KirkwoodGolf

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Top seed Gillian Paton sweeps through to last 8


Top seed Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose), pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, driving in her second-round match. took only 28 holes to chalk up two victories and sweep through to the quarter-finals of the 101st Scottish women's amateur championship on a wet and windy start to the match-play stages at Monifieth Links today
Gillian disposed of Margo Gardner (Linlithgow) by 6 and 5 and then cut down giant-killer Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) by 5 and 3.
McIntosh toppled defending champion Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) in the morning round at the 2T1st but she never really got into the game against 25-year-old Paton, winner of the Angus county championship at Forfar last Sunday.
"I was one under par in the morning and about level par in the afternoon," said Gillian whose husband "Azzie" Paton - they got married last October is her caddie.
"I was never behind in either match and I'm enjoying omyself."
 In fact without spelling it out that seems to be the big difference that marriage has made to Gillian's attitude to golf
"For some reason I am enjoying my golf much more than I used to even though I have been successful down in the South of Scotland and also since I moved up to Angus."
She can say that again. Paton was five times Portpatrick Dunskey women's club champion among a variety of other titles. Since moving up to Angus, she has helped the county win the Scottish title and she is the Royal Montrose club champion.
In Friday morning's quarter-finals, Paton will play Rachel Walker (Dumfries and County), a student at Old Dominion University in Virgina. Walker, who won the Dumfriesshire county championship last Sunday, reached the quarter-finals at Prestwick last year and repeated that feat with a 5 and 4 win over Eilidh Watson (Mukhart). also a US college (Stetson University) student.



The second quarter-final will feature Karen Ferguson (Liberton), who beat 15-year-old Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) by 2 and 1, against Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the 1998 national champion who, at the age of 40-something, is turning the clock back to her vintage days.
"I'm really enjoying myself even though I should be no match for these youngsters," said Elaine who suffers from a middle ear problem that has not affected her golf.

"I really love the course and that helps an awful lot."
She followed up a morning win by one hole against American college student Hannah Robb (Scotscraig) by romping to a 5 and 4 win against home course hope Katie Reid.
A repeat of last Sunday's Angus county final between Gillian Paton and Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) is still very much on the cards. Sneddon, the No 2 seed, won by 6 and 5 in the first round against young Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) but had to work a lot harder to prevail by one hole against the veteran Aberdeen Ladies player, Sheena Wood.


"That's the type of game I needed to tighten me up for the closing stages," said Jacqueline (pictured this afternoon by Cal Carson Golf Agency) who plays the in-form Clara Young (North Berwick), beaten finalist two years ago at Longniddry, for a place in the last four.
Young, an 18-year-old student at the University of Missouri, had the best figures of the day in winning by 7 and 5 in the second round against Louise Macgregor (Falkirk), the Stirling and Clackmannan county champion.
Clara was four under par for the 13 holes, highlighted by an eagle and three birdies.
And in the remaining tie in the round of the last eight, Stirling student Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) will play 19  year old Kimberley Beveridge who is keeping the flag flying for Aboyne after the exit of young clubmate Shannon McWilliam.


SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose) bt Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 5 and 3.
Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) bt Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 5 and 4.
Karen Ferguson (Liberton) bt Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) 2 and 1.
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) bt Katie Reid (Monifieth) 5 and 3.
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) bt Chloe Goadby (St Regulus) 5 and 4.
Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) bt Iona KirsStephen (Wentworth) 1 hole.
Clara Young (North Berwick) bt Louise Macgregor (Falkirk) 7 and 5. 
Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) bt Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 1 hole

CLARK ROSEBOWL
QUARTER-FINALS
Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) bt Nicolas Robertson (Stirling) 1 hole.
Lesley Atkins (Gullane) bt Ruth Rankin (Lanark) 7 and 6
Wendy Nicholson ( Broomieknowe) bt Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 2 and 1.
Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 5 and 4.

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW THIS MORNING'S RESULTS

Labels: