July 2006 Archive

Monday 31st July 2006

Jocelyn Carthew breaks course record at Ladybank
Jocelyn Carthew broke the course record at Ladybank today with a scratch score of 69 to a CSS of 74.
The score shaved two shots off her previous record of 71.

SCOTLAND VETS OPEN CAMPAIGN WITH MATCH AGAINST SOUTH
Scotland meet South on Tuesday in their opening match of the Veteran Ladies Golf Association inter-area team championship at Formby.
North open their defence of the Miller Stirling Trophy by playing Midlands.
Teams:
SCOTLAND
Captain Pat Hutton.
Liz Bennett, Liz Campbell, Fiona De Vries, Noreen Fenton, Kathleen Sutherland, Moira Thomson, Margaret Tough, Pamela Williamson.
NORTH
Christine Williamson, Elaine Elliott, Laraine Hague, Caroline Kirk, Jane Rogers, Hilary Smyth, Gill Travis, Alyson Wood.
MIDLANDS
Sue Westall, Pat West, Ann Bruce, Denise Parker, Deborah Backhouse, Paula Parker, Andrea Stockdale, Jill Snelson.
SOUTH
Jeannie O’Keefe, Sue Ellis, Irene Brien, Rosemary Waters, Viveka Morgan, Margaret Maisey, Marianne Copp, Carol Richie.

NO SCOTS SURVIVE WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN QUALIFYING
Scots Kathryn Imrie, Lynn Kenny, Clare Queen and Martine Pow – as well as Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon – failed to survive the Weetabix Women’s British Open Final Qualifying round at St Annes Old Links today.
Only eight places and four reserve spots were available for the main event at Royal Lytham & St Annes starting on Thursday.
Kathryn Imrie was joint 17th with a four-over-par 76. She started with a birdie but could not conjure up any more to cancel out the bogeys that followed.
Lynn Kenny had a double-bogey at the eighth in outward half of 40 on her way to a 77.
Liz McKinnon birdied two of the first five holes but had three 6s on her scorecard after that, incouding a double-bogey at the eighth.
Drumpellier’s Clare Queen had a disappointing 79 with halves of 43 and 36. She had double bogey 7s at the fifth and sixth and birdies at the 10th, 11th and 16th came too late to turn things around.
Martine Pow (Selkirk), the British women’s mid-amateur and Scottish women’s amateur champion, had a triple bogey 6 at the short 16th in her 82.
WEETABIX WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN - Final Qualifying – St Annes Old Links.
LEADING SCORES
(eight to qualify; next four reserves)
71 K Taylor (Eng).
72 J Mills (Aus), F Seeholzzer (Swi).
73 I Maconi (Ita), A Cvitan (Swe), U Wikstrom (Fin), T Hsiao-Chin Lu (Tai).
74 A Highgate (Wal), A Simon (SA), M-J Rouleau (Can), T Nilsson (Swe).]75 C Byrnes (Aus), A-M Knight (Aus), L Jean(Aus), D Luna (Ita), S Gal (Ger).
76 J Kuosa (Fin), S Moon (US), A Temple (US), K Imrie (Sco), D Masters (Eng0, L Fairclough (Eng0, F Johnson (Eng) (am), L Friberg (Swe), B Recari (Spa), L Tadiotto (Bel), B Hauert (Ger).
77 S Walker (Eng) (am), L Kenny (Sco), F More (Eng), M Holmes-Smith (Aus), S Dickens (Eng), C Alonso (Spa), P Lindberg (Swe), K Lunn (Aus), S Andersson (Swe).
Other scores included:
79 E McKinnon (NZ), C Queen (Sco).
82 M Pow (Selkirk) (am).

ILGU Press Release
LADIES INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Headfort Golf Club, Kells, Co Meath
Wednesday to Friday this week.
Leinster defend the Irish women's inter-provincial title this week and are bidding to complete a three-timer in an event which is now in its 42nd year.
Although missing their Curtis Cup stars, Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen, Leinster look the strongest side on paper at Headfort.
Curtis Cuppers Claire Coughlan and Tricia Mangan will be absent from a Munster line-up also depleted by the unavailability of the girls' international players.
Munster champion Marian Riordan and an in-form Catherine Tucker will lead the southern attack while dark horses Connacht once again field a young side capable of beating any team on their day.
Ulster once again will look to the experienced Helen Jones in a side that welcomes back double-winning Irish champion Alison Coffey who returns to inter-provincial action after a break of five years.
Like Munster, the side is hard hit by players selected to the Girls International team but have 2005 Girls Champion Danielle McVeigh in their armoury.
It's a challenging new course at Headfort with a par-72 track over 6,329 yards.
Fixtures:
Wednesday: Munster v Ulster, Connacht v Leinster.
Thursday: Leinster v Ulster, Connacht v Munster.
Friday: Ulster v Connacht, Munster v Leinster.
T eams
CONNACHT - Pat Farrell (Capt), Helen Sweeney (Mgr) Fiona Carroll (Athenry), Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Anne McCormack (Roscommon), Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey/Stranorlar), Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway), Deirdre Walsh (Roscommon/Milltown)
LEINSTER – Therese O’Reilly (Capt), Theresa Morgan (Mgr) Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth), Sinead Keane (Curragh), Maura Morrin (Curragh), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
MUNSTER - Liz Bennett (Capt), Maura McNicholas (Ennis) Pamela Murphy (Ennis), Gillian O’Leary (Cork/UCC), Karen O'Neill (Douglas), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), Holli Snelling (Killarney), Ailish Thompson (Douglas), Catherine Tucker (Limerick)
ULSTER – Carol Corrigan (Capt), Hilda Percival Price (Mgr) Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush), Helen Jones (Strabane), Jenna Kinnear (Belvoir Park), Bronagh Lunny (Belvoir Park), Danielle McVeigh (R.C.D.L.), Nicola Moore (Clandeboye), Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry)

CARLY'S TEAM-MATES IN EUROPEAN TEAM FOR JUNIOR RYDER CUP
We told you at the weekend that Carly Booth from Comrie was the only British or Irish player in the European team of six boys and six girls for the Junior Ryder Cup match against the United States at Celtic Manor on September 18 and 19.
Now we have the full European line-up for the two-day match which, incidentally, does not include any singles ties, only four-balls and foursomes.
Team is:
BOYS - Victor Dubuisson (France), Pedro Figueiredo (Portugal), Are Friestad (Norway), Sean Einhaus (Germany), Maximilian Kiefer (Germany), Anders Kristensen (Norway).
GIRLS - Carly Booth (Scotland), Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Saskia Hausladen (Germany), Giulia Molinaro (Italy), Marta Silva (Spain), Laura Gonzales-Escallon (Belgium).

BANCHORY WOMEN’S OPEN LACKS ENTRIES
The Banchory Women’s Open has long been one of the most popular tournaments on the North-east golfing calendar. The entry list used to be closed months in advance.
But not this year, for some reason. Only 10 entries have been received for the 36-hole Silver Division and just eight for the one-round Bronze Division event.
The tournament is to be played on Saturday, August 26 and the entry fee is £16 for the Silver Division and £12 for the Bronze.
Entries can be phoned to 01330 822365 or 01330 825889.

CURTIS CUP INDIVIDUAL POINTS TABLE
BREANNE LOUCKS WAS MOST SUCCESSFUL GB&I PLAYER WITH THREE WINS FROM THREE
Breanne Loucks from Wales, one of the surprise GB&I selections for the Curtis Cup match, turned out to be Ada O'Sullivan's most successful player over the two days.
Breanne played three ties and won them all ... 3 and 0, as they say in America, which is where the Wrexham girl is wanted by colleges and universities to play for them on the US college circuit.
Hard luck on Colette Murray, the Scottish-born head coach of the new University of Tennessee Chattanooga women's team which does not debut until the autumn of 2007.
Colette made approaches to Breanne to sign up for UTC long before she was selected for the Curtis Cup and long before she won all three ties.
Now the big US universities are favourites to beat Miss Murray for Breanne's signature.
Martina Gillen, one of four Irish players in the Curtis Cup team, was the second most successful GB&I player with two wins from four outings.
The tell-tale table reads:
Breanne Loucks Played 3. Won 3. Points 3.
Martina Gillen Played 4. Won 2. Lost 2. Points 2.
Naomi Edwards Played 3. Won 1. Lost 2. Points 1.
Kiran Matharu Played 2. Won 1. Lost 1. Points 1.
Melissa Reid Played 4. Won 1. Lost 3. Points 1.
Tara Delaney Played 3. Drew 1. Lost 2. Points 1/2.
Tricia Mangan Played 3. Drew 1. Lost 1. Points 1/2.
Claire Coughlan Played 2. Lost 2. Points 0.

CURTIS CUP POST MORTEM: NO WIND SO ADA'S PLANS WENT UP IN SMOKE
BY ALEX MICELI (from the USGA Curtis Cup website)
Bandon, Ore. – Miscalculation, mistake or bad luck? That is what Great Britain & Ireland captain Ada O’Sullivan will struggle with in the following days and weeks after her team was soundly defeated by a more talented United States team, 11½ to 6½, in the 34th Curtis Cup Match at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
Melissa Reid's reaction would seem to sum up GB&I's disappointment. (John Mummert/USGA)
Starting the week, the USA was riding a winning streak of 24-6-3, which included victories in the last four matches, dating back to 1998 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. In each of those last four matches the USA had scored at least 10 points, including the 2004 Match at Formby Golf Club, when the USA team lost all three foursomes matches on the first day to go 3 down, but rallied to win 10 of the remaining 15 points to retain the Cup.
That win at Formby was historic in that six times a team started the matches with a 3-up lead - 1932, 1954, 1962, 1986, 2002 and 2004. Each time that team went on to win the Curtis Cup. That changed at Formby, and that was what haunted O’Sullivan and the GB&I team as they came to American shores.
“It did take me a long time to get over Formby,” O’Sullivan said before these matches. “Basically I think we felt that from the players that we had, that we should win at Formby. It wasn't ever felt we were going to win easily, but we felt we should have won. Particularly when we won five out of six foursomes. But to win three out of 12 singles was a disaster. That's the only way I could describe it.”
Now O’Sullivan has to ponder a different type of disaster, losing the first three foursomes matches on Saturday and following that up by dropping four out of six singles matches to end the first day down, 7-2.
Reasons abound why her team played so poorly on Saturday. The wind, which O’Sullivan had counted on when putting her team together, never materialized. The pairings she used on Saturday just didn’t jell, leading her to change two of the three pairings for Sunday’s foursomes, which eventually won 2½ points. But the biggest differences may have been her team’s inability to deal with the changing weather conditions of Bandon Dunes as well as the fact that the USA team was just stronger top to bottom than the GB&I squad.
“We were simply outclassed and outplayed this afternoon,” said O’Sullivan Saturday night. “This morning was a big disappointment. Everything, the stillness of the morning, the no wind definitely caught us with regards to the clubbing.”
It was clearly never the plan to lose many, if any, points in foursomes. Her team at Formby was 5-1 in foursomes, so O’Sullivan had confidence that she had found a good formula. But when it didn’t work, O’Sullivan was put behind the proverbial eight-ball, having to mix and match, trying not only to find three strong foursomes pairings, but to pull together six singles players who could capitalize on the 2½-½ foursomes success Sunday morning. In that effort she could only find Breanne Loucks, an 18-year-old Welsh girl who was likely one of the final additions to a team that was heavily weighted toward Ireland and England players and devoid of any Scots.
O’Sullivan’s confidence in Loucks was lukewarm at best in the early going, as she didn’t have her in the Saturday morning foursomes. Only by necessity did she put her in the singles, pulling out 26-year-old Claire Coughlan.
After going undefeated at the 2004 Curtis Cup Match, Coughlan was a disappointment at the Vagliano Trophy last year in France, winning only one-half point in four matches. Her play on Saturday morning sealed her fate as she and partner Melissa Reid lost the last two holes with bogeys to lose their foursomes match, 1 up, to a USA team that was behind most of the day.
“Some asked me the turning point,” O’Sullivan said Saturday night. “I think one of the big ones was our third foursomes match. If that had been a 2-1, I think that would have put it into perspective on everything. But at one stage it was looking we might even get one and a half.”
While the GB&I team put a stronger showing on in Sunday’s second day, winning 4½ points, it still worth noting that the team likely never had the firepower to tackle the American squad. And when the great equalizer, the wind, never really visited the Oregon shores, O’Sullivan’s plans went up in smoke.
“You have to take your hat off to them,” O’Sullivan said of the USA squad. “They outclassed us again this afternoon over the finishing holes. At the same time we knew going out if we could try and put some points on the board early, we were hoping for big wins early, we didn't come off with them. But they are to be complemented on a fantastic win. Martina (Gillen) played well as did Breanne. Three points out of three is great for your first Curtis Cup. But no, it just didn't happen for us this afternoon. As simple as that. At one stage it was looking good, but after that it just turned around."
O’Sullivan put together a squad that she believed could play links golf better than an American squad use to hitting the ball high as is the custom in the United States. In hindsight, could the GB&I team been stronger if not so focused on links type players and hedging its bets on calmer conditions?
“The player's ability to have a good short game, which is what's really needed to play links,” said O’Sullivan of what was part of her criteria in putting a team together. “Their ability to get up and down from difficult situations, good bunker play. And I say all these here have that, but that was part of the selection process. We weren't looking for people with big carries off the tee. Because when you come to links golf courses it's not necessarily big carries off the tee, it's somebody good around the greens.”
With no wind to speak of, the USA team was consistently longer off the tee than the GB&I players, putting them at a disadvantage early on almost every hole and giving the Americans a dominant position, from which they capitalized on seemingly at will, especially in singles.
Last year in France, the GB&I team won the Vagilano Trophy, 13 to 11, over Europe. Only Tricia Mangan, Gillen and Coughlan were part of that team with Tara Delaney, Naomi Edwards and Reid as alternates. Three of the big point-getters from that team, Sophia Walker with four and Kerry Smith and Felicity Johnson each with three, were not part of O’Sullivan’s plan for this team.

ADA O’SULLIVAN’S POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
Interviewer: Craig Smith (USGA Press Officer)
CRAIG SMITH: Martina Gillen, Ada O'Sullivan, and Breanne Loucks. Ada, you fought back, you made a real good game of it this morning, what's the mood? Disappointed, obviously.
ADA O'SULLIVAN: Obviously, the mood is disappointed, is of disappointment. This morning we knew going out that we had to win at least two points and anything more than that was going to be a bonus. Obviously we were going out to win three. Two and a half was fantastic.
We didn't think it was impossible to win five out of six points this afternoon. But it seemed to change momentum. I was up around back of nine, 10, and in and around those holes where it was kind of swinging. Up until then we were looking good. It went to swinging towards USA after that.
You have to take your hat off to them. They outclassed us again this afternoon over the finishing holes. At the same time we knew going out if we could try and put some points on the board early, we were hoping for big wins early, we didn't come off with them. But they are to be complemented on a fantastic win. Martina played well as did Breanne. Three points out of three is great for your first Curtis Cup. But no, it just didn't happen for us this afternoon. As simple as that. At one stage it was looking good, but after that it just turned around.
CRAIG SMITH: Breanne, for you, when I saw you at the end, very mixed emotions. Obviously happy for yourself, 3 0 and yet tears for the team.
BREANNE LOUCKS: Yeah, we had such a good morning. We came out, we were coming out to win and get those three points on the board. And two and a half was great, as Ada said. And we really enjoyed it this morning. We were really up for it this afternoon. Martina won her match, which was fantastic, and still, until quite near the end we still looked like we could bring it back and still win. And yeah, mixed emotions there.
Q. I get to ask the tough one, I guess. Your team came back, played fantastically. But it still doesn't obscure the fact that GB&I is now the Americans are 25 6 3 in the series. Which a lot of people have suggested that perhaps they should go to a European team as opposed to just GB&I. Would that better serve the Curtis Cup, do you think?
ADA O'SULLIVAN: It's not one I've actually thought about it, being very honest. I don't think so. That's being very honest. I think one good move which I've heard yesterday is now it's going to be a three day event. I think that's going to be absolutely superb. I have tried for that for my last, after Formby. I feel it's very unfair to the players to come and expect them to reach your top form over two days. It's very difficult, if you don't reach play well yesterday it's very difficult to put you in today.
Plus the fact that hopefully four ball will go into it and I think it was singles, all eight played on the last afternoon or day, I think that would be fantastic. But, no, I mean I do believe that the quality is there in you're talking about in GB&I golf and actually to take on the Americans. And I'm sure when it comes to Saint Andrews in two year's time, with a three day event, you'll see a very much, either a GB&I win or obviously a very much closer affair.
Q. Obviously you don't have to make this decision next year, but I was curious as to why Kiran sat out both matches today since she was one of two points yesterday.
ADA O'SULLIVAN: Kiran would have been she won her singles match yesterday afternoon, but Kiran obviously had to try and get foursomes going. And Tricia and Kiran didn't jell yesterday. Kiran is obviously very talented as a golfer and very much an individual. And in foursomes this morning I believed that we actually needed people to actually rally one another. So hence you're talking about Claire Coughlan was left out and we brought in Breanne to play with Mel. And you're talking about Tara who played so well yesterday, with Tricia. And that was the reason. It was a very close call this afternoon whether she would go out or not. I'm not saying in favor of our players, there was three we just felt, because the players were so upbeat this morning that we felt, yeah, keep them out there. They were used to the conditions, plus the greens had got a lot quicker out there as well. So that's the decision. We took nothing to reflect on her, she's a great player. Just with the feeling of the day and the way the play had gone this morning.
Q. Did you see a difference in attitude a difference in what kind of difference did you see in your team today compared to yesterday?
ADA O'SULLIVAN: The main difference was that they were hitting through the ball. They weren't afraid, they weren't trying to steer the ball. They were attacking more. Our par 3s at our team meeting last night we agreed were critical. We were very poor at them yesterday. We played very well on them today. We needed to get to have to a good start. So we tried to par as many holes as we could at the start. And we had a lot of pars with a few birdies as well. So our start was far, far better. The team themselves I think their back was against the wall today, so they couldn't allow it, even though yesterday they were playing defensively, today they couldn't, they had to go for it.
CRAIG SMITH: Martina, when you were out there, you ended your match quite early, obviously to give the rest of your team a boost. Where did you go and what did you do and what was going through your mind? Who did you go to rally when you were done with your match?
MARTINA GILLEN: Well, Breanne was right behind me and I didn't realize she was 3 up playing 16. But Breanne, I stayed on to watch her come in. And that was great to see her finish. And I really thought we had a chance there. I didn't realize a couple of the matches were down. But, yeah, I watched Breanne and then Tricia came behind her and I followed her as much all the way in to 18.
CRAIG SMITH: How about just going it through your experience and then go over, Breanne, your experience here at Curtis Cup.
MARTINA GILLEN: My experience? It's definitely the best experience I ever had in golf. Our preparation and everything was second to none. And we gave, everybody gave it 120 percent. And it's just been fantastic. Disappointing that we lost. I thought we could do it, even though we were between a rock and a hard place today, I really thought we could do it at lunch time. And we were like well up for it and it just didn't come off.
BREANNE LOUCKS: Yeah, definitely been my best experience in golf and something that I have always wanted to achieve. I've enjoyed myself so much. Can't believe that I have had such a great weekend. And the last couple of weeks have been great. We have had great team spirit. I met new friends from the U. S. Team and on the great Britain team there too. And it's certainly something that I will never forget, definitely.
CRAIG SMITH: Did you learn something about yourself as well? Being so scrappy and winning?
MARTINA GILLEN: A fighter.
BREANNE LOUCKS: Yeah. Definitely. I believe more in myself now.
Q. Ada, was it all won and lost here or is this, as captain, is there something that you think you could have done differently in the preparation? Or how would you tell your successor to prepare in a different way?
ADA O'SULLIVAN: No, I believe I did everything that I believe that we needed to actually to win here. And any of our preparation, I wouldn't have changed anything that I had done. That's one thing you got to think about that I can go away with and be happy with. But, no, in relation to Mary McKenna who is coming in after me, I'll have long talks about what to do. But I don't think we could have prepared any better for here. Obviously the damage was done on the first day. As I said in yesterday's press interview, the big plus and the big difference was yesterday morning, losing three foursomes I think was a big downer for us. It was very hard to come back from that. I think a lot of damage had been done there. And when the Americans came here and had no wind I thought that it was a disadvantage and it proved to be a major advantage for them. So that's what caught us off yesterday morning.
Q. The team make up that you had, you talked about at the beginning of the week that if the conditions had been different that you may have changed one or two players. Do you think that you put too much into the conditions in making the selection?
ADA O'SULLIVAN: No, not necessarily, we were looking for players that could play links and had a very, very good short game. Everybody here had a good short game. Obviously if it was a parkland course we might have looked at it somewhat differently. People that might carry the ball further, things like that. But I can honestly say that anybody that was on the team had warranted their selection just by the various events that they had played in. But I wouldn't have changed, no.

Sunday 30th July 2006

Jenna Wilson with the 2006 Mackie bowl trophy

JENNA MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW AT GULLANE’S MACKIE BOWL
Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson followed up her victory in the Munross Trophy at Montrose by winning another prestigious 36-hole event on the Scottish women’s amateur circuit, the Mackie Bowl, at Gullane yesterday (Sunday).
Jenna had two rounds of 71 for a total of 142, against a par of 74 and a CSS of 74 for both rounds.
“I was steady in both rounds. I set out to hit the greens in regulation and I succeeded,” said Jenna who had three shots to spare over runners-up Jo Carthew (Ladybank) and teenager Jane Turner (Mortonhall).
Jo and Jane were also joint second behind Jenna at Montrose.
Jo had scores of 74 and 71 against Jane’s 70 and 75 so Miss Carthew was officially placed second on the better second round.
Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar), Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) were joint fourth on 146.
MACKIE BOWL – Gullane.
LEADING TOTALS (Par 74, CSS 74 74)
142 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 71 71.
145 Jo Carthew (Ladybank) 74 71, Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 70 75.
146 Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar) 72 74, Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 71 75, Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 71 75.
148 Sara Bishop (Windyhill) 78 79.
Best individual rounds outwith main prize list
First round – Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 70; Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) 71 (better last six holes than Cara Gruber).
Second round – Sara Bishop 70; Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73.

ADDI SHAMASH WINS GALLOWAY TITLE AT COLVEND
Former Scottish junior international Addi Shamash (Kirkcudbright), whose brother Ben reached the final of the Scottish men’s amateur championship 12 months ago, won the Galloway women’s county golf championship at Colvend Golf Club today.
Addi had rounds of 75 and 77 for 152 to win by four shots from the defending champion Sheila McMurtrie (Dalbeattie) who scored 80 and 76.
Stranraer players Gillian Monteith and Tracey Milligan were third and fourth respectively on 158 and 166.
Janet Peckham (Colvend) won the Rennie Salver handicap award with a net 71 off 27.
The Galloway girls’ championship was won by Ashley MacDonald (Dunskey) with a net 77 off 12.LEADING SCORES
152 Addi Shamash (Kirkcudbright) 75 77.
156 Sheila McMurtrie (Dalbeattie) 80 76.
158 Gillian Monteith (Stranraer) 76 82.
166 Tracey Milligan (Stranraer) 80 86.RENNIE SALVER – Janet Peckham (Colvend) (27) 71.
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP – Ashley MacDonald (Dunksey) (12) 77.

CURTIS CUP TO BE THREE-DAY MATCH AT ST ANDREWS IN 2008
The United States Golf Association, in conjunction with the Ladies’ Golf Union, has announced that the Curtis Cup Match will change to a three-day format, beginning with the 2008 match over the Old Course, St Andrews.
The change in format was approved at a joint meeting of the USGA Women’s Committee and the Ladies’ Golf Union.
“We felt that there was so much preparation leading up to the Curtis Cup, but then only two days of play,” said Marcia Luigs, chairman of the USGA Women’s Committee. “We went to the USGA Executive Committee earlier this year for approval, which we received.”
Since 1964, the Curtis Cup match has been played over two days, with three foursomes matches and six singles matches each day.
Starting at the 2008 Match, there will be three foursomes and three four-ball (better-ball) matches on the first two days.
On the final day, there will be eight singles matches, meaning all eight players from each side will play in singles.
“Another day of competition will only add to the excitement of the Match,” said Luigs. “And it will be wonderful to have all team members playing in the singles matches.”
Andy Salmon, the LGU chief executive at the time, told www.kirkwoodgolf reporter Colin Farquharson at the post-match dinner in 2004 at Formby that he felt a three-day Curtis Cup match was almost bound to come, sooner rather than later.
It is quite possible that the R&A will now come under pressure from the United States Golf Association to make the men's Walker Cup match a three-day contest.
REMEMBER WHERE YOU HEARD IT FIRST .... www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

CURTIS CUP FINAL RESULT
UNITED STATES 11 1/2, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 6 1/2.
First Day: US 7, GB&I 2.
Second Day: US 4 1/2, GB&I 4 1/2
Final Foursomes: US 1/2, GB&I 2 1/2.
Final Singles: US 4, GB&I 2
(US players first)
Grimes lost to Gillen 3 and 2 (Gillen 3 over par).
McCurdy lost to Loucks 3 and 2 (Loucks 1 under par).
Mackenzie bt Mangan 1 hole (Mackenzie 1 over par).
Leon bt Edwards 5 and 4 (Leon 1 under par).
Lee bt Reid 3 and 2 (Lee level par).
Park bt Delaney 3 and 2 (Park 2 under par).

Curtis Cup
The GB&I come-back was just not enough in the end, with the first two pairings in the singles the only winners in the afternoon. Martina Gillen led the team out and won by 3&2 and Breanne Loucks, who has has a great Curtis Cup with three wins out of three, won by the same margin 3&2.
The final result was GB&I 6.5, USA 11.5

CURTIS CUP FINAL SET OF SINGLES
(GB&I names first)
Martina Gillen vs. Virginia Derby Grimes.
Breanne Loucks vs. Amanda McCurdy.
Tricia Mangan vs. Paige Mackenzie.
Naomi Edwards vs. Taylor Leon.
Melissa Reid vs. Jennie Lee, Henderson.
Tara Delaney vs. Jane Park

Curtis Cup
Some quotes after the morning foursomes, which GB&I won 2.5 to 0.5 to close the difference to only three points. (GB&I 4.5 USA 7.5)
Tara Delaney
"We knew we really needed it" said Delaney of her 3-foot putt tto halve the match on the 18th green. I was just thinking 'pick you spot and go through the basics. don't think about what it means."
The USA three-putted the final two holes, halving the 17th and losing the18th to halve the match.
Melissa Reid
"A lot of people thought we were dead and buried, but we didn't come here for second place," said Reid after watching the final foursomes match conclude in GB&I's favour.
Breanne Loucks
We were 2 under par and we were able to use our match to get the others going out there" said Loucks.
Naomi Edwards
"We're all going to be much happier at lunch" said Edwards who teamed with Martina Gillen in overtaking the USA duo of Mackenzie and Blumenherst on the final three holes.
"We just needed to get our approach shot back there and make two putts from there" said Edwards who rolled her 40 foot birdie putt to a couple of feet sealing the 1-up win for GB&I. "I was just thinking strike it firm."

GB&I TURN FOURSOMES TABLES ON THE AMERICANS ... WELL, ALMOST!
Great Britain & Ireland, trounced 3-0 in the first-day foursomes, almost turned the tables completely on the Americans on Day 2 of the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon.
Whatever skipper Ada O'Sullivan said to her team, it worked wonders!
GB&I took the foursomes 2 1/2-1/2, which means they go into the final set of singles with a scoreline which holds out a glimmer of hope:
UNITED STATES 7 1/2, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 4 1/2

TRICIA MANGAN AND TARA DELANEY GET SQUARE MATCH
The all-Irish pairing of Tricia Mangan and Tara Delaney halved with Jane Park and Taylor Leon.
The scoring was not particularly good - Tricia and Tara were five over par at the finish - but they showed bags of fighting spirit after falling two down after only four holes.
The GB&I pair won the fifth with a birdie, the 10th with a birdie and the 14th to take a one-hole lead.
The United States partnership won the 15th with a par but Tricia and Tara held their nerve and won the 18th with a par for a square match.

MELISSA AND BREANNE SOCK IT TO THE AMERICANS
Melissa Reid and Breanne Loucks had a big win - 7 and 5 - over Jennie Lee and Jenny Suh.
The GB&I youngsters were two under par for the holes played with birdies at the sixth, eighth, ninth and 12th.

MARTINA AND NAOMI WIN WITH FIGHTING FINISH
Martina Gillen and Naomi Edwards were never ahead after losing the first to Paige Mackenzie and Amanda Blumenherst but here again the GB&I pair kept their shoulders to the wheel and squared the match with a par at the 16th.
Then Martina and Naomi went one up for the first time in the contest with a par at the 17th.
The last hole was halved in par, leaving the GB&I pair the winners by one hole.

Saturday 29th July 2006

SGU Press Release
BOOTH BOOKS BERTH FOR JUNIOR RYDER CUP
Comrie star Carly Booth booked her berth to the Junior Ryder Cup, after finishing a well earned third place at the European Masters today (29 July).
The current Scottish Girls U16 Stroke Play champion will be the only token Scot and UK representative in the Junior Ryder Cup team, as no other players from the home nations have been selected to grace the greens at Celtic Manor in Wales, proud hosts of the prestigious event on the junior circuit later this year.
Booth had led the field over the last two days, but was to have her third round interrupted by torrential rain and thunder which delayed play for two hours. However, the inclement weather did not dampen her spirits as the ‘Tiny Tigress’ returned to the course with stealth and determination, catching a birdie on her first hole following the storm. Booth bagged another 4 birdies in her final round, carding a final score of 71 (1 under). Fellow Scot, Sally Watson tied for seventh place on 74.
However, it was Germany’s Saskia Hausladen who was to snatch the lead and title on the final day of competition, concluding her third round with a staggering and sensational score of 64 (-8), equalling the course record at Styrian Golf Club, near Murhof, Austria.
Germany took the hat-trick at the Masters, with Max Kiefer clinching the Boys competition, thus handing Germany the overall team event.Troon Wellbeck’s promise, Michael Stewart tied for 9th place with a score of 68 (-4), one of the best scores on the course today. Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo), enjoying his very first taste of European competition finished his debut appearance tied for 33rd place, with a very credible score of 78. The canny Scots were just shy of a top three team finish, bringing home a respectable 4th place.
Following today’s events, National Junior Coach, Spencer Henderson said, “I am extremely proud of our young golfers, taking a fourth place team finish whilst competing against the best of 22 other nations.
“The level and standard of competition has been extremely high this year, in fact the best I have seen over the last three years since I have been attending this event.
“Carly’s solid performance here in Austria has been incredible and I am very pleased for her and for Scotland that we have a representative in the Junior Ryder Cup team.”

CARLY'S JUNIOR RYDER CUP PLACE CONFIRMED
Scottish Golf Union coach Spencer Henderson, who accompanied the four Scots players to the European Young Masters, has confirmed that Carly Booth, the 14-year-old Comrie player, is the only UK representative in the European team of six boys and six girls for the Junior Ryder Cup match for Under-16s at Celtic Manor Golf Resort on September 18 and 19.
Spencer said:
"Carly's performance here in Austria has been incredible and I am very pleased for her and for Scotland that we have a player in the Junior Ryder Cup team.
"The level and standard of competition in this year's European Young Masters is the best I've seen in the three years I've been attending the event.
"Scotland finished fourth in the team event and I am extremely proud of them, considering they were competing against the best of 22 other nations."

CARLY FINISHES THIRD BEST GIRL IN EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS
Comrie’s 14-year-old Carly Booth finished third in the girls’ championship of the European Young Masters 54-hole tournament for Under-16s at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria today (SAT).
Carly had held the lead on her own at the end of the first round and was joined in the pole position by two other girls after 36 holes.
In the final round, Carly shot a creditable one-under-par 71 after earlier rounds of 70 and 73 for a two-under-par total of 214.
She was going extremely well on the outward half of her final round, reaching the turn in three under par 33 with birdies a the third, seventh, eighth and ninth and only one shot dropped, at the sixth.
Miss Booth bogeyed the 11th but cancelled that out with her fifth birdie of the round at the 12th but she then ran up a double-bogey 6 at the 15th which inflated her final score.
In all Carly shot 10 birdies over the three rounds. The European team for the Junior Ryder Cup match will be selected on performances in the European Young Masters and Miss Booth is certain to be one of the girls name in the line-up to play the United States.
Germany’s Saskia Hausladen conjured up the lowest score of the championship – by boy or girl – an eight-under-par 64, just when she needed it most.
Saskia had eight birdies and no bogeys in halves of 34 and 30. After earlier rounds of 72 and 71, she finished as the European Young Masters’ girls champion with a nine-under-par total of 207.
Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda finished second with 72, 71 and 68 for 211.
Sally Watson from Queensferry, Scotland’s other representative in the girls’ championship finished joint seventh with scores of 77, 72 and 74 for seven-over-par 223. Sally bogeyed the fifth, eighth and 11th and had only one birdie, at the 12th, in her final round. She had seven birdies – four in her second round, over the three rounds.
Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck finished on a high with a four-under-par 68, 10 shots better than his first round, for a final total of one-over-par 217. His second-day score was a 71.
Michael birdied the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 17th with bogeys at the second and 18th. Over the three rounds Michael had 12 birdies.
Stewart finished ninth equal in the boys section.
The other Scottish boy in the field, 15-year-old Tommy Spencer, from Inchmarlo, Banchory had scores of 75, 80 and 78 for 17-over-par 233.
Victor Dubuisson (France) and Maximilian Kieffer (Germany) tied for the top boy honour on nine-under-par 207.
EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS
Styrian Golf Club, Murhof, Austria.
FINAL TOTALS
BOYS (Par 72)
207 V Dubuisson (Fra) 69 71 678, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 68 69.
208 A Kristiansen (Nor) 68 71 69.
209 P Figueiredo (Por) 66 70 73.
210 S Einhaus (Ger) 70 69 71.
214 C Terragni (Ita) 74 72 68.
Other scores:
217 M Stewart (Sco) 78 71 68.
218 L Lennox (Ire) 75 74 69.
219 T Fleetwood (Eng) 71 75 73, K Metcalfe (Ire) 69 73 77.
228 A Myers (Eng) 73 79 76.
233 T Spencer (Sco) 75 80 78.
237 T Lowery (Wal) 78 80 79.
238 B Enoch (Wal) 78 84 76.
GIRLS (Par 72)
207 S Hausladen (Ger) 72 71 64.
211 C Ciganda (Spa) 72 71 68.
214 C Booth (Sco) 70 73 71.
216 M Silva (Spa) 72 73 71.
217 G Molinaro (Ita) 72 73 72.
219 Laura Gonzales-Escallon (B) 79 71 69.
Other scores:
223 S Watson Sco) 77 72 74, K O’Connor (Wal) 78 72 73, S Meadow (Ire) 74 74 75.
227 R Connor (Eng) 78 74 75.
235 S Cunningham (Ire) 76 79 80.
240 H Barwood (Eng) 84 80 76.
2576 K Miller (Wal) 85 87 84.

REBECCA MISSES CUT IN FLORIDA
Rebecca Watson from South Queensferry missed the cut after three rounds in the Optimist International Junior Open golf championship over the PGA National courses at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Saturday.
Rebecca had rounds of 75, 93 and 87 for 255. Playershad to score 249 or better to make it through to Sunday's final round.
Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico City) leads by five shots with a three-over-par tally of 219 (70-76-73).
Lying second is Innapha Tantanavivat from Bankog with 72, 79 and 73 for 224.

KARRIE WEBB WINS BY ONE SHOT FROM LAURA DAVIES AND MICHELLE WIE
Australian Karrie Webb won the Evian Masters with a 16-under-par total of 272. She won the first prize of 380,268 Euros by one shot from Laura Davies and Michelle Wie.
Annika Sorenstam finished in joint eighth place on 279.
Catriona Matthew, expecting her first child later in the year, was 74th with 306 and earned 5,270 Euros.
LEADING TOTALS
272 (-16) KARRIE WEBB (Australia) 67 68 69 68.
273 LAURA DAVIES (England) 68 71 67 67, MICHELLE WIE (United States) 69 66 70 68.
Other scores:
279 ANNIKA SORENSTAM (Sweden) 69 69 71 70 (tied 8th).
306 CATRIONA MATTHEW (Scotland) 75 75 82 74 (74th).

CURTIS CUP FIRST-DAY QUOTES
US SKIPPER CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON
“All I told them was fight for every point, every half point.”
“It was very benign today and I think that worked to our advantage,” said Semple Thompson
“This is a lot more fun when we're winning. I am just in awe of my team. I thought we would be ahead at the end of the day, but I did not think we would have a 7?]2 lead. So I think shocked is maybe a little strong, but surprised, yes, definitely.”
GB&I SKIPPER ADA O’SULLIVAN
“We might be in dream world thinking you can win nine matches on Sunday. Technically what we need to win is seven-and-a-half matches. And that is possible.”
“We were simply outclassed and outplayed this afternoon.”
US TEAM PLAYERS
JANE PARK
“I told them that even if we're down in the afternoon or after the morning matches, just don't give up,” said Park. “And a win is always out there; you just got to execute the shot well. And just believe in yourself.”
GB&I TEAM PLAYERS
BREANNE LOUCKS
“As I got 6 up, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m 6 up,” said Loucks, who had sat out the foursomes. “It’s amazing really. It’s hard to find the words. What do I say to say how happy I am.”
KIRAN MATHARU
“I was nervous on the first hole,” said Matharu, “but after I hit a few good shots I settled down.”

Curtis Cup
The two youngest players in the GB&I team, Kiran Matharu and Breanne Loucks, were the only winners on the first day of the 34th Curtis Cup match at Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. The 7-2 scoreline gives GB&I a lot to do tomorrow, when the format is the same, three foursomes in the morning and six singles in the afternoon.
Kiran Martharu led the team out in the singles, and was never down in her match against Jenny Suh, a 20-year-old college player from Fairfax, Virginia. All square at the turn, she covered the next seven holes in two under par to win by 2&1.
Breanne Loucks turned in a very solid performance to beat one of America's top players, Amanda Blumenherst, by 5 and 4 this afternoon. Amanda gave the impression that she did not know what had hit her, as Leanne won 5 holes in a row from the 6th to mount the 11th tee six up. A birdie two from Amanda at the 11th returned the score-line to 5, but she could not win another hole and Breanne came though the 5&4 winner.
A 2-7 score-line is nothing new. GB&I were 2-7 down after the first day at Fox Chapel four years ago and rallied in the following mornings singles before eventually losing 11-7.
Singles Results GB&I 2 USA 4 (GB&I names first)
Matharu beat Suh 2&1, Gillen lost to Lee 4&3, Loucks beat Blumenherst 5&4, Reid lost to Mackenzie 5&4, Delaney lost to Park 3&2 Coughlan lost to Lee 5&4
Overall score after first day
GB&I 2 USA 7

CURTIS CUP
FIRST SET OF SINGLES
Skipper Ada O'Sullivan has rested Irish champion Tricia Mangan and England's Naomi Edwards from the first set of singles.
Into the line-up for their Curtis Cup debuts come Breanne Loucks of Wales and Ireland's Tara Delaney who is no stranger to golf in American conditions - she plays successfully for Kent State University, Ohio on the American women's college circuit.
FIRST-DAY SINGLES
1:30 p.m. – Kiran Matharu (GB&I) vs. Jenny Suh (USA
1:40 p.m. – Martina Gillen (GB&I) vs. Jennie Lee (USA)
1:50 p.m. – Breanne Loucks (GB&I) vs. Amanda Blumenherst (USA)
2:00 p.m. – Melissa Reid (GB&I) vs. Paige Mackenzie (USA)
2:10 p.m. – Tara Delaney (GB&I) vs. Jane Park (USA)
2:20 p.m. – Claire Coughlin (GB&I) vs. Taylor Leon (USA)

Claire Coughlan and Melissa Reid stride down the fairway in their foursomes match
[Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Una Kindlon (via the LGU)]

Curtis Cup
BAD START BY GB&I: AMERICANS WIN ALL THREE OPENING FOURSOMES
By Colin Farquharson
Ada O'Sullivan's Great Britain & Ireland team got off to the worst possible start in the Curtis Cup match against the United States at Bandon Dunes, Oregon today.
The Americans won all three of the opening foursomes - and not with particularly brilliant golf.
Paige Mackenzie and Amanda Blumenhirst put the first point on the board for Carol Semple Thompson's American team by beating Irish champion Tricia Mangan and English champion Kiran Matharu by 5 and 4.
The United States pair were level par for the holes played but the GB&I pairing were seven over par. Tricia and teenager Kiran were never in the hunt after losing the second, third and fourth holes. They were five down at the turn.
United States went 2-0 ahead when Viriginia Grimes and Amanda McCurdy beat Ireland's Martina Gillen and England's Naomi Edwards by two holes.
This was a poor quality match in terms of par figures. The winners were FIVE over par and the GB&I pair a dismal seven over par.
The Americans took the edge in this tie when they won the eighth, ninth and 10th to be four up.
Gillen and Edwards came back to be only one down after 17 but they lost the last hole.
The United States completed the 3-0 clean sweep of the first set of foursomes when Jane Park and Taylor Leon beat Claire Coughlan from Cork and Melissa Reid of Derby by one hole.
The Americans were two over par at the finish while the GB&I pair were four over par.
This was a tight match throughout. Claire and Melissa were two holes up after six but lost the eighth and 10th. They fought back to lead again with a birdie at the 15th but were pulled back to square at the seventeenth but lost the last hole to a birdie, although the GB&I pair took a bogey.
RESULTS
FIRST SET OF FOURSOMES
UNITED STATES 3, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 0
American names first.
Paige Mackenzie & Amanda Blumenhirst bt Tricia Mangan & Kiran Matharu 5 and 4.
Virginia Grimes & Amanda McCurdy bt Martina Gillen & Naomi Edwards 2 holes.
Jane Park & Taylor Leon bt Claire Coughlan & Melissa Reid 1 hole.

Mixed teams at the Curtis Cup
[Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Una Kindlon (via the LGU)]

Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup started this morning at 7:30am in bright sunshine with three foursomes matches. Trish Mangan from Ireland hit the first shot of the tournament. Many GB&I supporters are here, and the Union Jack and Irish flag are just as prolific as the Stars and Stripes.
GB&I Captain Ada O'Sullivan has chosen to play three combinations of English and Irish players, with Trish Mangan and Kiran Matharu, Martina Gillen and Naomi Edwards and Claire Coughlan and Melissa Reid starting this morning.
2006 CURTIS CUP MATCH
July 29-30
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes Course), Bandon, Ore.
Pairings for the first round of Foursomes to be played Saturday morning at the par 71, 6,221-yard Pacific Dunes Course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Times are PDT):
Foursomes
Match 1
7:30 a.m. -- Tricia Mangan, Limerick, Ireland, and Kiran Matharu, Leeds, England (GB&I) vs. Paige Mackenzie, Yakima, Wash., and Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. (USA)
Match 2
7:40 a.m. -- Martina Gillen, Dublin, Ireland, and Naomi Edwards, Yorkshire, England (GB&I) vs. Virginia Grimes, Meridian, Miss., and Amanda McCurdy, El Dorado, Ark. (USA)
Match 3
7:50 a.m. -- Claire Coughlan, Cork, Ireland, and Melissa Reid, Derbyshire, England (GB&I) vs. Jane Park, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Taylor Leon, Dallas, Texas (USA)

ROSEANNE AND KELSEY FOR BRUSSELS
New Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff) and 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), winner of the Under-16 award in the Scottish Under-21 girls' championship which finished at Stirling on Friday, have been selected by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association to take part in the Belgian International Junior event at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussells from August 23 to 26.
The reserves are Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).

Optimist Junior International girls
REBECCA STRUGGLES AT PGA NATIONAL
Rebecca Watson from South Queensferry had a disappointing score of 93 in the second round of the Optimist Junior International girls (16 to 18 years) championship over the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Friday.
Rebecca had been tied for fifth place after an opening score of three-over-par 75 but her 36-hole tally of 167 dropped her to a share of 39th place in the international field of 80 girls. Miss Watson, whose younger sister Sally is currently playing in the European Young Masters in Austria, is the only European in the field.
The leader is Alexjandra Llaneza (Mexico City) with scores of 70 and 76 for two-over 146.

Friday 28th July 2006

Krystle Caithness with the Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Trophy

KRYSTLE SETS TWO MORE RECORDS IN WINNING THE SCOTTISH U-21 GIRLS
Sparkling Krystle Caithness completed a hat-trick of records today (FRIDAY) in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' golf championship with a brilliant 54-hole performance at Stirling Golf Club.
After her 10-under-par course record opening round of 64, the 17-year-old from Cellardyke, Fife, added a pair of 69s for a staggering total of 20-under-par 202.
That shattered the previous tournament low record of 209 set by the 1996 winner, Laura Moffat.
Krystle, who started the final round 10 shots clear of Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) and Kesley MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), won in the end by 11 from Miss McNicoll. Almost certainly, that is the biggest winning margin achieved in the championship.
It was yet another peak achieved this season by Krystle who won the St Rule Trophy women's open over her home courses at St Andrews in early June. But the selectors of the Great Britain and Ireland team for this weekend's Curtis Cup match in Oregon felt she was not quite ready for the match against the United States and made her only second reserve.
"That has to be the best golf I've played over three consecutive rounds," said Krystle. "My swing was not quite right last week in the Scottish girls' match-play championship but I got my coach, Donald McKay and Steve McNally (the Scottish Institute of Sport's high-performance coach) to have a look at me before I came to Stirling.
"Everything clicked together in that 64 in the first round when I reach the turn in eight-under-par 30 with two eagles and four birdies. After that it was just a case of keeping my momentum going."
Katy McNicoll, a better player after a season on the American college circuit for Lynn University, Florida, had rounds of 71, 72 and 70 for nine-under-par 213, a total that would normally have won the Under-21s title.
Katy, sister of East of Scotland Open champion Keir McNicoll, reached the turn in five-under-par 33 in her last round but made up only one shot on playing partner Krystle Caithness!
Kelsey MacDonald, the 15-year-old repeating Northern Counties women's champion, shot 70, 73 and 72 to be a highly creditable third on 215.
The first seven players all finished with sub-par 54-hole totals, which is a great advertisement for the Scottish junior women's golf. Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 216, Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 217, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 219 and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), also 219, all can look back with pride on their efforts.
Defending champion Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) finished with her best round of the three, a 71, for 224 to finish eighth.
Krystle, who will not be 18 until next January, also retained the Under-18 Menzies Cup. Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) had the lowest 54-hole aggregate by an Under-16 year old.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) had the best gross aggregate by an Under-14 year old.
SCOTTISH UNDER-21 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Stirling Golf Club.
FINAL TOTALS (Par 74, CSS 73 72 72)
202 K Caithness (St Regulus) 64 69 69.
213 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 71 72 70.
215 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 70 73 72
216 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 70 74 72.
217 G Webster (Hilton Park) 67 79 71
219 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 72 72, R Niven (Crieff) 69 75 75.
224 L Fleming (The Roxburghe) 77 76 71.
226 J Turner (Mortonhall) 74 77 75.
227 V Stevenson (Stirling) 76 78 73.
228 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 82 74 72.
230 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 80 71, K Harper (Inverness) 77 81 72.
231 K Wells (Dumfries & Co) 78 79 74, H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 79 76 76, L Hendry (Routenburn) 75 76 80, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 76 75 80.
232 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) 81 77 74, L Murray (Alford) 79 74 79.
233 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 79 78 76.
236 L MacGregor (Falkirk) 85 77 74.
238 S Herd (Dunblane New) 87 74 77.
239 H Harvey (St Rule) 84 82 73.
240 A Ingram (Fort Willliam) 77 85 78, L Whitehead (Droitwich) 78 79 83, R Wilson (Monifieth) 79 78 73, F Blair (Monifieth) 75 79 86.
241 D Dewar (Stirling Univ) 76 83 82.
242 L Mackin (Majorca) 83 83 76, S-D Wilson (Murcar Links) 81 82 79.
245 E MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) 84 83 78, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 82 79 84.
246 S Vass (Tain) 86 77 83.
248 R Watton (Mortonhall) 87 79 82.
249 A Niven (Crieff) 82 88 79, G Scanlan (Hamilton) 85 82 82, J Meldrum(Dullatur) 78 85 86.
250 L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 84 80 86, V Smith (Barassie) 83 80 87.
251 J Vilakazi (Merchants of Edinburgh) 87 86 78.
253 C Easton (Dalmahoy) 85 86 82.
254 J Linklater (Largs) 91 85 78, J Sneddon (Alyth) 87 83 84, I Craigie (Torwoodlee) 78 89 87.
255 A McGarty (Harubrn) 84 82 89.
256 C McLoughlin (Gullane) 88 84 84, S Leslie (Westhill) 84 84 88.
259 Z Differ (Dullatur) 87 89 83, C Mulholland (HIlton Park) 87 82 90.
261 K Differ (Dullatur) 89 79 93.
262 G Simpson (Baberton) 82 92 88, R McIntyre (Eden) 82 87 93.
266 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck) 91 82 93.
268 S Horsburgh (Dunbar) 93 85 80.
269 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh) 92 84 93, G Arnott (Kilbirnie Place) 85 87 97.
272 L Meldrum (Dullatur) 89 94 89.
276 H Goodwin (Glenbervie) 89 92 95.
278 M Aird (Strathmore) 100 91 87, K Scott (Windyhill) 91 97 90, N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 90 91 97.
280 R Hanlon (St Regulus) 94 94 92, K Dunbar (Aberfeldy) 92 93 95.
298 J Vass (Tain) 99 101 98.

European Young Masters
CARLY HANGING ON TO SHARE OF LEAD AS SALLY WATSON MOVES UP TO SEVENTH
Comrie’s Carly Booth had to give up the outright lead but she is still hanging on in their in a triple tie for the pole position after two rounds of the girls’ championship in the European Young Masters at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria.
Carly has had rounds of 70 and 73 and has been joined on the 143 mark by the Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda (Spain) with 72 and 71 as well as Saskia Hausladen (Germany), 72 and 71.
Scotland’s other representative, Sally Watson from South Queensferry, took closer order with a 72 – five shots better than her first round – and is in seventh place on 149. There is a field of 40 girls.
Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow is a shot ahead of Sally with a pair of 74s.
Scotland are not doing so well in the boys’ championship which is being led by Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo on 136 with scores of 66 and 70.
Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck is back in a share of 16th place on 149 with scores of 78 and 71.
Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) is sharing 30th place in a field of 50 boys after a 75 and 80 for 155.
SCOREBOARDS
BOYS
136 Pedro Figueiredo (Por) 766 70.
138 Maxmilian Kieffer (Ger) 70 68.
139 Sean Einhaus (Ger) 70 69, Anders Kristensen (Nor) 68 71.
Also:
142 Kevin Metcalfe (Ire) 69 73 (7th).
146 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 71 75 (jt 11th).
149 Michael Stewart (Sco) 78 71, Luke Lennox (Ire) 75 74 (jt 16th).
152 Adam Myers (Eng) 73 79 (jt 24th).
155 Tom Spencer (Sco) 75 80 (jt 30th).
158 Thomas Lowery (Wales) 78 80 (jt 37th).
GIRLS
143 Carlota Ciganda (Spa) 72 71, Saskia Hausladen (Ger) 72 71, Carly Booth (Sco) 70 73.
145 Marta Silva (Spa) 72 73, Giulia Molinaro (Ita) 72 73.
1448 Stephanie Meadow (Ire) 74 74.
149 Sally Watson (Sco) 77 72.
150 Katherine O’Connor (Wal) 78 72.
Also:
152 Rachel Connor (Eng) 78 74 (jt 10th).
155 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) 76 79 (jt 20th).
164 Hannah Barwood (Eng) 84 80 (35th).
172 Kelly Miller (Wal) 85 87 (40th).

SAM CAIRNS COMES HOME IN 31 TO GET A SHARE OF FIRST PLACE
North-east professionals Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) and Dean Vannet (Peterculter) shared first place with Westerwood’s Sam Cairns at the end of a fog-affected Grampian Houston Junior Golf pro-am at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club today.
Cairns, one of the later starters, came storming home in four-under-par 31 for four-under-par 67 to match the long-time clubhouse leaders, McInnes and Vannet, who had been in the third and fourth groups off the first tee.
The three joint leaders each earned around £1,500 each from the total prize fund of £12,785.
Ken Hutton (Downfield) finished fourth on his own on 68
Several suspensions of play because of the reduced visibility added up to about two hours being added to the schedule. The last group finished at approximately 8.45pm.
Sam Cairns also steered the Ritson Smith trio of amateurs, Niall Farquharson (6), David McEwing (10) and Damian McGann (18) to victory in the team event with a net score of 14-under-par 57.
They won by one shot from Finlay Menzies (Milngavie) and the Mayen Holdings team of Jim McNeil (12), George McCulloch (6) and James Dick (7).
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
67 G McInnes (Murcar Links), D Vannet (Peterculter), S Cairns (Westerwood).
68 K Hutton (Downfield).
69 E Cameron (Hamilton), B Davidson (River Oaks CC), J Stevenson (Braehead), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), A Reid (unatt).
70 G Lornie (Aspire), M King (Kingsfield).
71 K McDonald (Braeburn CC), K Walker (Castle Park), C Ronald (Torrance House).
72 S Henderson (Kings Links), C Gillies (Kingsfield), G McFarlane (Clydebank & Dist), M Loftus (Cowglen), R Drummond (Prestwick GR).

R&A Press Release
TV BOOST FOR SUSTAINABLE GOLF
The campaign by The R&A to promote sustainable golf courses worldwide received a major boost from the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake – with television’s multi-million audiences a key factor.
For several years, the televising of major tournaments such as The Masters has led many club golfers to ask for “greener greens and fairways”, requiring the application of huge quantities of water and chemicals. At this year’s Open, however, spectators watched one of the most successful championships ever, played out on dry, brown fairways which had not been watered at all during the long weeks of drought and record temperatures running up to The Open.
The excellence of Hoylake’s sustainable course led to many tributes:
“I think it’s a fantastic test. With the golf course being this fast, it lent itself to just amazing creativity. This is the way – how it all started and how I think that it should be played.” Tiger Woods.
“I wish our fairways in the States were like this. It’s nice, it’s golf, instead of trying to grip it and rip it.” Chris DiMarco.
Agronomists and greenkeepers confirmed that Hoylake was a shining example of The R&A’s definition of the sustainable course: “Optimising the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management”.
Robert Webb, Chairman of The R&A Golf Course Committee, which spearheads the drive for sustainable courses, said: “We have had to work hard to get the message of best practice course management across to many amateur golfers and their club administrators, so The Open has helped our cause significantly. People watching television coverage around the world – or on the course itself – must have heeded the message that best practice course management, with conservation of water, minimum use of pesticides and enhancement of the natural environment makes for more pleasurable golf and, at the same time, demonstrates greater social responsibility.
“We’re thrilled with this boost to our work and like to think it will lead even more golfers to turn to our website, www.bestcourseforgolf.org which has already attracted registration from nearly 2,000 clubs worldwide”.

English women's (close) stroke-play golf championship
LIZ BENNETT WINS BY FOUR SHOTS
Liz Bennett from Brokenhurst Manor GC, Hampshire came from four shots adrift at the halfway stage to win the English women's (close) stroke-play golf championship over 72 holes.
Liz shot 75, 72, 70 and 73 for a two-under-par total of 290.
Runner-up, two shots behind and winner of the Under-23 title, was Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) with 71, 72, 78 and 71 for 292.
Kerry Smith finished third on 297 with 77, 71, 76 and 73.
Felicity Johnson (Harborne) won the Under-21 championship wih 76, 75, 71 and 76 for 298.
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) won the Under-18 title with 73, 75, 75 and 77 for 300.
FINAL TOTALS
290 (-2) E Bennett 75 72 70 73.
292 S Walker 71 72 78 71.
297 K Smith 77 71 76 73.
298 F Johnson 76 75 71 76.
299 R Wood 73 78 72 76.
300 R Jennings 73 75 75 77.
301 F Parker 68 75 76 82.
302 S James 75 81 76 70.
303 R Bell 75 77 74 77, J Hodge 72 74 83 74, H Ralph 74 74 75 80.
304 E Lyons 78 74 71 81.
Other totals:
305 S-J Eaves.
306 C Lee.
307 H Moul.
310 A Scott, C Douglass.
311 L Stirling, D Gibb, T Watters.
312 S Garbutt, L Brand, E Duggleby (70-82-80-80), L Ball.
314 E Givens.
315 R Goodall, R Lomas.
316 F Grimshaw, L Eastwood.
318 E Sheffield, L Barton.
322 C Gay.
328 H Aitchison.

Optimist International junior girls championship
REBECCA FIVE OFF PACE IN FLORIDA
Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) had a first-round 75 (three over par) to five five shots behind leader Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico City) in the first round of the Optimist International junior girls championship at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

EGU Press Release
HUTSBY APPOINTED ENGLAND BOY CAPTAIN
Sam Hutsby, who is enjoying a highly successful year on the fairways at home and abroad, has been selected to captain England in next month’s Boys Home Internationals in Scotland.
The 17 year old from the Lee-on-Solent club in Hampshire started the year on a high by winning the Spanish Amateur Championship, beating Eduardo Molinari from Italy, the US Amateur champion, 7&6 over 36 holes.
Since then, Hutsby (pictured right - (Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)) has finished joint runner-up in the McEvoy Trophy, fourth in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, and represented England in the World Junior Team Championships in Japan and the recent European Boys Team Championships in Sweden.
“I’ve had a good year so far as this sums it up for me,” said Hutsby. “Also, it’s such a confidence booster for the Boys Home Internationals, which I’m really looking forward to.”
A former under 16 international, Hutsby also caught the eye in 2005, finishing tied second in the Under 18 Championship for the Carris Trophy, third in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, and fourth in the South East Boys Qualifying. He also made his debut at boys level in the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa where he helped England win the title.
That extended England’s run of successive victories in the event to eight so Hutsby will aim to take his side one-over-the-eight at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth on 8th - 10th August.

EGU Press Release
English Boys Under 18 Championship
RECORD-BREAKER WRIGHT STORMS TO VICTORY
Darren Wright shot an aggregate nine under par on the day to storm to a thrilling victory in the English Boys Under 18 Championship at Sherwood Forest.
The 17 year old from Rowlands Castle in Hampshire carded rounds of 64, a course record, and 67 for 276, four under par, to finish three shots ahead of Belgian Hugues Joannes, who began the day five strokes ahead. At the start of play Joannes seemed untouchable. But there is nothing certain in golf.
Wright’s record 64, which contained eight birdies and ten threes, saw him cut the Belgian’s lead to three at lunch, then he almost produced a carbon copy 67 to set a target no one could reach. Wright then had to kick and heels and bite his nails as, one by one, his pursuers all fell by the wayside.
Joannes was still the biggest danger and was still at four under well into his closing round. But a fierce downpour left Joannes wet through and starting to spill shots. A double bogey at the eight followed by another dropped shot put him behind and although he recovered it was still a tough task in which he came up short.
Wright (pictured left - photo courtesy of Tom Ward), who is studying golf at college in Hampshire, said: “I’ve amazed myself. But this win means the world to me. The biggest title I’ve ever won before is the men’s championship at my club, but today my putter was the key.”
He continued, “I holed everything I looked at and this means all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off.”
Conversely, Joannes found no luck on the greens. “My putter just dried up,” he said. “I have had a good week but I’m very disappointed. The rain didn’t help but I would have liked to have won.”
Dale Whitnell, the latest discovery from Essex, finished third on level par 280 after a closing 68, while Juan Sarasti from Spain was a stroke further back.
The rain of the afternoon took some of the sting from the course and produced a flood of low scores.
Apart from Wright and Whitnell, Nick McCarthy from Yorkshire went round in 65 to finish jo0int fifth on 282, while Tom Shadbolt from Hertfordshire carded a 66, which hoisted him to equal seventh on 283.
Several others broke 70 but everyone finished in Wright’s shadow in a week of blistering high temperatures and sparkling golf.
In the race for the subsidiary trophies, Pepperell won the Hazards Salver for the best under 16 performance, while Whitnell took the Malcolm Reid Trophy for the best aggregate from the McEvoy and Carris Trophies.

GB&I Captain Ada O'Sullivan and USA Captain Carol Semple Thomson lead their teams into the arena
at the Opening Ceremony of the Curtis Cup at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon.
[Photo courtesy of Eric Yaillen, Oregon Golf Association]

Some Irish supporters at the Opening Reception
[Photo courtesy of Eric Yaillen, Oregon Golf Association]

Not quite the formal shot you would expect... here are the GB&I team before the flag-raising ceremony when they were waiting to line-up and go...
L to R: Lesley Burn, new CEO of the LGU, Lawrence Farmer, coach, Ada O'Sullivan, GB&I Team Captain, Tara Delaney, Claire Coughlan, Naomi Edwards, Melissa Reid, Tricia Mangan, Kiran Martharu, Breane Loucks, Fiona Norris, Team Manager and Martina Gillen.
Good Luck Girls!

Here is a typical bunker on the Pacific Dunes course... this one at the 18th
Watch the USGA website for up-to-date results

Thursday 27th July 2006

KRYSTLE HAS A GEM OF A ROUND (10 UNDER PAR 64) AT STIRLING
Seventeen-year-old Fifer Krystle Caithness is only second reserve for this weekend's Curtis Cup match in Oregon. But when Great Britain & Ireland skipper Ada O'Sullivan hears that Krystle shot a course record of 10-under-par 64 at Stirling yesterday (THU) she might be regretting that there are no Scots in her squad.
Playing in the first round of the Scottish Under-21 girls' open stroke-play championship, Miss Caithness opened up a three-shot lead with 36 holes still to be played.
It was, of course, the best round, the best golf that Miss Caithness has ever played - and she has played a lot of very good ones to amass the amount of trophies and titles in her collection on her sideboard at the family home in Cellardyke.
The tournament started with the Stirling women's course record standing at 71, set by a former Curtis Cup star and past Scottish champion, Alison (Rose Davidson). By the end of the first round, some five players had got inside the old figure and Krystle had lowered it to a staggering 64 in hot and humid conditions.
She could play golf for another 50 years and not have another outward half like the one she had at Stirling - eight under par 30 - with eagles at the first and seventh, birdies at the second, third, fourth and eighth.
Coming home, Miss Caithness actually bogeyed the 12th before catching fire again with birdies at the 13th, 16th and 17th for two-under-par 34.
Other players to break 70 in a super advertisement for the standard of Scottish girls golf were Ohio State University team player Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) with a 67 and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play title at Peebles last week, with a 69.
SCOTTISH UNDER-21 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Stirling Golf Club
FIRST ROUND (Par 74)
64 K Caithness (St Regulus).
67 G Webster (Hilton Park).
69 R Niven (Crieff).
70 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
71 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
74 J Turner (Mortonhall).
75 L Hendry (Routenburn), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), F Blair (Monifieth).
76 V Stevenson (Stirling), E Fairnie (Peebles), D Dewar (Stirling Univ).
77 L Fleming (The Roxburghe), K Harper (Inverness), A Ingram (Fort William)
78 L Whitehead (Droitwich), I Craigie (Torwoodlee), J Meldrum (Dullatur), K Wells (Dumfries & Co).
79 L Murray (Alford), M Briggs (Kilmacolm), P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), R Wilson (Monifieth), H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park).
81 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ), S-D Wilson (Murcar Links).
82 A Niven (Crieff), E Briggs (Kilmacolm), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), R McIntyre (Eden), G Simpson (Baberton).
83 L Mackin (Majorca), V Smith (Barassie).
84 E Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), A McGarty (Harburn), H Harvey (St Rule), S Leslie (Westhill).
85 C Easton (Dalmahoy), L MacGregor (Falkirk).
86 S Vass (Tain).
87 J Vilakazi (Merchants of Edinburgh), Z Differ (Dullatur), J Sneddon (Alyth).
89 K Differ (Dullatur), L Allan (Kilbirnie Place).
91 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies).
92 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh), K Dunbar (Aberfeldy).
93 S Horsburgh (Dunbar).
98 A Smith (Kirriemuir).

CARLY (70) LEADS BY TWO STROKES IN AUSTRIA
Comrie's 14-year-old Carly Booth took a big step towards gaining an automatic place in this year's Junior Ryder Cup match when she opened up a two-stroke lead at the end of the first round of the girls' section in the European Young Masters for Under-16s at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria.
Carly shot a 70 to have Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Marta Silva, plus Saskia Hausladen (Germany) and Giulia Molinaro (Italy) sharing second place on 72.
Scotland's other representative in the girls' event, Sally Watson from South Queensferry was in joint 14th place after a 77.
LEADING GIRLS' SCORES
70 Carly Booth (Scotland).
72 Saskia Hausladen (Germany), Marta Silva (Spain), Carolot Ciganda (Spain), Giulia Molinaro (Italy).
73 Nicola Rossler (Germany).
Other scores:
74 Stephanie Meadow (Ireland (jt 7th).
77 Sally Watson (Scotland) (jt 14th).
78 Catherine O'Connor (Wales), Rachel Connor (England) (jt 16th).
84 Hannah Barwood (England) (jt 34th).

Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship
McALLISTER WINS SCOTTISH BOYS TITLE WHEN SALTMAN BOGEYS THE LAST
Shaun McAllister beat Craigielaw clubmate Zack Saltman in a two-player shoot-out over the last 18 holes of the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship at hot and humid Alloa Golf Club today.
McAllister, a 17-year-old +1 player who had never won anything of note, had made the running through the first 54 holes, a third-round 68 for 11-under-par 199 extending his overnight lead to four shots over Saltman who had a 70 for 203.
From there it should have been plain sailing for Master McAllister. But it wasn't.
"My driving had started to go off in the third round and it continued to get worse in the fourth," said Sean who double-bogeyed the third and seventh (where he went out of bounds with his second).
Then he had a double bogey 6 from the left rough at the 10th and then a potentially catastrophic triple bogey 7 at the 12th after a bad drive left.
At that point McAllister had plummeted to only three over par for the tournament and was now four shots adrift of Saltman, who had his talented brothers Lloyd and Elliot, not to mention mum and dad in the big gallery.
"By the 13th tee, I'm just trying to hang on for second place. I'm thinking there's no way I can win this now,"said Saun.
But the wheel of fortune was just about to spin back McAllister's way. He covered the last six holes in one under par with a 25ft putt dropping for a birdie at the 16th. In contrast, Saltman bogeyed the 13th, 14th (with three putts) and 17th.
That put the pair dead level after 71 holes at four under par. McAllister played a "wee four-iron" pin high at the 191yd, par-3 last. Saltman underclubbed just short of the putting surface. He took three to get down from there for a fourth bogey in the last six holes,
McAllister putted dead for a 3 and a seven-over 77 which was good enough to win him the title with a total of four-under-par 276, one ahead of the hapless Saltman who signed off with a bitterly-disappointing 74..
"I've never felt so gutted in all my life," said Zack.
English teenanger Tom Hayes from West Byfleet, Surrey finished third, four shots behind silver medallist Saltman on 281.
Former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) finished fourth on 282, thanks to a third-round 65.
Sam McLaren (King James VI), joint seventh overall on 285, won the George MacDonald Trophy for the best performance by an Under-16 year old. A week or two ago Sam won the Scottish Under-16 boys' title at Deeside.
Collated end of play score
FINAL TOTALS (Par 70 x 4; CSS 72 71 71 71)
276 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67 68 77.
277 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 69 64 70 74.
281 T Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70 74 69.
282 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71 65 72.
284 R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72 70 68, L Kirton (Newmachar) 74 72 70 68.
285 S McLaren (King James VI) 70 75 67 73, G Doverspike (US) 71 72 69 73, J Byrne (Banchory) 71 71 68 75, W Sjaichudin (US) 73 70 73 69.
286 A Murdoch (Stranraer) 72 72 72 70, R Bell (Downfield) 74 68 72 72, J Meechan (Dullatur) 75 67 73 71, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70 70 75, M Brittan (Saltford) 68 70 75 73.
287 A Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 72 70 70.
288 J Bradley (Paisley) 69 70 77 72.
289 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76 69 74, J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 71 73 71.
291 N Henderson (The Glen) 73 72 76 70.
293 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 71 74 75 73, D Elder (Carnosutie) 71 72 76 74.
294 K Smith (Barassie) 69 74 77 74.
296 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 74 73 78 71, J Duff (Newmachar) 78 69 76 73.
297 G Mitchell (Northern) 73 73 76 75, C Storrier (Downfield) 71 73 78 75, J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 73 81 72.
299 P Keeling (North Berwick) 72 74 76 77, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 69 79 76, P Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77 75 82, C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 68 76 80.
300 J Mackay (Barassie) 71 67 82 80.
301 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 74 73 80 74, M Bookless (Sandyhills) 71 71 79 80.
302 J Caldwell (Greenock) 76 71 75 80, A Campbell (Dumbarton) 73 71 76 82.
303 D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74 70 86.
306 F Lawrie (West Kilbride) 76 71 81 78.
307 S Fraser (Northern) 77 70 79 81.

Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship
SHAUN FOUR AHEAD WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Shaun McAllister seems determined to make every post a winning one in the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship at Alloa Golf Club's Schawpark course.
Leader from the start after an outstanding six-under-par 64 in the first round, the Craigielaw teenager shot a third-round 68 to double his overnight lead of two from clubmate Zack Saltman.
At the start of the final day of 36 holes, it looked like a two-horse race between the Craigielaw lads. Now, with one round to go, it looks all over bar the shouting for the pacemaker they could not catch.
McAllister is on 11-under-par 199, with Saltman having a 70 for 203.
Next best are two North-east players, former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) with a 65 for 210, the same score as James Byrne (Banchory), the NE youths champion and also NE boys stroke-play title-holder. James had a 68 for 210.
LEADING TOTALS WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
199 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67 68.
203 Zack Saltman (Criagielaw) 69 64 70.
210 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71 65, James Byrne (Banchory) 71 71 68.
211 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70 70, Sam McLaren (King James VI) 70 75 67, Grant Doverspike (US) 71 72 69, Tom Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70 74.
213 Max Brittain (Saltford) 68 70 75.
214 Ross Bell (Downfield) 74 69 72.
215 Chris Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76 69, Jack Meechan (Colville Park) 75 67 73.
216 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72 70, Lewis Kirton (Newmachar0 74 72 70, Alan Murdoch (Stranraer) 72 72 72, William Sjaichudin (US) 73 70 73, Jack Braley (paisley)_ 69 70 77.
217 David Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74 70, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 72 70, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77 75.

Wednesday 26th July 2006

The Scottish University Golf website www.scottishuniversitygolf.com has been resurrected. Check it out!

GB&I BEAT CANADIANS
The Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team have beaten Canada in a four-ball, better-ball warm-up match for this weekend's "real thing" against the United States at Bandon Dunes Resort, Oregon.
The scoreline in the unofficial match versus the Canadians was 2 1/2-1 1/2 to Ada O'Sullivan's squad of eight.
The match was played at Shanguassy Golf Club.
RESULTS (Canadian pairings first):
Kira Meixner & Jessicia Potter halved with Tricia Mangan & Kiran Matharu.
Christina Spence & Ashley Hogg lost to Naomi Edwards & Martina Gillen 4 and 3.
Caroline Kim & Julie Kim lost to Breanne Loucks & Melissa Reid 5 and 4.
Bari Erais & Meaghan Leblanc beat Tara Delaney & Claire Coughlan 3 and 2.
Oregon time is 8 hours behind us in the UK.
The Curtis Cup match will be screened live in the UK by Sky Sports 3 on July 29 and 30 at half-past midnight each night.

ELGA Press Release
English Ladies' Strokeplay Championship
Florentyna Parker and Sophie Walker share the halfway lead in the English Ladies' Strokeplay Championship at Little Aston Golf Club.
Both players are on three-under par 143 after 36 holes. They are three shots clear of their closest rival, Joanne Hodge (Knowle), who has scored 146 (72, 74).
There's a two-stroke gap to the next group on 148: Rachel Jennings of Izaak Walton (73, 75), Hannah Ralph of Cowdray Park (74, 74) and Charlie Douglass of Brocket Hall (75, 73).
Conditions were difficult in close, muggy weather and Florentyna, the first round leader, felt she struggled all day.
The 16-year-old from Royal Birkdale added a two-over 75 to her opening 68 and said: "It was a good bad round. I struggled from start to finish but overall I'm happy with the result."
Sophie - a former champion - had her second sub-par round, returning a one-under 72.
She reached the turn at one under and came home in level par, with two bogeys and two birdies "The course was not running so fast today but it was difficult," she said. "I just played steadily and now I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
The low round of the day was a two-under 71 from former English champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) while Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Lisa Barton (Coventry) also beat par in the second rounds with 72.
Now, the leading 36 players, with a cut of 157 go forward to tomorrow's final 36 holes.

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
BOYS INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club
LEINSTER 5 ½ CONNACHT 3 ½
(Leinster names first):
Foursomes: N Kearney & J Monaghan bt S Brady & K McDonagh 3/2; B Keenan & E Marsden bt T McGowan & S Healy 2/1; C Drumm & C Barron bt S O’Connor & P Neville 2 holes.
Singles: N Kearney halved with S Healy; A Hogan bt M Durcan 1 hole; B Keenan bt S Brady 5/4; E Marsden lost to K McDonagh 6/4; J Monaghan lost to T McGowan 1 hole; C Drumm lost to S O’Connor 4/3.
ULSTER 6 ½ MUNSTER 2 ½
(Ulster names first):
Foursomes: L Reilly & P Cutler bt D Ruddy & D Ronayne 2/1; P O’Kane & J Patterson bt S Gallivan & P O’Connor 2 holes; P Reavey & R McGee lost to D King & E Long 2/1.
Singles: P O’Kane bt D Ruddy 2/1; L Reilly bt S Gallivan 3/2; P Cutler bt P O’Connor 3/1; J Patterson halved with D King; C Fairweather bt E Stack 7/5; P Reavey lost to D Ronayne 1 hole.

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
YOUTHS INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club
LEINSTER 6 MUNSTER 3
(Leinster names first)
Foursomes: S Lowry & D Lernihan bt S Power & C McNamara 2/1; S Ward &
P O’Hanlon bt A O’Callaghan & G Smyth 1 hole; A Pitcher & N O Briain lost to
T O’Flynn & S Hackett 3/2.
Singles: C Curley lost to S Power 1 hole; S Lowry bt C McNamara 1 hole; D Lernihan bt A O’Callaghan 2/1; S Ward bt T O’Flynn 2/1; P O’Hanlon bt G Smyth 1 hole;
N O Briain lost to K Stack 1 hole.
CONNACHT 6 ULSTER 3
(Connacht names first)
Foursomes: C O’Connor & T Walsh lost to D Leathem & G Reid 2/1; M Mulryan &
A Glynn bt C Hughes & F Rafferty 5/4; S Ginty & J McNicholas bt P McMahon &
W McCully 3/2.
Singles: S Kelly lost to D Gallagher 1 hole; A Glynn bt D Leathem 4/3; M Mulryan bt
C Hughes 3/2; T Walsh bt G Reid 1 hole; J McNicholas lost to F Rafferty 3/1; C O’Connor bt W McCully 1 hole.

Scottish boys’ open stroke-play golf championship
CRAIGIELAW KIDS SHAUN AND ZACK ARE CLEAR OF FIELD AT ALLOA
It’s Craigielaw first and second in the shape of junior members Shaun McAllister on 131 and Zack Saltman on 133 as the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play golf championship swings into its third and final round over Alloa Golf Club’s Schawpark course on Thursday.
There was always the danger that McAllister would suffer an overnight reaction to leading the first-round field with his best ever score of six-under-par 64.
But if Shaun had any nerves he concealed them well as he shot a 67 to lead the qualifiers with a formidable 36-hole total of nine-under-par 131.
Craigielaw clubmate Zack Saltman, five shots behind Shaun overnight, closed the gap to two by equalling McAllister’s brilliant opening round of 64 for a 133 tally.
And the East Lothian pair have put daylight between themselves and the rest of the qualifiers. Second-placed Zack is five shots ahead of the trio on 138,
English competitors, Max Brittan from Saltford, Bristol and Tom Hayes from West Byfleet, Surrey, and Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie).
Both Brittan and Hayes have shot 68 and 70 for 138 while Mackay led for much of the day after a first-ever hole in one at the 162yd seventh helped him on his way to a second-round 67.
The cut fell at 147 with Scottish boys match-play champion James White from Lundin only one shot on the wrong side of the limit mark. Which was tough luck on James because he had improved by six shots with a 71 for 148.
SCOTTISH BOYS’ OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Alloa Golf Club
QUALIFIERS (Par 70 x 2)
131 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67.
133 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 69 64.
138 J Mackay (Barassie) 71 67, M Brittan (Saltford) 68 70, T Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70.
139 J Bradley (Paisley) 69 70.
141 G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70.
142 J Byrne (Banchory) 71 71, M Bookless (Sandyhlls) 71 71, J Meechan (Dullatur) 75 67, P Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77.
143 K Smith (Barassie) 69 74, C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 68, D Elder (Carnoustie) 71 72, W Sjaichudin (US), G Doverspike (US) 71 72,
144 J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 73, C Storrier (Downfield) 71 73, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 69, A Campbell (Dumbarton) 73 71, A Murdoch (Stranraer).
145 J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 71, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 75, N Henderson (The Glen) 73 72, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 71 74.
146 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76, R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72, L Kirton (Newmachar) 74 72, G Mitchell (Northern) 73 73, P Keeling (North Berwick) 72 74.
147 A Wallace (Glenbervie), 75 72, J Duff (Newmachar) 78 69, S Fraser (Northern) 77 70, F Lawrie (West Kilbride) 76 71, D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74, J Caldwell (Greeenock) 76 71, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 745 73, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 74 73.
NON-QUALIFIERS
148 C McCallum (Paisley) 72 76, J White (Lundin) 77 71, R Anderson (Duddingston) 75 73, S Barras (Helensburgh) 77 71, S Winter (Crieff) 75 73, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 76, C Lutton (Qatar) 76 72, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 74, M Daily (Erskine) 74 74, S Binning (Old Ranfurly) 73 75.
149 G Reid (Newbattle) 72 77, S Cramb (St Andrews) 76 73.
150 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 77 73, A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 80 70, J Reid (Royal Musselburgh) 75 75, T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 79 71, E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 74, M Williams (Craigielaw) 77 73, M Cunningham (Longniddry) 73 77.
151 F McKenna (Balmore) 75 76, R Delaney (Hamilton) 78 73, S Crichton (Aberdour) 81 70, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 78 73, S Bell (Wishaw) 74 77, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 76 75, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 77 74, W Payne (US) 71 80, G Hunter (Douglas) 74 77,
C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 77 74, O Lavelle (Elderslie) 79 72, A Aitken (Kirkcudbright) 79 72.
152 C Wyper (Campsie) 78 74, D Currie (Barassie) 75 77, L Adamson (Ganton) 78 74, A Moir (Thornton) 75 77, D Harrison (Crieff) 75 77,
M Fraser (Glencruitten) 74 78, M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 71 81, A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 71 81.
153 G Davidson (Winterfield ) 72 81, F Campbell (Clober) 75 78, B Modak (US 78 75, A Willemars (Blairgowrie) 77 76.
154 S Stables (Elgin) 82 72, D Mitchell (Leven Th) 78 76, E Brown (Barassie) 77 77, C Kneen (Mount Murray) 79 75, S Keane (Cathkin Braes) 77 77, M Main (Thornton) 78 76.
155 P Neil (Craigielaw) 84 71, S Mann (Moray) 80 75, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 84 71, C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 79 76, A Royal (Blankney) 81 74, F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) 79 76, N Macandrew (Cullne) 79 76.
156 J Grant (Renfrew) 80 76, K Harper (Carnoustie) 78 78, S Tully (Duddingston) 80 76, G Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan) 77 79, O Browne (US) 76 80.
157 S Maxwell (Windyhill) 80 77, M Thomson (Grange & Dundee) 76 81, J Denwood (Eden) 80 77, C Grant (Linlithgow) 81 76, D Torrance (Wentworth) 79 78, P Ferrier (Babeton) 79 78, T Garrett (Melthanm) 80 77.
158 S McComish (Baberton) 81 77, G Young (Baberton) 78 80, A Lauder (Paisley) 88 70, N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar) 76 82, D Borthwick (Penrith) 81 77, R Penny (Portlethen) 76 82, N Maddison (Parklands) 80 78.
159 G Wilson (Ladybank) 81 78, J Shanks (Ardeer) 85 74, S Smith (Dullatur) 81 78, K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) 87 72, C Ruane (Cardross) 75 84.
160 R Docherty (Bearsden) 79 81, D Murray (Newbattle) 77 83, P Robinson (Millport) 83 77, K McLeod (US) 79 81.
161 S Henderson (Barassie) 80 81, D Law (Hazlehead) 86 75, J Thow (Crieff) 78 82, A Killen (St Andrews) 79 82, C McLaughlin (Largs) 85 76,
162 B Irving (Dumfries & Co) 80 82.
163 K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 86, K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 86.
164 K Donnellan (Dunbar) 81 83, C Young (Eastwood) 85 79.
165 S Carmichael (Baberton) 82 83.
166 K Jackson (Craigie Hill) 83 83.
167 M Brand (Tain) 77 90.
168 J Jeffrey (Nairn) 86 82, C Williamson (US) 84 84.
172 J Hendrick (Pollok) 84 88.

SCOTTISH JUNIOR MASTERS QUALIFIERS AT INVERNESS
Fort William’s Gary Dunlope and Karen Murray (Durness) headed the 13 boys’ and girls’ qualifiers at Inverness Golf Club on Wednesday for the Scottish Junior Masters Grand Final over the Gleneagles Hotel’s Queen’s Course on Sunday, October 8.
Gary, playing off eight, scored 40pt under the Stableford format – three points clear of Nathan Skene (Garmouth & Kingston) (12), David Laing (Inverness) (9) and Sean Burgess (Nairn Dunbar) (17), who all scored 37pt.
A better inward half earned Nathan the second prize.
Top of the five girl qualifiers, Karen Murray scored 39pt off 32 of a handicap. She finished one ahead of Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (19) with Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) who scored 37pt off +1 of a handicap.
Kelsey, Northern Counties women’s champion for the past two years, was round in a gross 70.
There had been no holes in one recorded in the four previous regional finals over the past few weeks but Andrew Patterson, a 19-handicapper at Duff House Royal, achieved the breakthrough ace in this the last of the series. Andrew, who finished with 30pt and did not qualify, had his hole in one at the 141yd second hole.
Collated details:
SCOTTISH JUNIOR MASTERS – Regional Qualifier No 5 – Inverness Golf Club.
Qualifiers
BOYS
40pt Gary Dunlope (Fort William) (18).
37 Nathan Skene (Garmouth & Kingston) (12) (better inward half), David Laing (Inverness) (9), Sean Burgess (Nairn Dunbar) (17).
36 Liam MacDonald (Brora) (8) (bih), Greg Matheson (Muir of Ord) (20), Callum MacLean (Inverness) (15).
35 Scott Duff (Strathpeffer Spa) (12) (Alexander Wiseman (Fraserburgh) (13) also scored 35 pt but was eliminated on a comparison of the inward halves).
GIRLS
39pt Karen Mackay (Durness) (32).
38 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (19).
37 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) (+1) (bih), Tracey Stark (Inveraray) (22).
35 Sammy Vass (Tain) (6).

LOUISE DEFENDS U-21s TITLE AT STIRLING
Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) defends the Scottish Under-21 girls’ open stroke-play championship over 54 holes, starting on Thursday at Stirling Golf Club.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) and Carly Booth (Comrie), two potential challengers, will not be in the field. They are in Austria, competing in the European Young Masters, which also tees off on Thursday.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), winner of the Scottish Under-18 match-play title at Peebles last week, will be bidding for a double – or even a treble because there is a trophy for the best Under-18 performance at Stirling.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) is the holder of the Under-18 award and, if she returns to the form which won her the St Rule Trophy and made her a Curtis Cup team place contender in the British women’s open amateur championship at Royal County Down, then she could go very close to leading the Stirling field at the end of three rounds.
Others who should do well are Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Kerri Harper (Inverness) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
Two rounds will be played on Thursday and a final 18 holes on Friday. There is no cut.

WPGA ONE-DAY SERIES
Ormskirk's Alison Gray ran out a comfortable winner, setting a course record in the process, at the sixth and final Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA One Day Series event at Dunham Forest Golf Club.
Gray posted a three-under-par 69, two shots clear of Lysa Jones (Oaks), Mette Hageman (Drentse Golfclub de Gelpenberg), Suzanne Dickens (Thorpe Wood) and Joanne Oliver (Quindell Golf & CC).
Inconsistent bounces on the sun baked fairways and difficult pin placements caused a certain amount of difficulty for many of the players.
"That didn't really bother me too much," said a relaxed Gray. "The greens were superb and true -- although I did three-putt the third from about 10ft!" #
She cancelled this blemish by chipping in for a birdie on the 18th after posting one more bogey and four birdies for the rest of her round.
This was the first event of the series Gray has entered this year. Two small daughters, Georgia (2 1/2) and Lucy (1), have not made travelling far afield an attractive proposition.
"This venue, Dunham Forest, is just down the road so I thought I would have a go. Before playing I said I didn't want to be considered for qualification for the Wales Open but at the last minute I changed my mind because my 81-year-old Dad, who caddies for me, would love the trip if I did qualify. And now I have, so we are all very pleased!"
Alison Gray joins Emma Weeks (Bramshaw), Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield), Caroline Grady (De Vere Dunston Hall) and Marie Allen (Brookman's Park) as qualifiers for the £350,000 Wales Ladies Championship of Europe which is being held at the Nicklaus-designed Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Llanelli from August 17 to 20. This was the last qualifying event.
RYDER CUP WALES 2010 WPGA ONE DAY SERIES
Dunham Forest Golf Club
LEADING SCORES
(Par 72)
69 Alison Gray (Ormskirk).
71 Lysa Jones (Oaks), Mette Hageman (Drentse GC), Suzanne Dickens (Thorpe Wood), Joanne Oliver.
72 Gillian Stewart (Gillian Stewart Golf), Nicola Moult (Walmley), Katie Tebbet (Rothley Park), Sarah Bennett (Hylands).
The leading four professionals in each of the six one day series events receive points towards the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA Order of Merit which has prize money of £1,000. The Order of Merit table is as follows:
1 Caroline Grady 10.50
2 Marie Allen, Alexandra Keighley, Emma Weeks, Alison Gray 10.00
6 Joanne Oliver 9.00
7 Laura Wright, Sara Clinton, Claire Duffy 6.00
10 Lysa Jones 5.50
11 Mette Hegeman 3.83
12 Sarah Bennett, Catherine Panton-Lewis 3.00
14 Suzanne Dickens 2.50
15 Susan Moon, Sophie Hunter 1.33
17 Rachel Bailey, Tracy Loveys 1.00

ELGA Press Release
Top girls to tee off in English championships
England's leading young golfers will be in action next week when three national girls' championships get underway on Tuesday.
The English Girls' Championship takes place at Kings Norton Golf Club near Birmingham, while the English Girls' U15 and U13 Championships will run side by side at Kidderminster Golf Club.
All three championships have attracted high-quality fields and the increasing number of competitors reflects the strength of English girls' golf.
The English Girls' Championship has been won for the past two years by Melissa Reid (Chevin) who has just left junior ranks and is now a Curtis Cup player.
Among those seeking to take her title will be Jodi Ewart (Catterick) and Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) who were both members of the England side which won the bronze medal at the recent European Lady Juniors' Team Championship.
Joining them will be the four girl internationals who have just represented England in the European Girls' Team Championship: Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Rachel Connor (Manchester), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) and Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton).
There are two competitors from the host club, Kirsty Law, who plays off three, and Anna Perrott, a five handicapper.
The field of 127 players ranges in handicap from plus-one to 14. They will play a slightly extended course of 6051 yards with a par of 73.
All competitors will play an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round on each of the first two days of the championship. The leading 32 players will qualify for the championship matchplay flight while the next 32 will go into flight two. The championship final will be played on Saturday, August 5.
Both the English U15 and U13 championships have increased fields this year because of growing demand for places among the younger girls. The U15 championship has attracted 75 players while the U13 event is fully subscribed with 41 competitors and 13 more on the reserve list.
The lowest handicapper in the U15 event is 2005 English schools' champion Katie Thompson (Corhampton) who plays off three. Kelly Tidy (Manchester), a four handicapper, has moved up to this age group after winning the U13 title for the past two years.
Two five-handicappers lead the way in the U13 championships: Heidi Baek from Ufford Park in Suffolk and Jamie-Leigh Voss from Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire. In both events the handicap range goes up to 20.
The U15s will play a course measuring 5929 yards while the U13 layout is 5831 yards. Both have a par of 73.
All competitors in both championships will play an 18-hole strokeplay round on each of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In the U15 championship the top 36 players and ties will go forward to the final round on Friday, while the leading 18 players and ties in the U13 championship will qualify for the last round.

Stefan Hunter receiving the North of Scotland Junior Open championship trophy
from Lt-Cmdr Gary Farmer

North of Scotland Junior Open championship
STEFAN’S LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PAYS OFF
The North of Scotland Junior Open championship trophy – decided on a handicap basis – has been won by Stefan Hunter (Inverness) over the Loch Ness golf course.
He received the trophy from Lieut-Commander Gary Farmer of the Royal Navy.
Stefan spreadeagled the field with a net 60 off a handicap of 19 (par is 69).
He was previously a member of Castle Heather Golf Club and his local knowledge of the Loch Ness course undoubtedly contributed to his six-shot victory.
Stuart Connell (Inverness) and James MacDonald (Isle of Skye) had the best scratch scores of 74 and 75 respectively.The event attracted a field of 45 boys and five girls who came from as far afield as Durness, Reay, Skye and Aberdeen to compete for the many prizes on offer.Leading scores (CSS 69)
Overall winner: Stefan Hunter (Inverness) (19) 60.
BOYS
Scratch - Stuart Connell (Inverness) 74, JamesMacDonald (Isle of Skye) 75, C Bennett (Inverness) 77, N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar) 78, M. Brand (Tain).
Handicap - Class I – J Treasurer (8) 67, A Begg (Muirof Ord) (7) 69, C Reid (8) 69, J Nicholas (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 70, D Laing (Inverness) (9) 70.
Class 2 - C MacDonald (Elgin) (16) 66, D MacDonald(24) 67, S. Chalmers (16) 67, M. Smith (19) 69.
Class 3 - M Traill (29) 62, M MacKenzie (Aigas) (32) 64, K MacKay (36) 67, S Murray (36) 68.Under 14 years - A MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) (19) 72, D Cairns (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 75, C MacLean (Inverness) (14) 76, C Macleod (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 80, A Sutherland (Reay) (17) 85. GIRLS
(CSS Reduction Only)
Handicap - N Green (Nairn) (10) 74, C MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar) (12) 77, J Vass (Tain) (19) 77, D MacKinnon (Durness) (14) 80, A Brown (Nairn Dunbar) (36) 91.

NEWS FROM THE CURTIS CUP
by your intrepid reporter
There are three courses at Bandon Dunes... the first, built seven/eight years ago is called Bandon Dunes, the second designed by Tom Doak, is called Pacific Dunes.....this is the one the girls are playing on.... and the third is called Bandon Trails.
Pacific Dunes is a magnificent course, right beside the Pacific Ocean, with the wind causing just as much difficulty as the terrain. They say it is a typical links course... well yes it is... but it's as if Tom Doak has taken every good thing from all the links he knows about and put them in one course; it's really special.
The GB&I girls are in excellent spirits, just waiting to go....

Tuesday 25th July 2006

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association’s East Division championship
NOREEN BEATS KAREN IN EAST FINAL
Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) beat Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) by 6 and 5 at Haddington Golf Club in the final of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association’s East Division championship.
Noreen now goes forward to Blairgowrie on September 24 and 24 for the SVLGA championship, contested by the eight divisional title-winners.

Scottish boys’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship
SHAUN IS OVERNIGHT LEADER WITH 64 AT ALLOA’S SCHAWPARK
Craigielaw 17-year-old Shaun McAllister posted a six-under-par 64 - only one shot outside the course record - to be the early clubhouse leader in the Scottish boys’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship over Alloa Golf Club’s Schawpark course.
Several hours later, at the end of play, Master McAllister’s name was till there at the top of the scoreboard. With scoring conditions getting more difficult as the day progressed - the heat making the fairways and greens even harder - there was little likelihood that one of the later finishers would overtake Shaun.
“That’s the lowest score I’ve ever had in golf,” said an excited Shaun who had seven birdies and one bogey on his scorecard.
His birdies came at regular intervals – the first, second, fifth, eighth, 10th, 13th and 15th. His bogey was sandwiched between two birdies at the ninth.
Paul Shields from Kirkhill, like the leader one of the earlier starters, was the only player to get close to McAllister. Shields had a 65, three shots ahead of a pair of English challengers, Max Brittan from Saltford, Bristol and Tom Hayes of West Byfleet, Surrey.
Shaun’s better-known Craigielaw clubmate, Zack Saltman, had to settle for an opening 69, one ahead of Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Scottish Under-16s boys’ title at Deeside recently.
Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), joint second last year and one of the pre-tournament favourites, was 10 shots off the pace with a disappointing 74. Even farther behind was Sam Torrance’s son Daniel who carded a 79.
The North-east’s leading player going into the second round is Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum.
Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile) and Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) are on the 71 mark alongside James Byrne (Banchory), holder of the North-east District boys’ stroke-play and youths titles.
The leading 40 and ties at the end of Wednesday’s second round will contest the final 36 holes on Thursday.
FIRST ROUND (Par 70)
64 S McAllister (Craigielaw).
65 P Shields (Kirkhill).
68 M Brittan (Saltford), T Hayes (West Byfleet).
69 Z Saltman (Craigielaw), K Smith (Barassie), j Bradley (Paisley).
70 S McLaren (King James VI), C Baron (Oldmeldrum).
71 C Storrier (Downfield), G Doverspike (US), A Weir (Montrose Mercantile), M Pennycott (Whiting Bay), W Payne (US). F Fotheringham (Nairn). J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway), J Byrne (Banchory), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs), D Elder (Carnoustie), M Bookless (Sandyhills), J Mackay (Barassie).
72 A Murdoch (Stranraer), P Keeling (North Berwick), G Davidson(Winterfield), C McCallum (Paisley), G Reid (Newbattle).
73 A Campbell Dumbarton), W Sjaichudin (US), G Mitchell (Northern), D Morrison (Duff House Royal), M Cunningham (Longniddry), S Binning (Old Ranfurly).
74 S Bell (Wishaw), G Richards (Kingsknowe), M Fraser (Glencruitten), R Kellett (Colville Park), L Kirton (Newmachar), R Bell (Downfield), R Carson (Dalmahoy), M Daily (Erskine), S McGarvey (Glencorse), G Hunter (Douglas), J Neilson (Dunbar), J Findlay (Fraserburgh).
75 A Moir (Thornton), C Ruane (Cardross), D Harrison (Crieff), D Currie (Barassie), A Wallace (Glenbervie), F McKenna (Balmore), J Reid (Royal Musselburgh), C Gray (West Kilbride), R Anderson (Duddingston), F Campbell (Clober), J Meechan (Dullatur), S Winter Crieff), g Robertson (Glenbervie).
76 F Lawrie (West Kilbride), C Baird (Bothwell Castle), E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway), J Caldwell (Greenock), R Penny (Portlethen), O Browne (US), M Thomson (Grange & Dundee), S Cramb (St Andrews), N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar), C Lutton (Qatar).
77 A Willemars (Blairgowrie), C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch), E Brown (Barassie), G Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan), M Williams (Craigielaw), S Keane (Cathkin Braes), K Duncan (McDonald Ellon), J White (Lundin), S Fraser (Northern), D Murray (Newbattle), S Barras (Helensburgh), M Brand (Tain), S Keane (Cathkin Braes, D Parlane (Helensburgh), K Shanks (Hilton Park)..
78 K Harper (Carnoustie), M Main (Thornton), B Modak (US), C Wyper (Campsie), R Delaney (Hamilton), J Duff (Newmachar), K McClung (Wigtownshire Co), D Mitchell (Leven Th), G Young (Barton), L Adamson (Ganton).
79 F Moore (Falkirk Tryst), A Aitken (Kirkcudbright), K McLeod (US), C Kneen (Mount Murray), M Stratton (US), D Torrance (Wentworth), A Killen (St Andrews), P Ferrie (Baberton), O Lavelle (Elderslie), N Macandrew (Cullen), R Docherty (Bearsden), C Thomson (East Renfrewshire), T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy), J Thow (Crieff.
80 J Johnston (Greenburn), B Irving (Dumfries & Co), N Maddison (Parklands), T Garrett (Meltham), S Tully (Duddingston), S Henderson (Barassie), S Maxwell (Windyhill), A Sweeney (Carnoustie), J Grant (Renfrew), S Mann (Moray), J Denwood (Eden).
81 A Royal (Blankney), C Grant (Linlithgow), G Wilson (Ladybank), K Donnellan (Dunbar), S Smith (Dullatur), S Crichton (Aberdour), S McComish (Baberton), D Borthwick (Penrith).
82 S Stables (Elgin), S Carmichael (Baberton).
83 K Jackson (Craigie Hill), P Robinson (Millport).
84 J Hendrick (Pollok), C Williamson (US), P Neil (Craigielaw), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar).
85 C McLaughlin (Largs), J Shanks (Ardeer), C Young (Eastwood).
86 J Jeffrey (Nairn), D Law (Hazlehead).
87 K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes).
88 A Lauder (Paisley).
Disq – S Gordon (The Glen).

English women's (close) stroke-play championship
FLORENTYNA SETS BLISTERING PACE
Teenager Florentyna Parker set a blistering pace in the first round of the English women's (close) stroke-play championship at Little Aston Golf Club with a five-under par 68.
Her round - compiled in temperatures which soared to 33 deg C - was he