Saturday 29th January 2005

Orange Blossom Amateur Tour
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO FLORIDA … BUT WORTH IT FOR MARIAN!
Marian Riordan, pictured right, 23-year-old Ireland international player from Tipperary, met Mary Ann Plunkett from Locanto, Florida for the first time only three weeks ago.
On Friday, they cemented their new-found friendship by winning the 59th Women’s International Four-Ball Championship at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood in Florida.
Marian gained a degree from University College, Dublin before Christmas and then turned her thoughts to golf. What better way to warm up for the 2005 season, when she hopes to regain the Ireland team place she last held in 2002, by competing on the Florida Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs in January?
Miss Riordan finished 10th in the opening event, the Harder Hall Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring and it was there that she met fellow competitor Mary Ann Plunkett. They hit it off right away and decided to team up for the four-ball championship, the last event on the Orange Blossom Tour.
And it was success all the way this week. Marian and Mary Ann have really been Hollywood stars! They were the leading qualifiers by a four-stroke margin … they did not have to play the 17th and 18th holes at all and the 16th only once in winning the three ties that took them to the prestigious title won last year by two of the most famous names in North American women’s amateur golf over the past few decades, Carol Semple Thomson and Marlene Streit from Canada.
In Friday’s final Marian Riordan and Mary Ann Plunkett won by 4 and 3 over local player, Ronnie Hall from Hollywood, Florida and Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina).

LET rookie roster fuels U.K. wake-up call
By ALISTAIR TAIT
Reproduced by kind permission of Golfweek.com
The list of rookies on this year’s Ladies European Tour should set alarm bells ringing for everyone involved in junior golf in the British Isles, especially those involved in girls’ golf.
The list reiterates one message that has been coming through loud and clear for a number of years now: British and Irish girls are being left behind their international counterparts.
There are 21 women making their LET debuts this year. In the not too distant past there would have been an almost disproportionate number of British women making up the majority of that number. Not this year and, sad to say, not for a number of years now.
Of those rookies, only four hail from the British Isles - and one of those was born in Australia. There is one Scottish player on the list, Lynn Kenny; two Welsh girls, Curtis Cup player Anna Highgate and Welsh Ladies Amateur champion Kate Phillips; then there is Australian-born Irish woman Rebecca Coakley.
The list is completed with four Swedes, two players each from Spain, Germany and Denmark, and one player each from Australia, Austria, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States.
Missing from the list is an English woman.
I’m not against foreigners taking LET spots, or places on any tour for that matter. Quite the opposite.
Nothing would please me more than to see women from lesser golfing nations such as Slovenia, Latvia and other eastern European countries where the game has so far failed to make any headway, taking their place on the LET.
I want to see the game spread as far and wide as possible. That has to be good for game.
However, living in the British Isles, I’m perturbed by what is happening to the Royal & Ancient game here.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that young girls are not being attracted to the game. A trip to the Women’s British Open will confirm that. The galleries there mostly consist of middle-aged women. Young girls are conspicuous by their absence.
A report published by the English Golf Union last year verified what many inside the game have known for too long. Of the 60,000 junior members in England, only 9 percent are girls, down 4 percent since the last time the EGU commissioned such a study.
Not only are young girls not taking up the game, there are fewer roles models in the British Isles to entice them into the game.
The EGU report found that the biggest decrease in membership was in the adult female category, and that nearly every club professional in England is male.
There are no firm figures for Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but anecdotal evidence suggests a similar trend.
As far as tour professional models helping lure girls into golf, the British game was given a huge boost by the emergence of Karen Stupples last year. She is a breath of fresh air in an environment that has become fairly staid in recent years, but there isn’t a huge queue of players waiting to challenge her.
Think of the great British women golfers and the mind immediately springs to Laura Davies. Davies has been a great ambassador for British golf in general, and English golf in particular. It’s just as well she has a sturdy frame, though, because, with a few exceptions, she has had to shoulder the load for too many years.
Scotland has been well served by the likes of Janice Moodie, Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay. However, they are not exactly fresh out of their rookie seasons, and there doesn’t seem to be much following in their wake from the Home of Golf.
As for Wales and Ireland, Becky Morgan is the lone Welsh star. Anyone who can tell me the last Irish women professional to play in the Women’s British Open goes to the top of the class.
No doubt the LET rookie list will not even make it onto the desk of most golf administrators in this country. It should though. It is a wake-up call, as if any was needed, that drastic action is needed to entice young girls to the game.
Right now that role is left to disparate groups throughout the country. Some do an excellent job, but a concerted effort is needed to arrest this worrying trend.
Too many generations of girls have been lost to the game. We don’t need to lose any more.
[If you want to comment on this article please feel free to use the Junior forum on the kirkwoodgolf Bulletin Board. GGK]

Friday 28th January 2005

IRISH PLAYER IN FINAL OF FLORIDA TOURNAMENT
Marian Riordan from Tipperary and her Florida-based partner, Mary Ann Plunkett, are through to the final of the  59th Women's International Four-ball Tournament at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood in Florida.
Top seeds after leading the stroke-play qualifying competition, Marian and Mary Anne won their Thursday semi-final against Taffry Brower (Boyton Beach) and Diane Lang (Weston) by 3 and 2.
Ireland international player Marian, 24, finished her Masters degree at University Colllege, Dublin before Christmas and decided to play the Florida Orange Blossom Tour for female amateurs to get ready for the new season back home.
Miss Riordan finished 10th in the Harder Hall Invitational earlier in the month. It was at that tournament that Marian and Mary Ann Plunkett met for the first time. They hit it off right away and decided to team up for the Women's International Four-ball tournament, which rings the curtain down on the 2005 Orange Blossom Tour.
In the other semi-final, local player Ronnie Hall (Hollywood) and Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina) had to go to the 21st hole before getting the better of Michelle Hartnell (Miami) and Paula Fitzpatrick (Homestead).
Michelle and Paula had toppled the defending champions, Marlene Streit (Canada) and Carole Semple Thompson (United States), by 3 and 2 in the first round of the match-play stages.
The Women's International Four-ball tournament is the longest-running women's amateur event to be held at the same location in the United States.
The format is better-ball pairs match-play after the qualifying round. The entry fee was $150 per pairing.
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
SEMI-FINALS
Mary Ann Plunkett (Florida) & Marian Riordan (Ireland) bt Taffy Brower (Boyton Beach) & Diane Lang (Weston) 3 and 2.
Ronnie Hall (Hollywood) & Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina) bt Michelle Hartnell (Miami) & Paula Fitzpatrick (Homestead) at 21st.
FRIDAY'S 18-HOLE FINAL
Plunkett & Riordan v Hall & Pucciarelli.

Thursday 27th January 2005

JEAN CAMERON MADE A VICE-PRESIDENT BY LADIES GOLF UNION
Jean Cameron, pictured right, a former president of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, has been made a vice-president of the Ladies Golf Union.
Jean, who was born in a house situated on the first fairway of Lanark Golf Club, is a member of Strathaven Golf Club.
Her golfing career has taken from being a county-team player, playing off three, to the chairmanship of the LGU (1987) as well as the presidency of the SLGA (1988-91).
Over the past 20 years Jean has been involved in rules, regulations and handicapping at the LGU and SLGA committee level and is still on the rules and regulations committee of the SLGA.
Jean has refereed at numerous events under the auspices of the SLGA, LGU and R&A. She was one of the successful candidates at the first R&A Referees’ School.
She is currently president of Lanarkshire LCGA.

Orange Blossom Amateur tour
Marion Riordan through to Semi-finals
Irish Internationalist Marion Riordan, pictured left, and her American partner Mary Ann Plunkett are going strong in the No 1 seed position of this year’s Women’s International Four-ball tournament at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood in Florida. They beat their first round opponents Bonnie Grizzard and Monica Von Glahn by 4 and 3 yesterday and now have a semifinal tie against Taffy Brower and Diane Lang from Florida.
Marion, 24 years old from Tipperary, played for Ireland in the 2002 Home Internationals at the Berkshire. She has recently completed a Masters degree at University College, Dublin, and has gone out to Florida, to hone her game in anticipation of the forthcoming amateur season here in GB&I.
She finished 10th in the recent Harder Hall tournament, where she met Mary Ann and they decided to enter the Four Ball tournament.
Defending champions Marlene Streit (Canada) and Carole Semple Thompson (United States), the No 2 qualifiers, were beaten in the first round. They lost by 3 and 2 to Paula Fitzpatrick and Michelle Hartnell, both playing in their home state.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Mary Ann Plunkett (Florida) & Marion Riordan (Ireland) bt Bonnie Grizzard & Monica Von Glahn 4 and 3.
Taffy Brower & Diane Lang (Florida) bt Courtney Montgomery & Natasha Morgan 2 and 1.
Paula Fitzpatrick & Michelle Hartnell (Florida) bt Marlene Streit (Canada) & Carol Semple Thompson (US) 3 and 2.
Ronnie Hall (Florida) & Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina) bt Mary Hanyak & Marianne Springer at 20th.
THURSDAY’S SEMI-FINALS
Plunkett & Riordan v Brower & Lang.
Fitzpatrick & Hartnell v Hall & Pucciarelli.

ELGA Press Release
England names squad for Scottish U16 Championship
England have named a 12-strong training squad of players - aged between 12 and 15 - for the 2005 SLGA St Leonard's Under 16 Championship.
The 36-hole open strokeplay event offers the girls an excellent chance to gain championship experience and springboard them into the season. It will be played over the Strathtyrum course in St Andrews on April 7 and 8.
The youngest member of the training squad is the England Under 13 Champion, Kelly Tidy (Manchester), who celebrates her 13th birthday on February 8.
She joins a group of up-and-coming players with a range of experience. Three are members of ELGA's Elite potential girls' squad while the others, like Kelly, are members of the select squads.
The three Elite players are: Hannah Barwood, 14, (Knowle, Gloucestershire), Rachel Connor, 14 (Manchester) and Emilee Taylor, 15, (Gainsborough, Lincolnshire). They all played in this event last year where Emilee helped the England B team to second place. Hannah and Rachel were also members of the team which beat the England boys' under 16 side on October 2004.
They are joined by Gemma Hardie, 15, (Forest Pines, Lincolnshire), Elizabeth Over, 14, (Forest Pines, Lincolnshire) and Georgina Wilkie, 15, (Trentham Park, Staffordshire), all from Select Midlands; Nicola Dunn, 14, (Harrogate, Yorkshire), Eleanor Givens, 15, (Blackwell Grange, Durham), Laura Jones, 15, (Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire) and Kelly Tidy, 12, (Manchester), all from Select North; Charlie Douglass, 15, (Brocket Hall, Herts) and Katie Thompson, 13, (Corhampton, Hants), both from Select South East.

Wednesday 26th January 2005

Northern Counties LGA players with officials (left to right, front row), vice-captain Mary Law (Duff House Royal), secretary Pam Moscati (Royal Dornoch), president Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) and captain Mairi Orr (Tain), at a recent get-together at Tain Golf Club.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NEW CAPTAIN UPBEAT ABOUT SCOTTISH TITLE HAT-TRICK
By ROBIN WILSON
After Tain sisters Anne Ryan (captain) and Maggie Vass (secretary) led the Northern Counties women’s golf teams to back-to-back wins in the Scottish county hampionship, “a hard act to follow” is how you might describe the coming season for the new North officials, Tain’s Mairi Orr (captain), Duff House Royal’s Mary Law (vice captain) and Royal Dornoch’s Pam Moscati (secretary).
But captain Orr is upbeat about the task ahead.
Speaking recently at Tain, where she had a familiarisation day for players and officials she accepted that without two key players, Liz McKinnon (Nairn) and Lesley Mackay (Royal Dornoch), who have now joined the paid ranks, it will be a difficult year but just look, she went on to say, at the young talent we still have in the North.
“Look at Kelsey Macdonald,(Nairn Dunbar). At just 14 years of age, she broke into the county team last year and the way she is playing she will be around for a lot more years.”
With a strong mix of youth and experience, Mairi Orr has an added incentive to lead her team back to the county finals - they are to be played this season at Ranfurly Castle, a club where she has retained her membership after moving to the North several years ago.
Mairi Orr and Mary Law’s first initiative to keep their players focused and at the same time keep an eye on fringe players throughout their term of office is to introduce a North County League involving six local county teams of four players.
Banff, Moray and Nairn will play in one section and Inverness, Ross Shire and a combined Caithness-Sutherland team will play in the other.
The section winners will meet in the final at Tain on September 11. If this proves successful with the players they will extend the format to take in handicap teams next season.
In May Northern Counties will get a new champion to succeed New Zealander Liz McKinnon. The county championship will be played at Inverness from April 30 to May 1.
Northern Counties will have home advantage at Elgin in the North Division jamboree against Angus, Perth & Kinross and Aberdeenshire from June 25 to 27.
The North of Scotland championship, won by Tain’s Audrey Scott two years ago at Royal Dornoch, is this year being hosted by Aberdeenshire at Banchory from July 4 to 6.
Other local Northern County events are:
County foursomes - May 26: Grantown on Spey.
County open meeting - July 10: Fort William.
County vets open: August 11: Fortrose & Rosemarkie.
County open & agm: October 2: Moray. County Open & AGM.

LPGA Tour
HSBC ANNOUNCES WOMEN’S WORLD MATCH PLAY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE BIGGEST 1st PRIZE IN LPGA HISTORY
HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial services organisations, is to sponsor the only individual match play championship in women’s professional golf and has pledged a winner’s cheque of $500,000, the highest in the history of the LPGA.
The inaugural HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship will be played over the Independence Day weekend at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey from June 30 to July 3, 2005.
The championship will be the first official match play women’s professional tournament to be played in America in half a century. Eligibility for the top-class 64-woman field will be based on the leading 60 professionals on the 2005 season’s LPGA money list (at June 20), the U.S. Women’s Open Champion, leader of the Japanese LPGA Money List (at June 13, 2005), plus two special invitations by the sponsors. Players will compete in 18 holes of head-to-head match play golf culminating in a grand final on Sunday, July 3.
The five-year deal between HSBC, tournament organisers IMG and the LPGA includes a total annual prize fund from HSBC of US$2 million.
“I’d like to congratulate HSBC on their new tournament,” said Annika Sorenstam, the world’s top ranked female professional golfer.
“I’ve heard what a great event the men’s HSBC World Match Play is at Wentworth, so I’m really looking forward to ours. I really love match play - it should be a lot of fun.”
Laura Davies, four-time Major winner and leader of the European Tour Order of Merit in 2004, added: “I’m really delighted there will be a match play event on the LPGA schedule this year. I love the cut and thrust of match play, it really suits my game. I won the last one we had at Gleneagles - I just hope I qualify!”
The US$2 million purse for the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship will be awarded as follows:
Winner US$500,000
Runner-up US$300,000
Losing semi-finalists (2) US$175,000
Losing quarter-finalists (4) US$50,000
3rd round losers (8) US$25,000
2nd round losers US$10,000
1st round losers US$5,000
For further information on the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship, visit www.hsbcgolf.com

Orange Blossom Amateur Tour
Title-holders Marlene Streit and Carole Semple Thompson were the second leading qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Women’s International Four-ball tournament at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood in Florida.
They are seeded to meet Mary Ann Plunkett and Marion Riordan in the final of this the final event of the Orange Blossom women’s amateur circuit in Florida.
QUALIFIERS
MARY ANN PLUNKETT &MARION RIORDAN 32-31 =63
MARLENE STREIT & CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON 33 - 34 = 67
MARY HANYAK & MARIANNE SPRINGER 35 - 34 = 69
TAFFY BROWER & DIANE LANG 35 - 35 =70
COURTNEY MONTGOMERY & NATASHA MORGAN 36 - 35 = 71
RONNIE HALL & MELISSA PUCCIARELLI 37 - 34 =71
PAULA FITZPATRICK &MICHELLE HARTNELL 37 - 35 =72
BONNIE GRIZZARD & MONICA VON GLAHN 38 - 35 =73
FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS
PLUNKETT & RIORDAN v VON GLAHN & GRIZZARD.
BROWER & LANG v. MONTGOMERY & MORGAN.
STREIT & THOMPSON v. HARTNELL & FITZPATRICK.
SPRINGER & HANYAK v. HALL & PUCCIARELLI.

Tuesday 25th January 2005

Renfrewshire website
Those of you in Renfrewshire looking for your daily fix of Renfrewshire News on Carol Fell's excellent website www.rlcga.co.uk might have to wait a little while... Carol has emailed to say that her computer is on the blink and is away to a PC expert to be sorted. She cannot access the Renfrewshire site at the moment, and therefore cannot update it.
However all is not lost, as Carol is using the Renfrewshire Forum on my Bulletin Board to publish any new Renfrewshire News. (read today's message from Captain Aileen Wilson)
Carol, hope your computer gets better soon!

ELGA Press Release
Knowle girls attract TV cameras
Cameras roll! The booming girls’ section at Knowle Golf Club in Gloucestershire has attracted the attention of Sky Sports News.
The young players were featured on the programme in a slot which highlighted the efforts to get more girls into golf – and to find the stars of the future.
The American teenage sensation Michelle Wie is the talk of today’s golf world - and was one of the major attractions at this month’s Sony Open in Hawaii, where she teed up alongside the men. But the next big name could come from England.
There are a host of grass roots initiatives across the country designed to encourage girls to try golf and to stick with the game. The Knowle experience – masterminded by junior organiser Dave Owen - proves that they work.
When he took over four years ago there was just one girl member at the club, on the edge of Bristol. Today, helped by a series of taster sessions organised with local schools, it’s a different story.
There are 12 full junior members and ten have handicaps. Another eight girls are junior associate members, honing their skills on a pitch and putt layout and on the practice area. They are introduced to the main course at special sessions with adult members. Yet another 20 girls regularly attend weekend coaching sessions.
Knowle has its high-profile success stories. Hannah Barwood – the original girl member – and Joanne Hodge are members of ELGA’s elite potential girls’ squad. Meanwhile, Owen identifies three more youngsters who could follow in their footsteps and many other players who enjoy the game.
One of the girls, who took up golf 18 months ago and already has a handicap of 30, sums up the appeal: “I like playing golf because when I hit a great shot, it is a great feeling and I want to try and repeat it in the next shot.
The secret of Knowle’s success? Owen is modest. “I am not sure why we have been successful – but we have.” However, he believes that girls respond to attention and that they also enjoy the social side of golf, so they are encouraged to meet up in the clubhouse after playing to forge friendships

Monday 24th January 2005

Northern Counties Launch Web Site
Congratulations to Northern Counties Ladies Golf Association who have recently launched their web site nclga.blogspot.com
Susan Mackenzie from Elgin is the Webmaster. County Captain Mairi Orr says of the website... "We feel it will be very beneficial to us all, especially given the geography of our County."
Those of you in the North will probably want to bookmark the site.... the rest of you.... don't worry if you forget the link.... I've added it to the Counties list on the left of this column.

TAYLOR LEON UPSETS MORGAN PRESSEL IN FLORIDA FINAL
Morgan Pressel was hot favourite to chalk up a second victory on the Florida Orange Blossom women’s amateur circuit this month when she reached the final of the Doherty Ladies Amateur match-play tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club on Saturday.
But the all-teenager final provide an upset result with Taylor Leon beating Morgan by two holes.
Miss Pressel, from Boca Raton, Florida, was an impressive winner of the Harder Hall Invitational from January 5 but did not play in the next event, the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur, won by Julieta Granada with Miss Leon runner-up.
Morgan played only 51 holes to reach the final of the “Doherty” while Leon required 65 holes to beat four opponents, including a 19th hole victory in the semi-final over Alexandra Bodemann.
It was the third time in the past four years that Morgan, now 16 years old, had lost in the final of this event.
Taylor, a 17-year-old student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton Florida, was the fifth teenager in the last six years to take the title.
Miss Pressel had the edge over the opening holes of the final but was pulled back to all square by her opponent’s eagle 3 at the par-5 ninth where she left her second shot only 4ft from the flagstick.
Miss Taylor went one up with a birdie at the 14th and retained that advantage standing on the tee at the par-5 18th.
Both players were just off the green in two shots. Morgan pitched close enough to be assured of a birdie 4. Then Miss Leon holed her chip from 45ft for an eagle 3 to clinch her surprise win by two holes.
The over-50s title was retained by Karen Ferree, 54, who beat former United States Curtis Cup stalwart, Carole Semple Thompson, 55, by 4 and 3.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Morgan Pressel bt Madison Pressel 8 and 6.
Lisa Schelsinger bt Julie Carmichael 1 hole.
Sue Cohn bt Marie Elmendorf 1 hole.
Julie Garner bt Frances Gacos 7 and 5.
Maggie Wder bt Anna Temple 2 and 1.
Benedikte Grovedt bt Melissa Pucciarelli 1 hole.
Mary Ann Plunkett bt Natasha Morgan 2 and 1.
Erica Gonzales bt Paula Moskwik 4 and 3.
Taylor Leon bt Gina Laresen 8 and 6.
Lauren Hunt bt Silke Last 2 and 1.
Mary Jane Heistand bt Monica Von Gohan 2 and 1.
Meghan Bolger bt Pam Brown 7 and 5.
Marilyn Hardie bt Courtnay Montgomery 5 and 4.
Diane Lang bt Ann Pohira 3 and 2.
Marian Riordan bt Stephanie Kenoyer 2 and 1.
Alexandra Bodemann bt Cindy Morris 3 and 2.
SECOND ROUND
Morgan Pressel bt Schelsinger 7 and 6.
Garner bt Cohn 1 hole.
Weder bt Grovedt 1 hole.
Gonzalez bt Plunkett 3 and 2.
Leon bt Hunt 2 holes.
Bolger bt Heistand 2 and 1.
Hardy bt Lang 2 and 1.
Bodemann bt Riordan 2 and 1.
QUARTER-FINALS
Pressel bt Garner 4 and 3.
Weder bt Gonzales at 20th.
Leon bt Bolger 3 and 2.
Bodemann bt Hardy 3 and 2.
SEMI-FINALS
Pressel bt Wder 7 and 6.
Leon bt Bodemann at 19th.
FINAL (18 holes)
Leon bt Pressel 2 holes.
SENIORS
FIRST ROUND
Karen Ferree bt Ronnie Hall 6 and 5.
Diana Schwab bt Carol Peffer 4 and 3.
Peggy Woodard bt Angela Stewart 4 and 3.
Marlete Streit bt Deborah Mielke 5 and 4.
Carolyn Creekmore bt Alice Dye 7 and 6.
Tinker Sanger bt Mary Hill 2 and 1.
Nancy Smith bt Jan Ugale 3 and 2.
Sandra Miller bt Gale Grudner 3 and 2.
Bonnie George bt Connie Shorb 1 hole.
Reggie Parker bt Susan Rampelberg 5 and 4.
Barb Pagana bt Jean Mowry 5 and 3.
Clate Aydelette bt Molly O’Neill 6 and 4.
Carol Semple Thompson bt Pat Hughes-Gelardi 8 and 7.
Sue Joy-Sobota bt Patsy Ehert 4 and 3.
Mary Eichhorn bt Meredith Wolf 3 and 2.
Diane Yelovich bt Kathy Baker 3 and 2.
SECOND ROUND
Ferree bt Schwab 3 and 2.
Streit bt Woodard 3 and 2.
Creekmore bt Sanger 4 and 3.
Smith bt Miller 3 and 2.
Parker bt George 2 and 1.
Aydellette bt Pagana 1 hole.
Semple Thompson bt Joy-Sobota 1 hole.
Eichhorn bt Yelovich 5 and 4.
QUARTER-FINALS
Ferree bt Streit 2 holes.
Smith bt Creekmore 1 hole.
Parker bt Aydelette 2 and 1.
Semple Thompson bt Eichhorn 4 and 3.
SEMI-FINALS
Ferree bt Smith 5 and 3.
Semple Thompson bt Parker at 19th.
FINAL (18 holes)
Ferree bt Semple Thompson 4 and 3.

Friday 21st January 2005

CARLY TOP SCOT IN HONG KONG
Carly Booth from Comrie, Perthshire achieved the highest final placing of the three Scots taking part in the Faldo Series International Trophy tournament over the Eden course, Hong Kong Golf Club yesterday (Thursday).
Auchterarder Golf Club member Carly, only 12 years old, finished fourth in the Under-18 girls' category with rounds of 81 and 80 for 161.
This section was won by Taiwan's Ruby Tseng, who beat Michelle Wie on her way towards winning last year's US Public Links women's amateur title. Ruby had scores of 71 and 79 for 150 in Hong-Kong, winning by four shots from English girls champion Melissa Reid with another English prospect, Henrietta Brockway, third on 159 (85-74).
Sam Torrance's son Daniel, a member at Sunningdale, finished seventh in the Under-18 boys tournament with rounds of 79 and 76 for 155.
Scottish boys' match-play and stroke-play champion Scott Henry from Cardross had a disappointing trip. He finished ninth on158 with scores of 78 and 80.
Ajeetesh Sandhu, a 16-year-old who has been the No 1 ranked junior in India for the past two years, pipped England's Oliver Fisher from Chigwell Row on a countback after they had tied on 143.  Sandhu score 72 and 71 to Fisher's 68 and 75.
Thomas Sherreard (England) and Rory McIlroy from Holywood, Belfast tied for third place on 146. Thomas scored 75 and 71, Rory 71 and 75.
Ben Evans, pictured below right with Nick Faldo, 18 years old from Staplecross, Sussex, won the Under-21 boys' section and the overall Faldo Series International Trophy by a stunning 10-stroke margin. Ben shot a course record 65 in the first round and a solid 69 in the afternoon for a six-under-par total of 134. He had 10 birdies and an eagle over the two rounds.
Ireland's Aaron O'Callaghan finished third with 74 and 72 for 146, two shots behind runner-up Michael Eric Bibat (Philippines).
FINAL PLACINGS
UNDER-18 BOYS
143 Sandhu Ajeetesh (India) 72 71, Oliver Fisher (England) 68 75 (Ajeetesh won on countback).
146 Thomas Sherreard (England) 75 71, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 71 75.
149 Jimmy Ko (Hong Kong) 74 75.,
150 Shih Chang Chan (Taiwan) 75 75.
155 Daniel Torrance (Scotland) 79 76.
157 Grega Perne (Slovenia) 79 78.
158 Scott Henry (Scotland) 78 80.
159 Mark Suursalu (Estonia) 82 77.
161 Mario Neubauer (Austria) 85 76.
162 Jian Wei Ye (China) 82 80.
170 Jian Feng Ye (China) 87 83.
UNDER-18 GIRLS
150 Ruby Tseng (Taiway) 71 79.
154 Melissa Reid (England) 77 77.
159 Henrietta Brockway (England) 85 74.
162 Carly Booth (Scotland) 81 80.
162 Silvie Dittertova (Czech Rep) 83 79, Florentyna Parker (England) 80 82, Kiran Matharu (England) 78 84.
166 Demi Mak (Hong Kong) 84 82.
172 Tze Jean Chua (Malaysia) 83 88.
178 Krista Puisite (Latvia) 85 93.
UNDER-21 BOYS
134 Ben Evans (England) 65 69.
144 Michael Eric Bibat (Philippines) 71 73.
146 Aaron O'Callaghan (Ireland) 74 72.
147 Bin Abu Hassan Anis Helmi (Malaysia) 76 71, Nicolas Meitinger (Germany) 73 74, Louis Moolman (S Africa) 782 75.
154 Jurrian Van der Vaart (Netherlands) 77 77.
158 George Gleichman (Netherlands) 80 78.
161 Anggara Toniko (Indonesia) 80 81.
UNDER-21 GIRLS
160 Jayvie Marie Agojo (Phnilippines) 81 79.
165 Teja Kikelj (Slovenia) 83 82, Suzette Venter (S Africa) 82 83.
170 Eva Yoe (Hong Kong) 89 81, Ivana Jaya Lidya (Indonesia) 80 90.

2005 ROEHAMPTON GOLD CUP
Here is the entry form (Word File 650Kb) for the 2005 Roehampton Gold Cup, to be played over 36 holes at Roehampton Golf Club, London on Saturday, April 23. Unfortunately the event clashes with the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship at Troon.
It is open to amateurs and professionals. First pro prize is £1,000. First amateur prize is voucher for £350.
Entry fee is £25.
Last year former Irish champion Alison Coffey struck a blow for the amateurs by heading the field by two strokes with an aggregate of 146 (74-72).
Colchester professional Sarah Bennett was runner-up with 148 (73-75).
Gold Cup secretary-organiser Caroline Aitken would appreciate your help in assembling the strongest field possible this year.
Solicitors Russell-Cooke are sponsoring the event for the second year.
The Roehampton Gold Cup was first played in 1926 and has been won by some of the most famous lady amateurs and professionals of their day .. Cecil Leitch in 1928 .. Pam Barton in 1935-37-38-39 ... Belle Robertson 1978-79-81-82 .. and so on (See full list in Golfer's Handbook).
It has been an open event since 1987, since when pros of the calibre of Patricia Johnson, Catriona (Lambert) Matthew and Cathy Panton have had their names inscribed on the splendid trophy.

Thursday 20th January 2005

Faldo Series International Trophy
Scotland's Carly Booth is lying fifth after the first round with an 81 in the Under 18 Girls section of the Faldo Series International Trophy at the Hong Kong Golf club Eden Course yesterday. Ya Ni Ruby Tseng from the Republic of China (Taiwan) is well in the lead with a first round 71.
In the Boys Under 18 section, Scott Henry and Daniel Torrance, both from Scotland, are in the middle of the field after first rounds of 76 and 79 respectively. England's Oliver Fisher leads the field on 68.
The Boys Under 21 section is led by Ben Evans (England) with a superb 65. The scoring is rather poor in the Girls Under 21 section with the leader, Ivana Jaya Lidya from Indonesia on 80.
The event concludes today.
Full results
Under 18 Girls
1 Tseng, Ya Ni Ruby (ROC) 71
2 Reid, Melissa (England) 77
3 Matharu, Kiran (England) 78
4 Parker, Florentyna (England) 80
5 Booth, Carly (Scotland) 81
6 Chua, Tze Jean (Malaysia) 83
6 Dittertova, Silvie (Czech Republic) 83
8 Mak, Demi (Hong Kong) 84
9 Puisite, Krista (Latvia) 85
9 Brockway, Henrietta (England) 85
Under 18 Boys
1 Fisher, Oliver (England) 68
2 McIlroy, Rory (Ireland) 71
3 Ajeetesh, Sandhu (India) 72
4 Ko, Jimmy (Hong Kong) 74
5 Chan, Shih Chang (ROC) 75
5 Sherreard, Thomas (England) 75
7 Henry, Scott (Scotland) 76
8 Torrance, Daniel (Scotland) 79
8 Perne, Grega (Slovenia) 79
10 Suursalu, Mark (Estonia) 82
10 Ye, Jian Wei (China) 82
12 Neubauer, Mario (Austria) 85
13 Ye, Jian Feng (China) 87
Under 21 Girls
1 Lidya, Ivana Jaya (Indonesia) 80
2 Agojo, Jayvie Marie (Philippines) 81
3 Venter, Suzette (South Africa) 82
4 Kikelj, Teja (Slovenia) 83
5 Yoe, Eva (Hong Kong) 89
Under 21 Boys
1 Evans, Ben (England) 65
2 Bibat, Michael Eric (Philippines) 71
3 Moolman, Louis (South Africa) 72
4 Meitinger, Nicolas (Germany) 73
5 O'Callaghan, Aaron (Ireland) 74
6 Anis Helmi, Bin Abu Hassan (Malaysia) 76
7 van der Vaart, Jurrian (The Netherlands) 77
8 Gleichman, George (The Netherlands) 80
8 Toniko, Anggara (Indonesia) 80

Wednesday 19th January 2005

DI STOCK TAKES OVER AS LGU CHAIRMAN
Di Stock, pictured right, assumes the office of Chairman of the Ladies’ Golf Union after the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 19th January 2005. She will serve for a period of 12 months.
Mrs Stock takes over the position after more than 20 years in golf administration which started at her home club, North Hants, where after a spell on the committee she was Ladies’ Captain, in 1984. This was followed by a period as Ladies’ Secretary and as Hampshire Handicap Adviser. She was County President from 1995 – 1997.
Her career in golf administration continued with four years on the ELGA Executive Committee where she was Chairman in 2001. She was elected to the LGU in 2002.
Since then she has been heavily involved in the implementation of the CONGU Unified Handicapping System and as a qualified referee has officiated at the Curtis Cup, Vagliano Trophy and at the 2003 and 2004 Weetabix Women’s British Open Championships.
Mrs Stock views her year in office as an opportunity for the LGU to continue to move forward with the initiatives that are taking ladies’ golf into the 21st Century.
"I have been pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the introduction of the new Unified Handicapping System has gone. We certainly went through a lengthy consultative process to ensure that all interested parties were aware of our proposals and this has now resulted in the acceptance of the final system."
"One of our aims for the coming year is to conduct a survey of all aspects of ladies’ golf so that we have an accurate picture of what is going on throughout GB&I."
"Karen Stupples’ win in the Weetabix last year could not have come at a better time and we must maximise the impact of her win with youngsters and others who are finding their way into the game at grass-roots level. However, to do this we need the continued support of governing bodies, clubs and individuals throughout Great Britain & Ireland."
Di lives in Hampshire with husband Chris, a dentist, and they have two daughters.

Kathryn Marshall with Angus Girls

Angus Girls meet Kathryn Marshall
On Tuesday 18th January 2005, members of the Angus County junior girls were in attendance at Grange and Dundee Golf club Monifieth, for a specially organised golf seminar, presented by LPGA competitor Kathryn Marshall.
Kathryn kindly gave up some of her time on behalf of Angus County ladies to give the girls an insight into ladies professional golf. Subjects covered included tips on practice, swing technique, psychology and fitness as well as some humorous tales from Kathryn's personal experiences. The seminar was greatly appreciated by the girls some of whom can hopefully follow on in Kathryn's footsteps.

SHEENA READY TO USE EXPERIENCE FOR BENEFIT OF SCOTLAND GIRLS
Sheena Wood, pictured right, is looking forward tremendously to the challenge of captaining a Scotland international team for the first time.
Sheena, who plays off one of a handicap at Aberdeen Ladies Golf Club member was named on Monday as the skipper of the Scots squad for the European Under-18 girls’ team championship at Lucerne Golf Club, Switzerland.
Miss Wood, who works for Computacenter in Aberdeen, has had plenty of experience of playing under captains – all the way through from club and county to international level.
She played for Scotland in the women’s home internationals of 1999, 2000 and 2001 and has been a regular member of the Aberdeenshire county team since the 1980s.
“I like to think I learned something from all the team captains I’ve played under over the years and it will be a case of adding my own thoughts to that experience,” said Sheena.
Miss Wood has also been named as manager of the Scotland team for the international stroke-play event run in conjunction with the SLGA St Leonards Under-16 open championship at Strathtyrum, St Andrews on April 7 and 8.
“Although I know most of the girls, it will be a nice opportunity to meet and get to know some of the younger ones,” she said.
Usually captaincy comes towards the end of a player’s active career but Sheena does not regard herself as a backnumber.
“I’ve been working hard on my own game during the winter. The Scottish women’s championship is at Cruden Bay in May so that’s a big incentive to get into good shape for early in the season.”
Sheena was Aberdeenshire county champion in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2002 (she lost in last year’s final) and won the North of Scotland title in 1989 and 2001.
She has been champion of the Hazlehead and Aberdeen Ladies’ clubs many, many times and holds the women’s record at several North-east courses.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 - ST ANDREWS
SUNDAY 10 - SUNDAY 17 JULY
TICKET PRICES
The R&A are encouraging spectators to take advantage of the opportunity to purchase discounted Open Championship season tickets before the end of January.
Spectators can watch all the world’s leading players over eight days of practice and competition for £130, the price of a season ticket if purchased by 31 January 2005.
The discounted season ticket maintains The R&A policy of pricing the Championship at affordable levels to the benefit of the spectator and to enable them to witness what will surely be another outstanding Open at St Andrews.
Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: 01334 460010 or through on-line purchasing at www.opengolf.com.

Tuesday 18th January 2005

SLGA NAME SCOTLAND TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2005
Three names from the North - Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), Elaine Farquharson-Black (Deeside) and Pam Gordon ((Inverness) - have been named among the five international team captains for 2005 announced on Monday by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association.
The others are Anglo-Scot Fiona Anderson (Formby Ladies) and Jennifer Jenkins (Ralson).
Capped in 1999 and 2000, Miss Wood, pictured left, will be leading a Scotland squad for the first time in the European girls' team championship at Lucerne, Switzerland from July 5 to 9.
The SLGA and the Scottish Institute of Sport combined to send a Scots squad to the European girls' team championship in France last year. It was the first time Scottish girls had competed at this level. This time the SLGA is acting on its own initiative.
Mrs Farquharson-Black (Deeside), pictured right, has been given the task of leading Scotland at Karlstad, Sweden, also from July 5 to 9, in the European women's amateur team championship - which the Scots have never won.
In fact, Scotland surprisingly did not make the eight top-flight qualifiers when the championship was last played two years ago at Frankfurt.
Elaine, a former Scottish champion who played in two Curtis Cups, two Vagliano Trophy matches and for Scotland from 1987 to 1998 with a break between 1992 and 1996 while she sampled tour pro golf and then had to sit out two seasons before she was given back her amateur status, said:
"I'm delighted and honoured that I should be asked to captain a Scotland team for a fourth time. Over three sets of women's home internationals from 2001 to 2003 we got very close to winning the title twice so I hope the groundwork I did then will stand us in good stead.
"I realise that some of the Scotland players I worked with have turned pro since 2003 but the backbone of the team is the same and there are some very good young players coming through.
"With the European team championship being played in early July, all the top Scots meantime at American colleges will be available, which has not always been the case for the home internationals in September."
Mrs Gordon, pictured left, has captained Scotland at every level, from the Under-18s up to and including the over-50s. Pam skippers the Scots in the senior women's internationals for the second year in a row.
They will be played at Radyr, near Cardiff from October 4 to 6.
Last year, at Kilkeel in Ireland, the senior Scots beat Wales and Ireland but lost to 5-2 England who retained the title.
Fiona Anderson, pictured right, who played in five Scottish women's championship finals between 1980 and 1991 (winning the title at Nairn in 1987) and was a member of the Great Britain & Ireland team in the 1987 Vagliano Trophy match, has been given a vote of confidence as captain of the Scotland squad for the women's home internationals at Dundalk, County Louth in Ireland from September 14 to 16.
Scotland headed the table after two days' play at Royal Porthcawl last year but bad weather forced the scrapping of the final day's foursomes although eight singles, instead of the normal six were played. The Scots were beaten 7-1 by Ireland who retained the title.
Jennifer Jenkins, pictured left, Scottish girls champion in 1988 and a junior international in 1987 and 1988, has been chosen again  to lead Scotland in the girls' home internationals. She will be hoping for better conditions and better luck when they are played at Worplesdon, Surrey from August 3 to 5.
Strathaven - venue for last year's girls' internationals - was almost waterlogged by recurring rain and the Scots lost to England, Ireland and Wales.
SLGA chairman Emma Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) said last night: " We are delighted to have five such experienced captains with a wealth of knowledge second to none. Our very best wishes go to all of them, especially our newest captain, Sheena Wood."
SLGA TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2005
European women's team championship (Karlstad, Sweden: July 5-9) Mrs Elaine Farquharson-Black (Deeside).
Women's home internationals (Dundalk, Ireland: September 14-16) Miss Fiona Anderson (Formby Ladies).
European girls' team championship (Lucerne, Switzerland:  July 5-9) Miss Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
Girls' home internationals (Worplesdon, Surrey: August 3-5) Miss Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston).
Senior women's home internationals (Radyr, Cardiff: October 4-6) Mrs Pam Gordon (Inverness).

Monday 17th January 2005

R&A FUNDING SUPPORT FOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT
Golf events and development initiatives in countries ranging from Uganda to St Kitts to Venezuela are set to benefit from a series of grants announced by The R&A. These include international amateur team events in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and South America.
In announcing the latest awards, Duncan Weir, The R&A’s Director of Golf Development said: "The R&A is committed to promoting and developing golf both nationally and internationally through funding derived entirely from the annual surplus generated by The Open Championship. This aim will continue as we seek to encourage the expansion of the game’s playing throughout our sphere of governance."

The R&A works closely with many of golf’s national governing bodies around the world and is pleased to announce that the National Federation of Golf of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the most recent addition to its list of affiliates.
The total annual budget available to The R&A Golf Development Committee and Training Panel is £4 million.

Sunday 16th January 2005

ANOTHER FLORIDA TITLE FOR JULIETA
Julieta Granada, the 18-year-old United States girls’ open champion from Paraguay, notched up her eighth win of note over the past 10 months, by the comfortable margin of four strokes in the 79th  South Atlantic Ladies Amateur tournament at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida.
It was the first “Sally” cut to three rounds because of bad weather – the third day’s play was washed out -  and the last nine holes were an endurance test for the leaders with a 30mph wind with a decided chill factor and laced with rain.
Julieta finished the tournament wearing a heavy ski jacket – a far cry from the opening day’s temperatures up around the 80 degrees mark.
Miss Granada, only 5ft 2in, stood up well to the buffeting winds to sign off with a two-over-par round of 74 and a final 54-hole total of three-over 219.
She won by four shots from Taylor Leon who closed with a 77 for 223 – four shots ahead of third-placed Virginia Grimes, a former US women’s mid-amateur title-winner, who slumped by eight shots from her 73s in the first two rounds to an 81 for 227.
Both Julieta and Taylor are pupils at the David Leadbetter Academy at Bradenton, Florida. The Paraguayan has signed up for a golf scholarship at the University of Arizona, starting in the autumn.
Alhtough Miss Granada, winner of the Junior Orange Bowl at Coral Gables between Christmas and New Year and runner-up to Morgan Pressel in last week’s Harder Hall Invitational at Sebring, won with something to spare in the end at Oceanside, she actually lost the lead to Taylor Leon at one stage of the final round.
A couple of three putts contributed to Julieta’s three-over-par 39 for the first nine holes and that enabled Taylor to join her in the pole position at four-over-par for the tournament.
A pitch-and-putt par at the 11th to her opponent’s bogey put Miss Leon into the lead but that was the high point of the tournament for Taylor.
She bogeyed the 12th after a bad drive and Julieta’s par put them level again.
Miss Granada birdied the 14th with a 15ft putt to put her back into the lead and she doubled her advantage with a long birdie putt at the 16th.
Julieta holed another birdie putt, from 12ft, at the 17th, where Miss Leon found the water hazard.
Miss Granada, with her late flurry of birdies, came home in one-under-par 35 – excellent scoring in the wind, rain and chill.
FINAL TOTALS
219 Julieta Granada (Paraguay) 71 74 74.
223 Taylor Leon 73 73 77.
227 Virginia Grimes 73 73 81.
231 Alexis Rather 75 74 82.
233 Laura Coble 76 76 81.
234 Tiffany Chudy 74 82 78.
235 Heidi Lowe 75 84 76, Perry Swenson 77 77 81.
238 Brooke Shelton 79 79 80, Anne Temple 76 83 79.
239 Ulrika Ljungman 80 78 81.
240 Jessica Yadloczky 86 74 80.
241 Rebecca Kuhn 83 80 78.
242 Audrey Longo 84 80 78.
244 Regine Parker 79 86 79, Jessica Schneider 80 80 84, Carole Semple Thompson 78 79 87.
245 Benedikte Grotvedt 80 84 81, Mary Ann Plunkett 79 86 80.
246 Sue Romano 80 78 88.
247 Shelley Savage 84 80 83, Carol Turnage 83 83 81, Corey Weworski 83 82 82.
248 Terrell Italiano 84 83 81, Therese Quinn 77 84 87, Dianne Yellovich 79 82 87.
249 Karen Richardson 78 76 95.
251 Ashley Mayo 76 81 94, Cathy Richey 84 82 85.
252 Kelly McEnerney 86 77 89, Cindy Morris 86 81 85, Marian Roirden 80 80 92, Diana Schwab 81 85 86.
253 Janie Carpenter 83 83 87.
254 Kira Mayo9 86 80 88.
255 Clate Aydlett 82 90 83, Becka Kasapis 78 91 86, Karlie Ward 845 88 83, Maggie Weder 82 81 92, Peggy Woodard 88 81 86.
256 Cynthia Friend  87 85 84.
258 Annette Gaiotti 90 91 77, Jana Shipley Jacob 88 85 85.
259 Donna Marden 85 87 87, Melissa Pucciarelli 88 84 87.
261 Jennifer Adams 86 90 85, Sally Akins 88 88 85, Chris Giza 84 87 90.
262 Sherry Bowman 88 82 92, Frances Gacos 89 86 67, Joanie Roberts 90 85 87.
263 Brandi Irvin 91 88 84.
264 Marci Likens 88 88 88.
268 Sue Joy-Soboto 95 89 84, Marcella Rose 89 87 92.
269 Bonnie George 87 89 93, Courtnay Montgomery 90 92 87, Angela Stewart 86 91 92, Camille Williams 95 90 84.
272 Deborah Ogaard-Nielsen 97 89 86, Kim Stepp 84 99 89.
273 Suzanne Kenkel 87 96 90.
274 Evelyn Blackmon 88 95 91.
276 Emily Longerier 95 93 88, Jean Mowry 95 96 85, Maureen Sheehan 92 93 91.
279 Kristen Boettcher 97 92 90.
280 Daryl Nels 84 96 100.
282 Marie Elmendorf 90 95 97, Lesllie Henry 95 94 93, Nancy Williams 92 96 94.
283 Carol Ann Kulzer 91 95 97, Debbie Mooksang 93 107 84.
285 Melinda Morgan 90 97 98.
287 Jen Labrie 94 97 96.
288 Amanda Mathews 96 92 100.
289 Karen Smith 89 101 99.
296 Debra George 96 97 103.
Withdrew: Dot Bolling 89 83, Laurie Strite 86 88, Daria Cummings 94 87.

Ann Heskin takes up Presidency of I.L.G.U.
Ann Heskin assumes the role of President of the Irish Ladies' Golf Union at yesterday's Annual General Meeting of the Irish Ladies Golf Union at University College Dublin. She takes over the 2 year Presidency from Ita Butler of Elm Park.
"I am delighted to take up the role of President in this exciting time of change for the ILGU" she said following the AGM. "The success we are achieving through the implementation of our Strategic Plan will continue for everyone from our top players all the way down the line" she added.
Ann is steeped in the game of golf. She has served in every capacity both as a player, administrator and Council member and assumes the highest office at a time of change and progress in the Irish Ladies' Golf Union.
Born in Cork, where she currently resides, she played for Munster in the inaugural Interprovincial Championship in 1964 and continued through to 1984. That term included Munster's first win in the championship in 1980. She followed her sister Oonagh (Fitzpatrick) onto the Irish International team in 1969, although they never played on the same team together. Her final match for Ireland was in 1977.
A member of Cork, Lahinch and Killarney golf clubs, her home club is Douglas where she won eight All-Ireland Senior Cup Medals. She is also a five-time winner of the Munster Ladies' Championship. In 1983 during her second term as Irish non-playing captain, Ireland won the European Team Championship at Royal Waterloo Golf Club in Belgium. As vice captain to Elaine Bradshaw in 1980, Ireland won the Home Internationals and Ann fulfilled the role of senior selector from 1987 thru 1996.
Ann served as Council Member of the Ladies' Golf Union at St Andrews, as LGU selector from 1991 to 1994 and was a member of the LGU Training Committee from 1995 to 1998. In 2002 and 2003 she was Chairman of the LGU Selection Committee. Having served on the Southern District Council for 3 years from 1991, Chairman in 1993, she was elected to the ILGU Council in 1994.
Ann Bradshaw has been nominated President Elect and will take up the Presidency in 2007. She was first nominated as Council representative from the Western District in 1989 and spent another 3 year term on
Council from 2002.
A member of Co. Sligo Golf Club, she has been Chairperson of the Rules and Regulations Committee for the past 2 years. A daughter of one of Ireland's greatest amateur players Cecil Ewing, she follows in her father's footsteps as he held the Golfing Union of Ireland's Presidency in 1970.

Saturday 15th January 2005

RAIN CUTS SOUTH ATLANTIC LADIES EVENT TO THE THREE ROUNDS
It must have been raining all over the world on Friday. The BP Trinidad pro-am's second and final round was washed out near Port of Spain and up in Florida the third day's play in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur tournament at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach was cancelled because of rain.
This traditional 72-hole event, the second leg of the Florida Orange Blossom women's amateur circuit, will now be decided over three rounds.
US girls' open champion Julieta Granada from Paraguay takes a one-stroke lead into the decisive round.

Friday 14th January 2005

Field closing on Julieta
Julieta Granada, pictured right, was expected to build on her two-shot first-day lead in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur tournament but the reverse happened in the second round at the Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida.
The Paraguayan teenager, holder of the United States’ girls’ open title and winner of the girls’ section of the Junior Orange Bowl international event, also in Florida, between Christmas and New Year, returned a two-over-par 74 for a halfway aggregate of one-over-par 145.
Former US women’s mid-amateur champion Virigina Grimes and Taylor Leon both shot 73 – jointly the day’s best score – and that allowed them to cut Julieta’s lead to one stroke.
Alexis Rather, a sophomore student at Louisiana State University, is in fourth place on her own at 149 after a 74.
The South Atlantic Ladies Amateur is the second event on the Florida Orange Blossom women’s circuit in January. Morgan Pressel won last week’s starter – the Harder Hall Invitational.
LEADING SCORES
145 Julieta Granada (Paraguay) 71 74.
146 Virginia Grimes 73 73, Taylor Leon 73 73.
149 Alexis Rather 75 74.
152 Laura Coble 76 76.
153 Charlotte Campbell 77 76.
154 Karen Richardson 78 76, Perry Swenson 77 77.
156 Tiffany Chudy 74 82.
157 Ashley Mayo 76 81, Carol Semple Thompson 78 79.
158 Ulrika Ljungman 80 78, Sue Romano 80 78, Brooke Shelton 79 79.
159 Heidi Lowe 75 84, Anna Temple 76 83.
160 Marian Roirden 80 80, Jessica Schneider 80 80, Jessica Yadloczky 86 74.
161 Therese Quinn 77 84, Dianne Yellovich 79 82.
163 Rebecca Kuhn 83 80, Kelly MncErney 86 77, Maggie Weder 82 81.
164 Benedikte Grotved 80 84, Audrey Longo 84 80, Shelley Savage 84 80.
165 Regine Parker 69 86, Mary Ann Plunkett 79 86, Corey Weworski 83 82.

JANICE WINS A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS IN RAIN-HIT PRO-AM ON TRINIDAD
Janice Moodie, pictured right, the first LPGA professional to compete in an event on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, went back to her Florida base with a slice of the prize money in the BP Trinidad charity pro-am over the St Andrews Golf Club course near Port of Spain on Friday.
Janice accepted an invitation from organiser Bruce Davidson, the Banchory-born director of golf at River Oaks Country Club, Houston, Texas and the man who started the BP Trinidad charity pro-am a number of years ago, to be the first female pro to take part in what is normally a 36-hole event.
This year it was reduced to one round by persistent rain on Friday on a course already very wet after recent heavy rain.
Janice finished joint 10th among the field of Tartan Tour and invited American club professionals with a par-matching round of 72. US club pros champion Tim Thelen won first prize by two shots with a four-under-par 68.
Janice did even better in the pro-am event. Her team tied for first place with a net score of 129 but they lost out to American Bill Boyd’s team on a card countback.

FALDO SERIES GOES GLOBAL www.nickfaldo.com
Faldo Series International Trophy Tees Off in Hong Kong
13th January 2005: Next week the Faldo Series embarks on its most exciting project to date. The inaugural Faldo Series International Trophy tees off at Hong Kong Golf Club, bringing together some of the finest young golfing talent from every corner of the globe.
In association with the Hong Kong Golf Association, the R&A, the European Tour and golfing federations throughout the world, Nick Faldo has invited 38 of the world’s best young golfers to attend this unique event. Hailing from three major golfing continents, the competitors will be arriving in Hong Kong on Monday (17th January) from countries as far a field as Latvia, the Philippines, South Africa and India.
“The Faldo Series has always been dedicated to giving young golfers the opportunity to experience a taste of what life is like as a professional golfer and to try and teach them as much as we can about every aspect of the game. This is the next step down that road,” Nick Faldo said of the event. “The invitees from the UK will have the chance to integrate with their peers from throughout the world and to experience competing in different circumstances and across very different courses. At the same time, this expansion will give players from the rest of the world a chance to benefit from what the Faldo Series has to offer.”
The 36-hole scratch-play tournament tees off on Wednesday (19th January) and is played over two days. Some of the UK’s finest talent will be on show, including the 2004 Faldo Series winners Oliver Fisher and Kiran Matharu, along with Scottish Boys Champion Scott Henry and the son of one of Europe’s most enigmatic Ryder Cup captains, Daniel Torrance. Competitors are divided into four categories – under 21 male, under 21 female, under 18 male and under 18 female – with a winner in each category and a prize for the overall winner. Those winners will also receive a dream ticket to play eighteen holes with Nick himself the following day.
Aside from a chance to meet and compete with their international contemporaries, the lucky invitees will also attend activities including seminars with Nick plus fitness and rules workshops, continuing the Faldo Series tradition of combining competition with education. With the help of the competitors, Nick will also use the tournament to promote the game of golf to children in Hong Kong and Asia.
“This event is truly unique when you consider the diversity of the field and I really hope that the players enjoy themselves and benefit from the experience,” Nick concluded. “Above all though, I hope that this is just the beginning of what we can do to promote the game in Asia and ultimately, across the world. I’ve always hoped to expand my Series beyond the UK and this first International Trophy is just the start of things to come.”
Faldo Series International Trophy
Name Country Category
Carly Booth Scotland U18
Henrietta Brockway England U18
Ben Evans England U21
Oliver Fisher England U18
George Gleichman The Netherlands U21
Scott Henry Scotland U18
Kiran Matharu England U18
Rory McIlroy Ireland U18
Aaron O’Callaghan Ireland U21
Florentyna Parker England U18
Melissa Reid England U18
Thomas Sherreard England U18
Daniel Torrance Scotland U18
Silvie Dittertova Czech Republic U18
Teja Kikelj Slovenia U21
Mario Neubauer Austria U18
Grega Perna Slovenia U18
Krista Puisite Latvia U18
Mark Suursala Estonia U18
Jurrian van der Vaart The Netherlands U21
Louis Moolman South Africa U21
Suzette Venter South Africa U21
Nicolas Meitinger Germany U21
Jian Wei Ye China U18
Jian Fong Ye China U18
Bin Abu Hassan Ans Helmi Malaysia U21
Tze Jean Chua Malaysia U18
Viashavi Sinha India U18
Sandha Ajeetesh India U18
Jimmy Ko Hong Kong U18
Demi Mak Hong Kong U18
Eva Yoe Hong Kong U21
Ya Ni Ruby Tseng ROC U18
Shih Chang Chan ROC U18
Michael Eric Bibat Philippines U21
Jayvie Marie Agojo Philippines U21
Anggara Toniko Indonesia U21
Ivana Jaya Lidya Indonesia U21

Thursday 13th January 2005

Julieta Granada in the lead
United States girls’ open champion Julieta Granada opened up a two-stroke lead by the end of the first round of the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur tournament at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida on Wednesday.
She was the only player to get under the par of 72 with a fine score of 71.
The teenager from Paraguay is on a hot run, having won the girls’ title in the Junior Orange Bowl international tournament at Coral Gables, also in Florida, between Christmas and New Year, and also finishing second last week to Morgan Pressel in the Harder Hall Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida.
The South Atlantic Ladies Amateur is the second event on the annual Florida Orange Blossom circuit.
Virginia Grimes, the US women’s mid-amateur champion of 1998, and Taylor Leon were tied for second place on 73.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
(Players from US unless stated)
71 Julieta Granada (Paraguay).
73 Virginia Grimes, Taylor Leon.
74 Tiffany Chudy.
75 Heidi Lowe, Alexis Rather.
76 Laura Coble, Ashley Mayo, Anna Temple.
77 Charlotte Campbell, Therese Quinn, Perry Swenson.
78 Becka Kasapis, Karen Richardson, Carole Semple Thompson.
79 Regine Parker, Mary Ann Plunkett, Brooke Shelton, Dianne Yellovich.
80 Benedikte Grotuedt, Ulrika Ljungman, Mariam Roirden, Sue Romano, Jessica Schneider.
81 Diana Schwab.
82 Clate Aydlett, Maggie Wdedr.
83 Janie Carpenter, Rebecca Kuh, Carol Turnage, Corey Weworski.
84 Chris Giza, Terrell Italiano, Audrey Longo, Daryl Nels, Cathy Richey, Shelley Savage, Kim Stepp, Karlie Ward.
85 Donna Marden.
86 Jennifer Adams, Kira Mayho, Kelly McEnerney, Cindy Morris, Angela Stewart, Laurie Strite, Jessica Yadloczky.
87 Cynthia Friend, Bonnie George.

Monday 10th January 2005

THE R&A FOUNDATION BURSARY SCHEME
The R&A Training Panel wish to announce the following individual bursaries which are part of a total spend of over £400,000 for the current academic year.

Six recipients of R&A Foundation bursaries competed in the World Amateur Team Championships played in Puerto Rico in October. These included current Amateur Champion, Stuart Wilson, and Italy’s Francesco Molinari who has since gained his PGA European Tour card.

Sunday 9th January 2005

MORGAN PRESSEL WINS “HARDER HALL” TITLE WITH NINE-UNDER-PAR TOTAL
Morgan Pressel, pictured right, has had only a fraction of the worldwide publicity enjoyed by Michele Wie but the blonde 16-year-old from Boca Raton, Florida could be one of the Hawiaan wonder girl’s toughest challengers a few seasons down the road on the LPGA Tour.
Coming off a great year in 2004, Morgan teed off the New Year with impressive figures in winning the first event of the Florida Orange Blossom women’s amateur circuit – the Harder Hall Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida.
Morgan made all the running with rounds of 70, 71, 66 and 72 for a nine-under-par total of 279 over the par-72 course.
She won by two shots from the US junior girls’ open champion, 18-year-old Julieta Granada from Paraguay and Wake University senior student Ashley Hoagland, winner of the Dixie Amateur women’s title just before Christmas.
Julieta and Ashley finished two shots behind Morgan on seven-under 281.
No-one else in the field finished under par. University of Virginia student Leah Wigger was fourth at four-over-par 292.
Way down the field were some big names from past Curtis Cup matches such as Martha Lang, tied 14th on 307, Robin Donnelley Weiss, 21st on 317, and Carol Semple Thompson, tied 22nd on 318.
A biggish gallery saw a tighter finish than had been anticipated when Morgan Pressel led by as many as seven shots after only two holes of the fourth and final round.
But while Morgan held the par line, Julieta Granada and Ashley Hoagland made inroads on her lead with some fine birdie golf, so much so that Miss Pressel’s advantage had shrunk to one shot after 16 holes.
Morgan took some of the pressure off herself by birdieing the dog-leg par 5 17th while her leading rivals had to settle for par figures.
Miss Pressel finished off with a par 72 while Julieta hit the 68 mark in both the third and fourth rounds while Ashley went 70-67.
Morgan Pressel first gained publicity outwith Bocan Raton and its surrounds at the age of 12 when she became one of the youngester players ever to qualify to play in the US Women’s Open.
Last year she won the prestigious women’s amateur event, the North and South Amateur, plus a cluster of top junior tournaments. She also made it as far as the quarter-finals of the US Women’s Amateur.
Just after Christmas, she was relegated to second place by 18-year-old Julieta Granada in the girls’ section of the Junior Orange Bowl international tournament at Coral Gables, Florida.
Morgan and Julieta between them amassed 14 birdies in the third round of the Harder Hall Invitational.
If there were a Curtis Cup match in 2005, Morgan Pressel would be a banker bet for a place in the United States line-up.
Collated scoreboard
HARDER HALL INVITATION WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOURNAMENT
Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring, Florida
LEADING FINAL TOTALS (Par 72)
Players from United States unless stated.
279 Morgan Pressel 70 71 66 72.
281 Julieta Granada (Paraguay) 72 73 68 68, Ashley Hoagland 72 72 70 67.
292 Leah Wigger 72 73 71 76.
293 Nicole Hage 73 72 76 72, Perry Swenson 73 74 70 76.
298 Lisa Tyler 71 74 72 81.
299 Taffy Brower 75 72 78 74.
300 Margaret Shirley 77 77 73 73.
303 Gennifer Mendez 80 75 76 72.
304 Marian Riordean 78 73 74 79, Candace Schepperle 71 74 75 84.
306 Abigale Schepperle 72 78 81 75.
307 Ashley Frey 81 74 74 78, Martha Lang 75 73 81 78.
310 Mary Jane Hiestand 79 82 74 75.
311 Hwanhee Lee 76 79 78 78.
312 Corey Weworski 78 82 80 72.
315 Erin Fitzpatrick 77 80 77 81, Paige Haverty 81 76 82 76.
317 Robin Donnelley Weiss 78 79 81 79.
318 Connie Isler 80 79 79 80, Carol Semple Thompson 82 76 81 79, Christie Reed 79 81 84 74.
319 Anna Temple 82 80 81 76, Megan Place 81 77 82 79, Nancy Smith 80 82 77 80.
320 Lyndsey Adams 80 80 82 78.
322 Ashley Mayo 82 83 79 78, Monica Von Glahn 85 78 79 80.
313 Barbara Pagana 87 75 78 83.
325 Kira Mayo 77 80 85 83.
328 Dot Bolling 81 82 86 79, Cynthia Friend 78 86 82 82.
329 Katrin A Wolfe 80 83 83 83.
331 Julie Bartholomew 86 78 87 80.

Friday 7th January 2005

MORGAN INCREASES HER LEAD IN HARDER HALL INVITATIONAL
Morgan Pressel, 16-year-old candidate for a place in next year’s United States Curtis Cup team, increased her lead to three shots at the halfway stage of the first event on the Florida Orange Blossom women’s amateur circuit.
Morgan, from Boca Raton, shot a second-round 71 for a 36-hole tally of 141 in the Harder Hall Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida.
US junior girls’ open champion Julieta Granada from Paraguay, recent winner of the girls’ title in the Junior Orange Bowl championship at Coral Gables, lost more ground on Miss Pressel whom she beat into second place in the junior event.
Julieta had a 73 to be sharing third place on 145, four shots off the pace.
SCOREBOARD
141 Morgan Pressel 70 71.
144 Ashley Hoagland 72 72.
145 Julieta Granada (Paraguay) 72 73, Nicole Hage 73 72, Lisa Tyler 71 74, Leah Wigger 72 73, Candace Schepperie 71 74.
147 Taffy Brower 75 72, Perry Swenson 73 74.
148 Martha Lang 75 73.
150 Abigale Schepperie 72 78.
151 Marian Riordan 78 73.
154 Margaret Shirley 77 77.
155 Ashley Frey 81 74, Hwanhee Lee 76 69, Gennifer Mendez 80 75.
157 Robin Weiss Donnelley 78 79, Erin Fitzpatrick 77 80, Paige Haverty 81 76, Kira Mayo 77 80.

Thursday 6th January 2005

MORGAN EARLY LEADER IN HARDER HALL INVITATIONAL
Morgan Pressel, the 16-year-old from Boca Raton, who finished second to Julieta Granada in the Junior Orange Bowl girls’ championship at Coral Gables, Florida, just before the end of the year, got her nose in front of the US girls’ open champion from Paraguay in the first round of the Harder Hall Invitational women’s tournament at Harder Hall Country Club in Sebring, Florida.
Morgan led the field by one shot at the end of the opening day on the Florida Orange Blossom women’s amateur golf circuit with a very good score of 70.
Julieta shared fourth place on 72.
LEADING SCORES
70 Morgan Pressel.
71 Lisa Tyler, Candace Schepperie.
72 Julieta Granada (Paraguay), Ashley Hoagland, Leah Wigger, Abigale Schepperie.
73 Nicole Hage, Perry Swenson.
75 Taffy Brower, Martha Lang, B Brynestadgrotvedt.
76 Hwanhee Lee.
77 Erin Fitzpatrick, Kira Mayo, Margaret Shirley, Kristen Simpson.

Tuesday 4th January 2005

COMPUTER ACE FIONA STARTS WORK FOR SLGA ON MONDAY
Perth-based Fiona Farquharson. pictured right, will not have far to travel to her new post of Scottish Ladies Golfing Association tournament officer when she reports for duty on Monday, January 10.
The SLGA moved its headquarters from Drumoig in Fife to Dundee Road, Perth last year.
Mrs Farquharson was born Fiona McNab in Dundee but has lived since 1983 in Perth where she ran a guest house with her husband Les from July 1987 to April last year.
She has worked in the world of computers since joining Scottish & Newcastle Breweries’ head office in Edinburgh as a management trainee/computer programmer straight from university in September 1981.
She became a lecturer in computer data processing at Perth College in August 1982 and worked her way up to become assistant head of the college’s faculty of business, management and computing.
Latterly she was an IT Trainer at the University of Abertay before performing a similar role for Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust. Her last job was as an ICT co-ordinator for Perth & Kinross Council.
Fiona Farquharson has been playing golf since 1974 and has a record of which she can be proud. She first achieved a scratch handicap in 1989 and played off +1 for two seasons. Her handicap is currently eight.
She has been club champion at King James VI Golf Club, Perth 16 times in the last 19 years and is also a past lady club captain. At Camperdown Ladies Golf Club, Dundee, Fiona has been club champion 18 times.
She won the Ladies’ Highland Open championship at Pitlochry for a second seventh time in 1998.
Mrs Farquharson is one of the few golfers around to have played for two counties. She represented Angus 14 times between 1976 and 1992 and then played for Perth & Kinross five times between 1994 and 2000.
She won the Angus county championship in 1986 and the P & K county title in 1995 and was also beaten finalist in both events on a number of occasions.
Fiona won the North of Scotland women’s championship at Murcar in 1981 and was runner-up in the prestigious St Rule Trophy tournament at St Andrews in 1987.
Earlier she had been Scottish Universities women’s champion in 1978 and 1979 and represented Scotland for four years in the university matches against England, Ireland and Wales.
She was a reserve for the Scotland girls’ international team in 1977, the same year she won the Scottish schoolgirls’ title and represented Scotland in the Aer Lingus School Final.
Mrs Farquharson has held or currently holds women’s course records of King James VI, Dunkeld, Muckhart, Camperdown, Crieff and Monifieth.
She succeeds Gillian Roy from Monifieth as SLGA tournament officer. Miss Roy resigned so that she could spend a year touring Australia.
It will be Mrs Farquharson’s responsibility to organise all tournaments under the auspices of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, principally the week-long closed championship, to be held this year at Cruden Bay from May 17 to 21, and the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open stroke-play championship at Troon, and several other events, including the Scottish women’s county finals and the Scottish girls’ championships.
The tournament officer makes regular visits to competition venues in advance of the events to ensure that everything will be in place when the time comes.

Monifeith Girls at their prizegiving last night

Monifeith Girls make Sparkling Start to the New Year
Monifieth Golf Club junior girls held their presentation of prizes in the clubhouse on Monday 3rd January 2005.  A large gathering of  girls, parents, grandparents and club members heard how the girls had represented the club in competitions at 26 different golf courses all over Scotland, from Nairn in the North-East to Prestwick in the South-West, winning prizes at most of the venues.  They also heard that five of the girls were selected for the Scottish Ladies' Golf Association Development Squad, receiving tuition from the Scottish Ladies Coach, Karen Dallas.

Glen Golf Club launch new website
Checkout www.glengolfclub.co.uk for a new excellent website for the Glen Golf Club in North Berwick. Try the 360 panoramas, the video, and the virtual tour. Great site... well done!

Saturday 1st January 2005

Happy New Year to all kirkwoodgolf readers!