EAST LOTHIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

FIONA PRIOR ADDS EAST LOTHIAN
CHAMPIONSHIP TO LANARKSHIRE TITLES


Gullane Golf Club member Fiona Prior joined the select band of players who have been champions of two different counties when she won the East Lothian women’s title at Musselburgh Golf Club today.
After ousting top seed Lynne Fortune (Kilspindie) by 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals, Fiona, the No 4 seed, beat teenager Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), the third leading qualifier, by 3 and 2 in the final.
Emma had scored a 6 and 4 win over home-course player Jane Herd in the other semi-final.
Emma, 18-year-old pupil at Loretto School, Musselburgh, has been Borders champion for the past two years but was eligible to play in the East Lothian championship because she has become a member of Dunbar Golf Club.
Fiona, as a Cawder Golf Club member, won the Lanarkshire women’s county championship in 1998 and 1999.
She gained a stranglehold on the destination of the East Lothian title when she surged into a four-hole lead over Emma after the first nine holes which she covered in one-under-par.
Emma got one hole back but it was so far and no further and a half at the 16th clinched victory for Miss Prior by 3 and 2.
The Handicap Quaich final was won by Christine Reid (Kilspindie), the leading qualifier in this section. Christine, who plays off 27, won by 4 and 3 against Kitty Austin (North Berwick), the No 2 seed who plays off 22, by 4 and 3.

EAST LOTHIAN WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Musselburgh Golf Club
Semi-finals – Fiona Prior (Gullane) bt Lynne Fortune (Kilrpindie) 3 and 2, Emma Fairnie bt Jane Herd (Musselburgh) 6 and 4.
Final – Prior bt Fernie 3 and 2.
Handicap Quaich
Semi-finals – Christine Reid (Kilspindie) bt Rosemary Carmichael (North Berwick) at 19th, Kitty Austin (North Berwick) bt Viv Skinner (Dunbar) 6 and 5.
Final – Reid bt Austin 4 and 3.