KIRRIEMUIR WASH-OUT

ANGUS v NE U-16, U-18 BOYS

A thunderstorm washed out the afternoon singles in today's Angus District v North-east District Under-16 and Under-18 boys' matches at Kirriemuir.
Angus officials are hoping to get the singles' ties played at Edzell within the next couple of weeks.

BREANNE WAS THE BEST OF GB&i

CURTIS CUP DEBUTANTE WON THREE OUT OF THREE

Breanne Loucks from Wrexham, one of the surprise GB&I selections for the Curtis Cup match, turned out to be the most successful player in Ada O'Sullivan's squad with three wins out of three (she did not get a game in the opening foursomes).
You can read the tell-table of the GB&I players' points by logging on to our other website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk which specialises in women's and girls' golf.
And you can also find out why Breanne's success is bad news for Scottish-born Colette Murray, head women's golf coach at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Sponsored by Allied Surveyors
Hosted by Nairn Golf Club.

STROKE-PLAY CHAMPION SCOTT HENDRY
IS FIRST SEED TO FALL ON OPENING DAY

Scott Hendry, the Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion, was the first seed to bite the dust on the opening day of the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Nairn today. Late in the day, the Cardross youngster, who has not been in the best of health since his great win at Craigielaw, lost by 2 and 1 to Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile).

"I am feeling utterly drained," said Scott after his defeat.

Weir said: "I holed a big putt at the 12th to go two up and I never let anything slip after that. To be fair to Scott, he was not really playing at his best today."

Title-holder Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) was taken to the 19th by Ryan McKenzie (Easter Moffat), winner of the Newlands Trophy tournament earlier this season.
Campbell looked to be in big trouble - one down on the 18th tee - but the par-5 last hole at Nairn is a great match-play hole and Glenn was able to birdie it to square the match and squeeze through at the first extra hole.

Apart from Campbell, the seeded Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes), Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) made it safely through to the second round.

Incidentally, Scott Jamieson's father Peter also won his first-round tie.

McNicoll, recent winner of the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links, now meets the mercurial Wallace Booth (Comrie) who can be brilliant in the morning and erratic in the afternoon. Wallace, the Scottish youths champion of 2004 and a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, won by two holes against Marcus Read who came all the way to the Moray Firth links from Saunton in Devon to play 18 holes.

The first notable casualty of the event had been former Walker Cup player and 2004 British amateur champion, Stuart Wilson, now the secretary of Forfar Golf Club.
Commenting on his one-hole, first-round exit at the hands of Dunbar’s Alexander Culverwell, Wilson said, “I have started to play a bit more golf again, but in the last six weeks I’ve had four weddings, a christening and have moved house. So there hasn’t been much time for golf.”
Culverwell, the current Lothians champion said: “I came out here to hit the greens and fairways and not to make too many mistakes, and to try and make as many pars as I could.
“It was a close match, with never much in it only staying one hole up until I got a birdie on the 17th. My play was a bit scrappy down the last but at least I only made one bogey.”

One of the best finishes of the day was produced by Robert McKnight (Barassie) to beat Barrie Edmond, recent winner of the Aberdeen City match-play championship for the Douglas Philip Trophy. McKnight birdied his last three holes to win through at the 20th. His first birdie squared the match at the 18th. His second birdie only halved the first extra hole. Then his third birdie took him through at the second extra hole.

(If it's women's golf news you want, log on to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk)

ALL THE FIRST ROUND RESULTS

FIRST QUARTER

Sandy Ross (Isle of Skye) bt Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 1 hole.

Chris Lawton (Stirling) bt John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) at 20th.

Lee Vettese (Nigg Bay) bt David McCaig (Barassie) 5 and 3.

Gordon Morrison (Nairn) bt Euan Kennedy (Stonehaven) 3 and 1.

John McWilliams (West Linton) bt James Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 3 and 2.

(Seed) Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) bt Philip Neil (Craigielaw) 3 and 2.

Stanley Morrison (US) bt Alister Ferguson (Dunfermline) 2 and 1.

Jamie Neilson (Dunbar) bt Colin Turnbull (Haggs Castle) 7 and 5.

Clark Riddick (Dumfries & Galloway) bt Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 2 and 1.

Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) bt Wilson Bryson (Drumpellier) 2 and 1.

Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links) bt Nilam Purewal (Bonnyton) 5 and 4.

Alex Culverwell (Dunbar) bt Stuart Wilson (Forfar) 1 hole.

Lindsay Miller (Cawder) bt James Foley (Forres) 2 and 1.

Mark Kerr (Dalmahoy) bt David Simpson (Comrie) 6 and 5.

Scott Michie (Thornton) bt Alistair Lauder (Paisley) at 21st.

Campbell Donaldson (Downfield) bt Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 1 hole.

David Addison (Barassie) bt Richard Hyland (Newmachar) 3 and 2.

Stephen Clark (Haggs Castle) bt Graeme Smith (West Linton) 4 and 3.

Michael Daily (Erskine) bt Bruce Thomson (Inverness) 3 and 2.

Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) bt Kevin Taylor (Elgin) 3 and 2.

Neil Robertson (Drumpellier) bt Graeme Molloy (Wishaw) 4 and 3.

Tom Higson (Eyemouth) bt Stephen Cochrane (Alyth) 3 and 2.

George Barrie (Callander) bt Chris Heslip (Monifieth) 3 and 2.

John Ralston (Shotts) bt Colin Colraine (Windyhill) 6 and 5.

Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw) bt Malcolm Davidson (Craigie Hill) 5 and 4.

David Laing (Craigielaw) bt Nicky Gold (Bonnyton) 4 and 2.

Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) bt Michael Wilson(Royal Aberdeen) 3 and 1.

Barry McDermott (Leven GS) bt Ienneth Ralston (Shotts) 3 and 2.

Roy Alexander (Haggs Castle) bt Alastair Love (Dunbar) 2 and 1.

David Henderson (Hamilton) bt Jonathan Jeffrey (Nairn) 6 and 5.

(Seed) Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) bt Ryan McKenzie (Easter Moffat) at 19th.

Andrew Brown (West Kilbride) bt Alasdair McDonald (Craigie Hill) 3 and 2.

SECOND QUARTER

(Seed) Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) bt Adam Nelson (Douglas Park) 5 and 4.

Barry Gibson (Kemnay) bt Peter Saggers (Nairn) 4 and 3.

Michael MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt Simon Lockhart (Bathgate) 4 and 3.

Robert Smith (Nairn) bt Stephen MacNamara (Renfrew) 3 and 2.

Stephen Carruthers (Pitlochry) bt Robert Carson(Dalmahoy) at 19th.

Andrew Rollo (Elgin) bt Finlay White (Crieff) 5 and 4.

Mark Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) bt Marcello Russo (Drumpellier) 5 and 4.

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) bt Frazer Bone (Cardross) 5 and 4.

George Asher (Nairn) bt HughNelson (Kilsyth Lennox) 6 and 5.

Gordon Black (Fereneze) bt Fraser Inglis (Murrayshall) 3 and 2.

Steven McEwan ( Barassie) bt Blair Paterson (Stirling) 3 and 2.

Chris Baron (Oldmeldrum) bt Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 3 and 2.

Graham Bell (Downfield) bt Gregor Munro (Archerfield Links) 8 and 7.

Allan Johnston (Bonnyton) bt Alex Moir (Thornton) 1 hole.

Jamie Farmer (St Andrews) bt Neil McBride (Cowglen) 5 and 4.

Neil Henderson (The Glen) bt Craig Loftus (Lundin) 1 hole.

Brian Soutar (Leven GS) bt Stuart Turnbull (Hayston) 6 and 5.

Craig Storrier (Downfield) bt Allan McKie (Glencruitten) at 19th.

Stuart Roberts (Gullane) bt Craig Young (Eastwood) 4 and 3.

Jonathan King (Glasdgow) bt Gary Thomson (Moray) 3 and 2.

Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt Douglas Hunter (Dalmahoy) 6 and 5.

Russell Thornton (US) bt Michael Spence (Newmachar) 4 and 3.

Robert McKnight (Barassie) bt Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) at 20th.

Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) bt Stephen Neilson (Dunbar) 6 and 5.

Steven Fraser (Callander) bt Neal Stewart (Buckpool) 4 and 3.

Peter Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) bt Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 1 hole.

Ross Dixon (Barassie) bt Joe Lockie (Tantallon 2 and 1.

Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile) bt (Seed) Scott Hendry (Cardross) 1 hole.

David Strachan (Turnberry) bt Phil Dempsey (Alloa) at 20th.

Steven Robertson (Sandyhills) bt Graham Turner (West Linton) 2 and 1.

Colin Heuchan (Southerness) bt Paul Betty (Hayston) 2 and 1.

Zack Saltman (Craigielaw) bt George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) 2 and 1.

THIRD QUARTER

(Seed) Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) bt John Broadley (Deeside) 43 and 2.

Wallace Booth (Comrie) bt Marcus Read (Saunton) 2 holes.

Craig Haugh (Cathkin Braes) bt Christopher Wedgeworth(Cowglen) 4 and 3.

Steven Hume (Murrayshall) bt Andrew Hay (Westhill) 2 holes.

John Forbes (Inverness) bt Barry Mitchell (Murcar Links) 6 and 5.

Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) bt James McGhee (Gullane) 2 and 1.

Gordon Rennie (Cathkin Braes) bt Iain Simpson (Craigie Hill) 2 and 1.

Craig Waddell (Cathkin Braes) bt Robby Anderson (Duddingston) 2 and 1.

Euan Polson(Invernes) bt Steven Buchan (Royal Aberdeen) 2 and 1.

JUNIOR RYDER CUP

CARLY'S TEAM-MATES NAMED FOR
MATCH AT CELTIC MANOR

Perthshire 14-year-old golfing prodigy Carly Booth is the only British or Irish player in the European mixed team for the Junior Ryder Cup match at Celtic Manor on September 18 and 19.
The match is for Under-16 year olds and the programme does not include singles ties.
BOYS - Victor Dubuisson (France), Pedro Figueiredo (Portugal), Are Friestad (Norway), Sean Einhaus (Germany), Maximilian Kiefer (Germany), Anders Kristensen (Norway).
GIRLS - Carly Booth (Scotland), Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Saskia Hausladen (Germany), Giulia Molinaro (Italy), Marta Silva (Spain), Laura Gonzales-Escallon (Belgium).

CURTIS CUP POST MORTEM

FINAL RESULT:
UNITED STATES 11 1/2, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 6 1/2

First day: US 7, GB&I 2 (Foursomes: 3-0, singles 4-2).

Second day: US 4 1/2. GB&I 4 1/2

Final foursomes: US 1/2, GB&I 2 1/2
Final singles: US 4, GB&I 2.

It was, in football parlance, a match of two halves. GB&I didn't win either half but after being trounced on the first day, they hit back to share the second-day honours. That can't be bad.

Log on now to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk and click on HOT NEWS for an in-depth interview with GB&I skipper Ada O'Sullivan and an interesting post-mortem article by an American writer, in which he poses the question: "Did GB&I pick the wrong players for Bandon Dunes?" You may agree or not agree with him but it is still interesting reading.

Meanwhile, keep logging on to www.scottishgolfview.com this week for news from the Scottish men's amateur championship at Nairn and any other male golf news.

THREE-DAY CURTIS CUP MATCH

AND THE FIRST ONE WILL BE OVER OLD
COURSE, ST ANDREWS IN 2008

The United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union have decided that all future Curtis Cup matches will be over three days instead of two.
The first with a new format will be over the Old Course, St Andrews in 2008 when the third day will feature eight singles ties, meaning every player in each team will play.
Speculation has begun already that the USGA and the R&A will have talks about a similar one-day extension to the Walker Cup match.
The Walker Cup is now the only two-day international match on the golf calendar. The Curtis Cup falls in line with the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.
FOR FULL DETAILS ON THIS, THE CURRENT CURTIS CUP MATCH AND OTHER WOMEN'S GOLF NEWS, log on to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk - simply the best website there is for women's and girls' amateur golf news.

NORTH TOURNAMENT NEWS

MACLEOD WINS TAIN GOLF WEEK OPENER

Local club champion, James Macleod won his club's opening event of the Tain Golf Week, the 36 hole Abdul Ghani Cup on Saturday, with a one-under-par total of 139, made up of a 70 and a 69.
The +1 handicapper's first-round 70 was rescued with a three-under- par inward half of 32 while his second round, a 69, came from one bogey at the 10th and two birdies, the 13th and 16th.
Macleod enjoyed a five-shot victory from the same plyer he beat in the championship final, Munro Ferries, who shot 71 and 73.
Murcar Linkss' Jimmy Russell, a Tain exile, was placed third with 71 and 74.
Kevin Hamilton (Didsbury) , who on Monday begins his defence of the four-day event title, finished fifth on 147.
Results CSS 71-71
(all Tain unless stated)
Scratch
139 J Macleod 70 69.
144 M Ferries 71 73.
145 J Russell (Murcar 71 74.
146 A Everett 75 71.
147 K Hamilton (Didsbury) 75 72.
Handicap
135 G Oliver (8).
136 P Blyth (12).
137 A Mackenzie (11).
139 M Sangster (4).
140 G MacKintosh (5).
TAIN HANDICAP OPEN (CSS 71)
(All Tain unless stated)
Class 1 - C Hudson (20) 69, M MacDougall (16), D MacLeod (15) 70.
Class 2 - D Farquhar (25) 69, G Kelman (23) 70, M Smith (24) 71.
D H Innes Trophy (scratch) - S. Paterson 84.
Gardner Trophy (handicap) - D Farquhar (25) 69.

GOLSPIE CLASSIC WON BY JIMMY GUNN
Royal Dornoch and Sutherland county champion, Jimmy Gunn tees off 7.17am on Monday morning in the Scottish amateur Championship at Nairn, fewer than 24 hours after winning the Golspie Classic on the course where he learned his golf.
Over the Golspie links where he has also reigned as club champion, Gunn shot 67 and 71 to win by five shots from former winner Darren Hexley (Inverness).
Darren turned up for the first round without his clubs and with a borrowed set shot 73.
Results
Scratch (CSS 68 69)
138 J M Gunn (Royal Dornoch 67 71.
143 D Hexley (Inverness) 73 70, I S Powell (Murcar Links) 70 73.
144 F R MacDonald (Channels) 71 73.
145 K F Sinclair (Royal Dornoch) 74 71.
Handicap
Class1 - L P Stewart (Golspie) (7) , J. Kelly (St Mellion) (10) 136; A MacDougall (Castle Heather) (5), C. MacKay (Golspie) (5) 137.
Class 2 - D Ross (Golspie) (17) 140; C Mackay (Golspie) (17) 142; R Urquhart (Golspie) (20) 145.

ROBERTS WINS SENIOR BRITISH OPEN

PLAY-OFF AGAINST EDUARDO ROMERO

Loren Roberts is the new Senior British Open champion. He tied with Argentina's Eduardo Romero on 274 after 72 holes and then beat him in a play-off for the title.

FINAL TOTALS
274 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 67 63 73 71, Loren Roberts (USA) 65 65 69 75
275 Dick Mast (USA) 71 67 70 67
278 Craig Stadler (USA) 65 66 77 70
279 Tim Simpson (USA) 66 67 72 74
281 Jay Haas (USA) 72 68 73 68, D A Weibring (USA) 72 70 71 68,
283 David Edwards (USA) 67 65 76 75, Gil Morgan (USA) 68 65 75 75
284 Gordon J Brand (Eng) 67 73 75 69, John Harris (USA) 73 68 72 71, Tom Kite (USA) 69 69 74 72
285 Hale Irwin (USA) 73 71 71 70, Don Pooley (USA) 76 63 72 74
286 Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 70 70 76 70, Lonnie Nielsen (USA) 71 69 75 71, Mark James (Eng) 67 70 75 74, Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) 68 68 74 76
287 Jon Chaffee (USA) 72 70 74 71, Morris Hatalsky (USA) 73 67 75 72, Mike Reid (USA) 68 67 78 74, James Blair III (USA) 71 71 71 74
288 Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 71 67 78 72, Andrew Reynolds (Eng) 73 66 77 72, John Ross (USA) 67 72 76 73, Tom Watson (USA) 73 67 74 74
289 Des Smyth (Ire) 66 71 82 70, Tom McKnight (USA) 70 70 79 70, Kirk Hanefeld (USA) 68 72 77 72, Carl Mason (Eng) 75 66 75 73, David J Russell (Eng) 70 73 73 73, Mark McNulty (Ire) 68 68 79 74, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 69 68 78 74, Juan Quiros (Esp) 67 76 72 74
290 Bob Larratt (Eng) 72 72 75 71, David Eger (USA) 71 72 74 73, Andy Bean (USA) 74 69 73 74, Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) 70 65 79 76, Bob Cameron (Eng) 70 68 76 76
291 Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 69 70 80 72, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 73 71 75 72, Doug Johnson (USA) 70 73 75 73, Scott Simpson (USA) 67 69 81 74, Jack Ferenz (USA) 68 70 79 74, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 72 72 73 74, Peter Jacobsen (USA) 65 70 77 79
292 Frank Conner (USA) 72 70 78 72, Graham Marsh (Aus) 73 70 75 74, Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 67 71 79 75, Nick Job (Eng) 76 68 73 75, Gery Watine (Fra) 68 72 76 76, Tony Johnstone (RSA) 72 68 75 77, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70 74 77, Simon Owen (NZL) 71 68 75 78
293 Chris Starkjohann (USA) 70 70 82 71, Angel Fernandez (Arg) 71 71 77 74
294 Hugh Baiocchi (RSA) 70 73 77 74, John Benda (USA) 71 71 76 76, Dana Quigley (USA) 69 67 80 78,
295 José Rivero (Esp) 71 69 80 75, Guiliermo Encina (Arg) 69 71 79 76, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 74 70 75 76, Derek Cooper (Eng) 70 71 77 77, David Good (Aus) 71 73 73 78,
296 Bruce Summerhays (USA) 68 74 80 74, John A Jacobs (USA) 71 71 79 75, Danny Edwards (USA) 67 72 81 76, Gary Player (RSA) 69 75 76 76, Tony Charnley (Eng) 73 71 75 77,
297 Malcolm Gregson (Eng) 70 72 79 76
298 Eddie Polland (Eng) 74 69 80 75, Emilio Rodriguez (Esp) 68 75 80 75
299 Seiji Ebihara (Jpn) 70 74 76 79
300 Martin Foster (Eng) 71 73 78 78
301 Rick Karbowski (USA) 69 70 87 75, Jeff Hawkes (RSA) 70 73 83 75, Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 71 80 80

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CURTIS CUP AND OTHER WOMEN'S GOLF NEWS: LOG ON TO www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

NORTH DISTRICT TEAM TITLE

MORAY TRIO EARN TRIP TO COWGLEN

The Moray Golf Club team of John Matheson, Ian Geddes and Gary Thomson will represent the North District in the Scottish club championship grand final at Cowglen on October 1 after winning the North team title at Elgin on Sunday.
With the best two scores counting from each round over 36 holes, Moray's winning total was 281. Forres (Bryan Fotheringham, Stewart MacLennan and Jim Simpson) were runners-up on 285.
TOP PLACINGS (CSS 71 71)
281 Moray (J Matheson 67 71, I Geddes 73 71, G Thomson 75 70.
285 Forres (B Fotheringham 71 68, S MacLennan 76 79, J Simpson 71 75.
287 Garmouth & Kingston (N MacWilliam 68 71, S Baillie 74 84, B Cruickshank 73 75).

BUCHAN FIRKIN REPORT

GARY ESSON WINS BY TWO AT FRASERBURGH

Portlethen’s Gary Esson won the Fraserburgh 36-hole men’s tournament – open to amateurs and professionals – for the Buchan Firkin on Saturday.
Esson had rounds of 69 and 71 for a level par total of 140, two shots ahead of last year’s winner and course record holder, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
Neil Mitchell, formerly of Murcar Links, was the best placed professional in joint ninth place on 146.

Leading totals (Par 70)
140 G Esson (Portlethen) 69 71.
142 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 73 69.
144 J Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 74 70, P McLean (Peterhead) 74 70, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71.
145 R T Whyte (Fraserburgh) 72 73, G Smith (Fraserburgh) 70 75, E McIntosh (Newmachar) 68 77.
146 M Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) 72 74, N Mitchell 71 75, M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 71 75.
Handicap
R T Whyte (Fraserburgh) (3) 69 70 139; I MacKinnon (Fraserburgh) (4) 69 71, N Thomson (Fraserburgh) (5) 68 72, R Tait (Fraserburgh) (5) 67 73, J Wiseman (Inverallochy) (7) 67 73 140; S Scott (Inverurie) (8) 68 73 141; J Cunningham (Fraserburgh) (4) 70 73 143.

CARLY BOOTH TEAM PLACE CONFIRMED

COMRIE 14-YEAR-OLD IS UK'S ONLY PLAYER
IN THE EUROPEAN JUNIOR RYDER CUP TEAM

Scottish Golf Union national coach Spencer Henderson, who travelled with the Scotland team of four to the European Young Masters in Austria, has confirmed that Carly Booth, the 14-year-old prodigy from Comrie, is the only United Kingdom player to have been selected for the European team of 12 (six boys, six girls) for the Under-16s Junior Ryder Cup match at Celtic Manor on September 18 and 19.
Log on to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk for the full details.

CURTIS CUP FIRST-DAY QUOTES

United States lead 7-2 at the end of the first day in the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon.
The Americans have been in the driving seat since they made a 3-0 clean sweep of the foursomes.
Breanne Loucks and Kiran Matharu, the two youngest members of the GB&I line-up, were our only winners in the six afternoon singles.


US SKIPPER CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON

“All I told them was fight for every point, every half point.”
“It was very benign today and I think that worked to our advantage,” said Semple Thompson
“This is a lot more fun when we're winning. I am just in awe of my team. I thought we would be ahead at the end of the day, but I did not think we would have a 7‑2 lead. So I think shocked is maybe a little strong, but surprised, yes, definitely.”

GB&I SKIPPER ADA O’SULLIVAN

“We might be in dream world thinking you can win nine matches on Sunday. Technically what we need to win is seven-and-a-half matches. And that is possible.”
“We were simply outclassed and outplayed this afternoon.”

US TEAM PLAYERS

JANE PARK
“I told them that even if we're down in the afternoon or after the morning matches, just don't give up,” said Park. “And a win is always out there; you just got to execute the shot well. And just believe in yourself.”

GB&I TEAM PLAYERS

BREANNE LOUCKS
“As I got 6 up, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m 6 up,” said Loucks, who had sat out the foursomes. “It’s amazing really. It’s hard to find the words. What do I say to say how happy I am.”

KIRAN MATHARU
“I was nervous on the first hole,” said Matharu, “but after I hit a few good shots I settled down.”

+Read Gillian Kirwood's first-day summing up from the Press Centre at Bandon Dunes, Oregon on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk where we will be updating you from the second-day foursomes this evening.

MONTROSE PRO RECORD EQUALLED

SUPERB 63 BY CALLUM NICOL WINS BY FIVE

Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) equalled the Montrose Links professional course record of 63 - held by Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson and New Zealander Michael Long - in today's Montrose Golf Links Limited pro-am.

Callum won the top prize of £1,016 with a blemish-free scorecard which had eagles at the eighth and 15th and birdies at the fourth, 10th, 12th and 14th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 30 (five under par).

LEADING SCORES
63 Callum Nicoll (Prestwick).
68 Chris Kelly (Cawder), Craig Ronald (Torrance House).
69 Mark Loftus (Cowglen), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), David Park (Wishaw), Gary McFarlane (Clydebank & Dist).

TEAM WINNERS
123 (-19) Finlay Menzies (Milngavie) & Team Hairborne: Gordon Davidson (15), Sandy Brand (18) and Allan Costello (8).

CURTIS CUP

BAD START BY GB&I: AMERICANS WIN
ALL THREE OPENING FOURSOMES


Ada O'Sullivan's Great Britain & Ireland team got off to the worst possible start in the Curtis Cup match against the United States at Bandon Dunes, Oregon today.
The Americans won all three of the opening foursomes - and not with particularly brilliant golf.
Paige Mackenzie and Amanda Blumenhirst put the first point on the board for Carol Semple Thompson's American team by beating Irish champion Tricia Mangan and English champion Kiran Matharu by 5 and 4.
The United States pair were level par for the holes played but the GB&I pairing were seven over par. Tricia and teenager Kiran were never in the hunt after losing the second, third and fourth holes. They were five down at the turn.
United States went 2-0 ahead when Viriginia Grimes and Amanda McCurdy beat Ireland's Martina Gillen and England's Naomi Edwards by two holes.
This was a poor quality match in terms of par figures. The winners were FIVE over par and the GB&I pair a dismal seven over par.
The Americans took the edge in this tie when they won the eighth, ninth and 10th to be four up.
Gillen and Edwards came back to be only one down after 17 but they lost the last hole.
The United States completed the 3-0 clean sweep of the first set of foursomes when Jane Park and Taylor Leon beat Claire Coughlan from Cork and Melissa Reid of Derby by one hole.
The Americans were two over par at the finish while the GB&I pair were four over par.
This was a tight match throughout. Claire and Melissa were two holes up after six but lost the eighth and 10th. They fought back to lead again with a birdie at the 15th but were pulled back to square at the seventeenth but lost the last hole to a birdie, although the GB&I pair took a bogey.

RESULTS
FIRST SET OF FOURSOMES
UNITED STATES 3, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 0
American names first.
Paige Mackenzie & Amanda Blumenhirst bt Tricia Mangan & Kiran Matharu 5 and 4.
Virginia Grimes & Amanda McCurdy bt Martina Gillen & Naomi Edwards 2 holes.
Jane Park & Taylor Leon bt Claire Coughlan & Melissa Reid 1 hole.

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN SCOREBOARD

AMERICAN LOREN ROBERTS LEADS BY FOUR

HOW THEY STAND WITH SUNDAY'S FINAL
ROUND TO GO AT WESTIN TURNBERRY
(par 70).

199 Loren Roberts (USA) 65 65 69

203 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 67 63 73

205 Tim Simpson (USA) 66 67 72
208 Gil Morgan (USA) 68 65 75, David Edwards (USA) 67 65 76, Dick Mast (USA) 71 67 70, Craig Stadler (USA) 65 66 77
210 Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) 68 68 74
211 Don Pooley (USA) 76 63 72
212 Tom Kite (USA) 69 69 74, Mark James (Eng) 67 70 75, Peter Jacobsen (USA) 65 70 77
213 James Blair III (USA) 71 71 71, D A Weibring (USA) 72 70 71, John Harris (USA) 73 68 72, Jay Hass (USA) 72 68 73, Mike Reid (USA) 68 67 78
214 Tom Watson (USA) 73 67 74, Simon Owen (Aus) 71 68 75, Bob Cameron (Eng) 70 68 76 Dana Quigley (USA) 69 67 78, Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) 70 65 79
215 Hale Irwin (USA) 73 71 71, Juan Quiros (Esp) 67 76 72, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70 74, Lonnie Nielsen (USA) 71 69 75, Tony Johnstone ( Zim) 72 68 75, Morris Hatalsky (USA) 73 67 75, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 67 73 75, John Ross (USA) 67 72
76, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 69 68 78, Mark McNulty (Ire) 68 68 79
216 Andy Bean (USA) 74 69 73, David J Russell (Eng) 70 73 73, Jon Chaffee (USA) 72 70 74, Carl Mason (Eng) 75 66 75, Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 70 70 76, Gery Watine (Fra) 68 72 76, Andrew Reynolds (Eng) 73 66 73, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 71 67 78
217 Nick Job (Eng) 76 68 73, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 72 72 73, David Good (Aus) 71 73 73, David Eger (USA) 71 72 74, Kirk Hanefeld (USA) 68 72 77, Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 67 71 79, Jack Ferenz (USA) 68 70 79, Scott Simpson (USA) 67 69 81
218 Doug Johnson (USA) 70 73 75, Graham Marsh (Aus) 73 70 75, John Benda (USA) 71 71 76, Derrick Cooper (Eng) 70 71 77, Des Smyth (Ire) 66 71 81
219 Bob Larratt (Eng) 72 72 75, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 74 70 75, Tony Charnley (Eng) 73 71 75, Glen Ralph (Eng) 73 71 75, Angel Fernandez (Chi) 71 71 77, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 69 71 79, Tom McKnight (USA) 70 70 79, Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 69 70 80
220 Gary Player ( RSA) 69 75 76, Seiji Ebihara 70 74 76, Hugh Baiocchi (RSA) 70 73 77, Frank Conner (USA) 72 70 78, José Rivero (Esp) 71 69 80, Danny Edwards (USA) 67 72 81
221 John Jacobs (USA) 71 71 79, Malcolm Gregson (Eng) 70 72 79, Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 71 80
222 Martin Foster (Eng) 71 73 78, Bruce Summerhays (USA) 68 74 80, Chris Starkjohann, (USA) 70 70 82
223 Eddie Polland (Eng) 74 69 80, Emilio Rodriguez (Esp) 68 75 80
226 Jeff Hawkes (RSA) 70 73 83, Rick Karbowski (USA) 69 70 87







_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS

CARLY BOOTH FINISHES THIRD BEST GIRL AND
LOOKS CERTAIN FOR JUNIOR RYDER CUP

Comrie’s 14-year-old Carly Booth finished third in the girls’ championship of the European Young Masters 54-hole tournament for Under-16s at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria today.
Carly had held the lead on her own at the end of the first round and was joined in the pole position by two other girls after 36 holes.
In the final round, Carly shot a creditable one-under-par 71 after earlier rounds of 70 and 73 for a two-under-par total of 214.
She was going extremely well on the outward half of her final round, reaching the turn in three under par 33 with birdies a the third, seventh, eighth and ninth and only one shot dropped, at the sixth.
Miss Booth bogeyed the 11th but cancelled that out with her fifth birdie of the round at the 12th but she then ran up a double-bogey 6 at the 15th which inflated her final score.
In all Carly shot 10 birdies over the three rounds. The European team for the Junior Ryder Cup match will be selected on performances in the European Young Masters and Miss Booth is certain to be one of the girls named later in the line-up to play the United States.
Germany’s Saskia Hausladen conjured up the lowest score of the championship – by boy or girl – an eight-under-par 64, just when she needed it most.
Saskia had eight birdies and no bogeys in halves of 34 and 30. After earlier rounds of 72 and 71, she finished as the European Young Masters’ girls champion with a nine-under-par total of 207.
Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda finished second with 72, 71 and 68 for 211.
Sally Watson from Queensferry, Scotland’s other representative in the girls’ championship finished joint seventh with scores of 77, 72 and 74 for seven-over-par 223. Sally bogeyed the fifth, eighth and 11th and had only one birdie, at the 12th, in her final round. She had seven birdies – four in her second round, over the three rounds.
Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck finished on a high with a four-under-par 68, 10 shots better than his first round, for a final total of one-over-par 217. His second-day score was a 71.
Michael birdied the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 17th with bogeys at the second and 18th. Over the three rounds Michael had 12 birdies.
Stewart finished ninth equal in the boys section.
The other Scottish boy in the field, 15-year-old Tommy Spencer, from Inchmarlo, Banchory had scores of 75, 80 and 78 for 17-over-par 233.
Victor Dubuisson (France) and Maximilian Kieffer (Germany) tied for the top boy honour on nine-under-par 207.


EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS
Styrian Golf Club, Murhof, Austria.

FINAL TOTALS

BOYS (Par 72)

207 V Dubuisson (Fra) 69 71 678, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 68 69.
208 A Kristiansen (Nor) 68 71 69.
209 P Figueiredo (Por) 66 70 73.
210 S Einhaus (Ger) 70 69 71.
214 C Terragni (Ita) 74 72 68.
Other scores:
217 M Stewart (Sco) 78 71 68.
218 L Lennox (Ire) 75 74 69.
219 T Fleetwood (Eng) 71 75 73, K Metcalfe (Ire) 69 73 77.
228 A Myers (Eng) 73 79 76.
233 T Spencer (Sco) 75 80 78.
237 T Lowery (Wal) 78 80 79.
238 B Enoch (Wal) 78 84 76.

GIRLS (Par 72)
207 S Hausladen (Ger) 72 71 64.
211 C Ciganda (Spa) 72 71 68.
214 C Booth (Sco) 70 73 71.
216 M Silva (Spa) 72 73 71.
217 G Molinaro (Ita) 72 73 72.
219 Laura Gonzales-Escallon (B) 79 71 69.
Other scores:
223 S Watson Sco) 77 72 74, K O’Connor (Wal) 78 72 73, S Meadow (Ire) 74 74 75.
227 R Connor (Eng) 78 74 75.
235 S Cunningham (Ire) 76 79 80.
240 H Barwood (Eng) 84 80 76.
2576 K Miller (Wal) 85 87 84.

GIRLS NEWS

ROSEANNE AND KELSEY FOR BELGIAN EVENT

Roseanne Niven (Crieff), the new Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion, and 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), winner of the Under-16s award in the Scottish Under-21 girls' open championship which finished at Stirling on Friday, have been selected by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association to take part in this year's Belgian Junior International Open.
It will be held at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussells from August 23 to 26.

REBECCA STRUGGLES IN FLORIDA

Rebecca Watson from South Queensferry had a disastrous score of 93 in the second round of the Optimist Junior International girls (16 to 18 years) championship over the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Friday.
Rebecca had been tied for fifth place after an opening score of three-over-par 75 but her 36-hole tally of 167 dropped her to a share of 39th place in the international field of 80 girls. Miss Watson, whose younger sister Sally is currently playing in the European Young Masters in Austria, is the only European in the field.
The leader is Alexjandra Llaneza (Mexico City) with scores of 70 and 76 for two-over 146.

ALL THE SCORES FROM TURNBERRY

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Presented by Aberdeen Asset Management
WESTIN TURNBERRY RESORT (Par 70)

HALFWAY TOTAALS

130 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 67 63, Loren Roberts (USA) 65 65
131 Craig Stadler (USA) 65 66
132 David Edwards (USA) 67 65
133 Tim Simpson (USA) 66 67, Gil Morgan (USA) 68 65
135 Mike Reid (USA) 68 67, Peter Jacobsen (USA) 65 70, Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) 70 65
136 Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) 68 68, Scott Simpson (USA) 67 69, Mark Mcnulty (Irl) 68 68, Dana Quigley (USA) 69 67
137 Des Smyth (Irl) 66 71, Mark James (Eng) 67 70, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 69 68
138 Jack Ferenz (USA) 68 70, Dick Mast (USA) 71 67, Eamonn Darcy (Irl) 71 67, Tom Kite (USA) 69 69, Bob Cameron (Eng) 70 68, Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 67 71
139 Simon Owen (Nzl) 71 68, Danny Edwards (USA) 67 72, Don Pooley (USA) 76 63, John Ross (USA) 67 72, Andrew Reynolds (Eng) 73 66, Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 69 70, Rick Karbowski (USA) 69 70
140 Kirk Hanefeld (USA) 68 72, Tom Mcknight (USA) 70 70, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 72 68, Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 70 70, Lonnie Nielsen (USA) 71 69, Tom Watson (USA) 73 67, Gery Watine (Fra) 68 72, Jay Haas (USA) 72 68, José Rivero (Esp) 71 69, Chris Starkjohann (USA) 70 70, Morris Hatalsky (USA) 73 67, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 67 73, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 69 71, Denis O'sullivan (Irl) 70 71, John Harris (USA) 73 68
141 Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 71, Derrick Cooper (Eng) 70 71, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70, Carl Mason (Eng) 75 66
142 Jon Chaffee (USA) 72 70, Malcolm Gregson (Eng) 70 72, James Blair III (USA) 71 71, John Benda (USA) 71 71, John .A. Jacobs (USA) 71 71, Bruce Summerhays (USA) 68 74, Angel Fernandez (Chi) 71 71, D A Weibring (USA) 72 70, Frank Conner (USA) 72 70
143 David Eger (USA) 71 72, David J Russell (Eng) 70 73, Eddie Polland (Nir) 74 69, Andy Bean (USA) 74 69, Graham Marsh (Aus) 73 70, Emilio Rodriguez (Esp) 68 75, Juan Quiros (Esp) 67 76, Jeff Hawkes (RSA) 70 73, Doug Johnson (USA) 70 73, Hugh Baiocchi (RSA) 70 73,
144 Gary Player (RSA) 69 75, Nick Job (Eng) 76 68, Martin Foster (Eng) 71 73, Seiji Ebihara (Jpn) 70 74, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 74 70, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 72 72, David Good (Aus) 71 73, Bob Larratt (Eng) 72 72, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 73 71, Tony Charnley (Eng) 73 71, Hale Irwin (USA) 73 71.

DID NOT QUALIFY FOR FINAL 36 HOLES

145 David Ishii (USA) 74 71, Bob Charles (Nzl) 72 73, Bruce Heuchan (Can) 74 71, Peter Teravainen (USA) 72 73, Bob Gilder (USA) 74 71, Phil Hinton (Eng) 73 72, Mark Johnson (USA) 71 74, Arthur Pierse (Am) (Irl) 73 72
146 Peter Townsend (Eng) 74 72, Martin Poxon (Eng) 72 74, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 74 72, Dale Douglass (USA) 72 74, Mitch Adcock (USA) 78 68, Peter Dahlberg (Swe) 75 71, Dick Mcclean (USA) 69 77, Thomas Herzan (USA) 71 75, Daniel Talbot (Can) 76 70, Bill Malley (USA) 76 70
147 Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 70 77, Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 75 72, Manuel Piñero (Esp) 73 74, Jimmy Heggarty (Nir) 71 76, Donald Stirling (Aut) 77 70, Denis Durnian (Eng) 71 76, John Mashego (RSA) 72 75, Pat Mcgowan (USA) 75 72, Russell Weir (Sco) 72 75, Joe Clark Jnr (USA) 76 71, Ray Stewart (Can) 71 76
148 Gavan Levenson (RSA) 76 72, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 74 74, Craig Maltman (Sco) 75 73, Neil Coles (Eng) 75 73, Sam Torrance (Sco) 73 75, John Mctear (Sco) 70 78, Martin Gray (Sco) 74 74
149 Jim Rhodes (Eng) 77 72, Massy Kuramoto (Jpn) 73 76, Greg Hopkins (USA) 74 75, Ian Mosey (Eng) 73 76, Jerry Anderson (Can) 70 79, Alan B Foster (Am) (USA) 78 71, Adrian Morrow (Am) (Irl) 76 73
150 Terry Gale (Aus) 78 72, Adan Sowa (Arg) 75 75
151 Buddy Harston (USA) 74 77, Pete Oakley (USA) 75 76, Chris Hooper (USA) 73 78, Brian Jones (Aus) 76 75
152 Tony Price (Wal) 72 80, Maurice Bembridge (Eng) 78 74, Noboru Sugai (Jpn) 76 76
153 Mariano Aparicio (Esp) 75 78
154 Ray Carrasco (USA) 73 81
155 Tr Jones (USA) 80 75, Steve Martin (Sco) 80 75, Julian Sutton (Am) (Eng) 75 80
157 Antonio Garrido (Esp) 79 78
160 Trevor Fisher Snr (Rsa) 81 79, Stephen Bonham (Eng) 87 73
162 Bob Lendzion (USA) 80 82
165 Billy Todd (Nir) 85 80
Jerry Bruner (USA) 80 Disq
John Bland (RSA) 69 W/D
Peter Lamb (Am) (Sco) 83 Disq

MISTY ROYAL ABERDEEN PRO-AM

SAM CAIRNS COMES HOME IN 31
TO GET A SHARE OF FIRST PLACE


North-east professionals Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) and Dean Vannet (Peterculter) shared first place with Westerwood’s Sam Cairns at the end of a fog-affected Grampian Houston Junior Golf pro-am at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club today.
Cairns, one of the later starters, came storming home in four-under-par 31 for four-under-par 67 to match the long-time clubhouse leaders, McInnes and Vannet, who had been in the third and fourth groups off the first tee.
The three joint leaders each earned around £1,500 each from the total prize fund of £12,785.
Ken Hutton (Downfield) finished fourth on his own on 68
Several suspensions of play because of the reduced visibility added up to about two hours being added to the schedule. The last group finished at approximately 8.45pm.
Sam Cairns also steered the Ritson Smith trio of amateurs, Niall Farquharson (6), David McEwing (10) and Damian McGann (18) to victory in the team event with a net score of 14-under-par 57.
They won by one shot from Finlay Menzies (Milngavie) and the Mayen Holdings team of Jim McNeil (12), George McCulloch (6) and James Dick (7).
The Grampian Houston Junior Golf Fund pro-am - and the dinner which follows it - raises enough money to send a 12-strong party of the best boy and girl golf prospects in the North-east for a 10-day trip to Houston, Texas where Banchory man Bruce Davidson, now the director of golf at River Oaks Country Club over there, plays host.

LEADING PROFESSIONALS
67 G McInnes (Murcar Links), D Vannet (Peterculter), S Cairns (Westerwood).
68 K Hutton (Downfield).
69 E Cameron (Hamilton), B Davidson (River Oaks CC), J Stevenson (Braehead), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), A Reid (unatt).
70 G Lornie (Aspire), M King (Kingsfield).
71 K McDonald (Braeburn CC), K Walker (Castle Park), C Ronald (Torrance House).
72 S Henderson (Kings Links), C Gillies (Kingsfield), G McFarlane (Clydebank & Dist), M Loftus (Cowglen), R Drummond (Prestwick GR).

NORTH-EAST SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

MIKE LETS TITLE HAT-TRICK GET
AWAY FROM HIM AT BANFF


Duff House Royal’s Mike Jenkins, playing over his home course, crashed at the third last hole when within sight of a hat-trick of successes in the North-east District seniors’ championship,
Winner of the title at Alford and Turriff over the past two years, Mike ran up a 7 at the par-3 16th and finished on 70.
He was pipped for the title by Banff clubmate John Sim who shot a one-over-par 69.
LEADING SCORES
(Par 68, CSS 69)
SCRATCH
69 J Sim (Duff House Royal).
70 M Jenkins (Duff House Royal).
72 A J Eddie (Deeside), W S Fyfe (Murcar Links), N W Kerr (Deeside), C Alexander (Murcar Links), A Laird (Deeside), A Milne (Duff House Royal).
73 W G Methven (Royal Aberdeen), V T Stewart (Deeside).
74 G Angus (Huntly), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links), E M C Joss (Hazlehead).
75 I Buchan (Strathlene), H S McKenzie (Insch), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links), F G Gray (Deeside).
HANDICAP
Class 1 – V T Stewart (Deeside) (9) 64; N W Kerr (Deeside)(6) 66; H S McKenzie (Insch) (8), A Milne (DHR) (5), G M Young (Inverallochy) (9) 67.
Class 2 – J Nicol (DHR) (11) 66; A C Birnie (Deeside) (11) 68; A McPherson (Insch) (13) 69; F F MacRae (Murcar Links) (12), K Bennions (Longside) (18) 70.

IRISH JUNIOR GOLF NEWS

Sorry the Irish junior news was squeezed out of Thursday's reports.
Here it is now:

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
BOYS' INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
Roscommon Golf Club
CONNACHT 5 ½ MUNSTER 3 ½
(Connacht names first):
Foursomes: S O’Connor & K McDonagh lost to D Ronayne & D Ruddy 6/5; S Healy & T McGowan halved with S Gallivan & E Stack; M Durcan & S Brady bt D King & E Long 3/2.
Singles: S Healy halved with D Ruddy; S O’Connor halved with S Gallivan; P Neville lost to P O’Connor 6/5; T McGowan bt D King 4/3; K McDonagh bt E Long 5/3; M Durcan bt D Ronayne 5/4.
ULSTER 5 ½ LEINSTER 3 ½
(Ulster names first):
Foursomes: P Cutler & L Reilly lost to N Kearney & J Monaghan 2/1; P O’Kane & J Patterson bt B Keenan & E Marsden 7/6; R McGee & C Fairweather bt C Drumm & C Barron 7/6.
Singles: Paul Cutler bt B Keenan 4/3; L Reilly bt N Kearney 2/1; P O’Kane lost to A Hogan 2/1; C Fairweather bt J Monaghan 4/3; C Barron bt J Patterson 1 hole; C Drumm halved with P Reavey.Result of Championship: 1. Ulster; 2. Leinster; 3. Connacht; 4. Munster.

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
YOUTHS INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES
Sponsored by GolfsureRoscommon Golf Club
CONNACHT 5 MUNSTER 4
(Connacht names first)
Foursomes: S Kelly & T Walsh lost to A O’Callaghan & K Stack 2/1; M Mulryan & A Glynn bt S Power & C McNamara 4/2; J McNicholas & S Ginty lost to T O’Flynn & S Hackett 2/1.
Singles: C O’Connor bt C McNamara 1 hole; A Glynn lost to S Power 4/3; M Mulryan lost to A O’Callaghan 4/3; T Walsh bt T O’Flynn 1 hole; J McNicholas bt G Smyth 5/4; S Ginty bt K Stack 2/1.
ULSTER 5 LEINSTER 4
(Ulster names first)
Foursomes: F Rafferty & D Gallagher halved with S Lowry & D Lernihan; D Leathem & G Reid bt S Ward & P O’Hanlon 3/2; W McCully & P McMahon halved with C Curley & A Pitcher.
Singles: C Hughes lost to N O Briain 4/3; F Rafferty bt P O’Hanlon 1 hole; D Gallagher bt A Pitcher 3/1; D Leathem bt S Lowry 3/2; G Reid lost to D Lernihan 1 hole; W McCully lost to S Ward 3/2.
Result of Championship: 1. Leinster; 2. Connacht; 3. Ulster; 4. Munster.

EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS

CARLY HANGS ON TO SHARE OF THE LEAD
AS SALLY WATSON MOVES UP TO SEVENTH

Comrie’s Carly Booth had to give up the outright lead but she is still hanging on in their in a triple tie for the pole position after two rounds of the girls’ championship in the European Young Masters at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria.
Carly has had rounds of 70 and 73 and has been joined on the 143 mark by the Spanish ace Carlota Ciganda (Spain) with 72 and 71 as well as Saskia Hausladen (Germany), 72 and 71.
Scotland’s other representative, Sally Watson from South Queensferry, took closer order with a 72 – five shots better than her first round – and is in seventh place on 149. There is a field of 40 girls.
Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow is a shot ahead of Sally with a pair of 74s.
Scotland are not doing so well in the boys’ championship which is being led by Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo on 136 with scores of 66 and 70.
Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck is back in a share of 16th place on 149 with scores of 78 and 71.
Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) is sharing 30th place in a field of 50 boys after a 75 and 80 for 155.

SCOREBOARDS

BOYS
136 Pedro Figueiredo (Por) 766 70.
138 Maxmilian Kieffer (Ger) 70 68.
139 Sean Einhaus (Ger) 70 69, Anders Kristensen (Nor) 68 71.
Also:
142 Kevin Metcalfe (Ire) 69 73 (7th).
146 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 71 75 (jt 11th).
149 Michael Stewart (Sco) 78 71, Luke Lennox (Ire) 75 74 (jt 16th).
152 Adam Myers (Eng) 73 79 (jt 24th).
155 Tom Spencer (Sco) 75 80 (jt 30th).
158 Thomas Lowery (Wales) 78 80 (jt 37th).

GIRLS
143 Carlota Ciganda (Spa) 72 71, Saskia Hausladen (Ger) 72 71, Carly Booth (Sco) 70 73.
145 Marta Silva (Spa) 72 73, Giulia Molinaro (Ita) 72 73.
1448 Stephanie Meadow (Ire) 74 74.
149 Sally Watson (Sco) 77 72.
150 Katherine O’Connor (Wal) 78 72.
Also:
152 Rachel Connor (Eng) 78 74 (jt 10th).
155 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) 76 79 (jt 20th).
164 Hannah Barwood (Eng) 84 80 (35th).
172 Kelly Miller (Wal) 85 87 (40th).

SCOTTISH UNDER-21 GIRLS STROKE-PLAY

KRYSTLE SETS TWO MORE RECORDS IN
WINNING TITLE BY ELEVEN SHOTS

Sparkling Krystle Caithness completed a hat-trick of records yesterday (FRIDAY) in winning the Scottish Under-21 girls' golf championship with a brilliant 54-hole performance at Stirling Golf Club.
After her 10-under-par course record opening round of 64, the 17-year-old from Cellardyke, Fife, added a pair of 69s for a staggering total of 20-under-par 202.
That shattered the previous tournament low record of 209 set by the 1996 winner, Laura Moffat.
Krystle, who started the final round 10 shots clear of Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) and Kesley MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), won in the end by 11 from Miss McNicoll. Almost certainly, that is the biggest winning margin achieved in the championship.
It was yet another peak achieved this season by Krystle who won the St Rule Trophy women's open over her home courses at St Andrews in early June. But the selectors of the Great Britain and Ireland team for this weekend's Curtis Cup match in Oregon felt she was not quite ready for the match against the United States and made her only second reserve.
"That has to be the best golf I've played over three consecutive rounds," said Krystle. "My swing was not quite right last week in the Scottish girls' match-play championship but I got my coach, Donald McKay and Steve McNally (the Scottish Institute of Sport's high-performance coach) to have a look at me before I came to Stirling.
"Everything clicked together in that 64 in the first round when I reach the turn in eight-under-par 30 with two eagles and four birdies. After that it was just a case of keeping my momentum going."
Katy McNicoll, a better player after a season on the American college circuit for Lynn University, Florida, had rounds of 71, 72 and 70 for nine-under-par 213, a total that would normally have won the Under-21s title.
Katy, sister of East of Scotland Open champion Keir McNicoll, reached the turn in five-under-par 33 in her last round but made up only one shot on playing partner Krystle Caithness!
Kelsey MacDonald, the 15-year-old repeating Northern Counties women's champion, shot 70, 73 and 72 to be a highly creditable third on 215.
The first seven players all finished with sub-par 54-hole totals, which is a great advertisement for the Scottish junior women's golf. Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 216, Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) 217, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 219 and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), also 219, all can look back with pride on their efforts.
Defending champion Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) finished with her best round of the three, a 71, for 224 to finish eighth.

Krystle, who will not be 18 until next January, retained the Menzies Trophy for the best performance by an Under-18 year old.
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) had the best 54-hole aggregate by an Under-16 year old and Eilidh Briggs (Kilmalcolm had the best three-round gross total by an Under-14 year old

SCOTTISH UNDER-21 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Stirling Golf Club.
FINAL TOTALS (Par 74, CSS 73 72 72)

202 K Caithness (St Regulus) 64 69 69.
213 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 71 72 70.
215 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 70 73 72
216 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 70 74 72.
217 G Webster (Hilton Park) 67 79 71
219 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 72 72, R Niven (Crieff) 69 75 75.
224 L Fleming (The Roxburghe) 77 76 71.
226 J Turner (Mortonhall) 74 77 75.
227 V Stevenson (Stirling) 76 78 73.
228 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 82 74 72.
230 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 80 71, K Harper (Inverness) 77 81 72.
231 K Wells (Dumfries & Co) 78 79 74, H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 79 76 76, L Hendry (Routenburn) 75 76 80, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 76 75 80.
232 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ) 81 77 74, L Murray (Alford) 79 74 79.
233 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 79 78 76.
236 L MacGregor (Falkirk) 85 77 74.
238 S Herd (Dunblane New) 87 74 77.
239 H Harvey (St Rule) 84 82 73.
240 A Ingram (Fort Willliam) 77 85 78, L Whitehead (Droitwich) 78 79 83, R Wilson (Monifieth) 79 78 73, F Blair (Monifieth) 75 79 86.
241 D Dewar (Stirling Univ) 76 83 82.
242 L Mackin (Majorca) 83 83 76, S-D Wilson (Murcar Links) 81 82 79.
245 E MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) 84 83 78, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 82 79 84.
246 S Vass (Tain) 86 77 83.
248 R Watton (Mortonhall) 87 79 82.
249 A Niven (Crieff) 82 88 79, G Scanlan (Hamilton) 85 82 82, J Meldrum(Dullatur) 78 85 86.
250 L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 84 80 86, V Smith (Barassie) 83 80 87.
251 J Vilakazi (Merchants of Edinburgh) 87 86 78.
253 C Easton (Dalmahoy) 85 86 82.
254 J Linklater (Largs) 91 85 78, J Sneddon (Alyth) 87 83 84, I Craigie (Torwoodlee) 78 89 87.
255 A McGarty (Harubrn) 84 82 89.
256 C McLoughlin (Gullane) 88 84 84, S Leslie (Westhill) 84 84 88.
259 Z Differ (Dullatur) 87 89 83, C Mulholland (HIlton Park) 87 82 90.
261 K Differ (Dullatur) 89 79 93.
262 G Simpson (Baberton) 82 92 88, R McIntyre (Eden) 82 87 93.
266 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck) 91 82 93.
268 S Horsburgh (Dunbar) 93 85 80.
269 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh) 92 84 93, G Arnott (Kilbirnie Place) 85 87 97.
272 L Meldrum (Dullatur) 89 94 89.
276 H Goodwin (Glenbervie) 89 92 95.
278 M Aird (Strathmore) 100 91 87, K Scott (Windyhill) 91 97 90, N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 90 91 97.
280 R Hanlon (St Regulus) 94 94 92, K Dunbar (Aberfeldy) 92 93 95.
298 J Vass (Tain) 99 101 98.

PGA EUROPRO TOUR

SCOTS EARN LITTLE AT MOLLINGTON

 

Former Scottish amateur champion Graham Gordon earned only £326 for a three-under-par total of 210 and a share of 23rd place in the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event, the GMS Classic at Mollington Golf Club, Chester.

The Aberdonian had rounds of 71, 71 and 68.

The only other Scot to make the 36-hole cut, Ross Cameron from Ellon, finished in a tie for 43rd place with scores of 70, 69 and 75 for 214. He earned £227.

James Ruebotham, playing out of Nick Faldo's old club, Welwyn Garden City, won the £10,000 top prize by beating fellow Englishman Christopher Hansen (Crosland Heath) in a sudden death play-off.

They had tied on 11-under-par 202, Ruebotham with scores of 66, 69 and 67, Hansen with 69, 67 and 66. Hansen earned £5,000.

 

 

MARY MACALLAY CUP

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES ON SATURDAY


SATURDAY is the deadline for entries to the Mary MacAllay Cup, one of the premier 36-hole open golf tournaments on the Scottish women's amateur golf calendar, at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club on Sunday, August 13. Entries can be phoned to secretary Christine Glen at 01461 40266.

DRAMATIC FINISH AT ALLOA

McALLISTER WINS SCOTTISH BOYS TITLE
WHEN SALTMAN BOGEYS THE LAST

Shaun McAllister beat Craigielaw clubmate Zack Saltman in a two-player shoot-out over the last 18 holes of the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship at hot and humid Alloa Golf Club today.
McAllister, a 17-year-old +1 player who had never won anything of note, had made the running through the first 54 holes, a third-round 68 for 11-under-par 199 extending his overnight lead to four shots over Saltman who had a 70 for 203.
From there it should have been plain sailing for Master McAllister. But it wasn't.
"My driving had started to go off in the third round and it continued to get worse in the fourth," said Sean who double-bogeyed the third and seventh (where he went out of bounds with his second).
Then he had a double bogey 6 from the left rough at the 10th and then a potentially catastrophic triple bogey 7 at the 12th after a bad drive left.
At that point McAllister had plummeted to only three over par for the tournament and was now four shots adrift of Saltman, who had his talented brothers Lloyd and Elliot, not to mention mum and dad in the big gallery.
"By the 13th tee, I'm just trying to hang on for second place. I'm thinking there's no way I can win this now,"said Saun.
But the wheel of fortune was just about to spin back McAllister's way. He covered the last six holes in one under par with a 25ft putt dropping for a birdie at the 16th. In contrast, Saltman bogeyed the 13th, 14th (with three putts) and 17th.
That put the pair dead level after 71 holes at four under par. McAllister played a "wee four-iron" pin high at the 191yd, par-3 last. Saltman underclubbed just short of the putting surface. He took three to get down from there for a fourth bogey in the last six holes,
McAllister putted dead for a 3 and a seven-over 77 which was good enough to win him the title with a total of four-under-par 276, one ahead of the hapless Saltman who signed off with a bitterly-disappointing 74..
"I've never felt so gutted in all my life," said Zack.
English teenanger Tom Hayes from West Byfleet, Surrey finished third, four shots behind silver medallist Saltman on 281.
Former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) finished fourth on 282, thanks to a third-round 65.
Sam McLaren (King James VI), joint seventh overall on 285, won the George MacDonald Trophy for the best performance by an Under-16 year old. A week or two ago Sam won the Scottish Under-16 boys' title at Deeside.
Collated end of play score
FINAL TOTALS (Par 70 x 4; CSS 72 71 71 71)
276 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67 68 77.
277 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 69 64 70 74.
281 T Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70 74 69.
282 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71 65 72.
284 R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72 70 68, L Kirton (Newmachar) 74 72 70 68.
285 S McLaren (King James VI) 70 75 67 73, G Doverspike (US) 71 72 69 73, J Byrne (Banchory) 71 71 68 75, W Sjaichudin (US) 73 70 73 69.
286 A Murdoch (Stranraer) 72 72 72 70, R Bell (Downfield) 74 68 72 72, J Meechan (Dullatur) 75 67 73 71, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70 70 75, M Brittan (Saltford) 68 70 75 73.
287 A Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 72 70 70.
288 J Bradley (Paisley) 69 70 77 72.
289 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76 69 74, J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 71 73 71.
291 N Henderson (The Glen) 73 72 76 70.
293 F Fotheringham (Nairn) 71 74 75 73, D Elder (Carnosutie) 71 72 76 74.
294 K Smith (Barassie) 69 74 77 74.
296 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 74 73 78 71, J Duff (Newmachar) 78 69 76 73.
297 G Mitchell (Northern) 73 73 76 75, C Storrier (Downfield) 71 73 78 75, J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 73 81 72.
299 P Keeling (North Berwick) 72 74 76 77, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 69 79 76, P Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77 75 82, C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 68 76 80.
300 J Mackay (Barassie) 71 67 82 80.
301 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 74 73 80 74, M Bookless (Sandyhills) 71 71 79 80.
302 J Caldwell (Greenock) 76 71 75 80, A Campbell (Dumbarton) 73 71 76 82.
303 D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74 70 86.
306 F Lawrie (West Kilbride) 76 71 81 78.
307 S Fraser (Northern) 77 70 79 81.

PGA EUROPRO TOUR

NE PAIR QUALIFY BUT MITCHELL, ROGER FAIL

Ross Cameron from Ellon and Aberdeen's Graham Gordon made the cut after 36 holes of the latest event on the PGA EuroPro Tour, the GMS Classic at Mollington Golf Club, Chester.
But David Roger (Windyhill) and Blairgowrie's Colin Mitchell both missed out by five shots.
Cameron shot 70 and 69 for three-under 139 and is lying in joint 14th place. Gordon has had a pair of 71s for a share of 36th place on level par 142.
Roger shot 77 and 71 while Mitchell scored 73 and 75,  both on 148. Only those with 143 and better will play the final round.
Englishman Andrew Willey, 68 and 64 for 10-under-par 132, leads by two shots from compatriot Matthew Cort (69-65).

EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS

CARLY (70) LEADS BY TWO
STROKES  IN AUSTRIA


Comrie's 14-year-old Carly Booth took a big step towards gaining an automatic place in this year's Junior Ryder Cup match when she opened up a two-stroke lead at the end of the first round of the girls' section in the European Young Masters for Under-16s at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria.
Carly shot a 70 to have Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Marta Silva, plus Saskia Hausladen (Germany) and Giulia Molinaro (Italy) sharing second place on 72.
Scotland's other representative in the girls' event, Sally Watson from South Queensferry was in joint 14th place after a 77.

LEADING GIRLS' SCORES

70 Carly Booth (Scotland).
72 Saskia Hausladen (Germany), Marta Silva (Spain), Carolot Ciganda (Spain), Giulia Molinaro (Italy).
73 Nicola Rossler (Germany).
Other scores:
74 Stephanie Meadow (Ireland (jt 7th).
77 Sally Watson (Scotland) (jt 14th).
78 Catherine O'Connor (Wales), Rachel Connor (England) (jt 16th).
84 Hannah Barwood (England) (jt 34th).

NOTE
The European Golf Association website is showing only last year's boys' totals - no first-round scores for today on display.

SCOTTISH UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP

KRYSTLE HAS A GEM OF A ROUND
(10 UNDER PAR 64) AT STIRLING

Seventeen-year-old Fifer Krystle Caithness is only second reserve for this weekend's Curtis Cup match in Oregon. But when Great Britain & Ireland skipper Ada O'Sullivan hears that Krystle shot a course record of 10-under-par 64 at Stirling yesterday (THU) she might be regretting that there are no Scots in her squad.
Playing in the first round of the Scottish Under-21 girls' open stroke-play championship, Miss Caithness opened up a three-shot lead with 36 holes still to be played.
It was, of course, the best round, the best golf that Miss Caithness has ever played - and she has played a lot of very good ones to amass the amount of trophies and titles in her collection on her sideboard at the family home in Cellardyke.
The tournament started with the Stirling women's course record standing at 71, set by a former Curtis Cup star and past Scottish champion, Alison (Rose Davidson). By the end of the first round, some five players had got inside the old figure and Krystle had lowered it to a staggering 64 in hot and humid conditions.
She could play golf for another 50 years and not have another outward half like the one she had at Stirling - eight under par 30 - with eagles at the first and seventh, birdies at the second, third, fourth and eighth.
Coming home, Miss Caithness actually bogeyed the 12th before catching fire again with birdies at the 13th, 16th and 17th for two-under-par 34.
Other players to break 70 in a super advertisement for the standard of Scottish girls golf were Ohio State University team player Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) with a 67 and Roseanne Niven (Crieff), winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play title at Peebles last week, with a 69.


SCOTTISH UNDER-21 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Stirling Golf Club
FIRST ROUND (Par 74)
64 K Caithness (St Regulus).
67 G Webster (Hilton Park).
69 R Niven (Crieff).
70 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
71 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
74 J Turner (Mortonhall).
75 L Hendry (Routenburn), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), F Blair (Monifieth).
76 V Stevenson (Stirling), E Fairnie (Peebles), D Dewar (Stirling Univ).
77 L Fleming (The Roxburghe), K Harper (Inverness), A Ingram (Fort William)
78 L Whitehead (Droitwich), I Craigie (Torwoodlee), J Meldrum (Dullatur), K Wells (Dumfries & Co).
79 L Murray (Alford), M Briggs (Kilmacolm), P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), R Wilson (Monifieth), H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park).
81 C-M Carlton (Stirling Univ), S-D Wilson (Murcar Links).
82 A Niven (Crieff), E Briggs (Kilmacolm), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), R McIntyre (Eden), G Simpson (Baberton).
83 L Mackin (Majorca), V Smith (Barassie).
84 E Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), A McGarty (Harburn), H Harvey (St Rule), S Leslie (Westhill).
85 C Easton (Dalmahoy), L MacGregor (Falkirk).
86 S Vass (Tain).
87 J Vilakazi (Merchants of Edinburgh), Z Differ (Dullatur), J Sneddon (Alyth).
89 K Differ (Dullatur), L Allan (Kilbirnie Place).
91 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies).
92 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh), K Dunbar (Aberfeldy).
93 S Horsburgh (Dunbar).
98 A Smith (Kirriemuir).

SCOTTISH BOYS STROKE-PLAY

SHAUN FOUR AHEAD WITH ONE ROUND TO GO

Shaun McAllister seems determined to make every post a winning one in the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship at Alloa Golf Club's Schawpark course.
Leader from the start after an outstanding six-under-par 64 in the first round, the Craigielaw teenager shot a third-round 68 to double his overnight lead of two from clubmate Zack Saltman.
At the start of the final day of 36 holes, it looked like a two-horse race between the Craigielaw lads. Now, with one round to go, it looks all over bar the shouting for the pacemaker they could not catch.
McAllister is on 11-under-par 199, with Saltman having a 70 for 203.
Next best are two North-east players, former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) with a 65 for 210, the same score as James Byrne (Banchory), the NE youths champion and also NE boys stroke-play title-holder. James had a 68 for 210.
LEADING TOTALS WITH ONE ROUND TO GO

199 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67 68.
203 Zack Saltman (Criagielaw) 69 64 70.
210 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71 65, James Byrne (Banchory) 71 71 68.
211 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70 70, Sam McLaren (King James VI) 70 75 67, Grant Doverspike (US) 71 72 69, Tom Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70 74.
213 Max Brittain (Saltford) 68 70 75.
214 Ross Bell (Downfield) 74 69 72.
215 Chris Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76 69, Jack Meechan (Colville Park) 75 67 73.
216 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72 70, Lewis Kirton (Newmachar0 74 72 70, Alan Murdoch (Stranraer) 72 72 72, William Sjaichudin (US) 73 70 73, Jack Braley (paisley)_ 69 70 77.
217 David Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74 70, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 72 70, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77 75.

CURTIS CUP WARM-UP VICTORY

GB&I BEAT CANADIANS

The Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team have beaten Canada in a four-ball, better-ball warm-up match for this week's "real thing" against the United States at Bandon Dunes Resort, Oregon.
The scoreline in the unofficial match versus the Canadians was 2 1/2-1 1/2 to Ada O'Sullivan's squad of eight.
The match was played at Shanguassy Golf Club.
RESULTS (Canadian pairings first):

Kira Meixner & Jessicia Potter halved with Tricia Mangan & Kiran Matharu.

Christina Spence & Ashley Hogg lost to Naomi Edwards & Martina Gillen 4 and 3.

Caroline Kim & Julie Kim lost to Breanne Loucks & Melissa Reid 5 and 4.

Bari Erais & Meaghan Leblanc beat Tara Delaney & Claire Coughlan 3 and 2.

Oregon time is 8 hours behind us in the UK.
The Curtis Cup match will be screened live in the UK by Sky Sports 3 on July 29 and 30 at half-past midnight each night.
If you would like to send a good luck message to Ada and her team, send the Ladies Golf Union an E-mail at curtiscup@lgu.org

ENGLISH WOMEN'S STROKE-PLAY

FLORENTYNA, SOPHIE SHARE

LEAD AT HALFWAY

Florentyna Parker and Sophie Walker share the halfway lead in the English women's (close) stroke-play championship at Little Aston Golf Club.
Both players are on three-under par 143 after 36 holes. They are three shots clear of Joanne Hodge (Knowle), who has scored 146 (72, 74).
There's a two-stroke gap to the next group on 148: Rachel Jennings of Izaak Walton (73, 75), Hannah Ralph of Cowdray Park (74, 74) and Charlie Douglass of Brocket Hall (75, 73).

Conditions were difficult in close, muggy weather and Florentyna, the first round leader, felt she struggled all day.
The 16-year-old from Royal Birkdale added a two-over 75 to her opening 68 and said: "It was a good bad round. I struggled from start to finish but overall I'm happy with the result."
Sophie - a former champion - had her second sub-par round, returning a one-under 72.
She reached the turn at one under and came home in level par, with two bogeys and two birdies "The course was not running so fast today but it was difficult," she said. "I just played steadily and now I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
The low round of the day was a two-under 71 from former English champion Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) while Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Lisa Barton (Coventry) also beat par in the second rounds with 72.
Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) had an uncharacteristic slump - from 70 to 82 for 152.

Now, the leading 36 players, with a cut of 157 go forward to Thursday's final 36 holes.

LEADING QUALIFIERS

143 S Walker 71 72, F Parker 68 75.

146 J Hodge 72 74.

147 E Bennett 75 72.

148 K Smith 77 71, C Douglass 74 74, R Jennings 73 75.

150 H Burke 75 75.

151 F Johnson 76 75, L Ball 73 78, R wood 73 78.

152 L Barton 80 72, L Taylor 79 73, E Lyons 78 74, R Bell 75 77, E Duggleby 70 82.

ALL THE SCORES AT SCHAWPARK

SCOTTISH BOYS’ OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Alloa Golf Club

 

QUALIFIERS (Par 70 x 2)

 

131 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 64 67.

133 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 69 64.

138 J Mackay (Barassie) 71 67, M Brittan (Saltford) 68 70, T Hayes (West Byfleet) 68 70.

139 J Bradley (Paisley) 69 70.

141 G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70.

142 J Byrne (Banchory) 71 71, M Bookless (Sandyhlls) 71 71, J Meechan (Dullatur) 75 67, P Shields (Kirkhill) 65 77.

143 K Smith (Barassie) 69 74, C Gray (West Kilbride) 75 68, D Elder  (Carnoustie) 71 72, W Sjaichudin (US), G Doverspike (US) 71 72,

144 J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 73, C Storrier (Downfield) 71 73, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 69, A Campbell (Dumbarton) 73 71, A Murdoch (Stranraer).

145 J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 71, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 75, N Henderson (The Glen) 73 72, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 71 74.

146 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76, R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 72, L Kirton (Newmachar) 74 72, G Mitchell (Northern) 73 73, P Keeling (North Berwick) 72 74.

147 A Wallace (Glenbervie), 75 72, J Duff (Newmachar) 78 69, S Fraser (Northern) 77 70, F Lawrie (West Kilbride) 76 71, D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 73 74, J Caldwell (Greeenock) 76 71, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 745 73, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 74 73.

 

NON-QUALIFIERS

 

148 C McCallum (Paisley) 72 76, J White (Lundin) 77 71, R Anderson (Duddingston) 75 73, S Barras (Helensburgh) 77 71, S Winter (Crieff) 75 73, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 76, C Lutton (Qatar) 76 72, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 74, M Daily (Erskine) 74 74, S Binning (Old Ranfurly) 73 75.

149 G Reid (Newbattle) 72 77, S Cramb (St Andrews) 76 73.

150 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 77 73, A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 80 70, J Reid (Royal Musselburgh) 75 75, T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 79 71, E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 74, M Williams (Craigielaw) 77 73, M Cunningham (Longniddry) 73 77.

151 F McKenna (Balmore) 75 76, R Delaney (Hamilton) 78 73, S Crichton (Aberdour) 81 70, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 78 73, S Bell (Wishaw) 74 77, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 76 75, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 77 74, W Payne (US) 71 80, G Hunter (Douglas) 74 77,

C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 77 74, O Lavelle (Elderslie) 79 72, A Aitken (Kirkcudbright) 79 72.

152 C Wyper (Campsie) 78 74, D Currie (Barassie) 75 77, L Adamson (Ganton) 78 74, A Moir (Thornton) 75 77, D Harrison (Crieff) 75 77,

M Fraser (Glencruitten) 74 78, M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 71 81, A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 71 81.

153 G Davidson (Winterfield ) 72 81, F Campbell (Clober) 75 78, B Modak (US 78 75, A Willemars (Blairgowrie) 77 76.

154 S Stables (Elgin) 82 72, D Mitchell (Leven Th) 78 76, E Brown (Barassie) 77 77, C Kneen (Mount Murray) 79 75, S Keane (Cathkin Braes) 77 77, M Main (Thornton) 78 76.

 155 P Neil (Craigielaw) 84 71, S Mann (Moray) 80 75, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 84 71, C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 79 76, A Royal (Blankney) 81 74, F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) 79 76, N Macandrew (Cullne) 79 76.

 156 J Grant (Renfrew) 80 76, K Harper (Carnoustie) 78 78, S Tully (Duddingston) 80 76, G Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan) 77 79, O Browne (US) 76 80.

157 S Maxwell (Windyhill) 80 77, M Thomson (Grange & Dundee) 76 81, J Denwood (Eden) 80 77, C Grant (Linlithgow) 81 76, D Torrance (Wentworth) 79 78, P Ferrier (Babeton) 79 78, T Garrett (Melthanm) 80 77.

158 S McComish (Baberton) 81 77, G Young (Baberton) 78 80, A Lauder (Paisley) 88 70, N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar) 76 82, D Borthwick (Penrith) 81 77, R Penny (Portlethen) 76 82, N Maddison (Parklands) 80 78.

159 G Wilson (Ladybank) 81 78, J Shanks (Ardeer) 85 74, S Smith (Dullatur) 81 78, K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) 87 72, C Ruane (Cardross) 75 84.

160 R Docherty (Bearsden) 79 81, D Murray (Newbattle) 77 83, P Robinson (Millport) 83 77, K McLeod (US) 79 81.

161 S Henderson (Barassie) 80 81, D Law (Hazlehead) 86 75, J Thow (Crieff) 78 82, A Killen (St Andrews) 79 82, C McLaughlin (Largs) 85 76,

162 B Irving (Dumfries & Co) 80 82.

163 K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 86, K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 86.

164 K Donnellan (Dunbar) 81 83, C Young (Eastwood) 85 79.

165 S Carmichael (Baberton) 82 83.

166 K Jackson (Craigie Hill) 83 83.

167 M Brand (Tain) 77 90.

168 J Jeffrey (Nairn) 86 82, C Williamson (US) 84 84.

172 J Hendrick (Pollok) 84 88.

 

IRISH JUNIOR MATCHES

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
BOYS INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club

LEINSTER 5 ½   CONNACHT 3 ½
(Leinster names first):
Foursomes: N Kearney & J Monaghan bt S Brady & K McDonagh 3/2; B Keenan & E Marsden bt T McGowan & S Healy 2/1; C Drumm & C Barron bt S O’Connor & P Neville 2 holes.
Singles: N Kearney halved with S Healy; A Hogan bt M Durcan 1 hole; B Keenan bt S Brady 5/4; E Marsden lost to K McDonagh 6/4; J Monaghan lost to T McGowan 1 hole; C Drumm lost to S O’Connor 4/3.

ULSTER 6 ½   MUNSTER 2 ½
(Ulster names first):
Foursomes: L Reilly & P Cutler bt D Ruddy & D Ronayne 2/1; P O’Kane & J Patterson bt S Gallivan & P O’Connor 2 holes; P Reavey & R McGee lost to D King & E Long 2/1.
Singles: P O’Kane bt D Ruddy 2/1; L Reilly bt S Gallivan 3/2; P Cutler bt P O’Connor 3/1; J Patterson halved with D King; C Fairweather bt E Stack 7/5; P Reavey lost to D Ronayne 1 hole.

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
YOUTHS INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club

LEINSTER  6  MUNSTER  3
(Leinster names first)
Foursomes: S Lowry & D Lernihan bt S Power  & C McNamara 2/1; S Ward &
P O’Hanlon bt A O’Callaghan & G Smyth 1 hole; A Pitcher & N O Briain lost to
T O’Flynn & S Hackett 3/2.
Singles: C Curley lost to  S Power 1 hole; S Lowry bt C McNamara 1 hole; D Lernihan bt  A O’Callaghan 2/1; S Ward bt T O’Flynn 2/1; P O’Hanlon bt G Smyth 1 hole;
N O Briain lost to K Stack 1 hole.

CONNACHT 6 ULSTER 3
(Connacht  names first)
Foursomes: C O’Connor & T Walsh  lost to D Leathem & G Reid 2/1; M Mulryan &
A Glynn bt C Hughes & F Rafferty 5/4; S Ginty & J McNicholas bt P McMahon  &
W McCully 3/2.
Singles: S Kelly lost to D Gallagher 1 hole; A Glynn bt D Leathem 4/3; M Mulryan bt
C Hughes 3/2; T Walsh bt G Reid 1 hole; J McNicholas lost to F Rafferty 3/1; C O’Connor bt W McCully 1 hole.

SCOTTISH BOYS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY

CRAIGIELAW KIDS SHAUN AND ZACK

ARE CLEAR OF FIELD AT ALLOA

It’s Craigielaw first and second in the shape of junior members Shaun McAllister on 131 and Zack Saltman on 133 as the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play golf championship swings into the final two rounds over Alloa Golf Club’s Schawpark course on Thursday.

There was always the danger that McAllister would suffer an overnight reaction to leading the first-round field with his best ever score of six-under-par 64.

But if Shaun had any nerves he concealed them well as he shot a 67 to lead the qualifiers with a formidable 36-hole total of nine-under-par 131.

Craigielaw clubmate Zack Saltman, five shots behind Shaun overnight, closed the gap to two by equalling McAllister’s brilliant opening round of 64 for a 133 tally.

And the East Lothian pair have put daylight between themselves and the rest of the qualifiers. Second-placed Zack is five shots ahead of the trio on 138,

English competitors, Max Brittan from Saltford, Bristol and Tom Hayes from West Byfleet, Surrey, and Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie).

Both Brittan and Hayes have shot 68 and 70 for 138 while Mackay led for much of the day after a first-ever hole in one at the 162yd seventh helped him on his way to a second-round 67.

The cut fell at 147 with Scottish boys match-play champion James White from Lundin only one shot on the wrong side of the limit mark. Which was tough luck on James because he had improved by six shots with a 71 for 148.

PGA EUROPRO TOUR

ROSS TOP SCOT AT MOLLINGTON

 

Ross Cameron from Ellon is the top Scot after the opening round of the latest event on the PGA EuroPro Tour, the GMS Classic at Mollington Golf Club, Chester. Cameron birdied the fifth and 11th for a two-under-par 69 to be in joint 11th place.

Aberdonian Graham Gordon birdied the third and fifth but bogeyed the ninth and 15th in returning a 71 to be tied for 45th place.

Only the top 50 after Thursday's second round will go forward. Colin Mitchell from Blairgowrie had a double-bogey 6 at the 15th, only partially redeemed with a birdie 2 at the short 17th as he scored a 73 to be sharing 75th place.

Jason Dransfield (Royal Liverpool) and Welshman David Price share the lead on six-under 65.

SCOTTISH JUNIOR MASTERS QUALIFIER

FORT WILLIAM AND DURNESS YOUNGSTERS
HEAD QUALIFIERS AT INVERNESS

Fort William’s Gary Dunlope and Karen Murray (Durness) headed the 13 boys’ and girls’ qualifiers at Inverness Golf Club on Wednesday for the Scottish Junior Masters Grand Final over the Gleneagles Hotel’s Queen’s Course on Sunday, October 8.
Gary, playing off eight, scored 40pt under the Stableford format – three points clear of Nathan Skene (Garmouth & Kingston) (12), David Laing (Inverness) (9) and Sean Burgess (Nairn Dunbar) (17), who all scored 37pt.
A better inward half earned Nathan the second prize.
Top of the five girl qualifiers, Karen Murray scored 39pt off 32 of a handicap. She finished one ahead of Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (19) with Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) who scored 37pt off +1 of a handicap.
Kelsey, Northern Counties women’s champion for the past two years, was round in a gross 70.
There had been no holes in one recorded in the four previous regional finals over the past few weeks but Andrew Patterson, a 19-handicapper at Duff House Royal, achieved the breakthrough ace in this the last of the series. Andrew, who finished with 30pt and did not qualify, had his hole in one at the 141yd second hole.


SCOTTISH JUNIOR MASTERS – Regional Qualifier No 5 – Inverness Golf Club.
Qualifiers
BOYS
40pt Gary Dunlope (Fort William) (18).
37 Nathan Skene (Garmouth & Kingston) (12) (better inward half), David Laing (Inverness) (9), Sean Burgess (Nairn Dunbar) (17).
36 Liam MacDonald (Brora) (8) (bih), Greg Matheson (Muir of Ord) (20), Callum MacLean (Inverness) (15).
35 Scott Duff (Strathpeffer Spa) (12) (Alexander Wiseman (Fraserburgh) (13) also scored 35 pt but was eliminated on a comparison of the inward halves).
GIRLS
39pt Karen Mackay (Durness) (32).
38 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) (19).
37 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) (+1) (bih), Tracey Stark (Inveraray) (22).
35 Sammy Vass (Tain) (6).

NEWS AND SCORES FROM SCHAWPARK

JAMIE’S ACE PUTS HIM TO THE TOP
OF THE PACK IN SCOTTISH BOYS

Jamie Mackay from Kilmarnock Barassie had a stroke of luck - or was it a stroke of brilliance? - to take a one-shot clubhouse lead on the second day of the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship over Alloa Golf Club's Schawpark course.
Jamie had his first-ever hole in one at the 162yd seventh hole on his way to a second-round 67. That represented a four-stroke improvement for a 36-hole tally of two-under-par 138 and assured him of a place among the 40 (and ties) qualifiers who will go forward to contest Thursday’s final round in the 54-hole event.
Overnight leader Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) with a 64 was one of the later starters.

SCOREBOARD AT 5.30PM

SCOTTISH BOYS’ OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Alloa Golf Club
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS (Par 70)

138 J Mackay (Barassie) 71 67.
139 J Bradley (Paisley) 69 70.
141 G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 70.
142 J Byrne (Banchory) 71 71, M Bookless (Sandyhlls) 71 71, J Meechan (Dullatur) 75 67, P Shields (Kirkhill).
143 K Smith (Barassie) 69 74, C Gray (West Kilbride), D Elder (Carnosutie) 71 72.
144 J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 73, C Storrier (Downfield) 71 73, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 69, A Campbell (Dumbarton) 73 71.
145 J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 71, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 74 71, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 75, N Henderson (The Glen) 73 72.
146 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 70 76.
147 A Wallace (Glenbervie), 75 72, J Duff (Newmachar) 78 69, S Fraser (Northern) 77 70, F Lawrie (West Kilbride) 76 71.
148 C McCallum (Paisley) 72 76, J White (Lundin) 77 71, R Anderson (Duddingston) 75 73, S Barras (Helensburgh) 77 71, S Winter (Crieff), A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 76, C Lutton(Qatar), G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 74.
149 G Reid (Newbattle) 72 77, S Cramb (St Andrews) 76 73.
150 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 77 73, A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 80 70, J Reid (Royal Musselburgh) 75 75, T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 79 71, E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 74.
151 F McKenna (Balmore) 75 76, R Delaney (Hamilton) 78 73, S Crichton (Aberdour) 81 70, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 78 73, S Bell (Wishaw) 74 77, C Baird ( Bothwell Castle) 76 75, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 77 74.
152 C Wyper (Campsie) 78 74, D Currie (Barassie) 75 77, L Adamson (Ganton) 78 74.
153 G Davidson (Winterfield ) 72 81, F Campbell (Clober) 75 78.
154 S Stables (Elgin) 82 72, D Mitchell (Leven Th) 78 76.
155 P Neil (Craigielaw) 84 71, S Mann (Moray) 80 75, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 84 71, C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 79 76, A Royal (Blankney) 81 74, F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) 79 76.
156 J Grant (Renfrew) 80 76.
157 S Maxwell (Windyhill) 80 77, M Thomson (Grange & Dundee) 76 81, J Denwood (Eden) 80 77, C Grant (Linlithgow) 81 76.
158 S McComish (Baberton) 81 77, G Young (Baberton) 78 80, A Lauder (Paisley) 88 70, N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar) 76 82, D Borthwick (Penrith) 81 77.
159 G Wilson (Ladybank) 81 78, J Shanks (Ardeer) 85 74, S Smith (Dullatur) 81 78, K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) 87 72.
160 R Docherty (Bearsden) 79 81, D Murray (Newbattle) 77 83, P Robinson (Millport) 83 77.
161 S Henderson (Barassie) 80 81, D Law (Hazlehead) 86 75, J Thow (Crieff) 78 82.
162 B Irving (Dumfries & Co) 80 82.
163 K Shanks (Hilton Park) 77 86.
164 K Donnellan (Dunbar) 81 83, C Young (Eastwood) 85 79.
165 S Carmichael (Baberton) 82 83.
167 M Brand (Tain) 77 90.

SCOTTISH U-21 GIRLS OPEN

LOUISE FLEMING DEFENDS TITLE AT STIRLING

Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) defends the Scottish Under-21 girls’ open stroke-play championship over 54 holes, starting on Thursday at Stirling Golf Club.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) and Carly Booth (Comrie), two potential challengers, will not be in the field. They are in Austria, competing in the European Young Masters, which also tees off on Thursday.
Roseanne Niven (Crieff), winner of the Scottish Under-18 match-play title at Peebles last week, will be bidding for a double – or even a treble because there is a trophy for the best Under-18 performance at Stirling.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) is the holder of the Under-18 award and, if she returns to the form which won her the St Rule Trophy and made her a Curtis Cup team place contender in the British women’s open amateur championship at Royal County Down, then she could go very close to leading the Stirling field at the end of three rounds.
Others who should do well are Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Kerri Harper (Inverness) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
Two rounds will be played today and a final 18 holes on Friday. There is no cut.

WPGA ONE-DAY SERIES

ALISON GRAY SETS COURSE RECORD

Ormskirk's Alison Gray ran out a comfortable winner, setting a course record in the process, at the sixth and final Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA One Day Series event at Dunham Forest Golf Club.
Gray posted a three-under-par 69, two shots clear of Lysa Jones (Oaks), Mette Hageman (Drentse Golfclub de Gelpenberg), Suzanne Dickens (Thorpe Wood) and Joanne Oliver (Quindell Golf & CC).
Inconsistent bounces on the sun-baked fairways and difficult pin placements caused a certain amount of difficulty for many of the players."That didn't really bother me too much," said a relaxed Gray. "The greens were superb and true -- although I did three-putt the third from about 10ft!"
She cancelled this blemish by chipping in for a birdie on the 18th after posting one more bogey and four birdies for the rest of her round.This was the first event of the series Gray has entered this year. Two small daughters, Georgia (2 1/2) and Lucy (1), have not made travelling far afield an attractive proposition.
"This venue, Dunham Forest, is just down the road so I thought I would have a go. Before playing I said I didn't want to be considered for qualification for the Wales Open but at the last minute I changed my mind because my 81-year-old Dad, who caddies for me, would love the trip if I did qualify. And now I have, so we are all very pleased!"
Alison Gray joins Emma Weeks (Bramshaw), Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield), Caroline Grady (De Vere Dunston Hall) and Marie Allen (Brookman's Park) as qualifiers for the £350,000 Wales Ladies Championship of Europe which is being held at the Nicklaus-designed Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Llanelli from August 17 to 20.
This was the last qualifying event.

RYDER CUP WALES 2010 WPGA ONE DAY SERIESDunham Forest Golf ClubLEADING SCORES
(Par 72)
69 Alison Gray (Ormskirk).
71 Lysa Jones (Oaks), Mette Hageman (Drentse GC), Suzanne Dickens (Thorpe Wood), Joanne Oliver. 72 Gillian Stewart (Gillian Stewart Golf), Nicola Moult (Walmley), Katie Tebbet (Rothley Park), Sarah Bennett (Hylands).

The leading four professionals in each of the six one day series events receive points towards the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA Order of Merit which has prize money of £1,000.
The Order of Merit table is as follows:
1 Caroline Grady 10.50
2 Marie Allen, Alexandra Keighley, Emma Weeks, Alison Gray 10.00
6 Joanne Oliver 9.00
7 Laura Wright, Sara Clinton, Claire Duffy 6.00
10 Lysa Jones 5.5011 Mette Hegeman 3.83
12 Sarah Bennett, Catherine Panton-Lewis 3.00
14 Suzanne Dickens 2.50
15 Susan Moon, Sophie Hunter 1.33
17 Rachel Bailey, Tracy Loveys 1.00

NORTH OF SCOTLAND JUNIOR OPEN

STEFAN’S LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PAYS OFF

The North of Scotland Junior Open championship trophy – decided on a handicap basis – has been won by Stefan Hunter (Inverness) over the Loch Ness golf course.
He received the trophy from Lieut-Commander Gary Farmer of the Royal Navy.
Stefan spreadeagled the field with a net 60 off a handicap of 19 (par is 69).
He was previously a member of Castle Heather Golf Club and his local knowledge of the Loch Ness course undoubtedly contributed to his six-shot victory.
Stuart Connell (Inverness) and James MacDonald (Isle of Skye) had the best scratch scores of 74 and 75 respectively.The event attracted a field of 45 boys and five girls who came from as far afield as Durness, Reay, Skye and Aberdeen to compete for the many prizes on offer.Leading scores (CSS 69)
Overall winner: Stefan Hunter (Inverness) (19) 60.
BOYS
Scratch - Stuart Connell (Inverness) 74, JamesMacDonald (Isle of Skye) 75, C Bennett (Inverness) 77, N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar) 78, M. Brand (Tain).
Handicap - Class I – J Treasurer (8) 67, A Begg (Muirof Ord) (7) 69, C Reid (8) 69, J Nicholas (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 70, D Laing (Inverness) (9) 70.
Class 2 - C MacDonald (Elgin) (16) 66, D MacDonald(24) 67, S. Chalmers (16) 67, M. Smith (19) 69.
Class 3 - M Traill (29) 62, M MacKenzie (Aigas) (32) 64, K MacKay (36) 67, S Murray (36) 68.Under 14 years - A MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) (19) 72, D Cairns (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 75, C MacLean (Inverness) (14) 76, C Macleod (Nairn Dunbar) (10) 80, A Sutherland (Reay) (17) 85. GIRLS
(CSS Reduction Only)
Handicap - N Green (Nairn) (10) 74, C MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar) (12) 77, J Vass (Tain) (19) 77, D MacKinnon (Durness) (14) 80, A Brown (Nairn Dunbar) (36) 91.

SCOTTISH VETERAN LADIES

NOREEN BEATS KAREN IN EAST FINAL

Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) beat Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) by 6 and 5 at Haddington Golf Club in the final of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association’s East Division championship.
Noreen now goes forward to Blairgowrie on September 24 and 24 for the SVLGA championship, contested by the eight divisional title-winners.

SCOTTISH BOYS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHSHP

SHAUN IS OVERNIGHT LEADER WITH
64 AT ALLOA’S SCHAWPARK

Craigielaw 17-year-old Shaun McAllister posted a six-under-par 64 - only one shot outside the course record - to be the early clubhouse leader in the Scottish boys’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship over Alloa Golf Club’s Schawpark course.
Several hours later, at the end of play, Master McAllister’s name was till there at the top of the scoreboard. With scoring conditions getting more difficult as the day progressed - the heat making the fairways and greens even harder - there was little likelihood that one of the later finishers would overtake Shaun.
“That’s the lowest score I’ve ever had in golf,” said an excited Shaun who had seven birdies and one bogey on his scorecard.
His birdies came at regular intervals – the first, second, fifth, eighth, 10th, 13th and 15th. His bogey was sandwiched between two birdies at the ninth.
Paul Shields from Kirkhill, like the leader one of the earlier starters, was the only player to get close to McAllister. Shields had a 65, three shots ahead of a pair of English challengers, Max Brittan from Saltford, Bristol and Tom Hayes of West Byfleet, Surrey.
Shaun’s better-known Craigielaw clubmate, Zack Saltman, had to settle for an opening 69, one ahead of Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Scottish Under-16s boys’ title at Deeside recently.
Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), joint second last year and one of the pre-tournament favourites, was 10 shots off the pace with a disappointing 74. Even farther behind was Sam Torrance’s son Daniel who carded a 79.
The North-east’s leading player going into the second round is Chris Baron from Oldmeldrum.
Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile) and Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) are on the 71 mark alongside James Byrne (Banchory), holder of the North-east District boys’ stroke-play and youths titles.

The leading 40 and ties at the end of Wednesday’s second round will contest the final 36 holes on Thursday.

FIRST ROUND (Par 70)

64 S McAllister (Craigielaw).
65 P Shields (Kirkhill).
68 M Brittan (Saltford), T Hayes (West Byfleet).
69 Z Saltman (Craigielaw), K Smith (Barassie), j Bradley (Paisley).
70 S McLaren (King James VI), C Baron (Oldmeldrum).
71 C Storrier (Downfield), G Doverspike (US), A Weir (Montrose Mercantile), M Pennycott (Whiting Bay), W Payne (US). F Fotheringham (Nairn). J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway), J Byrne (Banchory), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs), D Elder (Carnoustie), M Bookless (Sandyhills), J Mackay (Barassie).
72 A Murdoch (Stranraer), P Keeling (North Berwick), G Davidson(Winterfield), C McCallum (Paisley), G Reid (Newbattle).
73 A Campbell Dumbarton), W Sjaichudin (US), G Mitchell (Northern), D Morrison (Duff House Royal), M Cunningham (Longniddry), S Binning (Old Ranfurly).
74 S Bell (Wishaw), G Richards (Kingsknowe), M Fraser (Glencruitten), R Kellett (Colville Park), L Kirton (Newmachar), R Bell (Downfield), R Carson (Dalmahoy), M Daily (Erskine), S McGarvey (Glencorse), G Hunter (Douglas), J Neilson (Dunbar), J Findlay (Fraserburgh).
75 A Moir (Thornton), C Ruane (Cardross), D Harrison (Crieff), D Currie (Barassie), A Wallace (Glenbervie), F McKenna (Balmore), J Reid (Royal Musselburgh), C Gray (West Kilbride), R Anderson (Duddingston), F Campbell (Clober), J Meechan (Dullatur), S Winter Crieff), g Robertson (Glenbervie).
76 F Lawrie (West Kilbride), C Baird (Bothwell Castle), E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway), J Caldwell (Greenock), R Penny (Portlethen), O Browne (US), M Thomson (Grange & Dundee), S Cramb (St Andrews), N Howitt (Nairn Dunbar), C Lutton (Qatar).
77 A Willemars (Blairgowrie), C Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnoch), E Brown (Barassie), G Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan), M Williams (Craigielaw), S Keane (Cathkin Braes), K Duncan (McDonald Ellon), J White (Lundin), S Fraser (Northern), D Murray (Newbattle), S Barras (Helensburgh), M Brand (Tain), S Keane (Cathkin Braes, D Parlane (Helensburgh), K Shanks (Hilton Park)..
78 K Harper (Carnoustie), M Main (Thornton), B Modak (US), C Wyper (Campsie), R Delaney (Hamilton), J Duff (Newmachar), K McClung (Wigtownshire Co), D Mitchell (Leven Th), G Young (Barton), L Adamson (Ganton).
79 F Moore (Falkirk Tryst), A Aitken (Kirkcudbright), K McLeod (US), C Kneen (Mount Murray), M Stratton (US), D Torrance (Wentworth), A Killen (St Andrews), P Ferrie (Baberton), O Lavelle (Elderslie), N Macandrew (Cullen), R Docherty (Bearsden), C Thomson (East Renfrewshire), T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy), J Thow (Crieff.
80 J Johnston (Greenburn), B Irving (Dumfries & Co), N Maddison (Parklands), T Garrett (Meltham), S Tully (Duddingston), S Henderson (Barassie), S Maxwell (Windyhill), A Sweeney (Carnoustie), J Grant (Renfrew), S Mann (Moray), J Denwood (Eden).
81 A Royal (Blankney), C Grant (Linlithgow), G Wilson (Ladybank), K Donnellan (Dunbar), S Smith (Dullatur), S Crichton (Aberdour), S McComish (Baberton), D Borthwick (Penrith).
82 S Stables (Elgin), S Carmichael (Baberton).
83 K Jackson (Craigie Hill), P Robinson (Millport).
84 J Hendrick (Pollok), C Williamson (US), P Neil (Craigielaw), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar).
85 C McLaughlin (Largs), J Shanks (Ardeer), C Young (Eastwood).
86 J Jeffrey (Nairn), D Law (Hazlehead).
87 K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes).
88 A Lauder (Paisley).
Disq – S Gordon (The Glen).
Retired – J Clarke (Montrose Mercantile).

ENGLISH WOMEN'S STROKE-PLAY

FLORENTYNA SETS BLISTERING PACE

 

Teenager Florentyna Parker set a blistering pace in the first round of the English women's (close) stroke-play championship at Little Aston Golf Club with a five-under par 68.
Her round - compiled in temperatures which soared to 33 deg C - was her best-ever in competition and put her two strokes clear of the field.
Florentyna, 17, (Royal Birkdale) is playing in this championship for the first time.

"It's the sort of start I dreamed of and it's a big thrill," said the German-based player who helped England win the bronze medal in the recent European Lady Juniors' Team Championship.

Florentyna's older brother Ben is one of the best male amateurs in England and their father is professional at a club near Hamburg.

Her game plan was to keep the ball in play on the dry, running faiways and it paid off as she arrowed a series of irons into the greens and close to the pins.
Florentyna got off to a quick start with three consecutive birdies on the second and third  - both par-5s - and the 315-yard fourth. She had a 2 at the short  ninth to reach the turn at four under and went on to birdie the par-4 11th and 14th to get to six under par.
"I only dropped one shot, on the 17th, and that was a good bogey!" said Florentyna, who salvaged a 5  after tangling with trees and a bunker. 
Her score puts her two clear of Yorkshire's Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) who shot 70 despite three-putting twice. Lincolnshire's Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) is a stroke further back on 71. Both Emma and Sophie are past winners of this title. Girl international Jo Hodge (Knowle) also broke par with a one-under 72.
The high temperatures prompted ELGA officials to hand out bottled water on the first tee - provided by Highland Spring - and the organisers checked that all players had sun cream, drinks and a hat. Water fountains on the course were also well used.

LEADING SCORES

FIRST ROUND

68 F Parker (Royal Birkdale).

70 E Duggleby (Malton & Norton).

71 S Walker (Kenwick Park).

72 J Hodge (Knowle).

73 R Jennings (Izaak Walton), L Ball (Matfen Hall), R Wood (Glossop).

74 A Scott (Consett), H Ralph (Cowdray Park).

75 R Bell (Ganton), T Watters (Muswell Hill), S James (Bristol & Clifton), C Douglas (Brocket Hall), E Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), H Burke (Mid-Herts).

76 S Garbutt (Ganton), F Johnson (Harborne), C Lee (West Lancs).

JUNIOR MASTERS QUALIFIER

HOT STUFF AT KIRRIEMUIR

 

The scoring was as hot as the weather at Kirriemuir today when 16 boys and 10 girls won their way through from Regional Final No 4 to join the field for the Scottish Junior Masters’ Grand Final, to be played over the Gleneagles Hotel’s Queen’s Course on Sunday, October 8.

 Scott Blacklie made a worthwhile long journey up from Jedburgh to the Angus venue to head the boys’ qualifiers with 45 Stableford points – roughly the equivalent of a nine under par net score – off a handicap of 13.

Scott had halves of 21 and 24pt and, a late finisher, he knocked the clubhouse leader off his perch.

That had been Callum Graham (Milnathort), playing off 10, who had scored 44pt (22-22) and had a better inward half than Gavin Law (Newburgh-on-Ythan) (20) who also had 44pt but halves of 23 and 21.

Ten of the leading boys scored 40pt or over, which represents very good scoring.

In the girls section, the No 1 qualifier was Louise Smith from the home club, Kirriemuir Players. Playing off 17, Louise scored 39pt with 24 out and 15 home. Louise had a net eagle at the fourth.

She won by one point from Loretto Golf Academy pupil Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh-on-Ythan) whose 38pt total off a handicap of eight was made up of halves of 22 and 16.

Rebecca Wilson, a five-handicapper from Monifieth, finished third with halves of 16 and 20 for a total of 36.

 

QUALIFIERS

BOYS

45pt Scott Blacklie (Jedburgh) (13).

44 Callum Graham (Milnathort) (10), Gavin Law (Newburgh on Ythan) (20).

43 Callum Cromar (Lumphanan (12), Stewart Gray (Grange) (11), Sam Grant (Hilton Park) (11).

42 Euan McIntosh (East Aberdeenshire) (11), James Cruickshanks (Glenrothes) (14).

41 Graeme Matheson (Deeside) (20).

40 Scott Keith (Newmachar) (18).

39 Steven Hepburn (East Aberdeenshire) (13), Alex Anderson (Kirriemuir Players) (13), George Murray (Aboyne) (18), Harry Burness (Westhill) (9).

38 Kevin Moore (Jedburgh) (6), Andrew Cowan (Blairgowrie) (10) (Matthew Wiseman (Peterhead) (9) and Reece Mitchell (Downfield) (6) also scored 38pt but were eliminated on their inward halves).

GIRLS

39pt Louise Smith (Kirriemuir Players) (17).

38 Lauren MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan) (8).

36 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (5).

35 Gail Richens (Newmachar) (9).

33 Ashley Alston (Royal Montrose) (20), Caitlin Geddes (Northern) (27).

32 Claire Penrose (Monifieth) (28).

29 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) (14), Sophie Alexander (Deeside) (29).

28 Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) (16).

 

JUNIOR NEWS FROM IRELAND

GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND
BOYS' INTER-PROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club
DAY 1
LEINSTER 8, MUNSTER 1
(Leinster names first)
Foursomes: N Kearney & A Hogan lost to D Ronayne & D Ruddy 2/1; B Keenan & E Marsden bt E Stack & D King 2/1; C Drumm & J Monaghan bt S Gallivan & P O’Connor 2/1.
Singles: N Kearney bt S Gallivan 5/4; A Hogan bt D Ruddy 1 hole; B Keenan bt D King 3/1; E Marsden bt E Stack 3/2; C Barron bt E Long 1 hole; C Drumm bt D Ronayne 1 hole.
ULSTER 7, CONNACHT 2
(Ulster names first)
Foursomes: L Reilly & P Cutler bt M Durcan & S Brady 2 holes; P O’Kane & J Patterson halved with K McDonagh & S O’Connor; R McGee & P Reavey lost to T McGowan & S Healy 7/6.
Singles: P O’Kane bt M Durcan 4/2; L Reilly bt S O’Connor 4/2; P Cutler bt K McDonagh 6/5; J Patterson bt T McGowan 3/2; P Reavey halved with S Healy; C Fairweather bt P Neville 4/2.
YOUTHS INTER-PROVINCIAL MATCHES 2006
Sponsored by Golfsure
At Roscommon Golf Club
DAY 1
LEINSTER 5 CONNACHT 4
(Leinster names first)
Foursomes: S Lowry & S Ward lost to M Mulryan & A Glynn 3/1; C Curley & P O’Hanlon lost to S Ginty & J McNicholas 2/1; A Pitcher & N O Briain bt C O’Connor & T Walsh 3/2.
Singles: D Lernihan bt M Mulryan 2/1; S Ward bt A Glynn 2/1; S Lowry lost to J McNicholas 1 hole; P O’Hanlon bt S Ginty 6/4; A Pitcher lost to C O’Connor 4/2; N O Briain bt S Kelly 1 hole.
ULSTER 6 ½ MUNSTER 2 ½
(Ulster names first)
Foursomes: C Hughes & F Rafferty bt S Power & A O’Callaghan 3/1; W McCully & P McMahon bt K Stack & G Smyth 3/1; G Reid & D Leathem bt C McNamara & T O’Flynn 1 hole.
Singles: D Gallagher bt A O’Callaghan 2/1; F Rafferty lost to S Power 2/1; C Hughes halved with C McNamara; D Leathem bt K Stack 3/2; G Reid lost to T O’Flynn 4/2; W McCully bt S Hackett 5/4.

SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

 

MENZIES LEADS QUALFIERS FROM CRIEFF

 

Finlay Menzies (Milngavie) picked up a £100 prize for shooting a four-under-par 67 to head the 31 qualifiers who went forward to the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship from today's eliminator at Crieff Golf Club.

There was a play-off on 73 featuring 12 players for the last seven places. It took the best part of  90min to settle the issue.

Tomorrow's second qualifying competition will produce another 30 competitors to join the 69 exempt players plus one sponsor’s invite in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship field over the PGA Centenary course from August 24 to 27.

 

 

 

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP – Qualifying Round 1 – Crieff GC (Par 71)

Qualifiers

67 F Menzies (Milngavie).

68 S Thompson (Castle Golf DR), J Porteous (Craigielaw), G Paxton (Ralston), R Harrower (Macdonald Cardrona).

69 T Burgoyne (Jonkoping), J Sharp (Pro Golf Experience), A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), R Gray (Torrance House).

70 S Craig (Edinburgh Leisure), A Purdie (Kingsbarns), P McKechnie (Bothwell Castle), S Morrison (Glenbervie).

71 P Jamieson (Dunblane New), K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), N Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), S Troup (King’s Links).

72 S Clydesdale (Brucefields FGC), D McIntosh (Carrick on Loch Lomond), D Williamson (Kirkhill), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), P Wytrazek (Burntisland), G Rankin (Drumpellier), D Park (Wishaw).

73 (after play-off) A Hutton (World of Golf), M Goldie (Lochgelly), G Kasparis (Barassie), P McKay (East Kilbride), K Baxter (Buchanan Castle), S Savage (Dalmuir), K Phillips (Winterfield).

 

WATSON GIRLS FOR UNITED STATES

SALLY FOR FLORIDA; REBECCA TO
ENROL AT TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY

South Queensferry teenager Sally Watson, at 14 the youngest ever winner of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship last year, is moving to Bradenton, Florida next month (August) to enrol as a scholarship student in the IMG/David Leadbetter Golf Academy.
Leadbetter, arguably the best known golf coach over the past couple of decades, now has more than 20 golf academies worldwide.
Sally has played more competitive golf in the United States than in her native Scotland this year. She recently reached the last 16 of the US Girls’ Junior Championship after visiting America in June to win one of the qualifying events. Miss Watson also played in the Callaway World Junior Championship in San Diego, California earlier this month and finished a creditable 21st with a one-over-par total for the 72-hole stroke-play event.
Sally’s United States Golf Association handicap is now +3 which makes her one of the highest-rated Scottish female amateurs of any age.
She did not play in the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Dunbar this year because of school examinations and she did not defend her Scottish Under-18 girls title at Peebles last week because it clashed with the US Girls’ Championship.

Later this week 15-year-old Sally (her birthday was on July 10), and another exciting Scottish girl prospect, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, will be representing Scotland in the girls’ section of the European Young Masters for Under-16s at Styrian Golf Club, Murhof in Austria. Selection for the European team for this year’s Junior Ryder Cup match against the Americans will be based on performances in the Young Masters.

Sally’s older sister Rebecca, 17, who caddied for her in the US girls’ open championship but is a Scottish girl international in her own right, has verbally committed to join the University of Tennessee on a full scholarship in the autumn of 2007. Tennessee has been ranked in the top 10 of all US women's college golf programmes for the past two years and Rebecca will be their sole scholarship recruit in 2007.

Commenting on these moves, Sally's father, Edinburgh businessman, Graham Watson said: “We are excited at the golf and academic opportunities which lie ahead for both Sally and Rebecca in the States. The standard of female junior and college golf in the USA is very high at present and we support the girls in their desire to practise and play, usually in the sunshine, with the world's best young golfers on a daily basis.
“We spent three years as a family living in San Francisco until 2003 and have continued to travel across the Atlantic regularly to visit with the girls' principal coach at the Leadbetter Academy, Kevin Collins, so the girls are both very familiar with the US lifestyle.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the best golfers of the next 10 years will be those who are used to travelling internationally to play in the wide variety of conditions which exist around the world.
“With the LPGA enjoying huge success at present, where it is now more popular than the men's Champions (Seniors) Tour, and with the increasing globalisation of the women's game, now is the right time to be setting the foundations for more Scottish involvement in the game at this level.”

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

FIVE SCOTS MAKE IT THROUGH TO TURNBERRY

Former European Tour player Glenn Ralph of England marked his seniors debut in style by producing one of the lowest scores of the day to qualify for The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
Ralph, who is making his first appearance on the European Seniors Tour after turning 50 earlier in the month, birdied the two closing holes for a round of four under par 68 on the Kintyre Course, at The Westin Turnberry Resort in south Ayrshire.
It remained the equal lowest score all afternoon until American Chris Starkjohann, playing in the final group at the same course and a winner on the Nationwide Tour in the US, came home with a 67 that featured a brilliant front nine of five birdies and no dropped shots.
A total of 43 players made it through from the three qualifying rounds – at Kintyre, Dundonald and The Irvine Golf Club – and will now tee up alongside defending champion Tom Watson and other leading senior golfers at The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, which starts Thursday on the famous Ailsa Course at Turnberry.
Among the successful group were five Scots – Craig Maltman of Eyemouth, Dundee’s Steve Martin, John McTear of Troon, local amateur Peter Lamb of Biggar Golf Club and Dunoon’s Russell Weir, a winner on the European Seniors Tour in 2001.
QUALIFIERS

Kintyre Course, The Westin Turnberry Resort (par 72)
67 Chris Starkjohann (US)
68 Glenn Ralph (Eng).
69 Doug Johnson (US).
70 Martin Foster (Eng), Jimmy Heggarty (NIr), Tony Price (Wal).
71 Mitch Adcock (US), Thomas Herzan (US)
72 James Blair III (US).
73 Dick McClean (US), Donald Stirling (Eng).
74 Buddy Harston (US), Peter Lamb (am) (Sco), Andrew Reynolds (Eng).
75 Angel Fernandez (Chl) - following a six-man play-off for one place.

The Irvine Golf Club (par 71).
68 Daniel Talbot (Can).
70 Ray Carrasco (US), Joe Clarke jun (US), Bob Larratt (Eng), Bill Malley (US)
71 Steve Martin (Sco), John McTear (Sco), Arthur Pierse (am) (Ire), Julian Sutton (am) (Eng).
72 Peter Dahlberg (Swe), Phil Hinton (Eng), Chris Hooper (US), Greg Hopkins (US) - following a five-man play-off for four places

Dundonald (par 72)
70 Mariano Aparicio (Spa), John Benda (US).
71 Pat McGowan (US).
72 Jon Chaffee (US).
73 Stephen Bonham (Eng), Brian Jones (Aus), Craig Maltman (Sco), Billy Todd (am) (NIr), Peter Townsend (Eng).
74 Trevor Fisher sen (SAf), John Mashego (SAf), T R Jones (US), Adan Sowa (Arg), Russell Weir (Sco), John Ross (US) - following an eight-man play-off for six places

GULF AIR INTERNATIONAL PRO-CAPT

ESPORTA DOUGALSTON PAIR

AGAIN WIN TRIP TO BAHRAIN

  

Esporta Dougalston Golf Club’s professional Craig Everett and captain Andrew McDowall today repeated their success of last year in the Gulf Air International Pro-Capt. Challenge, supported by BMW, Scottish qualifying round over the Crail Golfing Society’s Balcomie Links. 

Craig and his 20-handicap partner returned a net 58, 11 under par, to finish two shots clear of runners-up Uphall (Gordon Law and Douglas Tait) with Westhill (George Bruce and Dugald MacDonald) placed third on a card countback against Lochgelly, Gourock and Ballater who also totalled a net 63.

Craig Everett and Andrew McDowall will now represent the PGA Scottish Region in the International Final to be held at The Riffa Golf Club and Resort, Bahrain from October 13 to 18. Last year they finished fifth in the International Final.

Craig earned £425 for his part in this year’s triumph. Gordon Law (Uphall) earned £300 and George Bruce (£225.

 

LEADING NET SCORES

(professionals’ names first)

58 Esporta Dougalston: Craig Everett & Andrew McDowall (22).

60 Uphall: Gordon Law & Douglas Tait (9).

63 Westhill: George Bruce & Dugald MacDonald (11) (best last three holes); Lochgelly: Martin Goldie & John Adie (1) (better inward half); Gourock: James Mooney & David Burney (11) (bih); Ballater: William Yule & Brian Blackhouse (9).

64 King James VI: Andrew Crerar & Rodger Gordon (4); East Aberdeenshire: David McCormack & Malcolm Allan (4); West Lothian: Ian Taylor & Derek Pickens (4); Dunbar: Jackie Montgomery & Douglas Armstrong (11); Kirkcaldy: Anthony Caira & George Alford (13); Downfield: Kenneth Hutton & Iain McMurray (10).

 

DUMFRIES-SHIRE WOMEN'S TITLE

FIONA MACGREGOR'S THIRD SUCCESS

 

Fiona Macgregor (Thornhill), the leading qualifier, won the Dumfries-shire women's county championship for a third time at Lochmaben Golf Club today.

Fiona beat 14-year-old Southerness GC junior member Jordana Graham by 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final.

Fiona was four up after the first round but Jordana cut the lead to only one hole in the afternoon before Fiona pulled away again.

In the all-Lochmaben handicap championship final, Linda Walker beat Fiona Irvine by 2 and 1.

EURO JUNIOR GOLF CUP

INTERNATIONAL BOYS, GIRLS' EVENTS

OVER THREE COURSES IN FIFE

 

The 14-a-side, three-team Euro Junior Golf Cup competition tees off at Aberdour Golf Club at 10am on Tuesday morning.  The second round will start at 1pm over The Duke’s Course, St Andrews on Wednesday morning and the third and final 18 round will be played at 10.30am at Thornton Golf Club on Thursday.

The contesting teams are Team USA (represented by the International Junior Golf Tour), Team Canada (from the Canadian Junior Golf Association) and Team Scotland, made up of players from the Fife Golf Union.

Each team consists of four boys aged 17 to 19; four boys aged 14 to 16, four boys aged 13 and under, and two girls, aged from 11 to 19.

The winning team will be presented with the John Clark Trophy.

Each group of three off the tee will consist of a member from each team. The format will be three-ball match-play with each player competing in two matches at the same time. One point is awarded to the winner of each match.

The team with the most points at the end of the three days will be the 2006 Euro Junior Golf Cup winners.

The awards presentation will take place at the New Golf Club, St Andrews at approximately 6pm on Thursday.

 

SCOTTISH BOYS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY

 LEWIS KIRTON IN FORM BUT FIELD IS

PACKED WITH TITLE CONTENDERS 

 

Winner of the North-east District boys’ match-play title for the third year in a row last week, Newmachar’s Lewis Kirton would like nothing better than to set off for four years at the University of Louisville, Kentucky next month as a national champion.

The opportunity is there this week at Alloa Golf Club’s Schawpark course in the shape of the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play championship over four rounds.

Lewis was joint runner-up on 285 with defending champion Scott Henry (Cardross) 12 months ago at Monifieth Links where Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie) was the winner after two sub-70 rounds on the final day for a total of 283.

Both Henry and McEwan are too old for this year’s Under-18 contest but, of course, that does not mean that it should be a cake-walk for Kirton who shot 14 birdies in 32 holes at Hazlehead last week. Anything but. 

The field of 144 is packed with genuine title contenders, including James White (Lundin), winner of the Scottish boys’ match-play title in April, Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Douglas Gillespie Scottish Under-16 boys’ title at Deeside a week or two ago, James Byrne (Banchory), who currently holds the North-east District youths’ and boys’ stroke-play championships, Graeme Mitchell (Northern), who lowered the Aberdeen Hazlehead No 1 course record to 68 last week, Zack Saltman (Craigielaw), Ross Bell (Downfield), Daniel Torrance (Wentworth), Sam Binning (Old Ranfurly), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride).

And there is no guarantee that list contains the name of the young man who will step up to receive the trophy early on Thursday evening at Alloa.

The leading 40 players and ties after the first two rounds on Tuesday and  Wednesday will play the final 36 holes on Thursday.

 

 

CURRAGH LADIES SCRATCH CUP

BREAKTHROUGH WIN BY NIAMH KITCHING

Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) scored her first "adult" tournament when she beat a good-class field to win the Irish Pride-sponsored Curragh Ladies Scratch Cup.
Niamh did it in style - by five shots from Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down) with Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) and Maura Morrin (The Curragh) a further five shots back on 143 in third place.
Miss Kitching, who plays off two, had gross rounds of 68 and 65 for a seven-under-par total of 133. The CSS for both rounds was 69, one less than the par.

FINAL SCOREBOARD
SCRATCH
133 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 68 65.
138 Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down) 70 68.
143 Sinead O'Sullivan (Glaway) 72 71, Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 69 743.
144 Gillian O'Leary (Cork/UCC) 72 72, Darragh McGowan (B'boyey&St) 71 73, Fiona Carroll (Athenry) 71 73.
HANDICAP
134 Carla Regnolds (Seapoint) (11) 65 69.
BEST FIRST ROUND SCRATCH
72 Marian Riordan (Tipperary).
BEST SECOND ROUND SCRATCH
71 Sinead Keane (The Curragh).
BEST FIRST ROUND NET
65 Louise Harris (Slade Valley) (8).
BEST SECOND ROUND NET
65 Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) (6)

SEEDS FOR SCOTTISH MEN'S AMATEUR

SGU NAME THE EIGHT MEN THEY EXPECT
TO MAKE UP THE QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP

The Scottish Golf Union has named the following eight seeds for the 2006 Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Nairn from Monday, July 31 to the 36-hole final on Saturday, August 5.
They are:

FIRST QUARTER
Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes).
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie).
SECOND QUARTER
Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen).
Scott Henry (Cardross).
THIRD QUARTER
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw).
FOURTH QUARTER
John Gallagher (Swanston).
George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle).

US FUTURES TOUR LATEST

VIKKI PERKS UP BUT IT’S ONLY

A FEW DOLLARS MORE

 

Vikki Laing perked up again to produce a final round of par-matching 71 for a final total of four-over-par 217 in the Alliance Bank Futures Classic golf tournament at The Links at Erie Village, Syracuse in New York State on Sunday.

Vikki covered the front nine in a sparkling three-under-par 33 with birdies at the fourth, seventh and ninth.

The inward half – which cost the Scot three crippling double bogeys in a row in the second round, still would not yield a birdie for her and she bogeyed the 10^th, 11^th and 18^th for 38 home.

The 25-year-old from Musselburgh had earlier rounds of 69 and 77. She finished 51^st but her prizemoney of $255 would hardly have paid her hotel bill for the week.

Samantha Head from Bedford was the leading British player in 37^th place on one-under 215. She had rounds of 72, 73 and 70 to earn $353.

Polly Willett from London picked up only $161 for a 67^th place finish on 223 (73-72-78).

Winner of the first prize $9,800 was South Korean Ha-Na Chae with 66, 70 and 68 for nine-under-par 204. She had a double bogey 7 at the seventh in her final round but then covered the inward half in four-under-par 31.

American Katie Allison finished second, two shots behind, with 67,70 and 69 to earn £7,000.

ITALIAN ACE AMATEUR TURNS PRO

 

 

 

 EDOARDO MOLINARI MAKES DEBUT

IN PAID RANKS IN HAMBURG

 

Italian golfer Edoardo Molinari, the current US amateur champion, has today announced that he is turning professional after a distinguished amateur career that ended with his participation in the Open championship at Hoylake..

Edoardo became the first European to win the US amateur championship for 95 years. This followed his victories in the 2001 Italian amateur championship and the 2003 Turkish amateur championship.

Edoardo will make his debut as a professional this week at the Deutsche Bank Players Championship in Hamburg,  courtesy of a sponsors’ invitation.

Molinari has signed a long-term exclusive representation agreement with 4SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT AG, the leading Swiss sports management agency.

 

 

NEWS FROM BIARRITZ CUP

SCOTS CALLUM AND DUNCAN DO WELL

IN S W FRANCE INTERNATIONAL EVENT

West of Scotland Open champion Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) finished a highly creditable joint eighth in an international field of 154 for the 72-hole Biarritz Cup which ended at Biarritz Le Phare Golf Club in southwest France today.

Macaulay, who plays on the American college golf circuit for the University of Mississippi, had rounds of 70, 65, 70 and 67 over a tight, par-69 course, which is the second oldest on the Continent.

Callum’s aggregate of four-under-par total of 272 saw him finish 11 shots behind the long-time leader Pedro Oriol Sanchez-Blanco (Spain) who scored 64, 65, 67 and 67 for 13-under 263.

Duncan Stewart from Grantown-on-Spey, winner of the Chiberta Grand Priz four-round event the previous weekend – the first Scot since Graham Fox in 1998 to win the prestigious event, finished like a train to fill 21^st place on level par 276 in the Biarritz Cup.

Stewart, who had a great season on the 2005-2006 American college circuit with Jacksonville University, Florida, look a bit tired after his Chiberta GP heroics when he opened with rounds of 71 and 73 at Biarritz Le Phare. In fact, he made the halfway cut with nothing to spare.

But after that Duncan came roaring up through the field with a pair of 66s to be six-under-par for the final 36 holes. In fact, if the Highlander had started with two 66s he would have finished only one shot behind the tournament winner!

With hindsight, Stewart would have been an asset to the Scotland team in the European youths' team championship in Spain a couple of weeks ago.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

MEN (Par 69)

263 Pedro Oriol Sanchez-Blanco (Spain) 64 65 67 67.

266 Barberena Legarra (Spain) 66 68 67 65.

268 Jorge Campillo (Spain) 67 68 63 70, Adrien Bernadet (France) 62 70 66 70.

270 Matthieu Bey (France) 66 67 69 68, Ignacio Sanchez-Palencia (Spain) 68 65 67 70.

271 Taco Remkes (Netherlands) 67 69 65 70.

272 Callum Macaulay (Scotland) 70 65 70 67, Li Kang (China) 72 66 65 69, Andrea Perrino (Italy) 66 70 65 71, Eduardo Larranga Eizaguirre (Spain) 68 67 65 72.

Other total:

276 Duncan Stewart (Scotland) 71 73 66 66 (21^st).

WOMEN

278 Caroline Afonso (France) 71 65 70 72.

279 Camille Fallay (France) 73 69 71 66.

282 Valentine Derrey (France) 68 71 72 71.

286 Melodie Bourdie (France) 68 71 70 77.

DUMFRIES-SHIRE WOMEN'S COUNTY

SOUTHERNESS YOUNGSTER REACHES
MONDAY FINAL AT LOCHMABEN
Southerness Golf Club junior member Jordana Graham has won her way through to the final of the Dumfries-shire county women’s golf championship at the age of 14.
Jordana will play leading qualifier Fiona Macgregor (Thornhill) in the 36-hole final at Lochmaben Golf Club on Monday.
Miss Graham beat the No 2 qualifier, Lindsay Kirkwood (Powfoot), by 2 and 1 in Sunday's semi-finals while Fiona beat Eileen Mauchline (Lochmaben) by 7 and 5.

Results:

First round – F Macgregor (Thornhill) bt K Wells (Dumfries & Co) 1 and 1; E Mauchline (Lochmaben) bt M Mannall (Powfoot) 7 and 5; J Graham (Southerness) bt S Townsley (Dumfries & Co) 1 hole; L Kirkwood (Powfoot) bt S McLeod (Lochmaben) 5 and 3.
Semi-finals – McGregor bt Mauchline 2 holes; Graham bt Kirkwood 2 and 1.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

DAVID DRYSDALE TOP SCOT BUT

16 UNDER PAR GETS ONLY 15th

David Drysdale was the top Scot in the latest European Challenge Tour event – the MAN NO Open at Adamstal Golf Club in Austria.

Drysdale shot 65, 68, 70 and 69 for a 16-under-par tally of 272 and joint 15^th place  – but so hot is the standard of scoring on Europe’s No 2 tour that David finished some eight shots behind the first-time winner, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spain).

Rafael Cabrera, as he was know then, was a leading Spanish amateur until he turned professional last December. His winner’s cheque for 20,800 Euros lifts the 22-year-old Spaniard from 51^st in the Challenge Tour rankings to 10^th, which means he is well placed to gain one of the European Tour Cards automatically awarded to the top 15 at the end of the season.

Cabrera Bello, the leader from start to finish, was four shots clear of the field with one round to go, but he made a horrendous start to the final day when he drove out of bounds and ran up a double bogey.

He settled to birdied the third and fifth and gained two more birdies coming home for a 69 and 264, winning by two shots from the home favourite, Niki Zitny.

Aberdeen’s Greig Hutcheon totaled 274 – two ahead of Murray Urquhart (Inverness) with  Windyhill’s Andrew McArthur (278), Graeme Brown (283) from Montrose and former Glencorse member David Inglis (289) the other Scots who made the halfway cut.

 

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

264 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa ) 61 68 66 69.
266 Niki Zitny (Aut ) 69 66 64 67.
267 Johan Sköld (Swe ) 67 68 65 67, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den ) 71 66 63 67.
269 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe ) 66 70 67 66, Mikko Korhonen (Fin ) 70 69 65 65.
270 Toni Karjalainen (Fin ) 70 67 65 68, Shaun P Webster  (Eng ) 69 68 65 68, Marcus Higley (Eng ) 68 73 64 65
271 Oliver Whiteley (Eng ) 67 69 66 69, Jamie Elson (Eng ) 63 69 69 70, Martin Maritz (SAf) 71 66 68 66, Jesus Maria Arruti    (Esp ) 70 66 65 70, Nicolas Vanhootegem    (Bel ) 67 68 68 68
272 Inder Van Weerelt (Net ) 67 69 67 69, Tim Milford (Eng ) 68 67 65 72, David Drysdale (Sco ) 65 68 70 69, Simon Lilly (Eng ) 66 70 68 68.

Other Scots’ totals:
274 Greig Hutcheon 73 66 64 71.
276 Murray Urquhart  69 70 68 69.
278 Andrew Mcarthur 69 70 65 74.
283 Graeme R Brown 66 75 70 72.
289 David Inglis 72 69 75 73.



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UNITED STATES FUTURES TOUR

VIKKI SUFFERS DOUBLE-BOGEY SLUMP
AFTER RAIN HOLDS UP PLAY

Vikki Laing from Musselburgh beat the 36-hole cut with nothing to spare on a rain-affected second day of the Alliance Bank Future Classic at The Links at Erie Village, Syracuse in New York State on Saturday.
The Scot had been playing well with a first-round 69 and a one-under-par outward half in the second with birdies at the third and fifth and one bogey sandwiched between them.
Then came a lengthy suspension of play due to very heavy rain. Vikki was one of the worst affected by the hiatus. When she returned to the course from the clubhouse, she double-bogeyed three holes in a row – a 6 at the 10th, a 6 at the 11th and a 6 at the 12th.
Another shot dropped, at the 16th, got her home in a sad seven-over-par 42 for a six-over 77.
Her two-round total of 146 put her in a share of 57th place and was the limit mark for qualifying for the final round.
Three players share the lead on six-under 136 – Smriti Mehra from India, Ha-Na Chase (South Korea) and Kristina Tucker (Sweden).
Polly Willett from London and Samantha Head from Bedford both made the cut in a share of 49th place on 145. Polly scored 73 and 72, Samantha 72 and 73.
Belfast's Brenda McLarnon, a former American college circuit player, was one of the players with totals of 147 or over who was eliminated. Brenda scored 76 and 77 for 153.
Janet Dwyer from Aberystwyth, Wales has also packed her bags early. She had 74 and 84 for 158.
One of the surprise non-qualifiers was American Danielle Downey who shared the first-r0und lead with a 66. Astonishingly, she returned a second-round 82 - 16 shots worse - for a total of 148 to miss the cut by two shots.

US GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD JENNY WINS TITLE

Jenny Shin, only 13 years of age, from that California hot bed of young golfers - Torrance - became one of the youngest winners of the United States girls' open amateur championship at Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina.

Jenny won at the 37th hole - this was the first scheduled 36-hole final in the history of the championship - when her 16-year-old opponent, Vicky Hurst from Melbourne, Florida conceded after sending her approach shot into a water hazard and then her next into a greenside bunker.

Miss Hurst had beaten the leading qualifier, 16-year-old Mini Harigae from Monterey, California, by 2 and 1 in the semi-finals.

Sally Watson from South Queensferry reached the last 16 before going down by one hole.

 

 

GLENCRUITTEN 36-HOLE PRO-AM

GRAHAM RANKIN LOWERS RECORD
AT OBAN TO SEVEN-UNDER-PAR 54

Drumpellier’s Graham Rankin lowered the Glencruitten Golf Club course record to seven-under-par 54 in winning the Oban club’s 36-hole shotgun pro-am today.
The previous record of 55 was set by Brian Dunbar in the same event last year.
Rankin’s 54 represented a 10-shot improvement on his first-round 64 and his total of four-under-par 118 won him the £868 top prize by five shots from Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) and David Park (Wishaw) who tied on 123.
Park led the Lorn Hotel trio of amateurs, Declan Curran (12), John Cureran (10) and Allan Mackie (scratch) to victory in the team event with a net single-round score of 16-under-par 45.
Although the Glencruitten course measures only 4,452yd, it can present problems. Just ask Brian Mason (Drumoig Driving Range. He led the field by five shots with a 57 and then took 16 more shots to get round a second time finishing ninth on 130.
LEADING PRO SCORES
118 G Rankin (Drumpellier) 64 54.
123 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 62 61, D Park (Wishaw) 61 62.
124 S Gray (Hayston) 64 60.
125 P Arthur (Aberdour) 62 63, S Cairns (Westerwood) 63 62.
126 S Morrison (Glenbervie) 64 62.
127 B Dunbar (Deer Park) 65 62.
130 B Mason (Drumoig Driving Range) 57 73.

SCOTS IN BIARRITZ CUP

CALLUM IN TOP 20, DUNCAN SHOOTS
66 TO IMPROVE INTO 35th PLACE

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) and Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) were lying 19th and 35th respectively after the third round of the Biarritz Cup international open amateur golf tournament in southwest France today.
Macaulay started the third day in eighth place after scores of 70 and 65 but a 70 for two-under-par 205 dropped him to 19th.
Duncan Stewart, the first Scottish winner of the Chiberta Grand Prix last weekend since Graham Fox in 1998, just made the halfway cut in the Biarritz Cup with scores of 71 and 73 for 144 but the Highlander found his form again with a third-round 66 to shoot up from 67th place at the start of the day to 35th on 210.
Spaniard Pedro Oriol Sanchez-Blanco leads the field by two shots with an 11-under-par tally of 196. His scores have been 64, 65 and 67.
Compatriot Jorge Campillo and Frenchman Adrien Bernadet are sharing second place on 198. Campillo has shot 67, 68 and 763, while Bernadet has scored 62, 70 and 66.
The tournament ends Sunday.

ENGLISH WOMEN'S MID-AM OPEN

SCOTS WHO COUNT AT COTSWOLD HILLS

The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association has nominated Sara Bishop (Windyhill), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) and Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) to have their scores counting for Scotland in the international team event staged on conjunction with the qualifying rounds of the English women's mid-amateur open golf championship at Cotswold Hills Golf Club from August 15 to 18.

SCOT HAS 69 ON FUTURES TOUR

VIKKI'S BEST START FOR SOME TIME

Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing has made her best tournament start for many a long day in the Alliance Bank Futures Classic tournament at The Links at Erie Village, Syracuse in New York State.
Vikki was in joint 16th place after a first-round, two-under-par 69, three shots behind four players: Americans Leigh Anne Hardin and Danielle Downey, Sweden's Kristina Tucker and Ha-Na Chae, one of a large number of Koreans who are making a good living on the United States' No 2 female pro tour.
Samantha Head from Bedford had a one-over-par 72 to have a share of 47th place but Brenda McLarnon fronm Belfast did not have the best of days. The former US college circuit player had a 76 to be in joint 100th place.

N E DISTRICT BOYS' MATCH-PLAY

KIRTON’S HAT-TRICK OF TITLES AFTER
A BRILLIANT DAY OF BIRDIES

After a brilliant bag of 14 birdies in 32 holes, Newmachar’s Lewis Kirton is North-east District boys’ match-play golf champion for a third year in a row.
Kirton shot seven birdies in beating North-east youths title-holder James Byrne (Banchory) by 4 and 3 in the first semi-final over Hazlehead No 1 course earlier today.
Byrne played his part in what must have been one of the finest match-play scoring ties the municipal course has ever seen. Both players were out in 30 and the match was all square.
Kirton, who had birdied the first, third, fourth (Byrne had an eagle here to win the hole!), fifth and eighth, went ahead for the fourth time in the match with a par at the 11th and then birdied the 12th, 13th and 15th for his 4 and 3 win.
In the other semi-final, the new course record-holder Graeme Mitchell (Northern) beat Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) at the 19th where Dunton three-putted to bring to a close another tie packed with birdies.
Kirton maintained his quality play in the afternoon final, beating Mitchell by 3 and 1 to keep the Bill Brown Trophy. He birdied the first, won the second with a par and the third with a birdie to take a grip on the match right away.
The seventh, eighth and 10th holes were halved in birdies as Mitchell tried gamely to turn the tide. Graeme did win his first hole of the final at the 11th – he had to produce a birdie to do it – but Kirton came straight back at him with a birdie at the 13th to restore a three-hole lead.
Mitchell birdied the 16th to keep his hopes alive at two down with two to play. It was only delaying the inevitable. Kirton produced his final birdie of of a memorable day at the 17th for a 3 and 1 win.
If Lewis can reproduce this form when he joins up at the University of Kentucky next month, he will be a smash hit on the American college circuit.
Friday's results:
Semi-finals – L Kirton (Newmachar) bt J Byrne (Banchory) 4 and 3, G Mitchell jun (Northern) bt A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) at 19th.
Final – Kirton bt Mitchell jun 3 and 1.

STEPHANIE WINS IRISH GIRLS' TITLE

THERE'S A COFFEY IN THE IRISH GIRLS
TEAM AGAIN FOR PORTSTEWART
Following the Lancome Irish girls' (close) amateur championship, the ILGU has announced the Ireland team to play in the Girls' Home International Matches at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland from August 9 to 11:

Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor)
Louise Coffey (Warrenpoint)
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis)
Sarah Faller (Galway)
Naoimh McMahon (Shannon)
Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush)
Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge)
Linda Toomey (Limerick)
Reserves: 1 Holli Snelling (Killarney), 2 Lucy Simpson (Massereene), 3 Alice Davis (Royal Tara).

STEPHANIE MAKES SURE OF IRISH GIRLS' TITLE

Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), beaten finalist two years ago and beaten in the quarter-finals 12 months ago, has won the Lancome Irish girls' (close) amateur championship at last!
She beat Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) by 5 and 4 in the final at Malone Golf Club today.
In the semi-finals, Stephanie beat Louise Coffey (Warrenpoint) 5 and 4 while Victoria was a 2 and 1 winner of Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge).
Miss Meadow is bound for Florida in the autumn to become a student at one of the golf academies which also offers a higher education to its students.
Results in the quarter-finals were:
Louise Coffey (Warrenpoint) beat Charlene Reid (Gracehill) 7 and 6.
Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) beat Sarah Faller (Galway) 3 and 2.
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) beat Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 3 and 2.
Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) beat Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) at 19th.
There were one or two form upsets in the early stages of the match-play. The biggest was the first-round defeat of leading qualifier Alice Davis by the last of the qualifiers, Louise Coffey from Warrenpoint - Coffey being a famous surname from Irish women's amateur golf of the last decade or so.
The defeat cost Miss Davis her place in the Irish girls' team for the home internationals.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
153 Alice Davis (Royal Tara) 74 79
154 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) 79 75
156 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 79 77.
156 Stephanie Meadow (Ryl Portrush)76 80
157 Sarah Faller (Galway) 79 78
159 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 82 77
159 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 81 78

PETERHEAD STAGES 2007 GIRLS' MATCH-PLAY

ROSEANNE BEATS RACHAEL BY 3 AND 2 IN
THIS WEEK'S SCOTTISH FINAL AT PEEBLES

Roseanne Niven, a 17-year-old scratch player from Crieff, won the Scottish girls (close) amateur golf championship at Peebles today. Roseanne, seventh of the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages, beat 18-year-old Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) , the eighth qualifier, by 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final.
Neither had reached the national final previously and it is fair to say that both played their best golf in winning their way through to the last stage, rather than in the final itself.
That is not uncommon in a match-play tournament where the number of rounds played sometimes catches up with the players on the last day.
Roseanne was four over par and Rachael seven over the card in a match that lasted only 2hr 40min - but it was never a dull contest.
None of the first six holes was halved. On the seventh tee Roseanne was two up, having won the first, with a bogey, the third, fourth and the six with pars.
Rachael won the second with a par and the fifth with a birdie 3 - the only birdie by either player in the final.
In contrast, the next six holes were halved. Had Rachael been able to get her short game going over that period, she might have been able to take one or two of the opportunities that presented themselves
But it was Roseanne who broke the sequences of halves with a par 4 at the 13th to go three up.
Three more halves finished the final on the 16th green.
The new champion confessed she felt a "wee bit tired" after last week's gruelling European girls' team championships in Denmark.
"I didn't play as well as I wanted to in the final but I'm just happy to have won the title," said Roseanne.
Rachael too conceded that the good play that had marked her progress through the week at Peebles deserted her when she needed it most.
Next year's Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship will be played for the first time over the Peterhead Golf Club links, north of Cruden Bay but not quite as far as Fraserburgh.

UNITED STATES OPEN GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

SALLY WATSON LOSES ON LAST GREEN
AFTER REACHING LAST 16 IN U S A

Sally Watson from South Queensferry lost narrowly in the third round of the United States girls' open golf championship in hot and humid conditions at Carmel Country Club near Charlotte in North Carolina.
Sally, only recently turned 15, played in this tournament instead of defending the Scottish girls' championship at Peebles this week.
She had won her storm-interrupted second round tie after an early-morning resumption on Thursday.
Miss Watson beat Kimberly Donovan from Hopkinton, Mass, a member of the winning United States team in the last Junior Solheim Cup, by one hole.That put Sally into the last 16 in which she played another 15-year-old, Michelle Shin from Cape Coral, Florida.
It was another very close match which went all the way but this time Miss Watson went down by one hole.
Sally and Carly Booth (Comrie) are Scotland's girl representatives in the European Young Masters for under-16s in Austria at the end of next week. The selection of the European team to play the United States in the Junior Ryder Cup in the autumn will be based on performances in that tournament.

SAME PRICES FOR CARNOUSTIE NEXT YEAR

 

 

 

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

 

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

 

The R&A has frozen ticket prices for The Open Championship 2007 at Carnoustie.  Tickets will go on sale online at www.opengolf.com

 

“We are putting tickets on sale a little earlier than usual so that spectators have longer to take advantage of the substantial season ticket discounts of around 40%,” said David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A.

 

“Until the end of January, a season ticket will cost £150 and we feel this represents excellent value when compared to the cost of daily tickets for the eight days of practice and Championship play.”

 

A daily ticket on the four Championship days costs £50 per day and juniors continue to be well catered for with free admission for all under-16’s.  Concessions are available.

 

At present, all ticket enquiries should be directed through www.opengolf.com.  Telephone ticket sales will commence in due course.

 

 

NICK FALDO SERIES FINAL AT CELTIC MANOR

LARBERT LAD'S BLAIRGOWRIE EFFORT NOT

ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR FALDO FINAL 

 

We published the results from the third and final Scottish qualifying tournament in the Faldo Series at Blairgowrie earlier this week.

What we did not do was give you some explanatory words to go with the charts. Here, courtesy of Martin Forsyth of the Faldo Press Office, is the story from Blairgowrie:

 

 

Graeme Robertson, 18, from Larbert, claimed first place in the third and final tournament in the Scotland region of the Faldo Series 2006.

The tournament was played over the rolling heath-land of Blairgowrie's famous Lansdowne course under clear Scottish skies.

A two-under-par score of 70 was enough to see off the valiant efforts of some very strong contenders. Robertson found himself back at he clubhouse with a victory by a single stroke.

Unfortunately, the Larbert lad's late surge was not been enough to guarantee him a coveted place in this year's Faldo Series Final, as he did not finish top of his age category's Order of Merit.

The following players will be appearing at the event at The Celtic Manor Resort from October 4 to 6:

 

GRAHAM TURNER, 20, from Penicuik (Under 21 category).

 

GRAEME MITCHELL, 17, from the Northern Golf Club, Aberdeen.

 

MICHAEL DAILY, 17, from Bishopton.

 

MARK BOOKLESS, 16, from Glasgow.

 

REEVE WHITSON, 14, from Newcastle.

 

CARLY BOOTH, 14, from Comrie.

 

SCOTLAND GIRLS' TEAM

SLGA NAME SQUAD FOR PORTSTEWART

The Scottish Ladies Golfing has named the following team for the girls' home international matches at Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland from August 9 to 11:

Carly Booth (Comrie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry).

Reserves: Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), Laura Murray (Alford), Edwina Lowrey-Gold (Eaton), Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey).

The three girls whose scores will count for Scotland in the international team event staged in conjunction with the qualifying rounds of the Girls' British Open championship at Portstewart GC from August 14 to 18 are:
Carly Booth (Comrie), Krystle Caithness (St Regulous), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), capt.
Reserves: Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Michelle Thomson (McDonald Ellon).

BRILLIANT SCORE OF 62 AT HAZLEHEAD

MITCHELL SETS COURSE RECORD BUT
BYRNE WINS NE DISTRICT BOYS' TITLE


FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

North of Scotland boys' golf champion Graeme Mitchell (Northern) slashed two shots off the Hazlehead No 1 course record on Thursday) - but still did not win the North-east District boys' stroke-play championship!
Mitchell shot a brilliant round of eight-under-par 62 to lead by five shots but his second-round 70 for a total of 132 allowed him to be caught by the new North-east youths champion, James Byrne (Banchory).
James has scores of 67 and 64 for nine-under-par 131 to lift the first part of the North-east District boys' double-header at Hazlehead. 
Mitchell faced a 15ft putt on the final green. If he holed it, he would have tied with Byrne and they would have gone into a play-off. But Graeme missed it.
His figures for his round of 62, which was two shots inside the old mark held by Kevin Duthie, Mark Halliday and Shaun Webster, included birdies at the first, third, fifth, sixth, seven and eighth in an outward 28 followed by birdies at the 11th, 15th and 16th in 34 home.
Astonishing in such a low round, that Graeme had one bogey - a 5 at the 13th.
Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) with scores of 67 and 68 for 135 finished third overall but won the NE District Under-16 championship.
Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), bound for the University of Kentucky on a four-year golf scholarship next month, was fourth on 137 (67-70) and he completes the quartet which will contest the North-east District boys' match-play title over the Hazlehead No 1 course on Friday.
James Byrne will play Scotland boys international team-mate Lewis Kirton in the first semi-final, tee-ing off at 9.30am.
Graeme Mitchell, junior will play Adam Dunton at 9.40.
The winners will meet in the final which will tee off at 2pm.

LEADING TOTALS

131 J Byrne (Banchory) 67 64.
132 G Mitchell jun (Northern) 62 70.
135 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 67 68.
137 L Kirton (Newmachar) 67 70.
138 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 69 69.
142 C Baron (Oldmeldrum) 72 70.
145 D Macandrew (Hazlehead) 70 75, J Duff (Newmachar) 69 76.
147 C Irvine (Stonehaven) 77 70, S Fraser (Northern) 70 77.
148 K Shearer (Murcar Links) 75 73.
149 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 80 69, D Miller (Newmachar) 73 69.
150 N Macandrew (Cullen) 72 78.

CONSOLATION MEDAL AT PEEBLES

CARA EASTON WINS WITH NET 65

Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) won the Scottish girls' championship Consolation Medal at Peebles Golf Club.
She had a net 65 off nine of a handicap. The Par was 70, the SSS 71 and the CSS 71.

SCOREBOARD

NET

65 Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) (9).
68 Sammy Vass (Tain) (8).
71 Rebecca McIntyre (Eden) (10), Julie Vass (Tain) (19).
72 Laura Murray (Alford) (3), Jennifer Linklater (Largs) (13).
73 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) (3), Gillian Simpson (Baberton) (12).
74 Ashley Smith (Kirriemuir) (9), Megan Aird (Strathmore) (21).
75 Rachel Watton (Mortonhall) (12), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) (21).
76 Ailsa Bain (Peebles) (14) 76.
77 Lauren Mackin (Son Mutaner) (9), Rachael Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh) (10).
79 Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur) (10), Vicki Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie) (8).
NRs Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place) (13), Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar) (17).

LATEST POSITIONS AT PEEBLES

Latest positions at Peebles in Scottish girls championship semi-finals.


RACHAEL LIVINGSTONE v EDWINA LOWREY-GOLD

Rachael won first three holes, lost the fourth, but won the fifth and seventh to be four holes up on the eighth tee.
Rachael then won the eighth to be five up.

KATY McNICOLL v ROSEANNE NIVEN

First two holes halved.
Katy won third and fourth to be two holes up.
Fifth and sixth holes halved.

ANSLEY REID SALVER FINAL

First three holes halved.
Isla Craigie won the fourth to go one up

US GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

THUNDERSTORM HOLDS UP SALLY
WATSON'S BID IN SECOND ROUND


South Queensferry teenager Sally Watson won her opening tie in the United States girls' open golf championship and was then on the Carmel Country Club course when a huge thunderstorm hit the Charlotte area of North Carolina, forcing a suspension of further play for the day.
Sally, 15, was in excellent form in her opening tie. She was four under par for the 14 holes it took her to beat Kimberly Johnson from San Diego by 5 and 4.
Miss Watson will probably need to repeat that quality of performance in her second-round tie against Kimberly Donovan from Hopkinton, Mass. Miss Donovan was a member of the last winning United States Junior Solheim Cup team. She beat Spain's Belen Mozo 3 and 2. Miss Mozo won the British women's open amateur championship at Royal County Down, Northern Ireland earlier this summer.
Sally had played only four holes of her second-round match when the thunderstorm hit the area. She and the other contestants in the round of the last 32 were scheduled to resume their ties very early on Thursday morning (US time).
Sally's older sister Rebecca has been on the course as well - as Sally's caddie.
Rebecca will be returning to the United States in the autumn of 2007 to enrol as a student at the University of Tennessee, ranked in the top 10 of the US women's college golf teams for the second year in a row.

US GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SALLY QUALIFIES IN JOINT EIGHTH
PLACE FOR MATCH-PLAY STAGES

Sally Watson from South Queensferry had rounds of 72 and 73 for a one-over-par aggregate of 145 to figure joint eighth among the 64 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the United States girls' golf championship at Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina (on Tuesday).
Mini Harigate from Monterey California was the leading qualifier with scores of 70 and eight-under-par 64 for 138, two shots ahead of the field.
Miss Watson now plays Kimberley Johnson from San Diego, California, who totalled 151 in the qualifying rounds, in the first round of the match-play.

ends

SCOTTISH GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

KELSEY LEADING QUALIFIER AT PEEBLES

Nairn Dunbar's 15-year-old Kelsey MacDonald added another notch to her list of achievements this season when she led the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship at Peebles Golf Club.
Kelsey, who retained her Northern Counties women's championship earlier this year, has broken three course records this season with eight-under-par scores. Now playing off +1, Kelsey had rounds of 69 and 74 for an aggregate of 143 - one ahead of repeating North of Scotland women's champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Jane Turner (Mortonhall), the East of Scotland girls champion. Michele had scores of 71 and 73 while Jane had the lowest round of the day, a 67 in the morning, followed by a 77.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), second reserve for the Curtis Cup and winner of this title two years ago, qualified in fourth position with 74 and 71 for 145.
There were praiseworthy rounds of 68 from two other qualifiers, Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies).
QUALIFIERS
143 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 69 74.
144 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 71 73, J Turner (Mortonhall) 67 77.
145 K Caithness (St Regulus) 74 71.
146 E Lowrey-Golld (Eaton) 75 71, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 73 73, R Niven (Crieff) 73 73.
147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 79 68, L Murray (Alford) 74 73.
148 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 76 72.
150 K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 68.
151 E Fairnie (Dunbar) 74 77.
152 L Mackin (Son Muntaner) 78 74.
153 G Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78 75.
155 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 78.
158 H Harvey (St Rule Club) 81 77.
160 M Johnstone (Northern) 77 83.
162 A Ingram (Fort William) 84 78, J Graham (Southerness) 82 80, R Wilson (Monifieth) 81 81, S Vass (Tain) 81 81, E Muirhead *(Pitlochry) 79 83.
163 F Blair (Monifieth) 83 80, A Smith (Kirriemuir) 81 82, G Simpson (Baberton) 79 84.
164 C Easton (Dalmahoy) 77 87.
165 S Leslie (Westhill) 89 76, R McIntyre (Eden) 83 82, J Linklater 9Largs) 81 84, J Sneddon (Alyth) 80 85.
166 V Smith (Barassie) 81 85.
+Also on 166 but eliminated on a card countback:P L Meldreum (Dullatur) 80 86.
Match-play draw:
Top half: MacDonald v V Smith, Johnstone v Harvey, Murray v A Smith, Simpson v Livingstone, Lowrey-Gold v McIntyre, S Vass v Fairnie, Mackin v Wilson, Linklater v Caithness.
Lower half: Turner v Sneddon, Graham v Monteith, McNicoll v Muirhead, Leslie v M Briggs, R Niven v Easton, Blair v Prestwell, E Briggs v Ingram, A Niven v Thomson.
ends

HESWALL SCOREBOARD AT 4.45pm

R&A JUNIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Heswall Golf Club.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS at 4.45pm

BOYS (Par 72)

147 J Richelle (Bel) 76 71.
151 P Strycek (Cze) 75 76.
152 L Jamil (Malaysia) 75 77, A Singh (India) 77 75.
153 J P Hernandez (Mex) 77 76.
154 M Stewart (Sco) 70 84.
156 P Winther (Den) 76 80.
160 S Wu (China) 79 81.
162 A Nareshkumar (Sri L) 78 84.
163 S Sahli (Tun) 85 78.
166 T Biwer (Lux) 80 86.
167 J Macias (Ecu) 86 81, C Bergedahl (Malta) 79 88.
168 K Khatumal (SLeo) 88 80, H Attiq (Pak) 87 81.
169 H Y Lee (Gua) 88 81, A Al Mosharrekh (UAR) 85 84, A Cabrera jun (Arg) 91 78, S Hakim (Leb) 82 87.
170 O Valsson (Ice) 87 83.
171 J Newnham (Jam) 85 86.
175 A D Horne (Swa) 87 88, S Patel (Malawi) 90 85.
176 R Gibson jun (Bah) 87 89.
178 N Catto (Gha) 93 85.
183 S Hafiz (Cay I) 93 90.
184 J Delgadillo (Nic) 92 92.
185 I Rodriguez jun (Spa) 99 86.
189 P Panagopoulos (Gre) 91 98.
190 J Rollins (Virgin Islands) 93 97.
191 S N Al Khanji (Qat) 91 100.
195 M Sourial (Egy) 100 95.
222 M A Jimenez jun (Spa) 115 107.
250 J Villalta (Hon) 118 132.
Retired  M Chiluba (Zam) 94 -.

GIRLS (Par 72)

147 M Koh (Malaysia) 75 72.
157 N Dlamini (Swa) 78 79.
163 M Barrios (Col) 80 83.
167 K Spilkova (Cze) 83 84.
166 T Prelog (Slo) 82 84.
169 V Intriago (Ecu) 81 88.
173 N Gobey (Wal) 85 88.
174 R Masamvo (Zim) 91 83.
176 H O'Brien (Ire) 88 88.
181 D Senadhira (Sri L) 90 91.
183 V Marley (Jam) 92 91.
184 C Li (China) 97 87.
188 A Adderley (Bah) 92 96.
191 C Cuculiza (Nic) 100 91, R Chebukatis (Ken) 100 91.
194 C Poole (Gre) 98 96.
220 D Abou El Ela (Egy)  113 107.

NORTH VETS AT ALFORD

BANCHORY PLAYERS TO THE FORE AT ALFORD

Helen Edon (Banchory) won the top scratch prize in the North Veteran Ladies Golf Association meeting at Alford with an 82 (CSS 70).
Jill Macaulay (Banchory), playing off 18, won the Silver Division handicap section with a net 68 - two shots ahead of Helen Edon who had a 70 off her handicap of 12.
In the Bronze Division, yet another Banchory player, Helen Omand, won the top handicap prize with a 67 off 27. Valerie Kelly (Deeside) was runner-up with a 69 off 23.
Yvonne Elrick (Aberdeen Ladies) won the Tony Moffat Bowl with a net 76 off 18.

US GIRLS' OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SOLID START BY SALLY WATSON

South Queensferry 15-year-old Sally Watson had a par 72 in the first qualifying round of the United States girls' open golf championship Carmel Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina on Monday.
She was lying joint 11th in a field of 156 behind American Joanne Lee, 17, who shot a 69.
The leading 64 after a second qualifying round will go forward to the match-play stages over a 6,396yd course with the tough rough which always prevails at USGA championships of whatever level.
Sally decided to play in the event instead of defending the Scottish Under-18 girls' title at Peebles this week.

ALL THE SCORES FROM HESWALL

R&A JUNIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP


BOYS (Par 72)
70 Michael Stewart (Scotland), Cristiano Terragni (Italy).
72 Maxmilian Kraemer (Germany).
73 Patrick Reed (United States).
74 Roy Steinberg (Israel), Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (Zimbabwe), Ben Enoch (Wales).
75 Siphiwe Siphayi (South Africa), Andrew Stewart (New Zealand), Iylia Jamil (Malaysia), Shunta Maeawakura (Japan), Petr Strycek (Czech Republic).
76 Darren Renwick (England), Julien Richelle (Belgium), Patrick Winther (Denmark), Koray Varli (Turkey).
77 Amanjyot Singh (India), Jaka Vidmar (Slovenia), Juan Pablo Hernandez (Mexico), Garth Boyd (Ireland).
78 Avinesh Nareshkumar (Sri Lanka).
79 Santiago Quintero (Venezuela), Lucas Leibel (Canada), Shuai Wu (China), Chreis Bergedahl (Malta).
80 Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (Poland), Edouard Amacher (Switzerland), Thierry Biwer (Luxembourg).
81 Mark Suursalu (Estonia), Karlis Broders (Latvia), Robert Paul Calvesbert (Puerto Rico).
82 Subhy Hakim (Lebanon).
84 Tahir A Said (Kenya).
85 Ahmed Al Mosharrekh (United Arab Emirates), Saber Sahli (Tunisia), Jonathan Newnham (Jamaica).
86 Stefan Langer (Germany), Jaime Macias (Ecuador).
87 Jose Pablo Rolz (Guatemala), Haider Attiq (Pakistan), Richard Gibson jun (Bahamas), Arthur D Horne (Swaziland), Oddur Valsson (Iceland).
88 Ho Youn Lee (Guam), Kamal Khatumal (Sierra Leone).
90 Sneh Patel (Malawi).
91 Angel Cabrera jun (Argentina), Panagiotis Panagopoulos (Greece), Salman Nasser Al Khanji (Qatar).
92 Javier Delgadillo (Nicaragua).
93 Jelani Rollins (Virgin Islands), Nicolo Catto (Ghana), Shehzad Hafiz (Cayman Islands).
94 Michael Chiluba (Zambia).
99 Ignacio Rodriguez jun (Spain).
100 Mina Sourial (Egypt).
115 Ignacio Rodriquez (Spain).
118 Julio Villalta (Honduras).

GIRLS (Par 72)
71 Bertine Strauss (South Africa).
72 Asako Fujimoto (Japan), Carly Booth (Scotland), Jungeun Han (Republic of Korea).
74 Jennifer Johnson (United States).
75 Michelle Koh (Malaysia).
76 Nicole Vandermade (Canada), Kiara Hayashida (Peru).
77 Katie Thompson (England).
78 Laetitia Beck (Israel), Krista Puisite (Latvia), Nobuhle Dlamini (Swaziland),  Friederike Reuter (Germany).
79 Lauren Van Gerven (Belgium).
80 Margarita Ramos (Mexico), Mariana Barrios (Colombia).
81 Ludovica Carulli (Italy), Alisa Theunis (Luxembourg), Valentina Intriago (Ecuador).
82 Tjasa Prelog (Slovenia).
83 Kiara Spilkova (Czech Republic).
84 Melissa Nawa (Zambia), Yolecci Jimenez (Venezuela).
85 Natasha Gobey (Wales).
88 Hannah O'Brien (Ireland).
89 Bonita Bredenhann (Nambia), Sofie K Palmund (Denmark).
90 Eyglo Myrra Oskarsdottir (Iceland), Dhanushi Senadhira (Sri Lanka).
91 Elgin Ulu (Turkey), Rumbidzai Masamvo (Zimbabwe).
92 Anamae Adderley (Bahamas), Carina Cuculiza (Nicaragua), Vittoria Marley (Jamaica).
97 Chuxin Li (China).
98 Cassandra Poole (Greece).
100 Rachel Chebukatis (Kenya), Carina Cuculiza (Nicaragua).
113 Dina Abou El Ela (Egypt).

+Players with handicaps of three or better play three rounds; higher handicaps play only two rounds.

SCOTS DO WELL IN R&A JUNIOR OPEN

SCOTS KEEP COOL AND IN THE PICTURE
AT R&A JUNIOR OPEN IN HESWALL HEAT

Scots Michael Stewart and Carly Booth kept cool in the oppressive heat to be up with the leaders at the end of the first day of the R&A Junior Open golf championship at Heswall Golf Club on the Wirral, Cheshire today.
Both youngsters have come straight from an exhausting week of the European boys' and girls' team championships in Scandinavia. But you would never have known.
Troon Welbeck member Michael, 16, shot a two-under-par 70 to share a two-stroke lead in the boys' championship with Italy's Cristiano Terragni.
Comrie's Carly, only recently turned 14, is in joint second place in the girls' event with a level par 72 despite a triple bogey 8 at the long fifth before she had got the first of her bag of five birdies.
"I drove on to a footpath at the fifth, got a bad lie, topped my recovery into a ditch and then duffed a chip. No so long ago, a triple bogey so early in the round would have put me right off, but not now. I've learned to cope with stupid mistakes like that, shutting them right out of my mind as quickly as I can," said Carly.
"But for that hole I played well and I must be happy to get away with a par round with an 8 in it. And the longest putt I holed all day was just a few feet.
The long-hitting Miss Booth was able to birdie three par-5s, the ninth, 12th and 17th, and she also birdied the par-4 sixth and 16th with accurate approach shots.
Carly would have been one of the favourites for the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship at Peebles, beginning today (Tuesday), had she not been nominated as Scotland's girl representative for the R&A Junior Open.  She was beaten finalist at the age of 13 last year at Tain.
Heswall, nominally a parkland course, is playing like an out-and-out links with fast-running fairways and hard fast greens.
Michael Stewart, like Carly, had a potential disaster on his card - a double-bogey 5 at the short 11th but, he too, took the setback in his stride.
"I took an eight-iron instead of a nine on the tee and it was too big. The ball went over the green on to horrible lie on a downslope. I left the chip 10ft short and three-putted," said Michael. "But I thought a 70 was a solid start. The greens were much the same as I've been putting on in Denmark last week and at Worthing the week before in the English Under-16 open championship.
Stewart was three under par through the turn in 33 with birdies at the third, fourth and sixth.
The double-bogey at 11th was followed by a pitch-and-putt birdie 4 at the long 12th.
"I parred my way in from there. Had birdie chances at the 15th and 17th but I wasn't too unhappy to finish with a 70."

LATEST R&A JUNIOR OPEN SCORES

R&A JUNIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Heswall Golf Club
FIRST-ROUND SCORES AT 3.45

BOYS (Par 72)
70 Michael Stewart (Scotland), Cristiano Terragni (Italy).
72 Maxmilian Kraemer (Germany).
73 Patrick Reed (United States).
74 Roy Steinberg (Israel), Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (Zimbabwe), Ben Enoch (Wales).
75 Siphiwe Siphayi (South Africa), Andrew Stewart (New Zealand), Iylia Jamil (Malaysia), Shunta Maeawakura (Japan), Petr Strycek (Czech Republic).
76 Darren Renwick (England), Julien Richelle (Belgium), Patrick Winther (Denmark), Koray Varli (Turkey).
77 Amanjyot Singh (India), Jaka Vidmar (Slovenia), Juan Pablo Hernandez (Mexico), Garth Boyd (Ireland).
79 Santiago Quintero (Venezuela), Lucas Leibel (Canada), Shuai Wu (China)
80 Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (Poland), Edouard Amacher (Switzerland).
81 Mark Suursalu (Estonia), Karlis Broders (Latvia), Robert Paul Calvesbert (Puerto Rico).
84 Tahir A Said (Kenya).
86 Stefan Langer (Germany).
87 Jose Pablo Rolz (Guatemala).

GIRLS (Par 72)

71 Bertine Strauss (South Africa).
72 Asako Fujimoto (Japan), Carly Booth (Scotland), Jungeun Han (Republic of Korea).
74 Jennifer Johnson (United States).
75 Michelle Koh (Malaysia).
76 Nicole Vandermade (Canada), Kiara Hayashida (Peru).
77 Katie Thompson (England).
78 Laetitia Beck (Israel), Krista Puisite (Latvia), Nobuhle Dlamini (Swaziland).
79 Lauren Van Gerven (Belgium).
80 Margarita Ramos (Mexico), Mariana Barrios (Colombia).
81 Ludovica Carulli (Italy).
84 Melissa Nawa (Zambia).
91 Elgin Ulu (Turkey).
97 Chuxin Li (China).

+Players with handicaps of three or better play three rounds; higher handicaps play only two rounds.

R&A JUNIOR OPEN SCOREBOARD

R&A JUNIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Heswall Golf Club
FIRST-ROUND SCORES AT 2.30pm

BOYS (Par 72)
70 Michael Stewart (Scotland), Cristiano Terragni (Italy).
72 Maxmilian Kraemer (Germany).
73 Patrick Reed (United States).
74 Roy Steinberg (Israel), Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (Zimbabwe).
75 Siphiwe Siphayi (South Africa), Andrew Stewart (New Zealand).
76 Darren Renwick (England).
77 Amanjyot Singh (India), Jaka Vidmar (Slovenia), Juan Pablo Hernandez (Mexico).
79 Santiago Quintero (Venezuela), Lucas Leibel (Canada).
80 Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (Poland), Edouard Amacher (Switzerland).
81 Mark Suursalu (Estonia), Karlis Broders (Latvia), Robert Paul Calvesbert (Puerto Rico).
86 Stefan Langer (Germany).

GIRLS (Par 72)
72 Asako Fujimoto (Japan), Carly Booth (Scotland), Jungeun Han (Republic of Korea).
74 Jennifer Johnson (United States).
76 Nicole Vandermade (Canada), Kiara Hayashida (Peru).
77 Katie Thompson (England).
78 Laetitia Beck (Israel), Krista Puisite (Latvia).
80 Margarita Ramos (Mexico), Mariana Barrios (Colombia).
81 Ludovica Carulli (Italy).

+Players with handicaps of three or under play three rounds; higher handicaps only two rounds.

NAIRN GIRL STILL IN FORM

LAURA BREAKS THORNTON COURSE RECORD

Former Scottish girls champion Laura Walker, champion of both Nairn and Nairn Dunbar golf clubs this summer, broke the Thornton Golf Club, Fife women's course record on Sunday.
Laura, who plays off one, had a scratch 64, six under par and three under the previous record set by local club champion Lorna Fury three years ago.
Miss Walker dropped a shot at the fourth but then birdied the sixth, eighth, ninth, 11th, 15th, 16th and 17th in halves of 32 (two under par) and 32 (four under par).
She was competing in the Thornton Women's Open.

NEWS FROM THE NORTH

MATHESON REPEATS SINCLAIR CUP SUCCESS

A nightmare ninth hole in the second round by local club champion Jimmy Gunn let clubmate Kevin Matheson in to repeat his 2004 success in the Sinclair Cup 36-hole open at Royal Dornoch on Saturday (writes Robin Wilson).
Matheson, who earlier in the month won at Golspie, continued his consistent run of form with scores of 71 and 70 for 141 against Gunn's 69 and 75 for 144.
Gunn had eagled the par-5 ninth hole in the first round but, after a visiting the beach from the ninth tee in afternoon, there was a six-shot difference in his two scores.
Royal Aberdeen's Mark Halliday,  who won last year after a course-equalling record score of 65, finished in third place with scores of 73 and 75. 
Details (CSS 74 74)
Scratch (All Dornoch unless stated)
K. Matheson (71 70) 141; J M Gunn (69 75) 144; M. Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) (73 75) 148; J Macleod (Tain) (75 74) 149; R  Macleod (Tain) (78,76) 154. Handicap - J. Cunningham (Tain) (4), K Sinclair (4) 144; B. Nicholson (2), J. Edgecombe (Duddingston) (4) 146; S A Massie (Fraserburgh) (9) 147.
Individual scratch round - J Shepherd 74.
Individual handicap round - R Parkinson (Preston) (8) 70. 

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

NO SALLY, NO CARLY - BUT NO LACK
OF TITLE CONTENDERS AT PEEBLES

It's a curious Scottish Under-18 girls' golf championship at Peebles Golf Club this week. Curious, in that Sally Watson from South Queensferry, at 14 the youngest-ever winner of the title at Tain last year, is not defending the championship. She is playing in the United States girls' open championship instead.
And the 13-year-old that Sally beat in the 2005 final, Carly Booth from Comrie, is Scotland's girl representative in the R&A Junior Open for Under-16s at Heswall Golf club on the Wirral from Monday to Wednesday.
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association were castigated in some quarters for not entering any girl in the biennial R&A Junior Open at Barassie in 2004. Now the SLGA has sent to Heswall, Miss Booth, who was undoubtedly a potential winner of the championship at Peebles. From the ridiculous to the sublime?
The trouble with a championship that does not include two of the leading lights is that whoever wins it in their absence will have the merit of the victory questioned by some, i.e. "She might not have won it if Sally or Carly had been in the field"
Which would be most unkind because the other side of the coin is that Miss Watson and Miss Booth might not have won it anyway, given the quality at the top end of the entry.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), for instance, is a wee bit unlucky to be "only" second reserve instead of playing for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup at the end of the month. In this her last year in the Under-18 ranks, the by now very experienced teeanger from Cellardyke, Fife must be considered hot favourite to repeat her Under-18s championship success of two years ago at Pumpherston.
A hot favourite but not a certainty. Miss Caithness was beaten before the semi-finals last year and there is no shortage of players who, on any given day, have the potential to beat Krystle.
Repeating North of Scotland women's champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), double Northern Counties women's title-winner Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Renfrewshire women's champion Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), East of Scotland girls' champion Jane Turner (Mortonhall), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Katy Nicoll (Carnoustie) and Laura Murray (Alford) all come into that category.
Two stroke-play qualifying rounds will be played today (TUESDAY) with the leading 32 going on to the championship's match-play stages. The next best 16 in the stroke-play aggregates will contest the Ansley Reid Salver, held by Cara Easton (Dalmahoy).

NEWS FROM FUTURES TOUR

VIKKI MAKES CUT BUT FINISHES
DOWN THE FIELD IN USA


Vikki Laing from Musselburgh had rounds of 79, 74 and 77 for a 14-over-par total of 230 in the Cigna Futures Classic tournament at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, near Hartford, Connecticutt on Sunday.
Vikki tied for 46th place and earned $297.
The winner, on her 18th birthday, was Song-Hee Kim from Seoul, South Korea with rounds of 78, 70 and 73. She collected $9,800 for a level par aggregate of 216, winning by one stroke from In-Bee Park (75-71-71) from Las Vegas.

MORE US MINI TOUR NEWS

SPEIRS AND MAYBIN SQUEEZE THROUGH

 

Colin Speirs from Dunkeld and Gareth Maybin of Ballyclare, Northern Ireland both squeezed through to the final two rounds of the latest NGA Hooters Tour event at Olde Oaks Golf Club, Haughton in Louisiana.

Both former US college players, Colin scored 76 and 68 for level par 144, a figure matched by Gareth with scores of 70 and 74.

A total of 68 players made the cut on 144 or better. Speirs and Maybin were in a bunch of 11 players tied on the limit mark.

Camilo Benedetti from Colombia, now living in Florida, has set a cracking pace at 14-under-par 130 with rounds of 62 and 68. He leads by two shots.

US MINI-TOUR NEWS

LATE BOGEYS COST KIRKPATRICK SOME DOLLARS

-

David Kirkpatrick, a former Scotland amateur cap from Edinburgh, finished joint 11th on one-under-par 287 in the latest event on the Grey Goose Gateway Tour in Florida.

David had rounds of 73, 69, 70 and 75 over the PGA National and Hammock Creek courses at Palm Beach to end up nine shots behind the winner of the $25,691 top prize, Jimbo Fuller.

Jimbo beat Akio Sadakata after they had tied on 10-under-par 278.

Fuller's rounds on this very competitive mini-touor were 64, 70, 76 and 68 while Sadakata scored 69, 67, 71 and 71.

Three late bogeys cost Kirkpatrick a couple of thousand dollars. He dropped shots at the 12th, 15th and 17th to earn $3,187.

US FUTURES TOUR

 

 

VIKKI STILL STRUGGLING TO RECAPTURE FORM

 

 

Vikki Laing is still struggling to recapture the form that made her a top amateur. She had a first-round, seven-over-par 79, admittedly over a tough, 6,415yd course, in the Cigna Futures Classic at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, near Hartford, Connecticutt on Friday.

Only two players broke the par of 72 over the Arnold Palmer-designed course.

Vikki had halves of 41 and 38 to be in joint 80th place and needs to pull up her socks to make the 36-hole cut.

Brenda McLarnon, like Vikki a former US college player but not one that was ever as highly ranked as the Scot from Musselburgh, starts the second day sharing 56th place on 77. Brenda, from Belfast, had halves of 40 and 37.

Janet Dwyer from Aberyswyth, Wales, is in joint 99th place after an 81 (43-38).

Leading the field are Sooji Choi (34-36) from Los Angeles and Jordan Cherebetiu (35-35) from South Dakota.

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

CLARE MAKES IT BUT JULIE, LIZ AND LYNN

MISS THE CUT IN HUNGARY

 

Rookie Clare Queen survived the 36-hole cut by two shots with a second-round 70 for 141 in the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open championship in Hungary today.

Players with totals of 143 and better survived but Julie Forbes, Liz McKinnon (despite a brave effort) and Lynn Kenny did not.

Julie Forbes had 73 and 72 for 145, the same total as Inverness-based New Zealander Liz who found her "old" form with a 68, nine shots better than on Thursday.

Lynn had two 73s for 146, good enough scoring normally but not over a shortish course as this one, over which the scoring average has been very low.

Germany's Anja Monke leads with 12-under-par 130 with scores of 64 and 66. She leads by one shot from England's Rebecca Hudson (66-65).

SCOTTISH U-14 CHAMPIONSHIPS

PAUL AND JILL WIN TITLES AT DEESIDE

 

Perth youngster Paul McPhee completed a notable double for his golf club, King James VI, at Deeside GC today when he won the Scottish boys’ under-14 open title by two shots – 24 hours after clubmate Sam McLaren won the Under-16s’ championship.

Paul, 14-year-old son of Ian McPhee, the former Airdrie and Dundee United footballer and latterly manager of Forfar Athletic, shot a one-under-par 69 before lunchtime at the Bieldside course.

And at the end of play, some six hours later, his name was still at the top of the leaderboard in the chase for the Douglas Forsyth Trophy.

Master McPhee has been playing golf for only four years. He missed the cut in the Under-16s championship by only one shot but obviously benefited from two competitive rounds over what is a deceptively difficult parkland course.

“We have a great junior section at King James VI,” said Paul. “It’s all down to the enthusiasm of junior convener Bob Blackburn.”

The closest anyone got to McPhee’s long-time clubhouse target was Alan Tulleth (St Andrews) with a 71.

Defending champion Billy Downing (Truro) finished third with a 72.

Robert Gauld, 11-year-old Cruden Bay member, won the Gibson Trophy for the best scratch score by an Under-12 boy. Doctor’s son Robert shot a gross 76, a brilliant effort by an 18-handicapper.

Jill Meldrum from Dullatur won the Scottish girls’ Under-14 open championship with a net 69 off eight of a handicap. Her gross 77 (38-39), only three over the girls’ CSS,  also won her the scratch cup.

Jill received the championship salver for her 69 but the gold medal in the net returns when to Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), last year's winner of the Under-14 girls title, ahead of Sophie Alexander (Deeside) who earned the silver medal. Both had net 70s, Cara off 10 and Sophie off 29.

Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) won the bronze medal with a net 71 off 13.

Rachel Howie (West Kilbride) won the Under-12s award for the lowest net score with a 76 off 32.

The national under-14s championships, organised by the SGU and the SLGA, are staged in association with the Loretto Golf Academy, Musselburgh.

 

 

EURO YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP

 

SCOTS LOSE IN SEMI-FINALS TO SPAIN 

 

Scotland, the defending champions,  lost 4 1/2-2 1/2 to host nation and favourites Spain in the semi-finals of the European youths team championship at San Roque 2 on the Costa del Sol today.

Lloyd Saltman and Jordan Findlay lost the first foursome 4 and 3. Steven McEwan and Paul O'Hara lost the second foursome 3 and 2.

Then Saltman lost the top singles 2 and 1 for Scotland to fall 0-3 behind.

O'Hara won his tie by one hole but Spain got the clinching point when Scott Henry lost at the 19th to make the scoreline Spain 4, Scotland 1 at that point.

McEwan won 2 and 1 and then Findlay halved the final singles

The final will be between Spain and Italy who were surprise 4-3 winners over England in the second semi-final.

SCOTS BOYS IN EURO FINAL

GREAT FIGHT BACK IN SWEDEN

Scotland will play Norway in Saturday's final of the European boys' team championship at Bokskogens Golf Club in Sweden.

The Scots staged a thrilling fightback to beat host nation Sweden 4-3 in the semi-finals after losing the foursomes 2-0.

Lewis Kirton and James Byrne lost their tie at the 10th while James White and Ross Kellett lost by one hole.

Kirton won by two holes and Byrne by 3 and 1 in the first two singles to level the scoreline overall at 2-2.

Then Cameron Gray lost by 3 and 2 .... 3-2 to Sweden.

White won his tie 3 and 2 to tie it up again at 3-3.

Ross Kellett was the Scotland hero, winning the seventh and deciding tie at the 20th hole.

Norway beat Spain 4-3 in the other semi-final.

 

 

EURO JUNIOR WOMEN TEAM

 SCOTS FAILED AGAIN IN NETHERLANDS

The Scotland team continued to disappoint on the fourth day of the European junior women's team championship at Pan Golf Club in the Netherlands.

The Scots lost 4-1 to Finland in a Second Flight match which means they are heading for a low final ranking, outside the top10.

Laura Murray (Alford) and Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) lost the foursomes tie at the 20th hole.

Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) lost in the singles by 5 and 3. Michele Thomson from Ellon was Scotland's sole winner, at the 19th. Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) and Kyle Walker (Buchanan Castle) both lost by one hole.

The championship final will be beateen Spain (5-2 winners over France) and Sweden(who beat leading qualifiers England 4-3).

 

EUROPEAN GIRLS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

SCOTS' BIG WIN OVER DUTCH

Scotland beat Netherlands 5-0 in the European girls' golf championship at Esbjerg Golf Club, Denmark today.

Carly Booth (Comrie) and Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) won their foursome 2 and 1 while Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Roseanne Niven from Crieff were 3 and 1 winners of their morning tie.

In making a clean sweep of the three singles, Kelsey won by two holes, Krystle by one hole and Roseanne by 4 and 2.

Scotland will now play Sweden (5-0) winners over Sweden for fifth place in the final standings.

The final will be between six times champions Spain (3-2 winners over Denmark) and Germany (4-1 winners against France).

 

 

BACK TO BACK EAGLES AT BALGOWNIE

CALUM PROVIDES ROYAL ABERDEEN

JUNIOR OPEN HIGHLIGHT

 

Royal Aberdeen youngster Calum Innes had an eagle 2 at the 10^th, followed by an eagle 1 at the short 11^th in winning the top handicap prize in his club’s junior open at Balgownie today.

Calum had a scratch round of 72 and a net 62 off his handicap of 10. He used a wedge for his second shot at the 345yd 10^th hole and a five-iron for his ace at the 166yd 11^th.

John Duff, who plays off scratch at Newmachar, had the best scratch score of one under par 71 and two under the CSS.

The tournament attracted a field of 60, including one girl – Eilidh Mackay from Nairn Dunbar. A seven-handicapper, she played off the LGU tees but was allowed four extra strokes and returned a creditable net 75.

LEADING SCORES (Par 71, CSS 72)

SCRATCH

70 John Duff (Newmachar).

72 Calum Innes (Royal Aberdeen).

73 Scott Fraser (Northern).

74 Robert Gallon (Royal Aberdeen).

75 Josh Clark (Montrose Mercantile), Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan).

76 Fraser Clark (Westhill), Tommy Mitchell (Woodlands, Texas), Graeme Mitchell (Northern).

HANDICAP

62 C Innes (Royal Aberdeen) (10). 66 Calum Trahan (McDonald Ellon) (11). 69 R Gallon (Royal Aberdeen) (15). 70 J Duff (Newmachar) (scr), Zac Clark (Royal Aberdeen) (7), F Clark (Westhill) (5), Jamie Nicholas (Nairn Dunbar) (11).

 

SHIRE CHAMPION NOW A PRO

KATIE THOMSON SIGNS PGA CONTRACT

 

Katie Thomson (Kintore), winner of the Aberdeenshire women's county golf championship at Ballater this summer, has played her last amateur competition. She is now officially a professional golfer, having signed a contract to be PGA trained at Aspire Golf Centre where she has been working for some time.

 

 

ends.

UNDER-14 BOYS AND GIRLS SCORES

 

SCOTTISH BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER-14 OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Deeside Golf Club.

 

BOYS (Par 70, CSS 70)

69 P McPhee (King James VI).

71 A Tulleth (St Andrews).

72 B Downing (Truro).

73 S Connor (Ralston), B Taylor (Walton Heath).

74 R Clarke (Moray), T J Waldron (Camberley Heath), A McLachlan (Eastwood), J Scott (Deeside), R Storrier (Downfield), R Mitchell (Downfield), M Ishaq (Bondhay), W Chambers (Mid Herts).

75 G Munsey (Frilford Heath), I Redford (King James VI), G Meechan (Dullatur).

76 R Gauld (Cruden Bay), C Moore (Falkirk Tryst), J Henry (Clydebank & Dist).

77 F Ingram (United Arab Emirates), G Champion (Truro).

78 D Elrick (Hazlehead), C O'Neil (Pollok), G Law (Oldmeldrum), A Alderman (Mid Herts), J Penman (Thornton), J Arthur (Milnathort).

79 E McIntosh (McDonald Ellon), C Spence (Kirkcaldy).

80 N Hunt (Frilford Heath), E Mackay (Torphin Hill).

81 D Gillespie (Southerness), J McPherson (Braehead), D Gallagher (Clydebank & Dist), J Martin (Barassie), J Burrows (Pitlochry).

82 G Caldwell (Greenock), S Turnbull (Ralston), W Rennie (Northern).

83 E Scott (St Andrews), J Davison (Torphin Hill), J Thorburn (Forrester Park), J McCormick (Loretto), S Fairburn (Galashiels), J Lennon-Joiner (Ellesborough), N Barnes (Deeside).

84 F Brown (Nairn), C Crocker (East Sussex National), C Low (The Glen), C Neil (Blairgowrie), G Chalmers (Alloa), M Scott (Hamilton), N Colbeck (Cleckheaton & Dist), A Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle), C White (Haddington).

85 P O'Neil (Pollok), C Stewart (Brora), A Simpson (The Glen), A Whyte (St Andrews New), B Todd (Greenburn).

86 M Geddes (Prenton), S Smith (Deeside), J Presly (Banchory).

87 R Simpson (Bonnyton), G Stewart (Crieff).

88 M Bailley (Glenbervie), G Williamson (Ratho Park).

89 R Wallace (Pitlochry), T Binning (Old Ranfurly), B Neil (Blairgowrie), S Thorburn (Ayr Belleisle), J Stamper (Penrith).

90 C McLean (Cowglen), F Davren (Williamwood).

91 M Hausweiler (Germany), C Norman (Dullatur), A McDougall (Elderslie).

92 J Gavin (Loretto).

93 M Angus (Hazlehead), R Meechan (Dullatur).

95 R Gordon (Alford).

98 F McNeill (Haggs Castle), P Reilly (Lochwinnoch).

No Return - A Donaldson (Royal Aberdeen).

 

GIRLS (Par 72, CSS 74)

 

69 J Meldrum (Dullatur) (8).

70 C Easton (Dalmahoy) (10), S Alexander (Deeside) (29).

71 G Scanlan (Hamilton) (13).

74 R Watton (Mortonhall) (12), L Smith (Kirriemuir) (17).

75 K Scott (Windyhill) (16), R Hannon (St Regulus) (18).

76 R McIntyre (Eden) (10), R Howie (West Kilbride) (32).

77 N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) (21), C Geddes (Northern) (27).

79 E Briggs (Kilmacolm) (7).

80 G MacDonald (Prestonfield) (26), L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) (23).

81 L R Whyte (SALJGA) (23)

82 A Niven (Crieff) (9).

83 G Simpson (Baberton) (12), C M Prouse (Hazlehead) (15), J Vass (Tain) (20).

84 F Barksby (Gainsborough) (17), A Tait (St Regulus) (21),  G Ping (Ladybank) (20).

87 L Duncan (Aboyne) (15).

92 M Aird (Strathmore) (21).

Withdrew - S Lamb (Glencorse).

No Return - R Polson (Peterculter).

 

EUROPEAN LADIES PRO TOUR

PAR ROUND BY CLARE BUT JOINT 45TH PLACE

 

Clare Queen matched the par of 71 in the first round of the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open at Old Lake Golf and Country Club in Hungary. But there were so many low scores that the Scot finished the day sharing 45th place.

Clare birdied the short eighth and 17th and bogeyed the fourth and 15th in a steady round.

Lynn Kenny (Brucefields Family Golf Centre) and Aboyne exile Julie Forbes both scored 73, to shared 75th place. Lynn bropped shots at the first, fifth and ninth and picked up only one birdie, at the long 15th.

Julie also had a solitary birdie, at the 11th, and bogeyed the second, fourth and 12th.

Inverness-based New Zealader Liz McKinnon is in joint114th place after a six-over-par 77 which included bogeys at the third, fourth, fifth, eight, 16th and 18th. She had a double bogey at the ninth in reaching the turn in 40. She did have two birdies, at the seventh and 15th.

Germany's Anja Monke and Spain's Ana B Sanchez are setting the pace on seven-under-par 64.

EUROPEAN YOUTHS

SCOTLAND OVERPOWER NETHERLANDS

Defending champions Scotland sailed into the last four of the European youths team championship at San Roque 2 on Spain's Costa del Sol today.

They beat Netherlands 6-1 and now play Spain in the semi-finals. The other last-four tie will pitch England against Italy, conquerors of Ireland 5-2.

Scotland took a 2-0 lead by winning both foursomes through Lloyd Saltman and Jordan Findlay in the top tie, and Paul O'Hara and Steven McEwan in the other which they won at the 19th.

Saltman, O'Hara, McEwan and Findlay all won in the afternoon singles which Scotland took 4-1. Scott Henry was Scotland's only loser. Russell Knox, off form in the stroke-play qualifying rounds, was given the day off.

Details:

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

ENGLAND 6 1/2, FRANCE 1/2.

ITALY 5, IRELAND 2.

SPAIN 4, WALES 3.

SCOTLAND 6, NETHERLANDS 1

Foursomes: L Saltman & J Findlay bt J Luiten & T Sluiter 3 and 2; P O'Hara & S McEwan bt W Besseling & T Bierenbroodspot at 19th (2-0).

Singles: Saltman bt Luiten 2 and 1, S Henry lost to Besseling 1 hole, O'Hara bt R King 4 and 3, McEwan bt Bierenbroodspot 6 and 5, Findlay bt Sluiter 3 and 2 (4-1).

EUROPEAN BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

NORTH-EAST PAIR HELP SCOTS

CLEAR FIRST SWEDISH HURDLE

 

Scotland cleared their first match-play hurdle in the European boys’ team golf championship at Bokskogens Golf Club, Malmo in Sweden today.

They beat Belgium 3-4 in one of the four championship flight ties and now play Sweden for a place in the final.

In the top half of the draw, Norway beat France 5½-1½ and Sweden overpowered Netherlands 5½-1½.

United States-bound Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) and Banchory’s James Byrne were the Scotland heroes with two wins out of two.

They combined in the morning foursomes to win by 5 and 4 but Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and James White (Lundin) lost the other tie. That meant it was all to play for in the three singles.

Scotland clinched their place in the last four when Kirton and Byrne won the first two singles. Lewis finished one up while Byrne was a 3 and 2 winner.

Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) lost his singles tie by 3 and 1.

Results:

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

FRANCE 1½, NORWAY 5½.

SPAIN 4, WALES 3.

BELGIUM 3, SCOTLAND 4.

Foursomes: H Joannes & C Mivis lost to L Kirton & J Byrne 5 and 4; X Feyaerts & G Seegmuller bt R Kellett & J White 4 and 3 (1-1).

Singles: M Sougner lost to Kirton 1 hole, Seegmuller lost to Byrne 3 and 2, Joannes bt M Stewart 3 and 1.

NETHERLANDS 1½ , SWEDEN 5½ .

SECOND FLIGHT

FINLAND 0, GERMANY 5.

DENMARK 3 ½, England 1 ½.

ITALY 3, PORTUGAL 2.

IRELAND  3 ½, SWITZERLAND 1 ½ .

 

 

EURO JUNIOR WOMEN

SCOTS LOSE TO ITALY IN NETHERLANDS

 

Scotland lost 3-2 to Italy in a second-flight tie of the European junior women’s team golf championship at Pan Golf Club in the Netherlands today.

Both countries had failed to make the top eight in the championship match-play flight. Scotland were 12^th and Italy 13^th in the standings after the two stroke-play qualifying rounds.

Michele Thomson from Ellon and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) won their singles ties but the Dutch won the only foursome, beat Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) and Laura Murray (Alford) by one hole and then shared the singles 2-2.

Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) lost 3 and 2 while Louise Fleming (The Roxburghe) lost by 1 hole.

No 1 qualifiers England beat Belgium 2-0 in the championship flight while Spain hammered Wales 7-0.

Results:

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

ENGLAND 5, BELGIUM 2.

SWEDEN 6, GERMANY 1.

FRANCE 5, NETHERLANDS 2.

SPAIN 7, WALES 0.

 

SECOND FLIGHT

SCOTLAND 2, ITALY 3

Foursome: C-M Carlton & L Murray lost to F Angioletti & G Paolillo 1 hole (0-1).

Singles: G Webster lost to C Brizzolari 3 and 2; M Thomson bt G Molinaro 6 and 4; L Fleming lost to C Venezia 1 hole; K Walker bt A Rossi 2 and 1 (2-2).

DENMARK 4, FINLAND 1.

EUROPEAN GIRLS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPE

SCOTS GIRLS BEATEN BY DANES

Scotland were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Denmark in the first round of the European girls’ team golf championship at Esbjerg Golf Club today

The best they can do now is to finish fifth in the eight-team top flight but they will still finish the week with a higher ranking than either England, Wales or Ireland, none of whom qualified for the championship flight.Carly Booth (Comrie) and Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) lost at the 20^th in one of the two morning foursomes. Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Roseanne Niven (Crieff) won the other alternate-shot tie, which meant that everything depended on the three afternoon singles.

Denmark won two of them with Carly being beaten 2 and 1 and Krystle going down 4 and 3. Scotland’s only singles winner was Roseanne.

Top seeds Sweden were shocked 3-2 by eighth qualifiers France while Germany edged out Belgium 3-2 and Spain whacked Netherlands 4-1.

Results:

FLIGHT 1

SWEDEN 2, FRANCE 3

GERMANY 3, BELGIUM 2

DENMARK 3, SCOTLAND 2

Foursomes: L V Hansen & S Monberg bt C Booth & K Caithness at 20^th; C Lorentzen & M Schodt lost to K MacDonald & R Niven 6 and 4 (1-1).

Singles: Monberg bt Booth 2 and 1, M Schodt lost to Niven 23 and 1, Lorentzen bt Caithness 4 and 3 (2-1).

SPAIN 4, NETHERLANDS 1.

FLIGHT 2

ENGLAND 3, CZECH REP 2

ITALY 3, FINLAND 2

SWITZERLAND 4, WALES 1

Bye: NORWAY

FLIGHT 3

ICELAND 3, LATVIA 2

Bye: Ireland.

BOYD QUAICH STUDENTS TOURNAMENT

LUCK OF THE IRISH! NIALL WINS

BOYD QUAICH ON LAST ROUND

 

 

Irishman Niall O’Connor won the Boyd Quaich international students’ golf championship at St Andrews today in the tightest of finishes.

O’Connor and Canadian Justin Fluit from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada both totalled one-over-par 289 from two rounds over the Old Course and two rounds over the New.

The rules of the Boyd Quaich, which is a memorial to St Andrews student brothers Quentin and Anthony Boyd, both killed in the summer of 1944, do not cater for a play-off in these situations.

Instead a comparison of the final rounds was the tie-breaker. Niall had a 71 over the Old Course to Justin’s 72.

It had been a nip-and-tuck contest dominated by O’Connr, from the University of Dublin, and Fluit. The Canadian was the halfway leader on 144, a shot ahead of Fluit. Both shot 73 over the New Course in the third round to leave it all hanging on the final round over the Old.

Gordon Yates (Stirling University) was third on 293.

 

BOYD QUAICH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CHAMPIONSHIP

Old & New Courses, St Andrews.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

289 N O’Connor (Dublin) 75 70 73 71, J Fluit (Waterloo) 73 71 73 72 (O’Connor won on better last round).

293 G Yates (Stirling) 75 72 75 71.

295 Amir Habibi (Cambridge) 77 72 73 73, M Dickson (St Andrews) 77 72 72 74, K Suggett (Newcastle) 75 71 74 75.

297 A Shakespear (Bath) 77 79 71 70.

298 A Love (Heriot-Watt) 75 73 73 77, A Crux (Imperial College, London) 78 72 72 76.

300 I Leadbetter (Liverpool) 74 75 75 76, G Davidson (St Andrews) 80 71 73 76.

302 G Dunlea (Cork) 79 75 79 69, H Schmedt (Luneberg) 73 78 789 72, P Gerber (Stellenbosch) 72 79 75 76.

303 L Moolman (Pretoria) 81 67 82 73.

304 M Wilkie (Edinburgh) 73 75 81 75, D Hayes (Oxford) 79 73 76 76, A MacGregor (Exeter) 76 75 77 76.

306 C Colraine (Strathclyde) 77 78 76 75, J Whiteside (Waterloo) 78 72 79 77, A Robertson (Edinburgh) 79 77 74 76, L Boezaart (Pretoria) 80 74 74 78.

308 P Rosenberg (Plymouth) 80 74 75 79, Blain Long (Cork) 75 78 72 83.

310 S Turnbull (Stirling) 80 76 78 76,

313 Shintaro Yamagishi (Keio) 81 75 82 75.

314 M Locke (Oxford) 77 74 76 87.

316 F Helganger (Griffith) 77 77 77 85.

317 M Bania (Toronto) 79 77 81 80.

 

SCOTTISH U-16 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

 SAM SAUNTERS TO VICTORY AT DEESIDE

 

 Perth teenager Sam McLaren blew away the forecasts of a “photo-finish” to Douglas Gillespie Scottish Under-16 boys’ open stroke-play championship at sunny Deeside Golf Club today.

With only three shots covering the leading eight players going into the final round of the 54-hole event, it had the makings of an exciting finale. It never happened, simply  because 16-year-old Sam from the King James VI Club started with five straight pars and then a birdie at the long sixth.

That was good enough to put a five-stroke gap between him and the pack.

Co-leader Daniel Fitzpatrick (Greenock) bogeyed the first four holes in both halves to end his challenge.

Mikhal Ishaq, the 14-year-old from the Bondhay club, Leeds, only a shot off the pace at the start of the field round, struggled to the turn in seven-over-par 43 to drop out of the hunt.

Scott Fraser (Northern), Aberdeen’s big hope of a home win, double-bogeyed the fourth and was five over par for the first five holes.

Nairn Dunbar’s Elder double-bogeyed the second and was four over par after four holes.

And so it was that Sam McLaren had little more than a stroll in the park. He was able to shrug off three-putt bogeys at the seventh and 16^th, plus a closing bogey to return a two-over-par 72 for a final total of seven-over-par 217.

That won him the title in the end by a comfortable two shots the fast-finishing Oliver Hall (Hollins Hall) from Leeds. Oliver came back from a double bogey 6 at the second to birdie the third, fourth and sixth and later birdied the 15^th and 17^th for a 70 and 219 to win the silver medal.

But for shots dropped at the 13^th and 14^th, the English youngster might well have matched Sam McLaren’s winning total.

Of course, Sam always gave the impression that he would got the birdies if he had needed them.

Coached by Spencer Henderson of the Scottish Golf Union and his home club pro, Andrew Crerar, McLaren plays off two of a handicap. He is a member of the Scotland Under-16 squad and is a certainty now to play in the annual international against England at this level later in the season.

“I was a little bit nervous to start with but five pars and a birdie settled me down and when I saw the scoreboard at the ninth, I knew I had a lead of several shots,” said Sam whose father introduced him to the game when he was a six-year-old.

Two bronze medals were awarded to Sam Binning (Old Ranfurly) and Gavin Stirling (Caldwell) who tied for third place on 220.

Sam, who was the leading Scot in last week’s McGregor Trophy English under-16 boys’ open championship, was the only boy to break par in the final round at Deeside. He squeezed into the 42 qualifiers but a two-under-par 68 (35-33, which included an eagle 3 at the third and birdies at the 16^th and 37^th, made him the leader in the clubhouse for the best part of three hours.

Gavin Stirling was on course to finish second after birdies at the 10^th and 11th but after six straight pars he ran up a double-bogey 6 at the last hole for a 71 and 220. A par-4 would have won him the silver medal.

 

FINAL TOTALS AT DEESIDE

 

DOUGLAS GILLESPIE SCOTTISH UNDER-16 BOYS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Deeside Golf Club

Par 70

 

FINAL TOTALS

217 S McLaren (King James VI) 71 74 72.

219 O Young (Hollins Hall) 76 73 70.

220 S Binning (Old Ranfurly) 77 75 68, G Stirling (Caldwell) 72  77 71.

221 T Dagwell (East Sussex National) 75 76 70, S Ballingall (Dunston) 80 71 70, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 74 73 74, E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 74 73 74.

222 S Fraser (Northern) 73 75 74, D Law (Hazlehead) 74 77 71.

223 P Scanlan (Hamilton) 72 79 72, S Bell (Shotts) 76 74 73.

224 T Mitchell (US) 81 67 76, D Fitzpatrick (Greenock) 70 75 79.

225 P Shields (Kirkhill) 82 69 74, D Graham (Machrihanish) 77 74 74, A Tester (Crieff) 78 73 74, D Grant (Renfrew) 77 74 74, J Ross (Royal Burgess) 77 73 75, A Graham (Crow Wood) 74 75 76.

226 K Smith (Barassie) 77 75 74, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 78 74 74, A McLachlan (Eastwood) 75 76 75, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 75 76 75, R Penny (Portlethen) 75 76 75, F Ogston (St Andrews) 74 77 75, R Murray (Crieff) 73 76 77, S Thompson (St Andrews) 76 73 77.

227 J Hendrick (Pollok) 80 72 75, N Macandrew (Cullen) 73 78 76, S Clarkston (Skipton) 71 80 76, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 72 75 80.

228 J Shepard (Brokenhurst Manor) 77 75 76, A Forsythe (Caldwell) 76 74 78.

229 C Slowther (Royal Norwich) 79 72 78

230 T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 76 75 79, J Fair (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 75 76 79

232 M Ishaq (Bonday) 77 69 86.

233 I Redford 76 75 82.

237 S Young (Turnhouse) 76 75 86.

 

Disqualified - K McLean (Cowglen) 78 74 -, A Abercrombie (Largs) 77 73 -.

 

ENDS SCORES

EUROPEAN BOYS TEAM

 KIRTON AND KELLETT STAR FOR SCOTS

BOYS AS THEY QUALIFY FOURTH

Lewis Kirton and Ross Kellett were the top performers as Scotland qualified in fourth place for the top match-play flight of the European boys’ team championship at Bokskogens Golf Club, Sweden today.

Kirton had a 70, Kellett a 72 and Cameron Gray a 75. Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White had a 77, Michael Stewart a 78 while James Byrne was off his game on the day with an 81.

Scotland qualified with a team score of 26 over par for the 36-hole qualifying test.

Host nation Sweden used their local knowledge to earn the top seed rating with a combined total of 13 over par. Norway (+19) were second and Spain (+25) third.

Scotland will play fifth qualifiers Belgium (+28) in the first round.

England (+40) failed to qualify for the championship flight which meant that two of the four England teams in action in this week’s European championships failed to figure among the leading eight qualifiers. Their girls’ team suffered a similar fate in the Netherlands.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

+13 Sweden.

+19 Norway.

+25 Spain.

+26 Scotland (L Kirton 70, R Kellett 72, C Gray 75, J White 77, M Stewart 78, J Byrne 81).

+28 Belgium.

+33 Wales.

+36 France.

+37 Netherlands.

OTHER SCORES

+38 Ireland.

+39 Germany.

+40 England.

+41 Portugal.

+42 Italy.

+44 Denmark.

EUROPEAN YOUTHS TEAM

SCOTS (7th) QUALIFY TO MEET DUTCHMEN
IN EUROPEAN YOUTHS MATCH-PLAY

Defending champions Scotland qualified seventh behind England in the preliminary 36-hole stroke-play qualifying test to the European youths team golf championship at San Roque 2 on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Welshman Rhys Davies, a student at East Tennessee State University, had rounds of 70 and 67 to tie with Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli on 137 for the honour of heading the individual scoring table.
Lloyd Saltman, in fifth place with scores of 68 and 74 for 142, was the top Scot.
Paul O’Hara was 14th equal on 145 with 75 and 70.
Jordan Findlay and Steven McEwan were joint 25th on 146, Jordan scoring a pair of 73s to Steven’s 75 and 71.
Scott Henry surprisingly could not do better than a share of 55th place on 151 with a 74 and a 77.
Russell Knox from Inverness was further down the table in joint 75th place with 79 and 77.
TOP-FLIGHT QUALIFIERS
718 England.
719 Netherlands, Spain.
726 Italy.
728 Wales.
730 Scotland.
732 France.

The draw for the championship flight first round ties is:

England v France, Italy v Ireland, Spain v Wales, Netherlands v Scotland.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TOURNAMENT

 

CANADIAN LEADS FROM IRISHMAN IN

BOYD QUAICH AT ST ANDREWS

 

Canadian Justin Fluit has a one-shot lead from Irishman Niall O’Connor with one round to play – over the Old Course – in the Boyd Quaich international students’ golf championship at St Andrews.

Fluit, a student at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, has had a 73 over the Old Course and a 71 at the new for a total of 144 – a creditable score in quite windy conditions.

Niall, from the University of Dublin, made up some ground with an afternoon 70 over the New course for 145, having started with a 75 over the Old.

 

BOYD QUAICH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CHAMPIONSHIP

Old & New Courses, St Andrews.

LEADING TWO-ROUND TOTALS

First score Old Course; Second score New Course.

144 J Fluit (Waterloo) 73 71.

145 N O’Connor (Dublin) 75 70.

146 K Suggett (Newcastle) 75 71.

147 G Yates (Stirling) 75 72, M Watts (Loughborough) 74 73.

148 L Moolman (Pretoria) 81 67, A Love (Heriot Watt) 75 73, M Wilkie (Edinburgh) 73 75.

149 M Dickson (St Andrews) 77 72, A Habibi (Cambridge) 77 72, I Leadbetter (Liverpool) 74 75.

150 J Whiteside (Waterloo) 78 72, A Crux (Imperial College, London) 78 72.

151 G Davidson (St Andrews) 80 71, M Locke (Oxford) 77 74, A MacGregor (Exeter) 76 75, H Schmedt (Luneberg) 73 78, P Gerber (Stellenbosch) 72 79.

152 D Hayes (oxford) 79 73.

153 B Long (Cork) 75 78.

154 L Boezaart (Pretoria) 80 74, P Rosenberg (Plymouth) 80 74, G Dunlea (Cork) 79 75, F Helganger (Griffith) 77 77.

155 C Colraine (Strathclyde) 77 78.

156 S Yamagishi (Keio) 81 75, S Turnbull (Stirling) 80 76, A Robertson (Edinburgh) 79 77, M Bania (Toronto) 79 77, C Swann (Bournemouth) 78 78, A Shakespear (Bath) 77 79.

157 K Misaki (Doshisha) 82 75, R Metayer (Highlads & islands) 79 78, D Lawlor (Trinity Coll, Dublin).

158 P Connolly (Dublin City) 83 75, J Counihan (Trinity Coll, Dublin)

82 786, R Macleod (Strathclyde) 82 76, A Christie (Loughborough) 82 76, S Groenewald (Stellenbosch) 81 77, J Kelly (Dublin) 78 80.

159 T Light (Nottingham) 84 75, N Saito (Keio) 81 78.

160 J Spaven (Glasgow) 84 76.

161 P Edmondson (Leeds) 85 76.

 

 

 

EURO JUNIOR WOMEN TEAM

 

SCOTS  DISAPPOINT WITH TWELFTH

 PLACE FINISH IN NETHERLANDS

 

Scotland, with a strong team on paper, failed to play to their potential and missed out on qualifying for one of the top eight places in the championship match-play flight of the European junior women’s team golf championship at Pan Golf Club, Netherlands today.

Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) returned to form with a 73 – eight shots better than her first-day effort – but the only other Scot to break 80 in the second round was Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) whose 79 was 10 shots worse than her first round.

Scottish Under-21 champion Louis had an 80, Michele Thomson from Ellon an 83, Laura Murray from Alford an 86 and Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) had a sad 91.

In the end Spain led the top-flight qualifiers by 26 shots with a total of 716. England and Sweden both totalled 742.

Wales claimed the last of the eight places on 756.

Scotland were 12^th with 784.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

716 Spain.

742 England, Sweden.

744 France, Netherlands.

748 Germany.

754 Belgium.

756 Wales.

OTHER TOTALS

761 Austria.

772 Ireland.

780 Denmark.

784 Scotland.

792 Italy.

802 Finland.

SCOTLAND SCORES

148 G Webster 69 79.

154 K Walker 81 73.

158 M Thomson 75 83.

159 L Fleming 79 80.

165 L Murray 79 86.

179 C-M Carlton 88 91.

 

EURO GIRLS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

KELSEY STORMS BACK FROM NIGHTMARE

AS SCOTS GIRLS QUALIFY FOR TOP FLIGHT

Nairn Dunbar junior member Kelsey MacDonald bounced back from a nightmare 85 in the first qualifying round to improve by 11 shots today in the European girls’ team golf championship at Esbjerg Golf Club, Denmark.

Kelsey birdied the first, third, fifth and ninth in a superlative 33 to the turn. Which was just as well because the 15-year-old Northern Counties women’s champion still has to come to terms with the second nine which cost her 41 shots in the second round.

But a 74 was still a fine effort and, within the context of the Scottish team effort, was beaten only by a 72 from Comrie’s Carly Booth.

Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) was as steady as ever with a 75 and she and Carly Booth both had the lowest Scottish aggregate (147) for the 36-hole stroke-play test.

Roseanne Niven (Crieff) weighed in with a 76, so it was a very good “grouping” by the Scots – all four scores ranging from 72 to 76.

Scotland (445) qualified in fifth place behind Spain (427) and will play Denmark, fourth with 444, in the first round of the championship flight match-play.

It should be a very tight match. The winners will meet either Spain of eighth qualifiers Netherlands in the semi-finals.

England, Wales and Ireland all failed to make the top eight qualifiers.

LEADERBOARD

TOP FLIGHT QUALIFIERS

427 Spain.

432 Sweden.

440 Germany.

444 Denmark.

445 Scotland.

449 Belgium, France.

452 Netherlands.

Draw: Spain v Netherlands, Scotland v Denmark, Germany v Belgium, France v Sweden.

SCOTLAND SCORES

147 Krystle Caithness 72 75, Carly Booth 75 72.

153 Roseanne Niven 77 76.

159 Kelsey MacDonald 85 74.

OTHER TEAM SCORES:

455 Norway.

457 England.

458 Italy.

459 Sweden.

470 Wales.

476 Finland.

477 Czech Republic.

479 Ireland.

485 Iceland.

487 Latvia.

SCOTTISH UNDER-16 BOYS

STAGE SET FOR GREAT FINISH AT DEESIDE

 

It's been a few years since Neil Duncan (Bon Accord) (1985) and Christopher Campbell (Grantown on Spey) (1995) won the Douglas Gillespie Scottish Under-16 boys' open stroke-play golf championship.

But Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar), Texas-based Buchan loon Tommy Mitchell and Scott Fraser (Northern) are all in with a chance as the stage is set at Deeside Golf Club on Thursday for one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the tournament.

Only three shots cover the leading eight players with one round to go over the deceptively difficult par-70 Bieldside course.

Overnight leader Daniel Fitzpatrick, the 6ft 4in Greenock Golf Club junior champion, has been joined in the pole position on five-over-par 145 by Sam McLaren from the River Tay island golf club, King James VI, in Perth.

Only one shot behind is 14-year-old Mikhail Ishaq from Sheffield and the biggest threat to take the trophy over the Border for the second year in a row.

Within striking range are Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar), Euan McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) and Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) on 147, while Tommy Mitchell, a former Longside Golf Club member who moved to Houston with his parents, and Scott Fraser, one of the top Aberdeen prospects, are sharing seventh place on 148.

“I was just a wee bit nervous being the overnight leader and I bogeyed four holes in a row from the fourth and then dropped more shots at the 10^th and 11^th,” said 16-year-old, four-handicap Fitzpatrick.

“But I managed to birdie the 13^th and 14^th and I’m looking forward to the final round.”

Daniel has made up his 145 tally with rounds of 70 and 75.

Sam McLaren, who started with a 71, was heading for a clear lead after 36 holes when he got an eagle 3 at the long 13^th but ran up a double-bogey 6 at the last hole for a 74 to keep the door open for the chasing pack.

Ryan Elder double-bogeyed the short fifth - as so many competitors have done - but dropped only two others, at the ninth and 12th, and covered the last six holes in one under par, thanks to a birdie at the 13th in an inward 34 for a 73, one better than on Tuesday.

Scott Fraser was a tiny bit disgruntled to finish with a 75. He double-bogeyed two short holes - the fifth and 12th and could not quite cancel them out with birdies at the sixth and 13th in halves of 38 and 37.

Three players broke 70, compared with none in the first round, and Tommy Mitchell had the best of the bunch, a three-under-par 67, which was a 14-shot improvement on his first round. Tommy birdied the third, fourth, 105th, 13th, 14th and 17th in halves of 36 and 31, covering the last six holes in three-under-par. If he gets the wind in his sails again during the final round, anything can happen.

A total of 42 players with 36-hole tallies of 152 or better qualified for today's final round. Spectators will be welcomed by the organising Scottish Golf Union. You never know, you might spot the next Colin Montgomerie or Paul Lawrie.

ALL THE SCORES AT DEESIDE

 DOUGLAS GILLESPIE SCOTTISH UNDER-16 BOYS' OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Deeside Golf Club.

Par 70

SECOND-R0UND TOTALS