JOHNSON WINS WITH ONE-UNDER-PAR TWO-ROUND TOTAL AT FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

 

 Trish Johnson on her first visit to Fairmont St Andrews and a debut on the Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour

TRISH CHALKS UP WORLDWIDE WIN

No. 23  ON PAUL LAWRIE LADIES TOUR
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Trish Johnson from Wiltshire scored the 23rd win worldwide of her pro golf career over the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, Fife today (Tuesday).
The occasion was the opening 36-hole, two-day event on the PGA in Scotland's Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ladies Tartan Tour.
The 48-year-old former Solheim Cup player, whose wins in a 17-year career as a professional straddle the Atlantic, shot rounds of 72 and 71 for a one-under-par aggregate of 143.
"One of the main reasons I came up to Scotland for the tournament was that I had never played the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews and I had heard nice reports about it. They were correct. Very good course and it was in excellent condition, even though we are still in April," said Trish.
"Best part of my game over the two days was tee to green. I didn't putt all that well but the rest of my game was very steady."
Playing on this tour for the first time, Johnson, the biggest "name" in the field of 30, picked up the £2,500 prize by one shot from rookie pro Amy Boulden, daughter of the Conwy Golf Club pro in North Wales. Amy, a heroine
for GB and I in the 2012 Curtis Cup victory over the Americans at Nairn, had scores of 73 and 71 for 144,
one stroke short of matching the winner.
Another rookie and past Curtis Cup player, Edinburgh-born Sally Watson, finished a creditable third on 145 with scores of 74 and 71.
Wales' Becky Brewerton, also a past Solheim Cup and Curtis Cup star, joint overnight leader with Johnson
finished fourth on 148 with rounds of 72-76. Brewerton bogeyed the second, third, fourth and sixth, which
left playing partner Johnson in the clear.
Trish emphasised her superiority on the day by birdieing the third and fourth in a two-under-par outward half of 34. She did bogey the 10th, 13th and 14th after the turn but birdies at the short 11th and 16th would prove
vital in the end as as one Welsh challenger was replaced by another - Amy Boulden.
Amy had an eventful one-under-par 71 made uip on six birdies and five bogeys. She birdied the third, fourth, eighth, 12th, 14th and 16th but shed shots at the second, fifth, sixth, 10th and 15th in halves of 36-35.
Boulden's cheque for £1,250 was very probably the highest so far in her fledgling pro career.
Much the same could be said for Sally Watson, warming up for the LET after finished second in the Qualifying School a few months back.
Stanford University graduate Watson was the third player to notch a sub-par 71 on the second day over the Torrance Course. She earned £750. The Scot had a very steady round with only three deviations from par - birdies at the fourth and seventh plus a soligary bogey at the 10th in halves of 34-37.
Alford's Laura Murray, who is attached to the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, should have her confidence boosted with a fIfth place finish in this classy company. Former Scottish amateur champion Murray shot 77-72 for 149 and earned £350. She had three birdies and three bogeys in halves of 35-37.
Any lady professional and female amateurs with single-figure handicaps are eligible to play on the Paul Lawrie Tour and tbe honour of leading amateur in the opening event of the Tour's five-event schedule was shared by St Andrews's Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), a former Scottish U18 girls champion, who is bound for a US college in the autumn, and Lincolnshire's India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) whose 'big sister' Holly is one of the most promising younger players on the Ladies European Tour.
Whyte (77-77) and Clyburn (79-75) both totalled 154 and were joint 11th overall.
The next 36 hole event on the Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour is over the Murcar Links, north of Aberdeen on May 8 and 9. Entries close on April 29.

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY
Par 144 (2x72)
143 Trish Johnson (Wiltshire Golf and Country Club) 72 71 (£2,500)
144 Amy Boulden (Robert Rock Academy) 73 71 (£1,250)
145 Sally Watson (Castle Stuart) 74 71 (£750)
148 Becky Brewerton (Wales) 72 76 (£500)
149 Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 77 72 (£350)
151 Carly Booth (Gleneagles) 75 76, Vikki Laing (Kingsacre) 73 78 (£200 each)
152 Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) 77 75, Heather Stirling (unatt) 77 75 (£90 each)
153 Gemma Webster (Elie and Earlsferry) 73 80 (£70).
154 India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) (am) 79 75, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) 78 76, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) (am) 77 77, Pamela Feggans (Doon Valley) 78 76
155 Kelsey Macdonald (Robert Rock Academy) 77 78
156 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 77 79
157 Tracey Boyes (Royal Winchester) 78 79
159 Daisy Dyer-Breierley (Chigwell) 81 78
160 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) (am) 78 82
163 Emma Fairnie (Gullane) 81 82, Martine Pow (Selkirk) 77 86
164 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes) (am) 81 83, Emilee Taylor (Holm Hall) 79 85
165 Lisa Shervill (Eng) 82 83
175 Kirstin Scott (Gleneagles) 87 88
176 Nicola Ferguson (Milngavie) (am) 89 87
181 Georgina Snow (Turnberry Hotel) 89 92