July 2005 Archive

Sunday 31st July 2005

Mackie Bowl
KYLIE WINS MACKIE BOWL
Stirling University student Kylie Walker, pictured right, won the Mackie Bowl 36-hole women's open tournament at Gullane yesterday (Sunday). She tied with another Scotland international player, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) on 143.
They had similar rounds of 70 and 73. The tie-breaker was a comparison of their last nine holes in the second round with Kylie coming out on top by that means.
First-round leader Martine Pow (Selkirk) faded to third place on 144 (68, 76) with Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) fourth on 146 (73, 73).
MACKIE BOWL WOMEN'S OPEN
Gullane
LEADING FINAL TOTALS (CSS 74 74)
143 Kylie Walker (Stirling Univ) 70 73, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 70 73.
144 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 68 76.
146 Heather Macrae (Dunblane) 73 73.
149 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 73, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 76 73.
151 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 74 77.
153 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 76 77.
154 Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 76 78, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 75 79
155 Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar) 73 82.
156 Jo Carthew 78 78, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 76 80.
157 Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 79 78.
160 Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ) 81 79, Emily Ogilvie (Muckhart) 79 81, Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) 78 82, Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie) 77 83, Rhona Maclennan (Baberton) 76 84.
161 Fiona Prior (Gullane) 79 82, Hannah Harvey (St Leonards) 79 82.
162 Dawn Dewar (Stirling Univ) 80 82.
163 Addi Shamash (Kirkcudbright) 81 82, Emma Fairnie (Peebles) 81 82.
164 Wendy Wells (Dumfries & Co) 84 80.
166 Louisa Ruane (Vale of Leven) 89 77.
167 Kirsty Wells (Dumfries & Co) 83 84,
169 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 85 84.
172 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 91 81.
173 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 89 84, Sharon Paterson (Bothwell Castle) 86 87.

FIONA FADES TO FIFTH IN DENMARK
Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart, pictured left, faded to fifth place in the Danish women’s international amateur golf championship at Silkeborg today (Sunday).
The St Regulus player had rounds of 77, 74 and 81 for a 19-over-par total of 232 – nine shots behind the winner, Denmark’s TgrineBaun Mortensen.
Sara Bishop (Windyhill), the second player sent by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association at the invitation of the Danish Golf Union, beat the 36-hole but finished ninth equal on 237 with scores of 79, 78 and 80.
Fiona started her final round brightly with a birdie 2 at the second but she ran into double-bogey trouble at the fourth and fifth and had another at the 13th in halves of 41 and 40.
Sara also had an early birdie, at the third and was moving up through the field when she reached the turn in one-over-par 37. But she had double bogeys at the 13th and 16th in taking 43 shots for the inward half.
DANISH WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Silkeborg GC
Final totals (Par 71)
223 Trine Baun Mortensen (Den) 78 72 73.
225 Lisbeth Meincke (Den ) 76 73 76.
227 Cathrine Madsen (Den) 78 75 74
228 Mette Randbaek (Den) 75 74 79.
232 Fiona Lockhart (Sco) 77 74 81.
Other total:
237 Sara Bishop (Sco) 79 78 80.

Saturday 30th July 2005

FIONA LOCKHART LYING FOURTH IN DENMARK, SARA BISHOP 11th
Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), pictured right, was lying fourth and Sara Bishop (Windyhill) 11th after two rounds of the 54-hole Danish international women's amateur championship at Silkeborg Golf Club.
Fiona had rounds of 77 and 74 for a nine-over-par tally of 151 - two shots behind joint pacemakers Lisbeth Meincke and Mette Randbaek of Denmark.
Fiona had a double-bogey 6 at the 15th in her first round but birdied the hole in the second.
Sara Bishop had rounds of 79 and 78. She also had a double bogey, at the 14th in her second round but she bounced back with a birdie at the 15th.
Both Fiona and Sara were sent there as Scotland representatives by the SLGA.
LEADING SCORES
(players from Denmark unless stated)
149 Lisbeth Meincke 76 73, Mette Randbaek 75 74.
150 Trine Baun Mortensen 78 72.
151 Fiona Lockhart (Sco) 77 74.
Also:
157 Sara Bishop (Sco) 79 78.

Scottish Mens' Championship
Glenn Campbell from Blairgowrie is the 2005 Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Champion, having beaten Kirkcudbright’s Ben Shamash at the 37th hole in a dramatic final at Southerness. See SGU website for full details.

ENGLISH MENS AMATEUR
WARING CROWNED ENGLISH CHAMPION
Paul Waring is the English Amateur champion. He won the title in front of his own members at his own club of Bromborough when he defeated Cheshire county colleague Steven Capper 3 and 2 in the 36 hole final.
After the morning round in which Capper led for most of the way but finished all square, it seemed the battle would go all the way and possibly beyond the 36 holes. But despite trailing again after six holes of the afternoon, Waring won five of the next seven to take a firm grip. Capper, the 17 year old England boy international, couldn’t find the birdies that had illuminated his play before lunch while the breaks also failed to go his way.
Although Waring fell behind again when he tangled with trees and conceded the par four 23rd, it was a birdie-four at the 25th that got him back on terms and he also won the next when Capper drove out of bounds. But the major turning point came at the par three 28th where Waring holed from 40 feet for birdie and Capper missed from much closer. That put Waring two up and he was three ahead after the long 29th where he got up-and-down superbly from sand while Capper three-putted from the front fringe, missing from three feet for a half.
The end was in sight and it got closer at the par four 31st where Waring went four up, again getting up-and-down from a greenside bunker while Capper failed to match him after chipping poorly from behind the green. Although Capper won the 33rd when Waring’s long par putt finished inches away, a half in threes at the short 34th brought a shake of hands.
“This is unbelievable,” said Waring. “And to win the title in front of my mum and dad and the members at my own club is the icing on the cake. I started the final poorly but got better and better. I knew I had to grind it out and to keep fighting and it came off. But it was my short game that did it for me."
“Also I never got ahead of myself and I have to thank my caddie and best friend Duncan Robertson for that. I caddied for him when he won the club championship here so he owed me for that. Credit to Steve. He was on fire this morning and I had to be sure I didn’t panic. He is a fighter and never gave up.”
Capper, who is in the England team for next week’s Boys Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa, said: “I gutted but I’m happy for Paul. He’s been dogged by injuries and he needed something like this. The turning point was that long putt on the tenth. If it hadn’t gone in the ball would have rolled eight feet past.”

ELGA Press Release
Melissa Reid wins English Girls’ Championship
Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid, pictured right, scored a back-to-back triumph in the English Girls’ Championship when she beat Gloucestershire’s Joanne Hodge 2/1 in the final at Liphook.
The 17-year-old from Chevin is the first player to successfully defend the title since Rebecca Hudson’s second win in 1996.
“I badly wanted to win again, it was definitely one of my goals this season,” said Melissa. “To win once was pretty good, but to win twice would give me a great finale to my junior days. I’m 18 in September and so this is my last year – and I wanted to go out with a win!”
The final proved to be Melissa’s closest match in the championship, which she dominated from day one. She led the strokeplay qualifiers – as she also did last year - and then eased through her matches with increasingly impressive scorelines: 3/1, 5/3, 5/4 and 6/5.
But the final was tightly contested with both girls putting on a good display of low scoring for the crowd of spectators. At one point Melissa was three-under par and only two up.
The match began with a fine show of birdies. Melissa struck first, her three-iron on the opening hole finishing 2ft from the cup and setting up an easy two. Joanne came straight back with a birdie on the second, Melissa had another birdie on the fourth and the two players halved the fifth in birdie fours.
By the time they reached the turn Melissa was two up but then had three consecutive bogeys. Joanne, the 18-year-old Gloucestershire champion, took advantage and the match was back to all square after 12.
They halved the long 13th in birdies, after Melissa played a superb three-wood out of the rough, and were still all square after 14.
The deadlock was broken on the 15th where Melissa scored a steady par four and Joanne three-putted for a bogey.
“That was the turning point,” said Melissa, who won the 16th with a par to go two up. Both players parred the 17th – and the title stayed with the defending champion.
“It was a really good match, you couldn’t relax, you had to keep going for it,” said Melissa.
The second flight final was won by Emily Priest (Enville) who beat Helen White (Worfield) 3/2. Emily, 15, was watched by her grandparents who introduced her to golf.

ELGA Press Release
Strong England team named for girls’ international matches
English champion Felicity Johnson and girls’ champion Melissa Reid will lead England’s defence of the Stroyan Cup at the girls’ international matches at Worplesdon Golf Club, Surrey, from August 3-5.
England is bidding to win the trophy for the sixth consecutive year – and in a season which already includes a gold medal triumph in the European Girls’ Team Championship.
The team, captained by Joy Trafford, is a very strong line-up. The eight caps are: Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil), Jodi Ewart (Catterick), Joanne Hodge (Knowle), Felicity Johnson (Harborne), Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) and Melissa Reid (Chevin).
Melissa Reid, 17, has just successfully defended the English girls’ championship and was in the England’s gold medal-winning team at the European championships, alongside Kiran Matharu, 16, and Jodi Ewart, 17.
English champion Felicity Johnson, 18, is fresh from helping Great Britain and Ireland retain the Vagliano Trophy and was part of the England team which won the silver medal in the European Ladies’ Team Championship.
Joanne Hodge, 18, who was runner-up in the English girls’ championship and reached the last 16 in this year’s British amateur, played in the girls’ internationals in 2003. Florentyna Parker, 16, who has just had a top five finish in the European Young Masters, is an experienced member of the side.
Henrietta Brockway, 15, the English U15 champion and Welsh open strokeplay champion, and Hannah Barwood, 15, the joint runner-up in the English schools championship, will both make their debut in these matches.

Friday 29th July 2005

BP Scottish Girls' (Close) Championship, Tain
Sally wins at second attempt
Photo and report courtesy Robin Wilson.
At only her second year of competing in the BP Scottish Girls golf championship Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), pictured right, lifted the title at Tain today beating Carly Booth (Auchterarder) in the eighteen hole final on the seventeenth green.
Miss Watson (14) showed she had the potential to become a champion when she reached the semi finals of the Scottish Ladies at Cruden Bay earlier this year and then got her first Scottish selection in the recent European girls team champion ships in Switzerland.
Number three seed Miss Booth (13) began the final as favourite but as early as the second hole found that her opponents short game was her strength when Watsons chip struck the pin to half the hole in four.
Watson won the third hole when Booth failed with a nine foot putt and then the favourite was two down after six when Watson again excelled from off the green, this time holing out for a birdie two.
Watson did find trouble in the Tain rough and bunkers at the 7th and 9th holes which let Booth square matters before the start of the inward half. When the Auchterarder girl drove three hundred yards downwind to the edge of the tenth green she looked favourite to take the lead but Watson was first into the hole for birdie with an other good putt.
After losing the 12th to go behind again Booth squared matters with her length advantage at the par five 13th hole, two shots to the edge of the green, but a wayward drive and a penalty drop from her at the next hole once more put Watson one hole in front..
Both players missed makeable birdie putts on the 15th and 16th greens but when the crunch came on the 17th it was Watson who holed out for birdie three from twelve feet and the title at 2 and 1.
BP Scottish Girls (Close) Championship at Tain.
Final S. Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) beat C. Booth (Auchterarder) 2& 1.

Scottish Teams Named at Tain
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon) have been named in the Scottish girls squad for next weeks Girls Home International matches at Worplesdon Golf Club in Woking, Surrey.
MacDonald (14) is the Northern Counties champion and North of Scotland Girls champion and Thomson (17) is one of the youngest ever holders of the womens North of Scotland Championship when she won at Banchory earlier this month.
The new Scottish champion Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) leads the team and is joined by her elder sister Rebecca (16), the outgoing champion Krystle Caithness (St. Regulus), and the new womens course record holder at Tain, Roseanne Niven (Crieff).
Sally Watson has also been named to join Louise Fleming, the Scottish under 21 stroke play champion from the The Roxburgh as Scotlands duo in the SAAB International Junior tournament at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium in Brussels from August 23 to 27.
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association also announced at Tain yesterday the Scottish team for the Ladies British Amateur Stroke Play championship at Nairn from August 17 to 19 as, Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Fiona Lockhart (St. Regulus) and Claire Queen (Drumpelliar).
Girls Home Internationals Carly Booth (Auchterarder), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Krystle Caithness (St. Regulus), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).
Reserves Laura Murray (Alford), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh
Old), Amanda Edwards (Liberton)
SAAB International Juniors, Brussels. Louise Fleming (The Roxburgh), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).
Ladies British Open Stoke Play, Nairn Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Fiona Lockhart (St. Regulus), Clare Queen (Drumpelliar)

Scottish Mens' Amateur, Southerness
IT'S CAMPBELL VERSUS SHAMASH FOR SCOTTISH TITLE
Glenn Campbell, the Scotland international player who doesn't practise, will meet Ben Shamash, who's been too busy studying to play competitive golf, will cross swords in today's (Sat) 36-hole final of the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship at Southerness links on the Solway coast.
Campbell, a 32-year-old Blairgowrie Golf Club member and greenkeeper at Murrayshall Golf Club, came through a 21-hole quarter-final thriller against the seeded Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) in the morning.
Then Glenn, the quiet family man from Coupar Angus removed the last seed from the championship, Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) with another no-fuss performance, beating him by 3 and 2 with "down the middle stuff."
"I don't believe in practising and I never do hit balls. I've hit a few shots to the wee pitching green here at Southerness when I've arrived every morning but that's it," said Campbell who was at one time the highest rated golfer in the country with plus 5 of a handicap. He now plays off plus 4.
"When I did try to practise a few years back I used to get bored after half an hour.
Campbell stopped playing golf for three or four years in his mid-20s and then decided to take it up again and see how good he could get. He won the Scottish mid-amateur championship in 1998 but as it was achieved over his home course he never received full credit it for that and it was 2003 before Campbell gained his first full cap for Scotland.
"I wanted a good performance this week to be selected for the home internationals squad for a third year in a row," said Glenn.
Shamash, 21-year-old Edinburgh University student on a economics and mathematics degree, is a Kirkcudbright member with a handicap of one. But he has played in only three club medals this season.
"I've been too busty studying. I just have not had the time to play competitive golf and even if I were to win the Scottish title that wouldn't change anything. My future lies in investment banking and I'm off to London shortly
for seven-week summer internship, when I definitely won't be golfing.
"I am pleasantly surprised how far I've got in the championship this week. But I've had great fun. Coming through that 27-hole quarter-final against Bryan Fotheringham this morning was something else."
In the semi-finals, Ben wore down 40-year-old Sandy Twynholm (Morpeth) to win by 2 and 1. Twynholm led for the first time at the 13th but it was so far and no further for the Newcastle Council employee.
Shamash chipped in from 30ft for a birdie 3 to draw level again and after Twynholm had holed a 20-footer for a half at the 16th, a so-tight match was suddenly all over two holes later.
Twynholm bogeyed the 16th to go one down again and then Shamash reduced the 175yd par-3 17th to a nine-iron and a 7ft putt for a 2 and 1 win.
SEMI-FINALS
Campbell bt *Ramsay 3 and 2.
Shamash bt Twynholm 2 and 1.
*denotes seeded player.

English Girls' Championship
Melissa Reid plays Joanne Hodge in English Girls’ final
Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid and Gloucestershire’s Joanne Hodge will meet head to head for the first time in the final of the English Girls’ Championship at Liphook.
Melissa, 17, (Chevin) is the defending champion while Joanne, 18, (Knowle) is playing in her second final and bidding for her first win in this event.
Joanne gave herself a last chance to become champion before she leaves junior ranks when she beat Laura Harvey (Richmond, Yorkshire) 3/2 in their semi-final. Earlier, she won her quarter-final match against Jodi Ewart (Catterick) by the same margin.
In the semi-final Laura was one-up for most of the outward half, but Joanne squared matters on the ninth and then won the 11th, 12 and 13th, where she had an eagle three, to forge ahead. Halves on the next three holes were enough to see her comfortably into the final.
“It’s going to be a good match, Mel is a good player,” said Joanne. “But anything can happen in matchplay.”
Her appearance in the 2003 final gave her valuable experience. “I learned not to rush,” said Joanne, who is a member of ELGA’s Elite potential girls’ squad, won her first junior cap two years ago and reached the last 16 in the 2005 British amateur championship.
Melissa, meanwhile, made short work of her matches, beating Laura Cutler (Warley Park) 5/4 in the quarter final and then defeating Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 6/5 in their semi-final.
She finished off her afternoon match with a birdie on the 13th and was applauded as she left the course.
“I’m really looking forward to the final,” she said afterwards. “I like finals and, touch wood, I have never lost in a final.
Melissa, a member of ELGA’s Elite Potential U21 squad, is a girl international and helped England win the gold medal in this month’s European Girls’ Team Championship.
In the second flight Emily Priest, Enville GC won 5&4 and will play Helen White, Worfield who won on the 19th.

Scottish Mens' Amateur, Southerness
SHAMASH IN SEMIS AFTER LONGEST TIE OF WEEK AT SOUTHERNESS
Ben Shamash (Kirkcudbright), 21-year-old Edinburgh University maths and economics student, finally landed the knock-out putt against Brian Fotheringham (Forres) after quarter-final lasting 5 hours 20 minutes and 27 holes in the the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur golf championship at windy Southerness on the Solway coast today.
Fotheringham missed a 5ft birdie putt which would have won him the tie on the 18th green. He holed a 10-footer for a par at the 22nd but it was Shamash who was hanging on to the Highlander's bootlaces after that.
Shamash holed from 12ft for a half at the par-3 25th and then holed a chip shot for a par 4 and a half when he looked certain to be going out of the championship at the 26th.
Fotheringham was the first to crack at the ninth extra hole, a 435yd par-4. He went off the straight and narrow and Shamash, home in two, eventually had two shots to win the tie when he was conceded the hole and the match.
Their tie was the longest of the week but still two holes short of the championship record of 29 holes for the Eddie Hammond v J McIvor second-round tie at Balgownie in 1970.
A second quarter-final went into extra holes and saw the exit of the seeded Scot Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) who had made a brave bid to extricate himself from deep trouble by winning the 16th, 17th and 18th to square his contest against fellow international Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie).
Campbell, 32, won through with a par at the 21st.Anglo-Scot Sandy Twynholm, at 40 the oldest of the quarter-finals, beat the youngest, 18-year-old Peter McLachlan (Eastwood), by 2 and 1.
It is Morpeth-based Twynholm's first time back in the championship since he reached the semi-finals in 1997.
Young McLachlan, recent winner of the Scottish youths championship, had the better of the outward half and was two up at the turn. Twynholm turned the tide on the inward half, winning five out of the first six holes to go two up.
Australian open amateur title-winner Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) was the only seed to appear in the semi-finals. He beat John Gallagher (Swanston), the cack-handed British amateur championship beaten finalist, by two holes.
Gallagher never led at any stage and was always playing second fiddle after he ran up a double-bogey 7 at the fifth.
ALLIED SURVEYORS SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Southerness Golf Club
QUARTER-FINALS
B Shamash (Kirkcudbright) bt B Fotheringham (Forres) at 27th.
S Twynholm (Morpeth) bt P McLachlan (Eastwood) 2 and 1.
*E Ramsay (Carnoustie) bt J Gallagher (Swanston) 2 holes.
G Campbell (Blairgowrie) bt *S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) at 21st..
*denotes seeded players.

ENGLISH MENS AMATEUR
SEEDS CRASH OUT AS THE RAIN LASHES BROMBOROUGH
Persistent rain, often heavy, made conditions tough at Bromborough for the last 32 competitors on day four of the English Amateur Championship and it proved a slippery slope for several seeds.
Steven Tiley and Gary Wolstenholme made hasty exits in the morning’s third round while Ross McGowan provided the great escape to reach the last 16.
Tiley, who had not gone beyond the 13th green in his previous three rounds, struggled in the rain and crashed out 4 and 3 to fellow Kent man Michael Hart. Hart, 22, the Sundridge Park club champion, was level par at the finish, which underlined how difficult conditions were in the rain.
“It was tough out there but I played pretty nicely,” said Hart. “I didn’t feel under any pressure facing an international. You just have to believe in yourself.”
Tiley concurred, saying: “He played well but I didn’t. At college in America I’m not used to these conditions, but anyone can win out there.”
The English title continues to elude Wolstenholme. The Walker Cup man met 17 year old David Corsby, 27 years his junior, and went down 3 and 2.
Corsby, from Blackpool, was two up after eight holes and although Wolstenholme closed the gap he never managed to get on terms and when he blocked his second shot to the 14th to go back to two down it was the beginning of the end. At the short 16th, Wolstenholme found a greenside trap and when he failed to get up-and-down Corsby was home but not quite dry. “I knew I could win,” said Corsby. “This is my biggest scalp so far.”
McGowan trailed three down after five holes against Essex-based Ross Wilson and was still two behind with five to play. But he managed to turn the tie around by winning the next four holes, only one with a birdie. “You could call it a great escape and hopefully I won’t put myself in the same position again,” said McGowan.
Adam Gee - “I played rubbish” - and Lawrence Dodd were two more seeds to head for home in a morning of shocks, but Paul Waring survived, much to the delight of the host club where he is a member.
After his one hole victory over Thomas Pulling, Waring was hoping to play another Bromborough member, Alex Evans. But he went out to James Taverner, from Middlesex. Waring then restored the balance by dismissing Taverner 3 and 2 and said: “I started the week badly but I’m playing better with each round. I’m not driving the ball but the short game is looking after the rest.”
Another local hope is Steve Capper from nearby Caldy. After a morning two hole victory over Surrey’s Chris Harmston, he reached the quarter finals at the expense of fellow boy international Seve Benson by 4 and 3.
Of the other surviving seeds, 16 year old Oliver Fisher continued his winning ways as did Matt Cryer, but James Ruth is heading back to Devon after losing a see-saw tussle with Gary Boyd from Northampton on the final green.
Revenge is sweet but it didn’t come any sweeter for James Morrison. The 20 year old from Weybridge wore a big smile after his 7 and 6 demolition of close friend Farren Keenan. The pair had met in the Surrey final which Keenan won so as Morrison booked his place in the last eight he said: “I’m delighted to get my own back.”
Morrison now meets McGowan in another all-Surrey tie while Waring tackles former Durham boy cahmpion Ryan Riley. In the other half of the draw, boys caps Capper and Boyd meet, while the seeded Fisher and Cryer will provide an intriguing match.

ILGU PRESS RELEASE
U-18 Girls’ Home International Matches, Worplesdon Golf Club, Surrey, England
Wednesday 3rd - Friday 5th August, 2005
Recently crowned Irish Girls’ Champion Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) leads the Irish team in their quest to win the Girls’ Home Internationals at Worplesdon Golf Club, 3-5 August 2005 for the first time.
Ireland, yet to claim significant honours at this level, produced their best showing in 2004 when they finished second. Having beaten Wales and Scotland, Ireland lost to England while Wales’ victory over England on the final day forced a three-way tie for the championship, which England eventually won on match count back.
Thirteen year-old Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) is sure to create a stir when she makes her debut at this level next Wednesday. Meadow first hit the scene in 2004 when she was beaten by Carlow’s Tara Delaney in the Girl’s Championship final. Meadow went down to beaten finalist Linda Toomey (Limerick) in this year’s event while Delaney continues to make quite an impact at Senior level, already having successfully defended her Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay title at Hermitage Golf Club last weekend.
Joining Meadow are International first-timers Victoria Bradshaw, Laura Holmes and Ann McCormack. Like McVeigh, Fiona Carroll, Sarah Faller and Emma Gilmore will benefit from the experience of Ireland’s first ever participation in the U18 European Team Championships at Lucerne in July. The 8 player team is captained by Co. Louth’s Jackie Quinn (087-2197535) and managed by Munster’s Rose Doyle.
Schedule of matches:
Wednesday, 3rd August:  Ireland –v- Scotland            England –v- Wales
Thursday, 4th August:           Ireland –v- Wales               Scotland –v- England
Friday, 5th August:             Ireland –v- England             Wales –v- Scotland

ILGU Press Release
Menolly Homes ILGU Inter-Club Fourball Regional Finals
Friday 5th August, 2005
The Regional Finals of the Menolly Homes Ltd. ILGU Inter-Club Fourball will take place at 4 venues nationwide on Friday, 5th August 2005.
217 Clubs entered the competition in April 2005, and the final 8 teams have each survived six gruelling rounds to make Friday's Regional Finals. Each finalist is appearing at this stage of the competition for the first time.
Last year's winners Roscommon exited at the first hurdle while beaten finalists Cahir Park were beaten in this year's fifth round.
Winners of the two semi-finals will meet at Carlow Golf Club on Monday, 29th August while the final will once again be hosted by The K Club on Sunday, 18th September.
The schedule of Regional Finals is as follows:-
Region Venue Match
SOUTH Charleville Golf Club Nenagh Golf Club -v- Dooks Golf Club
EAST Roganstown Golf Club Castle Golf Club -v- Greystones Golf Club
NORTH Killymoon Golf Club Greenore Golf Club -v- Ballybofey/Stranorlar
WEST Claremorris Mullingar Golf Club -v- Castlerea Golf Club

Thursday 28th July 2005

Scottish Girls' Championship, Tain (From Robin Wilson)
Sally v Carly in the final tomorrow morning
Sally Watson (Elie and Earlsferry), pictured below left, who turned 14 this month, will meet her girls' international team-mate 13 year-old Carly Booth (Auchterarder), pictured right, in the final of the Scottish Girls Championship at Tain tomorrow morning at 9:00am.
Booth, who just became a teenager last month, is in a hurry to win her first national title. Up until yesterdays semi final against Sally Watson's elder sister, Rebecca (16), the Auchterarder sensation had not been past the fifteenth hole other than in the qualifying rounds. She won the opening three holes against Rebecca and was five up after nine. Taken back to three after losing the first two inward holes Booth might have won again by the fifteenth but for a three putt on the 14th green but she responded brilliantly with a conceded birdie at the next hole to go dormy three up and secured the half at the next to win three and two.
After nine holes in the other semi final it looked that there wound be no Watson in the final for fourth seed Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) was three up on the younger sibling. But the 10th, 11th and 16th holes all fell to Sally Watson and by driving the green at the 18th for a birdie three she went ahead in the match at just the right time and into the final at only her second year of taking part.
In the quarter finals Sally Watson also had a last hole win over the number one seed Roseanne Niven (Crieff) while Pretswell beat Amanda Edwards (Liberton) on the 17th. Booth was a fifteenth green winner over Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Rebecca Watson birdied the last three holes to beat Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) by two holes.
The future for Scottish girls golf looks even rosier for winning the final of the Ansley Reid Salver was twelve year old Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) who beat Kirsty Moss (Monifieth) by four and three.
Results
Championship
Quarter Finals S. Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) beat R. Niven (Crieff) 1 up. P. Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) beat A. Edwards (Liberton) 2&1. C. Booth (Auchterarder) beat M. Briggs (Kilmacolm) 4&3. R. Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) beat R. Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 2 holes.
Semi Finals S. Watson beat Pretswell 1 hole. Booth beat R. Watson 3&2.
Ansley Reid Salver
Semi Finals K. Moss (Monifieth) beat E. MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) at 19th. C. Easton (Dalmahoy) beat R. Watton (Baberton) at 19th.
Final Easton beat Moss 4&3.

In this afternoon's semi-finals, Sally beat Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) in a close encounter by one hole, and Carly beat Sally's older sister, Rebecca Watson, by 3 & 2.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff) who led the qualifiers on Tuesday in the Scottish Girls Championship at Tain, was beaten by one hole by Sally Watson in the first of this morning's quarter final ties. At the other end of the draw, Rebecca also got through to the semifinals with a last green victory over Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old).
Sally's semifinal opponent, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), beat Liberton's Amanda Edwards in the morning quarterfinals by 2 & 1 while Carly Booth (Auchterarder), had a 4 & 3 victory over Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), who knocked out the holder Krystle Caithness, on Wednesday.
Championship results
Quarterfinals
Roseanne Niven lost to Sally Watson 1 hole
Amanda Edwards lost to Pamela Pretswell 2 & 1
Carly Booth beat Megan Briggs 4 & 3
Rachael Livingstone lost to Rebecca Watson 2 holes
Semi-finals
Sally Watson beat Pamela Pretswell 1 hole
Carly Booth beat Rebecca Watson 3 & 2

The Mary McCallay Trophy
DUMFRIESSHIRE LADIES COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION
The following is the draw for The Mary McCallay Trophy (36 holes) to be held at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club (by kind permission) on Sunday 7th August 2005.
Late entries will be accepted by Mrs M F Ross on 01387 250302.
09.00am/1.00pm Martine Pow Selkirk 0, Diane Macdonald Dumfries & County 1
09.08am/1.08pm Susan Dickie Lochmaben 11, Emma Fairnie Peebles 5
09.16am/1.16pm Sara Bishop Windyhill 0, Alexandra Young Halifax 2
09.24am/1.24pm Carol Whyte Windyhill 5, Tracy Milligan Stranraer 6
09.32am/1.32pm Lesley Robertson Ranfurly Castle 3, Emily Ogilvy Muckhart 4
09.40am/1.40pm Claire Hargan Mortonhall 0, Jocelyn Carthew Ladybank 1
09.48am/1.48pm Julie Wilson Williamwood 5, Margaret Morrison Hawick 6
09.56am/1.56pm Ruth Rankin Lanark 4, Megan Briggs Kilmacolm 4
10.04am/2.04pm Lynn Douglas Hawick 9, Eileen Mauchline Lochmaben 10
10.12am/2.12pm Gillian Davidson Saline 8, Margaret McGregor Dumfries & County 7
10.20am.2.20pm Rachel Clark Dumfries & County 11, Lindsey Kirkwood Powfoot 9
10.28am/2.28pm Ashton Ingram Fort William 5, Sharon Paterson Kelso 6
10.36am/2.36pm Wendy Wells Peebles 5, Lesley Williamson Barassie 6
10.44am/2.44pm Fiona Macgregor Thornhill 5, Clare-Marie Carlton Stirling University 3
10.52am/5.42pm Judith Anderson Hawick 5, Kirsty Wells Dumfries & County 5
11.00am/3.00pm Elaine Cuthill Lanark 3, Addi Shamash Kircudbright 2
11.08am/3.08pm Kylie Walker Stirling University 0, Louise Fleming The Roxburghe 2
11.16am/3.16pm Jenna Wilson Strathaven 0
11.24am/3.24pm Sheila Townsley Dumfries & County 15, Eleanor Blount Dumfries & County 19

English Girls Championship
Melissa reaches quarter-finals of English Girls’ Championship
Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid continued her impressive defence of her title by easing into the quarter-finals of the English Girls’ Championship at Liphook.
The 17-year-old from Chevin beat Sarah Tyson (Redlibbets) 3/1 in the first matchplay round and then dismissed Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 5/3. Both Melissa and Rachel are England girl internationals.
Now, Melissa plays Laura Cutler (Warley Park), a member of ELGA’s Elite potential girls’ squad.
The defending champion and top qualifier did not have it all her own way in her opening two matches. In the first round Melissa was one down after 11, before she squared matters and then took control. In the afternoon, she again went one down after bogeying the first two holes.
But then Melissa played faultless golf, with four birdies and nine pars. She was two-up at the turn, birdied the 10th and 13th to hold a four-up advantage and then closed out the match on the 15th.
Other players safely through to the quarter-finals are ELGA’s reigning U15 champion, Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil). She plays Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange), who had a top ten finish in this month’s English ladies’ strokeplay championship.
In the other half of the draw, Jodi Ewart (Catterick), one of the stars of England’s gold medal triumph in the European Girls’ Team Championship, continued her good form with two comfortable wins. Now, she plays Joanne Hodge (Knowle) a fellow member of the Elite potential girls’ squad. Meanwhile, Laura Harvey (Richmond, Yorkshire) meets Ami Storey (Ponteland).
In the second flight, Lisa Warrilow (Lilleshall Hall) made the most of squeezing into the matchplay competition on countback. She won her first round match against Emilee Taylor (Gainsborough) on the 20th and went on to beat local girl Tracey Willmont (Liphook) 3/2.

Wednesday 27th July 2005

Scottish Girls' Championship, Tain
TITLE-HOLDER KRYSTLE TOPPLED AT TAIN IN SCOTTISH GIRLS
Title-holder Krystle Caithness lost her grip on the BP Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Tain Golf Club yesterday (Wed). She was beaten 3 and 2 by 16-year-old Megan Briggs from Kilmacolm.
Leading qualifier Roseanne Niven (Crieff) is through to the last eight in which she will meet Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), a semi-finalist in the Scottish women's championship at Cruden Bay in May.
Sally's older sister Rebecca is also through to the last eight. She will play Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old).
Amanda Edwards (Liberton) will meet Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) in the second quarter-final and the third will feature 13-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie) who meets Megan Briggs, the conqueror of the defending champion.
It was a bad day for the North and North-east hopes of landing the title. Not one representative is left in the quarter-finals.
Northern Counties chmpion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)was outplayed by Carly Booth who beat her by 5 and 4 and is shaping like a potential winner of her first national title.
Results:
BP SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Tain Golf Club.
First round
R Niven (Creiff) bt S Leslie (Westhill) 6 and 5.
K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt M Johnstone (Northern) 1 hole.
H Harvey (St Leonards) bt R Wilson (Monifieth) 4 and 3.
S Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) 3 and 1.
A Edwards (Liberton) bt A Niven (Crieff) 5 and 4.
A Ingram (Fort William) bt L Murray (Alford) 1 hole.
E Fairnie (Peebles) bt S Vass (Tain) 4 and 3.
P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt L Whitehead (Droitwich) 5 and 4.
C Booth (Auchterarder) bt F Blair (Monifieth) 4 and 3.
K MacDonald (Nairn DEunbar) bt M Barbour (North Berwick) 3 and 2.
M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt N Green (Nairn) 1 hole.
K Caithness (St Regulus) bt A Smith (Kirriemuir) 7 and 5.
J Meldrum (Dullatur) bt J Turner (Mortonhall) 1 hole.
R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) bt V Smith (Barassie) 7 and 6.
M MacPherson (Turnberry) bt M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 2 and 1.
R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) bt A Bowie (Monifieth) 7 and 5.
Second round - Niven bt McNicoll 1hole, S Watson bt Harvey 2 and 1, Edwards bt Ingram 1 hole, Pretswell bt Fairnie 5 and 3, Booth bt MacDonald 5 and 4, Briggs bt Caithness 3 and 2, Livingstone bt Meldrum 1 hole, R Watson bt MacPherson 7 and 6.
ANSLEY REID SALVER
First round E Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt H MacKay (Tain) 9 and 7, E. MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) bt L MacCallum ( McDonald Ellon) 1 hole, K Moss (Monifieth) bt L Meldrum (Dullatur) and 2, I. Craigie (Torwoodlee) bt L Smith (Kirriemuir) 5 and 4, S Kettlewell (Dunblane) beat H. Peebles (Monifieth) 8 and 6, C Easton (Dalmahoy) bt G Simpson (Baberton) 7 and 6, K Murray (Alford) bt J Pryde (Monifieth) 2 and 1, R Watton (Baberton) bt C MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar) 2 and 1.
Second round - E MacKay bt Briggs 3 and 2, Moss bt Craigie 8 and 6, Easton bt Kettlewell 1 hole, Watton bt Murray 4 and 3.

English Girls Championship
Melissa Reid leads qualifiers in English Girls Championship
Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid shot a three-under par 69 at Liphook today to lead the qualifiers into the matchplay stages of the English Girls’ Championship
Her performance echoed last year, when she was also top qualifier – and then went on to win the title.
But the defending champion is not interested in looking back. She’s keeping her mind firmly on 2005 business: “This is a brand new tournament for me,” said the 17-year-old from Chevin.
“I’ve got to keep concentrating and keep my focus in the matchplay tomorrow. It doesn’t matter that it’s the first match and that I’m playing the 32nd seed – I still have to concentrate as much as if it is the final.”
It’s an attitude which is serving her well. She was joint leader on level par after the first round of strokeplay qualifying and then moved three shots clear of the field with her 69.
“I was pleased with the way I hit it today,” said Melissa. “It was a lot better than yesterday and I gave myself a lot of chances.”
She converted seven of those chances into birdies and was four-under par after the first five holes of the round. A couple of three-putts and a visit into a bunker cost her some shots but she finished her round in style with birdies on the 15th,17th and 18th.
Her closest rivals in qualifying were Joanne Hodge (Knowle), who moved up the leaderboard with a one-under 71, and Bedfordshire’s Holly Aitchison, who was joint leader after the first round. She maintained her form with another level par score.
Hannah Ralphs (Goodwood) was also consistent and her second 73 took her comfortably into the championship flight for the matchplay stages.
Local girl Tracey Willmont, who plays at Liphook, had trolley problems on the 12th and finished the day on 84, for a 162 aggregate. Tracey is the Hampshire girls’ champion.
Leading scores
141 Melissa Reid ( Chevin ) 72 69
144 Joanne Hodge ( Knowle ) 73 71, Holly Aitchison ( Bedfordshire ) 72 72
146 Hannah Ralph ( Goodwood ) 73 73
149 Henrietta Brockway ( Yeovil ) 77 72
151 Hannah Barwood ( Knowle ) 75 76
152 Jodi Ewart ( Catterick ) 75 77, Georgina Hunt ( Lewes ) 74 78
153 Laura Cutler ( Warley Park ) 78 75, Charlie Douglass ( Brocket Hall ) 77 76, Natasha Podmore ( Delamere Forest ) 77 76, Gemma Hardie ( Forest Pines ) 76 77, Anna Perrott ( Kings Norton ) 76 77
154 Caroline Atherton ( Chorley ) 78 76, Emma Sheffield ( Newark ) 76 78, Rachel Jennings ( Izaak Walton ) 76 78, Olivia Higgins ( Royal Jersey ) 74 80, Louisa Tarn ( Highgate ) 73 81
155 Emily Heath ( Calcot Park ) 78 77, Hannah Burke ( Mid-Herts ) 78 77, Georgina Wilkie ( Trentham Park ) 75 80
156 Ami Storey ( Ponteland ) 78 78, Kelly MacPhail ( Ellesmere ) 75 81
157 Kym Larratt ( Kibworth ) 76 81, Gemma Parkes ( Cosby ) 76 81
158 Kirsty Law ( Kings Norton ) 80 78, Laura Jones ( Upton-by-Chester ) 80 78, Hannah Bews ( Broadstone (Dorset) ) 79 79, Eleanor Givens ( Blackwell Grange ) 78 80, Laura Harvey ( Richmond (Yorkshire) ) 77 81, Katie Thompson ( Corhampton ) 74 84
159 Sarah Tyson ( Redlibbets ) 79 80, Emilee Taylor ( Gainsborough ) 78 81, Emily Priest ( Enville ) 78 81
160 Julia Norman ( Exeter ) 82 78, Helen White ( Worfield ) 81 79, Louisa Stirling ( Harwood ) 79 81, Kirsty Rands ( Burhill ) 77 83, Nicole Whitmore ( Woburn ) 77 83, Laura Collin ( John OGaunt ) 73 87

Scottish Mens' Amateur, Southerness
Jonathan King (Glasgow), one of the six surviving seeds, beat Daniel Torrance (Sunningdale) - and his caddie, father Sam - by 5 and 4 in the second round of the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship today.
"I was about two under par for the 14 holes," said Jonathan, a Glasgow-based stockbroker who has travelled 600 miles so far this week backwards and forwards from Southerness Golf Club, near Dumfries, to complete financial deals.
Sixteen-year-old Daniel got the worst possible start - bogeying the first two holes to lose them to pars from his experienced opponet.
King later birdied the sixth, 11th and 14th.
Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) was another seeded international player to make progress. Eric won by 6 and 4 agaisnt William Milby (Wigtownshire).
"I had only one birdie," confessed Eric, the Australian Open amateur champion who did well in the Open champion at St Andrews. "At the same time, I had only one bogey - so I was quite pleased to be reeling off the pars."
Zack Saltman cheered up the family party at Southerness with a second-round win.The 16-year-old Craigielaw Golf Club junior member beat Cameron Gray from West Kilbride by 2 and 1, taking a one-hole lead by the 12th tee and doubling it over the next three holes.
The win by Zack, the youngest of the three Saltman brothers, followed the shock exit last night by Lloyd, seeded in the championship and a member of the GB&I team to defend the Walker Cup at Chicago Golf Club next month.
ALLIED SURVEYORS SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Southerness Golf Club.
SECOND ROUND
Second Quarter
A Dick (Shotts) bt D Weir (Lundin) 1 hole.
R Stewart (Troon Portland) bt J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 4 and 2.
G Bell (Downfield) bt E McIntosh (Newmachar) 5 and 4.
D McCrone (Southerness) bt N Slater (Nigg Bay) 1 hole.
P McLachlan (Eastwood) bt S Lamb (Peebles) 3 and 2.
D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) bt J Farmer (St Andrews) 6 and 5.
I Fraser (Dumfries & Co) bt N Sinclair (Barassie) 2 and 1.
Z Saltman (Craigielaw) bt C Gray (West Kilbride) 2 and 1.
A Love (Dunbar) bt G Doig (Southerness) 1 hole.
*J King (Glasgow) bt D Torrance (Sunningdale) 5 and 4.
S Clark (Haggs Castle) bt S Graham (Blairgowrie) 2 and 1.
F Henderson (Craigielaw) bt K Truscott (Newmachar) 2 and 1.
*denotes seeded player.

THE BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AND BOYS HOME INTERNATIONALS
The Boys Amateur Championship, which is often seen as an indicator of future success in the professional game, returns to Hunstanton for the first time since 1990. From 8 to 13 August, the Norfolk links will expose 256 international competitors to greens that experts acknowledge as being among the slickest in the country.
Jordan Findlay, the 2004 Champion, is used to such conditions and to the elements he might encounter at Hunstanton as he hails from Fraserburgh on Scotland’s Moray Firth coast where windless days are the exception. In last year’s final at Conwy, Findlay was twice three down but showed great determination to become the third Scot in seven years to lift the title.
Accompanying Findlay in the list of 256 competitors attempting to win the title is England Boys’ Captain, Tom Sherreard of Chart Hills, last year’s beaten finalist. Already this year, he has won the McEvoy Trophy and has several victories in the Faldo Series to his name.
Another England player in the field at Hunstanton, and currently showing consistent form, is Hertfordshire’s Thomas Haylock, 17, who finished five shots clear in winning the Carris Trophy at Moor Park.
Steven McEwan of Kilmarnock (Barassie) is another entrant playing well as underlined by his recent two shot victory in the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship at Monifieth. Both Scott Henry and Lewis Kirton, joint runners-up, are also competing at Hunstanton.
Hunstanton Golf Club was founded in 1891 and was originally laid out by George Fernie, a professional from Troon. Further modifications by James Braid improved the layout and led to the Club hosting its first major event, the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, in 1914.
The English Amateur and Brabazon Trophy have since been held there on several occasions, while the Boys Home Internationals were staged prior to the 1990 British Boys Amateur Championship.
This year, the Boys Home Internationals will be held from 2 to 4 August at Woodhall Spa, the headquarters of the English Golf Union, where England will be seeking an eighth successive win in the annual four country series. England won all three of its matches last year at Portmarnock and finished the series with an emphatic 11½ - 3½ win over Scotland, thus demonstrating their considerable strength in depth.
That talent has been further highlighted with the selection of 16 year old Oliver Fisher, who played for England Boys last year, for the Walker Cup match against the US at Chicago. He will become the youngest player ever to take part in the matches.
Woodhall Spa’s roots extend back to the early 1900’s when Harry Vardon was contracted to design a course on heathland owned by Colonel S.V. Hotchkin. Later modifications by Harry Colt and then by Hotchkin himself led to a layout that has remained largely unchanged to the present day. The Hotchkin Course is, by repute, one of the finest inland courses in the British Isles.
Each match comprises five morning foursomes followed by ten afternoon singles.
The full list of competitors in the Boys Amateur Championship and teams for the Boys Home Internationals can be viewed at www.randa.org.

LADY GOLFERS WHO SURF WANTED TO SHAPE GOLF’S FUTURE
The LGU is looking for ladies who surf to complete an online survey, helping the governing body and GB&I National Organisations to respond more effectively to the needs of the ladies game.  Already 1200 lady golfers, chosen at random to be a statistically significant sample of the GB&I population, have been surveyed in telephone interviews and more than 370 golf club secretaries have competed a questionnaire online.  The response rate for golf club secretaries at 15%, of 2500 available respondents, is well above average for online polling.
Now it’s the turn of all remaining lady club golfers, all 220,000 of them, to give their views.  Simply visit www.lgu.org and click on the survey ticker at the top of the page.
The study, part funded by The R&A, is the biggest of its of kind ever to be undertaken by The LGU.  Top line results are expected at the end of the summer covering issues such as gender equality in clubs, equal career opportunities in golf and men and women competing on equal terms in elite competition.
The online survey will be posted on the LGU site throughout the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale 28-31 July and for approximately three weeks beyond the championship.  Global sports researcher Comperio, part of the International Management Group (IMG), are responsible for the survey, which is both secure and confidential.

Tuesday 26th July 2005

Scottish Girls Championship
ROSEANNE SLASHES TAIN RECORD IN HEADING SCOTTISH GIRL QUALIFIERS
Crieff teenager Roseanne Niven slashed two shots off the Tain women's course record with a great score of four-under-par 69 in the first qualifying round of the BP Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at the north of Scotland venue.
Roseanne, a golf scholarship pupil at Loretto School, Musselburgh and the Scottish Under-16 girls champion two years ago, had a fantastic bogey-free inward half of 32 with birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th.
Miss Niven had begun her round with a double bogey and was still two over par after nine holes. Then things started happening in a big way for Roseanne.
The old Tain record was 71, set by Royal Dornoch player Cara Gruber in 1999.
Roseanne matched the par of 73 in the second round to be the leading qualifier for the match-play stages with an aggregate of four-under-par 142.
Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) gained the No 2 seed status with scores of 73 and 70 for 143.
Carly Booth, the 13-year-old Auchterarder player, was the third best qualifier with 75 and 72 for 147.
Defending champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) shared fifth place with Amanda Edwards (Liberton). Krystle scored 74 and 75.
Roseanne Niven's younger sister Annabel also figured among the 32 qualifiers with totals of 176 Annabel made it through to the match-play in 28th place with scores of 85 and 86.
BP SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Tain Golf Club.
QUALIFIERS (Par 73)
142 R Niven (Crieff) 69 73.
143 R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 73 70.
147 C Booth (Auchterarder) 75 72.
148 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 75 73.
149 A Edwards (Liberton) 74 75, Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) 74 75.
150 J Turner (Mortonhall) 76 74.
152 S Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 76 76.
155 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 71 84, R Wilson (Monifieth) 77 78.
156 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 78
157 L Murray (Alford) 82 75, E Fairnie (Peebles) 79 78, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 81.
158 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 81 77.
159 M Johnstone (Northern) 76 83.
161 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 77 84.
162 M MacPherson (Turnberry) 81 81.
164 M Barbour (North Berwick) 81 83.
165 S Vass (Tain) 86 79.
166 A Ingram (Fort William) 84 82.
167 N Green (Nairn) 84 83, V Smith (Barassie) 82 85.
168 H Harvey (St Leonards) 86 83.
169 J Sneddon (Alyth) 86 83.
170 J Meldrum (Dullatur) 88 82, A Smith (Kirriemuir) 86 84.
171 A Niven (Crieff) 85 86.
173 L Whitehead (Droitwich) 91 82.
174 F Blair (Monifieth) 90 84.
175 A Bowie (Monifieth) 84 91.
176 S Leslie (Westhill) 87 89
Championship Draw
8:30 Roseanne Niven v Samantha Leslie
Katy McNicoll v Mhairi Johnstone
Rebecca Wilson v Hannah Harvey
Jacqueline Sneddon v Sally Watson
8:58 Amanda Edwards v Annabel Niven
Ashton Ingram v Laura Murray
Emma Fairnie v Sammy Vass
Laura Whitehead v Pamela Pretswell
9:26 Carly Booth v Fiona Blair
Megan Barbour v Kelsey MacDonald
Megan Briggs v Nadia Green
Ashley Smith v Krystle Caithness
9:54 Jane Turner v Jill Meldrum
Vicki Smith v Rachael Livingstone
Michele Thomson v Morag MacPherson
Andrea Bowie v Rebecca Watson
Ansley Ried Salver Draw
10:29 Eilidh Briggs v Hannah MacKay
Eilidh MacKay v Lauren MacCallum
Kirsty Moss v Lauren Meldrum
Louise Smith v Isla Craigie
10:57 Sally Kettlewell v Heather Peebles
Cara Easton v Gillian Simpson
Karen Murray v Jillian Pryde
Chloe MacLeod v Rachael Watton

English Girls' Championship
Melissa and Holly lead English Girls’ Championship
Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid made a confident start to her defence of the English Girls’ Championship at Liphook, sharing the first round lead on level par 72.
“It’s always difficult to defend a title,” said the 17-year-old from Chevin. “It’s more difficult to defend one than to win one, but I am feeling quite confident.”
Joining her at the top of the leaderboard is Bedfordshire’s Holly Aitchison, who produced a grandstand finish when she birdied the last hole to a flurry of applause.
Melissa put on her show of spectacular scoring early in her round. She had an eagle three on the 2nd, where her three-iron approach to the green finished about 4ft from the cup, and she also birdied the long fourth.
She reached the turn at one-under, having bogeyed the 1st and 8th. She dropped another shot on the 10th but then parred her way home, helped by a series of impressive scrambles. “I got up and down three times in the last four holes,” she said.
Melissa has arrived at Liphook still high from her part in England’s gold medal triumph in the European Girls’ Team Championship and she’s pleased with the results of some recent swing changes.
But she aims to improve on her score in the second qualifying round. She commented on her opening 72: “It was OK and I’ll take it – but I could have done better. I wasn’t giving myself that many birdie opportunities and if I hit it a lot closer tomorrow I could be five or six shots better.”
Holly, meanwhile, is hugely enjoying her good form. The 18-year-old says she’s been on a learning curve since last year’s championship when she was knocked out in the first round of the second flight matches.
The Bedfordshire county player and member of ELGA’s Select Midlands squad made few mistakes in the start to her 2005 challenge. Two birdies and two bogeys took her to the turn in level par and she also came home in 36, helped by that birdie on the last.
The joint leaders are just one shot clear of Laura Collin, who is also from Bedfordshire, and Middlesex’s Louisa Tarn.
Other leading scores included 75s from Hannah Barwood (Knowle) who is just back from the European Young Masters, and Jodi Ewart (Catterick) who also played in the European Girls’ Team Championship. A third team-member, Emma Sheffield (Newark), shot 76, one better than Henrietta Brockway, 15, (Yeovil) who is the Welsh open strokeplay champion.
The local challenge was led by Hampshire girls’ champion Tracey Willmont, who is a member at Liphook and returned a solid 78.
Kiran Matharu, one of the pre-tournament favourites and another of the European gold medal winners, withdrew from the event when she became a reserve for the Weetabix British Women’s Open, which starts at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. The 16-year-old from Cookridge Hall in Yorkshire missed out on an automatic spot by just one shot in Monday’s final qualifying event at Hillside.

ELGA Press Release
England team named for European Ladies Championship
Vagliano Trophy heroines Sophie Walker, Kerry Smith and Felicity Johnson, are in England’s Nations Cup team for the European Ladies’ Championship at Santo da Serra, Madeira, from August 21-28.
They will be joined by three other golfers in the six-strong line-up and the full team is: Rachel Bell (Ganton), Felicity Johnson (Harborne), Melissa Reid (Chevin), Faye Sanderson (Heworth), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).
Sophie Walker, Felicity Johnson and Kerry Smith played a crucial part in Great Britain & Ireland’s Vagliano Trophy victory when the team beat the continent of Europe 13-11 in France.
The trio, together with Faye Sanderson, were also part of the England side which won the silver medal in the European Ladies’ Team Championship.
Melissa Reid, the 2004 English girls’ champion, has also been at the forefront of England’s recent international successes, helping to win the gold medal in the European Girls’ Team Championship.
Rachel Bell put on an impressive show when she joined the professionals of the European Tour at the recent Ladies English Open at Chart Hills in Kent. She made the cut with two shots to spare and finished in a share of 38th place.
All six players are members of ELGA’s Sport England, lottery-funded World Class training programme.

ELGA Press Release
Golfers score academic success
Two of England’s leading golfers are both celebrating a high degree of success in the academic world.
Internationals Sophie Walker and Faye Sanderson have combined top-level golf with successful study and have both graduated from university with 2:1 degrees.
Sophie, 20, from Kenwick Park in Lincolnshire, took Sports Science and Management at Loughborough University. Faye, 21, from Heworth, Durham, studied Law at Newcastle University.
Both girls helped England win the silver medal in the European Ladies’ Team Championship earlier this month and Sophie went on to become top scorer for Great Britain & Ireland in last weekend’s successful defence of the Vagliano Trophy.
The mix of university and golf suited both players. “I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” said Sophie, who was also runner-up in the English ladies championship. “And I don’t think either the golf or the study has suffered.”
Faye, also a member of the Great Britain &Ireland training squad, was “over the moon” with her results. “I have really enjoyed it and made some great friends,” she added.
Now both girls are taking a year out to concentrate on golf.

Monday 25th July 2005

Scots fail at Weetabix Qualifier
It was disappointment day with a capital "D" for the six Scots in the Weetabix Women's British Open golf championship final qualifying at Hillside Golf Club today (Monday).
Not one of them made it through among the 11 qualifiers for the last major of the women's professional season, teeing off at Royal Birkdale on Thursday.
The cut-off point was level par 72 over the 6,301yd course and the closest Scot to that figure was LPGA Tour campaigner Kathryn Marshall from Monifieth.
Kathryn has a 74 (36-38) with one birdie - a 2 at the short seventh - but bogeys at the third, 13th and 15th.
Mhairi McKay, another LPGA Tour player, and Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon, who is married to a Scot, both failed on 75.
Mhairi, from Glasgow, bogeyed the 10th, 13th and 18th on the home run to slip over the safety line.
Vikki Laing, Julie Forbes and Lynn Kenny missed out on 77. California-based Vikki had double bogeys at the short fourth and 12th while Aboyne exile Julie had 7s at the 11th and 18th - a double bogey, then a triple bogey.
Rookie pro Lynn from Dunblane did not get a birdie until the short 16th by which time she had already six bogeys on her card.
Heather MacRae, also from Dunblane, a member of the victorious Great Britain & Ireland amateur squad in the weekend Vagliano Trophy match at Chantilly, required 41 shots on the inward journey for an 80.
Australian Anne-Marie Knight, 34, showed the low-scoring possibilities with a six-under-par 66 which was five shots better than runners-up Katherine Hull, also from Down Under, and Finland's Rikka Hakkarainen, winner of the Scottish junior women's open stroke-play title at Lanark in 1995.
QUALIFIERS
66 A-M Knight (Aus).
71 K Hull (Aus), R Hakkarainen (Fin).
72 L Walters (Eng), J Leary (Aus), R Hudson (Eng),E Steinberger (Aus), K-M Juul (Den), K Bakken (US), J Kuoisa (Fin), A Moltke-Leth (Den).
Non-qualifiers included:
73 S Heath (Eng), L Hall (Eng), K Matharu (Eng), L Davis (Wal), F Johnson (Eng), R Stevenson (Aus).
74 K Marshall (Sco).
75 L McKinnon (NZ).
77 V Laing (Sco), J Forbes (Sco), L Kenny (Sco).
80 H MacRae (Sco).

Janice Moodie Trophy
27 girls played in the Janice Moodie Trophy over Windyhill on Friday. The Scratch prize was won by Lesley Hendry of Largs Routenburn with a 74 and the overall handicap prize went to Jennifer Linklater (Largs) with a scratch 84 less 26 net 58!
Par 72 CSS 71
Three Age Groups
10 - 14 years 1st Zoe Differ (Dullatur) 81 (13) 68, 2nd C.Mulholland (Hilton Park) 97 (27) 70
15 -17 years 1st N.McNeil (Vale of Leven) 86 (17) 69, 2nd E. Fairnie (Peebles) 75 (5) 70 BIH, 3rd N. Ferguson (Clober) 88 (18) 70
18-21 years 1st S. Herd (Dunblane) 77 (6) 71
Scratch - Lesley Hendry, (Routenburn) 74
Overall Winner Jennifer Linklater (Largs) 84 (26) 58

ELGA Press Release
England girls finish high
England teenagers Florentyna Parker and Hannah Barwood had top five finishes in the European Young Masters at Murhof in Austria.
Florentyna, 16, (Royal Birkdale) came fourth in the girls’ table after shooting scores of 75, 73, 74 for a six-over par total in the 54-hole event. She was third in this tournament last year and went on to help Europe win the junior Ryder Cup.
Hannah, 15, (Knowle) was making her debut in this event and was fifth with scores of 77, 75, 74. She recently finished runner-up in the English Schools’ championship.
The girls’ event at Murhof was contested by 40 players and won by Carlota Ciganda of Spain who was 11-under par with 68, 67, 70
In the Nations Cup, Flori and Hannah teamed up with English boys’ U16 champion Adam Myers, 14, (Northamptonshire County) and junior international Darren Renwick, 15,  (Worthing) and helped England into fifth place. This was an improvement of one place on last year’s result. Renwick, was 12th in the boys’ competition (77, 75, 72); Myers was 19th (75, 75, 79).

Sunday 24th July 2005

Irish Open Strokeplay Championship
KYLIE WALKER RUNNER-UP IN IRELAND
Stirling University student Kylie Walker, pictured right, tied for second place in the Irish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Hermitage Golf Club, Lucan in County Dublin at the weekend.
Kylie, a member of Buchanan Castle Golf Club, shot rounds of 74, 72 and 75 for a 54-hole total of 221. She shared the runner-up spot with Maura Morrin (The Curragh) two shots behind all-the-way leader Tara Delaney from Carlow.
Defending champion Tara had scores of 70, 72 and 77. Her last round gave Kylie a chance to close the gap and, in fact, the Scot got on level terms with Tara double-bogeyed the 16th.
Then Kylie bogeyed the 17th to let Miss Delaney regain a one-shot lead and the Irish title-holder hit a seven-iron approach at the last hole to within a foot of the flagstick to keep the title by a two-stroke margin.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) finished tied seventh on 231 with scores of 77, 78 and 76.
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) filled 14th place on 236 with scores of 79, 78 and 79.
American college student and Perthshire county player Emily Ogilvie (Muckhart) was another Scot in the top 20. Emily tied for 16th place on 238 with scores of 73, 80 and 85.
Final Results:
IRISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Hermitage Golf Club, Co Dublin
LEADING TOTALS
219 T Delaney (Carlow) 70 72 77.
221 K Walker (Stirling Univ) 74 72 75, M Morrin (The Curragh) 75 74 72.
223 D Smith (Co Louth) 73 75 75.
226 C Lee (West Lancs) 74 80 72.
230 M Dunne (Skerries) 75 78 77, L Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 78 76, N Kitching (Claremorris) 75 78 78, F Carroll (Athenry) 78 74 78.
232 S Corcoran (Portumna) 78 78 76, H Nolan (Shannon) 76 79 77.
233 R Wood (Glossop & Dist) 75 80 78, S Hayes (Hermitage) 79 76 78.
236 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 79 78 69.
237 A L Schaffer (Germany) 79 75 83.
238 E Ogilvy (Muckhart) 73 80 85, D McGowan (Ballybofey) 77 81 80.
239 S Phillips (Woodbrook) 79 80 80, C Tucker (Limerick) 80 78 81  R Cassidy (The Island) 77 81 81.
Other Scots scores:
242  Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 78 85 79.
243 Kate O'Sullivan (Cochrane Castle) 80 82 81, C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) 84 81 78, J Carthew (Ladybank) 86 77 80
244 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 81 77 856.
246 S Wilson (Murcar) 83 80 83.
247 K Marshall (Baberton) 80 82 85.
248 G Webster (Hilton Park) 78 90 80.
250 L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 85 79 86.

Futures Tour
HEATHER JUST BEATS FUTURES CUT
Former Scottish women's amateur champion Heather Stirling made the 36-hole cut with nothing to spare in the Laconia Savings Bank Classic at Beavers Meadow Golf Club, Concord in New Hampshire.
Florida-based Heather had two rounds of 75 to be joint 70th on the 150 mark going into the final round of this latest US Futures Tour event.
Two Koreans are in first and third places. Bo Mi Suh from Seoul is on eight-under-par 136 after a pair of 68s. She leads by two shots from American Meredith Duncan from Shreveport, Louisiana. In third place is Keyong Bae from Seoul with 71 and 69 for 139.

Grey Goose Gateway Tour
ANOTHER TOP-20 FINISH FOR KIRKPATRICK
Edinburgh exile David Kirkpatrick shot 13 under par for four rounds but still finished no better than tied 14th in the Grey Goose Gateway Tour's latest event, at Hammock Creek and Eagle Marsh golf courses in Florida.
Kirkpatrick, based at Lakeland, Florida, had rounds of 72, 68, 65 and 70 for 275. He earned $2,390.
American Brad Klappett won the event with 68, 66, 69 and 64 for 21-under-par 267.
Kirpatrick, who has had four top-20 finishes including runner-up in one, is now eighth on the the satellite tour's money list with $34,257 from six events.
Rookie pro David Inglis failed to survive the halfway cut for the sixth tournament in a row.

Saturday 23rd July 2005

Irish Strokeplay
KYLIE IN SECOND PLACE WITH ONE ROUND TO GO IN IRELAND
Tara Delaney from Carlow may be favourite to retain the Irish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Hermitage Golf Club, Lucan in Co Dublin on Sunday but the performance of one of the biggest Scottish entries ever for this 54-hole tournament has been encouraging.
In wet and windy conditions for most of the day, Tara had rounds of 70 and 72 for four-under-par tally of 142. She leads by four shots from Kylie Walker (Stirling University) with scores of 74 and 72.
US college student Emily Ogilvy (Muckhart) has done well to be lying sixth on 153 after scores of 73 and 80.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), perhaps a little bit unlucky not to be selected for Scotland's European team squad, had scores of 77 and 78 to be in joint 10th place on 155.
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) is on 157 and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) on 158. And there are plenty of other Scots further down the list.
In the event of a tie, there will be a three-hole play-off. In the past, a card countback was used as a tie-breaker.
LEADING SATURDAY TOTALS
142 Tara Delaney (Carlow) 70 72.
146 Kylie Walker (Stirling Univ) 74 72.
148 Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) 73 75.
149 Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 75 74.
1562 Fiona Carroll (Athenry) 78 74.
153 Emily Ogilvy (Muckhart) 73 80, Maria Dunne (Skerries) 75 78, Niamh Kitching(Claremorris).
154 Carisande Lee (West Lancs) 74 80, Anne Laura Schaeffer (Germany) 79 75.
155 Rebecca Wood (Glossop & Dist) 75 80, Heather Nolan (Shannon) 76 79, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 78, Suzie Hayes (Hermitage) 79 76.
156 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 77 79, Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 78 78.
157 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 79 78.
158 Mary Dowling (New Ross) 76 82, Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey) 77 81, Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 80 78, Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 81 77.
159 Leigh Whittaker (Germany) 81 78, Sinead Keane (The Curragh) 80 79, Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook) 79 80.
Other Scots scores:
162 Karen Marshall (Baberton) 80 82.
163 Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank) 86 77, Sjavon Wilson (Murcar) 83 80, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 78 85.
164 Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) 85 79.
165 Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ) 84 81.
168 Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 78 90.

GB&I retain the Vagliano trophy.
Great Britain and Ireland retained the Vagliano Trophy at Chantilly, France, today when they beat the Continent of Europe by 13 games to 11 after a two day encounter.
All square with 8 games apiece going into the final set of singles, Ada O'Sullivan's team won 5 games and lost only 3.
GB&I winners were Sophie Walker, Tricia Mangan, Kerry Smith, Felicity Johnston and Martina Gillen. Scot Clare Queen lost to Anne-Lise Caudal 2&1 and Anne Laing, playing tail-gunner for GB&I, lost by 3&2 to Pernilla Lindberg. The third Scot in the GB&I team, Heather Macrae did not play in the afternoon singles.
See the French Golf Federation site for a fuller report.

EGU News
CONSISTENT HAYLOCK WINS CARRIS TROPHY BY FIVE STROKES
Hertfordshire’s Thomas Haylock, showing splendid consistency, cantered to victory in the English Boys under 18 Strokeplay Championship at Moor Park.
Carding two splendid rounds of 70 on the final day, the 17 year old finished on nine under par 283 to join the likes of Ken Brown and Sandy Lyle as a winner of the Carris Trophy.
Haylock finished five strokes clear of Yorkshire’s Daniel Willett, Sam Hutsby from Hampshire, and Essex youngster Daniel Brooks. It was Haylock’s second victory in a week and follows his triumph in the South East Boys Championship.
“That big win last week gave me a lot of confidence coming here,” he said. “This is the one I really wanted to win and I’m really pleased to get my name alongside some famous names in golf.”
After his morning 70, Haylock began the final circuit one shot behind playing partner Richard Gurney from Worcestershire. But when the Midlander double-bogeyed the first hole, the local lad was ahead and stayed there. The gap soon widened and when Haylock went birdie-eagle-birdie from the seventh it was just a case of who would be second.
Standing on the 15th tee at ten under par he was five shots clear but a bogey-five at the 15th after he tangled with trees off the tee cut the lead but did little damage.
“Obviously I knew Richard had dropped shots but I didn’t know if anyone else was catching up,” Haylock added. “But when I saw the scoreboard on the 16th tee I knew that if I parred my way in I could seal it.
That’s exactly what he did for a third successive 70, underlining his obvious talent and sheer consistency.
His closest pursuers all shot under par, Willett with 72, Hutsby 71 and Brooks 70, while England boy captain Tom Sherreard cared the lowest final round with 69 for 294 to finish joint ninth.
Haylock also won the Malcolm Reid Trophy for the lowest aggregate of the McEvoy and Carris Trophies, while the Hazards Salver for the best score by an under 16 was shared by Thomas Lewis from Hertfordshire and Tim Chatfield from Surrey.

ELGA NEWS
Laura-Jane wins English Schools U16 title
Fifteen-year-old Laura-Jane Mabley completed a rare double for Hampshire when she won the NASUWT English Schools’ U16 girls’ championship by three shots.
Her triumph, at Leighton Buzzard, came just weeks after county colleague, 13-year-old Katie Thompson, won the NASUWT English Schools’ National championship at Trentham.
Now Laura-Jane will join Katie in the English Schools’ team for the annual international against Wales at Moseley Golf Club on August 31.
Laura-Jane (Dunwood Manor) won her title with rounds of 77 and 80 on a tight golf course and playing in strengthening winds.
Her closest challengers were Oxfordshire’s Katherine O’Connor (Tadmartin Heath) and Katie Thompson (Corhampton) who both shot 160. Katherine was runner-up on countback.
The shot of the day was played by Lincolnshire’s Holly Clyburn, 14, (Kenwick Park), who had a hole-in-one on the 14th in the afternoon round. It helped her into seventh place.
All four girls are members of ELGA squads and part of the Sport England, lottery-funded World Class training programme.
Leading scores (CSS am 73, pm 72):
157 Laura-Jane Mabley (The Toynbee School, Hampshire) 77, 80.
160 Katherine O’Connor (Warriner School, Oxfordshire) 80, 80; Katie Thompson (Swanmore Technb College, Hampshire) 79, 81.
161 Heidi Baek (Heath Primary School, Suffolk) 80, 81.
165 Lizzie Over (Vale of Ancholme, Lincolnshire) 86, 79; Alice Ruane (Lady Manner, Derbyshire) 84, 81.
166 Holly Clyburn (Humberstone School, Lincolnshire) 85, 81.

ELGA NEWS
Championship wins for Emma and Sian
Teenagers Emma Cutmore and Sian James and are the toast of their regions after both girls claimed championship wins.
Emma, 16, is ELGA’s new South-Eastern girls’ champion while Sian, 17, took the title for the South-Western division.
Emma, from Colne Valley in Essex, was four shots clear of the field in the South-Eastern championship at Stoneham, Hampshire. She shot a one-over par total of 143 (71, 72) in the 36-hole event.
The runner-up was Olivia Higgins (Royal Jersey) who shot a course record 70 – one under par – in the morning round. The U15 scratch cup was won by Sarah Tyson of Kent on 152. Essex (Emma Cutmore and Hannah Moul) won the County Shield.
In the South-Western championship at Dudsbury, Dorset, Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) scored a one-shot win with a 36-hole total of 151, five over par.
The runner-up was Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) who also set a course record in the first round, with a one-over par 74.
Eleven-year-old Hannah Turland, from Tidworth Garrison, Wiltshire, won both the U15 Trophy and the handicap salver. Her gross aggregate score was 159, net 129, and her 15 handicap has been sharply reduced.
Gloucestershire (Sian James and Joanne Hodge) won the County Trophy.

ELGA NEWS
Emma Lyons wins South-Eastern Championship
Emma Lyons joined an exclusive group of Surrey golfers - including Jill Thornhill and Laura Davies - when she won ELGA’s South Eastern division championship at the Wildernesse in Kent.
The 22-year-old from West Surrey claimed her first major matchplay victory when she beat her great friend Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) 3/2 in the final.
Emma showed her battling qualities throughout the championship. She qualified for the matchplay stages in 15th place on countback and edged through her quarter-final, beating Rachel Graves (Colchester) on the 20th. In the semi-final she pulled off a heroic comeback, beating Clara Leathers (Ellesborough) by one hole after being three down with five to play.
Kent's Sian Reddick, 2004 English strokeplay champion led the qualifiers with a level par 144 over 36-holes and trounced her opponents in the first two matchplay rounds. But her challenge ran out in the semi-final, against the immaculate play of Tara Watters, who reached her third successive final.
The championship was sponsored for the 16th year by The Lady magazine.
First Round:
Sian Reddick (Sene Valley) bt Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest) 6&5; Hayley Charlick (Sundridge Park) bt Samantha Round (Tadmarton Heath) 5&4; Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) bt Clarissa Bushell (West Sussex) 6&5; Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Fiona Smith (Chelmsford) 1 hole; Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) bt Anne Wheble (Dartford) 1 hole: Clara Leathers (Ellesborough) bt Sarah Tyson (Redlibbets) 3&1; Rachel Graves (Colchester) bt Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 4&3; Emma Lyons (West Surrey) bt Alex Marshall (Royal Cinque Ports) 2 holes
Quarter finals:
Sian Reddick (Sene Valley) bt Hayley Charlick (Sundridge Park) 5&4; Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) bt Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 4&3; Clara Leathers (Ellesborough) bt Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 3&2; Emma Lyons (West Surrey) bt Rachel Graves (Colchester) 20th.
Semi finals:
Watters bt Reddick 2 holes; Lyons bt Leathers 1 hole
Final:
Lyons bt Watters 3&2.

CLUB TREASURES AND TROPHIES AT RISK
The National Golf Clubs'Advisory Association (NGCAA) is urging golf clubs to check their display cabinets after a 140 year old 'Philp Longnose' putter was sold for £70,000 at an Edinburgh golfing memorabilia auction.
Legendary four-time winner of the Open Championship, Tom Morris, originally used the putter in the 1870s.  It had been sitting in a display cabinet at the North Manchester Golf Club in Middleton for more than sixty years.
Michael Shaw, national secretary of the National Golf Clubs' Advisory Association, said:
"It makes you wonder how many other highly valuable golfing items are hidden away in dusty attics or sitting in faded cabinets in clubs across the country.  The proceeds of the sale of some valuable old golf balls found in the back of a filing cabinet discovered when The Worcestershire Golf Club relocated to a new club house a few years ago provided a very nice windfall when sold by auction.
"The market for sporting memorabilia, particularly golfing memorabilia, is buoyant at the moment, as the sale of this putter proves.  Many golf clubs will have no idea of the real value of items that have become so familiar over time that they hardly get a second glance.
"Clubs should make sure their burglar alarms and security systems are up to date.  They should also check that paintings, trophies and any other historic items are insured at today's market value.  This may be much more they expect.  If something valuable is discovered, it's worth checking the legal ownership of it."
Martin Nugent, insurance broker at UK and Ireland Insurance Services, agrees that too many clubs don't realise their valuables are at risk:
"Golf clubs are just as vulnerable to deception, dishonesty, fraud, theft and natural events like fire, flooding and lightning strikes, as anywhere else.
"If a club owns valuable silver, tableware, paintings, sporting prints, memorabilia, trophies and similar treasures they should always be insured at current value by memorabilia specialists."

Friday 22nd July 2005

VAGLIANO TROPHY HONOURS EVEN AT END OF FIRST DAY AT CHANTILLY
Great Britain & Ireland drew 6-6 with the Continent of Europe at the halfway stage of the Vagliano Trophy match at Chantilly today.
Ada O'Sullivan's team won the first-morning foursomes 2 1/2-1 1/2 with Clare Queen and Heather MacRae combining to win their tie by one hole.
Anne Laing, the third Scot in the GB&I team, had her usual foursomes partner, Claire Coughlan, and they gained a square match.
In the singles, the Continent redressed the balance by winning 4 1/2 pt to GB&I's 3 1/2 pt.
Clare Queen lost the top singles by 3 and 2 to Anne-Lise Caudal.
Anne Laing lost the seventh tie by 3 and 2 to Maria Hernandez.
Heather MacRae was the GB&I player rested in the first-day singles.
ALL THE DETAILS OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE LGU WEBSITE.

Finalist, Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and winner Jane Turner (Mortonhall) after the prizegiving at the East of Scotland Girls Championship held today at Dalmahoy

East of Scotland Girls' Championship
Third time lucky for Jane
Spectators were treated to a superb display of golf in today's final of the East of Scotland Girls Championship, between Midlothian juniors, Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Jane Turner (Mortonhall). This was 15 year old Jane's third time in the final. She was runner-up to Laura Aitken in 2002 and to Stephanie Crolla in 2003. It was 17 year old Rachael's first appearance in the final.
Both long hitters, Rachael was the slightly more wayward of the two, and had to concede two holes (the first and the 12th) after losing her drives. An altercation with the trees at the 8th also cost her dear, and those three lost holes added up to the losing margin of the match. Jane won by 3 & 2.
Rachael's golf in between was superb, with five birdies in the 16 holes played. Jane finished two-under par herself and the best ball was 9 under 4's.
One up after the first, Jane held the lead until a birdie 3 from Rachael at the 290 yard 5th squared the match. Jane immediately won back the sixth, but Rachael drove the green at the 245 yard seventh and squared it again. A chip out from the trees at the 8th cost Rachael the hole, and Jane remained one up at the turn. A missed putt from Rachael at the 156 yard 10th put her 2 down, but she immediately birdied the 11th before conceding the 12th when she lost her drive. Both comfortably on the 447 yard par 5 13th in two, they halved in birdies, and then Jane sunk a 12 foot putt at the 14th to be three up with four to play. Rachael then put her second to three feet at the 311 yard 16th and sunk the putt for another birdie to be only two down. Both safely on the green at the 97 yard 16th, Jane putted up to two feet and Rachael went for the putt and missed the return.
In the morning semifinals Rachael beat Arrlene McGarty (Bathgate ) by 6&5 and Jane had a very close match with her fellow County team-mate Amanda Edwards (Liberton) and won by one hole.
Semifinals
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) beat Arlene McGarty (Bathgate) 6 & 5
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) beat Amanda Edwards (Liberton) 1 hole
Final
Jane Turner beat Rachael Livingstone 3 & 2

Boyd Quaich
Ben Wesgate from Exeter University won the 2005 Boyd Quaich international students' golf tournament over St Andrews yesterday by 9 shots from South African Oliver Becker (Stellenbosch). Ben's last round 65 was the best of the tournament by far... no-one else had broken 70 previously.
Round 4 Results
Individual Stroke Play
Pos
1 Ben Westgate Exeter, England 71-78-74-65--288
2 Oliver Bekker Stellenbosch, SA 74-74-74-75--297
3 Sean Doherty Leeds Metro, England 75-78-74-71--298
4 Jonathan Holmes UWIC, Wales 74-78-77-70--299
5 Scott Van Der Vord Exeter, England 78-75-78-75--306
Andy Keir Dundee, Scotland 74-75-80-77--306
7 Rhys McGovern Griffith, Australia 75-78-81-73--307
Chris Rossi Strathclyde, Scotland 82-75-77-73--307
9 Nic Slater UHI, Scotland 75-78-79-77--309
10 Billy Hemstock Cardiff, Wales 82-73-81-76--312
11 Richard Pace Leeds Metropolitan, England 78-76-86-73--313
Evan Bryceland Stirling, Scotland 79-76-84-74--313
Richard Warren Nottingham, England 80-76-80-77--313
14 Thomas Pulling Bath, England 82-76-78-78--314
15 Alex Tonge Nottingham, England 82-78-78-77--315
16 Alasdair Leggate Strathclyde, Scotland 79-76-78-83--316
17 Shintaro Yamagishi Keilo, Japan 84-77-79-77--317
Matthew Jones UWIC, Wales 77-84-78-78--317
19 Patrick Dunphy Cork, Eire 80-78-84-77--319
20 Kaku Tashiro Keilo, Japan 77-85-82-76--320
Richard Raye Bournemouth, England 83-79-81-77--320
Daniel Korpela Toronto, Canada 78-75-85-82--320
23 Barry Hickey Glasgow, Scotland 79-83-82-78--322
Ben Wood Griffith, Australia 80-75-81-86--322
25 Riaan Gerber Stellenbosch, SA 76-78-93-76--323
Joseph Chakola Delhi, India 82-76-86-79--323
27 Chris White East Anglia, England 80-78-91-78--327
28 Aidan Claffey Uni College, Dublin, Eire 80-83-84-82--329
29 Paul McDonald University College Dublin, Eir 74-75-NS-78
30 Charles Drury Imperial College London, Engla 81-82-87-NS

Thursday 21st July 2005

Prizewinners at the East of Scotland Girls Summer Meeting at Dalmahoy today.
L to R: Gillian Simpson (Baberton), Arlene McGarty (Bathgate), Hannah Harvey (St Leonards), Amanda Edwards(Liberton), Rebecca Watson (Elie and Earlsferry)

East of Scotland Girls Summer Meeting
Often in the shadow of her younger sister, Sally, 16-year-old Rebecca Watson (Elie and Earlsferry) came out into the sunshine today with a sparkling two over par round of 71 to win the East of Scotland Girls Summer Meeting over Dalmahoy West by three shots from Amanda Edwards (Liberton).
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) and Hannah Harvey (St Leonards) tied for third place on 76, with Jane taking the honours on the better inward half.
Arlene McGarty from Bathgate won the overall handicap award with a net 66 from a handicap of 14, and the handicap age group prizes were as follows:
Under 18 Amanda Edwards (Liberton)74-5=69
Under 16 Hannah Harvey (St Leonards) 76-7=69
Under 14 Gillian Simpson (Baberton) 90-23=67
The top eight scratch scores qualified for the matchplay stage of the East of Scotland Girls' Championship.
Full scoreboard (SSS 69 CSS 68)
71 Rebecca Watson ( Elie and Earlsferry )
74 Amanda Edwards ( Liberton )
76 Jane Turner ( Mortonhall ), Hannah Harvey ( St Leonards )
80 Arlene McGarty ( Bathgate )
85 Louise Macgregor ( Falkirk Carmuirs )
86 Cara Easton ( Dalmahoy )
87 Rachael Livingstone ( Musselburgh Old Course )
88 Megan Barbour ( North Berwick )
90 Gillian Simpson ( Baberton )
94 Emma Bisset ( Elie and Earlsferry )
101 Rachel Watton ( Baberton ), Camilla Tait ( St Regulus )
105 Cathy Wood ( Linlithgow )
107 Helen Goodwin ( Glenbervie )
118 Eilidh McKellar ( Dundas Park )
121 Laura Moffat ( St Regulus )
NR Patricia Watt ( Lundin Ladies )
Draw for Matchplay
Rebecca Watson v Rachael Livingstone
Arlene McGarty v Hannah Harvey
Jane Turner v Louise Macgregor
Cara Easton v Amanda Edwards
East of Scotland Girls Championship over Dalmahoy West
As so often happens, the top seed position can be a poisoned chalice to the unfortunate recumbent. Rebecca Watson, who played so well in the morning, was up against Rachael Livingstone, a Scottish Girl Internationalist, who was out to prove that her poor 87 to scrape into the draw was a mere aberration. Rachael never gave her opponent a chance, and in the latter stages won four holes in a row to close out Rebecca by 6 & 4.
The next tie, between Arlene McGarty and Hannah Harvey, was very close with Hannah squaring the match at the 294 yard 14th after Arlene had to take a penalty drop from an unplayable lie. They halved the 311yard 15th with text book fours, and Arlene won the 97 yard 16th with a par 3. The par 3 17th was shared in threes, and Arlene, dormie one, left her shot to the green short at the 18th, while Hannah was at the back of the green in two. Arlene putted to eight feet, Hannah got it closer but then Arlene slotted her eight footer for the match.
Jane Turner and Louise Macgregor also went all the way to the 18th, with Jane one up as they played it. Louise hit a wayward drive and was unable to go for the green, and Jane made sure she was on the putting surface for two putts and the match.
The last tie started with a bang as first 12 year old Cara Easton slotted a long putt for a birdie three at the first, to be followed in by her 18 year old opponent for a half. Halves in par at the next two promised an exciting match, but Amanda's better short game showed and she gradually pulled away and won by 5 and 4.
The Semifinals are at 9:30am tomorrow and the Final is at 2pm (it might be slightly earlier if we can arrange it). If you are in the area, come along and watch.
First Round results
Rebecca Watson lost to Rachael Livingstone 6 & 4
Arlene McGarty beat Hannah Harvey 1 hole
Jane Turner beat Louise Macgregor 2 holes
Cara Easton lost to Amanda Edwards 5 & 4

Wednesday 20th July 2005

Prizewinners in the North of Scotland Girls' Championship
L to R: Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Sammy Vass (Tain), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Donna MacKinnon (Durness), Laura Murray (Alford).

North of Scotland Girls' Championship
KELSEY IS NORTH GIRLS CHAMPION
Northern Counties women's champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), pictured right, added the North of Scotland girls' title to her collection over her home course today (Wednesday).
The 14-year-old returned a 77 in high winds to win by one stroke from Scottish schoolgirls champion Laura Murray (Alford) with Roseanne Niven (Crieff) third on 79.
Donna MacKinnon (Durness) won the handicap award with a net 70 off 26. Sammy Vass (Tain), playing off 11, was runner-up with a net 73, the same score as third-placed Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), playing off six. Sammy had the better inward half.
NORTH OF SCOTLAND GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
Leading scores (CSS 75)
Scratch
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 77; Laura Murray (Alford) 78; Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 79; Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Sammy Vass (Tain)  84; Sally Kettlewell (Dunblane) 85; Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 88; Nadia Green (Nairn) 89.
Handicap
Donna MacKinnon (Durness) (26) 70; Sammy Vass (Tain) (11) (better inward half), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (6) 73; Louise Smith (Kirriemuir) (27) 75; Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) (2); Laura Murray (Alford) (1), Roseanne Niven (2) , Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (11) 77; Nadia Green (11) 78; Sally Kettlewell (Dunblane) (6), Aimee Taylor (Forres) (33), Karen Murray (Alford) (18) 79.
Photos courtesy Cara Gruber.

Boyd Quaich
SOUTH AFRICAN LEADS BOYD QUAICH FIELD
South African student Oliver Bekker from Stellenbosch leads by one shot at the halfway stage of the Boyd Quaich international students' golf tournament over the Old and New Courses, St Andrews.
Bekker had rounds of 74 over both for a 148 tally, one shot ahead of three players - Paul McDonald (University College Dublin), Andy Keith (Dundee) and Ben Westgate (Exeter).
LEADING TOTALS
148 O Bekker (Stellenbosch) 74 74.
149 P McDonald (UC Dublin) 74 75, A Keir (Dundee) 74 75, B Westgate (Exeter) 71 78.
152 J Holmes (UWIC Wales) 74 78.
153 S Van Der Vord (Exeter) 78 75, D Korpela (Toronto) 75 78, Sean Doherty (Leeds Metro) 75 78, Rhys McGovern (Griffith, Australia) 75 78, Nic Slater (University of Highlands & Islands) 75 78.
154 R Gerber (Stgellenbosch) 76 78, R Pace (Leeds Metro) 78 76.
155 B Hemstock (Cardiff) 82 73, E Bryceland (Stirling) 79 76, A Leggate (Strathclyde) 80 75, B Wood (Griffith, Australia) 80 75.

BIDDING OPENS FOR THE ULTIMATE GOLFING DREAM - A PLACE IN THE 2005 DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
·    Website bidding auction for playing spot in tournament
·    Make a bid on www.qxl.com/dunhilllinks
·    Funds raised to be donated to St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation
·    Play over Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns
ST ANDREWS, July 19, 2005 – Bidding has opened in an international online auction for a place in this year’s dunhill links championship. Amateur golfers from all over the world are being offered the chance of a lifetime to play in the same tournament as top professionals and amateurs from the world of sport and entertainment in this year’s web auction.
This year’s dunhill links championship takes place from September 29 – October 2 over the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links. The online auction offers amateur golfers throughout the world a rare opportunity to play in this prestigious tournament. The winning bidder will be treated to the very best of dunhill’s world famous hospitality. The package includes one amateur spot in the 2005 dunhill links championship, five nights accommodation at an official tournament hotel (breakfast included), airport transfers from Edinburgh and invitations to the championship's exclusive social events as honoured guests.
The auction runs from July 19 until September 9. Online auctioneers QXL.com are hosting the proceedings. Bids can be made by visiting www.qxl.com/dunhilllinks. Stuart Hawthorne, QXL.com UK Site Marketing Manager commented “www.QXL.com is a trading platform, which enables individuals and small businesses to buy and sell all types of products and services online in an easy, efficient and safe environment. It is also a place where members have a good time, place bids and get involved with the site through our forums.”
The event, which raised just under £18,000 pounds last year, is in aid of the St Andrews-based Pilgrim Foundation, an organisation committed the restoration of historic monuments and buildings in the Home of Golf. The Foundation’s patrons include Sir Sean Connery, Colin Montgomerie, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer, Sam Torrance, Tony Jacklin and TV commentator Peter Alliss.
Last year’s dunhill links championship was won by Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher who is to return to the scene of his greatest triumph when he defends his title this autumn.
Amateurs will once again be sharing centre stage with the professionals. Some of the better known amateurs who have played in the past include Boris Becker, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Hansen, Jodie Kidd, Kevin Costner, Gary Lineker, Nigel Mansell, Dennis Quaid, Sir Steve Redgrave and Tico Torres.
Entrance to the dunhill links championship will once again be FREE on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 2. Under 16’s and students are FREE. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gate. There is free parking for spectators, and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between courses.

Tuesday 19th July 2005

Scottish Girls' Preview
Jordana Graham (Southerness) has withdrawn from the field for next week's BP Scottish girls (match-play) championship at Tain Golf Club.
That leaves only 50 competitors in the draw but if the championship is short on numbers it certainly does not lack quality. All the top prospects will be there with Krysle Caithness (St Regulus), who won the Menzies Trophy as the leading Under-18 player in last week's BP Scottish junior women's open stroke-play championship at West Kilbride, defending the title.
The last player to win the girls' match-play crown two years in a row was Vikki Laing (Musselburgh). In fact, Vikki set a record by winning the title four years in a row from 1996 to 1999.
Krystle, 16, is young enough to have the opportunity to replicate Miss Laing's feat but it is fair to say there are probably more potential winners around that there were eight or nine years ago.
Krystle's Scotland team-mates in the recent European girls' team championship in Switzerland - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Carly Booth (Comrie) and Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) - are front-rank contenders.
The North-east has not provided the title-winner since Elaine Farquharson (Deeside) in 1985 but in Laura Murray (Alford), 16-year-old winner of the Scottish schoolgirls title at St Andrews Bay in June and now a one-handicap player after shaving three shots off her handicap in the last few weeks, and 17-year-old Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), one of the youngest ever winners of the North of Scotland women's championship at Banchory earlier this month, the area must have high hopes of ending the 20 lean years.
Next week's championship starts with two qualifying rounds on the Tuesday. The 32 players with the lowest gross 36-hole totals will go into the championship match-play draw.
The next best 16 gross totals will qualify players for the Ansley Reid Salver, a secondary match-play competition.
That will take care of just about all 50 players.
There is also usually a consolation 18-hole tournament.
Draw for Tuesday (morning and afternoon times)
8.00 12.30 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies)
8.09 12.39 Carly Booth (Auchterarder), Michele Thomson (McDonald), Emma Fairnie (Peebles)
8.18 12.48 Laura Murray (Alford), Amanda Edwards (Liberton), Ashton Ingram (Fort William)
8.27 12.57 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies)
8.36 13.06 Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus)
8.45 13.15 Hannah Harvey (St Leonards), Jane Turner (Mortonhall), Sally Kettlewell (Dunblane)
8.54 13.24 STARTER TIME
9.03 13.33 Laura Whitehead (Droitwich), Fiona Blair (Monifieth), Mhairi Johnstone (Northern)
9.12 13.42 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), Sammy Vass (Tain), Isla Craigie (Torwoodlee)
9.21 13.51 Vicki Smith (Kilmarnock (Barassie)), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald), Nadia Green (Nairn)
9.30 14.00 Annabel Niven (Crieff), Jordana Graham (Southerness), Morag MacPherson (Turnberry)
9.39 14.09 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), Eilidh MacKay (Nairn Dunbar), Megan Barbour (North Berwick)
9.48 14.18 Kirsty Moss (Monifieth), Ashley Smith (Kirriemuir), Samantha Leslie (Westhill)
9.57 14.27 STARTER TIME
10.06 14.36 Fiona Stewart (Monifieth), Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)
10.15 14.45 Jillian Pryde (Monifieth), Karen Murray (Alford), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur)
10.24 14.54 Andrea Bowie (Monifieth), Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur), Marsha Hull (Strathaven)
10.33 15.03 Gillian Simpson (Baberton), Chloe MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar), Hannah MacKay (Tain)
10.42 15.12 Rachael Watton (Baberton), Louise Smith (Kirriemuir), Heather Peebles (Monifieth)

Monday 18th July 2005

Aberdeenshire Girls'
LAURA PIPS MICHELE FOR TOP SPOT IN ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS’ MEDAL
Laura Murray (Alford), pictured left, beat Aberdeenshire women’s county team-mate Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), pictured right, on a countback over the last six holes after they had tied with 80s for the top scratch award in today’s Aberdeenshire girls’ medal competition over the Deeside Golf Club course at Bieldside, to the west of Aberdeen.
Neither had played the course before. The ladies’ par of 72 for the 5,692yd course off the red tees is rated difficult to achieve. The Standard Scratch Score is 74 and the CSS for today’s competition was also 74.
Both went out in 39 (two over par) and came home in 41 (six over). One-handicap Laura covered the last six holes in 25 shots to four-handicap Michele’s 27, holing a 6ft birdie putt at the par-5 18th hole. This proved to be the decisive stroke.
The North-east teenagers will renew their friendly rivalry in Wednesday’s North of Scotland girls’ championship over one round at Nairn Dunbar.
Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), the Aberdeen schoolgirls champion, had the third best scratch score of 81 (43-38). Like Laura and Michele, she had not seen the private members’ course previously.
Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) had the lowest net score of 72 off a handicap of 34.
LEADING SCORES
SCRATCH
80 Laura Murray (Alford), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon). *Laura won with better last six holes’ total.
81 Mhairi Johnstone (Northern).
85 Sjavon Wilson (Murcar).
87 Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon).
HANDICAP
72 Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) (34).
73 Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) (8).
75 Sarah Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (18), Hayley Thomson (Newmachar) (20).
76 Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) (35), L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (11), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) (4).
77 Sarah Beattie (Hazlehead) (23), Samantha Leslie (Westhill) (16), Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (17).

Vets' News
HELEN'S DOUBLE WHAMMY IN VETS' COMPETITION AT ALFORD
Helen Edon from Banchory scored a double whammy in today's Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association (Northern Division) "Vintage Vets"competition at Alford Golf Club.
Helen won the top scratch prize - the Tony Moffat Cl