Stephanie a stand-out on IJGT in Florida

Meadow has a field day

at Championsgate!

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
JUNIOR GOLF TOUR
This past weekend, ChampionsGate Golf Club played host to the International Junior Golf
Tour’s (IJGT) first Florida event of the fall season. One of the many premier courses included on the IJGT, the International Course has challenged some of the game’s greatest players as well as their fathers, when it playedhost to the Father-Son Shootout.
The Girls U-19 Division was no exception when it came to great play throughout the weekend. Stephanie Meadow of Antrim, Ireland, tackled the difficult course with skill to give her top honours for the tournament.
Meadow, a Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy stand-out, admitted she hit very well off the tee and was able to control her iron shots which put her in great position on the green.
Stephanie finished level par for the tournament with a total of 144: 74 and 70. Smiling and content with her win, Meadow said, “I really hit well and was able keep my score low. I think this course was very well set-up and although it was difficult at times, it was a good course to play.”
This win is a great start for Meadow who is preparing for the busy fall (autumn) schedule which lies ahead of her.
Following behind Meadow was Mallory Viera who carded scores of 75 and 73 respectively. Yingzhou Yun of Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida was able to play two rounds of steady golf, earning her third place in the division with a tournament total 149.
Weather: Saturday – Sunny, temperatures in the mid 90’s.
Sunday – Sunny, temperatures in the low 90’s.

Stephanie’s next event will be the prestigious PING Invitational where the top 45 boys and 27 girls in the USA compete over three rounds at the Karsten Creek Golf Club, Oklahoma. This is the number 1 ranked junior tournament in the USA.

+Stephanie was last week named in the Curtis Cup preparatory squad of 20 for next June's match against the United States at Essex County Club.

Scotland team for senior women's home internationals

Scotland team for next week's senior women's home internationals at Newport Golf Club, Wales(September 29 to October 1):

Captain - Pamela Williamson
Manager - Janet Wake

Heather Anderson (Alyth)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)
Fiona de Vries (St Rule)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies)
Reserves
1. Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose)
2. Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
3. Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Ailsa and Heather are Angus

scratch and handicap

match-play champions

Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) and Heather Munro (Monifieth) won the Angus Scratch and Handicap Match-play finals at Ballumbie Castle today. Results:
Scratch Match-play Final
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) beat Jackie Brown ( Monifieth) 3 and 1
Handicap Match-play Final
Heather Munro (Monifieth) beat Christine Orr (Carnoustie Caledonia) 5 and 4

Aileen Hunter's picture shows Ailsa (left) and Heather (right) with Angus county captain Chris Healey.

Ireland's day at LGU's

Peugeot Coronation

Foursomes at St Andrews

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Irish eyes were certainly smiling at St Andrews today!
Joan Nelson and Marie Cleary, pictured, from Corrstown Golf Club, Killsallaghan near Dublin Airport won the Ladies Golf Union's Peugeot Coronation foursomes championship grand final over the Eden course – and LGU chairman Brigid McCaw, also from Ireland, had a hole in one at the fifth hole (with a 26 degree Cobra hybrid club) in a non-counting round with LGU president Maureen Lockett at the end of the field.
Pictured above (left to right) at the prizegiving dinner are Marie (left), Catherine Brown of Peugeot (centre) and Joan (right).
Joan, who plays off 22, and 26-handicapper Marie, played extremely well in the Stableford foursomes competition in windy conditions. They were round in a net 66 off half their combined handicap to score 43pt (22-21), including net eagles at the third and the fifth and seven net birdies.
It was their first ever visit to St Andrews and they drove over Ireland via the Stranraer ferry link with their husbands. It's been a trip to Scotland they certainly won't forget it.
The bonus prize for Joan and Marie is a place in the pro-am of the 2010 Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale where they will be paired with one of the world's leading professionals.
This is the first year that the LGU has organised area finals in Ireland and thus we are delighted that the winners have come from this new element," said Susan Simpson, the LGU's Head of Golf Operations.
The winning pair finished well clear of the rest of the field with Lincolnshire's Margaret Hartley and Jane Evans, from the Elsham club, finishing second with 35pt (15-20).
Third place was decided on card countback after two pairs totalled 33pts. Anne Preston and Margery Greatbach from the Whickham club, Newcastle had a better inward points half (20 to 15) than Belfast pair Lynda Beggs and Maureen Lee from Belvoir Park.
The 15 pairs who contested the grand final came through an elimination contest which started with local competitions at 1400 golf clubs in Britain and Ireland . From club level, the winners advanced to 15 area finals and the area winners came to St Andrews to contest the grand final.
Top Scots were Fiona Anderson and Jade Anderson from the Montrose Mercantile club with 31pt off 21 of a handicap earning them ninth place.
Stableford Foursomes Points totals (half combined handicap shown in brackets)
43 Marie Cleary and Joan Nelson (Corrstown) (24).
35 Jane Evans and Margaret Harley (Elsham) (18).
33 Margery Greatbach and Anne Preston (Whickham) (13) (better inward half), Lynda Beggs and Maureen Lee ( Belvoir Park ) (18).
32 Sarah Calvert and Karen Jobling ( Richmond ) (19), Sarah Faithfull and Carol Wilson ( Teign Valley ) (23), Angela Airey and Vivienne Rees (Gower) (18), Lynne Maher and Linda Rimmer (Lee Park) (21).
31 Fiona Anderson and Jade Anderson (Montrose Mercantile) (21).
29 Christine Gerson and Jilly Scott (St George's Hill) (18).
28 Janette Baillie and Nancy MacFarlane (Tulliallan) (20).
26 Corinne Charnell and Rachael Walker (Dumfries and Co) (26).
20 Leanne Ball and Julia Reynolds (Aston Wood) (11).
19 Mollie Jones and Sue Lloyd (Elsenham) (34).
16 Barbara Simcock and Janet Wardle (Hill Barn) (16)

P&K women's champion of champions' tee times at Gleneagles

The Perth & Kinross women's county champion of champions tournament will take place over the Gleneagles PGA Course on Sunday, September 26.
Order of play:
11.30: Carol Muir (Craigie Hill and County), Laura Walker (Muckhart), Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld and Birnam).
11.37: Caroline Dunbar (Aberfeldy), Julie White (Auchterarder), Hazel Wylie (Comrie).
11.45: Gillian Wallace (Glenisla), Sandy Bushby (Blairgowrie), Una Woodcraft (Crieff).
11:52: Kathleen Duncan (Pitlochry), Judy Goodfellow (Strathmore), Val Willis (Blair Atholl). 12:00: Lynne Sharp (Dunning), Rae Brass (Perth Ladies), Barbara Pitney (Taymouth Castle)

St Andrews' Scores Hotel to get £200,000

refurbishment ahead of 2010 Open

NEWS RELEASE
The Best Western Scores Hotel, overlooking St Andrews' world-famous Old Course, has appointed a new general manager to oversee a £200,000 refurbishment ahead of the 150th anniversary Open Championship next year.
Eric Brown, well-known Scottish hotelier, took over the reins at the hotel in July and has wasted no time in preparing a development plan to upgrade large parts of the building, which dates back to the 1880s, before The Open returns to the Old Course next July.
Refurbishment work will include a new canopy at the front of the hotel and replacing windows in keeping with the hotel’s listed status. In addition, all bedrooms are being upgraded to provide four-star facilities and a new golf concierge service with improved golf bag storage and drying facilities will coincide with the re-launch of Chariots Bar next spring.
Brown has a wealth of experience in the hotel industry, having spent six years as managing director of St Andrews famous Rusacks Hotel from 1981-87 and 15 years working as a general manager at various hotels for Stakis and Hilton Hotels organisations.
He said: "I am delighted that the owners have responded very positively to my proposals. The changes will give the Scores a brand new feel and an opportunity to showcase our improvements to the golfing community at The Open Championship next year."
Local surveyors Hardies are working on the details for the front of the hotel, which overlooks the Royal & Ancient clubhouse and the West Sands, where Oscar-winning film ‘Chariots of Fire’ was partly shot.
Planners are also being consulted regarding ‘streetscaping’ in front of The Scores as the hotel aims to take advantage of one of the most iconic views in golf to provide ‘al fresco’ dining in conjunction with Chariots Bar.
As well as the new facilities for golfers, new Victorian-style wrought iron railings will be installed along the front of the hotel while there will be new European-style cafe facilities on the twin terraces opposite Alexander's Restaurant and Scorecards Bar.
In addition, landscaping will be carried out on the hotel’s garden, private car park and its main function suite to allow for marquee facilities and gazebos with barbeques and Brown also proposes a full review of the hotel’s menus with a focus on fresh seafood and Scottish produce.
Brown, who was general manager of the Hilton Dundee from 2000-2007, was recently based in the Highlands as managing director of The Duncraggie Collection and is relishing the chance to work in his adopted hometown again.
Brown, who has had a home in St Andrews with his wife Margaret for the last 28 years, added: "I have been involved in the hospitality business for more years than I can remember, yet it gives me a real buzz to be involved with one of the most famous and historic hotels in St Andrews.
"History seeps from the building and next year is going to be wonderful for me and all the staff in the hotel. We look forward to welcoming the best golfers in the world to St Andrews next year."
As the nearest hotel to the first tee and 18th green of the Old Course, The Scores occupies two former 19th century townhouses and commands magnificent views of St Andrews Bay and the West Sands.
The hotel has 30 en-suite bedrooms, two restaurants and three bars including Chariots, a superb 19th hole.
For further information on the Best Western Scores Hotel, go to www.scoreshotel.co.uk or www.bestwestern.co.uk

LPGA TOUR REPORT, SCORES

Na Yeon Choi rallies after losing a seven-hole

lead to win Samsung World Championship

Anyone who loses a seven-stroke lead in a tournament is usually on the slippery slopes of defeat. But not so Na Yeon Choi of South Korea. She let a seven-shot advantage slip through her fingers - and then rallied to win the Samsung World Championship, her first LPGA Tour victory.
Choi finished with a 71 for 16-under 272 and held off runner-up Ai Miyazato of Japan, who shot a 69, the low round of the day at Torrey Pines, San Diego in California.
Choi began the final round with a two-stroke lead, got birdies on two of her first four holes and made a 10ft eagle putt on the sixth hole to extend her lead to seven strokes.
It looked then like Choi, who has won four times on the Korean LPGA Tour, would cruise to her first LPGA Tour victory.
But Miyazato, playing in the group in front of Choi and Jiyai Shin of South Korea, made two quick birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to cut Choi's lead to five.
Choi missed a tiddler of a putt on the ninth hole for a bogey, cutting the lead to four heading into the back nine.
She continued to struggle with two consecutive bogeys, and Miyazato tied Choi at 16-under with a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 16. Miyazato took the lead shortly after when Choi three-putted for bogey on No. 14.
Then it was Miyazato's turn to make a mistake. With 203 yards remaining for her second shot, Miyazato's 5-wood approach hit the bank in front of the 18th green and rolled into the water. She dropped in front of the pond but could not get up and down for par.
Choi's second shot on the 18th reached the front left of the green and her third shot came to rest 5 feet below the pin. Choi, who had missed several putts of equal or less distance, converted the birdie for the victory.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 71 67 63 71
273 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 68 68 68 69
277 Jiyai Shin (Kor) 66 69 68 74
279 Paula Creamer 69 69 70 71, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 67 69 72 71
282 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 67 70 75 70
283 Cristie Kerr 72 66 73 72
286 Yani Tseng (Tai) 75 66 70 75, Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 66 72 78 70, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 72 70 73
288 Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 71 74 72 71, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 74 68 73 73, Brittany Lincicome 70 70 73 75, Angela Stanford 72 74 71 71
290 Karrie Webb (Aus) 73 72 70 75, Juli Inkster 68 74 74 74, Kristy McPherson 73 72 70 75
291 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 73 72 74 72
294 In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 72 73 73 76
298 Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 78 73 72 75

Enniscorthy seek back-to-back Junior Cup titles

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Athenry, Ballycastle, Castletroy, Douglas, Dublin City, Edenmore and Enniscorthy are seven clubs hoping to “do the double” at Royal Tara Golf Club, Ireland when the national finals of the 2009 AA Insurance Ladies Championships tee off on Wednesday.
Enniscorthy, already Midland Champions in the Intermediate Cup, are the only team in a position to defend a national title when they play Athenry in the Junior Cup. Athenry, who also play Castletroy or Blessington Lakes in the Minor Cup, will look to Gina Gillian and Marie Carr to lead their side to their first national title.
In the Senior Foursomes, Douglas will look to go one step further having lost last year’s final to Co. Louth while their opponents Carlow, 2006 Champions, won’t give in easily having lost last year’s national semi-final to Shandon Park. The Junior Foursomes sees Edenmore, also involved in the Intermediate Cup, play Mitchelstown while newcomers Curra West will battle it out with Courtown and Bray for a place in Saturday’s final.
In the Challenge Cup Dublin City will play the winners of Mullingar and Portumna while their Junior Cup team play Ballycastle, who are also preparing for the meeting of either Enniscrone or The Island in the Senior Foursomes.
The Intermediate Cup for mid range handicaps sees the K Club take on Edenmore while Douglas, Galway Bay and 2007 Champions Enniscorthy do battle for a place in Friday’s final.
The Minor Cup completes the line up with Castletroy, Blessington Lakes, Athenry, Rockmount and debutants Rush all vying for a place in Friday’s final.
All matches take place at Royal Tara from Wednesday through Saturday with the six national Champions receiving the coveted national green pennant and, aside from Enniscorthy and Carlow, their first entry in the ILGU’s list of AA Insurance National Champions.
Programme:
Wednesday 23 September
11.00-11.40 Junior Cup (Enniscorthy -v- Athenry).
11.50-12.30 Intermediate Cup (K Club -v- Edenmore).
12.40-13.20 Minor Cup (Castletroy -v- Blessington Lakes).
Thursday 24 September
08.00-08.20 Senior Foursomes (Enniscrone -v- The Island).
08.20-08.50 Junior Foursomes (Edenmore -v- Mitchelstown).
09.00-09.40 Challenge Cup (Mullingar -v- Portumna).
10.00-10.40 Junior Cup (Enniscorthy/Athenry -v- Mallow).
10.50-11.30 Junior Cup (Dublin City -v- Ballycastle).
11.40-12.20 Intermediate Cup (K Club/Edenmore -v- Douglas).
12.30-13.10 Intermediate Cup (Enniscorthy -v- Galway Bay).
13.20-14.00 Minor Cup (Castletroy/Blessington Lakes -v- Athenry).
14.10-14.50 Minor Cup (Rush -v- Rockmount).
Friday 25 September
08.30-08.50 Senior Foursomes (Enniscrone/The Island -v- Ballycastle).
09.00-09.20 Senior Foursomes (Douglas -v- Carlow).
09.30-09.50 Junior Foursomes (Edenmore/Mitchelstown -v- Courtown).
10.00-10.20 Junior Foursomes (Curra West -v- Bray).
10.40-11.20 Junior Cup Final.
11.30-12.10 Intermediate Cup Final.
12.20-13.00 Minor Cup Final.
13.20-14.00 Challenge Cup (Mullingar/Portumna -v- Dublin City).
14.10-14.50 Challenge Cup (Belvoir Park -v- Castletroy).
Saturday 26 September
10.00-10.20 Senior Foursomes Final.
10.40-11.00 Junior Foursomes Final.
10.20-12.00 Challenge Cup Final

Ayrshire Girls

Competitors in the St Nicholas Trophy competition.
The winner, Rachel Irvine, is pictured bottom right.

Rachel wins St. Nicholas Trophy

14 year old Rachel Irvine (Largs) won the Ayrshire Girls' St. Nicholas Trophy over Troon Portland yesterday beating 12 year old Emma Hale (Bentinck Ladies) on the better inward half.   Both girls matched the SSS with nett 75's on a day which started wet but improved later in the afternoon.   Results are as follows:-

Rachel Irvine (Largs)               93 (18) 75 bih
Emma Hale (Bentinck Ladies)    88 (13) 75
Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies)   89 (13) 76

The Pre-handicap girls played the 9 hole Craigend Course.   Results are as follows:-

9-11 year olds                                            12-14 year olds

Lindsay Scott (Bentinck Ladies)    49               Ali Roy (Maybole)             46
Hayleigh Campbell (Loudoun)        55               Emma Paterson (Loudoun)  51 better last 4
Harley Murray (Bentinck Ladies)    56               Jemma Wylie (Barassie)      51

Pre-handicap girls

[Thanks to June Kerr, Junior Convenor, Ayrshire Girls, for this report.]

Kylie's California trip in vain - she fails to

qualify for LPGA Final Tour School

Kylie Walker's long haul to California to play in the LPGA Tour Qualifying School sectional tournament at Mission Hills Country Club ended in disappointment and failure to figure among the 30 players and ties who advanced to the Final Q School at Daytona Beach, Florida in December.
Perhaps the California heatwave eventually got to Kylie. Temperatures were up in the hundreds all week and Kylie's scores may reflect that - 70, 71, 75 and 78 for six-over-par 294.
She finished tied 39th. The limit qualifying scor was 290.
Former US Curtis Cup player and 2008 US women's amateur champion Amanda Blumenherst was the No 1 qualifier with rounds of 70, 67, 65 and 70 for 16-under-par 272.
"I'm used to heat like this - I live in and grew up in Arizona!" said Amanda who is based at Scottsdale.
Spain's British open amateur champion Azahara Munoz from Alcantara was the No 2 qualifier with scores of 70, 66, 71 and71 for 278.
Fourth best qualifier was Emma Cabrera Bello from the Canary Islands. Her brother won the Austrian Open on the European Tour on Sunday! Emma scored 72, 73, 68 and 67 for 280.

Lorna Bennett beats Moria Thomson at 19th in final

Scottish Veterans' Championship Results

Results from the Scottish Veteran Ladies championship over the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course were:

QUARTER-FINALS
Lynne Terry (North) beat Christine Brown (Galloway) 6 and 4.
Moira Thomson (East) bt Pearl Beattie (Dumfries) 6 and 4.
Lorna Bennett (Midlands) bt Helen Faulds (West) 4 and 3.
Sheila Cuthbertson (Borders) bt Mary Smith (Highland) 7 and 6.
SEMI-FINALS
Thomson bt Terry 5 and 4.
Bennett bt Cuthbertson 4 and 3.
FINAL
Bennett bt Thomson at 19th.