North of Scotland championship at Fortrose and Rosemarkie

Eilidh Watson v Kimberley Beveridge 

final after top seeds tumble

ALISON BARTLETT REPORTING

The North of Scotland will have a new ladies champion tonight as defending champion and top seed Ailsa Summers was beaten 3 and 1 in this morning's semi-final by Eilidh Watson of Muckhart at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club.  

Eilidh, playing the steadier golf, went ahead early in the match and was three up at the turn. Ailsa lost a ball at the notorious fourth and another double bogey, at the 10th, from the Carnoustie player  saw US college student Eilidh  establish a four-hole lead

Summers fought back well with two pars and two birdies at the next four holes to be only one down after 15.  However, another par from Watson at the 16th was enough to see her go dormie two.

After a great approach shot at 17th - from the far side of the 16th fairway - Eilidh took the match and a place in the final by a 3 and 1 margin

In the other scratch semi final, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) was never down to No 2 seed Laura Walker after winning the first hole, and steadily built a three-hole lead by the turn. Thereafter, holes were halved until the 14th where Kimberley's par was enough to win the hole, and another half at the 15th saw her take the game 4 and 3.

Both handicap matches went right down to the wire and finished on the 18th green.  Susan Ogg (Dunkeld and Birnam) built a good lead against Mary Robinson (Murcar Links)  and was three up at one stage but Mary fought back to be all square on the 17th tee.  

Both players were short of the green in two, but a wonderful putt from off the green gave Susan a birdie, and take a one- lead to the 18th. 

 After good drives, both were on the green in two and as Susan missed her putt, Mary had a putt to take it down the 19th, but it was not to be. 

The other handicap semi-final between the two local ladies from the host club was equally close.  Only one hole separated Anne Mackay and Joan Darroch most of the way round, with the lead changing hands several times.  Again, the 17th was a decisive hole when Anne's bogey was enough to win the hole to go one up, and she held that lead through the 18th.

This afternoon's finals will therefore see Anne Mackay play Susan Ogg in the handicap flight at 1:40pm, and Eilidh Watson play Kimberley Beveridge in the championship flight starting at 2pm.
RESULTS
SCRATCH
Semi-finals - E Watson (Muckhart) bt A Summers (Carnoustie) 3 and 1, K Beveridge (Aboyne) bt L Walker (Muckhart) 4 and 2.
HANDICAP
Semi-finals - S Ogg (Dunkeld and Birnam (17) bt M Robinson (Murcar Ladies) (16) 1 hole; A Mackay (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (20) bt J Darroch (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (22) 1 hole.