Meet Donna Macleod (Inverness), winner on Friday of the British policewomen's golf championship over the Moray Golf Club Old and New courses at Lossiemouth.

Former Scottish women's amateur champion Alison Gemmill was runner-up.

It's not often we get a championship winner reporting for www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk but here are the words supplied to us exclusively by DONNA MACLEOD:

HOW DONNA FROM INVERNESS BECAME BRITISH

POLICE WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPION AT LOSSIE

The third PSUK (Police Sport UK) British Women's Golf Championships were held at Moray Golf Club on Friday. This was the first year the tournament was organised and run by a commitee comprising representatives from forces across the country (including myself) and chaired by Maureen Brown, Assistant Chief Constable of Central Scotland Police.

Prior to this the tournament was begun by officers from Essex who felt that the ladies and not just the men should have a British championship!

In 2005 and 2006 it was held at the Five Lakes resort, Essex. Incidentally I was third scratch in 2005 and runner-up in 2006, both times to Alison Gemmill of Strathclyde Police. You will know her as an ex-international player and a former Scottish women's amateur champion. She plays off one.
This year we changed the format from one medal round to two, played on both the Old and New Course at Lossiemouth. We had a Scratch division, 0-20 handicap and 21-36 handicap section to give ladies of all standards a chance to play.

Competition was good, handicaps including Alison off one, Bethan Jones (north Wales) off two, Linda Allan (Strathclyde) off four, and a cluster on five, six and nine handicaps.
Conditions were tough on the day with a very strong wind and drizzle in the morning. I played the New Course first and shot 76 (halves of 41 and 35, one under on back nine) - 6, net 70. The CSS rose to 73 so I have managed to cut my handicap to 5 again!

I was four shots ahead after the morning. The wind got even stronger in the afternoon and I struggled off the tee. I ended up shooting 86. Not so bad really, given the CSS went up to 79! Thankfully, it was enough and I won with an aggregate of 162 by two shots from Alison Gemmill (80, 84). Third scratch was Linda Allan - all Scots!
In total we had 34 players, an increase from last year, forces ranging from my own Northern Constabulary to Devon and Cornwall. Next year we are travelling to Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Anne's in Lancashire. The ladies found Moray tough but had a great time and had nothing but good things to say about the club, members etc
As for me, I am still a member at Inverness Golf Club. I'm 27 and have been in the Force for seven years, now currently based in Inverness. Previously served in Glencoe and Fort William. I am the shift traffic officer/response driver.
On Sunday I am off to Ayrshire for the Scottish Police championships (men and women) to be played at Irvine Bogside and West Kilbride on September 4 and 5.

As there are fewer ladies in this event (normally 10 to 15) it is a handicap competition, so slightly more difficult to win - but fingers crossed!
I will be back to work eventually! Haven't played much since I hurt my back at Cruden Bay on the first morning of the North Division jamboree and with work commitments so this was a huge achievement for me.

Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

ENNIS WIN SENIOR CUP FOR FIRST TIME

For the first time in their history, and in their Centenary Year, Ennis are the toast of Clare, having just won the Suzuki Senior Cup for the first time at Milltown, also celebrating their Centenary.
The Southern Champions welcomed back the double-Irish Champion Tricia McDonnell, unavailable for the quarter-finals, who led by example with a 4 and 3 victory over Irish international Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) in the morning and a 3 and 2 win over Gemma Hegarty (Royal Portrush) in the afternoon.
In the final, Helen Jones levelled matters with a 4 and 2 victory over Pamela Murphy in match two. Ciara Pender was next to register a point with a 4 and 3 victory over Sonya Verschuur in the final match while Girls international Sarah Cunningham clinched the deciding point when she closed out Lisa McMeekin on the penultimate green.
Royal Portrush had previously lifted the Senior Cup on 22 occasions but today belonged to Ennis who now enter the history books as Senior Cup Champions, the blue-ribboned event of ladies club golf.

RESULT OF FINAL

ENNIS 3½, ROYAL PORTRUSH 1½
Tricia McDonnell bt Gemma Hegarty 3 and 2.
Pamela Murphy lost to Helen Jones 4 and 3.
Sarah Cunningham bt Lisa McMeekin 2 and 1.
Valerie Hassett halved with Lucy Simpson (called in).
Ciara Pender bt Sonya Verschuur 4 and 3.

SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWS OF THE SEMI-FINALS

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
FINNAIR MASTERS
Helsinki Golf Club, Finland.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
135 Bettina Hauert (Ger) 68 67
139 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 70 69
140 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 68 72, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 68 72, Kris Lindstrom (USA) 65 75, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 73 67, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 66 74, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 67 73
141 Lora Fairclough (Eng) 71 70, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 72 69, Amanda Moltke Leth (Den) 71 70, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 70 71
142 Bree Turnbull (Aus) 71 71, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 71, Virginie Lagoutte Clement (Fra) 66 76, Fame More (Eng) 70 72, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 70 72, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 68 74
143 Stefanie Michl (Aut) 73 70, Joanne Mills (Aus) 71 72, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 72 71, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 71 72, Lynn Kenny (Sco) 71 72, Martina Eberl (Ger) 66 77, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 68 75
144 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 70 74, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 70 74, Nathalie DavidMila (Fra) 71 73, Marta Prieto (Spa) 75 69, Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 73, Karen Margrethe Juul (Den) 74 70
145 Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 72 73, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 72 73, Marina Arruti (Spa) 73 72, Leah Hart (Aus) 72 73, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 71 74
146 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 71 75, Dottie Ardina (Phi) 69 77, Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 72, Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 74 72, Laura Terebey (USA) 74 72, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 73 73, Anna Rawson (Aus) 72 74, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 73 73, Anna Knutsson (Swe) 73 73
147 Sofia Renell (Swe) 72 75, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 74 73, Anna Tybring (Swe) 74 73, Danielle Masters (Eng) 74 73, Samantha Head (Eng) 72 75, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 75 72, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 75 72, Clare Queen (Sco) 74 73, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 75 72, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) 77 70, Natascha Fink (Aut) 77 70, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 70 77, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 70 77, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 72 75
148 Rosa Svahn (Fin) 75 73, Hazel Kavanagh (Irl) 74 74, Iben Tinning (Den) 71 77, Helena Alterby (Swe) 77 71, Elizabeth McKinnon (Nzl) 71 77, Nienke Nijenhuis (Nzl) 73 75, Libby Smith (USA) 70 78, Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 77, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 71 77, Anja Monke (Ger) 73 75, Claire Coughlan (Irl) 75 73, Louise Friberg (Swe) 72 76, Federica Piovano (Ita) 74 74, Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 72 76
MISSED THE CUT
149 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 70 79, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 72 77, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 77 72, Anna Rossi (Ita) 72 77, Julie Berton (Fra) 73 76, Sara Beautell (Spa) 78 71, Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 75 74, Georgina Simpson (Eng) 73 76, Martina Gillen (Irl) 72 77, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 75 74
150 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 74 76, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 77 73, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 75 75, Anna Temple (USA) 74 76, Mianne Bagger (Den) 76 74, AnneLise Caudal (Fra) 75 75, Suzanne Dickens (Eng) 78 72
151 Zuzana Masinova (Cro) 76 75, Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 72 79, Carlie Butler (Aus) 73 78, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 69 82, Morgana Robbertze (Rsa) 73 78, Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 75 76
152 Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 72 80, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 75 77, Caroline Grady (Eng) 72 80, Maria Boden (Swe) 75 77, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 76 76
153 Henrietta Brockway (Eng) 75 78, Carmen Alonso (Spa) 78 75, Katy Jarochowicz (Aus) 77 76, Nuria Clau (Spa) 75 78, Liza Walters (Eng) 78 75, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 77 76, Hanna Leena Salonen (Fin) 77 76, Pia Koivuranta (Fin) 77 76, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 76 77
154 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 77 77, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 76 78, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 78 76, Maria Beautell (Spa) 77 77, Mette Buus (Den) 77 77, Tamara Hyett (Aus) 76 78
155 Satu Harju (Fin) 78 77, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 81 74
156 Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 75 81
157 Katie Bakken (USA) 79 78
159 Sofia Hoglund (Fin) 78 81
161 Patricia Beliard (Fra) 79 82
162 LeeAnne Pace (Rsa) 83 79
Retired: Ellen Smets (Bel) 75, Stenna Westerlund (Fin) 85, Jo Clingan (Eng) 76

Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

ENNIS PLAY ROYAL PORTRUSH IN FINAL

Ennis dispatched favourites Co. Louth and now meet Royal Portrush, who ended Laytown & Bettystown’s hopes, in the final of 2007 Suzuki Senior Cup at Milltown Golf Club.
The Southern Champions welcomed back the double-Irish champion Tricia McDonnell, unavailable for the quarter-finals, who led by example with a 4 and 3 victory over Irish international Deirdre Smith.
Girls International Sarah Cunningham and Seniors International Valerie Hassett followed suit, resulting in a call-in for the second and last matches.
Despite the loss by Gemma Hegarty of Royal Portrush to an in-form Alyson Taylor, Helen Jones levelled the tie with a 4 and 2 victory over Tracy Eakin.
Sonya Vershuur defeated Noeline Quirke 6 and 5 while Lucy Simpson endured an admirable fight back by Carol Wickham, who won 17 and 18i, to clinch victory with an up-and-down on 19.
Royal Portrush now enter the final in search of their 23rd title while Ennis will be looking to win the Senior Cup for the first time.
SEMI-FINALS

ENNIS 4, CO. LOUTH 1
Tricia McDonnell bt Deirdre Smith 4 and 3.
Pamela Murphy halved with Jennifer Gannon (called-in)
Sarah Cunningham bt Maria Dunne 4 and 3.
Valerie Hassett bt Carla Reynolds 4 and 3.
Ciara Pender halved with Karen Yates (called-in).

ROYAL PORTRUSH 3½, LAYTOWN & BETTYSTOWN 1½
Gemma Hegarty lost to Alyson Taylor 2 holes.
Helen Jones bt Tracy Eakin 4 and 2.
Lucy Simpson bt Carol Wickham at 19th.
Lisa McMeekin halved with Phil O’Gorman (called-in)
Sonya Verschuur bt Noeline Quirke 6 and 5.

JENNA JUST MAKES TOP 20 IN EURO

WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Scottish champion Jenna Wilson from Strathaven had her worst round of the four days - a five-over-par 77 - to finish joint 19th on 299 in the European women's amateur individual golf championship at Golf National Club near Paris on Saturday.
After three 74s in a row, Jenna was looking to get closer to par and she reached the turn in level 36 only to have a nightmare inward half of 41. She ran up a triple bogey 7 at the 10th, birdied the 11th, bogeyed the 12th and double-bogeyed the 13th before dropping her final shot at the 17th.
Jenna was the only one of four Scots who started the championship to survive the 54-hole cut. Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) and Claire-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) were eliminated.
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden), above, beat British women's open amateur champion Carlota Ciganda from Spain in a three-hole aggregate play-off after they had tied on five-under-par 283.
Hedwall covered the three holes in par, birdie, par for 10 shots. Ciganda's play-off figures were birdie-bogey-par for 11 shots.
Melissa Reid from Chevin, Derby was the leading British finisher in joint fifth place after her poorest round of the week, a 75, for 290.
Overnight leader Emma Cabrera from Spain suffered one of the most spectacular last-round collapses in a major European women’s amateur championship.
Out in one-over-par 37, Emma required 47 shots for the inward half (two triple bogey 7s and a double bogey 7) and her 84 saw her plummet to a share of seventh place on 292.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
283 C Hedwall (Swe) 74 70 68 71, C Ciganda (Spa) 70 70 75 65 (Hedwall beat Ciganda in a three-hole aggregate play-off: 10-11).
288 A Bonetti (Fra) 70 74 74 70.
289 C Boeljon (Fra) 73 72 69 75.]
290 S Gall (Ger) 74 72 72 72, M Reid (Eng) 72 73 70 75.
292 T Hoffmesiter (Ger) 76 70 73 73, E Cabrera (Spa) 71 71 66 84.
Other totals:
294 R Bell (Eng) 74 73 72 75 (jt 12th).
299 J Wilson (Sco) 74 74 74 77 (jt 19th).
301 K Smith (Eng) 78 78 72 73 (jt 23rd).
302 F Parker (Eng) 78 67 76 81 (jt 27th).
304 R Jennings (Eng) 83 72 73 76, S Hassan (Wal) 77 77 73 77 (jt 35th).
305 N Edwards (Engt) 75 75 77 78 (jt 42nd).
310 E Bennett (Eng) 77 77 75 81 (jt 59th).

CLOSE FINISH ON CARDS IN SCOTTISH
WOMEN'S COUNTY GOLF FINALS

The stage is set for a “photo-finish” to the Scottish women’s county golf championship at Tulliallan Golf Club tomorrow.
Dunbartonshire & Argyll were knocked off the top of the table at the end of the second day by Midlothian who beat them 7-2, thanks to winning five of the singles and halving the other.
Aberdeenshire, who drew with Midlothian on the opening day, had an even bigger-margin win, 7 ½-1 ½, over Dumfries-shire. Shire laid the foundation for their victory by making a 30-0 clean sweep of the foursomes
Midlothian and Aberdeenshire are now joint table leaders with one win and one draw each. It would seem there is not much between them.
Midlothian finish with a match against Dumfries-shire while Aberdeenshire play Dunbartonshire & Argyll. If both Midlothian and Aberdeenshire win, then they will be level on points and it will go down to a countback of individual wins over the three days.

SATURDAY RESULTS

DUMFRIES-SHIRE 1 ½, ABERDEENSHIRE 7 ½
Foursomes: D Macdonald & M McGregor lost to D Pocock & S Wood 1 hole; F Macgregor & L Kirkwood lost to L Murray & M Thomson 6 and 4; T Lilly & J Graham lost to J Harrison & C Wilson 4 and 2 (0-3).
Singles: Macdonald lost to M Thomson 5 and 4, Kirkwood bt L McLardy 4 and 3, Graham lost to Wood 2 and 1, F Macgregor halved with S Thomson, Lilly lost to Pocock 7 and 5, M McGregor lost to Murray 1 hole (1 ½-4 ½).

MIDLOTHIAN 7, DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 2

Foursomes: C MacDonald & J Turner bt J Fogfgo & J Meldrum 7 and 6; C Hargan & W Nicholson halved with S Cadden & H Faulds; K Marshall & R Livingstone lost to J Galbraith & A Laing 2 holes (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Livingstone bt Meldrum 5 and 4, Turner bt Foggo 7 and 5, Hargan bt Laing 1 hole, Marshall bt Galbraith 5 and 4, B Murphy halved with Cadden, MacDonald bt Faulds 3 and 2 (5 ½ - ½)

How they stand
Midlothian 1 1/2pt, Aberdeenshire 1 1/2pt, Dunbartonshire & Argyll 1pt, Dumfries-shire 0pt.

English Ladies Golf Association Press Release

Hannah Barwood leads English girls
to victory in schools’ international

Gloucestershire’s Hannah Barwood captained the English schools girls’ team to a fine 5½-½ win in the annual international against Wales at Gay Hill, Worcestershire.
Hannah, the English schools champion from Knowle in Gloucestershire, led a team of four girls – of whom three are members of English Ladies’ Golf Association squads.
Hannah is in the U18 squad, while Katie Mundy (Dunwood Manor) is in Select South East and Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies) is in Birdies Midlands West I.
Hannah and Katie, both 17, are both England girl internationals. Elizabeth, 13, is the English schools U16 champion.
The team for the schools international was completed by Emily Mathieson, a nine handicapper from Kent.
The girls’ unbeaten performance was crucial in giving the English combined team an overall 11-7 victory after the boys were beaten 6½- 5½.

Editor's note: Scotland play England in a schools' international at Westerwood Hotel Golf Resort, Cumbernauld on Monday, September 10.

Girls’ results (English names first).
Foursomes:
Hannah Barwood and Katie Mundy beat Laura Jane Roberts and Amy Rees 5/4.
Emily Mathieson and Elizabeth Mallett beat Gemma Bradbury and Sophie Rees 2/1.

Singles:
Barwood beat Roberts 7/6.
Mundy beat Bradbury 2/1.
Mathieson beat S Rees 2/1.
Mallett halved with A Rees.

LPGA SCOREBOARD
STATE FARM CLASSIC
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois.

SECOND ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2 x 72). 6,608yd.

133 Sherri Stenhauer 67 66.
135 Christina Kim 69 66.
136 Annikia Sorenstam 71 65.
137 Mi Hyun Kim 70 67, Marcy Hart 68 69.
138 Jin Young Park 71 67, Rachel Hetherington 69 69, Janice Moodie 69 69, Becky Morgan 71
67, Ai Miyazato 68 70.
Other scores:
140 Catriona Matthew 71 69 (jt 16th).
MISSED CUT
146 Mhairi McKay 74 72.

AMERICAN LINDSTROM EQUALS HER BEST (65)
TO BE EARLY LEADER IN FINNAIR MASTERS

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

American Kris Lindstrom equalled her best ever score on the Ladies European Tour to take the first round lead at the Finnair Masters in Helsinki today.
The Minneapolis native, who turned 34 on Tuesday, posted a six-under-par 65 at the tournament where she posted a career best finish of tied for third in 2006. Lindstrom is one stroke clear of Sweden’s Åsa Gottmo, Germany’s Martina Eberl and defending champion Virginie Lagoutte-Clement of France, all on 66.
English teenager Kiran Matharu posted a four-under 67 which was the lowest score of her short professional career and finished the day in outright fifth place.
Five players are tied for sixth: Italians Sophie Sandolo and Margherita Rigon, New Zealand’s Lynn Brooky, European Solheim Cup Team member Bettina Hauert of Germany and Johanna Westerberg of Sweden. Westerberg’s round included a hole-in-one at the 180-yard eighth.
The tournament’s youngest participant - 13-year-old Filipino Dottie Ardina, who is named after American veteran Dottie Pepper – finished her bogey-free round on two-under par and took a share of 11th position with England’s Felicity Johnson.
Tournament leader Lindstrom said she was pleased with her round after managing to overcome two bogeys in her first three holes.“I got off to a rough start, but picked it up by the end,” she said.“I three-putted on the first hole, birdied the next one and bogeyed the next.
“I enjoy it here and I feel that I can shoot a decent score when I come out.”
Eberl, 26, from Munich, attributed her fantastic round to a brand new putting style.“I have been playing well all year but had been struggling with putting,” she said.“I decided when I went home from Norway (last week) to try a belly putter. This is my first tournament to play with it and it turned out quite well.”
Sweden’s Gottmo, who shares second place with Eberl, also highlighted her putting when describing her round.“It was a good round, but it wasn’t easy,” said the 36-year-old.
“I had seven birdies and two three-putts. I made a few long ones downhill, but I missed a few short ones.”
Last year’s winner Lagoutte-Clement was in fighting mood describing her round.
“I have liked this course a lot for the last two years.
“I arrived on Monday and I wasn’t playing well but my coach came here yesterday to see me and I had a good feeling. My result is great and I am very happy.
“I’m going to rest tonight and go for it tomorrow.”
And it was a successful round for LET rookie Matharu, whose best finish in 11 starts this year was a tie for 10th at the recent S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe.
“It went well today, especially on the back nine,” she said. “I started off with a few good putts for saves and then I started playing better.”
Lynn Kenny did best of the three Scots in the field. She scored 71 - three ahead of Clare Queen. Kathryn Imrie had a disastrous 81.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon had a 71.
The second round begins at 8am local time on Saturday, with a cut to the leading 60 players and ties after 36 holes.
FINNAIR MASTERS
Helsinki Golf Club, Finland.
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
65 Kris Lindstrom (USA)
66 Martina Eberl (Ger), Asa Gottmo (Swe), Virginie LagoutteClement (Fra)
67 Kiran Matharu (Eng)
68 Lynn Brooky (Nzl), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Bettina Hauert (Ger)
69 Felicity Johnson (Eng), Dottie Ardina (Phi)
70 Cassandra Kirkland (Fra), Libby Smith (USA), Fame More (Eng), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Ana Larraneta (Spa), Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin), Nora Angehrn (Swi), Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin)
71 Nathalie DavidMila (Fra), Karen Lunn (Aus), Rebecca Coakley (Irl), Lisa Jean (Aus), Amanda MoltkeLeth (Den), Isabella Maconi (Ita), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Bree Turnbull (Aus), Lora Fairclough (Eng), Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Joanne Mills (Aus), Iben Tinning (Den), Elizabeth McKinnon (Nzl), Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Lynn Kenny (Sco)
72 Leah Hart (Aus), Louise Friberg (Swe), Martina Gillen (Irl), Anna Rawson (Aus), Rikke Rasmussen (Den), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Sohvi Harkonen (Fin), Sofia Renell (Swe), Shelley McKevitt (Eng), Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor), Samantha Head (Eng), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Caroline Grady (Eng), Anna Rossi (Ita)
73 Julie Berton (Fra), Marina Arruti (Spa), Carlie Butler (Aus), Anja Monke (Ger), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Georgina Simpson (Eng), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger), Sarah Kemp (Aus), Anna Knutsson (Swe), Morgana Robbertze (Rsa), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Nienke Nijenhuis (Nzl)
74 Laura Terebey (USA), KarenMargrethe Juul (Den), Federica Piovano (Ita), Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Maria Verchenova (Rus), Anna Tybring (Swe), Danielle Masters (Eng), Hazel Kavanagh (Irl), Anna Temple (USA), Sophie Walker (Eng), Minea Blomqvist (Fin), Clare Queen (Sco)
75 Antonella Cvitan (Swe), AnneLise Caudal (Fra), Maria Boden (Swe), Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Marta Prieto (Spa), Claire Coughlan (Irl), Kirsty S Taylor (Eng), Natalie Claire Booth (Eng), Henrietta Brockway (Eng), Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Rosa Svahn (Fin), Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Ellen Smets (Bel), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Nuria Clau (Spa)
76 Mianne Bagger (Den), Jo Clingan (Eng), Tamara Hyett (Aus), Nicole Gergely (Aut), Tullia Calzavara (Ita), Zuzana Masinova (Cro), Frederique Seeholzer (Swi)
77 Maria Beautell (Spa), Melodie Bourdy (Fra), Mette Buus (Den), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Natascha Fink (Aut), HannaLeena Salonen (Fin), Pia Koivuranta (Fin), Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), Katy Jarochowicz (Aus), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin), Helena Alterby (Swe)
78 Satu Harju (Fin), Sara Beautell (Spa), Liza Walters (Eng), Suzanne Dickens (Eng), Carmen Alonso (Spa), Elisa Serramia (Spa), Sofia Hoglund (Fin)
79 Katie Bakken (USA), Patricia Beliard (Fra)
81 Kathryn Imrie (Sco)
83 LeeAnne Pace (Rsa)
85 Stenna Westerlund (Fin)

Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

FAVOURITES CO. LOUTH PROGRESS TO SEMI-FINALS

Favourites Co. Louth will join Royal Portrush, Laytown & Bettystown and Ennis in the semi-finals of the 2007 Suzuki Senior Cup following their quarter-final victories over Roscommon, Kilkenny, Carlow and Galway respectively at Milltown Golf Club today.
Co. Louth’s current international Deirdre Smith struck the first blow for the Eastern Champions with a 7&6 victory over Roscommon’s Mary Seymour before Ruth Lennon beat Patricia Nannery to level the tie. Sensationally, three matches went to extra holes in which Co. Louth’s Jennifer Gannon and Carla Reynolds emerged victorious on the 21st and 23rd.
Royal Portrush’s Gemma Hegarty led the way in their tie with Kilkenny with a 2&1 victory over past Irish Champion Eileen Rose Power.
Mary Dowling beat Lisa McMeekin to level the tie but the experienced tail of Helen Jones, Roma English and Girls International Lucy Simpson clinched victories to end the hopes of the Midland side.
Laytown & Bettystown’s Alyson Taylor beat Carlow Girls International Aedin Murphy in their top match clash that ended on the home green. Madeline Brennan and Carmel Roche fought gallantly for Carlow but in spite of being ahead, their matches were called-in when past internationals Tracy Eakin and Phil O’Gorman claimed victories to book Laytown/Bettystown’s place in the semi-finals.
Despite losing their opening tie to Galway’s Girls International Sarah Faller, the tail-end of Girls International Sarah Cunningham, Valerie Hassett and Ciara Pender dug deep to ensure Southern Champions Ennis made it through to complete the semi-final line-up. For debutante Western Champions Galway, a semi-final place was just one step too many while the return of double-Irish Champion Tricia McDonnell for tomorrow’s semi-final will bring welcome relief for Ennis.
The Draw for tomorrow’s 8am semi-final pairings, which sees Laytown & Bettystown as the first back-door side to make the final four, takes place this evening at the Gala Tournament Dinner.

2007 SUZUKI Senior Cup – Milltown Golf Club

LOUTH 3 ROSCOMMON 2
Deirdre Smith bt Mary Seymour 7&6
Maria Dunne lost to Sinead Benedetti at 21
Jennifer Gannon bt Ann McCormack at 19
Patricia Nannery lost to Ruth Lennon 4&2
Carla Reynolds bt Paula Quinn at 23

ROYAL PORTRUSH 4 KILKENNY 1
Gemma Hegarty bt Eileen Rose Power 2/1
Lisa McMeekin lost to Mary Dowling 4/3
Helen Jones bt Mary Leahy Browne at 19th
Lucy Simpson bt Sinead Slater 4/2
Roma English bt Evelyn Crotty 2up

CARLOW 1 LAYTOWN/BETTYSTOWN 4
Aedin Murphy lost to Alyson Taylor 2up
Madeline Brennan halved with Carol Wickham (called in)
Catherine Delaney lost to Tracy Eakin 4&3
Susan Redmond lost to Phil O’Gorman 5&4
Carmel Roche halved with Noeline Quirke (called in)

GALWAY 1½ ENNIS 3½
Sarah Faller bt Maura McNicholas 6&4
Orla Barry halved with Pamela Murphy (called in)
Doireann Carney lost to Sarah Cunningham 2&1
Geraldine Neville lost to Valerie Hassett 3&2
Sheelagh Kearney lost to Ciara Pender 4&3

JENNA WILSON LONE SCOT IN

LAST ROUND OF EUROPEAN

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Jenna Wilson was the only Scot to survive the third-round cut in the European women’s amateur individual championship at Golf National Club, near Paris today (Friday).

Jenna, pictured right, had her third round of two-over-par 74 in succession to go into the final round on six-over-par 222 and in joint 17th position in a starting field of 144.
A total of 70 players with totals of 232 qualified for the final round.
Eliminated were Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), despite a 74 for 237, Gemma Webster with two 7s on her card in an 83 for 239 and Claire-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) with an 82 for 243.
Spaniard Emma Cabrera spreadeagled the field with a brilliant third-round 66 for eight-under-par 208 which put her four shots clear of Caroline Hedwall (Sweden).
Joint halfway leader Carlota Ciganda (Spain) had an uncharacteristic 9 at a par-4 hole in returning a 75 for 215.
Melissa Reid from Derby, winner of the Scottish women's stroke-play, the St Rule Trophy and leading amateur in the Women's British Open over the Old Course, is in joint fourth place on one-under-par 215 after her best round so far, a two-under 70.


THIRD ROUND QUALIFIERS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 E Cabrera (Spa) 71 71 66.
212 C Hedwall (Swe) 74 70 68.
214 C Boeljon (Fra) 73 72 69.
215 C Ciganda (Spa) 70 70 75, S Endstrasser (Aut) 74 70 71, M Reid (Eng) 72 73 70.
Other qualifiers:
219 R Bell (Eng) 74 73 72.
221 F Parker (Eng) 78 67 76.
222 J Wilson (Sco) 74 74 74.
227 S Hassan (Wal) 77 77 73, N Edwards (Eng) 75 75 77.
228 K Smith (Eng) 78 78 72, R Jennings (Eng) 83 72 73.
229 E Bennett (Eng) 77 77 75.
Non-qualifiers:
237 K Walker (Sco) 86 77 74.
239 G Webster (Sco) 76 80 83.
240 H Aitchison (Eng) 83 83 74, R Harries (Wal) 83 76 81.
243 C-M Carlton (Sco) 81 80 82.
245 R W Thomas (Wal) 88 80 77.
246 T Davies (Wal) 79 77 90.
250 L Blease (Eng) 89 81 80.

Scottish women's county championship finals

DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL BEAT

DUMFRIES-SHIRE, ABERDEENSHIRE

AND MIDLOTHIAN DRAW

Dunbartonshire & Argyll sit at the top of the table at the end of the first day of the Scottish women’s county golf championship finals at Tulliallan Golf Club. They beat Dumfries-shire 5 ½-3 ½ after taking a 2pt lead in the foursomes.
Aberdeenshire and Midlothian drew 4 ½-4 ½ after Midlothian had established a 2-1 lead in the morning foursomes.
Dumfries-shire hit back in the singles after losing the foursomes 2 ½- ½ . Sara Bishop had increased Dunbartonshire & Argyll’s lead to 3pt by beating Diane Macdonald by 6 and 4.
But then Lindsey Kirkwood, Jordana Graham and Fiona McGregor delivered three singles points in success for Dumfries-shire by beating Louisa Ruane, Jill Meldrum and Jill Foggo respectively.
The D&A tail had to wag to save the day and it did with Judy Galbraith beating Trish Lilly 7 and 5 while former Scottish champion Anne Laing won by 6 and 5 over Margaret McGregor.
Youngsters Michele Thomson, pictured above, and Laura Murray, both selected to play for Scotland in the forthcoming women’s home internationals, turned up trumps for Aberdeenshire by winning the top and the bottom singles.
Michele beat Rachael Livingstone by 3 and 2 while Laura beat Claire MacDonald on the 18th green.
Claire Hargan had beaten Carol Wilson in the No 2 singles tie to give Midlothian a 3-2 lead.
Then followed three halved matches, underlining just how close a contest this was. Sheena Wood halved with Wendy Nicholson, Sara Thomson halved with Belinda Murphy and Laura McLardy had a square game with Karen Marshall.
That meant it all depended on the sixth and final singles tie with Murray securing a drawn outcome for Aberdeenshire by beating MacDonald by one hole.
FIRST-DAY RESULTS

ABERDEENSHIRE 4 ½, MIDLOTHIAN 4 ½
Foursomes: L Murray, M Thomson lost to C MacDonald, J Turner 1 hole; J Harrison, C Wilson lost to W Nicholson, R Livingstone 2 holes; D Pocock, S Wood bt C Hargan, B Murphy 1 hole (1-2).
Singles: M Thomson bt Livingstone 3 and 2, Wilson lost to Hargan 2 holes, Wood halved with Nicholson, S Thomson halved with Murphy, L McLardy halved with K Marshall, Murray bt MacDonald 1 hole (3 ½-2 ½).

DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL 5 ½, DUMFRIES-SHIRE 3 ½
Foursomes: S Bishop, A Laing bt D Macdonald, M McGregor 5 and 4; S Cadden, H Faulds halved with F Macgregor, L Kirkwood; J Galbraith, L Ruane bt T Lilly, J Graham 6 and 4 (2 ½- ½).
Singles: Bishop bt Macdonald 6 and 4, Ruane lost to Kirkwood 5 and 4, J Meldrum lost to Graham 1 hole, J Foggo lost to F Macgregor 4 and 3, Galbraith bt Lilly 7 and 5, Laing bt M McGregor 6 and 5 (3-3).

Saturday matches:
Dumfries-shire v Aberdeenshire, Midlothian v Dunbartonshire & Argyll.

ends

JENNA'S TRIPLE BOGEY KNOCKS HER BACK TO
JOINT 19TH IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Scottish champion Jenna Wilson repeated her opening round of 74 but dropped down to a share of 19th place in a field of 144 for the European women's individual amateur stroke-play championship over 72 holes at Golf National Club near Paris today (Thursday).
Strathaven's Jenna had a triple bogey 8 at the ninth in halves of 41 and 33. She had birdies at the 10th, 16th and 17th in her bogey-free recovery run from the turn.
Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) had an 80 for 156. She was going quite well with 38 to the turn but had double bogeys 6 and 7 at the 12th and 18th respectively for 42 home.
Claire-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) had an 80 for 161 - two shots ahead of Kylie Walker who shaved 11 shots off her first round with a second-day 77 (37-40). It could have been even better but for a double-bogey 6 at the 15th.
Spain have taken command at the top of the leaderboard with 36 holes to go. Carlota Ciganda, the brilliant teenager who won the British women's open amateur title at Alwoodley in June, leads with a pair of 70s for four-under-par 140. Compatriot Emma Cabrera is lying second with two 71s for 142.
The leading British players on 145 are England's Florentyna Parker whose 67 was the best by anyone in the second round, and Melissa Reid who had a 73.

LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 C Ciganda (Spa) 70 70.
142 E Cabrera (Spa) 71 71.
144 C Hedwall (Swe) 74 70, S Endstrasser (Aut) 74 70, D-C Schreefel (Nt) 71 73, A Bonetti (Fra) 70 74.
145 F Parker (Eng) 78 67, K Ruzickova (Rus) 75 70, C Boeljon (Fra) 73 72, M Reid (Eng) 72 73, M Silva (Spa) 72 73, A Decharne (Fra) 71 74.
Other scores:
147 R Bell (Eng) 74 73.
148 J Wilson (Sco) 74 74.
150 N Edwards (Eng) 75 75.
154 E Bennett (Eng) 77 77, S Hassan (Wal) 77 77.
156 T Davies (Wal) 79 77, K Smith (Eng) 78 78, G Webster (Sco) 76 80.
161 C-M Carlton (Sco) 81 80.
163 K Walker (Sco) 86 77.
166 H Aitchison (Eng) 83 83.
168 R W Thomas (Wal) 88 80.
170 L Blease (Eng) 89 81.

Press Release

NEW HSBC WOMEN’S PRO TOURNAMENT TO BE
HELD IN SINGAPORE NEXT SPRING

HSBC, founded in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1865 and one of the world’s largest financial services organisations, has created Asia’s most significant women’s professional golf tournament, the HSBC Women’s Champions, which will take place in Singapore from February 28 to March 2 next year.
Following the enormous success of the men’s HSBC Champions, established in 2005 in Shanghai, and already referred to by many of the players as ‘Asia’s Major’, HSBC have created a similar event for the world’s best women golfers.
The qualification criteria mirrors that of the men’s HSBC Champions, with winners from around the world invited to compete for the coveted “Champion of Champions” title. Winners on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, leading money winners from the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA), Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, Ladies European Tour (LET), Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG), Duramed FUTURES Tour, Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and the top player from the continent of Africa will qualify, making this the most international and impressive women’s field ever assembled in Asia.
The inaugural HSBC Women’s Champions will boast a prize money of US$2 million (US$300,000 to the winner), the largest purse for a women’s event in Asia, and will be played at the prestigious Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. Tanah Merah has already hosted a number of top class professional events including the Singapore Open, the Johnnie Walker Classic and the LPGA-sanctioned Lexus Cup in 2005 and 2006.
The HSBC Women’s Champions, sanctioned by the LPGA, will be played over 72 holes of individual stroke play. The field will be restricted to 78 golfers.

Vikki with Gettysburg Trophy

Good to see Vikki in the winner's circle. What a magnificent trophy! Well done Vikki!

DUMFRIES-SHIRE: South champions

On right: West champions DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL.

North champions: ABERDEENSHIRE On right: East champions MIDLOTHIAN.

Facts and figures for this weekend's

Scottish county finals at Tulliallan

CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAMME

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
9.30 & 1.30: Aberdeenshire v Midlothian.
9.52 & 2.15: Dunbartonshire & Argyll v Dumfries-shire

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
9.30 & 1.30: Dumfries-shire v Aberdeenshire.
9.52 & 2.15: Midlothian v Dunbartonshire & Argyll.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
9.30 & 1.30: Dumfries-shire v Midlothian.
9.52 & 2.15: Dunbartonshire & Argyll v Aberdeenshire.

TULLIALLAN LADIES' COURSE

5,263yd. Par 72 (36-36). SSS 71.

ABERDEENSHIRE

Colours: Pale Yellow, White & Navy.

County captain: Ros Dunsmuir
Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay).
Laura McLardy (Murcar Links).
Laura Murray (Alford).
Donna Pocock (Murcar Links).
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
Sara Thomson (Murcar Links).
Carol Wilson (Murcar Links).
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).

DUMFRIES-SHIRE

Colours: Black, Lilac & Black.

County captain: Fiona Macgregor.
Jordana Graham (Southerness).
Wilma Graham (Southerness).
Lindsey Kirkwood (Powfoot).
Trish Lilly (Dumfries & Galloway).
Diane Macdonald (Dumfries & Co).
Fiona Macgregor (Thornhill).
Margaret McGregor (Dumfries & Co).
Eileen Scott (Lockerbie).

DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL

Colours: Blue.

County captain: Helen MacGregor.
Anne Laing (Vale of Leven).
Sara Bishop (Cochrane Castle).
Suzanne Cadden (Cardross).
Jill Foggo (Milngavie).
Judy Galbraith (Cowal).
Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
Louisa Ruane (Cardross).

MIDLOTHIAN

Colours: Navy & White.

County captain: Ellice Cackett.
Fiona de Vries (St Rule).
Claire Hargan (Mortonhall).
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old)
Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies).
Karen Marshall (Baberton).
Belinda Murphy (Mortonhall).
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe).
Jane Turner (Mortonhall).

ROAD TO THE FINALS

ABERDEENSHIRE
North Division champions
W 6-3 v Perth & Kinross.
W 7-2 v Northern Counties.
W 6½-2½ v Angus.

DUMFRIES-SHIRE

South Division champions

W 7-2 v Galloway.

L 5 1/2-3 1/2 v Borders.

*Won title on games won

countback.

DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL
West Division champions
D 4½-4½ v Lanarkshire.
W 5-4 v Renfrewshire.
W 7-2 v Ayrshire.

MIDLOTHIAN
East Division champions
W 5½-3½ v East Lothian.
W 5-4 v Stirling & Clackmannan.
W 5½-3½ v Fife.

LAST WON SCOTTISH TITLE

ABERDEENSHIRE
1986 at Powfoot.

DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL
1997 at Hilton Park.

DUMFRIES-SHIRE
Never won championship.

MIDLOTHIAN
2005 at Ranfurly Castle

JENNA WILSON TOP SCOT IN EURO
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 1

Scottish champion Jenna Wilson from Strathavan was lying a creditable joint 12th in a field of 144 at the end of the first round of the European women's amateur golf championship at Golf Club National near Paris today.
Jenna, pictured right, had a two-over-par round of 74 despite running up a quadruple bogey 7 at the short third.
Out in two-over 38, thanks to birdies at the sixth and ninth, Jenna birdied the 14th and 16th on the way home but cancelled that out with bogeys at the 12th and 17th.
Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) was sharing 32nd place after a 76. She had a couple of early birdies, at the second and fourth, in halves of 37 and 39.

Stirling University student Claire-Marie Carlton had her first birdie of the day at the 16th and then parred the last two holes to escape with an 81 after going out in five-over-par 41.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle had a triple bogey 8 at the long 14th followed by a double bogey 6 at the 15th - her third double bogey of the round - and finished on 86 (42-44).
At the time of writing this report, Claire-Marie Carlton was still out on the course. She was nine over par after 15 holes having gone out in five-over-par 41.

SCOREBOARD
(some players still to finish)
Par 72
69 N Holleder (Ger).
70 C Ciganda (Spa), A Bonetti (Ita).
71 M Bazin de Jessey (Fra), D-C Schreefel (Ned), A Decharne (Fra), E Cabrera (Spa).
72 M Reid (Eng), M Silva (Spa).
Other scores:
74 J Wilson (Sco), R Bell (Eng).
75 N Edwards (Eng).
76 G Webster (Sco).
77 S Hassan (Wal), E Bennett (Eng).
78 K Smith (Eng), F Parker (Eng), R Harries (Wal).
81 C-M Carlton (Sco).

83 H Aitchison (Eng).
84 R Jennings (Eng).
86 K Walker (Sco).
88 A Carling (Wal) R W Thomas (Wal).

Press Release

R&A ANNOUNCES NEW RULES ON
CLUB ADJUSTABILITY

The R&A has announced a change to the Rules of Golf regarding additional forms of club adjustability, effective from 1 January, 2008.
All new forms of adjustability must be approved in advance by The R&A and adjustments during a round will continue to be disallowed as at present.
The Rules of Golf currently state that woods and irons must not be designed to be adjustable, except for weight.
In March 2005, The R&A first indicated an interest in allowing more types of adjustable features on woods and irons and in February 2007, a proposed Rule change was published for review and comment.
The R&A has decided to adopt the proposal after careful consideration of comments from manufacturers and other interested parties.
“We believe that the Rule change regarding club adjustability will create opportunities for both manufacturers and golfers alike, without diminishing the challenge of the game,” said David Rickman, R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.
“Top professional golfers have long had the opportunity to have their clubs adjusted or modified quickly and often. This has allowed them to ‘fit’ their clubs to their swings as they wished. By changing the Rules to permit greater club adjustability, all golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy similar fitting benefits” added Rickman.

1. The new Rule will state the following:
“All clubs may incorporate mechanisms for weight adjustment. Other forms of adjustability may also be permitted upon evaluation by The R&A.The following requirements apply to all permissible methods of adjustment:
(i) the adjustment cannot be readily made;
(ii) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and
(iii) all configurations of adjustment conform with the Rules.During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means (see Rule 4-2a)”
2. There is no change to the Rules for putters, which are already permitted to incorporate other forms of adjustability as well as for weight.
3. An announcement on the 2008 Rules of Golf, including the principal changes to the “playing Rules”, will be made at the end of October / early November.

MONTY AND GAYNOR TO MARRY

EARLY NEXT YEAR AND SET

UP HOME IN PERTHSHIRE

FROM "THE SCOTSMAN" WEBSITE

GAYNOR Knowles probably doesn't know an eagle from a birdie - so she's unlikely to be able to talk about golf with Colin Montgomerie.
Friends say that ignorance of the game has allowed him to take his mind off things when they are together, which has helped turn his career around.
And they will be together a lot more soon - because they are getting married.
The golfer proposed to Mrs Knowles, 40, in the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire in front of the seven children they have between them. She said yes, and the wedding could take place as early as January.
His fiancée has also persuaded Montgomerie, 44, to move back to Scotland, with friends saying the couple will set up home somewhere in Perthshire.
Last night, the golfer, who is due to play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week, said: "We are just thrilled and looking forward to the future together. We have not yet made any formal plans but will be planning with the respective families in the coming weeks."
Friends say the new relationship has helped lift the storm clouds that have blighted Montgomerie's form since the acrimonious divorce in 2004 from childhood sweetheart Eimear, his wife of 14 years.
A WINNER AGAIN

Last month, he won the European Open in Ireland - his first title in 20 months.
Mrs Knowles was left £20 million following the death of her husband, George, the head of the Sterling Furniture Group, who had a heart attack while celebrating his 41st birthday jet-skiing off his yacht at Puerto Pollensa in Majorca in 2003.
The broadcaster Dougie Donnelly, a close family friend of Mrs Knowles and her late husband, said: "My wife Linda and I introduced Colin to Gaynor at Gleneagles Hotel two years ago. We had dinner with them in the Strathearn Restaurant at Gleneagles and just last weekend Colin and Gaynor went back to the same restaurant where he proposed to her.
"The two of them and the seven children had been on holiday in France last week, where they all got along famously. The kids all like each other, which is great.
"Colin will come up here to live after they are married, which we expect will be sometime next year. I am sure he will move up from England sooner rather than later after the marriage. I think they are likely to settle in Perthshire, though not at Gleneagles."
Montgomerie asked his children, Olivia, 13, Venetia, 11, and Cameron, nine, for the go-ahead for the marriage, then pleaded with them to keep it a secret before presenting Mrs Knowles with a diamond engagement ring. The children are understood to have told their mother about it when their father took them back to her this week.
Eimear, 37, who is on holiday in Belgium with her new boyfriend, millionaire Nick Cooke, 55, said she was delighted by the news. "I haven't met Gaynor, but I am told by the children that she is very nice and they like her a lot," she said.
In September 2006, during their courtship, Montgomerie attracted criticism by breaking off mid-tournament from the BMW international open in Germany to make a 2,000-mile round trip by private jet at a cost of £30,000 to join Mrs Knowles and one of her daughters at a sell-out Robbie Williams concert at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
A CALMING INFLUENCE
Gaynor's late husband was an avid collector of classic cars and he left 70, including a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin.
She lives in a £1.5 million mansion at Drum of Garvock near the village of Dunning, a few miles south of Perth, with her four children - son George, 18, and daughters Lindsey, 15, Christie, 12 and seven-year-old Aimee.
She has admitted having little knowledge of golf but has supported Montgomerie at major tournaments. Her calming influence has been said to have helped Montgomerie regain his golfing form.
During their courtship the couple have been spotted shopping in Harrods and entertaining friends in top London restaurants.

MHAIRI WON $105,307 FOR JOINT SECOND

Mhairi McKay's financial reward for finshing joint second in the LPGA Tour's Safeway Classic on Sunday was $105,307.
That is one of the biggest prizes of her LPGA career which started in 1998 and represents more than she earned in each of the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Her peak years were in 2001, when she earned $439,024, and 2002 when he won $489,384.
Her total winnings this season amount to $253,043 so, with quite a few tournaments to come in 2008, Mhairi already has her third best ever season nailed down.

In total the Scot has won $1,957,723 since her rookie year in 1998.

Here's how the LPGA money table stands at the moment:

1 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) $2,891,590.

2 Suzann Petterson (Nor) $1,128,963.

3 Paula Creamer (US) $1,070,437.

Other totals:

23 Laura Davies (Eng) $499,059.

27 Catriona Matthew (Sco) $414,587.

42 Mhairi McKay (Sco) $253,043.

62 Janice Moodie (Sco) $137,510

Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

ALLGRIP GIRLS INTER-CLUB FOURSOMES
Westport Golf Club

MOUNTBELLEW CROWNED FOURSOMES CHAMPIONS

Mountbellew beat Clandeboye to win the 2007 Allgrip Girls' Inter-Club Foursomes Finals at Westport Golf Club today.
Earlier in the day, in the semi-finals, Clandeboye defeated Navan while Mountbellew ended Ennis’ hopes.
Details:

FINAL

CLANDEBOYE 1/2, MOUNTBELLEW 2 1/2.

Caroline Adams (11) lost to Laura Burke (17) 6 and 5.
Kelsey Coey (15) halved with Aoife Fallon (17) (called in).
Brook Hopley (22) lost to Michelle Burke (26) 5 and 3.

SEMI-FINALS

CLANDEBOYE 2 1/2, NAVAN 1/2

Caroline Adams (11) halved with Bebhinne Jennings (9) (called in).
Kelsey Coey (15) bt Olwen Jennings (13) 5 and 4.
Brook Hopley (22) bt Kirstie Barry (15) 7 and 5.

MOUNTBELLEW 2 1/2, ENNIS 1/2

Laura Burke (17) bt Sarah Cunningham (4) 7 and 6.
Aoife Fallon (17) bt Diandra O’Connell (7) 8 and 6.
Michelle Burke (26) halved with Ciara Pender (8) (called in).

SCOTLAND SCHOOLBOYS' AND SCHOOLGIRLS'
TEAMS TO PLAY ENGLAND AT WESTERWOOD

Teams announced to represent Scotland in the schoolboys and schoolgirls international matches against England at Westerwood Hotel Golf & Country Club, Cumbernauld on Monday, September 10 are:

SCOTLAND SCHOOLBOYS
Sam Binning (St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm).
Mark Bookless (Uddingston Grammar School).
Jack Bradley (Gleniffer High, Paisley).
Neil Henderson (North Berwick High).
David Law (Aberdeen Grammar School).
Fraser McKenna (Boclair Academy).
Andrew McLachlan (Hutchesons’ Grammar School).
Sam McLaren (Perth Academy).
Alan Murdoch (Stranraer Academy).
Chris Robb (Banchory Academy).
Paul Shields (Trinity High, Rutherglen).
Daniel Young (Perth Academy).

SCOTLAND SCHOOLGIRLS
Louise MacGregor (Larbert High).
Jill Meldrum (Lenzie Academy).
Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry High).
Jane Turner (George Watson’s College).
Sammy Vass (Tain Royal Academy).
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth High).

**Pamela Pretswell and Kelsey MacDonald were in the originally selected Scotland schoolgirls team but both had to withdraw for their selection by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association for the women's home international matches at Dunbar Golf Club the same week.

English Ladies Golf Association Press Release

ENGLAND NAME THREE NEW CAPS IN TEAM FOR
HOME INTERNATIONALS AT DUNBAR

New British strokeplay champion Melissa Reidwill help England to defend their title at the Home International Matches at Dunbar from September 12-14.
She is named in an eight-strong team which combines five experienced internationals with three new caps. The side will be captained by Jenny Clink (Lilley Brook).
The newcomers are Claire Aitken, the English mid-amateur champion from Kent, Rachel Jennings, the 2006 English girls’ champion from Staffordshire, who finished fifth in the British stroke-play, and Danielle Montgomery from Buckinghamshire, who was runner-up in the English strokeplay championship.
They join English champion Naomi Edwards and her Yorkshire colleague Rachel Bell, Liz Bennett, the 2006 English stroke-play champion from Hampshire, Melissa Reid from Derbyshire, who has also won this year’s Scottish stroke-play title and the St Rule Trophy, and Kerry Smith, the ELGA order of merit titleholder from Hampshire.
The reserve is Bedfordshire’s Holly Aitchison who is the Portuguese amateur champion and the winner of the St Andrews junior ladies’ open.
Rachel Bell, Naomi Edwards, Melissa Reid and Kerry Smith all played all four days of the Women’s British Open at St Andrews, where Melissa won the amateur salver. Together with Liz Bennett they were all also members of GB&I’s Vagliano Trophy team.
Kerry, Naomi and Melissa helped Great Britain to win the Commonwealth Tournament earlier this year. They were joined by Rachel Bell, among other players, in the England side which took the bronze medal at the European team championships.
English stroke-play champion Jodi Ewart, from Catterick in Yorkshire, and English girls’ champion Ellie Givens, from Blackwell Grange in Durham, were not available for consideration for this team because both are studying at university in the USA.
The Home International Matches coincide with the Junior Solheim Cup when Europe’s team will include two other English players: Florentyna Parker, the French lady junior champion from Royal Birkdale, and British girls’ champion Henrietta Brockway from Yeovil.
England's team for Dunbar is:
Claire Aitken (The London Club).
Rachel Bell (Ganton).
Liz Bennett (Brokenhust Manor).
Naomi Edwards (Ganton).
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton).
Danielle Montgomery (Lambourne).
Melissa Reid (Chevin).
Kerry Smith (Waterlooville).
Reserve:
Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire)

Lyndsey HewisonPress & PR Officer
Visit our web site at www.englishladiesgolf.org

C O N G U MOVE TO HAVE NINE-HOLE SCORES
COUNT FOR HANDICAP PURPOSES

In the following article on the Daily Telegraph's website, www.telegraph.co.uk, LEWINE MAIR reveals that a major change in the handicapping system is in the pipeline.

In a move which could in theory affect 1½-million of Britain's golfers, club golf competitions played over nine holes are set to count for handicap purposes as from January. The proposal is a welcome innovation in the Council of National Golf Unions' new Unified Handicapping System, drafts of which have been handed to The Daily Telegraph by a source.
The new nine-hole competitions are born of today's busy lifestyles. Like Peter McEvoy, the former Amateur champion who opened the six-hole course at Northwick Park, CONGU have pointed to how work and family life are making ever more inroads into a man's (and woman's) time on the course.
"It is envisaged," the Union said, "that Nine-Hole Qualifying Competitions will be particularly attractive to clubs and their members on summer evenings and in the restricted daylight hours of winter weekends."
They also noted that the half-round "could be the means by which a greater number of senior golfers are encouraged to make returns for handicap purposes".
No mention is made of schoolchildren and mothers of young families but, in the case of the latter, it is a fact that more women are lost to the game at this stage than any other. Nine-hole competitions would help a golfer to keep in the swing for longer before the birth of a child - and allow her to resume rather sooner after the big event.
On learning of the proposals, Alison Nicholas, the former British and US Open champion, said that the innovation was just what the modern woman needed. "As the pace of life has increased, so a full round has for become just too time-consuming for some people," she said. "To be able to keep a handicap going with nine-hole scores could keep people in the game for longer."
Since there is no desire to change the traditional way in which competitive golf is played - ie, over 18 holes - it appears that golfers will not be allowed to acquire their initial handicaps over nine holes. Also, the number of nine-hole competitions is to be restricted, with the clubs limited to 10 per year, all of them in Stableford format. Players in Division One, in other words those with handicaps of five or better, will be free to enter the relevant events but will not have the handicap option.
Overall, the idea of the new Unified Handicapping System is an entirely worthy attempt "to enable golfers of differing abilities, men and ladies alike, to compete on a fair and equitable basis".
What comes across as rather less than fair and equitable are the demands CONGU seem to be making of the various computer software companies who will be incorporating the new regulations in the handicap service they provide to the clubs.
Until now, CONGU have charged the companies £10 for every club they handle. As from next year, they will be asking for £22.
In an intriguing little twist, the software companies, all of whom are shying away from talking to the press, have been told that they may on no account give the clubs any details of these new charges.

SCOTTISH WINNER ON US FUTURES TOUR

THE CLUBS IN VIKKI LAING'S BAG AS SHE

SCORES FIRST WIN AS A PROFESSIONAL

*Courtesy the US Duramed Futures Tour website

Driver: Callaway FT-5, 9.5-degree loft, Grafalloy Pro Launch Blue, 65-gram, regular-flex graphite shaft.

Fairway woods: Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead III 4-wood and 7-wood, both with Callaway System III, regular-flex graphite shaft.

Irons: Titleist 735-CM Forged irons, 4-iron through pitching wedge, True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts, regular flex.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design, 52-degree BV 252-08, 56-degree BV SM56-10 Spin Milled, 60-degree BV SM60-08 Spin Milled, all with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts, regular flex.

Putter: YES! Golf C-Groove Tracy II model, 30-inch length.

Ball: Titleist Pro V-1.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet.

Bag: Titleist carry stand bag.

Shoes: FootJoy DryJoy

Spikes: CHAMP

LEADING MONEYWINNERS ON US FUTURES TOUR

AFTER GETTYSBURG CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Emily Bastel (Ohio) 18 tournaments, 2 wins $56,428.

2 Violeta Retamoza (Mexico) 16 tournaments, 1 win $49,051.

3 Seo-Jae Lee (South Korea) 16 tournaments, 2 wins $47,759.

4 Mollie Fankhauser (Ohio) 13 tournaments, 1 win $46,77.

5 Allison Fouch (Michigan) 17 tournaments, 2 wins $44,476.

====================================================

6 Liz Janangelo (Connecticutt) 18 tournaments, 2 wins $44,284.

7 Brandi Jackson (South Carolina) 17 tournaments, 0 wins $35,738.

8 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 18 tournaments, 1 win $34,151.

9 Ha Na Chae (South Korea) 18 tournaments, 0 wins $32,688.

10 Janell Howland (Idaho) 18 tournaments, 1 win $30,632.

11 Ji Min Jeong (South Korea) 15 tournaments, 1 win $29,666.

12 Taylor Leon (Texas) 7 tournaments, 2 wins $27,742.

13 Carolina Larsson (Sweden) 18 tournaments, 0 wins $27,336.

14 Eunjung Yi (California) 18 tournaments, 0 wins $25,386.

15 Sofie Andersson (Sweden) 17 tournaments, 1 win $24,289.

16 Audra Burks (Florida) 12 tournaments, 0 wins $22,410.

17 Lori Atsedes (New York) 18 tournaments, 1 win $21,601.

18 Mo Martin (California) 17 tournaments, 1 win $20,837.

19 Cortney Reno (Michigan) 18 tournaments, 0 wins $20,531.

20 Rachael Bailey (Australia) 18 tournaments, 0 wins $19,061.

+There is only one more tournament on the 2007 US Futures Tour schedule at the end of which the leading five money-winners in the table will automatically gain playing rights for the 2008 LPGA Tour.

Thurso's Ord Salver-winning team (left to right): Audrey Dunnett, Eileen Manson, Nadia Green and Pam Bain (picture by Robin Wilson).

CELEBRATION DAY AT BONAR BRIDGE/ARDGAY
IN CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND COMPETITION

By ROBIN WILSON

Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay Golf Club hosted the Caithness & Sutherland women's inter-club team competition at the weekend and their ladies had good cause for a double celebration when they won a trophy in the competition for the first time and were given a new women's course record. Within the space of a couple of hours, two record scorecards were returned. After the short nine hole course was upgraded several years ago with three replacement holes the best score by a lady had been an 81 by local member Jacqueline Sutherland.
On Saturday, with the influx of lower handicap players from the visiting clubs of the two northern counties, the local committee were fully expecting this score to be bettered.
Brora Golf Club past captain Anne Robertson enjoyed a two-hour spell as new course record holder when she posted a gross 78, 10 over the ladies’ par for the course but well below her handicap of 16.
This return, added to Brora's other scores of 85 from club champion Lesley Beaney and 100 from Pat Ashe, put Brora into an early lead for the scratch Ord Salver.
However, with a birdie 3 on the last hole the record was taken away from Anne Robertson, and dashed also were Brora's hopes of the scratch team salver win, when Thurso's five-handicap player Eileen Manson, pictured above by Robin Wilson, the Northern Counties LGA vice-captain, had halves of 40 and 37 to lower the record from 78 to 77.
Eileen’s scorecard read:
OUT: 5 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 – 40.
IN: 5 4 3 4 6 3 5 4 3 – 37.
Thurso's four players eventually swept to a four-shot scratch win over Wick who came late from the course to relegate Brora to third place.
With three scores counting from four, Thurso's winning total of 255 was made up from Eileen Manson's 77, an 87 from Audrey Dunnett and a 91 from Pam Bain. The Thurso fourth team member was teenager Nadia Green.
Deirdre McAngus and Carol Place, both with scores of 85, and Doreen Cormack's 89 made up Wick's total of 259. Marion Mackay was their fourth player.
Since the competition was inaugurated in 1981 the small membership at Bonar Bridge/Ardgay have never won one either of the two trophies on offer but this was to be their year in the handicap with ever-increasing membership and home advantage.
Jenni Hunter led the way with a net 69 to which was added a net 70 from Maureen Wemyss and then another 70 from Mary Hayden (Northern Counties secretary) for a net total of 209 to wrench the Beatrice Trophy away from holders, Royal Dornoch whose number two team came second with a total of 213.
The Dornoch individual scorers were Margaret Smedley 76, Sylvia McDonald 66, and Rena Bethune 71. Their fourth member was Caroline Fitzpatrick.
Next years' competition returns to Thurso.

LORENA OCHOA WINS AGAIN!
and Mhairi McKay is joint second

SAFEWAY CLASSIC
Columbia Edgewater Country Club, USA
Par 216 (3 x 72)
204 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 67 66 71
209 In-Bee Park (Kor) 73 72 64, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 66 68 75, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 70 67 72, Christina Kim 69 71 69
210 Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 66 71 73
211 Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 73 67 71, Beth Bader 70 71 70
212 Gloria Park (Kor) 72 70 70, Juli Inkster 75 68 69, Katie Futcher 72 70 70
213 Paula Creamer 73 71 69, Sherri Turner 72 71 70, Laura Diaz 71 69 73, Angela Stanford 68 72 73, Sarah Lee 69 72 72
214 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 70 70 74, Stephanie Louden 73 70 71, Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 73 72 69, Cristie Kerr 73 72 69
215 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 70 70 75, Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 70 72 73, Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor) 71 70 74, Tiffany Joh 74 70 71, Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 75 69 71, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 74 71 70, Kris Tamulis 72 71 72
216 Il Mi Chung (Kor) 72 71 73, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 74 72, Julieta Granada (Par) 74 69 73, Brittany Lang 72 71 73, Jeong Jang (Kor) 73 72 71, Katherine Hull (Aus) 72 69 75
217 Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (Fra) 72 76 69, Young Jo (Kor) 73 72 72, Diana D'Alessio 70 69 78, Charlotte Mayorkas 76 69 72, Pat Hurst 77 70 70, Dorothy Delasin 76 71 70, Leta Lindley 68 78 71, Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 75 73 69, Jane Park 72 72 73, Natalie Gulbis 71 68 78, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 72 74 71
218 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 72 72 74, Clarissa Childs 73 71 74, Becky Morgan (Wal) 74 72 72, Wendy Ward 72 72 74, Nicole Castrale 77 71 70
219 Jill McGill 75 72 72, Morgan Pressel 75 68 76, Angela Park 74 72 73, Lorie Kane (Can) 71 73 75, Nancy Scranton 75 69 75, Michelle Ellis 73 72 74, Dawn Coe-Jones 71 74 74, Amy Hung (Tha) 75 73 71, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 70 76 73, A.J Eathorne (Can) 71 75 73
220 Laura Davies (Eng) 77 68 75, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 73 72 75, Na Ri Kim (Kor) 75 72 73, Liselotte Neumann (Swe) 73 74 73
221 Lisa Fernandes 72 75 74, Paige Mackenzie 73 72 76, Reilley Rankin 72 72 77
222 Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) 70 76 76, Young Kim (Kor) 74 72 76, Tina Barrett 73 75 74, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 71 74 77
223 Yu Ping Lin (Tai) 75 73 75
224 Meena Lee (Kor) 73 72 79, Meg Mallon 79 68 77
225 Heather Young 70 74 81, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 77 71 77, Eva Dahllof (Swe) 78 70 77
226 Jacqueline Yang (Chn) 69 76 81, Kristy McPherson 74 74 78
227 Erica Blasberg 73 75 79
228 In Kyung Kim (Kor) 74 74 80

Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

2007 AA INSURANCE LADIES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
NORTHERN DISTRICT FINALS
at KNOCK GOLF CLUB

Belvoir Park, City of Derry, Rockmount and Gracehill will join Larne and Omagh at the All-Ireland semi-finals of the AA Insurance Championships at Athlone Golf Club on September 28 to 30.
Belvoir Park started brightly in the Junior Cup and held a slight advantage over a luckless Donaghadee on the outward stretch. Gail Linter and Pauline Bailie closed out their matches on the home green and when Jenny Gibson holed from two feet on seventeen, her victory secured the Northern District title for the club.
In spite of losing the top match, City of Derry reeled off the remaining four matches to beat Cushendal in the final of the Intermediate Cup. Veronica Burke held firm to close out Brenda Carey on the home green while Team Captain Ciara Quigg led by example winning her epic encounter at the second tie hole.
City of Derry’s Eileen Moyne had a double reason to celebrate as she holed out on the par 3 sixteenth.
The Minor Cup saw Rockmount come from behind to win the 3 back matches and beat Moyola Park by the odd match. Andrea Patterson and Carol McGrath both won on sixteen while Grace Downey won the decider on the home green.
Kirkistown’s Castle’s run in the AA Insurance Championships came to an end with a 3½-1½ loss to Gracehill. While Henrietta Taylor drew first blood, Gracehill’s Vee Stockley, Gloria Stewart,and Anne McCarroll reeled off convincing victories to lift this year’s Challenge Cup.
The four District Champions now join Senior Foursomes winners Larne and Junior Foursomes winners Omagh,who dispatched Shandon Park and Edenmore in two tight encounters on Saturday, in the All-Ireland semi-finals in Athlone, September 28 to 30.

Results:

AA INSURANCE JUNIOR CUP:
DONAGHADEE 1, BELVOIR PARK 4
Alison Strain lost to Gail Linter 2 holes.
Joan Miller lost to Pauline Bailie 1 hole.
Jacqui Jellie lost to Jenny Gibson 2 and 1.
Pat Caldwell halved with Sue Cashman (called in).
Norma McGilton halved with Judy Simpson (called in).

AA INSURANCE INTERMEDIATE CUP:
CUSHENDALL 1, CITY OF DERRY 4
Sarah McKeegan bt Doreen Fleming 1 hole.
Fiona deLargey lost to Betty McBride 3 and 2.
Christine McSparran lost to Ciara Quigg at 20th.
Brenda Carey lost to Veronica Burke 1 hole.
Dolores McDonnell lost to Eileen Moyne 2 and 1.

AA INSURANCE MINOR CUP:
MOYOLA PARK 2, ROCKMOUNT 3
Mary McGoldrick bt Vi Anderson 1up
Margaret Gates bt Daphne Beggs 1 hole.
Ita McHugh lost to Grace Downey 2 holes.
Eileen McKeague lost to Andrea Patterson 3 and 2.
Anne Kelly lost to Carol McGrath 3 and 2.

AA INSURANCE CHALLENGE CUP:
GRACEHILL 3½, KIRKISTOWN CASTLE 1½
Jackie Maton lost to Henrietta Taylor 1 hole.
Vee Stockley bt Hazel McCammon 5 and 4.
Gloria Stewart bt Ruth Warnock 6 and 5.
Anne McCarroll bt Anne McClure 5 and 3.
Christine Duddy halved with Carolyn Revie (called in)

AA INSURANCE SENIOR FOURSOMES:
LARNE 2, SHANDON PARK 1
Roma English & Carol McMaw bt Julie Hall & Diane Conway 2 and 1.
Joyce Robinson & Sarah O’Neill lost to Jenny Young & Karen Simpson 6 and 5.
Gail McNabb & Barbara O’Neill bt Diane Nickels & Debbie Sweeney 1 hole.

AA INSURANCE JUNIOR FOURSOMES:
EDENMORE 1, OMAGH 2
Debbie McMaster & Claire Usher lost to Anne Cullen & Grainne McCarron 3 and 2.
Caroline Watson & Gillian Murphy bt Dolores Duddy & Margaret Barton 7 and 6.
Stephanie Watson & Sally Cushnahan lost to Judith Lyons & Patsy Harkin 1 hole.

United States Futures Tour Press Release

VIKKI LAING WINS 54-HOLE

BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG

By LISA D MICKEY

There was a certain irony about the outcome of this year’s $100,000 Gettysburg Championship. The next-to-last tournament (on this year's US Futures Tour) was staged in a town so steeped in American history that the very characters from the pages of the past showed up in Civil War-era costume and spent three nights in an encampment beside the 10th fairway.
And if champion Vikki Laing searches her memory, she’ll recall hearing a bagpiper squeeze out the melody of “Scotland Forever” this morning immediately after the completion of the storm-suspended second round and the start of the final round.

And she won’t likely forget a deep, thundering cannon blast that resounded across The Links At Gettysburg course, making her jump in her shoes outside the scoring tent before today’s final round began.
Perhaps it was coincidental, but it also was fitting at the end of 54 holes when the native of Mussellburgh, Scotland lifted the trophy – a hand-blown, one-of-a-kind glass cannon – and celebrated her first professional win with rounds of 70-68-69 for a nine-under-par 207 total.
“This has been a dream of mine to win and this whole week has been kind of neat,” said Laing, 26, also a non-exempt member of the LPGA Tour. “I jumped out of my skin when they shot a cannon, but it’s been a great experience that I’ll never forget.”
Like 68 other players on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, Laing was forced to return to the course this morning to complete her second round. By day’s end, she had played 30 holes of golf and after two rounds, she had grabbed a one-shot lead of 138 (-6) over top-ranked Emily Bastel, at 139.
But the 26-year-old Scot wasn’t done. After the second round, she uttered something about “not second-guessing” her putting lines on the greens. And when asked if she was ready to win, the Scot added with a sly smile, “That’s the plan.”
And if those folks dressed in Confederate grays and Union blues had a plan to teach a golf tour of international players a few things about America’s early struggles, then Laing’s plan this week intended to minimize her own struggle in the thick, wet rough of a golf course that had received more than three inches of rain this week.

In today’s final round, she carded five birdies and one bogey. She saved par on the third hole with a downhill 20-footer, and again from six feet on the sixth hole.
And she did it with hard-charging Violeta Retamoza breathing down her collar. But the rookie from Aguascalientes, Mexico ran into trouble on the back nine with an errant driver and carded a final-round score of 70, finishing second at 210 (-6). The Mexican limped in with three birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey on her second nine.
“I started out really good, but I just couldn’t hit any fairways on the back,” said Retamoza, who hit only eight fairways in regulation today. “I knew if I could just hit my drives in the fairway, I’d have a chance -- but I didn’t.”
And for most of the afternoon, Laing was in total command. She got up and down for par when she needed a save. And she was strong enough to muscle shots out of the thatch when she missed a fairway on the 6,425-yard course.
“She can hit shots that a lot of women can’t hit,” said Bastel (77) of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who dropped into a tie for eighth at even-par 216. “The course got a lot tougher today and it was all about who adapted the best. Vikki did. She went for it when she had the green light and she played really great all week.”
Rookie Song Yi Choi (67) of Seoul, Korea and Brandi Jackson (69) of Greenville, S.C., made a late final-round charge, but both came up short to tie for third at 212 (-4).
Playing 27 holes today, Choi carded six birdies and one three-putt bogey. Jackson’s final round was highlighted by seven birdies and two double-bogeys – one of which was a four-putt green.
“I know I can win out here if I can just not shoot a 76 on the first day,” said Jackson, who carded rounds of 76-67-69, and who is still seeking her first professional title. “Vikki is very steady. She’s got a great golf swing and a great attitude.”
“Her temperament is perfect for the game because it’s always the same,” added player Mo Martin of Altadena, Calif., who tied for 34th and won earlier this season in El Paso, Texas. “When I saw her between the two rounds today, I told her, ‘Don’t step on the 18th tee unless you have the lead.’ She wasn’t going to come in second again and today, I think Vikki was completely in command.”
That’s the way it appeared. And that is the way her 2007 season has panned out for the former 2002 Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup Team member. She has posted five top-10 finishes, including a tie for third in Kansas City, where the rough was dense, and a tie for second in Morgantown, W.Va., where heavy rains also suspended play, doused the course and tested the patience of every player in the field.
Laing’s $14,000 winner’s check moved her from 17th to No. 8 on the season money list with one tournament remaining. Players in the top five after the final event earn fully exempt LPGA status for 2008.
“Vikki’s attitude is tireless and her persistence is paying off,” said player Gina Umeck of Redlands, Calif., who played for UCLA against Laing when the Scot was on the women’s team at the University of California-Berkeley. “I don’t think it has entered her mind what point of the season she’s in.”
What has registered with Laing is that finally, as a professional, her play is matching up to her reputation as one of the top young amateur players from the British Isles.
“I’ve got to be pretty pleased to have three rounds under par,” said Laing. “Consistency is what I’ve been lacking.”
But not this week and not today. And not because of storm delays or atypical sightings of Confederate soldiers guarding bridges to par-three greens or even a bearded General Robert E. Lee jostling along in full regalia to get out of the rain beside tan 20-somethings in golf clothes.
On the 18th green at day’s end, Vikki Laing raised her own cannon. Shot for shot, she was in command. She led her own charge all week. And in this modern-day Battle of Gettysburg, even Lee and his soldiers stood at attention greenside to witness a happier ending on hallowed ground.
Weather: Overcast and fair with a high temperature of 82 degrees. Winds around 7 mph.

FINAL TOTALS

$100,000 The Gettysburg Championship at the 6425-yard, par 72 The Links at Gettysburg, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

1 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 70-68-69 - 207 $14,000.

2 Violeta Retamoza (Mexico) 67-73-70 - 210 $10,000.

T3 Song Yi Choi (Seoul, Korea) 72-73-67 - 212 $6,103.

T3 Brandi Jackson (Greenville, S.C.) 76-67-69 - 212 $6,103.

5 Seo-Jae Lee (Seoul, Korea) 68-72-74 - 214 $4,082.

T6 Esther Choe (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 72-74-69 - 215 $2,907.

T6 Nicole Melton (San Antonio, Texas) 73-69-73 - 215 $2,907.

T8 Taylor Leon (Dallas, Texas) 67-75-74 - 216 $2,107.

T8 Emily Bastel (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 72-67-77 - 216 $2,107.

T10 Charlotte Campbell (Heathrow, Fla.) 70-75-72 - 217 $1,657.

T10 Lauren Espinosa (Hickory Creek, Texas) 72-69-76 - 217 $1,657.

T12 Lori Atsedes (Ithaca, NY) 74-73-71 - 218 $1,357.

T12 Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 71-72-75 - 218 $1,357.

T12 Cortney Reno (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 71-70-77 - 218 $1,357.

T15 Audra Burks (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) 74-72-73 - 219 $1,080.

T15 Sofie Andersson (Angelholm, Sweden) 74-72-73 - 219 $1,080.

T15 Katie Allison (Mahwah, N.J.) 74-71-74 - 219 $1,080.

T18 Eunjung Yi (Murrieta, Calif.) 75-73-72 - 220 $887.

T18 Sarah-Jane Kenyon (Queensland, Australia) 76-71-73 - 220 $887.

T18 Becky Lucidi (Poway, Calif.) 72-74-74 - 220 $887.

T18 Kelly Lagedrost (Brooksville, Fla.) 73-73-74 - 220 $887.

T18 Jenny Gleason (Clearwater, Fla.) 74-72-74 - 220 $887.

T23 Lisa Meldrum (Kirkland, Quebec) 75-73-73 - 221 $793.

T23 Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, BC) 74-73-74 - 221 $793.

T23 Mollie Fankhauser (Columbus, Ohio) 76-70-75 - 221 $793.

T23 Kim Augusta (Rumford, R.I.) 71-75-75 - 221 $793.

T23 Leah Wigger (Louisville, Ky.) 73-73-75 - 221 $793.

T23 Mindy Kim (Diamond Bar, Calif.) 73-73-75 - 221 $793.

T23 Rachel Bailey (Faulconbridge, Australia) 72-72-77 - 221 $793.

T30 Jin Hyun Kim (Seoul, Korea) 75-73-74 - 222 $740.

T30 Sarah Martin (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 76-73-73 - 222 $740.

T30 Janell Howland (Boise, Idaho) 75-77-70 - 222 $740.

T30 Amanda McCurdy (Fayetteville, Ark.) 75-77-70 - 222 $740.

T34 Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 71-76-76 - 223 $718.

T34 Kristen Samp (Moberly, Mo.) 72-74-77 - 223 $718.

T36 Alissa Kuczka (Phoenix, Ariz.) 72-76-76 - 224 $677.

T36 Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario) 73-75-76 - 224 $677.

T36 Annie Young (Highland, Utah) 75-72-77 - 224 $677.

T36 Liz Janangelo (West Hartford, Conn.) 72-75-77 - 224 $677.

T36 Yoora Kim (Seoul, Korea) 73-76-75 - 224 $677.

T36 Lisa Ferrero (Lodi, Calif.) 76-73-75 - 224 $677.

T36 Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ontario) 73-77-74 - 224 $677.

T36 Beth Bauer (Tampa, Fla.) 78-73-73 - 224 $677.

T36 Onnarin Sattayabanphot (Bangkok, Thailand) 78-68-78 - 224 $677.

T36 Taya Battistella (Portland, Ore.) 73-78-73 - 224 $677.

T36 Lindsey Edmunds (London, Ontario) 75-76-73 - 224 $677.

T36 Danah Ford (Indianapolis, Ind.) 78-74-72 - 224 $677.

T48 Jamie Stevenson (Mayfield, Utah) 77-71-77 - 225 $623.

T48 Marcela Leon (Monterrey, Mexico) 70-77-78 - 225 $623.

T48 Debbie Williams-Hoak (Ann Arbor, Mich.) 77-72-76 - 225 $623.

T48 Bing Lim (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 76-73-76 - 225 $623.

T48 Meghan Little (Sturgis, S.D.) 74-75-76 - 225 $623

T48 Ashley Leonard (Rocky Mount, N.C.) 77-70-78 - 225 $623 .

T48 Stephanie Otteson (Wilson, N.C.) 75-75-75 - 225 $623

T48 Anastasia Kostina (Nakhabino, Russia) 78-74-73 - 225 $623

T48 Cristina Baena (Pereira, Colombia) 77-75-73 - 225 $623

T48 Sin Ah Ham (Torrance, Calif.) 72-71-82 - 225 $623.

T58 Kelly Cavanaugh (Palos Verdes, Calif.) 75-74-77 - 226 $596

Dana Lacey (Perth, W. Australia) 77-73-76 - 226 $596

Allison Fouch (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 76-76-74 - 226 $596

Debbie Eckroth (Harrisburg, Pa.) 74-78-74 - 226 $596

T62 Jenna Pearson (Wheaton, Ill.) 71-78-78 - 227 $581

Caroline Larsson (Danderyd, Sweden) 78-73-76 - 227 $581

Christine Boucher (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec) 75-77-75 - 227 $581

Ha Na Chae (Seoul, Korea) 76-76-75 - 227 $581

66 Ashley Prange (Noblesville, Ind.) 73-79-76 - 228 $573.

T67 Mary Moan (New Haven, Conn.) 72-76-81 - 229 $565.

Hwanhee Lee (Las Vegas, Nev.) 77-73-79 - 229 $565.

Sam White (Atlanta, Ga.) 76-74-79 - 229 $565.

Collette Jamarowicz (Newark, Del.) 78-73-78 - 229 $565.

T71 Adriane Duke (Jonesboro, Ark.) 76-75-79 - 230 $558.

Elizabeth Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) 75-77-78 - 230 $558.

73 Jaclyn Burch (Satellite Beach, Fla.) 73-78-80 - 231 $555.

74 Andrea Werner (Evansville, Ind.) 76-76-81 - 233 $553.

75 Rebecka Heinmert (San Jose, Calif.) 76-74-87 - 237 $550

SUZANN WINS SAS MASTERS BY NINE
STROKES ON HOME SOIL IN NORWAY


FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen recorded a resounding nine-stroke victory at the SAS Masters on home soil at Losby Golf Club today.
The 26-year-old Solheim Cup star, who is sixth in the Rolex World Rankings, began as the favourite at the golf course, which is nestled in a scenic valley on the northern tip of Oslo's forest to the east known as Østmarka.
She proved the bookies right by posting a course record eight-under-par 64 in the first round to take a four stroke lead in the 54-hole Ladies European Tour event. After playing to par in windy conditions in the second round, she entered the final round with a five stroke lead and eventually won the 30,000 Euros top prize with a total of 12-under par after a final round 68.
“It’s been a fantastic year and my third win of the year at home, I couldn’t ask for more. It feels great and it was nice to actually play well today and shoot my numbers,” she said.
“I’ve been in my own bubble all week and it’s been working well. I just try to complete the mission; not to get too excited at the end and not actually knowing what the total score was so it was fun.
“Coming home, you can give something back to Norwegian golfers. The juniors come and learn and hopefully we will get more juniors playing.”
She also promised to come back and defend her title in 2008. Testament to the challenge of the course and conditions was the fact that only three other players scored below par in the tournament.
Australia’s Nikki Garrett, who won the Tenerife and Spanish Ladies Opens in May, finished outright second on three-under-par after a 71. Meanwhile Pettersen’s playing partner Anja Monke of Germany and Italy’s Diana Luna tied for third on one-under after they both carded 74.
It was Pettersen’s third victory of the year and her fourth career win in total. She won the Michelob Ultra on the LPGA Tour in May followed by her first major championship at the McDonald's LPGA Championship in June. It was her second victory on the LET after her first career win at the Ladies French Open in 2001, her rookie year.
Her nine shot victory was the biggest winning margin on the LET in 2007. Gwladys Nocera of France previously held the record. having won the KLM Ladies Open in the Netherlands by seven strokes.
“I think I got a lot out of my game. I got my putter working again so that’s really nice, especially with The Solheim coming up. I’m really pleased,” Pettersen added.
She will remain in Norway for the next two weeks, before playing in her next tournament, The Solheim Cup at Halmstad Golfklubb in Sweden, from September 14 to 16.
Garrett, who recorded her best finish since May, said: “We were playing for second today really, with Suzann being so far in front. I am happy just to shoot under par again.
“I have been struggling in a way, and I wanted to have a good finish before I go back to Australia and prepare for the LPGA Qualifying School. I feel like my game’s getting better and I’m striking the ball like I usually do, so that always helps.”

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216
204 S Pettersen (Nor) 64 72 68.
213 N Garrett (Aus) 69 73 71.
215 Diana Luna (Ita) 69 72 74, Anja Monke (Ger) 68 73 74.

Lesley Atkins wins South of Scotland Girls Championship

The South of Scotland Girls Championship trophy was not available to present to Lesley Atkins (Minto) last weekend. The South Committee got it midweek and brought it to today's East v South girls match where I was delighted to present it to Lesley. Well done!

MORTONHALL PAIRING OF CLAIRE AND JANE
WIN SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOURSOMES TITLE

Mortonhall Golf Club pairing of Claire Hargan and 17-year-old Jane Turner won the Scottish women’s foursomes championship at Pumpherson today by five shots with rounds of 75 and 72 for 147.
Runners-up were Stirling’s Alison Davidson and Vicki Stevenson with 77 and 75 for 151.
Louise Kenney and Linda Dyball of Pitreavie won the best net prize with a total of 151 off a handicap of 2.5

LEADING SCRATCH TOTALS
147 C Hargan & J Turner (Mortonhall) 75 72.
152 A Davidson & V Stevenson (Stirling) 77 75.
155 F Lockhart & E Moffat (St Regulus) 73 82.
156 L Kenney & L Dyball (Pitreavie) 81 75.
Best net
151 L Kenney & L Dyball (Pitreavie) (2 ½) 78 ½ 72 ½

Aberdeenshire's top girl golfers at Peterculter with Paul Lawrie organiser Murray Carnie. Left to right: Lauren Whyte, Murray Carnie, Samantha Leslie, Mhairi Johnstone, Sophie Alexander and Kirsten MacCallum. Front: Lauren MacCallum (Cal Carson Golf Agency image).

LONG-HITTING LAUREN WINS PAUL LAWRIE AND ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS'
TITLES AT PETERCULTER

Ellon teenager Lauren MacCallum followed up a recent tournament win over the Old Course, St Andrews by scoring a double whammy victory at Peterculter Golf Club today.
The Paul Lawrie girls’ match-play championship and the Aberdeenshire girls’ championship were combined because of a shortage of available dates and Lauren beat Samantha Leslie (Westhill) by two holes in the final to win two titles and two trophies.
Lauren, pictured above with the Aberdeenshire girls' championship trophy, came back from twice being two down on the outward half to be one hole in arrears at the turn. She then won the 10th and 11th to take a one-hole advantage.
Samantha squared the match at the 15th but Lauren, hitting the ball vast distances off the tee, won both the 17th and 18th for a two-hole victory.
Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), beaten by Lauren in the morning semi-finals, beat Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) by 2 and 1 in the play-off for third place.
In the final of the Aberdeenshire girls’ handicap championship,13-year-old Sophie Alexander, playing off a handicap of nine, beat Lauren MacCallum’s youngter sister, Kirsten, who has brought her handicap down from 36 to 22 this season, by 3 and 2.

Sophie went three up early on with successes at the first, third and fifth but Kirsten won back the seventh and eighth to reduce her opponent's lead to one hole at the turn.

Sophie then won the 11th, 12th and 13th to go four up. Kirsten won the 14th but the 15th and 16th were halved, leavie Sophie the winner by 3 and 2.

Results:
PAUL LAWRIE GIRLS’ MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP & ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals – S Leslie (Westhill) bt L Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) 2 and 1, L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) bt M Johnstone (Northern) 2 and 1.
Final – L MacCallum bt Leslie 2 holes.
Third-place play-off – Johnstone bt Whyte 2 and 1.
Aberdeenshire girls handicap championship
Semi-finals – K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (22) bt E Franks (Ballater) (18) 5 and 4, S Alexander (Deeside) (9) bt K Seam (Torphins) (15) 1 hole.
Final – Alexander beat K MacCallum 3 and 2.

VIKKI LEADS BY ONE AT GETTYSBURG

Vikki Laing from Musselburgh needed one more good round to pull off her first victory as a professional golfer.
The former Curtis Cup player and record-setting Scottish girls champion led by shot with 18 holes to play in the storm-hit US Futures Tour event, the Gettysburg Championship, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Vikki shot rounds of 70 and 68 for a six-under-par tally of 138 and led by one shot from Emily Bastel from Ohio.
Emily had scores of 72 and 67.

South Girls beat East Girls 4 -3

South and East Girls after the match

South of Scotland Girls won the annual match against East of Scotland Girls at Baberton this afternoon by 4 games to three. The match was played on handicap.
South, with only six girls in their line-up, borrowed a player, Jordynn Laird, from East, to even up the numbers at seven apiece, and would you believe it.... Jordynn won and her win made all the difference to the scoreline.

Results (East names first) (East 3 South 4)
Gemma Brown (10) lost to Lesley Atkins (6) 3&2
Gabrielle Macdonald (11) lost to Ailsa Bain (8) 3&2
Rachel Hanlon (12) lost to Kirsty Macdonald (13) 5&4
Helen Goodwin (13) lost to Jordynn Laird (16) 3&1
Nicola Taylor (14) beat Aimee Stevenson (24) 2&1
Gillian Ping (15) beat Katy McCracken (23) 7&6
Kate McIntosh (15) beat Rachel Walker (23) 3&1

Held in conjunction with Aberdeenshire girls championship

SAMANTHA v LAUREN FOR PAUL LAWRIE
GIRLS' MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Samantha Leslie (Westhill) and Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) were contesting the final of the Paul Lawrie girls' match-play championship, being held in conjunction with the Aberdeenshire girls' championship, at Peterculter Golf Club, near Aberdeen today.
In the morning semi-finals in windy conditions, Samantha beat Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) by 2 and 1.
The same margin of victory was recorded by Lauren in the second semi-final against Mhairi Johnstone (Northern).
In the handicap championship, the finalists were Lauren MacCallum's younger sister, Kirsten, who has brought her handicap down from 36 to 22 this season, and Sophie Alexander (Deeside), who plays off nine.
In the semi-finals, Kirsten MacCallum beat Eleanor Franks (Ballater), playing off 18, by 5 and 4.
Sophie Alexander beat Kirstin Seam (Torphins), playing off 15, by one hole.

Tournament of Nations

Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn) , Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) and David Law (Hazlehead) show off the Girls and Boys International team trophies which they won at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium in Brussels on Friday. Kelsey was also runner-up in the Girls Championship.

Vikki Laing six under par when Futures Tour play halted

Thunderstorms Suspend Second Round In Gettysburg

From Lisa D Mickey
US Futures Tour Press Officer

Players in Saturday's second round of the $100,000 Gettysburg Championship were looking forward to the cannon-fire battle of a Civil War reenactment that was planned on the grounds after the completion of play. Instead, members of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, along with “General Robert E. Lee” and his soldiers, were running for cover as thunderstorms rolled into the area and suspended play at 4:40 p.m.
Sixty-nine players will return to The Links At Gettysburg at 7:15 a.m. Sunday local time to complete the second round. The final round of the second annual Gettysburg Championship will begin Sunday around 11:15 a.m., from the first and tenth tees.
“We were watching storms build to the southwest and there was so much electricity and humidity in the air that we had several storms just pop up on top of us without warning,” said Christy Barks, director of tournament operations. “So we had no choice but to suspend play for the safety of the players and spectators.”
“It’s disappointing, but you don’t want to be standing out there with a bag full of lightning rods,” said Tour member Emily Bastel of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who was five-under par for the day after eight and a half holes. “I would like to keep playing, but it’s just the luck of the draw because you can’t control the weather. Today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow and hopefully, I can pick up where I left off when we return.”
Temperatures were sweltering in the 90s all day with high humidity, but several players got hot with comeback rounds before the storms arrived. Brandi Jackson of Greenville, S.C., came storming back from a first-round score of 76 with a 67 (-5) today to go to 143 (-1), while Onnarin Sattayabanphot of Bangkok, Thailand got fired up after her first-round 78 and trimmed her score by 10 shots with a second-round 68. She carded a 36-hole score of 146 (+2).
Violeta Retamoza of Aguascalientes, Mexico was even par through six holes, while Seo-Jae Lee of Seoul, Korea, was two-under-par through six holes.
Joining Retamoza and Lee at six-under par was Vikki Laing of Musselburgh, who birdied her first four holes to grab a share of the lead.
“It’s bad for the tournament to have to suspend play and restart so early tomorrow because there are so many people out here working hard,” said Retamoza, a one-time winner this season. “But to be honest, I didn’t feel like I had it going today. Hopefully, I’ll have it tomorrow.”
Like Laing, Bastel also birdied her first four holes. And like Laing, the stifling temperatures didn’t seem to bother her.
“I don’t think you feel the heat as much when you’re making birdies,” said Bastel.
Maybe not. But General Lee in his dress wool uniform and the Civil War-era ladies in petticoats appeared a little ruffled in the heat. Funny how history repeats itself.

For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com

Weather: For most of the day, overcast and partly sunny, humid with a high temperature of 93 degrees with winds around 7 mph. Winds gusted to 20 mph when afternoon storms kicked in, turning skies dark with lightning and heavy rain.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (717) 359-4132 and at lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.