Alex Salmond's major announcement about £2million boost for Scottish amateur golf

First Minister Alex Salmond (centre) with a group including SLGA chairman Shona Malcolm, British Women's Open champion Catriona Matthew and Douglas Connon, chairman of the Scottish Golf Union Board, at North Berwick today when a major announcement about additional funding for Scottish amateur golf, particularly those who are turning professional., was made.

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SLGA name teams for stroke-play tournaments

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION
The SLGA is pleased to announce the following teams to represent Scotland:

SLGA Under 16 Open Stroke Play Championship, Strathmore Golf Centre, April 8-9:
Team 1: Lesley Atkins (Minto), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Clara Young (North Berwick).
Team 2: Connie Jaffray (West Kilbride), Tara Mactaggart (Minto), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies).
Reserves: 1 Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), 2 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus)

Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship, Troon, April 23-25:
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
Reserves: 1 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), 2 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)

Welsh Ladies' Open Amateur 54 Hole Stroke Play Championship, Southerndown Golf Club, May 1-2:
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Laura Murray (Alford), Jane Turner (Craigielaw).
Travelling reserve: Rachael Watton (Mortonhall)

Irish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Newlands Golf Club, June 5-6:

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Jane Turner (Craigielaw).

Travelling reserve: Laura Murray (Alford).

Reserve: Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)

Quality field building up for the 'Helen Holm'

This year's Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship is shaping to be one of the best - if the quality of the entries so far is any guide.
They include so far the 2009 champions of Scotland (Megan Briggs), England (Charlie Douglass) and Wales (Tara Davies).
The fact that the LGU selectors will be at the tournament and will be meeting on the evening of Sunday, April 25 to choose the Great Britain & Ireland team of eight for the Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts in June could have something to do with it.
But the tournament is also pulling them in from places as far away as Russia.
Two rounds will be played over Troon Portland on Friday and Saturday, April 23 & 24 after which there will be a cut and the qualifiers (leading 66 players and ties) will play the final 18 holes over Royal Troon on the Sunday.
Entries close at noon on Monday, March 22. Handicap limit is 5.4.
Entry forms can be downloaded from the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association website: www.slga.co.uk.
THE FIELD SO FAR
(from the SLGA website)
1 Lucie Andre Mionnay France +2.7
2 Lesley Atkins Minto Scotland 2.8
3 Amy Boulden Maesdu Wales 0.4
4 Eilidh Briggs Kilmacolm Scotland 1.0
5 Megan Briggs Kilmacolm Scotland 0.3
6 Emma Brown Malton & Norton England +3.1
7 Ciara Butler Newlands Ireland 1.8
8 Holly Clyburn Woodhall Spa England +2
9 Charlotte Dalton Ladbrook Park England 0.9
10 Tara Davies Holyhead Wales 0.5
11 Charlie Douglass Brocket Hall England 0.8
12 Charlotte Ellis Minchinhampton England +1.6
13 Stephanie Evans Vale of Llangollen Wales 0.1
14 Bethany Garton Royal Lytham & St Annes England 2.1
15 Hannah Grant Enmore Park England 0.3
16 Becky Harries Haverfordwest Wales +0.2
17 Rachel Jennings Izaak Walton England +2.6
18 Louise Kenney Pitreavie Scotland +1.6
19 Samantha Leslie Westhill Scotland 2.5
20 Emelie Lundstrom Mosjo Sweden +1
21 Kelsey MacDonald Nairn Dunbar Scotland +1.9
22 Stephanie McEvoy Old Fold Manor England 3.2
23 Alyson McKechin Elderslie Scotland 2.8
24 Gillian Monteith Portpatrick Dunskey Scotland 0.0
25 Laura Murray Alford Scotland +1.2
26 Elizaveta Nikulina Moscow City Russia 3.4
27 Pamela Pretswell Bothwell Castle Scotland +2.7
28 Ann B Ramsay Kirriemuir Scotland 0.4
29 Emma Sheffield Newark England 0.6
30 Ailsa Summers Carnoustie Ladies Scotland 3.0
31 Lauren Taylor Woburn England +2.1
32 Rachael Taylor Hartl Golf Resort Germany 2.4
33 Jess Wilcox Blankney England 0.4

Home winner in Spanish women's amateur international championship

Nerea Salaverria from Spain, the No 6 seed, won the Spanish women's amateur international championship, at Platja del Pals, Girona today.
She beat the No 5 qualifier, Sweden's Emma Nilsson by one hole in the 18-hole final.
Nerea, who comes from San Sebastian, had a double celebration later - this was her 18th birthday!
Last year two different French players won the Portuguese and then the Spanish women's amateur international championships, the first main events on the European women's amateur calendar.
This year, two different Spaniards have achieved the feat. The "Portuguese" was won by Anna Arrese, the No 2 seed, who lost in the quarter-finals of the "Spanish."

Nilsson v Salaverria for Spanish women's title

Sweden's Emma Nilsson, conqueror of Scotland's Kelsey MacDonald in the second round and European Young Masters girls' title-holder Klara Spilkova in this morning's quarter-finals, will meet Spain's Nerea Salaverria in Sunday's 18-hole final of the Spanish women's international amateur championship at Golf Platja de Pals, Gerona.
Spilkova ended the British challenge in the round of the last eight. She beat England's Hannah Barwood (Knowle) by 5 and 3 before losing by 4 and 3 to Nilsson in the semi-finals.
The No 2 seed, Anna Arrese (Spain), seeking to complete an Iberian double - she won the Portuguese women's amateur championship at the end of January, surprisingly lost at the 19th to Sweden's Louise Ridderstrom in the quarter-finals.
Ridderstrom went down by 4 and 3 to Salaverria.
TODAY'S RESULTS

QUARTER-FINALS
Klara Spilkova (Czech Republic) (16th qualifier) bt Hannah Barwood (England) (8) 5 and 3.
Emma Nilson (Sweden) (5) bt Johanna Tillstrom (Sweden) 3and 2.
Nerea Salaverria (Spain) (6) beat Elia Folch (Spain) 5 and 4.
Louise Ridderstrom (Sweden) (26) bt Anna Arrese (Spain) (2) at 19th.

SEMI-FINALS
Nilsson bt Spilkova 4 and 3.
Salaverria bt Ridderstrom 4 and 3.

Hannah Barwood only British player to

reach last 8 of Spanish championship

Hannah Barwood (Knowle), the English women's amateur champion in 2008, is the only British player to reach the quarter-finals of the Spanish women's amateur international championship at Golf Platja de Pals, Girona.

Eighth of the 32 qualifiers, Hannah beat the Welsh champion, Tara Davies (Holyhead), the No 9 seed, by 2 and 1 in the second round.

Barwood now plays Klara Spilkova, the No 16 qualifier and the girl who won the European Young Masters' girls' title by the astonishing margin of 14 strokes over 54 holes last summer.

Spilkova beat the No 1 seed and defending champion, Lucie Andre (France), by one hole in the second round.

England's other qualifier, Rachel Jennings lost by one hole in the second round to Louise Ridderstrom (Sweden).

Amy Boulden (Maesdu), the second Welsh player among the qualifiers, lost in the second round by 6 and 5 to Johanna Tillstrom (Sweden).
Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald, the only Scottish qualifier, was knocked out in the round of the last 16.
Nairn Dunbar's Scottish Under-21 champion, 12th of the 32 qualifiers, won her morning tie by 3 and 2 against 21st qualifier Belen Buendia (Spain) but lost by 6 and 4 to Emma Nilsson (Sweden), the No 5 seed.

The No 2 seed, Anna Arrese (Spain), is still there. She plays Louise Ridderstrom (Sweden) in the quarter-finals. Arrese won the Portuguese women's amateur international championship, played under a stroke-play format, in the last week of January this year.

Results:

FIRST ROUND

L Andre (France) (1) bt C Boutier (France) (32) 3 and 2.

K Spilkova (Czech Republic) (16) bt A Blasco (Spain) (17) at 20th.

T Davies (Wales) (9) bt M Gidali (France) (24) at 19th.

H Barwood (England) bt N Jimenez (Spain) (25) 2 and 1.

E Nilsson (Sweden) (5) bt N Holleder (Germany) (28) and 4.

K MacDonald (Scotland) (12) bt B Buendia (Spain) (21) 3 and 2.

A Boulden (Wales) (13) bt M Prat (Spain) (20) 2 holes.

J Tillstrom (Sweden) (29) bt V Sternebeck (Germany) (4) 6 and 5.

L Stempfle (Germany) bt E Lundstrom (Sweden) (30) at 19th.

E Folch (Apin) (19) bt J Janson (Sweden) (14) 5 and 3.

P Delacour (France) (22) bt L Ikatzy (Germany) (11) at 19th.

N Salaverria (Spain) (6) bt L Sobron (Spain) (27) 5 and 4.

L Ridderstrom (Sweden) (26) bt S Kirchmayer (Germany) (7) 1 hole.

R Jennings (England) (23) bt C Hedberg (Spain) (10) 3 and 2.

A Dahlberg (Sweden) (15) bt L Charpier (France) (18) 7 and 6.

A Arrese (Spain) (2) bt A Provot (France) (31) 2 holes.

SECOND ROUND

Spilkova bt Andre 1 hole.

Barwood bt Davies 2 and 1.

Nilsson bt MacDonald 6 and 4.

Tillstrom bt Boulden 6 and 5.

Folch bt Stempfle 3 and 1.

Salaverria bt Delacour 3 and 1.

Ridderstrom bt Jennings 1 hole.

Arrese bt Dahlberg 2 holes.

Kelsey MacDonald only Scot among leading 32 at Pals

Hannah Barwood is top
-
British qualifier for Spanish
-
match-play stages

England and Wales both have two players among the 32 who today qualified for the match-play stages of the Spanish women's international amateur championship at Pals, Girona in the north-east of Spain.
Scotland has one qualifier and Ireland none.
Hannah Barwood (Knowle), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, English women's champion of two years ago, was the leading British qualifier in joint seventh place with a pair of 75s for 150 over the par-73 course.
The other English qualifier was Rachel Jennings with scores of 82 and 71 for 153. That gave her the No 22 slot in the draw.
Welsh champion Tara Davies, who played very well in the Portuguese women's amateur international championship on the Algarve at the end of January, qualified in joint ninth place on 151 with scores of 79 and 72.
Another member of the Wales team who have won the title at the past two Women's Home Internationals, Amy Boulden (Maesdu), also qualified on 151 with scores of 74 and 77 as did Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University & Nairn Dunbar) with rounds of 75 and 76.
Scotland internationals Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Laura Murray (Alford) missed the cut by varying margins.
Kenney had rounds of 84 and 74 for 158 - four shots too many.
Murray scored 84 and 80 for 164.
Majorca-based Scots girl Lauren Mackin had scores of 82 and 80 for 162.
Among the big names who failed to reach the match-play stages were Curtis Cup team contenders Charlie Douglass, the left-handed English champion, and Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh who won the British women's amateur stroke play at Royal Aberdeen last year.
Douglass had rounds of 86 and 74 for 160, McVeigh 83 and 79 for 162.
Welsh cap Gemma Bradbury, a student at St Andrews University, missed out with scores of 78 and 81 for 159.

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 146 (2x73)
1 ANDRE LUCIE 147 77 70 FRA
2 ARRESE, ANNA 147 76 71 SPA
3 STEMPFLE, LAURA 148 76 72 GER
4 STERNEBECK, VALERIE 148 75 73 GER
5 NILSSON, EMMA 149 75 74 SWE
6 SALAVERRIA , NEREA 149 75 74 SPA
7 KIRCHMAYER, STEPHANIE 150 77 73 GER
8 BARWOOD, HANNAH 150 75 75 ENG
9 DAVIES, TARA 151 79 72 WAL
10 HEDBERG BERTRAND, CAMILLA 151 78 73 SPA
11 KATZY, LARA 151 75 76 GER
12 MACDONALD, KELSEY 151 75 76 SCO
13 BOULDEN, AMY JANE 151 74 77 WAL
14 JANSON , JOSEPHINE 151 73 78 SWE
15 DAHLBERG-SODERSTROM, ANNA 152 81 71 SWE
16 SPILKOVA, KLARA 152 79 73 CZE
17 BLASCO, ALMUDENA 152 78 74 SPA
18 CHARPIER, LÉA 152 78 74 FRA
19 FOLCH, ELIA 152 77 75 SPA
20 PRAT, MIREIA 152 77 75 SPA
21 BUENDIA, BELEN 152 76 76 SPA
22 DELACOUR, PERRINE 153 82 71 FRA
23 JENNINGS, RACHEL 153 79 74 ENG
24 GIDALI, MANON 153 77 76 FRA
25 JIMENEZ, NOEMI 153 77 76 SPA
26 RIDDERSTROM, LOUISE -153 75 78 SWE
27 SOBRON GALMES, LUNA 154 84 70 SPA
28 HOLLEDER, NINA 154 81 73 GER
29 TILLSTROM, JOHANNA 154 79 75 SWE
30 LUNDSTROM, EMELIE 154 78 76 SWE
31 PROVOT, ARIANE 154 76 78 FRA
32 BOUTIER, CÉLINE 154 75 79 FRA

MISSED THE CUT (scores of 154 or better qualified)
Selected scores:
156 Charlotte Ellis (Eng) 81 75.
158 Louise Kenney (Sco) 84 74, Katherine O'Connor (Wal) 81 77.
159 Gemma Bradbury (Wal) 78 81.
160 Charlie Douglass (England) 86 74.
162 Danielle McVeigh (Ireland) 83 79, Lauren Mackin (Sco) 82 80.
164 Laura Murray (Sco) 84 80.
167 Aedin Murphy (Ire) 91 76.
Field of 95 competitors.

Amy Boulden (74) one shot off qualifying pace in Spain

The first qualifying round in the Spanish women's open amateur championship was completed at Playa de Pals, Girona this morning after a suspension of play for very heavy rain robbed some competitors of the chance to finish their rounds.
Welsh Curtis Cup place contender Amy Boulden finished well for a 74 to be lying second to Josephine Janson (73) going into the second stroke-play round which will decided the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages.
Another Welsh cap, St Andrews University student Gemma Bradbury had a 78, one shot better than the current Welsh champion, Tara Davies.
Scotland and England caps, Laura Murray and Charlie Douglass, did not do so well. Laura had an 84 and left-hander Charlie an 86.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS (revised)
73 Josephine Janson.
74 Amy Boulden.
75 Marion Duvernay, Louise Ridderstrom, Celine Boutier, Lara Katzy, Valerie Sternebeck, Emma Nilsson, Nerea Azansa, Kelsey MacDonald, Hannah Barwood.
Selected scores this morning:
78 Gemma Bradbury.
79 Tara Davies.
81 Katherine O'Connor.
82 Laura Mackin.
84 Laura Murray.
86 Charlie Douglass.
91 Aedin Murphy.

England name top squad for Paris St Cloud event

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
A top-class squad of national champions and internationals will represent the English Women’s Golf Association in the French Lady Juniors’ Championship at St Cloud from April 1-5.
It includes: English champion Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall), English stroke-play champion Charlotte Wild (Mere), English girls’ champion Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), 2008 English champion Hannah Barwood (Knowle), and 2009 Scottish U16 open stroke-play champion Hayley Davis (Ferndown).
Every member of the squad is either a full England international or a girl international and it is completed by Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry), Nikki Foster (Pleasington), Alex Peters (Notts Ladies), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) and Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison).
The teams for the Vilmorin Cup, the nations’ cup competition, are:
1 Hannah Barwood, Holly Clyburn, Charlie Douglass.
2 Alex Peters, Kelly Tidy, Charlotte Wild.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Northern Counties LGA fixtures, venues for new season

County Championship - Saturday-Monday, April 17-19: Moray Old Course, Lossiemouth
County Open - Sunday, May 23 - Nairn Dunbar
County Foursomes & Commonwealth Spoons - Friday, July 9 - Golspie
County Open (inc. Vets Trophy) - Friday, August 20 - Thurso
County Open - Sunday, September 12 - Inverness
County Open & AGM - Sunday, October 3 - Elgin

The Northern Division Jamboree is at Blairgowrie from June 26 to 28.

Rain in Spain halts women's amateur championship qualifying

Torrential rain halted the first qualifying round of the Spanish women's open amateur championship at Playa de Pals Golf Club, Girona in the north-east of the country near Barcelona. It is still hoped to play two qualifying rounds to produce 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages.
The first round will be resumed early Thursday morning (local time).
First-round scores completed before the suspension of play were:
Par 73
JANSON , JOSEPHINE 73
BOUTIER, CÉLINE 75
KATZY, LARA 75
STERNEBECK, VALERIE 75
NILSSON, EMMA 75
SALAVERRIA AZANZA, NEREA 75
MACDONALD, KELSEY 75
BARWOOD, HANNAH 75
LESCUDIER, INES 76
BUENDIA GOMEZ, BELEN 76
STEMPFLE, LAURA 76
ARRESE CORTADELLAS, ANNA 76
ZWANCK SAENZ, ADRIANA 76
ANDRE, LUCIE 77
FOLCH SOLA, ELIA 77
GIDALI, MANON 77
SAGSTROM, MADELENE 77
KIRCHMAYER, STEPHANIE 77
JIMENEZ MARTIN, NOEMI 77
PRAT CABALLERIA, MIREIA 77
BAZIN DE JESSEY, MORGANA 77
HEDBERG BERTRAND, CAMILLA 78
TILLSTROM, JOHANNA 79
SPILKOVA, KLARA 79
KLATTEN, JOANNA 79
JENNINGS, RACHEL 79
LINDNER, ANN-KATHRIN 80
LARSSON, LOUISE 81
CABALLER HERNANI,TERESA 81
YANG, JULIE 81
DAHLBERG-SODERSTROM, ANNA 81
AVERNA, ALESSANDRA 81
HOLLEDER, NINA 81
ELLIS, CHARLOTTE 81
DIAZ-NEGRETE PALACIO, INES 82
PATUSSI, CAMILLA 82
GOYOS BALL, MANDY 82
LEURQUIN, CHLOÉ 82
ABRAHAMIAN, CLEMENCE 83
FERNANDEZ DE MESA SILONIZ, ANA 83
URCHEGUI GARCIA, ANE 83
SANCHEZ LOBATO, ROCIO 83
McVEIGH, DANIELLE 83
POPOV, SOPHIA 83
CASTELAIN, LAURE 83
BRAIDA, ALESSANDRA 84
SOBRON GALMES, LUNA 84
KENNEY, LOUISE 84
ESCURIOLA MARTINEZ, NATALIA 84
ROSCIO, ANNA 84
OLARRA MUJIKA, AINHOA 87

Fifteen players from Britain and Ireland in

field for next week's Spanish amateur

Scotland (4), England (4), Wales (4) and Ireland (3) make up an entry of 15 players to the Spanish women's open amateur championship at Club de Golf Platja de Pals near Girona in North-east Spain next week.
Whereas the Portuguese women's open amateur championship on the Algarve a few weeks back was four rounds of stroke-play, the "Spanish" format is two rounds of stroke-play to produce 32 qualifiers for match-play.
The championship starts on Wednesday and finishes with an 18-hole final on the morning of Sunday, March 7.
Bidding for an Iberian double is Spain's Anna Arrese, a +3 player who won the Portuguese women's open amateur.
The GB&I entries with their handicaps are:
SCOTLAND
Kelsey MacDonald +2
Louise Kenney +1.8
Laura Murray +1.2
*Lauren Mackin 1.2

ENGLAND
Rachel Jennings +2.6
Hannah Barwood +2.3
Charlotte Ellis +1.6
Charlie Douglass +0.8

IRELAND
Danielle McVeigh +2.5
Aedin Murphy +0.3
Clara Butler 1.6

WALES
Katherine O'Connor +1.4
Amy Boulden 0.4
Tara Davies 1.0
Gemma Bradbury 1.1

*Lauren Mackin's mother has informed the Editor that her daughter is a "recreational golfer" who "would never be able to play for Scotland because she lives in Spain." Majorca-based Lauren played well in the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida last month. She is a former Balearic Isles girl champion.

Captain Lesley Nicholson tips
-

Rachael Watton to step up

-
FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Rising Lothians star Rachael Watton has been pinpointed as one of the players capable of forcing their way into the Scottish women's team this year.
Lesley Nicholson, who has been re-appointed as captain by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, believes the Mortonhall player, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, can be among those vying to fill the gaps left by the departure of Carly Booth and Kylie Walker to the professional ranks.
"Rachael has come on leaps and bounds," said Nicholson. "I have played with her a couple of times and she's a great striker of the ball."She also has a tidy short game which is a real benefit at the top level."
Nicholson, who has been appointed to lead the Scots in both the European team championship and the Home Internationals, is also hoping to see Jane Turner retain her place in the side.
"Jane really impressed us all on her debut in last year's Home Internationals," she added. "It can be a daunting experience when you are winning your first cap but she took it in her stride."
The Scots agonisingly missed out on a first success in the Home Internationals for 18 years as they lost to Wales on the final day at Irvine Bogside last September.
But Nicholson insisted: "It is only a matter of time until we get over that final hurdle again. The whole set-up has come on leaps and bounds since Kevin Craggs came on board as the Scottish national coach."


+The full article above appears in the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.

Laura Murray's attitude, worth ethic and personality impressed Paul Lawrie (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

Laura Murray joins Paul Lawrie team for 2010

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul Lawrie has added Scotland women's amateur international Laura Murray from Alford to his Foundation team for 2010.
"Laura will wear our logo throughout the year on Glenmuir clothes provided for her. She will also receive Titleist balls and will be included in my team golf days where I play 18 holes four or five times a year with them," said the 1999 Open champion.
"I have been very impressed with Laura's attitude, work ethic and personality."
Already members of the Paul Lawrie Foundation team are David Law (Hazlehead), Scottish boys' and men's amateur champion, Tartan Tour pros Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) and Graeme Lornie (Kings Links) and Peterhead youth cap Philip McLean.
" I normally meet three of them at a time. We play 18 holes and have lunch. I pass on course management tips and which type of shots to play in certain situations. I try not to coach them as they all have their own coaches.
"Adam Hunter works on the short game with them all. They normally see Adam five or six times a year. We are currently trying to give them some funding but that's not confirmed at the moment."
Laura Murray, 21, is also a member of Murcar Links and Aboyne golf clubs. A former Robert Gordon University student, she is a full-time amateur who makes some pocket money, working as a swimming pool life guard at the Kippie Lodge Sports Club at Milltimber near Aberdeen.
Last week she almost became the first female to win a North-east Alliance competition. Her scratch 66 at Murcar Links was pipped by late finished Scott Larkin's 65.
"It's great that Paul Lawrie has made me a member of his team. That will be a big help to me. I am aiming to make this my last year as an amateur, playing in all the big tournaments and hopefully I'll be ready to have a go at the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School near the end of the year," said Laura.

LGU Year Book 2010

Laura Murray joins Murcar Links to get even better

Murcar Links Golf Club's women's team, arguably the strongest in the North-east of Scotland, has just got stronger!
Scotland international Laura Murray (21), who covered the Murcar Links' winter course off the men's tees in 66 strokes to finish second in the all-male field for the North-east Alliance yesterday, has joined the club.
Alford, where she lives, will remain her home golf club. She is also a member at Aboyne where her boyfriend Keir Beveridge is an assistant professional.
"Murcar Links have got superb practice facilities and, of course, an excellent links course. Most of the events on the ladies' domestic circuit are played on links, so I feel I could do better in them if I played a lot more on links courses at club level than I have in the past," said Laura whose next big tournament is the Spanish women's amateur championship at Playa de Pals, Girona.
Laura is still of a mind to go to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School near the end of the year but she would like to go into that with her confidence high after a successful amateur season.

Laura Murray pipped for place


in North-east Alliance history



Scotland cap Laura Murray from Alford almost made a little bit of golfing history by becoming the first female player ever to have the lowest scratch score in a North-east Alliance competition.
Having been the clubhouse leader at the Murcar Links with a three-under-par round of 66, she was pipped by one of the last men to finish in a field of 84, Scott Larkin (Banchory) with a 65.
Read the story by switching over to http://www.scottishgolfview.com/

English Women's Golf Association and English

Golf Union moving towards potential merger

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) and the English Golf Union (EGU) have agreed to take the next steps towards a potential merger which would let the country’s amateur golfers speak with one voice.
The joint steering group from the two organisations has agreed five initial proposals and working groups have been set up to look in detail at key areas. The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations after they have received and considered the final proposal and following a period of consultation involving all members.
It is hoped the vote will take place before the end of 2010.
The benefits of merger could include:
+The opportunity to promote golf as one game for all and to make strategic plans for the future of the sport.
+Greater commercial power to attract sponsorship.
+More effective use of resources and reduced running costs.
The five proposals agreed so far are:
• A single National Governing Body for amateur golf in England. EWGA would join the EGU under a modified structure. EGU Ltd would be expanded to incorporate the activities and assets of both existing companies with a new management structure reflected in a revised Memorandum and Articles of Association. A trading name, yet to be finalised, would be adopted with the single company being styled "X" is the trading name of EGU Ltd incorporated with the EWGA.
• The headquarters would initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa, with EWGA’s offices in Birmingham remaining in operation for use by staff from both organisations until at least the break clause in the current lease contract in October 2012. After this the new board would review the accommodation needs of the organisation.
• The board of the single organisation would develop the strategy for the new body.
• The EGU/EWGA steering group would consider options regarding the staff organisational structure needed to deliver that strategy. It would appoint where possible from existing members of staff from both organisations.
• The new body would have one main board with executive and non-executive directors. While the final composition and role of this board will be decided by the steering group looking at the structure, voting and governance issues, it would initially have a non-executive gender balance of 6:4 men to women. The main committees would have at least two men and two women members.
The working groups have been set up to consider such key areas as legal and financial issues, golf, marketing, sponsorship and communications. They will report back to the steering group by mid-April and the results of their work will help to shape the final proposal for a potential merger.
This is expected to be published at the end of July and will be followed by roadshows in every county (in England). The roadshows will be open to all members of both organisations and will provide an opportunity to discuss the final proposal in detail and to ask questions.
The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations at general meetings held on the same day, towards the end of 2010.
To read a joint statement issued by John Petrie, EGU Chief Executive and Jim Robinson, EWGA Chief Executive please click here

Welsh beat Scots 4-0 in training match in Spain

FROM WELSH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
http://www.golfunionwales.org/
Current Ladies British Open champion Catriona Matthew was part of a Scotland team beaten by the Wales ladies amateur side in a friendly four-ball better ball foursomes match (at Desert Springs Golf Resort) in Spain.
Welsh amateur champion Tara Davies and rising star Amy Boulden beat top European Tour star and Solheim Cup player Matthew and her amateur partner Megan Briggs 5 and 3, in the match played while the two squads were at warm weather training together.
Wales whitewashed the Scots 4-0, who had invited Matthew to help their amateur squad as part of their build-up to the season - a result which will help push the Curtis Cup claims of several of the Wales players.
For Davies this was her second good result in a week after finishing fourth in the Portuguese amateur championship, where she was the best British and Irish player by a margin of five shots, to give her Curtis Cup hopes a real boost.
However, the rest of the Wales team also did well against the strong Scottish squad, Gemma Bradbury and Katherine O'Connor beat Eilidh Briggs and Rachel Watton by two holes with Bradbury holing her eight-iron approach at the last hole to close out victory.
Sam Birks and Chelsey Herbert beat Jane Turner and Gillian Monteith by one hole, with Birks holing a six foot putt on the last to seal the win, while Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards filled in for Katie Bradbury, to even things up with Major-winner Matthew playing for Scotland.
Edwards was there to supervise the training week in his day job as Golf Union of Wales director of player development and coaching, but he also partnered Chloe Williams to a comfortable win by 5 and 4 over Kelsey MacDonald and Laura Murray.
Edwards was seven under par for the holes played!
The match was the culmination of a good week of training, but also a useful marker as Wales aim for a hat-trick of Home International victories when they host the event at Whitchurch in Cardiff this summer.
"It really spiced up our week to play Scotland, to win so comprehensively and play against the Open champion was all just great," said Golf Union of Wales ladies national coach Jeremy Bennett.
"It was superb and gave them all a lift after coming out here to get some of the work done that we could not achieve at home because of the weather.
"It was also a good performance for Gemma, Amy and Tara as they prepare to go onto Spain for one of the events which will have a bearing on Curtis Cup selection.
"For instance Amy has added about 10 yards to her drives and it was good for her to see that she was hitting it up with the British Open champion, while Tara has improved her short game over the winter.
"It has been a really good training week, the girls have worked exceptionally hard on their game and have made progress.
"We are looking forward to the Home Internationals in the summer, trying to win for the third year running, and this result will certainly help confidence."

Royal Canadian GA announces developmental

tour for women professionals and amateurs

NEWS RELEASE FROM ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
CN and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) are pleased to announce the championship schedule for the 2010 CN Canadian Women’s Tour, Canada’s only developmental golf tour for women.
This season’s scheduled Tour events, which include a practice round, 9-hole Pro-Am and 36-holes of competition will be held:
May 5-7 at Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond, British Columbia.
June 27-29 at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ontario.
July 11-13 at Club de golf Rivermead in Gatineau, Quebec.
A notable addition to the 2010 campaign is that the top three players on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending order of merit will be awarded direct entry and entry fees paid into both LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournaments (a $5,000 value each).
As well, the champion of each CN Canadian Women's Tour event is eligible to compete in Duramed Futures Tour events for the remainder of the 2010 season.
Total season prize money for the 2010 season is Canadian $180,000 for three events. Each 36-hole championship purse will be Canadian $60,000 with the champion being awarded a Canadian $10,000 winners’ cheque.
“This year the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season is going to be one of our best yet,” said Richard Kuypers, Tournament Coordinator for the CN Canadian Women’s Open. “The top three players on the order of merit will receive their fees into the LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournaments. This important enhancement to our Tour will undoubtedly help to attract the best possible field of competitors to our championships.”
The winner from each of the three Tour events will receive an exemption directly into the CN Canadian Women’s Open with the additional three exemptions being awarded based on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit standings.
Quilchena Golf & Country Club will open the Tour’s 2010 season, hosting their first RCGA sanctioned event, while Blue Springs Golf Club, a ClubLink property and home of the Canadian PGA, will be the Tour’s second stop of the season.
Many of Canada’s elite female golfers have used the CN Canadian Women’s Tour to hone their skills and develop as athletes both on and off the course.
Player bios for golfers who regularly play in CN Canadian Women’s Tour events and additional information is now available online at http://www.cncanadianwomenstour.com/.
Eligibility
The CN Canadian Women’s Tour is open to female professionals, and female amateur and junior golfers who have a handicap factor of 4.0 or better.
Entry Fees
The entry fee for each championship is Canadian $375 for professionals and Canadian $275 for amateurs. There is no qualifying tournament or membership fee.

FAIRHAVEN TO STAGE ASTOR TROPHY TOURNAMENT

NEXT YEAR - AND IRISH PLAYERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LADIES GOLF UNION

Women’s amateur golf teams from Australia , Canada , Great Britain & Ireland , New Zealand and South Africa , will contest “The Astor Trophy” at Fairhaven Golf Club, on Lancashire ’s West Coast from June 15 to 19, 2011.
The round robin event, held every four years, started life as the Commonwealth Tournament at St Andrews in 1959 when Great Britain won the trophy presented for competition by Nancy, Viscountess Astor.
Next year, the Ladies' Golf Union, the co-ordinating organisation, will be represented for the first time in the tournament by a team for which Great Britain & Ireland players are eligible for selection. In previous “Commonwealth” years, players from Ireland were not eligible for selection
It is a match-play team event with each team consisting of five players and a non-playing captain. Each match is over a maximum of 18 holes and consists of two morning foursomes and five afternoon singles. One team will have a bye each day but, under the regulations, the hosts – Great Britain & Ireland in 2011 – will not have a bye on the final day.
Great Britain won the tournament the first five times it was played - 1959 at St Andrews, 1963 at Royal Melbourne, 1967 at Hamilton (Canada), 1972 at Hamilton (New Zealand) and 1975 at Ganton, Yorkshire.
Canada ended the GB monopoly by winning the sixth tournament in 1979 at Perth, Australia.
Since then Great Britain have won the tournament on two more occasions – at Northumberland, England in 1991 – the last time it was played on home soil – and at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, South Africa in 2007, the last occasion the competition was held.
The winning GB team in 2007 was Krystle Caithness (Scotland), Naomi Edwards (England), Breanne Loucks (Wales), Melissa Reid (England), Kerry Smith (England). It was captained by Sue Turner (Wales).
Australia have been the second most successful country over the years with four title wins – 1983 (in Canada), 1995 at home in Sydney, 1999 at Vancouver, Canada and in 2003 at Remuera, New Zealand.
The 2011 teams will practise over the Fairhaven course on June 13 and 14, the two days preceding the tournament. The teams will also have a chance to acclimatise to playing conditions in this part of the golfing world by competing in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland from June 7 to 11.
Fairhaven Golf Club staged the Final Qualifying of the Ricoh Women’s British Open last year and also the Girls’ Home International Matches.
Bob Thompson, secretary of the club, commented: “Fairhaven is again delighted to be hosting a prestigious championship on behalf of the Ladies Golf Union. It is a great privilege and honour to stage the 2011 Astor Trophy Tournament, especially as it only returns to GB&I every 20 years.
“So we are looking forward to welcoming the LGU and the teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Canada and Great Britain & Ireland to our beautiful championship links and watching the spectacular golf which will be produced by the world’s leading amateur lady golfers.”

LGU looking for new Chairman

The Ladies' Golf Union is seeking to appoint a Chairman of the Executive Council and the Board of the subsidiary company, LGU Championships Limited, for a period of almost three years from April 2010 to February 2013.

Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland.

The LGU has undertaken a review of its structure and governance arrangements and the changes recommended by the Executive Council were approved at the Annual General Meeting in Cardiff in January 2010.

One of the next steps in the reorganisation outlined by CEO, Shona Malcolm, at the Cardiff AGM, is the recruitment of an independent Chairman.

The LGU has published a detailed specification of the position and invites suitably qualified individuals to apply before 1 March 2010.

NEW SOUTH WALES WOMEN'S OPEN

Laura loses it with a final round of 74

Overnight leader and defending champion Laura Davies left the door open for her challengers with a third and final round of 74 in the $100,000 Bing Lee Samsung New South Wales Women's Open.
First through the door was New South Wales player Sarah Oh who turned over seven shots of big Laura (pictured) on the final day with a 67, after earlier rounds of 67 and 73, for a nine-under-par total of 207 to win the title and the $15,000 first prize.
Oh won by a single shot from Queensland's Katherine Hull who had scores of 68, 72 and 68 for 208 to collect the runner-up cheque for $10,250.
Laura Davies and Rebecca Coakley (Team Ireland) were the leading European finishers in joint 10th place on 213. Laura's scores were 69, 70 and 74 for 213; Rebecca 70, 71 72. Both earned $2,008.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) 5494metres
1 SARAH OH (New South Wales) 67 73 67 207 ($15,000).
2 KATHERINE HULL (Queensland) 68 72 68 208 ($10,250).
3 NIKKI CAMPBELL (Australian Capital Territory) 70 75 64 209 ($6,000).
3 KAREN LUNN (New South Wales) 69 71 69 209 ($6,000).
5 SARAH-JANE SMITH (Queensland) 70 72 68 210 ($3,950).
5 RACHEL L BAILEY (New South Wales) 68 72 70 210 ($3,950).
7 WENDY DOOLAN (New South Wales) 69 72 71 212 ($3,066).
7 CATHRYN BRISTOW (New Zealand) 68 74 70 212 ($3,066).
7 SARAH NICHOLSON (New Zealand) 66 75 71 212 ($3,066).
10 LAURA DAVIES (England) 69 70 74 213 ($2,008).
10 VICKY THOMAS (13th Beach) 70 75 68 213 ($2,008).
10 STEPHANIE NA (South Australia) 70 74 69 213 ($2,008).
10 REBECCA COAKLEY (Team Ireland) 70 71 72 213 ($2,008).
10 JOANNE MILLS (New South Wales) 70 70 73 213 ($2,008).
15 LEANNE BOWDITCH (Queensland) 73 72 69 214 ($1,475).
15 SOPHIE WALKER (England) 70 72 72 214 ($1,475).
17 JESSICA NOH (New South Wales) 73 72 70 215 ($1,275).
17 NIKKI GARRETT (New South Wales) 72 74 69 215 ($1,275).
19 JANE KIM (New South Wales) 74 71 71 216 ($1,093).
19 SARAH KEMP (New South Wales) 73 73 70 216 ($1,093).
19 FRANCES BONDAD (New South Wales) 72 73 71 216 ($1,093).
19 KAREN PEARCE (Queensland) 71 73 72 216 ($1,093).
19 KRISTIE SMITH (Western Australia) 71 70 75 216 ($1,093).
19 DANA LACEY (Western Australia) 70 73 73 216 ($1,1093).
25 TAMARA BECKETT (Queensland) 74 71 72 216 ($930).
25 STACEY TATE (New Zealand) 72 74 71 217 ($930).
27 MELANIE BRYDEN (Victoria) 70 74 74 218 ($814).
27 REBECCA FLOOD (New South Wales) 71 76 71 218 ($814).
27 STACEY KEATING (Victoria) (amateur) 68 78 72 218.
27 KATE COMBES (Victoria) 70 77 71 218 ($814).
27 LEAH HART (Queensland) 74 73 71 218 ($814).
27 BREE ARTHUR (Queensland) 70 74 74 218 ($814).
33 JESSICA SPEECHLEY (Western Australia) (amateur) 72 75 72 219.
33 JEAN CHUA (Malaysia) 72 75 72 219 ($730).
33 ALLYCE WATKINSON (The Lakes) (amateur) 71 79 69 219.
33 ASHLEY ONA (Australia) (amateur) 71 74 74 219.
37 SUSIE MATHEWS (South Australia) 77 74 69 220 ($710).
38 SU-HYUN OH (South Korea) (amateur) 69 80 72 221.
38 ELISSA ORR (Victoria) (amateur) 74 72 75 221.
38 BRONWYN MULLINS (Queensland) 73 75 73 221 ($690).
38 BREANNA ELLIOTT (Victoria) (amateur) 73 73 75 221.
38 ESTHER YOON (Australia) (amateur) 72 76 73 221.
43 COURTNEY MASSEY (Southport GC) (amateur) 73 76 73 222.
43 JODY FLEMING (Victoria) 75 76 71 222 ($670).
43 ELLE SANDAK (New South Wales) (amateur) 77 73 72 222

43 CHANTAL HODSON (New South Wales) (amateur) 76 74 72 222.
47 BREE TURNBULL (Western Australia) 71 80 72 223 ($600).
48 TAMARA HYETT (Victoria) 76 73 75 224 ($553).
48 CLARE CHOI (Victoria) 74 75 75 224 ($553).
48 JOO LEE YEOM (South Korea) 71 79 74 224 ($553).
51 KASEY HENSHAW (New South Wales) 75 76 74 225 ($520).
51 DONNA SOUTHAM (New South Wales) 75 76 74 225 ($520).
51 EBONY HEARD (South Australia) (amateur) 70 78 77 225.
51 HIROMI KAMATA (Japan) 67 77 81 225 ($520).
55 YEON SU CHO (South Korea) (amateur) 76 73 77 226.
55 JASMINE FINLAY (Queensland) (amateur) 75 76 75 226.
55 AMANDA CHIN (Malaysia) (amateur) 74 77 75 226.
55 ALIZAH KENDLER (Monash GC) (amateur) 74 76 76 226.
55 JANE WALL (New South Wales) 73 77 76 226 ($500).
55 SAKI SUZUKI (Japan) (amateur) 76 75 75 226.
61 VIKKI TUTT (New South Wales) 77 74 77 228 ($500).
MISSED THE CUT
CARLY BECK (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 74 152.
CORINNE FURNELL (New South Wales) 77 75 152.
KAREN QUINN (New South Wales) 75 77 152.
CLAUDIA LIM (New South Wales) (amateur) 73 79 152.
HELEN OH (New South Wales) 73 79 152.
POLLY TRAVICA (New South Wales) 75 78 153.
EMMA ASH (South Australia) (amateur) 72 81 153.
SUNNY PARK (New South Wales) 73 80 153.
ANGELA TATT (Victoria) 75 78 153.
CORINNE SWAN (Queensland) (amateur) 77 76 153.
HONEY KAMATA (Japan) 77 76 153.
PHILLIS METI (New Zealand) 78 75 153.
NERIDA GREGORY (New South Wales) (amateur) 74 79 153.
KATY JAROCHOWICZ (New South Wales) 78 76 154.
YEE YEON KIM (South Korea) (amateur) 78 76 154.
JUSTINE LEE (Bankstown GC) (amateur) 76 78 154.
CATHLEEN SANTOSO (New South Wales) (amateur) 75 79 154.
VERITY KNIGHT (South Australia) 74 80 154.
ADRIANA BRENT (The Lakes GC) (amateur) 74 80 154.
SHEREE HASSON (Queensland) (amateur) 77 78 155.
REBECCA GREEN (South Australia) 75 80 155.
SHARON HEMPSTOCK (Queensland) 79 77 156.
MICHELLE COETZEE (Queensland) (amateur) 78 78 156.
BELINDA DIAMOND (South Korea) (amateur) 81 75 156.
WENDY HAWKES (New Zealand) 76 80 156
CARA GUEST (South Australia) (amateur) 80 77 157.

OLIVIA WILSON (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 79 157.

AMY SMITH (New Zealand) (amateur) 78 79 157.

SUZANNE FAIRHURST (New South Wales) (amateur) 77 80 157.

ANGELA HARRIS (Queensland) 80 78 158.

NICKY HENDERSON (New South Wales) 80 78 158.

LAURA HOLDSWORTH (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 80 158
TEGAN SMITH (New South Wales) 77 81 158.

CHRISTABEL GOH (Singapore) 75 83 158.

ANGELA TUNCHON (New South Wales) 75 83 158.

ANGELA HAWKES (New Zealand) 75 84 159.

GILLIAN RAE (New South Wales) 81 78 159.

GRACE LENNON (Victoria) (amateur) 84 77 161.

JOANNE BANNERMAN (New South Wales) 79 82 161

JANA WELSFORD (Australian Capital Territory) (amateur) 82 80 162.

ELLY CHEON (South Korea) (amateur) 74 88 162.

Selected scores:

TAMRA MOORE (Norway) (amateur) 82 82 164.

KATIE DUKE (Canada) 86 81 167.

ASHLEE CLAYDON (Canada) 88 NR.

Jodi Ewart in action for the University of New Mexico on the US women's college circuit.

Blow to GB&I hopes: Jodi Ewart

to turn pro before Curtis Cup

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Great Britain & Ireland's hopes of regaining the Curtis Cup from the grasp of the United States in the June 11 to 13 match at Essex County Club, Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts have taken a knock with the news that Jodi Ewart will be ineligible for selection.
She has decided to turn professional without delay after she completes her four-year degree course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
She will also miss the Ladies British open amateur championship at Ganton Golf Club (June 22 to 26) in her home county of Yorkshire over a course she knows well and would have been one of the title contenders.
Miss Ewart (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Middleham, Yorkshire and a member at Catterick Golf Club, had her 22nd birthday on January 7 this year. She was the English women's stroke-play champion in 2008 and has won several events on the US women's college circuit over the past four years.
Most pundits would have considered her a certainty to be one of the eight-strong Great Britain & Ireland team for this years Curtis Cup match.
Her circumstances changed when, competing as an amateur, she gained playing rights for the 2010 Duramed Futures Tour, America's No 2 ladies pro circuit, at its Qualifying School late last year.
In an E-mail from Albuquerque, Jodi said:
" I have decided to make myself unavailable for Curtis Cup team selection. This was not an easy decision, and one that I have been going back and forth over for the past two months.
" I came to the decision that for my future I need to play in as many Futures Tour events as I can, and playing in the Curtis Cup would make this very difficult.
" I know that there is a huge amount of young talent in Britain at the moment, and what ever GB&I team gets selected they will win. I feel that my experience at St.Andrews (the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course) is one that can never be topped and it's time to give that experience to someone else.
"It was a decision I needed to make by myself and believe that I made the right one for my future. I know people will be disappointed but I hope they understand my very difficult situation."

Any comments? You can E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Ladies Golf Union

launch new logo

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LGU
Following the Annual General Meeting in Cardiff at the end of last month which resulted in the modernisation of the LGU’s operations and structure, a new corporate branding has been launched, with a simple logo aimed at projecting a fresh, modern identity while celebrating the organisation’s 117 years of tradition and history.
The new logo, reminiscent of the famous railway posters so familiar to golf fans, will be introduced at the LGU’s championships and matches throughout the season.
Shona Malcolm, CEO of the Ladies Golf Union, explained:
"The old logo has served the LGU well for the last ten years, but modern marketing and promotional activities demand a clean, visual logo with impact, which must be easy to read and readily identifiable. The new logo was developed with these objectives in mind.
"Early feedback on the change has been good, and in the promotional material which is being drafted, it is clear that the new LGU logo will stand out both on and off the golf course."

Portuguese women's open amateur championship

Anna Arrese from the Costa Brava. Brilliant last round to come through for victory.

Tara Davies (joint 4th) is top British and Irish player

behind 17-year-old Spanish winner Anna Arrese

The 80th Portuguese women's open amateur championship, which ended at Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve today, was a good one for Spain with three players in the top five, including the winner with a brilliant last round, 17-year-old Anna Arrese.
The leading British and Irish performance came from the Welsh champion, Tara Davies (Holyhead) who finished joint fourth.
Arrese birdied most of the par-5 holes in each of her rounds, including the last day when she got a birdie 4 at all four of them, and backed that up with birdies at the short sixth and short 13th. She dropped one shot, at the 10th in halves of 33 and 34 for a 67 - the lowest round of the championship - and a final total of five-under-par 283.
Germany's 20-year-old Lara Katzy from the Berline-Wannsee club, started the final day with a two-shot lead from Tara Davies and, at that stage, was four ahead of joint fourth placed Arrese. Katzy had five birdies in her final par round of 72 - at the fourth, long fifth, eighth, 12th and short 13th - but bogeys at the short sixth, seventh and, in particular, at the 14th and 18th, left the door open for the "flying" Arrese to pip her by a single shot.
Katzy finished on 284 and she was the only other player in the field to get under the testing par of 288 for four circuits of the Christy O'Connor junior-designed course.
Tara Davies lost ground with a closing 75, which included a double bogey 7 at the 12th and bogeys at both the last two holes in halves of 35 and 40 for a 75 and a one-over-par total of 289. Nevertheless, the Welsh champion deserves credit for her performance which looked as if it would earn her a third-place finish until the slips at the 17th and 18th.
Maynooth student Danielle McVeigh, winner of the British open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Aberdeen last year, saved her best for last - a two-under-par 70 to tie for sixth place on 293. Just like Tara, McVeigh was heading for a better score until the tricky closing holes tripped her up. After birdieing the long first, short sixth, eighth and long 11th, she dropped shots at the 14th and short 17th in halves of 33 and 37.
Pamela Pretswell, playing in her first competition since last September's home internationals, admitted before she left for Portugal that a combination of studies for exams at Glasgow University and the severity of the Scottish winter which closed most courses for a long spell, had raised her enthusiasm for a game of golf but left her desperately short of match-practice.
In the event, Pretswell's scores highlighted that deficiency. She was bang in contention with a sub-par opening round of 71 and then gradually slipped down the field, unable to produce consistent good golf because she was simply too rusty. Subsequent rounds of 74, 77 and 74 gave her a total of eight-over-par 296.
Ireland international Gillian O'Leary and English girls champion Holly Clyburn tied for 24th place on 298. Gillian, a previous winner of the tournament, finished with a 74. Holly ended with a 76.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
283 Anna Arrese (Spa) 72 72 72 67.
284 Lara Katzy (Ger) 71 70 71 72.
288 Noemi Jimenez Martin (Spa) 73 70 72 73.
289 Mireia Prat (Spa) 72 76 71 70, Tara Davies (Wal) 71 73 70 75.
293 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 75 71 77 70, Marion Ricordeau (Fra) 72 78 73 70, Klara Spilkova (Cze) 76 74 69 74.
294 Manon Gidali (Fra) 74 73 73 74, Caroline Karsten (Net) 74 71 71 78, Ha Rang Lee (Spa) 75 75 73 71.
295 Jana Niedballa (Ger) 75 79 70 71, Teresa Hermani (Spa) 73 78 72 72, Camilla Hedberg (Spa) 76 77 73 69, Stephanie Kirchmayr (Ger) 75 75 73 72, Nina Holleder (Ger) 73 74 77 71.
296 Laura-Alexandra Stempfle (Ger) 76 75 78 67, Adriana Zwanck (Spa) 74 77 71 74, Marieke Nivard (Net) 75 72 75 74, Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 71 74 77 74, Audrey Riguelle (Fra) 75 77 76 68.
297 Ainhoa Olarra Mujika (Spa) 75 75 72 75, Margot Ivanoff (Fra) 72 78 73 74.
298 Gillian O'Leary (Ire) 76 73 75 74, Perrine Petit (Fra) 74 76 74 74, Holly Clyburn (Eng) 70 78 74 76.
299 Ines Lescudier (Fra) 75 75 73 76, Maria Parron Alferez (Spa) 81 73 74 71.
300 Julie Yang (SKo) 71 78 79 72, Laure Castelain (Fra)79 72 70 79, Manon Molle (Fra) 76 74 75 75, Jess Wilcox (Eng) 75 78 73 74, Luna Sobron Galmes (Spa) 78 71 78 73, Linda Henriksson (Fin) 77 78 73 72.
301 Anna Kramer (Ger) 76 80 73 72, Amy Boulden (Wal) 75 78 72 76, Karolin Lampert (Ger) 73 77 76 75.
302 Merle Kasperek (Ger) 76 73 78 75.
305 Samantha Birks (Wal) 78 75 75 77, Mathilde Cassaignau (Fra) 76 75 78 76, Laura Murray (Sco) 74 76 76 79.

Tara Davies (lying second) is GB&I's

only title hope left in Portugal

Germany's Lara Katzy, winner of the Swiss open amateur title, is hot on the trail of another - the 80th Portuguese women's open amateur championship at the Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve.
Lara is two shots clear at the head of the 41 qualifiers on 229 or better for Sunday's final round in the championship over the Oceanico Christy O'Connor junior course.
The Berlin-Wannsee member has shot rounds of 71, 70 and 71 (35-36) for a four-under-par tally of 212.
Her nearest challenger is Welsh champion, Tara Davies from Holyhead, who is not in the GB&I Curtis Cup short leet for the June match in America. But the selectors did not rule out anyone not on the preliminary list forcing their way into contention with an outstanding performance - and that's what stocky Tara seems to be doing.
Tara, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency in last year's women's home internationals at Irvine GC, is only two shots off the lead with scores of 71, 73 and 70. Her two-under-par round today started with a bogey at the long first and finished with a bogey at the 18th. But in between Tara had four birdies - at the short third, the 10th, the long 11th and the long 16th, in halves of 36-34.
Glasgow University student Pamela Pretswell - winner of the Swiss open amateur title in 2007 - lost ground on Katzy and Davies with a 77 respectively and is in joint 10th place on 222 - 10 shots behind the leader.
Pretswell made too many mistakes in halves of 38 and 39. Her only birdie came at the long fifth after bogeys at the long first and short third had set the tone for her round.
British open stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) - another Curtis Cup "named" player - also went backwards with a 77 for 223 and a share of 15th place. The Maynooth student had a disastrous outward half of 41 with a double bogey 6 at the eighth and single shots dropped at the short third, the short sixth and the ninth.
Coming home, Danielle got her solitary birdie of the day at the 12th but she dropped a shot at a short hole for the third time on the day, at the par-3 13th, in coming home in 36.
Compatriot Gillian O'Leary, a former winner of the Portuguese title, is in joint 22nd place after a 75 for 224. She had two double-bogey 7s - at the long fifth and the long 17th. She did birdie two of the other long holes, the first and the 11th, and also the par-4 10th but Gillian also shed further shots at the short sixth and 14th in halgves od 38 and 37.
Welsh international Amy Boulden - on the GB&I Curtis Cup list - matched the par of 72 to rise to joint 26th place on 225 - a good performance, considering she was three over par at the turn after a double bogey at the short third and a bogey at the ninth. Amy birdied the long 11th, the 12th and the 15th for a splendid inward half of three-under-par 33.
England teenager Jess Wilcox (Blankney) had a 73 for 226, which leaveds her in joint 28th place. She birdie the short third, seventh and 10th but bogeyed the fourth, eighth, ninth and short 17th.
Laura Murray (Alford), who completes Scotland's representation of two in a championship once won by a Scot, the late Marjory (Fowler) Ferguson, is alongside Wilcox on 226 after double bogeys at the second and sixth in an outward six-over-par 42. Laura played a lot better on the inward half - seven pars and birdies at the long 11th and long 16th for 34 home.

Third-round totals
Oceanico O'Connor jun Course
Par 216 (3x72)
212 Lara Katzy (Germany) 71 70 71 (35-36).
214 Tara Davies (Wales) 71 73 70 (36-34).
215 Noemi Jimenez Martin (Spain) 73 70 72.
216 Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 74 71 71, Anna Arrese (Spain) 72 72 72.
219 Klara Spilkova (Czech Republic) 76 74 69, Mireia Prat (Spain) 72 76 71.
220 Manon Gidali (France) 74 73 73.
221 Laure Castelain (France) 79 72 70.
222 Adriana Zwanck (Spain) 74 77 71, Marieke Nivard (Netherlands) 75 72 75, Pamela Pretswell (Scotland) 71 74 77 (38-39), Ainhoa Olarra Mujika (Spain) 75 75 72, Holly Clyburn (England) 70 78 74.
223 Ha Rang Lee (Spain) 75 75 73, Margot Ivanoff (France) 72 78 73, Teresa Hermani (Spain) 73 78 72, Marion Ricordeau (France) 782 78 73, Stephanie Kirchmayr (Germany) 75 75 73, Ines Lescudier (France) 75 75 73, Danielle McVeigh (Ireland) 75 71 77 (41-36).
224 Perrine Petit (France) 74 76 74, Nina Holleder (Germany) 73 74 77, Gillian O'Leary (Ireland) 76 73 75 (38-37), Jana Niedballa (Germany) 75 79 70.
225 Amy Boulden (Wales) 75 78 72 (39-33), Manon Molle (France) 76 74 75.
226 Karolin Lampert (Germany) 73 77 76, Jess Wilcox (England) (37-36) 75 78 73, Laura Murray (Scotland) 74 76 76 (42-34), Camilla Hedberg (Spain) 76 77 73.
227 Luna Sobron Galmes (Spain) 78 71 78, Merle Kasperek (Germany) 76 73 78.
228 Samantha Birks (Wales) 78 75 75 (37-38), Maria Parron Alferez (Spain) 81 73 74, Linda Henriksson (Finland) 77 78 73, Julie Yang (South Korea) 71 78 79, Audrey Riguelle (France) 75 77 76.
229 Laura-Alexandra Stempfle (Germany) 76 75 78, Anna-Lena Kramer (Germany) 76 80 73, Mathilde Cassaignau (France) 76 75 78.
MISSED THE CUT
230 Chloe Leurquim (Belgium) 78 74 78, Ariane Provot (France) 72 79 79.
231 Marrion Duvernay (France) 77 80 74, Ines Diaz-Negrete (Spain) 77 77 77.
232 Rocio Sanchez (Spain) 79 77 76, Quirine Louise Eijkenboom (Germany) 72 80 80.
233 Clemence Abrahamian (Francer) 78 77 78.
234 Ann-Kathrin Lindner (Germany) 78 78 78, Natalia Escuriola Martinez (Spain) 76 76 82, Lourdes Lopez Caballa (Spain) 73 81 80, Maria Dunne (Ireland) 76 81 77.
235 Katherine O'Connor (Wales) 75 82 78, Lea Charpier (France) 77 78 80.
236 Marion Kaddouche (France) 77 81 78, Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) 76 77 83, Lena Schaffner (Germany) 79 81 76.
237 Emilie Piquot (France) 79 77 81, Elizabeth Haycock (England) 74 77 86, Justine Dreher (France) 76 80 81, Rachel Drummond (England) 82 81 74.
238 Victoria Scherer (Germany) 81 78 79, Sanna Nuutiern (Finland) 84 75 79, Joana Silva Pinto (Portugal) 84 78 76, Joana Yanez (Spain) 81 80 77.
239 Larissa Skodda (Germany) 78 80 81, Isabel Gabsa (Germany) 83 77 79.
240 Antonia Scherer (Germany) 81 80 79, Vicki Troeltsch (Germany) 81 80 79, Gemma Bradbury (Wales) 81 81 78.
241 Jenny Haggblom (Finland) 81 81 79. Aedin Murphy (Ireland) 79 82 80.
242 Victoria Bradshaw (Ireland) 74 82 86, Justine Sicot (France) 82 78 82.
243 Sarah Cunningham (Ireland) 87 81 75, Joelle Van Baarle (Belgium) 79 90 74.
245 Rebecca Cunha Ferreira (Portugal) 84 80 81, Maria Elena Rodrigues (Spain) 79 85 81, Irene Calva Sanz (Spain) 86 81 78.
246 Laura Lorenzen (Germany) 80 85 81, Susan Ribeira (Portugal) 79 87 80, Andrea Vilarasau Amoros (Spain) 82 85 79.
247 Magda Carrilho (Portugal) 81 80 86, Caroline Larsson (Sweden) 83 85 79, Ciara Butler (Ireland) 85 77 85.
249 Louise Mernagh (Ireland) 84 83 82.
251 Mariana Martins (Portugal) 85 78 88.
252 Sofia Camara (Portugal) 80 87 85.
No show: Laura Chemarin (France) 76 86 -.
No return: Marta Lampreta (Portugal) 89 NR.

Welsh champion Tara Davies (Holyhead) is three shots off the pace in Portugal (image by Cal Carson Agency, click on to enlarge).

Tara Davies leads British & Irish challenge in Portugal

Welsh champion Tara Davies (Holyhead) leads the British & Irish challenge into the weekend's final 36 holes of the 80th Portuguese women's open amateur championship at Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve.
Tara has shot 71 and 73 for level par 144 and is joint third, three shots behind the leader, Germany's Lara Katzy (71-70), who had an eagle 3 at the par-5 11th, and one behind second-placed Spaniard, Noemi Jimenez Martin (no relation to European Tour player Miguel Angel Jimenez) (73-70).
Sharing third place with the Welsh player is another Spanish competitor, Anna Arrese (72-72).
Davies was drifting out of the picture after an outward half of 40, which included a double bogey 7 at the long fifth, but she came storming back into the fray with an inward half of 33, studded with birdies at the long 11th, the 15th, the short 17th and the 18th. Only one shot dropped on that inward charge, a bogey at the 12th.
Curtis Cup team contender Pamela Pretswell from Scotland is sharing fifth place on 145 after rounds of 71 and 74.
The Bothwell Castle player and Glasgow University student has something in common with Katzy who is a member of the Berlin-Wannsee club. They have both won the Swiss women's open amateur title, Pretswell in 2008 and Katzy last year.
The German has been very steady with rounds of 71 and 70 over the par-72 Oceanico O'Connor jun course for a three-under-par tally of 141.
But for a potentially depressing start today of a bogey at the second and double bogey 5 at the short third, Pretswell could have been breathing down Katzy's neck.
She covered her last 15 holes in two-under-par figures, with birdies at the long fifth and long 11th and just one more bogey, at the ninth, in halves of 39 and 35.
Danielle McVeigh, the tall Royal Co Down player who won the British stroke-play at Royal Aberdeen last summer, is in seventh place with scores of 75 and 73. She reeled off 10 straight pars before moving two under on the day with birdies at the long 11th and short 13th. A shot dropped at the short 17th saw her home in 35th for a one-under-par 71.
Gillian O'Leary, the winner of the Portuguese title in 2004, is tied for 13th place on 149 with a 76 and a 73. She did well to recover from bogeys at the first, second, third and fifth, birdieing the short sixth, ninth and long 16th. Gillian had a double boghey 7 at the 16th in her first-round 76.
Laura Murray (Alford), the only other Scot in the field, had her double bogey at the opposite end of her round.
Needing to par the last two holes for a repeat of her opening 74, which would have put her in joint 11th place, Murray squandered five shots at the short 17th and probably did well to par the last for 39 home and a share of 17th position with 11 other players.
The leading 40 players and ties after Saturday's third round will qualify for Sunday's final round. After 36 holes, the leading 43 players are on 153 or better.
Leading second-round totals
Par 144 (2x72)
Figures in brackets are nine-hole tallies (par 36-36) for selected players
141 Lara Katzy (Ger) 71 70 (34-36).
143 Noemi Jimenez Martin (Spa) 73 70.
144 Tara Davies (Wal) 71 73 (40-33), Anna Arrese (Spa) 72 72
145 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 71 74 (39-35), Caroline Karsten (Net) 74 71.
146 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 75 71 (36-35).
147 Manon Gidali (Fra) 74 73, Marieke Nivard (Net) 75 72, Nina Holleder (Ger) 73 74.
148 Mireia Prat (Spa) 72 76, Holly Clyburn (Eng) 70 78.
149 Julie Yang (SKo) 71 78, Luna Sobron Gaimes (Spa) 78 71, Gillian O'Leary (Ire) 76 73 (38-35), Merie Kasperek (Ger) 76 73.
150 Laura Murray (Sco) 74 76 (37-39), Manon Molle (Fra) 76 74, Ha Rang Lee (Spa) 75 75, Karolin Lampert (Ger) 73 77, Margot Ivanoff (Fra) 72 78, Ainhoa Olarra Mujika (Spa) 75 75, Ines Lescudier (Fra) 75 75, Perrine Petit (Fra) 74 76, Marion Ricordeau (Fra) 72 78, Kiara Spilkova (Cze) 76 74, Stephanie Kirchmayr (Ger) 75 75.
151 Elizabeth Haycock (Eng) 74 77 (38-39), Laura-Alexandra Stempfle (Ger) 76 75, Laure Castelain (Fra) 79 72, Adriana Zwanck (Spa) 74 77, Ariane Provot (Fra) 72 79, Teresa Hermani (Spa) 73 78, Mathile Cassaignau (Fra) 76 75.
152 Natalia Escurioia Martinez (Spa) 76 76, Audrey Riquelle (Fra) 75 77, Chloe Leurquim (Bel) 78 74, Quirine Louise Eijkenboom (Ger) 72 80.
153 Samantha Birks (Wal) 78 75 (37-38), Amy Boulden (Wal) 75 78 (38-40), Jess Wilcox (Eng) 75 78 (38-40), Camilla Hedberg (Spa) 76 77, Chrisje De Vries (Net) 76 77 (jt 39th).
Selected scores:
156 Victoria Bradshaw (Ire) 74 82 (40-42) (jt 51st).
157 Maria Dunne (Ire) 76 81 (40-41), Katherine O'Connor (Wal) 75 82 (38-44) (jt 57th).
161 Aedin Murphy (Ire) 79 82 (42-40) (jt 67th)
162 Gemma Bradbury (Wal) 81 81 (42-39), Ciara Butler (Ire) 85 77 (39-38) (jt 72nd).
167 Louise Mernagh (Ire) 84 83 (41-42) (jt 83rd)
168 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) 87 81 (40-41) (jt 87th).

Meghan Stasi (left) and Donna Mummert after their victory at Orangebrook.

Stasi and Mummert win Orange Blossom Tour

International better-ball at the 24th in final

There was a disappointingly small field for the last event on the Orange Blossom Tour for lady amateurs in Florida - the 64th International better-ball tournament at Orangebrook Golf & Country Club, Hollywood (Floriday's Hollywood, not Hollywood, Los Angeles!).
But if it was short on quantity, it was certainly not low on quality and the final, which went to the 24th, will be the talk of Florida women's amateur golf for a long time.
In it the No 2 seeds, Curtis Cup player Meghan Stasi and Donna Mummert beat the last of the six match-play qualifiers, Alli Jarrett and Laura Coble at the 24th. What a marathon! What a match!
Jarrett and Coble had beaten the top seeds, Diane Lang and Maggie Wedeer 3 and 2 in the semi-finals.
Meghan, who played in the winning US Curtis Cup team at the Old Course, St Andrews a couple of years ago, won this better-ball pairs tournament with a different partner last year. Her partner this week, Donna Mummert, was the manager of the 2008 US Curtis Cup team.
The first play-off hole proved to be a reflection of the first 18 holes with Meghan sticking her second shot to 7 feet from the hole, leaving a short birdie putt. In turn, Alli drained a 25 foot putt for birdie to put the pressure back Meghan. Meghan held off the pressure of the situation and made the putt.
The fierce battle continued until the 24th hole, where once again Meghan shoed her merit as the defending champion and sank a 5ft putt for victory.
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Alli Jarrett & Laura Coble (No 6 seeds) bt Diane Lang & Maggie Weder (No 1 seeds) 3 and 2.
Meghan Stasi & Donna Mummert (No 2 seeds) bt Mary Hanyak & Marianne Springer (No 5 seeds) 6 and 5.
FINAL
Stasi & Mummert bt Jarrett & Coble at the 24th.

LGU presentations to retiring Gillian Kirkwood and Brigid McCaw

Gillian Kirkwood and Brigid McCaw with their presentation sketches at the Ladies Golf Union annual general meeting in Cardiff, given in recognition of their hard work over the past four years. Gillian was retiring as LGU vice-chairman, chairman of the international selection committee, etc while Brigid was standing down as LGU chairman.
Gillian will continue to act as a referee at the majority of LGU and SLGA championships in 2010 and beyond.

Pamela Pretswell (left) and Laura Murray, a foursomes pairing for Scotland in the Women's Home Internationals at Wrexham (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Pamela Pretswell, Laura Murray off to Portugal championship

International team-mates Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Laura Murray (Alford) are the only Scottish entrants for the Portuguese Ladies Amateur Championship which tees off over the Oceanico O'Connor junior course at Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve on Thursday.
Of the maximum field of 90, here is the breakdown for the combined total of 19 Scotland-England-Ireland-Wales entries:
SCOTLAND
Laura Murray, Pamela Pretswell.
ENGLAND
Holly Clyburn, Jess Wilcox, Elizabeth Haycock, Rachel Drummond.
IRELAND
Danielle McVeigh, Aedin Murphy, Gillian O'Learly, Sarah Cunningham, Louise Memagh, Victoria Bradshaw, Maria Dunne, Ciara Butler.
WALES
Katherine O'Connor, Tara Davies, Amy Boulden, Gemma Bradbury, Samantha Birks.
ON WAITING LIST
11 Lucy Simpson (Ireland).
14 Caroline Murphy Ireland).
15 Dana Greenslade (England).

Student Pretswell's first tournament since Home Internationals

last September at Irvine Golf Club

It will Glasgow University student Pamela Pretswell's first tournament since the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Golf Club in September.
"It's been a long wait over the winter to get back to playing again so I am really looking forward to playing in the 'Portuguese,' especially since I have been extremely busy at university so far this year, now that I am in my Junior Honours year at Glasgow," said Pamela who flies out to the Algarve tomorrow (Tuesday).
"I have had a lot of university work lately and have been very fortunate that this event fits in well with my hectic timetable! It is only Laura Murray and myself from Scotland who are playing in Portugal and I think it's fair to say we are both looking forward to playing some golf in some warm weather again - it's been tough preparing for the 2010 season with the weather we have had!
"I was unable to take part in the SLGA Winter Training Camps (the squad travels out to Spain in November and Febuary) because of university commitments, so I spent a week in Portugal the first week in January when I was able to practise and prepare well for the season ahead - I was lucky enough to get some pretty good weather when I was over - it was a little better than playing in the snow in Scotland."

Orange Blossom Tour of Florida for Lady Amateurs

64th INTERNATIONAL BETTER-BALL FOURSOMES
Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood, Florida

QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 72
71 Diane Lang (Westin Hills) & Maggie Weder (Ironwood).
72 Meghan Stasi (Coral Ridge) & Donna Mummert (Copper Hill).
76 Tony Cisle (Hidden Hills) & Debra McNichols (Riviera).
76 Kristin Milligan-Zullo (Shadow Wood) & Jan Phillips (Calusa Pines).
76 Mary Hanyak (PGA Golf Club) & Marianne Springer (Mayacoo).
76 Alli Jarrett (Shadowhawk) & Laura Coble (Augusta Country Club)

MATCH-PLAY FIRST ROUND
Top seeds: Diane Lang & Maggie Weder - BYE

Alli Jarrett & Laura Coble bt Tonya Cisle & Debra McNichols 5 and 4.
Mary Hanyak & Marianne Springer bt Kristin Milligan-Zullo & Jan Phillips 1 hole.

No 2 seeds: Meghan Stasi & Donna Mummert - BYE

SEMI-FINALS (on Tuesday)
Lang & Weder v Jarrett & Coble.
Hanyak & Springer v Stasi & Mummert

Alexis Thompson (left) and Taylor Collins with their trophies at Coral Ridge Country Club, Florida today.

Alexis Thompson retains

Doherty/Jones Challenge

Cup in Florida

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Rated by many to be a better, more consistent player than Michelle Wie was at her age, 14-year-old Alexis Thompson from Coral Springs, Florida just keeps on winning!
The Junior Orange Bowl girls championship winner last month, Alexis successfully defended the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup - won by Catriona Matthew in 1992 - on the final day of the third event in the Orange Blossom Tour for female amateurs in Florida.
Alexis repeated last year's victory in the match-play event by beating fellow American and former US college circuit player Taylor Collins by 3 and 1.
In Friday's semi-finals, Collins beat Scotland's Under-21 champion for the past two years, Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
Thompson, a certainty to be named shortly in the US Curtis Cup team to play GB&I at Essex County Club, Boston in June, had beaten Martha Leach, the US women's mid-amateur champion who had beaten Pitreavie's Louise Kenney (with a birdie at the 18th hole) in the first round and Craigielaw's Jane Turner (Robert Gordon University) (by 3 and 2) in the second semi-final.
Stirling student Harriet Beasley, a member of the Woburn club, lost out at the 20th in a thrilling First Flight final today against American Jaye Marie Green who beat Louise Kenney by 4 and 3 in the semi-finals (Jaye, left, and Harriet are pictured above, courtesy of Coral Ridge Country Club).
But one of the Stirling students did collect a winner's trophy at this prestigious tournament. Rachel Cassidy from Dublin won the Second Flight title on Friday when she had a resounding 5 and 4 win over Connie Isler in the final.
The Senior Championship Final today was won by Kim Eaton, the No 3 seed, who won by one hole against the No 9 qualifier in the over-50s category, Lisa Schlesinger.
RESULTS OF FINALS
Players from US unless stated
DOHERTY/JONES CHALLENGE CUP
Championship
Alexis Thompson bt Taylor Collins 3 and 1.
First Flight
Jaye Marie Green bt Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) at 20th.
Second Flight
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island, Dublin) bt Connie Isler 5 and 4.
Seniors Championship
Kim Eaton bt Lisa Schlesinger 1 hole.

Seniors First Flight

Karen Feree bt Therese Quinn 1 hole.

Seniors Second Flight

Debbie Mooksang bt Laura Carson at 19th

Seniors Third Flight

Leslie Henry bt Clate Aydlett 2 and 1.