June 2006 Archive

Friday 30th June 2006

RECORD NUMBER OF SCOTS IN FIELD FOR IRISH STROKE-PLAY AT CO SLIGO
A record number of 11 Scots are competing in the Irish women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship at County Sligo Golf Club this weekend.
They are: Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), Kate O’Sullivan (Paisley), Elaine Cuthill (Lanark), Sara Bishop (Windyhill), Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) and Emma Fairnie (Dunbar).
They will be bidding to prevent Tara Delaney (Carlow), one of four Irish players selected for the Curtis Cup match on July 29-30, winning the 54-hole stroke-play title for an historic third time in a row.
Meanwhile, in Denmark, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) will be representing Scotland in the Danish international women’s amateur championship at Silkeborg Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday.

Palmer Cup
EUROPE STUDENTS BEAT AMERICANS BY RECORD MARGIN AT PRESTWICK
EUROPE have scored the biggest win ever in the Palmer Cup international students' match against their United States counterparts over the Prestwick Golf Club links.
The final margin was 19 1/2pt to the Europeans (most of whom are students at American colleges) and only 4 1/2pt to the Americans.
Europe won all four sessions of play - four-balls, foursomes and two sets of singles.
In the final set of singles, the results were:
(European names first)
Martin bt Castro 3 and 2.
Floren lost to Blaum 4 and 2.
Haastrup bt Harman 5 and 3.
Canizares bt Baca 1 hole,
KLuiten bt Larsen 2 holes.
Lewton halved with Ogden.
Davies bt List 3 and 2.
Ramsay lost to Kirk 1 hole.
EUROPE 5 1/2, UNITED STATES 2 1/2
Overall result:
EUROPE 19 1/2, UNITED STATES 4 1/2

Irish Youths
GARETH SHAW WINS BY FIVE; SCOT LATIMER DOWN FIELD WITH 305
Overnight leader Gareth Shaw (Lurgan), a member of the successful East Tennessee State University team alongside Rhys Davies from Wales and Scotland's Jordan Findlay, won the Irish youths open amateur championship by a five-shot margin at Royal Tara Golf Club today.
Shaw laid the platform for his success with opening rounds of 66 and 67. He kept the door shut on his rivals with two scores of 73 for 279.
Peter Latimer from St Andrews New Golf Club, the only Scot in the field, finished on 305 with scores of 71, 76, 80 and 78.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
279 G Shaw (Lurgan) 66 67 73 73
284 S Power (West Waterford) 71 73 69 71, P Cutler (Portstewart) 71 70 73 70, R Enoch (Wales) 69 75 69 71
285 A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 72 68 72 73, S Ward (Co Louth) 72 66 73 74
286 F Rafferty (Dungannon) 74 70 71 71, N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 72 71 71 72
288 Z Gould (Wales) 73 75 71 69, P O'Kane (Moyola Park) 72 72 73 71
289 H Bacher (Austria) 68 71 76 74, N O'Briain (Royal Dublin) 67 75 69 78
290 P O'Hanlon (Curragh) 68 74 73 75
291 P Figueiredo (Portugal) 77 70 74 70, P Connolly (Clontarf) 73 71 77 70, S Lowry
(Esker Hills) 72 76 75 68, A Glynn (Porters Park) 70 73 75 73
294 L Weber (France) 77 71 72 74, D Leathem (Lisburn) 75 73 71 75
295 P McGibney (Elm Park) 72 76 75 72
296 D Rawluk (The Island) 72 75 78 71, N Grant (Knock) 72 70 79 75
297: A Hogan (Newlands) 76 72 76 73, D Angkawidjaja (Austria) 75 74 77 71, L Nemecz (Austria) 75 73 79 70, C McNamara (Limerick) 74 75 74 74, G Reid (Spa) 71 75 76 75
299: Greg Williams (Wales) 74 75 74 76
300: B Walton (The Island / UCD) 68 73 81 78
301: P Fendt (Austria) 78 71 76 76, M Trow (Wales) 72 77 77 75
303: M Mayrhauser (Austria) 72 77 77 77, L Thomas (Wales) 72 76 80 75
305: P Latimer (Scotland) 71 76 80 78
306: M Glauert (Germany) 72 74 84 76
311: J Rodgers (Galgorm) 75 74 81 81

McTEAR SLIPS BACK TO FINISH JOINT FIFTH IN PGA CLUB SENIORS’ EVENT
John McTear could do no better than a two-over-par 74 in the third and final round of the PGA Club Seniors’ championship at King’s Lynn Golf Club, Norfolk today (Friday).
That gave the North Gailes Golf Centre staff pro a final total of one-over-par 217 and pushed him down into joint fifth place with a cheque for £1,675.
John, winner of the title in 2001, had three birdies but five bogeys on his third-round scorecard.
England’s Stewart Graham who had been sharing the lead with McTear overenight shot a two-under-par 70 for a total of three-under-par 213 to win the title and the top cash prize of £4,750.
He won by two shots from compatriots Graham Burroughs and David Jagger.
Garry Harvey from Bearsden Golf Range was the second-best Scot with a 72 for joint eighth place on 220, signing off with a 72. He earned £1,066.
PGA CLUB SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – King’s Lynn Golf Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
213 S Graham (Eng) 70 73 70.
215 G Burroughs (Eng) 74 72 69, D Jagger (Eng) 70 73 72.
216 D Stirling (Eng) 73 74 69.
217 J McTear (Sco) 74 69 74, M Gallagher (Eng) 71 75 71.
Other Scottish totals:
220 G Harvey 73 75 72.
223 J Farmer 74 73 76.
224 B Lockie 72 75 77.
225 K Stevely 75 75 75.
226 R McDonald 77 72 77.
227 N D Wood 76 78 73.
230 R Webster 76 78 76, R Fyfe 76 76 78.
232 R Watkins 79 73 80, D Craik 76 76 80.
233 M White 76 74 83.

Palmer Cup
EUROPEANS PILE ON THE AGONY FOR AMERICANS AT PRESTWICK
As if the American students did not have enough problems trying to get accustomed to the Prestwick Golf Club's ancient links and quirkiness in the Palmer Cup, they had to try to play foursomes against their European counterparts this morning.
Result: A 4-0 clean sweep for the Europeans, which made the lunchtime scoreline an embarrassing (if you are an American): EUROPE 14, UNITED STATES 2.
It's the most lopsided scoreline in the history of the event so far - and there are still the singles to be played!
Day 2 foursomes results (European names first):
Alejandro Canizares & Pablo Martin bt Ryan Blaum & Roberto Castro 6 and 4.
Oscar Floren & Mark Haastrup bt Ryan Baca & Clay Ogden 1 hole.
Joost Luiten & Richie Ramsay bt Brian Harman & Luke List 3 and 2.
Rhys Davies & Stephen Lewton bt Chris Kirk & Keven Larsen 4 and 3.

Excess Baggage... the cost of taking golf clubs on flights
I found this informative webpage on the cost of excess baggage on the Airport Parking and Hotels website. Download the table and check out your chosen airline... that bargain air fare might not be a bargain after all!
Also read their information on the cost of mobile phone calls from abroad.

LAURA MURRAY TAKES SALLY WATSON PLACE IN SCOTS TEAM
Alford’s Laura Murray has been called up from the reserve list to replace Sally Watson (David Leadbetter Academy) in the Scotland squad for the European Under-21 junior girls’ team championship at Pan Golf Club in the Netherlands from July 11 to 15.
Sally, from South Queensferry, has withdrawn because she is competing in the United States girls’ open championship at Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina from July 17 to 22.
Miss Watson, who will be 15 on July 10, will also not be able to defend the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play title at Peebles from July 18 to 21.
“It’s a pity but there are just not enough days in the week,” said Sally’s father, Edinburgh businessman Graham Watson.
Sally Watson and Carly Booth will represent Scotland in the European Junior Masters at Styrian Golf Club, Austria from July 27 to 29.
This means that Sally and Carly will miss the Scottish Under-21 junior girls’ open stroke-play championship at Stirling Golf Club on July 27 and 28.
Carly Booth lost to Sally Watson in the final of last year’s Scottish Under-18 girls’ championship at Tain. Like Sally, Carly will miss this year’s event at Peebles because she is Scotland’s girl representative in the R&A Junior Open at Heswall Golf Club, Merseyside from July 17 to 19.

LGU Press Release
STRONG FIELD FOR LADIES’ MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Three times Curtis Cup player Emma Duggleby is one of several national title holders, present and past, competing in the Ladies’ British Mid-Amateur Championship to be played at Nairn Golf Club from 7-9 July.
Duggleby won the British title in 1994 was English Champion in 2000 and 2003 and competed in three Curtis Cup matches from 2000-2004. Now, she is attempting to add a further British title to her collection, from a field of almost 70 players.
Earlier this year Martine Pow of Selkirk won the Scottish title at Dunbar and she is joined in the field by fellow Scots Fiona Lockhart, her immediate predecessor as Scottish Champion, and Claire Hargan, the losing finalist in 2003.
Former professional Vivien Saunders is also competing and will be hoping to add to her collection of titles that most recently includes her 2004 win in the English Senior Ladies’ Stroke Play Championship at Sandiway.
Overseas competitors include +2.9 player Thuhashini Selvaratnam of Sri Lanka, Minna Kaarnalahli of Finland and several others from the USA, South Africa, Portugal and Australia.
Nairn Golf Club has a long pedigree of hosting major championships and first welcomed lady golfers competing in a British event in 1979. Since then it has seen competitors at every level and has an unrivalled reputation as a spectacular layout on the Moray Firth that provides a layout that is testing yet fair.
Competitors play 18 holes on each of the first two days and the 40 lowest and ties play a further round on Sunday 9 July.
The full list of competitors can be viewed at www.lgu.org.

SLGA Extraordinary Meeting
At yesterday's SLGA Extraordinary Meeting the resolutions put before the members received 100% support.
The Financial Year end will now be 30 September and in future AGMs will be held in January or February. The Executive of the SLGA were authorised to form a new company limited by guarantee called "Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association Limited" and to tranfer the assets and liabilities of the SLGA to the new company, at which point the Association will be dissolved.

Thursday 29th June 2006

ST ANDREWS LAD SURVIVES CUT AS GARETH SHAW LEADS BY FIVE SHOTS
East Tennessee State University student Gareth Shaw (Lurgan) has a commanding five-shot lead after two rounds of the Irish youths' amateur championship at Royal Tara Golf Club. He has had scores of 66 and 67 to leave the field trailing.
Peter Latimer (St Andrews New), the only Scot in the field, did not survive the cut in last weekend's Scottish youths open championship but he safely made the 36-hole cut here with rounds of 71 and 76 for 147.
LEADING TWO-ROUND TOTALS.
133 G Shaw (Lurgan) 66 67
138 S Ward (Co Louth) 72 66
139 H Bacher (Austria) 68 71
140 A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 72 68
141 P Cutler (Portstewart) 71 70, B Walton (The Island / UCD) 68 73
142 N Grant (Knock) 72 70, P O'Hanlon (Curragh) 68 74, N O'Briain (Royal Dublin) 67 75
143 N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 72 71, A Glynn (Porters Park) 70 73
144 F Rafferty (Dungannon) 74 70, P Connolly (Clontarf) 73 71, P O'Kane (Moyola Park) 72 72, S Power (West Waterford) 71 73, R Enoch (Wales) 69 75
146 M Glauert (Germany) 72 74, G Reid (Spa) 71 75
147 P Figueiredo (Portugal) 77 70, D Rawluk (The Island) 72 75, P Latimer (Scotland) 71 76.
148 L Weber (France) 77 71, A Hogan (Newlands) 76 72, D Leathem (Lisburn) 75 73, L Nemecz (Austria) 75 73, Z Gould (Wales) 73 75, S Lowry (Esker Hills) 72 76, L Thomas (Wales) 72 76, P McGibney (Elm Park) 72 76
149 P Fendt (Austria) 78 71, D Angkawidjaja (Austria) 75 74, J Rodgers (Galgorm) 75 74, Greg Williams (Wales) 74 75, C McNamara (Limerick) 74 75, M Mayrhauser (Austria) 72 77, M Trow (Wales) 72 77

WEE JOHN WALKING TALL AT PGA CLUB SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Wee John McTear is sharing the lead on one-under-par 143 with one round to go in the PGA Club seniors’ golf championship at King’s Lynn Golf Club, Norfolk.
The North Gailes Golf Centre staff pro had a little bit of everything in his three-under-par 69 in the second round, which was five shots better than his opening effort.
McTear had an eagle 3 at the 487yd par-5 13th and birdies at the second, seventh, eighth and ninth. He also had a double-bogey 6 at the third and another shot shed to par at the sixth.
Up there with the Scot in pole position are Englishman Stewart Graham (70-73) and David Jagger (70-73).
Bill Lockie, also from the North Gailes golf Centre, is back in a share of 10th place on 147 after running up a triple bogey 7 at the 11th in a second-round 75.
St Andrews-based Jim Farmer is also on 147 with a 73 which included birdies at the first, second, 13th and 1`7th.
Kemnay club pro Ronnie McDonald is rueing double bogeys at the second and fourth in a first-round 77 because he reeled off a par-matching 72 in the second round, no bother at all. Ronnie birdied the fifth, eighth and 14th and had boges at the 11th and 12th to be in 19th place on 149.
PGA CLUB SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
King’s Lynn Golf Club, Norfolk.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
143 J McTear (North Gailes) 74 69, S Graham (Eng) 70 73, D Jagger (Eng) 70 73.
144 G Smith (Eng) 73 71, P Hinton (Eng) 70 74.
Other Scottish qualifiers:
147 B Lockie (North Gailes) 72 75, J Farmer (J Farmer G&L) 74 73.
148 G Harvey (Bearsden GR) 73 75.
149 R McDonald (Kemnay) 77 72.
150 K Stevely (Cawder) 75 75, M White (Penfold Park) 76 74.
152 D Craik (Frilford Heath 76 76, R Fyfe (Nairn) 76 76, R Watkins Solent Meads) 73 79.
154 N D Wood (Royal Guernsey) 76 78, R Webster (Eaglescliffe) 76 78.
Scottish non-qualifiers:
156 I Clark (Hagley) 79 77.
157 D Bonthron (Stonelees) 76 81.

Palmer Cup
EUROPE HAMMERING AMERICANS AT HALFWAY POINT
Europe were well on their way to a big win over the United States at the halfway point of the two-day men’s college student match for the Palmer Cup at Prestwick Golf Club today.
The United States team, packed of top-ranked players from the American college circuit, were whitewashed 4-0 in the four-ball play of the first session.
It didn’t get much better in the afternoon singles, which the Europeans took 6-2.
So, with Friday’s four foursomes and eight singles ties to come, the scoreline reads:
EUROPE 10, UNITED STATES 2

World Golf Hall of Fame Unveils Special Exhibit in Celebration of 2006 Ryder Cup at Waterford Crystal in Ireland
Exhibit’s two-stop tour includes stop at National Museum of Ireland in Dublin
St. Augustine, Fla. (June 29, 2006) – In honor of the 2006 Ryder Cup, the World Golf Hall of Fame and Waterford Crystal, an official sponsor of the 2006 Ryder Cup, have unveiled a special exhibit at the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center in Kilbarry, Waterford, Ireland. The exhibit, “The World Golf Hall of Fame and Waterford Crystal Present: A Tribute to the Ryder Cup” features the stories of Hall of Fame members who have participated on or captained Ryder Cup teams over the years. The exhibit will move to the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks in Dublin for the months of August and September 2006, then return to Waterford through Summer 2007.
The project marks the first time the World Golf Hall of Fame has opened an exhibit outside of its museum in St. Augustine, Florida, and collaborated with another museum to present an exhibit. The display is expected to draw in excess of 500,000 visitors between the two locations throughout its seventeen-month stay in Ireland.
The exhibit in Ireland provides a historical overview of The Ryder Cup, including the origin of The Matches, scores, venues and captains, and video of significant Ryder Cup moments. From wartime matches of the 1940s to the story of Nicklaus and Jacklin’s “concession” in 1969 and comeback prediction by Crenshaw (U.S. Captain) in 1999, the exhibits looks at significant moments in the history of the tournament through the achievements of the Hall’s members.
Thirteen Hall of Fame members have donated or loaned personal artifacts for the exhibits, including Seve Ballesteros, Billy Casper, Neil Coles, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Raymond Floyd, Tony Jacklin, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Gene Littler, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Payne Stewart.
“Creating an exhibit to be displayed at Waterford Crystal Visitor Center and National Museum of Ireland as the Ryder Cup makes its first appearance in that country is a great opportunity to share the story of the Hall of Fame and our members with a keen international audience,” said Jack Peter, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are grateful for the assistance we’ve received from our members, the National Museum of Ireland, PGA European Tour and PGA of America, as well as the support we’ve received from Waterford Crystal, to bring the exhibit to life.”
Items on display will include Nicklaus’ 1969 Team blazer, Jacklin’s 1989 Ryder Cup Trophy, Stewart’s uniquely designed Ryder Cup headwear and Crenshaw’s famous Sunday teamshirt from the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline, and much more. The exhibit also will carry one of only five full-scale Ryder Cup trophies.
Brian McGee, Sales and Marketing Director of Waterford Crystal, who attended the opening today at Waterford along with Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue T.D, said, “For over 60 years Waterford Crystal has been associated with incredible moments of achievement in the world of international sport. When the idea emerged for this exhibit, we recognized it immediately as a unique opportunity to be involved in the sport of golf, and a great occasion to work with the World Golf Hall of Fame, with whom we share a great relationship.”
Dr Patrick Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland said, “We are delighted to host this unique historical exhibition of The Ryder Cup at Collins Barracks and we hope that by offering visitors an insight into the personal stories behind the achievements, it will give people a greater connection with this prestigious sporting event.”
The exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland also will look at Waterford’s involvement in the sport of golf over the years. For more information, visit www.wgv.com or www.waterford.ie.

SALLY’S US SUCCESS COSTS HER CHANCE TO DEFEND SCOTTISH GIRLS’ TITLE
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Sally Watson, the 14-year-old winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play championship at Tain last year, will not be defending the title at this year’s tournament at Peebles from July 18 to 21.
The South Queensferry girl has also withdrawn from the Scotland squad for the European Under-21 junior team championship in the Netherlands from July 11 to 15.
That’s the double sequel to the success of Miss Watson earlier this week in winning a place in the United States girls’ championship at Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina from July 17 to 22.
Sally tied for first place in a qualifying event at Braelinn Golf Club, Peachtree City near Atlanta, Georgia with a par-matching round of 72 over a 6,200yd course.
“Sally has decided to play in the US girls’ championship,” said her father, Edinburgh businessman Graham Watson, “and that means she will have to withdraw from the Scotland Under-21 team and from the Scottish girls championship. It’s a pity but there are just not enough days in the week.”
Sally has already played in three American junior events and one Swedish tournament since May 19.
She finished 16th in the Scott Robertson Memorial junior tournament at Roanoke, Virginia, which was her first competitive rounds since December.
Then she tied seventh in the Swedish Under-21 event followed by a creditable joint seventh in the St Rule Trophy 54-hole event – not a junior tournament.
From there it was off to the Rolex girls’ championship in Utah where Sally tied for 12th place behind the highly-rated Esther Choe and finished several shots ahead of two girls named as reserves to the US Curtis Cup team.
Sally then returned to Scotland for a week to finish school before jetting back to the States to compete in the US girls’ championship qualifier in Georgia.
Sally has an older sister Rebecca and the Watson girls both played for Scotland in the girls’ home internationals last summer. Rebecca will not be going to university until the autumn of next year but this week she received her first scholarship offer from a top-10 United States university.
+First reserve for the Scotland squad for the European Under-21 team championship is Laura Murray (Alford).

Wednesday 28th June 2006

Fife, East Division County Team Champions 2006
(Photo Courtesy Dorothy Ford)

FIFE GO TO COUNTY FINALS AS EAST CHAMPIONS
FIFE overpowered Midlothian in the decisive match of the three-day East Division women’s inter-county team championship at Dunbar Golf Club today (WED).
Both teams started the last day with 100 per cent records but Fife soon forged clear of Midlothian, who won the East title last year and went on to take the Scottish championship as well.
Fife won the foursomes 2 ½- ½ and the singles 4-2 for a convincing 6 ½-2 ½ victory that sends them to the Scottish county finals at The Hirsel Golf Club in September as East Division champions.
Fife had the most successful individuals of the championship with Curtis Cup reserve Krystle Caithness and former Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart both achieving 5pt out of six.
Not far behind in the Fife effort were Louise Kenney abnd Katrina Milne with 4 ½ pt each.
East Lothian finished third by beating Stirling & Clackmannan 5-4.
Wednesday results:
MIDLOTHIAN 2 ½, FIFE 6 ½
Foursomes – K Blackwood & C MacDonald lost to K Caithness & K Milne 1 hole; W Nicholson & K Marshall halved with L Kenney & J Carthew; C Hargan & B Murphy lost to E Moffat & F Lockhart 4 and 3 ( ½ -2 ½ ).
Singles: Hargan lost to Kenney 3 and 2, H Laughland lost to Caithness 1 hole, Nicholson bt Moffat 4 and 2, R Livingstone bt Lockhart 4 and 2, Murphy lost to Carthew 1 hole, Blackwood lost to Milne 5 and 4 (2-4).
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 4, EAST LOTHIAN 5
Foursomes: S Mitchell & L Robertson lost to F Prior & L Mortensen 1 hole; A Davidson & V Stevenson lost to K Brotherton & E Fairnie 3 and 2; E Allison & H MacRae bt M Thomson & L Fortune 4 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: Robertson halved with Brotherton, Mitchell bt Mortensen 1 hole, MacRae bt Prior 4 and 3, L McGregor lost to J Smith 4 and 2, Stevenson halved with S McMaster, Allison lost to Fairnie 3 and 2 (3-3).
FINAL PLACINGS
1 Fife (3 wins), 2 Midlothian (2 wins, 1 defeat), 3 East Lothian (1 win, 2 defeats), 4 Stirling & Clackmannan (3 defeats).

Renfrewshire, West Division County Team Champions
(Photo Courtesy Carol Fell)

RENFREWSHIRE ARE WEST CHAMPIONS
Renfrewshire, the host county, won the West Division women’s inter-county team golf championship at East Renfrewshire Golf Club today (WED).
After beating defending champions Lanarkshire, then Dunbartonshire & Argyll, Renfrewshire completed a clean sweep over the three days by beating Ayrshire 5 ½-3 ½ .
Ayrshire made the new champions fight all the way in the singles, two of which were halved and three of the others went to the last green.
Renfrewshire’s top player was Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) with 4 1/2pt out of a possible six. Donna was followed closely by Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) with 4pt.
Dunbartonshire & Argyll finished runners-up by beating Lanarkshire 5-4 in the other last-day match.
Most successful player in the tournament was Lanarkshire’s Jenna Wilson with 5 ½ pt out of six. Gemma Webster (D&A) was next best with 5pt.
Renfrewshire now go forward to the Scottish county finals at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream from September 22 to 24. They have not won the Scottish title since 1987.
Results:
RENFREWSHIRE 5 ½ , AYRSHIRE 3 ½
Foursomes: D Jackson & G McGinlay halved with L Hendry & R Kennedy; M Briggs & K O’Sullivan bt A Thompson & L Keohone 1 hole; C-M Carlton & J Jenkins bt C Malcolm & M McPherson 1 hole (2 ½ - ½).
Singles: Carlton halved with Hendry, Briggs lost to D Watt 1 hole, Jackson bt Keohone 1 hole, L Robertson halved with Malcolm, G Kyle lost to McPherson 2 and 1, McGinlay bt Kennedy 1 hole (3-3).
LANARKSHIRE 4, DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 5
Foursomes: M Hughes & A Hendry lost to A Laing & S Bishop 4 and 2; E Cuthill & A Young lost to G Webster & K Walker 1 hole; J Wilson & S Wood bt J Galbraith & F McLean 4 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: Wilson bt Webster 1 hole, Cuthill lost to Laing 1 hole, Wood lost to Bishop 8 and 6, R Rankin lost to J Foggo 1 hole, L Lloyd bt Galbraith 3 and 2, Young bt S Cadden 3 and 2 (3-3).
FINAL PLACINGS
1 Renfrewshire (3 wins), 2 Dunbartonshire & Argyll (2 wins, 1 defeat), 3 Lanarkshire (1 win, 2 defeats), 4 Ayrshire (3 defeats).

ROBERTSON STILL TOP SCOT IN SUFFOLK
Dean Robertson maintained the leading Scottish challenge with a 71 for three-under-par 141 in the second round of the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Stoke by Nayland International Open at the Suffolk venue today (WED).
Robertson is in joint eighth place, four shots behind leader Guy Woodman, going into the final round.
Dean birdied the second, fifth, eighth, 11th and 15th but bogeyed the third, seventh, ninth and 14th in halves of 36 and 35.
Colin Mitchell from Blairgowrie and Paul Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan) qualified safely on level par 144, Mitchell with a 70 and Doherty with a 71.
Colin was moving well up the leaderboard when he birdied the third, fifth, seventh and 15th. Then he bogeyed the 17th and 18th.
Late finisher Ross Cameron from Ellon beat the cut with nothing to spare with a 72 for 145. A double bogey 7 at the 16th put the pressure on him but he parred the last two to reach the safety mark.
Graeme Brown from Montrose had a nightmare round of 76 to miss the cut on 147. Graeme had double bogeys at the eighth, ninth and 13th. A bag of five birdies gave him a respectable score.
PGA EUROPRO TOUR – Stoke by Nayland International Open
Stoke by Nayland Golf Club, Suffolk.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
137 G Woodman (Eng) 67 70.
138 J Brown (Eng) 70 68.
139 M Sell (Eng) 70 69, S Doherty (Eng) 70 69.
Scottish qualifiers:
141 D Robertson 70 71.
144 C Mitchell 74 70, P Doherty 73 71.
145 R Cameron 73 72.
Scottish non-qualifiers:
147 G Brown 71 76.
149 J Doherty 76 73.
NR S Lamb 77 NR

IRELAND BEAT WALES IN YOUTHS INTERNATIONAL
Ireland scored a decisive 7 ½ - 1 ½ victory over Wales in their annual youths international match at Royal Tara Golf Club.
Having shared the foursomes at 1 ½ - 1 ½ the Irish players dominated the afternoon by winning all six singles matches.
Reigning Irish close champion Rory McIlroy and his partner Gareth Shaw set the ball rolling for the Irish in the foursomes with a solid 3 and 2 win over the Welsh pair, Stuart Runcie and Rhys Enoch.
Irish youths champion Seamus Power and Aaron O’Callaghan went down by 3 and 1 to Zac Gould and Greg Williams, while the pairing of Shane Lowry and Simon Ward, one down playing the 18th, made a nice birdie four to snatch a half against Mark Trow and Luke Thomas.
In the singles, Rory McIlroy scored a one hole win over Zac Gould. Seamus Power followed with a 3 and 2 win over Mark Trow while Gareth Shaw earned a 3 and 1 win against Rhys Enoch.
Shane Lowry beat Greg Williams by 4 and 3 and Simon Ward was next with a 3 and 2 win over Luke Thomas.
In the final match Aaron O’Callaghan completed the clean sweep in the singles with a 3 and 2 win over Stuart Runcie.
RESULTS:
(Irish names first)
Foursomes: Rory McIlroy & Gareth Shaw beat Stuart Runcie & Rhys Enoch 3 and 2; Aaron O’Callaghan & Seamus Power lost to Zac Gould & Greg Williams 3 and 1; Shane Lowry & Simon Ward halved with Mark Trow & Luke Thomas.
Singles: Rory McIlroy beat Zac Gould 1 hole; Seamus Power beat Mark Trow 3 and 2; Gareth Shaw beat Rhys Enoch 3 and 1; Shane Lowry beat Greg Williams 4 and 3; Simon Ward beat Luke Thomas 3 and 2; Aaron O’Callaghan beat Stuart Runcie 3 and 2.

FIFE BUILD UP TWO-POINT FOURSOMES LEAD OVER TITLE RIVALS MIDLOTHIAN
Fife set themselves up as favourites to win the East Division women’s inter-county team championship when they took the foursomes 2 ½- ½ from Midlothian, the only other team with a 100 per cent record going into the final day at Dunbar Golf Club.
Krystle Caithness and Katrina Milne won the top foursome for Fife. Then Louise Kenney and Jo Carthew were held to a square game by Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall before the St Regulus pairing of Elaine Moffat and Fiona Lockhart gained a second morning win for Fife.
Foursomes – K Blackwood & C MacDonald lost to K Caithness & K Milne 1 hole; W Nicholson & K Marshall halved with L Kenney & J Carthew; C Hargan & B Murphy lost to E Moffat & F Lockhart 4 and 3 ( ½ -2 ½ )
Singles to play: Hargan v Kenney, H Laughland v Caithness, Nicholson v Moffat, R Livingstone v Lockhart, Murphy v Carthew, Blackwood v Milne.

RENFREWSHIRE MOVE CLOSER TO WEST TITLE
Renfrewshire moved a step nearer clinching the West Division women’s inter-county team championship when they took the foursomes by a 2 ½- ½ pt margin from Ayrshire on the third and final day at East Renfrewshire Golf Club.
Renfrewshire beat Dunbartonshire & Argyll and Lanarkshire in their earlier matches.
Dunbartonshire & Argyll took a 2-1 lead into the singles against Lanarkshire in the battle for second place.
RENFREWSHIRE LEAD AYRSHIRE 2 ½- ½
Foursomes: D Jackson & G McGinlay halved with L Hendry & R Kennedy; M Briggs & K O’Sullivan bt A Thompson & L Keohone 1 hole; C-M Carlton & J Jenkins bt C Malcolm & M McPherson 1 hole (2 ½ - ½).
Singles: Carlton v Hendry, Briggs v D Watt, Jackson v Keohone, L Robertson v Malcolm, G Kyle v McPherson, McGinlay v Kennedy.
LANARKSHIRE ARE LOSING TO D & A 1-2
Foursomes: M Hughes & A Hendry lost to A Laing & S Bishop 4 and 2; E Cuthill & A Young lost to G Webster & K Walker 1 hole; J Wilson & S Wood bt J Galbraith & F McLean 4 and 3 (1-2).

ELGA Press Release
Danielle and Rachel make quick start in Russian championship
England's Danielle Montgomery and Rachel Bell are both comfortably in the top ten after the first round of the Russian Open Amateur Championship at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.
Danielle, from Lambourne, shot a one-over par 73 and lies fifth, three shots behind the leader, Maria Verchenova. Rachel, the Yorkshire champion from Ganton, is in seventh place after returning a five-over 77.
After 54 holes the top 30 players and ties will go forward to play the final round on Friday.

SOPHIE STUBBS WINS BRIDGET JACKSON BOWL
Shropshire county player Sophie Stubbs, a 22-year-old Shifnal Golf Club member, won the Bridget Jackson Bowl 36-hole women’s open golf tournament at Handsworth Golf Club, near Birmingham yesterday (TUES).
Sophie, who has just completed her golf scholarship four-year term at the University of Minnesota, had rounds of 70 and 72 for a total of 142, which which was two under par and two under the combined CSS.
Sophie, who has four of a handicap, won by one shot from Joanne Hodge (Knowle) and Emma Lyons (West Surrey).
Curtis Cup team selections Naomi Edwards and Melissa Reid, who had entered, did not in fact play but it as still a good-class field that Miss Stubbs beat.
Anna Stubbs (Consett), the holder of the title, retired after a first-round 80.
FINAL TOTALS
Par and SSS 72. CSS 72 both rounds.
142 Sophie Stubbs (Shifnal) 70 72.
143 Joanne Hodge (Knowle) 75 68, Emma Lyons (West Surrey) 72 71.
144 Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 72 72, Laura Eastwood (Yelverton) 70 74.
145 Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 72 72, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 71 74.
146 Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 74.
147 Kate Combes (Australia) 76 71, Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 71 76.
148 Fiona Smith (Chelmsford) 74 74, Sally Hinton (Bridgnorth) 73 75.
149 Jody Fleming (Australia) 74 75, Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool) 74 75.
150 Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) 78 72, Felicity Johnson (Harvborne) 77 73, Fiona thompson (Ellesborough) 75 75, Emma Sheffield (Newark) 76 76, Sarah-Jane Eaves (Cosby) 73 77.
151 Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt) 77 74, Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog _) 76 75, Claire Aitken (The London) 76 75.
153 Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 79 74, Harriet Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 78 75, Samantha Birke (Wolstanton) 77 76, Janet Phipps (Exeter) 77 76.
154 Jenny Rhodes (South Staffs) 74 80, Glenna Beasley (Woburn) 71 83.
156 Kaye Orme (Saddleworth) 78 768, Becky Dowell (Enmore Park) 77 79.
157 Clare Howells (Moor Hall) 80 77, Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 75 82.
158 Claire Starkie (Silsden) 768 80.
159 Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 81 78, Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 79, Julie Brown (Brocton Hall) 79 80, Gemma Hardie (Forest Pines) 76 83.
160 Elizabeth Over (Forest Pines) 83 77, Lisa Barton (Coventry) 77 83.
162 Gemma Easton (Bargoed) 78 84.
163 Annette Deeley (Handsworth) 85 78, Hanah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 82 81.
164 Emma Stodart (Rugby) 83 81, Emily Priest (Stourbridge) 81 83, Victoria Jones (Sandwell Park) 80 84.
166 Gemma Parkes (Cosby) 80 86.
167 Hayley Selman (Wolstanton) 82 85.
170 Debbie Loach (Enville) 81 89.
170 Natalie Harrison (Rhuddlan) 87 95.
Retired – Anna Scott (Consett) retired.

SALLY WINS US GIRLS GOLF QUALIFIER
South Queensferry girl Sally Watson has won a sectional qualifying tournament at Braelinn Golf Club, Peachtree City in Georgia for next month’s United States girls’ championship.
Sally, who will be 15 on July 10 and is the holder of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship, matched the par of 72 over the 6,200yd course, to claim one of the five spots available in this qualifier, one of 32 nationwide for the championship which will be played at Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina from July 17 to 22.

ALEX IS MAIN MAN IN FIFE ORDER OF MERIT
Alex Main (Thornton) has a five-point lead over Scottish champion George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle) after 10 events of the Forrester Park Fife Order of Merit.
The next counting event is the Swallow Hotels East of Scotland championship at Lundin on Saturday and Sunday.
Leading Order of Merit points totals:
1 Alex Main (Thornton) 330; 2 George Murray (Earlsferry Th) 325; 3 Euan Malcolm (Dunfermline) 310; 4 David Imrie (Thornton) 255; 5 Stuart Meiklejohn (Aberdour) 205; 6 Stewart Elder (Kirkcaldy) 160; 7 Kevin Blyth (Kirkcaldy) 150; 8 Scott Michie (Thornton) 130; 9 (equal) Alfred Brown (Dunfermline), Alan England (Balbirnie Park), Paul Stewart (Ladybank) 125.

Tuesday 27th June 2006

IT’S MIDLOTHIAN versus FIFE FOR THE EAST DIVISION TITLE
Scottish champions Midlothian and Fife, the only two teams with 100 per cent records after two days of the East Division women’s inter-county team golf championship, meet in the decisive match at Dunbar Golf Club today (Wed).
The winners will be East champions and will go forward to the Scottish county championship finals at The Hirsel Golf Club in September.
In Tuesday’s matches, title-holders Midlothian ground out a 5-4 win over East Lothian. Midlothian gained a vital 2-1 edge in the foursomes and then got the singles wins they needed from Claire Hargan, Wendy Nicholson and Belinda Murphy.
Fife overpowered Stirling & Clackmannan 6 ½-2 ½ after making a clean sweep of the three morning foursomes. Fife singles winners were Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) and Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank).
Tuesday’s details:
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 2 ½ , FIFE 6 ½
Foursomes: A Davidson & H MacRae lost to E Moffat & F Lockhart 3 and 2; S Mitchell & L Robertson lost to K Caithness and K Milne 3 and 2; L McGregor & V Stevenson lost to L Kenney & J Carthew 8 and 7 (0-3).
Singles: MacRae lost to Kenney 5 and 4, Robertson bt Moffat 5 and 4, Mitchell lost to Lockhart 5 and 4, McGregor bt B Copland 4 and 3, Davidson lost to Carthew 3 and 2, E Allison halved with Milne (2 ½- 3 ½)
MIDLOTHIAN 5, EAST LOTHIAN 4
Foursomes: K Blackwood & C MacDonald lost to F Prior & L Mortensen 4 and 2; W Nicholson & R Livingstone bt L Fortune & E Fairnie 5 and 3; C Hargan & B Murphy bt K Brotherton & J Smith 3 and 2 (2-1).
Singles: Hargan bt Prior 3 and 2, Nicholson bt S McMaster 7 and 5 , K Marshall lost to Fairnie 3 and 1, H Laughland lost to Mortensen 1 hole, Murphy bt M Thomson 5 and 4, Blackwood lost to Brotherton 2 and 1 (3-3).
HOW THEY STAND
1 Midlothian (2 wins) and Fife (2 wins), 3 East Lothian (2 defeats) and Stirling & Clackmannan (2 defeats).

RENFREWSHIRE SET FOR WEST DIVISION TITLE
Renfrewshire, the only team with two wins out of two, look set to clinch the West Division women’s inter-county team golf championship at East Renfrewshire Golf Club today (WED).
Renfrewshire followed up their opening-day win over title-holders Lanarkshire by beating Dunbartonshire & Argyll 5-4.
D&A looked set fair when they took the foursomes 2-1 and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) won the top singles tie for them by beating Renfrewshire’s young champion, Megan Briggs.
But Renfrewshire clawed their way back from a 1-3 deficit with wins by Clare-Marie Carlton (over three times champion Anne Laing), Donna Jackson, Kate O’Sullivan, Lesley Robertson before Gemma Webster got D&A’s second point of the afternoon.
Lanarkshire beat Ayrshire 6 ½- 2 ½ in the other match on the second-day programme, taking the foursomes 2 ½- ½ and the singles 4-2.
In their final match, Renfrewshire can wrap up a place in the Scottish women’s county championship finals at The Hirself Golf Club, Coldstream in September by beating bottom dogs Ayrshire.
Tuesday scoreboard
WEST DIVISION WOMEN’S INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
East Renfrewshire Golf Club
RENFREWSHIRE 5, DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 4
Foursomes: J Jenkins & C-M Carlton lost to S Bishop & A Laing 4 and 2; D Jackson & G McGinlay bt S Cadden & J Foggo 7 and 6; M Briggs & K O’Sullivan lost to K Walker & G Webster 5 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: Briggs lost to Walker 3 and 2, Carlton bt Laing 1 hole, Jackson bt Bishop 1 hole, O’Sullivan bt J Galbraith 5 and 4, L Robertson bt Cadden 5 and 4, G Kyle lost to Webster 4 and 3 (4-2).
LANARKSHIRE 6 ½, Ayrshire 2 ½
Foursomes: J Wilson & S Wood bt L Hendry & R Kennedy 1 hole; E Cuthill & A Young bt L Keohone & A Thompson 2 and 1; M Hughes & A Hendry halved with C Malcolm & D Watt (2 ½- ½ ).
Singles: Wilson halved with Hendry, Young halved with Kennedy, Cuthill bt A Glennie 3 and 2, Wood bt M McPherson 4 and 3, L Lloyd bt Watt 2 holes, R Rankin lost to Malcolm 4 and 3 (4-2).

HOW THEY STAND
1 Renfrewshire (2 wins), 2 Lanarkshire (1 win, 1 defeat) and Dunbartonshire & Argyll (1 win, 1 defeat), 4 Ayrshire (2 defeats).

MIDLOTHIAN LEAD EAST LOTHIAN 2-1
Midlothian established a 2-1 foursomes lead over East Lothian on the second day of the East Division women’s inter-county team championship at Dunbar Golf Club today.
The partnerships of Wendy Nicholson and Rachael Livingstone, and Claire Hargan and Belinda Murphy got the points for Midlothian after East Lothian’s Fiona Prior and Line Mortensen had beaten Kirsten Blackwood and Claire MacDonald in the opening foursomes.
Fife started the singles with a 3-0 lead over Stirling & Clackmannan after making a clean sweep of the foursomes.
Details
Scores after morning foursomes:
STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 0, FIFE 3
Foursomes: A Davidson & H MacRae lost to E Moffat & F Lockhart 3 and 2; S Mitchell & L Robertson lost to K Caithness and K Milne 3 and 2; L McGregor & V Stevenson lost to L Kenney & J Carthew 8 and 7 (0-3).
Singles: MacRae v Kenney, Robertson v Moffat, Mitchell v Lockhart, McGregor v B Copland, Davidson v Carthew, E Allison & Milne.
MIDLOTHIAN 2, EAST LOTHIAN 1
Foursomes: K Blackwood & C MacDonald lost to F Prior & L Mortensen 4 and 2; W Nicholson & R Livingstone bt L Fortune & E Fairnie 5 and 3; C Hargan & B Murphy bt K Brotherton & J Smith 3 and 2 (2-1).
Singles: Hargan v Prior, Nicholson v S McMaster, K Marshall v Fairnie, H Laughland v Mortensen; Murphy v M Thomson, Blackwood v Brotherton.
Morning results from East Renfrewshire
WEST DIVISION WOMEN’S INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPEast Renfrewshire Golf Club
DAY 2
Scores after foursomes:
RENFREWSHIRE 1, DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 2
Foursomes: J Jenkins & C-M Carlton lost to S Bishop & A Laing 4 and 2; D Jackson & G McGinlay bt S Cadden & J Foggo 7 and 6; M Briggs & K O’Sullivan lost to K Walker & G Webster 5 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: Briggs v Walker, Carlton v Laing, Jackson v Bishop, O’Sullivan v J Galbraith, L Robertson v Cadden, G Kyle v Webster.
LANARKSHIRE 2 ½, AYRSHIRE ½
Foursomes: J Wilson & S Wood bt L Hendry & R Kennedy 1 hole; E Cuthill & A Young bt L Keohone & A Thompson 2 and 1; M Hughes & A Hendry halved with C Malcolm & D Watt (2 ½- ½ ).
Singles: Wilson v Hendry, Young v Kennedy, Cuthill v Glennie, Wood v M McPherson, L Loyd v Watt, R Rankin v Malcolm.

VIKKI BACK IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Vikki Laing returns to action on the Duramed Futures Tour in the United States later this week in the Northwest Indiana Futures Class at Hammond, Indiana.
The 26-year-old, Edinburgh-born player has not played in recent weeks.
Also in the field will be three other British players - Brenda McLarnon (23) from Belfast, a former student at the College of Charleston, South Carolina; Samantha Head (33) from Bedford, and Lisa Hall (38) from Stoke on Trent.
The Northwest Indiana Futures Classic will be over 54 holes, starting on Friday and finishing on Sunday. Total prizefund is $75,000. The winner will received $10,500.

SGU Press Release
SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPION HEADS EUROPEAN BOYS TEAM
Scottish Boys Champion James White will lead the Scotland charge for the European Boys Team title next month (11 - 15 July) in Sweden.
White has emerged as a promising talent this year, picking up the silver medal at the Scottish Youths Stroke Play last week, as well as winning the Boys title at West Kilbride in April, leading the SGU Junior Tour, and guiding Fife to victory in the Glenvargill Peugeot Scottish Boys Area Team Championship.
The 17-year-old helped tee off this season with an international victory for Scotland in the Boys Quadrangular. It was the first time in over a decade the Scots had won the event, having defeated Italy, France and Sweden to maintain a 100% record in the tournament.
Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), James Byrne (Banchory) and Ross Kellet (Colville Park) also keep their place from the winning Boys Quadrangular side.
Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) was runner up in the 2004 Scottish Boys Stroke Play, whilst 17 year old James Byrne (Banchory) reached the semi final of this year’s Scottish Boys Championship. Ross Kellet (Colville Park) has made his mark on the men’s circuit, picking up bronze medals in the Scottish Stroke Play and Scottish Youths Stroke Play, and finishing third in West of Scotland Championship.
Michael Stewart is drafted into the team for the European Boys Team Championships after impressing selectors in the SGU Junior Tour this year. The 16 year old youngster from Troon Welbeck has won two of the Junior Tour events this season and currently holds the third position in the Scottish Junior Golf Ranking table.
The team will be looking to improve on last year’s performance and replicate Scottish success six years ago. The side in 2000, which included Walker Cup star David Inglis, were crowned champions in the Netherlands after defeating Ireland in the final.
Boys Team Captain Barrie Douglas is confident that the team selected will have a successful week. He said: “All the boys in the side are playing well and they have great determination and team spirit. Much of this is down to the enthusiasm and professionalism of their coach Spencer Henderson.
“They enjoyed a wonderful win together earlier in the year at the Boys Quadrangular and it has given them the taste of team success. They are keen to emulate that victory by doing well in Sweden.”
A total of 24 teams will line up for the five day championship, which will be played at Bokskogens Golf Club, Sweden. The event will consist of two phases – 36 holes of stroke play qualifying over the first two days, followed by three days of match play within two flights, the top flight consisting of eight teams.

Monday 26th June 2006

Perth and Kinross, winners of the North Division County Championship 2006
Captain Janet Griffiths said " How proud I am of the Perth & Kinross team. Their preparation for the tournament was second to none and their golf during the tournament was outstanding. The atmosphere of good sportmanship and camaraderie was marvellous to experience. We are all looking forward to the finals in September and hope we do well."

PERTH & KINROSS WIN NORTH DIVISION TITLE FOR FIRST TIME IN 24 YEARS
Perth & Kinross will compete in the Scottish women’s county golf championship finals in September for the first time since 1982.
They booked their place alongside the three other area title-winners by winning the North Division women’s county team championship at Crieff Golf Club today (Monday).
Perth & Kinross did it in champion style by winning all three matches over the three-day tournament. They clinched the divisional title for the first time in 24 years – Crieff was also the venue in 1982 – by beating Aberdeenshire 6 ½-2 ½.
P & K made a clean sweep of the morning foursomes 3-0 to take most of the pressure off the singles. Needing only 2pt from the six afternoon ties to make sure of victory, they got them from Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) and Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore).
A win for Emma Napper (Craigie Hill) and half a point from Fiona Ramsay (Crieff) extended the winning margin.
Perth and Kinross had the outstanding player of the tournament – Alexandra Bushby, pictured right, who won all six of her ties. Fiona Ramsay ran her close with five wins and a halved match.
“It’s fantastic to have won the divisional title after 24 years,” said vice-captain Dawn Butchart. “It was an awesome team effort and it’s rather nice that Perth & Kinross are champions in the year that Jessie Valentine (who was a Craigie Hill Golf Club member all her life) passed away.”
Northern Counties, bidding to win the area title for a fourth year in a row, finished runners-up by beating Angus 5-4.
Monday results:
PERTH & KINROSS 6 ½, ABERDEENSHIRE 2 ½
Foursomes: J Milne & F Ramsay bt S Wood & L Murray 2 and 1, R Niven & A Bushby bt M Thomson & L McLardy 4 and 3, E Ogilvy & E Napper bt C Wilson & K Thomson 3 and 1 (3-0).
Singles: Ogilvy bt K Thomson 3 and 2, Milne lost to Wood 2 and 1, J Yellowlees lost to M Thomson 2 and 1, Bushby bt J Harrison 3 and 2, Napper bt D Pocock 4 and 3, Ramsay halved with Murray (3 ½-2 ½).
NORTHERN COUNTIES 5, ANGUS 4
Foursomes: K MacDonald & J Milne lost to A Ramsay & R Wilson 2 and 1, K Harper & L Walker bt K McNicoll & F Millar 7 and 6, A Ingram & E Manson lost to M Summers & A Hunter 4 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: MacDonald lost to McNicoll 4 and 3, Ingram lost to Ramsay 7 and 5, Harper bt S Murray 3 and 2, Milne bt J Tough 7 and 5, M Smith bt Summers 3 and 2, Walker bt Hunter 6 and 4 (4-2).
Final placings: 1 Perth & Kinross (3 wins), 2 Northern Counties (2 wins, 1 defeat), 3 Angus (1 draw, 2 defeats) and Aberdeenshire (1 draw, 2 defeats).

MIDLOTHIAN'S GOOD START TO TITLE DEFENCE
Scottish title-holders Midlothian made a good start to their defence of the East Division women’s inter-county team golf championship at Dunbar Golf Club today.
They beat Stirling & Clackmannan 6 ½ -2 ½ after taking a 3-0 lead from the morning foursomes.
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) won the top singles tie for Midlothian, beating Curtis Cup team first reserve Heather MacRae (Dunblane) by 4 and 3.
Fife shade East Lothian 5-4, that vital point of a difference coming from a 2-1 morning lead gained in the foursomes.
Two St Regulus players, Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Curtis Cup team second reserve, and last year’s Scottish champion, Fiona Lockhart, finished the day as double winners for Fife.
Results:
EAST DIVISION WOMEN’S INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Dunbar Golf Club.
DAY 1
FIFE 5, EAST LOTHIAN 4
Foursomes: L Kenney & J Carthew lost to F Prior & L Mortenson 3 and 1; E Moffat & F Lockhart bt L Fortune & E Fairnie 5 and 4; K Caithness & K Milne bt J Smith & K Brotherton 1 hole (2-1).
Singles: Kenney bt Prior 1 hole, Caithness bt Mortensen 3 and 2, Moffat lost to Fairnie 3 and 2, Lockhart bt S McMaster 3 and 1, L Bennett lost to M Thomson 3 and 2, Carthew lost to Brotherton 1 hole (3-3)
MIDLOTHIAN 6 ½ , STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 2 ½
Foursomes: K Blackwood & C MacDonald bt A Davidson & Lesley Robertson 5 and 4; K Marshall & W Nicholson bt S Mitchell & Linda Robertson 4 and 2; C Hargan & B Murphy bt S Macgregor & V Stephenson 5 and 4 (3-0).
Singles: Hargan bt H MacRae 4 and 3, MacDonald halved with Linda Robertson, H Laughland lost to Davidson 2 and 1, R Livingstone lost to Mitchell 2 and 1, Marshall bt M Tough 1 hole, Blackwood bt E Allison 3 and 1 (3 ½-2 ½)

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS LANARKSHIRE LOSE THEIR OPENING TIE TO RENFREWSHIRE
Title-holders Lanarkshire lost their opening match of the West Division women’s inter-county golf team championship at East Renfrewshire Golf Club today.
They lost 5 ½-3 ½ to Renfrewshire after sharing the foursomes 1 ½-1 ½.
Lanarkshire made a sound start to the afternoon singles with victories for Jenna Wilson and Alexandra Young.
Renfrewshire turned the tables by taking the last four ties with wins for Clare-Marie Carlton, Donna Jackson, Lesley Robertson and Gillian Kyle
Highlight of Dunbartonshire & Argyll’s 6-3 win over Ayrshire was a winning comeback – after 27 years! – by former Curtis Cup star Suzanne Cadden (Cardross), pictured right with her caddy, Sally Coster. (Photo courtesy of Jean Campbell)
Suzanne beat Morag McPherson (Turnberry) by 6 and 5. She was one of four D&A winners in the singles after the morning foursomes were shared.
Results
WEST DIVISION INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
East Renfrewshire Golf Club
DAY 1
DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 6, AYRSHIRE 3
Foursomes: A Laing & S Bishop halved with C Malcolm & D Watt; J Galbraith & F McLean lost to L Hendry & R Kennedy 5 and 4; G Webster & K Walker bt A Glennie & L Keohone 5 and 3 (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Walker halved with Hendry, Laing bt Kennedy 6 and 4, Bishop bt Malcolm 3 and 2, J Foggo lost to A Thompson 3 and 2, S Cadden bt M McPherson 6 and 5, Webster bt Watt 3 and 2 (4 ½-1 ½ )
RENFREWSHIRE 5 ½, LANARKSHIRE 3 1/2
Foursomes: D Jackson & G Kyle lost to J Wilson & S Wood 2 and 1; J Jenkins & C-M Carlton halved with E Cuthill & A Young; M Briggs & K O’Sullivan bt M Hughes & A Hendry 1 hole (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Briggs lost to Wilson 6 and 5, O’Sullivan lost to Young 1 hole, Carlton bt Cuthill 4 and 3, Jackson bt Wood 3 and 2, L Robertson bt L Lloyd 3 and 1, Kyle bt R Rankin 1 hole (4-2).

IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION GET GREEN LIGHT TO PURCHASE NEW HEADQUARTERS
From the Irish Ladies Golf Union website:
On Saturday 24th June, the lady members of golf clubs nationwide adopted a proposal to purchase new headquarters for the Union at an Extraordinary General Meeting at Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa.
“Due to the phenomenal growth in the Union's activities, it is necessary to expand our facilities at HQ to sustain a quality service to our membership,” explained chief executive Sinead Hearty following the 303-13 majority verdict. “We are delighted by the overwhelming support of the clubs in this regard,” she added.
The ILGU will purchase three units at Q House in Sandyford Industrial Estate where building is due to commence in the last quarter of 2006. The move will be financed by the sale of offices at Clonskeagh Square, borrowings and a one-off levy of 40 Euros each by the 50,000 fee-paying membership.
The move from Clonskeagh to Sandyford is scheduled to take place in early October 2007.

Kate Combes wins Pleasington Putter
Touring Australian player Kate Combes from Long Island Country Club, Victoria won Sunday's Pleasington Putter 36-hole open competition by a record margin of eight shots at Pleasington Golf Club, Blackburn.
Kate had scores of 70 and 71 for a seven-under-par total of 141.
Runner-up on 149 with scores of 76 and 73 was Laura Eastwood (Yelverton).
Three players had the next best total of 151.
Left-handed Welsh champion Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) was placed third ahead of Sarah-Jane Eaves (Cosby) on a card countback. They both scored 76 and 75.
Rachel Lomas (Hallowes) was placed fifth because Sara-jane had a better second round, 75 to 76.
Combined Results - GROSS
1 Kate Combes Long Island (Australia) 70 71 141
2 Laura Eastwood Yelverton 76 73 149
3 Stephanie Evans Vale of Llangollen 76 75 151
4 Sarah-Jane Eaves Cosby 76 75 151
5 Rachel Lomas Hallowes 75 76 151
6 Jody Fleming Yarra Yarra (Australia) 72 80 152
7 Janet Phipps Exeter 79 74 153
8 Clare Brown Furness 75 78 153
9 Tracey Boyes Meon Valley 79 75 154
10 Rebecca Wood Glossop & District 79 75 154
11 Liz Bennett Brokenhurst 79 75 154
12 Rachel Connor Manchester 78 76 154
13 Emma Lyons West Surrey 78 76 154
14 Kamilla Lawton Prestbury 74 80 154
15 Sophie Stubbs Shifnall 80 75 155
16 Sophie Beardsall Greetham Valley 79 76 155
17 Ellie Givens Blackwell Grange 76 79 155
18 Caroline Marron Bromborough 80 76 156
19 Gemma Thornell Oswestry 79 77 156
20 Louisa Stirling Formby Ladies' 82 75 157
21 Jennie Pease Braintree 79 78 157
22 Laura Collin John O'Gaunt 77 80 157

RHIND LETS IT SLIP ON LAST NINE
Lee Rhind from Livingston finished joint 13th in the Tight Lies Tour’s Stonebridge Open at Bossier City, Louisiana on Sunday.
Rhind, 27, had rounds of 71, 69, 68 and 71 for a total of nine-under-par 279.
He birdied the first, third, fourth, seventh and eighth with only one bogey, at the second, in improving to 13 under par for the tournament with 10 holes to play. At that point he was within striking distance of back-to-back wins on the Tight Lies Tour.
But Lee then bogeyed the ninth, 12th, 13th and 16th before adding a final birdie at the 18th.
Winner by three shots was American Alan Weant with 17-under-par 271, made up of 70, 68, 68 and 65.

LOW-NOTE FINISH FOR JULIE FORBES
Julie Forbes from Aboyne had rounds of 78, 73 and 83 for a total of 234 in the Estoril Ladies Open of Portugal over the Oitavos course at Quinta da Marinha. She was the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut.
Julie earned 660 Euros for the week which ended on a low note for her with nine bogeys, a double bogey and not a single birdie in her closing round.
France’s Stephanie Arricau won the title – her second tournament win in three weeks. She finished on nine-under-par 207, five shots ahead of compatriot Gwladys Nocera, to win the 45,000 Euros top prize.
LEADING TOTALS
207 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 71 71 67.
212 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 69 73 70.
213 Sarah Kemp (Aus) 69 72 72.
214 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 74 71 69.
215 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 72 69 74.
Other total:
234 Julie Forbes (Sco) 78 73 83.

A FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR SAMANTHA
Samantha Head, the only British or Irish player to contest the final round, finished tied 38th in the Duramed Futures Tour’s Lima Memorial Hospital Classic at Lost Creek Country Club, Lima in Ohio.
Samantha, from Bedford, had rounds of 71,70 and 72 for a total of 213 in a very low scoring tournament over a 5,992yd, par-72 course. Samantha eared $333 for her three-under-par effort.
Ji Min Jeong, one of many Koreans on the tour, scored her first win with rounds of 69, 66 and 68 for a 13-under-par total of 203. By birdieing the last hole, she had one shot to spare over Mollie Fankhauser. Her cash prize was $9,800.

SGU Press Release
STROKE PLAY CHAMPION HEADS EURO YOUTHS TEAM
Scottish Stroke Play Champion Scott Henry headlines a strong Scotland side to play in the European Youths Team Championships next month (11-15 July).
The 19 year old secured his first senior title at Craigielaw at the beginning of the month to underline his reputation as one of the country’s hottest young golfing talents.
Cardross ace Henry came from behind to take the title from England’s Ross McEwan in the Scottish Stroke Play, and he will be hoping to carry this form into the European Youths Team Championships in Spain, where Scotland will be looking to become only the fourth nation to successfully defend their crown.
Joining Henry in the side is Walker Cup star Lloyd Saltman, who was a member of the victorious Scotland side in 2004. The 20 year old from Craigielaw impressed last year, clinching a unique double on The Old Course, St Andrews – winning the Links Trophy and securing the Silver Medal in The Open Championship.
The Scotland team, also includes Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie) who missed out on the Scottish Youths Stroke Play Championship at the weekend after setting the pace at the halfway stage.
Former British Boys Champion Jordan Findlay, will also be hoping to repeat the performance of Scotland’s youths team in 2004, when they held on to take the European Youths Team title in a nail biting final against England. The dramatic match went down to the final game to decide the champions, with 2004 Scottish Stroke Play Champion Richie Ramsay securing the last vital point to make the victory safe.
Team Captain, and former Walker Cup star Barclay Howard is confident that his side can mount a serious challenge. He said: “We have a strong team with a number of extremely talented individuals. More importantly though, they are able to perform well as part of a team.
“I have been lucky enough to be part of winning side in the Walker Cup and I know what a great experience it can be to share success as a team.
“I am keen to pass on this experience and help the boys perform well in Spain and emulate Scotland’s success in the event two years ago.
“I know they will be focused and determined to play to the best of their ability. Let’s just hope that their best will be good enough to win the title.”
The European Youths Team Championship is a biennial event which was last held in Scotland in 2000, hosted by Kilmarnock Barassie. A total of 17 teams will line up for the five-day championship to be played at La Canada Golf Club, Spain.
Full team is as follows:
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh)
Scott Henry (Cardross)
Russell Knox (Nairn Dunbar)
Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Paul O’Hara (Colville Park)
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw)

EGU Press Release
Fisher heads strong team for European Youths Championship
Oliver Fisher, the youngest ever GB&I Walker Cup player, and three other full internationals, have been selected in a strong England team for the European Youths Team Championship in Spain next month.
The Championship, being staged at La Cañada Golf Club near Cadiz from 11th - 15th July, will also see England field full caps David Horsey, James Ruth and Paul Waring with former boy internationals Gary Boyd and Ben Parker completing the team.
Fisher, pictured ((Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)), became the youngest Walker Cup player when he represented GB&I in Chicago last August, just weeks before his 17th birthday. Over the past three years the Essex lad has underlined his enormous talent by collecting a string of titles and representative honours at home and abroad. His latest success came earlier this month when he won the St Andrews Links Trophy over the Old Course.
Horsey earned his first England cap against France in Bordeaux last month, having just won the West of England Stroke Play Championship. After losing to James Heath in the final of the English Amateur at Hollinwell in 2004, Horsey won the County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa last September by seven strokes after a closing course record of 64 over the Hotchkin Course. Earlier this year the 21 year old from Cheshire was a member of the victorious England squad in the Costa Ballena Tournament in Spain and finished tied third in the South African Stroke Play Championship.
Ruth, 21, from Devon, has been capped at all levels over the past five years. He made his full England debut against France at Sandwich in 2004 and played against Spain last year. He has also represented England in the past two Home Internationals. Last year, he represented the EGU in Portugal, Spain and Belgium, then won the St Mellion International, finished third in the Berkshire Trophy and reached the last 16 of the English Amateur. This year, Ruth was also a member of the winning England team in the Costa Ballena Tournament, tied third in the Duncan Putter and won the EGU south-west Regional Qualifier earlier this month.
Waring, 21, is another with an extensive representative record with England. Capped at all levels since 2001, he was England boys captain in 2003, but after winning the Peugeot Classic in France and finishing second in the Duncan Putter in 2004, he was sidelined by injury. After being out for nine months, he celebrated his return by becoming English Champion over his home course at Bromborough last July. He then made his long overdue full England debut in September’s Home Internationals. This year, he played against France, finished runner-up to Horsey in the West of England and fifth in the Mexican Amateur. He is the only member of the side who played in the 2004 European Youths Team Championships in Ireland.
Boyd, 19, from Northamptonshire, is a former Midland Youths Champion, who was capped at under 16 level before earning his first boys cap in England’s victorious Boys Home Internationals side in Ireland in 2004. He finished third in the Carris Trophy that year and represented GB&I against Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Last year, he reached the quarter finals of the English Amateur and after playing his part in the Costa Ballena Tournament victory this year, reached the semi-finals of the Spanish Amateur. He was named as reserve for the international with France last month.
Parker, 18, who is based in Germany where his father is a club professional, has been a member of the winning England sides for the past two years in the Boys Home Internationals and of the victorious team in the 2004 European Boys Team Championships.
A former winner of the European Young Masters, he won the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl in America last Christmas, followed this up with another international victory by winning the Tasmanian Open in February, the first non-Australian player to do so, and recently finished tied third in the Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship.
England’s only win in the European Youths Championship came in Scotland in 2000 but they have finished runners-up three times, to Sweden in 1992 and 2002 and to Scotland two years ago in Ireland.
The complete England team is:
Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge), Oliver Fisher (West Essex), David Horsey (Styal), Ben Parker (Gut Waldhof), James Ruth (Tavistock), and Paul Waring (Bromborough).

Sunday 25th June 2006

PERTH & KINROSS FAVOURITES TO WIN NORTH DIVISION TITLE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1982
Perth & Kinross are on the brink of winning their first North Division women’s inter-county team golf championship for the first time since 1982.
Twenty-four years ago they beat Angus, Aberdeenshire & Northern Counties to win the title at Crieff – and, by coincidence, that is the venue for this year’s three-day championship.
Perth & Kinross followed up their 7-2 Saturday win over Angus by beating Northern Counties, champions for the past three years, 5 ½-3 ½
In the other match, Aberdeenshire and Angus drew 4 ½-4 ½.
In Monday’s final programme, Perth & Kinross play Aberdeenshire, while Northern Counties play Angus.
The winners of the North Division team title go forward to the Scottish women’s county finals at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream in September.
Details:
SUNDAY
ANGUS 4 ½ , ABERDEENSHIRE 4 ½
Foursomes: R Wilson & A Ramsay lost to S Wood & L Murray 1 hole; M Summers & A Hunter bt L McLardy & M Thomson 2 holes; K McNicoll & F Millar bt J Harrison & C Wilson 1 hole (2-1)
Singles: J Tough lost to K Thomson 4 and 3, Hunter lost to Wood 4 and 2, R Wilson lost to M Thomson 5 and 3, Summers bt C Wilson 6 and 5, McNicoll bt D Pocock 4 and 3, Ramsay halved with Murray (2 ½ -3 ½ ).
NORTHERN COUNTIES 3 ½ , PERTH & KINROSS 5 ½
Foursomes: K MacDonald & Jenny Milne lost to Jillian Milne & F Ramsay 4 and 2; K Harper & L Walker lost to R Niven & A Bushby 2 and 1; A Ingram & E Manson bt E Ogilvy & S Kettlewell 5 and 3 (1-2).
Singles: MacDonald bt Niven 3 and 1, Harper lost to Jillian Milne 3 and 1, Walker bt J Yellowlees 3 and 2, Ingram lost to Bushby 2 and 1, Jenny Milne lost to Ramsay 2 holes, M Smith halved with E Napper (2 ½ -3 ½ ).
HOW THEY STAND
1 Perth & Kinross (2 wins), 2 Northern Counties (1 win, 1 defeat), 3 Aberdeenshire (1 draw, 1 defeat) & Angus (1 draw, 1 defeat).
MONDAY MATCHES:
9am & 1.30: Perth & Kinross v Aberdeenshire; Northern Counties v Angus.

Francisco Pintor with the Scottish Youths Trophy

SIXTEEN YEAR OLD SPANIARD WINS SCOTTISH OPEN YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP
FRANCISCO Pintor , only 16, became not only the first Spanish winner but also possibly the youngest ever holder of the title at the conclusion of the Scottish youths’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh today.
Francisco, from Alicante, came from four shots off the pace at the halfway stage to go two clear of the field with a four-under-par 68 in the third round. A closing 74 was good enough to see him win the Under-21s' title by two shots with a total of four-under-par 284.
Scottish boys match-play champion James White Lundin) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) were joint runners-up on 286.
Halfway leader Steven McEwan (Barassie) faded with closing rounds of 74 and 76 to a level par total of 288 which earned him joint fourth place.
Pintor described the win as the biggest of his career, and hopes it will secure his place in Spain’s side for the European boys’ team championship next month.
He said: “I have won county championships in Spain, but never a national title, so this is really special. t is also my first time playing in Scotland, so I am delighted to have played so well here.
“I knew that I was playing well, and the course really suited my game, so I was hoping to do well in the event.
Pintor flies over to Scotland every three months to receive tuition from Kingsacre Golf Centre, Edinburgh headoach Alan Murdoch. It was on Alan’s advice that young Francisco entered the Scottish youths open championship.
The trophy will now head back to Kingsacre – the home of former Scottish youths champion and European Tour player Andrew Oldcorn.
McEwan cut Pintor’s lead to just one shot after the first hole of the final round. The Spaniard bogeyed the par-4 hole to slip back to five under par.
Pintor’s nervous start continued with bogeys at the second and fourth as he approached the turn at three over par for his round.
McEwan kept up the challenge with an eagle 3 at the eighth but his bid for the title crumbled with consecutive bogeys at the 14th and 15th.
A fantastic birdie at the last hole – his first at the tricky 18th – was enough for Pintor to become the first Spaniard to secure the title.
SCOTTISH YOUTHS OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh
FINAL TOTALS (Par 72)
284 F Pintor (Spa) 69 73 68 74.
286 J White (Lundin) 75 69 75 67. R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 69 72 71..
288 M Larusson (Ice) 69 75 74 70, A Main (Thornton) 76 71 70 71, S McEwan (Barassie) 68 70 74 76.
289 S Mann (Carnosutie) 75 72 69 73.
291 P Westermann (Ger) 75 71 70 75.
292 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 71 74 74 73, R McKnight (Barassie) 70 71 75 76.
293 M Smyth (Royal Troon) 73 76 73 71.
294 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 73 71 77 73, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 71 73 79 71, T Curtis (Pannal) 70 75 76 73.
295 K Glen (Royal Musselburgh) 73 72 76 74.
297 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 74 73 72 78.
298 M Kraemer (Ger) 77 71 75 75, C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 72 73 75 78
299 T Benatzky (Ger) 73 75 76 75, J Byrne (Banchory) 73 72 77 77, R Noon (Musselburgh) 74 73 76 76.
300 D Parlane (Helensburgh) 71 73 77 79, A Gordon (Portpatrick) 70 76 80 74.
301 E Malcolm (Dunfermline) 70 77 76 78, D Yeats (Newmachar) 76 71 78 76.
302 A Lauder (Paisley) 71 77 77 77, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 77 72 74 79, C-H Raindre (Fra) 74 75 78 75, M Bozio (Fra) 74 70 79 79, S Simants (Dunbar) 71 75 76 80.
303 P Okan (Ger) 77 72 76 78, S Barras (Helensburgh) 72 77 78 76, A Moir (Thornton) 78 71 81 73, S Fraser (Northern) 75 72 76 80, S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 72 78 77, R Crowe (Newcastle Utd) 70 73 83 77.
304 M Main (Thornton) 68 77 80 79, F Dunlop (Broomieknowe) 74 72 78 80, S Herald (Whitecraigs) 78 68 82 76, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 75 80 76.
306 C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 73 73 85.
307 F Bone (Cardross) 81 68 69 79.
308 K Smith (Barassie) 74 75 81 78, D Laing (Craigielaw) 74 75 79 80.
309 M Spence (Newmachar) 76 71 79 83.
311 A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 76 72 81 82, S Jaeger (Ger) 77 72 80 82.
312 B Campbell (Malone) 78 71 80 83.
Retired: R Graham (Hayston) 69 74 80 Ret.
NR F McKenna (~Balmore) 76 73 76 NR.

WARDELL COVERS EDZELL FRONT NINE ON WAY TO GRAND PERFORMANCE
Whitekirk Golf Club professional Paul Wardell reduced the first nine holes to only 31 strokes in winning the top prize of £1,064 in the £7,500 Edzell Golf Club pro-am today (Sunday).
Wardell finished with a five-under-par 66 but all the magic came before the turn. Paul birdied the first, second, third, sixth and ninth to be five under par after nine holes.
The inward half was positively humdrum after that – nine straight pars for 35 home.
He won by one stroke from Ross Drummond (Prestwick Driving Range) and Colin Gillies (Kingsfield).
The last group to finish, Alan Reid (unattached)and the Angus Tyre Company trio of Bill Annandale (14), Andrew Mitchell (19) and Duncan Henderson (16), won the pro-am team event with a net score of 20-under-par 122.
They pipped the clubhouse leaders - Lee Vannet (Carnoustie) and the Ryden team of Gus Stewart (12), Mike Loggie (14) and Dave Manzie (4) - by one shot.
LEADING SCORES
66 P Wardell (Whitekirk).
67 R Drummond (Prestwick DR), C Gillies (Kingsfield).
68 K Walker (Castle Park).
69 D B Scott (Douglas Park), S Henderson (Kings Links).
770 G McFarlane (World of Golf), J McKinnon (Troon), I Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan).
TEAM WINNERS
122 Angus Tyre Company (Alan Reid (unattached) Bill Annandale (14) Andrew Mitchell (19) Duncan Henderson (16) )
123 Ryden (L Vannet (Carnoustie) & Ryden: G Stewart (12), M Loggie (14), D Manzie (4) )

GALLAGHER SWOOPS TO CONQUER IN TENNANT CUP AT KILLERMONT
Cack-handed John Gallagher once again demonstrated that it’s not how, but how many when he came with a Sunday swoop to win the prestigious Tennant Cup 72-hole tournament at Glasgow Golf Club’s Killermont course today (Sunday).
The Swanston man was in third place overnight after rounds of 69 and 72 at Glasgow Gailes on Saturday, six shots behind leader Craig Watson.
But Watson opened door to his challengers with a third-round 75 and Gallagher swept through with scores of 68 and 69 for a four-round total of four-under-par 278.
He won by two shots from Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes), Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) and Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire).
TENNANT CUP – First two rounds Glasgow Gailes; second two rounds Killermont.
FINAL TOTALS (CSS 74 74 69 69)
278 J Gallagher (Swanston) 69 72 68 69.
279 S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes() 76 64 68 71, G Dear (Murrayshall) 72 72 65 70, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 68 67 75 69.
282 J King (Glasgow) 72 70 68 72.
283 E Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 71 68 71.
284 M Kerr (Dalmahoy) 74 71 70 69.
285 C MacAulay (Tulliallan) 71 74 69 71, K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 76 69 70 70, I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 71 75 71 68.
286 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 77 70 69 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 72 74 73 67.
290 G Gorrie (Glasgow) 73 69 73 75.
293 B Anderson (Cambuslang) 80 70 69 74, S Clark (Haggs Castle) 73 72 79 69.
295 D Simpson (Comrie) 71 78 71 75.
297 K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 79 74 67.
298 C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 76 79 71 72, W Booth (Comrie) 81 77 70 70.
299 J mathers (Haggs Castle) 75 77 73 74.
300 R Taylor (Downfield) 78 71 72 79, A
301 G Munro (Ranfurly Castle) 76 75 77 73.
302 G Yates (Hilton park) 76 74 73 79, S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 78 75 72 77.
303 P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 75 77 77.
304 S Rennie (Airdrie) 76 77 77 74, S Hume (Murrayshall) 78 76 78 72.
305 J Hempstock (Dumfries & Co) 79 77 74 75.
307 D Miller (Fereneze) 75 78 76 78.
308 S Turnbull (Hayston) 78 81 80 69.
312 P Betty (Hayston) 78 81 82 71.
313 C Carson (Inellan) 83 75 77 78.
314 F Inglis (Murrayshall) 79 78 79 78.
NR J Whitelaw (Lanark) 83 75 78 NR

Craigmillar Park Junior Open
Monday 3 July
There are still some times available for the Craigmillar Park Junior Open. In particular the organisers would like to see more girls play, at the moment there are 4 girls from Sweden playing. For more information please contact secretary@craigmillarpark.co.uk or phone Barry Knowles on 0131 667 0047. Entry Fee £3

BRENDA FAILS TO BEAT THE CUT
Belfast's Brenda McLarnon matched the par of 72 in the second round of the Duramed Futures Tour's Lima Memorial Hospital Classic at Lima, Ohio but missed one of the lowest cuts of the season. One-over-par 145 made it, but 146 did not not.
Brenda, a former student at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, saddled herself with an opening score of 79. Her 36-hole total of 151 was always going to be five or six shots too many on a short course with small greens.
Ji Min Jeong from Kyungki, Korea bogeyed the last for a 66 and a nine-under-par tally of 135. She leads by only one shot.
Six shots off the pace is Samantha Head from Bedford. She has scored 71 and 70 for 141 and a share of 35th place.

McLEARY JOINT SIXTH ON CHALLENGE TOUR
Scots Jamie McLeary and Andrew McArthur finished joint sixth and joint 11th respectively in the Credit Suisse Challenge tournament at Wylihof Golf Club. McLeary, in contention for the 22,400 Euros first prize over the final round, finished with scores of 70, 72, 64 and 73 for a 13-under-par total of 279 to earn 4,340 Euros.
Former Scottish amateur champion McArthur had rounds of 69, 70, 73 and 69 for 281 to win 2,590 Euros.
Spain's Francisco Cea beat Englan's Tim Milford at the second extra hole of a sudden death play-off to take the title and the top cash award. They had tied on 16-under-par 276.
CREDIT SUISSE CHALLENGE
Wylihof Golf Club
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
276 F Cea (Spa) 73 69 69 65, T Milford (Eng) 65 72 71 68 (Cea won play-off at second extra hole.
277 G Davies (Eng) 73 68 70 66, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 69 70 69.
Other placings:
279 J McLeary (Sco) 70 72 64 73.
281 A McArthur (Sco) 69 70 73 69.

Saturday 24th June 2006

NORTHERN COUNTIES’ GOOD START TO BID FOR TITLE FOUR-TIME AT CRIEFF
Northern Counties boosted their hopes of a fourth success title win in the North Division women’s inter-county team championship when they beat their main rivals, Aberdeenshire, 5 ½-3 ½ in the opening match at Crieff today (Saturday).
Northern Counties took the foursomes 2-1 and the singles 3 ½-2 ½ with 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald from Nairn Dunbar winning the battle of the county champions by 2 and 1 against Katie Thomson (Kintore).
In the other opening match of the three-day tournament, Perth & Kinross had a surprisingly convincing 7-2 win over Angus. P&K, who have not won the North Division title since 1982, took the foursomes 2-1 and the singles 5-1.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff) won the top singles tite by 5 and 4 against Angus county champion Jane Tough (Brechin).
Details:
ABERDEENSHIRE 3 ½, NORTHERN COUNTIES 5 ½
Foursomes: S Wood & L Murray lost to K MacDonald & J Milne 3 and 2; D Pocock & M Thomson lost to K Harper & L Walker 4 and 3; J Harrison & C Wilson bt M Smith & D Sinclair 3 and 1 (1-2).
Singles: K Thomson lost to MacDonald 2 and 1, Wood lost to Walker 1 hole, Murray bt Smith 3 and 2, C Wilson halved with Milne, L McLardy lost to A Ingram 5 and 4, M Thomson bt Harper 3 and 1 (2 ½-3 ½ ).
ANGUS 2, PERTH & KINROSS 7
Foursomes: M Summers & A Hunter lost to J Milne & R Ramsay 3 and 2; R Wilson, A Ramsay lost to R Niven, A Bushby 4 and 3, K McNicoll & S Murray bt E Ogilvy, E Napper 2 and 1 (1-2).
Singles: J Tough lost to Niven 5 and 4, Summers lost to Bushby 2 and 1, Wilson lost to J Yellowlees 3 and 2, Murray lost to S Kettlewell 3 and 2, F Millar lost to F Ramsay 4 and 3, McNicoll bt Ogilvy 5 and 4 (1-5).
Sunday matches (9am & 1.30):
Angus v Aberdeenshire, Northern Counties v Perth & Kinross.

BARASSIE BOYS 1-2 AT HALFWAY STAGE OF SCOTTISH YOUTHS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Kilmarnock Barassie boys Steven McEwan and Robert McKnight lead the field at the halfway stage of the Scottish youths’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh.
McEwan, winner last year of the Scottish Under-18 boys’ stroke-play title and capped recently for Scotland youths against Ireland, added a two-under-par 70 to his opening round of 68 for a six-under-par tally of 138.
McEwan reached the turn in one under par with birdies at the fifth, seventh and eighth, dropping shots at the third and sixth. Coming home, he birdied the long 12th and the par-4 14th and dropped only one more shot, at the 15th in coming home in 35 for a 70.
He leads by three shots overnight from clubmate Robert McKnight who has had scores of 70 and 71.
A total of 50 players with totals of 149 qualified for Sunday’s final two rounds.
QUALIFIERS
138 S McEwan (Barassie) 68 70.
141 R McKnight (Barassie) 70 71.
142 F Pintor (Spa) 69 73.
143 R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 69, R Graham (Hayston) 69 74, R Crowe (Newcastle Utd) 70 73..
144 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 71 73, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 73 71, M Bozio (Fra) 74 70, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 71 73, J White (Lundin) 75 69, M Larusson (Ice) 69 75.
145 K Glen (Royal Musselburgh) 73 72, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 71 74, T Curtis (Pannal) 70 75, M Main (Thornton) 68 77, C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 72 73, J Byrne (Banchory) 73 72.
146 P Westermann (Ger) 75 71, S Simants (Dunbar) 71 74, A Gordon (Portpatrick) 70 76, S Herald (Whitecraigs) 78 68, F Dunlop (Broomieknowe) 74 72.
147 R Noon (Musselburgh) 74 73, D Yeats (Newmachar) 76 71, S Mann (Carnoustie) 75 72, K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 74 73, M Spence (Newmachar) 76 71, S Fraser(Northeren) 75 72, E Malcolm (Dunfermline) 70 77, A Main (Thornton) 76 71.
148 T Benatzky (Ger) 73 75, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 74, A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 76 72, M Kraemer (Ger) 77 71, A Lauder (Paisley) 71 77, C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 73, S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 72.
149 F Bone (Cardross) 81 69, S Barras (Helensburgh) 72 77, B Campbell (Malone) 77 72, S Jaeger (Ger) 77 72, K Smith (Barassie) 74 75, C-H Raindre (Fra) 74 75, M Smyth (Royal Troon) 73 76, D Laing (Craigielaw) 74 75, A Moir (Thornton) 74 75, F McKenna (Balmore) 76 73, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 77 72.
MISSED CUT
150 L Kirton (Newmachar) 77 73, S Neilson (Dunbar) 72 78, K Spence (Newmachar) 79 71, S Binning (Old Ranfurly) 76 74, S Mann (Moray) 74 76, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 74 76, A Kristinsson (Ice) 74 76, A Hay (Westhill) 75 75.
151 B Rushford (Grangemouth) 79 72, E Polson (Inverness) 75 76, N Cameron (King James VI) 74 77, R Anderson (Duddingston) 77 74, A Nelson (Douglas Park) 74 77, R Rebecchi (Greenock) 77 74, R Leeds (Muckhart) 76 75, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 78.
152 G Wood (Crow Wood) 78 74, A Bews (Murcar Links) 77 75, T Hayes (West Byfleet) 83 69, R Hyland (Newmachar) 82 70, G Nicolson (Mortonhall) 72 80, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 74 78, R Jamieson (US) 76 76, B Mackay (Prestonfield) 76 76.
153 G Turner (West Linton) 77 76, M Oueld-Es-Cheik (Fra) 77 76, J Meechan (Dullatur) 78 75, P Latimer (St Andrews New) 75 78, M Murray (Brora) 76 77, P McCabe (Wishaw) 80 73, M Lawrence (Kintore) 81 72, S Keane (Cathkin Braes) 78 75, O Loftsson (Ice) 76 77.
154 D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 82 72, J Lockie (Tantallon) 74 80, T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 78 76, L Vettese (Nigg Bay) 77 77, M Greil (Ita) 81 73, G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 77 77, C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 80 74. M Hamm (Ger) 82 72, K Wilson (Moffat) 79 75,
155 C Malcolm (Dunfermline) 79 76, E Brown (Barassie) 79 76, J Donaldson (Falkirk Tryst) 77 78, D Chapman (Costessey Park) 73 82, J Bradley (Paisley) 77 78, S Crichton (Aberdour) 84 71, S Steffansson (Ice) 76 79..
156 A Rollo (Elgin) 78 78, C Cannon (East Sussex National) 78 78, K Truscott (Newmachar) 76 80, J Neilson (Dunbar) 80 786, R Lando (Colville Park) 79 77, J Mackay (Barassie) 76 80, A Finnbjornsson (Ice) 82 74, C Aitken (Glencruitten) 77 79, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 81 75.
157 M Bookless (Sandyhills) 79 78, C Kelly (Kirkhill) 80 77, D Addison (Barassie) 79 78, A Boyle (Dublin) 82 75, M Junker (Ger) 76 81.
158 A Brown (Kilsyth Lennox) 77 81, T Machleid (Ger) 81 77, C Storrier (Downfield) 78 80.
159 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 80 79.
160 S McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) 81 69, S Tully (Duddingston) 80 80, C Young (Eastwood) 81 79, C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 82 78.
161 M Gentles (Edzell) 78 83, J Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile) 86 75.
162 A McKie (Glencruitten) 84 78, J Laing (Longniddry) 80 82, D Sommerville (St Andrews) 83 79.
163 M Watson (Elgin) 83 80, S Henderson (Barassie) 81 82, T Gissurarson (Ice) 78 85, N Sinclair (Barassie) 83 80.
164 J Foley (Forres) 80 84.
165 R McKen (Newburgh on Ythan) 83 82, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 85 80, R Bell (Downfield) 81 84, D Torrance (Wentworth) 84 81.
167 D Broadfoot (Kirkcudbright) 86 81.
170 S P Olafsson (Ice) 80 90
.

THE WONDER OF WATSON: CRAIG LEADS TENNANT CUP BY FIVE AT HALFWAY
Former British amateur champion Craig Watson turned the clock back a few years with a vintage performance to lead by five strokes from a good-class field at the halfway stage of the Tennant Cup today.
Watson, playing out of the East Renfrewshire club, shot rounds of 68 and 67 over Glasgow Gailes links – against a CSS of 74 morning and afternoon – for a 36-hole tally of 135.
Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) dashed up to Ayrshire from Kent after a Friday morning exit from the British amateur championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club to be Watson’s nearest rival on 140.
Jamieson, who tied with Watson for the Edward Trophy over two rounds at the same course in April, was a bit travel-weary with an opening score of 76 but then he slashed 12 strokes off that after lunchtime with a brilliant score of seven-under-par 64.
The final two rounds switch to Glasgow Golf Club’s Killermont course on Sunday.
HALFWAY TOTALS
135 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 68 67.
140 S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) 76 64.
141 J Gallagher (Swanston) 69 72.
142 G Gorrie (Glasgow) 73 69, J King (Glasgow) 72 70.
144 G Dear (Murrayshall) 72 72, E Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 71.
145 C Macaulay (Tulliallan) 71 74, M Kerr (Dalmahoy) 74 71, K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 76 69.
146 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 72 74, I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle).
147 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 77 70.
148 P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 74.
149 D Simpson (Comrie) 71 78, R Taylor (Downfield) 78 71.
150 B Anderson (Cambuslang) 80 70, G Yates (Hilton Park) 76 74.
151 G Munro (Ranfurly Castle) 76 75.
152 J Mathers (Haggs Castle) 75 77, N Gold ( Bonnyton) 74 78.
153 S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 78 75, S Rennie (Airdrie) 76 77, D Miller (Fereneze) 75 78.
154 S Hume (Myurrayshall) 78 76.
155 C Colraine (Windyhill) 77 78, A Love (Dunbar) 73 82, A Howard Murrayshall) 76 79, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 76 789, M Clark (Kilmacolm) 780 75.
156 K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 79, S Michie (Thornton) 82 74, J Hempstock (Dumfries & Co) 79 787.
157 F Inglis (Murrayshall) 79 78.
158 W Booth (Comrie) 81 77, C Carson (Inellan) 83 75, J Whitelaw (Lanark) 83 75.
159 P Betty (Hayston) 78 81, S Turnbull (Hayston) 78 81.
TOP TEE TIMES AT KILLERMONT
9.37 & 1.52 - O’Hara & Colquhoun.
9.45 & 2.00 - Campbell & Clark.
9.52 & 2.07 - McNicoll & Kerr.
10.0 & 2.15 - Macaulay and E Saltman.
10.06 & 2.22 - Dear and King.
10.15 & 2.30 - Gorrie & Gallagher.
10.22 & 2.37 - Jamieson & Watson.

JULIE MAKES IT BUT LYNN, LIZ AND CLARE MISS CUT IN PORTUGAL
Aboyne exile Julie Forbes made the 36-hole cut in the Ladies European Tour event at Oitavos golf course in the Estoril and Sintra region of Portugal today.
Julie had rounds of 78 and 73 to be joint 46th on seven-over-par 151 going into Sunday's final round.
Players with totals of 154 and over did not qualify.
They included Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) and Inverness-based Kiwi Liz McKinnon on 159. Lynn and Liz both scored 78 and 81.
Sarah Kemp (Australia) and Becky Brewerton from Wales share the lead at three-under--par 141. Sarah has scored 69 and 72, while Becky did it the other way round, 72 and 69.

SUPERMAC HITS SIX BIRDIES IN SUCCESSION IN WINNING PORTLETHEN PRO-AM WITH A 62
Irvine tour pro Jim McKinnon shot a brilliant 10-under-par 62 to win the Portlethen Golf Club pro-am by four shots today (Saturday).
McKinnon picked up the £1,035 prize with a bogey-free card and his 10 birdies included six in a row from 12th to the 17th in halves of 32 (four under par) and 30 (six under par).
Gary Colinson (Esporta Dougalston) and Kenny Walker (Castle Park) were joint runners-up on 66.
Alan Reid (unattached) led the Randy Smith Training team No 1 to victory in the team event with a net score of 19-under-par 55. The amateurs were Duncan Bonner (6), Jay Richardson (15) and George Robertson (14).
LEADING SCORES
62 J McKinnon (Irvine).
66 G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston), K Walker (Castle Park).
67 C Gillies (Kingsfield).
68 G McFarlane (World of Golf.
69 N Murray (Cruden Bay), S Henderson (Kings Links), G Hutcheon (unatt), S Cairns (Westerwood), S Gray (Hayston), L Vannet (Carnoustie), M King (Kingsfield), A Reid (unatt).
TEAM WINNERS
55 A Reid (unatt) & Randy Smith Training team No 1: D Bonner (6), J Richardson (15), G Robertson (14).

FRENCHMAN IS NEW CHAMPION
Julien Guerrier (France) beat Englishman Adam Gee from Leatherhead by 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final of the British men's open amateur championship at Royal St George's Golf Club, Kent today

BRENDA MISSES OUT ON BIRDIE BONANZA
Belfast-born Brenda McLarnon had a poor inward half while most of the field were enjoying a birdie bonanza in the first round of the Duramed Futures Tour’s Lima Memorial Hospital Classic.
Some 57 players returned sub-par scores over the 5,992yd, par-72 course but Brenda slumped to a seven-over-par 79 despite reaching the turn in par 36.
Miss McLarnon played the American college circuit when she was a student at the College of Charleston, South Carolina.
Leading the field at Lost Creek Country Club, Lima in Ohio is 17-year-old rookie Song-Hee Kim from Seoul, South Korea.
Already a winner three times this season and the Futures Tour money-table leader, Song-Hee shot a seven-under-par 65 with halves of 31 and 34.

LEE IN TOP 20 IN LOUISIANA
Lee Rhind from Livingston was lying joint 16th at the halfway stage of the Stonebridge Open – the latest event on the Tight Lies Tour – at Bossier City, Louisiana.
Rhind, a winner on the EuroPro Tour last year and a former Scottish boys’ open stroke-play champion, has had rounds of 71 and 69 for a four-under-par tally of 140.
The 27-year-old is seven shots behind leader Casey Yates who has had 68 and 65 for 11-under 133.
Rhind won the $14,000 first prize in the previous week’s event, the Lake Charles Open, and has won $20,262 in five events on the US satellite circuit.
Lee is based in Midland, Texas for the summer.

JAMIE McLEARY EQUALS COURSE RECORD
Former Scotland amateur international Jamie McLeary produced just about his best performance as a tour produring Saturday’s third round of the Credit Suisse Challenge.
He matched the course record of nine-under-par 64 (33-31) to move from 26th place into pole position going into the final round at the Wylihof Golf Club.
McLeary, who was a member of the Leven Golfing Society, began the day on four under par, but his stunning third round, which matched the course record set by Spain’s Juan Parron on Thursday, took him to 13-under 206 and gave him a one-shot lead from England’s James Heath with 18 holes to play, with England’s Tim Milford and Denmark’s Mads Vibe-Hastrup tied in third place on 11 under.
McLeary, 25, was ranked the fifth best amateur in the world by the R&A in 2004 but his professional career has never matched that standard - until now!
“I enjoyed that,” smiled McLeary. “I have been playing really well for the last couple of weeks and felt that a round like today’s was coming. I finished sixth at the Challenge Tour event in Norway last week, and I hope I can do even better tomorrow.
“The main goal for Sunday is to out and play well. If I can do that then I’ll be happy. I don’t want to think too much about wining, but it would be huge for my career.”
McLeary was not the only Scot in the field producing magical golf. Former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur, produced the shot of the week so far on the par-3 13th hole – a perfect five-iron from 203 yards that buried itself in the bottom of the cup without a single bounce.

Friday 23rd June 2006

NORWAY PIP SWEDEN FOR WORLD BOYS TEAM GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP IN JAPAN
Norway pipped Sweden for the world boys' team golf championship in an all-Scandinavian finish that few would have predicted at the start of the 72-hole tournament at Chukyo Golf Club in Japan.
Norway totalled 832, one shot ahead of Sweden with the host nation third on 839.
The highly-rated Americans (852) could finish only fifth while England trailed in 12th of 15th on 872.
England peaked with a second-round team total of 208 – one of the best by any country during the tournament – but they fell away badly over the last two rounds. Tom Hesketh, who had a third-round 80, did not play the final round.
Norway’s Marius Thorp had the lowest individual aggregate of 17-under-par 271. He had rounds of 68, 71, 65 and 67 to finish five shots clear of Sweden’s Bjorn Akesson and Japan’s Naoto Nakanishi.
England’s best player of the week was Sam Hutsby with a one-over-par total of 289.
WORLD BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Chukyo Golf Club, Japan.
FINAL TOTALS
832 NORWAY (Marius Thorp, Are Friestad, Anders Kristiansen, Espen Kofstad) 207 208 207 210.
833 SWEDEN (Bjorn Akesson, Jesper Kennegard, Robin Wingardth, Pontus Widergren) 206 205 214 206.
839 JAPAN (Syunsuke Sonoda, Naoto Nakanishi, Yusaku Matsuoka, Ryutaro Nagano) 208 210 209 211.
848 CHINESE TAIPEI (Pan Fu-Chiang, Pan Cheng-Tsung, Liu Chun, Hunag Tao) 211 205 216 216.
852 UNITED STATES (Jordan David Cox, Kyle Stanley, James H Swafford, Alex M Volpenhein) 216 209 215 212
853 ARGENTINA (Estanislao Goya, Alan Wagner, Luciano Dodda, Esteban Martinez) 215 210 214 214.
857 CANADA (Mitch Fox, Eugene Wong, Matt Hill, Nick Taylor) 216 213 216 212.
859 NETHERLANDS (Thrisan Bierenbroodsp, Reinier Saxton, Tim Sluiter, Floris de Vries) 229 295 214 220.
867 COLOMBIA (Andres Echavarria, Esteban Aristizabal, Sergion Franky, Carlos Rodriguez) 219 218 211 219.
869 NEW ZEALAND (Samuel Shin, Ben Wallace, Peter Sperman-Burn, Gary-John Hill) 219 215 212 223.
870 KOREA (Jeong Yeo-Jin, Shin Boo-Ho, Nam Gang-Yul, Lee Min-Joo)213 219 222 216.
872 ENGLAND (Luke Goddard, Sam Hutsby, James Watts, Tom Hesketh) 220 208 221 223.
873 SOUTH AFRICA (Deward Smit, Ryts West, Matthys Daffue, Derick Petersen) 218 218 215 222.
878 VENEZUELA (Julio Vegas, Diego Tamayo, Felipe Velazquez) 226 216 212 224.
894 MEXICO (Gerardo Porras, Maurico Azugue, Juan Pablo Solis, Roberto Rodriguez) 223 227 223 220.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
271 Marius Thorp (Nor) 68 71 65 67.
276 Bjorn Akesson (Swe) 69 67 70 70, Naoto Nakanishi (Jap) 72 69 65 70.
277 Jesper Kennegard (Swe) 68 69 70 70, Kyle Stanley (US) 70 69 70 68.
279 Anders Kristiansen (Nor) 71 67 70 71.
280 Syunsuke Sonoda (Jap) 70 68 71 71, Jeong Yeon-Jin (Kor) 69 71 73 67.
England’s individual scores:
289 Sam Hutsby 76 68 70 75.
291 James Watts 71 70 78 72.
292 Luke Goddard 73 70 73 76.
Retired: Tom Hesketh 78 72 80 Ret.

SCOTTISH YOUTHS OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
FAVOURITE HENRY TOO ILL TO CONTINUE
Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play golf champion Scott Henry sensationally bowed out of the Scottish youths’championship at Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh today.
The hot favourite for the Under-21s’ open stroke-play title retired with a mystery bug that has floored him for over a week.
The Cardross 19-year-old bravely started his round at the Lothians course, but had to retire afteronly eight holes.
Henry, twice Scottish boys match-play champion and also Scottish boys’ stroke-play champion over the past three years, was laid up for over a week with a sickness bug before failing to survive the qualifying rounds of the British men’s amateur championship in Kent earlier this week.
Returning to Scotland, Henry struggled to prepare for his challenge against a good-class field at Mortonhall.
He explained: “I really haven’t been well at all, and struggled in the British Amateur at the start of the week.
“I had woken up after playing in the St Andrews Links Trophy, feeling dizzy, and then was violently sick for about three days. I was in bed for about a week.
“I felt okay for the first five holes today, and I was hitting the ball well. The course was playing fair and I think that I could have played alright but I just couldn’t go on.
“I started to feel sick and was struggling to hit the ball. I just don’t feel as though I have any energy. I’m just going to head home to bed.”
Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Thornton’s Michael Main were the first-round pacesetters on four-under-par 68.
With birdies at the sixth, eighth and ninth, Scotland youth cap and last year’s Scottish boys open stroke-play champion, McEwan was three under par at the turn. ~The only deviation from par on his inward card was a birdie 4 at the long 12th.
Sixteen-year- old Michael Main, beaten finalist in the Scottish boys championship at West Kilbride in April, eagled the par 5 eighthh in a round which also included four birdies and two bogeys.
Mortonhall Golf club, Edinburgh.
FRIDAY SCORES
SCOTTISH YOUTHS OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Mortonhall Golf club, Edinburgh.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
68 M Main (Thornton), S McEwan (Barassie).
69 M Larnsson (Ice), R Graham (Hayston), F Pintor (Spa).
70 E Malcolm (Dunfermline), A Gordon (Portpatrick), R McKnight (Barassie), R Crowe (Newcastle Utd), T Curtis (Pannal).
71 A Lauder (Paisley), G Paterson (St Andrews New), M Stewart (Troon Welbeck), D Parlane (Helensburgh), S Simants (Dunbar).
72 C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch), S Neilson (Dunbar), S Barras (Helensburgh), G Nicolson (Mortonhall).
73 M Smyth (Royal Troon), J Byrne (Banchory), J Duff (Newmachar, K Glen (Royal Musselburgh), T Benatzky (Ger), J Findlay (Fraserburgh), S McAllister (Craigielaw), D Chapman (Costessey Park).
74 N Cameron (King James VI), C-H Raindre (Fra), Z Saltman (Craigielaw), K Smith (Barassie), A Kristinsson (Ice), J Lockie (Tantallon), F Dunlop (Broomieknowe), R Kellett (Colville Park), A Culverwell (Dunbar), A Nelson (Douglas Park), K Duncan (McDonald Ellon), D Laing (Craigielaw), M Bozio (Fra), S Mann (Moray), R Noon (Musselburgh).
75 P Latimer (St Andrews New), S Mann (Carnoustie), C Gray (West Kilbride), J White (Lundin), S Fraser (Northern), A Hay (Westhill), E Polson (Inverness), P Westermann (Ger).
76 S Binning (Old Ranfurly), J Mackay (Barassie), R Jamieson (US), R Dixon (Barassie), S Borrowman (Dollar), D Yeats Newmachar), M Junker (Ger), S M Stefansson (Ice), F McKenna (Balmore), A Main (Thornton), B Mackay (Prestonfield), M Spence (Newmachar), O B Loftsson (Ice), R Leeds (Muckhart), K Truscott (Newmachar), M Murray (Brora), A Weir (Montrose Mercantile).
77 R Rebecchi (Greenock), A Brown (Kilsyth Lennox). R Anderson (Duddingston), P Okan (Ger), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs), L Vetesse (Nigg Bay), G Turner (West Linton), J Donaldson (Falkirk Tryst), A Bews (Murcar Links), L Kirton (Newmachar), C Aitken (Glencruitten), J Bradley (Paisley), G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), S Jaeger (Ger), M Kraemer (Ger).
78 S Herald (Whitecraigs), M Gentles (Edzell), A Rollo (Elgin), C Storrier (Downfield), S Keane (Cathkin Braes), A Moir (Thornton), C Cannon (East Sussex National), T Spencer (Inchmarlo), G Wood (Crow Wood), B Campbell (Malone), T Gissurarson (Ice), J Meechan (Dullatur).
79 C Loughlin (Cawder), K Wilson (Moffat), C Malcolm (Dunfermline), E Brown (Barassie), M Bookless (Sandyhills), R Lando (Colville Park), B Rushford (Grangemouth), D Addison (Barassie), D Addison (Barassie), K Spence (Newmachar).
80 S Tully (Duddingston), J Laing (Longniddry), P McCabe (Wishaw), C Baron (Oldmeldrum), J Foley (Forres), J Neilson (Dunbar), C Kelly (Kirkhill), F Fotheringham (Nairn), J Neilson (Dunbar), S Olafsson (Ice).
81 T Machleld (Ger), C Young (Eastwood), M Lawrence (Kintore), F Bone (Cardross), S McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle), M Greil (Ita), R Bell (Downfield), S Henderson (Barassie), S McGarvey (Glencorse)
82 M Hamm (Ger), D Morrison (Duff House Royal), N McBride (Cowglen), A Boyle (Dublin), R Hyland (Newmachar), C Thomson (East Renfrewshire).
83 D Sommerville (St Andrews), N Sinclair (Barassie), M Watson (Elgin).
84 D Torrance (Wentworth), S Crichton (Aberdour), A McKie (Glencruitten), R McKen (Newburgh on Ythan).
85 G Robertson (Glenbervie).
86 J Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile).
87 C Johnston (Dunbar).
Retired – S Henry (Cardross).

AUSSIE WINS AS GRAY FADES OUT OF FINAL-ROUND PICTURE AT WHITEKIRK
Australian Daniel Gaunt came with a strong late run to win the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Kronenbourg Classic at Whitekirk Golf Club today after Hayston’s Stephen Gray slumped out of the lead over the final round.
Gray shot a brilliant second-round 65 to have a one-shot advantage over the field going into the final round. But he bogeyed the first, sixth, eighth and 16th and could muster only one birdie in returning a three-over-par 75 for a total of three-under-par 213.
Gaunt scored 73, 66 and 69 for a tally of eight-under-par 208 and a two-shot win from Carnoustie’s Eric Ramsay whose scores – a hat-trick of 70s – suggested steadiness personified.
In fact, in his final round, the former Australian open amateur champion had a roller-coaster ride of birdies and bogeys. He birdied the second, fifth, ninth, 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th and had bogeys at the first, third, sixth, eighth, 12th and 14th in halves of 36 (one over par) and 34 (one under par).
The three late birdies lifted Eric up into second place on 210, a shot ahead of Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) and England’s Scott Jackson.
Rankin dropped a shot at the 17th in a closing 69.
SCOREBOARD
PGA EUROPRO TOUR – Kronenbourg Classic
Whitekirk Golf Club, East Lothian
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
208 D Gaunt (Aus) 73 66 69.
210 E Ramsay (Carnoustie) 70 70 70.
211 G Rankin (Drumpellier) 71 71 69, S Jackson (Eng) 71 69 71.
213 G Clark (Eng) 75 65 73, S Gray (Hayston) 72 66 75.
214 F Mann (Musselburgh) 71 73 70, M Prue (Eng) 75 70 69, D Jones (Ire) 74 69 71, P Rowe (Eng) 69 73 72.
215 N Fox (Ire) 75 71 69, G Oliver (Eng) 76 71 68, N Walker (Eng) 76 69 70, C Billing (Eng) 75 68 72, M Woods (Eng) 74 69 72.
Other Scottish scores:
217 S Lamb (Cardrona) 75 73 69.
219 L Vannet (Carnoustie) 75 71 73, J Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 69 70.
222 L Harper (Archerfield) 77 70 75.
223 G McInnes (Murcar Links) 77 69 77.
225 R Cameron 77 72 76.
227 C Nicoll (Prestwick) 73 73 81, C Mitchell (Blairgowrie) 78 68 81.
SCOTS WHO MISSED CUT
150 L Kelly 79 71, P Wardell 76 74.
152 D Roger 83 69, R Valentine 80 72, C Everett 83 69.
154 S Savage 79 75.
155 G Gordon 79 76, P Doherty 82 73.
160 E Thomson 82 79.
163 S Gillespie 80 83.

British Amateur Championship
ENGLISHMAN v FRENCHMAN FOR TITLE
Saturday's 36-hole final of the British men's amateur championship at Royal St George's Golf Club, Kent will feature an Englishman, Adam Gee (Leatherhead) , and a Frenchman, Julien Guerrier.
In the semi-finals,Gee beat compatriot Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland) by 5 and 4. Gee had earlier knocked out the last remaining Scot, Scott Jamieson, by one hole.
In the other semi-final, Guerrier beat Mitchell Brown (Australia) by 3 and 2.

Newmachar Ladies Open
Late entries being accepted for the Newmachar Ladies Open, Aberdeen, Saturday 1st July
Contact Lynn Joss on 01569 730475

NO AUSSIES BUT QUALITY SCOTTISH FIELD FOR WEEKEND 72-HOLE EVENT
Australians have won Glasgow Golf Club’s last two Tennant Cup open 72-hole tournaments at Glasgow Gailes and Killermont – but none has entered this weekend’s event.
Considering the British amateur championship has been on all week at Royal St George’s and the three-day Scottish youths championship began yesterday (Friday) at Mortonhall, the Tennant Cup field is a high quality one.
Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes), outright winner of the Craigmillar Park Open (72) and joint winner (with Craig Watson) of the 36-hole Edward Trophy over the Glasgow Gailes course in April, is top-ranked alongwith Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw). Both have a +4 handicap.
On +3 there are Wallace Booth (Comrie), John Gallagher (Swanston), Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw) and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
West of Scotland Open winner Callum MacAulay (Tulliallan) is only one of a crop of very good players on the +2 bracket, including Scottish champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), Jonathan King (Glasgow), Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) and Bryan Fotheringham (Forres).

BOYS AND GIRLS IN RUNNING FOR SCOTS TEAM
The Scottish Schools Golf Association has named boys’ and girls’ short-leet squads for the schools international match against England at Hillside Golf Club, Lancashire on Monday, September 18.
A team of 12 boys and six girls will be selected from the following:
BOYS – Simon Barras (Vale of Leven Acad), Ross Bell (Harris Acad), Sam Binning (St Columba’s High), Mark Bookless (Uddingston Grammar), James Byrne (Banchory Acad), Andrew Campbell (Vale of Leven Acad), Joshua Clarke (Montrose Acad), Mark Collin (Eyemouth High), Michael Daily (Trinity High), Danny Fitzpatrick (Notre Dame High), David Graham (Campbeltown Grammar), Cameron Gray (Glasgow High), Neil Henderson (North Berwick High), Michael Main (Balwearie High), Fraser McKenna (Boclair Acad), Euan McLaren (Dumfries (Acad), Alan Murdoch (Stranraer Acad), Graeme Robertson (Larbert High), Chris Robinson (Douglas Ewart High), Paul Shields (Trinity High), Kyle Smith (Marr College), Colin Thomson (Hutchesons Grammar), James White (Buckhaven High).
GIRLS – Megan Briggs (Gryffe High), Krystle Caithness (Waid Acad), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Grammar), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Acad), Gillian Monteith (Stranraer (Acad), Laura Murray (Alford Acad), Roseanne Niven (Kilgraston School), Pamela Pretswell (Hamilton College), Jane Turner (George Watson’s College), Sally Watson (Mary Erskine School), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth High).
Michele Thomson (Ellon Academy), winner of the Scottish schoolgirls title at Troon earlier this month, was unavailable for selection as she will be at Jacksonville State University, Alabama in September.

Thursday 22nd June 2006

NORTHERN COUNTIES GO FOR FOUR-TIMER AT CRIEFF THIS WEEKEND
Northern Counties will be bidding for a fourth successive title win in this weekend’s North Division women’s inter-county golf championship at Crieff.
Aberdeenshire have not won the title since 2002, Angus in 1999 and Perth & Kinross back in 1982.
The winners of the three-day round-robin tournament go forward to the Scottish county championship finals to meet the East, West and South divisional team champions at The Hirsel Golf Club, Coldstream from September 22 to 24.
Teams:
ABERDEENSHIRE – Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Laura McLardy (Murcar Links), Laura Murray (Alford), Donna Pocock (Murcar Links), Katie Thomson (Kintore), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
ANGUS – Aileen Hunter (Monifie