Heather qualifies - Katie just fails

Heather MacRae (Gullane) has qualified to play in another Tartan Tour event - and Katie Thomson (Kings Links) just failed.
Read the full story by switching over to our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com

FIRST MINISTER AT TURNBERRY

Sam Torrance, Alex Salmond and a possible Open winner in 2020 on the HomeComing putting green at Turnberry (image by Rob Eyton-Jones).

Significant increase in number of Scottish

Primary children involved in golf

NEWS RELEASE
A record high of nearly 40,000 Scottish Primary 5 children have been introduced to golf for the first time through the Government funded clubgolf initiative, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today at the Open Championship in Turnberry.
The First Minister announced the significant increase in the number of youngsters taking to the fairways in Scotland, the home of golf, as he joined Sam Torrance and young golfers benefitting from the national junior programme, clubgolf, on the Homecoming putting green today.
Already, this year 38,784 P5 pupils have been introduced to the game through firstclubgolf, clubgolf’s introductory game which uses modified equipment to give children a taste of the sport in school. This figure is 71 per cent of the total number of P5s in Scotland and represents an increase of 15 per cent over last year’s participation figures.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
“Scotland is undoubtedly the home of golf. It is only right that we do all we can to help introduce young people to the brilliant game and encourage greater participation.
“Scotland’s golf clubs and facilities are helping to provide the ideal environment for juniors to flourish. And where better to announce that we now have nearly 40,000 P5 schoolchildren playing in golf than here, at The Open Championship in Turnberry, with the world’s eyes upon us.
“Scotland has 289 venues across the country working with children and young people through clubgolf. This bodes well for the future of the game at club level.
“An increasing number of golf professionals are delivering the national junior programme and they have teamed up with a workforce of qualified volunteer coaches that now numbers more than 1,500. Between them they will deliver clubgolf coaching to around 10,000 children in clubs this summer.
“I have high hopes that many of these youngsters will return to future Championships as key contenders for the Claret Jug.”
Hamish Grey, Scottish Golf Union (SGU) Chief Executive and clubgolf Board member said:
“As an integral part of the SGU and SLGA’s coaching programme clubgolf is continuing to make significant progress, enabling more youngsters than ever before to play the game.
“By giving children an early introduction to the game, clubgolf is helping to expand the base of players by making golf more accessible than ever before. Offering structured coaching at every level will lead to an improvement in playing standards, with the long term goal of stimulating a lifelong interest in the game.”

Karyn Burns wants to hear from lady

amateurs who would like to pay and

play in her women-only pro-am

PGA professional Karyn Burns, pictured right, is organising an all-women pro-am on August 21 at the exclusive venue of the Fidra Course at Archerfield Links Golf Club.
There will be 10 teams consisting of 10 Scottish lady professionals, including the seven who are currently members of the Ladies European Tour, and 30 lady amateurs.
"There are still a few team spots available," says Karyn. "I believe this is this first event of its kind in Scotland although I believe that Jane Connachan held a ladies' pro-am at some point.
"The 10 professionals are likely to Karyn Dallas, Heather MacRae and myself, who are PGA professionals, and from the Ladies European Tour: Krystle Caithness, Pamela Feggans, Lynn Kenny, Vikki Laing, Clare Queen, Michele Thomson and Jenna Wilson."
Kathryn Imrie may get involved if home from USA.
The price per team of three amateurs is £495 which is inclusive of morning rolls/tea on arrival, a short clinic/Q&A session, the 18-hole competition followed by a three-course dinner and viewing of the Solheim Cup match which starts that day.
If you break that down to a cost per individual, it works out at £165 a head.
Are there any husbands/partners/boy friends of lady amateur golfers out there who might like to give their loved ones a treat by buying them a place on a team for what is certainly going to be a day to remember?
Overnight stays can be arranged at an additional cost. More information is available from and entries can be made to Karyn Burns, PGA (AA) Professional by emailing http://uk.mc870.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=karynburns@yahoo.com or Mobile: 07720 442492.

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP AT LANARK

Watton and Briggs justify Nos 1 & 2 seedings

but a few dangerous floaters in last eight

Top seeds, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) and Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs are
through to Thursday morning's quarter-finals of the Scottish girls’ match-play championship at Lanark Golf Club.
But there are too many dangerous “floaters” also in the last eight to predict with confidence that it will be a Watton v Briggs final on Friday morning.
No 1 qualifier Watton had a good 3 and 2 win over Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), a reserve for the Scotland quartet who took part in last week’s European girls’ team championship, but could have a wee tiger by the tail in Lesley Atkins (Minto) in the quarter-finals
Atkins, only 14, is the youngest ever Borders’ women’s champion and she was in devastating form in chalking up a 9 and 7 second-round win over Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) who had knocked out Scotland cap and Angus women’s champion Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) in the morning.
Rachael Taylor, entered from the Bad Griesbach Golf Club, Freiburg in southwest Germany, is an unknown quantity. She had a second-round 3 and 2 win over the highly-rated Aberdeen-born 16-year-old Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) who has a scratch handicap in America where she attends the Leadbetter Academy in Florida.
Sammy Vass (Tain), who enrolls at the University of Central Florida late next month, showed her class with two good wins and has a definite chance if she can win her quarter-final against Jessica Meek (Carnoustie), who was the 30th of the 32 qualifiers but showed her potential in a morning 3 and 2 win over No 3 seed Hannah McCook (Abernethy).
Second seed Eilidh Briggs ground out a last-green win over Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) to reach the last eight and now plays Rachael Hanlon (St Regulus), the No 7 seed from Fife.

SCROLL DOWN FOR WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

JANE FLEMING CLOCKS UP 20 YEARS ON LGU STAFF

Jane Fleming, on right, a long-time member of the Ladies Golf Union staff at its St Andrews HQ on The Scores, receives a painting from LGU President Maureen Lockett to mark Jane's completion of 20 years' service.

"When I joined the LGU in 1989 I was looking for a little part time job as I had a four-month old baby boy, so 2 ½ days a week was fine although I only intended to stay for six months!" Jane told Kirkwoodgolf in an exclusive interview today.

"Joan Lawrence was Chairman at the time and on the interview panel and Nell Bruen was President.

"Prior to starting at the LGU I worked for six years at the Scores Hotel so didn’t have far to move! I moved to the St Andrews area in 1980, having previously lived in Clackmannan.

"Twenty years later (I can’t believe it!) I am still here and the 'baby boy'is a strapping, about-to-be 21 year old and I have had 2 more children, aged 10 and 8.

"I have seen many changes and held many titles over the years from part-time Admin Assistant to Services Manager, my current title. I am now involved in organising travel and accommodation, AGM and Peugeot LGU Coronation Foursomes."

Now for the next 20 years ...

Janet Melville repeats regional seniors'

title win - and same margin

Action replay! Nottinghamshire’s Janet Melville successfully defended a regional seniors title – and by exactly the same winning margin of nine shots. Janet, from Sherwood Forest, scored her back-to-back win in the 36-hole senior English women’s midlands regional stroke-play tournament at Erewash Valley in Derbyshire.
She was three-over par for the two rounds and scored seven birdies during the 36 holes.
The runner-up was Gabi Heuchel of East Berkshire, followed on countback by Vivien Saunders of Cambridge National.
Janet is in only her second season of seniors’ golf and has shot straight to the top. The former British champion is a seniors’ international and last year won the English seniors’ stroke-play title. This year she was runner-up in the event.
The regional Division B title was won by Mila Spray of Harleyford, Buckinghamshire. Her scores included an eagle 3 on the second hole of her first round.
She finished three shots clear of last year’s winner, Elaine James of Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands in Bedfordshire.
Leading scores
Par 146 (2x73) CSS 74, 74
Division A
149 Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest) 75 74.
158 Gabi Heuchel (East Berkshire) 82 76, Vivien Saunders (Cambridge National) 79 79.
159 Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool) 78 81.
162 Gill Snelson (Branston) 81 81, Laraine Hague (Rotherham) 79 83.
164 Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe) 83 81.
166 Andrea Stockdale (Mapperley Ladies’) 83 83.
167 Carol Wild (Notts Ladies’) 82 85, Sue Pidgeon (Wrekin) 81 86.
Division B
175 Mila Spray (Harleyford) 84 91.
178 Elaine James (Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands) 89 89.
181 Pauline Olliver (Burnham Beeches) 94 87.
182 Joan Somerville (Burnham Beeches) 94 88, Elizabeth Holbrook (Spalding) 92 90, Marie Watson (Chesterfield) 89 93.
183 Olive Marchant (Woburn) 92 91.
184 Helen Cole (The Chase) 95 89.
187 Pauline Cameron (East Berkshire) 93 94.
190 Eleanor Walford (Copt Heath) 97 93.
Full details: visit the Tournament Information Centre on www.englishwomensgolf.org
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Scottish girls (close) amateur championship scoreboard

LANARK GOLF CLUB

FIRST ROUND
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) bt Louise Smith (Monifieth) 6 and 4.
Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) bt Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich) 1 hole.
Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) bt Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 3.
Lesley Atkins (Minto) bt Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 3 and 2.
Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) bt Jordana Graham (Southerness) at 19th.
Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach) bt Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 4 and 2.
Ailsa Bain (Peebles) bt Sophie Alexander (Deeside) 1 hole.
Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) bt Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 2 and 1.
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 3 and 2.
Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) bt Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) at 20th.
Sammy Vass (Tain) bt Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 4 and 3.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) bt Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 6 and 5.
Rachael Hanlon (St Regulus) bt Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 4 and 3.
Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) bt Lauren Duncan (Aboyne) 3 and 2.
Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) bt Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 2 and 1.
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt Julie Vass (Tain) 6 and 5.

SECOND ROUND
Watton bt Meldrum 3 and 2.
Atkins bt Jaffrey 9 and 7.
Taylor bt Dryburegh 3 and 2.
Bain bt Stevenson 5 and 4.
Meek bt Qayum 2 and 1.
Vass bt McKechin 1 hole.
Hanlon bt Scott 5 and 4.
Briggs bt MacDonald 1 hole.

THURSDAY MORNING'S QUARTER-FINALS
8.45 Watton v Atkins.
8.55 Taylor v Bain.
9.05 Meek v Vass
9.15 Hanlon v Briggs

THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S SEMI-FINALS
1.30 Watton or Atkins v Taylor Bain.
1.40 Meek or Vass v Hanlon or Briggs.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

FIRST ROUND
Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) bt Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 3 and 2.
Megan Clyne (Deeside) bt Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 4 and 3.
Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) w.o. Megan Aird (Strathmore) scr.
Heather Munro (Monifieth) bt Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst) 2 and 1.

Katie McCracken (Powfoot) bt Samantha Munro (Aberdour) 1 hole.
Clara Young (North Berwick) bt Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 5 and 4.
Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) bt Gail Wilson (Monifieth) at 19th.
Katie Reid (Monifieth) bt Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary) 3 and 2.

QUARTER-FINALS
McIntosh bt Clyne 6 and 5.
Prouse bt Munro 4 and 3.
Young bt McCracken 1 hole.
Reid bt Fullerton 1 hole.

THURSDAY'S SEMI-FINALS
9.30 McIntosh v Prouse.
9.40 Young v Reid.

THURSDAY'S FINAL
1.50 McIntosh or Prouse v Young or Reid.

Katherine O'Connor hits form in

second round to win Bridget

Jackson Bowl by five shots

Welsh international Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath), has followed up her victory in the Frilford Heath Salver by winning the Bridget Jackson Bowl, played over 36 holes at Handsworth Golf Club, Birmingham on Tuesday.
After the first round, it was still a very open competition with another Welsh cap, Becky Harries (Haverfordwest), leading on 71 by one shot from Katherine O'Connor, Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) and several other players poised on the 73 and 74 mark.
But Katherine, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency at Harlech a few weeks ago, who has a handicap of +1, forged clear for a five-shot victory with a splendid second round of 68 (five birdies, one bogey) for a total of four-under-par 144 (CSS 72-73)
Two-handicapper Elizabeth Mallett, the English Under-16 schools champion in 2007 and Midland schoolgirls title-winner in 2008, finished runner-up with 72 and 73 for 145.
Bronte Law (Bramhall), the Cheshire girls champion this year and Abbey Gittings (Walmley), Warwickshire champion in 2008 and 2009, shared third place on 146.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72). SS 73. CSS 72 73.
140 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) 72 68.
145 Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield) 72 73.
146 Bronte Law (Bramhall) 74 72, Abbey Gittings (Walmley) 73 73.
147 Becky Harries (Haverfordwest) 71 76.
148 Tilly Holder (Woburn) 75 73, Charley Hull (Ketting) 75 73.
149 Harriet Key (South Herts) 77 72.
150 Melissa Siviter (Enville) 77 73, Laura Jones (Royal Liverpool) 74 76.
152 Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) 80 72, Julie Brown (Brocton Hall) 75 77, Samantha Birks (Wolstanton) 74 78.
153 Hannah Coles (Maxstoke Park) 77 76, Bronwyn Davies (Wolstanton) 76 77, Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 785 78.
154 Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) 77 77, Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) 75 78.
155 Claire Fry (Royal Liverpool) 80 75.]
1576 Fiona Briggs (Lakeside) 78 78, Jenny Rhodes (Southy Staffordshire) 77 79, Helen White (Worfield) 76 80, Carly Warrington (Sickleholme) 75 81.
157 Hermiona Fitzgerald (Newmarket Linkis) 78 79, Megan Garland (Selby) 76 81, Claire Howells (Moor Hall) 73 84.
158 Madeleine Winnett (Trentham) 83 75, Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred) 81 77, Nicole Shaw (West Essex) 78 80, Victoria Davies (Whitchurch, Cardiff) 77 81.
159 Lisa Barton (Coventry) 79 80, Alice Watson (Park Hall) 79 80.
163 Lucy Evans (Littleshall Hall) 87 86.
164 Hannah Mulliner (Northampton) 85 79, Emma Clegg (Clitheroe) 82 82, Lauren Drake (Bidston) 80 84, Laura Thomas (Didsbury) 79 85.
167 Harriet Beasley (Woburn) 83 84.
168 Lizi Sweetnam (Leighton Buzzard) 80 88.
169 Emma Davies (Eaton) 87 82.
174 Emily Mountford (Oxley Park) 90 84.
175 Ann Fern (Willesley Park) 88 87.
177 Megan Perry (Enville) 83 84.
Withdrew: Amy Barber, Kimberley Bradbury, Holly Clyburn, Rachael Goodall, Tracey Higgins, Amy Skoulding.
Weather: With exception of some very heavy rain at the end (about 15min), the day was fine with plenty of sunshine.

Ireland's team of Under-18 European champions in Finland

It has taken Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk a few days to be able to show you an image of the Irish girls with captain Sinead Keane after their historic victory in the European girls' team championship in Finland (Thanks to the Irish Ladies Golf Union for sending it to us). Left to right: Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush, Sinead Keane, Leona next and then Lisa Maguire.

Both the Maguire sisters were yesterday named in the European team for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup match against the United States in Illinois in August.
The Irish LGU website has the following quotes from the twins:

Leona said: “I am really looking forward to this event. Last week at the European Girls’ Team Championship, Ireland played really well and Lisa and I were unbeaten in the foursome matches. It is great to have her in the team. We would like to bring the Cup home to Europe.”

Lisa added:”We might look exactly similar to one another but our swing is different. You can definitely see the difference. Right now, I hit it a little bit further and Leona might be a little bit better around the green. I am so happy about receiving a wild card.”

Personal view by Colin Farquharson.

I think it's a great pity that none of the European title-winning Irish quartet has entered the Girls' British open championship, to be held at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14.
The Maguire twins, only 14 years old, just can't fit the British girls' event into their crowded schedule - Vagliano Trophy match in Germany (July 24-25) followed by Girls' Home Internationals at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire (August 4 to 6)) and now a trip across the Atlantic to play in the Junior Solheim Cup match (August 18-19).
Stephanie Meadow is going back to the States where she is based for most of the year to compete or try to qualify for the United States girls championship.
I do not know why Laura McCarthy has not entered the British girls' championship .... in which there was not a single Irish competitor at Monifieth last year.
Times have obviously moved on since girls of outstanding talent like our own Vikki Laing won the Scottish girls match-play title a record-breaking four years in a row (1996-97-98-99) and before that Kathryn Imrie won the Scottish Under-21 girls troke-play championship in three successive years (1985-86-87).
That is just not happening nowadays because the top Under-18 girls are playing in adult competitions rather than in their own age groups. Take Carly Booth for instance. Instead of defending the Scottish Under-18 girls' title at Lanark this week, she was down at The Berkshire on Monday, competing, unsuccessfully, in the Ricoh Women's British Open pre-qualifying competition.
I am delighted that Carly will be in the field for the Girls' British Open next month.
I think I'm correct in saying Sally Watson has not played in the Scottish girls' match-play since she won the title as a 13 or 14-year-old in 2005. Sally reached the final of the British girls' championship in 2006 and would have been still young enough to the enter both the Scottish and British Under-18 events this summer. But hasn't!
Once upon a time you look could pick up the Golfer's Handbook and flick through the pages of past winners' of girls events in Britain and Ireland and you could tell who were the top Under-18 players of their day.
Not now, because the top girls are passing up their potential title-winning years to play in adult golf.
The Girls' British open championship used to be the pinnacle of individual achievement for under-18 year-olds, just as the Scottish girls' championships were not to be missed by rising Scots stars.
Perhaps it's me that's been left behind by changing values?
Colin Farquharson

+You can E-mail your view to Colin@scottishgolfview.com.

Jacqueline Sneddon wins

All-American Scholar

award for second year

Alyth Golf Club member Jacqueline Sneddon, a student at Grand Canyon University, Arizona, has been given the NGCA (National Golf Coaches Association) All-American Scholar academic award for a second year running .
The award is to give golf scholarship students an incentive to maintain high class marks when they are not pursuing their college golf careers.
Golf scholarship students at US colleges have to maintain a 3.5 grade average but Jacqueline at the moment has a 4.00 grade.
Jacqueline, pictured, will be starting her third year at Grand Canyon University after the summer holidays - and is loving every minute of it. Being a member of the golf team has taken takes her to places she would not normally have seen at her age, such as California and Hawaii.
"I think that it is a great achievement, keeping up the studies and playing all the golf that they do, " said her mum Jennifer.
The Sneddon family home is at Meigle.