ALYSON MCGINNGLE - WINS THE 2017 WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

Alyson McGinnigle - 2017 West of Scotland Champion  and Handicap Trophy Winner

Alyson McGinnigle 

Emma Hale, Alyson McGinnigle and Susan Wood

Lorna McClymont and Alyson

Niamh Kenney and Romy Erskine - Renfrewshire Junior Team Winners

Ayrshire Team Award - Emma Hale, Lorna Ronnie, Liz Keohone (Captain) and Audrey Thompson

The West of Scotland Championship was played today on a beautiful warm and sunny day at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club. This is the first time in 4 years that it has not been postponed due to bad  weather.

The winner with a score of 76 was Renfrewshire's Alyson McGinnigle (Cowglen) with 76, BIH from, Ayrshire's Emma Hale,Troon Ladies, with Lanarkshire's Susan Wood Drumpellier in third place with 77. 

Alyson had a 2 under par inward half.

Alyson also won the Handicap Trophy. with a Net 71. D&A's Lorna McClymont, Milngavie, and Ayrshire's Elizabeth Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie) won handicap vouchers with a Net 75 .

The Ayrshire team of Emma Hale, Audrey Thompson and Lorna Ronnie won the Senior team trophy while the Junior Team Trophy was won by the Renfrewshire team of Niamh Kinney(Erskine)  and Romy Erskine (Kilmacolm)

Jennifer Linklater (Ayrshire), Liz Stewart (Renfrewshire) and Catherine Garrett (Ayrshire) had 2s. 

LEADING SCORES --  -- SSS 75 CSS 76 
76 Alyson McGinnigle (Cowglen), Emma Hale (Troon)
77 Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 
79 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
80 Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) Audrey Thomson (Loudoun Gowf)
81 Ruth Hunter (Lanark), Liz Stewart (Greenburn) 
82 Liz Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie)
83 Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) Susan McGrenaghan (Mount Ellen), Lorna Ronnie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
84 Lorraine Campbell,  Lesley Lloyd
88 Claire McLaughlin, Catherine Garret
89 Niamh Kinney, Catherine Malcolm
90 Romy Erskine, Justine Fulton , Joanne Sharp, Carol Whyte, Eva O'Connor
91 Laura McGeachy

92 Christine Milroy, Liz Keohone 

93 Gillian McGinlay

94 Jennifer Linklater

97 Katie Graham
NR Susan Woodhouse

 Thanks go to Jean Mcintyre for the report and photos

TARA MACTAGGART WINS BORDERS TITLE

Tara with her Dad Stuart and Grandfather

Tara Mactaggart (Minto) won the Border women's county championship at the Roxburghe Hotel golf course, Kelso today for the third time in a row.

She beat Judith Anderson by one hole in a tight final

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Tara beat Julie Birdsall (Roxburghe) by 2 and 1 while Judith was a one-hole winner againt Leanne Wilson (Kelso) in the other tie.

Tara with Doreen Pringle 

The Bronze championship has been run as a Stableford competition over the past few years to try to encourage ladies to participate at the Roxburghe. 

This year Doreen Pringle from Kelso was the winner for the first time with 30pts and Marion Blades from Peebles was the runner up with 29.

TOUGH FIGHT FOR ALISON DAVIDSON IN STIRLING COUNTY CHSHIP

Former Scottish champion Alison Davidson (Stirling) had to pull out all the stops to win her first-round tie on the 18th green when the match-play stages of the Stirling and Clackmannan women's county golf championship began at West Lothian Golf Club today (Sunday).

She prevailed over Fiona Watt (Bathgate) by one hole and now faces a "Tough" match, literally, her second-round opponent on Monday night being Margaret Tough (Falkirk) who was a 3 and 2 winner against Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk).

The going, in fact, was very tough for everybody with a very strong wind and very dry conditions .

The No 2 seed Lesley Gibb, the main home hope, on paper at least, lost lost to Mhairi Hall (Bathgate) by 3 and 2.

STIRLING AND CLACKMANNAN WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club
FIRST ROUND 
Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) bt Lindsey Sabin (Bonnybridge) 6 and 5.
Margo Gardner (Linlithgow) bt Elaine Allison ( Stirling) at 20th
Ruby Logan (West Lothian ) bt Maureen Shanks (West Lothian) at 19th
Linda Allan ( Glenbervie) bt Laura Bissett ( Braehead) 1 hole.
Margaret Tough ( Falkirk) bt Winifred MacCallum ( Falkirk) 3 and 2
Alison Davidson (Stirling ) bt Fiona Wait (Bathgate) 1 hole.
Jennifer Allan (Glenbervie) bt Tricia Chillas (Stirling) 3 and 2
Mhairi Hall ( Bathgate ) bt Lesley Gibb (West Lothian) 3 and 1

The quarter finals will be played on Monday 8th May
5pm MacGregor v Gardner
5.10 Logan v Linda Allan
5.20 Tough v Davidson
5.30 Jennifer Allan v Hall

THOMPSON WINS NORTHERN COUNTIES TITLE FOR SEVENTH TIME

Cara Thompson has won the Northern Counties women's county championship for a seventh time today (Sunday) at Tain Golf Club.

The leading qualifier, Cara beat Kerri Harper (Inverness) at the 19th in a classic final which could have gone either way.

Fiona Brand won the handicap title over her home course. She beat Susan Mackenzie (Elgin) by one hole in the final.

 NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

  Tain Golf Club

SCRATCH
Quarter-finals
Cara Thompson (Royal Dornoch) bt Ellie Docherty (Moray) 5 and 4
Molly O'Brien (Reay) bt Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) at 19th
Kerri Harper (Inverness) bt Ashley Rose (Royal Dornoch) 2 and 1
Mary Smith (Tain) bt Claire Riddell (Royal Dornoch) 4 and 3
Semi-finals
Thompson bt O'Brien 3 and 1.
Harper bt Smith 4 and 3.
Final
Thompson bt Harper at 19th

HANDICAP
Quarter-finals
Emma Logie (Buckpool) bt Fiona Hampton (Royal Dornoch) 7 and 6
Fiona Brand (Tain) bt Eleanor Munro (Forres) 3 and 1
Sally Rowan (Inverness) bt Katie Miller (Nairn) 4 and 2
Susan Mackenzie (Elgin) bt Sandy Jackson (Royal Dornoch) 2 and 1
Semi-finals
Brand bt Logie 3 and 1.
Mackenzie bt Rowan 5 and 4
Final
Brand bt Mackenzie 1 hole.

LAST YEAR'S ANGUS FINALISTS THROUGH TO LAST FOUR AT MONIFIETH

Title-holder Jacqueline Cameron (Blairgowrie) and beaten finalist Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose), the 2015 champion, are through to next Sunday's (May 14) semi-finals of the Angus women's county golf championship at Monifieth Links.

Paton, the No 1 seed, won her quarter-final tie today (Sunday) by 7 and 6 over Louise Graham (Carnoustie Ladies).

Now Paton will play Ashley Smith (Monifieth), a 5 and 4 winner against Mandy Barlow (Edzell).

The other semi-final will be contested by Jacqueline Cameron, who beat Anna Hemings (Ladies Panmure Barry) 5 and 4, and Jackie Brown (Monifieth), a 3 and 2 winner over Susan Sneddon (Forfar).

In the handicap championship semi-finals, also next Sunday, it will be Seonaid Falconer (Ladies Panmure Monifieth), conqueror of top seed Jan Ord (Forfar) by 4 and 3, against Wendy Smith (Monifieth), and Angela Campbell (Ladies Panmure Barry) versus Jodie Taylor (Downfield).

ANGUS WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Monifieth Links
SCRATCH
Quarter-finals
Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose) bt Louise Graham (Carnoustie Ladies) 7 and 6,
Ashley Smith (Monifieth) bt Mandy Barlow (Edzell) 5 and 4,
Jacqueline Cameron (Blairgowrie) bt Anna Hemings (Ladies Panmure Barry) 5 and 4,
Jackie Brown (Monifieth) bt Susan Sneddon (Forfar) 3 and 2.

HANDICAP
Quarter-finals
Seonaid Falconer (Ladies Panmure Monifieth) bt Jan Ord (Forfar) 4 and 3,
Wendy Smith (Monifieth) bt Susan Stewart (Montrose Caledonia) 7 and 6,
Angela Campbell (Ladies Panmure Barry) bt Liz Husband (Forfar) at 19th,
Jodie Taylor (Downfield) bt Christine Orr (Carnoustie Caledonia) 1 hole.

HOWIE AND BROUN FINISH IN TOP TEN AT FAIRHAVEN

Howie and Broun make top 10 at Fairhaven as Swede wins by TEN

Darren Howie (Peebles) and Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) were the highest placed Scots at the end of the prestigious Fairhaven Trophies boys and girls' tournament over 72 holes at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.

Howie shot 77, 77, 73 and 75 for 302 and eighth place.

Broun had scores of 76, 73, 78 and 77 for 304 and a share of 10th place. They were the only Scots to make the cut to the leading 40 after 36 holes.

The runaway winner of the event was Sweden's Ludvig whose two-under-par total of 286 (72-72-69-73) was 10 shots ahead of runner-up George Raitt (Whetstone).

Top finishing girl was Hollie Muse (West Lancs), who lives not far from the course. She was placed joint third on 297 with scores of 73, 70, 76 and 78. She was three under par over the girls' course.

FAIRHAVEN TROPHIES JUNIOR OPEN TOURNAMENT
Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Boys par 288 (4x72); girls' par 300 (4x75).

286 Ludvig Aberg (Swe) 72 72 69 73.
296 George Raitt (Whetstone) 76 75 72 73
297 Hollie Muse (W Lancs) 73 70 76 78, Cedric Otten (Ger) 75 71 75 76, Conor Gough (Stoke Park) 74 74 74 75.
299 John Brady (Rosslare, Ire) 78 71 72 78, Amelia Williamson (Royal Cromer) 74 72 76 77.


SELECTED TOTALS
302 Darren Howie (Peebles) 77 77 73 75 (8th)
304 Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle) 76 73 78 77 (T10)
305 Sara Byrne (Douglas) 78 77 74 76 (T12)
306 Ana Dawson (Peel) 73 79 77 77 (T15)
307 Amy Taylor (Bowburgh) 74 78 79 76 (T18)
327 Sophie Johnson (Telford) 77 78 78 94 (39th)

MISSED THE CUT TO LEADING 40
159 Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) 81 78, Ross Callan (Bathgate) 81 78 (T62)
161 David Rudd (Longniddry) 88 73, Ben Caton (St Andrews New) 83 78 (T80).
167 Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) 88 79 (T131)

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.

HANNAH McCOOK FINISHES THIRD IN WELSH STROKE PLAY

Hanna McCook

HANNAH McCOOK FINISHES THIRD IN WELSH STROKE-PLAY

Grantown-on-Spey's Hannah McCook finished third in the Welsh women's open amateur championship at Ashburnham, thanks to a second-round 69, the lowest by anyone in the star-studded field.

Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) pictured right, must have clinched a place in the GB and I Vagliano Trophy team for Italy in June with a five-stroke victory, returning improving scores of 75, 73 and 71 for a level par total of 219 over a testing links course in which the CSS was 80, 76 and 77.

Runner-up was another English player, Lianna Bailey (Kirby Muxloe3) with scores of 77, 72 and 74 for 224.

McCook totalled six-over 225 with rounds of 80, 69 and 76. Her middle round included two eacgles and three birdies but she could produce only two birdies in her final round. Nevertheless, it was a creditable effort by the Highlander.

Anglo-Scot Gemma Batty (Moffat) finished T10 on 230 (77-77-76) alongside first-round leader Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe) (73-79-78).

WELSH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ashburnham Golf Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73). SSS 77. CSS 80 76 77

219 Gemma Clews (Delamere Forest) 75 73 71.
224 Lianna Bailey (Kirby Muxloe) 77 72 75
225 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) 80 69 76
226 Rochelle Morris (Woodsome Hall) 77 74 75
227 Bethan Morris (Tenby) 77 76 74
228 Jordan Ryan (Newport) 79 78 81
229 Georgia Coughlin (St Annnes Old Links) 82 71 76, Georgia Price (Bude and N Cornwall) 79 73 77, Paula Grant (L8isburn) 80 72 77

SELECTED TOTALS
230 Gemma Batty (Moffat) 77 77 76, Sophgie Lamb (Clitheroe) 73 79 78, Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) 81 76 73 (T10)
233 Sammy Fuller (Roehampton) 82 75 76 (T16).
236 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 81 78 77 (T21).
237 Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 83 78 76, Annabell Fuller (Roehampton) 79 75 76 (T25).
240 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 86 75 79 (T36)

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

Northern Counties and Aberdeenshire county finals morning results

Cara Thompson reaches Northern Counties final again at Tain

Cara Thompson (Royal Dornoch), beaten in last year's final, is through to the last stage again in this year's Northern Counties women's county championship at Tain.
She plays Kerri Harper (Inverness) in the final.

This morning's semi-finals resulted:
Scratch:
Cara Thompson (Royal Dornoch) bt Molly O'Brien (Reay) 3 and 1
Kerri Harper (Inverness) bt Mary Smith (Tain) 4 and 3

Handicap:
Fiona Brand (Tain) bt Emma Logie (Buckpool) 3 and 1
Susan Mackenzie (Elgin) bt Sally Rowan (Inverness) 5 and 4


St Andrews student through to Aberdeenshire County Championship final at Cruden Bay

St Andrews University third-year geology student Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) is through to the final of the Aberdeenshire women's county championship for the first time at Cruden Bay.

Molly, who has a handicap of four and was the 10th of the 16 match-play qualifiers, followed up her upset win over No 2 seed and senior international Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) in the quarter-finals by beating Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) by 4 and 3.

In the final, Stewart will play the 2011 champion Donna Pocock (Kemnay), a 4 and 3 winner over Fiona Campbell (McDonald Ellon) in the other semi-final.

The county handicap final was won by Karen Mackay (Murcar Links) (handicap 13) who beat Catriona Macdonald (Aberdeen Links) (15) by 5 and 4. This is only the second county competition Karen has entered.

SCRATCH
Semi-finals -
Donna Pocock (Kemnay) bt Fiona Campbell (McDonald Ellon) 4 and 3,
Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) bt Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) 4 and 3.

HANDICAP
Final -
Karen Mackay (Murcar Links) (13) bt Catriona Macdonald (Aberdeen Ladies) (15) 5 and 4

LORENA OCHOA MATCHPLAY

From the LPGA Website....

MEXICO CITY – Michelle Wie was a bit gobsmacked when it was over. Relieved. Tired too. She had survived a 20-hole marathon quarter-final against Angel Yin, who eagled two pars 5s on the front nine, reaching the par-5 sixth hole with an iron. Wie stood four down through seven holes at the LPGA Tour's Lorena Ochoa Match Play to an 18-year-old rookie who absolutely bombs the ball.

"I think that was the definition of survival out there," said Wie, who will face Ariya Jutanugarn in the next round Sunday. "She played so good."

Wie cruised through her first three matches, never needing to go past the 16th hole. That proved key as she entered a hefty test against Yin. Wie also heaped plenty of credit to her caddie Matt Galloway, who has been with her since she contended in Sinagpore.

"I'm really proud of my caddie for motivating me, and just kind of keeping me in my head," said Wie, the last American standing here in Mexico City. "We fought so hard out there."

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster was out watching the Wie/Yin playoff. She is, of course, well-versed in all things Wie. But Yin, ranked 86th in the world, is a new face for the Hall of Famer.

Yin first qualified for the U.S. Women's Open in 2012 at Blackwolf Run. At the ANA Inspiration in 2014, Yin opened with a 68 in the first round. She was massively star-stuck that week but made the cut.

"If (Michelle Wie) sat next to me and said hi to me, I'd probably run," Yin said then.

Now here she was in Mexico going toe-to-toe with the most well-known player on tour.

On the 19th hole, Yin bombed it more than 30 yards past Wie off the tee, but they halved the hole with pars. On the par-5 second hole, their 20th, Yin went long on her second shot, and then ping-ponged back over the green from the bunker on her third. It was a sloppy par. Wie won the hole with birdie to advance to the semis.

"I definitely deserve a glass of wine after this," said Wie, laughing.

Ariya Jutanugarn, who is using driver for the first time this year, went 19 holes with Cristie Kerr before securing her spot in the semifinals. She'll face Wie at 7:40 a.m. local time.

M.J. Hur continued her impressive run, adding Shanshan Feng to her list of big-name triumphs. Hur took down Pettersen in the second round and Ko on Saturday morning. She'll meet Sei Young Kim at 7:30 a.m.

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