Lisa Maguire leads at end of first
qualifying round in Irish
women's close championship

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Twin teen sensation Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) fired an impressive five-under-par 69 to lead the field by three strokes after the first qualifyinground of the Lancôme Irish Women’s Close Championship at Westport Golf Club today.
Maguire started somewhat nervously with a bogey, par, birdie and double bogey before steadying the ship with a run of three birdies and a par to be out one under. On the back nine Maguire hit devastating form with a combination of four birdies and five pars to finish her round at five under par.
Maura Morrin (The Curragh) lies three shots adrift on 72 with an unblemished card which included birdies on the first and 15th holes.
Following closely behind is Irish International and past runner-up Tara Delaney (Carlow) on 74 and one shot further adrift is 13-year-old Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Lisa's twin sister.
Tomorrow sees the completion of the qualifying after which the leading 32 players will go into the championship draw. The match-play stages start on Monday and conclude on Wednesday.
Those in position 33 through to 48 qualify for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
SCOREBOARD
FIRST ROUND (Par 74. CSS 77)
69 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
72 Maura Morrin (The Curragh)
74 Tara Delaney (Carlow)
75 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
76 Ciara Butler (Newlands), Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle), Mary Dowling (New Ross).
77 Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris), Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Naoimh McMahon (Shannon), Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin), Vicki Power (Dundalk), Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne).
78 Una Marsden (Tullamore), Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Carla Reynolds (Seapoint).
79 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar), Anne McCormack (Roscommon), Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth), Helen Jones (Strabane).
80 Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Sarah Faller (Galway), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris).
81 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Ann Geoghegan (Athlone), Caoimhe Quinn (Dungannon).
82 Julie O'Gara (Roscommon), Carmel O'Connor (Westport), Karen O'Neill (Douglas), Trish Doyle (Kanturk).
83 Sarah Carty (The Island), Fiona Moclair (Ballinasloe), Orla Barry (Galway), Sinead Keane (The Curragh).
85 Maria Dunne (Skerries), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Catherine Tucker (Limerick), Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch).
86 Fiona McComb (Ballycastle) Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford)
87 Aoife McHale (Castlebar), Sue Phillips (Woodbrook), Ailish Thompson (Douglas), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint).
88 Shauna McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies)
89 Laura Boylan (Skerries), Doireann Carney (Galway), Marie Sudway (Glasson), Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix).
90 Lynda Maher (Charleville), Vivienne Houston (City of Derry).
91 Linda Toomey (Limerick).
92 Susan McGann O'Brien (Tuam)
93 Mary Mather (Cill Dara) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo).
95 Margaret Corcoran (Bray).
96 Breda Farrell (Ballinasloe).
99 Maura Rafferty (Co Sligo), Theresa Delahunty (Rathdowney).

Hannah Barwood (17) beats Curtis

Cup player Florentyna Parker

to take English title at Ganton

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

Gloucestershire’s Hannah Barwood became one of the youngest winners of the English women’s close amateur championship when she beat Lancashire’s Florentyna Parker 2 and 1 in the final at Ganton, Yorkshire today.

“This is huge for me,” said 17-year-old Hannah. “I can’t believe it and I don’t think it will sink in for about two days!”

She continues a recent trend of teenage winners of the English championship, following Felicity Johnson, who was 18 when she took the title in 2005, and Kiran Matharu who was also 17 in 2006.

Both are now professionals on the Ladies European Tour.

Hannah, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), who plays at Knowle Golf Club, had to defeat two Curtis Cup team members in two days during her title campaign at Ganton.

She faced Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) in the quarter-finals before moving on to play Florentyna Parker in a closely-fought final.

“I thought I could win and my coach said I was capable – but believing it is one thing and doing it is another,” said Hannah. “Anything can happen in match-play.”

She started a little tentatively and lost the first hole of the final after going into a fairway bunker. It was the first time she had been down in the match-play stages of the championship and, as she said: “It was a new experience. I’ve been in finals before but nothing like this so I was a bit edgy to begin with.”

Florentyna birdied the third, with a delicate chip and putt, to move to two up. But the Royal Birkdale player found trouble behind the next green and also lost the seventh after her second shot finished in a greenside bunker.

However, Florentyna moved back into the lead with a textbook par on the short 10th. Hannah’s tee shot had finished in short fluffy rough beside a bunker and although she chipped well, the putt slid past the hole.

The Gloucestershire player came straight back, though, with an excellent putt for a birdie 3 on the 11th which squared the match. She then moved into the lead for the first time with a steady par on the 12th, where Florentyna dropped a shot after driving into the trees on the right.

“When I went one up I told myself to hold on to it. I really like the last few holes and I knew I could play them well,” said Hannah, whose father, Nick, caddied for her.

Florentyna, meanwhile, was fighting hard – and never more so than on the 16th. She was still one down and her tee shot finished in deep, deep rough on the left of the hole and she had to take a penalty drop.

From there, with trees and a bunker between her and the putting surface, she played a superb shot into the heart of the green with a 19 degree rescue club. But it was to no avail when Hannah holed for a birdie 3 and a two-hole lead.

On the par-3 17th, Hannah displayed rock-solid nerves with an excellent two-putt across the sloping green. It gave her a half on the hole – and the title.

Now, Hannah is setting her sights on a championship double. “I’m still only 17 so I’ll be playing in the English girls’ – I’ll have to try and take that as well!” She is also the English schools’ champion and a past winner of the English girls’ Under-15 title.
Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer
Visit the EGWA web site at http://www.englishladiesgolf.org/

Jo Carthew plays her part in birdie festival

Four of the best. Semi-finalists Kylie Walker (left) and Laura Murray (right) flank new champion Michele Thomson and runner-up Jocelyn Carthew (Cal Carson Golf Agency image, all rights reserved). Click on the images to enlarge them.

Michele Thomson wins

quality championship final

- now for Curtis Cup

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Michele Thomson from Ellon, Aberdeenshire endorsed her Curtis Cup team selection by winning the Scottish women's amateur championship for the first time after an 18-hole final with golf that matched the glorious sunshine at Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth today.

In a final, packed with birdies and played at an old-fashioned pace – 17 holes completed in just over three hours, 20-year-old Michele beat another first-time finalist, Jocelyn Carthew, a 30-year-old Ladybank Golf Club, Fife member, by 2 and 1.

Michele, a +1 player at McDonald Ellon Golf Club, a seasoned international and a full-time amateur who has been playing competitively this year since the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida in January, entered the final as hot favourite to beat Jo, an uncapped one-handicapper who had never progressed past the second round of the national championship before and a player who works for a living.

But Carthew let the big gallery – and her more highly-rated opponent - know she wasn't just there to make up the numbers when she won the first two holes with birdies and then halved the third with her third birdie in a row.

Thomson, the longer-hitter, then rolled up her sleeves and won the next four holes with a par-birdie-birdie-birdie burst that saw her jump from two down to two up.

Carthew came back off the ropes to win the eighth with a great putt for a birdie but turned two down again when Thomson holed a 15ft birdie putt at the ninth.

Out in five-under-par 33 to Carthew's two-under 36 and two holes to the good, Thomson had by no means subdued underdog Jo. The pair of them produced nine birdies between them in a high-class outward half.

Carthew won the 10^th with a birdie, lost the 11^th to a birdie and then got back to one down again when Thomson had her first bogey of the day.

This was the low point, quality-wise in the match, the 13^th being halved in bogeys.

Normal service was resumed with a half in birdie 4s at the long 14^th before Thomson regained a two-hole lead when Carthew three-putted.

The writing was on the wall for the elegant Ladybank player then. Two down with three to play, she could only halve the 16^th and 17^th, leaving Thomson a worthy 2 and 1 winner.

Thomson was five under par at the finish and Carthew two under par … proof that it was a quality final with 13 birdies in all.

"I can hardly wait for the Curtis Cup to come along now at the end of the month," said Michele who phoned her oil executive dad who was en route from Brunei to Singapore as soon as she could after the last putt dropped.

"The best thing I took out of this week is that I can play under pressure. I came to Lossiemouth under pressure, as a Curtis Cup pick, to do well ... and I did. In the semi-final against Laura Murray I was four down after seven holes and I trailed in others, including this final, so that gives me confidence for the Curtis Cup.

"I would like to thank my coach Neil Marr for making me able to produce the shots I have to win in pressure situations."

Glasgow-born Jo Carthew, who lives in Kirkcaldy and works in Cupar, was also full of praise for her coach, Ladybank club professional Sandy Smith.

"Sandy has worked with me on my game for more than a year, just a general tighening up process. He has made a big difference to my play," said Glasgow-born Jo, daughter of the former Crow Wood professional Oliver Carthew.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the week. I thought I played better in every round and I couldn't complain about being beaten by Michele's five-under-par figures in the final. I was two under par myself so, even though I lost, I did enjoy competing in a Scottish final in front of a big gallery."

+Picture above of Michele Thomson with the Scottish championship trophy is the copyright of Gillian Kirkwood (all rights reserved).

HOW THEY SCORED IN THE FINAL

Hole 1: Carthew wins with birdie 3. Carthew one up.

Hole 2: Carthew wins with birdie 4. Carthew two up.

Hole 3: Halved in birdie 4s.

Hole 4: Thomson wins with par 3. Carthew one up.

Hole 5: Thomson wins with birdie 3. All square.

Hole 6: Thomson wins with birdie 2. Thomson one up.

Hole 7: Thomson wins with birdie 4. Thomson two up.

Hole 8: Carthew wins with birdie 4. Thomson one up.

Hole 9: Thomson with wins birdie 3. Thomson two up.

Thomson out in five-under-par 33. Carthew out in two-under-par 36.

Hole 10: Carthew wins with birdie 3. Thomson one up.

Hole 11: Thomson with with birdie 4. Thomson two up.

Hole 12: Carthew wins with par 4. Thomson one up.

Hole 13: Halved in bogey 5s.

Hole 14: Halved in birdie 4s.

Hole 15: Thomson wins with par 3. Thomson two up.

Hole 16 Halved in par 4s.

Hole 17: Halved in par 5s. Thomson wins by 2 and 1.

Thomson five under par for 17 holes. Carthew two under par for 17 holes.

BARWOOD v PARKER ENGLISH FINAL

Hannah Barwood and Florentyna Parker reach English championship final

Teenagers Hannah Barwood from Gloucestershire and Florentyna Parker from Lancashire will meet in tomorrow's final of the English Women's Close Amateur Championship at Ganton, Yorkshire.

Hannah, 17, claimed her place after scoring a convincing win over Curtis Cup team member Liz Bennett and then defeating her county colleague Charlotte Ellis – with the help of a hole-in one. It was her fifth in competition and her second this season, following an ace in last month's Helen Holm Scottish open strokeplay championship.

This time, Hannah used a six-iron for her shot to the 144-yard 5th and watched as it took one bounce and vanished into the hole. It took her to 2up but she still had a fight on her hands.

Charlotte, who was suffering from a torn muscle, had pulled her back to all square by the eighth. The two players then fought a close battle on the back nine before Hannah made a decisive move, winning the 15th, 16th and 17th to reach the final on only her second appearance in the championship.

Hannah, who is the English schools champion and was the U21 winner at the recent Welsh strokeplay championship, said: "I am ecstatic. I just can't wait."

Earlier in the day she was three-under par when she defeated Liz Bennett. Now, in the final, she faces the challenge of playing another Curtis Cup team member.

Florentyna Parker, 18, claimed her place in the final with a one-up win over the Yorkshire favourite and two-times champion, Emma Brown (nee Duggleby) from nearby Malton & Norton.

"It was a very tight, good match," said Florentyna, who will also be playing in her first English final. "I am looking forward to the final."

She took a quick lead in her semi-final and was th ree up after four holes and never dropped behind in a match in which she scored three birdies. However, Emma fought hard and twice pulled her opponent back to all square.

Crucially Florentyna took a one-hole lead with a birdie on the 13th and she held on to that advantage as the players halved the remaining five holes of the round.

Florentyna was the 2007 French lady junior champion and a member of last year's winning European team in the junior Solheim Cup.

Emma's defeat ended Yorkshire's hopes of a home winner but she said: "What with one thing and another I haven't played much golf since the beginning of March. So, to get to the semi-finals here and in the Yorkshire championship last week isn't bad. We had a good match, especially on the back nine, and Florentyna played well."

Results
Quarter-finals:
Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) beat Sarah Walton (Clitheroe) 4/2.
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) beat Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 4/3
Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) beat Rachel Connor (Manchester) 6/5.
Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) beat Jenny Pease (Braintree) 2/1.

Semi-finals:
Barwood beat Ellis 3/1.
Parker beat Brown 1 up.

Full details: www.englishwomensgolf.org

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JOCELYN CARTHEW BIDDING TO
COMPLETE LADYBANK DOUBLE
AFTER SUSAN'S VICTORY
IN CLARK ROSEBOWL FINAL

Jocelyn Carthew has put her home club Ladybank in the golfing spotlight by reaching Saturday morning's 18-hole final of the Scottish women's amateur championship over the Moray Golf Club Old Course links at Lossiemouth.
There was a trophy boost for a Ladybank club player when 18-year-old Susan Jackson beat Heather Anderson (Downfield) 4 and 3 in the final of the championship week's No2 competition, the Clark Rosebowl. Susan was three up after eight holes (Picture right of Susan Jackson with the Clark Rosebowl was taken by Gillian Kirkwood who retains the copyright).
Now Jocelyn or "Jo" - she doesn't mind which one you use - a 30-year-old Glasgwegian, who lives in Kirkcaldy and works in a stable-construction business in Cupar, will be pulling out all the stops to put her own name in the record books alongside legends like Jessie Valentine by beating 20-year-old Michele Thomson, a full-time amateur golfer from Ellon, Aberdeenshire and one of four Scots in the GB&I team to play the United States in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of the month.
"I'm playing well. I just have to do it one more time. I was two or three under par in beating Kylie Walker in the semi-final, so that kind of form must give me a chance," said Jocelyn, who did not take up golf until the age of 16 even though her dad Oliver was professional at Crow Wood Golf Club.
Although Thomson had to claw her way back from four down after eight holes before prevailing over Aberdeenshire rival Laura Murray (Alford) at the 20th hole in the other semi-final, Michele will start the clear favourite for the title.
Thomson, who lost in the semi-finals last year, is the 10th seed and her opponent was 25th of the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages at Lossiemouth
Long-hitting power player Michele has +1 of a handicap; Jocelyn, a more delicate touch player, has one of a handicap and has never got past the second round of the "Scottish" before. She has never won the Fife county championship and never been picked for Scotland. Michele is a seasoned international who has stepped up to Great Britain & Ireland level.
But Carthew is playing well above her expectations this week.
She started the penultimate day of the 94th national championship by winning 2 and 1 against 16-year-old Sammy Vass (Tain), who claimed the scalp of the No 1 seed, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) in the first round.
Then Carthew beat the No 5 seed, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) by 3 and 1 to reach the final for the first time.
Kylie Walker had to go to the 22nd hole in morning quarter-finals to take the measure of Craigielaw teenager Jane Turner.
Whether that sapped her energy or not, Kylie birdied the 10th to get back to all square with Jocelyn – and then sagged.
Walker lost the 11th, 12th and 13th and there was no way back for her after that.
Against Thomson, Robert Gordon University student Laura Murray had a fantastic start. She birdied the first five holes and seven of the first eight holes to be four up and firmly in the driving seat.
"Laura was playing brilliantly at that stage. I just had to make sure I kept my head up and play the best I could to turn the match my way," said Michele.
And turn her way it did. She won the ninth with a par, the 11th with a birdie, the 16th with a par and the 17th with a par. Murray's flow of birdies had dried up just when she needed some more.
But Laura did stage wonderful 40yd bunker shot under severe pressure to halve the 18th in bogeys but her luck ran out when she was in another bunker off the tee at the 20th and ran up a bogey 6 which ended her best ever run in the championship.
"Pity my father is in Dubai and can't make it time. He has helped me so much to get me where I am," said Michele.
"But there's still a hard match in the final to come. So I'm not counting my chickens yet."
Friday results:

CHAMPIONSHIP

QUARTER-FINALS

J Carthew (Ladybank) bt S Vass (Tain) 2 and 1.

K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt J Turner (Mortonhall) at 22nd.

L Murray (Alford) bt C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 2 and 1.

M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt L Kenney (Pitreavie) 3 and 2.

SEMI-FINALS

Carthew bt Walker 3 and 1.

Thomson bt Murray at 20th.

CLARK ROSEBOWL
SEMI-FINALS

H Anderson (Downfield) bt B Murphy (Mortonhall) at 20^th.

S Jackson (Ladybank) bt T Laughland (Mortonhall) 2 holes.

FINAL

Jackson bt Anderson 4 and 3.

SHOCKS IN ENGLISH WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

Title-holder Naomi Edwards and top seed Rachel Jennings tumbled out of the English Women's Close Amateur Championship when they were both beaten in the first round.
But Florentyna Parker – who makes her Curtis Cup debut later this month – produced a magical shot to survive a marathon battle and move into the quarter finals.
The first upset of the day was provided by Lancashire's Sarah Walton (Clitheroe) who claimed the 32nd and final place for the matchplay only after a play-off.
Sarah, who won the British mid-amateur championship in 2003, defeated the top qualifier, Staffordshire's Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) on the final green. She had a simple attitude to the match: "I'm 31-years-old and I'm here for fun. I had nothing to lose and I just played steady golf," she said.
She went on to beat former England international Lisa Hall (Matfen Hall), again on the 18th.
Essex champion Jenny Pease (Braintree) claimed another big scalp when she defeated the defending champion and Ganton player, Naomi Edwards.
Jenny was up throughout the match and said afterwards: "I am chuffed to bits." Naomi commented on the end of her hopes of retaining her title: "It just wasn't meant to be."
However, Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) staged a remarkable comeback against Yorkshire's talented 17-year-old, Ellie Robinson (Middlesborough).
Florentyna was five down after seven and three down with three to play. But experience, coupled with a magical chip, took her through to the quarter finals. She finally won on the 20th, where her approach to the green finished so close to a bunker that she had no stance and was forced to play the shot left-handed with a sand wedge. She managed a miraculous u p and down and revealed afterwards that she practises the technique.
Hampshire's Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), who will also play in the Curtis Cup team, moved into the quarter-finals with a confident performance against Bedfordshire's Holly Aitchison. "I thought I played well," said Holly "but Liz was just awesome, she kept making birdies and it was hard to keep up."
Liz was three-under par when the match finished and notably birdied the very long par fours, 7 and 15.
Now she meets Gloucestershire's Hannah Barwood who needed just 24 holes to dispose of her two opponents. The 17-year-old from Knowle won both her games by the margin of 7/6 and said afterwards: "I played steady golf. I plotted my way round the course and didn't make many mistakes."
Her Gloucestershire colleague, Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton), is also safely through – despite suffering from the effects of a torn muscle under her arm. She had comfortable wins against 14-year-old Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) and Ganton's Sara Garbutt and said afterwards: "It hurts when I breathe – so I just held my breath!".
Yorkshire's Emma Brown (Malton and Norton), who has twice held this title, won two tight matches on the 18th. She beat another former champion, Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and then England girls international Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall).
Results
First round
Sarah Walton (Clitheroe) beat Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 1 up. Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) beat Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 2/1. Sara Garbutt (Ganton) beat Lucinda Mileham (Aldwickbury Park) 1 up. Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) beat Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) 4/3. Claire Aitken (Mid-Kent) beat Nikki Dunn (Harrogate) 3/2. Hannah Barwood (Knowle) beat Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 7/6. Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) beat Kym Larratt (Kibworth) 3/2. Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) beat Tilly Hol der (Magnolia Park) 5/4. Rachel Connor (Manchester) beat Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 3/2. Kate Whitmore (Sandiway) beat Hermione Fitzgerald (Links) 3/1. Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) beat Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 1 up. Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) beat Charlotte Wild (Mere) 2/1. Florentyna Paker (Royal Birkdale) beat Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) 3/2. Ellie Robinson (Middlesborough) beat Anne Wheble (Dartford) 4/2. Faye Sanderson (Heworth) beat Emilee Taylor (Gainsborough) 1 up. Jenny Pease (Braintree) beat Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 3/2.
Second round:
Walton beat Ball 2 up. Ellis beat Garbutt 5/4. Barwood beat Aitken 7/6. Bennett beat Aitchison 4/3. Connor beat Whitmore 2/1. Brown beat Douglass 1 up. Parker beat Robinson on 20th. Pease beat Sanderson 2/1.

Full scores: www.englishwomensgolf.org

---

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Tel. 01603 507 416
Email: lyndsey.hewison@ntlworld.com

Visit our web site at www.englishwomensgolf.org

To unsubcribe from emails please visit our Unsubscribe Page

Editors Notes

On the 31 December 2007 the English Ladies' Golf Association, an unincorporated body, was dissolved and the property, contracts, assets (including intellectual property rights and goodwill) and liabilities of the Association were transferred to a Company Limited by Guarantee, registration number 6431498, known as the English Women's Golf
Association.

The English Women's Golf Association is the governing body for female amateur golf in England.

EWGA represents over 127,000 members in more than 1780 golf clubs, trains the country's elite golfers, runs a full rota of national championships as well as events for handicap golfers, and actively encourages new golfers.

EWGA has formed the England Golf Partnership with the English Golf Union and the Professionals Golfers' Association. Their Whole Sport Plan, supported by Sport England, aims to make England the world's leading golf nation by 2020.

The association also has a charity, The ELGA Trust, which supports schemes to introduce girls to golf and helps promising players.

KYLIE WALKER WINS AT 22nd HOLE

LATER NEWS FROM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt Jane Turner (Mortonhall) at 22nd hole.

 

CLARK ROSEBOWL RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS

H Anderson (Downfield) bt B Murphy (Mortonhall) at 20th.

S Jackson (Ladybank) bt T Laughland (Mortonhall) 2 holes.

Scottish women's amateur championship results

HOW THEY FARED IN QUARTER-FINALS

 

Match 1

JOCELYN CARTHEW (Ladybank) bt SAMMY VASS (Tain) 2 and 1.

Vass one up after 11 holes.

Carthew won the second, Vass the fourth. All square at turn. Vass won the 11th.

Carthew won the 12th and 13th with birdies to go one up.

Vass birdied 14tyh to be all square again.

Carthew won short 15th with 3 to go one one up.

Carthew won 17th with par 5 to win match 2 and 1.

 

 

March 2

KYLIE WALKER (Buchanan Castle) and JANE TURNER (Craigielaw) all square after 20 holes (playing on).

Kylie Walker and Jane Turner all square after 10 holes.

First six holes halved. Walker conceded seventh but won the eighth to square. Turner won the ninth with birdie to be one up at turn. Walker won 10th with birdie to be all square.

In the tightest of ties, the remaining eight holes on the inward half were halved, including birdies at the 14th and 17th.

Turner, putting for the match, lipped out with a birdie putt from about 8ft beyond the hole on the 18th green.

The first two extra holes were halved.

 

Match 3

LAURA MURRAY (Alford) bt CLARE-MARIE CARLTON (Fereneze) 3 and 1.

Murray one up at the turn3

Murray won the first and third to go two up. Carlton won back the fourrh but lost the sixth.Carlton won the eighth to be only one down.

Murray went two up with a par at the 10th but Carlton birdied the 11th to cut her deficit to one hole again.

Carlton lost a ball at the 13th to go down down and Murray went three up with a birdie 4 at the 14th.

Carlton fought back with a birdie at the 16th to be two down with two to play.

Murray clinched a 3 and 1 victory by winning the 17th.

 

Match 4

MICHELE THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) bt LOUISE KENNEY (Pitreavie) 3 and 2.

Thomson one up at the turn.

Thomson won first three holes but lost the fifth and sixth.

Thomson won the eighth to regain two-hole advantage but Kenney won the ninth.

Thomson birdied the 10th to go two up but lost to 11th to a birdie from Kenney.

Kenney conceded the 12th to go two down again.

Thomson birdied the 14th to go three up with four to play.

The 16th hole was halved to leave Thomson winner by 3 and 2.

More results from "Scottish" at Lossiemouth

CLARK ROSEBOWL

 

FIRST ROUND

 

B Murphy (Mortonhall) bt A Ryan (Tain) 3 and 2.

A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle) bt J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 1 hole.

H Anderson (Downfield) bt S Leslie (Murcar Links) 3 and 2.

L Terry (Cruden Bay) bt H Faulds (Douglas Park) 1 hole.

T Laughland (Mortonhall) bt E Gillespie (Lochend) 5 and 4.

M Smith (Tain) bt L Stewart (Greenburn) 3 and 2.

C Wilson (Murcar Links) bt A Brownie (Lothianburn) 5 and 4.

S Jackson (Ladybank) bt H Laughland (Mortonhall) 5 and 3.

 

QUARTER-FINALS

Murphy bt McGinnigle 1 hole.

Anderson bt Terry at 20th.

T Laughland bt Smith 1 hole.

Jackson bt Wilson 2 holes.

LORNA LETS CURTIS CUPPER MICHELE OFF HOOKE

Scottish seniors champion Lorna Bennett from Ladybank almost pulled off the second shock of the day as the 94^th Scottish women's amateur golf championship entered its match-play stages over the Moray club's Old Course links at Lossiemouth today.

In the morning 16-year-old Sammy Vass from Tain, the last of the 32 qualifiers – she had to survive a six-way play-off – toppled one of her best golfing chums, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the 17-year-old top seed, by two holes.

In the afternoon second round ties, Lorna jumped into a three-hole lead after only four holes on Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the only one in the Lossie field of the four Scots who will do duty for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of the month.

Michele hit back after losing the second, third and fourth to a par-eagle-birdie burst by Lorna to win the seventh, eighth and ninth and be square at the turn with successes at four holes

Bennett was not finished yet. She won the 10^th with a par when her much longer-hitting opponent was bunkered but Michele bounced back with a tie-squaring birdie at the 11^th.

The Fifer, a Scotland player and girls team captain in her day, showed no signs of tiring as the sun came out to raise the temperature. Bennett won the 13^th and 14^th to go two up with five to play … and we know what they all say about that position!

"I never thought about two up with five to play never wins, actually, but I did lose the 15^th to a birdie and then I three-putted to lose the 17^th, which meant we were all square going down the last," said Lorna.

"Sadly, for me, I took three to get down from the edge of the 18^th green for a bogey 5 while Michele holed her second putt from about seven feet for a winning par 4 and that was that.

"But I really enjoyed myself, beating Claire Hargan by 5 and 4 in the morning and then giving Michele a good game. In a way I was glad for Scotland with the Curtis Cup match coming up, that Michele was able to win in the end. Maybe it will do her a lot of good, especially if she went on to become champion."

Two Fifers did reach the last eight – Jocelyn Carthew from Ladybank and Louise Kenney, the No 2 seed from Pitreavie.

Jocelyn beat Margaret Tough (Falkirk) by 4 and 3 and then Karen Marshall (Baberton) by 3 and 1. She now plays the giant-killing Sammhy Vass.

Louise Kenney was a 5 and 4 winner in the first round against Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) and then came through a tough tie against Claire MacDonald (Gullane) by 2 and 1.

"I was three up after five holes with a couple of birdies. Then we halved seven holes in a row before I went four up at the 13^th. Claire came back at me by winning the 14^th with a birdie and then the 15^th to cut my lead to two," said Louise.

"We halved the 16^th in par and the 17^th in birdie 4s to finish the match. I really like the Lossiemouth links. I was about one or two under par in the afternoon and I think I am playing as well if not better than when I reached the semi-finals at Dunbar a couple of years ago. Here's hoping anyway!"

Louise Kenney now plays Curtis Cupper Michele Thomson.

Sammy (16) from Tain is

Lossie giant-killer

You couldn't make up a better, little girl makes good story! But this one is true and it all enfolded on another day which ended in glorious sunshine at Lossiemouth.

Sixteen-year-old championship debutante Sammy Vass from Tain had the kind of day in the 94^th Scottish women's amateur golf tournament she will remember for the rest of her life..

Having squeezed into the 32 match-play qualifiers on Wednesday night by surviving a six-player play-off for the last two places, she began her day of days by toppling her 17-year-old golfing buddy, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) who just happened to be the No 1 seed!

In an amazing match of quality, played by two youngsters at almost break-neck speed by modern standards – 2hr 40min for 18 holes – Kelsey had seven birdies but lost by two holes to Sammy who had "only" four birdies but more winning par figures.

Then Sammy, whose mother Magi was a Scottish junior international in her day, went out again in the afternoon and played almost just well. She reached the last eight at the first attempt by chalking up a 3 and 2 win over former Scottish universities champion Ann Ramsay from Kirriemuir but now living and working in Paisley. Again the pace of the tie was bordering on sprinting – they completed the 16 holes in well under three hours.

This time Sammy Vass (picture above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved) had six birdies against an eagle and three birdies from her opponent.

"This has been the best day of my golfing life. I've never played so well over two rounds. Pity I had to beat Kelsey because we're good pals and she would beat me most days. She's a +2 player and I've got a handicap of three," said Sammy.

And just to round off a eventual day, Sammy, by special arrangement, sat her Higher English examination under strict supervision within the Moray clubhouse just after 5pm.

Kelsey MacDonald and Samantha Leslie (Murcar Links) were two other teenagers in the field who sat Higher English at different days during the day.

Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the only one in the Lossie field of the four Scots chosen to play in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of month, reached the last eight after being three down after four holes and two down with five to play against Scottish seniors champion Lorna Bennett (Ladybank). Thomson holed an eight-footer on the last green to win by one hole when Bennett took three from the edge.

Michele now plays the No 2 seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) for a place in the semi-finals.

Michele's Aberdeenshire rival Laura Murray from Alford had an eagle and six pars in winning by 4 and 3 over Kilmacolm teenager Megan Briggs.

Escape of the day was performed by Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle). In the morning first round, she was four down with five holes to play against Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), last year's beaten finalist. Kylie won all five for a one-hole victory and celebrated her reprieve by firing five-under-par figures at six times Angus champion Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) in recording a 3 and 2 win to enter the quarter-finals

THURSDAY RESULTS

FIRST ROUND MATCH-PLAY

S Vass (Tain) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 2 holes.

A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 2 holes.

K Marshall (Baberton) bt L Hendry (Routenburn) 1 hole.

J Carthew (Ladybank) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 4 and 3.

K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 1 hole.

M Summers (Panmure Barry) bt R Livingstone ( Musselburgh Old) 2 and 1.

J Turner (Craigielaw) bt C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 2 and 1.

M Pow (Selkirk) bt E Fairnie (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 7 and 5.

D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt E Moffat (St Regulus) at 19^th.

M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1.

L Murray (Alford) bt P Williamson (Baberton) 7 and 6.

L Bennett (Ladybank) bt C Hargan (Mortonhall) 5 and 4.

M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt K Blackwood (Craigmillar Park) 5 and 3.

C MacDonald (Gullane) bt S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.

L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt L McLardy (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.

SECOND ROUND

Vass bt Ramsay 3 and 2.

Carthew bt Marshall 3 and 1.

Walker bt Summers 3 and 2.

Turner bt Pow 2 and 1.

Carlton bt Jackson 6 and 4.

Murray bt M Briggs 4 and 3.

Thomson b t Bennett 1 hole.

Kenney bt C MacDonald 2 and 1.

Scottish Ladies Strokeplay Prizegiving

Gillian Kirkwood's picture of the leading trophy winners in the stroke-play section of the 94th Scottish women's amateur championship at Lossiemouth. Left to right: Claire Hargan, Belinda Murphy, Martine Pow, Kylie Walker, Julie Vass, Anne Ryan, Mary Summers. Seated: Kelsey MacDonald and Louise Kenney.

Lossiemouth qualifying rounds' trophy winners

The full list of trophy winners and what they did to win them is:

Beddows Memorial Trophy for the lowest gross score in the first qualifying round: Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle ) 73 bih

St Andrews Quaich for lowest nett score in the first qualifying round: Julie Vass (Tain) 82-10=72

Eglinton Quaich for Lowest Aggregate Gross Score - Team First round: Mortonhall (Claire Hargan 73, Belinda Murphy 86, total 159).

Grainger Cup for lowest aggregate nett total - Team First round: Tain (Anne Ryan 78 Julie Vass 72 Total 150).

Glover 21st Anniversary Cup for the lowest gross score in the second round: Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 74 bih

Lyon Salver for the best nett in second round: Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) 74-44=70
Margaret Scouler Buchanan Cup for the best aggregate gross: Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75+74=149

McInnes Shaw Cup for the best aggregate nett: Julie Vass (Tain) 72+75 =147

St Rule Salver for the best gross aggregate from an under 21: Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75+74 =149

NPFA Cup for the lowest net score in the medal rounds: Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) 74-4=70

McRobert Thistle Cup for the lowest scratch score in the qualifying rounds: Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73 bih

Dunlop Hill Trophy for the best second round score by a past champion: Martine Pow (Selkirk) 76

JENNINGS TOP SEED IN ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATIONj
Staffordshire teenager Rachel Jennings leads the 32 qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the English Women's Close Amateur Championship at Ganton, Yorkshire.

She's the reigning French lady junior champion – beating the cream of Europe's U21s – and she's a past winner of the English girls' championship. But this is the first time she has qualified as top seed in a major competition.

"It's lovely, it's a good experience – but you still have to take every match as it comes and keep plugging away," said the 19-year-old from Izaak Walton.

Rachel claimed top spot when she added a two-over par 74 to her opening 75. "I was hitting the ball well and holed a couple of putts – and just got the job done," she said.

"I'm pleased with my score – this is a tough course and if you put the ball in the wrong position you can get penalised very badly."

She's one shot clear of defending champion Naomi Edwards, who is playing on her home course. Her second round 73 was the best of the qualifying scores – but she felt it could have been better.

"I would have taken it at the beginning of the day – but I was two-under through six and dropped a couple on the back 12 holes. My long game is good but I just didn't hole enough putts, so I'm going to work on that and hopefully I will hole a few more tomorrow. "

Naomi is one of five Yorkshire players to make it through to the matchplay. She's joined in the draw by club colleague Sara Garbutt, Middlesborough's Ellie Robinson, Malton & Norton's Emma Brown (nee Duggleby) and  Harrogate's Nikki Dunn.

The field includes two of this month's Curtis Cup team and both are through. Hampshire's Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) was satisfied to qualify in third place after a second round 77, in which she complained that the putts refused to drop. "I was putting well but everything stopped short of the hole and just wouldn't drop. I'm saving the birdies for the next day!" she said. "The goal was to make the cut and move into the matchplay."

Meanwhile Lancashire's Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) secured 26th place when she returned 76, knocking 10 shots off her first round score.

Leicestershire 14-year-old Jamie-Leigh Voss achieved her ambition of reaching the matchplay stages. The youngster, from Kirby Muxloe, shared the halfway lead in qualifying but fell back with a second round 87. However, it was enough to see her comfortably through to the knockout in 25th place at only her second attempt.

Gloucestershire's Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) shared the overnight lead with Jamie-Leigh after returning a first round 74. She added an 81 and went through in eighth place. Now the two players face each other in the first round.

Jenny Pease (Braintree) and Sarah Walton (Clitheroe) claimed the final two places in the draw after a sudden death play-off between three players tied in 31st place. Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) was knocked out on the second extra hole.

First round draw:
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) v Sarah Walton (Clitheroe)
Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) v Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog)
Sara Garbutt (Ganton) v Lucinda Mileham (Aldwickbury Park)
Jamie Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) v Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton)
Claire Aitken (Mid-Kent) v Nikki Dunn (Harrogate)
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) v Hannah Barwood (Knowle)
Kym Larratt (Kibworth) v Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire)
Tilly Holder (Magnolia Park) v R achel Connor (Manchester)
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) v Sian James (Bristol & Clifton)
Hermione FitzGerald (Links, Newmarket) v Kate Whitmore (Sandiway)
Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) v Emma Brown (Malton & Norton)
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) v Charlotte Wild (Mere)
Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) v Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale)
Anne Wheble (Dartford) v Ellie Robinson (Middlesbrough)
Emilee Taylor (Gainsborough) v Faye Sanderson (Heworth,Durham)
Jenny Pease (Braintree Golf Club) v Naomi Edwards (Ganton)


Full scores: www.englishwomensgolf.org  

Scottish women's amateur championship

HARGAN, WALKER COLLAPSE GIFTS TOP

SEED SPOT TO TEENAGER KELSEY

A sudden collapse over the last few holes by the front-running Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) left 17-year-old Kelsey MacDonald from Nairn Dunbar with the honour of being top seed for the match-play stages of the 93^rd Scottish women's amateur golf championship at sun-drenched Lossiemouth today.

And Fife schoolteacher Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), as the unexpected No 2 qualifier, is seeded to meet young Kelsey in Saturday morning's final.

Playing together in the last group to finish, Walker dropped six shots over the last four holes, including a horrendous quadruple bogey 8 at the 18^th which has lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest finishing holes in Scotland.

Hargan bogeyed four holes in a row from the 12^th and dropped another at the infamous 18^th. Both came home in five-over-par 43, Walker for an 80 and a 36-hole total of 153, Hargan an 82 for 155.

Kelsey MacDonald, whose +2 rating makes her, on paper at least, the best player in the field, had equalled the best score of the day – a two-under 74 – for a three-under-par total of 149.

But she had no idea this was going to make her the No 1 qualifier.

"I putted terribly, heaps of three putts," she moaned, unaware that the overnight leaders were toiling up the home straight.

""The best thing I did was to birdie the first three holes. I got two more birdies but I just can't get the three putts out of my mind, probably because I got the last of them on the 18^th green."

Louise Kenney, who lost her place in the Scotland home international team, took a big step towards getting back in the selectors' good books with a 74 to be No 2 seed, two shots behind Kelsey MacDonald on 151.

Claire-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) took third place in the qualifying stakes with a 77 for 152, one ahead of Kylie Walker and former champion Martine Pow (Selkirk).

Curtis Cup selection Michele Thomson hooked her way to three double bogeys in scoring a 78 for 157 and joint 10^th place among the qualifiers.

"I'm glad that's all over. Now I just want to get started in the match-play," said Michele whose Aberdeenshire rival, Laura Murray from Alford, winner of the Ness Open at Inverness on Sunday, qualified safely in sixth place with a 75 for 154.

"I played solidly and had a lot of putts that just lipped out," said 19-year-old Laura.

Mary Summers from Carnoustie, travelled to Lossiemouth, mainly to give her up and coming daughter Ailsa, also a Panmure Barry member, some experience of big tournaments ... but Mary shot a brilliant second-round 74, improving by 15 shots on her first round, to be an unexpected qualifier for the match-play stages.

"I've not played in the 'Scottish' since 1991 when it was played at Carnoustie and I qualified for the match-play there!" said Mrs Summers who has been Angus county champion six times.

"I got off to a flying start with five birdies in seven holes between the second and the eighth. I could hardly mess it up after that."

Another Angus player to progress was Kirriemuir's Ann Ramsay on 161 with an 82 in the second round. Ann now lives and works in Paisley.

Former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat, a member of the St Regulus club in St Andrews, qualified on 160 after a second-round 77. Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank) made it on 164 with an 80. Also on 164 was senior player Lorna Bennett (Ladybank). She had an 84.

A third Ladybank member, Susan Jackson , was eliminated in a six-way play-off featuring those who tied on 167. Only the 31st and 32nd places in the match-play draw were up for grabs but Susan went out at the third extra hole.

Auchterarder's Emily Ogilvy, who had a great run through to the final at Barassie 12 months ago, made it through with precious little to spare. Emily, still struggling with the after-effects of a serious winter training mishap with a fitness machine. added an 82 to her opening 84 for 166 - only one shot out of being in the play-off.

In the play-off, Elmwood College lecturer Anne Laing, seven times a Scottish finalist and three times the title winner, bowed out at the second extra hole.

There were three members of the extended Vass family from Tain in the play-off - 14 year old Julie Vass, her 16-year-old sister Sammy and their aunt, Anne Ryan.

Only Sammy survived with a par 4 at the first hole third time round in the play-off.

Laura McLardy (Murcar Links), who had holed from off the green for a par at the 18th, birdied the third hole to clinch a place, alongwith Sammy Vass in the match-play.

Sammy Vass, Kelsey MacDonald and Samantha Leslie (Westhill) are due to sit a Higher English exam in the Moray clubhouse today.

Hopefully, Samantha will shake off the disappointment of a second-round 90 (44-46) which shattered her hopes of qualifying for the match-play after an encouraging 78 in the first round.

Samantha does have the consolation of participation in the Clark Rosebowl match-play competition.

MATCH-PLAY DRAW:

8.30 K MacDonald v S Vass, S Wood v A F Ramsay, L Hendry v K Marshall, J Carthew v M Tough.

9.02 K Walker v E Ogilvy, M Summers v R Livingstone, J Turner v C Gruber, E Fairnie v M Pow.

9.34 C-M Carlton v D Pocock, D Jackson v E Moffat, M Briggs v E Briggs, P Williamson v L Murray.

10.0 C Hargan v L Bennett, K Blackwood v M Thomson, S Bishop v C MacDonald, L McLardy v L Kenney.

CLARK ROSEBOWL DRAW

10.48 Anne Ryan v Belinda Murphy.

10.54 Jill Harrison v Alyson McGinnigle.

11.02 Samantha Leslie v Heather Anderson.

11.10 Lynne Terry v Helen Faulds.

11.17 Tracy Laughland v Eileen Gillespie.

11.26 Mary Smith v Liz Stewart.

11.34 Anne Brownie v Carol Wilson.

11.42 Hilary Laughland v Susan Jackson.

QUALIFIERS FOR LOSSIE MATCH-PLAY

Par 152 (2 x 76). CSS 77 77

149 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 74.

151 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 74.

152 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 75 77.

153 M Pow (Selkirk) 77 76, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73 80.

154 L Murray (Alford) 79 75.

155 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 73 82.

156 M Tough (Falkirk) 80 76, L Hendry (Routenburn) 78 78.

157 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 79 78, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 76 81.

159 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 85 74, J Turner (Craigielaw) 81 78.

160 E Moffat (St Regulus) 83 77.

161 S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 84 77, A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 82, C MacDonald (Gullane) 77 84, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 78 83, C MacDonald (Gullane) 77 84.

162 D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 85 77, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 80 82.

163 M Summers (Panmure Barry) 89 74, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 85 78, K Blackwood (Craigmillar Park) 79 84, K Marshall (Baberton) 79 84.

164 J Carthew (Ladybank) 84 80, L Bennett (Ladybank) 80 84.

166 P Williamson (Baberton) 86 80, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 84 82, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 83 83, D Pocock (Murcar Links) 81 85.

167 (after six-way play-off for last two match-play places) L McLardy (Murcar Links) 84 83, S Vass (Tain) 83 84.

NON-QUALIFIERS

167 (eliminated in play-off) A Laing (Vale of Leven) 83 84, J Vass (Tain) 82 85, A Ryan (Tain) 81 86, S Jackson (Ladybank) 80 87.

168 T Laughland (Mortonhall) 88 80, H Faulds (Douglas Park) 86 82, S Leslie (Murcar Links) 78 90.

169 L Stewart (Greenburn) 88 81, A Brownie (Lothianburn) 86 83, A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle) 83 86.

170 J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 90 80, C Wilson (Murcar Links) 86 84.

171 S Raitt (Forfar) 89 92, M Smith (Tain) 88 83, H Anderson (Downfield) 84 87.

172 G Lockhart (Kilmarnock Barassie) 89 83, L Terry (Cruden Bay) 88 84.

173 A Bushby (Strathmore) 89 84, H Laughland (Mortonhall) 87 86, B Murphy (Mortonhall) 86 87, E Gillespie (Lochend) 87 86, A Wilton (Ladybank) 85 88.

174 R Brown (Lothianburn) 90 84, J Milne (Elgin) 84 90.

175 N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 88 87, S Cuthbertson (Peebles) 87 88, K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 84 91.

176 E Munn (East Renfrewshire) 89 87, J Jenkins (Ralston) 87 89, A Hunter (Monifieth) 85 91.

177 S Crolla (Duddingston) 90 87, A Summers (Panmure Barry) 89 88.

178 W Wells (Peebles) 89 89.

179 D Dewar (Monifieth) 89 90, E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 84 95.

180 A McDonald (St Regulus) 87 93.

181 W MacCallum (Falkirk) 93 88, J Sneddon (Alyth) 87 94.

182 L Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 96 86, P Orr (Cochrane Castle) 86 96, P Orr (Cochrane Castle) 86 96.

183 B Waugh (Moorhall) 96 87, L Bain (Lochend) 91 92.

187 L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 96 91, F Fullerton (Huntly) 96 91.

188 I Harvey (St Rule) 97 91, L Mathie (Cochrane Castle) 93 95.

189 S Ireland (Prestonfield) 93 96.

190 R McIntyre (Windyhill) 99 91.

193 D Moncrieff (Lochend) 100 93, C Stewart (Lothianburn) 86 107.

195 A Alston (Royal Montrose) 96 99.

196 A B Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 95 101.

202 K Burden (Cambuslang) 102 100.

204 E Hill (Dumfries & Co) 103 101, C King (Windyhill) 95 109.

218 A Gliksten (Strathaven) 108 110.

No Returns: L Douglas (Hawick) 100 NR, M McKerrow (Dumfries & Galloway) 98 NR.

Withdrew: F De Vries(St Rule) 78 84 (unavailable for match-play stages); C Taylor (Kilmarnock Barassie) 92 - (injured).

Scottish women's amateur championship

MARY SUMMERS' 74 LIFTS HER INTO
CONTENTION FOR MATCH-PLAY PLACE

Former Angus county champion Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) gave herself a good chance of squeezing into the 32 players who will advance after today’s second round in the Scottish women’s amateur championship to the match-play stages.
Mary, who reached the final of the British girls championship when it was played at Edzell in the 1980s, improved by 15 shots on an opening 89 with a 74 which would have been only one shot behind the joint leaders had she produced it on Tuesday.
Perhaps this was an indication that the leaders might get cross to breaking 70 when they complete their second rounds in much the same bright and sunny conditions as Tuesday with marginally less of a wind coming in from the North-east.
The predicted cut-off point is 168 or 169 with a play-off on either of these marks almost certain.

LOSSIEMOUTH SCOREBOARD AT 2pm
Par 152 (2 x 76)
163 M Summers (Panmure Barry) 89 74.
170 J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 90 80.
172 G Lockhart (Kilmarnock Barassie) 89 83.
174 R Brown (Lothianburn) 90 84.
177 S Crolla (Duddingston) 90 87.
178 W Wells (Peebles) 89 89.
181 W MacCallum (Falkirk) 93 88.
182 L Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 96 86.
183 B Waugh (Moorhall) 97 87, L Bain (Lochend) 91 92.
187 L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 96 91, F Fullerton (Huntly) 96 91.
188 I Harvey (St Rule) 97 91, L Mathie (Cochrane Castle) 93 95.
189 S Ireland (Prestonfield) 93 96.
190 R McIntyre (Windyhill) 99 91.
193 D Moncrieff (Lochend) 100 93.
195 A Alston (Royal Montrose) 96 99.
196 A B Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 95 101.
202 K Burden (Cambuslang) 102 100.
204 E Hill (Dumfries & Co) 103 101, C King (Windyhill) 95 109.
218 A Gliksten (Strathaven) 108 110.
No Returns: L Douglas (Hawick) 100 NR, M McKerrow (Dumfries & Galloway) 98 NR.

Annika to retire at end of season

Annika Sorenstam has stunned her LPGA Tour peers by announcing that she intends retiring at the end of the present season.

This comes after she achieved her 90th professional win at the weekend in the Michelob Ultra Open.

The Swedish player is 37 and lost her world No 1 ranking to Lorena Ochoa over the past year or so when she was out for a spell with a back injury.

Annika has made more than $11,000,000 in tournament winnings alone and probably as much again in sponsorship deals.

 

CSS for first round at Lossiemouth

The CSS for Tuesday's first qualifying round of the Scottish women's amateur championship was 77 - one more than the Standfard Scratch for the Moray Golf Club Old Course.

Jamie-Leigh, only 14, shares lead
in English women's championship

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Leicestershire 14-year-old Jamie-Leigh Voss holds a share of the lead after the first day of the English Women’s Close Amateur Championship at Ganton in Yorkshire.
The schoolgirl from Kirby Muxloe Golf Club returned a two-over par 74 and is tied at the top of the table with Gloucestershire’s Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton).
Their steady play defied the cold, windy conditions which tested players – and which contributed to more than one 10 on the scorecards.
Jamie-Leigh, who plays off scratch, made her debut in this tournament last year and is determined to build on the experience.
Her target is to make it through the two rounds of strokeplay qualifying and be among the 32 players who go forward to the match-play stages of the championship.
She’s given herself a good start.
"I played much better than I thought I would,” she said.
Highlights of her day included holing a couple of 30-footers – and playing alongside Yorkshire star Emma Brown (nee Duggleby) of Malton & Norton.
“That was a lovely experience,” said Jamie-Leigh. “I was so excited to be playing with her.”
Charlotte Ellis, who won the 2006 English mid-amateur title, remarked: “This is a tough course and overall I’m pleased with how it went.
“The conditions weren’t easy and the greens are big – so you have to be able to lag well if you don’t hit it close.”
Charlotte, who had four birdies in her round, has been working hard on her game since the winter when, she says, she went “completely backwards.” She went on: “It’s nice to be back to where I want to be.”
One shot behind the leaders are Hampshire’s Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), who makes her Curtis Cup debut later this month; Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), who recently won the French lady junior championship; and Kent’s Claire Aitken (The London) who is the c
English mid-amateur champion.
Claire is just making a golfing comeback after having her appendix removed in March. “I wasn’t allowed to start playing until the beginning of the month and so I’m really pleased with my score,” she said.
She was the model of consistency with 15 pars and three bogeys.
They are followed by a pair of teenagers on 76: England girl international Rachel Connor, 17, (Manchester) and Cheshire’s Charlotte Wild, 18, (Mere).
Charlotte, who trains with the English Women’s Golf Association’s Select North Squad, has already retained the Cheshire girls’ championship and won the Northern Foursomes this season. Defending champion Naomi Edwards (Ganton) opened with a 77, which included an eagle three on the long sixth.
She leads the Yorkshire challenge which also includes: 79 Ellie Robinson (Middlesborough); 80 Sara Garbutt (Ganton); 82 Laura Harvey (Richmond); 84 Emma Brown (Malton & Norton), Nikki Dunn (Harrogate); 88 Julie Brown (Ganton).

Three times Scottish champion Anne Laing puts her fingers in her ears on the fifth green as two Tornadoes hurtle over her head at Lossiemouth today (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved).

Claire and Kylie flying high as Tornadoes

blast over Lossiemouth Links

Playing partners Mortonhall’s Claire Hargan and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) did some high flying of their own as they ignored the Tornadoes taking off from the next door RAF Lossiemouth to share the lead on three-under-par 73s at the end of first qualifying round in the 93rd Scottish women’s amateur championship over the Moray Golf Club Old Course at Lossiemouth today.
On a gloriously sunny day it was a game of two halves for everyone except the pilots in their multi-million pound flying machines who periodically whistled very noisely over the competitors’ heads.
A wind-assisted first half followed by most of the inward half into a cool breeze from the east was reflected in most of the returns.
For Hargan and Walker it was a case of “What planes?” as they became engrossed in their ground work.
Hargan, bouncing back from losing her Midlothian county title recently, made her score by covering the first nine holes in four-under-par 34, Kyle being 35 for the same stretch.
Curiously enough, not everyone found the inward half more difficult. Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the backmarker in the field with a +2 rating, returned a 75, thanks to being two-under-par (36) after the turn. Likewise Claire-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) who came home in 35 for her 75.
Not all the fancied players made hay while the sun shone.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the only one of the four Scots named for Curtis Cup duty at the end of the month – the three others are in the United States, lost a ball off her first tee shot and was in two bunkers at the second for a bogey-double bogey start. Out in 42, Michele finished with a three-over 79 but she thought she played well after her bad start.

She actually got a birdie 3 with her second ball in play at the first and will have a go at driving the green again in the second round. Michele was level par for the remaining 16 holes, with one eagle and two bogeys.

"It's all about qualifying for the match-play. Nothing else really matters," said Michele.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), beaten in the final by Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), now a professional, at Barassie 12 months ago, marked up an 84. She too lost a ball of her ambitious first drive and started double bogey-bogey.
Young Julie Vass from Tain upstaged her older sister Sammy by returning an 82, despite finishing 7-5-4- against the par of 4-5-4. Sammy finished earlier on 83.

The leading 32 players at the end of Wednesday’s second qualifying round will advance to the match-play stages. At the moment, it looks like being a play-off on 168 of 169.

ALL THE FIRST-DAY SCORES AT LOSSIEMOUTH

93rd SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Moray Golf Club Old Course, Lossiemouth. Par 76 (6146yd)
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 76 (38-38). 6146yd
73 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 34-39, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 35-38.
75 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 39-36, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 40-35.
76 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 41-35.
77 M Pow (Selkirk) 37-40, L Kenney (Pitreavie) 35-42, C MacDonald (Gullane) 37-40.
78 S Leslie (Murcar Links) 34-44, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 35-43, L Hendry (Routenburn) 38-40, F De Vries (St Rule) 36-42.
79 L Murray (Alford) 41-38, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 42-37, A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 37-42, K Blackwood (Craigmillar Park) 37-42, K Marshall (Baberton) 38-41
80 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 39-41, L Bennett (Ladybank) 37-43, S Jackson (Ladybank) 41-39, M Tough (Falkirk) 39-41.
81 J Turner (Craigielaw) 41-40, D Pocock (Murcar Links) 40-41, A Ryan (Tain) 40-41.
82 J Vass (Tain) 41-41.
83 A McGinnigle (Cochrane Castle) 40-43, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 41-42, E Moffat (St Regulus) 40-43, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 42-41, S Vass (Tain) 43-40.
84 E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 41-43, K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 41-43, E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 43-41, J Carthew (Ladybank) 40-44, S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 42-42, L McLardy (Murcar Links) 42-42, J Milne (Elgin) 43-41, H Anderson (Downfield) 40-44.
==PROJECTED CUT-OFF FOR 32 MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS==
85 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 39-46, D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 43-42, A Hunter (Monifieth) 44-41, E Briggs (Kilmacolm).40-45, A Wilton (Ladybank) 41-44.86 A Brownie (St Regulus), B Murphy (Mortonhall), P Williamson (Baberton), C Wilson (Murcar Links), H Faulds (Douglas Park), C Stewart (Lothianburn), P Orr (Cochrane Castle).
87 S Cuthbertson (Peebles), H Laughland (Mortonhall), A McDonald (St Regulus), J Jenkins (Ralston), J Sneddon (Alyth). E Gillespie (Lochend).
88 L Terry (Cruden Bay), L Stewart (Greenburn), T Laughland (Mortonhall), N Fenton (Merchants of Edinbugh), M Smith (Tain).
89 W Wells (Peebles), G Lockhart (Kilmarnock Barassie), S Raitt (Forfar), A Bushby (Strathmore), M Summers (Panmure Barry), D Dewar (Monifieth), E Munn (East Renfrewshire), A Summers (Panmure Barry).
90 S Crolla (Duddingston), J Harrison (Cruden Bay), R Brown (Lothianburn).
91 L Bain (Lochend).
92 C Taylor (Kilmarnock Barassie).
93 S Ireland (Prestonfield), W MacCallum (Falkirk), L Mathie (Cochrane Castle).
95 A B Ramsay (Kirriemuir), C King (Windyhill).
96 L Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh), L Fraser (Kingsknowe), B Waugh (Moorhall), F Fullerton (Huntly), A Alston (Royal Montrose).
97 I Harvey (St Rule).
98 M McKerrow (Dumfries & Galloway).
99 R McIntyre (Windyhill).
100 L Douglas (Hawick), D Moncrieff (Lochend).
102 K Burden Birdem (Cambuslang).
103 E Hill (Dumfries & Co).
108 A Gliksten (Strathaven).
+Leading 32 after 36 holes qualify for championship match-play; next 16 for Clark Rosebowl match-play.

Anthony and Cassidy win LGU Medals

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Jessie Anthony (East Cork) won the GOLD Medal while Pamela Cassidy (Rathfarnham) won the SILVER Medal at the LGU Medal Finals at Rathdowney and Roscrea on Monday.
At Rathdowney, Anthony fired a superb 66 off 12 handicap to win by one stroke from Mary Fox (Powerscourt) while Nicky King (Enniscorthy) bagged the gross with a fine 79. At Roscrea, Cassidy led the field with a fine 68 to win by one stroke from Dorette Loetter (Grange Castle) while Deirdre Foran (Balbriggan), off 19, returned 89 to win the best gross for the higher handicaps.
Silver Medal (Rathdowney, CSS 73) 66 Jessie Anthony (East Cork) 67 Mary Fox (Powercourt) GROSS 79 Nicky King (Enniscorthy) 69 Sheila Furey (Hollystown) Joan Nordlokken (South County) 71 Nicki King (Enniscorthy) 72 Moira O'Connell (Craddockstown) 73 Bebhinne Jennings (Navan) Valerie Redding (Rathdowney) Barbara Murphy (St Anne’s) 74 Rose Merriman (Clane) Mary Rose Kiely (Kileen) Collette Guildea (Balbriggan) Mary Coman (Thurles) Julie Coyne (Youghal) Sarah McGarry (Castletroy)
75 Madeleine Brennan (Carlow) Liz Matthews (Abbeyleix) Margaret O'Connell (Hazel Grove) Siobhan O'Mahony (Mitchelstown) Bernadette Carroll (Cahir Park) Una Kelly (Newbridge) Marie McNamara (Athenry) Carmel Burke Daly (Edmondstown)
76 Geraldine Coughlan (Moate) Paula Carroll (Limerick County) Grace Kelly (Athy) Maureen Hogan (Neneagh) Jenny Cagney (Cagney) Kathleen Phelan (Roscrea) Eileen Brosnan (St. Helens Bay)
77 Carola Paterson (Bandon) Emer Foley (Castlecomer) Caitlin Hegarty (Dunfanaghy) Trish Doyle (Kanturk) Peig Burke (Ballinasloe) Anna May McEvoy (Portlaoise) Anna Maloney (Clonmel) Patricia Murphy (Knockanally) Sally Fields (Old Conna) Maureen McEvoy (Swords)
78 Frances Cullen (Donabate) Bernadette Sullivan (Forrest Little) Kate Overend (Carrickmines) Eithne Knight (The Island) Liz Neville (Bearna) Patricia Flood (Kilkea Castle) Jacqueline Joyce (Galway) Ann Leahy (Newcastlewest) Mary Courtney (Delgany) Mary Wilson (Malahide)
79 Siobhan O'Regan (Dunmore) Thelma Smith (Portstewart) Tara Duggan (Skerries) Nancy McKenna (Rossmore) Lisa Cullen (Bodenstown) Pauline Burke (Elm Park)
80 Lillian McMullen (Killymoon) Ger Geoghegan (Moate) Theresa Brennan (Royal Tara) 81 Jill Cole (Rathfarnham) Mary Sadlier (Woodstock) Sandra McCaffrey (Lucan) 82 Rose Jackson (Turvey) Moira Walsh (Edenderry) Mary Fitzmaurice (Kilcock) Anne Gardner (Clontarf) 83 Josephine Kinahan (Tipperary) Margaret Smith (Laytown&Bettystown)84 Neasa McKiernan (Grange Castle) Liz Mahony (Abbeyleix) Marie Tooher (South Meath) Siobhan O'Donnell Murphy (Mullingar)
85 Elaine Smith (Ballina) Ann Kavanagh (Stackstown) Nicola Brown (Borris) Betty Dunne (Monkstown) Patricia Buckley (Mount Temple)
86 Orla McGuinness (Roganstown) Maire McMahon (Dromoland Castle )87 Mary Fetherston (Ballinascorney) Linda Fitzgerald (Elm Green)
93 Ina O'Shea (Dunmore East) Bronze Medal (Roscrea, CSS 72) 68 Pamela Cassidy (Rathfarnham) 69 Dorette Loetter (Grange Castle) Patricia Nugent (Mount Temple) 70 Leonie Colgan (Dublin City) Deirdre Foran (Balbriggan) Siobhan Cronin (Limerick County) 71 Mary Byrne (Castletroy) 72 Miriam Doyle (Craddockstown) Noreen Fitzgerald (Killeen) Caroline Cunningham (Kilcoole) Terry Mulvihill (East Clare) 73 Kay McGaley (Woodlands) Suzanne Ryan (Bray) Breda Skerritt (Powerscourt) Marion Hanrahan (Clonmel) Deirdre Connolly (Co. Sligo)
74 Joan Doyle (Malahide) Elizabeth McGuinness (Dundalk) Marie Gannon (Castlecomer) 75 Sheila Cantwell (East Cork) Betty Behan (Moate) Gillian Murphy (Edenmore) Anne Stapleton (Naas) Heather Hamilton (Dunfanaghy) Margaret O'Rafferty (South Meath) Judith Byrne Murray (Edmondstown)
76 April Dawson (West Waterford) Anne Connolly (Clane) Mary Pomphrett (Youghal) Phil Brangan Bolger (Donabate) Stella Coughlan (Newbridge)
77 Peggy Costello (Gort) Barbara O'Driscoll (Rafeen Creek) Betty 0'Hanlon (Newlands) Betty O'Hanlon (Newlands) Mary Ryan (Woodbrook) Mary Egan (Tullamore) Sheila Gillick (Stackstown)
78 Mary Winters (Slade Valley) Teresa Sherlock (Woodstock) Elaine Kerrigan (Beaverstown) Eilish Walsh (Nenagh) 79 Marion Wyer (Edenderry) Fidelma Dooley (Galway) Joan McNamara (Ballinascorney) 80 Liz Walsh (Hazel Grove) Teresa Savage (Limerick) Carole O'Leary (Macroom) Kathy Rowan (Kilternan) Mary Liston (Charleville)
81 Mary McGill (Newcastle West) Mary McCann (The Curragh) Betty Kavanagh (Black Bush) Maura O'Callaghan (The Heath) Anne Murphy (Ballinasloe) Vivienne Denton (Castlewarden)
82 Eileen Roddy (Kilmashogue) Elizabeth Meade Flynn (South County) Bridget Gilhawley (Rossmore) 83 Frances Kavanagh (Hollystown) Bernie Grant (Ballykisteen) Carol Andrews (Bangor) Valerie Kiely (Bearna) 84 Doris Keane (Shannon) Marguerite Barry (Hermitage) Pat Dowling (Monkstown) Tomoka Timmons (Delgany) 85 Siobhan Murphy (Arklow) 86 Catherine Berry (Westmanstown) Ger Ahern (Waterford) Michelle Knapp (Greystones) Kay Kelleher (New Ross) Dympna Butterly (Roganstown)
87 Denise Connor (Thurles) Alice Miley (Newbridge) Marie Forde (Ballina) 88 Karen McGlinchey (Letterkenny) Angela Sheehan (St. Helen's Bay) Dolores Towey (Castlebar) 89 Niamh Feely (Abbeyleix) 90 Grainne O'Halloran (Kilkea Castle) Delores Delehanty (Knockanally) 92 Sally Quillinan (Mountrath) 93 Catherine Glynn (Old Conna)
Denise McCarthy Irish Ladies Golf Union 1 Clonskeagh Square Clonskeagh Road Dublin 14 Ireland Tel: +353 1 2696244 E: denise@ilgu.ie W: www.ilgu.ieP please consider the environment - do you really need to print this email?
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TOP TEE TIMES FOR SECOND

QUALIFYING ROUND AT LOSSIE

10.15 J Sneddon, A McDonald, J Jenkins.

10.24 H Laughland, B Murphy, P Williamson.

10.33 P Orr, C Wilson, A Brownie.

10.42 C Stewart, H Faulds, R Livingstone.

STARTER'S TIME

11.00 E Briggs, A Wilton, D Jackson.

11.09 A Hunter, H Anderson, J Carthew.

11.18 E Wilson, K Ballantyne, L McLardy.

11.27 S Bishop, J Milne, E Ogilvy.

11.36 A McGinn igle, E Moffat, A Laing.

11.48 E Fairnie, S Vass, J Vass.
11.54 A Ryan, D Pocock, J Turner.

12.03 L Bennett, M Tough, C Gruber.

12.12 S Jackson, A F Ramsay,K Blackwood.

12.21 K Marshall, L Murray, M Thomson.

12.30 S Leslie, S Wood, F De Vries.

12.39 L Hendry, L Kenney, C MacDonald.

12.48 M Pow, MBriggs, K MacDonald.

12.57 C-M Carlton, C Hargan, K Walker.

Ex-champion Elaine thinks her Lossie

record of 65 could be beaten this week

It's 19 years since the Scottish women's amateur golf championship was last played at Lossiemouth.

The Aberdeen solicitor, Elaine Farquharson-Black, who broke the Moray club's Old Course women's record twice in the qualifying rounds in 1989 will be following the five-day tournament with more interest than most.

"I didn't win the title at Lossiemouth – I was beaten in the semi-finals by the eventual champion Shirley Huggan – but it's links course of which I have fond memories," says mother-of-two Elaine, an honorary member of Deeside Golf Club but a social golfer these days.

"I shaved a shot off the course record with a 74 in the first qualifying round and then lowered by another stroke with a 73 to be the leading qualifier for the match-play by something like five shots.

PUTTING ROUND OF MY LIFE

"I went back to Lossiemouth in 1996 to play in a KPMG Business League outing and had the putting round of my life in taking the record down to 10-under-par 65. I holed anything and everything that day.

"That record has stood since then but I would not be surprised to see some of the top players getting pretty close to a 65 if not better than that.

"Over the past 12 years, golf equipment has continued to improve. The golf balls fly better and farther…. The metal woods send the ball vast distances. I notice in the Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play at Troon, most of the top players can now hit all the par-5s in two shots. That's why they are now scoring in the 60s over Troon Portland, which was just no possible in my day.

"If there's no wind at Lossiemouth during the qualifying stroke-play rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, the top women players could rip the course apart. There are some short par-5s at which they could well get eagles as well as one or two short par-4s where they could drive the green if the course is drying and running."

So who does Elaine fancy to win the Scottish championship.

LONG AND STRAIGHT IS THE KEY

"I don't follow the ladies' amateur game closely enough to make a prediction but the winner will be someone who hits the ball straight and long off the tee … and holes the putts. When I had my 65, I thought the greens were needing cut so I took the borrows out of it by simply hitting my putts hard and straight at the hole. It worked for me."

Elaine, who played in the 1990 and 1992 Curtis Cup matches, won the Scottish girls' match-play title at West Kilbride in 1985 and the Scottish women's championship in 1990 at Machrihanish. She lost to Janice Moodie in the 1992 Scottish final at Balgownie

+Elaine may consider herself a social golfer but, playing in a charity tournament at the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort last October, she became the first lady player ever to beat the par of 72 over the Dave Thomas-designed course.. She had a 70 but overseas scores are not recognised by CONGU and so she finished the 2007 season short of a card to retain a scratch handicap. Because she did not have a current handicap she could not even consider playing in the "Scottish" at Lossiemouth this week even if just for sentimental reasons.

Scottish amateur championship at Lossiemouth

KYLIE'S LINKS FORM

COULD UPSET
FAVOURITE MICHELE

Big-hitter Michele Thomson from Ellon near Aberdeen does not have to drive very far to get to the venue for this week's 93rd staging of the Scottish women's amateur championship over the Moray Golf Club's Old Course at Lossiemouth.

The 20-year-old, selected to play for GB&I in the Curtis Cup match at St Andrews at the end of the month, is the obvious favourite on paper to win. Twelve months ago, Miss Thomson lost in extra holes to Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) at the semi-final stage at Kilmarnock Barassie.

The player with outstanding recent form when it comes to links play is an obvious threat - Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), picture left by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved).
Apart from winning the Dunbartonshire & Argyll county title, Kylie, a 21-year-old full-time amateur golfer, finished an impressive top Scot in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur championship at Troon two or three weeks ago.
Kylie's final round of 69 over a par-75 course made her only the second female player ever to break 70 over the Royal Troon championship links.
That kind of stroke-play form, if repeated over a shorter Lossie course but with a higher par - 76 - over the 36-hole qualifying test on Tuesday and Wednesday would go close to earning her the No 1 seed berth among the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages which begin on Thursday and end with an 18-hole final on Saturday morning.
"My short game was very poor when I failed to beat the cut in the Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play at Troon two or three weeks ago," said Michele who has since had some short-game practice, on the advice of Paul Lawrie with his erstwhile coach, Adam Hunter.
Both Paul and Michele have the same full-time coach, Meldrum House's Neil Marr.

There were signs of a distinct improvement on Sunday when Miss Thomson finished a close-up fifth behind winner Laura Murray (Alford) in the Ness Open over 36 holes at Inverness.
Michele is the only one of the four Scots selected for the GB&I team to play the United States in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of the month who is not in the United States at the moment.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and her American college, Georgia, have qualified for the NCAA championship finals in New Mexico the week before the Curtis Cup match.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) is a live-in student at the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton Florida.
And 15-year-old Carly Booth has gone back to Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona.
In a perfect world, the "Scottish" would be played at a time of the year when all the talented Scots at US colleges - not just the present generation but future generations to come, as they surely will - would be available to play.

Colin Montgomerie enjoying himself with the juniors at Hawick Golf Club (image by Rob Eyton-Jones).
Monty clinic inspires Hawick children

By ROB EYTON-JONES

clubgolf media manager
Hawick children who are being coached at Hawick Golf Club on the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, launched by Colin Montgomerie at Gleneagles in 2003, were given a day to remember after being invited for an hour’s coaching from the Ryder Cup player on Friday.
Monty was in Hawick for the day visiting sponsor, Peter Scott, and as soon as his tour of the factory was over he headed to the Club to give a clinic, answer questions and sign autographs.
“I can see that clubgolf is working here at Hawick because of the amount of kids here that have come here today,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see this level of enthusiasm.”
clubgolf, a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, Professional Golfers’ Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland, developed as a lasting legacy to host the Ryder Cup, was launched in the Borders last April.
Hawick was one of the first clubs to support the programme. Its junior convenor, David Wilson and fellow club member, Dougie Crawford, became its first fully qualified PGA Level 1 Volunteer coaches. In addition to teaching at the Club, both support Active Schools Co-ordinator, Karen Cornwall, by delivering the programme’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, in local primary schools,
Over 200 children from Burnfoot, Drumlanrig, Hobkirk, Newcastleton, Stirches and Wilton Primary Schools had firstclubgolf coaching in 2007. With every Hawick primary school on board this year the numbers of children wishing to further their skills on the club’s Stage 1 course is set to rise.
“It’s fabulous to get this incentive going because it’s not always easy and the coaches are working seamlessly here to make it a success,” said Mr Montgomerie.
“What we are after is providing the opportunity for every child to play the game. I was very fortunate to be part of a golfing family and having been given the opportunity I found I could play the game.
“There are thousands of youngsters out there with ability who will find out about their fantastic talent if they’re given the chance to play.”
After the clinic, the children needed little encouragement to practise all they had learnt. “It was class,” said 11 year old Greig Middlemass, who plays golf at least four times a week. “I learnt how to relax my hands to make it nice and easy for my swing. I’m going to practise that this afternoon. After today I just want to keep practising and improve.”
With hundreds of Hawick children learning golf at school this year, the Club’s junior programme is expanding this summer. Two more club members, Stuart Hunter & Graeme Tinlin, have been trained on the PGA level 1 course. David Wilson and Dougie Crawford have earned an Advanced Level 1 qualification. Local Pro, Keith Morgan is supporting by delivering Stage 3 of the programme.
“We are quite a young junior section with the bulk of the children being 15 or under,” said Mr Wilson. “The primary school sessions have led to a lot of new members and coaching is available to all our members, new & old.
“Our junior section continues to flourish and I have already seen a huge improvement in a number of our younger guys and their handicaps are tumbling.”

Children and coaches from West Linton Golf Club's clubgolf course (image by Rob Eyton-Jones).

West Linton initiative to coach Peebleshire kids

By ROB EYTON-JONES

clubgolf media manager

West Linton Golf Club has joined the nationwide initiative to attract primary school children into the game after starting a clubgolf Stage 1 course for 22 children from West Linton and Newlands Primary Schools.
clubgolf is the national junior golf programme, a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland, developed as a result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game.
West Linton has an admirable attitude towards its juniors. “Juniors are the future of the game and we have a very strong junior programme,” said Club Pro, Ian Wright. “We have around 120 junior members and the set up here is quite different from most clubs in that the juniors have an equal standing with the adults. If there’s a tee time available they can go and use it.”
Last week Mr Wright and his assistant pro, Ian Rowlands began clubgolf Stage 1 - 40 hours of coaching delivered over two years, covering the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette - and to their surprise 22 local children turned up.
“We had hoped to get over a dozen so to get 22 on the programme is an excellent response,” said Mr Wright. “They are really excited about it and are having fun.”
An added benefit is that the majority of the programme’s 22 children are from non-golfing families and are unlikely to have started the game had it not been for an initiation at school through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf.
Taught with multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets, firstclubgolf gives nine year olds an enjoyable and safe first experience of the game. Over 26,000 children in Scotland were given firstclubgolf coaching last year, a figure which should rise to 30,000 in 2008.
Paul Murray, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the Peebles school cluster, who delivered the firstclubgolf programme said, “Last term we delivered firstclubgolf to two P5 classes, that’s almost 60 children, in West Linton and Newlands Primaries.
“We are really pleased that the Club has come on board to give the children coaching - and there is a good mix of boys and girls - and delighted that almost half of the children we taught in school have decided to take the next step.
“Only two or three kids we taught in the schools had ever been to a golf club before; the rest had never tried the game. The sheer numbers that wanted to take this on proves the levels of enthusiasm.
“Each year we will keep building on this and get more P5s playing. We’re also in discussion with other clubs in the area and they seem keen to get involved with the clubgolf programme and start their own coaching.”

LPGA Tour News

Annika Sorenstam wins

by seven strokes for No 72

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE:
Annika Sorenstam convinced her doubters than she is in fact back to her pre-injury form with a seven-stroke victory at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill, Williamsburg, Virginia on Sunday.
After starting the day with a three-stroke lead, Sorenstam proceeded to card a final-round 66 with seven birdies and just two bogies on her way to a tournament-record 19-under-par (64-66-69-66=265) for the week.
In doing so, Sorenstam captured her 72nd career win and became the first LPGA player to surpass the $22 million mark in career earnings ($22,081,561).
“Winning this tournament is just a wonderful feeling,” Sorenstam said after accepting the $330,000 first-place check, which put her over $1 million in a season for the 10th time in her career. “I think I feel just relieved, I feel at peace with myself knowing I can play this golf course.”
The Swede trailed by one following the first round on the River Course at Kingsmill Resort and Spa, but extended her lead to three after both the second and third rounds.
A convincing 5-under-par 66 in the final round effectively held off a charge mounted by Allison Fouch, who fired a final-round 64 to finish at 12-under-par 272 alongside England's Karen Stupples (67-69-70-66); Jeong Jang (67-66-69-70); and Christina Kim (70-67-66-69).
Sorenstam also earned 30 vaulable Rolex Player of the Year points and now sits just 54 points off the pace set by world number one Lorena Ochoa, who finished tied for 12th at 7-under-par 277.
“I'm very proud of the way I played this week and I'm very happy with the way I've been hitting especially my iron shots and I've been making a lot of the putts,” Sorenstam said.
Ochoa (65-68-74-70=277) was just three strokes back entering the weekend, but played herself out of contention with a third-round 74. Her 12th place finish is her first outside the top-10 since the 2007 Hana Bank ? KOLON Championship.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4 x 71)

265 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 64 66 69 66
272 Karen Stupples (Eng) 67 69 70 66, Christina Kim 70 67 66 69, Allison Fouch 69 71 68 64, Jeong Jang (Kor) 67 66 69 70.
273 Katherine Hull (Aus) 70 69 70 64
274 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 71 71 66 66, Candie Kung (Tai) 66 74 66 68
276 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 68 71 67 70, Stacy Prammanasudh 66 72 69 69, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 68 71 66 71
277 Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 71 71 72 63, Meena Lee (Kor) 67 68 73 69, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 65 68 74 70, Hee Young Park (Kor) 66 72 70 69
278 Paula Creamer 71 69 70 68, Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 70 69 72 67, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 64 75 71 68, In-Bee Park (Kor) 67 72 67 72, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 66 71 70 71, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 71 65 71
279 Laura Davies (Eng) 71 71 70 67, Marisa Baena 69 73 69 68, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 69 69 68 73, Kris Tamulis 68 71 69 71
280 Jimin Kang (Kor) 67 69 71 73, Teresa Lu (Tai) 70 70 69 71, Laura Diaz 70 69 68 73
281 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 69 73 68 71, Juli Inkster 68 70 74 69, Becky Morgan (Wal) 67 69 74 71, Sandra Gal (Ger) 68 70 73 70, Dina Ammaccapane 68 72 74 67
282 Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) 69 73 72 68, Jamie Hullett 69 71 72 70, Pat Hurst 69 71 69 73, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 67 73 70 72
283 Heather Young 70 71 69 73, Na On Min (Jpn) 72 68 70 73, In Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 70 74 67, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 69 73, Kristy McPherson 68 68 73 74, Janice Moodie (Sco) 66 73 76 68
284 Natalie Gulbis 69 73 71 71, Louise Friberg (Swe) 69 69 72 74, Beth Bader 68 70 73 73, Cristie Kerr 68 71 73 72, Angela Stanford 69 70 73 72, Michele Redman 72 70 70 72
285 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 69 73 73 70, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 74 68 71 72, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 63 77 73 72, Brittany Lang 71 71 75 68, Danielle Downey 70 71 74 70
286 Diana D'Alessio 65 72 74 75, Marcy Hart 69 71 71 75
287 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 66 75 75 71, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 71 71 74 71, Katie Futcher 69 72 72 74, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 70 71 72 74
288 Sung Ah Yim (Kor) 69 71 72 76, Nicole Castrale 72 68 76 72
289 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 69 70 71 79, Nancy Scranton 72 70 74 73, Meredith Duncan 68 68 77 76
290 Johanna Head (Eng) 74 67 74 75
291 Emily Bastel 69 73 73 76, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 68 73 74 76, Leta Lindley 69 73 77 72
292 Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 68 71 78 75, Alena Sharp 70 72 74 76
293 Carolina Llano (Col) 68 74 75 76

Overall handicap winner Fiona Fullerton (Huntly), Ness Open champion Laura Murray (Alford) and the Inverness GC ladies' captain (image by courtesy of Isobel McIntosh).

Laura Murray swoops with a 69
to win Ness Open again

Robert Gordon University student Laura Murray from Alford produced an excellent second-round 69 to win the Ness Open 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit women’s golf tournament at Inverness Golf Club today.
Scotland cap & R&A Bursar Laura, 19, trailed first-round leader Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) by four shots after an opening 76 but she swept to the front with her three-under-par figures in the second round.
Laura. a former Scottish schoolgirls champion, would have won even more convincingly but for a double bogey 6 at the 16th where she drove into trees and found a bunker with her recovery.
Earlier in the round she had birdied the first, fourth, sixth, 10th, 13th and 14th with a solitary bogey at the seventh in halves of 34 (two under par) and 35 (one under par).
Laura’s 145 total saw her home with two shots to spare from Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), all on 147. Megan was officially placed second and Kylie third by virtue of their second rounds, 72 and 73, to Lesley’s 75.
Miss Murray was winning the Ness Open for the second time in three years, having first won it in 2006.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72) CSS 73 73
145 Laura Murray (Alford) 76 69.
147 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 72, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 74 73, Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) 72 75.
148 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 72, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 73 75.
149 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 74 75.
154 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 77 77.
155 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 82 73.
156 Claire Macdonald (Gullane) 80 76.
157 Sammy Vass (Tain) 78 79.
160 Susan Jackson (Ladybank) 79 81, Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) 79 81.
162 Anne Ryan (Tain) 78 84.
164 Christine MacAndrew (Nairn Dunbar) 86 78, Mary Smith (Tain) 82 82, Ashleigh Wilton (Ladybank) 80 84.
165 Samantha Leslie (Murcar Links) 78 87.
166 Pam Mackay (Royal Dornoch) 83 83.
168 Julie Vass (Tain) 85 83.
169 Ashley Alston (Royal Montrose) 83 86.
171 Gillian Dowling (Inverness) 87 84.
174 Marian Howieson (Inverness) 86 88.
180 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 91 89.
183 Donna MacKinnon (Durness) 90 93.
188 Rachael Bannerman (Strathpeffer) 95 93.
197 Megan Aird (Strathmore) 94 103.
199 Pat Ashe (Brora 102 97.
HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 (0 to 7)
143 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) 70 73.
147 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) (4) 78 69.
149 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 74 75.
Class 2 (8 to 20)
138 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (11) 68 70.
143 Ashley Alston (Royal Montrose) (13) 70 73.

Gail (13) and Rebecca (17) Wilson, a pair of champions in the mist at Ballumbie Castle GC today.

WILSON SISTERS PULL OFF

ANGUS COUNTY DOUBLE

AT BALLUMBIE CASTLE

Sisters Rebecca and Gail Wilson from Monifieth pulled off a family double in the Angus women’s county golf championship at Ballumbie Castle Golf Club, Dundee today.
Rebecca, 17, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), won the scratch championship for the first time, beating the No 2 seed and clubmate Jackie Brown by 5 and 4 in the final after knocking out the leading qualifier, Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie) in the morning semi-finals.
Gail Wilson, 13, was taken to the 19th hole in her first two ties before recording a 6 and 5 win in the final against Joan Cowley (Scotscraig).
Weekend results:
First round - Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) beat Angela Campbell 3&2, Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) bt Heather Anderson (Downfield) 4 & 3, Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) beat Sue McGregor (Edzell) 2&1, Louise Graham (Carnoustie) bt Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 5&3, Shonagh Raitt (Forfar) bt Agnes Freeman (Panmure Barry) 4&3, Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) beat Susan Arbuckle 5&4, Fran Millar (Carnoustie Ladies) beat Julie Ganson (Arbroath) at the 19th, Jackie Brown (Monifieth) bt Chris Healey (Carnoustie) 3&2
Quarter-finals – Fiona Gilbert bt Aileen Hunter 3&2, Rebecca Wilson beat Louise Graham 4&3, Mary Summers bt Shonagh Raitt 6&5, Jackie Brown bt Fran Millar at 21st.
Semi-finals – R Wilson bt Gilbert 3 and 2, Brown bt M Summers 1 hole.
Final – R Wilson bt Brown 5 and 4.

HANDICAP
Quarter-finals – J Cowley (Scotscraig) bt H Munro (Monifieth) 1 hole, S Sneddon (Carnoustie) w.o. M Brown (Carnoustie) scr; G Wilson (Monifieth bt J Chalmers (Monifieth) at 19th, A Summers (Panmure Barry) bt A Rennie (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Semi-finals – Cowley bt Sneddon 3 and 2, G Wilson bt A Summers at 19th.
Final – G Wilson bt Cowley 6 and 5.

Perth & Kinross county president Liz Miskimmin presents the championship trophy to Laura Walker (image by Dawn Butchart).

Laura Walker in top form to win
Perth & Kinross county title

Top seed Laura Walker (Muckhart) marked her debut in the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship by beating the holder, Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) 8 and 6 in the final at Alyth Golf Club today.
It was not all plain sailing for the former Nairn-based Northern Counties star who won the Scottish girls match-play title in 2002 and moved south to take up a teaching post in Perthshire and joined Muckhart Golf Club.
Laura came back from three down to win at the 19th against Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) in the first round of the match-play, birdieing both the 18th and 19th in a grandstand finish.
Defending champion Alexandra Bushby beat Scotland cap Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), her opponent in last year’s final, in the semi-finals but was simply swamped by a barrage of birdies from Laura Walker in the final.
Laura was three under par for the 12 holes play.
Two juniors, Ailie Burnett (Dunkeld) and Erin Millar (Pitlochry) contested the final of the handicap championship. Victory, by 2 and 1, went to 16-year-old Ailie over 14-year-old Erin.
Results:
First round - Laura Walker (Muckhart) bt Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) at 19th, Shona Leighton (Alyth) bt Norma Fleming (Alyth) 1 hole, Gillian Wallace (Glenisla) bt Jane Taylor (Strathmore) 4 and 2; Carol Muir (Craigie Hill) bt Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld) at 19th; Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Fiona Ramsay (Crieff) 7 and 5; Janet Griffiths (Strathmore) bt J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 5 and 4; Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) Laura Campbell (Pitlochry) 5 and 4; Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill) bt Sandy Bushby (Strathmore) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals -Walker bt Leighton 3 and 1, Wallace bt Muir 2 and 1, Ogilvy bt Griffiths 2 and 1, A Bushby bt Milne 5 and 3
Semi-finals – Walker bt Wallace 1 hole, A Bushby bt Ogivly 2 and 1.
Final – Walker bt A Bushby 8 and 6.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals - Janette Hamilton (Blairgowrie) bt Jan Kennedy (Blairgowrie) 5 and 4, Erin Millar (Pitlochry) bt Ann Duncan (Taymouth Castle) 4 and 3, Angela Crossland (Dunblane) bt Miriam Wilson (Dunblane) at 19th, Ailie Burnett (Dunkeld) bt Carol Lambie (Dunkeld) 3 and 2.
Semi-finals – Millar bt Hamilton 3 and 2, Burnett bt Crossland 2 and 1.
Final – Burnett bt Millar 2 and 1.

Lotta Wahlin wins by 12

strokes in Turkey, best

since Laura in 1995

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
REPORT BY BETHAN CUTLER
Lotta Wahlin, a 24-year-old from Linkoping, Sweden carded rounds of 71, 71, 73 and 70 at the punishing par-73 National Golf Club course in Antalya, Turkey, to win by the Turkish Ladies Open by 12 shots on a total of seven-under-par 285 for the 72 holes.
Her winning margin was the second largest in the LET’s 30-year history since England’s Laura Davies won the 1995 Guardian Irish Holidays Open at St Margaret’s by 16 shots.
Another Swede, Johanna Westerberg (71), shared second with South African Stacy Lee Bregman (72) and Spaniard Paula Marti (74), who was eight shots back in outright second entering the final round.
Wahlin, the only player to finish below par for the tournament, led from start to finish and never faltered on a course featuring narrow fairways, numerous red pine trees and extremely hard greens.
She extended her lead each day and became the second Swedish first time winner in only three events on the fledgling 2008 Ladies European Tour schedule, after Emma Zackrisson won the Open de Espana at Panoramica Golf and Country Club three weeks ago.
“It’s fantastic. I’m so happy. I only understood I’d won on the 18th green because I didn’t think about it before,” said Wahlin, who won a non-official invitational event featuring 20 of the LET’s best players in Spain just a month ago.
“I was just enjoying it. I wanted to finish well. My goal for today was to shoot in the 60s so I had to make a birdie on the last but I didn’t. That was my only goal.”
Wahlin began the final round with an eight-stroke lead and went 10 strokes clear after two birdies and one bogey on her front nine. She birdied the par-5 12th to reach six-under-par with an 11-stroke lead, before dropping a shot at the par-four 13th hole.
A further birdie at the long 14th moved her back to six-under before she pulled 12 strokes clear with a birdie at the short 16th.
Despite having never previously led a Ladies European Tour event, Wahlin said: “I only felt nervous on the first tee. I just wanted to hit a good shot because my shot there yesterday was so bad. The four days have just been so good. I’ve been playing good golf and I had a good focus. Me and my caddie Andy Danewid have just been having so much fun and it’s fantastic. It’s the best moment in my career.”
Testament to her solid play was the fact that she entered just two bunkers over 72 holes, with one of those on the long fourth hole in the final round. Wahlin added that winning the invitational event in Spain had been a confidence boost:
“It was important because I knew that I can win. I finished with a 65 in the last round so I knew I could shoot a low round,” she said.
In taking the title and the €37,500 winner’s cheque Wahlin fulfilled one of her biggest dreams since she took up the game seriously four years ago. After she finished her schooling she worked as a secretary for a large computer firm for two years which only increased her appetite for golf.
She hated the job, and decided to choose full-time golf over studying, which appears to have paid off in her fourth season on the LET.
“I have been on tour for three years so I think it was time to win,” Wahlin reflected, before adding that she aims to keep on winning. “I have three wins to do this year so I’m going to keep on going,” she said.
The Ladies European Tour now takes a week’s break before the Deutsche Bank Ladies’ Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone from May 22-25. Wahlin will spend the lead up relaxing at home with friends.

+Picture above of Lotta Wahlin with the Turkish Ladies Open Trophy is by courtesy of the Ladies European Tour website (all rights reserved).
FINAL TOTALS
Par 292 (4 x 73)
285 Lotta Maria Wahlin (Swe) 71 71 73 70
297 Paula Marti (Spa) 73 77 73 74, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 74 80 71 72, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 80 72 74 71
298 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 79 72 74 73, Amy Yang (USA) 77 77 72 72
299 Lisa Hall 80 74 74 71, Trish Johnson 78 77 74 70
300 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 78 73 78 71
301 Iben Tinning (Den) 77 76 75 73
302 Rachel Bell 76 77 74 75, Anna Rawson (Aus) 79 74 73 76, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 77 72 81 72
303 Laura Terebey (USA) 77 79 72 75, Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 74 81 73, Samantha Head 80 79 73 71
304 Joanne Morley 80 75 75 74, Becky Brewerton (Gbr) 77 80 77 70
305 Ana-Belen Sanchez (Spa) 74 76 79 76, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 75 80 76 74, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 79 73 76 77, Martina Eberl (Ger) 79 77 74 75
306 Caroline Afonso (Fra) 80 76 77 73, Hanna Salonen (Fin) 77 79 74 76, Lill Saether (Nor) 80 76 77 73, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 79 78 75 74, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 75 78 78 75
307 Martina Gillen 77 77 78 75, Dana Lacey (Aus) 78 79 78 72, Melissa Reid 77 76 78 76, Danielle Masters 77 80 76 74, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 80 78 76 73
308 Lynn Kenny 77 76 81 74, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 78 76 74 80, Stefania Croce (Ita) 76 78 77 77, Anna Knutsson (Swe) 81 78 75 74
309 Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 74 78 80 77, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 81 71 78 79, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 82 77 76 74, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 79 77 76 77, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 75 78 81 75
310 Anja Monke (Ger) 74 82 81 73, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) 74 80 77 79, Yuki Sakurai (Jpn) 80 78 82 70
311 Anna-Lise Caudal (Fra) 74 81 79 77, Maria Boden (Swe) 77 77 81 76, Clare Queen 78 78 80 75
312 Kirsty S Taylor 79 76 85 72, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 76 83 78 75
314 Nuria Clau (Spa) 78 79 78 79, Vittoria Valvassori (Ita) 83 76 83 72, Karen-Margreth Juul (Den) 76 75 82 81, Maria Beautell (Spa) 79 79 78 78, Nathalie David (Fra) 80 78 79 77
315 Mianne Bagger (Den) 75 84 78 78, Anna Temple (USA) 80 78 80 77, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 81 76 80 78, Emma Lyons 77 80 81 77
316 Rebecca Coakley 81 77 82 76
318 Hazel Kavanagh 78 79 80 81, Zuzana Kamasova (Svk) 75 82 79 82
321 Natalie Booth 75 82 84 80
325 Julie Berton (Fra) 79 80 82 84

Walker v Bushby for
Perth & Kinross title

Defending champion Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) repeated her 2007 Perth & Kinross county championship final win over Scotland international Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) but in the semi-final stage of this year's championship at Alyth Golf Club today.
Alexandra won by 2 and 1 and now plays the top seed and newcomer to the P&K ranks, Laura Walker, the former Scottish girls champion from Nairn Dunbar.
Now a teacher, working in the county and a Muckhart member, Walker beat No 5 qualifier Gillian Walace (Glenisla) by one hole.
In the handicap championship juniors Erin Millar (Pitlochry) and Allie Burnett (Dunkeld) made it through their semi-finals to meet in the final. Erin beat Janette Hamilton (Blairgowrie) 3 and 2 while Allie beat Angela Crossland (Dunblane) 2 and 1.

ANGUS TOP SEED FIONA TOPPLED
BY REBECCA WILSON IN SEMI-FINAL

Young Rebecca Wilson (Monfieth) toppled No 1 seed Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) in this morning's semi-finals of the Angus women's county championship at Ballumbie Castle Golf Club, Dundee.
Rebecca, the No 5 qualifier, won by 3 and 2.
The other semi-final was won by the No 2 qualifier, Jackie Brown (Monifieth). She beat Mary Summers (Panmure Barry), the No 11 qualifier, by one hole.
The first handicap semi-final saw J Cowley (Scotscraig), the top seed, beat Susan Sneddon (Carnoustie) by 3 and 2.

USGA introduces online process for
being reinstated as an amateur

It seems you can do just about everything these days "online" ... even start the process of being reinstated from the professional to the amateur ranks of golfers.
It's now possible in America. Stand by for it becoming the norm on this side of the Atlantic.
The following appears on the United States Golf Association website:

The United States Golf Association has launched an easy online process for individuals from various professional ranks who want to be reinstated as amateurs. Individuals can visit http://www.usga.org/ and click on the "Rules and Handicapping" menu bar at the top of the page, then choose "Amateur Status."
Before applying for reinstatement, all acts contrary to the Rules of Amateur Status must cease. For example, professional golfers in any organization, such as the PGA of America or the LPGA, must first resign their membership before applying for reinstatement. Playing professionals must no longer be active on any of the tours.
The routine time period for reinstatement is one year for an individual who was a professional for less than five years. The waiting period is routinely two years for those who have been a professional for more than five years. Longer waiting periods may be prescribed for anyone playing extensively for prize money.
"We find that professionals want to reinstate their amateur status for various reasons, whether they are unsuccessful in playing for prize money, making a career change, or for personal reasons," said Donna Mummert, USGA assistant director of Amateur Status and Rules of Golf. "We continue to see a high volume each year in the reinstatement process. It is wonderful to have so many returning to play golf for the spirit of competition as amateurs."
In addition to reducing the paperwork on the part of the individual filing, the online process that was developed and tested over the past 12 months aims to cut processing time in half and capture a tracking database of all applicants in the system.
Once a golfer submits a completed application, that information is shared with the golfer’s state and regional golf association for review. The USGA staff then processes the application and assigns a reinstatement date. A computer-generated reminder is automatically sent to the applicant’s e-mail address when his or her reinstatement date is nearing.
"The online process is a lot faster and easier for everyone involved, from the administrators to the individual golfer," said Jack Nance, executive director of the Carolinas Golf Association, one of the associations that helped the USGA in test marketing. "We have caught up to technology at just the right time because there has been a bigger response to reinstatement in the last several years."
Reinstated amateurs have comprised about half of the U.S. Mid-Amateur field (age 25 and older) and about one third of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur field in recent years.

LPGA Tour Scoreboard

MICHELOB ULTRA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Kingsmill Golf & Spa Resort, Williamsburg, Virgina
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
199 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 64 66 69
202 Jeong Jang (Kor) 67 66 69
203 Christina Kim 70 67 66
205 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 68 71 66
206 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 68 71 67, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 69 69 68, Karen Stupples (Eng) 67 69 70, In-Bee Park (Kor) 67 72 67, Candie Kung (Tai) 66 74 66
207 Stacy Prammanasudh 66 72 69, Jimin Kang (Kor) 67 69 71, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 65 68 74, Laura Diaz 70 69 68, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 66 71 70, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 71 65
208 Meena Lee (Kor) 67 68 73, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 71 71 66, Allison Fouch 69 71 68, Hee Young Park (Kor) 66 72 70, Kris Tamulis 68 71 69
209 Teresa Lu (Tai) 70 70 69, Kristy McPherson 68 68 73, Pat Hurst 69 71 69, Katherine Hull (Aus) 70 69 70
210 Heather Young 70 71 69, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 64 75 71, Na On Min (Jpn) 72 68 70, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 69, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 69 70 71, Paula Creamer 71 69 70, Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 69 73 68, Louise Friberg (Swe) 69 69 72, Becky Morgan (Wal) 67 69 74, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 67 73 70
211 Marisa Baena 69 73 69, Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 70 69 72, Beth Bader 68 70 73, Diana D'Alessio 65 72 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 68 70 73, Marcy Hart 69 71 71
212 Laura Davies (Eng) 71 71 70, Sung Ah Yim (Kor) 69 71 72, Jamie Hullett 69 71 72, Juli Inkster 68 70 74, Michele Redman 72 70 70, Angela Stanford 69 70 73, Cristie Kerr 68 71 73
213 Natalie Gulbis 69 73 71, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 74 68 71, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 63 77 73, Katie Futcher 69 72 72, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 70 71 72, Meredith Duncan 68 68 77
214 Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 71 71 72, Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) 69 73 72, Dina Ammaccapane 68 72 74
215 Johanna Head (Eng) 74 67 74, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 69 73 73, Emily Bastel 69 73 73, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 68 73 74, Danielle Downey 70 71 74, Janice Moodie (Sco) 66 73 76
216 In Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 70 74, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 66 75 75, Alena Sharp 70 72 74, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 71 71 74, Nancy Scranton 72 70 74, Nicole Castrale 72 68 76
217 Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 68 71 78, Carolina Llano (Col) 68 74 75, Brittany Lang 71 71 75
219 Leta Lindley 69 73 77

US college golf season over

for Roseanne Niven

Roseanne Niven (University of California-Berkeley) will be heading home to Scotland after her college failed to qualify for the NCAA championships at Albuquerque, New Mexico from May 20 to 23.
Roseanne from Crieff, a former Scottish girls champion, finished 85th in a field of 108 at the NCAA Division 1 women's West Regional championship at Lincoln Hills Golf Club, Sacramento in California at the weekend.
California-Berkeley failed to make the top eight teams who qualified for the grand final later this month, which climaxes the US college golf season. They finished in 12th place in a field of 21 teams.
Alison Walshe (Arizona), the Irish-born girl who will play for the United States in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course at the end of the month, tied for individual honours on six-under-par 210 with Therese Koelbaek (UNLV) from Denmark.
Underlining the international dimensions of the US college circuits, Austrian Stefanie Endstrasser (Southern California) tied with Spaniard Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) for third place, only one shot behind.

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas), No 2 to Amanda Blumenherst in the US Curtis Cup team for St Andrews, had been expected to win the individual title but she finished seven shots off the pace on 217, four ahead of Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), beaten finalist in last year's British women's open amateur championship at Leeds but still to lodge an entry for next months' "British" at North Berwick.

England's Hannah Bews (Portland State) finished joint 56th on 228.

HOW THEY FINISHED
Individuals
Par 216 (3 x 72). 6338yd
210 Therese Koelbaek (UNLV) 69 68 73, Alison Walshe (Arizona) 68 73 69.
211 Stefanie Endstrasser (Southern California) 71 71 69, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 69 71 71.
Other scores:
214 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California) 71 70 73.
216 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 73 73 70.
217 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 69 76 72.
221 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 77 70 74.
228 Hannah Bews (Portland State) 76 75 77 (jt 56th).
233 Roseanne Niven (California) 82 74 77 (85th.
Teams who qualified.
855 Southern California. 870 Arizona State. 879 UNLV. 880 Arizona. 882 Oklahoma State, Arkansas. 884 Tulsa. 892 UC Davis (beat Ohio State and Stanford in play-off for eighth place).

Danielle McVeigh, Ellie Givens

head for post-season action

Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) from Kilkeel, Northern Ireland and England's Ellie Givens (Denver) will be heading for the NCAA championships at Albuquerque, New Mexico from May 20 to 23 after their colleges finished in the top eight at the NCAA Division 1 women's Central Regional championship at the University of Texas golf course, Austin.

Danielle had rounds of 71, 78 and 72 to finish 19th in a field of 108 behind Spain's Maria Hernandez (Purdue) and South American Maria Jose Uribe (UCLA) who tied for first place individually on eight-under-par 208.

Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) from Paris finished third on 210.

Ellie Givens, pictured above, winner of the English girls' championship last year, scored 74, 80 and 74 for a share of 45th place on 228.

But it was a sad end to the 2007-2008 US college golf season for Tara Delaney (Kent State) from Carlow, Northern Ireland. She played in the GB&I Curtis Cup team in Oregon two years ago but did not make it to the final eight for the 2008 match against the Americans at St Andrews - although she is heading for the Old Course as a spectator.

Tara had scores in the Central Regional championship of 78, 77 and 86 to finish joint 91st on 241.

In her final round, Tara had double bogeys at the second, third, fourth and 11th.

HOW THEY FINISHED

Individuals

Par 216 (3 x 72) 6301yd

208 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 66 73 69, Maria Jose Uribe (UCLA) 65 73 70.

210 Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) 67 70 73.

Other scores:

215 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 70 73 72.

221 Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) 71 78 73 (19th).

228 Ellie Givens (Denver) 74 80 74 (jt 45th).

241 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 78 77 86 (jt 91st).

Teams who qualified

861 UCLA. 871 Purdue. 882 Denver. 884 Texas Christian. 885 Texas A&M. 886 Alabama. 899 Texas. 902 Louisiana State (beat Florida State in play-off for eighth place).

Scot will be in US action week before Curtis Cup

Krystle finishes joint fourth, now
for NCAA Championships

Krystle Caithness finished joint fourth in a field of 108 for the NCAA Division 1 women's East Regional college golf championship over the University of Georgia course - her home course in the States - at Athens, Georgia.
Krystle's effort clinched the University of Georgia's place in the end of the college season NCAA national championships at Albuquerque, New Mexico from May 20 to 23 - only a week before the 19-year-old from Cellardyke, Fife will be playing for Great Britain & Ireland against the United States at her other home course, the Old Course at St Andrews, from May 30 to June 1.
Krystle had rounds of 70, 73 and 74 for a one-over-par total over the 6,335yd, par-72 course. Starting at the 10th in her final round, the Fifer birdied the long 12th but had a double bogey 5 at the short 13th and dropped another shot at the 16th before she birdied the long 17th.
Then she had a bad run of bogeys over the first, second and third holes but finished on a high with birdies at the fifth and ninth.
She finished three shots behind the individual winner from Belgium, Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) and two behind US Curtis Cup team ace Amanda Blumenherst (Duke), the top-ranked female player on the American college circuit, and Sara-Maude Juneau (Louisville).
Krystle's Curtis Cup team-mate, Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) will be heading home to Yorkshire as neither she nor her college qualified for the NCAA championships. New Mexico finished ninth, one shot behind the eight-placed Furman University, and only the top eight qualified.
Jodi had a disappointing tournament, finishing joint 36th with a total of 12-over-par 228, made up of scores of 76, 77 and 75.
Anna Scott (Georgia State) from Consett, Co Durham finished tied 17h on 223 with scores of 75, 75 and 73.
Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Charleston Southern) from the Channel Islands scored 75 81 and 79 for a share of 68th place on 235.
England's Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State) and Claire Starkie (Georgia State) finished joint 85th on 240, Laura with scores of 86, 79 and 75, Claire with 83, 77 and 80.
Another English player, Portia Abbot (Jacksonville State) from Wiltside finished in joint 98th place on 246 with scores of 82, 80 and 84.
Also on 246 was Rebecca Watson (Tennessee) from Edinburgh, the second Scot in the field, with scores of 85, 78 and 83 for 30-over-par 246. Rebecca's younger sister Sally is a member of the GB&I team to play the Americans.
Georgia (889) finished third behind Florida (883) and Duke (884) in the team event in which the top eight teams advanced to Albuquerque later this month.
HOW THEY FINISHED
Individuals
Par 216 (3 x 72) 6335yd
214 Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) 68 70 76.
215 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 68 73 74, Sara-Maude Juneau (Louisville) 67 74 74.
217 Krystle Caithness (Georgia) 70 73 74, Cydney Clanton (Auburn) 70 75 72, Alexandra Phelps (New Mexico) 71 73 73.
Other scores:
223 Anna Scott (Georgia State) 75 75 73 (jt 17th).
228 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 77 75 (jt 36th).
235 Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Charleston Southern) 75 81 79 (jt 68th).
240 Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State) 86 79 75, Claire Starkie (Georgia State) 83 77 80 (jt 85th).
246 Rebecca Watson (Tennessee) 85 78 83, Portia Abbot (Jacksonville State) 82 80 84 (jt 98th).

Teams who qualified.
883 Florida. 884 Duke. 889 Georgia. 894 Auburn. 898 Virginia. 899 South Carolina, Wake Forest. 900 Furman.