California Scots Anne Walker, left, and Roseanne Niven take a break during practice.

Roseanne a great representative for

Scotland in California - Anne Walker

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Two Scots - Vikki Laing from Musselburgh and Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayshire - and two English players, Samantha Head from Bedford and Londoner Polly Willett are among the entries for the first of the 18 events that will make up the 2008 Duramed Futures Tour in the United States.
It's the Bright House Networks Open over 54 holes from March 14 to 16 with a prize money of $85,000.
Vikki scored her first Futures Tour victory last year and will be hoping to establish a higher degree of consistency in the new season.
Anne Walker from Strathaven, who stayed on at the end of her four years at the University of California-Berkeley and has recently been promoted to Associate Head Coach (which is quite an honour and a post of responsibility) reports that Vikki - a contemporary of Anne's in Scottish girls golf and also at California-Berkeley, has been back at her old stamping ground for several weeks, sharpening up for the new campaign.

"It's been nice having Vikki around. Our friendship remains one of the best."
It's been something of a Tartan Tie-up indeed with former Scottish girls champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff, a member of the current California squad, joining Vikki for some practice rounds.
Although Roseanne did not have the best of starts to the second half of the US college golf season, Anne Walker is convinced that she will maintain the improvement she showed before the mid-winter break once she gets back again to regular tournament play.
"I think Roseanne Niven could be the next Vikki Laing in terms of our university squad," said Anne.
"She is ranked in the top 50 in the country, is averaging 74 per round and is well on her way to being named not only an All Pac-10 Conference player but also an All-American Player.
"She was recently named one of the top 10 players in California collegiate golf by California Golf Magazine, alongside other European notables such as Belen Mozo and Dewi-Claire Schreefel, as well as US Curtis Cup selection Tiffany Joh.

"That's quite an honour for Rosie and nice exposure for her. She certainly doesn't go looking for it. She is the most down to earth, humble person I have ever come across."
So Anne thinks that Roseanne Niven is destined to make as big an impact for California-Berkeley as Vikki Laing did in her day when she was at one time just outside the college nationwide top 10 rankings.

"Considering the quality of the opposition she is playing with and against on the US college circuit, I expect Rosie will be in good standing for any Scottish teams when she is home for the summer.

"Check out the www.calbears.com website and the women's golf page.

"We are flying the team over in June for the British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick and then onwards for a week of fun golf, etc.

"We are trying to get tee times at St Andrews but no luck so far. I think Rosie is setting up a match between the Scottish girls team and our current California team at Crieff. That should be good!

"Rosie is an absolute delight and a great representative for Scotland out here in California.

"The international environment at Berkeley, both on the team and on the campus, has proved to be a great one for Vikki and now Roseanne."

Catriona Matthew's 69 is joint best of third round

Lorena Ochoa goes eight shots clear in Singapore

Women's British Open champion Lorena Ochoa is beginning to exercise a Tiger Woods-style dominance over her LPGA Tour peers.
The Mexican shot a third-round, three-under-par 69 for a 52-hole tally of 16-under-par 200 in the HBSC Champions' tournament in Singapore today.
She leads by eight strokes from American Paula Creamer and former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam (Sweden).
North Berwick's Catriona Matthew matched Ochoa's best of the day 69 to move into joint 13th place with one round to go. Catriona is improving with every round, having scored 74 in the first round and 72 in the second to be on one under par 215.
Compatriots Mhairi McKay and Janice Moodie are on 218 and 221 respectively.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
200 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 66 65 69.
208 Paula Creamer 67 71 70, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 71 67 70.
209 Karrie Webb (Aus) 69 70 70
211 Laura Diaz 70 71 70
212 Stacy Prammanasudh 70 69 73, Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 73 69 70, In Kyung Kim (Kor)68 70 74
214 Morgan Pressel 70 71 73, Angela Stanford 73 69 72, Birdie Kim (Kor) 72 71 71, Pat Hurst 70 71 73
215 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 68 72 75, Natalie Gulbis 72 68 75, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 74 72 69, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 70 71 74
216 Reilley Rankin 71 74 71, In-Bee Park (Kor) 75 70 71, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 72 73 71
217 Sarah Lee 70 71 76, Hwa seon Lee (Kor) 73 75 69, Christina Kim 73 71 73
218 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 67 74 77, Jimin Kang (Kor) 73 69 76, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 73 72 73, Alena Sharp 75 74 69, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 70 75, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 73 72 73, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 72 71 75
219 Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 72 72 75, Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 73 72 74, Meena Lee (Kor) 73 74 72, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 74 73 72, Diana D'Alessio 72 71 76, Na Zhang (Chn) 70 74 75
220 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 76 70 74, Linda Wessberg (Swe) 68 71 81, Meaghan Francella 71 74 75, Nicole Castrale 75 71 74, Brittany Lang 74 71 75
221 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 73 76 72, Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 74 74 73, Angela Park 70 74 77, Janice Moodie (Sco) 74 76 71, Katherine Hull (Aus) 73 70 78, Jeong Jang (Kor) 73 72 76
222 Juli Inkster 74 74 74, Akane Iijima (Jpn) 74 73 75, Miho Koga (Jpn) 73 71 78, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 77 68 77, Teresa Lu (Tai) 74 72 76, Becky Morgan (Wal) 76 73 73, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 79 71 72, Sherri Steinhauer 75 72 75
223 Heather Young 72 77 74, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 76 75 72, Young Kim (Kor) 77 75 71, Charlotte Mayorkas 72 75 76, Karine Icher (Fra) 72 72 79
224 Gloria Park (Kor) 70 79 75
225 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha) 72 76 77, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 69 77 79, Carri Wood 77 72 76, Amy Hung (Tha) 80 68 77, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 78 77 70
226 Cristie Kerr 76 75 75, Lisa Hall (Eng) 75 73 78
227 Na On Min (Jpn) 70 76 81, Brittany Lincicome 74 74 79
229 Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) 72 76 81, Emily Bastel 80 74 75
230 Siew-Ai Lim (Mal) 81 76 73
231 Julieta Granada (Par) 78 75 78
233 Amelia Yong (Sin) 77 76 80
234 Beth Bader 78 76 80
240 Da ye Na (Kor) 85 76 79

Top seed Carlota Ciganda beaten by compatriot

KERRY AND BREANNE KO'D IN
SPANISH QUARTER-FINALS

Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), the last two British players still standing in the final eight survivors of the Spanish women's open amateur championship, were eliminated in this morning's quarter-finals at La Reserva Golf Club, Cadiz.
But the big shock was the 3 and 1 defeat of the top seed, hot favourite and British champion, Carlota Ciganda by a Spanish compatriot, Adriana Zwanck who qualified 25th of 32.
Zwanck is through to a a semi-final meeting with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, the fifth best qualifier, who inflicted a 5 and 4 defeat on Kerry Smith.
The second semi-final will be contested by Audrey Goumard (France), the No 3 seed, and Caroline Masson (Germany), the No 2 qualifier.
Masson beat Breanne Loucks by 2 and 1 in the quarter-finals.

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
A Zwanck (Spa) bt C Ciganda (Spa) 3 and 1.
C Hedwall (Swe) bt K Smith (Eng) 5 and 4.
A Goumard (Fra) bt L Henriksson (Fin) 3 and 1.
C Masson (Ger) bt B Loucks (Wal) 2 and 1.

LATER NEWS:

Sunday's 18-hole final for the Queen's Cup will be contested by the 21-year-old Vagliano Trophy player from Madrid, Adriana Swanck, and Caroline Masson, the German player who eliminated Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the second round.
Miss Swanck was in her junior (third) year at the University of Arizona but returned home to Spain.
Adrianna has plus two of a handicap, Caroline plays off +3.2.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Zwanck bt C Hedwall 3 and 2.
Masson bt Goumard 6 and 5.

DEATH OF MRS J L
(TONY) MOFFAT

Sad news to report today with regard to Mrs J L (Tony) Moffat of Aberdeen Ladies. It is understood she was found dead at her home in Aberdeen on Thursday. She was 85 and had been a widow for many years.
A vice-president of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, Tony was Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association president from 1992-1993 and was one of the leading figures on the club and county golf scene for several decades.
She won the Aberdeenshire title in 1955 at Murcar and again in 1958 at Balgownie. She was beaten finalist five times - 1971 by Mrs Audrey Henderson at Hazlehead, 1974 by Mrs D Robertson at Cruden Bay, 1978 by Annette Laing at Peterhead, 1982 by Pamela Wright at Hazlehead and in 1983, when she was 60, by Elaine Farquharson at Aboyne. She was also a semi-finalist in 1973 and 1976.
Mrs Moffat was an Aberdeenshire county team player for many years. She was a member of the very strong Shire team that won the Scottish county championship for the first time at Elie in 1971 and also the following year when they made a successful defence of the title in the finals at Cruden Bay.
She was still holding down a place in the county line-up in the 1980s.
Tony was also a prominent figure in seniors and veterans' golf. Her name will be perpetuated in several championship trophies she presented. She was a past president of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association and the current president of the Northern Division of the SVLGA.
She was also the honorary president of Aberdeen Ladies Golf Club.
Aberdeenshire county captain Fiona Hay (Deeside) said:
"It's with great sadness we learned of the sudden death of Tony Moffat. Tony had been a huge supporter of Scottish ladies golf at all levels, always there with a pleasant smile and words of wisdom for the players. Events won't be quite the same without her handing out her endless supply of Werther’s Originals to players, officials and spectators."

+The funeral will be private at her own request.

Press Release

JULIE TVEDE JUST MAKES
IT PAST WINNING POST IN
SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN

Overnight leader by six strokes, Julie Tvede from Demark had only one shot of an advantage left in hand as she passed the winning post in the 2008 Acer Women’s South African Open at Durban Country Club.
Julie, who had seemingly outstripped the field with her opening rounds of 66 and 69, finished with a 74 for a 10-under-par total of 209 over the par-73 lay-out.
The heat and a fairly strong wind coming off the sea on the front nine seemed to affect the all the players today.
Tvede, Ladies European Tour image on left, who had a bogey free second round, had a shaky start this morning. Her first tee shot went into the rough and buried itself in a divot on the left of the fairway. With a rescue club she punched it out, but finished up with a bogey start to her day.
On the par-4 seventh, Tvede dropped another shot after a being bunkered and missing from 10ft for a par.
Things started to look up when the Dane claimed her first birdie of the day on the par-5 eighth and she was one shot clear of the field at the turn.
She claimed two more birdies at the 11th and 14th further two birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, but bogeyed the short 15th with three putts and dropped another shot after bunkering her approach at the 16th. Another shot went by the wayside at the 17th but she hung on down the 18th to win by the narrowest of margins from France's Anne-Lisa Caudal who had the best round of the last day, a four-under-par 69, for 210.
"I was very comfortable today, even though I was playing alongside Julie, I just played each shot as it came," said Anne-Lisa who birdied the par-5 third and fifth to put the pressure on the leader.
At the turn Caudal was only one shot behind Tvede. Her drive off the 14th landed her in the bunker, but she recovered to within 150 metres. She then chipped up onto the green and holed the putt for her fourth birdie of the day.
On the par-4 16th Caudal pushed her drive right of the fairway, but managed a good wedge shot to the 150 metre mark, and then holed the putt.
In the final analysis it was a bogey 5 at the 17th, where she hooked her drive into a bush, that was to cost the French player the chance to tie and go into a play-off.
She played a nine iron onto the green but could not hole a par-saving putt.
At the 18th, Caudal had to settle for a par and defeat by one-shot after failed to take a birdie opportunity.
Norway's Marianne Skarpnord finished third on 212 after a closing 70. Then came two South Africans, Stacy Bregman (72-214) and Lee-Anne Pace (71-215).
Leading British finisher was former champion Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster. Rebecca, who won last week's South African Ladies Tour event, signed off with a 74 for fifth place on 217.
Good news for the local crowd was the performance from Westville resident Pam Hayward. Hayward, who played for the first time on the Ladies African Tour this year, took the honours as the leading amateur with a final round of 77 for three-over-par 222.
The Pinetown Girls High teacher, who lost in the playoff two weeks ago at the Eastern Cape Amateur Championships, only started playing competitive golf three years ago.
The Ladies African Tour moves to Nelspruit for the first time next week, with the start of the Pam Golding Ladies International being played at the Nelspruit Golf Club on Thursday.
Website: http://www.ladiesafricantour.com/

FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3 x 73)
Players from South Africa unless stated.
(am) denotes amateur.
209 Julie Tvede (Den) 66 69 74.
210 Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 69 72 69.
212 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 73 69 70.
214 Stacy Bregman 72 70 72.
215 Lee-Anne Pace 70 74 71.
217 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 68 75 74.
221 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 70 77 74.
222 Pam Hayward (am) 75 70 77.
223 Monique Smit (am) 73 73 77, Laurette Maritz 74 76 73.
224 Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 74 73 77.
225 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 73 74 78, Emma Lyons (Eng) 73 76 76
227 Morgana Robbertze 76 70 81, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe) 75 79 73.
228 Bertine Strauss (am) 69 76 83, Maria Boden (Swe) 75 77 76, Mandy Adamson 73 74 81.
229 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 75 76 78, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 75 78 76.
230 Florence Luscher (Swi) 74 75 81, Zuzana Kamasova (Slovakia) 82 74 74, Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 70 79 81.
231 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 83 73, Caryn Louw 78 77 76, Bonita Bredenhann (Nam) (am) 71 73 87; Karin Borjeskog (Swe) 68 77 86.
232 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 79 77 76, Henriette Frylinck (am) 79 79 74, Sandra Carlborg (Swe) 78 78 76.
233 Jillian Wyne (Can) 78 78 77, Kim Williams (am) 78 70 85, Tandi von Ruben (am) 80 74 79, Anna Temple (US) 77 76 80, Gina Switala (am) 81 73 79, Ashleigh Holmes (am) 75 78 80.
234 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 74 76 84, Michelle de Vries 80 75 79
236 Amy French (Aus) 79 77 80, Jo Clingan (Eng) 79 74 83, Nicole Becker (am) 78 75 83.
237 Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 76 79 82.
238 Maria Beautell (Spa) 75 78 85
239 Sandra Winter (am) 78 78 83, Jenna Schonfeld (am) 84 80 75, Mercia Pretorius (am) 73 81 85, Rose Naliaka (Ken) 79 83 77, Julie Berton (Fra) 83 75 81.
241 Nicole Garcia (am) 84 78 79
242 Tsebo Betty(am) 83 79 81, Nicole Carlse (am) 80 81 82; Lise Botha 79 84 80
245 Sarah Faller (Ire) (am) 84 72 89, Connie Chen (am) 74 90 81, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 78 82 85
246 Marne Roos (am) 83 76 87
247 Crizelda van Niekerk 87 74 86
250 Sune Du Plooy (am) 79 74 97
252 Alana van Greuning (am) 85 79 88

Tournament website: http://www.ladiesafricantour.com/

Spanish women's open amateur championship

KERRY SMITH, BREANNE LOUCKS
ONLY BRITS TO MAKE IT
THROUGH TO LAST EIGHT

England's Kerry Smith and Breanne Loucks from Wales are the only British players to survive the first day of match-play in the Spanish women's open amateur golf championship at La Reserva Golf Club, Cadiz today.

Michelle Thomson from Ellon, 15th of the 32 qualifiers and chasing a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team to be named next week, won her opening tie by one hole against Spaniard Sonia Cologan but lost by 4 and 3 in the afternoon to the No 2 seed from Germany, Caroline Masson.

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), who qualified in 20th position, was beaten 6 and 5 in the first round by 13th qualifier Kerry Smith who is a chef her home golf club of Waterlooville in Hampshire.

Smith, pictured right, went on to reach the last eight by beating France's Isabelle Boineau, the No 4 qualifier, by 3 and 2 and now plays Caroline Hedwall, the fifth seed from Spain.

Loucks, the No 10 qualifier and, like Smith, looking to impress the GB&I selectors ahead of next week's meeting, beat Louise Larsson (Sweden) by 3 and 1 and then Spain's Ane Urchegui, the No 7 seed, by 6 and 4.

British women's open amateur champion Carlota Ciganda, the 17-year-old Spanish wonder-girl, remains the red-hot favourite to follow up her victory in the Portuguese women's open amateur championship at the start of February. The No 1 qualifier, the Pamplona player required to play only 24 holes in winning her first and second round ties.

Collated resullts

FIRST ROUND
C Ciganda (Spa) bt L Stempfle (Ger) 6 and 5.
N Jimenez (Spa) b t J Hedwall (Swe) 2 and 1.
S James (Eng) bt L Gonzalez-Escallon (Spa) 1 hole.
A Zwanck (Spa) bt B Buendia (Spa) 2 holes.
C Hedwall (Swe) bt S Popov (Ger) at 20th.
L Mar (Spa) bt L Andre (Fra) 5 and 3.
K Smith (Eng) bt K Walker (Sco) 6 and 5.
I Boineau (Fra) bt C Patussi (Ita) 3 and 2.
A Goumard (Fra) bt A Vilatte (Fra) 3 and 2.
R Connor (Eng) bt J Jansson (Swe) 2 and 1.
L Henriksson (Fin) bt H Aitchison (Eng) 1 hole.
E Alonso (Fra) bt A Bonetti (Fra) 1 hole.
A Urchegui (Spa) bt M Ricordeau (Fra) 2 and 1.
B Loucks (Wal) bt L Larsson (Swe) 3 and 1.
M Thomson (Sco) bt S Cologan (Spa) 1 hole.
C Masson (Ger) bt C Herbin (Fra) 3 and 2.

SECOND ROUND

Ciganda bt Jimenez 8 and 7.

Zwanck bt James 3 and 2.

C Hedwall bt Mar 5 and 3.

Smith bt Boineau 3 and 2.

Goumard bt Connor 2 holes.

Henriksson bt Alonso 4 and 3.

Loucks bt Urchegui 6 and 4.

Masson bt Thomson 4 and 3.

South African Women's Open

GREAT DANE JULIE GOES SIX SHOTS
CLEAR AFTER SECOND ROUND

Overnight leader Julie Tvede from Denmark raced into a commanding six-shot lead after the second round 69 for 11-under-par tally of 135 in the Acer Women’s SA Open at the Durban Country Club.
Tvede birdied every one of the par-5 holes. birdied the lot. She sank a 12ft putt at the third but drove into a bunker at the fifth and did very well indeed to get up and down for a second birdie.
The calm Tvede then took a three wood off the eighth tee, simply chipped up to the pin and went up and down for her third birdie to go 10 under par at the turn.
On the first par five of the back nine, the 10th hole, she hit her second shot with a rescue club to within sixty metres of the pin, and then rolled in 8ft putt for birdie No 4. Her final birdie came on the 14th hole when she hit her second shot within forty metres of the pin, pitched it long by a good three feet, but holed the downhill birdie putt.
By now Tvede was feeling far too enthusiastic and overshot the pin at the 17th by 15 feet from which distance she three-putted for her only bogey of the round.
"Just as well it was a par-4, after all I had birdied all the par fives though," said a delighted Tvede.
Six shots behind and no stranger to South Africa is Anne-Lise Caudal from Biarritz, South Western France. She played in the 2006 Amateur World Championship in Stellenbosch. First time playing as a professional on the local tour, Caudal started off well from the 10th tee where she made birdie. She then dropped two shots when she three-putted both the par-4 13th and 17th holes, to turn on 3 under.
Anne-Lise drove right of the fairway at the first hole, but recovered after a long second shot to birdie it.
Caudal got into a little more trouble on the par-4 seventh hole when her tee shot went straight into a bush, but with a five iron she made the green, only to two putt and card her third bogey of the day.
Her final birdie of the day came when she drove her trusted three wood off the eighth tee, and used it again for her second shot to make the green. She then two putted to make birdie and carded an even par round 72, to put her one shot clear of leading South African Stacy Bregman.
Bregman had a patient, bogey-free round.
The leading amateur at two under par for the tournament is 16 year old Bonita Bredenhann from Namibia, having carded a 73 round today.
England’s Rebecca Hudson was ecstatic when she holed a five-iron from 158yd into a slight breeze for a hole in one at the par-3 second hole. Rebecca finished the second day in fifth place, four under par for the tournament after a 75.
Final round of the Acer Women’s SA Open gets underway from 07.00 local time with the leaders off from 09.10 at the Durban Country Club.
You can follow the last-day scoring by logging on to: http://www.ladiesafricantour.com/

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 146 (2 x 73)
(*) amateur
South African unless otherwise denoted
135 Julie Tvede (Den) 66 69.
141 Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 69 72.
142 Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 73 69, Stacy Bregman 72 70.
143 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 68 75.
144 Lee-Anne Pace 70 74, Bonita Bredenhann (Nam) 71 73.
145 Bertine Strauss (am) 69 76, Pam Hayward (am) 75 70, Karin Borjeskog (Swe) 68 77.
146 Monique Smit (am) 73 73, Morgana Robbertze 76 70.
147 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 70 77, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 73 74, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 74 73, Mandy Adamson 73 74.
148 Kim Williams (am) 78 70.
149 Emma Lyons (Eng) 73 76, Florence Luscher (Swi) 74 75, Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 70 79.
150 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 74 76; Laurette Maritz 74 76
151 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 75 76
152 Maria Boden (Swe) 75 77
153 Anna Temple (US) 77 76; Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 75 78; Ashleigh Holmes (am) 75 78; Sune Du Plooy (am) 79 74, Jo Clingan (Eng) 79 74, Nicole Becker (am) 78 75; Maria Beautell (Spa) 75 78.
154 Tandi von Ruben * 80 74; Gina Switala * 81 73; Mercia Pretorius (am) 73 81, Cecilia Ekelundh (SWE) 75 79; Siviwe Duma * 74 80
155 Caryn Louw 78 77; Kelly Hutcherson (ENG) 76 79; Michelle de Vries 80 75
156 Jillian Wyne (CAN) 78 78; Sandra Winter * 78 78; Frederique Seeholzer (SWI) 79 77; Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 82 74; Amy French (AUS) 79 77; Sarah Faller (Ire) (am) 84 72; Sandra Carlborg (Swe) 78 78.
157 Nora Kagonyera (Uga) 81 76.
158 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 83, Henriette Frylinck (am) 79 79, Julie Berton (Fra) 83 75.
159 Marne Roos (am) 83 76.
160 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 78 82.
161 Crizelda van Niekerk 87 74, Nicole Carlse (am) 80 81.
162 Rose Naliaka (KEN) 79 83; Hermine Greyling (am) 83 79, Nicole Garcia (am) 84 78.
163 Tsebo Betty Mokoena 83 80, Lise Botha 79 84.
164 Alana van Greuning * 85 79; Jenna Schonfeld * 84 80; Connie Chen * 74 90

SELECT FIELD CATALONIA LADIES
PRO EVENT TO BE HELD AT
EMPORDA ON APRIL 12-13

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The Ladies European Tour is pleased to announce the Catalonia Ladies 2008 event, which will take place from 12-13 April at Empordà Golf Hotel and Spa in Girona, Spain.
This special event will be open to the top 15 professionals on the 2007 final exemption ranking or New Star Money List along with five invitations making a field of 20 players who will compete for a €60,000 prize fund.
The format of the event will be 36 holes stroke play. The first round will be played as a pro-am with the professionalS' individual score to count while the second round will be played by the professional golfers only.
“We are pleased to offer our membership the opportunity to return to Catalonia,” said Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour. “The top players in European golf will once again return to the Costa Brava region, which is sure to host a fantastic event.”
Ivan Corretja, managing director of Double Match, the event promoters, said: “We have worked very hard together with Catalunya Turisme to keep holding an event in the region this year.
"It has not been easy but we hope to make of this event a very special one that will allow us to come back in the next years having in our fields the biggest names of women’s golf as we did have in the past with players participating like Lorena Ochoa, Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, Gwladys Nocera, Karine Icher, Paula Martí and many others.”
The Empordà Golf course offers a total of 36 holes and is divided into two separate 18-hole courses: the Links and the Forest. Designer Robert von Hagge chose to integrate a links-style course with two large lakes, dunes and rolling bunkers into a classic Mediterranean landscape replete with dense, manicured pine trees and spacious fairways.
The course is located in stunning El Baix Empordà in the heart of the Costa Brava region.
In the late 1990s, Empordà Golf was named one of the 10 best courses in Spain. It was also ranked 13th for design in all of continental Europe by “Peugeot Golf Guide 1996”. For further information about the venue log on to: www.empordagolf.com.

clubgolf doubles up at Scottish Golf Show

Junior golfers visiting the 2008 Scottish Golf Show will be pleased to learn that the clubgolf junior golf area has doubled in size compared to last year.
Scotland’s national junior golf programme, clubgolf, will host a junior golf area at the show, giving many youngsters the chance to experience golf for the first time in a safe environment.
The Scottish Golf Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, near Edinburgh, on April 4-6. All children under the age of 16 are guaranteed free entry if accompanied by a paying adult.
Launched by Colin Montgomerie in 2003, clubgolf has been a huge success, with 26,000 nine-year-olds introduced to the sport in 2007 alone.
Torquil McInroy, clubgolf Project Manager, said: “The Scottish Golf Show gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase clubgolf, Scotland’s national junior golf programme, to Scotland’s golfers.
“We’ll have golf activities for young golfers visiting the show as well as the chance for parents and other golfers to see how they can get involved with our volunteer coaching programme.
“clubgolf has been a part of the Scottish Golf Show since the first event and we look forward to working at the biggest and best one yet!”
Ross Duncan, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager at the Scottish Golf Union, said: “The Scottish Golf Union is delighted to be involved with the 2008 Scottish Golf Show following the success of our activity at last year’s event. Once again clubgolf will be running the junior golf area and we will have some fantastic prizes to give away.
“We look forward to many golfers visiting our stand for information on SGU national events and handicap championships, our new website and much, much more.”
For the latest updates on the Scottish Golf Show,www.thescottishgolfshow.co.uk
uk
Official clubgolf wesbite: www.clubgolfscotland.com

Press Release

OXFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB GIVES

11-year-old CHARLEY HULL

JUNIOR GOLF SCHOLARSHIP

Eleven-year-old golfing prodigy Charley Hull has been awarded a junior golf scholarship by The Oxfordshire Golf Club.
Charley, pictured right, played the Ladies English Open venue as a guest at the London Golf Show media day and club officials were so impressed with her performance they were waiting to make her the offer as she walked off the 18th green.
The scholarship gives Charley seven-day use of the championship course, entry into all of the club’s competitions, complimentary balls and use of the practice facilities and access to The Oxfordshire’s well respected professional teaching staff.
One of the hottest prospects in ladies’ golf, Charley plays off an impressive handicap of four and has already made her mark in several competitions.
In 2005 she became the youngest ever winner of the GB & Ireland Ladies Amateur Championship. Since then she’s appeared at numerous events playing alongside the pros including the 2007 Woman’s Texas Open where she turned many a head with consistent good shots – and she also helped her team to victory at The Oxfordshire.
The Oxfordshire’s Sam Smith said: “Charley’s performance was outstanding; seeing someone that young playing so well was unbelievable.
“Everyone was so impressed we felt impelled to do something to help her realise her obvious potential and hopefully she’ll benefit from playing here under the watchful eye of our team of pros.”
Charley said: “The course was well good. I really enjoyed it, especially the fast greens. It was the first time I'd ever played the course but I thought I played well. I can't wait to go back and play the greens when they are perfect - hopefully this summer in the Pro-Am for the Ladies English Open.
“I want to become the best golfer in the world so hopefully I'll have lots of chances to play great courses again and again.”

Ochoa leads by seven in Singapore
LPGA TOUR: HSBC CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT
Singapore
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
1 Lorena Ochoa 66 65 131.
T2 Annika Sorenstam 71 67 138.
T2 In-Kyung Kim 68 70 138.
T2 Paula Creamer 67 71 138
T5 Stacy Prammanasudh 70 69 139.
T5 Karrie Webb 69 70 139.
T5 Linda Wessberg 68 71 139.
T8 Natalie Gulbis 72 68 140.
T8 Jee Young Lee 68 72 140.
T10 Pat Hurst 70 71 141.
T10 Morgan Pressel 70 71 141.
T10 Laura Diaz 70 71 141.
T10 Silvia Cavalleri 70 71 141.
T10 Sarah Lee 70 71 141.
T10 Ai Miyazato 67 74 141
T16 Angela Stanford 73 69 142.
T16 Ji-Yai Shin 73 69 142.
T16 Jimin Kang 73 69 142.
T19 Katherine Hull 73 70 143.
T19 Maria Hjorth 73 70 143.
T19 Suzann Pettersen 72 71 143.
T19 Diana D'Alessio 72 71 143.
T19 Birdie Kim 82 71 143.
T24 Christina Kim 73 71 144.
T24 Miho Koga 73 71 144.
T24 Shi Hyun Ahn 72 72 144.
T24 Karine Icher 72 72 144.
T24 Na Zhang 70 74 144.
T24 Angela Park 70 74 144.
T30 Na Yeon Choi 73 72 145.
T30 Mhairi McKay 73 72 145.
T30 Jeong Jang 73 72 145.
T30 Eun-Hee Ji 73 72 145.
T30 Brittany Lang 74 71 145.
T30 Karin Sjodin 72 73 145.
T30 Inbee Park 75 70 145.
T30 Reilley Rankin 71 74 145.
T30 Meaghan Francella 71 74 145.
T30 Rachel Hetherington 77 68 145.
T40 Teresa Lu 74 72 146.
T40 Catriona Matthew 74 72 146.
T40 Nicole Castrale 75 71 146.
T40 Lindsey Wright 76 70 146.
T40 Na On Min 70 76 146.
T40 Ashleigh Simon 69 77 146.
T46 Meena Lee 73 74 147.
T46 Akane Iijima 74 73 147.
T46 Momoko Ueda 74 73 147.
T46 Charlotte Mayorkas 72 75 147.
T46 Sherri Steinhauer 75 72 147.
T51 Seon Hwa Lee 73 75 148.
T51 Virada Nirapathpongporn 72 76 148.
T51 Juli Inkster 74 74 148.
T51 Brittany Lincicome 74 74 148.
T51 Kyeong Bae 72 76 148.
T51 Jin Joo Hong 74 74 148.
T51 Lisa Hall 75 73 148.
T51 Amy Hung 80 68 148.
T59 Giulia Sergas 73 76 149.
T59 Heather Young 72 77 149.
T59 Alena Sharp 75 74 149.
T59 Becky Morgan 76 73 149.
T59 Carri Wood 77 72 149.
T59 Gloria Park 70 79 149.
T65 Janice Moodie 74 76 150.
T65 Se Ri Pak 79 71 150.
T67 Il Mi Chung 76 75 151.
T67 Cristie Kerr 76 75 151.
69 Young Kim 77 75 152.
T70 *Amelia Yong 77 76 153.
T70 Julieta Granada 78 75 153.
T72 Beth Bader 78 76 154.
T72 Emily Bastel 80 74 154.
74 H.J. Choi 78 77 155.
75 Mi Hyun Kim 79 77 156.
76 Siew-Ai Lim 81 76 157.
77 Na Da Ye 85 76 161.
Withdrew: Joo Mi Kim.

EUROPEAN AND GOLFWEEK RANKINGS

Fewer than seven days before the GB&I Curtis Cup team selectors finalise their line-up of eight for the match against the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.
Here is some rankings information that may or may not help them in their deliberations:

EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
1 C Ciganda (Spa) 60.
2 F Parker (Eng) 50.
3 M Thomson (Sco), R Sorensen (Swe), E Andersson (Swe) 45pt each.
6 A Munoz (Spa) 40.
7 S Hassan (Wal) 37.50.
8 B Genuini (Fra) 30.
9 A Nordqvist (Swe), K Walker (Sco) 25.50pt each.
Other rankings:
14 S Harvey (Ire) 19.50.
15 H Aitchison (Eng) 16.50.
20 A Scott (Eng) 10.00.
25 T Davies (Wal) 5.50.
32 R Wyn Thomas (Wal) 3.00.
35 D McVeigh (US) 2.00.

GOLFWEEK
1 S Lewis (US) 260.
2 A Blumenherst (US) 215.
3 M Bolger (US) 190.
4 M Blackwelder (US) 170.
5 A Walshe (US) 150.
Other rankings:
15 E Bennett (Eng) 85.
27 M Thomson (Sco) 55.
43 R Jennings (Eng) 35.
115 K Caithness (Sco), B Loucks (Wal) 15pt each.

BELFAST STUDENT SHIRLEY JT
NINTH IN KOASATI PINES
COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT



Shirley Harvey from Belfast, a junior (third-year) student at the University of South Alabama, finished joint ninth in a field of 86 players at the recent Koasati Pines Collegiate women's tournament at a Louisiana venue.
Shirley, pictured left, had scores of 74, 77 and 78 for a total of 229 over the par-72, 6203yd course.
Cristina Martin (Florida International) won the individual honours with 72, 80 and 70 for 222 - one shot ahead of Elin Andersson (South Alabama) (75-71-77), Nicole Forshner (Central Arkansas) (72-72-79) and Rebecca Sorensen (Central Arkansas) (72-74-77).
In the tightest of team finishes, Florida International (920) won by a single shot from South Alabama with Lamar University third on 922 in a field of 16 teams.

Only three LGU Elite Squad among 32 qualifiers

MICHELE AND KYLIE QUALIFY FOR MATCH
PLAY STAGES IN SPAIN CHAMPIONSHIP

Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) were among the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages from a starting field of 99 in the Spanish women's open amateur golf championship for the Queen's Cup at La Reserva Golf Club, Cadiz today.
In windy conditions for the second qualifying round, Curtis Cup team candidate Michele actually improved by one shot on the first day with a 76 for 153 to be the 15th seed with a first-round tie against the 18th qualifier, Sonia Cologan (Spain).
Kylie went back from an opening 74 to an 80 but her total of 154 gave her 20th place in the match-play draw. She will play England's experienced international, Kerry Smith, the Waterlooville chef, in the first round.
Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born Manchester Golf Club professional, qualified with a 76 for 153. She will play Josephine Jansson (Sweden).
Other Brits who qualified were Breanne Loucks (Wales), Holly Aitchison (England) and Kerry Smith (England), all on 152, and Sian James (England) on 155.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Jane Turner (Mortonhall) missed the cut (two on 157 got through, five on the same mark did not). Rachael had a repeat 81 for 162 while Jane had an 81 for 167.
Bad news for the GB&I Curtis Cup team selectors who meet next week to choose the eight to face the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May was that only three of their Elite Squad - Thomson, Loucks and Smith - made it through while some of the players regarded as near-certainties for selection failed to qualify in Spain - Liz Bennett (157 but eliminated on a second-round comparison), Naomi Edwards (158) and Florentyna Parker (159).

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 C Ciganda (Spa) 69 71.
143 C Masson (Ger) 75 68.
145 A Goumard (Fra) 73 72.
156 I Boineau (Fra) 74 72.
149 C Hedwall (Swe) 78 71.
150 E Alonso (Fra) 77 73, A Urchegui (Spa) 74 76.
151 B Buendia (Spa) 77 74, L Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 73 78.
152 B Loucks (Wal) 77 75, H Aitchison (Eng) 76 76, L Mar (Spa) 75 77, K Smith (Eng) 75 77.
153 R Connor (Eng) 77 76, M Thomson (Sco) 77 76, N Jimenez (Spa) 75 78, J Hedwall (Swe) 74 79.
154 S Cologan (Spa) 77 77, J Jansson (Swe) 74 80, K Walker (Sco) 74 80, L Andre (Fra) 74 80.
155 L Henriksson (Fin) 78 77, L Larsson (Swe) 76 79, S James (Eng) 76 79, A Zwanck (Spa) 76 79.
156 M Ricordeau (Fra) 79 77, A Bonetti (Fra) 76 80, S Popov (Ger) 75 81, C Patussi (Ita) 75 81, A Vilatte (Fra) 73 83.
157 C Herbin (Fra) 81 76, L Stempfle (Ger) 80 77 (better second rounds).

MATCH-PLAY QUARTERS

Ciganda v Stempfle, Jimenez v J Hedwall, Gonzalez-Escallon v James, Buendia v Swanck.

C Hedwall v Popov, Mar v Andre, Smith v Walker, Boineau v Patussi.

Goumard v Vilatte, Connor v Jansson, Aitchison v Henriksson, Alonso v Bonetti.

Urchegui v Ricordeau, Loucks v Larsson, Thomson v Cologan, Masson v Herbin.

Failed to qualify included:
157 E Nummenpaa (Fin) 79 78, E Bennett (Eng) 79 78, B Genuyini (Fra) 77 80, P Sanz Barrio (Spa) 75 82, M Goyos Ball (Spa) 75 82.
158 N Edwards (Eng) 78 80.
159 F Parker (Eng) 80 79, H Barwood (Eng) 79 80, R Jennings (Eng) 78 81, S Hassan (Wal) 76 83.
162 R Livingstone (Sco) 81 81.
167 J Turner (Sco) 86 81.
168 T Davies (Wal) 83 85.
169 S Evans (Wal) 90 79.

Paul Lawrie gives golf equipment
to Aberdeenshire schools

Paul Lawrie is spearheading the drive to put golf clubs in the hands of every child in Aberdeenshire after handing over golf equipment worth £5000 to local schools today.
Three years ago the 1999 Open Champion launched firstclubgolf, the national junior golf strategy clubgolf’s introductory game. In March 2005 he unveiled the Aberdeenshire clubgolf Junior Golf Strategy, created by the partnership of Aberdeenshire Council, The Paul Lawrie Foundation and clubgolf, at Aspire Golf Centre.
The Paul Lawrie Foundation continued its commitment to Aberdeenshire junior golf today by giving its third annual instalment of £5,000 worth of firstclubgolf equipment. Paul also found time to watch the children of Kintore Primary School begin their firstclubgolf lessons.
firstclubgolf uses multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets to give children an enjoyable introduction to the game. Last year over 26,000 children across Scotland experienced firstclubgolf, many of them choosing to progress to the second stage of the programme at local clubs.

This year alone, clubgolf aims to introduce 2580 Aberdeenshire primary school children to golf through firstclubgolf at school.

These children will have the opportunity to move on to Stage 1 of the clubgolf programme at one of the 24 Aberdeenshire clubs committed to the strategy. One hundred and seventy four Aberdeenshire golf club members have become trained to deliver Stage 1 of the programme. A further 25 are due to be trained early this year.

“clubgolf is proving to be extremely popular with the young people of Aberdeenshire and the sound structure of the Aberdeenshire Junior Golf Strategy is giving more children than ever the opportunity to play the game,” said Paul Lawrie.

“By providing this equipment every primary school in Aberdeenshire will have the opportunity to use golf clubs, targets and balls which will allow every child the chance to have an introduction to the game of golf.

“clubgolf has the potential to introduce children to a game for life, promoting good health and instilling important social values. It also offers a structured programme which could guide complete beginners through every level up to the professional game.”

Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager

Official clubgolf website: www.clubgolfscotland.com

NATASHA PODMORE JOINT

SIXTH IN FRESNO STATE

INVITATIONAL

Natasha Podmore from Warrington, a second-year student at the University of San Francisco, finished joint sixth in a field of 86 for this wee's Kitahara Fresno State Invitational college tournament at Copper River Country Club.

The Delamere Forest Golf Club member had rounds of 72 and 75 over the 6,072yd par-72 course.

Natasha, pictured left, finished only three shots behind the winner, Taylor Siebert (Fresno State) with 73 and 71 for 144.

San Francisco (597) finished fourth of 16 teams behind Tulsa (590).]

LPGA Tour event in Singapore
HSBC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS
Tanah Bay Resort, Singapore
FIRST ROUND
(USA unless stated, par 72):
66 Lorena Ochoa (Mex).
67 Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato (Jpn).
68 Jee Young Lee (Kor), Linda Wessberg (Swe), In Kyung Kim (Kor)
69 Ashleigh Simon (Rsa), Karrie Webb (Aus)
70 Stacy Prammanasudh, Na On Min (Jpn), Morgan Pressel, Angela Park, Sarah Lee, Pat Hurst, Gloria Park (Kor), Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Laura Diaz, Na Zhang (Chn).
71 Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Meaghan Francella, Reilley Rankin
72 Heather Young, Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor), Diana D'Alessio, Charlotte Mayorkas, Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Karine Icher (Fra), Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha), Natalie Gulbis, Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor), Karin Sjodin (Swe), Birdie Kim (Kor)
73 Giulia Sergas (Ita), Meena Lee (Kor), Eun Hee Ji (Kor), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Christina Kim, Miho Koga (Jpn), Ji-Yai Shin (Kor), Jimin Kang (Kor), Na Yeon Choi (Kor), Angela Stanford, Mhairi McKay (Sco), Hwa seon Lee (Kor), Katherine Hull (Aus), Jeong Jang (Kor)
74 Jin Joo Hong (Kor), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Juli Inkster, Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang, Akane Iijima (Jpn), Teresa Lu (Tai), Momoko Ueda (Jpn), Janice Moodie (Sco).
75 Alena Sharp, Lisa Hall (Eng), Sherri Steinhauer, In-Bee Park (Kor), Nicole Castrale
76 Lindsey Wright (Aus), Il Mi Chung (Kor), Becky Morgan (Wal), Cristie Kerr
77 Rachel Hetherington (Aus), Young Kim (Kor), Carri Wood, Amelia Yong (Sin)
78 Beth Bader, Julieta Granada (Par), Hye Jung Choi (Kor)
79 Joo Mi Kim (Kor), Mi-Hyun Kim (Kor), Se Ri Pak (Kor)
80 Emily Bastel, Amy Hung (Tha)
81 Siew-Ai Lim (Mal)

ACER SOUTH AFRICAN

LADIES OPEN
FIRST ROUND SCORES

66 Julie Tvede.
68 Rebecca Hudson, Karin Borjeskog.
69 Bertine Strauss (am), Anne-Lise Caudal.
70 Lisa Holm Sorensen, Lee-Anne Pace, Sohvi Harkonen.
71 Bonita Bredenhann (am).
72 Stacy Bregman.
73 Monique Smit (am), Marianne Skarpnord, Lill Kristin Saether, Mercia Pretorius (am), Emma Lyons, Mandy Adamson.
74 Kaisa Ruuttila, Laurette Maritz, Florence Luscher, Siviwe Duma (am), Antonella Cvitan, Connie Chen (am).
75 Emma Zackrisson, Johanna Westerberg, Cecilie Lundgreen, Ashleigh Holmes (am), Pam Hayward (am), Cecilia Ekelundh, Maria Boden, Maria Beautell.
76 Morgana Robbertze, Kelly Hutcherson.
77 Anna Temple,Biance Barnard (am).
78 Jillian Wyne, Sandra Winter (am), Kim Williams (am), Caryn Louw, Sandra Carlborg, Nicole Becker (am), Nora Angehrn.
79 Frederique Seeholzer, Rose Naliaka, Henriette Frylinck (am), Amy French, Sune Du Plooy (am), Jo Clingan, Lise Botha.
80 Tandi von Ruben (am), Michelle de Vries, Nicole Carlse (am).
81 Gina Switala (am), Michelle Leigh (am), Nora Kagonyera.
82 Monique Kruijer (am), Zuzana Kamasova, Kristy Fisher.
83 Stenna Westerlund, Marne Roos (am), Tsebo Betty Mokoena, Odette Grotepas (am), Hermine Greyling (am), Julie Berton.
84 Jessica Wycherley (am), Jenna Schonfield (am), Nicole Garcia (am), Sarah Faller (am).
85 Alana van Greuning (am), Enge Knoetze (am).
86 Esther Strous.
87 Crizelda van Niekerk, Stephanie Ruiz, Elsabe Hefer.
90 Lara Weinstein (am).
99 Talia Nel (am).

LAURA SLIPS BACK TO

FINISH SIXTH IN TEXAS

Laura Jones from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, a freshman student at Oklahoma City University, finished sixth in the Mary Hardin-Baylor Invitational women's college tournament at Mill Creek course, Salado in Texas.
Laura, pictured right, was lying second after a first-round 76 over the par-73, 5816yd course but slipped back four places with an 88 on the second day for 164.
Two of Laura's Oklahoma City team-mates, Ashley Sholer and Sydney Cox tied for victory on 156, both scoring 77 and 79.
Not surprisingly, Oklahoma City (625) won the team event by a runaway margin - 56 shots - from Redlands Community College (681) in a field of 13 teams.

ANDREA DOWN THE ALABAMA FIELD
Andrea Downer from Surrey, a second-year student at Murray State Universtiy in Kentucky, finished joint 34th in the Ann Rhoads Invitational at Timberline Golf Club, Birmingham, Alabama.
Over a par-71, 5851yd course, Andrea scored 81 and 85 for 166 - 18 shots behind winner Daniela Vargas (Shorter) with 76 and 72.
Murray State (644) finished second in the team event to Samford (635) in a field of 12 college squads.

JODI AND ROSEANNE DISAPPOINT

IN ARIZONA WILDCAT EVENT

Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart, a Curtis Cup team contender, and Roseanne Niven from Crieff finished joint 12th and joint 65th respectively in a field of 92 players for the Arizona Wildcat Invitational women's college tournament over the par-71, 6,166yd Arizona National Course near Tucson.

Jodi, pictured right, needing a high finish to impress the GB&I selectors who meet next week to choose the team of eight for the match against the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, will have been disappointed in her rounds of 71, 76 and 76 for 1o-over-par 223.

Jodi, a second-year student at the University of New Mexico, can and has played much better on the American college circuit in which she was ranked in the top 20 before the mid-winter break.

She had three double bogeys over the 54 holes and four of her six birdies were achieved in her first-round 71 which had her up among the leaders.

Former Scottish girls champion Roseanne Niven, a first-year student at the University of California-Berkeley, also failed to maintain the improved form she had been showing before the midwinter hiatus.

Roseanne scored 80, 82 and 79 for 241. She had two double bogeys in her closing round and six in all, plus a quadruple bogey 9, over the 54 holes.

Amanda Blumenherst (Duke University), the No 1 US player for the forthcoming Curtis Cup match, once again showed her class with scores of 68,72 and 73 for level par 213 and a three-stroke victory from former British women's and girls' open champion from Spain, Belen Mozo (Southern California) and Jaclyn Sweeney (Oklahoma State).

Ireland-born Alison Walshe from Galway, another member of the US Curtis Cup team for St Andrews, finished joint fifth on 220 with scores of 71, 74 and 75.

In all there were four members of the American team in the top eight at Arizona - Blumenherst, Walshe, Tiffany Joh (also on 220) and Jennie Lee (Duke) on 221.

Oklahoma State (884) won the team event from Southern California and Duke (both 886). New Mexico (907) finished seventh with California (924) 11th of 16.

INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS

Par 213 (3 x 71). 6166yd

213 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 68 72 73.

216 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 74 74 68, Jaclyn Sweeney (Oklahoma State) 71 73 73.

219 Mari Chun (Stanford) 69 77 73.

220 Tiffany John (UCLA) 70 80 70, Taylore Karle (Pepperdine) 71 77 72, Alison Walshe (Arizona) 71 74 75.

221 Jennie Lee (Duke) 74 74 73, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 72 73 76, Lizette Salas (Southern California) 72 74 75.

Other totals:

223 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 71 76 76, Karen Kinnerud (Oklahoma State) 73 76 74, Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 74 74 75 (jt 12th).

225 Pia Halbig (California) 73 77 75 (jt 20th).

232 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California) 77 75 80 (jt 44th).

241 Roseanne Niven (California) 80 82 79 (jt 65th).

LEADING TEAMS

884 Oklahoma State.

886 Southern Califoria, Duke.

899 Arizona.

901 Arizona State.

904 UCLA.

907 New Mexico.

Other total:

924 California (11th of 16).

KRYSTLE FINISHES AHEAD OF

CURTIS CUP RIVAL TARA IN

LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC

Krystle Caithness, pictured right, from Cellardyke, Fife finished ahead of another GB&I Curtis Cup team contender, Ireland's Tara Delaney, in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic women's college tournament at Coco Beach Golf Club.
Georgia University freshman student Krystle, playing her first tournament after the mid-winter break, had rounds of 72, 78 and 72 for a share of 15th place on 222.
Tara Delaney (Kent State) had scores of 74, 73 and 79 for 226 and a tie for 34th place.
A second Scot in the field, Tennessee freshman Rebecca Watson, tied for 86th place on 242 with scores of 82, 80 and 80.
The prestigious event was won by United States Curtis Cup team selection, Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) with excellent rounds of 68, 70 and 70 for 208.
She won by four shots from Canadian Maude Aimee Leblanc (Purdue) (70-74-68: 212) and Belgium's Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) wih 74, 68 and 72 for 214.
France's Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) finished fifth on 216 with 71, 71 and 74 while Sweden's Caroline Westrup (Florida State) came sixth with 70, 71 and 76 for 217.
Alabama (880) won the team event ahead of Louisiana State (883) with Kent State and Texas Christian tieing for third place on 887, one shot ahead of joint fifth Arkansas and Purdue.
Krystle's effort helped Georgia to gain a creditable seventh place tie with South Carolina on 890 in a top quality field of 18 teams.
+The GB&I Curtis Cup team for St Andrews at the end of May will be announced at noon on Thursday, March 6.

Kylie outshines Curtis Cup

team possibles to be top Brit

after first round in Spain

This week's Spanish women's open amateur golf championship at La Reserva, Cadiz is the last chance for the Ladies Golf Union's Elite Squad to impress the GB&I selectors before the Curtis Cup team of eight is chosen next week for the match against the Americans over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.
But all the Curtis Cup aspirants trailed behind 21-year-old former Scottish schoolgirls champion Kylie Walker, pictured right, from Buchanan Castle - not a member of the Elite Squad - in today's first round. Kylie shot a two-over-par 74 to be sharing fifth place behind the Spanish wonder girl, Carlota Ciganda.
It would be wrong to class this as a flash in the pan performance by Miss Walker because she played very well in the Portuguese women's open amateur championship two or three weeks ago when she finished joint seventh.
Ciganda, one of the world's top-rated female amateurs with a handicap of +5.4, won the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds last June and she was a runaway winner of the recent Portuguese women's open amateur title.
Today the slim 17-year-old, who will have her pick of the top American colleges for a golf scholarship in the autumn, set a cracking pace over a course only she seemed to find comparatively easy.
Carlota, from the bull-run Spanish city of Pamplona, had a four-under-par round of 69 to open up a four-stroke lead from one Spanish and two French competitors on 73.
England's Kerry Smith, who is one of the LGU Elite Squad, led the rest of the Brits in the field of 99, all of whom had to have at least a handicap of scratch before they could get into the championship. She had a 75.
Michele Thomson from McDonald Ellon, who gave Carlota Ciganda her toughest tie in last summer's "British" - she lost on the 18th green, had a 77. Michele finished third behind Ciganda and Florentyna Parker in the "Portuguese" and has had some intensive one-on-one coaching from Neil Marr since then.
Other Scots' scores were an 81 by Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and an 86 by Jane Turner (Mortonhall).

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
69 C Ciganda (Spa).
73 A Vilatte (Fra), A Goumard (Fra), L Gonzalez-Escallon (Spa).
74 J Jansson (Swe), J Hedwall (Swe), A Urchegui (Spa), I Boineau (Fra), L Andre (Fra), K Walker (Sco).
75 L Mar Ruiperez (Spa), K Smith (Eng), S Popov (Ger), C Masson (Ger), M Goyos Ball (Spa), P Sanz Barrio (Spa), C Patussi (Ita), N Jimenez Martin (Spa).
76 S James (Eng), M Engzelius (Nor), L Larsson (Swe), S Hassan (Wal), H Aitchison (Eng), A Zwanck (Spa), N Mansson (Swe), A Bonetti (Fra).
77 M Thomson (Sco), A Provot (Fra), E Alonso (Fra), B Buendia Gomez (Spa), E Gassiot (Fra), R Connor (Eng), B Genuini (Fra), B Loucks (Wal), S Cologan (Spa), T Caballe Hernani (Spa).
78 C Hedwall (Swe), T Urquizu (Spa), L Henriksson (Fin), N Edwards (Eng), R Jennings (Eng).
79 E Bennett (Eng), H Barwood (Eng), M Ricordeau (Fra), A Dahlberg-Soderstrom (Swe) M Kaarnalahti (Fin), M Prat Caballeria (Spa), E Nummenpaa (Fin).
80 S Hoglund (Fin), F Parker (Eng), A Korkeila (Fin), E Folch Sola (Spa), M Tschida (Ger), C Douglass (Eng), D Holmquist (Swe), C Hedberg (Spa), K Hillas (Nor), A Roscio (Ita), J Silva Pinto (Por), L Charpier (Fra), L Stempfle (Ger), E Lundstrom (Swe), R Sanchez Lobato (Spa).
Other scores included:
81 R Livingstone (Sco), L Whittaker (Ger) (jt 64th).
83 T Davies (Wal) (jt 85th).
86 J Turner (Sco) (94th).
90 S Evans (Wal) (99th).

Ladies Golf Union Press Release

Curtis Cup match over Old Course, St Andrews
to be all-ticket with 8,000 crowd limit per day

The Ladies’ Golf Union has announced that the 2008 Curtis Cup will be a ticket only event with a capacity of 8,000 spectators each day.
(SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PRICE OF THE TICKETS)
The match will be played for the first time over the Old Course, St Andrews from 30 May – 1 June. A strong USA team has already been announced and it’s Great Britain and Ireland opposition will be revealed at 12 noon on the 6th March 2008. Full details of the GB & I team will be online at http://www.lgu.org/
Trish Wilson, The LGU’s Chairman, said “We have limited the daily attendance figures to ensure a positive experience for spectators as they follow the match of their choice over the fairways. Interest in this historical match is high and I would advise spectators to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment.”
An advanced season ticket discount is available until 1st May 2008.
All Curtis Cup Ticket holders will be entitled to a 25% discount on green fees at The Duke's, St Andrews, during the week of the Curtis Cup.

This week a new dedicated Curtis Cup website was launched at http://www.curtiscup.co.uk/ where team profiles, photos, up to date news and scoring can be accessed.

A commemorative limited edition Curtis Cup pin is available to purchase, with all proceeds being donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Further details are available online.

The Curtis Cup was donated by the sisters Harriet and Margaret Curtis in 1927 and is inscribed: “to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” However, largely due to financial reasons, the first official match was not played until 1932 at Wentworth where the US beat GB&I 5½ - 3½. In the series the US teams have won 25 matches, GB&I teams 6, with three matches halved. However, since 1984 the results have been much closer with four wins each and one halved match.

For ticket prices and information please visit:
http://www.curtiscup.co.uk/

Lynn Wallace
Ladies’ Golf Union - Communications
01334 475 811
====================================================
Season Tickets
Admission to course from Wednesday 28 May - Sunday 1 June 2008
Adult £35.00
Senior Citizen £32.00
Daily Tickets
Practice Days: Free (Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 May 2008)
as well as the
Official Opening Ceremony : Thursday 29 May 2008, 6.00pm
Friday 30 May 2008
Adult £16.00
Saturday 31 May 2008
Adult £16.00
Sunday 1 June 2008
Adult £16.00
*Juniors under 16 yrs: Free
Advance Season Ticket
To be purchased before 1st May 2008 (No additional discount for Senior Citizens)
Adult £30.00
*CONDITIONS
1. Junior (Under 16@ 30/5/2008) tickets should be obtained in advance by applying in writing to the Ladies’ Golf Union. Some form of identification should accompany the application. i.e birth certificate, letter from school or a letter from the golf club or committee.

LATIMER SCORES SECOND WIN

ON US COLLEGE GOLF CIRCUIT

Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a second-year student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, has achieved his second victory on the United States college golf circuit.
Latimer, pictured right, did not let thunderstorms and lightning delays affect his concentration on the final day of the Pine Needles Intercollegiate tournament over the Donald Ross-designed par 71, 7015yd course at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines in North Carolina.
He shot 71 and 72 for a one-over-par total of 143 on testing course to win by two shots from Guilford College team-mate Burton Wood (77-68).
After his success, Latimer was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week - the fourth time he has gained the honour in his 18 months at Guilford College. He was the conference's Rookie of the Year for the 2006-2007 college golf season during which he scored his first US tournament win.

Belmont Abbey College (591) won the team event in the Pine Needles Intercollegiate tournament, 10 strokes ahead of Guilford College.

JODI AND ROSEANNE LOSE GROUND
IN ARIZONA WILDCAT INVITATIONAL

Curtis Cup candidate Jodi Ewart from Yorkshire, a student at New Mexico University, and former Scottish girls champion Roseanne Niven (University of California) from Crieff lost ground in the second round of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational college tournament over the par-71, 6166yd Arizona National Course, Tucson.
Jodi, needing a good result to impress the GB&I selectors who meet next week to choose the team of eight for the Curtis Cup match against the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, will start the third and final round in joint eighth position.
She had a second round of 76 for a 36-hole tally of five-over-par 147. Starting at the 10th, Jodi had a double bogey 7 at the long 11th and a double bogey 6 at the first, which a lone birdie at the long fifth could not offset. She has had three double bogeys over the first 36 holes.
Roseanne Niven is in joint 72nd place in a quality field of 92 with scores of 80 and 82 for 162. Starting at the 10th, Roseanne had a nightmare quadruple bogey 9 at the long second and double bogey 6s at the 15th and seventh. She required 43 strokes – eight over par – for her second nine holes. The Scot did birdied the long 18th and the third.
She has had four double bogeys and a quadruple bogey over the first two rounds.
America’s No 1 Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke University) leads the field by three shots with a two-under-par tally of 140, made up of scores of 68 and 72.
Irish-born Alison Walshe, who has also been chosen by the US Curtis Cup selectors, is in joint third place. The girl from Galway has scores of 71 and 74 for 145.

INDIVIDUAL SCOREBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
140 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 68 72.
143 Jaclyn Sweeney (Oklahoma State) 71 72.
145 Joanne Lee (Southern California) 75 70, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 72 73, Alison Walshe (Arizona) 71 74.
Other scores:
147 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 71 76 (jt 8th).
148 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 74 74, Belen Mozo (Southern California) 74 74 (jt 10th).
150 Pia Halbig (Southern California) 73 77 (jt 19th).
152 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California) 77 75 (jt 28th).
154 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 74 80 (jt 38th).
162 Roseanne Niven (California) 80 82 (jt 72nd).
LEADING TEAMS
586 Oklahoma State.
590 Duke.
596 Arizona, Southern California.
603 Arizona State.
605 New Mexico.
Other score:
618 California (11th of 16 teams).

KATY 13TH IN FLORIDA COMEBACK

Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll, making a comeback after a long lay-off following a knee operation, finished a creditable 13th in a field of 82 players for the Lady Moc Classic college tournament at Cleveland Heights Golf Club, Lakeland in Florida.
Overe a 5,997yd course with a par of 72, Lynn University (Florida) student Katy – younger sister of Scotland international Keir McNicoll – scored 77, 76 and 75 for a 12-over-par total of 228.
The event was won by Marianne Anderson (Florida Southern) with 77, 73 and 72 for 222. She finsiehd a shot ahead of five other players.
Lynn University (928) finished fifth of 15 teams behind winners Florida Southern (893).

KIRTON JUST OUTSIDE TOP 20

Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, a second-year student at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, finished joint 21st in the Rio Pinar Invitational college tournament at Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando in Florida.
Over a par-72 course of 7,003yd, Lewis scored 73, 71 and 73 for a one-over-par total of 217 – 12 shots behind joint winners Greg Forrest (70-64-71) and Mike Stern (72-64-69), both University of Central Florida students, on 11-under-par 205. They finished four shots ahead of third placed Ian Rochester (Memphis) (69-68-72) on 209.
Johnny Caldwell (South Alabama) from Northern Ireland finished joint fourth with 69, 69 and 72 for 210.
Another South Alabama player, former England boy cap Jack Hiluta came 90th in a field of 93 with scores of 76, 81 and 81 for 238.
The University of Central Florida (846) won the team event by 12 shots from Wichita State (858) with Louisville (859) third of 18 teams. South Alabama came 14th on 885.

CLAYTON STATE SCOTS HELP WIN TEAM EVENT

Clayton State University, Augusta students Neil McBride from Glasgow and Kevin Duncan from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, finished joint 28th and 48th respectively in the Southbridge Pirate Invitational college tournament at Southbridge Golf Club, Savannah in Georgia.
Neil had scores of 79 and 74 for 153 over the 6,922yd, par-72 course while Kevin scored 80 and 78 for 158.
Their Clayton State team-mate Will Willcox won the individual event by two strokes with 68 and 69 for 137 and Clayton State (581) won the team title by three shots from Georgia College in a field of 11 teams.

LARKIN JOINT 33RD ON KIAWAH ISLAND

Banchory’s Scott Larkin, a student at Charleston College, shot 78 and 72 for a six-over-par total of 150 in finishing joint 33rd in a field of 66 for the Cuthbert Cup college tournament at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He finished 13 shots behind Chris Gold (Maryland), winner with 71 and 66 for 137.
Charleston College (580) finished a very close third of 12 in the team event, jointly won by UNC Wilmington and Washington State on 579.

HAY’S TOP TEN FINISH IN FLORIDA

Andrew Hay (Webber International University) from Westhill, Aberdeen finished joint seventh in a field of 33 for the 4th Annual Start 2 Finish Invitational college tournament at Lake Wales Country Club, Florida.
Andrew, the first round leader, had scores of 71, 78 and 77 for 226 over a par-72 course of 6,855yd.
Team-mate Matthew Brandby won the individual title by five shots with scores of 73, 69 and 74 for 216 and Webber International (897) won the team title by three shots from Johnson & Wales University, Florida.

MICHELLE WIE SWING HAS LOST ITS
TEMPO AND DIRECTION

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By DOTTIE PEPPER
I had a front-row seat for Michelle Wie's 2008 LPGA debut at the Fields Open in Hawaii last week , and what I saw was both encouraging and disconcerting.
She looked healthy, smiled freely, wore no wrist wraps (a constant in '07) and seemed as happy as I have ever seen her. She walked tall and talked about the fun of college life in a coed dorm at Stanford.
The downside was a swing that has lost its tempo and direction. She looks as if she can't wait to get it over with. The swing is fast, with limited shoulder turn and a violent down-cock, and it has left her with no predictable shot pattern or a go-to shot. She has become overwhelmed with mechanics and a perceived need for additional length, getting input from not only teacher David Leadbetter but also her dad, B.J.
The big, flowing, athletic swing Michelle had as a 13-, 14- and 15-year-old world-beater is sadly a thing of the past. It could be resurrected, but only if she takes control of it herself. She should close off all of the outside voices, watch old videos, noting the spontaneous, reactive way she approached the game, then take that attitude to the range and course — solo!
Work backward to when golf was fun and when the thought process and the swing were uncomplicated.
In 2007 the LPGA made big improvements in the pace of play, and those gains have accelerated this year. The tour now mandates that groups not only maintain their pace in accordance with a predetermined "time par" for their round but also preserve the time between groups, typically 10 to 11 minutes. Individuals may be singled out and timed without warning.
At the SBS Open, Angela Park was in contention when her group fell out of position in the final round. Timed and found to be in violation on three straight shots on the 10th hole, she was assessed a two-shot penalty. She ended up losing by three, and the lagging cost her more than $50,000. Ouch!
By contrast, at the Fields Open, Friday's final threesome took only four hours and 28 minutes, easily a one-hour improvement over many Fridays last year.

Spanish championship is Curtis Cup last chance saloon

MICHELE AND KYLIE REUNITED WITH THEIR
CLUBS IN TIME TO HAVE A PRACTICE ROUND

This week's Spanish women's open amateur championship is the last chance for GB&I squad members to impress the selectors of the team of eight to take on the Americans in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews in the last week of May.
The selection committee meet next week, which does seem rather early to pick a team to play the best part of three months later, but there are no tournaments of note between now and the Helen Holm Scottish women's open stroke play near the end of April, and that would be cutting it a bit fine to have the selected team kitted out with uniforms that actually fit.
The quality field of 90 in Spain - cut-off point for entries was scratch - includes nine GB&I squad members, including Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
British Airways did their best/worst to disrupt the pre-tournament preparation of both Michele and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) by contriving to lose the Scots' clubs in transit to Spain.
Thankfully Michele and Kylie were reunited with their clubs in time for them to have a practice round.

No wonder Rhian Thomas's middle name is "Wyn!"

Rhian Wyn Thomas , pictured above, a Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club member, was the outstanding amateur player of the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain earlier this month.
Rhian's parents do not play golf and she took up the game purely by chance - responding to an invitation at a golf exhibition by Welsh coach David Llewellyn for anyone who had never played golf to come forward and have a go.
She showed a natural skill right from the start and has never looked back.
Aged 20 and a two-handicap member of the Welsh Ladies Golf Union international squad, Rhian triumphed in both the Festival's 36-hole events.
She won the Murcia Ladies Open by seven shots from clubmate Anna Carling and the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open by four strokes from university student Ami Storey (Ponteland) the following week.

SLGA SEND 12 TO WARM WEATHER TRAINING

The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association is sending the following 12 players to attend a warm weather training camp at Pals in North-east Spain from March 8 to 19.

Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze).
Emma Fairnie (Dunbar).
Lesley Hendry (Routenburn).
Samantha Leslie (Westhill).
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old).
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey).
Laura Murray (Alford).
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).
Jane Turner (Mortonhall).
Sammy Vass (Tain).
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) were selected but are unable to attend because of university commitments.

ends

GLENMUIR RIGHT BEHIND THE FESTIVAL GIRLS AT HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

One of the main reasons why the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival was such a success with the competitors was the support of Glenmuir, the Lanark-based company with the international reputation.

"It would have been very difficult to get this new enterprise off the ground without the backing of a big-name sponsor such as Glenmuir. Their generosity in donating a range of their products as prizes for both weeks' competitions lifted the Festival off the launching pad," said Colin Farquharson, the Festival Controller.

"It is true to say that without the co-operation of my friend Billy Sim, the Director of Golf at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, my dream of the past 10 to 15 years or putting on a warm-weather winter programme that offered players, pros and amateurs alike, the chance to practise to their heart's content and also have the opportunity of some low-key competition, all at the same venue, would have remained a dream.

"But it is also true that without prize sponsors such as Glenmuir and Stewart Spence, the proprietor of The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen, the inaugural Festival would not have been even half as big a hit with the competitors as it was.

"There will be a 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival, almost certainly in February, 2009 but Billy Sim and I will take on board suggestions by competitors as to how we might improve the package for next year and, at the same time, put our own observations into the melting pot."

SOLID START BY JODI

DESPITE DOUBLE

BOGEY AT LAST HOLE

Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart made a solid start to the Arizona Wildcat Invitational college tournament with a par-matching score of 71 in the first round over the 6,166yd Arizona National course.

Jodi, pictured right, is seeking to press her claims for inclusion in the GB&I team of eight for the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.

The leader of the tournament is already assured of playing No 1 for the United States team - Duke University student Amanda Blumenherst who had a three-under-par 68 to lead by one shot from Mari Chun (Stanford).

Jodi looked like finishing the first day only a shot behind Amanda but, having started at the 10th, the Catterick player finished with a double-bogey 5 at the short ninth. Earlier she had birdied the 13th, 17th, second and eighth and dropped shots at the 14th and seventh.

Galway-born Alison Walshe (Arizona), already selected by the US Curtis Cup selectors, also had a 71.

LEADERBOARD

Par 71

68 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke).

69 Mari Chun (Stanford).

Other scores:

71 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico), Alison Walshe (Arizona).

72 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State).

74 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State), Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), Belen Mozo (Southern California).

77 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California).

Youngsters in Spanish Festival spotlight

Two youngsters who did well at the first week of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain. On left, 12 year old Amber Ratcliffe from Royal Cromer Golf Club, Norfolk. On the right, 14-year-old Kirsten MacCallum from McDonald Golf Club, Ellon in Aberdeenshire.
Well played, girls!

Press Release

R&A ANNOUNCES FAIRHAVEN GOLF CLUB
AS VENUE FOR THE 2012 JUNIOR
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The R&A has announced that Fairhaven Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England will host the 2012 Junior Open Championships.
Fairhaven Golf Club was founded in 1895, with the current golf course, designed by J H Steer and James Braid opening in 1924. The club has regularly hosted Local Final Qualifying for The Open Championship. Past Open Champion, Justin Leonard holds the professional course record there, which stands at 64 and was set during Final Qualifying in 1996.
Inaugurated in 1994, The Junior Open has been run by The R&A since 2000. All national golf organisations around the world are invited to send one boy and/or one girl, under the age of 16, to compete in the 54-hole event, which is played every two years.
Last year’s Open Championship runner-up Sergio Garcia, Solheim Cup star Paula Creamer and Walker Cup player David Inglis have all played in the Junior Open. Previous venues include Heswall, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Royal Musselburgh and Crail.

Press Release

ENGLAND NAME STRONG SQUAD FOR

SCOTTISH UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN

STROKE-PLAY AT CRAIGIELAW

English Women’s Golf Association has selected a talented squad of eight teenagers for the Scottish Under-16 girls' open stroke-play championship at Craigielaw Golf Club, near Edinburgh, on April 10 and 11.

They are:

Heidi Baek from Felixstowe Ferry, Suffolk.

Jessica Bradley of Tiverton, Devon.

Hayley Davis of Ferndown, Dorset.

Sophie Godley of Lindrick, Yorkshire.

Elizabeth Mallett of Sutton Coldfield Ladies, Warwickshire.

Alex Peters from Notts’ Ladies, Nottinghamshire.

Helen Searle of West End, Yorkshire.

Hannah Turland of Tidworth Garrison, Wiltshire.

The Nations Cup team is:

Heidi Baek, Alex Peters and Hannah Turland.

They will be defending the trophy, which England won by an impressive 28 shots in 2007.

The Scottish Under-16s' event provides the players with an opportunity to gain championship experience and to prepare for the season ahead.

EWGA’s national training manager Claire Lilley, said: “We have a fantastically talented group of players who will benefit from the experience and use it as a great start to the season.”

Claire will accompany the squad, together with EWGA’s national junior coach, Pat Smillie.

Heidi Baek, 14, is the English girls’ Under-15 champion and the south-east schools’ title-holder. She represented England girls’ in their annual match against the English Under-16 boys’ team. Jessica Bradley, 15, is the Devon girls’ champion and the co-winner of the South West foursomes title. She’s had top-10 finishes in the English girls’ Under-15 and Under-13 championships and plays in the Devon first team.

Hayley Davis, 15, plays for Dorset and was fourth in the 2007 English Under-15 championship, following earlier good performances in the Under-13 event. She took up golf as a nine-year-old and now plays off two of a handicap.

Sophie Godley, 14, has had top 10 finishes in both the English girls’ Under-15 and Under-13 championships – and scored a hole-in-one in competition at La Manga! Sophie started playing golf as an eight-year-old and now has a handicap of six.

Elizabeth Mallett, 13, won the 2007 English schools’ Under-16 championship as a 12-year-old and went on to play for England in the annual schools’ international against Wales. She has also twice been runner-up in the English Under-13 championship.

Alex Peters, 14, was the 2006 English Under-13 champion and currently holds the Midlands ladies’ and the North of England Under-16 and Under-14 titles. She helped England win the silver team medal at the European Young Masters.

Helen Searle, 15, was also in the England team at the European Young Masters. She is the Northern girls’ Under-16 titleholder and was runner-up in last year’s Scottish Under-16 stroke-play championship.

Hannah Turland, 13, is the English Under-13 champion and has been her club champion for the past two seasons. She has twice won the South West girls’ Under-15 title and plays for the Wiltshire first team.

Alex Peters (pictured above by courtesy of Tom Ward) is in EWGA’s Under-18 squad and the other girls are members of the Select regional squads.
Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer

Tel. 01603 507 416

Visit our web site at http://www.englishladiesgolf.org/

This could be a Major season for

Catriona, Scotland's quiet star

The following article by staff writer DOUGLAS LOWE is published in today's Herald newspaper.

On current form there is only one Scottish golfer able to declare the serious intent to win a major championship this year without causing the raising of at least one eyebrow, and that is Catriona Matthew.
Matthew, pictured right, might not be everyone's immediate choice as our top prospect, even though her credentials stand up to close examination. But that is largely because she has never impacted herself on the Scottish psyche in the same way as, for example, Colin Montgomerie.
The 37-year-old is quietly spoken, unassuming and just 5ft 4in tall.
She has also had a dearth of opportunities to display her talents in Scotland. Outside her native North Berwick few would be able to identify her as a star of sport.
Yet, in the four women's majors last year she was never out of the top 20, including runner-up in the Kraft Nabisco Championship and seventh in the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews.
Matthew, the top-ranked Scot by far in either men's or women's golf, is currently at world No 24 and has more than $5m in career earnings to her credit. She also top-scored for Europe with three points out of four in the Solheim Cup defeat by the United States in Sweden.
This week she enters her 14th season on the LPGA Tour at the HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore with an ever-strengthening belief in her ability. "My goals are to win more tournaments and," she added, lowering her voice as if the golfing gods might vent their wrath on her if they heard, "I think, a major."
Looking lean, fit and a picture of health before she left Scotland on Sunday, the 110Sport player said she was encouraged by the choice of this year's major venues.
In the four women’s majors last year she was never out of the top 20, including runner-up in the Kraft Nabisco Championship
First up in the major stakes is the Kraft Nabisco on April 3 to 6 at Mission Hills Country Club in California, and that may be her best chance. "I always play well on that course," said Matthew, who grew up on links golf in East Lothian but having played for so long in the US now has the ball flight and consistency in hitting fairways and greens that is needed in the predominantly warm and wind-free conditions.
"The course sets up well for me," she added, "and I hit the ball quite high with my irons, so that when the greens are firm I can get the ball to stop a little bit. It seems to fit my eye and I just feel comfortable on the course."
That style of play also makes the Surrey parkland venue of Sunningdale for this year's Women's British Open on July 31 to August 3 an attractive proposition.
"It's not a links, so I might do well. I only wish I knew why," she said, quickly naming the Old Course at St Andrews an exception to that rule. "I love the courses at Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham, but all I seem to do there is miss the cut."
Coached in Florida, where she is based, by David Whelan, who also looks after the swing of American glamour girl Paula Creamer, winner of the Fields Open in Hawaii on Sunday, Matthew has been working over the winter on sharpening her play from 100 yards in an effort to improve her scoring by the odd stroke or two that could mean all the difference, like it did at Mission Hills last year, when she ended up one behind winner Morgan Pressel.
There are two other chances, at Bull Rock, Maryland, in the McDonald's LPGA Championship on June 5 to 8, and the US Women's Open at Interlachen, Minnesota, on June 26 to 29. Matthew was 10th and 16th respectively in these events last season.
She has never been short of confidence, but there is one big reason why her play has been showing an extra edge of late, and that is the fresh outlook on life caused by the arrival of daughter Katie a year past December.
"Golf doesn't seem quite so important now, and that helps me to relax more," said Matthew, who takes Katie on tour with her, not to mention husband Graeme, her full-time caddie. "It's also busier and I have to manage my time better and make practice more productive. I know what I need to get done and I can't wander around the range all day chatting to people."
There is one cloud on the horizon, and that is the date for the Ladies' Scottish Open at Carrick on Loch Lomond, which was revived last year and is being played early this time round, on May 1 to 3.
Sponsored by pensions giant Aegon and VisitScotland, she is keen to play, but it gives her scheduling problems with big LPGA tournaments on and around that date.
"The timing is not great and I am also waiting for my green card to come through, but hopefully that will resolve itself in the next month or two," she said without committing herself either way.
That places doubt over whether she will compete in her homeland at all this year, but it has ever been thus for Scotland's top prospect.

TWO FIRST TIME
WINNERS AS
PROFESSIONALS
AT HACIENDA
DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S
WINTER
FESTIVAL


MARTINA
GILLEN
(above)
from Ireland







and
LAUREN
DIGGLE (left)
from Wales

Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival competitors

Colin Farquharson reports: For some reason I was not able to post a single picture from the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival on the website over the past two weeks. It may have something to do with a new camera.
Anyway, over the next week or so, I will be putting up some pictures from what was a very successful festival which will almost certainly be repeated at the same time of year, although shortened to seven days, running from one midweek to another so that competitors can take advantage of cheaper flights.
The first picture from the Festival shows some of the prizewinning competitors, outside the magnificent Hacienda del Alamo clubhouse, after the Stableford competition in Week 2.
Sue Gardiner, who organised most of the villa rentals, is on the extreme left, and Director of Golf Billy Sim is on the extreme right. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

LISA MICKEY WINS GOLF WRITERS' AWARD
FOR FUTURES TOUR WIDOW STORY

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., February 25, 2008 – Lisa D. Mickey, Director of Communications/ Senior Writer of New Media for the Duramed FUTURES Tour, picked up her second consecutive national writing award in the Golf Writers Association of America’s Annual Writing Contest, announced this week.
Mickey won the Internet Feature category with her story that appeared on duramedfuturestour.com entitled, “Young Widow Turns Focus To Professional Golf.”
The feature is about Tour member Jenny Hansen of Nebraska who lost her husband while he was assigned to a tour of duty as a soldier in Iraq.
The story ran on duramedfuturestour.com on May 28, 2007. Here is the story link: http://duramedfuturestour.com/News/WR052807.pdf

“It’s nice to be recognized by my peers in the news industry,” said Mickey. “But I’m most honoured that Jenny Hansen shared her very personal story with me and that our website was the first place to run the story that focused on this remarkable woman’s courage.”
Jim Gorant of SI.com also wrote about Hansen later in the year and collected the top award for Internet Columns. In addition, Mickey received an Honorable Mention in Internet Columns for her story on LPGA.com entitled, “Se Ri Pak Has Led A Nation.”
Mickey, along with the other category winners, will be honored at the GWAA Annual Awards Dinner on April 9, in Augusta, Georgia.

Press Release

PORTMARNOCK LINKS TO HOST THE
LADIES IRISH OPEN IN JULY

Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links is to host the AIB Ladies Irish Open, from July 11 to 13 this year.
The championship, with a prize fund of €450,000, will be the only major women’s professional golf tournament in the world played on a natural ‘links’ golf course in 2008.
The Links at Portmarnock was selected as a result of the overwhelmingly positive response to the Women’s British Open being played on St Andrews Links in 2007.
It will also be the first major championship to be played on what was once the Jameson family's private golf course. It was first developed in 1858, and is one of the earliest courses in Ireland.
Bernhard Langer incorporated part of the original lay-out in his design of the 7,000 yard championship links, which opened for play in 1995.
The use of dunes and natural terrain should please even the most ardent links purists.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Ireland's Minister for Arts, Sport, and Tourism, Seamus Brennan said:
“We are delighted to be supporting the 2008 AIB Ladies Irish Open through the Fáilte Ireland Sports Tourism Initiative in what is a wonderful links venue. Having built up our golfing product to world-class standards, we are vigorously promoting Ireland as a golfing and holiday destination of choice.
"The event will present an opportunity to showcase not only our golfing product but our entire tourism offering on a world stage and will place Ireland once more in the International spotlight in the run up to our staging of the 2011 Solheim Cup.
"This initiative is designed to attract major sporting events that can showcase Ireland as a major sports tourist destination, events which have the ability to generate international media coverage and bring economic benefit to all the regions of Ireland."
“We have always wanted to showcase our magnificent links championship golf course and hotel internationally and what better way to do this than with the most important women’s event in Irish golf, the AIB Ladies Irish Open,” said Moira Cassidy, Director of Golf, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
The AIB Ladies Irish Open will attract some of the best young players in the world, including the LPGA in the USA and the Ladies European Tour, with full details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Details of the AIB Ladies Irish Open - Club Challenge were also announced today. The competition will give club lady members across Ireland the opportunity to play alongside some of the best female golfers in the world in the AIB Ladies Irish Open Pro-Am in July.

United States college round-up

FERN GRIMSHAW WINS BY FIVE

STROKES AT INDIGO LAKE

Fern Grimshaw, pictured right, from Dorset, a junior (third year) student at Bethune Cookman College, won the B-CU Spring Invitational over a par-72, 5,913yd course at Indigo Lake, Daytona Beach at the weekend.

She had rounds of 74 and 73 for three-over 147 to head a field of 32 players by five strokes.
Becky Dowell, a senior (last year) student from Somerset, also a student at Bethune Cookman College, tied for sixth place on 156 with 76 and 80.
Bethune Cookman College (612) won the team event by 14 shots from Embry-Riddle Universtiy, Florida. Six teams took part.

JACQUELINE OFF FORM IN TEXAS

Jacqueline Sneddon from Meigle, a student at Grand Canyon University, Arizona, finished joint 64th of 85 players with a disappointing round of 94 in the Tarleton State Classic over 18 holes at the par-72, 6216yd course at Harbor Lakes, Granbury, Texas.

Alex Smith (St Edward) won by a shot with a round of 75.

MARK LAMB SECOND IN NEW MEXICO

Mark Lamb from Haddington, a student at Arizona University, came second in the WNMU Cactus Thaw college tournament over a par-71, 6410yd course at Silver City Golf Club, New Mexico.

Mark, winner of the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship at Peterhead two or three years ago, had scores of 73 and 68 for 141 to finish two shots behind the winner, Marcus Molina (Western New Mexico) who scored 67 and 72.

Lamb finished three shots clear of the third-place finishers.

LATIMER TIED 13th IN NORTH CAROLINA

Peter Latimer from Fife, a student at Guilford College, tied for 13th place in a field of 65 for the Johnny Palmer@ North State college tournament, hosted by Old North State Club, New London in North Carolina.

Peter had a pair of 78s for 156 - 14 shots behind the six-shot winner Nick Bova (Methodist University) with two 72s.

Guilford College, with a total of 645, finished eighth in a field of 11 teams behind Methodist University (606)

NEIL AND DANIEL DOWN FLORIDA FIELD

Neil McBride from Glasgow and St Andrews' Daniel Sommerville, both students at Clayton State University, Atlanta, finished joint 36th and 75th respectively in the Matlock Collegiate Classic over a par-72, 7065yd course at Lone Palm Golf Club, Lakeland, Florida.

Neil scored 79, 74 and 74 for 228 while Daniel had a tournament to forget with rounds of 87, 83 and 86 for 256.

Matthew Galloway (Western Florida), who sounds as though he has Scottish roots, won by three strokes with a six-under-par total of 210 (67-73-70).

Clayton State, with a total of 893, finished sixth of 15 behind team winners Florida Southern.

LEICESTER STUDENT JOINT 12th AT SAWGRASS

Charles Ford from Leicester and Chris Paisley from Newcastle, both students at the University of Tennessee, came joint 12th and joint 62nd respectively in a field of 81 for the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational over a par-72, 6925yd course at Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra in Florida.

Ford scored 73, 76 and 70 for 219, while Paisley had rounds of 74, 82 and 75 for 231.

Joel Sjoholm (Georgia State) took the individual honours with rounds of 69, 70 and 70 for seven-under-par 209. The Swedish-born student won by five shots from three players on 214.
Alabamda (873) won the team event from UCLA (877) with Tennessee and North Florida sharing third place on 886 in a field of 15 teams.

Active schools co-ordinators and West Lothian school staff during the firstclubgolf training by Matt Costello. Click on the image to enlarge it.

clubgolf to be introduced in 55 West
Lothian primary schools this year

The drive to introduce every nine-year-old in West Lothian’s 67 primary schools to the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, gathered further momentum this month when 27 school staff from 19 local schools became trained to deliver the programme to their P5 classes.
West Lothian Council Active Schools Co-ordinator for the West Calder cluster, Matt Costello, who a year ago trained 30 local teachers to teach clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, coached the 27 new recruits.
VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE
“We had a very positive response from all the teachers and many came from schools that haven’t delivered clubgolf before,” he said. “Having done the training they seem keen to get going and we are ready to start delivering bags of golf equipment to their schools.
clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game.
Following clubgolf’s six-week firstclubgolf course, which employs modified equipment within primary schools, children have the opportunity to progress to the Stage 1 of clubgolf's Player Pathway. Hosted by golf local clubs and taught by the club's fully trained volunteer coaches, Stage 1 is a 40-hour course delivered over two years, covering the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette. After Stage 1 there are a further two stages in the clubgolf programme.
“The teachers are keen to get the course going in their schools before Easter so the kids can feed into Stage 1 coaching at clubs after that,” said Mr Costello.
“Ten new schools are on board as a result of this training so this is a big push forwards for golf in West Lothian. Almost every primary school now has a member of staff that can introduce children to golf.”
LAUNCHED BY LYLE
Since five times European Ryder Cup team member, Sandy Lyle, launched the clubgolf Central Junior Golf Strategy in April 2006, the number of West Lothian high school clusters experiencing firstclubgolf has risen to nine. All clusters have some or all of their schools experiencing firstclubgolf.
Additionally, projects to develop golf coaching programmes in secondary schools, specifically targeting children who have additional support needs, are in full swing.
The eagerness to introduce children to the game extends well into local clubs. Thirteen of West Lothian’s Golf Clubs and facilities have so far signed up for clubgolf. Members of each club have stepped forward to become trained as volunteer coaches, enabling them to absorb the children and teach Stage 1 of the strategy.
“We’ve had a very positive response from the local golf clubs that are all keen to take the children to the next stage,” said Mr Costello. “We are hoping to run firstclubgolf festivals in schools this year for the and in October we are looking at a new tournament for the Stage 1 children.”

PRESS RELEASE

REBECCA BIRDIES THE LAST TO FORCE
PLAY-OFF, THEN DOES IT AGAIN TO
WIN THE WPGA MASTERS
Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson won the Ladies African Tour's WPGA Masters after a play-off against American Anna Temple at the Parkview Golf Club, Johannesburg.
Starting the third and final day in the joint lead, Hudson started well, making birdie on the first hole of the day. A further three birdies on the front nine left her four-under for the day and two shots in the lead.
“I sneaked a look at the leaderboard on the 9th so I knew that I was a couple ahead, but I was determined to keep playing my own game and not try to protect my lead,” she explained afterwards.
She played solidly on the back nine, but knew when she stood on the 18th tee that the USA’s Anna Temple had charged round in 64 to be the leader in the clubhouse on 12-under for the three rounds.
That meant that Hudson had to birdie to tie and she did just that, hitting an eight iron from 126 yards to just six feet. “That left me with quite a straightforward putt, flat and just inside right, so I made it quite easily,” said an ecstatic Hudson, above the din of the celebrations with her friends.
“Then in the playoff on the 18th, I hit my drive in pretty much the same place and had eight-iron in again. It wasn’t the best shot I hit all day, but it was good enough to get to about eight feet and I made the putt for the win. I must say that it feels just as good to win this one as it was to win the Women’s SA Open two years ago.”
Pre-tournament favourite Ashleigh Simon had an uncharacteristically poor final round, finishing two-over for the day, which left her in joint seventh with her World Cup teammate Laurette Maritz. Best South African finisher was amateur Gina Switala, who finished fifth after rounds of 71, 66 and 73.
Hudson was extremely positive about the Ladies African Tour: “I really enjoy playing here. It is great preparation for the year ahead; the weather is great and the standard of competition just keeps getting better and better. With a little more prize money, I’m sure we would get some of the best players in the world coming over here to play.”
The Tour now moves down to Durban for the Acer Women’s SA Open at Durban Country Club next week
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
204 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 66 67 (42,750 Rand) beat Anna Temple (US) 71 69 64 (31,350 Rand) at first hole of sudden death play-off.
205 Lill Kristin Saether 69 72 64 (22,800).
208 Marianne Skarpnord 71 66 61 (17,100).
210 Gina Switala (am) 71 66 73.
211 Stacy Bregman 72 69 70 (13,680).
212 Ashleigh Simon 71 67 74, Laurette Maritz 72 69 71, Anne-Lise Caudal 71 70 71 (9,928 each).
213 Lee-Anne Pace 69 70 74 (7,268), Ashleigh Holmes (am) 71 69 74.
215 Lisa Holm Sorensen 73 70 72 (6,413).
216 Frederique Seeholzer 70 74 72 (5,462).
+You can read all the scores by logging on to
http://www.ladiesafricantour.com/

E-mail from America
by DAVE ANDREWS,

author of 'Pops and

Sunshine'

I just got back from Florida... had a great outing last Sunday with several FUTURES Tour players and Lisa Mickey, the tour's communications director.
Lisa has been helping me a lot in promoting my novel. Lisa brought along Mary Bryan, former LPGA player and ESPN golf commentator.
Mary had read my book and told me she loved it. She asked me for several copies to pass along to her friends in the women's golf world and broadcasting. She said the novel is a great promotion for the game and a story that every fan of women's golf should enjoy very much.
I will be heading to Lakeland next month for the first FUTURES event of the season. The sponsor of that event, Bright House Networks, has purchased 400 copies of my book.
I am talking to organizers of several other FUTURES and LPGA events about similar deals for their VIP gift bags.
Have included a couple of photos of the fun outing we had with Mary, Lisa, and the FUTURES players.
I will be caddying for Amy Schmucker in the Lakeland event. I caddied for her at the event up here in Concord last summer. She is a great kid with LPGA potential, if you ask me. She was the captain of the University of Michigan women's golf team before she turned pro last year.
Liz Stuart, one of the other players, will be a contestant on the next Big Break series that begins airing on the Golf Channel in April. Liz was one of the FUTURES players who inspired me to write the novel.
http://popsandsunshine.com/

CREAMER BIRDIES LAST THREE
HOLES FOR HAWAII VICTORY
Paula Creamer, 21, scored her fifth win on the LPGA Tour with a birdie-birdie-birdie finish in the Fields Open on Hawaii.
She signed off with a 66 - her second of the tournament - for a 16-under-par total of 220, to win by one shot from South Korean Jeong Jang who had a 69 for 201.
Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright finished third with a 67 for 202 - two shots ahead of fourth place Annika Sorenstam.
Creamer holed from 12ft for a birdie at the 16th, from 20ft at the 17th and knocked her six-iron approach to within birdie tap-in range at the last hole.
FINAL TOTALS
Hawaii.
Par 216 (3 x 72)
200 Paula Creamer 66 68 66
201 Jeong Jang (Kor) 64 68 69
202 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 69 66 67
204 Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 70 66 68
205 Minea Blomqvist (Fin)71 65 69, Karen Stupples (Eng) 69 70 66
206 Louise Friberg (Swe) 73 68 65, Angela Stanford 67 69 70, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 68 69 69
207 Teresa Lu (Tai) 69 70 68, Nancy Scranton 71 68 68, Christina Kim 72 67 68, Dina Ammaccapane 68 70 69
208 Johanna Head (Eng) 69 74 65
209 Miki Saiki (Jpn) 69 72 68, Morgan Pressel 70 73 66, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 70 70 69, Cristie Kerr 73 68 68, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 69 64 76, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 72 71 66, Birdie Kim (Kor) 69 70 70, Moira Dunn 68 70 71, Nicole Castrale 70 68 71
210 Erica Blasberg 70 70 70, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 68 69 73
211 Kelli Kuehne 67 69 75, Angela Park 69 75 67, Sandra Gal (Den) 72 66 73, Dorothy Delasin 68 70 73, Leta Lindley 73 70 68, Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 68 71 72, Jimin Kang (Kor) 69 70 72, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 71 68 72, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 72 69 70, Meg Mallon 71 70 70
212 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 69 74 69, Young Kim (Kor) 71 72 69, Michele Redman 72 71 69, Diana D'Alessio 70 68 74, Su A Kim 68 71 73, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 68 70 74, Carin Koch (Swe) 70 72 70, Laura Diaz 71 66 75, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 72 68 72
213 Candy Hannemann 71 72 70, Stacy Prammanasudh 70 72 71, Ayaka Kaneko 72 70 71
214 Heather Young 73 71 70, Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 71 71 72, Hwa seon Lee (Kor) 70 73 71, Brittany Lang 70 71 73, Karine Icher (Fra) 73 71 70, Miho Koga (Jpn) 68 72 74
215 Liz Janangelo 68 76 71, Wendy Ward 71 73 71, Charlotte Mayorkas 71 71 73, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 70 71 74, Candie Kung (Tai) 73 69 73
216 Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 75 69 72, Irene Cho 69 74 73, Cindy Pasechnik 74 69 73, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 73 69 74, Jacqueline Yang (Chn) 71 73 72, Brittany Lincicome 69 72 75, Hiromi Mogi (Jpn) 69 68 79
217 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 73 71 73
218 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 72 72 74, Alena Sharp 72 72 74, Sherri Steinhauer 71 73 74, Becky Iverson 73 70 75
219 Meena Lee (Kor) 71 71 77, Danielle Downey 70 73 76
220 Carolina Llano 72 72 76, Michelle Wie 69 73 78

SLGA squad go down to Dunbar

A SLGA squad took on the Dunbar Men's League team over a very cold and windswept Dunbar links today. The format was four-ball, better-ball, with the girls playing from the white tees. They received two strokes (the difference in the SSSs)
With the wind at their backs on the outward half, it was up to the girls to build up a lead as after the turn it was quite a battle against the elements, and a struggle to get any length.
Unfortunately, although in a strong position at halfway, the squad were eventually beaten by 3.5 matches to 1.5.

Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Laura Murray (Alford) [pictured right] were the only members of SLGA squad to record a win when they beat Michael Creasey and John Archibald by 4&3.
The Northern Counties combination of Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Sammy Vass (Tain) halved with Stephen Easingwood and Darren Kilfara.
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Rebecca Wilson (Monifeith) lost by 4&2 to Tam Caldwell and Ali Thomson.
Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) and Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) lost by 4&3 to Scott Knowles and Stephen Simmants.
Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) and Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) lost by 4&3 to Brian Reid and Gary Queen.

[Picture left: SLGA National coach, Kevin Craggs, and Home International Team Captain, Lesley Nicholson, wrapped up for the weather]