County Championships - Photos taken 25th April 2011

Here are some photos taken on Monday at the Championship Finals by Florence Allan and Robin Wilson.

Sally Rowan, Joan Darroch, Fiona MacDonald, & Liz Coghill

Jenny lining up her putt at the 5th

Spectators at the 5th

Anne Chipping at the 5th

Jenny Milne teeing off at the 1st

Anne Ryan teeing off at the 1st

Anne Ryan measuring to take a drop at the 10th

Fiona MacDoanld in action

Joan Darroch in action

Jenny Milne with her caddie Eleanor Tunn

Fiona MacDonald, Eleanor Tunn, Anne Ryan, Jenny Milne, Joan Darroch, Mary Smith & Sally Rowan

Anne Ryan(Tain), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Joan Darroch (Fortrose) & Fiona MacDonald (Royal Dornoch)

Joan Darroch - Handicap Champion

Jenny Milne - County Champion

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Coaching at Nairn Dunbar

Here are some photos taken at Nairn Dunbar at the coaching session with David Torrance in April.

Florence Allan

Captain

Eleanor Tunn & Hannah McCook

Anne Ryan, Mary Smith & Jenny Milne

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL RESULTS

Mary Benton Trophy (Scratch) 

Jenny Milne from Elgin beat Anne Ryan from Tain 3 and 2

Chetham Trophy (Handicap)

Joan Darroch (lady captain at Fortrose) beat Fiona Macdonald from Royal Dornoch 4 and 3.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Championships - Semi-final results

Scratch

Anne Ryan beat Eleanor Tunn 4 and 3
Jenny Milne beat Mary Smith at 19th hole

Handicap

Joan Darroch beat Sally Rowan 3 and 2
Fiona Macedonald beat Julie Fraser 7 and 5

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Championships - Quarter Final Results

Scratch

Eleanor Tunn beat Magi Vass 2 and 1
Anne Ryan beat Gillian Dowling 7 and 6
Mary Smith beat June Nicol 7 and 6
Jenny Milne beat Alison Bartlett 4 and 3


Handicap

Joan Darroch - walk over
Sally Rowan beat Doreen McCaig 2 up
Julie Fraser beat Sheila Duncan 5 and 3
Fiona Macdonald beat Irene Croal 4 and 3

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Championship Results - 1st Round Match Play

Eleanor Tunn beat Eilidh McTavish 5 and 4
Magi Vass beat Margot Barr 5 and 4
Gillian Dowling beat Winnie Ross 3 and 2
Anne Ryan beat Eilidh Mackay 3 and 1
Mary Smith beat Julie Vass 3 and 2
June Nicol beat Dorothy Lloyd 3 and 2
Alison Bartlett beat Lynne Fraser 3 and 1
Jenny Milne beat Susan Mackenzie 4 and 3

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Sammy Vass is Tops

What a pleasure it was to receive the following note from Ken Condon via Colin Farquharson.

"I went over for Radfords home tourney but it was cancelled due to snow!!  A hastily arranged friendly was organised for the following day at Gardner-Webb, and as it turned out, Kirsty was paired with Sammy Vass.  We couldn't have been made to feel more welcome, and Sammy's attitude, personality and demeanor on the course was apleasure!  She is a credit toher family, her University and her Country, so if you could pass this on I would be most grateful."

Florence Allan
Captain

Championship Draw for 24th April - Scratch & Handicap

0900 - Eleanor Tunn -v- Eilidh McTavish
0908 - Margot Barr -v- Magi Vass
0916 - Gilllian Dowling -v- Winnie Ross
0924 - Eilidh Mackay -v- Anne Ryan
0932 - Mary Smith -v- Julie Vass
0940 - June Nicol -v- Dorothy Lloyd
0948 - Lynne Fraser -v- Alison Bartlett
0956 - Susan Mackenzie -v- Jenny Milne


1300 - Joan Darroch -v- Christine Marshall
1310 - Doreen McCaig -v- Sally Rowan
1320 - Sheila Duncan -v- Julie Fraser
1330 - Fiona Macdonald -v- Irene Croal


Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

KELSEY TAKES BRITISH STUDENT'S TITLE

Congratulatons to Kelsey MacDonald who has just added another title to her collection.  

At West Lancashire Golf Club last week Kelsey won the British Universities' Women's stroke play title beating Jane Turner from Craigielaw Golf Course and Robert Gorden University, Aberdeen by a magnificent margin of 17 shots.  

Well done.

Florence Allan

Captain

GOOD LUCK AT THE HELEN HOLM

I am sure everyone would like to join me in wishing Kelsey, Cara and Hannah the best of luck when they play in the Helen Holm next week-end at Troon. 

DO YOUR BEST - PLAY WELL AND MOST OF ALL ENJOY THE GOLF.

As we will be at Fortrose & Rosemarkie for the County Championships we will be keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be fine for both competitions.

Florence Allan
Captain

SAMMY VASS HELPS GARDNER-WEBB FINISH RUNNERS-UP

Well done to Sammy Vass who has found her feet as a sophomore transfer student at Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina in the 2010-2011 US college golf season ... capping her campaign by playing a big part in her college finishing second in the Big South Women's Conference Championship at The Patriot Golf Club, Ninety-six (yes, that's the name of the South Carolina town/city!) this past week.

Sammy's tied 10th place finish was just about her best performance over two years in the States, the first of which was spent as a fringe-team player at the University of Central Florida.

She had rounds of 81, 76 and 77 for a total of 234, finishing ahead of Radford University's pair of British students, Hannah Coles (15th on 238 with scores of 79-80-79) and fellow Scot Kristy Condon (27th on 245 with scores of 82-82-81).

Sammy and the rest of the Gardner-Webb University team were put under real pressure in the championship when one of their players went down with an illness at the end of the first day. 

Normally, a team counts only the best four scores from their five players. If you have only four players - as Gardner-Webb did for the last two rounds - then all of their scores count. Absolutely no margin for error.

Coastal Carolina won the Big South Women's Championship with a total of 912. Gardner-Webb were runners-up with 930 - a great performance by a comparatively small university. 

Florence Allan

Captain

DRAW FOR CHAMPIONSHIP AT FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE 23rd April

 Abbreviations:  E, Elgin; F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G, Gairloch; GOS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; N, Nairn; ND, Nairn Dunbar;  MO, Muir of Ord; RD, Royal Dornoch, Ry, Reay; T, Tain.


0900 - Mary Smith (T), Anne Ryan (T)
0908 - Gillian Dowlng (N), Alison Bartlett (RD)
0916 - Jenny Milne (E), Winnie Ross (E)
0924 - Eilidh Mackay (ND), Julie Vass (T)
0932 - Eleanor Tunn (Ry), Magi Vass (T)
0940 - June Nicol (I), Lynne Fraser (FR)
0948 - Liz Coghill (RD) Susan MacVicar (G)
0956 - Susan Mackenzie (E), Dorothy Lloyd (RD)
1004 - Margot Barr (G), Christine Marshall (N)
1012 - Pat Morrison (MO), Eilidh McTavish (E)
1020 - Denise McBride (RD), Sheila Macdonell (I)
1028 - Sandra Hooker (MO), Pam Moscatti (RD)
1036 - Jenny Thornton (FR), Trish Weekes (RD)
1044 - Iris Wilson (F), Karen Mackay (FR)
1052 - Wilma Murray (RD), Fiona Hunter (GOS)
1100 - Eveline Hutton (MO),  Maureen Ritchie (MO)
1108 - Moira Rennie (RD), Seonaid Vickerman (GOS)
1116 - Lorraine Nixon (FR), Sheila Duncan (RD),
1124 - Irene Croal (G), Fiona Macdonald (RD)
1132 - Carolyn Boyd (F), Sally Rowan (I)
1140 - Kate Lawson (RD), Elaine Hill (GOS)
1148 - Irene Hart (RD), Pat Davis (F)
1156 - Julie Fraser (MO), Joan Darroch (FR)
1204 - Rosemary Bruce (MO), Anne Harding (RD)
1212 - Doreen McCaig (F), Pauline Cronin (F)
1220 - Isobella Wright (RD), Sylvia McDonald (RD)

Late entries are being accepted on 01381 621097

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Updated - 18th April 2011

Coaching at Nairn with Pat Smillie

Pat Smillie the England National Junior Girls' Coach for the last 15 years and Head Professional at Wilton Golf Club gave up her time last week to help raise funds for the county by hold coaching sessions for the ladies at Nairn Golf Club.  Pat who is a lifelong friend of Jane Rhodes the Lady Captain at Nairn Golf Club was pleased to help out when Jane suggested she come along for a "busman's holiday" and help raise funds for the county.  Although originally from Scotland Pat met Jane when they both played junior girls' county golf in Yorkshire.

Jane Rhodes (Lady Captain - Nairn), Florence Allan (Captain) and Pat Smillie

Forence Allan and Pat Smillie

Florence and Pat with the Wednesday coaching group

The coaching sessions took place on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th March with long game in the morning and short game in the afternoon.  Unfortunately Tuesday was a bit miserable when it rained for most of the day but no-one seemed to mind and enjoyed the sessions.  You will see from the photographs, which were taken on Wednesday, that the ladies enjoyed a much better day with sunshine most of the time.

We are indebted to Pat for giving up her time and raising £550 over the two days.  This was possible as she waived her normal coaching fee and refused to claim any expenses. WELL DONE PAT

Florence Allan
Captain

Bridge Luncheon at Dornoch

The County would like to thank Marie Orr for once again hosting a Bridge Luncheon at her home in Dornoch to raise much needed funds for the county.  There were five tables of bridge players who all enjoyed the cards, the wonderful lunch provided by Marie and the afternoon tea with excellent cakes baked by her sister Jane.  Everyone brought a raffle prize and Marie provided prizes for the teams.  Over £300 was raised on the day which is much appreciated.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary/Treasurer

Alison Bartlett wins place on Scotland Veteran Women's Team

Congratulations to Alison Bartlett ( Royal Dornoch) who joins Mary Smith and Anne Ryan on the Scotland veteran women's team to defend the Mary McKenna Cup against Ireland's senior women's line-up at Craiglaw Park in April.

Florence Allan
Captain

2011 Committee

At the Delegate's Meeting held on Sunday 27th February at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club the captain welcomed the new committee members - Lynne Fraser - vice-captain and Anne Rose - junior organiser.  With the whole committee together it was an ideal time to take a photo.

2011 Committee Members

From Left: Anne Rose (Junior Organiser), Lynne Fraser (Vice-Captain) Mary Law (President) Florence Allan (Captain) Dorothy Marshall (Secretary/Treasurer).



Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Scottish Golf Awards Dinner - Glasgow

Here are some photos featuring Northern Counties' ladies at the Awards Dinner in Glasgow

Kelsey receiving her Order of Merit Trophy from Colin Montgomerie

Kelsey with the winning 2010 Team

Ladies' 2010 Order of Merit - Kelsey Macdonald

Kelsey with her Trophy for Ladies' Order of Merit winner

M

Mary Smith (left) & Anne Ryan (right)

Hannah McCook and Claire ?

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary 

Northern Counties' Fixtures for 2011

Details of 2011 fixtures are given below.  In addition to their own events, all junior girl members are eligible to play in the county opens provided they have a CONGU handicap.  A date for the McDermott Trophy for girls has not yet been finalised.  Once a date has been agreed I will send details to all delegates and also post the information on the WEB.

April

Sat 23^rd – Mon. 25th     County Championship     Fortrose & Rosemarkie

May

Sunday 8^th                   Adult/Jnr. Foursomes      Torvean

Sunday 22^nd                County Open                   Gairloch

July

Tues 5^th – Thur 7^th          North of Scotland C’ship   The Nairn             

 Monday 18^th               Girls’ Championship          Forres    

 Friday 22^nd                 County Foursomes           Invergordon

                                             

August

Wednesday 10^th           County Open                   Muir of Ord

September                        

Wednesday 14^th               County Open (+ Vets)      Kinloss Country          

October

Sunday 2^nd                  County Open & AGM         Newtonmore     

Entry forms are available form your County Delegate or you can contact me on dorothymarshall@talktalk.net if you do not have a delegate.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary 

NEWS FROM YOUR CAPTAIN

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a happy festive season. 

Very soon we will be thinking of the golfing events in 2011 and already the committee is preparing for the forthcoming season.

As I reported at the AGM we now have a vice captain, Lynne Fraser from Fortrose, who has taken on this position, for which she is well suited. Lynne is well known in curling circles and comes with a great deal of experience and knowledge, which will greatly benefit Northern Counties.

We now also have a new junior organiser, Anne Rose from Muir of Ord who is a retired teacher and well experienced in dealing with juniors.

I welcome them both to the committee and hope they enjoy their term of office.

Northern Counties certainly finished the year on a high with Kelsey winning the order of merit and Hannah McCook coming runner-up in the girls’ order of merit. Congratulations to both of them for having had a great year and I am sure there will be many more successes to come in 2011. 

Kelsey did well in the first event of the Florida Orange Blossom Tour coming 17th equal with a score of 297.  Eilidh Mackay also played and returned a total of 336.  Hannah was in Spain for training earlier this month as part of the Scottish ladies training squad.

There is a very nice article on the Highland Institute of Sport website about Hannah which is well worth reading. 

Well done also to Eleanor Tunn from Reay Golf Club, whose handicap is now down to 6 and she enters the second year of the academy coaching programme.

I wish everyone a good golfing season and hope the sun shines on us all.

Florence Allan

Curtis Cup Memories Rekindled For Gillian Stewart

Gillian Stewart & Tegwen Matthews (GB & I Curtis Cup Captain 2012)

The countdown has begun for the 2012 Curtis Cup Matches at The Nairn Golf Club. The Curtis Cup itself is currently on display for a limited time in the Nairn Golf Club having been brought North by officials from the Ladies' Golf Union and the Great Britain and Ireland Team Captain Tegwen Matthews.

During her time in Nairn, Tegwen took the opportunity to link up with her former Curtis Cup teammate and Nairn member Gillian Stewart.

During an outstanding amateur career, which included 3 Scottish Women’s Championship titles, Gillian Stewart twice played in the Curtis Cup Matches. Selected for the first time in 1980 when the match was played at St Pierre, Chepstow, she played for the second time in 1982 in Denver, Colorado.

“Playing in the Curtis Cup was and is the pinnacle of amateur team golf coveted by the players more than any other team event.

I played at a time when the Americans were enjoying huge domination of the event and GB and I had not won since 1956. I think it became a psychological thing – I don’t think we expected to win and lo and behold we didn’t. This turned around in the mid 80’s into the mid 90’s when GB and I enjoyed their greatest ever period of success with 5 wins in 6 matches. The challenge for the team at Nairn in 2012 will be to believe they can win again after another period of American domination - America has won the last 7 matches. After scrutinizing the Nairn honours board, Tegwen did note, however, that it revealed 5 wins out of 5 for GB and I teams, a great start in belief building”

“I played with Tegwen in my first Curtis Cup match. She was the first Welsh player to be selected for a Curtis Cup team making her debut in 1974. She had the experience, having played in the 3 previous matches, and I was the rookie. She piloted me around and although we lost our match it is an experience I will never forget”

“There is one other Curtis Cup experience I won’t forget and it is that I scored my first hole in one the day before the match started in 1980. In 1982 I repeated this trick and scored my second hole in one, again in practice, the day before the match started”

Gillian turned professional in 1985 and joined the Women's European Tour. She won her first Tournament played as a professional and quickly established herself as one of the stars of the Tour. Her four Tour titles were the pinnacles of a playing career based on an extremely high level of consistency, evidenced by the fact that she still holds the record (79 over a 6 year period) for the most consecutive cuts made.

In 2011 the North of Scotland Championships are being held at The Nairn Golf Club the first week in July so anyone wishing to see what the course is like before the Curtis Cup is played there should try and enter this championship.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

LADIES' DINNER AT NAIRN DUNBAR GOLF CLUB

 

Florence Allan (Captain), Jane Brown (Speaker)
Pam Gordon

Those of you who were unable to come to our Ladies' Dinner at Nairn Dunbar on Saturday 30th October missed an excellent evening out.  In all 82 ladies attended which was a very good response.

To start the evening off the ladies were welcomed by our captain, Florence and invited to have a glass of wine or a soft drink. 

The meal provided was excellent as was the service which could not be faulted in any way.

After the meal the raffle, which had the theme of wine and chocolates, was drawn and this raised the magnificent sum of £268.

What can I say about the speaker, Jane Brown.  Jane is not a golfer but is the manageress of the Globe Inn in Dumfries and an authority on Robert Burns.  She is a very funny lady and has been all over the world as an "After Dinner Speaker" or as a speaker at "Burns Suppers".  She spoke for an hour and a half and was very entertaining and well received by everyone.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

County Open - Elgin Sunday 3rd October - Results

After a few people dropped out, only nineteen ladies played in the county open at Elgin on Sunday 3rd October as most people preferred to stay at home and watch the Ryder Cup.  Apart from a slight shower early on it turned into a really nice day with some very good scores.  Hannah McCook from Abernethy returned an excellent scratch score of 77.  Results were:-

1st Scratch - Hannah McCook - 77

1st Silver - Eilidh McTavish (Elgin) - 87 (13) 74 (after count-back)
2nd Silver - Sandra Hooker (Muir of Ord) 87 (15) 74

1st Bronze - Lorraine Argyle (Bonar Bridge) - 102 (30) 72

CSS for the day was 74


The AGM followed at approximately 5.30p.m.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Draw for County Open & AGM at Elgin on Sunday 3 October

12.00 - M Alexander (DHR) & L Munro (Moray)
12.06 - R Topping (DHR) & F Neish (Moray)
12.12 - S Rowan (Inverness) & M Walker (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.18 - M Hayden (Tain) & L Ballantine (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.24 - P Moscati (Dornoch) & M Gauldie (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.30 - L Argyle (Bonar Bridge) & partner
12.42 - S Hooker (Muir of Ord) & V Wright (Forres)
12.48 - T Weeks (Dornoch) & D Marshall (Forres)
12.54 - M Blair (Dornoch) & M Grant (Moray)
1.00 - H McCook (Abernethy) & E McTavish (Elgin)
1.06 - B Little (Brora) & partner
1.12 - I Maclean (Inverness) & P Cronin (Forres)
1.18 - M Douglas (Dornoch) & C Marshall (Nairn)


Late entries will be accepted on 01343 544304 (Susan Mackenzie) up until Thursday 30 September thereafter entries to Dorothy Marshall, Secretary

County Open - Inverness 12th September - Results

A field of 59 members and non-members played at Inverness on Sunday 12th September.  Although there were a few showers in the morning the weather improved and it ended up being a very nice day.  The best news for most players will be that the CSS went up to 76 and the competition was "Reduction Only".  Winners were:-

1st Scratch - Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) - 80
2nd Scratch - Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) - 83

1st  Silver - Lynne Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) - 83 (9) 74
2nd Silver - Mairi Orr (Royal Dornoch) - 95 (19) 76
3rd Silver - Fiona MacDonald (Royal Dornoch) 95 (19) 76
4th Silver - Margot Barr (Gairloch) - 88 (22) 77

1st Bronze - Fiona Mackay (Muir of Ord) - 101 (21) 80
2nd Bronze - Chris Waterson (Grantown-on-Spey) -106 (26) 80
3rd Bronze - Pauline Cronin (Forres) - 109 (26) 83

The final open of the year, plus the AGM, is at Elgin Golf Club on Sunday 3rd October.  Entries to Susan Mackenzie, Abbotsford House, 100 Pluscarden Road, ELGIN, IV30 1VF

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Captain has a new Grandaughter

Congratualtions to our Captain Florence who has just become a granny again to a new grandaughter Lara Jane out in Australia to her son David and his wife Tanya.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Scotland win Home Internations

2010 Ladies Home International Champions
Back Row: Hilary Wardell (Manager), Martine Pow, Megan Briggs, Kelsey MacDonald, Rachael Watton
Front Row: Laura Murray, Louise Kenney, Lesley Nicholson (Captain), Pamela Pretswell, Jane Turner

The Scotland Ladies' Team of Megan Briggs, Louise Kenney, Kelsey MacDonald, Laura Murray, Martine Pow, Pamela Pretswell, Jane Turner and Rachael Watton, skippered by Lesley Nicholson, has won the Home International Matches at Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club. The Scots scored victories over the other three home nations by beating Wales 6.5-2.5 on Wednesday, England 5-4 on Thursday and Ireland 5-4 on Friday 10th September. Congratulations to Lesley and all her team.

This follows on from the Scottish Seniors Team win in Europe last week end and marks a fabulous two weeks for Scottish Ladies golf.

Florence Allan

Captain

Tain Sisters win European Gold Medals

Congratulations to Mary Smith and Anne Ryan from Tain who won European Gold Medals last week in Berlin when they played in the Scottish Seniors' team.

Florence Allan
Captain

Draw for County Open at Inverness - Sunday 12th September 2010

A few spaces are still available for the County Open at Inverness on Sunday 12^th September 2010.  Please call Eileen Robb on 01463 238101 if you would like to enter.

Abbreviations:  F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G, Gairloch; GK, Garmouth & Kingston; GOS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord;  N, Nairn; ND, Nairn Dunbar; Ry, Reay; RD, Royal Dornoch;  T, Tain.

10.18 - L. Fraser (FR) & J. Nicol 

10.24 - I. McIntosh (I) &  M. Barr (G)

10.30 - E. Coghill (RD) &  S. MacVicar (G)

10.36 - M. MacCulloch (FR) & M. Dick (GOS)

10.42 - C. Marshall (N) & M. Allan (GOS)

10.48 - M. Ritchie (MO) & E. Sloan (GOS)

11.00 - H. MacLeod (I) & E. Hill (GOS)

11.06 - J. Drummond (N) & C. Waterson (GOS)

11.12 - P. Moscati (RD) & S. Vickerman (GOS)

11.18 - L. Argyle (RD) & P. Wilson (GOS)

11.24 - L. Ballantine (GK) & C. Ramsay (RD)

11.30 - M. Gauldie, (GK) & M. Orr (RD)

11.36 - E. Hutton (MO) & F. MacDonald (RD)

11.42 - E. Wallace (MO) & T. Weekes (RD)

11.48 - C. Dingwall (MO) & D.McBride (RD)

12.00 - W. Spencer (MO) & A. Burnett (RD)

12.06 - N. Scrimgeour (MO) & A. Bartlett (RD)

12.12 - C. Graham (MO) & K. Lawson (RD)

12.18 - A. Rowe (MO) & W. Murray (RD)

12.24 - H. Stuart (MO) & A. Gowie (I)

12.30 - F. MacKay (MO) & A.Harding (RD)

12.36 - M. Brook (MO) & M. Douglas (RD)

12.42 - C. MacKay (MO) & M. James (F)

12.48 - A. Mackay (MO) &  D. Marshall (F)

 

13.00 - J. Cameron (FR) & P. Cronin (F) 

13.06 - A. Jack (FR) &  P. Davis (F)

13.12 - S. Ramsay (I) & V. Wright (F)

13.18 - I. Croal (G) & I.Wilson (F)

13.24 - E. Tunn (Ry), G. Dowling (ND), F. Allan (N) 

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

KELSEY CAPS GREAT SEASON BY WINNING BELGIAN JUNIOR TITLE

Congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald, 19, a member of Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, who has just won the Belgian Junior International Tournament's Girls' individual title at the fourth and last attempt at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels today.

Kelsey, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, winner this year of the Scottish Women's Amateur title and the Scottish Under-21 Girls Championship for the second year in a row and also beaten finalist in the British Women's Open Amateur Championship, capped her great season by coming from several shots in arrears with a brilliant last round of two-under-par 70.

That gave her a total of 293 after earlier rounds of 72, 73 and 78. She won by five shots from Federica Maria Costantini (Italy) who finished with a 76 for 298.

Golf Quiz

As the County Open at Thurso was cancelled, the draw for the golf quiz was done on Saturday 21st August instead of the Friday.  It was the Ladies' Open at Thurso so I asked Anne Simmonite the Lady Captain to draw the winners for me.  The winners were:

1st   Mrs Liz Fraser from Nairn
2nd  Mrs Margaret Young from Inverness
3rd  Mr & Mrs George Spark from Strathpeffer

M & S vouchers have been posted.

Most people got the connection which was that they had all won Majors.  There were only about four incorrect answers.  Anagram 7 was Angel Cabrera and not Bernhard Langer.

What a lovely course Thurso was and in excellent condition too.  The wind was really strong on the Saturday but two of the Forres ladies won prizes so the trip was worthwhile.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary/Treasurer

HANNAH MCCOOK DOES IT AGAIN

On her way home from the Girls' Home Internationals in Northern Ireland the week before last, Hannah McCook from Abernethy Golf Club played in the North of Scotland Girls' Championship at Brechin on Sunday 15th August winning the North of Scotland Girls' title for the second year in a row.

Hannah made hay while the sun shone over the Brechin course with a two-over-par round of 74 to win the title by one shot from Rachel Polson (Peterculter) and Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) with another member of  the Scotland girls’ team, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) in fourth place. 

 

The field of more than 30 players was the biggest the championship has attracted for a number of years. In the final analysis it was Hannah’s figures over the last six holes that retained the title to add to the Northern Counties' Girls’ Championship which she won earlier this season when she was also runner-up in the Paul Lawrie Scottish Schoolgirls' Championship.

 

Hannah covered holes 13 to 18 in one under par with a birdie 4 at the 16^th .for an inward half of 36. Rachel Polson was one over par for the same stretch, having an eagle 3 at the 14^th but bogeys at the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th in 38 home. 

Congratulations from everyone in Northern Counties.

Florence Allan

Captain

County Open - Friday 20th August - Thurso

Unfortunately this fixture has had to be cancelled due to lack of support.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Open - Friday 20th August - Thurso

The next County Open will take place at Thurso Golf Club on Friday 20th August. 

Entry fees:  Members £8.00, Juniors £3.00, Non Members £12.00.  Members over 50 years of age will be eligible to win the Vets Trophy.

Enries should be sent to Eileen Manson, 49A Princes Street, THURSO, KW14 7AB Tel: 07934 298802.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

Hannah McCook wins Northern Counties' Girls' Championship

May Britovsek & Annabelle Brown

May Britovsek & Hannah McCook

The Northern Counties' Girls' Championship was played at Nairn Dunbar on Friday 30th July.
 
Despite the rain Hannah McCook from Abernethy carded an excellent score of 70 gross with birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 13th and 18th and an eagle on the 16th.  The handicap prize was won by Annabelle Brown from Nairn Dunbar playing off 12 with a net 77 beating Eleanor Tunn from Reay off 8 with a net 78. 
 
To encourage the junior girls without a handicap, May Britovsek oragnised a five hole competition to follow the main competition.  Six girls took part and although the results were very close, Kayrin Fraser from Inverness was the winner with Rachel McPherson from Nairn Dunbar in second place.  All these junior girls really enjoyed the competition and with a bit more encouragement will no doubt become stars of the future for Northern Counties.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

Girls' 2010 Championship Draw

Draw for the Girls' Championship at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club on Friday 30th July is as follows:-

1332  Hannah McCook, Eleanor Tunn
1340  Natalie Britovsek, Eilidh McTavish
1348  Annabelle Brown, Dana Stoddart

5-Hole Competition

1356  Katie Miller, Lauren Fraser
1404  Abby Cruden, Kirsty McBeath 
1412  Kayrin Fraser, Rachael Mackenzie, Rachel McPherson

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

ANNE RYAN AND MARY SMITH IN SCOTLAND TEAM

Congratualtions to sisters Anne Ryan and Mary Smith from Tain who have been named in the Scotland team of six to compete in the European Senior Women's Team Golf Championship at Sporting Club, Berlin from September 1st to 4th.

 

Anne earned her first cap by finishing joint second in the Scottish Senior Women's Stroke-play Championship at Fortrose and Rosemarkie in late June. She led the field until the last few holes of the 36-hole competition.

 

Mary is a regular selection for Scotland's over-50s teams.  Anne and Mary have also been named for the Scotland team, for the Veteran Ladies' Jamboree at Seascale Golf Club, Northumbria from August 3rd to 5th.

Florence Allan

Captain

THREE UNDER-21 TITLES IN A ROW FOR KELSEY

 Well done to Kelsey MacDonald who has just won the Scottish Under-21 Girls' Open Amateur Stroke-play Golf Championship at Dunfermline Golf Club for the third year in a row.

 

Nineteen-year-old Kelsey who is the Scottish women’s Champion from Nairn Dunbar Golf Club signed off in champion style with a two-under-par 70, the joint lowest round of the tournament, for a one-over-par total of 217.  That gave her a four-stroke winning margin from last year’s Scottish Women’s Champion, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).

 

Kelsey is the first player since Kathryn Imrie in 1985-86-87 to complete a hat-trick of wins in this event and she is still young enough to have a tilt at Suzanne Cadden’s four-timer record, set between 1974 and 1977.

 

The older she gets the easier it gets for Kelsey.  She was Under-21 champion for the first time by a single shot from Pamela Pretswell in 2008. Last year, over her home Nairn Dunbar course, she had to beat England’s Lucy Williams in a play-off to make it two in a row.  This week, Kelsey led throughout to follow up her victories in the Scottish Women’s Championship at Craigielaw and the R & A Bursars' Tournament at St Andrews before, reaching the final of the British Women’s Open Amateur Championship at Ganton in June.

She has more than made her point – Kelsey should have been in the GB & I Curtis Cup team last month.

 

Florence Allan

Captain

GIRLS' TEAM CAP FOR HANNAH McCOOK

Congratulations to Hannah McCook (Abernethy), who is one of three new faces in the Scotland team for the Under-18 girls’ home golf international matches at Bangor Golf Club, Northern Ireland from August 4th to 6th.  The other two are Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) and Craigielaw’s Gabrielle MacDonald.

 

Hannah was runner-up in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish schoolgirls 'championship at Murrayshall in May and beaten finalist in the North of Scotland women’s championship at Forfar earlier this month.

Florence Allan

Captain

County Foursomes/Commonwealth Spoons - Golspie 9th July 2010

It was wet for most of the time at Golspie today so the scores were really quite high.  Alison Bartlett and Margaret Baggott from Royal Dornoch won the scratch with a gross 86.  Trish Weekes and Dorothy Lloyd also from Royal Dornoch had the best net score of 76 winning the Foursomes Trophy.  As Alison and Margaret also had the second best net score these four players go through to the final of the Commonwealth Spoons at Cathkin Braes on Thursday 23rd September.

Results were:-

Trish Weekes & Dorothy Lloyd  (RDGC)  88 (12) 76
Alison Bartlett & Margaret Baggott (RDGC) 86 (9) 77
Pat Ashe & Angela GRant (Brora)  97 (16.5) 80.5 (better back nine)
Joan Darroch & Lorraine Nixon (F & R) 100 (19.5) 80.5
Anne Rose & Caroline Graham (Muir of Ord) 102 (20) 82
Fiona MacDonald & Wilma Murray (RDGC) 101 (17.5) 83.5
Angela MacBeath & Ann Robertson (Brora) 100 (16) 84
Elaine Hill & Elizabeth Sloan (Grantown) 104 (18.5) 85.5
Cara Gruber & Elaine Gruber (RDGC/Strathpeffer) 97 (11) 86
Irene Hart & Elizabeth Cruickshank (RDGC) 106 (17.5) 88.5
Jenny Thornton & Marine McCulloch (Fortrose) 106 (18) 88
Christine Marshall & Sheila Robertson (Nairn/Golspie) 101 (12) 89
Denise McBride & Marie Blair (RDGC) 113 (24) 89
Morag James & Dorothy Marshall (Forres) 109 (19.5) 89.5
Pat Morrison & Marlene Maclean (Muir of Ord) 108 (17.5) 90.5
May Dick & Paula Wilson (Grantown) 136 (30.5) 105.5
Sheila Macdonell & Lynne Fraser (Inverness/F&R) Nil Return
Mairi Orr & Pat Davies (Tain/Forres) Nil Return
Jeani Hunter & Marjory Matheson (Bonar Bridge) Nil Return
Wendy Spencer & Claire Dingwall (Muir of Ord) Nil Return
Ann Simmonsite & Kerry Sinclair (Thurso/F&R) Nil Return
Fiona More & Barine Little (Golspie/Brora) Nil Return

Many thanks to Golspie Golf Club for giving Northern Counties courtesy of their course which was in excellent condition and grateful thanks to Fiona More for all her hard work in organising this competition.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Foursomes/Commonwealth Spoons - Golspie 9th July 2010

Draw for the County Foursomes/Commonwealth Spoons at Golspie on Friday 9th July is as follows:-

1100 - Jenny Thornton & Marina McCulloch (F&R), Fiona More & Barine Little (Golspie/Brora)
1108 - Marjory Matheson & Jeani Hunter (Bonar Bridge), Claire Dingwell & Wendy Spencer (Muir of Ord)
1116 - Wendy Murray & Fiona Macdonald (RDGC), Pat Morrison & Marlene Maclean (Muir of Ord)
1124 - Ann Robertson & Angela MacBeath (Brora), Mairi Orr & Pat Davis (Tain/Forres)
1132 - Sheila Robertson & Christine Marshall (Golspie/Nairn), Elizabeth Sloane & Elaine Hill (G-o-S)
1140 - Dorothy Marshall & Morag James (Forres), Pat Ashe & Angela Grant (Brora)
1148 - Dorothy Lloyd & Trish Weekes (RDGC), Lorraine Nixon & Joan Darroch (F&R)
1208 - Elizabeth Cruickshank & Irene Hart (RDGC), May Dick & Paula Wilson (G-o-S)
1216 - Denise McBride & Mhairi Blair (RDGC), A. Simmonite & Kerry Sinclair (Thurso/F&R)
1224 - Gillian Dowling & Diana Fraser (Inverness), Alison Bartlett & Margaret Baggott (RDGC)
1132 - Cara Gruber & Elaine Gruber (RDGC/Strathpeffer)

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

North of Scotland Women's Amateur Golf Championship

 

It was an all-Northern Counties final at the North of Scotland women’s amateur golf championship at Forfar Golf Club where Tain’s Sammy Vass beat Hannah McCook (Abernethy) by 2 and 1.

On a day of high winds, 18-year-old three-handicapper Sammy, a student at the University of Central Florida, coped with the testing conditions just that little bit better than her 16-year-old opponent who has one of a handicap.

Hannah had a definite edge off the tee, outdriving Sammy by up to 40 yards, but when it came to getting the ball in the hole in fewer strokes, Sammy showed how much she has benefited from her first year in America.
“The university’s practice facilities are tremendous, particularly for short-game work, and I feel I have definitely improved in that direction,” said Sammy who was a North of Scotland girls’ champion before she went to the States.

Hannah's putting was affected by the wind more than her long game and she was five down at the turn, having won only the third but lost the first, second, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth. But it was a different story after the turn. Hannah won three holes in a row from the 10th and was suddenly back in the game at “only” two down. However, Sammy stopped the slide with a birdie at the 13th and though Hannah holed one of her few long putts, a 20-footer to get a winning birdie at the 14th, she had lost the initiative. Halves at the 15th, 16th and 17th left Sammy, 14th of the 16 match-play qualifiers,  a well-deserved winner and Hannah, the No 9 seed and runner-up also in the recent Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolgirls championship, is a great prospect whose day will come.

Kimberley Beveridge, 15-year-old Aboyne player who plays off five, is another name to remember. Her figures, roughly par,  winning the handicap championship final by 4 and 3 against another five-handicapper, Ann Hay (Edzell) were better than those achieved by Sammy Vass in the scratch final.  Kimberley never looked back after winning the first hole.

Next year’s North of Scotland women’s amateur championship will be hosted by The Nairn Golf Club.

Congratulations to Sammy on an excellent win and to Hannah for reaching the final.

Florence Allan

Captain

Congratualtions to Kelsey MacDonald

Well done to Kelsey for reaching the final of the British Women's Amateur Championship.  Photo shows Kelsey with the Diana Fishwick Cup which was awarded to her as the beaten finalist.  She lost 2 and 1 to 18-year old Kelly Tidy from Royal Birkdale.

Florence Allan
Captain

County Foursomes/Commonwealth Spoons

There are still a few spaces left for the County Foursomes at Golspie on Friday 9th July.  If you would like to play please contact Fiona More on 01408 633504.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Inter-County Championship 2010 - Blairgowrie

Thank you to everyone who sent good luck cards to the team, they were much appreciated. 

Although we only managed second place on holes up, the team played very well but unfortunately Angus played better in the foursomes against Northern Counties when we lost all three matches.  Sadly it was the first time Mary Smith and Alison Bartlett had lost a foursomes match since they have been playing together. 

Overall our seniors did very well and Cara had a magnificent fight back on the first day when she had been 6 down aganst Sammy Leslie from Aberdeenshire then dormie 4, she managed to play some excellent golf to half the match giving us a draw with Aberdeenshire that day.

The results do not reflect the great golf played by the team and the way they kept fighting. Well done to everyone.

Hopefully we will do better at Inchmarlo next year.

Florence Allan
Captain