ervin (Clemson) and Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) lead on level par 144.
LEADING SCORES
144 Tanner Ervin (Clemson) 70 74, Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) 72 72.
Other scores:
149 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 76 73 (jt 12th).
150 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 75 75, Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 72 78 (jt 22nd).
152 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 77 75 (jt 29th).
153 Jordan Findlay (East Tennesssee State) 77 76, Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 75 78 (jt 37th).
157 Farren Keenan (Texas) 78 79 (jt 57th).
159 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 81 78 (jt 66th).
LEADING TEAMS
591 Georgia. 593 Clemson. 598 Georgia Tech. 600 Oklahoma State, Georgia State. Other scores: 605 East Tennessee State (jt 9th). 617 Texas (last of 15).

US College Golf
DANIEL WILLETT FOUR IN INDIAN CLASSIC
Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State University) from Sheffield finished fourth of 91 in the Arkansas State University Indian Classic over the Sage Meadows Golf Club course at Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Daniel had rounds of 69, 73 and 69 for a five-under-par total of 211. He birdied the first, third, fourth and 12th in his final round to finish five shots behind the winner, Erik Barnes (Austin Peay State).
Southern Florida (852) won the team event by two shots from New Orleans.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
206 Erik Barnes (Austin Peay State) 68 68 70.
210 Tyler Hitchcock (Southern Florida) 72 69 69, Jose Toledo (New Orleans) 68 67 75.
211 Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) 69 73 69.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
852 Southern Florida. 854 New Orleans. 857 Louisiana-LaFayette. Also: 866 Jacksonville State (7th of 16).

US College Golf
VICKI FINISHES FIFTH IN COWGIRL CLASSIC
Irish junior cap Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) finished fifth of 49 in the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic at Ocotillo Golf Resort, Chandler in Arizona.
Vicki scored 74, 77 and 80 for a total of 231. Her team-mates, Ali Carter (221) and Sophia Choi (226) finished first and second.
Northern Arizona (908) won the team title by 35 strokes from British Columbia University.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
221 Ali Carter (Northern Arizona) 72 75 74.
226 Sophia Choi (Northern Arizona) 77 73 76.
Other score:
231 Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) 74 77 80 (5th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
908 Northern Arizona. 943 British Columbia. 954 Northern Colorado.

US College Golf
LUCY GOULD JOINT SEVENTH IN NORTH CAROLINA
Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould is lying in joint seventh place with one round to go in the Atlantic Sun Women’s Conference championship over the Keith Hills No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Lucy, a student at East Tennessee State University, has scored 77 and 76 for 153. She had one birdie, at the 18th, in halves of 39 and 37.
Team-mate Sinead O’Sullivan, an Irish international, is back in joint 27th place with 80 and 82 for 163. She had a triple bogey 7 at the eighth and a double bogey 6 at the 10th in her second round halves of 42 and 40.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
142 Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) 73 69.
149 Lauren Darnell (Stetson) 76 73.
Other scores:
153 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 77 76 (jt 7th).
162 Sinead O’Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 80 82 (jt 27th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
597 Campbell. 616 Stetson. 620 Mercer. 621 East Tennessee State.

US College Golf
ROSEANNE DOWN THE FIELD IN BYU DIXIE CLASSIC
Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff, pictured right, who enrolled at the University of California Berkeley only at the start of the year, finished joint 58th with a total of 240 (80-78-82) in the Brigham Young University Dixie Classic at Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Club.
Alison Walsh (Arizona) was the two-stroke winner with scores of 74, 73 and 67 for two-under-par 214.
Brigham Young (878) won the team event easily from Texas Christian (894) and Denver (897). California (934) finished 11th of 16 teams.

US College Golf
GEMMA JOINT 39th AT BRYAN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE
Scotland international player Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), a student at Ohio State University, finished joint 39th in a field of 93 for the Bryan National Collegiate women's tournament at Brown Summit, North Carolina.
Gemma had rounds of 74, 75 and 82 for a total of 231 over the par-72, 6,386yd course at Bryan Park Champions Golf Club.
Spain's Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) won the title at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off against Germany's Sandra Gal (Florida University). They had tied at one-under-par 215, Maria with rounds of 71, 73 and 71, Sandra with 72, 74 and 69.

US College golf
LARKIN JOINT SIXTH IN TENNESSEE
Banchory's Scott Larkin, a freshman student at the College of Charleston, finished joint sixth in the Middle Tennessee Intercollegiate golf tournament at Old Fort Golf Club, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Scott had rounds of 71, 70 and 75 for a level par aggregate of 216 over a testing 7,031yd course.
He finished only three strokes behind winner Michael Carnes (Texas State) with 70, 73 and 70 for 213.

US College golf`
ENGLISH PAIR TURN UP TRUMPS FOR BAYLOR IN OKLAHOMA CLASSIC
England's Hannah Burke from Welwyn Garden City and Sian Reddick from Folkestone finished fifth and seventh respectively and helped Baylor University, Texas to win the team event by nine strokes in the Susie Maxwell-Berning Classic women's college tournament over the 6,013yd, par-72 Jimmie Austin Golf Club course at Norman, Oklahoma.
Hannah, pictured right, having a outstanding freshman golf year, had rounds of 71, 68 and 74 for three-under-par 213 and fifth place behind winner Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) on 208 (67-67-74).
Sian Reddick, the former English stroke-play champion, now getting back to her best after injuries finished seventh on level par 216 with scores of 69, 77 and 70.
Baylor (860) won the team event from Arkansas (869) with Southern Methodist (875) third in the field of 17 colleges.

HELEN HOLM PREVIEW
By Colin Farquharson
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association’s decision to extend the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship to three days has produced arguably the strongest international field in the history of the 54-hole event which was introduced in 1973 and provided Belle Robertson with the first of her three wins. The popularity of the event can be attributed to the fact that it is listed as one of the counting tournaments for the European Amateur Rankings
The capacity field of 90 is made up as follows:
Scotland 27, England 24, France 14, Wales 7, Sweden 5, Finland 4, Ireland 3, Austria 3, Germany 2, Belgium 1.
A total 56 of the players had, at the time of entry, handicaps of scratch or lower.
The six backmarkers with handicaps of +3 include the defending champion, Melissa Reid from Chevin Golf Club, Derby. She made her Curtis Cup debut for Great Britain & Ireland at Bandon Dunes, Oregon last summer.
The major change in the traditional Saturday-Sunday “Helen Holm” programme is that the first round over Troon Portland will be played on Friday, April 27. The second round will be played over the same links on the Saturday at the end of which only the leading 66 players and ties will go forward to Sunday’s final round over the Royal Troon Open championship links.
There is only one player in the field with a handicap above 3 – Stirling University student Dawn Dewar who plays off 4.
That means that quite a number of promising young Scottish girls with single-figure handicaps not quite low enough to meet the cut-off figure are denied the opportunity to gain valuable experience at this level.
The only solution to that problem is to introduce a Scottish CLOSED amateur stroke-play championship. There are those who will say that the golf calendar is crowded enough but, where there’s a will there’s a way, particularly if a sponsor for such a tournament could be found.

FIFE COUNTY LADIES SPRING MEETING & CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
Fife County Ladies Golf Association held their Spring Meeting and County Championship qualifying round at Dunfermline Golf Club on Sun 8th April. Leading qualifier was Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) who had an excellent round of 73 in cold and blustery conditions. Louise also won the Coronation Medal for the best overall nett score. The Championship will be held at Dunfermline Golf Club on 21st/22nd April.
Results (CSS 75-reduction only)
Coronation Medal Winner: Miss L. Kenney (Pitreavie) 73 (+1) 74
Silver Handicap
1. Ms. E. Marshall (Glenrothes) 94-19-75
2. Mrs B. Potter (Elie & Earslferry) 89-13-76
3. Mrs J. Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 86-9-77 (BIH)
Bronze Handicap
1. Mrs. J. Kennedy (Dunfermline) 104-21-83 (BIH)
2. Mrs A. Harley (Balbirnie Park) 105-22-83
Leading Scratch Scores:
73 – L. Kenney (Pitreavie)
78 – E. Moffat (St. Regulus)
79 – J. Carthew (Ladybank)
83 – D. Ford (Scotscraig)
84 – L. Fury (Thornton), F. Lockhart (St. Regulus), L. Rolland (Dunfermline)
85 – L. Bennett (Ladybank), B. Copland (Scotscraig), E. Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry)
86 – J. Blyth (Thornton)
87 – D. Watson (Lundin Ladies)
88 – A. Chisolm (Pitreavie), E. Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park)
89 - S. Johnston (Ladybank), K. Sharp (Kirkcaldy), H. Harvey (St. Rule), B. Potter (Elie & Earlsferry)
Draw for Championship:
L. Kenney vs A. Moffat; B. Copland vs L. Bennett; L. Fury vs E. Hodgetts; K. Sharp vs D. Ford; J. Carthew vs H. Harvey; J. Blyth vs F. Lockhart; L. Rolland vs E. Wilson; S. Jackson vs E. Moffat

ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY
Sponsored By Burberry
The St Andrews Links Trophy is set to maintain its position as one of amateur golf’s most highly regarded tournaments.
Historically, it has been seen as the top stroke play tournament in Europe with a truly international field from around the world and this year’s Trophy is no exception. It will be fiercely contested over the Old Course and the Jubilee Course from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 June and with teenager Oliver Fisher, the 2006 winner, now a professional, the way is open for a new name to be inscribed on one of golf’s most prestigious trophies.
Already in the field are 17 players better than +3 handicap and Ireland’s Rory McIlroy currently playing off +5.1 is the backmarker in what promises to be an outstanding entry at the cut-off date of Friday 4 May.
McIlroy, 17, has already shown huge promise with a string of impressive wins to his name including this year’s Sherry Cup and the 2006 European Amateur Championship, a title that guarantees him a place in The Open at Carnoustie in July.
“I can’t wait for it”, said McIlroy. “Carnoustie is going to be unbelievably tough. Still, you have got to believe that, if it is anywhere near as tough as the last time, it might level the playing field a bit.”
Before then, McIlroy, currently No. 2 in The R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings, has a full calendar of competitive challenges with the St Andrews Links a major target pencilled in for this, his last year in amateur golf.
The St Andrews Links Trophy has always attracted a strong overseas entry, although since Stuart Bouvier of South Africa won the Trophy in 1990, its second year, the winners have all come from Scotland and England.
That succession is bound to change soon and with several players already entered from South Africa and Australia, perhaps the time is right for a second overseas name on the silverware.
Louis De Jager of South Africa is currently in-form and already has won the Gauteng North Open, and more recently his National Amateur Championship. He will be accompanied by countrymen Branden Grace, Charles Durnian and Prinavin Nelson, all top class golfers with realistic expectations of good performances at St Andrews.
Entries have also been received from Australian amateurs Rick Kulacz, Aaron Pike and Blake McGrory, who recently won the highly regarded Lake Macquarie.
In September of this year GB&I take on the U.S. in the Walker Cup match at Royal County Down and with selection for that match a target for all of the Home Countries’ top amateurs, the Links Trophy is assured of an outstanding entry.
The field of 144 will play one round on the Jubilee Course on Friday 8 June, one on the Old Course on Saturday 9 June and the top 40 qualifiers and ties then play 36 holes over the Old Course on the Sunday.

Tuesday 10th April 2007

South of Scotland Girls in white/blue with their Ayrshire opponents in yellow

Home Victory for South of Scotland Girls
South of Scotland girls proved too strong for Ayrshire in their annual match played over Dunskey in Portpatrick on Saturday. On a glorious day local knowledge was an advantage and the South Girls' team won by 6 matches to 2.
Nevertheless, the visitors enjoyed playing this delightful course and judging by the laughter and chat after the match, a good day was had by all.
Results:
Rachael McQueen (Barassie) lost by 4/3 to Gillian Monteith
Hannah Gaunt (Bentinck) lost by 1 hole to Jordana Graham
Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie) won by 3/2 against Ashley MacDonald
Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie) lost by 3/2 to Rachel Harvey
Sarah Hutton (Bentinck) lost by 4/2 to Vicky Wright
Lynsey Weadon (Barassie) halved with Rachel Walker
Emma Duncan (Barassie) halved with Ashley Hair
Rachel Howie (West Kilbride) lost by 2 holes to Katy Wright

Get your entries in now!
The closing date for entries for the Scottish Ladies (Close) Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) from 15th-19th May is 12 noon on Monday 16 April 2007. Entry forms can be downloaded from the SLGA website

US College golf
VICKI POWER IN FOURTH PLACE AT WYOMING COWGIRL CLASSIC
Irish junior international Vicki Power (Northern Arizona University) was lying fourth with one round to go in the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic at Ocotillo Golf Club, Chandler in Arizona.
The Cambridge-born 22-year-old, who has played for Ireland at both Under-18 and Under-21 levels, had rounds of 74 and 77 for a 36-hole tally of 151.
Vicki is the third Northern Arizona University player in the top four.
Team-mate Ali Carter leads the field on 147 with scores of 72 and 75 while Sophia Choi, also Northern Arizona University, shares second place on 150 (77-73) with Kelly Gillum (Montana State University) (76-74).
Northern Arizona are also running away with the team title. With a 36-hole total of 602, they are 28 shots ahead of nearest rivals British Columbia University with Northern Colorado (634) in third place among the nine teams.

SALLY WATSON A GAME RUNNER-UP IN PRESTIGE US JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
Florida-based Sally Watson, 15, from South Queensferry, has finished runner-up in the girls’ division of the Mizuno Junior Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the American Junior Golf Association circuit.
The scheduled 54-hole event at Chateau Elan Golf Club, Atlanta was reduced to 45 because frost delayed the start of the final round.
Sally’s father, Edinburgh businessman, Graham Watson commented: “The weather for the event was like a bad winter’s day in Scotland – temperatures did not get above 45 degrees and the winds were severe.”
Over a tough par-71 course, Sally had scores of 70, 76 and 37 for an aggregate of 183, two shots behind the winner, Courtney Ellenbogen from Blacksburn, Virginia (67-73-39).
Sally had birdies at the seventh, ninth, 11th and 15th but dropped shots at two short holes, the eighth, and 16th, in her very good first round of one-under-par 70 (35-35).
Her second-round 76 was a roller-coaster ride with an eagle 3 at the second and birdies at the seventh and ninth in halves of 38. On the debit side, Sally had a triple bogey 6 at the short sixth and a double-bogey 5 at the short eighth. She also dropped single shots at the second, 11th, 13th and 18th.
The organisers’ decision to cut the last round to only nine holes meant that Sally had very little chance of making up her four-stroke deficit on leader Courtney but she did get to with one shot of the pacemaker with three holes to play.
Miss Watson then bogeyed the seventh, her only shot dropped over the nine holes which she covered in one-over-par 37 to Miss Ellenbogen’s 39.
The third-place competititor, Evan Jensen from Belleair, Florida, finished four shots behind Sally on 187 with scores of 73, 79 and 35.
The field of 45 girls included competitors from all over the United States.
Sally, who will be 16 on July 10, is a student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.

US College Golf
FIFER LATIMER SCORES FIRST WIN IN UNITED STATES
Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman (first-year) student at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina, won his first golf tournament in the United States this week.
Peter prevailed in a three-way play-off with a par 4 at the third extra hole to win the Emory Spring Invitational college tournament at the Smoke Rise Golf & Country Club, Stone Mountain in Georgia.
He had rounds of 72 and 73 over the 6,722yd par-72 course for an aggregate of 145, which was matched by John Cummings (Greensboro) (69-76) and Jeremy Evans (Emory) (73-72).
Latimer’s college – the Quakers – finished second in the team event, four shots behind winners Methodist University.
Peter, who will be 20 in October, won the Freddie Tait Gold Medal last year, a match-play tournament over the St Andrews New Course.
He has also been boys champion at three different golf clubs - St Andrews New, Lundin Links and Balbirnie Park. He played for the Fife boys and youths teams.

US College Golf
GOULD JOINT 12TH IN ATLANTIC SUN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) returned a five-over-par 77 to be in joint 12th place after the opening round of the 54-hole Atlantic Sun Women’s Conference Championship over the Keith Hills No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Lucy, pictured right, had birdies at the sixth, 12th, 14th and 18th in halves of 40 (four over par) and 37 (one over).
She spoiled her card with a double-bogey 6 at the ninth and also dropped single shots at the first, second, seventh, 10th, 11th, 15th and 17th.
Lucy’s team-mate, Irish international Sinead O’Sullivan had an 80 to be in joint 22nd position in the field of 40 players.
Sinead had halves of 38 and 42. She had a quadruple bogey 8 at the 10th
Monica Kelsey (Mercer University) and Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) set the first-round lead on 73, one over par for the 6,012yd course.
Campbell (296) lead the team event from Mercer (302) and Stetson (307) with East Tennessee State (312) fourth of the eight teams.

US College Golf
WILLETT LYING JOINT 11th IN ASU INDIAN CLASSIC
Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State University) from Sheffield is lying in joint 11th place in a field of 91 players at the Arkansas State University Indian Classic over 54 holes at Sage Meadows Golf Club, Jonesboro in Arkansas.
Over a course of 6,903yd with a par of 72, Daniel has had rounds of 69 and 73 for a tally of two-under-par 142 - seven strokes behind leader Jose Toledo (New Orleans) (68-67).
Jacksonville State (572) are lying fourth of 16 in the team event behind leaders New Orleans (564).

US College Golf
JORDAN FINDLAY’S MIXED BAG IN US COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fraserburgh-born Jordan Findlay, a second-year golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University, had a mixed bag of two birdies and seven bogeys in returning a first-round score of five-over-par 77 in the United States Collegiate Championship, being played over the Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside course at Alpharetta, Georgia.
Jordan, twice finalist in the British boys’ championship, was lying joint
45th in the field of 78 with two rounds to go.
He birdied the 14th and 18th but dropped shots at the fourth, seventh, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th in halves of 38 and 39.
Joint leaders on two-under-par 70 for the 7,017yd course were Tanner Ervin (Clemson) and Chris Kirk (Georgia).
Another past British boys’ champion, Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies, brought up in South Wales and a team-mate of Findlay, struggled to recapture the form that has won him 10 American college events in his four years at East Tennessee State.
Rhys returned a four-over 76 with birdies at the ninth, 11th and 16th but also seven bogeys in halves of 38.

ELGA Press Release
Melissa and Kerry represent England at Helen Holm
England’s Melissa Reid will defend one title and bid for another at the Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Troon from April 27-29.
Melissa (Chevin) returns as the title holder after her one shot victory last year. She will also pair up with fellow international Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) to represent England in the team event.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) is the team reserve.
The championship is played over the Portland and Old Course of Royal Troon Golf Club.

London Golf Show
BOOK NOW FOR PAR-3 CHAMPIONSHIP
The iconic floating green at the London Golf Show will return for its third year – but those wanting a totally unique golfing experience can play the Floating Par-3 Championship, also running from April 26-29.
Both events will be located in the Victoria Dock, adjacent to the ExCeL centre. The Floating Par-3 Championship has a large green and three tees – two on land, and one floating in the dock – creating three par-three holes between 60 and 120 yards in length. Players will access the floating tee and green by floating walkways.
The Championship is a four-ball team event with each player hitting four balls and taking the best ball – or from a designated drop area if they fail to find the green. Players chip and putt out as normal before moving on to the next tee.
The leading scores will be posted on a leaderboard. Advance booking is required to participate.
Andy Barwell, the London Golf Show’s marketing director, said: “The Floating Par-3 Championship is an amazing concept and links perfectly with our iconic floating green.
“We are delighted Golf in the City Ltd came to us with the idea. This adds yet another dimension to what is building up to be the most spectacular London Golf Show yet.”
The Floating Par-3 Championship is hosted and promoted by Golf in the City Ltd, whose managing director, Julian Hay, said: “The concept was a huge success when launched in Stockholm with 15,000 spectators watching top professionals like Annika Sorenstam.
“We have now developed the concept for amateur golfers, with our aim to make this one of THE annual City sporting events. In the London Golf Show we have found the perfect partner bringing 30,000 spectators and excellent media coverage. This gives us the ideal opportunity to introduce the concept to the UK – and in 2008 we are looking to develop a Pro-Celeb-Am televised format.”
The structure of the event means there are just 50 tee times available across the four days, of which 70 per cent have been sold. To guarantee teeing it up on the Floating Par-3 Championship booking in advance is essential.
The event will take 75 minutes including check-in and practice. Participants will receive free entry to the London Golf Show – guaranteeing a great day out.
To book tee times, call 0870 350 1902, or visit www.golfinthecity.co.uk
Ryder Cup hero David Howell will be just one of the many visitors to The London Golf Show when it returns to ExCeL from April 26-29.
The show will host Europe’s largest golf retail store courtesy of the UK’s no1 retailer, american golf; a 30-bay driving range; the chance to go head-to-head on the chipping green with celebrities; the opportunity to sink a 100ft putt; the iconic floating green; myriad game-improvement gadgets; a fashion show; plus a much bigger area dedicated to junior golf with free coaching, fun and games and prizes.
There are chances to win tens of thousands of pounds-worth of golf gear, a £20,000-trip for four to the 2008 US Masters and a round of golf with the legendary Sam Torrance. What’s more, two juniors go free with every paying adult…
For tickets visit www.londongolfshow.com or call Ticketmaster on 0870 1451205.

Florentyna Parker wins French U21 championship
England’s Florentyna Parker claimed the biggest success of her career so far when she defeated Spain’s Marta Silva 6/5 to win the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud.
She’s the first English golfer in 10 years to win this prestigious title, which was contested by the leading U21-year-olds from 11 European nations.
The championship is also one of the order of merit events for Europe’s Junior Solheim Cup Team and Flory’s triumph should help her realise her ambition of making the side.
“This feels good, very good,” said the 17-year-old international from Royal Birkdale. She lives in Germany, where her father is a golf club professional, and her mother, Gina, drove nine hours through the night to watch the 36-hole final.
Florentyna staged a display of consistent golf which, crucially, won her the 17th and 18th to come in for the lunch break at three up. In the afternoon she started in the same vein, winning the 1st, and she refused to let her opponent get back into the match.
At one stage Flory was seven up and was pulled back only once, when the Spanish player birdied the 10th. The finalists then halved the next three holes in par - and the title belonged to Florentyna.
Linda Bayman, ELGA’s performance director, commented: “This was a great example of how to play a 36-hole final. I’m a great believer in matchplay in keeping the initiative – and Flory never let the initiative go.”
The result also underlines England’s strong position in European golf. While Florentyna won the title, another English player, Melissa Reid (Chevin) was the top qualifier for the matchplay stages. “That shows quite a lot of dominance,” said Linda Bayman.

Monday 9th April 2007

England’s Florentyna reaches French final
England international Florentyna Parker staged a great fightback to win her way through to the final of the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud.
The 17-year-old was one down with three to play in her semi-final match against German golfer Caroline Masson – but emerged the one-up winner. Now she meets Spain’s Marta Silva in the 36-hole final.
“I felt relieved,” said Florentyna, from Royal Birkdale, as she re-lived the closing holes of the semi-final.
She squared the match on the 16th, went one ahead with an eagle three on the 17th and made certain of her place in the final with an exquisite chip on the 18th, which lipped the hole and gave her a cast-iron par.
“I played really well on the last nine holes and it was always quite close with one person one up and then the other one up,” said Florentyna, a previous semi-finalist in the British girls’ championship.
Earlier in the day she beat another German, Thea Hoffmeister, 1 up in the quarter final. Although the scoreline was tight, Florentyna was never down in that match.

Sunday 8th April 2007

Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) receiving 2007 Scottish champion of champions' trophy
from Leven Golfing Society captain Alistair Rennie
after the Walker Cup player's dramatic eagle 2 victory over John Gallagher (Swanston)
at the first hole of a sudden death play-off.
They had tied on one-over-par 285 at the conclusion of the regulation 72 holes.

Thrilling climax to Scottish champion of champions
EAGLE HAS LANDED - LLOYD SALTMAN WINS PLAY-OFF WITH 2 AT FIRST HOLEBy COLIN FARQUHARSON
Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman rang the curtain down on the Scottish champion of champions tournament – the first 72-hole event of the Scottish amateur golf season –in dramatic style at Leven Links this evening.
After three-putting the 18th hole in a final round 74 to fall back into a tie on one-over-par 285 with John Gallagher (Swanston), the 21-year-old Craigielaw player sensationally holed an approach shot of 93 yards with a 60 degree lob wedge for an eagle 2 to win the sudden-death play-off almost before it had begun.
“It usually takes me a few weeks to get into my stride in a new season but I played well in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships and I came here in very good nick,” said Lloyd.
“I’ve been working hard through the winter with my coach, Colin Brooks, and this is an early pay-off for that.”
Saltman led by three strokes at halfway after a magnificent second-round of five-under-par 66 – easily the lowest of the tournament – but a 20 to 25mph wind for the final two rounds over very hard greens saw the conditions get very tough indeed, so much so that the CSS for the Sunday rounds rose to 75, compared with 73 for the first two rounds.
Lloyd dropped back to third place as Gallagher and Scottish match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) came with strong runs over the final round.
Gallagher three-putted the last two greens a 72 and 285.
McAlpine saddled himself with a triple bogey 7 after losing a ball off the tee at the 10th and even a birdie-eagle burst at the next two holes could not give him a cushion for bogeys at the 14th, 15th and 17th and a 76 for 288, which gave him third place.
Lloyd Saltman’s older brother, Elliot, was well in contention with one round to go but went bogey-bogey-double bogey from the seventh to the ninth and finished fourth on 290 after a closing 78.
+Picture shows Lloyd Saltman receiving the trophy from Leven Golfing Society captain Alistair Rennie.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71). CSS 73-73-75-75
285 J Gallagher (Swanston) 70 71 72 72, L Saltman (Craigielaw) 72 66 73 74 (Saltman won sudden-death play-off at first hole).
288 K McAlpine (Alyth) 71 71 70 76.
290 E Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 72 69 78.
291 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 69 72 73.
293 S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 71 72 77 73, J White jun (Lundin) 73 69 75 76
294 I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 70 74 72 78.
295 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 80 74.
296 A Lynch (Glenbervie) 75 72 76 73, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 71 70 77 78.
298 A Farmer (Kilmacolm) 74 73 72 79, M Kerr (Dalmahoy) 73 72 74 79, S Borrowman (Dollar) 73 71 74 80.
299 G Dear (Murrayshall) 70 73 81 75.
301 J King (Glasgow) 72 74 77 78, K Reilly (Silverknowes) 70 74 80 77.
303 A Dick (Shotts) 76 71 80 76.
304 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74 73 83 74, F Pintor (Spain) 75 71 79 79.
305 B Fotheringham (Forres) 78 70 79 78.
306 S Hume (Murrayshall) 80 75 76 75.
307 A Culverwell (Dunbar) 81 75 74 77, R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 79 75 79, P McLean (Peterhead) 75 77 78 77, R Coull (Edzell) 75 73 75 84.
308 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 72 76 79 81.
309 M Grunwell (Powfoot) 75 72 82 80, S Wilson (Forfar) 70 73 82 84..
310 C Checkley (Vale of Leven) 71 74 85 80.
311 S McEwan (Barassie) 74 78 80 79.
312 R McKnight (Barassie) 74 76 75 87.
315 E Moir (Hamilton) 78 76 79 82.
318 R McKenzie (Easter Moffat) 78 79 77 84.
319 D Gillie (Galashiels) 76 82 79 82.
320 N Hamilton (Dumfries & Co) 79 80 79 82.
323 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 79 78 81 85.
324 C Timms (Rothesay) 79 81 81 83.
326 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 76 80 84 86.
334 M Moir (Hamilton) 88 80 82 84.
No Returns: G Sharp (St Andrews) 77 78 84 - , B Rushford (Grangemouth) 75 77 82 - , K Young (Glencorse) 77 72 77 - , L Miller (Cawder) 75 70 76 - .
Retired: G MacDonald (Callander) 74 76 - , G Taylor (Meldrum House) 70 82 83 - .

ELGA Press Release
England’s Florentyna reaches French quarter finals
England international Florentyna Parker (pictured right) pulled off a fighting one-up win to go through to the quarter-finals of the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud.
The 17-year-old golfer from Royal Birkdale chipped superbly on the last hole to close out Laura Stempfle of Germany in their second round match. Now, Florentyna faces another German, Thea Hoffmeister.
Earlier she had made a strong start to the matchplay section of the championship when she knocked out the number three seed, Nina Holleder (Germany), by 2/1 in the first round.
Elsewhere there was disappointment for England as top seed Melissa Reid (Chevin) and English girls’ champion Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) bowed out in the second round.
Melissa was beaten 2/1 by Denise Becker of Germany. The Curtis Cup player had defeated Marita Engzelius of Norway by the same margin in the opening round.
Rachel had to go to the19th to win her first round match against Norway’s Sara Monberg Eriksen. She was then beaten 5/4 by the number two seed, Caroline Masson of Germany.
England’s fourth qualifier for the matchplay stages, Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange), lost in the first round, beaten 3/2 by Louise Larsson of Sweden.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Hannah Barwood (Knowle) was knocked out in the first round of the Cartier Trophy. She lost 2 down to Linda Henrikson of Finland. This competition is contested by the 16 leading under-18s who did not qualify for the main event.

Perth Ladies honour June Smith
June Smith (73) was made Honorary Member of Perth Ladies Golf Club to mark her remarkable achievements and her dedication to the club for the past 57 years.
June joined the Club in 1949 as a 16 year old and won the Championship for the first time aged 18. She went on to become Club Champion no less than 21 times during her golfing career with Perth Ladies and is still an active playing member with a 12 handicap!
The presentation was made by Club Captain, Francoise Guild.

Saturday 7th April 2007

ELGA Press Release
French Junior Championship
Melissa Reid is top seed in France
England’s Melissa Reid led the qualifiers for the matchplay rounds of the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud after she won a sudden death play-off for first place.
At the end of two rounds of strokeplay Melissa was tied on four-under par with the Germany golfer Caroline Masson. But a steady par four on the first extra hole meant the 19-year-old Curtis Cup player from Chevin, Derbyshire, went through as the number one seed.
Three more England players were also among the leading 32 golfers who made it through to the matchplay stages of the Esmond Trophy. Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) qualified 13th , Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) went through in 15th place and Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) was 30th.
Meanwhile 16-year-old Hannah Barwood (Knowle) qualified for the Cartier Trophy, which is contested by the next leading 16 players aged under 18.
England scores: Melissa Reid (Chevin) 67, 73. Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 72, 73. Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 72, 74. Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 75, 75. Jo Hodge (Knowle) 79, 74. Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 82, 73. Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 76, 84. Rachel Connor (Manchester) 82, 79.
England were defeated in the team event for the Vilmorin Cup, which they were defending, and had to settle for fourth place.

SLGA Under 16 Open Stroke Play Championship Skills Test
The SLGA ran a skills test on the practice day, Wednesday 4th April. Winners were:-
Under 12: 1. Lauren Whyte (SALJGA), 2. Lesley Atkins (Minto), 3. Bekki Allan (Kilbirnie Place)
Under 14: 1. Gabrielle Macdonald (Prestonfield) 2. Nicola Taylor (Thornton) Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride)
Under 16: 1. Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 2. Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) 3. Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie)

Friday 6th April 2007

SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship
Craigielaw Golf Club
12 year old Leona Maguire, pictured right, from the Slieve Russell club in County Cavan, Ireland, won the SLGA Under 16 Strokeplay Championship today at Craigielaw.
Leona, whose twin sister Lisa was also competing, played some very tidy golf to record a second three over par 74 which was only beaten today by Helen Searle from West End who had a 72, and Jamie-Lee Voss (Kirby Muxloe) who had a 73.
Leona's 148 total was two shots ahead of a three-way tie for second place between Helen Searle, Jamie-Lee Voss and Kelly Tidy (Manchester)
Many of the competitors found it very difficult to play in the wind, and Craigielaw's crowned greens and deep bunkers caused scores to soar.
Jill Meldrum (Dullater) had the best Scottish score, 157 after an 80 today.
Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) added a net 61 to yesterdays net 64 for a total of 125 off 22, and won the Murray Donald and Caithness Cup for the best net aggregate from Mhairi Mckay (West Kilbride) who was 12 shots back on 137.
England (299) won the Team Championship by 28 shots. Kelly Tidy and Raffi Dyer both had 74s, to add 148 to the 151 total from yesterday.
Full Scoreboard (Par 71, SSS 72, CSS 73, 72)
148 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 74 74
150 Helen Searle (pictured right) (West End) 78 72, Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) 77 73, Kelly Tidy (Manchester) 76 74
151 Sian Evans (Faversham) 77 74
153 Raffi Dyer (Hayling Island) 79 74
154 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 77 77, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 75 79, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 75 79
155 Georgie Kilby (The Warren) 81 74
156 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 79 77
157 Nikki Foster (Accrington & District) 82 75, Jenna Birch (Fleetwood) 78 79, Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 77 80
159 Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt) 82 77, Steff Hall (Lindrick) 81 78
161 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 83 78, Jessica Schiele (The Manor Laceby) 81 80, Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) 80 81, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 77 84
165 Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 84 81, Sammy Vass (Tain) 82 83, Rebecca Gibbs (Burnham & Berrow) 82 83
166 Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 87 79
168 Meg Illingworth (Stoke Rochford) 88 80, Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) 85 83
169 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 87 82, Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills) 86 83, Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) 86 83, Lesley Atkins (Minto) 85 84, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 84 85, Hollie Weatherburn (Furness) 80 89
170 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 84 86, Annabel Niven (Crieff) 82 88
171 Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 86 85
172 Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 86 86
173 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) 93 80
174 Camilla Tait (St Regulus) 89 85, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 88 86, Amy Boulden (Llandudno (Maesdu)) 86 88, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 84 90
175 Rebecca McIntyre (Eden) 92 83, Kirsty Condon (Blankney) 89 86, Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 85 90
176 Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 93 83
177 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 94 83, Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur) 91 86, Freya Barksby (Gainsborough) 89 88
178 Zoe Differ (Dullatur) 84 94
179 Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield) 91 88
180 Emma Davies (Eaton) 97 83
181 Bethany Garton (Fleetwood) 95 86
182 Lianna Bailey (Rushcliffe) 94 88, Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 92 90
183 Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place) 93 90, Kirsty Moss (Monifieth) 90 93
184 Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 92 92, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) 86 98
185 Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie) 96 89
186 Jemma Lee Chalmers (Monifieth) 100 86
187 Kirstin Scott (Windyhill) 94 93, Hannah-Rachel Edmunds (Woodhall Spa) 89 98
188 Alyssa Balding (Parklands) 98 90, Gabrielle MacDonald (Prestonfield) 95 93, Rebecca Lynes (Canwick Park) 94 94
190 Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie Place) 102 88, Donna Mackinnon (Durness) 95 95, Nicola Taylor (Thornton) 95 95, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 94 96
191 Heather Peebles (Monifieth) 102 89, Louise Smith (Monifieth) 98 93
193 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 96 97
194 Florence King (Kirby Muxloe) 97 97, Lauren Whyte (S.A.L.J.G.A.) 94 100
195 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 103 92, Julie Vass (Tain) 93 102
205 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 108 97, Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) 100 105
206 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) 105 101
207 Caitlin Geddes (Northern) 104 103
208 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park) 106 102, Catherine Conejo (Williamwood) 103 105
210 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall) 99 111
211 Rebecca Horner (Woodham Country Club) 111 100
216 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 104 112
219 Rachel Bruce (Ponteland) 112 107
222 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 113 109
223 Amanda Pattison (Parklands) 115 108
227 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) 112 115
233 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald) 119 114
237 Rachel Howie (West Kilbride) 138 99
N/R Alexandra Armstrong (Kilspindie) 108 N/R
W/D Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 102, Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) 118, Annabel Bailey (Rushcliffe) N/R, Eun Hae Kim (Belton Woods) 93
Handicap and Age Group prizes
Total Nett Aggregate
125 Stephanie Peareth (pictured right) (Oakleaf, 22) 64, 61
137 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride, 29) 74,63
140 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park, 34) 72 68
141 Jill Meldrum (Dullater, 8) 69 72
Under 16
1st Round, 1st Scratch 75 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
1st Round, 1st Nett 64 Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf, 22)
2nd Round, 1st Scratch 72 Helen Searle (West End)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 61 Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf, 22)
Under 14
1st Round, 1st Scratch 74 Leona Maguire (Sleive Russell)
1st Round, 1st Nett 71 bih Heidi Beck (Felixstowe Ferry, 4)
2nd Round, 1st Scratch 73 Jamie-Lee Voss (Kirby Muxloe)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 63 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride, 29)
Under 12
1st Round, 1st Nett 67 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall, 32)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 75 Liana Bailey (Rushcliffe, 13)
Team Championship (Best two out of three scores count)
299 England (Kelly Tidy 76 74, Holly Clyburn 75 79, Raphaela Dyer 79 74)
327 Scotland 2 (Cara Easton 86 98, Jill Meldrum 77 80, Annabel Niven 82 88)
327 Wales 1 (Kelly Miller 87 79, Natasha Gobey 77 84)
328 Ireland (Emma O'Driscoll 93 80, Carla Reynolds 80 81, Tara Gribben 87 82)
339 Scotland 1 (Eilidh Briggs 96 97, Jordana Graham 84 90, Sammy Vass 82 83)
345 Wales 2 (Amy Boulden 86 88, Gemma Bradbury 86 85)

England won the Team Championship at the SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship
L to R: Kelly Tidy, Raffi Dyer, Holly Clyburn

ELGA Press Release
French Junior Championship
Melissa Reid shoots 67 to lead in France
International Melissa Reid (pictured right) put together a flawless five-under par 67 to lead the first round of the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud.
The 19-year-old golfer from Chevin, Derbyshire, is two shots clear of the international field after returning an immaculate card of five birdies and 13 pars.
“It’s the lowest score I’ve shot round here – I’ve had a 69 before – and I’m really chuffed not to get any bogeys.
“Hopefully I can do it again tomorrow. I will definitely be going for the top spot in qualifying,” she said.
Melissa started on the 10th and had seven straight pars before she birdied the long 17th, which she reached in two. She did the same on the par five 3rd and then powered home, playing her last five holes in three under par.
She set up her last two birdies with classy irons into the 7th and 9th which both finished within 4ft of the cup. “They’re pretty tough holes,” she remarked.
After tomorrow’s second strokeplay round the leading 32 players will go forward to the matchplay stages of the tournament.
English girls’ champion Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) and Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) both scored level par 72 and are well in the hunt for places in the knock-out stages.
Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) lies 31st after returning 75 while Sian James had a 76 – and probably played the shot of the day. She holed a five-wood on her last hole, the ninth, for a dramatic eagle two.
Other ELGA squad scores: 79 Jo Hodge (Knowle). 82 Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Rachel Connor (Manchester).

R&A Bursars Tournament
Men's winner Gordon Yates (Stirling) and women's winner Rachel Cassidy (Stirling)
with Keith Hodgkinson and Geoff Marks of The R&A.

Gordon Yates and Rachel Cassidy win R&A Bursar's Tournament
Stirling has a clean sweep of the Men's prizes with the top three places all going to Stirling university students.
Gordon Yates, the mens winner has gained a place in the European side for the Palmer Cup to be played at Caves Valley, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
Rachel Cassidy who won the women's event has won a place in the LET Scottish Open to be played in September at the Carrick, Loch Lomond and also in the Women's Open Pro Am at St Andrews preceeding the Women's Open on the Old Course at the beginning of August.
The mens winner, Gordon Yates (Stirling) is also just off to Peru to represent the R&A bursars in the International Team Event taking place there next week. his team mate will be Edward Parker (Birmingham University)
The womens scores were as follows
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling) 75 + 79 = 154 BIH
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh) 75 + 79 = 154 Better last round
Rebecca Wood (Sheffield Hallam) 74 + 78 = 154
Louise Kenney (Dundee) 77 + 79 = 156
Claire Marie Carlton (Stirling) 73 + 85 = 158
Samantha Round Gloucestershire) 78 + 85 = 163
Emma Tipping (Stirling) 78 + 88 = 166
Kerri Harper (Abertay) 83 + 87= 170
Emma Getty (Ulster) 87 + 86 = 173
Laura Walker (Dundee) 83 + 90 = 173
Rachel Hunt (Swansea Inst) 83 + 92= 175
Womens SS Day 1 Eden 72, Day 2 Old 77

Mens Scores
140 Gordon Yates (Stirling) 69 + 71
142 David Booth (Stirling) 72 + 70
144 Gavin Dear (Stirling) 73 + 71, Paul Betty (Stirling) 72 + 72, Philippo Okan (St Andrews) 71 + 73, David Corsby (Central Lancs) 67 + 77
145 Scott Borrowman (Stirling) 76 + 69, Colin Colraine (Strathclyde) 72 + 73, Sean Heads (Northumbria) 69 + 76, Grant Little (St Andrews) 66 + 79
146 Jonathon Watt (Stirling) 74 + 72, Kevin Garwood (Bournemouth) 72 + 74, David Corben (Exeter) 72 + 74
147 John Greene (University College, Dublin) 73 + 74
148 Alexander MacGregor (Exeter) 71 + 77, Chris Harkins (Glasgow) 71 + 77
149 Sam Foster (Exeter) 75 + 74, Roberto Laino (Durham) 74 + 75, J J McCarthy (Birmingham) 72 + 77, Jonathon Williams (Cardiff) 69 + 80
150 Charlie Swann (Bournemouth) 77 + 73, Bobby Rushford (Stirling) 76 + 74, Steven Hume (Abertay) 74 + 76, Paul Doherty (Ulster) 70 + 80
151 Jarred McKnight (Loughborough) 76 + 75
152 Craig Wilkinson (Northumbria) 78 + 74, Edward Parker (Birmingham) 76 + 76, David Morrison (North Highland College) 75 + 77, Mark Davies (Exeter) 74 + 78, John Duff Aberdeen) 73 + 79, Andrew Shakespear (Bath) 71 + 81
153 Cameron Gray (St Andrews) 79 + 74, Euan Polson (Stirling) 76 + 77
154 Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews) 78 + 76, Gareth Dillon (University College, Dublin) 77 + 77, Andrew Gordon (Strathclyde) 74 + 80
156 Myles Pearson (Loughborough) 77 + 79
157 Alex Morton (Birmingham) 72 + 85
158 Elliot Shaw (Cardiff) 80 + 78
159 Barry Crosswood (Exeter) 81 + 78
159 Brian Soutar (Herit-Watt) 74 + 85, Scott Herald (Strathclyde) 74 + 85
161 Robert Hutton (Glasgow) 81 + 80, Steven Gray (Northumbria) 75 + 86
163 Ian Purvis (Bournemouth) 79 + 84
NR Iwan Griffiths (Wales, Swansea) 72 + NR

Thursday 5th April 2007

A group of Scottish players and officials at today's Under 16 Championship at Craigielaw
L to R: Ethel Jack (SLGA President), Cara Easton, Sammy Vass, Jordana Graham, Jill Meldrum,
Annabel Niven, Margaret McNaughton (SLGA Chairman), Elaine Moffat (Girls Captain/Manager)

SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship
Craigielaw Golf Club
Twelve year old Irish girl in the lead
One of the remarkable Irish twins, 12 year old Leona Maguire from Slieve Russell, leads the SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship after the first round with an admirable scratch 74 over a fast running Craigielaw played in very sunny but blustery conditions. She is one shot ahead of two English girls, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
Top Scot is Jill Meldrum from Dullater with a 77.
England are leading by 8 shots in the Team Championship with a total of 151 from Holly Clyburn and Kelly Tidy. Scotland's second team are in second place.
On a day when many of the low handicap players were struggling, special mention should be made of Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) who had a net 64 playing off a handicap of 22.
The two round tournament concludes tomorrow.
Full scores (Par 71, SS 72, CSS 73)
74 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
75 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
76 Kelly Tidy (Manchester)
77 Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe), Sian Evans (Faversham), Hannah Turland (Tidworth), Natasha Gobey (Rhondda), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur)
78 Helen Searle (West End), Jenna Birch (Fleetwood)
79 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies), Raffi Dyer (Hayling Island)
80 Carla Reynolds (Seapoint), Hollie Weatherburn (Furness)
81 Georgie Kilby (The Warren), Jessica Schiele (The Manor Laceby), Steff Hall (Lindrick)
82 Nikki Foster (Accrington & District), Sammy Vass (Tain), Annabel Niven (Crieff), Rebecca Gibbs (Burnham & Berrow), Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt)
83 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
84 Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan), Jordana Graham (Southerness), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Zoe Differ (Dullatur)
85 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell), Jessica Wilcox (Blankney), Lesley Atkins (Minto)
86 Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Amy Boulden (Llandudno (Maesdu)), Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf)
87 Kelly Miller (Penrhos), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)
88 Bronte Law (Bramhall), Meg Illingworth (Stoke Rochford)
89 Freya Barksby (Gainsborough), Kirsty Condon (Blankney), Camilla Tait (St Regulus), Hannah-Rachel Edmunds (Woodhall Spa)
90 Kirsty Moss (Monifieth)
91 Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield), Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur)
92 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield), Rebecca McIntyre (Eden), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle)
93 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Eun Hae Kim (Belton Woods), Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland), Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place), Julie Vass (Tain)
94 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton), Lianna Bailey (Rushcliffe), Kirstin Scott (Windyhill), Rebecca Lynes (Canwick Park), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Lauren Whyte (S.A.L.J.G.A.)
95 Bethany Garton (Fleetwood), Donna Mackinnon (Durness), Nicola Taylor (Thornton), Gabrielle MacDonald (Prestonfield)
96 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie), Emma Davies (Eaton)
97 Florence King (Kirby Muxloe)
98 Alyssa Balding (Parklands)
98 Louise Smith (Monifieth)
99 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall)
100 Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum), Jemma Lee Chalmers (Monifieth)
102 Heather Peebles (Monifieth), Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie Place), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield)
103 Catherine Conejo (Williamwood), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride)
104 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Caitlin Geddes (Northern)
105 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly)
106 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park)
108 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Alexandra Armstrong (Kilspindie)
111 Rebecca Horner (Woodham Country Club)
112 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride), Rachel Bruce (Ponteland)
113 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus)
115 Amanda Pattison (Parklands)
118 Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle)
119 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald)
138 Rachel Howie (West Kilbride)
nr Annabel Bailey (Rushcliffe)
Team event (Best two out of three count)
151 England (Holly Clyburn 75, Kelly Tidy 76, Raffi Dyer 79)
159 Scotland 2 (Jill Meldrum 77, Annabel Niven 82, Cara Easton 86)
164 Wales 1 (Natasha Gobey 77, Kelly Miller 87)
166 Scotland 1 (Sammy Vass 82, Jordana Graham 84, Eilidh Briggs 96)
167 Ireland (Carla Reynolds 80, Tara Gribben 87, Emma O'Driscoll 93)
172 Wales 2 (Amy Boulden 86, Gemma Bradbury 86)

SLGA apologises
Unfortunately, due to the illness of their webmaster, the SLGA cannot provide a results service on their website for the Under 16 Championship.
Rest assured that Kirkwoodgolf will continue to keep you informed!

SGU Press Release
BUMPER YEAR FOR SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPS
The Scottish Boys Match Play Championship gets underway at Dunbar next week (9-14 April) boasting a bumper number of entrants, with the Boys crown looking set to be one of the most hotly contested national titles in the SGU’s opening major of the season.
With more than 350 entries, the Championship will harness one of the strongest fields of competitors reflected by the handicap ballot set at a record low of 5.3 and more than 90 reserves anxiously anticipating a late call up to angle for the prestigious title.
Hosted at Dunbar Golf Club for the 18th time, last year’s champion James White is now too old to contest his title, but Thornton’s Michael Main who was left in White’s wake will hope to go one better to improve on his 2006 runner- up finish.
Other hopeful contenders include Scottish Boys cap James Byrne, recently back from the Boys Quads in Rome and a member of last year’s victorious team at St Cyprien. The Banchory player has the lowest handicap in the event with +2.3.
Likely lads and fellow Quad team mates Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) and Inchmarlo’s Tom Spencer will also hope to withstand the eliminating rounds to reach a place in the quarter finals for a chance to contest the title.
Along with national squad member, Troon Wellbeck’s Michael Stewart whose handicap of +1.3 places him among the dozen players in the event with plus handicaps.
Boy wonder John Henry – brother of double champion Scott Henry who recently made it to the quarter finals of the Australian Amateur Stroke Play Championship will hope to replicate his brother’s prowess, and Old Ranfurly brothers Jamie and Sam Binning will add sibling rivalry into the mix.
Commenting on the event, SGU Performance Manager Stuart Turner said, “The Boys Championship is the first title to be contested in the SGU domestic season and this year the competition will be fierce.
Not only is it a record year in terms of the growing popularity of the event, we have a record number of Academy players among the competitive field, with nearly all of the year 2 academy players (bar 2) and 16 year 1 academy players adding to the fray, which will hopefully lead to a very exciting championship.”
Kirkhill’s Paul Shields fresh from his Junior Tour event win at Kingsbarns last weekend, will no doubt now be casting his eye over the silverware up for grabs and Perthshire’s jewel in the crown Sam McLaren, current U16 Stroke Play Champion from King James VI is also not to be discounted.
SGU National Junior Coach Spencer Henderson, coach to many of the players involved, said, “The Boys Championship this year really is wide open with a number of our national squad and academy players ready for action, hoping to capitalise on the long winter months of preparation and training camps.
Henderson added, ‘The weather will play a large part next week as windy conditions on the coastal course will test the shot making abilities of all the players.’
Spectators are welcome to come along and support Scotland’s rising stars, hoping to savour their first taste of national success at the scenic par 71 course nestling along the East Lothian Coast. Past champions at the event include European Tour players Andrew Coltart and Steven O’Hara.

Wednesday 4th April 2007

Just to make you all jealous!
Husband, David, playing out of a bunker at Augusta three weeks ago.
Enjoy the Masters!

2007 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPONSORED BY VISION OUTSOURCING
MORAY GOLF CLUB, LOSSIEMOUTH
1ST – 6TH APRIL 2007
Individual Strokeplay Championships
Colin Colraine (Strathclyde University) led from start to finish in winning the Vision Outsourcing Scottish Universities Men’s Individual title. Played over 36 –holes on each of the new and old courses at Lossiemouth in near perfect conditions, Colraine fired rounds of 64, 75, 70 & 75 to finish on a +2 total of 284, 1 shot ahead of Dixon and 4 shots ahead of Steven Hume (Abertay). Colraine’s birdie on the second-last hole moved him out of reach from his last group playing partner Hume, and his controlled par on the last hole ensured his victory in a highly competitive event.
The women’s championship was also a closely fought event also. The tournament went to the last hole where all 3 players in the final group had a chance to win. Abertay’s Kerri Harper produced an excellent up & down on the 18th green of the Moray Old to finish one shot ahead of Rachael Cassidy (Stirling) with Robert Gordon’s Laura Murray 2 shots further back.
Leading final totals
Men
Colin Colraine (Strathclyde) 64, 75, 70, 75 = 284
Ross Dixon (St. Andrews) 72, 70, 74, 69 = 285
Steven Hume (Abertay) 69, 71, 76, 72 = 288
David Booth (Stirling) 70, 69, 76, 75 = 290
David Morrison (UHI) 72, 70, 74, 75 = 291
James White (Stirling) 70, 80, 70, 72 = 292
Karl Shepherd (Stirling) 71, 76, 73, 72 = 292
Gavin Dear (Stirling) 71, 72, 75, 74 = 292
Greg McBain (UHI) 71, 77, 72, 73 = 293
Gordon Yates (Stirling) 75, 71, 78, 71 = 295
Paul Betty (Stirling) 75, 71, 77, 73 = 296
Women
Kerri Harper (Abertay) 79, 74, 81, 75 = 309
Rachael Cassidy (Stirling) 81, 75, 75, 79 = 310
Laura Murray (RGU) 80, 73, 79, 80 = 312
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh) 73, 85, 75, 84 = 317
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stir) 80, 76, 82, 82 = 320
Jennifer Linklater (St. And) 81, 85, 89, 81 = 336

Tuesday 3rd April 2007

MCLGA Junior Girls' Spring Meeting at Liberton Golf Club on 3rd April 2007
Midlothian Ladies held a very successful Junior Girls Spring Meeting at Liberton today.
CSS 68
1st scratch Jane Turner Mortonhall 73
2nd scratch Rachael Watton Mortonhall 76
1st Handicap Emma Humphries Turnhouse net 66 (102 - 36)
2nd handicap Gabrielle MacDonald Prestonfield net 67 (84-17)
8 hole competition
1st Katherine Fisher 57
2nd Ailsa Mclean and Sophie Aitchison
Putting competition
Four girls scored 22 putts for 9 holes.
Eildh MacKinnon won the play-off
Midlothian ladies would like to thank Liberton Golf Club for the use of the course and the clubhouse, and also say thankyou to all the helpers (parents and MCLGA members) and to the parents for bringing their children to Liberton.

Great scoring from Megan Briggs
The Leveret Trophy 2007
by Fiona Anderson
Once again Formby Ladies provided fair weather for the Leveret Trophy. The sun shone but a cold north wind that increased in strength as the day progressed made the course very challenging indeed. It was not until the last starter, Laura Jones form Royal Liverpool posted a 74 to go with her 75 of the morning that the winner of the 2007 Leveret Trophy was declared.
Laura was positively thrilled with her victory, especially in such a high calibre field. It was really a story of the back nine in the last round being crucial to success and to failure. Laura had dropped 3 shots to par on the front nine but some strong iron play and positive putting helped her cover the inward nine in level par. Only Breanne Loucks the Welsh Curtis Cup player matched Laura’s superb scoring.
The morning had produced 3 joint leaders on 72 – the young and talented Louisa Stirling from the home club, Marie Allen of Brookmans Park and Curtis Cup player Naomi Edwards of Ganton. In the more difficult conditions of the afternoon, Naomi bogied the last 2 holes for a sad 78. Louisa fell away disappointingly on the last 7 holes for a 79. This left Megan Briggs, Kilmacolm (76 + 74) and Rhian Thomas, Vale of Glamorgan (74 + 76) on 150 alongside Naomi. The tall, athletic, long hitting Rhian had produced the shot of the tournament in the morning by holing her second shot at the par 5, 8th hole for a rare albatross.
Whilst Laura could be justifiably proud of winning in a field of quality British, English, Welsh and Scottish ‘capped’ players, special mention must also go to two 12 year olds competing in the Leveret Trophy for the first time. Alex Peters, Notts Ladies took the morning handicap prize with 75 – 4 = 71 and Elizabeth Mallett of Sutton Coldfield Ladies took the afternoon prize with 76 – 5 = 71.
The course again presented in excellent condition with some demanding pin placements proved a stern test for the field of 54 players with handicaps ranging from +2 to 5. The CSS rose from 72 to 74 in the morning then to 75 in the afternoon.
Leading players
Laura Jones[Royal Liverpool] 75+74 149
Megan Briggs[Kilmacolm] 76+74 150
Rhian Thomas [Vale of Glamorgan] 74+76 150
Naomi Edwards [Ganton]72 +78 150
Louisa Stirling[Formby ladies] 72+79 151
Tara Watters [Muswell Hill] 75 +77 152
Breanne Loucks [Wrexham] 77+76 153
Stephanie Evans [Vale of Llangollen] 77+ 76 153
Emma Duggleby [Malton and Norton] 75+78 153
Samantha Birks [Wolstanton] 78+ 76 154

US College Golf
Another top 10 finish for Jodi Ewart
Jodi Ewart (Catterick) consolidated her position as the best British player on the US College circuit with a 9th place finish in the PING/ASU Invitational at the Par 72 - 6230 yards, Karsten Golf Course, Arizona at the weekend.
Jodi, a freshman student at New Mexico, had consistent scores of 71, 71 and 72 for an aggregate of 214 and finished 8 shots behind the leader Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State).
Arizona State won the team competition by 22 shots from UCLA with Texas A&M one shot behind.
Leading Scores
206 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 69 68 69
208 Mari Chun (Stanford) 71 66 71
209 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 68 71 70
211 Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) 69 71 71, Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State) 70 66 75
212 Kay Hoey (Long Beach State) 73 69 70, Ryann O'Toole (UCLA) 73 67 72
213 Jayvie Agojo (Pepperdine) 70 74 69
214 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 71 71 72
215 Seema Sadekar (UNLV) 72 69 74
216 Tiffany Joh (UCLA) 77 68 71, Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M University) 73 72 71, Mary Jacobs (Arizona) 71 70 75
217 Amber Prange (Washington) 77 71 69
218 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 74 73 71, Mikaela Backstedt (New Mexico) 70 76 72, Chris Brady (Vanderbilt) 74 71 73, Lauren Todd (Stanford) 74 70 74
219 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 74 73 72, Lauren Johnson (Texas A&M University) 72 68 79
Other Scores
223 Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M University) 74 73 76 (tied 31st)
247 Roseanne Niven (California) 81 82 84 (88th)

ILGU Press Release
IRISH GIRLS GOLF INTERPROVINCIALS
Laytown/Bettystown Golf Club, Co. Meath
11-13 April 2007
MAGUIRES PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT
Ulster look to capture their third successive Girls Interprovincial title when the 3 day tournament starts at Laytown/Bettystown Golf Club, Co. Meath, 11-13 April 2007.
Twelve year old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire will make their Interprovincial debut at under 18 level having represented their Province at under 15 level last year. Missing from last year’s line up will be Stephanie Meadow who is attending school in the USA while experienced girls International Victoria Bradshaw should lead the team to victory on Friday evening.
Nearest challengers Leinster will look to their International Louise Mernagh to mount a challenge as the team is lead by experienced Ladies International Sinead Keane from The Curragh. Munster have international Sarah Cunningham in their ranks while Connacht will look to Kate Gallagher to lead the way to regaining the title surrendered to Ulster back in 2005.
This year’s tournament takes place on the challenging links at Laytown/Bettystown and with a par 73 track over 6,050 yards, Friday’s winners will be worthy champions of this highly competitive opener to the 2007 season.

Monday 2nd April 2007

East of Scotland Girls Spring Meeting
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) won the East of Scotland Girls Spring Meeting at Thornton today with a scratch 73.
In a complete mess-up on the part of the organiser (me!) I can only apologise to the players for getting the winners of the handicap section wrong. I applied the wrong handicap to a competitors score, which resulted in a person getting the wrong prize. Luckily such a situation is covered in the Rules (see Decision 6-2b/3) and it can be corrected.
Samantha Lamb (Glencorse) won the Best Handicap overall with an 89 less 19 net 70. Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) won the best under 14 net with 105 less 33 net 72. Gillian Ping (Ladybank) won the best Under 18 net score with 92 less 20 net 72 and Gabrielle Macdonald (Prestonfield) was runner-up in the Under 14 section with 90 less 17 net 73.
The CSS was 71
Leading Scratch Scores
73 Jane Turner (Mortonhall)
84 Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield)
86 Rachel Watton (Mortonhall)
89 Samantha Lamb (Glencorse)
90 Nikky Taylor (Thornton), Gabrielle Macdonald (Prestonfield)
91 Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie)

Keir finishes 10th
Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll finished in a very creditable 10th place in the Azalea Amateur yesterday. His final round of 72 for a total of one under par 283 put him five shots behind the winner Webb Simpson.
Final scores with relation to par from the Azalea Amateur, played April 1 at the par-71, 6,809-yard Country Club of Charleston (S.C.):
1. Webb Simpson 70-69-71-68--278 -6
2. Billy Horschel 71-68-70-69--278 -6
3. Kyle Ellis 72-67-73-67--279 -5
3. Chris Kirk 73-67-70-69--279 -5
5. Arnond Vongvanij 70-67-72-71--280 -4
6. Luke List 72-66-67-76--281 -3
7. John Finster 70-69-76-67--282 -2
7. Trent Leon 75-71-69-67--282 -2
7. Jordan Byrd 75-70-67-70--282 -2
10. Keir McNicoll 73-70-68-72--283 -1
10. Brendon Todd 74-68-68-73--283 -1

Catriona Matthew just pipped for her first major.
Catriona Matthew from North Berwick had her best fiinsh ever in an LPGA major event when she took joint second place in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California. Morgan Pressel, 18, became the youngest player ever to win a major.
Leader board
285 Morgan Pressel 74 72 70 69 $300,000
286 Catriona Matthew 70 73 72 71, Brittany Lincicome 72 71 71 72, Suzann Pettersen 72 69 71 74 $140,945 each

Sunday 1st April 2007

Keir McNicoll jumps to joint seventh
Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll jumped ten places, from 17th to 7th, in the star-studded 59th Azalea Amateur Invitational at the Country Club of Charleston. His three under par 68 put him six shots off the lead, held by Luke List, who won the Jones Cup at Kiawah Island last month.
The tournament, which is full of past and potential US Walker Cup players, will conclude today.
Full story on Golfweek
Scores with relation to par after the third round of the Azalea Amateur, at the par-71, 6,809-yard Country Club of Charleston (S.C.):
1. Luke List 72-66-67--205 -8
2. Billy Horschel 71-68-70--209 -4
2. Arnond Vongvanij 70-67-72--209 -4
4. Brendon Todd 74-68-68--210 -3
4. Chris Kirk 73-67-70--210 -3
4. Webb Simpson 70-69-71--210 -3
7. Keir McNicoll 73-70-68--211 -2
7. Rickie Fowler 68-75-68--211 -2
7. Peter Uihlein 68-74-69--211 -2
7. Brent Wicher 68-73-70--211 -2
11. Jordan Byrd 75-70-67--212 -1
11. Tyler Leon 73-71-68--212 -1
11. Kyle Ellis 72-67-73--212 -1

US College Golf
Peter Latimer, from Markinch, Fife, a freshman at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina, shot a 66 yesterday to help his team into third place in the Camp LeJeune Intercollegiate over Paradise Pt. Gold/ScarletCamp, Lejeune,NC.
Thirty two teams took part in the two round contest. The event was won by Peter's teammate, Joseph Poplin, who had a second round 62 for a total of 9 under par 133. Peter fininshed in joint 12th place on two under par 140.
Full results on Golfstat.

US College Golf
Jodi Ewart from Catterick, a freshman student at New Mexico, was well up the leaderboard in the PING/ASU Invitational at the Par 72 - 6230 yards, Karsten Golf Course, Arizona, yesterday. Two 71s for 142 put her in 10th place behind Jennifer Osborn of Arizona State who was one of three who scored 66 yesterday.
Danielle McVeigh, from Royal County Down, is sharing 20th place, after rounds of 74 and 73 (147), with Spaniards Belen Mozo and Azahara Munoz.
Arizona State are 16 shots in the lead in the team contest
Leading Scores
136 Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State) 70 66
137 Mari Chun (Stanford) 71 66, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 69 68
Selected other scores
142 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 71 71 (tied 10th)
147 Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M University) 74 73, Belen Mozo (Southern California) 74 73, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 74 73 (tied 20th)
163 Roseanne Niven (California) 81, 82

Shock News: Ryder Cup format to change
The American Professional Golfers Association announced today that they were in talks with the World Professional Golfers Association to discuss joining forces against the Europeans for the 2010 Ryder Cup, to be held at Celtic Manor Resort on the outskirts of Newport in South Wales.
The Americans, who have lost five out of the last six Ryder Cup matches, the last two by huge margins, admitted that the Europeans are now unbeatable. and that fielding a "Rest of the World" team against Europe is the only way to provide a fair contest.
A spokesman from the American Professional Golfers Association, said "In 1977, Jack Nicklaus approached the US and GB&I PGAs with the suggestion that GB&I should amalgamate with the rest of Europe to upgrade the competitive level. At that time, the US had won all but one outing from 1959 to 1977, and the Ryder Cup was beginning to look like a one-sided contest. In 1979 Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido were the first Europeans to play in a Ryder Cup team. It now looks like the tables have turned, and it is the USA who need some assistance against the Europeans."
A spokesman for the World Professional Golfers Association said "Five out of the current Top Ten in the World Rankings are from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji. These players would dearly love to play in the Ryder Cup. Our discussions with the Americans are reaching their final stages, and we look forward to playing the Europeans at Celtic Manor."
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