Renfrewshire Girls Win against Lanarkshire

Renfrewshire Girls had a successful match against Lanarkshire.

On Sunday 3rd June, Renfrewshire Girls played Lanarkshire at Cambuslang Golf Club on a very damp, thundery day. This 9 hole course was in perfect order and was a very good venue for a girls' match Being a strange course to all the girls, it was ideal to play the 9 holes twice rather than 18 new ones.The plan was to play foursomes to practise for the Kennedy Salver. (1 game was a singles game as Renfrewshire could only field 7 players)

Results-

(Renfrewshire girls first)
Heather Conejo beat Jennifer Black -3 and 2
Catherine Conejo & Alyson McKechin halved with Jennifer Gemmell and Abigail Gliksten
Lesley Cosh and Natasha Qayum beat Nicola McLuckie and Kirsty Hogg -6 and 4
Alison Howie and Heather Howie lost to Emma Caddow and Nicole Benson -6and 5

Our thanks go to Margaret Noblett for organising the game and Cambuslang GC for the courtesy of the course.

Our Webmaster takes a holiday

Have noted that our efficient Webmaster Carol is heading for sunny Spain tomorrow . She deserves a well earned rest and we look forward to hearing her golfing stories on her return!

I am looking forward to the medal at Lochwinnoch next week. Results will be posted on the RLCGA Hot News Page and full details will be available on the HowDidIDo website.

Inter County Foursomes Finals

Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) and Maureen Skinner (Gourock) won the top prize at the Inter County Foursomes Finals at Douglas Park today. They posted a Gross 80 which was the best of the day. Congratulations also go to Donna Jackson and Alison McGinngle (Cochrane Castle) who were 3rd in the scratch section and to Shirley McKnight and Valerie MacKinnon (Old Ranfurly) who were 3rd in the Handicap section.
Played today at Douglas Park Golf Club - Thursday 31st May 2007

First Scratch - Gillian McGinlay and Maureen Skinner (Renfrewshire) 80
Second Scratch - Alex Glennie and Anne Edgar (Ayrshire) 81
Third Scratch - Donna Jackson and Alison McGinnigle(Renfrewshire) 82 bih


First Handicap - Enid Young and Fiona Cowan (D & A) 76.5
Second Handicap - Hilda Everett and Margo Paterson (Lanarkshire) 77
Third Handicap - Shirley McKnight and Valerie MacKinnon (Renfrewshire)77.5 bih
Thanks go to Jean Campbell (D&A) for the results and Helen Faulds (D&A) for the Photograph

Junior Team for Kennedy Salver announced

With Eilidh Briggs having been selected for the senior team this year, there are a few new names in our Junior Team

Catherine Conejo-Williamwood
Lesley Cosh-Cowglen
Alison Howie-Whitecraigs
Alyson McKechin-Elderslie
Natasha Qayum-Ranfurly Castle
Nicky Wilson-Whitecraigs
Saorcha Warren-Eastwood-reserve

We are beginning our countdown to June 18th with a practice and meeting at MCGA on May 31st.The Kennedy Salver has a new format this year which involves foursomes and singles in a round-robin format against every other county-all in one day!

On June 3rd, we are playing a “friendly” match at Cambuslang GC against Lanarkshire. We are hoping to play 8 aside that day so Heather Conejo and Heather Howie are also playing to gain some experience for future years.

The following weekend, some of the girls will have a practice round at Cowglen, others on the Tuesday, then a course walk round Cowglen with Dorothy Yates as our expert guideon the Wednesday! There is so much golf on for the girls just now, never mind exams, hockey, athletics, tennis,Duke of Edinburgh trips etc.

I will be telephoning our “volunteers” to organise duties for the 18th over the next couple of weeks and am grateful for all their willingness.

I hope to report another triumph for the girls in a few weeks time.

Gillian Kyle

Megan is 3rd in the Ness Open

Renfrewshire county champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) was a creditable joint 3rd in the Ness Open SLGA Order of Merit 36-hole event at Inverness Golf Club yesterday (Sunday). Both Megan and younger sister Eilidh had made the long trip up north to play in the event

LEADING TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 73 72
143 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 72 71.
144 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 70.
146 R Niven (Crieff) 76 70, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 74 72.

Other RLCGA Players:
163 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 85.

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.

Spring Meeting / May Medal --- Old Ranfurly

Played over Old Ranfurly on 9th May 2007 , Entries 39, SSS 72, CSS 73
Handicap: Scratch - 12:
1st Merope Dunlop Old Ranfurly 85, 11, 74(bih)
2nd Maureen Skinner Gourock 79, 5, 74
3rd Maureen Cook Lochwinnoch 88, 12, 76

Hnadicap 13 and Upwards
1st Shirley McKnight Old Ranfurly 83, 14, 69
2nd Maureen Taggart Old Ranfurly 96, 14, 72
3rd Lindsay Mathie Cochrane Castle 89, 16, 73

Scratch: Maureen Skinner (Gourock) 79
May Medal -- Overall Winner - Shirley McKnight (Old Ranfurly) net 69

Inter County Foursomes - Elderslie

Scratch:
1st: Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) and Maureen Skinner (Gourock) 78
2nd: Donna Jackson and Alison McGinngle (Cochrane Castle) 80
3rd: Pearl Orr and Paula McBride (Cochrane Castle) 81

Handicap:
1st: Vivien Howe and Sheila Gray (Ranfurly Castle) (19) 67.5
2nd: Pearl Orr and Paula McBride (Cochrane Castle) 81 (11) 70
3rd: Shirley McKnight and Valerie McKinnon (Old Ranfurly) (13) 73 bih
4th: Kay Black (Paisley) and Jane Biggart (Ranfurly Castle) (20) 73

Megan Briggs is the 2007 RLCGA Champion

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) has retained the Renfrewshire women’s golf championship she won for the first time at the age of 16 last year.
At Erskine Golf Club, Megan, who qualified in fourth position, beat 10 times record county champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the leading qualifier, for the second year in a row, this time by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-final instead of in the final.
In the final Megan beat Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), who won the title in 2003, by one hole in a very tight match. They were all square after 16 holes. Then Megan won the 17th and halved the last to be champion again.
Clare-Marie, the No2 qualifier, had beaten the No 3 seed, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1 in her semi-final.
Results:
Semi-finals – M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 3 and 1.
Final – Briggs bt Carlton 1 hole

County Championship -- Day 1 Results

Defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) will meet record-setting 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the No 1 qualifier, in the first of this morning's (Thu) semi-finals of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Erskine Golf Club.
It will be a repeat of last year's final in which the 17-year-old Megan beat Donna by 6 and 5 with five birdies in 13 holes.
In the other semi-final, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) will play Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 county champion and No 2 qualifier this week.
The semi-finals will tee off at 9.30 and 9.45 with the final at 2pm.
Results:

First round - D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt B Biggart (Kilmacom) 5 and 4, J McCartney (Erskine) bt A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole, L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt L Morrow (Erskine) 4 and 3, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt F Campbell (Erskine) 7 and 6, S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) at 19th ,G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 8 and 7, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt L McDougall (Greenock)1 hole.
Quarter-finals - Jackson bt McCartney 5 and 4, M Briggs bt Robertson 3 and 1, Kyle bt Smyth 4 and 3, Carlton bt McGinlay 4 and 3.

Donna Jackson leads the 2007 County Championship Qualifier ---

RENFREWSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Erskine Golf Club.
SSS 73. CSS 76
QUALIFIERS
74 D Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
77 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bih, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire).
79 M Briggs (Kilmacolm).
82 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle).
85 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle), bih, Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle).
86 J McCartney (Erskine).
87 A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) bih, D Cowan (Cochrane Castle).
88 S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bih, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) better last hole, L Morrow (Erskine) (bih), F Campbell (Erskine).
89 L McDougall (Greenock).
90 B Biggart (Kilmacolm).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
First round: 9.15 Jackson v Biggart, Judge v McCartney. 9.30 Robertson v E Briggs, Morrow v M Briggs, Kyle v Campbell, Smith v Fell. 10.0 McGinlay v Cowan, McDougall v Carlton.
Quarter-finals: 1.15 to 2pm.

April Medal (Gourock)

The April Medal was played today at Gourock
33 entrants : SSS 73 CSS 75

Scratch: Sarah Kirby 79

H'Cap Scr - 12, Entrants 17
1st Sarah Kirby Ranfurly Castle 79 10 69
2nd Cathy Morton Eastwood 84 9 75
3rd Maureen Skinner Gourock 81 5 76

H'Cap 13 - 28, Entrants 16
1st Liz Williamson Ranfurly Castle 88 17 71
2nd Lindsay Mathie Cochrane Castle 91 16 75
3rd Lynn Forsyth Paisley 90 14 76

Megan is Runner Up in Leveret Trophy,Formby Links

Megan Briggs [Kilmacolm] was runner up in this years Leveret Trophy played over a bright but very windy Formby Links today
A quality field ,including many Internationals,found a course in excellent condition but very testing and saw the CSS in round 1 increase to 74 and 75 in round 2 [SS72].
Leading players
Laura Jones[Royal Liverpool] 75+74 149
Megan Briggs[Kilmacolm] 76+74 150
Rhian Thomas [Vale of Glamorgan] 74+76 150
Naomi Edwards [Ganton]72 +78 150
Louisa Stirling[Formby ladies] 72+79 151
Tara Watters [Muswell Hill] 75 +77 152
Breanne Loucks [Wrexham] 77+76 153
Stephanie Evans [Vale of Llangollen] 77+ 76 153
Emma Duggleby [Malton and Norton] 75+78 153
Samantha Birks [Wolstanton] 78+ 76 154

Maureen Richmond is Runner Up in Spanish Seniors

The Italian François Colmant became the Spanish Seniors Champion today at the Club of Golf of Bonalba (Alicante). A final round of 79 , which was one better than her first round and one less than the total by RLCGA's Maureen Richmond (Kilmacolm)
Maureen who was the leader after day one had a chance to force a play-off by sinking a putt on the last green. However it was not to be and the Italian won by one shot.

Final Results
1 - François Colmant (ITA) 157 (78+79)
2. - Maureen Richmond (SCO) 158 (77+81)
3. - Ana Vilella (SPA) 161 (80+81)
Other Scots:
13 - P Williamson (Baberton) 166 (83+83)
15 - J Paterson (Drumpellier) 167 (83+84)
21 - H Faulds (Douglas Park) 171 (87+84)
57 - B Biggart (Kilmacolm) 181 (93+88)
63 - F Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 184 (94+90)
75 - J Mack (Haggs Castle) 192 (97+95)

Megan Briggs goes to Winter Training in Spain

The SLGA is holding its annual Winter Training Camp in Pals, Northern Spain from March 10-24 2007. The training will be led by the newly appointed SLGA National Coach, Kevin Craggs. Players from the Senior SLGA squads have been invited to attend for one of the two weeks. Those available to attend are:

Week 1 - March 10th -17th 2007

Emma Fairnie, Kerri Harper, Lesley Hendry, Edwina Lowrey-Gold, Kelsey MacDonald, Gillian Monteith, Laura Murray, Jane Turner, Rebecca Watson and Rebecca Wilson

Week 2 - March 17th - 24th 2007

Sara Bishop, Carly Booth, Megan Briggs, Krystle Caithness, Rachael Livingstone, Fiona Lockhart, Pamela Pretswell, Sammy Vass, Kylie Walke and Jenna Wilson

Jennifer Jenkins - Scottish Girls Team Captain

The SLGA is pleased to announce the Team Captains for 2007.European Ladies Team - Lesley Johnston
European Girls Team - Jennifer Jenkins (RLCGA)
European Senior Team - Pam Gordon
Ladies Home International Team - Jayne Smith
Girls Home International Team - Katrina Milne

Maureen and Barbara are Runners Up in Spanish Seniors "Doubles"

The Spanish partnership of Marta Estany and Vicky Pertierra won the Senior Womens "Doubles" Championship today at the Club of Golf of Bonalba, in Alicante. On a day that was cloudy and very windy the scoring was exceedingly difficult. Congratulations go to RLCGA's Maureen Richmond and Barbara Biggart on their tremendous achievement in just missing out on the big win by 1 or 2 shots and ended up being 3rd overall 1 shot behind the Spanish winners

Maureen Richmond and Barbara Biggart
FINAL Scores. - Marta Estany (ESP) /Vicky Pertierra (ESP) 156 (75+81)
2. - Cristina Marsans (ESP) /Beatriz Ramirez de Haro (ESP) 157 (77+80) (Better 2nd round)
3. - Barbara Biggart (SCO) /Maureen Richmond (SCO) 157 (75+82)
4- Erika Annison (SWE) /Edeltraut Jacob (GER) 157 (73+84)

Other Scots:

7 - Pamela Williamson and Diane Williams (Can) 161 (80+81)
12 - Helen Faulds and Janice Paterson 164 (80+84)
29 - Jennifer Mack anfd Fiona Roger 175 (87+88)

Eilidh Briggs selected for Scottish Under 16's

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) has been selected by the SLGA to represent Scotland in the above Scottish Girls Under 16 Stroke play Championship to be played at Craigielaw on the 5th and 6th April 2007.

The 2007 SLGA AGM

The SLGA AGM took place at the Quality Hotel in Perth today.
The meeting opened with a minutes silence in memory for Jessie Valentine and Kathleen McNeil who both passed away in the last year

The AGM was very long with the audience being informed of all the changes to the SLGA who are now a Limited Company

Belle Robertson and Toni Moffat were both elected as Vice Presidents to the SLGA for services rendered to golf

A detailed explanation of the current financial situation and future projection by Finance Director Dr Lynne Terry, resulted in a majority voting for an increase in annual subscription to £10 per club member.

Ethel Jack, from Midlothian was elected President and Aberdeenshire's Margaret McNaughton took over as Chairman of the Board. Winfred McCallum from Stirling and Clackmannan replaced Margaret Rodgers, and Helen Cuthbertson from Borders replaced Isobel Fairlie as Board members.
At the end of the meeting LGU Deputy Councillor, Shona Malcolm, gave a status report of the One Plan for Golf and Club Golf initiatives.

Also of note was that the SLGA has appointed the highly respected PGA professional KEVIN CRAGGS as their new national coach as they aim to further improve the skills of their talented young stars.
Kevin, who also doubles as the Daily Record’s Golf Doctor, a teacher for Bunkered Magazine and a commentator for BBC Radio Scotland, can’t wait to get to work helping Scotland’s best women golfers to lower their score on the course.
Kevin, who has coached several top professional golfers and was recently voted one of the top 25 golf coaches in the UK and Ireland by Golf Monthly, said: “I am thrilled to be joining the SLGA.
People can find out more about Kevin Craggs on his website at Kevin Craggs Website
Captain Beth Paterson and Vice Captain Christeen Finlayson represented RLCGA at the meeting

Tribute to Kathleen McNeil

Kathleen Wilson McNeil --- Pioneer of ladies' golf in Scotland; Born May 20, 1916; Died December 8, 2006.

Katherine, or Kathleen as she was know to most, was born in 1916 and lived all her life in Greenock, apart from her years of education at St Leonard's in St Andrews and at Edinburgh University, from which she graduated in 1939. She practised as a solicitor in the firm of WW&J McClure, where her father, Charles P McNeil, had been a partner, and was also the proprietrix of the family drapery business.
From the age of four, she played golf and had a very successful career as an amateur at various clubs including Greenock, Kilmacolm, Shiskine, The Ladies Club Troon, St Rule and Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association.
In her later years she was made an honorary member of the clubs in recognition of her enormous contribution to golf and its administration locally and nationally. Her career in golf administration began with Renfrewshire County Ladies, of which she was non-playing captain from 1957 to 1959, and at her death was honorary life president.
She was chairman (1965 to 1967 and 1974 to 1975), president (1982 to 1985) and an honorary vice-president of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association; past president (1987 to 1988) and, since 1991, honorary vice-president of the Ladies Golf Union.
She was awarded an MBE for her services to ladies' golf and in the same year was one of five Scots commended for contributions to their chosen sports at national level as unpaid volunteers, receiving an award from the Scottish Sports Council.
Kathleen was immensely popular with players of all ages and was most encouraging to the young, up-and-coming club, county and national players. She travelled the country and the world giving support. As recently as 1999 she travelled to Vancouver to support the British team in the Commonwealth tournament.
Nancy Chisholm, current SLGA president, said: "Kathleen McNeil was a lady with a wonderful sense of humour and amazing knowledge, one of our own special, greatly respected Scottish characters who will leave a void in Scottish ladies' golf."
Kathleen had many other local interests and was a life long member of Trinity Church in Greenock. She was also very much a world traveller, visiting lifelong friends
en route, her good health enabling her to continue to do this until recent years.
Unfortunately, she had no surviving family but was loved and supported thoughout her life by several lifelong friends and their families. Sue Cowan, a daughter of her oldest friend, came from Australia to be with her in the last weeks of her life following a stroke in mid-November. Kathleen's well- kent figure – topped out with "the hat" – will be sorely missed on our fairways.

Katherine, or Kathleen as she was know to most, was born in 1916 and lived all her life in Greenock, apart from her years of education at St Leonard's in St Andrews and at Edinburgh University, from which she graduated in 1939. She practised as a solicitor in the firm of WW&J McClure, where her father, Charles P McNeil, had been a partner, and was also the proprietrix of the family drapery business.
From the age of four, she played golf and had a very successful career as an amateur at various clubs including Greenock, Kilmacolm, Shiskine, The Ladies Club Troon, St Rule and Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association.
In her later years she was made an honorary member of the clubs in recognition of her enormous contribution to golf and its administration locally and nationally. Her career in golf administration began with Renfrewshire County Ladies, of which she was non-playing captain from 1957 to 1959, and at her death was honorary life president.
She was chairman (1965 to 1967 and 1974 to 1975), president (1982 to 1985) and an honorary vice-president of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association; past president (1987 to 1988) and, since 1991, honorary vice-president of the Ladies Golf Union.
She was awarded an MBE for her services to ladies' golf and in the same year was one of five Scots commended for contributions to their chosen sports at national level as unpaid volunteers, receiving an award from the Scottish Sports Council.
Kathleen was immensely popular with players of all ages and was most encouraging to the young, up-and-coming club, county and national players. She travelled the country and the world giving support. As recently as 1999 she travelled to Vancouver to support the British team in the Commonwealth tournament.
Nancy Chisholm, current SLGA president, said: "Kathleen McNeil was a lady with a wonderful sense of humour and amazing knowledge, one of our own special, greatly respected Scottish characters who will leave a void in Scottish ladies' golf."
Kathleen had many other local interests and was a life long member of Trinity Church in Greenock. She was also very much a world traveller, visiting lifelong friends
en route, her good health enabling her to continue to do this until recent years.
Unfortunately, she had no surviving family but was loved and supported thoughout her life by several lifelong friends and their families. Sue Cowan, a daughter of her oldest friend, came from Australia to be with her in the last weeks of her life following a stroke in mid-November. Kathleen's well- kent figure – topped out with "the hat" – will be sorely missed on our fairways

Kathleen McNeil has died

It is with great sadness that I have to inform all our members that our Hon. Life President Kathleen McNeil (in her 91st year) died peacefully last night at 11:30pm.
Kathleen (pictured left) was in great form at both the RLCGA and the Greenock Golf Club AGM's at the beginning of November. She then had a stroke on the 13th November.
The funeral will take place at 12 noon on Wednesday 13th December 2006 at Greenock Crematorium .