Krystle lying sixth with a round
to go in Tennessee

Krystle Caithness is in sixth place with one round to go in the Southeastern Conference Women's Championship over the Tennessee National course at Loudon, Tennessee.
Bad weather delayed the start of the second round until 11am. Krystle has had rounds of 71 and 75 for a two-over-par tally of 146.
She birdied the long second and short seventh on the way out in 36 - bogeys at the third and fifth - before she hit a sticky patch early on the inward half. Krystle bogeyed the 11th, 12th and 13th, birdied the 15th but dropped another shot at the 18th for 39 home.
Krystle will be in the GB&I team for the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews in late May and so too will the tournament leader, Stacy Lewis (Arkansas).
Stacy has shot 69 and 73 for two-under-par 142 to lead by one from Hannah Yun (Florida) with 73 and 70.
Florida (590) lead the team event by five shots from Arkansas with Georgia (598) in third place ont he 12 competing teams.
HOW THEY STAND
Par 144 (2 x 72)
142 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 69 73.
143 Hannah Yun (Florida) 73 70.
144 Tiffany Chudy (Florida0 72 72, Benedicte Toumpsin (South carolina) 72 72.
145 Dori Carter (Mississippi) 71 74.
146 Krystle Caithness (Georgia) 71 75.
Other score
162 Rebecca Watson (Tennessee) 79 83.
LEADING TEAMS
590 Florida. 595 Arkansas. 598 Georgia. 614 Alabama. 12 Teams are taking part.

The New Mexico University team and head coach with the Mountain West Conference team trophy.

Jodi Ewart's birdie blitz finish
wins Conference title again

Curtis Cup team selection Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University) came from behind over the final round to win the Mountain West Women's Conference championship over her home college course at Albuquerque.

She is the first player ever to win the MWC title two years in a row and the first New Mexico University to win two back-to-back tournaments since its women's golf programme was set up in 1977.
Jodi, 20, who had slipped out of the lead with rounds of 72 and 75, staged a spectacular birdie blitz finish to win the day with a third-round 72, one under par for the 6167yd course.
Catterick Golf Club member Miss Ewart, who had a quadruple bogey 9 at the fifth hole in the second round, bogeyed the second and third in her final round before birdieing the fourth. Turning in one-over-par 38, she bogeyed the 10th but then she came storming up into a winning lead by birdieing the 15th, the short 17th and the long 18th for an inward half of two-under-par 34.
Her 54-hole total of 219 matched the par figure. Jodi, the English stroke-play champion, had 10 birdies in all over the three days.
She won by two strokes in the end from team-mate Morgan Grantham (74-221) and Natalie Jimenez (Brigham Young) (74-221).
New Mexico won the team event for the first time since 2003 with a total of 888 - 19 shots ahead of runners-up Brigham Young with UNLV (916) third of seven teams.

Jodi Ewart and Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian University) from France were later named Co-Players of the Year for the Mountain West Women's Conference and both were listed in the all-Mountain West Conference women's team for the 2007-2008 season, which is the Americna way of officially naming the perceived best players in the conference.

New Mexico University's Jill Trujillo was named conference women's coach of the year. "I couldn't be happier for the team," she said. "We fought through some early adversity to take the title. It was a total team effort."

New Mexico University's victory puts them into the post-season play-offs with first the regional championship from May 8 to 10 at either Athens, Georgia or Sacramento, California. The big incentive for them to qualify from the regional to the NCAA women's national championship from May 20 to 23 is that their Albuquerque course is the venue for the climax to the season.

Jodi and the rest of the GB&I Curtis Cup team report to St Andrews on Sunday, May 27.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3 x 73)
219 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 72 75 72.
221 Morgan Grantham (New Mexico) 76 71 74, Natalie Jimenez (Brigham Young) 74 73 74.
TEAM TOTALS
888 New Mexico.
907 Brigham Young.
916 UNLV.
Seven teams took part

Ladies European Tour Scoreboard
LADIES SPANISH OPEN
Panoramica Golf Club, Castellon.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 72 67 71.
214 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 75 72 67, Joanne Mills (Australia) 74 73 67, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 72 68 74.
216 Diana Luna (Ita) 75 72 69, Nikki Garrett (Australia) 75 70 71, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 72 72 72, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 68 73 74.
217 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 74 75 68, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 77 70, Frances Bondad (Australia) 72 72 73.
Other scores:
218 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 71 76 (jt 12th).
219 Clare Queen (Sco) 74 72 73, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 74 68 77 (jt 22nd).
220 Natalie Clare Booth (Eng) 73 73 74, Georgina Simpson (Eng) 76 71 73 (jt 27th).
221 Danielle Masters (Eng) 75 74 72 (jt 33rd).
222 Fame More (Eng) 79 69 74, Trish Johnson (Eng) 70 77 75 (jt 43rd).
223 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 76 74 73 (jt 48th).
224 Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 76 76 74, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 73 76 75 (jt 53rd).
225 Rebecca Coakley (Ire) 74 75 76, Emma Lyons (Eng) 73 75 77.
228 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 74 74 80 (last of 69.

FIFE TOP SEED SUSAN JACKSON
TOPPLED BY FIONA HASTIE

Top seed Susan Jackson (Ladybank) was toppled by the No 9 qualifier Fiona (Lockhart) Hastie (St Regulus) in today's quarter-finals of the Fife women's county championship over the Jubilee Course, St Andrews.
Former Scotland international Fiona, winner of the Fife title in 2005 and again last year, won by 5 and 4 and now plays Katrina Milne (Cochrane Castle) in Sunday's first semi-finals (9.36am). Katrina, the 2004 Fife champion, had a good 5 and 4 win over Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), the No 4 seed, in the quarter-finals.
The other semi-final (9.44am) will see old rivals Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), the No 3 seed, play the No 2 qualifier, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), winner of the title in 2006.
Louise beat Alison McDonald (St Regulus) by 7 and 5 in the round of the last eight. Elaine was a 3 and 2 winner over Karen Sharp (Kirkcaldy) in the quarter-finals.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
S Jackson (Ladybank) bt D Ford (Scotscraig) 5 and 4.
F Hastie (St Regulus) bt L Fury (Thornton) 8 and 7.
K Milne (Cochrane Castle) bt D Watson (Lundin Ladies) 6 and 4.
J Carthew (Ladybank) bt A Wilton (Ladybank) 1 hole.
L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt L Newton (Thornton) 5 and 4.
A McDonald (St Regulus) wo A Wilson (Ladybank) scr.
K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt L Tait (St Regulus) 5 and 4.
E Moffat (St Regulus) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 5 and 4.
QUARTER-FINALS
Seeded number in brackets
Hastie (9) bt Jackson (1) 5 and 4.
Milne (5) bt Carthew (4) 5 and 4.
Kenney (3) bt McDonald (6) 7 and 5.
Moffat (2) bt Sharp (10) 3 and 2.
SUNDAY PROGRAMME
Semi-finals
9.36 F Hastie v K Milne.
9.44 L Kenney v E Moffat.

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
GINN OPEN
Reunion Resort & Club, Orlando, Florida
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
132 Ya-Ni Tseng (SKor) 68 64
134 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 68 66
135 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 69 66, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 68 67
136 Teresa Lu (Tai) 67 69, Carin Koch (Swe) 67 69
138 Juli Inkster 69 69, Young Kim (SKor) 69 69, Angela Stanford 70 68
139 Karen Stupples (Eng) 70 69, Cristie Kerr 70 69, Charlotte Mayorkas 68 71
140 Stacy Prammanasudh 71 69, Sun Young Yoo (SKor) 69 71, Eun Hee Ji (SKor) 72 68, Michele Redman 71 69, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 69 71, Wendy Ward 71 69, Brittany Lang 69 71, Jee Young Lee (Kor) 74 66, Allison Fouch 68 72
141 Karrie Webb (Aus) 68 73, In-Bee Park (SKor) 73 68, Song-Hee Kim (SKor) 71 70, Candie Kung (Tai) 74 67, Jimin Kang (SKor) 71 70, Na Yeon Choi (SKor) 72 69, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 71 70, Kyeong Eun Bae (SKor) 69 72
142 Morgan Pressel 72 70, Kristy McPherson 69 73, Sarah Lee 73 69, Christina Kim 72 70, Candy Hannemann 71 71, Seon Hwa Lee (SKor) 72 70, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 73 69, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 74 68, Meg Mallon 70 72, Janice Moodie (Sco) 71 71, Jeong Jang (SKor) 71 71
143 Il Mi Chung (Kor) 69 74, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 70 73, Meena Lee (SKor) 73 70, Hee-Won Han (SKor) 72 71, Katie Futcher 69 74, Kris Tamulis 71 72, Jackie Gallagher-Smith 74 69, Grace Park (SKor) 72 71, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 70 73, Gloria Park (SKor) 73 70, Natalie Gulbis 73 70, Becky Morgan (Wal) 71 72, Amy Hung (Tha) 70 73, Tracy Hanson 72 71, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 68 75, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 72 71
144 Laura Davies (Eng) 70 74, Becky Lucidi 76 68, Giulia Sergas (Ita) 73 71, Na On Min (Jpn) 73 71, Diana D'Alessio 72 72, Julieta Granada (Par) 73 71, Marisa Baena 71 73, Kate Golden 75 69, Soo-Yun Kang (SKor) 73 71, Moira Dunn 73 71, Nicole Castrale 74 70
145 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 72 73, Brandie Burton 72 73, Beth Bader 73 72, Angela Park 74 71, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 71 74, Paula Creamer 72 73, Sherri Turner 73 72, Ji-Young Oh (SKor) 75 70, Jimin Jeong 72 73, Alena Sharp 73 72, Erica Blasberg 76 69, Audra Burks 73 72, Birdie Kim (SKor) 75 70, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 73 72, Hye Jung Choi (SKor) 76 69
MISSED THE CUT
146 Jill McGill 69 77, Jane Park 73 73, Reilley Rankin 74 72, Pat Hurst 70 76, Leta Lindley 71 75, Lorie Kane (SKor) 74 72, Mi-Hyun Kim (SKor) 74 72, Heather Daly-Donofrio 70 76, Kelli Kuehne 72 74, Johanna Head (Eng) 73 73, Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 74 72, Nancy Scranton 73 73, Becky Iverson 74 72, Nicole Perrot (Chi) 75 71, Mollie Fankhauser 72 74, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 73 73, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 74 72, Katherine Hull (Aus) 72 74
147 Carolina Llano 79 68, Yu Ping Lin (Tai) 72 75, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (Fra) 74 73, Meaghan Francella 75 72, Emily Bastel 73 74, Jan Stephenson 73 74, Miriam Nagl (Ger) 76 71
148 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 78 70, Jin Joo Hong (SKor) 73 75, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 73 75, Dina Ammaccapane 72 76, Karine Icher (Fra) 72 76, Eva Dahllof (Swe) 74 74, Laura Diaz 74 74, Marcy Hart 75 73, Hee Young Park (SKor) 73 75
149 Vicki Goetze-Ackerman 74 75, Seo-Jae Lee 76 73
150 Young-A Yang (SKor) 75 75, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 76 74, Jamie Hullett 75 75, Brittany Lincicome 74 76, Stephanie Sparks (Col) 75 75, Sandra Gal (Ger) 74 76, Sung Ah Yim (SKor) 79 71, Carri Wood 74 76, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 78 72, Violeta Retamoza (Mex) 76 74
151 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 75 76, Liz Janangelo 77 74, Su A Kim 77 74, Kim Hall 76 75, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 77 74, Meredith Duncan 79 72, Louise Friberg (Swe) 77 74, Danielle Downey 69 82
152 Seol-An Jeon (SKor) 76 76, Nina Reis (Swe) 80 72
153 Lindy Duncan 79 74, Se Ri Pak (SKor) 76 77, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 75 78
154 Liselotte Neumann (Swe) 80 74
155 Dorothy Delasin 74 81.
161 Michelle McGann 78 83.

KERRY SMITH BEATEN IN AUSSIE
SEMI-FINALS

Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), 30th of the 32 qualifiers, lost by 2 and 1 to Kristie Smith, the Australian No 2 seed, in the semi-finals of the Australian women's open amateur match-play championship at Royal Adelaide. Kerry had beaten compatriot Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), the No 6 qualifier, by 2 and 1 in the quarter-finals.
Results:
QUARTER-FINALS
Seedings in brackets.
Stacey Keating (8) bt Stephanie Na (1) 2 and 1.
Whitney Hillier (29) bt Justine Lee (5) 2 and 1.
Kristie Smith (2) bt Eboy Heard (26) 2 holes.
Kerry Smith (30) bt Rachel Jennings (6) 2 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
Keating (8) bt Hillier (29) 1 hole.
Kristie Smith (2) bt Kerry Smith (30) 2 and 1.

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The four finalists of the 2008 Srixon Australian Amateur Championships are preparing for Sunday's thrilling 36-hole finale after a pulsating day of quarter and semi-final action at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
Michael Foster and Anders Kristiansen will play for the men's crown while Kristie Smith and compatriot Stacey Keating will go head to head for the women's.
Australia's last man standing booked his spot in the decider thanks to a solid 3/2 win over Englishman Dale Whitnell in the semi-final and a 3/1 win over Shaun Malone in the morning's quarter final.
The semi-final was neck and neck for most of the front nine before Foster strung together several birdies to edge in front and book a match against Kristiansen who is competing in this prestigious final at the tender age of 17.
The Norwegian started his day with what appeared to be a comfortable win over Neil Chaudhuri but despite leading 4up with six to play, the plucky Englishman took it all the way to the 18th where his charge ran out of puff.
It was a contrasting story in the afternoon for Kristiansen who had a nightmare start against giant killer Danny Lee. The New Zealander had already claimed the scalps of Tim Stewart, world number one Daniel Willett and Matthew Griffin and soon found himself 3up through the opening four holes.
Not to be one to go down without a fight, Kristiansen lifted up a gear and started his charge, narrowing the gap, drawing level eventually seizing the lead with a par on the 11th. A shell-shocked Lee tried to keep pace, but Kristiansen was on a roll and wasn't about to let this opportunity slip, winning 1up and clinching a berth in the decider.
Lee's quarter-final match was not without drama either as Griffin mounted a stirring comeback to almost snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The New Zealander was in scintillating form early and found himself 5up through the first six holes, but the Victorian kept his head up and came back to remarkably square the match on 14. Even thought he would eventually lose 1down, Griffin did himself plenty of favours with a gutsy display.
The women's final will be an all-Australian affair between Smith and Keating after they each fought out tough afternoon semi-finals.
Smith lost the first hole against Kerry Smith of England, but went on to claim three of the next four and stamp her ascendancy on the match. Even though the Englishwoman battled hard, she was unable to draw level as the West Australian won through to the final and somewhat gained revenge on her opponent for losing to her at last week's Ashes event in Melbourne.
Her challenger will be Victorian Stacey Keating who was responsible for the shock upset of the day when she beat local favourite and number one seed Stephanie Na 2/1. Obviously spurred on by the courageous win, Keating went out in the afternoon and came from behind to beat Whitney Hillier 1up to set up the meeting with Smith and undoubtedly the biggest moment of her young golfing career to date.
Both 36-hole finals can be tracked with live scores and text commentary throughout Sunday at www.golfaustralia.org.au.

ANNA SCOTT FIGHTS BACK TO

SALVAGE PAR IN STATES

Durham's Anna Scott (Georgia State University) matched the par of 72 over the 6150yd Golden Horseshoe Golf Club course at Williamsburg, Virginia to be in fourth place at the end of the first round in the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Championship.

Anna, pictured right, did well to retrieve the situation after a double bogey 6 at the third and another shot dropped at the fourth. The six-footer from Consett started her revival with a 2 at the short seventh and she then birdied the 10th, 13th and short 17th before bogeying the 18th for 34 home.

Ashley Tait (North Carolina-Wilmington) leads on 69.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

69 Ashley Tait (North Carolina-Wilmington).

70 Cathrine Madsen (Georgia State).

71 Emily Klein (North Carolina-Wilmington).

72 Anna Scott (Georgia State).

TEAM LEADERS

287 North Carolina-Wilmington.

290 Georgia State.

305 William & Mary College.

10 Teams are taking part.

QUADRUPLE BOGEY 9 COSTS
JODI EWART THE LEAD
IN NEW MEXICO

Yorkshire-born Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University dropped back to joint second place in the second round of the Mountain West Women's Conference college golf championship over her home college course at Albuquerque.
Catterick Golf Club member Jodi, the English women's amateur stroke-play champion and a member of the GB&I Curtis Cup team to play the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, returned a 75 for 147 over the par-73, 6167yd course.
Jodi's hopes of repeating her victory of last year in the tournament took a knock when she ran up a quadruple bogey 9 at the 499yd par-5 fifth. She had earlier birdied the long first and par-4fourth holes.
She dropped another shot at the 11th but did get one back with a 2 at the short 17th to come home in 35.
New Mexico team-mate Britney Choy took over the top spot in the field of 35 players with a 71 for 145.
New Mexico (589) have a clear lead in the team event from Brigham Young (603) and UNLV (614).
LEADERBOARD
145 Britney Choi (New Mexico) 74 71.
147 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 72 75, Morgan Grantham (New Mexico) 76 71, Natalia Jimenez (Brigham Young) 74 73.
TEAM LEADERS
589 New Mexico.
603 Brigham Young.
614 UNLV.
626 Texas Christian.
Seven teams are taking part.

PAMELA FEGGANS BEATS THE

BUTTERFLIES TO SHARE

US FUTURES TOUR LEAD

Ayrshire exile Pamela Feggans, 25, shared the lead on five-under-par 67 at the end of the first round of the latest event on the United States Futures' Tour,.the $88,000 Louisiana Pelican Classic at The Wetlands Golf Club, Lafayette in Louisiana (Friday, USA time).
Pamela, pictured left, from Patna, Ayrshire and a former competitor on the American women's college circuit as a student at Florida Southern University, was the last player to finish in a field of 143 and on a day of win and rain.
With an eagle 3 at the ninth and birdies at the 14th and 15th in halves of 33 and 34, she was able to join the long-time clubhouse leader M J Hur from South Korea on the 67 mark.
"Bad weather? That was just like a summer's day back home in Scotland," said Pamela in her post-round interview. "My putting was really good today. I was trying not to think about getting a low score but I have to admit the butterflies were flapping around in my stomach over the last few holes."
Fellow-Scot Vikki Laing from Musselburgh - a winner on the US No 2 women's pro tour last year, did not fare so well at Miss Feggans. She starts the second round of this 54-hole event in joint 68th place after a 75 with halves of 40 and 35.
Londoner Polly Willett and Brenda McLarnon from Belfast are bracketed on the 109th mark after both scored a 78. Polly took 41 shots for the second nine and Brenda 40.
Weather forecast for the second round is for the temperature to touch 80 degrees with the wind gusting from 15 to 20 mph.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72 (36-36)
Players from US unless stated
67 Pamela Feggans (Sco) 33-34, M J Hur (SKor) 31-36.
68 Jenny Gleason 36-32.
69 Sae Hee Son (SKor) 35-34, Jin Young Pak (SKor) 34035, Onnarin Sattayabanphot (Thai) 35-34, LeAnna Wicks 34-35.
Other scores:
75 Vikki Laing (Sco) 40-35 (jt 68th).
78 Polly Willett (Eng) 37-41, Brenda McLarnon (NIr) 38-40 (jt 109th of 143.

ANN MARIE DALTON SIGNS OFF
US COLLEGE DAYS WITH
BIG SOUTH TITLE VICTORY

Ireland's Ann Marie Dalton, pictured right, has scored her first win on the US college circuit in her very last tournament after four years at High Point University, North Carolina.

Ann Marie capped her collegiate career by winning the Big South Conference Championship after rallying in the final round to force a play-off with Channel Islander Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southrn) and then winning the title at the fifth extra hole at the Patriot Golf Club, South Carolina.

Dalton, a native of Carlow, Ireland, carded a tournament-best round 73 on the final day making up a seven shot deficit on tournament leader Higgins of Charleston Southern to force the sudden-death play-off.

Both players finished with 54-hole totals of 229 and then matched each other shot-for-shot through four extra holes until Dalton parred the par-5 fifth hole to edge Higgins for the crown.

"It is just an amazing feeling," said Dalton. "I am so excited to finally win a collegiate tournament and I can't think of a better way to end my career than by winning the Big South Championship. I felt like I played pretty well all three days, but today I was very relaxed on the course. I was just out there having fun and trying to enjoy the round. I feel like my putting was the difference in the play-off. This is a huge success not only for me but also the High Point University golf program."

There was some consolation for Olivia Higgins in that her college, Charleston Southern, led wire-to-wire in capturing the team title with a total of 931 and will go forward to the post-season NCAA Regional championship.. Coastal Carolina (935) were runners-up. High Point finished sixth of eight.

Dalton, who will be 23 on May 12, is the first High Point University golfer to win a Big South Conference title. In addition, her play earned her a spot on the All-Big South squad to go along with her Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year award she garnered earlier.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72). 5950yd.

229 Ann Marie Dalton (High Point) 80 76 73, Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) 73 76 80 (Dalton won play-off at fifth extra hole).

230 Sara Hester (Winthrop) 76 76 78.

REST OF US COLLEGE NEWS IN BRIEF


*Roseanne Niven (California) from Crieff finished joint 21st on 152 with rounds of 73 and 79 in the Peg Barnard Invitational over the par-71 Stanford University golf course of 6,117yd. Karinn Dickinson (Washington) was the individual winner with a pair of 71s for 142.

*Jacqueline Sneddon (Grand Canyon) from Meigle came joint 10th on 174 with scores of 88 and 86 in the Maverick Invite tournament over a par-72 course of 6031yd. The Scot finished 18 shots behind winner Cicilia Chudivan (CSU-Monterey Bay) with 71 and 85 for 156.

*Grant Carnie (Brevard College) from Ellon finished joint fifth with scores of 77, 74 and 74 for a total of 225 in the Southern Atlantic Conference championship at Hickory Golf Club, North Carolina. Grant, who had finished joint seventh only a week or two earlier in the Independent Collegiate Invite, took 17 shots more than the eight-stroke winner, Ben Lown (Newberry College) with 70, 68 and 70 for 208.
Carnie's team-mates, Myles Johnston from Bo'ness and Craig Galloway from West Lothian, finished joint 26th and 35th respecitively with totals of 233 (80-75-78) and 240 (79-79-82).

*Adam Lindsay (Ohio Wesleyan) from Banchory finished joint 37th in the Wartburg Invitational at Centennial Oaks Country Club. Adam scored 83 and 78 for 161 - 22 shots behind the winner Nick Profancik (Maryville) with 72 and 67. Profancik was different class. He won by nine strokes.

*Natasha Podmore (San Francisco) from Appleton came seventh of 25 in the West Coast Conference championship at Chambers Bay GC, Washington State. Natasha scored 77, 78 and 82 for 237. Two Pepperdine University players, Leanne Bowditch and Taylor Karle, tied for victory on 220 - 12 shots ahead of third-placed Jessica Potter (San Francisco).

*Harriet Owers-Bradley (Yale University) from Nottingham scored 83, 86 and 85 for a total of 254 and joint 30th place in the quaintly-named Roar-ee Invitational at Hampshire Country Club in Mamaronek, New York State.
It must have been tough going over the par-71, 5,833yd course because the winner, Natalia Jimenez (Brigham Young), was 16 over par at the death with scores of 77, 76 and 76 for 229 to win by four strokes. Yale (988) finished third of 14 behind Brigham Young (942) and Harvard (965).

Krystle joint second after first
round of SEC Championship

Krystle Caithness (Georgia University) was lying in joint second place, two shots behind US Curtis Cup team selection Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) at the end of the first round in the South-East Conference Women's Championship over the par-72, Tennessee National course of 6,293yd.
Krystle, who will be making her Curtis Cup debut for GB&I over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, had birdies at the long second, the long 14th and the 18th. She bogeyed the sixth and 13th.
Rebecca Watson from South Queensferry, a student at Tennessee University, was sharing 35th place on 79.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72, 6293yd
69 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas).
71 Krystle Caithness (Georgia), Dori Carter (Mississippi), Beredicte Toumpsin (South Carolina).
Other score:
79 Rebecca Watson (Tennessee) (jt 35th of 60).

Rookie Jenna Wilson misses cut in Spain

Ladies European Tour Scoreboard
OPEN DE ESPANA FEMENINO
Panoramica Golf & Country Club, San Jordi, Castellon, Spain.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
139 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 72 67
140 Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 72 68
141 Rebecca Hudson 68 73
142 Lora Fairclough 74 68, Samantha Head 71 71
143 Lisa Sorensen (Den) 70 73, Tania Elosegui 74 69, Marta Silva 72 71
144 Frances Bondad (Aus) 72 72, Laura Cabanillas Gomez 72 72, Stefania Croce (Ita) 72 72, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 69 75
145 Karen Lunn (Aus) 75 70, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 71 74, Katharina Schallenberg (Ger) 71 74, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 75 70
146 Anja Monke (Ger) 73 73, Ana Larraneta 77 69, Natalie Booth 73 73, Elisa Serramia Neundorf 75 71, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 75 71, Clare Queen 74 72
147 Mianne Bagger (Den) 74 73, Caroline Masson (Ger) 74 73, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 77, Iben Tinning (Den) 68 79, Lill Saether (Nor) 75 72, Georgina Simpson 76 71, Joanne Mills (Aus) 74 73, Ana-Belen Sanchez 75 72, Marta Prieto 75 72, Trish Johnson 70 77, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 71 76
148 Lotta Maria Wahlin (Swe) 76 72, Julie Greciet (Fra) 75 73, Amy Yang (USA) 71 77, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 76, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 78 70, Fame More 79 69, Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ) 74 74, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 73 75, Julie Tvede (Den) 74 74, Krista Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 73 75, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 69 79, Anna Knutson (Swe) 72 76, Anna-Lise Caudal (Fra) 71 77, Emma Lyons 73 75, Diana Luna (Ita) 75 73
149 Felicity Johnson 74 75, Rebecca Coakley 74 75, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 76 73, Paula Marti 70 79, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 75 74, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 76 73, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 77 72, Leah Hart (Aus) 70 79, Camille Fallay (Fra) 75 74, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 77 72, Eleanor Pilgrim 73 76, Danielle Masters 75 74, Carmen Alonso 67 82.
150 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 71 79, Dana Lacey (Aus) 75 75, Lee-Anne Pace (USA) 72 78, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 74 76, Kirsty S Taylor 74 76, Sofia Renell (Swe) 72 78, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 75 75, Lynn Kenny 76 74
MISSED THE CUT
151 Sara Beautell Largo 75 76, Lisa Hall 71 80, Olof Jonsdottir (Ice) 75 76, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 73 78, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 72 79, Becky Brewerton (Gbr) 73 78, Florence Luscher (Swi) 76 75, Caroline Afonso (Fra) 68 83, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 74 77, Adriana Zwanck 74 77, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 76 75, Anna Tybring (Swe) 71 80, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 76 75, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 76 75, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 76 75
152 Martina Gillen 72 80, Zuzana Kamasova (Sk) 75 77, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 72 80, Ellen Smets (Bel) 75 77, Natascha Fink (Aut) 78 74, Melodie Bourdy (Fra) 72 80
153 Laura Terebet (USA) 74 79, Marina Arruti 76 77, Jenna Wilson 77 76, Maria Beautell 78 75
154 Mireya Prats 78 76, Lin Tzu-chi (Chn) 78 76, Joanne Morley 76 78, Denise Becker (Ger) 75 79, Itziar Elguezabal 77 77
155 Karen-Margreth Juul (Den) 75 80, Mette Buus (Den) 76 79, Melissa Reid 74 81, Janice Olivencia (Pue) 79 76
156 Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 76 80, Beatriz Recari 79 77, Anne Hansen (Den) 76 80, Joanne Clingan 76 80
157 Nuria Clau 81 76, Marjet Van Der Graaff (Ned) 83 74, Federica Piovano (Ita) 73 84, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 77 80
158 Anna Rossi (Ita) 75 83, Sophie Walker 75 83, Patricia Beliard (Fra) 79 79, Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 76 82, Emma Cabrera Bello 74 84, Lena Kirstina Viola Tornevall (Swe) 76 82
159 Rachel Bell 81 78, Lydia Hall 83 76, Ines Tusquets 79 80
161 Xonia Wunsch-Ruiz 81 80
162 Vittoria Valvassori (Ita) 79 83, Maria Ohlsson (Swe) 81 81, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 83 79
172 Maria a Jimenez 86 86

EWGA Press Release

Sue Dye completes English
senior women's double

Sue Dye claimed her second national title when she beat Barbara Laird by 3 and 2 in an all-Cheshire final of the Senior Women’s English Amateur Championship at Stoneham, Hampshire today.
Sue, from Delamere Forest, already holds the English senior stroke-play title and she said of her double: “It’s very special.”
She took a break from golf over the winter, returning to competition only last month and insists her long game is still a little rusty. However, spectators judged her play to be extremely steady and it was supported by impressive scrambling skills when necessary.
“I just focussed on playing shot by shot, hole by hole. All week I’ve just tried to play each round better than the one before.”
The first half of the final was very finely balanced. Eight of the first nine holes were halved but, crucially, Sue moved ahead by winning the third when her opponent three-putted. As the players approached the turn Barbara had a couple of opportunities to win holes but wasn’t able to capitalise on them.
Then, Sue took a firm grip on the match, winning the 11th, 12th and 13th with a sequence of par, birdie, par. She made a rare mistake on the long 14th when she had a birdie putt to win the hole and the match – but went for it too boldly and three-putted.
Barbara pulled back another hole when she won the 15th – despite her drive finishing in a horrid spot in the rough. However Sue settled matters on the short 16th with a textbook par which secured the title.
It’s her latest success in a short but spectacular seniors career which began in 2006 when she was runner-up in the stroke-play championship.
The Division B title was won by Sue Pidgeon of Shropshire who defeated Sue McKeon of Buckinghamshire by two holes.
Sue Pidgeon also got to four up during her match but was made to fight to the end for her title. “I am delighted with this, I didn’t know I could still do it!” she said.
Results:
Division One
Semi-finals
Barbara Laird (Sandiway) bt Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest) 1 hole.
Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) bt Carolyn Kirk (Ganton) 1 hole.
Final
Dye bt Laird 3 and 2.
Division Two
Semi-finals
Sue McKeon (Harleyford) bt Karen Lobb (Northants Co) 1 hole.
Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) bt Jose Kellenberger (Camberley Heath) 5 and 3.
Final
Pidgeon bt McKeon 2 holes.

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Visit the EWGA website at http://www.englishladiesgolf.org/

Teams for Mary McKenna Trophy

match in Dublin this weekend

Teams for this weekend's seniors match for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy at St Margaret's Golf Club, Dublin are:

SCOTLAND

Heather Anderson (Northern).
Lorna Bennett (Midland).
Fiona de Vries (Midland).
Helen Faulds (West).
Fiona Hunter (East).
Kathleen Sutherland (Northern).
Margaret Tough (Midland).
Pamela Williamson (East).

IRELAND

Carmel Cahill (Hermitage).

Nano Brennan (Elm Park).

Valerie Hassett (Ennis).

Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock).
Eileen MacMullen (Donegal).

Mary Madden (Ballinasloe).

Violet McBride (Belvoir Park).

Mary McKenna (Donabate).

Pamela Morgan (Lahinch).

Sheena O’Brien Kenney (Grange)

Rhona Fanagan (Captain).

Roma English (Manager)

PROGRAMME
Sunday: 4 x four-balls.

Monday: 8 singles.

Australian women's open amateur match-play

Only Kerry Smith, Rachel
Jennings make last eight

Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) are the only two English players left in the quarter-finals of the Australian women's open amateur match-play championhip at Royal Adelaide Golf Club - and they play each other on Saturday morning for a place in the semi-finals.
Kerry Smith, the No 30 qualifier, upset the No 3 seed, Australian Rebecca Flood, beating her 4 and 3 in the first round. Then Kerry, who is not in the GB&I Curtis Cup squad, claimed the scalp of one of the Curtis Cup line-up, Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), the 19th qualifier, by one hole.
Rachel Jennings, seeded sixth, beat two Australians as she progressed to the last eighth.
Fourth seed Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), one of the Curtis Cup team, surprising lost in the first round to the 20th qualifier, Australian Whitney Hillier.
English champion Naomi Edwards (Ganton), seeded 12th, beat an Australian in the morning but lost by one hole to another in the afternoon.
Results:
First round
(Seeded number in brackets)
Stephanie Na (1) bt Ainil Abu Bakau (32) 5 and 3.
Whitney Hillier (20) bt Liz Bennett (4) 4 and 3.
Naomi Edwards (12) bt Jessica Noh (21) 2 abd 1,
Kerry Smith (30) bt Rebecca Flood (3) 4 and 3.
Florentyna Parker (19) bt Jayde Panos (14) 6 and 5.
Rachel Jennings (6) bt Christabel Goh (27) 1 hole.
Second round
Nah (1) bt J Boland (16) at 20th.
S Keating (8) bt H Dewhurst (9) at 19th.
Hillier (4) bt B Arthur (13) at 19th.
J Lee (5) bt Edwards (12) 1 hole.

Kristie Smith (2) bt C Ikeda (15) 3 and 2.
E Heard (26) bt C Guest (23) 2 and 1.
Kerry Smith (30) bt Parker (19) 1 hole.
Jennings (6) bt J Bozanic (27) 7 and 6.

Jodi Ewart in action on the US women's college circuit.

Jodi Ewart's good start to Mountain West

Conference championship defence

Curtis Cup selection Jodi Ewart, a sophomore student at New Mexico University, has made a good start to her defence of the Mountain West Women's Conference championship over her home college course (par 73, 6167yd) at Albuquerque.

Jodi, winner of the English women's amateur stroke-play championship at Silloth last summer, shook off a bogey 6 at her first hole to return a one-under-par 72 and take a one-stroke lead from Therese Koelbaek (UNLV) into the second round.

On a cold and windy day, 20-year-old Jodi, a Catterick Golf Club member from Middleham, Yorkshire, must have felt at home with the conditions. She birdied the short seventh and the long ninth to be out in 36.

After the turn, she bogeyed the par-4 13th but finished on a high with a birdie 4 at the long 18th.

New Mexico University have jumped into a nine-stroke lead from Brigham Young in the team event.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Par 73

72 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico).

73 Therese Koelbaek (UNLV).

74 Britney Choy (New Mexico), Natalia Jimenez (Brigham Young), Jonelie Martinez (Wyoming).

LEADING TEAM SCORES

298 New Mexico.

307 Brigham Young.

308 UNLV.

Seven teams are taking part

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
GINN OPEN
Reunion Resort & Club, Orlando, Florida.
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
67 Teresa Lu (Tai), Carin Koch (Swe).
68 Ya-Ni Tseng (SKor), Karrie Webb (Aus), Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Charlotte Mayorkas, Mhairi McKay (Sco), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Allison Fouch.
69 Minea Blomqvist (Fin), Il Mi Chung (SKor), Jill McGill, Sun Young Yoo (SKor), Young Kim (SKor), Juli Inkster, Lindsey Wright (Aus), Kristy McPherson, Katie Futcher, Brittany Lang, Kyeong Eun Bae (SKor), Danielle Downey.
70 Laura Davies (Eng), Karen Stupples (Eng), Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Ai Miyazato (Jpn), Angela Stanford, Amy Hung (Tha), Meg Mallon, Heather Daly-Donofrio.
71 Stacy Prammanasudh, Michele Redman, Wendy Ward, Song-Hee Kim (SKor), Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha), Leta Lindley, Kris Tamulis, Marisa Baena, Candy Hannemann, Jimin Kang (SKor), Momoko Ueda (Jpn), Becky Morgan (Wal), Janice Moodie (Sco), Jeong Jang (SKor).
72 Diana D'Alessio, Karine Icher (Fra), Grace Park (SKor), Seon Hwa Lee (SKor), Jimin Jeong, Yu Ping Lin (Tai), Kelli Kuehne, Wendy Doolan (Aus), Morgan Pressel, Eun Hee Ji (SKor), Brandie Burton, Hee-Won Han (SKor), Christina Kim, Dina Ammaccapane, Paula Creamer, Na Yeon Choi (SKor), Mollie Fankhauser, Tracy Hanson, Karin Sjodin (Swe), Katherine Hull (Aus).
73 Jane Park, Meena Lee (SKor), In-Bee Park (SKor), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Julieta Granada (Par), Gloria Park (SKor), Rachel Hetherington (Aus), Soo-Yun Kang (SKor), Audra Burks, Jan Stephenson, Emily Bastel, Moira Dunn, Sarah Kemp (Aus), Hee Young Park (SKor), Johanna Head (Eng), Giulia Sergas (Ita), Na On Min (Jpn), Jin Joo Hong (SKor), Beth Bader, Sarah Lee, Nancy Scranton, Sherri Turner, Natalie Gulbis, Alena Sharp, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita).
74 Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (Fra), Angela Park, Brittany Lincicome, Reilley Rankin, Lorie Kane (SKor), Jackie Gallagher-Smith, Jee Young Lee (SKor), Mi-Hyun Kim (SKor), Carri Wood, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe), Shi Hyun Ahn (SKor), Becky Iverson, Sandra Gal (Ger), Dorothy Delasin, Candie Kung (Tai), Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Eva Dahllof (Swe), Laura Diaz, Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Nicole Castrale.
75 Young-A Yang (SKor), Jennifer Rosales (Phi), Jamie Hullett, Stephanie Sparks (Col), Nicole Perrot (Chi), Ji-Young Oh (SKor), Kate Golden, Meaghan Francella, Birdie Kim (SKor), Marcy Hart, Shanshan Feng (Chn).
76 Becky Lucidi, Catriona Matthew (Sco), Seol-An Jeon (Kor), Kim Hall, Miriam Nagl (Ger), Seo-Jae Lee, Se Ri Pak (SKor), Erica Blasberg, Violeta Retamoza (Mex), Hye Jung Choi (SKor).
77 Louise Friberg (Swe), Liz Janangelo, Maria Hjorth (Swe), Su A Kim.
78 Linda Wessberg (Swe), Michelle McGann, Sophie Giquel (Fra).
79 Lindy Duncan, Sung Ah Yim (Kor), Carolina Llano, Meredith Duncan.
80 Nina Reis (Swe), Liselotte Neumann (Swe).

EWGA Press Release

JANET RALLIES FROM FIVE DOWN TO
REACH LAST FOUR AT STONEHAM

Nottinghamshire’s Janet Collingham fought back from five down to beat Hampshire star Chris Quinn and snatch a place in the semi-finals of the Senior Women’s English Close Championship at Stoneham today.
Janet, a former British champion, said afterwards: “I thought I was on my way home! Nothing seemed to go right on the first few holes. I under-clubbed on the first two and then had a three putt.”
By the seventh she was five down to Chris, the top seed, who has twice won this title. But Janet urged herself to be patient.
“I knew I was playing well, I just had to keep going and see what happened.”
The seventh was the last hole Janet was to lose. From then on she whittled away at the lead, assisted by an impressive ability to get up and down when necessary. She sqared matters on the 15th, took the lead for the first time with a par 4 on the 17th and signed off for a one-up win.
“I am just so pleased,” she said.
Janet is making her debut in seniors golf and has prepared long and hard. She’s working on her game with Hollinwell professional Mike Bradley ... she’s lost two stone and has been improving her fitness with a personal trainer.
In the semi-final Janet will meet Cheshire’s Barbara Laird, who defeated former champion Christine Watson of Buckinghamshire by 5 and 4.
The other semi-final will be contested by Yorkshire’s Carolyn Kirk and Cheshire’s Sue Dye. Carolyn was ahead all the way through her match, moving to five up at one point, before defeating Hampshire’s Sue Pickles 3 and 2.
Sue Dye, the reigning senior stroke-play champion, won a tight tussle with Kent’s Geraldine Bray, who went out of bounds on the last hole.
The Division B finals will be:
Sue McKeon (Harleyford) v Karen Lobb (Northants County) and Jose Kellenberger (Camberley Heath) v Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin).
Division A Results.
FIRST ROUND
Chris Quinn (Hockley) bt Paula Parker (Abbotsley) 3 and 2.
Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest) bt Pat West (Spalding) 6 and 5.
Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) bt Sandra Paul (Huddersfield) at 19th.
Barbara Laird (Sandiway) wo Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs) scr.
Sue Pickles (Lee on the Solent) bt Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay) 3 and 2.
Carolyn Kirk bt Elspeth Cooper (Calcot Park) 5 and 3.
Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) bt Chris Stirling (Meon Valley) 2 and 1.
Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) bt Bev Belcher (Olton) 6 and 5.
QUARTER-FINALS
Collingham bt Quinn 1 hole.
Laird beat Watson 5 and 4.
Kirk beat Pickles 3 and 2.
Dye beat Bray 1 hole.
The semi-finals start at 9am and spectators are welcome.
Full online scoring: www.englishwomensgolf.org

Visit the EGWA web site at www.englishwomensgolf.org

Megan Briggs (left) and younger sister Eilidh after the Renfrewshire county final (picture by courtesy of Carol Fell, all rights reserved).

Megan beats sister Eilidh
for Renfrewshire hat-trick

It was the battle of the Briggs sisters from Kilmacolm in today's 18-hole final of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Bonnyton Golf Club.
Megan, 18, picture right by courtesy of Carol Fell, all rights reserved, won the the title for the third year in a row by beating 14-year-old Eilidh by 4 and 3.
Both played well on the outward half, Megan turning in level par to be only one hole up.
She birdied the 10th to double her advantage and then went three up with a par at the 11th.
Eilidh kept her hopes alive by winning the 12th before the 13th was halved.
Megan went three up again with a par at the 14th and this time there was no way back for young Elidh.
Megan birdied the 15th for a 4 and 3 winning margin - but how lucky Kilmacolm Golf Club and the Renfrewshire association to have two such talented youngsters.
In the semi-finals, Megan, the leading qualifier, won by 4 and 2 against former international Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), winner of the county title many times in the past, while Eilidh, the No 3 seed, beat the No 2 qualifier, Sarah McCorkell (Williamwood) by one hole.
Today's results:
Semi-finals
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 2.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt Sarah McCorkell (Williamwood) 1 hole.
Final
Megan Briggs bt Eilidh Briggs 4 and 3.

Pitlochry golf Festival kick starts
new junior coaching programme

By ROB EYTON-JONES
clubgolf media manager
Mark Pirie, the PGA professional at Pitlochry Golf Club whose programme of offering free coaching in local primary schools this winter was little short of revolutionary, is taking strides to revitalise his club’s junior membership after running a successful festival last month.
The festival will kick start the club’s inaugural clubgolf course, run by Mr Pirie and his eight-strong team of PGA Level 1 volunteer coaches.
Emerging from Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.
The programme has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game.
Of the 48 children who attended the festival, six have already signed up for membership and coaching at the club. For £30 they will be entitled to weekly coaching and competitions for the whole 2008 season.
“The festival weekend was about planting the seed to entice more junior members to come to the club and get them involved on an active basis through the year,” said Mr Pirie.
“It went well with 48 kids coming along, the vast majority of which were non members. If any of them want to come and join then we’ll be delighted to see them.
“For £30 a year they will get everything under the sun. Every Monday from April to mid-September, there’ll be a competition and free coaching on a Tuesday night. It doesn’t matter what their level or ability is, we’ll cater for them.”
The clubgolf coaching programme at the club is the third stage of Mr Pirie’s masterplan to introduce the area’s children to golf.
In February and March, together with Active Schools Co-ordinator Karen Todd, he introduced 200 Perthshire primary school children in eight local schools to clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf.
During the winter he had recruited eight Pitlochry members to train as PGA Level 1 coaches to teach on a volunteer basis at the club.
“The schools coaching was a huge success,” he said. “Highland Perthshire is traditionally rugby for the boys and netball for the girls so for the schools to take it on board as well as they did was a great achievement.
“The three-stage plan has worked well so far. At the end of the season we will review it and see if we can do something similar. The more coaching we do with the children the more we are going to get playing.”
For information about Pitlochry Golf Club’s junior coaching contact Mark Pirie on:
Telephone: 01796 472792 E: pro@pitlochrygolf.co.uk

Official clubgolf wesbite: www.clubgolfscotland.com

Runner-up Jennifer Linklater and Ayrshire Champion Morag Macpherson
[Photo Courtesy Alasdair Malcolm, All rights reserved]

FIRST AYRSHIRE TITLE FOR MORAG MACPHERSON

Troon Ladies Golf Club member Morag Macpherson, beaten finalist last year, won the Ayrshire women's county championship for the first time at West Kilbride Golf Club today.
Morag, the No 1 qualifier, beat Jennifer Linklater (Largs), the second seed, at the 19th in a classic match-play final.
Macpherson was three up after 13 holes but Linklater squared the match by winning the 14th, 15th and 16th. The 17th and 18th were halved before Macpherson won the day at the first extra hole.
Today's results:
Semi-finals
Morag Macpherson (Troon Ladies) bt Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 5 and 4.
Jennifer Linklater (Largs) bt Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
Final
Macpherson bt Linklater at 19th.

Clare Queen, Liz McKinnon
share 44th place in Ladies'
Spanish Open Day 1

Long-hitting Spaniard Carmen Alonso took and early lead - and stayed at the top of the scoreboard right through the opening day of the Open de Espana Femenico (Ladies' Spanish Open) at the Panoramica Golf & Country Club, Castellon.
Alonso, the longest hitter on Ladies European Tour in 2007 with an average drive of 284.60 yards, fired a five-under-par 67 to lead by one over three players, Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster, Denmark’s Iben Tinning and French rookie Caroline Afonso, making her LET debut.
Alonso played the back nine first, with two birdies and one bogey, before scoring four-under-par on the front nine with four further birdies.
Clare Queen (The Carrick at Cameron House) and Inverness-based New Zealand Liz McKinnon (Cal Carson Golf Agency image above, all rights reserved) start Friday's second round in joint 44th place on two-over-par 74.
Clare birdied two long holes, the second and the 11th, but she shed shots at the first, fourth, eighth and 10th.
Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) and rookie Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) will be disappointed with their rounds of 76 and 77 respectively.
Lynn is in joint 83rd position after picking up a couple of birdies, at the 14th and long 18th, but she dropped too many shots - at the third, fifth, seventh, 12th, 15th and 16th.
Jenna is tied for 100th place after a round that included a double-bogey 7 at the long 11th. Jenna did birdie the long second and the short 12th but she scattered shots at the fourth, seventh, ninth, 14th and 17th.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 C Alonso (Spa).
68 C Afonso (Spa), R Hudson (Eng), I Tinning (Den).
69 T Plucksataporn (Thai), B Hauert (Ger).
70 P Marti (Spa), T Johnson (Eng), M Eberl (Ger), L Hart (Aus), L H Sorensen (Den).
71 A-L Caudal (Fra), C Kirkland (Fra), K Schallenberg (Ger), A Yang (SKor), A Tybring (Swe), S Arricau (Fra), Lisa Hall (Eng), S Head (Eng), L Cabanillas (Spa), J Schaeffer (Fra).
Other scores:
72 M Gillen (Ire) (jt 22nd).
73 B Brewerton (Wal), E Pilgrim (Wal), N C Booth (Eng), E Lyons (Eng) (jt 35th).
74 L McKinnon (NZ), F Johnson (Eng), M Reid (Eng), R Coakley (Ire), K S Taylor (Eng), L Fairclough (Eng), C Queen (Sco) (jt 44th).
75 S Walker (Eng) (61st).
76 J Clingan (Eng), G Nocera (Fra), L Kenny (Sco), G Simpson (Eng), J Morley (Eng) (jt 83rd).
77 J Wilson (Sco) (jt 100th).
79 F More (Eng) (jt 111th).
81 R Bell (Eng), Lydia Hall (Wal) (jt 122nd).

Picture postcard beauty at the 10th hole of Golf Son Gual.

Golf Son Gual, Mallorca’s “New No. 1”

celebrates successful six months

Golf Son Gual – the most prestigious golf address on the sunshine island of Mallorca – has enjoyed a very successful first six months of operation and been inundated with membership enquiries.
Laid out across beautiful Mallorcan terrain, just outside the capital of Palma, Golf Son Gual first-opened its doors for play in October 2007, and since then an ever-increasing number of discerning locals and holidaymakers have been drawn to play golf there. Based largely on word-of-mouth recommendations Golf Son Gual has already established itself as the place to play golf on the island.
With a stunning 18-hole design – including one of the finest collection of par threes to be found in Europe and an outstanding closing hole – 15-minute breaks between tee-times and conditioning that belies the course’s tender years, it is no surprise that celebrities, international sporting stars and the golfing cognoscenti are keen to make a round at Golf Son Gual a more permanent fixture.
Details of the eagerly-awaited membership packages will not be released until later in the year and are likely to be limited to fewer than 500 in total.
Andreas Pamer, of the family Pamer management team, said: “All of the hard work, patience and attention to detail is bearing fruit. We were careful not to open the course too soon and to give all visitors the ultimate golfing experience, not just on the course but through the extensive practice facilities, spacious sun terraces and impressive cuisine we offer.
“Everybody has enjoyed the Son Gual experience and the substantial number of membership enquiries we are receiving is testament to that.”
For more information, email info@son-gual.com or visit http://www.son-gual.com/

Just a reminder to everyone who wants to enter the

ST RULE TROPHY 2008

This year's 36-hole tournament will be held over the Old Course, St Andrews on Sunday, May 25 and is open to ladies with handicaps not exceeding 4.
The entry fee is £30 and entries close on Saturday, May 3.
This is an excellent opportunity to have three rounds (including your practice round)
on the Old Course in the week prior to the Curtis Cup.
Entry forms can be downloaded from
http://www.standrews.org.uk/events/annual_tournaments/index.html
or obtained by mail direct from the St Rule Club, 12 The Links, St Andrews.
E-mail: struleclub@fsmail.net

DAWN-MARIE FINISHES JOINT 27th
AT EL PASO, TEXAS

Dubliner Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis University) finished joint 27th in a field of 44 players for the Conference USA Women's College Championship at Butterfield Trail Golf Club, El Paso in Texas.
Dawn-Marie scored 77, 85 and 79 for a total of 241 over the par-72, 6294yd course.
Winner by six strokes with a four-over-par total of 220 was Woeri Shin (Tulsa University) with 76, 71 and 73.
LEADING TOTALS
Individual
220 Woeri Shin (Tulsa) 76 71 73.
226 Leisl Hasbrouk (Tulsa) 72 77 77, Alexa Porter (Memphis) 73 78 75.
Other score:
241 Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) 77 85 79.
Teams
904 Tulsa.
922 East Carolina State, Southern Methodist.
945 UCF.
951 Memphis.
Nine teams took part.

Essex girl Laura wins Ohio

Valley Conference title

Laura Cutler from Essex, a first-year student at Jacksonville State University, Alabama, scored her first win on the American women's college circuit on Wednesday and helped her college to win their conference title..

She won the Ohio Valley Conference individual women's championship with scores of 78, 76 and 76 for a total of 230 over the par-72, 6154yd course at Shoals Golf Club, Florence in Alabama.

Laura was also named the Ohio Valley Conference co-freshman of the year.

Laura won by a single shot from JSU team-mate Mercedes Huarte who scored 81, 75 and 75 for 231. She survived a triple bogey 7 at the 12th in an inward half of 40 when she was hanging for dear life to score a notable win.

On the outward half, Laura had birdied the fourth and fifth but bogeyed the third and sixth in reaching the turn in level par 36.

Three players tied for third place on 234.

The winning Jacksonville State University team included a second English player -Portia Abbott from Wiltshire. She finished joint 13th on 241 with scores of 83, 77 and 81.

Andrea Downer (Murray State Univesity) from Surrey finished joint 28th in the field of 39 with a total of 251 (85-81-85).

Jacksonville State University (934) won the Ohio Valley Conference team title by the runaway margin of 21 shots from Murray State University (955) with Easterm Kentucky University third on 957. Eight teams took part.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72). 6154yd

230 Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State) 78 76 76.

231 Mercedes Huarte (Jacksonville State) 81 75 75.

Three players tied for third place on 234.

Other totals:

241 Portia Abbott (Jacksonville State) 83 77 81 (jt 13th).

251 Andrea Downer (Murray State) 85 81 85 9 (jt 28th).

LEADING TEAM FINAL TOTALS

934 Jacksonville State.

955 Murray State.

957 Eastern Kentucky.

Sinead, Lucy help East

Tennessee State to win

first Conference title

Galway's Sinead O'Sullivan and twice past Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould from Bargoed played their part as their university, East Tennessee State, won the Atlantic Sun Conference women's college team championship for the first time - over their home course, The Ridges G&CC, at Johnson City, Tennessee on Wednesday.

Team-mate Laura Jansone from Latvia was the individual winner with rounds of 67, 82 and 77 for a total of 226 over the par-72, 6175yd course.

Sinead (she's the one with the red hair in the picture!) scored 78, 74 and 78 to finish joint seventh of 230. She had been fifth going into the final round. Sinead had no birdies in either her first or last rounds.

Lucy must have been wishing it had been a four-round tournament because, after a bad start, she just got better and better - 84, 79 and 71 for 234. Her first round included a 9 at the par-4 15th. But she finished up with six birdies over the three rounds. In her par-beating final round, Miss Gould birdied the sixth, eighth and 14th.

East Tennessee State won the team title by a proverbial mile. They totalled 903 - 25 shots ahead of runners-up Campbell University with Belmont University (942) a distant third of the eight competing teams.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72). 6175yd

226 Laura Jansone (East Tennessee State) 67 82 77.

227 Belen Diaz Cisneros (Campbell University) 79 74 74, Lorie Warren (Belmont University) 78 69 80.

Other scores:

230 Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 78 74 78 (jt 7th).

234 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 84 79 71.

LEADING TEAM FINAL TOTALS

903 East Tennessee State.

928 Campbell University.

942 Belmont University.

Eight teams took part

Walkers United! Kylie Walker with her mum and grandmother after the trophy presentation (Image by Jean Campbell, all rights reserved).

Kylie Walker regains D&A title

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) beat defending champion Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) by 8 and 7 in the final of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county golf championship at Douglas Park Golf Club today.
Walker's accurate play enabled her to dominate the match and regain the title she last won in 2006.
County secretary Anne Byiers (Milngavie) won the Bronze Division championship by beating Jacky Sinclair (Hilton Park) 5 and 4 in the final.
Wednesday's results:
Semi-finals
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 5 and 4.
Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) bt Zoe Differ (Dullatur) 6 and 5.
Final
Walker bt Meldrum 8 and 7.
Bronze Trophy
Final
Anne Byiers (Milngavie) bt Jacky Sinclair (Hilton Park) 5 and 4.

Champion Lesley Hendry toppled
at West Kilbride

Defending champion Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) lost in the first round of the Ayrshire women's county golf championship to Catherine Malcolm at West Kilbride Golf Club today (Wed).
The Prestwick Nicholas player won by 3 and 2 but lost in the quarter-finals to leading qualifier Morag Macpherson (Troon Ladies) by 5 and 4.
In Thursday morning's semi-finals Macpherson will play clubmate Rachael McQueen while Alex
Wednesday's results:
First round
Morag Macpherson (Troon Ladies) bt Jane Ashdown (Largs) 8 and 7.
Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) 3 and 2.
Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place) bt Sheila Adams (Loudoun) 2 and 1.
Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) bt Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 5 and 3.
Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle) bt Greta Smith (Ardeer) 4 and 3.
Alex Glennie(Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Roz Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas) 1 hole.
Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies) bt Linda Parry (Irvine) 3 and 2.
Jennifer Linklater (Largs) bt Eleanor Taylor(Troon Ladies) 5 and 3.
Quarter-finals
Macpherson bt Malcolm 5 and 4.
McQueen bt Allan at 19th.
Glennie bt Watt 4 and 3.
Linklater bt Finnie at 22nd

EGWA Press Release

Title-holder Sue Ellis fails to
qualify for match-play

Hampshire's Chris Quinn leads the qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Senior Women's English Close Championship at Stoneham, Hampshire.
The former champion pipped Kent's Geraldine Bray to the top spot by virtue of her better second round. Chris, who plays at Hockley, scored 77 and 76 while Geraldine (Littlestone) shot 75 and 78.
"I haven't played a lot all winter and I am absolutely thrilled to put in two scores in the 70s. That was what I was aiming for," said Chris, who was a member at Stoneham in the 1970s.
"I do know the course - but on the other hand people do expect you to be able to get round it!" She didn't disappoint them and signed off her second round with a birdie 4.
The top 16 players qualified for the championship match-play stages and the draw includes two other Hampshire players. Sue Pickles (Lee on the Solent) defied hip pain to return a second round 76, and Chris Stirling (Meon Valley) returned a pair of 79s.
Former British champion Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest) fell away today with an 84 but still qualified comfortably on her seniors debut.
Senior stroke-play champion Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) is also safely through.
However, defending champion Sue Ellis (Ferndown) failed to make it to the knock-out stages. She was one of three players tied for the last two places in the draw and lost out on her second 18.
Sue finished with two bogeys for an 83 while Bev Belcher (Olton) birdied the 17th and 18th for 76, and Paula Parker (Abbotsley) scored 81.
The top qualifier in Division B is Sue McKeon (Harleyford) who scored 84 and 80. She finished two ahead of Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) (82 and 84) and a further shot clear of Judy McCairns (Oxford Ladies) (83 and 84) and Gillian Stump (Sherwood Forest) 81 and 86.
Division A qualifying scores:
153 Christ Quinn (Hockley) 77 76, Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) 75 78.
155 Sue Pickles (Lee on the Solent) 79 76.
156 Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs) 79 77.
157 Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) 81 76, Carolyn Kirk (Ganton) 81 76.
158 Christine Stirling (Meon Valley) 79 79.
160 Pat West (Spalding) 82 78, Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest) 76 84.
161 Sue Dye (Delamere Forest) 82 79, Elspeth Cooper (Calcot Park) 82 79.
162 Sandra Paul (Huddersfield) 85 77, Barbara Laird (Sandiway) 80 82, Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay) 77 85.
163 Bev Belcher (Olton) 87 76, Paula Parker (Abbotsley) 82 81
First round draw (from 8.30am):
Christine Quinn v Paula Parker.
Janet Collingham v Pat West.
Christine Watson v Sandra Paul.
Barbara Laird v Felicity Coulter.
Sue Pickles v Elaine Elliott.
Elspeth Cooper v Carolyn Kirk.
Christine Stirling v Susan Dye.
Bev Belcher v Geraldine Bray
Full scores: www.englishwomensgolf.org

BRIGGS SISTERS ON COURSE

TO MEET IN RENFREWSHIRE

FINAL AT BONNYTON

Kilmacolm Golf Club's Briggs sisters - defending champion Megan and younger sibling Eilidh - could meet in Thursday afternoon's final of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Bonnyton Golf Club.
Megan, the 18-year-old No 1 seed, cruised through to the last four with wins over Linda McDougal (Greenock) and Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane), while Eilidh had a 5 and 4 win over Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) and then prevailed by 3 and 2 over Beth Paterson (Eastwood).
Many times county champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the No 5 qualifier this year, will present a tough test for Megan Briggs (Cal Carson image right, all rights reserved) in the first semi-final.
Eilidh, the 14-year-old No 3 qualifier, meets the No 2 seed, Sara McCorkell (Williamwood) in the second semi-final.
The 18-hole final will tee off at 2pm.
Wednesday results:
First round - M Briggs bt L McDougal (Greenock) 7 and 5, G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt P Orr (Cochrane Castle) 6 and 4, D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt J McCartney (Erskine) 5 and 4, C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Whyte (Windyhill) 2 and 1, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt D Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 5 and 4, B Paterson (Eastwood) bt L Stewart (Greenburn) 3 and 2, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt A McKechin (Elderslie) 3 and 2, S McCorkell (Williamwood) bt J Nicol (Elderslie) 4 and 2.
Second round - M Briggs bt McGinlay 6 and 5, Jackson bt Fell 2 and 1, E Briggs bt Paterson 3 and 2, McCorkell bt Carlton 3 and 2.

EGWA Press Release

Liz Bennett finishes fourth in
Aussie stroke-play

Internationals Liz Bennett and Rachel Jennings gave England plenty to cheer about on the final day of the Australian women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Glenelg Golf Club, Adelaide.
Liz, from Brokenhurst Manor in Hampshire, returned a one-under par 73 in the final round to claim fourth place in a field of 83 players on 294. She was two-under-par for the 72-hole event, which was won by Australia’s 18-year-old Stephanie Na, playing over her home course, on 15-under par 281.
Liz has been selected for the GB&I team for the 2008 Curtis Cup match at St Andrews.
Rachel, from Izaak Walton Golf Club in Staffordshire, produced the best English performance of the week with a course-record equalling 69. It was her first competitive score below 70 and moved her up to sixth place on 299. Rachel recently won the French lady junior championship.
All five players in the English Women’s Golf Association squad finished in the top 32 and automatically qualified for the Australian women's open amateur match-play championship which starts tomorrow at Royal Adelaide.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 296 (4 x 74)
Players from Australia unless stated.
281 Stephanie Na 69 70 69 73.
288 Kristie Smith 72 72 75 69.
291 Rebecca Flood 72 74 71 74.
294 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 74 71 76 73 (4th).
298 Justin Lee 75 77 72 74.
299 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 79 74 77 69 (6th).
300 Stacey Keating 74 77 73 76, Christine Trimmer 73 82 82 73.
Other totals:
303 Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 73 72 79 79 (jt 11th).
305 Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 73 78 77 77 (jt 16th).
310 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 78 77 75 80 (30th)
Match-play draw (English players' ties):
Rachel Jennings v Christabel Goh (Singapore).
Florentyna Parker v Jayde Panos (Western Australia).
Kerry Smith v Rebecca Flood (NSW).
Naomi Edwards v Jessica Noh (Korea).
Liz Bennett v Whitney Hillier (Western Australia).

Full details: http://www.golfaustralia.org.au/

Carnoustie's Katy down the
field in Florida

Katy McNicoll (Lynn University, Florida) from Carnoustie finished joint 29th in a field of 39 for the Women's Sunshine State Conference championship at Duran Golf Club, Viera in Florida.
Katy scored 85, 80 ajd 82 over the par-72, 5994yd course.
In a high-scoring competition - possibily due to adverse weather conditions over the last two rounds, Sandra Changkya (Nova Southeastern) won the individual honours with scores of 69, 76 and 76 for a five-over-par total of 221.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
221 Sandra Changkya (Nova Southeastrn) 69 76 76.
224 Joanna Coe (Rollins) 72 77 75, Johanna Soderstrom (Barry) 71 77 76.
Other total:
247 Katy McNicoll (Lynn) 85 80 82.
LEADING TEAMS
900 Nova Southeastern.
910 Florida Southern.
915 Rollins College.
924 Barry
941 Lynn
8 Teams took part.

Laura Cutler sharing lead with one
round to go in Alabama

Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State University) from Nottingham is sharing the lead with Megan McKinney (Murray State University) with Wednesday's final round to come in the Women's Ohio Valley Conference championship at The Shoals Golf Club, Florence in Alabama.
Laura has had rounds of 78 and 76 over the par-72, 6154yd course.
Megan also scored 78 and 76.
Portia Abbott, also Jacksonville State, from Wiltshire is in ninth place in the field of 39 players. She has scored 80 and 78 for 258.
Andrea Downer (Murray State) is lying 25th on 166 with scores of 85 and 81.
Jacksonville State (627) are four shots clear of Murray State in the team event being contested by eight teams.

Sinead O'Sullivan moves up to
joint fourth in Tennessee

Ireland's Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State University) from Galway is lying joint fourth as the field of 40 for the Atlantic Sun Women's Championship moves into its final round on Wednesday at The Ridges Golf & Country Club, Jonesborough, Tennessee.
Sinead followed up her opening 78 with a 74 over the par-72, 6175yd course.
She had birdies at the 10th and 13th but bogeys at the first, eighth, 11th and 18th.
Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould, another member of the East Tennessee State team is in a share of 14th place - she started the second day in joint 23rd place - on 163.
Lucy marred her card of 79 (five better than her first round) with a double bogey 6 at the 13th. Her only birdie came at the first.
Lorie Warren (Belmont University) leads the individual totals with 78 and 69 for three-over-par 147.
East Tennessee Stated (597) lead the team event comfortably from Campbell University (625) and Belmont University (626).
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
Par 144 (2 x 72), 6175yd
147 Lorie Warren (Belmont Univ) 78 69.
149 Natalia Giraldo (East Tennessee State) 76 73, Laura Jansone (East Tennessee State) 67 82.
150 Maria Ringdahl (East Tennessee State) 77 73, Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 78 74 .
Other scores:
163 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 84 79 (jt 23rd)

TITLE-HOLDER LESLEY EIGHTH OF 16
AYRSHIRE MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS

Defending champion Lesley Hendry (Routenburn) had an off day but still qualified for the match-play stages of the Ayrshire women's county golf championship at West Kilbride Golf Club today.
Lesley returned an 85 to be eighth of the 16 qualifiers behind top seed Morag Macpherson (Troon Ladies) who finished three clear of Jennifer Linklater (Largs) and Greta Smith (Ardeer) with a 78.

QUALIFIERS
78 Morag Macpherson (Troon Ladies).
81 Jennifer Linklater (Largs), Greta Smith (Ardeer).
82 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies).
84 Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place), Roz Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas), Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies).
85 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn).
86 Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas).
87 Linda Parry (Irvine).
88 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie).
89 Sheila Adams (Loudoun).
90 Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie).
92 Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle).
96 Eleanor Taylor (Troon Ladies).
100 Jane Ashdown (Largs)
Match-play draw:
9.0 Macpherson v Ashdown, Malcolm v Hendry, Allan v Adams, Williamson v McQueen.
9.32 Smith v Watt, Glennie v Purdom, Finnie v Parry, Taylor v Linklater

EWGA Press Release

Geraldine Bray leads English
senior women's championship

Kent’s Geraldine Bray holds a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Senior Women’s English Close Championship at Stoneham, Hampshire.
The 2006 senior stroke-play champion from Littlestone played the back nine in level par for an opening score of three-over 75.
“I was very pleased with that. It’s a tricky course and you have to play percentage shots,” said Geraldine, who drove the ball well and hit most fairways.
Her score puts her one clear of former British champion Janet Collingham, from Nottinghamshire, who is making her seniors’ debut in this event. “I’m the new kid on the block!” she joked.
Janet has played little competitive golf over recent years and is enjoying her return to the scene. She was satisfied with her opening score, compiled with a steady 14 pars and four bogeys.
“It’s early in the season and I didn’t really know what to expect but I putted well and it was fine.”
A shot further back, in joint third place, is Hampshire’s Chris Quinn, who has twice won this title and has also been British seniors’ champion. She played the back nine in one-over 37 – despite a three-putt double bogey on the 18th.
Two more Hampshire players are in a group sharing fifth place: Chris Stirling and Sue Pickles both scored 79. Meanwhile defending champion, Sue Ellis of Dorset, had a disappointing finish to her round, dropping five shots in the last four holes to finish on 80.
The championship’s Division B is led by Gillian Stump (Sherwood Forest) who scored 81 and is a stroke ahead of Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) and Karen Lobb (Northants County)
After the second stroke-play round the top 16 players in both divisions will qualify for the matchplay stages of the championship.
Leading scores:
75 Geraldine Bray (Littlestone).
76 Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest).
77 Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay), Chris Quinn (Hockley).
79 Chris Stirling (Meon Valley), Susan Pickles (Lee on the Solent), Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court), Kate Charles (Burnham & Berrow), Felicity Coulter (Banstead Downs).
80 Barbara Laird (Sandiway), Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield), Sue Ellis (Ferndown).
81 Carolyn Kirk (Ganton), Christine Watson (Beaconsfield), Gabi Heuchel (East Berkshire).
82 Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Jo Ashmore (Barnham Broom), Paula Parker (Abbotsley), Sue Westall (Copt Heath), Jeannie O’Keeffe (Hankley Common), Pat West (Spalding), Luci Foster (Bramhall), Elspeth Cooper (Calcot Park)
Full online scoring: www.englishwomensgolf.org

BRIGGS SISTERS QUALIFY FIRST AND THIRD FOR
RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY MATCH-PLAY

Defending champion Megan Briggs made light of the wet conditions underfoot to return a 75, one over the CSS, and lead the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Bonnyton Golf Club today.
Megan's younger sister Eilidh qualified in third place with a 77.
There were 48 entries.
The Peggy Clark Trophy for the best net score was won by Sara McCorkell (Williamwood) with a 72 off four of a handicap.

Qualifiers (SSS 71, CSS 74)
75 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
76 Sara McCorkell (Williamwood).
77 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm).
79 Carol Whyte (Windyhill), Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
80 Liz Stewart (Greenburn).
81 Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze).
83 Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle).
84 Pearl Orr (Cochrane Castle).
85 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Beth Paterson (Eastwood).
86 Jeanette McCartney (Erskine).
87 Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle), Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle).
89 Julie Nicol (Elderslie), Linda McDougal (Greenock).
Match-play draw
9.15 M Briggs v McDougal, Orr v McGionlay, 9.30 Jackson v McCartney, Fell v Whyte. 9.45 E Briggs v Cowan, Paterson v Stewart. 10.0 Carlton v McKechin, Nicol v McCorkell.
Quarter-finals at 1.30, 1.37, 1.45 and 1.52.

Handicap Prizewinners:
1st: Sara McCorkell (Williamwood) 76 (4) 72 (Peggy Clark Trophy Winner).
2nd: Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 (4) 73.
3rd Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 (1) 74 (bih).
See all at www.rlcga.co.uk

D&A county championship match-play

KYLIE AND JILL MAKE PROGRESS TO LAST
FOUR AT DOUGLAS PARK

Scottish international Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), the leading qualifier for the match-play stages, is on target for a meeting in the final with the teenage defending champion Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) at the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county golf championship at Douglas Park Golf Club on Wednesday afternoon.
Kylie and Jill both registered two comfortable wins to progress through to tomorrow morning's semi-finals which will feature Kylie against home course player Helen Faulds and Jill against Dullatur clubmate Zoe Differ.
Today's results:
First round
K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt M Rennie (Douglas Park) 9 and 8.
L McGeachy (Carradale) bt K Scott (Milngavie) 1 hole.
H Faulds (Douglas Park) bt S Cadden (Cardross) 4 and 3.
A Telfer (Milngavie) bt L Meldrum (Dullatur) 4 and .
J Meldrum (Dullatur) bt N Ferguson (Clober) 6 and 5.
I Harvey (St Rule) bt L McColl (Bearsden) 2 and 1.
Z Differ (Dullatur) bt L Moffat (Helensburgh) 2 holes.
B Robertson (Helensburgh) bt L Campbell (Cardross) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals
Walker bt McGeachy 6 and 5.
Faulds bt Telfer 1 hole.
J Meldrum bt Harvey 6 and 5.
Differ bt Robertson at 20th.
Bronze Division championship
Semi-finals - A Byiers (Milngavie) (25) bt J Tennent (Clober) (21) 6 and 5, J Sinclair (Hilton Park) (22) bt M McCartney (22) 3 and 1.

LEVEN LADY HAS LOWEST NET SCORE
IN LGU MEDAL EAST DIV FINAL

Leven player Dianne Watson, playing off six of a handicap, had the lowest net score of 70 in today's Ladies Golf Union Medal East Division final at Balbirnie Park Golf Club.
Dianne finished topped the Silver Division returns by a shot from Susan Jackson (Elmwood) and Isobel Davidson (Niddry Castle).
Susan, playing off three, earned the runner-up prize with a better inward half than Isobel who has 16 of a handicap.
Susan Jackson, however, is unavailable for the LGU Medal Grand Final at Crieff Golf club on Sunday, June 8 and fourth-placed Nancy MacFarlane (Bonnybridge) will take her p0lace.
The qualifiers for Crieff were:
Silver Division - Dianne Watson (Leven), Isobel Davidson (Niddry Castle), Nancy MacFarlane (Bonnybridge).
Bronze Division - Lorna White (Royal Musselburgh), Irene Stuart (Aberdour), Sheila Blackwood (Glen).
Leading returns:
CSS 73.
Silver Division - Dianne Watson (Leven) (6) 70; Susan Jackson (Elmwood) (3) (better inward half), Isobel Davidson (Niddry Castle) (16) 71; Nancy MacFarlane (Bonnybridge) (18) 72 (bih).
Bronze Division - Lorna White (Royal Musselburgh) (27) 72; Irene Stuart (Aberdour) (21) (better last 3 holes), Sheila Blackwood (Glen) (21) (bih), Gillian Pritchard (Ravelston) (21) 73.
ends

EGWA Press Release

Durham’s Anna Scott wins

US Golfer of Week awards

Durham’s Anna Scott has just won her second Golfer of the Week award for her performances on the US college circuit.
Anna, 22, pictured right, is a student at Georgia State University and on her latest two outings for the golf team she has finished fifth – and on both occasions won the weekly accolade from her conference, the Colonial Athletic Association.
In her latest tournament Anna finished five shots clear of her team-mates after two sub-par rounds of 71 and a three-over 75. She had nine birdies during the event and her achievement was beaten only by two other players. She helped her team into second place.
Anna, from Consett & District Golf Club, has also been involved in a recent off-course drama. A few weeks ago, Atlanta, where she lives, was hit by tornadoes and her flat was so badly damaged she had to move to new accommodation.

But the weather was not allowed to interfere with golf. Shortly afterwards Georgia State hosted their home tournament and won the team competition, with Anna claiming fourth place in the individual event. She has been in the top 20 in eight of Georgia State's nine events this season.
Anna was a semi-finalist in the 2007 English championship and took fifth place in both the English stroke-play championship and the world university championship

Laura Cutler (78) lying second
in Ohio Valley championship

Laura Cutler (Jacksonville State University) from Nottingham was in joint second place after a high-scoring first round in the Women's Ohio Valley Conference Championship at The Shoals Golf Club, Florence in Alabama.
Over the 6154yd, par-72 course, a five-over-par 77 by Chelsea Harris (Austin Peay State University) was good enouogh to lead by one shot from Laura Culter (pictured right, all rights reserved) and two Murray State University students, Alexandra Hintregger and Megan McKinney.
Portia Abbot (Jacksonville State) from Wiltshire had an 80 to be in joint eighth place.
Andrew Downer (Murray State) from Surrey was in joint 23rd place in a field of 39 on the 85 mark.

No birdies but Sinead is
in joint fifth place

Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State University) from Galway is in joint fifth place after a 78 in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Women's College Championship at The Ridges Golf & Country Club, Jonesborough, Tennessee.
Team-mate Laura Jansone was the only player to mnaster the par-72 course which is "only" 6,175yd long. She shot a five-under-par 67 to open up a nine-stroke lead.
Sinead did not have a single birdie on her card which included a double bogey 6 at the 11th and other shots dropped at the first, fifth, ninth and 13th.
Twice former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould, also a student at East Tennessee State, is lying joint 23rd in a field of 40 players after a nightmare round of 85. She ran up a 9 at the par-4 15th and a double bogey 7 at the long 10th. She did have birdies at the short seventh and long 15th in halves of 38 and 46.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72. 6175yd
67 Laura Jansone (East Tennessee State).
76 Natalis Giraldo (East Tennessee State), Mary Mattson (Campbell University).
77 Maria Ringdahl (East Tennessee State).
78 Maite Ortiz de Pinedo (Campbell University), Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State), Anna Rogers (Mercer University), Lorie Warren (Belmont University).
Other score:
84 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State (jt 23rd).
TEAM LEADERBOARD
298 East Tennessee State.
315 Campbell University.
320 Belmont University.

Aussie Na leaves England players
struggling in her wake

England's representatives in the Australian women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Glenelg Golf Club, Adelaide were left struggling in the wake of a brilliant third-round 69 by Australia's Stephanie Na over her home course in a rising wind.
Stephanie, whose earlier rounds were 69 and 70 over a par-74 course, surged nine shots clear of the field with one round to go at 14-under-par 208.
Compatriot Rebecca Flood comes next with a third-round 71 for 217.
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) is the leading English player on 221, 13 shots off the pace. Liz had a 76 for 221 to be in fourth place.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) had a 79 for 224 and fifth place.
Back in a share of 15th place on 228 is Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) after a 77 for 228.
Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) are sharing 21st place on 230.
There are 83 players in the field.
The leading 32 after the fourth round of the stroke-play championship will automatically go forward to the Australian women's open amateur match-play championship.

LEADERBOARD
Par 222 (3 x 74)
Players from Australia unless stated
208 Stephanie Na 69 70 69.
217 Rebecca Flood 72 74 71.
219 Kristie Smith 72 72 75.
221 Liz Bennett (Eng) 74 71 76.
224 Naomi Edwards (Eng) 73 72 79.
Other scores:
228 Florentyna Parker (Eng) 73 78 77 (jt 15th).
230 Kerry Smith (Eng) 78 77 75, Rachel Jennings (Eng) 79 74 77 (jt 21st).

Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county championship

Kylie top seed by 10 shots
at Douglas Park

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) headed the qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women's county golf championship by 10 shots at Douglas Park Golf Club today.
Kylie shot a 71 - one under the standard scratch - and will play home-course Maureen Rennie, the 16th qualifier with 101, in the first round of the match-play on Tuesday morning.
Teenager Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), the defending champion, qualified in third place with an 82.

QUALIFIERS
71 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).
81 Lorraine Campbell (Cardross).
82 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
83 Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
84 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
85 Lynn McColl (Bearsden).
86 Zoe Differ (Dullatur).
86 Kirsten Scott (Milngavie).
87 Laura McGeachy (Carradale).
87 Linda Moffat (Helensburgh).
88 Isobel Harvey (St Rule), Suzanne Cadden (Cardross).
89 Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur).
92 Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie).
94 Babs Robertson (Helensburgh).
101 Maureen Rennie (Douglas Park).
Tuesday morning ties:
First round - 9.0 Walker v Rennie, McGeachy v Scott, Faulds v Cadden, L Meldrum v Telfer, J Meldrum v Ferguson. 9.35 Harvey v McCall, Z Differ v Moffat, Robertson v Campbell.
Bronze championship
Semi-finals - 9.56 Anne Byiers (Milngavie) (25) 76 v Jay Tennant (Clober) (21) 84. 10.03 Moira McCarthy (Milngavie) (22) 82 v Jackie Sinclair (Hilton Park) (22) 81.

Borrowman is R&A Foundation Bursars' men's champion

Laura Murray pips Pamela
Pretswell in countback

Alford's Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University) and Scott Borrowman (Stirling University) won the women's and men's titles respectively in the annual R&A Foundation Bursars' tournament over the Eden and Old Course, St Andrews.
In horse-racing terms, there was a photo-finish in both sections, in fact even a dead-heat.
Laura Murray (Cal Carson Golf Agency image on right, all rights reserved) and Pamela Pretswell (Glasgow University) both totalled 219 for the 54 holes.
Laura had three rounds of 73 while Pamela scored 75, 69 and 75.
Miss Murray's better last round was the tie-breaker.
It was even tighter in the men's section in which Scottish youths champion Borrowman from Dollar tied with Federico Colombo (Milan University) on 211.
Borrowman's scores were 71, 70 and 70; Colombo's 70, 71 and 70. The tie-breaker in Borrowman's favour was the inward half on the final round over the Old Course.

The in-depth report from the R&A website reads:

The men’s event could easily have been closer still. James Gill, a New Zealander who studies at St Andrews University, took a four-shot lead into Tuesday’s final round over the Old Course, after superb rounds of 68 and 69 on the Eden Course the previous day.
Gill struggled on the final day, however, and when his 12ft birdie putt on the final green stopped two feet short he was destined to finish one shot off the winning score, with a three-over-par final round of 75.
Federico Colombo, an Italian international player and student at the University of Milan, certainly had the most dramatic week of the top contenders.
Travel problems meant that he didn’t arrive until two o’clock in the morning on the first day of the event, with his clubs still stuck somewhere between Milan and Gatwick. Yet his hired clubs and borrowed shoes nearly did the trick: he got to four under par for his third round before dropping back with a four-putt on the 13th which robbed him of his momentum.
In the end, it was Scott Borrowman who prevailed after a superb 70 in which he scored no worse than a 4 on any of the first 16 holes, although he thought his chance might have slipped away when he bogeyed the 17th and watched his approach on the last hole fall short into the Valley of Sin.
“I knew the scores and knew that I had a putt to win on the last,” he said, referring to the six-foot par putt he was left after his chip, “but when it missed, I had no idea who would win.”
The ladies’ competition also ended in a tie, with Laura Murray’s 73 bringing her level with first-day leader Pamela Pretswell. Murray began her round with seven consecutive 4s to be three under par, and kept things steady throughout, though she endured a nervous moment on the final hole when her drive finished within inches of the out-of-bounds fence on the right-hand side.
Taking advantage of her narrow escape, she fired a six-iron to the heart of the green and set up a finishing birdie, leaving Pretswell to rue her double-bogey 6 on the short par-4 10th.
There was consolation for Pretswell, however, when she received news that as the second place finisher she would take her place alongside Murray representing The R&A Bursars in a team competition to be played in Argentina later this year.
Murray also secures a sponsor’s invitation to play in the Ladies English Open, to be held at The Oxfordshire in July.
Alongside his trophy, Scott Borrowman also won himself a place in the European team for the Palmer Cup, the annual US vs Europe students event, which this year will be played at Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Course in Ayrshire.
This year’s R&A Foundation Bursars’ Tournament brought together 60 R&A-supported university students from across Europe.
The R&A Training Panel contributes over £300,000 per year to university golf, supporting more than 90 individual student golfers and helping fund golf programmes at 12 universities throughout Britain and Ireland.
FINAL TOTALS
WOMEN
219 Laura Murray (Robert Gordon) 73 73 73, Pamela Pretswell (Glasgow) 75 69 75 (Murray won on better last round).
225 Joanne Hodge (Bucks Chilterns) 76 72 77.
232 Amy Storey (Northumbria) 78 76 78.
233 Megan Briggs (Strathclyde) 74 82 77.
234 Allessandra Averna (Italy) 81 74 79.
235 Lucy Williams (Birmingham) 79 72 84.
241 Anna Roscio (Turin) 83 82 76.
242 Christina Petersson (Northumbria) 78 79 85.
MEN
211 Scott Borrowman (Stirling) 71 70 70, Federico Colombo (Milan) 70 71 70 (Borrowman won on countback of final round cards).
212 James Gill (St Andrews) 68 69 75.
214 Paul Betty (Stirling) 73 69 72, Adam Best (Teesside) 70 73 71, James White (Stirling) 72 73 69.
216 Andrew Wallace (Stirling) 73 70 73, G Kelly (UCD) 73 72 71.
219 Alan Murdoch (Stirling) 72 70 77, Andrew Shakespear (Bournemouth) 72 78 69, Ross Oliver (Ulster) 768 74 67.
220 Samuel Riddell (Birmingham) 74 70 76, Euan Brown (Strathclyde) 73 75 72.
221 Andrea Romano (Bologna) 79 68 74, Euan Polson (Stirling) 77 71 73, Brendan Walton (NUI Maynooth) 74 75 72, Gavin Dear (Stirling) 75 75 71, Edward Parker (Birmingham) 77 74 70.
222 David Booth (Stirling) 74 71 77, Cameron Gray (St Andrews) 72 74 76, Alexander Rule (Loughborough) 71 76 75, Gordon Yates Stirling) 74 74 74, Craig Wilkinson (Northumbria) 78 71 73.
224 Pierre Relecom (Burssels) 73 73 77, Sam Foster (Exeter) 75 75 74, Mark Davies (Exeter) 77 74 73, Carwyn Hammond (Northumbria) 78 75 71.
225 Jon White (Plymouth) 75 73 77, Paul Reavey (Ulster) 75 75 75.
226 Alex Morton (Birminghan) 77 72 77, John Duff (Aberdeen) 76 74 76.
227 Kevin Garwood (Bournemouth) 73 74 80, Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews) 76 76 75.
229 Byron Dudding (Bournemouth) 78 72 79, Bobby Rushford (Stirling) 79 71 79.
230 Richard Williams (UWIC) 78 72 80, Andrew Smedley (Birmingham) 77 74 79, Philippe Okan (St Andrews) 78 74 78.
231 Sean Heads (Northumbria) 78 75 78.
232 John Greene (UCD) 77 75 80, Graham Turner (Stirling) 74 78 79, Grant Little (St Andrews) 80 80 72, Jonathan Watt (Stirling) 76 80 76.
233 Karl Shepherd (Stirling) 77 78 78, Malcolm Pennycott (Heriot-Watt) 83 79 71.

Ochoa outclasses LPGA
field in Mexico

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa continues to dominate the LPGA Tour almost as much as Tiger Woods does on the US PGA circuit.
She fired a final round four-under 69 for an 11-stroke victory over South Korea's Song-Hee Kim at the LPGA's $1.3million Corona Championship.
Ochoa, who posted three consecutive seven-under-par 66 efforts to start the tournament, entered the final round with a seven-shot cushion before finishing at 25-under 267 at the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club, Morelia in her native Mexico.
A generous par of 73 for a 65,39yd was always going to produce very low scores but 25 under par - which included a triple bogey - was still a different class performance by Ochoa.
She easily claimed the title - her fourth in five tries this year - and the $195 000 in prize money by besting second-place Kim. With this 21st career victory, Ochoa qualified for the US LPGA's Hall of Fame at age 26. But it will be another 10 years before she is old enough officially to be a Hall of Famer.
"It was an amazing week," Ochoa said. "I can say I'm in the Hall of Fame now. It was really special to be here in my home country.
The 2006 champion and winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship major the previous weekend, Ochoa finished her final round with seven birdies and her only mishap in the entire tournament was a triple-bogey at the 11th.
The triple-bogey ended any chance for Ochoa to tie or break the LPGA 72-hole scoring record of 27-under 261 set by Annika Sorenstam in 2001.
Frenchwoman Karine Icher and Inbee Park finished tied for third.
Defending champion Silvia Cavalleri carded a 69 on Sunday to finish tied for 29th place.
"I was trying to break the (LPGA 72-hole scoring) record by going more than 7-under today," Ochoa said. "After (the triple bogey) things went down, but I did want to finish like a champ and when I birdied four of the last few holes, that really made my day."
What also made Ochoa's day was she did it on her home soil.
"Things happen for a reason," Ochoa said. "It's something I'll be able to say for the rest of my life. Everybody saw me do it (in Mexico). I think that's for sure the best memory."
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 292 (4 x 73). 6539yd.
267 L Ochoa 66 66 66 69.

278 Song-Hee Kim 66 69 71 72.

279 K Icher 75 66 66 72, Inbee Park 69 64 72 74.

280 K Koch 69 73 72 66, Na Yeon Choi 69 68 71 72.

Other scores:

289 Johanna Head (Eng) 73 71 75 70 (jt 13th) ($20,927).

295 Janice Moodie (Sco) 71 76 76 72 (jt 35th) ($8,094).

306 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 72 78 78 78 (jt 62nd) ($3,126).

EWGA Press Release

Naomi Edwards, Liz Bennett

challenge Down Under

Internationals Naomi Edwards and Liz Bennett (Cal Carson Golf Agency image left, all rights reserved) are leading the English challenge in the Australian women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Glenelg Golf Club, Adelaide. Naomi (Ganton) and Liz (Brokenhurst Manor) are well positioned at the halfway stage on three-under par. They are six shots behind the leader, Australia’s Steph Na, while another Australian, Kristie Smith, is lying second on four-under.

Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) shares 10th place, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) is lying 21st and Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) is 29th.

The top 32 players in the 72-hole tournament qualify for the Australian women’s open amateur match-play championship, which follows this event and takes place at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. Naomi, the English champion, has scored below par in both rounds, despite a shaky start to the tournament. She played the first nine holes in three-over par - but came back in an impressive four-under.

In the second round she had another mixture of bogeys and birdies for a two-under 72.

Liz, who will play for GB& I in the forthcoming Curtis Cup match, opened with a level par 74 and followed up with a bogey-free second round. She compiled her three-under 71 score with 15 pars and birdies at the second, sixth and eighth holes.

"It was a very steady, well thought out round of golf," said England captain Julie Otto. Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings - the French junior lady champion and a Curtis Cup reserve - pushed herself up the leaderboard with a level par second round, improving on her opening score by five shots.

The five England internationals - all members of the English Women’s Golf Association Performance Squad - are fresh from an excellent performance against the Australians in an Ashes match.

The trip has been designed to give the players experience of courses which will be used in the World amateur team championships for the Espirito Santo Trophy at Adelaide in October.

England scores (Par 74):

145 Naomi Edwards 73 72, Liz Bennett 74 71.

151 Florentyna Parker 73 78.

153 Rachel Jennings 79 74.

155 Kerry Smith 78 77.

Full details: www.golfaustralia.org.au

KELSEY MISSES NORTHERN COUNTIES
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN

Nairn Dunbar's top teenage golf prospect Kelsey MacDonald is to miss the Northern Counties women's amateur championship for the second year in a row.
Last year, the championship clashed with the Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play championship so Kelsey was in that field at Troon.
Next month's Northern Counties tournament, to be held at Brora Golf Club for the first time from May 3 to 5, clashes with the Ladies Scottish Open professional championship at The Carrick at Cameron House.
Kelsey has accepted an invitation from the Ladies European Tour to play in it.
The number of entries for the Northern Counties women's championship is disappointingly low and, with the deadline set for Friday, Brora Golf Club women's captain Angela MacBeath will accept entries by telephone (01408 621 275).

Martin Harris, general manager of The Oxfordshire Golf Club, with Samantha Round.

County title success

earns Sam Round place in Ladies' English Open

The Oxfordshire Golf Club has made the dreams of one young golfer come true – by securing her a place alongside Europe's leading professionals at the Ladies English Open.
Sam Round, 22, was left stunned when, after winning the Oxfordshire County Ladies Championship, she was told the victory had claimed her a place in the prestigious Ladies English Open at the Oxfordshire in July.
Officials at The Oxfordshire had decided that, as host club for both events, they would sponsor the winner of the county championship and allow her to play in the Ladies European Tour event. But Sam, from Banbury, was unaware of the incredible prize on offer and was left speechless when it was announced at the prize-giving ceremony by The Oxfordshire’s general manager Martin Harris.
Sam, a member at Tadmarton Heath Golf Club, said: “This has all come as a huge surprise because I had no idea that the winner of the county championship would be getting a place in the Ladies English Open.
“The Oxfordshire are hosting the event and therefore they are able to sponsor a player to take part. I was delighted to have won the county championship but it was only at the presentation that I found out that it meant I would be playing in the Ladies English Open.
“I was absolutely speechless and it’s not often that happens. I have always dreamed of playing in a professional event and to realise that dream is going to be a special day.”
Sam, who plays off a handicap of one, will now be teeing it up alongside some of the top names in ladies golf. The tournament, from July 4-6 at The Oxfordshire, has in the past seen a number of Solheim Cup players compete including: England’s Laura Davies; last year’s champion Becky Brewerton; Sweden’s Maria Hjorth; and 13-times Ladies European Tour winner Trish Johnson.
Sam, a marketing management student at the University of Gloucestershire, won the county championship after two rounds of medal qualifying to qualify for the last 16 match-play format at The Oxfordshire.
She is now already turning her attention to the LEO in July and is planning to go into a full-time practice regime after her university exams on May 13.
She said: “It will be fantastic to experience the atmosphere of a professional event and to see how the top professionals approach the game.
“I have played in front of crowds before at the county championship but the LEO will be like nothing I have ever experienced.
“I’ve no doubt I will be nervous but that is normal. To make the cut would be a dream but putting together a good round of golf and enjoying the experience will be the main thing.
“After I finish university in May I had planned on taking a year out to play golf and I couldn’t have wished for a better start than playing in the LEO. I’m amazed at the opportunity I’ve been given and I plan on making the most of it.”
The Oxfordshire’s Martin Harris said: “We are delighted to have the Ladies English Open here at The Oxfordshire, and it is even better that we are able to make the dreams of a talented local amateur golfer come true at the same time.
“Our congratulations go to Sam for her tremendous performance in the county championships and we are sure she will do herself proud in the LEO.
“It will be a fantastic experience for her to play with some of the best European lady golfers around and she fully deserves the chance.
“We are very much looking forward to putting on a great event and are expecting the weekend to be very exciting and a great day out for all the family.”
For more information on the Ladies English Open or The Oxfordshire go to http://www.theoxfordshiregolfclub.com/.

In-form Breanne wins

Tenby Open by six

What a pity the Curtis Cup is not being played this month instead of next!

Welsh star Breanne Loucks, a member of the eight-strong GB&I team to play the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, has followed up her recent triumph in the South African women's open amateur championship by winning the Tenby Ladies Open by six shots.

The 20-year-old from Wrexham had two rounds of 72 for a total of 144, against the CSS of 148 (2 x 74). She also won the Under-21 Junior Lady prize.

It is understood that Breanne, Cal Carson image above, all rights reserved, will be turning professional before the end of the season. She is certainly making her last year in amateur golf a memorable one. Breanne won all three games in which she played at the 2006 Curtis Cup match at Bandone Dunes, Oregon.

Runner-up was compatriot Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgna) with 73 and 77 for 150.

TENBY LADIES OPEN SCOREBOARD

144 Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) 72 72.

150 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 73 77.

152 Amy Bouldon (Maesdu) 74 78.

153 Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 77 76.

154 S James (Bristol & Clifton) 77 77.

155 H Jenkins (Cradoc) 78 77.

156 N Cobey (Rhondda) 76 80, T Davies (Holyhead) 75 81.

160 B Davies (Mold) 80 80, S Birks (Wolstanton) 80 80.

162 V Thomas (Carmarthen) 79 83.

164 R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 81 83, H Grant (Enmore Park) 80 84.

165 B Harries (Haverfordwest) 80 85.

166 L Barton (Coventry) 81 85.

169 G Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 86 83.

170 H Key (South Herts) 82 88.

171 S Morgan (Mountain Ash) 88 83.

174 R Lewis (Llanishen) 87 87.

175 L Watkins (Bicester) 92 83, K O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 89 86, J Ace (Pennard) 85 90.

176 C Jenkins (Bryn Meadows) 95 81, K Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 88 88.

177 L King (Ruthin-Pwllglas) 86 91.

179 E Guerreiro (Tenby) 90 89.

180 K Westphal (Creigiau) 91 89.

182 R Evans (Langland Bay) 93 89.

183 O Simpson (St Pierre) 88 95.

184 D Edwards (Tenby) 94 90.

186 S Anderson (Ashburnham) 93 93, S Rees (Milford Haven) 91 95.

187 H Morgan (Tenby) 90 97.

190 G Thomas (Tenby) 100 90.

195 D Cobley (Newport) 100 95.

Other prizewinners:

Best gross am: Tara Davies (Holyhead) 75. Best gross pm: Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) 77 (on last six holes).

Best net am: Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 73. Best net pm: Cerys Jenkins (Bryn Meadows) 71.

SUSAN JACKSON AND ELAINE MOFFAT
TOP SEEDS FOR FIFE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ladybank’s Susan Jackson and former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) tied for the top spot in the qualifying round of the Fife women’s county golf championship over the Jubilee Course, St Andrews today.
Both returned two-under-par 72s – against a CSS of 77 – with Susan being declared the No 1 seed and Elaine the No 2 in the match-play stages over the same course on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20.
Susan, who has three of a handicap, won the Coronation Medal for the best net score of 69.

QUALIFIERS
Par 74, SS 75, CSS 77.
72 S Jackson (Ladybank), E Moffat (St Regulus).
74 L Kenney (Pitreavie).
75 J Carthew (Ladybank).
77 K Milne (Cochrane Castle).
82 A McDonald (St Regulus), L Tait (St Regulus).
83 L Fury (Thornton), F Hastie (St Regulus).
85 K Sharp (Kirkcaldy).
87 A Wilson (Ladybank), D Watson (Lundin Ladies).
88 A Wilton (Ladybank), L Newton (Thornton), J Whiteford (Leven).
90 E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry), D Ford (Scotscraig).
Other scores:
91 L Rolland (Dunfermline).
92 L Dyball (Pitreavie).
Championship draw
Saturday, April 19 – 9.36 S Jackson v D Ford, F Hastie v L Fury, K Milne v D Watson, A Wilton v J Carthew. 10.0 L Kenney v L Newton, A Wilson v A McDonald, L Tait v K Sharp. 10.32 E Wilson v E Moffat. Quarter-finals at 2.32, 2.40, 2.48, 2.56.
Sunday, April 20 – Semi-finals at 9.36 and 9.44. Final at 2.32.

East of Scotland Girls Spring Meeting

Prizewinners at the East of Scotland Girls Spring Meeting today over Gullane No 3
L to R: Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Isobel Hinds (Liberton), Nicki Taylor (Thornton), Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie) and Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw).
Picture by Gillian Kirkwood.

The East of Scotland Girls' Spring Meeting which was played at Gullane No3. East Lothian was won by 13 year old Nicky Taylor from Thornton Golf Club with a 77 less handicap of 14 for a Net 63. Nicky, a member of the SLGA Prospects Squad this winter achieved the best scratch score but took the Overall Best Net prize. Gabrielle Macdonald, Craigielaw came in with the next best scratch and took the Scratch prize with a gross 78.
The calm, bright but chilly day managed to produce some very good net scores.
Winner of the Under 18 Net prize was Helen Goodwin, Glenbervie with a net 69, winner of the Under 16 Net prize was Isabel Hinds, Liberton with a net 66 and the winner of the Under 14 Net Prize was Hannah Scott, Broomieknowe with a net 67.

SSS 69 CSS 68
77 Nicky Taylor (Thornton)
78 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw)
81 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield)
82 Stacy Cameron (Gullane), Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe)
83 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall)
86 Isabel Hinds (Liberton)
88 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe)
92 Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield)
95 Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst)
97 Shannen McGuire (Canmore)
101 Catriona Williams (Gullane), Nicole Underhill (Falkirk Tryst)

Thanks to Mandy Easton, Secretary of East of Scotland Girls G.A. for this report.
If you are under 18, have a handicap and are a member of a county in the East of Scotland Division, then you should join East Girls. Check out their website www.eastgirls.org

As always, click on the image to get a bigger picture in a new window.

Prizewinners (left to right, kneeling) Sarah Beattie, Louise McGillivray, Kristina Vannet, Vicki Powell and Kirsten MacCallum with fellow competitors at Silverburn today (Cal Carson Golf Agency image, all rights reserved). You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

DEESIDE’S VICKI SCORES FIRST WIN ON
ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS’ CIRCUIT

Deeside youngster Vicki Powell scored her first win on the Aberdeenshire girls’ golf circuit in today's first competition of the new season.
Vicki scored 44 Stableford points off a handicap of 23 over the Silverburn course, Balgownie.
She pipped Kristina Vannet, daughter of the Peterculter Golf Club professional Dean Vannet by a single point.Kristina did not take up golf until six months ago and already has a handicap of 28.aber
Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) was third with 40pt off 21.
Stableford points totals
44 Vicki Powell (Deeside) (23).
43 Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) (28).
40 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (21).
37 Sarah Beattie (Portlethen) (13).
36 Louise McGillivray (Banchory) (12).
35 Caitlin Geddes (Northern) (18), Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) (12), Nikita Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (11), Rachel Polson (Peterculter) (12).
33 Megan Clyne (Deeside) (12), Samantha Leslie (Murcar Links) (5).
32 Eleanor Franks (Ballater) (18).
31 Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon) (36).
28 Sophie Alexander (Deeside) (10).
25 Nicole Donald (Banchory) (36), Kirstin Seam (Torphins) (16).
24 Emma Read (Ballater) (20).