MOLLY STEWART WINS ABERDEENSHIRE COUNTY TITLE FOR FIRST TIME.

Championship Group:
L to R: Sheila McNaught, Aberdeenshire LCGA Captain, Semi-finalist Fiona Campbell (McDonald Ellon), Runner Up Donna Pocock (Kemnay), 2017 County Champion Molly Stewart (Murcar Links), Semi Finalist Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Leading Qualifier Gillian McKenzie (Banchory), Margaret MacNaughtan, Aberdeenshire LCGA President

Molly Stewart (Murcar Links), a 20-year-old third-year geology student at St Andrews University and a four-handicap golfer, has won the Aberdeenshire women's county championship for the first time at a windy Cruden Bay today.  Gusts were recorded at 30mph.

Conqueror of No 2 seed and senior international Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) in the quarter-finals, Molly followed that up by beating two Shire county players on the final day ... Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) by 2 and 1 in the morning semi-finals and Donna Pocock (Kemnay), the 2011 champion, by 2 and 1 in the final.

In the final Molly was 1 up after a birdie 2 at the 4th , and 2 up after 7.  Donna won the 10th with a par 4 and the match returned to all square by the 13th.  Two up again at 15, Molly conceded the 16th before winning the 17th with a par 5 to clinch the title 2 and 1.

Molly, who beat the 2015 and 2016 title-winner Sammy Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies) in the first round, was 10th of the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages while Donna was No 5.

Pictures by courtesy of Karen Stalker, secretary of Aberdeenshire LCGA

The Handicap group
L to R: Margaret MacNaughtan, Aberdeenshire LCGA President, Runner Up Catriona Macdonald (Aberdeen Ladies), Handicap Champion Karen Mackay (Murcar Links), Sheila McNaught, AberdeenshireLCGA Captain.