EMILY AIRD AND ALEX PATTON SETTLING DOWN AT WICHITA, KANSAS

 Emily Aird from Perth and Chippenham's Alex Patton, first-year students at Newman University, Wichita, Kansas are settling down nicely to a combination of studies and golf on the US women's circuit.

The Newman women's golf team tied for fifth at the Oklahoma Intercollegiate, hosted by Cameron University, on Octover 21-22 at Fort Sill Golf Club, Oklahoma.Newman - "The Lady Jets" - finished at 619 (+43) for the 36-hole team competition, totalling 315 in the first round and 304 in the second.
They tied with Incarnate Word and Texas A and M-Commerce for fifth place behind winners Tarleton State (595) and runners-up West Texas A and M (612) in a field of 13 teams.
Emily Aird (pictured above) and Alex Patton both finished with 36-hole totals of 156 and a share of 23rd place in a field of 75 players.
Aird had an 80 on Day 1 and a 76 on Day 2. Patton shot back-to-back 78s.
Individual winner with rounds of 69 and 74 for 143 was Isabel-Jimenez Perea (Tarleton State). 

Earlier this month Alex Patton (pictured left) top-scored for Newman University with a joint fourth place finish in the Central Oklahoma Classic at Oklahoma City.
Alex was only one off the pace with a first-round 70 before she added a 76 for 146 - five shots behind the winner by three, Chantry McMahan (Texas A and M-Commerce) who had scores of 71 and 70 for 141.
Emily Aird finished T38 in the field of 98 players with scores of 80 and 78 and for 158.


The Oklahoma Intercollegiate was the final autumn tournament for the Lady Jets. Newman University placed in the top five in each event, including two top two finishes. The Lady Jets' spring season starts on March 16 at the Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas.

 

LPGA TO ALLOW UNDER-AGE LYDIA KO TO PLAY ON TOUR

  FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE

New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko has been given full membership of the LPGA Tour for 2014 despite being two years short of the standard minimum age.

Ko, 16, became the youngest winner of an LPGA event at the Canadian Open in 2012 and defended that title this year.
Ladies Professional Golf Association rules require tour members to be 18 or above - but players can apply at 15.
"It has always been my dream goal to play on the LPGA, and play against the world's best players," Ko said.

Youngest winners on LPGA Tour

15 years, four months, two days: Lydia Ko (NZ), Canadian Women's Open, August 2012
16 years, four months: Lydia Ko (NZ), Canadian Women's Open, August 2013
16 years, seven months, eight days: Lexi Thompson (US), Navistar LPGA Classic, September 2011
 

South Korea-born Ko had been the number one women's amateur player for 130 weeks before deciding to turn professional this month, and is fifth in the women's world rankings.

She petitioned LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan earlier this month and plans to compete in her first event as a professional at the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Titleholders in Naples, Florida, from 21-24 November.
Whan said: "It is not often the LPGA welcomes a rookie who is already a back-to-back LPGA Tour champion."
She earned a spot in the tournament field by retaining her Canadian Women's Open with a five-shot victory at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club, Edmonton in August, following a 15-under-par total.
Last year, aged 15 years, four months and two days, she won the tournament by three strokes from four-time major winner Inbee Park.
Ko added: "I know that becoming a member is not only about performing well, but dealing with responsibilities very well.
"Women's golf is growing day by day and I would love to be able to inspire other girls to take up the game, and go for it. I believe this is only the start to my career and I have many new things to learn along the way."

TRIP TO HOUSTON WAS FANTASTIC, SAYS KIMBERLEY BEVERIDGE

One of the highlights of the trip to Texas for the Grampian Houston Juniors - they are pictured on the 50yard line at the University of Texas - The Longhorns American college football team - home stadium.
As Paul Girvan, Director of Golf at the Kings Links Golf Centre and the man in charge of the GHJ party on the trip, said: "It was a great honour to be allowed on to the 'hallowed turf!"
Pictured (left to right):
Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen), Paul Girvan (Kings Links Golf Centre director of golf, Chris Somers (Murcar Links), Grant Joss (Royal Aberdeen), Cameron Kerr (Elgin), Jack Harling (Banchory), Cameron Franssen (Inverness), Kimberly Beveridge (Aboyne), Niall Young (Insch), Craig Lawrie (Deeside), Adam Fisher (Newmachar), Ray Gordon (Alford), Andrew Burgess (Nairn), Ryan McKinnon (Peterculter). 

Kimberley Beveridge writes:
 

Just back from a fantastic trip to Houston. It was a great opportunity to see and play golf in the USA.
We played some terrific golf courses such as Carlton Woods, Braeburn County Club, University of Texas Golf Club, Miramont County Club, Redstone Golf Club (Tournament Course) Shadow Hawk Golf Club, River Oaks Country Club and Lakeside County Club
The highlight of the trip was meeting Mark O’Meara at River Oaks Country Club. He did a golf clinic and a Q and A. It was very informative and interesting.  We also had a tour around University of Texas.

HEATHER MACRAE'S JOINT THIRD FINISH AT CRETE, GREECE

CATCHING UP ON THE LETAS EVENT WHICH
ENDED AT CRETE, GREECE AT WEEKEND

Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Tour champion Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) finished joint third and earned 1,399 Euros in the Grecotel Amirandes Ladies Open at Crete Golf Club, Greece at the weekend.
The Dunblane player had rounds of 70, 70 and 74 for a total of 214 - one shot behind play-off participants Patricia Sanz Barrio (Spain) (72-73-68) and Julia Davidson (Sweden) (73-736-67).  Barrio collected 4,466 Euros for winning at the first extra hole. Runner-up Davidson received 3,091 Euros.
Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) was the only other Scot who survived the second-round cut. She shot 72-76-80 for 228 and earned 550 Euros.
Nairn's Kelsey MacDonald (Robert Rock Academy) missed the cut by two shots with scores of 77-73.
Glasgow's Gemma Webster (Elie SC) (81-74) and Edinburgh's Sally Watson (80-75) finished on 155 while Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie) had a non-qualifying total of 158 (77-81).

FINAL SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
213 Patricia Sanz Barrio (Spa) 72 73 68, Julie Davidson (swe) 73 73 67 (Barrio, 4,466 Euros, bt Davidson, 3,091 Euros, at the first hole of a sudden death play-off).
214 Heather MacRae (Sco) 70 70 74, Mireia Prat (Spa) 73 72 69, Charlotte Wild (Eng) 68 74 72, Caroline Rominger (Swi) 70 70 74 (1,399 Euros each).

SELECTED OTHER TOTALS
216 Lucy Williams (Eng) 73 71 72 (8th) (946 Euros)
219 Hannah Ralph (Eng) 73 75 71 (T12) (775 Euros)
222 Charlie Douglass (Eng) 71 75 76 (T18) (631 Euros)
228 Laura Murray (Sco) 72 76 80 (25th) (550 Euros).

MISSED THE CUT (148 and better qualified)
149 Lauren Blease (Eng) 76 73
150 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 77 73, Kym Larratt (Eng) 74 76
152 Lauren Taylor (Eng) 78 74.
153 Tracey Boyes (Eng) 77 76
155 Gemma Webster (Sco) 81 74, Sally Watson (Sco) 80 75.
157 Tara Watters (Eng) (sm) 79 78.
158 Katy McNicoll (Sco) 77 81, Danielle McVeigh (NIre) 74 84
Retired: Pamela Feggans (Sco) 

LETAS ORDER OF MERIT STANDINGS
1 Mieia Prat (Spa) 25,613
2 Patricia Sanz Barrio (Spa) 21,613/
3 Nicole Broch Larsen (Den) 16,546
4 Chrisje De Vries (Ned) 12,638
5 Fabienne In-Albon (Swi) 12,538 
6 Pamela Feggans (Sco) 11,930
7 Chloe Leurquin (Bel) 11,764
8 Heather MacRae (Sco) 11,622.
ALSO
24 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 6,452
56 Katy McNicoll (Sco) 3,127
57 Laura Murray (Sco) 2,957.

SCOTT,. ROBB, JOHNSTON IN TOP 10 AT BRIDGESTONE COLLEGIATE

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's three Scots, Ewan Scott from  St Andrews, Chris Robb from Banchory and Liam Johnston from Dumfries, all finished in the top 10 at the weekend's Bridgestone Collegiate 36-hole tournament at Grandover East course, Greensboro in North Carolina.

Freshman Scott, pictured, the Scottish youths champion, had two one-under-par rounds of 71 for a total of 142 for a longish course of 7,245yd.
He finished joint third, three shots behind the joint winners, Henry Do (North Carolina) (68-71) and Lars Van Meijer (Memphis) (73-66).
Robb finished joint sixth on 143 with scores of 70-73 while Johnston shared ninth place on 144, following up an opening 77 with a 67, one of the best scores of the tournament.
Despite placing three in the top 10, Tennessee-Chattanooga did not win the team title, because their two other county players finished well down the field of 80.
North Carolina (571) finished first with Tennessee-Chattanooga (577) second in a field of 14 teams.

FIFE COUNTY AGM AND PRIZE-GIVING

Fife County held their AGM and Prize-giving at Kirkcaldy Golf Club on Friday.

The new County Captain is Lorna McKinlay and the Vice-Captain is Linda Dyball.

Thanks to Alma Robertson for the photos.

Susan Jackson, Fife County Champion receiving her trophy from Katharine Keir, President

Prizewinners

FORT WILLIAM STUDENT IN WINNING UNION COLLEGE TEAM AT KENTUCKY

Alasdair Ross (17) from Fort William , currently a freshman studying at Union College , Barbourville , Kentucky, recently took part in the Union College Junior Varsity Golf Invite at Pineville, Kentucky. 
The Union College men's junior varsity team came out on top at the Invite which was held at Wasioto Winds Golf Course.
The Union Team posted a combined score of 294 which was good enough for them to take 1^st Place .  

Alasdair Ross (pictured) posted a 3 over par score of 75 to assist his team mates in this tournament.

Further information and photos of the winning team can be found at:

http://www.ucbulldogs.com/article/4326.php

EDITOR'S NOTE: Alasdair Ross does well to get in the Union College team of five players at each event - there are NINETEEN players on its men's golf roster, according to its website.
Which is a reminder to all young men and girls who want to go an American college for the golf opportunities: Check out how many players the college in question has on its roster. Best to pick one that settles for seven or eight which gives you a fair chance of winning the internal qualifying competition to be one of the five representatives for the next college circuit event.  

 

STEPHANIE MEADOW SCORES EIGHTH US COLLEGE CIRCUIT VICTORY

                   STEPHANIE MEADOW ...  Eighth win on US women's college golf circuit

 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WOMEN'S GOLF WEBSITE

click here 
Results

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
 The Alabama women's golf team and senior Stephanie Meadow both won their first tournament championships of the 2013-14 season on Sunday at The Landfall Tradition on the par-72 6,244-yard Country Club of Landfall.
The sixth-ranked Crimson Tide shot 4-over 292 in the final round to complete the wire-to-wire victory with an eight-shot win over No. 5 Duke. Clemson was third, 30 shots back of the Tide, at 33-over 897 while South Carolina (+40, 904) was fourth and Wake Forest (+42, 906) was fifth.
"I was really proud of how this team came together this weekend," Alabama head coach Mic Potter said.
 "Throughout the three rounds this team was able to focus on each shot and not let the results effect what they were trying to accomplish. The Country Club of Landfall is an excellent test of golf against a quality field and I am very pleased with the results."
Meadow, from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, recorded the eighth medalist honour of her US college golf career to extend her own record. She fired rounds of 70, 71 and 72 to finish off the two-shot win over Duke's Yu Liu. 
Meadow finished the autumn  schedule with a 70.75 scoring average and was nine-under par during her 12 rounds.
Sophomore Emma Talley finished four shots back of Meadow in third place for her second top-10 showing of the fall. She opened with a 1-under 71 and followed it with back-to-back rounds of 73 for her best finish of the year.
The Crimson Tide actually placed five players in the top 11 individually and four in the top 10. Sophomore Janie Jackson completed her best tournament in crimson and white with a 1-under 71 in Sunday's final round to finish seventh at 4-over 220.
Daniela Lendl was one-shot back in a tie for eighth at 5-over 221 after a final-round 76. Hannah Collier also shot 76 on Sunday to finish tied for 11th at 6-over 222. Cammie Gray, who was playing as an individual, shot 77 in the final round.
The Landfall Tradition wrapped up Alabama's autumn schedule. The Crimson Tide will next tee it up in sunny Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, on Feb. 16-18, at the Rio Mar Country Club for the Lady Puerto Rico Classic. 

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
213 Stephanie Meadow (Alabama) 70 71 72
215 Yu Liu (Duke) 71 73 73
219 Laetitia Beck (Duke) 73 74 72, Katelyn Dambaugh (South Carolina) 71 73 75, Liz Nabel (Michigan State) 77 74 68
220 Janie Jackson (Alabama) 73 76 71
221 Celine Boutier (Duke) 72 75 74, Ashlan Ramsey (Clemson) 74 69 78.

SELECTED OTHER TOTALS
223 Julie Yang (Oklahoma State) (former Scottish schoolgirls champion while student at Loretto) 75 76 72 (T13)
228 Elizabeth Mallett (North Carolina) (from Sutton Coldfield, England) 75 78 74 (T27)
246 Rachael Taylor (North Carolina State) (Germany-based Scot) 79 84 83 (85th).

LEADING TEAM TOTALS
867 Alabama
875 Duke
897 Clemson
904 South Carolina
906 Wake Forest
910 Michigan State, Arizona
913 Oklahoma State.
17 teams took part