ABERDEENSHIRE WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

ABERDEEN LADIES GOLF CLUB, BALGOWNIE

QUALIFYING ROUND TEE TIMES
FRIDAY, APRIL 27

14.00 F Hay (D), L Whyte (H)
14.08 D Pocock (ML), S Wood (AL)
14.16 C Wilson (ML), J Harrison (CB)
14.24 K Stalker (CB), L Urquhart (B)
14.32 L Terry (CB), F Seedhouse (AL)
14.40 L McLardy (DHR), K Watt (AL)
14.48 E Whyte (AL), R Topping (DHR)
14.56 F Hay (K). C Prouse (H)

15.04 F Neish (M), S Mathieson (ML)
15.12 S Leslie (AL), M Finnie (H)
15.20 M Johnstone (ML), K Esslemont (CB)
15.28 M Stewart (ML), L Anderson (DHR)
15.36 O Borwick (McD), Y Richal (P)
15.44 T Seivwright (D), S Collinson (W)
15.52 C Gordon (K), V Neish (ML)

16.00 G Hollingsworth (A), S McNaught (N)
16.08 J MacKintosh (H), K Anderson (DHR)
16.16 G Main (N), L McNiven (AL)
16.24 Z Brown (A), W Robertson (CB)
16.32 V Riddell (K), L Tough (N)


Abbreviations – A, Aboyne; AL, Aberdeen Ladies; B, Banchory; CB, Cruden Bay; D, Deeside; DHR, Duff House Royal; H, Hazlehead; K, Kemnay; M, Moray; McD, McDonald Ellon; ML, Murcar Links; N, Newmachar; P, Peterculter; W, Westhill

Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) is the defending champion. Last year's beaten finalist, Laura Murray (Alford) is playing in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke play championship at Troon the same weekend.
There will be 16 qualifiers who progress to the scratch match play and eight qualifiers for the handicap match play. The first round of the scratch and handicap match play will be held on Saturday, April 28, starting at 9.04, the scratch quarter finals and handicap semi finals will take place on the same day at 14.32.
The scratch semi-finals and handicap final will start at 9.04 on Sunday, April 29 with the scratch final scheduled to start at 13.45 on the same day.

Should any competitor have to withdraw, please will she contact Karen Stalker on 01346 513308 as soon as possible as there is a waiting list in operation.

SUNCOAST LADIES PRO SERIES TOUR, FLORIDA

 

T1 Erica Rivard (amateur) (Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada) 70-73--143

T1 Lin Xi Yu (China) 73-70--143

3 Jordan Hardy (Sylacauga, Alabama) 70-74--144

T4 Hong Mei Yang (China) 71-75--146

T4 Yuyang Zhang Guangzhou (China) 73-73--146

6 Ki-Shui Liao (Windermere, Florida) 78-69--147

7 Courtney Harter (Clearwater, Florida) 73-75--148

T8 Alexandra Gibson (Bradenton, Florida) 74-75--149

T8 Sha Wu (amateur) (China) 77-72--149

T8 Ginny Brown (Austin, Texas) 70-79--149

T11 Nikki Hadd (Crestview, Florida) 78-73--151
T11 Jillian Fraccola (Fort Myers, Florida) 75-76--151

T11 Susan Martin (Norcross, Georgia) 75-76--151

T11 Li Jia Yun (China) 78-73--151

T11 Huang Mei Hao (China) 75-76--151

T11 Rio Milord (Delray Beach, Florida) 74-77--151

T17 Kate Scarpetta (amateur) (Crystal Lake, Pennsylvania) 74-78--152

T17 Pan Yan Hong (China) 77-75--152

T19 Su-Ann Heng (Singapore) 78-75--153

T19 Michele Low (amateur) (Ipoh, Malaysia) 78-75--153

T19 Chelcia Petersen (amateur) (Davenport, Florida) 74-79--153

22 Cristina Corpus (San Leandro, California) 80-74--154

T23 Megan Leineweber (Salisbury, Maryland) 77-78--155

T23 Lauren Mackin (Majorca, Spain) 81-74--155

T23 Jiaxin Yang (amateur) (Lake Mary, Florida) 76-79--155
26 Margarita Kim (amateur) (Pompano Beach, Florida) 79-77--156

T27 Maggie Noel (Houston, Texas) 82-75--157

T27 Liz Li (amateur) (Lake Mary, Florida) 79-78--157

T27 Li-Ting Weng (amateur) (Taiwan) 83-74--157

T27 Laura Jansone (Jurmala, Latvia) 82-75--157

31 Jessica Hauser (Hartland, Wisconsin) 81-78--159

T32 Alice Barbieri (amateur) (Windermere, Florida) 79-81--160

T32 Sherri Pla (West Palm Beach, Florida) 79-81--160

34 Tyler Williams (Orlando, Florida) 83-81--164

35 Isabelle Newton (amateur) (Winter Garden, Florida) 83-86--169

36 Violeta Retamoza Aquascalientes, Mexico 88-83--171

37 Cindy Feng (amateur) (Orlando, Florida) Withdrew

38 Elise Swartout (Ann Arbor, Michigan) 76-Disqualified

EAGLE CREEK GOLF CLUB

54 holes individual stroke-play

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 146 (2x73) Yardage: 6760

JACK McDONALD LEADS BRITISH STUDENTS' MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Stirling's Jack McDonald, a former Scottish Under-16 champion, leads the field with one round to go in the British universities men's golf championship at West Lancs Golf Club, near Liverpool. McDonald, pictured, a member of Kilmarnock Barassie GC, has come to the front with ever-improving rounds of 74, 73 and 70 for a 54-hole tally of one-over-par 217. He leads by one shot from Stirling team-mate Kit Holmes (75-72-71) and Plymouth's Conor Wilson (74-72-72), both on 218. Graeme Robertson (Stirling), one of the pre-tournament favourites, is back in eighth place - but only five shots off McDonald's pace. The Glenbervie man, winner of the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh on Sunday, could still do it if he gets the bit between his teeth over the final 18 holes. It's a one-filly race for the women's title with Charlotte Austwick (York) leading by 10 shots after rounds of 74-77-71 for 222. Her nearest rivals on 232 are Scottish girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Stirling) (78-77-78) and Welsh international Gemma Bradbury (82-76-74). Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling), one of the pre-tournament favourites, is presumed to have retired from the competition. Her name does not figure in the draw for the final round and no second or third-round scores are listed for her on the tournament website. LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS MEN Par 216 (3x72) 217 Jack McDonald (Stirling) 74 73 70. 218 Kit Holmes (Stirling) 75 72 71, Conor Wilson (Plymouth) 74 72 72. 219 Mathias Eggenberger (Stirling) 74 71 74 220 Tiaman McLarnon (Ulster) 76 72 72 221 Zander Culverwell (Stirling) 75 72 74, Dewi Merckx (Stirling) 77 76 68 222 Graeme Robertson (Stirling) 74 75 73 223 Darren Timms (Stirling) 75 77 71 224 Tim Martin (Bournemouth) 74 74 76, Mike Howard (Stirling) 75 77 72, Owen Edwards (Birmingham) 77 75 72. 225 Tom Calvert (Central Lancs) 79 75 71 226 Ben Stow (Plymouth) 80 75 71, Patrick Spraggs (Stirling) 70 74 82 227 Chris O'Neil (UW Newport) 74 74 79, Duncan Douglas (Stirling) 70 74 83, Ryan Gribben (Ulster) 77 77 73, Matt Wheeler (St Andrews) 78 74 75, Callum McNeil (UHI) 78 75 74 228 Michael Conybeare (Birmingham) 74 74 80, Robbie Busher (Plymouth) 77 76 75, Joe Heraty (Central Lancs) 78 81 69, Ollie Roberts (Stirling) 79 72 77, Danny Vallis (Exeter) 79 74 75 229 Alex Hull (Bournemouth) 78 74 77, Daniel Bishop (Bournemouth) 79 77 73 230 Jack Bowen (Bucks New) 80 76 74, Mark Duncalf (Central Lancs) 76 78 76 231 Sam Botham (Birmingham) 82 75 74, James Lynch (Kingston) 84 74 73 232 Lee Fuller (Northumbria) 86 73 73 233 Luke Ryan (Bucks New) 75 81 77, Stephen Boles (Ulster) 81 73 79, David Booth (Stirling) 79 77 77, Nick Wildman (Exeter) 78 81 74, Josh Moses (Bournemouth) 81 78 74 234 Lewis Pearce (Lincoln) 79 77 78, Jack Lampkin (Northumbria) 80 78 76, Martin Leese (Loughborough) 79 79 76 236 Frederick Russell (Hertfordshire) 78 78 90, Ryan McInstry (Queens, Belfast) 80 78 78, Chris Fleming (Exeter) 81 79 76 237 Daniel Farmer (UW Newport) 80 77 80, Lewis Hollingworth (Lincoln) 83 76 78 238 James Ashman (Central Lancs) 84 78 76 239 Freddie Edmunds (St Andrews) 82 81 76, Chris Benton (Leeds Met Carnegie) 77 85 77 242 Edward McCoy (Queens, Belfast) 79 79 84 244 Martin Tavoda (Birmingham) 83 79 82, Daniel McCrea (Queens, Belfast) 83 80 81 252 Harry Chapple (Birmingham) 85 83 84 259 Stuart Cochrane (Stirling) 91 82 86 WOMEN 222 Charlotte Austwick (York) 74 77 71. 232 Gemma Bradbury (St Andrews) 82 76 74. 233 Eilidh Briggs (Stirling) 78 77 78 235 Jane Turner (Robert Gordon) 80 74 81, Hannah McCook (Stirling) 84 76 75. 236 Kerry-Anne Haskell (Bournemouth) 77 76 83, Lauren Spray (Birmingham) 79 76 81. 240 Alison Knowles (Exeter) 85 79 76 241 Gabrielle MacDonald (St Andrews) 87 78 76 243 Harriet Beasley (Stirling) 85 79 79. 245 Becka Wilson (Stirling) 88 78 79. 247 Franzisca Benze (St Andrews) 83 86 78 263 Roisin Brady (Ulster) 91 89 83. 251 Nicola Rawlinson (Loughborough) 85 79 87

CARLY BOOTH, NOW IN SPAIN, OUT TO SCORE BACK-TO-BACK WINS

CARLY BOOTH driving on in Spain for a second win in a week (Image by courtesy of the Ladies European Tour website).

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

It's been a great and encouraging past few days for young Scottish golf professionals.

First Carly Booth from Comrie, Perthshire scored her first win as a pro in the Dinard Ladies Open in France at the weekend.

Then Aberdeen rookie David Law followed her example in Morocco's Dar Es Salam Open on Tuesday (Carly Booth's father Wally, by the way, apart from being a former Empire (Commonwealth) Games silver medallist as a wrestler,is an Aberdonian).

Carly, still only 19 but hitting the golf headlines since age of eight when she had 20 of a handicap, is bidding to make it two wins in a row in Spain this week when she plays in the Banesto Tour's event in Zaragoza.

This 54-hole tournament, teeing off  at Club de Golf La Peñaza tomorrow, is making its debut on the LET Access Series schedule and Booth is looking to make it two wins out in as many appearances on the Ladies European Tour's developmental circuit this month.

“I’m feeling confident and looking forward to it,” said Booth who flew back home to Scotland on Sunday. “After my win, I was only home for seven hours and then back to the airport but if I have two wins then I’ll definitely celebrate!”

When she got to Zaragoza in North-east Spain, Carly was surprised at the strength of the wind, even by Scottish standards. In fact the prevailing northerly wind in these parts has a name of its own - the Cierzo.

“It’s very, very, very windy, almost every day. I like the wind. I'm used to it being brought up in Scotland but this is extremely windy! And it’s quite cold but the course looks good.”

Booth is playing in these two developmenatal tour events to tune up her game for the 2012 Ladies European Tour, which resumes with the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland at Archerfield Links, East Lothian from May 3 to 5.

On the LET, she holds the first card in category 9B, for positions 31-50 from Qualifying School, which means that she will get into not all most of the tournaments.

She said: “I’m just playing in these two developmental events to fill the gap because I’ll have a pretty full schedule on the LET.”

Should she have a chance to challenge for the LET Access Series order of merit title, then she may step down to play in a few more of its events later in the season, but said: “It just depends how I do on the actual tour this year.”

Carly is among a strong field of 87 players from 21 different countries competing for a prize fund of €20,000. Booth is one of six Scots teeing it up at Zaragoza. The others are Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie), who finished joint third behind Booth in France at the weekend, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), Pamela Feggans (Ayrshire) and Glasgow's Gemma Webster.

The par 72 Club de Golf La Peñaza was designed by F W Hawtree and opened in 1973. The greens were re-designed by I G D (Jose Maria Olazabal) in 1999.

The course’s main defence is the prevailing northerly wind, known as the ‘Cierzo’ which makes the course challenging to even elite players.

THREE U K STUDENTS IN TOP 10 AT SUNSHINE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Abbey Gittings, fourth place finish and member of winning Nova Southeastern University team.

Three British players - Abbey Gittings from Warwickshire, Jessica Bradley (North Devon), and Rachel Polson from Aberdeenshire - finished in the top 10 of the Sunshine State Conference Women's Championship at The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Florida on Tuesday.
Abbey also played a major part in Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, winning the Conference title for the third year in a row.
She finished joint fourth individually with scores of 79, 76 and79 for a total of 234 over a par-72 course of 5,909yd.
Team-mates Lilliana Camisa (228) and Daniela Ortiz (231) finished first and second. Lilliana scored 76, 76 and 74; Daniela 80, 79 and 72.
So Abbey was the third best scorer for the the winning Nova Southeastern team.
Jessica Bradley (Lynn University, Boca Raton) finished ninth on 238 with scores of 77, 79 and 82.
Scot Rachel Polson from Peterculter, near Aberdeen was the highest placed Florida Tech student in joint 10th place on 239 with scores of 79, 79 and 81 for 239. That was Rachel's last tournament of her freshman year and she flies back to Scotland to play in the Scottish women's amateur championship, among other events, at Tain GC, Ross-shire next month.
A fourth UK player in the field of 44, Lizzi Over, did not do so well. She had scores of 89, 94 and 96 for a 34th palce finished on 279.
Nova Southeastern retained the team title ahead of Lynn with Florida Southern third and Barry fourth. Florida Tech finished seventh of eight.

NICHOLA FERGUSON STILL D AND A CHAMPION

Milngavie's Nichola Ferguson, playing over her home course, retained the Dunbartonshire and Argyll women's county golf championship on a day of showers, some of them quite heavy. She beat the No 1 seed, clubmate Kirstin Scott by 6 and 4 in the final. In the semi-finals, Ferguson beat another Milngavie player, Anna Telfer, 3 and 1 in a repeat of last year's final. In the Bronze Championship final, Josephine Monaghan (Dumbarton) beat Audrey Gardiner (Hilton Park) at the 19th after being five up at one stage. Today's results: SEMI-FINALS Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) bt Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) 2 and 1. Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie) bt Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 3 and 1 FINAL Ferguson bt Scott 6 and 4. BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL Josephine Monaghan (Dumbarton) bt Audrey Gardiner (Hilton Park) at 19th.

MEGAN BRIGGS TOP RENFREWSHIRE SEED WITH FOUR SHOTS TO SPARE

Kilmacolm's Megan Briggs, four times winner of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship, is well on her way to title No 5 at Erksine Golf Club this week. Megan, pictured, earned the top seed berth in today's qualifying round with a two-under-par round of 71, made up of three birdies, one bogey and the rest pars. That effort was four shots better than the second best qualifier, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) with a 75. Megan Briggs' younger sister Eilidh, county champion for the past two years, is not in the field this week. She is competing in a British universities' event at West Lancs GC. The best net score of the day was achieved by local player Gina McDougall with a net 69 playing of a handicap of 11. She won the Peggy Clark Trophy. MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS  Par 73. CSS 76 71 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 80 Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry), Nicky Henderson (Haggs Castle) 82 Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), Maureen Woodhead (Gourock),  Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) 85 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Carol Whyte (Windyhill) , Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle) , Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) 86 Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) 87 Lindsay Mathie (Windyhill), Beth Paterson (Eastwood) 88 Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) MATCH-PLAY DRAW First round (7min intervals) 9.15 Briggs v Cowan, Mack v McGinlay, Henderson v Fell, Morrow v Stevenson, 9.43 Kyle v Mathie. Stephen v Jackson, Woodhead v Whyte, Paterson v McKechnie. ends

GLOBAL GOLF POST: Pettersson Among Tour Heavyweights

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S. CAROLINA I Intent on taking the next step in his professional career prior to the 2009 season, Carl Pettersson lost 30 pounds - and his golf swing.

He regained the weight the next year. "Drink 10 beers and eat a tub of ice cream before you go to bed and it'll put it back quick," Pettersson said. But he didn't feel his game fully returned until late last year.

It was vintage Pettersson at Harbour Town Golf Links, winning the RBC Heritage by five strokes overZach Johnson for his fifth career victory.

"It's fun playing again," Pettersson said.

Pettersson has been one of the PGA Tour's steadiest players for a decade, despite the dip in 2009 when he finished outside the top 125 on the money list. He goes about his business, tends to keep to himself and when he finds his groove, he can be very good.

His long-time buddy Tim Clark, who preceded Pettersson at N.C. State, said he saw his friend's game click into gear three weeks ago at the Shell Houston Open. Pettersson finished second there, spent Masters week at home in Raleigh, N.C, and picked up at Harbour Town and finished what he started in Houston.

"Once he gets it going, he can go low," said Clark, with whom Pettersson shared a house at Hilton Head. "He can certainly shape the golf ball, hit it high, hit it low. He's not a super-technical player but (HarbourTown) is great for him."

Pettersson siphoned any potential drama about a gorgeous Sunday afternoon with three birdies in his first five holes. Coupled with a triple-bogey by Colt Knost at the par-4 third hole, Pettersson had a five-stroke advantage by the time he made the turn and only had to avoid falling into Calibogue Sound to win his first tartan jacket.

"With a five-shot lead and nine to go, it's yours to blow," Pettersson said.

He led the field in greens in regulation (50 of 72) and he needed only 104 putts in 72 holes.

Zach Johnson tried to make a run at Pettersson early in the day but couldn't generate enough momentum, finishing second. Knost shook off his early triple-bogey to finish solo third, equalling his best career finish earlier this year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Petterson, wearing his new tartan jacket, has no plans to abandon his current lifestyle, preferring it to the diet and fitness regimen that didn't work for him.

"We're not running marathons here," Pettersson said. "Some of these guys are overdoing it a little bit. I feel fit enough to get around 18 holes."

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Marie Curie Cancer Care Competition

Marie Curie Cancer Care is inviting every golf club in the UK to enter their ladies’ or men’s senior sections into a fourball betterball competition, with the initial qualifier being held at their club.

For just £8 per pair with a minimum of 10 pairs competing, the winning pair from each club’s qualifier will be invited to take part in the regional finals in August.  The winning pair from each regional final will qualify for the national final in the autumn.

The event is in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, who provide high quality nursing, totally free, to give people with terminal cancer and other illnesses the choice of dying at home, supported by their families.

For more information, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/golf, call 0870 850 3436 or email enquiries@teamfrith.com.

CATRIONA MATTHEW OPENS MONTROSE LINKS' LENGTHENED 11th HOLE

NEWS RELEASE BY WENDY GLASS

As part of the celebrations of 450 years of golf in Montrose,  Catriona Matthew, one of the world’s top female golfers, officially opened Montrose Medal’s newly-extended, 450-yard 11^th hole by teeing off from the 11^th tee.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to officially open the redesigned 11^th hole on Montrose Medal, one of the two courses on Montrose Links, where golfers have been playing their beloved game for 450 years,” said Catriona Matthew, Carnoustie Country Ambassador and winner of the 2009 Ricoh British Women’s Open.

“I’ve played many fabulous rounds of golf on Montrose Medal and this 450-yard hole, which is named the ‘James Melvill’ in honour of the Montrose school boy who wrote about his golf lesson on the Links in 1562, will provide a lasting reminder of the town’s 450 years of golfing heritage to every golfer who plays the course.”

As well as hitting the first shot across the lengthened 11^th hole, Catriona held two free Carnoustie Country golf clinics at Montrose – one for lady golfers and one for all golfers.

“We are delighted Catriona was able to share her golfing expertise with us during her visit to Montrose,” said Alan Crow, chair of Montrose Links and a member of the Montrose 450 steering group established by the three Montrose golf clubs to organise the programme of events commemorating the town’s four and a half centuries of golf.

Having started with the re-enactment of the James Melvill’s 1562 golf lesson and continuing with the opening of the 450-yard 11^th hole at Montrose Medal on April 13, Montrose 450 will continue throughout 2012. The celebrations will include a series of golfing and social events, Montrose Museum’s Montrose 450 Exhibition (which opens on April 28) and the establishment of various initiatives to support junior golfers and encourage young people in Montrose to take up golf.

“The people of Montrose are obviously very proud of Montrose Links’ contribution to a game that is now played by millions across the globe,” added Catriona. “Montrose Medal, the fifth oldest golf course in the world, is a challenging links course which I always enjoy playing and making the 11^th 450 yards long actually returns this hole to how it was in the early days of this historic golf course.

“By officially opening the ‘new’ 11^th hole, I like to think that I have played a small part in the fascinating history of golf in Montrose and in Carnoustie Country, which is rightly referred to the world over as ‘The Cradle of Golf’.”

For more information about Montrose 450, visit www.montroselinks.co.uk. To find out more about Carnoustie Country and its golf courses, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com.

+Pictures of Catriona Matthew at the 11th hole by Graham Hood Photography/www.carnoustiecountry.com