August 2005 Archive

Wednesday 31st August 2005

PAMELA WINS SENIOR STROKE-PLAY CROWN - NOW FOR TITLE DOUBLE
From COLIN FARQUHARSON
Pamela Williamson from Baberton, Edinburgh won the Scottish senior women's closed amateur stroke-play championship for a third time at Grantown on Spey Golf Club today (WEDNESDAY).
Mrs Williamson, the overnight leader by one shot, added a 74 to her opening 73 for 147 - a lower total than her two previous title wins at East Renfrewshire (159) in 1999 and at Crail Balcomie (152) in 2002.
In fact, it is the second lowest winning aggregate in the nine-year history of the event, bettered only by Karen Ballantyne's 139 at Ballater in 2003.
Pamela had birdies at the second, fourth, ninth, 12th and 16th but she also had a double bogey at the 14th and bogeys at the third, seventh, eighth, 11th and 18th in two eventual halves of 37.
A former Irish senior women's open champion, Mrs Williamson won by only one shot in the end from Borders veterans' title-winner Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee). Liz had a second-round 73 - bettered only by a 72 by Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh - for a total of 148.
Moira Thomson (North Berwick) finished third with a 75 for 149.
For the first time, a Scottish senior women's match-play championship will make up the second half of the four-day programme. It will be contested by the 16 players with the lowest 36-hole totals.
Mrs Williamson will start her bid for a title double by playing Patricia Hutton (Lanark), winner of the seniors' stroke-play championship in 2000, on Thursday morning.
SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN'S CLOSED AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Grantown on Spey
Par 72 CSS 71 71
LEADING TOTALS
147 P Williamson (Baberton) 73 74.
148 E Campbell (Torwoodlee) 75 73.
149 M Thomson (North Berwick) 74 75.
151 F De Vries (St Rule) 74 77.
152 R Anderson (Huntly) 76 76.
153 L Bennett (Ladybank) 80 73, A Smart (Banchory) 78 75.
154 N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 82 72.
155 F Neish (Murcar) 80 75, C McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar) 77 78, J Gardner (Drumpellier) 77 78.
156 R Brown (Lothianburn) 78 78.
158 J Mack (Haggs Castle) 80 78, A Brownie (Lothianburn) 79 79, A Telfer (Milngavie) 76 82.
159 L Terry (Cruden Bay) 79 80.
160 H Faulds (Douglas Park) 75 85.
162 P Hutton(Lanark) 78 84.
162 K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 83 80.
164 P Wilson (Murcar) 85 79, J Slater (Aboyne) 82 82, E Miskimmin (Dunblane New) 80 84.
165 I McIntosh (Inverness) 84 81.
166 J Cumming (Inverness) 82 84
167 N Smith (Downfield) 82 85, E Simpson (Murrayfield) 80 87.
168 S Bain (Aberdeen ladies) 88 80.
169 E Fisken (Nairn) 85 84, F Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 84 85.
170 I Harvey (St Rule) 86 84, R Dee (Kingsknowe) 85 85, J French (Alyth) 85 85.
171 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) 87 84, S Travers (Alloa) 86 85, P Morrison(Muir of Ord) 85 86, S Hodge (Aberdeen Ladies) 82 89.
172 A Henderson (Lenzie) 88 84, L Clark (Nairn) 88 84, S Vickerman (Grantown on Spey) 87 85.
173 R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) 92 81, D Dunn (Dunblane New) 89 94, M Donald (Aberdeen Ladies) 88 85, S Coster (Hilton Park) 84 89.
174 A Moffat (St Regulus) 80 84, P Gordon (Inverness) 88 86.
175 M Mowat (Troon Ladies) 92 83, H Kelly (Ladies Panmure Barry) 89 86, P Nicoll (Banchory) 87 88.
176 E Cruickishank (Cruden Bay) 89 87, M Joss (Alford) 88 88, N Duncan (Brechin) 86 90, L MacDonald (Hilton Park) 82 92, M Clark (Banchory) 83 93.
177 L Lloyd-Baker (Grantown on Spey) 97 80, E Thomson (Aberdeen Ladies) 91 86.
178 M MacNaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies) 91 87, H Edon (Banchory) 88 90.
178 A Greeman (Ladies Panmure Barry) 92 87, J Flannigan (St Regulus) 91 88, D Gray (Lanark) 91 88, E Munro (Moray) 89 90.
180 L Fraser (Inverness) 95 85, A Paton (Douglas Park) 92 88, M Ritchie (Muir of Ord) 91 89, M Clapperton (Banchory) 90 90.
181 P McGunnigle (Banchory) 94 87.
182 E Rose (Aboyne) 94 88, L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam) 94 88.
183 A Stalker (Aberdeen Ladies) 95 88, B Duncan (Banchory) 95 88, M Orr (Tain) 94 89, M Duncan (Nairn) 92 91.
185 K Jarvie (Auchterarder) 99 86, E Hutton (Muir of Ord) 95 90.
186 J Grant (Kingussie) 96 90, P Twinn (Aberdeen Ladies) 95 91.
188 M McCallum (West Kilbride) 98 90, P Nile (Banchory) 94 94.
189 B Potter (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 100 89, E Webster (Aberdeen Ladies) 96 93.
190 M Miller (Aberdeen Ladies) 98 92.
191 H Littler (Grantown on Spey) 95 96, E Barrack (Aberdeen Ladies) 90 101.
192 C Robertson (Dunkeld & Birnam) 97 95.
195 S MacLennan (Nairn Dunbar) 96 99, E Walker (Troon Ladies) 95 100.
198 G Haines (St Regulus) 102 96.
201 A Miller (Nairn) 103 98.
205 A Hood (Dunblane New) 97 108.
207 H MacGregor (Hilton Park) 106 101.
208 P Moscati (Royal Dornoch) 104 104.
211 W Davidson (Deeside) 108 103.
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
8.0 Williamson (1) v Hutton (16).
8.08 Neish (9) v Fenton (8).
8.15 Anderson (5) v Brownie (12).
8.24 Telfer (13) v De Vries (4).
8.32 Thomson (3) v Terry (14).
8.40 Brown (11) v Bennett (6).
8.48 Smart (7) v Gardner (10).
8.55 Faulds (15) v Campbell (2).
Quarter-finals at 12.30, 12.38, 12.46, 12.54.
FRIDAY - Semi-finals at 8.45 and 8.55. Final at 1.15pm.

ELGA Press Release
Rozalyn Adams is top seed in English seniors’ championship
Surrey’s Rozalyn Adams is the top seed for the matchplay stages of the Seniors Ladies’ English Close Amateur Championship at Handsworth.
She led the 16 qualifiers by six shots after adding a second round 76 to her opening score of level par 72.
The Addington Court player’s second round began in up-and-down fashion, with three birdies, two double bogeys and a bogey on the front nine.
But then her play steadied and apart from two bogeys, on the 12th and 17th, she parred home.
“I just wanted to make my pars,” she said afterwards. “Now I plan to pace myself for the rest of the championship.
“This is a very enjoyable week, the hospitality is excellent and the course and greens are lovely,” Rozalyn added.
Her closest challenger is defending champion Chris Quinn (Winchester) who qualified second with rounds of 78, 76. The cut for the matchplay stages fell at 166
|Position|No|Name|Club|Round1|Round2|Total|+/-
1|1|Adams|Rozalyn|Addington Court|72.00|76.00|148.00|+4
2|30|Quinn|Christine|South Winchester|78.00|76.00|154.00|+10
3|35|Smyth|Hilary|Pannal|80.00|78.00|158.00|+14
4|13|Hedges|Susan|Royal Cinque Ports|84.00|75.00|159.00|+15
5|44|Wrightson|Pat|Huddersfield|77.00|82.00|159.00|+15
6|16|Lindley|Ruth|Hartlepool|80.00|80.00|160.00|+16
7|39|Watson|Christine|Beaconsfield|79.00|83.00|162.00|+18
8|14|Heuchel|Gabi|East Berkshire|79.00|83.00|162.00|+18
9|31|Saunders|Vivien|Cambridge Meridian|84.00|79.00|163.00|+19
10|41|West|Patricia|Spalding|82.00|81.00|163.00|+19
11|7|Caldwell|Carole|Sunningdale|82.00|81.00|163.00|+19
12|37|Stockdale|Andrea|Wollaton Park|81.00|82.00|163.00|+19
13|9|Copp|Marianne|Rye|81.00|82.00|163.00|+19
14|24|O.Keeffe|Jeannie|Guildford Ladies|85.00|81.00|166.00|+22
15|6|Bill|Wendy|Ladbrook Park|83.00|83.00|166.00|+22
16|34|Smith|Julia|Rotherham|81.00|85.00|166.00|+22

CLARE QUEEN RANKED THIRD BY EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The updated European Golf Association women's amateur rankings, following the European women's individual championship on Madeira, have Clare Queen from Drumpellier in third place.
Alexandra Vilatte (France) is ranked No 1 with 225pt, gained in EGA-designated tournaments, and Maria Hernandez (Spain) is in second place with 175pt.
Miss Queen has 160pt to her credit even though she failed to retain the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Nairn recently.
The only other Great Britain & Ireland players in the new top 10 are Ireland's Claire Coughlan and Martina Gillen who are ranked Nos 9 and 10 respectively.
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), the Vagliano Trophy team reserve who went close to winning the British title at Nairn, is in 11th place.
New British champion Heather Macrae from Dunblane, now back at San Diego State University, California, comes into the top 20 list for the first time in 18th.
Here is the EGA list.
1 Alexandra Vilatte (Fra) 225.
2 Maria Hernandez (Spa) 175.
3 Clare Queen (Sco)        160.
4 Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) 157.50.
5 Julie Berton (Fra)        153.
6 Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 152.13.
7 Emma Cabrera (Spa)        146.63
8 Nicole Gergely (Aut)        139.
9 Claire Coughlan (Ire)        137.75.
10 Martina Gillen (Ire)        135.50.
11 Jenna Wilson (Sco)        132.50.
12 Stenna Westerlund (Fin) 129.50.
13 Jade Schaeffer (Fra)        125.50.
14 Carlota Ciganda (Spa) 123.
15 Elena Giraud (Fra)        122.46.
16 Kerry Smith (Eng)        120.70.
17 Sophie Walker (Eng)        118.50.
18 Heather Macrae (Sco) 114.13.
19 Tricia Mangan (Ire)        110.50.
20 Stefanie Endstrasser (Aut) 110.
Other Scottish rankings:
36 Anne Laing        72.13
61 Fiona Lockhart       47.
75 Kylie Walker        30.13.
99 Louise Kenney        24.
109 Sara Bishop        19.50
143 Carly Booth        9.

SVLGA East Division Autumn Meeting
Here are results of meeting at Murrayfield on 30 August. (CSS 73)
Silver  Scratch    Denise Mitchell        81
            H'Cap        1. Irene Lindsay    86-14-72
                              2. Cath Tait         91-17-74(bih)
                              3. Ethel Jack        82- 8-74(better last 6holes)
                              4. Isobel Hastings 90-16 74
Bronze  H'Cap      1.Rosemary Denny     95-22-73
                              2.Maureen Stewart   100 -24-76

Tuesday 30th August 2005

PAMELA WAKES UP FROM NIGHTMARE TO LEAD FIELD AT GRANTOWN ON SPEY
Twice title-winner Pamela Williamson from Baberton has a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Scottish senior women's (closed) amateur stroke-play championship at Grantown-on-Spey.
Pamela, champion in 1999 and again in 2002, recovered from a nightmare ninth hole to return a one-over-par 73. She bogeyed the fifth but then ran up a triple bogey 7 at the par-4 ninth to turn in four-over 41.
Mrs Williamson, who plays off three, got down to business after the turn with birdies at the 12th, 15th and 18th in a bogey-free 32.
Sharing second place on 74 are Moira Thomson (North Berwick), Scottish girls' champion in 1968, and St Andrews hotelier Fiona de Vries (St Rule), both of whom have handicaps of three.
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), on paper the best player in the field with a handicap of one, is lying joint 15th on 80.
For the first time, the over-50s championship is being held over four days with the first two days producing a senior stroke-play champion and the last two days a senior match-play champion.
At stake, apart from the titles, are places in the team to represent Scotland in the senior women's home internationals at Radyr Golf Club, near Cardiff from October 4 to 6.
collated scoreboard
SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN'S (CLOSED) AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Grantown on Spey Golf Club
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72. CSS 71
73 P Williamson (Baberton)
74 F de Vries (St Rule), M Thomson (North Berwick).
75 H Faulds (Douglas Park), E Campbell (Torwoodlee).
76 R Anderson (Huntly), A Telfer (Milngavie).
77 J Gardner (Drumpellier), C McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar).
78 R Brown (Lothianburn), A Smart (Banchory), P Hutton (Lanark).
79 A Brownie (Lothianburn), L Terry (Cruden Bay).
80 J Mack (Haggs Castle), L Bennett (Ladybank), E Simpson (Murrayfield), E Miskimmin (Dunblane New), F Neish (Murcar).
82 N Smith (Downfield), S Hodge (Aberdeen Ladies), J Slater (Aboyne), J Cumming (Inverness), N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh).
83 K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), M Clark (Banchory).
84 S Reid (Aberdeen Ladies), L MacDonald (Hilton Park), F Roger (Ranfurly Castle), S Coster (Hilton Park), I McIntosh (Inverness).
85 J French (Alyth), E Fisken (Nairn), R Dee (Kingsknowe), P Wilson (Murcar), P Morrison (Muir of Ord).
86 N Duncan (Brechin), J Robertson (Lundin Links), S Travers (Alloa), I Harvey (St Rule).
87 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle), P Nicoll (Banchory), S Vickerman (Grantown on Spey).
88 L Clark (Nairn), P Gordon (Inverness), S Bain (Aberdeen Ladies), M Donald (Aberdeen Ladies), M Joss (Alford), A Henderson (Lenzie), H Edon (Banchory).
89 E Cruickshank (Cruden Bay), E Munro (Moray), D Dunn (Dunblane New), H Kelly (Ladies Panmure Barry).
90 M Clapperton (Banchory), E Barrack (Aberdeen Ladies), A Moffat (St Regulus).
91 M MacNaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies), D Gray (Lanark), J Flannigan (St Regulus), M Ritchie (Muir of Ord), E Thomson (Aberdeen Ladies).
92 A Greeman (Ladies Panmure Barry), M Duncan (Nairn), A Paton (Douglas Park), M Mowat (Troon Ladies), R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay).
93 M Chalmers (Downfield).
94 L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam), M Sharp (Grantown on Spey), P Nile (Banchory), P McGunnigle (Banchory), E Rose (Aboyne), M Orr (Tain).
95 E Hutton (Muir of Ord), P Twinn (Abedeen Ladies), E Walker (Troon Ladies), B Duncan (Banchroy), A Stalker (Abedeen Ladies), H Littler (Grantown on Spey), L Fraser (Inverness).
96 J Grant (Kingussie), E Webster (Aberdeen Ladies), S MacLennan (Nairn Dunbar).
97 L Lloyd-Baker (Grantown on Spey), C Robertson (Dunkeld & Birnam), A Hood (Dunblane New).
98 M Miller (Aberdeen Ladies), M McCallum (West Kilbride).
99 K Jarvie (Auchterarder).

SVGLA Championship
LORNA, MOIRA ON COLLISION COURSE
A repeat of last year's Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship between Lorna Bennett, the Midlands champion, and East title-winner Moira Thomson, is a possibility following the draw for this year's quarter-finals over Blairgowrie's Lansdowne course on Sunday, September 26.
Lorna beat Moira 5 and 4 to win the Scottish Vets title last year and they have both retained their area titles to qualify again for the quarter-finals. They are in the opposite halves of the draw which is:
Jean Lambert (Galloway) v Liz Campbell (Borders), Pearl Beattie (Dumfries-shire) v Moira Thomson (East), Ann Smart (North) v Christine McAndrew (Highland), Helen Faulds (West) v Lorna Bennett (Midlands).
The semi-finals and final are played on the Monday.

Faldo Series
CARLY EARNS CELTIC MANOR PLACE ON TIE-BREAKER AT BARASSIE
Carly Booth came through a tie-breaker at Kilmarnock Barassie today (TUE) to be one of the six Scottish qualifiers for the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor Golf Resort on Sunday, September 18.
There is only one girl qualifier and Carly tied with Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) for the coveted spot after the third and last Scottish qualifying competition at Barassie. On a windy day over a long and difficult course, Pamela won the girls' event on the day with a score of 79, one ahead of Carly.
That earned Pamela 15pt for the third round to Carly's 12 and, adding these points to those accumulated from their placings at Carnoustie (April 26) and Blairgowrie (June 23), the two girls tied for the top spot in their final standings with 37pt each - one point ahead of Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) who had headed the table going into the final qualifying round.
Under the rules of the competition, in the event of a tie, the player with the lower stroke average over the three rounds goes forward to the Grand Final. Carly's average was exactly 80 while Pamela, who had an 86 at Carnoustie, had an average of 81.3.
Jamie Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile) had the best score of 74 in the Under-21 boys section at Barassie but the qualifier was Frazer Bone (Cardross) who finished second to Jamie yesterday with a 76.
Robbie King (Dumbarton) won the Under-18 boys' play with 36pt - 2pt ahead of Euan Malcolm (Dunbermline) who had the lowest score of 75 in this category yesterday.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) clinched the Under-17 boys' spot at Celtic Manor with 29pt by winning his category at Barassie with a par-matching 72 - the best score on the day over a course with an SSS of 74.
James Byrne (Banchory) won the Under-16 boys' section with 37.5pt although he finished fourth on the day with an 81 behind Simon Barras (Helensburgh) who had a 76.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) was a clear winner of the Under-15 boys' qualifying place with 43.5pt, 10pt ahead of Greg Duncan (Craigielaw). Michael and Greg led the way on the 80 mark yesterday. COLLATED SCOREBOARD
NICK FALDO JUNIOR SERIES
Final Scottish qualifying round
Kilmarnock Barassie
BOYS
Under-21: 74 J Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile) 74. 76 F Bone (Cardross). 77 J Donaldson (Brucefields). 81 J Walkden (Royal Montrose). Final points totals:  39 F Bone, 32.5 J Gardiner, 30 J Donaldson, 26 J Walkden, 19.5 F Skene (Tantallon). 13 S Larkin (Banchory). 12.5 J Forbes (Inverness). 9.5 R McKen (Newburgh). 8.5 A McKie (Glencruitten). 3 K Truscott (Newmachar). 1.5 R Lando (Colville Park).
Under-18: 75 E Malcolm (Dunfermline). 77 B Rushford (Grangemouth). 79 R King (Dumbarton), J Lockie (Tantallon), P Latimer (St Andrews New). 80 P McLean (Peterhead). 81 S Borrowman (Dollar). 83 S Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas). Final points: 36 R King. 34 E Malcolm. 27 P McLean. 26.5 S Borrowman, 21.5 J Lockie. 21 B Rushford. 19 S Robin. 18.5 M Watson (Elgin). 18 P Latimer. 5.5 S Neilson (Dunbar).
Under-17: 72 R Kellett (Colville Park). 73 Z Saltman (Craigielaw). 74 S Henderson (Barassie). 75 J Mackay (Barassie). 76 G Robertson (Glenbervie). 77 J Neilson (Dunbar). 78 R Bell (Downfield), D Torrance (Sunningdeale). 79 T Higson (Eyemouth), G Mitchell (Northern). 81 S McAllister (Craigielaw). 82 G Stevenson (Golf House Club). 86 T Bassett (Warley Park). Final points: 29 R Kellett. 25.5 J Neilson. 24.5 S McAllister. 22 R Bell. 21 T Higson. 20.5 Z Saltman, G Mitchell. 16 J Mackay. 15 T Bassett. 12.5 G Robertson. 12 G Stevenson. 11.5 S Henderson. 11 D Torrance. 5 J Findlay (Fraserburgh).
Under-16: 76 S Barras (Helensburgh). 12 C Gray (West Kilbride). 80 A Wallace (Glenbervie). 81 J Byrne (Banchory). 83 K Harper (Carnoustie), M Daily (Erskine), N Kearns (Omagh), N Henderson (The Glen). Final points: 37.5 J Byrne. 31.5 A Wallace. 30 C Gray. 29.5 S Barras. 27.5 K Harper. 22 M Daily. 15.5 N Kearns. 13 J Caldwell (Greenock). 12 N Henderson. 8.5 D Parlane (Helensburgh).
Under-15: 80 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck), G Duncan (Craigielaw). 81 J Hendrick (Pollock). 82 S Fraser (Northern). 84 S Binning (Old Ranfurly), A Abercrombie (Largs), F Lawrie (Largs). 86 K Smith (Barassie). Final points: 43.5 M Stewart. 33.5 G Duncan. 26.5 S Fraser. 25 K Smith. 22.5 S Binning. 21 J Hendrick. 16.5 A Abercrombie, F Lawrie. 16 T Mitchell (Longside). 9 N Avanzo (Milano).
GIRLS
79 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle). 80 C Booth (Auchterarder). 81 J Turner (Mortonhall). 87 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon). 89 G Monteith (Dunskey). 90 J Sneddon (Scotscraig). Final points: 37 C Booth (first on better stroke average), P Pretswell. 36 M Thomson. 23 G Monteith. 21 J Sneddon. 18 J Turner. 17 R Wilson (Monifieth).

ELGA Press Release
Rozalyn Adams leads English seniors’ championship
Surrey’s Rozalyn Adams holds a five shot lead after the first round of the Senior Ladies’ English Close Amateur Championship at Handsworth Golf Club.
The Addington Court player, who played in the last pairing of the day with Sue Westall (Copt Heath), shot a level par 72. She covered the last nine holes in one-under 35, helped by a birdie on the 17th.
Afterwards she described the course as excellent and was generally pleased with her performance on the greens, although a rare three-putt on the 16th cost her a bogey.
Her closest challenger at the halfway stage of the strokeplay qualifying is Huddersfield’s Pat Wrightson. Her 77 included the only eagle of the day, a three on the 416-yard par five ninth hole.
One shot further back is defending champion Chris Quinn of Winchester, who got off to a slow start with an outward nine of 41. However, birdies at the 12th and 17th helped her to a one-over 37 on the homeward nine.
After 36 holes of strokeplay the top 16 players will go forward to the matchplay stages of the championship. The final will be played on Friday afternoon.

Renfrewshire Girls Championship
Scottish Junior Internationalist Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) won the Renfrewshire Girls Championship title yesterday when she beat Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle) by 3&2 in the final over East Renfrewshire G.C.
In the morning semifinals, Megan beat Catherine Conejo (Williamwood) by 5&4 and Lauren beat Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) by 4&3.

Futures Tour
STEADY HEATHER TIES FOR 39th IN FUTURES TOUR FINALE
Heather Stirling put together three steady rounds of 75, 72 and 73 for a four-over-par total of 220 and a joint 39th finish in the YWCA Classic, the last even of the 2005 season on the Futures Tour, at Regent’s Glen Country Club, York in Pennsylvania.
The former Curtis Cup player from Bridge of Allan was tied for 47th place at the start of the last day but birdied the fifth and 13th and bogeyed the third, ninth and 18th in halves of 37 and 36 to collect $357.
Heather finished 123rd in the Futures Tour money table for the year with a total of $1,784 from 14 events.
The season-ending event provided a first win for the 18-year-old Paraguyan, Julieta Granada (pictured right). She birdied the last four holes for a final round of 68 after earlier rounds of 68 and 70. Her 10-under-par total gave her the $10,500 first prize by one shot from Jessica Lewis (Bethseda) who scored 73, 67 and 67.
Julieta turned pro in June – nine weeks ago - and played in nine Futures Tour events from then. She had one win, two seconds and four top-10s and finish seventh on the money list with $29,153.
If she had finished in the top five of the final money table, Miss Granada would have gained an automatic player’s card for next season’s LPGA Tour.
Julieta will probably make it to the big-time circuit anyway. She has put her name down for the LPGA Qualifying School process and has so much talent it is almost unthinkable that she will fail to make.
She has spent the past five years at the Dave Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The leading money-winner on the 2005 Futures Tour was Seon-Hwa Lee from Korea. From 18 events – one of which she won – she amassed a total of $59,567.
Two other Koreans – third-placed Kyeong Bae ($49,810) and No 5 Sun Young Yoo ($42,007) – have leapfrogged over the Qualifying School schedule, straight into next year’s LPGA Tour. The other members of the top five qualifiers were second-placed Virada Nirapathpongporn ($54,919) and fourth-placed Nicole Castrale ($43,059).

CONGRATULATIONS TO CATRIONA MATTHEW
Catriona, from North Berwick, East Lothian, gained one of the Captain's picks on the twelve strong European Solheim Cup team to play the Americans at Crooked Stick, Indiana, the weekend after next.

Monday 29th August 2005

Paul Lawrie Schools Team Challenge Trophy winners Ellon Academy,
Adam Dunton, Kevin Duncan and Grant Carnie
with Paul Lawrie's business manager John Caven

ELLON ACADEMY WIN PAUL LAWRIE SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
A very good,  par-matching 71 in blustery conditions by Kevin Duncan spearheaded Ellon Academy's capture of the Paul Lawrie Schools Team Challenge Trophy for the first time at Peterculter golf course today (MONDAY).
Two-handicap Ken birdied the first hole and then the last three in halves of 38 and 33 for easily the best round of the day.
He was backed up by a 76 from Grant Carnie (40-36) and an 82 by Adam Dunton to give Ellon Academy a scratch team total fo 229.
Kemnay Academy (238) had the next best scratch total but their net total of 215 won them the A T Personnel Handicap Trophy and under the rules of the competition no team could win two trophies.
Second place in the scratch event then went to Robert Gordon's College. Their 239 was made up of  78s byTom Rennie and Robert Gallon and and 83 by Chris Brown.
Kemnay Academy's winning net scores were:  Jamie Riddler (8) 67, Ewen Noble (5) 71, Matthew Shotter (10) 77.
Ellon Academy had the second best net total of 220 but, having won the scratch trophy, they were ineligible for the handicap prizes. Third-placed Cults Academy were then declared the runners-up with a net 226: Lauren Whyte (13) 73, Calum Stewart (18) 76, Andrew Dingwall (6) 77.
A total of 20 North-east school teams took part. St Machar Academy withdrew.
LEADING TOTALS
Boys' CSS was 71; Girls CSS was also 71
SCRATCH
229 Ellon Academy (K Duncan 71, G Carnie 76, A Dunton 82).
238 Kemnay Academy (J Riddler 75, E Noble 76, M Shotter 87).
239 Gordon's College (T Rennie 78, R Gallon 78, C Brown 83).
243 Banchory Academy.
248 Grammar School.
250 Oldmachar Academy.
257 Mackie Academy.
258 Aboyne Academy, Westhill Academy..
262 Meldrum Academy, Peterhead Academy.
263 Cults Academy.
272 Hazlehead Academy.
273 Harlaw Academy.
281 The Gordon Schools.
285 Torry Academy
291 Monifieth High.
299 Dyce Academy.
307 Bridge of Don Academy.
NR Alford Academy.
Withdrew St Machar Academy.
HANDICAP
215 Kemnay Academy (J Riddle (8) 67, E Noble (5) 71, M Shotter (10) 77).
220 Ellon Academy (K Duncan (2) 69, G Carnie (3) 73, A Dunton (4) 78).
226 Cults Academy (L Whyte (Cults) (13) 73, AC Stewart (18) 76, A Dingwall (6) 77).
227 Meldrum Academy, Gordon's College.
229 Banchory Academy.
232 Aboyne Academy, Oldmachar Academy.
233 Peterhead Academy.
234 Mackie Academy, Westhill Academy.
238 Grammar School.
244 Harlaw Academy.
245 Hazlehead Academy.
248 Torry Academy.
253 Dyce Academy.
256 Monifieth High.
257 The Gordon Schools.
262 Bridge of Don Academy.
NR Alford Academy.
Withdrew St Machar Academy.
BEST INDIVIDUALS
71 K Duncan (Ellon Academy).
74 D Millar (Meldrum Academy).
75 J Riddler (Kemnay Academy).
76 G Carnie (Ellon Academy), T Spencer (Banchory Academy), E Noble (Kemnay Academy)..
78 T Rennie (Gordon's Colelge), R Gallon (Gordon's College).
79 R Milne (Aboyne Academy), D MacAndrew (Grammar School).

A T Personnel Schools Team Challenge (Handicap) Trophy winners Kemnay Academy
with trophy sponsors' representative Annette Masson

Sunday 28th August 2005

KELSEY (14) TOPS IN TEENAGERS' TAKEOVER OF NESS OPEN
Kelsey MacDonald, only 14 years of age, led a "Teenage Takeover" of the leading placings in the Ness Open 36-hole women's golf tournament at Inverness Golf Club yesterday (Sunday).
Returning to the course where she became the youngest winner of the Northern Counties' women's championship earlier this summer, the Nairn Dunbar youngster shot rounds of 76 and 73 for a total of 149 - one more than the combined CSS - to win the SLGA Order of Merit event for the first time.
Kelsey, who has also won the North of Scotland girls' championship and the Northern Counties' girls title in the last few weeks, had three strokes to spare at the finish from 15-year-old Jane Turner (Mortonhall). Jane had 77 and 75 for 152.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), 16-year-old pupil at Loretto School, came third on 153 with a 75 and 78.
(Photo courtesy Isobel McIntosh)
SCOREBOARD
NESS OPEN WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
Inverness Golf Club
Par 72, CSS 73 75
Leading totals
149 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 73.
152 J Turner (Mortonhall) 77 75.
153 R Niven (Crieff) 75 78.
156 L Hendry (Largs Routenburn) 78 78, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 79 77.
157 L Walker (Nairn Dunbar) 76 81, J Carthew (Ladybank) 75 82.
158 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 82, L McLardy (Murcar) 74 84.
163 K Caithness (St Regulus) 82 81.
Handicap
Class 1 (scr-7) - 150 L Hendry (Largs Routenburn) (3) 75 75. 153 L Walker (Nairn Dunbar) (2) 74 79. 154 L McLardy (Murcar) (2) 72 82.
Class 2 (8-20) - 153 G Dowling (Inverness) (8) 80 73. 156 K Starr (Lochcarron) (18) 71 85. 158 A Niven (Crieff) (11) 79 79.

North of England winners: Henrietta Brockway, Carly Booth, Janes Byrne and Billy Downing

BANCHORY BOY WINS NORTH OF ENGLAND TITLE
Banchory's James Byrne has won the North of England Under-16 boys' open stroke-play golf championship for the Pannal Trophy in record style.
Competing in the event at Pannal Golf Club, Yorkshire prior to his weekend appearance for Scotland against the North-east of England in an Under-16 boys' representative match, 15-year-old James shot rounds of 72, 70, 71 and 69 for a six-under-par total of 282 - the lowest in the tournament's history.
He won by seven shots from England's Matthew Nixon and Jack Hiluta.
Carly Booth (Auchterarder) finished runner-up to Hennie Brockway (Yeovil) for the Under-16 girls' title but the 13-year-old from Comrie won the Under-14 award with rounds of 75, 77, 73 and 73 for a total of 298.
Miss Brockway, winner of the Welsh women's open stroke-play title earlier in the season, had rounds of 73, 74, 74 and 74 for 295.

Belgian Junior Interntional Open girls' championship
SALLY'S CONQUEROR GOES ON TO WIN BELGIAN JUNIOR GIRLS' TITLE
Ines Tusquets, the Spanish girl who beat Scottish girls' match-play champion Sally Watson (Elie &Earlsferry) from South Queensferry at the 19th hole in the quarter-finals, won the Belgian Junior Interntional Open girls' championship at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussels on Saturday.
Ines, the No 1 qualifier for the match-play stages, beat the 22nd qualifier, Lien Willems (Belgium) at the 38th hole of the scheduled 36-hole final to win the Louise van den Berghe Cup..
Over the last three days of the tournament, Miss Tusquets played 76 holes - 19 to beat Sally Watson, 19 to win her semi-final and 38 in the final.
The Flory Van Donck Cup - the boys' championship - was won by the No 2 seed, Denmark's Peter Bansoe). He beat the 17th qualifier, Frederick Schultz (Germany) by 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) qualified in 10th place but lost in the first round.

BANCHORY WOMEN'S OPEN
Banchory Golf Club is a popular course for ladies in the North-east - and farther afield - which makes it hard to understand why the club, in its Centenary year, is short of entries for the annual women's open, to be played on Saturday, September 10.
It's a 36-hole competition for Silver Division players (entry fee £16) and a one-round competition for Bronze Division players (entry fee £12).
If you fancy entering, you can give Banchory Golf Club a call on 01330 822365.

Golfview Trophy
MURCAR COMPLETE NE LEAGUE TITLE HAT-TRICK
Murcar have won the North-east Women's Scratch League for the Golfview Trophy for the third year in a row.
They won the three-way title play-offs by beating Cruden Bay 3-1 at Cruden Bay and Westhill 3-1 at Murcar. In the last of the three matches, played on Saturday at Westhill, Westhill beat Cruden Bay 2 1/2-1 1/2 to finish runners-up.
Results (home teams first):
PLAY-OFFS
CRUDEN BAY  1, MURCAR  3
Jill Harrison lost to Laura McLardy 3&2.
Lynne Terry lost to Carol Wilson 4&3.
Hazel Gray lost to Frances Neish 3&1.
Mary Miller bt Victoria Donald 3&2.
MURCAR 3, WESTHILL 1
Laura McLardy beat Julie Lees 5&4.
Michele Thomson bt Lynne Wilson 5&4.
Frances Neish lost to Alison Milne 3&2.
Pat Wilson bt Susan McInnes 3&2.
WESTHILL 2 1/2, CRUDEN BAY 1 1/2
Julie Lees halved with Jill Harrison.
Lynne Wilson bt Lynne Terry 1 hole.
Alison Milne lost to Kathleen Esslemont 4&3.
Susan McInnes bt Hazel Gray 4&3.
SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Section A
*Westhill              2 wins, 1 defeat 4pt
Banchory        2 wins, 1 defeat  4pt
Aberdeen Ladies        1 win, 2 defeats 2pt
Peterculter               1 win, 2 defeats 2pt
*Westhill beat Banchory 8-7 on countback.
Section B
Cruden Bay               2 wins, 1 draw, 0 defeats 5pt
Newmachar               2 wins, 1 defeat 4pt
Deeside        1 win, 1 draw, 1 defeat 3pt
Aboyne               0 wins, 3 defeats 0pt
Section C
Murcar               2 wins        4pt
Hazlehead               1 win, 1 defeat        2pt
Ballater               0 wins, 2 defeats 0pt
PREVIOUS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2001 Banchory
2002 Deeside
2003 Murcar
2004 Murcar

D&A Winners at Dullater yesterday

Jill Meldrum wins D&A Junior Championship
The D&A Junior County Championship was held at Dullatur GC on Saturday, August 27th.
Winner - Jill Meldrum (Dullatur GC) 86
Runner-up - Kerrie Differ (Dullatur GC) 89
1st H'cap - Lucy McNulty (Dalmally) 91-17-74
2nd - Zoe Differ (Dullatur) 89-10-79
3rd Katie Morse (Douglas Park) 111-32-79
[Report and photos courtesy: Anna Telfer]

D&A Juniors at Dullater yesterday

Saturday 27th August 2005

European Individual Championship
KYLIE (68) FINISHES ON SONG TO BE TOP SCOT ON MADEIRA
Stirling University student Kylie Walker saved her best until last in the European women's amateur individual golf championship over the Serra do Santo course on the island of Madeira today (SATURDAY).
Kylie, a member of Buchanan Castle Golf Club, shot a fourth-round, four-under-par 68 for a final total of 298 after earlier scores of 79, 78 and 73 to finish joint 17th in the quality field.
Miss Walker gave no hint of what was to come when she bogeyed the first two holes. Then she moved up a gear and finished the outward half with birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth to be out in one-under 35.
Kylie kept up the bogey-free run with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 17th for a three-under 33 inward half and one of the best scores of the final day over the tough Robert Trent Jones designed course.
Clare Queen (Drumpellier) was the next best Scot in a share of 20th place on 299. Clare's final round was typical of the roller-coaster form she displayed in the championship. She was out in five-over-par 41 but then came striding home in four-under 32 for a 73.
Clare had a mind-blowing triple-bogey 7 at the ninth after earlier bogeys at the first, third, fourfth and sixth, interspersed with birdies at the fifth and eighth.
But after the turn it was the regal Queen with no bogeys only birdies at the 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th.
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) showed little of the form that almost won her the British women's stroke-play title at Nairn the previous week. She scored 81, 82, 75 and 76 for 314 and a share of 51st place.
The championship was won by France's Jade Schaeffer with a total of  two-under-par 286, scoring 76, 74, 68 and 68. Joint runners-up, three shots adrift, were compatriot Elena Giraud, Araceli Felqueroso (Spain) and British girls' open champion Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).
Defending champion Carlota Ciganda (Spain) tied for 12th place with Breanne Loucks (Wales). She found her form a little too late - a 67 in the final rounds after failing to break 75 in any of her earlier rounds.
The leading British players were England's Melissa Reid and Rachel Bell in joint ninth place on 295.
Collated scoreboard
EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Madeira.
Par 72
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
286 J Schaeffer (Fra) 76 74 68 68.
289 E Giraud (Fra) 75 72 71 71, A Felgueroso (Spa) 73 77 69 70, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 77 71 70 71.
290 S Andersson (Swe) 75 72 73 78. 
292 A Vilatte (Fra) 81 72 67 72.
294 E Cabrera (Spa) 76 73 77 68, L Gustafsson (Swe) 81 71 75 67.
295 M Reid (Eng) 82 73 67 73, R Bell (Eng) 79 74 71 71, T Elosequi (Spa) 82 70 72 71.
Other scores:
296 B Loucks (Wal) 73 75 73 75, C Ciganda (Spa) 78 75 76 67.
298 K Walker (Sco) 79 78 73 68.
299 C Queen (Sco) 80 72 74 73.
302 S Walker (Eng) 79 78 70 75.
307 K Smith (Eng) 79 76 76 76.
314 J Wilson (Sco) 81 82 75 76.
319 S Hassan (Wal) 84 77 77 81.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NAME TEAM WITHOUT TWO LEADING PLAYERS
Northern Counties will be without the services of two of their leading players - Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) and Meg Sievewright (Keith) - as they bid to win the Scottish women's county championship for the third year in a row at Ranfurly Castle from Friday to Sunday, September 16 to 18.
Cara and Meg won 4 1/2pt apiece out of a possible six as Northern Counties won the North Division county team championship at Elgin at the end of June to qualify for the county finals once again. Miss Gruber won all three of her singles, playing from the No 1 or No 2 slot.
Mrs Sievewright is the Northern Counties vice-captain.
Their places go to 14-year-old Ashton Ingram (Fort William) and the experienced Eileen Manson (Thurso).
Northern Counties team is:
KERRI HARPER (Inverness).
ASHTON INGRAM (Fort William).
KELSEY MacDONALD (Nairn Dunbar).
EILEEN MANSON (Thurso).
JENNY MILNE (Elgin).
LINDA SMITH (Buckpool).
MARY SMITH (Tain).
LAURA WALKER (Nairn Dunbar).

Friday 26th August 2005

European Individual Championship
Stirling University student Kylie Walker had a brilliant inward half of 32 - including a double bogey - in the third round of the European women's individual amateur golf championship over the Santo da Serra course on the island of Madeira today (Friday).
Kylie's third round of two-over-par 73 was made up of contrasting halves of 41 and 32. She ran up a double bogey 7 at the long sixth.
After the turn, Miss Walker had an eagle 2 at the 10th, a double bogey 7 at the long 11th, then birdies at the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th.
Kylie is now sharing 34th place on 230.
Top Scot is still Clare Queen from Drumpellier. Clare's 74 had a double bogey 7 at the par-5 third but she birdied the second and the 11th in halves of 39 and 35 and covered the last seven holes in strict par. Clarke is tied for 17th place on 226.
The third Scot in the field, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) is back in joint 52nd place on 238 after a 75, the first time she had broken 80 in the three rounds. Jenna birdied the seventh and 11th in halves of 38 and 37
Two French girls, Jade Schaeffer and Elena Giraud are sharing the lead with the British girls' champion, Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) on two-over-par 218 with one round to go.
The leading United Kingdom player is Wales' Breanne Loucks on 221.

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Madeira.
Leading third round totals
Par 72
218 J Schaeffer (Fra) 76 74 68, E Giraud (Fra) 75 72 71, A Nordqvist (Swe) 77 71 70.
219 A Felgueroso (Spa) 73 77 69.
220 S Andersson (Swe) 75 72 73, A Vilatte (Fra) 81 72 67.
Other scores:
221 B Loucks (Wal) 73 75 73.
222 M Reid (Eng) 82 73 67.
224 R Bell (Eng) 79 74 71.
226 C Queen (Sco) 80 72 74.
227 S Walker (Eng) 79 78 80.
230 K Walker (Sco) 79 78 73.
231 K Smith (Eng) 79 76 76.
238 J Wilson (Sco) 81 82 75, S Hassan (Wal) 84 77 77.
240 S Evans (Wal) 87 75 78
242 F Johnson (Eng) 86 78 78, K Boulden (Wal) 87 79 76.
265 A Theunis (Ire) 92 92 81

Belgian junior international open girls' championship
SCOTS CHAMPION BEATEN AT 19TH
Scottish girls' match-play champion Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) was beaten at the 19th by the No 1 seed, Ines Tusquets (Spain) in the quarter-finals of the Belgian junior international open girls' championship at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels yesterday (Friday).
Miss Tusquets went on to reach the final by beating Alessandro Gallo (Italy) at the 19th in the semi-final. It was the Spanish girl's third successive win at the first extra hole in the tournament.
In today's (Sat) 36-hole final Ines will play Lien Willems (Belgium).

R&A Press Release
R&A REVISES 2006 AMATEUR STATUS RULES
AMATEURS CAN TEACH GOLF FOR PAYMENT. REDUCED PENALTIES FOR BREACHES OF RULES.
The R&A, golf’s world governing body and organiser of The Open Championship, today announced revisions to the Rules of Amateur Status that provide amateur golfers with the opportunity to receive payment for giving golf instruction and reduce the waiting time of those who have breached the Rules, but who wish to return to amateur status. The changes to the Rules and their interpretations come into effect from 1 January 2006.
A new Instruction Rule provides that an amateur golfer may be paid for coaching golf for the first time as part of an "approved programme". Under the new Rules on reinstatement, the time amateur golfers in breach of the Rules have to wait before they regain their amateur status is reduced. The new guideline of 1-2 years brings these waiting periods in line with those for professional golfers returning to the amateur game.
These are the principal changes to The R&A’s Rules of Amateur Status which, together with the Amateur Status Decisions book, have been significantly redrafted after a comprehensive, two-year review. The R&A’s affiliated unions from around the world have played a full part in the review and The R&A has liaised closely with the United States Golf Association throughout. The USGA’s decision to make equivalent changes to its Amateur Code and to allow amateur golfers in the United States to receive expenses in individual competitions (which has been allowed under The R&A’s Rules for many years) means that the respective Amateur Codes of The R&A and USGA are more closely aligned than ever before.
The two Codes diverge on only one matter – hole-in-one prizes. In the new R&A Code, acceptance of an excessive prize remains a breach of the Rules but carries a much reduced period awaiting reinstatement. The new USGA Code will allow amateur golfers to accept hole-in-one prizes of any value.
Commenting on the new Rules, David Rickman, The R&A’s Director of Rules and Equipment Standards said: "I believe that the new Instruction Rule will greatly assist the worldwide development of the game by bringing coaching to remote areas where professional tuition is often not available. The R&A and USGA have made excellent progress towards a single Code for amateur golfers throughout the world."

ILGU Press Release
SUZUKI ALL-IRELAND LADIES GOLF SENIOR CUP FINALS
Suzuki, now in their third year of sponsorship, hosts the National Finals of the SUZUKI All-Ireland Ladies Golf Senior Cup at Woodstock Golf Club, Ennis, Co. Clare on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September 2005.
Royal Portrush will be looking to secure the title for the third consecutive year, their 22nd title in all. Ulster Champion Gemma Hegarty, Past International Helen Jones and Maura Diamond, just home from the SAAB Belgian Junior Championships, are joined by 14 year old Stephanie Meadow in a team well capable of doing the treble.
Ennis, first to qualify for the finals, have Lancôme Irish Close Champion Tricia Mangan and veteran campaigner Valerie Hassett in their ranks. The Ennis team's close proximity to Woodstock Golf Club favours them as the side most likely to upset the Royal Portrush campaign.
Leinster representatives Co. Louth qualified by beating a strongly fancied Island Golf Club who boasted Internationals Martina Gillen and Dawn Marie Conaty in their ranks. The 2002 champions are ably led by 2004 Lancôme Irish Close Champion Deirdre Smith and recently capped Leinster Champion Maria
Dunne.
The Curragh have Internationals Maura Morrin and Sinead Keane in action for the Midland side. Relatively inexperienced at this level, they are joined by Claremorris who are appearing in the finals for the first time. Two handicapper Niamh Kitching is joined by the Gallagher sisters Sarah, Emily and Kate and will do well to make Saturday's semi-finals as they meet holders Royal Portrush in Friday's play-off match at 2pm.
Panels:
Claremorris: Emily Gallagher, Kate Gallagher, Sarah Gallagher, Claire Geraghty, Niamh Kitching, Mary Walsh
County Louth: Maria Dunne, Jennifer Gannon, Susan Mulaney, Patricia Nannery, Oonagh Purfield, Jackie Quinn, Deirdre Smith
Ennis: Sarah Cunningham, Valerie Hassett, Tricia Mangan, Maura McNicholas, Ann-Marie Russell
Royal Portrush: Maura Diamond, Roma English, Gemma Heggarty, Helen Jones, Stephanie Meadow, Naoimh Quigg
The Curragh: Marian Byrne, Ann Marie Dalton, Sinead Keane, Mary McNally, Maura Morrin, Nicola Roughan
Friday 2nd September - play-off 14.00 Royal Portrush -v- Claremorris
Saturday 3rd September - semi-finals
08.00 Ennis -v- The Curragh
08.40 Co. Louth -v- play-off winners
14:00 Final

EAST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
MURRAYFIELD GOLF CLUB, 43 MURRAYFIELD ROAD, EDINBURGH
SUNDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2005
The closing date for entries of this prestigious tournament has been extended to the 4th September. It is open to all County Members in the East Division.
The winner qualifies for SLGA Champion of Champions at Glasgow Gailes on Sunday 14th October 2005.
Entries with cheques £8 made payable to M.C.L.G.A. and an envelope addressed to your Handicap Secretary to be sent to Mrs Margaret McPherson, 50 Torphin Road, Edinburgh EH13 0PF.
Entries by telephone or email also accepted. Pick up an entry form here (Word format)
Telephone: 0131 441 2918. Email: margaret@mmcpherson.demon.co.uk

Liz wins Borders Vets title
Liz Campbell, former Scottish Vets champion and Scottish Senior Internationalist, retained the Border Vets County Championship playing against Venetia Scott yesterday at the Hirsel. Liz will now go forward to Blairgowrie and the Scottish Finals.

Midlothian announce their team for the County Finals at Ranfurly Castle
The only change from the team which won the East Division matches at Alloa Golf Club in July is that Rhona Maclennan (Baberton) comes in to replace Amanda Edwards (Liberton), who goes to first reserve. Sally Watson (Elie and Earlsferry) would probably have been in the Midlothian team if the event had not clashed with the Home Internationals.
Midlothian County Team for the Scottish County Finals at Ranfurly Castle, Bridge of Weir from Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September 2005 is
Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse)
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall)
Claire MacDonald (Gullane)
Rhona MacLennan (Baberton)
Karen Marshall (Baberton)
Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall)
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe)
Jane Turner (Mortonhall)
1st Reserve: Amanda Edwards (Liberton)
Tee times: Morning Foursomes: from 9.30am to 10.07am
Afternoon Singles: from 2.00pm to 3.22pm
Day 1: Sept 16 Lanarkshire v Northern Counties, Midlothian v Borders
Day 2: Sept 17 Borders v Lanarkshire, Northern Counties v Midlothian
Day 3: Sept 18 Northern Counties v Borders, Midlothian v Lanarkshire

Borders have also announced their team on their website.....
Team for County Finals:-
Judith Anderson
Julie Birdsall White
Emma Fairnie
Karen Hughes
Mags Morrison
Sharon Paterson
Martine Pow
Wendy Wells

Lanarkshire are missing Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson, both involved in the Home Internationals, from their team announced on their website
ELAINE CUTHILL (LANARK)
ALYSON HENDRY (HAMILTON)
MAY HUGHES (LANARK)
LESLEY LLOYD (HAYSTON)
PAMELA PRETSWELL (BOTHWELL CASTLE)
RUTH RANKIN (LANARK)
SUSAN WOOD (DRUMPELLIER)
ALEXANDRA YOUNG (TORRANCE HOUSE)

R&A Press Release
£250,000 FOR UNIVERSITY GOLF
The R&A Training Panel wishes to announce that it has completed a review of its support of university golf. As a result, over £250,000 will be spent in the 2005/2006 academic year.
Many universities in Great Britain and Ireland offer high quality golf programmes and 11 of these will receive R&A Foundation funding. They are:
Birmingham, Dublin, Exeter, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Loughborough, Northumbria, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde and Ulster.
In addition, individual bursaries remain available to students in full time tertiary education. Applicants need to have achieved national recognition or hold handicaps of +1 or better for men or 3 or better for women.
Richie Ramsay, a member of the 2005 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, is currently in receipt of R&A Foundation funding at Stirling University and earlier this month was in the side that was narrowly defeated by the U.S. in Chicago.

Thursday 25th August 2005

European women's individual amateur golf championship
CLAIRE QUEEN OF SCOTS ON MADEIRA
Clare Queen showed her class by matching the par of 72 -one of the best scores of the second day in the European women's individual amateur golf championship - over the tough Robert Trent Jones-designed Santo da Serra course on Madeira yesterday (Thu).
The Drumpellier player, who aims to tackle the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in November, put the two 7s of her first-day 80 behind her as she covered the first 14 holes in one-under-par figures with 13 pars and a birdie at the 12th.
Clare had a late roller-coaster run of bogey-birdie-bogey from the 15th to the 17th but steadied up with a par at the last for two halves of 36.
The Scot is now in joint 12th place on 152 - only five shots behind joint leaders Elena Giraud (France) 75-72, Valentine Derrey (France) 76-71 and Sofie Andersson (Sweden) 75-72.
Welsh youngster Breanne Loucks is the leading British player in joint fourth place on 148 (73-75).
Stirling University student Kylie Walker from Buchanan Castle included an eagle at the third, a triple bogey 8 at the long 16th and a double-bogey 7 at the long sixth in a round of 78 for 157 and joint 35th place. Kylie also had a birdie at the 11th in halves of 38 and 40.
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) is tied for 58th place after another disappointing score in the 80s - 82 to be precise for a 36-hole tally of 163. Jenna had had a triple bogey at the 11th and a double bogey at the 13th before her only birdie at the 16th in an inward 42.
EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Serra do Santo, Madeira.
Leading second round totals
Par 72
147 E Giraud (Fra) 75 72, V Derrey (Fra) 76 71, S Anderesson (Swe) 75 72.
148 B Loucks (Wal) 73 75, A Nordqvist (Swe) 77 71.
149 Emma Cabrera (Spa) 76 73, A-L Caudal (Fra) 77 72.
Other scores:
152 C Queen (Sco) 80 72.
153 R Bell (Eng) 79 74.
155 M Reid (Eng) 82 73, K Smtih (Eng) 79 76.
157 K Walker (Sco) 79 78, S Walker (Eng) 79 78.
161 S Hassan (Wal) 84 77.
162 S Evans (Wal) 87 75.
164 F Sanderson (Eng) 80 84.
166 K Boulden (Wa) 87 79.
163 J Wilson (Sco) 81 82.
164 F Johnson (Eng) 86 78.

Belgian Junior International Open
SALLY KNOCKS THEM OVER ON WAY TO BELGIAN LAST EIGHT
Scottish girls' match-play champion Sally Watson from South Queensferry gave an impressive display to reach the quarter-finals of the Belgian Junior International Open girls' championship at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels yesterday (Thu).
Sally, a member of Elie & Earlsferry Ladies and the No 8 qualifier, beat Marianna Causin (Italy), the 25th qualifier, at the 21st in the first round.
Then the Scot claimed a place in the last eight with a 7 and 5 beating of Laurence Herman, the ninth seed from Belgium who had ousted her star compatratiot, Junior Solheim Cup selection Benedicte Toumpsin, by 2 and 1 in the first round.
Miss Watson now plays the top seed, Spain's Ines Tusquet who had to go to the 19th before beating Giulia Molinaro in the second round.
Scotland's only other qualifier for the match-play stages was Ross Kelley from Colville Park, Motherwell. He lost by 4 and 2 to Jeffrey Meijer (Netherlands) in the first round of the boys' championship.

THREE HISTORY-MAKERS REUNITED AT CRUDEN BAY
Three players who took part in the first and only Scotland v England women's professional match over the Hazlehead municipal course in Aberdeen in 1994 will be in action at Cruden Bay tomorrow in the BP Scotland charity pro-am, one of the biggest fund-raisers of its kind.
Dale Reid and Elaine Farquharson-Black were members of the winning Scotland team and Alison Nicholas was in the losing England line-up in the Union Cup match, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the building of Aberdeen's Union Street.
Alison and Dale, of course, are still professionals and will be partnering amateur teams of three at 9am and 2pm respectively. Both start at the first tee in the double shotgun format.
Aberdeen solicitor Elaine is in one of the amateur teams teeing off at 8.55am or 9am. She was instrumental in bringing about the Scotland v England match but was later reinstated as an amateur golfer after a short stay in the professional ranks when the Ladies European Tour was at its lowest ebb with only a handful of tournaments.

BELLEISLE HOSTS CLOSEST FINISH IN PAIRS HISTORY
A little piece of International Pairs history has been created at beautiful Belleisle.
The impressive Scottish semi-final venue hosted the closest finish in Pairs history on Tuesday, with five teams tied in first place on 42 points - with only four places available in October's 2005 UK final at St Andrews Bay.
A further two teams finished one point back at the picturesque parkland track near Ayr.
Scarborough South Cliff pair Lee Rhodes and Shaun Smith, who play off handicaps of nine and one respectively, qualified as semi-final winners on a tense three-hole countback ahead of teams from Barlaston, Matlock and Dunscar.
Rhodes said: "We scored 49 points on the practice day so we were confident that we could make it through to the final at St Andrews Bay. But we had a long wait before the other competitors finished their rounds, which was a bit nervy as the weather had brightened up and we thought the scores might rise.
"We are really pleased to get through. It's just luck of the draw as far as the weather is concerned," added Rhodes, having played with his partner in the worst of the wet and windy weather.
Barlaston pair Mark Hawkins and David Borasinski finished as runners-up on countback to book their place on the Fife coast in October.
"When we finished our round with 42 points we thought it was going to be close," said Borasinski, who plays off 14 and had to endure an agonising three-hour wait with 11-handicapper Hawkins before the Staffordshire boys qualified.
"When you have such a long wait and sit and watch the points going up on the board you start fearing the worst. So we went through the disappointment stage when the weather started to break in case we didn't make it through, but no-one passed 42 points and we made it."
An eagle, par, birdie, par finish helped Matlock duo Sam Humpston, who plays off scratch, and eight-handicapper Julian Salt into the final in third place.
And qualification was made all the more remarkable by the fact that Humspton played with a trapped nerve in his shoulder following a car accident six weeks ago.
The Derbyshire pair, who were crowned English champions at Mount Wolseley in Ireland four years ago, made a strong start with three birdies in the opening four holes before Humpston, who broke the course record with a stunning 63 on his home course in June, ensured the pair had an equally impressive finish with an eagle at the long 15th.
Humpston said: "The secret of our success is that we dovetail really well. We also really enjoy each other's company. In fact, people say that Julian is like my surrogate father."
The fourth pair to make it through to the UK final at St Andrews in October were four-handicapper Jim Callaghan and Mark Gregory, who plays off two, from Dunscar in Lancashire.
Twenty-year-old Gregory said: "We left a few points out there on the course but we're really glad to be through. It's been a great few days and a great experience. Now we're looking forward to St Andrews Bay and, hopefully, we'll do well."
But spare a thought for Keith Burgon and Mark Collin - the Scottish Borders pair from Eyemouth Golf Club finished fifth on countback to miss the 2005 UK final on October 6-7 by the narrowest of margins.

Ayrshire girls
Alex wins for the 2nd Time!
There was a record entry of 24 girls for the St. Nicholas Trophy (the 'Major' of the season for Ayrshire Girls) played at West Kilbride on Sunday.
Alex Sargent (Skelmorlie); successfully defended her title in atrocious conditions - heavy rain with a cold wind which cut the competition back to 12 holes. Alex's winning score for the 12 holes was a nett 46 which was in fact 2 under her handicap! Alex is pictured here with the Trophy. Since competing in the Scottish Girls' Stroke-Play this year, Alex's golf has really moved forward and she has enjoyed successes in the Millport and Kilbirnie Junior Opens.
Hanah Brawley (Barassie) was runner-up, while in the 2nd Division Rachel Howie (West Kilbride) was first on nett 51 with Lauren Cahill second on 59.
17 Pre-handicap girls took part in a Putting competition when the weather was dry, but understandably a number of them didn't complete their shortened course 9 hole competition which became 6 holes. Of those who did the winner was Connie Jaffrey (Troon Bentinck) with a score of 37, 2nd Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) on 38 and 3rd Rhona Taylor (West Kilbride with 39. The winner of the Putting (older girls) was Fiona Wallace, 2nd Fiona Potts (both Barassie) and the younger girls' winner was Connie Jaffrey, 2nd Lynsey McKay (both Troon Bentinck).
(story and photo courtesy: June Kerr)

Wednesday 24th August 2005

European Ladies Individual Championship
KYLIE SHOWS TRUE GRIT TO LEAD SCOTS ON MADEIRA
Stirling University student Kylie Walker - whose 19th birthday it will be on Sunday - kept alive her hopes of a double weekend celebration with an opening round of 79 in the European women's individual amateur golf championship over the Santo da Serra course on the island of Madeira yesterday (Wed).
The actual score - seven over par - was nothing to write home about but the way the Buchanan Castle teenager applied herself to cover the last six holes in two under par with birdies at the 13th and 17th was definitely a sign of true grit.
Many would have thrown in the towel long before if, like Kylie, they  had double bogeys at the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth and another shot shed at the fifth in a nightmare seven-over-par 43 to the turn.
The Robert Trent Jones course, measuring over 6,000yd from the ladies' tees is a tough one and many established players struggled.
Kylie is lying joint 20th - six shots behind joint leaders Breanne Loucks from Wales and Spain's Araceli Felqueroso who both shot 73s, one over par.
Clare Queen is back in joint 26th place on 80 after a round of two halves - 35 (one under par) to the turn, and 45 (nine over) coming home.
On the outward half, the Drumpellier player lurched from the sublime to the ridiculous with a double bogey 7 at the third but birdies at the second, fourth, sixth and ninth.
After bogeying the 10th, Clare had a triple bogey 7 at the 12th and then bogeys five holes on the trot from the 13th.
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), who went close to winning the British women's stroke-play title at Nairn last week, is back in joint 34th place after an 81 (41-40). Jenna, like Clare Queen, had a triple bogey 7 at the 12th, having had a double bogey 6 at the seventh.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Santo da Serra, Madeira
Leading first round scores
Par 72
73 Araceli Felqueroso (Spa), Breanne Loucks (Wal).
74 Amalie Valle (Nor).
75 Elena Giraud (Fra), Sofie Anderesson (Swe), Zuzana Masinova (Cze).
76 Valentine Derrey (Fra), Edita Nechanicka (Cze), Emma Cabrera (Spa), Jade Schaeffer (Fra).
77 Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Chrisie de Vries (Net), Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra).
78 Belen Mozo (Spa), Melodie Bourdy (Fra), Stephanie Kirchmayr (Ger), Katharina Werdinig (Aut), Carlota Cigand (Spa), Diana Terol (Spa).
79 Sophie Walker (Eng), Kerry Smith (Eng), Alexandra Thaler (Swi), Rachel Bell (Eng), Katharina Schallenberg (Ger), Kylie Walker (Sco).
Other scores:
80 Faye Sanderson (Eng), Clare Queen (Sco), Beatriz Recari (Spa).
81 Jenna Wilson (Sco), Nicole Gergely (Aut).
82 Melissa Reid (Eng).
84 Sahra Hassan (Eng).
86 Felicity Johnson (Eng).
87 Stephanie Evans (Wal), Kimberley Boulden (Wal).

Belgium Junior Open website
TWO SCOTS QUALIFY FOR MATCH-PLAY STAGES OF BELGIAN JUNIOR OPEN
Ross Kellet from Motherwell and Scottish girls' Under-18 champion Sally Watson from South Queensferry qualified for the top-flight match-play stages of the Saab Junior International Open at Royal GC of Belgium, near Brussels today (WED).
Kellet, a member of Colville Park GC, had steady rounds of 73 and 74 for a aggregate of three-over-par 147. His total was joint seventh best in the boys' section in England's Gary Boyd (Northamptonshire Co) shared the lead on 143 (68-75).
James White (Lundin) was three shots outside the cut-off point for the leading 32 with scores of 78 and 77 for 155. England's John Parry, one of the paper favourites, was a surprise non-qualifier, also on 155.
Sally Watson, a member of Elie & Earlsferry Ladies, had rounds of 81 and 80 for a share of 23rd place on 161 to qualify for the match-play with a couple of shots to spare.
The No 1 seed is Spain's Ines Tusquets with 72 and 76 for four-over-par 148.
Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe), winner of the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play title at West Kilbride this summer, was three shots over the top-32 mark with a pair of 83s 166.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
BELGIAN JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL OPEN
Royal GC of Belgium.
Leading qualifiers
Boys - 143 A Bernadet (Fra) 74 69, P Bansoe (Den) 73 70, G Boyd (Eng) 68 75. Other qualifier: 147 R Kellet (Sco) 73 74. Non-qualifiers: 155 J White (Sco) 78 77, J Parry (Eng) 75 80.
Girls - 148 I Tusquets (Spa) 72 76. 151 L Lausberg (Saf) 77 74, V Van Hecke (Bel) 76 75. Other qualifiers: 155 J Hodge (Eng) 81 74. 156 L Eastwood (Eng) 76 80. 159 T Davies (Wal) 82 77. 161 S Watson (Sco) 81 80. Non-qualifier: 166 L Fleming (Sco) 83 83.

Looking for golf at the start of October? Then enter the Gibson Cup!
The Gibson Challenge Cup is a wonderful opportunity to play foursomes golf and compete in one of the oldest golf tournaments for ladies in the Edinburgh area. This year’s competition is being held over the weekend of 1st and 2nd October so if your diary is free that weekend, find yourself a partner and enter.
Played over Braids No.1 Golf Course, the format includes a medal foursomes qualifying round (off handicap, max 30) with the opportunity to play at least once more over the Braids –all for the entry fee of only £16 per couple.
The four best net scores from the Saturday morning qualifying round go through to the matchplay knock-out stages and a Consolation Plate is played for using the Stableford points scoring system following the Sunday morning semi-finals. Competitors need to be available on the morning of Saturday 1st October and, if they wish to and qualify to take part in the matchplay stages, should be available both Sunday morning and afternoon.
Entry Forms can be obtained from Edinburgh Leisure (0131 652 2178), from Anne Brownie by e-mail @ apbrownie@blueyonder.co.uk or from most Golf Clubs in the Edinburgh area. The closing date for entries to be received by Edinburgh Leisure is 9th September 2005.

Golf Foundation Weetabix Age Group Championships 2005
Weetabix young golfers raise standards in national final
When Under 14s are scoring in the sixties on the testing Aylesford Course at Marriott Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club, you know the standard is high. This year’s Grand Final of the Golf Foundation Weetabix Age Group Championships, held August 16 and 17 at the Forest of Arden near Coventry, produced performances of which Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Mhairi McKay would have been proud – the illustrious trio all having won this prestigious Weetabix event in the past.
For 2005, a total of 105 youngsters took part from all over Britain, competing in age group finals for Boys
Under 13 up to Under 16, and Girls Under 14 to Under 16. To qualify, they had to beat 1,700 golfers in 15 regional finals, from an initial national entry of 5,500. The two-round scratch medal finals contained many single figure handicappers but those with higher handicaps had also qualified, demonstrating the unique accessibility of the event.
This year, the Golf Foundation’s Duke of York Trophies – presented to the boy and the girl with the best gross scores of all finalists – went to two highly talented young golfers, Suffolk’s Owen Pearl and Lincolnshire’s Emilee Taylor.
Emilee Taylor, from Gainsborough and a four handicapper at Gainsborough Golf Club, won the
Under 16 category and the Duke of York Trophy with exemplary rounds of 74 and 74 for a total of 148, giving her a winning margin of three shots over second place Megan Lord, from Dartmouth Golf Club. This was Emilee’s first national win and she said: “I was delighted to win and really pleased with the way I played, as I started badly both days but came back well. I’d like to thank the head pro at Gainsborough Golf Club, Stephen Cooper, who has really helped me with my game and also my family, who have been so supportive to me in my golf.”
Owen Pearl, from Sudbury in Suffolk, a three handicapper from Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club, completed a great summer (he has also captained the Suffolk Under 16s squad) by shooting rounds of 68 and
67 for a total of 135, winning the Under 16 category by a shot, ahead of scratch player Ashley Chesters of Hawkstone Park. This score also earned Owen the Duke of York Trophy. He said later: “I am so thrilled to win my first national event. My dad has always told me to go out and play like Phil Mickleson, and this time I almost did! Several times during the two days when I had difficult shots to play I thought about what my coach, Kevin Lovelock, has told me to do – play the percentage.”
The standard from the rest of the field was high. The greens on the Aylesford Course were excellent and the conditions good under blue skies. There were 13 rounds in the sixties from the boys, including two from  Thomas Lewis, from Mid Herts Golf Club, who managed a 136 total (67,69) in the Under 14 category, off a handicap of one, to win his section. Grant Edwards (handicap five), from Llanymynech Golf Club in Powys, won the Under 15s with 136 (70,66), while Adam Carson (handicap seven), from Long Ashton Golf Club near Bristol, won the Under 13s with 149 (74,75).
Scoring from the girls was similarly impressive. In the
Under 15s, Georgina Lewis (handicap six), from Oswestry Golf Club, scored 154 (75,79) to win by a
shot, while in the Under 14s, Natasha Gobey (handicap eight) from Rhondda Golf Club, put together an
excellent second round 72, including holing out with a wedge from the fifth fairway for an eagle two. Her total of 148 (76,72) was good enough to win by six shots. 

Tuesday 23rd August 2005

Belgium Junior Open website
EARLY TRIPLE BOGEY UNSETTLES SALLY IN BELGIAN JUNIOR OPEN.
The SAAB Belgian Junior International Open got underway today with the first of two qualifying rounds in the boys' and girls' categories for the match-play stages. The top 32 in each will go forward at the end of Wednesday's second card-and-pencil round.
Today BP Scottish girls' match-play champion Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) shot a nine-over-par 81, including an unsettling triple bogey 7 at the second followed by bogeys at the third, sixth and seventh for 42 to the turn.
Sally did birdie two holes on the way home - the 10th and the 18th - but she double bogeyed the 13th and had bogeys at the 12th, 15th and 17th.
Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe), winner of the Scottish Under-21 girls' title at West Kilbride last month, is tied for 32nd place on 83. She had a double bogey at the ninth and bogeys at the second, fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 12th, 16th, 17th and 18th in halves of 42 and 41.
Ines Tusquets (Spain) led the field with a par-matching 72.
Motherwell's Ross Kellet did best of the four Scots competing at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels.
The Colville Park player had a one-over-par round of 73 in the boys' championship first qualifying round. Kellet varied from par only three times, birdieing the long fifth and bogeying two short holes, the sixth and 12th in halves of 36 and 37.
James White (Lundin) was in joint 23rd place on 78 after a disappointing outward half of five-over-par 41 in which he double bogeyed the ninth after dropping shots at the second, third and seventh.
The Fife perked up after the turn with a birdie at the 13th and only two shots shed to par, at the 12th and 16th, in an inward half of one-over 37.
The top 36 after 36 holes will qualify for the match-play stages.
Gary Boyd from England is the boys' leader with a four-under-par 68 in which he birdied the fist, fifth, eighth, 13th and 18th. He had one bogey, at the 10th, in halves of 33 and 35.
SAAB BELGIAN JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL OPEN
Royal GC of Belgium
Girls - First qualifying round
Leading scores (Par 72)
72 I Tusquets (Spa).
74 A Gallo (Ita).
75 C O Madsen (Den), L G Escallon (Bel).
Other scores:
76 L Eastwood (Eng).
80 D Jones (Wal).
81 J Hodge (Eng), S Watson (Sco).
82 T Davies (Wal).
83 L Fleming (Sco), M Diamond (Ire).
Boys - First qualifying round
Leading scores (par 72)
68 G Boyd (Eng).
72 C Hughes (Ire), A Dultzin (Fra).
73 R Kellet (Sco), N Kanola (Fin), R Bechu (Fra).
Other scores:
75 J Parry (Eng), P O'Hannon (Ire).
78 J White (Sco).

Trophy wiiners at today's SLGA County Meeting
L to R: Jennifer Mack (SLGA), Lauren Mackin, Claire Hargan, Caroline Fairnie, Emma Fairnie and Fiona Farquharson (SLGA)
(Photo courtesy Carol Fell, RLCGA)

CLAIRE RETURNS TO CARDROSS TO WIN SLGA COUNTY MEETING
Former Cardross player Claire Hargan, now a member at Mortonhall, Edinburgh, returned to her old stamping ground to win the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association county open meeting by five shots in the rain today (TUESDAY).
Claire had a mixed bag of  five birdies, a double bogey and four bogeys in halves of 37 and 39 for a 76 - one over the ladies' par and matching the CSS.
Miss Hargan birdied the first, sixth, eighth, 10th and 18th, double-bogeyed the seventh and also dropped shots at the fifth, 11th, 14th and 17th.
Teenager Emma Fairnie (Peebles), Border Counties' women's champion for the past two years, was runner-up in the Silver Division scratch with an 81.
Lauren Mackin (Ranfurly Castle) had the best net in this category with a net 70 off 15.
Mrs Caroline Fairnie (Peebles), Emma's mother, scored a double whammy in the bronze division, winning both the scratch and handicap awards with a score of 113. Her handicap of 27 gave her a leading net return of 86.
There was a field of 25 competitors.

Perth and Kinross Ladies County Golf Association
Perth and Kinross Ladies County Golf Assosiation held their Captain's Day at Taymouth Castle yesterday the 22nd August. The results were as follows.
CSS 74
Scratch - 1st Gillian Wallace ( Glenisla ) 77
2nd Dawn Butchart ( Strathmore ) 79
Handicap - 1st Janet Griffiths (Comrie) H'cap 7 Net 70
2nd Maya Robertson (Taymouth) H'cap 16 Net 71
3rd Kathleen McKay ( Crieff ) H'cap 21 Net72

LOUISE FLEMING'S COUSIN HEADS FOR JACKSONVILLE STATE
The "Scottish Connection" has landed Jacksonville State University one of the leading North-east teenage boy golfers in time for the new college golf season in the United States.
Michael Watson, an Elgin Golf Club member, will be heading out to Alabama soon.
Michael just happens to be a cousin of Louise Fleming, recent winner of the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play title at West Kilbride ... and a leading player for the Jacksonville State University women's golf team!
And, of course, the JSU assistant coach is Colette Murray from Dumfries. It was Colette who persuaded Louise to move down to Jacksonville State from the University of Minnesota, where she was not enjoying her golf, about 12 months ago. JSU went on to reach the NCAA women's finals for the first time after winning their conference title, also for the first time.

Paul Lawrie and Adam Lindsay in the Banchory clubhouse after their exhibition match.
(Photo Courtesy Banchory Golf Club)

CONQUEROR OF PAUL LAWRIE, ADAM LINDSAY IS OFF TO AMERICA TOO
Adam Lindsay, 19-year-old Banchory Golf Club champion, is another North-east golf prospect heading for the States.
He is off to Iowa State Wesleyan College at Mount Pleasant, Burlington on a four-year scholarship covering a degree course studying sports and sports coaching. He could be a key member in the Iowa State Wesleyan College golf team who compete in the NAIA Midwest Conference.
Adam beat Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion at Carnoustie by 3 and 2 with four-under-par figures in a recent exhibition match which was part of the Banchory Golf Club Centenary Year celebrations. Paul Lawrie, of course, did his PGA training as an assistant under the late Banchory GC professional Douglas Smart.
Young Lindsay set a Banchory course record of 63 earlier this summer while retaining the club championship with a total of  three-under-par 273.
Adam's father Eric won the Banchory club championship in 1993 and 1994. Now they are on a par with two titles apiece. Another coincidence is that Eric was the Blairgowrie club champion it is centenary year in 1989.

Monday 22nd August 2005

Heather Macrae - winner of the British Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship at Nairn on Friday
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
Check out Tom Ward's collection of photos of the event

Sunday 21st August 2005

STIRLING PAIR WIN SCOTTISH WOMEN'S FOURSOMES
Former British Champion Alison Davidson and her Stirling Golf Club partner Elaine Allison regained the Scottish women's foursomes championship at Dumfries & County Golf Club today (Sunday).
They had rounds of 72 and 74 for a total of 146 and a six-shot victory from runners-up Belinda Murphy and Tracy Laughland of Mortonhall. They had a pair of 76s.
Third-placed Pamela Williamson and Fiona De Vries (St Rule) finished third on 153 with scores of 75 and 78.
Pamela and Fiona also won the handicap prize, with a net total of 147 off a handicap of three.
SCOTTISH WOMEN'S COUNTY FOURSOMES
Dumfries & County GC
Leading totals
146 Alison Davidson & Elaine Allison (Stirling) 72 74.
152 Belinda Murphy & Tracy Laughland (Mortonhall) 76 76.
153 Pamela Williamson & Fiona De Vries (St Rule) 72 75.
Best net: P Williamson & F De Vries (St Rule) (3) 147.

Winning North-East Girls team at Newmachar
Back row (left to right): Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), Mhairi Johnstone (Northern).
Front: Andrea Bowie (Monifieth)., Laura Murray (Alford), Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kirsty Moss (Monifieth)

NORTH-EAST GIRLS BEAT NORTHERN COUNTIES AT NEWMACHAR
North-east beat Northern Counties, the holders, 5-3 in an annual inter-area girls' golf match for the Farquharson Trophy over the Newmachar Swailend course today (Sunday). After wins for North-east by Laura Murray (Alford), Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), countered by victories for Northern Counties by Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Sammy Vass (Tain) and Nadia Green (Nairn), the match was finely balanced at 3-3.
Then Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) and Samantha Leslie (Westhill) won the last two ties for North-east.
Details (NE names first)
Laura Murray bt Niketa Cruickshank 8 and 7; Michelle Thomson bt Aimee Taylor 8 and 6; Mhairi Johnstone bt Jennifer Stewart 9 and 7; Lauren MacCallum lost to Kelsey MacDonald 8 and 6; Andrew Bowie lost to Sammy Vass 3 and 2; Kirsty Moss lost to Nadia Green 3 and 2; Lauren Whyte bt Donna McKinnon 3 and 1, Samantha Leslie bt Chloe McLeod 4 and 3.

Northern Counties Girls
Back Row L-R; Donna Mackinnon (durness), Nadia Green (Nairn) Jennifer Stewart (Golspie), Chloe Macleod (Nairn Dunbar), Cara Gruber (Team Captain)
Front Row L-R: Sammy Vass (Tain), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Niketa Cruickshank (Strathlene), Aimee Taylor (Forres).
 

Saturday 20th August 2005

Picured at Edinburgh Airport today on their way to the 27th SAAB International Juniors Championship.
L to R: Spencer Henderson(SGU), James White, Ross Kellett,
Judith Anderson(SLGA), Louise Fleming, Sally Watson
(Photo courtesy Margaret Rodgers)

Northern Counties Junior Championship
The Northern Counties Junior Championship was held today at Fortrose & Rosemarkie
results (Par 71 SSS 70 CSS 69)
1st Scratch - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 72
2nd scratch -  Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar)  79
1st Handicap - Donna Mackinnon (Durness) 65
2nd Handicap - Julie Vass (Tain) 68
Photo of Kelsey, right. holding the Northern Counties Junior Championship trophy, courtesy Cara Gruber.

British Ladies' Open Stroke Play Championship, Nairn 2005
Photos of this weeks Championship, courtesy and copyright Cal Carson Golf Agency, can be viewed here

Friday 19th August 2005

BLOOMING HEATHER KEEPS BRITISH GOLF TITLE IN SCOTLAND
Heather Macrae from Dunblane kept the British women's open amateur stroke play championship in Scottish hands at sunny Nairn today.
In a repeat of last year's climax, when Claire Queen won a play-off for the trophy, it was Heather who triumphed at the first extra hole of a shoot-out against Nicole Gergely.
The Austrian three-putted the first green for a bogey 5, missing her second putt from some 4ft beyond the hole, while Heather, also on in two, rolled her approach putt to within a couple of feet for a cast-iron par 4.
Miss MacRae, 21, and 20-year-old Miss Gergely had tied on level par 288 after the regulation 72 holes, one shot ahead of another Scot, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Sandra Gal, the only German player in the field.
Heather, halfway overnight leader, lost that advantage with a third round 73 for 216 which put her one shot off the pace. Jenna Wilson and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) took up the running with 18 holes to go but they failed to last the pace. And it was playing partners Heather and Nicole who fought it out head to head down the last few holes.
"I had a silly three-putt bogey 6 at the 10th after nine straight pars in the final round," said Heather. "In a way that was a wake-up call. I knew I couldn't afford to give away any more shots."
And neither she did. A 12ft birdie putt dropped for a 3 at the 13th and she had a couple of great up and downs from off the green at the 14th and 17th, which left Miss Macrae one shot ahead of Miss Gergely with one to p;lay.
The Austrian girl, under real pressure, played an equisite third approach shot from 80yds' range at the 72nd hole. Her ball pitched eight feet past the stick and spun back as if on a piece of yo-yo string to within a couple of feet of the hole. She duly tapped her her birdie 4 putt for a 71 while Heather finished with a 5 for 72.
Then, watched by a very big gallery, they went off down the first extra hole.
When it was all over, there was a big hug from Heather for her dad Andy who must have died a thousand deaths performing his duties as the Ladies Golf Union scoreboard operator.
"This caps a wonderful summer for me, " said Heather who flies back on Tuesday to California and a final year of a golf scholarship at San Diego University.
"To be picked for the Vaglinao Trophy match - and helping to retain the trophy - was great but winning this British title is something else. My game came right at just the right time. I drove well, I putted well and the bits in between were satisfactory as well."
Miss Macrae, who won the BP Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship in 2001, revealed that she had earlier been invited to play for Scotland in next month's women's home internationals.
"I had to decline because I am coming home from California for my sister's wedding in November and to miss more of my San Diego State women's golf team commitments in September would have been unfair on the university."
Nicole Gergely gained a measure of consolation by winning not only the Holden Trophy which goes to the championship runner-up but also the Duncan Salver for the best performance by an Under-23 player.
"I have never played a Scottish links course like Nairn. It was very good. I am not unhappy. I did my best and to be beaten in a play-off for the title is not a bad result. I finished third in the Sherry Cup earlier this year and won the Austrian women's international championship and I am going to go to the Ladies European Tour School later this year."
Jenna Wilson, who had a 74 for 289, tied for third place with Sandra Gall although the German's closing round of 71 officially earned her third prize.
"I felt I didn't play all that badly in the final round but I just couldn't hole the putts. I had only one birdie in that 74. To be only one shot short of getting into the play-off is very disappointing," said Jenna who beat Heather in a play-off for the Scottish Under-21 girls title in 2003.
Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) was the highest placed English player. She signed off with a 69 for fifth place on 290 - one shot ahead of Sophie Walker who ended with a 76 and teenager Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) with a 70.
In all there were five Scots in the top 15 - Louise Kenney - eighth on 292, Anne Laing - joint ninth on 294, 13-year-old Carly Booth (who matched the par of 72 in the third and fourth rounds) - tied 13th on 297, and title-defending Clare Queen - 15th on 298..
Photos of the Championship, courtesy and copyright Cal Carson Golf Agency, can be viewed here
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Nairn Golf Club
FINAL TOTALS (Par 72)
CSS 76 76 76 76
288 H Macrae (Dunblane New) 72 71 73 72, N Gergely (Aut) 71 73 73 71 (Macrae won play-off at first extra hole).
289 S Gal (Ger) 73 76 69 71, J Wilson (Strathaven) 77 68 70 74.
290 C Lee (West Lancashire) 75 72 74 69.
291 S Walker (Kenwick Park) 71 77 67 76, K Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 74 75 72 70.
292 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 73 74 71 74.
294 A Laing (Vale of Leven) 74 76 72 72, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 77 72 70 75, K Werdinig (Aut) 75 71 71 77.
295 R Bell (Ganton) 76 74 74 71.
297 A Rossi (Ita) 75 78 71 73, C Booth (Auchterarder) 78 75 72 72.
298 C Queen (Drumpellier) 75 73 75 75.
299 N Edwards (Ganton) 75 79 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 77 75 77 70, L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 73 71 78.
300 C Coughlan (Cork) 81 71 74 74, F Seeholzer (Swi) 76 76 72 76, F In-Albon (Swi) 74 75 72 79.
301 F Sanderson (Heworth) 80 75 72 74, K Harper (Inverness) 78 74 73 76.
302 S Michl (Aut) 79 75 74 74, K Smith (Waterlooville) 80 74 72 76.
303 S Bregman (SAf) 78 76 74 75.
305 L Eastwood (Yelverton) 76 78 75 76.
306 M Pow (Selkirk) 78 75 78 75, M Verchenova (Rus) 78 72 78 78.
307 L Lausberg (SAf) 76 79 75 77, K Caithness (St Regulus) 79 75 79 74, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 75 77 80 75, K Walker (Stirling Univ) 77 77 78 75
308 N Aazam (Swi) 78 75 79 76, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 76 77 78 77.
309 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 75 74 80, L H Diggle (Celtic Manor) 74 77 74 84.
310 B Toumpsin (Bel) 74 80 77 79.
313 V Stefansen (Den) 76 79 78 80, S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 77 81 79, E Ogilvy (Muckhart) 73 78 80 82.
319 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 78 87 88.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
290 Austria (N Gergely, S Michl, K Wedinig).
294 England (K Smith, S Walker, K Matharu).
298 Scotland (A Laing, F Lockhart, C Queen).
299 Ireland
300 Switzerland
305 Italy
308 Wales
312 Belgium

Heather Macrae flanked by the Nairn Captains, Ian Brodie and Louise Clark

JEAN WINS BARNARDOS GRAND FINAL
Balbirnie Park six-handicapper Jean Duncan won the Barnardos Scotland Grand Final women's competition at Arbroath Golf Club yesterday (Friday) by a single point.
Jean totalled 37 Stableford points to pip Lynda Birse (Arbroath Artisans), playing over her home course.
Lynda, playing off 28 of a handicap, scored 36pt.
Third place went to Johanne Wright from Vale of Leven. Playing off 18, she took third place with 35pt (better inward half).
A total of 38 players qualified for the Grand Final in which 32 took part. The CSS was 71.

Thursday 18th August 2005

Veteran Ladies Golfing Association
SCOTS VETS COLLECT WOODEN SPOON
Scotland finished up with the wooden spoon in the Veteran Ladies Golfing Association area team championship at Hayling Island, Hampshire today.
Bidding to win the title and the Miller Stirling Trophy for the third year in a row, the Scots lost all three matches - 5-4 to North of England, 6-3 to Midlands and, finally, 7-2 to South of England.
North beat Midlands 6-3 in the title decider.

JENNA (68) IS ON THE TAIL OF LEADERS AS SCOTS HOG THE NAIRN LIMELIGHT
IT'S Scotland first and third as the British women's open amateur golf championship moves towards an exciting climax with the final two rounds at Nairn on Friday.
Heather Macrae from Dunblane took up the running at the end of a very wet night and morning with a 71 for one-under-par 143 to be the halfway leader by one shot from joint overnight leader, Nicole Gergely from Austria.
Then, as the course dried out in the warm, late afternoon sunshine, Jenna Wilson let the leaders know she was on their tail and had picked up the scent of victory.
The Strathaven 21-year-old became the first in the field to break 70. Jenna finished with a bag of six birdies for a sparkling, four-under-par 68 and a halfway total of 145.
First reserve to the winning GB&I Vagliano Trophy team last month and winner of the two most recent 36-hole women's in Scotland - the Mary McCallay Trophy at Dumfries (which she won by 11 shots!) and then the Riccarton Rosebowl at Hamilton on Sunday, Jenna feels that she is now reaping the rewards for a lot of hard winter work with national coach Karen Dallas, the Kirriemuir club professional.
"I think it's all come together over the past three weeks and I certainly had the best of the weather for the second round here at Nairn," said Jenna who spent a college year in 2003-2004 at San Diego University, the California college to which leader Heather Macrae will be returning on Tuesday.
It was only after she had bogeyed the third and the fifth, that jaunty Jenna clicked and cover the last 13 holes in an impressive six under par with birdies at the sixth, seventh, 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th in halves of 36 (level par) and 32 (four under).
Heather, in third place overnight, had moved into the mid-afternoon clubhouse lead with a second-round 71 for one-under-par 143, one shot ahead of Nicole Gergely, a 20-year-old from Pals, Austria, who had a 73 for 144.
Heather, 21-year-old Vagliano Trophy team player from Dunblane, improved by four shots on the seventh hole alone, compared with her first-round 72. Heather ran up an 8 at the seventh first time round. Yesterday she got a birdie 4 with a drive, three-wood second and a pitch and a putt in an outward half of 35.
Her other birdies were a 2 at the short sixth with a four-iron and a 12ft putt, the 10th (drive, five-wood, pitch and putt) and the 15th (drive, wedge, 10ft putt). Miss Macrae's only bogey on the outward half was a three-putt 5 at a time when it was very wet, both underfoot and overhead!
But for a weak finish the Scot would have put daylight between herself and the rest of the field.
Heather bogeyed the 16th (missed green) and the 18th (three putts) in an inward 36.
"It was a bit unpleasant on the outward journey with the rain still coming down quite heavily and the course quite wet. But it did slow the greens down a bit and I found them easier to judge, even though I did three-putt twice," said Heather.
Two other Scots squeezed into the top eight late in the day. Louise Kenney from Pitreavie birdied the fourth, fifth and 18th but had two shots in a bunker for a double bogey at the 11th on her way to a 74 for joint fifth place on 147.
And defending champion Clare Queen (Drumpellier) is tied for seventh place on 148 after a 73.
"I played my best golf of the year from tee to green but couldn't hole the putts," said Clare.
A total of 42 players with totals of 145 or better qualified for the final two rounds.
The other Scots who made it were:
Emily Ogilvy (Muckhart) 78 for 151; Kerri Harper (Inverness) 78 for 152; Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 77 for 152; Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 77 for 153; Carly Booth (Auchterarder) 75 for 153; Martine Pow (Selkirk) 75 for 153; Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) 75 for 153; Kylie Walker (Stirling Univ) 77 for 154; Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 78 for 154.
Carly is only 13 years old and home-town girl Kelsey just 14.
QUALIFIERS
(Par 72, CSS 76 76)
143 H Macrae (Sco) 72 71.
144 N Gergely (Aut) 71 73.
145 J Wilson (Sco) 77 68.
146 K Werdinig (Aut) 75 71.
147 C Lee (Eng) 75 72, L Kenney (Sco) 73 74.
148 S Walker (Eng) 71 77, C Queen (Sco) 75 73.
149 K Matharu (Eng) 74 75, F In-Albon (Swi) 74 75, L Bennett (Eng) 77 72, S Gal (Ger) 73 76.
150 L Collin (Eng) 77 73, M Verchenova (Rus) 78 72, R Bell (Eng) 76 74, A Laing (Sco) 74 76.
151 E Ogilvy (Sco) 73 78, L H Diggle (Eng) 74 77.
152 K Harper (Sco) 78 74, L Hall (Wal) 80 72, F Seeholzer (Swi) 76 76, C Gruber (Sco) 75 77, E Duggleby (Eng) 77 75, C Coughlan (Ire) 81 71.
153 F Lockhart (Sco) 76 77, S Hassan (Wal) 76 77, C Booth (Sco) 78 75, M Pow (Sco) 78 75, N Azaam (Swi) 78 75, A Rossi (Ita) 75 78.
154 L Eastwood (Eng) 7 6 78, K Caithness (Sco) 79 75, N Edwards (Eng) 75 79, K Walker (Sco) 77 77, S Bregman (SAf) 78 76, K Smith (Eng) 80 74, K MacDonald (Sco) 76 78, B Toumpsin (Bel) 74 80, S Michl (Aut) 79 75.
155 V Stefansen (Den) 76 79, L Lausberg (SAf) 76 79, F Sanderson (Eng) 80 75.
NON-QUALIFIERS
156 L Holmes (Eng) , 74 82, E Brown (Eng) 75 81, R Lomas (Eng) 78 78, R Niven (Sco) 77 79, E Lyons (Eng) 79 77, T Delaney (Ire) 75 81, A Roscio (Ita) 81 75.
157 S Birks (Wal) 77 80, M Jorgensen (Den) 78 79, M Gillen (Ire) 78 79.
158 C Tucker (Ire) 75 83, D Von Armin (Col) 77 81, L Barton (Eng) 79 79, G Webster (Sco) 83 75, L Walker (Sco) 80 78, G Paolillo (Ita) 80 78, L Willems (Bel) 79 79.
159 S Attwood (Eng) 79 80, E Sheffield (Eng) 83 76, C Ellis (Eng) 81 78, T Boyes (Eng) 80 79, J Gregg (Eng) 78 81.
160 Alexis Edwards (US) 77 83, M Thomson (Sco) 80 80, R Newren (US) 88 72, S Kruegeer (US) 81 79.
161 J Carthew (Ladybank) 77 84, S James (Eng) 80 81, L Ball (Eng) 79 82, S-J Eves (Eng) 83 78, V Valvassori (Ita) 77 84.
162 P Pretswell (Sco) 80 82, C Hargan (Sco) 82 80, E Wanet (Bel) 81 81.
163 L Tarn (Eng) 80 83, J Gibson (Eng) 80 83, L Taylor (Eng) 81 82, H Aitchison (Eng) 83 80, E McBride (Eng) 85 78, C-M Carlton (Sco) 85 78.
164 T Luccioli (Bel) 78 86, E Fairnie (Sco) 82 82.
166 S Dony (Bel) 78 88.
167 F Smith (Eng) 86 81, J Turner (Sco) 81 86, D Dewar (Sco) 84 83, Ashley Edwards (US) 89 78.
168 J McGuffog (Eng) 86 82, G Chalmers (Sco) 89 79.
169 S Brodie (Eng) 81 88, A Ingram (Sco) 85 84, G Garbaccio (Ita) 89 80.
171 H Harvey (Sco) 88 83.
172 S Meadow (Ire) 82 90, A Childers (US) 89 83.
173 L Johnstone (Eng) 90 83.
174 N Lowe (Eng) 83 91.
176 C McAndrew (Sco) 88 88.
184 M Vanmol (Bel) 89 95.
185 I Harvey (Sco) 89 96, C Oliver (Sco) 95 90.
Retired: A Marshall (Eng) 88 -.

Wednesday 17th August 2005

AMERICAN COLLEGE TRIO LEAD SCOTS CHALLENGE AT NAIRN
American college students Heather Macrae, Louise Kenney and Emily Ogilvy were the top Scots in challenging positions at the end of the first round of the British women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship over the testing Nairn links today.
Heather, 21, from Dunblane, shrugged off a potentially nerve-shattering 8 at the par-5 seventh to match the par of 72 with halves of 38 and 34 to be one shot behind joint leaders Nicole Gergely from Austria and Vagliano Trophy team player Sophie Walker from Derbyshire.
Louise, 22, from Pitreavie, is joint third on 73 (38-35) but would have shared the lead had she avoided a double-bogey 6 at the 16th.
Emily Ogilvy, 19, from Muckhart, Perthshire, is also on 73 with Miss Kenney and Sandra Gal, the only German player in the field. Emily, at 19-year-old student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, clawed her way back into contention from four shots in a bunker at the first hole,
Heather, like Sophie Walker a member of the winning GB&I team in the Vagliano Trophy match at Chantilly last month, flies back to San Diego State University on Tuesday. Her goal is to play in next year's Curtis Cup match in the States.
"I've played well since the Vagliano Trophy match but the putts wouldn't drop until today. I holed a few at last," said Heather who birdied the second, third, ninth, 10th and 11th but had bogeys at the fifth and sixth before landing first in a bush, then in the heather and finally in a bunker on her way to an 8 at the seventh.
Having got that out of her system, Miss Macrae looked a class player as she covered the last 11 holes in three under par
Louise, who has been Iowa State University's record-setting top female player for the past four years, flies back to the States on Saturday to complete her degree course. She has used up all her eligibility to play on the college circuit.
"I had a little bit of everything in that round of 73, " smiled Louise.
She had birdies at the second, 10th and 15th and a grandstand birdie-birdie finish after that double-bogey 6.
"I skied my tee shot at the 16th. Then I put a five-iron shot into the burn for a penalty drop," said Louise who had bogeys at the third, sixth, eight and 12th ... two of them three-putt greens.
"These are the fastest greens I've putted on all season. I love them but you have to be careful or you're second putt is from 15ft on the other side of the hole!"
Perthshire county player Emily Ogilvy birdied the third, 10th, 11th and 16th , holing putts of 20ft, 15ft, 10ft and 15ft again, in halves of 39 and 34.
"I three-putted the eighth and the 15th for bogeys but these greens are really good," said Emil
who reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish women's championship at Cruden Bay in May.
All in all, it was a good day for the Scots with three times native champion Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) on 74 (39-35), Clare Queen (Drumpellier) starting her title defence with a 75 (38-37), the same mark as Royal Dornoch's Cara Gruber (39-36).
On 76 are 14-year-old Nairn Dunbar youngster Kelsey MacDonald and Scottish women's champion Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus).
Carly Booth, only 13 years old and making her debut in a British women's championship, finished on 78 - which was quite a creditable score, considering she three-putted almost every green in the opening six or seven holes and reached the turn in 40. She came home in 36, which matched the par.
Stephanie Evans, the left-handed Welsh international from Vale of Llangollen, had to retire after only two holes with a back problem. In last year's championship Stephanie lost a three-way title play-off with Clare Queen and Shelley McKevitt.
First round scores (Par 72)
71 N Gergely (Aut), S Walker (Eng).
72 H Macrae (Sco).
73 S Gal (Ger), L Kenney (Sco), E Ogilvy (Sco).
74 F In-Albon (Swi), L H Diggle (Eng), B Toumpsin (Bel), M Gillen (Ire), A Laing (Sco), L Holmes (Eng), K Matharu (Eng).
75 C Gruber (Sco), T Delaney (Ire), C Lee (Eng), C Queen (Sco), A Rossi (Ita), C Tucker (Ire), N Edwards (Eng), K Werdinig (Aut), E Brown (Eng).
76 R Bell (Eng), F Seeholzer (Swi), K MacDonald (Sco), S Hassan (Wal), L Eastwood (Eng), F Lockhart (Sco), V Stefansen (Den), L Lausberg (SAf).
77 L Bennett (Eng), R Niven (Sco), J Wilson (Sco), E Duggleby (Eng), V Valvassori (Ita), L Collin (Eng), S Birks (Wal), A Edwards (US), J Carthew (Sco).
78 S Bregman (SAf), C Booth (Sco), J Gregg (Eng), M Pow (Sco), N Aazam (Swi), K Harper (Sco), S Dony (Bel), M Verchenova (Rus), M Jorgensen (Den). T Luccioli (Bel), R Lomas (Eng).
79 E Lyons (Eng), S Michl (Aut), L Willems (Bel), S Attwood (Eng), K Caithness (Sco), K Walker (Sco), L Barton (Eng).
80 T Boyes (Eng), L Hall (Wal), L Walker (Sco), K Smith (Eng), G Paolillo (Ita), L Tarn (Eng), J Gibson (Eng), P Pretswell (Sco), F Sanderson (Eng), S James (Eng), M Thomson (Sco).
81 C Coughlan (Ire), A Roscio (Ita), E Wanet (Bel), S Kreuger (US), S Brodie (Eng), L Taylor (Eng), J Turner (Sco), C Ellis (Eng).
82 E Fairnie (Sco), S Meadow (Ire), C Hargan (Sco).
83 G Webster (Sco), S-J Eaves (Eng), N Lowe (Eng), H Aitchison (Eng), E Sheffield (Eng).
84 D Dewar (Sco).
85 C-M Carlton (Sco), E McBride (Eng), A Ingram (Sco).
86 F Smith (Eng), J McGuffog (Eng).
88 H Harvey (Sco), C McAndrew (Sco), R Newren (US), A Marshall (Eng).
89 A Childers (US), A Edwards (US), G Chalmers (Sco), G Garbaccio (Ita), M Vanmoi (Bel), I Harvey (Sco).
90 L Johnstone (Eng)
95 C Oliver (Sco).
Retired: S Evans (Wal), P Brown (US).

Veteran Ladies Golfing Association
SCOTS LOSE GRIP ON MILLER STIRLING TROPHY
Scotland meet South of England tomorrow at Hayling Island in a match which will decide who gets the "Wooden Spoon" in the Veteran Ladies Golfing Association area team championship at Hayling Island, Hampshire.
Captained by Joan Marshall (Baberton), the Scots went south seeking to win the Miller Stirling Trophy for a third year in a row.
Unfortunately, the lost 5-4 to North of England on the first day and 6-3 to Midlands yesterday.
Meanwhile Midlands beat South 5-4 and North beat South 6-3, which means that the North v Midlands match today will be for the title and Miller Stirling Trophy.

Tuesday 16th August 2005

SCOTS VETERANS LOSE FIRST MATCH AT HAYLING ISLAND
Scotland, bidding to complete a hat-trick of title wins in the Veteran Ladies Golf Assocation area team golf championship, were beaten 5-4 by North of England in their opening match at Hayling Island, Hampshire today.
The Scots won the foursomes 2-1 but only Pamela Williamson and Noreen Fenton added points to that total in the afternoon singles which North won 4-2 for a 5-4 match victory.
Details:
NORTH ENGLAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
Foursomes: L Hague & R Lindley lost to P Williamson & M Tough 6 and 5; J Smith & C Kirk bt H Faulds & S McDonald 6 and 5; H Smyth & M Miller lost to L Bennett & N Fenton 1 hole (1-2).
Singles: Hague bt Bennett 2 and 1, J Smith bt M Thomson 4 and 3, Kirk lost to Williamson 5 and 4, Lindley bt Tough 3 and 2, A Wood bt L Campbell 1 hole, E Elliott lost to Fenton 4 and 3 (4-2).
ends

CLARE’S NARROW LEAD OVER JENNA IN PAULL AND WILLIAMSONS' RANKINGS
Clare Queen has a narrow lead over Jenna Wilson with only one counting tournament to go – the Ness Open at Inverness on August 28 – in the Paull and Williamsons’ Rankings for Scottish women’s amateur golf.
Strathaven member Jenna has won the last two designated 36-hole events, the Mary McCally Trophy and the Riccarton Rosebowl, over the past two Sundays, to close the gap at the top of the table to only 0.30 of a stroke.
Drumpellier’s Clare has an average of minus 2.20 shots in relation to CSS over 10 rounds.
Miss Wilson stands at minus 1.90 over 10 rounds.
Three times Scottish champion Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) is in third place with minus 0.50 of a stroke average.
The leading rankings are:
1 Clare Queen (Drumpellier), 2 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), 3 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), 4 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), 5 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), 6 (equal) Martine Pow (Selkirk) & Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), 8 Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), 9 Kylie Walker (Stirling Univ). 10 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus).
11 Carly Booth (Auchterarder), 12 (equal) Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) & Sara Bishop (Windyhill), 14 Kelly Brotherton (Tulliallan), 15 Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), 16 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), 17 Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), 18 Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), 19 Emily Ogilvy (Muckhart), 20 Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).

IRISH SCHOOLS MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Kilkeel Golf Club
Semi-finals
Douglas Community School 4, Summerhill College, Sligo 1
(Douglas names first)
Aaron O’Callaghan (Douglas) bt Tommy McGowan (Strandhill) 4 and 3; Ian Bermingham (Mahon) bt Mark Rooney (Strandhill) 1 hole; Eoghan Long (Monkstown) bt Tony McDaid (Co Sligo) 5 and 4; David Barry (Mahon) halved with Gerard Finnegan (Co Sligo); Brian Collins (Douglas) halved with Colin Walsh (Strandhill).
St Paul’s College, Raheny 3, Royal Belfast Acad. Institute 2
(St Paul’s names first)
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) lost to Karl Gilbert (Malone) at 19th; Barry Fennelly (Royal Dublin) bt James Patterson (Royal Portrush) 1 hole; Gary McGrane (Royal Dublin) lo