LYDIA KO (14) LEADS PROS BY FOUR IN NEW SOUTH WALES OPEN

                    LYDIA KO, New Zealand's South Korean-born wonder girl, still only 14
                                          Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency  

FROM THE STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
New Zealand's Lydia Ko moved a step closer to creating golfing history at the New South Wales Open today as a sublime second round put her within range of becoming the youngest female to win a professional tournament.
Ko, the world's top-ranked amateur, produced the round of the day at the Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney to carry a four-shot lead into tomorrow's third and final round.
If she can protect her advantage the 14-year-old will relegate Amy Yang into second place six years after the United States-based South Korean won Australia's ANZ Ladies Masters as an amateur.
Ko mastered the front nine en route to a superb 8-under 64, which would have bettered the course record by a stroke had the golfers not been using preferred lies to combat a course still feeling the effects of yesterday's heavy rain.
She began the day in a tie for third, one shot behind overnight leaders Karen Lunn and Rachel Bailey, and set the tone immediately by launching her birdie blitz on the opening hole.
Ko eventually reeled off five birdies before the turn though the highlight of her round was a stunning eagle on the fourth when she chipped in from 12-metres -- with one of her least favourite clubs.
"I don't really use my 9-iron that often, I'm not that confident with it and my putting was really good but I decided to use it and it went in," she laughed. "I didn't expect it to go in, I just wanted to hit it close and make a nice birdie." Ko was not as prolific on the back nine as blustery winds became a factor - she completed the first four in regulation before a rare blemish, a bogey on the par- 4 14th.
However, she underlined her class by swiftly making amends with back-to-back birdies to restore and then extend her lead over Lindsey Wright of Australia. Kent-born Wright had set the early pace with a 6-under 66 before Ko, who won the Australian Amateur championships in Melbourne last weekend, took charge with another career highlight.
"It gives me a lot of confidence, I'm really happy with my game and If I play like that again (tomorrow) I'll still be up there," said Ko, who is 11-under the card after two rounds.
Yang was 16 years and 192 days old when she made her mark and Ko has already been tantalisingly close to diminishing that achievement - at last year's NSW Open but she lost by one stroke to Sweden's Caroline Hedwall.

DEFENDING CHAMPION LEONA MAGUIRE NOW T6 IN PORTUGAL

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE
 IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
A bright and breezy day greeted the players on the second day of the Portuguese Ladies Amateur at Montado Golf Resort, Lisbon today.
Title-holder Leona Maguire, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, continued her impressive form of yesterday reaching the turn in level par, but as the wind strengthened on the tougher inward nine, she had to settle for a closing two over par 74. Twin Lisa double-bogeyed her first and last holes to record a frustrating 76, having played well once again today. Cork's Gillian O'Leary was more comfortable today off the tee but found the greens testing in her 76 while Paula Grant was pleased with her level par opening nine, only to drop 10 shots coming home after the misfortune of a lost ball and tree trouble.
The later starters also struggled in the blustery and cold conditions with the average score increasing by four strokes on yesterday's round. In the afternoon, Aedin Murphy and Lucy Simpson impressed with solid 77s while Sarah Cunningham was just one further back on 78, matched by Muskerry's Jean O'Driscoll earlier in the day.
Louise Mernagh, Victoria Bradshaw and Jessica Carty found the putting difficult in the gusty conditions and signed for 83, 85 and 86 respectively.
Germany's Rebecca Roeller leads the field by four strokes overnight after adding a 74 to her opening 66. Finland's Anne Hakula also added 76 to lie second while Matilda Castren (Finland), Clara Baena Sanchez (Spain) and Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands) lie joint third, one stroke further back.
Tomorrow sees the field compete a third round of 18 holes with the top 40 players teeing up on Sunday for the final 18 holes.
Leona, Lisa and Gillian still lie within striking distance and two low rounds, well within their talented capabilities, over the weekend will see the trophy return to Ireland for a second successive year.
In contrast, Scotland's three representatives, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) and Germany-based Rachel Taylor are almost certain to miss the third-round cut to the leading 40.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
140 Rebecca Roeller (Germany) 66 74
144 Anne Hakula (Finland) 68 76
145 Matilda Castren (Finland ) 69 76, Clara Baena Sanchez (Spain) 69 76, Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands) 71 74

Irish scores:
146 Leona Maguire 72 74 (T6)
149 Lisa Maguire 73 76 (T13)
150 Gillian O'Leary 74 76 (T15)
154 Jean O'Driscoll 76 78, Aedin Murphy 77 77 (T21)
155 Paula Grant 73 82 155 Lucy Simpson 78 77 (T25)
161 Sarah Cunningham 83 78
163 Louise Mernagh 80 83
164 Victoria Bradshaw 79 85 
172 Jessica Carty 86 86

English scores
155 Rachel Drummond 73 82, Jessica Wilcox 73 82 (T25)

Scottish scores
160 Alyson McKechin 79 81 (T69)
167 Ailsa Summers 82 85 (T90)
170 Rachel Taylor 81 89 (T96).

CLAIRE COUGHLAN TO LEAD IRELAND AT WHI AT HOME CLUB CORK

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

Claire Coughlan (Cork), Niamh Kitching (Limerick) and Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire) will captain the Irish Ladies, Girls and Senior International Teams respectively for the 2012 season. 

Claire Coughlan, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, a past Curtis Cup player, will lead the Irish team for the Women's Home International Matches at her home club of Cork, 4-6 September 2012. It is the first time the Home Internationals have been played in Ireland since Dundalk in 2005 when the Irish team were looking for 3 titles in a row, having won in 2003 and 2004 when Coughlan herself was a member of the team. 

Niamh Kitching, a recent past International, will once again Captain the Irish Girls team at the Girls' European Team Championships to be played in GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany, 10-14 July and the Girls' Home International team at Radyr Golf Club, Wales, 7-9 August.

Seapoint’s Paula Reynolds will accompany Kitching and the team for a second year, acting as Team Manager for both events. 

Terry Sexton, an esteemed member of Dun Laoghaire Golf Club and member of the Irish Senior Ladies team that played England in 2001, will take up the reins as Captain of the Irish Seniors' team for the European Senior Ladies Team Championships, Lugano GCSwitzerland, 4-8 September and the Senior Home International Matches at Elie and Earlsferry, Scotland, 2-4 October 2012. 

SCOTLAND TRIO STRUGGLE IN PORTUGUESE OPENING ROOUND

Scotland's trio of Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Germany-based Rachel Taylor and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) posed no threat to the leaders in the first round of the Portuguese women's amateur international stroke-play championship over 72 holes at Montado Golf Club, near Lisbon today.
McKechin, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had a seven-over-par 79 for a share of 71st place.
Taylor returned a 71 for joint 85th place and Summers had an 82 to be joint 94th.
Germany's Roberta Roeller had no problems in moving two shots ahead of the field of 103 with a six-under-par 66.
Defending champion Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), winner by 11 strokes last year, had, by her high standards, an indifferent start with a par 72 which leaves her six shots off the pace but in a joint ninth position.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
 Par 72
66 Roberta Roeller (Ger).
68 Anne Hakula (Fin), Ariane Provot (Fra).
69 Matilda Castren (Fin), Clara Baena Sanchez (Spa), Nuria Iturrios Servera (Spa).
Selected scores:
72 Leona Maguire (Ire), Gabriella Cowley (Eng) (T9).
73 Lisa Maguire (Ire), Paula Grant (Ire), Rachel Drummond (Eng), Jessica Wilcox (Eng) (T15).
74 Gillian O'Leary (Ire) (T26)
76 Jean O'Driscoll (Ire), Danielle Anderson (Eng) (T42).
77 Aedin Murphy (Ire) (T54)
78 Lucy Simpson (Ire), Dulcie Sverdloff (Eng) (T60).
79 Victoria Bradshaw (Ire), Alyson McKechin (Sco) (T71).
80 Louise Mernagh (Ire) (T80).
81 Rachel Taylor (Sco) (T85).
82 Ailsa Summers (Sco) (T94).
83 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) (T99).
86 Jessica Carty (Ire) (T101).

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

LEONA MAGUIRE BEST OF THE IRISH AT FOGGY MONTADO

Defending champion Leona Maguire fired an opening 72 to lead the lead the Irish challenge at a cold and damp Portuguese Ladies Amateur at Montado Golf Resort, Lisbon today.
In a fog-bound start, in which the tournament officials and competitors endured a 4hr delay, play commenced with a shotgun start at 12 noon to ensure all 108 players completed their opening 18 holes.
As daylight faded, the scorer’s hut burst into activity as all descended upon the clubhouse at 5.40pm in one foul swoop.
Leona opened her defence of the title with a level par 72. She trails surprise leader Roberta Roeller by six strokes as the German set the pace with an impressive 66.
Finland’s Anne Hakula and Ariane Provot (France) are next best on 68 while Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant both carded one over par 73s to lie in the top fifteen overnight. Current international Gillian O’Leary was pleased with her opening 74 having struggled with her long game while debutante Jean O’Driscoll signed for a solid 76.
Aedin Murphy was one further back on 77 while Lucy Simpson carded a 78 and Victoria Bradshaw a 79. Louise Mernagh just failed to shoot in the seventies while Sarah Cunningham signed for 83 and Jessica Carty an 86 after struggling on the slick greens.Tomorrow sees the field compete a second round of 18 holes with the final two rounds taking place over the weekend.

PORTUGUESE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL SCOREBOARD

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES AT MONTADO GOLF CLUB, NEAR LISBON

CLICK HERE

LADIES GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

GBandI PRELIMINARY CURTIS CUP SQUAD NAMED

The Ladies’ Golf Union International Selection Panel has today named a Great Britain and Ireland preliminary squad of 12 players for the 37th Curtis Cup match against the United States at The Nairn Golf Club from June 8 to 10, 2012.
They are:
AMY BOULDEN (Conwy GC). Age 18.
HOLLY CLYBURN (Woodhall Spa GC). Age 20.
CHARLEY HULL (Woburn GC). Age 15.
BRONTE LAW (Bramhall GC). Age 16.
LEONA MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell GC). Age 17.
LISA MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell GC). Age 17.
BECKY HARRIES (Haverfordwest GC). Age 23.
KELSEY MacDONALD (Nairn Dunbar GC). Age 21.
PAMELA PRETSWELL (Bothwell Castle). Age 22.
KELLY TIDY (Royal Birkdale GC). Age 19.
STEPHANIE MEADOW (Royal Portrush GC). Age 20.
LAUREN TAYLOR (Woburn GC). Age 17.
First reserve
GEORGIA HALL (Remedy Oak GC). Age 15.

The players, watched by team captain Tegwen Matthews and the LGU International Selection Panel, will take part in a three-day team trial over The Nairn Golf Club’s championship links from Friday to Sunday, March 23 to 25.
The names of the players and reserves chosen for the team will be released for publication on Tuesday, March 27.

NOTES ON PLAYERS SELECTED
Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Kelsey MacDonald, Pamela Pretswell and Kelly Tidy were the Great Britain and Ireland team of five, captained by Tegwen Matthews, who beat Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa to win the Astor Trophy (an international team match-play tournament played every four years) at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire in June 2011.
Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Kelsey MacDonald, Pamela Pretswell, Stephanie Meadow, Leona Maguire and Kelly Tidy played for GB&I in the 2010 Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl last June.
Holly Clyburn, Leona and Lisa Maguire, Pamela Pretswell played in the 2010 Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts. Kelsey MacDonald was first reserve, Stephanie Meadow second reserve and Amy Boulden fourth reserve for that match.
Becky Harries is the 2011 Welsh Ladies’ (Close) Amateur Champion, beating Amy Boulden in the final. Becky won all six matches (three foursomes, three singles) for Wales in the 2011 Women’s Home Internationals at Hillside GC, Lancashire last September. Becky finished in a very creditable sixth place in the recent Spanish stroke-play championship.
Charley Hull played for Europe in the 2010 Junior Solheim Cup match in Ireland and for GB and I in the inaugural Junior Vagliano Trophy match at Royal Porthcawl last June.
Charley Hull won the English and Welsh women’s open stroke-play titles in 2011. She was beaten finalist in the English women’s (closed) amateur championship. A couple of weeks ago she won the Harder Hall Invitational, the opening event of the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.

Twins Leona and Lisa Maguire also played in the Junior Solheim Cup match, as did Lauren Taylor and Amy Boulden. Bronte Law and Georgia Hall played in the Junior Vagliano Trophy match.
Bronte Law won the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open championship in 2011.
Leona Maguire won the British, Irish and Portuguese Ladies’ Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships in 2011.
Lisa Maguire won the European women’s individual title in Holland and also the Spanish Ladies’ Open Amateur match-play championship.
Stephanie Meadow has been released by Alabama University to travel to Nairn for the team trial. Stephanie, now in her second year at university, has won four times in all on the American college circuit.
Lauren Taylor, at 16, was the youngest ever winner of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship (first played in 1893) at Royal Portrush GC last June. She was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of 2011.
For further information please contact:
SUSAN SIMPSON
Head of Golf Operations LGU Championships Ltd Tel : 01334 475811
Email : susan.simpson@lgu.org

About the Ladies’ Golf Union (“LGU”)
Founded in 1893, the LGU is the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland. The LGU Executive Council includes representatives of ladies’ golf’s national governing bodies in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Operational activities are undertaken by a wholly owned subsidiary, LGU Championships Limited (“LGUCL”), which in particular owns and runs the Ricoh Women’s British Open, founded by the LGU in 1976 and one of the four Major Tournaments for Professional Women golfers. LGUCL also has responsibility for running British Amateur Championships and Home International events, and preparing the Great Britain & Ireland teams for representative matches, such as the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy. Further information about the LGU is available on www.lgu.org.

MOIRA PATERSON, 1952 BRITISH CHAMPION, DIES AT AGE OF 88

CHEERS for the new British champion! Moira Paterson, seated on right, at the post-final victory celebrations in the clubhouse.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Moira Milton, who won the Ladies British Open amateur championship at Troon in 1952 as Moira Paterson and played in the victorious GB and I Curtis Cup team at Muirfield later that year, died on Tuesday night in a Wells, Somerset nursing home.
Born in 1923 at Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, she had her 88th birthday in December. She is survived by her husband John Milton who is 93.
Liz Pook, who won the British title in 1966 and 1967 as Elizabeth Chadwick, said last night: "Moira was without doubt the most modest British champion I have ever known."
In 1952 scheduled 36-hole final at Troon - it didn't become "Royal Troon" until 1978, Moira, then 28 and a gym teacher at Kirkintilloch, beat former champion Frances Stephens (Birkdale) at the 38th hole.
The match, watched by a gallery of at least 2,000, lasted seven hours - the longest British final on record. Considerng Moira had hurt her back earlier in the tournament and had to have daily treatment from a doctor, it was a performance of true grit by the lass who grew up in Lenzie, Glasgow.
Moira was three down at 19 holes and five down after 25 before staging a remarkable comeback to square the contest by the 36th and then win at the second extra hole.

In the Curtis Cup match that year at Muirfield, Moira Paterson was a member of the GB and I team who scored a famous 5-4 win over the United States. It was the first victory in the series, which started in 1932, by Great Britain and Ireland.
Other Scots in the team were Jessie Valentine and Jean Donald. Caption for picture of the team (by courtesy of Gillian Kirkwood) on right:
Back row (left to right): Philomena Garvey, Frances Stephens, Jessie Valentine, Moira Paterson, Elizabeth Price.
Front row (l to r): Jean Donald, Lady Katherine Cairtns (team captain), Kitty McCann, Jeanne Bisgood.
Moira also toured South Africa with a team of British players. They left Britain on September 6, 1951 and did not return until just before Christmas. Worldwide travel took a good bit longer by boat before the flying age.
 She played for GBandI against France in 1949 and 50, and also for GB&I against Belgium in the same years. Moira played for Scotland in the Women’s Home Internationals of 1949-50-51-52. She also played for Scotland against Australia in 1949.
She played out of Gullane Golf Club in the 1952 British final and later was made an honorary member of Gullane. She was also an honorary member of Lenzie GC. Moira was also at one time a member of Turnhouse GC.
She lived at Barnton, Edinburgh before moving to the south of England with her husband John C Milton.
Moira, runner-up in the French women’s open amateur championship of 1949 was a contemporary of Scottish legends Helen Holm, Jean Donald, Jessie Valentine which perhaps explains why she never won the "Scottish."
In the 1950 Scottish women’s amateur championship over the Old Course, St Andrews, Moira was beaten in the semi-finals – either by Helen Holm or the redoubtable Charlotte Beddows who contested the final.
In 1951, Moira Paterson reached the final of the Scottish championship at Nairn but was beaten 3 and 2 by Jessie Valentine.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS WON BY MOIRA
1949 Dunbartonshire women's county champion
1960 East of Scotland women's champion.
1962 Midlothian women's county champion.

SUNCOAST LADIES SERIES SCOREBOARD

WEST ORANGE COUNTRY CLUB,
 nr ORLAND0, FLORIDA

FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
1 Renee Skidmore (Everett, Washington) 67-70-72--209 $2,000. (Pictured right)
2 Pernilla Lindberg (Bollnas, Sweden) 70-69-72--211 $1,000.
3 Anna Nordqvist (Eskilstuna, Sweden) 71-70-71--212 $800.
4 Naon Min (South Korea) 72-70-71--213 $700.
5 Sue Kim Langley (British Columbia, Canada)71-67-78--216 $650.
T6 Taylor Collins (Davie, Florida) 80-74-67--221 $575.
T6 Brittany Johnston (Akron, Ohio) 75-74-72--221 $575.
8 Maria Hjorth (Falun, Sweden) 70-75-77--222 $500.
9 Martina Gavier (Cordoba, Argentina) 72-73-78--223 $450.
10 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Virginia) 74-77-73--224
T11 Rachel Schmidt (Elk River, Minnsota) 75-76-74--225
T11 Britney Hamilton (Lake Orion, Michigan) 76-76-73--225
T11 Emma Jandel (Dayton, Ohio) 74-75-76--225T11 Seul Ki Park (Northbrook, Illinois) 72-73-80--225
T15 Ginny Brown (Austin, Texas) 77-77-76--230
T15 Alexandra Casi (East Palestine, Ohio) 73-78-79--230
17 Danielle Mills (Pointe-Claire Quebec, Canada) 79-74-78--231
T18 Elise Swartout (Ann Arbor, Michigan) 81-78-73--232
T18 Susan Choi (Natick, Massachusetts) 80-80-72--232
T18 Brooke Marnitz (Lexington, Kentucky) 73-79-80--232
21 Shasta Averyhardt (Flint, Michigan) 80-79-76--235
T22 Chelcia Petersen (amateur) (Davenport, Florida) 82-74-81--237
T22 Caroline Park (Orlando, Florida) 79-77-81--237
T24 Susan Martin (Norcross, Georgia) 86-70-83--239
T24 Carmen Bandea (Atlanta, Georgia) 78-76-85--239
26 Jillian Fraccola (Fort Myers, Florida) 79-81-80--240
27 Christie Appleton (Quinton, Virginia) 82-76-84--242
28 Amanda McPhee (Winchester, Massachusetts) 81-85-80--246
29 Brogan McKinnon (amateur) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) 82-84-82--248 30 Sherri Pla (West Palm Beach, Florida) 84-90-76--250
31 Tammy Lee (amateur) (Milpitas, California) 84-85-92--261

THREE SCOTS IN FIELD FOR PORTUGUESE INTERNATIONAL CH/SHIP

Three Scots - Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) and Germany-based Rachel Taylor - are in the field for the Portuguese women's amateur international stroke-play championships over four rounds, starting at Montado Golf Resort, Lisbon tomorrow. Favourite is the 17-year-old Irish twin, Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), who won this title by the astonishing margin of 11 strokes last year.
Since then Leona has won the British and Irish women's open amateur stroke play championships. She now has +5 of a handicap.

SUNCOAST LADIES SERIES SCOREBOARD

WEST ORANGE COUNTRY CLUB, WINTER GARDEN,
 nr ORLANDO, FLORIDA 
THREE ROUNDS OF STROKE-PLAY TOURNAMENT

SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 142 (2x71)

1 Renee Skidmore Everett, WA 67-70--137 -5

2 Sue Kim Langley, BC CAN 71-67--138 -4

3 Pernilla Lindberg Bollnas, Sweden 70-69--139 -3

4 Anna Nordqvist Eskilstuna, Sweden 71-70--141 -1

5 Naon Min South Korea 72-70--142 Even

6 Seul Ki Park Northbrook, IL 72-73--145 +3

6 Martina Gavier Cordoba, Argentina 72-73--145 +3

6 Maria Hjorth Falun, Sweden 70-75--145 +3

9 Brittany Johnston Akron, OH 75-74--149 +7

9 Emma Jandel Dayton, OH 74-75--149 +7

11 Alexandra Casi East Palestine, OH 73-78--151 +9

11 Jenny Suh Fairfax, VA 74-77--151 +9

11 Rachel Schmidt Elk River, MN 75-76--151 +9

14 Brooke Marnitz Lexington, Ky 73-79--152 +10

14 Britney Hamilton Lake Orion, MI 76-76--152 +10

16 Danielle Mills Pointe-Claire Quebec, CAN 79-74--153 +11

17 Carmen Bandea Atlanta, GA 78-76--154 +12

17 Taylor Collins Davie, FL 80-74--154 +12

17 Ginny Brown Austin, TX 77-77--154 +12

20 Susan Martin Norcross, GA 86-70--156 +14

20 Caroline Park Orlando, Fl 79-77--156 +14

20 Chelcia Petersen (amateur) Davenport, FL 82-74--156 +14

23 Christie Appleton Quinton, VA 82-76--158 +16

24 Shasta Averyhardt Flint, MI 80-79--159 +17

24 Elise Swartout Ann Arbor, MI 81-78--159 +17

26 Jillian Fraccola Ft. Myers, FL 79-81--160 +18

26 Susan Choi Natick, Ma 80-80--160 +18

28 Amanda McPhee Winchester, MA 81-85--166 +24

28 Brogan McKinnon (amateur) Toronto, Ontario CAN 82-84--166 +24

30 a-Tammy Lee Milpitas, CA 84-85--169 +27

31 Sherri Pla West Palm Beach, FL 84-90--174 +32

32 Chella Choi South Korea NS-NS

33 Nikki Hadd Crestview, FL 77-WD

STIRLING UNIVERSITY MEN'S SQUAD OFF TO ABU DHABI FOR 10 DAYS

The University of Stirling men’s golf squad, with coach Dean Robertson, heads to the Middle East tomorrow for a 10-day trip involving practice, a match against the United Arab Emirates PGA, entry into the Abu Dhabi amateur championship and attendance on the final day of the European Tour's HSBC Championship.
Raleigh Gowrie, the university's sports performance manager, said: "It's a truly international squad. It includes Scottish international Graeme Robertson, Scottish boys cap Jack McDonald, Belgian boys international Dewi Merckz, Swiss international Mathias Eggenberg, Hong Kong cap Ollie Roberts and David Booth, a former Scottish youths champion."
The Abu Dhabi amateur championship will be played over Yas Links on Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4.
The full University of Stirling squad for Abu Dhabi is: Graeme Robertson, Jack McDonald, Alexander Culverwell, Angus Carrick, Dewi Merckz, Mathias Eggenberger, Ollie Roberts, Bobby Rushford, David Booth, Darren Timms, Michael Howard, Kit Holmes.
The university's women's squad returned earlier this week from Florida where they played in three events on the Orange Blossom Tour.

2012 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES/GIRLS' WINTER FESTIVAL ENTRIES

FROM HDA FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

 LEE HARRINGTON

Having been in UK for a few days, I am delighted to advise that several more entries (and enquiries) have been received for the 2012 Ladies Festival while I have been away!

Please see blow the up todate entry list, which I will keep open until Wednesday, February 8. If any of you are aware of anyone still thinking about entering, please advise them accordingly.

Countdown is on, for what looks like being another memorable event! Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Kind regards

Lee Harrington 

 NAME                             ENTERING


BURROWS, PENNY (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

BLEASE, LAUREN (ENG) /LADIES TBC

CALLANDER, NICOLA (ENG) /U-18 MURCIA OPEN and U-18 HDA OPEN

CAMPBELL, IRENE (SCO) /SENIOR HDA OPEN + PAIRS

COWLEY, GABRIELLA (ENG) /TBC

DAWSON, KAREN (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

DIXON, JESSICA (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

FINLAY, POPPY (ENG) /U-18 MURCIA OPEN and U-18 HDA OPEN

FOSTER, NIKKI (ENG) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN and LADIES HDA OPEN

GARDINER, GILLIAN (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

GILLING, GEORGIA (ENG) /LADIES HDA OPEN

GREEN, CAROL (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

HABETS, MARGO (BEL) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

HARDIE, GINNIE (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

HEALEY, ELOISE (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

HENDRICKX, SANDRA (BEL) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

HEWSON, ALICE (ENG) /TBC

HUDSON, DIANA (ENG) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN and LADIES HDA OPEN

KAIMAKAMI, JESSICA (ENG) /U-18 MURCIA OPEN and U-18 HDA OPEN

LAMB, SOPHIE (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

LEE, AUDREY (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

MACLAREN, MARY (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

MACLAREN, REBECCA (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

MAGUIRE, SOPHIE (SCO) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

MARR, LINDA (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

McCARTHY, GEMMA (IRE) /U-16 HDA OPEN

MEHAFFEY, OLIVIA (N.IRE) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

MERCER-SMITH, PAULINE (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

MUSE, HOLLIE (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

PEARCE, MARILYNN (ENG) /SENIORS TBC

PESSERS, SASKIA (NED) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

PONTE, AIMEE (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

REES, ROSEANNE (ENG) /SENIOR MURCIA OPEN and SENIOR HDA OPEN

SERRIEN-VERBEECK, DOMINIQUE (BEL) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

SHEA, EMILY (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

SLATER, EMILY (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

TAYLOR, AMELIA (ENG) /U-18 MURCIA OPEN and U-18 HDA OPEN + PAIRS

TAYLOR, EMILEE (ENG) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN and LADIES HDA OPEN

THOMPSON, AILISH (IRE) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN and LADIES HDA OPEN

THOMPSON, RACHEL (IRE) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

VAN GILS, CARLA (BEL) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

VERBEECK, ANNE (BEL) /LADIES MURCIA OPEN

WAKELEY-JONES, VICTORIA (ENG) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

WARD, NIAMH (N.IRE) /U-16 MURCIA OPEN and U-16 HDA OPEN

TO CONTACT LEE HARRINGTON, E-MAIL HIM AT

marshall@hdagolf.com

+Flights note: You can flight to Alicante but that is an hour's drive at least from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort. Murcia Airport is much closer.

VICKI GOETZE-ACKERMAN NOW IN GEORGIA'S GOLF HALL OF FAME

FROM THE LPGA WEBSITE
The Georgia State Golf Association has inducted the 2012 class into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek.
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman was one of the four new inductees as she's one of Georgia's most decorated female golfers at the national level, winning two U.S. women's amateur titles and who represented her country four times in international team events, including two Curtis Cup matches.
Others inducted were Richard Crawford, Alfred "Tup" Holmes, and Gene Sauers.
Vicki Goetze was born in 1972 in Mishicot, Wisconsin. The family moved to Georgia and most of her golf accomplishments occurred during the time they lived in Hull, just outside Athens.
Professionally, Goetze-Ackerman qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt in the fall of 1993 and played for 16 years before retiring as a full-time member. Her best finish was a tie for second in the 2000 and 2004 Corning Classics.
She served on the LPGA Player Executive Committee and Board of Directors in 2005-2007 and was President of the Association in 2007. In 2006, she was honored with the William and Mousie Powell Award, chosen by her peers, as the player whose behaviour and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA.
Goetze-Ackerman and her husband, Jim, have one son, Jake. They reside in the Tampa, Florida, area where she teaches at Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club.
+Vicki Goetze played for the US in the Curtis Cup matches at Somerset Hills, New Jersey (1990) and Hoylake (1992) where Caroline Hall beat Vicki by one hole in the last match to finish on the last day to clinch a 10-8 victory for GB and I.

World No 1 female amateur Lydia Ko (only 14) earns place in Aussie Open

FROM STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE

Lydia Ko in action for New Zealand in last June's Astor Trophy tournament at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

FROM STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE

Lydia Ko knows that expectations will only grow as she continues to underline her status as the world's No 1 female amateur golfer.

The 14-year-old wonder girl has become the first New Zealander since Jan Higgins in 1989 to win the Australian women's amateur title, beating Victorian Breanna Elliott 4 and 3 in a 36-hole final in Melbourne at the weekend.
The victory earned her an exemption into the LPGA Tour's season-opening Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in February.
"It is going to be nice to take this form into the professional events," she said. "People are going to start talking me up like I am going to win all the time.
"I don't know about that, but if I play like I played here this week, then I think I'm capable of coming in the top five in a pro event."
Ko, who finished second in qualifying behind Elliott, was never headed in the final. The South Korea-born Aucklander won the very first hole and was seven up after the 21st, although Elliott did close the gap to be four down with six to play.
Ko, who last year became the youngest winner of the New Zealand stroke-play and New Zealand amateur titles, halved the next three holes to close out the contest.
Relief was her main feeling. "She came back into the match when I made a few mistakes as I got tired - it has been a long week," Ko said. "But I always felt like I had the match under control on the second 18 holes."

Her next competition is the NSW Open, which starts in Sydney on Friday. A year ago at the same event, Ko, at 13, just failed to become the youngest winner of a professional women's tournament when she finished second, a shot behind Sweden's Caroline Hedwall.

SUNCOAST LADIES SERIES SCOREBOARD

West Orange Country Club, Winter Garden,
 nr Orlando, Florida

54-hole stroke-play. Par 71. Yardage 6,200

FIRST ROUND

1 Renee Skidmore (Everett, Washington State) 35-32--67
T2 Maria Hjorth (Falun, Sweden) 37-33--70
T2 Pernilla Lindberg (Bollnas, Sweden) 34-36--70
T4 Anna Nordqvist (Eskilstuna, Sweden) 36-35--71
T4 Sue Kim Langley (British Columbia, Canada) 36-35--71
T6 Martina Gavier (Cordoba, Argentina) 36-36--72
T6 Naon Min (South Korea) 35-37--72
T6 Seul Ki Park (Northbrook, Illinois) 36-36--72
T9 Brooke Marnitz (Lexington, Kentucky) 39-34--73
T9 Alexandra Casi (East Palestine, Ohio) 38-35--73
T11 Jenny Suh (Fairfax, Virginia) 37-37--74
T11 Emma Jandel (Dayton, Ohio) 36-38--74
T13 Brittany Johnston (Akron, Ohio) 37-38--75
T13 Rachel Schmidt (Elk River, Minnesota) 36-39--75
15 Britney Hamilton (Lake Orion, Michigan) 40-36--76
T16 Ginny Brown (Austin, Texas) 38-39--77
T16 Nikki Hadd (Crestview, Florida) 37-40--77
18 Carmen Bandea (Atlanta, Georgia) 43-35--78
T19 Caroline Park (Orlando, Florida) 40-39--79
T19 Danielle Mills (Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada) 41-38--79
T19 Jillian Fraccola (Fort Myers, Florida) 38-41--79
T22 Taylor Collins (Davie, Florida) 41-39--80
T22 Shasta Averyhardt (Flint, Michigan) 40-40--80
T22 Susan Choi (Natick, Massachusetts) 43-37--80
T25 Amanda McPhee (Winchester, Massachusetts) 42-39--81
T25 Elise Swartout (Ann Arbor, Michigan) 40-41--81
T27 Christie Appleton (Quinton, Virginia) 43-39--82
T27 Brogan McKinnon (amateur) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) 43-39--82
T27 Chelcia Petersen (amateur) (Davenport, Florida) 43-39--82
T30 Sherri Pla (West Palm Beach, Florida) 46-38--84
T30 Tammy Lee (amateur) Milpitas, California) 45-39--84
32 Susan Martin (Norcross, Georgia) 41-45--86
No Show: Chella Choi (South Korea)

MEGHAN STASI A DEFINITE ENTRY FOR THE "BRITISH" at CARNOUSTIE

Ariya and Moriya Jutanuarn, the talented teenage Thailand sisters, with their father in the background. He is contemplating taking them over to Scotland for the British women's open amateur championship at Carnoustie June 26-30.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Three times United States women's mid-amateur golf champion Meghan Stasi is making a return trip to Scotland to play in the British women's open amateur championship at Carnoustie from June 26-30. In 2008, as Meghan Bolger she was a member of the winning American team in the Curtis Cup match against GB and I over the Old Course, St Andrews. "Scotland has given me a lot of fond memories so I will definitely be coming over to Carnoustie for the British championship," said 33-year-old Florida-based Stasi (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency), after her weekend victory in the final of the Jones-Doherty Challenge Cup match-play tournament, the last event of the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.
Stasi, whose husband-to-be proposed to her on the Swilken Bridge over the 18th fairway at the Old Course in 2008, won the US mid-am title in 2006, 2007 and 20010.
She made her debut in the British women's open amateur championship at Ganton in 2010 when she lost to Kelsey MacDonald at the 19th in the semi-finals. A formidable match-player, Megan didn't quite make it to the match-play stages of last year's championship at Royal Portrush. She was on of 10 players on the 157 mark after the 36-hole qualifying test. Only two could get through to make a field of 64 for the match-play and Stasi was one of the eight squeezed out on a card play-off.
The talented Jutanugarn sisters from Bangkok, Moriya (17), winner of the South Atlantic championship on the Orange Blossom Tour two weeks ago, and Ariya (16), twice a runner-up on this month's Florida women's circuit, could be in the Carnoustie field as well.
Their father, who masterminds the pair's worldwide gollf schedule, says he will make up his mind towards the end of next month. Ariya is No 10 and Moriya No 18 in the current women's world amateur rankings.
Moriya was beaten finalist in last year's US women's amateur championship and won The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament - beating all the boys! - at Dundonald Links in 2009.

LYDIA KO (14) WINS AUSTRALIA WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
Lydia Ko embellished her status as the world's leading female amateur golfer when she secured the Australian women's championship by defeating local hope Breanna Elliott in Melbourne today.
The 14-year-old, pictured, from North Harbour, New Zealand  started strongly in the 36-hole final at the Woodlands Golf Club and eventually subdued Elliott 4 and 3 to become one of the youngest ever winners of a tournament first staged in 1894.
Ko, who won the stroke play component of the championships in 2011 before being eliminated in the quarter-finals of match play, became the first New Zealander to win the title since Jan Higgins triumphed in 1989. She is also the first non-Australian to claim the crown since Great Britain's Julie Hall was victorious in 1995.
Local knowledge was of no benefit to the Victorian as Ko, whose only anxious moment came in the quarter-finals against Tilly Poulsen, took control of the final from the moment she won the opening hole.
Three birdies and a par then enabled her to build an impregnable five-hole advantage before Elliott finally had cause for celebration when she won the ninth with her only birdie of the opening round. Ko duly restored her advantage on the 10th, dropped the 11th but finished strongly to claim two of the final three holes to lead by six at the break.
The diminutive right hander's advantage ballooned to seven up after 21 but Elliott delayed the inevitable by winning consecutive holes to trim the margin to four before Ko halved the next three holes to close out victory on the 33rd
Ko had been runner-up to Elliott after two rounds of stroke play and then proved too strong for Jacinta Brideson and Cathleen Santoso in the early rounds of match play.
Her campaign was only in jeopardy when Poulsen was four up with six to play in the round of the last eight but Ko rallied magnificently to win at the second extra hole after birdieing six of the final eight holes.
Ko carried that momentum into a semi-final with Minjee Lee, routing the Australian international 6 and 4 to set her up for Sunday's commanding performance.
The 14-year-old's next goal is to improve on her second placing at the 2011 NSW Open when this year's tournament starts at the Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney on Friday. Ko's profile rose exponentially after she narrowly missed becoming the NSW Open's youngest-ever winner at age 13 when a bogey on the last enabled Caroline Hedwall to win by a stroke.

MEGHAN STASI WINS JONES-DOHERTY MATCH-PLAY IN FLORIDA

Meghan Stasi, watched by her husband-caddie, driving in her 2010 match against Kelsey MacDonald at Ganton. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Meghan Stasi won this week's Orange Blossom Tour event, the Jones-Doherty Challenge Cup match-play tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
in an all-South Florida final, Meghan beat Jaye Marie Green in a great 18-hole final which went all the way to the last green before Mrs Stasi, 33-year-old twice past US mid-am champion, beat Green by hole.
Meghan beat Stirling student Harriet Beasley (Woburn) in the semi-finals and another Woburn player, 15-year-old Charley Hull, the defending champion, in the quarter-finals.
Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk is waiting to hear if Meghan Stasi intends coming over to Scotland for the British women's open amateur championship at Carnoustie in last June.
Meghan has played in the last two stagings of the LGU flagship amateur event. She lost at the 19th to Kelsey MacDonald in the semi-finals at Ganton two years ago.

REPORT FROM THE SUN-SENTINEL NEWSPAPER, FLORIDA
 By Gary Curreri
FORT LAUDERDALE— Oakland Park's Meghan Stasi became the oldest golfer in the past eight years to win the coveted 80th annual Ione D. Jones/Doherty Women's Amateur Championship at the Coral Ridge Country Club as she rallied for a one-hole victory over Boca Raton's Jaye Marie Green in the 18-hole final.
The 33-year-old Stasi completed a solid week that saw her take out the world's No 6 female amateur golfer and defending champion, Charley Hull, 2010 Curtis Cup member Holly Clyburn and Green, 17, who is the top-ranked US female amateur golfer according to Golfweek/amateurgolf.com.
"I was in a little slump there with my putting for a couple of holes so I am glad I got it back," said Stasi, who became the oldest winner of the event since Perry Swenson won the 2004 title at 21.
Since then it has been a run of teenagers, including Coral Springs' Lexi Thompson in 2009 and 2010.
"It is an honour to win, especially being so close the last few years," said Meghan who played for the US as Meghan Bolger in the 2008 Curtis Cup match at St Andrews.
Stasi, the 2008 Doherty runner-up, went two up through six before Green battled back to go one ahead as she won the last three holes on the front nine with a birdie and two pars. Stasi three-putted eight and nine, missing back-to-back five foot putts.
Stasi, a three-time U.S. women's mid-amateur champion, birdied 12 to tie the match and it stayed that way until Green ran into trouble on the 15th hole when she went one down for good.
Stasi closed out the match when she two-putted from 20 feet away for par on the 18th hole.
"I am happy to come runner-up," Green said. "I know if I had won it, I would be really happy and since she won it, I am really happy for her because we are both local."
Andrea Kraus (Baltimore, Maryland) defeated Anna Schultz (Rockwall, Texas) by one hole to capture the 27th annual Senior Amateur Division title.
Other flight winners included Carly Ray Goldstein (Amateur First Flight), Megan Tuohy (Amateur Second Flight), Janice Wilson (Senior First Flight), Maria Marino (Senior Second Flight), and Deborah Woolf (Senior Third Flight).

LYDIA KO (14) v BRENNA ELLIOTT FOR AUSSIE WOMEN'S AM TITLE

Kingston Heath member Breanna Elliott (Victoria) will take on World No 1 female amateur golfer 14-year-old Lydia Ko (New Zealand), pictured right, in the final of the Australian women's amateur championship at Woodlands Golf Club, Melbourne on Sunday.
Elliott, a former Lake Macquarie women's amateur champion, beat West Australian Whitney Hillier 5 and 4 to seal her place in the final.
Ko joins her in the final after beating last year’s runner up, Minjee Lee (West Australia) 6 and 4 in fine conditions.
Should Ko win, she would be the first New Zealander since Jan Higgins in 1989 to win the Australian women's amateur title. The last international player to win was England's Julie Hall in 1995.
Elliott would follow in the footsteps of the last Victorian champion, Stacey Keating, who won the title in 2010. The winner earns an exemption into next month’s LPGA Tour season-opening ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
The 36 hole final will be held on Sunday.

TO VIEW THE MATCH-PLAY RESULTS CHART

CLICK HERE

Meet Murray

Murray Fraser Kirkwood Atkinson

This is my newest grandchild...  Murray Fraser Kirkwood Atkinson, who was born on 11th January at the Simpson, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to my youngest daughter Alison and her husband Michael.    They are all doing well.

He's the first grandchild for Mike's Mum, Moira,  and our seventh grandchild and fifth grandson.  Claire and Kenny have Robert, Alexander and Connie,  and Carrie and Alastair  have Harry, Oliver and Isabella.

We'll soon have enough for a football team!

All the best
Gillian

HARRIET BEASLEY BEATEN IN JONES-DOHERTY CUP SEMI-FINALS

Stirling student Harriet Beasley's great run in the Jones-Doherty Challenge Cup came to an end in today's semi-finals at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
The Woburn GC member, trying to avenge the earlier defeat of clubmate Charlie Hull by former US Curtis Cup player, Meghan Stasi, lost to the twice past winner of the US women's mid-am title by 6 and 5.
Stasi, who was Meghan Bolger at the time of the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews, will now play Jaye Marie Green in Saturday's final.
Green was a 2 and 1 winner over Alex Stewart in the other semi-final.

Meghan Stasi v Jaye Marie Green in Saturday final

FROM THE FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL WEBSITE
Fort Lauderdale— It will be an all-South Florida final as Oakland Park's Meghan Stasi, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, and Boca Raton's Jaye Marie Green play for the championship in the 80th annual Ione D. Jones/Doherty Women's Amateur Championship at the Coral Ridge Country Club on Saturday.
Stasi, 33, easily dispatched Harriet Beasley (Stirling, Scotland), 6 and 5 in her semi-final match, while Green, 17, defeated Alex Stewart (Carson City, Nevada) 2 and 1 to move into the final which will tee off at 8:30 a.m.
"It is awesome," said Green, who shook off the disappointment of not making the U.S. Curtis Cup team a day earlier. Green is the No. 1 ranked amateur in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com rankings.
"I can't wait to play against Meghan. She lives close and I live close, so it is kind of cool that the locals are in the final. It will be a really good match because I know she knows the course really well and I know this course pretty well too."
Green sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the 10th green to grab a one-hole lead in her match, and extended the advantage to two holes on the 13th. She missed a short birdie putt on 14 and bogeyed 15 to drop to one up again.
Both players parred 16, and Green clinched the match with a 20-footer for birdie on 17.
Stasi had an easier time of it as she lost the second hole when her tee shot found a tree and she bogeyed, before rallying for the easy win. Stasi rallied to go one-up after 6 holes with a birdie on 5 and a par on 6. She then birdied 8, 9 and 10 to extend her lead and then closed Beasley out with a birdie on 13. Isabelle Lendl defeated Stasi by one hole in the 2008 Doherty final, and Stasi is hoping this year is different.
"To be in the final is an accomplishment in itself," said Stasi, who needed treatment on her ailing back for the second day in a row. "It is tough to get there in any amateur tournament. To win this would be a wonderful accomplishment, especially against these young girls."
The aforementioned Isabelle Lendl - one of former world tennis ace Ivan Lendl's golfing daughters - lost in the final of the Second Flight competition for players who did not qualify for the championship.
Isabelle was beaten on the 18th green - by one hole -= by Megan Tuohy.
In the 27th annual Senior Amateur Division, Anna Schultz (Rockwall, Texas) will face Andrea Kraus (Baltimore) in Saturday morning's final.

WORLD NO 3 CECILIA CHO BEATEN IN AUSSIE WOMEN'S AMATEUR

There were shocks aplenty in the Australian women’s amateur championship which is down to the last 16 players at Woodlands Golf Club.

The upset of the day belonged to Long Island member Montana Strauss (Victoria) who defeated World No 3 teenager Cecilia Cho (New Zealand) 5 and 3. Cecilia is pictured on left.

Defending champion Ashlee Dewhurst (Tasmania) lost to Queensland’s Christina Mew.

World No 1 15-year-old Lydia Ko (New Zealand) eased into the second round with a 5 and 3 win over Victorian Jacinta Brideson.

Japanese pair Kotone Hori and Rio Watanabe also progressed to the second round.

Aussie national squad members Jaimee Dougan (Queensland) and Su Hyun Oh (Victoria) both recorded 7 and 5 wins.

LATER NEWS

 

Melbourne Sandbelt experience paid dividends in the women’s field as the final eight made their way into the quarter-finals at Woodlands.

Kingston Heath members’ Breanna Elliott, Tilly Poulsen and Grace Lennon all won to make it into Saturday while Long Island’s Montana Strauss defeated Queensland’s Jaimee Dougan 3&2.

World Number 1 Lydia Ko (NZ) is the only international player left in the field after she defeated Cathleen Santoso 6 and 5.

2011 Amateur runner up Minjee Lee (Western Australia) made it through with a 7 and 5 win over Japan’s Kotone Hori.

The quarter-finalists are
Breanna Elliott (Victoria)
Grace Lennon (Victoria)
Tilly Poulsen (Victoria)
Whitney Hillier (Westerm Australia)
Adriana Brent (New South Wales)
Lydia Ko (New Zealand)
Montana Strauss (Victoria)
Minjee Lee (Western Australia).

Both the quarter finals and semi finals are to be played on Saturday with the 36 hole final to be held on Sunday

ELIE SPORTS CLUB'S 60TH OPEN TOURNAMENT for BOYS and GIRLS

VENUE: Elie Links: April 4 to 6, 2012.

For Boys and Girls under 18 years on January 1, 2012.

Practice Day: April 3.

Entrance forms available from:

Ian Muir, 01333 330955 Golf Shop, Golf Lane Elie KY9 1AS

Email: eliesportsclub@btconnect.com

Or log on to

http://www.eliesportsclub.co.uk/

Hot food and snacks available all day in the Pavilion entrance £10-­‐£14, according to age

Entries close 5pm, Friday, March 23

HARRIET BEASLEY THROUGH TO LAST 4 BUT CHARLEY HULL IS KO'd

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Stirling University student Harriet Beasley (Woburn GC), winner of the European universities' women's title in Slovenia last autumn, has produced another five-star performance in a foreign lad.
Harriet is through to the semi-finals of the Jones-Doherty Challenge Cup, the third event - and the last for the Stirling students - on Florida's January women's amateur Orange Blossom Tour.
But the defending champion, 15-year-old Charley Hull, also a member at Woburn, is OUT. She lost by 3 and 2 to 33-year-old American Meghan Stasi, who played in the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course St Andrews as Meghan Bolger.
Meghan must rank as one of the best 30-something players around. She's won the US women's mid-amateur title at least twice and reached the semi-finals of the British women's open amateur championship at Ganton, Yorkshire in 2010.
Mrs Stasi, her husband owns and runs a restaurant in Florida and caddies for her most of the time, stands between Harriet Beasley and a place in Saturday's final.
The English player won a titantic struggle at the 22nd against M Liu who was the second-round conqueror of Scottish girls champion Eilidh Briggs (Stirling Univ and Kilmacolm).
The other semi-final is between two Americans, the highly-rated and previous winner on the Orange Blossom Tour, Jaye Marie Green, and A Stewart.
Green won by 3 and 2 against Annie Dulman, the 18-year-old from Florida who was six under par in beating No 3 seed Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ and Nairn Dunbar) in the previous round.
In the First Flight, Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ and Southerness) lost by 7 and 6 to T St Louis in the quarter-finals.
In the Second Flight, another Stirling student, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) went down by 3 and 2 in the semi-finals to the second of Ivan Lendl's daughters playing in this tournament - Isabelle.

JONES-DOHERTY CHALLENGE CUP - THURSDAY RESULTS

Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale

CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS
Meghan Stasi (US) bt Charley Hull (Woburn) 3 and 2.
Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ and Woburn) bt M Liu (US) at 22nd.
A Stewart (US) bt K Walsh (US) 2 and 1.
J M Green (US) bt A Dulman (US) 3 and 2.

FIRST FLIGHT
QUARTER-FINALS
J Carmichael (US) bt S Stewart (US) 5 and 3.
T Louis (US) bt Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ and Southerness) 7 and 6.
C R Goldstein (US) bt L Weishselgartner (US) 2 and 1.
C Garrett (US) bt A Hammer (US) 3 and 2.

SECOND FLIGHT
SEMI-FINAL
I Lendl (US) bt M McKay (Stirling Univ and West Kilbride) 3 and 2.

AMY YANG WINS SUNCOAST LADIES EVENT BY NINE STROKES

South Korea's LPGA Tour player Amy Yang showed her class in blowing away a field that included other LPGA Tour Swedish players Anna Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth to win the the $2,000 first prize at Metrowest Golf Club, Orlando by NINE strokes.
Amy, 22, pictured from the LPGA website, went clear of the field with a course record, 10-under-par 62 in the second round and she followed that up with another best-of-the-day five-under 67 for a brilliant 54-hole aggregate of 16-under-par 200.
New Jersey's Joanna Coe, the first-round leader with a 69, and Solheim Cup player Anna Nordqvist tied for second place on seven-under 209. Both both 70 in their last rounds. Each earned $900.
+Amy Yang is the youngest ever winner on the Ladies European Tour. At the age of 16 years, 6 months, while still an amateur, she won the ANZ Ladies Masters. In 2008 she won the Ladies German Open. She finished fifth in the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham in 2010.
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) Yardage 6,455

1 Amy YANG South Korea 71-62-67--200 -16 $2,000
T2 Joanna COE Mays Landing, New Jersey 69-72-68--209 -7 $900
T2 Anna NORDQVIST Eskilstuna, Sweden 70-70-69--209 -7 $900
4 Chella CHOI South Korea 70-69-71--210 -6 $700
5 Cindy LACROSSE Tampa, Florida 74-68-69--211 -5 $650
6 Sandra CHANGKIJA Orlando, Florida 72-70-71--213 -3 $600
7 Jacqui CONCOLINO Orlando, Florida 71-73-70--214 -2 $550
T8 Maria HJORTH Falun, Sweden 74-72-72--218 +2 $250
T8 Sue KIM Langley, British Columbia, Canada72-70-76--218 +2 $250
10 Naon MIN South Korea 76-70-73--219 +3
11 Ginger HOWARD Bradenton, Florida 74-72-74--220 +4
12 Emma JANDEL Dayton, Ohio 78-72-72--222 +6
T13 Taylor COLLINS Davie, Florida 75-73-75--223 +7
T13 Briana VEGA Reunion, Florida 73-74-76--223 +7
15 Alexandra CASI East Palestine, Ohio 74-74-76--224 +8
T16 Tracy STANFORD Midland, Texas 73-78-74--225 +9
T16 Britney HAMILTON Lake Orion, Michigan 78-73-74--225 +9
T18 Brittany JOHNSTON Akron, Ohio 78-73-75--226 +10
T18 Jillian FRACCOLA Ft Myers, Florida 73-75-78--226 +10
20 Cristina CORPUS San Leandro, California 76-79-73--228 +12
21 Amanda MCPHEE Winchester, Massachusetts 81-76-73--230 +14
T22 Susan CHOI Natick, Massachusetts 78-79-75--232 +16
T22 Rachel SCHMIDT Elk River, Minnesota 79-76-77--232 +16
T24 Brooke MARNITZ Lexington, Kentucky 82-79-74--235 +19
T24 Ginny BROWN Austin, Texas 77-77-81--235 +19
26 Victoria THOMPSON Akwesasne, Ontario, Canada 80-78-78--236 +20
T27 Caroline PARK Orlando, Florida 80-79-80--239 +23
T27 Liz Li (amateur) Lake Mary, Florida 77-79-83--239 +23
29 Elvira BARCALA Maracay, Venezuela 81-83-79--243 +27
30 Tammy Lee (amateur) Milpitas, California 88-85-91--264 +48

McCLOSKEY, POPSON, TUBERT COMPLETE USA CURTIS CUP TEAM

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

Far Hills, New Jersey – The United States Golf Association today announced the final three players to the eight-player team that will represent the USA at the 2012 Curtis Cup Match, to be conducted June 8-10 at The Nairn Golf Club in Scotland.

The players are:

Lisa McCloskey, 20, of Houston, Texas
Erica Popson, 20, of Davenport, Florida
Emily Tubert, 19, of Burbank, California.
These three players join
Amy Anderson, 19, of Oxbow, North Dakota
Lindy Duncan, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Austin Ernst, 19, of Seneca, South Carolina
Tiffany Lua, 20, of Rowland Heights, California
Brooke Pancake, 21, of Chattanooga, Tennessee
These six players were named to the team in late December.
“I am so pleased that Lisa, Erica and Emily have been named to the 2012 Curtis Cup Team,” said USA team captain Patricia Cornett.
“I could not have asked for a more talented and dedicated trio of players to have been selected. My congratulations go to each on this honor.”
McCloskey, a senior year (fourth) student at the University of Southern California, was the runner-up to Tubert at the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. She qualified for the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Women's Open Championships, finishing as the third-lowest amateur in 2010.
Popson, a junior (third year) student the University of Tennessee, is coming off a stand-out sophomore season for the Lady Vols, during which she won four tournaments, including the 2011 Southeastern Conference Championship. She also tied for first at a fifth event, making her the first collegiate player to win medallist honors at four consecutive tournaments since Lorena Ochoa won seven in a row in 2001-02.
Tubert, a sophomore (second year) student at the University of Arkansas, defeated McCloskey to win the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. She followed that victory with an outstanding freshman season at Arkansas, in which she won three tournaments and earned first-team All-America honors. All eight members of the USA Team were named to the National Golf Coaches Association’s All-American first or second team in 2011.
The alternates (reserves) for the USA Team are, in order of ranking:
Erynne Lee, 18, of Silverdale, Washington
Marina Alex, 21, of Wayne, New Jersey.
The Curtis Cup Match is a biennial international women’s amateur golf competition between eight-player teams from the United States of America and Great Britain and Ireland.

The USA won the 2010 Match at Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., 12.5-7.5.

Full biographical information on the players can be found at http://www.usga.org/news/2011/December/2012-USA-Curtis-Cup-Team-Bios/. More information on Cornett can be found at http://www.usga.org/NewsSF.aspx?id=2147496068.

The Curtis Cup Match consists of six foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, six four-ball matches and eight singles matches over three days of competition. The USA Team has won the last seven Matches and leads the series, 27-6-3.


Fit again Erica Popson's college wins earn her
first trip outside USA - to Scotland

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE

By Beth Ann Baldry
Erica Popson was not on my Curtis Cup radar. Why? Because she hasn’t played in a USGA event since the 2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
“I thought there was no way I was going to get picked because of that,” Popson said. Luckily for Popson, the USGA’s International Selection Committee didn’t hold that against her.
She became the first player from the University of Tennessee to be named to a Curtis Cup team on the strength of an outstanding college resume. She won four times last season, including the SEC Championship and NCAA West Regional titles. She’s currently No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
The trip to Scotland in June will be her first time outside the country.
So why the slim summer schedule? Popson injured the thumb on her left hand two and a half years ago and realised quickly that she needed the time off in the summer to give it some rest.
Doctors thought it was tendonitis or a joint problem that she’d have to learn to live with. Last fall, however, the pain grew worse and she found it difficult to perform basic daily functions like put on deodorant or button a shirt, let alone grip a golf club.
She sought a second opinion and wound up having surgery in November after the fall season. Popson is happy to report that she’s now pain-free and back to hitting full shots.
The injury gave her plenty of time to work on her short game, which ultimately helped her become a stronger college player. Now she’ll have the chance to match that effort on the range and see where it takes her.
“Now that it’s fixed, I can do whatever I want,” said Popson.
Like travel overseas.

LET PASS MARKS FOR CLARE BUT CARLY PIPPED IN PLAY-OFF

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Clare Queen gained pass marks at the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School but Carly Booth was beaten in a six-player play-off for the last of 30 places at La Manga Golf Resort, Spain today.
Queen (The Carrick at Loch Lomond), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, made it in joint 22nd place on five-over-par 366, her form tapering off with a final round of four-over-par 77 over the South Course but she had done enough earlier in the week to earn playing rights for 2012.
Comrie's Booth, 19, deserved better after starting the day in joint 43rd position and battling her way 14 places up the standings to return a one-under-par 72 for seven-over 368.
Starting at the 10th, nothing much happened for her except seven pars and bogeys at the long 13th and 14th.
But a first birdie at the short 2nd lit the fuse. She shrugged off a bogey at the fourth and put in a grandstand finish by birdieing three of her last four holes, the long sixth, seventh and ninth to finish joint 29th and get into the play-off. But it was just a bridge too far for the young Curtis Cup player of 2008.

The play-off started at the par-4 seventh where Booth, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, drove into a bunker. She took three shots to reach the putting surface and a bogey 5 eliminated her. But Carly will be entitled to some starts on the 2012 Ladies European Tour.
Florida-based Yorkshire-born Jodi Ewart, who came through the LPGA Tour School in early December, held on to her overnight lead with a level par 73 and a final total of 11-under-par 350.
Leading final totals
South Course. Par 361 (3X73, 2X71) Yardage 6,267
350 Jodi Ewart (England) 70 67 67 73 73.
352 Anais Maggetti (Denmark) (am) 73 72 69 67 71
357 Carlota Ciganda (Spain) 72 67 76 69 73.
358 Marjet Van der Graaff (Netherlands) 71 658 72 74 73, Stephanie Kirchmayr (Germany) 70 73 72 69 74.
Selected scores
363 Sahra Hassan (Wales) 76 71 74 69 73, Charlotte Ellis (England) (am) 73 72 71 72 75 (T9).
365 Sophie Walker (England) 75 70 77 69 74 (T19).
366 Clare Queen (Scotland) 70 70 74 75 77 (T22).

MISSED QUALIFYING
368 Carly Booth (Scotland) 76 72 74 74 72, Hannah Burke (England) 70 73 79 73 73  (T29) (both beaten in six-player play-off for last two places).
370 Charlie Douglass (England) 72 74 80 70 74 (T38)
371 Eleanor Givens (England) (am) 71 71 79 74 76 (T41)
372 Anna Scott (England) 72 72 78 71 79 (T43)

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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Jodi Ewart, 4th at LPGA Q School, top of the LET Class

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CUTLER, LET Media Manager
England’s Jodi Ewart held her overnight lead to claim a two-stroke victory at the Ladies European Tour’s Final Qualifying School for the 2012 season. A closing round of level par 73 on the South Course at La Manga Club in Spain gave the 24-year-old North Yorkshire woman an 11 under par aggregate total, with Swiss amateur Anais Maggetti at nine under and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda five strokes further back in third.
However, it was further down the leader board where the drama unfolded at the end of the day after six players tied for 29th position on seven over par. The six players headed back out to the seventh tee to begin a sudden death play-off for two places, to establish who would secure the last spots inside the top 30, eligible for category 8a membership of the LET.
The Spanish duo of Laura Cabanillas and Mireia Prat competed against India’s Sharmila Nicollet, England’s Hannah Burke, Germany’s Miriam Nagl and Scotland’s Carly Booth. Cabanillas, an 11-year veteran of the tour, holed a 12-footer for birdie to take the 29th card available at the par-four seventh hole, while the remaining five players went to the eighth tee.
Booth fell short after driving into a fairway bunker and having to lay up on the par four, eventually taking a bogey 5 along with Nagl and both players were eliminated.
Burke, Nicollet and Prat all had 4s and went to the par-five ninth tee. The drama was completed when Nicollet, who co-led after the first round, two-putted for a birdie 4 from the right edge of the ninth green to earn the 30th card.
The other two players could not match her score. After holing a six-foot putt, her smile lit up the stunning venue and the 20-year-old from the south of Bangalore said: “I feel so excited. I played well under pressure and I mean, I didn’t hit the fairway the first two play-off holes and I made a recovery after that and in the end it was a great feeling. I’m so overwhelmed right now.” Nicollet will be the only player from India with full playing rights on the Ladies European Tour this season and she was justifiably proud of her achievement. “My goal was to get on the tour and this is my first time in Spain for the qualifier so I think it’s a big achievement for me. To be playing in Europe will be my next immediate goal. I hope to play all the tournaments and maybe move here because I have family in Paris and my dad stays there so maybe I will move there and play all the tournaments.
"I’m just so happy and excited. It’s been a long two weeks and it’s been a long wait and fingers crossed for the season.”
There was also delight for Cabanillas, who had her boyfriend, former European Tour player Manuel Quiros, acting as her caddie. On her pressure putt on the first play-off hole, she said: “I had confidence because Manolo helped me with the line and it’s easier to putt like this. I worked very hard on the back nine because I was very nervous on the first one. I am very happy now.”
Top ranked Ewart was pleased to have capped a gruelling fortnight with the victory, having resisted the urge to look at the scoreboards all week.
“It feels good. I mean, fourth on the LPGA and now winning the LET: it’s a pretty good off-season if you ask me. It feels good and I’m really looking forward to this year.”
On her round, she explained: “It started off slowly and then I holed a putt on nine for birdie, so that kicked things off and then I shoved one in the water off 16 and had a double so I had no idea how far ahead I was just trying to make birdies coming in but it looks like par was good enough.
“I was a little bit nervous because I knew I was leading but I didn’t know how many shots ahead I was so if I’d known it would have set me back a bit. I think coming from yesterday, I kind of got away from my plan and it was all about me and the golf ball: that was the priority today.
“After I holed the putt on 14 I really relaxed and felt good. The putting was slow on the front nine but I holed some coming in. I don’t know where that shot on 16 came from.”
Ewart plans to head home to Florida before beginning her season at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Second-placed Maggetti, who now plans to turn professional, expects her first tournament start to be at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in late March.
After making several appearances in professional tournaments over the last few years, Ciganda was delighted to be able to play a full schedule. She will first play in the Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters, beginning on  February 2, before trying to qualify for the Australian Open and then heading to New Zealand.
“I am very happy and I have the card so this year I have a schedule now and very happy to play in Europe. I was relaxed and just trying to play my game: just fairways and greens and if the putts went into the hole then it was fine otherwise just pars, so I played very well,” she said.
There are 15 nationalities represented by the top 30 qualifiers and the USA leads the way with eight players, followed by France with four, England and Spain with three each and two players from the Netherlands.
Yu Yang Zhang is set to become the LET’s first Chinese representative. Of the top 30 qualifiers, 16 players will be rookies on the Ladies European Tour this year.

LEONA MAGUIRE DEFENDS PORTUGUESE LADIES AMATEUR TITLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

Slieve Russell’s Leona Maguire defends her Portuguese Ladies Amateur title when Europe’s top lady amateurs tee up in the 72 hole event at Montado, Lisbon next Thursday, January 26.

Leona, who last year fired a final round of four under par 68, was runaway winner in 2011, finishing a whopping 15 shots clear of Karolin Lampert (Germany) and Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands) at Aroeria last January. 

There are 11 Irish players in the quality field of 108. This year sees Leona once again joined by sister Lisa, who finished 10th last year, Irish girls’ champion Paula Grant (Lisburn), current international Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Jessica Carty (Holywood), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Jean O’Driscoll (Muskerry) and Lucy Simpson (Massereene).

The 82^nd Portuguese Amateur marks the start of the 2012 Ladies International season in Europe and is sure to be tightly contested amongst Europe's elite players. With Nairn hosting a home-soil Curtis Cup in June, there will be a strong GB and I representation with each player eager to impress the LGU selectors early in the season.The event tees off with three stroke-play rounds over Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the top forty players and ties competing over a final 18 holes on Sunday to decide the champion.

 Ireland will also defend their Nations Cup having defeated France by 9 shots last year.

Click here for tournament details ...  

BREANNA HEADS WORLD NO 1 LYDIA IN AUSSIE QUALIFYING

Victorian Breanna Elliott earned the top seed berth for the match-play stages following qualifying rounds honours of 73 and 72 for one-under-par 145 at the Australian women’s amateur championship in Melbourne.
Elliott finished two strokes ahead of World No 1 female amateur 15-year-old Lydia Ko (New Zealand) who finished with rounds of 76 and 71 for 147. Adriana Brent (New South Wales ) and World No 3 female amateur Cecilia Cho (NZ) are tied with Japan’s Rio Watanabe in third place at 148.
Australian National Squad members Ashlee Dewhurst (Tas) and Minjee Lee (WA) tied in sixth place at 4-over par.

TO VIEW THE QUALIFYING SCORES

CLICK HERE