SGU and SLGA Golf Survey

The SGU and SLGA are inviting golfers to take part in a comprehensive Scottish Golf Player Survey to help them gain an insight into the playing habits of golfers across Scotland, with everyone who completes the questionnaire being entered into a draw to win a TaylorMade golf bag.

Questions include the frequency of your golf, both playing and practising, your thoughts on your club’s facilities and what you’d like to see improved at your golf club.

To find out more and take part in the Survey go to the Scottish Golf Union Website

Samantha Cowan is 3rd in the West Kilbride Nancy Chisholm Trophy

Congratulations go to Renfrewshire Junior Samantha Cowan (Cochrane Castle) who was 3rd in the Nancy Chisholm Trophy at West Kilbride today. A few other Renfrewshire Juniors were playing in the event and Mhairi Gray (Williamwood), Emma Kennedy (Paisley) and some pre handicap juniors from Caldwell were winners of the many prizes. To read all the results go to the West of Scotland Website

Donna and Liz are 3rd in the Scottish Foursomes at Glennbervie

The Prizewinners -- Courtesy of Claire Hargan (SLGA) - Click to enlarge

Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Dullatur's Jill Meldrum won the SLGA' Scottish women's foursomes tournament at windswept Glenbervie Golf Club today.
They had a gross round of 79 to win by two shots from the St Regulus, St Andrews partnership of former Scottish champion Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte who gained the Club Trophy for the leading pair, entered from the same club.

Two couples had 84s - Renfrewshire's Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart (Cochrane Castle) and Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank) and Royal Dornoch's Cara Gruber. Donna and Liz won third prize with the better last six holes.
LEADING RETURNS
79 Elaine Allison (Stirling) and Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
82 Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte (St Regulus).
84 Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart (Cochrane Castle) (better last 6 holes), Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank) and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
Handicap
Linda Lindsay and Mary Nicol (12) 77; Hannah Scott and Alison Scott (Broomieknowe) (14) 79; Elizabeth Goodwin and Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) (10 1/2) 79 1/2

Many Congratulations to Donna and Liz from all in Renfrewshire -- WELL DONE

ALYSON McKECHIN FINISHES FOURTH IN BELGIUM JUNIOR EVENT

Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin finished fourth in the rain-abbreviated Belgian international junior tournament, scheduled for four rounds but eventually reduced to only 36 holes with stormy weather wiping out two of the rounds and also the practice day at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels.
The Elderslie teenager had rounds of 73 and 75 for four-over-par 148.
Danish girls Caroline Nistrup (72-70 for 142), Henriette Nielsen (75-71 for 146) finished first and second ahead of Belgium's Margaux Vanmol who won the British girls open amateur title at Gullane earlier this month. She scored 75-72 in this event.
Scottish Under-18 girls champion and Renfrewshire Champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) finished joint 20th on 159 with scores of 78 and 81.
Ireland's Amy Farrell finished joint 26th on 162 with 77-85.
Germany-based Scot Rebecca McGeehan was eliminated with an 80 after a cut to the leading 30 girls was imposed after the first round.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen (Germany) 69 69.
Selected scores
152 Jamie Savage (Sco) 75 77, Brian Casey (Ire) 78 74 (T31)
154 Ian O'Rourke (Ire) 78 76 (T42)
156 David Wilson (Sco) 78 78 (T46)
GIRLS
142 Caroline Nistrup (Den) 72 70
146 Henriette Nielsen (Den) 75 71
147 Margaux Vanmol (Bel) 75 72
148 Alyson McKechin (Sco) 73 75
Selected scores
159 Eilidh Briggs (Sco) 78 81 (T20)
162 Amy Farrell (Ire) 77 85 (T26)
Missed cut
80 Rebecca McGeehan (Sco)
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report.

ANOTHER DAY'S PLAY CANCELLED IN BELGIAN JUNIOR WEEK

This year's Belgian Junior International tournament will be decided over - at most - two rounds instead of four.
First Tuesday's practice round was cancelled because an overnight rainstorm had waterlogged the Royal Golf Club de Belgique course. Then a violent Tuesday night storm blew down 40 trees all over the course and play was impossible on Wednesday.
The tournament did start belatedly on Thursday but now today's (Friday) round has been cancelled because of further rain and another "terrible storm" forecast to the area near Brussels at 1pm.

As Alyson and Eilidh said
Alyson : I am so scared --- a huge I mean huge thunder storm here !!!! I've never seen anything like this in my life !!
Eilidh: In Belgium, just me and Alyson!--- and yes we are stuck in another storm This is mental..when is our flight home ?


EXTRACT FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
Friday 26th August
Due to unfavourable weather conditions the 2nd round is cancelled.
The rain and the terrible storm predicted at 1.PM will make the course unplayable.
Hence cut will be made after round 1
Leading 60 boys and ties
Leading 30 girls and ties

ALYSON HAS A GREAT START IN THE DELAYED JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN BELGIUM

Elderslie's Alyson McKechin was the star Scottish performer on the delayed opening day of the Belgian junior international championship at Royal Golf Club de Belgique near Brussels today (Thursday).

Alyson, who shared the first-round lead in last week's British women's open amateur stroke-play at Royal Ashdown Forest, again showed herself to be a fast starter with a one-over-par 73 which left her in joint second place in the girls' category. Alyson, now a full-time amateur, is only one shot behind leader Caroline Nistrup (Denmark). Scottish Under-18 girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), who enrols at Stirling University next month, had a 78 to be joint 16th while Germany-based Rebecca McGeehan had an 80 to be joint 25th.

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

RESULTS OF THE UMBRELLA SURVEY AND CONFIRM YOUR ORDER PLEASE

Thank you to the 38 members who answered the Umbrella Survey to help Captain Trish decide how many Umbrellas to order up front.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS.
Maureen and Trish think they should just go ahead and order 25 of the big umbrellas and not any small ones as there were not enough takers.
However, if you have said yes in the initial survey could you please now add a full confirmation for Trish to order you one by Clicking on the link below
For those who asked the question about fitting into a brolly holder -- it fits perfectly. Sorry about those who want a Gust Buster , they are too expensive. However, they are pretty good and great to have for all the County events.

CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM YOUR ORDER

IF YOU DID NOT FILL OUT THE SURVEY AND WOULD LIKE TO ORDER A BROLLY THEN PLEASE FILL IN THE CONFIRM YOUR ORDER FORM

LINSEY STEVENSON SELECTED FOR THE SCOTTISH SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL TEAM

Congratulations go to Craigholme School's Linsey Stevenson (Whitecraigs and Elie) who has been selected to represent the Girls Scottish Schools Team to play at Kilmarnock Barassie on September 12th.

SCOTLAND v ENGLAND SCHOOLS GOLF INTERNATIONAL Kilmarnock Barassie G C - Monday, September 12th 2011 GIRLS' TEAM Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne Academy) Jessica Meek (Carnoustie High) Linsey Stevenson (Craigholme School, Glasgow) Ailsa Summers (Dundee High) Lauren Whyte (Madras Coll, St Andrews) Clara Young (North Berwick High) Reserves: Connie Jaffrey (Kilwinning Academy) Heather Munro (Grove Academy, Dundee)

+Eilidh Briggs, Hannah McCook and Katie McIntosh were all unavailable for selection as they start at university or college on the day of the international - Eilidh and Hannah at Stirling University, Kate at Elmwood College, Cupar. +Lesley Atkins declined selection, opting to play in the Final of the Nick Faldo Series in Northern Ireland that week.

RAIN IN BELGIUM WIPES OUT PRACTICE ROUND FOR EILIDH AND ALYSON

Hailstones in Brussels  --  No Golf Play

Five top young Scots golfers were deprived of a practice round today before the scheduled start tomorrow of the Belgian junior international tournament at Royal Golf Club Belgique near Brussels.
Scottish boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Scottish girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rebecca McGeehan (Hummelbachaue) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) were left with nothing to do all day as heavy overnight rain flooded the course and led to its closure.

Shortly after their annoucement of this morning another storm reached the course. In 20 minutes the course was totally washed out and more than 40 trees fell down. They then had 30 people from the maintenance team work to remove fallen trees and branches to get the course ready for tomorrow which was an impossible mission.

Therefore they then had to announce that the FIRST ROUND will be CANCELLED. If no other case of major force is met, they hope to be able to play on Thursday.
The 72-hole stroke-play tournament (probably now 54 holes) has individual boys and girls' sections and a mixed team trophy.
To Read all about it go to the Total International Juniors Website
Hopefully with all the Greenstaff work Play will take place on Thursday -- Click Here

MARION STEWART WINS THROUGH TO THE FINAL OF THE COUNTY ROSEBOWL

Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm) played some of her best golf today  to beat Liz Hale (Caldwell) in the Semi Final of the County Rosebowl.
She now meets Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) in the final.
Date and Venue to be arranged.

Qual No.	1st Round	Semi Final	Final TBA
	To be played by Monday 11th July 2011	To be played by Monday 29th August 2011	by 13th Sept
1	Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle)	Carol Fell 1 up	Denise Cowan 6&5
8	June Lockhart (Gleddoch)
5	Trish Brown (Kilmacolm)	Denise Cowan w/o
4	Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle)
3	Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm)	Marion Stewart 7&5	Marion Stewart 7& 6
6	Vivien Young (Elderslie)
7	Maimie Robin (Elderslie)	Liz Hale 4&2
2	Liz Hale (Caldwell)

EILIDH AND ALYSON GET THEIR FIRST FULL INTERNATIONAL CAPS

Congratulations go to Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs who again has been capped for Scotland for the Home Internationals in September. Also to be congratulated are Eilidh and Alyson who have been picked for the 1st time and gain their full International Caps.
Fantastic News and wonderful to have 3 Renfrewshire County Players representing Scotland at the same time and 2 sisters !!
The last sisters to play in the same Scotland team were Fiona and Mhairi McKay in 1993 and 1994. Fiona McKay, married name Norris, will captain the Scotland team at Hillside.
The only other sisters in the past 30 years to play in the same Scotland line-up were Suzanne and Gladys Cadden in 1974 and 1975.

From the SLGA Website
Teams to represent Scotland at the forthcoming Home International Matches are:

Ladies Home Internationals, Hillside GC, 7-9 September: Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)
Captain - Fiona Norris (Hamilton)

Senior Home Internationals, Tramore GC, 28-30 September: Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie), Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock (Barassie)), May Hughes (Lanark), Anne Ryan (Tain), Mary Smith (Tain)
Captain - Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)

SLGA ADULT GIRL FOURSOMES

Event: Adult Girl Foursomes
Venue: Auchterarder GC
Date: 25 September 2011
Details:
- This competition is an 18 hole foursomes stableford competition. It is open to junior girls (under 18 on 1/1/2011), partnered with a lady or gentleman with a CONGU handicap. There are separate sections for the various handicap categories and pairings with a junior without a CONGU handicap will also have their own section.
- This is a fun competition for girls of all abilities, for example last year we had girls of all abilities competing all the way through from international level to girls without handicaps.
Closing Date for entries: Monday 5 September
Entry Form:   CLICK HERE

Many Thanks
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

ENTRIES CLOSE FOR THE AIUTUMN MEETING AND SEPTEMBER MEDAL

The Autumn meeting Greensomes entries close tomorrow and the September Medal entries close on Wednesday. If you have not already entered click on the link on the LHS of this Website

LORRAINE MORROW AND PARTNER ARE 3RD IN THE HANDICAP SECTION OF THE SCOTTISH MIXED FOURSOMES

Kingsknowe’s Louise Fraser teamed up with clubmate Allyn Dick, a Scotland international, at comparatively short notice to win the main Scottish mixed foursomes championship at Mortonhall Golf Club today.
Congratulations go to Renfrewshire's Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) who with her partner Martin McLeod (Dullatur) who were 3rd in the handicap section.
To read the full report go to the West of Scotland Website

ANNE TERREY HAS HER ROUND OF GOLF AT THE CASTLE COURSE ST ANDREWS

At the County Dinner in March this year  the winning ticket for a ROUND OF GOLF FOR FOUR at THE CASTLE COURSE, St ANDREWS was won by Anne Terrey from Greenock Golf Club (pictured left with Captain Trish brown)


Anne had her round of golf there recently and here are some photos sent to your webmaster  to prove she had a good day out with her friends Mo Neilson, Linda McDougall and Sandra MacDougall.

Before

After

Over Looking St Andrews - Out on the Course -- Click on all photos to enlarge    

ALYSON HAS A GREAT LAST DAY AT THE BRITISH AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leona Maguire, one of the talented 16-year-old twins from the Slieve Russell club in Ireland scored another remarkable victory today in the Ladies British open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex.
Lanarkshire's Pamela Pretswell made a gallant defence of her 2010 title win. She was in a group of five players including Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor who finished joint fifth.
Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin from Elderslie who had a a poor 2nd round finished on a high today with a terrific level par 72 last round to finish in the top 20.


BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 6,074. CSS 76 77 76 tbc

288 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 75 75 69 69.
294 Laurence Herman (Bel) 73 78 74 69
296 Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 73 77 74 72
297 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 73 76 75 73.
301 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 76 76 72 77, Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 76 76 73 76, Brogan Townend (Pleasington) 74 78 76 73, Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72 79 74 76, Charlotte Thomas (Singapore) 76 72 78 75.
302 Ellie Robinson (Brass Castle) 76 75 74 77
303 Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 76 78 77 72, Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 74 79 77 73
304 Laura Sedda (Ita) 75 81 75 73, Charley Hull (Woburn) 79 74 76 75
305 Claire Smith (Silsden) 78 76 77 74, Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 74 80 77 74
306 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 84 78 72, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 78 75 82 71, Charlotte Wild (The Mere) 74 76 78 78
307 Stacey Rodger (West Hove) 76 78 75 78
308 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) 74 81 82 71, Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 77 78 78 75, Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 79 76 72 81, Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 74 80 77 77
309 Anais Maggetti (Swi) 80 77 80 72, Alison Knowles (Hickleton) 77 77 79 76, Shelby Smart (Knowle) 77 75 77 80
310 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro) 76 80 81 73
311 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) 75 81 78 77
312 Melissa McMahon (Yeovil) 79 78 73 82, Mandy Goyos (Spa) 76 79 79 78
313 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 75 82 78 78, Joelle Vanbaarle (Bel) 77 73 80 83
314 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 78 76 77 83
315 Kate Whitmore (Tadmarton Heath) 75 82 79 79
316 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 79 77 78 82, Silvia Banon Ibanez (Spa) 76 74 83 83
317 Lucy Evans (Wrekin) 75 82 80 80

LIVE SCORING FROM THE BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLICK HERE ---- LGU WEBSITE FOR LIVE SCORING

ALYSON MCKECHIN STRUGGLES TODAY IN THE BRITISH OPEN LADIES' AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champion Lanarkshire's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) is still in the mix, sharing 10th place on 152 with a pair of 76s in the British Ladies' Open Amateur Championship today at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Sussex. Lanarkshire's Rachael Taylor added a 79 to her 1st round score to share 8th spot. Unfortunately Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) struggled today with a second round of 84 --7 over the CSS. However,she has made the cut. Unfortunately Megan Briggs did not make the cut.
The CSS was 77, one more than yesterday.
To read the full report and scores go to the West of Scotland Website

ALYSON MCKECHIN LEADS THE BRITISH OPEN LADIES' AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

From the LGU WEBSITE

Two teenage Scots, Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Germany-based Rachael Taylor (Lanarkshire) , were the only two players in the first half of the field of 113 to match the testing par of 72 over the Royal Ashdown Forest course, East Sussex in the first round of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship today.
There was no wind to speak of and there is not a single bunker anywhere under an old forest conservation act so the only explanation for the general level of high scoring was that the woodland/heathland course, a royal hunting forest in ancient times, is an extremely testing lay-out on which to score well.
Bogeys, double bogeys and higher were common. Birdies were rare and eagles an endangered species.
Royal Ashdown Forest has been used by the R&A as an Open championship qualifying venue – and today the competitors in this LGU tournament could see why for themselves.
This south-east of England course, where there is less rainfall than most other parts of the country, has not staged many tournaments for female amateur golfers, outwith local members, in recent years and that lack of familiarity in particular with the hard greens that required pitch and run shots "a la" links golf but were not nearly as fast as links greens for putting was a problem that most of the contestants failed to solve on the first day.
As defending champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), remarked after a returning a four-over-par 76: “I think it’s going to be a high-scoring tournament.” Which could turn out to be the understatement of the season.
Playing partner and fellow Curtis Cup player Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) looked set to prove all the pundits wrong when she cruised to the turn in two-under-par 34 wit birdies at the fifth and eighth and not a suggestion of a bogey.
But Royal Ashdown Forest bit back – hard – on the 16-year-old Irish player after the turn. Leona required 41 shots (five over par) to get home, starting with a double bogey 6 and ended the back nin with a double bogey 7 at 17 and bogey 5 at the last for a 75.
Incidentally, Pamela Pretswell birdied the 17th where Leona had the 7 so where’s the logic of that?
Leona’s twin Lisa had a 77 which included a double bogey 6 at the 10th. Also on 77 is another highly promising 16-year-old, Bronte Law (Bramhall). Bronte had a double bogey 6 at the 15th in halves of 38 and 40.
Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy team player Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) later joined Leona Maguire on the 75 mark.
Britain’s youngest ever women’s open amateur champion, 16-year-old Lauren Taylor (Woburn), pulling her own clubs, had the same score as Pamela Pretswell, a 76. The only 6 on Lauren had on her card was at the 17th.
Alyson McKechin (pictured left) a member of the Scotland team in the girls’ home internationals the week before last, had birdies at the second, 12th, 16th and 18th in halves of 37 (one over par) and 35 (one under). She bogeyed the first, seventh, 11th and 17th.
Rachael Taylor, whose Airdrie-born father is a golf professional in Germany, had halves of 34 and 38 with birdies at the third, eighth and 17th. She did not drop a shot until the 10th – where she dropped two with a 6, followed by a bogey at the 11th, then covered the last seven holes in one-under par.
Welsh teenager Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu) and two other youngsters, England girl cap Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) and Belgium’s Laurence Herman, are tucked in behind the Scots. Boulden’s 73 was so steady – 15 pars, one birdie, two bogeys – she could have been playing a different course from those who shot in the high 70s and 80s.
Amy started with a bogey and had her only other dropped shot at the 10th. The Astor Trophy and Vagliano Trophy team player birdied the 17th in halves of 37 and 36.
Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs struggled today:

Scots Scores -- Round 1:

Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald) 72
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74
Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78
Hannah Mccook (Grantown on Spey) 78
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies') 81
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 81
Laura Murray (Alford) 82
Lesley Atkins(Gullane Ladies) 82
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 83

Read the full report on the Gillian Kirkwood Website

2011 COUNTY ROSEBOWL - DENISE COWAN IS IN THE FINAL

Denise after her win in the county Rosebowl Semi Final - Click to enlarge

Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) played very good golf today to beat Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) in the Semi Final of the County Rosebowl. Liz Hale (Caldwell) and Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm) are the other Semi Finalists.

Qual No.	1st Round	Semi Final	Final TBA
	To be played by Monday 11th July 2011	To be played by Monday 29th August 2011	by 13th Sept
1	Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle)	Carol Fell 1 up	Denise Cowan 6&5
8	June Lockhart (Gleddoch)
5	Trish Brown (Kilmacolm)	Denise Cowan w/o
4	Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle)
3	Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm)	Marion Stewart 7&5	.
6	Vivien Young (Elderslie)
7	Maimie Robin (Elderslie)	Liz Hale 4&2
2	Liz Hale (Caldwell)