Competitors in the Grand Final of the Golf 4 Women Salver at Desert Springs.

Northern Ireland ladies win Golf 4

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Women Salver at Desert Springs

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NEWS RELEASE
Lady golfers Heather Patterson and Louise Gaw – both members of Edenmore Golf Club in Northern Ireland – have won this year’s grand final of the Golf 4 Women Salver at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria in south-east Spain.
This is the first year that players from Northern Ireland have competed in the annual Salver competition, its ninth year.
Runners-up were last year’s champions Linda Bowden and Viv Monument from Bowood Golf and Country Club in Wiltshire.
The tournament was played in American Greensome format. The winning score was 39 points and the runners-up scored 37.
The event was run in conjunction with the Douglas Bader Foundation. The charity, set up in memory of the limbless wartime flying ace to assist disabled people, celebrated its silver jubilee last year.
More than £20,000 was raised for the charity by this year’s Golf 4 Women Salver which was a year-long event involving more than 3,000 women golfers from over 300 clubs throughout the UK.
Each club held a qualifying tournament on its own golf course, producing two winners who qualified for one of 11 regional finals. The winners of each regional final, together with last year’s champions, qualified for the grand final at Desert Springs.
The 24 players who enjoyed an all-expenses-paid four-night stay at Desert Springs played two practice rounds prior to the final round.
The Desert Springs Golf Academy director and ladies golf co-ordinator Christine Langford, who hosted the final and regional events, has successfully pioneered Golf 4 Women in a bid to encourage more women to take up the sport.
Christine, a former Ladies European Tour player and leading golf coach, organises golfing holidays specifically tailored to the interests of lady players at Desert Springs. Also available are three-day tuition packages, with lessons by a professional in the Desert Springs Golf Academy, as well as three- and seven-day breaks. Some include health and beauty treatments in the Day Spa at Desert Springs.

+Pictured above right is Desert Springs Golf Academy director and ladies golf co-ordinator Christine Langford (centre) with the winners of the Golf 4 Women Salver, Heather Patterson (left) and Louise Gaw from Edenmore Golf Club, which is four miles east of Lurgan in Northern Ireland, according to the "Golfer's Handbook."

Harburn Golf Club professional Stephen Mills and clubgolf Level 2 coach Macrina Crawford with girls from the club’s girls-only clubgolf coaching course. Image by Rob Eyton-Jones.

Harburn out to encourage more girls to play golf

Harburn Golf Club, one of the first clubs in Scotland to join forces with the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, has started a new initiative to encourage more girls to play golf.
Over the last five years the West Calder club has transformed its junior membership and coaching through clubgolf, the partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland created as a legacy following Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup.
By having its PGA Pro, Stephen Mills, fully involved, the Club is ideally placed to coach children from complete beginner to advanced levels of the clubgolf programme.
In a thriving junior set up, the solitary blemish was that the number of girls attending weekly coaching was heavily outnumbered by boys.
It’s a statistic the Club, its Pro and its volunteer coaches have been quick to remedy. Last month Harburn held an open day for girls and the interest was so great that it has started a weekly girls-only coaching session.
“We have fewer than 30 girl members but we want a lot more so this is our ladies’ initiative for recruiting more,” said Harburn member and clubgolf Level 2 coach, Macrina Crawford.
“Twelve girls came for our open day and 11 have come back for the coaching which is an eight week course running through to the end of the year.
“Some of the girls had never picked up a club before and probably never had the chance to play golf until now. Our aim is to make it fun, they all get along very well because it’s an all girl group and they are learning better as a result.”
Through clubgolf partner, the Golf Foundation, Harburn was awarded a discretionary grant for £500, which supports Stephen Mills’ involvement in the girls coaching.
“Girls only coaching is certainly a good way to keep them involved,” said Stephen. “We are trying to make it a sport for everyone and we recognize that girls’ participation in golf could be a lot better.
“Some of these girls have already joined the Club which is very encouraging. We plan to run another girls coaching course in the spring and will get them out playing and hopefully get them handicaps.
“We’ve been giving clubgolf coaching for a number of years. It’s working in all levels and our members are very supportive. clubgolf is a great idea, especially getting golf into schools, which gives children who might not have had it the opportunity to play.”
This year some 38,000 P5 children were introduced to the game at school through the clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf. Over 1400 of them were from West Lothian.
“firstclubgolf is very popular with the children in my schools with over 100 children having an introduction this year,” said Lucy Goddard, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the West Calder area.
“Girls are one of our target groups to engage with more activity so it’s great that Harburn is promoting coaching for girls.
Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager
http://www.clubgolfscotland.com/

ABU DHABI JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tom Lewis and Alex Peters lead

boys/girls' sections

NEWS RELEASE
Day two of The Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship, presented by The Daily Telegraph, got underway with all juniors hoping to improve on their first-round scores. With eight of the nine girls bunched together with only three shots separating them, it was all to play for.
The conditions were similar to the first day, a little breeze and glorious sunshine, very different to the weather back home.
With Tom Lewis’ fantastic round of eight-under par 64 on Friday putting him way out in front of the rest of the boys’ field, he was definitely the one the others were striving to catch. With a seven shot lead heading into the second day, there was little pressure on Tom.
Joining him in the last group off the tee was Chris Lloyd, who started the day at one-under par, and Jordan Ainley, starting at one-over par.
Tom and Chris both birdied the first hole but Chris was the one with the momentum as he went on to birdie the first three holes and reduce the gap to five shots. However, Tom increased his lead again by the end of the first nine, with both boys going out in 33 (three-under par).
Few others looked like making progress on their score but Ross Mitchell, the leading qualifier, finished with a tidy two-under par 70 to finish the day in third position.
British boys' champion Tom Lewis completed his round in steady fashion with not one dropped shot on the back nine to finish the second round at 11 under par 133 overall.
The round of the day came from the sponsors’ invitation, Chris Lloyd who had a successive run of three birdies on the back nine to finish the day on seven-under-par 137, only four shots behind Tom. We should be in for an interesting round tomorrow.
In the girls’ competition, the best round of the day came from Alex Peters, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, one of this year's British girls' championship semi-finalists who is playing in her third Junior Championship. Alex shot a very steady one-under par 71 to get to a total of two-under par 142 and she lies four shots clear of the field.
Sophie Godley and Holly Clyburn remain in joint second place but rounds of 75 leave them with a lot of work to do on the final day to challenge Alex.
After completing their rounds, the juniors attended a Skills Challenge where the focus was on the short game – putting and chipping. David Howell, past player of the tournament and former World Number 10, was there to give advice to the juniors and to answer any questions they may have had. They played a number of putting and chipping games the competitive spirit remained but fun was had by all at the same time.


SCROLL DOWN FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS' SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Abu Dhabi Junior International Championship
Presented by the Daily Telegraph

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

BOYS
Par 144 (2x72)
133 Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 64 69.
137 Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire) 71 66.
144 Ross Mitchell (Sunningdale) 74 70.
148 Tomasz Anderson (Mill Green) 74 74.
149 Myles Angell (Clevedon) 76 73, Ben Herbert (Clacton-on-Sea) 74 75.
150 Ryan Fricker (Yelverton) 77 73, Jordan Ainley (Brokenhurst Manor) 77 73.
152 Jack MacKenzie (Princes) 75 77.
153 Ben Ludlam (Dunwood Manor) 79 74.
157 Tom Ibbertson (Coventry Hearsall) 82 75.
159 Joel Neale (United Arab Emirates) 75 84.

GIRLS
Par 144 (2x72)
142 Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 71 71.
146 Sophie Godley (Lindrick) 71 75, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 71 75.
147 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 73 74, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73 74.
148 Georgia Hall (Ferndown) 74 74.
152 Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills) 74 78.
157 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 74 83.
168 Michaela Chivers (Farrington) 83 85.

Professional Sandy Strachan and the Deer Park Golf Club youngsters (image by Rob Eyton-Jones)

New Deer Park youth drive gaining momentum

Whilst golf takes its annual sabbatical in clubs across the country, Deer Park Golf & Country Club is intensifying its efforts to build a junior section which its Pros hope will eventually become a junior academy.
By its own admission Deer Park has not had the depth of juniors expected from a club which prides itself on its family orientation. Like many golf clubs it has a lot of juniors on its books...yet only a handful play regularly.
Now, the club is taking action to redress the balance. It has halved its membership fee for eight to 13 year olds to £89, has started offering clubgolf coaching and is developing a short course for juniors.
“Kids have always been keen to play here but it was too expensive and we were becoming a feeder for other clubs,” said Sandy Strachan, who joined the Club as Head Pro from Bathgate two years ago and is leading the junior drive.
“That’s fine for getting kids into golf but we weren’t seeing the benefit. So reducing the membership has really given us the opportunity to get active and get kids in. My aim was to get the membership fee right then make a heavy push on the coaching and build a junior section.”
Deer Park’s timing has been perfect."

This year some 38,000 P5 children were introduced to the game at school through the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, the partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland created as a legacy following Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup.
Over 1400 of these children are from West Lothian making Deer Park, with its new junior focus, well placed to offer a continuation of the programme.
“We have been working with clubgolf and Active Schools to get the message out to local schools and the potential for children to come here for coaching is massive,” said Sandy, who attracted 30 children, many of them from non golfing families, to his clubgolf Stage 1 coaching course this year.
Deer Park has a significant advantage over some clubs in that its Pros, Sandy and John Murray, are leading the coaching. At just £20 for the eight week course the programme, which is subsidised by a £400 grant from the Golf Foundation, is certainly affordable and comparable to the price of coaching delivered elsewhere by volunteer coaches.
“I’m doing the teaching because I feel that by catching children straight away I can nurture them from there and make sure they are going to be good junior members,” said Sandy.
“I have got my Stage 3 qualification, as has John Murray who joined us from Turnhouse (John was one of the first Pros in Scotland to offer clubgolf Stage 3 coaching) so we can take the children right through the levels to the advanced stages.”
Sandy does not see the onset of winter and deteriorating light and weather as an obstacle in progressing his clubgolf programme. Last week he was nearing the end of the second phase of coaching for children who have been with him this season.
“I’ve realised it’s more the case that Pros don’t want to be out in the winter but the kids are keen as mustard and as long as they are well wrapped up they have a great time,” he said.
“Of course if things get really bad we have the facilities to go indoors. Winter is a quiet time so there is a great opportunity for us to get out and utilise the course.
For its first year the programme has been a success. Consistent numbers of children have turned up for coaching on Fridays and Saturdays and all the children have got better.
“These are the first group of kids who have come in from the schools and have stayed with the programme since early summer,” said Sandy. “They have all made an improvement and quite a few of them are starting to hit well.
“We are coordinating with the schools that have done clubgolf’s introductory game to get another intake of children after Christmas. There are around 20 schools in the Livingston area so the potential is large.
“We are obviously at the start but what we are working towards is to create a Deer Park Junior Academy where you we take in children from a very young age and coach them right through to Scottish level and hopefully even professional.”
Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager
clubgolf website: http://www.clubgolfscotland.com/

Tiger Woods released from hospital after car crash outside home

Earlier reports that Tiger Woods was "seriously injured" in an early morning (Florida local) car crash outside his home were apparently exaggerated. The "Orlando Sentinel" newspaper reports that he suffered facial lacerations but had been released from hospital.
Switch over to www.scottishgolfview.com to reach more on the story.

Kylie Walker, Katy McNicoll, Gemma Webster also bound for Spain

Carly Booth (17) enters Ladies European
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Tour School at La Manga next month

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Perthshire schoolgirl Carly Booth, 17, is one of four Scots entered for Stage 1 of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at La Manga, Spain from December 14 to 16.
Glenalmond School pupil Carly from Comrie, at 15, was the youngest player ever to represent Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup when she played against the Americans over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, 2008. She is a member of the preliminary squad for next June's match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts.
Carly Booth's older brother, Wallace Booth, who turned pro after this year's Walker Cup match, failed to get past Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School earlier this month.
Apart from Carly, the other Scots girls seeking playing rights for the 2010 LET season are Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) and Glasgow's Gemma Webster, both professionals, and amateur Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), runner-up in this year's European women's amateur championship. Kylie is also a 2010 Curtis Cup squad member.
Galway-born Alison Walshe, who played for the United States in the 2008 Curtis Cup match, is also among the entries.
The leading 50 players and ties after Stage 1's three-round eliminator will go forward to join exempt players, such as Scots Pamela Feggans and Clare Queen if they do not get into the leading 89 in the money table after the final event of the season, the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, at the Final Qualifying School, also at La Manga, over four rounds from December 18 to 21.

+Carly Booth is pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency at the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club in September. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Abu Dhabi junior championship, sponsored by Daily Telegraph

Lewis leads by seven in boys' event but it's

Holly, Sophie & Alex (71) sharing girls' lead

ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES AT A GLANCE:

BOYS (par 72)
Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 64
Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire) 71
Jordan Ainley (Brokenhurst Manor) 73
Ben Herbert ( Clackton-on-Heath) 74
Tomasz Anderson (Mill Green) 74
Ross Mitchell (Sunningdale) 74
Jack Mackenzie (Princes) 75
Joel Neale (United Arab Emirates) 75
Myles Angell (Clevedon) 76
Ryan Fricker (Yelverton) 77
Ben Ludlam (Dunwood Manor) 79
Tom Ibbertson (Coventry Hearsall) 82
GIRLS (par 72)
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) 71
Sophie Godley (Lindrick) 71
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 71
Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 73
Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73
Georgia Hall (Ferndown) 74
Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 74
Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills) 74
Michaela Chivers (Farrington) 83

NEWS RELEASE
The Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship presented by The Daily Telegraph got underway today at The Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Twenty one juniors teed it up in the blazing sunshine, all hoping for a chance to take home the title. Past winners of this prestigious competition include Justin Rose, Andrew Coltart, Rebecca Hudson and more recently Oliver Fisher and Melissa Reid. Twenty juniors arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening and were joined by Joel Neale, an 18-year old UAE resident making up the twenty one finalists for a practice round on Wednesday. Whilst the finalists enjoyed their first taste of the golf course, a past player of the tournament, David Howell helped local UAE professionals to coach UAE children in a junior clinic. This is an initiative which has been facilitated by The R & A’s development committee, as well as Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Emirates Golf Federation, in order to encourage more juniors from the region to play golf.
In preparation for the main competition, the finalists took part in a Challenge Match yesterday where they all partnered a local UAE junior in a fourball betterball stableford format. Tom Ibbertson and Sohail Al Marzooqi claimed the trophy, scoring 42 points.
Round One of the championship took place today. A number if the girls picked up shots early on but throughout the round there were a number of them bunched at the top of the leaderboard. At the end of the day, there were three girls who shot the leading score of one-under-par 71 – Alexandra Peters, Sophie Godley and Holly Clyburn. Heading into the second round it is all to play for as there are eight girls separated by only three shots.
English girls' champion and Curtis Cup candidate Clyburn looked destined to end the first day a shot clear of the girls' field but she was bunkered at the last where a great three-wood shot just caught a greenside bunker instead of running on to the green.
Peters did not look a threat to the leaders when the first nine holes cost her 38 shots. But she showed her class in coming out in 33 with four birdies for a share of the lead.
In the boys’ competition, there was a slightly different story revealing as Tom Lewis, winner of the British Boys and Carris Trophy this year came darting out of the blocks. A very steady front 9 took him to -3 and he was leading by a few shots at the turn.
Five birdies in a row from the tenth put him at -8 for the round. Perhaps by his standards a disappointing 18th hole having driven into the bunker and only making a par but all in all a fantastic day’s work. Chris Lloyd, the sponsor’s invite, is seven shots behind Tom on the leaderboard after a solid 71, with a very respectable back nine of two-under par.

News from the Polo Junior Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

FROM THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
It turned out to be quite a Thanksgiving at PGA National.
Rolex Junior Player of the Year Jordan Spieth and 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur champ Cory Whitsett advanced to the semi-finals of the Polo Golf Junior Classic today at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and will square off Friday morning with a trip to the championship match on the line.
Oliver Schniederjans and Cameron Wilson will play in the other semi-final.
In the girls’ division, two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year Victoria Tanco and Golfweek’s top-ranked junior Alexis Thompson also moved on to the semi-finals. Thompson will face A.J. Newell, while Tanco will play Kelly Shon.
Tanco was one down with four holes to play in her quarter-final with Tiffany Lim, but won No. 15 with a birdie to square the match, then took the lead by winning the 16th with a par. She won match by one hole with a par at the last.
Thompson cruised, winning her second round match, 4 and 2, over Beverly Vantananugulkit and knocking off Grace Na (first-round conqueror of Ireland's No 6 seed, Stephanie Meadow), 5 and 4, in the quarter-finals. Thompson has yet to reach the 17th hole in any of her matches.
Spieth lost just one hole in his 6-and-5 victory over Jeff Wibawa in the second round, then built a five-hole lead through 12 holes in his quarter-final with Matthew Ceravolo, before winning, 3 and 2.
Whitsett won six consecutive holes to gain a seven-hole advantage on second round opponent Franco Castro before defeating him, 5 and 4. Whitsett rolled in the quarter-finals, too, beating Bobby Wyatt, 2 and 1.
Schniederjans knocked off medalist (leading qualifier) Emiliano Grillo by one hole to reach the semi-finals. Wilson, meanwhile, was two down after three holes in his quarter-final against Denny McCarthy, but won the fourth, fifth and sixth holes, then the ninth and 10th to build a three-hole lead. He went on to win, 5 and 3.
Results from the quarter-finals at the AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic at the PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

BOYS

QUARTER-FINALS
Jordan Spieth def. Matthew Ceravolo, 3 and 2
Cory Whitsett def. Bobby Wyatt, 2 and 1
Oliver Schniederjans def. Emiliano Grillo 1 hole.
Cameron Wilson def. Denny McCarthy, 5 and 3

SECOND ROUND
Matthew Ceravolo def. Curtis Thompson at 20th
Jordan Speith def. Jeff Wibawa, 6 and 5
Cory Whitsett def. Franco Castro, 5 and 4
Bobby Wyatt def. Richard Werenski 1 hole.
Emiliano Grill def. Sean Kelly, 3 and 2
Oliver Schniederjans def. Stephen Behr Jr., 4 and 3
Denny McCarthy def. Clancy Waugh, 3 and 2
David Mills def. Cameron Wilson, 6 and 5

FIRST ROUND
Curtis Thompson def. Anton Arboleda, 2 and 1
Matthew Ceravolo def. Wyndham Clark, 5 and 3
Jordan Spieth def. Tanner Kesterson, 2 and 1
Jeff Wibawa def. Kramer Hickok, 4 and 3
Cory Whitsett def. Theodore Lederhausen 2 holes.
Franco Castro def. Motin Yeung 1 hole.
Richard Werenski def. Jay Hwang, 4 and 3
Bobby Wyatt def. M.J. Maguire, 5 and 4
Emiliano Grillo def. Patrick Rodgers 1 hole.
Sean Kelly def. Seiji Liu, 3 and 2
Oliver Schniederjans def. Ji Soo Park, 4 and 3
Stephen Behr Jr. def. Austin Cody, 4 and 3
Denny McCarthy def. Niclas Carlsson, 2 and 1
Clancy Waugh def. Oscar Lengdén at 19th.
David Mills def. Jim Liu at 19th.
Cameron Wilson def. Andrew Levitt, 1 hole.
• • •
GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS
Victoria Tanco def. Tiffany Lim, 1 hole.
Kelly Shon def. Simin Feng, 5 and 4
A.J. Newell def. Emma Talley, 2 and 1
Alexis Thompson def. Grace Na, 5 and 4

SECOND ROUND
Tiffany Lim def. Alison Lee, 1 hole
Victoria Tanco def. Austin Ernst, 4 and 2
Simin Feng def. Casey Grice, 6 and 5
Kelly Shon def. Doris Chen, 3 and 2
A.J. Newell def. Kristen Park at 19th
Emma Talley def. Marijosse Navarro, 5 and 4
Alexis Thompson def. Beverly Vantananugulkit, 4 and 2
Grace Na def. Sarah Brown, 2 and 1

FIRST ROUND
Tiffany Lim def. Nicole Zhang, 4 and 3
Alison Lee def. Ani Gulugian, at 20th
Austin Ernst def. Gabriella Then, 5 and 4
Victoria Tanco def. Kyle Roig, 6 and 5
Casey Grice def. Szu-Han Chen, 2 holes.
Simin Feng def. Madelene Sagström, 1 hole.
Doris Chen def. Michelle Butler, 4 and 2
Kelly Shon def. Mariah Stackhouse, 2 and 1
Kristen Park def. Jessica Korda, at 19th.
A.J. Newell def. Luz Alejandra Cangrejo at 19th.
Emma Talley def. Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, 1 hole.
Marijosse Navarro def. Ashlan Ramsey, 1 hole.
Alexis Thompson def. Yueer Cindy Feng, 6 and 4
Beverly Vatananugulkit def. Laetitia Beck, 4 and 3
Grace Na def. Stephanie Meadow, 2 holes.
Sarah Brown def. Jessica Vasilic, 2 and 1
• Click here for stroke-play qualifying scores

Karen Stupples sets sights on

Dubai Ladies Masters

FROM THE KHALEEJ TIMES WEBSITE
DUBAI — From waiting tables at a public golf course to making lots of money as a tour pro, Karen Stupples, winner of the 2009 Wales Ladies Championship of Europe, knows a thing or two about how to succeed in life.
She will be making her first appearance in the forthcoming Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, determined to add a new chapter to her success story in the world of golf.
“Go over, go under, go around, go through, but never give up,” is her mantra for success.
“There are no guarantees in golf,” said the 2004 British Open champion ahead of the Euro 500,000 season-ending Ladies European Tour event to be held at the Emirates Golf Club from December 7 to 12.
“I love being competitive and winning is fantastic, but the best feeling of all is knowing you have done something to the best of your ability,” said Stupples, who will join a top-class star cast in Dubai, spearheaded by American superstar Michelle Wie.
Making a good living as a tour golfer is quite an achievement for a player who first caddied for her father to earn pocket money and then waited tables at a public golf course in Folkestone, Kent, because she didn’t have the resources to take a run at Q-School or to play the LPGA circuit even if she qualified.
“I have never been to Dubai before and this will be my first trip so it is really exciting for me,” said the 36-year-old who is only the third English player to win a major after Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas.
“Everybody says Dubai is amazing and a place you can put on your list of a place you must visit before you die.
“I feel very lucky that I have the opportunity to go there and play a golf tournament,” said Stupples, whose best finish on the LPGA Tour this season being a tie for 15th at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
“I don’t know (what to expect). I want to go and play as well as I can and I know that if I play to my best ability I will have a good chance of winning at the end of the week,” said Stupples, who shot a season-low 65 in the third round of the LPGA Corning Classic.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work recently on my game and we’ll see how it works out,” said Stupples, who has an ongoing problem with the veins in her legs, which restricts the amount of time she can spend on practising.
“I have been having some more lasers on my legs, on my veins, and I’m still not finished with the whole ordeal. At the end of a round my legs were very tired, very heavy and achy. Hopefully, I’ll be a much fitter Karen Stupples in 2010.”
“Karen is a perfect example of how to keep the fire burning in adversity — a role model for all those who are aiming to have a successful career as a professional golfer,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi — the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
“We are delighted to welcome her to Dubai and hope her presence will provide a major boost to women’s golf in Dubai.
“With players of the stature of Michelle Wie, Laura Davies, Catriona Matthew and In Kyong Kim among other superstars lining up for honour this year, I am sure the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters will produce an exciting battle before the winner is crowned,” he added.

Alice Hewson with European Tour star Nick Dougherty at

St Andrews and (above right) Alice Hewson the swimmer

All-round sportsgirl Alice Hewson

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coming back to HdA Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Alice Hewson knows what to expect at the 3rd Hacienda

del Alamo Winter Festival, supported by Glenmuir, in February - she played over

the Dave-Thomas designed course at the five-star resort

in south-east Spain last February.
And Alice, only 12 years old, with a handicap of 12 has packed a lot of sport into the months since then.

Alice's dad Dominic was kind enough to pass on to me what

her school magazine had to say about it:

"Alice Hewson has made her presence felt on the golf course and in the pool this year. The talented 12-year-old, who is a pupil at Berkhamsted School, has been selected for the English Ladies ‘Super Birdies’ Development Squad and she swam in seven events at the British National Swimming Championships in Sheffield.
"Swimming – In July, Alice competed at the National Swimming Championships at Sheffield’s International Olympic Pool in seven different events, winning a well deserved Silver Medal in the 100m Backstroke in an amazing sub-70 second time of 1:09.28, and finishing a creditable ninth in the overall standings.
"Golf - Having discarded her swim-suit, Alice donned her spikes and took on the country’s best young golfers in the England U-13 Championships, and then played in the US Kids World Championships in the US and finally the HSBC Wee Wonders event at St. Andrews where she secured second place with a final round 72.

"In recognition of her achievements, Alice has been selected for the 2009-2010 England Development Squad, which will train at Brocket Hall over the winter and spring. Alice plays her golf at Berkhamsted Golf Club who have supported Alice since she started playing at the age of seven, and has a highly respectable handicap of 8."

Well done, indeed, Alice! Most girls would be in Wonderland if they had had a sporting year like that.
Alice will team up with dad Dominic for the curtain-rising better-ball pairs at the Hacienda del Alamo Festival on Saturday, February 13 when the field will also include the resort's own golfing fraternity, men and ladies, on the day before St Valentine's Day.

Then Alice will play in the Under-16 girls' section of the 36-hole Murcia Open on the Monday and Tuesday (February 15-16) followed by the Hacienda del Alamo Open over 54 holes on the Thursday-Friday-Saturday (February 18-19-20).

LATE NEWS: Hollie Vizard, a member of Pleasington Golf Club, Blackburn, has entered the Hacienda del Alamo Open Under-16 girls' section over the three rounds. Hollie will celebrate her 15th birthday on December 11 and has nine of a handicap.

Welcome to the Festival, Hollie!

Entry forms for the Festival which runs from February the 13th to the 20th are available by clicking on appropriate wording at the top of the left hand column of the Home Page on this website. If you still have any queries, E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Kelsey MacDonald out to impress Curtis Cup selectors with Hacienda del Alamo Festival performances. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency (click to enlarge).

Kelsey Macdonald is fifth Curtis Cup squad player to enter

Hacienda del Alamo

February Festival

Dulcie & Daisy bid

for girls' titles, and

welcome to four

seniors from Lancs

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, Kelsey MacDonald, Stirling University & Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, has become the FIFTH member of the GB&I Curtis Cup squad to enter the 3rd Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival, supported by Glenmuir, at the five-star golf resort in the Spanish south-east province of Murcia.

Kelsey, flying from Prestwick to Murcia Airport, won't arrive in time for a free practice round for the 36-hole Murcia Open on the Monday and Tuesday (February 15-16) but she will be fully tuned up over the Dave Thomas-designed course which hosted a European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 event last weekend by the time she plays in the 54-hole Hacienda del Alamo Open on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday (February 18-19-20).

Other Curtis Cup players who have entered are English amateur champion Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall), English girls champion Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Amy Boulden (Maesdu) and last year's English women's title-winner, Hannah Barwood (Knowle).

The Curtis Cup selectors will be keeping a close watch on the form of the competitors at the Festival because they have to name their team of eight to tackle the Americans at Essex County Club, Massachusetts from June 11 to 13 on Sunday, April 25 and British & Irish domestic season has hardly begun by then. Hence the importance of playing in early-year golf tournaments such as the Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival.

Dulcie Sverdloff from Southend, Essex and a member of Balards Gore Golf Club has entered the Under-16 girls' sections for the 36-hole and 54-hole competitions at the Festival.

Dulcie will play with her dad Aaron in the better-ball pairs which rings up the Festival curtain on Saturday, February 13

Dulcie is the current East Region Under-15 champion and was runner-up to Daisy Dyer in the Under-18s' section of that event at Newmarket Golf Club earleir this year. Daisy has also entered the Festival (Dulcie, left, and Daisy are pictured above).

Good news too that we have also received our first entries for the seniors' sections which run in conjuction with the Under-16s, the Under-18s and the ladies' events at both the individual stroke-play competitions.

For some reason senior entries have been slow to come in this year but perhaps the example of Linda Marr, Gillian Gardiner and Audrey Lee - all members of Fleetwood Golf Club, Lancashire - and Linda Wilson (Ashton & Lea GC) will stir many more over-50s to go out to the Festival.

Entry forms are available by clicking on the appropriate words at the top of the left-hand column of this website's Home Page.

If you have any queries, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Entries will close in mid-January.

Incidentally, we are quite prepared to run lady professional categories at the Festival if they are interested.

Those who are WPGA-trained and working at clubs might consider going out to Hacienda del Alamo with a party of lady club members. The practice facilities, including a six-hole academy course, a two-tiered driving range, where it is possible to play off grass, a dedicated bunker practice facility and two big practice greens, one for putting and the other for chipping.

Stephanie Meadow loses in Florida first round

Ireland's Stephanie Meadow, the No 6 seed, went down in the first round of the match-play stages of the Girls' Division of the Polo Golf Junior Classic at PGA National Golf Resort, West Palm Beach in Florida.
She lost by two holes to the No 27 qualifier, Grace Na from Oakland, California.
Tiffany Lim of San Jose, California, kicked off the match-play stages with the biggest upset of the day, as she defeated the No. 1 seed Nicole Zhang of Calgary, Alberta, 4 and 3. Lim made two birdies on the front nine of her match to take a three-up lead at the turn, then parred her way through the back nine until she closed out Zhang on the 15th hole.
Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, one of the title favourites, cruised past Cindy Feng of Orlando by a score of 6 and 4. Thompson was three under par for the 14 holes.
In other matches: Rolex Junior Player of the Year Victoria Tanco of Bradenton, Fla., advanced with a 6-and-5 victory over Kyle Roig of Pembroke Pines, Calif. Austin Ernst of Seneca, South Carolina, awaits after winning 5 and 4 over Gabriella Then of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Second-seeded Jessica Korda of Bradenton, Fla., was defeated at the 19th by Kristen Park of Buena Park, Calif.
The morning play had to be suspended from 9.14am to 11.30am local time because of lightning in the area. Second-round ties were halted at 5pm because of more bad weather and darkness.
View PDF versions of the match play brackets: Boys Division and Girls Division.
Follow the matches via FootJoy Live Scoring when play resumes.

CARNOUSTIE'S KATY OUT OF THE MONEY IN FLORIDA North of Scotland amateur winner this past summer at Newmachar, Katy McNicoll from Carnoustie, now a professional and competing on the Florida Suncoast Ladies Tour until next month's Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at La Manga, finished joint 22nd in a field of 41 players at Monday and Tuesday's 36-hole stroke-play event over the Legends course at LPGA International Golf Club, Daytona Beach. Katy had rounds of 72 and 78 for 150, the same score as Anna Scott from Consett in the North-east of England. Anna, like Katy, spent four years at a US university. Anna, a six-footer, was a student at Georgia, Katy at Lynn University at Boca Raton, Florida where she is also helping out with the golf programme. The British pair finished out of the money. First prize of $1,500 was won by Spain's Beatriz Recari with rounds of 72 and 68 for a four-under-par total of 140 - two shots ahead of the field.

Clare Queen looking on bright side

SHE HAS TO WIN AT LEAST 3,000 EUROS IN FINAL EVENT
TO AVOID TOUR SCHOOL RETURN ... BUT SAYS THIS SEASON
COULD BE THE BEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO HER!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Unless she can win a minimum of 3,000 Euros in the final event of the Ladies European Tour season - the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters from December 9 to 12, Clare Queen will have to go back to the Tour School at La Manga to regain her player's card for the 2010 season.
Next week's Dubai pro-am is a non-counter for the money table, so Clare's current position of 98th with earnings of 12,773 Euros from 17 events is not going to be affected by that.
In theory the top 80 players in the money table at the end of the season retain their playing rights.
But there are nine players currently in the top 80 who have not competed in six events this season - almost all of them LPGA Tour players - and so that means it will be the leading 89 in the LET money table AFTER the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters who will be "safe."
The player is Queen's sights has to be Maria Verchenova who occupies the 89th place with earnings of 15,534 Euros. Get above Maria by the time the last putt drops in Dubai and Clare - as well as other Scots such as Pamela Feggans (93rd with 14,408 Euros) and Michele Thomson (107th with 8,771 Euros) - will be laughing.
Not that Queen is down in the dumps at all after a season which, to the neutral observer, would have seemed to be a disappointing one for the former British girls champion (2001) and British women's amateur stroke-play champion (2004) who played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy matches of 2003 and 2005.
The Scot from Drumpellier, who plays out of The Carrick at Loch Lomond, is 26 and coming up to the end of her fourth season as a professional. No one would dispute that Clare had the talent as an amateur which suggested she would follow in the footsteps of Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay and be a fixture on the LPGA Tour by her 27th birthday late next April.
But that has not happened ... so far.
However, Clare is one of those optimists who sees the glass as half full rather than half empty and she is already looking forward to the 2010 season!
"It's been a funny year for me. I started off really well with a top 10 finish in Australia and hoped that I would continue that form when we returned to Europe in May," says Queen.
"I'ts been frustrating as I never managed to get any momentum going and lost a bit of confidence. "Ironically my long game has been better than ever and I have struck the ball consistently well all year but I have struggled a bit with my short game and therefore my scoring hasn't been good.
"The last couple of months have been much better though and I'm feeling good going into Dubai. I know I need a solid week out there but my game is in good shape so there's no reason why I can't do it.
"I think in the long run this year could be the best thing that's happened to me as I've learned a lot about my game and myself and I know what I need to improve on. Once I have secured my card for next year I can look forward to 2010."
The Scots who have no worries about retaining their place on the LET in 2010 are Krystle Caithness, who has had a very good rookie year. The Fifer, who now lives in Cupar, has won 44,761 Euros from 14 events and is a comfortable 38th in the money table.
Vikki Laing from Musselburgh, on her first year on the European Tour, has found a consistency and with it, perhaps, a degree of confidence which she lacked in the United States.
Vikki is 59th in the table with 26,401 Euros from 16 events.
Lynn Kenny from Dunblane is 78th with earnings of 17,163 Euros from 17 events.
Ayrshire's Pamela Feggans has not done so well on her first year in Europe as Krystle and Vikki but a good performance in Dubai would lift her into the safety zone. Pamela, who is on the reserve list for a place in the is in 93rd position with earnings of 14,408 Euros - a couple of thousand Euros would do the trick with something to spare.
Former Scottish amateur champion and past Curtis Cup player Michele Thomson has played in only seven LET events in her rookie year. This is partly because she did not gain a high enough category of membership at last year's Tour School. At the same time, the Ellon player has not played at all for several months.

Angus county prizewinners during 2009 season

Angus Ladies County Golf Association prizewinners during the 2009 season, pictured by courtesy of Aileen Hunter.
Ailsa Summer (Carnoustie Ladies) dominated the Angus season, winning the junior championship, the women's champion and the county scratch match-play. Julie Taylor from

Kirriemuir won the champion of champions' event.

Prizewinners from left to right are
Back row: Fiona Reid, Julie Taylor, Kathleen Sutherland, Chris Healey (captain), Ailsa Summers, Clare Penman, Sue Baxby, Sharon Young
Front row : Ashley Smith, Nancy Duncan, Heather Munro

Nancy Duncan receives

honorary membership

Retiring president Nancy Duncan received a presentation and honorary membership of Angus County in recognition of 10 years unwavering support as president and her efforts in representing Angus in over 180 matches as a player.

Pictured left (courtesy of Aileen Hunter):
Nancy Duncan (retiring president) with Mary Summers (vice-captain) on left and Chris Healey (captain) on right.

Angus office-bearers for 2010:

President: Sheena Hay
Captain: Chris Healey
Vice Capt: Mary Summers
Hon Secretary: Marilyn Raitt
Hon Treasurer: Sue Baxby
Hon Junior Secretary: Aileen Hunter

Save £11 by getting your tickets for Catriona's defence

at Royal Birkdale before January 1

News from Susan Simpson, Head of Golf Operations at the Ladies Golf Union, that tickets for next year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale - July 29 to August 1 - are now on sale at a special discounted price until January 1.
Susan says: "So if you are thinking about going it is a good idea to buy your ticket now – an ideal Christmas gift perhaps? Season ticket normally costs £55 but the special offer until the end of the year is £44."
The LGU Booking line is 0871 945 9421, or group bookings of five or more: 0800 358 0058.
And we all remember who will be defending the title and who would appreciate your support over the four days at Royal Birkdale - our own Catriona Matthew from North Berwick!

STIRLING STUDENTS AND LOUISE KENNEY

TO PLAY ON FLORIDA WOMEN'S TOUR

The University of Stirling will send its women's golf team to Florida in January to compete on the Orange Blossom women's amateur tour for the fifth consecutuve year.
The students who will make up the travelling party are:
Kelsey Macdonald, Rachel Cassidy, Rebecca Wilson, Harriet Beasley, Jordana Graham and Eilidh Mackay.
Scotland international Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), like Kelsey MacDonald a contender fo a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team to be named in April, will join the Stirling squad.
The three events they will play in are the Harder Hall Invitational at Sebring from January 6 to 9 , the South Atlantic amateur championship at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach from January 13 to 16 and the Jones/Doherty match-play championship at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale from January 18 to 23.

Stephanie No 6 girls' seed in Polo Junior Classic

after rounds of 71 and 72 at PGA National

Ireland's Stephanie Meadow has earned the No 6 seed spot in Girls' Division of the Polo Golf Junior Classic at the PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
Stephanie, a student at the Hank Hainey International Junior Golf Academy at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, had rounds of 71 and 72 for a total of 143 in the qualifying rounds. She will now play Grace Na from Oakland, California. Grace qualified in 27th position with a total of 149.
Emiliano Grillo of Resistencia, Argentina, and Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Florida, carried their first-round lead through round two, earning co-medalist honours in the Boys' Division. In all, 32 boys and 32 girls advanced to match play.
The Girls Division played the Haig Course in the second round and Nicole Zhang was up to the task, taking the No. 1 seed position after firing a 6-under-par 66. Zhang spread out six birdies against no bogeys and will have the opportunity to play the Haig Course again in the first round of match play. She will meet Tiffany Lim of San jose, California., Wednesday morning.
Jessica Korda of Bradenton, Fla., shot a 4-under-par in the second round to claim the No. 2 seed, while Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., carded a 5-under-par 67 to be the third seed. Korda will meet Kristen Park of Buena Park, Calif., while Thompson will meet Cindy Feng of Orlando, Fla., in a battle of first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans.
While the girls play the Haig Course, the boys will play the Champion Course in the first round. All remaining rounds will be contested on the Champion Course - the home of the US PGA Tour's Honda Classic.

Alison Nicholas reappointed captain of European

team for 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle, Ireland

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

The Ladies European Tour is thrilled to announce that Alison Nicholas will lead the European Solheim Cup team as captain for a second term at Killeen Castle in Ireland in 2011.

Nicholas was selected following a unanimous decision by the European Solheim Cup Committee, comprising the Ladies European Tour representatives, Players’ Council and past captains. The Committee felt that the experience Nicholas gained at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois three months ago was invaluable and she deserved to be re-appointed.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Nicholas at a press conference at Killeen Castle today. “It’s a great honour and privilege to be a captain at home. I loved the experience at Rich Harvest Farms and I thought we were going to do it; I really did! That’s why I’m confident for Ireland because I’m confident in my players. From what I understand it was a unanimous decision so it was very pleasing for me.”

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, explained: “Alison was a natural choice for the selection committee as she was such an inspirational figure at Rich Harvest Farms. Although Europe lost the match, Alison had her team extremely well prepared and we are convinced that she will give Europe the best chance of winning back the trophy in Ireland.” John A Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING, the founding sponsor and global partner of the event, echoed those sentiments. “I was excited to hear that the LET has selected Alison Nicholas as the European Solheim Cup Captain in 2011. Watching Alison's intensity at Rich Harvest Farms, I am confident that she will have the European squad ready for competition at Killeen Castle for the 2011 Solheim Cup,” he said.

The winner of the U.S. Open in 1997, Nicholas made six straight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and was on the European team when it triumphed in Scotland in 1992 (at Dalmahoy) and 2000 (at Loch Lomond).

She retired from tournament play in 2004, but was involved in the competition as Catrin Nilsmark’s assistant captain in 2003 and in 2005. On her debut as Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in 2009, the Americans kept their untarnished home record intact with a 16 to 12 final score against the Europeans and now lead the competition 8-3.

However, Nicholas, from Birmingham in England, feels confident that Europe can stage a comeback at Killeen Castle in County Meath, from 23-25th September, 2011.

“I’m confident because I think we gave them a run for their money at Rich Harvest Farms and the difference between the two teams is very close, as we proved. We’ve got two years to go and there are some good young players on the European Tour. I think they will come into their own over the next two years and we’ll have some youngsters to fight those young American players. We’ve a lot of very, very good players. They just need to believe in themselves a bit more,” she said.

In a move to make the European team more competitive, there will be new selection criteria in place for the 2011 match. The European team will comprise the top four players from the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup standings, the next four highest ranked eligible players from the Rolex Rankings and four captain’s selections, meaning one more wild-card pick.

The current system was reviewed by the Committee and Captain, with the feeling that the small changes would give the European Team the best chance to win The Cup back.

“It just gives me a little bit more freedom,” added Nicholas. “I think it worked out well this year; we had some very good players from Europe who competed very well at The Solheim Cup but I think an extra pick just gives me some more choice.”

At the press conference, the Ladies European Tour also announced that players will have the opportunity to play the Solheim Cup course next year, as the AIB Ladies Irish Open supported by Failte Ireland is scheduled to be played at Killeen Castle from August 6 to 8, 2010. The 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open, with a prize fund of €500,000, will provide the only opportunity for players from both sides of the Atlantic to test their skills on the future Solheim Cup venue ahead of the 2011 matches in a competitive environment.

The event will take place immediately following the Ricoh Women’s British Open from August 6 to 8, which is currently a free week on the LPGA calendar and is therefore expected to attract an extremely strong field of international competitors from all over the world.

“Killeen Castle and its members look forward to offering a warm Irish welcome to the best lady players in the world over the next two years for the AIB Ladies Irish Open and The 2011 Solheim Cup,” said Barry O’Connor, General Manager of Killeen Castle.

“The Signature course which represents the latest in the Nicklaus design philosophy is one of the finest stadium venues anywhere in the world. The 600 acre estate has the added attraction of having a Dave Pelz Short Game School on site, fishing lakes and the magnificent 800 year old Killeen Castle as a backdrop to many fine holes on the course”.

The Irish organisers are pulling out all the stops to make the next Solheim Cup the best ever when Europe and the United States battle it out at Killeen Castle in 667 days time.

Alison Nicholas Factfile

1962 – Born in Gibraltar on March 6.

1984 – Turned professional.

1987 – Earned first tournament victory at the Weetabix Women’s British Open.

1990 – Played first Solheim Cup match at Lake Nona in Florida.

1992 – Played on winning European Solheim Cup side at Dalmahoy.

1996 – Winner Ladies Irish Open at City West, Dublin.

1997 – Won US Open Championship by a stroke from Nancy Lopez.

1999 – Claimed 18th and final career tournament victory at Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open.

2000 - Played on winning European Solheim Cup side at Loch Lomond.

2003 – Vice captain to Catrin Nilsmark when Europe won at Barseback.

2004 – Stepped away from competition after 20 years on Tour.

2005 – Vice captain to Catrin Nilsmark at Crooked Stick, Indianapolis.

2009 – European Solheim Cup Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois in August.

2009 - In November, named Europe’s Solheim Cup Captain for Killeen Castle in Ireland in 2011.

3rd HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S/GIRLS'

GOLF FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 13 to 20, 2010

=========================================================

Emma (13) is first Isle of Man

player ever to enter Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Emma Harris, who will be 14 years old on January 8, is "different" from any other entry we've ever had for the Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival at the five-star resort in the Murcia province of south-east Spain.

Emma is the first entry from the Isle of Man we've ever had since the Festival teed off in February 2008.

Her mum Caron told me:
"Emma is the current Isle of Man Ladies Golf Champion, a title she has won twice, first when she was 12 years old and the youngest ever winner of the title.

"The Isle of Man has eight 18-hole courses and one nine- hole course, so we are really lucky to have so many on a small island. They are all in beautiful settings with some stunning scenery.

"Castletown is a championship links course. Emma's home club is Peel where she has two of a handicap.
"She is a member of EWGA's Select Squad. She has received training with EWGA for the past three years, for which we are very grateful. Emma is a member of the Lancashire Girls Golf Association, who have some very good players.
"Emma travel's regularly off the Island to take part in events. She has done so since she was eight. Emma's brother George, who has just turned 15, plays off of five and is a member of the Isle of Man's junior squad.
"This year Emma has taken part in many off-island events (both 18 and 36 hole ). Some are:-
Island Games in Aland - joint sixth out of 55 lady competitors after four rounds of stroke-play.
English Girls Championship (three-day event ) - joint fourth.
St Andrews Junior Ladies Open (U23s) - third out of 63 competitiors, played over the Strathtyrum, Eden and Old Course.
Northern Girls U18s Championship (one-day 36-hole event ) - second place scratch score out of 52 competitors.
Faldo Series U16s winner at Notts Golf Club.
Isle of Man Ladies Champion for the second year. This event begins with 36 holes of strokeplay and then continues with match-play, and is played over a week.
"The Isle of Man is very supportive of its sportsmen and women and Emma is a Sports Aid Receipient. This gives her help towards her travel costs. Without this it would be very hard to be able to afford to compete off Island.
"Entering the Hacienda Del Alamo Festival, will be the first Spanish event Emma has played in."
Emma Harris has put her name down for the Murcia Under-16 girls' tournament over 36 holes on the Monday and Tuesday (February 15-16) of the Festival and also the Hacienda del Alamo Under-16 girls' event over 54 holes, again over the Dave Thomas-designed course, from the Thursday to the Saturday (February 18-19-20).

Another 13-year-old to enter the Festival this week is Nicola Callander from Welwyn, Hertfordshire. She plays off 10 at Mill Green Golf Club.

Nicola is going over to Spain earlier than Emma and playing in the curtain-raising pairs event at Hacienda del Alamo on Saturday, February 13. Nicola will partner Ella Ofstedahl in the competition in which girls/women can be partnered by males!

A free practice round is included in the entry fee for the Festival which will have scratch and handicap prizes in all its sections - Under-16 girls, Under-18 girls, ladies, senior ladies (age 50 and over on January 1).

If enough lady professionals told us they would like to play, then we would create separate categories for them in all the Festival events.

Players like English women's champion Charlie Douglass, English girls' champion Holly Clyburn, Hayley Davis and Hannah Turland will be out to impress the GB&I selectors who will be naming the Curtis Cup team of eight near the end of April.

It's also a have-fun week but it is also an ideal place to get your golf game into gear for the 2010 season. The practice facilities at Hacienda del Alamo are five-star with a two-tier driving range - you can play off grass if you wish - a six-hole Academy course, a dedicated bunker practice facility and big practice greens for putting and also chipping.

Entry forms for the 2010 Festival are available by clicking on the appropriate words at the top of the left hand column of the Home Page of this website. If you still have some queries, E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

+Glenmuir are supporting the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival for the third year in a row, for which the tournament organisers, director of golf Billy Sim and his right-hand man, Lee Harrington, are very grateful. Nice to have something in common with the European Ryder Cup team!

Stephanie Meadow (71) lying joint sixth

in Polo Golf Junior Classic in Florida

FROM THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

Emiliano Grillo of Resistencia, Argentina, Tanner Kesterson of Plano, Texas, Oliver Schniederjans of Powder Springs, Ga., and Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., share the lead after solid first qualifying round play at the Polo Golf Junior Classic. All four high school juniors shot 5-under-par 67 on the Haig Course at PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Doris Chen of Bradenton, Florida holds sole possession of the Girls Division lead after carding five birdies in a four-under-par 68 on the Champion course.
The Polo Golf Junior Classic, which has been conducted annually since 1978, marks the first tournament of the American Junior Golf Association's 2010 season. The 156-player invitation-only field is made up of 78 boys and 78 girls, ages 12-18, from 25 states and 11 foreign countries. Former champions include Stewart Cink (1989), Trevor Immelman (1995), Tiger Woods (1991), Paula Creamer (2002), Grace Park (1994, 1996) and Morgan Pressel (2004).
In the Girls Division, over a par-72 course of 6,457yd, Chen's successful approach shots set her up for short birdie putts throughout her round. She holds a one-stoke lead at 4-under-par 68.
“I haven't made a cut in a while so that was my goal for this tournament,” Chen said. “I had five birdie putts under 12 feet and was able to capitalize.”
Casey Grice of College Station, Texas, sits in second at 3-under-par 69, while Madelene Sagstrom of Enkoping, Sweden, Nicole Zhang of Calgary, Alberta, and Simin Feng of Orlando, Fla., all share third with 2-under-par 70.

Former Irish girls champion Stephanie Meadow from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland and a student at the Hank Hainey International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is lying in joint sixth position on 71 in a field of top-ranked 78 players after sharing the nine-hole lead with an outward 34.

Stephanie, pictured above, has some "big" names behind her on the scoreboard - Laetitia Beck from Israel had a 74, "wonder girl" Alexis Thompson a 75 and Daniela Lendl a 77.

Monday and Tuesday at the Polo Golf Junior Classic are all about one thing: Finishing among the top 32 players and making match play.
While a high seed number is nice, match play is the goal. Case in point: Esther Choe made birdie in a stroke play play-off just to qualify for match play in 2006 at Sea Island Golf Club. She then ploughed her way through the bracket to win the championship.
On the other hand, Vicky Hurst won the 2007 Polo Golf Junior Classic from the pole position, earning the No. 1 seed, then running the match play gauntlet.

GIRLS' FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 72

68 Doris Chen 34-34.

69 Casey Grice 35-34.

70 Nicole Zang 345-35, Madelene Sagstrom (sweden) 35-35, Simin Feng 36-34.

71 Jessica Korda 36-35, Stephanie Meadow (NIr) 34-37, Kelly Shon 35-36.

Selected scores:

74 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 37-37.

75 Alexis Thompson 39-36.

77 Daniela Lendl 38-39.

Rookie Anna Nordqvist wins season-ending

LPGA Tour Championship

Sweden's successor to Annika Sorenstam, Anna Nordqvist, British women's open amateur champion at North Berwick only last year, scored another big win as a rookie pro on the LPGA Tour today - the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship at The Houstonian Country Club, Texas.
The tournament, which spilled over into Monday because Saturday was a wash-out, reducing the event to 54 holes, saw Anna, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, come from behind with a final round of 65 for a 13-under-par total of 203 to win the $225,000 first prize.
By finishing second on 205 with a last-round 67, Lorena Ochoa won the Player of the Year honours.

Player of Year Lorena Ochoa getting married next month

FROM THE CBS SPORTS.COM WEBSITE:
RICHMOND, Texas -- Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin's duel for LPGA player of the year fittingly came down to the final hole of the season.
Anna Nordqvist won the LPGA Tour Championship on Monday and Ochoa finished second to earn the top player title for the fourth consecutive year.
The 22-year-old Nordqvist shot a final-round 65 to finish 13 under par. Ochoa was two strokes back and won the top player honor when Shin couldn't chip in for birdie from the front of the 18th hole.
================
Leaderboard
================
"I always say that I want to stay on top as long as I continue playing, so this is just a great year for me," Ochoa said. "It's been tough in many different ways, but the important thing is I'm at the top."
Shin led Ochoa by eight points (156-148) in the race entering the tournament. Once Ochoa secured second place, Shin had to finish no worse than seventh to win the player of the year award. Point totals are based on top-10 results.
Shin seemed to take the inside track when Ochoa needed two shots to escape a greenside bunker on the par-3 17th hole. Ochoa sank a bogey putt, virtually ending her chances of winning the tournament, as Shin and Nordqvist watched from the tee.
But Shin also hit a bunker on the 17th, blasted out short of the green and bogeyed.
Ochoa dropped her approach to the 18th hole about 16 feet away and studied the leaderboard as she walked to the green. She and caddie Greg Johnston talked about the situation before Ochoa curled in the putt, giving a modest fist pump after it fell.
Shin's second shot to the 18th hole stopped a few feet off the green. Her chip missed the hole by inches and Ochoa patted her heart, embraced Johnston and held back tears near the scorers' tent.
"I'm happy I can make history, and my goal is to continue that," said Ochoa, who's getting married in two weeks. "Hopefully, I'm going to get back home and work hard and be ready for next year."
Shin, a 21-year-old South Korean. fell short in her bid to win the rookie and player of the year awards. Nancy Lopez remains the only player to sweep both titles, in 1978.
The good-natured Shin was still smiling after coming up short.
"I learned a lot from this year," she said. "I need more focus, concentration, and everything. I really made my goals. I just missed player of the year, but I still had a good year."
Ochoa also won her fourth straight Vare Trophy, honouring the season's lowest scoring average. Ochoa and Shin were separated by decimal points in that race award coming into the tournament.
Though she was constantly aware of where she stood with Shin, Ochoa said she never lost focus on the task at hand.
"I was just trying to win the tournament, so I didn't have to worry about how she finished, or the points at the end of the day," Ochoa said. "I'm just really proud of the way I finished."
Nordqvist, meanwhile, earned her second career victory and made it through the season without missing a cut in 15 starts. She also won the LPGA Championship this year.
Shin and Nordqvist played in the day's final group, right behind Ochoa. The Houstonian Golf and Country Club was still soggy after more than an inch of weekend rain and players were allowed to lift, clean and place their balls.
Nordqvist surged to the lead at 12 under with five consecutive birdies between Nos. 8-12. She bogeyed the 13th, then added birdies on 14 and 15 to settle the tournament and clear the way for Ochoa and Shin to decide their duel.
"I definitely tried to be aggressive," Nordqvist said. "It was pretty tight up the leaderboard, so you were really going to have to shoot low in order to pull it off. I'm just very, very happy that I did."
Na Yeon Choi (64) and second-round leader Kristy McPherson (70) finished 10 under, tied for third. A trio of players finished 7 under and Shin's costly par dropped her into a four-way tie for eighth.
Choi surged up the leaderboard in the early afternoon with a 30 on the front nine. She holed a 175-yard shot from the ninth fairway and birdied the 10th hole to reach 10 under.
Shin struggled to make putts on the front nine and didn't make her first birdie until No. 11. By then, Ochoa was within a shot of the lead. But Ochoa dropped shots at Nos. 8 and 9, and Nordqvist to zip past her.
Ochoa got back on track with an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 15, setting up the dramatic finish.
The event was shortened to 54 holes after weekend rains forced long delays. The second round was completed Monday morning, the cut was made and the third round began immediately in sunny, calm conditions
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 70 68 65
205 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 66 72 67
206 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 70 72 64, Kristy McPherson 69 67 70
209 Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 73 68 68, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 70 71 68, Hee Young Park (Kor) 70 72 67
210 Jiyai Shin (Kor) 70 67 73, Yani Tseng (Tai) 69 71 70, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 73 68 69, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 72 68 70
211 Heather Young 69 69 73, Jee Young Lee (Kor) 74 68 69, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 74 69 68, Cristie Kerr 72 69 70
212 Amy Yang 76 68 68, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69 70, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 70 72 70, Wendy Ward 72 70 70
213 Taylor Leon 68 72 73, Chella Choi (Kor) 71 69 73, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 76 68 69, Meaghan Francella 71 75 67, Katie Futcher 73 69 71, Katherine Hull (Aus) 71 72 70
214 Paige Mackenzie 73 71 70, Becky Morgan (Wal) 74 72 68, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 73 66 75, Meena Lee (Kor) 72 70 72, Haeji Kang (Kor) 69 72 73, Karine Icher (Fra) 71 73 70
215 Karen Stupples (Eng) 71 69 75, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 72 72 71, Brittany Lang 73 74 68, Jimin Kang (Kor) 70 76 69, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 72 68 75, Angela Stanford 73 71 71, Stacy Lewis 70 71 74, Allison Fouch 70 74 71, Janice Moodie (Sco) 75 69 71
216 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 72 74 70, Morgan Pressel 72 71 73, Reilley Rankin 67 75 74, Sarah-jane Smith (Aus) 73 69 74, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 67 77, Meredith Duncan 72 72 72, Eunjung Yi (Kor) 77 69 70, Meg Mallon 70 73 73, Marcy Hart 76 71 69
217 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 74 72 71, Pornanong Phatlum (Tha) 75 71 71, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 77 69 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 75 70 72, Laura Davies (Eng) 76 69 72
218 Paula Creamer 76 70 72, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 70 75 73, Pat Hurst 69 75 74, Kris Tamulis 76 71 71, Jeehae Lee (Kor) 74 72 72
219 Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 76 71 72, Mindy Kim 72 74 73, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 73 70 76, Juli Inkster 70 74 75, Brandi Jackson 72 75 72, Leah Wigger 74 72 73, Julieta Granada (Par) 75 71 73, Ashli Bunch 72 75 72
220 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 74 72 74, Irene Cho 70 77 73, Brittany Lincicome 70 75 75,
Leta Lindley 70 77 73
221 Jane Park 74 69 78, Erica Blasberg 73 72 76
222 Carolina Llano 72 74 76, Jimin Jeong 72 75 75, Lisa Strom (Gbr) 74 73 75
223 Diana D'Alessio 75 71 77
224 Anna Rawson (Aus) 72 74 78
DQ: 220 Sarah Kemp (Aus) 72 73 75

Aberdeenshire's new vice-captain and captain

Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association's new vice-captain Marta Moody (left) of Murcar Links Golf Club and new captain Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies), pictured at the county's agm at the weekend. Image by courtesy of Karen Stalker.



IF ANY OTHER COUNTY HAS NEWS OR IMAGES THEY FEEL WOULD BE OF GENERAL INTEREST, E-MAIL Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Texas weather delaying LPGA Tour Championship

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
The second round of the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex at The Houstonian Golf & Country Club, Texas was supposed to tee off at 7 a.m. Friday morning. A six-hour rain delay pushed the start time to 1 p.m. Friday and play was then suspended for darkness after 5 p.m. that evening.
Second-round play was completely washed-out on Saturday and delayed again on Sunday morning until 12:05 p.m. due to unplayable course conditions.
As of Sunday evening at 5:21 p.m. when play was again suspended due to darkness, 35 players still need to complete their second rounds. Play will resume on Monday morning at 7 a.m (local time) and a cut will be made to low 70 and ties before players re-tee for the final round with an expected finish time of 4 p.m. local.
Later news: All the players have now completed their second rounds. Only those with 36-hole totals of 147 qualified to go out again for the third and final round.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72) 6650yd
136 Kristy McPherson 69 67.
137 Jiyai Shin 70 67.
138 Anna Nordqvist 70 68, Lorena Ochoa 66 72, Heather Bowie Young 69 69.
139 Mikaela Parmlid 73 66, Helen Alfredsson 72 67.
Selected scores:
140 Karen Stupples 71 69, Suzann Pettersen 72 68.
141 Sophie Gustafson 70 71.
144 Janice Moodie 75 69.
145 Laura Davies 76 69, Karrie Webb 75 70.
146 Becky Morgan 74 72, Catriona Matthew 77 69, Paula Creamer 76 70.

Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association officials and prizewinners at the annual meeting in the Star Ballroom, Aberdeen. Scroll down for the caption with all the names. Picture by courtesy of county secretary Karen Stalker. Click on it to enlarge.

Joan Rennie and Ethel Farquharson are

honoured by Aberdeenshire Ladies CGA

Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association have awarded honorary membership to Mrs Joan Rennie and Mrs Ethel Farquharson.
Joan is a former Curtis Cup player (1966), past Scottish champion (1967, and beaten finalist 1968) and international, Aberdeenshire county champion (1980) and county team player. She was county president for the past two years..
Joan's roots are in Ayrshire. Her late father was Willie Hastings who was the club pro at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club for many years. Joan was a member at Kilmarnock Barassie before she moved to the North-east after her marriage to Aberdeen businessman John Rennie who died in 2008. Joan is a honorary member of Kilmarnock Barassie. She has been a member Aberdeen Ladies Golf Club for many years.
Ethel Farquharson, a past Scottish Ladies Golfing Association chairman, has run the Aberdeenshire girls' competitions for the past 20 years - and is not retiring!" The county are indebted to her for all her hard work with the county girls," said Karen Stalker, the Aberdeenshire LCGA secretary.
Ethel, a member of Balmoral Golf Club for many years, was inspired to put something back into the grass roots of golf by the golfing success of her own daughter, Elaine, who won the Scottish girls and women's amateur championships, reached the final of the British girls championship (twice) and the British women's open amateur championship, played in two Curtis Cup matches (1990 & 1992) and won the women's amateur better-ball championship in Brazil with England's Helen Dobson in the early 1990s.
Banchory's Morag Clapperton succeeds Joan Rennie as country president.
At the county agm, trophies were presented to the two girls considered to have made the most improvement in 2009. Rachel Polson (Peterculter) received the Fyfe Trophy, which goes to the older girl, and Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon) received the Bey Trophy, for younger girls.
New office-bearers for the 2010 season:
President: Morag Clapperton (Banchory).
Captain: Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies)
Vice-captain: Marta Moody (Murcar Links)
Treasurer: Laura McLardy (Duff House Royal)
Secretary: Karen Stalker (Cruden Bay)

Caption for the big group picture above of officials and prize winners, taken by Karen Stalker, at the annual meeting:
Back row: Lynne Terry, Mary Miller, Mandy Roger, Irene Strachan, Maureen Wilson, Georgette Hollingsworth, Mhairi Johnstone, Olivia Borwick, Laura McLardy
Front row: Ellie Whyte, Joan Rennie, Fiona Hay, Ros Dunsmuir, county champion Sara Mathieson (nee Thomson), girls' county champion, Sophie Alexander, Carol Wilson, Susan Murray and Rachel Polson