P AND K BEAT ABERDEENSHIRE TO WIN TITLE AT NAIRN

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Perth and Kinross team and officials with the trophy at Nairn. Picture by Robin Wilson.

Perth and Kinross toppled title-holders Aberdeenshire in the final match to win the North Division women's inter-county team title at Nairn Golf Club. So P and K go forward to represent the division in the Scottish women's county finals at Glenbervie from September 15 to 17, writes Colin Farquharson.

At the weekend Aberdeenshire beat Angus and Northern Counties while P and K were held to a draw by Angus after beating Northern Counties.

That meant Aberdeenshire needed only to draw with P and K to win the title. And when they led 2-1 after the morning foursomes, it looked a formality for the 2016 champions.

But there's many a slip ...  Perth and Kinross won four of the six singles through the efforts of Emily Ogilvy, Laura Campbell, Eilidh Watson and Jen Saxton, to overturn their deficit and win 5-4.

Saxton clinched the P and K win by beating Kimberley Beveridge by one hole after halving the last two holes.

Donna Pocock and Sammy Leslie were Shire's only winners in the singles.
Renfrewshire, winners of the West Division, are already through to the Scottish county finals. The East Division jamboree will be played at Stirling Golf Club from June 26 to 28.

 

 

Monday's final results:

 

 PERTH and KINROSS 5, ABERDEENSHIRE 4

FOURSOMES (1-2)

Isla Moncrieff and Laura Campbell lost to Molly Stewart and Carol Wilson 5 and 4

Laura Walker and  Eilidh Watson bt Sheena Wood and Donna Pocock 1 hole

Emily Ogilvy and Jen Saxton lost to Sammy Leslie and Kimberley Beveridge 4 and 3

SINGLES (4-2)

Ogilvy bt Stewart 2 and 1.

Moncrieff lost to Pocock 2 and 1.

Campbell bt Wilson 7 and 5.

Walker lost to Leslie 2 and 1

Watson bt Rachel Polson 8 and 6

Saxton bt Beveridge 1 hole.

 

 ANGUS 4, NORTHERN COUNTIES 5

 FOURSOMES (1.5-1.5)

Ailsa Summers and Rebecca Wilson lost to Kerri Harper and Carinne Taylor 3 and 2.

Ann Ramsay and Ashley Smith bt Cara Thompson and Ellie Docherty 2 and 1

Katie Reid and Fiona Gilbert halved with Steph Coverley and Ashley Rose

 

SINGLES (2.5-3.5)

Ailsa Summers lost to Thompson 3 and 2.

Reid lost to Taylor 6 and 5.

Smith lost to Harper 3 and 2.

Ramsay bt Claire Ross 2 holes.

Wilson halved with Coverley

Gilbert bt Ashley Rose 2 and 1.

HOW THEY FINISHED AT NAIRN

1 Perth and Kinross 2.5pt

2 Aberdeenshire 2pt

3 Northern Counties 1pt

4 Angus 0.5pt

 

 

 

Shannon's form earns promotion to Scotland

women's team for Europe

 

SCOTTISH GOLF NEWS RELEASE

In-form North-east teenager Shannon McWilliam has earned a step up to the Scotland women’s team for their European Team Championship next month.

 

The 17-year-old from Aboyne ([pictured) was an automatic selection for the Girls’ side, but her consistent form in leading events has secured her inclusion in the six-player line-up for the European Ladies Team Championship at Montado, Portugal from July 11-15.

 

David Patrick, National Women’s and Girls’ Coach, said: “Shannon finished joint-second at the Scottish Girls’ Open, second at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s, tied seventh in qualifying at the Ladies’ British Amateur and was the best-placed Scot at the European Individual last year. In the biggest events, she has a good record of performing when it counts.”

 

With leading player Jessica Meek unavailable as she finishes her college degree at the University of Missouri, McWilliam is joined by new Scottish Women’s Amateur champion Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), the only automatic selection from the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

 

Four further selectors picks went to experienced Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Chloe Goadby (St Regulus), Hannah McCook (Grantown-on-Spey) and St Rule Trophy winner Clara Young (North Berwick).

 

The Girls’ team for their European team event at St Laurence, Finland from July 11-15 features Girls’ Order of Merit leader Jillian Farrell from Cardross, a semi-finalist at the Scottish Women’s Amateur, and another automatic selection in Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore), third on the Order of Merit.

 

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride), Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) and Molly Richmond (Strathaven) make up the team as selectors' picks.

 

Patrick added: “On the women’s side, all players have shown good form throughout the year so it’s been one of the toughest teams to make for a while. We’re looking to get into the top eight matchplay stage in Portugal and then anything is possible after that.

 

“On the girls’ side, again the players have progressed. All the girls have played either Europeans or Home Internationals before, so for the first time in quite a few years we’re going with some experience. Again, we’re looking to reach the knockout, but we know it will be tough. There is an expectation they can do better than in previous years.”

 

Meantime, Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) and Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) will represent Scotland in the female event at the European Young Masters in Oslo, Norway from July 27-29. Aidan O'Hagan (Old Course Ranfurly) and Cameron Gallagher (Longniddry) will tee up in the boys’ section.

 

The Scottish Golf National Squads are sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and supported by sportscotland.

 

Scotland Women’s Team for European Team Championship:

 

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)

Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)

Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies)

Hannah McCook (Grantown-on-Spey)

Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne)

Clara Young (North Berwick)

 

Reserve 1 – Gemma Batty (Moffat)

Reserve 2 – Heather Munro (Monifieth)

 

Scotland Girls’ Team for European Team Championship:

 

Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore)

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)

Jillian Farrell (Cardross)

Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies)

Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead)

Molly Richmond (Strathaven)

 

Reserve 1 – Kirsten Brown (Strathaven)

Reserve 2 – Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle)

 

Quality field for Irish close championship at Mullingar

  

 IRISH LGU NEWS RELEASE

A top-class field, including Irish Internationals and last week’s Ladies British Open Amateur Championship leading stroke play qualifier Paula Grant (Lisburn) will take to the course at Mullingar this week in the hope of being crowned Irish Ladies’ Close Champion. 2016 Champion Olivia Mehaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) will not return to defend her title but there is a host of players who will be gunning for the top spot come Sunday afternoon.

 

Great Britain and Ireland Vagliano Trophy player Maria Dunne (Skerries), alongside Grant and Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan, will get play underway from the 1^st tee on Thursday morning. Last year’s runner-up, Louise Coffey (Malone), is scheduled to open her 2017 bid at 08:10 together with Girls’ International Valerie Clancy (Killarney) and recent Royal Portrush Scratch Cup winner Mary Dowling (New Ross).

Sara Byrne (Douglas), who will also represent GB and I at the Junior Vagliano Trophy in Italy from June 29 – July 1, has had a stellar season so far, including good finishes at the Fairhaven Trophy as well as the Irish Girls’ and Women’s Open Stroke Play Championships, and will be hoping for a positive finish this week before heading to Bogogno.

 

The Irish Women’s Close Championship was last played over the Belvedere course in 1965, when Elizabeth Purcell (Milltown) beat Pat O’Sullivan (Tramore) by a 3 and 2 margin in the final.

More recently, the Irish Girls’ Close Championship was held at the David Jones-designed course in 2008. That year saw Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) take the title when she overcame her twin  Leona 4 and 3 in the final. H

Having gone on to win the Irish Women’s Close the following year at Fota Island, Lisa returns this year, having completed her Junior year at Duke University, to compete for the title again. Mullingar is always in magnificent condition and will no doubt provide a significant test for Ireland’s elite.

 

Competitors play 36 holes stroke play on the first day with 32 players qualifying for the Championship match play.  Those who are defeated in the first round of the Championship match play will then continue play in the Plate match play.

 

All information for the Irish Women’s Close Championship, including the draw can be found HERE.

 

1^st tee/10^th tee

Rd 1  Rd 2     Player (Club)
08:00  13:30       Chloe Ryan (Castletory /UCD) Maria Dunne (Skerries) Paula Grant (Lisburn)   

08:10  13:40       Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Mairead Martin (Kanturk) Ciara Casey (Hermitage)  

08:20  13:50       Lucy Simpson (Massereene) Aedin Murphy (Carlow) Rachel Thompson (Cork)

08:30  14:00       Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) Gillian O'Leary (The Island) Orla Dunphy (Kilkenny)

08:40  14:10       Una Marsden (Tullamore) Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) Paula Walsh (Doneraile)

08:50  14:20       Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) Catriona Griffin (Killarney) Aine Donegan (Woodstock)

09:00  14:30       Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) Aoife Lowry (Tipperary) Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook)

09:10  14:40       Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) Roisin Brady (Co. Louth           

09:20  14:50       Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) Anna Foster (Elm Park)

09:30  15:00       Jan Browne (Kilkenny) Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) Chloe O'Connor (Roscommon)

09:40  15:10       Niamh O'Dwyer (Lahinch) Canice Screene (Hermitage) Clare Calvert (RCDL)              

09:50  15:20       Shannon Hegarty (Ennis) Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) Olivia McClurg (Belvoir Park)

10:00  15:30       Lavinia Bowe (Royal Co. Down Ladies) Anna McVicker (Belvoir Park) Katie O'Hart (Arklow)

 

10^th tee/1^st tee

Rd 1    Rd 2    Player (Club)

08:00    13:30    Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)

08:10    13:40    Valerie Clancy (Killarney) Louise Coffey (Malone) Mary Dowling (New Ross)    

08:20    13:50    Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) Mary Doyle (The Heath) Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington’)

08:30    14:00    Sara Byrne (Douglas) Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) Molly Dowling (Lucan)                  

08:40    14:10    Rachael McDonnell (Elm Park) Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) Niamh Ward (Lurgan)

08:50    14:20    Shannen Brown (The Heath) Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) Hannah Henderson (Ballyclare)

09:00    14:30    Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) Georgia Carr (Milltown)                     

09:10    14:40    Clodagh Jones (Roscrea) Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) Zoe Collins (Castle Royle)    

09:20    14:50    Hilary Hall (Enniscrone) Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) Claire McGonagle (Portsalon)

09:30    15:00    Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park) Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) Lauren Murray (Delgany)

09:40    15:10    Molly O'Hara (Clandeboye) Caroline Hewitt (Courtown) Katie Keenan (Kilkenny)         

09:50    15:20    Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Fiona Farrell (Skerries) Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle) 

10:00    15:30    Rebekah Gardner (Carnalea) Anna Dawson (Tramore) Ann Marie Conlon (Mullingar)

 

Carla Reynolds

Irish Ladies Golf Union

 Junior Development, Public Relations & Communication

 Scot Karis has "bad last day" in Korean Open

Scottish-born, Queensland-raised  Karis Davidson, the highest Scot in the world's female  amateur rankings, finished T60 in the Korean Ladies Open.

She had scores of 75, 75, 73 and 80 for a total of 303, compared
with the winner, Ji Hyun Kim, who scored 74, 68, 72 and 69 for 283.
Her mother, Faye, told "Kirkwoodgolf,""After Day 3 Karis was tied 33rd but she had a bad last day - she said it was a long unforgiving course!  Karis is now off to the Japanese Women's Amateur Championship. I will let you know how she goes."