We need lady pros for Hacienda del Alamo pro-am

Former Ladies European Tour

pro Ruth O'Carroll making

comeback at Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Festival Organiser
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
La Manga-based former Ladies European Tour professional Ruth O'Carroll has sportingly agreed to make a competitive comeback at next month's Hacienda del Alamo Festival.
"I've not played on the LET for five years and I've got three children now but I'll give it a go in the Murcia Ladies Open (February 12 and 13), " said Ruth.
"I would need to find a babysitter to be able to play in the other Festival events!"
Ruth was an England international and Hertfordshire county team player before she turned professional.
Well done, Ruth for entering into the spirt of the Festival.
We are very, very short of lady professionals. We need at least 20 for the St Valentine's Day pro-am on the Saturday. So if you are a lady pro and you are reading this, please follow Ruth O'Carroll's example and "give it a go!"
Another former Ladies European Tour professional and Scotland amateur international Tracey Craik also now lives at La Manga - but she has not entered yet. Tracey is an old friend of mine .. and I'm working on it!
Just a reminder that we have reduced the entry fee for Under-16s to 25 Euros for all the events, not just the two 36-hole girls' stroke-play events. We want to encourage parents to enter their youngsters to gain competitive experience.
And a second reminder, no caddies are permitted in the Under-16 girls' events. For the remainder of the competitors buggies are allowed in all events - rented on the basis of two players to a buggy. Battery-driven and "normal" pull trolleys will be available for renting from the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.


FESTIVAL ENTRIES SO FAR
MURCIA LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13
Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium)
Ruth O’Carroll (England)
Amateur entries
Mary McKenna (Donabate) Senior
Patricia Morris (Donabate) Senior
Pamela Morgan (La Cala) Senior
Fionnuala Forde (Donabate)
Margo Habets (Rinkven, Belgium)
Caroline Harper (Limburg, Belgium)
Natalia Zvezdina (Rinkven, Belgium)
Sandra Hendrickx (Rinkven, Belgium)
Louise Church (Hendon)
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park)
Shula McCarthy (Clonmel)
Michele McCarthy (Clonmel).
Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan).
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall).
Sharon Hewer (Royal Birkdale)
Kam Cheema (Red Libbets)

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS’ OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13.
Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel). Age 11.
Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer). Age 13.
Hayley Davis (Ferndown). Age 14.
Hannah Turland (Tidworth). Age 14.

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM
One round: Lady pro with three amateurs (male or female)
Saturday, February 14
Professional entries
Lien Willems (Belgium).
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Amateur teams:
Mary McKenna (4), Patricia Morris (11) & Fionnuala Forde (12) (all Donabate).
Mary MacLaren (4), Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4) (all Wellingborough).
Margo Habets (7), Caroline Harper (15) & Natalia Zvezdina (20) or Sandra Henrickx (20)) + pro Lien Willems (Belgium).
Natalia Zvezdina (20) or Sandra Henrickx (20) + two other amateurs.
Pamela Morgan (10) & Brian Harrold (10) (both La Cala) + one other amateur.
Shula McCarthy (19), Gemma McCarthy (20), Michelle McCarthy (8) (all Clonmel).
Charlie Douglass (+0.3), Anthony Hughes (1) + one other amateur
Amateur individuals:
Louise Church (Hendon) (9).
Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow) (17)
Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdhu) (1.5) (to be confirmed).
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (2)
Charlie Douglass (+0.3) & Anthony Hughes (1)
Kam Cheema (20).

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS
One round: First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.
Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.
Sunday, February 15
Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium)
Amateur pairings:
Mary MacLaren (4) & David MacLaren.
Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4).
Holly Clyburn (+1) & India Clyburn (13).
Pamela Morgan (10) & Brian Harrold (10).
Charlotte Humphries (17) & Rob Humphries (6).
Charlotte Dalton (2) & Lisa Barton (to be confirmed).
Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) (2) & Robert Wilcox.
Amber Ratcliffe (7) & Ryan Ratcliffe (5).
Hayley Davis (1) & Hannah Turland (2).
Sharon Hewer (5) & Peter Maw (5).
Amateur individuals (need partner)
Louise Church (Hendon) (9)
Amy Boulden (1.5) (to be confirmed)

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium).
Ruth O’Carroll (England) (to be confirmed)
Amateur entries:
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
Mary MacLaren (4)
Rebecca Gee (4).
Louise Church (9)
Charlotte Dalton (2)
Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) (2)
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) (+0.3)
Sharon Hewer (Royal Birkdale) (5).
Kam Cheema (20).

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO UNDER-16 GIRLS’ OPEN
Two rounds stroke play
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17
Charlotte Humphries Age 14.
India Clyburn Age 12.
Meghan MacLaren. Age 14.
Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu). Age 15
Alice Hewison (Berkhamsted & Moor Park). Age 11
Amber Ratcliffe. Age 13.
Hayley Davis. Age 14.
Hannah Turland. Age 14.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO GOLF RESORT
VILLA RENTAL ACCOMMODATION
John Green of Hacienda Golf Properties is the Festival's "preferred partner" for the rental of villas/accommodation at the five-star resort.
That means if you are going to the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival, you should do one of two things, or maybe both.
1 E-mail John Green at mailto:info@hdagolfproperaties.com to find out what he can offer you and at what price.
2 Log on to John Green's website - http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/ - and see for yourself what he has to offer.
3. If you would like a rough idea of the rental costs before you contact John, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Krystle moves up with a 70 at LET Q School Stage 1

Caithness shows her class in


second round at La Manga

Krystle Caithness moved up to joint 13th place in the field of 104 players with a great round of three-under-par 70 over the more difficult South Course on the second day of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 competition at La Manga in south-east Spain today.
The Fifer, pictured right with Curtis Cup "war paint" on her cheeks, will be 20 on January 21. She looked a different player from the one who started with a seven-over-par 78 over the shorter North Course on Wednesday.
Caithness, who quit her Georgia University golf scholarship in early December, was four under-par at one stage after birdies at the two short holes (the second and 12th) and two long holes (the ninth and 13th).
She dropped her one and only shot to par at the 15th but with a 36-hole tally of 148 she is looking good to be high up among the leading 62 players who will advance after Saturday's fourth round to next week's Final Q School at the same venue.
Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing, disqualified at last month's LPGA Tour School for signing for a wrong figure, really needs to earn some sort of Tour status on this side of the Atlantic. It really was a game of two halves for the US-based Scot today.
Vikki had a second-round 74 over the South Course after reaching the turn in five-under-par 32 but taking 42 shots to come home, including a quadruple bogey 8 at the 11th.
Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayrshire, like Laing, has played all her pro golf in the United States. She had a 77 today for 152.
Scottish amateur champion Michele Thomson from Ellon is finding birdies hard to come by but a three-over-par 74 at the North Course gave her a two-round tally of nine-over-par 153. Ten over par is the forecast cut-off figure after Saturday's fourth round.
Michele birdied the first and then bogeyed the second, 11th, 12th and 17th.
All the other Scots are on the wrong side of the forecast cut-off figure of 10 over par. Kylie Walker from Buchanan Castle is on 12-over-156 after a pair of 78s; Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) is on 15-over 159 after an 82 in the second round; Karyn Burns (Mearns Castle Golf Academy), obviously short of tournament play after years of coaching, is on 23-over 167. She had an 83 today.
Ladybank's Jocelyn Carthew retired after an opening round of 90.
Four players are setting the pace on one-under-par 143 - British women's open amateur champion Anna Nordqvist from Sweden, now a professional, and Julie Granada (Paraguay), Maria Ringdahl (Swedeny) and Dutch amateur Christel Boeljon.

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Stage 1 Scoreboard
La Manga North & South Courses.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
(Par 144: 71 & 73).
Leading 62 players after four rounds qualify for next week's Final Q School
143 Julieta Granada (Par) 71 72, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 72 71, Maria Ringdahl (Swe) 72 71, Christel Boeljon (Net) (am) 69 74.
144 Jo Pritchard (Wal) 72 72.
145 Sahra Hassan (Wal) (am) 70 75, Smriti Mehra (Ind) 76 69, Jessica Ji (SKo) 75 70.
146 Stephanie Evans (Wal) (am) 75 71.
147 Tandi Cunningham (SAf) 76 71, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 73 74, Melanie Holmes-Smith (Aus) 75 72.
148 Krystle Caithness (Sco) (am) 78 70, Barbara Genuini (Fra) (am) 74 74, Patricia Beliard (Fra) 74 74, Caroline Rominger (Swi) (am) 74 74, Holly Aitchison (Eng) (am) 75 73, Viva Schlasberg (Swe) 78 70, Elena Giraud (Fra) 78 70.
149 Vikki Laing (Sco) 75 74, Jo Clingan (Eng) 76 73, Hazel Kavanagh (Ire) 77 72, Celine Herbin (Fra) (am) 75 74, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 78 71, Breanne Loucks (Wal) (am) 74 75, Laura Eastwood (Eng) 72 77, Ayaka Hayashi (Jap) (am) 74 75, Morgana Robbertze (SAf) 77 72.
150 Henrietta Zuel (Eng) 76 74, Anna Highgate (Wal) 75 75, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 75 75, Tara Delaney (Ire) (am) 74 76.
151 Matia Maffiuletti (Ita) (am) 74 77, Anne Norman Hansen (Den) 78 73, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 75 76, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) (am) 76 75, Claire Aitken (Eng) (am) 73 78, Marian Riordan (Ire) 77 74, Kyra Van Leeuwen (Net) (am) 81 70, Miriam Nagl (Ger) 76 75.
152 Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 76 76, Mette Buus (Den) 72 80, Wendy Berger (Aus) 71 81, Elizabeth Bennett (Eng) (am) 77 75, Monica Christiansen (Den) (am) 76 76, Pamela Feggans (Sco) 75 77, Bing Lim (Malaysia) 81 71.
153 Linda Henriksson (Fin) (am) 78 75, Jutta Degerman (Fin) 79 74, Carline Grady (Eng) 77 76, Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor) 76 77, Michele Thomson Sco) (am) 79 74, Julie Berton (Fra) 78 75, Sandra Carlborg (Swe) 77 76, Anna-Karin Salmen (Fin) 73 80, Kym Larratt (Eng) (am) 76 77.
154 Stephanie Na (Aus) (am) 78 76, Emily Curry-Bartonova (Cze) (am) 74 80, Nicola Easton (SAF) 77 77, Camille Fallay (Fra) 78 76, Monia Bernardo (Por) 78 76, Lien Willems (Bel) 75 79, Tilly Holder (Eng) 77 77.
======= PROJECTED CUT-OFF AFTER FOUR ROUNDS =====
155 Caroline Park (SKo) 75 80, Malene Jorgensen (Den) (am) 79 76, Anastasia Kostina (Rus) 80 75.
156 Bea Minchiotti (Spa) 79 77, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 78 78, Erina Yamato (Jap) 76 80, Kylie Walker (Sco) (am) 78 78, Sarah Abercromby (Den) 78 78, Marousa Polias (Aus) 76 80.
157 Maria Engstrom (Swe) 79 78, Hannah Ralph (Eng) (am) 80 77, Florentyna Parker (Eng) (am) 79 78.
158 Elin Emanuelsson (Swe) 75 83, Malin Svedelius (Swe) 81 77.
159 Rosemary MacDonald (Aus) 80 79, Tracey Boyes (Eng) (am) 80 79, Corisande Lee (Eng) (am) 77 82, Cissi Wahlberg (Swe) 81 78, Linnea Torsson (Swe) 82 77.
160 Emily Ogilvy (Sco)( (am) 78 82, Crizeida Van Niekerk (SAf) 81 79, Itziar Elguezabal (Spa) 75 85.
161 Frederique Dorbes (Fra) 83 78, Naomi Edwards (Eng) (am) 87 74, Laure Sibille (Fra) (am) 78 83.
162 Rosa Svahn (Fin) (am) 85 77.
163 Mari Suursalu (Est) 76 87, Olivia Le Borgne (Fra) (am) 80 83, Maria Martin (Spa) 85 78.
164 Fugier Ornella (Fra) (am) 82 82.
165 Hannah Grant (Eng) (am) 83 82, Vera Shimanskaya (Rus) 84 81, Kirsty J Fisher (Eng) 79 86.
166 Lizzie Brand (Eng) 79 87.
167 Karyn Burns (Sco) 84 83, Angelese Miguel (Spa) 83 84.
168 Caroline Goasguen (Fra) 88 80.
176 Krisztina Fodor (Hun) 89 87.
177 Jacqueline Pecoitz (Arg) 87 90.
Retired: Jocelyn Carthew (Sco) (am) 90 -.

All the first-round scores at the Ladies

European Tour Pre-Qualifier

The Ladies European Tour has now released all the first-round scores from the Tour School Pre-qualifier over the North and South Courses at La Manga.
NORTH COURSE
Par 71
69 Christel Boeljon (Netherlands) (am).
70 Sahra Hassan (Wales) (am).
71 Wendy Berger (Australia).
72 Laura Eastwood (England), Mette Buus (Denmark), Maria Ringdahl (Sweden).
73 Anna-Karin Salmen (Finland), Elisa Serramia (Spain), Claire Aitken (England) (am).
74 Breanne Loucks (Wales) (am), Matia Maffiuletti (Italy) (am), Patricia Beliard (France).
75 Elin Emanuelsson (Sweden), Frederique Seeholzer (Switzerland), Lien Willems (Belgium), Jenni Kuosa (Finland), Itziar Elguezabal (Spain).
76 Marousa Polias (Australia), Cecilie Lundgreen (Norway), Erina Yamato (Japan), Sohvi Harkonen (Finland), Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wales) (am), Mari Suursalu (Estonia).
77 Sandra Carlborg (Sweden), Nicola Eaton (South Africa), Elizabeth Bennett (England) (am), Corisande Lee (England) (am).
78 Sarah Abercromby (Denmark), Laure Sibile (France) (am), Elena Giraud (France), Eleanor Pilgrim (Wales), Krystle Caithness (Scotland) (am), Linda Henriksson (Finland) (am).
79 Malene Jorensen (Denmark) (am), Kirsty J Fisher (England), Lizzie Brand (England), Jutta Degerman (Finland).
80 Olivia Le Borgne (France) (am), Anastasia Kostina (Russia), Tracey Boyes (England) (am).
81 Cissi Wahlberg (Sweden), Malin Svedelius (Sweden), Crizelda Van Nieskerk (South Africa).
82 Linnea Torsson (Sweden), Fugier Omella (France) (am).
83 Hannah Grant (England) (am), Frederique Dorbes (France).
85 Maria Martin (Spain).
87 Jacqueline Denise Pecoitz (Argentina).
90 Jocelyn Carthew (Scotland) (am).

SOUTH COURSE
Par 73
71 Julieta Granada (Paraguay).
72 Jo Pritchard (Wales), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).
74 Ayaka Hayashi (Japan) (am), Tara Delaney (Ireland) (am), Emily Curry-Bartonova (Czech Republic) (am), Barbara Genuini (France) (am), Caroline Rominger (Switzerland) (am).
75 Holly Aitchison (England) (am), Anna Highgate (Wales), Caroline Park (South Korea), Jessica Ji (South Korea), Stephanie Evans (Wales) (am), Melanie Holmes-Smith (Australia), Vikki Laing (Scotland), Pamela Feggans (Scotland).
76 Tandi Cuningham (South Africa), Miriam Nagl (Geremany), Kym Larratt (England) (am), Jo Clingan (England), Smriti Mehra (India), Henrietta Zuel (England), Monica Christiansen (Denmark) (am).
77 Marian Riordan (Ireland), Carline Grady (England), Morgana Robbertze (South Africa), Tilly Holder (England), Hazlel Kavanagh (Ireland).
78 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Finland), Viva Schlasberg (Sweden), Julie Berton (France), Monica Bernardo (Portugal), Emily Ogilvy (Scotland) (am), Stephania Na (Australia) (am), Anna Norman Hansen (Denmark), Kylie Walker (Scotland) (am), Camille Fallay (France).
79 Michele Thomson (Scotland) (am), Bea Minchiotti (Spain), Maria Engstrom (Sweden).
80 Hannah Ralph (England) (am), Rosemary MacDonald (Australia).
81 Kyra Van Leeuwen (Netherlands) (am), Bing Lim (Malaysia).
83 Angels Miguel (Spain).
84 Vera Shimanskaya (Russia), Karyn Burns (Scotland).
85 Rosa Svahn (Finland) (am).
87 Naomi Edwards (England).
88 Caroline Goasguen (France).
89 Krisztina Fodor (Hungary).

Start of Orange Blossom Women's Amateur Tour in Florida

Laura leads the Brits on opening

day of Harder Hall Invitational

Scotland international Laura Murray (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen) from Alford was the best placed of the Scottish-based students at the end of the first round of the 54th Harder Hall Women's Invitational 72-hole tournament at Sebring, Florida.

This is the first event of the prestigious Orange Blossom Tour women's amateur circuit.

Laura, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, going into the second round shared 19th place after returning a five-over-par score of 77 over the 6,151yd course.

According to the tournament Press Release, "the competition began with great Florida weather."

Five players posted sub-par rounds, led by Nanette Hill from Pelham Manor, New York State with a 70 (35-35).

One stroke behind were four players - Wendi Golden and Jessica Korda, both entered from Bradenton, Florida, Amelia Lewis from Jacksonville, Florida and Candace Schepperle (Birmingham, Florida), winner of the Dixie Women's Amateur Championship last week.

Stirling University students Kelsey MacDonald, the Scottish Under-21 girls champion from Nairn Dunbar) and Holly Calvert were joint 23rd on the 78 mark alongwith Robert Gordon University student Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and England girl international Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) who finished fourth in the recent World Junior Challenge in Florida.

Ireland's Rachael Cassidy, a student at Stirling, is in joint 40th position with an 81 while Stirling colleagues Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth and Harriet Beasley scored 88 and 89 respectively.

United States Curtis Cup team captain Carol Thompson, a previous winner of the "Harder Hall" title and chairman of the organising committee, had a 78, which was a pretty good effort when you consider all her other responsibilities on the day.

Last year's winner, Galway-born Alison Walshe went on to play for the United States in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews in May. She later turn professional.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72, 6151yd

Players from United States unless stated

70 Nanette Hill.

71 Wendi Golden, Jessica Korda, Amelia Lewis, Candace Schepperle.

72 Christy Carter, Cindy LaCrosse, Whitney Neuhauser.

73 Daniela Lendl.

74 Lauren Doughtie, Isabelle Lendl.

75 Sydney Crane, Angel Sze.

76 Jordan Allyne, Kelli Berns, Meghan Bolger, Meghan Gockel, Catherine O'Donnell.

77 Laura Murray (Sco), Kelly Fuchik, Courtney Harter, Lauren Hunt.

78 Holly Calvert (Sco), Cydney Clanton, Holly Clyburn (Eng), Martha Leach, Kelsey MacDonald (Sco), Alyssa Randolph, Carol S Thompson (US), Jane Turner (Sco).

79 Megan Chapman, Erin Fitzpatrick, Maggie Weder, Sarah Zwartynski.

80 Cassie Boles, Elizabeth Alger, Taffy Brower, Amber Hensley, Tovie St Louis.]

81 Jan Bowers, Alexandra Bodemann, Rachel Cassidy (Sco), Kristen Simpson, Mayule Tomimbang.

Selected scores:

88 Rebecca Wilson (Sco) (jt 63rd).

89 Harriet Beasley (Sco) (jt 65th).