KirkwoodGolf: LADIES BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, June 12, 2006

LADIES BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

TWO-TEE START AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN
IS A FIRST FOR LADIES GOLF UNION

This week's  Ladies' British open amateur golf championship will be the first event under the auspices of the Ladies Golf Union to use the device of two-tee starting to cope with a maximum field of 144 at Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, a few miles down the Ulster coastline from Belfast.
"We've been thinking about it for some time now and decided to go for it this year," said Carnoustie-born Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union's director of championships.
"The main purpose is help us avoid the sometimes very late finish on the (Wednesday) evening of the second qualifying round when we usually have to have a play-off to get the exact number of 64 qualifiers for the match-play stages.
"In the past, the play-off has gone on for quite a few holes - even until darkness was beginning to fall. "
The LGU fear was that the day would come when the play-off could not be completed because of bad light and that would throw a huge spanner in the works if the play-off had to be resumed on the Thursday morning when the match-play programme should start.
"It is a strain on our resources because we have to have two sets of starters and recorders for players who are completing their qualifying rounds at the 18th and also for those who have started at the 10th and will be finishing at the ninth. But we think it is worth the effort," said Susan.
There are 13 Scots in the field. They are, with their Tuesday starting times:

7.30 - at 10th - Rebecca Watson (David Leadbetter Golf Acad).
8.06 - at 1st - Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
8.06 - at 10th - Roseanne Niven (Crieff).
9.41 - at 1st - Anne Laing (Vale of Leven).
9.42 - at 10th - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
12.57 - at 1st - Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ).
13.33 at 1st - Louise Kenney (Pitreavie).
14.09 - at 10th - Heather MacRae (Dunblane New).
14.33 - at 1st - Gemma Webster (Hilton Park).
14.33 - at 10th - Martine Pow (Selkirk).
14.45 - at 1st - Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch).
14.45 - at 10th - Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).
14.57 - at 1st - Krystle Caithness (St Regulus).

++ Heather Nolan (Shannon) and Anna Scott (Consett) have withdrawn and been replaced by two Australians, Christine Armanasco and Jody Fleming.