November 2006 Archive

Thursday 30th November 2006

KATHRYN (74), VIKKI (78) AS LPGA Q SCHOOL STARTS IN FLORIDA
Scots Kathryn Imrie and Vikki Laing did not make the flying start they had hoped for over the first 18 holes of the five-round LPGA Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Kathryn, 39-year-old from Dundee, a former winner on the No 1 women’s world professional circuit, had a round of 74 (38-36) to be in joint 79th position in a field of 138.
Vikki, 25, from Musselburgh, is even worse placed – sharing 131st place after a 78 (38-40). Both started their campaigns over the Champions course.
Both girls have three rounds to get their acts together. The field, having played two rounds over the Legends Course and two rounds over the Champions Course, will be cut to the leading 70 and ties after 72 holes.
After the final round, only the top 15 will gain full playing rights for the 2007 season. The next 35 will have conditional status, which means they will get into some of the tournaments with lesser prizemoney, in which all the entry spots are not taken up by those with full players’ cards.
Two South Koreans from Seoul, Hye Jung Choi (35-32) and 18-year-old amateur In-Kyung Kim (33-34), the 2005 United States girls champion, share the lead on five-under-par 67.
Twice former British women’s open champion Louise Stahle is sharing 22nd place with Ireland's Rebecca Coakley on 71 (33-38). The Swede gained playing rights at last week’s Ladies European Tour Q School. Australian-born Rebecca, finished in 40th place on the LET order of merit for 2006.
England’s Jo Clingan (34-40) from Gloucester and Bedford’s Samantha Head (39-35) are on the same 74 mark as Kathryn Imrie.
One of the surprises of the first day was the performance of France’s Gwladys Nocera, one of the more successful players on the LET. She is in 136th place after an 80 (40-40).
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
67 Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 35-32, (am) In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 33-34.
68 Paige MacKenzie (US) 33-35, Irene Cho (US) 32-36, Erica Blasberg 32-36.
Other scores:
71 Louise Stahle (Swe) 33-38 Rebecca Coakley (Ire) 71 (jt 22nd).
74 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 38-36, Jo Clingan (Eng) 34-40, Samantha Head (Eng) 39-35 (jt 79th).
78 Vikki Laing (Sco) 38-40 (jt 131st).
80 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 40-40 (136th).

Monday 27th November 2006

US College Golf
JODI IS TOP GB&I PLAYER IN UNITED STATES WOMEN’S COLLEGE RANKINGS
Freshman Jodi Ewart from Catterick, Yorkshire is the leading female British and Irish golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin women’s college rankings at the winter break in the 2006-2007 season.
Jodi is 20th in a top 20 which is headed by Sweden’s Caroline Westrup (Florida State) and includes other Continentals in former British girls champion Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), also from Sweden), in 11th place, Spain’s Maria Hernandez (Purdue) in 17th place and Germany’s Sandra Gal (Florida) 18th.
The leading Irish player is Tara Delaney (Kent State) from Carlow. She has dropped down to No 51 in recent weeks after being in the top 10 or 20.
Top Scot is Gemma Webster (Ohio State) from Glasgow. She is ranked No 212.
Scottish schoolgirls champion Michele Thomson (Jacksonville State) from Ellon has not yet settled to show the form of which she is consistent. Big-hitting Michele is down in 445th place.
Not all the Scots currently in America are ranked. Katy McNicoll (Lynn University) from Carnoustie, twice a winner this season, does not get a mention. That is because she does not play at NCAA Division 1 level.
LEADING WOMEN’S RANKINGS
1 Caroline Westrup (Florida State), 2 Taylor Leon (Georgia), 3 Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt), 4 Jennie Lee (Duke), 5 Amanda Blumenhirst (Duke), 6 Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M), 7 Alison Walshe (Arizona), 8 Stacey Lewis (Arkansas), 9 Whitney Wade (Georgia), 10 Leah Wigger (Virginia).
11 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), 12 Jennifer Osborn (Arizona State), 13 Brianna Broderick (Michigan), 14 Jenny Suh (Alabama), 15 Jennie Arseneault (Virginia), 16 Misun Cho (Pepperdine), 17 Maria Hernandez (Purdue), 18 Sandra Gal (Florida), 19 Tiffany Joh (UCLA), 20 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico).
Other British and Irish rankings:
51 Tara Delaney (Kent State) from Carlow, Ireland.
135 Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) from Kilkeel, N Ireland.
156 Hannah Burke (Baylor) from Hertfordshire.
176 Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) from Channel Islands.
212 Gemma Webster (Ohio State).
253 Dawn Marie Conaty (Memphis) from Dublin.
299 Karen Delaney (Kent State) from Carlow.
336 Claire Starkie (Georgia State) from Skipton, Yorkshire.
445 Michele Thomson (Jacksonville State) from Ellon.
466 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) from Bargoed, Wales.
525 Andrea Downer (Murray State) from Surrey.
579 Kate O’Sullivan (High Point) from Paisley.
580 AnnMarie Dalton (High Point) from Carlow.
590 Fern Grimshaw (Bethune Cookman) from Dorset.
691 Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) from Cambridge (Irish junior cap).
730 Laura Holmes (Old Dominion) from Ballina, Co Mayo.
737 Portia Abbott (Jacksonville State) from Wiltshire.
825 Becky Dowell (Bethune Cookman) from Thornecombe.
982 Shirley Harvey (South Alabama) from Belfast.
1135 Jenna Kinnear (High Point) from Belfast.

Competitors in the Ladies Moroccan Salver

BANCHORY PAIR 10TH IN MOROCCO
Scot Carly McLaughlan from North Berwick and her English partner, Claire Ebrey, from Withington Golf Club, West Didsbury, Manchester, won the Ladies Moroccan Salver grand final at Sofitel Royal Golf, El Jadida.
Carly, whose parents own the Blenheim House Hotel in North Berwick, now lives and works in Manchester.
She and Claire were one of the winning pairs from 10 regional finals. In Morocco, they maintained their good form to total 36pt and win the competition by two points.
Banchory Golf Club pair Marjorie Clark and Jean Saunderson, winners of the Scottish regional final at Pitreavie, finished 10th with 25pt.
The tournament is played under the American greensomes stableford format whereby the two players tee off and then play each other’s ball before deciding on which one to play thereafter.
The Douglas Bader Foundation benefit from the proceeds of the tournament. Lady Bader was in Morocco to present the salver to the winners.
FINAL TOTALS
36pt Carly McLauchlan & Claire Ebrey (Withington).
34pt Diane Hofman & Doreen Woolley (Buckingham) (better inward half 19-17), Julie Padgett & Laura Rhodes (Bingley St Ives).
33pt Doris Simm & Anthoinette Richards (Cape Cornwall).
32pt Betty Denman & Bridget Thomas (St George’s Hill).
31pt Jenny Dorrell & Lynne Pinner (Cleobury Mortimer), Lesley Green & Vicki Kemp (Cotgrave Place).
30pt Tish Morris & Jane Maulton (Whitehill).
29pt Carol Green & Cathy Pritchard (Strawberry Hill).
25 Marjorie Clark & Jean Saunderson (Banchory).

US College Golf
DUNCAN STEWART (86TH) TOP SCOT IN US MEN’S COLLEGE RANKINGS
It’s the halfway break time in the American college golf season … an ideal opportunity to scrutinize the rankings provided in the Golfweek/Sagarin performance index.
Today we bring you the men’s rankings. Tomorrow we will turn our attention to the ladies.
Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies, the star of the East Tennessee State University team, is the top-ranked British and Irish player in the No 4 position behind James Lovemark (USC), Charlie Beljan (New Mexico) and Billy Horschel of Florida.
Walker Cup player Davies has climbed four places since the end of October rankings.
The top-ranked Englishman is Peter Richardson (Purdue) from Carlisle, who finished well up in the Hawaii event a few days ago. He is in 48th place.
The top Irish student is Niall Turner (Minnesota) from Cork. He is ranked No 58.
Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) from Grantown on Spey is the most highly rated Scot on the college circuit. He is ranked No 86, two places better than he was at the end of October.
Quite a few of the Scots don’t appear on the rankings because they do not compete at NCAA Division 1 level.
MEN’S RANKINGS
1 Jamie Lovemark (USC), 2 Charlie Beljan (New Mexico), 3 Billy Horschel (Florida), 4 Rhys Davies. (East Tennessee State), 5 Niklas Lemke (Arizona State), 6 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State, 7 Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), 8 Brian Harman (Georgia), 9 Zack Miller (Stanford), 10 Daniel Summerhayes).
11 Colt Knost (SMU), 12 Joseph Sykora (Alabama), 13 Derek Fathauer (Louisville), 14 Gary Woodland (Kansas), 15 Jonas Blixt (Florida State), 16 Gator Todd (Alabama), 17 Philip Pettitt Tennessee), Manuel Villegas (Florida), 19 Kyle Stanley (Clemson), 20 Zack Byrd (Coastal Carolina).
Other rankings include:
48 Peter Richardson (Purdue) from Carlisle.
49 Charles Ford (Tennessee) from Leicester.
58 Niall Turner (Minnesota) from Cork.
74 Johnny Caldwell (South Alabama) from Belfast.
86 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) from Grantown on Spey.
89 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) from Lisburn, N Ireland.
102 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford.
143 Chris Paisley (Tennessee) from Newcastle
146 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) from Inverness.
147 Ben Taylor (Georgia State) from Hexham.
174 Niall Kearney (East Tennessee State) from Dublin.
181 Lewis Kirton (Louisville) from Oldmeldrum.
184 Callum Macaulay (Ole Mississippi) from Tulliallan.
187 Wallace Booth (Augusta State) from Comrie.
223 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) from Maidstone.
243 Daniel Willett (Jacksonvile State) from Sheffield.
245 Adam Hodkinson (East Tennessee State) from England.
275 Tom Oliver (Purdue) from Nottingham.
282 Farren Keenan (Texas) from Middlesex.
332 Alan Glynn (Xavier) from Middlesex.
348 Graham Benson (South-east Louisiana) from Leighton Buzzard.
407 Fergal Rafferty (Sam Houston) from Omagh.
414 Alex Hogben (Missouri-Kansas City) from Manchester.
504 Lewis Clarke (Memphis) from Exeter.
558 James Taverner (South-east Louisiana) from London.
645 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) from Limerick.
676 Mark Coppell (Campbell University) from Surrey.
755 Mark Trow (Memphis) from Oswestry, Wales.
829 Christopher Carson (Sam Houston) from Dunoon.
849 Peter McLachlan (Missouri-Kansas City).
883 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State).
968 Jamie Howarth (Ole Mississippi) from Stockport.
1147 David Daly (Minnesota) from Cork.
1205 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh.
1240 Kieran Lovelock (Xavier) from Surrey.
1738 Stephen Clark (Missour-Kansas City).
2167 Colm Montgomery (South Alabama) from Malone, N Ireland.

Lisa Reade from Hampshire pictured with Miguel Angel Jiménez.

LUCKY LISA’S DREAM ROUND WITH SPANISH STAR – AND MIGUEL BRINGS ALONG A TOP BULLFIGHTER AS WELL!
A 13-handicap club golfer from Hampshire has been describing her “dream round” – with European Tour star Miguel Angel Jiménez.
Lisa Reade, 34, from Rowlands Castle, won the game of golf with the Ryder Cup player in a competition and flew to Spain for the tee-off at the prestigious Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.
Situated near the picturesque town of Fuente Alamo in Murcia, Hacienda del Alamo is a luxury development of villas, townhouses and apartments built around a golf course which has been described as “the new Number One in Spain”.
“It was the round of a lifetime” said Lisa. “It was just incredible to play alongside such a great player on this superb course.”
“Miguel was the perfect gentlemen and coach. He put me at ease from the first and I was able to put the first-tee nerves behind me very quickly. He gave me some good tips on my swing and the round just got better and better. I surprised myself by actually managing to play quite well and got a few pars.”
Miguel Angel Jiménez represents Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort on the European Tour. A two-time Ryder Cup player and former team vice-captain, he holds the course record of five under par at the course, which is the longest in Spain at 7,400 yards.
This time he shot level par in the company of Lisa and afterwards he commented:
“She is a very good golfer and played steady all day. Of course she was a little bit nervous beforehand but very quickly settled down and I think she enjoyed herself. It was a gloriously sunny day and perfect for golf on this wonderful course. It was a pleasure to play with her.”
Lisa´s VIP trip began with a flight to Murcia on Ryanair and a luxury stay in one of the resort´s villas. She then met the designer of the Hacienda del Alamo course, Dave Thomas.
There was a further surprise bonus for the round of golf with Miguel when he brought along his good friend Pepin Liria, one of Spain´s most famous bullfighters.
“It was all a bit overwhelming,” admitted Lisa “because there I suddenly was playing golf with not just one, but two big stars. The television cameras were there and lots of photographers as well with the lights flashing. I am just an ordinary golfer from Chichester Golf Club, used to playing in a weekly medal and then suddenly I am in the middle of a media scrum.
“But I enjoyed it and it took my mind off worrying about that first shot from the tee. It´s no bad thing playing golf with two very famous and handsome men either.
“All the girls at the resort were swooning when Pepin appeared. Bullfighters are treated like gods in Spain and he is one of the most famous so it was like being with a pop star. I certainly don’t expect to ever play a game of golf like that again.”
Lisa, a dental technician who lives near Portsmouth, is a member of the Golf TV Founders Club and saw the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort competition on that TV channel. She was picked from over 9,000 entrants as the winner.
However a last-minute hitch meant that her fiancée Brian wasn´t able to join Lisa for the trip. He ruptured an Achilles tendon a few days before and had to pull out of the trip. The couple, who have been together for 10 years, plan to get married next year in Bali.
Following the round of golf, the Hacienda del Alamo resort held a special dinner in its award-winning “La Hacienda” restaurant where Lisa enjoyed a gourmet dinner with Miguel, Dave Thomas and resort executives including Billy Sim, the resort’s Scottish-born Director of Golf. He said:
“We are delighted to have been able to arrange this round of a lifetime for such a delightful young lady. Lisa was the perfect guest and really enjoyed her few days with us.
“She and Miguel got on like a house on fire and it was great to see that she was able to relax and enjoy her time on the golf course. To have one of the most famous bullfighters there as well was a fantastic bonus for everyone and we were very proud to have two of Spain’s best-known and most-loved sportsmen playing our course together.
“Hacienda del Alamo´s reputation is quickly growing as the best new course in all of Spain and the facilities we are building will be second to none.”
As she flew back to the UK at the end of her four-day trip Lisa revealed: “Miguel said I should come back next year for a rematch and I will be taking him up on the offer if I can. This was just a wonderful experience. I was a fan of his before this day but after spending this time in his company, I cannot speak highly enough of him. The other star of the trip was the golf course and resort which are just top class. Hacienda del Alamo deserves all the praise it gets”

US College Golf
TARA DELANEY JOINT SIXTH ON HAWAII
Ireland’s Tara Delaney (Kent State University) finished joint sixth with a 10-over-par total of 220 in the three-round Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational women’s tournament over the par-70, 6,183yd Kiahuna Golf Club course on Hawaii.
Individual winner was Natasha Krishna (UNLV) with a two-over-par score of 212. She won by thee shots from Spaniard Maria Hernandez (Purdue) who came with a rush in the third round, returning a four-under-par 66, the best of the tournament.
Tara Delaney obviously couldn’t get the putts to drop. She scored 74, 73 and 73.
Purdue won the team event – their first victory of the year – from Pepperdine with UNLV and Kent State tied for third place.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
212 Natasha Krishna (UNLV) 72 71 69.
215 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 74 75 66.
217 Michaela Cavener (Tulsa) 71 74 72.
218 Leanne Bowditch (Pepperdine) 75 69 74.
219 Whitney Frykman (Purdue) 73 73 73.
220 Da Soi Chung (UNLV) 71 77 72, Tara Delaney (Kent State) 74 73 73.
222 Kelley Louth (Texas) 78 73 71, Christina Boeljon (Purdue) 76 75 71
223 Kira Meixner (Kent State) 75 74 74, Jayvie Agojo (Pepperdine) 71 76 76, Misun Cho (Pepperdine) 75 75 73.
TEAM TOTALS
878 Purdue.
885 Pepperdine.
893 UNLV, Kent State.
907 Texas Christian.
915 Texas.
921 Iowa State, Tulsa.
929 Michigan.

Sunday 26th November 2006

PAUL AND SALLY DOWN THE FIELD DESPITE EIGHT-UNDER-PAR TOTAL
Paul Lawrie and former LPGA majors winner Sally Little shot eight under-par 136 in the 36-hole Nelson Mandela Invitational Charity better-ball tournament at Arabella Country Club, South Africa over Saturday-Sunday.
Paul and Cape Town-born but now Florida-based Sally had only one bogey over the two rounds, scoring nine birdies, which was not bad going but so high was the standard of scoring that they finished last in the field of 10 pairs.
Sally, who will be 55 next month, won 15 events over a 30-year span on the LPGA Tour, including three majors.
South Africans Retief Goosen and Bobby Lincoln won the title with an eagle at the second hole of a play-off after they had tied on 16-under-par 128 with compatriots John Bland and Alan Mitchell.
Sandy Lyle and his South African partner finished joint third with a pair 0f 65s for 130.
This was the seventh Nelson Mandela Invitational. Like all its predecessors it will raise thousands of South African Rand for charity.
BETTER-BALL SCOREBOARD
FINAL TOTALS
128 Retief Goosen & Bobby Lincoln (SAf) 62 66, John Bland & Alan Michell (SAf) 64 64 (Goosen & Lincoln won play-off at second hole).
130 Hugh Baiocchi & James Kamte (SAf) 65 65, Sandy Lyle (sco) & Omar Sandys (SAf) 65 65, Mark McNulty (Ire) & Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 65 65.
131 Moketeng J Mashebgo (SAf) & Adilson da Silva (Bra) 67 74.
134 Vincent Tshabalala & Doug McGuigan (SAf) 68 66, Gary Player & Trevor Immelman (SAf) 68 66.
135 Tony Johsntone (Zim) & Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 68 67.
136 Paul Lawrie (Sco) & Sally Little (SAf) 68 68.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE INTERNATIONAL CLASS TO PLAY IN MOST CONTINENTAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former Scottish Golf Union president Hugh Hunter is one of a band of not-so-young British amateur (club-class) golfers who are spreading their wings during the summer to go and have a golfing holiday with a difference – playing in the open amateur championships of a variety of Continental countries.
You do not have to have a very low handicap to be able to enter most of them. If you are interested in the prospect, you can call up the website of the golf federation who are running the tournament and get more details and how to obtain entry forms.
If you run into problems, send me an E-mail at colin@scottishgolfview.com and I’ll do my best to find the answers.
Here is the list of the appropriate events from the European Golf Association website (www.ega-golf.ch).
Just in case you really are a low-handicap golfer, I have included some of the championships for which you do need to be in low single figures.
MEN
FEBRUARY
7-11 Portuguese open amateur championship (Quinta de Cima GC, Algarve). Handicap limit 3.
28-March 4 Spanish open amateur championship (Desert Springs). Handicap limit 3.
APRIL
27-29 Cyprus open amateur championship (Secret Valley GC). Handicap limit 12.
MAY
7-10 Israel open amateur championship (Caesarea GC). Handicap limit 9.
24-27 Austrian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 3.
JUNE
14-16 Slovenian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 6.4.
29 Russian open amateur championship (Le Meridien Moscow GC). Handicap limit 6.
JULY
11-13 Slovak open amateur championship (Lomnicky GC). Handicap limit 10.
12-14 Luxembourg open amateur championship (Golf de Clervaux) Handicap limit 4.4.
13-15 Polish open amateur champion (venue tba). Handicap limit 12.
27-29 Estonian open amateur championship (Estonian G&CC). Handicap limit 18.
28-29 Danish open amateur championship (Silkeborg GC). Handicap limit 2.
AUGUST
3-5 Swiss open amateur championship (Basle GC). Handicap limit 3.5.
8-11 Czech open amateur championship (Cihelny GC). Handicap limit 3.
9-11 Finnish open amateur championship (Helsinki GC). Handicap limit 1.
9-12 German open amateur championship (G&LC Seddiner See, Berlin). Handncaip 1.9.
10-12 Latvian open amateur championship (Ozo GC, Riga). Handicap limit 15.
SEPTEMBER
6-8 Hungarian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 10.
6-9 Turkish open amateur championship (Antalya GC). Handicap limit 4.
19-23 Italian open amateur championship (Villa d’Este GC). Handicap limit 2.
20-23 Hellenic open amateur championship (Glyfada GC, Greece). Handicap limit 4.
OCTOBER
6-7 Bulgarian open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 16.
WOMEN
FEBRUARY
7-11 Portuguese women’s open amateur championship (Quinta de Cima GC, Algarve). Handicap limit 6.
28-March 4 Spanish women’s open amateur championship (Sherry Golf). Handicap limit 6.
MAY
8-10 Israel women’s open amateur championship (Caesarea GC). Handicap limit 14.
19-20 Cyprus women’s open amateur championship (Secretar Valley GC). Handicap limit 30.
24-27 German women’s open amateur championship (Dusseldorfer GC). Handicap limit 4.9.
24-27 Austrian women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 7.
JUNE
1-3 French women’s open amateur stroke-play championship (Golf d’Esery). Handicap limit 6.4.
14-16 Slovena women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 9.4.
25-29 Russian women’s open amateur championship (Le Meridien Moscow GC). Handicap limit 10.
30-July 1 Irish women’s open stroke-play championship. Handicap limit 9.
JULY
11-13 Slovak women’s open amateur championship (Lomnicky GC). Handicap limit 15.
12-14 Luxembourg women’s open amateur championship (Golf de Clervaux). Handicap limit 9.4.
27-29 Estonian women’s open amateur championship (Estonian G&CC). handicap limit 24.
28-29 Danish women’s open amateur championship (Silkeborg GC). Handicap limit 5.
AUGUST
3-5 Swiss women’s open amateur championship (Basle GC). Handicap limit 8.5.
8-11 Czech women’s open amateur championship (Cihelny GC). Handicap limit 5.5.
9-11 Finnish women’s open amateur championship (Helsinki GC). Handicap limit 3.
10-12 Latvian women’s open amateur championship (Ozo GC, Riga). Handicap limit 20.
SEPTEMBER
4-5 Irish senior women’s open amateur stroke-play championship (Ennis GC). Handicap limit 20.5.
6-8 Hungarian women’s open amateur championship (venue tba). Handicap limit 14.
12-16 Italian women’s open amateur championship (Parco di Roma GC). Handicap limit 5.
20-23 Hellenic women’s open amateur championship (Glyfada GC, Greece). Handicap limit 9.

US College Golf
ENGLISH PAIR FINISH THIRD AND FIFTH ON HAWAII
England’s Peter Richardson (Purdue University) from Carlisle and Farren Keenan (Texas University) from Middlesex finished joint third and fifth respectively in the Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational 54-hole tournament over a 6,885yd, par-70 course at Kiahuna Golf Club, Kauai on Hawaii.
Richardson, 22, who had a great opening round of seven-under-par 63, had led the field on 134 after 36 holes by three shots from Keenan (69-68).
Peter signed off with a 74 for two-under-par 208 – one shot behind Kyle Stanley (Clemson) and Drew Weaver (Virginia Tech). Freshman Stanley won a sudden death play-off.
Keenan, 23 in January, had his best tournament for some time. A last round of 72 gave him a total of 209. He and freshman Lance Lopez, also joint fifth, spearheaded the Texas Longhorns to victory in the team event with a total of 847 – six ahead of runners-up Michigan with Purdue (856) third of the nine competing colleges.
“Farren and Lance played really good golf this week,” said Texas head coach John Fields. “This tournament included some of the best teams in the country, including No 1 Alabama, so I’m really proud of the guys. Farren was a major part of this victory.”
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
207 Kyle Stanley (Clemson) 71 67 69, Drew Weaver (Virginia Tech) 71 68 68 (Stanley won play-off).
208 Tim Schaetzel (Michigan) 68 71 69, Peter Richardson (Purdue) 63 71 74.
209 Lance Lopez (Texas) 68 72 69, Farren Keenan (Texas) 69 68 72.
TEAM TOTALS
847 Texas.
853 Michigan.
856 Purdue.
Also: 4 Virginia, 5 Clemson, 6 Pepperdine, 7 Alabama, 8 Notre Dame, 9 Rice.

Saturday 25th Noveber 2006

CLAIRE COUGHLAN TIES WITH SAMANTHA HEAD FOR VICTORY IN LET Q SCHOOL
Irish Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan, 26, pictured right, from Cork, entered as an amateur, tied with England’s 33-year-old experienced tour pro Samantha Head for first place in the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School at La Cala Golf Resort, near Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol today.
Lynn Kenny, who lost her card after two years on the circuit, promptly won it back with a great run under pressure on the last day. She covered her last 12 holes in one under par to clinch a place.
(Scroll down for the story of Lynn’s last round).
Coughlan, whose 27th birthday will come along in March, carded a final round 69 to Head’s 71 for a matching total of seven-under-par 281.
Claire’s compatriot and Curtis Cup team-mate, Martina Gillen also made it – the two amateurs both played eight rounds in all, starting with the Stage 1 eliminator in Italy – to secure full playing rights for the 2007 Ladies European Tour.
Coughlan repeated her third-round 69 with birdies at the fourth, 16th and 18th after an eagle 3 at the eighth had given her the confidence boost she needed for the closing stages of probably the most important round of golf in her career.
Martina Gillen from Beaverstown left her best until last with a two-under-par 70 to share 27th place with England’s Sophie Hunter. They won the last two full cards on offer – Nos 27 and 28.
VITAL BIRDIE AT 18th
Gillen had a lot to do at the start of the round – and she did it, turning in three under-par before a roller-coaster run of bogey at the 11th, birdie at the 12th and bogeys at the 14th and 17th.
She needed a birdie at the last to join the card-winners and, to her great credit, she got a 4 at the par-5 18th.
“It just feels tremendous,” said Coughlan, from Little Island in Cork. “I’ve had my fiancé David on the bag and we’ve enjoyed ourselves this week. We didn’t have too many expectations. It’s a new experience so we just thought we’ll see what happens.”
Coughlan’s fiancé David Ryan is a professional at Cahir Park Golf Club, Tipperary.
Gillen, too, was most pleased to secure a tour card at the third attempt.Samantha Head, 33, from Bedford regained her playing privileges after originally joining the Tour in 1995. She has been based in Florida.
MATHARU MAKES IT
Stacy Lee Bregman of South Africa, like Coughlan and Gillen, entered as an amateur, and English women’s amateur champion Kiran Matharu, who turned pro immediately after the Curtis Cup, tied for third place on five-under-par 283.
Matharu qualified as the Tour’s second youngest member after Korea’s Amy Yang, at the age of 17 years and nine months. She carded a final round 71 for a total of 283 to Bregman’s 70. Stefanie Michl of Austria took the fifth card after finishing on three-under-par after a final round 73.
Tied third placed Matharu is looking forward to her first full year competing as a professional in 2007 and she said: “I’m happy but I think that my best achievement so far was getting through the last round of Pre Qualifying School in Italy. I was 11 over and I had to shoot one-under to get through. I’m going to work a bit harder over the winter.”
Matharu is planning a three-day trip to India in December, when she will meet a number of members of her family that she has never seen before and do some promotional activities. “I’ve never been so it should be interesting,” she said.
After 72 holes, exactly 28 players earned their full cards for the 2007 Ladies European Tour schedule, with five-over-par 293 being the cut off mark.
The remainder who made the last day gained conditional status, i.e. if there is room in any given tournament, they will be able to play, depending on their finishing position at La Cala.
FINAL TOTALS FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL AT LA CALA, SPAIN
CARD WINNERS
(Par 288: 4 x 72)
281 Claire Coughlan (Ire) 71 72 69 69, Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74 65 71.
283 Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) (am) 70 75 68 70, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 70 70 71.
285 Stefanie Michl (Aut) 72 72 68 73.
287 Sophie Walker (Eng) (am) 71 71 74 71, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 72 70 73 72, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 73 70 72 72, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 75 71 69 72, Anna Temple (US) 72 72 70 73, Louise Stahle (Swe) 76 73 65 73.
288 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 73 67 77 71, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 73 69 75.
289 Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) (am) 78 69 73 69, Anne Lise Caudal (~Fra) (am) 73 71 75 70, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 72 72 70, Maria Verchenova (Rus) (am) 71 75 68 75.
290 Lee Anne Pace (SAf) 71 79 69 71, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 70 69 74 77.
291 Natalia Claire Booth (Eng) 78 69 72 72, Jo Clingan (Eng) 73 72 73 73, Anna Rossi (Ita) (am) (Ita) 75 73 70 3.
292 Nicole Gergely Aut) 70 79 73 70, Bree Turnbull (Aus) 76 76 69 71, Rikke Tasmussen (Den) 74 75 71 72, Lynn Kenny (Sco) 70 78 71 73.
293 Martina Gillen Ire) (am) 74 77 72 70, Sophie Hunter (Eng) 71 73 77 72.
OTHER TOTALS
294 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) (am) 76 76 70 72, Ev a Bjarvall (Swe) 73 73 75 73, Laura Terebey (US) 72 75 74 73, Janice Olivencia (Puerto R) 72 74 74 74, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) (am) 70 76 721 76, Libby Smith (US) 72 76 70 76, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 73 75 77.
295 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 73 75 74 73, Zuzana Masinova (Cxe) (am) 74 76 72 73, Julie Tvede (Den) 71 71 72 77, Dana Lacey (Aus) 69 75 74 74.
296 Morgana Robbertze (SAf) 75 76 72 73, Barbara Paruscio (Ita) 74 72 73 77, Heidi McCulkin (Aut) 71 73 74 78, Titiya Plucksatspron (Thai) 75 76 67 78, Suzanne Dickens (Eng) 74 72 71 79, Valerie Michaud (Fra) 73 75 72 77, Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 76 73 70 78.
298 Julie Berton (Fra) (am) 76 73 74 75, Melaine Holmes-Smith (Aus) 74 72 74 78.
299 Rui Yokomine (Jap) 70 74 78 77.
300 Patricia Bellard (Fra) 72 80 69 79.
302 Joanne Oliver (Eng) 76 75 72 789.
310 Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 80 71 72 87.

LET Tour School earlier report
LYNN KENNY KEEPS HER NERVE AND REGAINS L E T CARD
Lynn Kenny regained her player's card for next season's Ladies European Tour with a final round of one-over-par 73 for a final total of four-over-par 292 (earlier rounds 70 78 71 and 73).
With the leaders still to finish the LET Final Qualifying School at La Cala Resort, near Marbella, the Clydesdale-Bank sponsored Scot was assured of a share of 23rd place - and the top 28 and ties are guaranteed full playing rights for the new season.
Lynn, who had finished too far down the money table to retain her player's card at the end of her second season as a tour pro, bogeyed the second and the eighth and, at two over par for the round, was in danger of sliding out of the leading 28.
But the former Scottish women's amateur champion responded to the challenged, got a grip of her nerves and covered her last 12 holes in one under par. She birdied the 12th and had pars at every other hole from the ninth to the 18th.
Well done, Lynn!
Ireland's Martina Gillen also looks safe, in which case she will be relinquishing her amateur status. Martina is in joint 27th place on 293 (74 77 72 70) with only the leaders to finish.
We'll be back at the end of play with a full summary of the final day's play.

US College Golf
JAMES BYRNE SIGNS UP FOR ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Arizona State University men's golf coach Randy Lein has announced that James Byrne of Banchory, pictured right, has signed a letter-of-intent with Arizona State and will join the Sun Devil programme next autumn.
Byrne is one of the most accomplished young golfers in Europe and he capped a very good 2006 season by winning his first Scottish Golf Union men’s Order of Merit 72-hole tournament in September.
That was the Newlands Trophy at Lanark where he shot a nine-under-par total of 271 (68-66-71-66) to win by four strokes.
"I first saw James play this past July at the European boys’ championship and my first impression of him was that of a champion," said Randy Lein, now in his 15th year at the helm of the Arizona State University golf programme, one of the best in America.
"Confident people handle themselves in a special way and James has that look. He had a very successful summer and his game improved a lot from June to September. He will be a great addition to our program."
Byrne also became the youngest winner of the North-east District youth championships at Newburgh this past June as a 16-year-old. He equalled the course record of five-under-par 67 in the first round and went on to win the title by five shots.
James also won the Faldo Series Scottish Regional Qualifier (under-17) with a one-under 71 in June of 2006 at Blairgowrie G.C.
He set or tied course records this past summer at Hazlehead Golf Club with a 64 en route to winning the NE District Boys Under-18 title.
Byrne has already been a winner in the United States. He earned medalist honors at the Texas Junior Golf Tour in December of 2005 with a 2-under 214 (73-70-71).During the year, James helped Scotland to win the boys’ home internationals at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth and he represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Jacques Leglise Trophy match against the Continent of Europe.
Byrne’s foursomes partner in the internationals, Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) has since enrolled at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

NO SCOTLAND TEAM IN WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL WORLD CUP
Once upon a time, playing for your country would have been given priority over everything else in an individual's life. When did things change? Answers on a postcard to the editor!
Annika Sorenstam has withdrawn from the Women's World Cup of Golf in order to take a rest.
The world No 1 female golfer secured the trophy for Sweden alongside Liselotte Neumann this year, but has told organisers that she wants time off after a long season.
"Annika said that ending her season in December left her too little time to have a proper rest to re-focus," said World Cup media manager Alison Spratley.
Carin Koch and Helen Alfredsson will now defend the title for Sweden.
LPGA Order of Merit winner and world No 2, Lorena Ochoa from Mexico, has also chosen to withdraw from the event at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, citing similar reasons to Sorenstam.
World No 3, Karrie Webb from Australia, will also miss the tournament.
England will be represented by Laura Davies and Trish Johnson. Good for them!
But, for some reason, Scotland will not have a team. Is this is because our No 1, Catriona Matthew, is having a baby soon and Janice Moodie started a family not all that long ago? Catriona and Janice carried Scotland into second place behind the Swedes last year.
There will be a Scottish-based player in the World Cup line-up, however. She is Liz McKinnon who lives with her Scottish husband near Inverness and campaigns on the Ladies European Tour.
TEAMS
Australia (Nikki Garrett, Lindsey Wright).
Brazil (Candy Hannemann Angela Park).
Denmark (Karen-Margrethe Juul, Iben Tinning).
England (Laura Davies, Trish Johnson).
Finland (Riikka Hakkarainen, Jenni Kuosa).
France (Gwladys Nocera, Stephanie Arricau).
Germany (Anja Monke, Miriam Nagl).
Ireland (Rebecca Coakley, Hazel Kavanagh).
Italy (Veronica Zorzi, Giulia Sergas).
Japan (Momoko Ueda, Shinobu Moromizato).
Kenya (Rose Naliaka, Jane Njoroge).
New Zealand (Lynnette Brooky, Elizabeth McKinnon).
Norway (Suzann Pettersen, Marianne Skarpnord).
Paraguay (Julieta Granada, Celeste Troche).
Philippines (Dorothy Delasin, Jennifer Rosales).
South Africa (Laurette Maritz, Ashleigh Simon).
South Korea (Young Kim, Ji Yai-shin).
Spain (Ana B Sanchez, Tania Elosegui).
Sweden (Helen Alfredsson, Carin Koch).
Taiwan (Amy Hung, Yu Ping Lin).
United States (Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst).
Wales (Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan).

Friday 24th November 2006

Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School
EAGLE FINISH GIVES LYNN FIGHTING CHANCE OF KEEPING L E T CARD
Lynn Kenny needs one more good round on the last day of the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School at La Cala Golf Resort near Marbella to be one of the 28 recipients of full playing rights in the 2007 season.
But, for Scotland international amateurs Jenna Wilson from Strathaven and Dunblane’s Heather MacRae, their hopes of becoming tour professionals are over for another season.
Lynn, sponsored by the Clydesdale Bank, is in joint 26th place after three rounds of 70, 78 and 71 for three-over-par 219.
She finished her third-round on a high with an eagle 3 at the 18th which makes her final-day task that bit easier. Earlier Lynn had birdied the fourth and sixth but bogeyed the first, ninth and 16th in halves of 36 and 35.
From a starting field of 95, the leading 50 players with 54-hole totals of seven-over-par 223 or better advanced to the day of reckoning.
Heather MacRae was two strokes over the limit with 76, 74 and 75 for 225. A double bogey 7 at the fourth hole on the first day was to prove the killer blow in the final analysis. In today’s third round she had her only birdie at the second before bogeying the third, 10th, 13th and 17th in halves of 36 and 39.
Jenna Wilson, who had done so well in the LET Stage 1 eliminator in Italy, couldn’t find that form on the Costa del Sol. She finished on 14-over-par 230 with scores of 78, 75 and 77. She started her third round brightly enough with birdies at the second and fourth but it was downhill, or should that be uphill all the way after that with bogeys at the fifth, sixth, seventh, 10th, 11th, 14th and 18th in halves of 37 and 40.
Samantha Head, a 34-year-old twin from Ascot but Florida-based, took up the pole position with with a brilliant third-round of seven-under-par 65 – one eagle and six birdies - which put her on the six-under-par mark of 210. Her earlier rounds had been 71 and 74.
English amateur champion Kiran Matharu, who turned pro after this past summer’s Curtis Cup, has hit form at just the right time to be sharing second place with GB&I team-mate, Ireland’s Claire Coughlan, who is still an amateur, and experienced Austrian Stefanie Michl. Kiran has put together three steady rounds of 72, 70 and 70 for 212. Claire, from Cork, birdied the second, fourth, fifth and 12th and had just one bogey, at the 17th, where she missed the green with her approach, for a 69, after scores of 71 and 72.
There will be two Irish players in action on the last day. Martina Gillen made the cut bang on the limit mark of 223 after carding a brave 72 , following rounds of 74 and 77.
Even today, it was not plain sailing for the Beaverstown player. She had a double bogey at the fourth but fought back with birdies at the fifth, eighth, 14th and 16th. But, in joint 48th place, Martina needs to produce a fourth-round score that will catapult her 23 places up the leaderboard if she is to collect a full player’s card for 2007.
A third Irish player, Hazel Kavanagh, who is one half of Ireland’s team for the Women’s World Cup in South Africa in January, failed to make the cut. A third-round 73 continued the progress she had show each day – earlier rounds 77 and 75 – but a total of 225 left her two shots outside the limit.
QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL ROUND
Par 216 (72 x 3)
210 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74 65.
212 Stefanie Michl (Aut) 72 72 68, Claire Coughlan (Ire) (am) 71 72 69, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 70 70.
213 Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) (am) 70 75 68, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 73 69, Hanna-Leena Salonen (FIN) 70 69 74.
214 Louise Stahle (Swe) 76 73 65, Maria Verchenova (Rus) (am) 71 75 68, Anna Temple (US) 72 72 70.
215 Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 75 71 69, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 73 70 72, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 72 70 73.
216 Sophie Walker (Eng) (am) 71 71 74.
217 Suzanne Dickens (Eng) 74 72 71, Dana Lacey (Aus) 68 75 74, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 73 75, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 73 67 77.
218 Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 75 76 67, Libby Smith (US) 72 76 70, Anna Rossi (Ita) (am) 75 73 70, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) (am)70 76 72, Jo Clingan (Eng) 73 72 73, Heidi McCulkin (Aus) 71 73 74, Julie Tvede (Den) 71 72 75.
219 Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) 71 79 69, Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 76 73 70, Lynn Kenny (Sco) 70 78 71, Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 78 69 72, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 72 72, Barbara Paruscio (Ita) 74 72 73, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) (am) 73 71 75.
220 Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 74 75 71, Valerie Michaud (Fra) 73 75 72, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) (am) 78 69 73, Janice Olivencia (PR) 72 74 74 Melanie Holmes-Smith (Aus) 74 72 74.
221 Patricia Beliard (Fra) 72 80 69, Bree Turnbull (Aus) 76 76 69, Laura Terebey (US) 72 75 74, Eva Bjarvall (Swe) 73 73 75, Sophie Hunter (Eng) 71 73 77.
222 Zuzana Masinova (Cze) (am) 74 76 72, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 70 79 73, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 73 75 74, Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) (am) 76 76 70, Rui Yokomine (Jap) 70 74 78.
223 Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 80 71 72, Martina Gillen (Ire) (am)Am) 74 77 72, Joanne Oliver (Eng) 76 75 72, Morgana Robbertze (SAf) 75 76 72, Julie Berton (Fra) (am) 76 73 74
MISSED CUT:
224 Helen Beatty (Aus) 70 78 76, Sarah Nicholson (NZ) (am) 75 78 71.
225 Heather MacRae (Sco) (am) 76 74 75, Anna-Karin Salmen (Fin) (am) 75 74 76, Elena Giraud (Fra) (am) 73 76 76, Hazel Kavanagh (Ire) 77 75 73, Barbara Genuini (Fra) (am) 78 75 72.
226 Itziar Elguezabal (ESP) 78 73 75 Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson (Swe) 74 77 75, Kristie Newton (Aus) 79 73 74, Rachel Bell (Eng) (am) 78 78 70.
227 Kirsty J Fisher (ENG) 79 72 76 Caroline Afonso (Fra) (am) 74 81 72, Tamara Hyett (Aus) 75 80 72.
228 Laura Wright (Eng) 74 78 76, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 75 79 74 Zuzana Kamasova (Slo) 77 78 73.
229 Karin Borjeskog (Swe) 78 74 77, Viva Schlasberg (Swe) (am) 75 78 76, Jillian Wyne (Can) 79 76 74, Nuria Clau (Spa) 81 74 74.
230 Jenna Wilson (Sco) (am) 78 75 77, Wendy Berger (Aus) 77 78 75, Johanna Lundberg (Swe) 78 77 75, Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 79 78 73.
231 Camille Fallay (Fra) (am) 76 76 79, Caryn Louw (SAf) 78 75 78, Sofia Johansson (Swe) 77 79 75.
232 Katy Jarochowicz (Aus) 75 79 78, Shayne Wild (Zim) 77 79 76, Emma Lyons (Eng) (am) 77 80 75, Jenny Nilsson (Swe) 79 81 72.
233 Edita Nechanicka (CR) (am) 80 73 80, Marie Allen (Eng) 81 75 77.
234 Katharina Werdinig (Aut) 79 80 75 Josefine Skold (Swe) 79 83 72.
235 Angela Harris (Aus) 77 81 77.
236 Caroline Grady (Eng) 77 84 75.
238 Elizabeth Bennett (Eng) (am) 81 77 80.
239 Florence Luscher (Swi) 80 80 79.
260 Anna Daffan (Ita) (am) 90 83 87.
Retired: Stephanie Evans (Wal) (am) 78 80 ret.
Disqualified: Pia Koivuranta (FIN) disq.

Four Aberdeen-born golfers were last night among the first 21 inductees to the Aberdeen Sporting Hall of Fame at the Aberdeen Town House.
Pictured left to right are Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead), Walker Cup player of 1967, Elaine Farquharson-Black (Deeside), Curtis Cup player of 1990 and 1992, and Harry Bannerman (Murcar), Ryder Cup player of 1971.
Paul Lawrie, winner of the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, the fourth golfing inductee, was unable to be present on the night. His business manager, John Caven, deputised for him and is pictured with Sandy, Elaine and Harry

Members of Castle Heather Golf club who won the Celtic Nations Trophy
L to R: Stephen Chalmers, Moyra Low, Douglas Johnstone, Jamie Treasurer

THE CELTS ARE COMING
This year saw the very first golf inspired Celtic Nations Trophy held in the Highlands. Next year as part of Highland 2007 – the year Scotland celebrates highland culture - the event will see golfers from all over Scotland and the Celtic nations of Ireland, Wales, France & Nova Scotia join with the people of the Highlands to mark 2007 down in history.
The aim of the event is to draw together teams of golfers from clubs in these countries so that they can represent their home clubs as well as their countries in a golf competition held in the Highlands. This will give the competitors not only the opportunity to sample golf in the highlands but also take time to explore and discover the many other delights the area has to offer.
The event is being backed by local Highland construction and development company UBC Group Ltd, golf and leisure business Fairways and grant aid support has been given by Highland 2007.
This year’s event was run with clubs from within the Highland’s so they could understand both the event and what Highland 2007 will mean for them. Eleven clubs from as far afield as Skye, Lochcarron, Brora, Nairn and Boat of Garten sent teams consisting of one man, one woman, one boy and one girl to play over Loch Ness Golf Course at Fairways in Inverness. The resulting stableford scores were added together to provide the winning club and the first recipient of the Celtic Nations Quaich. Home advantage was used to the full as Castle Heather Golf Club who use Loch Ness as their home course were the run away winners scoring a very impressive 146 stableford points. Local rival Inverness GC slipped into second place with a combined total of 117 points and third place could only be decided on countback when 3 teams tied on 114 points with Tarbat golf club successful over Nairn Dunbar and Tain.
Next year it is planned to have over 40 clubs from all of the Celtic Nations competing for the Fairways/UBC Quaich and James Pedrana, Managing Director of UBC Group Ltd, said: “As a building, civil engineering and development company working throughout the Highlands and Islands we are delighted to be involved with Fairways in promoting the Celtic Nations Trophy. This is an event that does an excellent job in promoting the Highlands and Islands locally and overseas and an opportunity to show what our area has to offer. Golf is one of the Highlands biggest sports and it seemed only fitting that we used it to be part of Highland 2007.”
Mike MacKenzie of Fairways agreed and continued, “Fairways promotes golf as a game for all and we are proud that we have introduced so many people to this great game. By being part of Highland 2007 we can extend this to golfers throughout the Celtic nations and introduce them to the myriad of things that the Highlands have to offer. Normally we are quiet people but 2007 is our chance to shout from the rooftops and we are very much looking forward to all the events, not just our own.”
+ The Celtic Nations Trophy 2007 will take place on Sunday 9th September at Loch Ness Golf Course, Fairways, Castle Heather, Inverness IV2 6AA.
Entry to the event will be by a club stableford league table with the top 40 clubs being invited to participate on September 9th. Clubs will hold qualifying competitions throughout 2007 and submit scores for inclusion in the league table. All teams must consist of, and scores must be submitted from, one man, one woman, one boy and one girl. Exceptions will be made where clubs do not have any members in a particular group.

Thursday 23rd November 2006

LET Qualifying School
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE TIME FOR JENNA WILSON, HEATHER MacRAE
It’s crunch time for the three Scots competing at the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School over the North Course at La Cala Resort near Marbella on the Costa del Sol.
Only players in the leading 50 (and ties) at the end of Friday’s third round will go on to play in the fourth round, at the end of which the top 28 will gain full playing rights on next season’s circuit.
Lynn Kenny slipped back from a seven-birdie 70 on the opening day to a birdie-free 78 today. That gives her a 36-hole tally of four-over-par 148 and a share of 33rd place.
Barring a third-round nightmare, the Clydesdale Bank-sponsored former Scottish women’s amateur champion should survive into the crucial last day.
There were no bright spots on Lynn’s second-day card. She bogeyed the third, fourth, sixth, ninth, 10th and 13th in halves of 40 and 38.
Heather MacRae will be walking a tightrope in the third round although a two-shot improvement for a second-round 74 and 150 was a welcome sign that she is going the right way. Heather is sharing 46th place, which does not give her much leeway for slippage in the third round.
ONE BIRDIE, THREE BOGEYS
Heather deviated from par only four times. She bogeyed the seventh to be out in 37 and then bogeyed the 10th and 11th before birdieing the 12th. She parred her way home from there for an inward 37.
Jenna Wilson, who did so well in the Stage 1 eliminator in Italy, has it all to do in the third round. She is sharing 65th place on 153 after rounds of 78 and 75.
Jenna had a bad run from the fourth to the 11th in which she had six bogeys, having started with a bogey and then birdied the third. Out in four-over 40, Jenna soon slipped to six over par but then must have given herself heart for what lies ahead on Friday with birdies at the 12th, 14th and 18th for an inward 35.
Irish Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan added a level par 72 (two birdies-two bogeys) to her first-day 71 and is four shots off the lead at the halfway stage. Finland’s Hanna-Leena Solonen, who turned pro only a month ago, is a shot clear of the field on five-under-par 139 after scores of 70 and 69.
Another Scandinavian who can't play golf back home meantime because of snow, Lill Kristin Saether (Norway) is lying second on 140 after a best of the day second-round 67.
Another Irish player, Martina Gillan in sharing 49th place after a 77 for 151. Martina struggled on the inward journey which cost her 43 shots (seven over par) after being two under par for the front nine. She had triple bogeys at the 12th and 14th.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
139 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 70 69.
140 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 73 67.
142 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 70, (am) Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 72 70, (am) Sophie Walker (Eng) 71 71, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 73.
143 Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 73 70, Julie Tvede (Den) 71 72, Dana Lacey (Aus) 68 75, (am) Claire Coughlan (Ire) 71 72.
144 Anna Temple (US) 72 72, Rui Yukomine (Jan) 70 74, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 71 73, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 72 72, Sophie Hunter (Eng) 71 73, Heidi McCulkin (Aus) 71 73, (am) Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 73 71.
145 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74, (am) Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) 70 75, Jo Clingan (Eng) 73 72.
Other scores:
148 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 70 78 (jt 33rd).
149 Louise Stahle (Swe) 76 73 (jt 39th).
150 Heather MacRae (Sco) 76 74 (jt 46th).
151 (am) Martina Gillen (Ire) 74 77, Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 79 72 (jt 49th).
152 Hazel Kavanagh (Ire) 77 75 (jt 57th).
153 (am) Jenna Wilson (Sco) 78 75 (jt 65th).
156 (am) Rachel Bell (Eng) 78 78 (jt 75th).
158 (am) Stephanie Evans (Wal) 78 80 (jt 81st)
+Leading 50 and ties at end of third round will qualify for fourth and final round. The leading 28 after 72 holes will earn full playing status on the LET in 2007.

Wednesday 22nd November 2006

SLGA NAME SQUADS AND COACHES FOR 2006-2007 WINTER TRAINING
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has named the following players for winter training 2006-2007.
Three PGA professionals will provide training for five squads.
Kevin Craggs, who works from the Drumoig Golf Centre, will coach the National Ladies, the National Under-18 and the Under-22 squads.
Former Northern Open champion Colin Brooks, PGA professional at the Braid Hills Golf & Driving Range, will coach the Under-17 squad.
Spencer Henderson, the Scottish Golf Union national junior coach will coach the SLGA Under-15 squad.
The SLGA have been awarded a grant by Sportscotland to fund the appointment of a full-time coach.
The post has been advertised.

LET Qualifying School
SEVEN-BIRDIE START FOR LYNN KENNY (70) BUT HEATHER AND JENNA STRUGGLE
Lynn Kenny, pictured right, got off to a super start in the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School but fellow-Scots Heather MacRae and Jenna Wilson have a big repair job to do over the two rounds at La Cala Golf Resort near Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol.
Lynn had one of her best rounds after a miserable season on the LET.
She had seven birdies in all in recording a two-under-par 70 to be in joint third place behind first-round leader Dana Lacey (Australia) (68) and Maria Beautell (Spain) (69).
Miss Kenny, who is sponsored by the Clydesdale Bank, must have thought "Here we go again" when she started bogey-bogey. But a hat-trick of birdies from the third put her back on track and she bounced back from another bogey at the sixth to birdie the seventh and eighth for an outward half of two-under-par 34.
A 2 at the short 11th set her up for the inward half and she held it together well until bogeying the 15th and 16th but she did collect her seventh birdie of the day at the 18th in an inward 36.
Heather MacRae, playing as an amateur still, is in joint 55th place after a 76.
Heather had birdies at the second, fifth, 12th and 18th in halves of 38.
A double-bogey seventh at the long fourth was a body blow to last year's British women's open amateur stroke-play championship winner at Nairn.
Heather also bogeyed the seventh, ninth, 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th in a scratchy kind of round.
Jenna Wilson deservedbetter than a 78 which put her in joint 71st place.
The Strathaven lass had 15 pars - but the other three holes cost her six shots to par. At the short ninth, she had a double bogey 5 to be out in 38.
Jenna dropped another shot at the short 11th but the final blow came at the long 18th where she ran up a triple bogey 8 for an inward 40.
There will be a cut after three rounds to the leading 50 players and ties. At the conclusion of the fourth and final round, the top 25 will gain full playing rights on the 2007 Ladies European Tour.

SCOREBOARD
Par 72
68 Dana Lacey (Aus).
69 Maria Beautell (Spa).
70 (am) Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf), Melodie Bourdy (Fra), Helen Beatty (Aus), Nicole Gergely (Aut), Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin), Lynn Kenny (Sco).
71 Felicity Johnson (Eng), (am) Claire Coughlan (Ire), Sophie Hunter (Eng), Heidi McCulkin (Aus), Samantha Head (Eng), (am) Maria Verchenova (Rus), Julie Tvede (Den), Lee-Anne Pace (SAf), (am) Sophie Walker (Eng).
Other scores included:
72 Kiran Matharu (Eng) (jt 19th).
74 (am) Martina Gillen (Ire) (jt 35th).
76 (am) Heather MacRae (Sco), Louise Stahle (Swe) (jt 55th).
77 Hazel Kavanagh (Ire) (jt 63rd).
78 (am) Jenna Wilson (Sco), (am) Stephanie Evans (Wal), (am) Rachel Bell (Eng) (jt 71st).
79 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) (jt 81st).

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

US College Golf
KNOX FINISHES WITH PAR ROUND - AND DROPS NINE PLACES!
Welshman Rhys Davies finish joint fourth and Scot Russell Knox tied for 13th place in the Western Refining College All-American Classic – one of the principal tournaments of the US college golf season – at El Paso Country Club, Texas.
Walker Cup player Davies had rounds of 68, 69, 68 for an eight-under-par total of 205 over a course arguably too short at 6,837yd (par-71) for the top student golfers who normally are set to play lay-outs in excess of 7,000yd.
Edinburgh-born Rhys, from Bridgend, South Wales and a student at East Tennessee State Universtiy, had four birdies in a row from the 11th in his final round.
Knox, pictured right, from Inverness, started the final round in joint fourth place and matched the par of 71 – but so high was the standard of play in this tournament for the elite that the Scot slumped nine slots in the final standings.
Russell finished with a bag of 13 birdies over the 54 holes, adding to his total at the first, 15th and 17th in his third round.
Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Cork had a fine last round of 67 (32-35) which included a hole in one at the 173yd third, only the third ace in the tournament’s history
Turner, who shot 71 and 69 on the opening day, finished in joint seventh place with Spaniard Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State).
Victory went to Chris Kirk (Georgia) with a tournament low score of 18 under par 195. His rounds were 65, 66 and 64. In his final round, he covered the inward half in 29 shots with an eagle and four birdies – further proof that a longer course is needed.
Kirk won by five shots from Billy Horschel (Florida)
FINAL TOTALS
195 Chris Kirk (Georgia) 65 66 64.
200 Billy Horschel (Florida) 71 62 67.
202 Luke List (Vanderbilt) 62 68 72.
205 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 68 69 68, Brendon Todd (Georgia) 69 68 68.
Other scores:
207 Niall Turner (Minnesota) 71 69 67, Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 69 69 69 (jt 7th).
208 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 71 66 71(jt 13th).

Monday 20th November 2006

Picture taken on Saturday at the Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association
annual meeting of the leading trophy winners during the 2006 season.
Left to right in the front row:
Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), winner of the girls' championship,
county captain Ros Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay),
Katy Thomson (Kintore), winner of women's championship,
county president Mary Robinson (Murcar),
Laura Murray (Alford), winner of the North of Scotland girls' championship.

Aberdeenshire AGM
Aberdeenshire county captain Ros Dunsmuir, during her report at the annual meeting on Saturday, highlighted the junior girls section.
"There is a wide range of ability, from single-figure handicaps upwards and a wide range of ages up to 18. They all have one common factor and that is a great enthusiasm for the game, something, hopefully, they will sustain at senior level," she said.
"The girls also recieve a great level of support from Ethel Farquharson who remains committed to furthering the interests of junior golf in Aberdeenshire. We thank her for giving up so much of her time to organise and run the competitions for the girls.
"To highlight some of their successes: Michele Thomson won The Royal Bank of Scotland schoolgirls championship. Michele, who also retained the North of Scotland women's championship, had a very successful season and as a result has won the Paull and Williamsons' girls ranking title for 2006 with a stroke averagae of 1.78 for nine designated events.
"Michele has now emarked on a four-year course of study at Jacksonville State University, Alabama and we wish her every success and look forward to seeing her again in the summer.
"Laura Murray landed the North of Scotland girls' championship at Kirriemuir and also the inaugural Paul Lawrie Junior Match-play Challenge for girls over the Torrance Course at St Andrews Bay. She is now at Robert Gordon's University and we wish her well on and off the golf course.
"In September Mhairi Johnstone won the county girls championship. It was a wet and misty day at Portlethen, which made conditions tricky but Mhairi still managed to produce four birdies on her way to victory against Lauren Whyte.
"Lauren MacCallum was one of the participating members of the winning North team in the Scottish girls inter-divisional matches, played at Ballumbie Castle Golf Club, Dundee. Lauren is currently combining her golf and academic students at Loretto.
"Sophie Alexander won the silver medal in the net scores at the Scottish Under-14 girls open championship at Deeside."

ABERDEENSHIRE LADIES’ COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION TROPHY WINNERS 2006
CHAMPIONSHIP Mrs F K Smith Trophy Miss K Thomson - Kintore
RUNNER UP Mrs E M Cradock Trophy Miss J Henderson – Inverurie
SEMI-FINALISTS Miss C Lyon Trophies Miss M Thomson – McDonald Ellon, Miss S Wood – Aberdeen Ladies
LEADING QUALIFIER Members’ Cup Miss J Henderson - Inverurie
LYON TROPHY Agg 3 best scratch scores in O Ms Silver Division Miss D Pocock – Murcar Links
MISS K M COCHRANE CUP Agg 3 best nett scores in O Ms Silver Division Miss L Smith – Inchmarlo
MRS M L KILGOUR CUP Agg 3 best scratch scores in O Ms Bronze Division Mrs S Black – Inchmarlo
MRS B B MELLIS TROPHY Agg 3 best nett scores in O Ms Bronze Division Mrs S Black – Inchmarlo
MRS D T BRUCE TROPHY Best scratch score in an O M Miss M Thomson – McDonald Ellon
LYON INTER CLUB DOUBLE FOURSOMES TROPHY Aberdeen Ladies 1
RUNNER UP Godsman Quaich Murcar Links 1
MRS WATT DUFFUS TROPHY Scratch Murcar Links 1, Handicap Aberdeen Ladies 2
MRS J P KENNAWAY CUP Best individual scratch score in Watt Duffus, Miss L McLardy – Murcar Links
INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP TROPHY Best individual nett score in Watt Duffus Mrs J Wheeler – Aberdeen Ladies
SCRATCH LEAGUE Golf View Ltd Trophy Banchory
PRESIDENT'S PRIZE Best nett score in an O M Silver Division Mrs J Slater – Aboyne 74 – 9 = 65 (-7) Aboyne
Best nett score in an O M Bronze Division Mrs S Richardson – Inchmarlo 89 – 22 = 67 (-7) Newmachar
JUNIOR TROPHIES
FARQUHARSON QUAICH Junior Matchplay, Champion Miss M Johnstone – Northern, Runner up Miss L Whyte – Aberdeen Ladies
STELLA BRUCE TROPHY Best scratch score in a Junior County Medal Miss L Murray – Alford
FYFE TROPHY Most improved young golfer Miss N Lamond – McDonald Ellon, Miss G Richens – Newmachar
BEY TROPHY Most improved younger golfer Miss L McGillivray – Oldmeldrum, Miss L Duncan – Aboyne
GRANT CUP Stableford Miss C Prouse – Hazlehead
MACROBERT THISTLE CUP Miss L Murray – Alford

Suzanne Cadden makes a come-back
SUZANNE Cadden, picture right, the one-time wonder girl of Scottish golf, made a comeback this year to playing golf after a break of 27 years from the game.
Wonder girl? Well, in the mid-1970s Suzanne was a world-beater, literally.
She won the world junior girls championship in San Diego, California in 1973 when she was 15 years of age....... read on

Attention Northern Counties!
Northern Counties Ladies Golf Association are celebrating their 40th Annivesary next year with a gathering att Elgin Golf Club on Sunday 22nd April with golf followed by lunch.
They are hoping that all past county team players and officials will see this and be inspired to join the members that day. Information about the day can be found on the Northern Counties website or from Mairi Orr, Mary Hayden, Isobel McIntosh, Pam Gordon, Louise Clark, Lorna Lloyd Baker or Susan Mackenzie.

Celebrate St Andrew’s Week with a visit to the British Golf Museum
FREE entry for all visitors to the British Golf Museum, between Saturday 25th November and Sunday 3rd December, as part of the St Andrew’s Festival Week celebrations.
Where better to find out about the history of golf than at its home, in St Andrews? Situated just 67 yards from the 1st tee of the Old Course, the museum is packed full of interesting exhibits and unusual displays, which follow the history of the game from its origins in the Middle Ages right through to the 21st century. Rare black and white film footage, dating to the early 1900s, allows a glimpse of the game’s early professionals in action. Get interactive and view Open Championship highlights from 1926-2005 or test your knowledge of The Rules of Golf.
End your visit by dressing up in period golf costume or practise putting using replica clubs and balls from the last 175 years.
The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm daily. A visit here will make the perfect break from playing golf.

US College Golf
WESTHILL STUDENT IS JOINT WINNER IN UNITED STATES
Westhill golfer Andrew Hay, a sophomore (second-year) student at Webber International University in Florida, has achieved his best result on the American college golf circuit.
Andrew, the 2000 North-east District youths champion, tied for victory with Devin Spies (Brevard College) in the Mobile Rams Invitational over 36 holes at Azalea City Golf Club, Mobile in Alabama.]
Hay had rounds of 69 and 75 over the par-72, 6,850yd course. Spies scored 70 and 74 to match Andrew’s level-par total.
Webber International (594) finished second to Brevard College (585) in the team event contested by 15 colleges.

R&A Press Release
2000 CLUBS REGISTER FOR BEST PRACTICE WEBSITE
Burnham & Berrow Golf Club has become the 2000th club to register for The R&A’s Course Management Best Practice Website www.bestcourseforgolf.org.
Launched in 2004, the site is a unique facility designed to support anyone who is caring for an existing course, or planning to construct a new facility and gives free access to an extensive database of information with links to expert organisations around the world.
“We had known of the website for some time and following discussions with our Course Manager, Richard Whyman, have realised the benefits that come through registration,” said Paul Ware, Managing Secretary of Burnham & Berrow.
“Richard is Chairman of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and as a result of conversations with clubs that have already registered, was convinced that Burnham & Berrow should do the same.”
Steve Isaac, The R&A’s Assistant Director – Golf Course Management is delighted with the uptake to the site but clearly would like to see more clubs registering.
“There has been nothing but positive comment from clubs that have registered and it is that message that we must broadcast, not only in the United Kingdom but anywhere golf is played. There are benefits there for every club, no matter the size.”
Registration on the site is, however, not the end of the process. Thereafter, clubs are encouraged to proceed through an audited checklist. In June 2005, Littlestone Golf Club in Kent was the first to complete this process and since then seven others, two from England and one each in Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the USA, have successfully gone through the rigorous self-examination audit.
Endorsement of the site has come from many of the 2000 facilities in 102 countries that have already registered.
Ian Tomlinson, Course Manager at Rungstead Golf Club, Denmark said, "I have found the R&A's best practice website an excellent tool in working towards managing our golf course in a responsible way. The checklist system gives clear guidance on what your objectives should be and helps you to monitor your progress towards obtaining best practice status. I feel that any golf club can benefit from registering on the website as it highlights the strengths and weaknesses in the management of your golf course".
In Germany, Seve Schmitz, Golf Course Manager at Essener Golf Club, endorsed the site in stating, “The best practice website from The R&A is a fantastic source of credible information that I have used on countless occasions to help me make the right decision, whether agronomical or financial.
“At first I was a little hesitant about using the website but needn’t have been as it is user friendly with a checklist system to guide you through the various stages with ease. It has assisted us at our club in making the right decisions, both financially and environmentally.
”Several clubs in Sweden have taken up registration and from Ljunghusens Golf Club, their general manager, Stig Persson stated: “Working through the checklists on the best practice website makes you analyse the situation you have on your course. You are probably implementing a lot of the practices but have not previously documented them.
“The experience you can get through the discussions on the website are very useful and let you see that a lot of problems are global!”

Carol Halliday and Harry Anderson with their Honorary Membership certificates.

Broomieknowe honour Carol Halliday and Harry Anderson
At a dance at the Brunton Hall, Musselburgh, attended by over 300 members, the final event of Broomieknowe's Centenary celebrations, Honorary membership was awarded to Carol Halliday and Harry Anderson. The honour came as a complete surprise to both of them.
Carol has been a member of Broomieknowe for nearly 40 years, and during that time has won the Club Championship 15 times. A Midlothian county player, Carol has been a stalwart supporter of the club and was Captain from 1986 to 1988. Harry has also given great service to the club, and was also Captain from 1986-88.

Sunday 19th November 2006

Peter Lloyd, retiring supremo of the PGA (Scottish Region)
flanked by members of the winning Scottish PGA team

PGAs of Europe 72-hole international team golf championship
ALL-THE-WAY WINNERS SCOTLAND BRING A TEAR TO THE EYE OF PETER LLOYD
From Colin Farquharson, Our Man in Murcia
Scotland’s all-the-way victory in the PGAs of Europe 72-hole international team golf championship at Roda Golf Resort, Murcia in Spain on Saturday brought a tear to the eye of hard-bitten, ex-steel worker Peter Lloyd, the Tartan Tour supreme..
“I couldn’t have asked for a better retirement present,” said Peter who calls it a day at the end of December after more than 20 years with the PGA Scottish Region.
“I became secretary of the region after we last won this title in 1996 and 1997 so I have never had the honour of holding this trophy before. I’m proud of the three lads – Craig Lee, Sam Cairns and Jim McKinnon.
“To lead at the end of each of the four rounds, coming out on top of a field of 25 countries was quite a performance. The team spirit was terrific. So, as I say, I’m proud of them and I’m sure Scotland will be too.”
Lee, Cairns and McKinnon combined for a 29-under-par total of 547 under the best two individual scores per day to count for the team total.
The Scots won the 6,000 Euros first team prize by three strokes from Ireland, their only serious challengers over the last two days.
The Irish trio of Robert Giles, John Dwyer and Leslie Walker got to within two shots of the Scots in the closing holes of the third round and they did it again in Saturday’s last session.
With Craig Lee having a 69 – his fourth sub-par 70 round of the week – and Sam Cairns having his worst round of 74, it was up to McKinnon to hold the strong-finishing Irish at bay.
The Irvine pro had a double bogey 6 at the 16th and that meant the Scots’ overall lead had come down to two.
TENSION
“I’ve never felt so much tension in all my life as golfer playing these last two holes,” said Jim McKinnon. “Ireland’s top man Robert Giles was one of my playing partners. If he finished birdie-birdie and I finished par-bogey then that would have been the three-shot swing the Irish needed for victory.
“I’ve never done so much praying on a golf course, praying I would hit the fairway, praying I would hit the green. It was knee-knocking stuff for me. Fortunately Robert could only par the last two holes. I parred the 17th and then holed a 6ft birdie putt at the last for a round of 70 to clinch the title for Scotland. It was a great feeling – more relief than anything else.”
Craig Lee from Stirling. was the lynchpin of the Scotland team. His score counted every day and he broke the course record twice in the first two rounds. Not surprisingly, he won the individual honours with a 21-under-par total of 267. What a pity there was no cash prize for that.
“I’m delighted with the way I played all week. It couldn’t have happened at a better time of the season. I think Scotland’s victory underlined the strength in depth of very good players on the Tartan Tour,” said Craig, a 29-year-old former Scottish assistants champion who turned pro soon after winning the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play title at Arbroath 12 years ago.
“If the team had been selected from the top three in the Scottish Order of Merit, then Sam and Jim would not have been it. They were outside the top 10 in fact,” said Lee who finished third to Greig Hutcheon and Dean Robertson. They were ruled ineligible for selection because they did not meet the minimum requirement of working 25 hours a week in a pro’s shop of golf business.
“But I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of team-mates on and off the course. They played very well when they had too – and there is a lot of pressure playing for your country.”
Wales and Norway finished joint third on 553 with England fifth on 565.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
FINAL TEAM TOTALS (Best two from three individual scores counted for daily team total).
Par 576 (8 x 72).
547 SCOTLAND 134 136 138 139 (C Lee 267, J McKinnon 281, S Cairns 285) 6,000 Euros to team.
550 IRELAND 139 137 136 138 (R Giles 270, J Dwyer 283 , L Walker 298) 4,800 Euros to team.
553 WALES 136 140 141 136 (S Edwards 277, M Litton 284, A Evans 287); NORWAY 142 135 139 137 (N Diethelm 277, J Elgborn 278, J Uppard 298) 4,050 Euros to each team.
555 ENGLAND 139 142 138 136 (P Simpson 279, P Wesselingh 280, D Muscroft 285) 3,600 Euros to team.
565 AUSTRIA 143 144 138 140 (A Wernig 285, M Krainz 286, S Beretzki 291); ITALY 143 141 142 139 (M Bianco 283, S Betti 293, J Baglioni 297) 2,900 Euros to each team.
567 FINLAND 143 138 147 139 (S Aho 282, R Soravuo 285, M Martikainen 305) 2,500 Euros to team.
568 SOUTH AFRICA 143 139 142 144 (I Palmer 284, I Ficalbi 285, M Truter 297) 2,200 Euros to team.
573 CZECH REPUBLIC 142 139 147 145 (J Nemecek 279, J Juhaniak 297, P Strougal 299); GERMANY 142 145 141 145 (S Brown 281, L Spencer 294, M Stevenson 304) 1,000 Euros to each team.
574 FRANCE 147 146 139 142 (D Montesi 282, J C Clugnac 294, Y Yver 315), SWEDEN 141 142 148 143 (S Sterner 287, J Stenberg 289, R Thornqvist 295).
576 SWITZERLAND 146 142 143 145 (R Swords 289, J Dusson 291, V J Ross 300).
583 BELGIUM 149 148 144 142 (M Willems 293, F Dhondt 293, G D’Hollander 297).
587 POLAND 145 143 154 145 (M Proctor 294, M Bednarczyk 300, D Ekberg 304); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 147 152 143 145 (S Payne 287, A Mackenzie 304, J Shippey 304).
588 SLOVENIA 148 151 147 142 (D Kraljic 284, U Gregoric 304, A Osmancevic 316).
592 HOLLAND 150 147 145 150 (A Hastie 294, B Valk 301, G Loning 310).
593 BULGARIA 150 143 149 151 (N Turley 283, P Simard 311, S Nikolay 322); PORTUGAL 150 150 148 145 (N Cavalheiro 297, A 314).Sequeira 299, D Moura 303).
597 CROATIA `152 147 148 150 (M Raic 294, N Smoljenovic 307, D Ljubanopvic 313).
601 LUXEMBOURG 150 152 150 149 (J Pailler 300, J Pickford 306, L Cain NR).
606 SPAIN 149 154 152 151 (M Alonso 303, D Romero 310, R Do Miguel 314).
612 RUSSIA 153 158 148 153 (A Nesterov 299, L Akremenko 315, S Staskov 316).
TOP TWENTY INDIVIDUALS
267 C Lee (Scot) 66 64 68 69.
270 R Giles (Ire) 67 67 66 70.
277 S Edwards (Wal) 68 71 69 69, N Diethelm (Nor) 70 65 69 73.
278 J Elgborn (Nor) 72 70 70 77.
279 J Nemecek (Cze) 69 67 72 71, P Simpson (Eng) 72 72 69 66.
280 P Wesselingh (Eng) 70 71 69 70.
281 S Brown (Ger) 69 69 72 71, J McKinnon (Sco) 69 72 70 70.
282 D Montesi (Fra) 71 73 69 69, S Aho (Fin) 73 69 73 67.
283 M Bianco (Ita) 70 71 73 69, N Tgurley (Bul) 71 70 70 72, J Dwyer (Ire) 72 71 70 70.
284 D Kraljic (Slo) 70 73 71 70, M Litton (Wal) 73 69 72 70, I Palmer (SAfr) 71 69 73 71.
285 R Soravuo (Fin) 70 69 74 72, A Wernig (Austria) 73 70 69 73, I Ficalbi (SAf) 73 70 69 73, D Muscroft (Eng) 69 71 70 75, S Cairns (Scot) 68 73 70 74.

Saturday 18th November 2006

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Girls after their match

Ayrshire and Lanarkshire Girls have a close match
Although late in the season, the weather on 5th November was good for the Junior Girls match between Lanarkshire and Ayrshire at Kilmarnock Barassie. The result was very close with Ayrshire winning 4½ to 3½. Most of the girls had met at a match back in May but for a few it was a new and worthwhile experience. The standard of golf was very good and as the photograph shows, the girls enjoyed the day.
Results as follows (Lanarkshire named first)
Gillian Scanlan bt Rachael McQueen 2/1
Jenny Potter lost 1 down to Hannah Gaunt
Nicola McLuckie lost 6/5 to Linzi Allan
Kirsty Hogg lost 5/3 to Gillian Arnott
Anna Paton bt Alex Sargent 4/3
Jennifer Gemmell lost 1 down to Lynsey Weadon
Lucy Clark bt Rachael Howie 3/2
Jasmin Wilson halved with Mhairi McKay
[Photo Courtesy – June Kerr, Ayrshire Results– Margaret Noblett, Lanarkshire]

Greywalls Secures Award for the Second Year Running at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards
Greywalls in Gullane last night picked up the prestigious Country House Hotel of the Year Award for the second year in succession at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club.
The annual awards ceremony was hosted by comedian Andy Cameron and brought together an impressive array of representatives from the Scottish Golf Tourism industry culminating in a celebration of all that is positive about Scottish Golf Tourism. Sue Prime, Manager of Greywalls said,
“It is a great honour to be recognised for this award two years running. We do work hard to ensure our guests have a memorable stay with us, so this is a huge credit to the team that we are achieving our goals – and more.”
The awards, which are awarded to hotels, golf courses, transport providers, caddie masters and tour operators, are voted for by the golf tourism industry themselves. Golf Course of the Year was won by Kingsbarns Links near St Andrews, with neighbouring Fairmont St Andrews winning the Resort Hotel category. The Claymore House Hotel in Nairn won Small Hotel of the Year and the refurbished Macdonald Marine Hotel in North Berwick won Large Hotel of The Year. Other awards on the evening went to North Berwick Golf Club for Secretariat of the year, Jim Cummings from Dornoch for Caddiemaster of the year, McLaren Travel from Ayrshire scooped Transport provider of the year and Perry Golf received the accolade of Golf Tour Operator of the Year.
The new award for 2006 was for Young Industry Person, awarded to Lora McCluskey of LMcC Golf Consultancy for her endeavours throughout the year.

ELGA Press Release
EGU/ELGA LAUNCHES 'THE BUNKER' FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS
The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) this week launched a new website designed specifically for junior golfers called ‘The Bunker’.
The Bunker includes information for juniors of all ages and abilities and contains practical information on where to play and membership opportunities as well as games and competitions including Cool Clubs, Player Profiles, Spot the Ball, Top Tips.
The website also aims to educate juniors on the EGU and ELGA’s wider work and role within amateur golf by providing links to both the governing bodies websites where juniors can see the progress of England’s top amateur players, find out where the amateur Championships are taking place and find guidance on handicapping and rules of the game.
Richard Flint, Golf Development Manager for the EGU commented, “It is important to give junior golfers information which is not only appropriate but also will be of interest to them. The Bunker website provides a great opportunity to interact with junior golfers and for them to interact with us. These players will after all be the future adult club members and players in years to come.”.
The EGU and ELGA expect The Bunker to be a popular addition to their current websites and are encouraging both juniors and parents to provide feedback on its content. Information in The Bunker will be updated on a regular basis and the EGU and ELGA Golf Development Team would be delighted to receive input from golf clubs and other organisations which could further enhance the site.
To visit ‘The Bunker’ please go to www.englishgolfunion.org/juniorgolf

EGU Press Release
EGU/ELGA INFORMATION ON DEVELOPING GOLF IN ENGLAND
The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) have recently produced an information leaflet entitled ‘Developing Golf in England’.
This brief guide details the variety of development work undertaken by the EGU and ELGA and provides information for players, facilities and organisations within the game. The leaflet provides a concise overview of the different areas of development work and details the associated resources and web links so that further information can be sourced.
To date, the leaflet has been distributed to golf clubs, county representatives, local authority sports development officers and chief leisure officers, driving ranges and county and regional PGA secretaries.
The leaflet can also be viewed online at www.englishgolfunion.org by clicking on ‘Free Publications’. Alternatively copies can be requested from the Golf Development Team on 01526 354500 or development@englishgolfunion.org
The EGU and ELGA’s development work is part of the England Golf Partnership’s vision of ‘Growing the Game’ in England.

R&A Press Release
2000 CLUBS REGISTER FOR BEST PRACTICE WEBSITE
Burnham & Berrow Golf Club has become the 2000th club to register for The R&A’s Course Management Best Practice Website www.bestcourseforgolf.org.
Launched in 2004, the site is a unique facility designed to support anyone who is caring for an existing course, or planning to construct a new facility and gives free access to an extensive database of information with links to expert organisations around the world.
“We had known of the website for some time and following discussions with our Course Manager, Richard Whyman, have realised the benefits that come through registration,” said Paul Ware, Managing Secretary of Burnham & Berrow.
“Richard is Chairman of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and as a result of conversations with clubs that have already registered, was convinced that Burnham & Berrow should do the same.”
Steve Isaac, The R&A’s Assistant Director – Golf Course Management is delighted with the uptake to the site but clearly would like to see more clubs registering.
“There has been nothing but positive comment from clubs that have registered and it is that message that we must broadcast, not only in the United Kingdom but anywhere golf is played. There are benefits there for every club, no matter the size.”
Registration on the site is, however, not the end of the process. Thereafter, clubs are encouraged to proceed through an audited checklist. In June 2005, Littlestone Golf Club in Kent was the first to complete this process and since then seven others, two from England and one each in Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the USA, have successfully gone through the rigorous self-examination audit.
Endorsement of the site has come from many of the 2000 facilities in 102 countries that have already registered.
Ian Tomlinson, Course Manager at Rungstead Golf Club, Denmark said, "I have found the R&A's best practice website an excellent tool in working towards managing our golf course in a responsible way. The checklist system gives clear guidance on what your objectives should be and helps you to monitor your progress towards obtaining best practice status. I feel that any golf club can benefit from registering on the website as it highlights the strengths and weaknesses in the management of your golf course".
In Germany, Seve Schmitz, Golf Course Manager at Essener Golf Club, endorsed the site in stating, “The best practice website from The R&A is a fantastic source of credible information that I have used on countless occasions to help me make the right decision, whether agronomical or financial.
“At first I was a little hesitant about using the website but needn’t have been as it is user friendly with a checklist system to guide you through the various stages with ease. It has assisted us at our club in making the right decisions, both financially and environmentally.”

Several clubs in Sweden have taken up registration and from Ljunghusens Golf Club, their general manager, Stig Persson stated: “Working through the checklists on the best practice website makes you analyse the situation you have on your course. You are probably implementing a lot of the practices but have not previously documented them.

“The experience you can get through the discussions on the website are very useful and let you see that a lot of problems are global!”

Saturday 11th November 2006

JENNA, HEATHER QUALIFY FOR LA CALA
SCOTS MAKE IT THROUGH TO L E T FINAL Q SCHOOL IN SPAIN
Jenna Wilson (jt 13th) and Heather MacRae (jt 35th) were among the 50 players with 72-hole totals of 10-over-par 298 or better who qualified from the Ladies European Tour preliminary qualifying eliminator at Le Fonti Golf Club, Italy today.
They go forward to join the players who were exempt from Stage 1- Lynn Kenny, for example - to make up a field of approximately 90 for the LET Final Q School at La Cala Golf Resort, Mijas on Spain’s Costa del Sol from November 22 to to 25.
Jenna had rounds of 70, 72, 74 and 72 for a level par total of 288. Playing as an amateur, the Strathaven player birdied the fourth, seventh, eighth and 11th in her final round to coast through this event.
On the same mark of 288 was Irish Curtis Cup player Martina Gillen with 71, 72, 76 and 69. Martina also entered as an amateur.
Another Irish Curtis Cup player, Claire Coughlan, also playing as an amateur, qualified with a two-under-par total of 286. She scored 70, 71, 76 and 69.
Heather scored 76, 74, 71 and 75 for eight over par 296. Birdies at the first, seventh and 14th were almost cancelled out by a double bogey 6 at the eighth in her final round.
There were no surprises among the non-qualifiers. The teenage English champion, Kiran Matharu, who turned professional after this summer’s Curtis Cup, made it with nothing to spare on 10-over 298. Her rounds were 72, 77, 78 and 71.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 72
274 (-14) Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 68 71 68 67.
277 (-11) Rachel Bell (am) (Eng) 73 69 69 67.
281 (-7) Louise Stahle (Swe) 70 71 69 71, Anna Rossi (am) (Ita) 69 73 69 70.
Other qualifiers included:
285 Sophie Walker (Eng) 66 75 71 73 (jt 9th).
286 Claire Coughlan (am) (Ire) 70 71 76 69 (11th).
288 Jenna Wilson (am) (Sco) 70 72 74 72, Martina Gillen (am) (Ire) 71 72 76 69 (jt 13th).
291 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 70 71 76 74 (jt 23rd).
293 Stephanie Evans (am) (Wal) 72 77 72 72 (jt 30th).
296 Heather MacRae (am) (Sco) 76 74 71 75 (jt 35th).
298 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 77 78 71.
+A total of 50 players with totals of 298 (+10) qualified.

US College Golf
REBECCA WATSON SIGNS FOR TENNESSEE
LATEST SCOTS GIRL PROSPECT TO COMMIT TO US UNIVERSITY
University of Tennessee women’s head golf coach Judi Pavon has announced the signing of Edinburgh teenager Rebecca Watson to a Letter of Intent, which means she has committed herself to enrolling at the university next autumn.
"I'm very excited about Rebecca becoming a Lady Vol," Pavon said. "She is a very solid player with a good golf swing. She will be a great addition to our programme. Rebecca is also a very good student and well spoken young lady. We are looking forward to her presence and attitude next season."
Rebecca, pictured right, who will be 18 on March 3, is the older sister of Sally Watson, 15,
recent winner of the Daily Telegraph girls championship final at Dubai Creek and beaten finalist in this year’s British girls’ championship.
Sally is already based in the United States, having started at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida in August.
Both Rebecca and Sally have played for the same Scotland Under-18 girls team.
Rebecca captained the Mary Erskine School golf team for three years and helped it win the Edinburgh schools' golf tournament in 2005. In the same year, she was tied for third in the Scottish girls’ national rankings.
Rebecca was also a member of last year’s winning Scotland girls team in the annual schools international against England.In addition to her numerous accolades in Britain, Rebecca Watson travelled to Florida on three occasions for competitions and came home with two trophies.
She is a member of the East of Scotland Institute of Sport and played basketball for East of Scotland in 2004. The South Queensferry girl plans to major in business at the University of Tennessee of which its main campus is at Knoxville.
Tennessee has one of the top-ranked women’s golf teams on the American college circuit.
Rebecca is the second Scottish girl golf prospect to sign up for a leading American university in the past week or two. Scottish Under-18 champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff will enroll at the University of California Berkeley in the New Year.
Counting youngsters Sally Watson and Carly Booth (Comrie), both pupils at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, there are 28 Scottish young men and women currently on golf scholarships at American universities or colleges.

KOREAN GIRL WINS FUTURES Q EVENT
POLLY AND NATASHA FINISH 82nd AND 88th IN FLORIDA
Londoner Polly Willett and Natasha Morgan from South Wales finished joint 82nd and 88th respectively in the United States Futures Tour qualifying tournament at Lakeland, Florida.
Their ranking for next year’s Futures Tour will depend on how many of the field, who have qualified for the LPGA Tour Final Q School, make the grade.
Polly had scores of 75, 77, 77 and 76 for a total of 305. Natasha, still an amateur golfer and a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton – a team-mate of Katy McNicoll from Carnoustie, had scores of 73, 81, 75 and 77 for 306.
The final two rounds were played over the Cleveland Heights course.
Winner of the event was 18-year-old schoolgirl and amateur player, In-Kyung Kim from Seoul, South Korea. She birdied three of the last four holes to retain the lead from playing partner, Paige MacKenzie, 23, a leading member of this year’s United States Curtis Cup team.
Kim had scores of 71, 72, 70 and 68 for seven-under-par 281.
Paige, who bogeyed two of the last three holes, finished with 71, 74, 69 and 68 for 282.
Both Kim and Paige will be bidding to win places on the LPGA Tour at its upcoming final qualifying tournament.
Kim is the holder of the US girls' open championship.
Tampa-born Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of a Glasgow man who emigrated to Florida, finished joint 13th on 292 with scores of 80, 68, 70 and 74.

Friday, November 10, 2006

JENNA, HEATHER BEAT Q CUT
SCOTS ON COURSE TO MOVE FORWARD TO LET FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Jenna Wilson is lying joint 11th and Heather MacRae is sharing 28th place as the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School preliminary eliminator moves into its fourth and final round at Le Fonti Golf Club in Italy.
The cut to leading 65 and ties fell at 230 (those at that figure and under will contest the last round). At the end of Saturday’s play, only the top 43 and ties will progress to the Final Q School at La Cala Resort on the Costa Del Sol later this month.
Jenna has had rounds of 70 72 and 74 for level par 216. She had birdies today at the fourth, eighth and 14th but five bogeys – at the second, third, ninth, 11th and 17th.
Heather improved her position significantly and now has a great chance of going on to the Final Q School. She has scored 76, 74 and 71 for five-over-par 221.
Heather had birdies at the seventh, eighth, ninth and 11 with bogeys at the first, fourth and 17th in returning her best round of the week.
Jade Schaeffer (France) has gone three shots clear of the field on nine-under-par 207 with scores of 68, 71 and 68.
Next best come two-time British women’s open amateur champion Louise Stahle (Sweden), who has not had the success on the LPGA Tour this year that many expected and Yorkshire’s Rachel Bell, who is playing as an amateur.
English amateur champion Kiran Matharu, who turned pro after the Curtis Cup, is in the danger zone – joint 57th on 227 after scores of 72, 77 and 78.
LEADING SCORES
207 (-9) Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 68 71 68.
210 (-6) Louise Stahle (Swe 70 71 69, Rachel Bell (am) (Eng) 73 68 69.
Other scores:
212 Sophie Walker (Eng) 66 75 71.
216 Jenna Wilson (am) (Sco) 70 72 74 (jt 11th).
217 Claire Coughlan (am) 70 71 76; Felicity Johnson (Eng) 70 71 76.
219 Martina Gillen (Ire) 71 72 76 (jt 22nd).
221 Heather MacRae (Sco) 76 74 71 (jt 28th).
227 Kiran Matharu (Eng) 72 77 78 (jt 57th).

LGU Press Release
THREE-DAY CURTIS CUP FORMAT CONFIRMED
The Ladies’ Golf Union has confirmed that the 2008 Curtis Cup will change to a three-day format when Great Britain and Ireland meet the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews from May 30 to June 1.
“I realise that there was a brief statement to this effect in August,” said Pam Chugg, Chairman of the LGU. “However, at that time there were a number of key stakeholders in the match who had still to be contacted to ensure that they could accommodate the extra day. Now that they have come back to us, we are delighted to confirm that the match in St Andrews will be played over three days.”
The Curtis Cup was donated by the sisters Harriet and Margaret Curtis in 1927 and is inscribed: “to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” However largely due to financial reasons, the first official match was not played until 1932 at Wentworth where the US beat GB&I 5½ - 3½. In those days the matches consisted of 3 foursomes and six singles and each was played over 36 holes.
In 1964, the format was changed to 18 hole matches with three foursomes and six singles on each of the two days. That format has now been expanded to be three foursomes and three fourballs on each of the first two days followed by eight singles on the final day. The match will now be decided over 20 points.
SKIPPER ENTHUSIASTIC
Mary McKenna, captain of GB&I for the 2008 match,was enthusiastic in support of the changes and said: “I am looking forward to the new format for the Curtis Cup in 2008 as it will set a new challenge for both teams. At this level of ladies’ golf, four-ball matches are rarely played and that series plus the expansion of the singles to eight matches, where all players will be given the opportunity to play on the last day, will surely make for a most exciting contest.”
Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “We are very much looking forward to staging the Curtis Cup at the Home of Golf for the first time. The new format will make for a thrilling tournament and I am sure the Old Course will provide a suitable challenge. There is a long tradition of women’s golf here at St Andrews Links and staging such a prestigious tournament will reinforce that even further.”
After St Andrews, the next match in 2010 will be played at Essex County Club, Manchester-by- the-Sea, Massachusetts, U.S. from June 11-13.
+Next year's Vagliano Trophy match between GB&I and the Continent of Europe will retain its traditional two-day format on July 27 and 28 at Fairmont St Andrews Bay.

Futures Tour
SCOT FAILS TO SURVIVE IN FLORIDA
PAMELA FEGGANS MISSES CUT
Ayr-born 24-year-old Pamela Feggans failed to beat the third-round cut in the United States Futures Tour Qualifying Stage 1 eliminator at Lakeland, Florida.
Pamela had scores of 75, 80 and 77 over the Huntington Hills and Schalamar courses for a total of 232 – three strokes over the limit to contest the fourth and final round.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast also failed with 77, 79 and 75 for 231.
Still in their pitching, but needing a significant improvement over the final 18 holes, are Londoner Polly Willett and Welsh girl Natasha Morgan who is a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Floriday.
They are sharing 84th place on 229. Polly has scored 75, 77 and 77; Natasha, entered as a amateur, has shot 73, 81 and 75.
Elizabeth Stuart, whose father emigrated from Scotland to Tampa, Florida, is in 12th place on 218 with scores of 80, 68 and 70.
A South Korean amateur, In-Kyung Kim leads the field on three-under-par 213 with scores of 71, 72 and 70.

Thursday 9th November 2006

JENNA STAYS IN THE HUNT WITH MIXED BAG OF FIGURES IN ITALY
Jenna Wilson, pictured right, had a card spattered with an eagle, four birdies, one double bogey and three single bogeys as she stayed in the hunt with a par-matching 72 for a 36-hole tally of two-under-par 142 in the Ladies European Tour Pre-Qualifying School eliminator at Golf Club Le Fonti in Italy today.
The Scottish amateur international from Strathaven – she has not relinquished her amateur status yet – is in joint 10 position behind the three joint leaders on five-under 139: two French girls, Jade Schaeffer and amateur Melody Bourdy and Czech amateur Zuzana Masinova.
Jenna’s eagle came at the seventh after she hard birdied the first but run up a double bogey at the third and dropped another shot at the fifth. A birdie at the eight got her to the turn in one-under-par 34.
She moved to two under the card with a birdie at the 14th but finished weakly with bogeys at the 15th and 18th for a 72, two shots more than her opening round.
Curtis Cup reserve Heather MacRae from Dunblane is sharing 47th place on six-over-par 150 after following up a 76 with a 74. Heather birdied the third, 11th and 14th but dropped shots at regular intervals – fourth, sixth, 13th, 16th and 18th for two halves of 37.
The projected cut figure, trimming the field from 95 to 65 after Friday’s third round, is eight under par so Heather has not got much slack to come and go with.
Irish Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan from Cork, deciding to have a go at last to win a tour pro card, can feel happy so far with her progress. She is one of six players sharing fourth place on 141. Claire, still an amateur, is on the same mark as England’s Sophie Walker, Felicity Johnson and Rachel Bell.
The leading 43 players and ties after four rounds will go forward to join the exempt players in the Final Q School at La Cala Golf Resort, near Marbella on the Costa del Sol from November 22 to 25.
+Cara Gruber from Royal Dornoch is not attending the LET Q School this year. She explained to Scottishgolfview.com:
“I decided against it this year. It wasn’t exactly my best season and I have other things to focus on these days … trying to get through my exams for becoming a financial adviser and moving into my own house in a couple of weeks aswell. I might be back at the Tour School next year ….Never say never!”
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
139 (-5) Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 68 71, (am) Zuzana Masinova (Czech Rep) 71 68, (am) Melody Bourdy (Fra) 67 72.
141 Sophie Walker (Eng) 66 75, Sara Nicholson (NZ) 74 67 (am) Claire Coughlan (Ire) 70 71, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 70 71, (am) Rachel Bell (Eng) 73 68, Louise Stahle (Swe) 70 71.
142 (am) Jenna Wilson (Sco) 70 72, (am) Anna Rossi (Ita) 69 73, Wendy Burger (Aus) 71 71.
Other scores:
143 (am) M Gillen (Ire) 71 72 (jt 13th).
149 K Matharu (Eng) 72 77 (jt 42nd).
150 H MacRae (Sco) 76 74 (jt 47th).

JENNA AND MICHELE EARN TOP PLACES IN P&W RANKINGS FOR 2006
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), currently playing in the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 event in Italy, and Ellon teenager Michele Thomson, now in Alabama on a four-year golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University, came out top of the Paull & Williamsons’ women’s and girls’ golf rankings for the 2006 Scottish Ladies Golf Association season.
Jenna Wilson, who was runner-up to Clare Queen last year, earned the No 1 woman ranking with a stroke average of 3.60 under CSS in 10 designed tournaments.Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) was runner-up with -1.10.
Michele Thomson, 18-year-old winner of the North of Scotland women’s title and the Scottish schoolgirls championship before she left for the United States, earned the No 1 girl ranking with a stroke average of 1.78 for nine designated events.
Jane Turner (Mortonhall) was runner-up with an average of 2.11.
Players had to play in a minium of 10 designed events for the women’s rankings and nine for the girls’ rankings. Scottish Under-21 champion Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), who won the girls’ title last year, Carly Booth (Comrie), who gained Junior Ryder Cup honours during the season, and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship, did not play in enough of the designated events to gain a P&W ranking.
Leading final rankings:
WOMEN – 1 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), 2 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), 3 Heather MacRae (Dunblane), 4 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), 5 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), 6 Sara Bishop (Windyhill), 7 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), 8 Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), 9 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), 10 Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder). Full results (Excel file)
GIRLS – 1 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), 2 Jane Turner (Mortonhall), 3 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 4 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), 5 Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), 6 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), 7 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), 8 Laura Murray (Alford), 9 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), 10 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm). Full results (Excel file)

Futures Tour
PRESSURE ON PAMELA A FUTURES TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL PRELIM
Ayr-born Pamela Feggans’ professional golf career faces another setback unless she can figure among the leading 90 players and ties at the end of the third round of the United States Futures Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 event at Lakeland, Florida.
Former Scotland amateur international Pamela, who is 24 and went to college in Florida before turning pro, is lying in joint 110th position after scores of 75 and 80 for 155.
Although conditions were very windy for the second round, some players managed to return low numbers, in particular Elizabeth Stuart, 25, from Tampa, whose father emigrated from Glasgow before she was born.
Elizabeth had a first-round 80 and then a career-low 68, in which she had