Kelsey MacDonald's trip to the states.

KELSEY MacDonald marked her final few months as an amateur by winning a prestigious event in Florida to add to her collection of Scottish junior and senior successes.

Part of the Stirling University women’s golf team that has been taking in events on the Orange Blossom Winter Tour over the past three weeks, the 22-year-old took the Jones Doherty Matchplay Championship, which took place at the Coral Ridge Country Club.

MacDonald, who has plans now to turn professional, was looking to make up for the disappointment she suffered at the same event in 2009 having lost in the final.

After leading the qualifiers into the matchplay element with the best score of 69, MacDonald — the number one seed — finished up by defeating 13-year-old Mika Liu, from Beverly Hills, California, who was the number three seed, 3 and 2 in the final.

The final was played in constant rain, a condition not unusual for the Nairn golfer, although the slow pace appeared not to her liking in the early stages.

MacDonald, in her final year as a student at Stirling University, was two down after five holes and still two behind following seven, before eventually getting herself into this contest.

A winning birdie on the eighth hole was the start of a turnaround that saw her begin the inward half at all square.

Another birdie won the 10th hole and two follow up par figures put the Nairn Dunbar member three ahead as Liu struggled to curtail her opponents momentum.

MacDonald lost the 14th hole to a bogey figure, but quickly stormed back with birdie at the next hole to go three up once more.

Liu simply had no answer and with holes running out she conceded at the 16th hole after MacDonald managed to produce a par three that was enough to clinch the prize.

"Having come so close before, it’s just brilliant to make amends," said MacDonald. "To be number one seed and to win like that is pretty awesome."

MacDonald’s victory at this event certainly augurs well for her future.

The only other Scot to have won the Jones Doherty Challenge Cup was Catriona Lambert in 1992. Now Catriona Matthew, she went onto become Scotland’s most successful professional on the women’s European Tour — a target MacDonald will now aim to follow.

Distance Measuring Devices

The SLGA have announced that DMD's will be allowed in any of their competitions.
Happy New Year to you all.

Trophy presentation

Pam Gordon presenting Carinne Taylor with the McDermott trohpy for being the first Junior at Grantown on Spey

Results for Grantown on Spey 7 Oct 2012

What a great day we had, the weather was just about perfect for the time of year - shame the golf wasn't but hey you win some you lose some - I am just talking about me by the way.  We had a good turn out for the McDemott Cup (Juniors) with 5 girls taking part. Carinne Taylor(12) Elgin, who was on 16 at the champs, won the scratch trophy with a gross 88 followed by Emma Booker-Milburn (34) Nairn, with a net 78 for the handicap Trophy. Most improved Junior went to Abbie Cruden from Nairn Dunbar who started the season on 54 and came down to 27.

The prizes were are as follows:

CSS Score: 74
Course Par : 72

1st Scratch Lynne Fraser (6) - Fortrose & Rosemarkie 77
2nd Sctacth Mary Smith (2) - Tain 80
1st Silver Trish Weekes (18) RDGC net 73
2nd Silver Fiona Williams (14) Inverness net 74
3rd Silver Claire Dingwall (13) MOO net 75
4th Silver Iris Wilson (15) Forres - net 75

1st Bronze Cath Allan (27) GOS net 72
2nd Bronze Emma Booker-Milburn (J) (34) Nairn net 78

The results will be published on howdidido once the Secretary from GOS returns from his holiday around the 22 Oct.

The AGM was very well attended this year, 2 items that were discussed were changes to the format of the County Champs and the use of distance measuring devices.

It was unanimously agreed that the Champs be shortened to two days and that we could use DMD's in our competitions, although we were made aware that DMD's are not permitted in SLGA area finals and competitions.

Grantown Draw Sunday 7 October 2012 Amendment

GRANTOWN ON SPEY  – Northern Counties’ Ladies’ Golf Association – County Open Sunday 7 October 2012 Amendment.

Competitors will leave the tee in two’s at 7 minute intervals and are from the host club unless stated.

Abbreviations: BR, Brora, C, Carrbridge, E, Elgin; F, Forres; FA, Fort Augustus, FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie,  G, Gairloch; GOL, Golspie, ,I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord;  N, Nairn; RD, Royal Dornoch;  T, Tain

1000- S Vickerman, F Williams (I), A Oakes, J Cameron (FR), C Allan, P Davis (F), J Cooper (F), E Hill,

1030 –C Dingwall (MO), D McCaig (F), W Spencer (MO), Carol Macdonald (C), M McLachlan, I Wright (RD),

1100 –H Stuart (MO), S Duncan (RD), P Morrison (MO) E Coghill (RD)

A Clarke (BR), M Bagott (RD), P Ash (BR), F More (GOL)

1130 – D McBride (RD), C Boyd (F), V Wright (F), K Lawson (RD), B Grant (F), F MacDonald (RD),  M Rennie (RD), D Marshall (F)

1207 – W Murray (RD), S Macvicar (G), M Smith (T), Isobel McIntosh (I), A Ryan (T), M Barr (G)

1230 – I Wilson (F), J Buist (F), M Hayden (T), Trish Weekes (RD), S Rowan (I), J Coulthard, M Blair (RD), M Mackay (FA), M Douglas (RD), C Mathieson

1300 – C Marshall (N), C Selwyn (FA), C Riddell (RD), R Miller (F), C Boa (RD), E Booker-Milburn (RD), R Riddell (RD), K Miller (F), C Taylor (E),  L Fraser (FR),

TARBAT RESULTS

Well done to all the ladies that took part in the NC competition at Tarbat today. Despite strong winds and showers 39 competitors completed the course in a Stableford format which proved more successful than continuing with the planned Stroke Play.

Morag Cairney and her able local team provided a great service both on and off the course.  There were many complementary comments about the course with a large percentage of the competitors playing the course for the first time.

Nobody was expecting high scores due to the challenging conditions, the tail end of an American storm but Morag Cairney (17) Tarbat and Margot Barr (10) Gairloch managed an excellent 28 pts each.  On  count back Morag won with a better inward half.  This also secured first Vet for Margot who was presented with the Vets Trophy.

1st Morag Cairney (Tarbat) 28pts

2nd Margot Barr  (Gairloch) 28pts

3rd Jean Cameron (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 27 pts

4th Sally Rowan (Inverness) 26pts

5th Angela Mackay (Tarbat) 26pts

6th Dorothy Marshall (Forres) 25pts

The sweeps were won by Angela Mackay, Patsy Mackay and Margaret Bagott who all received £10 each.

Referee selected for Ricoh Women's British Open

Eliz Munro from Moray Golf Club has been selected to referee at the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Liverpool - Hoylake 13-16 September.  This is a fantastic opportunity for Eliz and also nice to have one of  'our own' officiating in such a prestigious competition.  Congratulations Eliz.

Tarbat Draw Friday 14 September

0940 – F MacDonald (RD), A Clarke (BR), J Bannerman (T), J Thornton (FR), E Coghill (RD), P Ashe (BR), M Orr (RD), P Moscatti (RD), S Ramsay (I)

1010 – C Ross (T), M Gordon, C Morrison (N). I McIntosh (I), D Lloyd (RD), L Beaney (BR), S Rowan (I), J Locket (BR), Y Gunn (N)

1230 – M Blair (RD), J Cameron (FR), C Wood (RD), S McVicar (G), C Marshall (I), D Marshall (F), M Barr (G),  M Mathieson (BB), V Wright (F)

1300 – J Hunter (BB), M Douglas (RD), M James (F), J Steggles (BB) P Davis (F), V McMurdo (F), D Mathieson (RD), F Grant (F), I Wright (RD)

1330 – J Elliot (BB), B Shephard (RD) P Webster (T) P MacKay (RD), A Mackay, I Blease (GOS), J Cooper (F), M Joyce, A Burnett (RD), M Cairney, M Bagott (RD), J Coulthard (GOS), A Rae (GOS)

Results of open at Ullapool

Thank you Ladies for making the effort to come to Ullapool. We were rewarded by some great weather and shown some excellant golf from the local ladies. Honours went to;

1st Scratch June Nicol (Inverness) (10) gross 76 (lowest recorded at Ullapool)
2nd Scratch Alison Bartlett (RDGC)(4)gross 81
1st Silver Fiona Hossack (Ullapool) 87 (20) 67
2nd Silver Angela Ford (Ullapool) 82 (13) 69
3rd Silver Doreen McCaig (Forres) 91 (20) 71
4th Silver Eliz Coghill (RDGC) 81 (10) 71
1st Bronze Irene Macdonald (Ullapool) 89 (21) 68
2nd Bronze Cath Macpherson (Ullapool) 94 (24) 70
3rd Bronze Margaret Seater (RDGC) 101 (31) 70
4th Bronze Carol Macdonald (Carrbridge) 93 (22) 71

Many thanks to Fiona, Irene and Cath for helping out on the day and making us all feel so welcome.

Draw for Ullapool Saturday 4 August 2012

ULLAPOOL– Northern Counties’ Ladies’ Golf Association County Open on Saturday 4 August 2012

COMPETITORS leave the tee in three’s at ten minute intervals and are from the host club unless stated.

Abbreviations: BB, Bonar Bridge; C, Carbridge; E, Elgin; F, Forres; FA Fort Augustus; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G, Gairloch; GOS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord; N, Nairn; RD, Royal Dornoch.

0930 – A Ford, V Wright (F), 0940 - J Cooper (F), I Blease (GOS), C Boyde (F), F Grant (F), P Davis (F), C Macdonald (C), A Rae (GOS), P Cronin (F), I Macdonald, M Dick (GOS), D McCaig (F), W Spencer (MO), S Hooker (MO), S Macdonnel (I), V McMurdo (F),

1030 – J Nicol (I), D Marshall (F), A Rose (MO), J Coulthard (GOS), F Williams (I), J Hunter (BB), E Simpson (E), M Matheson (BB), E Lawrie, J Cowie (E), J Powell (G) J Steggles (BB)

1300 – L Coghill (RD), S McVicar G), 1310 – F Hossack , M Bagott (RD), S Duncan (RD), K Lawson (RD), F Allen (N), P Mcleod , J Hire (N), M Douglas (RD), S Smith (RD), C Marshall (N), W Murray (D), D McBride (RD), M Barr (G), M Clemow (FA), A Bartlett (RD),

1400 – L Fraser (FR), M Rennie (RD), F Macdonald (RD), M Maclennon, D Matheson (RD) T Weeks (RD), I Wright (RD), E Richards, M Blair (RD), L Dickinson (RD), C Macpherson, A Burnett (RD).

Garmouth & Kingston Foursome Results

A strange thing happened today at G & K, the sun shone! With some warm weather and a slight breeze we headed off around the course, many of us not having played the course before. The greens were lightening fast - apparently the same speed as Lytham and the first cut was 'club hugging'. There were some great scores, notably from the locals and some terrible ones from the visitors, I am allowed to say terrible, as my partner and I had the worst. We came bottom with a net 93. A total of 27 pairs entered. The results were:
Scratch Gillian Dowling & Alison Gowie (10) 87 1st Handicap Margaret Gauldie & Ellen Spence (21) net 70 2nd Handicap Christine Marshall & Mary Clemow (17) net 72 3rd Handicap Liz Ballentine & Maureen Walker (18) net 74 4th Handicap Gillian Cruden & Rosalind Miller (36) net 78 5th Handicap Abbie Cruden & Katie Miller (30) net 78 6th Handicap Cath Allen & Amelia Oakes (29) net 78.5

Draw for Garmouth & Kingston 20 Jul 2012

10.00 S Leese/J strachan & N Burtwell/F Allan 10.10 N Scrimgeour/S MacDonell & G Cruden/R Miller 10.20 A Cruden/K Miller & J Nicol/F Williams 10.30 L Ballantine/M Walker & P Davis/J Cooper 10.40 M Gauldie/E Spence & V Wright/V McMurdo 10.50 E Simpson/M Grant & S Vickerman/M Allan 11.00 C Dingwall/W Spencer & I Wilson/D McCaig 11.10 N Scott/L Rae & D Marshall/M James 11.20 L Fraser/C Taylor & C Allan/A Oakes 11.30 11.40 E Hill/C MacDonald & F MacDonald/P Clark 11.50 J Coulthard/& I Blease & M Barr/S MacVicar 12.00 S Hooker/M Ritchie & C Marshall/M Clemow

North of Scotland Champs Blairgowrie

Well done to June Nicol (9) from Inverness GC for reaching the semi final of the handicap section. She lost out to Molly Stewart (8) Murcar Links 2 and 1, Molly went on to win the handicap section.

Scottish Senior Ladies Comp at Kemnay

ROYAL DORNOCH PLAYER WINS SCOTTISH SENIOR TITLE SLGA president Margaret MacNaughtan presents the trophy to Alison Bartlett. Picture by Carol Fell. By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Royal Dornoch's Alison Bartlett is the new Scottish senior women's amateur stroke-play golf champion. She won the title at Kemnay Golf Club, Aberdeenshire today after long-time leader Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) dropped four shots to par over the last four holes. Glennie, well clear of the field, had a double bogey 7 at the 15th and bogeys at the 16th and 17th for a six-over-par round of 79 (39-40) which gave her a two-round final total of eight-over 154. Bartlett matched that aggregate by birdieing the 17th on her way to a one-under 72 (37-35). Glennie's downward spiral continued when she lost the sudden-death play-off to Bartlett at the first extra hole. Tain sisters Mary Smith (81 for 158) and Anne Ryan (80 for 161) finished third and joint fifth to give the far North three players in the top six - a grand performance. The leading 16 players go on to contest the seniors' match-play championship over the next two days. Linda Urquhart (Banchory) was the 16th qualifier with an 85 for 168 - pipping former Scottish seniors champion Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) (83 for 169) for the final place.

Day 1 from Monifieth info from Colin Farquharson

FIRST-DAY WINS FOR NORTHERN COUNTIES, ANGUS AT MONIFIETH Defending champions Perth and Kinross were beaten 5 1/2-3 1/2 by Northern Counties on the first day of the Northern Division women's inter-county team golf championship at Monifieth today P and K took a 2-1 lead from the morning foursomes but Angus made up the leeway by winning the singles 4 1/2-1 1/2 with victories for Hannah McCook, Cara Gruber, Mary Smith and Sammy Vass. Similarly, Angus trailed 2-1 to Aberdeenshire after the foursomes but swept to a 6 1/2-2 1/2 victory by winning five singles and halving the other. Young Jessica Meek had a good 3 and 2 win over Scottish champion Laura Murray in the top singles The Northern Division champions go forward to the four-cornered contest at the Scottish women's county finals at Montrose Links from September 21 to 23.  P and K  3 1/2,  Northern Counties 5 1/2 FOURSOMES (2-1) L Walker and E Watson bt H McCook and C Gruber 3 and 1. S Crolla and N Robertson lost to M Smith and A Bartlett 2 and 1. J Milne and E Muirhead bt A Ryan and S Vass 1 hole. SINGLES (1 1/2-4 1/2) Walker lost to McCook 1 hole. Muirhead lost to Gruber 7 and 6. F Ramsay lost to Smith 6 and 5. Robertson bt C Ross 2 and 1. Crolla halved with Ryan Watson lost to Vass 4 and 3. Angus  6 1/2, Aberdeenshire  2 1/2 FOURSOMES (1-2) R Wilson and A Summers lost to L Murray and R Polson 4 and 3. J Meek and A Ramsay halved with S Wood and C Wilson. C Penman and K Reid halved with S Mathieson and K Beveridge. SINGLES (5 1/2- 1/2) Meek bt Murray 3 and 2. Ramsay bt Wood 2 holes Reid bt S Leslie 3 and 1. J Chalmers bt Wilson 2 holes A Smith halved with Polson Summers bt Mathieson 5 and 4. HOW THEY STAND Angus 2pt, Northern Counties 2pt, Perth and Kinross 0pt, Aberdeenshire 0 pt. MATCHES TO COME SUNDAY Aberdeenshire v Northern Counties, Angus v Perth and Kinross MONDAY Angus v Northern Counties, Aberdeenshire v Perth and Kinross Labels: Amateur Ladies posted by Colin | See story on its own page | 5:34:00 PM

Inter-County Competition Monifieth

Results for our team so far are: Won 5, lost 2 and halved 1 against Perth & Kinross. Well done the girls.

Results for Open at Boat of Garten 28 May 2012

Css 72 SSS 71 Scratch Susan McVicar(8) (Gairloch) Gross 82 1st Silver Marlyn Sharp (13) Boat of Garten Net 72 2nd Silver Margaret Thompson (19) Boat of Garten 72 3rd Silver Ellen Spence (20) Rothes 72 4th Silver Sandra Hooker (14) Muir of Ord 72 Bronze Pauline Cronin (27) Forres Net 74 2nd Bronze Janetter Cowie (31) Elgin Net 75

Team Selection for Inter County Competition at Monifieth

Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch GC) Ann Ryan (Tain GC) Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch GC) Claire Ross (Tain GC) Eleanor Tunn (Reay GC) Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey GC) Mary Smith (Tain GC) Sammy Vass (Tain GC) Reserve Jenny Milne (Elgin GC)

Tee times for Boat of Garten County Open

BOAT OF GARTEN – Northern Counties’ Ladies’ Golf Association – County Open Monday 28 May 2012. Competitors will leave the tee in three’s at 7 minute intervals and are from the host club unless stated. Abbreviations: BB, Bonar Bridge, BR, Brora E, Elgin; F, Forres; G, Gairloch; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, GOS, Grantown on Spey; I, Inverness; K, Kingussie, MO, Muir of Ord; N, Nairn; R, Rothes; RD, Royal Dornoch; T, Tain 11.00 – J Cowie (E) , E Simpson (E), S Hooker (MO), E Cameron (E), C Howie (E), S Macdonell (I), A Gowie (I), H Stewart (MO), M Barr (G) 11.22 – M Ritchie (MO), J Fraser (MO), C Dean (E), M Hayden (T), C Dingwall (MO), J Hunter (BB), A Murray (E), M Matheson (BB), J Coulthard (GOS) 1152 – J Thornton (FR), M McWilliam (K), M Thompson, J Grant (K), M Walker (E), C Boyd (F), P Cronin (F), E Day (K), E Spence (R) 12.15 – P Macgillivray, A Oakes (GOS), D McCaig (F), J Hire (N), P Davis (F), M Douglas (RD), M Kessack (E), S Asher (N), C Allen (GOS) 12.45 – L Wheeler (F), F Macdonald (RD), F Allen (N), M Bagott, (RD), V Wright (F), S Mackenzie (E), S Rowan (I), T Weekes (RD), D Marshall (F) 13.07 – M Sharp, L Beaney (BR), E Coghill (RD), J Cooper (F), J Lockett (BR), S Duncan (RD), B Grant (F), A Clarke (BR), M Rennie (RD) 13.30 – S Mcvicar (G), D McBride (RD), C Marshall (N), M James (F), A Weller, A Telford (K), A Rae (GOS), P Ross (K)

Extra tee times at the Boat of Garten County Open

I have managed to get some more tee times for this open. Please contact me for late entries. 01479 851361 or 07779 292175 Jacqui