KRYSTLE FINISHES AHEAD OF

CURTIS CUP RIVAL TARA IN

LADY PUERTO RICO CLASSIC

Krystle Caithness, pictured right, from Cellardyke, Fife finished ahead of another GB&I Curtis Cup team contender, Ireland's Tara Delaney, in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic women's college tournament at Coco Beach Golf Club.
Georgia University freshman student Krystle, playing her first tournament after the mid-winter break, had rounds of 72, 78 and 72 for a share of 15th place on 222.
Tara Delaney (Kent State) had scores of 74, 73 and 79 for 226 and a tie for 34th place.
A second Scot in the field, Tennessee freshman Rebecca Watson, tied for 86th place on 242 with scores of 82, 80 and 80.
The prestigious event was won by United States Curtis Cup team selection, Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) with excellent rounds of 68, 70 and 70 for 208.
She won by four shots from Canadian Maude Aimee Leblanc (Purdue) (70-74-68: 212) and Belgium's Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) wih 74, 68 and 72 for 214.
France's Valentine Derrey (Texas Christian) finished fifth on 216 with 71, 71 and 74 while Sweden's Caroline Westrup (Florida State) came sixth with 70, 71 and 76 for 217.
Alabama (880) won the team event ahead of Louisiana State (883) with Kent State and Texas Christian tieing for third place on 887, one shot ahead of joint fifth Arkansas and Purdue.
Krystle's effort helped Georgia to gain a creditable seventh place tie with South Carolina on 890 in a top quality field of 18 teams.
+The GB&I Curtis Cup team for St Andrews at the end of May will be announced at noon on Thursday, March 6.

Kylie outshines Curtis Cup

team possibles to be top Brit

after first round in Spain

This week's Spanish women's open amateur golf championship at La Reserva, Cadiz is the last chance for the Ladies Golf Union's Elite Squad to impress the GB&I selectors before the Curtis Cup team of eight is chosen next week for the match against the Americans over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May.
But all the Curtis Cup aspirants trailed behind 21-year-old former Scottish schoolgirls champion Kylie Walker, pictured right, from Buchanan Castle - not a member of the Elite Squad - in today's first round. Kylie shot a two-over-par 74 to be sharing fifth place behind the Spanish wonder girl, Carlota Ciganda.
It would be wrong to class this as a flash in the pan performance by Miss Walker because she played very well in the Portuguese women's open amateur championship two or three weeks ago when she finished joint seventh.
Ciganda, one of the world's top-rated female amateurs with a handicap of +5.4, won the British women's open amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds last June and she was a runaway winner of the recent Portuguese women's open amateur title.
Today the slim 17-year-old, who will have her pick of the top American colleges for a golf scholarship in the autumn, set a cracking pace over a course only she seemed to find comparatively easy.
Carlota, from the bull-run Spanish city of Pamplona, had a four-under-par round of 69 to open up a four-stroke lead from one Spanish and two French competitors on 73.
England's Kerry Smith, who is one of the LGU Elite Squad, led the rest of the Brits in the field of 99, all of whom had to have at least a handicap of scratch before they could get into the championship. She had a 75.
Michele Thomson from McDonald Ellon, who gave Carlota Ciganda her toughest tie in last summer's "British" - she lost on the 18th green, had a 77. Michele finished third behind Ciganda and Florentyna Parker in the "Portuguese" and has had some intensive one-on-one coaching from Neil Marr since then.
Other Scots' scores were an 81 by Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and an 86 by Jane Turner (Mortonhall).

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
69 C Ciganda (Spa).
73 A Vilatte (Fra), A Goumard (Fra), L Gonzalez-Escallon (Spa).
74 J Jansson (Swe), J Hedwall (Swe), A Urchegui (Spa), I Boineau (Fra), L Andre (Fra), K Walker (Sco).
75 L Mar Ruiperez (Spa), K Smith (Eng), S Popov (Ger), C Masson (Ger), M Goyos Ball (Spa), P Sanz Barrio (Spa), C Patussi (Ita), N Jimenez Martin (Spa).
76 S James (Eng), M Engzelius (Nor), L Larsson (Swe), S Hassan (Wal), H Aitchison (Eng), A Zwanck (Spa), N Mansson (Swe), A Bonetti (Fra).
77 M Thomson (Sco), A Provot (Fra), E Alonso (Fra), B Buendia Gomez (Spa), E Gassiot (Fra), R Connor (Eng), B Genuini (Fra), B Loucks (Wal), S Cologan (Spa), T Caballe Hernani (Spa).
78 C Hedwall (Swe), T Urquizu (Spa), L Henriksson (Fin), N Edwards (Eng), R Jennings (Eng).
79 E Bennett (Eng), H Barwood (Eng), M Ricordeau (Fra), A Dahlberg-Soderstrom (Swe) M Kaarnalahti (Fin), M Prat Caballeria (Spa), E Nummenpaa (Fin).
80 S Hoglund (Fin), F Parker (Eng), A Korkeila (Fin), E Folch Sola (Spa), M Tschida (Ger), C Douglass (Eng), D Holmquist (Swe), C Hedberg (Spa), K Hillas (Nor), A Roscio (Ita), J Silva Pinto (Por), L Charpier (Fra), L Stempfle (Ger), E Lundstrom (Swe), R Sanchez Lobato (Spa).
Other scores included:
81 R Livingstone (Sco), L Whittaker (Ger) (jt 64th).
83 T Davies (Wal) (jt 85th).
86 J Turner (Sco) (94th).
90 S Evans (Wal) (99th).

Ladies Golf Union Press Release

Curtis Cup match over Old Course, St Andrews
to be all-ticket with 8,000 crowd limit per day

The Ladies’ Golf Union has announced that the 2008 Curtis Cup will be a ticket only event with a capacity of 8,000 spectators each day.
(SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PRICE OF THE TICKETS)
The match will be played for the first time over the Old Course, St Andrews from 30 May – 1 June. A strong USA team has already been announced and it’s Great Britain and Ireland opposition will be revealed at 12 noon on the 6th March 2008. Full details of the GB & I team will be online at http://www.lgu.org/
Trish Wilson, The LGU’s Chairman, said “We have limited the daily attendance figures to ensure a positive experience for spectators as they follow the match of their choice over the fairways. Interest in this historical match is high and I would advise spectators to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment.”
An advanced season ticket discount is available until 1st May 2008.
All Curtis Cup Ticket holders will be entitled to a 25% discount on green fees at The Duke's, St Andrews, during the week of the Curtis Cup.

This week a new dedicated Curtis Cup website was launched at http://www.curtiscup.co.uk/ where team profiles, photos, up to date news and scoring can be accessed.

A commemorative limited edition Curtis Cup pin is available to purchase, with all proceeds being donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Further details are available online.

The Curtis Cup was donated by the sisters Harriet and Margaret Curtis in 1927 and is inscribed: “to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” However, largely due to financial reasons, the first official match was not played until 1932 at Wentworth where the US beat GB&I 5½ - 3½. In the series the US teams have won 25 matches, GB&I teams 6, with three matches halved. However, since 1984 the results have been much closer with four wins each and one halved match.

For ticket prices and information please visit:
http://www.curtiscup.co.uk/

Lynn Wallace
Ladies’ Golf Union - Communications
01334 475 811
====================================================
Season Tickets
Admission to course from Wednesday 28 May - Sunday 1 June 2008
Adult £35.00
Senior Citizen £32.00
Daily Tickets
Practice Days: Free (Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 May 2008)
as well as the
Official Opening Ceremony : Thursday 29 May 2008, 6.00pm
Friday 30 May 2008
Adult £16.00
Saturday 31 May 2008
Adult £16.00
Sunday 1 June 2008
Adult £16.00
*Juniors under 16 yrs: Free
Advance Season Ticket
To be purchased before 1st May 2008 (No additional discount for Senior Citizens)
Adult £30.00
*CONDITIONS
1. Junior (Under 16@ 30/5/2008) tickets should be obtained in advance by applying in writing to the Ladies’ Golf Union. Some form of identification should accompany the application. i.e birth certificate, letter from school or a letter from the golf club or committee.

LATIMER SCORES SECOND WIN

ON US COLLEGE GOLF CIRCUIT

Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a second-year student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, has achieved his second victory on the United States college golf circuit.
Latimer, pictured right, did not let thunderstorms and lightning delays affect his concentration on the final day of the Pine Needles Intercollegiate tournament over the Donald Ross-designed par 71, 7015yd course at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines in North Carolina.
He shot 71 and 72 for a one-over-par total of 143 on testing course to win by two shots from Guilford College team-mate Burton Wood (77-68).
After his success, Latimer was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week - the fourth time he has gained the honour in his 18 months at Guilford College. He was the conference's Rookie of the Year for the 2006-2007 college golf season during which he scored his first US tournament win.

Belmont Abbey College (591) won the team event in the Pine Needles Intercollegiate tournament, 10 strokes ahead of Guilford College.

JODI AND ROSEANNE LOSE GROUND
IN ARIZONA WILDCAT INVITATIONAL

Curtis Cup candidate Jodi Ewart from Yorkshire, a student at New Mexico University, and former Scottish girls champion Roseanne Niven (University of California) from Crieff lost ground in the second round of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational college tournament over the par-71, 6166yd Arizona National Course, Tucson.
Jodi, needing a good result to impress the GB&I selectors who meet next week to choose the team of eight for the Curtis Cup match against the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May, will start the third and final round in joint eighth position.
She had a second round of 76 for a 36-hole tally of five-over-par 147. Starting at the 10th, Jodi had a double bogey 7 at the long 11th and a double bogey 6 at the first, which a lone birdie at the long fifth could not offset. She has had three double bogeys over the first 36 holes.
Roseanne Niven is in joint 72nd place in a quality field of 92 with scores of 80 and 82 for 162. Starting at the 10th, Roseanne had a nightmare quadruple bogey 9 at the long second and double bogey 6s at the 15th and seventh. She required 43 strokes – eight over par – for her second nine holes. The Scot did birdied the long 18th and the third.
She has had four double bogeys and a quadruple bogey over the first two rounds.
America’s No 1 Curtis Cup player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke University) leads the field by three shots with a two-under-par tally of 140, made up of scores of 68 and 72.
Irish-born Alison Walshe, who has also been chosen by the US Curtis Cup selectors, is in joint third place. The girl from Galway has scores of 71 and 74 for 145.

INDIVIDUAL SCOREBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
140 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 68 72.
143 Jaclyn Sweeney (Oklahoma State) 71 72.
145 Joanne Lee (Southern California) 75 70, Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 72 73, Alison Walshe (Arizona) 71 74.
Other scores:
147 Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) 71 76 (jt 8th).
148 Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) 74 74, Belen Mozo (Southern California) 74 74 (jt 10th).
150 Pia Halbig (Southern California) 73 77 (jt 19th).
152 Dewi-Claire Schreefel (Southern California) 77 75 (jt 28th).
154 Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 74 80 (jt 38th).
162 Roseanne Niven (California) 80 82 (jt 72nd).
LEADING TEAMS
586 Oklahoma State.
590 Duke.
596 Arizona, Southern California.
603 Arizona State.
605 New Mexico.
Other score:
618 California (11th of 16 teams).

KATY 13TH IN FLORIDA COMEBACK

Carnoustie’s Katy McNicoll, making a comeback after a long lay-off following a knee operation, finished a creditable 13th in a field of 82 players for the Lady Moc Classic college tournament at Cleveland Heights Golf Club, Lakeland in Florida.
Overe a 5,997yd course with a par of 72, Lynn University (Florida) student Katy – younger sister of Scotland international Keir McNicoll – scored 77, 76 and 75 for a 12-over-par total of 228.
The event was won by Marianne Anderson (Florida Southern) with 77, 73 and 72 for 222. She finsiehd a shot ahead of five other players.
Lynn University (928) finished fifth of 15 teams behind winners Florida Southern (893).

KIRTON JUST OUTSIDE TOP 20

Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, a second-year student at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, finished joint 21st in the Rio Pinar Invitational college tournament at Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando in Florida.
Over a par-72 course of 7,003yd, Lewis scored 73, 71 and 73 for a one-over-par total of 217 – 12 shots behind joint winners Greg Forrest (70-64-71) and Mike Stern (72-64-69), both University of Central Florida students, on 11-under-par 205. They finished four shots ahead of third placed Ian Rochester (Memphis) (69-68-72) on 209.
Johnny Caldwell (South Alabama) from Northern Ireland finished joint fourth with 69, 69 and 72 for 210.
Another South Alabama player, former England boy cap Jack Hiluta came 90th in a field of 93 with scores of 76, 81 and 81 for 238.
The University of Central Florida (846) won the team event by 12 shots from Wichita State (858) with Louisville (859) third of 18 teams. South Alabama came 14th on 885.

CLAYTON STATE SCOTS HELP WIN TEAM EVENT

Clayton State University, Augusta students Neil McBride from Glasgow and Kevin Duncan from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, finished joint 28th and 48th respectively in the Southbridge Pirate Invitational college tournament at Southbridge Golf Club, Savannah in Georgia.
Neil had scores of 79 and 74 for 153 over the 6,922yd, par-72 course while Kevin scored 80 and 78 for 158.
Their Clayton State team-mate Will Willcox won the individual event by two strokes with 68 and 69 for 137 and Clayton State (581) won the team title by three shots from Georgia College in a field of 11 teams.

LARKIN JOINT 33RD ON KIAWAH ISLAND

Banchory’s Scott Larkin, a student at Charleston College, shot 78 and 72 for a six-over-par total of 150 in finishing joint 33rd in a field of 66 for the Cuthbert Cup college tournament at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He finished 13 shots behind Chris Gold (Maryland), winner with 71 and 66 for 137.
Charleston College (580) finished a very close third of 12 in the team event, jointly won by UNC Wilmington and Washington State on 579.

HAY’S TOP TEN FINISH IN FLORIDA

Andrew Hay (Webber International University) from Westhill, Aberdeen finished joint seventh in a field of 33 for the 4th Annual Start 2 Finish Invitational college tournament at Lake Wales Country Club, Florida.
Andrew, the first round leader, had scores of 71, 78 and 77 for 226 over a par-72 course of 6,855yd.
Team-mate Matthew Brandby won the individual title by five shots with scores of 73, 69 and 74 for 216 and Webber International (897) won the team title by three shots from Johnson & Wales University, Florida.