WELSH PLAYER WELL AHEAD IN SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN

Becky Brewerton leads by five but

she's not counting her Solheim Cup

selection chickens just yet

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Becky Brewerton kept her grip on the Spanish Women's Open for a third day with a round of 66 at Panorámica Golf Club, Castellon today.
The Welshwoman carded six birdies and moved to 16-under par after opening rounds of 65 and 69. She leads by five shots over Spaniards Tania Elosegui and teenager amateur Ana Fernandez de Mesa.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Brewerton said. “I putted excellently. That really saved me on a couple of holes. I holed a huge putt on the third from about 60 foot and one from just a bit longer than that on 17.”
Brewerton hopes that a strong performance will mean a chance to play on Europe's Solheim Cup team, due to face the United States at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois from August 21-23, but she is not taking anything for granted.
“This is the sort of course where you could shoot 62 so you just don’t know,” she added. “If the course stays like it normally is with a bit less wind, someone could come up from way behind. They could come creeping up and post a score early on so I’ve just got to be aggressive tomorrow and shoot something in the 60s.”
Elosegui is already likely to make the European Solheim Cup team, following her maiden win at the ABN AMRO Ladies Open in the Netherlands in June. She moved into contention for a second title with a seven-under 65 and shared second with Fernandez de Mesa, an 18-year-old amateur, who shot 68.
She added that the wind was strong and gusty at the start of the day but calmed down later. Germany’s Denise-Charlotte Becker moved into fourth on 10-under after a 67 which contained four birdies, three bogeys and two eagles.
England’s Sarah Heath slipped back to equal fifth at nine-under alongside Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal, the 2008 Portugal Open champion.
The five players sharing seventh place on eight-under were South African Stacy Lee Bregman, Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord, English rookie Elizabeth Bennett along with Spaniards Paula Marti and leading amateur Carlota Ciganda, a student at Arizona State University
Former Curtis Cup player Bennett hopes to add to the run of strong performances by rookies on the tour this year. So far, six first year players have finished inside the top five places, with it proving to be a vintage year.
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
200 B Brewerton (Wales) 65 69 66.
205 T Elosegui (Spain) 71 69 65, A Fernandez de Mesa (Spain) (amateur) 70 67 68.
206 D-C Becker (Germany) 67 72 67.
207 A-L Caudal (France) 68 73 66, S Heath (England) 70 67 70.
208 E Bennett (England) 69 72 67, S L Bregman (South Africa) 69 72 67, M Skarpnord (Norway) 71 69 68, P Martin (Spain) 70 68 70, C Ciganda (Spain) (amateur) 65 72 71.
209 B Hauert (Germany) 69 71 69, F Bondad (Australia) 72 67 70, M Boden (Sweden) 65 73 71, L-A Pace (South Africa) 68 70 71, E Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 70 67 72.
210 B A Loucks (Wales) 72 69 69, C Rominger (Switzerland) 69 71 70.
Selected scores:
211 F Parker (England) 72 70 69 (jt 19th).
212 V Laing (Scotland) 67 73 72, L Davies (England) (jt 26th).
213 H Aitchison (England) 69 72 72 (jt 32nd).
214 S Head (England) 70 73 71, J Mundy (England) 72 70 72, L Kenny (Scotland) 71 70 73 (jt 36th).
215 R Hudson (England) 74 70 71, H Kavanagh (Ireland) 71 72 72 (jt 39th).
216 G Simpson (England) 72 71 73 (jt 45th).
219 T Johnson (England) 7u3 71 75 (jt 59th).
220 K Caithness (Scotland) 69 74 77 (jt 60th).

From Gordon G Simmonds

Colin
I refer to your "personal view" expressed recently (scroll down to find the image of the European title-winning Ireland girls team and the article below it) about the problem of girls by-passing their age groups and playing as seniors too quickly.
Clearly, girls mature far more quickly than the boys and for those few who become competitive in the game it will happen (with only rare exceptions) before they are 16.
Given the dearth of quality in women's amateur golf generally, the obvious avenue to fulfill potential is entry to major open competition from the age of 15 or, for some, even less.
Now, perhaps, in recognition of reality, is the time for the women's golfing authorities to consider lowering the 'girls' competition age limit to 16 internationally.
Unlike the boys, there will be no girls who have not made it in serious competition by the age of 16, who will subsequently 'develop' into international stars between the ages of 16 and 18 through 'girls' tournament golf.
Indeed, I can't recall too many 'women' competing in the later stages of the US Women's Amateur over the age of 20 in recent years, with many aged between 14 and 18.

Gordon G. Simmonds LLB DLP
Managing Director
GGS International Consultancy

+You can E-mail your view on any golf topic to Colin@scottishgolfview.com as long as it is of a constructive nature and does not single out any person for criticism.

REPORT FROM US FUTURES TOUR

Choi goes two shots clear with eight-under 64

in New England Golf Classic

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE US DURAMED FUTURES TOUR
By LISA D MICKEY
After six attempts in LPGA Monday Qualifying this season, third-year player Song Yi Choi of Seoul, South Korea finally decided to settle down and focus on the Duramed Futures Tour. The travel between both tours was killing her and the lack of success in the weekly qualifying crapshoot for two spots in LPGA tournament fields was doing a number on her confidence.
But Choi's number was the one the rest of the field was staring at after the first round of the $100,000 ING New England Golf Classic.
Choi blistered Wintonbury Hills Golf Course with a score of 6-under-par 64 on the par-70 course just outside the (state) capital city of Hartford. She carded seven birdies and one bogey, tying her season-low score of 64 (-8), set at the season-opening tournament in Winter Haven, Florida, where she finished second.
"I have battled confidence with my putter in the last few tournaments," said Choi, who has two top-10 finishes in nine events this year. "These greens are really hard with some big mounds, so I just tried to hit the centre and not make any three-putts. I was able to see the line well today.
Choi needed 28 putts on the tricky Pete Dye-designed course that measures only 6,087 yards but has large, severely undulated greens built on the rolling Bloomfield terrain.
Choi hit 15 greens in regulation and missed only one fairway to tame a tract that could easily tally strokes in a hurry on the greens alone.
Second-year professional Gerina Mendoza of Roswell, New Mexico, rookie Kristie Smith of Perth, Australia, and Tour veteran Nicole Jeray of Berwyn, Illinois, are all tied for second at 4-under 66.
"You have to trust your swing and your yardages and play to the right part of the green," said Mendoza, who posted a four-birdie, bogey-free round. "This course is shorter than normal, but with it being par 70, it's pretty legit."
Smith, 20, showed the kind of game that enabled her to win just about every top Australian amateur title before turning professional this year. She hit 13 greens and needed only 27 putts in a round that was highlighted by seven birdies, one bogey and one double-bogey.
"I hit a lot of wedges into par-4s, but there are big swells everywhere on the greens, so you have to miss it in the right spot," said Smith. "I think the key here on this course is to minimise the three-putts and if you can hole a couple of long ones, you can gain some shots on the field."
Wintonbury Hills features a unique combination of 10 par-4s, five par-3s and three par-5 holes.
"It's tricky stuff out there, but I didn't make a lot of mistakes," said Jeray, a three-time Tour winner. "I also hit it close to the pins today."
Sofie Andersson of Angelholm, Sweden, Hannah Jun of San Diego, and top-ranked Jean Reynolds of Newnan, Ga., are tied for fifth at 3-under 67.
"The course is very scoreable, but you definitely have to miss on the correct side of the hole," said Reynolds, a two-time winner this season. "If you can get the speed down on these greens, you can shoot lights out here."
Reynolds, who remained in the top three for 54 holes of last week's US Women's Open Championship, said she felt "a little draggy," as if she were "in slow motion all day." Still, the Georgian who got a standing ovation from the US Women's Open crowd as she putted out on her final green last Sunday, called today "normal."
"It's so different between that atmosphere and now," she said. "That was like a dream. This feels laid back to me – just normal."
A total of 26 players carded rounds under par in today's first round, while 42 players finished at even-par 70 or better.
For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Weather: Partly sunny, becoming mostly cloudy with temperatures reaching the high 80s with afternoon rain. Light winds around 6 mph.

NOW HERE'S A GOOD IDEA ...

Just like the leader of the Tour de France cycle race wears a yellow jersey to let the watching fans know who he is and where he is in the pack, the Duramed Futures Tour is adding to the idea in a "Fan-Friendly Top Ten" programme.
The top 10-ranked players, i.e. leaders in the money-winners' table will be identified on the course during competitions in several ways. Player caddies will wear bright yellow caddie bibs designated with a "Top Ten" logo.
An official golf cart following each of the top-10 players will display a yellow flag bearing the programme's logo. The logo also will be displayed beside the names of players ranked in the top 10 on tournament scoreboards and leaderboards.

US Duramed Futures Tour Scoreboard
$100,000 ING New England Golf Classic
Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, Bloomfield, Connecticut
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
1 Song Yi Choi (Seoul, South Korea) 33-31 - 64
2 Gerina Mendoza (Roswell, New Mexico) 32-34 - 66
2 Kristie Smith (Perth, Australia) 33-33 - 66
2 Nicole Jeray (Berwyn, Illinois) 33-33 - 66
5 Sofie Andersson (Angelholm, Sweden) 35-32 - 67
5 Hannah Jun (San Diego, California) 32-35 - 67
5 Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Georgia) 33-34 - 67
8 Michaela Cavener (Ponca City, Oklahoma) 34-34 - 68
8 Whitney Wade (Glasgow, Kentucky) 35-33 - 68
8 Alison Walshe (Westford, Massachusetts) 34-34 - 68
8 Misun Cho (Cheongju, South Korea) 32-36 - 68
8 Onnarin Sattayabanphot (Bangkok, Thailand) 34-34 - 68
8 Aimee Cho (Orlando, Florida) 34-34 - 68
8 Lehua Wise (Kauai, Hawaii) 34-34 - 68
8 Mariajo Uribe (Bucaramanga, Colombia) 32-36 - 68
16 Christine Cho (Kent, Washington) 35-34 - 69
16 Christi Cano (San Antonio, Texas) 34-35 - 69
16 Ashley Knoll (The Woodlands, Texas) 33-36 - 69
16 Sarah Lynn Sargent (Greer, South Carolina) 33-36 - 69
16 Sophia Sheridan (Guadalajara, Mexico) 34-35 - 69
16 Dewi Claire Schreefel (Diepenveen, Netherlands) 36-33 - 69
16 Molly Birmingham (Cornelius, North Carolina) 33-36 - 69
16 Moon Su (Incheon, South Korea) 33-36 - 69
16 Ryann O'Toole (San Clemente, California) 34-35 - 69
16 Taya Battistella (Bend, Oregon) 33-36 - 69
16 Natalie Sheary (West Hartford, Connecticutt) (am) 34-35 - 69
27 Libby Smith (Essex Junction, Vermont) 35-35 - 70
27 Yoora Kim (Seoul, South Korea) 35-35 - 70
27 Kim Welch (Sacramento, California) 36-34 - 70
27 Malinda Johnson (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) 33-37 - 70
27 Su A Kim (Seoul, South Korea) 33-37 - 70
27 Ashley Prange (Noblesville, Indiana) 34-36 - 70
27 Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario) 35-35 - 70
27 Jenny Gleason (Clearwater, Florida) 35-35 - 70
27 Danah Ford (Indianapolis, Indiana) 36-34 - 70
27 Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 35-35 - 70
27 Seo-Jae Lee (Seoul, South Korea) 35-35 - 70
27 Madeleine Holmblad (Stockholm, Sweden) 36-34 - 70
27 Janell Howland (Boise, Idaho) 35-35 - 70
27 Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn (Bangkok, Thailand) 37-33 - 70
27 Jennifer Song (Ann Arbor, Michigan) (am) 35-35 - 70
27 Lene Krog (Lier, Norway) 35-35 - 70
43 Blair Lamb (Flat Rock, North Carolina) 36-35 - 71
43 Briana Vega (Andover, Massachusetts) 33-38 - 71
43 Sue Ginter (Appleton, Wisconsin) 33-38 - 71
43 Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Maryland) 35-36 - 71
43 Perry Swenson (Charlotte, North Carolina) 33-38 - 71
43 Jasi Acharya (Columbus, Montanta) 34-37 - 71
43 Brandi Jackson (Greenville, South Carolina) 34-37 - 71
43 Cindy Lee-Pridgen (Sabah, Malaysia) 35-36 - 71
43 Amanda Costner (Claremore, Oklahoma) 36-35 - 71
43 Garrett Phillips (St Simons Island, Georgia) 34-37 - 71
53 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Virginia) 36-36 - 72
53 Cindy LaCrosse (Tampa, Florida) 35-37 - 72
53 Carmen Bandea (Atlanta, Georgia) 35-37 - 72
53 Noon Huachai (Bangkok, Thailand) 36-36 - 72
53 Jennie Lee (Henderson, Nev.) 37-35 - 72
53 Benedikte Grotvedt (Nesbru, Norway) 36-36 - 72
53 Jane Chin (Mission Viejo, Calif.) 34-38 - 72
53 Jennifer Ackerson (Dallas, Texas) 34-38 - 72
53 Michelle Jarman (Wilmington, North Carolina) 35-37 - 72
53 Taylor Leon (Dallas, Texas) 37-35 - 72
53 Lucy Nunn (Lawton, Oklahoma) 37-35 - 72
53 Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia) 36-36 - 72
53 Caroline Larsson (Stockholm, Sweden) 35-37 - 72
53 Gemma Webster (Glasgow, Scotland) 39-33 - 72
53 Janice Olivencia (Caguas, Puerto Rico) 34-38 - 72
53 Carling Coffing (Middletown, Ohio) 35-37 - 72
53 Susannah Aboff (Huntington, New York) 34-38 - 72
53 Camila Mori (Santiago, Chile) 37-35 - 72
53 Priscilla Duffield (Gold Coast, Australia) 35-37 - 72
53 Kira Meixner (Richmond, British Columbia) (am) 36-36 - 72
73 Laura Crawford (Lancaster, South Carolina) 37-36 - 73
73 Courtney Mahon (Lee's Summit, Missouri) 35-38 - 73
73 Lori Atsedes (Ithaca, New York) 36-37 - 73
73 Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ontario) 36-37 - 73
73 Hwanhee Lee (Las Vegas, Nevada) 37-36 - 73
73 Tiffany Tavee (Tempe, Arizona) 36-37 - 73
73 Elisa Serramia (Barcelona, Spain) 36-37 - 73
73 Rachel Bailey (Faulconbridge, Australia) 36-37 - 73
73 Sae Hee Son (Seoul, South Korea) 36-37 - 73
73 Mallory Hetzel (Summerville, S.C.) 35-38 - 73
73 Lynn Valentine (East Lyme, Conn.) 37-36 - 73
73 Lisa Ferrero (Lodi, Calif.) 36-37 - 73
73 Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) 34-39 - 73
73 Meghan Little (Sturgis, S.D.) 34-39 - 73
87 Kelly Lagedrost (Brooksville, Fla.) 35-39 - 74
87 Katrina Leckovic (Burnaby, British Columbia) 35-39 - 74
87 Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 36-38 - 74
87 Stephanie George (Myerstown, Pa.) 37-37 - 74
87 Stephanie Otteson (Wilson, N.C.) 37-37 - 74
87 Lindsey Bergeon (Sarasota, Fla.) 35-39 - 74
87 Sin Ah Ham (Seoul, South Korea) 37-37 - 74
87 Sunny Oh (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 36-38 - 74
87 Amanda Mathis (Opelousas, La.) 35-39 - 74
87 Gina Umeck (Redlands, Calif.) 37-37 - 74
87 Lili Alvarez (Durango, Mexico) 39-35 - 74
87 Stephanie Oukeo (Paris, France) 36-38 - 74
87 Kim Augusta (Rumford, R.I.) 38-36 - 74
87 Sarah Olsen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 37-37 - 74
87 Maria Laura Elvira (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 36-38 - 74
87 Melissa Eaton (Port Shepstone, South Africa) 37-37 - 74
87 Mary Moan (New Haven, Conn.) 37-37 - 74
87 Liz Janangelo (West Hartford, Conn.) 34-40 - 74
87 Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Fla.) 35-39 - 74
87 Christine Song (Fullerton, Calif.) 36-38 - 74
87 Christina Jones (Jensen Beach, Fla.) 37-37 - 74
108 Lisa Meldrum (Montreal, Quebec) 38-37 - 75
108 Kelly Froelich (Raizeux, France) 34-41 - 75
108 Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk, Va.) 36-39 - 75
108 Whitney Myers (York, Pa.) 36-39 - 75
108 Selanee Henderson (Apple Valley, Calif.) 39-36 - 75
108 Marcela Leon (Monterrey, Mexico) 36-39 - 75
108 Tzu-Chi Lin (Taichung, Taiwan) 37-38 - 75
108 Jae Oh (Je Ju, South Korea) 37-38 - 75
108 Kimberly Goedecke (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida) 35-40 - 75
108 Tanya Dergal (Durango, Mexico) 38-37 - 75
108 Devan Andersen (Guadalajara, Mexico) 37-38 - 75
108 Ashley Grier (Hagerstown, Maryland) 38-37 - 75
120 Mary Kate Morgan (Longview, Washington) 41-35 - 76
120 Kelly Jacques (Longmont, Colorado) 38-38 - 76
120 Sam White (Potomac, Maryland) 37-39 - 76
120 Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, South Korea) 37-39 - 76
120 Maggie Simons (Raleigh, North Carolina) 38-38 - 76
120 Stephanie Kim (a) (Orlando, Florida) 36-40 - 76
120 Sara Brown (Tucson, Arizona) 35-41 - 76
120 Susan Nam (Edmonton, Alberta) 38-38 - 76
120 Mina Harigae (Monterey, California) 38-38 - 76
120 Tiffany Joh (San Diego, California) 37-39 - 76 0
120 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast, Northern Ireland) 38-38 - 76
131 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Bangkok, Thailand) 40-37 - 77
131 Lee Ann Walker-Cooper (Southport, N.C.) 38-39 - 77
131 Jessica Carafiello (Coral Springs, Fla.) 38-39 - 77
131 Nicole Hage (Coral Springs, Fla.) 38-39 - 77
131Kylene Pulley (Kokomo, Ind.) 38-39 - 77
131 Mayule Tomimbang (Kissimmee, Fla.) 39-38 - 77
131 Renee Skidmore (Everett, Wash.) 38-39 - 77
138 Kristina Tucker (Stockholm, Sweden) 40-38 - 78
138 Lorraine Ballerano (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) 38-40 - 78
140 Dana Bates (Thousand Palms, Calif.) 36-43 - 79
140 Jessica Yadloczky (a) (Casselberry, Florida) (am) 39-40 - 79
142 Esther Choe (Scottsdale, Arizona) 38-42 - 80
143 Nara Shin (Avon, Connecticutt) (am) 40-41 - 81
144 Alison Cowles (East Longmeadow, Massachusetts) (am) 41-42 - 83

Queen, Thomson and Feggans miss the cut

Becky Brewerton bursts three

shots clear in Spanish Open

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Becky Brewerton from Wales takes a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Open de Espana Femenino.
The 26-year-old sixth year tour player started the day in a three-way tie for the lead but surged ahead of the pack with a fine round of 69 and a two round total of 134, 10-under-par.
Brewerton, pictured right by courtesy of the LET website, made her move under the blazing sun early in the second round with a tap-in birdie at the par-five second hole at Panoramica Golf and Country Club in San Jorge, Castellon. She then chipped in for eagle at the 487-yard par-five ninth, taking her to the turn in 33.
A solid finish with nine straight pars over the more tricky back nine saw her home in 36, before the afternoon wind picked up significantly.
“My putting was pretty solid so the short game got me through. I probably actually played better on the back nine than I did on the front nine but I shot three under on the front nine,” she said. “It just works out a bit strange sometimes. I missed a few greens but my short game is really, really good.”
Brewerton joined the Ladies European Tour in 2004 after a phenomenal amateur career during which she finished second at two professional events: the 2003 Tenerife Ladies Open and WPGA Championship of Europe.

She won her only tour event at the Ladies English Open in 2007, the year she made her Solheim Cup debut. Her best finish at the Spanish Open was third, in 2004, but the stakes are higher this week with a place in next week’s Evian Masters available.
England’s Sarah Heath and Spaniard Emma Cabrera-Bello shot five-under 67s and finished equal second at seven-under-par alongside Spanish amateurs Ana Fernandez de Mesa (67) and Carlota Ciganda (72).
Overnight co-leader Ciganda was tied for the lead with Brewerton at 10-under after 11 holes but dropped three shots in five holes from the fourth coming in against a strong wind.
After struggling on tour for the last five years, Heath was delighted with her performance and said: “I played really well today and I had so much confidence it was brilliant. It’s been a long time coming but I’ve been working really hard with a psychologist, technical coach and fitness guy. I think the biggest thing that has changed has been the psychology.

" I’m a lot stronger mentally and the stuff I’ve been working on with Danielle Bryant, she’s very, very good. I think that’s helped.”
First round co-leader Maria Boden of Sweden carded a one-over 73 and dropped back to six-under with four other players. Spaniards Paula Marti and Carmen Alonso joined Boden on that score along with South African Lee-Anne Pace and Italian Veronica Zorzi.
“The back nine was so hard because the wind was so strong and the balls were shaking all the time,” Alonso said. “I played really well and don’t have anything to complain about. I’m so happy because I’m up there and playing at home in Spain so you never know.”

Such is the quality of the field that players had to score level par 144 or better to survive the 36-hole cut. As far as the Scots were concerned, that was no problem for Vikki Laing (140), Lynn Kenny (141) and Krystle Caithness (143) but the others didn't make it - Pamela Feggans (146), Clare Queen (148) and Michele Thomson (149).
LEADING QUALIFIERS

Par 144 (2x72)

134 B Brewerton (Wales) 65 69.

137 S Heath (England) 70 67, E Cabrera-Belo (Spain) 70 67, A Fernandez de Mesa (Spain) (amateur) 70 67, C Ciganda (Spain) (amateur) 65 72.

138 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 71 67, Maria Boden (Swe) 65 73, Lee-Anne Pace (USA) 68 70, Paula Marti (Spa) 70 68, Carmen Alonso (Spa) 69 69
139 Frances Bondad (Aus) 72 67, Denise-charlotte Becker (Ger) 67 72, Laura Davies 69 70
140 Karen Lunn (Aus) 70 70, Laura Terebey (USA) 70 70, Dana Lacey (Aus) 68 72, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 71 69, Vikki Laing (Sco) 67 73, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 71 69, Caroline Rominger (Swi) 69 71, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 69 71
141 Beth Allen (USA) 70 71, Elizabeth Bennett 69 72, Holly Aitchison 69 72, Anna-Karin Salmen (Fin) 71 70, Breanne Alicia Loucks (Wal) 72 69, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 69 72, Lynn Kenny (Sco) 71 70, Anna-Lise Caudal (Fra) 68 73, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 69 72, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 69 72
142 Isabella Maconi (Ita) 69 73, Julie Tvede (Den) 69 73, Johanna Mundy 72 70, Marta Prieto (Spa) 69 73, Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 70 72, Florentyna Parker 72 70, Ana-Belen Sanchez (Spa) 71 71, Diana Luna (Ita) 71 71
143 Hazel Kavanagh 71 72, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 69 74, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 71 72, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 70 73, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 71 72, Julieta Granada (Par) 70 73, Krystle Caithness (Sco) 69 74, Federica Piovano (Ita) 74 69, Iben Tinning (Den) 66 77, Georgina Simpson 72 71, Samantha Head 70 73, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 66 77, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) 71 72, Stefania Croce (Ita) 72 71
144 Nina Reis (Swe) 74 70, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 73 71, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 69 75, Marjet Van Der Graaff (Ned) 71 73, Rebecca Hudson 74 70, Lucie Andre (Fra) 70 74, Caroline Afonso (Fra) 69 75, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 70 74, Trish Johnson (USA) 73 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 71 73
MISSED THE CUT
145 Mianne Bagger (Den) 70 75, Zuzana Masinova (Cze) 73 72, Rebecca Coakley 69 76, Lynnette Teresa Brooky (Nzl) 71 74, Morgana Robbertze (Rsa) 73 72, Tara Delaney 73 72, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 73, Claire Coughlan 73 72
146 Kiran Matharu 69 77, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 74, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 67 79, Camille Fallay (Fra) 72 74, Pamela Feggans (Sco) 75 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 72 74, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 71 75, Sara Beautell (Spa) 70 76, Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 70 76, Karen-margrethe Juul (Den) 74 72
147 Virginine Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 72 75, Sophie Walker 74 73, Joanne Mills (Aus) 74 73, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 73 74, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 72 75
148 Smriti Mehra (Ind) 72 76, Jo Pritchard (Wal) 78 70, Tandi Cuningham (Rsa) 74 74, Lisa Jean (Aus) 72 76, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 75 73, Claire Aitken 72 76, Clare Queen (Sco) 74 74, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 74 74
149 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 74 75, Felicity Johnson 72 77, Joanne Morley 74 75, Johanna Lundberg (Swe) 75 74, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 74 75, Michele Thomson (Sco) 70 79, Kirsty S Taylor 76 73, Emma Lyons 73 76, Anna Tybring (Swe) 72 77, Itziar Elguezabal (Spa) 71 78, Stephanie Na (Aus) 77 72
150 Lotta Maria Wahlin (Swe) 75 75, Martina Gillen 73 77, Marta Silva (Spa) 71 79, Anna Knutsson (Swe) 73 77, Barbara Genuini (Fra) 74 76
151 Malene Jorgensen (Den) 71 80, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 76 75, Melanie Bryden (Aus) 76 75, Ane Urchegui (Spa) 70 81, Lena Tornevall (Swe) 78 73, Elena Giraud (Fra) 73 78, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 77 74
152 Julie Greciet (Fra) 73 79, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) 77 75, Anna Arrese (Spa) 74 78, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 77 75
153 Lydia Hall (Wal) 76 77, Jessica Ji (Kor) 76 77
154 Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe) 76 78
162 Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 81 81

Emma O'Driscoll wins Irish girls' championship

FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) defeated Paula Grant (Lisburn) in the final of the Lancome Girls' Irish Close Championship at Castletroy today to lift the trophy for the first time.
O'Driscoll, who had earlier beaten fellow international Patrice Delaney (Birr) by 3 & 2 in the semi- finals, was in devastating form in the final.
She inflicted a 7 & 6 defeat on young Paula Grant from Lisburn.
This win is the highlight of what has already been a very succesful season for Emma. To date she has claimed the Connacht Women’s and Girls' Championships as well as the Leinster Girls' Championship and also finished runner-up at the Munster Women's and Girls' Championships earlier in the year.
The final of the Plate produced a similar lopsided result with Jessica Carty (Holywood), the leading qualifier of the tournament as a whole, producing some excellent golf to beat Terri Byrne (Coollattin) by 6 & 5.
Today's results:
Championship (Blake Cup)
Final
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Paula Grant (Lisburn) 7 & 6.
Plate (Pat Fletcher Trophy)
Final
Jessica Carty (Holywood) bt Terri Byrne (Coollattin) 6 & 5
Click Here to View Full RESULTS

Ireland name their team for Girls Home Internationals

Newly crowned Irish Girls' Champion Emma O'Driscoll will join three members of the victorious Irish Girls' European team as they go in search of another title at the Girls' Home International Matches to be played at Fairhaven Golf Club from August 4 to 6.
The Irish team includes three new caps. It is:
Patrice Delaney (Birr)
Paula Grant (Lisburn)
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry)
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion)
Carla Reynolds (Seapoint)

Captain: Sinead Keane (The Curragh)
Manager: Mary Dowling (New Ross)
Reserves
1 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)
2 Sarah Murray (Co Louth)
3 Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea)

(Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), the fourth member of the European title-winning team in Finland, was unavailable to be selected for the Girls Home Internationals. She has qualified to play in the United States women's amateur championship, the dates of which clash with the GHI).

Parade of prizewinners at the Scottish girls championship at wet Lanark

Prizewinning parade at Lanark Golf Club. Left to right: Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Sammy Vass (Tain), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Ansley Reid Salver winner Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Lauren Duncan (Aboyne), Hannah McCook (Abernethy). Kirkwoodgolf is indebted to Lanarkshire's Jean Macintyre for taking this image and the one below of finalists Ailsa Bain (left) and Sammy Vass in difficult conditions (it was spitting rain throughout the session!). You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.

First Scotland cap for

new champion Ailsa

New Scottish girls’ golf champion Ailsa Bain (Peebles) has been rewarded for her two-hole win over Sammy Vass (Tain) in today’s 18-hole final, played in very wet conditions, at Lanark Golf Club with a first cap for Scotland in the girls’ home international matches, to be played at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire from August 4 to 6.

The final started in atrocious weather of win and rain and Sammy coped better with it. When the weather improved, so too did Ailsa's play and that is reflected in the course of the match.
Sammy Vass, who was two up after three holes but was all square at the turn. The 17-year-old North of Scotland girls champion, who enrols at the University of Central Florida at the end of next month, lost the fifth, sixth, eighth, 10th, 12th and 14th to go three down to some very steady player from Ailsa.

Three down with four to play, Sammy kept her hopes alive by winning both the 16th (with a birdie) and the 17th (with a par).

When they came to the 18th green, which had been flooded when the final started, it was Ailsa's par 3 that clinched a two-hole win for the 18-year-old Peebles player.

Given the wet conditions, the standard of play was quite good. Ailsa had birdies at the long eighth and long 11th; Sammy had birdies at the long 11th and the 16th.

The Scotland team for next month's Girls Home Internationals is:

Lesley Atkins (Minto)

Ailsa Bain (Peebles)

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)

Sammy Leslie (Westhill)

Alyson McKechin (Elderslie)
Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach)

Sammy Vass (Tain)

Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).

Reserves:

1 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
2 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield)

3 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies)

4 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw)

The three players whose scores will count for Scotland in the international team event at the start of the Girls’ British open amateur championship at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14 are:
Lesley Atkins

Eilidh Briggs

Rachael Watton, capt.

Reserves:
1 Sammy Vass
2 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie)

SENIOR SCOTLAND TEAM NAMED FOR IRELAND

The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has named the Scotland team for the European senior women’s team championship at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, Co Dublin, from September 1 to 4 is:
Heather Anderson (Alyth)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)

Fiona De Vries (St Rule)

Fiona Hunter (Baberton)

Mary Smith (Tain)

Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies)
Reserves:
1 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)

2 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)

3 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose)

Captain: Pamela Williamson (Baberton)

Four named for Under-16 match against Spain

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Four players have been selected by the English Women’s Golf Association for the annual Under-16 match against Spain at Heswall Golf Club, The Wirral on August 25.They are:
Yorkshire’s Sophie Godley (Lindrick), 15.
Cheshire’s Bronte Law (Bramhall), 14.
Warwickshire’s Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies), 14.
Lancashire’s Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St Annes), 14.
The match precedes the North of England Under-16 championship, which will be played at Heswall from August 26-28.
Two more players will complete EWGA’s squad for this event. They are Yorkshire’s Megan Garland (Selby), 15, and Gloucestershire’s Shelby Smart (Knowle), 15.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Fund-raiser for Krystle on July 24

A fund-raising teams of four Stableford competition for Fife's Ladies European Tour player Krystle Caithness, whose family home is now at Cupar, is to be over the Jubilee Course at St Andrews on Friday, July 24.
It will have a shotgun start at 8.30am.

SCOTTISH GIRLS FINAL AT LANARK

Ailsa beats Sammy by two holes in final


Ailsa Bain (Peebles) is the new Scottish Under-18 girls (close) amateur champion.
She beat Sammy Vass (Tain) by two holes in the 18-hole final at Lanark Golf Club this morning.

Sammy was two up after three, having won the long second with a par 5 and being conceded the second but she won only one more hole on the outward half - the short eighth - while Ailsa came on to ther game to win the fifth, sixth and eighth to be all square at the turn.
Ailsa made the move that would ultimately make her champion by w9inning the 10th, 12th and 13th to go three up.
Sammy rallied to win the 16th with a birdie and the 17th with a par to be one down on the 18th tee.
Ailsa clinched the title with a par at the short 18th to finish two holes up.
Ailsa was 20th the the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages.
Sammy was 11th.

RESULT
Final (18 holes)
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) bt Sammy Vass (Tain) 2 holes.

Sarah v Paula and Emma v Patrice

in Lancome Irish girls semi-finals

FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE.
In today's quarter-finals of the Lancome Irish girls (close) amateur championship at Castletroy Golf Club, Sarah Murray (Co Louth) survived a strong comeback from Castletroy's well supported Chloe Ryan (a name to watch out for in the future).
Sarah, was dormie three but lost the 16th and 17th before putting to halve the 18th and take her place in the semi-final against Paula Grant (Lisburn).
Paula had a comback of her own, being three down with four to play. She won the last four holes to take the match out of the hands of Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel).
The other semi-final will be a familiar encounter between Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) and Patrice Delaney (Birr).
The semi-final line up in the Plate sees the impressive leading qualifier Jessica Carty (Holywood) play Emma Murphy (Wexford) while Leinster Interpro player Terri Byrne (Coollattin) takes on Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint).

Results:
Championship
Quarter-finals
Sarah Murray (Co Louth) bt Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) 1 hole.
Paula Grant (Lisburn) bt Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) 1 hole.
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Amy Chambers (Dunfanaghy) 3 and 2.
Patrice Delaney (Birr) bt Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) 4 and 3.
Plate
Quarter-finals
Jessica Carty (Holywood) bt Aoife Barry (Muskerry) 5 and 3.
Emma Murphy (Wexford) bt Daryl Conroy (Castlebar) 1 hole.
Terri Byrne (Coollattin) bt Anna Courtney (St Annes) 2 and 1.
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) bt Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 2 and 1.
Click Here to View Full RESULTS

Becky Brewerton shares lead on 65

in Open de Espana Femenino

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Becky Brewerton is desperate to win this week’s Open de España Femenino, as she realises this could be her last chance to qualify for The 2009 European Solheim Cup team.
The 26-year-old Welsh player made a bold statement today as she opened with a seven-under 65 at Panorámica Golf Club in San Jorge, Castellon, sharing the lead with two other players: Spanish amateur Carlota Ciganda and Swede Maria Boden.
Brewerton needs to win a second Ladies European Tour title if she is to stand a hope of making a second straight appearance representing Europe, at Rich Harvest Farms near Chicago, in August.
“I’ve got to win to try to get into the Evian Masters. This is my last chance,” said the sixth year tour player. A place at next week’s lucrative Evian Masters in France would give her another opportunity to earn Cup points, which are doubled at the tournament.
“Obviously for The Solheim, I desperately need a win. I think if I could get into the Evian as well as playing in the British Open I fancy my chances of finishing definitely in the top 20 and you get so many more points for that. It’s kind of a last ditch push for The Solheim team because that’s just a massive thing. I don’t think anything else but a win is going to do me after this week otherwise I won’t get the points. I’ll be going for everything,” she said.
Impressively, Brewerton carded two eagles in her opening round, along with four birdies and a bogey. She rolled in a four-footer at the par-five 18th hole and holed a bunker shot for eagle at the par-five fourth hole.
She joined Ciganda, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, at seven-under, after the 19-year-old Spanish sensation reeled off five birdies in her closing seven holes.
The two-time European Amateur champion and 2007 British Amateur champion, who was beaten by fellow Spaniard Azaharda Munoz in this year's final at Harlech, is in her first year on a golf scholarship at Arizona State University but had returned home to Pamplona in Spain when she received an invitation to play in the Ladies European Tour event.
Ciganda, who has won every Spanish amateur title, has the opportunity to become the LET’s first amateur winner since South Korean Amy Yang won the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia as a 16-year-old.
“I’m feeling confident. I hit some great shots and the putting, I was happy with it. Over the last few holes it was incredible. I made five under in the last seven holes so it was so good,” Ciganda said.
Boden made a late charge with seven birdies for a faultless round and was thrilled to be in contention after a miserable run of three missed cuts.
“I’m just very happy because I’ve been struggling for the last three events. I wasn’t even close to a bogey. It was really solid,” she said.
Denmark’s Iben Tinning and Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands were a shot back on six-under-par. Tinning played the back nine in five-under 31 before adding a birdie at the fourth hole. The 35-year-old five-time champion felt extremely comfortable on a course where she won in 2005, having shot 63 in the second round.
“I hit a lot of greens and I’m just trying to attack out there. I’ve got nothing to lose, really. It’s been a long time since I won something and I’m just excited,” she said, adding that she also hopes to qualify for The Solheim Cup team.
Boeljon continued her strong track record on Spanish soil after winning the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup at La Sella in Denia, Alicante, which was a team event, in April.
“I hit 12 fairways and 16 greens so I think it was pretty good. I made a few long putts so I think I can be satisfied,” she said.

Vikki Laing had arguably her best round since she made her debut on the LET - a bogey free round of five-under-par 67 with biries at the sixth, 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS

Par 72

65 C Ciganda (Spain) (am), B Brewerton (Wales), M Boden (Sweden).

66 I Tinning (Denmark), C Boeljon (Netherlands).

67 D-C Becker (Germany), S Giquel (France), V Laing (Scotland).

Selected scores:

69 E Bennett (England), R Coakley (Ireland), K Caithness (Scotland), K Matharu (England), L Davies (England), H Aitchison (England).

70 M Thomson (Scotland), S Head (England), S Heath (England).

71 H Kavanagh (Ireland), L Kenny (Scotland).

72 C L Aitken (England), F Johnson (England), J Mundy (England), B Loucks (Wales), G Simpson England), F Parker (England).

73 E Lyons (England), C Coughlan-Ryan (Ireland), M Gillen (Ireland), Trish Johnson (England), T Delaney (Ireland).

74 C Queen (Scotland), J Morley (England), R Hudson (England), S Walker (England).

75 P Feggans (Scotland).

76 K S Taylor (England), L Hall (Wales).

78 J Pritchard (Wales).

SAMMY VASS from Tain, 35 miles north of Inverness, is through to play Ailsa Bain (Peebles) in tomorrow morning's Scottish girls' final at Lanark. Image by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography. Top right is Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), winner of the Ansley Salver Final (image by courtesy of Jean Macintyre).

Playing Sir Bob Charles one week, then the

Scottish girls ... it's all the same for Sammy

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

If you've played a challenge match with your dad against a former Open champion, Sir Bob Charles, over your home course at Tain - as 17-year-old Sammy Vass did last week, then competing in the Scottish girls championship at Lanark has to be a piece of cake. Not that the matches have been easy, anything but, but Sammy has been possibly playing under less tension than the majority of her rivals.
So it has proved for United States-bound Sammy who has won her way through to play Ailsa Bain from Peebles in the 18-hole final tomorrow morning (tee off 9am at Lanark GC).
Vass, the North of Scotland girls champion, beat Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), conqueror of No 2 seed Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) at the 20th in a nail-biter of a morning quarter-final, by one hole in the semi-finals.
Bain toppled the No 1 seed, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), also by one hole, in the other semi-final.
Those who maintain that medal-play and match-play are two totally different forms of golf might have their opinion confirmed by the fact that Vass was 11th of the 32 stroke-play qualifiers for the match-play stages and Bain 20th and yet one of them is about to become the Under-18 girls’ champion of Scotland.
The Bain-Watton tie produced arguably the better golf with the girls having eight birdies between them. Bain looked to be heading for a win inside the distance when she went three up at the turn, having taken the seventh, eighth and ninth holes.
But Watton rallied to cut her deficit to one hole with a birdie 3 at the 16th. Bain held her at bay with halves in par at the last two holes.
There was never more than a hole in it either way in the Vass-Hanlon semi-final.
Hanlon outscored her opponent in birdies 2-0 but Vass, who played for Scotland in last year's European girls team championship at Murcar Links, brought her greater experience into play to hang on in there until she won the 16th with a par 4 to lead for the first time since she won the first but lost the second. A half in pars at the 18th ended the contest.
Sammy enrolls at the University of Central Florida in late August. It would be a feather in her cap to go to the United States as Scottish girls champion, the first from Northern Counties since Laura Walker, then a Nairn Dunbar member, at Powfoot in 2002, and possibly the first ever from north of Inverness.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Sammy's mother Magi, who runs the Northern Counties girls' section and who was a Scotland junior international (as Margaret Russell) herself around about the time Pamela Wright (Aboyne) was in the team, will no doubt be warning her daughter that anyone who can beat the No 1 seed, as Ailsa Bain, did today is going to prove one tough opponent to get the better of in the final of a national championship.
Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) won the Ansley Salver competition by beating Katie Reid (Monifieth) by one hole in the final.
Championship results today
Quarter-finals

Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) bt Lesley Atkins (Minto) 2 and 1.
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) bt Rachael Tayor (Bad Griesbach) 1 hole.

Sammy Vass (Tain) bt Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 2 and 1.

Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) at 20th.

Semi-finals
Bain bt Watton 1 hole.

Vass bt Hanlon 1 hole.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

Semi-finals

Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) bt Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) 1 hole.

Katie Reid (Monifieth) bt Clara Young ( North Berwick ) 1 hole.

Final
McIntosh bt Reid 1 hole.

STEPHANIE MEADOW CAN'T PLAY FOR

IRELAND IN GIRLS' HOME NATIONALS

US-based Stephanie Meadow, a member of Ireland's European girls title-winning quartet in Finland last week, will not be available for the girls' home internationals at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire from August 4 to 6.

This week she shot a 73 at Trump National Golf Club, Colts Neck, New Jersey in a qualifier for the United States women's amateur championship.

Stephanie, who is a member of Royal Portrush Golf Club and a resident student at the Hank Haney International Golf Academy, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, was the third best qualifier at the New Jersey venue.

The US women's amateur championship will be played at Old Warson Country Club from August 3 to 9.

Stephanie has also come through the qualifying process to be in the field for next week's (July 20 to 25) at Trump National GC, Bedminster, New Jersey.

Volvo partners EWGA to support competitions

for women club golfers

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The English Women’s Golf Association is delighted to announce a new partnership with Volvo which will support competitions for club golfers.
Volvo – one of the biggest names in golf – is investing a five-figure sum to sponsor the EWGA Medals, the Australian Spoons stableford foursomes tournament and the Rose Spoon awards. These annual competitions attract thousands of handicap golfers.
Both the EWGA Medals and the Australian Spoons involve club rounds and regional and national finals.
The Rose Spoon awards recognise the best strokeplay scores returned each month by players in four handicap divisions.
EWGA Chief Executive Jim Robinson welcomed the new agreement: “This is very good news for EWGA and our members. Volvo is renowned for quality, both in car manufacture and in golf, and we are delighted to be associated with them. Their support will help us to develop our services for members and we look forward to a successful future.”
EWGA Tournament Secretary Emma Lowe added: “Volvo’s involvement and presence at our regional and national finals will be invaluable as we work to raise the profile of our events, and in particular the Australian Spoons. This is a great competition for higher handicap golfers and we want to make it even more popular.”
The new agreement extends Volvo’s support for EWGA. Earlier this season the company became a partner of the 2009 PING Four-ball Better- ball Tournament of England.
This competition, which is run by EWGA, attracts around 16,000 players.
Lesley Milne, Events & Sponsorship Manager for Volvo Car UK Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the EWGA Medals and we look forward to creating a relationship with lady amateur golfers at club level. We are keen to welcome more ladies onto future Volvo Masters Amateur Tour events which are open to golfers of all ages and handicaps and take place all over the UK.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

No 2 seed Eilidh Briggs beaten in quarter-finals

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), the No 2 seed, was beaten at the 20th by Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) in this morning's quarter-finals of the Scottish girls (close) after championship at Lanark Golf Club.
No 1 seed Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) progressed to the last four with a 2 and 1 win over Lesley Atkins (Minto).
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) gave the Borders a representative in this afternoon's semi-finals with a one-hole win over Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach).
Sammy Vass (Tain), the North standard-bearer, beat the surprise packet of the championship, 30th qualifier Jessica Meek (Carnoustie) by 2 and 1.

The semi-final line-up is:
Rachael Watton v Ailsa Bain.
Sammy Vass v Rachel Hanlon.

The Ansley Reid Salver final this afternoon will be between Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and Katie Reid (Monifieth).

Results

CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) bt Lesley Atkins (Minto) 2 and 1.
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) bt Rachael Tayor (Bad Griesbach) 1 hole.
Sammy Vass (Tain) bt Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 2 and 1.
Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) at 20th.

ANSLEY REID SALVER
Semi-finals
Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) bt Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) 1 hole.
Katie Reid (Monifieth) bt Clara Young (North Berwick) 1 hole.

.

IRISH GIRLS (close) CHAMPIONSHIP

Leading qualifier Jessica Carty loses

in first round of match-play

FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
With Castletroy bathed in afternoon sunshine the leading 32 qualifiers battled it out in match-play in the Lancome Irish girls (close) amateur championship.
Leading qualifier Jessica Carty (Holywood) was the first casualty losing out to Emily McGuinness (Greenore) while the fancied Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) was defeated by her Ulster counterpart Laura Fekkes (Larne).
The tie of the afternoon between Patrice Delaney (Birr) and Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) went in favour of the Birr international player.
RESULTS:
Championship (Blake Cup)
Round 1
Emily McGuinness (Greenore) bt Jessica Carty (Holywood) 4 & 2.
Sarah Murray (Co Louth) bt Jenny Hennessy (Ennis) 5 & 4.
Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) bt Aoife Barry (Muskerry) 5 & 4.
Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) bt Edel Coyne (Youghal) 2 & 1.
Amy Farrell (Moate) bt Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay) 4 & 3.
Paula Grant (Lisburn) bt Emma Murphy (Wexford) at 20th.
Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) bt Siobhan Greene (Holywood) 3 & 1.
Megan Thompson (Ballyclare) bt Daryl Conroy (Castlebar) 3 & 2.

Erin Connolly (Co Armagh) bt Niamh O'Connor (Naas) at 21st.
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Anna Courtney (St Annes) 7 & 6.
Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) bt Rachel Chambers (Dunfanaghy) at 20th.
Amy Chambers (Dunfanaghy) bt Terri Byrne (Coollattin) 1 hole.
Laura Fekkes (Larne) bt Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 3 & 1.
Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) bt Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) 7 & 6.
Patrice Delaney (Birr) bt Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 3 & 2.
Aisling Hill (Roscommon) bt Julie Coyne (Youghal) 4 & 3.

RECAP ON QUALIFYING ROUND
After a night of thunderstorms, competitors at the Lancome Irish Girls' Close faced a very challenging Castletroy golf course as they bid to qualify for the matchplay stages in what is the biggest competition of the year for many.
Added to the resulting surface water, players also had to endure a 30 minute delay this morning due to fog.
However, the single qualifying round was completed with Jessica Carty (Hollywood), who will represent Ireland at the European Young Masters next month, returning the lowest score to be leading qualifier for the match-play stages, thanks to a 3 over par round of 76.
This was three shots ahead of nearest challenger Julie Coyne of Youghal.
Click Here to View Full RESULTS

Heather qualifies - Katie just fails

Heather MacRae (Gullane) has qualified to play in another Tartan Tour event - and Katie Thomson (Kings Links) just failed.
Read the full story by switching over to our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com

FIRST MINISTER AT TURNBERRY

Sam Torrance, Alex Salmond and a possible Open winner in 2020 on the HomeComing putting green at Turnberry (image by Rob Eyton-Jones).

Significant increase in number of Scottish

Primary children involved in golf

NEWS RELEASE
A record high of nearly 40,000 Scottish Primary 5 children have been introduced to golf for the first time through the Government funded clubgolf initiative, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today at the Open Championship in Turnberry.
The First Minister announced the significant increase in the number of youngsters taking to the fairways in Scotland, the home of golf, as he joined Sam Torrance and young golfers benefitting from the national junior programme, clubgolf, on the Homecoming putting green today.
Already, this year 38,784 P5 pupils have been introduced to the game through firstclubgolf, clubgolf’s introductory game which uses modified equipment to give children a taste of the sport in school. This figure is 71 per cent of the total number of P5s in Scotland and represents an increase of 15 per cent over last year’s participation figures.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
“Scotland is undoubtedly the home of golf. It is only right that we do all we can to help introduce young people to the brilliant game and encourage greater participation.
“Scotland’s golf clubs and facilities are helping to provide the ideal environment for juniors to flourish. And where better to announce that we now have nearly 40,000 P5 schoolchildren playing in golf than here, at The Open Championship in Turnberry, with the world’s eyes upon us.
“Scotland has 289 venues across the country working with children and young people through clubgolf. This bodes well for the future of the game at club level.
“An increasing number of golf professionals are delivering the national junior programme and they have teamed up with a workforce of qualified volunteer coaches that now numbers more than 1,500. Between them they will deliver clubgolf coaching to around 10,000 children in clubs this summer.
“I have high hopes that many of these youngsters will return to future Championships as key contenders for the Claret Jug.”
Hamish Grey, Scottish Golf Union (SGU) Chief Executive and clubgolf Board member said:
“As an integral part of the SGU and SLGA’s coaching programme clubgolf is continuing to make significant progress, enabling more youngsters than ever before to play the game.
“By giving children an early introduction to the game, clubgolf is helping to expand the base of players by making golf more accessible than ever before. Offering structured coaching at every level will lead to an improvement in playing standards, with the long term goal of stimulating a lifelong interest in the game.”

Karyn Burns wants to hear from lady

amateurs who would like to pay and

play in her women-only pro-am

PGA professional Karyn Burns, pictured right, is organising an all-women pro-am on August 21 at the exclusive venue of the Fidra Course at Archerfield Links Golf Club.
There will be 10 teams consisting of 10 Scottish lady professionals, including the seven who are currently members of the Ladies European Tour, and 30 lady amateurs.
"There are still a few team spots available," says Karyn. "I believe this is this first event of its kind in Scotland although I believe that Jane Connachan held a ladies' pro-am at some point.
"The 10 professionals are likely to Karyn Dallas, Heather MacRae and myself, who are PGA professionals, and from the Ladies European Tour: Krystle Caithness, Pamela Feggans, Lynn Kenny, Vikki Laing, Clare Queen, Michele Thomson and Jenna Wilson."
Kathryn Imrie may get involved if home from USA.
The price per team of three amateurs is £495 which is inclusive of morning rolls/tea on arrival, a short clinic/Q&A session, the 18-hole competition followed by a three-course dinner and viewing of the Solheim Cup match which starts that day.
If you break that down to a cost per individual, it works out at £165 a head.
Are there any husbands/partners/boy friends of lady amateur golfers out there who might like to give their loved ones a treat by buying them a place on a team for what is certainly going to be a day to remember?
Overnight stays can be arranged at an additional cost. More information is available from and entries can be made to Karyn Burns, PGA (AA) Professional by emailing http://uk.mc870.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=karynburns@yahoo.com or Mobile: 07720 442492.

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP AT LANARK

Watton and Briggs justify Nos 1 & 2 seedings

but a few dangerous floaters in last eight

Top seeds, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) and Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs are
through to Thursday morning's quarter-finals of the Scottish girls’ match-play championship at Lanark Golf Club.
But there are too many dangerous “floaters” also in the last eight to predict with confidence that it will be a Watton v Briggs final on Friday morning.
No 1 qualifier Watton had a good 3 and 2 win over Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), a reserve for the Scotland quartet who took part in last week’s European girls’ team championship, but could have a wee tiger by the tail in Lesley Atkins (Minto) in the quarter-finals
Atkins, only 14, is the youngest ever Borders’ women’s champion and she was in devastating form in chalking up a 9 and 7 second-round win over Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) who had knocked out Scotland cap and Angus women’s champion Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) in the morning.
Rachael Taylor, entered from the Bad Griesbach Golf Club, Freiburg in southwest Germany, is an unknown quantity. She had a second-round 3 and 2 win over the highly-rated Aberdeen-born 16-year-old Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) who has a scratch handicap in America where she attends the Leadbetter Academy in Florida.
Sammy Vass (Tain), who enrolls at the University of Central Florida late next month, showed her class with two good wins and has a definite chance if she can win her quarter-final against Jessica Meek (Carnoustie), who was the 30th of the 32 qualifiers but showed her potential in a morning 3 and 2 win over No 3 seed Hannah McCook (Abernethy).
Second seed Eilidh Briggs ground out a last-green win over Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) to reach the last eight and now plays Rachael Hanlon (St Regulus), the No 7 seed from Fife.

SCROLL DOWN FOR WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

JANE FLEMING CLOCKS UP 20 YEARS ON LGU STAFF

Jane Fleming, on right, a long-time member of the Ladies Golf Union staff at its St Andrews HQ on The Scores, receives a painting from LGU President Maureen Lockett to mark Jane's completion of 20 years' service.

"When I joined the LGU in 1989 I was looking for a little part time job as I had a four-month old baby boy, so 2 ½ days a week was fine although I only intended to stay for six months!" Jane told Kirkwoodgolf in an exclusive interview today.

"Joan Lawrence was Chairman at the time and on the interview panel and Nell Bruen was President.

"Prior to starting at the LGU I worked for six years at the Scores Hotel so didn’t have far to move! I moved to the St Andrews area in 1980, having previously lived in Clackmannan.

"Twenty years later (I can’t believe it!) I am still here and the 'baby boy'is a strapping, about-to-be 21 year old and I have had 2 more children, aged 10 and 8.

"I have seen many changes and held many titles over the years from part-time Admin Assistant to Services Manager, my current title. I am now involved in organising travel and accommodation, AGM and Peugeot LGU Coronation Foursomes."

Now for the next 20 years ...

Janet Melville repeats regional seniors'

title win - and same margin

Action replay! Nottinghamshire’s Janet Melville successfully defended a regional seniors title – and by exactly the same winning margin of nine shots. Janet, from Sherwood Forest, scored her back-to-back win in the 36-hole senior English women’s midlands regional stroke-play tournament at Erewash Valley in Derbyshire.
She was three-over par for the two rounds and scored seven birdies during the 36 holes.
The runner-up was Gabi Heuchel of East Berkshire, followed on countback by Vivien Saunders of Cambridge National.
Janet is in only her second season of seniors’ golf and has shot straight to the top. The former British champion is a seniors’ international and last year won the English seniors’ stroke-play title. This year she was runner-up in the event.
The regional Division B title was won by Mila Spray of Harleyford, Buckinghamshire. Her scores included an eagle 3 on the second hole of her first round.
She finished three shots clear of last year’s winner, Elaine James of Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands in Bedfordshire.
Leading scores
Par 146 (2x73) CSS 74, 74
Division A
149 Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest) 75 74.
158 Gabi Heuchel (East Berkshire) 82 76, Vivien Saunders (Cambridge National) 79 79.
159 Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool) 78 81.
162 Gill Snelson (Branston) 81 81, Laraine Hague (Rotherham) 79 83.
164 Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe) 83 81.
166 Andrea Stockdale (Mapperley Ladies’) 83 83.
167 Carol Wild (Notts Ladies’) 82 85, Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) 81 86.
Division B
175 Mila Spray (Harleyford) 84 91.
178 Elaine James (Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands) 89 89.
181 Pauline Olliver (Burnham Beeches) 94 87.
182 Joan Somerville (Burnham Beeches) 94 88, Elizabeth Holbrook (Spalding) 92 90, Marie Watson (Chesterfield) 89 93.
183 Olive Marchant (Woburn) 92 91.
184 Helen Cole (The Chase) 95 89.
187 Pauline Cameron (East Berkshire) 93 94.
190 Eleanor Walford (Copt Heath) 97 93.
Full details: visit the Tournament Information Centre on www.englishwomensgolf.org
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Scottish girls (close) amateur championship scoreboard

LANARK GOLF CLUB

FIRST ROUND
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) bt Louise Smith (Monifieth) 6 and 4.
Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) bt Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich) 1 hole.
Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) bt Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.
Lesley Atkins (Minto) bt Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 3 and 2.
Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) bt Jordana Graham (Southerness) at 19th.
Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach) bt Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 4 and 2.
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) bt Sophie Alexander (Deeside) 1 hole.
Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) bt Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 2 and 1.
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 3 and 2.
Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) bt Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) at 20th.
Sammy Vass (Tain) bt Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 4 and 3.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) bt Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 6 and 5.
Rachael Hanlon (St Regulus) bt Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 4 and 3.
Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) bt Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) 3 and 2.
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) bt Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 2 and 1.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt Julie Vass (Tain) 6 and 5.

SECOND ROUND
Watton bt Meldrum 3 and 2.
Atkins bt Jaffrey 9 and 7.
Taylor bt Dryburegh 3 and 2.
Bain bt Stevenson 5 and 4.
Meek bt Qayum 2 and 1.
Vass bt McKechin 1 hole.
Hanlon bt Scott 5 and 4.
Briggs bt MacDonald 1 hole.

THURSDAY MORNING'S QUARTER-FINALS
8.45 Watton v Atkins.
8.55 Taylor v Bain.
9.05 Meek v Vass
9.15 Hanlon v Briggs

THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S SEMI-FINALS
1.30 Watton or Atkins v Taylor Bain.
1.40 Meek or Vass v Hanlon or Briggs.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

FIRST ROUND
Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) bt Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 3 and 2.
Megan Clyne (Deeside) bt Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 4 and 3.
Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) w.o. Megan Aird (Strathmore) scr.
Heather Munro (Monifieth) bt Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst) 2 and 1.

Katie McCracken (Powfoot) bt Samantha Munro (Aberdour) 1 hole.
Clara Young (North Berwick) bt Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 5 and 4.
Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) bt Gail Wilson (Monifieth) at 19th.
Katie Reid (Monifieth) bt Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary) 3 and 2.

QUARTER-FINALS
McIntosh bt Clyne 6 and 5.
Prouse bt Munro 4 and 3.
Young bt McCracken 1 hole.
Reid bt Fullerton 1 hole.

THURSDAY'S SEMI-FINALS
9.30 McIntosh v Prouse.
9.40 Young v Reid.

THURSDAY'S FINAL
1.50 McIntosh or Prouse v Young or Reid.

Katherine O'Connor hits form in

second round to win Bridget

Jackson Bowl by five shots

Welsh international Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath), has followed up her victory in the Frilford Heath Salver by winning the Bridget Jackson Bowl, played over 36 holes at Handsworth Golf Club, Birmingham on Tuesday.
After the first round, it was still a very open competition with another Welsh cap, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest), leading on 71 by one shot from Katherine O'Connor, Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) and several other players poised on the 73 and 74 mark.
But Katherine, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency at Harlech a few weeks ago, who has a handicap of +1, forged clear for a five-shot victory with a splendid second round of 68 (five birdies, one bogey) for a total of four-under-par 144 (CSS 72-73)
Two-handicapper Elizabeth Mallett, the English Under-16 schools champion in 2007 and Midland schoolgirls title-winner in 2008, finished runner-up with 72 and 73 for 145.
Bronte Law (Bramhall), the Cheshire girls champion this year and Abbey Gittings (Walmley), Warwickshire champion in 2008 and 2009, shared third place on 146.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72). SS 73. CSS 72 73.
140 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 72 68.
145 Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 72 73.
146 Bronte Law (Bramhall) 74 72, Abbey Gittings (Walmley) 73 73.
147 Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 71 76.
148 Tilly Holder (Woburn) 75 73, Charley Hull (Ketting) 75 73.
149 Harriet Key (South Herts) 77 72.
150 Melissa Siviter (Enville) 77 73, Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool) 74 76.
152 Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 80 72, Julie Brown (Brocton Hall) 75 77, Samantha Birks (Wolstanton) 74 78.
153 Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 77 76, Bronwyn Davies (Wolstanton) 76 77, Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 785 78.
154 Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) 77 77, Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 75 78.
155 Claire Fry (Royal Liverpool) 80 75.]
1576 Fiona Briggs (Lakeside) 78 78, Jenny Rhodes (Southy Staffordshire) 77 79, Helen White (Worfield) 76 80, Carly Warrington (Sickleholme) 75 81.
157 Hermiona Fitzgerald (Newmarket Linkis) 78 79, Megan Garland (Selby) 76 81, Claire Howells (Moor Hall) 73 84.
158 Madeleine Winnett (Trentham) 83 75, Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred) 81 77, Nicole Shaw (West Essex) 78 80, Victoria Davies (Whitchurch, Cardiff) 77 81.
159 Lisa Barton (Coventry) 79 80, Alice Watson (Park Hall) 79 80.
163 Lucy Evans (Littleshall Hall) 87 86.
164 Hannah Mulliner (Northampton) 85 79, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 82 82, Lauren Drake (Bidston) 80 84, Laura Thomas (Didsbury) 79 85.
167 Harriet Beasley (Woburn) 83 84.
168 Lizi Sweetnam (Leighton Buzzard) 80 88.
169 Emma Davies (Eaton) 87 82.
174 Emily Mountford (Oxley Park) 90 84.
175 Ann Fern (Willesley Park) 88 87.
177 Megan Perry (Enville) 83 84.
Withdrew: Amy Barber, Kimberley Bradbury, Holly Clyburn, Rachael Goodall, Tracey Higgins, Amy Skoulding.
Weather: With exception of some very heavy rain at the end (about 15min), the day was fine with plenty of sunshine.

Ireland's team of Under-18 European champions in Finland

It has taken Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk a few days to be able to show you an image of the Irish girls with captain Sinead Keane after their historic victory in the European girls' team championship in Finland (Thanks to the Irish Ladies Golf Union for sending it to us). Left to right: Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush, Sinead Keane, Leona next and then Lisa Maguire.

Both the Maguire sisters were yesterday named in the European team for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup match against the United States in Illinois in August.
The Irish LGU website has the following quotes from the twins:

Leona said: “I am really looking forward to this event. Last week at the European Girls’ Team Championship, Ireland played really well and Lisa and I were unbeaten in the foursome matches. It is great to have her in the team. We would like to bring the Cup home to Europe.”

Lisa added:”We might look exactly similar to one another but our swing is different. You can definitely see the difference. Right now, I hit it a little bit further and Leona might be a little bit better around the green. I am so happy about receiving a wild card.”

Personal view by Colin Farquharson.

I think it's a great pity that none of the European title-winning Irish quartet has entered the Girls' British open championship, to be held at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14.
The Maguire twins, only 14 years old, just can't fit the British girls' event into their crowded schedule - Vagliano Trophy match in Germany (July 24-25) followed by Girls' Home Internationals at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire (August 4 to 6)) and now a trip across the Atlantic to play in the Junior Solheim Cup match (August 18-19).
Stephanie Meadow is going back to the States where she is based for most of the year to compete or try to qualify for the United States girls championship.
I do not know why Laura McCarthy has not entered the British girls' championship .... in which there was not a single Irish competitor at Monifieth last year.
Times have obviously moved on since girls of outstanding talent like our own Vikki Laing won the Scottish girls match-play title a record-breaking four years in a row (1996-97-98-99) and before that Kathryn Imrie won the Scottish Under-21 girls troke-play championship in three successive years (1985-86-87).
That is just not happening nowadays because the top Under-18 girls are playing in adult competitions rather than in their own age groups. Take Carly Booth for instance. Instead of defending the Scottish Under-18 girls' title at Lanark this week, she was down at The Berkshire on Monday, competing, unsuccessfully, in the Ricoh Women's British Open pre-qualifying competition.
I am delighted that Carly will be in the field for the Girls' British Open next month.
I think I'm correct in saying Sally Watson has not played in the Scottish girls' match-play since she won the title as a 13 or 14-year-old in 2005. Sally reached the final of the British girls' championship in 2006 and would have been still young enough to the enter both the Scottish and British Under-18 events this summer. But hasn't!
Once upon a time you look could pick up the Golfer's Handbook and flick through the pages of past winners' of girls events in Britain and Ireland and you could tell who were the top Under-18 players of their day.
Not now, because the top girls are passing up their potential title-winning years to play in adult golf.
The Girls' British open championship used to be the pinnacle of individual achievement for under-18 year-olds, just as the Scottish girls' championships were not to be missed by rising Scots stars.
Perhaps it's me that's been left behind by changing values?
Colin Farquharson

+You can E-mail your view to Colin@scottishgolfview.com.

Jacqueline Sneddon wins

All-American Scholar

award for second year

Alyth Golf Club member Jacqueline Sneddon, a student at Grand Canyon University, Arizona, has been given the NGCA (National Golf Coaches Association) All-American Scholar academic award for a second year running .
The award is to give golf scholarship students an incentive to maintain high class marks when they are not pursuing their college golf careers.
Golf scholarship students at US colleges have to maintain a 3.5 grade average but Jacqueline at the moment has a 4.00 grade.
Jacqueline, pictured, will be starting her third year at Grand Canyon University after the summer holidays - and is loving every minute of it. Being a member of the golf team has taken takes her to places she would not normally have seen at her age, such as California and Hawaii.
"I think that it is a great achievement, keeping up the studies and playing all the golf that they do, " said her mum Jennifer.
The Sneddon family home is at Meigle.

ALL THE SCORES AT LANARK TODAY

SCOTTISH GIRLS (close) CHAMPIONSHIP
Lanark Golf Club
Qualifiers for match-play
Par 148 (2x74)
153 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 77 76.
156 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 70, Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 77 79.
159 Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 78 81.
160 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 82 78, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 75 85.
161 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 83 78, Lesley Atkins (Minto) 82 79, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 80.
162 Lauren Duncan (Banchory) 87 75, Sammy Vass (Tain) 79 83.
163 Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach) 85 78, Sophie Alexander (Deeside) 80 83.
165 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 84 81.
166 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 82 84.
167 Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich) 83 84, Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 76 91.
168 Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 88 80, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 85 83, Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 84 84.
169 Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 88 81, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 85 84, Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 85.
170 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) 86 84.
171 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 89 82, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 80 91.
172 Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 89 83, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 89 83, Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) 87 85, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 87 85
173 Julie Vass (Tain) 87 86.
174 Louise Smith (Monifieth) 88 86 (better second round).
OTHER SCORES
174 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 85 89.
175 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 93 82, Samantha Munro (Aberdour) 90 85, Heather Munro (Monifieth) 86 89.
176 Megan Aird (Strathmore) 87 89.
177 Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 93 84, Gail Wilson (Monifieth) 90 87, Shannon McGuire (Canmore) 89 88, 177 Megan Clyne (Deeside) 82 95.
178 Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) 93 85, Clara Young (North Berwick) 91 87.
179 Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) 92 87, Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst) 90 89, Katie McCracken (Powfoot) 88 91.
180 Keren Ward (Glen) 90 90.
181 Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary CC) 92 89, Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 92 89, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 88 93, Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies) 88 93.
182 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 93 89, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 91 91, Kirsten MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan) 87 95, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 87 95.
184 Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 91 93.
187 Ashley Ann Alston (Royal Montrose) 89 98.
188 Emma Hale (Troon Bentinck) 90 98.
189 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 95 94.
192 Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie) 104 88.
194 Seren Anderson (Deeside) 101 93, Erin Millar (Pitlochry) 95 99.
196 Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) 105 91.
198 Catherine Small (Craigielaw) 109 89.
199 Abigail Gliksten (Strathaven) 104 95, Amy Taylor (Kirriemuir) 95 104.
200 Lauren D’Ambrosio (Carluke) 99 101.
201 Rachel Irvine (Largs) 104 97.
216 Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) 110 106.
221 Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly castle) 113 108.
287 Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) 156 131.
Retired: Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) 86 -.

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
UPPER HALF
1 Rachel Watton v 32 Louise Smith: 8.30 am.
17 Jill Meldrum v 16 Jennifer Hide.
9 Ailsa Summers v 24 Connie Jaffrey.
25 Gillian Simpson v 8 Lesley Atkins.

5 Gemma Dryburgh v 28 Jordana Graham: 8.58 am
21 Jemma Chalmers v 12 Rachael Taylor.
13 Sophie Alexander v 20 Ailsa Bain.
29 Linsey Stevenson v 4 Sammy Leslie.

LOWER HALF
3 Hanna McCook v 30 Jessica Meek: 9.26 am.
19 Natasha Qayum v 14 Alison Goodwin.
11 Sammy Vass v 22 Mhairi McKay.
27 Eleanor Tunn v 6 Alyson McKechin.

7 Rachel Hanlon v 26 Tara McTaggart: 9.54 am.
23 Kirstin Scott v 10 Lauren Duncan.
15 Gabrielle MacDonald v 18 Rachel Polson.
31 Julie Vass v 2 Eilidh Briggs.

++Afternoon ties at 1.30, 1.42, 1.54, 2.06, 2.18, 2.30, 2.40 & 2.54.

ANSLEY REID SALVER
Upper half
33 Kimberley Beveridge v 48 Kate McIntosh: 10.29am.
41 Megan Clyne v 40 Shannen McGuire.
37 Megan Aird v 44 Claire Prouse.
45 Alexis Hutton v 36 Heather Munro.
Lower half
35 Samantha Munro v 46 Katie McCracken: 10.57 am.
43 Clare Young v 38 Nicola Taylor.
39 Gail Wilson v 42 Fiona Fullerton.
47 Katlyn Kennedy v 34 Katie Reid: 11.18.

+Afternoon ties at 3.15, 3.25, 3.35 & 3.45.

Katherine O'Connor wins Bridget Jackson Bowl

Welsh international player Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) won the Bridget Jackson Bowl 36-hole open tournament at Handsworth Golf Club, Birmingham today.
She had rounds of 72 and 68 for 140.
Katherine's second round contained five birdies and one bogey.
It is her second big two-round win of the season. She won the Frilford Heath Salver earlier.
We'll have all the totals from Bridget in the morning.

Rachael Watton earns top seed spot

in Scottish girls' match-play

Rachael Watton, 17-year-old Mortonhall member, earned the top seed status in the match-play stages of the Scottish girls (close) amateur championship with a five-over-par total of 153 in the 36-hole qualifying test at Lanark Golf Club today.
Rachael, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had rounds of 77 and 76, birdieing the second, seventh and 12th in her morning round and the fourth, sixth, 11th and 13th in afternoon. She played the last eight holes in two under par to finish three shots clear of Eilidh Briggs (Kilmalcolm), 16-year-old sister of Scottish women’s champion Megan Briggs, and 15-year-old Hannah McCook from Abernethy Golf Club, Nethby Bridge in Inverness-shire.
Eilidh had a roller-coaster first round of 77 which included an eagle 3 at the long 11th and a birdie at the long 14th as well as a double bogey sixth at the fifth. She had nothing better than par in her second round.

The Secret to Golf Success

Check out a website called www.TheSecretToGolfSuccess.com
It is aimed at introducing club golfers to the golf psychology techniques used by the top PGA professionals. The website provides a free report on “The Biggest Mental Error in Golf…And How to Avoid It” as well as monthly E-Bulletins covering mental golf tips and a newly added golf tips Blog at http://thesecrettogolfsuccess.com/blog/.

The website also offers an E-Book and some of the interesting topics covered in the book include:-

• The one philosophy that all great champions have in common.
• How to avoid the common mistake that cost Monty the US Open Championship.
• The crucial importance of “the 40 second sanctuary” and how it has made Tiger Woods mentally “bullet proof".
• How Ernie Els overcame “the little guy on his shoulder” to win the 2002 British Open.
• The crucial difference between the golf practice range and the first tee.
• The common mental mistake that almost lost Fred Couples the 1992 Masters
• Why you should never “avoid” trouble.
• How most golfers make an enemy of their memory.
• How to stop wasting your golf practice time.
• How to use the amazing story of the 4 minute mile to improve golf performance.
• The ideal golf match play mindset.
• The mental tool that has helped Padraig Harrington to make his major breakthrough.

The website owners have also started putting on golf days at Gullane which include a morning “inner game workshop” providing an introduction to the mental game of golf followed by lunch and 18 holes on one of Gullane’s three courses.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALLY

- SHE'S WILD CARD PICK

FOR JUNIOR SOLHEIM

CUP MATCH IN STATES

Curtis Cup teenager Sally Watson, 18 on July 10, has had a super post-birthday present. She has one of European team skipper Carin Koch's six wild-card selections for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup match at Aurora Golf Club, Illinois on August 18 and 19.
Sally, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency in action at Harlech, Wales in the recent Ladies' British open amateur championship, played in the victorious European junior team at Bastaad, Sweden two years ago.
Originally from South Queensferry, Sally is at the Watson family home in Elie on summer holidays from the United States. She has spent the last three years at the David Leadbetter IMG Golf Academy in Bradenton Florida. She will enrol at Tiger Woods' alma mater, Stanford University in California, in August.
The 14-year-old wonder twins from Ireland, Leona and Lisa Maguire are both in the 12-strong line-up. Leona topped the qualifying points table; Lisa was a wild card pick.
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), beaten in last year's British girls final at Monifieth, is also a wild card selection. She and Sally Watson are the only British players in the team.
There will be disappointment in Scotland that Comrie's Carly Booth, who had her 17th birthday on June 21, has not been given a wild-card slot but her form this season has been below her best.
Nancy Lopez will captain the United States team which will be announced on July 20.
The event features teams of 12 players from Europe and the USA, playing a two-day match play competition of six four-ball, six foursomes and 12 singles.
The 2009 European PING Junior Solheim Cup team is:

Points Table Qualifiers:
1 Leona Maguire, Ireland.
2 Klara Spilkova, Czech Republic.
3 Ana Fernandez de Mesa, Spain.
4 Johanna Tillström, Sweden.
5 Anna Arese, Spain.
6Tonje Daffinrud, Norway

Wild cards:
1 Sherlyn Popelka, Switzerland
2 Sophia Popov, Germany
3 Lisa Maguire, Ireland
4 Rosanna Crepiat, France
5 Sally Watson, Scotland
6 Kelly Tidy, England

GIRLS' BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SHREYA GHEI will need visa to enter Britain for Girls' British Open championship.

New Delhi girl 'extremly keen to play'

but she is on the LGU waiting list

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Shreya Ghei, who had her 16th birthday on July 6, would like to play in the Girls’ British Open championship at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14.
The only trouble is that Shreya is one of a record number of well over 200 girls, almost worldwide, who want to play in the Ladies Golf Union’s flagship tournament for girls who were under-18 years on January 1.
There is only room for 144 to play in the two stroke-play qualifying rounds of the championship so the LGU officials have taken the 144 players with the lowest handicaps from those that have entered.
The cut-off point is 3.5, which is also believed to be a record low for the tournament. Two decades, maybe even only 10 years ago, a player with six or seven of a handicap was guaranteed a place in the prestigious championship. Which underlines how the standard of player at the top-end of girls’ golf, certainly in Europe, has got better and better over the years.
Shreya Gei’s handicap earlier in the season was three which, if she had been able to maintain it, would have got her into the Girls’ British Open championship without a problem. But her handicap has gone up over 3.5, which is why she finds herself at No 11 in the waiting list.
As Susan Simpson, the LGU’s Head of Operations says, “There is usually substantial movement in the waiting list so those who have not gained a place in the field should not be too disappointed just yet. Please note that subsequent handicap changes do not alter a player’s place in this waiting list.”
There is another factor as far as Shreya is concerned that will not apply to majority of those on the waiting list. She lives in New Delhi, India and will need a visa to enter Britain if she is to play in the Girls’ British Open.
Obtaining a visa is not cheap and it can take time so Shreya’s parents will have had to make the decision to go for it and risk losing the outlay should she not come off the waiting list for the West Lancashire tournament.
Shreya has told the LGU: “I am extremely keen to play in the Girls’ British Open and I am hoping that the waiting list will clear for me to be included in the field too. As I have to travel all the way to England from India, I will need to obtain a visa.
Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk contacted Shreya to get some more background details. Here is her reply (in word-perfect English, it has to be said):
“I have been playing golf since the age of about 10. My parents introduced me to the game at that age as they were playing a little bit at that time.
“They had always wanted me to play some kind of sport but I had always refused as I didn’t like any of the ones I had tried, for example tennis, horse rising, basketball, etc.
“However, I developed a penchant for golf from the day I took my first lesson. I actually wanted to play a sport in which I didn’t have to run around and swat much. I guess golf was the closest fit!
“The game of golf became one of my best buddies since then and I think it will remain that way for a long time to come.
“My golfing credentials are:
1 Tied eight in the 107th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Championship in May, 2009.
2 Sixth in the Jakarta World Junior Championship (15-17yrs) in June, 2009.
3 Tenth in the Asia Pacific Juniors (15-17yrs) in Thailand in May 2009.
4 Winner of the 121st Sri Lanark Ladies open amateur championship in 2008.
5 Second in the Punjab Ladies open amateur championship in 2008.
6 Fifth in the Ladies Amateur Merit List for India 2008-2009.
7 Gained the Most Improved Golfer of the Year for season 2008-2009.”

+Entrants from outwith Europe whose handicaps are below 3.5 and are therefore in the field for the Girls' British Open Championship include:

Mary Larsh (+3), River Oaks GC, Edmond, Okalahoma, USA.

Connie Chen (+1),Waterkloof GC, South Africa.

Laetitia Beck (+1), Caesarea GC, Israel.

Charlotte Thomas (scr), Singapore Island Country Club.

Bertine Strauss (1), Rustenburg GC, South Africa.

Yushira Budhram (1), Country Club Johannesburg, South Africa.

Alyson McKechin (75) sets the pace in

Scottish girls' qualifying at Lanark

Elderslie's Alyson McKechin set the clubhouse target of one-over-par 75 in the first qualifying round of the Scottish Under-18 girls (close) amateur championship at Lanark Golf Club today.
Alyson had birdies at the first, long 11th, 13th and 17th which almost offset a double bogey at the sixth and other shots dropped at the long fourth, ninth and short 18th in halves of 41 (three over par) and 34 (two under par).
Lying second among the early first-round returns is Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) with a 76. Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) come next with 77s.
The leading 32 players on the gross scoreboard at the end of 36 holes will go forward to the match-play stages.
EARLY CLUBHOUSE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 74
75 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
76 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
77 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Hannah McCook (Abernethy).
78 Sammy Leslie (Westhill).
79 Sammy Vass (Tain).
80 So[phie Alexander (Deeside).
81 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
82 Gemma Druburgh (Beaconsfield), Lesley Atkins (Minto), Gabriella MacDonald (Craigielaw).
83 Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus).
84 Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach).
87 Louise McGillivray (Banchory),
89 Gillian Simson (Murrayfield), Jordana Graham (Sotherness).
90 Keren Ward (Glen).
92 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary).
93 Emily Aird (Strathmore).

Jessica Wilcox beat Jamie-Leigh

Voss in Midlands North final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Lincolnshire’s Jessica Wilcox became the first EWGA Midlands North regional champion when she defeated fellow teenager Jamie-Leigh Voss at the 19th hole of the final at Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Blankney Golf Club member Jessica and Jaimie-Leigh (Kirby Muxloe) played the final in heavy rain and both scored impressively in the conditions, each completing 18 holes in an estimated 73. In the semi-finals, Jessica, 17, had defeated Emma Newlove (Notts) 3 and 2 while Jamie-Leigh beat Kimberley Bradley (Cavendish) 2 and 1.
In the qualifying rounds, Jamie-Leigh, 15, set a new course record of 71 and was top seed for the match-play. She also won the Enid Wilson Cup for the best 36-hole total by an under-18 girl. Prize winners:
Champion: Jessica Wilcox (Blankney GC).
Runner-up: Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe).
Aggregate winner: Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) 73 + 71 = 144.
2nd Aggregate: Katie Best (Sherwood) 73 + 73 = 146.
3rd Aggregate: Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) 73 + 74 = 147.
Enid Wilson Cup (leading 36 holes under 18yrs): Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe)144.
Best net 36 holes: Emily Cheshire (Notts) 139.
Best Intermediate: Katie Best (Sherwood) 146
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

CARLY BOOTH & CO ELIMINATED AT THE BERKSHIRE

Jane Turner, Katy

McNicoll qualify

for next stage of

Ricoh Women's

British Open

Twenty six players - including Scottish amateurs Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) have made it through to the Final Qualifying for Ricoh Women's British Open
championship.
Mid-Herts amateur Hannah Burke, who plays the American college circuit as a student at Baylor University, Texas, shared the lead on three-under par 69 alongside former Curtis Cup players and now Ladies European Tour pros Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Rachel Bell (Ganton) in yesterday's pre-qualifying 18-hole competition at The Berkshire Golf Club.
The Final Qualifying will be played at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire on Monday, July 27.
Ricoh's Women's British Open will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes, also in Lancashire, from July 30 to August 2.
In all, the leading 26 players from the 101-player field returned scores of +1 over par 73 at The Berkshire's Blue Course, in mixed conditions, and made it through to the next stage.
Twenty spots are available into the championship field from Final Qualifying.
championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lancashire from July 30 to August 2.
Jane Turner had a par-matching round of 72 to be joint sixth best among the qualifiers from The Berkshire. Highlight of 19-year-old Jane's scorecard was an eagle 3 at the long 11th. She also birdied the long sixth in halves of 36.
Katy McNicoll, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, an impressive winner of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Newmachar last week, hit the limit mark of 73 and it is a tribute to how much the rest of her game has improved that she was able to qualify despite taking as many as 36 putts.
Katy birdied four par-5s, the third, sixth, 11th and 16th, in halves of 37 and 36.
The qualifiers included Rachel Connor, daughter of Manchester Golf Club's Scottish-born professional Brian.
Scots who failed to make the grade included former Scottish amateur champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) with a 79, Scotland amateur international Laura Murray (Alford) with an 81, Auchterarder amateur and Scotland cap Emily Ogilvy with an 82, Curtis Cup teenager Carly Booth (Comrie) with a 12-over-par 84 and Mearns Castle Golf Academy coach Karyn Burns with an 86.
Carly, now 17, had a nightmare round of a triple bogey 7 at the 15th and double bogeys at the second, sixth, and 17th in halves of 42. She had one birdie, at the long 15th.
Jenna Wilson had one triple bogey and one double bogey in halves of 39 and 40.
Laura Murray had three double bogeys in halves of 39 and 42.
Emily Ogilvy had one triple bogey and two double bogeys in halves of 42 and 40.
Karyn Burns had halves of 42 and 44.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72
69 Hannah Burke (Mid-Herts) (am), Elizabeth Bennett (Eng), Rachel Bell (Eng).
71 Matia Maffulietti (Ita), Louise Davis (Wal).
72 Ana Larraneta (Spa), Henrietta Zuel (Eng), Claire Coughlan-Ryan (Ire), Jane Turner (Craigielaw) (am), Rachel Connor (Manchester) (am), Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Simi Mehra (India), Rebecca Flood (Aus) (am).
73 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) (am), Anna Rossi (Ita), Jo Clingan (Eng), Lora Fairclough (Eng), Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) (am), Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) (am), Sahra Hassan (Wal), Hannah Barwood (Knowle) (am), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) (am), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) (am), Sandra Eggermont (Hol), Frederique Seeholzer (Swi), Bing Lim (Malaysia).
MISSED THE CUT
74 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) (am), Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) (am), Laurette Maritz (SAf), Tracey Boyes (Eng) (am), Marousa Polias (Aus), Nicky Henderson (Aus).
75 Kym Larratt (Kibworth) (am), Jo Pritchard (Wal), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) (am), Nathalie David-Mills (Fra), Alex Keighley (Eng), Danielle Masters (Eng), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) (am), Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (am), Charlotte Wild (Mere) (am), Laura Eastwood (Eng), Holly Aitchison (Eng).
76 Kiran Matharu (Eng), Vittoria Valvassori (Ita), Kerry Knowles (Eng), Julie Tvede (Den), Joanne Oliver (Eng), Marian Riordan (Ire), Sally Shayler (Eng) (am), Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus), Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) (am), Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) (am), Caroline Grady (Eng), Caroline Rominger (Swi), Kimberley Crooks (Seaford) (am), Barbara Genuini (Fra).
77 Jutta Degerman (Fin), Jacqueline Hedwall (Swe) (am), Sarah Heath (Eng), Sian James (Eng) (am), Helen Sparrow (Eng), Claire Aitken (Eng), Stephanie Na (Aus), Whitney Wright (US).
78 Tilly Holder (Woburn) (am), Maria Ringdahl (Swe), Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) (am), Anna Maria Milie (Ita), Karen Heywood (Eng), Zuzana Masinova (Cze), Kelly Travers (Eng), Susan Moon (US), Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) (am), Valentine Derrey (Fra) (am), Amy Goodman (Eng), Sandy Lambert (Eng), Lucy Williams (Mid-Herts) (am).
79 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) (am), Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) (am), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
80 Tara Delaney (Ire), Caroline Goasguen (Fra), Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) (am), Rachel Adby (Eng), Liza Shervill (Eng).
81 Kirsty Fisher (Eng), Laura Murray (Alford) (am), Maria Tulley (Eng), Clare Durbin (Eng), Marie Allen (Eng), Natalie Lowe (Macclesfield) (am), Cassandra Blaney (US).
82 Sarah Attwood (Eng) (am), Krisztina Fodor (Hun), Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) (am), Kelly Hutcherson (Eng), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (am).
83 Laure Sibille (Fra).
84 Carly Booth (Comrie) am).
86 Lynne Cummins (Eng), Kary Burns (Mearns Castle), Vanessa Bell (Eng).

SCOTTISH U18 GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Time for new generation of young

stars to make presence felt

No Carly Booth, Sally Watson or Kelsey MacDonald in the field ... it's time for the next generation of potential Under-18 stars to fill the gap in the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship which tees off at Lanark Golf Club today.
Comrie's Carly, who had her 17th birthday last month, is in fact still young enough to play in this championship but did not enter to defend the title she won by beating Kelsey MacDonald in last year's final at Alyth Golf Club.
With no previous winners of the event taking part in the two stroke-play qualifying rounds which will produce 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages, there has to be a new name engraved on the trophy.
Unlike recent years, there is no clear-cut favourite but plenty of contenders if they play to their potential. Girls such as Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Sammy Leslie (Westhill) and Lesley Atkins (Minto), who represented Scotland in last week's European girls' team championship in Finland.
The two reserves for that trip - Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Jill Meldrum of Dullatur - should also be well to the fore.
Lesley already holds one national title, the girls' Under-14s' championship.
Others with more than an outside chance include Hannah McCook (Abernethy), Sammy Vass (Tain), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) and Annabel Niven (Crieff).
Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) and Megan Duff (Hilton Park) were among those who withdrew yesterday.

SVLGA Vintage Vets Stableford

PLAYED AT ALFORD GOLF CLUB
(CSS 70)
1st Overall
M Thurston 17 (Panmure Barry) 40 Pts
Silver
1st L Mitchell 20 (Aberdeen Ladies) 39
2nd W Brown 18 (Newmachar) 36
Bronze
1st W Davidson 25 (Deeside) 36
2nd J Brimble 25 ( Portlethen ) 35
S
Rare Vintage Vet Prize
E Gordon 20 (Aboyne) 35
.

Former Rear Admiral Marsha Evans takes over

at helm of LPGA as acting commissioner

Marsha Evans will take over as acting commissioner while the LPGA Tour looks for a replacement for Carolyn Bivens.

Bivens, whose tenure began in 2005, came under pressure when some leading players wrote a letter to the LPGA Tour's board of directors calling for her resignation. The LPGA Tour announced her departure today.

Evans served on the LPGA commissioner's advisory council in 2007 and 2008, and began serving on the board this year. She is a former Naval officer who reached the rank of rear admiral.

The LPGA will now begin searching for a full-time commissioner. The organisation also has appointed former star Annika Sorenstam as an adviser to the board or directors.

"I think Carolyn has done a lot of great things for our tour and I think she worked really hard," said Juli Inkster, one of the experienced players present at the 'let's-get-rid-of-Bivens' meeting. "But some of the things she tried just didn't work. Whether it's her fault or not, it just wasn't working."
The tour has lost seven tournaments since 2007.
"We're a global tour," Inkster said. "I'd really like to see us get back to playing more tournaments here in the United States and then go overseas."

RACE FOR 2009 JUNIOR MASTERS

TITLE STARTS THIS WEEK

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The race for the 2009 Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters title, Scotland’s biggest participation junior golf event, gets underway with the first two of this summer’s four regional finals taking place this week.
Sixty four juniors will go west to Glasgow’s Bishopbriggs Golf Club which will tee off this year’s title race, the event then heads north to Boat of Garten with 69 young aspiring golfers hoping to be among those to secure a place in the prestigious grand final, which takes place on the Queen’s Course, Gleneagles, in October.
Qualifying competitions have been taking place up and down the country over the last three months, with the leading two boys and girls from each club making their way through to the regional finals. Following this week’s events, the Junior Masters regional finals moves to Alyth in Perthshire next week (21 July) and the following month to Lothianburn Golf Club, who will host the last qualifier on Wednesday 5 August.
Around 300 youngsters from clubs across the country will be participating in the four events, with the leading 80 players heading for Gleneagles, home of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Among the juniors taking part this year, over 50 competitors are girls, boosted by clubgolf’s ‘Girls in Golf’ programme.
SGU Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Ross Duncan said, “The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters has been a huge success and we are very grateful to the sponsor’s contribution over the last three years.
“Their support of this event has boosted the grass roots game by promoting and supporting junior golf in communities across Scotland, as well as giving young players the chance to play in a national event at Gleneagles, the Ryder Cup venue for 2014. The calibre of the field at each event has improved year on year and demonstrates much of the hard work going into junior golf and our SGU Academys right now.”
The winner of last year’s Junior Masters girls section was Kirkintilloch’s Jorden Ferrie, whilst Renfrewshire’s Rory McKinnon from Ranfurly Castle won the boys section. Ferrie will be among the field teeing up tomorrow, however McKinnon is unable to take part and is replaced by Scott McAllister, son of two times European Tour winner Stephen McAllister.
This year’s players will need to be on the top of their game to top the Gleneagles leaderboard and take the respective titles at this year’s Grand Final which takes place on 11 October.
Please visit the website for tee times www.scottishgolf.org

Overnight leader Cristie Kerr finishes with a 75

South Korean Ji wins US Women's Open ....

and a Taiwanese finishes second

Eun Hee Ji of South Korea made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, finishing off an even-par 71 to win the U.S. Women's Open today.
Ji recovered from a double-bogey at the 10th hole and finished at even-par 284, outlasting struggling third-round leader Cristie Kerr.
Kerr never looked in command of the field of her own play. She struggled from the outset and shot a 4-over 75 for a 2-over 286 and a share of third place.
She won the title two years ago.
Candie Kung of Taiwan continued a charge up the leaderboard she started in the third round when she vaulted from 37th to a tie for fifth. She finished before the pairing of Ji and Kerr and appeared headed for a play-off after a 2-under 69 left her at 1-over 285.
But Ji made the putt and Kung settled for second.
FINAL TOTALS
Saucon Valley Country Club, The Old Course
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Par 284 (4x71)
284 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 71 72 70 71
285 Candie Kung (Tai) 71 77 68 69
286 In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 72 72 70, Cristie Kerr 69 70 72 75
287 Brittany Lincicome 72 72 73 70
288 Paula Creamer 72 68 79 69, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 74 71 69, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 74 71 72 71
289 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 68 74 76 71, Hee Young Park (Kor) 70 74 72 73, Kyeong Bae (Kor) 75 73 69 72
290 Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 74 69 75 72
291 Jennifer Song 72 74 73 72, Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 72 75 76 68, Sun Ju Ahn (Kor) 75 71 72 73, Morgan Pressel 74 75 69 73
292 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 74 70 77 71, Anna Grzebien 73 77 69 73, Jean Reynolds 69 72 74 77, Teresa Lu (Tai) 76 69 70 77, Jimin Kang (Kor) 76 71 74 71, Akiko Fukushima (Jpn) 76 72 72 72, Meaghan Francella 73 72 74 73, Laura Davies (Eng) 72 75 73 72, Nicole Castrale 74 71 74 73
293 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 75 75 72, Juli Inkster 78 73 72 70, Jessica Korda 72 77 75 69, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 69 79 73 72, In-Bee Park (Kor) 75 71 77 70, Alison Lee 75 72 76 70, He yong Choi (Kor) 77 74 74 68
294 Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 72 74 72 76
295 Louise Friberg (Swe) 75 72 73 75, Karrie Webb (Aus) 75 72 74 74, Amy Yang 75 71 75 74, Alexis Thompson 71 73 78 73, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 74 72 77 72, Kristy McPherson 71 74 77 73
296 Young Kim (Kor) 71 75 76 74, Brittany Lang 75 74 73 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 75 71 77 73, Michele Redman 77 73 76 70, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 76 71 74 75, Azahara Munoz (Spa) 72 76 74 74, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 72 77 72 75, Mi-sun Cho (Kor) 76 74 73 73
297 Hee Kyung Seo (Kor) 75 73 73 76, Maria Jose Uribe (Col) 75 76 69 77, Stacy Lewis 78 73 76 70, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 74 74 76 73
298 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 75 67 76 80, Karen Stupples (Eng) 73 75 78 72, Christina Kim 72 76 79 71, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 72 75 75 76, Amanda Blumenherst 75 76 73 74
299 Yuri Fudoh (Jpn) 73 71 80 75, Stacy Prammanasudh 73 75 78 73, Mika Miyazato (Jpn) 75 76 76 72, Haeji Kang (Kor) 73 78 77 71
300 Becky Morgan (Wal) 75 76 73 76, Meena Lee (Kor) 72 79 75 74, Cindy Lacrosse 76 75 76 73, Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn) 77 72 77 74
301 Allie White 74 73 78 76, Allison Fouch 75 75 77 74
302 Karine Icher (Fra) 76 74 79 73, Mina Harigae 77 72 80 73
304 Jennie Lee 75 76 78 75
306 Candace Schepperle 73 78 76 79
307 Carolina Llano 73 77 78 79
312 Lisa Ferrero (Mex) 77 74 84 77

Gemma Dryburgh, home from the summer holidays from David Leadbetter IMG Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.

Gemma Dryburgh (a scratch player in America)

has UK handicap too high to get in British girls

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
An Aberdeen-born girl who has a handicap of scratch when she plays golf in America as a student at the David Leadbetter IMG Academy in Florida has a CONGU handicap of betweem five and six when she comes home to Britain for the summer.
Which means that 16-year-old Gemma Dryburgh, a member at Beaconsfield Golf Club, Bucks has no chance of being able to play in the British girls open amateur championship at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14.
The cut-off point for entry to this year's championship was a record low maximum handicap of 3.5. All those who have entered with higher handicaps are placing on a waiting list.
CONGU (Council of National Golf Unions), the ultimate authority of the handicap system for men and women in Britain, has a rule that if a player has an American handicap and also a British handicap, then the British handicap is the one that is recognised.
Which means that Gemma Dryburgh’s current British handicap of 5.2 makes her 40th in the Ladies Golf Union waiting list to get into the field for the British girls' championship.
If her US handicap were recognised she would be guaranteed a place in the quality field which will gather at West Lancs next month.
Her father, John Dryburgh, said: “Gemma has only played in four qualifying rounds in the UK since last August and three of them have been since she came back from Florida for the summer holidays. Her CONGU handicap was 5.8 when she came home but her US handicap is +0.3.
“Her CONGU handicap has come down to 5.2 with the rounds she played this past week. Unfortunately the entry for the British girls championship stipulates that where a girl has a CONGU handicap they have to enter using that.
“We did ask CONGU if they would be willing to look at a general play adjustment but they would not.
“Last week she was pipped in the semi-finals of the England Midland South Region women’s championship, having played really well.
“Unfortunately, the LGU are also sticking to their conditions of entry which, to be fair, they published in advance.”
Gemma is playing in the Scottish Under-18 girls championship at Lanark Golf Club, starting on Tuesday and the Scottish Under-21 girls’ stroke-play championship, starting at Nairn Dunbar on July 23 and 24. Her CONGU handicap presents to problems for that.
But it is ironic that in golf generally we tend to complain about "bandits," people playing off "false" handicaps, i.e. they are far better players than their handicaps would suggests, so that they can win prizes.
In Gemma Dryburgh, we have a case of a girl who wants to play off a low handicap in this country but the powers-that-be will not permit it.

Any comments? E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Sammy Vass wins Quaich at Forres with a 72

Sammy Vass (Tain) won the Muiryshade Quaich at the Forres women's open tournament with a scratch round of 72, three better than the next best scratch score, a 75 by Gillian Dowling of Inverness.
The Muirshade Trophy for the best net score overall was won by local player Doreen McCaig with 66 off 25.
Details of prizewinners:
CSS - Home 70, Visitors 71
Muiryshade Trophy - D McCaig (Forres) (25) 66.
Silver Division
Scratch - Muiryshade Quaich - S Vass (Tain) 72.
Handicap - S Ramsay (Inverness) (15) 67; S Leese (Elgin) (9), C Thomson (Forres) (18) 68; C Jenkins (Forres) (15) 69; G Dowling (Inverness) (5) 70, S Proctor (Forres) (19) 70.
Bronze Division
Scratch - M. MacWilliam (Kingussie) 92.
Handicap
I. Carroll (Inverness) (24) 72, E. McTavish (Elgin) (26) 72, B. Stirling (Letham Grange) (22) 72, S McDonald (Dufftown) (25) 73; P Davis (Forres) (23) 74, B. Webster (Dufftown) (32) 74.
Skill Prizes
Nearest the Pin - 5th hole - Bronze - B. Webster (Dufftown); 17th hole - Silver - S McDonell (Inverness); 7th hole - Silver T Cumming (Inverness); Bronze - Anne Beattie (Nairn Dunbar). Nearest the line 11th hole M Tough (Moray).
Longest drive: 12th hole - Sillver - Ann Ryan (Tain); 13th hole - Bronze - D McCaig (Forres).