Stirling and Clackmannan Girls' championship

Alexis Hutton and Alison Goodwin with their trophies

Alexis Hutton takes S&C Girls title

The Stirling and Clackmannan County Girls’ Championships were held this weekend at Falkirk Golf Club.

The Strokeplay Championship was held on Saturday and 9 girls took part. Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) returned the lowest gross score with an 82. Second was Tiffiny Wood (Glenbervie) 89 and third was Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst) 91. Kirsty McGuckin (Bonnybridge) had the lowest nett score with a 74 (104 less 30) narrowly beating Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) by one shot. The CSS was 76 (reduction only)

The matchplay rounds were held today and Alison Goodwin beat her sister Catherine by 8&6 in the first semi final. In the other semi final Alexis Hutton beat Tiffiny Wood by 7&5. The final was very close and Alexis emerged the winner beating Alison by two holes.

Thanks go to Falkirk Golf Club for giving the courtesy of the course over the weekend.

[Thanks to Elizabeth Goodwin, Junior Secretary,Stirling & Clackmannan County Ladies Golf Association for this report]

Midlothian, pipped on the countback for the Scottish county title, by Northern Counties.
L to R: Margaret Rodgers (president), Louise Fraser, Rachael Watton, Jane Turner, Linda Caine (county selector), 

Karen Marshall, Tracy Laughland (captain), Claire Hargan, Mary Richardson (vice-captain), 

Wendy Nicholson, Kirsten Blackwood, Claire MacDonald.

Northern Counties team and officials after the prizegiving at Baberton Golf Club.  

Back row (left to right): Kelsey MacDonald, Julie Vass, Alison Bartlett, Jan Corbett (captain), 

Jenny Milne, Cara Gruber and May Alexander (secretary/treasurer).

Front row (left to right): Pam Mackay, Hannah McCook.

Image by courtesy of Fiona Farquharson of SLGA. 

You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

Northern Counties are Scottish champions on a countback after rally to draw with Midlothian Northern Counties won the Scottish women's county team golf championship in a nail-biting finish to the three-day programme at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh today. Northern Counties and Midlothian, the only two teams with 100 per cent records after two days, met in the title decider – and it ended in a 4 ½-4 ½ draw. The countback of games won previously gave Northern Counties the title (14 ½-14). It was Northern Counties' first title win in five years but their fourth win of the decade, having previously been national champions in 2000, 2003 and 2004. And yet, Northern Counties looked to have suffered a body blow to their title prospects when Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University and Nairn Dunbar), Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, hurt her wrist hacking out of the rough during the morning foursomes and had to be taken to hospital where ligament damage was diagnosed. With Midlothian taking a 2-1 foursomes lead into the six afternoon singles – and Kelsey hors de combat, it looked odds on that the East Division champions would regain the title they won in 2005 and again in 2007. Midlothian increased their lunchtime advantage to 4-1 when Jane Turner beat Pam Mackay 4 and 3, and Claire Hargan won by 3 and 2 against Alison Bartlett. But then Northern Counties tail wagged with a vengeance. Elgin's Jenny Milne stopped the slide by halving her match with Scotland girl international Rachael Watton. Then Counties won the last three singles to salvage a halved match and win the title on a countback. Youngsters Julie Vass (15) and Hannah McCook (16) played like veterans to knock 2pt off the deficit. Tain's Julie beat Karen Marshall 5 and 4 while Hannah, the North of Scotland girls champion from Nethy Bridge, beat the experienced Louise Fraser by one hole. Then the Northern Counties' ploy of saving their champion, Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) for the anchor role in the singles paid a huge dividend. In a tight match that went all the way to the 18th green, Cara beat Claire MacDonald by two holes. Gruber was Counties' outstanding player of the tournament with 4 1/2pt out of six, just ahead of Hannah McCook and Mary Smith (Tain), each with 4pt. Mary, a senior Scotland international, did not play against Midlothian, either in the foursomes or the singles, after winning 4pt out of four through Friday and Saturday. Instead, she left to play at Blairgowrie on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship as Highland vets' champion - and she lost by 7 and 6! Midlothian had the two most successful players over the three days – Jane Turner and Claire Hargan, both with 5pt. Jane won five games out of six, Hargan won all five ties in which she played. Renfrewshire beat Galloway 7 1/2-1 1/2 to finish third in the table with 1pt. Megan Briggs won 4 1/2pt out of six for Renfrewshire wile sister Eilidh won 4pt. Today's results: RENFREWSHIRE 7 ½, GALLOWAY 1 ½ Foursomes: Eilidh Briggs and Megan Briggs bt Gillian Monteith and Tracy Milligan 4 and 3; Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart bt Christina Meldrum and Addi Shamash 2 and 1; lare-Marie Carlton and Gillian Kyle bt Sheila McMurtrie and Gwen Robson 1 hole (3-0). Singles: Megan Briggs bt Monteith 1 hole, Carlton bt Shamash 5 and 4, Eilidh Briggs lost to McMurtrie 1 hole, Alyson McKechin bt Meldrum 5 and 3, Carol Whyte halved with Robson, Kyle bt Milligan 1 hole (4 ½-1 ½). NORTHERN COUNTIES 4 ½, MIDLOTHIAN 4 ½ Foursomes: Kelsey MacDonald and Hannah McCook lost to Jane Turner and Rachael Watton 6 and 5; Cara Gruber and Pam Mackay lost to Claire Hargan and Wendy Nicholson 1 hole; Alison Bartlett and Jenny Milne bt Kirsten Blackwood and Claire MacDonald 1 hole (1-2). Singles: Mackay lost to Turner 4 and 3, Bartlett lost to Hargan 3 and 2, Milne halved with Watton, Julie Vass bt Karen Marshall 5 and 4, McCook bt Louise Fraser 1 hole, Gruber bt Claire MacDonald 2 holes (3 ½-2 ½). HOW THEY FINISHED Northern Counties, Midlothian 2 1/2pt each (Northern Counties won 14 ½-14 on countback), Renfrewshire 1pt, Galloway 0pt.

Portumna beat Cahir Park in four-ball final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Western District champions Portumna today emerged victorious over a gallant Cahir Park side in the Miele All-Ireland Ladies Inter-club Four-ball Finals at Mullingar Golf Club/
Having beaten Stackstown in the semi-finals of the tournament on Saturday, Portumna went on to secure, what was in the end, a convincing win over a luckless Cahir Park side.
The top match of the final saw the experienced Suzanne Corcoran, partnered by Mary Madden, score a fine 5 and 4 win against Cahir Park opponents Caithlin Fitzgerald and Catherine Costigan, to set the Western side on their way to victory.
Corcoran and Madden played solid golf throughout the day, with Madden’s putting being particularly impressive. The match got off to a tight start with the tie being all square after six holes. Portumna edged ahead at the turn and then went on to win the 10th, 11th, 12th with pars.
Corcoran produced a regulation par 5 at the short 14th to seal the first point of the final for the Western District champions.
Cahir Park looked as though they would even the points quickly, with the aunt and niece pairing of Helen O’Donoghue and Michelle Keating holding a commanding four-hole lead with six holes remaining.
However, Portumna battled back with Anita Carey and Annette Cahalan winning four of the next five holes to level the match with one hole remaining. Cahir Park eventually secured a much needed win through a par 5 from O’Donogue on the 18th.
Despite this defeat for Portumna they were declared the 2009 Miele Fourball All-Ireland Champions virtually seconds later when it emerged that Anne Cassidy and Audrey McGrath had beaten Susan Carey and Joanne Noonan by a 3 and 2margin in the third match.
Big-hitting McGrath, a former Irish international hockey player, played superb golf throughout the match to keep Portuma ahead during the afternoon as Cahir Park’s Joanne Noonan was frustrated by the tricky Mullingar greens, when she failed to seize opportunities to draw the southern side level.
The last match of the final again saw Cahir Park show their fighting spirit as the mother- daughter partnership of Marie and Emma Keating won the 12th and 13th to level their tie against Claire Callanan and Mary McElroy of Portumna.
The match remained all-square until the 15th when a halved match was agreed due to Portumna having secured two points , by a total of 8 holes, to put the tie out of reach for the Tipperary side.
Results
FINAL
PORTUMNA 2 ½, CAHIR PARK 1 ½
Suzanne Corcoran (4) and Mary Madden (24) bt Caitlin Fitzgerald (12) and Catherine Costigan(20) 5 and 4.
Anita Carey (13) and Annette Cahalan (20) lost to Helen O'Donoghue (10) and Michelle Keating(25) 1 hole.
Anne Cassidy (7) and Audrey McGrath (30) bt Susan Carey (13) and Joanne Noonan (26) 3 and 2.
Claire Callanan (8) and Mary McElroy (31) halved with Marie Keating (19) and Emma Keating(25).

SEMI-FINALS

PORTUMNA 3 1/2, STACKSTOWN 1 /2
Suzanne Corcoran (4) and Mary Madden (24) bt Avila Mairtin (12) and Mairead Cronin 6 and 5.
Anita Carey (13) and Annette Cahalan (20) halved with Barbara Kelly (6) and Jean Constant(22).
Anne Cassidy (7) and Audrey McGrath (30) bt Anne O'Connor (13) and Alice Shaughnessy Hynes (19) 6 and 4.
Claire Callanan (8) and Mary McElroy (31) bt Mary Horn (12) and Michell Murphy (21) 7 and 5.

CAHIR PARK 2 1/2, MANNAN CASTLE 1 1/2
Caitlin Fitzgerald (12) and Catherine Costigan (20) lost to Gill Rouiller (8) and Roisin Brady (13) 4 and 3.
Helen O'Donoghue (10) and Michelle Keating (25) halved with Louise Hanratty (10) and Mary Cassidy(16).
Susan Carey (13) and Joanne Noonan (26) bt Ann Carragher(16) and Mary MacNamee (21) 6 and 5.
Marie Keating (19) and Emma Keating (25) bt Rita O'Loughlin (14) and Teresa Butler (24) 4 and 3.

Nicole is Austria's first winner on Ladies'

European Tour with a closing 67

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Nicole Gergely became Austria’s first winner on the Ladies European Tour when she claimed a two shot victory at the Randstad Open de France Dames today.
Gergely’s magnificent final round of five-under 67 equalled her career best and saw her finish on a total of 13-under-par at Le Golf D’Arras.
Gergely, who opened with rounds of 71, 67 and 70, finished two clear of Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom, who finished with 69.
“It’s awesome. I can’t believe it. It was always a dream,” said Gergely, 24, from Judenburg.
“I played so well this year. Today I thought, “Okay, I won’t put myself under pressure. I’ll just see whenever it comes, it comes. It’s really unexpected here; it’s unbelievable.”
Gergely started slowly when her ball landed in the water at the second resulting in a bogey, but that was her only mistake all day. She added six birdies, with three in a row from the fourth hole.
“I struggled a bit the first few. I had a bogey on the second when I went in the water and really stupid but then birdie on four, five really helped. I thought, okay, its going. I just hit it really good today except on 18 but that’s okay,” she said.
Her victory takes her to 13th on the Henderson Money List and earned her €45,000. She said she hoped to upstage the male professionals competing at the Austrian Open in her home country this weekend.
“I got a mail yesterday from Golf-Live.at, who always does the live scoring for us. Marcus Brier is playing in Austria and he was seventh. They said it would be really cool if you can win it and just put him in the shadow. I thought, “That’s some kind of pressure but why not.””
Gergely became the ninth first time winner on the LET this season and as a result, Austria is the 12th nation to have a representative in the winner’s circle this year.
Heather MacRae will remember Nicole Gergely because the Scot beat the Austrian at the first hole of a play-off for the British women's open amateur stroke-play title at Nairn in 2005.
Wikstrom is still searching for her breakthrough victory but was happy to hole a clutch par putt for outright second.
Wales’ Becky Brewerton signed off with a 70 and shared third place with the 2008 champion Anja Monke from Germany, who had a 71.
Brewerton had reached 12-under with a hole to play and was within a stroke of the leader when she found trouble at the 18th, resulting in a double bogey. After hitting her tee shot into the trees, she had to chip out and her third shot went just out of bounds. She was relieved to drain the 20-footer.
“It was a nice one to make because I think finishing with an eight would have been a bit of a disaster,” she said.
“I’m still fairly happy because it’s the best performance by far on this course. I haven’t played that hole well all week. I’ve been quite lucky to get away with a couple of other shots. I made a great five from there yesterday in practically the same position I was in today. If you don’t hit the fairway there it becomes a pretty difficult hole.
“Obviously I’m disappointed because I hit a couple of really poor shots but I made quite a nice putt in the end for a seven and probably saved myself quite a bit of money and some places. It all counts towards getting a bit closer to catching Diana Luna and Sophie and Catriona for the money list.” She is now ranked third on tour overall.
The third round leader, South African Lee-Anne Pace, led after seven holes but came unstuck on the back nine. She finished with a 74 and tied for fifth with England’s Felicity Johnson (67) on nine-under-par overall.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
275 Nicole Gergely (Aut) 71 67 70 67
277 Ursula Wikstrom (Fin) 68 71 69 69
278 Becky Brewerton (Wal) 70 67 71 70, Anja Monke (Ger) 70 69 68 71
279 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 70 72 70 67, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 72 68 65 74
280 Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 73 69 68 70, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 74 71 64 71, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 72 68 67 73
281 Samantha Head (Eng) 69 74 70 68, Stefania Croce (Ita) 70 71 71 69
282 Trish Johnson (Eng) 74 68 71 69, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 73 69 71 69, Caroline Afonso (Fra) 71 67 72 72
283 Tara Delaney (Irl) 70 69 74 70, Hazel Kavanagh (Irl) 70 71 72 70, Anna Tybring (Swe) 69 73 68 73
284 Melissa Reid (Eng) 71 71 70 72
285 Laura Davies (Eng) 70 74 71 70, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 72 68 77 68, Nina Reis (Swe) 73 72 74 66, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 70 68 70 77
286 Vikki Laing (Sco) 72 73 71 70, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 77 70 68 71, Joanne Mills (Aus) 77 68 69 72, Lena Tornevall (Swe) 74 72 68 72, Carin Koch (Swe) 71 68 70 77
287 Krystle Caithness (Sco) 73 70 74 70
289 Lisa Hall (Eng) 74 71 70 74, Georgina Simpson (Eng) 73 73 69 74, Jessica Ji (Kor) 70 72 72 75, Breanne Alicia Loucks (Wal) 73 72 72 72, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 74 71 69 75, Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 69 72 77
290 Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 75 72 69 74, Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus) 76 69 71 74, Maria Boden (Swe) 72 71 74 73, Lora Fairclough (Eng) 72 72 74 72
291 Kyra van Leeuwen (Ned) 75 69 70 77, Elizabeth Bennett (Eng) 74 71 72 74, Christine Hallstrom (Swe) 72 74 72 73, Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 71 73 73, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 71 74 76 70
292 Lydia Hall (Wal) 71 73 72 76, Jenni Kuosa (Fin) 74 70 72 76, Julie Greciet (Fra) 75 68 71 78, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 72 75 73 72, Jade Schaeffer (Fra) 71 74 75 72, Marion Ricordeau (Fra) 71 73 77 71
293 Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 71 71 76, Lynnette Brooky (Nzl) 74 70 73 76
294 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 75 70 74 75, Sarah Heath (Eng) 73 73 74 74, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 76 66 81 71
295 Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 74 70 70 81, Nathalie David-Mila (Fra) 75 70 74 76, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 72 72 75 76, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa) 74 71 75 75, Barbara Genuini (Fra) 76 71 74 74
296 Camille Fallay (Fra) 72 74 74 76, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 71 75 74 76
297 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 73 74 75 75, Frances Bondad (Aus) 71 76 78 72
299 Beth Allen (US) 77 69 76 77
301 Pamela Feggans (Sco) 72 75 80 74

SCOTTISH COUNTY FINALS LAST DAY

Kelsey MacDonald injury blow to

Northern Counties' title hopes

Northern Counties' hopes of beating Midlothian in the title decider at the Scottish women's county team championship finals at Baberton Golf Club today received a body blow with an injury to Kelsey MacDonald, Scotland's Under-21 champion for the past two years.
The Stirling University student and Nairn Dunbar player, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency playing in the women's home internationals at Irvine, injured a wrist in playing out of rough during this morning's foursomes tie in which she was partnering Hannah McCook against Midlothian's Jane Turner and Rachael Watton.
The wrist quickly swelled up and the application of ice to it did not have an immediate effect. It was decided there was no way she could play in the afternoon singles and Northern Counties officials took her to a local hospital for an X-ray in case a bone had been broken.
Midlothian led 2-1 after the foursomes.
In the other match Renfrewshire took the foursomes 3-0 against Galloway.
FOURSOMES RESULTS
MIDLOTHIAN 2, NORTHERN COUNTIES 1
Jane Turner and Rachael Watton bt Kelsey MacDonald and Hannah McCook 6 and 5.
Claire Hargan and Wendy Nicholson bt Cara Gruber and Pam Mackay 1 hole.
Kirsten Blackwood and Claire MacDonald lost to Alison Bartlett and Jenny Milne 1 hole.
RENFREWSHIRE 3, GALLOWAY 0
Eilidh Briggs and Megan Briggs bt Gillian Monteith and Tracy Milligan 4 and 3.
Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart bt Christina Meldrum and Addi Shamash 2 and 1.
Clare-Marie Carlton and Gillian Kyle bt Sheila McMurtrie and Gwen Robson 1 hole.

Gullane's league-winning team image, courtesy of Iain McLean.

Gullane win East Lothian Junior League

By IAIN McLEAN

In the tightest finish for many years, Gullane Golf Club Juniors have emerged as 2009 victors in the highly competitive East Lothian Junior League.

As Musselburgh Old's matches with Dunbar and Royal Musselburgh on September 12 and 13 were both drawn , they missed winning the league title for the very first time by the narrowest of margins!

Many of their matches were decided on the last green, so it was a very close run finale for them, watched by their coach, Jane Connachan, and other supporters . Commiserations, therefore, are due to the Musselburgh Old team and to their convenor, Ruth Carroll, who steered her team to their highest finish.

Ruth now steps down as convenor and she leaves with the thanks of the league and other convenors for her commitment over the last few years.
The Gullane squad, which has already won the East Lothian Junior Winter League and Team Strokeplay titles year, is pictured above and comprises:
James Fisher, Michael Williams, Greg Houlston, Duncan McLean, Tom Grey, Alexander Wilson, Alasdair Good (pro) , Angus Elder, Lesley Atkins, Rory Grey (capt), Gordon Swan (junior convenor) and Peter Legget.

The following also played during the year - Stuart Gillies (vice-capt), Jamie Black, Callum Stephen, Graham Swan and Anthony Blaney.
There was a dead heat tie between Craigielaw and Tantallon (currently on tour in America with convenor Ric Foulner!) for second place. As their "goal difference" is exactly the same, second place was decided by the result of the league match between those two teams, which Craigielaw won.

Gullane and Craigielaw now qualify for the Scottish National Regional Final in the Home Nations Junior Team Golf Championship at Westerwood GC on Sunday, September 27,
Teams competing at Westerwood are Gullane, Craigielaw, Tillicoultry, Williamwood, Cardross, Deeside, Cathcart Castle, Prestonfield, Stonehaven and Pitreavie all representing their various junior leagues from around Scotland.

For more information please see
http://gullanejuniorgolf.blogspot.com/
http://www.eastlothianjuniorgolf.org.uk/
http://www.juniorteamgolf.org/index.htm

Kylie Walker flew to California immediately after the women's home internationals at Irvine GC and she is pictured lining up a putt on the third green in the final day's singles against Wales. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on it to enlarge.

Kylie keeps cool and is on course to make it

to LPGA Final Qualifying School

Buchanan Castle's Kylie Walker is coping well with a heatwave in California and is within the "safety zone" with one round to play in the LPGA Tour School Sectional Qualifying Turnament at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage.
The 23-year-old Scotland cap and 2010 Curtis Cup squad selection, runner-up in the recent European women's individual amateur championship in Sweden, has had rounds of 70, 71 and 75 for a level par aggregate of 216. She is lying joint 21st. The top 30 and ties after Sunday's fourth round will advance to the LPGA Tour School Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International, Daytona Beach, Florida from December 2 to 6.
Leading the field in California is US Curtis Cup player from 2008, Amanda Blumenherst from Scottsdale, Arizona. She is five shots clear of the field after firing a seven-under-par 65 in round three on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Amanda is on 14-under-par 202.
Her nearest rivals are Azahara Munoz from Spain, winner of the British women's open amateur championship at Harlech in June, and American Mallory Blackwelder. Azahara has scored 70, 66 and 71 for 207; Mallory 72, 68 and 67.
Blumenherst now looks to continue her solid play for one more day at Mission Hills Country Club.
“I played really solid golf today,” Blumenherst said. “I just hit it great all day. I also putted really, really well today too. I only mis-hit one iron shot all day, so if you do that, you’ll have a good, low score. I have to continue to play like I’m playing, and just not think about the score. I have just been trying my hardest on every hole.”
After a third-straight day of playing in triple-digit temperatures, Blumenherst said she doesn’t mind the heat wave. “I grew up in Arizona, so I am kind of used to it,” said Blumenherst, who had a stellar college career at Duke University and won the US women's amateur title last year.
The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament will be Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2009, at Plantation Golf and Country Club’s Bobcat and Panther Courses in Venice, Florida. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Venice qualifier will join the top-30 players and ties from this week’s sectional qualifier at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.
Making up the rest of the field in Daytona Beach will be current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their priority standing and eligible Duramed FUTURES Tour players who automatically advanced based on their position on the 2009 season-ending money list.
HOW THEY STAND
Par 216. 6,442yd
202 Amanda Blumenherst (US) 70 67 65.
207 Mallory Blackwelder (US) 72 68 67, Azahara Munoz (Spain) 70 66 71.
208 Esther Choe (US) 69 70 69.
Selected score:
216 Kylie Walker (Scotland) 70 71 75 (jt 21st).