SLGA ANNOUNCE TEAMS TO RESPRESENT SCOTLAND

Kelsey MacDonald has been chosen to captain the team including Louse Kenney (Pitreavie) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) for the St. Rule Trophy at St. Andrews - 29th - 30th May.  She will also captain the British Women's Open Amateur Championship team at Ganton 22nd - 26th June comprising Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Sally Watson (elie & Earlsferry Ladies)

Florence Allan
Captain

KELSEY WINS Scottish Women's Amateur Golf Championship

Congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald for winning the Scottish Women's Amateur Golf Championship at Craigielaw on Friday 21st May beating Louise Kenney from Pitreavie 5 and 3.   Well done to Sammy Vass (Tain) and Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) who both qualified for the match play.


Florence Allan
Captain

Results of County Open at Nairn Dunbar - 23rd May 2010

Photo of Denise McBride, Alison Bartlett & Nan Burtwell

1st Scratch Silver - Alison Bartlett -Royal Dornoch - 72
2nd Scratch Silver - Anne Ryan - Tain - 74
1st H'cap Silver - Denise McBride - Royal Dornoch - 85 (14) 71
2nd H'cap Silver - Eilidh Mackay - Nairn Dunbar - 78 (7) 71
3rd H'cap Silver - Liz McEwan - Nairn Dunbar - 89 (17) 72
4th H'cap Silver - Eleanor Tunn - Reay - 82 (10) 72
5th H'cap Silver - Ann Nicolle - Granton-on-Speayu - 92 (19) 73
1st Scratch - Bronze - Nan Burtwell - Nairn - 89
1st Handicap - Bronze - Kerry Sinclair - Fortrose & Rosemarkie - 92 (23) 69
2nd Handicap - Bronze - Sally Rowan - Inverness - 98 (22) 76

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

TEAM FOR JAMBOREE - BLAIRGOWRIE

The team for the Inter-County Championship (Jamboree) at Blairgowrie on 26th - 28th June 2010 is:-

Cara Gruber            Royal Dornoch

Pam Mackay           Royal Dornoch

Alison Bartlett          Royal Dornoch

Mary Smith              Tain

Anne Ryan               Tain

Sammy Vass          Tain

Julie Vass               Tain

Eilidh Mackay         Nairn Dunbar

Reserves: - Hannah McCook - Abernethy and Jenny Milne - Elgin

Florence Allan

Captain

County Open Draw - Nairn Dunbar - Sunday 23rd May 2010

Competitors are from the host club unless stated.

Abbreviations: A, Abernethy; BB, Bonar Bridge; B, Brora; F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie; G, Gairloch; GK, Garmouth & Kingston; GOS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; M, Moray; MO, Muir of Ord; N, Nairn; Ry, Reay; RD, R, Rothes; Royal Dornoch; T, Tain.

0915 - J. Nalder (N) & R. Grant (GK)
0922 - M. Smith (T) & D. Philips (GK)
0929 - C. MacAndrew  & S. Vass (T)
0936 - A. Ryan (T) & E. Mackay
0943 - L. Nixon (FR) & M. Tomisson
0950 - K. Sinclair (FR) & N. Burtwell (N)
0957 - E. Spence (R) & C. Dingwall (MO)
1004 - H. Stuart (MO) & L. Fraser (FR)
1011 - L. MacEwan & L. Ballantine (GK)
1018 - M. Walker (GK) & I Hart (RD)
1025 - W. Spencer (MO) & M. Gauldie GK)
1032 - C. Delaney & M. Grant (M)
1039 - J. Drummond (N) & M. Rennie (RD)
1046 - J. Cameron (FR) & J. Wilkie
1053 - F. Macdonald (RD) & I Croal (G)
1100 - E. Robb (I) & T. Weekes (RD)
1107 - I. McIntosh (I) & A. Bartlett (RD)
1114 - S. Ramsay (I) & V. Wright (F)
1121 - D. McBride (RD) & D. Ma;rshall (F)
1128 - S. Rowan (I) & P Moscati (RD)
1135 - I. Wilson (F) & W.Murray (RD)
1142 - P. Cronin (F) & D. Crawford (M)
1149 - A. MacBeath (B) & M.Ritchie (MO)
1156 - M. James (F) & B. Little (B)
1203 - A. Robertson (B) & E. Tongue (Ry)
1210 - P. Morrison (MO) & F. Bell (I)
1217 - E. Hutton (MO) & J. Nettles
1224 - A. Harding (RD) & M. Hayden (T)
1231 - H. McCook (A) & M. Barr (G)
1238 - S. MacVicar (G) & E. McTavish (F)
1245 - L. Coghill (RD) & F. Allan (N)
1252 - C. Boyd (F) & A. Nicolle (GOS)
1259 - J. Coulthard (GOS) & M Matheson (BB)
1306 - J. Hunter (BB) & A. Fraser

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Northern Counties' Girls' Association - Adult/Girls' Foursomes - Sunday 9th May Invergordon

With sunshine and showers for most of the day, 14 pairs of adults and junior girls braved the strong winds at Invergordon last Sunday.  Despite the inclement weather everyone had a great time and enjoyed the course which was in pretty good condition bearing in mind the severe winter just gone (or has it).

May Britovsek did a great job organising this event and is shown here with all the competitors.  The photo below shows May with the winning scratch and handicap pairs - Julie Vass (6) and Mary Smith (3) from Tain returned a gross 81 only just pipping Cara Gruber and her partner Kaylan from Royal Dornoch.  The best net score of 71.5 was returned by Rebecca Riddell (54) and Claire Riddell (5) from Royal Dornoch who also pipped Cara and Kaylan by one shot.

The Girls' Association would like to thank Invergordon Golf Club for giving courtesy of their course for this event.

Dorothy Marshall - Secretary NCLGA

ANOTHER WIN FOR KELSEY

With a final round of 68 on the St. Andrew's, Castle Course, 19-year-old Kelsey Macdonald had the best round of the day ensuring she was the Women's Champion in the R & A Foundation Scholars' Tournament finishing second overall behind fellow Stirling University student Patrick Spraggs.

Florence Allan
Captain

Team training day at Nairn Golf Club

A big thank you to the Nairn Mens' Team who turned out to play members of the Northern Counties team. 
The result was a draw.

Semi Final & Final Results

Scratch - Cara Gruber beat Jenny Milne 8 & 6. 
               Alison Bartlett beat Mary Smith 1 up.



Handicap - Eilidh McTavish beat Sally Rowan 2 up. 
                  Wilma Murray beat Alison Burnett 4 & 3.


Final Results:

Cara Gruber beat Alison Bartlett in the final. The match was all square at the 8th then Cara won the 10th and 11th to go 2 up. Alison won the next two holes to square the match again. They halved the 13th and 14th then Cara won the 15th and 16th and halved the 17th to win 2 and 1.

In the handicap match Wilma Murray beat Eilidh McTavish 1 up. Eilidh was 2 up at the 8th then lost the 9th to a birdie from Wilma who won the next 2 holes as well putting her 1 up. They halved the 12th and 13th then Eilidh won the 14th to bring it back to all square. A bad tee shot from Eilidh on the 15th - par 3 - when Wilma put her tee shot on the green put Wilma 1 up again. Wilma won the 16th and Eilidh won the 17th. Wilma was 1 up going on to the 18th which they halved.

Both games were very well fought. Wilma told me this is the first time she has played in a Northern Counties' competition. It was also Eilidh's first time but I'm sure we'll hear more of her in the future.


Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Championships - Quarter Final Results

Scratch:

Cara Gruber beat Anne Ryan 4 & 3
Jenny Milne beat Kay Vincent 4 & 2
Alison Bartlett beat Eilidh MacKay 4 & 2
Mary Smith beat Susan Mackenzie 5 & 4

Handicap:

Eilidh McTavish beat Clair Dingwell 6 & 5
Sally Rowan beat Monica Grant 3 & 2
Wilma Murray beat Sheila Duncan 3 & 2
Alison Burnett beat Anne Harding 1 up

First Round Matchplay for Mary Benton Trophy

Cara Gruber beat Margot Barr 6 & 4
Anne Ryan beat Julie Vass 3 & 2
Jenny Milne beat Susan MacVicar 5 & 4
Kay Vincent beat Gilling Dowling 1 up
Alison Bartlett beat Denise McBride 4 & 2
Eilidh MacKay beat Marion Howieson 3 & 2
Susan Mackenzie beat Dorothy Phillips 1 up
Mary Smith beat Fiona Bell 7 & 5

Championship Draw 18th April 2010 - Scratch & Handicap

0900 - Cara Gruber  -v- Margot Barr
0908 - Julie Vass -v- Anne Ryan
0916 - Jenny Milne - Susan MacVicar
0924 - Gillian Dowling -v- Kay Vincent
0932 - Alison Bartlett - Denise McBride
0940 - Eilidh MacKay -v- Marion Howieson
0948 - Susan Mackenzie -v- Dorothy Phillips
0956 - Fiona Bell -v- Mary Smith

1300 - Eilidh McTavish -v- C. Dingwall
1310 - Monica Grant -v- Sally Rowan
1320 - Wilma Murray -v- Sheila Duncan
1330 - Alison Burnett -v- Anne Harding

County Championship Draw for 17th April 2010

Abbreviations: A, Abernethy; BB, Bonar Bridge; DHR, Duff House Royal; DS, Dornoch-Struie; E, Elgin; F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G, Gairloch; GK, Garmouth & Kingston; I, Inverness; M, Moray; MO, Muir of Ord; RD, Royal Dornoch, N, Nairn; ND, Nairn Dunbar; T, Tain.

0900 - C. Gruber (RD), A. Ryan (T)
0908 - J. Milne (E), G. Dowling (I)
0916 - A. Bartlett (RD, M. Howieson (I)
0924 - J. Vass (T), K. Vincent (M)
0932 - E. MacKay (ND), A.Gowie (I)
0940 - S. Macvicar (G), J. Cumming (I)
0948 - E.Coghill (RD), J. Nicol (I)
0956 - L. Fraser (FR), J. Robertson (M)
1004 - C. Dingwall (MO), M. Barr (G)
1012 - F. Bell (I), S. Mackenzie (E),
1020 - S. Macdonell (I), P. Morrison (MO)
1028 - M. Bagott (RD), T. Weekes (RD)
1036 - D. McBride (RD), J. Maison (DHR)
1044 - C. Marshall (N), D. Marshall (F)
1052 - D. Phillips (GK), W. Murray (RD)
1100 - E. Hutton (MO), I. Wilson (F)
1108 - R. McGregor (DHR), M. Rennie (RD)
1116 - L. Nixon (FR), F. MacDonald (DS)
1124 - I. Croal (G), C. Boyd (F)
1132 - S. Duncan (RDK) J. Corbett (DHR)
1140 - K. Mackay (FR), F. Wood (DHR)
1148 - A. Burnett (RD), S. Rowan (I),
1156 - I. Hart (RD), K. Sinclair (FR)
1204 - J. Darroch (FR), D. MacNeil (I),
1212 - M. Grant (M), E. McTavish (E)
1220 - A. Harding (RD), L. Offin (BB)

A few late entries can be accepted - please call me on 01309 671939

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary - 9th April 2010

Victory in Spain

Kelsey MacDonald has won the Hacienda del Alamo Open in the Murcia region of south-east Spain.  Now at Stirling University, Kelsey started the final round in third place, seven shots behind leader Hayley Davis (Ferndown).  Her final round of 68 included seven birdies in her inward half.  Her winning total was three-under 213.

Florence Allan
Captain

Competition Dates for 2010

Championship - Moray (Old) - 17/18/19th April
County Open - Nairn Dunbar - 23rd May
County Foursomes - Golspie - 19th July
County Open (Vets) - Thurso - 20th August
County Open - Inverness - 12th September
County Open & AGM - Elgin - 3rd October

The winners of our Golf Quiz are,
1st Laura MacLardy Aberdeen £15 book token
2nd Anne Taylor Brora £10 book token
3rd Mrs E E Home Elgin £5 book token
Many thanks to Pam Gordon for not only providing the Quiz but also for donating the prizes, the quiz increased our funds by the sum of approx £180.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

SCOTLAND CLINCH FIRST SENIORS TITLE BY BEATING WALES
There may be many a slip twixt cup and lip - but Scotland made none on the final day of the Senior Women's Home International Matches at Newport Golf Club, Wales today.
Having beaten first Ireland and then England, the Scots won the title and the Sue Johnson Trophy for the first time, completing a 100 per cent winning record through the three days by beating last year's winners, Wales, 5 ½-2 ½ today.
England, trailing 2-1 after the foursomes, rallied to draw 4-4 with Ireland and finished with 1 1/2pt, to be runners-up ahead of Wales (1pt) and Ireland (1/2pt).
Skipper Pamela Williamson's Scotland team – unlike their younger "sisters" in the Women's Home Internationals at Irvine three weeks ago - showed no sign of last-day nerves as they captured the morning foursomes by 2 ½ to ½ against Wales to make their task in the five afternoon singles that much easier.
They began the afternoon play needing only 1 ½ pt for a draw which would have been enough to clinch the over-50s team championship but the rampant Scots had their sights set higher than that and had three singles winners.
Heather Anderson (Alyth) beat the Senior British champion Vicki Thomas by one hole.
Fiona De Vries (St Rule), who beat Pamela Valentine by 5 and 3, ending the series with a perfect 6pt from six matches was the MVP of the tournament.
Tain's Mary Smith, who helped Northern Counties win the Scottish women's county championship last week at Baberton, beat Jane Rees by 4 and 3 for her fifth point in six outings. What an end of season it's been for Mary!
Mention should be made of Dunbar's Noreen Fenton who played only in the foursomes each day – and won each time in partnership with Fiona de Vries.
And also that Scotland went to Wales without their potential star player – Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) who withdrew last week due to domestic reasons. But Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose), who took Lorna's place, played, as they say "a blinder." Skipper Williamson used Kathleen only in the singles and she won two out of three ties.

TAIN SISTERS WIN SLGA COMMONWEALTH SPOONS AT LONGNIDDRY
Tain sisters Mary Smith and Anne Ryan, representing Northern Counties, won the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association's Commonwealth Spoons foursomes final at Longniddry Golf Club.They had a good gross round of 76 in windy conditions and, less 2 1/2 (half their combined handicap), they won the day with a net score of 73 1/2.
Mary is a senior Scotland international and county player while Anne was a county team player until a season or two ago.Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) and Cruden Bay's Ros Dunsmuir, (representing Aberdeenshire) finished runners-up with a net 74 1/2 off 5 1/2.The first two pairs finished well clear at the top of the leaderboard.Third best were Fiona Reid and Lynda Birse (Angus), playing off 17, with a net 77 (better inward half).Results were as follows:1st Mary Smith & Anne Ryan Northern Counties 76 (2.5) 73.52nd Laura McLardy & Ros Dunsmuir Aberdeenshire 80 (5.5) 74.53rd Fiona Reid & Lynda Birse Angus 94 (17) 77 BIH4th Joan Gemmell & Anne Ferguson Dunbarton & Argyll 86 (9) 77 BL65th Carol Fulton & Frances Sorlie Midlothian 92 (15) 77

NORTHERN COUNTIES WILL BE THE FIRST NAMES ON THE NEW TROPHY FOR THE SCOTTISH COUNTY CHAMPIONS.

Unfortunately I can't get the pictures I have to upload on to the web page, but they will be available to view at the AGM on Sunday 4th October at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth.

Northern Counties are Scottish champions on a countback after rally to draw with MidlothianNorthern Counties won the Scottish women's county team golf championship in a nail-biting finish to the three-day programme at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh today.
Northern Counties and Midlothian, the only two teams with 100 per cent records after two days, met in the title decider – and it ended in a 4 ½-4 ½ draw.
The countback of games won previously gave Northern Counties the title (14 ½-14).
It was Northern Counties' first title win in five years but their fourth win of the decade, having previously been national champions in 2000, 2003 and 2004.
And yet, Northern Counties looked to have suffered a body blow to their title prospects when Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University and Nairn Dunbar), Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years, hurt her wrist hacking out of the rough during the morning foursomes and had to be taken to hospital where ligament damage was diagnosed. They were also without Mary Smith (Tain) who had to leave Baberton to take part in the Scottish Vets Championship at Blairgowrie.
With Midlothian taking a 2-1 foursomes lead into the six afternoon singles – and Kelsey hors de combat, it looked odds on that the East Division champions would regain the title they won in 2005 and again in 2007.
Midlothian increased their lunchtime advantage to 4-1 when Jane Turner beat Pam Mackay 4 and 3, and Claire Hargan won by 3 and 2 against Alison Bartlett.
But then Northern Counties tail wagged with a vengeance.
Elgin's Jenny Milne stopped the slide by halving her match with Scotland girl international Rachael Watton.
Then Counties won the last three singles to salvage a halved match and win the title on a countback.
Youngsters Julie Vass (15) and Hannah McCook (16) played like veterans to knock 2pt off the deficit. Tain's Julie beat Karen Marshall 5 and 4 while Hannah, the North of Scotland girls champion from Nethy Bridge, beat the experienced Louise Fraser by one hole.
Then the Northern Counties' ploy of saving their champion, Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) for the anchor role in the singles paid a huge dividend. In a tight match that went all the way to the 18th green, Cara beat Claire MacDonald by two holes.
Gruber was Counties' outstanding player of the tournament with 4 1/2pt out of six, just ahead of Hannah McCook and Mary Smith (Tain), each with 4pt. Mary, a senior Scotland international, did not play against Midlothian, either in the foursomes or the singles, after winning 4pt out of four through Friday and Saturday. Instead, she left to play at Blairgowrie on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship as Highland vets' champion - and she lost by 7 and 6!

The team leaves this week for the County Finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh.
The practice round is on Thursday, with the competition being played Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Our team is mostly the same as won the Jamboree in June at Royal Dornoch, with the exception of Sammy Vass who is now at College in Florida.
Alison Bartlett, Royal Dornoch; Cara Gruber, Royal Dornoch; Pam Mackay, Royal Dornoch; Hannah McCook (Abernethy); Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Mary Smith (Tain) and Julie Vass (Tain).
It's a long way to go, but we would be gratful for the support of any of you could make to Edinburgh this weekend.
The team will be doing their best to bring the County Championship Trophy back to the North.