Katherine wins Bridget Jackson Bowl by six 

shots at Handsworth

Welsh champion Katherine O'Connor (West Byfleet) on Tuesday won the Bridget Jackson Bowl 36-hole open tournament at Handsworth Golf Club for the third time, adding to victories in 2009 and 2011. Katherine is pictured receiving the trophy from the Handsworth GC lady captain.
O'Connor had rounds of 68 and 72 for an aggregate of 140 - which gave her a commanding six-stroke victory.

Runner-up on 146 was Elizabeth Haycock (Ladbrook Park) with scores of 74 and 72.
Three players finished on 147 - Bronwyn Davies (Wolstanton), Katie Warren (Wrag Barn) and Lily Humphreys (Channels). 

LEADING AGGREGATES
Par 144 (2x72) SSS 73. CSS 73 73
Weather: Hot summer's day.
140 Katherine O'Connor (West Byfleet) 6872
146 Elizabeth Haycock (Ladbrook Park) 74 72
147 Bronwyn Davies (Wolstanton) 75 72, Katie Warren (Wrag Barn) 74 73, Lily Humphreys (Channels) 74 73
148 Lucy Walton (The Worcestershire) 77 71, Angharad Bassnet (Aberdovey) 72 76
149 Ella Griffiths (Vale Resort) 77 72
150 Emma Miller (Newport) 77 73
151 Emily Slater (Woodhall Spa) 77 74, Charlie Field (Letchworth) 75 76, Lydia Ingman (Tapton Park) 75 76, Isobel Wardle (Prestbury) 73 78
152 Emily Coleman (Trentham) 79 73, Harriet Allsebrook (Shifnal) 75 77
153 Fay Carpenter (Ferndown) 78 75.
154 Fiona McCann (North Foreland) 75 79, Alexandra Saunders (Bristol and Clifton) 74 80
155 Rhiannon Thomas (St Pierre) 78 77, Katrina Gillum (Lilleshall Hall) 78 77, Angharad Evans (St Pierre) 78 77, Samantha Meese (Enville) 73 82 
156 Victoria Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies) 78 78, Charlotte Hartshore (Coventry) 78 78, Kimberley Bates (Houghwood) 77 79, Nicole Wainwright (Rhuddlan) 72 84
157 Rhian Barton (Clays) 84 73
158 Emily Brennan (Trentham) 83 75, Erin Toft (Northop) 76 82
160 Elizabeth Mallett (Wishaw) 83 77, Fern Clark (Beau Desert) 83 77, Sadie Dewinton-Davies (Aberdovey) 82 78, Jessica Murray (Redlibbets) 80 80, Aimee O'Connor (Sundridge Park) 77 83
161 Abi Laker (Frilford Heath) 81 80
162 Aimee Field (Haglety) 78 84
163 Ellie Darnell (Wellingborough) 85 78, Nancy O'Connor (Sundridge Park) 79 84, Becky Gibbs (Bristol and Clifton) 79 84.
165 Katrina Gant (Shirley) 83 82
166 Rachel Wainwright (Rhuddlan) 80 86
167 Amelia Easthope (Rhuddlan) 91 76
176 Harriet Evans (Aberdovey) 90 86
177 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links) 88 89
Retired - Lucy Evans (Lilleshall Hall) 81 ret.
Disqualified - Lea-Anne Bramwell (Abergele) disq 91
Withdrew: Ellie Lace, Becky Harries, Iona Stephen, Megan Jenkins.
 

Sue Dye targets third England stroke play title   Two-time winner Sue Dye takes a two shot lead into the final round of the English senior women’s stroke play championship at Broadstone in Dorset. Her closest rival is senior international Lulu Housman (Wyke Green), while Aileen Greenfield (Pyecombe) and Carol Wild (Notts Ladies’) are a further shot back. Broadstone member Carol Cass shares fifth place to keep local hopes alive. Dye (Delamere Forest) was a model of consistency, adding a score of four-over 76 to her opening 75. It was an example of very tidy golf on a warm day, with swirling winds which created difficult scoring conditions for many players. She commented: “It was just what you want, steady, pretty boring golf – but that’s how you score!” Dye (image © Leaderboard Photography), who previously won in 2007 and 2013, outlined the challenge of the course, which has won countless compliments from players: “The greens are tough, the wind is swirling, the course is running and club selection can be difficult to judge.” She started in style, with a birdie on the long first hole, but the highlight of her round was a second birdie on the par four 14th. “I ripped a drive, played a pitching wedge from 100 yards, holding it up into the wind, and then holed from 10ft – and it wasn’t the easiest pin position.” Lulu Housman also tackled the course with steady golf. The birdies eluded her, but she limited any bad holes to bogeys, while other players were regularly leaving the course with tales of triple bogeys or worse. “I enjoyed it, but it’s tough out there and you have to keep concentrating, keep your focus. But it’s a wonderful course, a stunning location,” she said. Carol Cass scored the low round of the day with two-over 74 and moved 14 places up the leaderboard after an opening 81. “It’s tough playing at home, I was so nervous yesterday and I had a couple of bad holes which messed it up for me. But I was much more relaxed today and had no big numbers.” She was particularly pleased with her iron play, notably on the 17th, where she knocked a nine iron to within two inches of the hole for the easiest of birdie putts. She’s in a group which includes Julie Brown (Trentham), the joint-leader after the first round, who struggled on the greens today. Joining them in fifth place is Caroline Berry (Bromborough) who has played steadily with rounds of 78, 77. After today’s round the field was cut to the leading 36 players and ties who qualified for tomorrow’s final round. A total of 37 made the cut including local players Jane Southcombe (Yeovil) and Tracey Bazell (Dorset). Click here for full scores Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

         Tain's winning quartet (left to right): Claire Ross, Mary Smith, Anne Ryan, Fiona Brand.
Tain ladies win Gordon Salver for 40th time

By ROBIN WILSON
Two of the strongest women's golf teams in Ross-shire and Sutherland, fought out a close battle over the Alness course  during the annual inter-county women's team competition and it was Ross-shire's Tain who celebrated a memorable ruby win by the narrow margin of two shots.

The scratch G A Gordon Salver was first competed for in the Queen's Coronation year of 1953 and last Saturday was the 63rd staging of the competition. 
Tain ladies won the scratch salver in the inauguration year and added 39 more wins before making it forty with an unbeaten sequence from 2001.

In contrast, this year's hosts, Alness, have never been scratch winners, and only once previously won the handicap trophy,  at Invergordon in 2005, but enjoying home advantage by the River Averon their first team added their name to the handicap A B Connon Trophy for a second time.

There were 12 teams of four from eight different clubs playing at Alness, the hosts, Royal Dornoch, Golspie and Tain Golf Clubs with two teams each and single entries from Bonar-Bridge Ardgay, Brora, Fortrose and Rosemarkie and Muir of Ord for the competition that uses the three best three scores from each team to decide the winners.

Tain and Dornoch's top three players had a combined handicap of only seven. Cara Thompson handicap 1, Alison Bartlett 2, and Claire Riddell 4 arrived in the clubhouse with a three-card total of 222 - Northern Counties champion Thompson a 72, Bartlett 74 and Riddell 76. 
The score from the fourth team member, Denise McBride, was not required. 

Tain's initial challenge was led by three-handicapper Anne Ryan with a best of the day gross 71 to which was added a 74 from her  sister Mary Smith (handicap 2) and a 75 from two-handicapper Claire Ross for a total of 220 which allowed their club to begin their special celebration as 40th  time winners. 
Tain's fourth member and discarded score came from Fiona Brand.

Alness's first team, after disregarding Rhoda Patterson's nett 75, off 9, then sped to a three-card winning handicap total of 209 with two nett scores below 70. 
 Leading with the best nett card of the day, a 68 off 16, was June Keith. Then, adding a nett 69 off 14, was Isabel Ross and a third score of nett 72 from 36 handicapper Elizabeth Fraser, had Alness winning the Connon Trophy by six strokes.
Runners-up were Royal Dornoch's second string, consisting of Caitlin Boa (12) 69, Trish Weekes (19) 73 and Wilma Murray (18) 73 for 215, with Irene Harts's nett 75 disregarded.

Alness Lady Captain, Heather Gill presented the two trophies and other prizes.  Next year’s venue will be Invergordon Golf Club.  

  Handicap trophy winners Alness. Left to right - Rhoda Patterson, Elizabeth Fraser, June Keith, Isabel Ross.
                      Pictures by Robin Wilson 

Fiona De Vries wins Midland Vets' title

The Midland Vets Championship was played in benign conditions on Craighead Links, Crail on Monday and Tuesday. resulting in low scoring. 

Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) was the leading qualifier with a 76 (net 71) and also had the best net score with 3 under the CSS.

 Low scoring continued in the Final between Fiona de Vries (St Rule) and Lorna McKinlay (Dunnikier Park) .

The spectators were treated to an exciting match which was nip and tuck, the lead changing hands several times with six birdies and an eagle until Fiona went two up at the 16th and closed out the match on the 17th.

QUALIFIERS                                                                                 

76 Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) (better last 6), Lorna McKinlay (Dunnikier Park).

78 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).

79 Fiona De Vries (St.Rule)

81 Margaret Tough (Glenbervie).

82 Elaine Allison (Stirling) (better inward half), Kathleen Duncan (Pitlochry) 82.

83 Linda Dyball (Pitreavie)

MATCH-PLAY

QUARTER-FINALS

Anderson bt Dyball 2 holes.

De Vries bt Tough 5 and 4.

Allison bt Bennett 5 and 4.

McKinlay bt Duncan 4 and 3.

SEMI-FINALS

De Vries bt Anderson 4 and 3

McKinlay bt Allison 3 and 1.

FINAL

De Vries bt McKinlay 3 and 1.

 

Left to right: Elaine Allison, Lorna McKinlay, Fiona de Vries and Heather Anderson.

Hosts win all three matches but it was close v Renfrewshire

Ayrshire are West Division champions

          Ayrshire - the best in the West. Team member Emma Hale is not in the picture.
Ayrshire  lost the final singles session to Renfrewshire but won the West Division county team championship with three wins out of three.
They go forward to meet the three other divisional champions in the Scottish women's county championship finals at Stranraer Golf Club from September 18 to 20.
The last time Ayrshire won the title was four years ago when they were also the host county with Kilmarnock Barassie the venue.
Over the three days at Loudoun Gowf, Galston, the host county beat Dunbartonshire and Argyll 6.5-2.5, then  Lanarkshire 6.5-2.5 before squeezing home past Renfrewshire 5-4.
Ayrshire almost made a clean sweep of the morning foursomes, taking a 2.5-0.5 lead into the singles.
Catherine Malcolm stretched the Ayrshire lead to 3pt by beating  Gillian Kyle 4 and 3 but Renfrewshire got their act together after that with wins by Katrina Milne, young debutante Jennifer Rankine, Donna Jackson 
Audrey Thompson stopped the rot for Ayrshire by beating Carol Whyte 2 and 1. The last tie was halved, leaving Ayrshire the match winners by a 5-4 margin.
Lanarkshire beat Dunbartonshire and Argyll 7-2 in the day's other match.
Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire all finished with records of one win and two defeats.

Lanarkshire 7, Dunbartonshire and Argyll 2
 FOURSOMES 3-0
Rachael Taylor, Molly Richmond bt Claire Hargan,  Jillian
Farrell 5 and 3.
Susan Wood, Susan McGrenaghan bt Laura McGeachy, Lorraine
Campbell 2 and 1
Lesley Lloyd, Alyson Hendry bt Anne Laing, Aileen Baker 5 and 4.

SINGLES 4-2
Taylor bt Macdonald 7 and 5.
Fiona Norris lost to Farrell 2 holes
Richmond bt Hargan 2 and 1
K Brown lost to Laing 2 and 1.
Hendry bt Baker 7 and 6
Wood bt McGeachy 5 and 4.

Renfrewshire 4, Ayrshire 5
FOURSOMES 0.5-2.5
Katrina Milne, Denise Cowan lost to Emma Hale, Jenny Linklater 4 and 3.
Gillian Kyle, Carol Whyte halved with Catherine Malcolm, Linzi Allan
Donna Jackson, Liz Stewart lost to Connie Jaffrey, Audrey Thompson 7 and 6.
SINGLES 3.5-2.5
Kyle lost to Malcolm 4 and 3.
Milne bt Jaffrey 2 and 1. 
J Rankine bt D Watt 3 and 2.
Jackson bt Allan 5 and 4.
Whyte lost to Thompson 2 and 1.
Cowan halved with Linklater

HOW THEY FINISHED
1 Ayrshire 3 wins out of 3
2 Renfrewshire 1 win, 2 defeats
2 Lanarkshire 1 win, 2 defeats
2 Dunbartonshire 1 win, 2 defeats

Tee times for North of Scotland women's championship

+Late entries will be accepted. Contact secretary@northern-counties.com
Fortrose and Rosemarkie GC
July 6 to 8, 2015
Draw for Qualifying Competition - 6th July 2015
	Time	Name		Club	County	Hcap
	9.30	Summers	Ailsa	Carnoustie Ladies	Angus	-2
		Beveridge	Kimberley	Aboyne	Aberdeenshire	1
	9.38	Polson	Rachel	Peterculter	Aberdeenshire	2
		Bartlett	Alison	Royal Dornoch	NC	2
	9.46	Watson	Eilidh	Muckhart	P&K	2
		Stewart	Molly	Murcar	Aberdeenshire	3
	9.54	Saxton	Jennifer	Muckhart	P&K	3
		Brown	Annabelle	Nairn Dunbar	NC	4
	10.02	Watson	Lauren	Deeside	Aberdeenshire	5
		Thom	Vikki	Kemnay	Aberdeenshire	5
	10.10	Dowling	Gillian	Inverness	NC	5
		Fraser	Lynne	Fortrose & Rosemarkie	NC	6
	10.18	Clarke	Jean	Panmure Barry	Angus	8
		Robb	Megan	Peterculter	Aberdeenshire	9
	10.26	Tough	Lynne	Newmachar	Aberdeenshire	10
		Ford	Angela	Ullapool	NC	11
Starters Time
	10.48	Barr	Margot	Nairn	NC	11
		Borthwick	Emma	Nairn Dunbar	NC	12
	10.56	Bradley	Sheila	Kirriemuir	Angus	13
		Watson	Lesley	Deeside	Aberdeenshire	14
	11.04	Roska	Iona	inverness	NC	14
		Aitken	Lindore	Panmure Barry	Angus	15
	11.12	McCaig	Doreen	Forres	NC	15
		Robinson	Mary	Murcar	Aberdeenshire	16
	11.20	Smith	Penny	Duff House Royal	Aberdeenshire	16
		Donnelly	Wilma	Panmure Barry	Angus	16
	11.28	Cooper	Joan	Forres	NC	17
		Ogg	Susan	Dunkeld & Birnam	P&K	17
	11.36	Bryce	Cathy	Royal Dornoch	NC	17
		Thornton	Jenny	Fortrose & Rosemarkie	NC	18
	11.44	Martin	Frances	Kirriemuir	Angus	19
		Denning	Caroline	Newmachar	Aberdeenshire	19
Starters Time
	12.00	Marshall	Dorothy	Forres	NC	20
		Bett	Midge	Panmure Barry	Angus	20
	12.08	Mackay	Anne	Fortrose & Rosemarkie	NC	20
		Rowan	Sally	Inverness	NC	20
	12.16	Grant	Fiona	Forres	NC	20
		Watson	Kirsten	Deeside	Aberdeenshire	21
	12.24	McMurdo	Val	Forres	NC	21
		Nisbet	Jackie	Dunkeld & Birnam	P&K	22
	12.32	Darroch	Joan	Fortrose & Rosemarkie	NC	22
		Irvine	Sarah	Royal Dornoch	NC	24
	12.40	Clark	Fiona	Fortrose & Rosemarkie	NC	25
		O'Keefe	Carol	Forres	NC	27
	12.48	Miller	Ros	Forres	NC	28
		Kerr	Brenda	Dunkeld & Birnam	P&K	28