Kimberley Crooks (Saltburn by the Sea Golf Club). Image by kind permission of Tom Ward Photography.

YORKSHIRE STARLET KIMBERLEY

JOINS THE FIELD FOR THE

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WOMEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

Yorkshire teenage county player Kimberley Crooks is the latest addition to the entry list for the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival, supported by Glenmuir.

Kimberley, only 16, plays off scratch at Saltburn by the Sea Golf Club in North Yorkshire.

There are six competitions over the two weeks of the Festival, hosted by the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort near the town of Fuente Alamo and the city of Murcia in south-east Spain.

They are all open to female professionals and Silver Division amateurs.

The closing date for entries is Tuesday, January 15 - so get yours in before the shutters come down. E-mail your entry with some details about your home golf club and handicap if you are an amateur. If you are a professional, some information about your home town/city and whether you have an attachment would also help.

The cost of renting accommodation at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort obviously comes down per head if you can go as one of a group of three, four or even more.

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 19 on January 22.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.

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.

Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

WALLACE BOOTH 51st IN DIXIE

MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Wallace Booth from Comrie was sharing 51st position after the third round of the Dixie men's amateur championship at Palm-Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach in Florida.
A Scotland international and former Scottish youths champion, Wallace (pictured right), who spent four years at Augusta State University and whose sister Carly is spending the winter at high school in Arizona, has had rounds of 80, 72 and 76 for a 54-hole tally of 228.
Leading the field on two-under-par 211 with one round to go are Germany's Stephan Gross and Gregory O'Mahony, a 21-year-old student at Nova Southeastern University.
In the Dixie women's amateur championship at the same venue, Alexis Thompson is one round away from her first major amateur title.
The 12-year-old followed up two rounds of 74 with a 72 for seven-over 220 and a four-stroke lead from Shelby Coyle with whom she had shared the halfway lead.

MEN'S THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
211 Stephan Gross (Ger) 73 70 68, Gregory O'Mahony 75 68 68.
213 David Lingmerth 74 71 68, Jon McLean 71 73 69.
214 Connor Arendell 72 71 71, Maximilian Kieffer 74 70 70.
215 T J Vogel 71 72 72.
Other score:
228 Wallace Booth (Sco) 80 72 76 (jt 51st).

WOMEN'S THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
220 Alexis Thompson 74 74 72.
224 Shelby Coyle 74 74 76.
229 Christina Hirano 78 80 71.
230 Laura Gonzalex-Escallon 76 80 74.
231 Stephanie Connelly 76 80 75, Audrey Goumard 82 77 72.
232 Jennifer Hirano 76 78 78, Rebecca Kuhn 81 78 73, Madison Pressel 82 77 73.

SALLY WATSON JOINT 15TH AT HALFWAY
IN FLORIDA AFTER REPEAT 77

South Queensferry's Sally Watson repeated her opening round of 77 to be lying joint 15th on 154 at the halfway stage of the Harder Hall Women's Invitational golf tournament at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida, the first event of the Orange Blossom Tour.
Sister Rebecca also shot a 77 to be joint 26th on 157.
Pepperdine University first-year student Taylore Karle had a brilliant six-under-par 66 to go five shots clear of the field with a two-round tally of four-under-par 140.
Taylore's round took off when she birdied the sixth, eagled the eighth and birdied the ninth.
Like the second and third-placed Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) and Alison Walshe (Arizona), Miss Karle is a strong contender for a place in the United States Curtis Cup squad for the match against GB&I over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May. That team will be announced at the end of next week's Orange Blossom Tour, the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur (Sally).

HALFWAY LEADERS
Players from US unless stated
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 Taylore Karle 74 66.
145 Stacy Lewis 74 71, Alison Walshe 72 73.
147 Tiffany John 73 74.
150 Lauren Doughtie 77 73, Virginia Grimes 75 75, Isabelle Lendl 78 72.
151 Marika Lendl 76 75, Kristen Simpson 76 75.
152 Nannette Hill 81 71, Candace Schepperle 76 76.
153 Boo Grotvedt 81 72, Jessica Yadloczky 81 72.
154 Alexandra Bodemann 76 78, Kelly Fuchik 79 75, Natalie Sheary 79 75, Sally Watson (Sco) 77 77.
155 Meghan Bolger 78 77, Ann Laney 81 74, Natalie McNicholas 81 74.
156 Meghan Gockel 78-78, Mary Jane Hiestand 80 76, Daniela Lendl 81 75.
157 Tiffany Phelps 80 77, Rebecca Watson (Sco) 80 77.
158 Mallory Blackwelder 83-75, Heather Burgner 79 79, Lucy Nunn 81 77, Carol S Thompson 82 76.
159 Eleana L. Collins 81 78, Alex Schulte 78 81.
160 Meghan Chapman 86 74, Erica Still 83 77, Emily Street 83 77.

CATRIONA AND MHAIRI ARE SCOTLAND'S

PAIRING FOR WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Scotland will be represented by Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay in a field of 20 countries for the 2008 Women's World Cup of Golf at Sun City, South Africa from January 18 to 20.

Sweden will be one of the favourites for the title with the in-form Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth teaming up to challenge the defending champions from Paraguay - Julieta Granada and Celeste Trioche.

Ireland does not have a team in the $1.4million because their female professionals are not high enough up the world rankings.

For further information see www.womensworldcupofgolf.com

THE FIELD FOR SUN CITY

Australia - Lindsey Wright, Nikki Garrett.

Brazil - Angela Park, Candy Hannemann.

Canada - Alena Sharp, Lorie Kane.

China - Zhang Na, Wang Chun.

England - Trish Johnson, Kirsty Taylor.

France - Gwladys Nocera, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.

Germany - Bettina Hauert, Martina Eberl.

India - Simi Mehra, Irina Brar.

Italy - Sylvia Cavalleri, Diana Luna.

Japan - Shinobu Moromizato, Miki Saiki.

Korea - Ji-Yai Shin, Eun-Hee Ji.

Paraguay - Julieta Granada, Celeste Troche.

Philippines - Jennifer Rosales, Dorothy Delasin.

Scotland - Catriona Matthew, Mhairi McKay.

South Africa - Laurette Maritz, Ashleigh Simon.

Spain - Paula Marti, Tania Elosegui.

Sweden - Sophie Gustafson, Maria Hjorth.

Taiwan - Amy Hung, Yun-Jye Wei.

United States - Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst.

Wales - Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan.

ALEXIS THOMPSON (12)

SHARING DIXIE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Alexis Thompson has garnered attention for beating older girls in junior tournaments. Now the 12-year-old is halfway to her first major amateur title in America, even if her closest competition is fellow teenagers.
Thompson, pictured left, and 15-year-old Shelby Coyle both shot a second consecutive 74 to share the halfway lead at the Dixie Amateur with six-over-par 148 totals. They are six shots ahead of Jennifer Hirano, who shot a second-round 78 to sit at 12-over 154 at Palm-Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The leaderboard is much more crowded in the men’s division. Four players are tied for the lead at one-over 143 – Connor Arendell (72-71), Stephan Gross (73-70), Gregory O’Mahony (75-68) and T.J. Vogel (71-72).

DIXIE WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Second-round totals
Par 142 (2 x 71)
Alexis Thompson 74-74--148.
Shelby Coyle 74-74--148.
Jennifer Hirano 76-78--154.
Kyle Roig 81-74--155.
Tiffany Chudy 82-74--156
Stephanie Connnelly 76-80--156.
Laura Gonzalez-Escallon 76-80--156.
Christina Hirano 78-80--158.
Audrey Goumard 82-77--159.
Madison Pressel 82-77--159.
Maria Ronderos 82-77--159.
Leigh Crosby 82-77--159.
Rebecca Kuhn 81-78--159.
Carrie Morris 78-81--159
Maria Castellanos 79-82--161
Kristen Hill 81-83--164.
Jamie Ritter 86-79--165.
Susannah Aboff 86-80--166.
Amelia Lewis 85-81--166.
Jillian Brodd 79-87--166.
Kaylin Yost 83-83--166.
Valentine Gevers 83-85--168.
Meg Bender 81-87--168.
Isadora Stapff 85-84--169.
Marilyne Cadieux 89-83--172
Michelle Grilli 85-88--173
Rachel Blum 89-85--174
Catherine Elliot 88-86--174
Christina Ricci 88-87--175

SOLID START BY WATSON

SISTERS AS ORANGE

BLOSSOM TOUR TEES OFF

IN FLORIDA CHILLER

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE

Alison Walshe apparently didn’t neglect her game during the holiday season. The Arizona University senior shot a first-round 72 Thursday at Harder Hall Country Club to take a one-shot lead over UCLA junior Tiffany Joh at the Harder Hall Invitational.

A bogey on the final hole kept Walshe from posting the day’s only under-par round in cold, blustery conditions at Sebring, Florida.

Walshe, a Massachusetts resident, showed she’s used to such conditions.

Walshe, winner of last year’s North and South Amateur, and Joh, the 2006 US Women’s Amateur Public Links champion, are considered almost automatic selections to the American Curtis Cup team for the Old Course, St Andrews match against Great Britain & Ireland at the end of May.

The United States team will be announced after next week’s "Sally" (South Atlantic Amateur Championship), the second event on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.

Taylore Karle – winner of last week’s Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle – is in third place after a two-over 74. She’s tied with 2006 Harder Hall champion Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked player in the Golfweek/Titleist Amateur Rankings.

“I’m just happy to be done,” Lewis said after her round. She teed off in the day’s first group at 7:30 a.m. It was 31 degrees at the time and the wind was blowing 20 mph when she hit her first shot.

South Queensferry sisters Sally and Rebecca Watson made a solid start in the testing conditions with rounds of 77 and 80 respectively. Sally, pictured above, is lying joint 10th and Rebecca is not all that far behind her with three rounds to go.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR

Harder Hall Women's Invitational
HARDER HALL COUNTRY CLUB
Sebring, Florida
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72, 6,151yd.
72 Alison Walshe
73 Tiffany Joh
74 Taylore Karle, Stacy Lewis
75 Virginia D Grimes
76 Alexandra Bodemann, Marika Lendl, Candace Schepperle, Kristen Simpson
77 Lauren Doughtie, Sally Watson
78 Meghan Bolger, Meghan Gockel, Lauren Hunt, Isabelle Lendl, Alex Schulte
79 Heather Burgner, Kelly Fuchik, Garrett Phillips, Natalie Sheary
80 Christie Appleton, Ginny Brown, Mary Jane Hiestand, Tiffany Phelps, Marci Turner, Rebecca Watson
81 Benedikte Grotvedt, Eleana L Collins, Nannette Hill, Ann Laney, Diane Lang, Daniela Lendl, Natalie McNicholas, Lucy Nunn, Barbara Pagana, Jessica Yadloczky
82 Leslie Folsom, Joanna Saleeby, Carol S Thompson
83 Mallory Blackwelder, Paula Fitzpatrick, Kristy McLaughlin, Whitney Neuhauser, Erica Still, Emily Street, Kristin Vincent
84 Taffy Brower, Alicia Stauffacher, Katie Wilburn
85 Tonya Choate, Sydney Crane, Hunter Ross, Jenna Taylor
86 Meghan Chapman, Jordan Craig, Tyrette Metzendorf, Nancy Smith, Jessica Williams
87 Brittany Johnston, Ginny Orthwein, Julie Saleeby
88 Clate Aydlett, Denise Callahan, Rachel Carpenter, Melissa Doorlag, Mary Hill, Jessie Vincent, Dianne Yelovich
89 Jenny Schneider, Meredith Taylor
90 Erin Fitzpatrick, Cindel Gwyn, Sandra Jackson, Maggie Weder
91 Jen Lochhead, DeAnne Stolarik
92 Pat Hughes-Gelardi, Jean Mowry
93 Jan DeMarco, Jude Stewart
94 Mayura Skowronski
95 Karen Smith, Amy St. John, Angel Sze
96 Joanie Roberts, Carlie Yadloczky
97 Judy Lynn-Craig, Mary Wannamaker
98 Andrea Buccilla, Brenda Frye
99 Mary Kozak
100 Sandra Miller
102 Anne Kirlis
106 Marcella Rose

Dixie women's amateur championship
PALME AIRE COUNTRY CLUB
POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA
First round scores
74 Alexis Thompson, Shelby Coyle
76 Stephanie Connnelly, Laura Gonzalez-Escallon, Jennifar Hirano.
78 Christina Hirano, Carrie Morris, Jillian Brodd.
79 Maria Castellanos, Meg Bender.
81 Kristen Hill, Rebecca Kuhn, Kyle Roig
82 Tiffany Chudy, Leigh Crosby, Audrey Goumard, Madison Pressel, Maria Ronderos
83 Valentine Gevers, Kaylin Yost.
85 Michelle Grilli, Amelia Lewis, Rio Milord, Isadora Stapff
86 Susannah Aboff, Jamie Ritter
88 Catherine Elliot, Christina Ricci
89 Rachel Blum, Marilyne Cadieux
92 Kelli Montiegel

MAKE A DATE WITH SOPHIE

SANDOLO IN 2008

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:

Golf at the Olympic Games is the theme for LET golfer Sophie Sandolo’s 2008 calendar (pictured right).

Her most recent calendar aims to highlight her passion for all sports and intends to improve golf’s chances of making it to the Olympic Games.

“Professional sports like tennis and soccer made it, so why not golf?” says Sophie.

“The Olympic Games is probably the place where you have the largest number of athletes. To participate and represent their own country is everyone’s dream.

“Once again, I would like to thank Paolo Ranzani, my photographer, whose style and ideas have contributed to the creation of this brand new calendar.”

Hacienda del Alamo Women's Festival latest entry

MARIAN RIORDAN HAS

IMPRESSIVE CV ON AND

OFF THE GOLF COURSE

Marian Riordan decided after winning the Irish women's amateur Order of Merit in 2007 - following runner-up performances in Irish closed match-play championship and the Irish stroke-play championship - to turn professional.

One of her first events in her new rookie status will be the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival at the five-star Murcia, Spain golf resort from February 10 to 23.

Marian, who is 27, is now in her first year of training to become a PGA professional at Greystones Golf Club, County Wicklow, south of Dublin.

Marian, who lives at Lucan, County Dublin, has a great CV as an amateur golfer but she also has an outstanding educational record.

She gained a BA in Business Studies and Recreation Leisure at Waterford Institute of Technology (200-2003) followed by a Higher Diploma (Honours) in Education degree (2003-2004) at University College, Dublin.

Back to golf and she is the women's course record holder at Tipperary, Ballykisteen, Lahinch and Abbeyleix golf clubs.

As a member of Tipperary Golf Club, she won the Cork Scratch Cup and the Lahinch Scratch Cup in 2007. She played for Ireland in the women's home internationals of 2007 at Dunbar and also in the European women's team championship in Italy last year.

On the 2005 Orange Blossom Tour in Florida, Marian and Mary Ann Plunkett won the international foursomes (better-ball) tournament, which starts with stroke-play qualifying and runs into match-play They are pictured above with Marian on the left.

The deadline for entries to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival is Tuesday, January 15. Entries so far:

Professionals

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

Amateurs

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 17.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.

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.
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

Press Release

English Women’s Golf Association
announces board members

The English Women’s Golf Association has announced details of the chairman and non-executive directors of its new management board.
The chairman is Sue Whittaker of Northumberland and the non-executive directors are Carola Babcock of Buckinghamshire, Carolyn Baker of Wirral, Jane Longhorn of County Durham and Ada Parr of Northamptonshire.
EWGA came into being on January 1, 2008 and replaced the English Ladies’ Golf Association. It is a company limited by guarantee and will be run by the management board whose members have the business skills to drive forward women’s golf.
The aims of EWGA include encouraging more women and girls to play golf and to join golf clubs, to increase the number of women coaches and volunteers and to offer more opportunities for women and girl golfers to improve.
Sue Whittaker has held a host of public appointments, both local and national, and has chaired two NHS trusts. She is currently a non-executive director of the Public Guardian Board which scrutinises the way the Public Guardian carries out his duties protecting people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. She is a magistrate and chairs sittings of the Berwick-upon Tweed bench.She is a lifelong golfer and a member at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club, where she is known by her married name of Webster.
Sue commented: “Being involved with the development of women’s golf is a very exciting prospect.”
Carola Babcock is an investment banker and venture capitalist with a passion for golf. She is a member at Harleyford Golf Club. She retired a few months ago, while still in her early 40s, after a successful 17-year career in the USA, Germany and the UK. For the last seven years Carola was head of German investment business and investment director for the Intermediate Capital Group PLC (ICG), a FTSE-listed company.
Carolyn Baker is an expert in human resources and employment law. She is a non-executive director and chair of UIA Insurance Ltd, a not-for-profit insurance company. She is also a non-executive director of Wirral Partnership Homes, a registered social landlord. She is a member at Bromborough Golf Club and was the first woman to be elected to the club’s council. She has also served on the executive committee of the Cheshire county ladies’ golf association.
Jane Longhorn is a business consultant who has worked extensively in the field of fast moving consumer goods and has commercial, engineering and manufacturing and management skills. She has held senior posts with the Coca-Cola Company, Marlow Foods, Dairy Crest and United Biscuits.
She has been a member of Seaton Carew Golf Club since childhood and plays off five. She’s a past ladies’ captain and has set a record as the ladies champion for the last eight consecutive years. She served as a deputy on the ELGA executive committee of 2006/07.
Ada Parr is an expert in communications and training. For 10 years she was a main board director of Porter Novelli Inc, which is one of the top-ten global communications companies and part of a $1.7bn NYSE listed group. She was responsible for managing Porter Novelli’s world-wide affiliates in 45 countries, along the way opening up new markets for Porter Novelli in China and India.
She is the 2007/08 ladies’ captain at Whittlebury Park Golf Club and, with club colleague Jo Price, won the Australian Spoons, the stableford foursomes competition for England’s bronze division handicap golfers.

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Visit web site at http://www.englishladiesgolf.org/

MARIAN RIORDAN ENTERS
HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S FESTIVAL

Rookie professional Marian Riordan is the latest Irish player to put her name down for the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star Murcia (south-east Spain) golf resort from February 10 to 23.
We'll have the full story later today.
French Ladies European Tour player Cassandra Kirkland is another likely to swell the professional field.
Remember JANUARY 15 is the deadline for entries from professionals or Silver Division amateurs.
Entries should be E-mailed direct to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at colin@scottisgolfview.com

JUNIOR
ORANGE
BOWL
CHAMPIONS


JUNG-EUN
HAN (South Korea)

SEAN

EINHAUS

(Germany)

Images by Will Torado

JANUARY 15 CLOSING DATE FOR
ENTRIES TO HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO .... WHERE THE SUN
SPENDS THE WINTER

A reminder that entries close on Tuesday, January 15 for all six competitions that make up the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23.
The Festival is open to lady professionals and amateurs with Silver Division handicaps.
Hacienda del Alamo is a five-star golf resort in the south-east Spanish area of Murcia where the mid-February temperature is reputed to be the warmest in the whole of Spain.
With the third worst winter on record forecast for the British Isles, Murcia might just be the place to escape to if you want to keep on playing and practising!
E-mail your entry direct to the Festival Controller, Colin Farquharson - colin@scottishgolfview.com - giving your name, whether you are a professional or an amateur, stating your home club and handicap if you are an amateur, and when you plan to arrive and leave Hacienda del Alamo.
You don't have to stay at the accommodation on offer at Hacienda del Alamo, but if you do it makes sense to make the trip with as many golfing friends as you can muster. That will bring down the cost per head per day of renting a villa.

Harder Hall Women's Invitational tees off Thursday

WATSON SISTERS IN FIELD FOR

START OF ORANGE BLOSSOM

TOUR IN FLORIDA

The Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs tees off later this week with the 53rd Harder Hall Women's Invitational.

It's a four-round stroke-play tournament from Thursday to Sunday at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring in Florida.

America's Curtis Cup captain and career amateur legend Carole Semple Thompson is the chairman of the championship committee.

The Watson sisters from South Queensferry - Rebecca and Sally - are among the entrants. Sally was a strong-finishing fourth last year when American Leah Wigger was the winner. Both Rebecca, pictured above, and Sally are now based in the States, Rebecca as a first-year student at the University of Tennessee and Sally at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Bradenton in Florida.

The Watson girls are the only British or Irish players in the field.

The Stirling University squad of golfing girls and some of the Ladies Golf Union Elite Squad will join the Orange Blossom Tour at the second event - the "Sally" (South Atlantic Ladies Amateur).

Harder Hall Women's Invitational list of entries:

Marina Alex, Elizabeth Alger, Christie Appleton, Clate Aydlett.

Lila Barton, Mallory Blackwelder, Jill Blackwood, Alexandra Bodemann, Meghan Bolger, Taffy Brower, Ginny Brown, Heather Burgner.

Denise Callahan, Rachel Carpenter, Laura Carson, Meghan Chapman, Tonya Choate, Eleana L Collins, Jacqui Concolino, Jordan Craig, Sydney Crane.

Jan DeMarco, Melissa Doorlag, Lauren Doughtie.

Erin Fitzpatrick, Paula Fitzpatrick, Leslie Folsom, Brenda Frye.

Meghan Gockel, Megan Grehan, Virginia Derby Grimes, Cindel Gwyn.

Peggy S Hall, Mary Jane Hiestand, Mary Hill, Nanette Hill, Pat Hughes-Gelardi, Lauren Hunt.

Sandra Jackson, Brittany Johnston.

Taylore Karle, Anne Kirlis.

Diane Lang, Isabelle Lendl, Marika Lendl, Daniela Lendl, Jen Lochhead, Judy Lynn-Craig.

Barbara Magie, Kristy McLaughlin, Natalie McNicholas, Tyrette Metzendorf, Sandra Miller, Sarah Mooney, Jean Mowry.

Whitney Neuhauser, Lucy Nunn.

Karen Oldham, Ginny Orthwein.

Barbara Pagana, Tiffany Phelps, Garrett Phillips.

Joanie Roberts, Marcella Rose, Hunter Ross.

Julie Saleeby, Joanna Saleeby, Abigale Schepperle, Candace Schepperle, Alex Schulte, Natalie Sheary, Kristen Simpson, Mayura Skowronski, Nancy Smith, Ashley Smith, Karen Smith, Amy St John, Alicia Stauffacher, Judy Stewart, Erica Still, DeAnne Stolarik, Emily Street.

Jenna Taylor, Meredith Taylor, Carol S Thompson, Marci Turner.

Jessie Vincent, Kristin Vincent.

Alison Walshe, Mary Wannamaker, Sally Watson, Rebecca Watson, Katie Wilburn, Jessica Williams, Meredith Wolf.

Jessica Yadloczky, Carlie Yadloczky, Dianne Yelovich.

+We'll be covering the Orange Blossom Tour from start to finish on this website.

FLORENTYNA PARKER CAME SIXTH IN
DORAL-PUBLIX JUNIOR CLASSIC

The week before the Junior Orange Bowl boys' and girls' events - scroll down for the final totals - Florentyna Parker finished sixth in the Doral-Publix Junior Classic girls' tournament, elsewhere in Florida.
Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland, the Irish Under-18 girls' champion a couple of years ago, finished 20th.
Stephanie unfortunately injured her back in practice before the first round of the Junior Orange Bowl at Coral Gables and could not make it to the first tee for the start of the tournament.

2007 DORAL-PUBLIX JUNIOR CLASSIC
Leading final totals
GIRLS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Alexis Thompson (US) 71 73 69.
216 Kristina Wong (US) 76 71 69.
219 Giulia Molinaro (Italy) 76 74 69.
222 Maria Villaneuva (Argentia) 73 73 76.
224 Madison Pressel (US) 73 76 75.
225 Florentyna Parker (England) 78 74 73, Luz Alejandra Cangrego (Colombie) 75 79 71.
Other total:
237 Stephanie Meadow (Northern Ireland) 78 79 80 (20th).
BOYS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 Are Friestad (Norway) 67 71 70.
214 Maurico Azcue (Mexico) 74 73 678, Mathew Rivard (Canada) 73 69 72.
217 Dylan Frittelli (South Africa) 70 73 74.
20

CARLY BOOTH FINISHES JT 29th
IN ARIZONA TOURNAMENT

Carly Booth from Comrie finished joint 29th in a quality field of 112 for the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle women’s amateur golf tournament at Hillcrest Golf Club, Sun City in Arizona.
The 15-year-old European Young Masters champion is spending the winter in Arizona and attending Red Mountain High School at Mesa, near Phoenix.
Carly scored 72, 75 and 77 for an eight-over-par total of 224 over the 6,241yd course.
Over the 54 holes, she has eight birdies, two double bogeys (a 7 at the long 13th in Round 3 and a 6 at the par-4 2nd in Round 2) and 12 bogeys. She was level par for the par-3s and the par-5s.
Carly had no birdies in her final round but she birdied the sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th during her second round. In the first round, the Scot birdied the first, eighth, 10th and 13th.
In this prestigious tournament, with age parameters of 13 to 23 - entry fee $200 - the first seven finishers had sub-par totals.
Two US college first-year students, Taylore Earle (Pepperdine University) and Glory Yang (UCLA), tied for victory on eight-under-par 208. There was no play-off.
High School girl Rachel Morris, 15, finished third.
Kimberly Kim, the 2006 US women’s amateur champion, tied for fifth place on 212.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 Taylore Earle 74 66 68, Glory Yang 70 67 71.
209 Rachel Morris 72 70 67.
210 Sara Brown 71 69 70.
212 Stephanie Kim 69 76 67, Kimberly Kim 73 70 69.
Other total:
224 Carly Booth 72 75 77 (jt 29th).
258 Ashley Malaska 87 82 89 (110th of 112).

CARLY BOOTH BETTER AT 15

THAN MICHELE WIE WAS,

SAYS ARIZONA COACH

MIKE MALASKA

FROM THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE, ARIZONA
By Bill Huffman
By the time Carly Booth was 15, she had conquered pretty much all of her beloved Scotland when it came to girls golf.
In fact, the lovely lass who hails from the village of Comrie near the Scottish Highlands already had taken her game to the next level with her victory earlier this year in the European Young Masters.
With the help of her Mesa, Arizona-based instructor, Mike Malaska, Booth, who is still just 15, has turned her attention to a new arena — America.
Booth will get a chance to prove she is “the next Michelle Wie,’’ as Malaska insists, when the 37th annual Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship takes place Friday through Sunday at Hillcrest Golf Club in Sun City.
“America is lots of fun. I like it a lot,’’ said Booth, who is attending Mesa Red Mountain High School and living with the Malaskas, a family that includes Mike’s 17-year-old daughter, Ashley, who is also a talented teen golfer (pictured right above with Carly).

“The last tournament I played in was in Dubai in October. So this one (the Silver Belle) will be my first real tournament in the States,” Booth said.
Booth was "discovered" by Dick Hyland, the president of Scottsdale-based Lyle Anderson Golf. Hyland was at one of Anderson’s foreign properties, the Dundonald Course at Loch Lomond in the heartland of Scotland, when he witnessed Booth’s victory at the Duke of York Girls’ Championship.
“She was only 14 at the time, but I noticed almost right away that this little girl was quite a player,’’ Hyland said.
“While I was there, I also met her father, Wally, who was a former wrestling champion and coach, and he filled me in on Carly’s quick progress in golf, how she had once worked with (golf instructor David) Leadbetter and how she wanted to get more out of her game."
So when Hyland returned Stateside, he told Anderson and Malaska about Carly Booth. All three concurred that she should come to Arizona and learn under Malaska, play and practise at Anderson’s Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in the East Valley and ultimately seek out the best competition in the world.
“She is extremely capable, and her dad has taught her how to win,’’ Hyland said. “Carly’s not just a great player at age 15, she’s a great kid to be around, too.’’
Malaska certainly thinks so, and he’s worked with some talented players such as Sydnee Michaels, Margarita Ramos, Julie Yang, Daffodil Sanchez and his own daughter, Ashley, whose game is so strong that she gave up a stellar softball career for a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona.
“I’ve watched all the girls play, and I’ve watched Michelle (Wie) play, too,’’ Mike Malaska said. “All I can say is, Carly is a better player at 15 than Michelle was at 15.
“Carly has a better short game and is comparable off the tee. But it’s no contest from 50 yards and in. Carly is much better. And Carly has those 'intangibles’ you can’t teach, like a big heart and a bulldog personality.’’
At 5ft 6in, Booth is shorter than Wie, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, Malaska said.
“She’s a lot stronger than Michelle, and she’s got the looks that could rival Natalie Gulbis.”
Both attributes could help her in the no-apologies marketing world.But Booth is much more humble when discussing her potential.
Sure, she won her first tournament at age 11, once shot a 9-under-par 64 and has even made a couple of holes-in-one, “but none in competition just yet.’’ As for how many titles she has compiled, “I quit keeping track,’’ she said with a laugh.
Certainly, there is no pressure at the Silver Belle, which is open to girls and young women ages 13 to 23.
“I’ve played in more ladies’ tournaments than girls’ tournaments, so I’m sure I can handle it,’’ Booth said.
Down the road looms the big carrot, as Booth hopes to qualify in March for the LPGA Safeway International at her “home-away-from-home course.’’
Malaska said Booth told him she would love to go head-to-head with Wie in the qualifier at Superstition Mountain, with the winner earning the spot in the tournament.
Carly, however, is way too focused to toss that challenge to the media.“I’m going to try the qualifier, and if I can shoot a decent round that would be great,’’ she said. “But as far as great expectations, I don’t really think about that. I’m just myself. I play golf, and I have fun playing golf.’’
Fortunately, it’s still that simple for a young girl who just might be a budding superstar.

Junior Orange Bowl events end in Florida

FLORENTYNA FINISHES JOINT THIRD

AFTER BOGEY AT FINAL HOLE

Florentyna Parker finished a creditable joint third - only two shots behind the winner - in her sixth and last bid to win the prestigious and international 44th Junior Orange Bowl girls' championship over the Biltmore course at Coral Gables, Florida today.

The title went to the strong finishing South Korean 14-year-old Jung-Eun Han who overtook the four players ahead of her at the start of the final round with a two-under-par 68 for a three-over final tally of 283.

Italy's Giulia Molinaro, winner of The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy girls' title over the Dundonald Links earlier this year, finished second, one shot behind Han.

Royal Birkdale member Florentya, daughter of a Germany-based club professional and a member of the Ladies Golf Union elite winter training squad, finished with a 71 for 285.

She bogeyed the ninth and birdied the 18th and was heading for a joint second-place finish until she bogeyed the last hole.

Over the 72 holes, Florentyna, the British Under-18 girls stroke-play champion, had seven birdies in all. Her earlier rounds were 72, 70 and 72. Also on the five-over 285 mark were American Lindy Duncan and the overnight leader, 13-year-old Argentinian girl Victoria Tanco.

Miss Parker's older brother Ben won the Junior Orange Bowl boys' title in 2005.

Florida-based German teenager Sean Einhaus led by eight strokes at the halfway stage after opening rounds of 65 and 64 but he failed to get close to the boys' par of 70 over the last two rounds.

In the end Einhaus had to go into a play-off with American Peter Uihlen, last year's runner-up. They tied on six-under-par 274, Einhaus finished with a 73 and Uilhen with a 68 after starting with a sensational eagle 3 at the 501yd opening hole.

Einhaus had only to par the first hole of the play-off to take the title.

Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo finished third on 276.

Darren Renwick (Worthing), winner of the Scottish Under-16 boys' open stroke-play title two years ago, finished joint 37th on 294 after a final round of 73. Renwick had a 9 at a par-4 hole in his first round and had no birdies on the third day.

The only other English boy in the field, Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) had a closing 76 fo0r 295 and joint 40th position. Andrew had one triple bogey and three double bogeys over the four rounds.

DAVID MACKINTOSH REPORTS FROM CORAL GABLES:

Germany’s Sean Einhaus, front-runner for the entire event, is the 44th Junior Orange Bowl International champion, claimed in a thrilling one-hole sudden death finish with Peter Uihlein, last year’s runner-up.

Both players completed regulation play in 274, six-under par for the four rounds, two strokes ahead of Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo.
The girls' champion is 14-year old Jung-Eun Han from Jeju, Korea, who started her final round two strokes off the lead and, from the penultimate group, pounced on the leaders with a sterling two-under par 68 for a 283 (three over par) total in tough and breezy conditions.
Overnight leader 13-year old Victoria Tanco from Argentina finished with a 2-over par 72 for a three-way share of third place.

Italy’s Giulia Molinaro finished second with valiant even-par 70, holing her last short par putt and fist-pumping her joy, aware of having outlasted her final-group partners only to learn her effort was good for only second place.
Britain’s Under-18 girls' stroke-play champion Florentyna Parker hoped for a family double by duplicating her brother Ben’s victory here two years ago but critical putts failed drop over the closing stretch.

She completed her record sixth and final appearance tied third.

South Florida phenomenon 12-year old Alexis Thompson, last week’s Doral Publix winner, closed with a gutsy even-par 70 for solo-sixth spot.
The boys' championship became one of the mostly closely-contested final rounds in recent years after Einhaus, who led by eight at halfway and four at the start of the last round, gave back the entire advantage on the front nine.

Uihlien jumped into contention with an eagle at the opening par-5 and these two stayed locked over the closing holes while challenges from Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo and Christiano Terragni were answered with a stream of closing pars from birdie opportunities.
The cut and thrust thus took these two exceptionally-talented teenagers back to the final hole one more time. Uihlein made a wonderful saving flop-shot to three feet from behind the green but he missed the putt and Einhaus tapped in a par putt of 18 inches. The Junior Orange Bowl International had a new boys' champion.

For complete scores please go to http://www.jrorangebowl.com/

JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL FINAL TOTALS

Biltmore Course, Coral Gables, Florida

BOYS
Par 280 (4 x 70). 6,699yd.
274 Sean Einhaus (Ger) 65 64 72 73, Peter Uihlen (US) 71 66 69 68 (Einhaus won sudden-death play-off at first extra hole).
276 Pedro Figueiredo (Por) 69 68 69 70.
277 Victor Dubisson (Fr) 70 72 67 69, Max Kieffer (Ger) 70 67 72 68, Mathieu Rivard (Can) 67 73 69 68.
279 Hyun Seok Lim (US) 71 67 68 72.
279 Dylan Frittelli (SAf) 69 71 67 72, Christiano Terragni (Ita) 69 69 67 74, Romain Wattel (Fra) 68 71 71 69.
2891 Morgan Hoffman (US) 68 70 72 72.
282 Floris De Vries (Net) 71 71 69 71, Are Friestad (Nor) 71 72 66 73.
283 Kasper Sorensen (Den) 75 71 71 66.
Selected totals:
288 Roy Steinberg (Isr) 72 70 74 72 (jt 26th).
290 Julien Brun (Fra) 71 76 69 74 (jt 29th).
292 Cyril Suk (Cze) 74 71 75 72 (jt 32nd).
293 Benjamin Palanszki (Hun) 71 75 74 73.
294 Darren Renwick (Eng) 74 72 75 73 (jt 37th).
295 Tim Gornik (Slo) 73 73 74 75, Andrew Johnston (Eng) 71 77 71 76 (jt 40th).
296 Lukes Nemecz (Aut) 73 77 72 74 (jt 44th).
300 NIicolai Aagaard (Den) 75 74 70 81, Mikus Gavers (Lat) 76 73 74 77, Claudio Vigano (Ita) 76 74 72 78 (jt 48th).
307 Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (Pol) 77 77 78 75 (jt 61st).
316 Andy-Chris Orsinger (Swi) 86 73 77 80 (68th).
318 Patrik Sterner (Swe) 78 85 79 76 (69th of 70).
GIRLS
Par 280 (4 x 70). 6,089yd.
283 Jung-Eun Han (SKor) 69 75 71 68.
284 Giulia Molinaro (Ita) 73 71 70 70.
285 Florentyna Parker (Eng) 72 70 72 71, Lindy Duncan (US) 72 70 72 71, Victoria Tanco (Arg) 70 72 71 72.
286 Alexis Thompson (US) 72 70 74 70.
287 Yu-Ling Hsieh (Tai) 71 75 71 70.
290 Catherine O’Donnell (US) 72 71 72 75.
293 Courtney Ellenbogen (US) 71 74 72 76, Lisa McCloskey (US) 73 75 70 75.
295 Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 77 75 71 72.
Selected totals:
296 Jessica Korda (Cze) 76 74 73 73 (jt 12th).
298 Emilie Alonso (Fra) 74 74 75 75 (jt 15th).
299 Laetitia Beck (Isr) 72 76 73 78, Alessia Knight (Ita) 74 73 75 77 (jt 17th).
300 Saskia Hausladen (Ger) 74 71 77 78, Fanny Wolte (Aut) 77 76 71 76 (jt 19th).
301 Marika Lendl (US) 75 77 76 73 (22nd).
303 Sofia Huglund (Fin) 75 76 77 75, Isabelle Lendl (US) 79 74 76 74, Fanny Vuignier (Swi) 77 72 75 79 (jt 23rd).
311 Audrey Gourmard (Fra) 78 76 79 78 (jt 29th).
312 Joana Pinto (Por) 77 71 78 86 (31st).
315 Keista Puisite (Lat) 83 74 77 81 (33rd).
319 Valentine Gevers (Bel) 89 78 72 80 (35th).
336 Tjasa Prelog (Slo) 84 81 89 82 (37th of 38).

JUST THINK WHAT TWO COACHES,

TWO TRAINERS AND TWO PHYSIOS
COULD DO FOR CLARE QUEEN!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Two weekend newspaper articles about leading sporting Scots - one a male tennis player and the other a female professional golfer - served to highlight the financial gulf between the two.

In today's "Scotland on Sunday," John Fraser writes about Andy Murray, the 20-year-old British No 1 tennis player from Dunblane, and his decision to part company with his coach Brad Gilbert ... "whose large salary was provided by the Lawn Tennis Association."

"I'm really looking forward to my new way of doing things," Murray told Fraser. "I want to be in a position where I have a couple of coaches, a couple of trainers and a couple of physios."

John Fraser does not say whether the Lawn Tennis Association will pick up the bill for all six backroom boys when they join Team Murray.

Meanwhile, Jock MacVicar wrote in Saturday's "Scottish Daily Express" about 24-year-old Glasgow-born Clare Queen who jumped 60 places to 39th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 2007.

Clare, who is attached to The Carrick at Cameron House, has had only one coach for the last eight or nine years - Ian Rae, the Scottish Golf Union's national coach.

But there is an even bigger contrast between Murray and Queen. While just how much it will cost Andy - or the LTA - to fund an entourage of six does not seem to come into his financial equation at all, the equally-ambitious Clare is worried about the cost of hiring a full-time caddie, which she knows is an essential move towards her goal of playing on the LPGA Tour.

MacVicar wrote:

"Clare has to sort herself out with a regular caddie. Up to now, family and friends or a local caddie have helped her out. But she knows it isn't an ideal situation if she is to take the next step."

"Next year I want to employ a full-time caddie," Queen told MacVicar, adding "That's going to bump my expenses up. But I have made a bit of money this year and building a relationship with someone who knows your game really well is a big advantage. A good regular caddie can save you a shot or two per round. It's difficult to get that when you're just depending on people from all over."

Writes MacVicar: "It is a frustrating fact that while golfers of the calibre of Queen and Peter Whiteford struggle for financial backing in Scotland, golfers from down south of similar, or even lesser quality, are running around in sponsors' cars."

Never mind "down south" ... what about Andy Murray's sporting lifestyle?

Just think what it could do for Clare Queen to have two coaches, two trainers and a couple of physios.