CASSANDRA FROM PARIS LEADS AAM LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

                 CASSANDRA KIRKLAND IN ACTION AT ARCHERFIELD TODAY

REPORT FROM LET COMMUNICATIONS

Cassandra Kirkland of France shot a four-under-par 68 on Friday to take a one stroke lead over three players after the first round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.

The 28-year-old from Paris had four birdies in a morning-round on the Fidra Course at Archerfield Links in Dirleton, East Lothian. She birdied the first, 11th, 13th and 14^th in sunny conditions, before the skies clouded over and winds picked up for the afternoon.

“I’m hitting really well so I’m very confident with my long game and I made a couple of putts,” said Kirkland, who won her lone tour title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China in October.

She has a strong record in Scotland, with a tie for 10^th in 2012 and equal 14^th place in 2011.  “This is my fourth time here and I’ve had two holes in one on this golf course so every time I go on a par three it’s kind of nice feeling,” she said.

“Today, I almost made it on 13, with my 8-iron. Conditions were okay until number 12 and it started being very windy on hole 13, so the last six holes were tough. On 17 I hit a 5-wood but it was short, I should have hit a 3-wood, so the wind is really, really strong.”

Fellow Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal, South African Lee-Anne Pace and England’s Trish Johnson all played later, in a wind requiring three clubs extra. At three-under 69, they must all fancy their chances. Pace, the European Order of Merit leader, has two wins this year, in Turkey and Spain. She eagled the second and recorded three additional birdies in her round.

All three are links experts with excellent records in windy conditions. Caudal is from the surfing paradise of Saint Jean-de-Luz, while Pace grew up at windy Mossel Bay and Johnson learned her golf on the Devon coastline at Westward Ho!

“It was pretty tough and quite windy, especially on the back nine. It does affect the ball quite a bit but I got through that in one under and a solid front nine,” said Pace, who tied for fifth in 2011. “That last hole played a good 25 metres extra into the wind, but I finished birdie, birdie. The last hole was a hybrid into the green and I hit it well so was happy about that. On a course like this, you can’t go for it. You just have to play one shot at a time and make your birdies where you can.”

Caudal shares a coach with Pace in James Petts and said: “I’m very happy because it was tough today and it’s a long time since I had a score under par, because I’m struggling this year. I made some changes, changed coach, changed many things in my swing, so I’m very happy. I’ve played well in this tournament and I’m trying to be patient. I try to keep my concentration.”

Johnson is another woman with strong results at the venue. She tied for fourth in 2012, ninth in 2011 and was equal second in 2010, when she needed to birdie the par-five to force a play-off, but took six to drop one behind the eventual winner, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement. Once again, she is playing with BBC football pundit Alan Hansen, and will be hoping to make it third time lucky in the professional and Pro-Am element.

English rookie professional Emily Taylor, Klara Spilkova of the Czech Republic and Scotland’s Heather MacRae, who won the Solvesborg Open in Sweden on the LET Access Series in May, were all two strokes off the lead on 70. 

Dunblane's MacRae, pictured left, is playing on an invitation this year and this is her only LET start, as she plans to play 13 events on LETAS, the LET developmental tour, as well as making appearances on the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour.

Meanwhile, Solheim Cup heroine Catriona Matthew from nearby North Berwick was locked in a four-way share of eighth position on 71 with Swede Camilla Lennarth and English pair Florentyna Parker and Hannah Burke.  

The 2011 champion, Matthew was an early afternoon starter and played in windy, overcast conditions before the heavens briefly opened at the end of her round. She had a two birdies and one bogey and said: “I thought I played well because it was tough. It got very difficult after the wind picked up after four or five holes; it was a three club wind. The back nine was more exposed, so I’m quite pleased.”

Tee times switch for Saturday, before a cut to the leading 50 and ties heading into the final round.

Round 1 scores

(par 72)

68 Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)

69 Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) , Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) , Trish Johnson (ENG)

70 Emily Taylor (ENG) , Klara Spilkova (CZE) , Heather MacRae (SCO)

71 Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Camilla Lennarth (SWE) , Hannah Burke (ENG) , Catriona Matthew (SCO)

72  Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) , Marjet Van Der Graaff (NED) , Nontaya Srisawang (THA) , Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) , Veronica Zorzi (ITA) , Ashleigh Simon (RSA) , Rebecca Artis (AUS)

73 Stephanie Na (AUS), Carly Booth (SCO), Nikki Garrett (AUS), Beth Allen (USA), Liz Young (ENG) , Caroline Afonso (FRA) , Maha Haddioui (MAR)

74 Henni Zuel (ENG) , Julie Greciet (FRA), Vikki Laing (SCO) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG), Stefania Croce (ITA), Lydia Hall (WAL) , Louise Larsson (SWE) , Maria Hernandez (ESP) , Carin Koch (SWE) , Holly Clyburn (ENG) , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) , Pamela Pretswell (SCO) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Hannah Jun (USA)

75 Kylie Walker (SCO) , Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Stacey Keating (AUS) , Diana Luna (ITA) , Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) , Line Vedel (DEN) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA)

76 Valentine Derrey (FRA) , Linda Wessberg (SWE)

77 Tara Davies (WAL) , Kelsey MacDonald (SCO) , Connie Chen (RSA) , Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Danielle Montgomery (ENG) , Melissa Reid (ENG) , Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)

78 Tania Elosegui (ESP) , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Rebecca Codd (IRL) , Lucie Andre (FRA)

79 Anais Maggetti (SUI) , Alison Whitaker (AUS)

80 Holly Aitchison (ENG) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)

81 Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) , Nikki Campbell (AUS)

83 Georgina Simpson (ENG)

84 Katy McNicoll (SCO)

 

Bethan Cutler

Media Manager

Ladies European Tour

Mobile: +44 (0)7980056045

E: bethan.cutler@ladieseuropeantour.com

 

 

LETAS NORRPORTEN LADIES OPEN AT SUNDSVALLS GC, SWEDEN

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
PAR 72

68 Charlotte Wild (England)
70 Helena Callahan (Sweden)
71 Elin Andersson (Sweden), Lina Boqvist (Sweden), Judith Chaves Lopez (Spain), Linda Henriksson (Finland),, Malin Lundberg (Sweden), Maria Ohlsson (Sweden)

SELECTED SCORES
73 Lauren Taylor (England) (am), Anna Scott (England) (T12)
75 Danielle McVeigh (Northern Ireland), Lucy Williams (England) (T23)
76 Laura Murray (Scotland) (T36)
77 Hayleigh Wigmore (England) (T49)
78 Natalie Lowe (England), Lauren Blease (England) (T61)
79 Pamela Feggans (Scotland) (T75).
80 Kym Larratt (England), Tara Delaney (Ireland), Rachel Drummond (England), Sarah Jones (Wales) (T88)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE

SCOTLAND TEAM NAMED FOR SENIOR WOMEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

Scotland team for the senior women's home golf internationals at Llandudno Maesdu Golf Club, North Wales from October 1 to 3 is:

Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch)
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank)
Fiona de Vries (St Rule)
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
May Hughes (Lanark)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).

Reserves
1 Anne Ryan (Tain)
2 Elaine Allison (Stirling).

 

SCOTTISH SCHOOLS TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND AT WEST KILBRIDE

The Scottish Schools Golf Association team to play England in the annual schools golf international at West Kilbride Golf Club on Monday, September 9 is: 

BOYS
Andrew Burgess (Nairn Academy)
Blair Carnegie (Dunblane High)
Callum Cochrane (Stewart's Melville College)
Ben Craggs (St Munro's High, Falkirk)
Fraser Davren (Williamwood High, Clarkston).
Paul Dorrian (Notre Dame High, Greenock)
Adam Fisher (Cults Academy, Aberdeen).
Calum Fyfe (Lenzie Academy).
Matthew McCulloch (Stranraer Academy)
Niall McMullen (Lochgelly High)]
Murray Naysmith (Balerno High)
Lewis Reid (Douglas Academy, Milngavie).

GIRLS
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne Academy)
Emily Dalgetty (St David's High, Dalkeith).
Emma Hale (Marr College, Troon)
Danielle Ker (Kelso High).
Eilidh Watson (Dollar Academy)
Clara Young (North Berwick High).

ends

KIMBERLEY BEVERIDGE BIDS TO RETAIN ABERDEENSHIRE GIRLS' TITLE

Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), pictured, will be bidding to win the Aberdeeshire girls championship for the second year in a row at Banchory Golf Club on Sunday.
She will play Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) in the first semi-final at 9.15am.
Shannon McWilliam, the Scottish Under-14 girls champion from Aboyne, will play Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) in the other semi-final.
The winners will contest the final at 2.07pm.
The Handicap Championship line-up is:

SEMI-FINALS 
9am Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) v Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead)
9.07 Fiona Sutherland (Deeside v Lauren Watson (Deeside)

Final at 2pm.

LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED FOR NEWBURGH ON YTHAN LADIES OPEN

From Ian Bratton

We are accepting late entries for the Newburgh Ladies Open on Saturday, September 7.
Entry fee - £9 for members and £14 for visitors.
Contact 01358789058, Pro Shop.
Or book online at newburghgolfclub.co.uk.

Ian Bratton,
PGA Professional,
Newburgh on Ythan Golf Links,
Beach Road,
Newburgh,
Aberdeenshire,
AB41 6BY.

pro@newburghgolfclub.co.uk
Tel: 01358 789058
 

STAR-STUDDED FIELD FOR DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS' TROPHY

THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2013
Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent
  September 10 to 12

NEWS RELEASE

Representatives from over 30 countries ensure a truly international and competitive field will contest the 13^th staging of the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy (DOYYCT) at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent from September 10 to 12.

The prestigious DOYYCT is a unique tournament where the finest players from around the world - both boys and girls, aged 18 or under - are invited to play in the 54-strokeplay event. The DOYYCT moves from one famous Open Championship venue at Royal Troon in 2012 to this year’s edition at Royal St George’s where Darren Clarke lifted the Claret Jug in 2011.    

Looking back at previous events reads like a who’s who of golf where the stars of today cut their teeth by competing for the much sought-after trophy. Names like two-time major winner Rory McIlroy, Italy’s Matteo Manassero, England’s Oliver Fisher and Melissa Reid or Scotland’s Carly Booth have all played in the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy. (Fisher won at Castletown in 2005, McIlroy was runner-up at Kingsbarns in 2004).

This year is no different as a stellar field of over 50 competitors were extended invites after winning their national championship at Under-18 level or have won other high profile events.

England’s Jack Singh Brar received an invite after winning the Faldo Series at Lough Erne in Enniskillen. The England international (Under-18) has continued that winning form by landing the Southeast England Boys title earlier this month. The Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club member did it in style too with a 17-under-par four round total to win by seven strokes. 

“I’m really looking forward to the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy. I’ve heard it’s a great tournament and hopefully I can do well,” said the plus-three handicapper. “This will be my first time playing Royal St George’s and I know there is a strong field competing.”

The maximum handicap is 2.0 and the lowest this year is +4.9 held by Nicole Morales, the American who won the Thunderbird International Junior title. England’s Samantha Fuller (14) is the youngest competitor and has already experienced competing for GB and I in the Under-16s Junior Vagliano Trophy team at Chantilly and was English Under-13 and Scottish Under-14 Girls Champion. 

 

With such an impressive overseas contingent, any number of names could be highlighted. Alejandro Tosti (17) is number one in the Argentine rankings and was runner-up in the 2013 South American Junior Championships. Simon Zach (17) is the Czech National Men’s Match Play champion, while Paloma Vacarro is the current Paraguay Open champion and number one player in the Ladies and Junior rankings.

This year’s gender split is almost 50/50 and it will be worth keeping an eye for several other notables such as Gabriela Santini, the Caribbean Amateur champion from Puerto Rico, or Clara Aveling, the Belgium Under-18 champion who also competed in the DOYYCT last year. 

Sophie Keech is the England Girls Open champion, Perthshire’s Bradley Neil won the Scottish Boys and Faithlegg’s Robin Dawson is the Irish Boys champion. 

With such strength in depth the 2013 Duke of York Young Champions Trophy is sure to produce another worthy champion on one of the world’s renowned links courses.

SLGA SEEKING FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

The SLGA are now seeking to recruit a Finance and Operations Manager.  For further information and vacancy details please click here.

The Board is committed to selecting staff soley on the basis on their ability to do the job for which they are being recruited and welcome applications from all sections of the community who have the proven experience at senior level.

The closing date is September 13, 2013.

 

 

Toni Melvin-Ffinch

Championship Manager

Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Limited

The Den

2 Dundee Road

Perth

PH2 7DW

01738 442357

Registration Number 308709

www.slga.co.uk

 

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE

Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola
Columbia Edgewater Country Club
Portland, Oregon
First-Round Notes and Interviews

Twenty-three-year old Thailand native Pornanong Phatlum fired an 8-under 64 in the first round of the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola and takes a one-shot lead over American teenager Lexi Thompson. 
 The fifth-year LPGA Tour member carded 10 birdies and two bogeys at Columbia Edgewater Country Club and holds the first-round lead for the first time in her career. The round of 64 also marks the lowest first round of her career and second-lowest round overall. She shot 63 in the final round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic earlier this season.

Phatlum said she has had recent struggles with her putter and came to Portland this week with a new model in the bag. Her new Odyssey No. 7 seemed to be the exact change she needed and drained just about every putt she lined up on Thursday and had a 22-putt total.

“Putting was so good,” said Phatlum. “This week I changed putter for this week and feeling very good. And I made many birdies today, like ten birdies today.

Phatlum won the unofficial HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup in 2012 and is playing for her first LPGA Tour victory. When asked if she’s ready to notch her first official win, Phatlum said she’s feels comfortable on the track at Columbia Edgewater

“I just try my best and I'm feeling very good with the course, the golf course,” said Phatlum. “I like the course, very nice.”

Lexi Thompson sits in solo second place after 18 holes of play and carded five birdies and an eagle on the par 5 7th hole in her bogey-free round. The Coral Springs, Florida native has made 40 starts since she won her first LPGA Tour title two years ago at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.

“I would say just my iron shots into the green,” said Thompson. “I hit a lot of good ones and I played the par 5s 4 under, so I took advantage of those. Overall I've just been working on the consistency of my game and working on tightening my shots up.”

Thompson’s round of 65 ties her low first-round score this season, tying her opening round at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic where she tied for 10th. That week in Alabama was also the only time this season she has lead after the first round. She said she’ll try to take advantage of her strong start this season.

“Every round is a learning experience,” said Thompson. “Obviously being close to the lead after the first round, you try to take that momentum into every other round after that. But it's golf so you have to take one shot at a time and not get ahead of yourself. That's all I'm going to do and try to take this into tomorrow.”

Americans Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas and Germany’s Sandra Gal are in a tie for third and two shots back after each shooting 6-under 66 on Thursday. A group of 14 players are three shots off the lead at 5-under-par including Rolex Rankings No. 2 Stacy Lewis, 2010 Safeway Classic champion Ai Miyazato, former world No. 1 Yani Tseng and two-time LPGA Tour winner Michelle Wie.

Taking up the opportunity: Second-year LPGA Tour member Min Seo Kwak wasn’t even in the field for the Safeway Classic early this morning but got bumped in when nine-time LPGA Tour winner Paula Creamer withdrew before the first round due to personal reasons. Kwak shot a 3-under 69 on Thursday and sits in a tie for 35th. This week marks the fifth start for the South Korean in 2013 and she’s looking to make her first cut this year.

Ace machine: Natalie Gulbis picked up her fourteenth hole-in-one of her golfing career and seventh in competition during Thursday’s first round but didn’t complain she didn’t get a car.

“I know, no cars yet!” said Gulbis. “But I’ll always take a hole-in-one”

Gulbis had an up-and-down day with four birdies and two bogeys in addition to her ace and finished with a 4-under 68 and sits four strokes off the lead in a tie for 20th.

In her comfort zone… It seems unfathomable to think an 18-year-old is in her second-year on the LPGA Tour but that is exactly the case for Rolex Rankings No. 26 Lexi Thompson. The teen phenom made it hard for people to ignore her after capturing the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at the young age of 16.

Thompson received several sponsor exemptions prior to her rookie year in 2012 but as she gears-up for the final stretch of tournaments in her sophomore season, she has finally found her comfort zone.

“I would say last year and this year I have been a lot more comfortable,” said Thompson. “You know, playing on sponsored exemptions when I first came out here, I had a lot to learn and just trying to make my way around here. I am getting used to the travel life and how to get around by myself.”

Thompson recently earned a spot on the 2013 U.S. Solheim Cup Team and despite the disappointing defeat, the Coral Springs, Fla. native finished the week with a 1-2-0 record. While the U.S. Team failed to regain the Cup, Thompson admitted it was a week to remember as she walked away with several new friends.

“Well, it was the most amazing experience I have ever had on a golf course,” said Thompson. “I love team events. I've played a lot of junior and amateur team events and there's just nothing like that. You make so many new friends there. Just being at Solheim Cup and having hundreds of people around to cheer you on, there was nothing like this. I mean, what I learned, you know, I learned a lot about myself and I made a lot of new friends, like I said.”

Thompson will have another opportunity to compete for her country at next year’s International Crown. Currently in the midst of a season that has included eight top-20 finishes, Thompson stands sixth on the United States standings and will have to move inside the top-4 if she wants to make the team which will be announced at the CME Group Titleholders.

“Yeah, it definitely does,” said Thompson of the extra motivation she receives from striving make the International Crown. “I love events like that. Team stuff, there's nothing like it. I mean, we are so used to being an individual sport that we love playing as a team. I will definitely try my hardest at each event I have left this year.”

Extra boost: Rolex Rankings No. 2 Stacy Lewis did not take her withdraw from last week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open lightly and it’s clear the extra bit of rest made all the difference for the 28-year old Texan. Lewis opened up her week in Portland with a first-round 5-under 67 and said she’s completely recharged after a whirlwind of events following her second major championship win at the RICOH Women’s British Open and a historic loss at the Solheim Cup two weeks ago.

“I felt great,” said Lewis. “I felt like a different person out there from last week. Just being focused and I knew what my game plan was. I felt great out there. Doing what I did last week, other than maybe not starting the tournament and just not even playing at all, but passed that I think I did the right thing.”

Lewis had five birdies in her bogey-free round and said the soft conditions from overnight and early morning rain let her play her typical aggressive style of play.

“Today with it wet out there, I think it was especially important to hit the fairways to we were playing the ball up in the fairways,” said Lewis. “So if you got in the fairways, you could at least give yourself a good lie. You didn't have to worry about that. The key today was really hitting the fairways. The greens are so soft, you are just playing target golf. I love it. Wherever that ball lands, that is how far it's playing. That's my kind of golf.”

Lewis also had an extra boost in Thursday’s first round from her own personal gallery titled “Team Stacy” made up of KPMG employees. A group of about 20 people from the company’s Portland branch came out early to cheer on Lewis and it’s just one of the many ways the company supports her as a sponsor. The organization, which provides audit, advisory and tax services, has its logo on Lewis’ hat as well.

“It's been about a year and a half since I have been working with them,” said Lewis. “They are at the forefront of everything. I do events for them and it's first class. They do everything right. It's just so cool to have those people could be working and making money today and instead they are out here supporting and cheering me on. It's just really cool to have a team like that. They do it for Phil (Mickelson) as well. They did it at the Barclays for him. It's something they've really gotten into. The employees, they love it; they feel a part of what's going on out there.

“At the U.S. Open, Suzann asked if I had a football team with me,” said Lewis. “It's just fun having people following you around, people cheering for you, especially early in the morning. It can be kind of quiet out there.”

The end of a drought? It has been 65 starts since Michelle Wie’s last victory at the 2010 CN Canadian Women’s Open, but after a first-round 5-under 67, she is in position to end her winless drought. The Stanford University graduate carded a bogey free opening round to head into Friday 3-strokes off the lead.

“Just iron play was good,” said Wie. “Just put in a lot of close shots. Didn't really take advantage of par 5s, which I kind of want to tomorrow. It was a good day. It was consistent.”

Nike has sponsored Wie throughout her entire four-year career on the LPGA Tour. The two-time LPGA Tour winner took time out of preparing for this week’s Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola to visit their headquarters.

In addition to her visit with Nike, Wie looks forward to returning to Portland each year thanks to Columbia Edgewater Golf Course and this week’s tournament sponsor, Safeway.

“It's great,” said Wie of her visit to Nike. “We had a product meeting. It's nice to be around Nike campus. It's great to be back on this golf course. Safeway just always hosts a really great event. It's a tournament that we always look forward to, so it's really nice to be back.”

Eyes on Germany… The Solheim Cup is a biennial event that every female professional golfer hopes to be a part of. A rookie on the victorious 2011 European Solheim Cup Team, Sandra Gal failed to earn enough points to land a spot on the historic 2013 European Solheim Cup Team.

While the disappointment was hard for Gal to ignore, she has her sights set on the 2015 Solheim Cup where she will have the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd of Germany.

“I was really disappointed, to be honest with you,” said Gal. “I tried to take it as a positive and just be more motivated for the rest of the season and for two years when it's going to be in Germany. We're all real excited about that.”

Gal is one of four Germans who are currently members of the LPGA Tour and one of only two players who are actively competing. With the Solheim Cup scheduled to take place in Sankt Leon-Rot, Germany, she hopes to earn a spot on the team and serve as an inspiration for other aspiring golfers in her home country.

“It would be unbelievable,” said Gal. “I think there are so many young girls coming up and just to see the excitement that's surrounds our biggest event for women's golf, it would be amazing to boost the sport and obviously being part of that would be just unbelievable.”

Sibling Support… Finding your comfort zone on the LPGA Tour can be a bit of a tasking process. This was no different for current LPGA Tour rookie Austin Ernst who found the number of events taking a toll on her early in the year.

The former Louisiana State University (LSU) Tiger got off to a slow start in 2013 missing seven cuts in her first 12 starts but a tie for sixth finish at last month’s Manulife LPGA Classic provided Ernst a boost to her rollercoaster of a season.

“My rookie year has had its ups-and-downs,” said Ernst. “I didn’t have as good of a start to the year as I hoped it would be but I had a really good week at Manulife which really helped me. I just made a lot of putts that week and ended up tied for sixth but it’s definitely had its ups-and-downs. Life on Tour has been a little different especially coming from college golf, amateur golf the biggest adjustment has just been playing every week. Not really having any weeks off and really playing four weeks in a row, traveling all around.”

In addition to the solid finish in Canada, Ernst’s brother now serves as her caddie and travels throughout the world with his sister. The change seems to be paying off for Ernst as she fired a first-round 5-under 67 and currently stands 2-strokes off the lead.

“I think recently what has helped me is my brother is on my bag now so I travel with him now too,” said Ernst. “It’s definitely been nice having him out with me as opposed to the beginning of the year when I was on my own trying to find my way. But it’s been a good year so far, obviously I would like to finish it off well and make it into Asia, I’m in CME already so I want to finish the year off strong.”


TO CHECK OUT ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES


CLICK HERE

IRELAND NAME TEAM FOR SENIOR LADIES' EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following Irish team will compete at the European Senior Ladies Team Championships, Bled, Slovenia 3rd - 7th September 2013.

Team:
Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
Pat Doran (Donabate)
Gertie McMullen (The Island)
Sheena McElroy (Grange)
Laura Webb (The Berkshire)
Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown)

Captain:
Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire)

Sandra Barnett

Irish Ladies Golf Union

103-105 Q House, 76 Furze Road

Sandyford Industrial Estate

SENIOR TITLE JOY FOR KEVIN AND JULIE AT LIPHOOK

Hampshire’s Kevin Quinn took a leaf out of his wife’s book today when he won his first senior title, joining Kent’s Julie Ballard in the winners’ circle at the Senior Men and Women’s South Regional Tournament at Liphook. Julie clinched the women’s title with a second round score of 39 points – the best of the day from any competitor – after she went round today in three-over par gross. “I’m absolutely delighted,” said the six-handicapper from Littlestone, who endured a long wait before her victory was confirmed. Meanwhile Kevin, who was two off the pace at the halfway stage, thought he’d blown his chances when he came in with a second round score of 30 points. But it was enough to give him a total of 70 points and a winning margin of one point over Surrey’s Bill Quain and Martin Leo of Sussex. The Blackmoor player reported afterwards that he’d “had to dig in deep, play it one shot at a time – and try and do it like the missus!” Chris Quinn, who caddied for him over the back nine, is an England senior international who has amassed one British and six English titles in a remarkable senior career.   At the start of play today, Julie Ballard was one point off the halfway lead set by Val Ford of Dorset. She was out early, playing in the third group and teeing off as a hot air balloon rose above the course at the start of a glorious morning. Her score of 39 points, and a total of 75, leapfrogged her over Val Ford and set an unbeatable target. Val, a nine-handicapper, added 35 to her opening 37 and finished four points ahead of third placed Fiona Crampton-Smith of Hertfordshire (35 33). Julie, who plays for the Kent seniors and is a past county senior champion, laid the foundations of her win with her first round score of 36 points. It included a couple of birdies – one of them on the 18th - which each amassed four points. She kept herself out of trouble throughout her 36 holes, notably avoiding the spectacular heather. Kevin Quinn was also lying second at the start of today’s play, two points adrift of Martin Leo of Sussex, who opened with an impressive 39 points. Martin started well today, but fell away after finding too many bunkers. “It was a tale of woe,” he said, although he held on well enough to take third place behind Surrey’s Bill Quain. However, Kevin was also struggling. “The wind had changed direction from yesterday and I had a couple of crucial mis-clubs on six and seven.” But he dug in and remembered his old mantra: “You just have to do the best you can and come off the golf course and say I gave it 100 per cent on every shot.” The event turned into a trip down memory lane for one competitor. It was here, at Liphook, in 1967 that Penny Burrows – now Thompson – won the British girls’ championship and she made the journey by train from her Lancashire home to revisit the Hampshire course. She brought a photograph of her with the trophy and her match cards, showing her low scores as she made her way through the matchplay rounds, never once going past the 17th hole, where she won the final. “It’s been fantastic,” she said of her return. “My golf hasn’t been very good but it’s been just lovely and I have really enjoyed it.” Caption: Kevin Quinn and Julie Ballard (Image © Leaderboard Photography) Leading Stableford points final scores Ladies 75 pts Julie Ballard (Littlestone) 36 39 72 Val Ford (Parkstone) 37 35 68 Fiona Crampton-Smith (Porters Park) 35 33 Men 70 Kevin Quinn (Blackmoor) 37 33 69 Bill Quain (West Byfleet) 34 35; Martin Leo (Bognor Regis) 39 30 For full scores and images visit www.englandgolf.org/championships Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf