May 2007 Archive

Friday 25th May 2007

DOUBLE BOGEY KNOCKS BACK CLARE IN BMW ITALIAN LADIES OPEN
A double bogey 7 at the long seventh knocked Clare Queen back to a share of 17th place in the third round of the BMW Italian Ladies Open ov er the Sheraton Golf Parco de Medici course in Rome today.
Clare had earlier moved one under par with a birdie at the fifth. Later she birdied the 16th and bogeyed the 18th in halves of 36 and 37 for a one-over-par 73 and a running total of five-under-par 211.
As she said before the round, Clare is still not holing the birdie chances she is setting up but a top-10 finish is still within her reach with a sub-par final round.
At the top of the leaderboard, a big gallery was assured for the Saturday finale with two Italians, veteran Stefania Croce and rookie Anna Rossi in first and second position after 54 holes.
Stefania, 39, from Bergamo has only once won as a tour pro and that was 15 years ago in her rookie season of 1992. It was the Ford Ladies Classic.
Stefania had a third-round 69 for 11-under-par 205. Anna had a 69 for 206. In third place on 207 are Becky Brewerton from Wales, Trish Johnson from England and Sophie Giquel of France.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
205 Stefania Croce (Italy) 72 64 68.
206 Anna Rossi (Italy) 69 68 69.
207 Sophie Giquel (Frfance) 73 69 65, Becky Brewerton (Wales0 69 71 67, Trish Johnson (England) 68 70 69.
Other score:
211 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 70 68 73.

SCOTS STROKE PLAY CHAMPION MELISSA REID IN ENGLISH WOMEN'S FINAL
Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play champion Melissa Reid, 19, from Chevin, Derby will play Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards (Ganton), 23, in the 18-hole final of the English women's amateur golf championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent tomorrow.
Both played for GB&I in last year's Curtis Cup match in the United States.
"Hopefully it will be third time lucky for me," said Naomi. "I've lost twice in the final."
She beat the top seed, English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) by 3 and 1 in the first semi-final.
Melissa reached her first English final by beating Anna Scott (Consett & District) by two holes.
Miss Reid clinched victory with a grandstand finish in which she birdied three of the last four holes.
This was the six-foot Miss Scott's first competition of the year. A student at the University of Georgia State, she had been ruled out of the game with injury for the past seven months.
In the first semi-final, Naomi Edwards surged three holes up after only six holes but Liz Bennett promply fired back with three consecutive birdies to be all square by the turn.
There after it was nip-and-tuck. Naomi edged ahead with a birdie at the 13th but was pulled back on the next. She went ahead again ont he 15th and crucially moved to two holes up with a fine birdie at the lont 16th.
The 173yd 17th was the decisive hole. Naomi fired a five-iron to the heart of the green while Liz's tee shot finished on the steep face of a greenside bunker. It was all she could do to hack the ball into the sand. Her next shot also stayed in the trap and she conceded the hole and the match.
RESULTS:
QUARTER-FINALS
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Danielle Montgomery (Lamnbourne) 5 and 4.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) bt Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) at 19th.
Anna Scott (Consett & District) bt Emma Lyons (West Surrey) 3 and 1.
Melissa Reid (Chevin) bt Claire Aitken (The Lond0 4 and 2.
SEMI-FINALS
Reid bt Scott 2 holes
Edwards bt Bennett 3 and 1.

SHIELDS IS TOP SCOT IN SKANDIA JUNIOR OPENS IN SWEDEN
Cambuslang teenager Paul Shields led the Scots challenge in the Skandia Junior Open at Falkenberg Golf Club, Sweden today.
The Kirkhill Golf Club junior member shot a two-under-par 70 (34-36) to be joint fourth after the first round, only one shot behind the three joint leaders.
Shields had three birdies (the first, sixth and seventh) and one bogey in an outward two-under-par 34.
After the turn, Paul had two more birdies, at the 10th and 12th but cancelled them out with bogeys at the 11th and 14th.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) was back in joint 56th place with a 79 (39-40). He had a double bogey 6 at the 16th .
Andrew Campbell from Dumbarton was in joint 76th place in a field of 95 with an 82 (42-40). He had a triple bogey 6 at the last and a double bogey 6 at the second
William Bremner (Edzell) was sharing 82nd place with an 83 (41-42). He had double bogeys at the second, sixth and 16th.
In the Skandia Girls’ Open at Bastad Golf Club, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, Perthshire, the only British or Irish player in the field, had a three-over-par 74 (37-37) to be in joint sixth place in a field of 71. .
Carly would have been a couple of shots closer to the joint leaders on 70 had she not run up a double-bogey 6 at the 16th
Earlier Miss Booth had birdied the third, 11th and 14th but dropped shots at the first, ninth and 10th.
LEADERBOARDS
BOYS
Par 72. Players from Sweden unless stated
69 Mark Jargren, Jens Dantorp, Mortan Emil Bergan.
70 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex), Fredrik Kollevold, Alexander Jacobsson.
Other scores:
73 Billy Britton (Pedham Place) (jt 15th).
79 Paul Ferrier (Baberton) (jt 56th).
80 Henry Smart (Walton Heath) (jt 67th).
82 Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) ()jt 76th).
83 William Bremner (Edzell) (jt 82nd).
GIRLS
Par 71.
70 Nathalie Mansson, Giulia Molinaro (Italy).
71 Amanda Strang.
72 Josephine Janson.
73 Therese Kolbaek.
74 Carly Booth (Comrie), Caroline Hedwall, Johanna Rodert, Alessia Knight.

JODI EWART SHARING 54TH PLACE IN NCAA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University) from Yorkshire is lying in joint 54th position in a class field of 126 with one round to go in the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship at LPGA International’s Legends Course, Daytona Beach in Florida.
Freshman Jodi, pictured right, has scored 76, 76 and 79 for a 15-over-par tally of 231 but plenty of other very good players have found the combination of the occasion- the season-ending grand finale to the US college golf season- and the difficult course a bit too much for them to handle.
In her third-round 79, Jodi required 42 shots for the outward nine, which is in complete contrast to the way she has played for the rest of the season. She got her only birdie at the 18th.
Only the leader, Christel Boeljon (Purdue) from the Netherlands, has really made anything of it. She has scored 72, 69 and 69 for a six-under-par score of 210 over the 6,969yd, par-72 course.
She leads by five shots from Paola Moreno (Southern California) with Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) in second place on 216 and three players, including top-ranked US Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke), sharing fourth place on one-over-par 217.
Defending champion Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) from the Netherlands is not going to win the title this year. She is in joint 73rd position on 234.
Duke, the favourites, lead the team event by eight shots from Purdue.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69 69.
215 Paola Moreno (Southern California) 73 72 70.
216 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71 74.
217 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 73 74, Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) 75 69 73, Catherine Matranga (Texas Christian) 72 71 74.
Other scores:
222 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 77 (jt 12th).
223 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 75 (jt 15th).
227 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 75 77 75 (jt 32nd).
229 Belen Mozo (Southeren California) 75 80 75 (jt 42nd).
230 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 77 78 75 (jt 49th).
231 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 79, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76 77 (jt 54th).
234 Dewi Schreefel (Southern Calirofnia) 76 78 80 (jt 73rd).
LEADING TEAMS
880 Duke.
888 Purdue.
893 UCLA.
902 Georgia.
903 Vanderbilt, Stanford.
905 Southern California, Pepperdine.
Other score::
939 New Mexico (22nd of 24 teams)

HAS CHRIS GOT ENOUGH BALLS LEFT TO COMPLETE THE AMERICAN COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP?
Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum, coming up to the end of his freshman year at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, is playing the toughest golf course he has ever experienced – and he’s got the scores to prove it!
Chis is competing in the NCAA Division 2 men’s championship over 72 holes at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
It’s a 6,992yd, par-71 course with, as one report has put it, “hard fairways and super-thick rough … so much so that lost balls have become an issue.”
The leading team, Barry University, are 38 over par with 890 for the three rounds so far. Chris’s college team, Belmont Abbey, are a combined 56 over par but are in ninth place of the 20 competing teams with a tally of 908.
Baron has himself scored 76, 80 and 87 for 30 over par 243 and he is in joint 93rd place in a field of 105 of the best NCAA Division 2 college golfers.
In his third round, Chris had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys – and a birdie at the fifth! If he has enough balls left for the final round, he deserves a medal for going the distance!
The leader, Christian Ries (Columbus State University, is the only player under par with one round to go. He has scored 73, 71 and 70 for 214 – to lead by three from team-mate Andrew Georgiou (73-71-73).

Thursday 24th May 2007

SURPRISE RESULTS IN ENGLISH CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP AT LITTLESTONE
There were some surprise results in the second round of the match-play stages in the English women's (close) amateur championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent today.
Although she had qualified only in 10th place, the biggest shock was possibily the 5 and 4 defeat of Britain's Commonwealth tournament victory heroine Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) by Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth), who has played on the American college circuit. Miss Grimshaw last in the second round to joint Roehampton Gold Cup winner Claire Aitken (London).
The No 3 seed, Rachel Bell from Ganton was beaten by the No 19 qualifier, Emma Lyons (West Surrey) by 2 and 1.
And the No 5 qualifier, Florentyna Parker 9Royal Birkdale) lost by 4 and 3 to Reachel Jennings, the 12th qualifier from the Izaak Walton club.
The top seeds, No 1 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), pictured above, and No 2 Melissa Reid (Chevin) are still there and playing well.
The quarter-finals line-up on Friday morning is (qualifying position in brackets):

Liz Bennett (1) v Danielle Montgomerie (9).
Rachel Jennings (12) v Naomi Edwards (4).
Emma Lyons (19) v Anna Scott (27).
Claire Aitken (7) v Melissa Reid (2).

RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 1 hole.
J Pease (Braintree) bt T Boyes (Meon Valley) 2 and 1.
D Montgomerie (Lambourne) bt L Jones (Royal Liverpool) 1 hole.
J Hodge (Knowle) bt C Marron (Bromborough) 2 holes.

F Parker (Royal Birkdale) bt S Attwood (Gog Magog) 5 and 4.
R Jennings (Izaak Walton) bt L Ball (Matfen Hall) 4 and 3.
H Barwood (Knowle) bt R Adams (Addington Court) 1 hole,
N Edwards (Ganton) bt D GVibb (Rochester & Cobham Park).

R Bell (Ganton) bt A Silk (Corhampton) 2 and 1.
E Lyons (West Surrey) bt L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 1 hole.
H Grant (Enmore Park) bt V Inglis (Woodbridge) 1 hole.
A Scott (Consett & Dist) bt H Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 5 and 4.

C Aitken (London) bt L Cutler (Warley Park) 1 hole.
F Grimshaw (Weymouth) bt K Smith (Waterlooville) 5 and 4.
C Ellis (Minchinhampton) bt R Connor (Manchester) 4 and 2.
M Reid (Chevin) bt C Wild (Mere) 2 and 1.

SECOND ROUND
Bennett bt Pease 4 and 3.
Montgomery bt Hodge 2 and 1.
Jennings bt Parker 4 and 3.
Edwards bt Barwood 1 hole.

Lyons bt Bell 2 and 1.
Scott bt Grant 4 and 3.
Aitken bt Grimshaw 4 and 3.
Reid bt Ellis 9 and 7.

CLARE QUEEN ONLY TWO BEHIND IN BMW LADIES ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME
Clare Queen goes into the final two rounds of the BMW Ladies Italian Open in Rome only two shots behind the triple joint leaders.
Clare has had rounds of 70 and 68 for six-under-par 138.
"It was steady stuff," said the Scot. "I'm hitting the ball really well but just not holing as many putts as I would like. In the first round I had a lot of chances and didn't take them. The way I'm playing I feel that I am going to make a few birdies over the weekend."
Former "Helen Holm" winner Karen-Margrethe Juul from Denmark, Australian Sarah Kemp and Italian veteran Stefania Croce are sharing the pole position on 136. Stefania, who has only ever won one event as a pro - the Ford Ladies Classic in 1992 - said that her second-round 64 was the lowest she had ever scored in 15 years as a tour pro.
Clubhouses can be dangerous places if you don't watch where you are putting your feet - as Lisa Holm Sorensen found out to her regret. She fell down a set of stairs in the Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici clubhouse before her second round. She started the round but eventually had to retire and had to go to hospital with a suspected broken wrist.
Second round scores & totals in the BMW Ladies Italian Open Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici in Rome:
(Par 144: 2 x 72)
136 Sarah Kemp (Aus) 68 68, Stefania Croce (Ita) 72 64, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 64 72
137 Anna Rossi (Ita) 69 68
138 Clare Queen (Sco) 70 68, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 70 68, Trish Johnson (Eng) 68 70
139 Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 69 70, Martina Eberl (Ger) 73 66, Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 67 72, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 70, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 68 71
140 Carmen Alonso (Spa) 70 70, Federica Piovano (Ita) 68 72, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 70 70, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 72, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 69 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 66 74
141 Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 68 73, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 70, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 68 73, Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 68 73, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 68 73, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 67 74
142 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 73 69, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 70, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 70, Mianne Bagger (Den) 74 68, Sara Beautell (Spa) 71 71, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 71 71, Mette Buus (Den) 71 71, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 74 68, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 71, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 67, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 69 73, Louise Friberg (Swe) 67 75, Iben Tinning (Den) 69 73
143 Anna Temple (USA) 73 70, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 77 66, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 75 68, Helena Alterby (Swe) 75 68, Sofia Renell (Swe) 71 72, Rebecca Stevenson (Aus) 73 70
144 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 75 69, Anna Rawson (Aus) 73 71, Paula Marti (Spa) 77 67, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 74, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 69, Leah Hart (Aus) 75 69, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 74 70, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 72, Diana Luna (Ita) 71 73, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 70 74, Joanne Mills (Aus) 73 71, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 70 74
145 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 70 75, Marta Prieto (Spa) 75 70, Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 73, Karen Lunn (Aus) 75 70, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 74 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 74 71, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 70 75
Missed the cut
146 Louise Stahle (Swe) 75 71, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 77, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 75, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 76 70, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 78 68, Katharina Schallenberg (Am) (Ger) 71 75, Barbara Paruscio (Ita) 72 74, Nina Karlsson (Swe) 75 71
147 Natascha Fink (Aut) 75 72, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 76 71, Bree Turnbull (Aus) 73 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 74 73, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 74, Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 76
148 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 74 74, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 77 71, Sophie Walker (Eng) 76 72, Virginie Auffret (Fra) 72 76, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 76 72
149 Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 74 75, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 79 70, Ellen Smets (Bel) 72 77, Marianna Causin (Am) (Ita) 74 75, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 73 76, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 76 73
150 Anja Monke (Ger) 76 74, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 76 74, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 75 75, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 76 74, Anna Tybring (Swe) 73 77, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 75 75, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 75 75, Marlene Hedblom (Swe) 76 74
151 Anna Knutsson (Swe) 79 72, Liza Walters (Eng) 74 77, Alessandra Averna (Ita) 75 76, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 74 77, Carlie Butler (Aus) 78 73
152 Katharina Werdinig (Aut) 77 75, Kris Lindstrom (USA) 78 74, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 77 75, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 80 72, Lisa Hall (Eng) 75 77, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 76 76
153 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 77 76, Vittoria Valvassori (Am) (Ita) 76 77, Anna Roscio (Am) (Ita) 78 75, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 78 75, Sarah Heath (Eng) 79 74
154 Shani Waugh (Aus) 78 76, Denise Simon (Ger) 73 81, Claire Coughlan (Irl) 75 79
156 Annamaria Milie (Ita) 77 79, Jo Clingan (Eng) 77 79, Itziar Elguezabal (Spa) 76 80
157 Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 80 77, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 82 75
158 Fame More (Eng) 80 78
Ret: Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Lisa Jean (Aus) 76, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 72, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe)

KAREN DELANEY RECAPTURES THE FORM THAT HAD DESERTED HER FOR SO LONG
If ever there was a result that should boost the spirits of anyone who has almost given up hope of being able to play the way they once played, Karen Delaney provided it on Wednesday by winning the Irish women's close amateur championship at Lahinch.
Followers of the American college circuit will know that Karen has just finished an abysmal season playing for Kent State University, Ohio. And the season before last was nothing to write home about either.
She is officially ranked 572nd on the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings with an average score per round of 78.07. She was an accumulative 103 over par in 15 rounds she played on the US college circuit.
In contrast, Karen's younger sister Tara, also a student at Kent State University, won the Lady Northern Invitational in America last September and she finished third in the prestigious Lady Bulleye Spring Invitational.
Tara is ranked 46th on the US college circuit with an average score of 74.32 per competitive round.
So, if a Delaney is going to win the "Irish," it has to be Tara, hasn't it?
No, Tara went out in the semi-finals and the title went to Karen, who, throughout the week, played golf of the quality and consistency that won her the Irish girls' championship in 2002 and 2003.
It's the kind of riches to rags and back to riches story that warms the cockles of your heat!
Good for you, Karen.
[Photo Courtesy ILGU]

CARLY CHASES JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP POINTS IN SWEDEN
Perthshire prospect Carly Booth, 15 years old next month, is the only British or Irish player in the field for the Skandia Junior Lady Open tournament over 54 holes at Bastad Golf Club, Sweden, beginning on Friday.
Last year Miss Booth played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match at Celtic Manor.
The Skandia Junior Lady Open is a qualifier for places in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup team to play the United States girls at the same venue on September 11 and 12.
Scottish boys’ champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton), William Bremner (Edzell), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) are competing in the Skandia Junior Open at Falkenberg Golf Club near Gothenburg, also over three rounds from Friday to Sunday inclusive.

JODI IS 11 SHOTS BEHIND DUTCH GIRL
Jodi Ewart reeled off nine straight pars to finish her second round of 76 in the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship over the LPGA International’s Legends course at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Unfortunately for the Yorkshire girl, who has been an outstanding freshman member of the New Mexico University golf team through the 2006-2007 college season, you need birdies to beat a field of this calibre. And Jodi did not have any sub-par figures on Tuesday, only bogeys at the first, sixth, eighth and ninth in an outward 40.
Catterick Golf Club member Jodi’s 36-hole tally of 152 sees her in joint 36th place with two rounds to go, 11 strokes behind Christel Boeljon (Purdue) from the Netherlands.
The Dutch girl, who has entered next month’s British women’s open amateur championship at Alwoodley, has had rounds of 72 and 69 for 141.
The only other player in the field to have broken 70 is surprise first-round leader Selanee Henderson (UC Irvine). But everything went wrong for her in a second-round 80 for 150.
Belen Mojo (Southern California), who will be defending that British women’s title at Leeds (remember, she also won the British girls’ title last summer, had the same sort of “bad day at the office” as Selanee – a second-round 80 for 155.
The best placed Continental is another past winner of the British girls’ title, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State). She is sharing eighth place on 145 with scores of 75 and 70.
LEADERBOARD
141 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69.
142 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71.
143 Amanda Bluymenherst (Duke) 70 73, Tiffany John (UCLA) 73 70, Catherine Matranga (Texas Christian) 72 71.
Other scores:
145 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 (jt 8th).
148 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 (jt 10th).
149 Selanee Henderson (UC Irvine) 69 80 (jt 14th).
152 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 (jt 36th).
154 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 76 78 (jt 55th).
155 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 75 80 (jt 63rd).
LEADING TEAMS
587 Duke. 594 UCLA. 597 Purdue. 599 Stanford. 601 Southern California. 602 Georgia.
Other score:
619 New Mexico (20th of 24).

SCOT CHRIS DOWN THE FIELD IN MICHIGAN
Aberdeenshire player Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum, a student at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, was sharing 76th place after rounds of 76 and 80 in the NCAA Division 2 men's championship at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
Chris had birdies at the fourth and 12th but a double-bogey 5 at the short seventh dragged him down.
The Scot is 15 strokes behind the leader, Jarin Todd (Sonoma State), who has scored 69 and 72 to lead by two from Hernan Boja (Barry University) with 70 and 73.
Barry (586) lead the team event from Florida Southern (591). Belmont Abbey College (608) are lying 123th of the 20 teams

Wednesday 23rd May 2007

KAREN DELANEY IS NEW IRISH WOMEN'S CHAMPION
Karen Delaney (Carlow) was crowned Irish Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Champion for the first time at Lahinch Golf Club today. She beat Marian Riordan (Tipperary) by 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final.
Delaney was two up after only three holes but Riordan won the fourth to close the gap that was doubled when Delaney birdied the ninth to turn two up.
Riordan replied immediately with a fine birdie 3 at the 10th but the two-hole gap was restored when Riordan found sand on the long 14th. Delaney closed out the match on the 16th with an up and down from the sand.
Earlier in the day, 12-year-old Lisa Maguire, who had punched well above her weight all week, started brightly in her semi-final and led by a single hole through to the ninth against Marian Riordan.
Riordan’s solid driving and accurate iron play overpowered her young opponent and her one-hole lead into the 18th helped her close out the match when her 30 foot putt died at the cup.
Delaney had struck the ball magnificently in her semi final match with Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and turned one up through the ninth.
Morrin eagled the 15th to level the match but missed from 6 feet at the next to let Delaney escape off her bunkered tee shot.
The 17th was halved in par and a fine up and down from the greenside bunker on 18 saw Delaney through after Morrin three putted from the front edge.
Karen Delaney, who was Irish girls champion in 2002 and 2003 and has been a student at Kent State University, Ohio, alongwith her younger sister Tara, will surely have impressed the selectors sufficiently to regain her international status and lead the Irish team at the European team championships in Italy from July 10 to 14..
Results:
Semi-finals - Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 1 hole, Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 1 hole.]
Final (18 holes) - Delaney bt Riordan 3 and 2.
The players selected to represent Ireland at the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews on June 2-3 are:
Tara Delaney (Carlow)
Maura Morrin (The Curragh)
Marian Riordan (Tipperary)
Reserve Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)

ELGA Press Release
Liz Bennett and Melissa Reid lead qualifiers at English championship
Internationals Liz Bennett (right) and Melissa Reid lead the qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the English ladies’ close amateur championship at Littlestone in Kent.
Both players were four-under par after the 36-hole strokeplay qualifying but Liz is top seed by virtue of her better second round. She shot three-under 69 while Melissa carded her second 70.
“It’s nice to qualify top, it’s good for the confidence, but qualifying is the main thing,” said Liz, 24, the English strokeplay champion from Brokenhurst Manor in Hampshire.
She described her second round as steady golf in which she found the measure of the greens. “A lot more putts went in today, especially from around 15ft,” said Liz, who had five birdies in her round, including one on the 18th.
Melissa, 19, was targeting the top of the leaderboard as part of her positive mindset to aim high at all times. “I worked really hard on my mindset over the winter and it’s paying off,” she said.
The Curtis Cup player from Chevin in Derbyshire has already won the 2007 Helen Holm Scottish strokeplay championship and was top qualifier in the French lady juniors’ championship. She also helped Great Britain win the Commonwealth Tournament.
Today, she signed off with two birdies. On the 184-yard 17th her four-iron into the wind finished six inches from the hole and on par five 18th she two-putted from about 60ft for her birdie.
Rachel Bell, an England international from Ganton, moved up to third place when she also scored 69, playing alongside Liz Bennett. She was another one to stage a fine finish with birdies on the par five 16th and 18th. She set up both with impressive driving and three-wood play. “It was solid,” she said.
Kent’s Claire Aitken, from The London club, moved confidently into the matchplay. She qualified in seventh place on two over par.
Among the other players to make it safely through to the matchplay stages are the Curtis Cup player Naomi Edwards (Ganton); the French lady juniors’ champion Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale); the Portuguese ladies’ champion Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire), ELGA order of merit titleholder Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), English girls’ champion Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), and English mid-amateur champion Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton).
But four other golfers had a battle on their hands. They tied on 12-over-par and had to play-off for the last three places in the matchplay draw. Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) lost out when she bogeyed the first hole, while Annabel Silk (Corhampton), Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) all had pars.
The matchplay starts at 9am and the games tee off at eight minute intervals. First round draw: Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) v Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall). Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) v Jenny Pease (Braintree). Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne) v Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool). Caroline Marron (Bromborough) v Jo Hodge (Knowle). Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) v Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog). Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) v Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton). Hannah Barwood (Knowle) v Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court). Danielle Gibb (Rochester & Cobham Park) v Naomi Edwards (Ganton). Rachel Bell (Ganton) v Annabel Silk (Corhampton). Emma Lyons (West Surrey) v Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt). Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) v Victoria Inglis (Woodbridge). Anna Scott (Consett & District) v Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire). Claire Aitken (The London) v Laura Cutler (Warley Park). Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth) v Kerry Smith (Waterlooville). Rachel Connor (Manchester) v Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton). Charlotte Wild (Mere) v Melissa Reid (Chevin).

CLARE QUEEN JT 22nd AT END OF FIRST ROUND IN BMW LADIES ITALIAN OPEN
Karen-Margrethe Juul, the Danish player who won the Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play title at Troon in 1998, had ever lowest ever score as a professional - an eight-under-par 64 - to lead the BMW Ladies Italian Open at the Sheraton Golf Parco de Medici course by two shots from South African rookie Stacy Bregman.
Almost unbelievably, Karen did not have a practice round. Like many players, she found the Italian airline strikes made getting to the tournament an achievement in itself. Some, like Lora Fairclough from Lancashire abandoned the struggle to get to the venue in time.
Miss Juul flew to Nice and then drove eight hours in a hired car, arriving at her hotel at 10.30pm on Tuesday night ... and she had an early starting time!
"Maybe I should prepare this way more often for tournaments," she joked. "To be honest, I had played the course before, so I knew what to expect."
Clare Queen shot a two-under-par 70 to be lying joint 22nd at the end of the day. Clare had a very steady round. Only one bogey - at the first - and then everything pars and birdies after that. She birdied the fifth, 16th and 17th. Also on the 70 mark is England's Kristy S Taylor.
Kathryn Imrie from Monifieth did not have a good day. She finished with a 77 for a share of 104th place. Kathryn had a double bogey 7 at the third and bogeys at the fourth, fifth and 15th. She had no birdies.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
64 K-M Juul (Den).
66 S Bregman (SAf).
67 L Friberg (Swe), R Rasmussen (Den), R Coakley (Ire).
68 N C Booth (Eng), J Westerberg (Swse), F Piovano (Ita), V Lagbvoutte-Clement (Fra), N Garrett (Aus), T Johnson (Eng), L Wahlin (Swe), S Kemp (Aus), B Recari (Spa).
Other scores:
70 C Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) (jt 22nd).
77 K Imrie (Monifieth) (104th).

MCLGA summer foursomes ( Report from the Captain, Ellice Cackett)
The Midlothian Ladies Summer Foursomes were played on Monday 21st May at Ravelston Golf Club on a beautiful sunny day.
The course was in excellent condition. Thanks go to the green staff, caterers and to Ravelston members for allowing us to play the foursomes on their course.
52 couples took part in the competition.
Results
1st Scratch M. Mackay( Kingsknowe) and K. Logan( Merchants) 86
1st Handicap C. Mason ( Dalmahoy) and N. Bell ( Murrayfield) 87 (17) net 70
2nd handicap M. Logan( Dalmahoy) and S. Hay (Baberton) 95(22.5) net 72.5
3rd Handicap C. Clark and M. Richardson (both Craigmillar Park) 90 (17) net 73

MICHAEL LUNT (72) DIES SUDDENLY
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews regrets to announce that Michael Lunt, Captain of the Club, died suddenly on the night of Tuesday 22 May aged 72.
Michael Stanley Randle Lunt joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1963 and subsequently served on The R&A’s Championship Committee and on the Rules of Golf Committee. In May 2006 he was named Captain and drove himself into office on Thursday 21 September.
Michael Lunt had a distinguished career in golf both as an administrator and as a player that started, aged 14, with four years of international representation for England boys.
He won the Amateur Championship in 1963 at St Andrews and the English Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1966, a feat his father Stanley had achieved in 1934. Between 1959 and 1965 he played in four Walker Cup matches and in his last appearance was a member of the 1965 side that gained a halved match against the USA at Five Farms, Maryland, the first time Great Britain and Ireland had gained any success on American soil since the matches began in 1922.
He played for England between 1956 and 1966 and was the non-playing captain from 1972-1975.
After being educated at Uppingham School, Michael Lunt was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served in Egypt from 1953-1955 before taking up a directorship in the Birmingham based family textile business. This was followed by a time as Sales Manager for Slazenger and then, after 11 years as Secretary – Manager of Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, he retired in 1998.
He is survived by his wife Vicki, his daughter Sophie, his son Jason and two grandchildren.

IT'S MARIAN v KAREN FOR IRISH LADIES' CLOSE TITLE
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) and Karen Delaney (Carlow) will face each other in the final of the
Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at Lahinch Golf Club this afternoon.
Lisa Maguire, only 12 years old, had punched well above her weight all week and started brightly in her semi-final against Marian Riordan.
Lisa led by a single hole through to the ninth where Riordan birdied from 12 feet. Solid driving and accurate iron play saw her take a one-hole lead into 18 and closed out the match when her 30 foot putt died at the cup.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) struck the ball magnificently in her semi final match with Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and turned one up. Morrin eagled the 15th to level the match but missed from 6 feet at the next to let Delaney escape off her bunkered tee shot.
The 17th was halved in par and a fine up and down from the greenside bunker on 18 saw Delaney through after Morrin three putted from the front edge.
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 1 hole.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 1 hole.

12-YEAR-OLD MAGUIRE TWINS TO PLAY ALONGSIDE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR PROFESSIONALS
Ulster twins Lisa and Leona Maguire will both play in the Northern Ireland Ladies Open at Templepatrick next week.
The 12-year-olds from Co Cavan have both been given wild card entries to the event to compete with the top European players.
The official entry list was confirmed last night for the event which is played on June 1-3.
Back to back LET victor Nikki Garrett is confirmed to compete in the 126 professional player line up.
US Futures Tour competitor Brenda McLarnon, who hails from Belfast but is US based and Lynn McCool, the Strabane local who is K Club teaching professional, are also in the field. Australian Kirstie Newton, whose father Jack is a former Australian Open winner and runner up to Tom Watson in the Open in 1975, has inherited her father's love of the game and is consolidating her own burgeoning reputation as a respected professional golfer in looking for a top result at the NI Ladies Open.
The tournament has a prize fund of 200,000 Euros and will be broadcast to over 75 countries.Tickets, priced at £5 for a day pass or £10 for a three day weekend pass, with under 14s admiited free, are available through the Northern Ireland Events Company on 028 9066 6661 or via www.nievents.co.uk.

COSTLY DOUBLE BOGEY KNOCKS BACK JODI IN NCAA DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart was in joint 39th place in a field of 126 at the end of the first round in the highly competitive NCAA Division 1 women’s championship over the LPGA International Legends Course (6,351yd, par 72) at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Jodi had a four-over-par 76 which included a double bogey 7 at the long 14th.
Having started at the 10th, Catterick Bridge Golf Club member Jodi dropped a shot on her first hole but got it back with a birdie 2 at the short 12.
Then came her “disaster” at the 14th
Jodi parred the remainder of her first nine holes but then dropped a shot at the first and the fourth in halves of 38.
Surprise leader in a star-studdedd field is Selanee Henderson from UC Irvine. She had a 69 to be one stroke ahead of US Curtis Cup playere Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) and Lauren Todd (Stanford).
Spain’s Belen Mozo (Southern California), holder of both the British women’s and girls’ open titles, is sharing 22nd place on 75 with another past British girls’ champion, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) from Sweden.
Southern California (295) lead the team event by two shots from North Carolina and Louisville with Stanford (299) fourth and Duke, the favourites, back in fifth place on 300.
Jodi’s team, New Mexico, had a first-round score of 305 and are 13th of 24 teams at the moment.

Tuesday 22nd May 2007

BREANNE LOUCKS WINS WELSH TITLE FOR FIRST TIME
Canadian-born GB&I Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks, pictured right, from Wrexham won the Welsh women's closed amateur championship for the first time at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech today.
Breanne, the No 1 qualifier, beat the 2002 and 2003 Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (Bargoed) by 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals in which Tara Davies (Holyhead), the 2004 and 2006 Welsh girls title-winner, beat Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan), the 2005 Welsh girls champion, by one hole.
In the 18-hole final, Breanne won by one hole.
There was a surprise in the final of the Welsh senior women's match-play championship.
Vicki Thomas, many times a Curtis Cup player and Welsh women's champion just as often, failed in her bid to complete a hat-trick of titles at the over-50s level. Winner of the championship in 2005 and 2006, Vicki lost at the 19th to Ann Lewis, who made the most of her home-course knowledge.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals - B Loucks (Wrexham) bt L Gould (Bargoed) 3 and 2, T Davies (Holybhnead) bt S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 1 hole.
Final (18 holes) - Loucks bt Davies 1 hole.
SENIOR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Final (18 holes) - A Lewis (Royal St David's) bt V Thomas (Carmarthen) at 19th.

TEENAGERS MELISSA AND FLORENTYNA SET THE PACE WITH 70s IN ENGLISH QUALIFYING
Teenage internationals Melissa Reid, pictured right, and Florentyna Parker, pictured below left, both scored two-under par 70 to share the lead after the first qualifying round of the English women's close amateur championship at Littlestone in Kent.
Three other players also broke par on a fine golfing day with plenty of sunshine and light breezes. Among them is Kent golfer Claire Aitken who lives near Gravesend and plays at The London club.
Melissa, 19, from Chevin in Derbyshire, reached the turn at three-under par, helped by an eagle on the long fiftth, where her approach finished 4ft from the hole. The Curtis Cup player got to four-under on the back nine but also three-putted three times and had to settle for a 70.
“I’m a bit disappointed – but it’s not too bad really,” said Melissa, who is the Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play champion and has just helped Great Britain win the Commonwealth tournament in South Africa.
Florentyna, 17, from Royal Birkdale, produced two matching halves of one-under par – and was a relieved golfer when she came off the course.
“I didn’t expect it because I was playing so badly in practice yesterday. I lost four balls in six holes and I was a bit scared about today,” said Florentyna, the French lady junior champion. The difference, she explained, was hitting the fairways.
Another relieved golfer was English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) whose one-under 71 wiped out memories of her last outing at Littlestone in the 2002 championship.
“I didn’t play very well then and I didn’t come with good memories – but it’s all gone now for the rest of the week.
“This is a course which can grab you quickly and you have to minimise any damage and just keep the ball in play. That was my theory,” added Liz, who finished strongly with two birdies in the last three holes.
Claire Aitken spent all last week at Littlestone, representing Kent in county match week, and she put her knowledge to good use. She was two-under at the turn and was disappointed to bogey the short 17th and to only par the 18th.
“I felt I left a couple of shots out there but overall I’m quite happy,” said Claire who has already won two top scratch events this season.
Hannah Grant, 19, from Enmore in Somerset, had a stunning finish to her round, with an eagle and a birdie in her last three holes for one-under par 71. After the second stroke-play round the top 32 players will go forward to the match-play stages of the championship, which start on Thursday.
Online scoring: www.englishladiesgolf.org

TRICIA MANGAN LOSES GRIP ON IRISH WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AT LAHINCH
Defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell’s hopes of securing a third successive Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship ended at Lahinch Golf Club today when she was beaten at the 19th by Irish international Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) in a morning second-round tie..
McDonnell lost the 15th and a one-hole lead when she failed to get up and down from off the green. An expensive three putts saw the 16th halved before Tricia lost the 17th after missing the green left.
A solid par on 18 saw the tie go to extra time where Sinead slotted a downhill 8ft birdie putt to advance to the last eight.
O'Sullivan was herself knocked out of the championship in the afternoon quarter-finals. She was beaten 6 and 5 by Marian Riordan (Tipperary). Marian was in devastating form on the outward half, and had a three-hole lead at the turn.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) continued to impress the sizeable galleries as she despatched both Catherine Tucker (Limerick) and Sinea Keane (The Curragh). Fairway-splitting tee shots and tidy iron play saw the talented 12-year-old cope with everything her opponents could muster. She now faces a semi-final against Marian Riordan.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) showed exceptional short game skills when she saw off the 2004 champion, Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) by 4 and 3. Karen now plays Maura Morrin (The Curragh) who beat her younger sister and fellow student at Kent State University, Ohio - Tara Delaney by one hole in the quarter-finals.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP - SECOND ROUND
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Holli Snelling (Killarney) 3&2.
Maura Morrin (The Curragh) bt Mary Dowling (New Ross) 1 hole.
Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 5&4.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 2&1.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 4&3.
Sinead Keane (The Curragh) bt Maria Dunne (Skerries) 3&2.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) 5&4.
Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) bt Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Morrin bt T Delaney 1 hole.
K Delaney bt D Smith 4 and 3.
Maguire bt Keane 5 and 4.
Riordan bt O'Sullivan 6 and 5.
ITA WALLACE TROPHY - SEMI-FINALS
Sarah Carty (The Island) beat Anne McCormack (Roscommon) at 19th.
Helen Jones (Strabane) beat Jean Farrell (Youghal) at 19th.

NCLGA OPEN DAY AT STRATHPEFFER
The Northern Counties Ladies Golf Association had an open county day at Strathpeffer Spa last week when association president Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) returned the best gross score, a 78.
The Silver Division Handicap results were:
Lorraine Nixon (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (18) 61; Eilidh Syrjanen (Strathpeffer Spa) (13) 67; Maureen Ritchie (Muir of Ord) (17) 69.
Bronze Division - Aline Drummond (Fortrose & Rosemarkie ) (22) 65.
The next NCLGA county open is a first visit to the Isle of Skye Golf Club at Sconsor.
Meanwhile a touring group of 21 Northern members from Orkney arrived on the mainland on Monday to play at Royal Dornoch, Muir of Ord, Grantown on Spey, Inverness and Invergordon during the week.

Monday 21st May 2007

TOP QUALIFIER BREANNE LOUCKS IN LAST FOUR OF WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP
Top seed Breanne Loucks, the Curtis Cup player from Wrexham, has won her way through to the last four of the Welsh women's (closed) amateur championship at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech.
In the first of Tuesday morning's semi-finals, Breanne will play Lucy Gould (Bargoed), the 2002 and 2003 Welsh girls' champion, who has been playing on the US women's college circuit for East Tennessee State University over the past year or two.
Breanne beat clubmate Jo Nicolson by 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals in which Lucy beat Becky Harries (Haverfordwest), who lost in the final to Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) last year.
Stephanie lost her grip on the trophy when she was beaten by Sahra Hassan, the 2005 Welsh girls champion from Vale of Glamorgan. Sahra won their quarter-final tie by 2 and 1.
Now Miss Hassan plays Tara Davies, the Welsh girls title-winner in 2004 and 2006, in the second semi-final.
In the Welsh senior women's match-play championship at the same venue, former Curtis Cup player and many times Welsh women's champion, is through to her third final in a row. Winner of the seniors title for the past two years, Vicki plays Ann Lewis (Royal St David's) in Tuesday's final.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
First round - Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) bt Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 7 and 6, Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) bt Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 2 and 1, Lucy Gould (Bargoed) bt Beth Davies (Mold) 3 and 1, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) bt Hayley Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) 6 and 5, Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 3 and 2, Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) bt Rachael Lewis (Newport) 4 and 2, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) bt Hannah Jenkins (Creadoc) 1 hole, Tara Davies (Holyhead) bt Kirsty O'Connor (Nelson) 5 and 3.
Quarter-finals - Loucks bt Nicolson 3 and 2, Gould bt Harries 5 and 4, Hassan bt Evans 2 and 1, Davies bt Gobey 4 and 3.
SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
First round - Denise Richards (Bargoed) bt Anna Dywer 4 and 2, Chris Wheatley (Royal St David's) bt Fiona Parkin 5 and 4, Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe) bt Ann Owen 7 and 5, Trudy Carradice (Pyle & Kenfig) bt Heather Morgan 4 and 3, Sue Payne (Royal St David's) bt Marion Thomas 1 hole, Pam Valentine (Royal St David's) bt Delyth Tuffnell 2 holes, Ann Lewis (Royal St St David's) bt Gillian Roberts 9 and 8.
Quarter-finals - Thomas bt Richards 4 and 2, Doleman bt Wheatley 6 and 5, Payne bt Carradice 7 and 5, Lewis bt Valentine 7 and 6.
Semi-finals - Thomas bt Doleman 5 and 4, Lewis bt Payne 7 and 5.

New Scottish Champion Jenna Wilson heads a large Scottish entry for the British Championship
There will be 18 Scots travelling to Alwoodley, Leeds for the British women’s open amateur championship from June 12 to 16.
The Ladies Golf Union has announced that all entrants with handicaps of 0.8 or better have had their entries accepted.
The Scots are:
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) +2.5.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) +2.4.
Carly Booth (Comrie) +2.3.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) +1.9.
Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) +1.3.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) +1.1.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff) +1.0.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) +1.0.
Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) +0.6.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) +0.5.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh) +0.4.
Lauren Mackin (Majorca) 0.0.
Laura Murray (Alford) 0.1
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 0.2
Sara Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 0.4
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) 0.4
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 0.4.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 0.5.
ON WAITING LIST
Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 2.4.

EILEEN ROSE POWER KOs MARY McKENNA IN BATTLE OF PAST IRISH CHAMPIONS
Leading qualifier Tara Delaney (Carlow) safely negotiated Charlotte Crowe’s challenge to make it through to the last 16 at the Lancôme Irish women's (close) championship at Lahinch in Co. Clare today.
Delaney, attempting to add her first Irish close match-play title to her brace of Irish open stroke-plays, was once again comfortably in control of her game in blustery conditions. She now faces up-and-coming Holli Snelling (Killarney).
Current internationals Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) also advanced, the latter just edging through on the home green after a nail-biting encounter with Woodenbridge rookie Louise Mernagh.
Defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell (Ennis), pictured above, overcame a gutsy display from Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) while Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) ended the hopes of Mary McKenna (Donabate) adding to her hatful of titles.
Twelve-year-old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) suffered different fates in their first-round encounters. Lisa continued her impressive form by ending the hopes of Irish junior international Vicki Power (Dundalk) on the 15th green while Leona was unlucky to lose out at the first extra hole to US collegiate Karen Delaney (Carlow).
Match of the day saw current international Sinead O’Sullivan find the bottom of the cup from over 40ft to halve the 19th hole with ever-improving Karen O’Neill (Douglas). O’Sullivan then drew on all of her experience to edge out her formidable opponent at the 20th.Sixteen continue to contest the championship over the next two days with the winner emerging on Wednesday afternoon.
The four provinces are each represented in the semi-final line-up of the Ita Wallace Trophy for non-qualifiers. This concludes tomorrow afternoon.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) 3&1.
Holli Snelling (Killarney) bt Ciara Butler (Newlands) 3&1.
Maura Morrin (The Curragh) bt Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) 4&3.
Mary Dowling (New Ross) bt Orla Barry (Galway) 5&4.
Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 4&3.
Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 5&4.
Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) at 19th.
Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) bt Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 1 hole.
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Vicki Power (Brampton Park) 5&3.
Catherine Tucker (Limerick) bt Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 2&1.
Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Gertie McMullen (The Island) 5&3.
Sinead Keane (The Curragh) bt Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) 8&6.
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) 3&2.
Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) bt Mary McKenna (Donabate) 3&2.
Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) bt Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 2 holes.
Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) bt Karen O'Neill (Douglas) at 20th
ITA WALLACE TROPHY
Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 7&6.
Anne McCormack (Roscommon) bt Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) 4&3.
Sarah Carty (The Island) bt Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) 5&4.
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 1 hole.
Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) bt Hannah McInerney (Gort) 2&1.
Helen Jones (Strabane) bt Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) 2&1
Jean Farrell (Youghal) bt Anna O’Brien(Athlone) 5&4.
Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) beat Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) 4&3.

R&A'S WORLD RANKINGS WILL DETERMINE FIELD FOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME
The World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), a weekly performance table of the world’s top 1,200 players in men’s amateur golf, has been used for the first time to determine the field for the Amateur Championship that will be played this year at Royal Lytham & St Annes and St Annes Old Links from June 18-23.
Created by The R&A as the universal standard for entry into the Amateur Championship, the ranking is a weekly table of playing performance for the world's top amateur players in 450 ranking events and currently includes players from almost 50 countries.
National handicapping systems will no longer be used as the primary condition to identify the international starting field of 288 players in the Amateur. An established number of exempt players will be joined by the leading players that enter from those in the top 800 of the new R&A ranking.
The R&A first proposed the WAGR as a means of clarifying entry into its championships but an 18-month trial introduction has gone further, with the criteria now seen as a valid indicator of player rankings throughout the elite amateur game.
Director of The R&A, Mike Tate, said: “WAGR clearly identifies the top amateur players in the world based on current form and presents them with the opportunity to play in the Amateur Championship."
Dates and venues for all R&A championships and the Walker Cup this year are:
Boys' Home Internationals, Machynys Peninsula, August 7-9.
Seniors Open Amateur Championship, Nairn and Nairn Dunbar, August 8-10.
Boys' Amateur Championship, Royal Porthcawl, August 13-18.
British Mid-Amateur Championship, Alwoodley, August 15-19.
Jacques Leglise Trophy, Notts, August 31-September 1.
Walker Cup, Royal County Down, September 8.

ST RULE TROPHY NEWS: JODI OUT, TARA IN
Jodi Ewart (Catterick), who has done so well in her freshman year at New Mexico University, has had to withdraw from the field for the St Rule Trophy the weekend after next. She has been replaced by Tara Davies (Holyhead).
Jodi will be playing in the NCAA Division 1 women's championship, leaving her not enough time to get back to Britain for the St Rule Trophy.

Slideshow of the Scottish Championship
Aileen Hunter has sent me a slideshow of the Scottish Ladies Championship, including scenes from "The Hut" and the Friday night party. It's a big file (over 5MB) and if you want to watch it you'll need broadband, Flash and a bit of patience as it takes a while to download.. Oh Yes.... and turn off your sound unless you want everyone in your office to know that you are not working! You have been warned!

VIKKI DOUBLES HER MONEY WITH JT THIRD FINISH AT KANSAS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
The improving Vikki Laing doubled her money from seven events on the US Futures Tour this season to $6,640 by finishing joint third on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship over a very tough 6,277yd, par-72 course at Leawood South Country Club.
Vikki, from Musselburgh but resident in America since her four years at the University of California Berkeley, earned $3,920 for scoring 71, 74 and 75 for a seven-over-par total of 220 over what was, by common consent, the toughest course the Futures Tour has visited this year – thick rough, narrow fairways, hard greens.
Former US Curtis Cup player Liz Janangelo from West Hartford beat former LPGA Tour player Emily Bastel from Ohio at the third extra hole of a play-off to take the $11,200 top prize after they had tied on four-over 217 at the end of three rounds.
Janangelo, who played for the US against GB&I at Formby in 2004, had rounds of 70, 71 and 76, was scoring her second win of the season. She tops the Futures Tour money table with $28,526. Bastel, a former LPGA Tour player, scored 70, 75 and 72. Her pay cheque was for $8,000.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
217 Liz Janangelo (Connecticut) 70 71 76, Emily Bastel (Ohio) 70 75 72 (Janangelo won play-off at third hole).
220 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 71 74 75, Rachel Bailey (Australia) 77 72 71, Allison Fouch (Michigan 74 75 71, Kim Augusta (Rhode Island) 70 74 76.

Sunday 20th May 2007

LEADING QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY STAGES OF THE WELSH WOMEN'S MATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
147 Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) 76 71.
148 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 75 73.
151 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 76.
154 Becky Harries (Haverford West) 75 79.
155 Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 79 76, Stephanie Evans (Val of Llangollen) 79 76, Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) 77 78.
158 Jo Nicolson (Wrexham) 78 80.
160 Lydia Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 80, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 79 81.
163 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 84 79.
164 Rachael Lewis (Newport, Gwent) 84 80.
165 Beth Davies (Mold) 87 78, Hayley Boulden (Llandudno, Maesdu) 82 83, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 85, Kirsty O'Connor (Nelson) 79 86.
167 Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 84 83, Amy Rees (Southerndown) 82 85.
168 Laura King (Ruthin-Pwllglas) 81 87.
169 Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdhu) 85 84, Sarah Morgan (Mountain Ash) 85 84, Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 84 85.
170 Rosie Vaughan-Jones (Carmarthen) 83 87.
174 Danielle Cobley (Newport (Gwent)) 87 87.

TARA DELANEY HEADS QUALIFIERS FOR IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY
Tara Delaney (Carlow), pictured right, led the qualifiers at a blustery Lahinch in the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship and faces a tricky assignment against the experienced Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) when the match-play stages get underway on Monday morning.
As Saturday’s gales abated, Tara, a Kent State University, Ohio student, was in devastating form, birdieng 1, 5, 8 and 9 to turn two under par. Further birdies at 12, 14 and 15 saw her complete her four under par best-of-the-day 70.
Holli Snelling (Killarney) had a double celebration when she followed her eagle at the first with a hole in one at the 133 yard 11th hole. Her six-iron found the bottom of the cup on her way to a comfortable 81.
Elsewhere, defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell from Ennis safely made it through with a resounding 76 while Maura Morrin (The Curragh) added a 79 to ease her qualification worries. Overnight leader Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway) followed her sensational 74 with an equally impressive 77 to qualify second.
Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey/Stranorlar) proved the most unlucky competitor when she was the only player to lose out in the five-way play-off for the last four places.
Some interesting pairings on Monday. McDonnell plays Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) while Lisa Maguire has a tricky assignment with girls international Vicki Power (Dundalk) while sister Leona plays Karen Delaney (Carlow).
The battle of past champions sees Donabate’s Mary McKenna pitted against Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny).
The Championship runs Monday through Wednesday while those in positions 33 through 48 play for the Ita Wallace Trophy.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
CSS 80 74.
150 Tara Delaney (Carlow) 80 70.
151 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) 74 77.
156 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 83 73, Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 80 76.
158 Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) 85 73, Sinead Keane (The Curragh) 80 78.
159 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) 80 79, Mary Dowling (New Ross) 79 80.
160 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) 87 73, Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) 81 79.
161 Maria Dunne (Skerries) 84 77, Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 83 78.
162 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 85 77.
163 Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 88 75, Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 83 80, Holli Snelling (Killarney) 82 81.
164 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 86 78.
166 Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) 90 76, Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 89 77.
167 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 88 79, Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 86 81.
168 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 86 82, Mary McKenna (Donabate) 81 87.
169 Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 90 79, Orla Barry (Galway) 87 82.
170 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) 89 81, Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) 86 84, Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 86 84.
171 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 97 74, Vicki Power (Dundalk) 91 80, Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 90 81, Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) 85 86.
ITA WALLACE TROPHY
171 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) 92 79.
172 Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) 89 83.
173 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) 96 77, Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) 93 80.
174 Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) 92 82, Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) 89 85, Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 84 90.
175 Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) 95 80, Jean Farrell (Youghal) 86 89.
176 Helen Jones (Strabane) 88 88.
178 Sarah Carty (The Island) 96 82.
179 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 91 88, Hannah McInerney (Gort) 89 90.
180 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) 94 86.
181 Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 98 83, Anna O'Brien (Athlone) 92 89.
NON-QUALIFIERS
182 Val Shannon (Douglas) 97 85 Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) 93 89.
183 Carmel Kearney (Mallow) 98 85
184 Judith McGann (Gort) 92 92
185 Fiona Healy (Headfort) 100 85 Zarah O'Reilly (Castle) 98 87 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 95 90 Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) 92 93 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) 85 100
187 Mary-T Real (Ballykisteen) 92 95
188 Fiona Carroll (Athenry) 92 96
193 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 105 88 Majella Hallinan (Ballykisteen) 103 90
194 Theresa Delahunty (Rathowney) 99 95 Karen Twomey (Spanish Point) 97 97
196 Lynda Maher (Charleville) 94 102
197 Marie Carr (Athenry) 103 94
206 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix) 104 102
207 Julie Barkman (Nenagh) 114 93 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo) 107 100
Other scores:
162 Mary Sheehy (Tralee) 85 77
174 Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) 89 85 Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook) 88 86
180 Nora O'Connor (Mallow) 85 95
197 Kay Bermingham (Youghal) 97 100
198 Cathryn Mannion (Athlone) 103 95
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
10:30 Tara Delaney (Carlow) v Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary).
10:39 Ciara Butler (Newlands) v Holli Snelling (Killarney).
10:48 Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) v Maura Morrin (The Curragh).
10:57 Orla Barry (Galway) v Mary Dowling (New Ross).
11:06 Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) v Valerie Hassett (Ennis).
11:15 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) v Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne).
11:24 Karen Delaney (Carlow) v Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell).
11:33 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) v Niamh Kitching (Claremorris).
11:42 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) v Vicki Power (Brampton Park).
11:51 Catherine Tucker (Limerick) v Margaret Hayes (Tralee).
12:00 Maria Dunne (Skerries) v Gertie McMullen (The Island).
12:09 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) v Sinead Keane (The Curragh).
12:18 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) v Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin).
12:27 Mary McKenna (Donabate) v Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny).
12:36 Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) v Tricia McDonnell (Ennis).
12:45 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) v Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway).
ITA WALLACE MATCH-PLAY
9:00 Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) v Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel).
9:09 Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) v Anne McCormack (Roscommon).
9:18 Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) v Sarah Carty (The Island).
9:27 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) v Kate Gallagher (Claremorris).
9:36 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) v Hannah McInerney (Gort).
9:45 Helen Jones (Strabane) v Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook).
9:54 Anna O’Brien(Athlone) v Jean Farrell (Youghal).
10:03 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) v Sarah Crowe (Tipperary).

CLARE QUEEN WINS 7,577 EUROS FOR JOINT 13th PLACE FINISH IN LADIES' SWISS OPEN
Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) earned herself Euros 7,577 for a joint 13th place finish in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone, Switzerland today.
Clare had rounds of 73, 71, 76 and 70 for two-over-par 290. In her final round she birdied the third, fourth and eighth and dropped only one shot at the fourth. After her birdie at the eighth she covered the remaining 10 holes in level par with a regulation figure at each.
Kathryn Imrie finished a shot behind her compatriot on three-over 291 with scores of 76, 73, 698 and 73. Kathryn's patchy last round had birdies at the eighth, 11th and 15th but a double bogey at the ninth and single bogeys at the third and fifth.
At the top of the leaderboard there was a three-way play-off for the title at the first prtize of 45,018 Euros.
It was won by 24-year-old German Bettina Hauert who thus scored her maiden professional win. She birdied the last seven holes she played, the 16th, 17th and 18th to return a fourth-round 72 and then a birdie at each of the four play-off holes, all of them halved at the last one.
The other play-off contestants were Paula Martin (Spain) who had birdied the 17th and 18th to get into the play-off and Anna Rawson (Australia) who birdied the 18th to tie on 285.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
285 Bettina Hauert (Germany) 68 73 72 72, Paula Marti (Spain) 73 73 69 70, Anna Rawson (Australia) 72 72 69 72 (Hauert won play-off at fourth extra hole).
286 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Denmark) 74 71 71 70.
287 Trish Johnson (England) 74 73 71 69, Eleanor Polgrim (Wales) 68 75 70 74.
Other totals:
290 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 73 71 76 70.
291 Kathryn Imrie (Monifieth) 76 73 69 73.

FINDLAY FIGURES IN BIRDIE BLITZ AND HE’S HEADING FOR NCAA GRAND FINALE
Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay will play in the NCAA Division 1 championships – the season-ending high spot of the American college golf season at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Williamsburg in Virginia.
Findlay, pictured right, and the rest of the East Tennessee State University won their place in the grand finale from May 30 to June 2 with a birdie blitz in a play-off against the five-man teams of Wake Forest University and Oregon State University in the NCAA Division 1 West Regional qualifying tournament.
Only the leading 10 teams go forward from a field of 27 colleges. East Tennessee State, Wake Forest and Oregon State tied for the last two places on 839.
In blistering hot temperatures on the Arizona desert course – the thermometer touched 99 degrees at its peak – the four players from each team had to play a sudden-death play-off.
East Tennessee State’s quartet – Jordan Findlay, Welsh Walker Cup player Rhys Davies and Irishmen Cian McNamara and Seamus Power – all birdied the first play-off hole to ensure their college team gained ninth place. Wake Forest won the 10th.
It was a great finish to a tournament in which Findlay did not do well over the regulation 54 holes. He had rounds of 76, 77 and 76 – including one triple bogey and three double bogeys – for a total of 13-over-par 229 over a 7,057yd, par-72 course which was playing short in the heat.
Jordan finished joint 131st in the field of 141 players but that was all forgotten as he added his play-off birdie to book the team’s trip to Virginia.
Rhys Davies scored 70, 67 and 68 to gain joint 14th place on four-under-par 205, seven shots behind the winner, Benjamin Alvarado (Arizona State) with 67, 65 and 66 for 198.
Augusta State’s Wallace Booth from Comrie finished tied 23rd on 207 with three rounds of 69.
INDIVIDUAL SCOREBOARD
198 Benjamin Alvarado (Arizona State) 67 65 66.
201 Kevin Chappell (UCLA) 66 68 67, Jon Curran (Vanderbilt0 71 65 65, Jamie Lovemark (Southern California) 69 63 69.
Other scores:
205 Rhys Davies (East Tenneessee State) 70 67 68 (jt 14th).
207 Wallace Booth (Augusta State) 69 69 69, Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 70 70 67 (jt 23rd).
216 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 69 74 73 (jt 81st).
229 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 76 77 76 (jt 131st).
TEAM TOTALS
820 South Carolina.
822 UCLA.
824 Southern California, Arizona State.
Other qualifiers:
839 (after play-off) East Tennessee State, Wake Forest.

MACAULAY’S LAST ROUND ON AMERICAN COLLEGE CIRCUIT
Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay had a disappointing end to his four years on the American college golf circuit as a student at the University of Mississippi.
Callum finished joint 90th in a field of 141 for the NCAA Division 1 men’s East Regional qualifying tournament for the NCAA championship grand final at the end of the month.
Macaulay had rounds of 79 72 and 69 for a total of 230.
Mississippi needed to finish in the top 10 to go forward to the NCAA championship but came 17th of 27.
Russell Knox (Jacksonville University) was the leading British player in joint 23rd place. A final round of 68 after scores of 74 and 78 boosted him 50 places in the final standings with a total of 220.
Knox, like Macaulay, playing his last round of college golf in the States had an eagle 2 at the fourth and an eagle 3 at the long 18th in halves of 33 and 35.
Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville University) had erratic rounds of 82, 71 and 81 for a share of 105th place on 234.
Billy Hotschel (Florida) and Brendan Todd (Georgia) tied at the top of the leaderboard on 210 over the par-72, 7,017yd course at the Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta.

VIKKI LAING SHOWING SIGNS OF TURNING CORNER IN HER TOUR PRO CAREER
Vikki Laing, the one-time wonder girl golfer from Musselburgh whose brilliant amateur career did not transfer with her to the professional ranks, may be turning the corner at last.
Based in America since she spent four years at the University of California, Berkeley, the 26-year-old’s form on the United States Futures Tour has taken an upsurge in the month of May. She is starting to make 36-hole cuts on a regular basis and, more important, achieve top-10 finishes.
In the weekend $80,000 Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship of Kansas City at Leawood South Country Club, Vikki scored 71 and 74 for three-over-par 145 over a testing 6,277yd, par-71 lay-out, to be lying in joint third place, four shots off the pace, going into the final round.
“I’ve three-putted three times in both rounds but still took only 28 putts in the second round,” said Vikki who won the Scottish Under-18 girls title four years in a row in the 1990s and also the Scottish Under-21 title before gaining Curtis Cup honours.
“I had one of those days when I got up and down from everywhere. The whole thing at this tournament is the rough. This is the toughest course by par we’ve played this season but it’s fair. The rough is going to punish you if you’re in there but the greens are pure.
LEADERBOARD
141 Liz Janangelo (Connecticutt) 70 71.
144 Kim Augusta (Rhode Island) 70 74.
145 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 71 74, Emily Bastel (Ohio) 70 75, Sin Ah Ham (California) 76 69, Jana Peterkova (Czech Rep0 75 70, Ji Min Jeong (Korea) 71 74.
MISSED CUT (at 157)
164 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 85 79.
166 Natasha Morgan (South Wales) (am) 85 81.

ANGUS TEAM FOR CRUDEN BAY JAMBOREE
Angus have named their team for the Northern Division women's inter-county team championship at Cruden Bay from June 23 to 25.
It is:
Heather Anderson (Downfield).
Dawn Dewar (Monifieth).
Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie).
Frances Millar (Carnoustie).
Shonagh Raitt (Forfar).
Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir).
Mary Summers (Panmure Barry).
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
Reserves:
Elaine Easton (Brechin).
Aileen Hunter (Monifieth).
*Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) and Rebecca Wilson were not available for selection.

Saturday 19th May 2007

Photos from the Scottish Ladies Championship at Barassie

Scottish Champion 2007
Jenna Wilson

Trophy Winners today
L to R: Michele Thomson (beaten semifinalist), Emily Ogilvy (runner-up), Scottish Champion Jenna Wilson, Heather Macrae (beaten semi-finalist), Wendy Nicholson (Clark Rosebowl winner)

Trophy winners after the Strokeplay qualifying rounds
Back Row L to R: Dawn Dewar, Aileen Hunter, Rebecca Wilson, Michele Thomson
Front Row L to R: Elaine Moffat, Jenna Wilson, Emily Ogilvy

JENNA WILSON WINS SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AMATEUR TITLE
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven won the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship for the first time at Kilmarnock Barassie today (Saturday).
In very windy and often wet conditions, the 22-year-old Scotland international beat Emily Ogilvy, a 23-year-old uncapped Auchterarder player, by 2 and 1 in the 18-hole final.
It was fitting that Emily gave Jenna her hardest game of the championship. Miss Wilson had not had to play the last four holes since the qualifying rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday but there was no way she was going to reproduce the sub-par golf that had swept her through the earlier ties.
“In many ways, these were the toughest conditions of the week – and apart from Tuesday, it’s been either wet or windy or both every day,” said Jenna.
“I stay focused right from the start of the championship and it’s a nice feeling to be Scottish champion. I’ve been once to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School and I will be going back there again later in the year.
“Becoming a tour pro is my future.”
Emily, who played four years on the American circuit as a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, boosted her confidence with a three-under-par 72 to lead the first qualifying round.
“That gave me the confidence to win my way through to the final. I only wish I had been able to putt as well in the final as I did on Tuesday. I just couldn’t hole any puts at all. But I enjoyed the whole week tremendously. To get to the final was almost beyond my wildest dreams."
The first two holes were exchanged before Jenna got her first birdie downwind at the long fifth. But Miss Ogilvy wasn’t phased by that. She promptly squared the match with a birdie 2 at the short sixth.
Miss Wilson then won the seventh and the eighth with par figures to be two up at the turn in roughly par or one-over par figures.
A birdie 3 at the 10th put Jenna seemingly in the driving seat with a three-hole lead. But give Emily credit for hanging on in there against an opponent with much more experience of top-level amateur play.
Miss Ogilvy, from Dunning in Perthshire, was able to win back the 11th and 13th with par 4s as heavy rain swept the course.
When Jenna Wilson ran up a double-bogey in deep rough at the short 14th, Emily was able to square the match with a bogey 4.
Jenna took it all in her stride. Now facing playing the last four holes for the first time since Wednesday, she won the 15th and 16th with par figures – Emily missing a three-footer for a half at the 16th.
A half in 5 at the 17th gave Jenna a 2 and 1 victory in roughly three over par figures and the coveted title.
The pace of play was admirable. The 17 holes were completed in 3hr 10min.
Result:
Final – Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 2 and 1.

SLGA NAME TEAMS FOR THREE STROKE-PLAY EVENTS
The following Scotland teams were named by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association after the championship concluded at Kilmarnock Barassie today:
St Rule Trophy, St Andrews, June 2-3: 1 Krystle Caithness, 2 Heather MacRaem 3 Jenna Wilson. Reserves: 1 Emily Ogilvy, 2 Michele Thomson.
Ladies British open amateur championship - Alwoodley, Leeds, June 12-16: 1 Krystle Caithness, 2 Heather MacRae, 3 Jenna Wilson. Reserves: 1 Sally Watson, 2 Carly Booth, 3 Emily Ogilvy.
Irish women's open amateur championship - Clandeboyne, June 30-July 1: 1 Claire Hargan, 2 Elaine Moffat. Reserve: 1 Sara Bishop.

KATHRYN IMRIE'S THIRD-ROUND 69 PUTS HER ONLY FIVE SHOTS BEHIND LEADERS IN SWITZERLAND
Monifieth's Kathryn Imrie had one of the best third rounds of the day - a three-under-par 69 - in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone in Switzerland.
Kathryn is on two-over-par 218 --five shots off the foursome setting the pace.
Clare Queen and Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon both had third-round 76s.
Miss Queen is on 220, one shot behind Liz.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Anna Rawson (Aus) 72 72 69, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 68 75 70, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 69 73 71, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 73 72
215 Paula Marti (Spa) 73 73 69
216 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 73 75 68, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 74 71 71, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 75 70 71
217 Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 70 74 73, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72 76
218 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 76 73 69, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 71 77 70, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 74 74 70, Trish Johnson (Eng) 74 73 71, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) (am) 73 72 73, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 77 73, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 74 70 74
219 Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 75 74 70, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 73 76 70, Carlie Butler (Aus) 76 72 71, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 72 75 72, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 75 72, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 75 72 72, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 72 75 72, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 71 75 73, Mianne Bagger (Den) 75 71 73, Stefania Croce (Ita) 73 72 74, Caroline Rominger (Am) (Swi) 73 72 74, Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ) 70 73 76, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 68 74 77
220 Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 77 72 71, Rebecca Stevenson (Aus) 73 74 73, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 76 73, Helena Alterby (Swe) 73 73 74, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 72 73 75, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 72 72 76, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 73 76, Clare Queen (Sco) 73 71 76, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 69 75 76
221 Kris Lindstrom (US) 73 76 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 74 74 73, Louise Stahle (Swe) 72 75 74, Anna Rossi (Ita) 76 71 74, Mette Buus (Den) 75 72 74, Lisa Hall (Eng) 76 71 74, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 75 75, Shani Waugh (Aus) 70 73 78
222 Fame More (Eng) 75 74 73, Anja Monke (Ger) 74 73 75, Lisa Jean (Aus) 72 74 76, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 72 77, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 71 73 78, Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 73 78
223 Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 73 76 74, Danielle Masters (Eng) 78 71 74, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 73 76 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 76 73 74, Natascha Fink (Aut) 74 75 74, Samantha Head (Eng) 74 74 75, Amy Yang (Kor) 73 74 76, Louise Friberg (Swe) 72 75 76, Marta Prieto (Spa) 76 71 76, Diana Luna (Ita) 69 78 76, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 72 75 76, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 74 77
225 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 73 75 77
227 Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 73 76 78, Sarah Heath (Eng) 73 74 80.

TITLE-HOLDER TRICIA IS BLOWN AWAY TO A 90 IN FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND OF "IRISH"
Defending champion Tricia McDonnell from the Ennis club found the going frustratingly tough at a windswept Lahinch in the first round of the Lancôme Irish women's (close) amateur championship today.
McDonnell, better known by her maiden name of Tricia Mangan, returned a dis-satisfying 90 as the Atlantic winds swept across the famously challenging links where the field battled bravely to keep the ball in play. Conditions on the undulating greens were particularly difficult with gusting winds making putting extremely arduous.
Sinead O’Sullivan (Galway), one of only two players to break 80, carded four birdies in a magnificent level par 74, covering the back nine holes in two under par.
Next best was Mary Dowling (New Ross) who birdied the seventh on her way to a 79.
Course record holder Marian Riordan (Tipperary), matched Tara Delaney (Carlow), Sinead Keane (The Curragh) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) with 80 while Mary McKenna (Donabate), who was one under par for the inward nine, and Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) were one shot further back on 81.
The in-form Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona struggled in the blustery conditions and carded 83 and 88 respectively.
Leitrim Cup qualifying concludes on Sunday with a second 18 holes after which the leading 32 players will go into the championship draw on Monday, concluding Wednesday afternoon. Players and tournament officials will be hoping for winds to abate overnight and more benign conditions to greet the players in the morning.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
(CSS 80)
74 Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway)
79 Mary Dowling (New Ross)
80 Marian Riordan (Tipperary) Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) Sinead Keane (The Curragh) Tara Delaney (Carlow)
81 Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) Mary McKenna (Donabate)
82 Holli Snelling (Killarney)
83 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
84 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) Maria Dunne (Skerries)
85 Ciara Butler (Newlands) Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Mary Sheehy (Tralee) Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) Pamela Morgan (Lahinch)
86 Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Jean Farrell (Youghal) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
87 Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) Orla Barry (Galway)
88 Helen Jones (Strabane) Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) Margaret Hayes (Tralee) Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook)
89 Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) Catherine Tucker (Limerick) Hannah McInerney (Gort) Nora O'Connor (Mallow) Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) Sarah Crowe (Tipperary)
90 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) Maura Morrin (The Curragh) Tricia McDonnell (Ennis)
91 Ailish McCartan (Greenore) Vicki Power (Brampton Park)
92 Anna O'Brien (Athlone) Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) Fiona Carroll (Athenry) Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) Judith McGann (Gort) Mary-T Real (Ballykisteen) Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange)
93 Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) Kate Gallagher (Claremorris)
94 Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) Lynda Maher (Charleville)
95 Mary Geaney (Killarney) Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary)
96 Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) Sarah Carty (The Island)
97 Karen Twomey (Spanish Point) Kay Bermingham (Youghal) Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Val Shannon (Douglas)
98 Carmel Kearney (Mallow) Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) Zarah O'Reilly (Castle)
99 Theresa Delahunty (Rathowney)
100 Fiona Healy (Headfort)
103 Cathryn Mannion (Athlone) Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) Majella Hallinan (Ballykisteen) Marie Carr (Athenry)
104 Maria Cahill (Abbeyleix)
105 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
107 Mai McCann (Narin & Portnoo)
114 Julie Barkman (Nenagh)

VIKKI ONE OFF THE PACE IN KANSAS CITY
Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing continued her improved run of form on the United States Futures Tour with one-under-par 71 in the first round of the $80,000 Mercedes Benz of Kansas City Championship at the Leawood South Country Club.
Vikki had an undistinguished outward half of two-over-par 38 over the 6,277, par-71 course before finding her touch with an inward two-under-par 33.
She is in joint fifth place, one shot behind the four joint leaders, Kim Augusta (Rhode Island), Brandi Jackson (South Carolina), Liz Janangelo (Connecticutt) and Emily Bastel (Ohio).
Natasha Morgan, from South Wales, a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, had an 85 (41-44).

Friday 18th May 2007

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES FOR SCOTTISH FINALIST EMILY FROM DUNNING!
Last Sunday, Emily Ogilvy, pictured right, from Dunning, an Auchterarder Golf Club member, lost in the final of the Perth & Kinross women's county championship.
Tomorrow morning at Kilmarnock Barassie, the same Emily, the No 6 qualifier, will play top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) in the 18-hole final of the 104th Scottish women's amateur golf championship.
So what's made the difference in a week for 23-year-old Emily?
"I think getting a three-under-par 72 on Tuesday in the first qualifying round really boosted my confidence and I've just taken it from there. I've had my bad moments but I like the course and I am on a roll, there's no doubt about it," said Miss Ogivly whose mum has travelled down to the Ayrshire venue.
For both 22-year-old Jenna, a Scotland international, and 23-year-old uncapped Emily Ogilvy it’s a first time in the national final.
“I won’t lose any sleep worrying about it. I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to it. I don’t suffer from nerves,” said Jenna, confident without being cocksure..
But Emily, who played four years on the American college golf circuit while a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, says she will be nervous – “very nervous, in fact!”
Jenna, pictured left, has been the most impressive performer all week and will start red-hot favourite. She was three under par in beating title-holder Martine Pow (Selkirk) by 7 and 6 in the morning quarter-finals and again three under par in beating the No 5 seed Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) by 5 and 4 even though the conditions suddenly deteriorated in mid-afternoon to a half-gale and lashing rain.
Miss Wilson has not had to play the last four holes since the match-play stages started.
"Jenna played very well but there was no excuse for me being six over par for the last five holes of the match. It just suddenly went all wrong for me. I had to take two penalty drops, I missed two putts of about 2 1/2 feet and I lost a ball. I had been playing so well until the semi-final. I lost in the semi-final last year," said Heather.
Emily Ogilvy, who has almost certainly earned herself a first Scotland honour in the team for the women's home internationals in September, cut the giant-killing Australian-born Edwina Lowery-Gold from Norwich - shock conqueror of Krystle Caithness - down to size in the quarter-finals by 3 and 1 and then produced a birdie at the 20th hole to win a cliff-hanger against 19-year-old Aberdeenshire county champion Michele Thomson from Ellon.
Emily was three up after five but big-hitting Michele clawed her way back to all square after 15 only to make a mess of the 17th and be one down playing the 18th.
Michele bravely holed a 5ft putt for par to square the contest on the 18th green but could not match Emily’s three-iron, nine-iron and 10ft putt for a birdie 3 at the 376yd second extra hole.
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) 5 and 4.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) at 20th.
CLARK ROSEBOWL FINAL
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 2 and 1.

INVERNESS-BASED KIWI LIZ IS IN CONTENTION AFTER 36 HOLES OF LADIES' SWISS OPEN
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon is enjoyed her best performance on the Ladies European Tour.
Liz has shot rounds of 70 and 73 to be lying joint fifth on 143 after 36 holes of the Deutsche Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) and Kathryn Imrie both qualified but Lynn Kenny did not.
Clare has had rounds of 73 and 71 to be joint eighth on 144.
Kathryn Imrie scored 76 and 73 to be joint 57th on 149.
Lynn Kenny missed the cut by a big margin. She was on 155 after rounds of 77 and 78.
Germany's Bettina Hauert and Italy's Federica Piovano are joint leaders on three-under-par 141.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
141 Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 73, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 72.
142 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 68 74, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 69 73.
143 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 70 73, Shani Waugh (Aus) 70 73, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 68 75.
Scots qualifiers:
144 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 73 71 (jt 8th).
149 Kathryn Imrie 76 73.
Scots non-qualifier:
155 Lynn Kenny 77 78.

Scottish women's amateur championship at Barassie
IT'S WILSON v MacRAE and OGILVY v THOMSON IN THE SEMI-FINALS
This afternoon's semi-finals in the 104th staging of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie will feature:
Top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) versus the No 5 qualifier Heather MacRae (Dunblane New)
and No 6 qualifier Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) against the No 2 seed Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven ended the title defence of Martine Pow (Selkirk) in the quarter-finals on a morning that started off very wet and windy but cleared to be bright and sunny before lunchtime.
Jenna did not lose a hole and was three under par in beating Martine in under three hours.
Jenna, pictured above, has yet to play the last four holes in the match-play stages of the championship this week. This morning she did not have to play the last six.
Jenna's only bogey came at the second which was halved. She birdied the fifth, eighth, 11th and 12th.
For Martine, it was her last ever appearance in the championship.
"I had my 42nd birthday this week and now's the time to bow out and let the youngsters take over. I'm satisfied with what I achieved in tournament golf," said the British mid-amateur champion ... a title she will not be defending.
"I just don't have the time to play and to practise enough to hold my own at this level of golf. And it's better to step down than to struggle to keep up with the full-time amateurs, etc."
Heather MacRae, again striking the ball well and hitting the par-5s with iron seconds, was a 2 and 1 winner over the 1998 champion, 39-year-old Elaine Moffat from the St Regulus Club, St Andrews.
Heather was one up after nine holes but was pulled back to square when Elaine birdied the 10th.
Heather countered with a birdie to regain the lead at the 12th and the enthralling contest continued to see-saw one way and the other. Miss Moffat squared the match at the 13th. After a series of halves, Heather finished the stronger, winning the 16th with a par (one up) and the 17th with a birdie.
Heather lost in the semi-finals to Martine Pow at Dunbar 12 months ago.
Emily Ogilvy beat the surprise packet of the match-play stages, 18-year-old Brisbane-born daughter of an Edinburgh man, Edwina Lowery-Gold who lives in Norwich.
Emily won by 3 and 1 against Edwina who yesterday knocked out the No 3 seed Megan Briggs and then claimed the scalp of British international Krystle Caithness for the second time in nine months or so.
"I won but I thought I played terribly this morning," said 23-year Emily who had a three-under-par 72 in the first qualifying round and then a 10 at a short hole in the second round.
"I just couldn't putt at all.
Despite that honest assessment, Miss Ogilvy, who played four years on the American college circuit while a student at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, went one up at the 11th and two up at the 14th with par figures. Edwina held her at bay with a couple of halves before Emily won the long 17th with a par for a 3 and 1 victory.
Michele Thomson was level par approximately in beating the experienced Claire Hargan from Mortonhall by 2 and 1.
Michele birdied the first, second and fifth but lost the third and fourth. Many holes were halved in this match as Miss Hargan, winner of the Midlothian county title five years in a row, hung on to the bootlace of her younger and stronger opponent.
Claire unexpectedly three-putted the 11th to fall two down but she won back the 14th with a par to be one down on the 15th tee. Two tense halves followed before Miss Thomson used her strength to birdie the long 17th for the match.
The Clark Rosebowl final will be between two Lothians players - Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Martine Pow (Selkirk) 7 and 6.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) bt Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 2 and 1.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Edwina Lowery-Gold (Eaton) 3 and 1.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 2 and 1.
CLARK ROSEBOWL SEMI-FINALS
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
Pamela Williamson (Baberton) bt Liz Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 5 and 4.

INVERNESS-BASED LIZ OPENS SWISS ACCOUNT WITH THREE-UNDER-PAR 69
Inverness-based Liz McKinnon had her best round on the Ladies European Tour for many months when she shot a three-under-par 69 on the first day of the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerere Losone in Switzerland.
Clare Queen had the best score of the Scots - a one-over-par 73.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
68 Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal), Nikki Garrett (Aus), Bettina Hauert (Ger), Frederique Seeholzer (Swi)
69 Lora Fairclough (Eng), Federica Piovano (Ita), Diana Luna (Ita), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger)
70 Shani Waugh (Aus), Elizabeth McKinnon (Nzl), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin)
71 Sarah Kemp (Aus), Becky Brewerton (Wal), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Marina Arruti (Spa), Karen Lunn (Aus), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Asa Gottmo (Swe)
72 Maria Boden (Swe), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Louise Friberg (Swe), Louise Stahle (Swe), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Anna Rawson (Aus), Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Lisa Jean (Aus), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Ana Larraneta (Spa)
73 Jo Clingan (Eng), Sarah Heath (Eng), Fany Schaeffer (Fra), Clare Queen (Sco), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Paula Marti (Spa), Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Stefania Croce (Ita), Amy Yang (Kor), Natalie Claire Booth (Eng), Bree Turnbull (Aus), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Kris Lindstrom (USA), Elisa Serramia (Spa), Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Isabella Maconi (Ita), Martina Eberl (Ger), Katharina Schallenberg (Am) (Ger), Rebecca Stevenson (Aus), Helena Alterby (Swe), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Caroline Rominger (Am) (Swi)
74 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Trish Johnson (Eng), Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Samantha Head (Eng), Anja Monke (Ger), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), HannaLeena Salonen (Fin), Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Ellen Smets (Bel), Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned), Natascha Fink (Aut), Sophie Giquel (Fra), Georgina Simpson (Eng)
75 Anna Knutsson (Swe), Anne Lise Caudal (Fra), Mianne Bagger (Den), Rebecca Hudson (Eng), Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Fame More (Eng), Kiran Matharu (Eng), Iben Tinning (Den), Rebecca Coakley (Irl), Lara Tadiotto (Bel), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Mette Buus (Den), Julie Tvede (Den)
76 Carlie Butler (Aus), Anna Rossi (Ita), Virginie Auffret (Fra), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Joanne Mills (Aus), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Denise Simon (Ger), Claire Coughlan (Irl), Kathryn Imrie (Sco), Nora Angehrn (Swi), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Marta Prieto (Spa), Marlene Hedblom (Swe), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Amanda MoltkeLeth (Den), Lisa Hall (Eng), Kirsty S Taylor (Eng), Maria Verchenova (Rus)
77 Tullia Calzavara (Ita), Ashleigh Simon (Rsa), Leah Hart (Aus), Lynn Kenny (Sco), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Florence Luscher (Swi), Sophie Walker (Eng)
78 Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Nicole Gergely (Aut), Nathalie DavidMila (Fra), Danielle Masters (Eng), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Anna Temple (USA), Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Lynn Brooky (Nzl), Liza Walters (Eng), Fanny Vuignier (Am) (Swi)
79 Sofia Renell (Swe), Anna Tybring (Swe)
81 Sara Beautell (Spa), Carmen Alonso (Spa), Anais Maggetti (Am) (Swi), Catrin Nilsmark (Swe)
82 Rikke Rasmussen (Den), Barbara Paruscio (Ita)
Ret: Cassandra Kirkland (Fra)

Thursday 17th May 2007

Scottish women's championship match-play
WIZARD FROM OZ EDWINA BEATS NO 3 SEED MEGAN, THEN KOs KRYSTLE AT 20TH TO REACH LAST EIGHT
In golfing terms, lightning struck twice for Krystle Caithness in the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.
Last summer, the St Regulus player, then 17 and favourite for the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play title at Peebles lost to an unheralded, Australian-born girl called Edwina Lowery-Gold.
Today, in the second round of the match-play stages over the Ayrshire links, their paths crossed again .... the British international team player with a +3 handicap against Edwina who has been unable to improve her three-handicap since they last played many months ago.
It should have been a easy task for Miss Caithness. Instead she was beaten at the 20th hole in what must rank as one of the shock results of this or any other Scottish championship for many a long day.
Krystle, who was two holes up after seven and still one up with the 17th and 18th to play, was pulled back to square at the 17th. The nail-biting 18th was halved ... so too was the 19th ... and then Krystle, one of the favourites for the title she will not be able to contest for the next four years after going to the University of Georgia in the autumn, drove into a bush on the left at the 20th and there was no escape for that.
Krystle, of course, was a member of the Britain women’s team who won the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa last week.
The Caithness camp were making no excuses at all but there is no doubt that Krystle has not been well since she came home from South Africa at the weekend. With tired-looking rounds of 77 and 81, she qualified in 14th place for the match-play stages – mind you, Edwina squeezed through 30th of the 32 who advanced. Her qualifying rounds were 80 and 86.
“I’m in a state of shock,” said Edwina. “I beat Krystle in the Scottish girls championship at Peebles last summer but I don’t think that had any bearing on today’s results. My handicap has not improved at all in the months since then. I thought I played better in the morning first round when I beat Megan Briggs (the third seed) by 2 and 1.”
Brisbane-born Miss Lowery-Gold is the daughter of an Edinburgh man. The family moved from Australia to England three years ago and she is a member of Eaton Golf Club, Norwich.
Now the surprise packet of the championship meets Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) in this morning’s quarter-finals.
Top seed Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) was first into the last eight, a good hour ahead of anyone else after being Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 6 and 4. Jenna plays defending champion Martine Pow (Selkirk) who, at the age of 42, says this will be her last big tournament.
“I am going to retire satisfied with what I have achieved in golf.”
Welsh women’s open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae (Dunblane) will meet the 1998 Scottish title-winner, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus).
Elaine, a St Regulus, St Andrews team-mate of Krystle Caithness, reckons that a move from Edinburgh to work for Fife Council has worked wonders for her golf.
“I’m able to play a lot more golf than I have done for ages and it shows in my game,” said the 39-year-old after beating Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), the No 4 seed, by one hole.
Rachael made a bad start and was three down after six holes but fought her way back into the match to be only one down playing the last.
Miss Moffat then used here experience to play for the half that would clinch a place in the quarter-finals.
Elaine now plays Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) who was roughly level par in beating Monifieth’s Dawn Dewar, a Stirling University student, by 2 and 1.
Heather’s striking of the ball was impressive and she got home at most of the par-5s with an iron for her second shots. Dawn was one up after seven holes but Miss MacRae won the eighth, ninth and 12th and held on to her advantage.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) was two up after four holes against former Scotland international Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) who several times cut the lead to one but could not get back on terms. Emily clinched the match with a birdie at the long 17th.
Nineteen-year-old Aberdeenshire champion Michele Thomson from Ellon ended the Anne Laing run of appearing in the last six “Scottish” finals. Michele won by 4 and 3 with two-under-par figures despite a double bogey at one hole against a player who was champion in 1996, 2003 and 2004.
“What a great sport she is,” said Michele.
Michele now plays the very experienced Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) who won at the 19th against Prestwick St Nicholas player Rosalind Purdom.

SECOND ROUND
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) bt Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 6 and 4.
Martine Pow (Selkirk) bt Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) bt Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) 2 and 1.
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) bt Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 1 hole.
Edwina Lowery-Gold (Eaton) bt Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) at 20th.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 2 and 1.
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) bt Rosalind Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) at 19th.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 4 and 3.
Scroll down for the earlier results at Kilmarnock Barassie today.
CLARK ROSEBOWL - QUARTER-FINALS
Lesley Williamson bt Jill Harrison 1 hole.,
Wendy Nicholson bt Gillian Kyle 3 and 2.
Liz Keohone bt Sarah Herd at 20th.
Pamela Williamson bt Cara Easton 4 and 3.

AUSSIE 'UNKNOWN' TOPPLES NO. 3 SEED MEGAN BRIGGS AT BARASSIE
Megan Briggs, the 17-year-old Renfrewshire women's champion for the past two years, suffered an unexpected early exit from the match-play stages of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club today.
As the No 3 qualifier, Megan was expected to get at least as far as the quarter-finals, perhaps the semi-finals, but she was ousted in the first round by a relatively unknown player from south of the Border, Edwina Lowery-Gold who won by 2 and 1.
Although Edwina, 18, is entered from Eaton Golf Club, Norwich, she is actually Australian-born, Brisbane to be precise but her father hailed from Edinburgh originally. The Lowery-Gold family moved from Australia to England three years ago and Edwina, through her father's country of birth, opted to play for Scotland - if she were good enough - and in the Scottish championships.
She made her debut at Peebles in the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship last summer and knocked out the favourite, Krystle Caithness (St Regulus)
And golf being the funny game that is is .... Edwina will cross swords with Krystle again in the second round at Barassie.
In a match that augurs well for the future of Scottish women's golf, 16-year-old Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth edged out 15-year-old Annable Niven (Crieff) at the 20th hole in the first round.
Both youngsters played well and it was a pity that one had to lose. Rebecca was two down after two holes but fought back to level it and it was nip and tuck after that. Miss Wilson, the Angus girls' champion, finally won a place in the second round - a match against defending champion Martine Pow (Selkirk) - with a par at the second extra hole.
Top seed Jenna Wilson from Strathaven advanced to last 32 with a 5 and 4 win over Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) who came through a play-off last night to claim the very last spot in the match-play draw.
Jenna was one under par for the holes played.
"It was most enjoyable but I was outclassed," said Laura.
Another Laura and another Aberdeenshire team player, Laura Murray from Alford, lost by 3 and 2 to Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) who will play Jenna Wilson in this afternoon's second round.
Title-holder Martine Pow (Selkirk) was too strong for Heather Anderson, beating the Downfield player by 4 and 2.
Welsh women's open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae was trailing 14-year-old Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), the youngest of the qualifiers, after 12 holes and then stepped up a gear to win the the 15th, 16th and 17th for the match. Heather birdied the 16th and the 17th and now plays Dawn Dewar, the Monifieth and Stirling University playere who qaualified in 12th position.
Dawn had her best win for some time, beating Scotland cap Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) by 3 and 1.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) birdied the short hole that cost her a 10 in the second qualifying round. She beat Mortonhall teenager Jane Turner by 5 and 4.
No 2 seed Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) had two eagles during her 7 and 6 win over fellow Aberdeenshire team player Carol Wilson (Murcar Links). Now Michele, the Aberdeenshire women's champion, meets Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), who has played in the last six finals of the Scottish championship and eight in all since the 1990s when she beat Alison Davidson in the final at Royal Dornoch.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
J Wilson (Strathaven) bt L McLardy (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.
C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) bt L Murray (Alford) 3 and 2.
M Pow (Selkirk) bt H Anderson (Downfield) 4 and 2.
R Wilson (Monifieth) bt A Niven (Crieff) at 20th.
H MacRae (Dunblane New) bt J Meldrum (Dullatur) 3 and 1.
D Dewar (Monifieth) bt K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 3 and 1.
E Moffat (St Regulus) bt A Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 4 and 3.
R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) bt F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.
E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) bt M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1.
K Caithness (St Regulus) bt R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 2 and 1.
S Wood (Hazlehead) bt A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 4 and 3.
E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt J Turner (Mortonhall) 5 and 4.
R Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt A Bushby (Strathmore) 1 hole.
C Hargan (Mortonhall) bt S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.
A Laing (Vale of Leven) bt J Carthew (Ladybank) 2 and 1.
M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt C Wilson (Murcar Links) 7 and 6.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
FIRST ROUND
L Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt M Easton (Dalmahoy) 5 and 4.
J Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt M Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
W Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) 7 and 6.
G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 3 and 2.
S Herd (Dunblane New) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 5 and 3.
L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) bt K Marshall (Baberton) 2 and 1.
C Easton (Dalmahoy) bt L McGeachy (Windyhill) 4 and 2.

Wednesday 16th May 2007

Trophy winners

Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Auchterarder's Emily Ogilvy both received two trophies at the traditional Scottish Ladies Golfing Association prizegiving evening at the conclusion of the 36-hole qualifying rounds.
Here is a list of who won what:
GLOVER 21ST ANNIVERSARY CUP (lowest gross score in second round)
Winner - Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 76.
Runner-up - Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 78 (better last six).
Third - Laura Murray (Alford) 78 (better inward half).
Fourth - Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) 78 (better inward half).
LYON SALVER (best net score in second round)
Winner - Dawn Dewar (Monifieth (5) 73 (better last three).
Runner-up - Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (5) 73.
Third - Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) (4) 74.
MARGARET SCOULER-BUCHANAN CUP (Aggregate gross)
Winner - Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 75 76 - 151.
McINNES SHAW CUP (Aggregate net)
Winner - Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 74 73 - 147.
ST RULE SALVER (Best gross aggregate from an Under-21)
Winner - Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 78 - 153.
NPFA CUP (Lowst net score in medal rounds)
Winner - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (scr) 72.
McROBERT THISTLE CUP (Lowest scratch score in qualifying rounds)
Winner - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 72.
DUNLOP HILL TROPHY (Best second-round score by a past champion)
Winner - Martine Pow (Selkirik) 78.

JENNA SWINGING IN THE RAIN TO BE TOP QUALIFIER AT BARASSIE
Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson stopped short of singing in the rain but she was certainly swinging very well in the non-stop drizzle that put a damper on the second qualifying round of the Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.
Jenna, a 22-year-old full-time amateur, had easily the lowest score of the day – a one-over-par 76 – for a one-over par total of 151 to be the No 1 seed in the draw.
“I don’t mind the actual playing in wet conditions like that but the biggest problem is trying to keep the grips of your clubs dry when it’s non-stop rain like that. If they get too wet you’re in trouble” said Jenna who did not let the depressing conditions get to her.
She finished two shots ahead of a crop of talented teenagers in the top 10.
Michele Thomson, the Ellon 19-year-old who is the Aberdeenshire women’s champion, had a 78 to be the No 2 qualifier – two shots ahead of 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), who recently retained the Renfrewshire women’s county titl