United States Women's Open Scoreboard
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
Saucon Valley Country Club, The Old Course, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
211 Cristie Kerr 69 70 72
213 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 71 72 70
215 Jean Reynolds 69 72 74, Teresa Lu (Tai) 76 69 70
216 In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 72 72, Candie Kung (Tai) 71 77 68, Hee Young Park (Kor) 70 74 72
217 Brittany Lincicome 72 72 73, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 74 71 72, Kyeong Bae (Kor) 75 73 69
218 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 75 67 76, Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 68 74 76, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 72 74 72, Sun Ju Ahn (Kor) 75 71 72, Morgan Pressel 74 75 69, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 74 69 75
219 Paula Creamer 72 68 79, Jennifer Song (am) 72 74 73, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 74 71, Meaghan Francella 73 72 74, Anna Grzebien 73 77 69, Nicole Castrale 74 71 74
220 Louise Friberg (Swe) 75 72 73, Akiko Fukushima (Jpn) 76 72 72, Laura Davies (Eng) 72 75 73, Maria Jose Uribe (Col) 75 76 69
221 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 74 70 77, Karrie Webb (Aus) 75 72 74, Amy Yang 75 71 75, Hee Kyung Seo (Kor) 75 73 73, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 69 79 73, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 76 71 74, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 75 75, Jimin Kang (Kor) 76 71 74, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 72 77 72
222 Azahara Munoz (Spa) (am) 72 76 74, Young Kim (Kor) 71 75 76, Alexis Thompson (am) 71 73 78, Kristy McPherson 71 74 77, Brittany Lang 75 74 73, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 72 75 75
223 Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 72 75 76, Juli Inkster 78 73 72, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 74 72 77, In-Bee Park (Kor) 75 71 77, Sandra Gal (Ger) 75 71 77, Alison Lee 75 72 76, Mi-sun Cho (Kor) 76 74 73
224 Yuri Fudoh (Jpn) 73 71 80, Jessica Korda 72 77 75, Becky Morgan (Wal) 75 76 73, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 74 74 76, Amanda Blumenherst 75 76 73
225 Allie White 74 73 78, He yong Choi (Kor) 77 74 74
226 Stacy Prammanasudh 73 75 78, Karen Stupples (Eng) 73 75 78, Meena Lee (Kor) 72 79 75, Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn) 77 72 77, Michele Redman 77 73 76
227 Candace Schepperle 73 78 76, Mika Miyazato (Jpn) 75 76 76, Cindy Lacrosse 76 75 76, Christina Kim 72 76 79, Allison Fouch 75 75 77, Stacy Lewis 78 73 76
228 Carolina Llano 73 77 78, Haeji Kang (Kor) 73 78 77
229 Jennie Lee 75 76 78, Mina Harigae 77 72 80, Karine Icher (Fra) 76 74 79
235 Lisa Ferrero (Mex) 77 74 84

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Scotland beat Wales 5-0 to earn ninth

place ranking, Silver medals for England

Scotland beat Wales 5-0 in their final Flight B match to be officially ranked ninth of the 18 competing countries in the European women's amateur team golf championship at Bled, Slovenia.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) won the foursomes by 4 and 3 over Amy Boulden and Gemma Bradbury.
In the singles, the Scotland dominance continued. Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) bt left-handed Stephanie Evans by 3 and 2. Carly Booth (Comrie) was a one-hole winner over Rhian Wyn Thomas. Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) beat Tara Davies 4 and 3 while Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) also won by 4 and 3 over Lucy Gould.
Considering they were a little unlucky to lose out on eighth place in the Championship Flight, it was not a bad performance at all by the Scots. Ninth was the highest finish they could achieve after that - and they did it with a little bit of style.
The official rankings at the conclusion of the championship were:
1 Germany, 2 England, 3 France, 4 Spain, 5 Sweden, 6 Netherlands, 7 Denmark, 8 Norway.
9 Scotland, 10 Wales, 11 Austria, 12 Switzerland, 13 Italy, 14 Finland, 15 Belgium, 16 Iceland.
17 Ireland, 18 Slovenia.

England have to settle for silver medals

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England had to settle for the silver medal in the European ladies’ team championship in Bled, Slovenia, after they lost an incredibly tight final to Germany 4-3.
The destination of the gold medals was decided by the last match on the course – and on the 19th hole. Emma Brown had holed a snaking downhill putt to take her match into extra time, but her challenge faltered when she found sand with her approach to the 19th.
Team captain Lynn Booth said afterwards: “They are very, very disappointed after coming so close. But we have proved we can hang in there with the best in Europe – and a silver is a silver.”
The match was finely balanced all day. The two teams took one foursomes apiece and at the halfway stage of the singles all was level: England were up in two, down in two and all square in one.
Jodi Ewart scored England’s first point when she won on the 18th. English champion Charlie Douglass added another point when she won her match on the 19th. But, with Hannah Barwood and Rachel Jennings both beaten on the 16th hole, England’s hopes rested on the final game. This year’s championship, though, belonged to Germany.
France beat Spain 4-3 to win the bronze medal in the play-off for third place.
England results:
Foursomes - Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) & Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) lost to Stephanie Kirchmayr & Lara Katzy 1 hole, Jodi Ewart (Catterick) & Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) bt Caroline Masson & Pia Halbig 4 and 3.
Singles - Douglass bt Thea Hoffmeister at 19th, Ewart bt Kirchmayr 1 hole, Brown lost to Halbig at 19th, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) lost to Masson 3 and 2, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) lost to Katzy 3 and 2.
For all the details log on to the hampionship website: www.ealtc2009.eu
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

England girls beaten in bronze medal play-off

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England left the European girls’ team championship empty-handed after they lost the bronze medal play-off to Spain. They put up a great fight on the final day at Kokkola, Finland, but were eventually beaten 3½ -1½ and had to settle for fourth place in the championship.
Lancashire’s Kelly Tidy and Suffolk’s Heidi Baek won a marathon struggle in the foursomes to keep England on level terms after the morning session. They birdied the 18th to square the match and finally claimed their point on the fifth extra hole.
But the singles went Spain’s way and they took the honours after their players defeated both Kelly Tidy and Heidi Baek.
England captain Faye Sanderson commented: “The girls played really well today and they are very disappointed. Fourth is probably the worst place to finish. You’re right in there, in contention for a medal – and then at the end you’re not on the podium.”
The championship was won by top seeds Ireland who beat Sweden 4-1.
England results:
Foursomes: Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) & Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) bt Ana Fernandez de Mesa & Anna Arrese at 23rd; Alex Peters (Notts Ladies) & Hayley Davis (Ferndown) lost to Rocio Sanches & Camilla Hedberg 2 and 1 (1-1).
Singles: Tidy lost to Sanches 3 and 2, Peters halved with Hedberg, Baek lost to Arrese 3 and 2,
Championship website: www.egagirls2009.fi
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

SCOTLAND, beaten by Wales, RANKED 16th OF 19

Ireland girls are European Under-18 team champions

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Ireland defeated Sweden 4-1 in the final of the European girls' team championships at Kokkola, Finland today to become European Under-18 title-holders for the first time in Irish golfing history.
The Irish team of 14-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), who were also leading qualifiers in the tournament, once again got off to a dream start in today’s match with both morning foursomes pairings, Lisa & Leona Maguire and Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow securing 2 and 1 wins over their Swedish opponents.
It was these pairings that were a major factor in Ireland’s success at this championship, with the girls boasting a 100% record in the foursomes matches played over the week.
With just one singles point, from the three on offer in the afternoon, being required for victory, Leona Maguire duly delivered with a two-hole win against Emma Nilsson, to claim victory for Ireland and bring a triumphant end to a nervy afternoon.
Sister Lisa was in the midst of an epic battle with Johanna Tillstrom and was playing the first extra tie hole when she was called in, due to the halved match custom which prevails in these European championships.
Stephanie Meadow won the 17th hole to extend her match and was in good position on the 18th when she too was called in, giving a final result of Ireland 4 Sweden 1.
Scotland, beaten 2 1/2-1/2 by Wales in their final match, were officially ranked 16th of the 19 countries taking part.
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) and Sammy Leslie (Westhill) lost the foursomes tie by 2 and 1 to the Welsh pair of Chloe Williams and Natasha Gobey.
Lesley Atkins (Minto) lost by one hole to Kelly Miller and with the overall result determined, the match between Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) and Katie Bradbury was called in as a square tie.
Saturday details:
FINAL
IRELAND 4, SWEDEN 1
Foursomes: Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire bt Johanna Tillstrom & Emma Nilsson 2 and 1; Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow bt Josephine Janson & Emelie Lundstrom 2 and 1 (2-0).
Singles: Lisa Maguire halved with Johanna Tillstrom, Leona Maguire bt Emma Nilsson 2 holes, Stephanie Meadow halved with Josephine Janson (2-1).
THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF
Spain 3 ½, England 1 ½.
FIFTH PLACE PLAY-OFF
Finland 2, Switzerland 1.
SEVENTH PLACE PLAY-OFF
Czech Republic 2, Belgium 1.

FLIGHT B
Netherlands 2, France 1.
Germany 2, Austria 1.
Norway ½, Denmark 2 ½.
Wales 2 ½, Scotland ½.

FLIGHT C
Italy 2 ½, Greece ½

FINAL STANDINGS
1 Ireland, 2 Sweden, 3 Spain, 4 England, 5 Finland, 6 Switzerland, 7 Czech Republic, 8 Belgium.
9 Netherlands, 10 France, 11 Germany, 12 Austria, 13 Norway, 14 Denmark, 15 Wales, 16 Scotland, 17 Italy, 18 Latvia, 19 Greece.

UNITED STATES WOMEN'S OPEN

Cristie Kerr leads from Paula Creamer

- and Laura Davies makes the cut

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
Cristie Kerr knows the emotion of winning a US Women's Open, and she wants to experience it again -- preferably this week.
Two years after winning the national championship, the 31-year-old Kerr is in position again.
She strung together three birdies on the front nine Friday in a round of 1-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Paula Creamer after 36 holes.
Kerr overcame a bout of light-headedness at the start and had one of only six rounds under par on the tough Saucon Valley Country Club lay-out, offsetting four bogeys with five birdies. She stands at 3-under 139.
Due to the narrow fairways and speedy undulating greens at the Old Course, the cut line fell at nine-over-par
Kerr moved around the course with the confidence that only a major winner can display.
"It's great to know that I've won one, and I know I can do it on the weekend," she said. "I feel very comfortable."
Not feeling her best at the start, Kerr opened with a bogey and four pars. She began feeling better on the 13th -- she started on the back nine -- and hit her stride on the 15th through 17th.
She rolled in putts of 9, 3 and 8 feet for her run of birdies and, after a pair of bogeys to open her back nine, made birdie putts of 15 and 12 feet on the way in to maintain the lead.
The former champion let it be known earlier in the week that she has the game it takes to win a second Women's Open.
"Nobody's immune to getting pumped up and having adrenaline obviously, but I feel very comfortable with my mindset and my game plan and what I have to do. So I feel like I know what I have to do, instead of in '07 you're kind of like, well, what do I do in this situation? How are you going to feel, teeing up in the final group on Sunday?
"I kind of know what that feels like, so I kind of have a little advantage there."
Creamer is hoping to negate that advantage as she chases her first Women's Open title.
She carded a three-under 68 after an opening 72 and was alone in second at two-under 140.
Creamer is coming off a thumb injury that forced her to miss the last two tournaments but there was no sign the sore thumb is affecting her play at Saucon Valley.
"Being able to play pain-free is very nice, and not having to withdraw or worry about my thumb is a very nice feeling," she said.
Creamer started the day one over par, and moved into red numbers after back-to-back birdies at the ninth and 10th. Her round included five birdies, two bogeys and 11 pars, good enough for sole possession of second, her best standing after two rounds in an Open.
The 22-year-old knows she has a long weekend ahead in pursuit of her first major win.
"I think that just going out this weekend is going to be hard," Creamer said. "The USGA (the organising body) is not going to make it easy on us, that's for sure. I'm going to have to be prepared for that.
"I'm going to hit some good shots and not be rewarded. I'm going to hopefully hit some good shots and be rewarded."
Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds is third after a 72 for a 1-under 141.
Reynolds continued to be the surprise of the event. A two-time winner this year on the Futures Tour -- and its leading money winner -- she hung tough in just her second Women's Open.
"I've managed to just leave myself in good positions to where I'm not making big numbers," she said. "I've made my share of bogeys, but I've been fortunate to make a lot of birdies this week, too."
Reynolds overcame hitting just nine of 14 fairways to give herself a shot at the championship.
First-round leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea shot a 3-over 74 and was tied with Giulia Sergas of Italy at even par. Sergas had the lowest round of the day, a four-under 67, highlighted by some dead-eye putting from a variety of ranges. "I was in the zone," she said.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa struggled to a round of 8-over 79 and stood at 6 over for the championship.
The final two rounds will be spiced with a bit of old and new. Former champion Laura Davies, playing on a special exemption, made the cut, as did 14-year-old Florida amateur Alexis Thompson, who is in contention after a 73 put her at 2-over and tied for eighth.
Davies followed an opening 72 with a 75 and is at 5-over, tied for 28th. She won the 1987 Open, beating Ayako Okamoto and JoAnne Carner in an 18-hole play-off for her first professional victory. She has played in every Open since 1986.
Thompson made the cut for the first time in three tries, following an even-par 71 with a 2-over 73. But her 2-over 144 score not only made the cut by seven strokes, it left her in contention for the title two years after she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women's Open.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE SCOREBOARD

United States Women's Open Championship Scoreboard
Valley Country Club's Old Course,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
140 Paula Creamer 72 68, Cristie Kerr 69 71
141 Jean Reynolds 69 72
142 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 75 67, Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 68 74
143 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 71 72, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 74 69
144 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 74 70, Yuri Fudoh (Jpn) 73 71, In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 72, Alexis Thompson 71 73, Brittany Lincicome 72 72, Hee Young Park (Kor) 70 74
145 Teresa Lu (Tai) 76 69, Meaghan Francella 73 72, Kristy McPherson 71 74, Nicole Castrale 74 71, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 74 71
146 Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 72 74, Young Kim (Kor) 71 75, Amy Yang 75 71, In-Bee Park (Kor) 75 71, Sandra Gal (Ger) 75 71, Jennifer Song 72 74, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 75, Sun Ju Ahn (Kor) 75 71, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 74 72
147 Allie White 74 73, Karrie Webb (Aus) 75 72, Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 72 75, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 76 71, Jimin Kang (Kor) 76 71, Louise Friberg (Swe) 75 72, Laura Davies 72 75, Alison Lee 75 72, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 72 75
148 Stacy Prammanasudh 73 75, Karen Stupples 73 75, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 69 79, Hee Kyung Seo (Kor) 75 73, Candie Kung (Tai) 71 77, Christina Kim 72 76, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 74, Azahara Munoz (Spa) 72 76, Akiko Fukushima (Jpn) 76 72, Kyeong Bae (Kor) 75 73, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 74 74
149 Morgan Pressel 74 75, Jessica Korda 72 77, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 72 77, Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn) 77 72, Brittany Lang 75 74, Mina Harigae 77 72
150 Carolina Llano 73 77, Anna Grzebien 73 77, Allison Fouch 75 75, Michele Redman 77 73, Karine Icher (Fra) 76 74, Mi-sun Cho (Kor) 76 74
151 Mika Miyazato (Jpn) 75 76, Candace Schepperle 73 78, Cindy Lacrosse 76 75, Meena Lee (Kor) 72 79, Juli Inkster 78 73, Haeji Kang (Kor) 73 78, He yong Choi (Kor) 77 74, Becky Morgan 75 76, Lisa Ferrero (Mex) 77 74, Stacy Lewis 78 73, Jennie Lee (Ae) 75 76, Maria Jose Uribe (Col) 75 76, Amanda Blumenherst 75 76
MISSED THE CUT
152 Miki Saiki (Jpn) 76 76, Stephanie Kenoyer 81 71, Dewi Schreefel 73 79, Diana D'Alessio 76 76, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 79, Kris Tschetter 75 77
153 Joo Mi Kim (Kor) 73 80, Irene Cho 80 73, Leta Lindley 77 76, Johanna Mundy 74 79, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 76 77, Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 77 76, Angela Stanford 78 75, Alena Sharp (Can) 74 79, M.j Hur (Kor) 78 75
154 Beth Bader 77 77, Esther Choe 78 76, Rosie Jones 76 78, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 80 74, Lindy Duncan 78 76, Jane Park 80 74, Yoora Kim (Kor) 72 82, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 80 74, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 77 77, Carin Koch (Swe) 74 80, Eunjung Yi (Kor) 80 74, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 81 73, Kaitlin Drolson 81 73
155 Kristen Park 76 79, Anja Monke (Ger) 77 78, Jeong Jang (Kor) 77 78
156 Hannah Jun 76 80, Sarah Lee 79 77, Caryn Wilson 77 79, Brittany Altomare 75 81, Nannette Hill 81 75, Ya-Ni Tseng (Tai) 77 79, Tzu-chi Lin (Tai) 79 77, Nicole Hage 74 82, Katherine Hull (Aus) 78 78, Victoria Tanco 76 80
157 Shiho Oyama (Jpn) 78 79, Jamie Fischer 78 79, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 78 79
158 Libby Smith 79 79, Kimberly Kim 82 76, Heather Daly-Donofrio 79 79, Meaghan Stasi 76 82
159 Ani Gulugian 77 82, Alice Kim 80 79, Angela Park (Bra) 77 82, Sunny Oh 82 77, Chelsea Stelzmiller 80 79, Meredith Duncan 79 80
160 Marina Alex 82 78, Michelle Shin 78 82, Meg Mallon 78 82, Birdie Kim (Kor) 81 79, Briana Vega 81 79
161 Isabelle Beisiegel 84 77
162 Katherine Perry 78 84, Sophia Sheridan (Mex) 77 85, Laura Diaz 77 85, Janice Olivencia (Pr) 84 78, Kathleen Ekey 82 80
163 Mariko Tumangan 81 82, Alison Walshe 79 84, Tiffany Lua 81 82, Mallory Fraiche 82 81
164 Yueer Cindy Feng 81 83, Jessica Carafiello 79 85
168 Haley Stephens (Col) 89 79
171 Tracy Stanford 86 85
173 Ashleigh Albrecht 88 85, Rebecca Kim 85 88

BONHAMS TEES OFF SCOTTISH SALE WITH

PICTURE OF OPEN VENUE

A rare painting of this year’s Open venue, Turnberry, by renowned Scottish landscape painter George Houston (1869-1947) will be offered at Bonhams Scottish Sale in Edinburgh on August 21st.
Painted in the 1930’s, it depicts a view over the course and the lighthouse to Arran, with golfers in mid-ground. The painting captures adroitly the characteristic light of the area. It is expected to fetch £12,000-18,000.
Chris Brickley, Head of Pictures for Bonhams in Scotland, says: “Houston is one of Scotland’s most popular 20th Century landscape painters. The golfing market is always eagerly contested, and I am sure there are any number of golfing fans at this year’s Open who would love this oil as a memento.”
George Houston was a prolific painter in oil and watercolour. He specialised in painting landscapes of Ayrshire and Argyllshie. He was particularly noted for creating atmosphere, climatic conditions and season in each of his scenes.
For further information email m.wilcox@bonhams.com

Overnight US Women's Open leader leaves door open with a 74

Overnight leader South Korean Na Yeon Choi returned a second-round 74 - three over par for the testing Sucon Valley Country Club course - and her 36-hole even-par total of 142 looked vulnerable with more than half the field still to come in.
Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr and Jean Reynolds were all late starters on the second day.
Florida 14-year-old amateur Alexis Thompson is in position to make the cut for the first time in three tries. She followed her even-par opening round with a 73 for a two-over total of 144.
The field will be cut to the 60 lowest scores and ties, and any player within 10 shots of the lead, after 36 holes.

Bradley Neil takes the Scottish Under-14

boys' title home to Blairgowrie

By ROSS DUNCAN, Scottish Golf Union
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil clinched the Loretto School Scottish Boys U14s Championship at a sun drenched Largs with a narrow one-stroke victory over the chasing pack in Ayrshire today.
The 13-year-old, a member of the SGU U-16 development squad, recovered from a shaky start to post an excellent one-over par round of 69 to edge out national Academy team-mate Ewan Scott (St Andrews) and Surrey’s Jack Duguid (Farnham).
Neil bogeyed three of the first four holes but set his round alight with a fine birdie at the fitth. Further dropped shots at the seventh and eighth put the 4-handicapper back to four over par for his round. However, back-to-back birdies at the ninth and 10th gave the Perth & Kinross youngster some momentum.
Another birdie at the 13th followed but his title looked derailed with a costly double bogey at the 15th. Once again, Neil bounced back immediately with a birdie 3 at the 16th and parred in to clinch the national title.
Young Fifer Ewan Scott finished in the runners-up spot after carding a two-over par 70. The 14-year-old, who finished tied fourth in the Scottish U16s Championship yesterday at Largs, maintained his excellent form and he can pleased with his showing in Ayrshire this week.
One of the most impressive performances of the day came from Surrey’s Jack Duguid, a 10-handicapper who also fired a two-over par 70. He was edged out of the silver medal spot by Scott’s better inward half, but will be smiling on the long journey home with much reduced handicap.
Dunblane New’s Blair Carnegie finished fourth on three-over par after a 71.
Martin Maxwell from Copt Heath won the Gibson Trophy for the leading Under 12s player with a fine round of 74.
In the Loretto School Scottish U14s Girls Championship, the title went to Belgium’s Jennifer Remy after she posted a six-over par 79 to edge out Selby’s Ellie Goodall on the better inward half.
Rick Valentine, Director of Golf at Loretto School Golf Academy, said:
“We’ve had another excellent event here at Largs on a fantastic golf course with great weather. It’s great to see so many good young players here, from Scotland, England and a strong overseas contingent, illustrating the strength of this championship.”
“Loretto School is very proud to continue our support of the SGU and SLGA and congratulate both Bradley and Jennifer on their victories.” he added.
For all today’s scores from Largs, click here.
http://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/leaderboard.asp?tour={5F701E58-CBDE-46C1-B1B6-B338EF13D84F}&grp=1&clubOnly=1&color=1&lang=1033

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Scotland beat Switzerland as England

qualify to play Germany in final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England beat France 4-3 to reach the final of the European ladies’ team championship at Bled, Slovenia. They play Germany tomorrow for the gold medals.
“It’s brilliant,” said team captain Lynn Booth. “But, we are trying to be terribly calm and take it one step at a time. It’s no good jumping up and down – so we came off the course, sat down as a group and had a cup of tea.”
The match was extremely tight throughout both sessions. Jodi Ewart and Rachel Jennings took an early knock in their foursomes when they lost six consecutive holes from the second and, although they steadied, they were beaten on the 15th.
However, English champion Charlie Douglass and Holly Clyburn pulled off a great win when they beat their opponents on the 19th to level the overall score.
“They showed great character and we were jubilant at being 1-1,” said Lynn.
In the singles, Jodi Ewart scored the first point when she closed out her opponent on the 15th, quickly followed by Hannah Barwood who won on the 15th. Rachel Jennings sealed the victory when she won her match on the 17th.
“It was a lovely match, played in a really good spirit,” said Lynn. “The French said the same and everyone enjoyed the good games and the good golf.”
Results:
SEMI-FINALS
ENGLAND 4, FRANCE 3
Foursomes (1-1)
Jodi Ewart (Catterick) & Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) lost to Lucy Andre & Audrey Riguelle 4 and 3.
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) & Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) bt Valentine Derrey & Morgane Bazin de Jessey at 19th
Singles (3-2)
Douglass lost to Andre 1 hole.
Jennings bt Derrey 2 and 1.
Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) lost to Marion Ricordeau 3 and 2.
Ewart bt Riguelle 5 and 4.
Hannah Barwood (Knowle) bt Bazin de Jessey 4 and 3.

GERMANY 4, SPAIN 3

FLIGHT B
WALES 4, AUSTRIA 1

SWITZERLAND 1/2, SCOTLAND 4 1/2
Foursomes (0-1)
Nadine Gruther & Lorranien Mulliez lost to Carly Booth & Kelsey MacDonald 5 and 4.
Singles (1/2-3 1/2)
Fabia Rothenfluh lost to Sally Watson 2 holes.
Melanie Matzler lost to Kylie Walker 1 hole.
Fanny Viugnier lost to Louise Kenney 2 and 1.
Rebecca Huber halved with Pamela Pretswell.

Championship website: http://www.ealtc2009.eu/

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Ireland girls beat England to reach

European final against Sweden

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Ireland defeated England 3½ to 1½ in the semi- finals of the European girls' team championship today and now take on Sweden in Saturday's final at Kokkola, Finland.
The Irish team of 14-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell, Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) got off to a wonderful start in the semi final tie, claiming victory in both the morning foursomes matches.
Lisa and Leona Maguire defeated England's Kelly Tidy and Heidi Baek by 3 and 2, while Laura McCarthy and Stephanie Meadow fought hard in an up and down match to beat Alexandra Peters and Hayley Davis by 2 and 1.
This gave Ireland a 2pt lead going into the afternoon’s play with just one point required from the three singles matches. A nail-biting afternoon followed with little between the sides. Leona, who provided the vital victory in Thursday's singles matches, was down throughout her match and eventually succumbed to Alexandra Peters at the 16th.
However, Irish women's champion Lisa stepped up to the challenge and booked Ireland’s place in the final with a crucial 2 and 1 win over the very talented Kelly Tidy.
Stephanie Meadow had been two down through eight holes but continued to battle, as she has done all week, and drew level with Heidi Baek after 15 holes before being called in due to the halved match custom which prevails in these European championships.
Tomorrow will see the Irish girls bid to win the European team title for the first time in history.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Semi-finals
IRELAND 3 1/2, ENGLAND 1 1/2
Foursomes: Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire bt Kelly Tidy & Heidi Baek 3 and 2; Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow bt Alexandra Peters & Hayley Davis 2 and 1 (2-0).
Singles: Lisa Maguire bt Tidy 2 and 1, Leona Maguire lost to Peters 3 and 2, Meadow halved with Baek (1 1/2-1 1/2).
SWEDEN 3 1/2 SPAIN 1 1/2.
Other results:
Switerland 2½, Belgium ½.
Finland 2, Czech Republic 1.
FLIGHT B
France 2, Austria 1.
Netherlands 2, Germany 1.
Denmark 2½, Scotland ½.
Norway 2, Wales 1.
FLIGHT C
Italy 3, Latvia 0.

Berkshire’s Fran Wilson wins LGU Gold Medal Final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Berkshire golfer Fran Wilson scored her biggest-ever success when she won the Midlands LGU Gold Medal Final at Wellingborough with an excellent net 69.
Fran, a member at Wexham Park Golf Club, said: “It was a marvellous day – but when I came in I couldn’t believe I had the lowest score!”
In fact, she won by three shots and had the added satisfaction of cutting her 13 handicap to 12. Fran first played golf in her teens, when she and her three siblings enjoyed a pitch-and-putt course built by their father in their large garden. “It was great, really good fun, but I wasn’t addicted – I was a gymnast at the time, then I played squash.”
She returned to golf a couple of years ago and is keen to reduce her handicap. “I’d like to get down to 10 and then into single figures so I play in every single medal,” she said.
LGU Gold Medal Finals are contested by the silver division players who returned the four best net medal scores at their club last season. Bronze division players compete in the LGU Silver Medal Finals.
In the Midlands event at Kettering, Kim Morley of Bourn Golf Club in Cambs & Hunts scored a four-shot win. She was playing off 24 and returned a net 65.
Results
Gold Medal Final at Wellingborough
Par 74 CSS 76:
1 Fran Wilson (Wexham Park) 82 – 13 = 69
2 Julia Brook (Croham Hurst) 76 – 4 = 72
3 Gemma Glenister (Ombersley) 80 – 8 = 72
4 Helen Audaer (Harewood Downs) 91 – 17 = 74
5 Jan Smith (South Essex) 93 – 19 = 74
6 Justine Voss (Henley) 78 – 4 = 74
Silver Medal Final at Kettering
Par 73 CSS 72
1 Kim Morley (Bourn) 89 – 24 = 65
2 Maureen Foote (Hinckley) 95 – 26 = 69
3 Rhoda Andrews (Lingdale) 93 – 24 = 69
4 Sue Flavin (Merrist Wood) 92 – 23 = 69
5 Emily Wingrove (South Herts) 96 – 25 = 71
6 Philippa Collier (Harpenden) 99 – 28 = 71
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
Tel. 01603 507 416

Ashley Cramond wins Midlands South

regional championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUE BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Warwickshire teenager Ashley Cramond won the inaugural EWGA Midlands South regional championship at Buckingham Golf Club.
Ashley, 15, is a member of The Warwickshire and trains with EWGA’s Select Midlands squad. She claimed her title when she beat Katherine O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath) one up after a closely-contested final. It was only the second match of the championship to go to the 18th hole. Earlier, Ashley beat Buckinghamshire junior Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) by 3 and 2. In the other semi-final Katherine beat the Oxfordshire county champion, Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) by 2 and 1.
Ashley led throughout the event, having been top qualifier with rounds of 70 and 71. Her morning score was a course record, breaking the standard set by Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) only half an hour earlier!
Qualifying prizewinners:
1st aggregate gross: Ashley Cramond (The Warwickshire) 141.
2nd aggregate gross: Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 145.
Best net: Annabel Dimmock (Beaconsfield) 140 on c/b from Megan Perry (Kidderminster) & Charlotte Taylor (Rugby).
Intermediate winner: Jess Burrows (Ellesborough) gross 151.
Junior winner: Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) gross 151.
Full details: www.bclga.org.uk
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Highland Women's Open Scoreboard

PITLOCHRY GOLF CLUB

Today's results:

Scratch
Semi- finals
Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) bt Kate Green (Bridge of Allan) 1 hole.
Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) 2 and 1
Final (Atholl Cup)
Gilbertson bt Capocci 4 and 3
+Robina has now won the Atholl Cup four times.

Silver handicap
Semi-finals
Letty Mackinnon (Kingsknowe) bt Marie Tansey (Elsham) 4 and 3.
Chloe Stokes (Driffield) bt Fiona Robertson (St Michaels) 3 and 2.
Final
Mackinnon bt Stokes 1 hole.
+Letty was five down at the turn but came back strong to beat 15-year-old Chloe on the 18th green.

Bronze handicap
Semi finals
Pam Wilson (St Michaels) bt Ann Garden (Pitlochry) at 19th
Hayley Carruthers (Pitlochry) bt Gwen Beaton (Pitlochry) 3 and 1.
Final
Carruthers bt Wilson 2 and 1.

Catriona Matthew looks for 'icing on the cake'

at Ricoh Women's British Open at Lytham

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IMG
Entries for the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open have closed and 124 of the field of 144 woman field are now confirmed for this year’s Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, 30th July to 2nd August.
As the only (ladies professional) Major to be played outside of the US , all of the World’s Top 15 players and an astonishing 47 of the World’s Top 50 players on the Official Rolex Rankings are in the line-up to play on this famous and historic links golf course. In what is the most international Major field of the year, there are already 23 nationalities represented with the qualifying events still to come to fill the 144 player field.
Along with the last 10 Major winners in the line-up for the final Major of 2009, the field is awash with fascinating stories; teenage sensation, Michelle Wie returning to seek her first LPGA victory having missed last year’s Championship, world number one, Lorena Ochoa, looking for her first major win since the April 2008 when she won the Kraft Nabisco and world number four, Paula Creamer aiming to break her Major duck at Royal Lytham using some top links tips from her experienced British coach, Dave Whelan.
North Berwick's Catriona Matthew, pictured above, provides perhaps the most interesting story at this year’s tournament. She celebrated the birth of her second daughter, Sophie, less than 2 months ago and will return to competitive play only the week before the Ricoh Women’s British Open as she attempts to secure her place in the 2009 European Solheim Cup team which will be announced on the Sunday of the Championship.
Catriona secured her place in this year’s tournament with a superb win at the 2009 HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup in January when four months pregnant and she explained how much she is looking forward to returning to Royal Lytham:

“The Ricoh Women’s British Open Championship is really giving me something to aim for – I would hate to have missed my home Major and I have already started light practice in preparation. I am loving being the mother of two such gorgeous daughters and Graeme and I feel so lucky. It would be the icing on the cake of a fantastic year if I could put in a good performance at this year’s Championship and make it into the Solheim Cup.”
This year’s Championship will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in the Northwest of England. Its credentials as a championship venue are impressive. As well as holding three Women’s British Opens - in 1998, 2003 and 2006 - Royal Lytham has hosted an impressive 10 men’s Open championships and two Ryder Cups.

Millions tuned into the 2008 Championship coverage as it was televised around the world, including on the BBC in the UK, ABC network television in the USA and on TV Asahi in Japan.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.
For more information, including the latest news and advance ticket offers, please visit https://nymail.imgworld.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=1e9ffe67dbee4305b6bd4ea5b1b6b2ff&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ricohwomensbritishopen.com%2f or call our ticket line on +448719459421.

United States Women's Open Scoreboard
SAUCON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (36-35). 6,740yd
68 Na Yeon Choi (Kor)
69 Jean Reynolds, Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Cristie Kerr
70 Hee Young Park (Kor)
71 Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Young Kim (Kor), Eun Hee Ji (Kor), Alexis Thompson (am), Kristy McPherson, Candie Kung (Tai)
72 Sun Young Yoo (Kor), Meena Lee (Kor), Brittany Lincicome, Christina Kim, Jennifer Song, Paula Creamer, Ji-Yai Shin (Kor), Azahara Munoz (Spa), Yoora Kim (Kor), In-Kyung Kim (Kor), Momoko Ueda (Jpn), Jessica Korda, Laura Davies (Eng), Hye Jung Choi (Kor)
73 Joo Mi Kim (Kor), Yuri Fudoh (Jpn), Stacy Prammanasudh, Candace Schepperle, Karen Stupples (Eng), Anna Grzebien, Haeji Kang (Kor), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Carolina Llano, Dewi Schreefel, Meaghan Francella
74 Lindsey Wright (Aus), Allie White, Morgan Pressel, Song-Hee Kim (Kor), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Ai Miyazato (Jpn), Johanna (Head) Mundy (Eng), Carin Koch (Swe), Maria Hernandez (Spa), Alena Sharp (Can), Nicole Hage, Nicole Castrale, Shanshan Feng (Chn)
75 Karrie Webb (Aus), Hee Kyung Seo (Kor), Amy Yang, In-Bee Park (Kor), Brittany Lang, Brittany Altomare, Louise Friberg (Swe), Becky Morgan (Wal), Jennie Lee (Ae), Kris Tschetter, Allison Fouch, Kyeong Bae (Kor), Mika Miyazato (Jpn), Giulia Sergas (Ita), Sandra Gal (Ger), Sun Ju Ahn (Kor), Alison Lee, Maria Jose Uribe (Col), Amanda Blumenherst
76 Hannah Jun, Kristen Park, Miki Saiki (Jpn), Cindy Lacrosse, Diana D'Alessio, Rosie Jones, Karine Icher (Fra), Ji-Young Oh (Kor), Teresa Lu (Tai), Akiko Fukushima (Jpn), Jimin Kang (Kor), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Mi-sun Cho (Kor), Victoria Tanco, Meaghan Stasi
77 Ani Gulugian, Angela Park (Bra), Jee Young Lee (Kor), Michele Redman, Pat Hurst, Leta Lindley, He yong Choi (Kor), Ya-Ni Tseng (Tai), Mikaela Parmlid (Swe), Soo-Yun Kang (Kor), Mina Harigae, Jeong Jang (Kor), Anja Monke (Ger), Beth Bader, Caryn Wilson, Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn), Sophia Sheridan (Mex), Lisa Ferrero (Mex), Laura Diaz
78 Minea Blomqvist (Fin), Katherine Perry, Juli Inkster, Hee-Won Han (Kor), Esther Choe, Michelle Shin, Lindy Duncan, Shiho Oyama (Jpn), Jamie Fischer, Meg Mallon, Angela Stanford, M.j Hur (Kor), Stacy Lewis, Katherine Hull (Aus)
79 Libby Smith, Tzu-chi Lin (Tai), Alison Walshe, Sarah Lee, Jessica Carafiello, Heather Daly-Donofrio, Meredith Duncan
80 Irene Cho, Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Jane Park, Alice Kim, Rachel Hetherington (Aus), Eunjung Yi (Kor), Chelsea Stelzmiller
81 Brandie Burton, Mariko Tumangan, Yueer Cindy Feng, Nannette Hill, Stephanie Kenoyer, Birdie Kim (Kor), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Kaitlin Drolson, Tiffany Lua, Briana Vega, Helen Alfredsson (Swe)
82 Marina Alex, Kimberly Kim, Jin Joo Hong (Kor), Kathleen Ekey, Sunny Oh, Mallory Fraiche
84 Janice Olivencia (Pr), Isabelle Beisiegel
85 Rebecca Kim
86 Tracy Stanford
88 Ashleigh Albrecht
89 Haley Stephens (Col)

Turkish Delight from Ladies European

Tour - Antalya revisited next May

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The Ladies European Tour is delighted to announce that the Turkish Ladies Open will return to the tournament schedule, from May 5 t0 9, 2010.
The second edition of the tournament will again be played at National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya, following a break in 2009.
Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour, was thrilled to announce the tournament. She said: “We are delighted to be working with Dr Bulent Goktuna on this tournament, which I am sure will be one of the best on our schedule. We are grateful that he and his team at National Golf Club are able to continue their support of the Ladies European Tour allowing our members to compete in this beautiful area of Turkey, which is already known and loved by many.
"We are all looking forward to returning to Turkey and will make every effort to ensure that the event is a great success.”
National Golf Club has undergone an intensive course conditioning programme recently and will be in prime condition for the second Turkish Ladies Masters, considered one of the premier events by the Ladies European Tour’s star players.
Last year, Sweden’s Lotta Wahlin claimed her maiden tour title by 12 strokes and has since revisited the venue to enjoy its practice facilities, which she considers first class.

Player power has ousted LPGA

commissioner Carolyn Bivens

By BETH ANN BALDRY
GolfWeek Senior Writer
Carolyn Bivens’ fate has been sealed with the LPGA.
A source with knowledge of the tour’s internal workings told Golfweek on July 9 that Bivens will not be retained for the final two years on her contract as commissioner.
Bivens, whose stormy four-year tenure as LPGA commissioner was capped by a player revolt last week, has not resigned, a tour spokesman told Golfweek.
However, Golfweek has learned that the LPGA’s Board of Directors, which has been meeting behind closed doors all week regarding the player uprising against Bivens, has moved on and is focusing on the tour’s future and resolving its leadership issue.
Bivens, 56, did not attend the U.S. Women’s Open, the flagship event of the season, this week at Saucon Valley Country Club.
Sources told Golfweek that she is not working out of the LPGA’s headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., either.
“Carolyn has not resigned,’’ David Higdon, the LPGA’s chief of communications, wrote in an e-mail to Golfweek, without elaborating.
So, where is Bivens, and what is she doing?
Sports Business Daily, citing anonymous sources, reported on its website today that Bivens is agreeable to a buy-out for the remaining two years of her contract, reportedly at about $500,000 per year. The publication added that the LPGA has authorized a golf-industry executive to contact potential candidates to replace Bivens.
The LPGA has lost seven tournaments since 2007, including three staged in Hawaii. Six more events are sponsorless, including this year’s China LPGA. Tournament owners are increasingly complaining that Bivens has made what they describe as excessive and unreasonable financial demands.
They say higher tournament sanctioning fees, for example, combined with declining sponsorship revenue make it virtually impossible to host events. Bivens insisted the tour can’t subsidize tournament operations and needs events to become more financially accountable.
Discontent with the shrinking sphere of the LPGA bubbled over last week in Sylvania, Ohio, during the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic when key members of the tour drafted a letter calling for Bivens’ resignation.
“All we are doing is standing up for our tour,” said Suzann Pettersen, who told Golfweek that she had signed the letter. “Now it’s up to our leadership and our board to find a solution.”
Paula Creamer also said that she had signed the letter. LPGA stars Lorena Ochoa, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng and Michelle Wie attended the dinner, but it is uncertain whether they also called for Bivens’ resignation.
The letter was delivered to the LPGA’s Board of Directors, which includes 13 voting members.
Dawn Hudson, the LPGA’s board chairman, declined repeated requests from Golfweek for comment.

European women's team championship

Scots have day off as England set up

semi-final against France

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England brushed aside the Netherlands 6-1 to move swiftly into the semi-finals of the European women's team championship in Bled, Slovenia.
They will meet France tomorrow, while Germany play Spain in the other semi-final.
England team captain Lynn Booth commented: “It was a very good day but we are trying not to get too excited. Today was just the first of three stepping stones – and that’s how we will approach tomorrow’s match. It’s one step at a time.”
England took both morning foursomes and quickly sealed the overall win when Jodi Ewart beat her opponent 7 and 6 and English champion Charlie Douglass followed up with a 2 and 1 success.
Emma (Duggleby) Brown and Hannah Barwood added further points to the tally while Rachel Jennings lost only on the 17th, after fighting back from four down with four to play.
Scotland, the top qualifier in Flight B, had the day off as the flight contains only seven teams, instead of the usual eight.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

SWEDEN 3, GERMANY 4.

DENMARK 2, SPAIN 5.

FRANCE 4 1/2, NORWAY 2 1/2.

ENGLAND 6, NETHERLANDS 1
Foursomes: Charlie Douglass & Holly Clyburn bt Mareike Nivard & Myrte Eikenar 5 and 4; Jodi Ewart & Rachel Jennings bt Chrisje De Vries & Maaike Naafs 1 hole (2-0).
Singles: Douglass bt Nivard 2 and 1, Emma Brown bt De Vries 1 hole, Hannah Barwood bt Karljin Zaanen 2 and 1, Jennings lost to Caroline Karsten 3 and 1, Ewart bt Naafs 7 and 6.

FLIGHT B
ITALY 2, WALES 3
Foursome: Camilla Patussi & Allessandra Averna bt Amy Boulden & Gemma Bradbury 2 holes (1-0).
Singles: Giulia Molinaro lost to Stephanie Evans 4 and 3, Anna Roscio lost to Rhian Wyn Thomas 2 holes, Allessandra De Luigi lost to Tara Davies 4 and 3, Alessia Knight w.o. Lucy Gould scr (1-3).

BELGIUM 1, AUSTRIA 4.
FINLAND 1 1/2, SWITZERLAND 3 1/2

Bye - SCOTLAND

Ireland v England in semi-finals of

European girls' team championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Ireland have beaten Belgium to make it safely thorugh to tomorrow's semi-finals of the European girls' team championship at Kokkola, Finland.
The Irish girls, the leading qualifiers for the match-play stages, made a perfect start to the tie against Belguim, claiming convincing wins in both morning foursomes matches.
The phenomenal Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona (Slieve Russell) secured a comfortable 4 and 3 victory while Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) followed with a 6 & 4 win.
Ireland now only required one point from the three afternoon singles matches and despite defeat for Lisa Maguire in the top match, sister Leona once again rose to the challenge and claimed victory by a margin of 4 & 2. This win gave Ireland the single point required and subsequently Stephanie Meadow, who led in her match at the time, was called in under the halved match custom which prevails in these European championships.
This 3 ½ -1 ½ win sees the Irish Under-18s team progress to the semi finals of the championship in which they will take on England for a place in Saturday's final.
Scotland were well beaten 3-0 by France in a Flight B match.
Sammy Leslie (Westhill) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) went down by 2 and 1 in the only foursomes tie to the French pair of Ines Lescudier and Perrine Delacour.
The singles also went way of France who were able to field two very experienced international competitors in Emilie Alonso and Rosanna Crepiat. Emilie beat Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) by 2 and 1 while Rosanna was a 7 and 6 winner over Lesley Atkins (Minto).

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
IRELAND 3 1/2, BELGIUM 1 1/2
Foursomes: Lisa Maguire & Leona Maguire bt Lauren van Gerven & Laura Christiaens 4 and 3' Laura McCarthy & Stephanie Meadow bt Manon de Roey & Margaux Vanmol 6 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Lisa Maguire lost to Lauren van Gerven 2 and 1, Leona Maguire bt Vanmol 4 and 2, Meadow halved De Roey (1 1/2-1 1/2).

ENGLAND 4, SWITZERLAND 1.
Foursomes: Kelly Tidy & Heidi Baek bt Sherlyn Popelka & Nina von Siebenthal 3 and 2; Alexandra Peters & Hayley Davis bt Olivia Birrer & Cylia Dameron 1 hole (2-0).
Singles: Tidy bt Birret 7 and 6, Peters halved with Popelka, Davis halved with Dameron (2-1).

SWEDEN 4, FINLAND 1.

SPAIN 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 3.

Flight B
FRANCE 3, SCOTLAND 0.
Foursome: Ines Lescudier & Perrine Delacour bt Sammy Leslie & Ailsa Summers 2 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: Emilie Alonso bt Rachael Watton 2 and 1; Rosanna Crepiat bt Lesley Atkins 7 and 6 (2-0).

AUSTRIA 3, DENMARK 0.

NETHERLANDS 3, WALES 0.
Foursome: Karin Jansen & Krista Bakker bt Natasha Gobey & Chloe Williams 3 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis bt Katie Bradbury 1 hole, Celine Kortekaas bt Kelly Miller 6 and 4 (2-0).

GERMANY 3, NORWAY 0.

Flight C
LATVIA 2, GREECE 1

Scroll down for today's results at Pitlochry

Highland Women's Open Scoreboard
PITLOCHRY GOLF CLUB

LEADING SCRATCH QUALIFIERS
154 Louise Fraser(Kingsknowe)
155 Robina Gilbertson(Prestwick St Nicholas)
156 Monica Lindvall(Kungscangen)
157 Kate Green(Bridge of Allan)
163 Bobbi Waugh(Moorhall)

Silver
139 Helen Telford (Pitlochry)
143 Mary Davidson (Kingsknowe)
146 Alison MacDonald (Dalmahoy)
148 Katy Burden (Cambuslang)

Bronze
145 Pam Wilson (St Michaels)
149 Helan Lang (Pitlochry)
150 Gwen Beaton (Pitlochry)
152 Eileen Watson (Blair Atholl)

TODAY'S MATCH-PLAY RESULTS
SCRATCH
Louise Fraser Kingsknowe) bt Lotta Ekstrom (Kungsangen) 7 and 6.
Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) bt Britt Levin (Kungsangen) 3 and 1.
Bobbi Waugh (Moorhall) bt Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) 3 and 2.
Kate Green (Bridge of Allan) bt Evelyn Hamilton (Balwearie) 5 and 3.
Monica Lindvall (Kungsangen) bt Lande Pattinson (Pitlochry) 9 and 7.
Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) bt Helena Sterner (Kungsangen) 3 and 2.
Kathleen Duncan (Pitlochry) bt Pat Simpson (Lundin Ladies) 4 and 2.
Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt Margaret Macrae (Pitlochry) 3 and 2.
SILVER
Marie Tansey (Elsham) bt Carina Hakin (Kungsangen) 5 and 3.
Caryl Waddilove (Banstead Downs) bt Janette Kennedy (Pitlochry) 1 hole.
Letty Mackinnon (Kingsknowe) bt Katy Burden (Cambuslang) 2 hole.
Morag Wardrop (Niddry Castle) bt Alison MacDonald (Dalmahoy) 1 hole.
Chloe Stokes (Driffield) bt Helen Stout (Falkirk) 2 and 1.
Fiona Robertson (St Michaels) bt Pam Turner (Canmore) 2 holes.
Mary Davidson (Kingsknowe) bt Catherine Simpson (Bridge of Allan) 4 and 3.

BRONZE
Pam Wilson (St. Michaels) bt Chris Frost (Bridge of Allan) 4 and 3.
Mary Watson (Bridge of Allan) bt Kathleen Booth (Dunblane) 4 and 2.
Ann Garden (Pitlochry) bt Denise Wildblood (Pitlochry) 2 and 1.
Eileen Watson (Blair Atholl) bt Frances Platel (Cuddington) 3 and 1.
Gwen Beaton (Pitlochry) bt Margaret Watkins (Dunkeld & Birnam) 4 and 2.
Jean Bates (Pitlochry) bt Jennifer Wivell (Pitlochry) 3 and 2.
Hayley Carruthers (Pitlochry) bt Jane Walker (Pitlochry) 2 and 1.
Helen Lang (Pitlochry) bt Carole MacKay (Bridge of Allan) 2 and 1.

QUARTER-FINALS
Scratch
Claire Capocci bt Louise Fraser 2 and 1.
Sal Shepherd bt Monica Lindvall 6 and 4.
Kate Green bt Bobbi Waugh 2 holes.
Robina Gilbertson bt Kathleen Duncan 3 and 2.
Silver
Chloe Stokes bt Morag Wardrop 5 and 4.
Letty Mackinnon bt Caryl Wadilove 2 and 1.
Marie Tansey bt Alice Archbold 4 and 3.
Fiona Robertson bt Mary Davidson 2 and 1.
Bronze
Pam Wilson bt Mary Watson 4 and 3.
Ann Garden bt Eileen Watson 4 and 3.
Gwen Beaton bt Jean Bates 2 and 1.
Hayley Carruthers bt Helen Lang 4 and 2.

European women's amateur team championship

Scotland have day off today in Slovenia

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland, having qualified as the ninth best team from the stroke-play stages of the European women's amateur team championship at Bled in Slovenia, have the day off today.
That's because the organisers have put only seven teams into the Second Flight and three teams, including Ireland, into the Third Flight.
That is our understanding from the championship website which contained misleading information yesterday when Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk believed that Scotland had finished eighth, thus earning the last place in the Championship Flight.
It transpired that the championship computer had not been programmed to discard a team's worst score every day so it was well after the end of play before worst scores were deducted and Scotland, as a result, dropped from eighth to ninth best, from the championship flight to the second flight.
We now reckon that today's Second Flight of Flight B games are:
Italy v Wales.
Belgium v Austria.
Finlay v Switzerland.
On Friday, Scotland will come back into action, playing the winners of the Finland v Switzerland tie.
Ireland, like the Scots, have the day off today when the only Flight C tie is Iceland v Slovenia.
On Friday, the Irish will play Slovenia.
Confused? You are not the only ones!

Bright Hopefuls Bid For Scottish U14s Title

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
As the attention of the world’s best golfers focuses on Loch Lomond and then Turnberry next week, Largs is the destination for young up and coming golfers as they bid for the Scottish Boys and Girls Under 14 Stroke Play Championship in association with the Loretto School Golf Academy.
The event which gets underway tomorrow (10 July) will see over 100 youngsters bid for Scotland’s youngest national age group championship, the field consisting of 84 boys and 32 girls.
Nick Ward from Redbourn, currently making his mark in the U16’s Championship hosted at the same venue will hopefully leave something in the bag for Friday to defend his title. Last year’s winner from St Albans contested one of the most exciting finishes in the event, taking his fellow challenger Anthony Blaney to the fourth extra hole before claiming his first national title. If Ward’s bid to reclaim the silverware is successful he will be the first U14 double champion in the history of the event which was inaugurated in 2001.
Ewan Scott from St Andrews who was the leading U12 player in the 18 hole tournament in 2007, claimed the bronze medal in the championship last year and will be hopeful of stepping up a gear this year to take the silverware.
The national U16 squad member and Tayside & Fife Academy player has enjoyed a good run of form this year. As a result he was selected to represent Scotland at the Boys U16 Quadrangular and was integral to the team’s triumph at that event. A top finish in the U16’s event which concludes today could provide him with a welcome boost ahead of tomorrow’s challenge.
Other likely contenders for the crown are Ross Dallas (Kirriemuir), son of former Ladies European Tour player Karyn Dallas, whilst another player from golfing stock – Balmore’s Jack McKenna – younger sibling of Fraser McKenna, who finished runner up in the Boys Amateur at Little Aston last year - will be keen to make a name for himself among the junior ranks.
In the girls competition a number of familiar faces are in the field, including last year’s winner of the handicap event, Amelia Taylor from St Anne’s Old Links, whilst rising starlet Tara McTaggart (Minto) leads Scottish hopes in the championship along with local favourite, Rachel Irvine who will hope to make home advantage count.
The Loretto School Golf Academy, one of the UK’s best independent golfing schools is now in its sixth year of sponsorship and support of the national showcase event. Rick Valentine, Director of Golf for Loretto School said, “Loretto School Golf Academy is now in its seventh year and we are recognized as one of the most successful golf schools in the UK. Our players and graduates have achieved recognition at national and international level.”
“We have enjoyed a great relationship with the Scottish Golf Union over the last six years and look forward to seeing some of the best young male and female talent in the country competing
talent in the country competing in this year’s championship at Largs.”

Maguire twins will miss Lancome

Irish girls' close championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), a member of the Irish girls’ team of four for the European team championship, will be favourite to claim the Lancome Irish girls’ close championship trophy when the prestigious tournament is played at Castletroy Golf Club from July 15 to 17.
2008 Champion Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) is unavailable to defend the title which she won in Mullingar last year due to a hectic schedule of tournaments over the coming weeks. Included in this is representing Great Britain and Ireland in the upcoming Vagliano Trophy, to be played in Germany at the end of the month.
Also absent from the field of 72 competitors for the same reasons is the Irish women’s close and stroke-play champion Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), while a third member of the Irish girls’ team for the European championships, Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), is also unavailable to compete as she returns to the United States where she is now based, to attempt to qualify for the US open girls’ championship.
However, this year’s Lancome Irish girls close hampionship promises to be an exciting affair with those looking to capture the trophy for the first time including the in-form Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), who has claimed both the Connacht women’s and girls’ championships in recent weeks.
Munster girls’ champion Patrice Delaney (Birr) and Ulster girls’ champion Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) will also be bidding for glory. Other hopefuls in the field include Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) and Carla Reynolds (Seapoint).
With valuable Order of Merit points on offer, all competitors will be looking to impress the Irish selectors ahead of the announcement of the team of eight to represent Ireland at the girls’ home international matches (at a Lancashire venue), which will follow the completion of play on Friday afternoon.
The format of the championship consists of one 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round with the leading qualifier collecting the Muwick Cup and the best nett score being awarded the Dorothy Glendinning Trophy, while the lowest qualifier under 15 years of age collects the Violet Heslett Cup.
The leading 32 players go through to the match-play championship for the Blake Cup, with the Lancôme Irish girls champion emerging victorious on Friday afternoon. The 16 first round losers play knock-out matches for the Pat Fletcher Trophy.
Qualifying Round tee times
Wednesday 15 July
1st tee
07:50 Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay), Ciara Magill (East Clare).
08:00 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Patrice Delaney (Birr), Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea).
08:10 Niamh O'Connor (Naas) Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) Megan Thompson (Ballyclare)
08:20 Amy Farrell (Moate) Julie O'Gara (Roscommon) Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel)
08:30 Paula Grant (Lisburn) Rebecca Mulholland (Kilkenny) Chloe Fitzpatrick (The Heath)08:40 Erin Connolly (Co. Armagh) Laura Boylan (Skerries) Amy Chambers (Dunfanaghy)
08:50 Edey Coyne (Youghal) Laura Fekkes (Larne) Emily McGuinness (Greenore)
09:00 Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) Siobhan Greene (Holywood) Aisling Hill (Roscommon)
09:10 Olivia Mehaffey (Tandragee) Amber Gleeson (Co. Sligo) Eimear McManus (Limerick)09:20 Jenny Hennessy (Ennis) Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) Rebecca Tully (Holywood)
09:30 Deirdre Lawlor (Tralee) Rebecca O'Neill (Larne) Anne-Marie Byrne (Castletroy)
09:40 Chloe Duggan (Lahinch) Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) Alison Coyle (Dun Laoghaire)
09:50 Eimear Delaney (Birr) Blaithin O'Brien (Roscommon) Jenny Maguire (Foxrock)
10th tee
07:50 Aoife Barry (Muskerry) Catherine Byrne (Castletroy).
08:00 Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone)08:10 Sarah Murray (Co. Louth) Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye) Daryl Conroy (Castlebar).
08:20 Jessica Carty (Holywood) Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch) Anna Courtney (St. Annes).
08:30 Jessica Boal (Larne) Aoife McHale (Castlebar) Terri Byrne (Coollattin).
08:40 Julie Coyne (Youghal) Holly Robinson (Co. Sligo) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
08:50 Emma Murphy (Wexford) Amy Gaynor (Co. Sligo) Laura Grant (Lisburn).
09:00 Rachel Chambers (Dunfanaghy) Sarah Boden (Kilkeel) Megan O'Hara (Co. Sligo).
09:10 Avril Peevers (Tralee) Shauna Brady (Co. Sligo) Diane Hennessy (Ennis).
09:20 Sarah Fay (Westmanstown) Emma Dunne (Castlewarden) Kerrie Young (Rosslare).
09:30 Laura Doherty (Howth) Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle) Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel).
09:40 Ellen Greene (Holywood), April Timothy (Roscommon), Sinead Henry-Bezy (Ashbourne)Gillian O'Leary

Tight at the top in Boyd Quaich

students' event at St Andrews

It’s a three-way tie for the lead with one round left to play in the Boyd Quaich Memorial students’ international golf tournament.
Will Bowman (North Carolina), Matthew Williams (Aston University) and Gordon Stevenson (University of St Andrews) lead the field at 215 (one over par) with 18 holes on the Old Course to go.
Two rounds were played on Wednesday and at halfway it was Gordon Stevenson who held a six-shot lead after he added a level par 72 on the Old Course to his blistering first round 64 on the par 71 New Course.
However, things went a little awry for Gordon in the third round as he scored 79 which brought him back to the chasing pack. The main damage was done on the ninth hole where a quadruple bogey 7 undid most of his hard work
Williams and Bowman shot 73 and 71 respectively on the New Course and that means that they will be in the final group on Thursday morning’s final round. Last year’s runner-up, Daniel Sommerville, is just 2 shots back on 217 after a fine 72 on the New. His round could have been much better as it included a lost ball on the par 5 eighth. Daniel managed to make an eagle with his second ball so no momentum was lost but it was a case of ‘what might have been’ at the end of the round.
The best rounds of the day came from Aaron O’Callaghan and Marco Cioffrese who both managed one-under 70. They now find themselves part of a six-strong chasing pack four shots adrift of the leaders.

LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 214 (2x71,1x72)
215 Will Bowman (North Carolina) 70 74 71, Matthew Williams (Aston) 71 71 73, Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews) 64 72 79.
217 Daniel Sommerville (Dundee) 70 75 72, Joshua Clakre (Abertay) 71 73 73.
218 Christo Harms (Pretoria) 75 70 73, Kevin Stack (University College Cork) 73 70 75.
219 Aaron O’Callaghan (Southeastern Louisiana) 77 72 70, Marco Cioffrese (St Gellen) 76 73 70, Joe Campbell (North Carolina) 76 72 71, Philipp Dirkx (Grenoble) 73 74 72, Patrick Brimmer (Loughborough) 73 73 73, Kevin Duncan (Clayton State) 67 75 77.
220 Frazer McKenna (Southeastern Louisiana) 75 73 72, John Wybar (Aberdeen) 75 72 73.
221 Darragh Cochlan (Greensboro) 73 73 75, Wilson Bowen (Stanford) 72 73 76, Gerard Kelly (University College Dublin) 73 70 78.
222 Scott Samuel (Canada) 71 75 76, John Green (University College Dublin) 72 73 77.
223 Ben Wescoe (Yale) 76 73 74.
224 Neil McBride (Clayton State, Georgia) 76 73 75, Stephen Pointon (St Andrews) 74 72 78.

RACHEL HANLON IS EAST OF SCOTLAND GIRLS’ CHAMPION

Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) took the title of the East of Scotland Girls' Champion at Kingsknowe Golf Club, Edinburgh by beating Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) in a very close and exciting final.

Results

Semi-final

Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) beat Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 6/4
Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) beat Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 2/1

Final

Rachel Hanlon beat Kate McIntosh 2 holes

Scots women ninth - miss out on

Top Flight place by one

Apologies for giving you duff information earlier, having not realised that the European women's amateur team championship website computer was not programmed to discard a team's worst score on the day.

When it was all sorted out, instead of scraping into the Championship Flight in eighth and last place, the Scots finished ninth in the 36-hole qualifying stroke-play which put them into the Second Flight - admittedly paper favourites to win it - alongwith Wales and Ireland.

England qualified in fourth place for Championship Flight status.

Top scorer for the Scots over the qualifying rounds was Swiss women's open amateur champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle0 with 77 and 71 for 148.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) all totalled 152, Louise with a pair 0f 76s, Kyle with scores of 78 and 75 while Sally followed up a 79 with a 73.
Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) improved by five shots with a 75 for 155 but Carly Booth (Comrie) is still not at her best with scores of 79 and 77 for 156.

REVISED SCOREBOARD
Championship Flight qualifiers
1 FRANCE 369 364 = 733
2 SWEDEN 377 358 = 735
3 SPAIN 371 369 = 740
4 ENGLAND 371 373 = 744
5 NETHERLAND 373 371 = 744
6 DENMARK 373 377 = 750
7 GERMANY 386 366 = 752
8 NORWAY 377 378 = 755

SECOND FLIGHT qualifiers
9 SCOTLAND 389 369 = 758
10 ITALY 388 370 = 758
11 BELGIUM 378 383 = 761
12 FINLAND 381 380 = 761
13 SWITZERLAND 391 381 = 772
14 AUSTRIA 396 378 = 774
15 WALES 381 393 = 774
16 IRELAND 387 389 = 776

THIRD FLIGHT qualifiers
17 ICELAND 379 397 = 776
18 SLOVENIA 385 394 = 779

Individual scores:
SCOTLAND
148 Pamela Pretswell 77 71.
152 Louise Kenney 76 76, Kylie Walker 78 74, Sally watson 79 73.
155 Kelsey MacDonald 80 75.
156 Carly Booth 79 77.
ENGLAND
145 Rachel Jennings 72 73.
146 Jodi Ewart 76 70.
150 Charlie Douglass 74 76, Hannah Barwood 73 77.
153 Holly Clyburn 76 77.
154 Emma (Duggleby) Brown 77 77.
IRELAND
151 Danielle McVeigh 74 77.
153 Mary Dowling 75 78.
156 Charlene Reid 77 77, Aedin Murphy 78 78.162 Sarah Cunningham 83 79, Niamh Kitching 83 79.
WALES
151 Tara Davies 73 78.
152 Gemma Bradbury 76 76.
155 Rhian Wyn Thomas 74 81.
156 Amy Boulden 76 80.
160 Stephanie Evans 82 78.
Withdrew: Lucy Gould.

Scotlands golfing girls in Finland with team captain Margaret MacNaughtan on the extreme right. Click on the image to enlarge.

Scots girls improve to make Second

Match-play Flight in Finland

Scotland's girls shook off their first-day nerves and improved by 11 strokes to qualifying for the Second Flight match-play at the European girls' team golf championship at Kokkola Golf Club, Finland.
That was better than 12 months ago at Murcar Links when the Scots - a different team of four it has to be said, failed to come through the stroke-play qualifying rounds among the leading 16 countries and were doomed to play in a fag-end flight of also-rans.
Borders women's champion Lesley Atkins (Minto) was again the top individual Scot. She had a 75 for a total of 151 and was joint 17th in the standings.
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) shaved six shots off her first-day effort with a 74 for 154 and a share of 33rd place.
Sammy Leslie from Westhill, Aberdeen was another to improve by a handful of shots with a 79 for 162 and joint 60th place.
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), the Angus girls' and women's county champion, had a 91 for 177 and 73rd place.
The Irish wonder twins Leona and Lisa Maguire are making even more headlines.
Leona followed up a first-round 77 with a superb 67 for a level par total of 144 to be the leading individual in the qualifying rounds.
Sister Lisa had a 74 for 146 and was fifth best.
The efforts of the Maguires, backed up by America-based Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) and Laura McCarthy, ensured that Ireland were the team with the lowest team total and they are No 1 seeds in the championship flight which also includes Spain, Finland, England, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Belgium.
Alongwith Scotland in the Second Flight are France, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Wales and Norway.
QUALIFYING TOTALS
Championship Flight
439 IRELAND 221 218.
442 SPAIN 222 220.
443 FINLAND 224 219
450 ENGLAND 225 225.
452 SWITZERLAND 234 218, SWEDEN 231 221, CZECH REP 227 225
455 BELGIUM 228 227
Second Flight
455 FRANCE 232 223.
457 GERMANY 231 226.
460 NETHERLANDS 226 234, AUSTRIA 231 229.
462 DENMARK 232 121.
463 WALES 231 232
465 NORWAY 234 230.
467 SCOTLAND 239 228.
Third Flight
475 ITALY 243 232
485 GREECE 247 238
503 LATVIA 247 256.

Leading individual totals
Par 144 (2 x 72)
144 Leona Maguire (Ire) 77 67.
145 Sherlyn Popelka (Swe) 74 71.
145 Anna Arrese (Spa) 75 70, Tonje Daffinrud (Net) 70 75.
146 Lisa Maguire (Ire) 72 74.
Selected Scores:
148 Hayley Davis (Eng) 73 75 (jt 12th).
149 Katie Bradbury (Wal) 73 76, Stephanie Meadow (Ire) 72 77 (jt 14th).
151 Lesley Atkins (Sco) 76 75, Alex Peters (Eng) 75 76, Kelly Tidy (Eng) 77 74 (jt 17th).
154 Rachael Watton (Sco) 80 74, Kelly Miller (Wal) 78 76 (jt 33rd).
155 Heidi Baek (Eng) 77 78 (jt 41st).
159 Laura McCarthy (Ire) 77 82 (jt 50th).
160 Natasha Gobey (Wal) 80 80 (jt 56th).
162 Sammy Leslie (Sco) 83 79 (jt 60th).
167 Chloe Williams (Wal) 85 82 (jt 67th).
177 Ailsa Summers (Sco) 86 91 (73rd).

Tournament organiser Karen Stalker (Aberdeenshire CLGA secretary), handicap champion Lauren MacCallum, Emily Ogilvie. scratch champion Katy McNicoll, Lynn Kelly and Aberdeenshire county captain Fiona Hay (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

Carnoustie's Katy first

Angus winner of

North of Scotland

title since 1998

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie's Katy McNicoll, daughter of former Dunfermline Athletic football Dave McNicoll,
scored the biggest win of her fledgling golf career at Newmachar Golf Club today when she became the first Angus player in 11 years to win the North of Scotland women's amateur golf championship.
Katy, 21, with her dad as caddie, beat Scotland international Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), 25, by 3 and 2 with one-under-par figures if one discounts a 7 at the 13th where she paid a couple of visits to the water hazard that runs down the right of the hole.
A girl international before she spent four years at Lynn University in Florida, from where she graduated a couple of months ago, Katy has set her sights on gaining a first full cap for Scotland in the women's home internationals at Irvine Golf Club in September.
A North of Scotland women's champion tag will surely impress the SLGA selectors.
There was nothing to choose between Katy and Emily over the first 10 holes at the end of which they were on level pegging.
Miss McNicoll, whose older brother Keir is a Scotland international with a +5 handicap, then turned the tide in her favour by holing the longest putt of the match, a 40-footer, for a birdie 3 at the 11th. Emily drove into the trees to lose the 12th - and suddenly Katy, two up, was in control of the final for the first time.
Even losing the 13th to a double-bogey 6, didn't upset her composure. She played a good approach and holed a 6ft birdie putt to go two up again at the 14th and completed a three wins in four holes decisive run by taking the 15th where her opponent missed a short putt.
A half at the 16th ended an entertaining final which took only 2hr 40min and when one considers they had to wait every shot behind the handicap final, which played off 15min earlier, until getting through them at the sixth, Katy and Emily's pace of play was astonishing by current snail's pace standards.
"I didn't play well at the North Division inter-county team championship at Royal Dornoch the week before so I put in a lot of hard practice before coming up to Newmachar. I was the No 2 qualifier which showed I had sorted some of the things out and I was much happier with my game over the three days of the North of Scotland championship," said Katy who wants to become a tour professional but feels she can wait another year before going to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, to which Emily Ogilvy is planning a return visit at the end of the current amateur season.
"I'm happy with my long game. If only I could putt better. I didn't hole anything against Katy and that's the way it's been with me for a while," said Emily.

The handicap championship was won for the second time in four years by Ellon-based 19-year-old Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh-on-Ythan).

She beat host club Newmachar player Lynn Kelly, who plays off 16, by two holes despite being three down after only six. Lauren also won the Angus Salver at Banchory in 2005 when Michael Thomson (McDonald Ellon) won the North of Scotland title.

Lauren, who has a handicap of seven, has played little or no golf for one reason or another this year and scraped into the handicap match-play as the last of the 16 qualifiers.
+In case you are trying to remember who was the Angus player who won the North of Scotland title in 1998 it was Jane Tough (Brechin) who beat Jenny Milne (Elgin) at the 19th at a venue which escapes me for the moment.
Angus winners have certainly been thin on the ground. Kathryn Imrie (Monifieth) in 1990, at Forfar where she beat Christine Middleton (then playing out of St Rule) in the final, is the only other Angus winner in the last two decades. Kathryn also won the title at Blairgowrie in 1988 when she beat Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) in the final.
Next year's North of Scotland women's amateur championship will be hosted by Angus at Forfar Golf Club.
Today's championship results:.
Semi-finals - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Laura Murray (Alford) 1 hole.
Final - McNicoll bt Ogilvy 3 and 2.
Handicap championship
Semi-finals - Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan) (7) bt Esther Milne (Inchmarlo) (21) 4 and 2, Lynn Kelly (Newmachar) (16) bt Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (6) 3 and 1.
Final - MacCallum bt Kelly 2 holes.

Emily v Katy for North of Scotland title

This afternoon's 18-hole final of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship will feature Scotland international Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
In this morning's semi-finals, Emily beat former Aberdeenshire champion Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, while Katy beat Scotland cap Laura Murray (Alford) by one hole.
Katy was beaten in last year's final at Strathmore by home club player Alexandra Bushby who did not defend this year.
In the handicap championship semi-finals, Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan), playing off seven and the last of the 16 qualifiers for the match-play won by 4 and 2 against Esther Milne (Inchmarlo) (21), wile Lynn Kelly (Newmachar), playing off 16), beat teenager Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (6).

Dear Gillian,

As handicap secretary of Hamilton Golf Club, I would be grateful if you would draw to the attention of your readers the Riccarton Salver. This is a new competition for Senior Ladies to which we would like to invite, in particular, all Ladies who in the past competed in the Riccarton Rosebowl but who now prefer not to play two rounds in the one day.

Tee times are available from 11.am to 12.30pm approx. Handicap limit is 16 and entry fee is £10.00.

The competition is being run in conjunction with the Rosebowl on Sunday 2nd August and the closing date for entries is 17th July.

Please note there are also times available for the Rosebowl Competition.

Further information can be found on Hamilton Golf Club website or from HGCLadysecretary@googlemail.com.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Fay Allan

European girls' team championship qualifying

Hayley leads England scoring

in bad weather day in Finland

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

Teenager Hayley Davis (pictured) made a great international debut when she led the England scoring in the first qualifying round of the European girls’ team championship at Kokkola in Finland.
She scored a one-over par 73 to help the team into fourth place. After tomorrow’s second round the leading eight teams will qualify for the championship matchplay stages of the competition.
Hayley, 16, from Ferndown, reached the turn at one-under par and played steadily on the way home with seven pars and two bogeys. Her score puts her in a share of fifth place in the individual table. She is the Scottish U16 open strokeplay champion.
Alex Peters, 15, (Notts Ladies) shot a steady 75 while Heidi Baek, 15 (Felixstowe Ferry) and Kelly Tidy, 17, (Royal Birkdale) both scored 77. The best three scores count from each round. England are currently on 225, four shots behind the first round leaders, Ireland.
Team captain Faye Sanderson remarked: “This was the first time Hayley had played for England and she was very impressive and had a really good round.
“Overall we’ve had a good start and we’re happy with our position. We’ll be very pleased to be in the top four after tomorrow’s round.”
Weather conditions were difficult with heavy rain for England’s early starters followed by strong winds in the afternoon. The forecast for today (Wednesday) is worse!
Leading positions:

221 Ireland.

222 Spain.

224 Finland.

225 England.

226 Netherlands.

227 Czech Republic.

228 Belgium.

231 Wales, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Germany.
Full details: www.egagirls2009.fi

Kirsty Simpson of Murrayfield wins the

East of Scotland Girls’ Summer Meeting

Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) won the East Girls’ Summer Meeting yesterday at Kingsknowe Golf Club, Edinburgh with a fabulous net 67 playing off a handicap of 17.
Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) took the Scratch Prize with a 3 over par 75.
The scores overall were good on a day with no wind but which was dampened by the threat of thunder storms.
Prizewinners
Par 72 SS 71 CSS 70
Overall Net Prize :- Kirsty Simpson ( Murrayfield ) 84 (17) Net 67
Scratch Prize :- Rachel Hanlon ( St Regulus ) 75
Under 18 Net Prize :- Heather Tumblety (Duddingston) 92 (20) Net 72.
Under 16 Net Prize :- Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 81 (12) 69.
Under 14 Net Prize :- Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie ) 115 (35) 80.
Full Net Scores
Kirsty Simpson 84 (17) 67.
Alison Goodwin 81 (12) 69.
Rachel Hanlon 75 (5) 70.
Sam Munro 79 (9) 70.
Kate McIntosh 78 (7) 71.
Nicola Taylor 82 (10) 72.
Alexis Hutton 85 (13) 72.
Heather Tumblety 92 (20) 72.
Hannah Scott 84 (11) 73.
Nicole Underhill 92 (17) 75.
Shannen McGuire 91 (12) 79.
Catherine Goodwin 115 (35) 80.
Katherine Fisher 116 (35) 81.
Gillian Simpson 89 (6) 83

30 year drought for Kingsknowe’s Sheila Lyon

ended with Morison Millar win

The following report comes from the Morison Millar Organising Committee, courtesy of Alison Mutch of the host club, Lothianburn GC.
Despite soaring temperatures on Thursday 2nd July and the challenge of Lothianburn’s slopes, there were several scores in the tournament under the par of 70. The best of these were a great 66.5 in the morning by Adrienne Turner & Laura Reekie from Baberton B, and a superb 66.5 in the afternoon (when typically scores rose in the heat) by Sheila Lyon & Sheila Halliday of Kingsknowe A. The latter helped Kingsknowe A to a narrow win with 291 strokes, over Lothianburn A and Baberton B, both on 293 – Lothianburn gaining 2nd place by virtue of the better 2nd round. Murrayfield B came 4th , close behind on 294.
At the prizegiving Sheila Lyon, speaking on behalf of the winning Kingsknowe team, mentioned that she had played in the last 30 Morison Millar Tournaments and never before been in the winning team, having been runner up on more than one occasion. So, rather than 3rd time lucky Sheila – it was 30th time lucky!
Well done to Sheila and her Kingsknowe team-mates.

LEADERBOARD
1 Kingsknowe A (L Fraser & M Davidson, S Lyon & S Halliday) 291.
2 Lothianburn A (R Brown & C Clements, E Adair & V Thomson) 293.
2 Baberton B (M Alexander & L Campbell, A Turner & L Reekie) 293.
4 Murrayfield B (L Whitaker & A Bunker, R Lynch & N Richmond) 294.
5 Kingsknowe B (R Dee & E Lumsden, G Petrie & L Mackinnon) 296.
6 Lothianburn B (M Stark & C Stewart, V Curran & K Matson) 298.
7 Turnhouse B (T Clark & I McCrone, M Knubley & M Pringle) 300.
7 Craigmillar Park B (H Wright & C Clark, J Dickson & J Hamblin) 300.
9 Craigmillar Park A (K Blackwood & F McFadzean, G Glen & S Shepherd) 302.
10 Comiston Ladies (A Brownie & K Polson, Z Mathieson & S Ashurst) 305.
10 Ratho Park A (I O’Neill & A McLuskie, J Buchan & M Irvine) 305.

Lowest 36 holes outwith prizes: R Archibald & A Miller (Merchants A) 142.

2nd lowest 36 holes outwith prizes: V Curran & K Matson (Lothianburn B) 143.*
from: J Herd & E Borthwick (Musselburgh A) 143.

Dormie Plate - lowest scratch score: R Brown & C Clements (Lothianburn A) 158.

*Prizewinners decided by virtue of lower second round

Junior championship competitors at Colville Park (images by courtesy of Jean MacIntyre).

Susan Wood wins Morison Cup again

- by 14 shots at Colville Park

The winner, for the second year in a row, of the 36-hole Morison Cup, played over Colville Park today, was Susan Wood (Drumpellier) with a total of 152, made up of rounds of 78 and 74.
The runner-up was Ruth Rankin (Lanark) with scores of 86 and 80 for 166.
The SSS is 71 and the CSS for the day was 71 and 72.
Susan Wood, pictured right by courtesy of Jean MacIntyre, also won the handicap prize with a net score of 146 (75 and 71).
The winner of the one-round Blackjack Cup was Sandy Williamson (Lanark) with a net 73.
In the junior championship, also played today over Colville Park, Alexandra Duffy (handicap 29) of Cathkin Braes won the championship salver with a net score of 65 while Nicole Benson (Cawder) won the scratch cup with a gross score of 84.

Students' international tournament at St Andrews

Gordon Stevenson sets hot pace with

a 64 over New in 'Boyd Quaich'

First-round leader in the Boyd Quaich Memorial international students' golf tournament at St Andrews is Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews University) who scored a magnificent seven under par 64 on the New Course.
The format for the first two days means that the field of 72 players is split, with half playing the New and half playing the Old Course.
Stevenson's 64 included six birdies and an eagle with just one blemish on the card, courtesy of a bogey at the par 3 ninth hole. Kevin Duncan from Ellon, a student at Clayton State University, Atlanta, Georgia, had the next best score of 67 over the New.
The only other player to get unbder the par of 71 at the New Course was Daniel Sommerville (Dundee University).
The scoring on the Old was considerably higher with the best round of 71 coming from Matthew Williams from Aston University.
Next best was a par 72 from Nick Clark of Toronto.Shot of the day certainly belonged to Brighton's Adam Kyle who holed his second on the par 5 8th hole of the New Course. It was his first albatross.The leading 30 players after Wednesday's second round will qualify for the third and fourth rounds, which will begin in the afternoon.

LEADING SCORES

OLD COURSE Par 72
71 Matthew Williams (Aston).
72 Nick Clark (Toronto).
73 John Greene (University College, Dulbin), Marco Cioffrese (St Gallen).
74 Matthew Fowler (Leeds Metro), Christian Brown (Exeter), Will Bowman (North Carolina), Daniel Pearson (Warwick), Aaron Taylor (Ulster).
75 Oliver Stevens (Cardiff), Christopher Robinson (Cambridge), Alex Room (Edinburgh).
76 Chris Orr (Cardiff), Ben Skeet (Leeds Metro), Brian Cahill (University College Cork).
77 James Binning (Cambridge).
78 Steven Scott (Abertay), Michael Davies (West of England), Daniel Jones (Swansea).
Selected scores:
79 Paul Robinson (Strathclyde).
80 Ross McDonald (Edinburgh).

NEW COURSE (Par 71)
64 Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews).
67 Kevin Duncan (Clayton State, USA).
70 Daniel Sommerville (Dundee).
71 Adam Kyle (Brighton), Scott Samuel (Canada), Joshua Clarke (Abertay).
72 Wilson Bowen (Stanford,USA), Jack Owens (Ulster).
73 Gerard Kelly (University College Dublin), Kevin Stack (University College Cork), Philipp Dirkz (Grenoble), Patrick Brimmer (Loughborough), James Morrison (Stellenbosch, SAf), Darragh Cochlan (Greeensboro, USA).
74 Stephen Pointon (St Andrews), Andrew Myers (Bournemouth), Nicholas Powell (Guelph), Gian Andrea Hild (St Gallen).
75 John Wybar (Aberdeen), Christo Harma (Prfetoria), Frazer McKenna (SE Louisiana, USA).
76 Ben Wescoe (Yale), Joe Campbell (North Carolina), Daniel Farmer (Wales0k John McNally (Warwick), Neil McBride (Clayton State).
Selected Score
77 Fraser Campbell (Strathclyde).
ends

Women's Highland Open Scoreboard
PITLOCHRY GOLF CLUB
First Qualifying Round

Scratch
Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) 72
Monica Lindvall (Kungsangen, Sweden) 77
Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) 79
Pat Simpson (Lundin Ladies) 80

Silver
Lande Pattinson (Pitlochry) (17) 69
Helen Telford (Pitlochry (18) 70
Helena Sterner (Bro Hof Slott, Sweden) 71

Bronze
Helen Lang (Pitlochry) (25) 70
Gwen Beaton (Pitlochry (21) 73
Mary Watson (Bridge of Allan) (28) 74

European women's amateur team championship

Bad weather halts opening day at

Bled after 78 by Kylie Walker

Bad weather forced an early stoppage to the first day's play in the European women's amateur team championship at Bled, Slovenia.
With very few first qualifying rounds completed, it was almost impossible to get a clear idea of the overall picture but, according to the European Golf Association scoreboard, France were the leaders at six under par when play was halted.
Only one Scot, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), had finished all 18 holes. She returned a 78.
Three English players got round before the day's action was ended prematurely. Charlie Douglass had a 74, Curtis Cup player Jodi Ewart a 76 and Emma (Duggleby) Brown a 77.
For Ireland, Vagliano Trophy selection Danielle McVeigh had a 74.
Welsh left-hander Stephanie Evans had an 82.

European girls' team championship in Finland

Scotland struggle in 16th place

in a field of 19 countries

Scotland's dismal form at last year's European girls' team championship at Murcar Links continued with a new line-up at Kokkola, Finland today.
At the end of the first day of qualification for the match-play stages, the Under-18 Scots were on 239 - 18 shots behind leaders Ireland in 16th place of the 19 competing countries.
Borders champion Lesley Atkins was tied 23rd with a creditable 76 over the par-72 course.
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) had an 80 (jt 51st), Sammy Leslie (Westhill) an 83 (jt 63rd) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) an 87 (jt 72nd).
In fairness to the players, it has to be said that the weather - rain and strong winds - was all against good play.

SCOREBOARD
Teams
221 Ireland.
222 Spain.
224 Finland.
225 England.
226 Netherlands.
227 Czech Republic.
228 Belgium.
231 Wales, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Germany.
232 France.
234 Switzerland, Norway.
239 Scotland.
243 Italy.
247 Latvia, Green.
Individuals
Par 72
70 Tonje Daffinrud (Nor).
71 Manon De Roey (Bel).
72 Lisa Maguire (Ire), Stephanie Meadow (Ire).
73 Rocio Sanches (Spa), Katie Bradbury (Wal), Johanna Tillstrom (Swe), Karolina Vlckova (Cze).
Selected scores:
75 Alexandra Peters (Eng) (jt 14th).
76 Lesley Atkins (Sco) (jt 23rd).
77 Leona Maguire (Ire), Laura McCarthy (Ire), Kelly Tidy (Eng), Heidi Baek (Eng) (jt 27th).
78 Kelly Miller (Wal) (jt 35th).
80 Rachael Watton (Sco), Natasha Godey (Wal) (jt 51st).
83 Sammy Leslie (Sco) (jt 63rd).
85 Chloe Williams (Wal) (jt 68th).
87 Ailsa Summers (Sco) (jt 72nd).

Inverness player's hole in one at North of Scotland Consolation Round

Inverness Golf Club member Sheila MacDonnell had her first ever competitive hole in one during the Consolation Round of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Newmachar today. With a rescue club - equivalent to a five iron - into a gusting wind she holed her tee shot at the 129yd 15th hole.
She was partnered by Gillian Dowling, also of Inverness, and Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies).
That ace enabled Sheila to win the second handicap prize in the Consolation Round with a net 78 (better inward half) off a handicap of 15.
"I've had one already this year but it was in a bounce game," said a happy Sheila who was given a certificate by Carol O'Neil of the Newmachar Golf Club admin staff and also a basket of flowers.
F Watterson (Newburgh on Ythan) won the leading handicap award by five strokes with a net 73 off 16.
K Esslemont (Cruden Bay) won the first scratch prize with an 86 (decided over the last six holes of a countback).

'Friendly Fire' from Emily Ogilvy knocks

out top seed Laura Walker in quarters

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Top seed Laura Walker was a victim of ‘friendly fire’ as she was knocked out of the North of Scotland women’s amateur golf championship in today’s quarter-finals over the Newmachar Hawkshill course.
The player who claimed her scalp with a 3 and 2 victory was Emily Ogilvy, who lost to Laura in the 2007 final of this tournament at Lossiemouth.
“You could hardly call it a revenge win,” said 25-year-old Emily, a Scotland international and member of Auchterarder Golf Club.
“Laura and I are great friends. We go back a long way … we were students at the same Arkansas college together.”
A former Scottish girls match-play champion, Laura, also 25, is originally from Nairn but is now a member at Muckhart since she became a schoolteacher in Dunfermline.
Emily was never behind after holing a 10ft birdie putt at the first hole but she saw a three-hole lead after eight holes cut to one when she lost the ninth and 10th.
But Laura lost the 12th, 13th and 14th holes to par figures to go four down and there was no way back from that.
Emily’s golfing career was knocked off track a couple of winters ago when she suffered badly torn shoulder muscles in a mishap with a piece of gymnasium apparatus.
Her semi-final opponent will be last year’s Aberdeenshire champion, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) who won by 2 and 1 against Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile).
In the morning, Donna came back from three down after 12 holes to beat Jackie Brown (Monifieth) by two holes but she found herself in the opposite situation in going from three up after seven to all square after 11 against Jane.
Donna stopped the rot by winning the 13th and 14th. Jane won back the 14th but halves at the next two holes, Donna wrapped up a 2 and 1 win at the 17th.
Alford’s Laura Murray, the second Scotland cap in the last four, produced the kind of figures and performance befitting a player of international status. She was one under par in winning by 7 and five against girls international Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
Laura was five up after eight holes, winning the short sixth and long eighth with birdies.
Laura now plays Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll who won through at the 20th against Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir). One down on the 18th tee as the day's weather deteriorated into steady rain, Katy won the hole to stay alive and prevailed with a par figure at the second extra hole.

There has been some interesting action too in the Handicap Championship. Top seed Mary Robinson (Murcar Links), playing off 12, was beaten in the first round by the last of the 16 qualifiers, Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan) who plays off seven.

Lauren is a former Aberdeenshire girls champion and a past pupil at Loretto School, Musselburgh but she has played little competitive golf over the past year.

Lauren went on to beat Ros Roy (Ballater) by 2 and 1 and will now play Inchmarlo's Esther Milne, who plays off 21, in the first handicap semi-final tomorrow morning.

The other tie will feature Claire Prouse (Hazlehead), a six handicapper and one of a crop of promising teenagers coming through the Aberdeenshire girls' ranks. Claire astonished her opponent Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies) by finishing her off with an eagle 3 at the 17th to achieve a 2 and 1 victory.

Claire will play home hope Lynn Kelly, who plays off 16, in the second handicap semi-final on Wednesday morning.

COMPLETE RECAP ON TUESDAY'S RESULTS

SCRATCH CHAMPIONSHIP

First round

Laura Walker (Muckhart) bt Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 5 and 3.

Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.

Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 4 and 2.

Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile) bt Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) 4 and 2.

Laura Murray (Alford) bt Susan Murray (Murcar Links) 3 and 2.

Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) bt Gill Murray (Cruden Bay) 3 and 2.

Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 3 and 1.

Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals

Ogilvy bt Walker 3 and 2.

Pocock bt Grubb 2 and 1.

Laura Murray bt Wilson 7 and 5.

McNicoll bt Ramsay at 20th.

Wednesday's Semi-finals

9.00 Emily Ogilvy v Donna Pocock.

9.07 Laura Murray v Katy McNicoll.

Final will tee off at 2.15.

Handicap championship
First round

Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh) (7) bt Mary Robinson (Murcar Links) (12) 5 and 4.

Ros Roy (Ballater) (10) bt Janet Griffiths (Strathmore) (9) 4 and 3.

Susan Belton (Kirriemuir) (14) bt Jenny Wheeler (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) 1 hole.

Esther Milne (Inchmarlo) (21) bt Lauren Whyte (Hazlehead) (9) at 21st.

Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) bt Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) (9) 3 and 1.

Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (6) bt Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) (9) 2 and 1.

Lynn Kelly (Newmachar) (16) bt Mandy Roger (McDonald Ellon) (16) 4 and 3.

Hannah Robb (Strathmore) (17) bt Linda Urquhart (Banchory) (4) 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals

MacCallum bt Roy 2 and 1.

Milne bt Belton 2 and 1.

Prouse bt Whicher 2 and 1.

Kelly bt Robb 3 and 2.

Wednesday's Semi-finals

9.15 Lauren MacCallum (7) v Esther Milne 21).

9.22 Claire Prouse (6) v Lynn Kelly (Newmachar) (16).

Final will tee off at 2pm.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE STORY OF THIS MORNING'S PLAY - AND ALSO SOME IMAGES FROM THE ACTION.

North of Scotland championship match-play at Newmachar

Gill Murray (Cruden Bay) comes out well from a greenside bunker at the ninth. And (above) Abernethy teenager Hannah McCook driving from the 10th tee (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

DOWN BY THE WATER'S EDGE: Laura Murray at the picturesque short ninth hole on the Hawkshill course today (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on them to enlarge).

Laura Walker v Emily Ogilvy

final replay in Round Two

Laura Walker (Muckhart) and Emily Ogilvy (pictured right) from Auchterarder set up a replay of the 2007 final when they won their first-round matches in the North of Scotland women’s amateur championship at Newmachar today.
Laura, from Nairn originally and now a Dnnfermline schoolteacher, beat Emily at the 20th in the final two years ago at Lossiemouth.
Top seed this week, Laura beat the 16th qualifier, young Hannah McCook (Abernethy) by 5 and 3.
Scotland international Emily Ogilvy, the No 9 qualifier, beat the No 8 seed, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) by 4 and 3.
Former Aberdeenshire champion Donna Pocock (Murcar Links), the No 5 seed, rallied from three down at the turn to beat Monifieth’s Jackie Brown by two holes.
Donna’s next opponent was Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile), the No 4 seed who beat professional’s daughter Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) by 4 and 2.
Scotland cap Laura Murray (Alford), the No 3 seed, reached the last eight with a 3 and 2 win over another member of the Murray clan, Susan from Murcar Links. Laura’s opponent in the quarter-finals will be Scotland girl international Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth), a 3 and 2 win over the No 6 seed Gill Murray (Cruden Bay). Rebecca qualified in 11th place.
Munross Trophy winner Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) earned a last-eight meeting with the No 2 seed, Angus county team-mate Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) by beating Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 3 and 1.
Katy had earlier beaten Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) by 5 and 4. Jemma is pictured above playing from close to the edge of the water hazard at the ninth after she had put her tee shot in the water.

The weather seemed to have broken with scattered showers, a bit of wind and only the odd blink of sunshine … but still warm enough.
Mary Robinson (Murcar Links), top 12-handicap qualifier in the handicap championship, was beaten in the first round by the No 16 qualifier, Lauren MacCallum, who plays off seven at Newburgh on Ythan. Lauren won by 5 and 4.

CHAMPIONSHIP
First round
Laura Walker (Muckhart) bt Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 5 and 3.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) bt Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.
Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 2 holes.
Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile) bt Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) 4 and 2.
Laura Murray (Alford) bt Susan Murray (Murcar Links) 3 and 2.
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) bt Gill Murray (Cruden Bay) 3 and 2.
Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 3 and 1.
Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 5 and 4.

HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
First round
Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh) (7) bt Mary Robinson (Murcar Links) (12) 5 and 4.
Ros Roy (Ballater) (10) bt Janet Griffiths (Strathmore) (9) 4 and 3.
Susan Belton (Kirrieumuir) (14) bt Jenny Wheeler (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) 1 hole.
Esther Milne (Inchmarlo) (21) bt Lauren Whyte (Hazlehead) (9) at 21st.
Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies) (11) bt Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) (9) 3 and 1.
Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (6) bt Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) (9) 2 and 1.
Lynn Kelly (Newmachar) (16) bt Mandy Roger (McDonald Ellon) (6) 4 and 3.
Hannah Robb (Strathmore) (17) bt Linda Urquhart (Banchory) (5) 3 and 2.

Leading players call for LPGA Tour

commissioner to resign

A meeting of more than a dozen players has resulted in a letter being sent to the LPGA Tour's board urging that commissioner Carolyn Bivens resign.
Golfweek Magazine reported Monday that key players stated in the letter that all of the LPGA Tour's current woes cannot be blamed on a poor economy. They said the tour should find a new leader to rebuild relationships with longtime sponsors.
Among those at the meeting last week in Toledo, Ohio, were Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, among the most prominent players in women's golf.
Golfweek said players in favor of Bivens' resignation attached their names, although it didn't say how many signed it. Bivens is a member of the board, which has received the letter.
LPGA Tour spokesman David Higdon said Bivens would not be available to comment.
"This week we are focused on the U.S. Open and it's not an appropriate time to discuss internal LPGA matters," Higdon said. "We all care deeply about the tour and are working hard for its long-term success."
The meeting came two days after the LPGA Tour lost another tournament when the Kapalua LPGA Classic asked for a year off to find a title sponsor. Instead, the LPGA said it would use all legal remedies to hold Kapalua to the remaining four years of its contract.
The tour has left two stops -- Rochester, N.Y., and Toledo -- uncertain if the contracts will be renewed for next year, and it has already lost the popular Corning Classic. Also up in the air is the Michelob Ultra Championship in Virginia.
The LPGA has lost seven tournaments since 2007. Hawaii will not stage an event in 2010 when not so long ago it held three a year.

HEAVY RAIN HITS PITLOCHRY

Highland Women's Open first-day play abandoned

Play had to be abandoned due to heavy rain on the first day of the Highland Women's Open at Pitlochry.
The rain did not reach Newmachar, north of Aberdeen, where the North of Scotland women's amateur championship is being played, until the early evening, by which time the qualifying round had been completed.

Hot stuff at Newmachar ... and the golf was good too!

PUTTING ON THE STYLE. Laura Walker (left) and Katy McNicoll (right) on the 17th green at Newmachar today (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

Teacher Laura is top of the class

at North of Scotland championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Schoolteacher Laura Walker topped the class of 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the North of Scotland women’s amateur golf championship on a warm day - heavy rain fell in the early evening after play was finished - at Newmachar Golf Club today.
The 25-year-old Laura, originally from Nairn and a Nairn Dunbar member when she won the Scottish girls’ match-play title as a teenager, is now a member at Muckhart Golf Club since she qualified as a teacher and moved south to secure a post in Dunfermline.
Walker earned the top seed position in the draw with a two-over-par 75, a good score in fast-running conditions over the Dave Thomas-designed Hawkshill course which even the Tartan Tour pros find punitive if they are not hitting the fairways.
So it’s a tough, tree-lined par-73 track for female players as well but Laura rates it as one of her favourites. “I simply love it, whether I have a good score or not,” she said.
Laura covered the last 13 holes in one under par after running up a double bogey 7 at the second and a three-putt bogey 5 at the fifth. She birdied the long eighth, the 12th and the long 17th and shed shots only at the 13th and 16th in a par-matching 37 for the inward half.
“Teaching has kept me busy until the last three weeks, so it’s only since then I’ve been able to turn my attention to golf,” said two-handicapper Laura.
Laura beat Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) in the final of this tournament two years ago at Lossiemouth.
The No 2 qualifier with a 76, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), lost in last year’s final at Strathmore to home course player Alexandra Bushby who is not defending.
“I putted well and might have been the leading qualifier but for a double bogey 7 at the 16th. I drove into the trees on the left and had declared it a lost ball after a 5min search – only to find it, too late, of course, before I had to go back and play 3 off the tee,” said +1 handicapper Katy who had halves of 36 and 40.

Katy, 21, graduated at Lynn University, Boca Raton a month or two ago after playing the US college golf circuit for four years. And she's planning to go back to the consistent warmth of Florida during the winter months to take advantage of the excellent university practice facilities.

"I want to work on and improve my game until it is good enough for me to get through the Ladies European tour Q School. That will probably be next year rather than this one," said Katy whose older brother Keir is a Scotland cap. He too was a student at Lynn University.

First target for +1 player Katy is a place in the Scotland team for the women's home internationals at Irvine Golf Club in September.
Sharing third place among the qualifiers on 77 were Aberdeenshire county team-mates Laura Murray (Alford) (41-36) and Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) (37-40) as well as Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile) (40-37).

Laura has graduated from Robert Gordon University after a three-year degree course in a sports-related subject.

New Scottish senior women’s champion Heather Anderson (Alyth), pictured above playing her approach to the 18th green today, was one of the surprise failures. A round of 87 (44-43), including a triple bogey 8 at the second and double bogey 6s at the fifth and 14th. meant she was three shots over the limit mark.
Abernethy teenager Hannah McCook was bang on the limit qualifying mark of 84 alongwith Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) and Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth).
Unfortunately, one of them had to be eliminated to bring the number of qualifiers down to 16. Jemma's inward half of 40 to the 42 each by Hannah and Claire, put the Monifieth player into the scratch draw as the 15th qualifier. The card countback went down to the last six holes before Hannah, despite a 6-6 finish, got the nod over Claire who had actually finished 5-5.
The consolation for teenager Claire was that she was the sixth qualifier for the handicap match-play.

SCRATCH MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 73 (36-37). CSS 76. 5,616yd

75 Laura Walker (Muckhart) 38-37.
76 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 36-40.
77 Laura Murray (Alford) 41-36, Jane Grubb (Montrose Mercantile) 40-37, Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 37-40.
79 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 41-38, Gillian Murray (Cruden Bay) 42-37, J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 38-41.
81 Emily Ogilvie (Auchterarder) 41-40.
82 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 41-41, Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 39-43, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 43-39.
83 S Murray (Murcar Links) 43-40, K Vannet (Peterculter) 43-40.
84 J Chalmers (Monifieth) 44-40, Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 42-42 (better last six holes).

MISSED THE CUT FOR SCRATCH MATCH-PLAY

84 C Prouse (Hazlehead) 42-42(eliminated on last six holes countback).
85 L Urquhart (Banchory), K Beveridge (Aboyne).
86 F Blair (Carnoustie Ladies)
87 H Anderson (Alyth), A Hunter (Monifieth), F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies), M Robinson (Murcar Links).
88 Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh), J Griffiths (Strathmore), J Wheeler (Aberdeen Ladies).
89 F Neish (Moray), L Terry (Cruden Bay), Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), F Fullerton (Meldrum House)
90 L Whyte (Hazlehead), R Roy (Ballater)..
91 M Johnstone (Northern), G Dowling (Inverness), K Stalker (Cruden Bay), E Mauchline (Newmachar), E Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies).
92 B Rivollier (Hazlehead), D Butchart (Strathmore), C Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies), S Bain (Aberdeen Ladies).
93 L McGillivray (Banchory), G Christie (Banchory), H Robb (Strathmore).
94 S Belton (Kirriemuir), M Duncan (Aboyne).
95 E Aird (Strathmore), L Kelly (Newmachar), K Teow (Deeside).
96 L Duncan (Aboyne), R Polson (Peterculter), M Roger (McDonald Ellon).
97 S Bradley (Kirriemuir).
98 A Hope (Newmachar), M Miller (Cruden Bay), S MacDonnell (Inverness), K MacCallum (Newburgh), M Horn (Newmachar), E Milne (Inchmarlo).
100 K Esslemont (Cruden Bay), A Alston (Royal Montrose).
103 S Fenner (Strathmore).
104 W McNay (Banchory).
105 F Martin (Kirriemuir), K McNab (Aberdeen Ladies), D Massie (Newmachar).
106 R Keith (Newmachar).
107 Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth).
108 J Pritchard (Newmachar).
110 L Joss (Newmachar), F Watterson (Newburgh).
111 R McLean (Cruden Bay).
112 E Keown (Banchory).
115 R McGeoghegan (Strathmore).
NRs: S Richardson (Inchmarlo), J Groom (Strathmore).
Disq:V Neish (Inverness).

FIRST ROUND MATCH-PLAY

DRAWS FOR TUESDAY

SCRATCH
8.0 Q1 Laura Walker v Q16 Hannah McCook.
8.37 Q9 Emily Ogilvy v Q8 Jessica Meek.
8.44 Q5 Donna Pocock v Q12 Jackie Brown.
8.51 Q13 Kristina Vannet v Q4 Jane Grubb.

8.58 Q3 Laura Murray v Q14 Susan Murray.
9.05 Q11 Rebecca Wilson v G6 Gillian Murray.
9.12 Q7 Ann Ramsay v Q10 Jane Yellowlees.
9.19 Q15 Jemma Chalmers v Q2 Katy McNicoll.

Quarter-finals at 2.15, 2.22, 2.29 and 2.36

HANDICAP
9.26 Q1 Mary Robinson v Q16 Lauren MacCallum.
9.33 Q9 Ros Roy v Q8 Janet Griffiths.
9.40 Q5 Jenny Wheeler v Q12 Sheila Belton
9.47 Q13 Lauren Whyte v Q 4 Esther Milne.

9.54 Q3 Kimberley Beveridge v Q14 Carol Whicher.
10.01 Q11 Fiona Fullerton v Q6 Claire Prouse.
10.08 Q7 Lynn Kelly v Q10 Mandy Roger.
10.15 Q15 Linda Urquhart v Q2 H Robb.

Quarter-finals at 2.43, 2.50, 2.57 and 3.04

Ayrshire Centenary Dinner

Ayrshire celebrate their Centenary in style!

Top Table at the Ayrshire Centenary Dinner

by Marian Wilson

The Provosts of North and South Ayrshire held a Civic Reception to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ayrshire County Ladies on the evening of Friday 3rd July in the County Hall in Wellington Square. Captain Nora McCrossin - sporting mysterious dark glasses to hide the bruises from a [losing] encounter with a runaway caddy car - bravely wecolmed eighty Ayrshire members and invited guests to drinks followed by a superb meal and an evening of entertaining and informative speeches - including those from familiar faces from the SLGA, Chairman Shona Malcolm and Chief Selector Isobel Crawford. Richard Cole-Hamilton, Past Captain of the R&A, outlined his love of Ayrshire and Ayrshire golf and encouraged the up and coming junior Ayrshire team [who have won the Kennedy Salver for the past 3 years] to emulate the achievements of former Ayrshire teams which still held pole position in Jamboree/County finals wins, but had struggled in more recent times. David Purdie, Professor of Obstetrics, with what might be described as an inside knowledge of women, kept everyone entertained with a speech filled with highly amusing anecdotes.

Ayrshire’s newest MBE, Nancy Chisolm was another, most welcome, special guest at the top table. The whole evening reflected the best of golf; we can compete ‘to the death’ on the fairways, but the friendships we make throughout the years, the bond between young and old, and the fellowship of the game we both love and hate at times, endures for ever.

Nancy Chisholm welcomes past Captains of Ayrshire

LPGA TOUR REPORT

Janice Moodie's joint 12th

finish earns her $21,447

Janice Moodie finished joint 12th yesterday in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club, Sylvania, Ohio.

It was the Glasgow-born player's best performance on the LPGA Tour for some time.

She earned $21,447 to boost her season's earnings to $97,319 which puts her 56th on the current money list.

Eunjung Yi won the top cash prize of $210,000 in the 25th Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to become the season's third Rolex First-Time Winner. Yi, a 21-year-old out of South Korea, finished the week at 18-under-par 266 (68-66-61-71), and beat runner-up Morgan Pressel (64-68-67-67=266, -18) in a one-hole, sudden-death play-off. Morgan's reward was $126,370,
Yi turned four solid rounds at Highland Meadows Golf Club, and stayed focused on her game the entire time. On Sunday, she wasn't concerned about being ahead of the field by six strokes, then allowing Pressel to catch her and tie it up as the final hole loomed. She was just concerned about her own game.
“I was just focusing on my golf,” said Yi. "I didn't see today the scoreboard, not at all. I was just hitting my driver shot and then second shot. I was just focusing every shot. That's why I got the win this week.”
On Saturday in round three, Yi recorded a career-low, and almost a new tournament record, 10-under-par 61. This came on a bogey-free, eight-birdie, one-eagle day. Once the final round begun, Yi had a four-stroke lead, but definitely made it exciting coming down the stretch. Yi had no idea she had let the six-stroke lead disappear, and that Pressel has tied it up.
“No. I didn't know that,” said Yi. “I was on 17 tee box, because people were yelling, so I thought then that she made eagle.”
After bogeying the 16th hole, only her fifth of the week, and Pressel recording an eagle on 17, the score was all tied up. Then, once the two finalists returned to the 18th tee to settle this thing once and for all, the youngster prevailed, and birdied the 18th hole, in a one-hole, sudden-death format over Pressel. The win is her first in her two years of having LPGA Tour membership.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

LPGA Tour Scoreboard
JAMIE FARR OWENS CORNING CLASSIC
Sylvania, Ohio
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
266 Eunjung Yi (Kor) 68 66 61 71, Morgan Pressel 64 68 67 67 (Eunjung Yi won sudden-death play-off at first hole).
268 Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 70 63 68 67, Michelle Wie 65 69 70 64, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 64 71 64 69
269 Ya-Ni Tseng (Tai) 68 68 65 68, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 65 69 67 68
270 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 66 68 71 65, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 69 70 62 69, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 67 68 67 68, Nicole Castrale 70 66 67 67
271 Wendy Ward 70 66 67 68, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 68 63 70 70, Allison Fouch 70 70 66 65, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 67 70 66 68, Janice Moodie (Sco) 67 69 67 68
272 Ji-Yai Shin (Kor) 66 67 68 71, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 67 70 69 66, Cristie Kerr 66 71 66 69, Allison Hanna-Williams 67 68 70 67
273 Natalie Gulbis 68 65 69 71, Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor) 68 72 65 68, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 70 67 70 66, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 68 69 71 65
274 Hee-Won Han (Kor) 69 66 72 67, In-Bee Park (Kor) 66 71 68 69, Karine Icher (Fra) 68 69 70 67, Kyeong Bae (Kor) 70 64 73 67
275 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 71 69 65 70, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 72 66 68 69, Birdie Kim (Kor) 69 67 71 68, Katherine Hull (Aus) 68 69 70 68
276 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 66 71 73 66, Chella Choi (Kor) 67 72 69 68, Reilley Rankin 68 70 69 69, Candie Kung (Tai) 68 72 66 70, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 69 69 68 70, Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 73 67 69 67, Jimin Jeong 69 70 66 71, Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 69 66 68 73, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 68 68 65 75
277 Jane Park 69 66 70 72, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 68 72 65 72, Irene Cho 70 69 70 68, Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 68 67 68 74, Laura Diaz 64 67 74 72, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 68 68 71 70, Russy Gulyanamitta (Tha) 67 70 66 74
278 Beth Bader 67 72 70 69, Angela Stanford 67 73 69 69, Moira Dunn 70 67 66 75, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 70 68 72, Brittany Lang 72 68 69 69
279 Sung Ah Yim (Kor) 68 68 72 71, Shiho Oyama (Jpn) 71 69 67 72, Meena Lee (Kor) 68 71 67 73, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 71 69 67 72, Anna Grzebien 71 67 71 70, Amy Yang 71 68 71 69, Christina Kim 70 68 72 69
280 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 66 69 69 76, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa) 67 69 71 73, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 68 68 71 73, Young Kim (Kor) 70 67 70 73, Brandi Jackson 71 68 69 72, Meaghan Francella 67 72 69 72, Michele Redman 67 70 68 75, Kris Tamulis 72 68 69 71, Jeong Jang (Kor) 71 68 72 69, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 68 70 75 67
281 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 69 69 70 73, Jeanne Cho-Hunicke 69 70 72 70, Haeji Kang (Kor) 72 67 71 71, Na Ri Kim (Kor) 67 73 72 69, Eva Dahllof (Swe) 71 69 74 67, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 69 68 70 74
282 Jimin Kang (Kor) 69 69 72 72, Anna Rawson (Aus) 71 69 72 70, Meredith Duncan 71 69 70 72
283 Juli Inkster 69 71 73 70, Kris Tschetter 67 67 76 73
284 Heather Bowie young 71 69 73 71
285 Katie Futcher 70 70 71 74

New seniors champion Heather in

field for 'North of Scotland'

It’s a pity that a clash with the European women’s and girls’ team championships deprives this week’s North of Scotland women’s championship at Newmachar of players of the quality of Carly Booth (Comrie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Samantha Leslie (Westhill) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) who would have qualified to play as members of clubs within Aberdeenshire, Angus, Northern Counties and Perth & Kinross.
But the “North of Scotland” still has a strong field, headed by two members of last year’s women’s home international line-up, Laura Murray (Alford), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the Scottish women's universities champion, and Emily Ogilvy, both +1 players.
Players coming into the three-day event in good form include Heather Anderson (Alyth), winner of the Scottish senior women’s match-play championship at Kinross on Friday, and Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir), winner of the Munross Trophy 36-hole Order of Merit event at Montrose.
Add in names like former Scottish girls champion Laura Walker (Muckhart), who beat Emily Ogilvy at the 20th in the final of this tournament at Lossiemouth two years ago, US college circuit players Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) and Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), and also promising Aberdeenshire girl prospects, Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) and Louise McGillivray (Banchory), who have won their clubs' women's championships this season, and it promises to be an excellent tournament over the Dave Thomas-designed Hawkshill course.
There is a qualifying round today at the end of which the leading 16 go forward to the championship match-play and the players with the best net returns go on to a highly-competitive handicap match-play competition.

Victoria Bradshaw wins Ulster

women's championship again

Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) won the Ulster women's championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club over the weekend. It was her second win in this prestigious tournament, having been the youngest ever player to win it two years ago when she was 17.

It was her 19th birthday this past Friday, so as her dad David says: "It was a wonderful birthday present for her."

The format for the competition is two rounds qualifying with the top 16 going forward to the match-play stages. Victoria was also the leading qualifier for which she won the Teddy Morrison Silver Salver for the best 36 hole aggregate of 149 (76 + 73).
Victoria has already hit the golfing headlines this season by beating the defending champion, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) at the 20th hole in the Lancome Irish close women's amateur championship at Fota Island Golf Resort.

Later results at Royal Portrush:

Quarter-finals

Victoria Bradshaw bt Louise Mernagh 1 hole.

Carla Reynolds bt Karen Delaney 1 hole.

Sarah Crowe bt Ciara Butler 1 hole.

Naoimhe Quigg bt Laura Grant 3 and .
Semi-finals

Bradshaw bt Reynolds 2 and 1.

Sarah Crowe bt Naoimh Quigg 4 and 3.

Final

Bradshaw bt Crowe 2 and 1.

+Image shows Victoria Bradshaw with the leading qualifier salver and the championship trophy (courtesy of David Bradshaw).

Why Spanish ace Carlota is not in

Continent's Vagliano Trophy team

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Miguel Angel Caderot, the Royal Spanish Golf Federation's Press Officer, has revealed why
Carlota Ciganda, beaten in the final of the recent Ladies' British open amateur championship by compatriot Azahara Munoz who is turning pro later this month, has not been included in the Continent of Europe team of nine players for the Vagliano Trophy match against Great Britain & Ireland at Hamburg Golf Club, Falkenstein on July 24-25.
He told Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
"Carlota has got invitations to play, the previous week, in the Open España Femenino (the Spanish Women's Open LET event) and, the following week, the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham. So, she thinks that her schedule is very tough and, under these circumstances, she prefers not to play in the Vagliano Trophy match."

I'm sure Mary McKenna, the GB&I skipper, is not complaining! The Continent's loss is GB&I's gain.

Hawaii is feeling the economic chill with

no LPGA Tour events planned in 2010

Self-billed golfing paradise Hawaii is feeling the economic chill. It will stage no LPGA Tour events in 2010 after hosting three in 2008 and one this year.
None is scheduled for next year as corporate sponsors and golf courses try to cut marketing costs amid global economic declines. The LPGA Tour is still hoping a new sponsor will step up soon so Hawaii won't be left off the 2010 schedule.
``Every sport, every corporation, every family is feeling the recession, so it's not easy,'' LPGA Tour spokesman David Higdon said. ``But we're going to work hard and we know we have a great sport, a great circuit and a great history in Hawaii.''
Kapalua LPGA Classic organisers/promoters said this past week that they had pulled out of their contract to host the event with four years remaining on a five-year contract. LPGA Tour deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said the tour is ``extremely disappointed'' and plans to ``vigorously enforce all our legal rights under the contract.''
Kapalua, owned by Maui Land & Pineapple Co., sponsored the event's inaugural event last year, which was won by its touring pro, Morgan Pressel. Kapalua said it is unable to present the tournament in October without a title sponsor.
``It's disappointing but a reality in today's current economic climate that title sponsorships are difficult to secure,'' said Gary Planos, Kapalua Land Co. senior vice president.
Kapalua is the third event erased from this season's LPGA Tour calendar. The Ginn Open in Florida is dead and the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Alabama was moved to next spring. The Corning Classic in Corning, New York State, lost its sponsor for next year and the fates of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Ohio and the Michelob Ultra Open in Virginia also are uncertain.
Higdon said he's not worried about others following Kapalua's lead because of contractual obligations.
Also gone from the islands are the SBS Open and the Fields Open, which used to open the LPGA Tour season. Fields Corp., a Japanese gaming machine developer, didn't renew sponsorship after last year's event.
The LPGA Tour says it was actively seeking to secure a new title sponsor to replace SBS and hopeful that Hawaii wouldn't be left off the schedule next year for the first time since 2004.
Michael Story, sports manager for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said the state realizes the importance of pro golf as a marketing tool. The state usually contributes $50,000 to each LPGA Tour event held in the islands.
``It's what we would consider part of our competitive set, when we talk about what Hawaii has to offer as a destination,'' he said.
However, Story said he realizes there's just not as much money to go around to host tournaments.
``I think there's a lot of business re-evaluating what they direct their money to, and that's not something we can control,'' he said.
Besides the balmy winter weather and its proximity to Asia, one key reason why the LPGA Tour wants to be back in Hawaii so badly is the ``Wie factor.''
``Why do we have three tournaments in Mexico? Players drive our business,'' said Higdon, referring to the draw of top-ranked Lorena Ochoa. ``If Michelle Wie took off, the business model will probably change a little bit more and we'll be fielding more calls and options.''
Wie has played well in Hawaii, drawing huge galleries ever since she qualified for an LPGA Tour event on the Big Island at age 12 and two years later shooting a 68 in the PGA Tour's Sony Open to miss the cut by a stroke.
She opened her rookie campaign in February by finishing second at Turtle Bay, where she tied for second in 2005 as a 15-year-old amateur.
Higdon said the SBS in February was a huge success for the LPGA Tour, which experienced the second-highest traffic on its web site for a non-major event. It was topped only by the 2006 Evian Ladies Masters, where Wie finished tied for second.
``You look at how amazing Tiger Woods has been and what a draw he is. Of our players, Michelle Wie has that quality,'' Higdon said. ``So we hope that she can develop because she already has that strong following. If she turns into a great player, it will be amazing for the sport ... and those are the kinds of things that will play in Hawaii's favor down the road.''

Janice Moodie tied for 13th in LPGA Tour event

South Korean Lee leads by four in Jamie

Farr Owens Corning Classic

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Eunjung Yi, a second-year player out of South Korea, took advantage of the near-perfect conditions at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger, and fired a career-low 10-under-par 61 (30-31).
Yi (68-66-61=195) will enter the final round with an 18-under-par overall mark, and will also have a comfortable four-stroke lead.
On the front nine, Yi recorded birdies on numbers three, four, seven and nine. Making the turn at 4-under-par, the 21-year-old registered her fifth eagle of the year on the par-4, 376yd 10th hole with a pitching wedge from 110 yards out.
Flirting with tournament history, Yi missed an eight-footer for birdie on 18 that would have tied Paula Creamer's 60 from the first round of last year's event. However, Yi's 61 is the best third-round score of this event, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year at Highland Meadows Golf Course.
Competing in her second season as an LPGA Tour member, Yi has started 23 tournaments, and has made the cut 14 times. This year, Yi's best finish came when she tied for 18th at the LPGA State Farm Classic. Her career-best finish is a tied-for-11th mark at the 2008 Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi.
Three-year LPGA Tour player Song-Hee Kim and two-time winner Morgan Pressel each finished three rounds with 14-under-par 199 scores, and are four strokes back from the leader. Kim (64-71-64=199) remained bogey-free on Saturday, and recorded five birdies and an eagle on the par-5, 513-yard 17th hole with a lob wedge from 35 yards out.
Kim is still looking for her first career victory, and if she can take advantage of every birdie opportunity that comes her way in the final round, she could find herself in the winner's circle on the 18th-green come Sunday afternoon.
Along with Kim in the second-place spot is four-year LPGA Tour member Pressel (64-68-64=199). The 21-year-old player turned in a bogey-free, four-birdie outing of her own the course of Highland Meadows, and has her 14-under-par score as well.
Pressel is hoping she claims her third victory of her four-year career, and first since the Kapalua LPGA Classic a year ago.
Mikaela Parmlid, a 28-year-old Swedish player, fired a career-low 9-under-par 62 in round three and now sits in a seven-way tie for fourth place, and six strokes back from the leader. Parmlid (69-70-62=201), is enjoying the best week of her six-week LPGA Tour career, and is looking for her best finish since tying for ninth at the 2009 LPGA Corning Classic, and the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge.
Glasgow's Janice Moodie, joint 13th on 10-under-par 203, is well placed to record her highest finish of the season. She has broken 70 in each of her three rounds.
After 36 holes were played. a handful of players punched their tickets to the RICOH Women's British Open. Tournament leader Eunjung Yi (68-66-61=195, -18), Sarah Kemp (68-63-70=201, -12), Jin Joo Hong (68-67-68=203, -10), Allison Hanna-Williams (67-68-70=205, -8) and Kris Tschetter (67-67-76=210, -3) are now included in the field of the LPGA Tour's final major championship of the year.
Second-round interviews: Eunjung Yi Song-Hee Kim Morgan Pressel Mikaela Parmlid
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
195 Eunjung Yi 68 66 61.
199 Song Hee Kim 64 71 64, Morgan Pressel 64 68 67
201 Mikaela Parmlid 69 70 62, Yani Tseng 68 68 65, Shanshan Feng 68 68 65, Suzann Pettersen 65 69 67, Jiyai Shin 66 67 69, Seon Hwa Lee 70 63 68, Sarah Kemp 68 63 70.
202 Lorena Ochoa 67 68 67, Natalie Gulbis 68 65 69.
203 Cristie Kerr 66 71 66, Helen Alfredsson 67 70 66, Russy Gulyanamitta 67 70 66, Moira Dunn 70 67 66, Janice Moodie 67 69 67, Nicole Castrale 70 66 67, Wendy Ward 70 66 67, Soo Yun Kang 69 66 68, Jin Joo Hong 68 67 68.
Selected scores:
206 Anna Nordqvist 67 70 69 (jt 34th).
MISSED THE CUT
141 Becky Morgan 69 72.

Diana Luna like the No 7 bus: no

wins for five years then 2 in row

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Italian Diana Luna claimed her second victory inside a week at the SAS Ladies Masters in Norway.
The 26-year-old from Rome, who sealed her second career title in the AIB Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock Links last Sunday, won again at Larvik Golfklubb yesterday.
She carded rounds of 67, 70 and 70 for a three-round total of 12-under-par 207 on the par 73 course, finishing one stroke clear of Laura Cabanillas from Spain.
She came from three shots behind the second round leader Veronica Zorzi, also from Italy, a two-time French Open champion who slipped back to 10-under in a share of third with seven other players.
After Zorzi bogeyed the par-five last hole, handing Luna the victory, the champion collapsed to her knees and said: “I cannot believe it,” holding her face in her hands.
She had waited five years to win her second Ladies European Tour title following her maiden triumph at the 2004 Tenerife Ladies Open, only to claim two trophies in seven days.
Luna fired five birdies, four bogeys and an eagle, at the par-five ninth hole, in the final round. She had an eagle chance at the par-five 18th, but three putted for a par.
“It’s incredible because honestly, I really didn’t expect that, especially after three putts on the 18th. I was really sure that I needed a birdie or even an eagle, because there were no leader boards. I didn’t know that she (Zorzi) was 11-under. I thought she was 12-under as well as I was. It was very surprising. I thought I had lost, actually, on 18 when I missed my putt,” she said.
“I was told she was 11-under and I was preparing to go to the play-off so I really didn’t expect that. I did play very well but not as well as yesterday. I made some mistakes and twice made three putts. I had one very bad bogey at 16, which is a par five, so you know what I mean. I didn’t expect that after so many mistakes I could actually win.”
Runner-up Cabanillas, from Malaga, registered her best finish in seven seasons on the LET and said: “I think my mind is clearer these days but my game is the same. I only try to enjoy it and that’s it. It was a great course, in very good condition and it was fun with many par-5s.”
After another glorious day of sunshine, the players tied with Zorzi at 10-under were first round leader Lisa Holm Sorensen of Denmark and her compatriot Iben Tinning, Spaniard Tania Elosegui, Australian rookie Stephanie Na, American Beth Allen and the English duo of Felicity Johnson and Samantha Head.
With her €30,000 prize winner’s cheque, Luna moved to the top of the LET’s Henderson Money List and into fifth place on The European Solheim Cup standings, from which the top five will qualify following the Ricoh Women’s British Open in a month’s time.
+Image of Diana Luna with the trophy is by courtesy of the Ladies European Tour website.

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