Sweden win European Girls at Murcar, Scotland beat Iceland for 17th place

The Swedish team with the European Girls Trophy
Back Row: Amanda Strang, Louise Larsson, Captain Louise Permelin
Front Kneeling: Josephine Janson, Johanna Tillstrom

Sweden win Euro girls title for third year in a row

Sweden took the European girls' team championship for the third year in a row on a very stormy day at Murcar Links. With a victory in the European boys and European women's events also held this week in Slovenia and Sweden respectively, Sweden have swept the boards across the Continent.

In Saturday's final, the Swedish girls won the foursomes against England this morning by 2-0 and then took the singles 2.5 -0.5 in the afternoon for a 4.5 - 0.5 victory.
Further down the order Scotland took both morning foursomes from Iceland and won won two of the singles with the third halved for a similar 4.5 - 0.5 scoreline.

Full results can be found on the official European Girls website

Runners-up England with their officials

Back Row L to R: Elizabeth Earnshaw (EWGA Chairman), Rachel Connor, Julie Brown (Team Captain), Alexandra Peters, Pat Smillie (Coach)
Kneeling: Hannah Barwood, Kelly Tidy (images by Gillian Kirkwood, all rights reserved).

Silver lining at Murcar Links for handicapped England

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

England had to settle for the silver medal after they lost 4½ -½ to Sweden in the final of the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links, near Aberdeen.
Team captain Julie Brown said afterwards: “The girls are crying their eyes out but I have told them that they have done so well. They have tried so hard, they’ve put 110 per cent into it and I am just so proud of them. They have been superb.”
England were handicapped when Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters woke up with a very stiff neck. It was the worst of a number of injuries affecting the team and ruled her out of the singles.
They suffered a further setback when Sweden won both morning foursomes and their gold medal hopes depended on winning every singles.
However, the Swedes quickly moved ahead in the singles and although all three English girls fought hard they could not avoid defeat.
English champion Hannah Barwood came back from five down to lose only on the last, while Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy was beaten on the 17th and her county colleague Rachel Connor settled for a half.
The final was played in extremely difficult conditions of 26mph winds and driving rain.
Results (England names first):

Foursomes

Hannah Barwood (Knowle) & Rachel Connor (Manchester) lost to Josephine Janson & Louise Larsson 5&4.

Alex Peters (Notts Ladies’) & Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) lost to Amanda Strang & Johanna Tillstrom 1 hole.
Singles

Hannah Barwood lost to Louise Larsson 1 hole.

Rachel Connor halved with Amanda Strang.

Kelly Tidy lost to Josephine Janson 2 and 1.

Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer

Vikki joint 11th with par round in
Futures Tour event

Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing was lying in joint 11th place after a par 72 in the opening round of the US Futures Tour's Cigna Classic at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, Bloomfield, Connecticutt (on Friday, USA time).
Fellow Scot Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayrshire had a 77 to be sharing 60th place in the field of well over 100.
On the same mark was Brenda McLarnon from Belfast.
South Korean M J Hur led with a course record 67, two shots inside the previous best.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 M J Hur (South Korea) 32-35.
68 Janell Howland (Idaho) 36-32, Vicky Hurst (Florida) 32-36.
69 Kristina Tucker (Sweden) 35-34.
71 Natalie Sheary (Connecticutt) (amateur) 34-37, Dana Je (Florida) 35-36, Brandi Jackson (South Carolina) 37-34, Mindy Kim (California) 36-35, Maru Martinez (Venezuela) 35-36.
Other scores:
72 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 34-38 (jt 11th).
77 Pamela Feggans (Patna, Ayrshire) 39-38, Brenda McLarnon (Belfast) 37-40.

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
JAMIE FARR OWENS CORNING CLASSIC
Highland Meadows Club, Sylvania, Ohio
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS (before end of play)
Par 142 (2 x 71)
125 P Creamer 65 66.
131 Eun-Hee Ji 65 66.
135 R Hetehrington 68 67, H J Choi 67 68.
136 A Sharp 69 67, YToung Kim 66 70, J Moodie 69 67, S Lewis 70 66.
Other scores:
138 K Stupples 70 68, C Matthew 68 70.
140 J Head 72 68.
141 K Webb 70 71.
Projected cut: scores of 142 or better
Other score:
147 L Davies 74 73.

Piovano (67) leads by two strokes
from Pettersen at Portmarnock

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
By BETHAN CUTLER
Italy’s Federica Piovano holds a two-stroke lead over world No 3 Suzann Pettersen after the opening day at the AIB Irish Open, supported by Fáilte Ireland.
A run of birdie, eagle, par, birdie from the 12th hole on the Bernhard Langer-designed Portmarnock Links in Dublin gave the 26-year-old from Rome an opening round of five-under-par 67, with Pettersen on 69.
Piovano, the 2005 Austrian Ladies Open champion, chipped in for eagle at the par-5 13th hole and held a three-stroke lead with one hole to play but a wayward drive led to a bogey at the tricky par-4 18th.
“I played the way I wanted to play, kept it calm and my concentration was good,” said Piovano, currently ranked 79th on the Ladies European Tour’s New Star Money List.
“I accepted my mistakes. It was pretty hard with the wind. I just managed to make birdies and recovered whenever I needed to.”
Piovano added that remodelling her swing with coach Denis Pugh had affected her recent form. She began the year with four consecutive missed cuts but improved to a season-best tie for 17th at the Tenerife Ladies Open a fortnight ago.
“I’ve changed my swing since last year and I’ve been struggling for a year and a half now. I started with a psychologist four or five months ago. It’s a very long project. When you change things in golf it takes a while. I’ve been working out a lot in the gym with a trainer, things I didn’t do as often before. I think it’s just a habit and will try to keep it going,” she said.
Pettersen posted an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys on a dry opening day. Like Piovano, she has been working on some swing changes with her new coach David Leadbetter.
She is hoping that adopting a slightly different posture will help her to make a move over the weekend.
“I would have taken a three or four under at the start of the day so I’m pretty happy,” said Pettersen. “You’ve just got to get in your own bubble for a couple of days and see where it gets you on Sunday.”
Wales’ Becky Brewerton is one of four players three shots off the lead on two-under-par 70, along with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, Finland’s Kaisa Ruuttila and Germany’s Martina Eberl. Brewerton said: “I played really well. It couldn’t have been much better apart from a couple of putts. I gave myself loads of chances and you’re not going to make everything. They were tough conditions so it was a really good start.
“I love this course. To me this is a proper golf course. It’s a tough test. Every hole is great. I don’t think I’ve played many better. You know what you are going to get with a links with the wind and stuff. Even if you were to play here on a calm day it’s a fabulous golf course and you’ve got to plot your way round. That’s what makes it my favourite one I’ve played this year so far. “We don’t get to play links golf very often so it’s a bit of a treat to be honest. Sometimes it’s nice not to be playing pitch it by the hole and stop it. There is a bit more to it. You can’t just say land it by the flag. It’s much more challenging that way.”
Martina Gillen, who completed a two-over-par round of 74, was Ireland’s leading player while recent double winner Rebecca Hudson from England shot 76.

Ladies' European Tour Scoreboard
AIB LADIES IRISH OPEN
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, Co Dublin
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
67 Federica Piovano (Ita).
69 Suzann Pettersen (Nor).
70 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin), Becky Brewerton (Wal), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Martina Eberl (Ger).
71 Ana Larraneta (Spa), Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal), Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Marianne Skarpnord (Nor).
72 Elisabeth Esterl (Ger), Anja Monke (Ger), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Lara Tadiotto (Bel), Lydia Hall (Wal), Emma Cabrera-Bello (Spa), Marina Arruti (Spa), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), Georgina Simpson (Eng), Carmen Alonso (Spa).
73 Olof Maria Jonsdottir (Ice), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Lynn Brooky (Nzl), Kiran Matharu (Eng), Lisa Hall (Eng), Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Julie Tvede (Den)
74 Jenna Wilson (Sco), Dana Lacey (Aus), Trish Johnson (Eng), Melissa Reid (Eng), Martina Gillen (Ire), Anna Tybring (Swe), Kirsty S Taylor (Eng), Leah Hart (Aus), Joanne Morley (Eng), Sofia Renell (Swe), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Iben Tinning (Den), Henrietta Zuel (Eng), Maria Boden (Swe), Marjet Van Der Graaff (Nl), Nora Angehrn (Swi)
75 Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Julie Forbes (Sco), Danielle Masters (Eng), Clare Queen (Sco), Caroline Afonso (Fra), Natalie Claire Booth (Eng), Natascha Fink (Aut), Karen Lunn (Aus), Sarah Nicholson (Nzl), Mianne Bagger (Den), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Nikki Garrett (Aus), Kathryn Imrie (Sco).
76 Lynn Kenny (Sco), Bettina Hauert (Ger), Rebecca Hudson (Eng), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Melodie Bourdy (Fra), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Sophie Walker (Eng), Rachel Bell (Eng), Anna Knutsson (Swe), Louise Stahle (Swe).
77 Stefanie Michl (Aut), Paula Marti (Spa), Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Marta Prieto (Spa), Laura Terebey (US), Joanne Mills (Aus), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin), Morgan Pressel (US), Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus).
78 Frances Bondad (Aus), Nina Reis (Swe), Rui Yokomine (Jpn), Samantha Head (Eng), Itziar Elguezabal (Spa), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Rebecca Coakley (Ire), Anna Rossi (Ita), Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Isabella Maconi (Ita), Julie Greciet (Fra), Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Claire Coughlan-Ryan (Ire), Nathalie David-Mila (Fra).
79 Hazel Kavanagh (Ire), Camille Fallay (Fra), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Mette Buus (Den), Nicole Gergely (Aut).
80 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Stefania Croce (Ita), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra), Diana Luna (Ita), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Lora Fairclough (Eng), Anne Norman Hansen (Den).
81 Cassandra Kirkland (Fra), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Kate Combes (Aus).
82 Aedin Murphy (Ire) (am), Florence Luscher (Swi), Jo Clingan (Eng), Katharina Schallenberg (Ger).
83 Marian Riordan (Ire), Asa Gottmo (Swe), Suzanne O'brien (Ire)
85 Elizabeth McKinnon (Nzl)
Retired: Fame More (Eng), Vittoria Valvassori (Ita)

Curler Eve Muirhead wins

Highland Women's Open

International curler Eve Muirhead showed her experitise in another sport, golf, when she made a successful defence of the Women's Highland Open championship over her home course at Pitlochry Golf Club today.
Eve, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, got into the field at the last minute as a late entry, having failed to beat the cut in the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth. She then proceeded to beat the long-standing Pitlochry course record in the qualifying rounds at the end of which she was the No 1 seed by some 14 shots.
In the end, Eve won the title by beating Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) by 3 and 2 in the final.
Today's results:

Championship - Semi-finals -
Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) bt Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 4 and 2.
Sal Shepherd (Craimillar Park) bt Hannah Harvey (St. Rule) 2 and 1
Final - Muirhead bt Shepherd 3 and 2.

Silver Handicap - Semi-finals:
Kathryn Green (Bridge of Allan) bt Alice Archbold (Longniddry) 2 and 1.
Kay Baillie (Craigmillar Park) bt Lande Pattinson (Pitlochry) 6 and 5.
Final - Green bt Baillie 4 and 2.

Bronze Handicap - Semi-finals:
Jean Lumsden (Dalmahoy) bt Fiona Seaton (Pitlochry) 6 and 5.
Maureen Donaldson (Dunfermline) bt Kathleen Booth (Bridge of Allan) 3 and 2.
Final - Donaldson bt Lumsden 2 holes

Lesley Atkins wins Scottish
Under-14 girls' title

Lesley Atkins from Minto Golf Club was the outstanding winner of the girls' title in the Scottish Under-14 open championship at the Glen Golf Club, North Berwick today.
Lesley's excellent scratch score of 74 gave her a six-shot victory from an English challenger from Bolton, Amelia Taylor (St Anne's Old Links) and won her the Caddies Cup and a £25 voucher.
Lesley had five of a handicap when she started the round but her score was only two over the CSS of 72 (par 73), so some revision is called for.
Three players shared third place on 83 in the gross returns - Nicola Taylor (Thornton), Sophie Myles (Ilkley) and Sophie Alexander from Deeside. Sophie Alexander was awarded the bronze medal because she had the better inward half.
Amelia Taylor won the best net prize with a 66 off 14.
Next came Nicola Taylor (Thornton) and Clara Young (North Berwick) with net 71s. Nicola lays of13 and Clara 22. Nicola's better inward half earned her the handicap second prize.

GIRLS' SCRATCH SCORES
Par 73. CSS 72.
74 Lesley Atkins (Minto).
80 Amelia Taylor (St Anne's Old Links).
83 Nicola Taylor (Thornton), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Sophie Alexander (Deeside).
84 Tara Mactaggart (Minto).
87 Keren Ward (Glen).
88 Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies).
90 Louis Murray (Troon St Meddans), India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
92 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Emily Aird (Strathmore), Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry).
93 Clara Young (North Berwick).
94 Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield), Rachel Howie (West Kilbride).
95 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Hollie Vizard (Pleasington).
96 Katie McGarva (Kilmarnock Barassie).
97 Heather Munro (Monifieth), Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride).
106 Juliet Gallin (Hamburg), Shannen McGuire (Canmore).
114 Hazel McGarvie (Troon Bentinck).
118 Megan Duff (Hilton Park).
120 Lucy Park (Murrayfield).
124 Morgan McKay (Ladybank).
155 Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).

+To find out the boys' scores in the Scottish Under-14 championships today, switch over to www.scottishgolfview.com

European girls team championship at Murcar Links

England v Swedes for title,
Scotland v Iceland for 17th

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
It's an England v Sweden championship final as Scotland play Iceland for the top spot in Flight 3 on Saturday, the last day of the European girls' team golf championship at Murcar Links.
Sweden have won this title for the past two years but top seeds England have been impressive throughout the first four days of the tournament. They won their semi-final by a convincing 4-1 margin over Netherlands, being held to 1-1 in the foursomes but breaking clear in the singles with wins by English women's champion Hannah Barwood, Alex Peters and Rachel Connor, daughter of a Scottish professional.
Sweden beat Switzerland 3 1/2-1 1/2 after taking the foursomes 2-0.
In the slightly complicated format for Flight 3, presumably because it contains only three teams, Scotland, after a day off on Thursday, played and beat Latvia 4-1 today and will play Iceland (who beat Latvia on Thursday) on Saturday for the Flight 3 "title" and with it an official ranking of 17th place of the 19 competing countries.
The Scots took a 2-0 lead over Latvia by winning both the morning foursomes.Carly Booth (Comrie) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) won by 2 and 1 against sister Krista and Mara Puisite.Sammy Vass (Tain) and Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) won by a similar margin against Eliza Vilde and Linda Dobele.
Then Booth beat Krista Puisite 5 and 3 and Kelsey beat Dobele 4 and 3.
Wilson lost by 4 and 2 to Mara Puisite.
Ireland's young team, of which the 13-year-old Maguire twins make up half, will be disappointed that, at best, they will finish seventh - and they have to finish with a win over Denmark to achieve that.
The Irish went down 3-2 to Germany after splitting up the Maguire sisters in the foursomes and losing both of them. Lisa and Victoria Bradshaw lost by 2 and 1 to Nicola Rossler and Sophia Popov while Leona Maguire and Sarah Cunningham went down by one hole to Marie Tschida and Victoria Scherer.
Leona Maguire, women's champion of Ireland, was not fielded in the afternoon singles when sister Lisa won by 3 and 2 and Sarah Cunning by 2 and 1 but the crucial third point in the singles was lost by Victoria Bradshaw, beaten 3 and 2 byu Marie Tschida.

Collated Friday results
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Semi-finals
ENGLAND 4, NETHERLANDS 1
Foursome: H Barwood & R Connor bt K Zaanen & C Karsten 3 and 2; A Peters & K Tidy lost to K Jansen & M Naafs 2 and 1 (1-1).
Singles: Barwood bt Zaaanen 6 and 5, Peters bt Naafs at 20th, Connor bt Karsten 1 hole (3-0).
SWITZERLAND 1 1/2, SWEDEN 3 1/2
Foursomes: A Maggetti & F Vuignier lost to J Janson & L Larsson 4 and 3; R Huber & S Popelka lost to A Strang & J Tillstrom 4 and 3 (0-2).
Singles: Vuignier bt Larsson 3 and 2, Maggetti lost to Strang 4 and 3, Huber halved with Janson (1 1/2-1 1/2).

5th to 8th place play-offs
DENMARK 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 2

IRELAND 2, GERMANY 3
Foursomes: Lisa Maguire & V Bradshaw lost to N Rossler & S Popov 2 and 1; Leona Maguire & S Cunningham lost to M Tschida & V Scherer 1 hole (0-2).
Singles: Lisa Maguire bt Rossler 3 and 2, Cunningham bt Popov 2 and 1, Bradshaw lost to Tschida 3 and 2 (2-1).

FLIGHT TWO

9th to 12 place play-offs
SPAIN 4, FINLAND 1.
ITALY 1, FRANCE 4

13th to 16th place play-offs
NORWAY 1 1/2, AUSTRIA 3 1/2

WALES 1 1/2, BELGIUM 3 1/2
Foursomes: K Miller & N Gobey lost to L Van Gerven & L Charlier 4 and 3; A Boulden & K O'Connor bt J Van Baarle & S Vanzon Hoven 1 hole (1-1).
Singles: Boulden halved with Van Gerven, Miller lost to Charlier 1 hole, O'Connor lost to Van Baarle 2 and 1 (1/2-2 1/2)

FLIGHT THREE
17th to 19th place play-off
SCOTLAND 4, LATVIA 1
Foursomes: C Booth & K MacDonald bt K Puisite & M Puisite 2 and 1; S Vass & R Wilson bt E Vilde & L Dobele 2 and 1 (2-0).
Singles: Booth bt K Puiisite 5 and 3, MacDonald bt Dobele 4 and 3, Wilson lost to M Puisite (2-1).

England go for gold at Murcar Links

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England will play Sweden for the gold medal in tomorrow’s final of the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links, Scotland.
“We can’t wait,” said team captain Julie Brown after her quartet of girls defeated the Netherlands 4-1 on a cold, windy day.
Although the final scoreline sounds comfortable, the England girls had to fight for their victory in a very tight match.
The two teams shared the foursomes points and, although English champion Hannah Barwood cruised to a comfortable singles win, the other two matches were real battles.
Lancashire’s Rachel Connor staged an impressive fightback when she was four down after 10. She won the 11th, 12th 13th and 14th to get back on level terms – but then lost the 16th. However, she won both the 17th and 18th to take her point.
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters was one up after 15 but her opponent pulled her back to all square and the match went into extra time. Alex eventually emerged the winner with a fine par on the 20th.
“The whole match could have gone either way and the girls all played so well,” said Julie. “There has been some fantastic golf.”
Lyndsey Hewison
EGWA Press Officer

Scots lose two 19th hole ties in
going down to France

Scotland lost two so-tight ties at the 19th in going down 3-2 to France today in the European women's amateur team golf championship in Sweden.
The Scots will complete their programme with a play-off against Austria on Saturday to decide the official seventh and eighth rankings.
The final will be contested by Sweden and Netherlands who beat England 4-3 with the decisive tie going to the 19th where Marieke Nivard beat Rachel Jennings.
Scotland's Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) also went down at the 19th to France's Barbara Genuini, winner of the Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play at Troon in April, and Joanna Klatten.
In the singles, Krystle Caithenss (St Regulus) bt Morgane Bazin de Jessey by 4 and 3, followed by a one-hole win for Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) over Lucie Andre.
But France took the two other singles for overall victory.
Valentine Derrey beat Laura Murray (Alford) at the 19th and Isabelle Boineau was a 4 and 3 winner over Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).Two of the three defeats were at the 19th so the difference between success and failure for the Scots was wafer-thin.
Scotland, after a slow start, peaked in the second round when they produced the lowest second round qualifying total to make it into the top flight before losing to Spain in Thursday's quarter-finals.
Sweden beat Spain 4-3 in the semi-final of the golfing heavyweights. Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall who contested the British women's open amateur title at North Berwick a couple of weeks ago, are the backbone of the Swedish team.
England shared the foursomes 1-1 with the Netherlands but lost the singles 3-2 with wins by Jodi Eward and Elizabeth Bennett but defeats for Florentyna Parker, Naomi Edwards and Rachel Jennings.
In Flight 2, Ireland lost 3-2 to Italy and Wales were outgunned 4-1 by Norway.
Collated Friday results
Championship Flight
Semi-finals
SPAIN 3, SWEDEN 4
Foursomes: A Munoz & C Ciganda bt C Hedwall & P Lindberg 4 and 2; B Mozo & M Hernandez lost to A Nordqvist & C Westrup 5 and 3 (1-1).
Singles: Ciganda bt Lindberg 2 and 1, Mozo lost to Westrup 1 hole, A Zwanck lost to C Lennarth 2 and 1, Hernandez lost to Nordqvist 3 and 2, Munoz bt Hedwall 2 and 1 (2-3).
NETHERLANDS 4, ENGLAND 3
Foursomes: D-C Schreefel & C Boeljon bt K Smith & R Jennings at 22nd; K Van Leeuwen & M Nivard lost to N Edwards & J Ewart at 20th (1-1).
Singles: Boeljon bt F Parker 5 and 4, C De Vries lost to E Bennett 1 hole, Van Leeuwen lost to Ewart 4 and 3, Schreefel bt Edwards 2 and 1, Nivard bt Jennings at 19th (3-2)

5th to 8th place play-offs
SCOTLAND 2, FRANCE 3
Foursome: L Kenney & P Pretswell lost to B Genuini & J Klatten at 19th (0-1).
Singles: K Caithness bt M Bazin de Jessey 4 and 3, L Murray lost to V Derrey at 19th, M Thomson bt L Andre 1 hole, K Walker lost to I Boineau 4 and 3 (2-2).

AUSTRIA 2, DENMARK 3

FLIGHT TWO

GERMANY 4 1/2, SWITZERLAND 1/2

NORWAY 4, WALES 1
Foursome: L March & K Dicken bt S Evans & K O'Connor 6 and 5 (1-0).
Singles: R Raasstad bt B Loucks 4 and 2, M Engzelius halved with R Wyn Thomas, C Hagen bt H Jenkins 3 and 2, A Valle halved with S Hassan (3-1).

IRELAND 2, ITALY 3
Foursome: D M Conaty & M Morrin lost to A Averna & C Patussi 4 and 3 (0-1).
Singles: T Delaney bt A Roscio 1 hole, D McVeigh bt M Causin 2 and 1, G O'Leary lost to A De Poli de Luidi 4 and 2, N Kitching lost to V Tandrini 2 and 1 (2-2).

BELGIUM 3 1/2, FINLAND 1 1/2.


England are "gutted" after semi-final defeat by Dutch

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England lost a battle royal against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the European ladies’ team championship at Stenungsund, Sweden.
They were beaten 4-3 and now will play-off against Spain for the bronze medal. “It was just so close and we are gutted,” said team captain Sally Watkins. “But we shall go all out to win a medal tomorrow.”
The match was intensely tight all day. Both foursomes went into extra time, with England winning one on the 20th and losing the other on the 22nd.
In the singles, only Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart was up throughout her match and she claimed her point on the 15th. Meanwhile Hampshire’s Liz Bennett fought her way back to a one-up win. “Liz really gave it everything,” said Sally.
However, two other singles went to Holland and the points were even with just one game left on the course. In the decider, Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings bravely pulled herself back from two down after 14 to finish regulation play all square. But her opponent secured Holland’s place in thefinal when she won the first extra hole.
“It was hugely disappointing,” said Sally. “But they all really tried to pull out the stops.”

Three Curtis Cup players in

field for English closed

stroke-play at The Berkshire

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

Title-holder Jodi Ewart is one of three Curtis Cup players in the field for the English women’s closed stroke-play championship at The Berkshire, from July 22-24.

The defending champion – who plays at Catterick in Yorkshire – will be joined by Hampshire’s Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Lancashire’s Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale).

They’re among 120 competitors from 31 English counties who make up a top-class field for this 72-hole championship. More than 20 of the players have handicaps of scratch or better - the lowest is Florentyna Parker who plays off plus-four.

The competitors include a host of internationals and champions, among them Hannah Barwood, from Knowle in Gloucestershire, who was 17 when she won the English ladies’ championship in May; and Rachel Jennings, 19, of Izaak Walton, Staffordshire, who is the French lady junior champion.

Past winners of this title include Emma Brown, nee Duggleby, from Malton & Norton in Yorkshire. She gave warning of her 2008 intentions when she won the Astor Salver at The Berkshire last month.

The championship provides a domestic showcase for the talents of English players, like Jodi Ewart, who spend much of their time at university in America.

Jodi, 20, is a student at the University of New Mexico and is one of the leading players on the US women’s college circuit.

Other US students who are taking part in this championship include the 2007 English girls’ champion Ellie Givens from Blackwell Grange, Durham, her county colleague Anna Scott (Consett & District), Hertfordshire’s Hannah Burke (Mid Herts), Somerset’s Becky Dowell (Enmore Park ) and Dorset’s Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth).

Among the youngest competitors are two players from Warwickshire. Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies) will celebrate her 14th birthday two days before the championship while Lauren Taylor (Rugby) remains 13 until late August. They are both members of the Warwickshire team which has won through to the finals of the English county golf championship.

All competitors will play 18 holes on each of Tuesday and Wednesday, July 22 and 23, before the field is cut to the leading 36 players and ties who will contest the final two rounds on Thursday, July 24. The event will be played on the par 72 Blue course which has been lengthened by 418 yards to 6020.

More details: www.englishwomensgolf.org
Lyndsey Hewison

EWGA

Press & PR Officer

Highland Women's Open Scoreboard

Today's match-play results from the Highland Women's Open at Pitlochry:

SCRATCH
First round
Eve Muirhead bt Katy Burden 7 & 5.
Bobbi Waugh bt Isobel Harvey 2 & 1.
Claire Capocci bt Laura Campbell 1 hole.
Robina Gilbertson bt Erin Millar 5 & 3.
Sal Shepherd bt Annika Johnsson Edin 2 & 1.
Pat Simpson bt Gillian Wallace 6 & 5.
Hannah Harvey bt Pam Stephenson 5 & 4.
Danuta McLachlan bt Kathleen Duncan 2 holes.
Quarter-finals
Muirhead bt Waugh 2 and 1.
Capocci bt Gilbertson 5 and 3.
Shepherd bt Simpson 6 and 5.
Harvey bt McLachlan 2 holes.

SILVER HANDICAP
First round
Alice Archbold bt Janice Myles 5 & 4.
Anne Burden bt Lorna Munro 6 & 5.
Kathryn Green bt Marie Tansey at 19th.
Lettie MacKinnon bt Margaret Macrae 6 & 5.
Janette Kennedy bt Wendy Ross 5 & 3.
Kay Baillie bt Jan Gray 1 hole.
Liz Milligan bt Hayley Carruthers 2 & 1.
Lande Pattinson bt Ann Milner 5 & 4.
Quarter-finals
Archbold bt Burden 1 hole.
Green bt MacKinnon 5 and 4.
Baillie bt Kennedy 4 and 3.
Pattinson bt Milligan 7 and 5.

BRONZE HANDICAP
First round
A Walker bt Marie Brown 6 & 5.
Fiona Seaton bt Ann Garden 5 & 4.
Gillian Munro bt Catherine Simpson at 19th.
Jean Lumsden bt Carol MacKay 3 & 1.
Susan Bowker bt Marianne Carruthers 3 & 1.
Maureen Donaldson bt Connie McGrail 2 holes.
Kathleen Booth bt Pam Wilson 4 & 2.
Vicky MacCallum bt Shirley Murray 4 & 2.
Quarter-finals
Seaton bt Walker 2 & 1.
Lumsden bt Munro 1 hole.
Donaldson bt Bowker 2 holes.
Booth bt MacCallum 4 & 2.

Paula Creamer 2008 in LPGA Tour action ............. Paula Creamer 2002 at the R&A Junior Open

Paula Creamer returns a 60

... and then says she had no idea she was
close to that magic figure of 59

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Solheim Cup player Paula Creamer has come a long way in the last six years.
Next week's R&A Junior Open at Hesketh reminds me that when I reported on the same event for Under-16s at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in 2002, Paula Creamer was the United States' girl representative and I took that picture on the right above.

She was obviously a young talent but I don't recall her having the lowest girls' score six years ago.
Now this evening comes the news that Paula Creamer has gone mighty close to that pro golfer's dream .. a round of 59.
She returned a course-record score of 60 in the opening round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Ohio by birdieing nine of her last 11 holes.
But the media were more excited watching her play the last few holes than she was because Paula got her facts and figures all wrong and didn't know what her score could be.
"I didn't know this course was a par 71," Creamer said with a laugh. "I thought it was a par 72. If I would have known that, who knows?"
Creamer would have had to hole out a 137yd seven-iron from the fairway to shoot 59, though she didn't realise it at the time. She made a 20ft birdie putt for 60.
Only a handful of players have matched that magic number 59 in a competitive round on the major pro tours of the world.
It was the 21-year-old's lowest LPGA Tour round by four strokes. She matched the tour record for nine holes with a 27 on the home half.
Creamer's 60 was one off the LPGA record low mark of 59 set by Annika Sorenstam in the second round of the 2001 Standard Register PING on a par-72 course. It matched the scores of three other players: Meg Mallon (2003) on the par-70 Dell Urich course in Tucson, Arizona), Jung Yeon Lee (2004) on the same Tucson course and Anna Acker-Macosko (2004) over a par-71 The Ridge Golf Course at Auburn, California).
David Duval (1999 Bob Hope), Chip Beck (1991 Las Vegas) and Al Geiberger (1977 Memphis) are the only three players to shoot a 59 on the US PGA Tour.
With half the field in the clubhouse at the midpoint of the first day, Farr led by five strokes. Scroll down for the overnight leaderboard.
"Paula is so talented. She could birdie every hole," said playing partner Natalie Gulbis, who shot a 74. "She's a birdie machine. I don't think there's a day that she goes out not thinking she can birdie every hole."
Creamer, No. 3 on the LPGA money list, started on the back nine and was 4 under at the turn after birdies on 17 and 18. The rest of the way, she had all birdies except for a pair of two-putt pars.
She birdied the first three holes on her last nine, hitting putts of 9, 30 and 15 feet. After missing a 20-foot birdie putt and settling for par at No. 4, she almost holed a 3-rescue club from 188 yards on the par-4 fifth, tapping in from 6 inches for birdie.

+Bad weather hit LPGA Tour's Corning Classic before the end of day and caused a suspension of play. More than 20 players have still to complete their first rounds.

LEADERBOARD

Par 71

60 Paula Creamer.

65 Eun-Hee Ji, Gloria Park.

66 Eva Dahllof, Young Kim.

Other scores:

68 Catriona Matthew.

70 Stacy Lewis.

72 Mhairi McKay, Johanna Head.

74 Laura Davies.

Fingers crossed for Under-14s' championship

at North Berwick's Glen course tomorrow

Friday's Scottish boys and girls' Under-14 stroke-play championship, in association with the Loretto School Golf Academy, is still scheduled to go ahead, despite the abandonment of the Scottish Under-16 boys' tournament over the same course at the Glen Golf Club, North Berwick today.
Scotland’s youngest age group golf event has attracted a strong field with over 100 hopefuls, 84 boys and 28 girls hoping to angle for their first national title.
With the absence of last year’s winners, Woburn’s Harry Whittle and Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs, in the line up, the contest looks wide open for the 18-hole championship. However, last year’s winner of the Paul Gibson Trophy for the leading Under-12 player, Ewan Scott (St Andrews),will hope to move up a gear this year to take a title in the next age level.
Other likely contenders for the crown are Ross Dallas (Kirriemuir Players), son of former Ladies European Tour player and Kirriemuir club pro Karyn Dallas, while another player from strong golfing heritage - Paul Reilly – son of the PGA pro at Lochwinnoch Golf Club – will also test his mettle in the open event.
Balmore’s Jack McKenna – younger sibling of Fraser McKenna, a member of the Under-18 national B squad will be keen to follow in his brother’s footsteps and take the opportunity to make a name for himself among the junior ranks.
Former winners of the title who include - Peter McLachlan (2001) who went on to win the Scottish Youths title in 2005 and Paul McPhee (2006), who will be Scotland's boy representative at the R&A Junior Open at Hesketh next week - illustrate the calibre of players that enter this tournament.
With one of the lowest handicap ballots in the event’s recent history, the players will have to be at the top of their game to contest the championship silverware in what looks set to be testing weather conditions.
The Loretto School Golf Academy is now in its fifth year of sponsorship and have agreed to continue their support of the national showcase event through to 2009. The association with the Golf Academy at Loretto as one of the UK’s best independent golfing schools has been hugely positive, as the national event continues to go from strength to strength.
-

European girls' team championship at Murcar Links

Top seeds England march on but

Ireland miss out on semi-finals

One consolation for Scotland, without a match today, was that they did not have to play in horrendous conditions of wind and rain which swept the Murcar Links nonstop from dawn to dusk.
Top seeds England marched on with a 4-1 win over Denmark and in Friday's semi-finals will play Netherlands, 3-2 winners over the Czech Republic. The other semi-final will be between Sweden, winners of this Under-16s title for the past two years, and Switzerland.
England could only share the foursomes 1-1 with the Danes but they made no mistake in the singles, winning all three ties. English women's champion Hannah Barwood beat Daisy Nielsen by 2 and 1; Alexandra Peters was a 7 and 6 winner over Nicole Larsen and Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born Manchester club pro, Brian Connor, won by 5 and 4 over Charlotte Lorentzen.
But there was disappointment for Ireland's young team. They lost 3-2 to third seeds Switzerland in a tie which was decided by Anais Maggetti's two-hole win over Lisa Maguire whose 13-year-old twin Leona had lost at the 19th in the top singles tie to Rebecca Huber.
The foursomes had been shared 1-1, the Maguire twins winning by 3 and 2 against Huber and Sherlyn Popelka.
Victoria Bradshaw was Ireland's only singles winner. She beat Popelka 3 and 2.
The Friday semi-finals line-up is:
England v Netherlands.
Switzerland v Sweden.
The other top flight ties will be:
Denmark v Czech Republic.
Ireland v Germany.
Wales, wooden spoonists last year, lost 5-0 to France in Flight 2 which means the best they can achieve now is 13th place.
Scotland's opponents in the play-off for 17th place on Friday will be Iceland, 3-1 winners over Latvia.

Today's results:

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
GERMANY 1 1/2, SWEDEN 3 1/2.

IRELAND 2, SWITZERLAND 3
Foursomes: Leona & Lisa Maguire bt R Huber & S Popelka 3 and 2; S Cunningham & V Bradshaw lost to A Maggetti & F Vuignier 1 hole (1-1).
Singles: Leona Maguire lost to Huber at 19th, Lisa Maguire lost to Maggetti 2 holes, Bradshaw bt Popelka 3 and 2 (1-2).

CZECH REPUBLIC 2, NETHERLANDS 3

DENMARK 1, ENGLAND 4
Foursomes: D Nielsen & M Schidt bt H Barwood & R Connor 1 hole; C Lorentzen & N Larsen lost to A Peters & K Tidy 2 and 1 (1-1).
Singles: Nielsen lost to Barwood 2 and 1, Larsen lost to Peters 7 and 6, Lorentzen lost to Connor 5 and 4 (0-3).

FLIGHT TWO
FRANCE 5, WALES 0
Foursomes: A Goumard & A Bonetti bt K O'Connor & N Gobey 5 and 4; E Alonso & R Crepiat bt A Boulden & K Miller 5 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Goumard bt Boulden 2 and 1, Bonetti bt Miller 2 holes, Alonso bt O'Connor 5 and 4.

BELGIUM 2, ITALY 3.

AUSTRIA 1/2, FINLAND 4 1/2

NORWAY 1, SPAIN 4

FLIGHT THREE

ICELAND 3, LATVIA 1


England played "amazing golf," says team captain

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England battled brilliantly through torrential rain and gale force winds to beat Denmark 4-1 and reach the semi-finals of the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links, near Aberdeen in the North-east of Scotland.
Team captain Julie Brown said: “They have played amazing golf. I haven’t seen weather like this for a very long time. They are soaked through to the skin, and they have just been brilliant. I am very, very proud of them.”
The girls shared the morning foursomes points with Denmark but swept the board in the three afternoon singles. “They came out under pressure and didwhat they needed to do, “ said Julie. “They hit some of the most amazing golf shots and holed some great putts. It was good to see all their hard work pay off.”
Despite the conditions the girls scored well. Rachel Connor and English women's champion Hannah Barwood each dropped one shot. Alex Peters – who had KellyTidy as her caddy - was just two over par.
In the semi-finals, England will meet the Netherlands.

European women's amateur team championship

Scotland no match for Spanish
aces in Swedish quarters

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland's outside hope of winning the European women's amateur team golf championship in Sweden - they had the lowest second qualifying round total - were crushed by the star-studded Spanish side at Stenungsund Golf Club today.
Spain, who were pipped for the No 1 seed position by England, were easy 5 1/2-1 1/2 winners over the Scots who qualified seventh of eight for the championship flight.
The writing was on the wall for skipper Fiona De Vries' team when they trailed 2-0 after the morning foursomes. Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Laura Murray (Alford) had an epic duel against Carlota Ciganda, last year's British champion, and Azahara Munoz, winner of the major American women's college title in May, before losing at the 21st.
Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) lost by 4 and 3 to Maria Hernandez and Belen Mozo, who won both the British women's and girls' titles in the summer of 2006.
The Spaniards clinched overall victory when Munoz beat Caithness 5 and 3 and Mozo beat Thomson 2 and 1 in the top singles to stretch their lead to 4-0.
Laura Murray did well to stem the tide with a square match against Adriana Swanck and Kylie Walker had a very good 2 and 1 win over Maria Hernandez who has won several US college tournaments.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) had the unenviable task of playing Carlota Ciganda, arguably the best female amateur golfer in Europe, in the final singles and the Spanish ace won by 5 and 4. The best the Scots can now achieve is fifth place, which would be no mean feat among this quality company. They now play France who were thrashed 6-1 by Sweden.
The semi-finals will feature: Spain v Sweden and a rampant England (6 1/2-1/2 winners over Denmark) v Netherlands, who were also impressive 6-1 winners over Austria.

Today's details:

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
SCOTLAND 1 1/2, SPAIN 5 1/2
Foursomes: K Caithness & L Murray lost to C Ciganda & A Munoz at 21st; M Thomson & K Walker lost to M Hernandez & B Mozo 4 and 3 (0-2).
Singles: Caithness lost to Munoz 5 and 3, Thomson lost to Mozo 2 and 1, Murray halved with A Zwanch, Walker bt Hernandez 2 and 1, P Pretswell lost to Ciganda 5 and 4 (1 1/2-3 1/2).

FRANCE 1, SWEDEN 6

NETHERLANDS 6, AUSTRIA 1

DENMARK 1/2, ENGLAND 6 1/2
Foursomes: L V Hansen & M Jorgensen lost to E Bemmett & R Jennings 1 hole; M Christiansen & T Kolbaek lost to K Smith & N Edwards 2 holes (0-2).
Singles: M Nielsen lost to F Parker 4 and 3, Hansen lost to J Ewart 2 and 1, Chrsitiansen lost to Jennings 2 and 1, Jorgensen lost to Edwards 5 and 3, Kolbaek halved with Bennett (1/2-4 1/2).

FLIGHT TWO

GERMANY 4, ITALY 1

IRELAND 2, SWITZERLAND 3
Foursome: D M Conaty & G O'Leary lost to N Gruter & F Rothenfluh 6 and 4 (0-1).
Singles: T Delaney bt M Matzler 6 and 5, D McVeigh bt N Tanno 4 an 2, M Morrin lost to N Aazam 2 and 1, N Kitching lost to C Rominger 2 and 1 (2-2).

BELGIUM 2, NORWAY 3

FINLAND 1, WALES 4
Foursome: E Nummenpaa & E Ikavalko lost to S Evans & K O'Connor 3 and 2 (0-1).
Singles: S Harju lost to B Loucks 3 and 1, A Korkeila lst to R Wyn Thomas 3 and 1, R Svahn lost to H Jenkins 1 hole, L Henriksson bt S Hassan 2 and 1 (1-3).

England are really up for it, says captain

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England beat Denmark 6½-½ to sweep into the semi-finals of the European ladies’ team championship at Stenungsund, Sweden.
Now they face the Netherlands, who qualified in fourth place and beat Austria 6-1 in their quarter-final.
England took a while to settle in the morning foursomes against Denmark but eventually won both games on the 18th green.
Team captain Sally Watkins remarked: “They seemed to make it a little bit harder than they needed to, but they got both points, which was a great start.”
However, in the afternoon singles they were quickly off the blocks, led by Florentyna Parker who was first out and was five up after 12. Sally commented: “It was really good to have her that far up. It sent out the right messages and pulled everyone else on.”
Naomi Edwards, like Florentyna, wrapped up her match on the 15th. Meanwhile, Jodi Ewart and Rachel Jennings both closed out the opposition on the 17th and Liz Bennett settled for a half.
“They were all really up for it,” said Sally. “The team spirit is superb and all the girls are supporting each other.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer

European women's amateur team championship

Spain lead Scots 2-0 after
foursomes in Sweden

Spain have the initiative in their quarter-final match against Scotland at the European women's amateur team championship in Sweden.
The star-studded Spanish team took both foursomes for a 2-0 lead going into the five singles. The first tie was a classic match-play encounter which went to the 21st before former British champion Carlota Ciganda and former British girls champion Azahara Munoz beat Krystle Caithness and Laura Murray.

FOURSOMES
SCOTLAND 0, SPAIN 2
07.00 Krystle Caithness & Laura Murray lost to Carlota Ciganda & Azahara Munoz at 21st.
07.10 Michele Thomson & Kylie Walker lost to Maria Hernandez & Belen Mozo 4 and 3.

SINGLES
12.00 Caithness v Munoz.
12.08 Thomson v Mozo.
12.16 Murray v Adriana Zwanck.
12.24 Walker v Hernandez.
12.32 Pamela Pretswell v Ciganda.

.... meanwhile at Murcar Links

EUROPEAN GIRLS' TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
THURSDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
QUARTER-FINALS

ENGLAND (No 1 qualifier) v DENMARK (8).
FOURSOMES:
08.00 Hannah Barwood & Rachel Connor v Daisy Nielsen & Mai Schodt.
08.10 Alexandra Peters & Kelly Tidy v Charlotte Lorentzen & Nicole Larsen.
SINGLES
12.42 Barwood v Nielsen.
12.50 Peters v Larsen.
12.58 Connor v Lorentzen.

CZECH REPUBLIC (4) v NETHERLANDS (5).

IRELAND (6) v SWITZERLAND (3).
FOURSOMES
07.20 Leona & Lisa Maguire v Rebecca Huber & Sherlyn Popelka.
07.30 Sarah Cunningham & Victoria Bradshaw v Anais Maggetti & Fanny Vuignier.
SINGLES
11.54 Leona Maguire v Huber.
12.02 Lisa Maguire v Maggetti.
12.1o Bradshaw v Popelka.

SWEDEN (7) v GERMANY (2).

FLIGHT TWO

SPAIN (9) v NORWAY (16).

AUSTRIA (12) v FINLAND (13).

BELGIUM (14) v ITALY (11).

WALES (15) v FRANCE (10).

FLIGHT THREE

ICELAND (18) v LATVIA (19)

NO MATCH TODAY - SCOTLAND (17)
(play winners of Iceland v Latvia on Friday).

Carly Booth, Eilidh Briggs, Jack Scott.

Andrew McLachlan will represent

Scotland in Euro Young Masters

Although there has been no official announcement by either the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association or the Scottish Golf Union, according to The Press and Journal today, Scotland will be represented by Carly Booth (Comrie) and Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), in the girls' section of the European Young Masters at Chantilly, France from July 24 to 26.

The boys who will wear Scotland's colours in the annual event for the top Under-16 year old golfers in Europe are Jack Scott (Deeside) and Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton).

Carly won the European Under-16 girls' title last year when she also won the Scottish Under-21 girls stroke-play championship by something like seven strokes over three rounds at Auchterarder.

In next week's R&A Junior Open, also for Under-16s, Scotland's representatives, nominated by the SGU and the SLGA, will be Paul McPhee (King James VI) and Annabel Niven (Crieff).

Unfortunately for Miss Booth, the Scottish Under-21 tournament this year ends at Powfoot on the day the European Young Masters tees off in France, so there was no way she could defend both titles. Which is a pity.

Would you Adam and Eve it? Muirhead
is leading Pitlochry qualifier by 14 shots!

New course record-holder Eve Muirhead, playing over her home course, led the qualifiers for the Highland Women's Open golf tournament at Pitlochry Golf Club today.
Eve, who will be curling for Great Britain in the next Winter Olympics, added a 71 to her first-round 69 for a total of 140.
She headed the qualifiers for the match-play stages by 14 shots.
It could be an all-Pitlochry final because the No 2 seed is Eve's clubmate, Kathleen Duncan.
Leading qualifiers:
Scratch:
140 Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) 69 71.
154 Kathleen Duncan (Pitlochry) 76 68.
155 Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) 79 76.
156 Robina Gilbertson (Ayr Belleisle) 79 77.
Silver Handicap: Alice Archbold (Longniddry) (12) 146; Lande Pattinson (Pitlochry) (18), Janette Kennedy (Pitlochry) (17) 148; Margaret Macrae (Pitlochry) (10) 149.
Bronze Handicap: Marie Brown (Blairgowrie) (21) 146; Vicky MacCallum (Canmore) (21), Susan Bowker (Helensburgh) (26) 149; Carol MacKay (Bridge of Allan) (16) 151.

European women's team championship in Sweden

Great Scots improve by 25 shots
to make the top flight

The pressure was on Scotland to produce something special on the second day of the European women's amateur team golf championship at Stenungsunds Golf Club in Sweden - and they did!
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Laura Murray (Alford), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) rose magnificently to the occasion to qualify in seventh place for the championship flight match-play stages.
The Scots produced the lowest second-round team total - best five from six players - improving by a fantastic 25 shots on their first-round effort.
It was a great team effort but top marks to Curtis Cupper Krystle Caithness and Laura Murray for inspiring the surge up the leaderboard that was needed to make the top eight and so qualify for the championship flight match-play.
They both scored four-under-par 68s, a score beaten on the day only by Welsh Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks with a 66.
Scottish universities champion Pamela Pretswell deserved a pat on the back from team captain Fiona de Vries for shaving 10 shots off her first qualifying round with a 70.
Scottish champion and Curtis Cup player Michele Thomson and St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker each improved by three shots, Michele to a 71 and Kylie to a 74.
And even though Louise Kenney's 76 did not count, it was only one more than she had on Tuesday.
Scotland, ninth in the standings at the start of the day and some six shots behind the eighth-placed France, actually finished on the same 727 mark as Austria and France but the tie-breaking system in these championships is a comparison of discarded rounds and both Austria (5) and France (6) were officially placed ahead of the Scots.
So Scotland's seventh place finish earns them a very tough assignment - a quarter-final match against the star-studded Spanish side who were in No 1 spot overnight but were pushed down to No 2 by England who finished on 14-under-par 706 to Spain's 709.
Ninth-placed Wales go into the Flight 2 shake-up alongwith Ireland.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
706 ENGLAND 354 352 (Jodi Ewart 66 69, Rachel Jennings 69 71, Naomi Edwards 71 69, Florentyna Parker 76 72, Kerry Smith 78 72, Elizabeth Bennett 72 73).
709 SPAIN 353 356 (Adriana Zwanck 70 69, Carlota Ciganda 71 69, Azahara Munoz 70 70, Belen Mozo 73 74, Ane Urchegui 75 74, Maria Hernandez 69 76).
717 SWEDEN 363 354, NETHERLANDS 365 352.
727 AUSTRIA 362 365, FRANCE 370 357, SCOTLAND 376 351 (Krystle Caithness 74 68, Laura Murray 76 68, Pamela Pretswell 80 70, Michele Thomson 74 71, Kylie Walker 77 74, Louise Kenney 75 76).
731 DENMARK 362 369.
FLIGHT 2 QUALIFIERS
736 WALES 377 359 (Breanne Loucks 73 66, Sahra Hassan 72 71, Rhian Wyn Thomas 77 73, Stephanie Evans 80 73, Hannah Jenkins 75 76, Kirsty O'Connor 83 77).
739 GERMANY 369 370.
746 SWITZERLAND 377 369.
747 BELGIUM 379 368.
748 NORWAY 383 365.
749 IRELAND 379 370 (Tara Delaney 73 72, Gillian O'Leary 78 73, Niamh Kitching 79 73, Danielle McVeigh 77 73, Maura Morrin 75 79, Dawn Marie Conaty 76 80).
756 ITALY 384 372.
762 FINLAND 382 380.

European girls' team championship at Murcar Links

Scotland finish 17th of 19 and
don't even make Flight 2

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The golfing flowers of Scotland were outclassed in the stroke-play qualifying stages of the European girls' golf team championship at Murcar Links Golf Club.
Carly Booth, Kelsey MacDonald, Rebecca Wilson and Sammy Vass collectively finished 17th in a field of 19 teams with a team total of 40-over-par 472 (and that despite discarding their worst score in each round).
Not only did they not make the top eight for the championship flight of match-play to decide who ends the week as the Under-18 girl champions of Europe. The Scots even failed to make Flight 2 for the teams finishing from ninth to 16th in the stroke-play.
Instead Scotland are down in the rock-bottom basement - a three-team Flight 3 with Iceland and Latvia. That means the Scots have only one more match. They sit out the Thursday action and play the winners of the Iceland v Latvia tie for the "honour" of being ranked 17th in Europe. Hardly what one expects from a team from the Home of Golf.
Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald did show something of her true form, improving by six shots for a 74 but Comrie's Carly Booth, a +3 player, again underachieved with a five-over-par 77, one better than on Tuesday.
Sammy Vass from Tain improved by three shots with an 84 but Monifieth's Rebecca Wilson slumped by seven strokes to an 86.
At the sharp end of the tournament, England edged out Germany for the No 1 seeding in the championship flight, both countries finished on seven-over-par 439. The tie-breaker was a comparison of the teams' non-counting individual scores.
England's top scorers on a day when they improved on their first-round total by five shots with a score of 217 were Rachel Connor from Manchester, daughter of a Scots-born professional, and English women's champion Hannah Barwood, both with par-matching 72s.
Ireland did splendidly to qualify in sixth place with their 13-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire responding to the big occasion - no nerves or stage fright here - and Sarah Cunningham and Victoria Bradshaw also pulling their weight for the team.
Wales did what the Scots couldn't do - they made it through to Flight 2 in 15th place.
Further evidence that the balance of power in female amateur golf has switched over to the Continentals was provided by the lack of GB&I players among the leading individual totals in the 36-hole stroke-play.
Katerina Ruzickova (Czech Republic) and Daisy Nielsen (Denmark) tied for the No 1 spot with one-under-par totals of 143 - one shot ahead of Maaike Naafs (Netherlands and Nicola Rossler (Germany).
The top British and Irish player was England's Rachel Connor in joint fifth place on 145. The top Scot was Kelsey MacDonald in joint 44th place on 154.

Scoreboard

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT QUALIFIERS
Par 432 (6 x 72)
439 ENGLAND 222 217 (Rachel Connor 73 72, Alexandra Peters 74 73, Hannah Barwood 75 72, Kelly Tider 77 74); GERMANY 220 219 (Nicola Rossler 72 72, Sophia Popov 74 75, Victoria Scherer 74 76, Marie Tschida 81 72).
442 SWITZERLAND 220 222.
443 CZECH REPUBLIC 221 222, NETHERLANDS 226 217.
444 IRELAND 222 222 (Leona Maguire 73 74, Lisa Maguire 75 74, Sarah Cunningham 76 74, Victoria Bradshaw 74 76).
446 SWEDEN 220 226.
446 DENMARK 224 223.

FLIGHT 2 QUALIFIERS
451 SPAIN 223 228.
452 FRANCE 222 230, ITALY 225 227.
454 AUSTRIA 224 230.
457 FINLAND 228 229.
458 BELGIUM 226 232.
461 WALES 235 226 (Amy Boulden 75 75, Katherine O'Connor 78 75, Kelly Miller 82 76, Natasha Gobey 87 85).
464 NORWAY 239 225.

FLIGHT 3 QUALIFIERS
472 SCOTLAND 237 235 (Kelsey MacDonald 80 74, Carly Booth 78 77, Rebecca Wilson 79 86, Sammy Vass 87 84).
478 ICELAND 236 242.
485 LATVIA 253 232.

England win top seeding for match-play stages

PRESS RELEASE FROM ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England won a tight battle to become top qualifiers for the match-play stages in the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links.
All four girls played a vital part in securing the top seeding at the end of the second day of stroke-play qualifying.
After the best three scores were counted England were tied at the top of the table with Germany. Lancashire’s Rachel Connor and English champion Hannah Barwood, from Gloucestershire, had both returned level par scores while Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters was one over par.
Their scores gave England a seven-over par total for 36 holes, tied with Germany, and the decider was a countback on the discarded scores. On both days, Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy had comfortably outplayed the German opposition. Her first round 77 was four shots better and her second round 74 was two ahead.
Now, England will play Denmark in the first match-play round and team captain Julie Brown said: “They are really up for it.” She praised her girls: “They all played really well and I am very proud of them. They went out there and did what they needed to do. They were all very professional and all supported each other.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
English Women's Golf Association

Lyndsey Hewison

Left to right: Katy McNicoll, Alexandra Bushby, Jemma Chalmers and Dot MacKinnon (image by P&K county captain Dawn Butchart). You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

Alexandra Bushby beats Katy McNicoll
in North of Scotland final at Strathmore

Home-course player Alexandra Bushby beat top seed Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) by 2 and 1 in a North of Scotland women's amateur championship final full of birdies at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth today.

The better ball for the 17 holes was seven under par.

Alexandra, the No 2 qualifier this week, last won the North of Scotland title in 2004, which was the last time the championship was played at the Strathmore venue where Bushby has been club champion in 2001, 2006 and 2007. She was unable to play in the Strathmore qualifiers this year and P&K county captain Dawn Butchart won the club title. Alexandra is also a member at Blairgowrie and has won the ladies club championship there for the second year running.
In today's final, Bushby was two up at the turn from which point the players traded birdies. Three times McNicoll reduced her deficit to one with birdies and three times her opponent restore a two-hole lead with birdies of her own.
The handicap final was won by Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth who beat Dot MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) by 6 and 5.

Today's results
Championship - Semi-finals
Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Susan Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) 3 and 2.
Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore) bt Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) 5 and 4.
Final - Bushby bt McNicoll 2 and 1.

Handicap - Semi-finals
J Chalmers (Monifieth) (13) bt G Wilson (Monifieth) (14) 4 and 2.
D MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) (11) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) (17) 2 holes.
Final - Chalmers bt MacKinnon 6 and 5.

Troon Junior Open entries by July 22

The Troon Junior Open for the Tom Lehman Trophies will be held on Tuesday, August 5 over the Darley, Fullarton and Lochgreen courses.
This event is open to all boys and girls who have a CONGU handicap.
On the previous day, August 4, a pre-handicap open is to be held for children who can play 18 short holes but are not at a handicap standard.
Entries close on July 22 and entries can be made online at www.golfsouthayrshire.com.

Lanarkshire junior scratch
and handicap champions
Gillian and Emma

Emma Caddow (Colville Park), winner of the Handicap Salver, and Gillian Scanlan of Hamilton, winner of the Scratch Cup, are pictured at the Lanarkshire ladies county junior championship, played at Colville Park on Tuesday.
The CSS was 71. Emma, handicap 12, had a net score of 68. Gillian had a gross score of 77.

Jean Allan wins Blackjack Cup

Lanarkshire county captain May Hughes presents Jean Allan, Strathaven, with the Blackjack Cup, won in an 18-hole handicap competition over Colville Park on Tuesday.
Jean, handicap 20, had a net score of 66. CSS was 71

Susan Wood wins Morison

Cup at Colville Park

Susan Wood, pictured right, won the Lanarkshire Ladies County 36-hole scratch competition for the Morison Cup over Colville Park with a two-round total of 141 (72 69) against a CSS of 71 and 72.

Susan was also the winner of the handicap prize with a net total of 135 (69 66).
Other leading totals:
158 Gillian Scanlan 77 81, May Hughes 76 82, Janice Paterson 74 84.
160 Emma Caddow 80 80.

Ellis Keenan wins Bridget Jackson

Bowl by six shots at Handsworth

Sunningdale's Ellis Keenan continued her excellent form this season by winning the Bridget Jackson Bowl by six strokes at Handsworth Golf Club today.

Ellis, who celebrates her 18th birthday on Sunday, is the Surrey girls champion and won the Hampshire Rose by five shots at North Hants at the end of April.

She started the 27th staging of the Bridget Jackson Bowl with two of a handicap but after very good rounds of 68 and 70 for a total of 138 - against a par of 72 and a CSS for both rounds of 73 - Ellis will have closed in a scratch rating.

She had two 2s, at the same short hole in both rounds, played in a gusting wind, which made her performance all the more praiseworthy.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 73 73

138 E Keenan (Sunningdale) 68 70.

144 H Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 72 72, T Holder (Woburn) 72 72.

146 L Ball (Matfen Hall) 74 72, C Aitken (Mid Kent) 72 74, S James (Bristol & Clifton) 70 76.

147 H Coles (Maxstoke Park) 77 70, A Gittings (Walmley) 74 73.

148 H Key (South Herts 71 77.

149 B Harries (Haverfordwest) 77 72, H Grant (Enmore Park) 75 74, T Boyes (Meon Valley) 74 75.

151 K Larratt (Kibworth) 76 75, L Barton (Coventry) 75 76, L Gould (Bargoed) 74 77.

152 S Birks (Wolstanton) 75 77, E Taylor (Gainsborough) 75 77.

153 A Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 78.

154 H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 80 74, C Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 75 78, K Rands (Burhill) 73 81.

157 C Douglass (Brodcket Hall) 81 76, B Dowell (Enmore Park) 80 77, J Hodge (Knowle) 78 79, C Field (Harpenden) 77 80.

158 H Turland (Tidworth Garrison) 79 79, J Nicolson (Wrexham) 77 81, E Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 77 81, B Davies (Wolstanton) 76 82.

159 G Easton (Enville) 84 75, A Barber (Brocton Hall) 77 82.

160 L Watkins (Bicester CC) 82 78, C Howells (Moor Hall) 78 82, B Gibbs (Burnham & Berrow) 78 82.

161 E Cutmore (Colne Valley) 84 77, G Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 81 80.

162 M McMahon (Yeovil) 86 76, H McLoughlin (Sutton Coldfield) 83 79.

166 D Greenslade (Stourbridge) 83 83.

168 L Mileham (Aldwickbury Park) 84 84.

North of Scotland amateur championship at Strathmore

McNicoll v Arbuckle and

Hunter v Bushby last 4

Leading qualifier Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) had a smooth passage into Wednesday morning’s semi-finals of the North of Scotland women’s amateur golf championship at Strathmore Golf Centre.
But last year’s finalists, title-holder Laura Walker (Muckhart) and Scotland cap Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) both fell by the wayside.
Walker was beaten by home course player Alexandra Bushby (pictured right) who won the North title in 2004, when the championship was also played at Strathmore.
Aileen Hunter (Monifieth) beat Ogilvy by one hole in the morning and qualified to meet Busby in the semi-finals by beating North challenger Gillian Dowling 4 and 3 in the afternoon.
In the other semi-final, young McNicoll will play Susan Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) who had to go to the 22nd to get the better of Tain’s Mary Smith in the quarter-finals.
Match-play results:

CHAMPIONSHIP – First round -
K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt G Lambie (Dunkeld) 3 and 1.

H Anderson (Downfield) bt A Ingram (Fort William) 5 and 4.

S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) bt A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 1 hole.

M Smith (Tain) bt J Brown (Monifieth) 1 hole.

G Dowling (Inverness) bt J Grubb (Montrose) 3 and 2.

A Hunter (Monifieth) bt E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 1 hole.

L Walker (Muckhart) bt A Ryan (Tain) at 19th.

A Bushby (Strathmore) bt J Vass (Tain) 5 and 3.

Quarter-finals

McNicoll bt Anderson 4 and 3.

Arbuckle bt Smith at 22nd.

Hunter bt Dowling 4 and 3.

Bushby bt Walker 3 and 2.
Semi-finals at 8.52 and 9am.
HANDICAP – First round -
J Chalmers (Monifieth) (13) bt S Leighton (Alyth) (5) 5 and 4.
J Griffiths (Strathmore) (8) bt N Morrison (Dunblane) (10) 2 and 1.

L Kelly (Newmachar) (17) bt A Alston (Royal Montrose) (12) 3 and 1.

G Wilson (Monifieth) (14) bt S Irvine (Blairgowrie) (26) 2 holes.

S MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) (11) bt M Horn (Newmachar) (12) 2 holes.

E Anderson (Deeside) (21) bt H Gibson (Alyth) (10) 2 holes.

M Aird (Strathmore (11) bt S Belton (Kirriemuir) (14) 2 holes.

Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (17) bt S Bradley (Kirriemuir) (17) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals
Chalmers bt Griffiths 4 and 3.

Wilson bt Kelly 3 and 1.

MacKinnon bt Anderson 1 hole.

Sneddon bt Aird 3 and 2.
Semi-finals at 9.07 and 9.15.

Disappointing day for home hopes at Murcar Links

Scots girls drop out of the title
hunt on the first day

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
High hopes of a Scotland victory at the end of the week were shattered in the first qualifying round of the European girls' team golf championship at Murcar Links today.
The Scots underachieved in a big way, finishing the day in 17th position with only Norway and Latvia behind them.
Comrie's Curtis Cup history-maker Carly Booth (78), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (79), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) (80) and Sammy Vass (87) were a collective 36 over par for the 18 holes.
Between the four of them, they could come up with only one birdie - a 3 at the 18th by Rebecca Wilson.
With three from four scores to count daily in the 36-hole qualifying test, Scotland's 21-over-par 237 leaves them so far out of the running for one of the top eight match-play places, it is not even worth speculating about.
Switzerland, Sweden and Germany are disputing the No 1 spot on four-over-par 220, one ahead of Czech Republic, a country one does not associate with good golfers of any age, links or otherwise.
France, England and Ireland are locked together on 227, one shot ahead of eighth-placed Spain.
The identical 13-year-old Maguire twins did well for Ireland with Leona recording a 73 and Lisa a 75.
Even with a cool wind off the sea on a bright, sunlight day, the Murcar Links' composite ladies' course of under 6,000yd was not as difficult a test as the Scots' scores would suggest. Eight players matched or bettered the par of 72. There were another seven players on the 73 mark.
Austria's Anja Purgouer was able to get it round in a best-of-the-day, three under-par 69, playing in the threesome behind Carly Booth who required 42 shots for the outward half.
Not one of the Scots was able to break 40 (four over par for the first nine). Kelsey MacDonald was out in 41, Rebecca Wilson in 43 and Sammy Vass in 47.
How ironic that England's top scorer was Rachel Connor with a 73. Her father, professional at the Manchester club, is a Scot. Through her dad, Rachel had a qualification to play for Scotland but that was nullified when she played in the English girls' championship two or three years ago.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 216(3 x 72)
220 Switzerland, Sweden, Germany.
221 Czech Republic.
222 France, England (R Connor 73, A Peters 74, H Barwood 75. Non-counting: K Tidy 77), Ireland (Leona Maguire 73, V Bradshaw 74, Lisa Maguire 75. Non-counting: S Cunningham 76).
223 Spain.
224 Austria, Denmark.
225 Italy.
226 Belgium, Netherlands.
228 Finland.
235 Wales (A Boulden 75, K O'Connor 78, K Miller 82. Non-counting: N Gobey 87).
237 Scotland (C Booth 78, R Wilson 79, K MacDonald 80. Non-counting: S Vass 87).
239 Norway.
253 Latvia.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Par 72
69 Anja Porgouer (Austria).
71 Katerina Ruzickova (Czech Republic), Anna Arrese (Spain).
72 Rebecca Huber (Switzerland), Alessia Knight (Italy), Joelle Van Baarle (Belgium), Daisy Nielsen (Denmark), Nicola Rossler (Germany).
73 Maaike Naafs (Netherlands), Rachel Connor (England), Sherlyn Popelka (Switzerland), Josephine Janson (Sweden), Leona Maguire (Ireland), Johanna Tillstrom (Sweden), Rosanna Crepiat (France).
74 Victoria Sherer (Germany), Emily Curry-Bartonova (Czech Republic), Manna Stutz (Austria), Giulia Molinaro (Italy), Alexandra Peters (England), Alexandria Bonetti (France), Sophia Popov (Germany), Victoria Bradshaw (Ireland), Louise Larsson (Sweden).

Rachel Connor leads the way for England with a 73

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England are just two shots behind the leaders after the first day of qualifying in the European girls’ team championship at Murcar Links near Aberdeen in Scotland.
Lancashire’s Rachel Connor led the way with a one-over par 73 which included an eagle 3. She put on a super-accurate display by hitting 16 greens in regulation and is 10th in the individual table.
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters – who is making her debut at this level – had four birdies in her 74.
English women's champion Hannah Barwood from Gloucestershire provided the third counting score with 75.
England captain Julie Brown was delighted with her four players. “They are an absolutely brilliant team. They have really connected very well as a team.”
To challenge for the championship medals England must finish among the top eight teams after tomorrow’s second qualifying round. At the moment they are lying seventh on a very tightly contested leaderboard.
Two shots cover the top seven teams and four shots cover the top 10.

European women's team championship

Scots need something special

to bridge the gap in Sweden

Scotland are ninth at the halfway stage of the stroke-play qualifying for the match-play stages of the European women's amateur team golf championship at Stenungsunds Golf Club, Sweden.
Only the leading eight teams after 36 holes will make up the championship match-play flight and the Scots are six shots behind eighth-placed France. Which calls for an exceptional team scoring performance by Scotland if they are to bridge the gap
Curtis Cup players Michele Thomson, pictured right, the Scottish champion from McDonald Ellon, and Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) were the Scots' lowest scorers, both returning two-over-par 74s.

Michele's halves were 36 and 38, Krystle a pair of 37s.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) came next with a 75 (38-37), and then Laura Murray (Alford) with 76 (38-38) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) with 77 (36-41).

Only five from six scores count in the qualifying and Scotland's non-counter was Scottish universities champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) with an 80 (40-40).
Spain (353) lead from England (354) who had a super 66 from Curtis Cup player Jodi Ewart, followed by Rachel Jennings on 69, Naomi Edwards 71, Elizabeth Bennett on 72 and Florentyna Park with a 76. England's non-counter was Kerry Smith with a 78.
Wales, jt 10th on 377, and Ireland, jt 12th on 379, have even less chance than Scotland of making the top flight.

Wales' top scorer was Curtis Cup reserve Sahra Hassan with a 72, one ahead of Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks.

For Ireland, Tara Delaney led the way with a 73.

One of the first-day surprises was the poor showing of Italy, last of 16 at the moment on 384.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 360 (5 x 72)
353 SPAIN.

354 ENGLAND (J Ewart 66, R Jennings 69, N Edwards 71, E Bennett 72, F Parker 76. Non-counter: K Smith 78).
362 AUSTRIA, DENMARK.
363 SWEDEN.
365 NETHERLANDS.
369 GERMANY.
370 FRANCE
376 SCOTLAND (M Thomson 74, K Caithness 74, L Kenney 75, L Murray 76, K Walker 77. Non-counter; P Pretswell 80).
377 WALES (S Hassan 72, B Loucks 73, H Jenkins 75, R Wyn Thomas 77, S Evans 80. Non-counter: Kirsty O'Connor 83), SWITZERLAND.
379 IRELAND (T Delaney 73, M Morrin 75, D M Conaty 76, D McVeigh 77, G O'Leary 78. Non-counter: N Kitching 79); BELGIUM>
382 FINLAND
383 NORWAY.
384 ITALY.

Jodi Ewart (66) inspires England with course record

PRESS RELEASE FROM ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart kick-started England’s campaign in the European ladies’ team championship with a superb course record of six-under par 66 at Stengungsund, Sweden.

There were more sub-par scores from Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings and Yorkshire’s Naomi Edwards – and the six-strong England team ended the day on six-under par and just one shot behind the leaders, Spain.

After tomorrow’s second day of stroke-play qualifying, the top eight teams will qualify for the championship match-play flight.

Jodi, 20, was the first of the English players to tee off and she set the tone for her day with a birdie on the first. The Curtis Cup player went on to score six more – and had just one bogey. Her score knocked three shots off the previous record and she leads the individual table by two shots, from Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall.

Meanwhile Rachel Jennings, the French lady junior champion, had an immaculate round of 15 pars and three birdies for a 69.

Naomi Edwards had four birdies in her one-under 71, while Hampshire’s Liz Bennett returned a level par score.

Lancashire’s Florentyna Parker returned England’s final counting score of the day with a fighting 76 after she notched up a triple-bogey 6 on the second hole.

England captain Sally Watkins said: “This is a fantastic start to the week. To be just one shot behind Spain is brilliant.”

Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer
Visit the EGWA web site at www.englishwomensgolf.org

Late entry Eve Muirhead breaks record in

Highland Open

Scotland curling international Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) shaved one stroke off the women's record at her home course today in the qualifying round of the Highland Women's Open.

Eve, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), failed by two shots to qualify for the match-play stages of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Strathmore Golf Centre on Monday and was lucky to get a late entry to the Pitlochry event.

She made the most of it was a great round of 69, three under par and one shot inside the old record by Sonia Grant (Tillicoultry) as long ago as 1989.

Eve had birdies at the seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 13th as well as bogeys at the fifth and ninth in halves of 36 (level par) and 33 (three under).

Eighteen-year-old Eve, who won the Women's Highland Open title last year, ended the day as the leading quaifier for the match-play stages by five shots from Hannah Harvey (St Rule).
The field of 123 included nine players from Sweden.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
69 E Muirhead (Pitlochry).
74 Hannah Harvey (St Rule).
76 Kathleen Duncan (Pitlochrty).
79 Robina Gilbertson (Ayr Belleisle), Annika Edin (Sweden), Erin Millar (Pitlochrty), Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park).
81 Pat Campbell (Downfield), Bobbi Waugh (Moorhall), Gillian Wallace (Glenisla), Kathryn Green (Bridge of Allan).
Leading Silver handicap:

Katy Burden (Cambuslang) 69; Marie Tansey (Elsham), Janette Kennedy, Pam Stephenson (Glencorse), Isobel Harvey (St. Rule) 71; Alice Archbold (Longniddry), Dunuta McLachlan (St Regulus) 73; Anne Burden (Cambuslang), Liz Milligan (Dunblane), Carol Waddilove (Oaks Park), Frances McFadzean (Craigmillar Park) 75.
Leading Bronze handicap:

Marie Brown (Blairgowrie), Gillian Munro (Pitlochry), Susan Bowker (Helensburgh) 69; Kathleen Booth (Dunblane) 72; Aileen Adams (Old Ranfurly), Jane Walker 73; Maureen Donaldson (Dunfermline) 74; Vicky MacCallum (Canmore), Connie McGrail (Glencorse) 76.

England name team for European
senior women's team championship

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Nottinghamshire’s Janet Collingham will return to international duty for England at the European senior ladies’ team championship.
The new English senior stroke-play champion is included in England’s team of seven which will contest the championship at Wouwse Plantage Golf Club, The Netherlands, from September 2-5. She will be joined by Cheshire’s Sue Dye and Barbara Laird, Yorkshire’s Carolyn Kirk, Hampshire’s Chris Quinn and Christine Stirling, and Buckinghamshire’s Christine Watson.
Janet Collingham won the British championship in 1987, was an England international from 1978-1992 and before that had been a girl international. Now, in her first season of seniors’ golf, she has played her way into another national team.
Another new cap is Cheshire’s Barbara Laird who has performed consistently well since making her debut in seniors’ golf last season.
Yorkshire’s Carolyn Kirk, who was runner-up at the seniors’ stroke-play, will make her debut in an English Women’s Golf Association team. However, she played in this championship in 2005 when the side was selected by the English Senior Ladies’ Golf Association.
Sue Dye is the reigning English senior champion and, like the other members of the team, an established senior international. England have won the silver medal at the European seniors ladies’ team championship for the past two years.
The team, captained by Cathy Bowerbank (Dinsdale Spa), is:
Janet Collingham (Sherwood Forest)
Sue Dye (Delamere Forest)
Carolyn Kirk (Ganton)
Barbara Laird (Sandiway)
Chris Quinn (Hockley)
Christine Stirling (Meon Valley)
Christine Watson (Beaconsfield)
Non-travelling reserves, in alphabetical order:
Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court)
Geraldine Bray (Littlestone)
Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield)
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

The Welsh team with captain Jill Evans at the opening ceremony of the 2008 European girls' team championship at Murcar Links.

Ireland's team for the European Under-18 girls' championship which starts at Murcar Links tomorrow. The identical 13-year-old Maguire "wonder" twins are at the extreme left and right. We think Irish women's champion Leona is on the left and Lisa, beaten by her sister in the final, is on the right. Victoria Bradshaw is centre left and Sarah Cunningham centre right. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it (Cal Carson Golf Agency images, all rights reserved).

England's representatives in the European girls' team championship which tees off at Murcar Links on Tuesday for five days. Left to right: Hannah Barwood, Kelly Tidy, Rachel Connor, Alexandra Peters (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved).

Carnoustie's Katy top seed in

North of Scotland qualifier

American college circuit player Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), whose brother Keir won the St Andrews Links Trophy recently, led the qualifiers for the match-play stages of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship with a fine round of one-under-par 71 at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth today. Katy is pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved).
Scratch player Katy, a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida, earned the No 1 seed spot ahead of home-course player and the 2004 North of Scotland champion, Alexandra Bushby, and Jane Grubb (Montrose), both of whom returned 72s, which almost matched the CSS.
A card comparison made Alexandra No 2 and Jane No 3 in the draw. Jane's performance was an excellent one for a seven-handicapper. Her net 65 was easily the lowest of a day of summer showers.

Julie Vass from Tain - whose sister Sammy is playing for Scotland at Murcar Links this week - also had a good net round, 68 off a handicap of nine as she qualified in 15 spot for the scratch match-play.
Defending champion Laura Walker, now playing out of Muckhart since she took up a teaching post in Fife, qualified in No 7 spot with a 75, one behind the player she beat in last year's final at Lossiemouth, Scotland cap Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
Emily almost had a hole in one at the short 17th - and missed the putt for a birdie 2. Then she finished with a double-bogey 5 for a 74, which obviously might have been a lot better.

QUALIFIERS
Par 72. CSS 72

71 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
72 A Bushby (Strathmore), J Grubb (Montrose).
74 J Brown (Monifieth), S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
75 L Walker (Muckhart), A Ingram (Fort William), H Anderson (Downfield).
76 A Ryan (Tain),A Hunter (Monifieth), A Ramsay (Kirriemuir), M Smith (Tain).
77 G Dowling (Inverness), J Vass (Tain), G Lambie (Dunkeld).
Championship match-play draw:

Alternating seven and eight-minute intervals
9.0 McNicoll v Lambie, Anderson v Ingram, Arbuckle v Ramsay, Smith v Brown.
9.30 Grubb v Dowling, Hunter v Ogilvy, Walker v Ryan, Vass v Bushby.
Handicap match-play draw:
10.0 J Chalmers v S Leighton, J Griffiths v N Morrison, L Kelly v A Alston, S Irvine v G Wilson.
10.30 S MacKinnon v M Horn, E Anderson v H Gibson, M Aird v S Beltonk, S Bradley v Jennifer Sneddon.
OTHER SCORES:
78 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
79 S Leighton (Alyth), E Muirhead (Pitlochry).
80 J Yellowlees (Murrayshall).
81 A Summers (Panmure Barry), J Griffiths (Strathmore).
82 J Chalmers (Monifieth), H Gibson (Alyth), A Niven (Crieff), G Murray (Cruden Bay), L McGillivary (Banchory), N Morrison (Dunblane), S MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon).
83 M Aird (Strathmore), L Hardie (Aberdeen Ladies), F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies), M Summers (Panmure Barry).
84 S Sneddon (Carnoustie Caledonian), N Fleming (Alyth), F Blair (Carnosutie Ladies).
85 E Fertacz, L McGraw (Auchterarder), A Alston (Royal Montrose), G Wilson (Monifieth).

Flowers of Scotland. Left to right: Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), Carly Booth (Comrie), Sammy Vass (Tain) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar). Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved). You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

Scotland coach Kevin Craggs

forecasts five-star display

from home team girls

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
SLGA National coach Kevin Craggs worked the Scottish team of four very hard in drill sessions at Murcar Links today - and then forecast a five-star display by the host nation's representatives in the European Under-18 girls' team championship.
"They're all fine and playing well," said Kevin. "But I don't let them off with anything. If the girls don't complete the practice drills the way they are supposed to, then they don't get into the clubhouse for a break until they do. It's as simple as that."
The girls are Curtis Cup 16-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn), Sammy Vass from Tain and Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
Rebecca has come in as a subsitute for Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) who had a "Tiger Woods-style knee operation" a few days after she played in the Curtis Cup match at St Andrews in late May-early June.
"The practice facilities here at Murcar Links are superb - the best I've seen belonging to any golf club in Scotland. What a pity more clubs don't give priority to setting up a complete practice range like this, even with covered driving bays," said Kevin, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved).
"This would be just the norm on the Continent but over here it is exceptional for a club to have a set-up like this, and at the back of the clubhouse too. Well done, Murcar Links!"
Such was the Continental girls' domination of this event 12 months ago in Oslo, Norway that neither Scotland, England, Ireland nor Wales managed to get into the championship flight of match-play, i.e. they were outwith the top eight teams' aggregates at the end of the 36-hole qualifying test which occupies the Tuesday-Wednesday programme.
And we have seen further evidence of the Continentals playing a higher class of golf than the British and Irish can produce in the recent British women's open amateur championship at North Berwick where three of the semi-finalists were Swedish and only Roseanne Niven (Crieff) of the total GB&I entry making it to the last four.
Coach Craggs is convinced that the long-term key to closing the gap is for clubs to follow the Murcar Links' lead and build their own practice facilities, giving their own members, male and female, the opportunity to improve their own games.
And Kevin would like the emphasis on practice facilities to be not just on providing drive ranges but almost or even preferably short-game practice facilities.
"That's where the Continentals are better than our players, men, women, boys and girls - they have better short games in general. That's because they have more short-game practice areas than we have," said Kevin, warming up to his subject.
"Outwith St Andrews, name me a place where I could take players - or players could go themselves - to practice their short game at first-class facilities. Murcar Links are meeting a need for their members. We need more like this all over Scotland."
Getting back to the European girls team championship: Carly Booth, even at 16, is a key player for Scotland this week. The rest of the team look to her for inspiration - and she has come to Aberdeen on a high from finishing top amateur and leading Scot in the Ladies European Tour's English Open at The Oxfordshire at the weekend.
I understand the flight north from London was delayed over an hour and it was very late on Sunday night before Carly made it to the Scotland team hotel at Dyce.
She must be tired after playing in a 54-hole Ladies European Tour event Friday-Saturday-Sunday but, I have to say, she didn't show it today as the Scots girls enjoyed themselves with a bit of light-hearted fun on the huge Murcar Links practice area.
Laughter is not something you usually associate with golf - maybe, more's the pity - but there was plenty of laughter coming from Carly, Kelsey, Sammy and Rebecca, once Coach Craggs had left them of the leash.
Last word from the Scots team captain, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) who is a former Scottish champion. "I think it's going to be a fantastic week. The girls are in good heart and if Kevin says we can go all the way to Saturday's final, then that would really be fantastic."

*The Murcar Links Golf Club facilities are reckoned to have cost in excess of £100,000, including the purchase of fields from neighbouring farmers. Graham Thom, a highly successful businessman-cum-member, paid most of the bill.

South Koreans beginning to squeeze

Americans out of top money

in LPGA Tour finishes

Move over Lorena Ochoa! How long until South Korea can claim most of the leading players on the LPGA Tour.
Home-grown Americans are slowly but surely being squeezed out of the top money on their own tour.
In the Northwest Arkansas Championship which ended on Sunday, the winner and joint runner-up both come from South Korea and there were 12 South Koreans within the leading 20 or so finishers.
The name of the winner, Seon Hwa Lee, will mean nothing on this side of the Atlantic but it was her second LPGA win of the season and the first prize of $255,000 pushed her career earnings up to $3million.
England's Karen Stupples did manage to come joint fourth, for which she earned $65,508, and Catriona Matthew from North Berwick finished joint 22nd. The Scot's take-home pay was $16,233.

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP
Pinnacle CC, Rogers, Arkansas
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
201 Hwa seon Lee (SKor) 64 69 68
202 Meena Lee (SKor) 67 65 70, Jane Park 71 69 62
203 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 67 68 68, Karen Stupples (Eng) 68 69 66, Angela Park 71 62 70, Kristy McPherson 64 69 70
204 Na Yeon Choi (SKor) 71 65 68, Eun Hee Ji (SKor) 67 65 72
205 In-Bee Park (SKor) 70 65 70
206 Cristie Kerr 72 65 69, Hee-Won Han (SKor) 72 66 68, Katherine Hull (Aus) 70 70 66, Jeong Jang (SKor) 66 69 71
207 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 69 69 69, Soo-Yun Kang (SKor) 68 70 69
208 Jee Young Lee (SKor) 66 69 73, Morgan Pressel 69 69 70, Reilley Rankin 74 66 68, Christina Kim 71 68 69, Hye Jung Choi (SKor) 66 69 73
209 Michelle Ellis 71 67 71, Gloria Park (SKor) 70 70 69, Louise Friberg (Swe) 70 66 73, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 72 68 69, Paige Mackenzie 70 69 70, Song-Hee Kim (SKor) 73 68 68, Katie Futcher 73 69 67
210 Kelli Kuehne 68 72 70, Brittany Lincicome 72 68 70, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 75 66 69, Dina Ammaccapane 71 70 69, Karine Icher (Fra) 70 70 70, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 65 72 73
211 Jill McGill 72 67 72, Nancy Scranton 71 69 71, Michelle McGann 70 68 73, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman 70 71 70, Meaghan Francella 71 68 72, Moira Dunn 73 69 69, Danielle Downey 70 70 71, Hee Young Park (SKor) 70 72 69
212 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 72 71 69, Wendy Doolan (Aus) 72 68 72, Stacy Prammanasudh 70 70 72, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 70 69 73, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 73 69 70, Na Ri Kim (SKor) 68 69 75
213 Heather Young 70 67 76, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 72 70 71, Seo-Jae Lee 71 71 71, Marisa Baena 73 69 71, Stephanie Louden 71 71 71, Natalie Gulbis 72 69 72, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 70 73 70, Eunjung Yi (SKor) 74 66 73, Stacy Lewis 69 69 75
214 Jimin Kang (SKor) 70 73 71, Il Mi Chung (SKor) 69 68 77, Meg Mallon 71 72 71, Kris Tamulis 76 67 71, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 69 71 74
215 Paula Creamer 73 68 74, Johanna Head (Eng) 71 68 76, Laura Davies (Eng) 71 71 73, Nicole Castrale 72 70 73, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 69 75
216 Jamie Hullett 70 72 74, Kyeong Eun Bae (SKor) 72 69 75, Charlotte Mayorkas 70 73 73, Lee Ann Walker-Cooper 70 70 76, Meredith Duncan 71 70 75
217 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 72 71 74, In Kyung Kim (SKor) 72 71 74, Sarah Jane Kenyon 75 68 74
221 Dorothy Delasin 73 70 78

Chance to see Europe's female stars

of future at Murcar Links this week

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION

It is hard to predict which team from the star-studded field is going to win the European girls' team championship, which takes place this coming week from Tuesday to Saturday, July 8 to 12 at Murcar Links Golf Club, just horth of Aberdeen.

Make no mistake, “girls” in the title does not mean that this is a lesser tournament than the European Ladies Team Championship which is taking place at the same time at Stenungsund GC, Sweden.

There is very little difference, if any, in the standard of girls' and ladies' golf nowadays. The old adage of age and experience beating youthful enthusiasm is no longer true. Now fearless, attacking golf wins tournaments, and the European youngsters are afraid of no one, with no golf course too difficult for them.
Nineteen countries have signed up to take part in the 2008 girls' European tournament, and many of them have chosen their best team for this event. It’s going to be a treat to watch, and the SLGA would urge you to go along to Murcar Links and enjoy this feast of female golf.
The youngest ever GB&I player in the Curtis Cup, 16-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie in Perthshire leads Scotland’s team into the fray.

Carly, a past U-18 and U-21 Scottish champion, won the European Young Masters individual girls' event in France last year.
Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar), top qualifier in the recent Scottish Ladies’ Championship at Lossiemouth and the current Scottish schoolgirls’ champion, along with Sammy Vass (Tain) and Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), both members of the Scottish National Ladies B Squad, make up the team, captained by past Scottish champion, Elaine Moffat.
With home advantage, and home support, they should go far.
England and Ireland are both fielding their national ladies’ champions. Seventeen-year-old Hannah Barwood from Knowle in Cheshire, winner of the English Ladies Championship at Ganton in May, is joined by Rachel Connor (Manchester), Alex Peters (Notts’ Ladies) and Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) to make up a formidable English team.
The 13-year-old Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, from the Slieve Russell Club in Ireland, who played each other in the final of the Irish Ladies Close Championship at Westport in May… Leona won… are competing in their second European girls' championship.
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), a full Irish international and Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), make up the Irish team.
The Welsh team of Amy Boulden, Natasha Gobey, Kelly Miller and Katherine O'Connor will be trying hard.
Last year’s results in Oslo were very disappointing, with none of the GB&I teams qualifying for the top flight. England came out best in 10th place, Ireland were 12th, Scotland 13th.and Wales 19th, so there is room for improvement but the four GB&I teams will have their work cut out to compete with a very strong European presence.
Last year's winners Sweden, are fielding a completely different team this year, but that does not mean that they are a pushover. The names of Josephine Janson, Louise Larsson, Amanda Strang and Johanna Tillstrom may not be familiar but their country’s expertise at producing winners is extraordinary.
2007 runners-up, Netherlands, have three of their four girls returning, namely Caroline Karsten, Maaike Naafs and Karlijin Zaanen.
Spain, always a strong side in any European event, field Marta Silva, who finished 5th equal in the LET Tenerife Open two weeks ago in their team.
Italy, who prepared for this event by bringing a squad to the Scottish Under 16 Championships at Craigielaw in April, have the winner of that tournament, Laura Sedda, along with 2006 Junior Ryder Cup star, Guila Molinaro, in the blue team.
France, who took their Girls and Ladies teams to the Irish Stroke Play at Westport last weekend are fielding their national champion, Emilie Alonso, along with Audrey Goumard, the top qualifier in Oslo last year.
Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Germany also cannot be discounted. Spectators are encouraged to go along to watch some of the present and future stars of female European amateur golf in action at Murcar Links.
2008 Teams
AUSTRIA
Captain: Christa Piber.
Team: Lisa Folk, Anja Purgouer, Sarah Schober, Marina Stutz.
BELGIUM
Captain: Lauren Van Gerven.
Team: Laura Charlier, Joelle Van Baarle, Lauren Van Gerven, Sara Vanzonhoven.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Captain: Martina Dornikova.
Team: Emily Curry-Bartonova, Katerina Ruzickova, Klara Spilkova, Karolina Vlckova. DENMARK
Captain: Annika Östberg.
Team: Nicole B Larson, Charlotte Lorentzen, Daisy Neilsen, Mai Schodt.
ENGLAND
Captain: Julie Brown.
Team: Hannah Barwood, Rachel Connor, Alexandra Peters, Kelly Tidy.
FINLAND
Captain: Nina Isaksson
Team: Jenny Haggblom, Anne Hakula, Sofia Hoglund, Sanna Nuutinen.
FRANCE
Captain: Maïtena Delamontagne.
Team: Emilie Alonso, Alexandra Bonetti, Rosanna Crepiat, Audrey Goumard.
GERMANY
Captain: Miriam Hiller.
Team: Sophia Popov, Nicola Rossler, Victoria Scherer, Marie Tschida.
ICELAND
Captain: Steinunn Eggertsdottir.
Team: Signy Arnorsdottir, Ingunn Gunnarsdottir, Olafi þorunn Kristinnsdottir, Eyglo Myrra Oskarsdottir.
IRELAND
Captain: Sinead Keane.
Team: Victoria Bradshaw, Sarah Cunningham, Leona Maguire, Lisa Maguire.
ITALY
Captain: Alessandra Salvi.
Team: Chiara Brizzolari, Alessia Knight, Giulia Molinaro, Laura Sedda.
LATVIA
Captain: Laura Kupla.
Team: Linda Dobele, Krista Puisite, Mara Puisite, Eliza Vilde.
NETHERLANDS
Captain: Floris van Imhoff.
Team: Karin Jansen, Caroline Karsten, Maaike Naafs, Karlijin Zaanen.
NORWAY
Captain: Lise Bjornstad.
Team: Tonje Daffinrud, Michaela Gunhildred, Solveig Helgeson, Karianne Hillaas.
SCOTLAND
Captain: Elaine Moffat.
Team: Carly Booth, Kelsey MacDonald, Sammy Vass, Rebecca Wilson.
SPAIN
Captain: Sonia Cólogan.
Team: Anna Arrese, Ana Fernandez de Mesa, Elia Folch, Marta Silva.
SWEDEN
Captain: Louise Permelin.
Team: Josephine Janson, Louise Larsson, Amanda Strang, Johanna Tillstrom.
SWITZERLAND
Captain: Annette Weber.
Team: Rebecca Huber, Anais Maggetti, Sherlyn Popelka, Fanny Vuignier.
WALES
Captain: Jill Evans.
Team: Amy Boulden, Natasha Gobey, Kelly Miller, Katherine O'Connor.
FORMAT OF TOURNAMENT
Two rounds of stroke play on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the best three scratch scores counting each day for each team.
Teams are then seeded on their aggregate score over the two days and put in an automatic draw into two flights of eight teams and a third flight of three teams for the match-play stages.
From Thursday to Saturday teams play two foursomes and three singles matches each day against other teams within their flight, with the winners going through to semi-finals and final, and the losers playing each other for the lesser places.
At the end of the tournament the teams are ranked in order from 1 to 19.
Last year 19 teams took part at Oslo Golf Club, Norway. The weather was awful throughout the tournament, with frequent evacuations for thunderstorms and rain delays. Matches were curtailed and the format was reduced to one foursome and two singles on the final day to get the players round before heavy rain again flooded the course.
Sweden beat Netherlands 2-1 in the final.

Order of Merit 2007
1 Sweden, 2 Netherlands, 3 Denmark, 4 Germany, 5 Spain, 6 France, 7 Belgium, 8 Norway 9 Czech Republic, 10 England 11 Italy 12 Ireland 13 Scotland, 14 Austria, 15 Finland, 16 Iceland 17 Portugal 18 Switzerland 19 Wales.
The course from the ladies’ tees is 5607 yds, 5127 metres, par 72, SSS 73 Course rating is 73.5 and slope is 139.
The SLGA is running the tournament in conjunction with the European Golf Association. Address: The Den, 2 Dundee Road, Perth PH2 7DW Phone: +44 1738 442357 Fax: +44 1738 442380 There is a dedicated website http://www.eurogirlsgolftc.co.uk/

Email: info@eurogirlsgolftc.co.uk

Some of the Aberdeenshire girls who took part in today's competition at Inverurie Golf Club. Vicki Powell (Deeside) is pictured centre front with the Grant Trophy she won at a previous county girls' meeting when the trophy was not available for presentation. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it (Cal Carson Golf Agency image, all rights reserved).

Kimberley Beveridge, in action left, and above with her dad Allan as driver of the buggy at today's Aberdeenshire girls' medal competition at Inverurie (Cal Carson Golf Agency images, all rights reserved).

Kimberley, competing from a buggy,
is a first for Aberdeenshire girls

Louise McGillivray (Banchory) had the best scratch score of 80 in today's Aberdeenshire girls' medal at Inverurie Golf Club.
Next best with an 83 was Megan Clyne (Deeside) with Rachel Polson (Peterculter) third on 84.
Kristina Vannet, daughter of the Peterculter Golf Club director of golf, had the lowest net score of the day - a net 68 off 17, despite losing a ball off her first tee shot to start with a 6 and finishing with a 7 after tree trouble at the 18th.
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) made Aberdeenshire girls' golfing history by becoming the first player to be transported in a buggy between shots in one of the county junior medals.
Kimberley, who is 13, has had a hip operation and is unable to walk round a golf course at this stage of her recovery. She has competed in her home club Aboyne's competitions with her dad Allan driving the buggy - Kimberley is too young to drive - and that arrangement was continued at Inverurie today.
Playing off a handicap of 12, Kimberley had a net score of 76.

***In 1998, a disabled American professional golfer, Casey Martin, 25, who could not walk long distances, won the right to play on the US PGA Tour using a motorised buggy.

The Tour opposed Martin but, after a six-day hearing, a US Court granted him a legal right to use the buggy at all pro tournaments. Martin later lost his player's card because he did not score well enough.

Leading scores at Inverurie:
Par 70. LGU SS 71. CSS 71.
SCRATCH
80 L McGillivray (Banchory).
83 M Clyne (Deeside).
84 R Polson (Peterculter).
85 K Vannet (Peterculter), S Alexander (Deeside).
HANDICAP
68 K Vannet (Peterculter) (17).
72 L McGillivray (Banchory) (8), M Clyne (Deeside) (11).
74 V Powell (Deeside) (19), R Polson (Peterculter) (10), T Seivwright (Peterculter) (19).
75 H Bycroft (Alford) (29), K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (14).
76 K Beveridge (Aboyne) (12), E Franks (Ballater) (17).
77 S Alexander (Deeside) (8).
79 K Robb (Alford) (34), N Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (10).
81 M Johnstone (Northern) (5)
83 J Booth (Kemnay) (22)
89 O Borwick (McDonald Ellon) (28).
90 Z Marr (Inverurie) (36).

Carly Booth leading amateur and top Scot

Hudson shoots a final 64

in wind and rain to

catch leader Reid

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
By BETHAN CUTLER
England’s Rebecca Hudson captured her second title in the space of three weeks with a final round 64 at the weather-interrupted Ladies English Open today.
Hudson came from four shots behind the overnight leader Melissa Reid, also from England, to capture the title by a stroke on a wet and windy day at The Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame.
The 29-year-old from Doncaster, pictured holding aloft the trophy, fired eight birdies, with four on the front nine and four on the back, for a 10-under-par 206 total and a first prize of €24,750.
With no tournament scheduled on the Ladies European Tour the previous week, Hudson’s win followed her recent triumph at the Tenerife Ladies Open, played in contrasting sunny and dry conditions. It was her third win on the LET after a maiden tour title in Hungary in 2006.
“Back to back wins, I can’t believe it,” said an emotional Hudson. “To win in your home country is just fantastic. It’s just wonderful. To have two English players at the top is something special as well.
“At the beginning of the day I knew that someone would have to shoot low to catch Mel but I didn’t think this would happen. I hit some good golf shots and played the golf course the way I wanted to.”
As in Tenerife, Hudson employed her good friend and fellow Tour professional Kirsty Fisher as her caddie for the final round. She added: “Me and Kirsty lined up the putts well; we worked well together. We didn’t fight the wind, we worked with it.”
Hudson was presented with her trophy by Sir Michael Parkinson, the president of the golf club.
Playing in the final pairing, one group behind Hudson, Reid fired a final round 69 and finished on a nine-under-par total. She missed a 10 foot birdie putt to catch Hudson on the par-five 17th and then had to settle for a regulation par at the last hole after pulling her approach shot into the rough. Her chip stopped two feet short of the hole.
Reid, the tour’s leading rookie player, said: “To be honest, I can’t take anything away from Rebecca’s 64. In these conditions it was phenomenal. She won the tournament. I’m pretty gutted right now but I’ve got to stay patient and maybe the win will come pretty soon.
"I still made a couple of mistakes, which I want to erase. I’m learning all the time and this was a great challenge in all the conditions.”
Australia’s Joanne Mills took outright third on six-under-par after a bogey-free 66 while Spain’s Marina Arruti was fourth on five-under-par. Denmark’s Iben Tinning and Austria’s Natascha Fink shared fifth on four-under, while Wales’ Brewerton, who won last year at Chart Hills, tied for seventh with England’s Lora Fairclough.
COLIN FARQUHARSON'S TAILPIECE.
Sixteen-year-old Comrie amateur Carly Booth must have been a very contented young lady as she flew from London to Aberdeen this evening to join up with the rest of the Scotland squad for this coming week's European girls' team championship over the Murcar Links.
Carly, one of several amateurs invited to play by the Ladies European Tour, finished as the leading amateur and the top Scot in the final placings, having professionals Kathryn Imrie, Lynn Kenny and Julie Forbes behind her.
Carly had rounds of 70, 77 and 74 for a total of five-over-par 221, which earned her joint 29th place and will send her into battle for Scotland with her confidence sky-high. Had she been a professional - which she can't become until her 18th birthday - she would have earned 1,683 Euros in this tournament.
Kathryn Imrie did pick up 1510 Euros for rounds of 73, 75 and 74 for a total of 222, the same total as Lynn Kenny who scored 71, 77 and 74. They finished joint 31st.
Jenna Wilson finished jt 37th on 223 with scores of 74, 73 and 76 for a pay-out of 1287 Euros.
Aboyne exile, now Ireland-based Julie Forbes scored 73, 75 and 78 for a total of 226 and a cheque for 825 Euros. Julie came joint 46th.

Ladies European Tour
THE OXFORDSHIRE LADIES ENGLISH OPEN
The OxfordShire Golf Club, Thame, Oxfordshire
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
206 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 70 64
207 Melissa Reid (Eng) 68 70 69
210 Joanne Mills (Aus) 68 76 66
211 Marina Arruti (Spa) 69 71 71
212 Natascha Fink (Aut) 72 73 67, Iben Tinning (Den) 73 72 67
213 Lora Fairclough (Eng) 72 71 70, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 74 69 70
214 Leah Hart (Aus) 71 73 70
216 Martina Gillen (Ire) 70 76 70, Yuki Sakurai (Jpn) 73 72 71, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 70 73 73
217 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 68 78 71, Valerie Michaud (Fra) 76 70 71, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 73 71 73, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 71 72 74
218 Lisa Hall (Eng) 72 75 71, Nina Reis (Swe) 74 72 72, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 70 76 72, Ellen Smets (Bel) 75 69 74
219 Anna Tybring (Swe) 70 78 71, Georgina Simpson (Eng) 73 75 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 77 71 71, Karen Lunn (Aus) 70 76 73, Claire Coughlan-Ryan (Ire) 73 71 75
220 Lydia Hall (Wal) 73 76 71, Jo Pritchard (Wal) 72 77 71, Rui Yokomine (Jpn) 72 71 77
221 Carly Booth (Sco) (am) 70 77 74, Kate Combes (Aus) 73 72 76
222 Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 73 76 73, Lynn Kenny (Sco) 71 77 74, Samantha Head (Eng) 71 77 74, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 73 75 74, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 75 71 76, Danielle Montgomery (Eng) 71 74 77
223 Sarah Nicholson (Nzl) 74 75 74, Jenna Wilson (Sco) 74 73 76, Zuzana Kamasova (Svk) 71 75 77
224 Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 68 83 73, Caroline Afonso (Fra) 73 78 73, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 75 72 77, Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 73 79
225 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 71 80 74, Mette Buus (Den) 75 75 75
226 Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 71 79 76, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 70 80 76, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 79 71 76, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 68 80 78, Julie Greciet (Fra) 70 78 78, Julie Forbes (Sco) 73 75 78, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 73 74 79
227 Ana Larraneta (Spa) 73 78 76, Mianne Bagger (Den) 73 78 76, Claire Aitken (Eng) (am) 73 74 80
228 Henrietta Zuel (Eng) 74 76 78, Camille Fallay (Fra) 74 74 80
229 Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 76 74 79, Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ) 69 80 80
230 Denise-Charlotte Becker (Ger) 72 79 79
231 Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 74 76 81, Morgana Robbertze (Sa) 79 71 81

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
+Play was suspended because of bad weather before the second round was completed and a cut made.
Par 144 (2 x 72)
132 Meena Lee 67 65.
133 Kristy McPherson 64 69, Angela Park 71 62.
135 Jee Young Lee 66 69, Jeong Jang 6669.
136 Louise Friberg 70 66.
137 Karen Stupples 68 69, Cristie Kerr 72 65, Helen Alfredsson 65 72, Heather Young 70 67.
Other scores:
139 Johanna Head 71 698.
140 Catriona Matthew 72 68.
142 Laura Davies 71 71.
Projected cut: Totals of 143 or better to qualify.