EILIDH AND ALYSON WIN THEIR SINGLES AGAINST ENGLAND BUT SCOTLAND ARE PIPPED AGAIN.

SECOND IRELAND WIN SETS THEM UP FOR TITLE DECIDER

Scotland, whitewashed 3-0 by England in the morning foursomes, staged a great fightback in the singles but lost narrowly, 5-4, in the rain on Day 2 of the Girls Home Internationals over the Gullane No 2 links.
Ireland made it two wins out of two by beating Wales 5-4 and meet England, winners of the Stroyan Cup for the past three years in the title decider on Friday.
The Scots picked themselves up well after their morning drubbing with Eilidh Briggs scoring a splendid 3 and 1 win over Hayley Davis in a battle between the girls champions of their respective countries.
Alyson McKechin put another point on the board for the Scots by beating Georgia Hall by one hole.
Gemma Dryburgh finished well to get a halved match with Brogan Townend.
Lesley Atkins lost by 4 and 3 to Bronte Law but Ailsa Summers won by 2 and 1 against Elizabeth Mallett.
With England leading by 4.5 to 3.5, Scotland's hopes of salvaging a creditable draw rested on the shoulders of 14-year-old Clara Young, the Junior Vagliano Trophy player from North Berwick.
Clara went one up on Alex Peters by winning the 16th with the rain pouring down but not damping the mounting tension in both camps. The 17th was halved but Peters won the last hole with an excellent approach shot to within 3ft of the flagstick setting up a birdie 3 to gallant Clara's par 4 to halve an absorbing contest which England scraped home to a 5-4 victory.

Day 2
WALES 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes
Amy Boulden and Chloe Williams halved with Paula Grant and Jessica Carty.
Katie Bradbury and Jessica Evans bt Ariana Coyle-Diez and Jean O'Driscoll 1 hole.
Myriam Hassan and Sara Rees-Evans lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sexton 8 and 7 (1.5-1.5)
Singles
Williams halved with Grant.
Boulden bt Carty 3 and 2.
Bradbury bt Sexton 3 and 2.
Georgia Lewis lost to Coyle-Diez 4 and 3.
Nia Greville lost to O'Driscoll 5 and 4.
Evans lost to Ryan 3 and 2 (2.5-3.5)
ENGLAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
Foursomes
Hayley Davis and Georgia Hall bt Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh 4 and 3.
Alex Peters and Meghan MacLaren bt Alyson McKechin and Clara Young 2 and 1.
Bronte Law and Emily Taylor bt Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook 4 and 3 (3-0).
Singles
Davis lost to Briggs 3 and 1.
Hall lost to McKechin 1 hole
Brogan Townend halved with Dryburgh.
Elizabeth Mallett lost to Ailsa Summers 2 and 1.
Peters halves with Young
Law bt Lesley Atkins 4 and 3.

HOW THEY STAND
Ireland 2pt, England 1.5, Wales 0.5, Scotland 0

FRIDAY'S FINAL MATCHES
8.30 and 13.10 Ireland v England
9.00 and 14.10 Scotland v Wales
ends

Thanks go to Colin Farquarson for the report.

- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone



- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone

SCOTLAND LOSE TO IRELAND ON DAY 1 OF THE GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS

Scotland's hopes of winning the Girls Home Internationals' Stroyan Cup for the first time in four years all but evaporated under a hot summer sun at the Gullane No 2 links today.
Scotland trailed 2-1 from the foursomes against Ireland but girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and beaten finalist Gemma Dryburgh from Aberdeen looked to have turned it round by winning the top two singles.
Unfortunately, Scotland then lost the last four singles with Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) all going under.
RESULTS
SCOTLAND 3, IRELAND 6
Foursomes - Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh lost to Paula Grant and Jessica Carty 2 and 1; Alyson McKechin and Clara Young beat Olivia Mehaffey and Hannah Henderson 1 hole; Lauren Whyte and Hannah McCook lost to Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sextion 1 hole (1-2).
Singles - Briggs beat Grant 5 and 4, Dryburgh beat Carty 5 and 4, McKechin lost to Ariana Coyle-Diez 2 and 1, Whyte lost to Mehaffey 2 holes, Lesley Atkins lost to Jean O'Driscoll 4 and 3, Ailsa Summers lost to Ryan 2 holes (2-4).
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

EILIDH AND ALYSON ARE IN ACTION AT THE GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS AT GULLANE

The following players are representing their countries in the 2011 Girls' Home International Matches.
The matches will be played over Gullane No.2 from 3th - 5th August 2011.
Spectators are welcome :: Entry is Free

ENGLAND

Heidi Baek Felixstowe
Hayley Davis Ferndown
Georgia Hall Remedy Oak
Bronte Law Bramhall
Elizabeth Mallett Sutton Coldfield
Alexandra Peters Notts' Ladies'
Emily Taylor Royal Lytham & St Annes
Brogan Townend Pleasington

Captain - Chris Pascal


SCOTLAND

Lesley Atkins Gullane Ladies'
Eilidh Briggs Kilmacolm
Gemma Dryburgh Beaconsfield
Hannah McCook Grantown-on-Spey
Alyson McKechin Elderslie
Ailsa Summers Carnoustie Ladies'
Lauren Whyte St Regulus
Clara Young North Berwick

Captain - Karen Marshall

IRELAND

Jessica Carty Holywood
Ariana Coyle Diez Elm Park
Paula Grant Lisburn
Hannah Henderson Ballyclare
Olivia Mehaffey Royal Co.Down Ladies'
Jean O'Driscoll Muskerry
Chloe Ryan Castletroy
Sinead Sexton Lahinch

Captain - Niamh Kitching

WALES

Amy Boulden Llandudno, Maesdu
Katie Bradbury Cottrell Park
Jessica Evans Newport
Nia Greville Ashburnham
Myriam Hassan Southerndown
Georgia Lewis Llanishen
Sara Rees-Evans Penrhos
Chloe Williams Wrexham

Captain - Anna Hubbard

DRAWS & TIMINGS

Monday 1st August: Official Practice Day 1
Tuesday 2nd August: Official Practice Day 2
Wednesday 3rd August: Scotland v Ireland and England v Wales
Thursday 4th August: Wales v Ireland England v Scotland
Friday 5th August: Ireland v England Scotland v Wales
Foursomes: 8.30am – 9.20am
Singles: 1.10pm – 3.00pm

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Rachel Walker, Alyson McKechin, Kelsey MacDonald,
Nichola Ferguson and Gemma Dryburgh - Courtesy of Claire Hargan

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS by SLGA's Claire Hargan taken at last week's Scottish Junior Championship at Cardross

Some More great Photos --- Courtesy of Lanarkshire's JEAN MACINTYRE ----CLICK HERE

WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN - PHOTOGRAPHS - DAY 3 CARNOUSTIE

Liz Stewart, Carol Whyte and Tracy Masterton at Carnoustie - Click to enlarge

Your Webmaster has returned to a damp Glasgow and she enjoyed her day at Carnoustie on the 3rd day of the Women's British Open.
Click on the small thumbnail BELOW to see some photographs from the day.

Carnoustie - 3rd Round of the 2011 Women's British Open

A VIDEO FROM THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP S FROM CARDROSS

CLICK HERE to see a video from the Scottish Junior Open Strokeplay Championship from Cardross. SLGA Tournament Manager Claire Hargan is interviewed by local TV station URTV Helensburgh
The video includes news about tennis athletics and golf --- To see the video on the golf section move the timeline slide to approximately 2mins 15 secs

Yani Tseng wins the British Open

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Yani Tseng, 22 year old Florida-based player from Taipei, wrote herself into the golfing history books at Carnoustie today when she strolled to a second successive victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship.
She thus became the youngest ever golfer, male or female, to win five Major golf titles.
In women’s pro golf, the record had been set by the legendary Patty Berg as long ago as 1943 when she was 25 years old.
Defending champion Yani started the final day at Carnoustie at 13-under-par, two shots behind the surprise leader, another 22-year-old, Germany’s Caroline Masson who has been a pro for only 20 months.
Within three holes, Tseng had draw level with Masson and by the eighth, she had surged two shots clear, winning in the end by four strokes with a closing 69 for 16-under-par 272.

Yan Tseng - Courtesy of Colin Farquharson

The first prize was £239,047 but the importance of winning a fifth major at such a record pace probably meant more than the money to Yani Tseng.
“To win the Ricoh Women’s British Open in Scotland – the Home of Golf – is really special and for it to be my fifth major, faster than anyone else, also makes this a very special day in my life,” she said.
“I not only feel really happy, I feel it is an honour for me to achieve my fifth major in Scotland.
“I played really consistently today and I just had fun. But I was a little nervous before I teed off. My stomach was hurting and I felt really nervous. But after the first tee, I felt really good. I just needed to be patient.”
Tani began her momentous round on a low note – a bogey 5 – but she soon picked up a full head of steam to leave the hapless Caroline Masson trailing in her wake.
Tseng birdied the third and the sixth, reaching the turn in one-under 35.
A birdied at the 11th made her 15 under par for the tournament and opened up a four-shot lead over the field with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew moving into second place.
Back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th, brought Yani down to earth, but she birdied the long 14th to get back to 14 under par and a three-shot lead.
The World No 1 showed her class by covering the last five holes in three under par by following up that 14th hole bitrdie with birdies at te long 17th and also the 18t in halves of 35 and 34.
“I took a nine-iron for my second shot at the 18th. I was thinking coming down that hole about Jean Van de Velde (the Frenchman who lost a three-shot lead and the 1999 men’s Open down Carnoustie’s famed last hole.
“I too had a three-shot lead so on the tee I said to myself that I’d better hit a good drive to win the tournament. So I did hit a good drive, then a nine-iron. I feel a little bit juiced up at the time and so I hit that nine iron something like 135 yards. It was a great shot to set up a birdie 3 finish.”
Yani has now won four of the last ladies’ majors. Is she think already of next season’s Majors?
“Yeah, always the US Open is one of the tournaments I want to win. To win the US Open will be my goal next year. But I just want to keep improving myself, skill, mental and how I feel.
“There’s a long way to go.”
In the end it was a fast-finishing American, Brittany Lang, who took the £149,850 prize for second place. She had four very stead, very good rounds of 70, 70, 69 and 67 to finis four behind Tseng wit a 12-under-par total fo 276.
Brittany birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th in an inward half of 32 which saw her climb into second place over the closing holes of the championship. So what did Lang think about finishing second to the World No 1 winning her fifth Major?
“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t even imagine being 22 years old and winning five majors and all the other events she has won apart from the majors. She’s sp mentally strong and she’s so aggressive and confident. Yani’s just to it all. It’s pretty cool, cool to watch.”
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, like Brittany Lang, came like an express train up the leaderboard at the finish. She birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th for a 68 to finish third on 11-under-par 277. Ger earlier rounds were 68, 71 and 70.
She earned £104,895.
Amy Yang (South Korea) also improved late in the day with a 67 to finish fourth on 10 under par 278.
Joint fifth on nine-under-par 209 were overnight leader Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew. Caroline had rounds of 68, 65, 68 and 78 – a sad finish to a great tournament for the 22-year-old in only her second year as a pro and competing in only her second major.
She bogeyed the second, third and seventh to turn in 39, having begun to fall farther and farther behind Tseng, her playing partner.
The German player then had a nightmare run of bogey-bogey-double bogey from te 10th and yet another bogey at the 15 saw her descend to her lowest point of seven under par, having started the day at 15 under.
But Caroline has got guts. She never showed any signs of distress, deserving to finish on a high with birdies at the 17th and 18th, her first of the round.
Which perhaps explained why she was so upbeat and far from downhearted in her post-championship interviews.
“I did my best, tried to play all the shots that had worked so well for me and put me in the lead but it just wasn’t my day. But I will learn from it. I will learn from playing that last round with such a great player as Yani is,” said Caroline.
Catriona Matthew, winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open two years ago at Royal Birkdale, birdied te sixth and ninth to get to 11 under par and was only two shots off te lead round about the 13th – but generally the putts were not dropping for her.
She went a remarkable 47 holes without a bogey, startibg at the 16th on Friday’s thid round … until the very last hole of the championship, which cost er a double bogey 6 for a level par round of 72 for a total of nine-under 207, having got to 11 under par at one stage.
The Scot went out of bounds with her second shot at the 18t.,
“I struggled a bit today, didn’t hit that many good shots. I chipped and putted well but didn’t give myself enough birdie chances after the turn,” said Catriona.
And that out of bounds shot at the 18th?
“I tried to hit a little five-iron and the ball was just a little bit above my feet. In hindsight I should have chipped out but decided to go for it, “ she said.
“At the moment I am disappointed with the way I finished but I think overall I had not too bad a week.”
And Carnoustie as a Ricoh Women’s British Open venue?
“Oh definitely. It’s one of the best courses there is. Everyone has enjoyed their week here and look forward to coming back again to Carnoustie.”
American Katie Futcher showed the low-scoring potential when the strong wind that was forecast never really materialised.
Ktie became the third player in the championship to return an eight-under-p-ar 64 and she was the only player to score less than 30 for either half. She came home in seven-under-par 29 with an eagle (14th), five birdies (10-13-15-16-17) and only three pars. Some shooting.
The Smyt Silver Medal to the leading amateur was won by 18 year Danielle Kang, a student at Pepperdine University, Las Vegas and last year’s American girls’ champion. She had rounds of 72, 69, 75 and 74 for a two-over-par total of 290.
The only other amateur to survive the halfway cut always plays on the US college circuit – Germany’s Sophie Popov, a student at the University of Southern California.
Sophie scored 70, 75, 77 and 77 for 299 round Carnoustie.

 FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Yani Tseng (Tpe) 71 66 66 69 (£238,047).
276 Brittany Lang (US) 70 70 69 67 (£149,850)
277 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 68 71 70 68 (£104,895)
278 Amy Yang (SKo) 68 70 73 67 (£82,061)
279 Caroline Masson (Ger) 68 65 68 78, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 70 69 68 72 (£62,795 each).
280 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 70 71 69 70, Sun Young Yoo (SKo) 71 70 69 70, Na Yeon Choi (SKo) 69 67 72 72, In-Bee Park (SKo) 70 74 73 73 (£45,850 each)
281 Stacy Lewis (US) 74 68 71 68, Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Net) 70 66 74 71.
282 Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 69 73 68,.
283 Katie Futcher (US) 71 74 74 64, Cristie Kerr (US) 72 69 74 68, Candie Kung (Tpe) 72 73 69 69, Song-Hee Kim (SKo) 69 72 71 71, Sun Ju Ahn (SKo) 71 71 70 71, Mika Miyazato (Jap) 69 69 72 73, Se Ri Park (SKo) 72 64 73 74
284 Jiyai Shin (SKo) 75 66 72 71
285 Karen Stupples (Eng) 74 68 72 71, Hee-Kyung Seo (SKo) 72 71 71 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 70 71 72 72, Rachel Jennings (Eng) 71 73 69 72, Momoko UJeda (Jap) 69 71 72 73, Angela Stanford (US) 68 72 72 73
286 Michelle Wie (US) 74 68 72, Vicky Hurst (US) 70 71 71 74
287 Amy Hung (Tpe) 69 72 78 69, Harji Kang (SKo) 75 70 73 69, Beth Allen (US) 71 70 75 71, Tiffany Joh (US) 71 69 75 72, ~Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 69 69 76 74, Brittany Lincicome (US) 67 71 76 67, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 70 75 67 75
288 Melissa Reid (Eng) 75 70 73 70, Eun Hee Ji (SKo) 70 71 75 72, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 76 76 73 73, Meena Lee (SKo) 65 69 80 74,Linda Wessbnerg (Swe) 73 66 75 74, In Kyung Kim (S Korea) 71 72 71 74
289 Hiromi Mogi (Jap) 72 72 74 71, Hee Won Han (SKo) 73 71 74 71, Lorie Kane (Can) 69 76 73 71, Hee Young Park (SKo) 70 70 76 73, Kristy McPherson (US) 71 71 74 73, Paula Creamer (US) 69 70 71 79
290 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 71 73 73, Danielle Kang (US) (am) 72 69 75 74, Morgan Pressel (U~S) 70 71 75 74, Pat Hurst (US) 70 69 74 77, Cindy LaCrosse (US) 72 69 72 77
291 Christel Boeljon (Net) 75 69 73 79, Janice Moodie (Sco) 75 67 75 74, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 70 74 76, Chelia Choi (SKo) 74 70 71 76, Amanda Blumenherst (US) 73 71 70 77
292 Miki Saiki (Jap) 72 72 76 72, Kylie Walker (Sco) 72 72 74 74, Holly Aitchison (Eng) 71 74 72 75, Julieta Granada (Para) 71 74 70 77, Sopie Giquel-Bettan (Fra) 71 68 72 71
295 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 75 70 73 77, Jaclyn Sweeney (US) 74 71 72 74.
297 Georgina Simpson (Eng) 71 73 79 74.
299 Sophie Popov (Ger) (am) 70 75 77 77
Retired (after 6 holes): Jimin Kang (Sko) 74 70 72 ret.

ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT CARNOUSTIE
(Royal Birkdale last year in brackets)
WEDNESDAY - 800 (1,500)
THURSDAY - 5,200 (11,650)
FRIDAY - 6,900 (10,500)
SATURDAY - 7,800 (15,400)
SUNDAY - 9,600 (16,100)

WEEK'S TOTAL: 30,300 (55,150 at Royal Birkdale)

Catriona Matthew is 3rd afterwards the Round 3 at Carnoustie

Catriona Matthew lines up her putt

by Colin Farquharson
Germany’s 22-year-old Caroline Masson, ranked 141st in the world and without a win since she turned pro in January 2010, leads the star-studded field into Sunday’s final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open championship over the Carnoustie links.
Overnight leader by one shot at 11 under par, the girl from Gladbeck raised the bar to 15 under par by the end of an incredible round in which she had increased her advantage to five shots after only six holes – despite starting the day with a bogey which immediately raised doubts about whether she had the experience to withstand the pressure of being in the Major spotlight with world-class players snapping at her heels.
Caroline demolished the doubts by birdieing the second, fifth and sixth.
Out in two-under-34, she had further birdies at the 11th, 14th and 17th before finishing her round as she had started it – with a one-putt bogey after being in a bunker.
Unexpectedly, it was her nearest challengers at the halfway oint that could not keep up with her blistering pace.
So the stage is set for a crowd-pulling last day at this famous venue.
Masson, with rounds of 68, 65 and 68 against the par of 72, leads on 15-under-par 201.
Lying second is the defending champion and World No 1 from Taiwan, Yani Tseng, 22 years old but already winner of four Majors. Yani has shot 71, 66 and 66 to be only two shots off the lead on 13-under-par 203.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew from North Berwick, winner of this title two years ago and ranked No 5 in the world, played herself into the reckoning with a bogey-free round and scores of 70, 69 and 68 (Ben Hogan improved every round when he won the Open at Carnoustie in 1953) for nine-under-par 207 put her in joint third place with the World No 13 and former US Open winner, Inbee Park (South Korea) who had scores of 70, 64 and 73.
Next comes another South Korean, World No 5 Na Yeon Choi ho is on eight-under 208 after scores of 69, 67 and 72.
Se Ri Pak, the legendary South Korean trailblazer is joint sixth on 209 with rouonds of 72, 64 and 73. On the ame mark is the leading American in this event, Brittany Lang (70-70-69) and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson (68-71-70).
“I was quite nervous at the beginning and I bogeyed the first,” said Caroline Masson, “but I got a few birdies after that and that boosted my confidence.
“I hit some really good shots even though the pins were in much tougher places and there was more of a wind than the previous days.”
This is only Caroline’s second major tournament appearance. So what does she think about it all?
“To be honest, I can’t really believe it. It’s a strange feeling and I am just trying to enjoy every moment. I slept well last night and I am very excited about playing with the World No 1, Yani Tseng, in the final round.”
Does she have any inkling why she has done so well out of the blue in the Ricoh Women’s British Open?
“It’s hard to say. I’ve been kind of waiting for everything to fall into place. I’ve been waiting for all the parts I’ve been practising and working on to come together – and it has happened over the past three days at Carnoustie.”
Yani Tseng, not surprisingly, is feeling on top of the world after stringing together a second successive 66. If she finishes up on Sunday by winning back-to-back titles, the pundits will say she started her charge over the first five holes of the inward half today.
From the 10th, Yani scored 3-3-4-2-3 which translates into birdie-birdie-par,birdie-eagle! What a sensational run – and leader Caroline heard the roars of the gallery.
“I just can’t wait to get out there again on Sunday,” said the chirpy, cheerful Taiwanese. “ I am going to be aggressive, as I was today, and try my best on every shot. I can do no more than that,
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself by saying I can do this or that. As I say I will try my best on every shot.”
Catriona Matthew had a flawless round of 68 with birdies at te fifth, 11th, 14th and 17th in halves of 35 and 33.
She will start te final day, six shots behind Caroline Masson and four behind Yani Tseng.
“I’d like to probably be a little bit closer but I think it’s supposed to be a little bit windier tomorrow so five or six shots can be picked up pretty quickly in those sort of conditions,” said Catriona.
“I was very pleased with the way I played today. I made a couple of good par saves in the first couple of holes, then birdied the fifth. That was a really good birdie with a six-iron approach.”
Quite a few of the South Koreans seemed to struggle over their third rounds. For instance, first-round leader Meena Lee, still in contention at the start of the day, ran up an 8 at one hole and finished with an 80 for 214 and a share of 28th place. Se Ri Park could do no better than 73, the same as Inbee Park
Said Catriona Matthew:
“Certainly I think the pin positions were tougher. You had to play away from a lot of the pins, certainly over the first few holes and it was windier today, so the course was playing a little bit trickier than for the first two rounds. Maybe they’re not used to playing this kind of links course in the wind. Although Yani Tseng is te world No 1 and I think she knows how to play in it.”
The duel for the Smythe Silver Medal for the leading amateur is favouring last year’s United States girls champion, Danielle King, who had a 75 for level par 216. She is six shots ahead of the only other amateur qualifier for the last two rounds, Germany’s Sophia Popov who is highly rated on the US college circuit. Sopia had a 77 for 222.

SUNDAY'S LEADING TEE TIMES

07.40 Kylie Walker and Hee=Won Han.
08.10 Janice Moodie and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.
08.40 Danielle Kang (amateur) and Morgan Pressel.
09.20 Cristie Kerr and Suzann Pettersen
09.40 Meena Lee and Caroline Hedwall.
10.10 Michelle Wie and Hee-Kyung Seo.
10.55 Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
11.55 Mika Miyazato and Paula Creamer.
12.05 Sun Young Yoo and Anna Nordqvist.
12.15 Se Ri Pak and Sophie Gustafson.
12.25 Brittany Lang and Na Yeon Choi
12.35 Inbee Park and Catriona Matthew.
12.45 Yani Tseng and Caroline Masson

- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone



- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone

ALYSON is joint 3rd in the Junior Scottish Strokeplay

Stirling student Kelsey MacDonald, in the end, outclassed her contemporaries in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championsip for a record fourth year in a row by the commanding margin of six strokes at Cardross Golf Club today .
Nairn Dunbar GC member Kelsey came into the tournament on a low, having failed - not by much - to be among the 18 qualifiers at Panmure for the Ricoh British Women's Open championship at Carnoustie.
That perhaps explained her opening round of one-over-par 75 in the junior women's championship which left her joint eighth. But Kelsey banished the blues in no uncertain fashion after that.
She covered the remaining 36 holes in eight under par with a pair of 70s for a seven-under-par winning total of 215.
She is a Great Britain and Ireland international these days and over the last two days at Cardross she played like one.
The surprise packet of the tournament was Nichola Ferguson from Clober who finished second on 221 with scores of 75, 73 and 73.
Nichola did so well to shake off one triple bogey and two double bogeys over her first 36 holes and finished in great style with a bogey free inward half studded with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.
Ferguson relegated four highly-rated players into joint third place on level par 222 - Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm (Disqualified) Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 222 (3x74)
215 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70 70.
221 Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 73 73.
222 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) - DISQUALIFIED 75 74 73, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74 73, Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72 74, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74 77.
223 Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76 74,
225 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75 77.
226 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77 77.
229 Rachel Taylor (Germany) 76 77 76.
231 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74 75, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77 75, Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73 76, Alice Boothroud (Rudding Park) 73 82 76.
232 Linsey Steveenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77 79,Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75 78.
233 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75 78, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77 77, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79 75.
234 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 76 78 80.
235 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77 80, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 77 81 77, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77 81, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84 74.
236 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75 82.
238 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79 78.
240 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76 82, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79 82, Ashley Smith (Monfieth) 79 82 79
242 Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81 87.
243 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76 84, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80 81, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80 81..
244 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81 83, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85 83, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82 81, Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85 80, Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81 79,Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84 76
Other RLCGA Players :
245 Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82 79..
269 Emma Kennedy (Paisley) 91 87 91

-Unforunately Eilidh was disqualified for signing for a wrong score at a hole in the 2nd round. She had a fantastic inward 9 of 31 in the 3rd round and the error was not discovered until the end of play.

ALYSON HANGS ON TO THE LEAD AFTER ROUND 2

A four-under-par second round of 70 has drastically shortened the odds against Kelsey MacDonald completing a record-setting fourth win in a row in the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play golf championship at Cardoss Golf Club tomorrow.
Starting the day in joint eighth position, four shots off the pace, the Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar member slipped into top gear with a six-birdie, two-bogey round to share the lead on three-under 148 with Elderslie's Alyson McKechin.
Kelsey had her usual mixture of birdies and bogeys in an outward 35 but the last nine holes she completed without a blemish and studded with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th.
But Alyson is not going to roll over and let her rival walk away with the title unchallenged. McKechin was three over par to the turn but birdies at the 13th, 17th and 18th saw her match MacDonald's inward half – and it could be a battle royal over the final round.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh had the second-best round of the day, a 72 for 148 and the beaten finalist in the recent Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship at Glenisla is saring third place with Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick (73-75).

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 148 (2x74)
145 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 75 70, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 71 74.
148 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 76 72, Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick) 73 75.
149 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 75 74, Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) 73 76, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 72 77, Nichola Ferguson (Clober) 75 74.
150 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 75.
153 Rachael Taylor (Germany) 76 77,Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 77.
154 Jordana Graham (Southerness) 79 75, Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
76 78, Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 79 75, Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 77 77.
155 Rebecca Wilson (Grange) 82 73, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 78 77, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 74 81, Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) 73 82, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 80 75.
156 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 82 74, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 79 77, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 71 85, Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) 79 77.
158 Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch) 82 76, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 79 79, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 77 81, anna Scott (Broomieknowe) 79 79.
159 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 83 76, Sophie Myles (Ilkley) 77 82.
160 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 81 79.
161 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 83 78, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 79, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 80 81, Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 79 82, Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 79 82, Katerina Slukova (Olomouc) 77 84, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 76 85, Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry) 76 85.
162 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 82 80, Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 82 80.
163 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 81 82.
164 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) 79 85.
165 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) 84 81, Rebecca McGeehan (Germany) 80 85, Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 84 81.
166 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 79 87.
168 Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 84, Claire Gadsby (Crieff) 82 86, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 77 91.
169 Gillian Arnott (Largsw) 83 86, Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) 89 90.
170 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 82 88, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 80 80, Emily Aird (Strathmore) 82 88.
- Posted using BlogPress from Carol's iPhone

YOUR WEBMASTER IS AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS

In case I have difficulty with Internet Access please go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website for all updates in the British Ladies Open at Carnoustie and the Scottish Girls Strokeplay at Cardross

LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- LADIES BRITISH OPEN

LIVE SCORING FROM CARNOUSTIE -- CLICK HERE

ALSO READ MORE BY GOING TO THE RICOH BRITISH OPEN WEBSITE

SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - LIVE SCORING

Live scoring will be in operation from approximately 9:15am.- CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE SCORING

ALYSON LEADS THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER ROUND 1

Scottish Girls Internationalist, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Broomieknowe's Kate McIntosh lead the field by one shot after the first round of the Scottish Ladies' Junior Open Stroke Play Championship. Both girls had three under par rounds of 71 at a very warm and sunny Cardross Golf Club. Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) is one shot off the lead while Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill), Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) and Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) are the other players under par after opening rounds of 73.

Three time defending Champion, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) had a steady opening round of 75, having only arrived at 1am in the morning ahead of a 9:30am tee time.

The second round will be played tomorrow (Thursday 28 July) with the third and final round to be played on Friday 29 July.

Round 1 CSS = 75

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74
71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
72 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
73 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park), Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill).
74 Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
75 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co).
76 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Rachael Taylor (Germany), Louise McGillivray (Banchory), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry).
77 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Katerina Slukova (Olomouc), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies).
79 Jordana Graham (Southerness), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Jennifer Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ashley Smith (Monifieth), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Charlotte Austwick (Fulford), IKimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Lesley Cosh (Cowglen).
80 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Rebecca McGeehan (Germany).
81 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride).
82 Rebecca Wilson (Grange), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch), Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Claire Gadsby (Crieff).
83 Gillian Arnott (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Heather Munro (Monifieth).
84 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Hannah Mannion (Teeside), India Friswell (Wrexham).
86 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle).
88 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies).
89 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse).
90 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie).
91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley).

RENFREWSHIRE CLUB JUNIOR CONVENORS

The County Junior Committee has organised a ‘Fun’ event which will be held at the Playsport Centre in East Kilbride on Saturday, 13th August from 10am to 11.30am. Our Renfrewshire PGA Professional, Lesley Mackay, is planning several interesting activities for this coaching session.

We are asking Junior Convenors to pass on this information to girls in their clubs. All girls are invited whether they have a CONGU handicap, Club handicap or no handicap but are keen to improve their golf.

The cost of the session is £5 and is payable by cash on the day or by cheque made out to RLCGA.

Could the Convenors or the girls let me know in advance how many wish to attend. You can contact me at   mf.mitchell@btinternet.com   or leave a message on my phone at 01505 705450.

Maureen Mitchell  (Junior Convenor)​    ​    ​

RENFREWSHIRE JUNIOR ALEXANDRA QAYUM WINS THE BEST NET SCORE AT THE JUNIOR OPEN DAY AT RANFURLY CASTLE

Alexandra Qayum -Winner of the handicap Award with Karen Binning

FROM KAREN BINNING, RANFURLY CASTLE GC Junior Convenor
Results of our first Junior Open The day proved to be an ideal day for scoring, particularly for some of our own juniors. I hope we can build on the success of this year's event.
Ranfurly Castle will host the Scottish Under-18 girls' closed championship in 2013. Therefore next year's Ranfurly Castle Junior Open would be an perfect opportunity for prosepective competitors to have an early look at the course.

Renfrewshire County Ladies Juniors Samantha Cowan (Cochrane Castle) and Emma Kennedy from Paisley also took part in the event

LEADING PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH for The Ceildan Trophy
Par 70 CSS 69
Andrew Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) 69
Stephen Wilson (Greenock Whinhill) 72
Ben Adamson (Ranfurly Castle) 73

NET for The Braidwood Quaich
Ben Harper (Ranfurly Castle) (27) 55
Matthew Simpson (Kilmacolm) (21) 63
Fraser Laurie (Lochwinnoch) (17) 63
Ciaran O'Brien (Cochrane Castle) (26) 64
Jonathan Degnan (Ranfurly Castle) (26) 65

GIRLS SCRATCH
Par 74 CSS 73
Emma Caddow (Strathaven) 77

GIRLS NET
Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 73


Andrew Ferguson, Emma Caddow, Connor Toal and Alexandra Qayum all have their scores entered into the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship.

MEGAN IS 3RD IN THE MACKIE ROSEBOWL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Monifieth’s former Scotland junior cap Rebecca Wilson followed up her success in the Munross Trophy two-rounder at Montrose by winning the Mackie Bowl SLGA Order of Merit 36-hole event at Gullane today.
Rebecca, a member at Grange Golf Club, had several shots to spare at Montrose a few weeks back but it was a much tighter finish at Gullane.
Wilson and youngster Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) tied on 143, Rebecca with rounds of 75 and 68, Connie with 71 and 72 against a CSS of 74 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon.
Wilson won the Mackie Bowl with the better second round, the 68 being a new women’s course record for the Gullane No 1 course.

Scotland international and past national champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) had a two-shot lead after a first-round 69 but a 76 in the afternoon relegated her to third place on 145, two shots behind Wilson and Jaffrey.


MACKIE BOWL SCOREBOARD AT GULLANE
FINAL TOTALS
SSS 75 CSS 74 CSS 75
143 REBECCA WILSON Grange 75 68
143 CONNIE JAFFREY Troon Ladies 71 72
145 MEGAN BRIGGS Kilmacolm 69 76
146 SUSAN JACKSON Ladybank 76 70
146 RACHAEL TAYLOR GC am Reichswald 75 71
148 HANNAH MCCOOK Grantown-on-Spey 74 74
150 JESSICA MEEK Carnoustie Ladies 77 73
150 KATE MCINTOSH Broomieknowe 76 74
150 RACHAEL MCQUEEN Troon Ladies 76 74
150 LOUISE MACGREGOR Falkirk 74 76
152 HANNAH SCOTT Broomieknowe 76 76
152 ALYSON MCKECHIN Elderslie 74 78
153 LESLEY ATKINS Gullane Ladies 76 77
153 RACHEL WALKER Dumfries and County 72 81
154 AILSA SUMMERS Carnoustie Ladies 76 78
155 JACQUELINE SNEDDON Alyth 81 74
155 KEREN WARD Glen 77 78
155 ELEANOR TUNN Reay 76 79
156 JENNIFER LINKLATER Largs 82 74
157 KIMBERLEY BEVERIDGE Aboyne 82 75
158 GABRIELLE MACDONALD Craigielaw 82 76
159 JORDANA GRAHAM Southerness 77 82
159 EMMA GREENLEES Dumfries and Galloway 76 83
160 LINSEY STEVENSON Elie and Earlsferry Ladies 85 75
161 AMELIA TAYLOR St Anne's Old Links 85 76
162 CATHERINE SMALL Gullane Ladies 84 78
162 TARA MACTAGGART Minto 79 83
162 HAZEL SAUNDERS Gullane Ladies 78 84
163 JEMMA CHALMERS Monifieth 85 78
163 EMILY AIRD Blairgowrie 77 86
163 ASHLEY SMITH Monifieth 77 86
164 GILLIAN SCANLAN Hamilton 83 81
166 KATIE REID Monifieth 86 80
166 JULIE BIRDSALL Roxburghe 79 87
166 SHANNEN MCGUIRE Canmore 78 88
167 JORDEN FERRIE Kirkintilloch 85 82
169 GILLIAN DAVIDSON Saline 81 88
171 RUTH RANKIN Lanark 86 85
173 ANNE LAING Vale of Leven 83 90
176 LINDSAY MATHIE Windyhill 86 90
177 SARAH STICHBURY Merchants of Edinburgh 90 87
184 CARINA BUNYAN Roxburghe 90 94

SCOTTISH FOURSOMES AT GLENBERVIE --CLOSING DATE 1st AUGUST

The Entries for the Scottish Ladies Stroke Play Foursomes Championship which is to be played at Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday 28 August are soon to close. Please note that the conditions for this competition have changed quite considerably this year in that a pair no longer have to be members of the same club – i.e. any two ladies from any two clubs can now play with each other providing they are members of clubs that are affiliated to the SLGA and providing their CONGU handicaps are each 35 or less.

I have attached a copy of the entry form as well as a link to the entry form on the SLGA web-site.
Entry Form for Scotiish Foursomes

The closing date for this competition is Monday 1 August.

Maybe you could even encourage some of your County squad members to play together for some foursomes practice!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this event or any other SLGA competition.

Kind Regards
Claire Hargan
Championship Manager
Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited
The Den
2 Dundee Road
Perth
PH2 7DW
01738 442357
Registration Number 308709
www.slga.co.uk

GIRLS OPEN DAY AT WEST KILBRIDE -- GET YOUR APPLICATION FORM

Date: Saturday, 27th August, times from 2.30 p.m. 18 holes Medal play
Age: Girls under 18 on 1st January 2011 with Congu handicap
Nancy Chisholm Trophy for the Scratch winner
Kandy Bar Cup for best Nett score
Plus other Divisional prizes

Pre-Handicap Competition for June Kerr Trophy - 9 holes over a shortened course and includes Age Group prizes
Closing Date: 10th August
To get your Entry Form ------ CLICK HERE

SCOTLAND TEAM FOR GIRLS HOME INTERNATIONALS AT GULLANE-- EILIDH AND ALYSON ARE SELECTED

Eilidh Briggs - 2011 Scottish Girls Champion - Click to enlarge

The Scotland team for the Girls Home International Matches at Gullane 2 from August 3 to 5 is:
Team captain: Karen Marshall (Baberton)

LESLEY ATKINS (Gullane Ladies)
EILIDH BRIGGS (Kilmacolm)
GEMMA DRYBURGH (Beaconsfield)
HANNAH McCOOK (Grantown on Spey)
ALYSON McKECHIN (Elderslie)
AILSA SUMMERS (Carnoustie Ladies)
LAUREN WHYTE (St Regulus)
CLARA YOUNG (North Berwick)

+Players whose scores will count for Scotland in the International Team event, run in conjunction with the qualifying rounds of the British girls' amateur championship at Gullane 1 from August 8 to 12:

EILIDH BRIGGS (Kilmacolm) Captain.
GEMMA DRYBURGH (Beaconsfield)
ALYSON McKECHIN (Eldereslie)