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!
Monday, September 28, 2009
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