SCOTLAND DECLINE INVITATION TO SEND TEAM TO "THE SPIRIT"

Scotland will not have a team of four (two men and two women) in the field for this year's The Spirit international amateur tournament over four rounds at Whispering Pines Golf Club, Houston, Texas from November 2 to 5.
It is believed to be the first time since the biennial tournament started that Scotland will not have a team among the field of 20 countries - but they were invited.
A spokesman for the Scottish Golf Union said that they had been unable to accept this year because the tournament did not fit in with winter training programmes.
Scotland's team of Mark Bookless, Paul Shields, Kylie Walker and Louise Kenney finished 18th of 20 when "The Spirit" was last held in 2009.
The 20 countries who have accepted invitations are:
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
+The world's top two ranked female amateurs - Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho - will not be in the field because New Zealand have either not been invited or, like Scotland, have declined. An E-mail to the tournament organisers seeking clarification did not bring a response.