December 2005 Archive

Saturday 31st December 2005

Junior Orange Bowl winners, Angela Park (US) and Ben Parker (England)
Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Media-Oasis Golf Inc

SALLY FINISHES JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL ON A HIGH WITH A DOUBLE-EAGLE 70
Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play champion Sally Watson, pictured right, recaptured her first-day leading form in the fourth and final round of the Junior Orange Bowl international golf championships at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables in Florida. (Photo courtesy and copyright © Cal Carson Golf Agency)
The 14-year-old South Queensferry girl shot two eagles – at the 11th and 15th – in returning a two-under-par 70 for a 72-hole total of eight-over-par 296.
That gave her a joint ninth finish with Germany-based Florentyna Parker whose 18-year-old brother Ben held on to win the boys’ title by one shot with a 10-under-par total of 274.
Sally’s earlier rounds were 70, 75 and 81, her third round being badly affected by winds gusting over 20 mph.
Miss Watson, who won the Doral-Publix Junior Classic 14-15 girls’ title at Miami the previous week, bogeyed the short second and par-4 fifth in her final JOB final round but got on track for a good finish with a 2 at the 171yd eighth hole.
Out in one-over 36, Sally had a 3 at the par-5, 459yd 11th, followed by a bogey at the 12th and then another eagle 3 at the 424yd 15th  before parring the last three holes for a three-under-par inward half of 34.
The girls’ title was won by the United States’ top female junior player, Angela Park from Torrance, California. She closed with a 70 for nine-under-par total of 279. Angela won the Dixie women’s open amateur title in Florida last week.
Runner-up, seven shots adrift, was 16-year-old Kiran Matharu from Leeds.
Kiran closed with a 72 for 286 – three shots ahead of third-placed Isabelle Lendl, 14, one of two daughters of former tennis ace Ivan Lendl, who were playing in the event.
“I drove the ball all week but my iron play was not my best,” said Kiran. “I couldn’t make the putts when it mattered but Angela was the best player this week and I’m really pleased for her success.”
Florentyna Parker slipped to a final round of 77 for 296 and a share of ninth place with Sally Watson.
Ben Parker, picctured right, 18-year-old son of Tim Parker, the club pro at Gut Waldhof, near Hamburg, made the most of his fourth and last appearance in the Junior Orange Bowl – but, after spinning along with a clear lead from Day 1, he scraped home in the end by a single shot. (Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)
Ben, like his sister a member at Royal Birkdale Golf Club and entered from Southport, signed off with a two-over-par 73 for 274. His closest rivals,
Andres Echavarria (Colombia) and Peter Uihlein (US), returned 65 and 67 respectively for the last 18 holes so they made up a lot of shots on the long-time leader down the home straight.
Ben Parker, whose six-shot overnight advantage had been wiped out with two holes to play,  admitted to being nervous out on the course when he learned that Echavarria and Uihlein were significantly under par and making up ground on him at almost every hole.
“I got off to my worst start of the four days,” said Ben. “Then I put myself under a lot of pressure when I discovered the other guys were going low up ahead. When I bogeyed both the 14th and 16th, I told myself to start all over again and try and birdie the last two holes. If that was not good enough, then at least I’ll have done all I can.”
Master Parker responded to the pressure-cooker situation like a true champion in the making. He fired a massive drive down the par-5 17th. That left him only a six-iron approach for a two-putt birdie 4.
Ben just failed to hole a 20-footer on the final green. “I thought it was to tie. When I tapped in, I thought it meant I was in a play-off but the applause told me something else. That was when I realised I’d won,” he said.
Uihlein bogeyed the last to finish on 275, the same total as Echavarria whose better last round (65 to 67) earned him the runner-up prize.
Steven Capper from West Kirby tied for 14th place with scores of 67, 74, 72 and 71 for 284.
Ireland’s Alan Glynn scored 75, 72, 75 and 68 for a share of 25th place on 289.
Tom Sherreard from Maidstone, Kent returned scores of 69, 73, 76 and 72 for a 28th place tie on 290.
The boys’ event had  a field of 69 and there were 33 girl competitors.
42ND JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, Florida.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Boys (Par 71)
274 Ben Parker (England) 63 67 71 73.
275 Andres Echavarria (Colombia) 67 71 72 65, Peter Ulhlein (US) 68 72 68 67.
277 Marius Thorp (Norway) 71 69 73 74, Mu Hu (China) 71 60 67 69, Rickie Fowler (US) 73 66 68 70.
279 Bobby Hudson (US) 65 69 76 69.
280 Luciano Giometti (Argentina) 70 68 74 68.
281 Sandro Piaget (Switzerland) 71 68 74 68.
283 Sean Einhaus (Germany) 68 71 76 68, Tommy Chung Hao Mou (Taiwan). 72 74 68 69, Kyle Stanley (US) 73 71 70 69, Andrea Pavin (Italy) 71 69 72 71.
284 Hugues Joannes (Belgium) 71 71 75 67, Jun Seok Lee (South Korea) 73 68 76 67, Steven Capper (England) 67 74 72 71.
285 Minghao Wang (US) 73 70 72 70, Federico Colombo (Italy) 68 68 73 76, David Chung (US) 71 73 73 69, Tristan Bierenbroodspot (Netherlands) 69 74 71 72.
287 Pedro Figueiriedo (Portugal) 71 73 71 72, Cedric Scotto (France) 73 71 69 74, Brian Kim (US) 70 70 73 74.
288  Carlos Goya (Argentina) 69 68 75 76.
289 Alan Glynn (Ireland) 75 72 74 68, Robin Wingardh (Sweden) 72 70 77 70, In-Hoi Hur (South Korea) 73 72 69 75.
290 Sihwan Kim (US) 69 74  75 72, Tom Sherreard (England) 69 73 76 72, Marc Dobias (Switzerland) 74 67 75 74.
GIRLS (Par 72)
279 Angela Park (US) 71 70 68 70.
286 Kiran Matharu (England) 71 71 72 72.
289 Isabelle Lendl (US) 74 70 71 74.
290 Michelle Grilli (US) 72 73 73 72.
291 Vicky Hurst (US) 74 75 71 71, Jennifer M Song (Korea) 72 70 75 74.
293 In-Kyung Kim (South Korea) 78 75 71 69.
294 Maude Aimie LeBlanc (Canada) 74 74 76 70.
296 Sally Watson (Scotland) 70 75 81 70, Florentyna Parker (England) 74 70 75 77.
287 Maria Jose Vial (Chile) 72 71 81 73, Benedicte Toumpsin (Belgium) 74 71 78 74.
300 Marika Lee Lendl (US) 78 72 75 75, Juliana Murcia ( Colombia) 77 75 72 76.

BANCHORY BOY WINS IN TEXAS
Banchory boy James Byrne has won the Barton Creek Junior Open golf tournament  in Texas (on Friday USA time). The Scotland Under-16 international team player shot rounds of 73, 70 and 71 for a one-over-par total of 214 over the Ben Crenshaw-designed course at Barton Creek Golf Club near Austin.
James won by one shot from American Jerrett Hamilton.
Byrne, winner of the North of England Under-16 boys’ open title in the autumn, played in three events on the Texas Junior Tour over the festive period.
He finished fourth in the Texax Junior Open and then fifth in the Cimarron Hills Junior Open in which he tied for second place in the 16 to 18 years’ category.
BARTON CREEK JUNIOR OPEN
Barton Creek Golf Club, Austin, Texas
Leading final totals
214 James Byrne (Scotland) 73 70 71.
215 Jerrett Hamilton 74 70 71.
216 Riley Pumphrey 77 70 69.
217 Josh Jones 73 75 69, Ricardo Rodriguez 72 74 71.

Friday 30th December 2005

BANCHORY BOY LEADS IN TEXAS
Banchory’s James Byrne leads the field by one stroke with one round to go in the Barton Creek Junior Open golf tournament at Barton Creek Golf Club, near Austin, Texas.
The Scotland Under-16 team international player has had rounds of 73 and 70 for a one-over-over par tally of 143.
His closest challengers are American teenagers Jerrett Hamilton and Ryan Haselden on 144.
James, winner of the North of England Under-16 boys’ open title earlier in the year, has had two top-five finishes on the Texas Junior Tour over the festive period.
BARTON CREEK JUNIOR OPEN
Barton Creek Golf Club, Austin, Texas
Leading second-round totals (Par 71)
143 James Byrne (Sco) 73 70.
144 Jerrett Hamilton 74 70, Ryan Haselden 74 70.
145 Ricardo Salinas 74 71.

SALLY BLOWN OFF COURSE IN THIRD ROUND OF JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL
Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play champion Sally Watson was blown off course in the third round of the Junior Orange Bowl international golf championships at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables in Florida.
The 14-year-old from South Queensferry, the first-round leader, perhaps lacked the experience to cope with a strong wind gusting over 20 miles per hour. A score of nine-over-par 81 – after earlier rounds of 70 and 75 – dropped her down the leaderboard to 16th place on 226.
With one round to go, Miss Watson, a member at Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club, is 17 shots behind the clear-cut leader, Angela Park from Torrance, California, the top-ranked female junior amateur golfer in the United States.
Angela, winner of the Dixie women’s open amateur championship elsewhere in Forida last week and a semi-finalist in the US women’s amateur championship, was perfectly at ease in the conditions which pushed many scores up to the high 70s and 80s.
In contrast, Miss Park shot a four-under-par 68 for a three-round total of seven-under 209. The Brazilian-born daughter of Korean parents has a commanding five-shot lead from Kiran Matharu, a 16-year-old from Leeds. Kiran had a 72 for 214.
England’s Ben Parker, 18-year-old son of a Germany-based club professional, has one hand on the boys’ trophy. He consolidated his position at the head of the field with a even-par 71 off the boys’ tees for a 12-under-par tally of 201. He leads by six shots. 
Ben, like his sister Florentyna who is lying sixth in the girls’ championship, is based in Germany but entered from Southport. They are both members of Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
Master Parker knows the Biltmore course almost like a local. This is the fourth time he has played in the Junior Orange Bowl championships. It has helped him make a good start every day. The third round followed his usual pattern and he was three under par after only four holes. 
42ND JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, Florida.
Leading third-round totals
GIRLS (Par 72)
209 Angela Park (US) 71 70 68.
214 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 71 71 72.
215 Isabelle Lendl (US) 74 70 71.
217 Jennifer Song (Kor) 72 70 75.
218 Michelle Grilli (US) 72 73 73.
219 Florentyna Parker (Eng) 74 70 75.
220 Vicky Hurst (US) 74 75 71.
222 Fanny Eineren (Swe) 76 74 72.
223 Benedicte Toumpsin (Bel) 74 71 78.
224 In-Kyung Kim (SKor) 78 75 71, Juliana Murcia (Col) 77 75 72, Maude Aimie LeBlanc (Can) 74 74 75, Maria Jose Vial (Chile) 78 72 75.
225 Marika Lee Lendl US) 78 72 75, Tzu-Chi Lin (Tai) 74 73 78.
226 Sally Watson (Sco) 70 75 81.
BOYS (Par 71)
201 Ben Parker (Eng) 63 67 71.
207 Rickie Fowler (US) 73 66 68.
208 Mu Hu (China)  71 70 67, Peter Uihlein (US) 68 72 68.
209 Federico Colombo (Ita) 68 68 73.
210 Andres Echavarria (Col) 67 72 71, Bobby Hudson (US) 65 69 76.
212 Andrea Pavin (Ita) 71 69 72, Luciano Giometti (Arg) 70 68 74, Carlos Goya (Arg) 69 68 75.
213 Steven Capper (Eng) 67 74 72, Cedric Scotto (Fra) 73 71 69, Brian Kim (US) 70 70 73
Other score:
221 Alan Glynn (Ire) 75 72 74.

Thursday 29th December 2005

SALLY WATSON WON DORAL-PUBLIX AGE-GROUP TITLE AT MIAMI
It’s taken a little while for the news to filter through from Florida but Sally Watson won the girls’ 14-15 years age group at the Doral-Publix Junior Classic tournament at Doral Golf Resort, Miami in the week before Christmas.
Sally, who will not be 15 until next July, had rounds of 74, 69 and 70 for a 54-hole total of 213. She won by three shots from Audrey Goumard (69-78-69).
Sixteen-year-old Florentyna Parker, daughter of an English club pro based near Hamburg, won the girls’ 16-18 years’ title at the same prestigious tournament with rounds of 72, 70 and 77 for 219.
Also on the same mark were another England girls’ international, Kiran Matharu from Leeds (73-71-75) and Victoria Tomko (76-68-75), a pupil at David Leadbetter’s Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.
Florentyna won the play-off.
Sally Watson’s older sister Rebecca tied for 15th place with 77, 76 and 79 for 232.
Florentyna Parker’s brother Ben won a play-off for second place in the 16-18 years’ boys championship at the Doral-Publix Junior Classic. Ben scored 68, 74 and 71 for 213 – one shot behind title-winner Andres Echavarria (68-72-72).
Stephan Gross (Germany) had the same total as Ben Parker with rounds of 72, 69 and 72, but lost the play-off for second place.

SALLY SLIPS OUT OF JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL LEAD IN FLORIDA
Scottish girls champion Sally Watson, picured right, from South Queensferry, the overnight leader, has slipped back into a share of seventh place at the halfway stage of the Junior Orange Bowl golf championships at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables in Florida.
The 14-year-old member of Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club shot a second-round 75 – three over par – for a 36-hole tally of one-over 145.
The new leader in the race for the prestigious girls’ title is California’s Angela Park, winner of the Dixie women’s amateur championship elsewhere in Florida last week.
Born in Brazil of Korean parents, Angela followed up her opening round of 71 with a 70 for three-under 141 and a one-stroke lead from England’s Kiran Matharu and Jennifer Song from Korea. Kiran, from Leeds, has returned a pair of 71s so far.
Germany-based English teenager Ben Parker, who is entered from Southport, increased his first-round lead to four shots with a four-under- 67 for a brilliant 36-hole tally of 12-under 130.
Ben, whose father is a pro at a golf club near Hamburg, won the European Young Masters’ boy title last year. He birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th  to close his second round in style after faltering with three putts at the 12th and also bogeying the short 14th.
Ben’s sister Florentyna Parker, is lying joint fifth in the girls’ championship with scores of 74 and 70 for 144.
42ND JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, Florida.
Leading second-round totals
GIRLS (Par 72)
141 Angela Park (US) 71 70.
142 Jennifer Song (South Korea) 72 70, Kiran Matharu (Leeds) 71 71.
143 Maria Jose Vial (Chile) 72 71.
144 Florentyna Parker (Southport) 74 70, Isabelle Lendl (US) 74 70.
145 Benedicte Toumpsin (Belgium) 74 71, Michelle Gali (US) 72 73, Sally Watson (Scotland) 70 75.
147 Katia Meyer (Paraguay) 74 73, Tzu Chi Lin (Taiwan) 74 73.
148 Therese Koelbaek (Denmark) 75 73, Maude Aimie LeBlanc (Canada) 74 74.
149 Vicky Hurst (US) 74 75.
150 Marika Lee Lendl (US) 78 72, Fanny Eineren  (Sweden) 76 74.
151 Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico) 74 77.
152 Maria Garcia Aush (Uruguay) 78 74, Katie Detlefsen (US) 76 76, Joanne Lee (US) 74 78.
153 Tiffany Lua (US) 74 79, Agostha Parmigiani (Argentina) 79 74, In-Kyung Kim (South Korea) 78 75.
154 Kiara Hayashida (Peru) 79 75, Cecilia Kleinert (Brazil) 78 76, Audrey Goumard (France) 72 82.
BOYS (Par 71)
130 Ben Parker (England) 63 67.
134 Bobby Hudson (US) 65 69.
136 Federico (Italy) 68 68.
137 Carlos Goya (Argentina) 69 68.
138 Luciano Giometti (Argentina) 70 68.
139 Rickie Fowler (US) 73 66, Sandro Piaget (Switzerland) 71 68, Andres Echavrria (Columbia) 67 72.
140 Andrea Pavin (Italy) 71 69, Marius Thorp (Norway) 71 689, Brian Kim (US) 70 70, Peter Uihlein (US) 68 72.
141 Marc Dobias (Switzerland) 74 67, Jun Seok Lee (South Korea) 73 68, Mu Hu (China) 71 70, Steven Capper (England) 67 74.
142 Brent Blaum (US) 72 70, Hugues Joannes (Belgium) 71 71, Stephan Gross (Germany) 70 72, Ryan Thomas (US) 70 72, Tom Sherreard (England) 69 73.
143 Minghao Wang (US) 73 70, Jordan Lewis (US) 72 71, Tristan Bierenbroodspot (Netherlands) 69 74, Sihwan Kim (US) 69 74.
144 Jason Kang (US) 74 70, Cedric Scotto (France) 73 71, Kyle Stanley (US) 73 71, David Chung (US) 71 73, Pedro Figueiriedo (Portugal) 71 73.
Other score:
147 Alan Glynn (Ireland) 75 72.

BANCHORY BOY JOINT FOURTH IN TEXAS
Banchory teenager James Byrne was lying joint fourth after a first-round score of two-over-par 73 in the Barton Creek Junior Open at Barton Creek Golf Club near Austin, Texas (WED, USA TIME).
James, a Scotland Under-16 international team member and winner of the North of England Under-16 open last autumn, is three shots behind leader Curtis Seideits.
It is the third event on the Texas Junior Tour in which Byrne has played during his school holidays over the festive period. He finished in the leading five in both the Texas Junior Open and the Cimarron Hills Junior Open.
TEXAS JUNIOR TOUR – Barton Creek Open – Leading first round scores (Par 71)
70 Curtis Seideits.
72 Michael McKinley, Ricardo Rodriguez.
73 James Byrne (Scotland), Jordan Frye, William Johnson, Josh Jones.

Wednesday 28th December 2005

SALLY AND BEN PUT UK IN POLE POSITIONS IN FLORIDA
Sally Watson, pictured right, from South Queensferry and England’s Ben Parker scored a double whammy for the United Kingdom on the first day of the Junior Orange Bowl international golf championships at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables in Florida.
Sally, the 14-year-old holder of the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play title, leads the girls’ field with a two-under-par round of 70.
Professional’s son Ben heads the boys’ leaderboard with a magnificent round of eight-under-par 63.
For Miss Watson, a member at Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club, Fife, there were no immediate signs of jubilation after handing in her scorecard. Instead she was disappointed that she had “left at least a couple of shots out on the course.”
“I didn’t play the two par-5s at all well and I took 6 at the 15th, which is really almost like giving up two shots. However, I did play well otherwise and hit lots of good shots, so I’m feeling positive after the opening round,” said Sally who was watched by her dad, Edinburgh businessman, Graham Watson.
Sally leads by one stroke from Kiran Matharu from Leeds and Angela Park from California, winner last week of the Dixie women’s amateur open championship.
Ben Parker’s sister Florentyna had a 74.
Former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl, who lives in the United States,  has two of his five daughters in the field.
Isabelle had a 74 and Marika Lee a 78.
The Parkers’ father, Ben, is club professional at Gut Waldhof Golf Club near Hamburg. Ben and Florentyna live in Germany although they are entered from Southport.
Ben was four under par after only five holes even though, in his own estimation, he “started scrappily.”
“I missed the green at the opening par-5 hole with an iron approach and then I missed the green at the par-3 second,” said Master Parker. “Somehow, even after a poor tee shot at the third, I managed to get to four under par after five holes. Later on I birdied the ninth to be out in five under par.
“It was the 10th hole before I hit my first really good drive and holed another birdie putt from about 12 feet. That really got my confidence going.”
Ben Parker had only 23 putts in his score of 63. He leads by two shots from Bobby Hudson from Memphis, Tennessee. Hudson had to come through a qualifying round last week to play in the international event.
Stephen Capper from West Kirby on the Wirral, is lying joint third on 67.
Tom Sherreard from Maidstone, Kent is joint ninth on 69,
Ireland’s Alan Glynn shot a 75.
JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, Florida.
Leading first-round scores
BOYS (Par 71)
63 Ben Parker (Southport).
65 Bobby Hudson (US).
67 Andres Echavarria (Columbia), Steven Capper (West Kirby).
68 Juan Pablo Solis (Mexico), Federico Colombo (Italy), Peter Uihlein (US), Sean Einhaus (Geremany).
69 Tristan Bierenbroodspot (Netherlands), Tom Sherreard (Maidstone), Carlos Goya (Argentina), Sihwan Kim (USA).
70 Stephan Gross (Germany), Ryan Thomas (US), Jonathon Widmer (Grand Cayman), Juan Carlos Perello (Dominican Rep), Brian Kim (US), Luciano Giometti (Argentina).
Other score:
75 Alan Glynn (Ireland).
GIRLS (Par 72)
70 Sally Watson (South Queensferry).
71 Kiran Matharu (Leeds), Angela Park (US).
72 Audrey Goumard (France), Michelle Grilli (US), Maria Jose Vial (Chile), Jennifer Song (South Korea).
74 Tzu-hi Lin (China), Tiffany Lua (US), Joanne Lee (US), Isabelle Lendl (US), Florentyna Parker (Southport), Benedicte Toumpsin (Belgium), Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico), Katia Meyer (Paraguay), Maude Aimie LeBlanc (Canada).

Tuesday 27th December 2005

Press Release
Junior Orange Bowl International Championships
27 – 30 December 2005
CORAL GABLES, Florida.
Golf stars of the future are gathered at the City of Coral Gables’ Biltmore Golf Course for the 42nd edition of Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championships which get under way today (Tuesday).
120 of the best girls and boys from home and abroad, with a strong emphasis on international representation, will participate in an event that in past years has featured such future stars as Tiger Woods, Nick Price, Sergio Garcia, Marc Calcavecchia, Annika Sorenstam, Grace Park, Paula Creamer and Tracy Kerdyk.
Talent in abundance this week features defending champion Texan Christopher Ward, 18, handicap +2.4. He will face stiff competition from such gifted competitors as Bobby Hudson of Memphis, Tenn., who blasted his way into the event as winner of a local qualifying event with a magnificent 8-under par 63.
Other notables include Italy’s Andrea Pavan, 16, handicap +3.4, 17-year old Norway’s Marius Thorp rated +3.6, Washington’s Kyle Stanley, 17, national handicap +3.2, and Carlos Goya, 17 handicapped +3.0 in Argentina.
There is no lack of talent in the girls’ division either: 16-year old Kiran Matharu from Leeds, England arrives with a +3.4 index and another 16-year old, Italy’s Marianna Causin, plays to +2.0.
Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play champion Sally Watson,pictured right, from South Queensferry, a member at Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club in Fife, is the standard-bearer for Scotland at the tender age of 14.
The Scottish Golf Union has maintained its policy of not sending a boy champion.
The USA’s hopes of keeping the girls’ championship at home may lie with Michelle Grilli from Maryland, a +2.0 index player, or possibly Vicky Hurst from Melbourne, Fl., whose index is +1.6.
But there are no favorites yet. The Biltmore course, a Donald Ross design recently renovated and in perfect condition, offers all-comers the opportunity to shine, and most importantly participate in an event designed to develop and foster golfing friendships across the globe.

Monday 26th December 2005

WELSH TEENAGER SIGNS UP TO JOIN LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad member Breanne Loucks from Wrexham has signed a Letter of Intent to join Louisiana State University next autumn.
Breanne, who is 17, has played for Wales at full women’s international level and is the North Wales girls’ champion.
She was runner-up in the Welsh girls’ championship in 2003 and 2004 and also in the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open championship of 2003.
There are no British players currently on the Louisiana State University women’s golf roster. The last one was Heather Stirling from Bridge of Allan, who went on to become Scottish women’s amateur champion and a Curtis Cup player in 2002.
Other British and Irish teenagers who have signed Letters of Intent to join US colleges after next summer are:
Jodi Ewart (Catterick) for New Mexico University; Danielle McVeigh (Kilkeel, Northern Ireland) for Texas A & M; Seamus Power (Waterford) & Niall Kearney (Dublin), both for East Tennessee State, and Kieren Lovelock (Surrey) for Xavier University, Cincinnati.
 

Hope you all had a super Christmas....
We did with our new Grandson... here is Harry one month old today

Saturday 24th December 2005

CALIFORNIA TEENAGER WINS 75TH DIXIE WOMEN’S AMATEUR TITLE
They come from far and wide across the United States to play in the annual Dixie amateur golf championships – and Angela Park, winner of the 75th staging of the women’s tournament this week, had travelled farther than most.
Teenager Angela was born in Brazil of Korean parents but now lives at Torrance, California. Angela is currently ranked No 6 in the list of top United States female amateurs.
Angela turned on her class with a final round of 66 – including an outward half of five-under-par 30 - in the 72-hole event to post a total of eight-under-par 276 and win, going away, by eight shots from another Torrance resident, Jane Rah.
This was Miss Park’s second Dixie amateur championship. In 2003, she won by one shot from a certain Paula Creamer who has gone on to make more golfing headlines this year than her conqueror.
Jane Rah also of Torrance, California finished second at even Par 284. Isablle Lendl of Bradenton, Florida was third with a 2 over Par 286.
Former tennis ace Ivan Lendl’s two daughters, Isabelle and Marika, both achieved top 15 finishes.
Ivan, who has five daughters in all, has an 800-acre estate at Goshen, Massachusetts, but Isabelle (13) and Marika (15) are students at David Leadbetter’s Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida. [Pictured left is Ivan Lendl walking with his daughter Marika]
Isabelle finished a creditable third on 286 while Marika tied for 14th place on 304. [Isabelle Lendl is pictured below right]
The leading European was Belgium’s Benedicte Toumsin from Brussels. She came 13th on 303.
The first two rounds were played over the Cypress and Oaks courses at Palm-Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach in Florida. The third and fourth rounds were held over the Oaks course.
Colt Knost from Aubrey, Texas won the 75th Dixie men’s amateur title, matching Angela Park’s eight-under-par total of 276. He had three shots to spare from Jonathan Jackson, Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
LEADING TOTALS
WOMEN
276 Angela Park (Torrance, California) 68 70 72 66.
284 Jane Rah (Torrance, California) 70 74 67 73.
286 Isabelle Lendl (Bradenton, Florida) 76 69 70 75.
287 Jennie Lee (Henderson, Nevada) 69 76 70 72.
290 Alison Walshe (Westford, Montana) 71 75 73 71.
Other totals:
303 Benedicte Toumpsin (Brussels, Belgium) 77 75 76 75.
304 Marika Lendl (Bradenton, Florida) 75 75 76 78.
MEN
276 Colt Knost (Aubrey, Texas) 68 66 70 72.
279 Jonathan Jackson (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) 71 64 71 73.
280 James Vargas (Miami, Florida) 69 65 70 76, Isban Cole (Southbend, Indiana) 69 71 72 68, Peter Uihlien (Bradenton, Florida) 72 64 72 72 (Vargas won play-off for third place).

Friday 23rd December 2005

FLORIDA IN JANUARY FOR WELL-HEELED (AND TALENTED) LADY AMATEUR GOLFERS
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Florida is the place to go for well-heeled lady amateur golfers looking for some competitive action in the month of January. Having a single-figure handicap is also desirable.
The Orange Blossom Tour has been on the go now for several years. It consists of four events at the same Florida venues every year. The 2006 dates are:
January 4 to 7: Harder Hall Women’s Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring.
January 11 to 14: South Atlantic Ladies Amateur Championship at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach.
January 16 to 21: Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
January 23 to 27: Women’s International Four-ball at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood (Florida).
Even if you could afford the $225 entry fee for the tee-off event, the Harder Hall Invitational, it’s too late to get a place in the field.
Carol Semple Thompson, the record-setting US Curtis Cup player who is chairman of the organising committee, says: “We’ve been oversubscribed for the Harder Hall Invitational for some time but we do have two successful entries from Great Britain & Ireland – Vicki Thomas from Wales and Sarah Carty from Ireland.
Carmarthen Golf Club member Vicki has almost certainly played in this tournament in the past during the days when the Ladies Golf Union used to send their Elite Squad to play in some events on the month-long Orange Blossom Tour.
Mrs Thomas has been a Welsh women’s amateur championship finalist 11 times (won eight, lost three) eight times and a Curtis Cup player in six consecutive matches between 1982 and 1992. Now past her 50th birthday, Vicki chalked up her first Welsh senior women’s amateur title in May, 2006.
Sarah Carty is at the opposite end of her career. A member of The Island Golf Club, Dublin, Sarah is 19 years old and plays off six. She represented Leinster in the Under-18 girls’ inter-provincial matches in 2004.
She said in an excusive interview " I am going to play in all four tournaments on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida and I'm really looking forward to it.
"I finished school in June and decided to take a year out to play golf to try and get my handicap lower.
When I was discussing it with my coach, he sugggested that I play the Orange Blossom Tour to gain some experience.
"Also, as the weather isn't very good here in Ireland in January, it will be nice to be playing in the sunshine!"
Ireland’s Marian Riordan was a winner on the Orange Blossom Tour in January 2005. She and an American player teamed up to win the International four-ball tournament which rings down the curtain on the short, sharp women’s amateur circuit in Florida.
In 1991, Catriona Matthew (North Berwick), as a member of the LGU Elite Squad, won the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup tournament.
Earlier this week the University of Stirling announced that it was sending six of its female golf scholarship students – Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Dawn Dewar (Monifieth), Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), Olivia Briggs (Delamere Forest), Alex Marshall (Burghley Park) and Emma Tipping (Sandiway). The first three are Scots, the second three were born in England – to play in two of next month’s events.
They will play in the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup and the International four-ball tournament.
Competing on the Orange Blossom Tour is an expensive business for players from this side of the Atlantic.
“If you had entered all four events this year, the combined entry fee would have $850,” said Carol Semple Thompson who will captain the US team in the 2006 Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon.
“Although there is some private housing available at the Orange Blossom Tour venues, you would have to reckon on hotel costs of around £70 to $100 a night. Then you would need to think about car rental to get around the venues.”
Then, of course, there is the cost of the return flight to Florida.
For a good-class lady amateur golfer in Europe, with little or no prospect of any kind of golf – tournament play or practice – during the month of January at home, the Orange Blossom Tour is an attractive proposition. All they need is a fistful of dollars.
++ If any low-handicap female amateur golfer reading this wants to enter any or all  three Florida tournaments after the Harder Hall Invitational, the appropriate E-mail contacts are: South Atlantic Amateur – mjkulz@aol.com, Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup – jj.sehlke@coralridgecc.com and the Women’s International Four-ball – brgilchrist@aol.com.

JAMES BYRNE JOINT FIFTH IN TEXAS
Banchory’s James Byrne finished joint fifth overall in the Cimarron Hills Country Club Junior Open at Georgetown, Texas. He had rounds of 80 and 78 for a total of 158 – six more than two-shot winner Michael Smith who had a pair of 76s for 152 over the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Byrne, a Scotland Under-16 international team player, figured in a triple tie for second place in the 16 to 18 years’ boys’ category which was also won by Michael Smith.
The two-day tournament was played in temperatures in the low 60s.
James finished fourth in the Texas Junior Open earlier in the week.
CIMARRON HILLS CC JUNIOR OPEN
Georgetown, Texas.
Leading totals (Par 72):
BOYS
152 Michael Smith 76 76.
154 Brenden Redfern 78 76.
157 Chase Anderson 81 76, Hayden Stephens 81 76.
158 James Byrne (Sco) 80 78, Scott Roudebush 75 83.
GIRLS
Kathryn Olivier 87 82.
171 Mei Liu 90 81, Brianna Coopman 91 80.
173 Courtney Peeler 89 84

Thursday 22nd December 2005

BYRNE FIVE SHOTS OFF TEXAS PACE
Banchory’s James Byrne, fourth in the Texas Junior Open earlier in the week, made a disappointing start to the Cimarron Hills Country Club Junior Open at Georgetown, Texas.
The Scotland Under-16 international, who won the North of England Under-16 open title in the autumn, had an eight-over-par round of 80 over the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Byrne will start the second and last round in joint sixth place, five shots behind joint leaders Bryce McCarthy and Scott Roudebush.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
75 Bryce McCarthy, Scott Roudebush.
76 Michael Smith.
78 Daniel Wood.
79 Taylor Knott.
80 James Byrne, Thomas Ball.

FROM UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS WOMEN'S GOLF WEBSITE
Dawn-Marie Conaty joins Lady Tiger programme in spring  
University of Memphis women's golf coach Jenny Bruun has announced the transfer of Dawn-Marie Conaty to the Lady Tiger programme from North Carolina State University.
A sophomore from Dublin, Ireland, Conaty comes to Memphis after spending a year in the Wolfpack program. Bruun said Conaty will make an impact right away with the Lady Tigers in their spring competition that begins the end of February.
"I am really looking forward to Dawn-Marie arriving in Memphis and becoming a part of our team," Bruun said. "Her positive attitude is contagious and she is one of those people everyone likes to be around. She is coming in with a great deal of national experience and a year of college experience playing in one of the elite conferences. Dawn-Marie will immediately provide us with more depth this spring."
At NC State, Conaty saw action in all five JV events. Her best tournament came at the Patsy Rendleman Invitational where she finished three-over with rounds of 76, 71 to tie for second. Conaty also tied for ninth at the Lady Falcon and 18th at the Coca-Cola Terrier Intercollegiate.
Conaty was a member of the Ireland Ladies Squad and a member of the Ireland Under-18 team from 2001-2004. In 2001, she won the Irish U18 Closed Championship as a 15-year-old. In 2003, Conaty won the News of the World U18 event. She graduated from the Institute of Education in 2004.
The Lady Tigers also recently released their 2006 spring schedule. Memphis will play its first tournament in Miami, Fla., at the Florida International Women's Golf Championship from Feb. 21-22. The Lady Tigers will then compete in the UNLV Spring Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., the John Kirk/Lady Panther Intercollegiate hosted by Georgia State in Stockbridge, Ga. And the Lady Eagle Invitational in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Conference USA Championship will be hosted by East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., from April 17-19.
A complete 2005-06 Memphis women's golf schedule with dates and location can be found at www.GoTigersGo.com.

CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The Scottish Golf Union has received an award of £346,082 to help develop the sport at all levels.
The cash boost, announced by sports minister Patricia Ferguson, includes  £198,000 from the sportscotland lottery fund and £148,082 of sportscotland exchequer funding from the Scottish Executive.
The clubgolf programme, a scheme aimed at introducing every child in Scotland to the game of golf by the age of nine, will receive £173,082
Leading Scottish male amateur golfers, include Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), who won Walker Cup honours, the Open Silver Medal, the St Andrews Links Trophy and the Brabazon Trophy, will benefit from a £61,000 investment in athlete support programmes.
Around £112,000 of the award will go towards the development of coaching at all levels across the country.
"This sportscotland funding will help ensure that the current generation of golfers have the right support and that the next generation have access to the coaching and equipment they need to become the best," said Patricia Ferguson.
Scottish Golf Union chief executive Hamish Grey, pictured right, commented:
"2005 has been an outstanding year for amateur golf in Scotland and we are beginning to see real returns from our investment in encouraging young people to take up golf."

Wednesday 21st December 2005

STIRLING UNIVERSITY GOLFING LASSES TO PLAY ON FLORIDA'S ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR 
The University of Stirling is to send its six best female golfing students  to Florida next month to compete in two events on the prestigious Orange Blossom Tour.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Dawn Dewar (Monifieth), Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) and English-born Alex Marshall, Olivia Briggs and Emma Tipping, will make the trip.
The players will spend almost three weeks in Florida preparing for and competing in the Jones/Doherty Amateur Championship at Coral Ridge Country Club and the Women’s International four-ball event hosted by Orangebrook Country Club.
It is almost 14 years since Catriona Matthew, then a Stirling University golf scholarship student and now the most successful Scottish player ever to play on the LPGA Tour, made the same trip and brought home the Jones/Doherty Cup.
Team captain Olivia Briggs, pictured right, a full England international player, commented:
‘The players are extremely thankful for the support offered by the University of Stirling to fund this trip. It is an excellent opportunity to play competitive golf during the winter period and test our skills against the best that America has to offer. In addition, it is an excellent lifetime experience that only Stirling University could offer to its students."
The Orange Blossom Tour consists of four events staged at high quality venues throughout Florida during the month of January. The tour has attracted a number of famous players in the past. Matthew’s name is engraved on the Doherty/Jones Cup alongside a number of other famous winners including American favourite Patty Berg, Nancy Rubin, Leslie Shannon, Michelle McGann, Vicki Goetze and Natalie Gulbis.
The Stirling players are supported at the University of Stirling through its R&A approved International Golf Scholarship Programme. Over the past 25 years, more than 150 golf scholarships have been awarded with more than 85 players going on to gain international honours.
Previous scholarship holders include recent Walker Cup player Richard Ramsay, former European Tour professional Gordom Sherry, Solheim Cup player Maria Hjorth and European Ladies Tour professional Lyn Kenny.
Colin Dalgleish, appointed this week as Great Britain & Ireland's team captain  for the 2007 Walker Cup, was the first student to gain a golf scholarship at Stirling University back in 1981.

SCOTLAND SELECTORS KEEP FAITH WITH THIS YEAR’S TEAM CAPTAINS IN 2006
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association selection committee are pinning their faith in this year’s team captains to turn around Scotland’s international fortunes in 2006.
It is more than seven years since a Scotland team won a title at any age level. That was the side who lifted the Under-18 girls’ home internationals’ crown at Mullingar in 1998.
“After coming so close to success at various levels in 2005, the selectors decided to stay with the same captains for 2006,” said SLGA chairman Margaret Rodgers.
That means that Fiona Anderson (Formby Ladies), Pam Gordon (Inverness), Jenny Jenkins (Ralston) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) will reprise the roles they played earlier this year.
Former Scottish champion Fiona Anderson, pictured right, who played out of Blairgowrie when she won the title at Nairn in 1987 and reached the final on three other occasions, has been given the task of leading a Scotland team to victory in the women’s home internationals at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire from September 13-15.
Scotland have not been women’s home champions since they won the title back to back in 1990 and 1991 at Hunstanton and then Aberdovey. It will be Lancashire-based Fiona’s third time in a row as captain.
" I was again thrilled and delighted and also amazed to be asked for a third time. I intend again to go and watch my prospective team members competing under pressure as often as I can,” said Miss Anderson.
“I fully appreciate many other captains don't have the luxury of free time available to me. I will, of course, be playing a wee bit of golf myself so I will have to choose my venues wisely.
“I strongly believe from the players available for the Scotland team in 2006 they are completely capable of beating all the other home countries. Making the players realise their full potential while competing is the key to our success.
“My team could be younger than ever but age is no barrier. I need players who believe they can win by themselves and to be sporting about their victories."
The senior women’s home internationals for the over-50s were introduced only in 2003 and England have been champions on each occasion. Pam Gordon from Inverness, pictured left, who has skippered eight Scotland teams at various age levels, said:
“I'm delighted to have been asked to captain the Scotland team in the senior home internationals at Hamilton in October (3 to 5). It is a great honour and privilege.
“This will be my ninth time as a Scottish team captain and I'm sure that with plenty of home support the team will win the trophy for Scotland. The senior team is something really special as some of the players have never played international golf before whereas some are renewing friendships from as far back as schooldays.
“On the course they are so competitive and play truly from the heart. Hosting the senior home internationals at Hamilton provides a wonderful opportunity for us all.”
Jenny Jenkins (Ralston), pictured right, Scottish girls’ match-play champion in 1988, will be on double international duty next year. First she leads the Scotland squad at the European Under-21 junior women’s team championship at Golf Club de Pan, Netherlands from July to 15.
Scotland has only ever landed one female European team title at any level. That was in 1980 when the Scots were winners of the European Under-21s’ title in Austria.
Miss Jenkins will again skipper the Scotland team in the Under-18 girls’ home internationals at Portstewart, Northern Ireland from August 9 to 11.
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), pictured left, made her international captaincy debut in Switzerland this past summer. She will again lead Scotland at the European Under-18 girls’ team championship, to be played at Esbjerg, Denmark from July 11 to 15.
The team captaincies are:
Women’s home internationals (Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire; Sept 13-15) – Fiona Anderson (Formby Ladies).
Senior women’s home internationals (Hamilton:  Oct 3-5) – Pam Gordon (Inverness).
European Under-21 junior women’s team championship (GC de Pan, Netherlands: July 11-15) – Jenny Jenkins (Ralston).
European Under-18 girls’ team championship (Esbjerg, Denmark: July 11-15) – Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
Girls'  home internationals (Portstewart, Northern Ireland: Aug 9-11) - Jenny Jenkins (Ralston).

Tuesday 20th December 2005

James Byrne, pictured on the right, at the 16-18 years boy winners presentation at the Texas Junior Open.

BANCHORY BOY FINISHES FOURTH IN TEXAS JUNIOR OPEN
Scottish Under-16 international team player James Byrne from Banchory finished fourth in the Texas Junior Open golf championhip. He had rounds of 77 and 76 over the Blackhorse Golf Club South Course and a 75 in the final round at Redstone Golf Club.
James’s 54-hole total of 12-over-par 228 saw him finish three shots behind the winner, Emiliano Martinez from Mexico. Emiliano scored 74, 76 and 75 for 225 to win by two strokes.
Sara Hemingway from Kingswood, Texas won the girls’ event with scores of 78, 72 and 76 for 226. She won by a commanding margin of 11 shots from Jackie Smith.
TEXAS JUNIOR OPEN – Blackhorse & Redstone Golf Clubs.
Leading totals (Par 72)
BOYS
(US unless stated)
225 Emiliano Martinez (Mexico) 74 76 75.
227 Ryan Sirman 77 73 77, Cory Whitsett 74 77 76.
228 James Byrne (Scotland) 77 76 75.
231 Ryan Haselden 75 78 78, Roberto Ruiz 78 77 76.
GIRLS
226 Sara Hemingway 78 72 76.
237 Jackie Smith 79 81 77.
241 Gina Bortoletto 85 76 80.

SGU Press Release
New Presidents for SGU
Gordon McInnes (Glasgow Golf Club) and David Moir (Lundin Golf Club) are to be appointed President and Vice President of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU), the governing body for amateur golf in Scotland.
The two men will take up their new roles following the SGU Annual General Meeting in January, at which Chairman Alistair Low is expected to announce a strong financial performance throughout 2005 providing a solid foundation on which to further develop the success of the amateur game in Scotland.
After his year as Vice President, McInnes succeeds Graham Ewart as SGU President.  As a past President and Secretary of Glasgow Golf Union, McInnes has been Glasgow’s representative to the SGU since 1991 and has served on the championship, coaching, finance and sponsorship committees.
As Managing Director of the building, property and ceramic tile company, the Levern Group, McInnes was responsible for the Group’s five-year sponsorship of the Scottish Boys and Girls Under-14 Stroke Play Championships and remains the named sponsor of the bi-annual Scotland v England Boys Under-16 International.
McInnes comments, “I am keen to ensure that we continue to enhance the support we give to golf in Scotland, working alongside others who share an unwavering interest in the game.”
An honorary member of Lundin, David Moir also has the distinction of being the youngest ever Club Captain.  He has been a member of Fife Golfing Association Executive since the early 70s and was President from 1982-84.  He has extensive experience in golf administration at various levels, including 17 years on the SGU championship committee, and was recently nominated to represent the GB&I Zone on the same committee of the European Golf Association.
Formerly sole principal of a firm of architects in Leven, Moir has been with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club since 1997 and is currently Manager of the Entries Department of R&A Championships Limited with responsibility for all R&A Championships including The Open.
“It is an honour to take up this new role and act as an ambassador for the Scottish amateur game in Scotland and abroad,” said Moir.
“Recent years have yielded outstanding success for Scottish amateur golf and I am confident we can build on the success already achieved.”

EGU Press Release
ENGLAND'S MORRISON WINS 2005 VICTORIA AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
England's James Morrison has won the Victoria Amateur Championship at Spring Valley Golf Club, Australia beating Queensland's Aaron Pike by one hole in the 36 hole Final.
On the final day of play, Sunday 18th December, under overcast skies and with a strong southerly wind making low scores difficult, the golf was of an exceptional quality with little separating the players all day. Pike led by two holes after the morning round, but Morrison (pictured left) came back to take a two hole lead into the last nine holes. Pike rallied to level the match by the 15th, but Morrison took the 17th to gain the lead and become the first non-Australian ever to win the Victorian Amateur Championship.
The victory tops off an excellent year for Morrison, whose home club is St George's Hill, Surrey. After achieving a semi final place in the English Amateur Championship, being placed fourth in the Finnish Amateur and regular representing the Surrey County side, Morrison was chosen as an England A Squad member in October this year.
Morrison was delighted with his victory in becoming the 60th player to take the title in the 105 year history of the event and commented, "I am very happy. All the hard work I have put in is paying off."
This prestigious Championship, won in the past by such players as Peter Thomson, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley, consists of 36 holes of qualifying stroke play followed by match play for the top 32 players.

R&A Press Release
COLIN DALGLEISH TO CAPTAIN GB&I TEAMS
The R&A has appointed Colin Dalgleish, captain of the Great Britain and Ireland teams for the St Andrews Trophy being played in Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic on 1 & 2 September 2006 and for the Walker Cup at Royal County Down on 8 & 9 September 2007.
"We are delighted that Colin has agreed to take on the role of captain," said Peter McEvoy, Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee.
"He has a wealth of experience, not only as a player but also in captaining Scotland to many successes. I have no doubt that under his leadership, the exciting group of youngsters coming through will be challenging for places in the teams destined to bring trophies back to the British Isles."
Dalgleish, 45, had a career in amateur golf that included success both as a player and as captain of Scotland. In 1981 he won the Scottish Amateur Championship at Western Gailes and later that year was rewarded with a place in the Walker Cup team that played the U.S. at Cypress Point.
He represented Scotland on a regular basis between 1981 and 1989 and following spells as captain of boys and youths teams, captained the senior team from 1993 to 1996 during which period they won the European Amateur Team Championship in Antwerp.
Dalgleish is a director of Perry Golf, a golf travel company specialising in trips between North America and Europe. He lives in, and plays most of his golf at Helensburgh, to a handicap of 2 and is also member of Loch Lomond and Caves Valley, Baltimore.
The 2006 R&A Selection Committee consists of Peter McEvoy (Chairman), Colin Dalgleish (Captain), David Carrick, Mark Gannon, Andrew Ingram and Leslie Walker

LPGA CHANGE THEIR MINIMUM AGE RULE UNDER PRESSURE FROM MORGAN PRESSEL 
Commissioner Carolyn Bivens has announced that Morgan Pressel, who will not have her 18th birthday until May 23, will be able to compete on the LPGA Tour when its 2006 season tees off in Hawaii in mid-February.
"Morgan is an exceptionally talented young player who will be a terrific addition to the LPGA Tour. The decision we made earlier this year was the right decision at the time but after an additional evaluation of her performances over the last several months, I am now confident she's ready to compete successfully on the Tour."
The LPGA Tour rules state that a player must be at least 18 before she can apply for membership. Miss Pressel, while still an amateur, told the LPGA officials that she wanted to become a fully paid-up member of the tour before her 18th birthday, i.e. from the start of the 2006 season.
Now she has succeeded in having the world's No 1 female professional circuit amend its rules - for her benefit.
In fairness, the LPGA constitution does state that women between the ages of 15 and 18 my be granted special permission to apply for membership "by demonstrating to the commissioner their capacity to assume professional and financial responsibilities required of the association's tournament membership."
Morgan, the 2005 US women's amateur champion, finished sixth in the recent LPGA Final Qualifying School.
The fact that Michele Wie, now a professional, is still only 16 years of age may have had more than a little influence in changing the LPGA's way of thinking.

Monday 19th December 2005

BANCHORY BOY TAKES CLOSER ORDER IN TEXAS JUNIOR OPEN
Banchory’s James Byrne, a Scotland Under-16 international team player, has moved up to share fifth place, three strokes behind the joint leaders, with one round to play in the Texas Junior Open at Blackhorse Golf Club, Cypress.
James, winner of the North of England Under-16 boys’ open title at Pannal in the autumn, has had rounds of 77 and 76 for a nine-over-par tally of 153.
Emiliano Martinez (74-76) and Ryan Sirman (77-73) share the lead on 150.
James has entered three back-to-back events on the Texas junior golf circuit as he did this time last year.
It’s not cheap to play in Texas junior golf tournaments. The entry fee for the current event is $250, the second $175 and the third $250 again, making a total of $675 just to enter three competitions.
TEXAS JUNIOR OPEN – Blackhorse Golf Club, Cypress.
Second-round leaders (Par 72)…
150 Emiliano Martinez 74 76, Ryan Sirman 77 73.
151 Kelly Kraft 73 78, Cory Whitsett 74 77.
153 James Byrne (Sco) 77 76, Ryan Haselden 75 78.

Young golfers benefit as Highland Institute welcomes golf as a new sport
Three of Highland’s most talented young golfers will be inducted into the Highland Institute of Sport this month, as Scotland’s Area Institute of Sport network embraces golf as a core sport for the first time.
John Fair (Fortrose) Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose) and Kelsey McDonald (Nairn) are  amongst 26 young golfers from an original shortlist of more than 200 selected across Scotland who will now  benefit from a wide range of support services offered through the Area Institute network.
The Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies Golf Association will continue to provide technical and tactical expertise.  The Highland Institute of Sport aims to help each player become a fully conditioned  athlete by providing top-quality training facilities locally, access to sports science, a fully integrated strength and conditioning programme, sports medicine and athlete career and education services.
“This is a massive step forward for Scottish golf,” said Scotland’s National Junior Coach, Spencer Henderson.
“All the coaches and the players are really excited because this will take them to the next level.  I can see a lot of these players going on to play for Scotland at top amateur level, of which a percentage will hopefully go on and turn professional.
“It means that in addition to the technical coaching they already receive, they will now have a team of specialists behind them who will help them with their physical conditioning and advise them on what to eat and drink on the course so they don’t get dehydrated or fatigue.  Most of it will be brand new to them but catching them at such an early age with a holistic approach to the sport should become a habit.”
In Tiger Woods, the new Highland Institute golfers have the perfect example of the benefits of becoming a fully conditioned golf athlete.
“More and more golfers are seeing the benefits of this type of preparation,” said Henderson.  “Tiger is the benchmark; he’s fit, flexible, trains and looks like an athlete. Junior players respect role models like him and I’m sure that the rest of the young players in Scotland will now start looking up to the players who have been selected for the Area Institute programmes.”
One player who needs no convincing that the Highland Institute will help lift her towards her long term ambition of becoming a professional golfer is Nairn 15 year old, Kelsey McDonald.
A one-handicap, Kelsey became a member of both Scotland’s 18 and under squad and the Home Internationals team this season. But an intense April to October playing schedule left her tired, jaded  and in need of a comprehensive conditioning programme.
“I played a lot this year and I ended up tired at the end of the year so I’m hoping to build up my strength and stamina over the winter,” said the Nairn Dunbar competitor who plans to become a Scratch-handicap in 2006. 
“Having a supervised strength and conditioning programme at Inverness Sport Centre twice a week over the winter will make a big difference.  I’m very fortunate that I haven’t been injured so far but if I do get an injury, then I know that there is a physiotherapist I can see. 
“I’ve already had a medical and I’m planning to see the nutritionist who will be a big help. I will have access to a lifestyle consultant who can advise me on whether I should go to a Scottish or an American university.”
Said Highland Institute of Sport Manager, Chris Hildrey, “Golf in the Highlands has benefited tremendously from the clubgolf initiative and it is very important that we can assist in providing support for elite young athletes on the pathway to golfing success.
“We want every young Scottish golfer to be able to play 36 holes in a day and feel as fresh at the end as they did at the start.
“Whilst their golf coaching is being looked after by governing bodies, we will ensure that each player receives a golf specific programme complete with strength and conditioning, nutritional input, performance lifestyle and medical profiling.
“These athletes have all come through a rigorous selection process to be selected for the Highland Institute of Sport and we believe we have an excellent programme which will help each of them reach their potential.”

PRESS RELEASE
MURCAR LINKS TO STAGE £135,000 CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT
Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie have added their considerable support to the establishment of the first European Challenge Tour event to be staged in Scotland for 12 years, the Scottish Challenge, to be hosted by Murcar Links Golf Club, north of Aberdeen, from July 6 to 9 next year. 
The £135, 000 tournament, which will be funded in the main by EventScotland, has been conceived as a direct result of Scotland’s successful bid to host the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
It is hoped that such an event, which will be an annual fixture on the Scottish golfing calendar up until – and beyond – the 2014 Ryder Cup, will produce a generation of Scots golfers who aspire to reach the heights attained by 1999 Open Champion Lawrie and eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Montgomerie, who is one the most prolific points scorers in the history of The Ryder Cup.
As well as enlisting the invaluable support of EventScotland, the Scottish Challenge, which will occupy a prime position on the 2006 Challenge Tour Schedule and take place the week before the Barclays Scottish Open, will have backing from Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, the Stewart Milne Group, and media partners, the Aberdeen Press and Journal.
Murcar Links Golf Club has a proven championship course in the finest of Scottish traditions. Established in 1909 to the design of Archie Simpson, with later refinements by five time Open Champion James Braid, Murcar has frequently featured in the top 100 courses in the British Isles. The 6,314 yard, par-71 lay-out played host earlier this year to the qualifying round of the 2005 Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
There is also a nine-hole course at Murcar.
Both Lawrie and Montgomerie are delighted to see the Challenge Tour re-establishing itself in their homeland, and hope that the Scottish Challenge can give aspiring Scottish talent the chance to join them at golf’s top level.
Montgomerie said: “This is great news for golf in Scotland and will give younger players making their way in the game the opportunity to test themselves against a very high standard of player from all over Europe, and indeed, the rest of the world. The fact that the Scottish Challenge has come about as a result of The Ryder Cup going to Gleneagles in 2014 highlights how important The Ryder Cup, and its legacy, will be to our country.”
Aberdeen resident Lawrie, a huge supporter of junior golf in the Grampian area, added: “Any tournament that gives young Scottish players the chance to raise and improve their games should be welcomed. To have secured Murcar Golf Links, a course I know well, is a great coup for the Scottish Challenge, and I think the tournament will be well supported by local people.”
The Scottish Challenge is part of a wide ranging programme of events drawn up as a direct result of Scotland’s successful bid to host The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. A key focus of that bid was to support the development of golf throughout the younger age ranges. The most tangible result of this has been the establishment of the ClubGolf junior development programme, supported by the Scottish Executive through SportScotland.
Patricia Ferguson, The Scottish Executive’s Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport, said: “Attracting the Scottish Challenge is another feather in the cap for EventScotland. It reinforces our determination to make Scotland a world-beating destination for top class events. It will be a key stepping-stone for the development of our best young players, and I hope it uncovers future Scottish Ryder Cup stars of the calibre of Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie.”
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring a Challenge Tour event back to Scotland. The Scottish Challenge adds yet another tournament to our portfolio of world-class golf events.”
With 20 European Tour cards awarded to the leading players on the Rankings at the end of each season, the Challenge Tour is widely accepted as the best way for aspiring young professionals to make the breakthrough to the top level.
Marc Warren certainly subscribes to that theory, having become the first Scot in the Challenge Tour’s 17 year history to top the rankings last season. The 24 year old is now set to join Montgomerie and Lawrie on the 2006 European Tour, but is delighted to see the Tour that gave him the chance to launch his professional career returning to Scotland.
“It’s brilliant that the Challenge Tour is going to have a Scottish tournament for the foreseeable future because it is a great place to learn. The way I look at it, I am going to be doing exactly the same things when I play on The European Tour as I have been doing for the past few seasons on the Challenge Tour and that experience should count for a lot," said Marc.
"The four-round events, the travelling and everything that comes with it will be exactly the same on the main European Tour. It also brings you down to earth and makes you work hard to keep competing, which, I think, can do a lot of good for young Scottish players.”
Murcar Golf Club, who officially reverted to its original title of Murcar Links Golf Club at its recent annual meeting, celebrates its centenary in 2009.
A complete refurbishment of the Murcar clubhouse began on November 1 and will be completed by next April.
The reconstruction of Murcar’s extensive practice area, situated adjacent to the clubhouse, and improvements to the course by Graeme Webster, who has designed some of the best practice ranges in Scotland, including Kingsacre and Meldrum House, have also begun.
“There has been an unbelievable amount of work put in behind the scenes at Murcar over the last two years to get us to this point,” said club captain Derek Mortimer.
“Murcar has been a sleeping giant for too many years now and I’m looking forward to the giant waking up fully in 2006.
“The condition of both our courses this year has been universally acclaimed as being at their best in decades. We had had record visitor numbers in 2005 and with the overall improvement under way as regards the off-course facilities, it’s an exciting time to be a Murcar Golf club member as we approach our Centenary year of 2009.”

R&A Press Release
COURSE ALTERATIONS TO ROYAL BIRKDALE
In February 2004 The R&A announced that Royal Birkdale would host the 2008 Open Championship, the ninth time that golf’s oldest major will have graced the wonderful links at Southport.
In 1965, when Peter Thomson rounded off his collection of Open wins with a further triumph that he described as his ‘greatest win’, he added that Birkdale was "man-sized but not a monster."
Alterations are currently being put in place to maintain that description but at the same time to pose new challenges for the world’s greatest golfers.
These course alterations have been agreed between Royal Birkdale Golf Club and The R&A and have been completed with the assistance of Martin Hawtree, golf course architect, who has been involved with previous modifications at Royal Birkdale. The Hawtrees, have been involved with Royal Birkdale since the 1930’s through the original connection established with Martin’s grandfather and then father, both named Fred. The present brief was to ‘tighten up’ the course without resorting to an excessive increase in length.
This has resulted in one new green at the 17th, 20 new hazards, 16 of which are fairway bunkers and six new tees, leading to a total length of approximately 7122 yards, an increase of 154 yards.
The works are being carried out by SOL Golf Construction Ltd who are based in Ireland and will be completed well in advance of the 2008 Open Championship.
Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A said: "Royal Birkdale has always been a strong Open venue and we feel that by introducing these changes, that challenge can be maintained."
"We have paid particular attention to the introduction of tee shots that give players a number of strategic options and through tighter bunkering and the recontouring of green surrounds, intend to make players execute more imaginative recovery shots around the greens."
Speaking on behalf of Royal Birkdale, the Captain, John Henthorn said: "The Club is delighted and excited to be introducing these changes which will toughen up the course, providing a greater challenge not only for the world’s top players but also for our members and visitors alike."

Sunday 18th December 2005

BANCHORY BOY IN TOP TEXAS TEN
Scotland Under-16 international James Byrne, pictured right, from Banchory was lying joint seventh with a five-over-par 77 at the end of the first round of the Texas Junior Open over the Blackhorse Golf Club South Course at Cypress, Texas.
James was four shots behind the leader, Kelly Kraft, in a field of 64.

CATRIONA AND JANICE TEE IT UP FOR SCOTLAND IN 2ND WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
The second Women’s World Cup of Golf will take place at the Gary Player Country Club, Sun City in the North West Province, South Africa from January 20 to 22 .
A total of 20 nations are to compete for a purse of $1.1million over 54 holes of foursomes, better-ball and individual stroke-play.
The teams announced are:
AUSTRALIA
Shani Waugh and Rachel Hetherington
BRAZIL
Candy Hannemann and Luciana Bemvenuti
CANADA
Lorie Kane and A.J. Eathorne
COLUMBIA
Marisa Baena and Cristina Baena
ENGLAND
Kirsty Taylor and Laura Davies
FINLAND
Minea Blomqvist and Riikka Hakkarainen
FRANCE
Gwladys Nocera and Karine Icher
GERMANY
Anja Monke and Miriam Nagl
ITALY
Veronica Zorzi and Silvia Cavalleri
JAPAN
Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine
KOREA
Meena Lee and Bo Bae Song
NEW ZEALAND
Lynnette Brooky and Gina Scott
PHILIPPINES
Jennifer Rosales and Ana Larraneta
SCOTLAND
Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie
SOUTH AFRICA
Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon
SPAIN
Marta Prieto and Paula Marti
SWEDEN
Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann
TAIWAN
Amy Hung and Yu Ping Lin
UNITED STATES
Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis
WALES
Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan

LIZA FINISHES JOINT 25TH BEHIND AMATEUR WINNER OF THAILAND LADIES MASTERS
Liza Walters from Nottingham tied for 25th place in the Thailand Ladies Masters at Phuket Country Club on Saturday.
Liza, who now lives in Derbyshire, started well with a first-round 68 but dropped down the leaderboard with subsequent scores of 78 and 79 for a 54-hole final total of nine-over-par 225.
Eleanor Pilgrim from Wales failed by one stroke to survive the 36-hole cut.
She had rounds of 76 and 80 for 156.
A Thailand amateur player, Nontaya Srisawang, winner of the gold medal in the women’s golf event at the recent South-east Asia Games, won the Thailand Ladies Masters title and trophy – but not the cash prize – with scores of 73, 68 and 72 for a three-under-par total of 213.
She won by one shot from Korea’s Park Hee Young with scores of 76, 70 and 68.
Korea also provided the third-placed Ji Eun Hee who shot 70, 72 and 73 for 215.

Friday 16th December 2005

ELGA Press Release
ELGA members toasted England’s successes of 2005 and looked ahead to the future at the association’s annual meeting in Cheltenham.
Outgoing chairman Jenny Clink highlighted the many golfing triumphs of the season and told around 300 members: “This has been one of the most successful years in our history.”
She also drew attention to a modernisation review which is being undertaken by ELGA to meet the challenges of the future with a dynamic, forward-looking strategy.
The wide-ranging project is part of the lottery-funding agreement with Sport England. It will consider all aspects of ELGA’s operation and, at the annual meeting, members gave a clear mandate for a review of the rules of the association.
The modernisation review began in September with a survey of all stakeholders in English ladies’ amateur golf. It continues in 2006 with workshops for executive committee members, staff and representatives from clubs, counties, divisions and other external bodies.
The results and proposed changes will be presented to ELGA members at a future meeting, hopefully early in 2007.
ELGA members are also to be asked again to approve a subscription increase. A proposal to increase the annual subscription by £1.50 to £7.50 just failed to reach the necessary two-thirds majority at the annual meeting, with 64 per cent of votes in favour. A second proposal to increase the subscription annually by the rate of inflation also failed to reach this majority.

Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club

IAN BOTHAM BECOMES RING OF KERRY GOLF & COUNTY CLUB’S INTERNATIONAL CAPTAIN
Cricketing legend Ian Botham has been unanimously elected “International Captain” by an enthusiastic membership of The Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club in south-west Ireland.
Ian “Beefy” Botham, who has generously given so much of his time for charitable causes, has been a member of “The Ring” for the past three years.
When approached by the club, Ian immediately agreed to his name being forward as international captain, in other words a high-profile sporting ambassador on behalf of the club.
“I will wear the green jacket with pride, if elected,” was his response and, needless to say, the members of “The Ring” had no hesitation if electing Ian who undertakes to promote the interests of Ring of Kerry Golf & County Club in the international market.
Sue Ryan, the club’s sales and marketing manager, explained that Botham’s appointment is far from being a token title.
“The role of international captain is very important in the promotion of the club’s interests overseas. The previous holder, Michael O’Sullivan, carried out these duties from his base in London and Michael was most enthusiastic about his mantle being taken over by Ian Botham,” said Sue.
Michael commented: “I cannot think of a better and more appropriate figure than Mr Botham to undertake this role. This appointment shows how far Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club has developed since its opening in 1998.”
“Ian Botham is a regular visitor to the club and loves the course and the area. He played in our Irish PGA programme last August and we are in talkes to host an Ian Botham PGA Charity pro-am in 2006 which will see some celebrities from the UK taking part together with a few UK professionals,” added Sue Ryan.
A round of golf at “The Ring” with Ian Botham, two return flights to Ireland, two nights bed and breakfast and dinner at the Brook Lane Hotel, Kenmare, plus car hire with Dan Dooley was auctioned for £7,500 in Terry Wogan’s Children in Need Charity programme on BBC Television earlier this year.
It was the third year of the fund-raising package devised by Sue Ryan and supported in style by Ian Botham. In 2003, it raised £11,000 for Children in Need and in 2004, the charity benefited to the tune of £12,000.
Terry Wogan, himself, is no stranger to Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club. “Terry visited us two years ago for the first time and since then has given us regular glowing mentions on his morning radio programme,” said Sue Ryan, pictured right. “He is an honorary member of the golf club and it was a a result of his first visit that, with Ian Botham’s help, we put together the Children in Need package.
If you want to know more about Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club, log on to their website: www.ringofkerrygolf.com or E-mail Sue Ryan at marketing@ringofkerrygolf.com

Thursday 15th December 2005

PUTT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME!
- Teens and Celebrities Choose Dream Golf Caddies -
She may have had her feet up of late but according to a new survey by the British Heart Foundation (BHF)1 almost a quarter (22%) of golf-mad teenagers think it's time for Britney Spears to get back to work as their dream golf caddy.
The US singer proved to be well above par by beating a range of top celebrities including Will Smith (21%), Beyonce Knowles (19%) and Ant and Dec (8%). The BHF carried out the research amongst young players to launch the BHF Junior Golf Championship 2006. It hopes more under 18's will take part in the only team contest played nationally that is open to both boys and girls of all levels of play.
The nation's heart Charity also asked a number of celebrity golf fans from the worlds of sport and showbiz to name their No1 companion on the golf course with choices ranging from the sensible to the sensational:
*TV Presenter Kirsty Gallacher chose Jonathan Ross, she said: "He is so funny and would really look the part in his plus fours- I'm sure there is a secret golfer in him that's just dying to get out!"
*Cricket hero and dance sensation Darren Gough had more romantic intentions, "I'd choose Tara Reid. I think she'd inspire me and then I could take her out for dinner to say thanks!"
*Football pundit Gary Lineker decided to make his colleague Alan Hansen sweat "*because I know how much he would hate doing it and would want to play a round himself".
The BHF Junior Golf Championship gives young golfers the opportunity to compete at a national level, whilst raising essential funds for the BHF- in fact the survey also revealed that 47% of players think the best thing about the Championship is raising money for Charity. In 2005, the competition broke all previous fundraising records raising almost £280,000 nationwide. 
Over 4,800 young golfers from golf clubs and schools across the UK took part in the Championship last year. In 2006, over 90 preliminary rounds will be held in the spring, followed by 11 regional finals in the summer, with the top 21 teams going through to the national final held at world-class golf course The Belfry.
The competition is open to players under 18 years old from golf clubs and schools. Each team of three players competes in a Stableford points competition. Teams interested in entering in the 2006 event should call the British Heart Foundation on 020 7487 7149, visit bhf.org.uk/juniorgolf or email bertogaln@bhf.org.uk

Derek Brown, winner of a Five-Star Professional award

FIVE-STAR PROFESSIONAL DEREK SIGNS NEW FIVE-YEAR VALDERRAMA CONTRACT
Perth-born Derek Brown, a highly successful golf professional administrator in both Scotland and Spain, has signed a new five-year contract with owner Jaime Ortiz-Patino as general manager at Valderrama Golf Club on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Derek passed on the news during his acceptance speech at the PGAs of Europe Gala Dinner at which he was named one of the three winners of the Five-Star Professional Awards for 2005.
The others were Ove Sellberg (Sweden) and David Silva (Portugal).
Derek was born in Perth on February 5, 1950 and was golf captain at Perth Academy from 1966 to 1967. A scratch golfer, played for the Perthshire country team as a junior and adult between 1966 and 1968.
He was appointed vice-captain of Auchterarder Golf Club in 1969.
Although Derek had become a Member of the Associate of Bankers in Scotland in 1968, having started training with the Bank of Scotland, he decided to become a professional golfer later than year.
“I began my professional golf career working with Ian Marchbank at Gleneagles. Throughout my 15 years there, I achieved and maintained the high standards of professional and service required at Gleneagles and, in turn, passed on these standards to the many young assistant professionals – he had six at any one time – in my charge,” says Derek.
“I was very fortunate to have enjoyed the ‘Gleneagles Experience’ in the formative years of my professional golf career. This provided me with the perfect launch pad for my future career.”
Derek left Scotland for the first time to become Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin’s partner in a golf business at Sotogrande, based at what was then known as Las Aves Golf Club. Jaime Ortiz-Patino bought the club in 1984 and immediately renamed it Valderrama Golf Club.
Derek remained at the club which was to become recognised as No 1 in Europe, staging the 1997 Ryder Cup match, but Tony Jacklin moved on.
In 1991 Derek came home to Scotland, having been invited by Peter Lederer, the managing director of the Gleneagles Group to establish a new company which would lead Gleneagles into the international golf market place.
“My contract was for two years by my own choice. It was a time to develop new ideas and concepts, with a main priority being given to golf course design and golf management in other areas of the world,” says Derek.
“However, things were developing so slowly that I chose to work for myself again when the contract came to an end.
“My next challenge, in 1994-95, was to create, with a partner, our own pay-and-play golf centre. Our first project was the Blackwater Valley Golf Centre in Hampshire.”
In September 1995, Derek was tempted back to Spain to accept the post of golf director at Atalaya Golf & Country Club near Marbella.
“My job was to re-establish Atalaya as a top golf resort and to make it profitable for the first time in 25 years. I was given total control and responsibility for all affairs the golf club, including improving the condition of both 18 hole courses.
“When I finished my contract in early 2000, I was proud of what I had achieved with my team at Atalaya Golf & Country Club. In 1999, alone there was an increase in profits to 139 million pesetas.”
Derek’s next post was golf director of Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club, also in the Marbella region.
“This was a contract of one year as I had already committed myself to accepted the position of Valderrama’s general manager, beginning in March 2001.
During Derek’s term at Monte Mayor, golf became far more enjoyable over one of the hilliest courses in the region, the reputation of the club improved and more holiday golfers went there to play. At the end of his one-year stay, Monte Mayor had a substantial net operating profit of more than 40 million pesetas.
“To return to Valderamma as general manager in March 2001, at the invitation of Mr Ortiz-Patino, was an exciting opportunity. At Valderrama, the members and visitors expect better than the best and I make sure that they are not disappointed. Only the best is good enough.”

Wednesday 14th December 2005

Golf Writers Trophy goes to Annika for the second time
Congratulations to Annika Sorenstam who has won the Golf Writers Trophy for the second time in three years. Annika won 11 out of the 21 tournaments that she played in, including two majors. Here is a list of previous winners:-
GOLF WRITERS' TROPHY WINNERS
1951 - Max Faulkner
1952 - Miss Elizabeth Price
1953 - Joe Carr
1954 - Miss Frances Stephens
1955 - LGU Junior Team (Mrs BR Bostock, capt)
1956 - John Beharrell
1957 - Dai Rees
1958 - Harry Bradshaw
1959 - Eric Brown
1960 - Sir Stuart Goodwin
1961 - Cdr. RCT Roe
1962 - Mrs Marley Spearman
1963 - Michael Lunt
1964 - Eisenhower Trophy Team (Joe Carr, capt)
1965 - Gerald Micklem
1966 - Ronnie Shade
1967 - John Panton
1968 - Michael Bonallack
1969 - Tony Jacklin
1970 - Tony Jacklin
1971 - Walker Cup Team (Michael Bonallack, capt)
1972 - Miss Mickey Walker
1973 - Peter Oosterhuis
1974 - Peter Oosterhuis
1975 - The Golf Foundation
1976 - Eisenhower Trophy Team (Sandy Saddler, capt)
1977 - Christy O'Connor Sen.
1978 - Peter McEvoy
1979 - Severiano Ballesteros
1980 - Sandy Lyle
1981 - Bernhard Langer
1982 - Gordon Brand Jnr
1983 - Nick Faldo
1984 - Severiano Ballesteros
1985 - Ryder Cup Team (Tony Jacklin, capt)
1986 - Curtis Cup Team (Diane Bailey, capt)
1987 - Ryder Cup Team (Tony Jacklin, capt)
1988 - Sandy Lyle
1989 - Walker Cup Team (Geoff Marks, capt)
1990 - Nick Faldo
1991 - Severiano Ballesteros
1992 - Solheim Cup Team (Mickey Walker, capt)
1993 - Bernhard Langer
1994 - Laura Davies
1995 - Ryder Cup Team (Bernard Gallacher, capt)
1996 - Colin Montgomerie
1997 - Alison Nicholas
1998 - Lee Westwood
1999 - Sergio Garcia
2000 - Lee Westwood
2001 - Walker Cup Team (Peter McEvoy, capt)
2002 - Ryder Cup Team (Sam Torrance, capt)
2003 - Annika Sorenstam
2004 - Ryder Cup Team (Bernhard Langer, capt)
2005 - Annika Sorenstam

Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers clubhouse

R&A Press Release
MUIRFIELD TO STAGE THE 2007 SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT
Muirfield in Scotland has been announced as the venue for The 2007 Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, from July 26-29, 2007. It will be the first time the Championship has been staged on The Open Championship course and the move will coincide with the 50th birthday of Nick Faldo.
Faldo won two of his three Open titles at Muirfield - beating Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis by a stroke in 1987, before holding off John Cook five years later – and the Englishman is eligible to make his debut in the 2007 Senior version of the Championship as he turns 50 in the week prior to the event.
And with Seve Ballesteros reaching the same milestone in April 2007, Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, looks set to welcome two of the all-time greats of European golf for the 21st edition of The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
The tournament, which is co-sanctioned between The R&A, the European Seniors Tour and the US Champions Tour, will complete a memorable two weeks on the East Coast of Scotland with The Open Championship being played the week before at Carnoustie.
David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A, said: "The R&A is delighted that The Senior British Open Championship will be played at Muirfield for the first time in 2007 and hopes that many of the past Open Champions who have won there will return again and support the Championship."
Muirfield – the fourth Open venue to be used for the Seniors’ flagship event after Royal Portrush, Royal Lytham & St Annes and The Westin Turnberry Resort - has a rich history of producing great champions with the latest being Ernie Els, who beat Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington and Thomas Levet in a play-off at The Open in 2002.
Tom Watson, winner of 12 Majors including two Senior British Open Championships, also lifted the Claret Jug at the famous East Lothian links back in 1980 when he beat Lee Trevino by four shots. However, before the American can start thinking about his return to Muirfield he will be focused on defending The Senior British Open Championship at The Westin Turnberry Resort between July 27-30, 2006 – another course where he has enjoyed success.
Not only did Watson triumph over Jack Nicklaus to win the memorable ‘Duel in the Sun’ Open Championship in 1977, he also overcame a duel of a different nature at Turnberry in 2003, the last time The Senior British Open Championship was staged there, beating England’s Carl Mason at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off. He reclaimed the title at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in July with another play-off success, this time over Ireland’s Des Smyth at the third extra hole.
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: "We witnessed a terrific tournament at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club and we are delighted to be involved as presenting sponsor of the next two Championships, at The Westin Turnberry Resort and Muirfield."

SIAN REDDICK NAMED BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S GOLFER OF THE MONTH
Sian Reddick from Folkestone, a sophomore golf scholarship student at Baylor University, Texas, was named Big 12 Conference Women's Golfer of the Month for November. 
Sian tied for fifth at the Kent Youel Invitational tournament with a 54-hole total of 224. The England international player  started out with an even-par 72, followed by rounds of 74 and 75. It was her second top-five finish of the first half of the US women's college golf 2005-2006season. She is currently second on the Baylor women's team with a 74 stroke average.
It was the first "golfer of the month" award Sian has won during her stay in the United States.
She won the 2004 English women's closed amateur stroke-play championship at Woodhall Spa, at the same time lifting the Under-23 and Under-21 stroke-play titles.
Miss Reddick will return to competitive action after the mid-season break in the Central District Invitationl at Parrish, Florida on February 20-21.

Representatives from eight Borders golf clubs and clubgolf at this week’s road show at Kelso GC

Press Release
Minto first Borders golf club to join national junior strategy
Minto Golf Club, mid way between Hawick and Jedburgh, is the first Borders club to step forward to join the nationwide drive to encourage children to start golf.
The parkland club, which has a very healthy attitude towards encouraging youngsters to use its course, including running a junior night every Friday, was one of eight Borders clubs (the others were Duns, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Kelso, Lilliards Edge, Roxburghe and Torwoodle) which attended the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf’s road show staged at Kelso Golf Club.
The aim of the evening, hosted by clubgolf’s East of Scotland Regional Manager, Sheila Lamb and Ann Lang, clubgolf’s Club Development Manager, was to give junior convenors and potential volunteer coaches an opportunity to adopt the strategy within their own clubs.
“Juniors are the lifeblood of our club, no expense is ever spared for them and we want to encourage more to join,” said Mary Glendinning, Minto’s Junior Convenor. “The younger they start the better and we hope that through clubgolf we will attract more juniors from the local community.”
clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.
For local children in the Borders their introduction to the game will come at school via firstclubgolf, the strategy’s introductory game. Launched by former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie in Edinburgh this year, firstclubgolf is played with multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets. Taught by teachers, it is designed as a safe and exciting introduction to the game for nine year olds.
Children who enjoy the experience, and over 12,000 did across Scotland in 2005, can chose to progress to clubgolf’s Level 1 course; 23 hours of coaching in the fundamentals of the game, using real equipment at a local club.
Whilst it is expected that the first group of Borders children will begin clubgolf’s Stage 1 course at local clubs as early as next April, local teachers, volunteers and golf club members will need to be trained over the next three months to deliver coaching.
“We already have good links with the local clubs and driving ranges through the Active Schools programme where kids get the opportunity for coaching at holiday time,” said Eleanour Pearson, Active Schools Manager for the Borders.
“clubgolf will help us further develop these links and provide us with a good network and a development pathway for local children to play golf. At school clubgolf will be delivered through our Active Schools Primary co-ordinators who will provide training for other people interested in delivering clubgolf, such as  teachers, parent and older pupils.
“Two of our co-ordinators will be trained in January and we’re hopeful the coaching in school will start next term if clubgolf can make the links with the golf clubs.”
Meanwhile, Borders clubs will soon have the opportunity to prepare for a new intake of juniors by sending members who are keen to become part time coaches on the two-day PGA clubgolf Level 1 Training for Volunteers Course.
Golf clubs wishing to find out more about clubgolf can contact:
Sheila Lamb, clubgolf East of Scotland Manager: Mob: 07956 540595  E-mail: Sheila.lamb@educ.edin.gov.uk
Ann Lang, clubgolf Club Development Manager: Mob: 07810 501577  E-mail: ann@golf-foundation.org
 

Tuesday 13th December 2005

World-famous Turnberry Hotel

Press Release
Turnberry announces the Centenary Concerts presented by Glenfiddich  May 26/28 2006
Turnberry 9th December 2006
As part of their 100th birthday celebrations The Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire today announced the first two Centenary Concerts, presented by Glenfiddich, on Friday, May 26 and Sunday, May 18, 2006. It was also confirmed that these concerts would become part of the 2006 ‘Burns’ an’ a That! Festival.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Turnberry’s Sales & Marketing Director Stephen Walker said: “ These events have been a long time in the planning and could not have been made possible without the generous sponsorship of Glenfiddich and the creativity of Pete Irvine and his team at Unique Events. The partnership with ‘Burns an’ a That! sits these concerts neatly into the festival programme and showcases Turnberry as an iconic place in the land of the National Bard.
Over the bank holiday weekend of 26-28 May the Hotel lawns with their spectacular seaside views will be transformed into a truly magnificent amphitheatre seating up to 1000 guests. On Friday 26th May, The Orchestra of Scottish Opera will provide the platform for a number of celebrity soloists currently being finalised by Unique Events.  On Sunday 28th May the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will host a Scottish Gala Evening with special guests to include Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain.
Linda McClure, CEO of the new Burns Festival Company said ‘This is such a great example of the private and public networks coming together to create a unique series of events not only for the benefit of the festival and local community but also to bring guests from across the globe to this corner Scotland”
Stewart Selbie, General Manager at The Westin Turnberry Resort said: “I am extremely proud to be involved in celebrating such a momentous year for Turnberry and I look forward to sharing the many spectacular events that we have planned with our loyal guests and colleagues.”
The Westin Turnberry Resort is a five red star resort located on the rugged south west coast of Scotland.  Famed for its Championship golf, The Ailsa Course at The Westin Turnberry Resort was recently chosen as host venue for the 138th Open Championship from 16-19 July 2009.
A range of residential packages for The Centenary Concerts presented by Glenfiddich with prices from £285 per person are available to book on 01655 3339991 or visit www.westin.com/turnberry
Concert tickets will be made available to the public from early February 2006.

Press Release
The perfect Christmas break from playing golf
For a unique Christmas shopping experience why not take time out from the hustle and bustle of the high street to come along to the British Golf Museum.  Our welcoming staff can help you solve your Christmas gift dilemmas.  Let us guide you to the perfect gift for the your golf enthusiast.  Choose from our extensive range of unique golfing accessories and once you have finished, we will gift wrap and gift tag it for you! The museum is located just 5 minutes walk from the main shopping area in St Andrews, at the heart of the Home of Golf. The museum lies in a unique location.  Yards from the front doors of The Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse, the Old Course and facing the beautiful West Sands beach.  We have ample car parking directly beside the museum and are just 5 minutes walk from the bus station. 
Once inside, why not take time out from shopping to visit our 5 Star, award- winning museum.  On entering the museum you can compare your grips to the greats with our Major's Collection of bronze casts of the grips of golfing greats from Nick Faldo to Jack Nicklaus.  Visitors are then greeted with continuous highlights from past Open Championships.  Once inside the museum you can explore the history of golf from the Middle Ages to the present day through exciting displays and stunning new interactives.  A unique opportunity awaits at the end of your visit to practice putting with replica clubs and balls from the past.  'The 18th Hole' gives visitors the chance to test their golfing knowledge, practice their putting and to dress up in period golfing costume. 
Every visitor who buys an entry ticket to the museum receives a complimentary guide to remind you of your visit.  If you are unable to come to the museum, don't despair.  You can shop online from the comfort of your home or office where you will find a wide selection of our products at www.britishgolfmuseumshop.co.uk
The museum is open 7 days a week 10am-4pm in the run up to Christmas but will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We re-open to the public on the 27th through to the 30th December and admission at this time is FREE to all visitors.   Come along and enjoy a break from the hectic holiday season at the British Golf Museum.

The Garton Girls that played in the Scottish Seniors at Grantown on Spey this year had a reunion game yesterday.
Jennifer Mack and Fiona Roger (RLCGA) both members of Troon headed the challange match. The teams of Jennifer, Anna Telfer (Past D&A Captain), Helen Faulds (D&A) and Emma Wilson (Past Chairman SLGA) took on the challange of Fiona, Janice Paterson (Past Captain Lanarkshire), Carol Fell (RLCGA) and Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh).
Fiona's team were the victors and were presented with lots of prizes from Jennifer !!
They are all preparing for Machrihanish in 2006 !!
Link to Carol Fell's photos of the Scottish Seniors at Grantown on Spey

New clubgolf team members, Gill Kelly, Martin Richie and Ann Lang

Press Release
Lang and Richie join clubgolf team
Ann Lang and Martin Richie, from with the Golf Foundation, have joined clubgolf’s regional management team as the first stage of the Foundation’s integration with the national junior golf strategy.
Ann, a member of Strathaven Golf Club, who brings with her almost 20 years of golf and sports development experience, takes on the new role of clubgolf Club Development Manager. Martin, a Scotscraig GC member from Dundee, the Golf Foundation’s North of Scotland Development Officer for the past year, becomes clubgolf’s Tayside & Fife Regional Manager.
Gill Kelly, previously in the Tayside & Fife Regional Manager role, steps across to the new post of clubgolf Events Manager. A major aim of this new position is to heighten clubgolf’s profile, by becoming involved with Scotland’s major golf events.
“Having the support of golf clubs is crucial to the success of the clubgolf programme,” said Ann Lang. “It’s one thing having the game on the curriculum at school but the children do need local clubs signed up which they can progress to.
“My remit is to let the clubs know about clubgolf, what the benefits are for them when they do sign up and what support they can expect from us.”
Long term benefits for clubs joining clubgolf include a thriving junior membership, which will in time boost senior memberships.
“There are a lot of things we can help clubs with which will eventually help them towards accreditation,” said Ann who was due to organise a series of club development information roadshows over the festive period with the aim of attracting another dozen clubs to the partnership.
“We are here to help clubs start and develop their junior sections. How to make a junior constitution, devise a junior action plan, form a junior committee and produce a child protection policy are just a few of the areas we can help with and we will soon be creating a junior golf resource pack.
“A club’s adult membership can benefit directly as well. Some clubs involved in clubgolf have generated new members from parents who have taken their kids along for training and have decided to try themselves.”
In taking over the Tayside & Fife region, Martin Ritchie inherits an area which includes St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association, one of the earliest and biggest proponents of clubgolf, Kingsbarns Golf Links in Tayside and Fife club, Tulliallan.
Said Martin, “The message we are keen to put across to every club is that clubgolf will help widen a club’s junior base, increase memberships and provide coaching opportunities for potential volunteers. As well as strengthening existing relationships, I’m very keen to hear from any clubs in the region who are interested in finding out more about the strategy.”

SGU Rules of Golf Course
From the SGU website:- "The Scottish Golf Union's annual Rules of Golf Course will be held at Drumoig on Thursday and Friday, March 2 and 3.
The two-day course, organised by the SGU Events Department, will cover all aspects of the rules of the game, using video footage of rules incidents, lectures, practical sessions and group discussions. So whether you’re a complete novice or a rules ‘buff,’  this course will expand your knowledge and enable you to make decisions on rules queries more competently.
Guest speaker at the event will be the R&A’s Assistant Director of Rules, Kevin Barker.
SGU Events Manager, Euan Mordaunt comments, “The rules of golf are many and varied and it is important that anyone at club level, whether secretary, committee member or club member, is up to speed with the correct course of action or options available in any given situation.”
To ensure that rules knowledge is up to scratch, the course will include an assessment after which successful candidates will receive the SGU Rules of Golf Award.
The SGU Rules of Golf Course is open to any member of an SGU or SLGA- affiliated club. Course Fees are £149 or £219 including accommodation.
For an application form or further information, please contact: The Scottish Golf Union Events Department. Tel: 01382 549504 or e-mail events@scottishgolfunion.org

ROSS-SHIRE MEN NOW HOLD TOP POSTS IN NORTH DISTRICT SGU
Two Ross-shire golf club members will be at the helm of the North District Association for the next two years after their election to the positions of president and vice-President at the annual delegate meeting in the clubhouse of Inverness Golf Club.
Vice-president Martin Robertson (Gairloch), pictured right, followed the retiring president, Brian Gardner (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), into the top post and Martin’s new vice-president is another Fortrose & Rosemarkie member, James Fraser, pictured left.
For both it has been a rapid promotion to the two offices that cover the administration of golf in the huge North District area of the Scottish Golf Union, stretching from all clubs west of the River Spey to the outer Hebrides and from Newtonmore in the south to the northern isles of Shetland.
Martin Robertson (45) has the distinction of becoming the first Gairloch Golf Club member to be elected as North District president. After serving as the Gairloch president in 1994 and club captain the following year, Martin joined the North District executive in November 2000. During his lead up to the position of Vice President of the District he was also serving for another two years as the Gairloch club captain in 2002 and 2003.
An enthusiastic supporter of junior golf, Martin Robertson is firmly behind the Scottish Golf Union’s initiative on this front and is urging the clubs within his area to bring to the executive’s attention all budding youngsters.
It is also his executive’s intention to have “Roadshows” throughout the North to spread the gospel of the North’s coaching and development framework and hold junior talent spotting days.
James Fraser was captain of Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club in 1994 and 1995 and was recently elected his club’s vice-president. His election as North District vice- president comes after joining the North Executive as recently as November 2003.
After a career in law, James was the Sheriff for the Courts of Dingwall, Inverness and Lochmaddy.
His lifetime of making decisions was immediately recognised by the North District executive and he was given the position of championship convenor for the North’s tournaments. James Fraser holds a Scottish Golf Union Rules of Golf qualification, gained with a 100% pass mark and is hoping soon to tackle the R&A’s rules examinatio