Stirlingshire top seeds Mhairi and

Elaine toppled at Linlithgow

The top two seeds in the Stirlingshire women’s county championship were knocked out at the quarter-finals stage at Linlithgow Golf Club this evening.
Leading qualifier Mhairi Hall (Bathgate) lost by one hole to Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst), beaten in last year’s final by former Curtis Cup player and past British champion Alison Davidson (Stirling) who was unavailable to defend the title.
In Wednesday’s first semi-final, Linda will play home-course player Jill Harrison who was county champion three times in the 1980s. Harrison, the fifth seed, beat the No 4 qualifier Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) by one hole.
The other semi-final will feature No 7 seed Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan), a 2 and 1 winner over the No 2 seed, Elaine Allison (Stirling), against No 11 qualifier Vikki Stevenson (Stirling) who beat Falkirk Tryst’s Shona Gunn by 4 and 2.
Tonight's results:
Quarter-finals
Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst) bt Mhairi Hall (Bathgate) 1 hole.
Jill Harrison (Linlithgow) bt Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) 2 and 1.
Vikki Stevenson (Stirling) bt Shona Gunn (Falkirk Tryst) 4 and 2.
Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) bt Elaine Allison (Stirling) 2 and 1.

PLAY STONEHAVEN FOR A FIVER ON MAY 16

Switch over to our other golf news website - http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ - to find details of an enterprising scheme by Stonehaven Golf Club ... play a round for a fiver on its Open Day, Saturday, May 16.

DOUGLAS PARK OPEN WEEKEND

Douglas Park Golf Club (Bearsden, Glasgow) is holding an Open Weekend on Saturday and Sunday (May 9-10).
Prospective new members receive a courtesy round of golf, a PGA Professional free swing check and complimentary refreshments.
To read all about it click on the following link DOUGLAS PARK OPEN DAY

LPGA officials call players to meeting

to discuss Credit Crunch knock-ons

The LPGA Tour players have been to a mandatory meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, called by officials of the world's No 1 women's professional golf circuit.
On the agenda were ways and means to combat the shrinking LPGA Tour schedule - five tournaments have been lost and another is tottering on the brink because their sponsors can no longer afford the outlay - and what the players themselves could do to fight the knock-on effects of the worldwide Credit Crunch.
The keynote speech to the gathering of the best female golfers in the world was given by former tennis superstar Billie Jean King.
"!I think with what we're going through with the economy and stuff like that, I think the players are scared. I wanted to bring them together to know that if we stick together, the cream always will rise to the top," said LPGA Tour president Michelle Ellis.
The focus of the meeting was on how the players can expand the game's fan base by not only playing great golf, but by engaging themselves in the community as well.
"What we've been doing is great, but we obviously have to do a lot better on the stuff outside the ropes," player Cristie Kerr said, saying the underlying message from the workshop sessions was to keep tending to their supporters and fans, but do it "exponentially better."
The meeting was part business and part pep rally, Kerr said, and the players were encouraged to utilize social networking avenues like Facebook and Twitter to stay engaged with their fans and the sponsors whose dollars make the hefty purses at tournaments possible.

Earl Woods was a pushy dad but Tiger always had a choice and is grateful for what his father did for him. Click on the image to have a closer look at Tiger's muscular development in his arms. When Butch Harmon was Tiger's coach, he used to say Tiger is the fittest athlete ever to play the US PGA Tour ... he could beat them at running, jumping, arm-wrestling ... you name it. Image by courtesy of Getty Images.

Too many dads pushing their sons

to be the next Tiger Woods

From the www.telegraph.co.uk website
By Mark Reason

Sean O'Hair beat a high-class field including Tiger Woods in North Carolina on Sunday. But 10 years ago O'Hair was one of the lost boys. He was a trophy kid, driven by a relentless dad to succeed at the expense of his childhood.
The question is: do the means justify the end? Does the million dollars that O'Hair won at Quail Hollow justify 'the means' of his dad? Marc O'Hair used to make Sean run a mile for every stroke he was over par. Young Sean became so miserable that he ran off with his first ever 'date', married her and broke off contact with his father.
O'Hair is a forerunner of a trend that is growing at a disturbing pace as parents (make that dads, because it's nearly always dads) push their sons and daughters to be the next Tiger Woods.

A recent Channel 4 documentary called Trophy Kids focused on two young British golfers. Lee Spurling appears to have no friends and he is not allowed to play outside because his dad says: "He is too valuable." Ian Spurling says: "He's nicknamed 'the wolf' and he's the new Tiger Woods. He can become the greatest golfer this country's ever seen."
Dad then picks up a plastic yacht – "looking at £4 million there, it will be called Wolf II" – and points to a picture of a Ferrari. The current humbler family car has a sticker that reads 'Future millionaire on board.'

Lee is 12 and has been pulled out of school to concentrate on golf.
A couple of years ago Billy 'the iceman' Spooner, from Boston, Lincolnshire, won the world under-nine championship. But after one performance that didn't meet the necessary gold standard, dad Andy says:

"I'm embarrassed to caddie for you today. You've let me down, you've let your family down and most of all you've let yourself down. You want to look yourself in the mirror tonight and sort yourself out. That's bad. Really bad."
In some ways the dad is also a victim, a casualty of today's X-Factor celebrity culture in which everyone wants to be rich and famous. It is a pernicious trend that is coming into golf. Peter McEvoy hosted a recent glitzy golf event at a Manchester driving range.
McEvoy says: "One thousand five hundred people turned up in the car park for 'Tiger Hunt' because it was like the X-Factor. The place was rocking. It flushed out all the aspirational parents. The kids were running up and down the steps to warm up. These same kids would then miss the ball."
So when does 'aspirational' leak into pushy and pushy leak into abusive? Earl Woods was a pushy dad, but his son always had a choice and always saw the love behind his dad's military routines.
But when Marc O'Hair was questioned about the way he brought up his son, he said: "What am I supposed to do... say, 'Oh, Seany boy, you don't have to get up early today?' The military, they know how to build a champion. Somebody who slacks off, that's a loser. The typical high school kid is hanging out at the mall. That's a loser."
There are now huge numbers of young British golfers looking to make their fortunes and to be the next Tiger Woods. Seve Benson – named after Seve Ballesteros – is having a good season on the European Tour. Rory McIlroy, whose parents made all sorts of sacrifices, will be a superstar. There is even a Tiger out there. Tiger Adams was apparently not named after one T Woods, but he wears stars-and-stripes trousers and recently put in a 'Monty'-type performance to lead his team to victory in a junior competition devised by dad and called the 'Adams Cup'.
It sounds like fun, but what of all the kids you see with empty faces who are going the way of those teen tennis casualties Andrea Jaeger and Jennifer Capriati? Who is looking after them?
Maybe we need to ask the kids themselves. Sean O'Hair now has two children of his own. He says: "Kids have to make their own decisions even if it's the wrong decision. You need to keep it kind of fun for them and let them run their own show."

Kylie, Carly and Kelsey win Welsh

Team Trophy for Scotland

Good news this morning from Kylie Walker - Scotland won the Nations Cup team event at the weekend's Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship at windswept Royal Porthcawl.
Carly Booth and Kelsey MacDonald were the other Scotland team members.
Thanks to Kylie for letting Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk know so that we can spread the word!
"Obviously we were disappointed not to do better as individuals but we were happy to do Scotland proud by bringing home the Nations Cup Trophy. Thanks to the SLGA for sending us," says Kylie who figured in a three-way tie for the lead with one round to go.
Kylie Walker finished joint sixth, Carly Booth joint 12th and Kelsey MacDonald 17th.

Hanna-Williams makes pro victory

breakthrough on Futures Tour

SAN ANTONIO, May 3, 2009 - Current LPGA Tour member Allison Hanna-Williams of Portland, Ore., won her first professional tournament today at the Texas Hill Country Classic. The fifth-year LPGA player won by one shot at 209 (-7), posting a final-round score of three-under 69.
Hanna-Williams was in a three-way tie for the lead going into the final hole when she rolled in a six-foot putt for birdie to clinch the win.
"It feels good," said Hanna-Williams of her victory. "I've been so close before and I thought we were going to have a play-off. I was in a play-off before at LPGA Qualifying School and ended up not getting my (LPGA) card by one stroke, so it felt good to make that birdie on the last hole."
The inaugural tournament, played on The Dominion Country Club course, was the second Duramed FUTURES Tour event of the year for Hanna-Williams, who left immediately after the awards ceremony to catch a flight to Virginia. She will be competing in Monday's qualifying tournament for the LPGA's Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill. Hanna-Williams said today's win gave her the extra boost she needs going into that one-round qualifier.
"Winning today has definitely given me the confidence to play well when under pressure," said Hanna-Williams.
"It's also helps my bank account," joked Hanna-Williams, referring to the $17,500 winner's check she earned. "It's tough to get sponsors. I've had to borrow from my parents, which I've never done. But I know I can do this."
With her share of the $125,000 purse, one of the three largest on the Tour, Hanna-Williams jumped to 4th from 75th on the current money list. New season money leader, Misun Cho of Cheongju, South Korea, moved up from third, while last week's leader, Angela Buzminski, of Oshawa, Ontario, slipped to second.
But while a nice paycheck is a welcome addition to her bank account, Hanna-Williams said that her winnings are already spent. She and her husband bought a house last year and are in the process of remodeling.
"I can complete the bathroom now," joked Hanna-Williams. "My husband will be happy. Now there's no pressure."
In addition to her final birdie on hole 18, Hanna-Williams recorded birdies on holes 2, 3, 5 and 9, with bogeys on holes 12 and 13.
Jennifer Ackerson (70) of Dallas, and Irish-born US Curtis Cup player last year Alison Walshe (71) of Bedford, Mass., kept Hanna-Williams on her heels to the very end. The pair tied for second with a final score of 210 (-6).
Walshe came into today's final round with a one-shot lead, but after three bogeys, she slipped into a share of second. Nevertheless, the rookie was pleased with her round.
"I'm happy I put myself in that position," said Walshe who also scored four birdies. "Allison [Hanna-Williams] played great. I'm not disappointed. I've just got to be patient."
Playing in her second full season, Ackerson attempted a 30-foot putt for birdie on hole 18, which would have put her in a play-off with Hanna-Williams.
"I gave it a shot, but unfortunately it didn't make it," recalled Ackerson, who recorded her best finish to date on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. "I had to scramble a lot on the back nine, but the greens here are great."
Mina Harigae (69) of Monterey, Calif., and Misun Cho (69) tied for 4th at 212 (-4). Danah Ford (71) of Indianapolis stood alone at 6th with 214 (-2).
Rookie Lindsey Bergeon (77) of Sarasota, Fla., who shared the lead in the first round, fell into a tie for 13th after a day that included two birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey.
The Texas Hill Country Classic, presented by golfTEC Academy, was the second of two tournaments played in the Lone Star state in as many weeks. Next stop for the Duramed FUTURES Tour is the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship in Leawood, Kans., May 15-17.
For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with a high in the low 90s. Winds NE at 10-20 mph.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) 6422yd.
1 Allison Hanna-Williams (Portland, Ore.) 69-71-69 - 209 $17,500.
T2 Jennifer Ackerson (Dallas, Texas) 70-70-70 - 210 $10,703.
T2 Alison Walshe (Westford, Mass.) 73-66-71 - 210 $10,703.
T4 Misun Cho (Cheongju, South Korea) 70-73-69 - 212 $5,759.
T4 Mina Harigae (Monterey, Calif.) 74-69-69 - 212 $5,759.
6 Danah Ford (Indianapolis, Ind.) 70-73-71 - 214 $3,947.
T7 Christine Song (Fullerton, Calif.) 75-68-72 - 215 $3,103
T7 Gina Umeck (Redlands, Calif.) 71-70-74 - 215 $3,103.
T9 Seo-Jae Lee (Seoul, South Korea) 73-73-70 - 216 $2,142.
T9 Jenny Gleason (Clearwater, Fla.) 69-76-71 - 216 $2,142.
T9 Hannah Jun (San Diego, Calif.) 72-73-71 - 216 $2,142.
T9 Aimee Cho (Orlando, Fla.) 70-73-73 - 216 $2,142.
T13 Jessica Shepley (Oakville, Ontario) 71-76-70 - 217 $1,495.
T13 Janice Olivencia (Caguas, Puerto Rico) 69-75-73 - 217 $1,495
T13 Sophia Sheridan (Guadalajara, Mexico) 71-78-68 - 217 $1,495
T13 Lindsey Bergeon (Sarasota, Fla.) 69-71-77 - 217 $1,495
T13 Angela Buzminski (Oshawa, Ontario) 73-67-77 - 217 $1,495.
T18 Amanda Mathis (Opelousas, La.) 77-70-71 - 218 $1,115
T18 Lori Atsedes (Ithaca, N.Y.) 73-73-72 - 218 $1,115
T18 Susan Nam (Edmonton, Alberta) 74-71-73 - 218 $1,115
T18 Laura Crawford (Lancaster, S.C.) 74-71-73 - 218 $1,115
T18 Malinda Johnson (Eau Claire, Wis.) 72-72-74 - 218 $1,115
T18 Haeji Kang (Seoul, South Korea) 69-74-75 - 218 $1,115
T18 Tiffany Tavee (Tempe, Ariz.) 78-72-68 - 218 $1,115.
T25 Sarah Olsen (Grosse Ile, Mich.) 74-73-72 - 219 $991
T25 Onnarin Sattayabanphot (Bangkok, Thailand) 73-75-71 - 219 $991
T25 Lisa Ferrero (Lodi, Calif.) 72-73-74 - 219 $991
T25 Brandi Jackson (Greenville, S.C.) 74-74-71 - 219 $991
T25 Nicole Hage (Coral Springs, Fla.) 73-72-74 - 219 $991
T25 Camila Mori (Santiago, Chile) 74-70-75 - 219 $991
T25 Whitney Wade (Glasgow, Ky.) 73-71-75 - 219 $991
T25 Sofie Andersson (Angelholm, Sweden) 69-72-78 - 219 $991
T33 Michelle Jarman (Wilmington, N.C.) 75-71-74 - 220 $924
T33 Song Yi Choi (Seoul, South Korea) 74-71-75 - 220 $924
T33 Alejandra Shaw (Vina Del Mar, Chile) 74-71-75 - 220 $924
T33 Sarah Lynn Sargent (Williamston, S.C.) 71-73-76 - 220 $924
T33 Janell Howland (Boise, Idaho) 72-72-76 - 220 $924
T38 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Va.) 74-73-74 - 221 $879
T38 Su A Kim (Seoul, South Korea) 73-73-75 - 221 $879
T38 Elisa Serramia (Barcelona, Spain) 73-73-75 - 221 $879
T38 Gerina Mendoza (Roswell, N.M.) 75-74-72 - 221 $879
T38 Michaela Cavener (Ponca City, Okla.) 74-70-77 - 221 $879
T38 Hwanhee Lee (Las Vegas, Nev.) 74-75-72 - 221 $879
T38 Sam White (Potomac, Md.) 72-78-71 - 221 $879
T45 Madeleine Holmblad (Stockholm, Sweden) 74-73-75 - 222 $835
T45 Ashley Grier (Hagerstown, Md.) 74-72-76 - 222 $835
T45 Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 77-71-74 - 222 $835
T45 Kelly Lagedrost (Brooksville, Fla.) 73-75-74 - 222 $835
T45 Kristie Smith (Perth, Australia) 72-76-74 - 222 $835
T45 Stella Lee (Seoul, South Korea) 76-73-73 - 222 $835
T45 Stephanie Otteson (Wilson, N.C.) 74-76-72 - 222 $835
T52 Paola Moreno (Cali, Colombia) 75-71-77 - 223 $805
T52 Brenda McLarnon (Belfast, N Ireland) 70-77-76 - 223 $805
T52 Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Ga.) 76-72-75 - 223 $805
T55 Yoora Kim (Seoul, South Korea) 75-71-78 - 224 $787
T55 Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, South Korea) 75-74-75 - 224 $787
T55 Hannah Yun (Bradenton, Fla.) 78-72-74 - 224 $787
T55 Lorraine Ballerano (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) 72-71-81 - 224 $787
T59 Ashley Knoll (The Woodlands, Texas) 73-76-76 - 225 $767
T59 Tanya Dergal (Durango, Mexico) 74-75-76 - 225 $767
T59 Briana Vega (Andover, Mass.) 72-77-76 - 225 $767
T59 Tae Hee Son (Seoul, South Korea) 78-72-75 - 225 $767
T59 Stephanie Kim (a) (Orlando, Fla.) 78-72-75 - 225
T64 Kim Augusta (Rumford, R.I.) 73-74-79 - 226 $751
T64 Kira Meixner (a) (Richmond, British Columbia) 72-73-81 - 226
T64 Laura Baker (a) (San Antonio, Texas) 76-73-77 - 226
T64 Perry Swenson (Charlotte, N.C.) 75-74-77 - 226 $751
Andrea VanderLende (Longwood, Fla.) 77-73-76 - 226 $751
T69 Jasi Acharya (Columbus, Mont.) 76-73-78 - 227 $742
T69 Amanda Costner (Claremore, Okla.) 72-78-77 - 227 $742
T71 Sookhee Baek (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) 74-74-80 - 228 $735
T71 Garrett Phillips (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 80-70-78 - 228 $735
73 Sin Ah Ham (Seoul, South Korea) 74-75-80 - 229 $730
74 Kylene Pulley (Kokomo, Ind.) 76-74-82 - 232 $725
75 Chris Brady (Charlotte, N.C.) 77-73-86 - 236 $720