HAYLEY, RACHAEL MAKING THEIR MARK FOR BAYLOR AND DENVER

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

England's Hayley Davis and Scotland's Rachael Watton have not taken long to make their mark for their new universities in America -  Hayley for Baylor University at Waco, Texas, and Rachael for Denver University, Colorado.

Making only their second competitive appearance since they moved across the Atlantic for the next four years, Hayley (pictured left) finished second and Rachael (pictured right) T9 in a field of 93 at the Dick McGuire Invitational which finished early today (USA time) at the University of New Mexico's challenging par-73 championship at Albuquerque.

Sofia Hoglund (New Mexico), playing over her "home" course, led into the third and final round with scores of 71 and 68 but in that she slipped to a 77 for 216, allowing the field to take closer order.
Hayley Davis, who bogeyed her second last hole - the second, came up one short of tieing with Sofia. She had very steady scores of 72, 73 and 72 for 217.
Watton, from Edinburgh and a Mortonhall GC member, finished joint 11th in her US debut the previous week in the Golf Week Conference Challenge. So this was her first top-10 finish for Denver at the second attempt.
Rachael, 19, scored 76, 71 and 74 for 221. She birdied the seventh, ninth and 18th in her final round but too many bogeys meant she finished the round one-over-par. Still, the Scot is improving and is already leading the Denver team.
Hayley Davis's effort enabled Baylor (887) to win the team title, four shots ahead of joint second Denver and Texas Christian on 891. Eighteen teams were in the field.
Another Denver player, Sarah Faller from Ireland, finished 26th on 228 with scores of 75, 75 and 76.

England international Ellis Keenan did not have a good tournament for UNLV. She scored 84, 84 and 79 for 247 - 28 over par for 54 holes.

FROM THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY WEBSITE:

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HAYLEY WINS
It was the first tournament victory of the (new coach) Jay Goble era and Baylor’s first win since April 2010 at the Baylor Spring Invitational. It was also Baylor’s first fall win since September 2005 at the Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic.
“Pin placements were very tough, but we played smart golf and hit the ball very well,” Goble said. “I knew we would play well if we had a few putts drop. It’s pretty awesome to win and beat several teams ranked way ahead of us.”
Freshman Hayley Davis turned in her second consecutive second-place performance to begin her collegiate career. Davis shot a final-round 1-under 72 to finish 2-under (72-73-72=217) for the tournament, one stroke behind the individual champion, New Mexico’s Sofia Hoglund (3-under 216). Davis was one of only three golfers to finish the tournament under-par.
Chelsey Cothran carded a final-round 72 to finish the tournament at even-par 219, tying for fourth overall. It is Cothran’s second career top-five finish and fifth top-10 finish. Davis and Cothran were among four golfers (out of 96) to finish the day with a sub-par final round score.
“Once again, Hayley (Davis) and Chelsey (Cothran) continued their good play,” Goble said. “Hayley had a chance to win it, but couldn’t get a few putts to fall. She’s playing her way into contention every time. She’ll get some wins; it’s only a matter of time.”
In two weeks, Baylor returns to New Mexico for the Price’s NMSU Invitational, which will be held Oct. 10-12 in Las Cruces.

LIZI SWEETNAM DOWN THE FIELD AT CHERRY SPRINGS

Lizi Sweenam from London, a student at Arkansas Technical University, finished joint 35th in the NSU Classic at Cherry Springs golf course, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Over a par-72, 5806yd course, Lizi had scores of 79 and 86 for 165.

Winner with level par 144 was Kelsey Kirkpatrick (Northeastern State) with scores of 71 and 73, winning by one from team-mate Whitney McAteer (74-71).

Northeastern State (597) won the team title ahead of Midwestern state (609) with Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Fort Smith joint third on 641 in a field of 14 teams.

ABBEY GITTINGS WINS LADY FALCON INVITATIONAL AT DAYTONA BCH

                                       ABBEY GITTING SWINGING IN THE SUN

Abbey Gittings from Walmley, Warwickshire, a student at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale in Florida, followed up her fifth place finish last week by winning the Lady Falcon Invitational women's college tournament over a top-class course, LPGA International, at Daytona Beach, Florida.

Abbey had a pair of 74s for a four-over-par total of 148 in what must have been testing conditions.

She won by a shot from Irene Calvo (Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida) who had scores of 73 and 76.

Afterwards she told her college website: “I wasn’t hitting the ball consistently on the range and knew I had to go on the course and grind my way through it! I just took every shot one at a time and tried to enjoy the excitement of playing in the last group.
“I knew coming down 18 I was ahead by one but kept cool and made a steady par. It was a tough and challenging course so I am extremely happy that I won the individual medallist.”
This was Abbey’s second college victory and coach Amanda Brown commented: “Abbey's competitive spirit really gave her an edge over her competitors in the last group. I expect her to be consistently in contention to win the rest of the season.”

Lynn University freshman Jessica Bradley, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, from East Devon tied for 14th place in a field of 62 players with scores of 79 and 78 for 157.

Former Welsh girl international Kelly Miller (Daytona State), pictured right by Tom Ward Photography, came in joint 41st on 168 with rounds of 81 and 87.

And another Welsh junior cap from Cambridge, Gog Magog GC member Chelsey Herbert (Nova Southeastern), pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, finished 47th with scores of 85 and 86 for 171.
Florida Southern (608) won the team title ahead of Lynn (611) with Nova Southeastern (620) third of 10 team.

Pitreavie Ladies Greensome Open on Sunday - Late entries accepted

From Pitreavie Golf Club Match Secretary  - Ruth McConkey
Our Ladies Greensome Open is on Sunday, October 2 from 10am - 2pm. Tee times available.
Please call Ruth on - 01383 622348

STEPHANIE AND GEMMA WELL DOWN THE FIELD IN TENNESSEE

Stephanie Meadow (Alabama) and Gemma Dryburgh (Tulane), the only two British-born players in the field for the Mason Rudolph Fall Preview, would have been very disappointed to have finished joint 49th and joint 66th respectively in the 54-hole event which ended on Sunday at Vanderbilt Golf Club, Franklin, Tennessee.
Great Britain and Ireland international Stephanie (pictured) from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland had rounds of 75, 78 and 75 for a total of 12-over-par 228 over the par-73, 6426yd course.
Aberdonian Gemma, who gained her first Scotland girls cap at Gullane in the summer, shot 75, 76 and 81 for 232.
Tied at the top of the leaderboard on four-under-par 212 were Jennifer Kirby, a Canadian team-mate of Stephanie Meadow at Alabama, and Lindy Duncan (UCLA).
Jennifer shot 72, 66 and 74, Lindy 75, 69 and 68. They finished two shots ahead of the field.
In the play-off for the individual title, Duncan birdied the first hole to be the individual victor.
UCLA (873) won the team title ahead of Alabama (879) with Tulane (919) 16th of 18 teams.

KIRSTY CONDON HELPS RADFORD TO COMFORTABLE VICTORY

Radford University women's golf squad made the short trip to Roanoke, Virginia, to take on their local rivals Hollins University, at Ashley Plantation Golf Club.
Highlanders' freshman Alex Austin led the field with a four-over-par 75, followed home by Paisley-born Kirsty Condon, pictured, shooting 78, helping the team to a comfortable 31 shot victory.
Keeping the competitive edge on the squad, coach Jeff Beeler takes the team to the Patriot Club in Greenville, South Carolina next weekend for another 'match', this time against up and coming Conference rivals Presbyterian, who have already finished ahead of Radford this season.
More significantly though, is the venue where The Big South Conference finals will be held in April, so great experience for one and all.

Leicestershire's Cath and Alison win LGU Peugeot Coronation Foursomes

Alison Mason (left) with the sponsors Peugeot representative, Sam Meacock, and Cath Arter (right) at the prizegiving dinner in the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Two Leicestershire ladies won the 2011 Peugeot Ladies Golf Union Coronation foursomes' grand final played over the Eden Course, St Andrews.
Cath Arter and Alison Mason from Rothley Park Golf Club average two Stableford points a hole in heading the field of 16 partnerships with a total of 36 off 19 (half their combined handicap). Cath has a handicap of 8.6 and Alison 28.9/
Jackie Van Bergen and Alison Noy from Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club were runners-up, a point behind on 35 off 19. Jackie plays off 21 and Alison 16.
They finished two points clear of the third placed Sarah Raffery and Celia Devlin from Dungannon, Ireland who totalled 33 off 12. Sarah has a handicap of 5.9 and Celia 18.1.
The Peugeot LGU Coronation Foursomes is one of the biggest in Europe with a total figure of 34,000 competitors spread across 1,400 golf clubs in Great Britain and Ireland involved at the start of the qualifying rounds.
The 16 qualifying pairs had all expenses paid, travel included, as they stayed two days at St Andrews' five-star Old Course Hotel, played over the Eden Course and ended up with a prizegiving dinner in the hotel on the Monday night.
The bonus for winners Cath and Alison is a place in next year's Ricoh Women's British Open pro-am at Royal Liverpool Golf Club's Hoylake links where they will rub shoulders with the best lady professionals from the Ladies European Tour and the United States' LPGA Tour.

FINAL TOTALS
1 - 36pt Cath Arter (8.6) and Alison Mason (28.9) (Rothley Park) (19).
2 - 35pt Jackie Van Bergen (21) and Alison Noy (16) (Felixstowe Ferry) (19).
3 - 33pt Sarah Rafferty (5.9) and Celia Devlin (18.1) (Dunngannon) (12)
T4 - 31pt Chris Rossiter (8.2) and Roberta Budd (24.7) (Newport) (17).
T4 - 31pt Kirstin Everett (14) and Joan Shanks (18.5) (Merchants of Edinburgh) (17).
6 - 30pt Rosemary McNamara (20) and Lindsey Williams (20) (Ealing) (20).
7 - 29pt Betty (29) Caw and Marion Kloepfer (27) (The Glen) (28).
T8 - 28pt Elaine Clark (1.6) and Barbara Whiting (21.6) (Manchester) (12).
T8 - 28pt Mi Kyung Kwon (29) and Young Joo Hong (32) (Malden) (31).
T8 - 28pt Marion Kennedy (28.7) and Sarah Vaughan (11.5) (Rathbane) (20).
11 - 27pt Kathleen Stalker (18.2) and Caroline Gordon (13.2) (Murcar Links) (16).
12 - 26pt Charlotte Gartell (16) and Jill Smith (32.6) (Sherborne) (24).
T13 - 24pt Margaret Pickard (5.2) and Ally Hansen (4.2) (Alnmouth) (5).
T13 - 24pt Dawn Close (11) and Katie Clark (22) (Saltburn-by-the-Sea) (17).
15 - 20pt Jane Millington (22.5) and Tracy Brookman (31) (Beau Desert) (27).
16 - 18pt Christine Evans (19.1) and Angie Jones (20.8) (Warren) (20).