MEGAN, EILIDH AND ALYSON AND IONA ALL QUALIFY FOR THE SCOTTISH MATCHPLAY STAGES

Megan, Eilidh and Alyson all finished tied in 3rd place after the 2 stroke play rounds over Prestwick GC in the Scottish Women's Amateur Championship today. Iona Stephen has also qualified for the matchplay stages and unfortunately Carol Whyte just missed out after a play off for the last slot. -- See draws for tomorrow below all the scores

100th SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 148 (2x74)
149 C Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 73 76
153 A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 72
154 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 75, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 77, A McKechin (Elderslie) 77 77
155 R Walker (Dumfries and Co) 78 77, C Young (North Berwick) 77 78
156 L Whyte (St Regulus) 81 75
158 N Ferguson (Milngavie) 78 80
159 G MacDonald (Craigielaw) 79 80
161 K Marshall (Baberton) 84 77, L Atkins (Gullane) 84 77
162 R Polson (Peterculter) 81 81, J Graham (Southerness) 81 81, E Moffat (St Regulus) 79 83
164 L MacGregor (Glenbervie) 84 80, H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 84 80, H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 82 82, K McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 87
165 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 88 77, K Brodie (Strathmore) 83 82, Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 82 83, N Stephen (Wentworth) 82 83
166 C Thompson (Royal Dornoch) 84 82, K Beveridge (Aboyne) 82 84, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 80 86
167 C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 86 81
168 K Wright (Stranraer) 81 87
169 L D'Ambrosio (Carluke) 89 80, E Watson (Muckhart) 85 84, J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 84 85
170 (after play-off) J Finnie (Troon Ladies) 87 83

OTHER RENFREWSHIRE SCORES
170 (after play-off) C Whyte (Milngavie) 86 84.
178 A Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 87 91
179 D Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 93 86, L Mathie (Troon Ladies) 87 92.
184 J Mack (Haggs Castle) 94 90,
188 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 89 99
194 H Anderson (Troon Ladies) 100 94, B Paterson (Eastwood) 96 98

FOR THE FULL LIST OF SCORES GO TO THE WEST OF SCOTLAND WEBSITE

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH PLAY DRAW
CLARK ROSEBOWL DRAW

EILIDH BRIGGS CAPS FIGHTING SCOTS DRAW WITH IRISH

CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY
QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON
TEL 01224 869782

Scotland Team-- Picture Cal Carson Agency

Back Row L to R Karen Marshall (Captain), Connie Jaffrey, Alyson McKechin, Lauren Whyte, Hannah McCook

Front Row L to R Eilidh Briggs, Gabrielle MacDonald, Heather Munro, Megan Briggs

Scotland broke a sequence of six straight defeats with a fighting draw against Ireland on the opening day of the Womens Home Internationals at Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport in North-east Fife today (Wednesday)
With Wales producing a shock win by four points over defending champions England, Karen Marshall's squad of youngsters still have, on paper, at least a chance of regaining the Miller Trophy they last won at Cardiff in 2010
The Scots took a 2-1 foursomes lead over the Irish, highlighted by a terrific foursomes performance by Alyson McKechin and Eilidh Briggs who were seven under par in beating the talented Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, by 5 and 4.
But the singles looked like drifting Ireland's way for a long spell in the afternoon with only good wins by Megan Briggs and Lauren Whyte stemming the tide.
With three games to finish, it was a 3-3 tie. Then 4-4 with one match to finish.
In that crucial finale, Eilidh Briggs was two down with three to play against Leona Maguire
Briggs raised her game under pressure in brilliant style. She birdied the 16th to get one back. Then squared it with a par 4 at the 17th. All square on the 18th tee amid rising excitement in the Scottish ranks.
Eilidh's putt from 25 feet for a birdie to win the match shaved the hole - and stayed out. Maguire matched the Scot's par 4 and so the hole was halved, the game was halved and the overall match also finished level.
"What a fantastic finish," said Scotland team captain Karen Marshall.
"It looked as if it was going Ireland's way for a while but what a great turnaround by our girls. I'm proud of them."
Wales, once again, punching far above their weight at this level - they have fewer girl golfers than any of the other home countries, shocked England by taking a 2-1 foursomes lead and then building on that with four wins out of the six singles.
Scotland play England and Ireland meet Wales on Day 2.
If the Scots dont suffer a backlash from England, there could be all to play for on the third and last day.

WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS RESULTS DAY 1
Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport, Fife
ENGLAND 2 1/2, WALES 4 1/2
Foursomes (1-2)
Lauren Taylor and Georgia Hall lost to Amy Boulden and Becky Harries 1 hole.
Alexandra Peters and Gabriella Cowley lost to Chloe Williams and Katie Bradbury 3 and 2.
Sarah-Jane Boyd and Rachael Goodall beat Sam Birks and Kath O'Connor 4 and 3.
Singles (1 1/2-4 1/2)
Hall beat Boulden 3 and 1.
Taylor lost to Williams 1 hole.
Peters lost to Bradbury 1 hole.
Cowley lost to Birks 1 hole
Amber Ratcliffe lost to Jess Evans 3 and 2.
Boyd halved with Harries

SCOTLAND 4 1/2, IRELAND 4 1/2
Foursomes (2-1)
Alyson McKechin and Eilidh Briggs beat Lisa Maguire and Leona Maguire 5 and 4.
Megan Briggs and Gabrielle Macdonald beat Maria Dunne and Emma O'Driscoll 2 and 1.
Lauren Whyte and Connie Jaffrey lost to Paula Grant and Olivia Mehaffey 4 and 3.
Singles (2 1/2-3 1/2)
Alyson McKechin lost to Lisa Maguire 3 and 1
Megan Briggs beat Grant 3 and 2
Gabrielle Macdonald lost to Dunne 5 and 3
Lauren Whyte beat Amy Farrell 2 and 1
Hannah McCook lost to Mehaffey 3 and 2.
Eilidh Briggs halved with Leona Maguire

CLARA YOUNG v RENFREWSHIRE'S ALYSON McKECHIN FINAL AT LONGNIDDRY

Alyson McKechin

Clara Young, 16-year-old fourth seed from North Berwick, will play the seventh seed, Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin, from Elderslie, in tomorrow's 18-hole final of the 99th Scottish women's amateur championship at Longniddry Golf Club.

Clara, who recently regained the East Lothian women's county champion and is the youngest player to reach the last stage of the "Scottish," beat 20-year-old Rachel Polson (Peterculter) by 4 and 3 in the first semi-final this afternoon. Clara started with a double bogey 6 but covered the next 14 holes in three under par figures, finishing off the match in style with back-to-back birdies.

 Alyson, leader of the SLGA Women's Order of Merit, is also through to the national final for the first time. She beat the 2009 champion, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) by 2 and 1 in a semi-final distinguished by very good scoring. Alyson was four under par and had six birdies in all. Megan had an eagle 3 at the 15th and birdied the fourth. She was approximately two under par.

EILIDH MEGAN AND ALYSON INTO QUARTER FINALS OF THE SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP AND DENISE MAKES IT TO THE SEMI FINALS OF THE CLARK ROSEBOWL

Renfrewshire players are doing well in the Scottish Championships at Longniddry with our 3 top players -- Alyson, Eilidh and Megan reaching the quarter final stages to be played tomorrow morning.

Both Briggs sisters from the Kilmacolm club are through to the last eight.
Fifth seed Eilidh, 20-year-old Stirling University physical education student, beat young Tara MacTaggart from the Borders by one hole.
Eilidh now plays Clara Young in the quarter finals.
Former champion Megan, 23, beat another past title-winner Hilary (Monaghan) Wardell (Longniddry) by 4 and 3.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), 19, leader of the SLGA women's Order of Merit and another who has gained something from playing on the Paul Lawrie Tour. She scraped through at the 19th in the morning against Rachael Livingstone but looked more relaxed in winning by 5 and 4 over Susan Wood (Drumpellier) in Round 2.
Alyson, joint second in the recent "Helen Holm," now plays 19-year-old Stirling student Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) who stopped the giant-killing run of Katie Reid in its tracks with a 4 and 3 Round 2 victory.
 SECOND ROUND RESULTS 
Macgregor beat Meek at 19th.
Polson beat Scott 3 and 1.
E Briggs beat MacTaggart 1 hole.
Young beat Liddell 4 and 3.
Fraser beat Turner 2 and 1.
M Briggs beat Wardell 4 and 3.
A McKechin beat Susan Wood 5 and 4.
McCook beat Reid 4 and 3.

Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) has also done well by reaching the semi finals of the flight 2 group for the  Clark Rosebowl

Urquhart beat Melvin-Ffinsh 3 and 1.
Beveridge beat Goodwin 6 and 5.
Cowan beat Dyball 3 and 1.
Sheena Wood beat Caddow 1 hole.

RENFREWSHIRE TOP PLAYERS QUALIFY FOR THE MATCHPLAY STAGES OF THE SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Three of them - Eilidh Briggs, Megan Briggs and Alyson McKechin from Renfrewshire have all qualified for the match-play stages of the Scottish Championships at Longniddry.
Denise Cowan has qualified for the Clark Rosebowl.
QUALIFYING SCORES:
147 J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 76 71
151 R Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 76.
152 J Turner (Craigielaw) 78 74.
154 C Young (North Berwick) 82 72, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 76 78.
156 H Wardell (Longniddry) 80 76, A McKechin (Elderslie) 79 77.
157 R Polson (Peterculter) 79 78, H Scott (Broomieknowe) 78 79.
159 K McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 81 78
160 L Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 82 78, N Robertson (Dunblane New) 81 79.
164 T Seivwright (Deeside) 83 81, E Allison (Stirling) 79 85..
165 C Wilson (Murcar Links) 85 80, L Macgregor (Falkirk) 79 86.
166 J Graham (Southerness) 87 79, H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 86 80, L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 82 84, F Liddell (Schloss Vornholz, Germany) 81 85.
167 T MacTaggart (Minto) 86 81, C Small (Gullane Ladies) 84 83, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 84 83, S Wood (Drumpellier) 84 83, E Moffat (St Regulus) 81 86.
168 R Livingstone (Craigmillar Park) 83 85, N Ferguson (Milngavie) 81 87.
169 L Bain (Lochend) 88 81, J Potter (Cathkin Braes) 86 83, K McGarva (Troon Ladies) 83 86.
170 (after play-off) K Reid (Monifieth) 85 85, C Hargan (St Regulus) 84 86
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY
First Round
8.30 J Meek v C Hargan.
8.38 J Graham v L Macgregor.
8.46 H Scott v C Small.
8.54 E Moffat v R Polson.
9.02 E Briggs v L Bain.
9.10 T MacTaggart v N Robertson.
9.18 T Seivwright v F Liddell.
9.26 J Potter v C Young.
9.34 J Turner v K McGarva.
9.42 L Fraser v E Allison.
9.56 L Atkins v M Briggs.
9.58 N Ferguson v H Wardell.
10.06 A McKechin v R Livingstone.
10.14 Susan Wood v K McIntosh.
10.22 C Wilson v H McCook.
10.30 K Reid v R Walker.
CLARK ROSEBOWL
10.47 J Chalmers v A Melvin-Ffinch.
10.54 L Urquhart v K Blackwood.
11.02 H Robb v A Goodwin.
11.10 R Rankin v K Beveridge
11/19 J Harrison v D Cowan.
11.26 L Dyball v K Marshall.
11.34 E Caddow v L D'Ambrosio.
11.42 A Tait v Sheena Wood.

RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN AT CARNOUSTIE

The rain has arrived at Carnoustie for the second qualifying round of the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship - and the forecast is that it will stay for a few days.
The good news is that the wind will stay away.
A total of 68 players broke 80 in the first qualifying round when the CSS was 79, exactly the same as the SSS but, of course, seven over the par for the championship course laid out by the Ladies Golf Union.
With the weather deteriorating, it is difficult to forecast what the qualifying mark will be for the 64 leading players who will progress at the end of the day to the match-play stages on Thursday-Friday-Saturday.
Megan had an 81 and Alyson an 82 in Round 1. They will both have to have good rounds today to make the cut .

To Follow the live scoring -- CLICK HERE

ALYSON IS THE BEST RENFREWSHIRE PLAYER IN IRELAND'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKEPLAY

From the Irish LGU Website:
England's Emily Taylor, won the Irish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay by three strokes from Ireland’s Mary Dowling (New Ross) and Gillian O’Leary (Cork) at at The Island Golf Club, Sunday 27 May.
Trailing overnight leader O'Leary by one stroke, Taylor captured her first Irish title in style with birdies on eight, ten, fifteen and held from twelve feet at the last to sign for a closing 76. Dowling matched the Champion’s final round score to edge O’Leary into third place on count back after the Cork international struggled to repeat Saturday’s form on the outward nine.
As the wind abated marginally from Saturday’s 35 mile per hour gusts, competitors once again struggled to match par as the north easterlies presented a stiff challenge to the field. Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare), Katherine O’Connor (WAL) and Gabrielle MacDonald (SCO) all comfortably broke 80 to extract sweet revenge on the previous days’ trials
Ireland B won the Nations Cup from by two strokes from Ireland A, with Scotland third and England fourth.

FINAL TOTALS (PAR 74 74 74 CSS 80 79 77)

233 Emily Taylor (ENG) 85 72 76
236 Mary Dowling (New Ross) 81 79 76 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 79 77 80
238 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 81 79 78
239 Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 83 75 81
240 Maria Dunne (Skerries) 80 82 78
242 Hannah McCook (SCO) 79 84 79
243 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 84 81 78 Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 79 83 81
245 Jessica Carty (Holywood) 88 78 79 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 82 83 80
246 Katherine O'Connor (WAL) 86 83 77 Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) 86 80 80 Anna Courtney (St. Anne's) 83 85 78
247 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 88 83 76 Kristina Rothengatter (GER) 86 80 81 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 85 83 79 Joelle van Baarle (BEL) 84 79 84 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 78 87 82
248 Lucy Simpson (Massereene) 89 80 79 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 87 81 80 Gabrielle MacDonald (SCO) 86 85 77 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 85 82 81
250 Jessica Meek (SCO) 87 84 79 Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) 87 83 80 Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 83 83 84
251 Laura Grant (Lisburn) 88 82 81
252 Kelsey Coey (Clandeboye) 84 85 83
253 Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare) 92 84 77 Alyson McKechin (SCO) 83 86 84
254 Karen O'Neill (Douglas) 90 81 83 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 90 80 84 Alison Taylor (Malahide) 88 83 83 Eilidh Briggs (SCO) 82 84 88
255 Amy Farrell (Moate) 86 84 85
256 Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) 89 86 81
257 Sammy Vass (SCO) 83 93 81
259 Aoife Lowry (Tipperary) 87 83 89
263 Ashleigh Wilton (The Island) 88 86 89
RTD Megan Briggs (SCO) 87 82 RTD Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion) 85 85 RTD

475 IRELAND B Mary Dowling 81 79 76, Paula Grant (89) (89) (), Deirdre Smith 83 75 81
477 IRELAND A Jessica Carty (88) 78 79, Leona Maguire 82 (83) (80), Lisa Maguire 81 79 78
503 SCOTLAND Eilidh Briggs 82 84 88, Megan Briggs (87) 82 RTD, Alyson McKechin 83 (86) 84
...... ENGLAND Lauren Blease 88 96 (), Emily Taylor 85 72 76

MEGAN AND ALYSON FINISH JOINT 18th IN WALES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com


Welsh champion and Curtis Cup reserve Becky Harries produced arguably the best round of her life just when she needed it most to win the prestigious Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship over the Ashburnham links on the South Wales coast today.
Starting the final day four shots behind overnight leader Chloe Williams (Wrexham) and in joint fifth place, the 23-year-old from the Haverfordwest club stormed round in five-under-par 69 for a final total of two-under-par 220.

Top Scot for the second weekend in a row was Laura Murray (Alford). Joint third last week at Troon, Laura finished ninth at Ashburnham with scores of 79-77-74.
The big hitting winner of the St Rule Trophy two years ago (when she beat Amy Boulden in a play-off), Laura had an eagle at the fifth and birdies at the third and 17th.
Four late bogeys - at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th - cost Murray a top five or six placing.
Second best Scot was Carnoustie teenager Jessica Meek in 11th place on 233 with scores of 78-75-80.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and former Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) also failed to break 80 in the final round but made the final top 2-20.
Alyson scored 77-81-80 for 238, the same aggregate as Megan with scores of 77-78-83. They were joint 18th.
Curtis Cup team selection Charley Hull (Woburn) did not defend the title.

THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 222 (3x74)
220 Becky Harries (Haverford West) 76 75 69.
222 Chloe Williams (Wrexham) 74 73 75
224 Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) 80 70 74.
225 Amy Boulden (Conwy) 78 75 72.
226 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 76 74 76, Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) 73 75 78.
227 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 75 78 75.
229 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 77 74 78.
230 Laura Murray (Alford) 79 77 74
231 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmnarton Heath) 74 78 69.
233 Jessica Meek (Carnoustie) 78 75 80.
234 Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 77 81 76, Lauren Hillier (Newport) 79 75 80, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 75 77 82
235 Helen Searle (Huddersfield) 83 76 76, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 78 76 81
237 Katerina Slukova (Czech Rep) 80 81 76.
238 Stacey Rodger (West Hove) 79 83 74, Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 81 79 78, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 77 81 80, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 78 83.
239 Lucy Gould (Bargoed) 85 79 75, Rachel Goodall (Heswall) 82 78 79.
240 Sophie Madden (West Essex) 80 78 82.
Other Scot
244 Clara Young (North Berwick) 77 84 83.

MEGAN AND ALYSON ARE PLAYING IN THE WELSH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Carnoustie teenager Jessica Meek is the leading Scot after two rounds of the Welsh women's open amateur championship at Ashburnham GC on the South Wales coast.

Jessica shot rounds of 78 and 75 for a tally of five-over-par 153 over the par-74 course to be sharing ninth place with Amy Boulden (Conwy), the Welsh Curtis Cup player who won last weekend's Helen Holm Scottish stroke-play title at Troon.

Former Scottish champion Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) will start Sunday's final round in 14th place after scores of 77 and 78 for 155 - one shot ahead of Alford's Laura Murray (79-77).

Renfrewshire's 2012 County Champion -- Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) scored 77-81 for a share of 19th place on 158.

SECOND-ROUND LEADING TOTALS

Par 148 (2x74)

147 Chloe Williams (Wrexham) 74 73

148 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) 73 75.

150 Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) 80 70, Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 76 74.

151 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 77 74, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 76 75.

152 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 75 77, Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 74 78.

153 Amy Boulden (Conwy) 78 75, Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 75 78, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie) 78 75.

154 Lauren Hillier (Newport0 79 75, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 78 76.

OTHER SCOTS SCORES

155 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 78 (14th)

156 Laura Murray (Alford) 79 77 (T15)

158 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 77 81 (T19)

161 Rachel Walker (Dumfries&Co) 79 82, Clara Young (North Berwick) 77 84

EILIDH, ALYSON AND MEGAN ALL MAKE THE CUT AT THE HELEN HOLM AT TROON

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Curtis Cup team selection Pamela Pretswell took up the running in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship as overnight leaders Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) - also in the GB and I team for Nairn from June 8-10 - and Rachael Goodall (Heswall) failed to follow up their splendid opening efforts of seven-under-par 68 apiece.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 150 (2x75) CSS for Round 1: 77

Leading scores:

141 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 71 70

142 Amy Boulden (Conwy) 70 72, Rachael Goodall (Heswall) 68 74, Perrine Delacour (France) 70 72

143 Celine Boutier (France) 71 72, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 68 75.

144 Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 73 71

146 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 73 73, Johanna Bjork (Sweden) 75 71, Laura Murray (Alford) 74 72, Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) 73 73

147 Emelie Lundstrom (Sweden) 72 75

148 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 72 76, Rachael Taylor (Germany) 72 76

149 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 73 76, 

152  Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 76 76, 

156 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 78,

Unfortunately Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) did not make the cut

To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website