PAULA CREAMER GOES SIX SHOTS CLEAR
IN LPGA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

So who's going to be second? Paula Creamer has forged six shots clear of the field with one round to go on Sunday in the LPGA Tournament of Champions at Mobile, Alabama.
Paula has put together impressive rounds of 67, 65 and 78 over the par-72 course for a 16-under-par tally of 200.
Her nearest rival after three rounds is Pat Hurst on 206 after scores of 69, 69 and 68.
Karen Stupples is the leading British player in 11th spot on 213 after rounds of 72, 67 and 74.
Catriona Matthew has reeled off three one-over-par 73s in a row for 22nd place on 219.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
200 P Creamer 67 65 68.
206 P Hurst 69 69 68.
207 J J Hang 70 67 70.
208 B Kim 72 70 66, S Pettersen 69 71 68, A Sorenstam 71 67 70.
210 N Gulbis 69 74 67, S H Lee 69 74 67.
211 L Ochoa 74 69 68, W Ward 73 69 69.
213 K Stupples (Eng) 72 67 74.
Other score:
219 C Matthew (Sco) 73 73 73 (22nd).

LPGA SCOREBOARD
Tournament of Champions
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
132 Paula Creamer 67 65.
137 Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 70 67
138 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 71 67, Pat Hurst 69 69
139 Karen Stupples (Eng) 72 67
140 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 69 71
142 Carin Koch (Swe) 72 70, Wendy Ward 73 69, Birdie Kim (Kor) 72 70
143 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 69 74, Natalie Gulbis 69 74, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 70 73, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 74 69
145 Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor) 69 76, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 71 74, Liselotte Neumann (Swe) 72 73
146 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 73 73, Juli Inkster 74 72, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 74 72, Julieta Granada (Par) 74 72, Christina Kim 77 69
147 Heather Young 71 76, Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 72 75, Sung Ah Yim (Kor) 77 70, Jimin Kang (Kor) 71 76, Nicole Castrale 76 71
148 Meaghan Francella 80 68, Heather Daly-Donofrio 75 73
149 Meg Mallon 67 82, Sherri Steinhauer 75 74
151 Kim Saiki-Maloney 71 80, Moira Dunn 78 73
152 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 75 77
153 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 77 76
154 Morgan Pressel 82 72

POLLY JT 24th, PAMELA TIED 40th AT END OF
FUTURES TOUR QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

Londoner Polly Willett finished joint 24th and Scot Pamela Feggans from Ayr tied for 40th position in the Duramed Futures Tour qualifying tournament over four courses at Lakeland, Florida.
Polly scored 69, 73, 75 and 76 for 293.
Pamela's rounds were 73, 75, 72 and 76 for 296.
Amateur Vicky Hurst won the tournament at which the final day temperatures were up in the 70s. Oh to be in Florida, now that winter's here!
Scroll down to read Lisa D Mickey's report.
FINAL TOTALS
1 Vicky Hurst (Melbourne, Florida) (am) 72-68-72-71 - 283.
2 Sara Brown (Tucson, Arizona) (am) 71-68-71-74 - 284.
3 Chella Choi (Seoul, Korea) (am) 72-73-69-71 - 285.
4 Rachel Newren (Salt Lake City, Utah) 70-74-70-73 - 287 ($500).
5 Juli Erekson (Mapleton, Utah) (am) 71-71-72-74 - 288.
5 Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Georgia) (am) 73-70-70-75 - 288.
5 Ya-Ni Tseng (Taipei, Taiwan) 71-72-69-76 - 288 ($435).
5 Mandy Goins (Frankfort, Kentucky) 70-71-71-76 - 288 ($435)
9 Melissa Eaton (Kwazulu, South Africa) 76-71-72-70 - 289 ($360)
9 Chris Brady (Longboat Key, Florida) 71-75-72-71 - 289 ($360).
9 Sarah Jacobs (Nashville, Tennessee) 70-73-73-73 - 289 ($360).
12 Haeji Kang (Seoul, Korea) (am) 75-74-71-70 - 290.
12 Sarah Oh (Sydney, Australia) 70-72-74-74 - 290 ($300).
14 Megan Heckeroth (Los Angeles, California) 75-76-70-70 - 291 ($62).
14 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Virginia) 75-74-71-71 - 291 ($62).
14 Hannah Jun (La Quinta, California) 73-74-71-73 - 291 ($62).
14 Misun Cho (Cheungju, Korea) 72-76-70-73 - 291 ($62).
18 Whitney Wade (Glasgow, Kentucky) 70-73-76-73 - 292.
18 Christine Cho (Kent, Washington) 74-72-73-73 - 292.
18 Andrea VanderLende (Longwood, Florida) 74-72-73-73 - 292.
18 Whitney Myers (Gainesville, Florida) (am) 70-74-74-74 - 292.
18 Anna Grzebien (Narragansett, Rhode Island) 70-76-72-74 - 292.
18 Mi Jung Hur (Seoul, Korea) (am) 71-75-70-76 - 292.
24 Marci Turner (Tompkinsville, Kentucky) (am) 72-78-73-70 - 293.
24 Polly Willett (London, England) 69-73-75-76 - 293.
26 Dana Je (Edgewater, New Jersey) (am) 74-79-69-72 - 294.
26 Stephanie Kim (Orlando, Florida) (am) 74-75-73-72 - 294.
26 Yoo Jin Jin (Seoul, Korea) (am) 68-74-78-74 - 294.
26 Ashley Grier (Hagerstown, Maryland) 74-75-71-74 - 294.
26 Alejandra Shaw (Vina Del Mar, Chile) (am) 72-75-76-71 - 294.
26 Songyi Yi (San Diego, California) 74-73-73-74 - 294.
26 Morgan Olds (Stamford, Connecticutt) 74-74-75-71 - 294.
26 Michelle Jarman (Wilmington, North Carolina) (am) 69-71-75-79 - 294.
34 Amy Schmucker (Cold Spring, Minnesota) 69-76-75-75 - 295.
34 Jessica Schneider (Elgin, Illinois) 69-74-76-76 - 295.
34 Mandi McConnell (Grand Blanc, Michigan) 70-77-72-76 - 295.
34 Jennifer Ackerson (Dallas, Texas) 73-72-74-76 - 295.
34 Angela Oh (Maple Shade, New Jersey) (am) 73-73-77-72 - 295.
34 Leah Whiting (Hilo, Hawaii) 70-72-76-77 - 295.
40 Jenna Pearson (Wheaton, Illinois) 74-76-71-75 - 296.
40 Seema Sadekar (Las Vegas, Nevada) 77-74-71-74 - 296.
40 Brittainy Klein (Henderson, Kentucky) 77-74-71-74 - 296.
40 Pamela Feggans (Ayr, Scotland) 73-75-72-76 - 296.
40 Amber Prange (Noblesville, Indiana) 72-76-75-73 - 296.
40 Whitney Wright (Rockingham, North Carolina) 73-73-73-77 - 296.
46 Ashley Knoll (The Woodlands, Texas) 71-75-75-76 - 297.
46 Rebecka Heinmert (San Jose, California) 75-74-72-76 - 297.
46 Sarah Lynn Sargent (St Charles, Illinois) 72-75-75-75 - 297.
46 Tanya Dergal (Durango, Mexico) 74-71-76-76 - 297
46 Adriane Duke (Jonesboro, Arkansas) 73-73-74-77 - 297.
46 Catherine Matranga (Fort Worth, Texas) 71-78-75-73 - 297.
46 Jaclyn Sweeney (Bradenton, Florida) (am) 74-70-74-79 - 297
53 Jackie Beers (Duluth, Georgia) 71-75-75-77 - 298.
53 Kyu-Ri Ban (Cheong-Ju, Korea) 74-76-72-76 - 298.
53 Devan Andersen (Guadalajara, Mexico) (am) 71-74-75-78 - 298.
53 Meredith Duncan (Shreveport, Louisiana) 73-75-76-74 - 298.
53 Cindy Lee-Pridgen (Sabah, Malaysia) 73-76-70-79 - 298.
53 Lauren Todd (Phoenix, Arizona) 74-75-68-81 - 298.
53 Sin Ah Ham (Torrance, California) 73-76-77-72 - 298.
53 Carol Green (Tazewell, Virgina) 73-77-76-72 - 298.
61 Kelly Froelich (Paris, France) 74-73-75-77 - 299.
61 Libby Smith (Essex Junction, Vermont) 73-77-72-77 - 299.
61 Gerina Mendoza (Roswell, New Mexico) 78-72-75-74 - 299.
61 Carmen Bandea (Atlanta, Georgia) 79-73-74-73 - 299.
61 Stacey Tate (New Zealand) 75-77-74-73 - 299.
66 Sam White (Atlanta, Georgia) 70-75-76-79 - 300.
66 Christina Jones (Jensen Beach, Florida) (am) 77-76-70-77 - 300.
66 Camila Mori (Santiago, Chile) (am) 75-75-73-77 - 300.
66 Eileen Vargas (Ibague, Colombia) 79-74-73-74 - 300.
70 Melanie Willhite (Clarksville, Tennessee) 74-76-72-79 - 301.
70 Elin Andersson (Eskilstuna, Sweden) (am) 74-75-75-77 - 301.
70 Sookhee Baek (Bradenton, Florida) 75-71-78-77 - 301.
70 Nicole Hage (Coral Springs, Florida) 75-77-72-77 - 301.
70 Shayna Miyajima (Maui, Hawaii) 73-74-78-76 - 301.
70 Jaclyn Burch (Satellite Beach, Florida) 73-74-78-76 - 301.
70 Mary Kate Morgan (a) (Longview, Washington) 78-72-76-75 - 301.
70 Adrienne Millican (Fuquay Varina, North Carolina) 75-79-72-75 - 301.
78 Lorraine Ballerano (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) 78-72-72-80 - 302.
78 Kimberly Goedecke (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida) 76-77-69-80 - 302.
78 Kelly Schaub (Greeley, Colorado) 75-73-75-79 - 302.
78 Lili Alvarez (Durango, Mexico) 77-72-75-78 - 302.
78 Kate Stepanek (Guilford, Connecticutt) (am) 76-76-72-78 - 302.
78 Kylene Pulley (Kokomo, Indiana) (am) 73-76-76-77 - 302.
78 Krista Bartlett (Mesa, Arizona) 80-71-74-77 - 302.
78 Heather Angell (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) 73-76-77-76 - 302.
86 Alexandra Braga (Los Angeles, California) 71-77-76-79 - 303.
87 Kayo Koike (Tokyo, Japan) (am) 75-74-74-81 - 304.
87 Courtney Mahon (Fayetteville, Arkansas) 80-73-73-78 - 304.
89 Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Florida) (am) 75-77-72-81 - 305.
89 Esther Moon (Nashville, Tennessee) (am) 76-75-74-80 - 305.
91 Inah Park (Kaleden, British Columbia) 74-76-73-84 - 307.
91 Trisha Self (Littleton, Colorado) 78-73-74-82 - 307.
93 Jeehae Lee (Seoul, Korea) 75-73-77-85 - 310.

Amateur Vicky Hurst shows her class
in winning Qualifying Tournament

Report by Lisa D Mickey of the Duramed Futures Tour

LAKELAND, Fla., Nov. 9, 2007 – More than one coach in America is waiting for the telephone to ring with news from top-ranked junior Vicky Hurst. And more than one college women’s golf program courting the talented teen would love to add the nation’s best girl player to its roster next fall.
But for now, they must wait for Hurst to decide which direction to take in her young career. She secured exempt status on the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour by winning the Tour’s ninth annual qualifying tournament. She carded rounds of 72-68-72-71 to win by one shot at 283 (-5) in the 72-hole event that concluded today at Cleveland Heights Golf Course.
“It’s like starting my career,” said Hurst, 17, of Melbourne, Fla. “Playing this qualifier and winning it kind of starts everything with a bang. I won it without playing amazing golf and I know I can improve so much. Now I also know where I stand.”
Hurst probably has had a good idea of where she stands for a long time, but to come out on top as an amateur in a full field of 312 professional and amateur players from 30 nations in a four-round event made a compelling statement this week.
That statement was especially clear on the last hole today when Hurst hit a 108-yard soft pitching-wedge approach into the wind to four feet from the hole. She trailed amateur Sara Brown by one shot going into the final hole. Playing in the same final pairing, Brown pulled her approach into the 18th green, and then watched her greenside chip roll 40 feet past the hole. Hurst made her birdie putt and benefited from the two-shot swing on the last hole for the win when Brown couldn’t save par.
“She can bomb it and she has a good head on her shoulders,” said Brown, 21, a Michigan State University senior from Tucson, Ariz., who carded a final-round 74 and finished second at 284 (-4). “Definitely, the sky’s the limit for her. I’d be surprised if she goes to college and if she doesn’t, I can’t say that I blame her. She’s ready [for the pros] now.”
With the tournament field rotating on three courses prior to today’s final round, Hurst made a gradual progression up the leaderboard as players toured Lakeland’s Cleveland Heights Golf Course, Huntington Hills Golf & Country Club and Schalamar Creek Golf Club in the first 54 holes. By the third round, Hurst had climbed into a share of second with recent Wake Forest University grad Mandy Goins of Frankfort, Ky., and Ya-Ni Tseng of Taipei, Taiwan, winner of the LPGA’s California Sectional Tournament. Brown held a two-shot lead after three rounds.
But while her ball striking was solid, Tseng wrestled with her putting today, carding 36 putts with two three-putt greens on her last four holes. She posted a final-round score of 76 to tumble into a tie for fifth at even-par 288 with Goins and two other players. Goins also posted a four-over score of 76.
“I don’t know what happened today,” said Tseng, who says she will refocus for the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament later this month. “My body just didn’t listen to me.”
Goins really only suffered one bad hole, but that quadruple-bogey-8 on the par-four fourth hole was enough to rock the former Deacon back on her heels. She pushed her tee shot into a water hazard, re-teed, and then hit her approach into the hazard again. Goins took a drop, hit her approach past the hole and then two-putted for an 8.
“As hard as it was, I had to tell myself that there were a lot of holes left to play,” said Goins, who also will play in the LPGA’s Final Q-School this month. “I just had to catch my breath and regain my composure. A birdie on the eighth hole settled me down again.”
While the final pairing drew the most attention, amateur Chella Choi, 17, of Seoul, Korea charged up the leaderboard with a final-round score of 71 to finish third at 285 (-3). Rookie pro Rachel Newren of Salt Lake City, Utah moved into fourth place at one-over 73 to move into fourth at 287 (-1).
Brown had her chances all day today and held onto the lead by a thread to the very end. The plucky collegian hit 14 greens in regulation and missed only three fairways, but 34 putts would separate her from winning and finishing second. Even after the round, Brown sat in a golf cart and lamented that she hit approach shots within 15 feet or less on eight greens and converted the one-putt only twice.
“I hit it really solid, but my putter quit on me today,” said Brown, who will complete her college eligibility with the Spartans next spring before turning professional after the NCAA Championship. “Still, I’m very happy with the way I played and I’m excited to get back to college.”
And while Hurst didn’t rip up the field this week, she got it done. She accomplished her goals of making the 54-hole player cut, earning a spot on the 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour and proved that graduation day is closer than some might think. She graduates from Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in May, turns 18 in June, and says that she and her mother, Koko, will hit the highway for tournament golf as soon as school is out.
Hurst also plans to open the 2008 season with the Duramed FUTURES Tour at its Florida events. But the question still remains: Will Vicky Hurst play 2008 as an amateur or as a professional?
“Definitely by March or before, I’ll know,” said Hurst, the AJGA’s 2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year with three tournament wins. “I’ve been worrying about this for a year and I’m probably leaning toward turning pro, but anything can change. I’ll practice and be confident with my decision.”
Until that decision is made, Vicky Hurst isn’t touching the phone.
For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Weather: Sunny and clear with a slight breeze. Temperatures in the mid-70s.

February 10 to 23 at Murcia, Southern Spain

Belgian professional Lien will tune

up for 2008 season at Hacienda

del Alamo Festival .. why don't you?

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Tournament Controller, Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival, Murcia, Spain

One of the most talented girl amateurs on the Continent of recent years has put her name down for the Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Winter Golf Festival at the five-star resort in the Murcia Region of southern Spain.
She is Lien Willems, pictured right, from Belgium, now a professional but not the possessor of full playing rights for the Ladies European Tour.
“Having turned pro in June this year, I came through the LET Pre-Qualifying at Le Fonti Golf Club in Italy in 19th position at three-under-par but missed the cut in the Final Qualifying tournament,” said Lien.
“For the 2008 season, I will play on the Telia Tour (in Sweden) and also try to get some invitations for LET events. The Hacienda del Alamo Festival seems to be a good preparation for the 2008 season.”
Lien has put her finger right on the button, the reason why Billy Sim, the Hacienda del Alamo director of golf, and I have put together this abbreviated version of what we hope will eventually lead to a Murcia Ladies Open Tour in January-February 2009.
Six competitions and unlimited practice over two consecutive weeks in what is almost guaranteed to be better, milder, even warmer Murcia weather than will be the case in the Britain, Ireland and the more northerly Continental countries should enable players to tune up for the new season, whether they be amateurs or professionals.
Lien Willems has been a Belgian national team member since 2000 when she was only 13. She played her first world championship in Malaysia in 2002, followed by Puerto Rico in 2004 and South Africa in 2006.
“In between, I played for the national Belgian team in about every European team championship and a lot of international amateur competitions. I won the Belgian International Juniors’ girls title in 2006 and had some top-10 finishes in the European Young Masters, the Dutch International Juniors, the Italian Ladies and so on,” says Lien who has her own website http://www.lienwillems.com/

The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival entry list so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Lauren Dibble (Celtic Manor)
Lien Willems (Belgium)
AMATEURS
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (+1)
Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (7).
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) (+1)
*Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) (scr)
*Mandy Easton (Dalmahoy) (5).
*Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) (8)
*To be confirmed

INQUIRIES FROM FAR AND NEAR
I’ve had inquiries from Sweden, Russia, United States, Scotland, England and Ireland but converting inquiries into confirmed entries looks like being a long, drawn-out process.
Golfers are traditionalists at heart. “Something new” takes a while to be accepted. A new concept of “Competition and Practice” – which sums up the Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Winter Festival – at a time of the year when most golfers in Britain have had their clubs in hibernation for a month or two takes a while to sink in.
Meanwhile the budget airline flight prices will be rising.
Let me just clarify some points:
1 Although I would like you to come to Hacienda del Alamo for both weeks, you don’t have to. You can come the first week or you can come the second week.
2 You can arrive when you like and leave when you like. If you can get cheaper flights flying out to Murcia on a Tuesday/Wednesday and flying home the following Wednesday/Thursday, then go for it.
3 You can be accompanied by your husband, partner of boyfriend, although they will not be able to take part in the competitions except as caddies.
4 You don’t have to stay at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort but you would certainly have to hire a car if you didn’t. The taxi fare from Murcia Airport to Hacienda del Alamo is not an arm and a leg job but Alicante Airport to Hacienda del Alamo by taxi is quite expensive.
5 You don’t have to play in every competition whether you are staying for one week or two.
6 Getting two, three or even four golfing friends to share a villa, brings the individual cost down considerably.
7 There is no minimum or maximum age limit. For amateurs, a single-figure handicap is the key of the door.
8 There is no deadline for entries but given the hours of daylight in mid-February, Billy Sim and I reckon we are looking at a capacity field of little more than 60 for each event, starting in threes at 10min intervals.
It’s first come, first served. If you notify the Tournament Controller (that’s me) that you want to enter, then your place in the Festival is guaranteed at the moment but that might not be the case if the word gets round and there’s a rush of entries.
My good friend Lisa D Mickey of the Duramed Futures Tour put details of the Festival up on the players’ noticeboard at this past week’s qualifying tournament at Lakeland, Florida.
That could lead to a few transatlantic entries over the next week when all the players get back to base.
All you have to do is E-mail your entry this weekend to colin@scottishgolfview.com
+++Details of how to book accommodation are available by clicking on the words HDA Women's Festival in the left-hand column of this screen. info@resortmanagementhda.com has been added to the list of E-mail addresses for inquiries about HDA accommodation.

====================LUXURY VILLA OVERLOOKING 12th HOLE ========

Angela Howells has a four-bed, four-bath luxury villa at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort overlooking the par-3 12th hole. Full details can be found on www.luxury-golf-villa.com

She is willing to rent it out to competitors in the Festival for one week or two at 1,000 Euros (£670) per week. It is still available at the moment.
Looks a reasonable deal for four (maybe more) sharing.
You can E-mail Angela at angie_howells@yahoo.com or telephone her at 07967 147761 or 07787 511867. She will be happy to answer any questions.

LPGA SCOREBOARD
Tournament of Champions
Mobile, Alabama.
+Frost delayed the start of play by approximately one hour.
Par 72
67 Paula Creamer, Meg Mallon
69 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Natalie Gulbis, Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Pat Hurst
70 Se Ri Pak (Kor), Jin Joo Hong (Kor)
71 Heather Young, Kim Saiki-Maloney, Jimin Kang (Kor), Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Hee-Won Han (Kor)
72 Joo Mi Kim (Kor), Karen Stupples (Eng), Carin Koch (Swe), Birdie Kim (Kor), Liselotte Neumann (Swe)
73 Catriona Matthew (Sco), Wendy Ward
74 Juli Inkster, Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Julieta Granada (Par)
75 Jennifer Rosales (Phi), Sherri Steinhauer, Heather Daly-Donofrio
76 Nicole Castrale
77 Wendy Doolan (Aus), Sung Ah Yim (Kor), Christina Kim
78 Moira Dunn
80 Meaghan Francella
82 Morgan Pressel
Withdrawn: Soo-Yun Kang

POLLY AND PAMELA SURVIVE THIRD-ROUND CUT
IN DURAMED FUTURES TOUR QUALFIER

Polly Willett from London and Ayrshire's Pamela Feggans survived the 54-hole cut with a fair degree of ease in the Duramed Futures Tour qualifying tournament over three courses at Lakeland, Florida.
But Brenda McLarnon from Belfast and Natalie Cruse from Surrey were eliminated before the final round over the Cleveland Heights course on Friday (local time).
Polly goes into that final 18 holes in joint 13th place on 217 (one over par) after rounds of 69, 73 and 75.
Pamela is sharing 31st place on 220 with scores of 73, 75 and 72.
A total of 93 players with 54-hole totals of 226 or better qualified for the final round.
They were led by Tucson, Arizona amateur Sara Brown with 71, 68 and 71 for six-under-par 210.
Outstanding young amateur Vicky Hurst is one of three players sharing second place on 212.

SCOREBOARD

210 Sara Brown (Tucson, Ariz) (am) 71 68 71.
212 Mandy Goins (Frankfort, Ky) 70 71 71, Ya-Ni Tseng (Taipei, Taiwan) 71 72 69, Vicky Hurst (Melbourne, Fla) (am) 72 68 72.
213 Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Ga) (am) 73 70 70.
214 Juli Erekson (Mapleton, Utah) (am) 71 71 72, Rachel Newren (Salt Lake City, Utah) 70 74 70, Chella Choi (SKor) (am) 72 73 69.
215 Michelle Jarman (Wilmington, N.C.) (am) 69 71 75.
216 Sarah Jacobs (Nashville, Tenn) 70 73 73, Mi Jung Hur (SKor) (am) 71 75 70, Sarah Oh (Sydney, Australia) 70 72 74, Lauren Todd (Phoenix, Ariz) 74 75 68.
217 Polly Willett (London, England) 69 73 75.
218 Misun Cho (Cheungju, Korea) 72 76 70, Hannah Jun (LaQuinta, Calif) 73 74 71, Chris Brady (Longboat Key, Fla.) 71 75 72, Anna Grzebien (Narragansett, R.I.) 70 76 72, Jaclyn Sweeney (Bradenton, Fla) (am) 74 70 74, Whitney Myers (Gainesville, Fla) (am) 70 74 74, Leah Whiting (Hilo, Hawaii) 70 72 76, Cindy Lee-Pridgen (Sabah, Malaysia) 73 76 70.
Other qualifiers included:
220 Pamela Feggans (Ayr, Scotland) 73 75 72 (jt 31st).
MISSED THE CUT
227 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 76 79 72.
231 Natalie Cruse (Surrey) 72 78 81

MICHELE THOMSON ENTERS

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY

Scotland international player Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) is the latest entry for the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23 at the five-star golf resort in Murcia in southern Spain.
A member of the LGU winter training squad and a candidate for a place in the GB&I team for next year's Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, Michele is looking forward to combining a little bit of competition - of which there is not much around in Britain or the Continent in mid-February - with sharpening up her game on the excellent practice facilities at Hacienda del Alamo.
Scotland team-mate Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), who teamed up with Michele to represent Scotland in the recent "The Spirit" tournament in Texas, has also entered.
So too has another McDonald Ellon Golf Club member, teenager Lauren MacCallum who is a pupil at the Loretto Golf Academy.
The only professional entry so far has come from Lauren Dibble, the long-hitting Celtic Manor player.
Remember to E-mail your entry to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at colin@scottishgolfview.com
Click on the Hacienda del Alamo Winter Golf Festival words in the first column of this page to get the details of how to book accommodation.
Don't delay too long or you might find that the cost of the flights has gone up while you have been thinking about it.

BECKY DOWELL TIES FOR 12th
IN HATTER FALL CLASSIC
AT DELAND, FLORIDA

Becky Dowell from Thornecombe, Fern Grimshaw of Dorset and Emma Taylor from Devon - all students at Bethune Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida, finished joint 12th, 22nd and 25th in the Hatter Fall Classic college tournament at Victoria Hills Golf Club, DeLand in Florida over a par-72, 6,007yd course.
Senior year student Becky, pictured right, scored 80, 79 and 73 for 232 in her final competition before the mid-winter college golf season break.
Fern, also in her final year, shot 80, 80 and 77 for 237 while junior student Emma had rounds of 75, 80 and 83 for 238.
A fourth English-born student was also in the field of 45 - Danielle Gibb from Sittingbourne and a student at Jacksonville University, Florida. She scored 84, 77 and 92 for 253 and 41st place.
Winner of the tournament by three stroke was Praewnapa Phol-Uaporn (Florida Atlantic), from Bangkok, Thailand with 69, 73 and 75 for 217.
Bethune Cookman (933) finished joint fourth behind Stetson University (902) in the team event.

LAURA CUTLER 18th AT BEACH BASH

Laura Culter (Jacksonville State University, Alabama), a freshman student from Nottingham, came 18th of 70 players in the UAB Beach Bash at The Peninsula Golf Club, Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Laura scored 80 and 75 for 155 over a par-72, 5,909yd course.

Team-mate Portia Abbott from Wiltshire had rounds of 78 and 84 for 162 and a share of 38th place behind the winner, Amber Litman (East Carolian) with 70 and 75 for 145.

Jacksonville State (625) finished seventh of 14 behind East Carolina (589) in the team event.

POLLY SITTING PRETTY IN JOINT FIFTH PLACE
AT DURAMED FUTURES TOUR QUALIFIER

Londoner Polly Willett is in joint fifth place in the huge starting field of over 300 as the Duramed Futures Tour enters its third day over three courses at Lakeland, Florida.
Polly has scored 69 and 73 for a 36-hole tally of 142. She is only three shots behind the new leader, Sara Brown, an amateur from Tucson, Arizona.
Pamela Feggans from Ayr is in joint 45th position after rounds of 73 and 75 for 148.
Reinstated amateur Natalie Cruse from Surrey, a former student at Coastal Carolina University, is on 150 with scores of 72 and 78 for a share of 72nd place.
Another past player on the US college circuit, Brenda McLarnon from Belfast is back in joint 147th place on 155 with scores of 76 and 79.
There will be a cut to the leading 90 and ties after Thursday's third round.
Joint overnight leader Elena Robles became the second player to be disqualified for using one of the modern electronic devices that tells them the precise distance to the hole.
The devices themselves are not illegal unless the organising committee of a particular tournament declares them so. The Futures Tour issued all players with a note, saying that measuring devices would not be permitted.
The field has been whittled down to 284 with the elimination of those who have not scored 87 or better in either of the rounds so far. This is a Duramed Futures Tour regulation.
The courses being used are all par-72s - Cleveland Heights (6,203yd), Huntington Hills (6,103yd), Schalamar Creek (6,060yd).

LEADING SCORES
Players from US unless stated
Par 144 (2 x 72)
139 Sara Brown (am) 71 68.
140 Michelle Jarman (am) 69 71, Vicky Hurst (am) 72 68.
141 Mandy Goins 70 71.
142 Polly Willett (London) 69 73, Leah Whiting 70 72, Juli Erekson (am) 71 71, Yoo Jin Jin (SKor) (am) 68 74, Sarah Oh (Australia) 70 72.
Other placings:
148 Pamela Feggans (Ayr) 73 75 (jt 45th).
150 Natalie Cruse (Surrey) (am) 72 78 (jt 72nd).
155 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 76 79 (jt 147th).

PAMELA FEGGANS HAS

ONE-OVER-PAR 73

IN FUTURES QUALIFIER

Londoner Polly Willett returned a three-under-par 69 (34-35) in the first round of the Duramed Futures Tour Qualifying tournament in Florida.

That was only one shot behind leaders Elena Roberts from California and South Korean amateur Yoo Jin Jan.

Natalie Cruse, an amateur from Surrey, was in joint 31st place with a par 72.

Pamela Feggans, pictured right, from Ayrshire was joint 45th on 73.

Brenda McLarnon from Belfast was in joint 112th position with a 76.

There is a mammoth field of 312 players taking part over three par-72 courses: Cleveland Heights (6,203yd), Huntington Hills (6,103yd) and Schalamar Creek (6,060yd).

The field will be cut after 54 holes to 90 players who will play the final round on Friday at Cleveland Heights.

LEADERS AFTER FIRST ROUND

Par 72
Players from US unless stated

68 Elena Roberts 34-34, Yoo Jin Jan (SKor) (am) 32-36.

69 Polly Willett (London) 34-35, Amy Schmucker 34-35, Jessica Schneider 35-34.

70 Whitney Wade 34-36, Sarah Jacobs 33-37, Sam White 37-33, Rachel Newren 36-34, Whitney Myers, Sarah Oh (Australia), Mandi McConnell, Leah Whiting, Mandy Goins, Anna Grzebien.

Other scores:

72 Natalie Cruse (Surrey) (am) (jt 31st).

73 Pamela Feggans (Ayr) (jt 45th).

76 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) (jt 112th).

KRYSTLE AND GEORGIA LOSE IN FLORIDA FINAL

Krystle Caithness lost the No 2 singles tie by 5 and 3 to Kim Donovan as her university, Georgia,went down by 3 1/2-1 1/2 to the hot favourites, Duke University from Durham, North Carolina, in the final of the Hooters Women's Collegiate Match-play championship at Ginn Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Florida earlier today.
Duke, the top-ranked women's college team in the United States, has won the tournament each year since its inception four years ago.
Details:
DUKE 3 1/2, GEORGIA 1 1/2
Amanda Blumenherst bt Innapha Tantanavivat 8 and 6.
Kim Donovan bt Krystle Caithness 5 and 3.
Jennie Lee lost to Garrett Phillips 2 and 1.
Jennifer Pandolfi halved with Caroline Andrade.
Alison Whitaker bt Mallory Hetzel 5 and 4.

Rebecca Watson, a member at Elie & Earlsferry Ladies Golf Club and a freshman student at the University of Tennessee, was on the losing side in the play-off for third place. Florida beat Tennessee 4-1 with Rebecca going down by one hole to Brittany Nelson in the No 2 singles tie.
3rd place play-off
FLORIDA 4, TENNESSEE 1
No 2 singles tie: Brittany Nelson bt Rebecca Watson 1 hole.

5th place play-off
ALABAMA 3, TEXAS A & M 2

7th place play-off
PURDUE 3, NEW MEXICO 2
No 1 singles tie: Christel Boeljon lost to Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 4 and 3.

All Smiles Deep in the Heart of Texas

Highlanders Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), Sammy Vass (Tain) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) with former Major tournament winner Steve Elkington during the recent biennial Grampian Houston Junior Trip to Texas. The Australian, who lives in the Houston area, volunteers to give the group of boys and girls from North and North-east Scotland a few tips and he also hosts a barbeque at his home for the youngsters (Thanks to Sammy Vass for passing on the picture).

JENNA WILSON RETAINS SLGA ORDER OF
MERIT TITLE AS SHE TURNS PRO

Scottish champion Jenna Wilson from Strathaven has bowed out of the amateur ranks as winner of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Order of Merit women's title for the second year in a row.
Jenna, who has turned professional since graduating from the recent Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, averaged a score of 1.80 UNDER the CSS in the 10 designated tournaments.
She won by the narrowest of margins - one-fifth of a stroke - from Michele Thomson, the Aberdeenshire champion and winner of the SLGA Order of Merit girls' title last year.
Michele finished runner-up, only .20 of a stroke behind Jenna with an average of -1.60.
They were the only two players to have a minus CSS average.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) finished third with +0.20.
Carly Booth (Comrie) finished No 1 in the SLGA girls’ rankings for 2007 with the outstanding average score of 4.17 under CSS in six designated tournaments.
No other girl had an average score under CSS.
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) finished second with +0.17.
LEADING RANKINGS
WOMEN
1 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) -1.80.
2 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) -1.60.
3 Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 0.20.
4 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 0.70.
5 Laura Murray (Alford) 0.80.
6 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 0.90.
7 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 1.20
8 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 1.50.
8 Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 1.50.
10 Ann F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 1.80.
11 Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank) 1.90.
12 Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) 2.30.
13 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 2.50.
14 Kerri Harper (Inverness) 2.90.
14 Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 2.90.
16 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 3.10.
17 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) 4.0
18 Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) 5.30.
GIRLS
1 Carly Booth (Comrie) -4.17.
2 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 0.17.
3 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 0.33.
4 Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 1.0
5 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 3.17.
6 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 3.83.
7 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 4.00
7 Sammy Vass (Tain) 4.00.
9 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 4.33.
10 Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 4.50.
11 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 4.67.
12 Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) 5.0.
13 Rachael McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 6.0.
14 Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 6.83.
15 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 7.0.
16 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 7.17.
17 Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) 7.50.
18 Isla Craigie (Torwoodlee) 7.67.
19 Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 8.67.
20 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 9.0.
20 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 9.0

CALLING ALL GOOD PLAYERS! ENTER TODAY
FOR THE HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S
WINTER GOLF FESTIVAL IN SPAIN

Do you know anybody who is a good enough player to enter the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival?
A Lady professional perhaps? A Lady amateur with a handicap of nine or under.
If you do, ask them if they have heard of this six-competition fortnight of golf and fun in the sun at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort with five-star practice facilities and a five-star programme of competitions between February 10 and 23.
If anyone wants details, click on the icon in the left hand column or send an E-mail right away to colin@scottishgolfview.com
Hurry! Hurry! The Budget airline charges could be going up as you read this.
By the way, if YOU don't happen to be a "good enough player," you can still come along and be a caddie or a supporter or just a holidaymaker.

KRYSTLE HALVES WITH

GERMAN ACE AS GEORGIA REACH MATCH-PLAY

FINAL IN FLORIDA

The University of Georgia women's team, including freshman Krystle Caithness from Cellardyke, Fife, are through to the final of the Hooters Collegiate Match-play Championship for Women at Ginn Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Florida.
Georgia, the sixth seeds, will play Duke University, the top-ranked women's college team in America.
Duke beat Tennessee 4-1 in the first semi-final. Rookie Rebecca Watson from South Queensferry was in the Tennessee line-up. She lost at the 20th to Rebecca Kim.
Georgia overcame Florida 3 1/2-1 1/2 with Krystle (pictured above) halving her match with Florida's highly-rated German player, Sandra Gal.
Tennessee and Florida will play off for third place.

HURRAH FOR HANNAH BURKE

AS SHE SCORES FIRST WIN IN UNITED STATES

Hannah Burke, pictured right, has scored her first victory on the United States women's college golf circuit.
The 19-year-old England girl international from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and a member of Mid-Herts Golf Club is following up an outstanding freshman year at Baylor University with an even better sophomore (second year) performance.
After achieving her then best to-date runner-up placing in the Ron Moore Intercollegiate at Highlands Ranch Golf Club, Colorado, Hannah struck gold in the quaintly-named Challenge at Wolfdancer women's tournament at Wolfdancer Golf Club, near Austin, Texas (November 4-5).
The 5ft 4in Burke was the "giant" of the third and final round. Starting the last day in sixth place, four shots off the pace, after rounds of 72 and 78, Hannah powered past the leaders with a brilliant closing round of five-under-par 67 over the par-72, 6,093yd course for a winning total of one-over-par 217.
Hannah left her opponents for dead, winning by four shots from Therese Nilsson (Lamar University) who shot 77, 72 and 72.
Miss Burke's first two rounds give little indication that she would spreadeagle the field of 67 players on the last round. On Day 1, her par 72 included late birdies at the 17th and 18th. In the second round, Hannah simply could not get a birdie putt to drop and and six bogeys added up to a six-over 78.
But then, on Day 3, Hannah looked a different player. She birdied the second, fifth and eighth in an outward 33 and kept it up with birdies at the 12th and 13th for 34 home and a bogey-free round of 67.
She has shot lower in her career - claiming the Mid-Herts women's course record with a 66 before she went to the States. But this was a come-from-behind victory that augurs well for the 19-year-old's future. She was good last college season. She is better now at the halfway point of her second season ... and she still has two to go after that.
There were two other English players in the field.
Clara Leathers (Middle Tennessee State) from Aylesbury plummeted from eighth place overnight to joint 46th on 243 with a catastrophic last round of 91 after earlier scores of 77 and 75.
Sian Reddick, the 2004 English stroke-play champion from Folkestone and Hannah Burke's golfing buddy at Baylor, finished joint 48th after rounds of 80, 86 and 78 for 244. Sian is still struggling to be the outstanding player she was before injury affected her level of performance. It's a long road back but let us hope that Sian can complete the journey.
That was the trouble for Baylor's hopes of a team triumph. They could not give their star player close support and finished fourth of 13 with a total of 924, compared with 911 by the winners Northwestern University, 916 by Iowa State and 921 by Middle Tennessee State.

Latest news on a female-friendly fortnight in Murcia, Spain

Pictured above is the brand new clubhouse which will be opened at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort later this month. No doubt about it, it's a five-star clubhouse at a five-star resort.

LAUREN DIGGLE FIRST LADY PRO
TO ENTER HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

Lauren Diggle is the first lady professional to enter the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star Murcia resort in southeast Spain from February 10 to 23.
Lauren was born in Durham but has lived in Caerleon South Wales for so long she probably considers herself Welsh.
She did not start playing golf at a local driving range until she was 14. She joined the Celtic Manor Golf Club soon after and has been a member there ever since. She was given full honorary membership of the club when she turned professional two years ago.
Lauren rates golf, rugby, all films, especially Coen brothers and Tarrantino, reading collecting DVDs, spending time with boyfriend, family and friends as her main interests in life.
She has been played on the Celtic Pro Tour with the men - off the same tees - following the cancellation of the planned Ladies Pro-Source Tour. By any standards, Lauren can hit the ball a long way.
Lauren will be coming over for the full two weeks of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
A two-week stay is not mandatory. You can come for the first week or the second; you can arrive when you like, say the Tuesday of the first week and leave on the Wednesday of the second week to take advantage of cheaper Budget airline flights if you wish.
Lauren played in the recent Ladies European Tour School and was unlucky not to get to the Final Q Stage. She was two over par after 54 holes which is not bad scoring at all.
She says she will be thrilled to get some competititve golf in the HDA WW Festival.
"It would be great to see the girls from the Tour School, those who made it and those who were unlucky, playing in this Winter Festival in southern Spain. I see it as the perfect opener to my season and I can't wait," said Lauren who won't need to take advantage of the excellent villas and apartments which can be rented at Hacienda del Alamo.
Lauren's mum Kath has a place near Alicante on the main road system so they can be at Hacienda del Alamo in under one hour.

ANGELA OFFERING LUXURY HACIENDA
VILLA ACCOMMODATION

Speaking of accommodation, Angela Howells, one of the owners at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, has been in touch with the following message:
"Should it be of any interest to the participants, I have a four-bed, four-bathroom luxury villa on Hacienda, overlooking the par-3 12th hole. Full details can be found on http://www.luxury-golf-villa.com/
"The price per week will be be 1,000 Euros (£670). I will be happy to answer any questions."
Angela Howels 07967 147761 or 07787 511867
Or you can E-mail Angela at angie_howells@yahoo.com

++If you want details of what's on offer at the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23, how to enter and book accommodation, send an E-mail right away to colin@scottishgolfview.com It's tournament strictly for women with no minimum or maximum age limit. Only the amateur's handicap must be 9 or less.

ALISON NICHOLAS TO CAPTAIN EUROPE IN
2009 SOLHEIM CUP MATCH IN STATES

By BETHAN CUTLER
From the Ladies European Tour website
The Ladies European Tour has announced that England’s Alison Nicholas will captain The 2009 European Solheim Cup Team at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, USA, from August 17 to 23.
Under her leadership, the 12 best European born players from the Ladies European Tour will attempt to win The Cup for the first time on US soil.
“It’s a great honour to be The Solheim Cup Captain and I’m delighted,” said Nicholas, who takes over from this year’s captain Helen Alfredsson.
“I can’t wait – it’s fantastic. I’m really excited and very passionate about it. I love The Solheim Cup. It’s a magnificent competition and something that I always look forward to. I always enjoyed playing and I enjoyed the last four events though I wasn’t playing. It’s been a very special part of my golfing career.”
Nicholas brings extraordinary experience and character to the team. The 45-year-old from Birmingham represented Europe on six consecutive occasions from 1990 as a player. She was involved in all three of Europe’s victories, as a player in 1992 and 2000 and as Vice Captain to Catrin Nilsmark in 2003. She was also Vice Captain in 2005.
As a Solheim Cup competitor, Nicholas owns a 7-8-3 record, scoring 8 ½ points for Europe. She formed a formidable partnership with Laura Davies in the event, with whom she played nine doubles matches altogether.
During her 20 year career, Nicholas amassed 18 victories around the world and retired from competitive golf in 2004. Her proudest moment came in 1997, when she won the US Women’s Open, beating the legendary Nancy Lopez at Pumpkin Ridge. That year, Nicholas also won the European order of merit and was awarded the MBE for services to golf in the birthday honours list.
“Alison Nicholas is a great choice for Captain of the 2009 Solheim Cup Team for the LET,” said John A. Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING, Inc.
“She is a fierce competitor whose leadership will really inspire the European Team. We are delighted Alison was selected as she is a very special person who will bring a lot to The 2009 Solheim Cup.”
Karen Lunn, Chairman of The Ladies European Tour and The European Solheim Cup Committee, added: “Alison has all the credentials we were looking for in a Captain and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.
“She has played in six Solheim Cups and has been Vice Captain on two other occasions. I am not sure that there is anyone that is as passionate about The Solheim Cup as Ali.
“Her record as a player in The Solheim Cup was outstanding, and as Vice Captain she provided valuable assistance and support to Catrin Nilsmark at Barseback in 2003 and at Crooked Stick in 2005. She is also a life member of the LET and has been a great supporter of the tour over many years.
“Alison fully understands the difficulty of the task that lies ahead in going onto US soil to get The Solheim Cup back. Her credentials in the US, especially her US Women’s Open victory in 1997 against Nancy Lopez, who had 20,000 plus fans supporting her in Portland that day, shows that she has the grit and ability to win in these circumstances against the odds. Ali is no doubt the perfect choice to captain the European team to victory in the USA in 2009.”
Looking ahead to the 11th Solheim Cup clash at Rich Harvest Farms, Nicholas added: “We face a big challenge but I don’t believe that anything is impossible. I want to enjoy the whole experience and to have fun with my team. I want to help them to be the best that they can be.”
Only 4’10” in her spikes, “Big Al” as she is known, was born in Gibraltar in 1962. She grew up in Sheffield and has lived in Birmingham since 1988. She currently teaches at the Alison Nicholas Golf Academy in Birmingham and is training to become a PGA Professional.
Speaking from Japan, Laura Davies, the only player to have competed in every Solheim Cup, said: “It’s the only possible choice they could’ve made. No one deserves it more than Big Al.”

English Ladies Golfing Association Press Release

MELISSA REID TURNS PROFESSIONAL EVEN
THOUGH SHE MISSED THE Q SCHOOL CUT

English golfers Rachel Bell of Yorkshire, Emma Lyons of Surrey and Melissa Reid of Derbyshire are preparing to make the switch from amateur ranks to life as professionals on the Ladies European Tour.
Rachel, an England international from Ganton, won full playing rights on the 2008 tour after she finished 14th at qualifying school.
Emma, a former South-Eastern champion from West Surrey, earned a conditional card and hopes to get at least a dozen starts in tournaments.
Melissa, 20, missed the crucial 54-hole cut at qualifying school but has decided to go ahead with her plans to turn professional. She’s taking up her option to join the LET, is currently sorting out contracts and is hoping for a healthy number of sponsors’ invites to tournaments.
The Chevin player, who is England’s top amateur, bounced straight back from disappointment by setting her 2008 goals on the plane home from tour school - and her first aim is to win an LET event.
“After my experience of tour school I can see how it can either make or break a player and I definitely think it’s going to make me stronger,” said the international. She already has experience of playing in professional events and was leading amateur in the women’s British Open, where Rachel Bell also played all four rounds.
Rachel, 25, has now played a total of three Tour events, made the cut in all of them and is convinced that this is where her future lies.
“I want to pursue my golf to the highest level and that means I have to turn professional,” said Rachel, whose amateur career with the English Ladies’ Golf Association has helped prepare her to take the step.
“Without a doubt, all the help and training I have had from ELGA has got me to where I am today,” she said.
Now, though, she’s taking charge o f her own career and tackling the first challenge of finding sponsorship.
“In amateur golf you have a lot of people you can rely on. In professional golf you have to do it yourself. You are in charge of your own destiny. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time,” said Rachel.
Emma Lyons, 25, only took up golf when she went to university but she soon set herself the goal of playing on tour. The Surrey county player made rapid progress, reaching plus-one in the 2006 season when she had a host of top-ten finishes in major amateur events.
But then, her golfing plans were stalled for three months when she was laid low by a virus. Her winter training programme had to be abandoned and instead she had to work on her technique as she has played through the 2007 season.
“Considering the year I have had I feel I have done quite well,” said Emma as she reviewed her performance at qualifying school. “I’m very excited about next year and very much looking forward to participating in LET events.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Visit the ELGA web site at http://www.englishladiesgolf.org/

St RULE TROPHY CUT TO 36 HOLES

ON SUNDAY NEXT YEAR DUE TO
CURTIS CUP FOLLOWING WEEK

Next year's St Rule Trophy will be a one-day event over 36 holes of the Old Course, St Andrews on Sunday, May 25 instead of its traditional format of 54 holes over a Saturday-Sunday with the first round over the New Course.
"It's due to the Curtis Cup over the Old Course over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31 and June 1 and the heavy load on the St Rule Club," said Alison White who was elected captain of the organising club, St Rule on Saturday.
"We have invited the United States team to play but had a negative response from their captain as they just arrive on the Sunday. The Ladies Golf Union have already said that the GB&I team would not play in the St Rule Trophy.
"We would be pleased for any supporters of either side to enter the tournament as long as they meet the handicap requirements."

LAURA LOSES MOMENTUM AND FINISHES
FIFTH IN JAPAN'S MIZUNO CLASSIC

Laura Davies finished a disappointing joint fifth in the Mizuno Clasic at the Kinetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Shima in Japan. She never fully recovered from the setback of a two-stroke penalty for putting from the wrong spot on a green in the second round.
Momoko Ueda, who shared the 36-hole lead with the English player, became the first Japanese player to win the Mizuno Classic in nine years.
She was the player with the momentum going into the final day and she signed off with a five-under-par 66 today to win by two strokes from Reilley Rankin (US) and Sweden's Maria Hjorth.
Ueda finished with a 13-under 203 total and earned $210,000 for her first LPGA Tour victory.
Rankin and Hjorth, the 1999 champion, closed with 67s for 205.
Shinobu Moromizato (67) was fourth on 208. Davies shot a 72 to tie for fifth at seven-under 209 with Mi Hyun Kim (71), Chie Arimura (70) and Mie Nakata (71). Laura earned $44,489, but it could have been so much more.
Davies was penalised two strokes in the second round for putting from the wrong spot on the 14th green. She forgot to return her ball to its original spot after moving her marker because it was in a competitor's line.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
203 M Ueda 70 67 66 ($210,000).
205 R Rankin (US) 66 72 67, M Hjorth (Swe) 70 68 67 ($109,537 each).
208 S Moromizato 71 70 67 ($71,252).
209 M Hyun Kim 72 70 67, C Arimura 66 73 70, M Nakata 68 70 71, L Davies (Eng) 65 72 72 ($44,489 each).
211 A Park (US) 73 71 67, H Jung Choi 70 72 69, Y Fudoh 72 70 69, B Bae Song 70 71 70, J Young Lee 70 71 70 ($26,457 each).
Other scores:
212 B Lang (US) 69 73 70 (jt 14th) ($19,186).
213 S Gustafson (Swe) 73 72 68, K Sjodin (Swe) 75 72 66 (jt 19th) ($15,432 each).
214 N Campbell 74 71 69 (jt 24th) ($11,864).
216 B Morgan (Wal) 70 71 75 (jt 35th) ($8,401).
217 W Doolan (Aus) 73 73 71, R Hetherington (Aus) 74 71 72 (jt 41st) ($6,177 each).
219 S Cavalleri (Ita) 71 77 71, K Webb (Aus) 73 76 70 (jt 50th) ($4,858 each).
220 K Hull (Aus) 74 76 70, L Wright (Aus) 76 75 69 (jt 55th) ($4,032 each).