EMMA GILMORE FINISHES SECOND IN LONGWOOD INVITE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Emma Gilmore from Moylough, Ireland is coming up to the end of her four-year course at Old Dominion University, Norfolk in Virginia and she has achieved one of her highest finishes on the US women's college circuit.

The 24-year-old senior student finished second in a field of 27 players at the Tina Barrett Longwood Invite women's competition at Manor Resort Golf Club, Farmville, Virginia.
Emma, pictured, had rounds of 74 and 70 for a level par total of 144 over a par-72, 6076yd course.
She finished four shots behind the winner, Amanda Stephenson (Longwood) who shot 69 and 71 for four-under 140.
Old Dominion team-mates Kim Bradbury from Derbyshire and Elizabeth Haycock from Birmingham finished joint seventh and 14th respectively.
Kim had scores of 73 and 80 for 153, Elizabeth 77 and 81 for 158.
Longwood (588) won the team event ahead of Old Dominion (601) in a field of five squads.

NIKKI DUNN JUST OUTSIDE TOP TEN AT HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Nikki Dunn (Texas A and M University) from Harrogate did best of the five English students in the field of 99 players at the UALR Women's Classic at Diamante Country Club, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Nikki, pictured, had steady rounds of 75, 74 and 76 for a total of 225 over the par-72, 6029yd course.
She finished joint 11th, six shots behind the winner, Germany's Laura Stempfle (Florida International) who shot 74, 72 and 73 for three-over 219 and a one-stroke victory.
Katie Mundy from Hampshire, a team-mate of the winner, made the top 20 with scores of 79, 73 and 75 for 227 and joint 18th place.
Anna Carling (Arkansas State) from Vale of Glamorgan, finished joint 34th on 232 with scores of 77, 76 and 79.
Stephanie Gough (Middle Tennessee State) from Aylesbury had socres of 79, 80 and 78 for 237 and a share of 57th place.
Emma Clegg (Missouri State) from Clitheroe) finished joint 64th on 238, made up on rounds of 79, 78 and 81.
Oral Roberts (903) won the team title ahead of Missouri State (904) and Arkansas State (907).
Eastern Michigan (910) were fourth, Florida Internationaol (11) fifth and Middle Tennessee Sate (916) sixth in a field of 19 teams.

JAMES WHITE, SUSAN JACKSON TOP OF THE CLASS AT LOSSIE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Fife golfers James White, a member of Lundin Golf Club, and Ladybank's Susan Jackson scored a double whammy in the Scottish universities stroke-play championships over the Moray Golf Club's Old and New links courses at Lossiemouth today. Stirling student White, winner of the Scottish boys' match-play champion in 2006 and son of a former Tartan Tour professional, produced two very good rounds to come from joint sixth place overnight to win the men's title by three strokes from halfway leader Bobby Rushford, also a Stirling student, from Grangemouth. Edinburgh student  Jackson, joint leader at halfway in the women's event, also finished strongly to win by a shot from Jane Turner (Robert Gordon) from Penicuik, the British women's universities stroke-play champion for the past two years and a full Scotland women's international. James White produced two rounds of four-under-par 68 over the Moray Old course on the final day for a seven-under-par total of 277 for the 72 holes. Leader Rushford could not hold him at bay although his closing rounds of 71 and 74 for 280 were creditable enough. Colin Thomson completed a Stirling University 1-2-3 with a very good final day. He had been joint eighth at halfway but finished strongly with a 69 and 70 for 281. Susan Jackson was headed by Jane Turner in the morning third round over the New Course as Turner shot a 75 for 228 while Jackson had a 79 for 229. But over the last round, Jackson responded to the pressure with an excellent sub-par round of 68 for 287, to pip Turner (70 for 288) for the title in a dramatic finish. Susan has a liking for the Lossie links - she won the Clark Rosebowl at the Scottish women's amateur championship there in 2008. Welsh international Gemma Bradbury (St Andrews), joint leader after two rounds, fell away to finish fifth with closing scores of 75 and 74 for 309. Third place went to Jordana Graham (Stirling) who slashed two shots off the New Course women's record with a brilliant final round of 63 (31-32). That gave her a total of 299, only one shot behind runner-up Turner.  LEADING MEN'S FINAL TOTALS 277 James White (Stirling) 70 71 68 68. 280 Bobby Rushford (Stirling) 67 6871 74. 281 Colin Thomson (Stirling) 71 71 69 70. 285 John Wybar (Aberdeen) 73 68 71 73. 287 Steven Smith (Heriot Watt) 73 70 71 73, Adrian Cord (Canada) 72 67 73 75. 288 Jon Corke (St Andrews) 75 71 72 70, David Booth (Stirling) 70 67 80 71. 289 Nick McAndrew (Aberdeen) 74 73 73 69, Graeme Robertson (Stirling) 66 72 76 75. 290 Graeme McDougall (Strathclyde) 72 74 73 71, Fraser Moore (Stirling) 72 67 76 75. 291 Daniel Sommerville (Dundee) 71 71 71 78. 292 Daniel Daley (Abertay Dundee) 73 73 77 69. 293 Alex Culverwell (Stirling) 75 75 69 74, John Duff (Aberdeen) 73 76 75 69, Kit Holmes (Stirling) 74 71 72 76. 294 Mark Hoffman (Canada) 80 71 75 68, Cole Sedgwick (St Andrews) 78 72 71 73, Sean Thompson (Stirling) 71 78 73 72. 296 Freddie Edmunds (St Andrews) 75 75 77 69, Sean Fotheringhame (St Andrews) 78 71 76 71, Michael Daily (Stirling) 76 72 78 70, Gordon Munro (Rob ert Gordon) 72 72 75 77. 297 Elliot Brown (St Andrews) 71 76 73 77. 298 Euan Brown (Strathclyde) 79 73 77 69. 299 Dewi Merkx (Stirling) 76 75 74 74, Andrew Wallace (Strling) 72 75 75 77, Blair Pelling (St Andrews) 72 73 78 76. 300 Darren Timms (Stirling) 80 76 73 71, Joe Marchbank (St Andrews) 81 72 76 71, Dave Curtis (Glasgow) 73 78 76 73. 301 Connor Finlay (Dundee) 80 72 73 76. WOMEN'S FINAL TOTALS 297 Susan Jackson(Edinburgh) 78 72 69 68. 298 Jane Turner (Robert Gordon) 80 73 75 70. 299 Jordana Graham (Stirling) 83 74 79 63. 302 Ashley Smith (St Andrews) 83 73 73 73. 308 Gemma Bradbury (St Andrews) 76 74 76 82. 309 Harrier Beasley (Stirling) 81 79 75 74.  312 Gillian Scanlan (Strathclyde) 82 77 79 74. 318 Rebecca Wilson (Stirling) 86 75 84 73. 330 Mikaela Nordblad (St Andrews) 82 81 83 84.

Aberdeen schools golf for Murcar Links on June 9

The Paul Lawrie Foundation Aberdeen schools golf championships will be played over Murcar Links Golf Club's two courses on Thursday, June 9.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE TO BE NEXT GOLF FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

NEWS RELEASE
The Golf Foundation is delighted to announce that Colin Montgomerie is to be its next President.
This display of commitment from Colin Montgomerie has been welcomed by the entire Golf Foundation team, as it works to make golf more accessible to children from all backgrounds.
Through its Golf Roots programme the Foundation aims to reach one million children a year through golf by 2013, in support of the national golf partnerships of England, Scotland and Wales.
Charles Harrison, Chairman of the Golf Foundation, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Colin Montgomerie as our new President. Given his standing in the game and his knowledge and passion for golf, I am quite sure he will be able to contribute hugely as we grow as an organisation.
“After encouraging many young people to take up the game through his exploits in competitive golf, and inspiring the European Team so many times in the Ryder Cup, he will now be able to inspire our team to raise the bar further in our efforts to offer many new children the opportunity to play the game, as well as providing help in the development of their life skills.”
Colin Montgomerie said: “I have long admired the work of the Golf Foundation and feel very honoured to be taking up this position. Golf has played such an important part in my life and I look forward to working with the Golf Foundation to inspire as many youngsters as possible to take up this great game.”
Colin Montgomerie will officially start his new role on May 5, during the Golf Foundation’s AGM, where he takes over the Presidency from Ken Schofield, who will be standing down from the post after five highly successful years. Colin will then attend his first engagement as President when he presents the annual Golf Foundation awards during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 25. 
Colin takes on the role at a time when the leading golf charity has changed the perception of golf as a school sport, with government figures showing that the number of schools offering golf had increased from 14% in 2003/4 to 44% in 2009/10. The number of schools with formal links to golf clubs and driving ranges increased from 9% in 2003/4 to 30% in 2009/10.

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING NINE-HOLE COURSE OPENS ON SATURDAY

Airthrey Golf Course - University of Stirling nine-hole course which opesn to the public on Saturday.

NEWS RELEASEThe University of Stirling's family-friendly Airthrey Golf Course has been receiving expert attention ahead of its opening on Saturday (April 2).
Dedicated grounds staff have been working around the clock to ensure the nine-hole parkland course meets the community seal of approval.
Grounds Team Leader Allan McPherson, a former greenkeeper at Braehead Golf Club, has been managing the preparations, which includes readying the greens, cutting the fairways, ordering new flags and even adding fresh sand to the bunkers of the par three community course.
He said: "It is always an important job to tidy the course up and get its presentation just right. The recent weather has made it quite tricky, but we have a great team who take pride in making it look as good as new.
"Brian Young has green keeping experience and previously looked after bowling greens so he knows how to prepare the golf greens. He is always out there every morning during the season, champing at the bit to get to work on the course.
"I'm sure it will look aesthetically pleasing, especially with the surrounding scenery. And each hole provides its own unique challenge for the golfers, with varying lengths and differing characteristics."
Airthrey Golf Course stretches more than 1,000 yards across the grounds of the University, with the backdrop of the Ochil Hills and the Wallace Monument.
It is open seven days a week on a turn up and play basis, the ideal course to make your first steps into golf or to brush up on your game.
Prices are: £5/£5.80 for an adult weekday/weekend round; £2.75/£3 for a juvenile weekday/weekend round and £2.70/£3.50 for a student weekday/weekend round.
To help you ease your way into the season, there is a two-for-one offer running from April 2 to 10.
All equipment is available for hire so there is every reason to give golf a go at the University - who knows, you may even follow in the footsteps of its illustrious golfing almuni, including European Tour player Richie Ramsay and top ladies golfer Catriona Matthew.
After nine holes, you can also polish up on your putting with a dedicated putting green. And there are also two excellent golf practice areas available for group hire.
These comprise short-game areas with target greens, a practice bunker and a medium distance driving range. To book, call 01786 466908. For any general enquiries, please call 01786 466900.
The University of Stirling also runs golf classes for adults and children. Find out more at: www.sportingexcellence.stir.ac.uk/take-part/classes

TOM GAMBLE JOINT FOURTH IN NORTH CAROLINA EVENT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Tom Gamble from Surrey, a junior (third year) student at Webber International University, Florida, finished joint fourth in a field of 83 players at this week's Camp LeJeune Golf Championship men's college tournament at LeJeune, North Carolina.

Over a par-72 course of 7,040yd, six-footer Gamble, pictured, had rounds of 71, 66 and 74 for a total of five-under-par 211. He finished seven shots behind the winner by four, Omar Tejeiro (St Thomas-Florida) who had rounds of 69, 64 and 71 for 10-under-par 204.
Another Webber International student from England, Connor O'Dell fron Taunton, finished joint 40th on 221 with scores of 76, 68 and 77.
Webber International (858) finished runners-up to team title winners (Cape Fear CC) in a field of 16 teams.

HANNAH JUST OUTSIDE TOP 20 AT TUCSON, ARIZONA

Hannah Lovelock from Surrey, a student at Missouri University, finished joint 23rd in a big field of 93 players at the Mountain View Collegiate women's tournament at Mountain View Country Club, Tucson, Arizona.

Hannah, pictured, had rounds of 72, 77 and 72 for a total of five-over-par 221 over a par-72 course of 6,227yd.
Ami Storey (Kansas State), from the North-east of England, tied for 45th place on 225 with scores of 74, 74 and 77.
Nicola Race (Missouri) from Essex shared 52nd place on 227 with scores of 71, 80 and 76.
Missouri (891) finished eighth of 18 behind team winners Iowa State (857) with Kansas State (904) 14th.