September 2005 Archive

Friday 30th September 2005

LGU Press Release
LGU NAME 2005/2006 TRAINING SQUAD
The LGU have named the 2005/2006 Training Squad of 16, comprising a blend of youth and experience, which will form the nucleus of the side to compete against the U.S. in the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes next year.
As expected, eight of the nine players - Claire Coughlan, Martina Gillen, Felicity Johnson, Anne Laing, Tricia Mangan, Clare Queen, Kerry Smith and Sophie Walker - who convincingly defeated the Continent of Europe for the Vagliano Trophy at Chantilly, have again been selected and they are joined by Emma Duggleby, an experienced Curtis Cup player and the winner over the years of many titles, both home and abroad.
The squad is completed with youngster Kiran Matharu and her English colleagues Naomi Edwards and Melissa Reid, Scottish players Kylie Walker and Jenna Wilson and finally Stephanie Evans and Breanne Loucks of Wales. Tara Delaney and British Stroke Play champion, Heather MacRae, are currently studying in America and are therefore unable to be active members of the squad.
Ada O’Sullivan, who will continue as team captain said; "I am both delighted and excited to be working with a squad of this strength. It has a fantastic blend of successful mature players and new talented youth. The new members will be eager to make their mark thus creating competitiveness amongst the squad."
"The Training Committee has set action packed weekends throughout the Winter and Spring at spectacular venues, bearing in mind the terrain of the links course at Bandon Dunes, a truly magnificent host venue for the Curtis Cup."
"The Selectors have had a difficult job in keeping the squad to 16, such is the talent in GB&I and while it will be tough work for all involved, the desire to be in the winning 2006 Curtis Cup team will have just reward."
As several players are going to Q School, the LGU may issue an updated squad after the results are known.
2005/06 LGU Squad Selection
Claire Coughlan (Cork)
Emma Duggleby (Malton &Norton)
Naomi Edwards (Ganton)
Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen)
Martina Gillen (Beaverstown)
Felicity Johnson (Harborne)
Anne Laing (Vale of Leven)
Breanne Loucks (Wrexham)
Tricia Mangan (Ennis)
Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall)
Clare Queen (Drumpellier)
Melissa Reid (Chevin)
Kerry Smith (Waterlooville)
Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park)
Kylie Walker (StirlingUniversity)
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven)
Reserves in Order
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus)
Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan)
Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale)
Maura Morrin (Curragh)

Grampian Juniors
(left to right) Graeme Mitchell (Aberdeen), AdrianStiles (Garthdee), Christopher Munro (Westhill), Lee Vitesse (Aberdeen), Michelle Thomson (Ellon) and Laura Murray (Alford)

Press Release
JUNIOR GOLFERS RECEIVE £12,000 WORTH OF GOLF EQUIPMENT
Who: Six of the twelve junior golfers taking part in this year¹s Grampian Houston Junior Golf tour and managing director of Quantum Claims which sponsors the tour each year, George Clark.
What: The above representatives gather to receive their new golf equipment and clothing, worth in excess of £1,000 each, from key sponsor Quantum Claims in advance of their departure to Houston on 9th October 2005.
Quantum Claims¹ managing director George Clark said: "We have had a long association with Grampian Houston Junior Golf.  We have worked with John Connon, the chairman of the programme, and his Grampian Houston team for several years and we are delighted to be sponsoring such a worthwhile scheme for Scotland¹s budding young golfers.  This tour is the opportunity of a lifetime for these young people and for those who get chosen for the scholarships, a life changing experience."
Grampian Junior Golf was founded in 1992 by the current director of golf at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Bruce Davidson, when he was the professional at Kings Links Golf Centre. His aim was to give young people from the North and North East of Scotland the potential of golf scholarships in the USA, studying at college or university while playing competitive golf.  
The programme is a non-profit making organisation and raises money via its annual Pro-Am tournament, which was held this year at Murcar Golf Club in July.  Quantum Claims is the key sponsor of the tour and each year generously contributes a five-figure sum towards the team clothing, equipment and to the programme funding.
The twelve selected junior golfers are as follows:
Liam Sang from Aboyne who plays at Aboyne Golf Club
Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum who plays at Oldmeldrum Golf Club
Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum who plays at Newmachar Golf Club
James Byrne from Banchory who plays at Banchory Golf Club
Steven Mann from Moray who plays at Moray Golf Club
Philip McLean from Peterhead who plays at Peterhead Golf Club
Graeme Mitchell JR from Aberdeen who plays at Northern Golf Club
Lee Vettesse from Aberdeen who plays at Nigg Bay Golf Club
Adrian Styles from Garthdee, Aberdeen who plays at Caledonian Golf Club
Christopher Munro from Westhill who plays at Westhill Golf Club
Laura Murray from Alford who plays at Alford Golf Club
Michelle Thomson from Ellon who plays at McDonald Golf Club

Curtis Cup
Carol Semple Thompson Chosen AS 2006 USA Curtis Cup Captain
It had escaped our attention that the US had announced that Carol Semple Thompson would be the next US Curtis Cup Captain. The USGA have published the following on their website.
Far Hills, N.J. – Seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson, 56, of Sewickley, Pa., has been selected as the captain for the 2006 United States of America Curtis Cup team by the Women's Committee of the USGA. The 2006 Curtis Cup will take place July 29-30 at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore.
Thompson has competed on a record 12 USA Curtis Cup teams, including the 2002 squad in her home area of Pittsburgh, Pa., when she holed a 27-foot putt from just off the 18th green at Fox Chapel Golf Club to retain the Curtis Cup for the American side. Thompson owns an overall Curtis Cup match-play record of 18-15-4, including 9-8-1 in singles competition.
The Curtis Cup is a biennial competition between female amateur teams from the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. The first Match was held in 1932 at Wentworth (England) Golf Club and the USA owns a 24-6-3 record, including victories in the last four Matches.
"I think it will be very different," said Thompson when asked to compare playing in the Curtis Cup versus captaining the team. "Before, I was just able to relax and think about my own game and now I will have to think about a lot more people. But I think it's a natural progression and I think it will be great fun. I am very excited. I figured someday it would come. I guess I didn't figure it would come this soon."
Thompson's first USGA title came at the 1973 U.S. Women's Amateur when she defeated Anne Quast Sander in the final, 1 up, at Montclair (N.J.) Golf Club. She has since gone on to win two U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur titles (1990 and 1997) and four consecutive USGA Senior Women's Amateur crowns (1999-2002). In August, Thompson will compete in her record 100th individual USGA competition when she competes at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Ansley Golf Club's Settindown Creek Course in Roswell, Ga.
In addition to her Curtis Cup experience, Thompson also played in five Women's World Amateur Team Championships for the USA. Thompson's father, Harton S. Semple, was president of the USGA from 1974-75, and her mother, Phyliss, has been active on various USGA committees.

Thursday 29th September 2005

SENIOR MEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
IRISH WHIP SCOTS IN SENIOR TITLE DECIDER
Scotland are still looking for their first senior men’s home amateur golf internationals title. They lost 5-2 to host nation Ireland in the last-day championship decider at Lahinch today (THURSDAY).
Only seven singles in each match were played on the third day, instead of three foursomes and six singles, because of the threat of the return of the bad weather which wiped out the second-day singles.
Ireland were outright winners over the over-55s title for the first time since the senior internationals were introduced four years ago. They had shared the title with Wales in 2003.
The final standings were: 1 Ireland, 2 Scotland, 3 Wales, 4 England.
Scotland’s most successful competitor of the three days was the unsung Stephen Ellis from Cowal. He won all three ties in which he was fielded.
Brian Grieve (King James VI) also finished with 3pt, made up of two wins and two halved games.
The Scots were never really in with a chance of recording the win over Ireland they needed to leapfrog over them to the top of the final table.
Scottish seniors champion Gordon MacDonald went down 4 and 3 to Maurice Kelly in the top singles matches while George Macgregor was surprisingly beaten out in the country, 6 and 5 by Hugh Smyth.
Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier) lost by 2 and 1 to Sean Coin while Charlie Green, who earned half-a-point in three outings – also lost by 2 and 1 to Michael Malone.
The Scots’ two points came from a win by Stephen Ellis (one hole against Michael Morris) and halved games for Brian Grieve (with Seamus McParland) and skipper Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), with Hugh Mackeown.
Ireland, not surprisingly, had the most successful competitors of the series – Mackeown, Smyth and Malone, all of whom gathered 3 ½ pt out of four.
SENIOR MEN’S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Lahinch GC, Ireland.
Day 3
IRELAND 5, SCOTLAND 2
Singles: M Kelly bt G MacDonald 4 and 3, H Smyth bt G Macgregor 6 and 5, S Coyne bt Ferguson 2 and 1, M Malone bt C W Green 2 and 1, S McParland halved with B Grieve, M Morris lost to S Ellis 1 hole, H Mackeown halved with I C Hutcheon.
ENGLAND 2, WALES 5
Singles: R Smethurst lost to P Jones 1 hole, A Squires bt G Rees 4 and 3, G Broster lost to J Whitcutt 2 and 1, M Wigley lost to K Stimpson 4 and 3, D Lane bt M Rooke 4 and 3, J Marks lost to J Gottwaltz 1 hole, D Arnold lost to B Cramb 2 holes.
Final placings: 1 Ireland, 2 Scotland, 3 Wales, 4 England.

US College Golf
GEMMA AND HEATHER TIE FOR 34TH PLACE IN NEW MEXICO
Ohio State University team debutante Gemma Webster and Heather Macrae (San Diego State University) tied for 34th place on seven-over-par 226 in the Dick McGuire Invitational women’s college tournament over the University of New Mexico championship course.
Gemma, after a great start with a two-under 71, went backwards with scores of 76 and 79. In her final round, the former Dundee University student had birdies at the first, fifth and 12th but she had a double bogey at the long seventh and another double bogey at the 13th.
It was the second day in a row that Gemma, the British universities women’s champion, had double bogeyed the 13th. She had four doubles over the last 36 holes.
Heather, from Dunblane, shot 74, 79 and 73. In her last round she had an eagle 2 at the eighth after a birdie at the third and later a birdie at the 18th. She bogeyed the fourth, seventh, 13th and 14th .
England’s Sian Reddick had a tournament to forget. The Baylor student  finished tied 62nd with scores of 77, 78 and 77 for   232. She had a triple bogey at the 15th in her last round.
Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine) won the individual title with an eight-under-par total of 211 (69-74-68).
She won by two shots from Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) (71-70-72) and Carolina Llano (Pepperdine) (72-69-72).
Ohio State, who had been team leaders at the end of the first round, dropped down to a final placing of fifth on 886. Pepperdine (873) won by two shots from Texas A & M with New Mexico (882) third.
Baylor (910) shared 10th place and San Diego State were a disappointing 15th equal on 920.

US College Golf
JORDAN FINDLAY FINDS HIS FEET IN THIRD ALABAMA ROUND
Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay struggled to find his feet on his American college golf debut but ended the 54-hole tournament at Shoal Creek, Birmingham in Alabama by matching the par of 72 over a course measuring 7,200yd.
Former British boys champion Findlay, a freshman at East Tennessee State University, shot rounds of 79, 80 and 72 to share 63rd place on 231 with another new UK recruit on the team, Adam Hodkinson from Dore, England. Adam had rounds of 75, 75 and 81.
Former British boys’ champion Rhys Davies, the star man on the East Tennessee State team, scored a sixth win in his last 11college tournaments with scores of 72, 70 and 68 for six-under-par 210.
Davies actually tied with Jonathan Mount (Tennessee) and Cole Isban (Notre Dame) on 210. Isban was eliminated at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off. After Davies and Mount were still locked together after four holes, the organisers declared them joint winners of the individual championship.
Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, yet another East Tennessee State player from this side of the Atlantic, finished 10th equal with 69, 74 and 73 for 216.
Irish player Cian McNamara, also ETSU, came 31st equal with 77, 70 and 73 for 22.
East Tennessee State (869) finished fourth in the team event behind winners Louisiana State (863).

Tarbert Golf Club - clubgolf’s hundredth club to back the national strategy
clubgolf is over halfway towards its 2009 target of recruiting 200 of Scotland’s clubs and community-linked centres to deliver the national junior golf strategy’s Stage 1 course to Primary 5 age group children.
Tarbert, on the west coast of Kintyre, recently became the hundredth club to sign up to the strategy. Since then a further 10 clubs have joined the partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland, developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.
Like the other 109 clubs, Tarbert recognizes the importance of boosting the numbers of youngsters in the game and is keen to breath life into its own junior section.
Research shows that of the 260,000 members in the 580 clubs north of the border, the average age is between 42 and 44 years old. This figure is likely to rise in line with the demographic trend of an ageing Scottish population. Although memberships have grown at a rate of just under five percent during the past decade, there has been an increase of almost 20 percent in the number of courses built over the same period.
Tarbert has already made impressive inroads into encouraging the local youngsters to take part in junior sessions. Primary school children can take an annual membership for just £10; secondary school youngsters can play for £20 a year. The club also has a junior practice area which it plans to further develop over the next five years.
“We have over 70 kids, of which there is a hard core of around 30, ranging from six years old up to 16,” said the club’s treasurer, John McNab.
“We’ve been using our own knowledge in recent years, teaching the children the basics of grip, how to swing the club, safety and etiquette. What we hope to get out of clubgolf is to ensure that what we are teaching is correct. We can’t wait to get started for our coaches to be tutored, we’re champing at the bit to get going.”
Five Tarbert club members have already stepped forward as recruits for the two-day PGA clubgolf Level 1 Training for Volunteers Course, which will qualify them to guide local children through Stage 1 of the syllabus. By the time these children reach the Club they will have already experienced the strategy’s introductory game, firstclubgolf at school.
“We’ve already been sent the clubgolf equipment, and we are just desperate to get it out and used,” said Mr McNab. “Moves are afoot for us to be tutored over the winter so that come March or April when we start again, we’ ll be able to go at it and be more confident that what we are teaching the kids is correct.
“We’ve had discussions with the local school’s sports administrator who is really keen to get it moving at school and encourage the kids to play. Juniors are very important to us and we hope to be swamped with kids.”

Wednesday 28th September 2005

Scottish Universities Womens' Team
L to R: Emma Tipping, Olivia Briggs, Kirsty Wells, Alex Marshall, Kylie Walker, Ann Ramsay

British Universities Golf
Scottish Universities v English Universities International Match
DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR SCOTS STUDENTS OVER ENGLISH
Scotland scored a double whammy victory over England in the universities’ golf international two-day match at Longniddry Golf Club yesterday (Wed).
The Scottish men won by 12 ½-7 ½ while the Scottish women triumphed by 10-5.
It should be pointed out that the Scottish women’s line-up included three Stirling University students from south of the Border – Alex Marshall, Olivia Briggs and Emma Tipping.
The Scots led 6-2 in the men’s match and 4-2 in the women’s match at the end of the first day.
27-28 September, Longniddry Golf Club
Second Day results
Women - Foursomes (Scottish women listed first)
Alex Marshall and Olivia Briggs beat Samantha Round and Samantha Birks 5/3
Kylie Walker and Emma Tipping beat Amy Olding and Zoe Humphries 2/1
Kirsty Wells and Ann Ramsay lost to Janet Phipps and Jessie Punia 3/2 (2-1)
Singles
Kylie Walker beat Sam Birks 4 and 3
Oivia Briggs halved with Janet Phipps
Alex Marshall beat Amy Olding 5 and 4
Kirsty Wells halved with Jessie Punia
Ann Ramsay beat Zoe Humphries 5 and 4
Emma Tipping lost to Sam Round 3 and 1 (4-2)
Overall result 10 - 5 to Scottish Unis
Men - Foursomes (Scottish men listed first)
Stuart Turnbull and James McEwan beat Oliver Gunning and Sean Doherty 2/1
Gordon Yates and Blair Paterson halved with Charlie Swann and Tom Pulling
Ally Love and Mark Hilson lost to Simon Lee and Nick Scholey 3/2
Jimmy Dale and Neil Cameron lost to Shane Ruddle and Marcus Read 4/2 (1.5-2.5)
Singles
Gordon Yates halved with Tom Pulling
Jimmy Dale beat Simon Lee 1 hole
Stuart Turnbull lost to Nick Scholey 2 and 1
Blair Paterson lost to Oliver Gunning 4 and 3
Ally Love beat Sean Doherty 1 hole
Mark Hilson halved with Marcus Read
James McEwan beat Shane Ruddle 2 and 1
Neil Cameron beat Charlie Swann 3 and 2 (5-3)
Overall result 12.5 to 7.5 to Scottish Unis

Scottish Universities Mens team
L to R: Mark Hilson, Ally Love, Gordon Yates, Blair Paterson, Jimmy Dale, Stuart Turnbull, James McEwan, Neil Cameron

Competitors and Officials at the Scottish Universities v English Universities match at Longniddry today.
Some had to leave early to catch flights home.

Senior Mens Internationals
IT'S SCOTLAND V IRELAND FOR SENIOR MEN'S TITLE
Scotland and Ireland will meet at Lahinch Golf Club tomorrow morning (THU) to decide who will be this year’s senior men’s home amateur international champions.
Both started the three-day programme with wins – Scotland beating Wales and Ireland beating title-holders England. High winds and rain forced the cancellation of today’s (Wed) singles, leaving the matches decided on the foursomes result.
Ireland took all three foursomes from Wales to give them two match wins out of two while Scotland drew 1 ½-1 ½ with England for an overall record of one win, one draw.
That means the Scots must beat the Irish to overtake them at the top of the final table.
The final-day foursomes have been cancelled and there will instead be seven singles instead of six played in both the Scotland v Ireland and England v Wales matches.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
SENIOR MEN’S AMATEUR HOME INTERNATIONALS
Lahinch Golf Club, Ireland.
Day 2 results
IRELAND 3, WALES 0.
Foursomes:
Hugh Smyth & Michael Malone bt Brian Cramb & John Gottwaltz 2 holes; Maurice Kelly & Seamus McParland bt Phil Jones & Keith Stimpson 3 and 1; Michael Morris & Hugh Mackeown bt John Whitcutt & Mike Rooke 3 and 2.
Singles cancelled.
SCOTLAND 1 1/2, ENGLAND 1 1/2
Foursomes:
Gordon MacDonald & Alan Ferguson lost to Roy Smethurst & Alan Squires 3 and 1.
Charlie Green & George Macgregor halved with Doug Arnold & Gordon Broster.
Stephen Ellis & Brian Grieve bt David Lane & Michael Wigley 4/2.
Singles cancelled.
THURDAY’S FINAL GAMES
IRELAND v SCOTLAND
Maurice Kelly v Gordon MacDonald; Hugh Smyth v George Macgregor; Sean Coyne v Alan Ferguson; Michael Malone v Charlie Green; Seamus McParland v Brian Grieve; Michael Morris v Stephen Ellis; Hugh Mackeown v Ian Hutcheon.
ENGLAND v WALES
Roy Smethurst v Phil Jones; Alan Squires v Glyn Rees; Gordon Broster v John Whitcutt; Michael Wigley v Keith Stimpson; David Lane v Mike Rooke; Jon Marks v John Gottwaltz; Doug Arnold v Brian Cramb.

US College golf
GEMMA DROPS OUT OF TOP 10 IN OHIO STATE DEBUT
Ohio State University golf team debutante Gemma Webster, late of Dundee University, tumbled out of the top 10 over the second round of the Dick McGuire Invitational women’s college tournament over the 6,069, par-73 University of New Mexico’s championship course (TUESDAY, USA TIME).
Gemma, who had seven birdies in an opening two-under-par 71, still managed to collect another four bogeys although her second-day round of three-over 76 saw her fall back from joint seventh place into a tied for 16th spot.
Miss Webster, a Hilton Park Golf Club member who played for Scotland in the recent women’s home internationals in Ireland, birdied the second, fifth, ninth and 18th in halves of 35 and 41. She had costly double-bogey 6s at the 11th and 13th and dropped single shots at the 16th and 17th.
British open stroke-play champion Heather MacRae from Dunblane, representing San Diego State University, had one birdie, at the third, and bogeyed the first, second, fourth, seventh,12th, 13th and 17th in halves of 40 and 39 for a 79 and a share of 41st place on 153.
England’s Sian Riddick, who had three double bogeys in a first-round 77, had another one at the third in a 78 for 155, which puts her down in a tie for 60th place.
It looks like being a competitive final round with three players sharing the lead on three-under-par 141.
Ohio State have dropped out of the team leadership but are still only one shot behind joint pacemakers Pepperdine and Texas A & M.
LEADING SCORES
141 Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) 71 70, Carolina Llano (Pepperdine) 72 69, Grace Wood (UNLV) 70 71.
142 Mikaela Backstedt (New Mexico) 70 72, Josefin Sevenningson (Baylor) 70 72.
Other scores:
147 Gemma Webster (Ohio State) 71 76.
153 Heather Macrae (San Diego State) 74 79.
155 Sian Reddick (Baylor) 77 78.
TEAM LEADERS
586 Pepperdine, Texas A&M.
587 Ohio State.
588 New Mexico, UNLV.
 
US College Golf
ANOTHER TOP-10 FINISH FOR McLACHLAN AT KANSAS CITY
Scottish youths champion Peter McLachlan (Eastwood) is continuing his impressive early-season form for the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Peter, a freshman student, recorded another top-10 finish in the Bill Ross Inter-collegiate tournament at Oakwood Country Club, Kansas City.
McLachlan has still to have a team-mate score better than him.
In this one, Peter shared seventh place with UMKC senior Brian Donnelly on the three-over-par 219 mark. Peter had rounds of 73, 74 and 72 to finish eight shots behind the winner, John Sutko (Creighton) who scored 72, 71 and 68.
The efforts of McLachlan and Donnelly help the “Kangaroos” win the team title with a total of 884 – seven ahead of Oklahoma Christian.

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Association
MIDLANDS PLAYERS 1-2 AT BLAIRGOWRIE
Midlands players finished first and second in the final event of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Association three-day programme at Blairgowrie.
Anne Moffat and Isobel Harvey won the Beddows Quaich greensomes tournament with a net round of 72 off seven of a handicap.
Sheila Travers and Kay Jarvey, also of Midlands and playing off 11.4, were runners-up with a net score of 72.6
Jean Clarke and Jen Petrie (North) finished third with a net 75.2 off 8.8 (better inward half). The other pair who had a net 75.2 were Anne Stalker and Judith Slater (North).
Anne Moffat and Isobel Harvey also had the best scratch score of 79 to win the SVLGA Foursomes Trophy with Stella Hodge and Margaret MacNaughtan (North) runners-up with an 82.
COLLATED RETURN
SCOTTISH VETERAN LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION
Blairgowrie Rosemount course
Beddows Quaich greensomes
Anne Moffat & Isobel Harvey (Midlands) (7) 72.
Sheila Travers & Kay Jarvey (Midlands) (11.4) 72.6.
Jean Clarke & Jen Petrie (North) (8.5) 75.2 (bih).
SVLGA Foursomes Trophy
Anne Moffat & Isobel Harvey (Midlands) 79.
Stella Hodge & Margaret MacNaughtan (North) 82.

Tuesday 27th September 2005

British Universities Golf
Scottish Universities v English Universities International Match
27-28 September, Longniddry Golf Club
The Scottish Universities men and women’s teams got off to a good start on the fist day of their 2-day BUSA Golf International match against English Universities at Longniddry Golf Club.
The blustery conditions proved more favourable for the Scottish players after the mornings greensomes with the men gaining a 3 – 1 lead and the women a 2 – 1 lead. Alex Marshall and Olivia Briigs both from Stirling University comfortably beat Samantha Round (Gloucestershire) and Jessie Punia (Royal Holloway) 5/3. The other two pairings were more closely contested with Kylie Walker and Emma Tipping (both Stirling) narrowly winning 1up after a brave fight back from Janet Phipps (Exeter) and Samantha Birks (Manchester). Zoe Humphreys (Birmingham) and Amy Olding (Loughborough) put English Universities first women’s point on the board with a 1up victory over Kirsty Wells (Dundee) and Ann Ramsay (Heriot Watt).
The men’s Greensomes began with a victory to English Universities pairing Oliver Gunning (Loughborough) and Sean Doherty (Leeds Met) over Mark Hillson (St Andrews) and Ally Love (Heriot Watt). However, English Universities were unable to build on this and Blair Paterson and Gordon Yates (both Stirling) beat Tom Pulling (Bath) and Marcus Read (Bournemouth) 3/2, Stuart Turnbull and James McEwan (both Stirling) also won but by the smaller margin of 2/1 against Simon Lee and Nick Scholey (both Northumbria). The final pairing of Jimmy Dale (Aberdeen) and Neil Cameron (Stirling) beat Charlie Swann and Shane Ruddle (both Bournemouth) 4/3.
The afternoon fourballs proved to be a similar affair however the majority of the matches were much more keenly contested. Sam Round and Sam Birks recorded the only win of the afternoon for English Universities women beating Kirsty Wells and Kylie Walker 3/2. The Scottish Universities women continued to perform well as Ann Ramsay and Olivia Briggs beat Amy Olding and Jessie Punia 3/1 whilst Alex Marshall and Emma Tipping were victorious over Zoe Humphreys and Janet Phipps 2/1.
Scottish Universities men narrowly scored wins in their first three fourball matches of the afternoon therefore extending their lead convincingly against the English Universities team. Blair Paterson and Gordon Yates continued their good form by beating Oliver Gunning and Tom Pulling 3/2. Mark Hillson and Stuart Turnbull also beat Sean Doherty and Marcus Read 2/1 whilst Shane Ruddle and Charlie Swann were defeated 2/1 by Ally Love and Jimmy Dale. The only win of the afternoon for English Universities men was somewhat convincing as Simon Lee and Nick Scholey beat James McEwan and Neil Cameron 6/5.
The scores going into tomorrows foursomes and singles leave English Universities with difficult but not impossible tasks. Scottish Universities women are 4 – 2 up whilst the men have a more comfortable lead of 6 – 2.

CARLY IS P&K CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - AND SHE’S A PLUS ONE PLAYER AT 13!
Carly Booth has won the Perth & Kinross women’s champion of champions’ golf tournament for a second time – and brought her handicap down to +1 at the age of 13 and a bit!
The Comrie girl, who qualified as county champion and Crieff women’s club title-holder,  had a round of 71 – three under par and three under the CSS – over the Gleneagles Queen’s Course (ON SUNDAY) to win the P&K title by six shots from runner-up Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill).
“Carly was four under par after only six holes but then she had a bad run of four bogeys in a row. She got back in the groove before the finish,” said her proud dad Wally.
“Her actual handicap is plus point eight but, rounded up, that makes her +1. She must be one of the youngest girl golfers anywhere to have a plus handicap at 13 years and three months.
“Carly’s got one more tournament to play in – the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association champion of champions’ tournament on October 14 so she’s keen to finish off the competitive season by getting another score for her handicap.”

R&A Press Release
R&A ANNOUNCES NEW INTERPRETATIONS OF GOLF RULES
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES ALLOWED BY LOCAL RULE; WRONG NAME ON SCORE CARD MAY BE CORRECTED
The R&A and the United States Golf Association (the "USGA"), golf’s governing bodies, have announced no fewer than 111 amendments to the book "Decisions on the Rules of Golf", published every two years and effective for all golfers from 1st January 2006.
The 2006-2007 Decisions book, published by Hamlyn, includes 37 new Decisions and 66 revised Decisions, while 8 Decisions are withdrawn. The principal change is the governing bodies’ sanction of the use of distance measuring devices, including GPS based systems and laser rangefinders. New Decision 14-3/0.5 allows a Committee to permit the use of distance measuring devices by Local Rule. This applies to devices that measure distance only, not any other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g. wind or gradient). In the absence of such a Local Rule, the use of a distance measuring device remains contrary to the Rules.
The latest Decisions book also gives a Committee the ability to help the player who has signed for the correct score, but on the wrong score card. Mark Roe and Jesper Parnevik were disqualified from The Open Championship in 2003 in such circumstances. In the future, such an "administrative error" can be corrected without penalty. Revised Decision 6-6d/4 gives a Committee the power to strike the wrong name from an otherwise correctly completed score card and add the correct name, without limit of time.
Each year The R&A and the USGA receive thousands of requests to clarify the Rules for on course incidents that have occurred at all levels of the game, throughout the world. With changes to the Rules of Golf established on a four year rolling cycle, the facility to publish official interpretations of the Rules in the Decisions book every two years, in response to events, is helpful to the game. The book contains over 1200 individual Decisions, which are set out in question and answer format.
Another New Decision (Decision 16-1e/2) helps the player who inadvertently makes a putting stroke with both feet square on to the hole, often to avoid taking a stance on another player’s line of putt. In this instance, the player will not now be penalised under Rule 16-1e, which has as its true purpose the prevention of "croquet style" putting.
A significant revision to Decision 4-3/1 is also a feature on the 2006-2007 Decisions on the Rules of Golf. A change in the interpretation of what is considered to be the "normal course of play" will allow the repair or replacement of a damaged club, provided that the club was not abused.
The new edition of Decisions on the Rules of Golf is published on 15 November 2005, priced £14.99 and is available from bookshops and from www.randa.org .

US College Golf
GEMMA WEBSTER MAKES HER MARK ON DEBUT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), pictured right, a member of the Scotland team in the recent women’s home internationals, has transferred from Dundee University – where she was studying dentistry – to Ohio State University.
Gemma, winner of the British universities women’s individual title at Murrayshall during the summer, made an excellent debut for the Buckeyes (Ohio State) golf team in the Dick McGuire Invitational over the University of New Mexico course at Albuquerque on Monday.
Miss Webster packed seven birdies into a round of two-under-par 71 to be lying in joint seventh place.
Gemma had birdies at the short second, the fourth, the long fifth, the short seventh, the eighth, the 15th and the long 18th.
She also had bogeys at the sixth, 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th in halves of 33 and 38 over the par-73 women’s course.
Jennifer Cassidy, one of Gemma’s new team-mates at Ohio State, shared the lead on four-under-par 69 with Eileen Vargas (Pepperdine).
No surprise that Ohio State have opened up a useful lead in the team event with two rounds to go.
British women’s amateur stroke-play champion Heather MacRae from Dunblane – a student at San Diego State University, shot a one-over-par 74 to be tied for 25th place.
Heather began at the 10th and bogeyed the 11th, 15th and 17th before she birdied the long 18th to be two over par for her first nine holes. She then birdied the long first and the short second before bogeying the sixth, birdying the short seventh and bogeying the eighth for back-to-front halves of 38 and 36.
It wasn’t all good news for UK players in the tournament. England’s Sian Riddick, a student at Baylor University, Texas, had double bogeys at the fourth, 11th and 15th in returning a four-over-par 77 to be in a share of 50th place.

McLACHLAN SETTLES QUICKLY IN US COLLEGE GOLF
Scottish youths champion Peter McLachlan from Glasgow is making a big impression in his early golf competitions for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has been the team's top scorer in the first three events of the new college golf season.
In the latest one, the UMKC team was placed 11th of 17 at the Kansas Invitational at the Alvamar Golf Club in Lawrence, Kansas. The Kangaroos fired a three round total of 884 (296-293-295) in the two-day tournament.
Freshman McLachlan gained a top-10 individual placing with a three-under-par total of 213, made up of 72, 69 and 72. The winner shot 206.
The Scot was nine-under-par for the par-5 holes alone. He also had 12 birdies in the three rounds.
In his debut for UMKC, McLachlan shot 75-76-76 for a total of 227 in the Missouri Intercollegiate at Lake of the Ozarks. Peter was tied 5th while his team came eighth of 19. The individual winner shot 211.
In Peter's second outing for UMKC, he came 13th equal in the Nebraska-Fairway Invitational at Lincoln, Nebraska. He had scores of 73, 76 and 74 for 223, 12 shots behind the winner. UMKC finished eighth of the 13 teams.

Monday 26th September 2005

President Liz Miskimmin presenting SVLGA Championship Trophy to Moira Thomson.

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship
MOIRA TURNS TABLES ON LORNA IN SCOTTISH VETS' FINAL
NORTH Berwick's Moira Thomson gained revenged for defeat in last year's Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship final when she Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) by 2 and 1 in over the Lansdowne course in non-stop rain at Blairgowrie today (MONDAY).
Twelve months ago Lorna beat Moira by 5 and 4 in a one-sided final but this year's contest was a nip-and-tuck affair with very few holes halved.
A birdie put Lorna, the Midlands vets' champion one up at the second but Moira, the East vets' title-holder, hit straight back to set the pattern for the final.
Bennett won the second, fourth and seventh while Thomson won the third, fifth, sixth and ninth on the outward half to be one up at the turn.
Thomson stretched her lead to two holes for the first time at the 10th but Bennett, who was under par in physical sense fighting the onset of a cold or flu, rallied to win the 11th and 12th to get back on terms.
Thomson was not to be denied, however. She won the 13th and the 15th with a birdie to re-establish a two-hole lead. Bennett birdied the 16th to cut the deficit to one again but she was in among the trees at the 17th, losing the hole and the match.
"I think both of us played our best golf to get to the final rather than in it," said Moira Thomson. "But I certainly played better than I did in the final last year against Lorna. I putted a lot better this time."
In the morning semi-finals, Thomson beat former champion Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee), the Borders champion, by 2 and 1 while Bennett beat the Northern vets' title-holder, Ann Smart (Banchory) by 3 and 1.
VETERAN LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION - Lansdowne course
Championship
Semi-finals : Moira Thomson (East) bt Liz Campbell (Borders) 2 and 1, Lorna Bennett (Midlands) bt Ann Smart (Northern) 3 and 1.
Final: Thomson bt Bennett 2 and 1.
Prizewinners in Monday’s stroke-play competition over Rosemount:
Patrick Rosebowl – Pat Hutton (West) (6) 72; Esme Hill (Dumfries) (12) 74;
Lyon Trophy (best three net scores in Rosebowl) – West.
Jean Lambert (Galloway) (9) 75. Scratch – Pat Hutton (W) 78; Christine McAndrew (Highland) 79. Bronze Division – Handicap – Doorothy Rae (Highland) (22) 77.
Over-65s
Allen Plate – Isobel McIntosh (Highland) 84.
Buchanan Cup – Moyra Gordon (West) (19) 74; Kay Jarvie (Midlands) (15) 75.
Small Cup (nine holes) – Elda Morrison (Highland) (9) 30.

LGU Press Release
Health Perception Final
Turnberry hurricane rocks Ladies golfing world
In gale force winds nine year old Charley Hull From Kettering in Northamptonshire, swept away the opposition in the Grand Final of the 2005 Health Perception LGU Championship today at Turnberry.
Tiny Charley faced driving rain and winds gusting between 35 and 45 miles per hour to score 28 stableford points in this national championship to earn herself a place in the play off against 46 year old Janice Cloran from Alkrington, Manchester. She won the play-off, to lift the title, at the second extra hole.
The play off was the culmination of a tough competition, the initial stages of which took place between May and July this year from an original entry of 24,000 lady players from over 1270 golf clubs across Great Britain and Ireland.
Third place went to Gillian Wallace from Glenisla Golf Club who was one of the two ladies representing Scotland.
The resulting fourteen Regional Finalists arrived in Ayrshire on Sunday 25th September to prepare for the final over Turnberry’s Ailsa Championship course, which provided an extreme test in the prevailing weather conditions.
Health Perception LGU Championship is a competition for lady club golfers and includes players from all four Home Countries.
Charley received her trophy from the Managing Director of sponsors Health Perception – Olympic Gold Medallist, David Wilkie MBE.
"I first swung a golf club when I was two and my Dad has always encouraged me, as he is a regular player, but I am so excited to win today, I can’t believe it said Charley".

Gibson Cup
Letters have been sent out to competitors in this year’s Gibson Challenge Cup over Braids No1 Golf Course, Edinburgh.
The Draw for Saturday’s strokeplay qualifying round is as follows
GIBSON CHALLENGE CUP QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW
SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER 2005
8.30 Anne Brownie & Mary Stark, Linda Boyle & Dorothy Wilson
8.37 Elsa Todd & Maureen Cranston, Carole Mason & Nancy Lickrish
8.45 Caroline Kinnaird & Anne Hanson, Cara Easton & Rachel Watton
8.52 Gillian Simpson & Rachel Archibald, Fiona Smith & Aileen Kennedy
8.59 Linda Scotland & Frances McFadzean, Joan Marshall & Karen Marshall
9.06 Jennifer Bryans & Helen Warnock, Sandra Hennessey & Linda Wemyss
9.13 Pam Townsend & Liz Sowler, Jean Robertson & Katrina Muir
9.20 Margaret Davidson & Irene Dove, Elspeth Adair & Hazel Carpenter
9.27 Starter’s time
9.34 Janet Begrie & Catherine Stewart, Eileen Gillespie & Linda Bain
9.41 Isobel Harvey & Marion Brooks, Ruth Brown & Christine Clements
9.48 Janet Graham & Sheila McEwan, Katherine Anderson & Shona Sharp
9.55 Alison Mutch & Eleanor Anderson, Elspeth Johnston & Margaret McLaren
10.02 Elspeth Morrison & Alice Jack, Carol Clarkson & Hazel Deerness
10.09 Sal Shepherd & Kay Baillie, Samantha Lamb & Marie Young
10.16 Sandra Ashurst & Elinor Kemp, Sandra Craig & Thelma Dey
10.23 Eileen Montgomery & Deirdre Taylor, Beverly Winton & Sarah McCall
10.30 Ann Leitch & Marion Cunningham, Margaret Ritchie & Janet Hardie
10.37 Suzanne Ireland & Diane Moncrieff, Colleen Derighetti & Jaci Moriarty

Sunday 25th September 2005

Team Winners in the East of Scotland Championship at Murrayfield today
Fife: L to R: Fiona Lockhart, Krystle Caithness, Jocelyn Carthew, Elaine Moffat

East of Scotland Championship
ST REGULUS 1-2-3 IN EAST OF SCOTLAND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Scottish champion Fiona Lockhart, pictured right, pipped two St Regulus clubmates, Elaine Moffat and Krystle Caithness for the East of Scotland women’s amateur golf championship at Murrayfield Golf Club today (Sunday).
All three players finished with 74s and Fiona, who had covered the back nine in three under par with three birdies, won with the best inward half.
Elaine Moffat, a former Scottish champion, was the East of Scotland title-holder. Krystle has won the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open championship for the past two years.
Not surprisingly, Fife won the team event with a total of 222 with the best three scores from their four players – Fiona Lockhart, Elaine Moffat, Krystle Caithness and Jocelyn Carthew (77).
Lynn Cackett (Broomieknowe) won the top handicap award with a net 69 off 16.
EAST OF SCOTLAND WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Murrayfield Golf Club.
LEADING SCORES
CSS 73, LGU SS 73
74 Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) (Lockhart won with best inward half).
75 Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse).
76 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall).
77 Jane Gibson (Mortonhall), Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).
78 Val Aitchison (Murrayfield), Jane Turner (Mortonhall).
HANDICAP
69 Lynn Cackett (Broomieknowe) (16).
71 Val Aitchison(Murrayfield) (7).
TEAM WINNERS
222 Fife (Fiona Lockhart 74, Elaine Moffat 74, Krystle Caithness 74, Jocelyn Carthew 77).
Midlothian
228 Midlothian (Kirsten Blackwood 75, Claire Hargan 76, Sally Watson 77, Rebecca Watson 85)

Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Assocation championship
SMART WORK BY ANN EARNS TIE AGAINST VETS CHAMPION
Banchory’s Ann Smart won a tense quarter-final (on Sunday) against Christine McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar) to reach Monday morning’s semi-finals of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Assocation championship over the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course.
Ann, the Northern Division vets’ champion, finished one up against Highland vets’ title-holder Christine after taking a four-hole lead within the first seven holes.
Christine fought back to square the game at the 14th but Ann Smart regained the lead at the next only to be pulled back to all square again the 17th. Ann won the last hole and the match with a par after Christine missed a short putt for a half.
Ann Smart now plays the defending champion Lorna Bennett, the Midlands vets’ champion from Ladybank. Lorna beat West champion Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) by 2 and 1.
The other semi-final will be between former Scottish vets champion Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee), the Borders title-winner, and Moira Thomson, the East vets champion from North Berwick and last year’s beaten finalist.
The semi-finals will tee off at 9am and 9.10 with the final starting in the early afternoon.
Collated results
SCOTTISH VETERAN LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP – Blairgowrie Lansdowne
Quarter-finals
Liz Campbell (Borders) bt Jean Lambert (Galloway) 8 and 7.
Moira Thomson (East) bt Pearl Beattie (Dumfries-shire) 6 and 5.
Ann Smart (Northern) bt Christine McAndrew (Highland) 1 hole.
Lorna Bennett (Midlands) bt Helen Faulds (West) 2 and 1.

Scratch winners in the Aberdeenshire Girl-Lady Greensomes
L to R: Donna Pocock, Ros Roy (past county captain making presentations), Mhairi Johnstone

MHAIRI AND DONNA UP TO SCRATCH IN SHIRE GIRL-LADY GREENSOMES
Aberdeen schoolgirls champion Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) and Aberdeenshire women's county player Donna Pocock (Murcar) teamed up to win the scratch category of the Aberdeenshire Girls Golf Association girl-lady greensomes at Oldmeldrum today (Sunday).
Mhairi, who plays off six, and three-handicap Donna had a score of 75 to finish five shots ahead of their nearest rivals - Lauren White and her Aberdeen Ladies team-mate Kim Watt who is a Scotland international indoor bowler.
In the handicap section, there was a very good net return of 59 - 12 under the LGU par for Oldmeldrum) by Aboyne mother and daughter Maria and Lauren Duncan. Maria plays off 21 and Lauren off 31, giving them a deduction of 26 from their gross score of 85.
They won the overall handicap category by 10 1/2 shot from the Westhill mother and daughter pairing Karen and Mairi Templeton.
A total of 18 partnerships took part in the competition which was sponsored by the KPMG Business League.
Leading scratch
75 Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) & Donna Pocock (Murcar).
80 Lauren Whyte & Kim Watt (Aberdeen Ladies).
85 Caitlin Geddes (Northern) & Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (better last three); Lauren Duncan & Maria Duncan (Aboyne).
Leading handicap
59 Lauren Duncan & Maria Duncan (Aboyne) (26).
69 ½ Mairi Templeton & Karen Templeton (Westhill) (24 ½ ).
71 Samantha Leslie & Adrienne Fraser (Westhill) (16).

Handicap winners in the Aberdeenshire Girl-Lady Greensomes
L to R: Lauren Duncan, Marian Duncan, Ros Roy from Ballater who made the presentations.

WHITECRAIGS FATHER AND DAUGHTER WIN SLGA ADULT-GIRL FOURSOMES
The father-and-daughter partnership of Ian and Nicky Wilson from Whitecraigs Golf Club won the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association’s adult-girl foursomes at Falkirk Tryst today (Sunday).
They topped a big field of 75 couples with a Stableford points score of 38 off an adjusted handicap of 14.
Leading points scores in the categories were:
Class 1 (0-12 handicaps)
Tom Peebles (Carnoustie) & Heather Peebles (Monifieth) (10) 36pt (better inward half); Alison Gemmill & Lynsey Weadon (Barassie) (11) 36pt.
Class 2 (13-24 handicaps)
Alex Sargent & Jenny McGee (Skelmorlie) (22) 36pt; Gary Fotherigham & Nicola Fotheringham (Canmore) (13) 35 (better inward half); Wendy Smith & Ashley Smith (Kirriemuir) (15) 35; Jim Matthew (Craigmillar Park) & Saphia Matthew (Monifieth) (16) 32 (better inward half).
Class 3 (25 and over handicaps)
Morag & Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) (32) 29.
Non-handicap Class.
James & Claire Morrison (Barassie) (17) 46pt; Hamish Potts (Royal Troon) & Fiona Potts (Barassie)  (21) 30; David Jaffrey (Troon Welbeck) & Connie Jaffrey (Troon Bentink) (19) 29.

LET News
2005 Ladies European Tour rookies Lynn Kenny and Elizabeth McKinnon have secured full playing privileges for the 2006 Ladies European Tour. Lynn finished 75th on the money list while Liz finished 85th. The LET ended their 2005 season yesterday.

Saturday 24th September 2005

LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1
BECKY AND SAMANTHA MAKE IT BUT KIRSTY MISSES OUT IN CALIFORNIA
Rebecca Coakley, Samantha Head and Becky Brewerton made it through – but Kirsty Taylor failed by one shot.
That was the bottom line from the final day of the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1 event at Mission Hills, California.
Irish-Australian Rebecca had a final round of 68 to finish in joint 12th place at four-under-par 284.
England’s Samantha Head also broke 70 at the last time of asking. Her 68 lifted her to a share of 16th place on three-under 285 – the same mark as Becky Brewerton from Wales. Becky closed with a 70.
But England’s Kirsty Taylor dropped out of the top 30 with a 74 for 290.
Former US Curtis Cup player Brittany Lang headed the total of 32 players with totals of one-over 189 and better. She had a 67 for 12-under-par 276 – one shot ahead of Japan’s Ai Miyazota.
Louise Stahle (Sweden), British women’s open amateur champion for the past two seasons, had a 71 to be joint third on 278. Another Scandinavian on 278 was Finland’s Minea Blomqvist.
The low-scoring story of the final day belonged to 17-year-old amateur Morgan Pressel who shot an incredible 63 – nine birdies, no bogeys to finish in fourth place on 280.
The next regional qualifier is at Venice, Florida from October 4 to 7. The final qualifying – over 90 holes – is at Daytona Beach, Florida during the last week of November/first week of December.
SCOREBOARD AT MISSION HILLS
276 Brittany Lang (US) 70 72 67 67.
277 Ai Miyazato (Jap) 76 66 66 69.
278 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 72 69 70 67, Shinobu Moromizato (Jap) 68 69 70 71, Louise Stahle (Swe) 70 66 71 71.
280 +Morgan Pressel (US) 72 72 72 67.
Other qualifiers included:
284 Rebecca Coakley (Ire) 75 68 73 68.
285 Samanthan Head (Eng) 74 72 71 68, Becky Brewerton 67 75 73 70.
(32 players with totals of 289 or better qualified for the Final LPGA Qualifying School).
Non-qualifiers included:
290 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 74 73 69 74.

Friday 23rd September 2005

LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1
BECKY & CO ON COURSE TO QUALIFY FOR LPGA FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
The European quartet of Becky Brewerton, Kirsty Taylor, Rebecca Coakley and Samantha Head are on course to be among the leading 30 (plus ties) at the end of the fourth and final round of the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1 tournament at Mission Hills, California.
If so, they will all go forward to the Final Q School over 90 holes at Dayton Beach, Florida in late November-early December.
SCOREBOARD
207 Shinobu Muromizata (Jap) 69 68 70; Louise Stahle (Swe) 70 66 71.
208 Ai Miyazato (Jap) 76 66 66,Jessica Lewis (US) 71 68 68, Kris Lindstrom (US) 69 69 70.
Other scores:
215 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 67 75 73 (18th).
216 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 74 73 69; Rebecca Coakley (Ire) 75 68 73 (19th equal).
217 Samantha Head (Eng) 74 72 71, *Morgan Pressel (US) 73 72 72 (23rd equal).

FOTHERINGHAM TOPS WITH A 64 IN SGU AM-AM AT THE DUKE’S
New Scotland cap Bryan Fotheringham, pictured below right, from Forres shot a splendid five-under-par 64 over The Duke’s Course, St Andrews – a shortened lay-out while reconstruction work takes place – to win the top individual prize by two shots in the DSL Scottish Golf Union am-am tournament today (FRIDAY).
John Gallagher (Swanston), who also made his Scotland debut in the team that won the home internationals, finished second on 66 with yet another team-mate, Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) third on 67.
Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe) steered The Duke’s Course team of Des Docherty (handicap 14), George Granger (14) and Dave Stewart (8) to victory in the am-am with a 15-under-par net total of 123.
They won by five strokes from Scott Henry (Cardross) and the Gerald Eve team of Kenneth McKay (8), Andrew Crossbie (2) and Blair McKellar (10).
A total of 18 teams took part.
Collated scoreboard
DSL SCOTTISH GOLF UNION AM-AM
The Duke’s Course, St Andrews
Leading individuals (Par 69)
64 B Fotheringham (Forres).
66 J Gallagher (Swanston).
67 L Saltman (Craigielaw).
69 S Henry (Cardross).
70 G Campbell (Blairgowrie).
71 S McEwan (Barassie), S Mackenzie (West Linton), C W Green (Cardross).
73 M Thomson (Cardrona), W F Bryson (Drumpellier), E Saltman (Craigielaw).
75 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).
76 S Knowles (Kingsknowe).
80 A Dick (Shotts).
Leading teams
123 S Knowles (Kingsknowe) & The Duke’s Course: Des Docherty (14), George Granger (14), Dave Stewart (8).
128 S Henry (Cardross) & Gerald Eve team: Kenneth McKay (8), Andrew Crossbie (2), Blair McKellar (10).
129 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) & SGU team: Alistair Low (5), Colin Pearson (18), Campbell Cooper (14) (better inward half); J Gallagher (Swanston) & President’s Club team: Ian McDonald (14), Ian Printy (4), Louis Fairlie (7).

LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1
BECKY SLIPS BACK AS LOUISE STAHLE TAKES UP RUNNING IN LPGA QUALIFIER
Louise Stahle, the 20-year-old Swedish player who won the British women’s open amateur championship two years in a row before turning professional this past summer, jumped into the lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1 tournament at Mission Hills, California.
Louise shot a brilliant round of 66 over the 6,368yd course for a 36-hole tally of eight-under-par 136.
She leads by one shot from 19-year-old Japanese player Shinobu Moromizato who had a 69.
Overnight leader Becky Brewerton from Wales slipped back with a 75 – eight shots worse than her very good first round. But, sharing 11th place on Becky is well placed to figure among the 30 players and ties who will advance at the end of four rounds to the LPGA Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach from November 30 to December 4.
US amateur Morgan Pressel (145) and England’s Samantha Head (146) and Kirsty Taylor (147) were among the 79 players with totals of 148 or better who qualified for the last two rounds at Mission Hills.
Two former Curtis Cup players failed to make it – Fame More (152) and Danielle Masters (157).
SCOREBOARD
136 Louise Stahle (Swe) 70 66.
137 Shinobu Moromizato (Jap) 68 689.
138 Kris Lindstrom (US) 69 69.
139 Jessia Lewis (US) 71 68.
Other scores:
142 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 67 75.
145 *Morgan Pressel (US) 73 72.
146 Samantha Head (Eng) 74 72.
147 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 74 73.
Missed cut
152 Fame More (Eng) 80 72.
157 Danielle Masters 82 75.

Press Release
STUPPLES SADDENED BY NEWS OF CHART HILLS FIRE
Solheim Cup star Karen Stupples has spoken of her ‘sadness and disappointment’ at news of the fire which swept through Chart Hills Golf Club in Kent.
News of the fire, which broke out at the Biddenden golf club around 8pm last Wednesday and destroyed two-thirds of the clubhouse, reached Stupples as she was preparing for the LPGA’s John Q Hammons Hotel Classic at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Oklahoma.
Stupples said: “It’s really sad and disappointing to hear of any golf club catching fire, but especially Chart Hills which is very dear to me.
“My dad sent me a text message while I was in Tulsa preparing for the tournament. He told me he had two pieces of news – Chart Hills had burned down and my credit card bill had arrived. I thought ‘Oh dear, that’s two pieces of bad news at once!’
“The important thing is that no-one was hurt. You can always rebuild a clubhouse but you can’t bring people back.”
Chart Hills, one of four top golf clubs owned by Leaderboard Golf, must now rebuild the clubhouse in time for next year’s renewal of the Ladies’ English Open – the Ladies’ European Tour event which it has staged successfully for the last two years and which it has committed to until 2010.
Stupples added: “Chart Hills will carry on and rebuild, and I look forward to playing in next year’s Ladies’ English Open in front of a nice new clubhouse on a course that I love playing.”
On the course, Stupples finished in a tie for 21st place in the John Q Hammons Hotel Classic to offset the disappointment of the European team failing to retain the Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick, Indiana.
She said: “We really thought it was going to be our year. We were all playing well and we really thought we would be the first European team to win the Solheim Cup on American soil.
“It was a fantastic experience and I really learned a lot about myself over those few days, even under extreme pressure. But I have never felt as sick as I did during the matches, it was so nervewracking. Every shot was crucial and you could never relax.
“What it means is that we have unfinished business, and I have absolutely no doubt that we will regain the Solheim Cup in Sweden in two years time.”

Thursday 22nd September 2005

Oliver Fisher receiving The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy from HRH Prince Andrew

WALKER CUP TEENAGER WINS DUKE OF YORK TITLE IN THRILLING FINISH
Oliver Fisher, 17-year-old Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team player, completed a great junior golf double within five days over the Castletown Links, Isle of Man today (THURSDAY) when he came from behind over the last round to win The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy.
Last Sunday, Fisher romped away with the boys’ title in the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor.
Fisher, playing out of the West Essex club, started the last round of The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy in fourth place, four shots behind leader Andrea Pavan from Italy.
After 16 holes it was a triple tie for the lead between Pavan, Fisher and Sweden’s Bjorn Akesson.
The Italian finished bogey-birdie-bogey for a 73 and a total of 213. Akesson parred the 16th and 17th and then played into the gorge at the 18th and had to drop another ball. He finished on 72 for 214.
Fisher parred all three finish holes for a terrific closing round of four-under-par 68 and a final 54-hole total of four-under-par 212. The CSS, incidentally was three times 73 = 219.
Pavan missed a 10ft par putt on the 18th which would have put him into a play-off with Fisher who had got up and down from a bunker to save par at the 17th.
Scott Henry (Cardross), Scottish boys’ match-play champion for the past two years, tied for sixth place on 217 after a final round of 72.
Steven McEwan (Barassie), winner of the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play championship at Monifieth this past summer, signed off with a 77 for 227.
Anna Nordqvist, the British girls’ open champion from Sweden, was the leading girl in The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy for the second year in a row.
She followed up her triumph at Kingsbarns 12 months ago with a 75 for 223, four over par from the LGU tees. Anna finished two shots ahead of France’s Valentine Derry and another Swede, Anna D’Ber-Soderestom.
Scotland’s Laura Murray from Alford, who played in the winning Scotland team against England in Monday’s schoolgirls international match at Glasgow Gailes and thus missed the practice round on the Isle of Man finished with her best round of the three, a 76, for 238.
Collated final totals
THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS’ TROPHY
Castletown Links, Isle of Man.
FINAL TOTALS
Boys (Par 72, CSS 73 73 73)
212 Oliver Fisher (Eng) 71 73 68.
213 Andrea Pavan (Italy) 70 70 73.
214 Bjorn Akesson (Swe) 72 70 72.
215 Tom Sherreard (Eng) 71 74 70.
216 Zac Gould (Wal) 76 69 71.
217 Niall Kearney (Ire) 70 71 76, Scott Henry (Sco) 73 72 72.
222 Bernhard Neumann (Ger) 77 69 76.
224 Thomas Haylock (Eng) 76 73 75,Adrian Schwartzel (SAfr) 74 74 76, Xavier Feyaerts (Bel) 71 75 78.
227 Charles Levitte (Fra) 74 78 75, Steven McEwan (Sco) 72 78 77, Jesper Drongstrup (Den) 76 74 77.
230 Adam Runcie (Wal) 80 76 74.
231 Janos Toth (Hun) 76 76 79.
232 Philipp Fendt (Aut) 76 78 78.
235 Arthur De Rivoir (Swi) 78 76 81.
237 Max Biwer (Lux) 81 81 75, Riku Eve (Fin) 84 75 78.
239 Thordur Gissurarson (Ice) 78 85 76.
245 Mark Suursalu (Est) 88 77 80, Stanislav Matus (Cze) 79 81 85.
GIRLS (Par 73, CSS 73 73 75)
223 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 77 75.
225 Valentine Derrey (Fra) 75 74 76, Anna D’Ber-Soderstom (Swe) 74 73 78.
226 Sahra Hassan (Wal) 74 74 78.
233 Monica Christiansen (Den) 81 76 76.
234 Iliska Verwey (SAfr) 77 82 75.
235 Justine Barbier (Bel) 80 72 83.
236 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 73 84 79.
238 Laura Murray (Sco) 79 83 76.
240 Kerstin Mertl (Aut) 76 84 80.
241 Alessandra Gallo (Ita) 83 77 81.
242 Nejla Gercek (Tur) 81 79 82.
250 Katereina Rizickova (Cze) 87 84 79, Melanie Gruenfelder (Swi) 84 83 83.
253 Sanna Vihervaara (Fin) 82 82 89.
259 Hanna Sugurdardottir (Ice) 83 88 88.

MIDLOTHIAN PAIRING WIN COMMONWEALTH SPOONS FINAL AT BROOMIEKNOWE
The Midlothian pairing of Jane Neville (Murrayfield) and Amanda Liddell (Ratho Park) won the SLGA’s Commonwealth Spoons foursomes final at Broomieknowe Golf Club today (THURSDAY).
Jane and Amanda, with a net score of 74 off 14 of a handicap headed a field of 53 pairings who had qualified through their counties.
In a comparison of their inward halves,  Jane and Amanda pipped the Aberdeenshire pairing of Sheila Fyfe and Avril Willox, both Murcar members, who also had a net return of 74 off 23 of a handicap.
Midlothian also supplied the third-placed partnership of Rona Hunter and Jill Lothian, both Liberton members. They had a net 75 off 16 and won on the better last three holes from the Angus combination of Jackie Brown (Monifieth) and Lynne Fenton (Abertay) who also had a net 75 off four.
A third pairing, Lanarkshire’s Shirley Munro and Janice Gardner of Drumpellier also had a net 75 off nine. They lost out on the better inward half to Jackie and Lynne.
SLGA COMMONWEALTH SPOONS FINAL
Broomieknowe Golf Club
Leading scores
74 Jane Neville (Murrayfield) & Amanda Liddell (Ratho Park) (14) (bih), Sheila Fyfe & Avril Willox (Murcar) (23).
75 Rona Hunter & Jill Lothian (Liberton) (16) (better last three), Jackie Brown (Monifieth) & Lynne Fenton (Abertay) (4) (bih), Shirley Munro & Janice Gardner (Drumpellier) (9).

British Seniors
DOUBLE BOGEY MAN KILLS OFF FIONA’S TITLE CHANCE
Two double bogeys on the inward half killed off the title hopes of Fiona De Vries in the final round of the Senior British Open women’s golf championship at Newport today (THU).
The St Andrews hotel proprietor finished joint fifth with an aggregate of 233 after scores of 78, 75 and 80. Out in one-over-par 37, Fiona was progressing nicely in second place only two shots off the pace.
Then she ran up a double bogey 6 at the 11th followed by a double bogey 7 at the 12th. Mrs De Vries dropped further shots at the 15th and 16th to take 43 shots for the inward half.
Fiona finished seven shots behind Sweden’s Eva Ansgarius who made a successful defence of the championship with scores of 74, 77 and 75 for seven-over-par 226.
After a double-bogey 6 at the 10th, Eva played it straight down the middle and finished with four par figures for halves of 35 and 40.
Eva won by a single shot from her strong-finishing compatriot Viveca Hoff who birdied the 17th and 18th for a closing 72 – easily the best round of the day – and a total of 227.
Former champion Mary McKenna from Ireland finished third with 78, 74 and 77 for 229.
Scottish seniors champion Pamela Williamson never really got going and tied for 23rd place on 243 with scores of 85, 80 and 78.
Lynne Terry from Cruden Bay had scores of 81, 85 and 90 for 256.
SENIOR BRITISH OPEN WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Newport Golf Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 73
226 Eva Ansgarius (Swe) 74 77 75.
227 Viveca Hoff (Swe) 78 77 72.
229 Mary McKenna (Ire) 78 74 77.
230 Christine Watson (Eng) 74 80 76.
233 Jeannie O’Keeffe (Eng) 80 75 78, Rozalyn Adams (Eng) 73 80 80, Fiona De Vries (Sco) 78 75 80.
234 Geraldine Bray (Eng) 77 81 76, Vicki Thomas (Wal) 80 75 789.
235 Pamela Valentine (Wal) 80 78 77.
237 Marilyn Henderson (Eng) 78 84 75, Julie Ballard (Eng) 76 78 83, Alison Murdoch (Can) 80 73 84.
239 Valerie Hassett (Ire) 81 84 74, Diane Williams (Can) 76 83 80
240 Sue Westall (Eng) 78 83 79.
241 Vivien Saunders (Eng) 87 79 75.
Other Scottish totals:
243 Pamela Williamson 85 80 78.
244 Verona Mackenzie 83 82 79.
256 Lynne Terry 81 85 90.
 

Wednesday 21st September 2005

SENIOR BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
ST ANDREWS HOTELIER UP WITH LEADERS IN SENIOR BRITISH OPEN
St Andrews hotelier Fiona De Vries is lying in joint third place, only two shots off the lead, with one round to go in the Senior British Women’s Open golf championship at Newport Golf Club.
Fiona shot a second-round 75 for a 36-hole tally of 153. The inward half cost her 42 strokes in the first round but she played it in par 37 today (WED) with a birdie at the 10th and a bogey at the 16th.
On the outward half, Mrs De Vries had a sticky run of bogeys at the fourth, fifth and sixth before a birdie 2 at the short eighth cheered her up.
Sweden’s Eva Ansgarius leads with a 74 and 77 for 151 – one shot ahead of the legendary Irish player Mary McKenna who improved by four shots with a second-round 74.
On the same 153 mark as Fiona De Vries is Alison Murdoch who retained the Irish senior women’s open title last week and has won the Canadian seniors title three times in the past four years.
Alison lives in British Columbia but she has Scottish roots on both sides of her family tree.
Cruden Bay’s Lynne Terry survived the 36-hole cut with nothing to spare after an 81 and 85 for 166.
Not so lucky was Scottish Ladies Golfing Association secretary Dr Sheila Hartly who had an 88 and 86 for 174.
SENIOR BRITISH WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Newport Golf Club.
Leading second-round totals
151 Eva Ansgarius (Swe) 74 77.
152 Mary Mckenna (Ire) 78 74.
153 Alison Murdoch (Can) 80 73, Fiona De Vries (Sco) 78 75.
154 Julie Ballard (Eng) 76 78, Christine Watson (Eng) 74 80.
155 Vicki Thomas (Wal) 80 75, Jeannie O’Keeffe (Eng0 80 75, Viveca Hoff (Swe) 78 77.
Other Scots scores:
165 Pamela Williamson 85 80, Verona McKenzie 83 82.
166 Lynne Terry 81 85.
Scots who did not qualify:
174 Sheila Hartley 88 86, Luci Foster 85 89.
175 Patricia Midcaff 88 87.
178 Pat Bennett 91 87.

HENRY WELL UP WITH LEADERS IN DUKE OF YORK TOURNAMENT
Scott Henry from Cardross is lying in joint fifth place at the halfway stage of the boys’ section of  The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy tournament over the Castletown Links on the Isle of Man.
Henry, Scottish boys’ match-play champion for the past two years, had a second-day 72 for a 36-hole tally of 145 – five shots behind the Italian pacemaker Andrea Pavan who has had a pair of 70s so far.
Scotland’s other boy representative, stroke-play title-holder Steven McEwan ( Barassie) is sharing 12th place on 150 after slipping back to a second-round 78.
Zac Gould, the Welsh “wonder boy” who won the title at the age of 16 at Kingsbarns last year, returned to form with the best score of the day – a 69 – which lifted him into joint fifth place on 145 alongside Henry and England’s Tom Sherreard.
Alford’s Laura Murray had a disappointing second day with an 83 which gave her a halfway total of 162. She is 15 shots behind the leader, Sweden’s Anna D’Ber-Soderstom.
COLLATED
SCOREBOARD
THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS’ TROPHY
Castletown Links, Isle of Man
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
 BOYS
140 Andrea Pavan (Ita) 70 70.
141 Niall Kearney (Ire) 70 71.
142 Bjorn Akesson (Swe) 72 70.
144 Oliver Fisher (Eng) 71 73.
145 Scott Henry (Sco) 73 72, Tom Sherreard (Eng) 71 74, Zac Gould (Wal) 76 69.
146 Bernhard Neumann (Ger) 77 69, Xavier Feyaerts (Bel) 71 75.
148 Adrian Schwartzel (SAfr) 74 74.
149 Thomas Haylock (Eng) 76 73.
150 Jesper Drongstrup (Den) 76 74, Steven McEwan (Sco) 72 78.
152 Charles Levitte (Fra) 74 78, Janos Toth (Hun) 76 76.
154 Arthur De Rivoire (Swi) 78 76, Philipp Fendt (Aut) 76 78.
156 Adam Runcie (Wal) 80 786.
159 Riku Eve (Fin) 84 75.
160 Nejla Gercek (Tur) 81 79, Stanislav Matus (Cze) 79 81.
162 Max Biwer (Lux) 81 81.
163 Thordur Gissurarson (Ice) 78 85.
165 Mark Suursalu (Est) 88 77.
GIRLS
147 Anna D’Ber-Soderstom (Swe) 74 73.
148 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 77, Sahra Hassan (Wal) 74 74.
149 Valentine Derrey (Fra) 75 74.
152 Justine Barbier (Bel) 80 72.
157 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 73 84, Monica Christiansen (Den) 81 76.
159 Iliska Verwey (SAfr) 77 82.
160 Alessandra Gallo (Ita) 83 77, Kersstin Mertl (Aut) 76 84.
162 Laura Murray (Sco) 79 83.
164 Sanna Vihervaara (Fin) 82 82.167 Melanie Gruenfelder (Swi) 84 83.
171 Hanna Sigurdardottir (Ice) 83 88, Katerina Rizickova (Cze) 87 84.

LPGA Qualifying School
BECKY LEADS THE WAY IN LPGA QUALIFIER IN CALIFORNIA
Becky Brewerton from Wales was leading on five-under-par 67 going into the second round of the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1 event at Mission Hills, California.
Becky,22,  had halves of 33 and 34 to lead by one shot from Meredith Ward and Shinobu Moromizato.
Sweden’s Karin Sjodin and Louise Stahle, British women’s open amateur champion for the past two years, were back on 70 while the highly-rated American amateur, Morgan Pressel, was in 37th place after a 73.
Samantha Head had a 74 (35-39) and Fame More an 80 (38-42).
Another former Curtis Cup player who has struggled as a pro, Danielle Masters had a disastrous 82 which included 43 shots for the inward half.

Faldo Series
CARLY BOOTH DID PLAY – AND FINISHED FOURTH BEHIND TOP ENGLISH TRIO
The PR company updating the Nick Faldo website with the final totals in Sunday’s Nick Faldo Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor Golf Resort have apologised for missing out Carly Booth from the scoresheet.
She had a 78 and a 77 for a total of 155 to finish fourth behind the repeating winner, Kiran Matharu who had 71 and 73 for 144.
Carly’s father Wally, who drove her on the 1000-mile round trip to Celtic Manor, said they were quite happy with fourth place behind three very talented – and older competitors.
“Celtic Manor is a very tough course but Carly played well from tee to green. It was the greens she found difficult. You had to hit the greens in the right places to have any chance of scoring well,” said Wally.
“But it is no disgrace to finish behind Kiran Matharu, Henrietta Brockway and Melissa Reid. They are all very good players and that bit older than Carly.”

OFFICIAL FINAL TOTALS
NICK FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL
Celtic Manor Golf Resort
Par 72 (Ladies)                                             Girls Under 18

US College golf
HEATHER SIXTH IN US COLLEGE OPENER
Heather Macrae from Dunblane, the British women’s open amateur stroke-play champion, finished sixth in her first American college golf tournament of the 2005-2006 season.
Heather helped her college team, San Diego State University, win the team event in a tight finish to the Mountain Shoot-out tournament over the Continental Country Club course at Flagstaff, Arizona.
Miss Macrae had a pair of 76s for a six-over-par total of 152. The event was won by team-mate Megan McLeod with 73 and 72 for 145.
San Diego State (614) won the team event from Sacramento State (615), Arizona (616) and Northern Arizona (619).
LEADING SCORES
145 Megan McLeod (San Diego State) 73 72.
147 Amanda Wilson (Arizona) 76 71.
149 Sophia Choi (Northern Arizona ) 77 72.
151 Rachel Gavin(Arizona) 78 73, Lindsay Snowden (UC Riverside) 76 75.
152 Heather Macrae (San Diego State) 76 76.
 
US College golf
ANNA SCOTT JOINT RUNNER-UP IN KENTUCKY
Anna Scott from Consett, Co Durham tied for second place in the Cardinal Cup women’s college tournament over the Cardinal course at Simpsonville, Kentucky.
Anna had scores of 74, 69 and 75 for a two-over-par total of 218. She finished three shots behind Georgia State University team-mate Lisbeth Meincke who shot 74, 71 and 70 for 215.
Welsh international Lucy Gould from Bargoed, a freshman at East Tennessee State University, tied for 28th place on 237 with scores of 81, 75 and 81.
Georgia State (894) won the team event by 13 shots from Kentucky (907) with Lousville (915) third.
LEADING SCORES
215 Lisbeth Meincke (Georgia State) 74 71 70.
218 Anna Scott (Georgia State) 74 69 75, Erin Faulkner (Kentucky) 74 69 75.
Other score:
237 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 81 75 81 (tied 28th).
 

Tuesday 20th September 2005

SCOTS BOYS WELL TO FORE IN DUKE OF YORK CHAMPIONS TROPHY
Scotland’s two representatives in the boys’ section – Steven McEwan (Barassie) and Scott Henry (Cardross) – were well to the fore at the end of the first round of The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy over the Castletown Links on the Isle of Man today (TUESDAY).
In warm, sunny conditions with a light breeze, McEwan, the BP Scottish boys' open stroke-play champion, shot a 72 – one under the CSS – and Henry, the repeating BP Scottish boys' match-play title-winner, had a 73. Both are in the top seven behind the boys’ pacemaker from Ireland, Niall Kearney who returned an excellent score of 70.
One of the lads breathing down his neck is Walker Cup 16-year-old Oliver Fisher who won the Nick Faldo Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor on Sunday.
Zac Gould, the 17-year-old Welshman who won The Duke of York Young Champons Trophy boys’ title by three shots at Kingsbarns 12 months ago, had a 76 to keep his hopes alive in what is a 72-hole event.
Laura Murray from Alford, the only Scottish girl invited to join the select field, did not have the benefit of a practice round over the Isle of Man course. She played for the winning Scottish schoolgirls team against the English schoolgirls at Glasgow Gailes on Monday then flew to the Isle of Man during the evening.
In these circumstances, Laura’s opening round of 79 – six over the girls’ CSS – was as good as could be expected.
Defending champion Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), who won the British girls’ open championship earlier this summer, had a 71 to be one shot behind leader Andrea Pavan from Italy.
COLLATED SCOREBOARD
THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY
Castletown Links Golf Club, Isle of Man.
First round scores
BOYS (CSS 73)   
70 Niall Kearney (Ire).
71 Tom Sherreard (Eng), Xavier Feyaerts (Bel), O Fisher (Eng).
72 Steven McEwan (Sco), Bjorn Akesson (Swe).
73 Scott Henry (Sco).
74 Charles Levitte (Fra), Adrian Schwartzel (SAfr).
76 Jesper Drongsrup (Den), Zac Gould (Wal), Janos Toth (Hun), Thomas Haylock (Eng), Philipp Fendt (Aut).
77 Bernard Neumann (Ger).
78 Thordur Gissurarson (Ice), Arthu De Rivoire (Swi).
79 Stanislav Matus (Cze).
80 Adam Runcie (Wal), Justine Barbier (Bel).
81 Max Biwer (Lux).
84 Riku Eve (Fin).
88 Mark Suursalu (Estonia).
GIRLS (CSS 73)
70 Andrea Pavan (Ita).
71 Anna Nordqvist (Swe).
73 Danielle McVeigh (Ire).
74 Anna D’Berg-Soderstom (Swe), Sahra Hassan (Wal).
75 Valentine Derrey (Fra).
76 Kerstin Mertl (Aut).
77 Iliska Verwey (SAfr).
79 Laura Murray (Sco).
81 Nejla Gercek (Tur), Monica Christiansen (Den).
82 Sanna Vihervaara (Fin).
83 Alessandro Galo (Ita), Hanna Sigurdardottir (Ice).
84 Melanie Gruenfelder (Swi).
87 Katerina Ruzickova (Cze).

US College Golf
HEATHER IN THIRD PLACE AT FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA
British women’s open amateur stroke-play champion Heather Macrae from Dunblane was tied for third place at the end of the first round of the Mountain Shoot-out women’s college golf tournament at Continental Country Club, Flagstaff in Arizona on Monday (USA time).
Heather, a senior year golf scholarship student at San Diego State University, shot a three-over-par 76 (38-38) over the 6,002yd course.
It was Miss Macrae’s first competition since winning the British title at Nairn in August.
San Diego University team-mate Megan McLeod (37-37) and Kim Cammer (Western New Mexico) (37-37) share the lead on 73.
MOUNTAIN SHOOT-OUT WOMEN’S COLLEGE TOURNAMENT
Continental Country Club, Flagstaff, Arizona.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
73 Megan McLeod (San Diego State) 37-37, Kim Cammer (Western New Mexico) 37-36.
76 Heather Macrae (San Diego State) 38-38, Mergaux Sheehan (Sacramento State) 40-36, Amanda Wilson (Arizona) 38-38,Erica Yoshino (Sacramento State) 38-38, Lindsay Snowdon (UC Riverside) 39-37.
77 Noel Larson (Northern Arizona) 38-39, Sophie Choi (Northern Arizona) 38-39, Devon Douglas (UC Riverside) 37-40.

Photos wanted
I know there were lots of you taking photos at the County Finals.... If there are any that you are particularly proud of, could you consider sending them in to me and I will collate and put into an album. It doesn't just have to be Midlothian, I would appreciate photos of all the teams (and spectators!)
We're also looking for a "good" one of the Midlothian team behind the shield at the Prizegiving. My effort was not quite up to scratch!
Thanks.. my email is gill@kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
PS Check out Lanarkshire's webpage of the County Finals... superb! Congratulations to Margaret Reid for taking some excellent photos.

US College Golf
ANNA SCOTT ONE SHOT OFF THE PACE IN CARDINAL CUP IN KENTUCKY
Anna Scott from Consett, County Durham is sharing second place after two rounds of the Cardinal Cup women’s college golf tournament at the Cardinal course, Simpsonville in Kentucky.
Anna, a member of the Georgia State University team, had rounds of 74 and 70 for a level par total of 144. She is tied with Adrienne White (Louisville), one shot behind the leader, Erin Faulkner (Kentucky) who shot 74 and 69 for 143.
Welsh international Lucy Gould from Bargoed, a freshman student at East Tennessee State University, is tied for 19th place with one round to go after scores of 81 and 75 for 156.
Georgia State (595) have a big lead in the team event from Kentucky (611) and Louisville (612).
East Tennessee State (633) are sharing seventh place.
The Cardinal course measures 6,181yd and has a par of 72.
 

Monday 19th September 2005

Victorious Scottish Schoolgirls team
L to R; Laura Murray, Krystle Caithness, Rebecca Watson, Michelle Thomson, Sally Watson and Roseanne Niven
(Photo Courtesy Graham Watson)

Schools International
BAD WEATHER ENDS SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL GOLF EARLY
Bad weather forced the cancellation of the afternoon singles play in the schools golf international match between Scotland and England at Glasgow Gailes today (MONDAY).
The morning foursomes were played in very strong winds and torrential rain but the organisers felt it the conditions were simply too bad to send the boys and girls out again.
England won the boys’ foursomes 3 ½-2 ½ while Scotland won the girls’ foursomes 2-1 in the morning.
Details:
SCOTLAND BOYS 2 ½, ENGLAND BOYS 3 ½
Chris Bell (St Aidan’s High) & Robert Carson (James Young High) halved with Chase Davis (Norfolk) & James Curry (Northumberland).
Stuart Robin (Prestwick Acad) & Cameron Gray (Glasgow High) bt Ben Bernamont (Warwickshire) & Andrew Smedley (Notts) 3 and 2.
Lewis Kirton (Inverurie Acad) & Adrian Styles (Harlaw Acad)  lost to Luke Joy (Dorset) & Henry Smart (Somerset) 5 and 3.
Philip McLean (Peterhead Acad) & Chris Robinson (Douglas Ewart High) lost to Luke Burrows (Lancashire) & Tommy Fleetwood (Lancashire) 1 hole.
James White (Buckhaven High) & Alan Murdoch (Stranraer Acad) bt David Booth (Yorkshire) & Rory Kirwan (Warwickshire) 5 and 4.
Scott Borrowman (Dollar Acad) & Ryan Delaney (Holy Cross High) lost to Joe Favata (Surrey) & Scott Brace (Lincolnshire) 2 holes.
SCOTLAND GIRLS 2, ENGLAND GIRLS 1
Krystle Caithness (Waid Acad) & Sally Watson (Mary Erskine School) bt Katie Thompson (Hampshire) & Edwina Lowery-Gold (Norfolk) 8 and 6.
Laura Murray (Alford Acad) & Michele Thomson (Ellon Acad) lost to Gemma Parkes (Leicestershire) & Nicole Whitemore (Buckinghamshire) 4 and 3.
Roseanne Niven (Loretto School)  & Rebecca Watson (Mary Erskine School) bt Rachel Connor (Lancashire) & Nicola Race (Lancashire) 3 and 2.

STOKE ROCHFORD PAIR WIN LGU CORONATION FOURSOMES
Anglo-Scot Norma Varley came back over the Border with Stoke Rochford Golf Club team-mate Sheila Dugmore to win the prestigious Peugeot Ladies Golf Union Coronation Foursomes Grand Final over the Jubilee Course, St Andrews today (MONDAY).
Well over 20,000 couples entered the tournament at club level back at the start of the season. The winners progressed to regional finals and from there 11 pairings made it through to the Grand Final which was played in quite windy and latterly rainy weather.
Norma, handicap 19, and Sheila, handicap 18, from Grantham, Lincolnshire totalled 36 Stableford points to win by a single point from Karen James (handicap 21) and Hazel Daniel (handicap 24) from Vale of Glamorgan.
Karen and Hazel looked set to win with three holes to go but did not score any points on the 16th or the 18th where they were playing three off the tee.
 

Victorious Midlothian Team after their epic win at the Scottish County Finals at Ranfurly Castle yesterday.
L to R: Kirsten Blackwood, Claire Hargan, Claire Macdonald, Wendy Nicholson, Margaret Macpherson (Captain), Belinda Murphy, Rhona McLennan, Jane Turner, Karen Marshall.
The team mascot is called Micheala

Faldo Series
PAMELA PRETSWELL DOWN THE FIELD IN NICK FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) finished down the field in the Girls’ Category at the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor Golf Resort yesterday.
Pamela, who pulled out of the Scotland team for Monday’s schools international against England at Glasgow Gailes so that she could play in the Nick Faldo event, had rounds of 81 and 80 for 161.
Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) was the winner by a resounding six-shot margin after two very good rounds of 71 and 73 against the LGU red tees par of 73 and the CSS of 75 and 74.
Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil) was runner-up on 150.
Carly Booth (Auchterarder) qualified to be Scotland’s representative in the Girls’ Category, and scored 155 to take 4th place.
Walker Cup teenager Oliver Fisher played the outstanding golf of the day. He shot 63 and 66 (Par 72, CSS 72-72) for an aggregate of 15-under-ar 129 in the Boys’ Under-17 Category, finishing 10 shots ahead of Joe Lippett.
Fisher’s total was easily the best of the day.
Two Scottish boys finished runners-up in their sections – James Byrne (Banchory) in the Under-16s with rounds of 70 and 77 for 147, and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) with 74 and 72 for 146 in the Under-15s.
FULL SCOREBOARD
GIRLS
144 Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 71 73.
150 Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil) 76 74.
153 Melissa Reid (Chevin) 78 75.
155 Carly Booth (Auchterarder)
156 Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 79 77.
157 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies) 80 77.
159 Nicola Dunn (Harrogate) 81 78.
161 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 81 80.
166 Laura Thomas (Dentron) 84 82.
Other leading scores:
BOYS UNDER-21
Par 70. CSS 72 72.
137 John Parry (Harrogate) 67 70.
138 Ben Evans (Rye) 69 69.
142 Michael Lowe (Wentworth) 72 70.
145 Dale Marmion (Delamere Forest) 69 76.
146 Frazer Bone (Cardross) 73 73.
BOYS UNDER-18
140 Steven Capper (Caldy) 69 71.
141 Thomas Haydock (The Hertfordshire) 72 69.
142 Lee Cameron (Fulwell) 71 71.
Other score:
147 (10th equal) Robbie King (Dumbarton) 72 75.
BOYS UNDER-17
129 Oliver Fisher (West Essex) 63 66.
139 Joe Lippett (Burghley Park) 73 66.
141 Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) 73 68.
145 Ross Kellett (Colvilel Park) 74 71, Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 68 77.
BOYS UNDER-16
145 Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford) 71 74.
147 James Byrne (Banchory) 70 77.
149 Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 72 77.
BOYS UNDER-15
143 Eddie Pepperell (Frilford Heath) 69 74.
146 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 74 72.
148 Luke Lennox (Moyola Park) 72 76.

LGU Press Release
SENIOR LADIES’ BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Swedish player Eva Ansgarius recorded a two shot victory in the Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship last year at Portstewart and now heads for Newport Golf Club from 20-22 September looking for a successful defence of her title.
Ninety competitors from 12 countries will be hoping to prevent that repeat win and break the back-to-back success of Swedish competitors in the past two years.
That may be difficult, since Sweden again have a strong entry of 13 players including Anna-Kristin Hermanson, one of their country’s top senior amateurs.
Ruth Lindley from Hartlepool finished second last year and with third placed Vivien Saunders will be hoping to improve on these performances and add to the list of distinguished English names on the Trophy. Alison Murdoch of Canada is another player currently in form and with a successful defence of the Irish Senior Ladies’ Championship behind her, must be one of the favourites for the British title at Newport.
Former winners in the field include Diane Williams (1994), Valerie Hassett (1996), Birthe Mogensen (2000), Mary McKenna (2001) and Ros Page (2002) while six times Curtis Cup player Vicki Thomas must also be considered a contender for the title.
In addition to regularly hosting Welsh championships, Newport most recently was the venue in 2003 for the Girls British Open Amateur Championship.
The full list of competitors can be viewed on www.lgu.org.

US College Golf
WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT? BECKY TIES FOR VICTORY IN USA
Becky Wood from Glossop, Derbyshire, a senior-year golf scholarship student at Kent State University, Ohio,  chalked up her best performance on the American women’s college circuit when she was the joint winner with Jennifer Hong (Northwestern University) of the Mary Fossum Invitational at East Lansing, Michigan at the weekend.
Becky had rounds of 76, 71 and 73 for a four-over-par total of 220 over the Par-72, 6,278yd Forest Akers West course. Jennifer Hong scored 70, 76 and 74.
In the tightest of finishes, they finished one shot ahead of five players who shared third place.
Becky began at the fourth and bogeyed the last hole she played - the third. It was the third hole that cost her a double-bogey 6 in the second round. Miss Wood also had a double bogey 6 at the 16th in her first round.
Jennifer Hong, starting at the first hole, bogeyed the 17th and 18th.
Irish international Karen Delaney, who is also a member of the Kent State women’s golf team, finished joint 48th onf 237 with rounds of 78, 81 and 78.
Kent State (909) finished fourth in the team event behind Michigan State (889), Southern Methodist (897) and Northwestern (901).

US College Golf
LAMB'S COSTLY LAST ROUND
Former Scottish boys' open stroke-play champion Mark Lamb from Haddington dropped from tied 12th to a final placing of joint 31st due to a last-round 76 in the William H Tucker college tournament at Albuquerque, New Mexico at the weekend.
Lamb, a student at the University of Arizona, had rounds of 73, 73 and 76 for a total of 220 - 13 shots behind the winner, Andres Gonzales (UNLV) who shot 67, 72 and 68 for nine-under-par 207.
Arizona (879) tied for eighth place in the team event won by UNLV (851) from  Brigham Young (861) and Texas Tech (862).

ILGU Press Release
Menolly Homes/ILGU Inter-Club Fourball
Castle Golf Club beat Mullingar Golf Club to win the final of the Menolly Homes/ILGU Inter-Club Fourball at the K Club on Sunday 18th September.
Castle won the two top matches 2up and 3&1 leaving the tie one-sided however a strong rally from Mullingar saw them take the final two matches on the 18th (1up) and 17th (2&1) greens but just a little too late. Castle won on countback by 2 holes and keep the trophy for the next 12 months.
217 Clubs entered the competition in April 2005, and the final 2 teams had each survived eight gruelling rounds to reach Sunday’s Final.  Each finalist appeared at this stage of the competition for the first time. Last year’s winners Roscommon exited at the first hurdle while beaten finalists Cahir Park were beaten in this year’s fifth round
Mullingar 2-2 Castle (Castle win by 3 holes)
Lucy Tormey (8) & Bernie Kelly (16) lost to Sinead Heraty (6) & Martha Jones (14) 2up
Fiona Burke (10) & Lily Gilleran (14) lost to Lorraine Crighton (9) & Niamh Leonard (12) 3/1
Eilish McCormack (12) & Una Stevens (17) beat Yvonne Managhan (9) & Anna Vella (14) 1up
Patience Collier (9) & Ann Marie Fagan (20) beat Sally Lenehan (9) & Mary Bourke (14) 1up

Midlothian Past Captains had to get into the picture!
L to R: Gillian Kirkwood, Fiona Verth, Margaret Rodger, Anne Brownie, Sue Caton (current President), Joan Marshall, Karen Ballanyne and Margaret Macpherson (current Captain)

Sunday 18th September 2005

Midlothian Team
Back row L to R: Claire Hargan, Claire Macdonald, Karen Marshall, Rhona McLennan, Belinda Murphy, Wendy Nicholson
Front Row Jane Turner, Kirsten Blackwood

IT'S MIDLOTHIANS' TITLE AFTER 70-YEAR WAIT
Midlothian have won the Scottish women’s county team championship for the first time since 1935. They followed up earlier wins over Borders and Northern Counties with a 7-2 victory over Lanarkshire at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club today.
Although Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) lost her final singles match to Ruth Rankin (Lanark), she shared the honour of being the most successful player at the tournament with Midlothian team-mates, Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) and Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall). Each won five times with Belinda actually finished with a 100 per cent record as she did not play in the first-day singles.
Northern Counties, who had won the title for the past two years, finished on a high with a 7 ½ -1 ½ win over Borders to fill second place in the final standings.
We will never know if Lanarkshire would have been a match for Midlothian had they not lost the services of their two star players, Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson, due to an unfortunate clash with the last day of the women's home internationals at Dundalk.
As Midlothian officials and players would point out - quite rightly - you can only beat the players that are there ... and Midlothian certainly did that with something to spare.
Well done, Midlothian!
Details:
SCOTTISH WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Renfrewshire GC, Bridge of Weir.
Third Day
NORTHERN COUNTIES 7 ½ , BORDERS 1 ½
Foursomes: L Walker & K MacDonald bt M Pow & J Anderson 3 and 2,
J Milne & K Harper bt J Birdsall-White & W Wells 5 and 4, Manson & A Ingram bt E Fairnie & K Hughes 2 and 1 (3-0)
Singles: MacDonald lost to Fairnie 1 hole, Walker bt Hughes 4 and 3, Harper bt S Paterson 4 and 3, Ingram bt Wells 5 and 3, Milne halved with Birdsall-White, M Smith bt Anderson 4 and 2 (4 ½ - 1 ½ )
MIDLOTHIAN 7, LANARKSHIRE 2
Foursomes: Blackwood & C MacDonald bt S Wood & R Rankin 3 and 2,
K Marshall & J Turner bt A Hendry & P Hutton 3 and 2, Hargan & B Murphy bt E Cuthill & A Young 1 hole (3-0).
Singles: Hargan lost to Rankin 3and 2, Marshall halved with Cuthill, MacDonald halved with Young, W Nicholson bt Wood 4 and 3, Murphy bt L Lloyd 6 and 5, Blackwood bt Hughes 4 and 2 (4-2).
Final placings: Midlothian 3 wins, Northern Counties 1 win and 1 draw, Borders 1 win, Lanarkshire 0 wins and 1 draw.
TOP PLAYERS' RECORDS
MIDLOTHIAN
5 pt K Blackwood, C Hargan, B Murphy.
NORTHERN COUNTIES
3 1/2 pt K macDonald, K Harper.
BORDERS
3 pt E Fairnie, M Pow, J Anderson.
LANARKSHIRE
3pt R Rankin.

Saturday 17th September 2005

Scottish County Finals
MIDLOTHIAN’S LONG TITLE WAIT LOOKS LIKE ENDING
Midlothian are on the verge of becoming Scottish women’s county golf champions for the first time since 1935. They thrashed defending champions Northern Counties 7 ½-1 ½ today after beating Borders 6-3 on Friday.
The writing was on the wall for Northern Counties when they lost the foursomes 3-0. Then Claire Hargan score a 6 and 5 win over Laura Walker in the top singles. Kelsey MacDonald, only 14 years old, squared the next tie with her Midlothian namesake, Claire MacDonald but Wendy Nicholson clinched victory for her team by beating Kerri Harper 5 and 4.
Northern Counties teenage county debutante Ashton Ingram beat Rhona MacLennan by 3 and 2 before Midlothian added two more wins to their scoreline. Belinda Murphy beat Jenny Milne by one hole and Kirsten Blackwood was a 4 and 2 winner over Mary Smith.
In the other Saturday match, Borders scored a 7 ½- 1 ½ win over Lanarkshire who were deprived of the services of their two star players, Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson, because of a clash of dates with the women’s home internationals in Ireland.
Lanarkshire suffered the same 3-0 foursomes whitewash as Northern Counties and also lost the singles 4 1/2- 1 1/2 to Borders. Young Emma Fairnie, Julie Birdsall-White, Judith Anderson and Martine Pow were Borders' afternoon winners. Elaine Cuthill score Lanarkshire's only singles win while Susan Wood and Karen Hughes drew their match.
Midlothian end their campaign by playing Lanarkshire on Sunday while Northern Counties play Borders. Midlothian look certainties to win the title while even the runner-up placing for Borders would represent their best ever performance in the national championship.
Saturday details:
BORDERS 7 ½, LANARKSHIRE 1 ½
Foursomes: J Birdsall-White & W Wells bt E Cuthill & A Young 2 holes, J Anderson & M Pow bt M Hughes & A Hendry 3 and 2, E Fairnie & K Hughes bt S Wood & R Rankin 2 holes (3-0).
Singles: Fairnie bt Rankin 2 and 1, K Hughes halved with Wood, Wells lost to Cuthill 3 and 2, Birdsall-White bt Young 2 and 1, Anderson bt L Lloyd 2 and 1, Pow bt Hendry 4 and 3 (4 ½ -1 ½ ).
MIDLOTHIAN 7 ½ , NORTHERN COUNTIES 1 ½
Foursomes: K Blackwood & C MacDonald bt K MacDonald & L Walker 3 and 2; K Marshall & J Turner bt K Harper & M Smith 4 and 3; C Hargan & B Murphy bt J Milne & A Ingram 3 and 1 (3-0).
Singles: Hargan bt Walker 6 and 4, C MacDonald halved with K MacDonald, W Nicholson bt Harper 5 and 4, R MacLennan lost to Ingram 3 and 2, Murphy bt Milne 1 hole, Blackwood bt Smith 4 and 2 (4 ½ - 1 ½ ).
How they stand
Midlothian 2 wins, Borders 1 win, Lanarkshire 1 draw, Northern Counties 1 draw.

Friday 16th September 2005

Scottish County Finals
MIDLOTHIAN LEAD TABLE AT END OF FIRST DAY
Midlothian led the table at the end of the first day of the Scottish women’s county championship finals at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club, Bridge of Weir today.
They beat Borders 6-3 while Lanarkshire and title-holders Northern Counties played a 4 ½-4 ½ draw.
Midlothian took the foursomes 3-0 and then shared the singles 3-3 with Claire Hargan, Karen Marshall and Wendy Nicholson winning for Midlothian in the afternoon and Martine Pow, Wendy Wells and Judith Anderson winning for Borders.
A Lanarkshire team already without key Scotland international players, Clare Queen and Jenna Wilson, also suffered a third loss before the