Junior Solheim Cup

Neumann to Captain the 2011 European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team

Lotta Neumann has been selected as the Captain of the European team for the PING Junior Solheim Cup, to be played at Knightsbrook Spa Resort & Golf Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland, on September 20-21, 2011.

Neumann, 44, a former British and US Women’s Open champion, who represented Europe in six Solheim Cups between 1990 and 2000 and was a Vice Captain under Alison Nicholas MBE at The 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois, succeeds compatriot, Carin Koch, whose European side put up a spirited fight before losing 15 ½ - 8 ½ at Aurora Golf Club, Illinois, in 2009.

The Swede’s opposite number will be the formidable Meg Mallon, who captains the US PING Junior Solheim Cup team on the back of a fine professional career during which she accumulated 19 LPGA Tour titles and represented America in eight Solheim Cup matches. She was also a Vice Captain, under Beth Daniel, at The 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms.

Neumann takes over the role as Captain of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team having been one of the stand-out performers in women’s professional golf over the past two decades. She won the US Women’s Open in 1988, her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, and then also claimed the 1994 Weetabix Women’s British Open, making her just the fifth player, after Laura Davies, Jane Geddes, Betsy King and Patty Sheehan, to achieve that impressive transatlantic double. She went on to win a total of 27 Tour titles worldwide and was also a member of the winning European Solheim Cup side at Dalmahoy, Scotland, in 1992, when she defeated King in the singles.
Neumann admits she was delighted to be asked to Captain the 2011 European PING Junior Solheim Cup team and believes she can use her experience to get the most out of her young side.

“I’m excited and honoured to be named as Captain of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team,” she said. “This event represents a wonderful opportunity for girls to play on a team against other top players. Representing Europe is always something special and really motivates you to become a better golfer.

“I want to take my experiences from The Solheim Cup and from my professional career and use them to give the juniors advice and help them in situations where they need assistance,” she added. “It will be a fun week and I’m looking forward to meeting the girls and to doing everything I can to help them win back the trophy for Europe.”

PING founded The Solheim Cup back in 1990 and has been the title sponsor of the PING Junior Solheim Cup since its inception back in 2002. The company’s Chairman and CEO, John A. Solheim, is delighted Neumann has accepted the invitation to be Captain for a match that is to be played just a few days before The Solheim Cup gets underway just 15 minutes’ drive away from Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort at Killeen Castle on September 23.

“We are extremely excited to have Lotta Neumann named as Captain of the European team for the 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup,” he said.

“Lotta has a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to bring to the girls on the team when they compete in Ireland. She has been a great player, with 27 wins on the LET and LPGA Tours, and her previous participation as a competitor in six Solheim Cups, plus being an Assistant Captain in 2009, will certainly provide a very sound basis on which she can encourage and guide her team.”

“Speaking on behalf of the Solheim family and all the team members at PING, we congratulate Lotta on her appointment as Captain.”
The 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup is the sixth in a series stretching back to 2002 and is contested by two 12-strong teams of girls aged between 12 and 18. Previous competitors include Anna Nordqvist, Melissa Reid, Marianne Skarpnord, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang.

This year’s event is the first to be held in Ireland. The Irish Ladies Golf Union is the Official Host, Twenty Eleven ILGPL is the Promoter, Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort is the Official Venue and all three see it as a huge opportunity to enhance the profile of girls’ golf within their country.

Sinead Heraty, Chief Executive of the Irish Ladies Golf Union said: “The Irish Ladies Golf Union is delighted to be involved in hosting the very prestigious PING Junior Solheim Cup in Ireland. It is very important for the development of girls’ golf to have role models who promote all that is best in the game. Lotta Neumann is a wonderful ambassador and role model for golf. The European team is in very good hands and the girls will benefit from her leadership and experience.”

Roddy Carr, from Twenty Twelve ILGPL, echoed those sentiments when he said: “We expect tremendous excitement and support in Ireland around the PING Junior Solheim Cup with the anticipated inclusion of the now-famous Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona.

“The PING Junior Solheim Cup will be fully included in The 2011 Solheim Cup and will act as a curtain raiser to the main event played just down the road from Knightsbrook at Killeen Castle.

“It is also wonderful that these girls will have Lotta Neumann, such an iconic figure in women’s golf, as their leader and Captain. It is a top priority for us to win the PING Junior Solheim Cup and set the tone for the same result at The Solheim Cup later in the week. I can think of nobody better than Lotta to get the job done.”

For more information about both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and The Solheim Cup please visit www.solheimcup.com and www.ladieseuropeantour.com.

EWGA News

Leicestershire’s Carol Duncumb is a La Manga Challenge winner

Leicestershire’s Carol Duncumb is the first winner of the individual 36-hole stableford at the inaugural English Women’s Golf La Manga Club Challenge.

The eight-handicapper from Rothley Park Golf Club returned two steady rounds in the Spanish sunshine, scoring 32 points on each of the West and South courses.

She finished seven points ahead of Kam Cheema (Redlibbets, Kent) and Pam Tattersall (Henlle Park, Shropshire).
Carol, who wins a £500 voucher towards a holiday at the La Manga Club, said: “I am thrilled.” Her victory was all the sweeter because a year ago she doubted if she would ever play golf at her standard again.

She had been diagnosed with an auto-immune disease and last summer she was unable to walk a golf course and could only play by using a buggy. “I really didn’t think I would achieve this level of golf again. It’s been a battle of wills,” said Carol, who manages her condition with medication and diet.

She’s been rewarded by winning her club championship for the first time and, now, this title.

Carol, who is the English Women’s Golf Association county delegate for Leicestershire & Rutland, also plays for her county second team. She combines her golf with a busy business career as a non-executive director of five companies.

She came on the Challenge with three fellow members of Rothley Park and said: “My party will tell you I’m terribly competitive and when I play I always try to do well. But really we came for a holiday and when that’s combined with golf and friendship and great competition it really doesn’t get any better. I have really enjoyed every minute and I absolutely cannot fault it.”

Carol added: “I think this event will grow. Everyone has had a blast. It’s fantastic value and we really feel it’s just been fantastic all round.”

The La Manga Club is EWGA’s official overseas partner.

Results

1 Carol Duncumb (Rothley Park 64
2 Kam Cheema (Redlibbets) 57
3 Pam Tattersall (Henlle Park) 57
4 Ann Hazelwood (Fingle Glen) 56
5 Denise Hutchinson (Ganton) 56
6 Sara Meehan (Henlle Park) 55
7 Claire Green (Redlibbets) 55
8 Frances Payne (Upminster) 55
9 Belinda Martin (Carden Park) 51
10 Susan Howorth (Ringway) 51
11 Gill James (Ringway) 51
12 Carole Charmley (Carden Park) 50
13 Carole Mathieson (Redlibbets)50
14 Marion Tate (Ganton) 49
15 Linda Berriman (Redlibbets) 48
16 Irene Bowker (Morecambe) 48
17 Michelle Underwood (Fingle Glen) 46
18 Paula Cowl (Fingle Glen) 45
19 Lindsey Jelly Rothley Park)45
20 Lesley Mifsud (Carden Park) 45
21 Kim Turner (Rothley Park) 42
22 Libby Carter (Rothley Park) 42
23 Anne Peckover (Druids Heath) 42
24 Valerie Mellish (Ryston Park) 42
25 Lynne Perry (Morecambe) 41
26 Rita Shaw (Moortown) 39
27 Jennie Cotterill (Druids Heath) 39
28 Kathy Evans (Henlle Park) 37
29 Elaine Naylor (Bradford) 37
30 Maureen Dillon (Ombersley) 36
31 Sylvia Tudor-Hughes (Cleobury Mortimer) 35
32 Jane McGrath (Carden Park) 35
33 Beryl Aubrey (Henlle Park) 35
34 Kay Bone (Upminster) 33
35 Lyn Edwards (Henlle Park) 25
36 Diane Edwards (Henlle Park) 24
37 Anwen Breading (Fingle Glen) RTD
38 Julie Proctor (Swaffham) RTD

LET - Access Series

LETAS Champions target the Trophée Preven’s in France

Recent LET Access Series champions Caroline Afonso and Jade Schaeffer have confirmed their entry into the Trophée Preven’s at Golf de Bussy-Guermantes, east of Paris, from 14-16 October 2010.

Schaeffer, a winner on the Ladies European Tour in Germany last year, will be looking to add a second title on the LETAS circuit after securing the Dinard Ladies Open on home turf in April. Meanwhile, Afonso is targeting her third victory in four starts after taking both the Terre Blanche Ladies Open in March and the La Nivelle Ladies Open in June.

Afonso won the Generali Ladies Tour order of merit, which forms part of the LETAS, as the leading player following the first three tournaments.

Fellow French star Anne-Lise Caudal, the 2008 Portugal Ladies Open champion, will also be there looking for an emphatic home victory at the fourth LET Access Series event on the 2010 schedule. Spain’s Mariana Macias Capuzzi and Rhian Wyn Thomas from Wales, both of whom are rookies this season on the Ladies European Tour, will also be in the field, hoping to earn their maiden victories.

They will be joined by regular Ladies European Tour players Melodie Bourdy, Natalie David-Mila, Camille Fallay, Julie Greciet, Holly Aitchison, Henrietta Zuel, Clare Queen, Julie Tvede and Kyra van Leeuwen, who are all targeting a place on the inaugural LETAS season winner’s roster.

The early list of entries includes players from 13 different nations and confirms the success of the LETAS in attracting a multinational list of stars.

Entrants include players such as Rebecca Green from Australia, Lien Willems from Belgium, Tijana Kraljevic from Serbia and three players from Morocco: Mounia Amalou-Sayah, Maha Haddiou and amateur Nadia Mourine.

The 54-hole stroke play event, with a cut to the leading 25 professionals and ties after 36 holes, will provide another opportunity for professional golfers to compete on the official feeder tour to the LET. It features a purse of €25,000, with €3,387.50 for the winner.

Golf de Bussy-Guermantes is conveniently situated in the town of Bussy-Saint-Georges in the Marne-la-Vallée, just 38 km from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and 25 km from Paris. This technical and challenging course has been the training ground for several champions such as Jade Schaeffer, Camille Fallay, Gregory Havret, François Calmels and Romain Wattel. For more information about the club, visit its official website: www.golfbussyguermantes.com.

For further information, please visit the official LETAS website: http://www.letaccess.com/ or contact Bethan Cutler, Ladies European Tour Media Manager.
E: bcutler@ladieseuropeantour.com.
M: +44 (0)7980056045

EWGA News

Kent quartet win at EWGA’s La Manga Club Challenge

A quartet of Kent golfers are the first winners at EWGA’s inaugural overseas event, the English Women’s Golf La Manga Club Challenge.

Kam Cheema, Carole Mathieson, Linda Berriman and Claire Green, from Redlibbets Golf Club, Sevenoaks, scored an impressive 84 points on the North course at the La Manga Club, Spain, to win the first day’s team event.

“Brilliant!” said Carole, when she heard the news and rushed to tell her companions.

The team were particularly strong on the par threes – where all four scores counted - and they gelled well throughout the round. “We all contributed to the result, we all came in on different holes,” said Kam.

The four women are good golfing friends and needed little persuasion when Kam suggested taking part in the Challenge. “I’ve always wanted to come to La Manga Club and this seemed like a nice girlie week. Everyone said ‘go for it.’”

The four days of competition offer two team events and a drawn 36-hole individual stableford. Claire added: “We like this format because we want to play together but we also like to mix up and meet other people.”

The team have a good golfing pedigree. Kam, who has only been playing a couple of years after switching from squash, won the silver division trophy in Kent’s Three Feathers knockout competition, in which she came through a field of almost 180 players. Carole’s daughter, Emily, played successfully for England Schoolgirls in the 2007 international against Wales.

Today, the players are taking part in the first round of the individual stableford.

The La Manga Club is EWGA’s official overseas resort partner.

Results

Fourball team event

Best two scores to count on each hole; all four scores to count on par threes

84pts Kam Cheema, Carole Mathieson, Linda Berriman, Claire Green (Redlibbets)
82 Anwen Breading, Paula Cowl, Michelle Underwood, Ann Hazelwood (Fingle Glen)
78 Susane Howarth, Gill James, Frances Payne, Kay Bone (Ringway/Upminster)
76 Libby Carter, Kim Turner, Carol Duncumb, Lindsey Jelly (Rothley Park); Lesley Mifsud, Carole Charmley, Jane McGrath, Belinda Martin (Carden Park)
75 Anne Peckover, Jennie Cotterill, Emma Lowe, Chrissie Owens (Druids Heath/Sprowston Manor)
71 Lyn Edwards, Diane Edwards, Lynne Perry, Irene Bowker (Henlle Park/Morecambe)
66 Marion Tate, Denise Hutchinson, Rita Shaw, Elaine Naylor (Ganton/Moortown/Bradford)
63 Beryl Aubrey, Kathy Evans, Pam Tattersall, Sara Meehan (Henlle Park)
60 Valerie Mellish, Julie Proctor, Sylvia Tudor-Hughes, Maureen Dillon (Ryston Park/Swaffham/Cleobury Mortimer/Ombersley)

EWGA News

Derbyshire teenagers score national title double

Teenagers – who both belong to the same Derbyshire club - have scooped a remarkable title double at a national championship on the Eden Course at St Andrews.

The pair from Tapton Park Golf Club, Chesterfield, won the top ladies’ titles at the UK Public Course Championships, which are open to members of public and proprietary clubs.

Alex, 13, scored 43 points to become ladies’ champion while Emily, 16, became the ladies’ gross champion.

In the tradition of true champions the girls posed for photographs on the famous Swilken bridge on the 18th hole of the Old Course.

Emily, who won EWGA’s Abraham Trophy as England’s most improved girl golfer of 2009, remarked: “To not only visit and play golf at St Andrews, but to win a trophy, is a dream come true “

The girls are the pride of their club. Ladies’ captain Alison Howard said: “Emily and Alex have made a great contribution to the ladies’ section of our club. They contribute to all our events, not just by being great ambassadors for golf but also mixing in and helping out where they can. We ladies are very proud of their achievements at St Andrews and it is great that all their hard work and practice has paid off.”

Tapton Park, which was voted Clubmark Club Of the Year in 2008, works with their professional Craig Pollard, to run a coaching programme and encourage young golfers to develop their skills.

Alex, who has reduced her handicap from 25 to 15 this year, is to be the new junior academy girls’ captain, giving volunteer time to run the desk, meet new juniors and help with events in the junior calendar. She has played for Derbyshire girls’ this year and has won two county trophies, as well as club competitions.

Emily, who plays off nine, joined Tapton’s junior coaching programme about five years ago. Since then, she’s been girls’ captain and her other golfing successes include winning the Derbyshire schools’ championship and playing for the county girls’ team since 2008.



Picture courtesy of leaderboardphotography.com

Vikki Laing

Musselburgh's Vikki Laing is featured in this week's "The Full Swing" on the Ladies European Tour Website.   See host2.ladieseuropeantour.com/~ladies/content/let_article_item.php?Id=29105

Junior Solheim Cup

Qualification System Announced for The 2011 European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team
 
Seven of Europe’s Leading Amateur Championships Selected as Official Qualifying Events

Europe’s leading girl golfers will have a trip to Ireland on their minds when they tee up in the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship, to be played at Gullane Golf Club, Scotland, on August 8-12.

The Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship is the last of seven counting events in which Europe’s top girls can qualify for an automatic place in the European team to face the Americans at the 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup, staged at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland, on September 20-21, 2011.

The qualification process starts at the Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Sherry Golf Jerez (March 2-6) and then takes in the Irish Under-18 Girls’ Championship at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort (April 9-10), the French International Lady Junior Championship at St Cloud Golf Club (April 21-25), the European Girls’ Team Championship at Is Molas, Sardinia, Italy (July 5-9), the European Ladies’ Team Championship at GC Murhof, Austria (July 5-9) and the European Individual Championship at Noordwijkse, The Netherlands (July 20-23) before the qualification system culminates at the end of the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship at Gullane when the leading six players from the official Points Table will earn an automatic place in the European side. (Tables indicating the number of points available at each of the seven qualifying events are attached).

The six qualifiers will be joined by a further six Captain’s Picks in a European side bidding to wrest the trophy back from an American side which won the last match at Aurora Golf Club, Illinois, in 2009 to take a slender 3-2 lead in the series.

All 12 members of the European team must be 12-18 years old (born 1993 or later) and must not have reached their 18th birthday prior to January 1, 2011. Participants must be amateurs and not be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. They must also be European citizens.

The PING Junior Solheim Cup was inaugurated back in 2002 when the American side emerged victorious at Oak Ridge, Minnesota. They also won in 2005 and 2009, with the Europeans claiming the trophy on both previous occasions the match was held in Europe, at Bokskogens GK, Sweden, in 2003, and Båstad GK, Sweden, in 2007.

Since the outset both The Solheim Cup and the PING Junior Solheim Cup have been sponsored by major club manufacturer, PING, and that relationship remains as strong as it was at the outset.

“The Solheim family has been very supportive of women’s golf since my father, Karsten Solheim, founded PING back in 1959,” said John A. Solheim, PING’s Chairman and CEO.

“Establishing the PING Junior Solheim Cup was a natural outgrowth of The Solheim Cup. Seeing players like Anna Nordqvist, Melissa Reid, Marianne Skarpnord, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang compete in the PING Junior Solheim Cup and then being able to follow their careers on the LPGA Tour and the LET has been extremely gratifying.

“I look forward to the upcoming qualifying events on both sides of the Atlantic to see who will be competing in the 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup. Based on the quality of the contestants in both teams during the previous five events, I am certain we will have great young ladies representing both teams in Ireland.”

The PING Junior Solheim Cup always takes place immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, this year due to be played at Killeen Castle from September 23-25, 2011, just 15 minutes’ drive from Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort. PING is the title sponsor, the Irish Ladies Golf Union is the Official Host, Twenty Eleven IGPL is the Promoter and Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort is the Official Venue.

For more information about both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and The Solheim Cup please visit www.solheimcup.com and www.ladieseuropeantour.com

Global Golf Post

Global Golf Post is an on-line  golf magazine.   It has some great articles and is well worth registering to get it sent to you every week.  americangolf.globalgolfpost.com

SGU and SLGA Begin Countdown Towards Amalgamation

The move to bring the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association (SLGA) together as a single governing body has gathered momentum with a formal proposal being delivered to each organisation’s members this week.

It is proposed that the new joint organisation be called Scottish Golf Limited, and will be operational from 1 October 2011.   Consequently the SGU and SLGA have developed a twelve month timetable to consult with members and refine and finalise the details of the proposed amalgamation.

The SGU’s existing shareholders are its 16 Area Associations, while the SLGA comprises affiliated ladies clubs and sections along with 15 County organisations, each with a vote on how the governing bodies are run at present. The proposed changes have now been sent to each of the member groups for consideration, with the two bodies conducting a series of meetings during October, November and December to gather the views of those groups.

Donald Turner, Chair of the amalgamation working group, welcomed the move to meet with the existing members:

“It is vitally important that we harness the views of our existing members while explaining in detail the rationale behind the change which I believe is right for Scottish Golf.  The SGU and SLGA have now been working very closely for a number of years and amalgamation is a natural step in the right direction which can have great benefits for the development of the game in Scotland.”

“At a time when we are encouraging clubs to work towards equality, it is important that every golfer – regardless of gender – is given the same level of opportunity to participate and succeed in the game and that can only happen through amalgamation. At the heart of the game lies our clubs and during these particularly challenging times, clubs need the support of a strong governing body.”

“There is much history and heritage within the SLGA and SGU as well as their respective Counties, Areas and clubs.   However, we must look to the future together if we are to succeed with the ambitions shared by both governing bodies,” he added.

Funding from sportscotland accounts for more than one third of the combined income of the SGU and SLGA at £1.3m and are key partners in the development of the game.  sportscotland’s Chief Executive, Stewart Harris commented:

''sportscotland has been investing in and working with the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association on the amalgamation of the two bodies for a number of years. We look forward to working with SGU & SLGA to finalise the amalgamation process to allow golf to enjoy the benefits of having one united body responsible for governing and developing the amateur game in Scotland. Our support and investment to golf will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. We anticipate that one strong amateur golf body would be a more efficient way for sportscotland to invest in the future, and propel Scottish Golf to even greater heights." 

The joint proposals include the creation of a single Board of Directors with a new Chair to be appointed as both Shona Malcolm (SLGA Chair) and Douglas Connon (SGU Chair) have indicated they will step down at the end of their current terms.   It is intended that the Company will be limited by guarantee, with the voting members comprising the Areas, Counties and golf clubs throughout Scotland.

Under the proposal, existing Counties and Areas will retain their identity and boundaries, with Counties being offered the opportunity to explore a different method (consistent with the Areas) of promoting membership and collecting club subscriptions. The new body will unify the level of per capita subscription it collects from clubs, which is currently different for men and ladies, and this will remain for playing adults only, with an agreement to continue a policy of not charging for juniors.

Following the consultation period, the amalgamation working group will conduct a debrief and review before updating the proposal, which will be further discussed at the SGU and SLGA AGMs in January 2011. Further seminars will then take place among Areas, Counties and clubs in the spring, with a final proposal anticipated to be put to respective EGMs in May 2011.  On approval of the proposal by the respective voting members, an appointment process for the inaugural Board will be undertaken in time for a smooth handover of responsibilities from the SGU and SLGA to Scottish Golf Limited from 1 October 2011.

Shona Malcolm, Chair of the SLGA, said:

“We have made excellent progress throughout 2010 and trust that the various stakeholders will be in agreement with our proposals. We welcome the feedback of our clubs and Counties over the coming months and their input will be invaluable to enable the new body to act in the best interests of Scottish Golf.”

Her counterpart at the SGU, Douglas Connon, added:

“We welcome the proposals put forward by Donald Turner and the working group.  We believe the timetable we have put in place can now be achieved. Having worked so closely with the SLGA for a number of years across many key projects, it makes perfect sense to be working together under one single entity for the betterment of Scottish Golf and giving our clubs and golfers the best opportunity to develop.  Scottish Golf demands and deserves this step change.”

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