Carly Booth, Emily Ogilvy miss




P&K county championship


Curtis Cup player Carly Booth (Comrie) and Scotland international Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, were ruled out of the reckoning for the Perth & Kinross women's county golf championship when they were forced to withdraw from tonight's qualifying round at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth.
Both are ill and in bed until further notice.
"It's a blow to lose two of our best players, right at the start of our county championship," said county captain Dawn Butchart.
In their absence, the leading qualifier was Fiona Ramsay (Crieff) with a four-over-par round of 76, two ahead of the No 2 seed, twice champion Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall).
Defending champion Laura Walker (Muckhart), the Scottish girls' match-play champion at Powfoot in 2002, did not have the best of nights, but, with an 84, she qualified in 11th position and is a dangerous "floater" in the lower half of the draw.


MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 72. CSS 73
76 Fiona Ramsay (Crieff).
78 Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall).
79 Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore).
80 Carol Muir (Craigie Hill), Jillian Milne (Craigie Hill).
81 Megan Aird (Strathmore).
82 Gillian Wallace (Glenisla).
83 Mary Hope (Blairgowrie), Dawn Butchart (Strathmore), Janet Griffiths (Strathmore).
84 Laura Walker (Muckhart), Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld).
85 Sandy Bushby (Strathmore), Ailie Burnett (Dunkeld), Emily Aird (Strathmore).
86 Lenore Kyle (Milnathort).
+Annabel Niven (Crieff) (78) and Morag Bryson (Dunkeld) (83) would have qualified but were unable to play in the match-play stages.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Saturday - 9.30am - Ramsay v Kyle, Butchart v Hope, Milne v Lambie, Sandy Bushy v Muir, Alexandra Bushby v Burnett, Walker v Megan Aird, Wallace v Griffiths, Emily Aird v Yellowlees.
HANDICAP QUALIFIERS & DRAW
Sheila MacDougall (Dunkeld) (17) 70 v Hannah Robb (Strathmore) (18) 78, Alison Stockley (Craigie Hill) (11) 75 v Sandra Service (Alyth) (17) 75, Barbara Lyburn (Blairgowrie) (15) 74 v Sally Crystal (Taymouth Castle) (20) 76, Elizabeth Milligan (Dunblane) (17) 76 v Jenny Groom (Strathmore) (27) 73.

Fife CLGA – HICKORY CHALLENGE

Fife County Ladies Golf Association continued its centenary celebrations with a ‘Hickory Challenge’ at Kingarrock Golf Course, Hill of Tarvit on Saturday 9th May. Despite the atrocious conditions about thirty ladies turned up in period dress to participate in the event.

Prior to teeing off, the ladies were warmly greeted by David Anderson in the Forester Cottage and offered a wee glass of port to get into the spirit of the game. David explained a bit about the history of the course and the different golf balls used. Players were then armed with 5 original hickory clubs, 3 'wait for it' golf balls, some red 'reddy' tees and an old canvas and leather bag.

The skies began to brighten a little and the players set off for the course. Unfortunately the gap in the clouds did not last for long and the majority of players only managed a few holes. However, three keen individuals did manage to complete the 9 holes - Susan Jackson, Elaine Moffat and Jane Whiteford. Despite the cold and wet conditions, Susan Jackson managed to claim a new Ladies course record for the 1928 golf ball with her score of 45. Well Done Susan.

Afterwards, players were given a glass of ginger beer and a piece of delicious homemade cake (and, more importantly in the circumstances, a hot cup of coffee and a towel). Medals were awarded to Susan Jackson for the best Scratch score (45) and to Elaine Moffat for the best Handicap score (nett 45). The prize for the best dressed person, judged by Joan Lawrence, was won by Anne Wilson from Ladybank.

For more information about the course please visit www.golfandthistle.com.

Thanks to Dorothy Ford for the story and photographs. Click on an image to see a it bigger in its own window.

Cristie Kerr moves to top of LPGA money

table with another Michelob Ultra win

Cristie Kerr, title winner in 2005, broke a four-way logjam with a birdie at the 15th hole in the final round and went on to win again the LPGA Tour's Michelob Ultra Open, with a 16-under-par total of 286 at Kingsmill Resort & Spa, Williamsburg, Virgina.
Kerr, who also won in 2005, went from one shot behind to the lead when Song-Hee Kim of South Korea made a double bogey on the par-4 16th and Kerr made her birdie moments later a hole behind.
The putt gave Kerr a 16-under total, and when other challengers In-Kyung Kim and third-round co-leader, Kent-born Australian Lindsey Wright, also bogeyed, Kerr led by two shots with two holes left.
Kerr held on for her 12th career victory and earned the $330,000 winner's cheque, moving her to the top of the money list on the LPGA Tour for the season with more than $700,000.
In-Kyung Kim finished second when Wright bogeyed the finishing hole.
Wright, who shared the third-round lead with Kerr, and Song-Hee Kim shared third at 271.
Lorena Ochoa, whose 13-under total after two rounds was a tournament record, started the day five shots back, and a birdie on the first hole hinted that she might make a charge.
But the world's top-ranked player followed with bogeys on three of her next four holes and faded.
Only half of the top 10 finishers shot under par, and none was better than 3 under.
Wright, a six-year tour member seeking her first victory, fell two back when she missed the green with her approach at the difficult par-4 16th, chipped on and two-putted.
This might be the seventh and last staging of the Michelob Ultra Open. It could be another victim of the Credit Crunch.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS AND MONEY
Par 284 (4 x 71) 6315yd.
268 Cristie Kerr ($330,000) 69-63-66-70.
270 In-Kyung Kim ($202,680) 68-64-67-7.
271 Song-Hee Kim ($130,385) 69-63-68-71, Lindsey Wright ($130,385) 65-69-64-63.
273 Wendy Ward ($91,548) 72-64-67-70.
274 Shiho Oyama ($74,902) 69-66-70-69.
275 Angela Stanford ($58,813) 68-68-70-69, Natalie Gulbis ($58,813) 70-65-68-72.
276 Ai Miyazato ($49,380) 71-65-72-68.
277 Lorena Ochoa ($44,941) 64-65-74-74.
278 Juli Inkster ($37,755) 71-67-70-70.
Selected scores:
279 Michelle Wie ($29,073) 70-67-73-69 (jt 15th).
280 Becky Morgan ($22,499) 73-69-70-68 (jt 20th).
294 Janice Moodie ($4,356) 69-74-75-76 (jt 71st).
MISSED THE CUT
145 Johanna (Head) Mundy 73 72.
147 Laura Davies 72 75, Stacy Lewis 77 70.
151 Karen Stupples 74 77.

ISOBEL'S LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PAYS

OFF AT KIRRIEMUIR AREA FINAL

Isobel Franchi (Kirriemuir) used her local knowledge to produce the best net return in today's LGU Medal North Area Final over the Kirriemuir course.
Isobel, playing off 13, had a net 69 to head the Silver Division returns.
Morag Sreenan (Downfield) had the best Bronze Division net score of 73 off 16.
Qualifiers for the LGU Medal Grand Final at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, June 7 are:
Silver - Isobel Franchi (Kirriemuir) (13) 69; Ailie Burnett (Dunkeld & Birnam) (10) 74; Margaret Hunter (Strathmore) (16 75; Jane Tough (Brechin) (4) 76 (better last six).
Bronze - Morag Sreenan (Downfield) (16) 73; Carolyn Robertson (Monifieth) (21) 74; Irene Reid (Muckhart) (23) 77 (better inward half).
*Morag Woodcraft (Strathmore) (28 77 had the third best net return in the Bronze Division but was unavailable for the Grand Final at Crieff.

LEADING RETURNS
Par 73. CSS 75.
69 Isobel Franchi (Kirriemuir) (13).
73 Morag Sreenan (Downfield) (16).
74 Carolyn Robertson (Monifieth) (21), Ailie Burnett (Dunkeld & Birnam) (10).
75 Margaret Hunter (Strathmore) (16).
76 Jane Tough (Brechin) (4), Susan Murray (Murcar Links) (6), Jackie Brown (Monifieth) (3), Myra Kinnaird (East Aberdeenshire) (10).
77 Wilma Lawrence (Stonehaven) (10), Morag Woodcraft (Strathmore) (28), Irene Reid (Muckhart) (23), Irene Coyle (Hazlehead) (20).
78 Lynne Sharp (Dunning) (13), Rosanne Gowrie (Dunkeld & Birnbam) (22), Susan MacLaren (Auchterader) (19).
79 Hazel Wylie (Comrie) (7), Michelle McKay (King James VI) (21), Joyce Wilson (18) Lumphanan) (18), Claire Penman (Carnoustie Caledonia) (2), Irene Herd (Cullen) (33), Helen Divers (Dunbracken) (27).
80 Elaine Sutherland Meldrum House) (24).
81 Sheilagh Belford (Deeside) (28), Rose Anderson (Huntly) (6), Julie Ganson (Arbroath Artisan) (10), Blanca Rivollier (Hazlehead) (6), Joanna D'Onghia (Inchmarlo) (26), Mary Summers (Ladies Panmure) (4).
82 Suzie Kidd (Portlethen) (4), Susan McDonald (Dufftown) (25), Hazel Flynn (Torvean) (25), Sandra Nurcombe (Tarland) (24), Bunga Gurden (Aboyne) (11), Rhoda Evans (Murrayshall) (17).
83 Liz Nelson (Muckhart) (19), Val Willis (Blair Atholl) (11), Helen Lang (Blair Atholl) (26).
84 Iris Anderson (Shetland) (24), Doreen Brain (Hopeman) (22), Angela Crabb (Letham Grange) (19), Carol Muir (Craigie Hill) (5), Lyn Murray (Kinross (13), Catherine Reid (Grange) (24), Seonaid Falconer (Panmure) (123), Yvonne Heap (Arbroath Artisan) (26).
85 Gail Penman (Royal Montrose) (20), Audrey Thomson (Kinross) (25), Elizabeth Coghill (Royal Donroch) (9), Gill Bayman (Insch) (23), Patricia Ingram (Boat of Garten), Carolyn Choudhary (Callander) (18), Doreen Keith (Kintore) (15), Una Woodburn (Crieff) (10).

Glenmuir WPGA finalists at Dundonald Links June 18-19

A number of the country’s top women PGA professionals will descend on Dunham Forest on Thursday, vying for a place at this year’s Glenmuir’s Women’s PGA Professional Championship.
The event, which is also the first of the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 one-day series, features former winners Cathy Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire), Lisa Jones (The Oaks) and double champion Alison Gray (Ormskirk).
This year’s final, which will feature the top seven from Dunham Forest plus defending champion Tracy Loveys, will be played at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire over June 18 and 19.

Michelle Wie enters Ricoh Women's

British Open at Royal Lytham

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IMG
Michelle Wie is the latest star to confirm her entry into the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, July 30 to August 2.
Michelle, who has been combining golf with her studies at Stanford University for the past couple of years, secured her 2009 LPGA card at qualifying school and is looking forward to playing her first full year on the LPGA Tour.
Michelle explained the benefits she is enjoying as a full LPGA Tour member, “I think the fact that I know that I can play more than six tournaments a year allows me to build on my progress each week and work towards getting my first LPGA Tour win. I feel like this season represents a ‘fresh start’ for me and I’m able to work towards the goals I set for myself. Obviously winning the Ricoh Women’s British Open would be a huge accomplishment and it is certainly something I want to experience in my career.”
Michelle’s best finish in the Women’s British Open was 3rd place in 2005 when she won the leading amateur medal. She is delighted to be returning to Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club having missed the Championship last year. She explained, “I’m really looking forward to playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open this summer. I enjoy the challenges that links golf presents and think I’ve have handled it pretty well in the past. I played at Royal Lytham in 2006 and finished tied 26th so I will be looking to use that experience to help me improve on that finish. I’ve really enjoyed all my visits to the UK and I’ve especially enjoyed the experience of playing on world famous links golf courses in front of the knowledgeable British golf fans. Travelling around the world is definitely one of the best things about being a golf professional and I am looking forward to going back to the North West of England.”
Michelle will be joining a star-studded field including defending champion, Jiyai Shin, 2009 Kraft Nabisco Champion, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis, Gwladys Nocera, Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer.
All of the world’s top players are expected to play and the event is given additional importance given that it will be the final qualifying event before the teams are announced for the 2009 Solheim Cup matches.
Shona Malcolm, Ladies’ Golf Union’s CEO, observed; “I am delighted that Michelle Wie will be in the field this year. She has a lot of fans in the UK who have followed her career since her phenomenal 3rd place finish as the leading amateur at Royal Birkdale in 2005. I know there were a lot of disappointed youngsters who hoped to see Michelle play last year and they will be thrilled to hear she will be will be returning to Royal Lytham to compete for this coveted title.”
This year’s Championship will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in the Northwest of England. Its credentials as a championship venue are impressive. As well as holding three Women’s British Opens - in 1998, 2003 and 2006 - Royal Lytham has hosted an impressive 10 men’s Open Championships and two Ryder Cups.
With Annika Sorenstam, the winner at Royal Lytham in 2003, recently retired from the Tour and Sherri Steinhauer, the 1998 and 2006 Champion, having played no events in over 6 months, the North West golf fans look set to witness a new winner crowned at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club in August.
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