Welsh beat Scots 4-0 in training match in Spain

FROM WELSH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
http://www.golfunionwales.org/
Current Ladies British Open champion Catriona Matthew was part of a Scotland team beaten by the Wales ladies amateur side in a friendly four-ball better ball foursomes match (at Desert Springs Golf Resort) in Spain.
Welsh amateur champion Tara Davies and rising star Amy Boulden beat top European Tour star and Solheim Cup player Matthew and her amateur partner Megan Briggs 5 and 3, in the match played while the two squads were at warm weather training together.
Wales whitewashed the Scots 4-0, who had invited Matthew to help their amateur squad as part of their build-up to the season - a result which will help push the Curtis Cup claims of several of the Wales players.
For Davies this was her second good result in a week after finishing fourth in the Portuguese amateur championship, where she was the best British and Irish player by a margin of five shots, to give her Curtis Cup hopes a real boost.
However, the rest of the Wales team also did well against the strong Scottish squad, Gemma Bradbury and Katherine O'Connor beat Eilidh Briggs and Rachel Watton by two holes with Bradbury holing her eight-iron approach at the last hole to close out victory.
Sam Birks and Chelsey Herbert beat Jane Turner and Gillian Monteith by one hole, with Birks holing a six foot putt on the last to seal the win, while Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards filled in for Katie Bradbury, to even things up with Major-winner Matthew playing for Scotland.
Edwards was there to supervise the training week in his day job as Golf Union of Wales director of player development and coaching, but he also partnered Chloe Williams to a comfortable win by 5 and 4 over Kelsey MacDonald and Laura Murray.
Edwards was seven under par for the holes played!
The match was the culmination of a good week of training, but also a useful marker as Wales aim for a hat-trick of Home International victories when they host the event at Whitchurch in Cardiff this summer.
"It really spiced up our week to play Scotland, to win so comprehensively and play against the Open champion was all just great," said Golf Union of Wales ladies national coach Jeremy Bennett.
"It was superb and gave them all a lift after coming out here to get some of the work done that we could not achieve at home because of the weather.
"It was also a good performance for Gemma, Amy and Tara as they prepare to go onto Spain for one of the events which will have a bearing on Curtis Cup selection.
"For instance Amy has added about 10 yards to her drives and it was good for her to see that she was hitting it up with the British Open champion, while Tara has improved her short game over the winter.
"It has been a really good training week, the girls have worked exceptionally hard on their game and have made progress.
"We are looking forward to the Home Internationals in the summer, trying to win for the third year running, and this result will certainly help confidence."

Vicki Thomas and Sheena McElroy claim pairs championship

Wales' Jane Rees wins Spanish seniors title

Welsh senior international Jane Rees, a member of Hendon Golf Club, Middlesex, has won the Spanish senior ladies open amateur championship at Novo Sanct Petri, Cadiz.
And Wales provided one half of the winning duo of Vicki Thomas and Ireland's Sheena McElroy in the earlier Spanish senior ladies international pairs championship at the same venue.
Jane did not just win the Spanish individual tie - she ran away from the opposition, finishing eight shots clear over only two rounds with scores of 73 and 78 for 151.
Germany's Tessa Oldenbourg was runner-up with rounds of 80 and 79 for 159.
In the international pairs event, Vicki and Sheena had a 72 in the better-ball round and an 80 in the foursomes round for 152. They won by one stroke from the Spanish partnership of Cristina Marsans and Catalina Castillejo with the the third couple, Maria Pia Allende and Bufill Estany finishing five shots behind the winners on 157.
Details:
SPANISH SENIOR OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
151 Jane Rees (Wales) 73 78.
159 Tessa Oldenbourg (Germany) 80 79.
161 Catalina Castillejo (Spain) 80 81.
163 Diane Williams (Canada) 82 81, Mar Corcostegui (Spain) 82 81.
164 Vicki Thomas (Wales) 81 83, Cornelia Schmidt-Stuetzle (Germany) 81 83.
165 Cristina Marsans (Spain) 81 84, Sharon Rodriguez (Spain) 81 84, Sheena McElroy (Ireland) 79 86.
Selected scores:
172 Roz Adams (England) 87 85 (jt 17th).
173 Valerie Hasset (Ireland) 87 86 (19th).
174 Janice Paterson (Scotland) 84 90 (jt 20th).
176 Rita Davidson (England) 86 90 (26th).
178 Valerie Shannopn (Ireland) 89 89 (jt 28th).
187 Pamela Morgan (Ireland) 95 92 (jt 43rd).
190 Barbara Biggart (Scotland) 96 94 (jt 48th).

SPANISH SENIOR INTERNATIONAL PAIRS
One round better-ball, one round foursomes
152 Vicki Thomas (Wales) & Sheena McElroy (Ireland) 72 80.
153 Cristina Marsans (Spain) & Catalina Castillejo (Spain) 71 82.
157 Maria Pia Ellende (Spain) & Bufill Estany (Spain) 77 80.
161 Jane Rees (Wales) & Rita Davidson (England) 80 81, Arelia Basagoiti (Spain) & Sylvia Quijano (Spain) 74 87.
Selected scores:
166 Roz Adams (England) & Cornelia Fischer 79 87, Pamela Morgan (Ireland) & Annelie Alanen 78 88.
170 Valerie Hasset (Ireland) & Valerie Shannon (Ireland) 79 91.
173 Barbara Biggart (Scotland) & Janice Paterson (Scotland) 85 88.
174 Diane Williams (Canada) & Marilyn Henderson (Ireland) 79 95.

La Nivelle Ladies Open snowed off at Biarritz ... lady

pros can still enter next week's Spanish Festival

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR ACCESS SERIES WEBSITE
Unfortunately the first event on the 2010 LET Access Series, La Nivelle Ladies Open, has been called off for this weekend due to bad weather.
Thursday’s first round was postponed and then today’s re-scheduled round was cancelled as the course (near Biarritz in south-west France) was still covered in snow. The organisers are looking for an alternative date to re-schedule the event.
The next tournament will be the Terre Blanche Ladies Open , from 31st March to 3rd April at Golf de Terre Blanche near Nice.
Editor's note: When the organisers saw how bad the weather was in southwest France, they could have moved the La Nivelle Ladies Open lock, stock and barrell to south-east Spain - there's absolutely no snow at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in Murcia, where the 3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's & Girls' Festival tees off tomorrow (Saturday) with a better-ball pairs tournament.
We would have put on lady pro events but we did not receive a single inquiry. Maybe they'll change their mind now with the cancellation of La Nivelle Ladies Open.
If any of the lady pros want to play in the Festival 36-hole event (Monday-Tuesday next week) and/or the 54-hole open (next Thursday-Friday-Saturday), e-mail Tournament Controller Lee Harrington at marshall@hdagolf.com or phone Director of Golf Billy Sim (0034 6902 95650) and they'll be delighted to create lady pro categories in both events.

Snow hits first day of LET Access Series in France

The first Ladies European Tour Access Series event has been reduced to 36 holes after heavy snow at La Nivelle Golf Course in southern France…
First round play at La Nivelle Ladies Open was abandoned at noon today due to snow.
There is a re-draw for Friday, starting from two tees at 10.30am. The weather forecast for the next few days in Ciboure, near Biarritz in France, is three to four degrees with a strong breeze from the north.
The tournament is still scheduled to finish on Saturday with hopefully 18 holes played each day. .

3rd HACIENDA del ALAMO WOMEN'S

& GIRLS' FESTIVAL (sponsored by Glenmuir)

TEE TIMES FOR SATURDAY'S ST VALENTINE'S

BETTER-BALL PAIRS COMPETITION

February 13, 2010

0930 Tee 1 – Hayley Davis & Hannah Turland with Jenna Birch & Amelia Taylor

0930 Tee 10 – Hannah Barwood & Amy Boulden with Holly Clyburn & Charlie Douglass

0940 Tee 1 – Simon Brierley & Daisy Dyer with Joel Dehove & Sheila Brunton

0940 Tee 10 – Sean Stiff & Sophie Phillips with Juan Antonio Cegarra & Jose Mugica

0950 Tee 1 – Nicola Callander & Ella Ofstedahl with Aaron Sverdloff & Dulcie Sverdloff

0950 Tee 10 – Dominic & Alice Hewson with Robert & Jess Wilcox

1000 Tee 1 – Derek & Ana Wright with Javier Gimenez & Susana Yanini

1000 Tee 10 – Enrique Perez & Gines Sarria with Miguel & Rafael Carlos-Roca

1010 Tee 1 – Paul Coopey & Kam Cheema with Geoff & Marilynn Pearce

1010 Tee 10 – Craig Hewitt & Laurence Perrier with Ian & Penny Burrows

***Men will be playing from yellow tees & Ladies/Girls from reds.

Additional entries will be accepted between now & Friday lunchtime and these players will then be allocated available tee times before 0930hrs.

All players to check in at the Pro Shop Reception Desk within the clubhouse on Saturday morning where the cards will be issued & handicaps verified.

Tournament Controller Lee Harrington will be there to welcome all Festival entrants.

Ellie Givens joint 12th in California

Ellie Givens, the 2007 English girls champion from Darlington, finished a creditable joint 12th in a quality field of 80 players for the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge women's college tournament at Palos Verdes Golf Club, California yesterday.

Ellie, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, a junior (third year) student at Denver University, had rounds of 72, 74 and 77 for a total of 223 over the par-71 course of 5,912yd.

Team-mate Sarah Faller, a sophomore student from Galway, finished tied 28th with no less a player than Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda (Arizona State) on the 228 mark. Sarah scored 74, 78 and 76, Carloa 78, 78 and 72.

Lisa McCloskey (Pepperdine) won by three shots with a two-under-par total of 211, made up of scores of 71, 67 and 73.

Pepperdine, who had another student, Taylore Karle, in joint second place with Jennifer Song (Southern California) on 214, finished second, beaten by three strokes, to Southern California in the team event.

Givens and Faller's efforts enabled Denver to finish joint sixth in a field of 15 teams.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS

Par 213 (3x71) 5,912yd

211 Lisa McCloskey (Pepperdine) 71 67 73.

214 Taylore Karle (Pepperdine) 69 72 73, Jennifer Song (Southern California) 67 75 72.

Selected scores:

223 Ellie Givens (Denver) 72 74 77 (jt 12th).

227 Carlota Ciganda (Arizona State) 78 78 72, Sarah Faller (Denver) 74 78 76.

LEADING TEAM TOTALS

876 Southern California.

879 Pepperdine.

897 Ohio State.

Selected score:

900 Denver (jt sixth of 15).

Alex Hogben makes top 10 in Utah

Alex Hogben from Manchester, a student at the University of Missouri Kansas City, tied for eighth place in a field of 70 players at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invite college tournament at Sunbrook Golf Club, St George in Utah.

Alex scored 76 and 70 for a total of 146 over the par-72, 6,781yd course.

Harrison Moore (College of Charleston) was the individual winner by three strokes with scores of 70 and 68 for six-under 138.

College of Charleston (576) won the team title ahead of UMKC (585) and Western Illinois (587) in a field of 11 teams.

Royal Canadian GA announces developmental

tour for women professionals and amateurs

NEWS RELEASE FROM ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
CN and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) are pleased to announce the championship schedule for the 2010 CN Canadian Women’s Tour, Canada’s only developmental golf tour for women.
This season’s scheduled Tour events, which include a practice round, 9-hole Pro-Am and 36-holes of competition will be held:
May 5-7 at Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond, British Columbia.
June 27-29 at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ontario.
July 11-13 at Club de golf Rivermead in Gatineau, Quebec.
A notable addition to the 2010 campaign is that the top three players on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending order of merit will be awarded direct entry and entry fees paid into both LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournaments (a $5,000 value each).
As well, the champion of each CN Canadian Women's Tour event is eligible to compete in Duramed Futures Tour events for the remainder of the 2010 season.
Total season prize money for the 2010 season is Canadian $180,000 for three events. Each 36-hole championship purse will be Canadian $60,000 with the champion being awarded a Canadian $10,000 winners’ cheque.
“This year the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season is going to be one of our best yet,” said Richard Kuypers, Tournament Coordinator for the CN Canadian Women’s Open. “The top three players on the order of merit will receive their fees into the LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournaments. This important enhancement to our Tour will undoubtedly help to attract the best possible field of competitors to our championships.”
The winner from each of the three Tour events will receive an exemption directly into the CN Canadian Women’s Open with the additional three exemptions being awarded based on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit standings.
Quilchena Golf & Country Club will open the Tour’s 2010 season, hosting their first RCGA sanctioned event, while Blue Springs Golf Club, a ClubLink property and home of the Canadian PGA, will be the Tour’s second stop of the season.
Many of Canada’s elite female golfers have used the CN Canadian Women’s Tour to hone their skills and develop as athletes both on and off the course.
Player bios for golfers who regularly play in CN Canadian Women’s Tour events and additional information is now available online at http://www.cncanadianwomenstour.com/.
Eligibility
The CN Canadian Women’s Tour is open to female professionals, and female amateur and junior golfers who have a handicap factor of 4.0 or better.
Entry Fees
The entry fee for each championship is Canadian $375 for professionals and Canadian $275 for amateurs. There is no qualifying tournament or membership fee.

FAIRHAVEN TO STAGE ASTOR TROPHY TOURNAMENT

NEXT YEAR - AND IRISH PLAYERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LADIES GOLF UNION

Women’s amateur golf teams from Australia , Canada , Great Britain & Ireland , New Zealand and South Africa , will contest “The Astor Trophy” at Fairhaven Golf Club, on Lancashire ’s West Coast from June 15 to 19, 2011.
The round robin event, held every four years, started life as the Commonwealth Tournament at St Andrews in 1959 when Great Britain won the trophy presented for competition by Nancy, Viscountess Astor.
Next year, the Ladies' Golf Union, the co-ordinating organisation, will be represented for the first time in the tournament by a team for which Great Britain & Ireland players are eligible for selection. In previous “Commonwealth” years, players from Ireland were not eligible for selection
It is a match-play team event with each team consisting of five players and a non-playing captain. Each match is over a maximum of 18 holes and consists of two morning foursomes and five afternoon singles. One team will have a bye each day but, under the regulations, the hosts – Great Britain & Ireland in 2011 – will not have a bye on the final day.
Great Britain won the tournament the first five times it was played - 1959 at St Andrews, 1963 at Royal Melbourne, 1967 at Hamilton (Canada), 1972 at Hamilton (New Zealand) and 1975 at Ganton, Yorkshire.
Canada ended the GB monopoly by winning the sixth tournament in 1979 at Perth, Australia.
Since then Great Britain have won the tournament on two more occasions – at Northumberland, England in 1991 – the last time it was played on home soil – and at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, South Africa in 2007, the last occasion the competition was held.
The winning GB team in 2007 was Krystle Caithness (Scotland), Naomi Edwards (England), Breanne Loucks (Wales), Melissa Reid (England), Kerry Smith (England). It was captained by Sue Turner (Wales).
Australia have been the second most successful country over the years with four title wins – 1983 (in Canada), 1995 at home in Sydney, 1999 at Vancouver, Canada and in 2003 at Remuera, New Zealand.
The 2011 teams will practise over the Fairhaven course on June 13 and 14, the two days preceding the tournament. The teams will also have a chance to acclimatise to playing conditions in this part of the golfing world by competing in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland from June 7 to 11.
Fairhaven Golf Club staged the Final Qualifying of the Ricoh Women’s British Open last year and also the Girls’ Home International Matches.
Bob Thompson, secretary of the club, commented: “Fairhaven is again delighted to be hosting a prestigious championship on behalf of the Ladies Golf Union. It is a great privilege and honour to stage the 2011 Astor Trophy Tournament, especially as it only returns to GB&I every 20 years.
“So we are looking forward to welcoming the LGU and the teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Canada and Great Britain & Ireland to our beautiful championship links and watching the spectacular golf which will be produced by the world’s leading amateur lady golfers.”

Michael Stewart (joint third) helps East Tennessee

State University win JU Invitational team title

Michael Stewart, the 2008 Scottish boys' match-play champion from the Troon Welbeck club, finished joint third in the JU Invitational college tournament at the Players Stadium course, Ponte Vedra, Florida on Tuesday.

Stewart's performance also helped East Tennessee State University win the team title .

Michael, pictured, had rounds of 73, 76 and 73 for a total of 222 over the 7,122yd, par-72 course. He finished four shots behind the winner, Brendan Gielow (Wake Forest) who shot 76, 69 and 73 for 218.

Starting at the ninth hole in his final round, Stewart birdied the 16th, first, seventh and eighth. His two late birdies pulled him up to a share of third place alongside Ben Martin (Clemson), three shots behind runner-up Kelvin Day (Charleston Southern).

Stewart's East Tennessee State team-mates, Seamus Power from Waterford, Rhys Enoch from Cornwall and Paul O'Kane from Castledawson, Northern Ireland finished joint fifth, joint 11th and joint 24th respectively.

Tom Sherreard (Georgia State), an England boy international, finished joint 19th.

Former Scottish schoolboys title-holder and junior champion of champions, Neil Henderson (Old Dominion) from North Berwick finished joint 46th on 240 with scores of 84, 78 and 78.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72). 7,122yd

Individuals

218 Brendan Gielow (Wake Forest) 76 69 73.

219 Kelvin Day (Charleston Southern) 73 75 71.

222 Michael Stewart (East Tennessee State) 73 76 73, Ben Martin (Clemson) 71 75 76.

Selected scores:

223 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 80 71 72 (jt 5th).
226 Rhys Enoch (East Tennessee State) 76 71 79 (jt 11th).

229 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 80 74 75 (jt 19th).

232 Paul O'Kane (East Tennessee State) 81 76 75 (jt 24th).

240 Neil Henderson (Old Dominion) 84 78 78 (jt 46th).

Teams

893 East Tennessee State. 900 Wake Forest. 901 Clemson. 15 Teams took part.

Tom Berry makes to top 10 in California

Meanwhile, San Diego State University freshman Tomy Berry from Surrey finished joint ninth on 217 with rounds of 69, 71 and 77 in the USD Callaway Invitational at The Farms Golf Club, Rancho Sante Fe, California.

Competing over a par-72, 6,910yd course, Berry finished nine shots behind the winner, Bhavik Patel (Fresno State) who had rounds of 69, 70 and69 for an eight-under-par total of 208. He won by three shots from Alex Ching (San Diego) (70-72-69).

Tom Berry's effort helped San Diego State (862) win the team title ahead of Southern Methodist (86) and Fresno State (875) in a field of 12 teams.

Gavin Hay drops out of contention with

final round of 77 in Spring Invitational

Gavin Hay from Glasgow, a student at Carson-Newman College, Tennessee, dropped from joint second overnight to a final placing of joint 10th in the Golfweek Spring Division 2 Invitational at the Independence Course, Reunion in Florida.
Gavin's earlier rounds of 73 and 70 had him only three shots off the pace and with only one man ahead, Steven Brame (Lynn University). But Hay slumped to a final round of 77, five over par for the 6,982yd course. He had only one birdie, at the 16, and six bogeys for a total of four-over-par 220.
Brame did not win either. He had scores of 67, 73 and 73 for 213, finishing two shots behind the winner, Robert Nasalli-Rocca (Lander University) whose five-under-par total of 211 was made up of rounds of 71, 72 and 68.
Gavin Hay team-mate Liam Ashby, a sophomore student from Dublin dropped 22 places ovcer the last round to joint 62nd in the field of 90 with rounds of 76, 77 and 82 for 235.
A third Carson-Newman College student, Adam Holt from Liverpool finished joint 76th of 240 with scores of 83, 74 and 84.
Adam Bate from Birmingham, a student at Clayton State University, Atlanta, finished 86th with scores of 79, 85 and 82 for 246.
Nova Southeastern (878) won the team title ahead of Western Florida (880).

LGU looking for new Chairman

The Ladies' Golf Union is seeking to appoint a Chairman of the Executive Council and the Board of the subsidiary company, LGU Championships Limited, for a period of almost three years from April 2010 to February 2013.

Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland.

The LGU has undertaken a review of its structure and governance arrangements and the changes recommended by the Executive Council were approved at the Annual General Meeting in Cardiff in January 2010.

One of the next steps in the reorganisation outlined by CEO, Shona Malcolm, at the Cardiff AGM, is the recruitment of an independent Chairman.

The LGU has published a detailed specification of the position and invites suitably qualified individuals to apply before 1 March 2010.

US college circuit news

Second-round leader Hannah Burke

finishes joint 2nd in Puerto Rico

Hannah Burke from Hertfordshire, in her final year as a student at Baylor University, Texas, lost her one-shot lead over the final round of the Lady Puerto Rico Classic college tournament at the Trump International Golf Club, Coco Beach Resort in San Juan.

Hannah, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, led after two opening rounds of three-under-par 69 over the 6,219yd course but slipped back with a third and last-round 74 for a total of 212.

She was overtaken by Sweden's European individual champion Caroline Hedwall, a sophomore student at Oklahoma State. Caroline had rounds of 74, 64 and 70 for a seven-under-par total of 209.

Caroline, who will be 21 on May 13, had an undefeated record for the Continent of Europe in last summer's Vagliano Trophy victory over Great Britain & Ireland at Hamburg. She lost to Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) in the final of the Ladies' British open amateur championship at North Berwick in 2008.

Hannah finished joint second in a field of 86 players, being joined on the 212 mark by Spain's Marta Silva (Georgia) with rounds of 70 69 and 73.

Alabama University did not have an individual concerned in the top three finish but they won the team title by 11 shots with a total of 872. Purdue (883) were second and Oklahoma State (886) third. Baylor (907) finished joint sixth in a field of 16 teams.

Leading final totals:

Par 216 (3x72). 6,219yd.

Individuals

209 Caroline Hedwall (Oklahoma State) 74 65 70.

212 Hannah Burke (Baylor) 69 69 74, Marta Silva (Georgia) 70 69 73.

Teams

872 Alabama. 883 Purdue. 886 Oklahoma State. 888 Georgia. 897 Kent State. 907 Baylor, Florida State & Northwestern. 16 Teams took part.

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort Director of Golf Billy Sim (left) and Festival Tournament Controller Lee Harrington.

3rd Hacienda del Alamo Women's

& Girls' February Festival



MESSAGE TO COMPETITORS FROM
TOURNAMENT CONTROLLER
LEE HARRINGTON

Dear All,
Just a quick note to let you have a little ‘Pre-Festival’ Information prior to your arrival for the 2010 Hacienda Del Alamo Festival.

1. Saturday Pairs Competition – for those of you competing in the St. Valentines Pairs Competition on Saturday 13th, I will email tee times to you all on Thursday 11th, and will be in the Pro Shop to meet you on Saturday morning before play.
2. St Valentines Dinner – Please join us on Saturday evening at the Clubhouse for our annual St Valentines Dinner/Dance. Cost is 27€ per head including dinner, wine & entertainment. Anyone interested can let me know by email in advance, or confirm with me when checking in on Saturday morning.
3. Sunday 14th – Practice Day. The range will be open for practice with complimentary range balls, from 0800 – 1700hrs, and tee times for your free practice rounds are available throughout the day. If you wish to book a certain time then please advise.
4. Welcome Meeting – All Competitors are requested to attend the welcome meeting on Sunday evening at 1900hrs, which will take place in the V.I.P. Lounge at the Clubhouse. This will be our opportunity to explain full details of the week’s events, and answer any of your questions.
5. Handicap Certificates – please could all competitors bring up to date confirmation of their current handicaps with them when they check in for the Festival.

I hope this information is of interest, and I look forward to meeting you all next week for a successful event.
Kind Regards,

Lee Harrington
Tournament Controller

P.S. Should you need to contact me by telephone, don’t hesitate to call me on (0034) 660289865.

Belmont Abbey college team give tournament winner Melissa Siviter a "lift" for the team photograph. Click on the image to enlarge.

Melissa Siviter from Staffordshire wins on Kiawah Island

Melissa Siviter, a freshman student at Belmont Abbey College, Charlotte, North Carolina, has the honour of being the first British and Irish winner on the American college golf circuit in 2010.
Melissa, a member at Enville Golf Club, Staffordshire, had rounds of 75 and 70 for a total of 145 over the par-72 Cougar Point Golf Club course at the famous one-time Ryder Cup venue of Kiawah Island.
She was competing in the Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate. Mitsuki Katahira (Daytona State College) matched Melissa's total with identical scores of 75 and 70.
Siviter was declared the individual winner by virtue of a scorecard play-off. Her birdie at the fifth hole in the final round was decisive.
Team-mate Carley Warrington from Bradwell finished joint 15th with rounds of 78 and 79 for 157.
Belmont Abbey College (616) finished fourth of 16 teams behind Daytona State (602), Rollins (608) and Florida Southern (609).
More info on Melissa Siviter (courtesy of her mum, Pam!)
Home is Coseley, West Midlands. Date of birth: July 15, 1990. Staffordshire county player (Enville ladies' club championship usually clashes with County Week but last year Melissa was the leading qualifier in the Staffs county championship, for which she won the Wedgewood Bowl, before losing in the semi-finals. Coached by Enville Golf Club professional Richard Copsey.
"Melissa seems to be a late developer. She's certainly loving her freshman year at college."

Kenilworth Golf Club's par-13 10th hole in Warwickshire.

Kenilworth Junior Masters for Under-14 boys and girls on April 7

NEWS RELEASE
On April 7, 2010, Kenilworth Golf Club in Warwickshire will host the second Kenilworth Junior Masters. This event, sponsored by the Golf Society of Great Britain, is one of a series of six competitions held annually at leading venues across the country, which are designed to give young golfers the chance to enjoy competitive golf.
The list of former winners of events in this series features some familiar names including Oliver Fisher who went on to become the youngest ever Walker Cup player and is now establishing himself as member of the European Tour. Other notable participants include Tommy Fleetwood, a member of the EGU’s England Squad, and Jonathan Bell, currently a member of the EGU’s ‘A’ Squad.
This competition is open to boys and girls of all abilities, aged under 14 on the day of the competition. Last year, the Kenilworth Junior Masters attracted talented young golfers from all across the United Kingdom and with the number of entrants limited to just 72, those wishing to take part should submit their entry as soon as possible.
Entry forms can be downloaded from the club’s website or they are available from the club secretary on 01926 858517.

Gemma Dryburgh fourth in Florida FCWT event

Florida-based Aberdeen girl Gemma Dryburgh finished fourth in a field of 26 playeres for the Future Collegians World Tour's Mission Inn Challenge girls' tournament at Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, north of Orlando, Florida at the weekend.

Gemma was lying joint second with a 76, only one shot off the pace, after the first round but a second-round 81 saw her finish on 157, seven shots behind the winner, Audrey Monssoh (Los Angeles) with scores of 76 and 74.

Gemma's father, Aberdeen businessman John Dryburgh, reports:

"Unfortunately Florida was hit with the tail of the weather that produced record snow falls across the east coast of America and the girls played in conditions found more akin to Britain than Florida.

"Gemma's 76 on Saturday was good golf in the conditions .Unfortunately her start from the 10th on Sunday was not what she was looking for and she finished with an 81.
"Although she is still waiting for her first win on the tour she is finishing consistently in the top fifth and is now sitting 4th in the Laura Diaz FCWT season rankings."

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

150 Audrey Monssoh (Los Angeles) 76 74.

152 Isabel Southard (Massachusetts) 75 77.

153 Katerina Krasova (Czech Republic) 79 74.

157 Gemma Dryburgh (Aberdeen) 76 81.

For more information: http://www.lauradiazjrgolf.com/

NEW SOUTH WALES WOMEN'S OPEN

Laura loses it with a final round of 74

Overnight leader and defending champion Laura Davies left the door open for her challengers with a third and final round of 74 in the $100,000 Bing Lee Samsung New South Wales Women's Open.
First through the door was New South Wales player Sarah Oh who turned over seven shots of big Laura (pictured) on the final day with a 67, after earlier rounds of 67 and 73, for a nine-under-par total of 207 to win the title and the $15,000 first prize.
Oh won by a single shot from Queensland's Katherine Hull who had scores of 68, 72 and 68 for 208 to collect the runner-up cheque for $10,250.
Laura Davies and Rebecca Coakley (Team Ireland) were the leading European finishers in joint 10th place on 213. Laura's scores were 69, 70 and 74 for 213; Rebecca 70, 71 72. Both earned $2,008.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) 5494metres
1 SARAH OH (New South Wales) 67 73 67 207 ($15,000).
2 KATHERINE HULL (Queensland) 68 72 68 208 ($10,250).
3 NIKKI CAMPBELL (Australian Capital Territory) 70 75 64 209 ($6,000).
3 KAREN LUNN (New South Wales) 69 71 69 209 ($6,000).
5 SARAH-JANE SMITH (Queensland) 70 72 68 210 ($3,950).
5 RACHEL L BAILEY (New South Wales) 68 72 70 210 ($3,950).
7 WENDY DOOLAN (New South Wales) 69 72 71 212 ($3,066).
7 CATHRYN BRISTOW (New Zealand) 68 74 70 212 ($3,066).
7 SARAH NICHOLSON (New Zealand) 66 75 71 212 ($3,066).
10 LAURA DAVIES (England) 69 70 74 213 ($2,008).
10 VICKY THOMAS (13th Beach) 70 75 68 213 ($2,008).
10 STEPHANIE NA (South Australia) 70 74 69 213 ($2,008).
10 REBECCA COAKLEY (Team Ireland) 70 71 72 213 ($2,008).
10 JOANNE MILLS (New South Wales) 70 70 73 213 ($2,008).
15 LEANNE BOWDITCH (Queensland) 73 72 69 214 ($1,475).
15 SOPHIE WALKER (England) 70 72 72 214 ($1,475).
17 JESSICA NOH (New South Wales) 73 72 70 215 ($1,275).
17 NIKKI GARRETT (New South Wales) 72 74 69 215 ($1,275).
19 JANE KIM (New South Wales) 74 71 71 216 ($1,093).
19 SARAH KEMP (New South Wales) 73 73 70 216 ($1,093).
19 FRANCES BONDAD (New South Wales) 72 73 71 216 ($1,093).
19 KAREN PEARCE (Queensland) 71 73 72 216 ($1,093).
19 KRISTIE SMITH (Western Australia) 71 70 75 216 ($1,093).
19 DANA LACEY (Western Australia) 70 73 73 216 ($1,1093).
25 TAMARA BECKETT (Queensland) 74 71 72 216 ($930).
25 STACEY TATE (New Zealand) 72 74 71 217 ($930).
27 MELANIE BRYDEN (Victoria) 70 74 74 218 ($814).
27 REBECCA FLOOD (New South Wales) 71 76 71 218 ($814).
27 STACEY KEATING (Victoria) (amateur) 68 78 72 218.
27 KATE COMBES (Victoria) 70 77 71 218 ($814).
27 LEAH HART (Queensland) 74 73 71 218 ($814).
27 BREE ARTHUR (Queensland) 70 74 74 218 ($814).
33 JESSICA SPEECHLEY (Western Australia) (amateur) 72 75 72 219.
33 JEAN CHUA (Malaysia) 72 75 72 219 ($730).
33 ALLYCE WATKINSON (The Lakes) (amateur) 71 79 69 219.
33 ASHLEY ONA (Australia) (amateur) 71 74 74 219.
37 SUSIE MATHEWS (South Australia) 77 74 69 220 ($710).
38 SU-HYUN OH (South Korea) (amateur) 69 80 72 221.
38 ELISSA ORR (Victoria) (amateur) 74 72 75 221.
38 BRONWYN MULLINS (Queensland) 73 75 73 221 ($690).
38 BREANNA ELLIOTT (Victoria) (amateur) 73 73 75 221.
38 ESTHER YOON (Australia) (amateur) 72 76 73 221.
43 COURTNEY MASSEY (Southport GC) (amateur) 73 76 73 222.
43 JODY FLEMING (Victoria) 75 76 71 222 ($670).
43 ELLE SANDAK (New South Wales) (amateur) 77 73 72 222

43 CHANTAL HODSON (New South Wales) (amateur) 76 74 72 222.
47 BREE TURNBULL (Western Australia) 71 80 72 223 ($600).
48 TAMARA HYETT (Victoria) 76 73 75 224 ($553).
48 CLARE CHOI (Victoria) 74 75 75 224 ($553).
48 JOO LEE YEOM (South Korea) 71 79 74 224 ($553).
51 KASEY HENSHAW (New South Wales) 75 76 74 225 ($520).
51 DONNA SOUTHAM (New South Wales) 75 76 74 225 ($520).
51 EBONY HEARD (South Australia) (amateur) 70 78 77 225.
51 HIROMI KAMATA (Japan) 67 77 81 225 ($520).
55 YEON SU CHO (South Korea) (amateur) 76 73 77 226.
55 JASMINE FINLAY (Queensland) (amateur) 75 76 75 226.
55 AMANDA CHIN (Malaysia) (amateur) 74 77 75 226.
55 ALIZAH KENDLER (Monash GC) (amateur) 74 76 76 226.
55 JANE WALL (New South Wales) 73 77 76 226 ($500).
55 SAKI SUZUKI (Japan) (amateur) 76 75 75 226.
61 VIKKI TUTT (New South Wales) 77 74 77 228 ($500).
MISSED THE CUT
CARLY BECK (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 74 152.
CORINNE FURNELL (New South Wales) 77 75 152.
KAREN QUINN (New South Wales) 75 77 152.
CLAUDIA LIM (New South Wales) (amateur) 73 79 152.
HELEN OH (New South Wales) 73 79 152.
POLLY TRAVICA (New South Wales) 75 78 153.
EMMA ASH (South Australia) (amateur) 72 81 153.
SUNNY PARK (New South Wales) 73 80 153.
ANGELA TATT (Victoria) 75 78 153.
CORINNE SWAN (Queensland) (amateur) 77 76 153.
HONEY KAMATA (Japan) 77 76 153.
PHILLIS METI (New Zealand) 78 75 153.
NERIDA GREGORY (New South Wales) (amateur) 74 79 153.
KATY JAROCHOWICZ (New South Wales) 78 76 154.
YEE YEON KIM (South Korea) (amateur) 78 76 154.
JUSTINE LEE (Bankstown GC) (amateur) 76 78 154.
CATHLEEN SANTOSO (New South Wales) (amateur) 75 79 154.
VERITY KNIGHT (South Australia) 74 80 154.
ADRIANA BRENT (The Lakes GC) (amateur) 74 80 154.
SHEREE HASSON (Queensland) (amateur) 77 78 155.
REBECCA GREEN (South Australia) 75 80 155.
SHARON HEMPSTOCK (Queensland) 79 77 156.
MICHELLE COETZEE (Queensland) (amateur) 78 78 156.
BELINDA DIAMOND (South Korea) (amateur) 81 75 156.
WENDY HAWKES (New Zealand) 76 80 156
CARA GUEST (South Australia) (amateur) 80 77 157.

OLIVIA WILSON (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 79 157.

AMY SMITH (New Zealand) (amateur) 78 79 157.

SUZANNE FAIRHURST (New South Wales) (amateur) 77 80 157.

ANGELA HARRIS (Queensland) 80 78 158.

NICKY HENDERSON (New South Wales) 80 78 158.

LAURA HOLDSWORTH (New South Wales) (amateur) 78 80 158
TEGAN SMITH (New South Wales) 77 81 158.

CHRISTABEL GOH (Singapore) 75 83 158.

ANGELA TUNCHON (New South Wales) 75 83 158.

ANGELA HAWKES (New Zealand) 75 84 159.

GILLIAN RAE (New South Wales) 81 78 159.

GRACE LENNON (Victoria) (amateur) 84 77 161.

JOANNE BANNERMAN (New South Wales) 79 82 161

JANA WELSFORD (Australian Capital Territory) (amateur) 82 80 162.

ELLY CHEON (South Korea) (amateur) 74 88 162.

Selected scores:

TAMRA MOORE (Norway) (amateur) 82 82 164.

KATIE DUKE (Canada) 86 81 167.

ASHLEE CLAYDON (Canada) 88 NR.

Jodi Ewart in action for the University of New Mexico on the US women's college circuit.

Blow to GB&I hopes: Jodi Ewart

to turn pro before Curtis Cup

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Great Britain & Ireland's hopes of regaining the Curtis Cup from the grasp of the United States in the June 11 to 13 match at Essex County Club, Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts have taken a knock with the news that Jodi Ewart will be ineligible for selection.
She has decided to turn professional without delay after she completes her four-year degree course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
She will also miss the Ladies British open amateur championship at Ganton Golf Club (June 22 to 26) in her home county of Yorkshire over a course she knows well and would have been one of the title contenders.
Miss Ewart (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Middleham, Yorkshire and a member at Catterick Golf Club, had her 22nd birthday on January 7 this year. She was the English women's stroke-play champion in 2008 and has won several events on the US women's college circuit over the past four years.
Most pundits would have considered her a certainty to be one of the eight-strong Great Britain & Ireland team for this years Curtis Cup match.
Her circumstances changed when, competing as an amateur, she gained playing rights for the 2010 Duramed Futures Tour, America's No 2 ladies pro circuit, at its Qualifying School late last year.
In an E-mail from Albuquerque, Jodi said:
" I have decided to make myself unavailable for Curtis Cup team selection. This was not an easy decision, and one that I have been going back and forth over for the past two months.
" I came to the decision that for my future I need to play in as many Futures Tour events as I can, and playing in the Curtis Cup would make this very difficult.
" I know that there is a huge amount of young talent in Britain at the moment, and what ever GB&I team gets selected they will win. I feel that my experience at St.Andrews (the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course) is one that can never be topped and it's time to give that experience to someone else.
"It was a decision I needed to make by myself and believe that I made the right one for my future. I know people will be disappointed but I hope they understand my very difficult situation."

Any comments? You can E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen head of PE, Georgeana Parker, teaching the introductory golf game of firstclubgolf to pupils (image by Rob Eyton-Jones; click to enlarge).

St Margaret’s on the ball with clubgolf

NEWS RELEASE
Golf loving girls from one of Scotland’s leading independent schools are bringing the game to the fore – thanks to a new partnership with clubgolf.
St Margaret’s School in Aberdeen has become one of the country’s first independent schools to work with clubgolf, an initiative which aims to give all primary five pupils the opportunity to play golf.
The clubgolf programme has already introduced almost 80% of primary 5 years in Aberdeen to the game – St Margaret’s is the first independent school in the city to run a clubgolf programme. Clubgolf, a direct result of Scotland’s successful bid to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, offers a structured programme which can take children from entry levels to the highest stages of achievement. As well as helping children reach their potential, it also allows a large number of youngsters to experience the sport.
Keen to raise the profile of golf among girls at the school, Georgeana Parker, head of PE at St Margaret’s, contacted clubgolf.
“We had a visit from Audra Booth who is the organisation’s regional manager for Grampian and she gave the girls a lesson which was fantastically well received,” she said.
“We have a number of girls who already play regularly but this was a perfect opportunity to introduce a new sport to an entire year group of pupils and they have loved learning how to play.
“Not only is golf a great way to exercise but it can be played by people of all ages which means that the girls can hit the golf course or driving range with friends and family in their spare time. Sport is such an important part of life at St Margaret’s and this underlines the school’s commitment to providing a wide and varied range of activities.”
Audra Booth says she is delighted that St Margaret’s has signed up for the national initiative – and encourages other schools to follow suit.
“St Margaret’s is one of the first independent schools in Scotland to run the clubgolf programme and this underlines the popularity of the introductory game,” she said.
“Eighty eight percent of the region’s schools are giving their children an early introduction to the game and 50 Grampian clubs are on board offering clubgolf programmes where they can develop their skills. This is really opening up the sport to youngsters and encouraging their early development as golfers.”

Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager
e: rob@eyton-jones.co.uk
website: http://www.clubgolfscotland.com/

James Byrne explains what went

wrong for him on Hawaii

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
James Byrne's first two rounds (84 and 80) in the Hawaii college tournament at the end of last week were so far out of the ordinary for the Banchory student at Arizona State University, that I E-mailed him to see if there was any explanation.
A lot of golfers are very good at talking about their good rounds; not all of them want to speak about their "bad" rounds ... but James is a notable exception.
Here's his reply:

Colin,
This tournament was competed among 22 teams, far too many for a college event, and as a result we played shotgun starts for each of the three rounds.
With severe winds only picking up after about seven holes in the first round, certain players were punished much more so than others. I had to play my last six holes into the wind and played them in +10.
In the second round, I managed to rack up an 8 on a 120yd par 3, as did my team-mate Knut, amongst others. The hole played straight down a strong wind with water short and long and was more of a guessing game than a golf hole.
I played only marginally better in the third round for a two-under-par 70, than I did the first two.
I tied at +18 with Peter Uihlein, who is coming off a phenomenal 09 season and is 5th in WAGR, so I think that tells all.
However, I did not play to my best and will have to make vast improvements.
Cheers,
James Byrne

Laetitia Beck, the Florida-based Israeli girl who won the Verizon Junior Heritage girls' championship today on Hilton Head Island (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).

Stephanie Meadow finishes joint seventh behind

Laetitia Beck, winner of girls' Verizon Junior title

Curtis Cup team place contender Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland faded from contention over the second round of the Verizon Junior Heritage - one of the United States' top Under-19 years tournaments - at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina today.

Stephanie, a student at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on the island, was in the picture with a Saturday round of 74 but she required 80 shots for her next round over the Harbour Links.

Her total of 154 saw Stephanie finish joint seventh, seven shots behind the winner of the 36-hole event, Laetitia Beck from Israel, a student at a golf academy in Florida. Laetitia, who is a member of Caesarea Golf Club in Israel, had rounds of 73 and 74 for 147.

She won by two shots from the favourite, 14-year-old Alexis Thompson from Coral Springs, Florida. Alexis had rounds of 73 and 76 for 149.

Last year Alexis beat Laetitia in a play-off for the title.

Miss Beck has committed herself to enrol at Duke University, Durham in North Carolina in the autumn. Duke has been the strongest team on the US women's college circuit in recent years.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 143 (72 + 71)
147 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 73 74.

149 Alexis Thompson 73 76.
150 Sierra Sims 74 76.

153 Portland Rosen 77 76, McKenzie Talbert 75 78, Juliet Vongphoumy 75 78.

154 Collins Bradshaw 76 78, Katherine Perry 75 79, Irene Jung 75 79, Brittany Mai 77 77, Stephanie Meadow 74 80, Monifa Sealy 76 78.

155 Simin Feng 77 78.

156 Jessica Korda 82 74, Alison Emrey 82 74.

158 Ri Hyang Park 75 83, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai 78 80.

159 Daniela Lendl 80 79, Jackie Chang 80 79.

161 Suzie Lee 76 85, Minami Levonwich 78 83, Anne Marie Covar 79 82.

162 Janie Jackson 77 85.

162 Lauren Salazar 81 82.

164 Jaye Marie Green 82 82, Hally Leadbetter 79 85, Linda Luo 76 88, Joyce Kim 79 85.

168 Noriko Inoue 86 82, Harin Lee 84 84.

169 Katie Rose Higgins 78 91.

170 Yuri Otsuka 87 83.

171 Elizabeth Thompson 80 91.

LEADING BOYS' TOTALS TO COME

Some good news about Tiger at last:

He's been reunited with his family

By NICK ALLEN

Tiger Woods has been reunited with his family for the first time in over a month after leaving a rehabilitation clinic.
The world's troubled number one golfer completed a programme in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from where he was picked up by his wife Elin Nordegren.
Despite earlier reports that the couple intended to divorce they are now said to be spending time alone to work on their marriage and intend to return to their home in Orlando, Florida.
Woods was reunited with his family in time for the first birthday of his son Charlie on Monday. The couple also have a daughter Sam, 2.

Reports that he had completed his course led to immediate speculation that he could return to the golf circuit within weeks.
There are suggestions that he could play in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in a fortnight.
He would have to register by Friday for the tournament which is open to the top 64 players in the world.
However, his return appeared more likely to come in the Arnold Palmer Invitation in Florida, an event he has won six times, and which is played at the end of March, shortly before the Masters.

Laura Davies leads in New South Wales Women's Open

England’s Laura Davies enjoyed the English type weather to take the lead into the final round of the New South Wales Women’s Open in Sydney on Saturday. The former winner of the event took advantage of the better morning conditions to card a 2-under par 70 to finish at 5-under par 139 after 36 holes.
Overcast conditions greeted the morning field, with the wind picking up mid way through their round, while the afternoon players contended with strong gusty winds and squally showers making club selection and scoring difficult.
“Overall I played pretty well but it could have been a lot better than that had the putts gone in but I think the pins were difficult today, moreso than yesterday.” Davies said after the round. Her round included three birdies and one bogey, with her birdies all came on the par 5’s on the front nine, at the 4th, 6th and 8th holes. Her only bogey came on the 17th when she overshot the green for her second shot and couldn’t get up and down.
The former World No. 1 heads a jam-packed leaderboard with 14 players within four shots of the lead, including the three previous winners of the tournament; Davies, Joanne Mills and Sarah Oh.
The New South Wales quartet of Karen Lunn (71), Mills (70), Oh (73) and Rachel Bailey (72) and Queensland’s Katherine Hull (72) are all at four-under par, 140 total. Ireland’s Rebecca Coakley posted a 71 for 141 total, with West Australian Kristie Smith carding a 70, New South Wales Wendy Doolan, 72 and first round leader New Zealand’s Sarah Nicholson shot a 75 to be all at 141 and sharing seventh position.
Davies, will be in search of her second NSW Women’s Open title and with the experience of winning over 70 titles worldwide, she will be hard to beat.
A total of 61 players made the cut including 46 professionals who will compete for their share of the $100,000.
SCOREBOARD LATER

Left to right: Scott Crichton, Jordan McColl and Steven Maxwell.

Three Scots students in New Mexico top 15

Three Scots finished in the top 15 in Saturday's New Mexico Collegiate Cup golf tournament at Sierra de Rico Golf Club in the quaintly named town of Truth or Consequences on Saturday.
Scott Crichton from Dalgety Bay, Fife, a fourth-year student at Western New Mexico University, had rounds of 72 and 73 over the 7,012yd par-72 course for a total of 145 and a share of 10th place.
Dundee's Jordan MColl, a freshman student at New Mexico Junior College, was the first-round leader with a two-under-par 70 but a second-round 77 for 147 pushed him down to joint 12th position.
Steven Maxwell from Glasgow, a third-year student at Western New Mexico, scored 77 and 71 for 148 and a share of 15th place.

Edward Parker (Western New Mexico), a senior student from Sandbach, England, had rounds of 76 and 77 for 153 and a share of 25th place.
Chris Davis (Western New Mexico), a freshman student from London tied for 33rd place with scores of 77 and 80 for 157.

There was a play-off for the individual title between two New Mexico State Univesity students, Ryan Wood (72-69) and Will Holdridge (72-69), who tied at the head of a field of 39 players on 141. Wood won the play-off.