Donald Ross Juniors (Royal Dornoch)

The winners at the presentation

Back Row L to R - Kieran Rorison (Loch Ness), Corey McAlpine (Invergordon), David Norris (HiltonPark) 

Dennis Bethune (Honorary Vice President RDGC), Christine Ecberg (Donald Ross winner), 

Mike Thomas (Tournament Controller), Axel Woxholt (Oslo). 

Front L to R - Stina Resen (Oslo), Permile Ecberg (Denmark) and Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 
[Click on the image to enlarge in a new window] 

Scandanavian Superstars

By Robin Wilson

Two sixteen year old Scandinavian girls were the superstars of the Donald Ross Junior International golf tournament at Royal Dornoch with finished today when they became the winners of the main scratch and handicap trophies.

After the complexity of balancing the 23 girls' scores against those of the 67 boys', the girls receiving a downward adjusted in relation to the differing pars of each course played, overnight scratch leader from the Struie course where her two under par 70 (35/35), is a new women's course record by six shots bettering Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald's 76 in the same tournament two years ago, three handicapper Stina Resen (Oslo GC) [pictured right] added a gross 79 (38/41) on the championship course to finish on 149, and after adjustment 141, to win the scratch Royal Dornoch Trophy.

Meanwhile her travelling companion from Himmelberg GC (Denmark), Christine Ecberg [left in the picture above], became the third girl to win the prestiges Donald Ross Trophy without any adjustment necessary to her scores after returning an actual nett aggregate of 133, off 12, nett cards of 65 (Struie) and 68 (championship) will certainly reduce her handicap on her return home.

Will Rennie (Hazelhead) returned the boy's leading gross aggregate of 145, 72 and 73, his 73 on the championship course a one under outward nine of 34 but a double bogey six on the closing hole for inward 39. In a tie for second place were Inverness pair Greg Forsyth 75/72, and Martin Laing 73/74. Two off the pace after his first round Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon), who is also the Royal Dornoch junior champion, drifted back to joint third with a 76 and joining Axel Woxholt (Oslo) on 148. Woxholt 75/73.

Forsyth also led the boy's nett returns 135 (69/66), off 6, to win the Dornoch Quaich and from neighbouring Loch Ness Golf Club, Kieran Rorison handicap 13, was runner up losing to Forsyth on the poorer second round 67/68.

15-year-old Shannon McGuire (Canmore, Dunfermline) (hdc 10) led the girl's nett returns on 139 and eight ahead of Fiona Brown (Dunblane New) (19) 147 (69/78).

Prizewinners; (First scores Struie course)

Donald Ross Trophy: Christine Ecberg (Denmark) (12) 133

Royal Dornoch Trophy Stina Resen (Norway) 141 (After Adjustment)

Handicap (Dornoch Quaich) – Greg Forsyth (Inverness) (6) 135 (69/66). Kieran Rorison (Loch Ness) (13) 135 (67/68). Martin Laing (Inverness) (5) 137. (Girls ) - Shannen McGuire (Canmore) (10) 139. Fiona Brown (Dunblane New) (19) 147. Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) (9) 150.

Individual Scoring(Outwith main prizewinners) - Round 1 (Struie Course) - (Provost's Trophy) Corey McAlpine (Invergordon) (15) 63. Will Rennie (Hazelhead) (5) 67. Permile Ecberg (Denmark) (14) 68.

Round 2 (Championship Course) – Dornoch Firth Trophy – David Norris (Hilton Park) (18) 67. Ryan Webster (Moray) (5) 68. Axel Woxholt (Norway) 915) 69.

Janice Moodie Trophy

13 year old Emma Kennedy from Paisley Golf club won the rescheduled Janice Moodie Trophy at Windyhill today. 
Emma scored 100 less her handicap of 31 for a net 69,  and won by two strokes from Scottish Junior Internationalist Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) who had a net 71 off a handicap of 2.    Rachel won the 15-21 Age group prize from fellow internationalist Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) who had 75 less 1 net 74.
Alexandra Duffy (Cathkin Braes) won the 11-14 Age group category with 102 less 27 net 75.

[Carol Whyte writes...]
Unfortunately due to the rescheduled date the number of competitiors was somewhat reduced.   However the competition still managed to attract a high quality field with a number of the girls playing the course for the first time.  We hope to see all the competitors return next season when hopefully we will have better weather to play on the original date.

Full Scores
Emma Kennedy, Paisley aged 13 100-31=69      Winner of Janice Moodie Trophy
Rachel Watton, Mortonhall   73-2=71     Winner of 15-21 Age Group
Eilidh Briggs, Kilmacolm   75-1=74
Alexandra Duffy, Cathkin Braes 102-27=75    Winner of 11-14 Age Group
Gabrielle MacDonald, Craigielaw  78-3=75
Mhairi Mckay , West Kilbride 83-8=75
Rachel Irvine, Largs  93-18=75
Nichola Ferguson, Clober  82-5=77
Samantha Cowan, Cochrane Castle  93-15=78
Connie Jaffray, West Kilbride  89-9=80
Laura Craig, Cochrane Castle  131-21=110

SLGA Winter Training Squads

The SLGA has announced the following squads for their winter training programme.

SLGA NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD
Carly Booth (Comrie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)

SLGA NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD B
Lesley Atkins (Minto), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)

SCOTTISH GOLF ACADEMY PROGRAMME
Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride), Tara Mactaggart (Minto), Hannah McCook (Abernethy), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), Samantha Munro (Aberdour), Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Clara Young (North Berwick)

SLGA DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Rosie Everett (Kilspindie), Jorden Ferrie (Kilsyth), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries & Galloway), Emma Hale (Troon Bentinck Ladies), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Nicola Roberston (Dunblane), Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Catherine Small (Craigielaw), Rachel Walker (Crichton), Tiffiny Wood (Glenbervie)

Donald Ross Junior International Royal Dornoch

By Robin Wilson

Swedish teenager Stina Resen is in line to become the first girl to win the Donald Ross Junior International at Royal Dornoch after the three handicapper from Oslo broke the par of 72 by two shots over the Struie course yesterday with two halves of 35 for 70.

She carries her two shot lead, which will increase to five for course adjustment against the boys, into today's (Wednesday) final round played over the championship course. Leading the challenge from the boys with 72's are Will Rennie (Hazelhead) (34/38) and North of Scotland Boy's Champion Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon) 37/35. They in turn are one ahead of Martin Laing (Inverness) (36/37) and Ross Proctor (Forres) who came home in 33 for his 73.

Leading Scores - Donald Ross International at Royal Dornoch Struie Course.
70 S. Resen (Oslo)*.
72 W. Rennie (Hazelhead), L. McAlpine (Invergordon).
73 M. Laing (Inverness), R. Proctor (Forres). F. Brown (Nairn Dunbar),
75  A. Woxholf (Oslo), G. Forsyth (Inverness), P. Sangster (Thurso).
76 R. Webster (Moray).
77 J. Echberg (Denmark), M. Dingwall (Forres), R. Black (Alness), S. McGuire (Canmore)*, C. Echberg (Denmark)*  ( * denotes girls).

Gemma Dryburgh joint fifth in Florida heat

Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh, a student at the IMG David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida, finished a creditable joint fifth in the the Future Collegians Tour event at Eagle Creek Golf Club, Orlando in Florida today (Sunday).
In temperatures up in the 90s, Gemma had rounds of 76 and 77 for a total of 153 over a par-73 course.
She finished 12 shots behind the five-stroke winner Irene June who had scores of 71 and 69 for five-under 141

Big-hitter Kylie Walker ends Scottish season with title (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency). Click to enlarge

Windtamer Kylie is SLGA's Champion of

Champions at Glasgow Gailes

Buchanan Castle's Kylie Walker, the Dunbartonshire & Argyll title-holder, won the Scottish Ladies Golfing Assocaitio's season-ending Champion of Champions' tournament at a very windy Glasgow Gailes course in Ayrshire today.
Kylie's strength off the tee enabled her to battle her way through the tough conditions to win with a five-over-par score of 80, which matched the CSS on the day..
She had one shot to spare at the finish from Angus county champion Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), the Northern Counties title-winner, and Claire Hargan, the Midlothian champion. Ailsa's best inward half of the trio earned her second prize with Cara placed third
Fife champion Louise Kenney was unable to play because she had an operation to remove her appendix a few days ago.
West of Scotland champion Pamela Pretswell pulled out because of bad back.
SCORES
(qualifying titles in brackets)
Par 75m CSS 80.
80 Kylie Walker (Dunbartonshire & Argyll).
81 Ailsa Summers (Angus) better inward half, Cara Gruber (Northern Counties), Claire Hargan (Midlothian).

83 Lesley Hendry (Ayrshire).

84 Lesley Atkins (Borders), Sara Mathieson (Aberdeenshire).
85 Claire MacDonald (East of Scotland), Gillian Monteith (Galloway).
86 Lorna Bennett (Scottish veterans), Megan Briggs (Scottish champion).
87 Ailsa Bain (Scottish girls).

95 Jordana Graham (Dumfries-shire).

NR Carol Muir (Perth & Kinross).
Withdrew: Louise Kenney (Fife), Pamela Pretswell (West of Scotland).

Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters

Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) and Elliott Moore (Banchory), winners at the Dunfermline Building Society Young Masters Grand Final at Gleneagles today (image by Rob Eyton-Jones). Click to enlarge

ELLIOTT MOORE, GABRIELLE MACDONALD COME

THROUGH FROM 2,500 ENTRIES TO WIN TITLES

Banchory 14-year-old Elliott Moore, who has eight of a handicap, and 16-year-old Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), who plays off three, headed an eight-month chase for the Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters' boys' and girls' titles when they top-scored in the Grand Final at a windswept Queen's Course, Gleneagles today.

The qualifying for this competition started at club level back in April with around 2,500 entries. That was followed by the regional finals with 300 competitors of whom 81 qualified to play at Gleneagles.

Moore, a pupil at Harlaw Academy, Aberdeen, won the boys' title by three clear Stableford points with an excellent total of 40, thanks to a scratch round of four-over-par 72, a great display by an eight-handicapper. He had three gross birdies – 2s at the short second, with a 20ft putt, and short 13^th (5ft putt) and a pitch-and-putt 3 at the 15^th.

He won by 3pt from Scott Murray, a nine-handicapper at Stonehaven, and Andrew McCraith who plays off 14 at Turnhouse. Murray, who had a scratch inward half of 33, was officially placed second with 22 points for the inward half to McCraith's 21pt.

Gabrielle MacDonald won the girls' championship with 40pt with a scratch round of 74 which matched the par off the LGU tees.

Trinity Academy pupil Gabrielle, who has been working with SLGA coach Kevin Craggs, had gross birdies at the third, fourth, 13^th and 16th and was competing in the Young Masters' Grand Final for the third year in a row.

She won by 2pt from Lauren Shanks, who plays off 27 at Bothwell Castle.

Three players tied for third place with 36pt and last year's girls' title-winner, Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) (15) edging out Keren Ward (North Berwick) (6) and Rheanna Thom (Alyth) (20) with 20pt for the inward half to Keren's 19 and Rheanna's 16.

BOYS' SCORES
(Par 68, CSS 70 (+2).

40 Elliott Moore (Banchory) (8).

37 Scott Murray (Stonehaven) (9), Andrew McCraith (Turnhouse) (14).

35 Jamie Pryde (Deeside) (7),
34 Steven McLeish (Ayr Belleisle) (13), Stuart Sproat (Kemnay) (22)..

33 Callum Brown (Greeenburn) (13), Blair Leslie (Moray) (10), John Polson (Peterculter) (12), Gregor MacLean (Dunblane New) (16), David Norris (Hilton Park) (12).

32 Craig Forbes (Carnwath) (2), Scott Wearing (Bishopbriggs) (2), Kieran Rorison (Loch Ness) (13),

31 Josh Roy (Auchterarder) (10), David Wickenden (Nairn) (15), Greg Thorburn (Lochmaben) (18)..

30 Finn Donaldson (North Berwick) (12), Liam Geals (Oldmeldrum) (15), Josh Anderson (Glencorese) (18).

29 Matthew Lowson (Forfar) (11), Scott Murray (Stonehaven) (9), Colin Edgar (Cochrane Castle) (11), Charlie Hudson (Tain) (10), Scott Duncan (Stonehaven) (19), Callum Creighton (Lochmaben) (28).
28 Scott McLeod (Kinross) (10), Peter Smith (Kenmore) (12), Steven Grant (Hopeman) (13), Lewis Davie (Scotscraig) (24).

27 Gary Brownlee (Tantallon) (13), Lewis Craik (Duns) (17), Grant Stewart (Pitlochry) (18).

26 Kerr Anderson (Pumpherston) (10), Kevin Leitch (Thornton) (4), Jay Milton (Murcar Links) (10), Ben Sutherland (Orkney) (13), Stewart Goodfellow (Glencorse) (16), Robbie Lacon (Selkirk) (19) .

25 Kerr Anderson (Pumpherston) (10), Liam Allan (Torphins) (7), Grant Wilson (Alford) (9), Jorge Middleton (Greenburn) (13), Liam Devine (Nairn Dunbar) (20).

24 Marcus Brown (Torphin Hill) (9), Steven Singer (Turriff) (20).

23 Ross Powell (Deeside) (18), Aaron Shepherd (Kirkcudbright) (23).

22 Craig McLay (Bishopbriggs) (5).

20 Ross Millar (Whitekirk) (6).

19 Scott Graham (Sanquhar) (6).

GIRLS

PAR 74 (CSS 72).

39 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) (3).

37 Lauren Shanks (Bothwell Castle) (27).

36 Keren Ward (North Berwick) (6), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) (15), Rheanna Thorn (Alyth) (24).

35 Rachael Polson (Peterculter) (5).

34 Jennifer Sinclair (Elie & Earlsferry) (9).

32 Shannen McGuire (Canmore) (10), Grace Mackie (Troon Ladies) (20), Sophie Loe (Skelmorlie) (36)..

31 Sophie Alexander (Deeside) (6), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) (6)

30 Emily Aird (Strathmore) (8), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) (14), Kirsten MacCallum (Newburgh-on-Ythan) (10), Fiona Brown (Dunblane New) (19)..

29 LaurenWhyte (St Regulus) (8).

28 Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) (5).

27 Lara Frostwick (Gullane) (18).
26 Hannah Robb (Strathmore) (11), Erin Millar (Pitlochry) (13), Rebecca Edgar (Glen) (18). .

25 Daniele Kerr (Kelso) (15), Gillian Love (Skelmorlie) (36).

23 Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) (29)
22 Kirsty Robb (Alford) (26), Heather Laing (Glencorse) (24).

20 Annabell Brown (Nairn) (16), Hazel McGarvie (Ayrshire Ladies) (26).

12 Sarah Dunlop (Gullane) (27).