MURIEL THOMSON WINS SUNDERLAND
AWARD FOR INDIA ORPHANS WORK

Portlethen Golf Club professional Muriel Thomson, one of Scotland’s golfing pioneers, has been awarded the Toby Sunderland Award for her volunteer charitable work in orphans in India.
Muriel, who became the first female head golf club professional in Scotland in early 1990 when she retired from a successful career as a tour pro, was presented with the prestigious award at the BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.
The award recognised her efforts in raising thousands of £s to send orphans to school in the Indian city of Chennai.
The award, presented annually by the famous Scottish golf rainwear manufacturer, recognises outstanding charity work by PGA pros.
Moved by her experiences as a volunteer at the St Joseph’s Social Service Centre 15 months ago, the 52-year-old Portlethen professional has found the time and funds to provide 11 of the children with a full-time education at a nearby English speaking school, an after-school teacher to assist with their studies as well as providing 100 children at the centre with regular health checks.
Thomson returned home determined her association didn’t come to an abrupt end and has raised the cash through a series of talks at golf clubs in the North-east and farther afield about the orphanage and her time there – she made a return visit earlier this year after the initial trip early in 2006.
Muriel has also introduced golf to the children at the school with the assistance of the Golf Foundation and the R&A.
“I had an amazing time and at the end of the month I felt I couldn’t just turn my back on these people,” said Muriel
LIFELINE OUT OF POVERTY
“I agreed to go back and to put one child, a little girl, through the English speaking school and to give her a lifeline out of the poverty level but that has increased to11 already.
“I’ve been a PGA tour and club professional and had a good life but this makes you look at your whole life. It was a life-changing experience and makes you realise how lucky you are.
“A lot of things give you a jolt and make you take stock of life. For me, I lived with them for a month and it gave me a right good shake-up. I feel like I’ve only just started. There’s so much more that can be done.”
Aberdeen-born Muriel Thomson – she is a triplet – was a Murcar Golf Club member during a successful amateur career when she gained Curtis Cup honours. She gave up a possible career in banking to become a professional golfer in 1979 and won nine tournaments on the WPGA Tour as well as heading its Order of Merit in 1981 and 1983.
In early 1990, she decided she had had enough of playing golf out of a suitcase and was appointed its first professional by the fledgling Portlethen Golf Club, near Aberdeen.
“Winning this award is a great honour but, more important to me, it means I will be able to add another £1,000 to the fund for helping the kids in India.”

TOP US COLLEGE AWARD WINNERS FOR
2006-2007 SEASON

The United States National Golf Coaches Association announced its 2006-07 student-athlete and coaches awards for Division I women’s college golf at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Winners were recognized at a banquet held after Duke University won the team title and Stacy Lewis of Arkansas won medalist honours at LPGA International.

PING NGCA Division I Player of the Year
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Division I Freshman of the Year
Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State
Division I Kim Moore Spirit Award
Jennifer Shipley, Fresno State
Golfstat Cup
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Dinah Shore Trophy Award
Stacy Lewis, Arkansas
Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award
Marci Turner, Tennessee
Division I National Coach of the Year
Dan Brooks, Duke
Division I Regional Coaches of the Year
East Region:
Dan Brooks, Duke
Central Region:
Jeanne Sutherland, Texas A&M
West Region:
Melissa Luellen, Arizona State
Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA Division I All-American Teams
1st Team
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Jacqui Concolino, Vanderbilt
Sandra Gal, Florida
Maria Hernandez, Purdue
Taylor Leon, Georgia
Stacy Lewis, Arkansas
Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State
Paola Moreno, Southern California
Anna Nordqvist, Arizona State
Jennifer Osborn, Arizona State
Alison Walshe, Arizona
Caroline Westrup, Florida State
2nd Team
Christel Boeljon, Purdue
Misun Cho, Pepperdine
Mari Chun, Stanford
Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
Anna Grzebien, Duke
Kay Hoey, Long Beach State
Tiffany Joh, UCLA
Ashley Knoll, Texas A&M
Jennie Lee, Duke
Azahara Munoz, Arizona State
Rachel Newren, BYU
Stephanie Sherlock, Denver
Leah Wigger, Virginia
Honourable Mention
Amanda Goins, Wake Forest
Nicole Hage, Auburn
Hannah Jun, UCLA
Catherine Matranga, Texas Christian
Belen Mozo, Southern California
Nicole Smith, Tennessee
Jenny Suh, Alabama
Lauren Todd, Stanford
Marci Turner, Tennessee
Whitney Wade, Georgia

NESS OPEN PRIZEWINNERS AT INVERNESS

We now have the the list of prizewinners at Sunday's Ness Open 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit event at Inverness Golf Club.
It was not available when our Sunday report was compiled.
Here it is now.
SCRATCH
143 Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 72 71.
144 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 70.
146 Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 76 70 (better second round than Megan Briggs, Kilmacolm, 74-72).

HANDICAP
Class 1 (0-7)
140 Annabel Niven (Crieff) (7) 68 72.
146 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) (scr) 74 72 (better second round).
146 Sammy Vass (Tain) (5) 72 74.
Class 2 (8-20)
148 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) (18) 78 70.
150 Samantha Leslie (Westhill) (8) 78 72.

SCRATCH TROPHY WINNER - Michele Thomson.
HANDICAP TROPHY WINNER - Annabel Niven.

+STILL HOPING TO GET SOME PICTURES FROM THE PRIZEGIVING.

SALLY WATSON FINISHES JOINT 11th
AT SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

Sally Watson from South Queensferry finished joint 11th in a field of 36 top juniors for the girls’ section of the Thunderbird Junior International tournament over 54 holes on the Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor course at Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sally, 15, a student at David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Bradenton in Florida, had rounds of 75, 73 and 72 for a five-over-par total of 221.
She finished 15 shots behind the runaway winner, Kimberly Kim, the Hawaiian who won the US women’s amateur title as a 14-year-old last summer. Kim had rounds of 67, 72 and 67 for a 10-ujnder-par total of 206. She won by eight shots from American runner-up Vicky Hunt.
Miss Watson had birdies at the sixth, eighth, 11th and 16th in her final round which also included bogeys at the ninth, 10th, 12th and 15.
Former tennis ace Ivan Lendl’s golf-playing daughters Marika and Isabelle finished on 223 and 227 respectively.
The boys’ event, also over three rounds, was won by Arnond Vongvanij from Bradenton, Florida. He scored 66, 67 and 75 for eight-under-par 208 and won by two shots.
Matthew Haines (Rochester & Cobham) was the highest-placed English finishers. He came joint 17th on220.
Jack Hiluta finished joint 24th on 222, British boys champion Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 28th equal of 224 while Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) totalled 237 in joint 38th position.

FINAL TOTALS
Boys Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 A Vongvanij (US) 66 67 75.#
210 P Francis (US) 71 71 68, B Cauley (US) 69 71 70.
English boys’ totals:
220 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham) 75 71 74 (jt 17th)
222 J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 72 72 78 (jt 24th).
224 M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 75 72 77 (jt 28th).
237 D Wright (Rowlands Castle) 80 81 78 (jt 38th).
Girls Par 216 (3 x 72)
206 K Kim (Hawaii) 67 72 67.
214 V Hunt (US) 70 74 70.
Other scores
221 S Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 75 73 73 (jt 11th).
223 M Lendl (US) 72 75 76 (jt 15th).
227 Isabelle Lendl (US) 78 75 74 (jt 20thy).

THREE OF TOP FIVE US COLLEGE PLAYERS
WILL BE IN "BRITISH" FIELD NEXT MONTH

Three of the top five rated players on the American women's college circuit will be playing in the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley Golf Club, near Leeds next month.
They are No 2 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), pictured right, from Eskilstuna, Sweden - a former British girls' champion and beaten by Spain's Belen Mozo in last year's British women's final at Royal County Down; No 3 Caroline Westrup (Florida State), who also comes from Sweden, and No 5 Sandra Gal (Florida) from Germany.
In all, 11 of the top 50 will be in the field at Alwoodley, including Belen Mozo, the defending champion.
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) from Yorkshire is the top-ranked British and Irish player in the No 20 spot at the end of her freshman year.
Tara Delaney (Kent State) from Carlow is ranked 44th.
In the following list, those who have entered the "British" are highlighted in red print:

GOLFWEEK/SAGARIN US WOMEN’S COLLEGE
FINAL RANKINGS FOR 2006-2007 SEASON

1 Amanda Blumenherst Duke 69.43
2 Anna Nordqvist Arizona St 70.43
3 Caroline Westrup Florida St 70.77
4 Jacqui Concolino Vanderbilt 71.24
5 Sandra Gal Florida 71.30
6 Taylor Leon Georgia 71.32
7 Paola Moreno USC 71.41
8 Stacy Lewis Arkansas 71.49
9 Jennifer Osborn Arizona St 71.60
10 Jennie Lee Duke 71.68
11 Tiffany Joh UCLA 71.76
12 Maria Hernandez Purdue 71.79
13 Pernilla Lindberg Oklahoma. St. 71.79
14 Leah Wigger Virginia 71.82
15 Alison Walshe Arizona 71.83
16 Ashley Knoll Texas A&M 71.93
17 Misun Cho Pepperdine 71.99
18 Mari Chun Stanford 72.06
19 Azahara Munoz Arizona St 72.16
20 Jodi Ewart New Mexico 72.18
21 Marci Turner Tennessee 72.33
22 Christina Boeljon Purdue 72.36
23 Rachel Newren Brigham Young 72.37
24 Anna Grzebien Duke 72.43
25 Kay Hoey Long Beach 72.48
26 Stephanie Sherlock Denver 72.49
27 Lauren Todd Stanford 72.50
28 Belen Mozo USC 72.50
29 Nicole Hage Auburn 72.53
30 Amanda Goins Wake. Forest 72.69
31 Whitney Wade Georgia 72.73
32 Hannah Jun UCLA 72.77
33 Jenny Suh Alabama 72.88
34 Catherine Matranga Texas Christian 73.09
35 Eileen Vargas Pepperdine 73.14
36 Juliana Murcia Arizona St 73.17
37 Nicole Smith Tennessee 73.18
38 Selanee' Henderson UC Irvine 73.20
39 J. Tangtiphaiboontana Stanford 73.23
40 Jennifer Pandolfi Duke 73.25
41 Dewi Schreefel USC 73.26
42 Candace Schepperle Auburn 73.27
43 Mary Jacobs Arizona 73.27
44 Tara Delaney Kent State 73.40
45 Gerina Mendoza Texas El Paso 73.40
46 Alison Whitaker Duke 73.42
47 Angela Oh Tennessee 73.46
48 Jayvie Agojo Pepperdine 73.50
49 Da Sol Chung UNLV 73.53
50 Araceli Felgueroso Coastal. Carolina 73.55

PLAY-OFFS DRAMA IN NICK FALDO SERIES
AT THE CARRICK AT CAMERON HOUSE

John Henry, younger brother of Scott Henry, who defends the Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play title at Royal Dornoch this weekend, survived a play-off at The Carrick at Cameron House today (Monday) to qualify for the regional final at The Roxburghe Golf Club, Kelso on August 23 in the Nick Faldo Junior Series.
Henry, a member of Clydebank & District Golf Club beat Jack Scott (Deeside) after they had tied on 157 for the last of four places in theUnder-15 boys’ section.
Jamie Neilson (Dunbar) beat Jamie Mackay (Barassie) in a play-off for the last qualifying place in the Under-21 section.
And there was a three-way play-off for two places in the Under-16s. The contestants were all from the North-east - Nick MacAndrew (Cullen), Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) and Chris Robb from Inchmarlo, Banchory. They all tied on 156. Robb was the one eliminated.
The first Scottish round of the Nick Faldo Junior Series was played a month or two ago at Blairgowrie. The top four from each age group and the girls section, based on the aggregate totals from Blairgowrie and The Carrick at Cameron House go forward to the regional final.

Today’s scores and qualifiers:

UNDER-21 – 74 T Hayes (West Byfleet). 75 J Housby (Penrith). 76 S Bordon (Carnwath). 78 A Culverwell (Dunbar). 79 J Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile), S Maxwell (Windyhill). 80 R Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy). 81 J Neilson (Dunbar). 82 J Mackay (Barassie). 83 J Clarke (Montrose Mercantile).
Qualifiers – 145 T Hayes. 149 J Housby. 150 A Culverwell. 155 J Neilson (beat J Mackay in play-off). Other totals: 157 J Gardiner, R Carson. 158 S Bordon, S Maxwell. 162 J Clarke.
UNDER-18 – 72 N Henderson (The Glen). 73 M Pennycott (Whiting Bay). 74 A Wallace (Glenbervie). 75 E Brown (Barassie). 76 F Fotheringham (Nairn), M Cunningham (Longniddry). 78 M Daily (Erskine), A Cappi (Loretto School). 87 S Barras (Helensburgh).
Qualifiers – 148 A Wallace. 149 E Brown. 150 N Henderson, M Daily. Other totals: 152 A Cappi. 153 F Fotheringham. 154 M Pennycott. 156 M Cunningham. 174 S Barras.
UNDER-17 – 74 A Lauder (Paisley). 75 S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen). 78 F McKenna (Balmore). 80 P Scanlan (Hamilton). 81 K McClung (Wigtownshire Co), M Dickson (Gullane), D Fitzpatrick (Greenock). 82 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon), R Penny (Portlethen). 84 J Hendrick (Pollock).
Qualifiers – 153 A Lauder, S Fraser. 154 F McKenna. 158 A Dunton. Other totals: 159 P Scanlan. 161 K McClung. 162 M Dickson. 164 J Hendrick. 170 R Penny. 171 D Fitzpatrick.
UNDER-16 – 75 N MacAndrew (Cullen). 77 J Binning (Ranfurly Castle), K Godsman (Hopeman). 78 D Law (Hazlehead. 79 L Smith (Brassie). 81 M Reid (Downfield). 82 C Robb (Inchmarlo). 86 F Clarke (Westhill). 88 R McKenna (Cathkin Braes), P Ramsay (Elgin). 90 J White (St Andrews New).
Qualifiers – 151 D Law (Hazlehead). 155 J Binning.. 156 N McAndrew, K Godsman (C Robb lost play-off). Other totals: 165 M Reid (Downfield). 167 J White. 169 R McKenna. 171 L Smith (Barassie). 173 F Clarke. 174 P Ramsay.
UNDER-15 – 76 P McPhee (King James VI). 77 J Scott (Deeside), J Henry (Clydebank & Dist). 78 A McLachlan (Eastwood). 80 I Redford (King James VI). 83 N Beattie (St Andrews). 85 J Thorburn (Forrester Park). 86 P O’Neil (Pollok). 88 C Stewart (Brora). 80 C O’Neil (Pollock).
Qualifiers – 154 P McPhee. 155 A McLachlan. 156 I Redford (King James VI). 157 J Henry (bt J Scott in play-off). Other totals: 165 N Beattie. 168 C Stewart. 173 J Thorburn. 180 P O'Neil. 181 C O'Neil.
GIRLS – 78 J Meldrum (Dullatur). 79 G Simpson (Baberton). 84 C Easton (Dalmahoy). 86 J Sneddon (Alyth). 88 G Scanlan (Hamilton).
Qualifiers – 163 J Meldrum. 168 C Easton. 170 G Simpson 173 J Sneddon. Other total: 176 G Scanlan.

FUTURES TOUR QUOTE FROM VIKKI LAING

This week's Duramed United States Futures Tour News Letter has the following as its "Quote of the Week:"

"It's real exciting, but I don't know if they're nice to anybody."

- Tour member Vikki Laing of Musselburgh when asked how she feels about this year's Women's British Open going to St Andrews and how she thinks the male membership will welcome women professionals into the R&A clubhouse.

TITLE-HOLDERS ALLOA AND BRAEHEAD SERVE
UP BOYS’ LEAGUE THRILLER AT SCHAWPARK

By HUGH HUNTER

The Clackmannanshire County Junior League started on Sunday with the usual inter-club matches. It is played six-a-side (three scratch matches and three handicap matches) on a home-and-away basis.
Title holders Alloa took on Braehead at Schawpark and the match proved to be a thriller, ending in a 3-3 draw with several close games.
At Dollar, the home team had a fairly easy win over Tillicoultry, after taking the first four ties.
The third match between Alva and Tulliallan did not take place unfortunately due to the present lack of junior players at Tulliallan. Hopefully this will be remedied during the season.
Details:
ALLOA 3, BRAEHEAD 3
(Alloa names first)
Andre Scotland lost to John McPherson 1 hole , Grant Dowie bt Scott Clark 2 and1 ; John Salmond bt Darren Clark 7 and 6 ; Brian McAdam lost to Michael Barrett 1 hole; Grant Ross bt Jamie Pollock 4 and 3 ; Callum Graham lost to Ross Finlay 2 and 1.
DOLLAR 4 ½, TILLICOULTRY 1 ½
(Dollar names first)
Steven Macpherson bt Callum Carberry 5 and 4; Gary Chalmers bt Scott Hunter 1 hole; Tom Hogarth bt Scott Baird 5 and 4; David Devlin bt Jonathan Imrie 7 and 6; Ben Smith lost to Steven Watson 2 and 1; Patrick Macdonald halved with David Kinnaird.

FIVE-YEAR WAIT FOR FIRST LPGA WIN
OVER FOR SOUTH KOREAN YOUNG KIM

FROM THE LPGA WEBSITE:

The road one takes to her first victory on the LPGA Tour is not always an easy one, but in the case of five-year veteran Young Kim, it was definitely worth the wait.
South Korea's Kim (68-64-68-68=268) claimed a three-stroke victory over fellow South Korean Mi Hyun Kim (68-67-66-70=271) and California's Paula Creamer (66-68-66-71=271) today at the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, New York State, becoming the LPGA Tour's fifth Rolex First-Time Winner this season.
Kim's first victory was something that she had long waited for, but when the moment finally arrived, she was so overcome by emotion that she was blind to her fellow South Korean players who were sneaking up behind her with congratulatory showers of soda.
“I was crying at the time, so I couldn't see them,” Kim said. “If I saw them I will run out.”
However, running wasn't something Kim could do from M.H. Kim and playing partners Creamer and Beth Bader (65-66-69-72=272), who battled for the $195,000 winner's check all day long. Kim, Creamer and Bader entered Sunday's finale at the Corning Country Club in a three-way tie for the lead, with both Kim and Bader seeking their first wins on Tour.
M.H. Kim crossed the $7 million mark ($7,020,401) in career earnings with her runner-up paycheck.
Janice Moodie collected $14,725 for a joint 19th finish on 278.
Top British players were Laura Davies and Becky Morgan, sharing 11th place on 276.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
268 Young Kim (South Korea) 68 64 68 68 (£195,000).
271 Mi Hyun Kim (South Korea) 68 67 77 70, Paula Creamer (US) 66 68 66 71 ($102,000 each).
272 In-Kyung Kim (South Korea) 67 69 68 68, Beth Bader (US) 65, 66 69 72 ($60,269 each).
Other totals:
276 Laura Davies (Eng) 69 69 69 69, Becky Morgan (Wal) 69 66 70 71 ($21,514 each) (jt 11th).
278 Janice Moodie (Sco) 72 67 70, Johanna Head (Eng) 68 72 68 70 ($14,725 each).

SALLY WATSON IMPROVES SCORE IN
ARIZONA BUT DROPS A PLACE

South Queensferry exile Sally Watson improved her first-round score by two shots with a 73 for 148 but actually dropped down one place to joint 13th in the 36-hole standings.
That gives an indication of how high the standard of play is in the Thunderbird Junior International golf tournament over the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sally, a student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida, deviated from par only three times in her second round – bogeys at the first and fourth and a birdie at the the 11th.
Leading the field is the Hawaiian wondergirl golfer – no, not Michelle Wie – Kimberly Kim who, at the age of 14, beat Katharina Schallengberg (Germany) in the 36-hole final of the US women’s amateur championship last summer.
In this event Kimberly, pictured above, has cruised four shots clear with rounds of 67 and 72 for five-under-par 139. Her nearest challenger is Joanne Lee from San Carlos, California.
Former tennis ace Ivan Lendl has two golfing daughters in the field.
Marika Lendl is lying 10th equal on 147 (72-75) and Isabelle Lendl has shot 78 and 75 for 153 and a share of 28th place. Both are based at Bradenton, Florida as is Sally Watson.
In the Thunderbird Junior International boys’ event, also over 54 holes, Arnond Vonvanij, another competitor from Bradenton, Florida, has gone seven shots clear of the field with an 11-under-par tally of 133, made up of rounds of 66 and 67.
His closest rivals are Bud Vauley from Jacksonville, Florida (69-71) and Scott Langley (St Louis, Missouri) (67-71.
Professional’s son Kevin Tway, the 2005 US junior champion, is on 142 with scores of 72 and 69.
There are four English boys in the field. Best placed is Jack Hiluta from Chelmsford in joint 14th place on 144.
Matthew Haines (Rochester & Cobham) is 20th equal on 146 with scores of 75 and 71 while Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne), winner of the British boys’ championship at Royal Aberdeen last summer, is joint 24th on 147 with scores of 75 and 72.
Darren Wright from Rowlands Castle is joint 41st on 161 with scores of 80 and 81.

SCOREBOARD
Boys. Par 144 (2 x 72)
Players from US unless stated.
133 Arnond Vongvanij 66 67.
140 Bud Cauley 69 71, Scott Langley 69 71.]
141 Kevin Tway 72 69, Wesley Graham 70 71, Peter Uihlein 71 70.
Other scores:
144 Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford) 72 72 (jt 14th).
146 Matthew Haines (Rochester & Cobham) 75 71 (jt 20th).
147 Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) 75 72 (jt 24th).
161 Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) 80 80 (jt 41st).
Girls. Par 144 (2 x 72)
139 Kimberly Kim 67 72.
143 Joanne Lee 72 71.
144 Vicky Hurst 70 74.
Other scores:
147 Marika Lendl 72 75 (jt 10th).
148 Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 75 73 (jt 13t5h).
153 Isabelle Lendl 78 75 (jt 28th).

MICHELE THOMSON WINS NESS OPEN
FOR FIRST TIME AT INVERNESS

Aberdeenshire county champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) followed up her semi-final appearance in the recent Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at Barassie, by winning the Ness Open SLGA Order of Merit 36-hole event for the first time in perfect golfing conditions at Inverness Golf Club today (Sunday).
Michele, 19, who has also held the North of Scotland women’s title for the past two years, had rounds of 72 and 71 for an aggregate of 143, one under par and two under the CSS aggregate for the two rounds.
Miss Thomson had eight birdies over the two rounds - at the fifth, 14th, 17th and 18th in her first round and at the second, fourth, 14th and 15th in the afternoon.
"I hit the ball well and kept it in play which is very important at Invernesss which can be quite a tricky course to score on if you are not on the fairway," said Michele.
Kelsey MacDonald, 16-year-old Nairn Dunbar player who missed the “Scottish” because of school studies, finished one shot behind Michele with scores of 74 and 70 for 144.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), just back from her first five months at the University of California Berkleye, finished joint third with 16-year-old repeating Renfrewshire women’s county champion, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
Roseanne had scores of 76 and 70 while Megan had 74 and 72.
Defending champion Laura Murray (Alford) finished seventh on 152 with a pair of 76s.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 73 72
143 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 72 71.
144 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar0 74 70.
146 R Niven (Crieff) 76 70, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 74 72.
148 C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 77 71.
151 L Hendry (Routenburn) 76 75.
152 L Murray (Alford) 76 76.
154 E Fairnie (Dunbar) 80 74, K Harper (Inverness) 79 75, A Niven (Inverness) 75 79.
155 A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 81 74.
156 J Carthew (Ladybank) 81 74, S Vass (Tain) 77 79.
158 A Ryan (Tain) 80 78, E Lowery-Gold (Eaton) 79 79.
160 J Turner (Mortonhall) 83 77, C McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar0 81 79.
163 K Walker (Buchanan Castle0 80 83, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 85.
166 S Leslie (Westhill) 86 80.
167 M Howieson (Inverness) 85 82, S Jackson (Ladybank) 82 85.
168 S Wood (Drumpellier) 79 89.
179 T Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 83 93.
182 F Fullerton (Huntly) 90 92.
184 G Dryburgh (Beaconsfield0 96 88.
185 J Vass (Tain) 95 90.
189 S MacDonell (Inverness) 96 93.
192 C MacLeaod (Nairn Dunbar) 94 98.
199 R Bannerman (Strathpeffer Spa) 99 100.

CARLY STRUGGLES OVER FINAL NINE HOLES
TO FINISH SIXTH IN SKANDIA GIRLS' OPEN

Comrie kid Carly Booth, 15 next month, finished best of the Scots who made it to the final day of the Skandia Junior Opens in Sweden on Sunday – but she would have been very disappointed with her joint sixth finish in the girls’ 54-hole event at Bastad Golf Club.
Carly started the final round in joint third position after two creditable rounds of 74.
The +2 handicap youngster then slumped to a closing nine-over-par 80, including an inward half of 42 in which she had threee double bogeys, for a total of 228.
The consolation for Miss Booth is that the event was a qualifier for the European Junior Solheim Cup team to play the United States over the same course from September 10 to 12 and even sixth place will earn her some points.
Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall outclassed the field to win the girls’ title by NINE strokes with scores of 74, 67 and 71 for one-under-par 212.
Nathalie Manson from near Stockholm was runner-up with 70, 76 and 75 for 221.
Guila Moninaro, the Italian girl, who was a member of the European Junior Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor alongwith Carly Booth last autumn, finished on the same 15-over-par mark as the Scot. Guila scored 70, 81 and 77.
In the boys’ 54-hole competition at Falkenberg Golf Club, near Gothenburg, Paul Shields from Kirkhill Golf Club, Cambuslang finished joint 12th on four-over-par 220. He had rounds of 70, 76 and 74. Paul; had three birdies in his final round but also five bogeys.
Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), the only other Scots boy to survive the 36-hole cut, had rounds of 82, 75 and 81 for joint 65th position on 238. Andrew had a triple bogey 78 at the third and a double bogey 67 at the 13th in his closing round.
Boys’ champion was Norway’s Anders Kristiansen with scores of 72, 70 and 69 for an impressive five-under-par total of 211. He won by a shot from Sweden’s Daniel Jennevret with 73, 70 and 69.
The top English boy was Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) in joint fifth place on level par 216 with scores of 70, 72 and 74, despite a double bogey 7 at the first and a bogey 5 at the second. Andrew birdied the 17th and 18th in his final round.

SKANDIA JUNIOR OPENS
Boys: Falkenberg GC, Par 216 (3 x 72)
Leading final totals
211 Anders Kristiansen (Norway) 72 70 69.
212 Daniel Jennevret (Sweden) 73 70 69.
214 Daniel Lokke (Denmark) 73 73 68.
Other totals:
216 Andrew Johnston (North Middleseec 70 72 74 (jt 5th).
218 Henry Smart (Walton Heath) 80 72 66 (jt 9th).
220 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 70 76 74 (jt 12th).
223 Billy Britton (Pedham Place) 73 75 75 (jt 20th).
238 Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) 82 75 81 (jt 65th).
Missed cut
160 Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 79 81.
162 William Bremner (Edzell) 83 79.

Girls: Bastad GC, Par 213 (3 x 71)
Leading final totals
212 Caroline Hedwall (Sweden) 74 67 71.
221 Nathalie Manson (Sweden) 70 76 75.
225 Charlotte Lorentzen (Sweden) 70 72 77.
Other totals:
228 Carly Booth (Comrie) 74 74 80, G Molinaro (Italy) 70 81 77.

JANICE EIGHT BEHIND LEADERS GOING INTO
FINAL ROUND OF CORNING CLASSIC

Janice Moodie goes into the final round of the LPGA Corning Classic at Corning, New York State in a tie for 17th place, eight strokes behind the three joint leaders.
Four of the top seven on the leaderboard are from Korea.
Janice has had scores of 69, 72 and 67 for eight-under-par 208.
The leading British player is Becky Morgan from Wales. She is sharing sixth place on 205 after scores of 69, 66 and 70.
Laura Davies is tied for 13th place on 207 with a hat-trick of 69s.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
206 Paula Creamer (US) 66 68 66, Beth Bader 65 66 69, Young Kim (Kor) 68 64 68.
201 Mi Hyun Kim (Kor) 68 67 66.
204 In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 67 69 68.
205 Na-On Min (Kor) 70 67 68, Becky Morgan (Wal) 69 66 70.
Other scores:
207 Laura Davies (Eng) 69 6969 (jt 13th).
208 Janice Moodie (Sco) 69 72 67 (jt 17th).
For a full scoreboard, log on to: www.lpgascoring.com/leaderboard.html

SALLY HAS A 75 IN THUNDERBIRD

JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL EVENT

AT SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

Florida-based Sally Watson, 15, from South Queensferry had a first-round score of three-over-par 75 in the girls' section of the Thunderbird Junior International tournament over the 6,271yd girls' Raptor course at Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale in Arizona.

Sally, pictured right, bogeyed the third, fifth and sixth before she settled to birdie the long seventh and turn in two-over-par 38.

A double bogey 6 at the 10th and a bogey at the 12th knocked her back to five over, but she finished strongly with birdies at the 14th and 18th for 37 home to be joint 12th in a strong international field.

Kimberley Kim from Hawaii was the first-round leader by three shots with a 67.

In the boys' event, Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford) was the best of the four English Golf Union squad members over a course measuring 7,113yd.

Hiluta had a 72 to be six shots behind the pacemaker, Arnond Vongjanij, based at Bradenton, Florida where David Leadbetter has his IMG Golf Academy.

LEADERBOARD

Boys

66 A Vongvanij.

67 S Frankly.

Other scores:

72 Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford).

75 Matthew Haines (Rochester & Cobham), Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne).

80 Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle).

Girls

67 Kimberly Kim.

70 Vicky Hurst, Ayaka Kaneko.

Other score:

75 Sally Watson (Sco).

BYRNE WINS FOR FIRST TIME ON LAST
APPEARANCE ON SGU JUNIOR TOUR

United States-bound James Byrne (Banchory) won his last competition on the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour over the Newmachar Hawkshill course today.
Byrne, 18, had very good rounds of 68 and 71 for a five-under-par total of 139. He won by four strokes from Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 68-65 and Michael Main (Thornton) 76-67.
Highlight of Byrne’s first round was a purple patch of five birdies in seven holes from the 10th
“It feels good to have finally managed to win on the Junior Tour on what will be my last event on it,” said Byrne who starts a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University in August.
“That’s the best I’ve ever hit it and if I had putted a bit better I could have scored a lot lower than 139.”
Byrne is a member of the Scotland side to play in Japan in July in the World boys’ team championship and there is an SGU Junior Tour event scheduled at that time.

LEADING SCORES
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 74 74
139 J Byrne (Banchory) 68 71.
143 M Main (Thornton) 76 67, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 68 75.
147 C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 73, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 74, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 76 71, B Sloan (Hamilton) 74 73.
148 S McLaren (King James VI) 73 75, E Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) 76 72, K Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie) 75 73.
149 N Henderson (The Glen) 74 75.
150 M Dailly (Erskine) 75 75, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 78 72.
151 C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 72 79, D Law (Hazlehead) 73 78, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 77 74.
152 T Sharkey (Helensburgh) 77 75, M Bookless (Sandyhills) 77 75, D Currie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 75 77
153 S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 77 76, A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 73 80.
154 M Cunningham (Longniddry) 78 76.
155 D Young (Craigie Hill) 79 76, J Ross (Royal Burgess) 82 73.
156 T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 77 79.
157 F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) 80 77, T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 77 80.
158 R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 80 78, F McKenna (Balmore) 76 82.
159 S Boyle (Harburn) 84 75.
160 E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 73 87.
161 G Reid (Newbattler) 79 82.
162 J Bradley (Paisley) 81 81.
163 C Gray (West Kilbride) 83 80.
164 J Andereson (Glenrothes) 81 83.
168 C Wyper (Hayston) 83 85.
169 G Stirling (Caldwell) 85 84.
170 S Connell (Inverness) 86 84.

TRISH JOHNSON WINS ITALIAN LADIES
OPEN - HER FIRST TITLE FOR THREE
YEARS - AT THE AGE OF 41

BY BETHAN CUTLER
From the Ladies European Tour website.
England’s Trish Johnson claimed her first title in three years on an exciting final day at the BMW Ladies Italian Open over the Sheraton Parco de Medici course in Rome today.
It was her 18th worldwide victory and her first since the 2004 Wales Ladies Open. Johnson’s final round six-under-par 66 took her to 15-under-par 273 in total, one stroke ahead of last week’s Deutsche Bank Ladies’ Swiss Open champion, Bettina Hauert of Germany, who had a course record 10-under-par 62 to finish on 14-under-par.
Australia’s Sarah Kemp carded a final round 68 and finished tied for third position with Frenchwoman Sophie Giquel (69) on 12-under.
Meanwhile, the overnight leader Stefania Croce of Italy had a final round 73 to share seventh position with Sweden’s Louise Friberg, Ireland’s Rebecca Coakley and Spain’s Carmen Alonso, on 11-under-par.
Johnson predicted ahead of her final round that she would need a 66 to reach 15-under to win the tournament, but she had to fight to overcome Bettina Hauert, who leaped out of the pack with a 62, which lowered her career low round by four shots. Hauert began the day tied for 24th place on four-under-par but came charging up the leaderboard and held a three-stroke advantage at the end of her round.
She carded two birdies on her front nine, for an outward total of 33 and then played the back nine in eight-under-par 29, with four birdies and two eagles, to tie the Ladies European Tour’s record for the lowest nine holes in a tournament.
Beginning the day at nine under par, two shots adrift of the lead, Johnson fired three birdies and a bogey on her front nine to turn in 33, and then birdied the 12th and 14th holes to reach 13-under-par, just one stroke behind the leader.
However Trish dropped a shot at the par-3 15th hole when she pulled her eight-iron slightly into the bunker. She played an excellent bunker shot to three feet from the pin but her putt just lipped out. She recovered with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to draw level with the clubhouse leader.
Then, needing to birdie the par-5 18th for victory, Johnson hit her 105-yard approach shot to three feet with a 52 degree wedge and rolled in the birdie putt. “I was feeling quite sick actually at that stage. I tried not to think about anything and to just breathe. I use a ball marker that just says, “Relax!” because I’m not the best at that,” said the 41-year-old London-based Arsenal FC supporter Johnson.
“I said this morning that a 66 or 15-under-par would win it but Bettina had an excellent score and deserved to win. Something felt very good today and I have played very well all week.
“It feels fabulous. I’ve done a lot of work with my coach Scott Margets over the winter and I had a fabulous putting lesson with Christine Langford which has helped a lot.
“I had a dreadful year last year and I didn’t enjoy that. I just wanted to win again. I’ve never thought about quitting. I don’t think age has anything to do with it. You either want to win or you don’t.”
Johnson, who collected a first prize of €60,000, was invited by the event title sponsor BMW to attend the final round of the BMW PGA Championship at The Wentworth Club on Sunday, where she will present the male champion with the trophy and she said she was looking forward to it.
Trish also receives 40 Solheim Cup points’ as a result of her victory which bodes well for her chances of making her eighth appearance in the transatlantic encounter, which takes place in Sweden in September.

CLARE QUEEN JOINT 21st

Clare Queen finished just outside the top 20 in joint 21st place with rounds of 70, 68, 73 and 70 for 281. She earned 4,920 Euros. In her final round Clare, who represents The Carrick at Cameron House on the Ladies European Tour, had birdies at the seventh, eighth, 14th and 18th. She had bogeys at the fourth and 16th.

Over the four rounds Miss Queen had 14 birdies. A double bogey 7 at the eighth in her third round cost her a top-20 finish .

Picture of Trish Johnson with the trophy by courtesy of Ladies European Tour website.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS

273 T Johnson (Eng) 68 70 69 66 (60,000 Euros).

274 B Hauert (Ger) 70 70 72 62 (40,600 Euros).

276 S Kemp (Aus) 68 68 72 68, S Giquel (Fra) 73 69 65 69 (24,800 Euros each).

277 I Tinning (Den) 69 73 70 65, F Piovano (Ita) 68 72 70 67 (15,480 Euros each).

Other scores:

278 R Coakley (Ire) 67 74 70 67 (jt 7th) (9,740 Euros).

281 C Queen (Carrick at Cameron House0 70 68 73 70 (jt 21st) (4,920 Euros).

CARLY MOVES UP INTO SHARE OF THIRD PLACE
IN SWEDISH GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT

Perthshire’s Carly Booth managed to get only one birdie in a second-round 74 but she still managed to moved up into a share of third place in the Skandia Junior Open girls’ tournament at Bastad Golf Club, Sweden today (Saturday).
Carly, who has her 15th birthday next month, birdied the fourth in very steady halves of 36 and 38 for a three-over-par round, her second 74 of the competition.
On 148, she is seven shots behind the leader, Swedish girl Caroline Hedwall who had a superb second round of 67, covering the inward half in only 31 shots, for a two-round tally of one-under-par 141. She leads by five strokes from compatriot Nathalie Mansson.
In the Skandia Junior Open boys’ competition at Falkenberg Golf Club, near Gothenburg, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) was lying ninth equal after rounds of 70 and 76 for 146. Paul had birdies at the first, seventh and 11th in his second round but seven bogeys cancelled them out.
Paul and Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) were the only Scots in the field to survive the 36-hole cut to the leading 48 players and ties.
Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) was on 157 with scores of 82 and 75.
New Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) was eliminated on 160 after rounds of 78 and 81. He had double bogeys at the second and 13th
William Bremner (Edzell), beaten in the Scottish boys final at Dunbar in April, totalled 162 with scores of 83 and 79.
English boy Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) shares the lead with two Swedes on 142. Andrew has had rounds of 70 and 72.

SKANDIA JUNIOR OPEN LEADERBOARDS
Boys (at Falkenberg)
Par 144 (2 x 72)
Players from Sweden unless stated
142 A B Kristiansen 72 70, A Jacobsson 70 72, A Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 72.
143 M Larsson 75 68, D Jennevert 73 70, J Ahgren 72 71.
Other scores:
146 P Shields (Kirkhill) 70 76.
148 B Britton (Pedham Place) 73 75.
152 H Smart (Walton Heath) 80 72.
157 A Campell (Dumbarton) 82 75.
MISSED CUT
160 P Ferrier (Baberton) 79 81.
162 W Bremner (Edzell) 83 79.
Girls (at Bastad)
141 C Hedwall 74 67.
146 N Manbsson 70 76.
148 C Lorentzen 76 72, C Booth (Comrie) 74 74.
Other score:
151 G Molinaro (Italy) 70 81 (jt 8th).

ENGLAND NAME SQUAD FOR EUROPEAN
WOMEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

England has named strong sides for two European female team championships.
For the European women’s team championship at Castelconturbia Golf Club, Italy, from July 10-14, the squad, captained by Jenny Clink (Lilley Brook) is:
Rachel Bell (Ganton), Naomi Edwards (Ganton), Jodi Ewart (Catterick), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), Melissa Reid (Chevin), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville).
Reserves: Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton).

... AND FOR EUROPEAN GIRLS' TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The European girls’ team championship takes place at Oslo Golf Club, Norway, also from July 10-14. The England team, captained by Sara Miller (Langley Park) is:
Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Rachel Connor (Manchester), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange), Kelly Tidy (Manchester).
Reserves: Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall), Sarah Tyson (The London).

NAOMI EDWARDS BEATS MELISSA REID IN FINAL OF ENGLISH WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

Yorkshire’s Naomi Edwards, pictured right with the trophy,made it third time lucky when she won the English women’s close amateur championship final at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent today.
The 23-year-old from Ganton had twice been runner-up in this championship and finally claimed the title when she beat Derbyshire’s Melissa Reid 2 and 1 in the 18-hole final. “It feels fantastic,” said Naomi.

“I’m so relieved! I knew it was going to be a tough match but you have to be positive,”added Naomi, who was one under par in the final.
She rates it as the biggest moment in her career, which has included playing in the Curtis Cup and previous victories in the English mid-amateur championship, the St Rule Trophy and the Welsh open stroke-play.
Naomi took charge early in the match and was three up after eight holes, helped by birdies on the par-5 fifth and seventh holes.
But Melissa began a fightback with a birdie three on the 12th where she holed a superb putt over a saddle in the green. She then narrowed the margin to one hole with a par on the 15th.
CLOSING HOLES DECISIVE

Naomi sealed the title over the tough closing holes. She was just short of the long 16th green in two and almost holed her long eagle putt, leaving the ball stone dead. Melissa’s approach to the green took a hard bounce right over the putting surface into thick rough by the next tee. Her delicate chip finished within 3ft of the hole but, in what she later blamed on a lapse in concentration, she missed the putt.
On the 173-yard 17th Melissa appeared to have the advantage. Her ball was about 20ft from the pin while Naomi’s eight-iron bounced straight through and down a steep bank at the back of the green.
From there, and unable to see even the top of the pin, she played an exquisite shot with a lob wedge to within about 15ft. Melissa’s birdie attempt lipped out and Naomi took her chance, ramming home the putt for a half – and the championship.
She puts her success down to her fresh focus on her golf. “I know where I want to be, where I want to go,” said Naomi, who is considering turning professional at the end of 2008. Before the championship she also worked hard with ELGA coach Lawrence Farmer and came to the event with just one swing thought.

“I used it through the week and it worked. Sometimes I can get too many thoughts in my head!” she laughed.
Final - Naomi Edwards (Ganton) bt Melissa Edwards (Chevin) 2 and 1.

BARON FINISHES 42 OVER PAR IN
NCAA DIV 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum will be glad it’s all over – the NCAA Division 2 men’s golf championship at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale, Michigan.
At the end of his freshman year at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, Chris encountered the toughest golf course in his life, with rock-hard fairways and “jungle-thick” rough if you missed them.
Baron finished 42 over par for the four rounds over the par-71, 6,992yd course.
He scored 76, 80, 87 and 83 for 326 and 97th place in a field of 105 players.
Christian Ries (Columbus State) won the individual title with rounds of 73, 71, 70 and 71 for one-over-par 285 – six shots clear of Hernan Borja (Barry) with 70, 73, 75 and 73
Belmont Abbey College, with a 65-over-par total of 1201, finished joint sixth of 20 in the team event won by Barry University with 50-over-par 1186.

JODI EWART FINISHES 50TH IN NCAA

WOMEN'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP

AS STACY LEWIS SWEEPS TO CONQUER

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) produced a brilliant last round of six-under-par 66 to win the NCAA Division 1 women's individual championship by four shots at LPGA International's Legends Course, Daytona Beach in Florida.

Stacy, pictured right, had scores of 71, 71, 74 and 66 for a six-under-par total of 282 over the 6,351yd, par-72 course.

Joint runners-up on 286 were the Dutch girl and sometime tournament leader, Christel Boeljohn (Purdue), who is playing in the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds next month, and Paola Moreno (Southern California).

Christel scored 72, 69, 69 and 76, including a double-bogey 6 at the last, which exaggerated Stacy Lewis's winning margin.

Paola had 73, 72, 70 and 71.

In her great title-winning last round Stacy Lewis had birdies at the second, fourth and then five in a row from the 10th to the 14. She did have one bogey, at the 17th.

US Curtis Cup player and top-ranked individual Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) finished fourth on 289 with 70, 73, 74 and 72.

Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart, who had a tremendous freshman year at New Mexico University, never got to grips with this one. She tied for 50th place on 306 with scores of 76, 76, 79 and 75 and had the same total as the defending champion from the Netherlands, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California).

Duke, the favourites, retained the team title with 1170 from Purdue (1185) and UCLA (1186).

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 x 72). 6,351yd.

282 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71 74 66.

286 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69 69 76, Paola Moreno (Southern California) 73 72 70 71.

280 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 73 74 72.

Other totals:

297 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 75 74 (jt 11th).

299 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 75 80 74 70, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 77 77 (jt 17th).

300 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 75 77 75 73 (jt 21st).

306 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 78 75, Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) 76 78 80 72 (jt 50th).

309 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76 77 78 (jt 65th of 124).

LEADING TEAM TOTALS

1170 Duke. 1185 Purdue. 1186 UCLA. 1196 Southern California. 1197 Stanford. 1200 Pepperdine.

Other total:

1254 New Mexico (22nd of 24).

JANICE IN JT 44th PLACE BUT MHAIRI FAILS
TO BEAT THE CUT IN CORNING CLASSIC

Janice Moodie was in joint 44th position after two rounds of the LPGA Corning Classic at Corning, New York State.
Janice has had rounds of 69 and 72 for three-under-par 141 over the 6,188hd, par-72 course.
Mhairi McKay failed to make the cut with scores of 71 and 74 for one-over-par 145.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72). 6,188yd.
131 Beth Bader 65 66.
132 Young Kim (Kor) 68 64.
134 Paula Creamer 66 68.
135 Becky Morgan (Wal) 69 66, Mi Hyun Kim (Kor) 68 67.
Other scores:
138 Laura Davies (Eng) 69 69 (jt 18th).
140 Johanna Head (Eng) 68 73 (jt 38th).
141 Janice Moodie (Sco) 69 73.
Non-qualifiers included:
145 Mhairi McKay (Sco) 71 74.

DOUBLE BOGEY KNOCKS BACK CLARE
IN BMW ITALIAN LADIES OPEN

A double bogey 7 at the long seventh knocked Clare Queen back to a share of 17th place in the third round of the BMW Italian Ladies Open ov er the Sheraton Golf Parco de Medici course in Rome today.
Clare had earlier moved one under par with a birdie at the fifth. Later she birdied the 16th and bogeyed the 18th in halves of 36 and 37 for a one-over-par 73 and a running total of five-under-par 211.
As she said before the round, Clare is still not holing the birdie chances she is setting up but a top-10 finish is still within her reach with a sub-par final round.
At the top of the leaderboard, a big gallery was assured for the Saturday finale with two Italians, veteran Stefania Croce and rookie Anna Rossi in first and second position after 54 holes.
Stefania, 39, from Bergamo has only once won as a tour pro and that was 15 years ago in her rookie season of 1992. It was the Ford Ladies Classic.
Stefania had a third-round 69 for 11-under-par 205. Anna had a 69 for 206. In third place on 207 are Becky Brewerton from Wales, Trish Johnson from England and Sophie Giquel of France.
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
205 Stefania Croce (Italy) 72 64 68.
206 Anna Rossi (Italy) 69 68 69.
207 Sophie Giquel (Frfance) 73 69 65, Becky Brewerton (Wales0 69 71 67, Trish Johnson (England) 68 70 69.
Other score:
211 Clare Queen (Carrick at Cameron House) 70 68 73.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SCOTS STROKE PLAY CHAMPION MELISSA
REID IN ENGLISH WOMEN'S FINAL

Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play champion Melissa Reid, 19, from Chevin, Derby will play Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards (Ganton), 23, in the 18-hole final of the English women's amateur golf championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent tomorrow.
Both played for GB&I in last year's Curtis Cup match in the United States.
"Hopefully it will be third time lucky for me," said Naomi. "I've lost twice in the final."
She beat the top seed, English stroke-play champion Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) by 3 and 1 in the first semi-final.
Melissa reached her first English final by beating Anna Scott (Consett & District) by two holes.
Miss Reid clinched victory with a grandstand finish in which she birdied three of the last four holes.
This was the six-foot Miss Scott's first competition of the year. A student at the University of Georgia State, she had been ruled out of the game with injury for the past seven months.
In the first semi-final, Naomi Edwards surged three holes up after only six holes but Liz Bennett promply fired back with three consecutive birdies to be all square by the turn.
There after it was nip-and-tuck. Naomi edged ahead with a birdie at the 13th but was pulled back on the next. She went ahead again ont he 15th and crucially moved to two holes up with a fine birdie at the lont 16th.
The 173yd 17th was the decisive hole. Naomi fired a five-iron to the heart of the green while Liz's tee shot finished on the steep face of a greenside bunker. It was all she could do to hack the ball into the sand. Her next shot also stayed in the trap and she conceded the hole and the match.

RESULTS:

QUARTER-FINALS
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt Danielle Montgomery (Lamnbourne) 5 and 4.
Naomi Edwards (Ganton) bt Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) at 19th.
Anna Scott (Consett & District) bt Emma Lyons (West Surrey) 3 and 1.
Melissa Reid (Chevin) bt Claire Aitken (The Lond0 4 and 2.
SEMI-FINALS
Reid bt Scott 2 holes
Edwards bt Bennett 3 and 1.

SHIELDS IS TOP SCOT IN SKANDIA
JUNIOR OPENS IN SWEDEN

Cambuslang teenager Paul Shields led the Scots challenge in the Skandia Junior Open at Falkenberg Golf Club, Sweden today.
The Kirkhill Golf Club junior member shot a two-under-par 70 (34-36) to be joint fourth after the first round, only one shot behind the three joint leaders.
Shields had three birdies (the first, sixth and seventh) and one bogey in an outward two-under-par 34.
After the turn, Paul had two more birdies, at the 10th and 12th but cancelled them out with bogeys at the 11th and 14th.
Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) was back in joint 56th place with a 79 (39-40). He had a double bogey 6 at the 16th .
Andrew Campbell from Dumbarton was in joint 76th place in a field of 95 with an 82 (42-40). He had a triple bogey 6 at the last and a double bogey 6 at the second
William Bremner (Edzell) was sharing 82nd place with an 83 (41-42). He had double bogeys at the second, sixth and 16th.
In the Skandia Girls’ Open at Bastad Golf Club, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, Perthshire, the only British or Irish player in the field, had a three-over-par 74 (37-37) to be in joint sixth place in a field of 71. .
Carly would have been a couple of shots closer to the joint leaders on 70 had she not run up a double-bogey 6 at the 16th
Earlier Miss Booth had birdied the third, 11th and 14th but dropped shots at the first, ninth and 10th.

LEADERBOARDS
BOYS
Par 72. Players from Sweden unless stated
69 Mark Jargren, Jens Dantorp, Mortan Emil Bergan.
70 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex), Fredrik Kollevold, Alexander Jacobsson.
Other scores:
73 Billy Britton (Pedham Place) (jt 15th).
79 Paul Ferrier (Baberton) (jt 56th).
80 Henry Smart (Walton Heath) (jt 67th).
82 Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) ()jt 76th).
83 William Bremner (Edzell) (jt 82nd).
GIRLS
Par 71.
70 Nathalie Mansson, Giulia Molinaro (Italy).
71 Amanda Strang.
72 Josephine Janson.
73 Therese Kolbaek.
74 Carly Booth (Comrie), Caroline Hedwall, Johanna Rodert, Alessia Knight.

HAS CHRIS GOT ENOUGH BALLS LEFT TO COMPLETE
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP?

Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum, coming up to the end of his freshman year at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, is playing the toughest golf course he has ever experienced – and he’s got the scores to prove it!
Chis is competing in the NCAA Division 2 men’s championship over 72 holes at The Meadows Golf Club, Allendale in Michigan.
It’s a 6,992yd, par-71 course with, as one report has put it, “hard fairways and super-thick rough … so much so that lost balls have become an issue.”
The leading team, Barry University, are 38 over par with 890 for the three rounds so far. Chris’s college team, Belmont Abbey, are a combined 56 over par but are in ninth place of the 20 competing teams with a tally of 908.
Baron has himself scored 76, 80 and 87 for 30 over par 243 and he is in joint 93rd place in a field of 105 of the best NCAA Division 2 college golfers.
In his third round, Chris had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys – and a birdie at the fifth! If he has enough balls left for the final round, he deserves a medal for going the distance!
The leader, Christian Ries (Columbus State University, is the only player under par with one round to go. He has scored 73, 71 and 70 for 214 – to lead by three from team-mate Andrew Georgiou (73-71-73).

JODI EWART SHARING 54TH PLACE

IN NCAA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Jodi Ewart (New Mexico University) from Yorkshire is lying in joint 54th position in a class field of 126 with one round to go in the NCAA Division 1 women’s championship at LPGA International’s Legends Course, Daytona Beach in Florida.
Freshman Jodi, pictured right, has scored 76, 76 and 79 for a 15-over-par tally of 231 but plenty of other very good players have found the combination of the occasion- the season-ending grand finale to the US college golf season- and the difficult course a bit too much for them to handle.
In her third-round 79, Jodi required 42 shots for the outward nine, which is in complete contrast to the way she has played for the rest of the season. She got her only birdie at the 18th.
Only the leader, Christel Boeljon (Purdue) from the Netherlands, has really made anything of it. She has scored 72, 69 and 69 for a six-under-par score of 210 over the 6,969yd, par-72 course.
She leads by five shots from Paola Moreno (Southern California) with Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) in second place on 216 and three players, including top-ranked US Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke), sharing fourth place on one-over-par 217.
Defending champion Dewi Schreefel (Southern California) from the Netherlands is not going to win the title this year. She is in joint 73rd position on 234.
Duke, the favourites, lead the team event by eight shots from Purdue.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 Christel Boeljon (Purdue) 72 69 69.
215 Paola Moreno (Southern California) 73 72 70.
216 Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 71 71 74.
217 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 70 73 74, Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) 75 69 73, Catherine Matranga (Texas Christian) 72 71 74.
Other scores:
222 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 75 70 77 (jt 12th).
223 Caroline Westrup (Florida State) 74 74 75 (jt 15th).
227 Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 75 77 75 (jt 32nd).
229 Belen Mozo (Southeren California) 75 80 75 (jt 42nd).
230 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 77 78 75 (jt 49th).
231 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 76 76 79, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 78 76 77 (jt 54th).
234 Dewi Schreefel (Southern Calirofnia) 76 78 80 (jt 73rd).

LEADING TEAMS
880 Duke.
888 Purdue.
893 UCLA.
902 Georgia.
903 Vanderbilt, Stanford.
905 Southern California, Pepperdine.
Other score::
939 New Mexico (22nd of 24 teams).

SURPRISE RESULTS IN ENGLISH CLOSE
CHAMPIONSHIP AT LITTLESTONE

There were some surprise results in the second round of the match-play stages in the English women's (close) amateur championship at Littlestone Golf Club, Kent today.
Although she had qualified only in 10th place, the biggest shock was possibily the 5 and 4 defeat of Britain's Commonwealth tournament victory heroine Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) by Fern Grimshaw (Weymouth), who has played on the American college circuit. Miss Grimshaw last in the second round to joint Roehampton Gold Cup winner Claire Aitken (London).
The No 3 seed, Rachel Bell from Ganton was beaten by the No 19 qualifier, Emma Lyons (West Surrey) by 2 and 1.
And the No 5 qualifier, Florentyna Parker 9Royal Birkdale) lost by 4 and 3 to Reachel Jennings, the 12th qualifier from the Izaak Walton club.
The top seeds, No 1 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), pictured above, and No 2 Melissa Reid (Chevin) are still there and playing well.
The quarter-finals line-up on Friday morning is (qualifying position in brackets):

Liz Bennett (1) v Danielle Montgomerie (9).
Rachel Jennings (12) v Naomi Edwards (4).
Emma Lyons (19) v Anna Scott (27).
Claire Aitken (7) v Melissa Reid (2).

RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) bt C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 1 hole.
J Pease (Braintree) bt T Boyes (Meon Valley) 2 and 1.
D Montgomerie (Lambourne) bt L Jones (Royal Liverpool) 1 hole.
J Hodge (Knowle) bt C Marron (Bromborough) 2 holes.

F Parker (Royal Birkdale) bt S Attwood (Gog Magog) 5 and 4.
R Jennings (Izaak Walton) bt L Ball (Matfen Hall) 4 and 3.
H Barwood (Knowle) bt R Adams (Addington Court) 1 hole,
N Edwards (Ganton) bt D GVibb (Rochester & Cobham Park).

R Bell (Ganton) bt A Silk (Corhampton) 2 and 1.
E Lyons (West Surrey) bt L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 1 hole.
H Grant (Enmore Park) bt V Inglis (Woodbridge) 1 hole.
A Scott (Consett & Dist) bt H Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 5 and 4.

C Aitken (London) bt L Cutler (Warley Park) 1 hole.
F Grimshaw (Weymouth) bt K Smith (Waterlooville) 5 and 4.
C Ellis (Minchinhampton) bt R Connor (Manchester) 4 and 2.
M Reid (Chevin) bt C Wild (Mere) 2 and 1.

SECOND ROUND
Bennett bt Pease 4 and 3.
Montgomery bt Hodge 2 and 1.
Jennings bt Parker 4 and 3.
Edwards bt Barwood 1 hole.

Lyons bt Bell 2 and 1.
Scott bt Grant 4 and 3.
Aitken bt Grimshaw 4 and 3.
Reid bt Ellis 9 and 7.

CLARE QUEEN ONLY TWO BEHIND IN BMW
LADIES ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME

Clare Queen goes into the final two rounds of the BMW Ladies Italian Open in Rome only two shots behind the triple joint leaders.
Clare has had rounds of 70 and 68 for six-under-par 138.
"It was steady stuff," said the Scot. "I'm hitting the ball really well but just not holing as many putts as I would like. In the first round I had a lot of chances and didn't take them. The way I'm playing I feel that I am going to make a few birdies over the weekend."
Former "Helen Holm" winner Karen-Margrethe Juul from Denmark, Australian Sarah Kemp and Italian veteran Stefania Croce are sharing the pole position on 136. Stefania, who has only ever won one event as a pro - the Ford Ladies Classic in 1992 - said that her second-round 64 was the lowest she had ever scored in 15 years as a tour pro.
Clubhouses can be dangerous places if you don't watch where you are putting your feet - as Lisa Holm Sorensen found out to her regret. She fell down a set of stairs in the Sheraton Golf Parco de' Medici clubhouse before her second round. She started the round but eventually had to retire and had to go to hospital with a suspected broken wrist.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
(Par 144: 2 x 72)
136 Sarah Kemp (Aus) 68 68, Stefania Croce (Ita) 72 64, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 64 72
137 Anna Rossi (Ita) 69 68
138 Clare Queen (Sco) 70 68, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 70 68, Trish Johnson (Eng) 68 70
139 Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 69 70, Martina Eberl (Ger) 73 66, Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 67 72, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 70, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 68 71
140 Carmen Alonso (Spa) 70 70, Federica Piovano (Ita) 68 72, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 70 70, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 72, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 69 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 66 74
141 Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 68 73, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 70, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 68 73, Natalie Claire Booth (Eng) 68 73, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 68 73, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 67 74
142 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 73 69, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 70, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 70, Mianne Bagger (Den) 74 68, Sara Beautell (Spa) 71 71, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 71 71, Mette Buus (Den) 71 71, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 74 68, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 71, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 67, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 69 73, Louise Friberg (Swe) 67 75, Iben Tinning (Den) 69 73
143 Anna Temple (USA) 73 70, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 77 66, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 75 68, Helena Alterby (Swe) 75 68, Sofia Renell (Swe) 71 72, Rebecca Stevenson (Aus) 73 70
144 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 75 69, Anna Rawson (Aus) 73 71, Paula Marti (Spa) 77 67, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 74, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 69, Leah Hart (Aus) 75 69, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 74 70, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 72, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 72, Diana Luna (Ita) 71 73, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 70 74, Joanne Mills (Aus) 73 71, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 70 74
145 Samantha Head (Eng) 71 74, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 70 75, Marta Prieto (Spa) 75 70, Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 73, Karen Lunn (Aus) 75 70, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 74 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 74 71, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 70 75
MISSED THE CUT
146 Louise Stahle (Swe) 75 71, Maria Beautell (Spa) 69 77, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 75, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 76 70, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 78 68, Katharina Schallenberg (Am) (Ger) 71 75, Barbara Paruscio (Ita) 72 74, Nina Karlsson (Swe) 75 71
147 Natascha Fink (Aut) 75 72, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 76 71, Bree Turnbull (Aus) 73 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 74 73, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 74, Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 76
148 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 74 74, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 77 71, Sophie Walker (Eng) 76 72, Virginie Auffret (Fra) 72 76, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 76 72
149 Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 74 75, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 79 70, Ellen Smets (Bel) 72 77, Marianna Causin (Am) (Ita) 74 75, Maria Verchenova (Rus) 73 76, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 76 73
150 Anja Monke (Ger) 76 74, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 76 74, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 75 75, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 76 74, Anna Tybring (Swe) 73 77, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 75 75, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 75 75, Marlene Hedblom (Swe) 76 74
151 Anna Knutsson (Swe) 79 72, Liza Walters (Eng) 74 77, Alessandra Averna (Ita) 75 76, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 74 77, Carlie Butler (Aus) 78 73
152 Katharina Werdinig (Aut) 77 75, Kris Lindstrom (USA) 78 74, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 77 75, Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 80 72, Lisa Hall (Eng) 75 77, Stefanie Michl (Aut) 76 76
153 Nora Angehrn (Swi) 77 76, Vittoria Valvassori (Am) (Ita) 76 77, Anna Roscio (Am) (Ita) 78 75, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 78 75, Sarah Heath (Eng) 79 74
154 Shani Waugh (Aus) 78 76, Denise Simon (Ger) 73 81, Claire Coughlan (Irl) 75 79
156 Annamaria Milie (Ita) 77 79, Jo Clingan (Eng) 77 79, Itziar Elguezabal (Spa) 76 80
157 Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 80 77, Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 82 75
158 Fame More (Eng) 80 78
Ret: Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Lisa Jean (Aus) 76, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 72, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe)

KAREN DELANEY RECAPTURES THE FORM
THAT HAD DESERTED HER FOR SO LONG

If ever there was a result that should boost the spirits of anyone who has almost given up hope of being able to play the way they once played, Karen Delaney provided it on Wednesday by winning the Irish women's close amateur championship at Lahinch.
Followers of the American college circuit will know that Karen has just finished an abysmal season playing for Kent State University, Ohio. And the season before last was nothing to write home about either.
She is officially ranked 572nd on the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings with an average score per round of 78.07. She was an accumulative 103 over par in 15 rounds she played on the US college circuit.
In contrast, Karen's younger sister Tara, also a student at Kent State University, won the Lady Northern Invitational in America last September and she finished third in the prestigious Lady Bulleye Spring Invitational.
Tara is ranked 46th on the US college circuit with an average score of 74.32 per competitive round.
So, if a Delaney is going to win the "Irish," it has to be Tara, hasn't it?
No, Tara went out in the semi-finals and the title went to Karen, who, throughout the week, played golf of the quality and consistency that won her the Irish girls' championship in 2002 and 2003.
It's the kind of riches to rags and back to riches story that warms the cockles of your heat!
Good for you, Karen.

CARLY CHASES JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP
POINTS IN SWEDEN

Perthshire prospect Carly Booth, 15 years old next month, is the only British or Irish player in the field for the Skandia Junior Lady Open tournament over 54 holes at Bastad Golf Club, Sweden, beginning on Friday.
Last year Miss Booth played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match at Celtic Manor.
The Skandia Junior Lady Open is a qualifier for places in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup team to play the United States girls at the same venue on September 11 and 12.
Scottish boys’ champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton), William Bremner (Ed