| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
The 99th Scottish Ladies' (close) Amateur Championship finished in miserable wet weather but it was all smiles in the Clubhouse when Alyson McKechin was presented with the Champions Trophy, Clara Young the Beddows Trophy and Kimberly Beveridge The Clark Rosebowl.
Congratulations to Clara Young on winning in her Quarter Final Match 3 & 2 against Eilidh Briggs and Semi Final Match against Rachel Polson 4 & 3 to become the youngest competitor at 16 to reach the final of the Scottish Ladies' (close) Amateur Championship in its 99th year.
In contrast to the sunshine on Friday the Final was played in miserable conditions. Undeterred by the conditions a crowd of over a hundred turned out to watch. Among the onlookers was Catriona Matthew a three time winner of the title.
Nineteen year old Alyson McKechin, from Elderslie had reached the final after a 2 & 1 win over Megan Briggs who had already beaten Lesley Atkins and Hilary Wardell.
Alyson started strongly with biries at 2 of the first 3 holes reaching the turn in two under par and a 5 hole lead. As the weather deteriorated Clara started her fight back and Alyson’s game lost its edge. Clara clawed back 3 holes to be 2 down with 3 to play. A par at the short 16 however sealed a 3 & 2 win for Alyson.
Clara wins the Beddows Trophy as runner up and having had a good week at Longniddry hopes to go one better at Prestwick next year.
Clara would like to thank everyone who turned out to support her over the last week and especially everyone who braved the weather to watch the final.
The East Lothian Team of Lesley Atkins, Hilary Wardell and Clara Young won the McNeil Trophy at Longniddry.
This trophy is awarded to the County team returning the lowest aggregate gross scores in the qualifying rounds. Congratulations to the team, well done on good scoring in some rather difficult conditions.
We have 4 County ladies who have reached the final 32 for the match play rounds which start tomorrow (Thursday 16th May 2013). Details and tee times are below.
In addition to the qualifiers our Captain Dawn Young, Sophie Bain, Joanne Free and Shannon Young also took part.
8.46 Catherine Small v's Hannah Scott
9.26 Clara Young v's Jenny Potter
9.50 Lesley Atkins v's Megan Briggs
9.58 Hilary Wardell v's Nichola Ferguson
The 2nd day’s play of ELLCGA Championships started in superb weather with sun and a gentle breeze. The course was again in fabulous condition with superb true greens getting speedier by the hour!
In the 1st semi final, Mary-Lou Watkins (Gullane), not firing her usual game, received no mercy from Jane Herd (Musselburgh) who seemed to do very little wrong. The match concluded on the 12th with Herd winning 7 & 6. In the 2nd semi a similar story was unfolding and Sue Penman (Gullane) lost on the 13th to Clara Young (North Berwick) 7 & 5.
The Handicap Quaich Final was taking place at the same time as the semi’s and this was a tight affair between Anne Blundell (Musselburgh) and Dianne Brown (Renaissance). Blundell fought hard to keep Brown at bay but Brown was too steady. The match ended on the 17th with Brown clinching a 3 & 1 victory.
After a tasty lunch, the finalists Jane Herd and Clara Young prepared for battle as the wind started to stiffen. The good weather produced a healthy crowd of spectators who would be rewarded with some great golf to watch.
Young was level par after 7 holes to take a commanding lead of 6 up. A lost ball for Young down the left side of the 8th saw her sprint back up the hill to play 3 off the tee. With Herd sitting nicely positioned on the green in 2 the hole was conceded to take the score back to 5 up. Herd lost the 9th due to a wayward tee shot but halved the par 3 10th and won the 11th by holing a good 15ft putt to get back to 5 down. A bunkered tee shot saw Herd lose the 12th to go back to 6 down. Young nailed her tee shot on the 301 yd, par 4, 13th to sit on the back edge of the green and Herd was unfortunate to find sand with a good drive and would take 3 to find the green. The match was conceded when Young putted down the green dead to the hole for her 1st birdie of the round and clinch a 7 & 5 victory. Young’s record of not playing holes 14 to 18 during the match play stages was still intact.
All matches were played in a good friendly spirit and some excellent golf was displayed throughout the 2 match play days.
The day came to a close with an open air prize giving and a presentation of an engraved decanter to Luffness New Golf Club from ELLCGA in gratitude of a unique occasion.
Photos from the day are below.
Thank you to all those who have supported the County and the players during tournament. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Mention must also be made of the extremely warm welcome our ladies received from the Club and the assistance given in helping the tournament to take place and run smoothly.
The first and second rounds of our county championships were held at a windy and sunny Luffness golf course today. The slick and true greens, with some very challenging pin positions, saw some beautiful putting to narrow the field down to 4 players.
No.1 seed and recently married Mary-Lou Watkins won her way through to the semi finals with a 3/2 margin of victory over Barbara McIntosh and a 2 hole win over 14 yr old SLGA Academy Squad player Joanne Free. In a very close game, Joanne unfortunately overshot the green at the last to run out of bounds onto the A198 road. In the first semi-final, Mary-Lou will meet Jane Herd who won against Dawn Young and Pam Hall by 4/3 and 2/1 respectively. Jane sank a lengthy putt on the 17th green to book another round on the lovely East Lothian Links.
The bottom half of the draw was mainly dominated by Gullane Ladies’ players. Sue Penman will meet Clara Young of North Berwick tomorrow morning. Sue surpassed Alice Archbold by 2/1 this morning and then defeated No.2 seed Hazel Saunders in a close, all-Gullane quarter-final by 2/1. Saunders previously beat Charlotte Munro another SLGA Academy Squad player in the first round.
After a 6/5 victory over Cynthia Guthrie, Clara young met Gail McKill who defeated Irene Stewart by 3/2 in the morning round. In the afternoon, Young again prevailed with a 7/5 victory over Mckill.
Tomorrows Handicap Quaich final will be contested by Anne Blundell and Dianne Brown. Blundell has had two close calls with extra holes needed for her to overcome Elaine Dick in the morning round and then a 1 hole win in the afternoon over Seline Stewart.
Dianne Brown progressed to the final after a 2/1 win over Gillian Whittaker and then a 3/2 win against Beth Scott in the semi-final.
Full days results below.
Photos of all the players on the 1st tee below.
CHAMPIONSHIP
1st Round Results
Mary-Lou Watkins (Gullane) beat Barbara McIntosh (Gullane) 3 & 2
Joanne Free (Gullane) beat Anne Sewell (Castle Park) 3 & 1
Jane Herd (Musselburgh) beat Dawn Young (North Berwick) 4 & 3
Pam Hall (Royal Musselburgh) beat Jenni Ray (North Berwick) 5 & 3
Hazel Saunders (Gullane) beat Charlotte Munro (Gullane) 4 & 2
Sue Penman (Gullane) beat Alice Archbold (Gullane) 2 & 1
Clara Young (North Berwick) beat Cynthia Guthrie (Gullane) 6 & 5
Gail McKill (Gullane) beat Irene Stewart (Musselburgh) 3 & 2
2nd Round Results
Mary-Lou Watkins (Gullane) beat Joanne Free (Gullane) 2 Up
Jane Herd (Musselburgh) beat Pam Hall (Royal Musselburgh) 2 & 1
Sue Penman (Gulane) beat Hazel Saunders (Gullane) 2 & 1
Clara Young (North Berwick) beat Gail McKill (Gullane) 7 & 5
HANDICAP QUAICH
1st Round Results
Seline Stewart (Musselburgh) beat Irene Campbell (Gullane) 3 & 2
Anne Blundell (Musselburgh) beat Elaine Dick (Dunbar) at 19th
Dianne Brown (Renaissance) beat Gillian Whittaker (Glen) 2 & 1
Beth Scott (Gifford) W/O Anne Marshall (Dunbar)
2nd Results
Anne Blundell (Musselburgh) beat Seline Stewart (Musselburgh) 1 Up
Dianne Brown (Renaissance) beat Beth Scott (Gifford) 3 & 2
Today saw ELLCGA hold our Spring Meeting and Championships Qualifier at Luffness New Golf Club. Now officially affiliated to the SLGA, the Club very kindly allowed the use of their fabulous course and clubhouse for the above competition. This was a historical occasion as we were the first official womens stroke play medal competition to be held over the Par 70, SSS 73 measured course.
Although the course, facilities and catering were excellent the weather was not and 110 ladies braved and battled very strong winds (see flag photo below) and heavy rain to take advantage of the opportunity to play over Luffness.
CSS 75
Results
Silver Scratch - Keren Ward (North Berwick) 75 (Course Record)
Silver H’Cap 1st - Janet Fairweather (Musselburgh) 81 – 11 = 70
2nd - Mary-Lou Watkins (Gullane) 77-6 = 71
3rd - Marion Currie (Glen) 87 – 15 = 72
Bronze Scratch - Seline Stewart 96 (Musselburgh)
Bronze H’Cap 1st - Gill Ellis-Pow (Royal Musselburgh) 98 – 24 = 74
2nd - Beth Scott (Gifford) 96 – 21 = 75
3rd - Elaine Dick (Dunbar) 101 – 25 = 76
2's :- Gill Ellis-Pow, Esther Jardine, Alice Archbold, Carol MacLeod, Janet Fairweather.
(A voucher will be sent by post to those who had 2's).
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW - Monday 6 May
9.00 am Mary-Lou Watkins (Gullane) (1) v's Barbara McIntosh (Gullane) (16)
9.08 am Ann Sewell (Castle Park) (8) v's Joanne Free (Gullane) (9)
9.16 am Jane Herd (Musselburgh) (4) v's Dawn Young (North Berwick) (13)
9.24 am Pam Hall (Royal Musselburgh) (5) v's Jenni Ray (NOrth Berwick) (12)
9.32 am Hazel Saunders (Gullane) (2) v's Charlotte Munro (Gullane) (15)
9.40 am Sue Penman (Gullane) (7) v's Alice Archbold (Gullane) (10)
9.48 am Clara Young (North Berwick) (3) v's Cynthia Guthrie (Craigielaw) (14)
9.56 am Gail McKill (Gullane) (6) v's Irene Stewart (Musselburgh) (11)
Afternoon Tee Off times are 2.00 pm, 2.08 pm, 2.16 pm, 2.24 pm.
HANDICAP QUAICH DRAW - Monday 6 May
10.04 am Seline Stewart (Musselburgh) (1) v's Irene Campbell (Gullane) (8)
10.12 am Elaine Dick (Dunbar) (4) v's Ann Blundell (Musselburgh) (5)
10.20 am Gillian Whittaker (Glen) (2) v's Dianne Brown (Rennaisance) (7)
10.28 am Beth Scott (Gifford) (3) v's Anne Marshall (Dunbar) (6)
Afternoon Tee Off times are 2.32 pm, 2.40 pm
Our thanks go to the secretary Tony Yeates and his assistant Fiona Verth, for all the help given during the process of organising the competition and on the day itself.
Thanks also to the Clubmaster Brian Denholm and his wife Julie and staff for looking after our members needs and providing fantastic fare.
Mention must also be made of the starter, Melville Hendry, who diligently set off all the ladies throughout the day from 7.30 am to 5.22 pm.
Last but by no means least, thanks to our Secretary who was on duty the entire day and to the ladies from the Committee who helped with registration and score returns throughout the day.
Without such help our competitions would not take place.
Finally, good luck to all those involved in the match play stages on Monday and Tuesday and hopefully the weather will be kinder to us!
The East Lothian Ladies Junior Girls Team of Charlotte Munro, Joanne Free, Sophie Bain and Lauren Lee travelled to Dunfermline Golf Club on Sunday 21st April to defend the Cuthbertson Cup. The weather conditions were not great, and there were some very heavy downpours throughout the day.
The morning match would see us take on Fife. All the girls performed extremely well and we would win the morning match 3-1. (Results below) This set up a re-run of the 2012 final against Midlothian, who had beaten Stirling and Clackmannanshire 3-1 in their morning match.
Play started in lovely sunshine but the rain would soon return. Charlotte Munro would lead out the East Lothian team against stiff opposition in Emily Dalgetty. Both girls played some great golf but Emily was just too strong for Charlotte and would win by 5&4.
Second out was Joanne Free playing against Jessica Dalgetty. This match was always in the balance with the match all square after 14 holes. Hopes were raised for a win when Joanne edged ahead after the 15th however Jessica played some great golf over the closing three holes to close out the match with a win for Midlothian 1 up.
Sophie Bain was third out and again was in a tight match with Eilidh Crawford. Both girls produced some lovely golf but it was Midlothian who took control of the match from the 13th onwards and Sophie would lose out by 4&2.
The trophy was now in the hands of Midlothian but the fourth and final match was still out on the course. Lauren Lee was playing Kirsty Burgess, and was two down with two to play. Many would have given up knowing the match was over but to Lauren’s credit she dug deep and won both the closing holes to save a Midlothian whitewash and earn East Lothian a very well deserved halved match.
All the girls did extremely well and were a real credit to East Lothian! They conducted themselves wonderfully and played all the matches in the correct spirit. This was a very young East Lothian Team who have many years ahead of them and I am sure the trophy will return to East Lothian soon.
Many thanks go to everyone who turned up to support the girls. This is always much appreciated by the team
Results
Morning
Charlotte Munro bt Brogan Clark 8&7
Joanne Free bt Anna McKay 7&5
Sophie Bain bt Chelsea Black 5&4
Lauren Lee lost to Abbi Wallace 2 up
Afternoon
Charlotte Munro lost to Emily Dalgetty 5&4
Joanne Free lost to Jessica Dalgetty 1 up
Sophie Bain lost to Eilidh Crawford 4&2
Lauren Lee halved with Kirsty Burgess