BRITISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY
BLOOMING HEATHER KEEPS BRITISH
GOLF TITLE IN SCOTLAND
Heather Macrae from Dunblane kept the British women's open amateur stroke play championship in Scottish hands at sunny Nairn today.
In a repeat of last year's climax, when Claire Queen won a play-off for the trophy, it was Heather who triumphed at the first extra hole of a shoot-out against Nicole Gergely.
The Austrian three-putted the first green for a bogey 5, missing her second putt from some 4ft beyond the hole, while Heather, also on in two, rolled her approach putt to within a couple of feet for a cast-iron par 4.
Miss MacRae, 21, and 20-year-old Miss Gergely had tied on level par 288 after the regulation 72 holes, one shot ahead of another Scot, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Sandra Gal, the only German player in the field.
Heather, halfway overnight leader, lost that advantage with a third round 73 for 216 which put her one shot off the pace. Jenna Wilson and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) took up the running with 18 holes to go but they failed to last the pace. And it was playing partners Heather and Nicole who fought it out head to head down the last few holes.
"I had a silly three-putt bogey 6 at the 10th after nine straight pars in the final round," said Heather. "In a way that was a wake-up call. I knew I couldn't afford to give away any more shots."
And neither she did. A 12ft birdie putt dropped for a 3 at the 13th and she had a couple of great up and downs from off the green at the 14th and 17th, which left Miss Macrae one shot ahead of Miss Gergely with one to p;lay.
The Austrian girl, under real pressure, played an equisite third approach shot from 80yds' range at the 72nd hole. Her ball pitched eight feet past the stick and spun back as if on a piece of yo-yo string to within a couple of feet of the hole. She duly tapped her her birdie 4 putt for a 71 while Heather finished with a 5 for 72.
Then, watched by a very big gallery, they went off down the first extra hole.
When it was all over, there was a big hug from Heather for her dad Andy who must have died a thousand deaths performing his duties as the Ladies Golf Union scoreboard operator.
"This caps a wonderful summer for me, " said Heather who flies back on Tuesday to California and a final year of a golf scholarship at San Diego University.
"To be picked for the Vaglinao Trophy match - and helping to retain the trophy - was great but winning this British title is something else. My game came right at just the right time. I drove well, I putted well and the bits in between were satisfactory as well."
Miss Macrae, who won the BP Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship in 2001, revealed that she had earlier been invited to play for Scotland in next month's women's home internationals.
"I had to decline because I am coming home from California for my sister's wedding in November and to miss more of my San Diego State women's golf team commitments in September would have been unfair on the university."
Nicole Gergely gained a measure of consolation by winning not only the Holden Trophy which goes to the championship runner-up but also the Duncan Salver for the best performance by an Under-23 player.
"I have never played a Scottish links course like Nairn. It was very good. I am not unhappy. I did my best and to be beaten in a play-off for the title is not a bad result. I finished third in the Sherry Cup earlier this year and won the Austrian women's international championship and I am going to go to the Ladies European Tour School later this year."
Jenna Wilson, who had a 74 for 289, tied for third place with Sandra Gall although the German's closing round of 71 officially earned her third prize.
"I felt I didn't play all that badly in the final round but I just couldn't hole the putts. I had only one birdie in that 74. To be only one shot short of getting into the play-off is very disappointing," said Jenna who beat Heather in a play-off for the Scottish Under-21 girls title in 2003.
Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) was the highest placed English player. She signed off with a 69 for fifth place on 290 - one shot ahead of Sophie Walker who ended with a 76 and teenager Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) with a 70.
In all there were five Scots in the top 15 - Louise Kenney - eighth on 292, Anne Laing - joint ninth on 294, 13-year-old Carly Booth (who matched the par of 72 in the third and fourth rounds) - tied 13th on 297, and title-defending Clare Queen - 15th on 298..
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Nairn Golf Club
FINAL TOTALS (Par 72)
CSS 76 76 76 76
288 H Macrae (Dunblane New) 72 71 73 72, N Gergely (Aut) 71 73 73 71 (Macrae won play-off at first extra hole).
289 S Gal (Ger) 73 76 69 71, J Wilson (Strathaven) 77 68 70 74.
290 C Lee (West Lancashire) 75 72 74 69.
291 S Walker (Kenwick Park) 71 77 67 76, K Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 74 75 72 70.
292 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 73 74 71 74.
294 A Laing (Vale of Leven) 74 76 72 72, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 77 72 70 75, K Werdinig (Aut) 75 71 71 77.
295 R Bell (Ganton) 76 74 74 71.
297 A Rossi (Ita) 75 78 71 73, C Booth (Auchterarder) 78 75 72 72.
298 C Queen (Drumpellier) 75 73 75 75.
299 N Edwards (Ganton) 75 79 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 77 75 77 70, L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 73 71 78.
300 C Coughlan (Cork) 81 71 74 74, F Seeholzer (Swi) 76 76 72 76, F In-Albon (Swi) 74 75 72 79.
301 F Sanderson (Heworth) 80 75 72 74, K Harper (Inverness) 78 74 73 76.
302 S Michl (Aut) 79 75 74 74, K Smith (Waterlooville) 80 74 72 76.
303 S Bregman (SAf) 78 76 74 75.
305 L Eastwood (Yelverton) 76 78 75 76.
306 M Pow (Selkirk) 78 75 78 75, M Verchenova (Rus) 78 72 78 78.
307 L Lausberg (SAf) 76 79 75 77, K Caithness (St Regulus) 79 75 79 74, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 75 77 80 75.
308 N Aazam (Swi) 78 75 79 76, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 76 77 78 77.
309 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 75 74 80, L H Diggle (Celtic Manor) 74 77 74 84.
310 B Toumpsin (Bel) 74 80 77 79.
313 V Stefansen (Den) 76 79 78 80, S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 77 81 79, E Ogilvy (Muckhart) 73 78 80 82.
319 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 78 87 88.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
290 Austria (N Gergely, S Michl, K Wedinig).
294 England (K Smith, S Walker, K Matharu).
298 Scotland (A Laing, F Lockhart, C Queen).
299 Ireland
300 Switzerland
305 Italy
308 Wales
312 Belgium
JEAN WINS BARNARDOS
GRAND FINAL
Balbirnie Park six-handicapper Jean Duncan won the Barnardos Scotland Grand Final women's competition at Arbroath Golf Club yesterday (Friday) by a single point.
Jean totalled 37 Stableford points to pip Lynda Birse (Arbroath Artisans), playing over her home course.
Lynda, playing off 28 of a handicap, scored 36pt.
Third place went to Johanne (CORRECT) Wright from Vale of Leven. Playing off 18, she took third place with 35pt (better inward half).
A total of 38 players qualified for the Grand Final in which 32 took part. The CSS was 71.
GOLF TITLE IN SCOTLAND
Heather Macrae from Dunblane kept the British women's open amateur stroke play championship in Scottish hands at sunny Nairn today.
In a repeat of last year's climax, when Claire Queen won a play-off for the trophy, it was Heather who triumphed at the first extra hole of a shoot-out against Nicole Gergely.
The Austrian three-putted the first green for a bogey 5, missing her second putt from some 4ft beyond the hole, while Heather, also on in two, rolled her approach putt to within a couple of feet for a cast-iron par 4.
Miss MacRae, 21, and 20-year-old Miss Gergely had tied on level par 288 after the regulation 72 holes, one shot ahead of another Scot, Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Sandra Gal, the only German player in the field.
Heather, halfway overnight leader, lost that advantage with a third round 73 for 216 which put her one shot off the pace. Jenna Wilson and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) took up the running with 18 holes to go but they failed to last the pace. And it was playing partners Heather and Nicole who fought it out head to head down the last few holes.
"I had a silly three-putt bogey 6 at the 10th after nine straight pars in the final round," said Heather. "In a way that was a wake-up call. I knew I couldn't afford to give away any more shots."
And neither she did. A 12ft birdie putt dropped for a 3 at the 13th and she had a couple of great up and downs from off the green at the 14th and 17th, which left Miss Macrae one shot ahead of Miss Gergely with one to p;lay.
The Austrian girl, under real pressure, played an equisite third approach shot from 80yds' range at the 72nd hole. Her ball pitched eight feet past the stick and spun back as if on a piece of yo-yo string to within a couple of feet of the hole. She duly tapped her her birdie 4 putt for a 71 while Heather finished with a 5 for 72.
Then, watched by a very big gallery, they went off down the first extra hole.
When it was all over, there was a big hug from Heather for her dad Andy who must have died a thousand deaths performing his duties as the Ladies Golf Union scoreboard operator.
"This caps a wonderful summer for me, " said Heather who flies back on Tuesday to California and a final year of a golf scholarship at San Diego University.
"To be picked for the Vaglinao Trophy match - and helping to retain the trophy - was great but winning this British title is something else. My game came right at just the right time. I drove well, I putted well and the bits in between were satisfactory as well."
Miss Macrae, who won the BP Scottish Under-18 girls match-play championship in 2001, revealed that she had earlier been invited to play for Scotland in next month's women's home internationals.
"I had to decline because I am coming home from California for my sister's wedding in November and to miss more of my San Diego State women's golf team commitments in September would have been unfair on the university."
Nicole Gergely gained a measure of consolation by winning not only the Holden Trophy which goes to the championship runner-up but also the Duncan Salver for the best performance by an Under-23 player.
"I have never played a Scottish links course like Nairn. It was very good. I am not unhappy. I did my best and to be beaten in a play-off for the title is not a bad result. I finished third in the Sherry Cup earlier this year and won the Austrian women's international championship and I am going to go to the Ladies European Tour School later this year."
Jenna Wilson, who had a 74 for 289, tied for third place with Sandra Gall although the German's closing round of 71 officially earned her third prize.
"I felt I didn't play all that badly in the final round but I just couldn't hole the putts. I had only one birdie in that 74. To be only one shot short of getting into the play-off is very disappointing," said Jenna who beat Heather in a play-off for the Scottish Under-21 girls title in 2003.
Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) was the highest placed English player. She signed off with a 69 for fifth place on 290 - one shot ahead of Sophie Walker who ended with a 76 and teenager Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) with a 70.
In all there were five Scots in the top 15 - Louise Kenney - eighth on 292, Anne Laing - joint ninth on 294, 13-year-old Carly Booth (who matched the par of 72 in the third and fourth rounds) - tied 13th on 297, and title-defending Clare Queen - 15th on 298..
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Nairn Golf Club
FINAL TOTALS (Par 72)
CSS 76 76 76 76
288 H Macrae (Dunblane New) 72 71 73 72, N Gergely (Aut) 71 73 73 71 (Macrae won play-off at first extra hole).
289 S Gal (Ger) 73 76 69 71, J Wilson (Strathaven) 77 68 70 74.
290 C Lee (West Lancashire) 75 72 74 69.
291 S Walker (Kenwick Park) 71 77 67 76, K Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 74 75 72 70.
292 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 73 74 71 74.
294 A Laing (Vale of Leven) 74 76 72 72, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 77 72 70 75, K Werdinig (Aut) 75 71 71 77.
295 R Bell (Ganton) 76 74 74 71.
297 A Rossi (Ita) 75 78 71 73, C Booth (Auchterarder) 78 75 72 72.
298 C Queen (Drumpellier) 75 73 75 75.
299 N Edwards (Ganton) 75 79 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 77 75 77 70, L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 73 71 78.
300 C Coughlan (Cork) 81 71 74 74, F Seeholzer (Swi) 76 76 72 76, F In-Albon (Swi) 74 75 72 79.
301 F Sanderson (Heworth) 80 75 72 74, K Harper (Inverness) 78 74 73 76.
302 S Michl (Aut) 79 75 74 74, K Smith (Waterlooville) 80 74 72 76.
303 S Bregman (SAf) 78 76 74 75.
305 L Eastwood (Yelverton) 76 78 75 76.
306 M Pow (Selkirk) 78 75 78 75, M Verchenova (Rus) 78 72 78 78.
307 L Lausberg (SAf) 76 79 75 77, K Caithness (St Regulus) 79 75 79 74, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 75 77 80 75.
308 N Aazam (Swi) 78 75 79 76, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 76 77 78 77.
309 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 80 75 74 80, L H Diggle (Celtic Manor) 74 77 74 84.
310 B Toumpsin (Bel) 74 80 77 79.
313 V Stefansen (Den) 76 79 78 80, S Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 77 81 79, E Ogilvy (Muckhart) 73 78 80 82.
319 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 78 87 88.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT
290 Austria (N Gergely, S Michl, K Wedinig).
294 England (K Smith, S Walker, K Matharu).
298 Scotland (A Laing, F Lockhart, C Queen).
299 Ireland
300 Switzerland
305 Italy
308 Wales
312 Belgium
JEAN WINS BARNARDOS
GRAND FINAL
Balbirnie Park six-handicapper Jean Duncan won the Barnardos Scotland Grand Final women's competition at Arbroath Golf Club yesterday (Friday) by a single point.
Jean totalled 37 Stableford points to pip Lynda Birse (Arbroath Artisans), playing over her home course.
Lynda, playing off 28 of a handicap, scored 36pt.
Third place went to Johanne (CORRECT) Wright from Vale of Leven. Playing off 18, she took third place with 35pt (better inward half).
A total of 38 players qualified for the Grand Final in which 32 took part. The CSS was 71.
posted by Colin |
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