Ness Open Winner

Team Announcement

We are pleased to announce our team for The County Finals at Ranfurly Castle.

Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eileen Manson (Thurso), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Linda Smith (Buckpool), Mary Smith (Tain) and Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar)

Mairi Orr
Captain

Caddies required

As you know Northern Counties will be defending their title at Ranfurly Castle in September and they will be requiring caddies on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th. Unfortunately the pay is rubbish, but the benefits are enormous!! If you can be of assistance, please e-mail Susan Mackenzie on macken86@aol.com or telephone 01343 544304

Mairi Orr
Captain

North v North East Match

Results of match between Northern Counties Girls and North East Girls at Newmachar.

(North girls first)
Niketa Cruickshank lost to Laura Murray 8 & 7
Aimee Taylor lost to Michele Thomson 8 & 6
Jennifer Stewart lost to Mhairi Johnstone 9 & 7
Kelsey Macdonald beat Lauren MacCallum 8 & 6
Sammy Vass beat Amanda Bowie 3 & 2
Nadia Green beat Kirsty Moss 3 & 2
Donna Mackinnon lost to Lauren Whyte 2 & 1
Chloe Macloed lost to Samantha Leslie 4 & 3

Final result - North 3 North East 5.
A great day was had by all and we even got great weather!

Cara Gruber
Junior Secretary

Northern County Junior Championships

The results of the Northern County Junior Championships held at Fortrose & Rosemarkie were -

1st Scratch - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 72
2nd Scratch - Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar) 79
1st Handicap - Donna Mackinnon (Durness) 65
2nd Handicap - Julie Vass (Tain) 68

Cara Gruber
Junior Secretary

British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships

Northern County Girls proved their determination by entering the above competition last week. They were Cara Gruber, Kerri Harper, Ashton Ingram, Christine MacAndrew, Kelsey MacDonald and Laura Walker. Unfortunately Ashton, Christine and Laura did not make the "cut". Laura missed it by two but they were undaunted and represented themselves and the County admirably. Sunday was two further rounds of stroke play and Kerri went from strength to strength finishing on +13, Cara +19 and Kelsey +31 over the four rounds. Well done to them all and maybe it was just a wee practice for next year at Nairn when the British Mid Amateur will be played there in July. There again, maybe it was getting into the zone for Ranfurly Castle next month!

Mairi Orr
Captain

Results from Fortrose

Silver section -
Scratch - 1st - M. Ritchie (MO) 83; 2nd - W. Ross (E) 84.
Handicap - 1st - J. Thornton (F&R) (17) 68; 2nd - R. Ross (T) (19) 70; 3rd - M. Hayden (T) (18) 71

Bronze section -
1st - B. Bremner (F&R) (23) 62; S. Macdonald (D) (24) 69 bih; A. Drummond (F&R) (21) 69; 4th - K. A. Brown (F&R) (30) 70; 5th - A. Ross (T) (22) 72

Dorothy Marshall from Forres won the Putter in the raffle and Barbara Bremner from Fortrose won the Cathy Ross Salver for the best nett score overall.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Draw for Vets Open Thursday 11th August at Fortrose

9.08 - J. Nalder (N) & M. Ross (F&R); 9.16 - S. Duncan (RD) & B. Bremner(F&R); 9.24 - A. Burnett (RD) & H. Cumming (F&R); 9.32 - M. Lane (Ta) & S. Mackenzie (E); 9.40 - W. Ross (E) & M. Gordon (Ta); 9.48 - L. Barras (MO) & A. Smitten (F&R); 9.56 - J. Stewart (T) & KA Brown (F&R); 10.04 - W. Spencer (MO) & R. Ross (T); 10.12 - J. Fraser (MO) & J. Russell (T); 10.20 - E. Hutton (MO) & T. Weekes (RD); 10.28 - M. McLean (MO) & N. Scott (I); 10.36 - H. MacLeod (I) & S. Dunn (F&R); 10.44 - P. Moscati (RD) & E. Morrison (F&R); 10.52 - P. Smith (I) & A. Armstrong (S); 11.00 - N. Bowie (I) & A. Strauss (RD); 11.08 - E. Rattray (M) & J. Thornton (F&R); 11.16 - E. Smith (M) & E. Robb (I); 11.24 - W. Hendry (MO) & P. Webster (BB); 11.32 - A. Ross (T) & J. Noble (MO); 11.40 - M. Anderson (T) & P. Magee (MO); 11.48 - M. Orr (T) & E. Wallace (MO); 11.56 - M. Hayden (T) & D. Mackay (MO); 12.04 - D. Marshall (F) & M. Baggott (RD); 12.12 - J. Paterson (FA) & A. Mackintosh (F&R); 12.20 - J. Gunn (MO) & M. Douglas (RD); 12.28 - S. Bruce (B) & M. Blair (RD); 12.36 - M. Jones (BoG) & B. Little (B); 12.44 - B. Hughes (BoG) & R. Bruce (MO); 12.52 - S. Ramsay (I) & M. Ritchie (MO); 13.00 - I. Mackintosh (I) & L. Munro (M); 13.08 - S. Macdonald (RD) & J. Gilchrist (F&R); 13.16 - I. Wilson (F) & A. Macdonald (Ta); 13.24 - C. Vass (Ta) & V. Moen (GoS); 13.32 - S. Vickerman (GoS) & A. Drummond (F&R)

Congratulations

Well done to Kelsey MacDonald who played really well in the British Girls Championship this week.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Good luck message

Good luck to Cara in the Welsh Championship at Machynis Peninsula which starts tomorrow, 11th August. This is a professional event and Cara is the SLGA nominated player.

Mairi Orr
Captain

British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships

Next week Nairn Golf Club is to host the above tournament and we are indeed fortunate to have another prestigious event this year on "our patch". Northern Counties have 6 players entered - Cara Gruber, Kerri Harper, Ashton Ingram, Kelsey MacDonald, Christine McAndrew and Laura Walker and every good wish must go to them. Please do turn out to spectate and support. I am sure our girls will really appreciate it.
The dates are 17th - 19th August.

BP Scottish Girls (Close) Amateur Championships

Next week Tain Golf Club has the honour of hosting the above competition. There is a field of 50 girls coming from all over Scotland and I am pleased to say that a number of our County Girls are playing. Kelsey Macdonald will tee off first on Tuesday morning at 8.00 am. The girls will play 2 rounds that day and then go onto matchplay on Wednesday, Thursday and the final on Friday morning. The prize giving will be at 12.30 approx. on Friday, so do come along to Tain and support the Northern County Girls. They would appreciate it and I am sure you will have a nice day out and I guarantee you will see some terrific golf.

Remember the County Vets Open at Fortrose on 11th August. For entries phone Aline Drummond on 01381 620326.

Mairi Orr
Captain

North of Scotland Girls Championship Results

The above championship took place at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club on Wednesday 20th July and the results are as follows:-

1st Scratch - Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar) 77;
2nd Scratch - Laura Murray (Alford) 78;
3rd Scratch - Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 79

1st Handicap - Donna MacKinnon (Durness) (26) 70;
2nd Handicap - Sammy Vass (Tain) (11) 73 bih;
3rd Handicap - Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) (6) 73

Cara Gruber
Junior Convenor

Island Games

12 Islands sent golf teams to take part in the Island Games. Shetland Ladies Golf Team made up of Heather Hogg, Irene Tait, Andelina Sandisan and Lorraine Anderson had a tense time before the official result was anounced that they had tied in Gold Medal position with Bermuda in the Island Games hosted this year by Shetland from 12th - 15th July. The two teams had to nominate a player to play sudden-death and Heather Hogg was chosen for Shetland and Ebonie Burgess for Bermuda. Heather won the toss and cooly played the drive of her life and had a par 4 against the 2 handicapper Ebonie's 5 to take Gold for the girls to the great delight of all watching. The Orkney team of Shona Croy, Elspeth McLean, Eileen Spence and Audrey Poke finished on 5th position with Shona being their best player finishing 6th in the Individual event. Irene Tait just missed out on the Individual Medals finishing 4th. The 2 Bermudans, Laura Robinson, handicap 1 and Ebonie Burgess, handicap 2 won Golf & Silver with Soshie Beardsall I.O.W. in Bronze. A great occasion for both Northern Counties Islands Ladies Teams and a fantastic result for Shetland "Girls".

Reported by Liz Munro

Jamboree photographs

Counties Open

Entries for the County Open at CARDROSS on 23th AUGUST will be taken until 1st AUGUST on 01738 442357 or through the web site www.slga.co.uk

Mairi Orr
Captain

Winners at Fort Willaim - Ashton Ingram & Sammy Vass

Tarbat Extra Open

With regret, the above Open will not take place due to unforseen circumstances and we apologise for any inconvenience. Morag Lane shall return all monies soonest. Hopefully we will be able to re-schedule soonest.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Update

Just back from a very succesful County Open at Fort William where we were made most welcome and you really should have a visit there sometime. The weather was extremely kind to us and we were relatively midgie free! New friendships were formed and hopefully we will someday be back in the west. Tarbat Extra Open is next week - 22nd July and entries are still being accepted on 01862 871598.
Don't forget we are delighted when the county girls play in these opens and their entry fee is £5, so please encourage them.
Next month is the County Veterans at Fortrose and all entries should go to Aline Drummond on 01381 620326.
Please display all County notices in a prominent position in your locker rooms then all the members can see what is going on and indeed hopefully encourage more people to join us.
Next week I shall send you a 2006 fixture list which I would like you to discuss with your Captain/Secretary before you finalise your club fixtures. Increasingly fixtures are clashing and can cause inconvenience.
On the Scratch League front, Ross-shire are through from the North to the Final on September 11th at Tain. We still await results from the South.
The County Team are working hard in order to defend the Scottish Trophy at Ranfurly Castle in September. It would be terrific if you could make the trip south to support us.
Susan Mackenzie is to be the caddy mistress and will be pleased to take a call or e-mail from you as of course volunteers are always welcome.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

County Open at Fort William

It was the first time Fort William golf club had ever hosted an Open and I know it will not be the last. The weather was extremely kind to us and Ben Nevis emerged from the clouds to provide a stunning backdrop to a wonderful golf course. There was not a midgie in sight! The young guns, Ashton ingram and Sammy Vass delighted us all by cutting their handicaps ahead of travelling to Prestwick for the BP Scottish Ladies Junior Championships. Ashton Ingram playing on her home course equalled the course record of 70 set by Rosemary McIntyre in July 1997. Ashton's scores were:

par 4 4 3 5 5 3 4 4 5 37 5 4 3 3 5 3 3 4 4 34 5 4 2 5 5 3 5 4 4 37 4 4 3 4 5 3 2 4 4 33

The results as follows: SS 71 CSS 72

Silver Scratch - Ashton Ingram 70 (Fort William)
1st Handicap - Sammy Vass (13) 66 (Tain)
2nd Handicap - Kathleen Leitch (12) 73 (Fort William)

Bronze 1st Handicap - Jan Paterson (22) 72 (Fort Augustus)
Bronze 2nd Handicap - Gail Anderson (21) 73 (Fort William)
Bronze 3rd Handicap - Jean Cameron (28) 77 (Strathpeffer)

The County Putter was won by Maraid Mackay of Fort Augustus and we know she will put it to good use. Thanks to Fort WIlliam for their courtesy and hospitality and we would recommend you all try to play there.

Mairi Orr
Captain