KELSEY (16) PROMOTED TO SLGA
WOMEN'S SQUAD FOR
WINTER TRAINING

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
(Colin@scottishgolfview.com)

The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association selection committee has signalled that it believes 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), pictured right, is ready to step up into the women's international side next year.
Winner of the Northern Counties' women's title for the past two years, Kelsey's international honours so far have been restricted to Under-18 girls' teams. This past season she broke a string of course records in the North.
Now Miss MacDonald has been named as a member of the "National Ladies" squad for winter training.
Other North and North-east representatives in the squads are:
Kerri Harper (Inverness) and Laura Murray (Alford), now a student at Robert Gordon's University, in the Under-22 squad.
Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), Eilidh MacKay (Nairn Dunbar), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), Samantha Leslie (Westhill) and Sammy Vass (Tain), in the Under-17 squad.
NOT FORGOTTEN
Ashton Ingram (Fort William) and Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), both currently attending colleges in the United States on golf scholarships, have been included in the lists as an indicator to the girls that they are in the international reckoning even though they will be unable to attend any training and practice sessions.
Three PGA professionals will supervise the training for five squads.
Kevin Craggs (Drumoig Golf Centre) will coach three squads – the National Ladies, the National Under-18s and the Under-22s.
Twice Northern Open champion Colin Brooks (Braid Hills Golf & Driving Range) will coach the Under-17 squad.
Scottish Golf Union national junior coach Spencer Henderson from Banff will coach the SLGA Under-15s squad.
The training sessions are scheduled for Drumoig. It is believed that there will be training matches between the squads and they are likely to be held at Dunbar Golf Club, which is the venue for next year's women's home international matches.
The squads are:

NATIONAL LADIES
Sara Bishop (Windyhill), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Heather MacRae (Dunblane), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven). In USA - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), Gemma Webster (Hilton Park).

NATIONAL UNDER-18

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Gilllian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Mortonhall), Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry). In USA – Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry), Carly Booth (Comrie).

UNDER-22

Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), Kerri Harper (Inverness), Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), Laura Murray (Alford), Edwina Lowrey-Golf (Eaton). In USA – Louise Fleming (Roxburghe), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).

UNDER-17
Jordana Graham (Southerness), Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Eilidh MacKay (Nairn Dunbar), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon), Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur), Sammy Vass (Tain), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth).
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UNDER-15
Lesley Atkins (Minto), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), Annabel Niven (Crieff), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Gillian Simpson (Baberton), Rachel Watton (Mortonhall).