Scroll down to see the original critical comment from "Tam Pepper," alleging bias towards Carly Booth in Kirkwoodgolf's reports.
We invited our readers to give us their view. Here are some responses:

From Michele Thomson:

Firstly, if you read this site regularly you will find that anyone who achieves something, whether it is big or small, gets a mention. Carly won both the Under-21s stroke-play and the Under-18s match-play in such a short space of time, I think she should be applauded on this and not criticised.
Being only just turned 15 and achieving what she has, I think is amazing. Also for someone to say that the competition was weak…..Carly still had to go out and win!!!
Even if the players that were missing were playing, I still feel they would have found it tough to beat an outstanding 64 with only 25 putts!
Give the girl some credit and stop trying to put her down all the time.
The comment that Carly is unpopular with her fellow golfers is very wrong. I would like to hear where Mr Pepper got this from.

Michele Thomson

From Laura Walker:

I do not think any of the reports on Kirkwoodgolf are biased.
I feel that what Carly has achieved, and at such a young age, should be appreciated. If this person is concerned with the welfare of Carly, are they not aware that she may, in fact, read their comments and find them hurtful.
These 'good' players referred to didn't play in these events because they, like Carly, have sat down and prioritised what they see are the best schedules to suit them.
The girls' decisions to play in whatever they like and the successes they achieve should not be criticised by anyone.
The comment stating the (Auchterarder) course was 'easy' and the (Under-21) field weak must annoy a lot of people.
I am so sorry to see and hear the sad, catty nature this game has morphed Scottish girls golf into.

Laura Walker

From Alasdair Malcolm:

I'm not quite sure what issue 'Tam Pepper' has with the reporting of Carly Booth's achievements on the website.
There is no doubt that her achievements so far have been outstanding, beginning with her first club championship win at her home club some four or five years ago, aged 11 if I remember correctly. The girl has moved from level to level ever since with much success and it does not seem unreasonable to describe her as arguably the best young talent in the country at present.
The accusation levelled at the site of being disrespectful to her peers could equally be levelled at Mr Pepper with his demeaning "analysis" of Carly's recent wins.
What difference does it make how long the course is. A player still has to get the ball round it and in the hole with some flare to score a 64, especially in competition conditions.
Likewise the argument of players being unavailable is wholly irrelevant - give the girl credit for beating the field in the competition rather than coming up with some 'but what would have happened if so and so had been playing.'
Let's be honest. Jessie Valantine or Helen Holm would probably have given Carly a good game in their day, but they weren't available this year, so should that take away from her achievements?
Contrary to the accusation levelled at Scottishgolfview.com and Kirkwoodgolf, it has always been my impression that due credit is given to the achievements of ALL individuals and teams featured in the reports.
In an area (amateur golf) which is largely ignored by the national media these days, I would suggest that the two sites provide a much needed forum for followers of the amateur game and Mr Pepper should perhaps consider being a bit more supportive of the forum rather than venting his displeasure of the manner of reporting Carly Booth's achievements in the way he did.
My first impression, be it right or wrong, is that the accuser has a problem with the individual being reported on more than the manner of reporting.

Alasdair Malcolm


From Tam Hendry:

I am new to your sites and find them incredibly informative about the amateur game. I am now a keen follower. Please keep up the very good work and information you provide.

Tam Hendry

From Mandy Macaulay:

Think I share the same view as Mr Malcolm in that Tam Pepper seems to have more of a problem with the subject of the report rather than the manner in which the report is written.
I read Scottishgolfview.com website every single day and I am readily aware that those who do well are highly praised, and those who don't meet their usual standards are slated for it.
To me this is what gives the website its character and what makes me log on every day.
If you don't like the style, Mr 'Pepper,' then log on elsewhere.

Mandy Macaulay

If YOU have any comments to make, critical or otherwise, E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

No Americans in semi-finals of HSBC tournament

MARIA HJORTH LONE EUROPEAN

IN LAST FOUR OF WOMEN'S WORLD MATCH-PLAY

Only one European has made it through to the last four of the HSBC women's world professional match-play championship at New Rochelle, New York State - Sweden's big-hitting Maria Hjorth, pictured right, courtesy of the Ladies European Tour, a graduate of Stirling University in the early years of its golf scholarship scheme.

"Mimi," as she is known on the LPGA Tour, will play the Japanese ace, Ai Miyasato, for a place in the final against either Seon Hwa Lee or Mi Hyun Kim.
The winner of the final will receive $500,000 from the $2 million purse. The runner-up will get $300,000. Third place is worth $200,000 and fourth $150,000. The losing quarter-finalists received $50,000 and the third-round losers got $25,000. Here are Saturday's results:

THIRD ROUND

Ai Miyazato bt Christina Kim 2 and 1.
Amy Hung bt Carin Koch at 19th.
Seon Hwa Lee bt Laura Davies 2 and 1.
Lindsey Wright beat Jeong Jang 1 hole.
Mi Hyun Kim bt Rachel Hetherington 3 and 2.
Jee Young Lee bt Laura Diaz 2 holes.
Maria Hjorth beat Angela Stanford at 19th.
Meaghan Francella bt Pat Hurst 2 and 1.

QUARTER-FINALS

Miyazato bt Hung 1 hole.
Hjorth bt Francella 4 and 3.
Seon Hwa Lee bt Wright 3 and 2.
Mi Hyun Kim bt Jee Young Lee 3 and 2.

SEMI-FINALS (on Sunday)
Miyazato v Hjorth.
Seon Hwa Lee v Mi Hyun Kim

We invite readers to make comments on our service and golf, so we are bound to publish them whether we agree with them or not ...

"Tam Pepper" comments:

See you have begun where you left off before. You are being disrespectful to other Scottish girls and will, at the same time, do nothing for Carly Booth's popularity which you helped destroy a time ago with your biased reporting.
The girl has got it back and you seem intent on taking her backward.
Let the girl play and do the best she can without you putting more pressure on her among her peers.
Let us analyse the Under-21 and Under-18 competitions. Very good girls were missing from both competitions. The Under-21 one was played over Carly's home course. The distance was 5,500 yards. Hardly makes it hard.
The British was totally different. I suppose that it will be Carly in Wales taking on the rest of the teams and the other Scottish girls will just be a support act. They won't have much to offer to you.
=================================================

ANY COMMENTS? Is Tom Pepper right? Are we "biased" in our reporting of Carly Booth winning the Scottish Under-21 championship by nine strokes and then completing the double by winning the Under-18 title, the first time this has been done since 1998.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
E-mail your views to colin@scottishgolfview.com

BOOK REVIEW

DAVID LEADBETTER'S QUICK

TIPS CAN BENEFIT

EVERY GOLFER

David Leadbetter is one of the superstars of golf coaching, credited with helping Nick Faldo to several Major tournament wins and continuing to coach the world’s best players such as Ernie Els and Michelle Wie.
“LEADBETTER’S QUICK TIPS" is a superbly accessible collection of mini-lessons that anyone can benefit from, whatever their golfing standard.
Derived from Leadbetter’s column in the US Golf Digest Magazine, it is lavishly illustrated with colour photographs and graphics.
The tips include:
*Longer and straighter drives.
*Consistency from the fairway.
*More accurate iron play.
*Better bunker shots.
*Making more putts.
David Leadbetter’s other books include the best-selling “The Golf Swing,” “100% Golf” and “Lessons from the Golf Greats.”
++“Leadbetter’s Quick Tips” will be published in hardback by Aurum Press on July 30, priced £12.99

VIKKI 74 IN WIND AND RAIN AT SYRACUSE

Vikki Laing had a three-over-par 74 on a day of wind and rain for the first round of the Duramed Futures Tour event, the Alliance Bank Classic at The Links at Erie Village golf course, Syracuse in New York State.
Vikki had halves of 38 and 36 over the 6,206yd course against the par of 36-35.
She was in joint 34th position, four shots behind a group of seven sharing the lead on 70.

LEADERBOARD
Par 71 (36-35)
70 Audra Burks (Florida) 35-35, Yeon Joo Lee (South Korea) 35-35, Eunjung Yi (California) 36-34, Brandi Jackson (South Carolina) 35-35-, Onnarin Sattayabanphot (Thailand) 37-33, Cortney Reno (Michigan) 34-36, Alissa Kuczka (Arizona) 37-33.
Other scores:
74 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 38-36, Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 37-37 (jt 34th).
77 Polly Willett (London) 40-37 (jt 81st).
82 Natasha Morgan (South Wales) (am) 40-42.

SORENSTAM, OCHOA AND CREAMER
TAKE TUMBLE IN WORLD MATCH-PLAY

No wonder golf tournament sponsors don't like match-play!
Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright knocked out Annika Sorenstam by 3 and 2 in the second round of the HSBC women's world professional match-play championship at Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle in New York State.
Then the world's No 1, Lorena Ochoa, was beaten on the last green by Meaghan Francella and Maria Hjorth beat Paula Creamer.
Catriona Matthew (first round) and Janice Moodie (second round) are also on the sidelines.

FIRST ROUND

Pat Hurst bt Heather Young 3 & 2
Stacy Prammanasudh bt Trish Johnson 3 & 2
Nicole Castrale bt Jimin Kang (Kor) 5 & 4
Jee Young Lee (Kor) bt Karin Sjodin (Swe) 1 hole.

Angela Park bt Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 1 hole.
Jeong Jang (Kor) bt Marisa Baena 3 & 2
Julieta Granada (Par) lost to Reilley Rankin 3 & 2
Brittany Lincicome lost to Carin Koch (Swe) 4 & 3

Sherri Steinhauer bt Na On Min (Jpn) 5 & 4
Ai Miyazato (Jpn) bt Becky Morgan (Wal) 5 & 4
Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) bt Diana D'Alessio 1 hole.
Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) lost to Janice Moodie (Sco) at 19th

Sarah Lee bt Il Mi Chung (Kor) 3 & 1
Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor) bt Wendy Doolan (Aus) 5 & 4
Angela Stanford bt Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) at 19th
Juli Inkster lost to Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 4 & 3

Catriona Matthew (Sco) lost to Maria Hjorth (Swe) at 23rd
Paula Creamer bt Giulia Sergas (Ita) 4 & 3
Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) lost to Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 2 & 1
Suzann Pettersen (Nor) bt In-Bee Park (Kor) at 19th

Laura Davies (Eng) bt Michele Redman 1 hole.
Morgan Pressel lost to Birdie Kim (Kor) 2 holes.
Natalie Gulbis lost to Christina Kim 3 & 2
Se Ri Pak (Kor) bt Beth Bader 2 holes.

Young Kim (Kor) bt In Kyung Kim (Kor) 1 hole
Cristie Kerr lost to Amy Hung (Tha) 5 & 4
Brittany Lang Lost to Lindsey Wright (Aus) 4 & 3
Annika Sorenstam (Swe) bt Katherine Hull (Aus) at 20th

Laura Diaz bt Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 2 & 1
Karrie Webb (Aus) lost to Charlotte Mayorkas 1 hole.
Meena Lee (Kor) lost to Meaghan Francella 2 & 1
Lorena Ochoa (Mex) bt Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 6 & 5

SECOND ROUND

Stanford bt Choi 5 and 4.
Hjorth bt Creamer 1 hole.
Kim bt Lee 2 and 1.
Hetheringham bt Pettersen 1 hole.

S H Lee bt Moodie 5 and 4.
Davies beat B Kim 2 and 1.
Miyazato bt Steinhauser 4 and 2.
C Kim bt Se Ri Pak 4 and 2.

Koch bt Rankin
Hung bt Y Kim 1 hole.
Jang bt Park 2 and 1.
Wright bt Sorenstam 3 and 2.

J Y Lee bt Castrale 4 and 2.
Mayorkas bt Diaz at 21st.
Hurst bt Prammanasudh 3 and 1.
Francella bt Ochoa 1 hole.

THIRD-ROUND TIES

Top half of draw
Francella v Hurst
Hjorth v Stanford.
Hung v Koch
C Kim v Miyazato.

Lower half of draw
Diaz v J Lee
Hetheringham v M Kim
Wright v Jang
Davies v S Lee

Elizabeth Bennett wins SE Divisional Championship

ELGA Press Release

Elizabeth Bennett (Brockenhurst Manor), pictured right, won the ELGA S. E. Championship with a 2 and 1 victory over fellow Hampshire colleague Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) in a fine tussle at West Sussex Golf Club.

On a blustery day Nicola Race (Chelmsford) led the qualifiers on 145, whilst Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) had an Albatross on the par 5 first, holing her second with a 7 wood, and just missing another on the par 4 second.

The Intermediate Trophy was won by Hannah Burke of Mid-Herts with 151 gross, whilst the County Shield was retained by Hampshire.

Coronation Foursomes Area Final

Some of the winners at the Coronation Foursomes Area final at Murrayfield on Wednesday

Back row: Winners Lothianburn - Karina Matson and Elspeth Adair either side of Carol Foggo (Lady Captain Murrayfield); Chrystine Hibbert, Mortonhall ; Susan Martin and Sheila Thomson, Eyemouth
Front row: Careen Sinclair and Nicky Bell, Murrayfield ; Christian Boorman, Mortonhall, Sheila Hunter Lady Secretary Murrayfield

Lothianburn, represented by Karina Matson and Elspeth Adair, won the East Division area final of the Coronation Foursomes at Murrayfield on Wednesday. They had 34 Stableford points, two more than runners up Eyemouth, represented by Susan Martin and Sheila Thomson.

Leading Scores
1st Matson/Adair (Lothianburn) 34 pts
2nd Martin/Thomson (Eyemouth) 32 pts
3rd Sinclair/Bell (Murrayfield) 32 pts
4th Boorman/Hibbert (Mortonhall) 31 pts

IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

KATE GALLAGHER CROWED LANCOME IRISH
GIRLS CLOSE CHAMPION AT BALLINASLOE

Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) defeated defending champion Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) to be crowned Lancome Irish girls close champion at Ballinasloe, Galway today.
Gallagher started brightly and struck the ball masterfully in the outward nine to always hold the advantage. Kate took a comanding lead of three holes through the 12th.
Meadow dug deep to be just one hole down on the 18th tee. The defending champion growing in confidence then daringly threw caution to the wind and her approach shot to the 18th green clipped a tree and, unfortunately for the 15-year-old, never returned to the ground. The match was duly conceeded and Gallagher was crowned Lancome Irish Girls Close Champion for her first time.
Earlier in the day, Meadow was two down to Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) through 11 but proceeded to win the 12th, 13th, 14 th and 15th holes to go two up and close out the match on the 17th green.
In the second semi-final, Gallagher birdied the 18 to square her match against Sarah Cunninngham (Ennis) before winning with a birdie at the 21st.
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) defeated Niamh O'Connor (Worplesdon) 3 and 2 to win the Pat Fletcher Trophy (Plate).
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL - Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) 2 holes.
SEMI-FINALS – Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 2 and 1; Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) at 21st.
PLATE FINAL
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) bt Niamh O'Connor (Worplesdon) 3 and 2.
SEMI FINALS – Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) bt Caroline Murphy (Grange) 1 hole; Niamh O'Connor (Worplesdon) bt Nicola Robinson (Malone) 1 hole.
==============================================================
The Irish girls' home international team is announced to play at Southerndown Golf Club from August 8 to 10 is:
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor)
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis)
Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris)
Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush)
Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)
Aedin Murphy (Carlow)

Reserves:
1 Holli Snelling (Killarney)
2 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion)
3 Ciara Walsh (Headfort)

Captain: Rose Doyle
Manager: Anita McCaw

McHardy and McIntosh Clinch Junior Masters Opener

From the SGU website:-

---

Kate McIntosh with Dunfermline Building Society's Alan Mitchell Junior Masters regional final (south) winner Arran McHardy Host club Peebles trio of qualifiers (l-r): Ailsa Bain, Jordan Lamb and Daniel Flannery Runner-up Fraser Orr (Woll GC)

Prestonfield’s Arran McHardy and Broomieknowe’s Kate McIntosh took the silverware in the opening regional final of the 2007 Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters at Peebles yesterday (19 July).

As the eyes of the world focused on Carnoustie, Scotland’s budding young stars set on the trail for a place in the final at Gleneagles as the country’s biggest junior handicap event got underway on the scenic Borders course.

Nine handicapper McHardy was out in the second group of the morning and the Lothians youngster amassed an impressive 40 stableford points to take an early lead and his total could not be caught all day. Borders boy Fraser Orr (Woll GC) almost matched him however his 39 point tally was good enough to seal second spot and a well deserved place in the final. Glen’s Ross Wilson enjoyed a fine round with 37 points to take third place, edging out the host club’s Daniel Flannery.

The scoring was impressive in the girls section despite the afternoon rain and it was Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) who raced to victory with an excellent 38 points, playing off a 16 handicap. She won by two stableford points from Junior Masters regular Fiona Milne (Glen), whilst Peebles rising young star Ailsa Bain took third place by virtue of a countback from Keren Ward (Glen) and Tara McTaggart (Minto), who unfortunately just missed out on a place in the final.

The leading eight boys and four girls from the South Regional Final will take up their place in the illustrious Grand Final at Gleneagles on Sunday 7 October.

Dunfermline Building Society – sponsors of the Junior Masters – are investing a fantastic £100,000 in Scottish junior golf over the next two years, giving boys and girls of all abilities the opportunity to compete in a national event in communities across Scotland.

Alan Mitchell, General Manager (HR) for Dunfermline Building Society, said:

“This was a fantastic start to our sponsorship of the Junior Masters and congratulations to all the players who qualified to play in today’s regional final. There was some great young talent on show and the future of Scottish golf looks in good hands.”

“We are delighted to working with the Scottish Golf Union at the grass roots level across the whole of Scotland and we look forward to next week’s regional finals at Stirling and Dunfermline.” he added.

For full results go to the SGU website

PAMELA PRETSWELL, JANE TURNER IN SCOTLAND TEAM TO DEFEND GIRLS'

HOME INTERNATIONALS TITLE

Six of the eight girls who won the girls’ home internationals golf championship for Scotland last year have been selected again for this year’s three-day event against England, Ireland and Wales at Southerndown Golf Club, South Wales from August 8 to 10.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) are over the 18 years’ age limit and their places go to new caps Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Jane Turner (Mortonhall), pictured right.
Sammy Vass, the Tain 15-year-old who reached the semi-finals of this week’s Scottish girls championship at Peterhead, is named as first reserve.
Team, captained by former Scottish women’s champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), is:

Carly Booth (Comrie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Mortonhall), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies).
Reserves: 1 Sammy Vass (Tain), 2 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), 3 Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies).

Other teams chosen:
Girls’ British open championship, Southerndown GC, August 13-17 – Carly Booth (Comrie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Roseanne Niven (Crieff) capt.
Reserves – 1 Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), 2 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).

Ladies’ British open amateur championship, Conwy Golf Club, August 22-24 – Carly Booth (Comrie), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), capt.
Reserves – 1 Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), 2 Laura Murray (Alford).

SAAB International junior championship, Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussels, August 22-25 – Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
Reserves – Sammy Vass (Tain), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).

A delighted Carly Booth holds aloft the trophy at Peterhead earlier today.

CARLY'S CHANCE TO REWRITE THE SCOTTISH
UNDER-18 GIRLS' RECORD BOOKS

Carly Booth, the 15-year-old Comrie golfing whizzkid, could rewrite the Scottish girls’ golf record books over the next three or four year.
When she beat 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) by 2 and 1 in a high quality Scottish Under-18 girls’ championship final over Peterhead Golf Club’s Craigewan links today, Carly became the first player since Vikki Laing of Musselburgh in 1998 to win both the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 girls’ titles in the same year.
Miss Booth won the Under-21 stroke-play championship by the runaway margin of nine strokes at Auchterarder two weeks ago.
Carly is a couple of years younger than Vikki was when she did the double nine years ago and there seems little to stop Miss Booth from winning both titles over and over again before she is too old for girls golf.
Vikki Laing was the last player to dominate Scottish girls golf in the manner Carly is on the verge of doing. Vikki won the Under-18 match-play title four years in a row from 1996 to 1999.
The big decision for Carly’s parents, Wally and Pauline, to make will be whether to send her to a United States college when she is 18. Vikki Laing went to the University of California Berkeley for four years and gained invaluable experience on the American women’s college circuit. Already the college golf coaches are knocking on their door.
Beaten finalist Megan Briggs has already made up her mind where her future lies. She is starting a law degree course at Strathclyde University in October.
Give Megan her due. Easy to see why she has been Renfrewshire women’s county champion for the past two years. Not only is she a very good player, she is also a very good match-player, two attributes that do not always go together.
In the semi-final, she produced a late hole in one when her lead was being threatened and against Carly, a +3 player compared with her own scratch rating, Megan was never overawed and always competitive.
In fact, Miss Briggs went one up with a birdie at the eighth, her second of the outward half, which she reached in two-under-par 35.
Carly Booth was still one down after 11 holes but the next three holes swung her way as Megan bogeyed the 12th and 13th and Carly birdied the long 14th with a two-putt 4.
And so Carly went from one down to two up over the span of three holes. Halves at the next three holes made Carly the winner by 2 and 1 with three under par figures. Megan was one under par.
“I enjoyed the week (she began it was a nine-under-par 64 in the first qualifying round) and the final,” said Carly. “We both played well.”
Megan said: “I’m a little bit disappointed that I didn’t win because I will be too old to play in the girls’ championship next year but, as Carly says, both of us played well and it was an enjoyable match.”
Incidentally, the big gallery had a job to keep up with the girls’ cracking pace between shots. The 17-hole final was all over in well under three hours.

Result:
Final (18 holes) – Carly Booth (Comrie) bt Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

IRISH GIRLS' (CLOSE) CHAMPIONSHIP
BALLINASLOE GOLF CLUB


CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS
Friday, July 20
8am - Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) v Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor).
8.10 - Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) v Kate Gallagher (Claremorris).

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 8 and 7.
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) bt Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 1 hole.
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) bt Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) 3 and 2.
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Ciara Walsh (Headfort) 1 hole.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) bt Ciara Pender (Ennis) 6 and 5.
StephanIe Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Patrice Delaney (Birr) 6 and 5.
Aedin Murphy (Carlow) bt Ciara Butler (Newlands) 1 hole.
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) bt Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) 2 and 1.
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) bt Holli Snelling (Killarney) 2 and 1.
Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) bt Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffen) at 21st.
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Zarah O'Reilly (Castle) 6 and 5.
Ciara Walsh (Headfort) bt Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) at 21st.

PLATE SEMI-FINALS
8:20 Caroline Murphy (Grange) v Laura McCarthy (Muskerry).
8:30 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)/Nicola Robinson (Malone) v Niamh O’Connor (Worplesdon).
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Caroline Murphy (Grange) bt Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 4 and 3.
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) bt Carmel O’Connor (Westport) 2 hole.
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) v Nicola Robinson (Malone) - to finish Friday morning.
+Tied after 18 holes; match suspended due to thunder and lightning.
Niamh O’Connor (Worplesdon) bt Diandra O’Connell (Ennis) 2&1
Round 1 – Thursday 19th July
Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) bt Hannah O’Connor (Loughrea) 6&5
Caroline Murphy (Grange) bt Edel Coyne (Youghal) 7&6
Carmel O’Connor bt Aisling O’Connor (Rosses Point) 4&3
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) bt Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) 3&2
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) bt Emily Gavin (Castlewarden) 3&2
Nicola Robinson (Malone) bt Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) on 19th
Diandra O’Connell (Ennis) bt Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge) 5&4
Niamh O’Connor (Worplesdon) bt Sarah Beck (Knock) 7&5

Please see website for full story at www.ilgu.ie

Championship Office
IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
1 Clonskeagh SquareClonskeagh RoadDublin 14Tel: +353 86 8131858Email: championship@ilgu.ie

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

HOLE IN ONE BY MEGAN CLINCHES PLACE IN

FINAL AGAINST CARLY AT PETERHEAD

It's top seed Carly Booth, 15 years old from Comrie, against 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), pictured right,

the No 3 qualifier, in what could be a classic final of the Scottish girls' championship over Peterhead Golf Club's Craigewan links on Friday morning (tee off 9am).

Megan produced a hole in one at the 16^th in beating the North's last hope, 15-year-old Sammy Vass (Tain), by 2 and 1 in the second semi-final.

Earlier Megan had removed the second last North hope, +1 player Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) in a tight match that went to the last green.

Carly birdied the 16^th and 17^th to clinch a 3 and 1 win over Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) in the first semi-final.

On paper Carly, a +3 player, should be favourite to beat scratch player Megan, but there was precious little between them in the semi-finals. Both were two under par for 17 holes. Carly had four birdies in all, Megan an eagle (the hole in one with a seven-iron at the 136yd 16th) and four birdies.

"I didn't think I played all that well against Pamela, but fortunately well enough to win," said perfectionist Carly.

Megan is an experienced match-player, having won the Renfrewshire women's county title for the past two years.

"No, I won't be nervous. I enjoy playing in championships," said Miss Briggs.

Carly, a junior Ryder Cup player, is bidding to become the first player since Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) in 1998 to win both the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 girls' titles in the same season.

Miss Booth won the latter title by nine strokes at Auchterarder two weeks ago. She won the Scottish Under-16 crown two years ago but she has never won the Under-18 match-play title. She lost in the final of this championship at Tain two years ago.

Here is a brief resume of how the semi-finals went:

CARLY BOOTH v PAMELA PRETSWELL

1st hole: Carly won with par to go one up.

2nd, 3rd & 4th holes: Halved.

5th: Carly sank good putt for a half.

6th: Carly won hole with a birdie to go two up.

7th: Halved.

8th: Carly won hole with birdie to go three up.

9th: Pamela won hole with par. Carly two up at turn.

10th & 11th: Halved.

12th: Carly won with par to go three up.

13th: Pamela won with par to be two down.

14th: Pamela won with parf to be one down.

15th: Halved.

16th: Carly won with birdie to go back to two up.

17th: Carly won hole and match with birdie to go three up.

MEGAN BRIGGS v SAMMY VASS

1st hole: Sammy won with par to go one up.

2nd: Megan won with birdie to square match.

3rd: Halved.

4th: Megan won with birdie to go one up.

5th: Halved.

6th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

7th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

8th: Halved.

9th: Megan won with birdie to go two up.

10th: Megan won this short hole with birdie 2 to go three up.

11th: Halved.

12th: Sammy won hole with a birdie to be two down.

13th: Sammy won hole with a bogey to be one down.

14th Halved.

15th: Halved.

16th: Megan holed her tee shot with a seven-iron at this 136yd par-3 hole to go two up.

17th Halved, leaving Megan winner by 2 and 1.

GABRIELLE WINS ANSLEY REID SALVER

Gabrielle MacDonald, pictured right, 14-year-old Prestonfield player, won the Ansley Reid Salver match-play competition for those who did not qualify for the championship flight. Two down with three to play, Gabriell won the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th for a one-hole win in the final against Ashley Smith (Monifieth).

Thursday's results

Quarter-finals – C Booth (Comrie) bt R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 4 and 2, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt E Muirhead (Pitlochry) 4 and 3, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole, S Vass (Tain) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) 4 and 3.

Semi-finals – Booth bt Pretswell 3 and 1, Briggs bt Vass 2 and 1

.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

Semi-finals – G MacDonald (Prestonfield) bt H Peebles (Monifieth) 1 hole, A Smith (Monifieth) bt L Duncan (Oldmeldrum) 6 and 5.

Final – MacDonald bt Smith 1 hole.

SCOTTISH GIRLS' SEMI-FINALS LINE-UP AT PETERHEAD

This afternoon's semi-finals in the Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Peterhead will be:

Carly Booth (Comrie) v Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)
and
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) v Sammy Vass (Tain).

In the quarter-finals this morning,
Carly beat Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 4 and 2.
Pamela beat Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) 4 and 3.
Megan beat Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole.
Sammy beat Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 4 and 3.

ANSLEY REID SALVER FINALISTS

The Ansley Reid Salver final will be contested by Gabrielle MacDonald (Prestonfield) and Ashley Smith (Monifieth).
In this morning's semi-finals, Gabrielle beat Heather Peebles (Monifieth) by one hole and Ashley beat Lauren Duncan (Oldmeldrum) 6 and 5.

MICHELLE WIE COMING OVER FOR EVIAN MASTERS
... AND THE WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN

Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's invitation to play in next week's Evian Masters in France and she plans to enter the Ricoh Women's British Open over the Old Course, St Andrews from August 2 to 5.
The 17-year-old Hawiian has not played competitively since she withdrew from the US Women's Open in June with a sore left wrist.
Wie was 17 over par and on her way to another score in the 80s when she quit at Pine Needles. She has withdrawn from two of her last three tournaments, managing to complete only seven rounds this year with an average score of just under 78.
Wie has not broken par in competition since the final round of the Evian Masters last year, a total of 23 rounds.

IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION Press Release

TOP SEED LOUISE MADE TO FIGHT BY FINAL
QUALIFIER HANNAH IN FIRST ROUND

Leading qualifier Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) progressed to the second round of the Lancôme Irish girls close championship with a two-hole victory over Hannah O’Connor (Loughrea) at Ballinasloe Golf Club, Galway today.
In blustery and showery conditions, Mernagh found the in-form final qualifier O’Connor a tougher assignment than expected and was relieved to squeeze through on the home green. Defending champion Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) comfortably defeated Edel Coyne (Youghal) and meets Patrice Delaney (Birr) in the last 16.
On a day of few surprises, seasoned campaigners Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Holli Snelling (Killarney), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) and Aedin Murphy (Carlow) successfully negotiated the first round.
Diandra O’Connell (Ennis) was the only significant casualty of the day when she fell to Zarah O’Reilly (Castle) at the first hurdle . Ciara Pender (Ennis) enjoyed her day to remember as she holed-out at the par-3 eighth on her way to a 20th hole victory over Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint).
Earlier in the day, Mernagh birdied the fourth (her second) hole in her outward level par 37 and gave just two shots to the course in her inward 38 to win the Muwick Cup qualifying round by two strokes from Ciara Walsh (Headfort).
THURSDAY'S TIES
SECOND ROUND
Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) v Ciara Pender (Ennis).
Patrice Delaney (Birr) v Stephaine Meadow (Royal Portrush).
Ciara Butler (Newlands) v Aisling O'Connor (Rosses Point) or Aedin Murphy (Carlow).
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) v Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion).
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) v Holli Snelling (Killarney).
Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) v Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffen).
Zarah O'Reilly (Castle) v Kate Gallagher (Claremorris).
Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) v Ciara Walsh (Headfort).

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS

Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) bt Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) 2 holes.
Ciara Pender (Ennis) bt Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) at 20th.
Patrice Delaney (Birr) bt Caroline Murphy (Grange) 5 and 3.
Stephaine Meadow (Royal Portrush) bt Edel Coyne (Youghal) 7 and 6.
Ciara Butler (Newlands) bt Carmel O'Connor (Westport) 5 and 4.
Aedin Murphy (Carlow) bt Aisling O'Connor (Rosses Point) at 22nd.
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) bt Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) 2 holes.
Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) bt Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) 5 and 4.
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) bt Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 6 and 5.
Holli Snelling (Killarney) bt Emily Gavin (Castlewarden) 7 and 5.
Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea) bt Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) 5 and 4.
Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffen) bt Nicola Robinson (Malone) 1 hole.
Zarah O'Reilly (Castle) bt Diandra O'Connell (Ennis) 5 and 4.
Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge) 1 hole.
Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) bt Niamh O'Connor (Worplesdon) 1 hole.
Ciara Walsh (Headfort) bt Sarah Beck (Knock) 8 and 7.

PLATE PROGRAMME
(First round losers)
Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea) v Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint).
Caroline Murphy (Grange) v Edel Coyne (Youghal).
Carmel O'Connor (Westport) v Aisling O'Connor (Rosses Point).
Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) v Laura McCarthy (Muskerry).
Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) v Emily Gavin (Castlewarden).
Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) v Nicola Robinson (Malone).
Diandra O'Connell (Ennis) v Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge).
Niamh O'Connor (Worplesdon) v Sarah Beck (Knock).

CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
75 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge).
77 Ciara Walsh (Headfort), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis)
78 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Ciara Butler (Newlands)
79 Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffen), Diandra O'Connell (Ennis), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush)
80 Patrice Delaney (Carlow).
81 Kate Gallagher (Claremorris), Sarah-Louise Winter (Carnalea), Aedin Murphy (Carlow).
82 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor).
84 Emily Gavin (Castlewarden), Niamh O'Connor (Naas).
85 Ciara Pender (Ennis), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint).
86 Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) Holli Snelling (Killarney).
87 Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy), Aishling O'Connor (Co Sligo), Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel), Cathy Kavanagh (Woodenbridge), Caroline Murphy (Grange).
88 Edel Coyne (Youghal), Zarah O'Reilly (Castle), Nicola Robinson (Malone), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Carmel O'Connor (Westport).
89 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Sarah Beck (Knock), Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea).
NON-QUALIFIERS
91 Caoimhe Quinn (Dungannon), Jennifer Russell (Belvoir Park), Erin Connolly (Co. Armagh).
92 Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye), Sarah Murray (Co Louth), Laura Boylan (Skerries).
93 Rebecca Mulholland (Kilkenny), Daryl Conroy (Castlebar).
95 Julie Coyne (Youghal), Emma Murphy (Wexford), Victoria Morris (Ennis), Carla Reynolds (Seapoint).
96 Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch), Eodain Cronin (Bantry Bay), Alice Norwood (Kilkenny).
97 Julie O'Gara (Roscommon).
98 Ruth Lillis (Ennis), Terri Byrne (Coollattin), Aisling Hill (Roscommon)
100 Aileen Fox (Dungannon)
101 Jenny Hennessy (Ennis), Christine Reid (Bangor)
102 Diane Hennessy (Ennis), Jessica Boal (Larne)
104 Hannah Fenlon (Seapoint)
105 Kate McManus (Co Sligo), Rachel Pyne (Ennis), Emily McGuinness (Greenore)
107 Adele Dooley (Ashbourne)
109 Holly Robinson (Co Sligo)

LPGA TAKES OVER FUTURES TOUR

Ladies Professional Golf Association Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens, in conjunction with Zayra Calderon, president and CEO of the Duramed Futures Tour, announced today that the LPGA has acquired the Duramed FuturesTour effective immediately.
The Duramed Futures Tour has been the official developmental tour of the LPGA since 1999.
The Duramed Futures Tour offers rising stars in the women’s game the opportunity to prepare for a career on the LPGA. For the past eight years, the Duramed Futures Tour has operated in a licensee role with the LPGA.
In recent years the organisations have worked closely to align business practices to assist the members of both tours with professional development, and to prepare members of the Duramed Futures Tour for the transition to the LPGA.
One of the biggest examples of the synergy between the two organisations over the years has been the awarding of coveted LPGA Tour cards to the top money leaders on the Duramed Futures Tour. In 2003, the LPGA increased the cards from three to five.

Scottish Under-18 girls' championship

CARLY COMES BACK FROM TWO

DOWN TO REACH LAST EIGHT

AT PETERHEAD

Hot favourite for the title she may be, but Carly Booth is not invincible – that’s the encouraging news for the rest of the quarter-finalists in the Scottish Under-18 girls golf championship at Peterhead Golf Club.
Carly, a +3 player who had a superb round of nine-under-par 64 in heading the qualifiers for the match-play stages by six strokes on Tuesday, found herself two down after only four holes to Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) in the second round of the match-play today.
Miss Booth, 15, from Comrie had to birdie the fifth and ninth to pull the game back to share at the turn.
Two more birdies, at the 10th and 14th put Carly two up and pars at the 15th and 16th gave her a 4 and 2 win. The Junior Ryder Cup player, who won the Scottish Under-21 girls’ stroke-play title at Auchterarder a couple of weeks ago by nine shots, now plays Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Thistle), whose younger sister Sally beat Carly in the final of this championship at Tain two years ago.
Sally, who has qualified to play in next week’s United States girls championship, is not in the Peterhead field.

Rebecca had a good win over 14-year-old Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), the youngest-ever Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county championship winner earlier this season.

Also through to the last eight are:
*Junior international curler Eve Muirhead from Pitlochry.
*The women’s county champions of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
*Two North hopes, 15-year-old Sammy Vass from Tain and 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
*Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) who upset the seedings with a 4 and 2 win over the No 2 qualifier and East of Scotland girls champion, Jane Turner (Mortonhall). Jacqueline qualified in 15th place.
Kelsey MacDonald highlighted her 6 and 4 win over Samantha Leslie (Westhill) with a 280yd drive which was not only long, it was dead straight too – she holed a 7ft putt for an eagle 2 at this par-4 hole.
Miss MacDonald also birdied the fourth and was six up after seven holes before Samantha stemmed the tide by winning the eighth.
Cara Easton, pictured above, 14-year-old Dalmahoy player, had her first ever hole in one – and still lost! She went down by 7 and 6 to Megan Briggs in the first round despite acing the 114yd 10th with a seven-iron.
“I was six down at the time and Megan had put her tee shot about 3ft from the hole so it was a nice moment. I enjoyed it,” said Cara.
*We'll be displaying today's picture of Cara Easton later this evening.

Wednesday's results

First round – C Booth (Comrie) bt A Mitchell (Hawick) 8 and 7, R Wilson (Monifieth) bt I Craigie (Torwoodlee) 4 and 3, J Meldrum (Dullatur) bt G Simpson (Murrayfield) 1 hole, R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) bt R McIntyre (Eden) 6 and 5, L Hunter (Dalmahoy) bt L Meldrum (Dullatur) 8 and 7, E Muirhead (Pitlochry) bt R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 9 and 7, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt J Graham (Southerness) 3 and 1, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt M Aird (Strathmore) 8 and 7.
M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt C Easton (Dalmahoy) 7 and 6, E MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) bt G Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 1 hole, S Leslie (Westhill) bt R Watton (Mortonhall) 2 and 1, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) bt M Johnstone (Northern) 9 and 7, S Vass (Tain) bt L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) 7 and 6, L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) at 20th, J Sneddon (Alyth) bt A Niven (Crieff) 4 and 2, J Turner (Mortonhall) bt N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 6 and 5.

Second round – Booth bt Wilson 4 and 2, Watson bt J Meldrum 5 and 3, Muirhead bt Hunter 5 and 3, Pretswell bt E Briggs 6 and 5, M Briggs bt MacKay 4 and 3, MacDonald bt Leslie 6 and 4, S Vass bt L McCallum 4 and 3, Sneddon bt Turner 4 and 2.

ANSLEY REID SALVER – First round – H Peebles (Monifieth) bt N Lamond (McDonald Ellon) 2 holes, G MacDonald (Prestonfield) bt K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 8 and 6, F Fullerton (Huntly) bt E Aird (Strathmore) 3 and 2, H Gaunt (Troon Bentinck Ladies) bt O Borwick (McDonald Ellon) 8 and 6, L Duncan (Aboyne) bt C Geddes (Northern) 3 and 2, J Vass (Tain) bt K Moss (Monifieth) 6 and 4.

Quarter-finals – Peebles bt A McKechin (Elderslie) 6 and 5, MacDonald bt Fullerton 3 and 2, Duncan bt Gaunt 7 and 6, A Smith (Monifieth) bt J Vass 2 and 1.

THURSDAY MATCHES:

CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarter-finals
8.45 Carly Booth v Rebecca Watson.
8.55 Eve Muirhead v Pamela Pretswell.
9.05 Megan Briggs v Kelsey MacDonald.
9.15 Sammy Vass v Jacqueline Sneddon.
Semi-finals at 1.30 & 1.40.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

Semi-finals
9.30 Heather Peebles v Gabrielle MacDonald.
9.40 Lauren Duncan v Ashley Smith.

Final at 1.50

ANNE RYAN AND NIECE

SAMMY SCOOP THE
GOLSPIE SILVERWARE

By ROBIN WILSON
Local Pam Mackay was unable to defend the Golspie Women’s Open Silver Salver, which left the way open for Tain’s Anne Ryan to regain the scratch prize and the Tain club doubled its silverware haul when the scratch winner’s niece, Sammy Vass carried away the Simpson Quaich for the best overall handicap score.
As the early morning rain showers eased it was teenage Sammy Vass (15), who, the previous Saturday had lost in the Tain championship final to her other aunt, Mary Smith, who posted the first sub 80 score. Miss Vass had equal halves of 38 for 76 but was soon overtaken by Mrs. Ryan who, with excellent iron play, birdied the fifth, sixth and ninth holes to record an outward half of 36. Mrs. Ryan had a couple of three putts on the inward half to raise her count to 38 to win with a three over par 74.
Mary Smith, the third member of the Tain quartet, came in with a 78. Completing the family's domination of the Silver Division, Sammy’s younger sister Julie (13) was handicap runner up to her elder sister.
Local stalwart Anne Macrae made the only impression in the Silver Division with a third handicap place and with it she won the Matheson Trophy for best local. In the Bronze Division Anne Mackenzie Durness and Angela Grant (Brora) repulsed the locals. Mrs. Mackenzie posted the best gross with a 97 and Mrs. Grant’s nett 75 carried away the one remaining trophy, the Pearl Mackay Memorial, with her net return of 75 winning on the better inward half comparison over Irene Hart (Royal Dornoch).
The prizes and trophies were present by Golspie Match Secretary, Arnie Bevan.

*Robin Wilson's picture above shows Anne Ryan and Sammy Vass with their trophies.

Results (CSS73)
Silver Division
Scratch – A Ryan (Tain) 74, S Vass (Tain) 76, M. Smith (Tain) 78, K. McGann (Grantown on Spey) 87.
Handicap – S Vass (Tain) (5) 71; J Vass (Tain) (14) 73; A Macrae (Golspie) (9) 77.

Bronze Division
Scratch - A Mackenzie (Durness) 97, D Mackay (Grantown on Spey) 99, F More (Golspie) 100. Handicap - A Grant (Brora) (23), I Hart (Royal Dornoch) (24) 75; C Logie (Golspie) (23) 78.

Scottish Under-18 girls' championship

Carly Booth with her scorecard of one eagle and seven birdies at Peterhead today.

CARLY SHOWS HER CLASS WITH A 64 AND
LEADS QUALIFIERS AT PETERHEAD BY SIX

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carly Booth, arguably the most exciting teenage prospect in Scottish amateur golf, shot a memorable nine-under-par round of 64 on her way to leading the qualifiers by six strokes for the match-play stages of the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play championship over Peterhead Golf Club’s Craigewan links today.
The 15-year-old Perthshire prodigy from Comrie, having earlier played the way Michele Wie used to play, was, understandably, very disappointed to return “only” a level par 73 in the second round for a nine-under-par total of 137.
“I think the difference between the two rounds was that I tired in the afternoon and when I get tired, I make mistakes,” said Carly who played for Scotland in the European girls’ team championship from Tuesday to Saturday in Oslo last week.
“I struck the ball well for a 64 and I holed a lot of putts – I had only 25 putts in the morning, the longest being about 30ft for my first birdie at the third. Obviously I knew I had an exceptionally score going, the lowest I’ve ever had competitively, but I just told myself to keep calm, not to get excited – and I didn’t.”
Carly’s +3 handicap is now on its way towards becoming +4, an exceptional rating for one so young. But Miss Booth is an exceptional talent who has found her form again on her return from an unhappy few months at a Florida Golf Academy.
She stays she has older brother Wallace who, incidentally leads the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit after victories in the Tennant Cup and Cameron Corbett Vase, to thank for that.
“Changes were made to my swing in America which didn’t work for me. Wallace has got me back to my natural swing and it’s made all the difference,” said Carly.
She is bidding to become the first player since Musselburgh’s Vikki Laing in 1998 to win both the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 open championship in the same year.
Carly won the latter stroke-play title by nine strokes at Auchterarder little more than a fortnight ago. She was Scottish Under-16 champion and a Junior Ryder Cup player last year. .
In her brilliant, flawless nine-under-par 64 over the Peterhead ladies’ course lengthened by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association from 5390 yd to 5,555yd with the use of some men’s tees for the championship, Carly had an eagle 3 (drive, seven-wood, 7ft putt) at the par-5, 396yd fifth hole and birdies at the third, eighth, ninth, 12th 14th, 17th and 18th in halves of 32 (five under par) and 32 (four under par).
Unusual for a low-scoring card, she had no 2s at the par-3s and she did not have a 5 either.
Her figures were:
OUT: 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 – 32.
IN: 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 – 32.
Although Carly’s score cannot be recognised as a new Peterhead ladies’ course record it is worth noting that this record stands at 68, set by 18 times Peterhead club champion Lorraine Chapman in 1996.
So Miss Booth’s round does deserve the tag of being the finest round ever played by a female golfer over the Peterhead links … and by a 15 year old at that!
As Margaret MacNaughtan, the SLGA chairman, summed it up: “It was an awesome round.”
Second best qualifier was East of Scotland girls champion Jane Turner (Mortonhall) with scores of 71 and 72 for three-under-par 143.
Renfrewshire women’s county champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), earned the No 3 seed position in the draw and, like Jane, also bettered Carly Booth’s second-round score with a two-under-par 71, despite a double bogey 6 at the 13th, for 146.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), a student at the University of California Berkeley, was unable to defend the championship she won at Peebles last year. She is sitting a college examination "online" via the Internet this week.

QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
Par 146 (2 x 73). CSS 73 73

CHAMPIONSHIP
137 C Booth (Comrie) 64 73.
143 J Turner (Mortonhall) 71 72.
146 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 71.
148 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 74.
150 L Hunter (Dalmahoy) 78 72.
152 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 78 74, S Vass (Tain) 78 74.
154 R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 71 83.
156 L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 81 75, S Leslie (Westhill) 79 77. G Simpson (Murrayfield) 83 73.
157 E Muirhead (Pitlochry) 80 77, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 78.
159 G Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 79 80, J Sneddon (Alyth) 79 80.
162 R Wilson (Monifieth) 84 78, I Craigie (Torwoodlee) 82 80.
163 A Niven (Crieff) 81 82.
164 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 79 85, E MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) 86 78, J Graham (Southerness) 81 83.
167 J Meldrum (Dullatur) 81 86, G Scanlan (Hamilton) 83 84, R Watton (Mortonhall) 83 84.
169 M Johnstone (Northern) 79 90, R McIntyre (Eden) 82 87, L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) 82 87.
170 L Meldrum (Dullatur) 88 82.
172 M Aird (Strathmore) 91 81.
174 C Easton (Dalmahoy) 92 82.
175 A Mitchell (Hawick) 86 89, N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 87 88.

Upper half of draw
8.30 C Booth v A Mitchell.

8.37 I Craigie v R Wilson.

8.44 G Simpson v J Meldrum.

8.51 R McIntyre v R Watson.

8.58 L Hunter v L Meldrum.
9.05 R McQueen v E Muirhead.

9.12 E Briggs v J Graham.

9.19 M Aird v P Pretswell.

Lower half of draw

9.26 M Briggs v C Easton.
9.33 E MacKay v G Monteith.

9.40 S Leslie v R Watton.

9.47 M Johnstone v K MacDonald.

9.54 S Vass v L McGillivray.
10.01 G Scanlan v L MacCallum.

10.08 J Sneddon v A Niven.

10.15 N Qayum v J Turner.

Second-round ties at 1.0, 1.12, 1.24, 1.36, 1.48, 20., 2.12 and 2.24.

Thursday's quarter-finals at 8.45, 8.55, 9.05, 9.15; semi-finals at 1.30 and 1.40.

Friday's 18-hole final at 9am.

ANSLEY REID SALVER
QUALIFIERS
176 A McKechin (Elderslie) 89 87.
179 A Smith (Monifieth) 93 86.
183 H Gaunt (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 100 83.
185 F Fullerton (Huntly) 92 93.
188 L Duncan (Aboyne) 94 94, G MacDonald (Prestonfield) 98 90.
189 J Vass (Tain) 94 95.
190 H Peebles (Monifieth) 93 97, N Lamond (McDonald Ellon) 97 93.
191 K Moss (Monifieth) 95 96.
197 C Geddes (Northern) 98 99.
204 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 100 104.
237 E Aird (Strathmore) 125 112.
282 O Borwick (McDonald Ellon) 146 136.

Upper half of draw

A McKechin first-round bye.

10.36 H Peebles v N Lamond.

10.43 G MacDonald v K MacCallum.

10.50 E Aird v F Fullerton.

Lower half of draw

10.57 H Gaunt v O Borwick.
11.04 C Geddes v L Duncan.

11.11 J Vass v K Moss.
A Smith first-round bye.

Quarter-finals start at 2.45, 2.55, 30.5 and 3.15.

Thursday's semi-finals start at 9.30 and 9.40; final at 1.50pm.

Withdrew: R Niven (Crieff), L Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies), C Tait (St Regulus), S Lamb (Glencorse).

CONTINENTAL LADY AMATEUR STARS
BOUND FOR FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

The European Golf Association has named a very strong team to play Great Britain & Ireland in the women's amateur international match for the Vagliano Trophy at Fairmont St Andrews on July 27 and 28.
It includes Carlota Ciganda (Spain), winner of the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds last month, and the beaten finalist, Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), a former British girls' open championship winner.
Belen Mozo (Spain), winner of both the British girls' and women's open amateur titles last year, is also in the line-up.
Six of the team of nine players are on golf scholarships at American universities.
Team is:

Denise Becker (Germany).
Emma Cabrera (Spain).
Carlota Ciganda (Spain).
Valentine Derrey (France).
Sandra Gal (Germany).
Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden).
Belen Mozo (Spain).
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).
Caroline Westrup (Sweden).

RESERVES
1 Thea Hoffmesiter (Germany).
2 Azahara Munoz (Spain).

World University Games

The Great Britain Golf Squad to travel to the World University Games was announced today with 7 athletes looking to perform well in the heat of Bangkok. The Golf tournament lasts four days - August 14, 15,16 and 17 - at Watermill Golf & Gardens, Nakhonnayok.

Georgia State University in America has provided two of the delegation with Anna Scott and Thomas Sherreard representing Great Britain at the Games. Anna Scott will be in good form after reaching the Semi Finals of the English Amateur Championship 2007, though arguably her greatest achievement to date was her bronze medal at the European U21 Team Championships for England in 2006. Thomas Sherreard was captain of the England Boys' Golf Home International Squad in 2005 at which he was named player of the tournament. Thomas is also an England A Squad player who has turned down the chance to represent England in the Czech Amateur Championship to compete for GBR at these Games.

Charles Ford of the University of Tennessee travels to Bangkok with the advantage of being on a golf scholarship at the University while Hannah Burke, from Baylor University (USA), was a member of the 2006 English Elite Squad.

Emma Fairnie, pictured left, from The University of Edinburgh is a Scotland U21 International who won the 2007 BUSA regional Order of Merit in Scotland. Emma also finished 2nd in the R&A Bursars Tournament in 2007 and has, thus far, enjoyed a very successful 2007.

Gavin Dear (University of Stirling), pictured right, who plays off a +3 handicap, gained his first senior international cap last week when he represented Scotland at the Chjiberta Grand Prix in France. Gavin is currently ranked 4th in the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit 2007 and he played an important role in helping Stirling retain its British Universities Team Matchplay title for the 3rd successive year.

Daniel Willett completes the squad and is no stranger to University International Competition. Daniel helped team GBR to a bronze medal at the World University Golf Championships in Torino last year and when he returns from Bangkok he will represent England in the European Amateur Championships after winner the NCAA Strokeplay event this year.

Raleigh Gowrie, Golf Team Manager for the Games, is happy with his squad and is eagerly anticipating the games. 'Team GBR finished 3rd at the 2006 World University Golf Championships in Torino. The team appears to be stronger this year and a podium position is anticipated for the highly talented squad of players this time around' said Raleigh. This seems to be a squad to watch at the Games this year.

Golf Squad in full for the World University Games in Bangkok 2007

Gavin Dear – University of Stirling (GBR)
Daniel Willet – Jacksonville State (USA)
Charles Ford – University of Tennessee (USA)
Hannah Burke – Baylor University (USA)
Anna Scott – Georgia State University (USA)
Thomas Sherreard – Georgia State University (USA)
Emma Fairnie – University of Edinburgh (GBR)

Raleigh Gowrie – Team Manager
Jason Atkins – Assistant Manager

FOUR SCOTS AMATEURS COME THROUGH
WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN 1st QUALIFIER

Four Scots amateurs – Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) were among the 29 players with scores of two-over-par 74 or better who progress from the Ricoh Women’s British Open pre-qualifying round at The Berkshire Golf Club to the Final Qualifying at the St Andrews New Course on Monday, July 30.
Isabelle Maconi (Italy) won the pre-qualifier with a four-under-par score of 66.
Heather MacRae, pictured right, a former British women’s open amateur stroke-play champion, finished in joint second place with a 69 with contained birdies at the second, fifth, seventh, 11th, 14th and 18th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 36. She had a double bogey 6 at the 12th and a bogey at the 10th.
Sally Watson, only 16, finished joint ninth with a par-matching 72 in which she hit back with an eagle 3 at the 16th after a double bogey 6 at the 15th. She also had a birtdie at the fifth in halves of 36.
Louise Kenney had birdies at the third, fourth and 16th in halves of 34 and 38.
Scots among the non-qualifiers included current Scottish amateur champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and three times past amateur champion Anne Laing (Vale of Leven).

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL QUALIFYING
Par 72
68 I Maconi (Ita).
69 H MacRae (Dunblane New), A Temple (US), Ya-Ni Tseng (Tai).
70 R Yokomine (Jap).
71 B Mullins-Lane (Aus), J Morley (Eng), C Aitken (Eng).
72 D McVeigh (Ire), L Sibille (Fra), J Sweeney (US), S Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), L Kenney (Pitreavie), J Oliver (Eng), L Terebey (US).
73 Z Kamasova (Slo), L Hall (Wal), C Lundgreen (Nor), C Coughlan (Ire), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
74 He Yong Choi (Kor), K Takanashi (Jap), S Heath (Eng), D Montgomery (Eng), S Michl (Aut), H Fujishima (Jap), F Luscher (Swi), H Brockway (Eng), H Aitchison (Eng).

NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:
75 s Dickens (Eng), P Feggans (Sco), M Gillen (Ire), J Pritchard (Wal).
76 J Clingan (Eng), L Diggle (Eng), M Allen (Eng), S McKevitt (Eng).
77 J Ewart (Eng), V Melvin (Sco), E Lyons (Eng).
78 L Walters (Eng), E Sheffield (Eng), J Hodge (Eng), L Eastwood (Eng).
79 G Webster (Hilton Park), V Bell (Eng),C Grady (Eng), E Brown (Eng), K Walker (Buchanan Castle).
80 S Hunter (Eng), A Laing (Vale of Leven), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old).
81 J Wilson (Strathaven), L Collin (Eng), M Tulley (Eng), S Attwood (Eng), A Keighley (Eng), J Dartford (Eng), C Durbin (Eng), K J Fisher (Eng).
82 S James (Eng), K Edwards (Eng), N Haywood (Eng), C Lipscombe (Eng).
83 J Carthew (Ladybank).
84 R Adby (Eng).
85 T Woodyer (Eng).
86 E Prentice (Eng), K Hutcherson (Eng), M Newman (Eng).
87 N Lumb (Eng), A Finch (Eng).
88 L Cummins (Eng), H Reid (Eng).
80 E Butler (Ire).
90 E Weeks (Eng).
91 C Gruber (Eng).
Retired – A Scott (Eng), A Engleman (Eng).

KELSEY AND SAMMY JOIN THE

BOYS ON GRAMPIAN HOUSTON

JUNIOR TRIP IN OCTOBER

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), who will be 17 in October, and 15-year-old Sammy Vass (Tain), pictured right, have been named alongwith 10 boys for the Grampian Houston Junior Golf Trip to Texas in October.

While there they will play some of the best courses in the Houston area.

The trip was originally started by PGA professional Bruce Davidson from Banchory. He is now the Director of Golf at the exclusive River Oaks Golf & Country Club near Houston.

Davidson was himself a golf scholarship student at St Thomas University, Houston and this biennial trip for a dozen teenage golfers from the Grampian Region is to give them the opportunity to sample what life and golf is like in Texas ... and perhaps impress one of the American college coaches who will be watching them in action enough to be offered a golf scholarship for the following year.

They will also be coached during the 10-day trip by Australian Steve Elkington, a major winner on the US Tour.

The names of the lucky boys and girls are:

ANDREW BAILLIE (Elgin).

FRASER CLARK (Westhill).

ADAM DUNTON (McDonald Ellon).

FRASER FOTHERINGHAM (Nairn).

CHRISTOPHER GAITTENS (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).

DAVID LAW (Hazlehead).

DONALD MACANDREW (Royal Aberdeen).

KELSEY MACDONALD (Nairn Dunbar).

RYAN PENNIE (Portlethen).

TOM RENNIE (Deeside).

TOM SPENCER (Inchmarlo).

SAMMY VASS (Tain).

A FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR VIKKI

Vikki Laing from Musselburgh finished joint 25th and earned $661 dollars with an eight over par total of 224 in the US Futures Tour's Cigna Classic at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, Bloomfield in Connecticutt.
Vikki had rounds of 73, 75 and 76. Winds of 30mpm and a 1hr storm warning delay at 4.30pm disrupted the final round.
Rookie Taylor Leon from Dallas, Texas, in only her second professional tournament won the $11,200 top prize by beating Mollie Fankhauser from Columbus, Ohio at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on 215.
Fankhauser had led by three strokes in the final round until bogeying the 16th and double-bogeying the 17th.
The average temperature on the final day was 88 degrees.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72) 6,402yd.
215 Taylor Leon (US) 70 70 75, Mollie Fankhauser (US) 67 70 78 (Leon won play-off at first extra hole).
216 Ji Min Jeong (Korea) 70 73 73, Nicole Melton (US) 71 72 73.
Other score:
225 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 73 75 76 (jt 25th).

VICKI JUST OUTSIDE TOP 20 WITH ONE
ROUND TO GO IN CIGNA CLASSIC

Vikki Laing goes into the final round of the Cigna Classic on the US Futures Tour at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, Bloomfield, Connecticut in joint 21st place.
The Musselburgh exile had second-round 75 for a 36-hole tally of four-over-par 148 on a 6,402yd course in testing conditions of a 12mph breeze that gusted up to 21mph. Firm greens would not hold a full approach shot. The temperature was up in the low 80s most of the day.
Vikki is 11 shots behind the three-stroke leader Mollie Fankhauser from Columbus, Ohio. Millie has scored 67 and 70 for 137 to lead from Taylor Leon (Texas) (70-70) and Stephanie Otteson (North Carolina) on 142 (71-71).
Seventy players made the cut on 155 or better.
South Wales amateur Natasha Morgan, spending her summer holidays from Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, on the No 2 women's pro circuit in the States, missed out with 78 and 79 for 157.
So too did Brenda McLarnon from Belfast with 83 and 81 for 164.
Polly Willett from London withdrew after an opening round of 79.
Lisa D Mickey (Futures Tour staff writer) writes:
In the second day’s oddest incident, rookie Kailin Downs of Bend, Oregon, was disqualified when she ran out of golf balls. Downs says she started the round with “seven or eight” Callaway HX Tour balls in her bag, but it was a day in which she “put a whole bunch in the hazards.”
She finally ran out on the seventh hole, which was her 16th, when her errant shot sailed into the woods. The one-ball rule states that a contestant may borrow a ball from fellow contestants if all are using like brands, but the other two players in Downs’ group were both using Titleist balls.
“It’s not the goal to play bad and need more golf balls,” said Downs, who opted to remain with her group as a scorekeeper for the last three holes of the round. “This was a first.”
She had been joint 47th after a first-round 76.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
137 Mollie Fankhauser (Ohio) 67 70.
140 Taylor Leon (Texas) 70 70.
142 Stephanie Otteson (North Carolina) 71 71.
Other scores:
148 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 73 75.

MISSED THE CUT (Qualifiers 155 or better)
157 Natasha Morgan (South Wales) (am) 78 79.
164 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 83 81.
Withdrew: Polly Willett (London) 79 - .