ROOKIE RACHEL LEADS ALLIANZ LADIES SLOVAK OPEN

By BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media ManagerEnglish rookie professional Rachel Jennings posted a five under par 67 to take the outright lead after round one of the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open. =

The 22-year-old Stoke-on-Trent player, who earned her Ladies European Tour LET) card at the first attempt in December, hit 18 greens in regulation and had 31 putts during her bogey-free round at Gray Bear Golf Club in Tále, Slovakia.
Rachel is pictured right by Tristan Jones Photography.
She took a one stroke lead over four other players including fellow Staffordshire player Lisa Hall, Holland’s Christel Boeljon, Australian Kristie Smith and Tania Elosegui from Spain.
Jennings, who started at the 10th, produced three birdies on the back nine at the 10th, 13th and 15th holes before adding two further birdies on the front nine, at the fifth and the sixth.
It was her career-best score in 14 rounds and five tournaments played on Tour this season. She made her debut at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, where she missed the cut, but has since posted a tie for 11th in Turkey, eighth in Portugal and a tie for 35th last week in Germany.

“I’m not getting carried away but it feels good,” she said. “Everything went solid out there and I holed a few putts. I hit 18 greens in regulation and I hit 12 fairways.”

Jennings is enjoying her first season on Tour and said: “I love it. It’s the best job in the world.” She found her feet quickly with the help of her friend and neighbour Martin Ridley, a former footballer and PGA professional who caddies for the German player Caroline Masson.

“We’re good friends and it’s relaxing to have someone out here who’s a good friend and who’s not actually a competitor,” Jennings said. “I’m just relaxed and loving it. I feel no pressure. I just take every week as a different week and see how I get on.”

It’s an exciting year for her as she is due to marry the Shirley Golf Club teaching professional, Chris Thornton, on 2nd September. This week she is working with Swedish caddie Sven Gislander, who caddied for Italian Diana Luna when she won without a single bogey last week in Germany.

“He kept on saying to me after every hole, like ’95 now’ and then he’s just told me he’s caddied for 100 holes without a bogey. There was a bit of pressure coming up the last. He’s a nice guy who makes me laugh. He’s easy to get on with and gives me the right yardages, so just a perfect caddie!” Jennings said.

She will tee off at 7.40am in the 72-hole event on Friday, before a cut to the leading 60 players and ties after the second round.

Elsewhere, English amateur Lauren Taylor, from Rugby in Warwickshire, chipped in for eagle on the par-five fourth hole and then aced the par-three fifth using a 4-iron. The 16-year-old from Woburn Golf Club qualified for the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open two weeks ago, after travelling out to Gray Bear Golf Club for a practice round and for the two-day qualifier.
She finished the day at two over par 74, alongside 14 other players, including Britons Laura Davies, Melissa Reid, Lydia Hall, Rebecca Hudson, Lynn Kenny, Becky Morgan, Elizabeth Bennett, Rachel Bell and Charlie Douglass.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 Rachel Jennings (ENG)
68 Lisa Hall (ENG), Christel Boeljon (NL), Kristie Smith (AUS), Tania Elosegui (ESP)
69 Beth Allen (USA), Malene Jorgensen (DEN), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA)
70 Danielle Montgomery (ENG), Marieke Nivard (NL), Stefania Croce (ITA), Bree Arthur (AUS)
71 Valentine Derrey (FRA), Tandi Cuningham (SA), Caroline Masson (GER), Florentyna Parker (ENG), Stacey Keating (AUS), Vikki Laing (SCO), Felicity Johnson (ENG), Caroline Hedwall (SWE), Frances Bondad (AUS), Ursula Wikstrom (FIN), Karen Lunn (AUS), Julie Tvede (DEN)
72 Kym Larratt (ENG), Zuzana Kamasova (SVK), Tara Davies (WAL), Ashleigh Simon (SA), Carin Koch (SWE), Georgina Simpson (ENG), Juliana Murcia Ortiz (COL), Jessica Ji (KOR), Kirsty J Fisher (UK), Stefanie Michl (AUT), Lee-Anne Pace (SA), Marion Ricordeau (FRA)
73 Clare Queen (SCO), Helena Blomberg (SWE), Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN), Julie Greciet (FRA), Emma Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Diana D'Alessio (USA), Jade Schaeffer (FRA), Louise Larsson (SWE), Klara Spilkova (CZE), Laurette Maritz (SA), Caroline Westrup (SWE), Caroline Afonso (FRA), Garrett Phillips (USA), Kim Welch (USA)
74 Charlie Douglass (ENG), Rachel Bell (ENG), Elizabeth Bennett (ENG), Laura Davies (ENG), Becky Morgan (WAL), Lynn Kenny (SCO), Melissa Reid (ENG), Rebecca Hudson (ENG), Rebecca Flood (AUS), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Gwladys Nocera (FRA), Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA), Lydia Hall (WAL), Ana Larraneta (ESP), Lauren Taylor (Am) (ENG)
75 Barbara Genuini (FRA), Veronica Zorzi (ITA), Caroline Rominger (SWI), Johanna W Johansson (SWE), Trish Johnson (ENG), Marjet van der Graaff (NL), Helen Alfredsson (SWE), Cassandra Kirkland (FRA), Anna Rossi (ITA)

76 Holly Aitchison (ENG), Lynnette Brooky (NZ), Kyra van Leeuwen (NL), Maria Hernandez (ESP), Nikki Garrett (AUS), Vicky Tomko (SVK), Christine Hallstrom (SWE), Jenni Kuosa (FIN), Nontaya Srisawang (THA), Federica Piovano (ITA), Kylie Walker (SCO), Sophie Walker (ENG), Rebecca Codd (IRE), Becky Brewerton (WAL), Kiran Matharu (ENG), Liebelei Elena Lawrence (GR)
77 Martina Gillen (IRE), Krystle Caithness (SCO), Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN), Titiya Plucksataporn (THA), Sahra Hassan (WAL), Margherita Rigon (ITA), Line Vedel (DEN)
78 Patricia Beliard (FRA), Carly Booth (SCO), Maha Haddioui (MOR), Caroline Bon (NZ), Hannah Jun (USA), Linda Wessberg (SWE), Anja Monke (GER), Morgana Robbertze (SA), Sophie Sandolo (ITA), Benedicte Toumpsin (BEL)
79 Julie Maisongrosse (FRA), Melodie Bourdy (FRA), Nicole Gergely (AUT)
80 Kate Combes (AUS), Carmen Alonso (ESP), Elena Giraud (FRA), Sharmila Nicollet (IN), Johanna Lundberg (SWE), Lotta Wahlin (SWE), Stacy Lee Bregman (SA), Connie Chen (SA)
81 Joanna Klatten (FRA), Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN)
82 Natalia Heckova (Am) (SVK), Breanne Loucks (WAL), Sara Ardstrom (SWE)
83 Adriana Zwanck (ESP)
88 Ludivine Kreutz (FRA), Daniela Prorokova (CZE)


For further information please see www.ladieseuropeantour.com

LOUISE KENNEY SETTING PACE IN SLGA ORDER OF MERIT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

New Scottish women's amateur golf champion Louise Kenney is also No 1 in the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association's Order of Merit, staged on conjunction with designated events to the end of the season.

The 28-year-old from Dunfermline, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, a Pitreavie GC member, is not a full-time amateur. She is employed as a schoolteacher.

Her victory in the Scottish championship at Machrihanish last Saturday gave her points total a big boost and she leads by close on 500 points from Scotland team-mate Jane Turner (Craigielaw) who reached the last four at Machrihanish and finished in the top 15 of the Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play championship at Troon in April.

Kenney finished third in the "Helen Holm"

Eighteen-year-old Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) claimed the Girls Order of Merit last year and her impressive double of a top five finish at the Helen Holm and a runner-up finish at Machrihanish earned her 1000 points, which has her in third place.

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), who won the Order of Merit last season, is currently in fifth place with 850 points.

The next counting event is this weekend’s St Rule Trophy over 54 holes at St Andrews' Old and New Courses.

LEADING POINTS TOTALS

1 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 1515

2 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 1045

3 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 1000

4 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 922

5 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 850

6 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 720

7 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 720

8 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 540

9 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 505

10 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 390

11 Sara Bishop (Windyhill) 380

12 Alison Davidson (Stirling) 380

13 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 380

14 Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 380

15 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 370

16 Clara Young (North Berwick) 336

17 Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 330

18 Martine Pow (Selkirk) 330

19 Susan Jackson (Ladybank) 280

20 Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 230

21 Karen Marshall (Baberton) 230

22 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) 160

23 Laura Murray (Alford) 160

24 Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 120

25 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 100

26 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 100

27 Elaine Allison (Stirling) 50

28 Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse) 50

29 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) 50

30 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 50

31 Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 50

32 Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 50

33 Rachael Taylor (Hartl Golf Resort) 50

34 Sammy Vass (Tain) 50

NORTHERN COUNTIES WILL LACK SENIOR CAPS AT INCHMARLO

Northern Counties will lack the services of senior internationals Mary Smith (Tain), Anne Ryan (Tain) and Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch ) - who were all in the side last year - for the North Division inter-county women's team championship at Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory from June 25 to 27.
The Scottish senior women's championship tees off at Portpatrick, Dunskey on June 28.
New Northern Counties champion Jenny Milne (Elgin) will spearhead the side backed up by the experience of former champion Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
Youngsters in the team are girl international Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Eilidh McKay (Nairn Dunbar) and Eleanor Tunn (Reay).
Northern Counties team is:

Jenny Milne (Elgin)

Hannah McCook (Grantown-on-Spey)
Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch)
Sammy Vass (Tain)
Claire Ross (Tain)
Eilidh McKay (Nairn Dunbar)
Eleanor Tunn (Reay)
Gillian Dowling (Nairn)
Reserve:
Lynne Fraser (Fortrose and Rosemarkie).
 
Completing the North Division are Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perth and Kinross. The winning team meets up with the three other divisional champions to contest the Scottish women's county team championship at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club from September 17 to 19.

+County captains are invited to send the details of their team selections for the forthcoming divisional championships to Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Notes about changes in the team from last year would be appreciated.

MUNROSS TROPHY TOURNAMENT AT MONTROSE ON JUNE 5

Late entries are being accepted for the Munross Trophy 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit event at the Montrose Links on Sunday, June 5. They can be telephoned to Claire Penman at 01674 672932 or sent by E-mail to secretary@montroselinks.co.uk

Abbreviations: B, Blairgowrie; C, Craigielaw; CL Carnoudie Ladies: DC, Dumfries and Co, DG, Dumfries and Galloway; F, Forfar; Fal, Falkirk; G, Grange, K, Kilmacolm; Kir, Kirriemuir; L, Largs; Lb, Ladybank; M, Minto; MML, Montrose Mercantile Ladies; Mon, Monifieth; P, Peterculter; S, Saline; St, Strathmore; T Tain; TL, Troon Ladies.

09.00 and 14.00 J Meek (CL), C Penman (CL)
09.10 and 14.10 J Grubb (MML), M Summers (CL)
09.20 and 14.20
09.30 abd 14.30
09.40/14.40 C Jaffrey (TL), E Hird (B)
09.50/14.50 K Vannet (P),  S Dalrymple (C)
10.00/15.00 E Briggs (K),  R McQueen (TL)
10.10/15.10 S Vass (T),  J Linklater (L)
10.20/15.20 R Walker (D abd C), T MacTaggart (M)
10.30/15.30 J Chalmers (Mon), R Polson (P)
10.40/15.40 A Smith (Mon), G Davidson (S)
10.50/15.50 H Munro (Mon); E Greenlees (D&G)
11.00/16.00 S Raitt (F); C Hargan (St)
11.10/16.10 S Jackson (Lb); A Ramsay (Kir)
11.20/16.20 J Brown (Mon); L MacGregor (Fal)
11.30/16.30 R Wilson (G); L Fenton (CL)

FIFE NAME SQUAD FOR EAST DIVISION JAMBOREE AT DUNFERMLINE

The East of Scotland Division Inter County matches against East Lothian, Midlothian and Stirling and Clackmannan re being held at Dunfermline Golf Club from Monday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 22.

The Fife Squad is

Linda Dyball (Pitreavie)
Dorothy Ford (Scotscraig)Lorna Fury (Thornton)
Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
Fiona Hastie (St Regulus)
Susan Jackson (Ladybank)
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus)
Karin Sharp (Kirkcaldy, Balwearie)
Reserve
Kathleen Webster (Ladybank)

Christine Steedman, Fife county captain, comments:
"For the second year in a row, I am without our new Scottish champion Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) and Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank), due to other golf and work committments. I had also hoped to bring in our 'new young gun' Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), but unfortunately she would not be available for all three days of the inter-county matches."

+County captains are invited to send their team players' names for the forthcoming divisional championships to Colin@scottishgolfview.com for display on Kirkwoodgolf and for passing on to the newspapers. Details of changes from last year's team formation is helpful.