April 2006 Archive

Sunday 30th April 2006

Midlothian Trophy winners
LtoR; Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 2006 Champion, Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) 2006 Championship Runner-up, Gail Macdonald (Turnhouse) B Championship Runner-up, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) 2006 B Champion.

Midlothian Championship
CLAIRE HARGAN WINS MIDLOTHIAN TITLE FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW
Former Scotland international player Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) won the Midlothian women’s county golf championship for the fourth time in a row at Duddingston Golf Club today (Sunday).
Claire, the No 3 seed, had to go to the 19th before she beat clubmate Belinda Murphy in the final.
Miss Hargan birdied the ninth to be out in one-over-par 38 and three up. Belinda fought back to square the match with a birdie 2 at the short 14th.
After three successive halves, Claire had the chance to win the title at the 18th but she missed a 3ft birdie putt.
At the first extra hole, Claire got home with two cracking shots into a slight breeze at this par-5, 471yd hole but she did not have to putt. Belinda was in the rough and eventually conceded the hole, the match and the title.
Belinda played 38 holes in all during the day, having gone to the 19th to beat Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) at the 19th in the morning semi-finals.
Claire won by one hole against the second seed, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) in the other tie.
The B championship was won by young Cara Easton (Dalmahoy). She beat Gail MacDonald (Turnhouse) by 5 and 4 in the final.
Scoreboard
MIDLOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Duddingston Golf Club.
Semi-finals
Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) bt Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) at 19th; Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) bt Noreen Fenton(Merchants of Edinburgh) 1 hole.
Final
Hargan bt Murphy at 19th.
B Championship
Semi-finals – Gail MacDonald (Turnhouse) bt Gillian Carter (Broomieknowe) 4 and 3, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) bt Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 4 and 3.
Final – Easton bt MacDonald 5 and 4.

US College Golf
GEMMA WEBSTER FINISHES ON A HIGH FOR A TOP-20 PLACING IN INDIANA
Gemma Webster (Ohio State) left her best until last with a fourth-round 75 for 19th place on 306 in the Big Ten women’s golf championship over the Indiana University course at Bloomington, Indiana today (Sunday).
The Hilton Park Golf Club member and Scotland international will be rueing a double-bogey 6 at the fifth and a string of late bogeys which cost her a top-12 finish.
Gemma, who was a dentistry student at Dundee University until she transferred to Ohio State last summer, did birdie the third, seventh and 12 and she had nine birdies in all over the 72 holes.
Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota) from Telford did not have a good tournament. She finished in a share of 59th place on 329 after rounds of 84, 79, 82 and 84.
Individual honours went to all-the-way leader Alice Kim (Northwestern) with a total of three-overe par 291 over the par-72, 6,142yd course. She shot rounds of 68, 72, 74 and 77 to win by one shot from Sara Brown (Michigan State), Carling Coffing (Ohio State and Spain’s Maria Hernandez (Purdue).
Gemma Webster’s efforts helped Ohio State to achieve one of their best finishes of the season – second to Purdue who totalled 1179 to Ohio State’s 1185. Michigan State finished third of 11 on 1191. Minnesota (1263) came last.

US College Golf
NO LUCK OF THE IRISH FOR SUZIE IN BIG EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Dubliner Suzie Hayes, in the last term of her four-year golf scholarship at Notre Dame University, tied for 29th place in a field of 35 for the Big East Conference women’s college championship at Lake Jovita Country Club, Dade City in Florida.
Suzie had rounds of 82, 80 and 81 for a total of 243. The event was won by four strokes by Adrienne White (Louisville) with 74, 69 and 73 for a level par total of 216.
Louiseville (889) also won the team event from Georgetown (910) with Notre Dame sharing third place with USF on 914 in a field of seven.

Fife Championship
MOFFAT RALLIES FROM FOUR DOWN TO WIN FIFE TITLE FOR THIRD TIME
Former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), pictured right, four down after four holes, staged a great rally to win the Fife women’s county golf championship for a third time at Scotscraig Golf Club today (Sunday).
Miss Moffat, the top seed, beat Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), the No 3 qualifier, by 3 and 2 in the final, which was the fifth Elaine had played in over a 19-year span. She lost in 1987 and 2005 but won previously in 1996 and also 2000, when the championship was also played at Scotscraig.
Miss Kenney toppled the defending champion, Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), who will be defending her Scottish title at Dunbar later this month, by 3 and 2 in the semi-finals while Miss Moffat was beaten the No 5 seed, Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) by 4 and 2.
Louise began with three pars and a birdie to win all four opening holes but Elaine hit back with three birdies over the next five holes to be all square at the turn.
Louise regained the lead with a par at the 10th but Elaine birdied the 11th to get back on terms and then won the 12th, 14th and 16th to regain the title.
FIFE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Scotscraig Golf Club
Semi-finals
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) bt Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 4 and 2.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) bt Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 3 and 2.
Final
Moffat bt Kenney 3 and 2.

HAVE-A-GOLF HERO
Exhibitor Wayne Mitchell came up with a novel way of demonstrating his product when he was involved in a low-speed chase in the heart of London - on MOTORISED GOLF TROLLEYS.
Wayne gave chase on one of his unique two-wheeled trolleys after a thief had tried to steal the electric scooter-style machine outside ExCeL London as he left the 2006 London Golf Show.
The thief ended up going down a dual carriageway the wrong way on the 15 mph electric trolley in an attempt to lose Wayne as he gave hot pursuit.
But the fearless exhibitor was not to be put off and commandeered a passer-by’s car to chase the thief up some railway steps where he finally ditched the £4,000 trolley and ran off.
Wayne, from Matlock, Derbyshire, said: “When I saw him heading off down the road, I thought he was going to come back but he just kept going.
“When I saw him disappear around the corner I had no doubt about what to do. I was never going to catch him on foot so I just hopped on another trolley.
“I chased him for about a mile and he could see I was gaining ground so he went the wrong way up a dual carriageway.
“But I was determined not to lose him. I kept sight of him with the help of someone else’s car after I had quickly explained the situation to him and then saw the guy trying to drag it up some steps over a railway.
“I thought ‘I’m going to get him now’ as the trolleys are quite heavy, but he was able to escape after throwing the trolley down the steps.”
The stunned driver who helped him was local man Matt Edwards, 27, who visited Wayne on the Segway stand the following day to relive the encounter.
Matt said: “Without doubt it’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me. I was just parking my car when I saw this guy come past on a two-wheeled scooter and then another guy came flying past like a bat out of hell shortly afterwards.
“This chap got in my car, pointed to a bloke across the road and said ‘follow that Segway’. When I got back and spoke to my wife I just sat there in disbelief.”
Wayne was demonstrating his Segway Golf Transporters to people leaving the London Golf Show at 6pm on Saturday night when the drama took place.
Passers-by watched in amazement as the man, in his twenties, sped off down the road with Wayne close behind.
Wayne added: “I thought I’d catch him up as I’ve obviously got far more experience of riding on the transporters and he was a bit clumsy, but he was determined to do anything he could to get away.
“The amazing thing is that his friends were all watching and they were in the pub later that night when I got back. I told them that their friend better not show his face.
“I didn’t bother calling the police in the end because at least I got my trolley back and there wasn’t much damage. I can laugh about it now but I was livid at the time. You just don’t believe what some people will do.”
[Picture above right shows Wayne Mitchell, on Segway, with helpful driver Matt Edwards]

JAMIESON AND WATSON TIE FOR EDWARD TROPHY VICTORY
Craigmillar Park Open winner Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) followed up his 72-hole success in Edinburgh by tying for victory with Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) in Glasgow Golf Club’s 36-hole open tournament for the Edward Trophy at Glasgow Gailes on Saturday.
Jamieson had rounds of 72 and 69 for 141. Watson matched that one-under-par total with rounds of 70 and 71.
Jonathan King of the host club finished third on 142 with a 70 and 72.
Scoreboard
EDWARD TROPHY OPEN TOURNAMENT – Glasgow Gailes GC – Leading final totals
141 S Jamieson (Cathkins Braes) 72 69, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 70 71.
142 J King (Glasgow) 70 72.
143 D Miller (Fereneze) 71 72.
144 R A Clark (Erskine) 70 74, G Hay (Panmure) 72 72.
145 D McMcMillan (Lanark) 72 73, M Clark (Kilmacolm) 75 70, G Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) 71 74, D Martin (Alyth) 75 70.

US College Golf
KEVIN FAILS TO PEAK IN MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Blairgowrie’s Kevin McAlpine, coming to the end of his four-year golf scholarship at Colorado State University, will not have fond memories of this year’s Mountain West Conference men’s college championship at Crosswater Club, Sunriver Resort in Oregon.
Kevin, in the top 10 after 36 holes, finished in a share of 27 place after taking 44 shots for the inward half in a final-round 81 for a total of 225 over the par-72 course which measures a monster 7,630yd.
Kevin had a double bogey 7 at the second and dropped another shot at the eighth but birdies at the fourth and ninth got him out in one-over-par 37.
After bogeying the 10th, the wheels came off for McAlpine with a triple-bogey 8 at the 12th . Probably disheartened, Kevin then bogeyed the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th.
Jay Choi (New Mexico) won the individual title with 72, 70 and 73 for one-under-par 215.
Colorado State (883) finish sixth in a field of nine for the team event in which New Mexico (865) won from San Diego State (870) with UNLV third on 874.

US College Golf
GEMMA KNOCKED BACK BY TRIPLE BOGEY
Hilton Park Golf Club member Gemma Webster (Ohio State) ran up a triple-bogey 7 at the 10th , having earlier bogeyed the first, fourth and ninth, in the third round of the Big Ten women’s college championship over the Indiana University course at Bloomington, Indiana.
Birdies at the eighth, 15th and 18th enabled the Scotland international team player to salvage a five-over-par 77 (38-39) after earlier rounds of 76 and 78.
Gemma, who has had six birdies over the first 54 holes, is in joint 32nd position with a total of 231.
Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota) from Telford also had a triple bogey in her third-round 82 for a tally of 249 and a share of 59th place. She had a 7 at the 11th – her second of the tournament- in halves of 38 and 44. Her earlier scores were 84 and 79.
Alice Kim (Northwestern) leads the field with 68, 72 and 74 for two-under-par 214 – two shots ahead of Sara Brown (Michigan State) (72-73-71).
Purdue (881) lead the team event from Michigan State (883) with Ohio State (886) third and Minnesota (936) 10th in a field of 11.

Friday 28th April 2006

Ladies Eurpean Tour
KATHRYN CRASHES AS LYNN, CLARE AND LIZ MISS CUT
It was not a good second day for the Scots in the Tenerife Ladies Open, the first event of the year in the Ladies' European Tour.
Overnight joint leader Kathryn Imrie from Monifieth plunged from a 71 to an 80 to be in joint 23rd place on 151.
But at least Kathryn is still in the competition and chasing as big a cheque as she can.
For Lynn Kenny and Clare Queen (pictured above) and Inverness-based New Zealander, Liz McKinnon, the tournament is over - they missed the cut which fell at 156.
Liz McKinnon missed out by three shots with an 84 and 75 for 159.
Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) had a 77 and 85 for 162 while rookie debutante Clare Queen (Drumpellier) was nowhere near her best form with 84 and 82 for 166.
England's Kristy Taylor leads on three-under-par 141 after rounds of 71 and 72. She is two shots clear of Tania Elosegui (Spain (71-72) and Riikka Hakkarainen (Finland) (73-70).
More details of the Tenerife Ladies Open are available by logging on to www.ladieseuropeantour.info.

English Seniors
CHRISTINE CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY BY WINNING TITLE
Buckinghamshire's Christine Watson gave herself the perfect birthday present when she won a "monumental battle" to become English senior women’s (closed) champion today.
The No 5 qualifier, Christine defeated the title-holder and No. 2 seed , Chris Quinn (Hockley), at the 20th hole of an epic final over the New Course at Sunningdale.
"It's absolutely brilliant - and to beat Chris, who is someone I respect, makes it very special. I couldn't ask for better," said Christine, who was also celebrating her 54th birthday.
The two women have known each other for about 40 years, since their junior days in Middlesex, but this was only the third time they had met head-to-head.
"And this is the first time I have got the better of her!" said Christine from Beaconsfield.
She was never behind in a low-scoring match and was three up after 12 holes.
But Chris Quinn fought back, winning the 13th, 15th and 17th to take the match into extra holes.They halved the 19th with birdie 4s before Christine settled matters with a textbook par on the short 20th.
Chris Quinn had missed the green and just failed to sink her par putt.
During Christine's career she has been a junior international, played for England in the home internationals of 1982 and, more recently, has been a member of England's winning seniors' home international team, alongside Chris Quinn.
Christine has also won the Buckinghamshire county championship 12 times - but has now retired from county golf to concentrate on seniors' events.
In the morning semi-finals at Sunningdale, Christine Watson knocked out the top seed, Carole Caldwell, playing over her home course, by 3 and 2 while Chris Quinn ousted Sue Pickles by two holes.
ENGLISH SENIOR WOMEN’S (CLOSED) CHAMPIONSHIP
New Course, Sunningdale Golf Club.
Semi-finals – Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) bt Carole Caldwell (Sunningdale) 3 and 2; Chris Quinn (Hockley) bt Sue Pickles (Lee on Solent) 2 holes.
Final – Watson bt Quinn at 20th.
Division B - Final - Pat Hale (Edgbaston) bt Lotti Edmunds (Aldeburgh) 3 and 1.

East Lothian Ladies County Championship
GOOD FORTUNE FOR LINDA IN EAST LOTHIAN QUALIFYING ROUND
Kilspindie’s Linda Fortune and Scottish senior women’s title-holder Moira Thomson (North Berwick) are seeded to meet in the final of the East Lothian women’s county golf championship at Musselburgh Golf Club.
In the qualifying round, Linda, six-handicap player, earned the top seeding with a round of 75 – one better than Moira.
Loretto School pupil Emma Fairnie, making her debut in the championship for which she is eligibile to play since becoming a Dunbar Golf Club member, had the third-best scratch score of 77.
The championship continues with the match-play stages at the same venue on Monday and Tuesday.
EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Musselburgh Golf Club
QUALIFIERS
Scratch
75 L Fortune (Kilspindie). 76 M Thomson (North Berwick). 77 E Fairnie (Dunbar). 83 F Prior (Gullane), B McIntosh (Gullane). 84 M Woodward (Gullane). 85 M Renton (Gifford), J Herd (Musselburgh). 87 E Borthwick (Musselburgh). 87 C Guthrie (Longniddry), D Huish (Glen). 88 L McNicoll (Longniddry). 89 R Thoresen (North Berwick), S McMaster (Gullane). 90 M Barbour (North Berwick). 91 J Henderson (North Berwick).
Match-play draw:
Fortune v Henderson, Renton v Guthrie, McIntosh v McNicoll, Prior v McMaster, Fairnie v Thoresen, Woodward v Huish, Herd v Borthwick, Thomson v Barbour.
Handicap Qualifiers
72 C Reid (Kilspindie) 27). 73 K C Austin (North Berwick) (22). 75 N Cook (Gullane) (24), N Davidson (Glen) (17). 78 S Low (Gullane) (18), V Skinner (Dunbar) (14). 79 B Mackay (Gullane) (12). 80 D Lawson (Craigielaw) (15).

US College Golf
KEVIN SHOOTS UNDER PAR OVER MONSTER COURSE IN OREGON
Kevin McAlpine from Blairgowrie, coming to the end of his four-year golf scholarship at Colorado State University, was in joint sixth place going into the second round of the Mountain West Conference men’s college championship at Crosswater Club, Sunriver Resort in Oregon.
Kevin returned a one-under-par 71 over possibly the longest course he has ever played. It measures 7,630yd.
Kevin birdied the first, second, ninth, 13th and 18th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 37 (one over). He bogeyed the fifth, had a double bogey 6 at the 10th and dropped anothere shot at the 16th.
Clay Ogden (Brigham Young) was the overnight leader on 69.

Midlothian Ladies Championship
NICHOLSON-MURPHY, HARGAN-FENTON SEMI-FINALS
Top seed Claire MacDonald (Gullane) was knocked out by the 16th qualifier, Christine Stewart (Lothianburn), in the first round of the Midlothian women’s county golf championship match-play stages at Duddingston Golf Club today.
Christine won by one hole but was herself beaten 5 and 4 in the quarter-finals by Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) who will play Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall ) in the first semi-final at 9am on Sunday.
The other semi-final will be contested by title-holder and former Scotland international player Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) and Scotland senior cap Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), the No 2 seed.
SCOREBOARD
MIDLOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Duddingston Golf Club
Match-play
First round – Catherine Stewart (Lothianburn) bt Claire MacDonald (Gullane) 1 hole, Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 1 hole, Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) bt Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) 4 and 3, Tracy Laughland (Mortonhall) bt Karen Marshall (Baberton) 3 and 2.
Claire Hargan(Mortonhall) bt Kate Rorke (Kingsknowe) 2 holes, Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall) bt Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 2 and 1, Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) bt Anne Hanson (Glencorse) 6 and 4, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) bt Linda Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals – Nicholson bt Stewart 5 and 4, Murphy bt Tracy Laughland 3 and 1, Hargan bt Hilary Laughland 3 and 2, Fenton bt Blackwood 2 and 1.

Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy
RAMSAY WINS AS EUROPE COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT ASIA-PACIFIC
Europe, thanks to a stirring last-day surge, have won the fifth Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy international golf contest over Asia Pacific in Auckland.
They came from behind to secure eight singles and a half to claim the overall honours against Asia Pacific for the third time, 18-14.
Asia Pacific began the final day with a 10 ½ to 9 ½ advantage and needed six wins from the 12 singles matches at Auckland Golf Club today.
However the Europeans were always on the front foot today, starting strongly and never allowing the Asia Pacific team into the match.
“It’s a great thrill. The team really rallied today. We were disappointed to let the Asia Pacific team back into things yesterday but today the team were just fantastic,” said Gary Wolstenholme.
Scotland’s only representative in the Europe team, Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) beatAustralia Andrew Dodt by 4 and 3. Ramsay won four holes in a row from the 10th, including a birdie at the 11th.
Rory McIlroy (Ireland) was Europe’s most successful competitor over the three days with 4pt out of a possible 5.
Ramsay scored 3 from a possible 4.
SCOREBOARD
ASIA-PACIFIC 14, EUROPE 18
Third day score: Asia-Pacific 3 ½ - Europe 8 ½
SINGLES
Asia-Pacific players first
Anujit Hirunrantanakorn (Thailand) lost to Zac Gould (Walesl) 3 and 1.
Ajeetesh Sandhu (India) lost to Luiten (Netherlands) 3 and 1.
Mu Hu (China) lost to Rory McIlroy (Ireland) 3 and 2.
Yuta Ikeda (Japan)) lost to Marius Thorp (Norway) 1 hole.
Yuku Ito (Japan) bt Nigel Edwards (Wales) 5 and 3.
Ben Leong (Malaysia) lost to Pedro Oriol (Spain) 3 and 2.
Andrew Dodt (Australia) lost to Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 4 and 3.
Josh Geary (NZ) bt Damian Ulrich (Switzerland) 1 hole3.
Mark Purser (NZ) lost to Julien Guerrier (France) 1 hole.
Kyung Tae Kim (Korea) lost to Gary Wolstenholmed (England) 3 and 2.
Sung Hoon Kang (Korea) lost o Antti Ahokas (Finland) 1 hole.
Won Joon Lee (Australia) halved with Oliver Fisher (England).
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
EUROPE
McIlroy 4pt out of 5.
Wolsteholme 3 ½ out of 5.
Ramsay 3 out of 4.
Antti Ahokas 3 out of 4.
Oriol 3 out of 5.
Fisher 3 out of 5.
Thorp 2 ½ out of 5.
Joos Luiten 2 out of 4.
Guerrier 1 ½ out of 4.
Edwards 1 out of 5.
Gould 1 out of 5.
Ulrich 0 out of 1.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Josh Geary 3 ½pt out of 5.
Hirunratankaom 3 out of 4.
Yuko Ho 3 out of 5.
Kyung Tae Kim 3 out of 5.
Sung Hoon Kang 3 out of 5.
Purser 2 ½ out of 5.
Uuta Ikeda 2 out of 5.
Ben Leong 2 out of 4.
Won Joon Lee 1 ½ out of 5.
Dodt 1 out of 5.
Sandhu 0 out of 2.
Mu Hu 0 out of 2.

Thursday 27th April 2006

TOP SEED CAROLE REACHES SEMI-FINALS OVER HOME COURSE IN ENGLISH SENIORS
Leading qualifier Carole Caldwell, playing over her home course, reached the semi-finals of the Senior English women’s (closed) amateur golf championship at Sunningdale Golf Club today.
Carole, a former Curtis Cup player, beat the last of the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages, Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool) by 2 and 1 and then chalked up a 5 and 4 win over ninth qualifier Carolyn Kirk (Ganton) by 5 and 4.
Carole now plays the No 5 seed Christine Watson (Beaconside) who beat the No 4 qualifier, Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) by 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals.
The second semi-final will feature the second and third seeds, Chris Quinn (Hockley) and Susan Pickles (Lee on Solent).
SENIOR ENGLISH WOMEN’S (CLOSED) AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunningdale Golf Club
Match-play
FIRST ROUND
Carole Caldwell (Sunningdale) bt Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool) 2 and 1.
Carolyn Kirk (Ganton) bt Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh) 4 and 3.
Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) bt Julie Ballard (Littlestone) 2 and 1.
Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) bt Pat West (Spalding) at 19th.
Susan Pickles (Lee on Solent) bt Chris Stirling (Meon Valley Hotel) 5 and 3.
Paula Parker (Abbotsley) bt Laraine Hague (Rotherham) 5 and 4.
Sue Westall (Copt Heath) bt Jeannie O’Keeffe (Guildford Ladies) 2 holes.
Chris Quinn (Hockley) bt Susan Ellis (Ferendon) 2 and 1.
QUARTER-FINALS
Caldwell bt Kirk 5 and 4.
Watson bt Bray 3 and 2.
Pickles bt Parker 3 and 2.
Quinn v Westall 3 and 2.

ASIA-PACIFIC HIT BACK TO LEAD EUROPE
Asia-Pacific have come from behind to lead Europe 10 ½-9 ½ going into the third and final day of the biennial Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy match at Auckland Golf Club, New Zealand.
Asia-Pacific halved the second-morning four-balls 2½-2½ and then wiped out their overnight deficit by winning the afternoon foursomes 4½-½.
The Europeans could not hold their opponents at bay in the play of the final hole in the afternoon. The Asian-Pacific team gained three of their wins and also their halved-match with birdies at the 18th.
Royal Aberdeen player Richie Ramsay, pictured right, and young Irishman Rory McIlroy won their morning four-ball tied against the Australian pair of Won Joon Lee and Andrew Dodt but they lost to a birdie at the 18th by the same opponents.
Ramsay and McIlroy had been two up at the turn in the afternoon but lost the 12th and 14th. Then the Australians birdied the 18th for a last-green victory.
The final day’s play is an all-singles programme after two days of four-balls and foursomes.
HOW THEY STAND
ASIA-PACIFIC 10½-EUROPE 9½
SECOND-DAY SCOREBOARD
Morning four-balls: Asia-Pacific 2½, Europe 2½
(Asia-Pacific names first)
Y Ideda & Y Ito (Jap) bt N Edwards & Z Gould (Wal) 1 hole.
B Leong (Mal) & A Hirunratanakom (Thai) lost to P Oriol (Spa) & A Ahokas (Fin) 1 hole.
W J Lee & A Dodt (Aus) lost to R McIlroy (Ire) & R Ramsay (Sco) 1 hole.
M Purser & J Geary (NZ) bt G Wolsteholme & O Fisher (Eng) 2 holes.
K T Kim & S H Kang (Kor) halved with M Thorp (Nor) & J Luiten (Net).
Afternoon foursomes: Asia-Pacific 4½ - Europe ½
Ikeda & Ito bt Edwards & Gould 1 hole.
Leong & Hirunratanakom bt Ahokas & J Guerrier (Fra) 4 and 3.
Lee & Dodt bt McIlroy & Ramsay 1 hole.
Purser & Geary halved with Wolstenholme & Fisher,
Kim & Kang bt Thorp & Oriol 2 holes.

US College Golf
PABLO AND AMANDA ARE TOP-RANKED ON UNITED STATES COLLEGE CIRCUITS
Spaniard Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State University), a former British boys’ open champion, and Amanda Blumenherst (Duke University) from Arizona are the top-ranked male and female players on the American college circuits, according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin individual ratings.
The leading British male on the male college circuit is Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) in sixth place. The top Scot is Russell Knox (Jacksonville) from Inverness in 76th place.
Although he does not appear on the official list of rankings because he has not played in sufficient events to qualify, Glasgow’s Stephen Clark (Missouri-Kansas City) has an unofficial ranking of 67th.
In the women’s ratings, Irish international Tara Delaney (Kent State University) is the top ranked player from Great Britain & Ireland. A winner this year, Tara is ranked 45th.
Although she is now home in Scotland, Heather MacRae (San Diego State) still appears at 144 in the women’s rankings.
MEN
1 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State)
2 Chris Kirk (Georgia).
3 Ryan Baca (Baylor).
Other ratings included:
6 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State).
36 Stephen Lewton (North Carolina State).
61 Matt Mills (Texas).
63 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State).
76 Russell Knox (Jacksonville).
109 Steve Tiley (Georgia State).
126 Lloyd Campbell (Tennessee)
158 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville).
233 Farren Keenan (Texas).
248 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville).
300 Chris Paisley (Tennessee).
321 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State).
415 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State).
507 Kevin McAlpine (Colorado State).
535 Adam Hodkinson (East Tennessee State).
WOMEN
1 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke).
2 Irene Cho (Southern California).
3 Maria Martinez (Auburn).
Other ratings include:
45 Tara Delaney (Kent State).
84 Becky Wood (Kent State).
109 Anna Scott (Georgia State).
144 Heather MacRae (San Diego State).
152 Sian Reddick (Baylor).
212 Gemma Webster (Ohio State).
322 Emily Ogilvy (Arkansas-Little Rock).
335 Maria Dunne (Bethune-Cookman College).
428 Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa).
456 Dawn Marie Conaty (Memphis).
465 Karen Delaney (Kent State).
547 Lucy Gould (East Tenessee State)
610 Vicki Power (Northern Arizona).
635 Suzie Hayes (Notre Dame)
678 Fern Grimshaw (Bethune-Cookman College).
688 Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota).
763 Kate O'Sullivan (High Point)
847 Becky Dowell (Bethune-Cookman College).
865 Jenna Kinnear (High Point).
1084 Stephanie Crolla (Nicholls State).

8th Green at Dundonald

DUNDONALD TO HOST 2006 DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY
Loch Lomond Golf Club’s Dundonald course, which is situated near Troon in Ayrshire, is to host the 2006 Duke of York Young Champions Trophy.
The 54 hole stroke play tournament, now in its sixth year, is recognised as Europe’s premier mixed golf tournament for U18 National Boy and Girl Champions and will take place at Dundonald from 12-14 September. A field of over 40 competitors from at least 20 different countries are expected to participate in the event at the Kyle Phillips-designed links course.
The Duke of York, who will be in attendance for the duration of the tournament, said:
“My Young Champions Trophy is held around the UK each year and we try to find venues where the young players are given the opportunity to play some of the very best courses, predominantly traditional Links golf, that are going to challenge their game and at the same time giving them a taste of what lies in store for them in any future career in golf. Dundonald Golf Course, a part of the Loch Lomond group of courses, is amongst the best new Links to be built in the UK in recent times. We are delighted that Loch Lomond and Dundonald are hosting this year’s Duke of York Young Champions Trophy. I hope our hosts and competitors will feel suitably challenged and I look forward to the event with keen anticipation
Keith Williams, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond Golf Club, said:
“Loch Lomond Golf Club has been a strong supporter of junior golf in Scotland for several years, so it is wonderful to have the opportunity of extending that support by hosting this event at our links course, Dundonald.
We are very much looking forward to hosting our first international tournament at Dundonald and are delighted to be working with the Duke of York, who serves as our Club’s International Captain.”
Loch Lomond Golf Club’s Dundonald course opened in July 2003. The 7,300-yard par 72 course, which is located about an hour’s drive south west of Loch Lomond Golf Club and half an hour from Glasgow, sits alongside Western Gailes Golf Club, overlooking the Firth of Clyde towards the island of Arran. Since opening the course has received several accolades including being named ‘Best of the Best New Courses’ by Robb Report magazine.

British Student Golf
BUSA Order of Merit event
Olivia Briggs from the University of Stirling won the third BUSA Order of Merit event at the De Vere hotel group's Morrtram Hall in Cheshire with two rounds of 77, two shots ahead of Janet Phipps from the Exeter.
In the men's event, Edward Parker (Birmingham) with a pair of 71s, won by four shots from Simon Lee (Northumbria).
Scoreboard
Third BUSA Order of Merit event
De Vere Mottram Hall, Wilmslow Road, Mottram St. Andrew, Prestbury, Cheshire
Women
154 OLIVIA BRIGGS (STIRLING) 77 77
156 JANET PHIPPS (EXETER) 82 74
159 EMMA GETTY (ULSTER) 82 77
161 LUCINDA DAVIES (BIRMINGHAM) 82 79
168 MORAG MCPHERSON (ST ANDREWS) 86 82
172 MELANIE TEMPLE (EXETER) 89 83, CATHERINE PATERSON (ST ANDREWS) 84 88
173 GILLIAN KINNEAR (BATH) 88 85, LYNSEY HUMPHRIES (ULSTER) 86 87
175 NIKKI HUNTER (NORTHUMBRIA) 88 87, CLAIRE MCLOUGHLIN (ST ANDREWS) 85 90, COLLEEN WINSTANLEY (ST ANDREWS) 86 89
178 NICOLA FORD (STIRLING) 86 92
Men
142 EDWARD PARKER (BIRMINGHAM) 71 71
146 SIMON LEE (NORTHUMBRIA) 73 73
147 CRAIG WILKINSON (NORTHUMBRIA) 70 77, TOM CURTIS (NORTHUMBRIA) 70 77
148 COLIN COLRAINE (STRATHCLYDE) 74 74, BRADLEY BROOKE (STIRLING) 72 76
149 GORDON YATES (STIRLING) 78 71, ADAM MEADS (BATH) 73 76, LUKE CORNFORD (BIRMINGHAM) 76 73
150 BLAIR PATERSON (STIRLING) 76 74, GRAHAM TURNER (STIRLING) 75 75
151 PAUL BETTY (STIRLING) 73 78, CHRIS O'HAGAN (BOURNEMOUTH) 76 75
152 MARK DAVIES (EXETER) 76 76,SCOTT BORROWMAN (STIRLING) 77 75, KARL SHEPARD (STIRLING) 74 78, MATT EVERSON (LOUGHBOROUGH) 75 77, TIM COCKILL (NORTHUMBRIA) 71 81
153 ROSS JONES (BATH) 73 80, ANDY SHAKESPEAR (BATH) 77 76
154 CRAIG MCCORMICK (ULSTER) 75 79, NIALL FINLAY (GLASGOW) 78 76, BARRY CROSSWOOD (EXETER) 74 80
155 EUAN POLSON (STIRLING) 79 76, TIM BAKER (BATH) 76 79, LIAM ROBERTSON (NORTHUMBRIA) 78 77
156 JONATHAN WATT (STIRLING) 76 80, STUART TURNBULL (STIRLING) 78 78
157 MYLES PEARSON (LOUGHBOROUGH) 83 74
158 SAM FOSTER (EXETER) 78 80, ANDY COOPER (LOUGHBOROUGH) 77 81
159 BOBBY RUSTAFORD (STIRLING) 79 80, ROBERT NARDUZZO (UW NEWPORT) 80 79
160 NICK SCHOLEY (NORTHUMBRIA) 79 81, JOHNNY HEASLIP (NORTHUMBRIA) 78 82, ADAM STOCKWELL-PRICE (UW NEWPORT) 82 78, PATRICK MULCAHY (GLASGOW) 80 80
162 RICHARD WILSON (NORTHUMBRIA) 81 81, CHARLIE SWANN (BOURNEMOUTH) 82 80 SCOTT PLUTHERO (BOURNEMOUTH) 76 86
163 FRASER INGLIS (GLASGOW) 86 77
168 JON HOWSE (EXETER) 88 80
NR ROSS OLIVER (ULSTER) NR 78, MARCUS REID (BOURNEMOUTH) 77 NR, KEVIN WILSON (STIRLING) 81 NR, DANIEL FARMER (LOUGHBOROUGH) 84 NR

Local children involved in this year’s clubgolf programme at Alford GC

Alford Golf Club attracts 75 young clubgolfers
Alford Golf Club, one of the first golf clubs in Grampian to pioneer the national junior golf strategy clubgolf last year, is set for another bumper junior year after 75 local children signed up for its clubgolf coaching course.
Fifty children, 28 boys and 22 girls, attend Alford’s clubgolf 20-week Stage 1 course in 2005. The increase in numbers starting the course this year is a direct result of the decision by local schools - Midmar, Tullynestle and Alford – to introduce the strategy’s introductory game, firstclubgolf onto the curriculum
Launched last year by Paul Lawrie, firstclubgolf uses multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets to give children an enjoyable introduction to the game. Paul Lawrie Junior Golf recently made a three year commitment to give £5000 worth of firstclubgolf equipment each year to primary schools across Aberdeenshire.
Over 12,000 children across Scotland experienced firstclubgolf last year and as many as forty percent of them chose to progress to the second stage of the programme at local clubs. The 23 week Stage 1 course uses real equipment and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette at local golf clubs.
“When we entered into a partnership with clubgolf last year we were not sure how well it would develop,” said Alford GC volunteer coach, Neil Cobban, who also helped organise a successful girls only coaching session at the club.
“After a lot of hard work at the golf club, with staff, coaches and clubgolf’s Audra Booth I think we can now say it was the correct decision. The structure is now in place to develop the programme and the children as they progress.”
Alford started 2005 with 11 coaches who all qualified on clubgolf’s PGA Level 1 for volunteers coaching course. Eight of them qualified as Level 1 Stage II coaches.
This year a further six new candidates have achieved the Level 1 qualification.
“Having 16 qualified coaches puts us in a very healthy position,” said Mr Cobban. “It means we now have four coaches on a weekly rota delivering three one hour sessions. This is a huge commitment from the coaches over the whole 20 weeks and we are already on the lookout for coaches for 2007.”
Alford has also secured a £5000 Awards for All grant to help develop the practice area, which will incorporate a putting green and also target greens. The club has committed extra funds our green keepers building the practice putting green in the coming weeks.
The Club has also secured sponsorship to stage its own Junior Flag Competition on Sunday 11th June.

Wednesday 26th April 2006

Lanarkshire group after presentation of trophies (left to right) Lanarkshire women's county captain Elizabeth Nelson, title winner Jenna Wilson, county president Jean Cameron, beaten finalist Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).

Lanarkshire Championship
JENNA WILSON RETAINS LANARKSHIRE TITLE.
Curtis Cup team contender Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) retained the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship at Hamilton Golf Club today (WEDNESDAY).
Jenna, who had qualified for the match-play stages in the No 3 position, beat leading qualifier Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) by two holes in a very good final.
Elaine Cuthill, a former Scottish schoolgirls champion, chipped in a birdie 2 at the ninth to square the match and went one up at the 11th.
Jenna got back on level terms at the 12th and then went one up by winning the 16th. After the 17th was halved, Jenna holed a long putt for a birdie 3 to win by two holes.
In the semi-finals, Miss Cuthill beat Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) by 2 and 1 after winning three of the first five holes, and Miss Wilson beat Alyson Hendry (Hamilton) by 3 and 2. Alyson was five down after six holes.
LANARKSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Hamilton Golf Club.
Semi-finals – Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) bt Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) 1 hole, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Alyson Hendry (Hamilton) 3 and 2.
Final – Wilson bt Cuthill 2 holes.

D&A Championship
KYLIE WINS D&A TITLE FOR FIRST TIME
Stirling University student Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) won the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf championship for the first time at Windyhill Golf Club today (WED).
Kylie, a 19-year-old Scotland international team player, beat the defending champion, Sara Bishop (Windyhill) by 2 and 1 in a nip-and-tuck final that ended on the 17th where Sara went out of bounds with her approach shot to lose the hole, the match and the county title.
Kylie had been the top seed and Sara the third qualifier for the match-play stages.
[Photo courtesy Jean Campbell]
Scoreboard
DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Windyhill Golf Club.
Semi-finals – Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt Fiona McLean (Hilton Park) 4 and 3; Sara Bishop (Windyhill) bt Jill Foggo (Milngavie 1 hole.
Final – Walker bt Bishop 2 and 1.

ELGA Press Release
Carole Caldwell leads qualifiers in English Seniors' Championship
Carole Caldwell leads the qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the Senior Ladies' English Close Championship at her home club, Sunningdale.
The former Curtis Cup player returned a second round 76 on the New Course for a 36-hole total of 151. It put her four shots clear of the field after the strokeplay qualifying.
Carole reached the turn at two over and quickly returned to level par with birdies on the 10th and 11th. But the combination of long par fours and tricky pin placings took their toll towards the end of the round and she dropped four shots over the last four holes.
Despite that disappointment she was satisfied with her two days' work. "Overall I am happy with those scores, wherever they finish. Hopefully they will qualify and that's the job I've come to do," she said after leaving the course.
Defending champion Chris Quinn of Hockley qualified in second place on 156 after scoring 76. "I had a much better round today and I am very much looking forward to the matchplay," she remarked.
Also on 156 is Susan Pickles of Lee on the Solent who is seeded third after scoring a second round 77.
Other leading qualifiers include Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) and Christine Watson (Beaconsfield), both on 158. Laraine Hague (Rotherham), who shared the first round lead, qualified comfortably on 161.
Sue Westall (Copt Heath) also came through comfortably with a pair of 81s, helped by a hole-in-one on the 145-yard second.
The Division B qualifiers are led on 169 by Elizabeth Clark of Effingham who scored 87, 82 and Jose Kellenberge of Camberley Heath who returned 83, 86.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
151 Carole Caldwell) 75 76.
156 Chrstine Quinn (Hockley) 80 76, Susan Pickles (Lee on Solent) 79 77.
158 Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) 79 79, Chrsitine Watson (Beaconsfield) 78 80.
161 Laraine Hague (Rotherham) 75 86.
162 Sue Westall (Copt Heath) 81 81, Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh)76 86.
163 Carolyn Kirk (Ganton) 81 82, Jeannie O'Keeffe (Guildford Ladies) 81 82, Paula Parker (Abbotsley) 79 84.
164 Julie Ballard (Littlestone) 86 78, Pat West (Spalding) 80 84, Chris Stirling (Meon Valley Hotel) 79 85.
165 Susan Ellis (Ferndown) 85 80, Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool) 81 84.
166 Sally Peters(Guildford Ladies) 84 82.
167 Irene Brien (Wentworth) 85 82.
168 Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court) 87 81, Vivien Saunders (Cambrdige Meridian) 85 83, Barbara Woodham (Bearsted) 85 83, Cathy Armstrong (Ellesborough) 82 86, Alanna Vine (Stockport) 80 88.

ILGU Press Release
THERESE O’REILLY WINS IRISH SENIORS TITLE
Therese O'Reilly (Grange) won the Irish senior women’s (close) championship at Thurles Golf Club today (WED).
Starting the day one shot behind overnight leader Sheena O’Brien Kenney, Therese overtook her Grange clubmate with a 77 for a total of 156.
Sheena had an 80 to finish runner-up on 158.
Valerie Hassett (Ennis) came third with an 80 for 162.
SCOREBOARD
IRISH SENIOR WOMEN’S (close) championship
Thurles Golf Club. Par 72 (CSS 73 73)
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
156 T O’Reilly (Grange) 79 77.
158 S O’Brien-Kenney (Grange) 78 80.
162 V Hassett (Ennis) 82 80.
163 M Madden (Ballinasloe) 85 78, M McGoey (Greenore) 84 79, A Moloney (Edendern) 80 83, E Duigenan (Edenderry) 82 81.
164 K McCartan (Greenore) 82 82.
165 N Granard (King Edward Bay) 83 82, C Cahill (Hermitage) 81 84.
166 M Breathnach (Monkstown) 86 80, O Conroy (Co Longford) 84 82, E MacMullan (Donegal) 82 84.
167 T Sexton (Dun Laoghaire) 86 81, M Henderson (Castlerock) 83 84.
168 R English (Larne) 86 82.
169 A Conway (New Ross) 83 86, M Gorry (Baltinglass) 81 88.
170 G Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 86 84.
171 M Geaney (Killarney) 88 83, M McCabe (Headfort) 87 84.
172 H O’Donoghue (Clonmel) 86 86.

RICHIE AND RORY A WINNING PAIR FOR EUROPE
Aberdonian Richie Ramsay and Irish teenager Rory McIlroy cruised to a 5 and 3 win for Europe in the afternoon foursomes of the opening day of the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy amateur international golf match against the Asia-Pacific Select at Auckland Golf Club, New Zealand.
Ramsay, the only Scot in the European team and not played in the morning four-balls, and McIlroy steadily built up a commanding lead over the Japanese pairing of Yuta Ikeda and Yuku Ito and were five up after 10 holes.
Europe finished the first day of the three-day match with a 6 ½-3 ½ lead after taking the four-balls 4 ½- ½ . Asia-Pacific came back into the picture after lunch by taking the foursomes ties 3-2.
Veteran Gary Wolstenholme and youngster Oliver Fisher were the European scoring stars. They birdied five of the last eight holes to beat the all-Australian pairing of Won Joon Lee and Andrew Dodt 3 and 2 in the four-balls.
Then Gary and Oliver birdied four holes of the inward half and won the 18th with a par for a one-hole win in the foursomes over the same opponents.
Scoreboard
SIR MICHAEL BONALLACK TROPHY MATCH
Auckland Golf Club, New Zealand.
First-day: Asia-Pacific 3 ½, Europe 6 ½.
Four-balls (Asia-Pacific names first)
M Hu (China) & A Sandu (India) lost to N Edwards & Z Gould (Wales) 6 and 5.
Y Ikeda & Y Ito (Japan) lost to R McIlroy (Ireland) & M Thorp (Norway) 1 hole.
M Purser & J Geary (New Zealand) lost to A Ahokus (Finland) & P Oriol (Spain) 2 and 1.
K T Kim & S T Kang (Korea) halved with J Luiten (Netherlands) & J Guerrier (France).
W J Lee & A Dodt (Australia) lost to G Wolstenholme & O Fisher (England) 3 and 2 ( ½ - 4 ½ )
Foursomes
B Leong (Malaysia) & H Anujit (Thailand) bt Edwards & Gould 1 hole.
Ikeda & Ito lost to McIlroy & R Ramsay (Scotland) 5 and 3.
Purser & Geary bt Luiten & Thorp 4 and 3.
Lee & Dodt lost to Wolstenholme & Fisher 1 hole.
Kim & Kang bt Oriol, Guerrier 3 and 2 (3-2).

KARL'S LONG DRIVE PAYS OFF AT CARNOUSTIE
Yorkshire lad Karl Shepherd made the long drive up from Sheffield to Carnoustie to return the lowest score of 75 (one under the CSS) in the second of three Nick Faldo Series qualifying rounds in Scotland.
Renishaw Park Golf Club member Karl was competing in the Under-21 boys’ section. In windy conditions over the tough Carnoustie championship links, Karl finished two shots ahead of Euan Malcolm with Graham Turner (West Linton) third on 78.
Jamie Mackay (Barassie) headed the Under-18 returns with a 77 while Michael Main (Thornton), beaten finalist in the recent Scottish boys’ championship, headed the Under-17 scores with a 76.
Alistair Lauder (Paisley), James Hendrick (Pollock), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and Sam Binning (Old Ranfurly) finished in a quadruple tie for first place on the 76 mark in the Under-16 boys’ section.Conor O’Neil (Pollock) won the Under-15 group with a 78.
Carly Booth (Comrie) won the all-ages girls’ category with an 84. She finished eight shots ahead of Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
Scores:
BOYS (SSS 73, CSS 76)
Under-21 years – Karl Shepherd (Renishaw) Park 75; Euan Malcolm (Dunfermline) 77; Graham Turner (West Linton) 78; Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 80; Neil Cameron (King James VI) 81; Allan McKie (Glencruitten) 83; Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) 85.
Under-18 years – Jamie Mackay (Barassie) 77; David Murray (Newbattle), Stephen Keane (Cathkin Braes), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Ross Bell (Downfield) 78; Graeme Mitchell (Northern), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 80; Alex Moir (Thornton) 81; Robby Anderson (Duddingston) 82; Robert Carson (Dalmahoy), Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 83; Ben Irving (Dumfries & Co), Chris Baron (Oldmeldrum) 84; Tom Higaon (Eyemouth) 85; Craig Young (Eastwood ) 88.
Under-17 years – Michael Main (Thornton) 76; Michael Daily (Erskine) 78; Alan Murdoch (Stranraer), Simon Barras (Helensburgh) 79; Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Euan Brown (Barassie), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 80; James Byrne (Banchory) 81; Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 82; Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 85; James Foley (Forres) 91.
Under-16 years – Alistair Lauder (Paisley), James Hendrick (Pollock), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Sam Binning (Old Ranfurly) 76; Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 79; Jack Bradley (Paisley), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) 80; Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Ryan Penny (Portlethen) 83; Scott Fraser (Northern) 84; James Ross (Royal Burgess) 85; Christopher McManus (Douglas Park) 86; Jack Thow (Crieff) 87.
Under-15 years – Conor O’Neil (Pollock) 79; Reeve Whitson (Mourne) 80; Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 81; Ben Herriot (Kelso) 84; Gordon Nelson (Thornhill) 85; Ian Redford (King James VI) 87; Andrew McLachlan (Eastwood), Jamie Binning (Old Ranfurly) 89.
GIRLS (SSS 77, CSS 80)
Carly Booth (Comrie) 84; Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 92; Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie) 98; Jordana Graham (Southerness) 101.

Claire Aitken wins Hampshire Rose
Claire Aitken (Mid Kent), with a tournament record equalling 36-hole total of nine-under-par 135 won the 2006 Hampshire Rose at North Hants Golf Club by the runaway margin of 12 strokes.
Claire’s morning round of seven-under-par 65 included four birdies on each nine and would have been a course record if winter rules had not been in place.
Charlie Douglass from Brocket Hall had an excellent score of 70 in the afternoon to take the runner’s-up spot on the better second round. Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) and Hannah Barwood (Knowle) also totalled 147.
The youngest competitor, 11-year- old Hannah Turland from Tidworth, with scores of 77 and 76 for 16th place on 153, reduced her handicap from 8 to 6 over the 36 holes.
Fifty competitors played, the largest field since 1996.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 72, SSS 72. CSS: 72 (am & pm)
Claire Aitken (Mid Kent) 65 + 70 135
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 77 + 70 147
Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) 75 + 72 147
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 72 + 75 147
Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt) 77 + 72 149
Jenny Pease (Braintree) 76 + 73 149
Victoria Harris (Beaconsfield) 74 + 76 150
Katie Mundy(Dunwood Manor) 77 + 74 151
Laura Cutler (Warley Manor) 80 + 72 152
Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 78 + 74 152
Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 75 + 77 152
Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 79 + 74 152
Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 77 + 76 153

US College Golf
STEPHEN CLARK WINS US COLLEGE GOLF TITLE
Glasgow-born Stephen Clark, a golf scholarship student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has won the Mid Continent Conference college golf championship – and been named the conference player of the year and awarded a place in the all-conference team.
Stephen is the first UMKC player to win the title and he almost did not make it to the first tee.
“This was a remarkable performance by Stephen,” said UMKC head golf coach J W Van Den Born.
“Heading into the practice round on Saturday, he tweaked his back and could hardly swing the club. We had to fly another player up to Indianapolis becaue we didn’t know if Stephen was going to be able to play until five minutes before he teed off.
“For him to go out and shoot a three-under-par 69 and follow it up with a 72 was more than we could have asked for. He continued to play well in very tough, wet conditions for the final round to clinch victory.”
Haggs Castle Golf Club member Stephen had scores of 69, 72 and 73 for a total of two-under-par 214, very good scores in wet and soggy conditions at The Fort Club in Indianapolis.
Clark, whose target is to attract the attention of the Scottish Golf Union international team selectors over the summer months when he is home in Scotland, won the championship by one shot from Erik Nilsson (Southern Utah University) and Ryan McClintoch (Western Illinois University).
Scottish youths champion Peter McLachlan, also a student at Missouri-Kansas City and a member at Eastwood Golf Club, finished joint 29th with 79, 78 and 77 for 234.
Missouri-Kansas City (897) finished fifth of eight behind Western Illinois (869) in the team event.

US College Golf
KEIR McNICOLL NAMED IN CONFERENCE TEAM
Carnoustie’s Keir McNicoll (Lynn University) has been named in the all-Sunshine State Conference golf team. McNicoll, a senior student at the college in Boca Raton, Florida, had six top-10 finishes during the 2005-2006 American college golf season.
He was last selected for the conference team in 2003-2004. The teams are a way of honouring the best players from all the colleges who compete in that conference. They never play a match.

Card of the Course for Royal Liverpool
Changes to Royal Liverpool since the Amateur Championship of 2000 have resulted in a modest increase in length of 122 yards, to 7258 yards for The Open Championship to be played from 20-23 July 2006.
Of more significance is the renumbering of holes so that the present 17th hole will be played as the first and consequently the par-five 16th as the new 18th.
“We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
“The 18th measuring 560 yards will present a birdie opportunity, but as a left to right dog-leg with out of bounds ever present on the right, will also be a hole for potential disaster.
“Before knowing that The Open would be returning there, Royal Liverpool had foresight in exercising a strategic review of the entire course aimed at improving the flow from green to tee while also tightening up tee-shots, bunkering and green surrounds. The changes to Hoylake have worked very well.”
Royal Liverpool measured 6995 yards when Roberto de Vicenzo won The Open there in 1967.
Major Changes (New Hole Numbering)
1. 454 (+33) New Green moved away from road to relocate further back.
2. 436 (+19) New back tee constructed after previous green relocated.
4. 372 (-22) Green moved back and Championship tee slightly shortened.
6. 202 (+8) Tee adjusted for more challenging angle to green.
12. 448 (+35) New Championship tee.

Tuesday 25th April 2006

D&A Championship
KYLIE AND SARA ON COURSE FOR D AND A FINAL
Top seed Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and title-holder Sara Bishop (Windyhill) are on course to clash in the final of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf championship at Windyhill Golf Club – although their semi-final opponents, Fiona McLean (Hilton Park) and Jill Foggo (Milngavie) might have other ideas.
In today’s (TUESDAY) match-play ties, Kylie had two comfortable wins while Sara had to play even fewer holes to make the semi-finals in which she will play Jill Foggo, the No 2 seed.
Jill ended the hopes of former Curtis Cup player Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) by beating her on the last green in the quarter-finals. Suzanne had earlier ousted Kylie Walker’s mum Elizabeth.
Miss Walker’s semi-final opponent is Fiona McLean, the fourth seed, who had to go to the 19th to beat clubmate Lana MacDonald who herself had got through at the first extra hole in her morning tie against Isabel Harvey (St Rule).
DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Windyhill Golf Club.
Match-play
FIRST ROUND
K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt M Dalglish (Balmore) 5 and 4.
M Kinvig (Helensburgh) bt B Robertson (Helensburgh) 2 and 1.
L MacDonald (Hilton Park) bt I Harvey (St Rule) at 19th.
F McLean (Hilton Park) bt L McGeachy (Carradale) 3 and 2.
S Bishop (Windyhill) bt E Walker (Buchanan Castle) 8 and 6.
A Kerr (Windyhill) bt A MacDonald (Windyhill) 1 hole.
S Cadden (Cardross) bt K MacAulay (Milngavie) 4 and 3.
J Foggo (Milngavie) bt J Bankier (Hilton Park) 8 and 7.
QUARTER-FINALS
K Walker bt Kinvig 7 and 5.
McLean bt L MacDonald at 19th.
Bishop bt Kerr 8 and 6.
Foggo bt Cadden 1 hole.
Semi-finals at 8.55 & 9.05. Final at 1.30pm.

Midlothian Championship
CLAIRE MACDONALD TOP SEED IN MIDLOTHIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Gullane’s Claire MacDonald earned the No 1 seed position in the match-play stages of the Midlothian women’s county golf championship with rounds of 80 and 76 in the qualifying round, played in a freshening wind at Duddingston Golf Club today (Tuesday).
Claire’s total of 156 was one better than title-holder Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) and Scotland senior international Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh). Claire scored 76 and 81 while Noreen’s cards were 77 and 80.
Teenager Jane Turner, beaten by Miss Hargan in last year’s final, qualified in ninth place with 79 and 85 for 164.
The match-play stages start at Duddingston on Friday.
MIDLOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Duddingston Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS (SS 72, CSS 75 both rounds)
156 Claire MacDonald (Gullane) 80 76.
157 Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 77 80), Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 81.
159 Tracy Laughland (Mortonhall) 81 78.
160 Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall) 79 81.
161 Hilary Laughland (Mortonhall) 81 80.
162 Anne Hanson (Glencorse) 81 81, Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 80 82.
164 Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 79 85.
165 Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) 79 86.
167 Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 86 81, Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) (79, 88)
170 Karen Marshall (Baberton) 87 83, Kate Rorke (Kingsknowe) 85 85.
171 Linda Caine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 85 86, Catherine Stewart (Lothianburn) 84 87.
Match-play draw (Friday, April 28)
9.0 MacDonald v Stewart, Turner v Nicholson, Murphy v Brown, Marshall v T Laughland.
9.30 Hargan v Rorke, Edwards v H Laughland, Hanson v Blackwood, Caine v Fenton.

Lanarkshire Championship
CUTHILL THROUGH TO LANARKSHIRE LAST FOUR
Elaine Cuthill (Lanark), leading qualifier for the match-play stages of the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship, continued her good form on the second day at Hamilton..
Elaine swept through to the last four with wins over Doroth McTaggart (Cambuslang) and Angela Devine (Hamilton).
Miss Cuthill now plays Lesley Lloyd (Hayston) for a place in the final.
Lesley, the fifth qualifier, fought back from being three down at the 11th to win by 2 and 1 against Liz Lees (Hamilton), the No 4 seed.
The other semi-final will be between defending champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), the No 3 qualifier, and Alyson Hendry (Hamilton), the seventh seed.
Jenna was four under par in her 6 and 5 win over May Hughes (Lanark) who had two birdies and could only halve the holes!
Alyson Hendry holed a number of long putts and chipped in from very wide of the green at the short 12th for a birdie 2 on her way to a 2 and 1 win over the No 2 seed, Fiona Norris (Hamilton), the GB&I team manager.
LANARKSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Hamilton Golf Club
Match-play First round
E Cuthill (Lanark) bt D McTaggart (Cambuslang) 6 and 5.
A Devine (Hamilton) bt M Anderson (Drumpellier) 4 and 2.
L Lloyd Hayston) bt J Wiles (Drumpellier) 3 and 2.
L Lees (Hamilton) bt G Saanlan (Hamilton) 2 and 1.
J Wilson (Strathaven) bt I Robertson (East Kilbride) 7 and 6.
M Hughes (Lanark) bt J Scott (Cathkin Braes) 2 holes.
A Hendry (Hamilton) bt P Milligan (Hamilton) 2 and 1.
F Norris (Hamilton) bt D Gray (Lanark) 9 and 7.
QUARTER-FINALS
Cuthill bt Devine 5 and 4.
Lloyd bt Lees 2 and 1.
Wilson bt Hughes 6 and 5.
Hendry bt Norris 2 and 1.
Semi-finals at 9.30 & 9.37; final at 2pm

ELGA Press Release
Sunningdale's Carole Caldwell shares lead in English Seniors' Championship
Former Curtis Cup player Carole Caldwell shares the lead after the first round of the Senior Ladies' English Close Championship at her home club, Sunningdale.
Carole shot a three-over-par 75 on the New Course, matching the score posted by Yorkshire's Laraine Hague (Rotherham).
"There's a certain amount of pressure playing at home because everyone assumes you are going to do well. I was pleased to get round in a reasonable score," said Carole.
"I putted very well and didn't get into any trouble, but just frittered a few shots on the back nine."
Carole had one birdie in her round, on the long 6th where her approach finished 3ft from the hole, and she reached the turn at one-under par. Her dropped shots came on pars fours on the way home: "I didn't hit my driver as well as I should have done and, because the course was playing long, I had some awkward second shots."
One shot off the lead is Suffolk's Deborah Backhouse whose round included five birdies. "I had a fantastic time," said the Aldeburgh player. "The ball was running for me and I slotted a few putts on the back nine." Among them was a monster putt across the green on the 13th for a birdie four.
has given herself two years to see how far she can take her golf - and she started the right way. She birdied the first two holes of her round and reached the turn at level par.
"Then I got a tad nervous and tightened up a little but I came back pretty steadily. I was delighted. I felt I was swinging well, although a little nervously," added Bev, who has just finished three years as Warwickshire's second team captain.
Meanwhile defending champion Chris Quinn (Hockley) is well in touch after scoring 80, which included two triple bogeys in the middle of her round when she tangled with the heather.
"I just lost a little concentration but once I got through that I finished quite strongly with a string of pars," said Chris, who is aiming for a hat trick of successive titles. "Overall I was very happy with the rest of my round."
After two strokeplay qualifying rounds the leading 16 competitors in each of two divisions will go forward to the matchplay stages of the championship.
Leading scores
75 Laraine Hague (Rotherham),Carole Caldwell (Sunningdale)
76 Deborah Backhouse (Aldeburgh),
78 Christine Watson (Beaconsfield), Bev Belcher (Olton)
79 Chris Stirling (Meon Valley Hotel), Paula Parker (Abbotsley), Geraldine Bray (Littlestone), Susan Pickles (Lee On The Solent)

ILGU Press Release
IRISH SENIOR LADIES CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP
THURLES GOLF CLUB
25TH – 26TH APRIL 2006
RESULTS ROUND 1 (GROSS)
POSITION NAME SCORE
1 S O'BRIEN-KENNEY (GRANGE) 78
2 T O'REILLY (GRANGE) 79
3 A MOLONEY (CLONMEL) 80
4 M GORRY (BALTINGLASS) 81
5 C CAHILLL (HERMITAGE) 81
6 E DUIGENAN (EDENDERRY) 82
7 V HASSETT (ENNIS) 82
8 K MCCARTAN (GREENORE) 82
9 E MACMULLEN (DONEGAL) 82
10 C CARTY (TULLAMORE) 83
11 M HENDERSON (CASTLEROCK) 83
12 R MOLONEY (THURLES) 83
13 A CONWAY (NEW ROSS) 83
14 N GRANARD (KIND EDWARD BAY) 83
15 M LALOR (ROSCOMMON) 84
16 M MCGOEY (GREENORE) 84
17 O CONROY (CO. LONGFORD) 84
18 M MADDEN (BALLINASLOE) 85
19 K STEWART-MOORE (ROYAL PORTRUSH) 85
20 G ROUILLER (MANNAN CASTLE) 86
21 R ENGLISH (LARNE) 86
22 H O'DONOGHUE (CLONMEL) 86
23 M BREATHNACH (MONKSTOWN) 86
24 A KENNY (BIRR) 86
25 T SEXTON (DUN LAOGHAIRE) 86
26 M MCCABE (HEADFORT) 87
27 M CONLON (THE HEATH) 87
28 M GEANEY (KILLARNEY) 88
29 K O'MEARA (BEARNA) 89
30 R O'NEILL (COOLLATTIN) 89
31 S HENIGAN (BALLYBUNION) 89
32 A FREEMAN (CO. LONGFORD) 89
33 H MASON (THURLES) 89
34 C KINSELLA (WATERFORD) 90
35 A BRADY (ROYAL TARA) 90
36 A HAYES (CO LONGFORD) 91
37 R MACNAMARA (THE HEATH) 91
38 A BRENNAN (GALWAY) 91
39 S DALY (MONKSTOWN) 93
40 J BUCKLEY (ROSCREA) 93
41 P O'CARROLL (CAHIR PARK) 93
42 D O'LEARY (BALLINROBE) 93
43 A TRACEY (NEW ROSS) 94
44 O WRIXON (CLONMEL) 94
45 F LAUHOFF (MONKSTOWN) 94
46 M CORCORAN (BRAY) 94
47 C TAYLER (KINSALE) 96
48 J KILMARTIN (TIPPERARY) 96
49 H HERBERT (DOUGLAS) 96
50 B MCCORMACK (THURLES) 96
51 M BYRNE (COOLLATTIN) 97
52 T RYAN (NEW ROSS) 97
53 A MCFADDEN (TULLAMORE) 97
54 M MCMAHON (DROMOLAND) 97
55 D MCINERNEY (TULLAMORE) 97
56 L WALSH (BANDON) 98
57 T TAYLOR (SHANNON) 98
58 A SMITH (MONKSTOWN) 98
59 M DUIGNAN (THURLES) 98
60 J O'CONNOR (THURLES) 98
61 M DUGGAN (THURLES) 100
62 R DALY (TIPPERARY) 100
63 V NOONAN (CO LONGFORD) 100
64 M MCGRATTAN (ARDMINNAN) 101
65 S POPE (MONKSTOWN) 101
66 P CONNELLAN (Co Longford) 102
67 A O'BRIEN (Cahir Park) 102
68 M O'Byrne (Clonmel) 102
69 C Murphy (Ballykisteen) 103
70 C McCARTHY (Ballinasloe) 103
71 A McCULLAGH (Ballinasloe) 105
72 S MANNING (Rathbane) 109
73 K JORDAN (Rathbane) 112

PRESS RELEASE
East of Scotland Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship Announces a New Major Sponsor
Lundin Golf Club has announced the signing of a new sponsorship deal with Swallow Hotels, who will become the new major sponsor of the East of Scotland Open Amateur Championship held at Lundin each year.
The agreement, launched as the new Scottish domestic golf season is upon us, is worth in total a five figure sum over three years. This will provide a boost to “The East” finances and enable the organisers to maintain the high standard expected of this event.
Swallow Hotels has an unrivalled number of hotels across the UK, from beautifully restored castles and manor houses, to modern city centre venues. Each venue has its own distinctive character, providing high standards of accommodation and facilities.
Swallow Hotels are dedicated to providing a friendly and professional service at all times, always ensuring the warmest of welcomes. They are the UK’s fastest growing hotel chain and are proud of the unique atmosphere each venue provides.
Swallow Hotels’ Chairman, Alan Bowes, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Lundin Golf Club and are proud to sponsor an event as prestigious as the East of Scotland Amateur Stroke Play Championship. We are keen to build brand awareness at a national level and sponsoring golf will help deliver that, plus our ownership of Carnoustie. We look forward to “golfing” with Scotland into the future.
The East has proved to be a thoroughly professionally run championship and we are looking forward to working towards a long term partnership.”
David Moir, Convenor of the Championship Committee and Vice-President of the Scottish Golf Union, added:
“Securing a new sponsor of the calibre of Swallow Hotels for our event is a massive boost. It is vital that we continue to grow our revenues from sponsorship to keep The East at the level that the most important people, the players, have grown accustomed to over the last 34 years.”

NORTHERN COUNTIES LGA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the youngest winner of the Northern Counties women’s county championship at the age of 14 last year, will be defending the title at Forres Golf Club on May 6 and 7.
Kelsey, who plays off one, heads the 19 single-figure handicappers who have entered.
There would have been 20 but Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), who has a scratch rating, is missing the championship to play in the Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play championship the same weekend.
Competitors will tee off in pairs at 6min intervals in the qualifying round on Saturday, May 6. The eight players with the lowest scratch scores will play the first round of the championship match-play on the Saturday afternoon.
There will be four qualifiers for the handicap championship. Semi-finals and finals in both the scratch and handicap events will be played on the Sunday.
Order of play in the qualifying round
Abbreviations: DHR, Duff House Royal; E, Elgin; F, Forres; FA, Fort Augustus; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie; FW, Fort William; G, Gairloch; GS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord; ND, Nairn Dunbar; RD, Royal Dornoch; S, Strathpeffer; T, Tain.
8.0 K MacDonald (ND), K Harper (I); J Milne (E), L Walker (ND); C McAndrew (ND), A Ingram (FW); M Smith (T), M Howieson (I); W Ross (E), A Ryan (Tain).
8.30 D Sinclair (T), A Gowie (I); M Vass (T), G Dowling (I); M Barr (G), P Gordon (I); L Lloyd-Baker (GS), E Mackay (ND); S Vass (T), L Fraser (FR).
9.0 K McBeath (F), H Stuart (MO); S MacKenzie (E), S MacVicar (G); L Coghill (RD),A Strauss (RD); M Bagott (RD), J Maison (DHR); D Marshall (F), P Morrison (MO).
9.30 D McBride (RD), S acDonell (I); P Moscati (RD), M Rennie (RD); I Wilson (F), J Glen (S); M Hayden (T), E Morrison (FR); W Spender (MO), M Brennan (RD).
10.0 A Burnett (RD), R Cruickshanks (I); F Allan (I), H Cumming (FR); C MacLeod (ND), M Maclean (MO); A Drummond (FR), S Dunn (FR); J {Paterson (FA), M James (F).
10.30 D Rae (FW), S McDonald (RD); A Taylor (F), C Proctor (F); W Henry (MO), J Cameron (S); J Vass (T), partner.

West Vets Spring Meeting (Thanks to Carol Fell for this report)
62 Players played in the West Vets Spring Meeting and Championship Qualifier over Sandyhills Golf Club yesterday in dry and blustery conditions.The scratch award went to Robina Gilbertson(Ayr Bellisle) with a 79.
SSS 73 Par 74 CSS 75
Handicap Results
Silver:
1 Rosemary Donaldson (The Ladies' Golf Club Troon) 82-8 net 74 bih
2 Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle Golf Club) 87-13 net 74
3 Robina Gilbertson (Ayr Bellisle) 79-4 net 75 bih (lowest gross)
4 Sheena McDonald (Buchanan Castle Golf Club) 80-5 net 75
Bronze
1 Jane Thomson (Whitecraigs Golf Club) 95-23 net 72 (lowest gross)
2 Alison Boag - Thomson (Haggs Castle Golf Club) 103-23 net 80
The results will all go onto the http://westvets.blogspot.com/ asap. However as with all things there are hiccups when you first try them. However the problem should be resolved in the next 24 hours --- hopefully !!. In the meatime the full list of results and qualifiers can be seen at http://www.rlcga.com/westvets/west_vets_spring_meeting.htm

PRESS RELEASE
Faldo Mini Series is launched with Golf Foundation
The Golf Foundation and the Faldo Series are joining forces to present an exciting new option for organisers of short course events and to give 36 youngsters the chance of a lifetime.
The Faldo Mini Series, in association with the Golf Foundation, aims to generate a comprehensive list of short course events across the British Isles for children aged under 12, while at the same time offering a great incentive to youngsters taking part; winners’ names go into the hat with a chance to meet six-time Major winner Nick Faldo.
All events for under 12s, which meet the Faldo Mini Series criteria, can be part of this initiative. Organisers holding events before 11th September 2006 are invited to register free of charge with the Golf Foundation and their event winners will be eligible to go into the prize draw. From this draw, 18 boys and 18 girls will be selected to meet Nick Faldo at The Celtic Manor Resort on 5th October, during the Faldo Series final.
Nick Faldo commented: "The Faldo Series exists to generate and nurture the next generation of European champions, but I'm also keen to support opportunities for younger children. I'm very excited about being able to do this through the Faldo Mini Series with the Golf Foundation."
Mike Round of the Golf Foundation said: "Nick is an inspirational figure and his support will give existing short course events a tremendous boost. We hope all organisers will register their events so that their winners can go into the draw and get the chance to meet one of the greatest golfers the game has ever seen.
“Organisers taking part in this initiative will benefit from greater public awareness of their event. Parents and children in their local area will be more likely to hear about it, which is good for everyone.”
A registration form has been sent to every golf club and the information can also be downloaded from the Golf Foundation's website – www.golf-foundation.org – or via the Faldo Series website at www.nickfaldo.com/series.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2006 – ROYAL LIVERPOOL
DISCOUNTED SEASON TICKETS
Only a few days are left to take advantage of discounted season tickets for The Open Championship to be played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, from Sunday 16 to Sunday 23 July.
Until the end of April, a season ticket that gives admission to all eight days of practice and Championship play costs £170. From 1 May, the cost is £190.
“A season ticket giving entry to the world’s oldest major represents outstanding value,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.
“I would recommend that spectators take up this offer before the discounted period finishes at the end of this month.”
During the four days of the Championship, a daily ticket will cost £50, with concession tickets available. Juveniles, under the age of 16, will again be admitted free of charge by applying to The R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.
Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: (44) 1334 460010 or through on-line purchasing at www.opengolf.com.

The Scotland team at the recent international match v Spain at Crail Golfing Society.
Left to right: George Crawford (Captain), Bryan Fotheringham (Forres), George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle), Paul O’Hara (Colville Park), Jonathan King (Glasgow), Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes), Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie).
[Photo courtesy SGU, Copyright © Peter Kelly]

SGU Press Release
TaylorMade-adidas Extends Sponsorship of Scottish Amateur Golf Squads
Tuesday April 25th 2006 - The Scottish Golf Union is delighted to announce a major new sponsorship deal which will see TaylorMade-adidas Golf continue its support of Scotland’s amateur golf squads until the end of the 2008 season.
The agreement involves supplying equipment, clothing and footwear for the national teams at men’s, youths, juniors and seniors’ level.
TaylorMade-adidas golf has led the golf industry’s technological evolution since being founded in 1979. With TaylorMade’s equipment, adidas apparel and footwear, Maxfli golf balls, and Rossa putters, TaylorMade-adidas golf is dedicated to being the best performance golf brand in the world.
Ian Watts, Sports Marketing Director – Europe, for TaylorMade-adidas Golf, said: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with the Scottish Golf Union for a further three years on the back of what has been a hugely successful partnership.”
“Amateur golf in Scotland has been particularly successful in recent years, with some outstanding individual performances as well as at team level, notably last year’s Home Internationals victory. We recognise the work the Scottish Golf Union has done in developing talent and growing the game and are proud to play a part in their continued success.”
Ross Duncan, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager for the SGU, added: “Our partnership with TaylorMade-adidas Golf reflects the profile of the Scottish Golf Union and the success of amateur golf in Scotland in recent years.
Performances on the course have played a big part in attracting a brand with TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s stature, whilst our marketing and business strategy is very much in line with TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s own positioning.”
The partnership will see Scotland’s national squad players wearing adidas climacool apparel whilst on international duty, including polo shirts, sweatshirts and water proofs. Players will also wear adidas Tour Metal golf shoes, whilst carrying TaylorMade Tour bags and other accessories.
[Photograph above right features young Scotland stars Paul O’Hara (younger brother of European Tour professional Steven) and Steven McEwan, the reigning Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion, modeling the latest Scotland kit by Adidas. Photo courtesy SGU, Copyright © Peter Kelly]

Monday 24th April 2006

VIKKI TO PLAY ON US FUTURES TOUR
Former Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing from Musselburgh missed the cut by five shots with two rounds of 76 for 152 in the Futures Golf Classic 54-hole tournament at Frisco, Texas at the weekend.
Vikki, 25, plans to play on America’s No 2 women’s pro tour for the rest of the season.
Her career as a tour pro has hardly got off the ground due to very limited tournament opportunities as a non-exempt member of the LPGA Tour.
“Vikki was a very good college player here in the States so I expect her eventually make a successful transition to the pros. At least she will be able to get into tournament fields with us,” said Lisa Mickey, director of communications with the Duramed Futures Tour.

D&A CHAMPIONSHIP
TOP SEED KYLIE AND HER MUM QUALIFY FOR D AND A MATCH-PLAY STAGES
Scotland international player Kylie Walker, pictured right, and her mother Elizabeth Walker, both Buchanan Castle Golf Club members, figured among the 16 qualifiers at Windyhill Golf Club today (MONDAY) for the match-play stages of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county championship.
Kylie earned the top seed spot with a round of 75 – three over par but matching the CSS on a cold and windy day.
Jill Foggo (Milngavie) was the second leading qualifier with a 76, two shots ahead of the defending champion Sara Bishop, playing over her home course. Sara plays Elizabeth Walker in Tuesday morning’s first-round ties.
Former Curtis Cup player Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) qualified in seventh place with an 84.
DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Windyhill Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS (Par 72, CSS 75)
75 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Catle).
76 Jill Foggo (Milngavie).
78 Sara Bishop (Windyhill).
82 Fiona McLean (Hilton Park).
83 Ashley Kerr (Windyhill), Lana MacDonald (Hilton Park).
84 Suzanne Cadden (Cardross).
86 Margaret Kinvig (Helensburgh).
89 Babs Robertson (Helensburgh).
91 Katie MacAulay (Milngavie), Ann MacDonald (Windyhill).
92 Isabel Harvey (St Rule).
95 Laura McGeachy (Carradale).
97 Elizabeth Walker (Buchanan Castle).
98 Joan Bankier (Hilton Park).
99 Miriam Dalglish (Balmore).
Match-play draw:
8.55 K Walker v Dalglish, Robertson v Kinvig, L MacDonald v Harvey, McGeachy v McLean, Bishop v E Walker, A MacDonald v Kerr, Cadden v MacAulay, Bankier v Foggo.
Quarter-finals start at 1pm.

SVLGA (Midland Division) Spring Meeting (Thanks to Jean Bald for this report)
– Strathmore – CSS 73 (59 Players)
The Allan Cup/Captain’s Prize – E. Perry (Tillicoultry) 88-17=71.
1st Scratch: Katherine Keir (Elie) 79
Div. 0-12: 1st H’cap: J. Flannigan (St. Regulus) 80-8=72 bih
2nd H’cap: E. Wilson (Elie) 79-5=74
3rd H’cap: B. Brown (St. Rule) 87-11=76
Div. 13-20: 2nd H’cap: C. Malcolm (Dollar) 88-16=72
3rd H’cap: N. MacFarlane (Bonnybridge) 90-17=73
Div. 21-28: 1st M. Vass (Dunblane New) 102-28=74

LANARKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
ELAINE CUTHILL TOP LANARKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP SEED AT HAMILTON
Former Scottish schoolgirls champion Elaine Cuthill (Lanark), pictured right, was the leading qualifier with a round of 72 – equalling Standard Scratch and two under the CSS -- when the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship began at Hamilton Golf Club today (MONDAY).
Elaine reached the semi-finals of the championship last year when she lost to the eventual title-winner, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven). Jenna qualified in third place with a 75 – one behind Fiona Norris (Hamilton), twice county champion and manager of the Great Britain & Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match in Oregon at the end of July.
LANARKSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Hamilton Golf Club
Qualifiers (SSS 72, CSS 74)
72 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
74 Fiona Norris (Hamilton).
75 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
78 Liz Lees Hamilton), Lesley Lloyd (Hayston).
79 May Hughes (Lanark).
81 Alyson Hendry (Hamilton).
83 Angela Devine (Hamilton).
85 Melanie Anderson (Drumpellier).
87 Pat Milligan (Hamilton).
89 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes), Jennifer Wiles).
91 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
92 Isa Robertson(East Kilbride).
93 Diane Gray (Lanark).
94 Doroth McTaggart (Cambuslang).
Match-play draw:
9.30 Cuthill v McTaggart, Anderson v Devine, Lloyd v Wiles, Scanlan v Leeds.
9.56 Wilson v Robertson, Scott v Hughes, Hendry v Milligan, Gray v Norris.
Quarter-finals start at 1.30.

US College Golf
TARA SHARES 13TH PLACE IN LADY BUCKEYE INVITE
Irish women’s open amateur stroke-play champion Tara Delaney (Kent State University) was the leading British & Irish player in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invite at Golf Club of Dublin, Ohio at the weekend.
Tara finished tied 13th with a 54-hole total of 221, scoring 72, 76 and 73.
Scotland international Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) and Karen Delaney (Kent State University) finished joint 35th on the 227 mark. Gemma saddled herself with a disappointing 10-over-par 82 over the 6,177yd course in her opening round.
Gemma did much better in the second and third rounds with scores of 73 and 72.
Karen had an excellent two-under-par opening round of 70 but slipped away a bit with 80 and 77 in the remaining rounds.
English girl Becky Wood (Kent State University) tied for 50th place on 230 with scores of 76, 76 and 78.
Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota University) came 70th with a total of 240, made up of scores of 78, 79 and 83.
Auburn University had the top two finishers in Maria Martinez on nine-under-par 207 with scores of 69, 67 and 71 and Nicole Hage on 208 with 71, 69 and 68.
Sandra Gal (Florida) was third with 71, 70 and 72 for 213.
Not surprisingly, Auburn won the team event with a bit to spare.
They had a total of 849 to finish 27 shots ahead of runners-up Florida (876) with Purdue (877) third. Kent State (887) were fourth and Ohio State (885) fifth of the 10 competing teams.

Jacksonville University's winning conference team:
L to R: Russell Knox (from Inverness), Duncan Stewart (from Grantown-on-Spey), head coach Jim Taketa, Matt Kleinrock, Jamie Kennedy (from Edinburgh) and Christian Martin

British Student Golf
BUSA Order of Merit event
Olivia Briggs from the University of Stirling is currently leading the third BUSA Order of Merit event at the De Vere hotel group's Morrtram Hall in Cheshire with a 77, five shots ahead of Janet Phipps from the Exeter, Lucinda Davies from Birmingham and Emma Getty from the University of Ulster.
In the men's event, Craig Wilkinson and Tom Curtis (both University of Nothumbria) share the lead on 70.
The event concludes with a second round today.
Scoreboard
Third BUSA Order of Merit event
De Vere Mottram Hall, Wilmslow Road, Mottram St. Andrew, Prestbury, Cheshire
Women
77 OLIVIA BRIGGS (STIRLING)
82 JANET PHIPPS (EXETER), LUCINDA DAVIES (BIRMINGHAM), EMMA GETTY (ULSTER)
84 CATHERINE PATERSON (ST ANDREWS)
85 CLAIRE MCLOUGHLIN (ST ANDREWS)
86 COLLEEN WINSTANLEY (ST ANDREWS), NICOLA FORD (STIRLING), MORAG MCPHERSON (ST ANDREWS), LYNSEY HUMPHRIES (ULSTER)
88 NIKKI HUNTER (NORTHUMBRIA), GILLIAN KINNEAR (BATH)
89 MELANIE TEMPLE (EXETER)
Men
70 CRAIG WILKINSON (NORTHUMBRIA), TOM CURTIS (NORTHUMBRIA)
71 EDWARD PARKER (BIRMINGHAM)
72 BRADLEY BROOKE (STIRLING)
73 PAUL BETTY (STIRLING), ROSS JONES (BATH), SIMON LEE (NORTHUMBRIA), ADAM MEADS (BATH), MATT EVERSON (LOUGHBOROUGH)
74 COLIN COLRAINE (STRATHCLYDE), KARL SHEPARD (STIRLING), BARRY CROSSWOOD (EXETER)
75 GRAHAM TURNER (STIRLING), CRAIG MCCORMICK (ULSTER), TIM COCKILL (NORTHUMBRIA)
76 MARK DAVIES (EXETER), BLAIR PATERSON (STIRLING), JONATHAN WATT (STIRLING), LUKE CORNFORD (BIRMINGHAM), SCOTT PLUTHERO (BOURNEMOUTH), TIM BAKER (BATH), CHRIS O'HAGAN (BOURNEMOUTH)
77 SCOTT BORROWMAN (STIRLING), MARCUS REID (BOURNEMOUTH), ANDY COOPER (LOUGHBOROUGH),ANDY SHAKESPEAR (BATH)
78 GORDON YATES (STIRLING), SAM FOSTER (EXETER), STUART TURNBULL (STIRLING), JOHNNY HEASLIP (NORTHUMBRIA), NIALL FINLAY (GLASGOW), LIAM ROBERTSON (NORTHUMBRIA)
79 NICK SCHOLEY (NORTHUMBRIA),BOBBY RUSTAFORD (STIRLING), EUAN POLSON (STIRLING)
80 ROBERT NARDUZZO (UW NEWPORT), PATRICK MULCATTY (GLASGOW)
81 RICHARD WILSON (NORTHUMBRIA), KEVIN WILSON (STIRLING)
82 CHARLIE SWANN (BOURNEMOUTH), ADAM STOCKWELL-PRICE (UW NEWPORT)
83 MYLES PEARSON (LOUGHBOROUGH)
84 DANIEL FARMER (LOUGHBOROUGH)
86 FRASER INGLIS (GLASGOW)
88 JON HOWSE (EXETER)

EGU Press Release
MORRISON & ENGLAND FINISH RUNNERS UP IN PERU
James Morrison, a member of the England A Squad, finished runner-up in the Peruvian Amateur Championship in Lima.
A closing round of 73 for an aggregate of 285, three under par, left him four strokes behind the winner, Sebastian Saavedra, the Argentinean international, who finished with a 72.
Surrey-based Morrison, who led by three after a first round 65, never managed to break par in his remaining three rounds while the more experienced Saavedra was always going to be the major threat.
However, Morrison’s performance enhances his reputation as an emerging talent and extends England’s fine displays in the event following Neil Chaudhuri’s share of the title a year ago.
Yorkshire’s John Parry, who will make his full England debut in next month’s international with France in Bordeaux, finished equal 16th on 296 after signing for a closing 76.
England also had to settle for second spot in the team event, Morrison and Parry finishing on 581, five over par, but ten strokes behind the winners Argentina.
Leading final scores:
Individual:
281 S Saavedra (Arg) 68 69 72 72
285 J Morrison (Eng) 65 73 74 73
286 D Antunez de Mayolo (Peru) 69 75 69 73
289 P Reiser (Peru) 68 73 75 73
290 V Argonz (Arg) 77 72 71 70, A Baertl (Peru) 72 73 73 72
Other
296 J Parry (Eng) 74 77 69 76
Team:
571 Argentina
581 England
584 Peru 1

Erskine Golf Club Junior Open
Erskine Golf Club are holding a Junior Open for Boys and Girls on Friday 7th July.
Further information Entry Form

Reay Golf Club Evan Sutherland, centre, receiving his award with John Gibb, MD of Debenhams, Inverness, left
and Charlie Christie, Manager of Caley Thistle, right. Picture by Heather Nelson

Press Release
Reay Golf Club volunteer coach wins Contribution to Sport award
Sport contains the lion’s share of unsung heroes. Behind every successful athlete, club or event slaves an army of selfless backroom enthusiasts, devotees and afficionados. But last week a member of that largely unseen genre was justly recognised.
Evan Sutherland, Reay Golf Club‘s Junior Convenor and clubgolf volunteer coach, a driving force behind the newly formed Caithness & North Sutherland Junior Golf Partnership, was honoured for his efforts to help make golf accessible to every child in Caithness by winning the MFR Contribution to Sport Award.
Three years ago Mr Sutherland was one of the first of Highland’s 100 plus recruits to step forward for the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf’s PGA Level 1 Volunteers Course. Now, not only is he imparting skills to local youngsters - he has helped to dramatically increase the club’s junior membership since he began coaching - but as one of only two golfers in the UK to earn clubgolf‘s Level 2 coaching qualification, he is responsible for helping to train the next generation of would-be volunteer coaches.
“It was a very nice surprise and I had a marvellous day,” said Mr Sutherland, after winning the crystal Contribution to Sport Award.
Mr Sutherland has spent the past three summers building his club’s junior membership and imparting the game‘s fundamentals to children who have experienced the introductory firstclubgolf game at school. His duties are not limited to the golf course. As a firstclubgolf tutor he helps train teachers to deliver this introductory game to children, and also teaches the children in school himself.
“I teach all aspects of clubgolf, from Level 1 to Level 2, for two and a half hours on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday’s,“ said Mr Sutherland who discovered his coaching talents by accident when the Club‘s committee asked if he would be prepared to attend a clubgolf coaching course. “The coaching is one part but the the preparation work takes time. It‘s important to be ready to start before the children arrive. Going around the schools doing firstclubolf is a different part altogether but I‘m thoroughly enjoying it. ”
When the in-school firstclubgolf course finishes the children will be given the opportunity to enrol for clubgolf's Stage 1 programme, hosted by the four golf clubs (Reay, Lybster, Thurso and Wick) which make up the Caithness & North Sutherland Junior Golf Partnership .
“Having come through the junior ranks myself, you appreciate the enormous effort that people like Evan put in,“ said Reay Golf Club‘s Captain and the Partnership's Chair, Graeme Dunnett.
“People who help on committees or work behind the scenes, don‘t do it for the glory, they just want to contribute in some way. For every hour Evan spends on the course he probably spends another two to three making sure everything is ready and prepared.
“The club has been fully behind Evan and his team since the start and it means alot to us that he has won this award. We are a small club in the far north of Scotland, which emphasises that through the novel approach we have taken to the coaching and by forming the Partnership, a small fish can actually compete. ”
Reay is planning a junior Open night in the near future for sponsors, helpers, parents and children to attract more children. Expanding its coaching infrastructure is keeping pace with absorbing new junior members. Mr Sutherland and Lynne Whitelaw are both qualified Level 1 coaches. A further two members are part way through their PGA clubgolf Level 1 training. Two more members will begin the course this summer. And by recently forming the Partnership, the benefits of Evan’s enthusiasm, commitments and experience, clubs throughout the region will benefit for many years to come.
“Evan fits exactly the role model we are looking for in our volunteer coaches,” said Willie MacKay, Junior Golf Development Officer for Highland.
“The way he assists with delivering the training and firstclubgolf to the children shows them how to behave, conduct themselves, learn good manners and patience in keeping with the traditions of golf.
“ He is thoroughly organised, plans meticulously approaches everybody with consideration and is a perfect role model for children and other staff he’s helping to train.
“ By being one of only two Level 2 trained coaches in the UK demonstrates the depth of study and commitment he is willing to put in to continue his coaching development. He thoroughly deserves this award.
The self-effacing Mr Sutherland enjoyed his brief spell in the limelight but realises it’s an experience he is unlikely to become familiar with. For him, and Scotland’s other thousand clubgolf volunteer coaches, the return has a different form: “It’s a lot of work but to see the little sparkle in their eyes when they hit a good shot is an enormous reward. ”

Sandy Lyle with children from schools in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling and West Lothian today

Press Release
Sandy Lyle launches strategy to make golf accessible to every child in Central Scotland
Five times European Ryder Cup Team member, Sandy Lyle today (Monday 24 April) launched the clubgolf Central Scotland Junior Golf Strategy, which aims to make golf accessible to every child in Central Scotland whilst developing the area’s talented juniors.
After treating boys and girls from Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling and West Lothian to a golf clinic, the former Open and Masters Champion unveiled the strategy at Stirling Golf Club. He was joined by Hamish Grey, Chief Executive of the Scottish Golf Union and clubgolf board member; Jacqueline Lynn, Service Manager for Sport and Leisure (Development), representing Active Stirling and SportCentral; and West Lothian Council’s Sport and Leisure Manager, Charlie Raeburn.
Created by the partnership of SportCentral, West Lothian Council and clubgolf, the clubgolf Central Scotland Junior Golf Strategy mirrors Scotland’s National Junior Golf Strategy, clubgolf. Borne out of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.
The clubgolf Central Scotland Junior Golf Strategy aims to support clubgolf’s 2009 targets by:
· Giving 5340 nine year olds in primary education the opportunity to access clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf
· Retaining 1602 nine to fourteen year olds in the programme in any one year, each transferring from the schools programme into skills programmes operated by clubs
· Giving 400 nine to fourteen year olds access to a programme made available to community groups
· Raising the number of girl golfers in Central from 10% to 20%
· Establishing the strategy at 23 clubgolf centres (clubs or golf facilities delivering the core skills programme)
· Establishing six new junior specific facilities
“Creating this strategy gives youngsters in Central Scotland a wonderful opportunity to experience the game through a recognised and well-structured programme,” said Sandy Lyle.
“Learning the basic skills at a young age will benefit these youngsters throughout their golfing lives, whether they choose to play the game for fun or aspire to the highest levels. I’m certain there are many more potential champions out there and through this strategy it will be easier to discover and nurture them.”
Twenty-six of the region’s 39 golf clubs and golf facilities are already delivering clubgolf coaching programmes. Almost 200 golf club members and volunteers have become fully-trained PGA Level 1 coaches. Four PGA Professionals have joined a nationwide coaching network to train the PGA Level 1 coaches.
Twenty-four regional firstclubgolf tutors have qualified to deliver teacher training in school. Seventy-seven primary schools are delivering firstclubgolf on the PE curriculum, introducing 1782 nine year olds to golf so far. Over 40 percent of these children chose to progress to clubgolf’s Stage 1 coaching courses at nearby golf clubs. Seventy children have already completed Stage 2 Development training. A further 30 have enrolled on a clubgolf Stage 3 Pilot programme at Callander Golf Club. PGA professionals are delivering Stage 4 Academy coaching at Stirling’s Brucefields Family Golf Centre.
Meanwhile, four new clubgolf junior facilities have been developed at Callander, Killin and St Fillans Golf Clubs and on Falkirk Council’s Callendar Park Par 3 Golf Course.
Said Hamish Grey, Chief Executive of the Scottish Golf Union and clubgolf board member, "Many individuals and organisations have been involved in developing the clubgolf Central Scotland Junior Golf Strategy and we are delighted that it is already receiving such tremendous support and commitment.
“As clubgolf rolls out across Central Scotland this year our challenge is to increase the army of top quality, dedicated volunteer coaches in golf clubs so that the children we are introducing to clubgolf at school can follow a structured pathway and progress to the level they aspire to.”In Stirling, primary school children in four out of seven Stirling high school clusters are experiencing firstclubgolf on the curriculum. Eight out of 10 golf clubs – Aberfoyle, Balfron, Brucefields, Buchanan Castle, Callander, Dunblane, Killin and Stirling - are working with clubgolf and their feeder primaries to deliver clubgolf coaching programmes to kids who have progressed from their in-school introduction.
Children in all Clackmannanshire’s 19 primary schools have received an introduction to golf on the curriculum or in after schools clubs. Two out of six clubs - Tillicoultry and Muckhart - are working with clubgolf and their feeder primaries to deliver clubgolf coaching programmes to kids who have progressed from their in-school introduction.
Two hundred primary school children in four out of eight Falkirk high school clusters have experienced firstclubgolf on the curriculum or in after schools clubs. Four out of six clubs – Bonnybridge, Falkirk Carmuirs, Falkirk Tryst and Polmont - are working with clubgolf and their feeder primaries to deliver clubgolf coaching programmes to kids who have progressed from their in-school introduction.
Said Jacqueline Lynn, Service Manager for Sport and Leisure (Development), representing Active Stirling and SportCentral (a Regional Sports Partnership comprising Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils, Central Scotland Institute of Sport and sportscotland), “clubgolf has made a huge difference to golfing opportunities for children in Stirling schools and local clubs. We look forward to rolling out the clubgolf programme across the whole of Stirling Council.”
In West Lothian, Primary school children in six out of nine West Lothian high school clusters have experienced firstclubgolf on the curriculum or in after schools clubs. Nine of the area’s 15 golf clubs and facilities – Balbardie Park, Binny, Bridgend, Deer Park, Greenburn, Harburn, Linlithgow, Pumpherston and Uphall - are working with clubgolf to deliver clubgolf’s Stage 1 course. West Lothian Council’s education department is working on projects to develop golf coaching programmes in secondary schools, specifically targeting children who have additional support needs.
Said West Lothian Council’s Sport and Physical Activity Manager, Charlie Raeburn, "West Lothian Council is very pleased to be part of this initiative, which introduces young people to golf. We are already seeing the benefits of the clubgolf project with many of our primary five pupils now enjoying the game.
"The volunteer efforts of West Lothian golf clubs have been excellent and we are currently looking at ways to extend the programme so that more young people can get involved in this positive scheme."

Sunday 23rd April 2006

Prizewinners at the Helen Holn Strokeplay at Troon
L to R: Rachel Bell (3rd), Emma Duggleby (2nd), Melissa Reid (winner), Heather Macrae and Jenna Wilson (winners of the team trophy)

SCOTLAND WIN TEAM TITLE BUT ENGLAND 1-2-3 IN HELEN HOLM STROKE-PLAY AT TROON
BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Jenna Wilson and Heather MacRae won the international team event for Scotland but otherwise England, with four players in the top five, dominated the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon today (Sunday).
In a dramatic finish over the Royal Troon links in brilliant sunshine, Melissa Reid, pictured right, from Derby, the 18-year-old English girls champion for the past two years, staged a smash-and-grab victory over long-time leader Emma Duggleby from Yorkshire.
One shot behind Emma on the 18th tee, Melissa birdied the last for a three-under-par 72 and a total of 13under-par 212. Miss Duggleby three-putted from 30ft for a bogey 5, a closing 74 and a total of 213.
"This is a great start to the season for me," said Melissa. "Emma is still a class competitor and I learned so much just partnering her today. My target is to make the Great Britain & Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match against the United States in Oregon in July."
Emma started the final round at 11-under-par 139 after two rounds on Saturday over the Troon Portland course in latterly dreadful weather of wind and rain.
Melissa was one shot behind on 140 but surged to the front after birdieing the second and fourth only to lose the lead when she ran up a double bogey 5 at the infamous Post Stamp short eighth hole where she was bunkered on the left.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), who flew home early from San Diego State University in California, to play in the "Helen Holm" as the start of an all-out bid to win a Curtis Cup team place, and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), herself a former golf scholarship student at the same US college, won the Ladies Golf Club Troon team salver with a total of 445 - four shots ahead of Sweden in the arguably the strongest field ever to contest the event.
It was the first time since 1994, when Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay were the SLGA choice, that Scotland had won the team honours.
Jenna was the leading Scot individually with a sixth-place finish on three-under-par 222 with rounds of 79 and 71 over Troon Portland and a 72 at Royal Troon.
Teenager Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), with scores of 72, 77 and 74, finished a creditable seventh equal on 223, the same mark as Heather MacRae
with scores of 72, 76 and 75.
HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland first two rounds; Royal Troon third round. Par 75-75-75. CSS 75-75-76
FINAL TOTALS
212 M Reid (Chevin) 71 69 72.
213 E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 71 69 72.
217 R Bell (Ganton) 74 72 71.
218 J Berton (Fra) 72 70 76.
221 J Ross (Whitley Bay) 70 76 75.
222 J Wilson (Strathaven) 79 71 72.
223 C Hedwall (Swe) 74 76 73, M Bourdy (Fra) 76 74 73, K Caithness (St Regulus) 72 77 74, H MacRae (Dunblane New) 72 76 75.
224 A Vilatte (Fra) 79 72 73, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76 76, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 74 74 76, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 71 74 79, C Coughlan (Cork) 75 70 79.
225 S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 77 77 71, K Smith (Waterlooville) 73 77 75,