ISABELLE LENDL WINS ORANGE

BLOSSOM TOUR TITLE BY

BEATING US CURTIS CUP PLAYER

Isabelle Lendl, 16-year-old daughter of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl, won the Jones/Doherty women's amateur golf championship final at Coral Ridge Country Club, Florida today.
Isabelle, pictured right, beat fellow American Meghan Bolger, named earlier this week in the US Curtis Cup team for the match against Great Britain & Ireland over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, by one hole in the 18-hole conclusion to the third event on Florida's Orange Blossom Tour.

All three Lendl siblings, Isabelle, defending champion Marika (17) and Daniela, played in the Jones/Doherty tournament.
In Friday's semi-finals, Bolger beat Hampshire's Liz Bennett, a contender for a place in the GB&I side. Liz won the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur championship at Ormond Beach the previous week.
Isabelle Lendl ousted another LGU Elite Squad player, 19-year-old Michele Thomson from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in the Jones/Doherty quarter-finals before toppling her title-holder sister Marika in the round of the last four.
Rachel Connor, teenager daughter of Manchester Golf Club's Scots-born professional Brian, won the First Flight competition at Coral Ridge Country Club. She beat American Kyle Roig 4 and 3 in the final.
US Curtis Cup captain Carol Semple Thompson won the senior championship. She beat fellow American Ann Fulginiti 3 and 2 in the final.

Results of finals:
Players from US unless stated
Championship: Isabelle Lendl bt Meghan Bolger 1 hole.
First Flight: Rachel Connor (Manchester) bt Kyle Roig 4 and 3.
Seniors: Carol Semple Thompson bt Ann Fulginiti 3 and 2.

BOLGER'S RUN OF CLOSE CALLS CONTINUES

IN JONES/DOHERTY CHAMPIONSHIP

REPORT FROM GOLFWEEK.COM STAFF
Meghan Bolger can be soothed by the fact that she will travel to St Andrews as part of the U.S. Curtis Cup contingent, but a frustrating string of close calls in recent amateur events continued for Bolger at the Ione D. Jones/Doherty Championship.

Sixteen-year-old Isabelle Lendl defeated Bolger, 1 up, in the finals of the Doherty on Saturday. Lendl, ranked 39th in the Golfweek/Titleist Junior Rankings, defeated her older sister, Marika, in the semi-finals.

Bolger played in the last group in the final round of last week’s South Atlantic Ladies Amateur, but stumbled on the front nine to eventually shoot 3-over 74 and finish fourth (behind Liz Bennett).

The week before that, Bolger finished seventh in the Harder Hall Invitational by going 71-69 in her final two rounds. She shot 78-77 the first two days.

A true family affair, Isabelle Lendl had to face her 14-year-old sister, Daniela, in the Round of 16 but topped her, 4 and 2, to advance to the quarter-finals, where she faced Scotland’s Michele Thomson, who finished third at "The Sally."

Carol Semple Thompson defeated Ann Fulginiti, 3 and 2, to win the seniors’ division. Thompson is a seven-time USGA champion.
RESULTS:

CHAMPIONSHIP

FINAL
Isabelle Lendl bt Meghan Bolger 1 up.

SEMI-FINALS
Isabelle Lendl bt Marika Lendl 4 and 2.
Meghan Bolger bt Liz Bennett at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Marika Lendl bt Lisa Schlesinger 5 and 4.

Isabelle Lendl bt Michele Thomson 2 and 1
Meghan Bolger bt Alexis Thompson 2 and 1.

Liz Bennett bt Rachel Jennings 3 and 1.
ROUND OF LAST 16
Marika Lendl bt Naomi Edwards 2 and 1.
Lisa Schlesinger bt Diane Lang 4 and 2.
Michele Thomson bt Carly Booth 4 and 3
Isabelle Lendl bt Daniela Lendl 4 and 2.
Alexis Thompson bt Benedikte Grotvedt 2 and 1.
Meghan Bolger bt Kristy McLaughlin 6 and 5.
Rachel Jennings bt Marie Piere Bernier 7 and 6.
Liz Bennett bt Kerry Smith at 20th.
ROUND OF LAST 32
Marika Lendl bt Carly Ray Goldstein 1 up.
Naomi Edwards bt Mayura Skowronski 8 and 6.
Diane Lang bt Stephanie Farrer 4 and 2.
Lisa Schlesinger bt Taylor Collins 1 up.
Carly Booth bt Maggie Weder 5 and 3.
Michele Thomson bt Rachel Connor 1 up.
Isabelle Lendl bt Laura Murray 3 and 2.
Daniela Lendl bt Jaye Marie Green 6 and 5.
Alexis Thompson bt Holly Calvert 5 and 4.
Benedikte Grotvedt bt Kyle Roig 3 and 2.
Meghan Bolger bt Natalie McNicholas 6 and 4.
Kristy McLaughlin def. Julie Garner 6 and 5.
Rachel Jennings bt Sarah Carty 6 and 5.
Marie Bernier bt Sarah Hassan 3 and 1.
Liz Bennett bt Alexandra Frazier 2 and 1.
Kerry Smith bt Lauren Blount 1 up.

SENIORS
FINAL
Carol Semple Thompson bt Ann Fulginiti 3 and 2.
SEMI-FINALS
Carol Semple Thompson bt Connie Shorb at 19th.
Ann Fulginiti bt Carolyn Creekmore 2 up.
QUARTER-FINALS
Connie Shorb bt Deborah Jamgochian 4 and 3.

Carol Semple Thompson bt Nancy Smith 3 and 2.
Carolyn Creekmore bt Annette Gaiotti 5 and 3.
Ann Fulginiti bt Taffy Brower 2 up.
ROUND OF LAST 16
Connie Shorb bt Patty Lang 7 and 6.
Deborah Jamgochian bt Cynthia Curry 5 and 3.
Carol S. Thompson bt Diane Yelovich 5 and 4.
Nancy Smith bt Vilma Sapp 1 up.
Carolyn Creekmore bt Angela Steward 1 up.
Annette Gaiotti bt Ginni Orthwein 1 up.
Taffy Brower bt Ann Schultz 3 and 1.
Ann Fulginiti bt Natalie Easterly 6 and 5.

SOUTH KOREANS, PHILIPPINES SHARE LEAD IN WOMEN'S

WORLD CUP OF GOLF

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:

The weather may be bad but Dorothy Delasin and Jennifer Rosales from the Philippines proved to be the perfect pairing as they fired a four-under-par 68 - the best round of the day - in today's second-day foursomes at the Women’s World Cup of Golf.

The duo finished on 11-under-par 133 after two rounds on the Gary Player Course at Sun City, South Africa, following a 65 in Friday’s better-ball round. They moved into a share of the lead with South Koreans Ji-Yai Shin and Eun-Hee Ji, who added a level par 72 to their first round better-ball score of 61.

Before play was delayed for inclement weather at lunch time, the South Korean team held a four stroke lead over the Philippines and Taiwan, the latter carding a 69 to go into Sunday’s final round better-ball in third place on a total of nine under par 135.

The Koreans arrived at the par-4 17th on 14 under par and in control of the tournament with a three-shot lead. However, they ran up a triple bogey 7 at the penultimate hole after they landed in a water hazard, meaning that the Korean pair would have to take a penalty shot two club lengths from where the ball had finished in the hazard.

Playing alternate shots, the team’s third shot was short of the green and then the Koreans three-putted.“I was really confused about how to hit the first shot,” said Ji. “Shin Ji-Yai told me to hit the ball in confidence and so I hit the ball in confidence but the ball was on the left of the water hazard.”

Despite this error, South Korea were one of only three teams to shoot under par on a day when the golf course showed its notorious teeth. Only two teams, the Philippines and Taiwan, shot in the 60s, while the Welsh pair of Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan returned a 71.

South Korea will be favourites to take the title on Sunday.

In the inaugural World Cup in 2005 they finished runners-up to Japan. Two years ago they were fifth, and last year they finished third behind winners Paraguay and the United States.

“Our style of play is very aggressive so we will try to take the chances we have,” said the teenaged Shin, who is the No 1 player on the Korean LPGA Tour.

The Philippines had a brilliant finish to their round with birdies at each of their last three holes. After a steady 35 on their outward nine, they came back in 33.

Delasin and Rosales are seasoned campaigners on the LPGA Tour and they said they would approach Sunday’s final round just the same as the first two days.

“We’re really going to give it a good go,” Rosales explained. “At the same time we’re going to have fun. We haven’t stopped laughing on the course all week. It’s been great.”

South Africa will have to shoot in the low 60s on Sunday if they are to emulate Rugby Union's Springboks and win the World Cup. The pair of Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon struggled to make putts today after some decent approach shots, and lie in ninth place on a total of four under par 140.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay had a 73 for a tally of 141, which lifted them up to a share of 10th place.

Wales' Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan are the leading British pairing in joint fifth place on 138. They scored 71 in the foursomes round.

England's Trish Johnson and Danielle Masters are joint 15th on 143 after struggling to put together a 76 in the foursomes for 143.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2 x 72)
133 Philippines (Jennifer Rosales & Dorothy Delasin) 65 68, South Korea (Ji-Yai Shin & Eun-Hee Ji) 61 72
135 Taiwan (Amy Hung & Yung-jye Wei) 66 69
137 Canada (Alena Sharp & Lorie Kane) 64 73
138 Japan (Shinobu Moromizato & Miki Saiki) 66 72, Wales (Becky Brewerton & Becky Morgan) 67 71, France (Gwladys Nocera & Virginie Lagoutte-Clement) 62 76
139 Paraguay (Juliete Granda & Celeste Troche) 66 73
140 South Africa (Laurette Mauritz & Ashleigh Simon) 68 72
141 Brazil (Angela Park & Candy Hannemann) 68 73, Scotland (Catriona Matthew & Mhairi McKay) 68 73, United States (Juli Inkster & Pat Hurst) 65 76
142 China (Na Zhang & Chung Wang) 67 75, Sweden (Sophie Gustafson & Maria Hjorth) 65 77
143 England (Trish Johnson & Danielle Masters) 67 76
146 Australia (Lindsey Wright & Nikki Garrett) 68 78
147 Germany (Bettina Hauert & Martina Eberl) 69 78
148 Spain (Paula Marti & Tania Elosequi) 69 79
149 Italy (Sylvia Cavalleri & Diana Luna) 73 76
154 India (Simi Mehra & Irina Brar) 70 84

IRISH-BORN ALISON WALSHE

WILL PLAY AGAINST GB&I IN

CURTIS CUP MATCH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Born May 14, 1985 in Galway, IRELAND ... selected earlier this week by the United States Golf Association to play for the UNITED STATES against Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.

She's Alison Walshe, pictured right, currently a senior (final-year) student at the University of Arizona, where she is the star member of the Wildcats' team on the US women's college circuit and, it goes without saying, a very good player indeed.

Earlier this month Alison won the opening event on the Orange Blossom Tour, the prestigious Harder Hall Invitational tournament, and in 2007 she won the North and South Championship, neither of these is a college competition.

She is the fifth-ranked college player in the States and the eighth-ranked female amateur in America.

Alison and her parents emigrated from Ireland to the Boston area of the States in the 1990s and she grew up there, eventually becoming a United States citizen. She has a US passport.

Just have a look at the highlights on her college golfing CV on the University of Arizona website and, if you are British or Irish, just think how much stronger a GB&I team would be with Alison Walshe in it instead of playing against it:

Junior (2006-07): Competed in all thirteen events for the Wildcats…Named as a first team All-American by the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) and second team All-American by Golfweek magazine…Garnered first team All Pac-10 accolades…Also named to the honorable mention All Pac-10 Academic Team…Led the Wildcat squad in every statistical category, including stroke average (73.35), top 10/20 finishes (nine), low round score (67), low tournament score (207), and rounds at or under par (11)…Won three tournaments as an individual, including victories at the Mason Rudolph Championship, the Stanford Pepsi Invitational, and the BYU Dixie Classic…Finished sixth at both the Pac-10 Championships and the NCAA Central Regional…Competed for the United States at the 32nd Annual Fuji Xerox U.S.A. vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, posting a 2-0 mark in singles play…Also competed in the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship in August.
Sophomore (2005-06): Attended Tulane University….Team won the Conference USA championship…Conference Player of the Year…Louisiana Player of the Year…All-conference team…Second team All-American…Placed second at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship after carding a total of 212 (-1)…Ranked 10th in the Fall 2005 Golfstat Cup Rankings.
Freshman (2004-05): Attended Boston College…Big East Conference individual champion…Big East Conference Player of the Year…Won three tournaments…Shot a career best total of 69 at the Rutgers Invitational, where she finished even-par 144 for a 13-stroke victory…Finished in the top ten in each event that she competed in throughout the season…Finished the season with a 75.76 stroke average.
High School: Westford Academy, Westford, Mass…Earned four letters in basketball and golf and two letters in tennis…Dual County all-conference player four years for golf…Boston Player of the Year twice for golf…Golf state champion during senior year…Team went undefeated three of four years.
Personal: Full Name: Alison M. Walshe…Born May 14, 1985, in Galway, Ireland…Daughter of John and Mary Walshe…Academic major of interest is Inter-disciplinary Studies…Wants to play professional golf or become a sports marketer…Has one brother, David, and one sister, Sarah Jane…Lists hobbies as going to the beach, spending time with friends, and traveling…Fan of Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox.

Orange Blossom Tour

LIZ BENNETT LOSES AT 19th IN
FLORIDA SEMI-FINAL

Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team candidate Liz Bennett from Hampshire, winner of last week's South Atlantic Ladies amateur golf championship in Florida, failed in her bid to complete a notable back-to-back double triumph on the Orange Blossom Tour.
The 25-year-old Brokenhurst Manor player, pictured right, lost at the 19th to Meghan Bolger, who this week was named in the American Curtis Cup team for St Andrews at the end of May, in the semi-finals of the Jones/Doherty women's amateur match-play championship at Coral Ridge Country Club near Fort Lauderdale.
The other semi-final was a battle between two of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl's golfing daughters. Isabelle Lendl, 16-year-old conqueror of Aberdeenshire champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in Thuirsday's quarter-finals, beat the defending champion, 17-year-old Marika Lendl, by 4 and 2.
There will be one English player in Saturday's finals.
Rachel Connor, teenage daughter of Manchester Golf Club's Scots-born professional Brian, will meet American Kyle Roig in the First Flight final.
Rachel won by 4 and 3 in the semi-finals over American Taylor Collins. Roig beat Sarah Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 3 and 2 in the other.
Carol Semple Thomson, skipper of the US Curtis Cup team for St Andrews, is through to the final of the seniors' championship.

Today's semi-finals resulted:

CHAMPIONSHIP

Players from US unless stated.

Isabelle Lendl bt Marika Lendl 4 and 2.

Meghan Bolger bt Liz Bennett at 19th.

FIRST FLIGHT

Rachel Connor (Manchester) bt Taylor Collins 4 and 3.

Kyle Roig bt Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 3 and 2.

SENIORS

Carol Semple Thompson bt Connie Shorb at 19th.

Ann Fulginiti Carolyn Creekmore 2 holes.

clubgolf at Turnhouse

Attention Edinburgh junior convenors and would-be junior coaches

Junior convenors, golf club members, parents and teachers in the Edinburgh area interested in revitalising their clubs’ junior memberships and attracting more children into the game, are invited to a clubgolf information evening at Turnhouse Golf Club on Thursday 24 January at 7.45pm.

Emerging out of Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to create the opportunity for every nine-year-old child in Scotland to experience the game.

Over 26,000 children in Scotland were introduced to golf in 2007 through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf. Following the six-week firstclubgolf course, children have the opportunity to progress to the second phase of clubgolf's Player Pathway, Stage 1, hosted by local clubs.

Stage 1 involves 40 hours of coaching delivered over two years, and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette. Progression through Stage 1 and subsequent stages encourages all children to develop their potential while being welcomed into a golf club and provides access to a structured Player Pathway.

Turnhouse, the first private golf club Edinburgh to sign up to the strategy, in 2005, provides the perfect example of a club which is developing a strong junior section through clubgolf.

Twelve of the club’s members are trained to deliver clubgolf Stage 1 coaching and 49 children were involved in its clubgolf programme in 2007. The club’s Pro, John Murray is one of 20 Pros in Scotland delivering Stage 3 of the programme.

“This will be the fourth year we have been working with clubgolf and it is a programme I can recommend to other clubs in the area,” said Junior Convenor Iain Holt.

“clubgolf has allowed us to be part of the community and get involved with local schools. Now we are seeing the children coming through the development pathway and becoming members of the golf club.”

A new junior practice facility (which received £28,000 sportscotland Lottery funding) is due to open in April 2008, enabling Mr Holt and his coaching team to “double our capacity to coaching approximately 80 children”.

In Edinburgh firstclubgolf is currently being delivered at many primary schools during curriculum time, with more schools preparing to introduce their children to firstclubgolf this year.

For more information about clubgolf and the presentation at Turnhouse Golf Club, please contact:

Laura Rushby
clubgolf Regional Manager, East of Scotland
lrushby@clubgolfscotland.co.uk T: 07956 540595

Former tennis No 1 Ivan Lendl with his golf girls

Former world tennis No 1 Ivan Lendl with his golfing daughters, left to right, Marika (17), Isabelle (16) and Daniela (14), at this week's Jones/Doherty tournament in Florida.

If you want to read an excellent article by Florida Sun-Sentinel staff writer Randall Mell about Ivan and his girls, log on to:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/golf/sfl-flspmell16sbjan16,0,192269.column?page=1

Just to give you a little "taster," here's a little excerpt from the article:

Witty, charming and engagingly funny, Lendl is nothing like the dour Czech he was perceived to be at the height of his (tennis) career. That doesn't mean he has gone soft, though. He's still a competitor intent on teaching his daughters how to excel in their sport.

That means striking a balance between pushing and nurturing, something he will tell you he doesn't have perfected.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that kids should not be pushed at all," Lendl said.

"I think there are times when they have to be pushed, and times when you don't push at all. If you don't push them into something, they will just end up doing a zillion things and not be very good at anything.

"Sure, sometimes I probably push too much, and sometimes where I should push, I don't. Everybody makes mistakes, and I'm sure I do, too. I just try to do my best."

The Lendl sisters all attend the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

SOUTH KOREANS SET HOT PACE IN
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP OF GOLF

At the end of a day which included a suspension of play due to a threat of lightning, South Korea led the first round of the Women's World Cup of Golf at Gary Player Golf Club, Sun City, South Africa.
They shot a better-ball score of 61, to lead by one shot from France.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay returned a four-under-par 68 with birdies at the first, 2nd, 11th, 16th and 18th and one bogey, at the 13th.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
61 South Korea (30-31).
62 France (31-31).
64 Canada (33-31).
65 Philippines (32-33), Sweden (31-34), United States (32-33).
66 Japan (34-32), Paraguay (34-32), Taiwan (33-33).
67 China (33-34), England (34-33), Wales (34-33).
68 Australia (32-36), Brazil (33-35), Scotland (34-34), South Africa (33-35).
69 Germany (34-35), Spain (33-36).
70 India 37-33).
73 Italy (36-37).

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S

FESTIVAL NEWS

BUGGIES CAN BE USED ... 25 EUROS TO HIRE

Competitors in all the events at the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival will be permitted to use buggies which they will be able to hire at a cost of 25 Euros.

That's 10 Euros less than the normal price - thanks to director of golf Billy Sim.

Two competitors to a buggy which means only 12.50 Euros each if they are sharing the cost.

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

There is a Valentine's Day Dinner in the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort clubhouse on the evening of Saturday, February 16. Tickets cost 35 Euros per head.

The clubhouse will be taken over in its entirety by the function which means that competitors who do not wish to attend the Valentine's Day Dinner - and you don't have to - will have either to eat early or make arrangements to dine elsewhere.

FOUR US CURTIS CUP PLAYERS WILL

SHARPEN UP IN FIRST LPGA

MAJOR OF THE SEASON

Seven amateur golfers - five of them named earlier this week in the US Curtis Cup team to play Great Britain & Ireland at St Andrews at the end of May - have received invitations to play in the first major of the LPGA Tour season - the Kraft Nabisco championship - during the week March 31 to April 3 at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage in California.
The Curtis Cuppers who will sharpen up for the three-day international over the Old Course are Amanda Blumenherst (pictured right), Mina Harigate, Kimberley Kim and Alison Walshe. Stacy Lewis, also in the US team, declined the invitation.
Topping the list of amateurs invited to compete is Maria Jose Uribe, a freshman at UCLA. As the reigning USGA women's amateur champion, Uribe earned an automatic spot in the 2008 Kraft Nabisco championship field. She is currently ranked joint sixth in US women's amateur play in the January 13 edition of GolfWeek.
Originally from Bucaramanga, Colombia, Uribe turns 18 on February 27. Not being a United States citizen, Uribe was not eligible for Curtis Cup selection.
Invitations have also been extended to Mallory Blackwelder, Amanda Blumenherst, Mina Harigae, Kimberly Kim and Alison Walshe.
University of Arkansas star Stacy Lewis, who earned low amateur honors at last year's Kraft Nabisco championship with a tie for fifth place, qualified automatically for the 2008 tournament but has declined the take up the place in the LPGA Tour event.
Mallory Blackwelder, a junior at the University of Kentucky, won the Women's Western Golf Association National Amateur Championship last year. Blackwelder is the daughter of Myra, a former LPGA Tour professional and the new head coach for the women's golf team at the university.
The No 3 ranked US female amateur golfer, Mallory was the runner-up at last year's Women's Trans National and finished seventh at the Harder Hall Women's Invitational earlier this month. Blumenherst, a junior at Duke University, is a two-time National Player of the Year and led the Blue Devils to their third consecutive NCAA championship last year.
The 21-year-old finished runner-up in the 2007 USGA Women's Amateur Championship and is currently ranked No 1 among US women collegiate players and No 2 among amateurs as a whole, according to GolfWeek.
Making her first appearance at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Blumenherst tied for 50th at last year's U.S. Women's Open.
Mina Harigae, a senior in high school in Monterey, California, won the U.S. Women's AmateurPublic Links Championship last year and is currently ranked No 3 in GolfWeek's junior rankings. A quarter finalist in the 2007 USGA Women's Amateur Championship, Harigae also played in last year's U.S. Women's Open where she finished 66th.
Making her second consecutive appearance at the Kraft Nabisco is Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii. Now 16, Kim won the 2006 USGA Women's Amateur as a 14-year-old (the youngest winner in the history of the event) and reached the semi-finals at last year's USGA Women's Amateur Championship.
Kim is the top-ranked US junior girl golfer according to the most recent GolfWeek rankings.
Wrapping up the list of invitees is University of Arizona senior Alison Walshe. Walshe is the No 5 ranked college player in America and the eighth-ranked female amateur.
She won the 2008 Harder Hall Invitation and the 2007 North and South Golf Championship.
The field will be cut after two rounds to 70 low professional scores and ties and any amateurs within the cut. Last year, three amateurs, including Lewis, made the cut. The other two players were Taylor Leon and Esther Choe.

MICHELE THOMSON LOSES

TWO-HOLE LEAD IN GOING

DOWN TO ISABELLE LENDL

Aberdeenshire champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), conqueror of compatriot Carly Booth from Comrie in the previous round, was beaten in today's quarter-finals of the Jones/Doherty women's amateur match-play golf tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Michele, third in the previous Orange Blossom Tour event - the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur Championship, lost an early two-hole lead before going down by 2 and 1 to Florida-based Isabelle Lendl, 16, pictured right, one of three daughters of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl, who have been playing in the tournament.

Michele had been pulled back to square by the turn and her opponent just had the edge on the inward half.
Isabelle will now play another Lendl sibling, Marika, the defending champion, in the semi-finals.
One Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad player, Liz Bennett from Hampshire - winner of the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur title on Saturday, did make it through to the last four of the Jones/Doherty tournament which was won by Catriona Mathew in 1992 when she was a student at Stirling University.
Bennett beat team-mate teenager Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) by 3 and 1 to earn a semi-final meeting with Meghan Bolger, who was named earlier this week in the US Curtis Cup team for the Old Course match in St Andrews at the end of May.

Bolger was outdriven on every hole but one, but the former college golf coach at the University of Mississippi ended 12-year-old Alexis Thompson's bid to become the youngest title winner in the 76-year history of the tournament. Alexis had already won two tournaments in her home state over the past four weeks.

Alford's Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University) was beaten in the quarter-finals of the First Flight competition by Rachel Connor, teenage daughter of the Manchester Golf Club professional.

Also in the last four of the First Flight is LGU Squad player Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan).

Quarter-final results:

Players from US unless stated

CHAMPIONSHIP
Marika Lendl bt Lisa Schlesinger 5 and 4.
Isabelle Lendl bt Michele Thomson 2 and 1.
Meghan Bolger bt Alexis Thompson 2 and 1.
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Rachel Jennings 3 and 1.
FIRST FLIGHT
Taylor Collins bt Carly Ray Goldstein 3 and 2.
Rachel Connor (Manchester) bt Laura Murray (Robert Gordon Univ) 2 and 1.
Kylie Roig bt Natalie McNicholas 5 and 4.
Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) bt Lauren Blount 4 and 3.

MICHELE KOS CARLY IN

BATTLE OF THE SCOTS

The "Battle of the Scots" - Comrie's Carly Booth versus Michele Thomson from Ellon - was won by 19-year-old Michele over her 15-year-old rival in the second round of the Jones/Doherty women's amateur match-play championship at Coral Ridge Country Club, near Fort Lauderdale, Florida today.

Thomson (pictured right) and Booth are both members of the Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad, the short leet for the Great Britain & Ireland team of eight to tackle the United States with the Curtis Cup at stake over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.
The LGU have paid the expenses of available squad members to keep in good nick by playing on the Orange Blossom Tour. Michele, the Aberdeenshire champion, finished third behind another LGU squad player, Liz Bennett, in the South Atlantic Ladies amateur championship on Saturday.
Carly did not play in that one. She has been wintering in Arizona - attending Red Mountain High School, Mesa - so that she could enjoy better weather for golf than her native Perthshire in the winter.
Michele's qualifying round score in the "Jones/Doherty" - won by Catriona Matthew in 1992 when she was a Stirling student - was not as good as Carly's, a 79 compared with a 76, but she was the stronger player in their second-round duel, winning by 4 and 3.

The first two holes were exchanged, Michele winning the first and Carly squaring at the second.
Then Michele, driving well and playing well, took a grip on the proceedings by winning the third, fourth, seventh and eighth to be four up on the ninth tee.
Carly won only her second hole of the tie at the 11th to cut her deficit to three holes but Michele restored her four-hole advantage by winning the 12th.
The next three holes were halved, leaving Michele the winner by 4 and 3.
With so little - if any - competitive golf for the LGU squad to play before the selectors meet to pick the GB&I team in early March, it could be an important win for Thomson who reached the quarter-finals of the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds last summer before losing on the 18th green to the eventual champion, Carlota Ciganda (Spain).
Other LGU squad players through to the last eight in Florida are Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), who beat fellow squad member Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) at the 20th, and teenager Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) who beat American Marie Piere Bernier by 7 and 6.
English women's amateur champion and LGU Squad membere Naomi Edwards (Ganton) lost by 2 and 1 to defending champion Marika Lendl, one of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl's three daughters who are playing in this tournament.
Michele Thomson now plays Isabelle Lendl, who beat sister Daniela by 4 and 2.
Rachel Jennings and Liz Bennett meet in the fourth of the quarter-final ties.
The others feature 13-year-old Florida rising star Alexis Thompson against Meghan Bolger, named this week in the US Curtis Cup team for St Andrews, and Marika Lendal against fellow American Lisa Schlesinger.

Alford's Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University), one of a number of Scottish students who have been sent under the auspices of Stirling University to the Orange Blossom Tour, won her first flight tie by 3 and 2 over American Jaye Marie Green.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

SECOND ROUND

Players from US unless stated

Top half of draw

Marika Lendl bt Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 2 and 1.

Lisa Schlesinger bt Diane Lang 4 and 2.

Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Carly Booth (Comrie) 4 and 3.

Isabelle Lendl bt Daniela Lendl 4 and 2.

Lower half of draw

Alexis Thompson bt Bu Grotvedt 2 and 1.

Meghan Bolger bt Kristy McLaughlin 6 and 5.

Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) bt Marie Piere Bernie 7 and 6.

Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bv Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) at 20th.

FIRST FLIGHT

Taylor Collins bt Stephanie Farrer (Stirling Univ) 6 and 5.

Rachel Connor (Manchester) bt Maggie Weder 5 and 3.

Laura Murray (Robert Gordon Univ) bt Jaye Marie Green 3 and 2.

Kyle Roig bt Holly Calvert (Stirling Univ) 6 and 5.

Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) bt Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) 6 and 5.

CARLY AND MICHELE TO MEET

IN FLORIDA MATCH-PLAY TIE

Top Scottish teenage girl prospects Carly Booth from Comrie and Aberdeenshire's Michele Thomson have travelled a long way to play on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.
As luck would have it, they will meet in the round of the last 16 in the presitigious Jones/Doherty match-play tournament - won by Catriona Matthew in 1992 as a Stirling student - at Coral Ridge Country Club, near Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday.
In Tuesday's first-round ties, Carly (picture right by Cal Carson Golf Agency), who is spending the winter at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona, beat American Maggie Weder 5 and 3 while Michele, who finished third in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur championship at Ormond Beach, Florida on Saturday, squeezed past the challenge of Rachel Connor, teenage daughter of Manchester Golf Club's Scots-born professional, Brian Connor, by one hole.
Alford's Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University) lost by 3 and 2 to Isabel Lendl, one of former world No 1 tennis player Ivan Lendl's golfing daughters. Isabel will now play sister Daniella while another Lendl offspring, defending champion, Marika, is through to the second round also.
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), winner of the South Atlantic title at the weekend, will now play Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad team-mate Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) after both won today (Tuesday).
Liz beat American Alexandra Frazier 2 and 1 while Kerry won by one hole against another American, Lauren Blount.
The title favourite, 13-year-old Florida wonder girl Alexis Thompson, winner of two tournaments over the Festive period in her home state, advance to the last 16 by beating Stirling University student Holly Calvert by 5 and 4.
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) beat Sarah Carty from Dublin by 6 and 5 and will now play Marie Bernie, the 3 and 1 conqueror of young Sarah Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan).
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) beat Mayura Skowronski from the United States by 8 and 6 - the biggest win of the second round. Naomi now plays defending champion Marika Lendl.
Stephanie Farrier (Stirling University) went down by 4 and 2 to the experienced American Diane Lang by 4 and 2.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Players from US unless stated
M Lendl bt C R Goldstein 1 hole.
N Edwards (Ganton) bt M Skowronski 8 and 6.
D Lang bt S Farrer (Stirling Univ) 4 and 2.
L Schlesinger bt T Collins 1 hole.
C Booth (Comrie) bt M Weder 5 and 3.
M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt R Connor (Manchester) 1 hole.
I Lendl bt L Murray (Robert Gordon Univ) 3 and 2.
D Lendl bt J M Green 6 and 5.
A Thompson bt H Calvert (Stirling Univ) 5 and 4.
B Grotvedt bt K Roig bt 3 and 2.
M Bolger bt N McNicholas 6 and 4.
K McLaughlin bt J Garner 6 and 5.
R Jennings (Izaak Walton) bt S Carty (The Island, Dublin) 6 and 5.
M Bernie bt S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 3 and 1.
L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt A Frazier 2 and 1.
K Smith (Waterlooville) bt L Blount 1 hole.

HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!
FESTIVAL ENTRIES
CLOSE TODAY

Today is the last official day for entering the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
All you have to do is E-mail the Tournament Controller, Colin Farquharson - colin@scottishgolfview.com - and tell him you want to play in Week 1 (February 10 to February 16) or Week 2 (February 17 to 23) or BOTH weeks.
The Festival is, of course, open to lady professionals and lady amateurs with handicaps of 20 and under.
If any lady or girl amateur who has a handicap in excess of 20 wants to come to the Festival with a view to improving her game for NEXT YEAR - almost guaranteed with the five-star practice facilities at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort - then her entry will be accepted but she will be able to deduct only 20 from her gross scores in the handicap sections.
There are six competitions under the umbrella of the Festival and Week 2 is a mirror image of Week 1, with a slight difference.
We have named the 36-hole Festival competition, to be played on Monday & Tuesday, February 11 & 12, the Murcia Ladies Open championship with a professional title winner and an amateur title winner as they are playing off different tees.
And the 36-hole Festival competition, to be played on Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, will be known as the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Open championship. Again there will be two champions: one a professional and the other an amateur.
We think these titles add a bit of prestige to the Festival and will look good on the winners' CV.
We will be asking all those who play in both events whether they should be extended to become 54-hole competitions in 2009.
Stewart Spence, owner of The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen, is guaranteeing a minimum first prize of 500 Euros to the professionals in the two 36-hole championships.
Glenmuir, the Scottish company with worldwide standing, is sponsoring the prize lists for the amateurs, which will include scratch and handicap, girls and seniors' sections.

FESTIVAL EATING ARRANGEMENTS
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort director of golf Billy Sim has secured the following eating arrangements for Festival competitors next month.
"Our new clubhouse will be the centre of the operation," says Billy.
"Breakfast buffet will cost 11 Euros.
"Lunch can be off the snack menu or the Menu of the Day at 15 Euros.
"In the evening, the snack menu remains an option or there will be a dinner buffet at 22 Euros a head.
"We will be selling catering vouchers at the Tournament Desk in the clubhouse.
"Also we have earmarked a couple of nice restaurants in the neighbouring town of Fuente Alamo to direct players to if they wish a change. There may also be transport laid on for groups."
Well done, Billy Sim!

UNITED STATES CURTIS CUP TEAM NAMED

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
Two-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Meghan Bolger is among the eight players selected for this year’s United States Curtis Cup team, Golfweek has learned.
Seven players were considered by many to be locks for the team, which will compete against its European counterpart May 30-June 1 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Bolger earned the final spot, while Pepperdine freshman Taylore Karle was named the first alternate after her recent strong play on the women’s amateur circuit. Karle was co-champion of the Silver Belle Dec. 30 and runner-up at the Harder Hall Invitational Jan. 6.
Bolger, who will turn 30 on the first day of the Curtis Cup, is the only mid-amateur on a team made up otherwise of collegians and juniors.The other seven team members are:

• Duke junior Amanda Blumenherst, two-time winner of Golfweek’s College Player of the Year award and 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up.
• Mina Harigae, the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion and Golfweek’s third-ranked junior.
• UCLA junior Tiffany Joh, winner of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and No. 4 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
• Duke junior Jennie Lee, low amateur at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open and No. 9 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
• Kimberly Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and Golfweek’s top-ranked junior.
• Arkansas senior Stacy Lewis, the 2007 NCAA champion and two-time Golfweek Amateur of the Year.
• Arizona senior Alison Walshe, the 2007 North & South Amateur and 2008 Harder Hall Invitational winner.

Orange Blossom Tour continues at Coral Ridge

LIZ AND MICHELE STRUGGLE WITHOUT A
PRACTICE ROUND - AND A REST

Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), first and third on Sunday in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur Championship, scored 78 and 79 respectively in the qualifying round today of the Jones/Doherty women's amateur match-play golf championship at Coral Ridge Country Club near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
None of the British and Irish players in the field were able to have a practice round over the the course on Sunday. They made a 4hr drive from the Orange Blossom Tour event at Ormond Beach, which ended on Saturday, but a thunder and lightning storm on Sunday closed the Coral Ridge CC course for play - so no practice for those from this side of the Atlantic.
Florida wonder girl 13-year-old Alexis Thompson, winner of two big events in her home state over the Festive period, obviously knows the course like the back of her hand - she shot a six-under-par 68 to spreadeagle the field.
There was a good performance by English teenager Rachel Jennings. Despite never having seen the course before and, like all the other overseas players, badly in need of a rest, she shot a one-under-par 73.
Carly Booth made her debut on the Orange Blossom Tour with a creditable 76. She is wintering in Arizona as a pupil at Red Mountain High School, Mesa.
Defending champion Marika Lendl, one of former world tennis ace Ivan's golfing daughters, was given a bye into the first round of the match-play.
Catriona (Lambert) Matthew won the Jones/Doherty tournament in 1992 when she competed as a Stirling University student.

QUALIFYING ROUND SCORES
Par 74
Players from US unless stated
68 Alexis Thompson.
73 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton).
76 Carly Booth (Comrie).
78 Isabel Lendl, Meghan Bolger, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), Taylor Collins, Diane Lang.
79 Daniella Lendl, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), Kristy McLaughlin, Marie Piere Bernier.
80 Naomi Edwards (Ganton), Mayura Skowronski, Benedikte Grotvedt.
81 Rachel Connor (Manchester), Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan), Kyle Roig, Jaye Marie Green.
82 Julie Garner, Lauren Blount.
83 Stephanie Farrar (Stirling Univ), Natalie McNicholas, Lisa Schlesinger.
84 Laura Murray (Robert Gordon Univ), Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin), Alexandra Frazier, Maggie Weder.
86 Holly Calvert (Stirling Univ).
88 Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ).
100 Stephanie Crolla (Heriot Watt Univ).

FIRST-ROUND TIES
Selected ties:

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Naomi Edwards (80) v Mayura Skowronski (80),
Stephanie Farrar (83) v Diane Lang (78)
Carly Booth (76) v Lisa Scheslinger (83)
Michele Thomson (79) v Rachel Connor (81).
Isabel Lendl (79) v Laura Murray (84).
Alexis Thompson (68) v Holly Calvert (86).
Rachel Jennings (73) v Sarah Carty (84).
Sarah Hassan (81) v Marie-Piere Bernie (79).
Liz Bennett (78) v Alexandra Frazier (84).
Kerry Smith (79) v Lauren Blount (82).

SECOND FLIGHT
Stephanie Crolla (100) v Denise Martorana (89).
Bye: Rachel Cassidy.

Former Curtis Cup player Danielle Masters from Kent will play for England in the Women's World Cup of Golf in South Africa at the end of this week. Next month she plays in the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Murcia, Spain. Read on:

HdA FESTIVAL ENTRANT DANIELLE MASTERS CALLED IN TO PARTNER

TRISH JOHNSON IN WOMEN'S

WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:

England’s Women’s World Cup of Golf challenge has suffered a setback with the late withdrawal of Kirsty Taylor due to illness. Taylor has been forced to withdraw from this week’s tournament at the Gary Player Country Club, South Africa due to illness.

She will be replaced by 24-year-old former Curtis Cup player Danielle Masters (picture above from the LET website). Taylor, the 2005 Wales Ladies Championship of Europe winner, was expected to form a very competitive duo with veteran Trish Johnson.

“I’d rather Kirsty be going than me, really,” said a sympathetic Masters. “It’s a great opportunity for me, but it is not what I wanted my first World Cup entrance to be based on. It would have been nice to have got in playing well.

“I have such mixed emotions. I’m really excited to be going to the tournament but I’m really upset about Kirsty. It is not going to be a bundle of laughs.”

Johnson, who boasts over a hundred top-10 finishes on the LET, was reportedly in two minds on whether still to go to South Africa, but decided to continue in Taylor’s absence.

“Trish and I get on really well,” said Masters. “I love playing with Trish. With all her experience she’s a really confident player. We get on really well so I’m hoping that luck will be on our side and we’ll click straight away.

“We are lucky that we know each other well and it will be fun once we’re out there. I think the golf will be fun.”

Masters had a consistent season on the LET, finishing 43rd on the New Star Money List with earnings of just over 50 000 Euros. The highlight of her season was a runner-up finish at the De Vere Ladies Scottish Open. Her next best finish in 2007 was 11th at the Finnair Masters in Finland.

Masters is not expecting too much from herself at Sun City, having not prepared as adequately as she would have had she been in the initial line-up.“I don’t feel that I’ve prepared how I would have liked leading up to the World Cup, but we’ll give it our best shot,” she said.

“I’ve been seeing my coach and going to the gym a lot. I came back from India and Dubai and had that time off until New Year. I went to a pro-am in Spain with Trish (Johnson), Becky (Brewerton) and Kirsty (Taylor) last week.”

The Women’s World Cup of Golf, which includes teams from 20 different countries, begins on Friday with 18 holes of better-ball followed by 18 holes of foursomes on Saturday and another 18 holes of better-ball on Sunday.

Prizewinners' parade (left to right): M Bolger, J Yadloczky, Liz Bennett, Michele Thomson, A Bodemann, K Wong, Rachel Jennings. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Scot's grand performance to finish third in South Atlantic Ladies
Amateur in Florida

What Michele Thomson had to say to Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk:

"I'm really happy with the result in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur. Since the end of the season I have been working hard on my long game with my coach Neil Marr of Meldrum House and I knew it was in good shape coming out to the USA.
"If I had any doubts about my game it was with the sharpness of my short game as the weather plays a big part in how much we can practise on this over the winter and I knew it would be a bit rusty.
"However it stood up fairly well, still lots of room for improvement, especially on Day 2, but with another week of golf to go over here before we head back to the UK it will be good to get the practice in.
"With regards the tournament itself, I knew after round three that I had a chance to win but I also knew that in order to catch Liz (Bennett) I would have to shoot under par in the final round. The triple-bogey 8 at the sixth hole really killed off any chance I had but I was pleased with the way I came back to shoot level par 72 for the round.
"If my putt on the 18th green had dropped instead of sitting on the edge of the hole, I would have ended up one under par for the day and tied for second place. That said, congratulations to Liz. She played solidly all week, and if I could not win then I was pleased an LGU team-mate won the trophy.
"We are all pretty tired as straight after the prize giving ceremony we had a 4hr journey to Fort Lauderdale for the next tournament which starts on Monday. The plan is to catch up on some much needed sleep Sunday morning followed by a practice round in the afternoon and some short game practice in the evening.
"Everyone is looking forward to the next event and hopefully someone from the UK can take home another trophy this week.
"By the way, I hear it's cold and wet back home in Scotland. The weather here in Florida is lovely!!"

Scroll down for reports, scores and an image from the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur championship.

Entries close on Tuesday for Spanish golf highlight

KATIE THOMSON TAKING A BREAK

FROM PGA TRAINING TO PLAY

IN HdA WOMEN'S FESTIVAL

Entries for the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain from February 10 to 23 close on Tuesday ... and former Aberdeenshire county champion Katie Thomson has just made it in time.

Katie, pictured right with the Aberdeenshire trophy, is in the second year of her PGA training as an assistant professional at the Aspire Golf Centre, Ardoe, only a couple of miles along the South Deeside Road from the Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen.

She has played in some Tartan Tour assistants' events.

"I've some PGA training tests coming up at The Belfry headquarters soon so it will be nice to have a break in the Spanish sunshine, get in a lot of practice and play in the Festival competitions," said Katie who will make the trip with her father to the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort which is near the city of Murcia in south-east Spain.

Why don't you follow Katie Thomson's example and E-mail your Festival direct to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at colin@scottishgolfview.com without further delay?

Details about the Festival are available by clicking on the words HDA FESTIVAL near the top of the left-hand column of your screen.

You can go for both weeks of the Festival, you can go for the first or second weeks, or you can even straddle both weeks by travelling and coming home in midweek if this enables you to get cheaper flights.

Current entries:

PROFESSIONALS
Claire COUGHLAN (Ireland)
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Martina GILLEN (Ireland)
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Katie THOMSON (Scotland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).
Jenna WILSON (Scotland).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway)

Lisa BARTON (Coventry)

Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath)

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan)

Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin)

Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea)

Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park)

Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy)

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy)

Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan)
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath)

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough)
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath)
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan)
Mary McAREE (Navan)
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath)

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough)

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough)
Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin)
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion)

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder)
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder)
Margaret ROONEY (Navan)
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan)

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan)

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon)

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall)

Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway)

LGU AND STIRLING SQUADS MOVE

ON TO MATCH-PLAY TOURNAMENT

AT CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB

Liz Bennett, Michele Thomson and the rest of the Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad, as well as the Stirling University players have moved on to Coral Ridge Country Club at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
That's where the third event on the 2008 Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs tees off on Monday.
It's the 76th Ione D. Jones/Doherty Women's Amateur Championship. The tournament is named after Ione, wife of the golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones.
Florida-based Marika Lendl, one of the golfing daughters of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl (both pictured), is back to defend her title in the amateur division and Connie Shorb of York, Pennsylvania, returns to defend in the senior division.
Stroke-play qualifying to determine match-play pairings will be staged Monday with first-round matches Tuesday.
A field of 48 will be cut to 32 for match play in the amateur and senior amateur divisions. The finals are Saturday with the seniors off at 9:20 a.m. and the amateur division off at 9:30 a.m.
Coral Springs' "wonder girl" Alexis Thompson, 13-year-old winner of the Doral Publix Junior and Dixie Amateur over the last few weeks, will make her first start in the Jones/Doherty. Diane Lang, a two-time U.S. Senior Women's Amateur champ, is also in the field.
Catriona (Lambert) Matthew won this title in 1992 while still a student at Stirling University.