DAY OF UPSETS AT SENIOR IRISH WOMENS’

CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP AT ARDEE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
On a day of upsets that saw the top four qualifiers exit in the first round, the semi-final line up ensures a new name will adorn the Irish senior women’s close championship trophy when play concludes at Ardee Golf Club tomorrow.
On another day of persistent drizzle, Jane Gardner (Malone) beat leading qualifier and defending champion Sheena McElroy (Grange) in the morning on the 15th green, but fell to championship surprise packet Patricia O’Reilly (Headfort) on the home green in the afternoon.
Phil O’Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown) struck the ball beautifully to beat second qualifier Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) earlier in the day but succumbed to senior international Pauline Walsh (Headfort) in the quarter-finals.
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) saw off Madeline Brennan (Carlow) in the morning and then ended Mary Gorry’s hopes with a 15th hole victory. Experienced campaigner Valerie Hassett (Ennis) had earlier fallen to Gorry in the last 16.
Whilst Dun Laoghaire’s Niamh Giblin recorded an impressive win over third qualifier Helen Jones (Strabane) in the morning, County Longford’s Olivia Conroy completes the semi-final line up after displaying battling qualities to defeat Catherine Reilly (The Heath) at the third extra hole in the morning and then see off Giblin on the penultimate green to close the afternoon’s play.
New favourite Henderson plays rookie O’Reilly while Conroy meets Walsh in tomorrow morning’s semi-finals with each harbouring high hopes of capturing the title for the very first time tomorrow afternoon.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Jane Gardner (Malone) bt Sheena McElroy (Grange) 4/3Patricia O'Reilly (Headfort) bt Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 2/1Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) bt Madeline Brennan (Carlow) 4/2Mary Gorry (Baltinglass) bt Valerie Hassett (Ennis) at 19Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) bt Helen Jones (Strabane) 2upOlivia Conroy (Co. Longford) bt Catherine Reilly (The Heath) at 21Pauline Walsh (Headfort) bt Sally Casey (Seapoint) 2 and 1, Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown) bt Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 2 and 1.
QUARTER-FINALS - O'Reilly bt Gardner 2 holes, Henderson bt Gorry 2 and 1, Controy bt Giblin 2 and 1, Walsh bt O'Gorman 3 and 2.

Great Dane Lisa equals LET

scoring low with 11-under 62

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Lisa Holm Sorensen has equalled the LET’s all time lowest rounds with an eleven-under-par 62 on a scorching first day at the SAS Ladies Masters.
The 26-year-old Dane posted eleven birdies at Larvik Golfklubb in Norway. She fired six birdies over the back nine, which she played as her first, before carding a further five over the front nine.
The record of eleven-under-par was previously set by England’s Kirsty Taylor during the first round of the 2005 Wales Ladies Championship and then equalled by Swede Nina Reis at last year’s Goteborg Masters at Lycke Golf Club in Sweden. However both courses were par 72s, unlike Larvik, which is a par 73.
Lisa, who won the 2005 Finnair Masters in Finland when the final round was cancelled due to bad weather, hit 17 greens in regulation and had just 25 putts for her best ever round.
" I’m really pleased because I’ve been working really hard and today it just clicked, "she said.
The next best score was English player Samantha Head’s seven-under 66, which included eight birdies and two bogeys.

Top Scot was Michele Thomson, returning to the LET after having to miss last week's AIB Irish Ladies Open at Portmarnoch because, with the inclusion of GB&I women's amateur team for the Vagliano Trophy, there was no room in the field for Michele and others in her LET category of membership.

Michele, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, matched the par of 73. Fellow Scots Vikki Laing, Clare Queen and Lynn Kenny were on the 74 mark.

FIRST ROUND

Par 73

62 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den)
66 Sophie Giquel (Fra), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Samantha Head
67 Melissa Reid, Diana Luna (Ita), Carmen Alonso (Spa)
68 Katharina Schallenberg (Ger), Rebecca Hudson, Emma Cabrera Bello (Spa)
69 Felicity Johnson, Mianne Bagger (Den), Marta Prieto (Spa), Anna-Lise Caudal (Fra), Trish Johnson, Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Cassandra Kirkland (Fra)
70 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor), Rebecca Coakley, Martina Eberl (Ger), Marjet Van Der Graaff (Ned), Bing Lim (Mal), Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Christel Boeljon (Ned), Jessica Ji (Kor), Stephanie Na (Aus), Laura Cabanillas (Spa)
71 Hazel Kavanagh, Dana Lacey (Aus), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Maria Boden (Swe), Nina Reis (Swe), Elizabeth Bennett, Lisa Hall, Becky Brewerton, Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Malene Jorgensen (Den), Iben Tinning (Den), Denise-Charlotte Becker (Ger), Florentyna Parker, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor)
72 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Beth Allen (USA), Lee-Anne Pace (USA), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Georgina Simpson, Lynnette Teresa Brooky (Nzl), Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus), Anna Knutsson (Swe)
73 Zuzana Masinova (Cze), Lotta Maria Wahlin (Swe), Joanne Morley, Tara Delaney, Federica Piovano (Ita), Julie Tvede (Den), Virginine Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Michele Thomson, Joanne Mills (Aus), Breanne Alicia Loucks, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Kyra Van leeuwen (Ned)
74 Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Vikki Laing (USA), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Claire Coughlan-Ryan, Sophie Walker, Caroline Afonso (Fra), Caroline Rominger (Swi), Martina Gillen, Ana Larraneta (Spa), Lynn Kenny, Claire Aitken, Anna Tybring (Swe), Clare Queen
75 Linda Wessberg (Swe), Frances Bondad (Aus), Laura Terebey (USA), Julie Greciet (Fra), Holly Aitchison, Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin), Lena Tornevall (Swe), Barbara Genuini (Fra), Lill Saether (Nor), Lydia Hall
76 Kirsty S Taylor, Ellen Smets (Bel), Pamela Feggans, Camille Fallay (Fra), Emma Lyons
77 Karen Lunn (Aus), Kiran Matharu, Sarah Heath, Elena Giraud (Fra), Margherita Rigon (Ita)
78 Lisa Jean (Aus), Tandi Cuningham (Rsa), Anne Hansen (Den), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Melodie Bourdy (Fra)
79 Marit Elisabeth Bjerke (Nor), Cecile Eckbo (Nor), Lene Krog (Nor)
80 Jo Pritchard, Marousa Polias (Aus), Eva Steinberger (Aut)
81 Lene Hafsten-Morch (Nor)

Scottish senior women's amateur championship

Anderson v Glennie, Fenton

v Thomson in semi-finals

Heather Anderson was in blooming good form over the Montgomery course at Kinross today to reach the semi-finals of the Scottish senior women’s closed amateur golf championship.
The former Downfield and now Alyth player squeezed into the match-play stages as the last of the 16 qualifiers but you would never have known from the quality of performances she produced today.
In the first round she toppled the No 1 seed Fiona Hunter (Baberton) with ease, beating her by 7 and 5.
And to show that was no fluke Heather then beat the eighth best qualifier, former Curtis Cup player and one time world junior champion Suzanne Cadden from Cardross by 3 and 2.
Heather now plays the fourth seed Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) for a place in the final. Alex beat former champion Pamela Williamson (Bab erton) by 5 and 3 and then had a 2 and 1 win over Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
The second semi-final sees Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), the No 3 seed, tackle the 10th qualifier, Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies), the 1968 Scottish girls champion and, more recently, winner of the Scottish veteran women’s title at Blairgowrie.
Noreen, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, was given a run for her money by 14th seed Frances Neish (Moray) before edgining through on the 18th green in the morning and followed that up with another visit to the last green, winning by two holes against Mary Smith (Tain), the Scottish seniors stroke-play champion last year.
Moira Thomson had a good 2 and 1 win over a that capable Royal Montrose player Kathleen Sutherland before beating the defending match-play champion, Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) at the 20th hole in the last quarter-final to finish.
ALL TODAY'S MATCH-PLAY RESULTS
First round
Heather Anderson (Alyth) bt Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 7 and 5.
Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) bt Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 1 hole.
Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) bt Fiona de Vries (St Rule) 6 and 4,
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 5 and 3.
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) bt Frances Neish (Moray) 1 hole.
Mary Smith (Tain) bt Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 4 and 3.
Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies) bt Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 2 and 1.
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) bt Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals
Anderson bt Cadden 3 and 2.
Glennie bt Faulds 2 and 1.
Fenton bt Smith 2 holes.
Thomson bt Bennett at 20th.

McDermott Trophy prizewinning line-up at Nairn Dunbar GC. Left to right: E Tunn, A Brown, N Britovsek, S Vass, H McCook. Thanks to Northern Counties girls organiser Magi Vass for supply the scores and the picture.

Sammy Vass wins McDermott Trophy at Nairn Dunbar Tain's Sammy Vass won the Northern Counties' girls' golf tournament for the McDermott Trophy at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club this week. Sammy, who enrols at the University of Central Florida at the end of next month, had a round of 79, winning the scratch section by 11 shots from Hannah McCook (Abernethy). Natalie Britovsek (Nairn) had the best net score ofe 72 off a handicap of 24. LEADING RETURNS CSS 75. Scratch Sammy Vass (Tain) 79; Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 90. Handicap Natalie Britovsek (Nairn) (24) 72; Eleanor Tunn (Reay) (15) 76; Anabelle Brown (Nairn Dunbar) (19) 79.

Blooming Heather knocks out No 1 seed

Fiona in first round of senior match-play

Fiona Hunter (Baberton), the new Scottish senior ladies' stroke-play champion and No 1 seed for the over-50s' match-play championship, was surprisingly well beaten by the No 16 qualifier, Heather Anderson (Alyth) in the first round over the Montgomery course, Kinross this morning.

Heather, pictured right with a trophy won at another tournament, won by 7 and 5 to earn an afternoon tie with former Curtis Cup player Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) who beat Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) by one hole.

Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), the No 12 qualifier, ended the title hopes of No 5 seed Fiona de Vries (St Rule). Helen bt the St Andrews hotelier by 6 and 5 and will play the No 4 qualifier, Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), in the afternoon. Alex beat former seniors champion Pamela Williamson (Baberton) by 5 and 3.

Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), the No 3 qualifier, survived a tight affair with Frances Neish (Moray), the No 14 qualifier, winning on the 18th green to set up a second-round tie with Mary Smith (Tain), winner of the seniors' stroke-play title at Deeside 12 months ago. Mary beat Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 4 and 3 at Kinross today.

Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies) had a good 2 and 1 win over Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) in a battle betwen the Nos 10 and 7 seeds respectively.

Moira now plays the defending champion Lorna Bennett, the No 2 qualifier from Ladybank. Lorna was a 3 and 2 winner over Margaret Tough (Falkirk).

SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN'S MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Montgomery course, Kinross.

First round

Heather Anderson (Alyth) bt Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 7 and 5.

Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) bt Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 1 hole.

Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) bt Fiona de Vries (St Rule) 6 and 4,

Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 5 and 3.

Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) bt Frances Neish (Moray) 1 hole.

Mary Smith (Tain) bt Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 4 and 3.

Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies) bt Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 2 and 1.

Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) bt Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 3 and 2.

Caithness class ... Krystle beginning


to sparkle on Ladies European Tour

From the www.herald.co.uk/sport website
By DOUGLAS LOWE
Anyone wondering about a successor to the hugely successful Scottish trio of Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay who have shone on the LPGA circuit in the US, might wish to keep an eye on Krystle Caithness, a young woman who is going places fast (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency).
The 20-year-old Ladies European Tour rookie is hailed as the first woman professional to be produced at St Andrews and her fifth place finish in last week's Irish Open has propelled her to No.16 on the order of merit and straight into this month's Women's British Open at Royal Lytham.
With the added security of an £18,000 prize jingling merrily in her bank account that's not bad going after just five tournaments as a professional on a circuit she views as a stepping stone to her ultimate dream of the lucrative LPGA Tour.
Nothing is certain in the fickle world of tournament golf but there is a gentle air of expectation about this polite, unassuming and hard-working member of the St Regulus club in the town that makes you feel that she will make the grade almost as a matter of inevitability.
Although delighted that her game stood up under the stresses of the closing stages of the Irish Open, there was no sense of being overawed, because she has seen it and done it as an amateur including a Curtis Cup appearance over the Old Course at St Andrews last year.
"It was the best performance I have had all year and it felt good to see my name up there on the leaderboard," she reflected prior to her daily practice routine at the St Andrews Links Trust golf centre and then a game over her favourite Jubilee Course.
"I just treated it as a round of golf even though there were lots of spectators and television cameras.
I have toured on the amateur circuit with the Scotland and then the GB&I squads and there's not a great deal of difference. Then I had a year at the University of Georgia."
She cut that sojourn short, preferring a return to Scotland to prepare for tour school to the alternative of US college golf, but the exercise was beneficial with the year-long season in Georgia accelerating her progress.
"I really enjoyed it," she said.
"The facilities and the competition were amazing and I really feel it brought my game on. It was a hard decision to come back but I wanted to prepare for the European tour. Eventually I would like to be playing in America but I wanted to play in Europe first for experience. It's close to home and I'm learning to do everything on my own before I go back.
"I'm also helped a lot by my coach, Garry Forrester. I've been with him for a year-and-a-half and he's the best coach I've ever had."
She is missing this week's tournament in Norway to enjoy time at home with sister Cherie who played a key role in introducing Krystle to golf and has just had a baby, but returns in a fortnight at the Spanish Open. She is waiting to hear if she has a place in the Evian Masters the following week, but the introduction of Lytham to the schedule has given her a big boost.
"I'm really looking forward to it," she said. "I played at Sunningdale last year as an amateur. It was the first pro tournament I had played in. I missed the cut but it was a good learning experience," she said.
Caithness, who is Kirkcaldy-born and lives in Cupar, has done without a caddie so far to keep costs down, but she did have father Jim helping out in Ireland under strict instructions of "no talking and no advice about clubs".
"He did as I asked him," she laughed, "and there is no doubt that he helped. I took him over as a birthday present and instead of him walking round and watching I asked him to pull my trolley. It's not unusual on the LET to do it yourself but I'd love to have a full-time caddie eventually. It makes a huge difference."


+Reproduced by kind permission of the Herald Sports Editor and Douglas Lowe.

Another LPGA Tour event faces going to the wall

The Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic might be the next LPGA tournament to drop off the schedule during the Credit Crunch..
The Farr, named for the actor who played a reluctant corporal on the classic TV series M*A*S*H, is being played for the 25th time -- and possibly last -- this week at Highland Meadows Golf Club in suburban Toledo, Ohio.
"I don't know what the intricate details are; they'll have to figure those out," Jamie Farr said before hurrying out to play the pro-am. "We have a 50-50 chance of being here next year."
The Farr's $1.4 million purse is among the smallest on the LPGA tour. In tough economic times, tournament officials have pared between $450,000 and $500,000 this year from an already bare-bones budget. The contract with the title sponsor expires after this tournament.
The LPGA had 34 events last year and that number is falling.
Organizers of the two-year-old Kapalua LPGA Classic in Hawaii announced earlier this week that financial problems would cause them to pull out of the last four years of their contract with the tour. LPGA officials threatened to pursue "legal remedies."
The LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, New York State, ended in May after 31 years when its title sponsor called it quits. Along with the Farr, the Michelob Ultra Open's future in Williamsburg, Virginia, is also uncertain.
Farr tournament director Judd Silverman remains upbeat.
"I'm very optimistic. We've been in this position several times before through our 25 years where we've had to negotiate new contracts," he said on the eve of the opening round. "We're going to roll up our sleeves with the LPGA and both parties are going to have to work hard to find a livable business model during some very tough economic times."
He said the Farr tried to spread the sacrifices around. The pro-am gift packages aren't as big, fewer bleachers were set up and past champions were not provided with courtesy vehicles.
Despite that belt-tightening, no one knows if there will be a 26th Farr. The LPGA and Silverman will sit down after the tournament to discuss the event's future.
LPGA officials at the tournament site did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If the Farr tournament leaves, it'll be another blow to the city that supports it. With its close ties to the auto industry, Toledo's economy is in rough shape with an unemployment rate just under 13 percent.
Over its history, the tournament has donated $6.2 million to about 100 charities.
The primary charity, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio, gets about 8 percent of its annual budget from the tournament.
"They've been very kind to us over the years," said Chad Bringman, executive director.
Losing that money could force the organization, which provides family members of hospitalized children a free place to stay and eat, to cut services, he said.
"We would have to make a stronger pitch to families that use it that we're hurting and could really use a donation," Bringman said. "We're already looking at what we would scale back."
Silverman said if the tournament cannot meet its obligations to local charities, it's not likely to stay afloat.
Toledo mayor Carty Finkbeiner can't fathom the loss of the tournament.
"It would be hurtful to the community's pride, but I don't think that's going to happen," Finkbeiner said. "The LPGA has come to appreciate how much this city pours into the event and its love for Jamie Farr. When it comes to volunteers and love for an event, I think we rank right up there."

We are the champions! Midlothian's winning squad in the East Division tournament at Falkirk Golf Club. Image by courtesy of Midlothian LCGA. Click to enlarge

Back row: Jane Turner, Karen Marshall , Claire Hargan , Wendy Nicholson (holding the team mascot, Michaela), Louise Fraser and Mary Richardson (vice-captain)
Front Row: Kirsten Blackwood , Rachael Watton, Tracy Laughland (captain) and Claire MacDonald.

MIDLOTHIAN COMPLETE COUNTY FINALS

LINE-UP AT BABERTON IN SEPTEMBER

Midlothian completed the list of four qualifiers for the Scottish women's county team championship finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh from September 18 to 20 when they clinched the East Division team championship at Falkirk Golf Club today.
Having already beaten Scottish champions and divisional title holders Fife as well as East Lothian, Midlothan completed their 100 per cent success record by outclassing Stirling & Clackmannan 8 1/2- 1/2.
In the other closing match Fife beat East Lothian 5 1/2-3 1/2.
So the line-up in the Scottish county finals will be Midlothian, Renfrewshire, Galloway and Northern Counties.

Outstanding individual performer for Midlothian was teenager Rachael Watton. Making her debut at this level, Rachael won the "Most Valuable Player" of the tournament - (There isn't an award but there should be! Editor) - with six wins out of six. ~Well done, Rachael!
Last-day details in the East Division team championship:
MIDLOTHIAN 8 1/2, STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 1/2
Foursomes: Jane Turner & Rachael Watton bt Vicki Stevenson & Lesley Gibb 2 and 1; Karen Marshall & Louise Fraser bt Louise MacGregor 2 holes; Kirsten Blackwood & Claire MacDonald bt Linda Allan & Jill Harrison 2 holes (3-0).
Singles: Turner bt Elaine Alison 3 and 2, Claire Hargan bt MacGregor 2 and 1, Wendy Nicholson halved with Stevenson, Marshall bt Claire Capocci 3 and 2, Watton bt Mhairi Hall 3 and 2, MacDonald bt Allan 1 hole (5 1/2-1/2).
FIFE 5 1/2, EAST LOTHIAN 3 1/2
Foursomes: Louise Kenney & Linda Dyball lost to Lesley Nicholson & Emma Fairnie 2 and 1; Fiona Hastie & Elaine Moffat halved with Line Mortensen & Fiona Prior; Susan Jackson & Karin Sharp bt Mary Lou Renton & Linda Grieve 5 and 4 (1 1/2-1 1/2).
Singles: Kenney bt Nicholson 5 and 4, Jackson bt Fairnie 4 and 3, Hastie lost to Mortensen 4 and 3, Sharp lost to Ruth Carroll 1 hole, Ashleigh Wilton lost to Renton 4 and 2, Moffat bt Prior 1 hole (4-2).
HOW THEY FINISHED
Midlothian 3 wins, Fife 2 wins, East Lothian 1 win, Stirling & Clackmannan 0 wins.

Defending champion Sheena leads qualifiers

for match-play stages of Irish seniors

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Reigning champion Sheena McElroy (Grange) added a solid round of 79 to her impressive opening round of 75 to lead the qualifiers by four strokes at the Irish senior women’s close championship at Ardee Golf Club today.
On a calm, humid day, McElroy registered two birdies on the front nine and finished with a string of pars to make a comfortable start to the defence of her title. Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) and Valerie Hasset (Ennis) posted the lowest rounds of the day - 77s - to qualify in second and fourth positions respectively.
Strabane’s Helen Jones finished strongly with birdies at the 15th and 17th to claim third spot in tomorrow’s match-play draw.
Other impressive scores on day two included a 78 by Madeline Brennan (Carlow) after a disappointing first qualifying round of 88.
The first round of matcplay is sure to produce some exciting matches with Valerie Hassett taking on Baltinglass’s Mary Gorry and Violet McBride facing a tough test against Phil O’Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown).
QUALIFYING SCORES
154 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 75 79
158 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) 81 77, Helen Jones (Strabane) 79 79
159 Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 82 77
161 Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine) 79 82
162 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 77 85
163 Sally Casey (Seapoint) 82 81
164 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle) 83 81, Patricia O'Reilly (Headfort) 82 82
165 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 84 81, Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) 82 83
166 Madeline Brennan (Carlow) 88 78
170 Mary Gorry (Baltinglass) 85 85, Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 85 85, Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown) 85 85, Jane Gardner (Malone) 84 86
NON-QUALIFIERS
171 Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) 88 83, Rhona Brennan (Bandon) 85 86, Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) 84 87
173 Mary Geaney (Killarney) 88 85
174 Kay McCartan (Greenore) 89 85
175 Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) 89 86
176 Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) 87 89
177 Roma English (Larne) 93 84, Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) 87 90
178 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 86 92
179 Valerie James (Bangor) 89 90
180 Val Shannon (Douglas) 88 92
181 Denise O'Sullivan (Hermitage) 94 87, Mary McCabe (Headfort) 94 87, Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) 92 89, Mary McGoey (Greenore) 91 90
182 Noreen Granard (Portarlington) 93 89
183 Anna Moloney (Clonmel) 94 89
184 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) 95 89
185 Helen Thornton (Ardee) 92 93
186 Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) 96 90, Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) 90 96
187 Finola Duncan (Bangor) 94 93
188 Geraldine Woods (Ardee) 95 93, Sheila Roche (Ardee) 90 98
189 Kathleen Hynes (Ardee) 97 92
191 Julie Barkman (Nenagh) 97 94, Iris Smyth (Bangor) 96 95
193 Mary Kidney (Headfort) 98 95
196 Patsy McCarthy (Grange) 95 101
RTD Gemma Jennings (Navan) 94 RTD

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
(nine-minute intervals)
09.00 Sheena McElroy v Jane Gardner, Patricia O'Reilly v Gill Rouiller, Marilyn Henderson v Madeline Brennan, Mary Gorry v Valerie Hassett.
09:36 Helen Jones v Niamh Giblin, Olivia Conroy v Catherine Reilly, Sally Casey v Pauline Walsh, Phil O'Gorman v Violet McBride.

Fiona Hunter top seed for match-play

of Scottish senior championship

Baberton’s Fiona Hunter has earned the top seed status in the Scottish senior women’s close amateur championship over the Montgomery course at Kinross.
Fiona, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency playing for Scotland versus Ireland in the veteran ladies' international match at Cruden Bay, had rounds of 73 and 80 for a total of 153.
That earned her the title of Scottish senior ladies' stroke-play champion for 2009 - and made her the leading qualifier for the "second half" of the over-50s national championship, the match-play stages.
Second best qualifier for the match-play stages is Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) who won the title at Deeside last year.
The only one of last year’s semi-finals not to figure among the leading 16, who now go on to the match-lay, after two rounds of stroke-play is Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) who was nine strokes outside the limit with rounds of 83 and 90 for 173.

Qualifiers for match-play
153 Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 73 80.
154 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 80 74, Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) 75 79, Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74 80.
157 Fiona de Vries (St Rule) 81 76, Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 78 79
159 Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 78 81, Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 79 80.
160 Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 78 82.
161 Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies) 80 81, Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 76 85, Mary Smith (Tain) 78 83.
162 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 79 83.
163 Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 81 82, Frances Neish (Forres) 85 78,
164 Heather Anderson (Alyth) 79 85.
MATCH-PLAY DRAW
Hunter v Anderson
Cuthbertson v Cadden
De Vries v Faulds
Williamson v Glennie
Fenton v Neish
Smith v Telfer
Sutherland v Thomson
Tough v Bennett.

NON-QUALIFIERS included:
167 Rita Dee (Kingknowe) 85 82.
169 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 91 78.
170 Sue Penman (Gullane Ladies) 82 89.
173 Pat Wilson (Murcazr Links) 89 84, Ann Smart (Banchory) 84 89, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) 83 90.
174 Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) 89 85, Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk) 86 88, Shelagh Quinn (Stirling) 86 88, May Hughes (Lanark) 84 90.
175 Patricia Hutton (Lanark) 89 86, Gillian Wallace (Glenisla) 85 90.
177 Morag Wardrop (Niddry Castle) 91 86, Emma Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 88 89, Maureen Neilson (Greenock) 95 92, Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 84 73.
179 Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 92 87.
180 Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm) 90 90.
182 Rena Duncan (Kinross) 90 92.

STROKE-PLAY PRIZEWINNERS

SENIOR LADIES' STROKE-PLAY CHAMPION - Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 73-80=153.
2nd SCRATCH AGGREGATE - Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 80-74=154 (better last round).
3rd SCRATCH AGGREGATE - Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) 75-79=154 (better last round).
4th SCRATCH AGGREGATE - Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74-80=154.

OVER-60 SCRATCH AGGREGATE - Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles) 78-82=160.
BEST NET AGGREGATE - Anna Felfer (Milngavie) (handicap 5) 73-74=147.
2nd NET AGGREGATE - Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) (8) 77-74=151 (better last round).
3rd NET AGGREGATE - Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) (4) 74-77=151

+A competitor may win only one prize.

England name strong team to defend Girls'

Home Internationals title at Fairhaven

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England’s team for the Girls’ Home Internationals has been selected and includes four members of last year’s winning side at Panmure, Carnoustie. They are Suffolk’s Heidi Baek, Lincolnshire’s Holly Clyburn, Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters and Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy.
They will be joined by Dorset’s Hayley Davis, Lancashire’s Nikki Foster, Buckinghamshire’s Lauren Taylor and Wiltshire’s Hannah Turland. The team, captained by Faye Sanderson (Heworth), will defend their title on home ground at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire, from August 4-6.
Heidi Baek, 15, (Felixstowe Ferry) was the 2007 English U15 champion. She is the Suffolk title-holder and reached the quarter-finals of this year’s English championship.
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa),18, is the French U18 open champion and the winner of the British Colleges Sport Open. She also reached the English championship quarter-finals and got into the matchplay stages of the British amateur.
Hayley Davis (Ferndown), 16, is the Scottish U16 open strokeplay champion and won two U16 titles at the Hacienda Del Alamo women’s winter golf festival. She was the 2008 South West U15 champion.
Nikki Foster (Accrington & District), 17, reached the matchplay stages of both the British and the English championships. She also achieved a top ten finish in the Welsh open strokeplay.
Alex Peters (Notts Ladies), 15, reached the second matchplay round at the recent British amateur. She won the 2008 North of England U16 championship and has scored back-to-back victories in the Fairhaven Trophy.
Lauren Taylor (Woburn), 14, is both the English U18 strokeplay and U15 girls’ champion. She also played successfully in the British amateur, reaching the third matchplay round.
Kelly Tidy, 17, (Royal Birkdale) has represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup and twice been runner-up in the British girls’ championship. She reached the third round of this season’s ladies’ British amateur and is a reserve for the GB&I team for the Vagliano Trophy.
Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison), 15, is a past winner of the English U13 girls’ title and won the Wiltshire championship this season and last. She was runner-up in the Scottish U16 strokeplay and reached the matchplay stages of the English championship, having led the field on the first day of qualifying.

Susan pips Gillian for "leading lady" award over new Torrance course

Susan Simpson, the LGU's Head of Operations, pipped Gillian Kirkwood, the LGU vice-chairman for the "Leading Lady" award in yesterday's Scottish Golf Writers' championship over the mist-shrouded and revamped Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews. Hamish Grey (left), the SGU chief executive, won two of the three main male awards. Malcolm Campbell (right) won the writers' championship for the Alex M Fox Trophy.
Full story and all the leading scores are available on our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com (image by courtesy of Peter Kelly; double click to enlarge).

IRISH SENIOR WOMEN'S CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP

Sheena McElroy opens title defence

with a leading 75 at Ardee

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Defending Champion Sheena McElroy (Grange) fired an opening round of 75 to lead a 47 strong field at the halfway stage of qualifying in the ILGU’s Senior Women’s Close Championship at Ardee Golf Club yesterday
In sunny but blustery conditions, McElroy started brightly with a birdie 3 at the first. Bogeys at the 2nd and 5th followed before an impressive second birdie at the long par 6th. Three consecutive bogeys followed around the turn before a string of pars and a birdie at the final hole saw her sign for a 2 over par 75 and hold a 2 shot over night lead.
Other impressive scores on the opening day included a 77 from The Heath’s Catherine Reilly, while a further 2 shots back were Helen Jones (Strabane) and Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine).
Seasoned Internationals Valerie Hassett (Ennis) and Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) are also well placed to progress to the matchplay stages which commence on Thursday after a second 18 holes qualifying round. The top 16 competitors play a further two days with the Champion crowned Friday afternoon.
Round 1 Qualifying
75 Sheena McElroy (Grange)
77 Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
79 Helen Jones (Strabane) Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine)
81 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
82 Sally Casey (Seapoint) Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Patricia O'Reilly (Headfort)
83 Gill Rouiller (Mannan Castle)
84 Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Jane Gardner (Malone)
85 Rhona Brennan (Bandon) Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) Mary Gorry (Baltinglass) Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown)
86 Catherine Bird (Nenagh)
87 Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone)
88 Madeline Brennan (Carlow) Mary Geaney (Killarney) Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Val Shannon (Douglas)
89 Valerie James (Bangor) Helen O'Donoghue (Clonmel) Kay McCartan (Greenore)
90 Kath Stewart-Moore (Royal Portrush) Sheila Roche (Ardee)
91 Mary McGoey (Greenore)
92 Judy Clarke (Royal Portrush) Helen Thornton (Ardee)
93 Roma English (Larne) Noreen Granard (Portarlington)
94 Finola Duncan (Bangor) Gemma Jennings (Navan) Mary McCabe (Headfort) Anna Moloney (Clonmel) Denise O'Sullivan (Hermitage)
95 Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Patsy McCarthy (Grange) Geraldine Woods (Ardee)
96 Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry) Iris Smyth (Bangor)
97 Julie Barkman (Nenagh) Kathleen Hynes (Ardee)
98 Mary Kidney (Headfort)

MIDLOTHIAN BREAK FIFE GRIP ON EAST DIVISION TITLE Midlothian beat title-holders Fife in what should be the decisive match of the East Division women's inter-county team golf championship at Falkirk Golf Club today. Midlothian took a 2-1 edge over the Scottish champions in the morning foursomes and also claimed the singles by a single point, 3 ½-2 ½ for a 5 ½-3 ½ overall scoreline. Having beaten East Lothian 7-2 on the opening day, Midlothian are the only team in the four-cornered contest with a 100 per cent two wins out of two record going into the final day action. Midlothian should clinch a place in the Scottish county finals at Baberton Golf Club in September with a last-day victory over pointless Stirling & Clackmannan who took the singles 3 ½-2 ½ from East Lothian today but lost the match 5-4. Fife finish off by playing East Lothian but they would need underdogs Stirling & Clackmannan to beat Midlothian while they themselves scored a big margin win over East Lothian. Tuesday details: MIDLOTHIAN 5 ½, FIFE 3 ½ Midlothian names first Foursomes – Jane Turner & Rachel Watton bt Louise Kenney & Linday Dyball 5 and 4; Karen Marshall & Louise Fraser bt Susan Jackson & Karin Sharp 2 and 1; Claire Hargan & Wendy Nicholson lost to Fiona Hastie & Elaine Moffat 2 and 1 (2-1). Singles – Turner lost to Kenney 6 and 4, Watton bt Hastie 2 and 1, Fraser lost to Jackson 1 hole, Kirtsten Blackwood halved with Lorna Fury, Hargan beat Sharp 3 and 1, Claire MacDonald bt Moffat 3 and 2 (3 ½-2 ½). EAST LOTHIAN 5, STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN 4 East Lothian names first Foursomes – Lesley Nicholson & Emma Fairnie bt Linda Allan & Louise Macgregor 4 and 3; Line Mortensen & Fiona Prior halved with Vicki Stevenson & Lesley Gibb; Ruth Carroll & Jane Herd bt Claire Capocci & Jill Harrison 2 holes (2 ½-1/2). Singles – Nicholson bt Macgregor 2 holes, Fairnie halved with Stevenson, Mortensen bt Elaine Allison 2 and 1, Herd lost to Gibb 6 and 4 Carroll lost to Harrison 3 and 1, Linda Grieve lost to Allan 3 and 2 (2 ½-3 1/2).

FIONA HUNTER SETS SENIORS PACE AT KINROSS Baberton's Fiona Hunter led the field with a par round of 73 on the opening day of the Scottish senior women's amateur stroke-play championship over the Montgomery course at Kinross today. She had a one-stroke advantage over Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) with Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) a shot behind in third place on 75. Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) came next with a 76. FIRST ROUND LEADERS Par 73 73 Fiona Hunter (Baberton). 75 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar). 76 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park). 78 Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles), Mary Smith (Tain), Suzanne Cadden (Cardross), Anna Telfer. 79 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), Heather Anderson (Alyth), Pamela Wlliamson (Baberton). 80 Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank). 81 Margaret Tough (Falkirk), Fiona de Vries (St Rule). 82 Sue Penman (Gullane Ladies). 83 Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay). 84 Ann Smart (Banchory), May Hughes (Lanark), Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park). 85 Rita Dee (Kingsknowe), Gillian Wallace (Glenisla), Frances Neish (Forres), Maureen Neilson (Greenock). 86 Lyn Murray (Kinross), Shelagh Quinn (Stirling).

Northern Counties' winning squad at Royal Dornoch. Back row (l to r): Jenny Milne (Elgin), Pam Mackay (Royal Dornoch), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), Mary Smith (Tain), Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch). Front: Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Hannah McCook(Abernethy) (reserve), Julie Vass (Tain), Sammy Vass (Tain).

Sammy and the Northern Counties team are

just "ace" ... bound for Baberton as champions

Northern Counties have joined Renfrewshire and Galloway in the line-up for the Scottish women's inter-county team golf championship finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh from September 18 to 20. Northern Counties wrapped up the North Division title at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today when they beat Aberdeenshire 5 1/2-3 1/2, giving them three wins out of three. Sammy Vass (Tain) had a hole in one at the sixth with a five-iron in her afternoon singles victory by two holes over Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies). In the other tie, Perth & Kinross beat Angus 6-3. Highlight of the afternoon singles was Carly Booth's seven-under-par performance to beat Angus's Mary Summers 7 and 6. Details: NORTHERN COUNTIES 5 1/2, ABERDEENSHIRE 3 1/2 Foursomes (1 1/2-1 1/2) Sammy Vass & Kelsey MacDonald lost to Claire Wilson & Laura Murray 5 and 3. Cara Gruber & Pamela Mackay bt Gill Murray & Sammy Leslie 5 and 3. Alison Bartlett & Mary Smith halved with Laura McLardy & Mhairi Johnstone. Singles (4-2) MacDonald lost to Laura Murray 4 and 3. Gruber bt Wilson 5 and 4. Sammy Vass bt Sheena Wood 2 holes. Julie Vass bt Johnstone 1 hol. Jenny Milne lost to Gil Murray 4 and 3. Mackay bt Donna Pocock 4 and 3. ANGUS 2, PERTH & KINROSS 7 Foursomes (0-3) Ailsa Summers & Rebecca Wilson lost to Carly Booth & Emily Ogilvie 7 and 6. Shonagh Raitt & Ann Ramsay lost to Annabel Niven & Alexandra Bushby 3 and 1. Fiona Blair & Mary Summers lost to Eve Muirhead and Laura Walker 3 and 1. Singles (2-4) Summers lost to Booth 7 and 6. Wilson lost to Ogilvie 3 and