February 2007 Archive

Wednesday 28th February 2007

JENNA (72) BEST OF SCOTS SO FAR IN SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Strathaven's Jenna Wilson had a par-matching 72 in the first qualifying round of the Spanish women's open amateur golf championship at Sherry Golf today (Wednesday).
Scottish Under-21 champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) had a 74, Kylie Walker (Hilton Park) a 79 and Heather MacRae (Dunblane) an 82.
Two English girls, Danielle Montgomery and Elizabeth Bennet, did well. Danielle goes into the second qualifying round in second place after a 70 while Elizabeth shares third place on 71 with the title-holder, Spain's Carlota Ciganda.
Collated scoreboard:
SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Sherry Golf, Cadiz.
Leading first qualifying round scores:
67 Emilie Alonso (Fra).
70 Danielle Montgomery (Eng).
71 Elizabeth Bennet (Eng), Carlota Ciganda (Spa).
72 Patricia Sanz Barrio (spa), Marta Silva Zamora (Spa), Jacqueline Hedwall (Swe), J Wilson (Sco), Emma Cambrera Bello (Spa), Anna Dahlberg-Soderstrom (Swe).
73 Lydia Hall (Wal), Sahra Hassan (Wal), Denise Becker (Ger), Rosa Svahn (Fin), Alexandrea Vilatte (Fra), Stephanie Doering (Ger).
Other scores included:
74 Krystle Caithness (Sco), Rachel Connor (Eng), Rachel Jennings (Eng), (jt 17th).
75 Henrietta Brockway (Eng) (jt 28th).
77 Kerry Smith (Eng), Naomi Edwards (Eng), Bronwig Mullins-Lane (Eng) (jt 43rd).
79 Kylie Walker (Sco), Joanne Hodge (Eng) (jt 70th).
80 Rachel Bell (Eng), Hanna Barwood (Eng) (jt 80th).
81 Breanne Loucks (Wal), Melissa Reid (Eng) (jt 88th).
82 Heather MacRae (Sco) (jt 97th).
83 Rozalyn Adams (Eng) (jt 101st).

ELLIOT SALTMAN (73) PUTS "OFFICIAL" SCOTS IN THE SHADE IN SPAIN
Craigielaw's Elliot Saltman, not a member of the official Scottish Golf Union squad, was the top Scot at the end of the first qualifying round of the Spanish men's open amateur championship at Desert Springs Golf Club today.
Elliot, pictured right, coped better with the heat than his compatriots, returning a a one-over-par 73 to be sharing 20th place going into the second and final qualifying round.
Only the leading 32 players at the end of Thursday's play will advance to the match-play stages.
The oldest of the three Saltman brothers, Elliot, although he is a +3 handicap player and won the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play at Elgin two years ago, has never had the same recognition as Walker Cup player Lloyd nor the youngest of the three, Zack, who won the world hickory championship last year. Zack had a 79 today.
Former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and young Robert McKnight (Barassie) had 76s.
Youngster Ross Kellet (Colville Park) had a 77 and John Gallagher (Swanston) a 78. Both Ross and John began their rounds with double bogeys.
England's Gary Boyd, a winner at Mission Hills, China earlier this winter, set the first-round lead with a sparkling five-under-par 67.
LEADING FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND SCORES
67 Gary Boyd (Eng).
68 Edouard Dubois (Fra), Jesus Legarrea (Spa), Paul Waring (Eng).
69 Miro Veijalainen (Fin).
70 Gonzalo Berlin (Spa), Steven Capper (Eng), Alexander Knappe (Ger), John Parry (Eng), Antonio Rosado (Por), Chris Wood (Eng).
71 Sam Hutsby (Eng), David Horsey (Eng), Pedro Figueiredo (Por).
Other scores included:
72 Lloyd Campbell (Eng), Matthew Cryer (Eng).
73 Jack Hiluta (Eng), Ben Parker (Eng), Elliot Saltman (Sco).
74 Jamie Abbott (Eng), Matt Haines (Eng), Simon Ward (Ire), Ricki Neil-Jones (Eng), Matthew Baldwin (Eng), Ryan Thomas (Wal).
75 Jonathan Hurst (Eng), Ben Evans (Eng), Daniel Belch (Eng).
76 Robert McKnight (Sco), Daniel Brooks (Eng), Glenn Campbell (Sco), Gareth J Evans (Eng), Rhys Enoch (Wal), Adam Hodkinson (Eng), Jack Senior (Eng).
77 Ian Winstanley (Eng), William Bowe (Eng), Ross Kellet (Sco), Llewellyn Matthews (Wal).
78 John Gallagher (Sco).
79 Zack Saltman (Sco).

SCOTTISH VET LADIES TEAM TO PLAY MARY McKENNA’S SELECTION
The Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association team to play a “Mary McKenna Seniors Selection” from Ireland at Southerness Golf Club on the Solway Firth on April 15-16 is:
Lorna Bennett (Midlands), Liz Campbell (Borders), Fiona de Vries (Midlands), Helen Faulds (West), Noreen Fenton (East), Kathleen Sutherland (North), Moira Thomson (East), Margaret Tough (Midlands), Pamela Williamson (East).
The Mary McKenna select team is Roma English (Larne), Rhona Fanagan (Milltown), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe), Anna Moloney (Clonmel), Mary McKenna (Donabate), Eileen MacMullen (Donegal), Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange).
The first-day programme will consist of four-ball matches with singles on the Monday.
At stake is the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy. The annual match was not held last year because of reorganisation of senior women’s golf within Ireland.

US College Golf
KATE RUNNER-UP IN FIGHTING CAMEL SPRING CLASSIC
Kate O'Sullivan from Paisley, a senior year student at High Point University, North Carolina, finished runner-up in the Fighting Camel Spring Classic women's college tournament over the Keith Hills Golf Club No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Kate had rounds of 77 and 72 over the 6,012yd, par-72 course for a total of 149.
Maite Ortiz de Pinedo (Campbell University) won the individual honours with two rounds of 74 for a four-over-par total of 148.
One of Kate O'Sullivan's team-mates at High Point, AnnMarie Dalton, from Carlow, Ireland, finished joint 42nd with 84 and 80 for 164.
Campbell University (605), the host college, won the team event by 30 strokes from joint runners-up Illinois State and Mercer University (635) with High Point (636) fourth of 15 competing college teams.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
148 Maite Ortiz de Pinedo (Campbell) 74 74.
149 Kate O'Sullivan (High Point) 77 72.
150 Emily Simpson (Campbell) 73 77, Mary Mattson (Campbell) 72 78.
Other total:
164 AnnMarie Dalton (High Point) 84 80 (jt 42nd).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
605 Campbell. 635 Illinois State, Mercer. 636 High Point. 640 Colorado State, Gardner-Webb, Richmond, Xavier.

US College Golf
SHEFFIELD PLAYER JOINT FIFTH IN TEXAS
Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) from Sheffield finished joint fifth in the All-American Classic men's college tournament at Traditional at Cypresswood Spring Golf Club, Texas.
Over a long par-72 course, measuring some 7,142yd, Daniel had rounds of 70, 74 and 72 for a level par aggregate of 216.
Aaron O'Callaghan (Southeastern Louisiana) from Cork was joint 11th on 220 with scores of 77, 71 and 72.
He had four team-mates from Britain and Ireland behind him in the final standings.
Peter O'Keefe, also from Cork, finished in a share of 20th place on 222 with 76, 75 and 71.
Graham Benson from Leighton Buzzard came joint 29th on 224 with 74, 75 and 75 while James Taverner (London) tied for 32nd place on 225 with 75, 76 and 75.
Winner of the event by three strokes with a five-under-par total of 211 was Gary Woodland (Kansas) with 69, 71 and 71. Kansas (872) also won the team title but only by one shot from Lamar with Southeastern Louisiana and Middle Tennessee State joint third on 878 in a field of 11 college teams.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
211 Gary Woodland (Kansas) 69 71 71.
214 Justin Harding (Lamar) 73 71 70.
Other totals:
216 Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) 70 74 72 (jt 5th).
220 Aaron O'Callaghan (SE Louisiana) 77 71 72 (jt 11th).
222 Peter O'Keefe (SE Louisiana) 76 75 71 (jt 20th).
224 Graham Benson (SE Louisiana) 74 75 75 (jt 29th).
225 James Taverner (SE Louisiana) 75 76 74.
LEADING TEAMS
872 Kansas. 873 Lamar. 878 SE Louisiana, Middle Tennessee State. 886 Houston.

US College Golf
SCOTS DOWN THE FIELD IN SAVANNAH
Daniel Sommerville from St Andrews and Glasgow's Neil McBride, both students at Clayton State University, Atlanta finished 32nd and 39th respectively in a field of 63 players for the Southbridge Pirate Invitational college tournament over a long (6,922yd) par-72 course at Southbridge Golf Club, Savannah in Georgia.
Sommerville scored 77 and 76 for 153 while McBride's rounds were 76 and 79 for 155.
Jason Flowers (Valdosta State) was the winner by four strokes with 68 and 72 for four-under-par 140.
Georgia College & State University (574) won the team title by 10 shots. Clayton State (610) finished eighth of the 11 colleges participating.

US College Golf
TOUGH START FOR YOUNG ROSEANNE ON AMERICAN COLLEGE CIRCUIT
Crieff’s Roseanne Niven, a student at the University of California Berkeley only since the start of the year, finished 72nd in a field of 84 players in only her second tournament on the American women’s college circuit.
The Arizona Wildcat Invitational brought together all the leading ladies from the US colleges at the Arizona National course near Tucson, a 6,166yd lay-out with a demanding par of 71.
Roseanne, the current Scottish Under-18 girls match-play champion, had five double bogeys, two of them at her last two holes, the 15th and 16th, in a closing 84, following scores of 87 and 78, for a total of 36-over-par 249.
Over the three rounds, the Scot had one quadruple bogey and eight double bogeys.
It is all a learning process for Roseanne at the moment. She is playing long, tough courses she has never seen before against better-class opposition than she has met previously. Once she finds her feet in a “strange” land, Miss Niven, who turned 18 only last Saturday, will soon go on to better things.
Jodi Ewart from Catterick, a freshman student at New Mexico University finished joint 16th , saving her best to last with a par-matching 71 for eight-over-par 221. Her earlier rounds were 72 and 78.
In her final round, Jodi birdied the fifth, 11th, 12th and 14th but cancelled them out with bogeys at the first, third, sixth and 15th.
Miss Ewart had one eagle and nine birdies over the three rounds.
United States Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) shot three great rounds of 70, 69 and 71 for a three-under-par 210 total and an impressive victory by four shots from two Europeans – former British girls champion Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) from Sweden and Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) from the Netherlands.
Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), the Spaniard who won the British girls’ open title at Lanark in 2004, was one of five players who shared thifourth palce on 216.
Belen Mozo (Southern California), Spanish winner of the British women’s and girls’ open amateur titles in Northern Ireland last summer, finished joint 20th on 224.
Arizona State (868) won the team title by eight shots from Duke with Southern California (881) third.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
210 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 69 71.
214 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 77 67 70, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 72 72 70.
216 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 74 69 73, Angela Oh (Tennessee) 71 74 71, Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State) 74 67 75, Kristen Svicarovich (Vanderbilt) 73 70 73, Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana (Stanford) 74 70 72.
Other totals:
221 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 72 78 71 (jt 16th).
224 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 75 73 76 (jt 20th).
249 Roseanne Niven (California) 87 78 84 (72nd).
TEAM TOTALS
868 Arizona State. 876 Duke. 881 Southern California. 895 Brigham Young. 897 New Mexico, Pepperdine. 903 Tennessee. 907 Arizona. 912 UCLA. 914 Vanderbilt, Stanford. 931 UNLV. 934 California. 935 Virginia. 937 Washington.

Tuesday 27th February 2007

US College Golf
TIRED FINDLAY SLUMPS IN FINAL ROUND OF PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay, weakened by a bout of pneumonia in January, did not have the stamina to maintain his one-under-par standing through a third competitive round of golf in three days in the Puerto Rico Collegiate Classic at Rio Mar Country Club on the Caribbean island.
After opening rounds of 71 and 72 over the 6,902yd, par-72 course, Jordan, an 18-year-old second-year student at East Tennessee State University, slumped to a closing, five-over-par 77 for a four-over-par total of 220.
The former British boys’ champion’s final halves of 40 and 37 included a triple-bogey 8 at the long fifth and six other holes where he dropped a single shot. On the credit side he had birdies at the fifth, 13th, 15th and 16th.
Team-mate Rhys Davies, the Walker Cup player who was born in Edinburgh but brought up at Bridgend, South Wales, finished joint third on six-under-par 210 with scores of 65, 73 and 72.
He finished one shot behind Robert Castro (Georgia Tech) and Joseph Bramlett (Stanford). Castro gained the individual honours with the better last round, a 71 to a 73.
Another East Tennessee State player, Ireland’s Cian McNamara finished joint 17th on one-under-par 215 with scores of 65, 74 and 76.
Team-mate and compatriot Seamus Power from Waterford came 24th equal with 72, 72 and 73 for 217.
And the fifth East Tennessee State team player, Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, finished joint 39th on 221 with scores of 76, 73 and 72.
East Tennessee State who had jumped into the team leadership in the first round after 65s by Davies and McNamara eventually subsided, in a high-class field, to a creditable fourth place on 856, six shots behind winners Georgia in a field of 18 college teams.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
209 Robert Castro (Georgia Tech) 68 70 71, Joseph Bramlett (Stanford) 69 67 73 (Castro won individual title on better last round).
210 Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State) 68 72 70, Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 65 73 72.
211 Hudson Swafford (Georgia) 70 70 71, Matthew Swan (Alabama) 69 68 73, Brendon Todd (Georgia) 68 68 75.
Other totals:
215 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 65 74 76 (jt 17th).
217 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 72 72 73 (jt 24th).
218 Peter Richardson(Purdue) 71 69 78 (jt 27th).
220 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 71 72 77 (jt 36th).
221 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 76 73 72 (jt 39th).
224 Farren Keenan (Texas) 71 76 77 (jt 57th).
TEAM TOTALS
850 Georgia. 851 Clemson, Stanford. 855 Alabama. 856 East Tennessee State. 862 Oklahoma State. 864 Minnesota. 865 Georgia Tech. 867 Florida. 878 Virginia Tech. 882 Texas. 884 Duke. 890 Kent State. 894 Northwestern. 899 Purdue. 900 Illinois. 904 Michigan. 910 North Carolina State.

LORETTO SCHOOL GOLF ACADEMY'S NEW THREE-YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF UNDER-14s' CHAMPIONSHIP
The Loretto School Golf Academy has agreed a new three-year sponsorship deal with the Scottish Golf Union to sponsor the Scottish boys' & girls' Under-14s championship from 2007 to 2009.
The agreement, worth more than £20,000 over the next three years, marks Loretto’s second spell as sponsor of the event, having come on board as one of the SGU’s junior partners in 2004.
The championship is Scotland’s youngest age group event and was launched seven years ago to provide a national show case championship for boys and girls aged 14 and under. The competition has already witnessed some notable winners in its short history, with the 2001 winner Peter McLachlan going on to win the Scottish youths championship and represent his country at youths level, whilst Frazer Ogston – winner three years ago – was a member of the Scotland Under-16 boys' team who defeated England for the first time last season.
MAJOR PLAYER IN GOLF EDUCATION
Rick Valentine, Director of Golf at Loretto School, said the sponsorship has helped establish the school as a major player in the golf education sector:
“Having already worked with the SGU for the past three years, we are confident the sponsorship can further build our reputation as one of the best independent golfing schools in the UK.”
“Our association with such a prestigious national championship has helped attract a large number of talented young golfers into our programme, and a number of our pupils have already excelled on the national and international stage.”
“We run a wide range of events for golfers throughout the year this includes our golf talent spotting days in the autumn for golfers who are interested in joining the Golf Academy and our golf camps which run during the spring and summer.”
The Loretto Golf Academy, established in 2002, offers pupils an opportunity to develop their golfing talents in parallel with an all-round Loretto education. Loretto Golf Scholarships are offered to outstanding or promising golfers who show exceptional potential from aged 12 and upwards. A recent golfing highlight included winning the HMC Foursomes Championships, the most prestigious independent schools' golfing event of the year.
HANDICAP BALLOT DOWN TO 18
The investment will assist the SGU in further enhancing the championship, which has seen the handicap ballot fall from 23 to 18 in the last five years, illustrating the increased level of talent among younger golfers in Scotland.
Hamish Grey, the SGU Chief Executive adds:
“The Scottish boys' and girls' Under-14s championship is the first step on the ladder for many of our talented youngsters in Scotland, and supports our goal of developing talent through the staging of national championships. It is also an event where we work in partnership with the SLGA, which puts out a positive message for our One Plan for Golf route plan.”
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Loretto School Golf Academy, who have already established themselves as an innovative provider of full-time sports education programmes which sits well alongside our own development systems.”
This year's Scottish boys' and girls' Under-14s' open amateur stroke-play championship will take place at Brunston Castle Golf Club, ayrshire on Friday, July 15.
(THE ABOVE IS REPRODUCED FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE, www.sgu.com).

US College Golf
LUCY DOWN THE FIELD IN CHRYSLER CHALLENGE
Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State), Welsh girls champion in 2002 and 2003, finished joint 49th in a field of 55 players for the Chrysler Challenge women's college tournament over 54 holes at Baytowne Golf Club, Sandestin in Florida.
Lucy had rounds of 89, 84 and 84 for a 41-over-par total for the 6,095yd, par-71 course.
Sweden's Caroline Westrup, ranked No 1 female player on the US college circuits earlier in the 2006-2007, became the first Florida State University player to win this tournament.
She did it in style with a seven-stroke victory margin after rounds of 74, 73 and 68 for two-over 215.
Dori Carter (Ole Miss) was runner-up with 75, 74 and 73 for 222.
Florida State (895) also won the team event by 24 shots from North Carolina with Charleston (937) third. East Tennessee State (997) finished last of the 10 competing colleges.

R&A Press Release
R&A PROPOSES NEW RULES FOR GOLF CLUBS
St Andrews, Scotland, 27 February 2007 – The R&A is proposing changes to golf’s equipment rules that seek to restore the historic importance of driving accuracy in the game.
The proposed rules changes to club face groove markings are based on extensive research into the effect of such markings on spin generation for balls hit from the rough. Club face markings have been observed to significantly increase spin from the rough compared to previous eras when there was a greater premium on driving accuracy.
Announcing the proposed club face markings rule change, R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards, David Rickman said:
“We invest heavily in the science that informs our decision making and there is clear evidence that certain club face groove markings increase the amount of spin that highly skilled players can achieve from the rough, especially when striking thin urethane-covered golf balls”.
“By limiting the amount of spin that can be generated for shots from the rough, we hope to place greater emphasis on accuracy and the skill required to recover from the rough. It is a matter of re-establishing a proper balance to the game and ensuring that skill remains the dominant element of success”, added Rickman.
The new limits proposed for groove cross-sectional area and groove edge sharpness would apply to all clubs (except driving clubs and putters) manufactured after 1 January 2010, but the rules could be introduced for competitions restricted to highly skilled players (via a condition of competition) from 1 January 2009. A five month consultation period with equipment manufacturers now gets underway that will also help determine when the new rules would come into effect for ordinary handicap golfers.
However, a concessionary period of at least 10 years is anticipated, recognising the costs involved in changing equipment.
Also announced today, The R&A is to consult golf equipment manufacturers on changes to the Rules that would permit new adjustable features in woods and irons. These proposals offer the potential of extending the playing benefits of club fitting to all golfers without diminishing the challenge of the game. Adjustable features, in addition to weight adjustment that is permitted for all clubs, have been allowed in the Rules of Golf for putters since 1992.
Consultation periods with manufacturers on both sets of proposed rules changes are time limited to allow adopted rules to feature in the 2008 revision of the Rules of Golf.

Scottish Vets launch a new website.
The Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Assocation has launched a web site - www.svlga.co.uk. It has been designed by Jan Jeffrey of Workwize - check it out!!! I've added a link to the list on the left (under Vets) so you should find it easily if you forget to bookmark it.

ROSEANNE IMPROVES BY NINE SHOTS IN SECOND ROUND IN ARIZONA
Scottish Under-18 girls champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff, pictured left, now a student at the University of California Berkeley, had rounds of 87 and 78 for a 36-hole tally of 165 in the Arizona Wildcat Invitational women’s college tournament at the Arizona National course, Tucson.
Playing in only her second event since enrolling at the university after the New Year, Roseanne is lying in joint 72nd position in a high-class field of 84 with one round to go.
In her morning round, Roseanne ran up a nightmare 9 at the par-5 second and also had a couple of double bogeys. But Miss Niven, who had her 18th birthday last Saturday, showed a bit more of her true capabilities later in the day, improving by nine strokes. Even then, she had a double bogey at the 10th but she did birdie the 18th.
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University), pictured right, from Catterick is in joint 23rd place after rounds of 72 and 78 for 150 over the 6,166yd, par-71 course.
Jodi had an unusual second nine holes in her opening round – one eagle, four birdies and four bogeys for two-under-par 34, without a single par.
In her second round, Miss Ewart had a triple bogey 7 at the 10th and a double bogey 5 at the short fourth.
British women’s and girls’ open amateur champion Belen Mozo (Southern California) from Spain is sharing 14th place on 148 with scores of 75 and 73.
US Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) leads the field by two shots with 70 and 69 for three-under-par 139.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
139 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 69.
141 Jennifer Osborne (Arizona State) 74 67.
143 Alison Goodman (California) 73 70, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 74 69, Kristen Svicarovich (Vanderbilt) 73 70.
144 Hannah Jun (UCLA) 73 71, anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 77 67, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 72 72, Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana (Stanford) 74 70.
Other scores:
148 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 75 73 (jt 14th).
150 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 72 78 (jt 23rd).
165 Roseanne Niven (California) 87 78 (jt 72nd).
TEAM SCORES
577 Arizona State. 588 Duke. 590 Southern California. 595 New Mexico. 597 Pepperdine. 600 Vanderbilt. 606 Arizona. 607 Brigham Yong. 608 Stanford. 611 Tennessee, UNLV. 612 UCLA. 619 California. 620 Washington. 630 Virgina.

US College Golf
FINDLAY HAS ROLLER-COASTER RIDE IN PUERTO RICO SECOND ROUND
Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay, a second-year golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University, is lying in 21st place in a quality field of 90, going into the third and final round of the Puerto Rico Collegiate Classic at Rio Mar Country Club on the Caribbean island.
Jordan has scored 72 and 71 for a one-under-par tally of 143 – seven shots behind the leader, Brendon Todd (Georgia University).
Findlay, playing his first tournament since he was taken to hospital after taking ill on the course in Arizona at the end of January, had a roller-coaster inward half of level par 36 in his second round.
Jordan, who had reached the turn in level par with a bogey at the fifth and a birdie at the ninth, birdied the short 10th, bogeyed the 11th, got an eagle 2 at the 12th, bogeyed the 15th, double-bogeyed the 16th but birdied the 18th.
Findlay’s team-mates, Walker Cup player Rhys Davis from Wales and Irishman Cian McNamara from Limerick fell out of a share of the lead on 65. Davies had a 73 for 138 to be sharing second place while McNamara had a 74 for 139 to drop to joint sixth place but still very much in contention for individual honours.
East Tennessee State have also lost the team event leadership to Georgia who have a seven-stroke advantage with 18 holes to play in a field of 18 colleges.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Brendon Todd (Georgia) 68 68.
138 Rhys Davis (East Tennessee State) 65 73, Matthew Swan (Alabama) 69 769, Matthew Savage (Stanford) 68 70, Robert Castro (Georgia Tech) 68 70.
Also:
139 Ciana McNamara (East Tennessee State) 65 74 (jt 6th).
140 Peter Richardson (Purdue) 71 69 (jt 10th).
143 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 71 72 (jt 21st).
144 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 72 72 (jt 27th).
148 Farren Keenan (Texas) 75 73 (jt 52nd).
149 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 76 73 (jt 57th).
LEADING TEAMS
556 Georgia. 563 East Tennessee State. 564 Stanford. 567 Alabama, Clemson. 572 Minnesota. 574 Florida, Geogia Tech. 577 Oklahoma State. 581 Texas.

Monday 26th February 2007

US College Golf
ROSEANNE HAS AN 87 IN FIRST ROUND AT ARIZONA NATIONAL
Roseanne Niven (California Berkeley) from Crieff returned a 16-over-par score of 87 over the 6,166yd Arizona National course at Tucson in the first round of the 54-hole Arizona Wildcat Invitational tournament today. Before the end of the day, she would have played her second round.
Roseanne had a nightmare 9 - a quadruple bogey at the second and double bogeys at the 13th and 17th - but the Scottish Under-18 girls champion, playing in only her second round on the American women's circuit, was not alone in struggling over a tough course, tough if you did not keep the ball on the fairways.
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) from Catterick had a remarkable score of 34 for the second nine - an eagle at the 18th, birdies at the 12th, 13th, 16th and 17, and bogeys at the other holes. So she did not have a par on her inward half!
Jodi finished her first round on one-over-par 72 to be two shots behind the pacemaker, Amanda Blumenherst (Duke).

US College Golf
ENGLISH GIRLS SHARE SECOND PLACE AT DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
Fern Grimshaw (Bethune-Cookman College) from Dorset and Channel Islander Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern University) finished joint second, only one stroke behind the winner in the Bethune-Cookman College Spring Invitational at Indigo Lake Golf Club, Daytona Beach in Florida.
Both Fern and Olivia scored 76 in each round of the 36-hole event won by Rachel Edwards (Daytona Beach Community College with scores of 74 and 77 for seven-over-par 151.
Another Daytona Beach CC player, Victoria Harris from England, finished joint seventh with 76 and 81 for 157.
Becky Dowell (Bethune-Cookman) from Thornecombe tied for 32nd place in a field of 59 players with 89 and 82 for 171.
Daytona Beach CC (617) won the team event by 10 strokes from hosts Bethune-Cookman College with Wofford College (643) third and Charleston Southern University and Stetson University sharing fourth place on 647 in the field of 11 colleges.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS
151 Rachel Edwards (Daytona Beach) 74 77.
152 Fern Grimshaw (Bethune-Cookman) 76 76, Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) 76 76.
154 Ashley Kozlowski (Stetson) 73 81.
Other totals;
157 Victoria Harris (Daytona Beach) 76 81 (jt 7th).
171 Becky Dowell (Bethune-Cookman) 89 82 (jt 32nd).
LEADING TEAMS
617 Daytona Beach.
627 Bethune-Cookman.
643 Wofford.
647 Charleston Southern, Stetson,
648 Jacksonville.

SHELLEY HOPES TO COPY RYDER CUP STARS’ SECRETS FOR SUCCESS
FORMER Curtis Cup player Shelley McKevitt is hoping to relaunch her professional golf career by using the same scoring analysis system used by four members of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team at the K Club last year.
The 27-year-old from Ashford, in Kent, has signed up with strokeaverage.com – also used by Ross Fisher who finished fifth in Dubai on the men’s tour earlier this month, having played the final round with world number one Tiger Woods. Read more....
[photo Copyright © Ady Kerry]

ELGA Press Release
Staffordshire’s Emily Priest reaches national final
Staffordshire teenager Emily Priest (pictured right) has played her way into the final of a national championship for college golfers.
The 16-year-old won the British Colleges Sport south-west golf tournament at Bristol Golf Club to qualify for the organisation’s national championships at Loughborough University from March 30 to April 1.
The weekend will see 2000 students from the UK's further education colleges competing in 15 different sports. The golf event begins with a team event at Park Hill Golf Club followed by the individual championship at Rothley Park Golf Club.
Emily, who is a student at Filton College in Bristol, is a member of the English Ladies’ Golf Association’s Select Midlands Squad. She belongs to Stourbridge and Enville Golf Clubs and is the reigning Staffordshire girls’ and schools champion. She has just become the Staffordshire junior vice-captain.

Group of Scots at the Spanish Seniors last week
L to R: Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle), Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool), Barbara Biggart (Kilmacolm), Pam Williamson (Baberton) Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) and Janice Paterson (Drumpellier)
[Thanks to Fiona Roger (though Carol Fell) for supplying the picture]

US College golf
FIGHTING FIT FINDLAY PLAYS HIS PART IN EAST TENNESSEE STATE JOY DAY
Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay played his part in a brilliant performance by the East Tennessee State University golf team in the Puerto Rico Classic at Rio Mar Golf Club on the Caribbean Island yesterday (Sunday).
Findlay ended up in hospital when he was taken off the course feeling ill in his last event in Arizona at the end of January. His strength had been drained by a bout of pneumonia.
The 18-year-old former British boys champion from the Broch, a second-year student, showed he was fighting fit again with a one-under-par score of 71 over the 6,902yd course. That put him in a share of 24th place.
Team-mates Rhys Davies, the Edinburgh-born Welshman and Walker Cup player, and Limerick’s Cian McNamara shared the lead on 64, McNamara was out in 34 and home in 31, Davies reversing these outsanding figures.
Two other Irish students, freshman Seamus Power from Waterford and Gareth Shaw (Lisburn) completed the joy day for East Tennessee State with returns of 72 and 76 respectively.
The team, with a 15-under-par tally of 273 – the second lowest in East Tennessee State University golf programme history - surged six shots clear of an 18-team field containing most of the top American college players.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
65 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 34-31, Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 31-34.
68 Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State 34-34, Robert Castro (Georgia Tech) 32-36, Matthew Savage (Stanford) 31-37, Brendon Todd (Georgia) 34-34.
Other scores:
71 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 36-35 (jt 24th).
72 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 35-37 (jt 38th).
76 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 35-41 (jt 68th).
LEADING TEAMS
273 East Tennessee State.
279 Georgia.
281 Stanford.
282 Oklahoma State.
283 Clemson.

US College Golf
TARA DELANEY JOINT 21ST IN LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
Tara Delaney and her sister Karen, both students at Kent State University, Ohio, finished joint 21st and 78th respectively in a field of 85 for the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at Coco Beach Golf Club, San Juan today.
Tara had rounds of 72, 77 and 72 for a six-over-par total of 222 over the 6,168yd, par-72 course.
Karen scored 84, 82 and 79 for 245.
There was an usually dense logjam at the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes - five players shared the individual title on one-over-par 217. They included early leader Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian), the Parisienne girl playing in only her second US college tournament and the beaten finalist (by Azahara Munoz of Spain) in the 2004 British girls' open amateur championship final at Lanark), and Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State).
Taylor Leon (Georgia), ranked No 1 on the American women's college circuit, finished in joint eighth place on 219.
Auburn (873) won the team event by five shots from joint runners-up Georgia and Oklahoma State.
Kent State (896) came eighth of the 16 competing colleges.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
217 Alina Lee (Georgia) 72 72 73, Jenny Suh (Alabama) 70 76 71, Mariana Macias (Auburn) 70 70 77, Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 69 71 77, Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) 67 74 76.
218 Candace Schepperle (Auburn) 72 72 74, Garrett Phillips (Georgia) 78 72 68.
Other totals:
219 Taylor Leon (Georgia) 76 71 72 (jt 8th).
222 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 72 77 73 (jt 21st).
245 Karen Delaney (Kent State) 84 82 79 (78th).
TEAMS
873 Auburn.
878 Georgia, Oklahoma State.
882 Purdue.
892 South Carolina.
893 Texas Christian, Oklahoma.
986 Kent State (8th of 16 teams).

Sunday 25th February 2007

US College Golf
GREAT START BY McNAMARA, DAVIES
Irishman Cian McNamara and Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies - both golf scholarship students at East Tennessee State University - matched each other's performance of seven-under-par 65s in the first round of the Puerto Rico Classic at Rio Mar Golf Club, Puerto Rico today.
There was no early indication of the score returned by their Scottish team-mate, Jordan Findlay from Fraserburgh who was taken ill during the college team's last event in Arizona at the end of January.

FOURTEEN CLUBS ENTER SHIRE'S GOLFVIEW TROPHY LEAGUE
A total of 14 clubs will take part in the Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association Scratch League for the Golfview Trophy this year.
Banchory are the defending champions.
The sections are:
Section A – Aboyne, Ballater, Cruden Bay, Ellon, Peterculter.
Section B - Banchory, Deeside, Fraserburgh, Hazlehead, Newmachar.
Section C – Aberdeen Ladies, Inchmarlo, Murcar Links, Westhill.
The ties are:
Section A – Aboyne v Cruden Bay, Aboyne v Ellon, Ballater v Aboyne, Ballater v Cruden Bay, Cruden Bay v Ellon, Cruden Bay v Peterculter, Ellon v Ballater, Ellon v Peterculter, Peterculter v Aboyne, Peterculter v Ballater.
Section B – Banchory v Fraserburgh, Banchory v Hazlehead, Deeside v Banchory, Deeside v Fraserburgh, Fraserburgh v Hazlehead, Fraserburgh v Newmachar, Hazlehead v Deeside, Hazlehead v Newmachar, Newmachar v Deeside, Newmachar v Banchory.
Section B – Aberdeen Ladies v Murcar Links, Inchmarlo v Aberdeen Ladies, Inchmarlo v Westhill, Murcar Links v Inchmarlo, Westhill v Aberdeen Ladies, Westhill v Murcar Links.
First mentioned club is the home club and is responsible for arranging the date and time of the match. April 1 is the deadline for arrangements to be completed.
All section matches by must be played by July 15. The three section winners will contest the final by September 16. Two points are awarded for an overall win and one point for a drawn match.
Teams are required to play members in handicap order.

TARA DROPS BACK TO JT 25th IN LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
Ireland's Tara Delaney, pictured right, has dropped back to joint 25th place with one round to go in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at Coco Beach, San Juan.
Tara, from Carlow, has had rounds of 72 and 77 for a 36-hole tally of 149.
Her sister Karen is back in joint 82nd place in a field of 84 players with scores of 84 and 82 for 166.
At the top of the leaderboard, Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) shares the lead on four-under-par 140 for the 6,168yd, par-72 course with Mariana Macias (Auburn).
Pernilla has had rounds of 69 and 71, Mariana a pair of 70s.
First-round leader Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) from Paris, beaten finalist in the 2004 British girls' open amateur championship at Lanark, is now in third place with scores of 67 and 74 for 141.
Meanwhile, in the Bethune-Cookman College Spring Invitational at Indigo Lake, Daytona Beach in Florida, Fern Grimshaw (Bethune-Cookman) from Dorset and Channel Islander Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) are among a group of four players on 76 at the end of the first round.
Becky Dowell (Bethune-Cookman) is sharing 33rd place in a field of 59 players with an 89.
Ashley Kozlowski (Stetson) leads the field with a one-over-par 73 for the 5,913yd course, one ahead of Rachel Edwards (Daytona Beach).

STACY WINS FIELDS OPEN ON HAWAII, LAURA DAVIES JOINT 33rd
Angela Park failed in her bid to become, at 18 years of age, the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour.
Joint leader with Stacy Prammanasudh with one round to go in the Fields Open, Angela closed with a 71 for a final total of 205, which earned her a share of third place at Ko Olina Golf Club, Hawaii.
Stacy Prammanasudh, pictured right, went on to win by one shot from Jee Young Lee after returning a 68 for 14-under-par 202. That earned her a second LPGA Tour win and a cheque for $180,000.
Laura Davies tied for 33rd place on 214 with a 70.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). Course: 6,519yd
202 Stacy Prammanasudh 66 68 68 ($180,000).
203 Jee Young Lee 69 66 68 ($110,950).
205 Al Miyazato 71 68 66, Morgan Pressel 71 65 69, Angela Park 66 68 71 ($64,288 each).
206 Cristie Kerr 71 70 65, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman 70 67 69 ($37,662 each).
Other total:
214 Laura Davies 73 71 70 (jt 33rd) ($6,793).

Saturday 24th February 2007

MHAIRI MISSES HAWAII CUT
Mhairi McKay, with rounds of 75 and 73 for four-over-par 148, failed to survive the halfway cut in the weather-disrupted Fields Open on Hawaii today.
Only players with level par 144 or better went on to the third round.
Laura Davies (73-71 for 144) was one of the qualifiers.
LEADERBOARD
134 S Prammanasudh 66 68, A Park 66 68.
135 J Young Lee 69 66.
136 M Pressel 71 65.
137 W Doolan 70 67, V Goetze-Ackerman 70 67.
Other qualifier:
144 L Davies 73 71.
DID NOT QUALIFY
148 M McKay (Sco) 75 73.

SLGA WINTER TRAINING CAMP IN NE SPAIN
New national coach Kevin Craggs will be in charge of the SLGA annual winter training camp at Pals in North-east Spain from March 10 to 24.
Players were invited to attend for one of the two weeks.
Players available to go are:
Week 1: March 10 to 17.
Emma Fairnie (Dunbar)
Kerri Harper (Inverness)
Lesley Hendry (Routenburn)
Edwina Lowrey-Gold (Eaton)
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey)
Laura Murray (Alford).
Jane Turner (Mortonhall)
Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
Week 2 -March 17 to 24
Sara Bishop (Windyhill).
Carly Booth (Comrie).
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus)
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old)
Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus)
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)
Sammy Vass (Tain).
Kylie Walker (Hilton Park).
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).

MHAIRI RESUMES WITH MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IN HAWAII
Due to a 3hr rain delay during Friday's second round of the Fields Open at Ko Olina Golf Club, Kapolei on Hawaii, second-round play was not completed.
The 70 players who have not completed their second rounds resume today at 7.30am local time.
The start of the final round will take place once the second round concludes and the cut of the top-70 players and ties is made.
Of the players who completed 36 holes on Friday, Stacy Prammanasudh
set the clubhouse target of 10-under-par 134 with a second-round 68 just before the heavy rain started.
Eighteen-year-old Morgan Pressel had a 65 for 136.
Laura Davies finished 36 holes on level par 144 after a 71 and should survive the cut which is projected at two-over-par 146.
Mhairi McKay was four over par for the tournament, having played only six holes of her second round before play was halted. She had a three-over-75 in the first round.
Janice Moodie was disqualified after handing in a first-round 77. It transpires that her transgression was forgetting to sign her scorecard.
36-HOLE LEADERS
134 (-10) Stacy Prammanasudh 66 68.
136 Morgan Pressel 71 65.
138 Carrie Wood 70 68, Mi Hyun Kim 71 67.
Other two-round total:
144 Laura Davies 73 71.
INCOMPLETED SECOND ROUND
Figure in relation to par takes into account first-round score
-9 after 14 Jee Young Lee.
-9 after nine Angela Park.
+4 after six Mhairi McKay.

Friday 23rd February 2007

Anyone watching Carol Fell's excellent Renfrewshire website will have noticed that she has completely scooped the news on what was happening in Spain this week. With no shame at all I replicate her report here.....

Honorary RLCGA Member Maureen Richmond is runner up in the Spanish Seniors
The Italian François Colmant became the Spanish Seniors Champion today at the Club of Golf of Bonalba (Alicante). A final round of 79 , which was one better than her first round and one less than the total by RLCGA's Maureen Richmond (Kilmacolm)
Maureen who was the leader after day one had a chance to force a play-off by sinking a putt on the last green. However it was not to be and the Italian won by one shot.
Final Results
1 - François Colmant (ITA) 157 (78+79)
2. - Maureen Richmond (SCO) 158 (77+81)
3. - Ana Vilella (SPA) 161 (80+81)
Other Scots:
13 - P Williamson (Baberton) 166 (83+83)
15 - J Paterson (Drumpellier) 167 (83+84)
21 - H Faulds (Douglas Park) 171 (87+84)
57 - B Biggart (Kilmacolm) 181 (93+88)
63 - F Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 184 (94+90)
75 - J Mack (Haggs Castle) 192 (97+95)
The Spanish partnership of Marta Estany and Vicky Pertierra won the Senior Womens "Doubles" Championship today at the Club of Golf of Bonalba, in Alicante. On a day that was cloudy and very windy the scoring was exceedingly difficult. Congratulations go to RLCGA's Maureen Richmond and Barbara Biggart on their tremendous achievement in just missing out on the big win by 1 or 2 shots and ended up being 3rd overall 1 shot behind the Spanish winners
FINAL Scores. - Marta Estany (ESP) /Vicky Pertierra (ESP) 156 (75+81)
2. - Cristina Marsans (ESP) /Beatriz Ramirez de Haro (ESP) 157 (77+80) (Better 2nd round)
3. - Barbara Biggart (SCO) /Maureen Richmond (SCO) 157 (75+82)
4- Erika Annison (SWE) /Edeltraut Jacob (GER) 157 (73+84)
Other Scots:
7 - Pamela Williamson and Diane Williams (Can) 161 (80+81)
12 - Helen Faulds and Janice Paterson 164 (80+84)
29 - Jennifer Mack anfd Fiona Roger 175 (87+88)
[Very many thanks to Carol for sending me a gentle reminder!]

HOLLY IS NUMERO UNO IN EUROPE AFTER VICTORY IN PORTUGAL
England's Holly Aitchison is the No 1 female amateur golfer in Europe - and that's official!
She won the first counting event in the new European Golf Association women's amateur rankings, the Portuguese women's open amateur championship on the Algarve.
The next three in the rankings, Sandra Gal (Germany), Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden) and former British girls champion Azahara Munoz (Spain) have all earned their points so far with their performances on the American women's college circuit.
See http://www.ega-golf.ch/080000/080100.asp for an explanation of the Ranking points.
The top 20 placings at the moment are:
1 Holly Aitchinson (Eng) 60pt.
2 Sandra Gal (Ger), Pernilla Lindberg (Swe), Azahara Munoz (Spa) 51pt.
5 Nicola Roessler (Ger) 50pt.
6 Ines Lescudier (Fra), Ana Santos Melo (Por) 42.50pt.
8 Celine Herbin (Fra), Satu Harju (Fin), Carla Cruz (Por), Carolina Afonso (Fra) 29pt.
12 Belen Mozo (Spa) 26.50pt.
13 Caroline Westrup (Swe) 13pt.
14 Marion Bernard (Fra), Rosa Svahn (Fin), Valentine Gevers (Bel), Mireia Prat (Spa), Caroline Masson (Ger), Fanny Rocard (Fra), Marie Tschida (Ger), Ane Urchegui (Spa) 11.88pt.
COUNTING EVENTS FOR THE 2007 EUROPEAN WOMEN'S AMATEUR RANKINGS ARE:
Feb 7-11 Portuguese Ladies International, Quinta de Cima GC (Algarve)
Feb 28 - Mar 4 Spanish Ladies' International, Sherry Golf
Apr 27-29 Scottish Open Stroke Play, Troon
May 5-6 Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play, Newport GC
May 24-27 International German Ladies, Dusseldorfer GC
May 24-27 Austrian Ladies Amateur, TGC Fürstenfeld-Loipersdorf
Jun 1-3 French Ladies Amateur Stroke Play, Golf d'Esery
Jun 12-16 Ladies' British Open Amateur, Alwoodley GC
Jun 25-29 Russian Ladies Amateur Open, Le Meridien Moscow CC
Jul 28-29 Danish International Ladies, Silkeborg GC
Aug 3-5 Swiss Ladies Amateur, Basel GC
Aug 8-11 Czech Int. Ladies Amateur, Cihelny GC
Aug 9-11 Finnish Ladies Amateur, Helsinki GC
Aug 22-24 British Open Amateur Stroke Play, Conwy GC
Aug 29 - Sep 1 European Ladies' Individual, Sporting Club Berlin
Sep 12-16 Italian Int. Ladies Amateur, Villa d'Este GC

R&A EXTENDS SUPPORT OF ST ANDREWS LINKS JUNIOR ASSOCIATION
The R&A is exending its original five-year support for the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association with a second five-year term over which the financial contribution will rise to £62,500 - a 25 % increase.
"We have been involved with the SALJGA since 2002, right from the start," said Duncan Weir, R&A Director of Golf Development.
"Enormous progress has been made, with hundreds of kids getting a start in the game, and St Andrews is now punching its weight at county and national level in boths boys' and girls' events."
Paul Kirkcaldy, Junior Golf Manager of the St Andrews Links Turst, welcomed the endorsement by the R&A of the sterling work done by the junior association.
"This is a great boost for all of us who work with the juniors in St Andrews. The R&A's generosity is an indicationof their long-standing commitment to grsss roots golf," said Paul.
The award comes from the annual surplus generated by the Open championship and is just one of a multitude of R&A grants that encourage young people worldwide to tak eup golf and develop their skills.
SALJGA members enjoye a wide range of benefits, including priviledged access to the Golf Pracgtice Centre.
Former Open champion Paul Lawrie is honorary president of the SALJGA.
+The above is reproduced from the new issue of LINKS NEWS, the Newsletter of St Andrews Links.

JORDAN MAKES COMEBACK IN PUERTO RICO THIS WEEKEND
Fraserburgh exile Jordan Findlay will return to the American college golf circuit this weekend for the first time since he was finished up in Arizona hospital after being forced to retire out on the course at the end of last month.
Finday, 18-year-old former British boys' champion and a second-year golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University, had returned to action too soon after a bout of pneumonia had sapped his strength.
"Jordan's been back in the gym over the past fortnight and he has been practising. He's still not 100 per cent but he's progressing," said his father Ian.
"He's now in Puerto Rico with the university team for the three-round Puerto Rico Classic which begins at Rio Mar Country Club on Sunday. I hope he can stand the heat because his illness took a lot out of him."

SOUTH AFRICAN ROOKIE HOLDS ON TO WIN PAM GOLDING INTERNATIONAL EVENT
South African rookie professional Lee-Anne Pace, the overnight leader, just held on to win the
Pam Golding Ladies International tournament over the Dainfern Country Club course, Johannesburg today.
Miss Pace finished with a one-under-par 73 - her worst of the three rounds - for a final total of 11-under-par 219.
Fellow South African Stacy Bregman, her closest rival overnight, slipped back with a 75 for 212 and it was Denmark's Julie Tvede who finished runner-up, one shot behind the winner, after a 71 for 209.
Welsh player Eleanor Pilgrim made up a lot of late ground with a closing 69 to fill third place on 211.
England's Kiran Matharu and Rebecca Hudson shared fourth place with Stacy Bregman on 212.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3 x 73)
Prizemoney in South African Rand.
Players from South Africa unless stated
208 Lee-Anne Pace 69 67 72 (R37,500).
209 Julie Tvede (Den) 70 68 71 (R27,500).
211 Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 70 69 (R20,000).
212 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 68 73 71, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 69 72 71, Stacy Bregman 66 71 75 (R12,375 each).
214 Sophie Walker (Eng) 73 73 68, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 70 72 (R8,000 each).
215 Emelie Svenningsson (Swe) 70 72 73, Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 76 69 70 (R6,000 each).
216 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 72 70 74 (R5,125).
217 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 71 71 75, Zuzana Kamasova (Slo) 75 71 71, Anna Becker (Swe) 74 73 70 (R4,516 each), Ashleigh Simon (am) 73 70 74.
218 Kelli Shean (am) 76 69 73.
219 Lisa Jean (Aus) 73 72 74, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 70 76 73 (R4,062 each).
220 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 73 72, Morgana Robbertze 71 71 78 (R3,812 each), Bertine Strauss (am) 74 74 72.
221 Martina Gillen (Ire) 74 71 76, Frederique Dorbes 77 76 68 (R3,562).
222 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 71 76 75, Michele De Vries 75 75 72, Vannesa Bell (Eng) 73 76 73, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 72 78 72 (R3,187 each).
Other totals:
223 Sarah Heath (Eng) 75 73 75 (R2,456).
224 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 74 74 76 (R2,000).
225 Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 76 74 75 (R1,862).
227 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 73 78 76 (R1,412).

JANICE MOODIE DISQUALIFIED AFTER RETURNING A 77
Janice Moodie was disqualified after returning a four-over-par score of 77 in the first round of the Fields Open, this week's LPGA Tour event at Ko Olina Golf Club, Kapolei on Hawaii.
The Glasgow-born player, pictured right, had halves of 37 and 40, finishing with a double-bogey 6 at the 18th.
It was not immediately clear why the Scot had been disqualified.
Laura Davies was the leading British player with a 73 (37-36).
Mhairi McKay returned a 75 (37-38).
The lead was shared by rookie Angela Park and Stacy Prammanasudh on six-under-par 66.

Thursday 22nd February

SOUTH AFRICAN ROOKIES 1-2 IN "PAM GOLDING" EVENT
Lee-Anne Pace is making a strong bid for inclusion in the next South African Women’s World Cup of Golf team as she heads into the final round of the Pam Golding Ladies International with a one-stroke lead.
Pace, in her rookie season as a professional, took the lead on 10 under par 136 with a solid second-round 67 over the par-73 Dainfern Country Club course, Johannesburg today.
Her nearest challenger is another rookie South African professional in Stacy Bregman, who led the first round but had to settle for a 71 and a total of 135 with one round to go.
Denmark's Julie Tvede is leading the overseas challenge on 138.
Then come England's Kiran Matharu on Rebecca Hudson, joint fourth on 141.
Both Pace and Bregman represent the new wave of talent in South African women’s professional golf. Pace enjoys playing privileges on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, while Bregman has earned her card for the Ladies European Tour.
The non-qualifiers - those with 36-hole tallies of nine-over-par 155 and higher included Irish Curtis Cup player and rookie pro Claire Coughlan from Cork. Claire had rounds of 80 and 77 for 157. Scottish girl, Jessica Wycherley Vilakazi, who played in the East of Scotland Girls Championship last year, had rounds of 86 and 81 and also failed to qualify.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Players from South Africa unless stated.
(am) denotes amateur.
136 Lee-Anne Pace 69 67.
137 Stacy Bregman 66 71.
138 Julie Tvede (Den) 70 68.
141 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 68 73, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 69 72.
142 Emelie Svenningsson (Swe) 70 72, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 71 71, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 72 70, Morgana Robbertze 71 71, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 70, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 70.
143 Ashleigh Simon (am) 73 70.
144 Natou Soro 71 73.
145 Kelli Shean (am) 76 69, Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 76 69, Florence Luscher (Swi) 74 71, Lisa Jean (Aus) 73 72, Martina Gillen (Ire) 74 71.
146 Sophie Walker (Eng) 73 73, Zuzana Kamasova (Slo) 75 71, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 70 76.
147 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 71 76, Viva Schlasberg (Swe) 74 73, Anna Becker (Awe) 74 73, Mandy Adamson 72 75.
148 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 73, Suzette Venter 76 72, Bertine Strauss (am) 74 74, Leandri Pieterse 76 72, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 74 74, Lizelle Muller (am) 75 73, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 79 69, Sarah Heath (Eng) 75 73, Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 74 74, Maria Boden (Swe) 73 75.
149 Josefin Svenningsson (Swe) 76 73, Laurette Maritz 75 74, Anne-Sophie Le Nalio (Fra) 74 75, Cuyler Hedley (Can) 72 77, Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 76 73, Elin Brask (Swe) 73 76, Vanessa Bell (Eng) 73 76.
150 Edita Nechanicka (Cze) 75 75, Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 76 74, Michelle de Vries 75 75, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 72 78.
151 Lena Tornevall (Swe) 75 76, Monique Smit (am) 78 73, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 73 78, Madeleine Holmblad (Swe) 77 74, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 75 76, Nicole Becker (am) 73 78
153 Sandra Winter (am) 78 75, Zelda Smook (am) 76 77, Frederique Dorbes (Fra) 77 76
154 Kim Williams (am) 78 76, Tandi von Ruben (am) 77 77, Vicki Traut (am) 76 78, Hanna-Sophia Svenningsson (Swe) 77 77, Mercia Pretorius (am) 76 78, Nuria Clau (Spa) 75 79, Julie Berton (Fra) 79 75.
DID NOT QUALIFY
155 Monja Richards 77 78, Maria Ohlsson (Swe) 75 80, Caryn Louw 81 74, Ashleigh Holmes (am) 81 74, Nina Hansson (Swe) 77 78, Henriette Frylinck (am) 81 74, Yushire Budhram (am) 82 73.
156 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 80 76, Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 78 78.
157 Sarah Faller (Ire) (am) 76 81, Sandra Eggermont (Net) 77 80, Claire Coughlan (Ire) 80 77.
158 Angie Green (Can) 78 80, Lise Botha 77 81.
159 Michelle Smith (Eng) 78 81, Nora Kagonyera (Uga) 78 81.
160 Lumien Lausberg 82 78, Santie Koch 86 74, Fabienne Haremza (Ger) 83 77, Kim Brookes (am) 77 83.
162 C Cheryl Smith (Eng) 77 85.
163 Iliska Verwey (am) 79 84, Crizelda van Niekerk 83 80, Elsabe Hefer 80 83.
165 Alexandra Hinteregger (am) 82 83.
167 Jessica Wycherley (Sco am) 86 81.
168 Maria Jimenez de Miguel (Spa) 84 84.

SGU Press Release
DUNFERMLINE BUILDING SOCIETY BOOST FOR SCOTTISH JUNIOR GOLF
The Scottish Golf Union today announced a major new sponsorship agreement with Dunfermline Building Society which will see a £100,000 investment into junior golf in Scotland over the next two years.
The deal is the biggest private sector investment into grass roots golf in Scotland and one of the largest sponsorship deals in the organisation’s history, supporting the SGU’s commitment to growing and developing the game at entry level.
Dunfermline Building Society will become the official sponsor of the SGU’s Junior Masters – the largest participation golf championship for under-16s in Scotland. The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters will become the only nationally recognised junior event for players of all abilities, open to boys and girls alike.
The sponsorship agreement also sees Dunfermline Building Society becoming the official partner of a new initiative launched by the SGU – the Scottish Junior Club of the Year Awards, which will reward clubs for encouraging junior golf accessibility and participation in their community.
Speaking at today’s announcement at the Mearns Castle Golf Academy, Ross Duncan, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager for the SGU, welcomed the new partnership:
“We are naturally thrilled with the investment from Dunfermline Building Society, who are one of Scotland’s most respected brands. The sponsorship is another huge boost to the SGU on the back of a highly successful year in 2006.”
“The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters is a vitally important event for us, giving the opportunity for young boys and girls of all abilities to experience golf and showcase their talents. The handicap system gives golf a great advantage over other sports, giving youngsters who have just started out the chance to compete against a player at the top level.”
Dunfermline Building Society’s Chief Executive, Graeme Dalziel, added:
“Dunfermline Building Society is delighted to be going into partnership with the Scottish Golf Union, whose involvement with junior golf complements the objectives of the Dunfermline Building Society, namely enhancing local communities and encouraging participation at grass roots level.”
“Our commitment to young people is intentional - they represent Scotland’s future and our future - that of Dunfermline Building Society.”
The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters is open to all SGU affiliated golf clubs in Scotland with a junior section. Each club is invited to host a local qualifying event, with Regional Finals taking place at Kingussie, Stirling, Dunfermline, Paisley and Peebles in July, with the Grand Final being hosted by Gleneagles, home of the 2014 Ryder Cup, in October.
Dunfermline Building Society also plan to launch a savings account to help parents and youngsters save up for golf related activity, whilst also benefiting the clubgolf programme in Scotland.
“Whilst golf in Scotland for youngsters is more affordable than ever before, there are still some relatively significant outlays for parents whose children take up golf. Our Savers account will encourage good financial practise for youngsters, enabling them to save up for things like their annual membership, more lessons or a new driver,” said Phil Kennedy Head of Marketing at Dunfermline Building Society.
Alastair Forsyth, one of Scotland’s European Tour stars and Mearns Castle’s affiliated professional, was on hand to launch the partnership and was enthusiastic about the increased investment into Scottish junior golf.
“The sponsorship is fantastic news for young golfers in Scotland. There’s been a lot of great work done in recent years through the clubgolf programme and initiatives such as the Junior Masters and Junior Club of the Year awards will help open up even more doors to boys and girls starting out in the game,” said Alastair.
“Whilst I’ve been lucky enough to compete at the top level, it’s vital that everyone is given the opportunity to enjoy golf, from beginners upwards, and the incentive of playing a national final at Gleneagles will undoubtedly attract more players in the years ahead.” he added.
For more information on the Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters and Junior Club of the Year Awards, visit www.scottishgolfunion.org

Wednesday 21st February 2007

SOUTH AFRICAN ROOKIE LEADS PAM GOLDING INTERNATIONAL
Stacy Bregman, the South African who beat top qualifier Azahara Munoz (Spain) in the first round of the match-play stages of the British women's open amateur championship at Royal County Down, has made a promising start in her first tournament as a professional in South Africa.
She claimed a two-stroke lead in the first round of the Pam Golding Ladies International at Dainfern Country Club, Johannesburg.
Bregman, who turned professional after winning the world amateur team championship with Ashleigh Simon and Kelli Shean and immediately qualified for the Ladies European Tour, opened with a seven-under-par 66.
The young star carded seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to head the field from English womenm Kiran Matharu, who posted a 68.
Rebecca Hudson and another South African rookie professional in Lee-Anne Pace were next best with rounds of four under 69.
Defending champion Nora Angehrn opened with a one under 72, while amateur sensation Ashleigh Simon signed for a level par 73.
As impressive as Bregman's round was, it could by her own admission have been even better.
She lipped out for birdie at the first two holes, then lipped out for eagle at the third but secured her birdie. Bregman went on to make birdie from two feet at the fourth, lip out for birdie at the seventh, hole a six-footer for birdie at the eighth and then hole a 65-foot putt for eagle at the ninth.She opened her back nine with four birdies in five holes from the 10th, then dropped her first shot with a three-putt on the 15th and her second when she failed to get up and down for par on the 17th.
“I played really well and everything was going exactly where I wanted it to,” said Bregman, who returned home from the Ladies European Tour confident of claiming a maiden victory on the Ladies African Tour.
“I have really been looking forward to these tournaments because I feel I can win at least one of them. I’ve been working very hard on my game and I gained a lot of experience playing in Australia.”
Bregman has been working on her short game with close friend Neil Schietekat, who is also in his rookie season as a professional on the men’s Sunshine Tour.
Schietekat made an impact in only his third event when he challenged for the recent Vodacom Championship title and finished tied fifth.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 73
Players from South Africa unless stated.
(am) indicates amateur.
66 Stacy Bregman.
68 Kiran Matharu (Eng).
69 Lee-Anne Pace, Rebecca Hudson (Eng).
70 Julie Tvede (Den), Emelie Svenningsson (Swe), Jehanne Jail (Fra).
71 Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Natou Soro, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor),Morgana Robbertze .
72 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin), Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal), Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den), Cuyler Hedley (Can), Nora Angehrn (Swi), Mandy Adamson.
73 Sophie Walker (Eng), Ashleigh Simon (am), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Lisa Jean (Aus), Elin Brask (Swe), Maria Boden (Swe), Vanessa Bell (Eng) 73, Nicole Becker (am).
74 Bertine Strauss (am), Viva Schlasberg (Swe), Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Florence Luscher (Swi), Anne-Sophie Le Nalio (Fra), Martina Gillen (Ire), Kirsty Fisher (Eng), Anna Becker (Swe).
75 Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Lena Tornevall (Swe), Maria Ohlsson (Swe), Edita Nechanicka (Cze), Lizelle Muller (am), Laurette Maritz, Zuzana Kamasova (Slo), Sarah Heath (Eng), Michelle de Vries, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 75, Nuria Clau (Spa).
Other scores included:
76 Kelly Hutcherson (Eng), Sarah (Ire) (am).
77 Cheryl Smith (Eng).
78 Michelle Smith (Eng), Shelley McKevitt (Eng).
80 Claire Coughlan (Ire)
86 Jessica Wycherley Vilakazi (Sco am).

CHARLENE FOURTH AGAIN IN LADY FALCON INVITATIONAL
Antrim’s Charlene Reid, a student at Pfeiffer University, North Carolina, finished fourth for the second event in a row in the Lady Falcon Invitational college tournament at Old North State Club, New London in North Carolina yesterday (Tuesday).
Charlene had scores of 80 and 78 for a total of 158 – seven shots behind the winner, Jean Chua (Wake Forest) who shot 76 and 75 for five-over-par 151 over the 5,842yd, par-72 course.
Ashton Ingram (Belmont Abbey College) from Fort William finished joint 33rd in a field of 79 with scores of 85 and 86 for 171.
Charlene Reid’s Pfeiffer team-mate from Belfast, Nikki Taggart shared 55th place on 185 with rounds of 90 and 95.
Pfeiffer (661) finished joint third behind winners West Florida (653) and Belmont Abbey (682) came eighth in the field of 15 colleges for the team event.

CALLUM FOURTH BUT LEWIS DOWN THE FIELD IN FLORIDA
Callum Macaulay (Mississippi) from Tulliallan and Oldmeldrum's Lewis Kirton (Louisville) finished fourth and joint 72nd respectively in the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate tournament at Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando, Florida today.
Macaulay had rounds of 66, 75 and 74 for a one-under-par tally of 215 - seven shots behind the three-stroke winner Brett Myers (Tulsa) (68-68-72).
Kirton had a good opening round of 70 over the 6,978yd, par-72 course but struggled in his later rounds of 80 and 79 for a 13-over-par tally of 229. A field of 96 players took part.
Tennessee-Chattanooga, who had Bryce Ledford (69-72-70=211) and Jonathan Hodge (73-68-72=213) in second and third places, won the team event with a total of 862, pipping Tulsa (863) for the title.
Macaulay's effort helped Mississippi (872) to finish fourth, four shots ahead of Louisville in the 18-team field.

KATY'S KNEE OP "WENT WELL."
News from Katy McNicoll's dad Dave in Carnoustie that his daughter, whose 19th birthday it was today, is "in a bit of pain but coping ... Surgeon said the knee operation went well."
Katy, a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, will not be able to play golf for at least six months.

Tuesday 20th February 2007

US College Golf
GEMMA RECAPTURES FORM TO FINISH THIRD IN FLORIDA
Gemma Webster, Glasgow-born sophomore student at Ohio State University, quickly bounced back from a disappointing display in her last tournament to finish third in the Central District Invitational women's college event at River Wilderness Golf Club, Parrish in Florida.
Gemma had rounds of 73, 74 and 69 for a level par total of 216 over the 6,099yd, par-72 course. She was competing as an individual as Ohio State did not enter a team of five.
In her sparkling final round, which was equalled only by the six-stroke winner, Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M), the Scot birdied the first, sixth, 10th and 12th and had only one bogey, at the ninth. Over the 54 holes, Gemma had a bag of eight birdies.
Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M), Irish girls champion in 2005, finished sixth on 222 with scores of 77, 72 and 73. Danielle, a Royal County Down Golf Club member, notched 10 birdies over the the three rounds but also had 16 bogeys.
Hannah Burke (Baylor) from Hertfordshire tied for 30th place on 230 with scores of 77, 81 and 72. In her second round, the English girl had a nightmare run of a double bogey at the 15th, a triple bogey at the 16th, a double bogey at the 17th and a bogey at the 18 - which added up to eight shots dropped over four holes.
But in her closing par-matching 72, Hannah had third birdies.
Baylor team-mate and compatriot Sian Reddick from Folkestone finished joint 63rd on 241 with 83, 77 and 81. She had two double bogeys in her final round and five doubles in all over the three rounds.
Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) won the individual title by the runaway margin of six shots from Sara Brown (Michigan State). Ashley finished with a seven-under-par total of 209, comprising rounds of 67, 73 and 69.
Texas A&M (874) won the team event by 13 shots from Michigan State with Baylor (905) third of the 14 competing colleges.

US College Golf
KENT STUDENT SHARES 11TH PLACE AT SAWGRASS COUNTRY CLUB
Tom Sherreard (Georgia State), a 6ft 1in freshman from Maidstone Kent, finished joint 11th in the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational over a 6,805yd, par-72 course at Sawgrass Country Club.
Sherreard had rounds of 77, 75 and 71 for a total of 223. His last round, which featured a birdie at the first hole, followed by 17 straight pars, hauled him up from a share of 27th place overnight.
Tom would certainly have had a top-10 finish with ease but for late disasters in his first round in which he had a triple bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the 16th.
Team-mate Ben Taylor from Hexham, a senior student at Georgia State and another six-footer, finished in a share of 36th place on 229 with scores of 76, 75 and 78.
Kevin Chappell (UCLA) won the individual honours with a two-under-par total of 214, made up of scores of 72, 73 and 69.
Cruising to victory with a few holes to play, Kevin ran up a double bogey at the 16th and final scrambled home by one shot from John Curran (Vanderbilt) (73-71-71) with Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina) third on 216 (73-68-75).
Alabama (881) won the team title from Vanderbilt and Coastal Carolina (both on 891) with UAB, UCF, UCLA and Georgia State sharing fourth palce on 899.

US College Golf
CLAIRE STARKIE JUST OUTSIDE TOP 10 AT DON SHULA'S GOLF CLUB, MIAMI
Claire Starkie (Georgia State), a sophomore student from Skipton, Yorkshire, finished in joint 11th place in the Papa Johns Collegiate women's tournament over the 6,317yd, par-72 course at Don Shula's Golf Club, Miami (Don Shula was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins' American football team).
Claire had rounds of 81, 75 and 77 for a total of 233 in a field of 64 players.
Louisville provided the individual winner in Cindy LaCrosse and also won the team event with a total of 924, two shots ahead of San Jose State with South Florida and east Carolina (932) tied for third place in a field of 12 teams.
Cindy LaCrosse's scores were 73, 81 and 72 for 226, one shot ahead of Erica Moston (San Jose State) (77-73-077) with Kathleen Ekey (Furman) third on 229 (79-76-74).

CARLY SIXTH IN DORAL JUNIOR CLASSIC
Carly Booth, 14-year-old Perthshire golf prospect, finished sixth in the prestigious Doral Silver Junior Classic over the Doral Golf Resort & Spa Silver Course in Florida.
Carly from Comrie, a student at the IMG David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida since the autumn, had rounds of 83, 75 and 79 for a total of 237.
In her final round, Miss Booth was heading for a very good score over a tough par-71 course when she was only one over par with six holes to play, having bogeyed the first and then reeled off 11 straight pars.
Unfortunately she ran up three double-bogey 6s after that for a 79.
Italian Giulia Molinaro, Carly's foursomes partner in the Junior Ryder Cup draw with the United States at Celtic Manor last September, won the tournament by one stroke with scores of 71, 76 and 77 for 11-over-par 224.
Carly finished ahead of the Torino teenager in last summer's European Young Masters tournament in Austria.

SGU/SLGA/Sports Scotland Press Release
SCOTTISH AMATEUR GOLF DRIVES FOR SUCCESS WITH SPORTSCOTLAND INVESTMENT
Patricia Ferguson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport was today joined at the Marriott Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club by Scotland’s number one amateur golfer, Richie Ramsay, as sportscotland acknowledged an extremely successful 2006 for the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association with the announcement of annual investment of £571,000.
The investment, of which £324,000 comes from the sportscotland Lottery Fund, will go towards player improvement and coaching, organisational development and medal success. Part of this funding will also support the clubgolf programme, now being delivered by clubgolf Ltd, a new partnership made up of the SGU, SLGA, PGA and the Golf Foundation with sportscotland fulfilling a strategic role.
In the past 12 months the SGU and SLGA have guided Richie Ramsay, Carly Booth and many others to major achievements including top spot at the US Amateur Championship, involvement in the Junior Ryder Cup and a quadruple of Home International triumphs with the seniors (male), men’s, boys and girls teams all claiming victory.
Ms Ferguson commented: “Scotland is recognised internationally as the ‘Home of Golf’, and so I am delighted to welcome funding which will help to encourage more people to take up the sport and hone their skills. This will further increase access to the game and bring a range of golf related opportunities to a wider audience.
“Participation in golf in Scotland is already twice the UK average and we would like to see this grow even further. 2007 is certainly poised to be an exciting year for the sport in Scotland, with a number of major events coming up including The Open at Carnoustie and the Women’s British Open Championship at St Andrews.”
Building on these achievements are the key aims of both the SGU and the SLGA and one of the SGU’s main initiatives, the academy programme, has just completed it’s first year of operation with over 40 under 16 boys receiving intensive coaching across the country.
During 2007 over 90 boys will be involved with the academy and significantly, in conjunction with the SLGA ten under 16 girls have been introduced into the programme. The SLGA has also boosted their coaching staff with the full time appointment of Kevin Craggs as the Ladies National Coach.
Both the SGU, SLGA, along with the PGA and other partners are working towards ‘One Plan for Golf’ marking a new era for the sport in Scotland and the effective collaboration of organisations involved in golf. This will promote a more cohesive and ultimately more successful player pathway and coaching programme for all aspiring golfers.
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair sportscotland said: “2006 was a tremendous year for amateur golf in Scotland and the SGU and SLGA have to be commended for their efforts in guiding our golfers to so much success.
“sportscotland’s funding of £571,000 not only recognises the achievements of Richie and Carly but of so many amateur golfers and we are committed to ensuring through this investment that the next few years continue to be a very exciting time for Scottish golf.”
Alistair Low, Chairman of the SGU, commented, “We are delighted that our Scottish golfers are being recognised and the announcement of sportscotland’s funding is an acknowledgement of their exceptional achievements, both in terms of individual and team performances in 2006.
"The funding makes a significant contribution to Scottish amateur golf and ensures we continue to deliver the best coaching resources and structures we can to maintain and build upon the success we have enjoyed in recent years.”
Margaret MacNaughtan, Chairman of the SLGA added: “This funding has enabled the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association to fund our first full-time coaching position, Ladies Coach Kevin Craggs.
“We are confident that this appointment will enable our golfers to continue to fulfil their potential and reap even greater successes in the seasons to come.”

US College Golf
ROSEANNE JOINT 51ST ON AMERICAN COLLEGE DEBUT IN CALIFORNIA
Scottish Under-18 girls’ champion Roseanne Niven, who enrolled at the University of California Berkeley just last month, finished joint 51st in a field of 80 players on her debut on the American women’s college golf circuit.
The tournament was the Northop Grumman Regional Challenge over a 5,912, par-71 course at Paolos Verdes Golf Club, California and was contested by a high-class field, including many Europeans.
Roseanne, who had two of the California team behind her in the final placings, score 79, 79 and 80 for a 25-over-par total of 238 – the same total as Scotland international Gemma Webster from Glasgow, a student at Ohio State University.
Gemma had scores of 81, 80 and 77.
Irish cap Tara Delaney and her sister Karen, both students at Kent State University, finished joint 26th and 64th respectively. Tara scored 77, 77 and 74 for 228 while Karen had rounds of 84, 79 and 80 for 243.
Another Irish player, Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) finished joint 34th on 231 with scores of 80, 80 and 71.
British women’s and girls’ open champion Belen Mozo from Spain, now a student at the University of Southern California, came joint eighth on 221.
The title was won by Misun Cho (Pepperdine) with a five-over-par total of 218.
Pepperdine also won the team title with a total of 882 – nine shots ahead of Arizona State.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Misun Cho (Pepperdine) 76 73 69.
219 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 72 76 71, Christa Spedding (Texas A&M) 71 75 73, Jayvie Agojo (Pepperdine) 69 73 77, Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 78 73 69, Sandra Gal (Florida) 76 74 69.
220 Adriana Zwanck (Arizona) 70 76 74.
Other totals:
221 Belen Mozo (Southern Californai) 75 72 74.
223 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 77 74 72.
224 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 79 79 66.
228 Tara Delaney (Kent State) 77 77 74.
231 Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 76 78 77, Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) 80 80 71.
238 Gemma Webster (Ohio State) 81 80 77, Roseanne Niven (California) 79 79 80.
243 Karen Delaney (Kent State) 84 79 80.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
882 Pepperdine. 891 Arizona State. 901 Florida. 904 Oklahoma State. 907 Arizona. 908 Southern California, Texas A&M. 915 Stanford.
Other totals:
937 Kent State (12th). 940 Ohio State (13th). 944 California (14th of 15).

US College Golf
IRISH STUDENT O’CALLAGHAN WINS RICE INTERCOLLEGIATE TITLE IN TEXAS
Aaron O’Callaghan, a sophomore student from Cork, holed a 12ft eagle putt at the first play-off hole to win the Rice Intercollegiate tournament over a 7,184yd, par-72 course at Westwood Golf Club, Houston.
O’Callaghan was playing as an individual, which means his Southeastern Louisiana University team coach, Tim Baldwin, considered five other players on the squad were likely to score better than the Irishman.
But O’Callaghan had rounds of 71, 77 and 69 to tie with Harrison Moore (Charleston) (71-72-74) on one-over-par 216.
Aaron trailed Moore by five strokes after 36 holes but then produced a final round of 69, the lowest by any of the 72 players over the 54 holes.
Moore holed a 20ft birdie putt at the first play-off hole but O’Callaghan sank his shorter putt for a 3 to take the individual title.
Southeastern Louisiana have several English and Irish players on their roster.
Sophomore James Taverner from Lordon was seventh on 222 (73-77-72).
Junior Peter O’Keefe from Cork tied for 28th place on 224 (78-76-70).
Sophomore Graham Benson from Leighton Buzzard finished joint 40th on 237 (74-86-77).
Coach Benson said: “Aaron is usually a starter for us but our other players have been playing very well in qualify rounds. I wanted Aaron to get some competition in this week so that’s why I had him play as an individual. He performed exceptionally well. Needless to say, he’ll be in our starting line-up next time out.”
O’Callaghan’s exclusion from the Southeastern Louisiana team probably made the difference between them winning and finishing second on 905 – five shots behind Sam Houston State.

US College Golf
NORTHERN IRELAND GIRLS HELP PFEIFFER TO WIN TEAM TITLE
Northern Ireland girls Charlene Reid from Antrim and Belfast's Nikki Taggart helped Pfeiffer University win the team event in the Lady Pirate Invitational women's college tournament at Southridge Golf Club, Savannah in Georgia.
Charlene, a freshman student, had rounds of 83 and 78 to finish fourth on 161 over the 6,006yd, par-72 course.
Sophomore Nikki came 18th in the field of 30 with scores of 90 and 87.
Their Pfeiffer team-mate, Brittany Beltran from California, won the individual title by two shots with scores of 72 and 78 for six-over-par 150.
Pfeiffer won the team title with a total of 651, two strokes ahead of runners-up South Carolina Upstate in a field of six teams.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
150 Brittany Beltran (Pfeiffer) 77 75.
152 Richelle Wedzik (SC Upstate) 77 75.
153 Crhistina Crovetti (UNC-Pembroke) 74 79.
161 Charlene Reid (Pfeiffer) 83 78.
Other score:
177 Nikki Taggart (Pfeiffer) 90 87.

EGU Press Release
Over 1000 clubs participate in EGU Golf Central
EGU Golf Central reached a milestone at the end of January when the 1000th club registered to participate in the service.
EGU Golf Central is the only online club directory that is endorsed by the governing body, the English Golf Union and provides golfers with the opportunity to get outstanding value at many of the 1900+ courses throughout England in just three clicks.
Windmill Village Golf Club in Allesley, near Coventry is the latest club to be using EGU Golf Central to promote their facilities to a worldwide audience.
Marci Hartland, Golf & Leisure Manager at Windmill Village said “This is a great opportunity for clubs. EGU Golf Central is simple to use, is free of charge and provides us with 100% control over what we want to promote and when we want to promote it. And there’s a great potential audience from golfers, in England and overseas, linking from the main EGU site.”
Since its launch in September last year thousands of golfers have accessed the website and requested details of special offers being offered by clubs countrywide, entered open competitions and made membership enquiries. And as the season draws ever nearer these numbers are only going to increase.
Colin Spurr, EGU Chairman commented, “I have always believed in the potential of EGU Golf Central. It was important that our clubs supported the website and from the start and we made sure we got as many club secretaries and managers involved in its development as we could. We have been delighted with the response from clubs and its great to celebrate the 1000th milestone at Windmill Village.”
EGU Golf Central employs unique technology using maps to search for clubs, in addition to the usual alphabetical search. This makes it really easy to find clubs within a 10, 25 or 50 mile radius of any point. At a glance golfers can see which clubs have special offers, open competitions or vacancies and get general information including directions, sat-nav coordinates and local weather.
You can access EGU Golf Central from the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org/golfcentral.

Monday 19th February 2007

SLGA NAME TEAM CAPTAINS
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has announced the following team captains for 2007:
European women’s team championship (Castelconturbia GC, Italy, July 10-14) - LESLEY JOHNSTON (Gullane).
European girls’ team championship (Oslo GC, Norway, July 10-14) – JENNIFER JENKINS (Ralston).
European senior women’s team championship (Royal Drottningholms GC, Sweden, July 24-27) – PAM GORDON (Inverness)
Women’s home internationals (Dunbar GC, September 12-14) – JAYNE SMITH (Gullane).
Girls’ home internationals (Southerndown GC, Wales, August 8-10) – KATRINA MILNE (Dunfermline).
Senior women’s home internationals (Royal Tara GC, Ireland, October 2-4) – JOAN MARSHALL (Baberton).

US OPERATION BLOW FOR KATY McNICOLL FROM CARNOUSTIE
Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll, one of Scotland’s best teenage golf prospects, is out of the game for at least the next six months.
Katy, whose 19th birthday it is on Tuesday (February 20), had a right knee operation today at Boca Raton, Florida where she is a second-year golf scholarship student at Lynn University.
Before the operation, Miss McNicoll, whose father owns a golf shop in Carnoustie and whose older brother Keir played for Scotland in last year’s home internationals, said: “I have torn my anterior cruciate ligament and damnaged the menicus on the inside of my right knee. How I managed to do this, I don’t actually know!
“The knee gave out when I was playing golf about two weeks ago and the trainer at the university referred me to a specialist who then referred me for an MRI.
OPERATION ONLY OPTION
“When the results came through, I was told that the only option if I wanted to continue playing competitive golf was to have an operation. They will repair both at the same time.
“As for recovering, it will take around six months before I can think about golfing again but I will be doing intense rehab basically from day one after surgery.
“Maybe around May I might be allowed to start putting or working on my short game but sometimes the anterior cruciate ligament takes fully a year for a 100% recovery. Fingers crossed.”
Katy, pictured above, has been a winner on the American women’s college circuit and was rated a key player in Lynn University’s bid for a national title in the spring.
Last year she was runner-up to Krystle Caithness with a nine-under-par, three-round total in the Scottish Under-21 girls’ stroke-play championship.
In the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play championship, Katy lost to the eventual champion, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) in the semi-finals at Peebles and she also lost in the semi-finals of the North of Scotland women’s championship at Montrose to Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) who went on to retain that title.

CAROL STEWART DIES PEACEFULLYAT HOME IN BANFF
Former Murcar Golf Club ladies’ captain and 14 times ladies' club champion, Carol Stewart has died in Banff at the age of 56.
She had fought a long and brave fight against cancer before succumbing peacefully at the home she shared with her partner, former Fraserburgh and Duff House Royal club professional Bob Strachan.
Carol was an honorary member at both Murcar and Duff House Royal.
Her dominance of the Murcar women’s club championship spanned 18 years from 1967 to 1985. She was only 16 when she won it for the first time in 1967. Then followed nine straight title wins from 1970 to 1978 inclusive.
Carol’s success continued into the 1980s when she was club champion in 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985 before she moved to Banff to live.
She was capped for Scotland in the Under-18 girls’ home internationals in 1966, 1967 and 1968 and played regularly for the Aberdeenshire team for a number of years. She was Aberdeenshire county champion in 1976 and 1981 and ladies’ captain of Murcar Golf Club from 1982 to 1984.
"Carol was a highly-respected and skilled golfer who will be greatly missed by all who knew her, both on and off the golf course,” said Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association captain Ros Dunsmuir.
The funeral service will be held at Moray Crematorium on Thursday at 11am.

R&A Press Release
CHINA WILL HAVE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD RULES OF GOLF OFFICIALS IN TWELVE MONTHS
Beijing, China 13 February 2007 – China will have international standard Rules of Golf officials in twelve months according to a new agreement signed today in Beijing between The R&A, golf’s world rules and development body, and the China Golf Association (CGA), the national governing body for the Rules of Golf in China.
The agreement follows a direct request from the CGA that The R&A provides expert Rules of Golf coaches, structured learning materials and a new graduated examination system that leads to accredited national and international referee status.
Key targets are set out in the agreement that challenges the partners to successfully train across China: 100 Primary and Intermediate level Rules Officials by the autumn of 2007, 60 new National level Rules Officials by the end of the year and two International level referees by February 2008.
Speaking at the signing ceremony R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson said:
“We are delighted to assist our affiliated national association in China in this very practical way. Golfers worldwide follow the same set of rules and with more competitions being played in China it is critical that the game, locally, finds referees that match up to the growing demand”.
The R&A is to meet the cost of staging Rules of Golf Schools in China throughout a two-year programme.
Last week two Chinese rules officials, Mr Feng Liyuan and Mr Xiao Yufeng, attended the annual International Rules of Golf School in St Andrews, Scotland, the Home of Golf.

Sunday 18th February 2007

I'm back but my luggage isn't.
Watch this space!

US Student Golf
DUNCAN STEWART PIPPED FOR EIGHTH US COLLEGE VICTORY
Jacksonville University senior-year student Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey went so close to notching up an eighth victory in his four years on the American college golf circuit in the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational tournament at Sunbrook Golf Club, St George’s in Utah.
Stewart, who had been one of four players sharing the first-round lead on five-under-par 67, set the clubhouse target of nine-under-par 135 with a second-round 68 over the 6,781yd, par-72 course.
That look like being the winning total until Aaron Weston (Colorado State) followed up an opening 71 with a 64 to tie with Stewart.
Weston won the play-off with a birdie from 4ft at the first extra hole.
It was Duncan Stewart’s first tournament of the second half of the college season.
Russell Knox from Inverness, one of Stewart’s team-mates at Jacksonville, Florida, tied for 19th place with a pair of 71s for two-under-par 142.
A third Jacksonville Scot, Jamie Kennedy from Edinburgh, finished 101st in the field of 112 with scores of 81 and 82 for 163.
Jacksonville University (588) finished 10th equal behind winners Southern Utah (562) in the team event which had a field of 18 colleges.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
135 Aaron Weston (Colorado State) 71 64, Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 67 68 (Weston won play-off at first extra hole).
136 Nic Van Vuuren (Utah Valley State) 67 69.
Other scores:
142 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 71 71 (jt 19th).
150 Sean McNamara (Colorado State) 80 70 (jt 61st).
163 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 81 82 (101st).
LEADING TEAMS
562 Southern Utah.
565 Denver.
570 Oral Roberts.
575 Utah.
576 Colorado State.
Also:
588 Jacksonville (jt 10th).

LGU Press Release
NAIRN TO HOST 2012 CURTIS CUP
The Nairn Golf Club, one of the jewels of Scotland’s links golf, will host the Curtis Cup in 2012, the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the club that lies on the southern shore of the Moray Firth.
This will mark the 38th playing of the biennial contest between GB&I and the United States of America for the simple silver trophy, gifted in 1932 by sisters Margaret and Harriot Curtis, ‘to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands’.
This sentiment is likely to be proved true when the best women golfers on both sides of the Atlantic meet in friendly competition at the most northerly venue yet.
Not that the club’s northern location has been a deterrent to Nairn hosting an impressive tally of top line tournaments. For after the 15 mile stretch of railway line from Inverness to Nairn was opened in 1855, and The Nairn Golf Club was formed in 1887, golfers from all corners of the world have been making tracks for the town.
The Walker Cup of 1999, Scottish Amateur Championships, Northern Professional Opens, European Championships and several British and Scottish ladies’ tournaments, have all been played over the links at Nairn which are rightly reputed to have the finest greens in Scotland.
“The Ladies’ Golf Union is delighted that the Nairn Golf Club has agreed to host the Curtis Cup in 2012,” said Susan Simpson, Director of Championships for the LGU.
“We could not have chosen a more welcoming club or a more testing venue for the match. It was a very difficult decision but I have no doubt that we have made a wise choice in Nairn. Our past experience of the club and course has been without fault.
“The membership and officials of The Nairn Golf Club are delighted that the Ladies’ Golf Union has chosen the Club to host the 2012 Curtis Cup. Not only is this a tremendous honour for the Club but also for the town of Nairn and the Highlands of Scotland. We look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to this most prestigious event,” said Club Captain, Harry Sinclair.
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland, welcomed the announcement, saying, “This is a great achievement for The Nairn Golf Club, as well as another ringing endorsement from the Ladies Golf Union of the ability of Scotland’s golf courses to host major women’s golf tournaments. EventScotland will work with and support the Ladies Golf Union and The Nairn Golf Club to market and promote the Curtis Cup to ensure that spectators and viewers from all over the world have the opportunity to experience one of Scotland’s and the Highlands’ real gems.”

LGU Press Release
THE 2007 PEUGEOT CORONATION FOURSOMES
The Ladies’ Golf Union is pleased to announce the launch of the 2007 Peugeot Coronation Foursomes. Now entering its sixth year of partnership with Peugeot, the French car manufacturer, the competition continues to grow from strength to strength with more than 34,000 lady golfers from 1400 clubs nationwide competing in 2006.
Winning at club level is only the start of a trail that leads through to Area Finals, the Grand Final in St Andrews and ultimately a place in the Pro-Am of the 2008 Women’s British Open for the winners.
“One of the great attractions of the Peugeot Coronation Foursomes is that it is a handicap tournament for all lady club golfers” said Susan Simpson the LGU’s Director of Championships.
“We have found over the years that it is not necessarily the lower handicapped players who reach the Grand Final. We hope that this competition not only encourages as many ladies as possible to take part in competitive golf but also allows them to play other courses, have fun and make new friends”
In 2006, it was the Yorkshire pairing of Denise Jenkins and Pat Stageman from Allerthorpe Park, Yorkshire who overcame any nerves to win the Grand Final in St Andrews. They now look forward to playing with one of the world’s leading professionals in the Pro-Am of the 2007 Women’s British Open, which will be played over the Old Course, St Andrews on Wednesday 1 August 2007.
2007 also sees the launch of a new online entry system. From March 2007 clubs will be able to enter and pay club entry fees online using the latest technology so successfully implemented for other LGU Championships a few years ago.
Clubs are invited to hold qualifying rounds between 1 March and 20 June with the closing date for entries 22 June 2007. From there, successful pairs will progress through to one of twelve Area Finals, which will be contested throughout July and August.
The Grand Final will be played over the Eden Course, St Andrews on 24 September 2007.
Further details can be viewed on the LGU Website at www.lgu.org

ELGA Press Release
England teenagers aim for Solheim Junior Cup team
Two of England’s leading teenage golfers, Florentyna Parker and Hannah Barwood, are aiming for places in the European team for the 2007 PING Junior Solheim Cup.
They’ve set their sights on joining the 12-strong side which will take on the American girls in Sweden in September – just days before the Solheim Cup itself is contested by professionals from the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA.
Florentyna, an England international from Royal Birkdale, is already a veteran of transatlantic team competition. The 17-year-old helped Europe win the Junior Ryder Cup in 2004 and went on to play (pictured right, playing for Europe in the 2005 Junior Solheim Cup) in the Junior Solheim Cup in 2005, which the Americans won.
She remarked: “They were both amazing experiences. I was lucky that both events were held in the USA and we were treated like celebrities! I really hope I will get to play the Solheim Cup in Sweden this year because it is such a great event, the standard of golf is excellent - and I need to get revenge from last time’s event!”
Hannah, from Knowle in Gloucestershire, is hoping to make her debut at this level. The 16-year-old girl international (pictured below left) said: “It would be such a great experience to play with the top European girls and to see what the Americans have to offer.
“Also, Catrin Nilsmark is going to captain the team and you can learn such a lot from people like her.” Nilsmark is a former Solheim Cup player and captain.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup will be played at Båstad Golf Club in Sweden on September 11 and 12. Fourball and foursomes matches will take place on the first day with 12 singles matches on the final day. The girls will then watch the Solheim Cup itself which will takes place at Halmstad, Sweden, from 14-16 September.
Five events on the European Golf Association’s calendar are qualifying tournaments for the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2007. They are:
· Spanish International Ladies Amateur Championship from February 28-March 4
· French Lady Juniors Championship, April 5-9
· Skandia Lady Junior Open, Sweden, May 25-27
· Girls’ European Team Championship (36 hole strokeplay), Norway, July 10-14
· Girls’ British Open Championship, Southerndown, Wales, Aug 13-17
After the British girls’ championship, the leading seven players on the points table will be automatically selected for the team. Five further players will be chosen as captain’s picks. Performance in all girls’ and lady amateur events will be taken into consideration when deciding the captain’s picks.
An advisory board of five European coaches will help to choose the captain’s picks. Great Britain is represented by Pat Smillie who is also the national junior coach for the English Ladies’ Golf Association.

ELGA Press Release
England’s PING championship is about to get underway
The 2007 PING Ladies’ Four Ball Better Ball Tournament of England is about to get underway – and it promises to be even bigger and better than last year’s inaugural competition.
The Marriott hotel group has joined the sponsors and its golf courses will host the six regional finals and the grand final, which will take place at the Marriott Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club in Warwickshire on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.
Information packs about the tournament, which is run by the English Ladies’ Golf Association, have just been sent to clubs across England and many more competitors are expected to enter this year’s event.
ELGA tournament secretary Emma Lowe said: “Last year we had a tremendous response, with players entering from over 800 clubs, and we are expecting to attract many more this year. Lots of other clubs told us they were planning to include it in their 2007 schedules and we had fantastic feedback from competitors who were going out to spread the message and to encourage other ladies to take part.”
The PING Ladies' Four Ball Better Ball Tournament of England costs just £1 per player to enter and starts with club qualifying rounds, to be played by June.
The winning pair from each club will go forward to one of six regional finals – two more than last year. These will be held at: Marriott Tudor Park Golf & Country Club, Kent, on August 6; Marriott Worsley Golf Club, Lancashire, on August 20; Marriott Hollins Hall Hotel & Country Club, Yorkshire, on August 22; Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club, Hampshire, on August 28, Marriott St Pierre Hotel and Country Club, Monmouthshire, on August 30; and Marriott Breadsall Priory Golf & Country Club, Derbyshire, on September 10.
The best eight pairs at each regional final will go forward to the grand final at Marriott Forest of Arden on October 2. All 96 finalists will receive a voucher for a pair of ECCO shoes and an item of clothing from PING Collection to wear on the day. PING Collection will sponsor the grand final and the winners will receive prizes worth up to £500.
Full details are available on the championship website: www.pingchampionship.com

ELGA Press Release
England’s Holly wins Portuguese Ladies’ Championship
England’s Holly Aitchison has won the Portuguese Ladies’ Championship at Quinta de Cima - on her first outing in an international event.
In fact, it was only the second time the 19-year-old from Bedfordshire Golf Club had played abroad.
“I didn’t really rate my chances very highly. I went for the experience,” said Holly. “I want to progress my golf and thought the best place to do it was in Europe where ultimately I want to play as a pro.”
She added: “I’m still a bit surprised to win – but it feels fantastic!”
Holly achieved her first goal when she qualified for the matchplay stages of the tournament – and then she battled her way to the title with a series of comeback performances.
In her first match against the number two seed, Spain’s Ane Urchegui, she was three down after nine but emerged the 3/2 winner. In the next round against France’s Carolina Afonso she was two down after nine – but went on to win two up. In the semi-final against Portugal’s Ana Santos Melo she was all square at the turn. “It was rather nice!” said Holly. “But this was a tough match, really nip and tuck, and I only won one up.”
The 36-hole final against Germany’s Nicola Roessler again saw her trailing before she claimed the trophy with a 3/2 win.
Holly was three down after 19, clawed her way back to all square only to slip again to three down with 10 to play. But then Holly turned it around with the help of a hot putter, winning six holes in a row: “I was about three under par for the last eight holes,” she said. “I holed lots of really good putts and she couldn’t do anything about it.”
She added: “It was very much a comeback week! It’s nice to do this so early in the year – it really opens up the season.”
Holly has been the Bedfordshire ladies and girls’ champion and is a former member of ELGA’s Select Midlands squad.

Best result ever in LET tour for Clare Queen
Congratulations to Scotland's Clare Queen who finished joint sixth in the ANZ Ladies Masters at Royal Pines Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia last weekend. Her final two rounds of 70 and 68 for a total of 276 lifted her up the leaderboard to be only seven shots behind Australian Karrie Webb in a star studded field, and earned her €16,975.67.
New Zealander Liz Mackinnon also performed well with scores of 72 70 69 and 72 for a 283 total and a share of 22nd place.
Final scores
269 Karrie Webb (AUS) 71 68 62 68 (€80,200.01)
271 Ji Yai Shin (KOR) 70 66 66 69 (€52,932.00)
272 Cristie Kerr (USA) 69 69 66 68 (€37,426.67)
274 Sun Ju Ahn (KOR) 64 68 72 70 (€26,733.33)
275 Ya-Ni Tseng (TPE) 71 69 69 66 (€21,654.00)
276 Clare Queen (SCO) 69 69 70 68, Michelle Ellis (AUS) 67 66 68 75 (€16,975.67 each)
278 Young Ran Jo (KOR) 71 69 71 67, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 72 69 68 69, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 66 73 68 71, Rachel Hetherington (AUS) 70 67 69 72 (€11,027.50 each)
279 Hee Young Park (KOR) 70 71 69 69
280 Louise Stahle (SWE) 71 70 70 69, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 68 69 72 71, Brittany Lincicome (USA) 72 69 66 73, Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 68 67 69 76
281 Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 72 70 67 72
282 Marta Prieto (ESP) 69 73 69 71, Sakura Yokomine (JPN) 67 75 68 72, Paula Marti (ESP) 71 72 67 72, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 73 67 67 75
283 Martina Eberl (GER) 71 72 73 67, Eun Hee Ji (KOR) 68 69 76 70, Cecilia Ekelundh (SWE) 66 75 72 70, Lora Fairclough (ENG) 69 73 71 70, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 72 71 70 70, Lindsey Wright (AUS) 69 74 70 70, Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ) 72 70 69 72, Tamie Durdin (AUS) 67 69 74 73
284 Nadina Light (AUS) 71 71 71 71, Sarah Nicholson (NZ) 67 71 74 72, Loraine Lambert (AUS) 67 72 72 73
285 Na Yeon Choi (KOR) 71 72 73 69, Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 72 72 72 69, Hae-Jung Kim (KOR) 72 70 73 70, Rebecca Stevenson (AUS) 70 73 71 71, Ludivine Kreutz (FRA) 68 72 73 72, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 70 70 71 74, Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 70 70 67 78
286 Stephanie Arricau (FRA) 73 70 73 70, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 71 72 71 72, Haeji Kang (Am) (KOR) 69 74 69 74, Tamara Beckett (AUS) 71 71 69 75
287 Laura Davies (ENG) 69 73 74 71, So Hee Kim (KOR) 73 70 73 71, Ji Na Lim (KOR) 69 71 75 72, Rachel Bailey (AUS) 69 71 75 72, Tullia Calzavara (ITA) 71 72 72 72, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 71 69 73 74, Diana Luna (ITA) 73 68 72 74, Anja Monke (GER) 70 72 71 74, Karen Quinn (AUS) 72 67 73 75
288 Natalie Gulbis (USA) 69 73 76 70, Ashleigh Simon (Am) (SA) 74 70 74 70, Kristie Newton (AUS) 73 70 73 72, Belinda Kerr (AUS) 73 71 72 72, Laurette Maritz (SA) 72 7