ALYSON McKECHIN WINS MACKIE BOWL AT GULLANE

                         Picture by Gillian Kirkwood

Scotland cap Alyson McKechin (Elserslie), joint sixth in the Scottish U21 girls championship at Blairgowrie on Friday, returned to winning form over the Gullane No 1 course today.
The 20-year-old Renfrewshire champion headed a field of 39 players for the Mackie Bowl 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit tournament by one stroke with rounds of 72 and 75 for a one-under-par total of 147.
Runners-up, a shot behind on level-par 148 (CSS 76 both rounds), were Rachel Walker (Dumfries and County) and Jane Turner (Craigielaw).
Rachel, who had taken 77 shots in the first round, improved by six in the second and it was her three-under-par 71, the best of the day, which gained her second prize over Jane's 73 (first round 75).

Fourth place went to Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) with 150 (75, 75), thanks  to an eagle 2 at the par-4 17^th hole where the St Andrews University student holed her second shot with a 52 degree wedge.
Sixteen-year-old Nicola Callander (Mill Green GC, Hertfordshire), winner of the Scottish Under-21 girls' open stroke-play championship over 54 holes at Blairgowrie on Friday but who had never played Gullane previously, finished down the field on 159 (80,79).
As her father Colin said: "She had nothing left in her tank after Blairgowrie."
It was a typical East Lothian day of wind and sun and threatening clouds scudding by, but never shedding their contents over the course. 
The rough was punishing.
  FINAL TOTALS
  Par 148 (2x74) SSS 75 CSS 76 76

147 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 72 75

148 Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 77 71 (better 2nd round), Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 75 73.

150 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 75 75.

152 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 73, Louise Macgregor (Falkirk) 78 74.

155 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 76.

157 Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 77 80.

158 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 77 81,  Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 78 80, Tara Mactaggart (Minto) 78 80, Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) 80 78.

159 Rachael Taylor (Reichswald) 83 76,  Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 79 80, Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 81 78,  Nicola Callander (Mill Green) 80 79.

163 Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 83 80, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 81 82.

165 Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 82 83.

166 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 83 83.

167 Heather Munro (Monifieth) 84 83.

168 Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 85 83, Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 90 78.

169 Amelia Taylor (St Anne's Old Links) 80 89.

169 Emily Aird (Blairgowrie) 82 87.

170 Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle) 85 85.

171 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 86 85, Katie Reid (Monifieth) 83 88, Danielle Ker (Roxburghe) 86 85.

173 Julie Birdsall (Roxburghe) 87 86, Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) 83 90.

175 Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) 87 88.

176 Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 91 85.

181 Fiona Ker (Kelso) 99 82, Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) 92 89.

186 Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) 95 91.

192 Gillian Davidson (Saline) 95 97.

194 Carina Bunyan (Roxburghe) 95 99 

No Return: Rachel Polson (Deeside) 81 NR 

OTHER PRIZEWINNERS

Scratch 

1st Round:  Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 77 bih,  Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale) 77

2nd round:  Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 73, Louise Macgregor (Falkirk) 74

Handicap Aggregate

Winner: Emma Hale (Troon Ladies) (5) 148

Runner-up: Tara Mactaggart (Minto) (3) 150 (bih)

INBEE PARK BIRDIE HAT-TRICK CLINCHES EVIAN MASTERS VICTORY

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CUTLER
LET Media Manager
Evian-les-Bains, France - Inbee Park closed with three straight birdies for a final round of 66 to fend off a packed leader board and win the 2012 Evian Masters presented by Société Générale on a glorious and historic final day at the Evian Royal Resort.
The 24-year-old South Korean closed on 17 under par for a two-stroke victory over Australian Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis of the United States, earning a first prize cheque of $487,500, or €397,068.75.
Park perfected her putting on the Evian Masters Golf Course as it hosted the event for the last time before its redevelopment in preparation for becoming a major championship on the LPGA Tour in 2013 when it will be known as "The Evian."
The event has been a major on the Ladies European Tour since 1998.
Having struggled with the greens in her previous five appearances at the tournament, Park explained that the faster pace suited her putting style.
"I really had tough time last five years putting over here and didn't play good over here.  I was not really confident with the greens.
"This year the greens were a lot quicker than last five years. I like the fast greens, so I think that really suited me as well,” said Park, whose only other victory on the LPGA Tour was the US Women’s Open in 2008 when she was the youngest ever winner of the title, aged 19.
She was filled with pride as a French sky diver delivered the South Korean flag to the 18th green during the prize giving and said:
"In the Olympics when I was watching all the athletes have their flags on when they had a medal, I wanted to do that also. I did it today, so I'm very happy.” Park had started the final round tied for the lead with Lewis and made a shaky start with a bogey on the third hole, but had emerged a stroke clear of the American by the turn after firing three birdies at the fifth, seventh and ninth.
She picked up another shot at the 10^th to move two clear of Webb and Lewis at 14 under, but promptly dropped a stroke at the 11th.
The 2007 Evian Masters champion Natalie Gulbis made three straight birdies from the 11th to join Park at 13 under. The pair was joined by Webb, who birdied the 12th and then chipped in from the left side of the 13th green for birdie, but Park then edged clear again with a birdie on 13.
Park picked up the pace with a trio of birdies to finish, rolling in putts from 10, three and 25 feet respectively, before being sprayed in champagne on the 18th green by her fellow South Korean competitors, including Se Ri Pak, Na Yeon Choi and the equal fourth ranked Korean amateur, Hyo-Joo Kim.
Lewis, who led or co-led after each of the first three rounds, struggled with her putting and later revealed that her driver was damaged. She said:
“The face just cracked. It just happens over time. I just wanted to make sure I could continue using it. Obviously it wasn’t flying quite like it should, but close enough. As long as I didn’t slam it and break it, I could continue using it.”
Lewis made a birdie at the sixth but then her momentum stalled. After a run of seven straight pars, she made a bogey on the 14^th to drop back to 11 under par, three strokes behind the leader.
She then made a birdie, birdie, par, eagle to finish for a final round of 68 to get into a share of second, but it was too little, too late.
Lewis said: “I just couldn’t really get anything going and then finally at the end, to make some birdies. And then, you know, kind of the way the day was going to make the putt and I did. So it’s a nice way to finish. I’ll keep knocking on the door here and get it some time.” Webb, the 2006 champion, had the opportunity to win the Evian Masters for a second time but fell just short with a 67, containing one dropped shot and six birdies.
"I shot 67 today, so I can't really complain. I think Inbee shot 66.  She played really, really well," said the Australian.
"Obviously you want to win, but just to be in contention and perform well under pressure, just to feel what it's like to be in contention, is good.
"I gave myself the chance”.
Feng fancied her chances after she holed a bunker shot from the back of the 18^th green for eagle to set the target at 14 under and although it wasn’t enough to build on her recent win at the LPGA Championship, she was consoled by a season-best round of 66.
The 17-year-old Kim marked herself out as a future superstar with her terrific performance, carding a final round of 68 to end in a share of fourth at 14 under alongside Gulbis and Feng. Due to her amateur status, she won’t earn a penny through her Evian performance, although Gulbis and Feng each took home €123,504, however with several large companies fighting to sponsor her, she is likely to take home more when she turns professional in October this year. Through a translator, Kim said: “I am satisfied, almost, 70 per cent. I wasn’t thinking of winning really, but it was always in my mind.” Her caddie for the week, Gordon Rowan, who is Lucie André’s regular bagman on the Ladies European Tour, commented: “She’s so impressive; so calm and just has one focus in mind: winning. You can see it’s to win and it’s been a privilege to be a part of that because she will be a big star.” European Solheim Cup player Anna Nordqvist ended in outright seventh at 12 under after a final round of 68, with Se Ri Pak a stroke further behind in eighth.

FINAL TOTALS

271 Inbee Park (SKOR) 71 64 70 66 273 Karrie Webb (AUS 70 69 67 67, Stacy Lewis (USA) 63 69 73 68
274 Shanshan Feng (CHN) 68 72 68 66, Hyo-Joo Kim (SKOR) 69 68 69 68, Natalie Gulbis (USA) 69 69 68 68
276 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 72 67 69 68
277 Se Ri Pak (SKOR)70 69 69 69
278 Paula Creamer (USA) 68 67 73 70, Beatriz Recari (ESP)  71 66 75 66, Il Hee Lee (SKOR) 66 67 76 69
279 Giulia Sergas (ITA) 71 72 69 67, Karine Icher (FRA 70 72 68 69, Cristie Kerr (USA) 71 69 67 72, Momoko Ueda (JPN) 69 72 69 69
280 Lee-Anne Pace (ZAF) 69 71 68 72, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 70 68 72 70, Lindsey Wright (AUS) 71 70 68 71, Meena Lee (SKOR) 69 69 72 70, Mika Miyazato (JPN) 67 69 73 71
281 Hee Young Park (SKOR) 65 72 71 73, Ai Miyazato (JPN) 71 70 70 70, Julieta Granada (PAR) 74 65 71 71
282 Brittany Lang (USA) 71 69 74 68, Mirim Lee (SKOR) 73 68 70 71, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 69 71 68 74, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 73 69 66 74, Hee-Kyung Seo (SKOR) 71 69 71 71, Amy Yang (SKOR) 72 68 73 69, In Kyung Kim (SKOR) 69 73 71 69
283 Jiyai Shin (SKOR) 69 69 71 74, So Yeon Ryu (SKOR) 73 65 72 73, Chella Choi (SKOR) 73 68 72 70
284 Hee-Won Han (SKOR) 72 69 69 74, Ha-Neul Kim (SKOR) 70 71 73 70
285 Brittany Lincicome (USA)  73 67 73 72, Katherine Hull (AUS)  71 70 72 72, Haeji Kang (KOR)  72 70 68 75, Mariajo Uribe (COL)  67 74 74 70
286 Juli Inkster (USA)  71 75 70 70, Catriona Matthew (SCO)  74 72 69 71, Alison Walshe (USA) 76 69 72 69, Pornanong Phatlum (THA)  72 70 72 72, Becky Morgan (WAL)  70 71 69 76, Na Yeon Choi (KOR)  75 70 70 71
287 Sun Young Yoo (SKOR) 73 68 71 75, Maria Hjorth (SWE)  72 69 75 71, Jenny Shin (SKOR) 73 69 69 76, Jessica Korda (USA)  77 67 72 71
288 Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)  74 72 70 72, Cheyenne Woods (USA)  71 69 70 78
289 Christina Kim (USA)  73 67 73 76, Ji-Na Yim (KOR)  72 69 71 77
290 Jennifer Song (USA)  73 72 73 72, Danielle Kang (USA)  75 70 71 74, Ran Hong (SKOR)  74 68 75 73, Hye-Youn Kim (SKOR)  73 72 72 73, Miki Saiki (JPN)  76 69 76 69
291 Carly Booth (SCO)  72 73 74 72, Shin-Ae Ahn (KOR)  74 72 72 73
292 Min-Young2 Lee (KOR)  74 72 74 72

293 Cindy Lacrosse (USA)  76 69 73 75, Amanda Blumenherst (USA)  73 73 77 70
294 Jennifer Johnson (USA)  73 70 78 73, Laura Davies (ENG)  73 72 79 70, Michelle Wie (USA)  73 72 76 73, Jodi Ewart (ENG)  70 76 73 75, Sandra Gal (DEU)  69 76 76 73
295 Mina Harigae (USA)  75 71 71 78
296 Kaori Ohe (JPN)  74 71 68 83
297 Caroline Afonso (FRA)  73 73 78 73, Anais Maggetti (CHE)  76 69 76 76 298 Linda Wessberg (SWE) 75 69 77 77
300 Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 71 75 75 79
301 Felicity Johnson (ENG)73 73 79 76

Image of Inbee Park with trophy by Tristan Jones (LET)

LANARKSHIRE BEAT AYRSHIRE IN WEST OF SCOTLAND BOYS' LEAGUE

Lanarkshire today beat Ayrshire in a West of Scotland Boys' League match at Bothwell Castle Golf Club.

The final score was 5 1/2-2 1/2 with local player and reigning men's county champion James Steven winning 5 and 3 with four-under-par figures.

RESULTS

Lanarkshire names first

Under-16s

Fraser Kane (Cambuslang) lost to Stuart Easton (Irvine Bogside) 2 holes.

Sam Campbell (Cambuslang) bt Jack Thomas (Irvine Bogside) 1 hole.

Andrew Thomson (Carnwath) lost to Murray McCrone (Troon Welbeck) 3 and 1.

Jay Hainie (Hamilton) bt Shaun Hedger (West Kilbride) 3 and 2.

 

Under-18s

Dominic Dougan (Colville Park) halved with Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck).

Craig Boyd (Lanark) bt Callum Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 1 hole

Callum Harrison (Carluke) bt Darrkt Lynch (Ayr Belleisle) 5 and 3.

James Steven (Bothwell Castle) bt Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthberts) 5 and 3.

 

Lanarkshire boys' next match is against Stirlingshire at Hamilton on Sunday, August 26.

 --------------

 

MEN'S OPEN at Colville Park GC for Blochairn Trophy on Sunday, August 5. Handicap limit 24.

Spaces available - phone Robert Walsh 07722 351833

 

----------------

Bothwell Castle Quaich: 36-hole Open. First prize to value of £300.

Handicap limit  6

Spaces available - phone secretary 01698 801969

 

Willie Sharpe

Lanarkshire Golf Association

 

 

INBEE PARK WINS EVIAN MASTERS BY TWO FROM STACY LEWIS AND KARRIE WEBB

Inbee Park (South Korea) won the Evian Masters by two strokes at Evian-les-Bains, France today.
She had rounds of 71, 64, 70 and 66 for 17-under-par 271.
Joint runners-up on 273 were Stacy Lewis (United States) (63-69-73-68) and Karrie Webb (Australia) (70-69-67-67).
Catriona Matthew finished T40 on 286 with scores of 74-72-68-71.
Carly Booth finished T59 on 291 with rounds of 72-73-74-72.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

2013 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S/GIRLS FESTIVAL DATES

FROM LEE HARRINGTON

Tournament Director

Hacienda del Alamo Women's and Girls' Golf Festival

After much deliberating, due to the 2013 February school holiday dates, I have now agreed the proposed dates for the 2013 Ladies/Girls Golf Festival at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, Murcia in south-east Spain .

I am working on the complete schedule and itinerary at the moment, but wanted to let you know the dates as soon as possible, in order that you can begin making your travel plans.

It appears that half of the UK schools are having their 2013 mid-term break, week commencing February 11, while the other half are week commencing February 18.

Obviously, this does not help when trying to stage an event like this when we are looking to concentrate on one week. I have therefore decided on the following dates for the 2013 HDA Fesitval tournaments:

LADIES/GIRLS MURCIA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – Wednesday to Friday, February 13 to 15 (54-hole tournament)

LADIES/GIRLS H.D.A. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP –
 Monday to Wednesday, February 18 to 20 (54-hole tournament)

You will notice that both tournaments will be three-day competitions. This is to hopefully make it worthwhile for those competitors to come who are only able to play in one event, and also, for those of you interested in ranking points (WWAR), as only three and four-round tournaments qualify for this.

Once again, we will allocate times for practice rounds prior to the tournaments, and there will be an option to join in our St. Valentines Pairs competition on Saturday, February 16, plus the usual prize presentations, fun and festivities!

The HDA festival will be open to ALL LADY GOLFERS, SENIOR LADY GOLFERS (over 50) and GIRL GOLFERS of ALL LEVELS, and I have been asked about the possibility of including a LADY PROS' TOURNAMENT, which I am prepared to consider also.

I hope to circulate the full details within the next couple of weeks, but hope that you can already pencil the dates in your diaries and spread the word to all your female golfing friends in order that we can enjoy another great event!

Watch this space!

Lee Harrington

Tournament Controller

SCOTLAND'S TEAM AT BRITISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY

The Scotland trio whose scores will count for the international team event at the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Shandon Park GC, Belfast from August 22 to 24 are:
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Laura Murray (Alford), Jane Turner.