GERMANY CALLING: CAROLINE MASSON LEADS IN SOUTH AFRICA

 
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

PENNINGTON, KwaZulu-Natal: Germany’s Caroline Masson (pictured) moved a step closer to her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour when she opened with a three-under-par 69 to lead the first round of the South African Women’s Open by two strokes today.

Masson justified her status as the top-ranked player in the field and dropped only one shot on a tough day at Selborne Park Golf Club.

BREGMAN HOME LEADER

Stacy Bregman is the leading South African following a 71 that places her in a group alongside France’s Joanna Klatten and Julie Greciet, and Anais Maggetti of Switzerland.

And double SA Open champion Ashleigh Simon battled her way to a round of level-par 72 after spending the entire night out of bed with a stomach bug.

But Masson looked completely at home in the cold weather and often breezy conditions.

“It wasn’t easy, but my local caddie helped a lot with the wind direction. I hit greens and I could’ve made more putts, but I’m very happy with this opening round.”

Masson was three under through 14 holes before the more difficult back nine claimed the only bogey in her round on the par-four 15^th.

“The back nine is tough. You have to hit some good long irons in, and can’t make too many mistakes. If you miss the fairways here the balls are gone. You have to really focus on every shot, and there’s no hole where you can really relax.”

Lee-Anne Pace is the top-ranked South African in the field, but her opening three-over 75 meant that 

Bregman now shoulders the South African challenge. 

RISING TO CHALLENGE

And she rose to the challenge with a round where she nearly holed out three times, including a sublime seven-iron to within inches on the par-four 16^th for a birdie.

“I played really solid and had my chances, but I’ll take this. I hit a lot of great shots out there, which I’m really happy about. This is definitely a thinker’s golf course.”

At six shots behind, Pace certainly feels she’s not out of the tournament.

“I was a bit nervous in the beginning playing back home again for the first time in so many years. But towards the end of the round I was more relaxed and was playing a bit better. I’m definitely not out of it. On a course like this anything can still happen. So I just need a good round on Saturday and then I can start the chase on Sunday.”

Welsh star Becky Brewerton and England’s Felicity Johnson remain a threat at only three off the lead.

 FIRST-ROUND SCORES

 Par 72

69 Caroline Masson (Ger)

71 Anais Maggetti (CHE) , Joanna Klatten (FRA) , Julie Greciet (FRA) , Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf)

72 Ashleigh Simon (SAf) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Felicity Johnson (ENG)

73 Morgana Robbertze (SAf) , Connie Chen (SAf) , Nontaya Srisawang (THA)

74 Danielle Montgomery (ENG) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) , Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Bonita Bredenhann (SAf), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Lindsey Wright (AUS), Gwladys Nocera (FRA), Maria Beautell (ESP), Elena Giraud (FRA)

75 Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) , Louise Larsson (SWE) , Sharmila Nicollet (IND) , Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) , Iliska Verwey (SAf) , Tandi Cuningham (SAf)

76 Kylie Walker (SCO) , Suzette Venter (SAf) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Mireia Prat (ESP) , Alison Whitaker (AUS) , Rebecca Artis (AUS) , Elin Emanuelsson (SWE) , Laurette Maritz (SAf), Sophie Sandolo (ITA)

77 Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Steffi Kirchmayr (Ger) , Amelia Lewis (USA) , Alana Van Greuning (SAf) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Lucie Andre (FRA) , Stacey Keating (AUS) , Kim Williams (SAf) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Bianca Theron (SAf)

78 Michaela Fletcher (SAf) , Monique Smit (SAf) , Nicole Garcia (SAf) , Mary Mattson (US) , Rebecca Codd (IRE) , Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) , Bertine Strauss (SAf), Melissa Eaton-Jackson (SAf) , Stefania Croce (ITA)

79 Sahra Hassan (WAL)

80 Lara Weinstein (SAf) , Izel Pieters (SAf) , Anna Scott (ENG) , Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) , Caroline Rominger (CHE) , Michelle De Vries (SAf) , Erika Holmen (SWE) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Smriti Mehra (IND) , Nora Angehrn (CHE)

81 Mandy Adamson (SAf) , Betty Mokoena (SAf), Magda Kruger (SAf)

82 Patricia Beliard (FRA) , Kim Brookes (SAf) , Nicole Becker (SAf) , Jenni Kuosa (FIN) , Nicola Eaton (SAf)

83 Anna Becker-Frankel (SAf) , Kym Larratt (ENG) , Henriette Frylinck (SAf) , Caryn Louw (SAf)

84 Olivia Le Roux (SAf) , Lindsay Brown (SAf)

85 Ashley Knoll (US) , Piyathida Ployumsri (THA)

86 Lucy Williams (ENG) , Monja Richards (SAf)

SCOTS GIRLS WIN, SCOTS BOYS LOSE IN EUROPE

Scotland's girls beat Turkey 3-2 in the European girls team golf championship at St Leon-Rot GC, Germany today but Scotland lost 3-2 to Ireland in the European boys team championship at Lidingo GC, Sweden. Scotland's girl winners were Clara Young (at 19th), Jessica Meek (2 and 1) and Lesley Atkins (4 and 3). Losers were the foursomes pairing of Rachel Walker and Lauren Whyte (3 and 2) and Ailsa Summers (3 and 2) in the singles. The full list of results in Flight B were: Ireland 3, Finland 2 Belgium 3, Czech Republic 2 Scotland 3, Turkey 2 Norway 4, Switzerland 1. The Scots girls will play Norway in their final fixture. In the girls' championship flight, today's results were: Sweden 5 1/2, Italy 1 1/2 Spain 4 1/2, Denmark 2 1/2 England 3 1/2, Netherlands 1 1/2 Germany 3 1/2, France 1 1/2 That means that Sweden will play Spain in Saturday's final. England will play Germany for fifth or sixth place. Winners for Scotland boys were the foursomes pairing of Greig Marchbank and Jamie Savage (4 and 3) and Lawrence Allan (6 and 4) in the singles. Losers were Ewan Scott (4 and 3), Bradley Neil (1 hole) and Craig Howie (2 and 1). Sweden have a chance of pulling off a boys-girls title double because they are also in the boys championship final on Saturday with Italy their opponents. England will play Germany for third and fourth place. France will play Ireland for fifth and sixth place Norway will play Scotland for seventh and eighth place. FROM THE ENGLAND GOLF WEBSITE England bounced back from disappointment in the European girls’ team championship to beat the Netherlands today 3½-1½ at St Leon Rot, Germany. “The Netherlands gave us a great game and the girls were playing very good golf,” said team captain Julie Sparrow. The new foursomes pairing of Charley Hull and Meghan MacLaren worked very well, despite a shaky start. The girls pulled back and went on to claim their point on the 18th. Georgia Hall and Bronte Law secured the victory when they produced convincing wins. With the result decided, the match of Emily Taylor was declared halved. In Saturday’s final day England take on Germany in the play-off for fifth place. It would be the best they could achieve after their medal hopes were dashed yesterday when they were beaten by Sweden. Julie commented: “After such a disappointment you could easily put your head down and say ‘That’s it, we’re not going to win anything.’ But we’ve turned it round. We’ve pointed out to the girls that if they turn professional they would be fighting for their prize money and the difference between fifth and eighth place is huge. They’ve responded really well and the golf has been very good.” England results: ENGLAND 3 1/2, NETHERLANDS 1 1/2 FoursomesMeghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) and Charley Hull (Woburn) bt Gulia van den Berg and Charlotte Puts 1 hole. SinglesElizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies) lost to Anne van Dam 2 holes. Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) bt Elise Boehmer 2 holes.               Bronte Law (Bramhall) bt Dewi Weber 4 and 2          Emily Taylor (Hillside) halved with Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis. ANOTHER PRESS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF England’s hopes of becoming European Boys champions for the first time in eight years were dashed when they were beaten 4½ – 2½ by Italy in the semi-finals at Lindingo in Sweden. In the morning foursomes, Toby Tree (Worthing, Sussex) and Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire) won 3&2 against Giulio Castagnara and Renato Paratore, but the second game proved decisive. Max Orrin (North Foreland, Kent) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire, Yorkshire) were all square playing the 18th against Filippo Campigli and Luigi Botta drove wildly to the right but found a lie and played their second to 12 feet. Unfortunately, Orrin left his approach short of the green, Fitzpatrick chipped to eight feet but the Italians holed for a birdie three to win 1up and go into lunch level at 1-1. Thunder and lightning delayed the singles for several hours and for most of the time games were close. However, Orrin lost on the 18th and Fitzpatrick was all square with his opponent and a halved game was declared as fading light prevented the contest going to extra holes. Nick Marsh (Huddersfield, Yorkshire) went 1up through 16 after his opponent’s putt horseshoed from two feet, but lost the next two holes to par to lose by one hole. Patrick Kelly (Boston West, Lincolnshire) was three down through 12 holes and never made up the deficit to lose 3 and 1. Although Tree completed a solid 3 and 2 victory the Italians were over the line, leaving England to face Germany on Saturday to decide third place. Meanwhile, the Italians will meet hosts Sweden in the final.

OSKAR LEADS STRATHAVEN FIELD INTO FINAL ROUND OF U16s

Sweden's Oskar Bergqvist is making all the running in the Scottish Under-16 boys' open amateur stroke-play championship at Strathaven.
He led the field into the fourth and final round with a one-under-par 54-hole aggregate of 212, following a 72 this morning.
Robert McIntyre from Glencruitten GC, Oban is sharing second place on 214 with France's Alexandre Daydou. MacIntyre had a 73 in the third round, Daydou a 70.
Marriott Dalmahoy's Murray Naysmith stayed in the picture with a 73 for 216.

LEADERS WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Par 213 (3x71) CSS 74 72 72
212 Oskar Bergqvist (Sweden) 659 71 72
214 Alexandre Daydou (France) 75 69 70, Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 69 72 73]216 Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 69 74 73

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE SGU WEBSITE

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IRISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP AT WATERFORD NEXT WEEK

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION 

A new Irish girls champion is destined to be crowned next week when the Irish Girls' Close Championship takes place at Waterford Golf Club next week (July 18-20).

The title is sure to be fiercely contested as the field boasts four of the six Irish internationals who are competing this week at the European girls’ team championship in Germany, namely Jessica Carty (Holywood), Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Jean O’Driscoll (Muskerry). 

Jessica Ross (Clandeboye), last year's runner-up, will be hoping to go one better this year and is showing great form of late, having won the East Leinster girls' championship at Powerscourt where she beat Olivia Mehaffey in the final. Jessica also finished runner-up to Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) in the Ulster girls championship at Moyola Park. 

An additional incentive for the competing field will be the announcement on Friday, July 20 of the eight-player Ireland team for the girls' home Internationals at Radyr Golf Club, Wales, from August 7-9.

This team will be captained and managed for a second year by Niamh Kitching (Limerick) and Paula Reynolds (Seapoint) respectively.

Founded in 1912, Waterford Golf Club celebrates its centenary this year and the parkland course measuring 5,745 yards in unseasonally heavy conditions will pose a stern challenge for the field who play 36 holes strokeplay on Wednesday with the top 16 players qualifying for championship flight, while the next 16 will contest the plate. 

TIMESHEET WEDNESDAY 18th JULY

Rd 1       Rd 2

1^st            11^th          PLAYER (Club)                                                                                                                          

08:00 and 13:00 Hilary O'Driscoll (Muskerry), Rachel Thompson (Cork).

08:10 and 13:10 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Jessica Carty (Holywood), Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry)     

08:20 and 13:20 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee), Shannon Heerey (Headfort), Jessica Boal (Larne)      

08:30 and 13:30 Sarah Boden (Kilkeel), Mary Doyle (The Heath), Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare)  

08:40 and 13:40 Darcey Carr (Milltown), Collette McNicholl (Royal Portrush), Jenny Sykes (DunLaoghaire)

08:50 and 13:50 Rebecca O'Regan (Newlands), Tara Whelan (East Clare), Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel)

09:00 and 14:00 Aoife Barry (Muskerry), Anne Marie Byrne (Castletroy) Lisa O'Shea (Shannon)   

09:10 and 14:10 Aileen Harnett (Milltown), Katie Allen (Lurgan), Paula Walsh (Doneraile)                

09:20 and 14:20 Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan), Clodagh Jones (Roscrea), Laura Ryan (Bray)               

09:30 and 14:30 Miren Maguire (Foxrock), Caoimhe Russell (Co Louth), Judy Dick (Gowran Park).

09:40 and14:40 Julie Ann Malone (Rosslare), Eibhlin McCarthy (Killorglin),

Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown and Bettystown).

09:50 and 14:50 Roisin Timothy (Roscommon), Caroline Hewitt (Arklow), Ruth Keating (Castlewarden)

10:00 and 15:00 Laura Winston (Clonmel), Grace Caine (Co Louth), Valerie Clancy (Mitchelstown)                                    

Rd 1       Rd 2          PLAYER (Club)

11^th        1^st                          

08:20 and 13:20 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies), Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park), Laura Fekkes (Larne).

08:30 and 13:30 Shannen Brown (The Heath), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan), Emma Murphy (Rosslare).

08:40 and 13:40 Niamh Ward (Lurgan), Chloe Weir (Shandon Park), Laura Doherty (Howth).

08:50 and 13:50 Ashley Constantine (The Island), Victoria Craig (Clandeboye), Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe)

09:00 and 14:00 Ciara Magill (East Clare), Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington),  

Blaithine O'Brien (Roscommon)

09:10 and 14:10 Rachel McDonnell (Elm Park), Michelle Tierney (Waterford Castle), Rachel Taylor (Laytown and Bettystown)

09:20 and 14:20 April Timothy (Roscommon), Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle), Eimear Delaney (Birr)

09:30 and 14:30 Caitriona Griffin (Killarney), Jill Jennings (Carlow),

09:40 and 14:40 Lauren O'Brien (Rosslare), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Ciara Casey (Hermitage)

09:50 and 14:50 Sara Browne (Kilkenny), Orla Quinn (Roscommon), Lynn McElroy (Faithlegg)

 

SUNCOAST LADIES SERIES, FLORIDA

Harmony Golf Preserve

July 9-12

Final Round Results

Par 288 (4x72)

1 Sandra Changkija \(Orlando, Florida)  66 68 68 69: 271 ($2,000)

 Cristina Corpus San Leandro, CA 71-68-71-75--285 ($1,000).

3 Briana Vega Reunion, FL 73-71-76-72--292 +4 $750.00

4 Sydney Cox Edmond, OK 74-74-75-71--294 +6 $650.00

5 Elise Swartout Ann Arbor, MI 77-75-75-72--299 +11 $550.00

6 a-Emily Rymer Orlando, Fl 74-74-77-75--300 +12

7 Alexandra Bodemann Palm City, FL 74-79-73-76--302 +14

8 Courtney Harter Clearwater, Fl. 82-73-71-77--303 +15

RICCARTON ROSEBOAL AT HAMILTON CANCELLED

The Riccarton Rosebowl and Salver 36-hole women's open tournament at Hamilton Golf Club, scheduled for August 5, has been cancelled due to lack of entries.