Double ace marks start of  England                                       U16 girls' championship Ace play marked the start of the English U16 girls’ open championship when two players had holes in one – on the same hole at The Nottinghamshire. Norfolk’s Amelia Williamson (image © Leaderboard Photography) and Staffordshire’s Georgia Ann Pritchard both aced the 149-yard sixth hole on the Signature course. It helped Williamson (Royal Cromer) to a four-under par score of 68 and a two shot lead after the first round of the championship. The 16-year-old England girl international from Royal Cromer used a seven-iron for her shot and said: “I hit a good shot but it was a shock when it rolled up to the hole and dropped in – and mum went mad!” From there she moved steadily ahead with four more birdies and two bogeys, including one on the 17th which inspired a last hole birdie.“I was annoyed about that bogey so I was determined on the 18th. I hit my chip to 1ft and thought ‘thank you!’” Two players share second place on two-under par 70: fellow girl international Lily May Humphreys (Channels) who won the English U14 title last year, and Hertfordshire’s Hannah Screen (Berkhamsted). Pritchard, pictured left, (Beau Desert) matched the hole in one on the sixth on her way to a first round score of 80. Yesterday she tied second in the final of the Abraham Trophy competition for England’s most improved girl golfers, in terms of handicap reduction. She was one of three players who shared the runners-up spot with net scores of three-under 69. Meanwhile, there’s a two-way tie at the top in the English girls’ open amateur championship on The Nottinghamshire’s Championship course. Suffolk’s Alice Barlow (Newton Green) and Scotland’s Alison Muirhead both scored two-under par 71 in the opening round of the U18 event. Barlow had three birdies in her round and didn’t drop a shot until her solitary bogey on 17. Muirhead was six-under after 11 holes, helped by an eagle two on the sixth, before dropping four shots on the way in. One shot back is Northumberland’s Niamh Lendrum (Parklands) who finished with three consecutive birdies, and England girl international Bel Wardle of Prestbury in Cheshire, who started with three birdies in a row. After tomorrow’s second round both fields will be cut. In the under 18s, the top 40 players and ties go forward to play the final 36 holes on Thursday. In the under 16s, the leading 36 players and ties will qualify for the final 36 holes. Click here for scores and more information  Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf

Scottish Golf explains decision not to pick 

champion Ailsa for Home Internationals

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carnoustie's Ailsa Summers, winner of the Scottish women's amateur championship at West Kilbride last month, has not been included in the Scotland team of seven for the Women's Home Internationals at Conwy Golf Club, North Wales next week.

It is the first time in living memory that a Scottish champion, when available, has not been selected for the internationals.
Ailsa, a graduate of St Andrews University, works at Edinburgh Airport.
"I was available to play in the Home Internationals but I was not selected," she said.
"I don't think there is anything I can say at this point which wouldn't offend someone and I don't think it would help in any case.
"All I can say is that I have a lot of respect for all the girls who made the women's team and wish them all the very best."
Summers won the Angus women's county championship five times in a row from 2009 to 2013.
Ironically, there are two other Angus county players in the Scotland team announced today (Tuesday) - Summers' clubmate Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) and Heather Munro (Monifieth)
Angus county captain Angela Campbell commented:

"I am delighted for the girls who have been selected for the Scottish team, but I am surprised and disappointed for Ailsa, as reigning Scottish champion, that she has not been selected."

Later "Scottish Golf" issued a statement, explaining why Summers was not chosen.

Steve Paulding, Scottish Golf Performance Director, said: “Ailsa Summers was available for selection for the Ladies’ Home Internationals.

“Winning the Scottish Women’s Amateur was a great achievement for her, but it does not guarantee team selection.

“Due to Ailsa's work commitments she has not played a great deal of competitive rounds this season and other players have a better overall performance record.”

The team was selected by Steve Paulding, Clare Queen (Programme Co-ordinator) and Rick Valentine (National Women’s Competition Coach).

Due to work commitments at Edinburgh Airport, Summers was not available to play for Scotland in the European team championships at the beginning of this month.

It has been suggested to me by a past Scotland team captain that Ailsa's unavailability for that tournament irked the powers that be in "Scottish Golf" and influenced the decision not to choose her for the Home Internationals.

I don't believe that is the case because nobody in authority could be that petty, and not field the strongest line-up available, could they?

Ailsa Summers is a true blue amateur. She works for a living. She will never turn professional. That does not fit in well with those who want leading amateurs to be full-timers on their way to the pro ranks.

In my opinion, the Scottish women's amateur championship has been downgraded at a stroke by the selectors' failure to pick the champion of Scotland.

Down through the years, winning the Scottish title has opened doors for the champion. In Ailsa Summers' case, it closed one in her face.

For the first time, the Ladies Golf Union are staging the women's and the girls' internationals at the same venue and on the same dates - August 3 to 5. The number in each team has been reduced from eight to seven.
The Scotland teams will be:
WOMEN
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies)
Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies)
Heather Munro (Monifieth)
Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey)
Clara Young (North Berwick)

GIRLS
Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)
Jillian Farrell (Cardross)
Joanne Free (Gullane Ladies)
Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies)
Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead)
Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne)
Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle

 FROM MARY RICHARDSON

Love to hear from Scottish Golf what is going on. Downgrading women's and girls' tournaments, changing conditions after entry, making young girls play 36 holes in sweltering heat, putting up entry fees whilst removing prize vouchers, removing live scoring, not even turning up to present the prizes, leaving your champion (and runner-up) out of Home Internationals team which downgrades the importance of our championships even more, devaluing county golf and volunteers ............ Total disrespect for women's golf. 

And yes, before you say anything, I was part of the amalgamation working group. But we all have our regrets in life!

The link is https://www.facebook.com/mary.richardson.1044/posts/1006849599432412

FROM STUART MACTAGGARTT
Totally agree with the comment that the Scottish women's amateur championship has been downgraded at a stroke by the selectors' failure to pick the champion for the forthcoming Home Internationals.
Only one of the last four standing at the "Scottish" has been picked.
Quite out of the ordinary!
I am sure this will provoke plenty of discussion over the coming weeks, starting at the Mackie Bowl on Sunday at Gullane!

Jess hits top form to lead England  U14 girls' championship   Northumberland’s Jess Baker shot the best round of her life to lead the English U14 girls’ open championship at The Nottinghamshire.  The 13-year-old from Gosforth Park Ladies scored one-over par 73 on the Signature course and is one ahead of Finland’s Kerttu Hiltunen and Zanaib Jeppe of Mill Green in Hertfordshire.  Switzerland’s Elena Moosmann is two shots further back on four over, while four girls are tied on plus-five: Daisy Kennedy (Stoke Park), Diya Patel (Pinner Hill), Ffion Tynan (Minchinhampton) and Chloe Gibbs (Royal Norwich). Jess (Image © Leaderboard Photography) is playing in this event for the first time and she opened in style with birdies on the first two holes.  “I played really well this morning and I really like the course. It’s the best round I’ve ever had.”  Baker was armed with a new driver, which she used to good effect, and she putted well, avoiding any three-putts. After her opening birdies she played steadily, with just three bogeys, and she kept her momentum going when she holed a downhill 30-footer for par on the short 16th.  Jess also played in yesterday’s final of the Abraham Trophy for England’s most improved girl golfers, on the basis of handicap, and she tied second with a net score of three-under 69.  Jess was introduced to golf by her father three or four years ago and is improving rapidly.  Last year she was playing off 18 of a handicap. This season she’s come down from 10 to six and her results at The Nottinghamshire will bring her down further. She trains with England Golf's regional U16 North squad. A total of 46 girls are contesting the U14 championship. After tomorrow’s second round the field will be cut to the leading 18 players and ties who will qualify for the final 18 on Thursday.  Click here for full scores Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf

Rosanna, 12, is England’s ‘most improved’ girl golfer Twelve-year-old Rosanna Halls claimed the title of England’s most improved girl golfer after she sped away to a five-shot win in the Abraham Trophy final.  Rosanna, from Gaudet Luce in Worcestershire (image © Leaderboard Photography), shot eight-under net 64 on the Signature course at The Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club. Her gross score was 79 – and it was the first time she had broken 80 in competition.  Her closest rivals were three girls who tied with net scores of three-under 69: Georgia Ann Pritchard (Beau Desert), Jess Baker (Gosforth Park Ladies) and Lexi Dart (Churston).  They were among 20 girls who contested the final, having qualified on the basis of handicap reduction. Rosanna, who held a 36 handicap last year, is now playing off 15 – and will be having another hefty cut after today’s round.  “I’m really, really pleased with my score,” she said. “It’s just been a pleasure to be here today.”  Her father, Richard, introduced her to golf about four years ago and she now boasts a lower handicap than him – and she loves the game.  “I think it’s an amazing sport, you meet new people and the courses you get to play are fantastic. It’s a lovely sport to play,” she said.  Click here for the full scores Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193