CATRIONA AND MHAIRI ARE SCOTLAND'S

PAIRING FOR WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Scotland will be represented by Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay in a field of 20 countries for the 2008 Women's World Cup of Golf at Sun City, South Africa from January 18 to 20.

Sweden will be one of the favourites for the title with the in-form Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth teaming up to challenge the defending champions from Paraguay - Julieta Granada and Celeste Trioche.

Ireland does not have a team in the $1.4million because their female professionals are not high enough up the world rankings.

For further information see www.womensworldcupofgolf.com

THE FIELD FOR SUN CITY

Australia - Lindsey Wright, Nikki Garrett.

Brazil - Angela Park, Candy Hannemann.

Canada - Alena Sharp, Lorie Kane.

China - Zhang Na, Wang Chun.

England - Trish Johnson, Kirsty Taylor.

France - Gwladys Nocera, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.

Germany - Bettina Hauert, Martina Eberl.

India - Simi Mehra, Irina Brar.

Italy - Sylvia Cavalleri, Diana Luna.

Japan - Shinobu Moromizato, Miki Saiki.

Korea - Ji-Yai Shin, Eun-Hee Ji.

Paraguay - Julieta Granada, Celeste Troche.

Philippines - Jennifer Rosales, Dorothy Delasin.

Scotland - Catriona Matthew, Mhairi McKay.

South Africa - Laurette Maritz, Ashleigh Simon.

Spain - Paula Marti, Tania Elosegui.

Sweden - Sophie Gustafson, Maria Hjorth.

Taiwan - Amy Hung, Yun-Jye Wei.

United States - Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst.

Wales - Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan.

ALEXIS THOMPSON (12)

SHARING DIXIE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Alexis Thompson has garnered attention for beating older girls in junior tournaments. Now the 12-year-old is halfway to her first major amateur title in America, even if her closest competition is fellow teenagers.
Thompson, pictured left, and 15-year-old Shelby Coyle both shot a second consecutive 74 to share the halfway lead at the Dixie Amateur with six-over-par 148 totals. They are six shots ahead of Jennifer Hirano, who shot a second-round 78 to sit at 12-over 154 at Palm-Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The leaderboard is much more crowded in the men’s division. Four players are tied for the lead at one-over 143 – Connor Arendell (72-71), Stephan Gross (73-70), Gregory O’Mahony (75-68) and T.J. Vogel (71-72).

DIXIE WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Second-round totals
Par 142 (2 x 71)
Alexis Thompson 74-74--148.
Shelby Coyle 74-74--148.
Jennifer Hirano 76-78--154.
Kyle Roig 81-74--155.
Tiffany Chudy 82-74--156
Stephanie Connnelly 76-80--156.
Laura Gonzalez-Escallon 76-80--156.
Christina Hirano 78-80--158.
Audrey Goumard 82-77--159.
Madison Pressel 82-77--159.
Maria Ronderos 82-77--159.
Leigh Crosby 82-77--159.
Rebecca Kuhn 81-78--159.
Carrie Morris 78-81--159
Maria Castellanos 79-82--161
Kristen Hill 81-83--164.
Jamie Ritter 86-79--165.
Susannah Aboff 86-80--166.
Amelia Lewis 85-81--166.
Jillian Brodd 79-87--166.
Kaylin Yost 83-83--166.
Valentine Gevers 83-85--168.
Meg Bender 81-87--168.
Isadora Stapff 85-84--169.
Marilyne Cadieux 89-83--172
Michelle Grilli 85-88--173
Rachel Blum 89-85--174
Catherine Elliot 88-86--174
Christina Ricci 88-87--175

SOLID START BY WATSON

SISTERS AS ORANGE

BLOSSOM TOUR TEES OFF

IN FLORIDA CHILLER

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE

Alison Walshe apparently didn’t neglect her game during the holiday season. The Arizona University senior shot a first-round 72 Thursday at Harder Hall Country Club to take a one-shot lead over UCLA junior Tiffany Joh at the Harder Hall Invitational.

A bogey on the final hole kept Walshe from posting the day’s only under-par round in cold, blustery conditions at Sebring, Florida.

Walshe, a Massachusetts resident, showed she’s used to such conditions.

Walshe, winner of last year’s North and South Amateur, and Joh, the 2006 US Women’s Amateur Public Links champion, are considered almost automatic selections to the American Curtis Cup team for the Old Course, St Andrews match against Great Britain & Ireland at the end of May.

The United States team will be announced after next week’s "Sally" (South Atlantic Amateur Championship), the second event on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.

Taylore Karle – winner of last week’s Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle – is in third place after a two-over 74. She’s tied with 2006 Harder Hall champion Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked player in the Golfweek/Titleist Amateur Rankings.

“I’m just happy to be done,” Lewis said after her round. She teed off in the day’s first group at 7:30 a.m. It was 31 degrees at the time and the wind was blowing 20 mph when she hit her first shot.

South Queensferry sisters Sally and Rebecca Watson made a solid start in the testing conditions with rounds of 77 and 80 respectively. Sally, pictured above, is lying joint 10th and Rebecca is not all that far behind her with three rounds to go.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR

Harder Hall Women's Invitational
HARDER HALL COUNTRY CLUB
Sebring, Florida
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72, 6,151yd.
72 Alison Walshe
73 Tiffany Joh
74 Taylore Karle, Stacy Lewis
75 Virginia D Grimes
76 Alexandra Bodemann, Marika Lendl, Candace Schepperle, Kristen Simpson
77 Lauren Doughtie, Sally Watson
78 Meghan Bolger, Meghan Gockel, Lauren Hunt, Isabelle Lendl, Alex Schulte
79 Heather Burgner, Kelly Fuchik, Garrett Phillips, Natalie Sheary
80 Christie Appleton, Ginny Brown, Mary Jane Hiestand, Tiffany Phelps, Marci Turner, Rebecca Watson
81 Benedikte Grotvedt, Eleana L Collins, Nannette Hill, Ann Laney, Diane Lang, Daniela Lendl, Natalie McNicholas, Lucy Nunn, Barbara Pagana, Jessica Yadloczky
82 Leslie Folsom, Joanna Saleeby, Carol S Thompson
83 Mallory Blackwelder, Paula Fitzpatrick, Kristy McLaughlin, Whitney Neuhauser, Erica Still, Emily Street, Kristin Vincent
84 Taffy Brower, Alicia Stauffacher, Katie Wilburn
85 Tonya Choate, Sydney Crane, Hunter Ross, Jenna Taylor
86 Meghan Chapman, Jordan Craig, Tyrette Metzendorf, Nancy Smith, Jessica Williams
87 Brittany Johnston, Ginny Orthwein, Julie Saleeby
88 Clate Aydlett, Denise Callahan, Rachel Carpenter, Melissa Doorlag, Mary Hill, Jessie Vincent, Dianne Yelovich
89 Jenny Schneider, Meredith Taylor
90 Erin Fitzpatrick, Cindel Gwyn, Sandra Jackson, Maggie Weder
91 Jen Lochhead, DeAnne Stolarik
92 Pat Hughes-Gelardi, Jean Mowry
93 Jan DeMarco, Jude Stewart
94 Mayura Skowronski
95 Karen Smith, Amy St. John, Angel Sze
96 Joanie Roberts, Carlie Yadloczky
97 Judy Lynn-Craig, Mary Wannamaker
98 Andrea Buccilla, Brenda Frye
99 Mary Kozak
100 Sandra Miller
102 Anne Kirlis
106 Marcella Rose