2008 JUNIOR RYDER CUP TO BE PLAYED
AT BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY

The PGA of America has announced that next year's Junior Ryder Cup will take place on September 15 and 16 at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In partnership with Ryder Cup Ltd., the PGA has expanded the format to include foursomes, mixed four-ball and singles competition.
The US team will consist of six boys and six girls who are members of the 2009 high school graduating class or younger.
Exemptions will be awarded to the US boys’ and girls’ champions of 2008 and the top-two boys and girls finishers from the Junior PGA Championship.
The top-two boys and girls in the Junior Ryder Cup point standings will also receive automatic berths to the biennial competition.
The 2007 Junior Ryder Cup, played at The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, ended in a 6-6 draw.

HANDA CUP TEES OFF IN FLORIDA

WORLD MAKE A FLYING START TO LEAD
AMERICANS 9-3 AT DAY 1 LUNCHTIME

The World team took a 9-3 lead over the United States after the morning nine-hole foursomes in the two-day Handa Cup match for over-45s women professionals at World Golf Village, St Augustine in Florida today.
With 2pt awarded for a win and one for a halved match, the World got off to a flying start by winning the first three matches.
Nancy Scranton and Christa Johnson stopped the rot with a 3 and 2 win over a Japanese pairing.
The sixth tie of the morning was square after nine holes and still level after the playing one extra hole. Under the rules of the competition the tie was then declared a halved match.
FIRST SESSION RESULTS
(US names first)
Amy Alcott & Joanne Carner lost to Sally Little & Anne Marie Palli 3 and 2.
Beth Daniel & Rosie Jones lost to Nanccy Harvey & Mieko Nomura 1 hole.
Pat Bradley & Patty Sheehan lost to Jan Stephenson & Alicia Dibos 3 and 1.
Cindy Rarick & Sherri Turner lost to Dawn Coe-Jones & Barb Scherback 3 and 2.
Nancy Scranton & Christa Johnson bt Michiko Okada & Angie Tsai 3 and 2.
Sandra Haynie & Marilyn Lovander halved with Nayoko Yoshikawa & Maria Alice Gonzales after 10 holes.

LYNN KENNY DROPS LATE SHOTS IN
MAURITIUS LADIES OPEN

FROM LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Belgium’s Lara Tadiotto emerged as the first round pace-setter at the Mauritius Open after shooting a three-over-par 75 in difficult conditions on The Legend Course at Belle Mare Plage.
The 54-hole tournament, now in its 14th year, is unique in that players from the Ladies’ European Tour are included in the same competition as members of the European men’s and seniors’ tours.
Tadiotto was first to tee-off among a 10-strong ladies’ contingent that included defending champion Lora Fairclough.
A strong, swirling wind made progress tough but it also helped to keep temperatures less extreme than they had been for the pro-am earlier in the week.
The 33-year-old Tadiotto had a roller-coaster round, starting and finishing with a birdie and adding three more in between but mixing these with six bogeys and a double-bogey.
“The wind made club selection difficult,” she said, “and I made some wrong decisions. “But I putted well and my long game was good, so I am fairly satisfied with my performance.”
Among four players a shot off the pace is Lora Fairclough, who won the title last year in a play-off against Italian Veronica Zorzi.
She had two birdies but double-bogeyed the par-317th after putting her tee shot into water.“I wasn’t at all happy with the way I played. I struggled with my long game,” she said. “But on days like this, you take your score and run.”
Germany’s Silvia Knauber, Melodie Bourdy of France and Italy’s Isabella Maconi share second place with Fairclough while Scotland’s Lynn Kenny is a further stroke in arrears.
Kenny was going well until she dropped shots at three of the last four holes.“I’m not too disappointed,” she said. “I drove well and my pace putting was good and it was only some sloppy play that spoiled the round.”
First round scores:
75 L Tadiotto (Bel).
76 S Knauber (Ger), M Bourdy (Fr), L Fairclough (Eng), I Maconi (It).
77 L Kenny (Sco).
80 L Wright (Eng).
85 K Fisher (Eng).
86 C Foong (Can).
87 S Hunter (Eng).

LAURA DAVIES TAKES AN 8 AND IBEN TINNING
MOVES ONE AHEAD WITH A ROUND TO GO

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Denmark’s Iben Tinning moved a step closer to claiming her first victory in more than two years when she took a one-shot lead after the third round of the Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club today.
The 32-year-old from Copenhagen shot a five-under-par 67 for a nine-under-par total of 207, one shot ahead of Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam, Italy’s Veronica Zorzi and England’s Laura Davies.
The next best player was first round leader Louise Stahle from Sweden on five-under. Scot Catriona Matthew shared sixth place with South Korean teenager Amy Yang on four-under-par. Overnight leader Lisa Hall from England had a 77 in the trickier wind conditions and dropped back into joint eighth position on three-under-par alongside three others.
Tinning is aiming for her sixth career win in the final round on Sunday after two victories in 2002, at the Irish and Italian Opens, and three victories in 2005 – in Spain, Italy and Denmark. “I’ve got no expectations of myself. I’ll just try and go out there and make as many birdies as I can,” said Tinning, who won the LET’s New Star Money List and Players’ Player of the Year award in 2005, before she had her first son Mads in March 2006.
“I don’t know if I have to have a great start to win because every day I’ve come back really nicely. Whatever happens, happens.”
Tinning began with a bogey at the first hole but fought back with seven birdies and just one more bogey at the par-five 13th.
Davies, who is one of four players within a shot of the lead, had a round of 71, which was a roller-coaster even by her own standards. She had built a two-stroke lead after an eagle, a birdie and a bogey in her first 10 holes but took a triple bogey 8 at the long 15th when she hit her second shot into the water right of the green.
Having taken a drop, she then duffed her chip back into the water, resulting in the 8 that took her back to six-under-par and three strokes behind the leaders. However she recovered well with birdies at the 15th and 18th holes.
Davies said of her chances on Sunday: “There are some top players on the top of the leader board so it’s basically a four-way shoot-out. Anyone who shoots the best round will win because one shot between four of us is nothing so you’ve got to go out tomorrow and be very aggressive, make lots of birdies, try not to make too many mistakes and probably a 67 would win it.” Sorenstam, who had a bogey-free 68, was pleased to have recorded four birdies and made some progress on moving day. She said: “I was pleased with my round and I feel like I hit some good shots today. I think the practise on the technical side this morning helped.”
Annika revealed that she had received some advice from her coach before the round and was working on keeping her shoulders square and her hips slightly open through impact.
“I feel like I’ve still got some work to do but I’m hitting some good shots and that’s what matters,” she said.
Italy’s Zorzi carded a 70 and she said, “I missed a few putts but I feel good and will hope for the best tomorrow.”
NOTES ON SCOTS: Catriona Matthew is sharing sixth place on four-under-ar 212 after her second 70 of the three days so far. Catriona birdied two long holes, the fourth and the 18th and one short hole, the 15th. She dropped one shot, at the par-4 16th.
Clare Queen was very steady. She had 16 par figures, a birdie at the short seventh and a bogey at the first in her second par-matching 72 of the tournament. The Carrick at Cameron House player is sharing 32nd place on 220.

Dubai Ladies Masters
Emirates Golf Club, Majilis Course
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
207 Iben Tinning (Den) 72 68 67.
208 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 70 70 68, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 70 68 70, Laura Davies (Eng) 67 70 71.
211 Louise Stahle (Swe) 64 74 73
212 Amy Yang (Kor) 71 73 68, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 72 70.
213 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 70 74 69, Johanna Head (Eng) 71 72 70, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 72 70 71, Lisa Hall (Eng) 67 69 77.
214 Smriti Mehra (Ind) 76 70 68, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 73 72 69, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 74 72, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 69 72 73, Anja Monke (Ger) 71 68 75
215 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 72 72 71, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 75 71, Joanne Mills (Aus) 72 71 72, Trish Johnson (Eng) 70 72 73, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69 73
216 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 72 74 70, Paula Marti (Spa) 73 72 71, Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (amateur) 72 70 74
217 Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 72 75
218 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 72 74 72, Louise Friberg (Swe) 72 72 74
219 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 75 73 71, Fame More (Eng) 71 77 71, Marta Prieto (Spa) 73 74 72, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 69 72 78
220 Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 77 72 71, Clare Queen (Sco) 72 76 72, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 68 79 73, Melissa Reid (Eng) 74 72 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 74 71 75, Ha-Neul Kim (Kor) 71 73 76, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 73 70 77
221 Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 78 70 73, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 73 75 73, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 73 73 75, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 73 72 76, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 72 71 78
222 Claire Coughlan (Irl) 70 79 73, Chutichai Porani (Tha) 72 77 73, Danielle Masters (Eng) 72 71 79
223 Helena Alterby (Swe) 77 74 72, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 76 74 73, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 80 69 74, Maria Boden (Swe) 74 74 75
224 Tania Elosegui (Spa) 74 77 73, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 77 74 73, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 76 75 73, Sara Beautell (Spa) 76 74 74, Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 74 76 74, Leah Hart (Aus) 74 72 78
225 Martina Gillen (Irl) 76 75 74, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 75 73 77
226 Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 72 77 77
227 Natascha Fink (Aut) 78 73 76, Anna Tybring (Swe) 74 76 77, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 78 78, Hee Jung Kim (Kor) 76 72 79
228 Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 75 74 79
229 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 76 75 78, Anna Rawson (Aus) 78 72 79
230 Jo Clingan (Eng) 75 76 79, Mette Buus (Den) 75 76 79, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 73 76 81

SEE THE INSIDE OF THE NEW HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO GOLF RESORT CLUBHOUSE

The new clubhouse will be the headquarters and focal point of the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23.
To see images of the internal decor, etc, click on the following:

http://www.clubmurcia.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=126

LISA HALL, ENJOYING HER GOLF AGAIN,
IS HALFWAY LEADER IN
DUBAI LADIES MASTERS



FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
England’s Lisa Hall, pictured right, took the halfway lead at the Dubai Ladies Masters with a one-shot lead over compatriot Laura Davies today.
Hall added a three-under-par 69 to her first round of 67 over the Emirate’s Majlis Course for an eight-under-par total. She carded six birdies and three birdies in hot conditions.
“The best part was that I hit a lot of shots close,” said Hall, who finished by knocking in a 2ft birdie putt at the ninth hole.
“It has been a great year for me. Just to be playing and competing: I’ve won twice and I’ve played a lot of good golf. Right now I’m enjoying playing, I’m enjoying competing and it’s nice to have had a couple of good rounds behind me.”
The 2007 Northern Ireland Ladies Open and Nykredit Masters champion, who also won the 1996 Welsh Open, took a year off in 2005 after losing her playing privileges on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.
She returned to play on the LET after a five-year absence at the 2006 Swiss Open where she finished third and then went on to earn her full card for 2007. Now she claims to be playing the best golf of her life.
The 40-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent - Lisa Hackney that was - finished third in the inaugural Indian Ladies Masters last week in Bangalore and she now has a chance to become the LET’s first triple tournament winner of 2007.
On her current form, she said: “It’s down to a lot of things, too many to list. A good caddy (Mardi Lunn), good fortune, good work, a lot of effort, perseverance, enjoyment, perspective ... a lot of things go into playing good golf and I’m glad that I’ve learnt that ... to be able to play the golf I’m playing now. It’s been a long journey.”
Laura Davies, who claimed her 68th title in Austria in September, finished with three birdies in a row for a 70 to sit one shot behind Hall on seven-under-par. The seven-time European No. 1 carded five birdies and three bogeys and said: “It was a shaky old start but nice to finish with three birdies. We had a good fun day. Trish (Johnson) had a hole-in-one which was nice so she is going to buy the drinks now.”
Johnson aced the par-3 seventh hole with a six-iron from 160yd, which contributed to a round of 72 and a share of 10th position on two-under.
Overnight leader Louise Stahle, who carved a course record 64, eight-under-par in the first round, followed up with a 74 to be on six-under-par after 36 holes. She shares third with Italy’s Veronica Zorzi, who had a 68.
Stahle remained in contention for her first title at the halfway stage of the tournament despite a double bogey 7 at the par-5 10th hole, which she played as her first. “It was kind of a rough start. I got it back on 11 and 12 though,” said the 22-year-old from Lund, who is well placed to scoop the LET’s rookie honours on Sunday.
“I am just going to try and be a little bit more aggressive with the putts over the next two days. That’s what I did the first day. There is a lot more golf to be played. I am definitely going for it.
Germany’s Anja Monke shot 68 and was in fifth position on five-under-par, while the defending champion, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, carded a 70 and shared sixth place with Denmark’s Iben Tinning, who had a 68.
Glamour girl Natalie Gulbis from the United States shot rounds of 77 and 75 for a 36-hole total of eight-over-par and missed the halfway cut by a stroke, as it fell to 69 players on seven-over-par. England’s Kiran Matharu also missed the cut after rounds of 78 and 74.

NOTES ON SCOTS:

Catriona Matthew is sharing 10th place on two-under-par 142 at the halfway stage after matching the par of 72 today. The North Berwick player bogeyed the second and eighth in a two-over-par outward half of 37. She birdied two long holes - the 10th and 18th - in a bogey-free inward nine of 35.

Clare Queen dropped back to joint 40th position on four-over-par 148 after a four-over 76. She shed shots at regular intervals in four-over 39 for the first nine holes, bogeying the first, fourth, eighth and ninth. A steader inward half saw only two variations from par: a birdie 4 at the long 10th and a bogey at the 12th.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHO QUALIFIED AND WHO DID NOT

Dubai Ladies Masters
Emirates Golf Club, Majilis Course, Dubai
SECOND-ROUND QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Lisa Hall (Eng) 67 69.
137 Laura Davies (Eng) 67 70.
138 Louise Stahle (Swe) 64 74, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 70 68.
139 Anja Monke (Ger) 71 68.
140 Iben Tinning (Den) 72 68, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 70 70
141 Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 69 72, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 69 72
142 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 74, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69, Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (amateur)72 70, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 72, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 72, Trish Johnson (Eng) 70 72, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 72 70
143 Joanne Mills (Aus) 72 71, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 73 70, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 72 71, Danielle Masters (Eng) 72 71, Johanna Head (Eng) 71 72
144 Louise Friberg (Swe) 72 72, Federica Piovano (Ita) 69 75, Amy Yang (Kor) 71 73, Linda Wessberg (Swe) 70 74, Ha-Neul Kim (Kor) 71 73, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 72 72
145 Asa Gottmo (Swe) 73 72, Paula Marti (Spa) 73 72, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 74 71, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 73 72
146 Melissa Reid (Eng) 74 72, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 72 74, Smriti Mehra (Ind) 76 70, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 72 74, Leah Hart (Aus) 74 72, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 73 73
147 Marta Prieto (Spa) 73 74, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 68 79
148 Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 73 75, Fame More (Eng) 71 77, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 75 73, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 75 73, Clare Queen (Sco) 72 76, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 78 70, Maria Boden (Swe) 74 74, Hee Jung Kim (Kor) 76 72
149 Chutichai Porani (Tha) 72 77, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 72 77, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 78, Claire Coughlan (Irl) 70 79, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 73 76, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 75 74, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 80 69, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 77 72
150 Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 74 76, Sara Beautell (Spa) 76 74, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 76 74, Anna Tybring (Swe) 74 76, Anna Rawson (Aus) 78 72
151 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 76 75, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 76 75, Helena Alterby (Swe) 77 74, Mette Buus (Den) 75 76, Jo Clingan (Eng) 75 76, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 77 74, Natascha Fink (Aut) 78 73, Martina Gillen (Irl) 76 75, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 74 77
MISSED THE CUT
152 Sophie Walker (Eng) 73 79, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 77 75, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 74 78, Karen Lunn (Aus) 76 76, Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 77 75, Natalie Gulbis (US) 77 75, Anna Temple (US) 74 78, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 78 74, Marina Arruti (Spa) 72 80, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 76 76, Sofia Renell (Swe) 76 76
153 Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 80 73, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 78 75, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 76 77, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 76 77, Hazel Kavanagh (Irl) 74 79
154 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 76 78, Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 76 78, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 77 77, Anna Knutsson (Swe) 77 77
155 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 79 76, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 78 77, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 82 73
156 Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 77 79, Maria Beautell (Spa) 77 79, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 78 78, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 79 77
157 Ellen Smets (Bel) 80 77, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 76 81
159 Sarah Heath (Eng) 84 75, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 77 82, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 81 78, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 82 77
161 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 79 82, Carmen Alonso (Spa) 82 79, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 80 81
162 Pia Koivuranta (Fin) 80 82
163 Anna Rossi (Ita) 78 85, Marjet van der Graaff (Ned) 81 82, Shalini Malik (Ind) 82 81
168 Mounya Amalou-Sayah (Mor) 81 87

ELGA PRESS RELEASE

JODI EWART TIPPED FOR TOP ON US
COLLEGE CIRCUIT BY GOLF WORLD

England international Jodi Ewart has been tipped for the top in US women’s college golf.
The English stroke-play champion from Catterick in Yorkshire was picked out by Golf World when they announced their mid-season awards.
Jodi, a second year student at the University of New Mexico, was identified as:
“The best player you’ll hear of by season’s end.”
Jodi, who is aiming for a place in the 2008 GB&I Curtis Cup team, is currently 19th in US women’s college rankings.
She has been in the top 15 in every event so far this season and her highest finish this autumn was in the Las Vegas Showdown where she tied 11th. She is following-up an outstanding first year in the USA when she was named an All-American, won a tournament, set a college record and won two player of the year awards.
The 19-year-old has just received the English Ladies’ Golf Association’s Silver Tee award in recognition of the way she combines her golf and her education.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Email: lyndsey.hewison@tiscali.co.uk
Visit the ELGA web site at www.englishladiesgolf.org

ENGLISH GIRLS SIGN UP FOR
AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

Two English teenagers, Hannah Lovelock (Hindhead Golf Club, Surrey) and Kirsty Rands (Burhill Golf Club, Surrey), have signed Letters of Intent to join American universities next autumn.
Hannah, who is 17 and was a member of the English Ladies Golf Association 2006-2007 Elite Under-18 squad, is bound for the University of Missouri.
Kirsty Rands, who will be 19 on December 20 and finished fifth in this year's English women's stroke-play championship, will be enrolling at the University of Mississippi.
+Picture of Hannah Lovelock (right) by courtesy of Lyndsey Hewison, ELGA Press Officer.

HDA FESTIVAL ENTRANT DANI MASTERS

WINS BBC SOUTH EAST FEMALE

SPORTS PERSONALITY AWARD

Ladies European Tour player Danielle (Dani) Masters, who will be playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival from February 10 to 23, is celebrating after being named female sports personality of the year in the BBC South East sports awards.
It has rounded off a successful 2007 for the Maidstone-based 24-year-old, who secured six top-20 finishes and a second place in the Ladies Scottish Open.
She said: “I’m so lucky to be doing something I love and to be improving every year is a fantastic feeling.
“I still have so much to learn and I find that very exciting. To be with Chart Hills Golf Club and have their support is a massive boost; knowing that the whole club is behind me and wanting me to do well.”
Chart Hills’ general manager Rod Park said: “This completes quite a sensational year for Dani, who’s really starting to make a significant impact on the ladies’ game.
“It’s great for Chart Hills, not just because we have a successful professional golfer in our but because many of our members know Danielle, which creates an empathy from the club with her continued success.”

The Way They Were

1996 Scottish schools individual champions Claire Hunter and Laurie Phillips at Lossiemouth.

THE LAST TIME THE SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
WERE PLAYED IN THE NORTH OR NORTH-EAST ...

It's 1996 at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth - the last time the Scottish schools championships were played in the North or North-east.
It was the North-east that scored a double whammy with Claire Hunter (Deeside) and Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay) winning the individual titles. It doesn't look as if there was a schoolboys' trophy in those days.
Claire Hunter, who went to college in the States and later turned professional, has worked at a driving range in New Zealand for the past few years.
Laurie matured into one of the leading players on the North-east District men's scene and has helped Cruden Bay win the Scottish club title twice over the past few years. He works in the North Sea oil industry.
Scottish Schools Golf Association secretary Dorothy Scott reminds me that the annual Scotland v England schools international was held at Newmachar Golf Club in 1997 but she confirmed that, for some reason, the schoolboys and schoolgirls championship has not been back in the North or North-east for 11 years past.
That will all change in Monday, June 16 next year (2008) when Inchmarlo Golf Resort will house the Scottish schoolboys 36-hole championship and a mile or two away Banchory Golf Club will stage the Scottish schoolgirls' two-round championship on the same day.

LAST-HOLE DOUBLE BOGEY 6 KNOCKS
BACK CATRIONA IN DUBAI

Catriona Matthew, starting at the 10th, was four under par with only the ninth hole to play in the first round of the Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Club today.
But she ran up a double-bogey 6 at her last hole to finish on two-under 70.
The North Berwick player birdied the short 11th, the 14th, the short 15th, the long third - dropped a short at the short fourth, and birdied the eighth.
Clare Queen, starting at the 10th, was one under par with four holes to play, having dropped a shot at the 14th but birdied the 15th and the second. The Scot, playing out of The Carrick at Cameron House, finished on 72, after bogeying the seventh.

LOUISE STAHLE TAKES THREE-STROKE LEAD
WITH A COURSE-RECORD, EIGHT-UNDER 64

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Sweden’s Louise Stahle lowered Annika Sorenstam’s course record by a stroke with an eight-under-par 64 in the first round of the Dubai Ladies Masters. Stahle shot nine birdies and one bogey around the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club to lead by three strokes over England’s Laura Davies and Lisa Hall on 67.
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson and Denmark’s Lisa Holm Sorensen were a shot further back in joint fourth on 68.
Sorenstam, who was Stahle’s idol growing up, set a women’s course record with a 65 in the first round en route to victory in the inaugural tournament last year. The defending champion was today six shots behind the leader in joint ninth position on two-under-par 70.
Annika was taking the positives out of her round and said: “I had some really good holes and I had some less good holes so I missed a few shots and there were some putts I left out there. I’m glad I made five birdies. I did not expect to make any more birdies so I’ve just got to stay away from bogeys.
“I drove it well: a lot of good drives, fairways. I missed only three greens. Unfortunately there were some that I didn’t make up and down so I’ve got to work on that.”
Stahle, 22, from Lund, made a hot start in her first visit to Dubai, with birdies on the first four holes. She then birdied the seventh before her only bogey of the day came at the eighth, giving her an outward total of 35, four-under-par.
After birdies at holes 10 and 12, Stahle overtook Davies as the outright leader and pulled three strokes clear with two more birdies at the 15th and 16th holes.
“It tied my best ever round as an amateur but was my best round in two years as a pro,” said Stahle, who played on the LPGA Tour in 2006. She is playing in her first year on the Ladies European Tour, where she is in line to scoop the leading rookie honours on Sunday, but she said: “I’m not really thinking about that too much.”
Stahle’s best finish on the LET this year was second at the Open de Portugal and she has recorded four top-tens this season in total. She was delighted to discover that she had bettered Sorenstam’s course record.
“I didn’t know it was a course record but that is pretty exciting,” she said. The LET’s leading rookie (who won the British women's open amateur championship at Gullane in 2004 and successfully defended it -beating Claire Coughlan in the final - at Littlestone, Kent in 2005 - was pleased to be leading a tournament featuring the likes of Sorenstam, Davies and Gustafson, but ultimately, she said she saw them as equal competitors.
While Stahle was looking to collect her maiden professional victory in the Middle East this week, Davies, also playing in Dubai for the first time, was targeting her 69th. Davies, who won the Austrian Open in September, carded six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at the par-five third hole during a day of perfect scoring conditions.
She said: “I hit it really well. I putted really well. My irons were good. I think I left a couple of really good chances out there that I didn’t hole but I holed seven decent ones. Overall it was very solid. The chipping wasn’t great but this grass is quite tricky to get any check on at all. The bogeys were very unnecessary because I hit bad chips.
“We were clever today. Number nine is a good hole – a two iron and a nine iron made a good hole quite easy. If you start using a driver you are in trouble. Hole number 10 is the only par-5 we can’t reach.
“If we shoot four or five under every day then we will probably win and if we shoot worse than that the chances are, if the weather stays like this, it won’t be low enough.”

CLUBHOUSE TOTALS
Par 72
64
Louise Stahle (SWE)
67
Laura Davies (ENG)
Lisa Hall (ENG)
68
Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN)
Sophie Gustafson (SWE)
69
Ashleigh Simon (SA)
Federica Piovano (ITA)
Lotta Wahlin (SWE)
70
Claire Coughlan (IRE)
Annika Sorenstam (SWE)
Linda Wessberg (SWE)
Catriona Matthew (SCO)
Trish Johnson (ENG)
Veronica Zorzi (ITA)
Martina Eberl (GER)
71
Johanna Head (ENG)
Ha-Neul Kim (KOR)
Fame More (ENG)
Anja Monke (GER)
Amy Yang (KOR)
Ludivine Kreutz (FRA)
72
Marina Arruti (ESP)
Kirsty S Taylor (ENG)
Danielle Masters (ENG)
Gwladys Nocera (FRA)
Sophie Giquel (FRA)
Felicity Johnson (ENG)
Louise Friberg (SWE)
Chutichai Porani (THA)
Joanne Mills (AUS)
Carlota Ciganda (Am) (ESP)
Iben Tinning (DEN)
Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)
Stephanie Arricau (FRA)
Clare Queen (SCO)
73
Bettina Hauert (GER)
Becky Brewerton (WAL)
Lynn Brooky (NZ)
Laurette Maritz (SA)
Asa Gottmo (SWE)
Sophie Walker (ENG)
Maria Hjorth (SWE)
Paula Marti (ESP)
Marta Prieto (ESP)
Sarah Kemp (AUS)
74
Amanda Moltke-Leth (DEN)
Maria Boden (SWE)
Tania Elosegui (ESP)
Hazel Kavanagh (IRE)
Leah Hart (AUS)
Beatriz Recari (ESP)
Catrin Nilsmark (SWE)
Melissa Reid (ENG)
Anna Temple (USA)
Anna Tybring (SWE)
75
Jo Clingan (ENG)
Mette Buus (DEN)
Elisabeth Esterl (GER)
Ana B Sanchez (ESP)
Helen Alfredsson (SWE)
76
Margherita Rigon (ITA)
Smriti Mehra (IN)
Emma Zackrisson (SWE)
Eva Steinberger (AUT)
Ana Larraneta (ESP)
Martina Gillen (IRE)
Jehanne Jail (FRA)
Hee Jung Kim (KOR)
Sofia Renell (SWE)
Georgina Simpson (ENG)
Karen-Margrethe Juul (DEN)
Karen Lunn (AUS)
Frederique Seeholzer (SWI)
Kirsty Taylor (ENG)
Sara Beautell (ESP)
77
Helena Alterby (SWE)
Jenni Kuosa (FIN)
Johanna Westerberg (SWE)
Christine Hallstrom (SWE)
Anna Knutsson (SWE)
Natalie Claire Booth (ENG)
Rebecca Coakley (IRE)
Minea Blomqvist (FIN)
Elisa Serramia (ESP)
Natalie Gulbis (USA)
Maria Beautell (ESP)
78
Maria Verchenova (RUS)
Stacy Lee Bregman (SA)
Natascha Fink (AUT)
Anna Rawson (AUS)
Stefanie Michl (AUT)
Anna Rossi (ITA)
Kiran Matharu (ENG)
Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)
79
Nathalie David-Mila (FRA)
Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA)
Nora Angehrn (SWI)
80
Antonella Cvitan (SWE)
Nikki Garrett (AUS)
Cecilie Lundgreen (NOR)
Ellen Smets (BEL)
Pia Koivuranta (FIN)
Mounya Amalou-Sayah (MOR)
Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)
Marjet van der Graaff (NL)
82
Shalini Malik (IN)
Jade Schaeffer (FRA)
Laura Cabanillas (ESP)
Carmen Alonso (ESP)
84
Sarah Heath (ENG)

DEATH OF MAY GREET

Deeside Golf Club member May Greet, a past captain of Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association, has died at the age of 83. Her husband Roger died last year.

Field for southern Spain from February 10-23 is filling up

Bound for Spain: That's Lisa Barton (action image by courtesy of Tom Ward)

CHARLOTTE AND LISA FROM

WARWICKSHIRE ENTER

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WINTER FESTIVAL

Another two players have entered the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
They both come from Warwickshire:
Charlotte Dalton from Solihull and a member of Ladbrook Golf Club. Charlotte has a handicap of 3 and will be 19 years old on January 22.
She had a good run through to the semi-finals of this year's English girls' championship at Old Ford Manor Golf Club. Qualifying for the match-play stages in 15th place, Charlotte had two good wins in reaching the last four. She beat the No 2 seed Hannah Barwood (Knowle) by 2 and 1 in the round of the last 16 and then she won at the 19th against Sian Evans (Faversham), the No 7 seed, in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Charlotte lost by 5 and 4 to the No 3 seed, Katie Best from Sherwood Forest.
Lisa Barton lives in Coventry and is a member of Coventry Golf Club. She has a handicap of 2 and is an experienced Warwickshire county team player. Lisa was a member of the Warwickshire team that reached the last four of the English county championship in 2004 at High Post Golf Club, Salisbury in Wiltshire. They lost only by 5-4 to the eventual champions Yorkshire.

Lisa is a regular competitor in English Ladies Golf Association tournaments and obviously wants a fast start to the 2008 season by getting an edge on her game during the Festival, to be held at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in the southern Spanish area of Murcia.

*Thanks to Lyndsey Hewison, Press Officer of ELGA, for supplying both the smaller pictures of Charlotte (left) and Lisa (right).

FESTIVAL ENTRIES SO FAR

PROFESSIONALS

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway, Ireland) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 19 on January 22, 2008
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 5. Age 16.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.

Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 7. Age 13.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall) handicap scratch. Age 18.

To be confirmed:

Rachael LIVINGSTONE (Musselburgh Old) scratch. Age 19.

+++E-mail your Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival entry direct to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson: colin@scottishgolfview.com, telling him whether you are a professional or an amateur; if an amateur, then please give date of birth if under 20, home golf club, home city, current handicap.

The handicap limit has been raised to 20.

New arrival

Well. here he is... No3 grandchild.
Oliver Armstrong was born this morning at 9:20am, second son for my daughter Carrie and her husband Alastair.
He weighed 8lbs 5 oz and measures 59 cm in length.
His big brother Harry, who has just turned two, is delighted with his new baby brother.
That makes it 3 - nil in the boys v girls stakes.
Recipes for girls would be appreciated!

ELGA Press Release

Alex Peters in action (another great action image, courtesy of Tom Ward).

ANOTHER TITLE, ANOTHER RECORD
FOR ALEX PETERS (14)

Nottinghamshire teenager Alex Peters has wrapped up her sparkling 2007 season with yet another title – and her third course record of the year. The 14-year-old scored her latest success when she won the girls’ championship in the Andalucia European Junior Open at Alcaidesa in Spain.
Alex, from the English Ladies’ Golf Association’s Under-18 Squad, finished four strokes clear of the field – but she had a scare on her way to victory.
She had a five-shot lead going into the final round but after 11 holes she was one behind squad colleague and England girl international, Raffi Dyer from Hayling in Hampshire.
However, Alex rallied with three birdies over the closing holes to take the title back to Nottinghamshire, where she is a member at Notts’ Ladies and Beeston Fields golf clubs.
In the first round of the event Alex set a ladies’ course record with a one-under 71. Earlier in the season she also set records at Chilwell Manor in Nottinghamshire and at Heswall in Cheshire, where she was three-under par.
Her personal roll of honour for 2007 includes winning the Midland Ladies’ championship and the North of England Under-14 and Under-16 titles, helping England to a silver medal in the European Young Masters and reducing her handicap to scratch – all while aged 13.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Visit the ELGA web site at www.englishladiesgolf.org

The Way We Were (2):

Angus County teams
of the 1950s

FROM JEN PETRIE, Ladies Panmure Barry GC & past Angus County captain.
As I was idly surfing the net tonight, I browsed into Kirkwood Golf News and did a double take when I saw the picture of the Aberdeenshire county team of 1950 at Carnoustie. A dig through some boxes in my attic has come up with the identical one of the Angus team at the same event (see above)!
My mother, Margaret Bruce Smith, played for the Angus team in the 50s, and she is at the back left of the picture. I am not sure of the other names, but think Bessie Tocher is back right and Jean Lawson is front right.
At the same time, I found another photo (on right) of the Angus team in 1952 - again my mother is at the back left, and front right I think is Betty McInroy.
I think that at least one of these photos is in our county archive photo albums and probably some of the other names are listed there.

Aileen Hunter (www.littlevoicecommunications.com) writes:
I think the lady right of centre, middle row, with the blouse collar over her jumper is Winnie Hay. She used to live on the golf links at Monifieth until she passed away a couple of years ago. Her daughter, Ann Hay played for Angus too, I'm sure.
Will let you know if I hear of any of the other names - Kathleen Sutherland's bound to know a few!!

*If you have any team pictures from yesteryear and you would not mind them appearing on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, you can E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SIX SCOTTISH STUDENTS BOUND FOR
FLORIDA'S ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR

Six golfing students from Scottish universities are to compete on Florida's Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs nex month.
Alford's Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University) and Edinburgh's Stephanie Crolla (Heriot-Watt University) will team up with University of Stirling players Rachel Cassidy, Holly Calvert, Stephanie Farrar and Lynsey Hunter to compete in two events.
These are the South Atlantic Amateur Championship - known as the "Sally" - at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach fromn January 9 to 12 and the Jones/Doherty match-play championship at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale from January 14 to 19.
PGA Trainee of the Year and former Stirling graduate and past Scotland amateur international Lesley Mackay will accompany the group to offer guidance and coaching support to the squad.
It is 16 years since Catriona Matthew, then a Stirling golf scholarship student, made the same trip and brought home the Jones/Doherty Cup. She has gone on to become the most successful Scottish player in the history of the LPGA Tour.
Stirling team captain Rachel Cassidy from Ireland said: "The players are extremely thankful for the support offered by the University of Stirling to fund this trip. It is an excellent opportunity to play competitive golf during the winter period and to test our skills against the best that American has to offer.
"Opening up the trip to golfers from other institutions speaks volumes for the impact the University of Stirling has on golf development in Scotland."

Aberdeen Asset Management new title

sponsor of the Ladies Scottish Open

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Aberdeen Asset Management has today been announced as the new title sponsor of the 2008 Ladies Scottish Open. The event which returned in 2007 after an 11-year absence frem the Ladies European Tour calendar will take place at The De Vere Carrick at Cameron House near Loch Lomond for the second consecutive year.

The tournament, promoted by WSM Sponsorhip, will be staged from Thursday to Saturday, May 1 to 3 (This year's Ladies Scottish Open was played in the third week of September).

Martin Gilbert, CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management, pictured right, said: “We are delighted to be able to add this event to our sponsorship portfolio. Having witnessed the success of the 2007 event, it was something that Aberdeen was keen to become involved in.

"The tournament looks set to be another success and we are very much looking forward to supporting this great Ladies European Tour event in 2008.”

One of the tournament’s key backers, EventScotland, the national events agency, also sees this new sponsorship agreement as a positive move.

Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, said: “EventScotland worked hard to re-establish the Ladies Scottish Open this year after an absence of 11 years. A key objective for us was for the event to attract major sponsors to ensure its sustainability, so to have such a prominent sponsor is good news.

"Aberdeen Asset Management’s support will help ensure another successful event in 2008, and gives a further opportunity to showcase Scotland as the home of golf.”

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: “The Ladies European Tour is thrilled that Aberdeen Asset Management is coming on board as the title sponsor of the Ladies Scottish Open. With the support of such a successful company we can all look forward to another exciting event at The Carrick at Cameron House following the fine tournament in September this year.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aberdeen Asset Management for their vision and support of women’s professional golf, which is growing at a fast rate.”

CHALLENGE MATCH OVER PAR-3 COURSE
TEES OFF DUBAI LADIES MASTERS

FROM THE KALEEJ TIMES WEBSITE
The legends, the veterans and the stars of tomorrow will showcase their precocious talent today in a Challenge Match which tees off the Dubai Ladies Masters week at the Emirates Golf Club.
The traditional curtain-raiser to the 500,000 Euros Ladies European Tour event, sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, features Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies who will team up as ‘the Legends’ while Gwladys Nocera and Sophie Gustafson will form ‘the Veterans’ team and the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ will comprise Anna Rawson and Natalie Gulbis.
The three teams, with contrasting personalities and styles, will follow the greensomes format during the challenge match over the par-3 course of the Emirates Golf Club.
The par-27 course, measuring 1,239yd from blue tees, has the reputation of testing the skills of all since it was opened to public last year. The longest hole on the course is the 194yd third while the shortest hole (the fourth) measures 96 yards.
Sorenstam, Nocera and Rawson are not new to Dubai, having competed in the inaugural event last year, but the local fans will have the first chance to witness seasoned Davies, Gustafson and glamour girl Gulbis in action when they compete in the Challenge Match.
Nocera has already sounded a warning to her immediate rivals by winning the Lalla Meryam Cup in Rabat in October and the inaugural Indian Ladies Masters at Bangalore last week. The French 32-year-old will be hoping to maintain her rich reign of form in the high-profile Dubai Ladies Masters which marks the end to the busy 2007 Ladies European Tour season.
“The six players have been selected for the challenge match on the basis of their rankings and, of course, for their star value on the tour,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai, the promoters and organisers of the event.
“We would like to encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer the professional lady golfers who would be competing in this region for the first time.
“All the fans will have an easy access to the course, but entry to the clubhouse will be restricted to only pass holders,” he said.
“We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen has been installed in the ‘public village’,” he said.
“Different food and beverage outlets, charity putt competitions and free golf clinics will further add to the carnival-like atmosphere at the village,” Buamaim said.
“We would like to thank Jumeirah Golf Estates for their sponsorship of the Challenge Match, an opening tournament which has always been enjoyed by all.”
‘Golf in Dubai’ is backed by Dubal as the main partner and Emirates-NBD, Emaar, Jumeirah Hotels, Emirates airline, BMW, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Omega and CNN as partners.

Dates change for European senior men and
women individual championships next year

Next year's European senior men's and senior women's interantional championships, originally scheduled for June 12 to 14, have been rearranged for 19-21 June.

The European Golf Association website states:

Following the success of the 2007 championships, the Portuguese Golf Federation, as 2006-2008 hosts, felt the 2008 edition should return to the Vilamoura region. Venue owners, Oceanico, were only too happy to again host the championships, but have asserted that heavy bookings have prompted a change of dates request.
Although the EGA insists that hosting members respect the scheduled dates for EGA championships, the EGA Championship Committee decided that it would not risk having to stage the championship at an inferior venue at this late stage.
We regret any inconvenience the change may cause our members and their players.

For further information, please contact the European Golf Association at: info@ega-golf.ch

The way we were ... May 1950

Aberdeenshire's team pictured on May 16, 1950 at Carnoustie during or prior to a county match against Angus.
Colin Farquharson writes: The picture was given to me by the late Charlotte Lyon (Aberdeen Ladies), pictured on the extreme left of the front row. She had written the following names on the back of the black and white photograph:
Back Row: Stella West, J Davidson, J Sellar.
Front Row: C Lyon, Ted Stephen, Betty Davidson, Jan Williams, Daisy Kennaway.

Does the picture bring back memories for any viewers of www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk?
It would be nice if you could share them with us. E-mail colin@scottishgolfview.com

It's Hacienda del Alamo here I come for Welsh starlet Anna Carling (excellent image by courtesy of Tom Ward).

WELSH ELITE SQUAD TEENAGER ENTERS
HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

Anna Carling, an 18-year-old member of the Wales Ladies Elite Squad, is the latest entrant to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star Murcia resort in southern Spain from February 10 to 23.
Anna, who has a handicap of four, was beaten at the 22nd in the final of this year's Welsh girls' championship.
She is the women's club champion of Machynys Peninsula and is also a member of Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club.

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway, Ireland) handicap 5.
Anna CARLING (Wales) handicap 4. Age 18.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 5. Age 16.
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 4.
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). handicap 1. Age 18.

+The six competitions which make up the Festival (three each week) are open to Lady professionals and Lady amateurs with handicaps up to and including 20, i.e. Silver Division.

+There are separate professional and amateur prize lists. Entries should be E-mailed to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson: colin@scottishgolfview.com

+Remember it will be cheaper to book your flight to Murcia Airport now than it will be in January. If you can save money with midweek flights, then do so.

Germany uber alles for golf-playing ladies!

Some interesting statistics about women's golf in Europe from the Qtee website (http://www.qtee.net/):

Golfing women in Europe
Over one million women play golf in Europe today.
This number has increased greatly over the past few years. The Swedish ladies are in second place after the German ladies.
The golf culture is different in some aspects from country to country.
Through Qtee Europe you can learn more about how female golf works in other countries.

Ladies playing golf in Europe today:

Germany 167,050.
Sweden 163,008.
England 131,002.
France 92,892.
Holland 80,000.
Spain 64,383.
Ireland 47,500.
Denmark 36,840.
Scotland 30,134.
Norway 30,000.
Austria 28,191.
Finland 26,861.
Italy 21,483.
Belgium 14,747.

ANNIKA'S TEAM WIN SINGLES BUT

ASIA TAKE LEXUS CUP

AGAIN BY 15-9 MARGIN

Team Asia beat Team International 15-9 to retain the Lexus Cup in the women's professional team match at The Vines Resort & Country Club, Perth in Western Australia.

Minor consolation for the Internationals and their skipper, Annika Sorenstam, was that after losing the first two days' play - foursomes (6-0) and then four-balls (3 1/2-2 1/2), they won the singles 6 1/2-5 1/2.

Only 11 of the 12 singles were played, Norway's Suzann Pettersen was unfit to play and Asia skipper Se Ri Pak was also nursing an injury so the two captains agreed to call the 12th singles tie, Pak v Pettersen, a halved match.

Catriona Matthew, pictured above, from North Berwick halved her tie against Japan's Ayako Uehara. One down on the 18th tee, the Scot square the match with a par at the last.

The ease of the Team Asia victory, their third in a row, puts a new perspective on the Solheim Cup results between United States and Europe.

Singles results (Team Asia names first):

C Kung lost to A Sorenstam 4 and 3.

J Y Lee bt N Castrale 2 and 1.

A Hung lost to A Park 3 and 1.

I K Kim bt S Pramanasudh 2 and 1.

S H Lee bt C Kerr 3 and 2.

S Lee bt N Campbell 3 and 21.

S H Ahn lost to M Hjorth 3 and 2.

A Uehara halved with C Matthew.

J Jang lost to M Pressel 2 and 1.

M Lee lost to B Lincicombe 1 hole.

J Y Shin halved with N Gulbis.

*S R Pak halved with S Pettersen.

*Tie not played because of injury, captains agreed on halved match result.