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Friday, February 19, 2010

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
HONDA PTT CLASSIC
Siam CC, Chonburi, Thailand
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 Suzann Pettersen 66 64.
133 Hee Young Park 67 66.
134 Ai Miyazato 67 67.
135 Mornoko Ueda 70 65, Maria Hjorth 69 66, Song-Hee Kim 67 68.
136 Yani Tseng 68 68, Catriona Matthew 70 68, Karrier Webb 69 69, Nontaya Srizaweng 69 69.
Selected scores:
140 Michelle Wie 72 68 (jt 13th).
141 Laura Davies 70 71, Lorena Ochoa 69 72 (jt 18th).
142 Anna Nordqvist 71 71 (jt 24th).

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3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival

Tournament Controller Lee Harrington with four lasses from Lancashire - Gillian Gardiner, Linda Marr, Audree Lee and Linda Wilson.

Hayley Davis leads by five with one round


to go in Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open


Nothing is ever a cast-iron certainty in golf and Hayley Davis, 17-year-old Ferndown, Dorset girl international, will not be counting her chickens even though she leads by five strokes with one round to play in the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in south-east Spain.

Hayley followed up her unofficial "record" score of 66 - preferred lies prevented the score being recognised - with a level par 72 over the testing Dave Thomas-designed course for a 36-hole tally of six-under 138.

Davis, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency at last year's British girls championship where she reached the quarter-finals, had one eagle (at the fourth) and four birdies (at the third, ninth, 15th and 18th). On the debit side, she had six bogeys, at the first, seventh, 10th, 14th, 16th and 17th.

Two of her nearest challengers, Welsh cap Amy Boulden (Maesdu), 16, and Scottish international Kesley MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 19, both shot second-round 69s today for 143 and 145 respectively.

Amy had five birdies (at the first, second, fourth, 13th and 16th) and two bogeys (at the 11th and 18th).

Kelsey had an eagle at the fourth and five birdies (at the third, ninth, 10th, 15th and 18th). She also had bogeys at the first, fifth, eighth and 16th.

The pair, who tied for the lowest 36-hole final total Murcia Ladies Open earlier in the week (Amy won that title on the lower second round), were able to make up three shots apiece on leader Davis - but, to turn around, respective deficits of five (Amy) and seven (Kelsey), they will need to shoot something special in Saturday's final round ... and hope that Hayley scores in the mid-70s or higher.

Alongside Kelsey MacDonald in joint third place is the 2008 English women's champion Hannah Barwood, the 19-year-old Knowle player.

Hannah actually lost ground on Hayley Davis by returning a 75 for 145.

Fifth placed Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) also had a 75 for 146.

Current English women's champion Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) had to retire from the tournament with an upset stomach.

One category ended with the second round - and Kam Cheema, from the quaintly named Redlibbets club, near Sevenoaks in Ken, was the winner with a total of 60 Stableford Points.

Playing off a handicap of 22, Kam improved by 10pts on her first effort with a splendid bag of 35pt today.

Runner-up, beaten by 12pt, was Linda Marr from Fleetwood. Playing off 17, she had 48pt in all after scoring 22pt in the second round.

Local player Marilynn Pearce, a 19-handicapper, finished third with a total of 47pt made up of 25 and 22.

England Under-18 squad player Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham), Lancashire's youngest-ever women's county champion, is six shots clear of Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) at the head of the Under-18s scratch field. Emily, only 15 but competing above her age group, had a 73 today for 147.

Holly had a 77 for 153.

In the Under-16s, it looks all over bar the shouting but who was it that said "nothing is ever a cast-iron certainty in golf?" Fourteen-year-old Amber Ratcliffe from the Royal Cromer club in Norfolk is ten shots clear of the field after a 77 for 151.

Her nearest challenger is 15-year-old Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough) on 161 after an 81.

Megan's mother Mary, incidentally, a four-handicapper at Wellingborough, has twice broken 80 in the two rounds of the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open.

Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted) is lying third on 164 after an 83.

Weather note (from Tournament Controller Lee Harrington): Friday's weather at Hacienda del Alamo was wet to begin with. Play was delayed an hour because of heavy rain but once the players got out there, the rain stopped and the rest of the day remained dry, although a cold wind got up later on. The course is still in great condition, considering the week's weather.

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3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES' OPEN SCOREBOARD

SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Final round on Saturday.
Par 144 (2x72)
SCRATCH
138 Hayley Davis (Ferndown) 66 72.
143 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 74 69.
145 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 69, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 70 75.
146 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 71 75.
151 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 75 76.
152 Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred) 77 75.
155 Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) 77 78.
156 Becky Gee (Wellingborough) 79 77.
168 Dana Greenslade (Wentworth) 84 84.
170 Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham) 83 87.
193 Ana Wright (Hacienda del Alamo) 94 99.
Retired: Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 74 -, Mirade Cronin (Bantry) 100 -.
HANDICAP
140 Hayley Davis (+1) 67 73.
143 Amy Boulden (scr) 74 69.
144 Danielle Anderson (4) 73 71.
147 Mary MacLaren (4) 73 74.
149 Hannah Barwood (+2) 72 77, Daisy Dyer (1) 74 75, Kelsey MacDonald (+2) 78 71..
150 Charlotte Ellis (+2) 73 77.
154 Becky Gee (1) 78 76.
155 Ana Wright (19) 75 80.
156 Dana Greenslade (6) 78 78.
166 Jenna Birch (2) 81 85.

SENIORS OPEN - FINAL ROUND
Stableford
60pt Kam Cheema (Redlibbets) (22) 25 35.
48pt Linda Marr (Fleetwood) (26) 26 22.
47pt Marilynn Pearce (Hacienda del Alamo (25) 25 22.
45pt Penny Burrows (Hacienda del Alamo) (22) 22 23.
32pt Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) (27) 17 15.
31pt Audrey Lee (Fleetwood) 18 13.
30pt Linda Wilson (Ashton & Lea) (32) 15 15.

UNDER-18 GIRLS - SECOND ROUND
SCRATCH
147 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) 74 73.
153 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) 76 77.
167 Georgia Gilling (Rochford Hundred) 85 82, Lydia Johnston (Harleyford) 81 86.
168 Lucie Walker (Ormskirk) 84 84.
159 Shauna Brady (Co Sligo) 91 88.
HANDICAP
141 Holly Robinson (6) 70 71.
145 Emily Taylor (1) 73 72.
155 Lydia Johnston (6) 75 80.
157 Georgia Gilling (5) 80 77.
158 Lucie Walker (5) 79 79.
159 Shauna Brady (Co Sligo) (10) 81 78.

UNDER-16 GIRLS - SECOND ROUND
SCRATCH
151 Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 74 77.
161 Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 80 81.
163 Eaodin Cronin (Bantry) 91 86.
164 Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted 81 83.
165 Emma Harris (Peel) 83 82.
166 Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall) 78 88.
167 Holly Vizard (Pleasington) 80 87.
173 Gabriella Cowley (West Essex 85 88.
176 Katherine Carragher (John O'Gaunt) 93 83.
177 Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow) 83 84.
179 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 88 91.
189 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 91 98.
HANDICAP
145 Amber Ratcliffe (3) 71 74.
148 Alice Hewson (8) 73 75.
149 Holly Vizard (9) 71 78.
150 Katherine Carragher (13) 80 70.
154 Dulcie Sverdloff (6) 72 82.
155 Megan MacLaren (3) 77 78.
157 Gabriella Cowley (8) 77 80, Amelia Taylor (11) 77 80.
159 Emma Harris (3) 80 79, Gemma McCarthy (15) 76 83.
161 Charlotte Humprhies (8) 85 76.
163 Eaodin Cronin (7) 84 79.

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Lesley Nicholson home internationals leader for third year in a row

SLGA name international team
captains for 2010

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION
Lesley Nicholson is hoping to make it third time lucky when she captains Scotland at the Women’s Home Internationals at Whitchurch, Cardiff in September.
Scotland finished third when Nicholson was a rookie captain at the Home Internationals in 2008 and, last year, the side narrowly lost out to Wales in a final day showdown for the title at Irvine Golf Club.
This year, Nicholson, a former Ladies’ European Tour professional, has also been appointed captain for the European women's team championship at La Manga,i Spain in July.
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association has named the full list of Captains for the 2010 season and the Baberton pair of Karen Marshall and Pamela Williamson have also been handed double roles.
Marshall has been named captain of the Scottish team for both the girls’ home internationals (Bangor, Northern Ireland in August) and the girls’ European championship (Aalborg, Denmark, in July), while Pamela is in charge for September’s European senior team championship (Berlin) and the senior home internationals (Sheringham).
Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) has been appointed captain of the Scottish side for the SLGA Under-16 championship, a tournament that marks the start of the domestic season at Strathmore in April.
Nicholson is looking forward to the challenges ahead. “We came very, very close to lifting the trophy at the Home Internationals last year and I think we have a great chance to do well in all competitions this year,” she said.
“We have lost Kylie Walker and Carly Booth to the professional ranks, but there are so many new players coming through. There is a lot of golf to be played before the teams are picked and the SLGA coach, Kevin Craggs, makes sure everyone is extremely focused.
The amateur side of the game has come on by leaps and bounds in Scotland in recent years and this is going to be a very exciting year.”

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Kelsey does not want to wait another

two years for Curtis Cup team place

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Kelsey MacDonald gets rather annoyed when people link her with the 2012 Curtis Cup which will be played in her home town of Nairn.
The Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years wants people - particularly the GB&I selectors - to think of her as a serious contender for a place in THIS YEAR'S Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Boston in June.
Kelsey, currently playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Festival in south-east Spain, wrote in an E-mail this week:
"My dream right now is to play in America for the Curtis Cup ... this year!!
"When I was a young girl I had a big dream to play the Curtis Cup when the announced venue for 2012 was Nairn. Obvouisly I stilll want to play in 2012. It is also the year I hope to finish at the University of Stirling and hopefully be preparing to turn pro.
"Of course that is still my aim but I feel very prepared to compete this year. I am not out here at Hacienda del Alamo for the fun. I am out here to prove that I am worthy candidate for a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team of eight.
"I just feel that every time you mention Nairn, me and the 2012 Curtis Cup, you are saying to the selectors - 'We can leave Kelsey out this time - she wants to play at Nairn!'
"I was absolutely gutted last year not getting a place in the GB&I team for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent. On the Orange Blossom Tour, I had been third in the South Atlantic Ladies championship (the Sally), runner-up in the Jones/Doherty, runner-up in the Helen Holm Trophy, fourth in the St Rule - made the cut at the British, to be beaten by Caroline Masson, who won the German match-play championship in 2008 and won the 2008 Spanish amateur championship and represented Europe at both the 2005 and 2007 Junior Solheim Cup and also a Vagliano Trophy player for the Continent.
"So not sure what I would have had to have done to get in the GB&I team last year. I am taking part in all events possible to give me the best chance of selection this Curtis Cup year, so please do not dismiss me, thinking I will be happy waiting another two years AS I WILL NOT!"
Kelsey, only too glad to put the record straight on your behalf.
I don't think the selectors pay any attention to what I write! They will certainly look at the tournament results on Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk and they carry a lot more weight than my words.

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LGU Year Book 2010

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Charlie Douglas laid low by stomach bug: Out of Festival finale

English amateur champion Charlie Douglass has had to withdraw from the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open after only one round of the main, 54-hole event at the HDA February Festival.
She's been laid low by a stomach bug - surely, not something she ate out there? - and would never have made it past the first tee.
The Brocket Hall left-hander, a member of the GB&I Curtis Cup preliminary squad, had a first-round 74.
Tough luck, Charlie, but thanks for your continued support of the Hacienda del Alamo Festival.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

LPGA Tour tees off in Thailand

Paula Creamer has a 69, but is flying home

for treatment to hand injury

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By BETH ANN BALDRY
CHONBURI, Thailand – Paula Creamer has withdrawn from the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand with a nagging left hand injury. Creamer is heading back to the U.S. to seek further medical attention, according to her management company. She also was scheduled to play next week in the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
Creamer, pictured, ended her first round of the season with a creditable score of 69 - but in tears - yesterday. One can’t help but wonder if those tears were as much about fear as they were about pain. At 23 years old, Creamer is awfully young to be dealing with so many health problems.
Last year at this time she battled a mysterious stomach illness that doctors said could take up to two years to fully recover from.
Then last June she injured her left thumb hitting out of the rough. She changed her swing in the off-season, hoping to alleviate the pain. Now it’s back to the drawing board.
Suzann Pettersen of Norway and M J Hur of South Korea each shot a six-under 66 to share the lead after the first round in Thailand as the LPGA Tour kicked off its 210 campaign.
Pettersen had a four-birdie, bogey-free round capped with an eagle on the last hole. Hur had seven birdies and a bogey on the Old Course at Siam Country Club.
Ai Miyazato, Kim Song-hee and Park Hee Young are one stroke back at 67.
Defending champion and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa put together a blemish-free round of 69 that yielded three birdies.
Michelle Wie shot par 72. She had a double bogey on the 10th followed by a bogey on the 11th, but finished with three birdies in the last four holes.
==============================================
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 M J Hur (Kor), Suzann Pettersen (Nor)
67 Ai Miyazato (Jpn), Song-Hee Kim (Kor), Hee Young Park (Kor)
68 Yani Tseng (Tai), Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome, Stacy Lewis
69 Paula Creamer, Nontaya Srisawang (Tha), Karrie Webb (Aus), Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Kyeong Bae (Kor)
70 Sun Young Yoo (Kor), In Kyung Kim (Kor), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Amy Yang, Pat Hurst, Momoko Ueda (Jpn), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Hwa seon Lee (Kor), Laura Davies (Eng), Katherine Hull (Aus)
71 Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Jiyai Shin (Kor), Na Yeon Choi (Kor), Meena Lee (Kor), Inbee Park (Kor), Amanda Blumenherst
72 Lindsey Wright (Aus), Stacy Prammanasudh, Aryia Jutanugarn (Tha), Juli Inkster, Hee-Won Han (Kor), Candie Kung (Tai), Shinobu Moromizato (Jpn), Michelle Wie
73 Maria Verchenova (Rus), Morgan Pressel, Eun Hee Ji (Kor), Brittany Lang
74 Mika Miyazato (Jpn), Natalie Gulbis, Eunjung Yi (Kor), Meaghan Francella, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Sandra Gal (Ger)
75 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha), Ji-Young Oh (Kor), Kristy McPherson
76 Wendy Ward, Christina Kim
77 Thipada Suwannapura (Tha)
78 Vicky Hurst, Jee Young Lee (Kor)
===============================================
Pettersen won the event in 2007 when she eagled the 18th to beat Laura Davies after blowing a seven-stroke lead.
"Gave myself a lot of chances. Made some and tried to stay patient," she said. "When it finally turns around, you're able to make some moves."
Hur was pleased with her round.
"I played really solid. Everything was perfect," said Hur, who won her first title at the Safeway Classic last year.


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Low scoring fireworks display at Hacienda del Alamo Festival


Hayley Davis (Ferndown), left, and Hannah Barwood (Knowle), first-round leaders in the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open. Images by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on them to enlarge.

Brilliant round of six-under 66 gives 17-year-old
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Hayley Davis four-shot lead from Hannah Barwood
-
Dorset teenager Hayley Davis from the Ferndown club took advantage of a mild spring-like day, with not a drop of rain (until after the last players were back in the clubhouse, to shoot a splendid score of six-under-par 66 in the first round of the 54-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in the Murcia region of south-east Spain today.
Hayley, who had her 17th birthday at the beginning of this month, burst clear of the small but quality field of Curtis Cup team place contenders, with birdies at the long fourth, the short eighth, the par-4 10th, 11th and 13th, and also the treacherous par-5 18th.
She did not have a single bogey in halves of 34 and 32 for the Dave Thomas-designed course.
Tournament controller Lee Harrington commented: "This is certainly the lowest competitive medal round by by a lady at Hacienda del Alamo although an official course record cannot be awarded due to the fact that we are playing preferred lies this week. Nevertheless, it was some round of golf by young Hayley."
"I'm just pleased that I scored better than I did in the Murcia Ladies Open at the start of the week (she had rounds of 82 and 72 to finish sixth)," said Hayley who looks set for another great season in 2010.
Last year, she was the first English player for eight years to win the Scottish Under-16 girls' open stroke-play championship at Craigielaw. After that she helped England to retain the girls' home international championship, and then lost in the quarter-finals of the British girls championship, going down on the 18th green to the French girl, Perrine Delacour, who went on to win the title. And Hayley also won the South Region championship and the Liphook Scratch Cup.
Hayley's playing partner Danielle Anderson said that it was a great round to watch.
"Hayley was completely in control from start to finish, and she was holing everything, which helps!" said Danielle who went round in 77.
Davis's nearest challenger is former English amateur champion Hannah Barwood (Knowle) with a two-under-par 70, followed by Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) with a 71. Charlotte did not play in the Murcia Ladies Open earlier in the week.
The winner of that title over 36 holes, Welsh international Amy Boulden (Maesdu), had a 74 today and Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), beaten on a card countback by Amy on Tuesday, had to settle for a 76.
In the Seniors Open over 36 holes, Linda Marr (Fleetwod) leads with 26 Stableford points off a handicap of 26pt. But she is only one ahead of Kam Cheema (Red Libbets) and local player Marilynn Pearce.
Amber Ratcliffe, 14-year-old Royal Cromer prospect, has a four-shot lead in the Under-16 Girls' Open after a fine scratch round of 74. Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall), with a 78, was the only other player in this category to break 80.
In the Under-18s section, Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) shot a 74 to lead by two from Holly Robinson (Co Sligo).

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3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival

THURSDAY SCOREBOARD

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN - FIRST ROUND
SCRATCH
Par 72
66 Hayley Davis (Ferndown).
70 Hannah Barwood (Knowle).
71 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton).
74 Amy Boulden (Maesdu), Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall).
75 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell).
76 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
77 Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred), Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough).
79 Becky Gee (Wellinigborough).
83 Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham).
84 Dana Greenslade (Wentworth).
94 Ana Wright (Hacienda del Alamo).
100 Mirade Cronin (Bantry).
HANDICAP
67 Hayley Davis (+1).
72 Hannah Barwood (+2).
73 Danielle Anderson (4), Charlotte Ellis (+2), Mary MacLaren (4).
74 Amy Boulden (scr), Daisy Dyer (1).
75 Charlie Douglass (+1), Ana Wright (19).
78 Dana Greenslade (6), Kelsey MacDonald (+2), Becky Gee (1).
81 Jenna Birch (2), Mirade Cronin (19).

SENIORS
STABLEFORD
26pt Linda Marr (Fleetwood) (26).
25pt Marilynn Pearce (Hacienda del Alamo (19), Kam Cheema (Red Libbets) (22).
22pt Penny Burrows (Hacienda del Alamo (22).
18pt Audrey Lee (Fleetwood) (21).
17pt Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) (27).
15pt Linda Wilson (Ashton & Lea) (32).

UNDER-18 GIRLS
SCRATCH
74 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham).
76 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo).
81 Lydia Johnston (Harleyford).
84 Lucie Walker (Ormskirk).
85 Georgia Gilling (Rochford Hundred).
91 Shauna Brady (Co Sligo).
HANDICAP
70 Holly Robinson (6).
73 Emily Taylor (1).
75 Lydia Johnston (6).
79 Lucie Walker (5).
80 Georgia Gilling (5).
81 Shauna Brady (10).

UNDER-16 GIRLS
SCRATCH
74 Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer).
78 Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall).
80 Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough), Holly Vizard (Pleasington).
81 Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted).
83 Emma Harris (Peel).
85 Gabriella Cowley (West Essex).
88 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links).
91 Eaodin Cronin (Bantry), Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel).
93 Katherine Carragher (John O'Gaunt), Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow).
HANDICAP
71 Amber Ratcliffe (3), Holly Vizard (9).
72 Dulcie Sverdloff (6).
73 Alice Hewson (8).
76 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel).
77 Gabriella Cowley (8), Megan MacLaren (3), Amelia Taylor (11).
80 Katherine Carragher (13), Emma Harris (3)..
84 Eaodin Cronin (7).
85 Charlotte Humphries (8).

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Laura Murray joins Murcar Links to get even better

Murcar Links Golf Club's women's team, arguably the strongest in the North-east of Scotland, has just got stronger!
Scotland international Laura Murray (21), who covered the Murcar Links' winter course off the men's tees in 66 strokes to finish second in the all-male field for the North-east Alliance yesterday, has joined the club.
Alford, where she lives, will remain her home golf club. She is also a member at Aboyne where her boyfriend Keir Beveridge is an assistant professional.
"Murcar Links have got superb practice facilities and, of course, an excellent links course. Most of the events on the ladies' domestic circuit are played on links, so I feel I could do better in them if I played a lot more on links courses at club level than I have in the past," said Laura whose next big tournament is the Spanish women's amateur championship at Playa de Pals, Girona.
Laura is still of a mind to go to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School near the end of the year but she would like to go into that with her confidence high after a successful amateur season.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Laura Murray pipped for place


in North-east Alliance history



Scotland cap Laura Murray from Alford almost made a little bit of golfing history by becoming the first female player ever to have the lowest scratch score in a North-east Alliance competition.
Having been the clubhouse leader at the Murcar Links with a three-under-par round of 66, she was pipped by one of the last men to finish in a field of 84, Scott Larkin (Banchory) with a 65.
Read the story by switching over to http://www.scottishgolfview.com/

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English Women's Golf Association and English

Golf Union moving towards potential merger

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) and the English Golf Union (EGU) have agreed to take the next steps towards a potential merger which would let the country’s amateur golfers speak with one voice.
The joint steering group from the two organisations has agreed five initial proposals and working groups have been set up to look in detail at key areas. The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations after they have received and considered the final proposal and following a period of consultation involving all members.
It is hoped the vote will take place before the end of 2010.
The benefits of merger could include:
+The opportunity to promote golf as one game for all and to make strategic plans for the future of the sport.
+Greater commercial power to attract sponsorship.
+More effective use of resources and reduced running costs.
The five proposals agreed so far are:
• A single National Governing Body for amateur golf in England. EWGA would join the EGU under a modified structure. EGU Ltd would be expanded to incorporate the activities and assets of both existing companies with a new management structure reflected in a revised Memorandum and Articles of Association. A trading name, yet to be finalised, would be adopted with the single company being styled "X" is the trading name of EGU Ltd incorporated with the EWGA.
• The headquarters would initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa, with EWGA’s offices in Birmingham remaining in operation for use by staff from both organisations until at least the break clause in the current lease contract in October 2012. After this the new board would review the accommodation needs of the organisation.
• The board of the single organisation would develop the strategy for the new body.
• The EGU/EWGA steering group would consider options regarding the staff organisational structure needed to deliver that strategy. It would appoint where possible from existing members of staff from both organisations.
• The new body would have one main board with executive and non-executive directors. While the final composition and role of this board will be decided by the steering group looking at the structure, voting and governance issues, it would initially have a non-executive gender balance of 6:4 men to women. The main committees would have at least two men and two women members.
The working groups have been set up to consider such key areas as legal and financial issues, golf, marketing, sponsorship and communications. They will report back to the steering group by mid-April and the results of their work will help to shape the final proposal for a potential merger.
This is expected to be published at the end of July and will be followed by roadshows in every county (in England). The roadshows will be open to all members of both organisations and will provide an opportunity to discuss the final proposal in detail and to ask questions.
The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations at general meetings held on the same day, towards the end of 2010.
To read a joint statement issued by John Petrie, EGU Chief Executive and Jim Robinson, EWGA Chief Executive please click here

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3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival

MURCIA OPEN PRIZE LIST

Ladies Scratch
Winner: Amy Boulden (Maesdu). Runner-up: Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall). Third: Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).

Ladies Handicap

Winner: Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar). Runner-up: Hannah Barwood (Knowle). Third: Jess Wilcox (Blankney).

Seniors
Winner: Sheila Brunton (Carnoustie Ladies). Runner-up: Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood). Third: Penny Burrows (Hacienda del Alamo).

Girls' Under-16 Scratch
Winner: Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham St Annes). Runner-up: Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer).

Girls' Under-16 Handicap
Winner: Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted). Runner-up: Nicola Callander (Mill Green). Third: Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough).

Girls' Under-18 Scratch
Winner: Lucie Walker (Ormskirk).

Girls' Under-18 Handicap
Winner: Lydia Johnston (Harleyford).

Girls' Under-16 Stableford
Winner: Sophie Phillips (El Soto, Spain). Runner-up: Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough).

TEE TIMES FOR HACIENDA LADIES/SENIORS/GIRLS' OPEN
+Seniors' tournament reduced to 36 holes at the request of the competitors, many of whom are catching planes home on Saturday.
+Friday's draw will be the same as that for Thursday with the only difference being that those who start from Tee 1 on Thursday will start from Tee 10 on Friday and vice versa.
+On Saturday, the players will go out in score order, lowest totals last.

Tee 1 Start Thursday; Tee 10 Start Friday
09:00 DAVIS, HAYLEY
09:00 MACDONALD, KELSEY
09:00 ANDERSON, DANIELLE
09:10 GREENSLADE, DANA
09:10 DYER, DAISY
09:10 BOULDEN, AMY
09:20 GEE, BECKY
09:20 MACLAREN, MARY
09:20 DOUGLASS, CHARLIE
09:30 WALKER, LUCIE
09:30 BRADY, SHAUNA
09:30 ROBINSON, HOLLY
09:40 CARRAGHER, KATHERINE
09:40 COWLEY, GABRIELLA
09:40 MCCARTHY, GEMMA
09:50 VIZARD, HOLLY
09:50 TAYLOR, AMELIA
09:50 MACLAREN, MEGAN
10:00 LEE, AUDREY
10:00 BURROWS, PENNY
10:00 CHEEMA, KAM

Tee 10 Start Thursday; Tee 1 Start Friday
09:00 MCCARTHY, SHULA
09:00 WRIGHT, ANA
09:10 ELLIS, CHARLOTTE
09:10 BARWOOD, HANNAH
09:10 BIRCH, JENNA
09:20 TAYLOR, EMILY
09:20 JOHNSTON, LYDIA
09:20 GILLING, GEORGIA
09:30 HEWSON, ALICE
09:30 RATCLIFFE, AMBER
09:30 CRONIN, EAODIN
09:40 HUMPHRIES, CHARLOTTE
09:40 SVERDLOFF, DULCIE
09:40 HARRIS, EMMA
09:50 GARDINER, GILLIAN
09:50 WILSON, LINDA
09:50 PEARCE, MARILYNN
09:50 MARR, LINDA

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US COLLEGE NEWS

James Byrne joint 42nd in

"Battle of the Beach"

Banchory's James Byrne (Arizona State University) tied for 42nd place with a three-round total of 219 (72-73-74) over a par-71 course of 6,945yd in the "Battle of the Beach" men's college tournament at Pelican Hill North, Newport Coast in California.
The scoring at the top of the leaderboard was so tight that four shots covered the leading 10 finishers.
Chris Williams (Washington) (69-65-71) tied with David Lingmerth (Arkansas) (70-71-64) for first place. There was no play-off.
They finished one shot ahead of Diego Velasquez (Oregon State) (66-72-68), Jamie Marshall (Arkansas) (71-70-65) and Pontus Widegren (UCLA) (70-72-64).
Darren Renwick (Tennessee University), a sophomore student from Woking, Surrey, tied for 40th place on 218 (73-68-77) and Tom Berry, a freshman student from Surrey at San Diego State, came joint 58th in a field of 86 players with scores of 71, 79 and 73 for 223.
It was also squeaky tight at the top of the team race with UCLA (1055) pipping joint runners-up Arkansas and Washington (1056) by a single shot with Oregon State (1060) a close fourth, San Diego State (1070) fifth and Arizona State (1074) sixth in a field of 13 teams.

Rafferty joint 37th at San Antonio, Texas

Fergal Rafferty, pictured above, from Carrickimore, Omagh in Northern Ireland, a senior student at Sam Houston State University, finished 37th in a field of 81 players for the Oak Hills Invitational at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.
Over a par-71 course of 6,765yd, Fergal had rounds of 78, 72 and 74 for a total of 224.
Winner was Philipp Westerman (Southeastern Louisiana) with 71, 71 and 69 for 211. He finished a shot ahead of Dustin Garza (Wichita State) (72-70-70).
Texas Tech (875) won the team title ahead of Southeastern Louisiana (877) and joint third Tulsa and Baylor (878). Sam Houston State (891) finished ninth of 15 teams.

Adam Galbraith joint 10th at Valdosta, Georgia

Webber International University, Florida's contingent of English students were all in the field for the Thomas University Winter Invitational at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta in Georgia.
Over a par-72 course of 6,940yd, Adam Galbraith, a senior student from Haywards Hill, Sussex came joint 10th on 153 with scores of 78 and 75.
Team-mate Connor O'Dell, a freshman from Taunton, tied for 20th place with scores of 77 and 79 for 156
Tom Gamble, a Webber International sophomore student from Walton-on-Thames, scored 81 and 79 for 36th place on 160 - one shot ahead of another team-mate, senior student Craig Isabel from Stanford-Le-Hope with rounds of 83 and 78 for 161 and joint 37th place.
Arvid Bengstsson (Shorter College) won the individual title with scores of 69 and 75. He finished four shot shots ahead of Taylor Welborn (Darton Community College) with scores of 75 and 73.
Shorter College (611) won the team title ahead of Johnson & Wales, Florida (613) and Darton CC (617). Webber International (621) finished sixth of 10 teams.

Clark Nelson down the field at Lakeland, Florida

Glasgow's Clark Nelson, a sophomore (second year) student at Clayton State University, Atlanta, finished joint 72nd in a field of 75 players for the Matlock Collegiate Classic at Lone Palm Golf Club, Lakeland in Florida.
Clark scored 77, 85 and 82 for a total of 244 over a par-72, 7,065yd course.
Joe Young (Georgia College) won the title with scores of 71, 67 and 72 for six-under-par total of 210
Georgia College (863) won the team honours by a shot from Florida Southern in a field of 15 teams.

Olivia ties for fourth place at Miami Lakes, Florida

Channel Islander Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern University) tied for fourth place in a field of 90 players at the Hurricane Invitational women's college tournament at Don Shula's Golf Course, Miami Lakes in Florida.
Over a par-72 course of 6,199yd, Olivia had rounds of 72, 75 and 75 for a total of 222 - five shots behind the three-stroke winner, Christine Wong (San Diego State) (69-74-74 for one-over-par 217).
Royal Liverpool Golf Club member Laura Jones, a student at Oklahoma City University, tied for 10th place on 224 with scores of 75, 72 and 77.
Ireland's Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) from Galway finished joint 17th on 227 with scores of 75, 77 and 75.
Ellie Robinson from Middlesbrough, a freshman student at Georgia State University, finished joint 34th with scores of 73, 79 and 78 for 230. Ellie reached the last 32 of the Ladies British open amateur championship at Harlech last June.
Sammy Vass from Tain in the far north of Scotland, a freshman student at the University of Central Florida, had rounds of 78, 85 and 79 for a total of 241 and a share of 67th place in a field of 90 players.
Sammy was playing as an individual but she joined in her team-mates' celebrations after they won the team title by one shot with a total of 894 to Georgia State's 895 with third-placed East Tennessee State (896) only a shot behind in third place in a field of 17 teams.

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Attention Students!

Message from Alan Ferguson

Attached are a copy of the Entry Forms for Scottish Universities Event 4 (Word doc) along with an information sheet regarding a Barnardo's fundraising event (Word doc) being run at Cardrona.
Whatever money is raised by the golfers will be matched by Scottish Uni's so please take the time to read the information and pass it on to your team.
This is only for the 3rd SUS Event at Cardrona.

Forms should be submitted to Rob Macpherson electronically on mailto://Rob.Macpherson@thurso.uhi.ac.uk or Alan Fleming on mailto://Alan.Fleming@thurso.uhi.ac.uk.

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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Clubgolf Press Release

Call for schools and clubs to get junior golf friendly
as Borders clubgolf drive shifts into a higher gear

(front left to right) Laura Rushby, clubgolf’s East of Scotland Regional Manager;
Gemma Ross, Active Schools Co-ordinator, Earlston Primary;
and Suzy Hamilton, Active Schools Co-ordinator, Earlston Primary,
with PE teachers from Borders schools)


The drive to give more Borders primary school children the opportunity to play golf intensified this month when PE teachers from schools as far afield as Peebles and Eyemouth were trained to deliver the national junior golf programme, clubgolf’s introductory game.

Training of these staff builds on strong foundations. In 2009 over 700 Primary 5 children in the Borders played golf at school through firstclubgolf, which employs modified equipment, is taught by school staff and supported by Active Schools Co-ordinators to give children an enjoyable introduction to the game.

Last year 10 Borders Clubs - Duns, Eyemouth, Hawick, Innerleithen, Kelso, Melrose, Minto, St Boswells, Torwoodlee and West Linton - delivered the next stage of the programme.

The bar rises twofold this year. The numbers of children being introduced to first clubgolf has been set at 80% of the P5 roll (960 children) and more clubs and volunteer coaches will be needed to ensure they can progress.

“Ultimately we will have full roll out of firstclubgolf in Borders schools,” said clubgolf’s East of Scotland Regional Manager, Laura Rushby. “To reach 80% this year we have come up with a plan to invest in equipment and train more school staff.

“Active Schools and clubgolf have split the costs of 22 bags of firstclubgolf equipment and the Active Schools team has invested in 27 firstclubgolf resource packs so every school in the Borders now has access to equipment through their Active Schools Co-ordinator.

“We organised today’s training to ensure PE specialists are fully prepared to go back to their schools and deliver to their P5s.”

The response from Borders schools has been positive. Now that they have a equipment and staff trained to coach, the onus is on them to deliver.

"There are now no excuses for schools not to deliver firstclubgolf,” said Laura. “We have exit routes in the form of golf clubs signed up in every cluster. We have provided equipment for every school to use, we have trained schools staff to deliverer. And cross-curricular resources are available to cover just about everything from designing a mini golf course to doing golf related maths.”

Active Schools is an integral part of clubgolf’s schools programme. Active Schools Co-ordinators will continue training P5 teachers and supporting the programmes in schools as well as recruiting more volunteers to deliver in the schools.

“In the past the training was for staff who are interested in delivering golf,” said Suzy Hamilton, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the Hawick cluster, who took part in last week’s PE Specialists clubgolf training course.
“But this year there has been a shift towards involving PE staff that have regular access to kids in PE time trained so they can get involved in the programme.

“The response from schools has been good. A lot of staff think it’s difficult to coach golf but when you show them how to use the fun equipment they realise it can be quite straightforward. Once they know about it they like it because it is fun and different.”

“Once they know about it they like it because it is fun and different. There is still some education to be done.”

More education, or at least more spreading of the word, is also needed in Borders golf clubs. A staggering 960 local children are set to experience golf for the first time this spring, and many of them will develop a taste for the game that could lead to lifelong participation.

In times of struggling club memberships and ageing memberships, 2010 will provide the best opportunity to reverse those trends.
“More clubs came on board last year and people are starting to realise that golf is more available for children in the community. But we still need more clubs and Pro's to get involved and more volunteers to become trained coaches so that we can give these children every opportunity to play and enjoy golf in the Borders"

For more information about clubgolf and how it can benefit your school or club visit: www.clubgolfscotland.com and contact: Laura Rushby t: +44 (0)7956 540595 e: lrushby@clubgolfscotland.co.uk

PE teachers from Borders schools learn clubgolf’s introductory game last week

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3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival


Kelsey MacDonald (left) and Amy Boulden (right), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency at last September's Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club. Click on images to enlarge.

Amy Boulden's super second round of 69 pips
-
Kelsey MacDonald for Murcia Ladies title

Amy Boulden, 16-year-old Welsh international scratch player, beat four other members of the GB&I Curtis Cup preliminary squad for the June match in America to win the Murcia Ladies Open at the 3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival today at the five-star resort in Murcia, south-east Spain.
Amy, a member at the Maesdu club, Llandudno, is one of the crop of rising young stars who have won the Women's Home Internationals title for Wales in 2008 (at Wrexham) and 2009 (at Irvine, Ayrshire) and will be bidding for an unprecedented hat-trick on home turf at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff from September 8 to 10.
The way she is playing this early in the year suggests that Miss Boulden is among the favourites for a Curtis Cup match debut at Essex County Golf Club in Massachusetts from June 11 to 13.
Because the GB&I team of eight is being selected in April, before the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh closed championships, candidates for selection have to take the opportunity to impress the Curtis Cup selectors in overseas events such as the Hacienda del Alamo Festival.
It was a very close-run thing between Amy Boulden and Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), winner of the Scottish Under-21 open girls' title for the past two years, today.
Kelsey, 19, has set her sights on making an appearance in the 2012 Curtis Cup match which will be played in her home town of Nairn - but she might well make her debut two years earlier!
Both matched the par of 144 for two rounds over the Dave Thomas designed course of 5534 metres and, with no provision for a play-off, Boulden was declared the winner by virtue of having the better second round.
Amy had rounds of 75 and 69, Kelsey a pair of 72s.
Boulden, who also had the best net total of 144, had six birdies in her three-under-par second round as she rose from fourth place overnight. She birdied the first, seventh, ninth, 10th, 14th and 16 with bogeys at the second, fourth and 11th in halves of 35 (one under par) and 34 (two under par).
Kelsey, whose opening-day 72 left her lying second, two shots adrift of English champion Charlie Douglass, the left-hander from Brocket Hall, had birdies at the first, fifth, ninth and 18th and bogeys at the fourth, 12th, 14th and 17th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 38 (two over par).
In the final analysis it was that run of bogeys on the inward half that cost the Scot outright victory but she finished ahead of Charlie Douglass, who tagged a 77 on to her 70 to finish third on 147, and English girls champion Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) who had 73 and 75 for fourth place on 148.
The fifth member of the Curtis Cup preliminary squad in the field, former English champion Hannah Barwood (Knowle) finished fifth on 149 with scores of 76 and 73.
Just turned 17 years of age, Hayley Davis (Ferndown), after a first-round 82, came storming up into joint sixth place with a 72, a second-round score bettered only by winner Amy Boulden, and a total of 154.
Eighteen-year-old Jess Wilcox (Blankney) shared sixth place with scores of 78 and 76 for 154.
Ormskirk's Lucie Walker and Lydia Johnston (Harleyford) tied on 172 at the head of the smal field for the Murcar Under-18 Girls' Open. Both girls made significant improvement between their first and second rounds with victory going to Walker with the better second round.
Walker had rounds of 93 and 79, Johnston 91 and 81.
Lydia had the best net total in this category of 160 off six of a handicap.
Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) won the Murcia Under-16 Girls' Open with scores of 79 and 78 for 157. The 15-year-old Lancashire one-handicapper finished eight shots ahead of 14-year-old Amber Ratcliffe from the Royal Cromer club. Amber, who has enjoyed success at previous Hacienda del Alamo Festivals, had rounds of 83 and 82 for 165.
Fifteen-year-old Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough), whose father is a European Tour director, finished third on 167 with scores of 88 and 79.
The best net total in the Under-16s' category was 152, returned by 12-year-old Alice Hewson, an eight-handicap junior member of the Berkhamsted club in Hertfordshire. She had net scores of 74 and 78. Alice, who is also a talented swimmer, by the way, finished second in last year's Wee Wonders competition at St Andrews.
In the youngsters' Stableford competition, Sophie Phillips, from the El Soto club in Spain, had an impressive total of 64 (33-31) pts over the two rounds.
The Murcia Seniors Open was decided on a Stableford points format over two rounds and Sheila Brunton (Carnoustie Ladies) was the winner with 48 (25-23) points off eight of a handicap.
Runner-up was Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) with 45 (26-19) points off 27.
Local member Penny Burrows, playing off 22, was third with 42 (22-20) points.
+The next event on the Hacienda del Alamo Festival programme is the 54-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies/Seniors/Girls' Open on Thursday-Friday-Saturday.

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All today's final totals from 3rd Hacienda del

Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival

MURCIA LADIES OPEN - Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, Murcia, south-east Spain

FINAL TOTALS (Par 144: 2x72
)
SCRATCH
144 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 75 69, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 72 72 (Boulden won with better second round).
147 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 70 77.
148 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 73 75.
149 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 76 73.
154 Hayley Davis (Ferndown) 82 72, Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 78 76.
159 Becky Gee (Wellingborough) 83 76.
163 Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) 84 79.
164 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 80 84.
167 Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham) 86 81.
211 Ana Wright (Hacienda del Alamo) 103 108.
236 Gina Sim (Hacienda del Alamo) 118 118.
No Return: Shula McCarthy (Clonmel) 100 NR.

HANDICAP
144 Amy Boulden (scr) 75 69.
148 Kelsey MacDonald (+2) 74 74.
149 Charlie Douglass (+1) 71 78.
152 Holly Clyburn (+2) 75 77.
153 Hannah Barwood (+2) 78 75.
154 Jess Willox (scr) 78 76.
155 Mary MacLaren (4) 80 75.
156 Hayley Davis (+1) 83 73.
157 Becky Gee (1) 82 75.
162 Daisy Dyer (1) 79 83.
163 Jenna Birch (2) 84 79.
173 Ana Wright (19) 84 89.
196 Gina Sim (20) 98 98.
No Return: Shula McCarthy (17) 83 NR.

MURCIA SENIOR LADIES OPEN (Stableford)
FINAL POINTS TOTALS
48 Sheila Brunton (Carnoustie Ladies) (8) 25 23.
45 Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) (27) 26 19.
42 Penny Burrows (Hacienda del Alamo) (22) 22 20.
40 Marilyn Pearce (Hacienda del Alamo (19) 20 20.
31 Linda Marr (Fleetwood) (26) 16 15.
25 Linda Wilson (Ashton & Lea) (32) 5 20.
21 Audrey Lee (Fleetwood) (21) 7 14.

MURCIA UNDER-18 GIRLS' OPEN
FINAL TOTALS
SCRATCH
172 Lucie Walker (Ormskirk) 93 79, Lydia Johnston (Harleyford) 91 81.
178 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) 95 83.
190 Shauna Brady (Co Sligo) 99 91.

HANDICAP
160 Lydia Johnston (Harleyford) (6) 85 75.
162 Lucie Walker (Ormskirk) (5) 88 74.
166 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) (6) 89 77.
170 Shauna Brady (10) 89 81.

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN
FINAL TOTALS
SCRATCH
157 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St Annes) 79 78.
165 Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 83 82.
167 Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 88 79.
168 Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted) 82 86.
173 Emma Harris (Peel) 85 88.
176 Nicola Callander (Mill Green) 90 86.
177 Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall) 89 88.
186 Ella Ofstedahl (Mill Green) 97 89.
189 Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow) 95 94, Katherine Carragher (John O'Gaunt) 93 96.
192 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 95 97.
HANDICAP
152 Alice Hewson (8) 74 78.
155 Emily Taylor (1) 78 77.
156 Nicola Callander (10) 80 76.
159 Amber Ratcliffe (3) 80 79.
161 Megan MacLaren (3) 85 76.
163 Katherine Carragher (13) 80 83.
165 Dulcie Sverdloff (6) 83 82.
166 Ella Ofstedahl (10) 87 79.
167 Emma Harris (3) 82 85.
170 Amelia Taylor (11) 84 86.
173 Charlotte Humphries (8) 87 86.

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN (Stableford)
FINAL POINTS TOTALS
64 Sophie Phillips (El Soto, Spain) (28) 33 31.
27 Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough) (36) 9 18.

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The 16th hole at Lough Erne Golf Resort in Northern Ireland.

Faldo Series Signs Major Partnership three-year

deal with Northern Ireland's Lough Erne Resort

NEWS RELEASE
Sir Nick Faldo has announced that the Faldo Series has signed a three-year Major Partnership deal with the acclaimed new Lough Erne Resort in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
The deal means the Lough Erne Resort will be designated as the Home of the Faldo Series and the Resort’s award-winning 7,167-yard Faldo Course will host the Faldo Series Grand Final in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the Faldo Series Ireland Championship during the same years.
It will also extend a proud association with World No 7, Rory McIlroy, who is the Touring Professional at Lough Erne Resort and who is a former member of Team Faldo and won both the Under-15 and Under-17 Faldo Series titles in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Other major figures who have participated in the Faldo Series since its launch in 1996 include Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren, Oliver Fisher, Tseng Ya-ni, Melissa Reid and Kiran Matharu.
Six-time Major winner, Faldo, announced this year’s Faldo Series Ireland Championship will be held at the Lough Erne Resort on May 24 - 25, with the 2010 Faldo Series Grand Final taking place four months later on September 21 - 23.
He added: “I am delighted with the support that Lough Erne will be offering the Faldo Series over the next few years and am very much looking forward to extending my links with what is a very special Resort.
“As a Major Partner of the Faldo Series, The Resort will be helping us to create opportunities through golf for some of the best young golfing talent from across the globe and it is very satisfying to know that they share our vision to nurture and develop these players.
“The facilities at Lough Erne are second-to-none and I know the golf course we have created there will offer a real challenge to our competitors in what are genuinely inspirational surroundings.
Jim Treacy, Owner of Lough Erne, confirmed The Resort was proud to become Home to such a prestigious event. He said: “I am thrilled to sign this Partnership with the Faldo Series and to extend our relationship with Sir Nick which started back in 2003 when we asked him to design our course here at Lough Erne.
“We look forward to staging both the Faldo Series Grand Final and the Faldo Series Ireland Championship and to welcoming all the competitors to our Resort.
“Who knows, we may even help to unearth a new Nick Faldo or Rory McIlroy.”
McIlroy turned pro back in 2007 after representing GB & I in that year’s Walker Cup at Royal Co. Down but he has not forgotten all the support he received during his formative years as an amateur.
“I was delighted to learn that Lough Erne has signed a Major Partnership Deal with the Faldo Series and believe all the competitors will thoroughly enjoy their visits to a wonderful Resort I am proud to represent.
“I have great memories of winning the Faldo Series back in 2004 and 2006 and see it as an integral part of my development as a golfer. I also appreciate all the help I got from Nick himself and know how much effort he puts in to make the Series work.”
Nick Faldo created the Faldo Series (charity no. 11027719) back in 1996 in an effort to help and nurture future generations of young champions.
This year’s Series, which will attract in excess of 5,000 boys and girls aged between 12 and 21, comprises around 30 events in over 25 countries throughout the UK, Europe, South America and Asia with the winners from all the qualifying events being invited to compete in either the Faldo Series Grand Final in Europe or the Faldo Series Grand Final in China both of which are hosted by the six-time Major champion himself.

This year’s Faldo Series Asia Grand Final is to be played at Mission Hills Golf Club in China on March 10 -12. Last year’s European Grand Final was staged in the Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro and was won by England’s Jonathan Bell, who posted rounds of 70, 69 and 73 for a 4-under par aggregate of 212 and a one stroke victory over 2009 British Boys’ champion, Tom Lewis. England’s Holly Clyburn was crowned 2009 Faldo Series Girls’ champion, ahead of Scotland’s Carly Booth.
The Faldo Series is underwritten by its founder and receives support from a range of Partners including Lough Erne, The R&A and the European Tour. The PGA also supports the Faldo Series within the UK.

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Stephanie Meadow's jt 16th finish in Annika Invitational

Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland finished joint 16th in a quality field of 62 players for the Annika Sorenstam Girls' Invitational tournament over three rounds at the Indepence Course at Reunion Resort, Florida.
Stephanie, a student at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, had rounds of 76, 74 and 76 for a total of 226 over the 6420yd course.
The winner was 16-year-old Victoria Tanco from Argentina. She had rounds of 73, 66 and 72 for 211. She finished three shots ahead of Israel's Laetitia Beck who is a student at a golf academy in Florida but will be enrolling at Duke University, Durham in North Carolina in the autumn.
Laetitia had scores of 68, 71 and 75, having been level with Victoria at the start of the final day's play.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
211 Victoria Tanco (Argentina) 73 66 72.
214 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 68 71 75.
216 Karen Chung 75 70 71.
218 Jessica Korda 77 72 69.
221 Ashlan Ramsay 77 71 73, Tiffany Lim 73 72 76.
Selected scores:
226 Stephanie Meadow (Northern (Ireland) 76 74 76 (jt 16th).
239 Daniela Lendl 81 76 82 (57th).

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3rd HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S & GIRLS' FESTIVAL



Charlie Douglass is swinging and singing in the rain with a two-

under par 70 to lead by two strokes from Kelsey MacDonald

English amateur champion Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) made light of untypical Spanish weather for the start of the 36-hole Murcia Ladies Open, the first individual stroke-play event of the 3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls Festival at the five-star resort in the Murcia region of south-east Spain.
On a day when the rain in Spain certainly did not stay mainly on the plain - the start was delayed an hour because it was so wet and it continued to rain all day - left-hander Douglass
coped brilliantly with the conditions and the testing Dave Thomas-designed par 72 course.
She shot a two-under-par 70 to lead Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, by two shots.
Douglass had a bogey-bogey start and then bogeyed the par-3 fifth, before bouncing back with birdies on six and nine for a one over 37 on the way out.
The Brocket Hall left-hander, who has enjoyed previous Festival success over the course, then came home in 33 with birdies on 10, 12, 14 & 16, but she was disappointed to three-putt the final hole for bogey when a par would have given her a 69.
Kelsey Macdonald had level par halves of 36 with three bogeys and three birdies going out, and three bogeys, one birdie and an eagle on the par-5 14th on the way home.
Five players named in the preliminary Curtis Cup squad for the June match against the Americans at Essex County Club, near Boston, Massachusetts, are in the field and they fill the first five places after 18 holes.
English girls champion Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) is lying third on 73 with Welsh international Amy Boulden (Maesdu) fourth on 75, a shot ahead of former English champion Hannah Barwood (Knowle).
Young Jess Wilcox (Blankney) is on the 78 mark.
Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) had a 79 which puts her at the top of the Under-16 years section.
Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) had an 80 - two better than Hayley Davis (Ferndown) and Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted), who is lying second in the Under-16s section.
Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) had an 83 and is in third place in the Under-16s.
Lydia Johnston (Harleyford) is leading the Under-18s with a 91, two shots ahead of Lucie Walker (Ormskirk).
Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) is leading the Murcia Seniors Open, which is being decided on Stableford points over two rounds. Gillian, playing off 27 of a handicap, scored 26pts today, one better than Carnoustie Ladies' Sheila Brunton, playing off eight.
Penny Burroughs (Hacienda del Alamo), who has 22 of a handicap, is lying third in the over-50s category with 22 points.
In the children's section, Spain-based Sophie Phillips (El Soto) had a great Stableford score of 33 off a handicap of 28.
Whether they were playing well or not, all the competitors appreciated a free cup of hot chocolate at the turn, organised by Tournament Controller Lee Harrington and Director of Golf Billy Sim.

MURCIA WOMEN'S OPEN - Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
First round over the Dave Thomas-designed championship course (5,534 metres, Par 72)
70 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall).
72 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
73 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
75 Amy Boulden (Maesdu).
76 Hannah Barwood (Knowle).
78 Jess Wilcox (Blankney),
80 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell).
82 Hayley Davis (Ferndown).
84 Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough).
86 Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham).
88 Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough).
90 Shauna Brady (Co Sligo).
100 Shula McCarthy (Clonmel).
103 Ana Wright (Hacienda del Alamo).
118 Gina Sim (Hacienda del Alamo).
UNDER-18s: First Round
91 Lydia Johnston (Harleyford).
93 Lucie Walker (Ormskirk).
95 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo).

UNDER-16s: First Round
79 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham).
82 Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted).
83 Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer).
85 Emma Harris (Peel).
88 Megan MacLaren (Wellingborough).
89 Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall).
90 Nicola Callander (Mill Green).
93 Katherine Carragher (John O'Gaunt).
95 Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow), Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links).
97 Ella Ofstedahl (Mill Green).

SENIORS (Stableford): First Round
26 Gillian Gardiner (Fleetwood) (27).
25 Sheila Brunton (Carnoustie Ladies) (8).
22 Penny Burroughs (Hacienda del Alamo) (22).
20 Marilynn Pearce (Hacienda del Alamo) (19).
16 Linda Marr (Fleetwood) (26).
7 Audrey Lee (Fleetwood) (21).
5 Linda Wilson (Ashton & Lea) (32).

CHILDREN (Stableford): First Round
33
Sophie Phillips (El Soto, Spain) (28).
9 Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough) (36).

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Double whammy by Scots on US college circuit





Scott Crichton (Western New Mexico University) and Sally Watson (Stanford University)

Sally and Scott at their Sunday best

Two Scottish students scored victories on the United States college golf circuit on Sunday.
Curtis Cup team player Sally Watson, a first-year student at Stanford University, California and originally from South Queensferry, Edinburgh, finished joint first in the Peg Barnard Invitational over the Stanford course - Tiger Woods' old stamping ground - with Joanne Lee (California).
Sally had rounds of 73 and 71 for a two-over-par total of 144 over the 6,092 women's course (par 71). Joanne had scores of 74 and 70.
Watson had a double bogey 6 on her outward half of 37 but back-to-back birdies at the long 12th and par-4 13th put her back on track.
Former British women's stroke-play champion Roseanne Niven (California) from Crieff finished joint 22nd with scores of 75 and 80 for 155.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
144 Sally Watson (Stanford) 73 71, Joanne Lee (California) 74 70.
147 Rebecca Durham (Stanford) 77 70.
149 Anya Alvarez (Washington) 72 77.
Selected score:
155 Roseanne Niven (California) 75 80 (jt 22nd).
Watson's effort helped Stanford pip California by a single shot for the team title in a field of 11 teams. Placings:
1 Stanford (596), 2 California (597), 3 Oregon (607), 4 Washington (609), 5 UC Davis (615), 6 San Jose State (622). Eleven teams took part.
Scott Crichton, from Dalgety Bay, Fife, in his senior (final) year at Western New Mexico University, had a pair of 68s for a six-under-par total of 136 to win the Cactus Thaw college tournament at Silver City, New Mexico.
Crichton, runner-up for the Scottish youths title last year, won by a stroke from Branden Barron (South Mountain) who had rounds of 68 and 69.
The Scot is rated by his college golf coach to have made "tremendous improvement" over the past four years and is now one of the best, if not the best, male college golfers in New Mexico.
Another Western New Mexico Scottish student, Steven Maxwell, a junior (third year) student from Glasgow, finished sixth in a field of 52 with a pair of 71s for 142. Team-mate Edward Parker from Sandbach came fifth on 141 with scortes of 72 and 69.
And completing the Western New Mexico performances Chris Davis, a freshman from London, came joint 31st on 149 with scores of 72 and 77.
Western New Mexico won the team event by five shots from Scottsdale in a field of five teams.
In the Cactus Thaw women's college event over a par-72 course (5811hd) at the same venue, Jacqueiline Sneddon (Grand Canyon) from Meigle tied for 11th place with scores of 85 and 83 for 168.
Winner by six strokes was team-mate Jennifer Lutz with scores of 75 and 73 for 148.
Elsewhere, Tom Sherreard from Maidstone, Kent, a senior year student at Georgia State University, tied for 36th place in a field of 75 at the Sun Trust Gator Invitational over the Florida of University's Mark Bostick course at Gainesville.
Sherreard scored 75, 76 and 71 for 222 over the par-70, 6701yd course.
Cathal O'Malley (Alabama-Birmingham) from Westborn, Ireland tied for 67th place with scores of 78, 79 and 76 for 233.
Individual winner was Jonathan Randolph (Mississippin) with scores of 71, 72 and 67 for 210 - a shot ahead of Andrew Loupe (Louisiana State) with rounds of 71, 71 and 69.
Florida (841) won the title over their home course with Florida State (859) second and Chattanooga (869) third in the 14-team line-up.

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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Annika Girls' Invitational Scoreboard
Reunion Resort, Renuin, nr Orlando, Florida
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72) 6420yd.
139 Victoria Tanco 73 66, Laetitia Beck (Israel) 68 71.
145 Karen Chung 75 70, Tiffany Lim 73 72.
146 Kristen Park 75 71, Simin Feng 74 72.
147 Doris Chen 69 78, Maria Stackhouse 74 73, A J Newell 74 73.
Selected scores:
149 Jessica Korda 77 72.
150 Stephanie Meadow (Northern Ireland) 76 74 (jt 16th).
+Final round will be played on Monday.

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3rd HACIENDA DEL ALAMO FEBRUARY FESTIVAL


Jessica Chapman and David Saul, mixed pairs handicap winners at the opening event of the 2010 Hacienda del Alamo February Festival. Also pictured is Ian McLean, vice-captain of the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Club. Daisey Dyer and Simon Brierley, runners-up in the mixed pairs handicap section.

Holly Clyburn and Charlie Douglass with an Hacienda del Alamo Golf Club vice-captain Ian McLean.

Amy Boulden (left) and Hannah Barwood after the prizegiving on the Festival opening day.


Hannah Barwood and Amy Boulden

win better-ball pairs' best scratch

By LEE HARRINGTON
Tournament Controller
Monday's weather forecast not looking good with a 95% chance of rain & maximum temperature of 10 degrees!
Today (Sunday) we have had a mixture of sunshine and clouds but dry and a lot warmer than Saturday with the temperature now around 14 degrees.
On Saturday we had intermittent rain showers all day. It was bitterly cold by south-east Spanish standards with the daytime temperature not rising above four degrees. This resulted in snow falling on the surrounding mountains!
Some 20 pairs reluctantly braved the conditions for the Festival's curtain-raising four-ball, better-ball Stableford competition.
Results:
Scratch Winners – Hannah Barwood (Knowle) & Amy Boulden (Maesdu) – 34 points
Men's Pairing Handicap Winners – Billy Sim & Frank Knighton – 36 points
Ladies' Pairing Handicap Winners – Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) & Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) – 32 points
Mixed Pair Handicap Winners – David Saul & Jessica Chapman (Leicestershire) – 38 points
Mixed Pair Handicap runners-up - Simon Brierley & Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) – 35 points (on countback)
*Also on 35 points – Robert & Jess Wilcox (Blankney), Paul Coopey & Kam Cheema (Redlibbets).

MONDAY'S TEE TIMES FOR MURCIA LADIES & GIRLS OPEN
(Second Round on Tuesday)
STARTING FROM FIRST TEE
Tee 1 09:00 MCCARTHY, SHULA
Tee 1 09:00 WRIGHT, ANA

Tee 1 09:10 BARWOOD, HANNAH
Tee 1 09:10 DAVIS, HAYLEY
Tee 1 09:10 WILCOX, JESS

Tee 1 09:20 MACDONALD, KELSEY
Tee 1 09:20 DOUGLASS, CHARLIE
Tee 1 09:20 GEE, BECKY

Tee 1 09:30 BURROWS, ELEANOR PENELOPE
Tee 1 09:30 GARDINER, GILLIAN
Tee 1 09:30 WILSON, LINDA

Tee 1 09:40 TAYLOR, EMILY
Tee 1 09:40 WALKER, LUCIE
Tee 1 09:40 JOHNSTON, LYDIA

Tee 1 09:50 MACLAREN, MEGAN
Tee 1 09:50 HEWSON, ALICE
Tee 1 09:50 TAYLOR, AMELIA

Tee 1 10:00 RATCLIFFE, AMBER
Tee 1 10:00 CALLANDER, NICOLA
Tee 1 10:00 CARRAGHER, KATHERINE

STARTING FROM TENTH TEE
Tee 10 09:00 BIRCH, JENNA
Tee 10 09:00 MACLAREN, MARY

Tee 10 09:10 CLYBURN, HOLLY
Tee 10 09:10 BOULDEN, AMY
Tee 10 09:10 DYER, DAISY

Tee 10 09:20 PEARCE, MARILYNN
Tee 10 09:20 LEE, AUDREY
Tee 10 09:20 MARR, LINDA

Tee 10 09:30 ROBINSON, HOLLY
Tee 10 09:30 BRUNTON, SHEILA
Tee 10 09:30 BRADY, SHAUNA

Tee 10 09:40 PHILLIPS, SOPHIE
Tee 10 09:40 MACLAREN, REBECCA

Tee 10 09:50 SVERDLOFF, DULCIE
Tee 10 09:50 OFSTEDAHL, ELLA
Tee 10 09:50 MCCARTHY, GEMMA

Tee 10 10:00 HARRIS, EMMA
Tee 10 10:00 CRONIN, EAODIN
Tee 10 10:00 HUMPHRIES, CHARLOTTE

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