NEWS FROM THE MEN'S AMERICAN COLLEGE GOLF SCENE

FORREST CATCHES FIRE AFTER TURN 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Grant Forrest, Scotland's highest world-ranked amateur and a third-year student at San Diego University, California, had an up-and-down round of two-over-par 74 today in the San Diego Classic college tournament at San Diego Country Club, Chula Vista.
The 2012 Scottish amateur champion, a winner three times on the US college circuit, had a nightmare outward half of 40. Having started with a birdie at the first, Forrest couldn't hit the proverbial barn door over the next few holes and bogeyed the third, fourth and sixth with a double bogey 6 tucked in there at the fifth.
But Forrest stepped up a gear after the turn. He birdied the 12th and got an eagle 3 at the 16th. Pity about a bogey at the 17th, but he got it home in 34 for a two-over-74 and a share of 27th place in the field of 84 players.
But San Diego are playing second fiddle at the moment to their great rivals, San Diego State, who have Xander Schauffele in the lead by two with a five-under 69 and they also lead the team event with a total of 283, three ahead of Southern California and four in frotn of third-placed San Diego in the field of 13 teams.
It's a three-round event so Forrest has 36 more holes to make up seven shots on the current leader.

GEORGE DUNCAN JT 3rd IN TENNESSEE

 
George Duncan from Dunbartonshire, a freshman at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate in Tennessee, finished joint third in a field of 96 players at the Tusculum Invitational college tourament at Link Hills Country Club, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Duncan led the field with a three-under-par opening round of 68 over the 6,763yd course but took 74 blows for the second circuit and his 142 final total was two shots behind the two players who tied on 140 - Andrew Hall (Walters State) (72-68) and Lincoln Memorial team-mate Rand Wasson (69-71)
Another LMU student, Luke Butler, a junior student from Worcester, finished T16 on 146 (73-73)
Lincoln Memorial (575) won the team title by two shots from Lee University with two teams joint third on 586 - Tennessee Wesleyan and Tusculum College.
Walters State (594) finished fifth of 14.

DAVID BOOTE T34 AT LAS VEGAS
David Boote, a sophomore student at Stanford University, California, from Epsom, finished T34 in a field of 81 players at the SH Collegiate Masters at Southern Highlands Country Club, Las Vegas in Nevada.
Boote had rounds of 77, 78 and 73 for a total of 12-over-par 228 over a long par 72 course of 7,374yd
Top ranked amateur Patrick Rodgers, a team-mate of Boote at Stanford, won by 2 shots with scores of 74, 679 and 74 for one-over 217.
Team honours were won by UNLV 886) with Oklahoma State and Stanford tieing for second place on 888 in a field of 15 teams.

SUNCOAST SERIES LADY PRO 72-HOLE TOURNAMENT

KARIN BECK'S THREE EAGLES IN A

10-UNDER-PAR ROUND OF 62

Karin Beck, 27, from the town of Pike Road, Alabama,  had only once broken 70 in her 12 previous rounds in 2014 on the Suncoast women's pro tour in Florida.
That was until today when the Auburn University graduate, shot a fantastic 10-under-par 62 over the Black Bear Course.
Karin had THREE eagles (two of them at par-4 holes) and four birdies in a flawless round that 
may well prove to be a peak in her career ....whatever she goes on to achieve.
It's a four-round event this week but already Beck is five shots clear of her nearest challenger, Sandra Changkija, in a field of 59 players.
Beck birdied the first, had an eagle 3 at the long second, birdied the long fourth and got a birdie 3 at the sixth in an outward 31.

She also covered the inward nine holes in 31 shots with an eagle 1 at the 10th, an birdie 4 at the long 16th and an eagle 2 at the par-4 17th.
Karin sounds as if she is a long - and straight - hitter.
To view all the scores

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UNITED STATES WOMEN'S COLLEGE GOLF CIRCUIT UPDATE

OVERNIGHT LEADER STEPHANIE MEADOW

IS CAUGHT DOWN THE HOME STRAIGHT

Curtis Cup team place contender Stephanie Meadow, pictured, lost her overnight and lead and finished joint third in one of the tightest finishes of the US women's college golf season in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate over 54 holes at the par-71, 6233yd course at Long Cove Country Club, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Alabama University final-year student Stephanie, from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, looked set to chalk up her 10th US victory when she led the star-studded field with 18 holes to go.
But Meadow finished with a two-over-par 73, after rounds of 67, and 72, and her one-under-par 212 total was better by Caroline Nistrup (Louisiana State) (71-69-71), a freshman from Denmark, and Duke's Yu Liu (69-72-70).
The Nistrup v Liu play-off lasted one hole with Liu winning it with a birdie.
At the finish only two strokes separated the leading six players.
Tie-ing for third place on 212 were Spaniard Noemi Jimenez (Arizona State) (71-72-69), France's Celine Boutier (Duke) (69-71-72) and Simin Feng (Vanderbilt) (74-69-69) and, of course, Stephanie Meadow.

Former British girls championship beaten finalist Elizabeth Mallett (North Carolina), pictured, from Sutton Coldfield finish seventh of 89 with a 214 total, made up of rounds of 72, 70 and 72. Elizabeth is a second-year student at UNC.
Duke (862) won the team title ahead of Vanderbilt (872) and Louisiana State (885). Alabama (898) finished ninth of 17 teams. 

MEGAN SEVENTH IN ARIZONA
 
Megan Thompson, from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland and a senior student at Missouri State University finished seventh of 12 in the White Wing JV Invitational college tournament at White Wing Golf Club, Rio Verde in Arizona.

Over a par72 course of 6215yd, Megan, pictured, scored 76-80 for 156 - six shots behind the winner by three, Bryce Schroeder (Wichita State) who had rounds of 72-78.

ABERDEEN-BORN PLAYER LIKELY TO TURN PRO IN 2015 SUMMER

Gemma Dryburgh in action at Prestwick last season when she finished runner-up. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

 

CURTIS CUP APPEARANCE IS GEMMA

DRYBURGH'S No 1 TARGET IN 2014

SLGA NEWS RELEASE

Gemma Dryburgh was born in Aberdeen but has spent most of her golfing career in America.  But she is very much a Scot at heart and her season’s dream is to play against the USA in the Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club in June.  

The 20-year-old forced her way into consideration for the Great Britain and Ireland line-up that will defend the Curtis Cup from June 6-8 with a terrific second place in the British Women’s Strokeplay Championship at Prestwick last summer. 

“That was probably my best performance to date,” says Dryburgh when reflecting on the narrow one shot defeat in Ayrshire from the Chinese teenage sensation, Jing Yan. “It was a shame not to win but second was the next best thing.” 

A member of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association team at the Under-18 level, Dryburgh made her senior debut at last year’s European Team Championships.

 “I love playing for Scotland and try and get home for tournaments every summer,” Dryburgh continued. “This year, I’ll definitely be back for the British Amateur and another shot at the British Strokeplay.” 

Dryburgh spent her first ten years in Aberdeen but it was only after her dad John, an accountant, moved base to London that she really took up golf, joining Beaconsfield Golf Club in Buckinghamshire. 

“I got a handicap when I was 12 and really enjoyed it from the start,” she said. “I started to progress and it was through Carly Booth that I heard about the IMG Academy in Bradenton in Florida. 

"I went out for an Easter and a New Year camp and when I was 15 I moved over there to go to school.

“My parents came with me and Mum (Marjory) stayed there full-time and Dad went back and forth to London. It was a big sacrifice for all of us, but well worth it.”

Dryburgh moved from school to a University golf scholarship at Tulane in New Orleans – and she has rewarded her parents and dedicated herself to achieving both in the classroom and on the golf course. 

Tulane is one of the top 50 US Universities and she is now in her third year of a marketing degree and is also one of the top golfers on the US College circuit. 

But the ultimate for any amateur is to make the Curtis Cup. “I’ve definitely got my sights on making the GB and Ireland team but I know it is going to be tough,” she surmised. 

“I can only go out and do my best. The selectors’ decision is out of my control.” 

Whatever happens as regards the Curtis Cup, one plan in her own hands is a decision to make a career out of golf.

“I definitely want to turn professional and it will probably be summer 2015, once I have completed my degree,” she said. 

“While I have spent most of my golfing time in the US, I'd love to try the Ladies’ European Tour. I was at the IMG Academy at the same time as Sally Watson and it will be interesting to watch her progress this season.”

But, before then, the 2014 summer of expectation lies ahead. The Curtis Cup is the main goal – but a whole host of tournaments fill up a busy schedule. 

“Unfortunately, I can’t get back for the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Prestwick in May,” she regretted from her New Orleans base. “My first tournament at home will be the British Amateur at Royal St George’s in June.”

SLGA UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY NEXT MONTH

Kirsty Brodie: In one of the Scotland teams for SLGA Under-16 stroke-play. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

KIRSTY BRODIE'S LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

FOR STRATHMORE EVENT

SLGA NEWS RELEASE
Local player Kirsty Brodie, who enjoyed a week’s coaching with the National squad at Desert Springs in Spain last month,  has been named in the Scotland teams for the international team event staged in conjunction with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association’s Under-16 open stroke-play championship at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth on April 10-11.

Kirsty is in Team 2 alongside Kirsten Brown (Strathaven) and Charlotte Munro (Gullane Ladies). 

Team 1 is Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Hazel MacGarvie (Ladies’ Golf Club, Troon) and Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies).

The SLGA selectors have also chosen a team for the Welsh Ladies’ open stroke-play championship at Prestatyn on May 3-4. 

Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), the Scottish Amateur Champion, is joined by Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Lauren Whyte (St Regulus). 

DEATH OF 1956 CURTIS CUP TEAM PLAYER

FROM THE LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Veronica Beharrell winning Curtis Cup team member 1956 has died
Everyone at the LGU was saddened to hear of the death, last Tuesday, of 1956 Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup player, Veronica (Anstey) Beharrell.

Veronica, also an English International and Captain, took up the game of golf as a junior in 1952, and within one year played in the England Girls Team at the Home Internationals. 
In1955 she stepped up to the Great Britain and Ireland Girls Select, and travelled around the world, playing matches against Australia and New Zealand. 
That proved a very successful trip for the young Veronica, who returned as the amateur champion of Victoria, Australia and New Zealand. 
With performances like that, it was no surprise that she was selected for the Curtis Cup team of 1956, and played her part in the 5-4 win at Princes Golf Club, Kent – only the second time that the Curtis Cup team from this side of the pond had been victorious. 
A serious car accident later that year, while travelling back from the Home Internationals at Sunningdale, largely put paid to her amateur golfing career at the top end, but she continued to be active in golf, both playing and in administration, and with an active interest in golf history. 
In 1960, she married John Beharrell, himself a top golfer and the winner of the 1956 Amateur Championship at Troon, at 18 years old becoming the youngest winner of that championship. John, a past captain of the R and A, predeceased Veronica in December 2010. 
Veronica’s funeral takes place on Friday, March 14, and the thoughts of her LGU friends are with her daughter, sons and extended family at this sad time.