NORTH OF SCOTLAND WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

MICHELE RETAINS TITLE AND SAMMY (14)

WINS THE HANDICAP TITLE

Scotland junior girls team member Michele Thomson from Ellon will set off to the Netherlands on Saturday in confident mood for next week’s European Under-21 team championship.

Michele, 18, joined the select band of players who have won the North of Scotland women’s championship two years in a row at the mist-shrouded Montrose Links on Wednesday.

Miss Thomson had an excellent 4 and 2 win in the morning semi-finals against the leading qualifier, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies), and followed that by beating Kerri Harper (Inverness) 4 and 3 in the final to retain the Gifford Trophy.

“I struck the ball well all week but what’s pleased me most is that I am putting probably better than I have ever done,” said Michele who has benefited from some putting tips from former professional footballer Colin Grant, a past captain of McDonald Ellon Golf Club.

Michele broke the back of her opponent’s resistance in the final by winning the sixth, seventh, eighth and 10^th , holing from 15ft for birdies at the eighth and 10^th.

Kerri birdied the 12^th to cut the deficit to two holes but Michele virtually clinched her title victory with an eagle 3 (drive, five-iron, 8ft putt) at the 379yd, par-5 14^th.

Discounting a double bogey at the ninth, Miss Thomson was four under par for the other holes.

Sammy Vass from Tain, who won’t be 15 years old until October and plays off eight, won the handicap championship with a 5 and 4 win over Janet Henderson (Royal Montrose) (handicap 11) in the final.

After the early holes were exchanged, Sammy won the fourth and never looked back. She went two up at the sixth and again two up at the eighth after Janet won the seventh.

Sammy took a grip on the destination of the Angus Salver when she won the 10th, 11th and 15th.

Details:

NORTH OF SCOTLAND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Montrose Links

Scratch – Semi-finals – M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 4 and 2, K Harper (Inverness) bt A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 4 and 3. Final – Thomson bt Harper 4 and 3.

Handicap – Semi-finals – J Henderson (Royal Montrose) (11) bt M Johnstone (Northern) (8) at 21^st, S Vass (Tain) (8) bt S Murray (Brechin) (4) 1 hole. Final – Vass bt Henderson 5 and 4.