THAI STARLET ATTHAYA THITIKUL SECURES WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN AT WOMEN’S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP IN SINGAPORE

Atthaya Thitikul

Singapore, 24 February 2018: Emerging Thai star Atthaya Thitikul, 15, secured a dramatic wire-to-wire victory at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific by winning a four-way play-off at Sentosa Golf Club and securing places in two of this year’s major championships.

Continuing to sing, laugh and joke with experienced caddie Roongroj ‘Yod’ Boonsri, Thitikul carded a closing 71 to join Japan’s Yuna Nishimura (69), the Philippines’ Yuka Saso (68) and New Zealand’s Wenyung Keh (67) with an eight-under total of 276 over the 6,456-yard New Tanjong course.

After narrowly missing birdie-putt chances to win on the first two extra holes on 18, Thitikul tapped in for par on the long par-four 12th before 17-year-old Nishimura missed a long par putt to concede victory. Keh, 20, and Saso, 16, exited after the first and second extra holes respectively.

Thitikul, who only turned 15 on Tuesday, started the event at 53rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with recent highlights including becoming the Ladies European Tour’s youngest-ever winner last July and gold medals in the SEA Games individual and team events in Malaysia a month later.

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KOREAN AYEAN CHO HEADS LEADERBOARD AFTER WET FRIDAY AT WOMEN’S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP IN SINGAPORE

Ayean Cho of Korea

 Singapore, 23 February 2018: Korean Ayean Cho, 17, was in pole position at seven-under at the end of a rain-interrupted third day at the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.

 Cho was two-under for the day after 14 holes when play stopped at 7.20pm due to fading light. Action was suspended for most of the afternoon due to heavy rain and the threat of lightning before resuming at 6.20pm.

Thai starlet Atthaya Thitikul, also playing in the final flight, was six-under overall along with Japan’s Yuna Nishimura, who was playing in the second-last group and had three holes left to play.

 Yuka Saso, the Philippines’ top-ranked amateur, made a major move with four birdies putting her four-under after 17 holes and five-under overall, level with compatriot Lois Kaye Go, reigning Japan Women’s Amateur champion Yuka Yasuda and Korean Yunji Jeong, who all had yet to finish their rounds.

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R&A CHIEF EXECUTIVE MARTIN SLUMBERS PRAISES THE “EXTRAORDINARY” POTENTIAL OF THE WOMEN’S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

Martin Slumbers

Singapore, 22 February 2018: Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, described the potential of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship as “extraordinary” at a press conference featuring the championship’s Founding Partners at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. 

The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific was developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite female amateurs to the international stage. The inaugural edition teed off at Sentosa Golf Club’s New Tanjong course on Wednesday and will conclude on Saturday.

Slumbers said the annual championship, which will be held in Japan in 2019, had enormous potential and was part of an overall vision to grow the game globally and to bolster women’s and girls’ golf.

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GOLF’S NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM DESIGNED TO WELCOME MORE GOLFERS

20 February 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA: 

The way golfers around the world will calculate their handicaps is set to be transformed by a new system developed by The R&A and the USGA, with key features designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability.

The new World Handicap System, to be implemented in 2020, follows an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA.

The new system will feature the following:  

• Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability
• A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with some discretion available for national or regional associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction
• A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System, already successfully used in more than 80 countries
• An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control
• A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day
• Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation
• A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)
• A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game 

Quantitative research was conducted in 15 countries around the world, through which 76 percent of the 52,000 respondents voiced their support for a World Handicap System, 22 percent were willing to consider its benefits, and only 2 percent were opposed. This was followed by a series of focus groups, in which more than 300 golf administrators and golfers from regions around the world offered extensive feedback on the features of the proposed new system. 

This feedback has helped shape the WHS, which has been developed by The R&A and the USGA with support from each existing handicapping authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are working with our partners and national associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.  

“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers. Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.” 

Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, commented, “For some time, we’ve heard golfers say, ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,’ or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap.’ We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game. We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernising golf’s Rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.” 

The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.   

Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020.  When adopted, the World Handicap System will be governed by The R&A and the USGA and administered by national and regional associations around the world, with safeguards included to ensure consistency as well as adaptability to differing golf cultures. 

The existing six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.   

The announcement is the latest step in a multi-year collaboration between The R&A and the USGA, as well as national and regional golf associations around the world to introduce one set of Rules of Handicapping, aimed to support modernising, growing and improving accessibility of the sport. 

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A’s and the USGA’s efforts to implement a World Handicap System. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

To provide feedback on the new World Handicap System or for more information, visit www.randa.org. Golfers are encouraged to follow and join in the conversation on social media by using #golfwhs2020.

THE 150TH OPEN TO BE PLAYED AT ST ANDREWS IN 2021

History will be made once again at the home of golf in 2021 when The 150th Open is played at St Andrews from July 11 to 18.

Marking a true celebration of golf’s original championship and its historic ties to St Andrews, the occasion will be the 30th time that The Open has been played over the world-renowned Old Course where many of the greatest names in the history of golf have lifted the famous Claret Jug and been crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

Golf’s most international major championship was last played in St Andrews in 2015 when Zach Johnson defied difficult weather conditions to defeat Marc Leishman and 2010 Champion Golfer of the Year Louis Oosthuizen in a four-hole play-off and land his second major title. Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R and A, said “The Open holds a very special place in the hearts of golf and sports fans around the world. The Championship enjoys a historic and celebrated relationship with the Old Course in St Andrews and we are excited to be marking the occasion of the 150th Championship at the home of golf in 2021.

 “St Andrews has produced a revered group of outstanding Champion Golfers since The Open was first played on the Old Course in 1873. Once again we look forward to seeing the greatest players take on the challenge of the world’s most iconic links course in their pursuit of the Claret Jug.”

 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said, “As the world’s oldest and most prestigious professional golf championship, The Open is synonymous with both St Andrews and Scotland and I’m delighted St Andrews will welcome its 150th staging in 2021.
“The Open is without doubt one of the biggest events held in Scotland on a regular basis, drawing huge spectator attendance from outwith the country and providing a global media and broadcast platform to promote our outstanding golfing assets to future visitors.
“Through VisitScotland, we continue to support The Open and we will work with The R and A to deliver a Championship in 2021 befitting of its historical significance.”

Euan Loudon, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “There can be no more fitting celebration of the rich heritage of the Home of Golf and its relationship with the world’s oldest major championship than as host of The 150th Open. “It is always special when The Open returns to the Old Course and I am sure that excitement, both here in St Andrews and around the world, will build in anticipation of this special occasion. “Almost every great champion in the game has played on our famous Links and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of golfing greats for The 150th Open.”

The Old Course first hosted The Open in 1873 when the 13th Championship was played over an 18-hole course for the first time and was won by Tom Kidd. Since then, the historic links has witnessed some of golf’s most notable players go on to become Champion Golfer of the Year including JH Taylor, James Braid, Bobby Jones, Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

R and A nine-hole Championship Final will include Carnoustie's feared finish holes

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R and A

Club golfers throughout Great Britain and Ireland will have the opportunity to tee it up at Carnoustie shortly before the world’s greatest golfers compete at The 147th Open in July.

 A group of 42 men and women will compete in pairs by Stableford in the second staging of The RandA’s nine-hole championship final after securing their places through qualifying events run at golf clubs at which they are members.

 The Final of the nine-hole championship will be held on Saturday, July 14 and will played over the first four and last five holes of the Championship Course at Carnoustie.

 Finalists will be presented with the challenge of tackling the 16th, 17th and 18th holes of the renowned Angus links, considered by many to be the toughest finishing holes in golf.

 The nine-hole event is central to The RandA’s drive to promote this form of golf as an ideal way to enjoy playing the sport in less time, either recreationally or competitively for handicap purposes. 

Competitors will adopt Ready Golf in the Final of the nine-hole championship, which can be used in stroke play and includes a number of actions to improve the flow of golfers around the course and speed up play.

 Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development at The RandA, said: “Nine-hole golf is continuing to grow in popularity among golfers so we are encouraging clubs throughout Great Britain and Ireland to offer men, women and juniors more opportunities to enjoy this shorter format of the game, both socially and competitively.

 “Following the success of last year’s event, we are working with our affiliates in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support more clubs holding qualifying events for their members with the incentive of playing one of world’s most renowned courses ahead of The Open.”

 Qualifying events are open to men, women, boys and girls who are club members with a CONGU handicap. Please visit www.randa.org/9HoleChampionship for more information.

FOUR SCOTS TO PLAY IN ARGENTINA NEXT MONTH

Four Scots - Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) - will travel to Argentina next month to compete in the South American men's and women's amateur golf championships, supported by the R&A.

 The 72-hole events will be played at Martindale Country Club, Buenos Aires from January 12 to 16

Coronation Foursomes: Player's Blog

Linda Spence played in the grand final of the Coronation Foursomes in September.

Linda Spence and her playing partner Alison Turnball, from Elie & Earlsferry Golf Club both travelled from Edinburgh to play in the grand final of the Coronation Foursomes in September.
In the R&A website she writes about her experience teeing it up at the Eden Course and encourages women across Great Britain and Ireland to sign up for next year.

To read all about what she said -- Go to the R&A Website

ELAINE FARQUHARSON-BLACK TO CAPTAIN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN 2018 CURTIS CUP

Elaine receives the Curtis Cup from LGU president Diane Bailey after victory at Dun Laoghaire GC, Ireland June 2016

15 November 2017, St Andrews, Scotland: Elaine Farquharson-Black will captain Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup for the second time when the biennial encounter against the United States is played at Quaker Ridge from 8-10 June 2018.

Farquharson-Black, who played in the 1990 and 1992 matches, led GB&I to a 11½-8½ win over the United States when it was contested at Dun Laoghaire last year and will be looking to retain the trophy when the two sides face each other in New York next summer.
She will be assisted again by Helen Hewlett who will act as team manager for GB&I.
Elaine Farquharson-Black, Captain of Great Britain and Ireland, said, “I am very proud to have been selected to captain Great Britain and Ireland again and I am looking forward to the challenge of retaining the trophy after our memorable win at Dun Laoghaire last year.
“We will be working with a very talented group of golfers over the coming months before we select a team of eight players for what promises to be a thrilling match against the United States next summer.”

An invited group of six players will join Farquharson-Black on a visit to Quaker Ridge next week, including Alice Hewson, Leona Maguire and OIivia Mehaffey who all played in the winning GB&I team in 2016. India Clyburn, Sophie Lamb and Annabel Wilson will also join the trip to the east coast of the United States which will include opportunities for the players to practice on the course.
Next year’s match will mark the 40th staging of the Curtis Cup. It has been won 28 times by the United States and 8 times by GB&I with three matches having been tied (1936, 1958 and 1994).
After staging the Walker Cup in 1997, Quaker Ridge will become only the third course in the United States to have hosted both the Curtis Cup and Walker Cup following The Minikahda Club (1957 Walker Cup, 1998 Curtis Cup) and Marion Golf Club (1954 Curtis Cup , 2009 Walker Cup)

R&A New Rules Proposals

With only 5 days remaining to give feedback on the proposed new Rules, go to CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE R&A WEBSITE to have your say.

PALTRINIERI’S TITLE DEFENCE COMES TO AN END IN GIRLS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

18 August 2017, Enville, England: Emilie Paltrinieri's defence of the Girls British Open Amateur Championship ended in defeat by Elena Moosmann in the third round of match play at Enville today.

The Italian, who won the championship last year by beating Isobel Wardle 4&3 in the final at Royal St David's, lost by one hole to the Swiss youngster during a compelling contest earlier this morning.

A bogey by the 15-year-old on the short par three 16th proved to be decisive moment as the pair went on halve the 17th and 18th holes.

Moosmann looked to be easing a path to the semi-finals this afternoon after she played the first eleven holes in four-under-par to be 3up against Clarisse Louis of Belgium. However, a bogey on the 13th returned a hole back to the Belgian and a birdie three by Louis two holes later reduced the gap to one hole.

The match dramatically returned to all square after Moosmann bogeyed the 16th but the Swiss Amateur champion bounced back to win the final two holes, which included a 20ft eagle putt to close out the match on the 18th.

Lily May Humphries battled back from being three holes down against Spain's Teresa Diez to eventually win 2&1 in the third round before the England under 18 international swept aside her compatriot Samantha Fuller 6&5.

Humphries will now face Paula Kirner in tomorrow morning's first semi-final after the German defeated Sweden's Ellen Hutchison-Kay 2&1 in the third round before advancing to deliver an impressive 7&5 victory over Mayke Hoogeboom of the Netherlands in their quarter final match-up.

Kirner was never behind in the contest and picked up five out of six holes from the 4th to take full control of the match. A birdie on the 11th increased her lead to six holes and the match was closed out on the 13th after Hoogeboom could only make bogey.

Norway's Emilie Overas produced a good performance against Italian Clara Manzalini to win 3&2 after she narrowly overcame French youngster Lucie Malchirand by one hole in the previous round. Overas will now play Moosmann in the second semi-final.

The semi-finals (8.30am) and final (1.00pm) of the Girls Amateur Championship will be played tomorrow with each match being played over 18 holes.

Key Quotes:

Lily May Humphries

"It feels great to get through to the semi-finals and it's an improvement from last year when I got to the quarter finals.

"This afternoon was the best I've played in the whole tournament so far. I didn't make any mistakes out there. The first hole was a real highlight, I drove it right down the middle of the fairway and holed a thirty-footer for eagle.

"I hope to get to the final and win it, I'm playing well."

Paula Kirner

"I can't believe it, it's so great to have made the semi-finals. I played well and my putting was very good. I had two great birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. I had a bit of luck as well, it was a difficult match. I hope to go out and have a lot of fun tomorrow."

Emilie Overas

"I'm almost shaking right now, I don't really understand it, but I'm happy. I played very solidly and consistently. Clara is a great player but I was patient out there and played a lot of good shots. I kept fighting and it's good to have won. Tomorrow I will just try to play my game like I have all week."

Elena Moosmann

"I feel really happy to have won today. The putt on the last hole was big but I wasn't nervous about it. Apart from a couple of holes, I played really well."

Scoring from the Girls Amateur Championship will be available at www.randa.org/Championships. Follow The R&A on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates on social media

R AND A REPORT ON DAY 1 OF BRITISH GIRLS QUALIFYING

Defending champion Emilie Paltrinieri carded a three-under-par 69 to lead the Girls British Open Amateur Championship after the first round of stroke play qualifying at Enville.
During sunny conditions in the West Midlands the Italian produced some excellent play on the front nine, rolling in birdies on the the 2nd and 6th holes, both short par threes, and the 9th, which at 580-yards is the longest of the par fives on the course.
Back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th looked to have halted her charge but a birdie on the 18th resulted in a more positive outcome for the 15-year-old who has eyes on lifting the trophy for a second year running after beating Isobel Wardle at Royal St David’s last year.
Positive Paltrinieri
“I am very happy after today’s round”, said Paltrinieri. “I found good rhythm on the front nine to make some birdies although I had a couple of bad tee shots during the back nine, I managed to keep my score. I feel quite confident going into tomorrow’s round.
“The conditions were good today and even though there are lots of trees, with the little wind it was easy to keep the ball on the fairway.”

McWilliam sets early pace

Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam was in the first group out on the course at 06:30 this morning and she set the early clubhouse target after posting a two-under-par 70.
An early birdie on the 3rd was tempered by bogeys on 5th and 9th but the Aboyne-based youngster responded with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th before picking up another stroke on the par four 15th.
“I’m happy as I was just aiming to shoot level par”, said McWilliam. “I kept the ball on the fairway, hit the greens and holed some putts. It’s important to get a good score on the leaderboard early in the day and it’s nice to be up there.”
Chasing pack
Several players are in the chasing pack one shot further back and tied for third place on one-under-par, including Finland’s Anna Backman who reached the semi-finals of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig before losing to eventual winner Leona Maguire.

View live scoring and results from the Girls British Open Amateur Championship by Clicking Here

IRELAND AND ENGLAND ENJOY WINS AT LADIES' AND GIRLS’ HOME INTERNATIONALS

Ireland celebrate winning the 2017 Ladies' Home Internationals at Little Aston.
Courtesy of the R&A

England celebrate winning the 2017 Girls' Home Internationals at Little Aston.
Courtesy of the R&A

Ireland were crowned the 2017 Ladies' Home Internationals champions after England claimed victory in the Girls' Home Internationals today at Little Aston.

The England ladies' team looked set to claim the title for the sixth time in seven years after sharing the morning foursomes and then taking an early lead in the singles but that was before the Irish mounted a late comeback which resulted in them claiming a narrow 5-4 victory.

Lianna Bailey beat Paula Grant 4&2 in the first singles on the course but the turnaround got underway when teenager Annabel Wilson came back from five down at the turn to beat Sophie Lamb by two holes.

Chloe Ryan (3&1) and Julie McCarthy (5&4) then got the better of India Clyburn and Gemma Clews before Mairead Martin came up the last and halved with Olivia Winning. Rochelle Morris did earn one final point for the English when she beat Curtis Cup colleague Maria Dunne by one hole in the last singles but by that time the outcome had been settled.  

In the girls' event, a strong English team were in dominant form throughout the match in spite of losing Amelia Williamson to gastroenteritis on the eve of the championship.

Despite being down to six players for the three-day tournament, England defeated Wales 8-1 and Scotland 7-2 before battling hard to defeat a tough young Irish squad by 6 ½ - 2 ½ on the last afternoon.

The English claimed the morning foursomes 2 ½ - ½ and then went further ahead when in the singles Hollie Muse and Samantha Fuller both won their sixth matches out of six by recording 6&5 victories over Lauren Walsh and Sara Byrne.

However, the Irish never stopped fighting and got the result they deserved when Emma Forbes beat Hannah Screen 2&1. Rachel Thompson and 13-year-old Beth Coulter earned halves against Lily May Humphreys and Emily Price. The other English winner was Martha Lewis who beat Valerie Clancy by 5&4.

The matches to decide third and fourth places in both the ladies' and girls' events were fought out between Scotland and Wales with the Scots coming out on top by a 6 ½ - 2 ½ margin.

In the ladies' match Scotland made their intentions clear when they romped into a 2 ½ - ½ lead in the morning foursomes and notched up wins in the afternoon from Hannah McCook, Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Batty. Connie Jaffrey and Shannon McWilliam earned halves over Kath O'Connor and Megan Lockett. Georgia Lewis registered the sole win for the Welsh when she beat Chloe Goadby 2&1.

The Scotland girls team again claimed third place by defeating Wales by the same scoreline. They were also 2 ½ - ½ up after the morning foursomes and sealed victory with singles wins from Hazel MacGarvie, Jasmine McIntosh, Hannah Darling and Louise Duncan. Caitlin Evans-Brand and Carys Worby were the Welsh winners as Scotland took the singles 4-2.

The 2018 Ladies' and Girls' Home Internationals will be played at Ballybunion from 8-10 August.

Key Quotes:

Clodagh Hopkins (Ireland Ladies' captain)

"This is just amazing. I can't believe it has happened. The English are a very strong team but I had an inkling we could get something out of the match. The girls have played so well and been so positive all week that I knew they had a chance. Every time we went out we did just enough and that's exactly what we did today.

"Golf in Ireland is looking good. Last year the girls did it. They put it up to us and we have responded. I think we'll all have a big celebration tonight."

Elaine Ratcliffe (England Ladies' captain)

"The Irish played some great golf on that back nine. It was still close after nine. We were up in two games but the others were really close. You've got to hand it to the Irish. I think some of our girls tired after a busy few weeks but it would be wrong to make excuses because the Irish played some really good golf and deserved to win.

"My girls are all a bit emotional at the moment. Golf can be a bit cruel and it certainly was for them this afternoon. We'll just have to re-group and get over it. Ireland did what they needed to do and congratulations to them."

Janet Melville (England Girls' captain)

"The plan this week was to try to win every session. We knew that wouldn't be easy but we've managed it so we're very pleased. We got off to a really good start this afternoon. They were all up early on so that took the pressure off a bit. Hollie (Muse) was amazing. She's been a real star this week."

Gemma Butler (Ireland Girls' captain)

"I'm absolutely thrilled. They are a very new, young team. We have four new Home Internationals players, three new caps, so to run the English so close is very encouraging. We knew we were up against it. We recognised that but after a shaky, nervous start we gave it a real go. I couldn't be more proud, particularly at the end when one of our new caps won on the 17^th and we managed to steal two halves on the 18^th.

"Annabel Wilson, aged 16, and Mairead Martin, aged 17, stepped up to the ladies' team this year. We generously let the ladies have them. We're building a new young team. We've got great hopes. We're building it very well and we've got a few girls champing at the bit. Irish girls' golf is in a good place right now."

NEW ELITE WOMEN’S AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHED IN ASIA-PACIFIC

(Left to Right): KJ Lee, Secretary, the APGC; Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive, The R&A;
 Mr. Norihisa Koda, Director, Tokyo Leisure Development; Dominic Wall, Director -Asia Pacific The R&A.
Both photos courtesy of the R&A

   

The R&A and Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) have announced that the first ever Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific golf championship will be played at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore from 21-24 February 2018.

The inaugural event will take place at the New Tanjong course and will provide the most talented women's amateur golfers in the region with the opportunity to earn an invitation to play in two major championships: the Ricoh Women's British Open and the ANA Inspiration.

The winner of the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific will be invited by HSBC, which supports women's golf around the world, to play in the eleventh staging of the HSBC Women's Championship, the region's leading women's golf tournament, being played the following week on the same course at Sentosa next year. 

It was also announced that the Royal Golf Club in Japan will be the venue for the championship in 2019 and 2020.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A said, "One of our overriding objectives is to identify opportunities to further develop and grow women's amateur golf in key regions around the world.

"The Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific offers the chance for the region's best amateur golfers to aspire to compete at the highest level. We have seen how successful the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has been in providing a springboard for the elite men's amateurs and we look forward to replicating this success in unearthing the emerging talents of the women's game in future."

Dr David Cherry, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, added, "It is an exciting time for women's amateur golf in the region and we are delighted to be partnering with The R&A to launch the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific championship.

"Some of the world's most talented women's golfers have come from the Asia-Pacific region and we believe that this event will be a hugely important opportunity for elite players to develop their skills and gain valuable experience."

The format for the championship will be 72 holes of stroke play and players will be invited to participate from member countries of the APGC based on the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™.  

Currently, there are 20 players from Asia-Pacific ranked in the WAGR™ Top 100, including Korea's Hye-jin Choi (2) and Eun-jeong Seong (9), China's Wenbo Liu (12), and Thailand's Pimnipa Panthong (31) and Paphangkorn Tavatanakit (32).

A total of 86 players will make up the field and it is expected that around 20 countries will be represented. A maximum number of six players from any country other than the host will be able to enter. The host country will receive an additional four invitations.

Kabaya Ohayo Group and Rolex will be the championship's principal sponsors, while IMG have been engaged to assist with tournament staging and TV broadcasting, which will include live coverage and highlights packages.

THE R&A HOSTS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN ST ANDREWS

A group of 21 women from the worlds of business, finance, sport, education and the media will meet in the clubhouse of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The summit, conceived and organised by Sky Golf presenter and businesswoman, Sarah Stirk, is designed as a pathfinder for a larger event next year. 

Keynote sessions on the art of confidence and the perception of ambition, the rise of female representation in the boardroom and what sport must learn from business for a sustainable future will be debated and will help shape the agenda for the summit planned for 2018.

Session leaders include Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg Technology news anchor, Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, Glasgow Life Chief Executive, and Jane Booth, Head of Research at Women Ahead.

Sarah Stirk said, "Major sport has the power to bring people together from all walks of life. It takes them out of the workplace and provides an inspiring forum for debate for those who occupy leadership positions in their own organisations.

Our aim this week is to move forward with an equality and diversity agenda for a full-scale summit in 12 months' time at the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes."

The summit is supported by The R&A and Ricoh Europe PLC. The R&A merged with the Ladies' Golf Union on 1 January 2017 and now has responsibility for running a series of elite women's amateur championships and international matches as well as supporting the development of women's and girls' golf around the world.

AMATEUR GOLFERS PLAY ON GOLF'S GREATEST STAGE AT ROYAL BIRKDALE

Pauline Rostron and Sally Pearson win The R&A
Nine Hole Championship Final at Royal Birkdale.

15 July 2017, Southport, England:

A group of 42 amateur men and women golfers competed in the first R&A Nine Hole Championship Final at Royal Birkdale today.
The group participated in a handicap pairs competition at the famous Southport links just five days before The 146th Open gets underway, playing the 10th to 18th holes.
Following a successful pilot at Royal Troon last year, more than 7,000 amateur golfers entered qualifying events across Great Britain and Ireland to reach the Final at the host venue of The Open.
Pauline Rostron, from Formby Ladies, and Sally Pearson, from Chester, were the overall winners and were both thrilled to play in a nine hole competition on the eve of golf’s original Championship.
The victorious pair returned a winning combined net score of 70.5 to be crowned champions in front of family and friends in the Royal Birkdale clubhouse.
“I feel totally exhilarated and also completely surprised!” said Sally, who was celebrating her 36th birthday as she took on the back nine of Royal Birkdale. “I love nine hole golf – it is much quicker. Even if you have a bad nine holes it doesn’t ruin your day. You can get around after work and I can’t encourage people enough to play nine hole golf.”
Pauline added, “I’m absolutely ecstatic – it’s fabulous. It’s a little bit of history.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to play here again – but to win as well is fantastic. If you can play after work in the summer – nine hole golf is much quicker.”

The R&A continues to work with national golf bodies in Great Britain and Ireland to promote nine hole golf as a quick and enjoyable way to play golf either socially or competitively.
Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Working for Golf at The R&A, said, “We have had a wonderful first Great Britain and Ireland wide Nine Hole Final here at Royal Birkdale today.
"Everyone genuinely enjoyed themselves – they appreciated being here and they revelled in the challenge of playing Royal Birkdale on the eve of The Open.
“It wasn’t all about what happened here today. It’s about promoting nine hole golf throughout Great Britain and Ireland and beyond. This event should serve as a reminder to golf clubs that golf, whether social or competitive, can be played more quickly if it’s played over nine holes. That’s the real message behind this event.”

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s Local Clubs’ Gold Medal Competitions 2017

Winners of the Men’s and Women’s Gold Medals, 
Edward Shannly and Fiona Hastie, with Sir Michael Bonallack OBE and Lady Bonallack, 
who presented the prizes.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s Local Clubs’ Gold Medal Competition, regarded as the Men’s Strokeplay Championship of St Andrews, was played over The Old Course on Sunday 14th May 2017. This was the 116th staging of the Gold Medal since first played in 1890 (there being no competition during The First and The Second World Wars).

The maximum starting Field of 60 was made up of 31 Competitors from The St Andrews Golf Club, 18 from The New Golf Club, 5 from The University of St Andrews Golf Club and 6 from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

At the end of Round 1, the joint-lead was held by Neil Moore and Edward Shannly, both from The New Golf Club, with scratch scores of 70, one stroke clear of the Field. The twelve Competitors with the lowest Round 1 scores, and any ties for twelfth place, qualified for Round 2. The qualifying score was 74, and 12 Competitors made the cut. After Round 2 and the conclusion of the Competition, the Runner-up with a 36-hole aggregate scratch scores of 145 (72 and 73 ) was Scott Finlay of The St Andrews Golf Club. The Winner of the Gold Medal, and the “2017 Champion of the Links”, with a 36-hole aggregate scratch score of 144 (70 and 74) was Edward Shannly of The New Golf Club.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s Local Clubs’ Women’s Gold Medal Competition, was also played over The Old Course on Sunday 14th May 2017. This was the first ever staging of a Women’s Gold Medal. A starting Field of 21 was made up of 16 Competitors from St Regulus Ladies’ Golf Club and 5 from The St Rule Club. The Runner-up with a scratch score of 80, was Susan Wood of St Regulus Ladies’ Golf Club (this was on the better inward half from Karen Marshall of The St Rule Club). The Winner of the Gold Medal, and the “2017 Women’s Champion of the Links”, with an 18-hole scratch score of 78, was Fiona Hastie of St Regulus Ladies’ Golf Club.

THE R&A AND USGA WORK WITH HANDICAP AUTHORITIES TO DEVELOP A SINGLE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM

19 April 2017, St Andrews, Scotland and Far Hills, N.J., USA: The R&A and the USGA are working with golf’s handicapping authorities to develop a single World Handicap System for the game.

More than 15 million golfers in over 80 countries presently have a handicap, a numerical index long used as a measure of a golfer’s potential skill level. Handicaps are currently delivered through six different systems around the world.

The aim of the proposed handicap system is to adopt a universal set of principles and procedures that will apply all over the world.

An extensive review of existing handicap systems administered by Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) has been undertaken.

Golf organisations from different parts of the world have also been engaged with the current handicap authorities for the past two years to help shape the proposed system, which takes into account the many different golf cultures and most common formats of play. Research conducted to date has also reviewed systems and best practices inherent to handicapping, such as course rating and administration.

A joint committee led by The R&A and the USGA has been formed, including representatives from each handicap authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada. The joint committee plans to announce its proposals later this year.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We have been concerned for some time that many golfers find the handicapping landscape to be complicated and can be frustrated when it is not always applied in the same way in different parts of the world.

“We are working closely with the existing handicapping bodies to benefit from their insights as we try to formulate a system that will be easy to understand and can be applied consistently on a global basis. We very much appreciate their support for this initiative.”

Mike Davis, Executive Director and CEO of the USGA, said, “One wonderful aspect of golf that separates it from other sports is the opportunity for players of differing abilities to play on an equitable basis through handicapping. With one global system, golf courses will be rated and handicaps calculated in a consistent manner everywhere in the world. Removing borders to provide an easy way for all to play together is great for the game and golfers everywhere.”

R&A BOOST FOR WOMEN’S GOLF

 

3 March 2017, Buckinghamshire, England: Women's golf received a boost recently when The R&A agreed to increase its funding for the Ladies European Tour (LET) and its development tour, the LET Access Series, for 2017.

 

The R&A, which completed its merger with the Ladies' Golf Union (LGU) at the start of the year, has supported the LET for over 20 years and the additional funding will help the LET to further develop its efforts to contribute to the growth of the game amongst women and girls.

 

Since the establishment of the LET's Development Department in September 2014 and the appointment of Mike Round as the Director of Development, the LET has been working more closely with the National Federations and event promoters to maximise the impact for women's and girls' golf. According to Mike: "Some of The R&A's funding will be targeted at supporting golf development programmes in a number of the countries where we have events. We will be looking to work with local and national partners to support coaching and activity programmes that aim to raise the profile of women's golf and increase participation."

 

Regarding the LET Access Series Tour Director, Di Barnard, said: "Through the Access Series events, we aim to provide amateurs and emerging young professionals with the opportunity to test themselves against other talented players on an international level so they can make a more informed decision about their futures. We are continually looking for ways to improve and grow the tour, and with The R&A's support, we will be able to look at developing a more extensive online scoring system that benefits our partners, provides valuable information to players and coaches, and also provide more engaging content for spectators."

 

"The R&A is delighted to be continuing our long-standing support for the LET and LET Access Series. We are committed to supporting the encouragement and development of women's and girls' golf through our merger with the LGU," said Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development at The R&A.

 

Information about the LET's commitment to golf development will soon be available through a new dedicated page on the LET's website www.ladieseuropeantour.com.