Hazel Kavanagh shares lead with a

round to go in Austria

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Laura Davies saw her hopes of claiming a hat-trick of UNIQA Ladies Golf Open titles undermined by two forgettable holes during the third round at Wiener Neustadt in Austria.
The 45-year-old Englishwoman had begun the day as joint leader, but a triple-bogey 7 at the 13th which followed a similarly disastrous double bogey at the par-4 fifth saw her card a 74 to finish the day six under.
That leaves Davies two shots shy of a co-leaders Hazel Kavanagh, Linda Wessberg and Marjet van der Graaff heading into the final round, although it could have been worse for Davies had she not collected three birdies along the way.
"I hit two bad shots and had a double and a triple. You can't really recover from that," Davies said.
"The double ... I hit a really poor tee shot and went for a shot that didn't come off. I made a double there but the triple on 13; I hit a really good tee shot and had some mud on the ball.
"I hit a nine iron but the mud skewed it off to the right and it went in the water. I tried to get it out a couple of times so it ended a triple."
She added: "I'm still in with a chance. That takes a bit of pressure off actually. If I was leading and trying to get three on the trot it's a bit more pressure. Now I'm playing catch-up and it's all to play for."
Kavanagh put herself in contention to be the first Irish player to win on the LET after firing a career-low five-under 67.
"I hit 17 greens and putted great," the 37-year-old Dubliner said.
"One of my goals was to be the first Irish winner and I know there are going to be loads of players coming through so I want to do it as soon as possible."

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 21(3x72)
(Par 72):
208 Hazel Kavanagh (Irl) 68 73 67, Linda Wessberg (Swe) 70 68 70, Marjet van der Graaff (Ned) 69 67 72
209 Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 68 70 71, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 68 73
210 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 69 70 71, Laura Davies (Eng) 67 69 74
211 Melissa Reid (Eng) 67 74 70, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 70 70 71, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 70 68 73
212 Frances Bondad (Aus) 74 69 69, Smriti Mehra (Ind) 70 71 71, Maria Boden (Swe) 70 71 71
213 Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72 72
214 Caroline Afonso (Fra) 72 71 71
215 Dana Lacey (Aus) 72 73 70, Morgana Robbertze (Rsa) 74 70 71, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 71 73
216 Anja Monke (Ger) 70 74 72, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 71 73 72, Joanne Mills (Aus) 76 67 73, Lydia Hall (Wal) 69 72 75
217 Tara Delaney (Irl) 74 73 70, Elena Giraud (Fra) 73 70 74, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 67 72 78
218 Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 74 74 70, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) 74 74 70, Stefania Croce (Ita) 74 74 70, Samantha Head (Eng) 73 74 71, Ellen Smets (Bel) 74 73 71, Lisa Hall (Eng) 74 72 72, Malene Jorgensen (Den) 70 76 72, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 72 73 73, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 71 73 74, Nina Reis (Swe) 71 73 74, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 73 70 75, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 71 71 76
219 Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 71 77 71, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 75 72 72, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 69 77 73, Martina Hochwimmer (Am) (Aut) 74 71 74, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 75 70 74, Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 71 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 71 72 76, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 72 70 77
220 Lynnette Brooky (Nzl) 73 75 72, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 75 71 74, Johanna Mundy (Eng) 72 72 76, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 71 72 77
221 Zuzana Masinova (Cro) 73 75 73, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 75 72 74, Elizabeth Bennett (Eng) 76 70 75, Kyra van Leeuwen (Ned) 73 73 75, Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 73 73 75, Clare Queen (Sco) 72 70 79
222 Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 74 74 74, Julie Tvede (Den) 74 74 74, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 74 73 75, Camille Fallay (Fra) 71 76 75, Marina Stutz (Am) (Aut) 76 71 75, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 73 73 76
223 Anna Knutsson (Swe) 74 74 75, Marta Prieto (Spa) 67 81 75, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 75 73 75, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 76 76, Pamela Feggans (Sco) 73 71 79
224 Marina Kotnik (Am) (Aut) 74 74 76, Julie Greciet (Fra) 72 76 76, Trish Johnson (Eng) 70 77 77
225 Anna Tybring (Swe) 71 77 77, Breanne Alicia Loucks (Wal) 72 76 77
226 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 76 78, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 74 73 79
227 Mianne Bagger (Den) 76 72 79
MISSED THE HALFWAY CUT (148 or better qualified)
149 Krystle Caithness (Sco) 78 71.
150 Flo Parker (Eng) 75 75.
151 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 77 74.
152 Sarah Heath (Eng) 77 75, Holly Aitchison (Eng) 77 75.
153 Marion Riordan (Ire) 81 72, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 71 82, Joanne Morley (Eng) 77 76, Martina Gillen (Ire) 74 79.
154 Vikki Laing (Sco) 76 78.
156 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 77 79.
157 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 76 81, Jo Pritchard (Wal) 78 79, Emma Weeks (Eng) 83 74.
161 Emma Lyons (Eng) 79 82

Midland Vets Autumn Meeting

Midland Vets Autumn Meeting at Falkirk Tryst - Friday 11 September - CSS was 74 (reduction only)

Winner of the Owl Trophy (1st nett) - E Arkley (Falkirk Tryst) - 85-19=66
Winner of the Patrick Rosebowl (1st Scratch) - G Wallace (Glenisla) - 83
Winner of the Senior Trophy - J Mulgrew (Stirling) - 89-14=75 bih

Division 1:
1st - B Brown (St Rule) - 87-11=76
2nd - S Bushby (Strathmore) - 84-7=77 bih
Division 2:
1st - E Arkley (Falkirk Tryst) - 85-19=66
2nd - D Davidson (Stirling) - 89-16=73
3rd - S Mitchell (Murrayshall) - 90-16=74
Division 3:
1st - P Cockshoot (Stirling) - 104-25=79 bih

Helen Faulds club champion

at Bearsden, Douglas Park

and Elie & Earlsferry

By IRENE MURRAY
Secretary, Elie & Earlsferry Ladies Golf Club.
Helen Faulds achieved a long time ambition this year when she won the club championships of all three golf clubs of which she is a member - Bearsden, Douglas Park and Elie & Earlsferry.
She has now won the Bearsden championship 14 times, the Douglas Park championship seven times and the Elie & Earlsferry Championship four times, which adds up to a glrious total of 25 club titles.
A Scottish senior international, Helen is also presently the champion of the West of Scotland Veteran Ladies Association as well as being their captain. She was in the squad for the European Veteran Ladies Championship.
Just recently Helen and her partner were runners-up in the Scottish Ladies Foursomes, with a scratch 74, played at Forfar Golf Club.
+Image of Helen Faulds with her three club championship trophies, by courtesy of Irene Murray.

Stephanie Meadow finishes

second in American Junior

GA girls' championship

FROM THE AJGA WEBSITE:
GREENVILLE, South Carolina. – Second-round leader Karen Chung of Livingston, New Jersey, shot a one-over-par 73 to capture the title of the American Junior Golf Assocaition's girls' championship.
Chung finished the tournament at four-over-par 220, one stroke ahead of Stephanie Meadow of Jordanstown, Northern Ireland (Stephanie is picture with her prizes). Hosted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Girls Championship is 54-hole stroke-play competition. The field at The Furman Golf Club, Greenville, South Carolina featured 77 girls from around the world. In all, 13 states are represented along with players from Canada, Ireland and Paraguay. Competitors played a par-72 course of 6,065 yards.
Chung, who is currently ranked No. 16 in the Polo Golf Rankings, picked up her first AJGA Open win on a course that played tough for most.
“This is unbelievable for me,” Chung said. “I finally have a title to my name and it will give me great momentum going into The PING Invitational.”
By staying calm and keeping her focus, Chung was able to card two birdies on the day, staying consistent throughout the tournament.
“I could see ahead of me that Stephanie was playing well,” Chung said. “It definitely kept me focused. You can never doubt anyone.”
US-based Meadow, who finished one group ahead of Chung, carded an even-par 72 on the day and hoped that it would be enough for the title. As Chung came up No. 18, she successfully two-putted for par, clinching the title in the process. Meadow completed the tournament at 5-over-par 221, which earned her second place honours.
Chung and Meadow finished well clear of the third-placed Shannon Aubert of Orlando, Anne Marie Covar of Edgefield, S.C., and Suzie Lee of East Northport, New York, all at 10-over-par 226.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM ROBERT MEADOW:
Steph is now in prime position after her runner-up result to win a First-Team Rolex Junior All-American Award. She has also earned an invitation to play in the highest-ranked junior tournament in America - The Ping Invitational – to be held in Oklahoma, from October 9 to 12.
The elite field is made up of the top 27 ranked girls in America. The Rolex Junior All-American awards are announced following this season-ending tournament.
Currently, Steph is ranked No 11 in the United States on the AJGA Polo ranking system and No 7 on the Golfweek/Sagarin system. The top 12 in the Polo rankings earn a First -Team All American award, the next 12 earn a Second-Team All American award.
Past recipients include such famous female golfers as Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.

Sally Watson, now at Stanford University,

ranked among top 10 freshmen in States

FROM THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA WEBSITE

Stanford University women's head coach Caroline O'Connor's golf team is ranked 13th nationally in Golfweek's pre-season collegiate poll which was released earlier this week.
Three Pac-10 teams - Arizona State, USC and UCLA - held down the top three spots in Golfweek's pres-eason poll.
O'Connor's strong recruiting class, headed up by freshmen Sally Watson and Kristina Wong, was also recognized by Golfweek. The magazine listed Watson, a native Earlsferry, Scotland, on its third team of top individuals, placing her among the top-30 players in the country heading into the season.
Watson, along with Wong, was listed among the top-10 freshmen in the country. Both players participated in the Junior Solheim Cup in August.
Stanford welcomes back five players off last year's roster, including senior Angela King, juniors Rebecca Durham and Piper Miller, and sophomores Sydney Burlison and Lila Barton.
Stanford opens the fall campaign at the Mason Rudolph Women's Championships hosted by Vanderbilt University on Sept. 25-27.
+Sally Watson is pictured in action by Cal Carson Golf Agency at the British women's open amateur championship at Harlech earlier this summer. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

Ladies European Tour Scoreboard
UNIQA LADIES GOLF OPEN
Golfclub Fohrenwald-Wiener Neustadt, Austria
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
Note: Second round play was suspended due to darkness with one group left to finish.
136 Laura Davies (Eng) 67 69, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 68, Marjet Van Der Graaff (Ned) 69 67
138 Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 68 70, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 70 68, Linda Wessberg (Swe) 70 68
139 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 69 70, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 67 72
140 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 70 70
141 Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72, Melissa Reid (Eng) 67 74, Lydia Hall (Wal) 69 72, Hazel Kavanagh (Irl) 68 73, Maria Boden (Swe) 70 71, Smriti Mehra (Ind) 70 71
142 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 72 70, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 71, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 71 71
143 Nicole Gergely (Aut) 71 72, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 71 72, Elena Giraud (Fra) 73 70, Frances Bondad (Aus) 74 69, Caroline Afonso (Fra) 72 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 73 70, Joanne Mills (Aus) 76 67
144 Morgana Robbertze (Rsa) 74 70, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 71 73, Pamela Feggans (Sco) 73 71, Johanna Mundy (Eng) 72 72, Nina Reis (Swe) 71 73, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 71 73, Anja Monke (Ger) 70 74
145 Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 71, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 72 73, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 75 70, Martina Hochwimmer (Aut) 74 71, Dana Lacey (Aus) 72 73
146 Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 73 73, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 73 73, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 69 77, Malene Jorgensen (Den) 70 76, Kyra Van Leeuwen (Ned) 73 73, Elizabeth Bennett (Eng) 76 70, Lisa Hall (Eng) 74 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 74 72
147 Isabella Maconi (Ita) 74 73, Ellen Smets (Bel) 74 73, Trish Johnson (Eng) 70 77, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 76, Marina Stutz (Aut) 76 71, Tara Delaney (Irl) 74 73, Camille Fallay (Fra) 71 76, Samantha Head (Eng) 73 74, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 75 72
148 Breanne Alicia Loucks (Wal) 72 76, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 75 73, Marta Prieto (Spa) 67 81, Stefania Croce (Ita) 74 74, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) 74 74, Julie Tvede (Den) 74 74, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 74 74, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 74 74, Zuzana Masinova (Cze) 73 75, Julie Greciet (Fra) 72 76, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 71 77, Mianne Bagger (Den) 76 72, Marina Kotnik (Aut) 74 74, Lynnette Brooky (Nzl) 73 75, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 76, Anna Knutsson (Swe) 74 74, Anna Tybring (Swe) 71 77, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 75 73

LAST DAY DRAMA IN WHI AT IRVINE

The Welsh team and officials with the championship trophy in the evening sunshine at Irvine Golf Club. Click on the image to enlarge it (Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Tbe Wonder of Wales as defending

champions swamp Scots in singles

It was the Wonder of Wales all over again at Irvine Golf Club today.
Last year, the Welsh won the women's home internationals title in a "photo-finish" at Wrexham.
Twelve months later, Wales have won the title again - but much more emphatically.
They won the home internationals crown for the first time at Royal Dornoch in 1999. Now they have won it three times over 10 years and for the second time on a Scottish course.
Scotland played themselves into a potentially-winning situation but finished the tournament in second place.
Having beaten Ireland and then England, the Scots crashed 6-3 in the title decider against the title-holders.
Scotland took a 2-1 lead from the final set of foursomes and with a draw going to be good enough, they needed "only" 2 1/2pt out of the six at stake in the afternoon singles.
But after an impressive, three-under-par win by Carly Booth put Scotland 3-1 ahead, it all went pear-shaped for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad. Wales won the last five singles to snatch the Miller Trophy almost out of the Scots' grasp..
Skipper Lesley Nicholson said: “I’m gutted by how it finished but I’m proud of my girls for their performance over the three days. Wales were a very strong side, even stronger than last year.”
Wales won the title with 2 1/2pt. Scotland were runners-up with 2pt.
England beat Ireland 7-2 to total 1pt and finish third ahead of Ireland with 1/2pt.
Welsh captain Sue Turner paid tribute to the team spirit of her young squad - it included three juniors and the oldest member is 23.
"We are a small country and we have to bond together to achieve anything against the bigger nations in any sport. For the second year it a row, Wales' golfing women/girls have done just that. I'm so proud of them," said Sue.
"It's a squad that requires 'low maintenance' from me. And I must pay tribute to our national coach Jeremy Bennett. He only joined us a couple of years ago - and what a difference he has made - just look at what we've done in this tournament over these two years."
Scotland had taken a 2-1 lead from the foursomes and extended that advantage to 3-1 when Carly Booth beat Rhian Wyn Thomas in the singles.
That was the high point for Scotland – Wales won the remaining five singles for a 6-3 victory.
Scotland needed a minimum of 2 ½ pt from the six afternoon singles to win the title and they got the first one from Carly Booth at the expense of Rhian Wyn Thomas. It was Carly’s fourth win and Rhian’s first defeat in six games.
Carly, two down after two, produced three-under-par figures in winning by 3 and 2 after trailing through the first seven holes. She squared it at the eighth and then went ahead at the ninth.
Booth won the 13th and 14th for a three-hole lead which the Welsh player could not peg back.
Wales hit back by winning the next two ties to level it overall at 3-3.
Welsh champion Tara Davies produced possibly the best individual performance by anyone over the three days. She was six under par against the luckless Jane Turner and beat her 6 and 4.
Davies went three up after only four holes and there was no way back for Turner against an opponent playing sub-par golf..
Gemma Bradbury beat Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1 in a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it either way until Gemma won the 16th and 17th for victory.
With three ties to finish, Wales were two up in one and all square in the two others, a position which would give them the championship if they held it to the finish.
Kath O’Connor, making only her second appearance, put Wales ahead 4-3 with a 2 and 1 win over Pamela Pretswell. O’Connor went two up after eight and though Pretswell twice reduced her deficit to one hole, she could not get on terms. The Welsh player, won the short 16th with a par to go two up and a half at the next was enough to clinch a good win.
Amy Boulden and Lucy Gould delivered victories for Wales in the last two matches to finish which gave Wales a 5-1 capture of the singles and 6-3 overall victory which retained the championship.
Boulden beat Megan Briggs by two holes after being one down with four to play. The Welsh player squared it with a par at the 15th and went one up with another par at the 16th.
Lucy Gould scored a 3 and 1 win over Kylie Walker, again with a strong finish. The Scot was two up at one stage on the outward half and Gould did not get on terms until the 13th. She then led for the first time with a birdie at the 15th ; and went two up with a par at the 16th.
British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh won the top singles match for Ireland against England by beating their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass by two holes.
Douglass was two up at the turn but McVeigh was suddenly level again by winning the 10th with a birdie and the 11th with a par. Douglass got her nose in front again with a birdie at the 14th but bogeyed the short 16th to be pulled back to square, McVeigh staged a grandstand finish to win the 17th and 18th with birdies for an impressive two-hole win in a quality match.
England won the next three ties to finish.
Rachel Jennings beat Charlene Reid by 2 and 1; Hannah Barwood won by one hole over Aedin Murphy and Nikki Foster was a 4 and 2 winner over Sarah Cunningham.
That gave England a 6-1 lead.
The Jennings-Reid tie was all square after 12 before Jennings won the 13th and 17th for victory.
Barwood and Murphy were also level pegging on the 13th tee. Barwood edged ahead by winning that hole with a birdie but Murphy pulled her back to square at the 15th. Barwood took the lead in this ding-dong tie once again at the 16th and was able to maintain that advantage to the finish.
Foster finished strongly to beat Cunningham. The match was all square after 12 holes. Then Foster won the next four holes for victory.
English girls champion Holly Clyburn was a 4 and 2 winner over Gillian O’Leary after winning the first three holes. Clyburn led by two at the turn and clinched victory with further successes at the 14th and 16th.
Ireland got their second point from the last tie to finish. Mary Dowling, four holes to the good at one stage, eventually beat Charlotte Wild by one hole.
Wales will be going for a hat-trick of victories on home ground next year - Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff is the 2010 venue.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

England found their form on the last day of the Home Internationals at Irvine when they beat Ireland 7-2.

They claimed their first victory of the series by taking all three morning foursomes and following up with four singles wins.

England captain Julie Otto said:

“They are a really good, happy team – but they are a young team. They got better each day as they gained experience and they grew into the event.”

The singles wins included a convincing victory for Lancashire’s Nikki Foster, who bounced back very well from a heavy defeat earlier in the week. There were other afternoon successes for Rachel Jennings, Hannah Barwood and English girls’ champion Holly Clyburn.

English champion Charlie Douglass lost only when her Irish opponent birdied the last two holes. Danielle McVeigh, the British stroke-play champion, holed a long putt for birdie on 17 and followed up on the last by hitting a shot from 170 yards to within 18 inches of the cup.

Meanwhile, English stroke-play champion Charlotte Wild fought back from four down to lose by just one hole.

Lyndsey Hewison

EWGA Press Officer

WOMEN'S GOLF RESULTS

WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire THIRD DAY SCOTLAND 3, WALES 6 Foursomes (2-1) Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2. Pamela Pretswell & Louise Kenney lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 1 hole. Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Sam Birks & Lucy Gould 2 and 1. Singles (1-5) Booth bt Thomas 3 and 2. MacDonald lost to Gemma Bradbury 2 and 1.. Turner lost to Davies 6 and 4., Pretswell lost to Kath O'Connor 2 and 1. Megan Briggs lost to Boulden 2 holes. Walker lost to Gould 3 and 1. ENGLAND 7, IRELAND 2 Foursomes (3-0) Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 1 hole. Rachel Jennings & Charlotte Ellis bt Mary Dowling & Aedin Murphy 2 and 1. Kelly Tidy & Hannah Barwood bt Gillian O'Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.3 and 1. Singles (4-2) Douglass lost to McVeigh 2 holes. Jennings bt Reid 2 and 1. Barwood bt Murphy 1 hole. Nikki Foster bt Sarah Cunningham 4 and 2.. Charlotte Wild lost to Mary Dowling 1 hole. Clyburn bt O'Leary 4 and 2. FINAL PLACINGS 1 Wales 2 1/2pt 2 Scotland 2pt. 3 England 1pt 4 Ireland 1/2pt

SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED

SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED Sunday's Scottish mixed foursomes tournament at Letham Grange has been posptoned because two of the holes on the course are still unplayable due to excess water on the fairways. The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association is trying to find a new date.

WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
THIRD DAY
SCOTLAND lead WALES 2-1
Foursomes
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Pamela Pretswell & Louise Kenney lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Sam Birks & Lucy Gould 2 and 1.

ENGLAND lead IRELAND 3-0
Foursomes
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 1 hole.
Rachel Jennings & Charlotte Ellis bt Mary Dowling & Aedin Murphy 2 and 1.
Kelly Tidy & Hannah Barwood v Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.3 and 1.

Ladies European Tour Scoreboard
UNIQA LADIES GOLF OPEN
Fohrenwald Wiener Neustadt
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 72
67 R Coakley, M Reid, L Davies, M Prieto.
68 H Kavanagh, L Cabanillas, J Schaeffer, B Havert.
69 M Van der Graaff, V Zorzi, Lydia Hall, S Michl.
70 L Wessberg, M Boden, S Mehra, A Monke, G Nocera, T Johnson, J Westerberg, M Jorgensen.
Selected scores:
71 K S Taylor, R Hudson.
72 J Mundy, K Matharu, C Queen, B Brewerton.
73 P Feggans, S Head.
74 T Delaney, M Gillen, Lisa Hall, Sophie Walker.
75 L Fairclough, F Parker.
76 E Bennett, V Laing,K Taylor.
77 J Morley, L Kenny, H Aitchison, S Heath, G Simpson.
78 J Pritchard, K Caithness
79 E Lyons.
81 M Riordan.
83 E Weeks.

Canadian Alison Murdoch wins Irish open

seniors title for fourth time in six years

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Canadian Alison Murdoch fired a final round 76 to win the Irish Senior Women’s Open Championship by two strokes from local favourite Phil O’Gorman at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club today.
In glorious sunshine and a soft breeze, Murdoch dropped just one stroke on the outward journey when she failed to find the seventh in regulation. Two further pars on ten and eleven were followed by a wretched treble bogey eight on the twelfth where she struggled to find the fairway.
A birdie at the next restored her lead and five further pars on the homeward stretch saw her lift her fourth Irish title in just six years.
Local heroine O’Gorman birdied the seventh on her way to two over par at the turn. When Murdoch faltered on the twelfth, O’Gorman’s birdie on sixteen closed the gap to just one stroke but an unlucky bogey on seventeen put paid to O’Gorman’s effort to lift the title for the first time.
Defending champion Vicki Thomas from Wales was one shot further back and her marvellous eagle on eighteen leap frogged her into third place ahead of Canada’s Karen Pultz and Strabane’s Helen Jones.
FINAL TOTALS
231 Alison Murdoch (CAN) 81 74 76
233 Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 78 77
234 Vicki Thomas (WAL) 83 74 77
236 Karen Pultz (CAN) 79 80 77
237 Helen Jones (Strabane) 81 77 79
240 Diane Williams (CAN) 82 79 79
242 Ruth Lindley (ENG) 81 81 80
245 Pat Doran (Donabate) 84 83 78
246 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 83 83 80
249 Edeltraud Jacob (GER) 81 83 85
250 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 79 91 80
251 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 88 82 81
253 Janice Paterson (SCO) 82 84 87
254 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 86 84 84
256 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) 84 87 85
257 Deborah Court (CAN) 88 85 84
258 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 90 82 86
259 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 86 87 86
260 Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown) 93 81 86 Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) 86 85 89
261 Rhona Brennan (Bandon) 90 86 85 Jane Gardner (Malone) 87 92 82 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 88 86 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 85 87 89
262 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 81 92 89
263 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 87 89 87
264 Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) 89 92 83 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) 89 85 90
265 Sue Joy-Sobota (USA) 90 91 84
268 Marie Moran (Monkstown) 94 83 91
269 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) 91 83 95
270 Barbara Moysey (CAN) 94 85 91 Val Shannon (Douglas) 88 93 89
273 Mary McGoey (Greenore) 84 98 91
274 Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) 92 90 92
276 Barbara Biggart (SCO) 95 89 92 Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) 88 89 99
WD Mary Lowney (Dunmore) 97 81 Roma English (Larne) 94 84 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 88 90 WD
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
313 CANADA Alison Murdoch 81 74 Karen Pultz 79 (80) Diane Williams [82] 79
314 IRELAND Helen Jones 81 77 Sheena McElroy (83) (83) Phil O'Gorman 78 78
338 SCOTLAND Barbara Biggart (95) (89) Janice Patterson 82 84 Pamela Williamson 85 87
354 ENGLAND Marianne Copp (101) 99 Ruth Lindley 81 81 Sue Pidgeon 93 NR
357 GERMANY Cornelia Fischer 101 92 Edeltraud Jacob 81 83
373 USA Sue Joy-Sabota 90 91 Heidi Simpson 98 94
383 SCANDINAVIA Sonja Gottschalch 103 (97) Britt-Marie Walltorp (105) 92 Elisabeth Wendells 95 93

FIRST FEMALE SUCCESS IN HRH TOURNAMENT

Thalland 15-year-old girl wins Duke of

York Young Champions' Trophy

By LEWINE MAIR
Press Officer at The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy Tournament
For the first time in the nine-year history of the 54-hole Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, girls had the upper hand.
Moriya Jutanugarn from Thailand, 15 years of age and barely five foot tall, finished on a two-over-par tally of 218 at Dundonald Links today to win by a shot from Israel’s Laetitia Beck. Richard Jung from Canada was the first boy in the mix, signing off in a share of third place with Spain’s Camilla Hedberg.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
218 M Jutanugarn (Thai) 72 76 70.
219 L Beck (Isr) 71 74 74.
220 R Jung (Can) 74 73 73, C Hedberg (Swe) 71 74 75.
222 P Delacour (Fra) 73 78 71.
223 D McElroy (Ire) 71 76 76, T Lewis (Eng) 74 72 77.
224 C Vigano (Ita) 78 75 71.
225 C Karsten (Ned) 81 71 73.
226 C Nugent (Wal) 76 77 73, M Puisite (Lat) 76 77 73, M Ive (Den) 73 74 79
Selected scores:
232 D Law (Sco) 76 78 78.
238 J McDonald (Sco) 83 84 81

Kylie Walker on her way to an important singles win over England's Charlotte Wild (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).

Scotland v Wales for title

at Irvine: captain Lesley

warns it will be tough

The golfing flowers of Scotland have a golden chance to end 18 years in the shade by winning the women's home amater internationals title at Irvine Golf Club tomorrow.
They play defending champions Wales in the title decider.
Scotland have 2pt out of two; Wales 1 1/2pt and Ireland and England have 1/2pt each.
The last time the Scots won the Miller Trophy was in 1991 at Aberdovey when their line-up included Curtis Cup players of the calibre of Catriona (Lambert) Matthew, Janice Moodie, Mhairi McKay and Elaine Farquharson and Alison (Rose) Davidson. Skipper was Isobel McIntosh from Inverness.
They had won the title a year earlier at Hunstanton where Elaine, then the Scottish champion, won all six ties. Glory days for Scotland ... but in this Homecoming Year how nice it would be if Catriona's marvellous victory in the Ricoh Women's British Open could be followed up by a Scotland victory at Irvine.
There is no charge for admission and no car parking fee if every golf enthusiast in the West of Scotland wants to home in on Irvine to provide the support for one last big effort.
Going into the last day, the Scots of 2009 are the only team with a 100 per cent record. Today skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad followed up a 5-4 opening day win over Ireland by beating England 5 1/2-3 1/2.
The Scots made a 3-0 clean sweep of the foursomes but then struggled to get the "only" two points they needed from the six afternoon singles.
At one point, England had levelled the scoreline at 3-3 until big-hitter Kylie Walker and Scottish champion Megan Briggs, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, recalled to the singles line-up, got the wins that took the home team up to the undefeatable 5pt mark before Louise Kenney added half a point from the last tie to finish.
"The team have done so well over the first two days, they really have," said captain Nicholson. "I just hope they can see it through to the finish now by beating Wales. I am under no illusions that the deciding match is going to be a very tough match. This is the Welsh team that beat England 7-2 on the first day, so that shows what they are capable of."
Wales' title hopes looked in tatters when they lost the foursomes 2-1 to Ireland and then trailed by 3pt with less than an hour's play left in the singles. But this is a Welsh line-up with talent and guts - and they won the last three singles to stay alive - a win over Scotland would see them retain the Miller Trophy - with a 4 1/2-4 1/2 draw against Ireland.
England captain Julie Otto, who as Julie Wade and then Julie Hall was the best female amateur golfer in Britain and Ireland, commented:
“We lost, but played much better than we did against Wales. Against Scotland, we did compete and they played much better today. They really did try and they nearly pulled it off. I couldn’t have asked much more of each and every player on the golf course.
“We are being outgunned by experience. The other teams have players who have competed more times at this level than our girls and it’s showing. We have to use our match tomorrow to give more experience to our players.”
England’s fightback from a 0-3 lunchtime deficit began with their native champion, left-hander Charlie Douglass beating Carly Booth by 3 and 2 in the lead-off singles tite.
Carly won the first two holes but lost the third and fourth to be pulled back to all square. Douglas continued to prosper with wins at the fifth and sixth to lead by two holes at the turn.
Booth rallied to win the11th and 12th to regain equality but Douglass quickened again to win the 13th and 14th and then the 16th with a birdie 2 for the match by 3 and 2. It was Douglass’s third win in four ties.
The England fightback continued with Rachel Jennings beat Pamela Pretswell 3 and 1 to narrow the gap to one point in Scotland’s favour overall.
Jennings was three holes to the good on the sixth tee but Pretswell fought back to square the match by winning the 14th. Jennings then produced a master stroke, holing a chip for a birdie 3 to win the 15th and regain the lead.
The English player promptly went two up with a par at the short 16th and then was conceded the 17th for a 3 and 1 victory. It was Pretswell’s first defeat in four ties and Jennings’ first win in two outings.
England levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 when Hannah Barwood beat Kelsey MacDonald by 2 and 1.
Barwood took a grip on the outcome by winning the first, the third and the eighth to be three up, although MacDonald won back the ninth and the 11th to be only one down.
Barwood went two up again at the 13th and was able to maintain that lead until MacDonald ran out of holes.
Kylie Walker stopped the slide for Scotland by beating Charlotte Wild 3 and 2. The Scot led throughout and a birdie 4 at the long 11th put her three up. It was Kylie’s third win in a row.
With Scotland leading 4-3 overall, the match was finely poised. The two ties still to finish were both all square with two and three holes respectively to play.
Scottish champion Megan Briggs, who had been three down after five holes to English girls title-holder Holly Clyburn, fought back to win the seventh, eighth and ninth. Then she birdied the 11th to lead for the first time.
Briggs went two up at the 14th but Clyburn was not finished yet. She won the 15th with a par and the short 16th with a birdie 2 to square the match. In a thrilling finish, Briggs edged ahead again with a par 4 at the 17th, which meant she was assured of a halved match at least and that half-point would guarantee Scotland at least a halved match overall with England.
Briggs in fact was able to clinch overall victory for Scotland, beating Clyburn by two holes when the English player conceded the 18th.
The last match of the day to finish ended with honours even between Louise Kenney and Charlotte Ellis.
Kenney had been two up after 12 holes but, in the end, was glad to hole a putt on the last for a half in 4.

WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 2
IRELAND 4 ½, WALES 4 1/2
Foursomes (2-1)
Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid bt Kath O’Connor & Katie Bradbury 2 and 1.
Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 6 and 4.
Singles (2 ½-3 ½)
McVeigh halved with Thomas.
Reid bt Gemma Bradbury 1 hole.
Aedin Murphy lost to Davies 1 hole.
O’Leary bt Katie Bradbury 5 and 4.
Bradshaw lost to Boulden 3 and 1.
Cunningham lost to Lucy Gould 4 and 2.

SCOTLAND 5 1/2, ENGLAND 3 1/2
Foursomes (3-0)
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn 2 and 1.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Wild 3 and 2.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Kelly Tidy & Charlotte Ellis 1 hole.
Singles (2 1/2-3 1/2)
Booth lost to Douglass 3 and 2.
Pretswell lost to Rachel Jennings 3 and 1.
MacDonald lost to Barwood 2 and 1.
Megan Briggs bt Clyburn 2 holes.
Walker bt Wild 3 and 2.
Kenney halved with Ellis

HOW THEY STAND
Scotland 2pt, Wales 1 1/2pt, Ireland 1/2pt, England 0pt.
FINAL MATCHES
8.30am & 1.10pm: Scotland v Wales
9.0am & 2.20pm: England v Ireland.

Scotland beat England 3-0 in Day 2 foursomes

WOMEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire
Day 2
IRELAND lead WALES 2-1
Foursomes
Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid bt Kath O’Connor & Katie Bradbury 2 and 1.
Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw bt Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 6 and 4.

SCOTLAND lead ENGLAND 3-0
Foursomes
Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald bt Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn 2 and 1.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Wild 3 and 2.
Kylie Walker & Jane Turner bt Kelly Tidy & Charlotte Ellis 1 hole.

THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS' SCOREBOARD
AFTER TWO ROUNDS
Dundonald Links.
145 Camilla Hedberg (Spain) 71 74, Laetitia Beck (Israel) 71 74.
146 Tom Lewis (England) 74 72.
147 Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 71 76, Richard Jung (Canada) 74 73, Mathias Ive (Denmark) 73 74.
148 Moriya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 72 76.
151 Perrine Delacour (France) 73 78, Margaux Vanmol (Belgium) 77 74.
152 Caroline Karsten (Holland) 81 71.
153 Madelene Sagström (Sweden) 73 80, Maria Puisite (Latvia) 76 77, Chris Nugent (Wales) 76 77, Claudio Vigano (Italy) 78 75, Martin Keskari (Germany) 78 75.
154 Rebecca Huber (Switzerland) 76 78, Teemu Bakker (Holland) 81 73, Roope Kangas (Finland) 76 78, David Law (Scotland) 76 78.
155 Tobias Nemecz (Austria) 77 78.
156 Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Canada) 81 75.
157 Ryutaro Kato (Japan) 79 78, Edouard Amacher (Switzerland) 80 77, Jack McDonald (Scotland) 83 74, Mami Fukuda (Japan) 80 77.
158 Alexandra Peters (England) 73 85, Alfredo Pazzeschi (Italy) 82 76, Poom Saksansin (Thailand) 78 80.
159 David Prochazka (Czech Republic) 81 78, Koray Varli (Turkey) 82 77.
160 Bertine Strauss (South Africa) 79 81, Tomasz Pulsakowski (Poland) 81 79, Ole Ramsnes
(Norway) 81 79, Adam Ström (Sweden) 83 77.
161 Asaf Cohen (Israel) 82 79, Katja Pogacar (Slovenia) 77 84, Borja Virto Astudillo (Spain) 78 83 Boštjan Brumec (Slovenia) 77 84, Steven Lam (China) 81 80, Haraldur Magnús (Iceland) 77 84, Daniel Kovari (Hungary) 77 84.
162 Julien Richelle (Belgium) 83 79, Klara Spilkova (Czech Republic) 88 74, Elizabeth Mallett (England) 83 79.
163 Ariane Provot (France) 82 81, Katerina Kràsovà (Czech Republic) 81 82, Sarah Schober (Austria) 86 87.
164 Pieter Moolman (South Africa) 80 84.
165 Jeroen Krietemeijer (Holland) 86 79.
166 Elcin Ulu (Turkey) 82 84.
167 Francisco Almeida (Portugal) 83 84.
168 Gurbani Singh (India) 85 83.
169 Solveig Helgesen (Norway) 85 84.
171 Annika Meos (Estonia) 91 80.
172 Nanna Madsen (Denmark) 84 88.
176 Ji Woo Lee (South Korea) 89 87.
178 Stamatis Kavadas (Greece) 88 90.

Gemma's stroke of luck for Wales!

Gemma Bradbury holed out with a No 9 iron second shot for an eagle 2 at the second hole (358yd) on the second day of the women's home internationals at Irvine Golf Club.
Gemma, who won both her first-day ties for Wales against England, is partnering Rhian Wyn Thomas, in the second foursomes tie off the tee - against Ireland's Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.
Gemma's eagle put the Welsh pair two up after three holes.

They then won the fourth to be three up.

AN ALTERNATIVE LOOK AT DAY 1 OF WHI

'Monty' Pretswell holds her

nerve to win decisive Day 1

singles for Scotland



FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Pamela Pretswell, dubbed the Colin Montgomerie of the side by her team-mates, secured the decisive point as Scotland recorded a dramatic victory over Ireland in the opening round of matches in the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine.
On a day when some high-quality golf was produced over what is surely one of the country's unheralded courses, the Scots, bidding for their first win in the four-cornered event since 1991, recovered from losing the morning foursomes to win 5-4.
The face paint being worn by the Scottish players created similarities to the Solheim Cup, but, thankfully, there were no Christina Kim-like antics on show, though some of the Irish girls did occasionally perform a dance routine they clearly have been working on.
It was Scotland, though, who were jigging with delight by the end of the day after singles wins from Pretswell, Carly Booth, Kelsey MacDonald and Kylie Walker gave them the start that Lesley Nicholson, the team captain, had wanted as the hosts bid to get their hands back on the Miller Trophy.

After losing together in the morning foursomes, Booth and MacDonald, two teenagers who are oozing with talent and confidence, bounced back well in the afternoon, both recording eagle-3s at the long 11th en route to beating Danielle McVeigh and Mary Dowling respectively.
Booth, 17, who played in last year's Curtis Cup at St Andrews, was delighted with her point against McVeigh, the British Ladies' Open Stroke-Play champion, while MacDonald, who had Steven McEwan, last year's Scottish Amateur Championship finalist, on her bag, was one-under in her match.
With Walker, the St Rule Trophy winner for the past two years, winning three holes on the trot to take control of her match against Niamh Kitching, it all came down to the game involving Pretswell, a 20-year-old from Hamilton, and Aedin Murphy.
Two down with five to play, Pretswell rose admirably to the challenge, winning the 14th with a birdie-3 and then squaring the match when a par-3 proved good enough at the 16th. Agonisingly, the Scot missed a short putt at the 17th to go in front and admitted afterwards that there was some anger in the 300-yard drive she launched up the last.
After a poor first putt, Pretswell, the Swiss Women's Open Amateur champion, found herself faced with the same distance she had missed at the previous hole for the match, but, on this occasion, she made no mistake, to the delight of her team-mates around the 18th green
"I actually duffed the first putt and was certainly relieved to see the second one drop," said Pretswell (pictured above by Cal Carson Agency on Irvine's fourth tee), who reckons she was given the Montgomerie tag for the way she holds her pose in her follow through.

In much better conditions than the players had to contend with on the final day of practice, the hosts always looked as though they were going to be trailing after the morning foursomes, a format that has traditionally proved troublesome for Scotland in this event.
Sent out in the lead role, Booth and MacDonald failed to spark against McVeigh and Charlene Reid, who recovered well after falling behind early on.With Walker and Megan Briggs also going down in the anchor match, it was left to Pretswell and Louise Kenney to provide the sole bright note for the Scots in the morning.
The full article above appears in today's The Scotsman newspaper.

Wales bring in Kath O'Connor; Jane Turner

makes debut for Scotland

THIS MORNING'S FOURSOMES TIES ON DAY TWO OF THE WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AT IRVINE GOLF CLUB.

IRELAND v. WALES
8.30 Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid v Kath O'Connor & Katie Bradbury.
8.40 Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham v Rhian WynThomas & Gemma Bradbury.
8.50 Gillian O'Leary & Victoria Bradshaw v Tara Davies & Amy Boulden.

SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
9.0 Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald v Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn.
9.10 Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell v Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Wild.
9.20 Kylie Walker & Jane Turner v Kelly Tidy & Charlotte Ellis.


The two players who did not get a game on the opening day of the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club have been called off the bench by their respective captains for this morning's foursomes.
Wales skipper Sue Turner must have been tempted to leave well alone after an outstanding 7-2 first-day win over England but she has paired up Kath O'Connor, who sat out the first-day play with Katie Bradbury in the lead-off foursomes against Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid of Ireland.
Craigielaw's Jane Turner gets the nod from Scotland captain Lesley Nicholson who might have been contemplating changes anyway in her foursomes line-up after trailing 2-1 in yesterday's match against Ireland going into the afternoon singles.
Successful foursomes pairings have been hard to find for Scotland in recent years. At Wrexham last year, Scotland lost the foursomes against Wales and then England before winning the morning session against Ireland on the last day - going on to register their only overall win of the 2008 series.
Jane Turner, 19, who has had her best season yet has the long-hitting Kylie Walker as a partner gainst England's Kelly Tidy and Charlotte Ellis.

Joint leaders at Dundonald Links: Camilla Hedberg (left) from Spain and (ab0ve) Laetitia Beck from Israel (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on them to enlarge).

GIRLS ON TOP AT THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG

CHAMPIONS' TROPHY TOURNAMENT

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LEWINE MAIR
Press Officer at The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy Tournament
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72) Boys' course: 6910yd. Girls' course: 6075yd.

145 Camilla Hedberg (Spain) 71 74, Laetitia Beck (Israel) 71 74.

146 Tom Lewis (England) 74 72.

147 Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 71 76, Richard Jung (Canada) 74 73.

Selected score:

154 David Law (Scotland). 76 76.

No girl has ever won the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy but all that could change at Dundonald Links tomorrow as Camilla Hedberg from Spain and Laetitia Beck from Israel go into the third and final round with a one-shot lead over England's Tom Lewis. For the record, the girls, who are one over par a piece after rounds of 71 and 74, are playing the course at 6075 yards to the boys' 6910 yards.The boys will be giving chase tomorrow, with Aberdeen's David Law, who is nine shots back, suggesting that anyone within ten shots of the lead could win. "The girls have done brilliantly to be no more than one over par for the day," said the Scot. "To be honest, I don't think the course is any easier for them than it is for us. Even allowing for the difference in the tees, they are mostly playing their shots to the green from behind us." Law, Lewis and the rest of the boys could well draw strength from the fact that Hedberg and Beck both admitted to feeling tired at the end of the 36-hole day which became necessary when Tuesday's play had to be cancelled because of the stormy conditions."I was beginning to feel a bit weary," said Hedberg, the offspring of a Swedish father and a Spanish mother. "When it came to the 13th, I hit into the water short of the green and ended up with a double-bogey." As for Beck, who is a resident pupil at a golf academy in Florida, she said her legs were hurting "after too many trips to the rough". Both competitors, however, had plenty of moments to savour. Hedberg holed a 20-footer at the second to get her afternoon round off on the right foot. Beck, for her part, recovered from a double-bogey, bogey start after lunch with a run of three successive birdies. Lewis opened with a 74 and followed up with a 72 which, in his eyes, was not as good as it sounded. Having sped to the turn in 33, the English and British Boys' champion had a run of three successive bogeys from the 13th. "I simply wasn't sharp enough," he said. "I had lots of chances but never managed to take advantage. It was very frustrating." Though, up until this week, Lewis had little or no experience of playing with girls, he will be heading out for his final round in the company of Hedberg and Beck. "It's going to be interesting to see how they approach things," he said. Ireland's Dermot McElroy, who is lying two shots off the pace after rounds of 71 and 76, hit his first ball of the afternoon into a bush. He played three off the tee and knocked a seven-iron to ten feet before missing the putt. Out in what he termed "a very dodgy 41", he came home in 35. "I made myself do the old thing of thinking 'one shot at a time'," he said. Richard Jung, who was born in Korea but now lives in Canada and is the reigning Canadian Boys' champion, is on the same 147 mark as McElroy, as is Mathias Ive from Denmark.

Alison Murdoch takes up the running in

Irish senior women's open stroke-play

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Canadian Alison Murdoch leads the field by one stroke going into tomorerow's final round of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club,
As the winds eased considerably from the first day, Murdoch played solidly throughout the day turning at one over par. She continued her consistent form right through to a birdie on the final green to sign for a one over 74 and now enters tomorrow’s final round seeking her fourth title in six years. Overnight leader and home favourite Phil O’Gorman, signed for a second successive 78 to lie one shot off the pace. The local star birdied the second and eight to turn one over par and a solid back nine saw her strongly positioned going into tomorrow’s final round.
Next best lies defending champion Vicki Thomas who matched Murdoch’s best of the day score. Thomas, seeking her third title in four years, birdied the eight, sixteenth and seventeenth and lies alone in third place, just two shots off the pace.
Ireland’s Helen Jones (Strabane) lies just one shot further back after signing for a 77, while Canadian Karen Pultz is one shot further back on 159.The top 40 players now complete a final 18 holes on Thursday to decide the title.
With Murdoch and Thomas leading, Gorman and the rest of the field will need to produce something special to break the duo’s domination of the event since 2004.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
155 Alison Murdoch (CAN) 81 74
156 Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 78
157 Vicki Thomas (WAL) 83 74
158 Helen Jones (Strabane) 81 77
159 Karen Pultz (CAN) 79 80
161 Diane Williams (CAN) 82 79
162 Ruth Lindley (ENG) 81 81
164 Edeltraud Jacob (GER) 81 83
166 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 83 83 Janice Paterson (SCO) 82 84
167 Pat Doran (Donabate) 84 83
170 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 88 82 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 86 84 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 79 91
171 Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) 86 85 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) 84 87
172 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 90 82 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 85 87
173 Deborah Court (CAN) 88 853 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 86 87 Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 81 92
174 Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown) 93 81 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) 91 83 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) 89 85
175 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 88
176 Rhona Brennan (Bandon) 90 86 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 87 89
177 Marie Moran (Monkstown) 94 83 Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) 88 89
178 Mary Lowney (Dunmore) 97 81 Roma English (Larne) 94 84 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 88 90
179 Barbara Moysey (CAN) 94 85 Jane Gardner (Malone) 87 92
181 Sue Joy-Sobota (USA) 90 91 Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) 89 92 Val Shannon (Douglas) 88 93
182 Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook) 92 90 Mary McGoey (Greenore) 84 98
184 Barbara Biggart (SCO) 95 89
MISSED THE CUT
187 Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) 91 96 Carol Kinsella (Faithlegg) 90 97
188 Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) 99 89 Elisabeth Wendels (SWE) 95 93 Joan McVeigh (Belvoir Park) 91 97 Linda Ward (CAN) 90 98
189 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) 93 96 Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) 88 101
190 Patricia Kelly (Limerick) 99 91
191 Valerie James (Bangor) 96 95
192 Heidi Simpson (USA) 98 94 Concepta Maddick (Mannan Castle) 93 99
193 Cornelia Fischer (GER) 101 92
196 Kitty Duffy (Dundalk) 100 96
197 Britt-Marie Walltorp (SWE) 105 92
198 Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) 107 91 Sheila Bodmer O'Keefe (SWI) 99 99 Kathleen Pyne (New Ross) 99 99 Patsy McCarthy (Grange) 98 100
199 Rita O'Loughlin (Mannan Castle) 96 103
200 Sonja Gottschalch (DEN) 103 97 Marianne Copp (ENG) 101 99
201 Rita MacNamara (The Heath) 105 96Finola Duncan (Bangor) 102 99 Alice O'Neill (Laytown & Bettystown) 99 102 Marita Leech (Laytown & Bettystown) 99 102
202 Dinah Campion (The Heritage) 107 95
203 Gemma Jennings (Navan) 104 99 Noreen Granard (Portarlington) 103 100
204 Marie Conlon (The Heath) 110 94
206 Margaret Boomer (Lisburn) 110 96 Una Bready (Belvoir Park) 108 98
207 Ann Conway (New Ross) 100 107
DQ Kathleen Hynes (Ardee) 106 DQ
NR Maida McGowan (Laytown & Bettystown) 91 NR Sue Pidgeon (ENG) 93 NRFINAL ROUND DRAW - 10 SEPTEMBER08:30 Mary McGoey (Greenore) Barbara Biggart (SCO)
08:38 Val Shannon (Douglas) Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook)
08:46 Sue Joy-Sobota (USA) Ita Donnelly (Dundalk)
08:54 Barbara Moysey (CAN) Jane Gardner (Malone)
09:02 Marie Moran (Monkstown) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross)
09:10 Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Catherine Bird (Nenagh)
09:18 Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown)
09:26 Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage)
09:34 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
09:50 Pamela Williamson (SCO) Deborah Court (CAN)
09:58 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
10:06 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock)
10:14 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
10:22 Janice Paterson (SCO) Pat Doran (Donabate)
10:30 Edeltraud Jacob (GER) Sheena McElroy (Grange)
10:38 Diane Williams (CAN) Ruth Lindley (ENG)
10:46 Helen Jones (Strabane) Karen Pultz (CAN)
10:54 Alison Murdoch (CAN) Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown) Vicki Thomas (WAL)

FOUR SCOTS ACES TRUMP IRISH IN SINGLES

KELSEY MACDONALD ...Winner by 3 and 2 against Mary Dowling

KYLIE WALKER: Winner by 3 and 2 over Niamh Kitching.

PAMELA PRETSWELL: Won the 18th for decisive one-hole victory over Aedin Murphy.

Scotland come from behind to beat

Ireland after Wales wallop

England 7-2 on opening day

Scotland showed a lot of class but, more important in a match-play situation, a lot of grit and will-to-win to come from behind to beat Ireland 5-4 on the opening day of the women's home internationals at bright and breezy Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire today.
The bonus for skipper Lesley Nicholson's squad was that Wales walloped England 7-2 in the other match.
"The girls put me through it today but they got there in the end," said Lesley.
"I'm delighted. They did so well to turn it around from what could have been a losing position."
Scotland made up their one-point foursomes deficit by winning the first two singles to finish against Ireland.
Teenager Carly Booth (pictured above today by Cal Carson Golf Agency) set the tone for Scotland's rally in the singles by winning the top singles against a British title-holder.

The Curtis Cup youngster responded to the captain giving her the responsibility of leading off the afternoon play by beating the new British women‘s open amateur stroke play champion Danielle McVeigh by 2 and 1.

McVeigh did not play badily. Booth simply played better and held her nerve down the home holes.
Carly lost the first hole but squared it at the second – and was never in arrears again after that.
One up at the turn, Booth lost the 10th but hit back with a birdie 4 at the long 11th to regain the lead. Booth conceded the 12th to lose the advantage again but won the 13th and then birdied the 14th to take a vital two-hole lead.
McVeigh won back the 15th but after a half in 3s at the short 16th, Carly won the 17th for a 2 and 1 margin of a win that should boost the Comrie lass's confidence.
Kelsey MacDonald put Scotland 3-2 ahead by beating Mary Dowling 3 and 2. Kelsey always held the whiphand but could not shake off a determined opponent. MacDonald’s eagle 3 at the ninth enabled her to go two up but Dowling won the 12th only for Kelsey to birdie the 13th to regain a two-hole advantage.

The 15th was the decisive hole. The Scot won it to go three up with three to play and a half at the 16th finished the match in her favour.
But Ireland had the advantage in the ties still to finish and Gillian O’Leary’s 3 and 2 win over Laura Murray levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3. Gillian built up a two-hole lead on the outward half and won the 11th and 12th to double that advantage before losing the 14th.
With three matches to finish and Scotland three up in one and Ireland three up in another, it was clear that the Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) v Aedin Murphy (Ireland) tie – all square after 17 – was going to have an important bearing on the overall result.
Glasgow University student Pretswell was two down with five to play but won the 14th with a birdie 3 and squared the match with a par 3 at the short 16th.
After a half at the next, Pamela hit a massive drive off the 18th and won the hole and the match with a 4.
Kylie Walker beat Niamh Kitching by 3 and 2 in a match that was all square after 11 holes. Walker won the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in an strong finish.
Charlene Reid got Ireland’s fourth point by beating Louise Kenney 3 and 1. Reid won the seventh, eighth and nine to go three up and she stayed in the driving seat for the rest of the match.

Day 1 results
ENGLAND 2, WALES 7
Foursomes (1-2)
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Lucy Gould & Sam Birkes 1 hole.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas & Gemma Bradbury 2 holes.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy lost to Tara Davies & Amy Boulden 3 and 2.
Singles
Douglass bt Davies 2 holes.
Barwood lost to Thomas 3 and 2.
Clyburn lost to Gemma Bradbury 3 and 1.
Charlotte Ellis lost to Katie Bradbury 2 holes.
Tidy lost to Boulden 4 and 3.
Nikki Foster lost to Gould 8 and 7.

SCOTLAND 5, IRELAND 4
Foursomes (1-2)
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth lost to Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid 3 and 2.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell bt Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw 4 and 3.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs lost to Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham 5 and 4.
Singles (4-2)
Booth bt McVeigh 2 and 1.
Pretswell bt Murphy 1 hole.
MacDonald bt Dowling 3 and 2.
Walker bt Niamh Kitching 3 and 2.
Laura Murray lost to O’Leary 3 and 2.
Kenney lost to Reid 3 and 1.

THURSDAY'S MATCHES
Ireland v Wales
Foursomes start at 8.30 am. Singles at 1.10pm.
Scotland v England.
Foursomes start at 9am. Singles start at 2.20pm

THERE IS NO ADMISSION CHARGE AND PUBLIC CAR PARKING IS FREE.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOLF AND LIVE WITHIN REASONABLE ACCESS OF IRVINE GOLF CLUB, COME ALONG AND SEE A GOLFING TREAT.

Scotland trail 2-1 to Ireland after morning

foursomes in Women's Internationals

Ireland lead Scotland 2-1 and defending champions Wales have a 2-1 advantage after the opening foursomes in the women's home international matches at a bright but breezy Irvine Golf Club.
Scotland's only winners were Louise Kenney and Pamela Pretswell who beat Gillian O'Leary and Victoria Bradshaw by 4 and 3.
Kelsey MacDonald and Carly Booth lost the top tie by 3 and 2 to Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid.
Kylie Walker and Megan Briggs lost by 5 and 5 to Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.

North Star Kelsey MacDonald is

tracking Catriona Matthew ...

and it's so far, so good!

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Kelsey MacDonald, who is hoping to help Scotland win the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine this week, has followed Catriona Matthew's footsteps once already and desperately wants that trend to continue.
The 18-year-old from Nairn is – like Matthew when she was the same age – on a scholarship at Stirling University, combining her psychology studies with as much golf as she can fit in.With back-to-back wins in the Scottish Junior Ladies' Open Stroke Play Championship under her belt, MacDonald, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, is an exciting young talent and has her sights set on following Matthew, the Ricoh Women's British Open champion, all the way to the top of the ladder.
"Catriona is a great inspiration to every single female golfer in Scotland," she said. "I was among a group of players she gave a talk to at Craigielaw last year and it was fascinating to hear what she had to say.
"What struck me, though, was that my achievements so far aren't too far away from what she had achieved around the same age and the fact she also went to Stirling University is making me all the more determined to keep following in her footsteps."
MacDonald, who lives across the road from the Nairn Dunbar course, is confident she made the right choice by staying in Scotland as opposed to following the likes of Mhairi McKay, who was at Stanford University in California at the same time as Tiger Woods, across the Atlantic.
She added: "I thought about going to the States and certainly got my eyes opened when I paid my first visit there as part of a Grampian Houston trip a few years back. However, the chance to go to Stirling University was too good to miss out on and, what's more, there's simply no better place to learn how to play lots of different golf shots than Scotland.
"Another factor in me staying here was that I still had the support of both the Scottish Institute of Sport and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association at close hand – that wouldn't have been the case if I was over on the other side of the Atlantic.
"I've still got three more years on my scholarship and though plans can often change year by year, I aim to see that through before turning professional."
MacDonald, who made her full debut in last year's Women's Home Internationals, is hoping the Scots can come flying out of the blocks in their opening match against Ireland today as they bid to lift the Miller Trophy for the first time since 1991.
"We've grown as a team and matured as individuals over the past 12 months and we honestly believe that no-one can deny us this week," she said.

Gloucestershire pair Sue and Rachael

win PING tournament Grand Final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Gloucestershire golfers Sue Elliott and Rachael Thomas breezed round the Thonock Park course at Gainsborough in one-over par 73 to win the Grand Final of the 2009 PING four-ball better-ball tournament of England.
The pair, from Henbury Golf Club, amassed 43 Stableford points in strong winds and finished two clear of the field.
“We are ecstatic,” said Rachael.
Sue added: “It’s brilliant, absolutely excellent – this is a great event for ladies’ golf and so well organised.”
They win a choice of PING clubs or PING Collection clothing to the value of £400. They also qualify for the UK final of the Volvo Masters Amateur Tour at Kingsbarns Links in Fife in October.
Runners-up were Cheryl Power and Priya Bhatia of Kent, who came in late in the day and pipped, on countback, the long-time leaders Fiona Hockin and Jayne O’Sullivan of Yorkshire. The PING Tournament – which is run by the English Women’s Golf Association – had a new format this year and attracted over 16,000 competitors.
The best 60 club winners qualified for today’s Grand Final, while the next 72 pairs went through to the new Plate Final, which took place yesterday. Sue and Rachael won their club round – their first outing in a four-ball event – with 43 points.
They returned the same score in the Grand Final when they tamed the extremely windy conditions with solid golf. Between them, they parred 15 holes, bogeyed two and birdied the long 17th.
“We work well as a team – we’ve known each other for about 20 years and we are best mates,” said Sue, who was a professional on the Ladies European Tour for two decades. Injury brought her career to an end and last year she regained her amateur status and a four handicap. Rachael, who sometimes caddied for her friend, is a 10-handicapper who is determined to get down to single figures - and is taught by Sue’s partner, Henbury teaching professional Ryan Crowley.
The final was contested by pairs from all over the country and of all ages - the youngest partnership was 14-year-old Emily Powell and Amy Ridley, 18, of Seascale, Cumbria. One competitor, Mandy Roberts of Overstone Park, Northamptonshire, was so keen to take part that she played on her own after her partner was forced to drop out – and returned a very creditable score.
All Grand Finalists received a PING golf bag, a PING Collection windshirt and a pair of ECCO shoes. They also had the opportunity to tour the PING factory, to try clubs in the PING fitting centre and to enter other competitions.
Overall winner Sue Elliott was also successful in the putting competition and won a putter, while Jane Leigh from Humberstone Heights, Leicestershire, won the nearest the pin challenge and received a PING driver.
Leading scores
43 pts Sue Elliott & Rachael Thomas (Henbury).
41 Cheryl Power & Priya Bhatia (Langley Park), Fiona Hockin & Jayne O’Sullivan (Horsforth).
40 Carol Firth & Sally Dixon (Bingley St Ives), Linda Woods & Sharon Baxter (Royal Epping Forest), Helen Lowe & Debs Massey (Scraptoft).
39 Michele Moran & Pat Waldron (Hickleton).
38 Alison Baldwick & Amanda Leach (East Berkshire), Jane Leigh & Wendy Castle (Humberstone Heights), Shelagh Warren & Sue Hitchman (Stoke Rochford), Lesley Pascoe & Hilary Richards (Stover), Claire Fensome & Alisa Moore (Collingtree Park), Adele Haddon & Diane Burridge (College Pines).
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

The Wales team for the women's home interntional matches with captain Sue Turner in the middle of the seated row at Irvine Golf Club this evening (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).

Ireland's team with captain Claire Robinson at Irvine Golf Club (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).

England team with captain Julie Otto in the middle seated in front of the Irvine Golf Clubhouse on the eve of the women's home internationals. Click to enlarge this image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. In fairness to the girls it should be pointed out the wind was blowing and it was raining when this picture was taken!

Phil O'Gorman's 78 good enough to lead

Irish senior women's open stroke-play

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
NIONIrish Senior International and home favourite Phil O’Gorman leads the field by one stroke at the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club today.
In driving rain and gale force winds, O’Gorman, fresh from International duty at the Senior Europeans in Dun Laoghaire last week, opened strongly but dropped shots at six and seven saw her make the turn at three over par.
The inward journey, hampered by the strong head wind, destroyed most of the field, but O’Gorman’s fine iron play saw her complete the last 5 holes in one under par and take a one stroke lead into tomorrow’s second round.
Next best was Ireland’s Pauline Walsh (Headford) who’s 79 included an impressive birdie three at the difficult fifteenth hole. Canada’s Karen Pultz matched Walsh almost shot for shot to the turn and added a strong birdie at the long twelfth which played a par 6 in the height of the gale. Helen Jones (Strabane), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire), Alison Murdoch (CAN), Edeltraub Jacob (GER) and Ruth Lindley (ENG) are well in the hunt following 81s while only a fool would right off defending champion Vicki Thomas at this early stage following her 83 after opening with a wretched triple bogey at the first.
The field will play a further 18 holes strokeplay tomorrow Wednesday with the top 40 qualifying for the final 18 holes on Thursday. Following the Championship, the Irish Seniors Team to play at the Seniors Home Internationals at Newport in Wales, 29th September, will be announced. Positions in the side will be determined by ranking in the Order of Merit and wildcard picks selected by Team Captain Roma English (Larne).

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

78 Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown)
79 Karen Pultz (CAN) Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
81 Alison Murdoch (CAN) Edeltraud Jacob (GER) Helen Jones (Strabane) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)Ruth Lindley (ENG)
82 Diane Williams (CAN) Janice Paterson (SCO)
83 Sheena McElroy (Grange) Vicki Thomas (WAL)
84 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Mary McGoey (Greenore) Pat Doran (Donabate)
85 Pamela Williamson (SCO)
86 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) Mary Geaney (Killarney)
87 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Catherine Bird (Nenagh) Jane Gardner (Malone)
88 Deborah Court (CAN) Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) Val Shannon (Douglas) Valerie Hassett (Ennis)89 Ita Donnelly (Dundalk) Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford)
90 Carol Kinsella (Faithlegg) Linda Ward (CAN) Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Sue Joy-Sobota (USA) Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
91 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Joan McVeigh (Belvoir Park) Maida McGowan (Laytown & Bettystown) Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook)
92 Adrienne Crowley (Woodbrook)
93 Concepta Maddick (Mannan Castle) Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) Patricia McAllister (Laytown & Bettystown) Sue Pidgeon (ENG)
94 Barbara Moysey (CAN) Marie Moran (Monkstown) Roma English (Larne)
95 Barbara Biggart (SCO) Elisabeth Wendels (SWE)96 Rita O'Loughlin (Mannan Castle) Valerie James (Bangor)
97 Mary Lowney (Dunmore)
98 Heidi Simpson (USA) Patsy McCarthy (Grange)
99 Alice O'Neill (Laytown & Bettystown) Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) Kathleen Pyne (New Ross) Marita Leech (Laytown & Bettystown) Patricia Kelly (Limerick) Sheila Bodmer O'Keefe (SWI)
100 Ann Conway (New Ross) Kitty Duffy (Dundalk)
101 Cornelia Fischer (GER) Marianne Copp (ENG)
102 Finola Duncan (Bangor)
103 Noreen Granard (Portarlington) Sonja Gottschalch (DEN)
104 Gemma Jennings (Navan)
105 Britt-Marie Walltorp (SWE) Rita MacNamara (The Heath)
106 Kathleen Hynes (Ardee)
107 Dinah Campion (The Heritage) Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush)
108 Una Bready (Belvoir Park)
110 Margaret Boomer (Lisburn) Marie Conlon (The Heath)

Rain hits Duke of York Young Champions Trophy

No play was possible in The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy at Dundonald Links today.
Horizontal rain soon filled the bunkers and the course was waterlogged.
The plan is to play 36 holes on Wednesday and a final 18 on Thursday.

The Golfing Flowers of Scotland. Ready for action in the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on it to enlarge.

IRVINE WET BUT PLAYABLE FOR WOMEN’S

HOME INTERNATIONALS

Fingers crossed, there’s no danger that the Women’s Home Internationals will not tee off on time tomorrow morning at Irvine Golf Club even though there was more heavy rain at the Ayrshire venue today.
There were big pools of water in the car park but not so many out on the course, thanks to the hard work of head greenkeeper Derek Wilson and his staff.
“Believe it or not but we have had rain here at some time or other during the day or night for the past 54 consecutive days,” said Wilson.
“This summer the course has never had the chance to dry out and play the way it should. The greens, like the fairways, are much softer than I would like them but these players will probably prefer that they can fire the ball at the flag rather than have to drop their approach shots short and hope to judge the bounce.”
Home skipper Lesley Nicholson is optimistic her squad can win the Miller Trophy for the first time since the Scotland were champions in 1990 and 1991.
Top-10 individual form by her team members in the recent British women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen and the European women’s amateur team championship in Sweden, where Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) was runner-up and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) joint sixth, suggests her confidence is not ill-founded.
In the opening foursomes against Ireland, Lesley Nicholson has paired Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Carly Booth (Comrie) against the new British stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), leader of the SLGA Order of Merit table, and Pamela Pretswell, are Scotland’s No 2 foursomes pairing for the tie against Gillian O’Leary and Victoria Bradshaw.
Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) is paired with the big-hitting Kylie Walker against Mary Dowling and Sarah Cunningham.
Wales, defending the title they won on home turf at Wrexham 12 months ago, open their campaign against an England line-up loaded with talent. Scotland’s prospects would be considerably enhanced if Wales could claim England’s scalp. But England will start favourites.

Wednesday morning’s foursomes:
ENGLAND v WALES
8.30 am
Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn v Lucy Gould & Sam Birks.
Charlotte Wild & Hannah Barwood v Rhian WynThomas & Gemma Bradbury.
Rachel Jennings & Kelly Tidy v Tara Davies & Amy Boulden..

SCOTLAND v IRELAND
9am
Kelsey MacDonald & Carly Booth v Danielle McVeigh & Charlene Reid.
Louise Kenney & Pamela Pretswell v Gillian O’Leary & Victoria Bradshaw.
Kylie Walker & Megan Briggs v Mary Dowling & Sarah Cunningham.

Catriona's win inspires Scottish team

by Elspeth Burnside

Catriona Matthew’s win in the Ricoh Women’s British Open was a highlight of the summer and Scottish team captain Lesley Nicholson is confident that there will be more cause for celebration at the Home Internationals at Irvine this week.

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell castle) - both members of the GB and Ireland team that competed in the Vagliano Trophy in July – head a strong line-up that also includes Curtis Cup teenager Carly Booth (Comrie), Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Order of Merit leader, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie). Youngsters Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and the one new cap, Jane Turner (Craigielaw), complete the squad.

“We have a very strong team and I think we have an excellent chance of winning,” said Nicholson, who played in the 2000 Curtis Cup before spending several years as a professional on the Ladies’ European Tour. “All the players have had a very good summer, with five of them finishing in the top ten at the recent British Women’s Strokeplay Championship.

“Catriona’s success has definitely motivated everybody. I think that’s one of the reasons that everybody seems to be hitting form at just the right time for the Home Internationals.”

“We had a match against a Scottish Golf Union men’s team at Irvine in March and another practice session last week,” she said. “I also have to give a huge thank you to the club for giving the team courtesy of the course throughout the year.

“It gave the girls the chance to go there themselves and work out some foursomes partnerships and, with all the work done by National coach Kevin Craggs and team manager, Claire Hargan, we have built up a really good team spirit.”

Walker, who intends to turn professional at the end of the season, also suggests that Matthew’s success will act as huge inspiration. “She has done so much for Scottish golf in general, and ladies’ golf in particular,” said the 23-year-old from Buchanan Castle. “Her win at Lytham has definitely made us so up for it this week.

”Lesley has also been brilliant because she’s done it all and know exactly what we need, while Kevin and Claire are so upbeat and are both great for the whole squad.”

Scotland open against Ireland on Wednesday, followed by England on Thursday and the final match is against defending champion, Wales.

“We finished third last year, but all the matches were very close and it could really have gone any way,” concluded Nicholson. “This year, we have a few factors in our favour and I’m confident we can come out s champions.”

Northern Division vets' scores at Banchory



STABLEFORD
CSS 73
Silver
1 Sheila Reid (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) 36pt (better last 6 holes).
2 Morag Clapperton (Banchory) (11) 36pt
3 Rhoda Keith (Alyth) (20) 35pt
Bronze
1 Helen Leslie (Deeside) (24) 34pt
2 Cathy Kane (Newmachar) (22) 33pt (better last 9).
3 Jean Pritchard (Newmachar) (24) 33pt.

Cambridgeshire pair first winners of new

PING Plate at Gainsborough Golf Club

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Cambridgeshire golfers Lilias Adamson and Sue Pearson are the first winners of the new Plate Final of the 2009 PING Women’s four-ball better-ball tournament of England.
The pair, from Ely City, set an early target of 43 points over the Thonock Park course at PING’s Gainsborough Golf Club – and it was never beaten. They win a choice of PING clubs or PING Collection clothing to the value of £400.
They also qualify for the UK final of the Volvo Masters Amateur Tour at Kingsbarns, Fife in October.
“This is unbelievable, “ said Lilias. “We just came for a nice day out. We’ve had a wonderful day and to win is the icing on the cake.”
Their closest challengers on a warm, sunny day were two pairs who each scored 41 points. The runners-up, on countback, were Worcestershire’s Lynn Wilson and Naomi Austin, 18, who pipped county colleagues Holli Ward, 17, and Emily Hyde, 14, by virtue of their better back nine.
The PING Tournament – which is run by the English Women’s Golf Association – has a new format this year. The best 60 club winners qualified for the Grand Final, which takes place tomorrow, while the next 72 pairs went through to today’s new Plate Final. It was a change which met with approval from the winners.
“I think it’s great,” said Lilias. She and Sue won their club qualifier with 42 points – just before Lilias injured her back and had to give golf a miss for three months. “I think the club qualifier was my last full round before I hurt my back – and this is my first full round since I started playing again. I’ve just done a few nine holes on the par-3 course, with the grandchildren.”
There were no signs of rustiness, however. The two golfers cogged together extremely well on a course neither had seen before.
“It’s a very nice course and the fairways are wide, compared with ours, which takes the pressure off,” said Sue.
Last week, both players were fitted for new PING clubs. “Now we’re really eager to get hold of them,” said Lilias. Scoring in the Plate Final was good all day. The first pair out, Chris Williamson and Natalie Crute of Hartlepool, set an impressive target with 40 points. This was soon matched by Elizabeth Crow and Anne Wright from Northamptonshire – and then passed by the eventual winners and the two other prizewinners.
Among the players were Hampshire’s Jenny Readman who was one of the winners of last year’s Grand Final. This year she was partnered by England senior international Chris Stirling and the pair managed a very creditable 39 points.
“It was lovely to have the chance to come back,” said Jenny. “And I love my PING clubs. I’ve cut three shots off my handicap, to nine, since I got them after last year’s competition.”
The day included the opportunity for competitors to tour the PING factory, to take advantage of the service at PING’s fitting centre and to enter other competitions.
Linda Shapley of Chartham Park, Sussex, won a putter while Julia Gibson of Wirral Ladies, Cheshire, won the nearest the pin competition for a PING driver.
Leading final scores
43 pts Lilias Adamson and Sue Pearson (Ely City).
41 Naomi Austin and Lyn Wilson (North Worcestershire); Emily Hyde and Holli Ward (Bewdley Pines).
40 Elizabeth Crow and Anne Wright (Delapre Park); Chris Williamson and Natalie Crute (Hartlepool).
39 Chris Hall and Julie Tsang (Harborne); Sandy Kinch and Gill O’Donnell (Easthamstead Ladies); Gillian Nutter and Dee Kay (Formby Ladies’); Julie Daniels and Wendy Bushell (Hennerton); Chris Stirling and Jenny Readman (Meon Valley).

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Over-50s' major at Pyle & Kenfig from September 15-17

JANET, LORNA, VICKI BACKMARKERS IN FIELD FOR THE

SENIOR LADIES BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LADIES GOLF UNION
Ireland’s Valerie Hassett (1996), Sweden’s Christina Birke (2003), and Canada’s Diane Williams (1995) and Alison Murdoch (2007) know better than most what it will take to win this year’s Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club on the South Wales coast from September 15 to 17.
They have all held the championship trophy aloft in their triumphant years.
Last year’s winner, Chris Utermarck (Germany), and the player she beat in a play-off for the title, Susan Dye (Delamere Forest), at Hilton Templepatrick in Northern Ireland , are absentees this time round.
That will boost the hopes Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest), who played under the name of Janet Collingham last year, Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Jane Rees (Hendon), Fiona de Vries (St Rule), Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen) and Viveca Hoff (Sweden) who filled the next six positions on the final leaderboard 12 months ago.
Melville, Bennett and Thomas are jointly the lowest handicapped players in the field. All had an actual handicap of 0.3 when they submitted their entries.
Handicaps, of course, are immaterial in a 54-hole stroke-play championship in which only the gross scores count but they do give a rough guide to the players who are likely to be in contention for the Clark Trophy which was presented by Miss Linda Clark to the LGU for annual competition.
After all, a player’s handicap rating reflects, or should reflect, her potential average score per round.
Janet Melville, like Lorna Bennett and Jane Rees finished only one stroke behind the play-off participants last year and they would not be human if they had not replayed their three rounds – in thought if not in reality – over and over again to see where they might have saved at least one shot here, or another shot there that would have promoted them from runners-up.
Melville was a rookie senior last year after a stellar amateur career which just about makes her the favourite on paper to land the major over-50s prize this year.
Janet Collingham, as she was then, beat Sue Shapcott at the 19th in the final of the 1987 Ladies British open amateur championship. And she has represented England at all age levels of amateur golf: girls, ladies and now seniors.
She was probably unlucky never to have gained Curtis Cup honours – 1987 being a Vagliano Trophy year, and she played in the GB&I Vagliano Trophy teams of 1979 and 1987as well as Great Britain ’s Commonwealth Trophy team of 1987.
She was a member of England ’s women’s home internationals line-up, on and off, between 1978 and 1992, which is quite a long time to be regarded as one of your country’s top eight players.
Last year, her first in the over-50s competitions, saw Janet Melville, as she is now known, win the English senior stroke-play title and, as we have said above, be officially placed third in the Senior Ladies British open amateur championship.
Lorna Bennett, from Ladybank Golf Club in Fife , has a leading competitor in Scottish senior’ tournaments since she turned 50. She won her native seniors’ match-play title in 2007 and 2008, beating Fiona de Vries (St Rule) at the 20th in last year’s final.
De Vries also won the Scottish Veteran Ladies Championship last year.
Jane Rees and Vicki Thomas are two of the leading Welsh seniors. Details of Vicki’s record as an amateur could fill a book – She played with distinction in every Curtis Cup match from 1982 to 1992 inclusive and won the Welsh championship eight times between 1979 and 1991. Jane won the Welsh seniors stroke-play title two years ago and her native seniors championship in 2008.
The leading overseas player is expected to be Alison Murdoch from Victoria Golf Club, Vancouver. Winner of the Seniors Ladies British’ amateur championship in 2007, Alison has also won the Canadian senior women’s title five teams and two years ago she crossed the Atlantic to win not only the “British” but also the Irish senior women’s open amateur title – her third success in the Irish tournament over a four-year span.
From the Continent, expect to see another prominent display from Viveca Hoff ( Sweden ) who was runner-up in this championship in 2005 and 2006 and, earlier this summer she came third in the European senior women’s championship in Greece .
And the German team who were surprise winners of the European senior women’s team championship at Dun Laoghaire in Ireland last week will be looking to carry on the good work as individuals at Pyle & Kenfig.
Competitors will be play 18 holes on each of the first two days. The lowest 40 and ties at the end of two rounds will play a further 18 holes on the Thursday.

Northamptonshire’s Gillian

Curley storms to senior success

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Northamptonshire’s Gillian Curley defied strong winds and heavy rain to score a seven-shot victory in the 36-hole senior English women’s North regional tournament at Malton & Norton, Yorkshire.
She put together two steady rounds of 76 to pull off her second victory in three years on the seniors’ circuit.
“The weather was horrible but I just set out to play it one hole at a time – and I putted very well! I seemed to get the measure of the greens and on both days I holed a couple of long putts.” As an additional bonus, Gillian, who plays at Northamptonshire County, has cut her handicap from five to four.
Gillian is a great supporter of EWGA’s seniors’ events. “It’s wonderful to be able to play competitive golf at a good level with like-minded people. These are really good events and it’s absolutely great that they are well organised and well run.”
Meanwhile, Fiona Southern of Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, had a hole in one in the first round on the 127-yard 13th.
Leading final scores
Par 144 (2 x 72) CSS 75 76
Division A
152 Gillian Curley (Northants County) 76 76
159 Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool Golf Club) 80 79
162 Lesley Marsh (Ponteland) 78 84
164 Teresa Taylor (The Club at Mapledurham) 81 83; Judy Butler (Malton & Norton) 80 84
165 Sandra Moses (Knebworth) 83 82
167 Gill Snelson (Branston) 80 87
168 Andrea Stockdale (Mapperley Ladies) 85 83; Jackie Roper (Portal Premier) 85 83
170 Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay) 84 86
Division B
179 Elaine James (Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands) 90 89; Patricia Hague (Malton & Norton) 85 94; Moyra Howie (Alnmouth) 85 94
183 Margaret Brooks (Mickleover) 94 89
184 Pauline Oliver (Burnham Beeches) 88 96
Full details from the EWGA Tournament Information Centre: www.englishwomensgolf.org

Renfrewshire name team

for Scottish county finals

At Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh, Sepember 18 to 10.

RENFREWSHIRE TEAM:

Eilidh Briggs, Kilmacolm
Megan Briggs, Kilmacolm
Clare-Marie Carlton, Fereneze
Donna Jackson, Cochrane Castle
Gillian Kyle, East Renfrewshire
Alyson McKechin, Elderslie
Liz Stewart, Greenburn
Carol Whyte, Windyhill


+Picture is of Alyson McKechin in action at the British girls open amateur championship at West Lancashire Golf Club last month (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click on it to enlarge).

Ten Duramed Futures Tour players

earn 2010 LPGA membership

NEW RELEASE ISSUED BY THE US DURAMED FUTURES TOUR
Ten Duramed FUTURES Tour players have earned 2010 LPGA membership by finishing in the top 10 on the season money list.
This year's Duramed FUTURES Tour graduates are, in order of finish:
1. Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif.
2. Jean Reynolds of Newnan, Ga.
3. Misun Cho of Cheongju, South Korea;
4. Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, British Columbia
5. Song Yi Choi of Seoul, South Korea
6. Whitney Wade of Glasgow, Ky
7. Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ontario
8. Christine Song of Fullerton, Calif
9. Alison Walshe of Westford, Mass.
10. Dewi Claire Schreefel of Diepenveen, Netherlands.
The 2009 season is the eleventh year in the 29-year history of the Duramed FUTURES Tour that players have been able to earn automatic exemptions onto the LPGA Tour and the seventh year that at least five LPGA memberships have been awarded.
From 1999 to 2002, three exemptions were offered to top money winners. The 2009 season marks the second time 10 LPGA memberships were awarded.
Also today, the next five players on the Tour's money list, excluding current LPGA members, earned automatic entry into the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., set for Nov. 2-6. Those players, in order of finish, are as follows:
Pernilla Lindberg of Bollnas, Sweden; Gerina Mendoza of Roswell, N.M.; Danah Ford of Indianapolis; Lisa Meldrum of Montreal, Quebec; Jenny Suh of Fairfax, Va.; and Liz Janangelo of West Hartford, Conn.
"My whole goal this year was to make top five and to get into the LPGA," said Harigae, 19, who finished on top of the Tour's season money list with single-season earnings of $88,386, and a rookie year that included three tournament wins. "But to come in first, it's just the icing on the cake. It's great."
Second-year Tour veteran Reynolds won two times this season and finished second on the Tour's money list with earnings of $76,647.
"It's awesome," said Reynolds. "I've been looking forward to this. It still hasn't sunk in yet. It will probably [sink in] around Christmas when I haven't had to go to Qualifying School. I'm looking forward to next year. It's going to be a fun journey.
Cho also was a two-time winner this season. She finished the season ranked third in earnings at $64,118. She looks forward to next year's LPGA season, when she'll play against several fellow South Koreans.
"It makes me comfortable that there are so many Korean players out there," said Cho. "I can relate to them. I'm just going to enjoy myself next year and just keep working hard."
Richdale's second win of the season at the Turkey Hill Classic in Harrisburg, Pa., sealed the Canadian's spot in the top 5. She finished in the No. 4 spot on the money list with earnings of $59,292.
"I definitely felt I need to make a big move towards the end," said Richdale. "The win in Harrisburg was huge for me. I was able to come out this week and just have fun."
Rounding out the top five with earnings of $42,939 was Choi. She started out the week ranked 11th on the season money list but her win at this week's ILOVENY Championship and her $15,400 winner's check vaulted her up the money list into the No. 5 spot.
"It's a very good feeling," said Choi of her first professional win. "I came into this week knowing I had to win and move up. I can't wait for next year."

US Duramed Futures Tour Scoreboard
$110,000ILOVENY Championship
Capital Hills at Albany, Albany, New York
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
Song Yi Choi (Seoul, South Korea) 67-68-70 - 205 $15,400
Libby Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.) 67-71-68 - 206 $11,000
Alison Walshe (Westford, Mass.) 71-71-65 - 207 $4,901
Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia) 73-66-68 - 207 $4,901
Liz Janangelo (West Hartford, Conn.) 67-71-69 - 207 $4,901
Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 67-70-70 - 207 $4,901
Mina Harigae (Monterey, Calif.) 69-68-70 - 207 $4,901
Cindy LaCrosse (Tampa, Fla.) 70-68-70 - 208 $2,503
Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Ga.) 68-70-71 - 209 $2,228
Kristie Smith (Perth, Australia) 70-70-70 - 210 $1,797
Dewi Claire Schreefel (Diepenveen, Netherlands) 67-72-71 - 210 $1,797
Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 67-70-73 - 210 $1,797
Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Fla.) 71-71-69 - 211 $1,335
Pernilla Lindberg (Bollnas, Sweden) 71-71-69 - 211 $1,335
Gerina Mendoza (Roswell, N.M.) 70-69-72 - 211 $1,335
Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ontario) 69-69-73 - 211 $1,335
Angela Oh (Maple Shade, N.J.) 69-68-74 - 211 $1,335
Danielle Mills (Pointe-Claire, Quebec) 71-72-69 - 212 $1,072
Paola Moreno (Cali, Colombia) 71-72-69 - 212 $1,072
Lehua Wise (Kauai, Hawaii) 70-73-70 - 213 $981
Misun Cho (Cheongju, South Korea) 70-72-71 - 213 $981
Malinda Johnson (Eau Claire, Wis.) 71-71-71 - 213 $981
Sarah Olsen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 71-70-72 - 213 $981
Nicole Jeray (Berwyn, Ill.) 75-71-68 - 214 $919
Stephanie Otteson (Wilson, N.C.) 72-73-69 - 214 $919
Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, South Korea) 71-74-69 - 214 $919
Nicole Hage (Coral Springs, Fla.) 70-73-71 - 214 $919
Katie Miller (Jeannette, Pa.) 73-68-73 - 214 $919
T29 Sophia Sheridan (Guadalajara, Mexico) 74-70-71 - 215 $880 Pornanong Phatlum (Chaiyaphum, Thailand) 68-74-73 - 215 $880 T31 Sofie Andersson (Angelholm, Sweden) 73-74-69 - 216 $837 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Va.) 75-72-69 - 216 $837 Stephanie George (Myerstown, Pa.) 69-77-70 - 216 $837 Jessica Schneider (Elgin, Ill.) 72-73-71 - 216 $837 Whitney Myers (York, Pa.) 70-75-71 - 216 $837 Susan Nam (Edmonton, Alberta) 70-73-73 - 216 $837 Juli Erekson (Chicopee, Mass.) 71-71-74 - 216 $837 Ryann O'Toole (San Clemente, Calif.) 74-68-74 - 216 $837 T39 Melissa Eaton (Port Shepstone, South Africa) 73-72-72 - 217 $792 Lauren Doughtie (Suffolk, Va.) 72-73-72 - 217 $792 Lisa Meldrum (Montreal, Quebec) 74-70-73 - 217 $792 Danah Ford (Indianapolis, Ind.) 70-73-74 - 217 $792 Kelly Lagedrost (Brooksville, Fla.) 72-69-76 - 217 $792 T44 Jennifer Ackerson (Dallas, Texas) 71-74-73 - 218 $765 Elisa Serramia (Barcelona, Spain) 74-70-74 - 218 $765 Maria Laura Elvira (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 72-72-74 - 218 $765 Yoora Kim (Seoul, South Korea) 72-71-75 - 218 $765 Jasi Acharya (Columbus, Mont.) 70-72-76 - 218 $765 T49 Jenny Gleason (Clearwater, Fla.) 74-73-72 - 219 $735 Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Md.) 73-73-73 - 219 $735 Caroline Larsson (Stockholm, Sweden) 71-75-73 - 219 $735 Michaela Cavener (Ponca City, Okla.) 69-75-75 - 219 $735 Carling Coffing (Middletown, Ohio) 71-73-75 - 219 $735 Whitney Wade (Glasgow, Ky.) 72-71-76 - 219 $735 T55 Devan Andersen (Guadalajara, Mexico) 74-73-73 - 220 $712 Nicola Eaton (Port Shepstone, South Africa) 70-75-75 - 220 $712 Garrett Phillips (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 71-73-76 - 220 $712 Gina Umeck (Redlands, Calif.) 69-74-77 - 220 $712 T59 Jill Frantz (Iowa City, Iowa) 71-76-74 - 221 $690 Lori Atsedes (Ithaca, N.Y.) 71-76-74 - 221 $690 Alejandra Shaw (Vina Del Mar, Chile) 72-74-75 - 221 $690 Stacey Bieber (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 72-74-75 - 221 $690 Ashley Prange (Noblesville, Ind.) 70-75-76 - 221 $690 Erin Thorne (Bracebridge, Ontario) 72-71-78 - 221 $690 T65 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Bangkok, Thailand) 73-73-76 - 222 $675 Aimee Cho (Orlando, Fla.) 71-74-77 - 222 $675 T67 Jennifer Hong (Windermere, Fla.) 72-75-76 - 223 $666 Lynn Valentine (East Lyme, Conn.) 77-70-76 - 223 $666 Blair Lamb (Flat Rock, N.C.) 74-72-77 - 223 $666 70 Christine Song (Fullerton, Calif.) 74-73-79 - 226 $660

Canadian Open gives Suzann first win of season

Norway's Suzann Pettersen chalked up her first LPGA Tour win of the season and her sixth overall when she finished five shots ahead of the field in the Canadian Women's Open at Priddis Green Golf & Country Club, Calgary in Alberta.
Suzann scored 65,68, 66 and 70 for a 15-under-par tally of 269 which earned her $412,500.
Five players tied for second place on 274.
Catriona Matthew finished joint 24th with scores of 68, 66, 75 and 73 for a two-under-par total of 282.. She earned $26,008.
Janice Moodie earned $22,650 for a share of 28th place on 283 with scores of 71, 65, 75 and 72.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
269 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 65 68 66 70 /$412,500.
274 Momoko Ueda (Jap) 67 72 70 65, Morgan Pressel 71 71 66 66, Ai Miyazato (Jap) 69 6969 67, Angela Stanford 70 65 69 70, Karrie Webb (Aus) 69 68 68 69 /$157,477 each.
275 In-Kyung Kim (SKor) 69 68 69 69.
276 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 68 71 70 67, Vicky Hurst 71 71 67 67 /$65,195 each.
277 Jiyai Shin (SKor) 72 65 77 63, Juli Inkster 69 72 68 68, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 66 68 72 71, Kristy McPherson 71 67 69 70, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 69 68 70 70, Song-Hee Kim (SKor) 71 62 77 67
278 Amy Yang 70 70 71 67, M.J. Hur (SKor) 68 67 74 69
279 Cristie Kerr 72 69 68 70, Anna Rawson (Aus) 64 73 72 70
280 Stacy Prammanasudh 68 71 74 67, Sun Young Yoo (SKor) 69 66 73 72, Carin Koch (Swe) 68 74 68 70
281 Michele Redman 70 71 70 70
282 Na Yeon Choi (SKor) 74 67 75 66, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 68 66 75 73, In-Bee Park (SKor) 68 74 69 71, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69 70 70/$26,008 each (jt 24th).
283 Paula Creamer 69 71 74 69, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 70 72 67 74, Janice Moodie (Sco) 71 65 75 72/$22,650 each (jt 28th).
284 Soo-Yun Kang (SKor) 74 68 75 67, Sarah-Jane Smith (Aus) 68 73 71 72
285 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 71 71 72 71, Yani Tseng (Tai) 69 67 71 78, Paige Mackenzie 68 73 74 70, Meaghan Francella 73 69 72 71, Hwa seon Lee (SKor) 69 72 74 70, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 69 73 72, Christina Kim 75 66 72 72
286 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 73 69 73 71, Il Mi Chung (SKor) 67 73 75 71, Karen Stupples (Eng) 68 73 74 71, Chella Choi (SKor) 68 71 74 73, Heather Bowie young 69 72 72 73, Pat Hurst 73 68 77 68, Se Ri Pak (SKor) 70 73 71 72, Moira Dunn 72 71 71 72, Allison Fouch 72 69 76 69, Stacy Lewis 68 72 74 72, Amanda Blumenherst 66 75 76 69, Hee Young Park (Kor) 68 72 75 71
287 Jill McGill 73 68 77 69, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 70 71 75 71, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 71 74 70
288 Shi Hyun Ahn (SKor) 75 67 77 69, Meena Lee (SKor) 70 73 71 74, Louise Stahle (Swe) 67 76 72 73, Katie Futcher 68 71 73 76, Karine Icher (Fra) 74 67 75 72, Natalie Gulbis 72 70 75 71, Erica Blasberg 70 72 75 71, Kris Tschetter 71 70 73 74
290 Brittany Lincicome 71 72 70 77
291 Joo Mi Kim (SKor) 67 73 74 77, Jin Young Pak (SKor) 75 68 77 71, Ashli Bunch 72 70 76 73
292 Eunjung Yi (SKor) 71 70 79 72, Hye Jung Choi (SKor) 72 68 78 74, Marcy Hart 72 70 75 75, Kyeong Bae (SKor) 70 73 73 76
294 Jane Park 70 72 75 77, Leta Lindley 69 73 73 79
295 Hannah Jun 71 72 76 76
296 Danielle Downey 74 67 74 81

US Duramed Futures Tour Scoreboard
Capital Hills at Albany, New York State
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
Song Yi Choi (Seoul, South Korea) 67-68 - 135
Angela Oh (Maple Shade, N.J.) 69-68 - 137
Mina Harigae (Monterey, Calif.) 69-68 - 137
Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 67-70 - 137
Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 67-70 - 137
Cindy LaCrosse (Tampa, Fla.) 70-68 - 138
Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ontario) 69-69 - 138
Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Ga.) 68-70 - 138
Libby Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.) 67-71 - 138
Liz Janangelo (West Hartford, Conn.) 67-71 - 138
Gerina Mendoza (Roswell, N.M.) 70-69 - 139
Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia) 73-66 - 139
Dewi Claire Schreefel (Diepenveen, Netherland 67-72 - 139
Kristie Smith (Perth, Australia) 70-70 - 140 15
Sarah Olsen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 71-70 - 141
Kelly Lagedrost (Brooksville, Fla.) 72-69 - 141
Katie Miller (Jeannette, Pa.) 73-68 - 141
Ryann O'Toole (San Clemente, Calif.) 74-68 - 142
Alison Walshe (Westford, Mass.) 71-71 - 142
Pernilla Lindberg (Bollnas, Sweden) 71-71 - 142
Juli Erekson (Chicopee, Mass.) 71-71 - 142
Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Fla.) 71-71 - 142
Malinda Johnson (Eau Claire, Wis.) 71-71 - 142
Misun Cho (Cheongju, South Korea) 70-72 - 142
Jasi Acharya (Columbus, Mont.) 70-72 - 142
Pornanong Phatlum (Chaiyaphum, Thailand) 68-74 - 142
MISSED THE CUT
Gemma Webster (Glasgow, Scotland) 81-71 - 152

Sophie Alexander (Deeside) with the Aberdeenshire girls championship trophy (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency). Click to enlarge.

Sophie Alexander wins Aberdeenshire

girls championship: Kirsten

MacCallum takes handicap trophy

Deeside's Sophie Alexander beat Scotland Under-18 international Sammy Leslie (Westhill) by 5 and 3 in the final of the Aberdeenshire girls championship at Newburgh today (Sunday). Sophie, 15, took a grip on the outcome by winning the first few holes. After Sammy, who will be 18 next month, had rallied with wins at the fourth and sixth, the Deeside player won four holes in a row from the seventh to be six holes up after 10. Leslie rallied by winning back the 12th and 13th but Alexander claimed the title when she won the 15th. In the morning semi-finals, Alexander bt Rachel Polson (Peterculter) by 5 and 4 while Leslie was a 5 and 4 winner over Lauren Duncan (Aboyne). Kirsten MacCallum, a 16-year-old who plays off 10 at Newburgh, won the handicap championship final by 3 and 1 against 13-year-old Tegan Seivwright, who plays off 12 at Deeside. In the semi-finals, Kirsten (pictured above with her trophy, beat Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon), handicap 17, by 3 and 2 while Tegan bt eight-handicapper Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) by one hole. Results Scratch championship Semi-finals Sammy Leslie (Westhill) bt Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) 5 and 4, Sophie Alexander (Deeside) bt Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 5 and 4. Final Alexander bt Leslie 5 and 3. Handicap championship Semi-finals Kirsten MacCallum (Newburgh) (10) bt Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon) (17) 3 and 2, Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) (12) bt Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) (8) 1 hole. Final MacCallum bt Seivwright 3 and 2.

Ladies Home International Matches 2009

The Ladies Home International’s matches are being played at Irvine (Bogside) Golf Course in Ayrshire from 9th – 11th September.

Scotland have a very strong team, including Curtis Cup players and winners of several International amateur events and must have an excellent chance of winning the Home International’s for the first time since 1991 (no pressure girls!). Why not come along and support your team. You are guaranteed to see some great golf and some exciting matches.

The Scottish Team is:

Captain: Lesley Nicholson
Carly Booth (Comrie)
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie)
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
Laura Murray (Alford)
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)
Jane Turner (Craigielaw)
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)

The order of play is as below with three foursomes matches teeing off from 8:30am each morning and six singles matches from 1:10pm in the afternoons:

9th September: England v Wales, Scotland v Ireland
10th September: Ireland v Wales, Scotland v England
11th September; Wales v Scotland, England v Ireland

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
CANADIAN WOMEN'S OPEN
Priddies Green G&CC, Calgary, Alberta
THIRD ROUND LEADERS
Par 213 (3x71)
199 Suzann Petersen 65 68 66.
204 Angela Stanford 70 65 69.
205 Karrie Webb 69 68 68.
206 In-Kyung Kim 69 68 69, Lorena Ochoa 66 68 72.
Selected scores:
209 Catriona Matthew 68 66 75 (jt 12th).
211 Janice Moodie 71 65 75 (jt 23rd).