CHEERS FOR SALLY! HOLE IN ONE AT WEST VETS' SPRING MEETING

By CAROL FELL
It was a beautiful day at Prestwick St Cuthberts today in the West Vets Spring Meeting and the scores certainly reflected the good conditions.
Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) was the best of the day with a scratch score of 74 -- 3 over the SSS of 71.
The best net score of the day was by May McGhee from Balmore who had a fantastic 65 off a handicap of 24. She also, therefore, won the title of "Super Vet."
Highlight of the day was a hole in one at the ninth by Sally Coster (Hilton Park), pictured, who was partnered by Mamie Robin from Elderslie and Anne McKellar (Whitecraigs) who had enjoyed the great event. It was Sally's third hole in one and many of the competitors enjoyed a wee glass of wine back in the clubhouse - compliments of Sally.
Janette Stewart from Kilmarnock Barassie was the winner of the Silver Division with a net 66.
PRIZELIST DETAILS
SSS 71, CSS 71 , 87 Entrants
Scratch - Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Silver:
Janette Stewart - (Kilmarnock Barassie) 85 (19) 66
Kay Murray (Whitecraigs) 87 (19) 68
Jess Blackwood 83 (Kilmarnock Barassie) (14) 69 (bih)
Bronze :
May McGhee (Balmore) 89 (24) 65
Pat Robertson (Caldwell) 88 (21) 67


Super Vet: May McGee 89 (24) 65



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CHRIS ROBB'S LAST ROUND DISASTERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

By COLIN FARQUHARSONColin@scottishgolfview.com

Banchory's Chris Robb, pictured, the former Scottish schoolboys champion who is now a student at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, was heading for a top four or five finish until he had two disastrous holes in his final round of the Southern Conference College Championship at the Country Club of South Carolina, Florence in South Carolina today.

After two sub-par rounds of 71 over a long par-72 course of 7,062yd, Robb's challenge unravelled with a triple bogey 7 at the ninth and a double bogey 6 at the 18th. He finished with a three-over-par 75 for a total of one-over 217. Robb was two under par for the 16 other holes.
That pulled him down to joint 11th place in a field of 55 players, 10 shots behind the winner, Richard Fountain (Davidson College), who shot 68-72-67 for nine-under 207 and won by one stroke.

Robb's fall from grace was also costly for UTC in the team championship. They finished third on 867, only six shots behind the winners, Georgia Southern University and one behind runners-up UNC-Greensboro in a field of 11 teams.

ROYAL ST GEORGE'S: AN OPEN HELD AT A MALE-ONLY GOLF CLUB

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By OLIVER BROWN
R and A chief Peter Dawson refuses to be drawn into equality row over Open host's bar on female membership
A great urban myth is that Royal St George’s, venue for this summer’s Open Championship and a club still obstinately upholding their men-only membership rules, once put up a sign reading: “No dogs, no women.”
But these are barely more enlightened times on their little stretch of Kent coast. The decision to hold the world’s highest-profile golf event at such a bastion of patriarchal values sends out a most peculiar message.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is evangelical about broadening participation in the sport, enlisting two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington as an ambassador for this very cause. But on the tricky matter of bringing the Claret Jug to a place where women are denied equal status, Peter Dawson, the R&A’s chief executive, remains unapologetic.
“The fact that it’s male members-only is not something I’m overly concerned about,” Dawson said at today's Open Championship Press Conference at Sandwich. “I know that’s not as correct as it might be, but I do think that these things are a matter for the members.”
Royal St George’s has become notorious for its exclusivity: women are permitted to play only as members’ guests, while jacket and tie continues to be mandatory for men in three of the clubhouse rooms.
It is not as if the club has not had a chance to shake off a reputation for fustiness. In December 2001, members were surveyed as to whether they would like women to be allowed to join — and not a single one spoke out in favour.
Accusations of archaic practice hung heavy over the last Open here, in 2003, with the Scottish tourism minister going so far as to say clubs admitting solely men should be stripped of their right to host the tournament. Vivien Saunders, who won the women’s Open in 1977, has insisted that they ought only to profit financially if they open their doors to all.
The argument did not resonate with Dawson, who said: “We have never been particularly concerned about a club’s policy. We don’t use the Open for social engineering, if you’d like to call it that.
“There are still some single-sex clubs, whether men-only or women-only, up and down the country. It’s perfectly legal for them to do this, even under the new Equality Act. But there are very few of them, less than one per cent, so I don’t accept the argument that it seriously affects golf participation for either sex. “In all the surveys that I have seen conducted, it’s not a major issue among golfers. It’s a matter for members of golf clubs, and I’m quite sure that future generations may take a different view from the present one. That’s just the way of the world.”
The R and A can be relieved that its accommodating stance on the equality row has yet to bring the same censure suffered by Augusta National.
The home of the US Masters has endured a fierce backlash against its all-male code. In their usual dogmatic fashion, the Green Jackets refuse to relent, risking millions of dollars in sponsorship by telling companies such as Coca-Cola and Citigroup that they could not accept their money if this would expose them to a corporate campaign to change the rules.
But with a return to Royal St George’s, political pressure upon the R and A is likely to mount. In 2013, the Open moves to Muirfield, also steadfastly single-sex.
Ahead of the previous Open on these Kent dunes, Tessa Jowell, the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, urged the organisation to “set an example” over discrimination. Eight years on, it is a call it still cannot bring itself to heed.

KEREN WARD IS EAST LOTHIAN GIRLS' STROKE-PLAY CHAMPION

Keren Ward (The Glen) won the East Lothian girls' stroke-play championship at Longniddry Golf Club today.

She had a round of 74 to win the title and the spring meeting by four shots from Clara Young (North Berwick).

Details:

SCRATCH
74 Keren Ward (Glen).

78 Clara Young (North Berwick).

HANDICAP
1st Shannon Young (Dunbar) (45) 63.
2nd Nandini Nagra ( Kilspindie) (19) 68.

Other net scores:
Keren Ward (Glen) (6) 68.
Charlotte Munro (Gullane Ladies) (20) 70.
Lauren Lee (Musselburgh) (23) 75.
Clara Young (North Berwick) (2) 76
Sarah Dunlop (Gullane Ladies) (23) 76.
Lara Frostwick (Gullane Ladies) (16) 83.
Maggie Goodlad (Glen)  No Return.

CAROLINE MARRON LEADS ENGLISH SENIORS AT YORK

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Cheshire’s Caroline Marron began the defence of her title with a fine two-under par 71 to lead the first qualifying round of the English senior championship at York Golf Club today.
She is two shots ahead of a group of three fellow senior internationals who all shot level par: Chris Quinn of Hampshire, Roz Adams of Surrey and Jo Ashmore of Norfolk.
Meanwhile British senior champion Beverley New of Somerset shares fifth place on two-over par – despite a back problem which prompted a last-minute visit to an acupuncturist.
Beverley, who is playing in her first English senior championship, was a leading amateur before she followed a professional career which brought her wins in four countries. Since her return to amateur ranks in 2001 she has captained the English ladies’ team.

The Yorkshire challenge was led by former senior international Pat Wrightson of Huddersfield, and Judy Butler of Malton and Norton who are in a group sharing 10th place on 77.
Other Yorkshire contenders include another past international Carolyn Kirk of Ganton, who shot 80, as did Jackie Barraclough of East Bierley.
The first round was played in glorious weather and, with the course playing short, the competitors took advantage of the conditions with a host of birdies, notably on the par fives. Caroline Marron had a total of six in her round and reached the turn in a bogey-free four-under par 33.
"I couldn’t have wished for a better start but it is only the first round and there’s a long way to go. You just have to try and keep your feet on the ground and hit the next shot – and that’s what I shall try and do tomorrow,” she said.
Caroline was well prepared when she arrived at York. Her fiancé, the Bromborough professional Geoff Berry, had worked with her on the long game, and had recommended she fine-tune her short game with Heswall professional Alan Thompson. “I came here feeling quietly positive, which is nice,” she said.
The conditions were ideal for scoring and the players responded with almost one-third of the field - 27 golfers - returning 80 or better.
After tomorrow’s second round the top 16 players will go forward to the championship match-play on Thursday and Friday; the next 16 players will contest the second flight.
For the first time this year the competition will include a consolation Stableford for a maximum of 32 players who fail to qualify for the match-play stages. It will take place on the morning of Thursday, April 21, and will be played after the first round of matches have teed off. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Leading scores
Par 73 CSS 73
71 Caroline Marron (Bromborough)
73 Chris Quinn (Hockley), Roz Adams (Addington Court Ladies), Jo Ashmore (Barnham Broom).
75 Beverley New (Lansdown), Barbara Laird (Sandiway)
76 Lulu Housman (Highgate), Elaine Elliott (Whitley Bay), Pat West (Spalding),
77 Sue Penfold (Mapperley Ladies), Lindsey Shaw (Chevin), Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield), Gabi Heuchel (East Berkshire), Judy Butler (Malton & Norton)
78 Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest), Pauline Daymont (Alnmouth)
79 Jan McGowan (Bromborough), Sheree Dove-Wilde (Chobham), Jane Shergold (Blackmoor), Ruth Lindley (Hartlepool)
80 Vivien Saunders (Cambridge Meridian), Jackie Barraclough (East Bierley) Diane Wilson (Denham), Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Irene Brien (Wentworth), Carolyn Kirk (Ganton), Carol Wild (Notts Ladies)


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Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Paisley-born Stuart Ballingall, a student at the University of Missouri, scored yet another top-10 finish on the US college circuit when he tied for sixth place in the Hawkeye-TaylorMade Invite men's tournament over 36 holes at Finkbine Golf Club, Iowa City, Iowa.

Stuart, pictured right with a trophy from an earlier tournament, whose US college performances have him world-ranked ahead of most of the other Scots, tied for sixth place with scores of 75 and 72 for 147 - five shots behind the pair who topped the leaderboard jointly on 142: Andy Sajevic (Charlotte) (75-67) and Vince India (Iowa) (71-71).

Ballingall's team-mate, William Harrold from St Albans, finished joint 42nd in a field of 59 players ith rounds of 79 and 77 for 156.

Paul Ferrier (Charlotte), the 2007 Scottish boys champion from the Baberton club, finished joint 45th on 157 with scores of 83 and 74.

Iowa (589) won the team title, three shots ahead of joint runners-up Charlotte and Missouri in a field of 11 teams.

JAMES BYRNE STILL LOOKING FOR SPARK

Banchory's James Byrne, coming up to the end of his four years at Arizona State University, is still searching to reproduce his best form on the US college circuit.
He finished joint 33rd in the Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz in California. Over a shortish par-70 course of 6,615yd, James had rounds of 73, 72 and 75 for a total of 10-over-par 220.
Surrey-born Tom Berry (San Diego State) finished joint 52nd on 223 with scores of 73, 73 and 77.
Arizona State (1099) finished seventh of 15 behind team title winners UCLA (1066).

SCOTS PAIR MAKE TOP 15 IN WEST VIRGINIA

Davis and Elkins College, West Virginia students Alasdair Forsythe, a junior (third-year) student from Glasgow, and Christopher Young, a sophomore from Cardross, finished joint 11th and 15th respectively iin a field of 55 players for the WJU Invitational college tournament at Moundsville Country Club, West Virginia.
Over a par-70 course of 6,341yd, Forsyth scores 75 and 77 for 152, Young 81 and 74 for 155.
Dan Cawley (WJU) won by two shots with scores of 74 and 71 for 145.

HAYCOCK AND BRADBURY IN TOP FIVE AT LADY SEAHAWK CLASSIC

Editor's note: We've missed quite a few US college tournaments due to my absence on holiday earlier this month. We cannot catch up on them all but here's one worth recording.
Warwickshire county champion Liz Haycock (Old Dominion University) finished joint second in the UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic at River Landing County Club, Wallace in North Carolina in early April.
Because of inclement weather in the Wilmington area, the final round of the scheduled 54-hole competition  over a par-72, 6011yd course had to be cancelled.
Liz had a pair of 75s for 150, finishing two shots behind winner Fanny Wolte (East Carolina) with 73 and 75.
Another Old Dominion student, Kim Bradbury for Derbyshire, came fifth in the field of 55 players with rounds of 74 and 78 for 152.
A third ODU player, Ireland's Emma Gilmore  finished joint 29th on 161 with scores of 84 and 77.
Scotland's Sammy Vass, a student at Gardner-Webb University, finished joint 47th on 166 with scores of 82 and 84.
East Carolina (603) won the team event ahead of Old Dominion (616). Gardner Webb (646) finished eighth of 10.
The Lady Monarchs will finish second with a two-round score of 616. East Carolina wins the event with a 603 score.

LIZI HELPS ARKANSAS TECH WIN CONFERENCE FOR FIRST TIME

FROM A US COLLEGE GOLF CORRESPONDENT
Leighton Buzzard’s Lizi Sweetnam helped her team, Arkansas Tech University, to take its first-ever Gulf South Conference Championship title on the final day of the 2011 Championship held at the Hot Springs Country Club, Arkansas.
Lizi, pictured, tied for sixth place with rounds of 81 and 79 for 160, as Tech stormed through a closely-fought contest to win by an impressive 16 shots and dethrone the 2010 champions West Florida University and break their hold on the title since 2006.
Tech (326) had trailed Harding University (325) by one shot after the first day. but with only four shots separating the top four teams, a close finish was anticipated. West Georgia University (328) and the five-time champions University of West Florida (329) were all in contention at the start of the final round.
Leading the way for the Golden Suns were its senior duo of Kyla McIsaac (Kentville, Nova Scotia) and Ana Morales (Bogota, Colombia). McIsaac and Morales both closed their collegiate careers with 156’s to finish in a three-way tie for second place and earn All-Tournament Team honors.
McIsaac carded rounds of 80 and 76, while Morales fired rounds of 81 and 75. University of Christian Brothers’ Amanda Martin won the individual title shooting 77 and 75 for a 152 total.
Overall Lizi, with five top-six finishes in nine tournamnents, has had a good first season since transferring from Oklahoma.

SUNCOAST LADIES SERIES SCOREBOARD

ROCK SPRINGS RIDGE GOLF CLUB, FLORIDA
Par 216 (3x72). Yardage 6,250
FINAL TOTALS
1 Chella CHOI South Korea 67-68-68--203 $2,000.
T2 Paige MACKENZIE Scottsdale, Arizona 70-67-69--206 $850.
T2 Maria HJORTH Falun, Sweden 68-69-69--206 $850.
T4 Moira DUNN Utica, New York 69-71-74--214  $562.
T4 Kris TAMULIS Naples, Florida 70-71-73--214 $562.50
6 Jordan HARDY Sylacauga, Alabama 74-70-72--216  $475.
7 Johani BAKAR Malaysia 71-71-76--218 $400.
8 Laura DIAZ Fernandina Beach, Florida 71-69-79--219
T9 Lindsey BERGEON Sarasota, Florida 74-75-72--221
T9 Noon HUACHAI Bangkok, Thailand 71-76-74--221
T11 Danah BORDNER Indianapolis, Indiana 76-74-72--222 
T11 Christabel GOH Singapore 75-72-75--222
T13 Elise SWARTOUT Ann Arbor, Michigan 76-72-76--224 
T13 Ki-Shui LIAO Windermere, Florida 72-74-78--224
15 Alexandra CASI East Palestine, Ohio 80-74-73--227 
16 Woori SHIN Nogoya, Japan 76-77-76--229
17 Susan MARTIN Norcross, Georgia 78-76-77--231 
18 Ellen DUNNE Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida 79-76-78--233 
19 Victoria THOMPSON Akwesasne, Ontario, Canada CAN 79-78-80--237 
20 Amanda MCPHEE Winchester, Massachusetts 81-81-77--239
21 Natalie DESJARDINS Haileybury, Ontario, Canada 82-86-82--250