August 2006 Archive

Thursday 31st August 2006

MACHRIHANISH MONSTER UNTAMED SO FAR IN SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
The Machrihanish links, even off the par-72 women’s tees, with a bit of a breeze blowing proved a bit of a monster for the over-50s in the first round of the Scottish senior women’s amateur stroke-play championship today (THURSDAY).
Only four players broke 80 with Ladybank’s Lorna Bennett, pictured right, leading the field with a 77.
One behind were the defending champion Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Fiona De Vries. Moira Thomson (North Berwick) was two off the pace with an 80.
Scotland senior international Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) strained her back taking her caddie car out of her car boot – and she struggled round in 88.
There were some high scores at individual holes but, paradoxically, there was a very low score at the 159yd 16th – a hole in one by Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) with her driver.
The stroke-play championship is over 36 holes at the end of which the 16 leading players will go forward to contest the match-play championship in what is now a four-day programme.
SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Machrihanish Golf Club.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
77 L Bennett (Ladybank).
78 F De Vries (St Rule), P Williamson (Baberton).
79 M Thomson (North Berwick).
80 A Smart (Banchory).
81 H Faulds (Douglas Park), L Terry (Cruden Bay), R Brown (Lothianburn).
82 A Telfer (Milngavie), R Dee (Kingsknowe).
83 J McCartney (Erskine).
84 J Paterson (Drumpellier), N Smith (Downfield), I Harvey (St Rule), E Campbell (Torwoodlee), W MacCallum (Falkirk).
85 P Wilson (Murcar Links), R Anderson (Hntly).
86 E Wilson (Elie &Earslferry), M Tough (Falkirk), K Sutherland (Royal Montrose), S McGregor (Edzell).
87 A Moffat (St Regulus), K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park).
88 J Mack (Haggs Castle), J Slater (Aboyne), S Quinn (Stirling), N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh).
89 A Brownie (Lothianburn), P Hutton (Lanark), I Crawford (Troon Ladies), V Watt (Torwoodlee).
90 M Neilson (Greenock).
91 I McIntosh (Inverness).
93 M MacNaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies), S Coster (Hilton Park), I Chapman (Forfar), M Clapperton (Banchory), S Hodge (Aberdeen Ladies), J Wheeler (Aberdeen Ladies).
94 E Young (Balmore).
95 E Fisken (Nairn), N Duncan (Brechin), P McGunnigle (Banchory), M Robinson (Murcar Links), H Kelly (Ladies Panmure Barry).

ONLY TWO SCOTS LIKELY TO BEAT THE THIRD-ROUND CUT IN HAMBURG
Only two of the six Scots in the field – Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), pictured right, and Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), below left, – are likely to survive the third-round cut in the European women’s amateur individual golf championship at Hamburg Falkenstein Golf Club in Germany.
Krystle dropped out of the top 20 to joint 39th place with a 76 for seven-over-par 149. She birdied the second and 13th but had a double-bogey 6 at the 14th in halves of 40 and 36.
Gemma also had a double-bogey 6, at the 12th , but had birdies either side in halves of 38 and 36 for a 74 and a halfway tally of 150. She is in joint 45th place.
Only the leading 70 and ties in a field of 136 after Friday’s third round will go forward to the final 18 holes.
That means Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) in joint 82nd place on 154 (79-75), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) in joint 88th place on 155 (73-82), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) in 106th spot on 158 (82-76) and Clare-marie Carlton (Stirling University) in joint 111th place on 160 (78-82) need to make big improvements to beat the cut.
Jenna Wilson had the biggest fall from grace. Her 82 included a quadruple bogey 8 at the fifth and a double-bogey 7 at the 17th in halves of 43 and 39.
Germany’s Thea Hoffmeister took over the lead with a 69 for three-under-par 139.
Leading British players are England’s Kerry Smith and Welsh Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks in joint seventh place on 143. Kerry has scored 71 and 72 while Breanne had 73 and 70.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 71
139 T Hoffmeister (Ger) 70 69.
140 S Cologan (Spa) 66 74.
141 B Mozo (Spa) 69 72.
142 L Matthews (Can) 70 72, S Kirchmayr (Ger) 73 69.
143 C Ciganda (Spa) 70 73, I Boineau (Fra) 69 74, K Smith (Eng) 71 72, A Rossi (Ita) 72 71, C Masson (Ger) 74 69, B Loucks (Wal) 73 70, S Maier (Ger) 71 72, K Schallenberg (Ger) 73 70.
144 S Hassan (Wal) 73 71, B Buendia (Spa) 72 72.
145 F Parker (Eng) 73 72, A Munoz (Spa) 70 75, I Wilke (Ger) 72 73, Z Masinova (Ita) 74 71, C Hedwall (Swe) 74 71, E Westrup (Swe) 70 75, M Hernandez (Spa) 73 72.
Other scores:
146 M Bourdie (Fra) 72 74.
147 J Schaeffer (Fra) 74 73.
149 M Reid (Eng) 74 75.
149 K Caithness (Sco) 73 76.
150 G Webster (Sco) 76 74.
151 S Walker (Eng) 75 76,.
152 J Nicolson (Wal) 79 73.
152 N Edswards (Eng) 76 76.
154 H MacRae (Sco) 79 75, F Johnson (Eng) 75 79.
156 S Evans (Wal) 75 81.
158 K Walker (Sco) 82 76.
160 C-M Carlton (Sco) 78 82.

ANNE LAING IN IRELAND TO MAKE GUEST LADIES CUP APPEARANCE FOR CORK
Left out of the Scotland women’s home international squad this week, three times Scottish champion Anne Laing will be making a guest appearance for Cork Golf Club this weekend in the national finals of the Suzuki All-Ireland Ladies Cup at Massereene Golf Club, Antrim.
Cork, with past Curtis Cup player Anne and Claire Coughlan, who played in this summer’s Curtis Cup match in Oregon, are obviously the favourites.
Cork face Royal County Down in Saturday first semi-final. Royal County Down will not lack confidence, however. Earlier in the tournament, they toppled Royal Portrush, champions for the past three years.
If any side can beat Cork it could be top seeds The Currah with Irish internationals Maura Morrin, Sinead Keane and Marian Riordan in their line-up. Their Saturday semi-final will be against the winners of Friday’s supplementary play-off between County Louth, champions of Leinster, and Roscommon, champions of Connacht.
Friday 2nd September Play-off 1pm. Co. Louth -v- Roscommon.
Saturday 3rd September Semi-finals 8am. Cork -v- Royal Co. Down Ladies., 8.40. The Curragh -v- Co Louth or Roscommon.
Final 2pm: Winners of semi-final 1 -v- winners of semi-final 2

IRISH UNDER-15 BOYS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Balbriggan Golf Club.
FINAL TOTALS
142: I Keane (Malahide) 72 70.
144: R McGee (City of Derry) 73 71.
145: R Whitson (Mourne) 76 69.
148: G McGee (Malone) 76 72.
149: D Mallon (Dungannon) 76 73, M O'Connor (England) 73 76, P Dunne (Greystones) 73 76, Q Carew (Edenderry) 72 77.
150: N McGlynn (Seafield) 77 73, M Mulhall (Royal Tara) 77 73, M Durcan (Co Sligo) 76 74, P McGlone (Dunmurry) 75 75, S O'Hara (Co Sligo) 72 78.
151: D McElroy (Ballymena) 78 73, C Dowling (Mallow) 76 75, S Cannon (Athenry) 75 76.
152: P Walsh (West Waterford) 79 73, C Selfridge (Moyola Park) 78 74, J Taylor (Shandon Park) 75 77.
153: A Darragh (Dunmurry) 76 77, B Stow (England) 76 77, C Fairweather (Knock) 76 77.
154: K Egan (Curragh) 81 73, C Hansom (Limerick) 76 78, C Finnerty (Corrstown) 74 80.
155: M Fanning (Co Louth) 81 74, D O'Sullivan (Strandhill) 78 77, S O'Connor (Skerries) 77 78, C O'Sullivan (Fota Island) 75 80.
156: W Chambers (England) 78 78, D Byrne (Athenry) 77 79.
157: H McHugh (Skerries) 80 77, J Pierse (Grange) 79 78, D Graham (Shandon Park) 77 80, B Graham (Canada) 76 81, A Stewart (Bangor) 76 81, S Brown (Athy) 74 83.
158: M McKnight (Lisburn) 80 78, P Higgins (Sutton) 80 78, C Glynn (Lucan) 78 80, D Cuddy (Castlebar) 77 81.
159: C Cahill (Navan) 79 80, A Welsh (Knock) 77 82.

TOP SCOTS TACKLE THE LEADING CONTINENTAL STARS IN DUKE OF YORK TROPHY FIELD
Top Scots prospects Carly Booth (Comrie), James White (Lundin) and Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) will get the chance to measure up to the leading Continental star teenagers in The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy over three rounds at Loch Lomond Golf Club's links course, Dundonald, near Troon from September 12 to 14.
Carly will have three of her Junior Ryder Cup team-mates to beat, including Saskia Hausladen (Germany), winner of the European Young Masters gils championship in which the Perthshire 14-year-old finished third.
Miss Booth has enrolled at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida and will fly back to Scotland to play in the "invitation only" Duke of York Trophy event and then go on to the Junior Ryder Cup match against the United States at Celtic Manor.
McAllister and White will cross swords again with the leading England players they beat to win the boys' home international title for Scotland at Lossiemouth three weeks ago.
The notable exception will be Matthew Nixon, the 17-year-old from Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester who was not thought good enough to play for England - and then came to Scotland to win the British boys' championship at Royal Aberdeen a fortnight ago.
The Duke of York, a single-figure handicap golfer, attends the tournament, watches the play - he was struck on the ankle by a stray golf ball at Kingsbarns two years ago and hosts an official dinner for the boys and girls.

SGU Press Release
REVIEW REPORT RECOMMENDS SINGLE MANAGEMENT BODY TO RUN SCOTTISH AMATEUR GOLF
An independent report has recommended that the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) should be run by a single management body rather than the existing board and executive council.
That suggestion came from the working group chaired by Sir Craig Reedie that was commissioned by the SGU in September 2005 to consider the governance of Scottish amateur golf’s governing body.
In its conclusions and recommendations the group said that for the SGU to work smoothly, swiftly and effectively ‘its structure must be as uncomplicated as possible in order that the management can make best possible use of its resources and keep the organisation on the move to achieve its goals’.
To that end the report suggests unifying the existing board and executive council into an enlarged board of twelve. The existing board consists of seven members appointed because of their past experience to fulfill specific advisory roles (e.g. finance, performance etc), plus the President and Chief Executive.
The process for selection of these seven members involves every club and Area being invited to nominate candidates they feel are suitable for the specific role. Under the recommendations the existing nine members would be augmented by the Vice President and two other directors who would be appointed by and be direct representatives of the Areas. All board appointments will continue to require ratification by the Areas so the whole board will continue to work on behalf of the Areas and amateur golf in Scotland.
The report also recommends improvements in our communication processes, more flexibility in the appointment of sub committee members and limits on the length of time that sub committee members can serve without a break.
It is now down to the 16 Areas as shareholders to decide, after consultation with their member clubs, whether to adopt any or all of the report’s recommendations.
SGU chairman Alistair Low and SGU President Gordon McInnes both welcomed the report’s findings, saying they believed it will ‘significantly improve the governance of golf in Scotland’.
Gordon McInnes added, “I believe these proposed changes would enable the Union to continue to attract able and committed volunteers to assist in the governance of our affairs in the future.”
It is expected that each Area will be seeking the views of the clubs in their region on this report. Where possible this is likely to be achieved at the relevant Area AGM or a specific meeting held for this purpose over the next two to three months. It is anticipated that final decisions on the recommendations will be taken early in the new year.
NOTES:
For further information, please see the summary of the Reedie Group Report on the Governance of the Scottish Golf Union below:
The Group was set up in September 2005 by the Chairman and President of SGU.
It was chaired by Sir Craig Reedie, the other members being Charles Philip and Donald Turner.
The terms of reference were: “To consider the constitution of SGU and the governance of men’s amateur golf in Scotland and to make recommendations as appropriate.”
The Group consulted widely with Areas, clubs and members of the Board and Executive Council of SGU.

The principle recommendations of the report are as follows:

• That the SGU adopts a common purpose or vision as its over arching aspiration;
• That the existing system of clubs being represented through the existing sixteen Areas should continue;
• That future expansion of SGU activities be supported by appropriate professional staff;
• That the existing Board and Executive Council should be amalgamated in a unified board of twelve members consisting of seven members selected for their expertise in specific fields and the President and Chief Executive of SGU, (i.e. the board as at present constituted) augmented by the Vice President and two Area representatives appointed by the Areas from Area committees;
• That members of subcommittees should, like Board members, serve for a maximum of two three year periods;
• That Areas should develop succession plans for Area committees;
• That Area constitutions should be reviewed to bring about a measure of consistency;
• That a review of SGU communication policy should be carried out;
• That a review of the clubgolf programme should be undertaken with particular reference to communication with Areas; and
• That the enlarged Board should host a six monthly meeting of Area representatives to canvass opinion and report on activities and planned developments.

DALMAHOY REWARD FOR CLUBGOLF YOUNGSTERS
Over 100 Lothian primary school children experiencing golf on the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf have been given the unique opportunity to experience the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club this weekend as a reward for their commitment to the programme.
Created as a lasting legacy of Scotland's bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2014, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.
The children heading to Dalmahoy have been introduced to the sport in school via clubgolf's introductory game, firstclubgolf. Played with multi-coloured clubs, rubberized balls and Velcro targets, firstclubgolf has been designed as a safe and exciting introduction to the game for nine year olds. Children who enjoy the experience can progress to the second level of the player development pathway, hosted by their local clubs.
At Dalmahoy, the children will have the opportunity to watch the professionals in action, receive coaching from the Hotel’s professionals and test out their skills on the clubgolf practice area.
"We have invited children from schools and clubs in the East of Scotland in recognition of their commitment to the clubgolf strategy," said Sheila Lamb, clubgolf East of Scotland Regional Manager.
"We are very grateful to the organisers and sponsors of the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open for welcoming us. I have no doubt these children will have an experience which will inspire them to continue developing their skills.”
Said Scott Dixon, Head Professional at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, “Dalmahoy understands the importance of developing junior golf as well as creating strong links with children and schools in the surrounding area.
“We recognize the fantastic work clubgolf does and this is the reason we have invited them to be a part of the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open. Dalmahoy also plans in the coming year to strengthen our links with clubgolf and use Dalmahoy as a coaching centre for children in the surrounding area.

Wednesday 30th August 2006

KRYSTLE AND JENNA TOP SCOTS AS SPANIARD (66) GOES CLEAR
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
One of the “lesser” Spanish leading lights, Sandra Cologan, outshone the field with a five-under-par 66 in the first round of the European women’s individual amateur golf championship at Hamburg Falkenstein Golf Club in Germany today (WED).
Sandra’s excellent halves of 33 opened up a three-shot lead over compatriot Belen Mozo, winner of both the British women’s and girls’ open titles this summer, and Isabelle Boineau (France).
Scottish Under-21 champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) did not do too badly at all with two-over-par 73s but such is the high quality of this field of 136 that they are barely in the top 20 going into the second of four rounds.
Jenna had a problem with the short holes. She dropped shots at both the short 10th and short 15th but did well to birdie the 17th to get home in 36.
Keystle Caithness had two early birdies, at the fourth and seventh, dropping only a shot at the ninth to turn in one-under-par 35. But her inward half contained bogeys at the 11th, 14th and 17th.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) had a pair of 6s at the two early long holes on her way to a 79.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) had a double-bogey 6 at the first. She finished on 81.
Defending champion Jade Schaeffer (France) started with a 74.
The field will be cut to the leading 70 and ties after the third round.
EUROPEAN WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Hamburg Falkenstein Golf Club, Germany.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (36-35).
66 S Cologan (Spa) 33-33.
69 I Boineau (Fra) 33-36, B Mozo (Spa) 35-34.
70 E Westrup (Swe) 36-34, L Matthews (Can) 36-34, T Hoffmeister (Ger) 37-33, A Munoz (Spa) 35-35, C Ciganda (Spa) 34-36.
71 K Smith (Eng) 33-38, S Endstrasserr (Aut) 35-36, S Maier (Ger) 34-37.
72 M Bourdie (Fra) 37-35, B Buendia (Spa) 35-37, M Silva (Spa) 37-35, A Rossi (Ita) 35-37.
73 J Wilson (Sco) 37-36, K Van Leeuwin (Net) 36-37, L Gustafsson (Swe) 39-34, F Parker (Eng) 37-36, B Loucks (Wal) 37-36, S Kirchmayr (Ger) 39-34, C Afonso (Fra) 37-36, M Hernandez (Spa) 36-37, C Girgnolo (Ita) 37-36, K Caithness (Sco) 35-38, S Doring (Ger) 39-34, K Schallenberg (Ger) 37-36, M Hochwimmer (Aut) 37-36, D Graff (Ger) 35-38.
Other scores:
74 M Reid (Eng) 36-38, J Schaeffer (Fra) 37-37.
75 S Evans (Wal) 39-36, S Walker (Eng) 37-38, F Johnson (Eng) 41-34.
76 N Edwards (Eng) 38-38, G Webster (Sco) 39-37.
78 C-M Carlton (Sco) 40-38.
79 H MacRae (Sco) 41-38.
81 K Walker (Sco) 42-39.

SCOTS NAME TEAM FOR WOMEN’S WORLD AMATEUR TEAM EVENT
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has named a team of three to play in the Espirito Santo Trophy women’s world amateur team championship over four rounds of stroke-play at De Zalze and Stellenbosch Golf Clubs, South Africa from October 18 to 21.
They are:
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) is reserve.
The team will be captained by former Curtis Cup player and past British amateur champion, Alison Davidson (Stirling).
This will be the first time a Scotland team has competed in the biennial women’s world amateur team championship since the early days of the tournament in the 1960s. Since then a Great Britain & Ireland team represented Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

PAMELA BIDS FOR SENIORS’ DOUBLE WHAMMY REPEAT AT MACHRIHANISH
Baberton’s Pamela Williamson is bidding to win the Scottish senior women’s stroke-play title for the fourth time in all at Machrihanish Golf Club tomorrow.
Pamela won the title at East Renfrewshire in 1999, Crail in 2002 and Grantown-on-Spey last year when she had a shot to spare over Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) at the end of the 36-hole event.
Last year was the first time that the programme was extended to four days to introduce a match-play championship, contested by the leading 16 players in the stroke-play event.
Mrs Williamson won the match-play title as well 12 months ago, beating Moira Thomson (North Berwick) in the final.
A field of 90 competitors have made the long haul down to Machrihanish. A good time will be had by all, whatever the scores and results on the golf course!

Press Release
World Golf Hall of Fame to Welcome Five New Members Oct. 30
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player Among Returning Members
St. Augustine, Fla. (August 29, 2006) – The World Golf Hall of Fame will welcome five new members into the Hall of Fame at its annual Induction Ceremony Monday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. The Class of 2006, which includes Larry Nelson, Vijay Singh, Marilynn Smith and the late Mark McCormack and Henry Picard, will bring the Hall of Fame’s membership to 114.
“The five inductees entering the Hall of Fame this year are truly deserving of the honor,” said Jack Peter, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. “The contributions and successes each has brought to the sport have added a great deal to its history. We look forward to their stories being recognized at the ceremony as well as being preserved in detail throughout the museum.”
Selected in the Lifetime Achievement category, McCormack, the founder of IMG, will be introduced by Hall of Fame Member Arnold Palmer. Palmer became McCormack’s first client in 1960, initiating the era of sports management and marketing that was the foundation for IMG, considered the world’s foremost sports, entertainment and media company. Until McCormack’s death in 2003, Palmer remained one of McCormack’s closest friends.
Nelson, elected on the 2006 PGA TOUR ballot, will be introduced by Hall of Fame Member and Global Ambassador Gary Player. Nelson credits a Player-written golf tip as serving to inspire him early in his golf career. For years, Nelson has regarded Player as a close friend and an individual who is a “consummate professional.”
Picard, the Veteran’s category selection, will be introduced by Hall of Fame Member Beth Daniel. Picard, a highly respected teacher, worked with Daniel on her game at the Country Club of Charleston, where they were both members.
Singh, elected on the 2005 PGA TOUR ballot, will be introduced by Ted Forstmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IMG Worldwide, Inc. Partners in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am since 1993 and in the Dunhill Links Championship for over six years, Singh and Forstmann share a business relationship and close friendship.
Smith, a Lifetime Achievement inductee and one of the 13 original founders of the LPGA, will be introduced at the ceremony by Hall of Fame member Kathy Whitworth. Whitworth and Smith enjoy a friendship and camaraderie having played against each other in the 1960s and 70s.
The 2006 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on the outdoor lawn near the Hall of Fame at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. For more information on the ceremony or 2006 Class of Inductees, call 904-940-4123 or visit www.wgv.com.

Tuesday 29th August 2006

FORMER SCOTTISH GOLF UNION SECRETARY IAN HUME DIES IN EDINBURGH HOSPICE
J W “Ian” Hume, former secretary of the Scottish Golf Union, died today (TUESDAY) in an Edinburgh hospice.
Born in Edinburgh in 1947, Ian spent all his working life in the city. He became a member of Broomieknowe Golf Club in 1966 and served six years on its council before being appointed to the executive of the Lothians Golf Association in 1975.
He succeeded Archie Jamieson, who died in August, 1985, as secretary of the Scottish Golf Union on January 1, 1986. At the age of 38, he was one of the youngest ever to hold the post.
For many years, the Scottish Golf Union full-time staff consisted of Ian Hume, Graham Ewart as championship secretary and two ladies/women who looked after the small office’s administration near the Royal Burgess Golfing Society clubhouse at Barnton, Edinburgh.
When the SGU moved its headquarters from Edinburgh to Drumoig in 1999, Ian retired as secretary. He emigrated to New Zealand and returned to Edinburgh only about a month ago.
Gordon McInnes, president of the Scottish Golf Union, paid tribute to Ian tonight when he said: “I always found him to be a very level-headed man in all aspects of golf administration.”
Ian is survived by his sister.

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

BUSA ANNOUNCES TEAMS TO COMPETE AT THE 2006 WORLD UNIVERSITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
The British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) today listed its men’s and women’s teams to represent Great Britain at the 11th World University Golf Championships staged at Circolo Golf Torino, Italy from the 5th – 9th September 2006. Details of individual players are below.
18 teams from across the globe will compete for individual and team titles in men’s and women’s golf over 72-holes around the challenging course that hosts regularly the Italian Open, a renowned European Tour event.
GB last medalled at the event in 2000 when it was hosted at Castle Rock, Northern Ireland. Although team selection has been hindered somewhat with the event clashing with the Men’s Home Internationals, Team Manager, Raleigh Gowrie is optimistic.
He commented:
“Selection for this tournament is just reward for the players’ efforts in student and mainstream golf competitions over the past 12-months. I am sure that the players will enjoy the occasion and if they can play to their potential then there is every chance of gaining success in both the men’s and women’s events.”
This year’s crop of players follow in the footsteps of many notable performers that have taken part in the World Universities event, including British Amateur champions Gordon Sherry and Stuart Wilson, Solheim Cup players Catriona Matthew and Maria Hjorth and European Tour regulars Graeme McDowell and Oliver Wilson.
Greg Norman Clothing has kindly agreed to provide team kit and Sunderland of Scotland is to provide waterproofs to the team members. Both companies are strong supporters of student golf in Britain over the past 2 years and are keen to expand their involvement in this growing market.
You can follow the progress of the Great Britain teams by logging on to the tournament website at http://www.wucgolf2006.com .

Monday 28th August 2006

ANNE LAING “DISAPPOINTED” TO BE LEFT
OUT OF SCOTLAND TEAM FOR HOME NATIONALS
BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Anne Laing, the 32-year-old Vale of Leven player, who played in seven Scottish women’s amateur championship finals since 1996 – winning three of them, has been left out of the Scotland team of eight for the women’s home internationals at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire from September 13 to 15.
First capped for Scotland at Wrexham in 1995, Anne has missed only one home internationals series since then, in 2000 at Royal St David’s when she was ruled out with a broken collar bone.
“I’m very disappointed,"said Anne who was called before the weekend by SLGA chairman Margaret Rodgers to break the news that she did not figure in the selectors' team for the internationals.
“I didn’t play well in the ‘British’ at Royal County Down but I did reach the final of the Scottish championship at Dunbar and I was the top Scot in fifth place in the Irish women’s open stroke-play at the end of June. I couldn’t make it to the British stroke-play last week in Kent because of my work commitments,” said Miss Laing who also lost her place in the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team this year.
To the SLGA's credit, Margaret Rodgers also phoned the other players who might have felt they would be in the team ... but weren't, Kylie Walker, Gemma Webster, Fiona Lockhart, to break the news to them.
It is a team – to be captained by Margaret Macnaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies) since the resignation of Fiona Anderson, skipper for the past two years – with a young look about it.
The average age would have been even lower had 14-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie) been available.
“Carly has to be at Celtic Manor for the Junior Ryder Cup match on Friday, September 15 and she is also playing at Dundonald in the The Duke of York Young Champions’ tournament which finishes on September 14. She is coming back from the USA to fulfil these commitments,” said Mrs Rodgers.
Carly is now a pupil – alongwith Sally Watson – at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.
The Scotland team, with ages, is:
Sara Bishop (Windyhill) 30, Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) 17, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 23, Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) 22, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 17, Martine Pow (Selkirk) 41, Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 15, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 22.
Reserves: 1 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 30, Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 20, 3 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 15.

Compared with the Scotland team who beat Ireland and Wales but lost to England 5-4 at Dundalk last year, Anne Laing, Fiona Lockhart, Kylie Walker and Gemma Webster have been dropped while Clare Queen has since turned professional.
Sara Bishop, Dunbartonshire & Argyll champion for three of the past four years and runner-up in the British women’s mid-amateur championship last year, and Scottish Under-18 match-play champion Roseanne Niven are the new caps at this level.
Sally Watson, 14 at the time, was a member of the Scotland team 12 months ago at Dundalk but was not given a game. Sally, Scottish girls’ match-play champion in 2005, was beaten finalist in the British girls championship at Portstewart a couple of weeks ago.

Draw for East of Scotland Girls Autumn Meeting at Kilspindie on Sunday 3rd September.

VETS’ FIELD FOR BLAIRGOWRIE
The line-up for the quarter-finals of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship at Blairgowrie on Sunday, September 24 has now been finalised.
The eight competitors has each won an area championship final this summer.
The draw is:
1.33 Jean Brydson (Castle Douglas & Galloway) v Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh & East).
1.40 Margaret McGregor (Dumfries and Co & Dumfries-shire) v Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee & Borders).
1.48 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose & North) v Vivien Welsh (Elgin & Highland).
1.55 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park & West) v Fiona De Vries (St Rule & Midland).

Royal Dornoch’s Lady captain, Margaret Bagott is surrounded by her team members (with exception of Cara Gruber) who won both Trophies in the Caithness /Sutherland Inter Club competition over their home course on Saturday; left to right, Trish Weekes, Claire Riddell, Moira Rennie, Margaret Baggott, Christine Ramsey, Elizabeth Coghill and Annette Strauss.
[Photo courtesy: Robin Wilson]

Double Trophy Success for Royal Dornoch’s Ladies
FROM ROBIN WILSON
Royal Dornoch’s women’s club champion and course record holder Cara Gruber, fired her team mates into a decisive 21-stroke win to bring the Ord Salver back out of Caithness custody for the first time in four years at the Caithness/ Sutherland women’s in the county club competition at Royal Dornoch.
Gruber, who plays with a handicap of plus one and scored 75 beat the course par
by a shot and was two below the Competition Scratch Score of 77 to lower her handicap even further. Her eagle three at the 4th hole and birdie at the ninth more than cancelled her bogies at the first, second and 8th holes for an outward 38. a birdie two at the 10th hole was the start of a rock solid inward 37.
Her fellow members in the Royal Dornoch first team were Liz Coghill (91) Claire Riddell (93) and Lady captain Margaret Bagott (98) who combined for the three out of four score total of 259.
The Royal Dornoch second team of Annette Strauss (87, nett 74), Trish Weekes (87 nett 72), Christine Ramsey (101nett 87) and Moira Rennie (105 nett 88) for a scratch total of 275 were actually scratch runners up to their first team but they made it a double Dornoch success when they were awarded the Beatrice Trophy for the best handicap aggregate of 233 from their three best nett scores.
As a result the Wick number one team of Marion MacKay (90), Deirdre MacAngus (91), Carol Place (99) and Doreen Cormack (102) were awarded second scratch place for their three score total of 280.
Golspie with a 54 hole nett total of 235 were placed second handicap, Lesley Cranna (29) 72, Anne Macrae (11) 78, Caroline Logie (23) 85, Fiona More (20) 89.

I'M SPEECHLESS SAYS RAMSAY AFTER WINNING THE UNITED STATES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
REPORT FROM THE USGA WEBSITE
(with some additional words by Colin Farquharson)
(photo from USGA website)
Richie Ramsay, 23, from Aberdeen won four of six holes with birdies to take a 3-up lead after 13 holes and then held on the rest of the way to beat John Kelly, 21, of St. Louis, Missouri, 4 and 2, in the 36-hole final of the U.S. amateur championship Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska in Minnesota on Sunday.
Ramsay becomes the first Scot since 1898 to win the Amateur championship, earning a place in the next U.S. Open and Open, and a likely invitation to play in the next US Masters tournament - if he remains an amateur, which is very likely as he wants to play in next year's Walker Cup match at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
Kelly cut Ramsay’s lead to 1 up in the afternoon round with a winning birdie on the 21st hole, but could get no closer. The match ended on the 34th green, when Kelly conceded Ramsay’s 12-footer for birdie after his own birdie putt from just a bit farther away lipped out.
"I can’t believe my name is going to be on that trophy," said Ramsay, the winner of the 2005 Irish Amateur Stroke Play Tournament. "I’m quite speechless right now and close to tears. Everything went according to plan. I can’t believe it!
"I think this could have a big impact on Scottish golf," Ramsay continued. "I’m just a guy from Aberdeen who loves playing golf. I work hard at it, and it just shows what someone can do when they put their mind to something. I think the celebration will last quite a while when I get home."
Three of the last four US amateur champions have been foreign-born, with Ramsay joining 2003 winner Nick Flanagan of Australia and 2005 winner Edoardo Molinari of Italy.
Ramsay was unstoppable in the afternoon, hitting all but two fairways and all but one green.
"He stuck it to me all day," said Kelly, a senior at the University of Missouri and the 2006 Missouri Stroke Play champion. "But I can’t be too disappointed. I was a nobody and now I’m a somebody, I think."
Ramsey and Kelly each won two of the first eight holes, but Ramsey’s birdie on the par-3 eighth started a three-hole run that put him comfortably ahead at 2 up. He took advantage of Kelly’s misfortune on the ninth and won the hole when Kelly conceded his 15-foot putt for birdie, and then sank a 20-footer for a winning birdie on the 10th.
Ramsay also took the 13th by concession when Kelly missed his tee shot to the right and needed two chips to get on the green. Ramsay had again put the pressure on by hitting his long-iron tee shot to within 18 feet of the hole.
"Without being big-headed, if I go out and play my game and play the shots that are in my bag, there’s no reason why I can’t win," said Ramsay earlier in the week. "You’ve got to think you can win."
Kelly trimmed Ramsay’s lead to 2 up at the halfway point when Ramsay putted his 50-foot birdie chance off the green and made a bogey to lose the 17th hole, his first bogey since the first hole of the day. It would be his last.
He was the equivalent of three under par for his morning round, with the usual concessions given for match play. He finished the equivalent of six under par for 34 holes over the longest US amateur course ever, a 7,473-yard layout that has been host to the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Open and the 2002 US PGA Championship.
Tony Jacklin won the US Open at Hazeltine National in 1970.
A senior at Scotland’s University of Stirling who will graduate in December with a marketing degree, Ramsay was the more experienced of the two finalists. He was among the 10 top amateurs chosen to the 2005 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, even though his memories are bitter sweet.
His team lost to the USA amateurs and Ramsay was not selected to play in any of the 16 singles matches over the two-day competition. Ramsay hasn’t forgotten the experience.
"I’ve had the 2007 Walker Cup in the back of my mind ever since," said Ramsay, who is committed to staying an amateur until at least September 2007.
Kelly’s claim to fame before this week was his state title and a local win at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis.
"I haven’t done a whole lot, I’ll admit that in my career up to this point, but I believe in my game and I believe I’m a good player," said Kelly. "That counts for just as much as anything. If you believe that you’re a good player, I think that’s huge."
Ramsay was most awed by winning a spot in the 2007 Open, which will be played at Carnoustie, an hour’s drive from his home in Aberdeen, where he is a member at Royal Aberdeen.
His hometown friend, Paul Lawrie, won the Open at Carnoustie in 1999. And he encouraged Ramsay throughout the seven-day championship with daily text messages.
It worked.
The US amateur championship is the oldest of the 13 national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association, and notable Amateur winners include Bob Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods (three years in a row in the 1990s).
The last Scot to reach the final was Jack McLean in 1936 when he lost to American Johnny Fisher at the 37th. Stymies were still an important part of match-play golf in those days and it was a stymie that contributed to Jack's defeat.

Ladies European tour
LAURA DAVIES WINS SAS MASTERS
(photo from LET website)
Laura Davies, now 42, scored her first win on the Ladies European Tour for more than two years when she won the SAS Masters by six shots at Oslo Golf Club, Norway on Sunday.
Laura had rounds of 69, 68 and 68 for 11-under-par 205 to win the title and the 30,000 Euros first prize.
Belgium's Ellen Smets was runner-up with 72, 69 and 70 for 211.
Lynn Kenny earned 800 Euros for joint 52nd place with scores of 74, 74 and 78 for 10-over-par 226.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon scored 73, 75 and 80 for 228. She earned 630 Euros.

FUTURES TOUR SCOREBOARD
Final round scores in the Duramed FUTURES Tour's Gettysburg Championship at the 6460-yard, par 72 The Links At Gettysburg course
1 Song-Hee Kim (Seoul, Korea) 72-66-68 - 206 $10,500(play-off)
2 Jin Young Pak (Kang Leung, Korea)67-68-71 - 206 $7,500
3 Kristy McPherson (Conway, South Carolina)73-64-71 - 208 $5,550
4 Angela Park (Torrance, California) 71-72-66 - 209 $4,425
Also:
T25 Samantha Head (Bedford) 77-68-73 - 218 $662

Sunday 27th August 2006

ABERDONIAN RICHIE WINS 36-HOLE FINAL AT HAZELTINE NATIONAL BY 4 AND 2
Royal Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay has put himself into the golfing history books by becoming the first Scot over 100 years to win the United States amateur golf championship.
The 23-year-old Stirling University student was always in the driving seat in the 36-hole finale over the tough Hazeltine National course at Chaska, Minnesota against 21-year-old John Kelly from St Louis Missouri and won the title and the Havemeyer Trophy by 4 and 2
Richie played superlative golf over a monster course. He was three under par and two up at the end of the first 18 holes.
He was three under par for the second round when he ended the match with a birdie at the 34th hole.
Ramsay thus earns the right to play in next year’s US Masters, the US Open and the Open at Carnoustie – if he remains an amateur.
Prior to the final, Richie said he wanted to play in next year’s Walker Cup match and only after that would he enter the qualifying process which would make him a tour pro eventually.
Some 36 years ago, the Hazeltine National course, which has par-5s over 600 yards long, was the scene of Tony Jacklin’s epic win over the Americans in the 1970 US Open.
Now a Scot – the first to contest the final since Jack McLean lost to Johnny Fisher at the 37th in 1936 – has capped a glory week by winning one of the most coveted golf titles in the world.
Tiger Woods won the US amateur championship three years in a row in the mid-1990s.
Ramsay won four of six holes with birdies to take a three hole lead before Kelly trimmed it back to two holes at the lunch-time break.
Ramsay is the first Scot to win the US amateur since Findlay Douglas from St Andrews in 1898. Two of the last three US amateur champions have been foreign-born –- Nick Flanagan of Australia in 2003 and Edoardo Molinari of Italy in 2005.
Ramsey and Kelly each won two of the first eight holes, but Ramsey’s birdie on the par-3 eighth started a three-hole run that put him comfortably ahead. He took advantage of Kelly’s misfortune on the ninth and won the hole when Kelly conceded his 15-foot putt for birdie, and then sank a 20-footer for a winning birdie on the 10th.
Ramsay, whose biggest wins prior to this were in the Scottish open amateur stroke-play championship at Lundin Links and the Irish open amateur stroke-play championship, also took the 13th by concession when Kelly missed his approach to the right and needed two chips to get on the green. Ramsay had again put the pressure on by hitting his long-iron tee shot to within 18 feet of the hole.
"Without being big-headed, if I go out and play my game and play the shots that are in my bag, there’s no reason why I can’t win," said Ramsay earlier in the week. "You’ve got to think you can win."
Kelly trimmed Ramsay’s lead by making a two-putt birdie on the 313-yard par-4 14th, but Kelly found trouble again on the 16th, hitting his 6-irionn approach into the hazard behind the green, and Ramsay needed only an easy par to move back to 3 up.
Ramsay putted his 50-foot birdie chance off the green and made a bogey to lose the 17th hole, his first bogey since the first hole of the day. He was the equivalent of 3-under-par for his morning round, with the usual concessions given for match play.
A senior at Stirling University, Ramsay will graduate in December with a marketing degree.
In last year’s Walker Cup match at Chicago, Ramsay partnered his golfing buddy Lloyd Saltman in the foursomes but did not get a game in the singles on either day.
"I’ve had the 2007 Walker Cup in the back of my mind ever since," said Ramsay, who is committed to staying an amateur until at least September 2007.
Kelly’s claim to fame before this week was his win at the 2006 Missouri Stroke Play Championship.
Ramsay is a good friend of Paul Lawrie who has been encouraging him every day with text messages.
Check out US Amateur website.

LAURA MURRAY WINS AGAIN AT INVERNESS
Alford’s Laura Murray kept her run of success going at Inverness Golf Club today (Sunday) when she won the Ness Open 36-hole women’s tournament by four strokes.
During the week, Laura, who turned 18 earlier this month won the SLGA county open meeting at Inchmarlo a couple of days after capturing the North of Scotland girls’ title at Kirriemuir.
Miss Murray, who turned down the chance of going to an American college and will enrol at Robert Gordon University next month, had rounds of 72 and 77 for a total of 149.
Another teenager, Jane Turner (Mortonhall) was runner-up with 73 and 80 for 153.
Nairn Dunbar’s Laura Walker, a former Scottish girls’ match-play champion was third on 157 with 80 and 77.
[Laura is pictured right with Sam Skinner, a representative of Norcom who sponsored the tournament. Photo courtesy Isobel McIntosh]
NESS WOMEN’S OPEN – Inverness GC
Leading totals (CSS 74 & reduction only)
149 L Murray (Alford) 72 77.
153 J Turner (Mortonhall) 73 80.
157 L Walker (Nairn Dunbar) 80 77.
160 E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 82 78, C Mcandrew (Nairn Dunbar) 81 79, L Hendry (Routenburn) 81 79, K Harper (Inverness) 78 82.
163 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 83 80.
167 M Howieson (Inverness) 84 83.
169 H Harvey (St Rule) 86 83, G Dowling (Inverness) 85 84, E Cuthill (Lanark).
170 J Sneddon (Alyth) 83 87.
174 T Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 86 88, L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 85 89.
176 L Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 87 89.
179 S Vass (Tain) 89 90, E Mackay (Nairn Dunbar) 88 91.
183 A Niven (Crieff) 95 88.
Leading handicap
Class 1 (scr-7) – C McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar) (4) 152; L Hendry (Routenburn) (2) 156.
Class 2 (8-20) – T Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (12) 150; G Dowling (Inverness) (8) 153.

North of Scotland men's open amateur stroke-play championship
McALPINE RETURNS TO CHAMPION FORM TO WIN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND OPEN check out scottishgolfview.com

South Girls beat East Girls at the Woll.
South of Scotland Girls beat East of Scotland Girls by 4.5 matches to 3.5 in a close contest at the Woll, near Selkirk today. The results were as follows; (East of Scotland Girls names first)
G Simpson (8)halved her match with J Graham (6)
H Dalrymple (13) beat I Craigie (9) 4 & 2
E Bisset (13) lost to A Mitchell (12) 3 & 1
H Goodwin (17) beat A Bain (13) 6 & 5
J Laird (17) lost to K McDonald (16) 1 hole
G MacDonald (19) lost to N Blackie (19) 4 & 2
S Lamb (19) beat K Wood (24) 1 hole
C Wood (20) lost to R Walker (24) 4 & 2

Saturday 26th August 2006

KELSEY THIRD, ROSEANNE SEVENTH AFTER THEY WIN TEAM TROPHY
Overnight leader Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) finished third in the girls’ championship of the Belgian Junior Nations Open at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels on Saturday.
Kelsey was the halfway leader with a pair of 74s. Then heavy rain washed out the scheduled third round, reducing the event to a 54-hole contest. In the final round, Miss MacDonald, 15, had a 78 for 226, which allowed her rivals to close the gap.
Only one headed her – Belgium’s Lien Willems who had scores of 73, 78 and 74 for 225 to win the Louise Van Den Berghe Cup.
Kelsey’s overnight lead had disappeared at the fourth and fifth . She had a double-bogey at each of them. But she kept her composure and, in fact, had recovered so much that she came to the last hole one behind the eventual winner, Lien Willems.
Unfortunately, Kelsey's birdie putt missed while her rival closed with a par – and that was the difference between them at the end of 54 holes.
Fanny Vuignier (Switzerland) matched Kelsey’s 226 total with scores of 77, 72 and 77 and was officially placed second because she had a better last round than the Scot.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff) finished seventh with 76, 80 and 74 for 230.
Consolation for the Scottish girls is that they won the Team Trophy based on scores in the first two rounds and Kelsey MacDonald also finished second in the girls’ long-driving competition with a tee shot of 226 metres (the winner, a French girl, had a drive of 248 metres).
Dawn Marie Conaty (Ireland) finished 23rd on 237 (81-79-77).
Belgium also provided the winner of the boys’ championship for the Flory Van Donck Cup. Dimitri Van Doren scored 72, 70 and 71 for a three-stroke with with a total of 213.
Sam McLaren (King James VI) finished 53rd with 77, 77 and 79 for 233.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill) came 58th with 79, 76 and 81 for 236
BELGIAN JUNIOR NATIONS OPEN
Royal Golf Club of Belgium, nr Brussels
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
213 D Van Doren (Bel) 72 70 71.
216 F Schutte (Ger) 71 75 70, N Nissen (Den) 71 71 74.
Other totals:
220 S Ward (Ire) 77 69 74 (8th).
227 D Lernihan (Ire) 78 72 77 (22nd).
231 J Vickery (Wal) 79 74 78 (46th).
233 S McLaren (Sco) 77 77 79 (53rd).
236 P Shields (Sco) 79 76 81 (58th).
250 R Bentham (Wal) 82 86 82 (63rd).
GIRLS
225 L Willems (Bel) 73 78 74.
226 F Vuigniers Swi) 77 72 77, K MacDonald (Sco) 74 74 78.
Other totals:
230 R Niven (Sco) 76 80 74 (7th).
237 D M Conaty (Ire) 81 79 77 (23rd).

ANOTHER TERRIFIC PERFORMANCE BY ABERDONIAN AT HAZELTINE NATIONAL
Aberdonian Richie Ramsay has won his way through to Sunday's 36-hole final of the United States men's amateur golf championship.
He finished one up in his semi-final against Webb Simpson from Raleigh, North Carolina over the tough Hazeltine National course at Chaska, Minnesota, where Tony Jacklin won the United States Open in 1970.
Ramsay, a 23-year-old Stirling University student and a Walker Cup player for GB&I in Chicago last summer, was roughly level par for the 18 holes.
The Scot won the first hole with a par 4. The next two holes were halved in pars.
Ramsay went two up with a birde 2 at the short fourth.
The fifth hole was halved in par 4s.
Simpson bogeyed the sixth to Ramsay's par 4, putting the Scot three holes up.
The American got one back with a birdie 4 at the long seventh - three of the four par-5 holes on Hazeltine National are over 600 yards - and a half in par 3s at the eighth left Ramsay two up coming up to the turn.
The Scot appeared to take a stranglehold on a place in the final when he went three up with a birdie 4 at the 606yd 11th but his opponent then started a comeback.
Ramsay bogeyed the 12th to be only two up and then Simpson birdied the 14th to be only one down.
Richie rallied to regain a two-hole lead with a fine birdie 4 at the 642yd 15th.
But the drama continued as Simpson cut his deficit to one again at the 16th which Ramsay had to concede.
One up with two to play, Richie, a member at Royal Aberdeen, showed he was made of the right stuff by halving the short 17th and the long home hole.
In the final Ramsay will play 21-year-old John Kelly from St Louis, Missouri. Kelly did not lead until the 10th against Ryan Yip but went on to beat the Canadian by 2 and 1 with two-under-par figures.
The last Scot to win the US amateur title was Findlay Douglas from St Andrews in 1898.
Tiger Woods won it three years in a row in the 1990s.
The winner of the championship gets to play in next year's US Masters - if he is still an amateur.

ELGA Press Release
England girls beat Spain in U16 international
England's girls pulled off an excellent win when they beat Spain 4-2 in the annual U16 international at Heswall Golf Club.
Their scoreline gave the combined England girls and boys' team a 7-5 win in the match, which precedes the North of England U16 amateur strokeplay championship. The boys halved their match 3-3.
ELGA's national junior coach, Pat Smillie, said: "This is an excellent win, it's fantastic. It convinces them that Spain are not unbeatable."
The girls, captained by Julie Brown (Brocton Hall), got off to a great start when they won both their foursomes.
Hannah Lovelock (Hindhead) and English U15 champion Kelly Tidy (Manchester) followed up with good singles wins. Hannah dismissed her opponent 6/5 while Kelly birdied the 18th to finish 2 up.
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) and Rachel Connor (Manchester) had a big foursomes win but both lost in the singles as fatigue set in at the end of a long campaign which began with the European Young Masters and continued through the European girls' team championship, the English and British girls' championships and the girls' international matches. They both withdrew from the North of England championship.
Meanwhile, in the first round of the championship four members of the ELGA squad have returned scores of 77, three over standard scratch. They are Hannah Lovelock (Hindhead), English U13 champion Alexandra Peters (Notts' Ladies), Emily Priest (Enville) and Rachel Goodall (Wirral Ladies'). Two other players, Katie Mundy (Dunwood Manor) and Kelly Tidy (Manchester) shot 78.
Results. England Girls 4 Spain Girls 2
Foursomes: Hannah Lovelock & Kelly Tidy beat Rocio Sanchez and Nerea Salaverria 3/2. Hannah Barwood & Rachel Connor beat Patricia Queipo de Llano & Ana Fernandez 6/5.
Singles: Connor lost to de Llano 4/2, Tidy beat Fernandez 2 holes, Lovelock beat Sanchez 6/5, Barwood lost to Salaverria 3/2.

ELGA Press Release
England's Kelly Tidy wins northern U14 event
English girls' U15 champion Kelly Tidy has added another title to her collection at the North of England U16 championship.
The Manchester player won the U14 event after she rounded off the 72-hole tournament with a one-under par 72 for a total of 303 (78, 77, 76, 72). The 14-year-old was six shots clear of her closest rival.
Meanwhile Hannah Lovelock (Hindhead) finished on 305 and won third prize in the U16 competition (77, 76, 76, 76).
The results capped a fine week for the two girls who also won both their games in the England v Spain international which preceded the championship. Their play helped England win the match 4-2.
Meanwhile, three other members of ELGA's squad at the U16 championship also played the final two rounds of the event and acquitted themselves well.
Katie Mundy (Dunwood Manor) shot her four most consistent rounds with scores of 78, 77, 77, 75. English U13 champion Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies') returned 77, 76, 78, 79 while Rachel Goodall (Wirral Ladies') scored 77, 76, 80, 81.
ELGA's national junior coach, Pat Smillie, said: "We have had some great results and I think this bodes very well for the future. There are lots of positives to take from this and I am extremely pleased with the squad result."

Futures Tour
SAMANTHA SAFE BUT BRENDA OUT
Samantha Head (Bedford) ensured she would be playing on the last day of the Gettysburg Championship, this weekend's US Futures Tour event, at Gettysburg Golf Club, Pennsylvania with a second-round 68 for a three-over par tally of 145.
But Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) had no chance of beating the cut after a 76 and 79 for 155.
Early clubhouse leader on the second day was Song-Hee Kim from Korea with 72 and 66 for 138.

Ladies European Tour
LYNN BEATS CUT, BUT CLARE MISSES OUT
Lynn Kenny (Clydesdale Bank) and Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon were among the players with totals of 149 or better who survived the 36-hole cut in the SAS Women's Masters tournament at Oslo Golf Club, Norway today.
Clare Queen missed out by four shots.
Lynn scored a pair of 74s for 148, the same mark as Liz with 73 and 75. They are in joint 40th place.
Clare finished joint 94th with a disappointing 76 and 77 for 153.
Laura Davies leads with 69 and 68 for seven-under-par 137 - two shots ahead of Australian Sarah Kemp (72-67).

RAMSAY SURVIVES CADDIE BLUNDER
ABERDONIAN WINS US AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL AT THE TWENTY-FIRST HOLE
REPORT FROM THE USGA WEBSITE
By David Shefter and Greg Smore, USGA
Chaska, Minnesota – Thomas Buller might be the happiest man in Chaska. Make that the most relieved person.
Buller is not a competitor in this year’s U.S. Amateur, but his accidental decision late Friday afternoon nearly cost his player a match.
Serving as a caddie for Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, the Chaska High School senior inadvertently touched the line of putt at Hazeltine National Golf Club’s par-3 17th hole. The action was seen by Ramsay’s quarter-final opponent, Rickie Fowler, and the match’s referee, Dick Rundle, was brought in to settle the claim.
When Buller admitted to touching the surface – a breach of Rule 16-1 – Ramsay sustained a loss-of-hole penalty. Suddenly a one-up lead turned into all square (Richie had been three up, but lost the 14th, 16th and 17th).
Ramsay, however, did not get angry nor did he publicly scold his caddie. Buller’s parents, Mike and Jean, are serving as Ramsay’s host family this week and their son offered to carry Ramsay’s bag for the championship.
So with momentum seemingly slipping away – Fowler had also won the 16th hole with a birdie – Ramsay re-focused. An experienced competitor who played in the 2005 Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland, Ramsay had faced plenty of difficult situations. Now he was under tremendous adversity.
All he did was convert a clutch 12-foot par putt at 18 to extend the match, then got a brief reprieve when Fowler missed a 6-footer for birdie on the first extra hole (No. 10) that could have closed out the match. Two holes later, Ramsay holed a 15-footer for birdie to move into Saturday morning’s semi-finals against Webb Simpson.
"I just said, ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s all right,’ " said the 23-year-old Ramsay. "He’s made a mistake. I’ve made mistakes. You’ve just got to think he’s going to learn from it.
"It’s tough but I know he’s feeling bad. If I turn around and say something to him, he’s going to feel even worse. So you’ve just got to say, ‘I’m still in the game and I concentrate on what happened on the hole before, I’m not focused on my objective, which is to win the match and hit some good shots. I managed to do that on 18."
Ramsay has spent some time this year working with sports psychologist Richard Cox. They talked about focusing on small details and eliminating any outside distractions. Ramsay also has thrived under pressure. He recalled holing a 25-footer on the last hole to win the European Under-21 Team Championship for Scotland over rival England.
So the 12-footer on 18 against the 17-year-old Fowler was just another in a long line of pressure situations he’s faced.
"It’s just visualizing the ball going into the hole," said Ramsay. "There’s no better feeling under pressure. That’s what you spend all your time practicing for. Luckily, it just worked out for me."
Ramsay lipped out a 12-footer for birdie at No. 10, the first extra hole, before Fowler failed to convert his short birdie attempt. Then at the 21st hole (No. 12), Ramsay executed a perfect right-to-left approach that stopped 15 feet behind the flagstick.
"The whole day, I had hit some good putts and they hadn’t gone in," said Ramsay. "So on the last few holes, I was thinking that I hadn’t [made] anything today, I’m owed a few putts. So I was stroking the ball good and I just managed to hole that putt on 12. And in a way, it evened itself out. But, you know, it could have gone either way at the end."
Ramsey will finish up his college work this fall at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He did come to the U.S. five years ago to attend Midland junior college in Texas. That experiment lasted only one year.
Ramsay felt he had better opportunities back home, with access to coaching and a more comfortable environment.
"I’ve got a really good team right now," said Ramsay. "It is basically really good support from the Scottish Golf Union. My coach is employed by the Scottish Golf Union and he’s the national coach, a guy by the name of Ian Rae. They just say we’ll do this for you or we’ll do that for you. All you’ve got to do is go out and play golf."

US Futures Tour
BRENDA AND SAMANTHA DOWN THE FIELD
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast and Bedford's Samantha Head were sharing 77th and 94th places respectively at the end of the first round in the $75,000 Gettysburg Championship, this weekend's US Futures Tour event at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Brenda had a four-over-par 76 (39-37) while Samantha "lost it" on the inward half for a 77 (36-41).
Julie Tvede from Copenhagen was the overnight leader at six-under 66 (34-32), leading by two shots from a Korean, Jin Young Pak (34-33).
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh is not playing in this tournament.

Friday 25th August 2006

KELSEY AND ROSEANNE WIN TEAM EVENT FOR SCOTLAND IN BELGIUM
Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Roseanne Niven (Crieff) won the girls’ international team award after torrential rain forced the third qualifying round in the Belgian Junior Nations Open to be washed out at Royal Golf Club of Belgium near Brussels today.
Kelsey, leading qualifier with two rounds of 74, and Roseanne, officially 17th of the match-play qualifiers with scores of 76 and 80, totalled 304.
They finished two shots ahead of host nation Belgium with Austria (308) third. Ireland (331) came 12th.
Scotland’s representatives in the boys’ section, Sam McLaren (King James VI) (77-77) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) (79-76), finished 11th in the team event with a total of 309. Belgium (291) won from Denmark and Iceland (292). Ireland (296) finished joint fourth and Wales (316) 15th.
The tournament concludes today with another strokeplay round.

CARLY BOOTH (14) TAKES SIXTH PLACE AT SANDWICH
By Colin Farquharson
FOURTEEN-year-old Perthshire prodigy Carly Booth achieved her best finish outwith junior golf when she tied for sixth place in the British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich in Kent today.
Scottish Under-16 girls champion Carly pulled herself up into the top 10 with two one-under-par rounds of 72 on the final day for an aggregate of 299.
Carly is the only British or Irish player to earn a place in the European team for next month's Junior Ryder Cup match against the United States at Celtic manor.
Anna Rossi, pictured right, became the first Italian to win the stroke-play championship – first played in 1969 – by scoring six under par over the final 36 holes. Two rounds of 70 gave her a two-under-par total of 290 and a one-shot win from the overnight leader, Rachel Bell (Ganton).
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) did not do so well on the final day and scores of 77 and 75 put her on 302 and a share of 12th place.
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) tied for 19th place on 305, four shots ahead of defending champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane New).
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) saved her best until last, a closing 71 for 310 and joint 29th place.
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent.
FINAL TOTALS (Par 73)
290 A Rossi (Ita) 74 76 70 70.
219 R Bell (Ganton) 74 73 73 71.
292 S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 76 68 72.
294 S Nicholson (NZ) 75 74 72 73.
298 L Eastwood (Yelverton) 73 769 74 72.
299 M Reid (Chevin) 78 78 73 70, C Booth (Comrie) 72 83 72 72, A-L Caudal (Fra) 75 77 69 78, M Boudry (Fra) 72 77 74 76.
301 J Berton (Fra) 75 80 70 76.
302 K Smith (Waterlooville)78 81 70 73, M Gillen (Beaverstown) 74 83 74 71, S Walker (Kenwick Park) 75 79 74 74, E Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 72 82 73 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 72 78 77 75.
303 T Mangan (Ennis) 74 74 80 75.
304 S James (Bristol & Clifton) 76 80 71 77.
305 N Edwards (Ganton) 76 81 78 70, M Riordan (Tipperary) 76 79 78 72, J Wilson (Strathaven) 73 81 74 77.
Other scores included:
309 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 80 79 77 73.
310 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73 83 83 71.

Ladies European tour
LYNN HAS 74 IN NORWAY
Lynn Kenny, now sponsored by the Clydesdale Bnk, was lying in joint 34th place with a two-over-par 74 at the end of the first round of the SAS Masters at Oslo Golf Club, Norway today.
Clare Queen had a 76 to be in joint 68th position.
France's Virginie Lagoutte set the pace with a five-under-par 67.
She has an overnight lead of two strokes from Kirsty Taylor (England), Nikki Garrett (Australia), Sarah Heath (England), Laura Davies (England) and Cherie Byrnes (Australia.

RAMSAY AND FISHER THROUGH TO LAST EIGHT
Walker Cup team-mates Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Oliver Fisher (West Essex) have reached the quarter-finals of the United States men’s amateur golf championship over the tough Hazeltine National course at Chaska, Minnesota.
Ramsay won by 3 and 2 over left-handed American Kyle Davis with roughly one over par figures.
The Stirling University student squared the match at the seventh and never looked back after winning the eighth, ninth and 13th.
Fisher was three under par in beating another American, Jonathan Hodge, by 5 and 4.
The 17-year-old Englishman won the first three holes and was four up after eight.
Tony Jacklin won the US Open at Hazeltine National in 1970.

EGU Press Release
Peter Benka accepts EGU Presidency for 2008
Peter Benka, a Walker Cup player and former England international, has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2007 with a view to becoming its President in 2008.
Peter played in the 1969 Walker Cup match in Milwaukee and claimed a singles victory over Steve Melnyk. Although GB&I lost narrowly 10-8, he lost only one of his four matches.
His England record is also impressive with only seven defeats in 29 matches between 1967 and 1970.
Reacting to his invitation, Peter said: “I’m very honoured to be asked. It was a pleasant surprise. I’ve had a lot of enjoyment from golf and English golf in particular over the years and it will be a privilege to follow many of the great and the good of the English game.”
Born in London in 1946, Peter was educated at Charterhouse and started his working life in the City. He is now retired from stockbroking having been a partner in the firm of Laing & Cruickshank, and later a Director of Credit Lyonnais Securities.
He started the game at an early age at Addington Golf Club. A winner of the British Youths Championship in 1967 and ‘68, he also won the Surrey County Championship twice (1967 and ‘68) and represented the county between 1965 and 1984. He was capped at England Boy and Youth level then became a full international. He was a member of England's winning side in the European Mens’ Team Championship in 1969 and, as well as the Walker Cup, represented Great Britain & Ireland in the St Andrews Trophy in 1970.
His lowest handicap was plus-one but he now plays social golf off five at Walton Heath and West Sussex Golf Clubs.
Peter’s life as a golf administrator began in 1972 when he became Captain of Surrey, serving on the County Committee for 25 years. He is currently a Vice President.
His work with the EGU began in 1981 on the Executive and Finance Committees and later on the Championship Committee. However, the playing side of the game was never far away and he became an England selector in 1993, taking over as chairman the following year until 1998. His first captain was Peter McEvoy and later Malcolm Lewis.
In 1997, Peter was elected to the R&A’s Selection Committee, taking over as chairman in 1999 until 2002. Again he had McEvoy as captain and later Garth McGimpsey. Peter currently chairs the R&A’s Amateur Status Committee and serves on the General Committee and is due to step down in September 2007.
He was also President of the Public Schools Golfing Society, 1999-2001.
Peter, 60, is married to Pam (nee Tredinnick) who has a distinguished playing career of her own. She was a Curtis Cup player in 1966 and ‘68, and England international, and was Curtis Cup captain in 2002. She is currently Ladies Captain at West Sussex Golf Club. They have a son, Mark, and a daughter, Clare.
“I’m really looking forward to 2008,” he added. “I shall garnish as much information as I can in the meantime and if it is spreading the word on what the EGU is all about around the country that is a role I’m happy to undertake.”

ELGA Press Release
Formby Ladies’ pair lead PING championship qualifiers at Ilkley
Lancashire’s Elsbeth Pierce made a winning choice when she interrupted a holiday to play in a regional final of ELGA’s new competition, the PING Ladies' Four Ball Better Ball Tournament of England.
Elsbeth and her partner, Deborah Porter, won the Northern qualifier at Ilkley in Yorkshire, returning a net score of six-under par 67.
The Formby Ladies’ players lead 12 pairs from the event who all won places in the grand final of the competition. This will be held on October 18 at PING’s flagship golf course at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. The qualifiers, who scored net 71 or better, all won a pair of ECCO shoes and a PING Collection shirt.
Elsbeth, who plays off eight, was so determined to compete that she left her family golfing holiday in Wales and drove for five hours to Ilkley. “We loved the format,” she said afterwards. “It’s like serving at tennis because you get two chances. We think it’s a competition for everyone.”
Deborah, a six-handicapper who plays with PING clubs, added: “We’ve had a fab time, everything has been great from start to finish and we’ve made new friends.”
Among those who will be joining them at Gainsborough are mother and daughter, Doreen and Janet Nesbitt of Heworth, Durham, who scored net 68.
Janet, who plays off seven and first took up golf to please her mum, is hoping to change her clubs. “I’m looking forward to going to Gainsborough and seeing how the clubs are made and visiting the custom fitting centre,” she said.
Hartlepool pair Chris Williamson and Natalie Crute also scored 68. “It’s all just been brilliant,” said 19-year-old Natalie, who has been playing golf for just 18 months and is already down to 12 handicap.
She’s got a PING driver, three-wood and hybrid club in her bag and she added: “I have really enjoyed today. It’s what I hoped to be doing when I took up golf.”
Yet another pair on 68 were the “big guns” from Brough: Erica Hardaker, the ladies’ captain, and Carole Waights, the ladies’ secretary and junior organiser.
Carole, who took up golf in 2001, is another confirmed PING enthusiast. “I went to the PING fitting centre as soon as I got a 36 handicap and now I’m down to 18.”
Among the other qualifiers were Carolyn Kirk and Elaine Hulley from The York who finished on three-under 70. Carolyn, who plays off four, is one of ELGA’s team of USGA course raters and is a prominent player in English seniors’ golf.
“The format is excellent and we’ve had great fun, giving it a whack and seeing what happened!” she laughed. Carolyn has used PING clubs for about 10 years and enjoyed the opportunity at the regional final to see the latest clubs and the range of ECCO shoes.
Two more regional finals are yet to be played. Midland division: Trentham Golf Club, Staffordshire, on August 30. South-West division: Woodbury Park Golf Club, Somerset, on September 19. The South-East qualifer at Langley Park was the first to take place.

England.. winners of the BUSA Mens' Home International Championship

BUSA Home International series
England won both the Mens and Womens Championships yesterday at Dudsbury Golf Club.
In the Mens' Event, England won all thre of their matches against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to take the Championship from runners-up Scotland. Wales were third and Northern Ireland fourth. Oustanding performers remaining undefeated throughout the competition were Jason Palmer (England), Ed Parker (England).
A complicated scoring system in the Womens event resulted in England winning the series with 47 points. Scotland were second with 37.5 and Northern Ireland third with 23.5. Outstanding Performers scoring maximum points for their teams were Nikki Hunter (England), Lucinda Davies (England) and Kerri Harper (Scotland)
Kerri Harper (Scotland) and Gemma Parkes (England) now hold the womens' course record with 73s
Mens results (Excel spreadsheet), Womens results (Excel spreadsheet)

Thursday 24th August 2006

IT’S A SOGGY SANDWICH FOR SECOND ROUND OF BRITISH WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Non-stop rain marred the second day’s play in the British women’s open amateur golf championship at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich in Kent today.
The bad weather transformed the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the 72-hole tournament. Overnight leader Rachel Newren from Salt Lake City, Utah was washed away to an 84, 14 shots worse than her leading 70 on the opening day.
It also raised the anticipated halfway cut figure to 13-over-par 159 and allowed defending champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) to qualify for the final 36 holes when she had seemed out of contention.
“The rain down here was horrendous all day,” said the Ladies Golf Union director of championships Susan Simpson from Carnoustie.
“We were really lucky not to have had to suspend play. The course drainage was superb. It was the worst rain I have ever seen on a golf course and all the girls got soaked. Anything sub-80 was a great score, all things considered.”
Five Scots qualified for the final 36 holes – Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) in joint sixth place on 150 (72-78), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) with 154 (73-81), Carly Booth (Comrie) on 155 (72-83), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) with 73 and 83 for 156 and the defending champion, Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) on the limit mark of 159 (80-79).
Halfway leader is Yorkshire’s Rachel Bell from Ganton with 74 and 73 for 147, one ahead of Curtis Cup player and Irish champion Tricia Mangan (Ennis).
BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent
QUALIFIERS WITH 159 & BETTER (Par 73).
147 R Bell (Ganton) 74 73.
148 T Mangan Ennis) 74 74.
149 E Lyons (West Surrey) 77 72, S Nicholson (NZ) 75 74, M Bourdy (Fra) 72 77.
150 A Rossi (Ita) 74 76, K Caithness (St Regulus) 72 78.
152 S Hassan (Wal) 76 76, A-L Caudal (Fra) 75 77, L Eastwood (Yelverton) 73 79.
154 J Wilson (Strathaven) 73 81, R Newren (US) 70 84, E Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 72 82, S Walker (Kenwick Park) 75 79.
155 J Berton (Fra) 75 80, M Riordan (Tipperary) 76 79, C Booth (Comrie) 72 83.
156 C Aitken (Mid Kent) 78 78, T Davies (Treadur Bay) 76 80, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73 83, M Reid (Chevin) 78 78, L Gendronneau (Fra) 73 83, C Lee (West Lancs) 76 80, S James (Bristol & Clifton) 76 80.
157 L Collin (John O’Gaunt) 75 82, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 81 M Gillen (Beaverstown) 74 83, B Lane (Aus) 76 81, D Montgomery (Lambourne) 80 77.
158 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 75 83, M Morrin (The Curragh) 76 82, D Smith (Co Louth) 77 81, V Valvassori (Ita) 81 77.
159 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 80 79, L Jones (Royal Liverpool) 81 78, A Vilatte (Fra) 81 78, H Aitchison(Bedfordshire) 83 76, K Smith (Waterlooville) 78 81, N Kitching (Claremorris) 79 80, M Crosland (US) 78 81.
NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:
160 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 81 79, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 76 84, F Johnson (Harvborne) 78 82.
161 G Webster (Hilton Park) 79 82.
166 H Brockway (Yeovil) 83 84.
167 E Fairnie (Sco) 82 85.
169 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) 83 86.
173 E Cuthill (Lanark) 89 84.

KELSEY CLEAR IN BELGIUM
Nairn's 15-year-old Kelsey Macdonald, pictured right, leads by one stroke at the halfway stage of the girls’ section in the Belgian Junior Nations Open at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels.
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club member Kelsey, winner of the Northern Counties women’s championship for the past two years, has had two rounds of 74 for a four-over-par tally of 148 and leads by one shot from Austria’s Christine Wolf (75-74).
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play champion, is in 15th position on 156 with scores of 76 and 80.
In the boys’ competition, Sam McLaren (King James VI) from Perth, the Scottish Under-16 boys’ title-holder, is in 47th place with a pair of 77s for 154 – one shot ahead of Paul Shields (Kirkhill) (79-76).
Dimitri Van Doren(Belgium) and Nicoli Nissen (Denmark) lead on two-under-par 142.
LEADING GIRLS' SCORES
148 K MacDonald (Scotland) 74 74.
149 C Wolf (Austria) 75 74.
151 L Willems (Belgium) 73 78.
153 G Paolillo (Italy) 78 75, S Nuutinen (Finland) 75 78, S Cologan (Spain) 72 81, E Wanet (Belgium) 77 76.
Other score:
156 R Niven (Scotland) 76 80 (15th).
LEADING BOYS' SCORES
142 D Van Doren (Belgium) 72 70, N Nissen (Denmark) 71 71.
Other scores:
146 S Ward (Ireland) 77 69 (7th).
150 D Lernihan (Ireland) 78 72 (18th).
153 J Vickery (Wales) 79 74 (36th).
154 S McLaren (Scotland) 77 77 (47th).
155 P Shields (Kirkhill) 79 76 (52nd).
165 Alyn Torrence (Wales) 83 82 (90th)
168 R Bentham (Wales) 82 86 (92nd).

NISSAN IRISH BOYS AMATEUR CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Kinsale Golf Club.
LEADERS AFTER 36 HOLES
142: S Gallivan (Killarney) 73 69, R O'Sullivan (Fota Island) 68 74.
143: S Healy (Claremorris) 73 70, L Lennox (Moyola Park) 70 73.
144: P O'Kane (Moyola Park) 73 71.
145: R McNamara (Headfort) 74 71, P Reavey (Warrenpoint) 70 75.
146: J Gourley (Knock) 74 72, J Crowley (Muskerry) 74 72, C McKenna (Mallow) 73 73, G McGrane (The Royal Dublin) 73 73, S Doherty (Malone) 71 75.
147: D Reilly (Westmanstown) 75 72.
148: T Conran (Portadown) 78 70, J Monaghan (The Island) 73 75.
149: R McGee (City of Derry) 78 71, B Keenan (The Heath) 77 72, G Boyd (Donaghadee) 77 72, D Loftus (Swinford) 76 73, E Marsden (Tullamore) 72 77.
150: R McCrudden (Royal Portrush) 77 73, D Roche (Claremorris) 77 73, A Daly (Delgany) 74 76, R O'Donovan (Lucan) 74 76, P Small (Bangor) 73 77, J Patterson (Royal Portrush) 73 77.
151: A Hogan (Newlands) 80 71, K McDonagh (Athlone) 78 73, G Shaw (Mullingar) 77 74, D Dickenson (Letterkenny) 77 74, G McGee (Malone) 73 78, C Friel (Rossmore) 73 78.

SEVEN SCOTS SEEK IRISH SENIOR TITLE
Seven Scots have entered the Irish senior women's open stroke-play golf championship at Woodbrook Golf Club, near Dublin on September 11 and 12.
They are: Pamela Williamson (Baberton), winner of the title in 2002 and 2003, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) and Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle).
Canada's Alison Murdoch will be bidding to complete a hat-trick of victories in the three-round championship.

Press release
British Universities Home Internationals
COURSE RECORDS BROKEN ON FIRST DAY
The 2006 British Universities Golf Home Internationals started in spectacular fashion on Tuesday with two female golfers breaking the course record at Dudsbury Golf Club. The women are playing in a team Strokeplay competition with teams from Northern Ireland, Scotland and England vying for the title.
In good playing conditions, the record held by Sahara Hassan for just over 12 months looked in danger of being beaten early in the day as five players from the field recorded a score of 1 over or better. Two players, Gemma Parkes, England and Kerri Harper, Scotland capitalised on their early form to win their matches and take maximum points for their country. In the process both posted score of 73 to better the course record by one stroke. At times Kerri struggled on the course posting 2 double bogies while Gemma played a more consistent round playing solidly over the 18 holes.
England women have started the competition well, winning 5 out of 6 matches on the first day of competition taking a 5.5 point lead over nearest rivals Scotland.
HARPER CONTINUES TO STEAL THE SHOW
The women’s strokeplay was a much tighter affair yesterday with England and Scotland tying on 13 points while Northern Ireland was close behind on 10 points. Current standings are England 30, Scotland 24.5 and Northern Ireland 18.5. The standout competitor was again Kerry Harper from Scotland, who matched the women’s club record which was she recorded yesterday. Her consistency has led to her winning both her matches and helping Scotland remain in contention for the overall championship.
[The BUSA Women's Home Internationals Championship is a three-cornered contest. The girls are playing stroke-play in six three-balls. Players are awarded points for the place they finish in their three ball - 3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd and 1 for 3rd. - Here is the spreadsheet (Excel file) for the results so far - you'll need a degree to understand it! - Gill]
Men's contest
8-player teams from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern-Ireland are competing for the Men’s Home International title. England triumphed over Northern-Ireland 8-4, whilst Scotland had a convincing victory over Wales 10 1/2– 1 1/2. Tomorrow’s play sees England take on Scotland, whilst Northern-Ireland face Wales.
In the men’s competition the game between heavyweights Scotland and England proved to be an exciting one. England showed an early dominance winning the foursomes 3-1 in the morning. In the afternoon’s play Scotland started a revival early on, after 5 singles matches the score had been reduced to 5-4 in favour of England. England’s tailender’s though finished in the dominant style England had started the day with taking the final three match to make the score 8-4.
Jason Palmer (England), Ed Parker (England) and Gordon Yates (Scotland) were recently selected to represent Britain at the World University Golf Championships to be held in Torin, Italy on 5-9 September. Selectors will be pleased with the form of the three players as all three are yet to lose a match in either foursomes or singles.
In the other match of the day Northern Ireland forfeited two matches as they were down 1man. Despite this setback the team played well pushing Wales throughout the day and could have won the match if at full strength. Eventually Wales overcame Northern Ireland to post a score of 8-4.
Tomorrow is the final day of the Internationals and sees Northern Ireland play Scotland and England play Wales.
[Spreadsheet (Excel file) of men's results]

Wednesday 23rd August 2006

KRYSTLE, CARLY SHARED SECOND PLACE ON OPENING DAY OF "BRITISH STROKE-PLAY"
Scottish Under-21 girls champion Krystle Caithness, pictured right, came back into form to share second place with Comrie youngster Carly Booth in the first round of the British women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich in Kent today.
Krystle, from Cellardyke in Fife, and Carly both shot one-under-par 72s to be on the tail of Rachel Newren from the United States. Rachel set the pace with a 70.
Miss Caithness managed a good score despite a double-bogey 6 on her card at the sixth hole. She had birdies at the second, seventh, 15th and 18th in halves of 36. She dropped a single shot at the 10th.
Carly, pictured left, soon to set off for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida on a full scholarship, had birdies at the second, eighth and 12th in halves of 35 and 37.
Although defending champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) saddled herself with an opening round of 80 (40-40), it was generally a good day for Scots.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) are also up with the leaders on the 73 mark.
Kylie hit the par 73 mark with birdiesd at the seventh, 10th, 12th and 14th. She also had bogeys at the fifth, sixth, 11th and 13th . in halves of 35 and 37.
Jenna, who has done so well in Scotland’s main 36-hole women’s opens this summer, also had a 73 (36-37), thanks to birdies at the second, ninth and 10th. The Strathaven player bogeyed the first, sixth and 18th.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ) had three double-bogeys in halves of 42 and 41 for an 83.
Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) topped that with one triple bogey and three double bogeys in her 89 (45-44).
BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
70 R Newren (US).
72 K Caithness (St Regulus), C Booth (Comrie), M Bourdie (Fra), E. Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor)
73 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), L Gendronneau (Fra), L Eastwood (Yelverton), J Wilson (Strathaven).
74 R Bell (Ganton), A Rossi (Ita), T Mangan (Ennis), M Gillen (Beaverstown).
75 J Berton (Fra), A-L Caudal (Fra), S Walker (Kenwick Park), L Collin (John O’Gaunt), C Douglass (Brocket Hall), S Nicholson (Hutt).
76 S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan), M Riordan (Tipperary), B Lane (Aus), C Lee (West Lancs), S James (Bristol & Clifton), M Morrin (The Curragh), N Edwards (Ganton), S Evans (Vale of Llangollen), T Davies (Treadur Bay).
77 F Angioletti (Ita), E Lyons (West Surrey) Dierdre Smith (County Louth).
78 E Givens (Blackwell Grange), M Reid (Chevin), F Johnson (Harborne), L Ball (Matfen Hall), R Cassidy (The Island), M Crosland (US), M Verchenova (Rus), C Aitken (Mid-Kent), K Smith (Waterlooville), Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog).
Other scores included:
79 G Webster (Hilton Park)
80 H MacRae (Dunblane New).
82 E Fairnie (Dunbar).
83 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ), H Brockway (Yeovil).
89 E Cuthill (Lanark).

GOOD START BY KELSEY AND ROSEANNE IN BELGIUM
Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Roseanne Niven (Crieff) made a promising start to the girls’ section of the Belgian Junior Nations Open at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels todaY,
Kelsey had a two-over-par 74 with birdies at the first and 14th while Rosanne had a 76, which included a double bogey at the fourth and a birdie 2 at the short 12th.
The top 60 players after three rounds will go forward to the match-play stages.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
GIRLS
Par 72
72 Sonia Cologan (Spa).
73 Ines Tusquets (Spa), Lien Williams (Bel).
74 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco).
Other scores:
76 Roseanne Niven (Sco).
81 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ire).
88 Ciara Walsh (Ire).
BOYS
(Par 72)
71 Nicolai Nissen (Den), Frederik Schulte (Ger), Tiago Rodrigues (Por).
Other scores:
74 Shaun Malone (Eng).
77 Simon Ward (Ire).
78 Dara Lernihan (Ire).

Ayrshire Girls
Alex makes it three in a row!
Alex Sargent (Skelmorlie), pictured right, won the St. Nicholas Trophy for Ayrshire Girls on Sunday at Kilbirnie Golf Club. Alex scored a gross 77, net 60, giving her the title on the better inward half over Rachael McQueen (Bentinck Ladies) who had a gross 69, also net 60.
This competition is clearly a favourite for Alex who has now won the trophy three years in succession despite strong opposition. Lynsey Weadon (Barassie) finished 3rd with a 65. In the Bronze Division, Ashleigh Crighton (Skelmorlie) was 1st with a net 69, Kelly McNee (Loudoun) 2nd on 70, and local girl Caitlin Barr, 3rd on 72.
Rachael’s scratch score of 69 gives her the top spot as the qualifier for the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship. The CSS for the day was 68.
The Pre-handicap girls played 9 holes over a shortened course and their results are as follows:-
Over 12 years           
1st   Charlotte Smith (Barassie)            44                         
2nd  Valentina Mozzoni (Skelmorlie)  46           
3rd  Melanie Ross (West Kilbride)      55           
Under 12 years
Rachel Irvine (Kilbirnie)          50    
Holly Winton (Ballochmyle)    59
Sarah Davies (West Kilbride)   63 bih

Ayrshire Girls Div 1 prize-winners

Ayrshire Girls Div 2 prize-winners

ILGU Press Release
Girls Under 15 Interprovincial Matches - Athy Golf Club, 23 August 06
Ulster win the inaugural Under 15 Interprovincial matches beating Leinster 3-2 in the final.
Connacht claimed third place with a 4 -1 win over Munster.
Final
Ulster 3 - 2 Leinster (Ulster names first)
Lisa Maguire beat Carla Reynolds 3&1
Leona Maguire beat Patrice Delaney 4&3
Tara Gribben beat Laura Boylan 4&3
Erin Connolly lost to Sarah Murray 1up
Megan Thompson lost to Una McLaughlin 1up
3rd place match (Munster names first)
Munster 1 - 4 Connacht
Emma O’Driscoll lost to Sarah Helly 2up
Laura McCarthy lost to Julie O’Gara 4&2
Hannah O’Brien beat Daryl Conroy 5&4
Julie Coyne lost to Niamh Carty 8&7
Kate Scales lost to Aoife McHale 5&4
Semi Finals
Ulster 5 – 0 Munster (Ulster names first)
Lisa Maguire beat Emma O’Driscoll on the 19th
Leona Maguire beat Laura McCarthy 3&1
Tara Gribben beat Hannah O’Brien 4&2
Erin Connolly beat Julie Coyne 7&5
Kate Scales beat Megan Thompson 4&3
Leinster 3 – 2 Connacht (Leinster names first)
Carla Reynolds lost to Sarah Helly 5&4
Patrice Delaney beat Julie O’Gara 2&1
Laura Boylan lost to Daryl Conroy 5&3
Sarah Murray beat Niamh Carty 2&1
Una McLaughlin beat Aoife McHale 4&3

Countdown to the Gibson Cup… entries to be in by Friday 8th September
A reminder for any ladies foursomes pairings intending to enter the Gibson Cup over Braids No. 1 course in Edinburgh on 30th September and 1st October that the deadline is only a couple of weeks away i.e. Friday 8th September.
Entry Forms can be obtained from Edinburgh Leisure (phone 0131 652 2178 or by e-mail from AlasdairDunlop@edinburghleisure.co.uk, from Anne Brownie by e-mail @ apbrownie@blueyonder.co.uk or from most Golf Clubs in the Edinburgh area. The closing date for entries to be received by Edinburgh Leisure is 8th September 2006.
Information regarding the tournament format is available on the entry form. In summary, entrants play a round of medal foursomes (off handicap) on the Saturday which may qualify them for foursomes match play on the Sunday. If not, there is a Stableford competition on the Sunday, again foursomes format. All in all a great way to experience different types of foursomes golf over the one weekend!

Tuesday 22nd August 2006

Prizewinners and SLGA officials at Inchmarlo today
Pamela Mackenzie (Chairman of county Golf, SLGA)
Alison Hope (Newmachar) winner of Silver handicap Challenge Cup.
Laura Murray (Alford) winner of Silver scratch Challenge Cup
Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) Silver scratch runner-up (Muirhead Trophy)
Marta Moody (Murcar Links) winner of both the Bronze scratch and handicap trophies (Nisbett Cup scr and Challenge Cup net).
Fiona Farquharson, SLGA tournament officer.

Scottish Ladies Golfing Association county open meeting
IN-FORM LAURA WINS ANOTHER CUP AT INCHMARLO
New North of Scotland girls’ golf champion Laura Murray followed up her Sunday win at Kirriemuir by lifting the Silver Challenge Cup in the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association county open meeting at Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory today (TUESDAY).
Teenager Laura, who plays off two, had a round of 76 – one outside the women’s course record for the testing, tree-lined Laird’s Course.
Two players were next best with 78 – six times Angus women’s champion Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) and Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
The Muirhead Trophy went to Mary with a better inward half of 40 to 42.
Alison Hope (Newmachar), playing off 14, won the Silver Handicap Challenge Cup with a 66, three ahead of Mary Burgess (Aboyne) (11).
In the Bronze Division, Marta Moody (Murcar Links) scored a double whammy with a gross round of 92 which won her the Nisbett Cup for the best scratch round and also the Challenge Cup for the lowest net round, a net 71.
A total of 58 players took part.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
SLGA COUNTY OPEN MEETING
Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory
Par 72. CSS 72.
LEADING SCRATCH
76 L Murray (Alford).
78 M Summers (Panmure Barry), Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
80 A Hope (Newmachar), E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park), M Burgess (Aboyne).
81 L Terry (Cruden Bay).
82 M Myers (Clober).
83 J Slater (Aboyne),
84 R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay).
85 J Clarke (Panmure Barry).
86 J Cumming (Inverness), J Petrie (Panmure Barry), A Freeman (Panmure Barry).
87 J McCartney (Erskine), C Bryce (Ballater).
88 P Wood (Turnhouse), E Grant (Douglas Park), M Macnaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies).
89 S Tait (Newmachar), M Miller (Cruden Bay).
90 L Joss (Newmachar), L Kelly (Newmachar), S Todd (Panmure Barry). P Halliwell (Inchmarlo), M Garden (Peterculter).
91 A Stalker (Aberdeen Ladies), A Chree (Ladies Panmure).
92 M Moody (Murcar Links).

IRISH SCHOOLS MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
National Finals hosted by Kinsale Golf Club
SEMI-FINALS
Crescent College Comp., Limerick 3 Campbell College, Belfast 2
(Crescent College Comp. names first):
Colin McNamara (Limerick) lost to Garth Boyd (Donaghadee) 5 and 4.
Daragh Garrahy (Limerick County) bt Jonathan Gourley (Knock) 2 and 1.
Paddy Spillane (Limerick) bt Patrick Small (Clandeboye) 4 and 3.
Philip Geraghty (Limerick) lost to Simon Moore (Shandon Park) 2 holes.
Chris Hansom (Limerick) bt Nicky Moorehead (Shandon Park) 1 hole.

St Paul’s College, Raheny 4 ½ Sligo Grammar School ½
(St. Paul’s names first):
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt Stephen Brady (Co Sligo) 5 and 4.
Barry Fennelly (Royal Dublin) halved with Michael Durkan (Co Sligo).
Gary McGrane (Royal Dublin) bt Steffan O’Hara (Co Sligo) 7 and 6.
Richard Behan (St. Annes) bt Oliver Howes (Strandhill) 7 and 5.
James Hunt (Clontarf) awarded a walk over.

FINAL
St Paul’s College, Raheny 3 Crescent College Comp, Limerick 2
(St. Paul’s names first):
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt Colin McNamara (Limerick) 6 and 5.
Barry Fennelly (Royal Dublin) bt Daragh Garrahy (Limerick County) 2 and 1.
Gary McGrane (Royal Dublin) bt Paddy Spillane (Limerick) 5 and 4.
Richard Behan (St. Annes) lost to Philip Geraghty (Limerick) 8 and 7.
James Hunt (Clontarf) lost to Chris Hansom (Limerick) 4 and 3.

SHEENA SHAVES SHOT OFF HER KING’S LINKS RECORD
Former Scotland international golfer Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), pictured right, shaved a stroke off her own women’s course record at the King’s Links when she won the Caledonian Ladies Open with a par-matching 68.
Sheena, who won the City of Aberdeen Women’s Quaich for a seventh time earlier this month, had birdies at the first, eighth and 13th. She had a double bogey at the second and dropped only one other shot, at the seventh.
The CSS for the competition was 69
Her figures were:
OUT – 3 6 3 4 4 4 5 3 4 – 36
IN – 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 – 32

LGU Press Release
LADIES’ BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Curtis Cup players Naomi Edwards, Martina Gillen, Breanne Loucks, Trisha Mangan and Melissa Reid will lead the challenge for the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, to be played at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich from 23-25 August.
It is over 10 years since Prince’s last hosted the Ladies’ Stoke Play Championship and then, it was Spanish player Maria Pons who took the trophy overseas. However the seven most recent winners have all resided in the British Isles and last year at Nairn, Heather MacRae of Dunblane New won a closely contested championship after a play-off with Nicole Gergely of Austria.
Heather was the first reserve for the Curtis Cup, and is defending her title against not only five of the players from Bandon Dunes, but also from a field of 120 players that includes many of the world’s top amateurs. Included in that list are French players, Caroline Alfonso, Isabelle Boineau, Anne-lise Caudal and Elena Giraud, Sarah Nicholson of New Zealand and Italian players Anna Rossi and Vitorria Valvassori.
All four holders of the national stroke play titles will be competing at Prince’s: Melissa Reid, the Scottish title holder, Martina Gillen, the Irish, Naomi Edwards, the Welsh and Liz Bennett, winner in July of the English title.
The Ladies’ British Stroke Play Championship is being played at Prince’s as one of the events during the club’s centenary celebrations and Bill Howie, Director of Prince’s Golf Club said: “I am delighted to welcome the return of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship to mark our Centenary Year. We have a long association with ladies’ tournaments since 1912 having hosted the Curtis Cup and the English and British Championships throughout the years.”
The list of entrants can be viewed at www.lgu.org – Championships.

R&A Press Release
TEAM FOR THE JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY MATCH AGAINST THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE
Matthew Nixon from Ashton-under-Lyme, the winner of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen, has been selected for his first ever cap as one of nine GB&I team members to compete for the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
The GB&I boys will play against their Continental counterparts at Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic on 1 & 2 September when they will hope to avenge the defeat in last year’s contest at Royal Porthcawl.
Nixon, 17, has yet to play at international level for his native England yet, in defeating highly rated Swedish youngster Bjorn Akesson at the 38th hole in a closely contested final, he clearly showed his potential.
He is joined in the team by English players Luke Goddard and Sam Hutsby. Hutsby, 17, started the year in fine form by winning the Spanish Amateur Championship with a 7&6 defeat of Eduardo Molinari, the 2005 US Amateur Champion. Since then he finished runner-up in the McEvoy Trophy and represented England boys both in Japan and Sweden.
Goddard, an 18-year-old from Middlesex, gained promotion to international recognition for England thanks to his wins in the Bernard Darwin Salver and the Peter McEvoy Trophy.
Scottish players Lewis Kirton and James Byrne have been members of the Scottish boys’ teams that have had a successful season to date. That commenced with a win in the Boys Quadrangular International and was followed by reaching the final of the European Boys Team Championship where they lost to a strong Norwegian team. More recently, Scotland won the Boys Home Internationals at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth.
Adam Runcie from Abergele was in the Welsh squad at Lossiemouth as was Rhys Enoch, who has also been promoted to play in the Senior Home Internationals at Pyle & Kenfig in September. This year, Enoch finished in third place of the Welsh Order of Merit, largely due to his win in the Trubshaw Cup and his fifth place in the Duncan Putter.
The team is completed with Niall Kearney of Royal Dublin, named team captain, and Paul Cutler of Portstewart both of whom were members of the Irish Boys Team at Lossiemouth where they narrowly lost out to Scotland in the quest for The R&A Trophy. In addition, Kearney has been selected for the Irish men’s team to compete at Pyle & Kenfig while Cutler has been named a reserve.
TEAM
James Byrne, Banchory
Paul Cutler, Portstewart
Rhys Enoch, Truro
Luke Goddard, Hendon
Sam Hutsby, Lee-on-the-Solent
Lewis Kirton, Newmachar
Niall Kearney (captain), Royal Dublin
Matthew Nixon, Ashton-under-Lyme
Adam Runcie, Abergele

Monday 21st August 2006

IRISH SCHOOLS STROKE-PLAY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
National finals hosted by Kinsale Golf Club.
LEADING TOTALS
233: Royal Belfast Academical Institute: James Patterson (Royal Portrush) 82; Garth McGee (Malone) 76; Tim Greeves (Shandon Park) 75.
234: Presentation College, Bray: Ronan Daly (Old Conna) 79; Conor Lynch (Old Conna) 82; Cian Windsor (Old Conna) 73.
247: Scoil Mhuire agus Padraig, Swinford: Ronan Kennedy (Swinford) 80; Declan Loftus (Swinford) 79; Rory Thornburgh (Swinford) 88.
250: CBS, Middleton: David Connolly (East Cork) 92; Michael O’Neill (East Cork) 81; Robert White (Monkstown) 77.

IRISH CLUB YOUTHS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
National Finals hosted by Kinsale Golf Club
293: Limerick (Cian McNamara 71 71; Sean Poucher 82 76; Patrick Sheehy 75 78) .
298: Kilkenny (Craig Martin 74 73; David Walsh 81 84; Richard Walsh 78 73).
300: Claremorris (Stephen Healy 73 74; John McNicholas 77 79; Thomas Walsh 82 76) . 318: Cairndhu (Ryan Gardiner 80 84; Andrew Little 85 76; Gareth Owen 82 80).

LATE ENTRIES BEING ACCEPTED FOR SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES AT DEESIDE
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association tournament secretary Fiona Farquharson says she is prepared to accept late entries for the Scottish mixed foursomes tournament at Deeside Golf Club, Aberdeen on Sunday, September 10 up to Friday, September 1.
Entry forms can be downloaded from the SLGA website (www.slga.co.uk) or phone the SLGA on 01738 442357 or are available through the sponsors, Paull and Williamsons (01224 621621) or Deeside Golf Club (01224 869457)

Sunday 20th August 2006

SLGA team, Sheila Hartley and Margaret Rodgers

Broomieknowe team, Katherine Anderson and Patricia Capaldi

SLGA clean up at Broomieknowe!
Broomieknowe Golf club celebrates their centenary this year, and the Broomieknowe Ladies invited pairs from neighbouring clubs, some past members and guests from Midlothian and the SLGA to a Stableford Foursomes event today.
The SLGA combination of Sheila Hartley and Margaret Rodgers topped the visitors prize-list with a score of 37 points. Katherine Anderson and Patricia Capaldi of Broomieknowe with 42 points were outstanding winners of the host club first prize.
Sheila and Margaret, along with Ellice Cackett and Sue Tait, were also winners of the team prize with 70 points.
[Yours Truly is in the pictures above as YT was the one who presented the prizes.]

VIKKI CRASHES IN FINAL ROUND
Vikki Laing, on the verge of her best finish on the United States Futures Tour this season, crashed to a final round of seven-over-par 79 in the Hunters Oak Classic at Queenstown, Maryland on Sunday.
The 25-year-old former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player from Musselburgh plummeted from eighth place at the start of the day to a final position of joint 36th.
She scored 68, 73 and 79 for a four-over-par total of 220, earning only $358 instead of a potential four-figure pay-out.
Miss Laing had double-bogeys at the fifth and seventh and shed other shots at the fourth, ninth, 11th and 12th in halves of 39 (three over par) and 40 (four over par). She had one birdie, at the long seventh.
The $9,800 top prize was won by Ashley Hoagland from Palmetto, Florida wit scores of 68, 68 and 70 for 10-under-par 206.
She won by two shots from joint runners-up Sarah Lynn Johnston of St Charlotte, Illinois and Yeon Joo Lee (Seoul), one of the many Koreans who play on the Futures Tour, American’s No 2 women’s professional circuit.
They each earned $6,082.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, a former US college circuit player, finished joint 48th on 222 with scores of 75, 73 and 74.
Samantha Head from Bedford qualified for the final round with a 36-hole tally of 145 but had to withdraw with an injury.

ST REGULUS, ST ANDREWS PAIR WIN SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOURSOMES
Fiona Lockhart and Elaine Moffat, both members of St Regulus Golf Club, St Andrews – and both former Scottish women’s amateur champions, added another national title to their golfing CV at Cowglen Golf Club, Glasgow on Sunday.
They won the Scottish women’s foursomes title by one shot from the Baberton pairing of Karen Marshall and Fiona Hunter.
It was actually Fiona’s third national title because she won the Scottish mixed foursomes championship three or four years ago.
Fiona and Elaine had rounds of 77 and 73 over the par-72 women’s course for a total of 150. It was their second round that enabled them to leapfrog over their rivals to the top of the leaderboard.
Karen Marshall and Fiona Hunter scored 71 and 80 for 151.
The best net total was 142 off a handicap of eight by local members Dorothy Yates and Chris Fowler. They had net scores of 69 and 73.

North-east District Open golf championship
HALLIDAY WINS AFTER LAST-HOLE DOUBLE BOGEY BY TEENAGER JAMES BYRNE
read all about it at www.scottishgolfview.com

North of Scotland Girls after the prizegiving this afternoon

LAURA MURRAY WINS NORTH OF SCOTLAND GIRLS TITLE AT KIRRIE
Alford’s Laura Murray, pictured right, produced her best performance since winning the Scottish schoolgirls’ title last year when she landed the North of Scotland girls’ championship at Kirriemuir Golf Club today (Sunday).
Two-handicapper Laura had six birdies in a one-under-par round of 72 but after running up a bogey 6 at the last she had only a shot to spare from Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry).
Eve played well above her six handicap and had four birdies. A double bogey 6 at the 10th was to prove costly in the final analysis.
Scratch player Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the North of Scotland women’s champion and Scottish schoolgirls title winner this year, finished third with a 74 – her last competitive outing before leaving for a four-year golf scholarship with Jacksonville State University, Alabama this week.
Gail Wilson (Monifieth) won the Jean Law Trophy for the best net score – a net 69 off 17.
Eve Muirhead had a net 67 off six but the scratch prize list took precedence.
SCOREBOARD
NORTH OF SCOTLAND GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Kirriemuir Golf Club.
LEADING SCORESPar 73. CSS 72
72 L Murray (Alford).
73 E Muirhead (Pitlochry).
74 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
79 R Wilson (Monifieth).
81 S Vass (Tain), M Johnstone (Northern).
82 S Leslie (Westhill).
83 A Bowie (Crieff), A Smith (Kirriemuir).
84 A Niven (Crieff), N McAuley (Stonehaven).
86 E MacKay (Inverness), L Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies), G Wilson (Monifieth).
90 L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), J Vass (Tain).
91 L Falconer (Monifieth)…
93 G Richens (Newmachar).
95 C Prouse (Hazlehead), L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum).
96 L Hunter (Monifieth).
99 L Smith (Kirriemuir).
100 F Fullerton (Huntly).
103 L McIntosh (Monifieth).
106 D MacKinnon (Durness).
110 A Taylor (Forres).
113 C Geddes (Northern).
120 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon).
144 B Gray (Kintore).
LEADING HANDICAP – Jean Law Trophy – G Wilson (Monifieth) (17) 69; J Vass (Tain) (Tain) (18) (better inward half), N McAuley (Stonehaven) (12) 72.
SUPPLEMENTARY HANDICAP PRIZES
Handicaps 1-8
R Wilson (Monifieth) (5) 74.
S Vass (Tain) (6) 75.
Handicaps 9-14
A Smith (Kirriemuir) (10) 73 (bih).
S Leslie (Westhill) (9) 73.
Handicaps 15-37
L Hunter (Monifieth) (19) 77.
F Fullerton (Huntly) (18) 82 (bih).
Under-13 years.
Best net
L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) (16) 79.

Wales Ladies Championship of Europe
SWEDE LINDA WINS BY ONE SHOT FROM LAURA DAVIES
Linda Wessberg (Sweden) held on to the lead she established with a third-round 69 to win the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe with a 14-under-par total of 274 at Machynys Peninsula Golf Club today.
Linda had a final round of 71 and just held off the fast-finishing Laura Davies to win the top prize of 77,000 Euros.
Laura had a closing round of 67 for 275 to win 52,150 Euros.
Curtis Cup player and English amateur champion Kiran Matharu marked her pro debut by finishing joint 15th on five-under-par 283 and earning 7,017 Euros.
Sophie Walker, a leading amateur who was not selected for the GB&I t4eam, finished 22nd equal on 284.
That was two shots ahead of Kathryn Imrie, the top Scot who earned 4,932 Euros after a final round of 72 for two-under 286.
Breanne Loucks, who did play in the Curtis Cup, tied for 51st place, her four-round total of 292 ruined by a third-round 80.
Julie Forbes finished tied for 53rd place on 293 and earned 2,055 Euros.
LEADING TOTALS
274 (-14) Linda Wessberg (Sweden) 67 67 69 71.
275 Laura Davies (England) 66 69 73 67.
276 Gwladys Nocera (France) 70 72 68 66, Nikki Garrett (Australia) 69 67 69 71.
278 Becky Brewerton (Wales) 65 69 73 71, Helen Alfredsson (Sweden) 67 68 71 72.
Other scores:
283 Kiran Matharu (England) 70 70 72 71 (jt 15th).
284 (am) Sophie Walker (England) 65 71 73 75 (jt 22nd).
286 Kathryn Imrie (Scotland) 70 70 74 72 (jt 30th).
292 (am) Breanne Loucks (Wales) 70 71 80 71 (jt 51st).
293 Julie Forbes (Scotland 71 70 77 75.

VIKKI WELL PLACED IN AMERICA
Vikki Laing was set for her highest finish of the season on the US Futures Tour after going into the final round of the Hunters Oak Classic at Queenstown, Maryland in eighth place.
The Musselburgh exile has had rounds of 68 and 73 for 141 – five shots behind joint leaders Ashley Hoagland (Florida) (68-68) and Yeon Joo Lee (South Korea) (65-71).
Samantha Head (Bedford) and Belfast’s Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) also made the 36-hole cut.
Samantha shot 75 and 70 for a share of 26th place on 145.
Brenda had 75 and 73 to be in joint 56th place on 148, one shot inside the limit mark.

SCOTS STRUGGLE IN THE RAIN
Kathryn Imrie and Julie Forbes failed to make any headway of a wet and windy third day in the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe at Machynys Peninsula.
Kathryn had a 74 for two-under-214 and is in joint 27th place. Julie had a 77 to drop down to joint 43rd place on 218.
Sweden's Linda Wessberg showed the bad weather need not put a good score out of reach because she returned a three-under-par 69, the same as second-laced Nikki Garrett (Australia).
Linda leads on 13-under-par 203, two shots ahead of Nikki.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
203 (-13) Linda Wessberg (Swe) 67 67 69.
205 Nikki Garrett (Aus) 69 67 69.
206 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 67 68 71.
207 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 65 69 73.
Other scores included:
208 Laura Davies (Eng) 66 69 73.
209 (am) Sophie Walker (Eng) 65 71 73.
212 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 70 70 72.
214 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 70 70 74.
218 Julie Forbes (Sco) 71 70 77.
221 (am) Breanne Loucks (Wal) 70 71 80.

Recognise any of these wedding guests? .....or perhaps the bride?... read on....

Gillian , I have attached a few photos taken at Linda Robertson's Wedding .. Linda married Grant Allan at Glenskirlie on Thursday 17th August. Linda is current champion of Stirling and Clackmannan County and also a past captain .it was very much an S&C affair . The bridesmaids were team members Stella Mitchell and Fiona McArthur . The bride's mother is Cathie Robertson a past president and the cake , which was a delicious carrot cake was made by Elaine Allison the vice captain. I am sure many of the East Division golfing ladies will be interested in the photos.
Thanks Anna Hunter

Saturday 19th August 2006

BRITISH BOYS
MATTHEW NIXON PLAYS BEST GOLF OF HIS LIFE TO BEAT SWEDISH FAVOURITE
Matthew Nixon, a 17-year-old uncapped player from Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester, today played the golf of his life to win the British boys’ amateur championship.
Against a 17-year-old Swedish opponent, Bjorn Akesson from Malmo, who is arguably the second best Under-18 player in the world, Matthew came back from four down after 17 holes to win a classic tie at the 38th.
“I’ve always been able to hit greens in regulation but I didn’t know how good my short game was until today!” exclaimed a very happy Nixon who has still a year to do at college.
“When I went four down, I thought it was very likely that I was going to lose but I can honestly say that my head did not go down. Even if I had been beaten in the end, I would still have loved every minute of this week in Aberdeen.
“I’ve achieved all my dreams here. This course seemed to inspire me to play the best golf of my life.”

Nixon had only 24 putts in the second round and only nine over the inward half before the final went into extra holes.
Matthew pitched in from 70ft for for a half in birdies at the 31st and holed a 30ft chip for a half in par at the 33rd.
The Swede, who had held the lead from the sixth hole, made his vital mistake at the 34th where he drove into a gorse bush and had to lift and drop under penalty.
Nixon seized the chance to square the contest for the first time since the fifth with a par.
Then the English teenager got up and down from a bunker at the 35th for and a half and, under terrific pressure, did the same again at the 36th where he bunkered his approach and then holed from 25ft for a par.
Akesson had the chance to win the title on that green but he missed from 7ft.
The Swede, who has a +4 handicap compared to Nixon’s +2, missed a chance from even closer – between four and five feet – for a birdie that would have won him the title at the 37th.
Nixon’s comeback was complete when he won the par-5 38th with two putts from 60ft for a birdie while Akesson took three putts from slightly nearer the hole.
Nixon was four under par for the 38 holes and Akesson round about two or three under.
The Swedish player was three up at the end of the first 18 holes after a 75min suspension of play when visibility deteriorated quickly after the players had driven at the 16th.
Akesson had been two up at that point, having won the sixth, eighth and 11th (with a birdie). Nixon’s sole success had been at the nin which the Swedish player bogeyed.
On the resumption of play when the fog cleared slightly, Akesson restarted birdie-birdie to surge four holes up. He won the 16th with a birdie 3 and the short 17th with a birdie 2.
But the Swede made one of his rare mistakes at the 18th where he drove into a bad lie in the rough and could only hack back out on to the fairway. He bogeyed the hole which Nixon won with a par to end the first round three down.
Akesson had covered the first 18 holes in two-under-par 69, including an inward half of three-under-par 32. Nixon had gone round in one-over-par 72 (38-34).
The sun broke through early on the second round and the remainder of the final was played in sunshine and blue skies.
Nixon pulled himself back into contention by covering the outward nine holes of the second round in three-under-par 33 with birdies at the 20th, 24th and 27th.
Akesson matched his 4 at the long 20th but lost the two other holes to have his lead cut – even though he was one-under-par 35 for the same stretch - to one hole as they turned for home.
The first four holes of the inward half were halved – the 31st in birdie 3s after Nixon had holed a 70ft chip - as the tension mounted in what had proved to be a final of quality play by both contestants.
At the 33rd, Nixon, playing the game of his life, did it again. He chipped in from 30ft for a half in par.
At the 34th Akesson drove into the whins and had to lift and drop under penalty. Nixon seized the chance to square the match with a par 4.
Nixon’s charmed life continued. He got up and down from a bunker to halve the short 17th.
The English boy was bunkered again with his approach to the last but holed a 25ft putt for par 4. Akesson missed his 7ft putt for a birdie 3.
Akesson missed a shorter putt for the match at the 37th, between 4 and five feet.
Then Nixon’s comeback was complete at the long 38th where he won the hole and the title with a birdie 4. Akesson, on in 2, three-putted for a par 5.

VIKKI FEELS AT HOME AND SHOOTS HER BEST SCORE OF THE SEASON
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh had her best round of the season on the United Stated Futures Tour with a four-under-par 68 in the Hunters Oak Classic at Queenstown, Maryland.
The 25-year-old, who went into the second of three rounds in joint third place, said she felt at home on the links-type course with fescue grass and shared greens.
“I’m pretty comfortable aiming at mounds and being able to focus on my target but the big difference was that I stayed very patient and holed a lot of putts,” said Vikki.
Miss Laing, a record-setting Scottish girls champion and a successful player on the US college circuit as a student at the University of Californa, played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup before turning professional.
Since then she has struggled to recapture that form and, having lost her LPGA Tour card, is now playing on America’s No 2 women’s pro tour.
Vikki had only 25 putts in halves of 34, which included six birdies and two bogeys.
She was three shots behind the leader, 19-year-old rookie pro Yeon Joo Lee from Seoul, one of the many Koreans who play on the Futures Tour.
Samantha Head from Bedford and Belfast’s Brenda McLarnon were sharing 67th place on 75.
LEADERBOARD
65 Yeon Joo Lee (Seoul) 35-30.
67 Kristina Tucker (Stockholm) 34-33.
68 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 34-34, Charlotte Mayorkas (Las Vegas) 34-34, Sarah Lynn Johnston (Illinois) 35-33, Ashley Hoagland (Florida) 35-33.
Other scores:
75 Samantha Head (Bedford) 36-39, Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 36-39.

Friday 18th August 2006

Welsh Ladies Championship of Europe
KATHRYN AND JULIE ONLY SCOTS TO MAKE THE CUT IN WELSH LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Kathryn Imrie and Julie Forbes were the only Scots to make the 36-hole cut in the Welsh Ladies Championship of Europe at Machynys Peninsula Golf Club today.
Kathryn had a pair of 70s for a share of 17th place on 140. Julie scored 71 and 70 for 141.
Only players with 144 and better are still in the tournament.
Amateur Heather MacRae missed out on 147 (74-73) as did Curtis Cup player Tara Delaney wiht 77 and 71 for 148.
Lynn Kenny took just one shot too many with 71 and 74 for 145.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon scored 75 and 74 for 149 - two shots better than Clare Queen's 78 and 73 total.
Dale Reid, making a rare playing appearance these days, failed to qualify on 153 (75-78).
At the top of the leaderboard, there are hopes of a home Welsh win for Becky Brewerton from Abergele. She shares the lead at 10-under-par 134 with rounds of 65 and 69.
Linda Wessberg (Sweden) is joint leader with a pair of 67s.
One shot behind in a tie for third place are Amanda Moltke-Leth (Denmark (68-67), Helen Alfredsson (Sweden) (67-68) and Laura Davies (66-69).
Amateur Sophie Walker, who might have strengthened the GB&I Curtis Cup team had she been selected, shared the first-round lead after a super 65. She dropped back to a share of sixth place on 136 with a 71.
Breanne Loucks, who did play in the Curtis Cup, has done well with 70 and 71 for 141.
Yet another Curtis Cup player, 17-year-old English amateur champion Kiran Matharu, made her debut as a professional in this tournament. She beat the cut - which is a good start to her pro career - with two rounds of 70 for 140.

English boys' open Under-14 stroke-play golf championship
SHARPE WINS AFTER RAIN WASH-OUT
Torrential rain and thunderstorms forced the English boys' open Under-14 stroke-play golf championship to be abandoned at Gosforth Golf Club yesterday (Friday).
The title was decided on Thursday's first round instead of the scheduled 36-hole event.
Oscar Sharpe (Minchinhampton) was declared the winner of the trophy with a two-under-par 67, one under the CSS, one shot ahead of Adam Carson (Long Ashton).
Scottish scores:
73 Ian Redford (King James VI), Andrew McLachlan (Eastwood).
74 Jack Scott (Deeside).
75 Jamie Burns (Pitlochry).
78 Rodger Clark (Moray).

PERTH PLAYER WINS BARNARDOS GRAND FINAL AT ARBROATH
Perth golfer Carol Muir won the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association’s Barnardo’s Grand Final competition at Arbroath Golf Club yesterday (Friday).
Carol, a six-handicap member of Craigie Hill, scored 35pt and then won a card countback against two other players who scored the same number of points.
Carol had a better inward half than Gillian Pritchard, who plays off 24 at Ravelston, and Jackie Brown, a five-handicapper at Whitemoss. Gillian then won second prize with a better last six holes than Jackie.
The competition, which began at club level with qualifiers, raised more than £2,500 for Barnardo’s.
Leading points totals:
35 Carol Muir (Craigie Hill) (6) (better inward half), Gillian Pritchard (Ravelston) (24) (better last six holes), Jackie Brown (Whitemoss) (5).
34 Julie Ganson (Arbroath Artisan) (10), Linda Ferguson (Dunfermline) (35), Judy Goodfellow (Strathmore) (15), Natalie Thomson (Murcar Links) (17).
33 Mary Robinson (Newmachar) (12), Cathy Irvine (Blairgowrie) (12).
32 Heather Miller (Letham Grange) (26), Rosemary Ross (Haddington) (21).

British Boys
Check out www.scottishgolfview.com for the British Boys results

British Girls
SALLY GOES DOWN FIGHTING IN BRITISH GIRLS FINAL
South Queensferry 15-year-old Sally Watson failed gallantly in her bid to become the first Scot since Clare Queen in 2001 to win the British girls' open amateur championship at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland yesterday (Friday).
Sally, playing out of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Florida, where she will be enrolling at the end of the month, beat Thailand's Junthima Gulyanamitta by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-final.
Then the Scot went down by only one hole to the hot favourite, Belen Mozo.
Both victories were achieved in Northern Ireland. The British women's championship was played over the Royal County Down links.
The Scottish girl, who was Scotland Under-18 girls' match-play champion last year, was under par in the semi-final and gave a very good account of herself in the final.
Mozo, the No 1 qualifier, won the second and the fourth and might have been expected to win in quick time after that start. But third qualifier Sally hung on in there with a series of halves before she won the 10th and the 11th to square the match.
Then came another string of halved holes before the Spanish girl got her nose in front again by winning the 17th. A half at the last was enough to make her a double champion.
But, well done, Sally.
Friday results:
Semi-finals - B Mozo (Spain) bt V Sternebeck (Germany) 4 and 3, S Watson (Scotland) bt J Gulyanamitta (Thailand) 4 and 3.
Final (18 holes) - Mozo bt Watson 1 hole.

British Boys
IT'S ENGLAND v SWEDEN IN FINAL AT BALGOWNIE
From COLIN FARQUHARSON
England’s Matthew Nixon from Ashton under Lyne, near Manchester will play another 17-year-old, Bjorn Akesson from Malmo, Sweden in Saturday's 36-hole final of the British boys’ amateur golf championship.
Akesson, who has a +4 handicap and was runner-up in the individual section of the world boys’ team championship in Japan, earlier this season, will start favourite to become the first Swede in 14 years to win the prestigious title.
He plays regularly on Sweden’s domestic professional circuit and is ranked Sweden’s leading Under-18 player.
In contrast, Nixon was not even a member of the England team in last week’s boys’ home internationals won by Scotland at Lossiemouth.
“I didn’t come to Aberdeen with any great expectations because I was playing well last year at the time of the British boys – and lost in the first round to the German No. 1,” said Matthew.
Nixon staged a smash-and-grab act to win his semi-final against Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) by two holes.
Johnston was one up after 14. Then Nixon went eagle-birdie-birdie to swoop into the lead. He pitched in from 50yards with a sand wedge for a 2 at the 370yd 15th to win that hole … the 16th was halved in 3s … and then, at the 187yd, par-3 17th, Mathew hit the green with a six-iron and sank a 20ft birdie putt.
Johnston three-putted the last to lose a tie that was completed in only 3hr 5min.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) was beaten 6 and 5 in the morning quarter-finals by Sam Stuart from Chorley, Lancashire. Sam won the first six holes – four of them with birdies – against the hapless Stewart who continued to play well, but not quit well enough to beat Bjorn Akesson.
The Swedish player won by 2 and 1 with two-under-par figures.
“I have been under par in every round except for the first one when it was very windy,” said the confident Akesson.
Friday results
BRITISH BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
QUARTER-FINALS
M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) bt B Fowles (Wentworth) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (North Middlesex) bt M Junker (Germany) 3 and 1.
B Akesson (Sweden) bt T Fourest (France) 2 and 1.
S Stuart (Chorley) bt M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 6 and 5.
SEMI-FINALS
Nixon bt Johnston 2 holes.
Akesson bt Stuart 2 and 1.
+Saturday's 36-hole final at Balgownie tees off at 9am and 1.30pm. Come along if you can manage it!

European Mens Senior Team Championship
SCOTLAND v IRELAND FINAL IN FINLAND
Scotland have reached the final of the inaugural European men's senior amateur team championship.
They beat Germany 3 1/2-1 1/2 in the first semi-final in Finland.
Gordon MacDonald (Callander) and Alan Ferguson) won the foursomes tie by 2 and 1.
Scotland's singles winners were Monifieth's Ian Hutcheon (5 and 4) and Brian Grieve (King James VI) by one hole.
Donald McCart (Castlerock) halved his tie.
Scottish seniors open champion Stephen Ellis (Cowal) lost by 5 and 4.
Scotland will play Ireland in the final after the Irish shocked the favourites, England, by beating them comprehensively 4 1/2- 1/2 in the other semi-final.
There were only four qualifiers for the championship flight in this modified format of a European championship.
Wales lost 4-1 to Italy in the Second Flight in which Spain beat Switzerland 3 1/2-1 1/2.

English women's open mid-amateur championship
CHARLOTE ELLIS WINS ENGLISH MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - AT THE AGE OF 20
Local heroine Charlotte Ellis won the English women's open mid-amateur championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club - in her home county of Gloucestershire today.
Scores of local supporters watched as the Gloucestershire county player defeated English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) by 3 and 2 in the final.
"I'm all hugged out!" laughed the much-congratulated champion, who plays at Minchinhampton, which is less than 20 miles away.
This is the biggest win of Charlotte's career, after her success earlier this season in the South-West championship. She puts both wins down to her work in the gym to improve her strength and stamina and to her efforts to improve her short game.
"My strength has always been my long game and I knew my short game was letting me down. I always believed if I could sort it out I would be unbeatable," she said. And so it proved. Gloucestershire county captain Jenny May added: "Charlotte's play has improved impressively and it was a delight to watch her."
Charlotte, 20, took up golf only in 2000 and recently has done much of her practice alongside her boyfriend, Neil Dean, a plus-one handicapper who caddied for her in the final.
The match began steadily with the players halving the first four holes. Charlotte then won the next three, helped by two birdies, before losing the ninth to reach the turn at two-up.
Charlotte was pulled back to one-up on the 12th but went two-up again after she won the par five 14th, where her eagle beat Liz's birdie. The players halved the short 15th in par before Charlotte won the 16th with a par five which secured her victory.
"It feels fantastic," she said.
Charlotte's next big date is to represent Gloucestershire in the finals of the English county championship at Copt Heath from September 6-8.
She played in this event last year when Gloucestershire were runners-up to Yorkshire and is looking forward to pairing up again with her partner, England girl international Hannah Barwood of Knowle.
+The age parameters for the Engish women's mid-amateur championship is between the years of 18 and 50. The minimum age in most mid-amateur tournaments is 25.

British Boys
MICHAEL STEWART LOSES FIRST SIX HOLES OF QUARTER-FINAL AT ROYAL ABERDEEN
Scotland's last hope, Michael Stewart, was blasted out of the British boys golf championship by a barrage of birdies this morning.
The Troon teenager lost by 6 and 5 to a lad from Lancashire, Sam Stuart.
Stuart was four under par at the finish - a standard of scoring that would have won him any of the four quarter-finals played at mist-shrouded Balgownie.
Michael Stewart had a nightmare start of losing the first six holes. In fairness, although Michael, only 16, was a touch nervous, he was hit by some of the best scoring of the championship.
Sam Stuart birdied the second, third, fifth and sixth and was five up at the turn. Michael's only success in the one-sided contest came at the seventh which he won with a par. Sam bogeyed that hole and also the ninth but Michael could only halve that hole to be five down at the turn.
Sam Stuart birdied the 12th to go six up and a half at the next finished the tie.
Sam will now play Sweden's Bjorn Akesson, a 2 and 1 winner over Thimbaud Fourest from Paris.
The other semi-final guarantees one English boy will get through to Saturday's 36-hole final.
Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) won by 3 and 1 against Billy Fowles (Wentworth) after losing the first two holes.
Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) beat Marius Junker from Frankfurt by 3 and 1, having been one down after 10 holes.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) bt Billy Fowles (Wentworth) 3 and 1.
Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) bt Marius Junker (Germany) 3 and 1.
Bjorn Akesson (Sweden) bt Thimbaud Fourest (France) 2 and 1.
Sam Stuart (Chorley) bt Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 6 and 5.

British Girls
SALLY v BELEN FOR BRITISH GIRLS TITLE
Sally Watson is through to the final of the British girls' championship at Portstewart, Northern Ireland.
The South Queensferry 15-year-old beat Thailand's Junthima Gulyanamitta by 4 and 3 in the first semi-final this morning.
Sally now plays the favourite and the No 1 seed, Belen Mozo (Spain) seeking to become the first player (?) ever to win the British women's open amateur championship AND the British girls championship in the same year.
Belen beat Valerie Sternebeck (Germany) by 4 and 3 in the second semi-final

and finally ....
Elaine Cuthill had a hole in one at the 5th hole at Lanark - yes a par 4! She was playing in a club medal last Friday and completed a round of 3 under par. Her current handicap is now 1 and she has had a great season. She starts a new marketing job in September with Scottish and Newcastle in Edinburgh. We wish her good luck. (from Susan Wood)

Thursday 17th August 2006

English women's open mid-amateur golf championship
FIONA LOCKHART LOSES IN QUARTER-FINAL
Former Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) was beaten in the quarter-finals of the English women's open mid-amateur golf championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Cheltenham today (THURSDAY).
She lost by one hole to Rachael Lomas (Hallowes) who was herself beaten 4 and 3 by Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) in the semi-finals.
Charlotte had earlier toppled the No 1 seed, Claire Aitken, by two holes.
Ellis, who qualified in eighth place, will play the No 2 seed, Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) in Friday's final.
Bennett beat Corisande Lee (West Lancs) by 3 and 2 in the second semi-final.

British Girls
SALLY IN BRITISH SEMI-FINALS
Sally Watson from South Queensferry, the only surviving Scot, won twice today (Thu) to reach the semi-finals of the British girls’ open amateur golf championship at Portstewsart Golf Club on the Northern Ireland coastline.
Sally, 15, won her third-round tie a 4 and 3 against Yupaporn Kawinpakorn from Thailand by 4 and 3. Then she beat Spain’s Anne Urchegui by 2 and 1, after being three up on the ninth tee.
Miss Watson, who is bound for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida at the end ot this month, now plays a second Thai player, Junthima Gulyanamitta for a place in the final.
Earlier in the championship, Sally won the Todd Bowl for the lowest qualifying aggregate by a player under 16 years.
The other semi-final features the top seed and British women’s open amateur champion Belen Mozo from Spain against Valerie Sternebeck of Germany.

Sally Watson from South Queensferry and Carly Booth (Comrie) pictured after the strokeplay qualifying presentation at the British Girls Championship at Portstewart.
Sally and Carly are both going to enrol at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida later this month.
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

British Boys
MICHAEL (16) IS SCOTLAND’S LAST HOPE IN BRITISH BOYS’ QUARTER-FINALS
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland, with five players in the last 32, got only one through to Friday morning's quarter-finals of the British boys’ amateur golf championship over the Royal Aberdeen links at Balgownie.
And to win his way through to the last eight, 16-year-old Michael Stewart from Troon beat compatriot Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) in a marathon match which stretched into the evening before Stewart won at the 21st.
Scottish boys stroke-play champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park), another member of last week’s winning squad in the boys’ home internationals at Lossiemouth, looked set to meet in the first quarter-final when they were both in potentially winning positions in the closing stages of their fifth-round ties.
But they let the chance of extending their progress slip through their fingers.
In the morning fourth round, McAllister impressively chopped down Belgium’s giant-killer, Hugues Joannes – conqueror of Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) the day before – by 3 and 2.
That suggested he was in good enough nick to take the measure of England boy cap Billy Fowles from Wentworth. And indeed Shaun was three times one up on the outward half which he covered in one-over-par figures of 37 to his opponent’s 39.
But Fowles struck early after the turn, squading the match at the 10th and it came down to all square on the 15th tee. Then Shaun bogeyed the next two holes and suddenly he was out of the championship.
McAllister had an awkward stance in a bunkered at the 16th and took two shots to get out. Then he missed he green at the short 17th and could not salvage a par 3 to keep the tie going.
Fowles has brought his handicap down from 18 to +1 in three years and is a full-time golfer, having left school earlier this year at the age of 16.
Kellett’s exit was virtually an action repeat of McAllister’s demise. There was never more than a hole in it in his match against Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne).
Then Ross got his nose in front after 13 holes and was still one up on the 17th tee. The Kilmarnock teenager, who was two under par in a quality tie up to that point, lost the short 17th where he overclubbed.
It was a fatal mistake which eventually led to him conceding the hole to be pulled back to all square.
As if that was not enough, Kellett then drove into the thick whins on the right from the 18th tee. His bogey 5 cost him the hole and the match. A sad finish to a promising run.
Through to the last eight are four Englishman, one German, one Frenchman, one Swede – and only one from the host country, Michael Stewart.
Stewart was three down after four holes but turned his fortunes around when he won the 14th, 15th and 16th to go from two down to one up.
Scotland junior rugby cap Stevenson, a surprise quarter-finalist at the recent Scottish men’s amateur championship then squared the contest at the 17th and got up and down from below the green at the last to send the tie into extra holes.
At the 21st Michael Stewart, only 16 years old, prevailed with a par.
THURSDAY RESULTS FOLLOW
BRITISH BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
FOURTH ROUND
B Fowles (Wentworth) bt M Frost (Perton Park) 6 and 4.
S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt H Joannes (Belgium) 3 and 2.
M Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) bt J Maw (Abbeydale) 5 and 4.
R Kellett (Colville Park) bt P O’Kane (Moyola Park) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (North Middlesex) bt L Scotto (Italy) 3 and 1.
J Garcia (Spain) bt A Tangkamolprasert (Thailand) 4 and 2.
M Junker (Germany) bt R Kirwan (Kenilworth) 2 and 1.
K Barnes (Worcester) bt I Lamppu (Finland) at 19th.
B Akesson (Sweden) bt G King (Tyrrells Wood) 2 holes.
B Newman (Ogbourne Downs) bt D Clarke (Woodhall Spa) 2 and 1.
A Hucke (Germany) bt J Senior (Heysham) 2 holes.
T Fourest (France) bt D Thomas (Braintree) 1 hole.
S Stuart (Chorley) bt S Einhaus (Germany) at 20th.
N Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt G Berlin (Spain) 3 and 2.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt A Wills (Sandiway) 4 and 3.
G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) bt R Anderson (Duddingston) 4 and 3.
FIFTH ROUND
Fowles bt McAllister 2 and 1.
Nixon bt Kellett 1 hole.
Johnston bt Garcia bt 20th.
Junker bt Barnes 6 and 4.
Akesson bt Newman 5 and 3.
Fourest bt Hucke at 20th.
S Stuart bt Kearney 1 hole.
M Stewart bt Stevenson at 21st
FRIDAY QUARTER-FINALS
8.30 Fowles v Nixon.
8.45 Johnston v Junker.
9.0 Akessson v Foulkes.
9.15 S Stuart v M Stewart

British Girls
SALLY THROUGH TO QUARTER-FINALS OF BRITISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sally Watson from South Queensferry, the only surviving Scot, reached the last eight of the British girls’ open amateur championship with a 4 and 3 third-round win over Yupaporn Kawinpakorn from Thailand at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland today.

British Boys
Fours Scots in the last 16
CONQUEROR OF JORDAN FINDLAY GOES DOWN TO SHAUN McALLISTER
Wednesday’s third-round defeat of Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), who had been bidding to become the first player to reach the final three years in a row, was avenged this morning by Shaun McAllister, his Scotland international boys’ team-mate, on the fourth day of the British boys’ amateur championship over the Royal Aberdeen links at Balgownie.
McAllister, a member of the Craigielaw club, near Edinburgh, beat Belgium’s Hugues Joannes by 3 and 2 to become the first of four Scots in the last 16.
Shaun, the 17-year-old Scottish boys’ stroke-play champion, was a bit fortunate in that his opponent did not play as well as he had done in knocking out Findlay.
McAllister took an early grip on the fourth-round tie. He was two up after four holes, then one up after 10 and 13th. From there, he quickly clinched his place in the last 16 by winning the 14th and 15th.
McAllister will now play Billy Fowles (Wentworth), a 6 and 4 winner over Myles Frost (Perton Park).
Ross Kellett (Barassie), another member of the victorious Scotland team in last week’s boys’ home internationals at Lossiemouth, had a good win by 3 and 1 over Ireland boy cap Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park).
Kellett was twice one down but had squared the game by the 13th and then won two of the next three holes to go two up with two to play. Ross won the short 17th for victory and now plays Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne).
Scotland’s representation in the last 16 rose to four players when Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) beat Adam Wills (Sandiway) by 4 and 3 while Scotland junior rugby international Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) won the all-Scottish tie against Robby Anderson (Duddingston) by 4 and 3.
Wills played twice in the morning, returning early to the course for a 7.40am tee off time to finish off his third-round tie against Andrew Knappe (Germany) from the previous night.
Wills got through that at the 19th but the extra “practice” did not do him any good in his next tie. He was three down after four holes to Stewart and never recovered.
With the defeat of O’Kane, Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) became Ireland’s standard-bearer in the last 16.
Niall, who heads for the United States soon to enrol at East Tennessee State University, beat Gonzalo Berlin (Spain) by 3 and 2, having steadily built on a one-hole lead after a four holes to be two up at the seventh and three up after 13.
Kearney’s victory earned him a tie against Sam Stuart (Chorley) who had a good 20th hole win over Germany’s Seau Einhaus. The German will be playing for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match for Under-16s at Celtic Manor next month.
Bjorn Akesson, Sweden’s only survivor and a member of the Continent of Europe team for the forthcoming Jacques Leglise Trophy boys’ match against GB&I in the Czech Republic, beat Gary King (Tyrells Wood) by two holes.
BRITISH BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
FOURTH ROUND
B Fowles (Wentworth) bt M Frost (Perton Park) 6 and 4.
S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt H Joannes (Belgium) 3 and 2.
M Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) bt J Maw (Abbeydale) 5 and 4.
R Kellett (Colville Park) bt P O’Kane (Moyola Park) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (North Middlesex) bt L Scotto (Italy) 3 and 1.
J Garcia (Spain) bt A Tangkamolprasert (Thailand) 4 and 2.
M Junker (Germany) bt R Kirwan (Kenilworth) 2 and 1.
K Barnes (Worcester) bt I Lamppu (Finland) at 19th.
B Akesson (Sweden) bt G King (Tyrrells Wood) 2 holes.
B Newman (Ogbourne Downs) bt D Clarke (Woodhall Spa) 2 and 1.
A Hucke (Germany) bt J Senior (Heysham) 2 holes.
T Fourest (France) bt D Thomas (Braintree) 1 hole.
S Stuart (Chorley) bt S Einhaus (Germany) at 20th.
N Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt G Berlin (Spain) 3 and 2.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt A Wills (Sandiway) 4 and 3.
G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) bt R Anderson (Duddingston) 4 and 3.

English women's open mid-amateur championship
FIONA LOCKHART THROUGH TO QUARTER-FINALS
Former Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) is through to a quarter-final meeting with Rachel Lomas in the English women's open mid-amateur championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Cheltenham.
Fiona beat Hester Wallace by one hole in the first round and then accounted for Sophie Stubbs by 3 and 2 to reach the last eight.
Sara Bishop (Windyhill) beat Natasha Morgan 3 and 1 and then lost by 3 and 1 to Corisande Lee.

Wednesday 16th August 2006

British Girls
SALLY THE ONLY SCOT IN LAST 16 OF BRITISH GIRLS GOLF
South Queensferry’s Sally Watson is the only Scot through to the last 16 of the British girls’ amateur golf championship over the Portstewart links in Northern Ireland.
She beat compatriot Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) by 2 and 1 in the first round and followed that up with a 4 and 3 success over Spain’s Amanda Goyos Ball.
Krystle Caithness, who won a play-off to grab the last of the 64 spots in the match-play stages, lost by two holes to the No 1 seed, Belen Mozo, the Spaniard who won the British women’s open amateur championship at Royal County Down on her last visit to Northern Ireland.
Mozo is through to the last 16 in which there are only three players from the home countries.
Carly Booth (Comrie) won her first-round tie by 4 and 3 against Sarah Tyson (Redlibbets) but lost to Araceli Felguerosa (Spain) by one hole in the afternoon.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) KO’d the English girls champion, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) in the morning but lost by 1 hole to a Thailand player, Yupaporn Kawinpakom, in the second round.
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff) lost in the second round to a Norwegian, Amalie Vall.
[Picture above right is of Sally Watson with the Todd Bowl, awarded to the lowest 36 hole score by an Under-16 player in the qualifying rounds]
BRITISH GIRLS OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland
Selected match results
First round – B Mozo (Spa) bt K Caithness (St Regulus) 2 holes, C Booth (Comrie) bt S Tyson (Redlibbets) 4 and 3, R Niven (Crieff) bt L Murray (Alford) 1 hole, S Watson bt P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 2 and 1, R Livingstone bt R Jennings (Izaak Walton) 5 and 3, V Sternebeck (Ger) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole, Y Kawinpakorn (Thai) bt M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 1 hole.
Second round - A Felguerosa (Spa) bt Booth 1 hole, A Vall (Nor) bt Niven 2 and 1, Watson bt A Goyos Ball (Spa) 4 and 3, Y Kawinpakom (Thai) bt Livingstone 1 hole, Mozo bt F Parker (Eng) 3 and 1.
Watch www.lgu.org for up-to-date results

British Boys
BELGIAN SHATTERS JORDAN FINDLAY BRITISH FINAL HAT-TRICK BID
Jordan Findlay’s dream of becoming the first player ever to reach three successive finals in the British boys’ amateur golf championship was shattered at Balgownie today.
The Fraserburgh 18-year-old went down by one hole to a very good Belgian player, Hugues Joannes who rubbed salt into the wound by saying later that he felt he was a better stroke player than he was at match-play!
Winner of the British title in 2004 and beaten finalist last year, Findlay took his defeat in the best possible spirit – even though he must have bitterly disappointed.
“He is a very good player and made very few mistakes the whole way round. He had terrific up and downs at the 17th and 18th to get halves,” said Jordan who will return to the United States shortly for his second year at East Tennessee State University..
“I just couldn’t get the putts to drop. But I don’t have any divine right to win matches. I didn’t play well enough to win. It’s as simple as that.”
Joannes, a 17-year-old from a town south of Brussels, has never been in Scotland before. He led the English boys’ open stroke-play championship for the Carris Trophy by five shots with two rounds to go recently before finishing second.
“Beating Jordan Findlay was a very good win for me. He has a great record in this championship,” said Joannes who was two under par for the match which was all square after 11 holes.
Findlay drove into the ditch to go one down at the 12th and was in the rough off the tee at the 15th to lose that hole as well.
Jordan has been in tight corners before in this championship over the past three years – and got out of them. But not this one. The Buchan boy did win back the 16th where the Belgian was bunkered but Joannes salvaged a half in par 3 at the 17th with a great recovery.
Joannes, only one up, looked as if he had left the door open for Findlay when he missed the plateau green at the last on the right and found his ball nestling down in short rough. But he played a brilliant, high wedge recovery from about 20 yards to within 2ft of the cup.
Jordan’s only hope of taking the tie down the 19th was to hole a 25ft putt for a birdie … but his putt, like so many earlier ones, was never on the right line.
The Belgian victor plays another Scot in the round of the last 32 this morning – Shaun McAllister, the Craigielaw youngster who burst on the scene three or four weeks ago by winning the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play championship at Alloa.
McAllister beat Matt Kippen (Enmore Park) by 6 and 5 with roughly one over par figures.
“I didn’t play as well as I did on Tuesday – but I didn’t have to,” said Shaun.
Another Scot through to the fourth round is Ross Kellett from Colville Park, Motherwell. He was too good for Sam Torrance’s son Daniel, beating the Wentworth player by 4 and 3.
Kellett lost only one hole, the 10th, and had things made easier for him when Torrance was in trouble at the sixth and eighth and had to concede both holes.
Ross finished his man off with a birdie at the 13th and a par at the 15th. He was one or two under par at the finish.
For full results see www.scottishgolfview.com

First round British Girls
CAITHNESS LOSES TO MOZO ON LAST GREEN IN BRITISH GIRLS
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), who won a play-off at the fourth hole to be the 64th and last qualifier, lost her first-round tie in the match-play stages of the British girls' open amateur championship over the Portstewart links in Northern Ireland.
Krystle did very well to take the top seed and British women's open amateur champion Belen Mozo from Spain to the 18th green before going down by two holes.
Carly Booth (Comrie) advanced with a 4 and 3 win over English girl Sarah Tyson (Redlibbets).
In an all-Scottish encounter, Roseanne Niven, the Scottish Under-18 champion from Crieff, beat Laura Murray (Alford) by one hole.
Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar) was beaten at the 19th by fourth seed Valerie Sternebeck from Germany.
In another all Scotland encounter third seed, Sally Watson, playing out of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, beat Pamela Pretswell of Bothwell Castle by 2&1.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) beat England's Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) by 5&3
Yupaporn Kawinpakorn from Thailand beat Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon) at the 19th.

British Boys
BLACK MORNING FOR SCOTTISH HOPES
Northern’s Graeme Mitchell and Scott Fraser as well as Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) were beaten on a black morning for Scottish hopes at the British boys’ amateur golf championship at Balgownie.
Mitchell lost by one hole to Daniel Casey (East Sussex National) while Elder went down by 3 and 2 to Rory Kirwan (Kenilworth).
Fraser was expected to follow up his fine one-hole win over Sam Hutsby (Lee on the Solent), holder of the Spanish men’s open amateur championship, by beating Darryn Lloyd (Spalding).
But the English boy played well to beat Fraser 4 and 3.
Other Scots eliminated early on the third day of the championship were Neil Henderson (The Glen) from North Berwick and Jamie Neilson (Dunbar).
English boys’ champion Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) was hammered 7 and 6 by a German, Marius Junker, capping a bad two weeks for the Carris Trophy winner. Wright lost all four games for England in last week’s boys’ home internationals at Lossiemouth.
For morning results see www.scottishgolfview.com

CARLY JOINING SALLY AT LEADBETTER GOLF ACADEMY IN FLORIDA
There will be two Scots girls – Sally Watson from South Queensferry and Comrie’s Carly Booth - enrolling at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida at the end of this month.
We knew that Edinburgh businessman Graham Watson had fixed up for Sally (15), last year’s Scottish Under-18 girls match-play champion, to go to the academy.
Now comes the news that Carly has gained a full scholarship – not many of them are granted – to the same establishment which combines education with golf, i.e. lessons in the morning and golf in the afternoon.
The move to Florida was clinched when Phil Parkin, the former British amateur champion who is one of David Leadbetter’s top coaches, visited the Booth family’s farm in the Perthshire hills and played a few holes with Carly over the course created by her father Wally.
“She’s phenomenal,” said Parkin. “She will be mixing with very good golfers in her own age group and the golf academy is the perfect place for her.”
Carly, who has a handicap of +1.2, will return to Britain to play for Europe in the Under-16s Junior Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in mid-September. She is the only British or Irish player in the mixed squad of boys and girls, having earned automatic selection by finishing third in the girls’ section of the European Young Masters in Austria last month.

SARA AND FIONA QUALIFY FOR ENGLISH MID-AM MATCH-PLAY STAGES
Sara Bishop (Windyhill) and Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) qualified for the match-play stages of the English women’s open mid-amateur championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Cheltenham on Tuesday.
But Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) failed by one shot.
The leading 32 players who went forward had 36-hole totals of 162 or better.
Cara had 81 and 82 for 163.
Sara qualified in 10th place with 79 and 76 for 155 and now plays Natasha Morgan.
Fiona had 80 and 76 for 156 to qualify in 13th place. She plays Hester Wallace.
Claire Aitken (Mid-Kent) was the leading qualifier with 74 and 73 for 147 – four shots ahead of Emma Lyons (West Surrey) with 73 and 78.

Barassie Girls Open
Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) is pictured right with the Barassie Girls' Open Trophy which she won last week with a round of 103 less 33, net 70. CSS was 79. In the previous week Mhairi won the handicap section of the Tom Lehman Open with a net 59 over Fullerton, CSS 65. Mhairi only gained her Congu handicap this year and is already making great progress.

BANCHORY WOMEN'S OPEN
The Banchory Women's Open golf tournament has been reduced from 36 to 18 holes on Saturday, August 26 because of the disappointingly low number of entries.

Anstruther Mixed Open
Late entries still available for the Anstruther Mixed Open this Sunday (20th August).
Phone 01333 310956 for tee-times.

Tuesday 15th August 2006

KRYSTLE WINS PLAY-OFF TO GRAB LAST PLACE IN BRITISH GIRLS’ MATCH-PLAY
Curtis Cup reserve and Scottish Under-21 girls champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) came through a four-hole play-off against Ireland’s Sarah Cunningham to win the last of the 64 places in the match-play stages of the British girls’ open amateur golf championship at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
Krystle shot 84 and 76 for 160 while Sarah had scores of 86 and 74.
They tied for the 64th place and went out in a play-off which went to the fourth extra hole before the Fife girl prevailed.
South Queensferry’s Sally Watson scored the best of the eight Scottish qualifiers. She followed up an opening 75 with a one-under-par 72 for 147, joint third place behind top seed Belen Mozo, the Spanish girl who won the British women’s open amateur championship at Royal County Down on her last visit to Northern Ireland.
Sally Watson, soon to enrol at a David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, birdied the second, seventh and 14th and had bogeys at the first and third.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) dropped back with a 79 for 151.
Other Scottish qualifiers were: Carly Booth (Comrie), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Laura Murray (Alford), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
BRITISH GIRLS’ OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
141 B Mozo (Spa) 68 73.
146 C Masson (Ger) 73 73.
147 S Watson (David Leadbetter GA) 75 72, V Sternebeck (Ger) 74 73.
148 M Causin (Ita) 72 76.
Other scores:
151 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 72 79.
152 C Booth (Comrie) 77 75.
153 R Niven (Crieff) 74 79.
156 L Murray (Alford) 79 77.
157 R Livingstone (Mussleburgh Old) 80 77.
159 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 80 79, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 80 79.
160 (after play-off) K Caithness (St Regulus) 84 76.
NON-QUALIFIERS
164 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 80 84, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 78 86.
165 R Watson (David Leadbetter GA) 82 83.
166 J Turner (Mortonhall) 87 79.
171 L Macklin (Ranfurly Castle) 88 83.
176 J Sneddon (Alyth) 92 84.

British Boys... see www.scottishgolfview.com

Northern Vets who beat Highland Vets

NORTHERN VETS BEAT HIGHLAND
Northern have beaten Highland in the annual veteran women’s golf match for the Lyon Trophy for only the third time since 1990. Northern won by 6 ½-2½ at Elgin.
Details (Northern names first):
Frances Neish (Murcar Links) bt Vivian Welsh (Elgin) 3 and 1; Jen Petrie (Panmure) halved with Christie McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar); Agnes Freeman (Panmure) bt Jean Russell (Tain) 4 and 3; Liz Webster (Aberdeen Ladies) bt Iris Wilson (Forres) 3 and 2; Susan McKenzie (Insch) halved with Maureen Ritchie (Muir of Ord); Helen McIntosh (Murcar Links) halved with Jan Patterson (Fort Augustus); Avril Willox (Murcar Links) lost to Sheena Dunn (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 6 and 4; Wendy Somerville (Edzell) bt Catherine Delany (Nairn Dunbar) 3 and 2; Valerie Kelly (Deeside) bt Jessie Grant (Inverness) 4 and 3.

Highland Vets

Hayston Ladies' Open Day
There are still spaces available in the Hayston Ladies' Open Day on Tuesday 5 September - cost £7. Anyone interested in entering should contact Sarah Barr on 01360-311038.

Monday 14th August 2006

BIG-HITTING MICHELE IS LEADING SCOT AS KRYSTLE HAS A NIGHTMARE 11
Big-hitting Ellon teenager Michele Thomson powered her way into joint second position at the end of the first qualifying round in the British girls’ open amateur championship over the Portstewart links in Northern Ireland yesterday (Mondahy).
Michele, who leaves shortly on a four-year golf scholarship to Jacksonville State University, Alabama, had an eagle 3 at the seventh and birdies at the third, 14th and 17th in halves of 35 and 37 in compiling a one-under-par round of 72.
Miss Thomson, who has already won the Scottish schoolgirls championship and retained the North of Scotland women’s title this season, dropped shots at the second, sixth, 11th and 18th
South Queensferry’s Sally Watson recovered from a double bogeys at the first and fourth to salvage a 75, tahnks to birdies at the second, 11th, 13th and 17th in halves of 39 and 36.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), who recently won the Scottish Under-21 girls’ open title with brilliantly low scoring, had a nightmare par-5 seventh hole. The Fife girl ran up an 11. She had earlier bogeyed the third, fourth and fifth. A birdie at the ninth helped her to reach the turn in seven-over-par 45.
Krystle birdied the 15th and 17th but had bogeys at the 13th, 14th and 16th in 39 home for an 84.
++++ Roseanne Niven, the Scottish Under-18 girls champion from Crieff, came in late in the day with a 74 which put her in joint fifth place. But for a bogey 6 at the final hole, Roseanne would have been joint second.
Earlier she had birdied the second, ninth and 13th, dropping shots at the fourth and seventh.
Belen Mozo, the Spanish girl who won the British women’s open amateur title at Royal County Down on her last visit to Northern Ireland in June, showed her class with a five-under-par 68 for a four-shot lead.
BRITISH GIRLS OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 73
68 Belen Mozo (Spa).
72 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Marianna Causin (Ita).
73 Caroline Masson (Ger).
74 Valerie Sternebeck (Ger). 74 Roseanne Niven (Crieff).
75 Sally Watson (David Leadebetter Golf Academy).
76 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), Pia Halbig (Ger).
Other scores:
77 Carly Booth (Comrie).
78 Emma Fairnie (Dunbar).
79 Laura Murray (Alford).
80 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Edwina Lowrey-Gold (Eaton), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)..
82 Rebecca Watson (David Leadbetter Golf Academy).
84 K Caithness (St Regulus).
87 J Turner (Mortonhall).
88 Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle)
92 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) .

East v West Vets
West Vets narrowly defeated East Vets by 3 games to 2 in the annual match for the "Friendship" salver held over Gullane No 2 this afternoon.

CAROL SHATTERS BALLATER WOMEN’S RECORD
Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) slashed four shots off the Ballater women’s course record in winning the club’s women’s open tournament at the weekend. Carol shot a six-under-par 65. Te previous record of 69 was set by local player Gillian Petrie a number of years ago and subsequently equalled by several players, including Carol herself in the same tournament last year.
Highlights of Carol's 65 were two eagles – a 3 at the 448yd seventh, after hitting a five-wood to 6ft, and then a 2 at 327yd par 15th hole by holing a full pitching wedge.
She won the Ballater Women’s Open by eight shots from clubmate Laura McLardy with another Murcar Links player, Donna Pocock, third on 74.
Carol's good form continued into Sunday when she also won the Braemar women’s open with a three-under-par 69 by three shots from Elaine Farquharson-Black (Deeside).
ADD GOLF RETURNS
BALLATER – Women’s Open (Par 71, CSS 70)
Silver Division - Scratch – C Wilson (Murcar Links) 65, L McLardy (Murcar Links) 73, D Pocock (Murcar Links) 74. Handicap - I Strachan (Aberdeen Ladies) (18) 65, J Moir (Newburgh) (20) 66; J Ord (Ballater) (18), L. McKendrick (Ballater) (20), B Adam (Newburgh) (17), H Cooper (McDonald Ellon) (19), R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) (7) 68.
Bronze Division - Scratch - E Tulewicz (Kirriemuir) 89, R. Hosie (Newburgh) 90. Handicap - S Herschell (Castle Park) (32) 65; H. Taylor (Kirriemuir) (29) 66; A Wildgoose (McDonald Ellon) (21) 69, N. Edwards (Dunning) (22) 70.
Local prizes - Scratch - M Cruickshank 79. Handicap - S Foggie (18) 69.

Kirriemuir Kids Dominate in Angus
Scottish Ladies Coach Karyn Dallas left for the Girls Home Internationals in Irelend with the knowledge that her Juniors held positions one to six in the Angus County Junior Order of Merit, with two events left on the calendar.
She returned to the news that the last two events were won by juniors from Kirriemuir and we can see the last winner Rory Tinker, pictured below, with some of the Kirriemuir Juniors.
Karyn who introduced her Total Golf programme seven years ago says, “It’s been seven years of hard work but all of a sudden we are seeing the fruits of our labour. We seem to be getting results at all levels but won’t stand still”. Karyn intends to take time out and spend the winter re-writing the programme. “We have learned much in the last seven years but haven’t had the time to sit down and consider our findings. I have been wanting to do this for several years now and I am really excited about the whole thing.
The Angus County Junior Order of Merit with Two events remaining:
1. Alex Anderson Kirriemuir GC 110
2. Daniel Naismith Kirriemuir GC 90
3. R. Millar Kirriemuir GC 78
4. A. Nolan Kirriemuir GC 69
5. M. Farquharson Kirriemuir GC 65
6=. L. Rowlands Kirriemuir GC 50
6=. D. Begg Montrose Merc. GC 50
8. G. Lamb Royal Montrose GC 49
9 M. Skelly Arbroath GC 45
10= G. Wood Forfar GC 40
10= M. Lowson Forfar GC 40
10= S. Ritchie Forfar GC 40
10= A. Jackson Broughty GC 40

KIMBERLY (14) BEATS KATHARINA IN FINAL OF US WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Germany's Katharina Schallenberg was beaten by one hole in the 36-hole final of the United States women's amateur championship over the Witch Hollow Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Oregon on Sunday.
At 14, Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, became the youngest champion in the 111-year history of the tournament.
Kim rallied from being five holes down after the 15th hole of the 36-hole match. She did not take the lead until the 30th hole. The match ended on the 36th. On the final hole, after Schallenberg made a 25-foot birdie putt from the fringe, Kim ran in a 5-foot birdie putt to win.
“I was shaking so much,” said Kim of the putt. “I don’t even know where I aimed or anything. I just, like, hit it. It’s like, whatever, just hit the ball.”
Kim. earlier this year, was the runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.
"I just made a couple of mistakes, maybe, or the balls…could have bounced better, I guess,” said Schallenberg, who was trying to become the first German player to win a USGA title. “And we weren’t reading the greens as well as Kimberly and Frank did.”

SAMANTHA JOINT 11TH ON FUTURES TOUR
Samantha Head from Bedford finished joint 11th in the Betty Puskar Futures Classic at Morgantown, West Virginia. She had rounds of 70,73 and 70 for a total of 213 and a cheque for $1,423.
Kristy McPherson from South Carolina won the top prize of $10,000 with 68, 72 and 67 for 207 - one shot ahead of fellow American, Charlotte Mayorkas (70-69-69).
Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) and Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) did not qualify for the final round.

ANNIKA WINS HER OWN TOURNAMENT
Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam birdied the last hole to pip Mexico's Lorena Ochoa for the Scandinavian TPC title and the 75,000 Euros first prize. Annika is the patron of the tournament which she also won last year.
Annika had rounds of 66, 71, 69 and 65 for 21-under-par 271, one shot ahead of the Mexican player who scored 72, 65, 69 and 66 to win 50,750 Euros.
Annika's final round of 65 equalled the course record set by Ochoa on the second day.
Catriona Matthew and Laura Davies finished joint fifth on 10-under-par 282.
Catriona scored 74, 70, 67 and 71 to Laura's 70, 75, 66 and 71. Each earned 19,350 Euros.
Clare Queen's learning curve in her rookie season continues. She finished joint 23rd on 291 with scores of 77, 71, 72 and 71 to earn 5,850 Euros.

KATHARINA TWO UP IN US FINAL
FROM THE USGA WEBSITE
North Plains, Oregon – Twenty-six-year-old Katharina Schallenberg, trying to become the first German-born player to win a USGA championship, entered the Sunday afternoon intermission with a 2-up lead against Kimberly Kim, 14, of Hilo, Hawaii, during the 36-hole final.
Schallenberg was 5 up through 15 holes but Kim won the final three at Pumpkin Ridge's Witch Hollow Course. Kim drained a 5-footer for birdie on the 16th before Schallenberg conceded a 4-footer to Kim on the next hole.
Despite just hitting seven fairways and 11 greens in regulation, Schallenberg took 27 putts. All five of her birdies won holes. By comparison, Kim was solid off the tee, missing just one fairway and finding 12 greens. She took two fewer putts than Schallenberg, but carded 10 through the first five holes.
Kim, already the youngest finalist ever, is trying to unseat 1971 champion Laura Baugh as the youngest player to win the event. Earlier this year, Kim lost in the Women's Amateur Public Links final to Tiffany Joh, 6 and 5. A couple weeks later, she played on the weekend at the Women's Open.

MHAIRI WINS SHIRE GIRLS MEETING AT KINTORE WITH A 75
Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), pictured right, had the best scratch score of 75 in Aberdeenshire girls' medal meeting at Kintore Golf Club on Sunday. She won this section by five shots from Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies).
Fiona Fullerton (Huntly), playing off 18, and Becky Gray (Kintore), who has a handicap of 36, topped the handicap returns with net 67s.
LEADING RETURS
Scratch - Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) 75; Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) 80; Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 82.
Handicap - Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (18), Becky Gray (Kintore) (36) 67; Nikita Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (16) 68; Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) 69; Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (36), Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) 95).

George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle), winner for a second year of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal, is pictured with (left to right): Leven Golfing Society captain Andrew Moore in his eye-catching red jack, sponsors representative Ross Watson and Alistair Rennie, vice-captain of Leven GS.
Switch over to our sister website, www.scottishgolfview.com for a report and all the final totals.

British Boys
NORWEGIAN THORP IS THE ONE THEY ALL HAVE TO BEAT AT BALGOWNIE THIS WEEK
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Let’s not get carried away with Scotland’s capture of the boys’ home internationals title at Lossiemouth last week for the first time in 11 years. It does not follow that one of the triumphant Scottish team will win this week’s British boys’ open amateur championship after six days’ match-play over the Royal Aberdeen links at Balgownie.
Hot favourite is not Jordan Findlay, the Fraserburgh lad who has risen to the occasion to reach the last two finals (won one, lost one), nor Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) or James Byrne (Banchory), our top boys with 5 1/2pt each out of six as Scotland won the boys’ home international title at Lossiemouth next week.
No, the outstanding player in the field of 256 from United States in the West to Thailand in the East is an 18-year-old Norwegian, Marius Thorp.
Don’t take my word for it, listen to five times Open champion Tom Watson who played with Marius in last month’s Open at Hoylake.
“Marius has the ability to be a great player. He is fearless with a putter – I remember those days,” said Tom.
Master Thorp, less than a month after his 18th birthday, won the silver medal as leading amateur in the Open with a level par aggregate. He is almost certainly a European Tour professional star in the making, with the potential to be as good if not better than Sergio Garcia, who was the Spanish wonder boy when he was 18.
Last year, Marius won the European men’s amateur individual championship. This year, Thorp has spearheaded Norway to victories in the world boys’ team championship in Japan – where he was the leading individual player over 72 holes – and the European boys’ team championship in which Norway beat Scotland 5-2 in the final.
Thorp, who has his own website, could have his pick of the top American colleges but he wants to go straight to the pro ranks, hopefully playing on the European Tour next year if he gets through the Tour School process later this year.
Lewis Kirton, who leaves shortly on a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, got a square game with Thorp in the No 1 singles tie of the recent European boys’ team championship in Sweden.
Lewis, for one, will not be overawed should their paths cross again at Balgownie this week.
“I’m sure that on paper Marius Thorp is the favourite, but it’s match-play and anything can happen. He has shown that he is a top-class player but there are many others that can challenge for the British boys’ title this week,” said Kirton over the weekend.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White (Lundin) was Scotland’s third most successful competitor behind Kirton and Byrne last week. He finished up with 5pt out of 6 (four wins and two halves) and is obviously back to his early-season form.
And Thorp is not the only Continental with a winning chance. Apart from the Norwegian, five members of the Continental team for the annual Jacques Leglise Trophy boys’ match against GB&I, are in the field.
Overlooked by the Continental selectors for that team but definitely one to keep an eye on at Balgownie - Francisco Pintor, a 16-year-old from Alicante, who won the Scottish youths championship at Mortonhall earlier this summer.

Sunday 13th August 2006

EMILY FOILS JENNA FOUR-IN-A-ROW BID BY WINNING "MARY McCALLY"
Auchterarder's Emily Ogilvy won the Mary McCallay Trophy tournament at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club today - foiling a bid by Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) to complete a four-in-a-row of wins on the national women's amateur 36-hole circuit this summer.
Perth & Kinross county team player Emily, who has improved her golf playing on the American college circuit, put together rounds of 72 and 69 for a total of 141, compared with a par of 72 and a CSS for both rounds of 71.
Miss Ogilvy won by a single stroke from Jenna Wilson who scored 69 and 73 for 142.
Jo Carthew (Ladybank) was third on 144 with a pair of 72s.
Jenna Wilson had won the Munross Trophy at Montrose Links, the Mackie Bowl at Gullane and theRIccarton Rosebowl over the past few weeks.
Collated scoreboard
MARY McCALLAY TROPHY - Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 72, CSS 71 71
141 Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 72 69.
142 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 69 73.
144 Jo Carthew (Ladybank) 72 72.
145 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 70 75.
146 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 72 74, Anne Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 72 74.
148 Lyndsay Kirkwood (Powfoot) 77 71.
149 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 78 71.
152 Diane MacDonald (Dumfries & Co) 75 77.
153 Addi Shamash (Kirkcudbright) 81 72.

United States women's amateur championship
KATHARINA FIGHTS BACK TO REACH FINAL
Germany's Katharina Schallenberg, pictured right, fought back from two down after eight holes to beat Stacy Lewis from The Woodlands, Texas in the first semi-final of the United States women's amateur championship at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon on Saturday.
Katharina, 26, playing in the tournament for the first time won through at the 19th.
In Sunday's 36-hole final, Katharina, who finished runner-up to Krystle Caithness in this year's St Rule Trophy over the Old Course, St Andrews, having earlier won the Women's Sherry Cup in Spain, will play 14-year-old Kimberley Kim from Hawaii.
Kimberley beat Lindy Duncan, 15, from Plantation, Florida in the second semi-finao.

Scandinavian TPC
CATRIONA GAINS ON THE LEADERS
Catriona Matthew moved up to a share of fifth place with a third-round 67 in the Scandinavian TPC at Bro-Blasta Golf Club on Saturday.
It was the Scot's best round for some time. She birdied the first, fifth, ninth, 11th, 17th and 18th and did not have a single bogey. Her earlier scores were 74 and 70.
Catriona is on 211, five shots behind joint leaders Annika Sorenstam, the patron of the tournament, and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa. They both scored four-under-par 69s on Saturday.
Clare Queen did not too badly with a 72 for 220. Clare had one bogey and two birdies and is in joint 40th place.
LEADERBOARD
206 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 66 71 69, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 72 65 69.
208 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 69 68.
Other scores:
211 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 74 70 67.
220 Clare Queen (Sco) 77 71 72.

Futures Tour
VIKKI MISSES CUT IN WEST VIRGINIA
Two late bogeys for a three-over-par 75 put Vikki Laing over the limit mark for the 70 qualifiers and ties for the final round of the Betty Puskar Futures Classic at Morgantown, West Virginia on Saturday.
Starting at the 10th, Vikki bogey the 11th, 17th, seventh and ninth. She had one birdie, at the 18th. Miss Laing had a 74, which included a quadruple bogey 7 at at the short 17th in her first round.
Her total of 149 was one shot too many to qualify for the final round.
LEADERBOARD
139 Kelly Cavanaugh (US) 70 69, Charlotte Mayorkas (US) 70 69.
++They lead by one shot from six players on 140.
Other scores:
143 Samantha Head (Bedford) 70 73 (jt 18th).
Did Not Qualify
149 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 74 75.
153 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 76 77.

R&A Press Release
THE BRITISH MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Daniel Perrett has the chance to enter the record books when he attempts to win in a third successive title in the British Mid-Amateur Championship that will be played at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club from 16-20 August.
While both Gary Wolstenholme and John Kemp have each won three titles, neither managed to win more than two in succession. Perrett, with his victories at Royal Liverpool in 2004 and last year at Muirfield, where he defeated Steve Sansome by one hole, will therefore be hoping for a third championship winning performance.
Ranged against him are 144 competitors from as far afield as Italy, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. who have 19 players attempting to take the trophy overseas for a first time.
The 2005 Mid-Amateur Champions of England, Nigel Chesters and Scotland, Allyn Dick, have entered as has regular competitor, Francois Illouz of France, the runner up in last year’s European equivalent.
Southport & Ainsdale is a true links course, designed by James Braid set among dunes with a profusion of heather and gorse.
Since its founding in 1906, it has hosted many major tournaments that include the Ryder Cups of 1933 and 1937 and the 1979 Weetabix Women’s British Open. It is used as a Local Final Qualifying course when The Open is played at Royal Birkdale and has been a qualifying course for the Amateur Championship.
Competitors play one round on each of the Wednesday and Thursday and the top 64 players then compete in the match play stage that commences on Friday 18 August.
The Championship draw can be viewed at www.randa.org – Championships.

Saturday 12th August 2006

KATHARINA TWO DOWN IN EARLY STAGES OF US AMATEUR SEMI-FINAL
Katharina Schallenberg from Germany fell two down after eight holes against Stacy Lewis from The Woodlands, Texas in the first semi-final of the US women's amateur championship at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Oregon.
Fourteen-year-old Kimberley Kim (Hawaii) and 15-year-old Lindy Duncan from Plantation, Florida were all square after seven holes.

KAREN MARSHALL WINS STRATHTYRUM TROPHY FOR A THIRD TIME
Baberton's Karen Marshall chalked up her third title win in the Strathtyrum Trophy - the five-day women's open tournament organised by the St Andrews Links Trust - with a 4 and 2 win over Chris Appleby from Preston in the final.
Karen's previous wins were in 1997 and 2003. She was the No 2 qualifier for the match-play stages this year. Chris Appleby, the No 4 seed, knocked out the No 1 qualifier, Amanda Shorrock (Pryors Hayes) in the semi-finals while Karen had a 2 and 1 win over teenager Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).
Last-day results
SEMI-FINALS
Chris Appleby (Preston) bt Amanda Shorrock (Pryors Hayes) 1 hole; Karen Marshall (Baberton) bt Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 2 and 1l.
FINAL
Marshall bt Appleby 4 and 2.
STRATHTYRUM SALVER (Handicap)
SEMI-FINALS
Janis Slater (Worksop) ((16) bt Priscillla Jones (Cranleigh) (22) 4 and 2.
Pearl Smeaton (Willesley Park) (19) bt Christine Foran (Cranleigh) (20) 3 and 2.
FINAL
Slater bt Smeaton 7 and 6.

+To find out the Eden Trophy men's results at St Andrews today, please switch to our sister website, www.scottishgolfview.com

Scandinavia TPC tournament
CATRIONA AND CLARE MAKE CUT IN SWEDEN
Catriona Matthew and Clare Queen survived the 36-hole cut in the Scandinavia TPC tournament at Bro-Balsta, Sweden but Kathryn Imrie, Julie Forbes and Lynn Kenny did not.
Lynn Kenny's failure to be involved in the final round was the most surprising as she looked to be sitting pretty after a first-round 72 ... but she folded to an eight-over-par 81 second time out.
Miss Kenny had a triple bogey at the eighth and a double bogey at the 14th with not a single birdie to offset these mishaps.
Catriona Matthew has had a 74 and 70 to be sharing 16th place on two-under-par 144.
Clare Queen is in joint 57th place on 148 after a 77 and 71.
Loreno Ochoa (Mexico), a former star of the US college circuit, shot a brilliant second-round 65 to join Annika Sorenstam, the patron of the tournament, on the nine-under-par 137 mark.
LEADERBOARD
137 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 72 65, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 66 71.
138 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 69 69.
139 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 69 70.
Scottish scores:
144 Catriona Matthew 74 70 (jt 16th).
148 Clare Queen 77 71 (jt 57th).
MISSED CUT
150 Kathryn Imrie 74 76, Julie Forbes 79 71.
153 Lynn Kenny 72 81.]

European men’s senior amateur team golf championship
SCOTS SENIORS FOR FINLAND
Scotland squad for the European men’s senior amateur team golf championship, to be played at Ruuhikoski Golf Club, Nurmo in Finland, starting next Wednesday, is:
Stephen Ellis (Cowal), Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier), Brian Grieve (King James VI), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), Donald McCart (Castlerock), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
The format is two qualifying rounds with the eight leading teams going on to contest the championship match-play flight.
There have been European senior team championships in the past, usually run in conjunction with individual events. This is the first, under the auspices of the European Golf Association, to follow the recognised format of all the other EGA amateur team championships.

Futures Tour
VIKKI EIGHT OFF THE PACE ON FUTURES TOUR
Vikki Laing, who had a quadruple bogey 7 at the short 17th, ended the first day eight shots off the pace after her two-over-par 74 in the Betty Puskar Futures Classic at Morgantown, West Virgina. She is sharing 66th place in a field of 141.
The leader is Meaghan Francella from New York State with halves of 31 and 35 for a 66.
Samantha Head from Bedford is in joint 15th place on 70.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast is in joint 103rd place with a 76.
LEADERBOARD
66 Meaghan Francella (New York State) 31-35.
67 Sarah Lynn Johnston (Illinois) 31-36, In-Bee Park (Nevada) 33-34.
Other scores:
70 Samantha Head (Bedford) 35-35 (jt 15th).
74 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 36-38 (jt 66th).
76 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 35-41 (jt 103rd).

US WOMENS' AMATEUR
KATHARINA THROUGH TO LAST FOUR OF US WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Germany's Katharina Schallenberg, 26, is through to the semi-finals of the United States women's amateur championship at Pumpkin Ridge, Oregon. She beat the last surviving US Curtis Cup team player, Jennie Lee from California, by one hole in the quarter-finals.
Katharina, winner of this ye ar's Sherry Cup women's championship and also runner-up to Krystle Caithness in the St Rule Trophy, now plays another American, Stacy Lewis, for a place in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final is between Lindy Duncan of Florida and Kimberley Kim from Hawaii.

Friday 11th August 2006

YOU'VE ONLY GOT UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY TO ENTER THE SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES AT DEESIDE ON SUNDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER !!!!!!
DOWNLOAD AN ENTRY FORM FROM THE SLGA WEBSITE
[Excuse me shouting!]

Victorious Scottish Girls team flanked by coach Karyn Dallas and captain Jennifer Jenkins
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

NOW SCOTLAND'S GIRLS WIN HOME INTERNATIONALS TITLE
Anything Scotland’s boys can do, our girls can do better! Twenty-four hours after Scotland won the boys’ home internationals title at Lossiemouth for the first time since 1995, Scotland won the girls’ home internationals crown at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
And the Scots’ Under-18 girls did it with a bit more to spare than their male counterparts.
The team captained by Jenny Jenkins followed up wins over Wales and defending champions England by whipping Ireland 9-0.
The last time Scotland won the Stroyan Cup that goes with the title was in 1998 at Mullingar.
Top performers for the Scots were Scottish Under-18 champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff) and 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) with six wins out of six, closely followed by 14-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie) with five wins and a halved match.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry), only 15, and Scottish Under-21 champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) both won five points out of six.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) had a 100 per cent winning record through four ties.
The results over the three days augured well for the possibility of a Scottish player winning next week’s British girls’ open championship is held at the same links venue in County Derry.
IRELAND 0, SCOTLAND 9
Ireland names first:
Foursomes: S Meadow & V Bradshaw lost to K Caithness & M Thomson 4 and 3; S Faller & L Toomey lost to C Booth & S Watson 3 and 1; L Mernagh & S Cunningham lost to R Niven & K MacDonald 3 and 2 (0-3).
Singles: Meadow lost to Caithness 3 and 2, L Coffey lost to Niven 3 and 2, Cunningham lost to Watson 5 and 3, N McMahon lost to R Livingstone 6 and 5, Bradshaw lost to MacDonald 3 and 1; Toomey lost to Booth 4 and 3 (0-6).
ENGLAND 6, WALES 3
England names first
Foursomes: J Ewart & F Parker halved with T Davies & K O’Connor; H Barwood & G Hardie bt L J Roberts & A Rees 1 hole; E Givens & R Jennings lost to R H Harries & H Boulden 5 and 4 (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Ewart bt Davies 3 and 1, Barwood halved with Harries, Hardie lost to O’Connor 2 and 1, Burke bt Rees 4 and 2, Givens bt N Gobey 2 and 1, R Connor bt Roberts 2 and 1 (4 ½-1 ½).

RECORD ENTRIES FOR 2006 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Far Hills, N.J., USA – At the close of entries, a record 126 teams (75 men’s and 51 women’s) will compete in the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships to be held near Cape Town, South Africa in October, according to the International Golf Federation (IGF). Further information

Girls' Home Internationals
Scotland's Girls' Captain, Jennifer Jenkins, has obviously got the pairings right, as her team once again won all three of their foursomes games in their match against Ireland at Portstewart this morning to complete a clean sweep of foursomes in the International series.
England and Wales drew their foursomes match with 1.5 points apiece.
Watch the LGU website for up-to-the-minute status of this afternoon's singles.
Foursomes Results:
England 1 1/2 Wales 1 1/2 (English names first)
Florentyna Parker and Jodi Ewart halved with Tara Davies and Katherine O'Connor
Hannah Burke and Gemma Hardie beat Laura Jane Roberts and Amy Rees 1up
Eleanor Givens and Rachel Jennings lost to Rebecca Helen Harries and Hayley Boulden 5&4
Ireland 0 Scotland 3 (Irish names first)
Stephanie Meadow and Victoria Bradshaw lost to Krystle Caithness and Michelle Thomson 4&3
Sarah Faller and Linda Toomey lost to Carly Booth and Sally Watson 3&1
Louise Mernagh and Sarah Cunningham lost to Roseanne Niven and Kelsey MacDonald 3&2

KRYSTLE IN CONTENTION FOR BOTH PAULL and WILLIAMSONS' RANKINGS TITLES
Scottish Under-21 champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) is in contention to win both the Paull and Williamsons Scottish women’s and girls’ stroke-play golf rankings.
Last year, Krystle topped the Under-18 girls’ table. This season, she is again heading the girls’ rankings with only a handful of events to go. The Fife teenager is also lying second to leader Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) in the P&W Scottish women’s rankings, which are based on average scores in relation to CSS in open tournaments designated by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association..
Leading placings:
WOMEN – 1 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) -3.5; 2 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) -2.3; 3 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) -1.1; 4 Fiona Norris (Hamilton) -1; 5 Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) -0.6, 6 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) -0.2; 7 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) -0.1; 8 Sara Bishop (Windyhill) 0; 9 Heather Macrae (Dunblane) 0.1; 10 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
0.16.
GIRLS – 1 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) -2.4; 3 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 0.8; 3 Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 1.2; 4 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 1.28; 5 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 2.2; 6 Carly Booth (Comrie) and Edwina Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 2.5; 8 Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 3; 9 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 3.1; 10 Harriet Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 4.3.
+SLGA tournament secretary Fiona Farquharson reminds competitors that unless they meet the minimum requirements (10 tournaments for a woman; nine for a girl, which can be made up of seven girls’ events and two women’s competitions), they will not figure in the final rankings at the end of the season.

MARTINA GILLEN GOES OUT BUT KATHARINA THROUGH TO US AMATEUR QUARTER-FINALS
Ireland's Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) lost her second-round tie by one hole to Mina Harigae (California) in the United States women's amateur championship at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon.
In the third round, Carlota Ciganda from Spain went down by two holes to Jennie Arseneault (Iowa).
There is one European in the quarter-finals. She's Katharina Schallenberg from Germany. Katharina, 26, is a Vagliano Trophy team player for the Continent of Europe and she won the Sherry Cup women's title in Spain earlier this year. She was also runner-up to Krystle Caithness in the St Rule Trophy.
Katharina plays the only surviving US Curtis Cup team player, Jennie Lee from California, for a place in the semi-finals.

STRATHTYRUM TROPHY - YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
SECOND ROUND
A Shorrock bt D Pearson 4 and 3.
H Faulds bt L Morrow 1 hole.
C Appleby bt E Goodwin 2 and 1.
N Renton bt L Brabender 5 and 4.
K Marshall bt S Liddell 1 hole.
L Fraser bt D Ross 2 holes.
A Wood bt E Burns 1 hole.
R Watson bt J Bainbridge 3 and 2.

For news on the Eden tournament look at www.scottishgolfview.com

Thursday 10th August 2006

GIRLS' HOME INTERNATIONALS
SCOTS CAN END LONG WAIT FOR UNDER-18 GIRLS’ HOME TITLE
Scotland beat England 7 ½-1½ to raise hopes of winning the Under-18 girls’ home international golf title at Portstewart, Northern Ireland for the first time since 1998.
England, title-winners for the past six years, lost the foursomes 3-0 to Scotland.
Rachel Jennings put a point on the board for England by beating Krystle Caithness 2 and 1 in the top singles but victories by Roseanne Niven, Sally Watson, Michele Thomson and Kelsey Macdonald clinched success for the Scots.
Carly Booth was held to a square match by Jodi Ewart who won the 16th and 17th.
Scotland, having already beaten Wales, finish off their programme by playing Ireland who beat Wales 6-3 today (Thursday)
Day 2 results:
SCOTLAND 7 1/2, ENGLAND 1 1/2
Scotland players first
Foursomes: K Caithness & M Thomson bt R Connor & H Barwood 3 and 2; C Booth & S Watson bt R Jennings & E Givens 2 and 1; R Niven & K MacDonald bt J Ewart & F Parker 3 and 2 (3-0).
Singles: Caithness lost to Jennings 2 and 1, Niven bt Parker 1 hole, Watson bt Givens 1 hole, Thomson bt Connor 1 hole, MacDonald lbeat Barwood 1 hole, Booth halved with Ewart (4 ½-1 ½)
WALES 3, IRELAND 6
Wales players first
Foursomes: T Davies & K O’Connor bt S Faller & L Toomey 3 and 2; L J Robertson & R H Harries halved with S Cunningham & N McMahon; A Rees & B Davies lost to V Bradshaw & S Meadow 6 and 5.
Singles: T Davies halved with Meadow, O’Connor lost to Toomey 4 and 3, Roberts lost to Bradshaw 2 and 1, Harries lost to Cunningham 1 hole, N Gobey halved with L Mernagh, Rees halved with Faller (1 ½-4 ½)

Victorious Scottish Boys Team
[Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency]

BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
SCOTLAND BEAT IRELAND AND WIN THE TITLE
Scotland have won the Under-18 boys’ home international matches for the R&A Trophy for the first time since 1995 at Dunbar.
After nerve-tingling last hour or two of action over the gale-swept Lossiemouth links, the Scots did what they had to do … beat table leaders Ireland 8-7 and leapfrog past them to win the championship.
“These boys keep amazing me,” said team captain Barrie Douglas. “The heads never go down when things are going against them and they keep pulling through in the head. It’s a privilege to be their skipper.”
The Scots edged the foursomes 3-2 and that point was to prove crucial as the fortunes swayed first one way and then another through the 10 singles.
Newmachar’s Lewis Kirton, so near to winning all six ties over the three days, halved the top singles with Niall Kearney. Kirton, two down after nine, won three holes in a row from the 10 and was one up with three to play.
Kearney won the 16th, halved the 17th and got down in two from the side of the hill at the 18th for a half in par 4s to deny the Scots No 1 a 100 per cent record.
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) was always trailing to Paul Cutler and lost by 4 and 3 in the second singles.
Then James Byrne (Banchory) gave a majestic, wind-taming performance in winning by 8 and 7 against Gary McGrane. Byrne was five up after six holes. Like Kirton, Byrne finished with 5 1/2pt out of six.
Chris Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) gave a gritty display to come back from three down after nine to Colin Fairweather to square the match at the 16th, win the 17th and halve the last for a brave one-hole victory.
That was arguably the turning point of the singles because Robinson, had looked like losing that match until the last few holes.
Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) was always ahead in winning by 4 and 3 over Liam Reilly.
Ireland needed a point to keep their hopes of a strong finish alive and they got it when James Patterson beat Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) by 3 and 1 in a match that was all square at the turn.
At that stage Scotland were 2pt ahead overall at 6 ½-4 ½ and that looked a big enough cushion with the Scots up in two and down in two of the four ties still to finish.
And so it proved. Paul O’Kane and and Brian Keenan gained victories for Ireland over Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
But Ross Kellett (Colville Park) beat Luke Lennox by 4 and 2 and Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White (Lundin), three up with three to play, was held to a square match when his opponent Andrew Hogan birdied the last three holes.
White was Scotland’s third-best points winner with five points out of six.
England v Wales
England, champions for the past eight years, finished third by beating Wales 9-6. It was England’s only win of the three days while Wales lost all three outings.
England took the foursomes 4-1 but Wales did well for a spell in the afternoon, winning four of the first six singles before the English tail wagged to level the singles count at 5-5.
Welsh winners were Rhys Enoch, Zach Gould, Adam Runcie, Jason Shufflebotham and Jamie Howie. For England, Dale Whitnell, Sam Hutsby, Nick McCarthy, Andrew Johnston and Billy Fowles gained afternoon points.
English champion Darren Wright did not have a happy series. He was fielded in only four ties and was on the losing side each time.
Jack Hiluta was England’s biggest points-earner with five from six games. He lost his last tie to Jamie Howie after being two up on the 13th tee.
Results
Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth
Day 3
ENGLAND 9, WALES 6
England names first
Foursomes: A Hodkinson & N McCarthy lost to R Enoch & R Merchant 2 holes; S Hutsby & L Goddard bt Z Gould & J Williams 3 and 2; T Oliver & D Whitnell bt J Howie & J Vickery 3 and 1; A Johnston & J Hiluta bt M Lewis & A Runcie 1 hole; E Pepperell & B Fowles bt R Bentham & A Torrence 6 and 5 (4-1).
Singles: Goddard lost to Enoch 2 and 1, Hodkinson lost to Gould 1 hole, Whitnell bt Merchant 3 and 2, D Wright lost to Runcie 5 and 4, Hutsby bt Lewis 3 and 1, Pepperell lost to J Shufflebotham 5 and 4, McCarthy bt Torrence 2 and 1, Johnston bt Bentham 4 and 2, Fowles bt Vickery 6 and 4, Hiluta lost to Howie 1 hole (5-5).
IRELAND 7, SCOTLAND 8
Ireland names first
Foursomes: N Kearney & G McGrane lost to L Kirton & J Byrne 3 and 2; P Cutler & C Fairweather bt J Findlay & M Stewart 1 hole; B Keenan & D Ruddy lost to Z Saltman & S McAllister 3 and 2; P O’Kane & J Patterson halved with C Robinson & G Stevenson; A Hogan & L Lennox halved with R Kellett & J White (2-3).
Singles: Kearney halved with Kirton, Cutler bt Findlay 4 and 3, McGrane lost to Byrne 8 and 7, Fairweather lost to Robinson 1 hole, L Reilly lost to McAllister 4 and 3, Patterson bt C Gray 3 and 1, Keenan bt Stewart 1 hole, O’Kane bt Stevenson 2 and 1, Hogan halved with White, Lennox lost to Kellett 4 and 2(5-5).
HOW THEY FINISHED
1 Scotland 2 1/2pt
2 Ireland 2pt
3 England 1 1/2pt
4 Wales 0pt.

ELGA Press Release
Naomi Edwards to defend English Mid-Amateur Championship
Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards returns from the USA to defend her title in the English Ladies' Open Mid-Amateur Championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Gloucestershire, from August 15-18.
The 23-year-old from Ganton has been in the States as a member of GB&I's Curtis Cup team and she stayed on to play in the US Women's Amateur Championship, where she reached the matchplay stages.
Since her success in last year's Mid-Amateur Naomi has also won the 2006 Welsh open strokeplay championship. In addition, she was the runner-up in this year's English championship and a semi-finalist in the British championship.
Naomi heads a good quality field of 57 competitors who include the new English strokeplay champion, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and internationals Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), who won this event when it was known as the English intermediate championship, and Laura Eastwood (Yelverton).
Among the other competitors are Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) whose family emigrated to Australia when she was a child. She is spending her second summer in England, gaining experience of European amateur golf and has already been a semi-finalist in the English championship and runner-up in the Russian amateur championship.
There's a definite international flavour to the tournament. The field includes one Icelandic player, Thordis Geirsdottir, three Scots and a Welsh golfer.
All competiitors will play 36-holes of strokeplay qualifying on Tuesday, August 15. The top 32 players will go forward to the matchplay knockout stages. The course has been lengthened slightly for this event and measures 6052 yards with a par of 73.

ELGA Press Release
England names team for British strokeplay championship
Curtis Cup players Naomi Edwards and Melissa Reid have been selected for England's Nations Cup team for the Ladies' British Strokeplay Championship at Prince's Golf Club from August 23-25.
Naomi (Ganton) and Melissa (Chevin) will be joined by international and ELGA order of merit titleholder, Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park). The reserve is the new English strokeplay champion, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor).

GIRLS' HOME INTERNATIONALS
SCOTLAND GIRLS LEAD ENGLAND 3-0
Scotland took an unexpected 3-0 lead over England in the second-day foursomes at the girls' home internationals at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
Krystle Caithness and Michele Thomson beat Rachel Connor and Hannah Barwood by 3 and 2.
Carly Booth and Sally Watson won by 2 and 1 over Rachel Jennings and Eleanor Givens.
Roseanne Niven and Kelsey MacDonald beat Jodi Ewart and Florentyna Parker by 3 and 2.
Wales and Ireland were drawing 1 1/2-1 1/2 after their foursomes

BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
SCOTLAND GAIN FOURSOMES EDGE OVER IRELAND IN TITLE-DECIDER
Scotland, on a must-win mission, gained a one-point advantage over Ireland in the foursomes at the boys’ home international matches title-decider in wet and very windy conditions at Lossiemouth this morning.
The Scots drew first blood when the North-east pairing of Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) and James Byrne (Banchory) chalked up their third foursomes win over the Moray Golf Club’s Old Course links
Kirton and Byrne won by 3 and 2 against Niall Kearney and Gary McShane who had also won their two earlier foursomes. The Scots took a three-hole grip on the match over the outward half and never relinquished it.
The Craigielaw partnership of Zack Saltman and Shaun McAllister made it 2-0 for Scotland with a 3 and 2 win over Brian Keenan and David Ruddy. After an even outward half, the Scots got their noses in front to lead by one hole after nine and were still one ahead after 12. From there they increased their lead to win on the 16th green.
The remaining three ties went to the 18th.
Ireland got their first morning point through Paul Cutler and Colin Fairweather. They finished one up on Jordan Findlay and Michael Stewart.
The Scots, all square after 12 holes, lost the 14th and 16th to go two down but won back the 17th. Cutler and Fairweather held them at bay by halving the last.
Irelan d’s Paul O’Kane and James Patterson came back from two down with six to play to salvage a vital half-point in their tie against Chris Robinson and Gordon Stevenson.
It was a reverse situation in the final foursome to finish. Scotland’s Ross Kellett and James White, three down on the 13th tee, had squared the match by the 16th and then won the 17th. Ireland’s Andrew Hogan and Luke Lennox kept their head and won the last hole for a square match, leaving Scotland 3-2 ahead going into the final set of singles.
Fifteen-year-old Eddie Pepperell from Frilford Heath, not used in the first-day foursomes, made it four wins in four sessions of play since then, when he partnered 16-year-old Billy Fowles (Wentworth) to a 6 and 5 win over the Welsh pairing of Richard Bentham and Alyn Torrence.
Last off the tee, Eddie and Billy were the first to post a result after being four up at the turn.
England captain Sam Hutsby (Lee-on-the-Solent) broke a sequence of four defeats when he and Luke Goddard beat Zack Gould and Jonathan Williams by 3 and 2 after being all square on the 10th tee.
Wales got their first point on the board when Rhys Enoch and Richard Merchant finished two up on Adam Hodkinson and Nick McCarthy in the top foursome. Enoch and Merchant, one down coming off the 15th green, won the last three holes.
Tom Oliver and Dale Whitnell assured England of a lunchtime lead when they gained the third morning point. They led throughout in beating Jamie Howie and Joseph Vickery by 3 and 1.,
Andrew Johnston and Jack Hiluta made it 4-1 for England with a one-hole win over Marc Lewis and Adam Runcie after a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it. It was Hiluta’s fifth win of the series.
Results
Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth
Day 3
ENGLAND lead WALES 4-1
England names first
FOURSOMES
A Hodkinson & N McCarthy lost to R Enoch & R Merchant 2 holes.
S Hutsby & L Goddard bt Z Gould & J Williams 3 and 2.
T Oliver & D Whitnell bt J Howie & J Vickery 3 and 1.
A Johnston & J Hiluta bt M Lewis & A Runcie 1 hole.
E Pepperell & B Fowles bt R Bentham & A Torrence 6 and 5.
IRELAND are trailing SCOTLAND 2-3
Ireland names first
FOURSOMES
N Kearney & G McGrane lost to L Kirton & J Byrne 3 and 2.
P Cutler & C Fairweather bt J Findlay & M Stewart 1 hole.
B Keenan & D Ruddy lost to Z Saltman & S McAllister 3 and 2.
P O’Kane & J Patterson halved with C Robinson & G Stevenson.
A Hogan & L Lennox halved with R Kellett & J White.

MARTINA ONLY GB&I WINNER IN US WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) was the only one of the four GB&I Curtis Cup team players who stayed on in Oregon for the United States women's amateur championship to win her first-round tie in the match-play stages at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
Martina beat Vicky Hurst from Florida at the 19th.
The only other European winner was Carlota Ciganda (Spain), who beat the US Curtis Cup team player Taylor Leon from Dallas 5 and 4.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) lost by 4 and 3 to Alison Whitaker (Australia).
Melissa Reid (Derby) went down at the 19th to Eileen Vargas from Colombia.
Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) lost by 2 and 1 to Stacy Lewis from Texas.
Dewi-Claire Schreefel from the Netherlands lost by 2 and 1 to Hana Jang (Ko

SCOTS OUTNUMBERED IN LAST SIXTEEN OF ST ANDREW'S MEN'S 5-DAY OPEN
Scots are thin on the ground in the match-play stages of the Eden Tournament at St Andrews this week.
Roberto Laino (Bedford & Co) was the leading qualifier after the 36-hole card and pencil test and he has progressed to the round of the last 16 in which he plays the No 16 qualifier Steven Clarke (Kidderminster).
Stuart Ferguson (Pitreavie), the No 56 qualifier, plays the eighth seed Kris Williams from Patshull Park for a place in the quarter-finals.,
Alex Culverwell (Dunbar) qualified in 29th place and is through to the last 16.

Scotland's Carly Booth, pictured at yesterday's Girls Home Internationals at Portstewart.
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
For up-to-date information on the Girls' Home International matches watch www.lgu.org

GLENBERVIE PLAYER KOs DEFENDING CHAMPION IN STRATHTYRUM EVENT
Defending champion Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine) was beaten in the first round of the match-play stages of this week’s Strathtyrum women’s five-day open tournament at St Andrews.
Marilyn, the 13th qualifier, lost to the 20th qualifier, Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie) by 3 and 1.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
157 Amanda Shorrock (Pryors Hayes) 78 79.
159 Karen Marshall (Baberton) 76 83.
161 Alyson Wood (Furness) 77 84.
163 Chris Appleby (Preston) 78 85, Lynda Brabender (Greenock) 78 85.
164 Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 78 86.
165 Rebecca Copland (Scotscraig) 83 82.
167 Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) 82 85, Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 83 84, Debbie Ross (Arcot Hall) 87 80.
MATCH-PLAY
First round
A Shorrock (Pryors Hayes) bt E Thomas (Langland Bay) 4 and 3.
D Pearson (West Rhine) bt V Kirkwood (Furness) 5 and 4.
L Morrow (Erskine) bt J Graham (Moor Park) 3 and 2.
H Faulds (Douglas Park) bt L Hebden (Priors Hayes) 1 hole.
C Appleby (Preston) bt C Richardson (Burnham Beeches) 5 and 4.
E Goodwin (Glenbervie) bt M Henderson (West Rhine) 3 and 1.
L Brabender (Greenock) bt R Evans (Langland Bay) 5 and 3.
N Renton (Indooroopily) bt S Carty (The Island) 2 and 1.
K Marshall (Baberton) bt D Payne (Oakmere Park) 4 and 3.
S Liddell (Carlisle) bt S Dielen (Herkenbosch) 6 and 5.
L Fraser (Comiston Ladies) bt R Copland (Scotscraig) 4 and 3.
D Ross (Arcot Hall) bt P Vickers (St Annes Old Links) 1 hole.
A Wood (Furness) bt S Moore (Furness) 5 and 3.
E Burns (Penwortham) bt R Hanlon (St Regulus) 4 and 3.
R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) bt M Simpson (Ulverston) 7 and 5.
J Bainbridge (Arcot Hall) bt Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 2 holes.

Wednesday 9th August 2006

GOOD START BY SCOTS GIRLS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Scotland and England both made winning starts to the girls’ home international matches at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
The Scots whipped Wales 7-2 while England beat Ireland 6 ½-2 ½.
Scotland made a clean sweep of the three foursomes and Krystle Caithness, Roseanne Niven, Kelsey MacDonald and Carly Booth won their singles ties.
GIRLS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
Portstewart GC, Northern Ireland
Day 1
WALES 2, SCOTLAND 7
Foursomes: T Davies & L J Roberts lost to K Caithness & M Thomson 2 holes; R Harries & N Gobey lost to C Booth & S Watson 4 and 3; K O’Connor & A Rees lost to R Niven & K MacDonald 2 and 1 (0-3).
Singles: Davies lost to Caithness 6 and 5, Roberts bt Watson 2 holes, Rees lost to Niven 2 and 1, O’Connor bt M Briggs 6 and 5, H Boulden lost to MacDonald 4 and 3, Harries lost to Booth 3 and 2 (2-4).
IRELAND 2 ½, ENGLAND 6 ½
Foursomes: S Faller & L Toomey lost to R Connor & H Barwood 2 and 1; S Cunningham & N McMahon lost to R Jennings & E Givens 7 and 6; V Bradshaw & S Meadow lost to J Ewart & F Parker 6 and 4 (0-3).
Singles: Meadow halved with Jennings, Bradshaw lost to Parker 5 and 3, Toomey halved with Givens; L Coffey halved with Barwood; L Mernagh bt Ewart 3 and 1, Faller lost to Connor 2 and 1 (2 ½-3 ½).

Tee times for tomorrow's Boys Home Internationals
ENGLAND v WALES
Foursomes: 8am - 8.36. Singles: 12.30-1.51.
IRELAND v SCOTLAND
Foursomes
9.0 N Kearney & G McGrane v L Kirton & J Byrne.
9.09 P Cutler & C Fairweather v J Findlay & M Stewart.
9.18 B Keenan & D Ruddy v Z Saltman & S McAllister.
9.27 P O'Kane & J Patterson v C Robinson & G Stevenson.
9.36 A Hogan & L Lennox v R Kellett & J White.
Singles
2.20 Kearney v Kirton.
2.29 Cutler v Findlay.
2.38 McGra ne v Byrne.
2.27 Fairweather v Robinson.
2.56 L Reilly v McAllister.
3.05 Patterson v C Gray.
3.15 Keenan v Stewart.
3.23 O'Kane v Stevenson.
3.32 Hogan v White.
3.41 Lennox v Kellett.

Boys' Home Internationals
SCOTLAND v IRELAND DECIDER … AND SCOTS MUST WIN TO TAKE TITLE
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON at Lossiemouth
What a difference 12 months make in golf! This time last year Scotland were playing Ireland to avoid the wooden spoon in the boys’ home internationals.
Today (Thursday) over the Moray Golf Club’s Old Course links at Lossiemouth, the Scots and the Irish go head-to-head for the title and the R&A Trophy.
Scotland must beat the Irish to be champions. A draw would be good enough to start the celebrations in the Ireland camp.
In a nail-biting finish to the second day’s action, Scotland were held to a 7 ½-7 ½ draw by England after Ireland had walloped Wales 10 ½-4 ½ for their second win.
Ireland were the last team other than England to win the Under-18 boys’ championship and that was as long ago as 1997. Scotland have not won the trophy since 1995.
Scotland v England match
In very windy (gusting over 40mph by the end of the afternoon) and sometimes wet conditions, the Scots looked like losing the foursomes 4-1 at one stage after the turn against England but finished so well that they actually took a 3-2 lead into the singles.
It was nip and tuck in the afternoon session. Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) maintained his 100 per cent record through four sessions of play. He beat the English boys’ champion, Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) by one hole, having led almost throughout.
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) lost by 5 and 4 to Luke Goddard (Hendon) before James Byrne (Banchory) beat Sam Hutsby (Lee on the Solent), the Spanish men’s open amateur champion and England team captain, by 2 and 1 in a very good tie which was all square after 15 holes.
Scottish boys’ stroke-play champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) went down by 4 and 3 to Adam Hodkinson (Hallowes) after slipping three down over the first six holes.
Shaun’s clubmate and stroke-play runner-up Zack Saltman lost by 5 and 4 to 15-year-old Eddie Pepperell (Frilford Heath). Saltman was two down at the turn and four down after 12.
Chris Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) restored Scotland’s overall lead at 6-5 with a 3 and 2 win over Nick McCarthy (Moortown), having been two up at the turn.
With four ties still to finish in the wild conditions which had grounded even some seagulls – a pair of them SAT on the 18th green while one tie was in progress - , Scotland still need to get two points to ensure victory over the Auld Enemy.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White (Lundin) delivered the first one – matching Lewis Kirton’s four wins out of four – by beating Tom Oliver (Notts) by 3 and 2. White led by two holes after six and stayed in the driving seat for the rest of the tie.
With Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) losing an early three-hole lead before losing on the last green to Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) going down by 3 and 1 to Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford), it was now 7-7 and all down to the Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) v Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) tie.
Stevenson had been two up at the turn and one up after 12 but the match was all square through the last few holes. In the very difficult conditions, the last hole was halved as well leaving Scotland and England tied up at 7 1/2pt each – leaving Ireland the favourites to win the R&A Trophy.
Wales v Ireland Match
Ireland took the foursomes 4-1 from Wales and added steadily to their lead through the singles. Joseph Vickery and Richard Merchant of Wales won the last two of the 10 ties to avert a landslide Ireland victory.
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) and Andrew Hogan (Newlands) have been the top performers for Ireland so far with four wins out of four.
Kearney beat Rhys Enoch by 2 and 1 in the top Ireland-Wales singles. Niall edged ahead on the inward half after being all square at the turn.
Hogan beat Marc Lewis (Borth & Ynyslas) by 3 and 2 after being four up at the turn.
Paul Cutler (Portstewart) was denied a seemingly certain victory – three up with three to play – when his opponent Zack Gould (Vale of Glamorgan) won the last three holes to salvage a square match.
Apart from Kearney and Hogan, Ireland’s other singles winners against Wales were Gary McGrane (Royal Dublin), Luke Lennox (Moyola Park) and Liam Reilly (Galgorm Castle).
Final statement
And the scoreline 12 months ago between Scotland and Ireland? Scotland 8 1/2, Ireland 6 ½ … but, as they say, 12 months is a long time in Under-18 boys’ golf.
BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
Moray Golf Club Old Course, Lossiemouth
Day 2
IRELAND 10 1/2, WALES 4 1/2
Ireland names first
Foursomes: N Kearney & G McGrane bt R Enoch & R Merchant 3 and 2, P Cutler & C Fairweather bt Z Gould & J Williams 3 and 1, A Hogan & L Lennox bt J Shufflebotham & J Vickery 5 and 4, B Keenan & D Ruddy lost to M Lewis & A Runcie 4 and 3, P O’Kane & J Patterson bt R Bentham & J Howie 3 and 1 (4-1)
Singles: Kearney bt Enoch 2 and 1, Cutler halved with Gould, Fairweather halved with Runcie, McGrane bt Shufflebotham 1 hole, Hogan bt Lewis 3 and 2, Lennox bt A Torrence 5 and 3, L Reilly bt Bentham 2 and 1, Keenan halved with Howie, O’Kane lost to Vickery 3 and 2, Patterson lost to Merchant 4 and 3 (6 1/2-3 1/2).
SCOTLAND 7 ½, ENGLAND 7 1/2
Scotland names first
Foursomes: L Kirton & J Byrne bt A Hodkinson & N McCarthy 2 and 1,
J Findlay & M Stewart bt S Hutsby & L Goddard 2 and 1, Z Saltman & S McAllister lost to A Johnston & J Hiluta 6 and 4, G Stevenson & C Robinson lost to B Fowles & E Pepperell 7 and 5, R Kellett & J White bt T Oliver & D Whitnell 1 hole (3-2).
Singles: Kirton bt D Wright 1 hole, Findlay lost to Goddard 5 and 4, Byrne bt Hutsby 2 and 1, McAllister lost to Hodkinson 4 and 3, Robinson bt McCarthy 3 and 2, C Gray lost to Whitnell 1 hole, Saltman lost to Pepperell 5 and 4, Stevenson halved with Johnston, White bt Oliver 3 and 2, Kellett lost to Hiluta 3 and 1 (4 1/2-5 1/2).

Girls' Home Internationals
Scotland and England both had convincing 3-0 wins in the opening foursomes of the girls' home internationals at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
Scotland lead Wales 3-0 with wins for Krystle Caithness & Michele Thomson (2 holes), Carly Booth & Sally Watson (4 and 3) and Roseanne Niven & Kelsey MacDonald (2 and 1).
England, leading Ireland 3-0, had wins from Rachel Connor & Hannah Barwood (2 and 1), Rachel Jennings & Eleanor Givens (7 and 6) and Jodi Ewart & Florentyna Parker (6 and 4).
DETAILS
SCOTLAND lead WALES 3-0
FOURSOMES
K Caithness & M Thomson bt T Davies & L J Roberts 2 holes.
C Booth & S Watson bt R Harries & N Gobey 4 and 3.
R Niven & K MacDonald bt K O'Connor & A Rees 2 and 1.
ENGLAND lead IRELAND 3-0
FOURSOMES
R Connor & H Barwood bt S Faller & L Toomey 2 and 1.
R Jennings & E Givens bt S Cunningham & N McMahon 7 and 6.
J Ewart & F Parker bt V Bradshaw & S Meadow 6 and 4.

Boys' Home Internationals
SCOTLAND AND IRELAND MARCH ON IN SECOND-DAY FOURSOMES
Scotland and Ireland, winners on the opening day of the boys' home internationals at Lossiemouth, continued in good form on the Day 2 foursomes in wet and windy conditions at the Moray Golf Club.
Scotland looked at one stage if they were going to lose the foursomes 4-1 to an England team bouncing back from Tuesday's 8-7 defeat by Ireland. But the Scots rallied to lead 3-2 at lunchtime, having won the fifth and final foursome on the last green.
Ireland, still on a high after their first-day victory over England, put Wales to the sword in the foursomes to lead 4-1 going into the 10 afternoon singles.
Niall Kearney and Gary McGrane set the ball rolling for the Irish by beating Rhys Enoch and Richard Merchant 3 and 2. One up at the turn and still one ahead through 12, the Irish pair forged clear down the home straight.
Andrew Hogan and Luke Lennox made it 2-0 for Ireland with a 5 and 4 win over Jason Shufflebotham and Joseph Vickery, having gone three up after six and four up at the turn.
Ireland’s momentum was maintained by Paul Cutler and Colin Fairweather who beat Zack Gould and Jonathan Williams by 3 and 1 in the No 2 foursomes. Cutler and Fairweather were four up at the turn but were pulled back to only a one-hole advantage before winning the 16th and 17th.
Wales’ only winners were Marc Lewis and Adam Runcie who beat Brian Keenan and David Ruddy by 4 and 3 after being one up at the turn.
Ireland’s fourth and final morning point was provided by Paul O’Kane and James Patterson. They beat Richard Bentham and Jamie Howie by 3 and 1, having been two up at the turn.
England led in four of the five morning ties against Scotland after 12 holes but it was the Scots who finished the better to lead 3-2 at lunchtime.
Lewis Kirton and James Byrne gave Scotland a winning start for the second day in a row. They beat Adam Hodkinson and Nick McCarthy 2 and 1.
All square after six, the Scots won the seventh, eighth and ninth to be three up at the turn. That was the decisive period of the match because Hodkinson and McCarthy cut the lead to one with successes early on the inward half but they could not get back on terms. Kirton and Byrne were able to go two up after 15.
England won the fourth foursomes out in the country with Billy Fowles and Eddie Pepperell beating Gordon Stevenson and Chris Robinson by 7 and 5. The English pair were only one up after six but then took a grip on the proceedings by winning the seventh, eighth and ninth to turn four holes up.
Stevenson and Robinson could not stem the tide and lost three of the first four holes of the inward half to slump seven down.
England went 2-1 ahead in the match when Andrew Johnston and Jack Hiluta beat Zack Saltman and Shaun McAllister by 6 and 4. Here again, the English pair were in command at the turn with a three-hole lead which they doubled over the early inward holes.
Jordan Findlay and Michael Stewart levelled the overall scoreline at 2-2 by coming back from two down at the turn to beat Sam Hutsby and Luke Goddard by 2 and 1. The Scots, trailing by two after six holes, did not lead in the match until the 15th.
That meant the morning honours rested on the fifth and final foursome. In driving wind and rain, Scotland’s Ross Kellett and James White came back from two down after 12 holes to square their tie against Tom Oliver and Dale Whitnell at the 17th.
The Scots won the last hole with a one-putt par 4, Kellett holing from 4ft while the English pair, who had survived a lucky bounce off the boundary wall on the right with their drive, taking three putts from the edge of the green for a bogey 5.
Morning details:
BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
Moray Golf Club Old Course, Lossiemouth
Day 2
IRELAND lead WALES 4-1
Ireland names first
FOURSOMES
N Kearney & G McGrane bt R Enoch & R Merchant 3 and 2.
P Cutler & C Fairweather bt Z Gould & J Williams 3 and 1.
A Hogan & L Lennox bt J Shufflebotham & J Vickery 5 and 4.
B Keenan & D Ruddy lost to M Lewis & A Runcie 4 and 3.
P O’Kane & J Patterson bt R Bentham & J Howie 3 and 1.
SCOTLAND lead ENGLAND 3-2
Scotland names first
FOURSOMES
L Kirton & J Byrne bt A Hodkinson & N McCarthy 2 and 1.
J Findlay & M Stewart bt S Hutsby & L Goddard 2 and 1.`
Z Saltman & S McAllister lost to A Johnston & J Hiluta 6 and 4.
G Stevenson & C Robinson lost to B Fowles & E Pepperell 7 and 5.
R Kellett & J White bt T Oliver & D Whitnell 1 hole.

Victorious Scottish Vets team after their win in the Vets' Jamboree at Formby last week.
Back Row L to R: Margaret Tough, Moira Thomson, Fiona DeVries, Noreen Fenton, Lorna Bennett, Liz Campbell, Pam Williamson
Sitting L to R: Lynne Terry, Pat Hutton (Captain), Kathleeen Sutherland
[Thanks to Pat Hutton for photograph]

LGU Press Release
GIRLS’ BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
GIRLS’ HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
Competitors in the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship will visit one of Northern Irelands most spectacular courses when they compete over Portstewart Golf Club from 14-18 August.
Located on Ulster’s famous causeway coast, Portstewart has only on one previous occasion hosted an LGU Championship, the Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship in 2004.
The success of that event and the enthusiasm of the Irish galleries have promoted a quick return for an LGU Championship to Ireland.
Overseas players have held the Girls’ Championship since 2001 when Clare Queen kept the trophy in the British Isles, and this year, home-based players will have a hard task on their hands if that win is to be repeated.
In June at Royal County Down, Belen Mozo, a 17-year-old from the Cadiz Region of Spain won the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, defeating 2005 Girls Champion Anna Nordqvist in the final. Now, with Nordqvist over age, Mozo must surely start as favourite to add to her list of titles. Alongside Mozo, is a strong Spanish entry including Martin Silva, who finished fourth in the recent European Young Masters in Austria.
Scottish player Carly Booth took third place there and she will be hoping for a good performance at Portstewart as one of several Scottish youngsters that include Krystal Caithness, the winner this year of the St Rule Trophy and more recently of the Scottish Girls’ Stroke Play Championship.
Ireland will be pinning their hopes on their Girls’ Champion Stephanie Meadow of Royal Portrush.
England will be well represented by Rachel Jennings, the winner of the English Girls’ title at Kings Norton Golf Club where she came back from three down with four to play to seal her one hole victory over Charlie Douglas with a closing birdie.
Also entered are Jodi Ewart (Catterick) and Florentyne Parker (Royal Birkdale), both members of the England side that won the bronze medal at the European Lady Juniors’ Team Championship plus the four girls who represented England in the European Girls’ Team Championship – Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Rachel Connor (Manchester), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) and Rachel Jennings (Isaak Walton).
The 144 competitors play 18 holes on each of the first two days and the top 64 then qualify for the match play stage starting on Wednesday 16 August.
This week prior to the Girls British Championship, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales compete from 9-11 August in the Girls’ Home International matches with England looking to continue their winning sequence of six successive victories.
The full list of entries and scoring during the International Matches and the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship can be viewed at www.lgu.org.

Tuesday 8th August 2006

Scottish Girls' Team at Portstewart for the Girls' Home Internationals which start tomorrow
Back Row L to R: Nancy Chisholm (SLGA President), Kelsey Macdonald, Sally Watson, Michelle Thomson, Carly Booth, Rachael Livingstone, Judith Anderson (Team Manager), Margaret Rodgers (SLGA Chairman)
Front Row L to R: Megan Briggs, Jennifer Jenkins (Girls' Captain), Krystle Caithness, Roseanne Niven
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

Prizewinners at the Pre-Handicap Open held at Troon on July 31st
Full Story

Prizewinners at the Tom Lehman Junior Open held at Troon on August 1st
Full story

TOMORROW'S BOYS" MATCHES AT LOSSIEMOUTH
IRELAND v WALES
(Foursomes 8am-8.36 & Singles: 12.30-1.51)
SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
Foursomes
9.0 L Kirton & J Byrne v A Hodkinson & N McCarthy.
9.09 J Findlay & M Stewart v S Hutsby & L Goddard.
9.18 Z Saltman & S McAllister v A Johnston & J Hiluta.
9.27 G Stevenson & C Robinson v B Fowles & E Pepperell.
9.36 R Kellett & J White v T Oliver & D Whitnell.
Singles
2.20 Kirton v D Wright.
2.29 Findlay v Goddard.
2.38 Byrne v Hutsby.
2.47 McAllister v Hodkinson.
2.56 Robinson v McCarthy.
3.05 C Gray v Whitnell.
3.14 Saltman v Pepperell.
3.23 Stevenson v Johnston.
3.32 White v Oliver.
3.41 Kellett v Hiluta.

Boys' Home Internationals
IRELAND BEAT ENGLAND AND SCOTS TOO GOOD FOR WALES
FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON at Lossiemouth
Scotland are right in there pitching for their first boys’ home golf internationals’ title triumph since 1995 after a day of drama and brilliant scoring over the Moray Golf Club’s Old Course links at Lossiemouth.
The Scots walloped Wales 10 1/2-4 1/2 and Ireland did them a good turn by loosening England’s eight-year grip on the R&A Trophy with a come-from-behind 8-7 victory.
The North-east trio of Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and James Byrne (Banchory) plundered birdies galore as the Scots followed up a 4-1 success in the foursomes by taking the singles 6 ½-3 ½.
Kirton, soon to leave these shores for four years at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, was a brilliant seven under par in winning the top singles tie by 6 and 5 over Richard Merchant from Monmouthshire.
“It was just one of those great afternoons when everything goes your way,” said Lewis. “I had seven birdies and not a single bogey.”
Kirton’s birdies came at the first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th, and 13th.
He was three up after six holes, four up at the turn and six up after 12.
British boys’ championship finalist for the past two years, Jordan Findlay, already a student at East Tennessee State University, was four under par in winning by 4 and 3 in the No 2 singles match against Rhys Enoch from Truro.
Findlay squeezed four birdies in eight holes from the fifth to the 12th. He birdied the fifth, ninth, 10th and 12th, winning four holes in a row from the ninth to go from all square to four holes up. Enoch himself birdied three of the first six holes – the first, second and sixth.
James Byrne had six birdies in all – but only got a halved match against the rising Welsh star, Zack Gould from Vale of Glamorgan. In a classy finish, the 15th was halved in birdie 2s; Byrne won the 16th and 17th with birdies to go one up …. And Gould holed a 20-foot birdie putt across the last green to get a square match.
“I had a couple of bad holes but was six under par for the rest,” said the 17-year-old Byrne who already has the American colleges chasing him to sign up for the autumn of next year.
New Scottish Under-18 stroke-play champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), two down after six, lost by one hole to Jason Shufflebotham (Prestatyn), who reached the semi-finals of the Welsh men’s amateur championship a week or two ago.
After Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), who had been two up with six to play, halved with Joseph Vickery (Newport) in level-par figures, Zack Saltman got the victory-clinching eighth point with a 3 and 2 win over Jonathan Williams (Vale of Glamorgan). Zack won three holes in a row from the seventh to go from two down to one up and he never looked back after that.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White (Lundin) was one down with three to play against Marc Lewis (Borth & Ynysalas) but finished like a train to win by one hole. The 16th was halved in birdies and then White won the 17th and 18th.
“It was quite clear-cut in the end but for a spell in late afternoon, after we had gained points at the top of the singles order, I was wondering where we were going to get the rest of the points for victory, “said Scotland non-playing captain Barrie Dougas.
“But the lads saw off the Welsh fightback. It was a great all-round performance morning and afternoon.”
England / Ireland match
Ireland, who finished bottom of the table with no points at all 12 months ago at Woodhall Spa, beat England 8-7 after losing the morning foursomes 3-2 by taking the singles 6-4.
In an exciting finish, the scores were tied at 7-7 with the outcome of one singles tie still in the balance – Billy Fowles of Wentworth against James Patterson (Royal Portrush).
All square at the turn, 16-year-old Fowles was one up after 12 but Patterson turned the tables to lead by one hole after 15. The Irish teenager maintained his slender lead through the closing holes with a tie-breaking performance.
But there were other Irish heroes. Niall Kearney from Royal Dublin won the top singles match by 3 and 2 over England’s playing captain, Sam Hutsby (Lee-on-the-Solent), who won the Spanish men’s open amateur championship at the start of the season.
And Paul O’Kane, from Moyola Park, Co Londonderry, beat the recently-crowned English Under-18 boys’ champion Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) by 4 and 3 to square the overall scoreline at 5-5.
Ireland’s other singles winners were Andrew Hogan (Newlands) and Colin Fairweather (Knock).
Paul Cutler (Portstewart) halved with Luke Goddard (Hendon) while Luke Lennox (MoyOla Park) halved with Adam Hodkinson (Hallowes).BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
Moray Golf Club Old Course, Lossiemouth
First Day results:
ENGLAND 7, IRELAND 8
England names first
Foursomes: S Hutsby & L Goddard lost to N Kearney & G McGrane 1 hole; A Hodkinson & N McCarthy bt P Cutler & C Fairweather 3 and 2;
D Wright & B Fowles lost to A Hogan & L Lennox 2 and 1; A Johnston & J Hiluta bt B Keenan & L Reilly 1 hole; T Oliver & D Whitnell bt P O’Kane & J Patterson 3 and 2 (3-2).
Singles: Hutsby lost to Kearney 3 and 2, Goddard halved with Cutler, Hodkinson halved with Lennox, McCarthy bt McGrane 2 and 1, Whitnell lost to Hogan 2 and 1, Oliver lost to Fairweather 3 and 2, E Pepperell bt D Ruddy 3 and 2, Wright lost to O’Kane 4 and 3, Fowles lost to Patterson 1 hole, Hiluta bt Reilly 3 and 2 (4-6).
WALES 4 1/2, SCOTLAND 10 1/2
Wales names first
Foursomes: Z Gould & A Runcie lost to L Kirton & J Byrne 3 and 2;
R Enoch & R Merchant bt J Findlay & M Stewart 4 and 3; J Howie & J Williams lost to S McAllister & Z Saltman 4 and 3; J Vickery & J Shufflebotham lost to G Stevenson & C Robinson 1 hole; M Lewis & R Bentham lost to R Kellett & J White 3 and 2 (1-4).
Singles: Merchant lost to Kirton 6 and 5, Enoch lost to Findlay 4 and 3.
Gould halved with Byrne, Shufflebotham bt McAllister 1 hole, Vickery halved with Stewart, Bentham lost to C Gray 3 and 2, Williams lost to Saltman 3 and 2, A Torrence halved with Stevenson, Lewis lost to White 1 hole, Runcie bt Kellett 2 and 1 (3 1/2-6 1/2).

Aberdeen Ladies: winners of the Lyon Foursomes
Back row l to r: Ellie White, Leslie Hardie. Front row l to r: Sheena Wood, Carol Whicher

ABERDEEN LADIES RETAIN LYON FOURSOMES AT DEESIDE
Aberdeen Ladies retained the Lyon Foursomes title at Deeside Golf Club today (TUESDAY) – but it was a close-run thing in the final against Murcar Links.
There was only one hole in favour of Aberdeen Ladies after adding together the two results under the double foursomes format.
Sheena Wood and Ellie White finished six holes up on Murcar’s lead pairing of Laura McLardy and Carol Wilson.
Murcar’s second string of Donna Pocock and Frances Neish almost but not quite made up the leeway by finishing five holes up on Carol Whicher and Leslie Hardie.
[Picture right: Beaten Finalists Murcar Links
Back row left to right: Carol Wilson, Donna Pocock.
Front row left to right: Frances Neish, Laura McLardy.]
Details:
SEMI-FINALS
Aberdeen Ladies beat Banchory by three holes ( S Wood & E White 4, N Chalmers & G Chalmers 0; C Whicher & L Hardie 0, A Smart & M Clapperton 1).
Murcar Links beat Deeside 1 by six holes (L McLardy & C Wilson 3, M Millership & F Hay 0; D Pocock & F Neish 3, S Shepherd & L McPherson 0).
FINAL
Aberdeen Ladies beat Murcar Links by one hole (Wood & Whicher 6, McLardy & Wilson 0;Whicher & Hardie 0, Pocock & Neish 5).

ILGU Press Release
Menolly Homes ILGU Inter-Club Fourball Regional Finals
The Regional Finals of the 2006 Menolly Homes Ltd. ILGU Inter-Club Fourball will take place at Roscommon Golf Club on Tuesday, 15th August 2006.
With over 200 clubs competing for this year’s Trophy, the final 8 teams have each survived five gruelling rounds to make next Tuesday’s Regional Finals.
Defending Champions Castle have already survived two scares, first Dun Laoghaire and then Hermitage in the last round, that required extra holes and now face last year’s hosts The K Club. 2005 Northern Region winners Ballybofey & Stranorlar make their second consecutive appearance in the Regional Finals and face a strongly fancied Cliftonville who dispatched Ardglass in the last round.
Waterford saw off neighbours East Cork and Callan on their way to the final eight and meet Lee Valley who impressively ended the hopes of Dooks and Douglas in earlier rounds.
Birr, having taken care of last year’s beaten finalists Muillingar face a determined Mountbellew who saw off championship contenders Claremorris along the way.
Excluding Castle and Ballybofey & Stranorlar, the six Regional finalists are appearing at this stage of the competition for the first time. The four wining teams emerging from the Regional Finals at Roscommon meet in the semi-finals at Mount Juliet on Wednesday 6th September. Those winning these penultimate battles meet again the following day to decide who will join Castle (2005) and Roscommon (2004) as Champions for the year.
Menolly/ILGU Inter-Club Fourball Championships Regional Finals:
Roscommon Golf Club, Tuesday 15th August 2006
NORTH Cliftonville -v- Ballybofey & Stranorlar
SOUTH Waterford -v- Lee Valley
EAST The K Club -v- Castle
WEST Birr -v- Montbellew

Loretto School Golf Team

Loretto wins UK golf championship and aspires to be best golf school in Britain
Loretto School in Musselburgh, with its unique Golf Academy, has won the biggest and most prestigious independent schools golf championship in the UK, the HMC Foursomes Championship, and continues to build its reputation as one of the best independent golfing schools in Britain. The HMC Foursomes Championship attracts the best young golfers from more than 90 leading schools.
Having won through the initial regional rounds to qualify for the finals, Loretto, seeded number two just behind regular champion Millfield, competed with seven other school teams over two days in rain and sweltering sun at Hockley Golf Club in Winchester.
Loretto came top of their group then beat Eton in the final 2-1 in a high pressure competition; the Loretto team won on the last stroke on the last hole, when Loretto captain Peter Atkins from the Scottish Borders holed a three foot putt.
Rick Valentine, Loretto’s master in charge of golf, sees this win as a tremendous endorsement for the Loretto team:
“This is the first year that we have entered the HMC Foursomes Championship and our objective was to qualify for the final round. It’s a real credit to the talent in the Loretto team that we won the whole competition against such outstanding opponents. Our players were also delighted and greatly encouraged by the many Old Lorettonians who turned out to support us.
“We’ve been having a string of other golf championship successes recently including Borders, Perth and Kinross, East Lothian Ladies, and second in the Faldo Junior Series Scottish Region. It’s hard to believe that the Loretto Golf Academy is only four years old and fantastic that we can already claim to be one of the best golf schools in Britain.”
Loretto, six miles east of Edinburgh, benefits from being on the edge of beautiful East Lothian countryside with many of the world’s best golf courses on its doorstep. The Golf Academy uses the School’s practice facilities on campus, Musselburgh Old Course and, in particular, Craigielaw Golf Club. Golf operates alongside the School’s rigorous academic schedule, and all other School activities.
Aside from its growing reputation for golf, Loretto is usually seen as an all-round school which emphasizes the main team games, but its boys and girls also have opportunities in other sports including athletics, badminton, cycling, fives, sailing, shooting, squash, TaeBo, dance and swimming.
The School has just appointed three sports stars to inject an exciting new dimension to it sports coaching programme: Craig Chalmers, who won 60 rugby caps for Scotland, and Eddie Pollock, Scotland’s Under 21 Coach, will help with rugby coaching; Graham Moodie, currently the Scottish captain, will coach hockey; and Michael Powell, former captain of Warwickshire, already coaches indoor cricket in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Ladies Open Greensomes at Stirling
There are still a few morning times between 12-12.45 in the Senior (50+) Open Greensomes at Stirling on Thursday 10th August 2006. Anyone interested contact Tricia Chillas on 01786 833424 (B). Cost is £10 per couple and the course is in fantastic condition.

ABERDEEN LADIES V MURCAR LINKS FOR LYON FOURSOMES TITLE
Title-holders Aberdeen Ladies won their way through to the final of the Lyon Foursomes golf tournament at Deeside this morning with a three-hole win over Banchory.
In the other semi-final, Murcar Links beat Deeside 1 by six holes.
Details:
Aberdeen Ladies beat Banchory by three holes ( S Wood & E White 4, N Chalmers & G Chalmers 0; C Whicher & L Hardie 0, A Smart & M Clapperton 1).
Murcar Links beat Deeside 1 by six holes (L McLardy & C Wilson 3, M Millership & F Hay 0; D Pocock & F Neish 3, S Shepherd & L McPherson 0).

Boys' Home Internationals
ENGLAND LEADING IRELAND AFTER MORNING FOURSOMES
England opened their defence of the R&A Trophy in the boys’ home by taking a 3-2 lead over Ireland after the morning foursomes.
In cool but dead-calm conditions, Niall Kearney and Gary McGrane won the top tie for the Irish, beating Sam Hutsby and Luke Goddard by one hole. It was a tight encounter throughout with Kearney and McGrane establishing an early one-hole lead and staying in the driving seat to be one up through nine, 12 and 15 holes.
England levelled the scoreline when Adam Hodkinson and Nick McCarthy beat Paul Culter and Colin Fairweather 3 and 2 after going two up on the seventh tee.
Ireland won the third tie through Andrew Hogan and Luke Lennox, 2 and 1 winners over Darren Wright and Billy Fowles but England’s foursomes tail wagged to produce two wins.
Andrew Johnstone and Jack Hiluta came back from one down after 12 to be all square on the 16th tee before beating Brian Keenan and Liam Reilly on the last green.
Tom Oliver and Dale Whitnell, three up after six, maintained that lead through the ninth and 12th and went on to beat Paul O’Kane and James Patterson 3 and 2.

Boys' Home Internationals
SCOTLAND LEAD WALES 4-1
Scotland were well on their way to avenging last year’s 8-7 defeat by Wales when they established a 4-1 lead in the foursomes.
Lewis Kirton and James Byrne continued to blend well, as they did in the recent European boys’ team championship in Sweden and won the opening foursome by 3 and 2 over Zach Gould and Adam Runcie.
It was all square at the turn but the Scots went two up over the first three holes of the inward half and held that advantage until the Welsh ran out of holes.
Wales hit back by taking the second foursome in which Rhys Enoch and Richard Merchant beat Jordan Findlay and Michael Stewart by 4 and 3.
The Welsh pair were two up after nine and 12 holes and clinched victory by winning the 14th and 15th.
Scotland went into a 2-1 lead when the Craigielaw partnership of Shaun McAllister and Zack Saltman won by 4 and 3 against Jamie Howie and Jonathan Williams. There was not much between the sides until the closing holes of the outward half, over which the Scots moved from one to three up at the turn.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White and Ross Kellett put Scotland 3-1 ahead by beating Marc Lewis and Richard Bentham 3 and 2.
White and Kellett took a stranglehold on this tie by winning four of the first six holes and were still four up at the turn.
Gordon Stevenson and Chris Robinson completed a good morning for the Scots by beating Joseph Vickery and Jason Shufflebotham on the last green.
There was never more than a hole in it either way and the match was all square after 12 holes. Stevenson and Robinson edged one up after 15 holes and kept their noses in front to the end.

BOYS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
Moray Golf Club Old Course, Lossiemouth
Morning results:
ENGLAND lead IRELAND 3-2
England names first
FOURSOMES
S Hutsby & L Goddard lost to N Kearney & G McGrane 1 hole.
A Hodkinson & N McCarthy bt P Cutler & C Fairweather 3 and 2.
D Wright & B Fowles lost to A Hogan & L Lennox 2 and 1.
A Johnston & J Hiluta bt B Keenan & L Reilly 1 hole.
T Oliver & D Whitnell bt P O’Kane & J Patterson 3 and 2.
WALES are losing 1-4 to SCOTLAND
Wales names first
FOURSOMES
Z Gould & A Runcie lost to L Kirton & J Byrne 3 and 2.
R Enoch & R Merchant bt J Findlay & M Stewart 4 and 3.
J Howie & J Williams lost to S McAllister & Z Saltman 4 and 3.
J Vickery & J Shufflebotham lost to G Stevenson & C Robinson 1hole.
M Lewis & R Bentham lost to R Kellett & J White 3 and 2.

ELGA Press Release
England squad named for British girls’ championship
England’s Nations Cup team for next week’s Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland includes new English girls’ champion Rachel Jennings.
The 17-year-old from Izaak Walton will be joined in the team by Rachel Connor (Manchester) and Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale).
The three girl internationals are part of an eight-strong squad representing the English Ladies’ Golf Association at the championship, which takes place from 14-18 August.
They include Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) who was the runner-up in last weeks’ English girls’ championship and Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) who reached the semi-finals.
The line-up is completed by Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) and Gemma Hardie (Forest Pines).

R&A Press Release
R&A NAME TEAM OF STUDENTS FOR ST ANDREWS BAY TOURNAMENT
The R&A Training Panel has selected the following team to represent The R&A Foundation Bursary Scheme in the International Collegiate Championship being played over the Torrance Course at St Andrews Bay on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September.
Mark Campbell University College, Dublin
Iwan Griffiths University of Wales, Swansea
Matthew Jones University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Mark Kerr University of Edinburgh
Andrea Romano University of Bologna, Italy
The team will be captained by Gordon Sherry, the former Amateur Champion and Walker Cup player and now a fully qualified PGA member.
The International Collegiate Championship will be contested by ten teams of five players. The seven US teams include Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina, both dominant forces in NCAA golf. The University of St Andrews and the University of Stirling are also competing in the 54-hole stroke play event, last played at the same venue in 2002.

SGU Press Release
Golfers THIRSTY for MAGNERS CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS
A total of 286 golf clubs across Scotland have taken part in this year’s Magners Scottish Club Golfers Championship, with the four regional qualifying finals about to get underway next month.
Local qualifying events have been taking place up and down the country since the new event was launched in April, and Scotland’s club golfers are gearing up to become the first Magners national champions. Players from as far north as Thurso and as far south as Stranraer have taken part, with more than 23,000 competitors in total, making it Scotland’s largest participation golf event.
The biggest turnout among the local events came at the Home of Golf, with 228 members of St Andrews Golf Club taking part. Bellshill in Lanarkshire drew a field of 216, with next year’s Open Championship venue Carnoustie massing 209 club golfers.
The regional qualifying finals kick-off on Thursday 10th August at Lanark Golf Club, with the second regional final taking place the following day at the superb Forrester Park resort. The event moves onto Alyth Golf Club on Friday 18th August, before heading North East to the fantastic Murcar Links on the 25th August.
The leading two players based on net scores qualify to represent their club in one of the regional finals, with the top fifteen clubs at each progressing to the Grand Final. Sixty clubs will be represented at that Final, being held at the Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club on Friday 22nd September, the week after the Ryder Cup.
The lowest player in the field will be Leven Thistle legend Jim White, with the former Tartan Tour professional now playing off plus four, still one of the lowest handicapped golfers in Scotland. However, the Magners Scottish Club Golfers Championship gives an opportunity to all golfers, with Colville Park’s Robert Law taking his place in the field with a handicap of 27.
Magners Cider Marketing Manager Joanne Hayden has been delighted with the clubs response to the first Magners Scottish Club Golfers Championship:
“The popularity of the new championship adds to the growing profile of Magners Cider within the Scottish golf club market. Since our sponsorship with the SGU began two and half years ago, we have continued to increased our sales and distribution across the country and within golf clubs therein.”
“The event provides club golfers from across Scotland with a great opportunity to compete in a major national championship, whether they are a scratch golfer or high handicapper. It’s important to Magners that all adult golfers in Scotland have that chance.”
The national final takes place at the Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club on Friday 15th September, one of the country’s most prominent new courses. News and results from each of the regional finals can be found on the SGU’s website, www.scottishgolfunion.org.
Hamish Grey, the SGU’s Chief Executive, added:
“We’re very grateful to Magners Cider for their support of this new event, which helps us to maintain our strategy of supporting our clubs and their members. It’s great to be able to give something back to the ordinary club golfers, who are the lifeblood of the game.”

VIKKI JOINT 54TH ON FUTURES TOUR
Vikki Laing won only $245 for a share of 54th place in the Laconia Savings Bank Classic - the latest event on the United States Futures Tour - at Beaver Meadow Golf Club, Concord in New Hampshire yesterday (Sunday).
The Musselburgh exile had rounds of 74 75 74 for a tital of seven-over-par 223 - 16 shots behind the winner, Charlotte Mayorkas from Las Vegas. Charlotte score 69,71 and 67 for a nine-under-par 207 and a four-shot victory. First prize was $9,800.

Monday 7th August 2006

Lyon Foursomes
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ABERDEEN LADIES THROUGH TO LAST FOUR
Title-holders Aberdeen Ladies are through to Tuesday morning's semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire LCGA's Lyon Foursomes at Deeside Golf Club. They will play Banchory for a place in the afternoon final against either Deeside 1 or Murcar Links.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Deeside 1 bt Ballater by one hole (M Millership, F Hay 0, M Cruickshank, R Roy 1; S Shepherd, L McPherson 2, S Gordon, H Backhouse 0).
Peterculter bt Aboyne 2 by three holes (G Hall, Y Richal 0, K Leiper, G Hollingsworth 1; S Brankin, L Moore 4, E Thomas, N Wilson 0).
Westhill bt Cruden Bay by seven holes (J Lees, S Leslie 10, L Terry, J Robertson 0; L Wilson, Y Gilbert 0, K Stalker, M Miller 3).
Murcar Links bt Aboyne 1 by nine holes (L McLardy, C Wilson 5, M Burgess, E Brown 0; D Pocock, K Neish 4, L Murray, M Munro 0).
Aberdeen Ladies bt Newmachar by six holes (S Wood, E White 2, K Jarvie 5, S Tait 0; C Whicher, L Hardie 4, M Horn, A Hope 0).l
Deeside 2 bt Hazlehead by two holes (V Harper, F Reiss 0, C Eddie, S Queen 0; A Downie, M Parkinson 2, G Wynn-Davies, L Thomson 0).
Kemnay bt Newburgh by one hole (S Taylor, J Whitehead 1, L Carnie, G Murray 0; Y Moir, C Gordon 0, R Dunsmuir, K Esslemont 0).
Banchory bt Peterhead by 14 holes (M Chalmers, G Chalmers 3, L Coleman, I Young 0; A Smart, M Clapperton 11, A Stephen, M Findlay 0).
SECOND ROUND
Deeside 1 bt Peterculter by eight holes (Millership, Hay 3, Hall, Richal 0; Shepherd, McPherson 5, Brankin, Moore 0).
Murcar Links bt Westhill by eight holes (McLardy, Wilson 2, Lees, Leslie 0; Pocock, Neish 6, Wilson, Gilbert 0).
Aberdeen Ladies bt Deeside 2 by nine holes (Wood, White 8, Harper, Reiss 0; Whicher, Hardie 1, Downie, Parkinson 0).
Banchory bt Kemnay by six holes (Chalmers, Chalmersw 0, Taylor, Whitehead 0; Smart, Clapperton 6, Moir, Gordon 0).
Tuesday morning semi-finals:
9.0 Deeside 1 v Murcar Links.
9.15 Aberdeen Ladies v Banchory.

Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) with the Scottish Under 21 Strokeplay trophy
which she won at Stirling Golf Club 27-28 July.
Photoalbum courtesy and copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency

Roseanne Niven (Crieff) with the Scottish Girls Championship trophy
which she won at Peebles 18-21 July
Photoalbum courtesy and copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency

West Girls
The West of Scotland Girls Golfing Association have set up a new website www.wsgga.btik.com
I've changed the link in the left-hand menu.

Scottish Mixed Foursomes Championship
The SLGA are accepting entries for the Scottish Mixed Foursomes Championship at Deeside on 10th September. Contact the SLGA office on 01738 442357 for entry forms or they can be downloaded from the SLGA website.

Boys' home internationals
NORTH-EAST TRIO KEY PLAYERS FOR SCOTLAND AT LOSSIEMOUTH
The boys' home internationals will be played over the Lossiemouth links of Moray Golf Club over the next three days.
Scotland look to have a good chance of breaking England's eight-year grip on the title but too much importance should not be placed on their very good performance in finishing second to Norway in the recent European boys' team championship in Sweden.
That championship was contested by six-a-side line-ups. In the boys' home internationals, each country is allowed a squad of ELEVEN players for five foursomes and 10 singles tites.
This is where England's greater strength in depth may come into play. Scotland, Ireland and Wales can match them at the top of the "batting order." It is from Nos 7 to 11, that the matches could be won and lost.
Having said that, as coach Spencer Henderson says, this is one of the strongest Scotland Under-18 boys teams in many years.
Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) and James Byrne (Banchory), a successful pairing for Scotland in the European boys' team championship, will set the ball rolling in Tuesday's match against Wales.
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) will partner Troon's Michael Stewart in the second foursome.
In the singles, Kirton has the honour - and the responsibility - of playing No 1, with Findlay No 2 and Byrne No 3, an indication of how highly rated the North-east trio are by coach Spencer Henderson.
TUESDAY'S TIES
ENGLAND v IRELAND
(England names first)
FOURSOMES
8.0 S Hutsby & L Goddard v N Kearney & G McGrane.
8.09 A Hodkinson & N McCarthy v P Cutler & C Fairweather.
8.18 D Wright & B Fowles v A Hogan & L Lennox.
8.27 A Johnston & J Hiluta v B Keenan & L Reilly.
8.36 T Oliver & D Whitnell v P O'Kane & J Patterson.
SINGLES
12.30 Hutsby v Kearney.
12.39 Goddard v Cutler.
12.48 Hodkinson v Lennox.
12.57 McCarthy v McGrane.
1.06 Whitnell v Hogan.
1.15 Oliver v Fairweather.
1.24 E Pepperell v D Ruddy.
1.33 Wright v O'Kane.
1.42 Fowles v Patterson.
1.51 Hiluta v Reilly.
SCOTLAND v WALES
(Scotland names first)
FOURSOMES
9.0 L Kirton & J Byrne v Z Gould & A Runcie.
9.09 J Findlay & M Stewart v R Enoch & R Merchant.
9.18 S McAllister & Z Saltman v J Howie & J Williams.
9.27 G Stevenson & C Robinson v J Vickery & J Shufflebotham.
9.36 R Kellett & J White v M Lewis & R Bentham.
SINGLES
2.20 Kirton v Merchant.
2.29 Findlay v Enoch.
2.38 Byrne v Gould.
2.47 McAllister v Shufflebotham.
2.56 Stewart v Vickery.
3.05 C Gray v Bentham.
3.14 Saltman v Williams.
3.23 Stevenson v A Torrence.
3.32 White v Lewis.
3.41 Kellett v Runcie.

R&A Press Release
TEAM SELECTED FOR ST ANDREWS TROPHY
Walker Cup players Nigel Edwards, Rhys Davies, Robert Dinwiddie, Oliver Fisher, Lloyd Saltman and Richard Ramsay form the majority of the team selected to compete in the St Andrews Trophy at Marianske Lazne Golf Club, Czech Republic on 1 and 2 September. The newcomers in the nine-man squad are Ross McGowan, Rory McIlroy and Jamie Moul.
Edwards, 38, the senior member of the team played in the Walker Cup matches of 2001, 2003 and 2005 and is the only one of the nine to have played in the 2004 St Andrews Trophy match in Nairn. Then, Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe 17-7.
In the 2005 Walker Cup, Oliver Fisher at 16 became the youngest ever player. Now 17, Fisher will be playing alongside another 17-year-old, Rory McIlroy who has dominated this year’s championships in Ireland.
In a list of outstanding performances, he successfully defended his Irish Close Amateur title, tied for the Irish Open Stroke Play, losing only in a play-off and won the West of Ireland Championship.
Ross McGowan, 24, finally eclipsed his run this year of five runner-up spots with a fine win in the English Amateur Championship. Until his championship winning performance at the weekend at Burnham & Berrow, the five events where he had just missed out on the title, included the Brabazon Trophy, the Scottish Stroke Play and the West of England.
The third newcomer to the GB&I senior squad, Jamie Moul, 21, lifted this year’s Lytham Trophy and not long after, finished third in the Brabazon Trophy behind Robert Dinwiddie. He also reached the semi-final stage of the Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s where he lost to Adam Gee who is named as a reserve for the team.
Peter McEvoy, Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee said; “This was one of the more difficult teams to select, only because so many players have staked strong claims to be in the team.
“However, it is a good position to be in and bodes well for this year’s St Andrews Trophy and for next year’s Walker Cup match against the United States at Royal County Down.”
In December 2005 Colin Dalgleish was appointed captain to GB&I teams and in this first match in charge will be looking for a continuation of GB&I fortunes in the St Andrews Trophy that have given them 22 wins in 25 contests.
Play consists of four foursomes and eight singles on each of the two days.
TEAM
Rhys Davies, 21, Royal Porthcawl
Robert Dinwiddie, 23, Barnard Castle
Nigel Edwards, 38, Whitchurch
Oliver Fisher, 17, West Essex
Ross McGowan, 24, Banstead Downs
Rory McIlroy, 17, Holywood
Jamie Moul, 21, Stoke-by-Nayland
Richard Ramsay, 23, Royal Aberdeen
Lloyd Saltman, 20, Craigielaw
RESERVES
1. Scott Jamieson, Cathkin Braes
2. Adam Gee, Leatherhead
CAPTAIN
Colin Dalgleish

Sunday 6th August 2006

JENNA TAKES RICCARTON ROSEBOWL TO COMPLETE TITLE HAT-TRICK
Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson completed a notable treble of 36-hole open tournament wins when she retained the Riccarton Rosebowl at Hamilton Golf Club today.
Jenna had already won the Munross Trophy at Montrose Links and the Mackie Bowl at Gullane over the past few weeks.
Miss Wilson spreadeagled the field with a pair of four-under-par 68s to win by five shots with an aggregate of 136 (eight under the combined CSS).
Runner-up was Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) with 70 and 71 for 141.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Curtis Cup team manager Fiona Norris (Hamilton) both totalled 142. Third place went to the Fife player with a better second round of 71 to Fiona’s 74. Mrs Norris had shared the first-round lead with Jenna Wilson on 68.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 72. CSS 72 72
136 J Wilson (Strathaven) 68 68.
142 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 70 71.
142 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 71 71, F Norris (Hamilton) 68 74.
143 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 71 72.
144 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 71 73.
146 G Webster (Hilton Park) 71 75, S Bishop (Windyhill) 70 76.
147 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 77 70, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 73 74, J Turner (Mortonhall) 71 76.
148 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 76 72.

Sherri Steinhauer wins 2006 Women's British Open
It was a 40-something American who won the Weetabix British Women's Open but it was not first and second-round leader Juli Inkster.
No, it was 43-year-old Sherri Steinhauer, not one of the big names from the USA, who stepped up to collect the cheque for 160,000 Euros and the handsome trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Sherri became the oldest winner of the tournament, run by the Ladies Golf Union, with scores of 73, 70, 66 and 72 for a seven-under-par total of 281.
She won by three shots from fellow-American Cristie Kerr and Sweden's Sophie Gustafson, joint runners-up on 285. Each won 85,000 Euros.
Thisa was Sherri's third vistory in this tournament - she won in 1998 and 1999.
Juli Inkster did not collapse by any means over the last two rounds with scores of 74 and 73 but three shots dropped to par allowed the chasing pack to catch her.
Juli tied for third place on 285 with Mexico's Lorena Ochoa. Both earned 50,000 Euros.
Biggest surprise of the last two rounds was the Annika Sorenstam's performance. She was eight over par for the final 36 holes with rounds of 73 and 79 and tied for 31st place, one shot ahead of another under-achiever Michelle Wie.
LEADERBOARD
281 Sherri Steinhaur (US) 73 70 66 72.
284 Cristie Kerr (US) 71 76 66 71, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 76 67 69 72.
285 Juli Inkster (US) 66 72 74 73, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 74 73 65 73.
Other scores:
290 (jt 10th) Karen Stupples (Eng) 73 69 70 78 (21,250 Euros).
291 (jt 16th) Laura Davies (Eng) 72 72 72 74 (14,041 (Euros).
292 (jt 22nd) Paula Creamer (US) 72 71 73 76 (11,500 Euros).
294 (jt 26th) Michelle Wie (US) 74 74 72 74 (9,460 Euros).
295 (jt 31st) Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 72 72 73 79 (7,810 Euros).
Collated Scoreboard
281 Sherri Steinhauer (USA) 73 70 66 72
284 Cristie Kerr (USA) 71 76 66 71, Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 76 67 69 72
285 Juli Inkster (USA) 66 72 74 73, Lorena Ochoa (MEX) 74 73 65 73
286 Lorie Kane (CAN) 73 69 74 70, Beth Daniel (USA) 73 71 70 72
287 Julieta Granada (PAR) 71 73 70 73
288 Par Ai Miyazato (JPN) 71 75 75 67
290 Hee-Won Han (KOR) 80 71 69 70, Joo Mi Kim (KOR) 73 73 73 71, Karine Icher (FRA) 72 73 71 74, Nina Reis (SWE) 70 76 69 75, Candie Kung (TAI) 72 70 71 77, Karen Stupples (ENG) 73 69 70 78
291 Sakura Yokomine (JPN) 72 73 75 71, Il Mi Chung (KOR) 72 71 75 73, Laura Davies (ENG) 72 72 73 74, Heather Young (USA) 72 74 70 75, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 70 73 71 77, Natalie Gulbis (USA) 72 74 67 78
292 Kyeong Bae (KOR) 73 73 75 71, Jee Young Lee (KOR) 72 77 69 74, Paula Creamer (USA) 72 71 73 76
293 Shi Hyun Ahn (KOR) 75 73 69 76
294 Jackie Gallagher-Smith (USA) 77 74 71 72, Tracy Hanson (USA) 74 77 70 73, Michelle Wie (USA) 74 74 72 74, Jeong Jang (KOR) 78 73 68 75, Young-A Yang (KOR) 72 75 68 79
295 Anja Monke (GER) 75 76 70 74, Nicole Castrale (USA) 73 75 71 76, Liselotte Neumann (SWE) 76 72 70 77, Lindsey Wright (AUS) 71 71 74 79, Annika Sorenstam (SWE) 72 71 73 79
296 Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 74 76 78 68, Angela Stanford (USA) 76 69 80 71, Young Jo (KOR) 80 70 74 72, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 76 73 73 74, Sun Young Yoo (KOR) 76 74 71 75, Vicki Goetze Ackerman (USA) 75 72 71 78
297 Nikki Garrett (AUS) 76 71 76 74, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (FRA) 75 75 72 75, Yuri Fudoh (JPN) 74 75 69 79
298 Chieko Amanuma (JPN) 71 80 72 75, Sarah Lee (KOR) 72 77 72 77, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 69 76 75 78, Silvia Cavalleri (ITA) 69 72 77 80, Christina Kim (USA) 71 73 71 83
299 Marisa Baena (COL) 75 75 76 73, Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 76 75 74 74, Allison Hanna (USA) 70 76 78 75, Teresa Lu (TAI) 73 77 74 75, Joanne Morley (ENG) 73 77 73 76, Lee Ann Walker-Cooper (USA) 76 74 73 76
300 Kris Tamulis (USA) 72 76 79 73, Brittany Lincicome (USA) 74 76 75 75, Becky Morgan (WAL) 77 73 72 78, Morgan Pressel (USA) 75 75 72 78
301 Amy Yang (a) (KOR) 76 74 75 76
302 Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 75 75 75 77, Elisa Serramia (SPA) 73 78 74 77, Seon Hwa Lee (KOR) 74 77 72 79, Lynnette Brooky (NWZ) 73 78 70 81
303 Laura Diaz (USA) 75 73 72 83
304 Marta Prieto (SPA) 75 70 76 83
305 Helena Alterby (SWE) 74 74 77 80, Wendy Ward (USA) 71 74 75 85
306 Rachel Hetherington (AUS) 71 79 83 73
307 Belen Mozo (a) (SPA) 73 74 79 81
311 Iben Tinning (DEN) 75 76 76 84

Paul Lawrie with the inaugural winners of the individual titles
in the Paul Lawrie Junior Match-play Challenge at St Andrews Bay (Torrance Course) today (Sunday).
Laura Murray (Alford) and David Morrison (Duff House Royal).

DAVID AND LAURA WIN PAUL LAWRIE JUNIOR MATCH-PLAY TITLES
BANFF’s David Morrison and Laura Murray from Alford were the individual title winners of the inaugural Paul Lawrie Junior Match-play Challenge finals over the Torrance course, St Andrews Bay on Sunday.
Morrison, the Duff House Royal men’s club champion and course record-holder, scored a surprisingly big win over the favourite, Graeme Mitchell (Northern) in the boys’ final. David won by 6 and 5 over an opponent who reached the last 16 of the Allied Surveyors’ Scottish men’s amateur championship at Nairn last week.
Mitchell had a nightmare on the slick greens and windy conditions, setting the tone for his performance with four putts to lose the first. Graeme, the North of Scotland boys’ champion, never won a hole and “three-putted umpteen times.”
Morrison, however, did play well and won the first, sixth, eighth (with a birdie), 10th, 11th and 13th.
Laura Murray, returning to the course where she won the Scottish schoolgirls title last year, also made few mistakes in beat Gail Richens (Newmachar) by 8 and 7 in the girls final.
Gail, feeling under par in health context, suffered the same fate as Graeme Mitchell. She never won a hole and was seven down at the turn with only halves gained at the third and eighth.
Paul Lawrie paid all the expenses of the eight boys and girls who contested the weekend action in brilliant sunshine and a warm but testing wind, particularly today.
They stayed Saturday night at the five-star hotel and were given an hour-long clinic by Paul who also watched the Sunday matches.
Graeme Mitchell summed it up best of all: “I lost it on the greens in the final and was well beaten but we all had a terrific weekend. The atmosphere was brilliant and the involved of Paul Lawrie and John Caven was terrific. We’ve all come home with super memories”
Results:
BOYS – Semi-finals – G Mitchell (Northern) bt L Barbour (Peterhead) 4 and 3, D Morrison (Duff House Royal) bt G Carnie (Newburgh) 2 and 1.
Final – Morrison bt Mitchell 6 and 5.
Third place play-off – Carnie bt Barbour at 20th.
GIRLS – Semi-finals – L Murray (Alford) bt M Johnstone (Northern) 3 and 2, G Richens (Newmachar) bt L MaCallum (NMcDonald Ellon) 2 and 1.
Final – Murray bt Richens 8 and 7.
Third place play-off – MacCallum bt Johnstone 1 hole.

Saturday 5th August 2006

I'm back!!!!!... bear with me as I try to catch up.

Meanwhile keep watching HOT NEWS and www.scottishgolfview.com

NORTHERN COUNTIES GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP (Report by Mairi Orr)
On a very warm day at Moray New Golf Course the junior girls played their Championship. Eilidh Mackay of Nairn Dunbar posted a gross 80 to win for the first time,Eilidh has battled with a sports injury but has obviously overcome it
In the handicap section Chloe Macleod, also of Nairn Dunbar, did the double playing off 12 had a 75 nett to win,not only this trophy but also the senior handicap trophy at forres in may of this year, Nadia Green from Nairn Golf club, off 10 was the runner up on better inward half with a 78 nett
Well done to all the girls who took part we know you have all been working hard over the summer months to cut your handicaps and at the same time have a bit of fun we would also like to thank moray golf club for their continuing support of northern counties ladies golf by granting us courtesy of the courses it is most appreciated
We hear that Julie Vass posted a 71 at Tain today in the Ladies Open but her young clubmate Hannah Mackay posted a 68 nett Hannah won the bronze Medal earlier this year at Crieff and as a cousin of Lindsay Anderson must have the genes to do well, if her bagpiping does not interfere,so also well done to them .

Scottish Mens Championship (from the SGU website)
Kevin McAlpine strode into the annals of Scottish Amateur history, as he was crowned the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Champion 2006, this afternoon in Nairn.
The 22 year old from Alyth immediately followed his title success with a celebratory dip in the Moray Firth accompanied by his caddy, Steve Cochrane, who had bowed out of the competition earlier in the week.
After a sensational and strident performance this morning, the Alyth golfer played consistently throughout the afternoon and took the title, 8 & 7 after the 29th hole.

ROSS McGOWAN MAKES IT AT LAST TO WIN ENGLISH TITLE AT B AND B
Ross McGowan is the new English men's amateur champion. After five near misses this year the Surrey golfer finally landed the big one when he beat Oliver Fisher 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final at Burnham and Berrow.
McGowan, 24, must have wondered if he would ever be crowned a champion but he came good in magnificent fashion being seven under par when the match concluded on the 32nd hole.
There was little to choose between the two over the opening round before McGowan finally went into lunch one-up. In perfect conditions, Fisher edged in front at the third but the 17 year old three-putted the short fifth to lose his advantage. The pair stayed level until the tenth where Fisher edged ahead again and the Essex lad seemed to be in the ascendancy but he found trouble on the long 13th, which McGowan birdie to square the contest again.
Although Fisher took the lead for the third time at the 440-yard 15th with a birdie, he lost both the 16th and 17th which allowed McGowan to edge in front for the first time, a lead he kept going into the second round.
Fisher continued to played a brave game in the end but he had to give way to McGowan’s superior play in the afternoon.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said McGowan. “I can’t really believe it has happened. After so many near misses I felt something was going to go wrong somewhere. But I knew if I stayed patient something would happen and it paid off. I only made one bogey all day and managed to birdie all the par fives.”
Fisher was naturally disappointed. “I’m gutted but I hit a lot of good shots but I probably didn’t hole enough putts,” he said. “Ross played well all day. He holed out well this morning to stay in it.”
After lunch McGowan took a decisive grip by winning four holes in six from the third. It was a burst that Fisher could do little about and laid the foundation for victory which came with a conceded three at the short 14th.
So, after five runner-up finishes including the Brabazon Trophy and the South of England Stroke Play Championship, McGowan had finally landed the prize and is the third Surrey golfer to win the English title in the past seven years.

FINALISTS IN PAUL LAWRIE JUNIOR MATCH-PLAY AT ST ANDREWS BAY
Graeme Mitchell (Northern), who reached the last 16 of the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur golf championship at Nairn last week, is through to the boys' final of the Paul Lawrie Junior Match-Play Challenge at St Andrews Bay on Sunday.
Mitchell beat Luke Barbour (Peterhead) by 4 and 3 in the first semi-final over the Torrance course on Saturday.
In the other semi-final, David Morrison (Duff House Royal) beat Grant Carnie (Newburgh-on-Ythan) 2 and 1.
Laura Murray (Alford), returning to the course where she won the Scottish schoolgirls' title last year, will play Gail Richens (Newmachar) in the girls' final.
In the semi-finals, Laura beat Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) 3 and 2 while Gail beat Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 2 and 1.

Weetabix Womens' British Open
Sherri Steinhauser from the USA has come storming through the field with a six under par 66 to overtake Julie Inkster (US) and take the lead in the Weetabix Womens' British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes today. Her seven under par total of 209 means that she is three ahead Lorena Ochoa, who had the low round of the day with a 65, Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), who returned a 69, 2004 winner Karen Stupples (England) with a 70 and Julie Inkster who carded a 74.
Leading Scores
209 Sherri Steinhauer (USA) 73 70 66
212 Lorena Ochoa (MEX) 74 73 65, Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 76 67 69, Karen Stupples (ENG) 73 69 70
Juli Inkster (USA) 66 72 74
213 Cristie Kerr (USA) 71 76 66, Natalie Gulbis (USA) 72 74 67, Candie Kung (TAI) 72 70 71
214 Beth Daniel (USA) 73 71 70, Julieta Granada (PAR) 71 73 70, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 70 73 71

VIKKI LAING COMPLETES ROUND OF 74 ON FUTURES TOUR
Vikki Laing went out again early this morning to complete a first round of two-over-par 74 in the Laconia Savings Bank Classic, this weekend's event on the Duramed Futures Tour at Beaver Meadow golf course, Concord in New Hampshire.
A late start to Friday's opening round because of heavy rain meant that the Scot from Musselburgh was one of 4o to 50 players who were unable to complete their rounds before darkness fell.
Vikki had halves of 37 to be six shots off the pace.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast returned a 76 (36-40).

ELGA Press Release
RACHEL JENNINGS WINS ENGLISH U-18 GIRLS' TITLE
Staffordshire's Rachel Jennings birdied the last two holes to beat Hertfordshire's Charlie Douglass by one hole in the final of the English Under-18 girls' championship at Kings Norton Golf Club today.
Rachel, a girl international from Izaak Walton, had fought back from three down with four to play and wept with joy after she sealed victory. "I just can't believe it. I'm an English champion, it just feels amazing," said Rachel, who will be 18 later this month and was playing in the tournament for the last time.
She has little time to celebrate. Tomorrow she flies to Ireland as part of the England team which will bid for a seventh consecutive victory in the girls' International Matches.
"I can't wait for next week," said Rachel, even as she was savouring her championship win.
Rachel and Charlie (Brocket Hall) staged a tense and enthralling final for the crowd of at least 200 spectators.
On the front nine they halved every hole except the par five 5th, which was won by 17-year-old Charlie. Rachel got back to all square on the 10th but then lost the next three holes as she struggled with her putting.
"I knew I could come back, I've done it before," said Rachel. "I knew I was still in it and I didn't worry about missing a few short putts because anything can happen in matchplay."
She won every hole from the 15th to transform her scoreline from three down to 1 up - finishing with a birdie two on the 17th, where she hit a seven iron, and a birdie four on the 18th, where she reached the green in two.
"I'm just stunned," said Rachel, who wore lucky lime green clothing all week. "And I'm gutted for Charlie because she was three up. She's a very good golfer."
The Flight Two final was won by Ami Storey (Ponteland) who beat Stephanie Gough (Ellesborough) on the final green at the end of a close and sporting match.

Futures Tour
VIKKI HELD UP BY RAIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh and Brenda McLarnon of Belfast were among the 45 players who were unable to complete their first rounds in the Lacona Savings Black Classic, the latest event on the Duramed Futures Tour - at Concord, New Hampshire yesterday.
Heavy rain forced a three-hour delay in the start of the first-day's play and preferred lies were in operation when it finally did start.
Meaghan Francella (33-35) is the first-round leader in the clubhouse with a four-under-par 68, one shot ahead of Sarah Huarte and Charlotte Mayorkas.
Samantha Head from Bedfordshire had halves of 35 and 36 for a 71 while Polly Willett from London scored a 74 (37-37).

Friday 4th August 2006

ILGU Press Release
IRELAND BLOOD DANIELLE IN WOMEN'S HOME NATIONALS
Youngster Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down Ladies) will make her adult debut for Ireland in the women's home internationals at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire from September 13 to 15.
Both Danielle and Tara Delaney (Carlow) will return to their colleges in the United States later this month but have been given permission to come home to play in the WHIs.
The Ireland team is:
CLAIRE COUGHLAN (Cork).
TARA DELANEY (Carlow).
MARIA DUNNE (Skerries).
MARTINA GILLEN (Beaverstown).
TRICIA MANGAN (Ennis).
DANIELLE McVEIGH (Royal County Down Ladies).
MAURA MORRIN (The Curragh).
DEIRDRE SMITH (County Louth).
Reserves
1 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), 2 Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), 3 Marian Riordan (Tipperary), 4 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne).
The Ireland players whose scores will count towards the international team event at the British women's open amateur stroke-play at Princes, Kent from August 23 to 25 are:
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Deirdre Smith (County Louth).
Reserve: Maura Morrin (The Curragh).

ILGU Press Release
LEINSTER COMPLETE HAT-TRICK OF INTER-PROVINCIAL TITLE WINS
Leinster claimed their third successive win in the ILGU inter-provincial matches at Headofrt Golf Club today.
Having recorded convincing victories over Connacht and Ulster on Wednesday and Thursday,
Leinster wrapped it all up by beating Munster 7-2 today. Ulster halved their closing match against a youth Connacht side and finished second in the final table with 1 1/2pt.
Connacht were third with one point and Munster last of four with half a point.

CATRIONA, HEATHER AND MHAIRI FAIL TO BEAT HALFWAY CUT
Shades of the men's Open. All three Scots in the field for the Weetabix Women's British Open failed to survive the halfway cut at Royal Lytham & St Annes today. Only those players with seven-over-par 151 or better made it.
Catriona Matthew, after a first-round 75, had a bogey 5 at the 16th and a double bogey 6 at the last. That meant a second-round 79 for 154 - three shots too many for the pregnant Scot.
Dunblane amateur Heather MacRae totalled 162 with an 82 and 80 while Mhairi McKay was the big disappointment - a pair of 82s for 164.
The biggest surprise of the non-qualifiers was undoubtedly Australian Karrie Webb, winner of the big-money Evian Masters last week. This week - 76 and 82 for 158, a distant eight shots above the limit.
Rebecca Hudson, too, who has been showing a bit of form, quietly departed with an 82 and 77 for 159.
Up at the sharp end of the championship, 40-something American Juli Inkster continues to bowl along in the lead with a 66 and 72 for six-under-par 138.
She looked certain to be joined in the pole position by Silvia Cavalerri until the Italian ran up a triple bogey 7 at the 17th and thus added a 72, instead of a 69, to her opening 69. On 141, Silvia is on her own in second place on 141, Maria Hjorth from Sweden having fallen back into the pack.
Four players share third place on 142, including England's former championship winner Karen Stupples (73-69) and Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright (71-71).
Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer are two of the players on 143, only five shots off the pace and poised for a run at the lead over the final 36 holes.
Laura Davies has not been able to better par, only match it with a pair of 72s for 144.
No Michelle Wie magic on the links of Lytham St Annes. Two 74s for four-over-par 148 is not super-star stuff at all.
Mind you, another of the American whizz kids, teenager Morgan Pressel, has not done anything to keep the headline writers busy. Morgan has shot two 75s to be just one shot inside the qualifying limit.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS (Par 72)
LEADING QUALIFIERS
138 (-6) Juli Inkster (US) 66 72.
141 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 69 72.
142 Candie Kiung (Tai) 72 70, Karen Stupples (Eng) 73 69, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 71 71, Lorie Kane (Can) 73 68.
Other scores:
143 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 72 71, Paula Creamer (US) 72 71.
144 Laura Davies (Eng) 72 72.
148 Michelle Wie 74 74.
149 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 76 73.
150 Morgan Pressel (US) 75 75, Becky Morgan (Wal) 77 73.
MISSED CUT (151 or better)
154 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 75 79.
158 Karrie Webb (Aus) 76 82.
159 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 82 77
162 Heather MacRae (Sco) (am) 82 80.
164 Mhairi McKay (Sco) 82 82.

RACHEL v CHARLIE FOR ENGLISH GIRLS' TITLE
Staffordshire's Rachel Jennings and Hertfordshire's Charlie Douglass will meet in Saturday's final of the English Under-18 girls' championship at Kings Norton Golf Club.
Rachel, 17, is a girl international who won the Under-18 title at last week's English women's (closed) stroke-play championship.
Charlie, also 17, has shot to the top in only her third season of serious golf. "It's really surreal," said Charlie, who plays at Brocket Hall and is a member of ELGA's Select south-east squad. "Ever since I started I've looked at the finalists of the English Girls' Championship and thought they're really good players...I'm just in cloud cuckoo land."
Rachel, from Izaak Walton, burst into tears when she closed out the favourite, Henni Brockway (Yeovil), 2 and 1 in their semi-final.
"I was so relieved to get through to a national final and to beat such a good golfer and one who everyone thought was favourite."
Rachel was trailing by two after four holes. She turned the match around by winning the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th to go two up and, crucially, sank an 8ft putt on the 16th to continue a string of halved holes. Another half on the tricky par three 17th saw her safely through to the final.
She was about four under par for the holes played.
Charlie Douglass hit a similar high standard to beat Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) also by the margin of 2 and 1.
The match was up and down over the front nine with Charlie reaching the turn one up. She went three up with birdies on the 14th and 15th but lost the 16th, where Sian had a birdie. The match ended with a half in pars on the 17th.
In the quarter finals Henni Brockway beat Jodi Ewart (Catterick) 4 and 3; Rachel Jennings beat Hannah Moul (Chelmsford) 6 and 4; Charlie Douglass beat Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 1 hole; Sian James beat Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 2 and 1.
The Flight Two final will be between Ami Storey (Ponteland) and Stephanie Gough (Ellesborough).

ENGLISH UNDER-13 AND UNDER-15 GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIPS
Manchester's Kelly Tidy has won the English Under-15 girls championship by nine shots and Nottinghamshire's Alexandra Peters has also scored a runaway victory in the English Under-13s tournament, winning by 13 strokes.
Kelly won her new title at her first attempt - and despite tumbling downstairs at her digs before playing her final round at Kidderminster Golf Club. She added a final round 80 to her three earlier 77s for a total of 311. This is Kelly's third national title. She has been the English U-13 champion for the past two years.
Runner up on 320 was Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt), followed by Sian Evans (Faversham) on 324. Helen Searle (West End) and Holly Clyburn (Kenwick Park) both scored 325.
The round of the day came from Nikki Foster (Accrington & District) who shot four-under par 69 for 333 and soared up the leaderboard from 30th to 12th place. and came home in one-under.
Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies') led throughout the U-13 championship and rounded off her week with a one-under par round. She was the only player in the field to break 80 in each of the four rounds. Her scores of 78, 79, 79, 72 gave her a total of 308. to win the U13 title.
Runner-up was Elizabeth Mallett of Sutton Coldfield Ladies who scored 79, 80, 81, 81 for a total of 321. The 12-handicapper also won the prize for the best net score of 273.

PAUL LAWRIE NE JUNIOR CHALLENGE FINALS AT ST ANDREWS BAY
If Graeme Mitchell (Northern) is not too drained after reaching the last 16 of the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship at Nairn this week, he will start favourite to win the boys’ section of the Paul Lawrie Junior North-east Match-play Challenge over the Torrance course at St Andrews Bay this weekend.
Mitchell, the North of Scotland boys’ champion this year, meets Luke Barbour (Peterhead) in the first semi-final on Saturday afternoon (1pm). David Morrison (Duff House Royal) tees up against Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan) in the other tie.
The final will be played over the same course on Sunday morning (9am).
The girls’ section looks much more open. Any one of the four semi-finalists could win the title. Laura Murray (Alford), who won the Scottish schoolgirls title last year over this course, plays Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) while Gail Stewart-Richens (Newmachar) meets Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), who won the handicap section of the Scottish schoolgirls 12 months ago.
The boys and girls have made it this far after an elimination process which began back in the spring.
Paul Lawrie is providing the transport and paying all the weekend expenses for the eight youngsters to stay Saturday night at St Andrews Bay Hotel.

STUART AND ELAINE TEAM UP FOR SCOTTISH MIXED FOURS
Two former Great Britain & Ireland international team players are to play together for the first time in the Scottish amateur mixed foursomes golf championship at Deeside Golf Club on Sunday, September 10.
Former Walker Cup player, 2004 Open leading amateur and British amateur champion also that year, Stuart Wilson, now the Forfar Golf Club secretary, is to partner Elaine Farquharson-Black, who played in two Curtis Cup matches, two Vagliano Trophy matches and won the Scottish women’s championship.
Elaine has two reasons for hoping the Scottish mixed foursomes is a success this year. She is an honorary member of Deeside Golf Club and she is a partner in the firm, Paull and Williamsons, who are sponsoring the tournament.
“I would like to see a few more entries coming in before the deadline of August 14 so that we have a really competitive tournament on September 10,” said Elaine, who still plays off scratch. Stuart Wilson has a handicap of +2.2.
“There are scratch and handicap prizes so it’s not just a tournament for low handicap players. The handicap limits are 18 for men and 36 for women.
If there are players out there who would like to enter but can’t find a partner, male or female, we, as sponsors, would do our best to pair people up.
“I am sure that Deeside Golf Club members would be ready to help.”
Entry fee is £15 per couple and entry forms can be downloaded from the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association website (www.slga.co.uk). Or call SLGA tournament secretary Fiona Farquharson on 01738 442357.
Paull and Williamsons’ contact number is 01224 621621.
Former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) and Carly Booth (Comrie) have won the Scottish mixed foursomes title for the past two years.
Have you entered the Scottish mixed foursomes? Don't leave it too late and be disappointed.

KEVIN McALPINE THROUGH TO FINAL AT NAIRN
Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) will be playing in Saturday's 36-hole final of the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Nairn.
He beat Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) by 3 and 2 in this afternoon's semi-finals.
In the other tie, Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) was one up on Jonathan King (Glasgow) in the closing stages.

Thursday 3rd August 2006

TARA DAVIES REGAINS WELSH U-18 GIRLS TITLE
Tara Davies (Holyhead) regained the Welsh Under-18 girls championship she won in 2004 when she beat Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) by 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final at Rhuddlan Golf Club today.
Tara had qualified in the No 2 position on 154 with rounds of 74 and 80. The other player on 154 was Laura Jane Roberts with 75 and 79. Laura Jane's better second round earned her the No 1 seed but she was beaten in the first round by Bethan Jones (Llantrisant & Pontyclun) by one hole.
Beaten finalist Katherine O'Connor qualified in ninth place with scores of 83 and 81 for 164.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
(Par 74, SSS 74, CSS 74 both rounds)
154 Laura Jane Roberts (Holyhead) 75 79, Tara Davies (Holyhead) 74 80.
158 Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 78 80.
160 Amy Rees (Southerndown)79 81.
161 Rachael Lewis (Pontypool) 81 80.
Other qualifier:
164 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 83 81 (9th).
LATER MATCH-PLAY
+Leading qualifier Laura Jane Roberts was beaten in the first round by Bethan Jones (Llantrisant & Pontyclun) by 1 hole.
Semi-finals
Katherine O'Connor bt Amy Rees 3 and 1.
Tara Davies bt Hayley Bouldon 2 and 1.
Final
Tara Davies beat Katherine O'Connor 3 and 2.

ELGA Press Release
NEWS FROM ENGLISH UNDER-15, UNDER-13 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Manchester's Kelly Tidy goes into the final round of the English Under-15 girls' championship with a 10-stroke lead at Kidderminster golf Club.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) is four shots clear of the field in the Under-13 championship at the same venue.
Kelly Tidy has scored four-over par 77 in each of the three rounds so far, giving her a 54-hole total of 231.
Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt) climbed nine places up the leaderboard into a share of second place after she returned the lowest score of the championship so far with a 75. Joining her on 241 is Daisy Dyer (West Essex) who has scored 80, 80, 81.
In the Under-13 championship, 12-year-old Alex Peters kept her grip on the lead by breaking 80 for the third day in a row for a 54-hole total of 236. Her score of 79 included an eagle.. Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies') is in second place on 240 (79,80, 81) while Charlotte Thomas (West Sussex) is two shots further back (80, 80, 82).
The shot of the day came from 11-year-old Imani Jagdeo of Bush Hill Park. She achieved her second hole in one inside a month by acing the 139yd fifth hole with a six-iron.

ELGA Press Release
EWART v BROCKWAY IN QUARTER-FINALS OF ENGLISH U-18 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
International Jodi Ewart (Catterick), bound for a US college in a few weeks, will take on top seed Henni Brockway in the quarter-finals of the English Undere-18 girls’ championship at Kings Norton Golf Club.
The three other quarter-finals each feature a girl international: Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) who plays Hannah Moul (Chelmsford), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) who plays Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall), and Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) who plays second qualifier Sian James (Bristol & Clifton).
The second round produced notable scalps for Hannah Moul, who beat girl international Rachel Connor (Manchester), and Charlie Douglass, who toppled another girl cap, Hannah Barwood (Knowle).
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Henrietta Brockway bt Anna Perrott 4 and 3.
Kirsty Rands bt Katie Best 2 and 1.
Hannah Lovelock bt Ellis Keenan 2 and 1.
Jodi Ewart bt Danielle Gibb 1 hole.
Rachel Connor bt Rebecca McGinley 2 and 1.
Hannah Moul bt Niola Pace 5 and 3.
Hannah Ralph bt Emma Cutmore 2 and 1.
Rachel Jennings bt Emilee Tayloor 2 and 1.
Ellie Givens bt Nicola Dunn 2 holes.
Hannah Coles bt Laura-Jane Mabley 4 and 2.
Charlie Douglass bt Gemma Hardie 6 and 5.
Hannah Barwood bt Julia Norman 3 and 2.
Sarah Tyson bt Harriet Beasley 3 and 2.
Florentyna Parker bt Georegina Hunt 3 and 1.
Kate Whitmore bt Alex Banham 1 hole.
Sian James bt Lucy Williams 3 and 2.
SECOND ROUND
Brockway bt Rands 2 and 1.
Ewart bt Lovelock 2 and 1.
Moul bt Connor 2 holes.
Jennings bt Ralph 7 and 5.
Givens bt Coles 5 and 4.
Douglass bt Barwood 5 and 4.
Parker bt Tyson 2 and 1.
James bt Whitmore 2 and 1.

CATRIONA (75) NINE OFF THE PACE IN WEETABIX WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN
American veteran Juli Inkster covered the first nine holes of the Royal Lytham & St Annes links in only 30 strokes on her way to a lead of three at the end of the first round of the Weetabix Women's British Open today.
Juli, like most of the players in the field, found the inward half tougher than the first nine. But a respectable 36 home put her clear on the leaderboard at six under par 66.
Her nearest challengers are Italy's Silvia Cavalleri and Sweden's Maria Hjorth, a former student at Stirling University, on the 69 mark.
Pre-tournament favourite Annika Sorenstam was heading for one of the leading positions until she had a double-bogey 6 at the 17th and a bogey at the 18th. She came home in 39 for a par 72, the same mark at Laura Davies and Paula Creamer.
Michelle Wie started with three bogeys and had to birdie the last to escape with a two-over-par 74.
Catriona Matthew, a late starter, finished the day in joint 53rd place with a three-over-par 75.
That was one shot better than last week's Evian Masters winner Karrie Webb (Australia).
Amateur Heather MacRae and long-time pro Mhairi McKay had something in common today. They both had horrific inward halves on their way to 10-over-par 82s. Heather came home in 44, Mhairi in 46.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
66 Juli Inkster (US) 30-36.
69 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 34-35, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 32-37.
70 Allison Hanna (US) 33-37, Nina Reis (Swe) 36-34, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 34-36.
Selected other scores:
72 Laura Davies (Eng) 36-36, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 33-39, Paula Creamer (US) 35-37.
73 Karen Stupples (Eng) 36-37.
74 Michelle Wie (US) 37-37.
75 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 35-40.
76 Karrie Webb (Aus) 39-37, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 38-38.
77 Becky Morgan (Wal) 38-39.
82 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 37-45, Heather MacRae (Sco) 38-44, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 36-46.

WHITNEY HILLIER AND JESSICA SCOTT WIN THE TROPHIES AT ST ANDREWS
Whitney Hillier, from Joondalup Golf Club, Australia, won the St Andrews Junior Ladies Open for the Golf Monthly Trophy this afternoon.
She beat Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) at the 21st in a gripping final over the Old Course.
Whitney also went to the 21st in winniner her morning semi-final against the No 1 qualifier Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire).
Jessica Scott (Wanstead), the No 1 qualifier, won the Girls' Open Quaich with a one-hole victory over Lauren Mackin, who lives with her parents on the island of Majorca. Jessica plays off 16 and Lauren seven.
Results of both finals, played over the Old Course:
GOLF MONTHLY TROPHY (scratch) - Whitney Hillier (Australia) bt Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) at 21st.
GIRLS' OPEN QUAICH (handicap) - Jessica Scott (Wanstead) (16) bt Lauren Mackin (Majorca) (7) 1 hole.

SCOTS VETS WIN TROPHY AT FORMBY
Scotland won the Veteran Ladies Golf Association’s area team championship for the Miller Stirling Trophy at Formby Golf Club today.
The team, captained by Pat Hutton (Lanark), clinched the title with a sweeping 7-2 win over North of England, last year’s winners. The victory completed a three wins out of three record over the three days for Scotland.
The Scots had one hand on the trophy when they made a 3-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes and took the singles 4-2 with wins by Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton) plus halved matches involving Moira Thomson (North Berwick) and Fiona De Vries (St Rule).
“It was a wonderful team to captain with such strength in depth,” said Mrs Hutton.
Details:
NORTH OF ENGLAND 2, SCOTLAND 7
Foursomes: A Wood & E Elliott lost to M Thomson & L Campbell 1 hole; J Rogers & C Williamson lost to P Williamson & M Tough 3 and 2; H Smyth & L Hague lost to F De Vries & K Sutherland 5 and 3 (0-3).
Singles: Williamson halved with Thomson, Hague lost to Bennett 1 hole, C Kirk lost to Sutherland 3 and 1, Wood lost Williamson 5 and 4, Elliott halved with De Vries, Smith bt N Fenton 2 holes (2-4).

ST ANDREWS FOUR-DAY OPENS
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
ST ANDREWS JUNIOR LADIES OPEN (Scratch)
Golf Monthly Trophy
Semi-finals (played over Old Course)
Whitney Hillier (Joondalup) bt Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) at 21st.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt Jane Turner (Motronhall) 7 and 6.
GIRLS' OPEN QUAICH (Handicap)
Semi-finals (played over Old Course)
Jessica Scott (Wanstead) (16) bt Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) (16) 2 and 1.
Lauren Mackin (Majorca) (7) bt Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) at 19th.

SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES
There has been a disappointing entry (so far) for the Scottish mixed foursomes championship, to be played at Deeside Golf Club, Aberdeen on Sunday, September 10.
August 14 is the closing date so there is still time for you to find a partner and enter.
Carly Booth (Comrie) and former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) have won the title for the past three years.
Entry forms are available at most golf clubs but if you cannot lay your hands on one, ring the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association's Perth headquarters (01738 442357) or the tournament sponsors, Paull and Williamsons (01224 621621, ask for Dawn Shand or Elaine Farquharson-Black).

KIRAN'S FATHER SAYS SHE'S TURNING PRO BECAUSE OF ADA O'SULLIVAN DECISION
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
According to the “Daily Telegraph” on Wednesday, Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall, Leeds) is turning professional after next week’s United States women’s amateur championship, because she is upset and angry at not being played by skipper Ada O’Sullivan on the second and final day of the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon last weekend.
Kiran, the 17-year-old English women’s amateur champion, lost her foursomes tie on the opening morning and won her singles in the afternoon – but was not played in either the foursomes or singles on Day 2.
Her father, Amarjit Matharu, was quoted by the “Daily Telegraph” as follows:
“Kiran was in tears, believing that Sunday’s pairings were compiled entirely around the Irish contingent (Ada O’Sullivan is Irish and there were four Irish players in the squad of eight) and that was definite wrong as everyone at the course thought Kiran was the best player.”
At the post-match Press Conference at Bandon Dues, Skipper O’Sullivan was specifically asked by Craig Smith, the USGA Press Officer, why she had not played Kiran Matharu on the second day.
Ada’s answer was:
“….Kiran obviously had to try and get foursomes going. And Tricia and Kiran didn't jell yesterday. Kiran is obviously very talented as a golfer and very much an individual. And in foursomes this morning I believed that we actually needed people to actually rally one another. So hence you're talking about Claire Coughlan was left out and we brought in Breanne to play with Mel. And you're talking about Tara who played so well yesterday, with Tricia. And that was the reason.
"It was a very close call this afternoon whether she (Kiran Matharu) would go out or not. I'm not saying in favor of our players, there was three we just felt, because the players were so upbeat this morning that we felt, yeah, keep them out there. They were used to the conditions, plus the greens had got a lot quicker out there as well.
"So that's the decision. We took nothing to reflect on her (Kiran Matharu), she's a great player. Just with the feeling of the day and the way the play had gone this morning.”
Most golf writers who follow the women’s amateur scene knew some time ago that Kiran Matharu’s father had decided she would turn pro after the Curtis Cup.
So for Mr Matharu to tell the "Daily Telegraph" that his daughter would be turning pro because of her non-selection for action on the second day of the Curtis Cup does not fit with his earlier statements.

THE OXFORDSHIRE TO HOST LADIES’ EUROPEAN MASTERS
(Royal Lytham & St Annes, UK – August 3rd 2006) – The Oxfordshire Golf Club will host a new tournament added to next year’s Ladies’ European Tour schedule, it has been announced.
The inaugural Ladies’ European Masters will take place at the impressive Thames Valley venue next June – with plans to stage the event annually at The Oxfordshire for the next four years.
It follows hard on the heels of The Oxfordshire’s formal bid to host the 2011 Solheim Cup – the ladies’ equivalent of the Ryder Cup – and underlines the fast-growing commitment of the Leaderboard Group – the owners of The Oxfordshire – to ladies’ golf.
Leaderboard has staged the successful Ladies’ English Open at Chart Hills Golf Club in Kent for the past three years – and is committed to staging the event and attracting the cream of Europe’s golfers until at least 2010.
According to Leaderboard Group officials, the Ladies’ European Masters will carry minimum prize money of £300,000 – befitting a prestigious golf tournament – with the hope of making it one of the biggest and best events on the Ladies’ European Tour calendar.
And in a unique move on the Ladies’ European Tour – a professionally-tailored ‘Masters’ jacket will be presented annually to the winner.
David Walls, the sales and marketing director for the Leaderboard Group, was delighted with the forward-thinking golf group’s latest big foray into the ladies’ games.
He said: “We have proved over the years that we know how to stage major golf tournaments and that we have a growing commitment to ladies’ golf.
“Ladies’ golf is a fast-growing concern, we believe in it, and we’re delighted to have supported it and the Ladies’ European Tour when they needed it the most – and now the tide has turned in a big way and we’re proud to be a part of the game’s rise.”
Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies’ European Tour, was thrilled to announce the latest addition to the LET’s 2007 schedule.
She said: “This new tournament, which will be staged at a fantastic venue, provides a tremendous prospect and yet further evidence of the abundant appetite for women’s professional golf. We are delighted to be partnering with the Leaderboard Group again after three successful years of working together and everyone at the Tour is looking forward to building on our strong relationship over the coming months.”
The profile of the ladies’ game has risen to such an extent that the likes of Michelle Wie, Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer and Laura Davies are household names – a fact not lost on the Leaderboard Group which has formally submitted a bid to host The Solheim Cup at The Oxfordshire in 2011.
Walls added: “Hosting the Ladies’ European Masters for the next four years would be the perfect preparation if we were to win the bid to stage The Solheim Cup.
“Every year we have learned more and more about staging top-class golf events like the Ladies’ English Open, and each year we have reaped the rewards of not resting on our laurels and making sure we improve and maximise the potential of the tournament.
“We would draw on our experience of successfully staging the Ladies’ English Open for the last three years to ensure the European Masters is the best it can possibly be – with a strong entry, excellent prize money and big crowds, all things that befit a top championship venue like The Oxfordshire.”
The Leaderboard Group is now actively seeking backers to help the European Masters become one of the biggest tournaments on the ever-expanding Ladies’ European Tour schedule.
A full range of sponsorship opportunities and corporate packages are available – including title sponsor, pro-am sponsor and driving range sponsor, as well as sought-after opportunities in the tented village.
Walls added: “The Ladies’ European Masters is an exciting new tournament which will add another dimension to the Tour. The prize money for the event will show seriously we take the European Masters, and are confident it will become one of the biggest and best events on the schedule for day one.
“And we want businesses in the Thames Valley area, and beyond, to get involved and ensure that this event becomes one of the best around. It’s got huge potential and, with the right investment and support from businesses, the local community and golf fans everywhere, it can be a huge success. We aim to make sure it is.”
For more details on sponsorship opportunities and packages available for the Ladies’ European Masters at The Oxfordshire Golf Club, please contact David Walls on 01580 292222, or e-mail davidw@charthills.co.uk.

Wednesday 2nd August 2006

HENNI IS LEADING QUALIFIER IN ENGLISH U-18 CHAMPIONSHIP
Yeovil's Henni Brockway shot four-under par 69 in the English Under-18 girls' championship at Kings Norton Golf Club today to lead the qualifiers into the match-play stages.
Meanwhile, Manchester's Kelly Tidy - who has won the English Under-13 title for the past two years - is six shots clear at the halfway stage of the Under-15 championship at Kidderminster Golf Club.
In the English Under-13 girls' championship, also being played at Kidderminster, Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) was the only player to break 80 in both rounds, scoring 78, 79, and she leads by two shots.
Henni Brockway, 16, had four consecutive birdies in her round and her 36-hole total of four-under 142 (73, 69) put her five shots clear of the field. Top seed Henni is a past winner of both the English Under-13 and Under-15 girls chanmpionships. She reached the Under-18 quarter-finals last year.
Sian James (Bristol and Clifton) took second place among the qualifiers on 147 (72, 75). Ellie Givens of Blackwell Grange (75, 73) and Rachel Jennings of Izaak Walton (73, 75) are a shot further back. Two players scored holes in one: England international Jodi Ewart (Catterick) made short work of the 145-yard 14th while Jessica Burrows (Ellesborough) aced the 153-yard 17th.

ST ANDREWS OPEN FOUR-DAY TOURNAMENTS
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
JUNIOR LADIES OPEN
Golf Monthly Trophy
Old Course
QUARTER-FINALS
Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) bt Gemma Easton (Bargoed) 3 and 2.
Whitney Hillier (Joondalup) bt Faye Sanderson (Heworth) 1 hole.
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) bt Lucy Gould (Bargoed) at 21st.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt Rachel Myles (St Regulus) 6 and 5.
GIRLS OPEN QUAICH
Old Course.
QUARTER-FINALS
Jessica Scott (Wanstead) (16) bt Catherine Conejo (Williamwood) (12) at 19th.
Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) (16) bt Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) (8) 2 and 1.
Laura Mackin (Majorca) (7) bt Emma Bissett (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) (16) 1 hole.
Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) bt Michaela Chviers (Farrinigton) (28) 2 holes.

SCOTS VETS HAVE TITLE CHANCE AFTER SECOND WIN AT FORMBY
Scotland are favourites to win the Veteran Ladies Golfing Association’s area team golf championship for the Miller Stirling Trophy at Formby Golf Club, Lancashire.
The Scots, skipper by Pat Hutton (Lanark), are the only team left with a 100 % record going into the last day’s play. They followed up their 6 ½-2 ½ win over South by beating English Midlands 5-4 in very windy conditions on Wednesday.
Defending champions North of England, surprisingly beaten 5-4 by South of England on the second day, are Scotland’s final opponents.
The Scots lost the foursomes 2-1 to Midlands and then lost the first two singles which left them trailing 4-1 with four ties to finish.
“The tail wagged splendidly,” said Pat Hutton, “because we won the last four ties through Lorna Bennett, Kathleen Sutherland, Margaret Tough and Noreen Fenton.”
Details:
SCOTLAND 5, ENGLISH MIDLANDS 4
Foursomes: M Thomson & L Campbell lost to P West & P Parker 5 and 4; P Williamson & M Tough bt S Westall & J Snelson 3 and 2; L Bennett & N Fenton lost to D Parker & A Stockdale 4 and 2 (1-2).
Singles: Williamson lost to West 2 and 1, F De Vries lost to P Parker 2 and 1, Bennett bt D Backhouse 3 and 1, K Sutherland bt A Bruce 2 and 1, Tough bt Stockdale 7 and 5, Fenton bt D Parker (5-4) 4-2).
Other result:
SOUTH OF ENGLAND 5, NORTH OF ENGLAND 4.
HOW THEY STAND
Scotland 2 wins
North 1 win
South 1 win
Midlands 0 win

AMATEUR LADY GOLFER LOOKS FOR 25 REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Online ladies' golf community AmateurLadyGolfer.co.uk (ALG) ( http://www.amateurladygolfer.co.uk ) is looking to appoint up to 25 regional representatives throughout the UK and Ireland to help fulfil its vision of improving the golfing and social experience for lady golfers whatever their ability or skill level.
"I have had such positive feedback from members participating in our competitions that the natural next step for us is to attract like-minded ladies to become part of the ALG team and help expand our community", says Casie McDonald Wood, ALG's founder.
ALG is offering its community members first refusal on the potentially lucrative independent regional representative positions. It will then seek to fill the remaining positions from those in the wider world of ladies' golf, who are as yet unaware of ALG's arrival and success.
Women remain a minority in the golf world with, on average, only 103 lady members per club in the 2,500 golf clubs in the UK and Ireland*.
“Golfing associations are typically preoccupied with the interests of young and low handicap players. So, it's hardly surprising that the vast majority of older, high handicap lady golfers frequently feel that they lack the opportunities to get the most out of their sport," explains Casie McDonald Wood.
"This is the gap ALG intends to fill. Many women take up golf and then give up after a couple of years for reasons including lack of encouragement, the wrong equipment, insufficient coaching and feeling like second-class club members.
"We are providing them with a solid reason to continue with the sport", says Casie.
AmateurLadyGolfer regional representatives will be joining what is already a thriving enterprise. ALG was launched in November 2005.
The community has since attracted almost 1,000 members. Over 600 ALG members from more than 200 golf clubs in every 'corner' of the British Isles have participated in the 2006 singles and pairs summer knockouts, birdie tree and par ladder competitions.
ALG has a host of other initiatives under development; these are focused on the interests and needs of ladies' sections of golf clubs, and the lady golfers they represent.
ALG has also launched the first "fantasy manager” game based on women's sport – the Ladies' European Tour – as part of its commitment to foster greater interest in every aspect of ladies’ golf.
For further information, contact:
Casie McDonald Wood, Lady Amateur Golfer
Tel: 01962 793803
Email: casie@amateurladygolfer.co.uk
Website: http://www.amateurladygolfer.co.uk

ILGU Press Release
LADIES INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES
HEADFORT GOLF CLUB
2ND – 4TH AUGUST 2006
Points table (after day 1)
Ulster 1
Leinster 1
Connacht 0
Munster 0
Day 1 – 2nd August 2006
Ulster 6½ ; Munster 2½ (Ulster names first)
Foursomes
Alison Coffey & Danielle McVeigh beat Marian Riordan & Gillian O’Leary 3&2
Helen Jones and Naoimh Quigg lost to Catherine Tucker & Holli Snelling 2up
Nikki Moore & Bronagh Lunney beat Pamela Murphy & Maura McNicholas 3&1
Singles
Alison Coffey beat Marian Riordan 5&4
Danielle McVeigh beat Gillian O’Leary 5&4
Naoimh Quigg beat Maura McNicholas 3&2
Helen Jones halved with Holli Snelling
Jenna Kinnear lost to Pamela Murphy 5&4
Maura Diamond beat Catherine Tucker 2&1
Leinster 5½ ; Connacht 3½ (Leinster names first)
Foursomes
Maria Dunne & Karen Delaney beat Niamh Kitching & Deirdre Walsh 4&3
Deirdre Smith & Mary Dowling beat Suzanne Corcoran & Ann McCormack 6&4
Maura Morrin & Sinead Keane beat Sinead O’Sullivan & Darragh McGowan 2&1
Singles
Niamh Kitching beat Maria Dunne 1up
Fiona Carroll lost to Maura Morrin 4&3
Emma Gilmore lost to Deirdre Smith 4&2
Sinead O’Sullivan beat Sinead Keane by 1 hole
Deirdre Walsh halved with Karen Delaney
Darragh McGowan beat Jennifer Gannon 2&1

Tuesday 1st August 2006

WELSH LADIES' AND MEN'S UNIONS TO MERGE FROM JANUARY 1, 2007
FROM THE WELSH LGU WEBSITE:
"The Officers and Executive Committee of the (Welsh Ladies Golf) Union are pleased to announce that, following a positive response to the resolutions put to the Special General Meetings of the Welsh Ladies' Golf Union and the Welsh Golfing Union at Llandrindod Wells today (July28, 2006), the two Unions will merge to form the Golf Union of Wales with effect from January 1, 2007."

KATE WHITMORE LEADS ENGLISH GIRLS' ROUND ONE QUALIFIER
Cheshire's Kate Whitmore shot a three-under-par 70 to take the lead after the first qualifying round of the English Under-18 girls' championship at Kings Norton Golf Club.
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire's Holly Clyburn has a one-shot lead in the English Under-15 girls' championship and Suffolk's Heidi Baek and Nottinghamshire's Alexandra Peters head the leaderboard in the English Under-13 girls' championship, both of which are being played at Kidderminster Golf Club.
In the English Under-18 girls' championship, Kate Whitmore, 16, holds a two-shot lead. The three-handicapper from Sandiway said afterwards: "My aim was to play to my handicap - and I've done a bit better than that!" She fashioned her score in testing weather conditions of showers and a swirling wind.
Kate dropped only one shot - on the first hole - and amassed four birdies - on the 4th, 5th, 9th and 14th - and a series of steady pars.
Putting was one of Kate's strengths. She holed two putts of more than 30ft and managed to sink "a nervy five-footer" for par on the 18th. "
The greens are lovely and the course is in excellent condition," she added.
Three players share second place on one-under par 72. Among them is Harriet Beasley (Woburn) who showed off her golfing genes by playing an impressive 10 shots below her nine-handicap.
The 17-year-old is the granddaughter of two outstanding players, the former R&A secretary and captain, Sir Michael Bonallack and his wife, Angela.
Her score was matched by ELGA squad members Sian James, 17, from Bristol & Clifton and Gemma Hardie, also 17, from Forest Pines, Lincolnshire.
UNDER-18 QUALIFYING LEADERS
FIRST ROUND
70 Kate Whitemore (Sandiway)
72 Gemma Hardie (Forest Pines), Harriet Beasley (Woburn), Sian James (Bristol & Clifton).
73 Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil).
74 Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale).
75 Helen White Worfield), Rachel Connor (Maldon), Alexandra Banham (Elton Furze), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange).
76 Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield), Emma Breen (Marlborough), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), Jodi Ewart (Catterick), Laura Cutler (Warley Park).

MELISSA WINS ABRAHAM TROPHY
Dorset's Melissa McMahon played to eight under her handicap to win the Abraham Trophy by the narrowest of margins at Kidderminster Golf Club.
The Yeovil teenager beat Grace McCutchan of Worthing on countback after both girls returned scores of net 65. T
The competition is contested by England's most improved girl golfers with all the finalists qualifying on the basis of handicap reduction.
Melissa, who played off 14 in the final, took up golf about three years ago and has been encouraged by playing alongside her brother, a three-handicap county player, and club colleague Henni Brockway, a past winner of the English U-13 and U-15 championships.
She has gone on to play in the English U-15 championship at Kidderminster this week.

COLETTE BUILDS A HOUSE TO HELP THE HOMELESS IN NEW ORLEANS
Colette Murray, Scots-born head women’s golf coach at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, has been building a house this summer in the United States … for charity.
Colette is a member of the National Golf Coaches Association, who put together a Team Build project to help meet the overwhelming demand for new houses in the Gulf Coast region of New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina last year.
Miss Murray was one of 30 college golf coaches who volunteered to give up part of their summer vacation to build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
“I was down at New Orleans for over a week with the National Golf Coaches Association. We had raised the money - $65,000 – within our universities, it cost to make the house from start to finish,” said Colette.
“It was a rewarding experience and it was extremely hard work. But it was so much fun that I hope to do something like that every year.
“After one hard day’s work on the ‘Upper Ninth’ site, we took a trip down to the ‘Lower Ninth.’ Most of the destruction was here. It was the most devastating thing I have ever seen. It was simply soul-destroying to see what had happened to these people’s homes and their lives. It just broke my heart.”
Colette also donated $1,000 to Team Build on behalf of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga women’s golf programme which will restart team participation on the American women’s college circuit in the autumn of 2007.
Miss Murray, a successful player who stayed on in Alabama to become an even more successful assistant women’s golf coach with Jacksonville State University, was appointed by UTC in January to build a women’s golf team from scratch.
She needs to have a certain amount of players signed up by November even though it will be another nine months before they go to the States.
If you are a girl with a low handicap and a good golfing CV, you can make contact with Colette direct if you are interested. Her E-mail address is: Colette-Murray@utc.edu

SCOTS VETS MAKE WINNING START IN TESTING WEATHER AT FORMBY
Scotland made a winning start to the Veteran Ladies Golf Association area team championship at Formby Golf Club, Lancashire today.
They beat South of England 6 ½ to 3 ½ after making a 3-0 clean sweep of the foursomes.
“The girls are tired but happy. We had very heavy showers in the morning and a very strong wind in the afternoon so the conditions were physically testing,” said Scotland captain Pat Hutton.
Scotland’s winners in the singles were Pamela Williamson (Baberton), Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) and Margaret Tough (Falkirk). Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) had a square match.
In the other tie of the opening day, North of England, holders of the Miller Stirling Trophy, beat English Midlands 5½-3½.
Day 1 results:
SCOTLAND 6 ½, SOUTH OF ENGLAND 2 ½
Foursomes: M Thomson & L Campbell bt J O’JKeefe & R Waters 4 and 3; F De Vries & K Sutherland bt S Ellis & I Brien 6 and 5; L Bennett & N Fenton bt V Morgan & M Maisey 4 and 2 (3-0).
Singles: Thomson ost to O’Keefe 5 and 4, P Williamson bt Brien 2 holes, De Vries lost to Ellis 4 and 3, Sutherland halved with Waters, Fenton bt M Copp 6 and 5, M Tough bt Morgan 7 and 5 (3 ½-2 ½).
ENGLISH MIDLANDS 3 ½, NORTH OF ENGLAND 5 ½

IRISH TWINS (11) FINISH FIRST AND THIRD IN WORLD KIDS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Thanks to the Irish Ladies Golf Union website for bringing us the news that the Maguire twin sisters, junior members at Castle Hume Golf Club, Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh, finished first and joint third in last week's World Kids Championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Competing over a 1,900yd course in the 11-year-old girls' section, Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume) shot splendid rounds of 68, 68 and 64 for a 13-under-par total of 200.
She won by five shots. Leona Maguire scored 71, 70 and 72 for 213 and a share of third place in a field of 59 players.
Remember the names, we will surely be hearing a lot more about them in the years to come

RESULTS FROM ST ANDREWS
ST ANDREWS JUNIOR LADIES OPEN
GOLF MONTHLY TROPHY
Eden Course, Tuesday, August 1
(figures in brackets are qualifying positions)
(1) Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) bt (16) Annabel Niven (Crieff) 8 and 6.
(8) Gemma Easton (Bargoed) bt (9) Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 1 hole.
(4) Faye Sanderson (Heworth) bt (13) Sarah Herd (Dunblane New) 7 and 5.
(5) Whitney Hillier (Joondalup) bt (12) Donna Connell (Burnham & Berrow) 4 and 2.
(2) Lucy Gould (Bargoed) bt (15) Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 4 and 2
(7) Jane Turner (Mortonhall) bt (10) Samantha Birks (Wolstanton) 2 and 1.
(3) Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt (14) Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) 4 and 3.
(11) Rachel Myles (St Regulus) bt (6) Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan) 1 hole.