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| Connie and Eilidh with SLGA President Janet Brown -- Photo --Courtesy of Colin Farquharson |
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) set her sights on history after she defeated Eildih Briggs (Kilmacolm) by 2 and 1 in the semi-final of the Scottish Ladies’ Championship at Prestwick.
In the 100th staging of the Championship, the 17-year-old has the chance to become the youngest ever winner and the first to hold both the Scottish Girls’ and Scottish Ladies’ titles.
Standing in her way is Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw). In the semi-finals, the 21-year-old ended the hopes of the older of the Briggs’ sisters, Megan, with a 3 and 2 victory.
Jaffrey, the leading strokeplay qualifier, had beaten Lesley Atkins (Gullane) by 2 and 1 in the quarter-finals and she was never behind in the last four match against Briggs, who will be flying to the States on Monday to represent GB and Ireland in next month’s Curtis Cup.
The teenager’s short game was the key, the highlight being a 45-foot birdie putt from off the green at the sixth.
“It’s amazing to go through,” said Jaffrey. “I was hoping to make the semi-finals this week so to get into the final is a bonus. Eildih is a great player and I knew it was going to be a tough match.”
Last month, Jaffrey was runner-up in the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship and she attributes the great run of form to hard work and determination.
“I had a setback a couple of years ago when I missed out on some teams.” She explained. “But then I started working really hard with a psychologist and my coach George Boswell. I was determined to prove some people wrong.”
MacDonald won the battle of the St Andrews University students in the last eight with a 3 and 2 win over Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) and closed out her match with Briggs with wins at the 13th, 15th and 16th.
With her boyfriend and fellow Geography student, Guy Dalziel, as her caddie, MacDonald admitted that her second round win over Clara Young and then the triumph over Summers were a huge confidence boost.
“I play Ailsa a lot at St Andrews but this is the first time I have beaten her,” she said. “Everyone at the university is great and I get a lot of support. “
Completing a good day for Troon Ladies’ teenagers, 16-year-old Emma Hale won the Clark Rosebowl, defeating Carol Whyte (Milngavie) by 2 and1 in the final.
To read the full hole match scores -- go to the Kirkwood Golf Website
