KirkwoodGolf: SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, July 19, 2007

SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

HOLE IN ONE BY MEGAN CLINCHES PLACE IN

FINAL AGAINST CARLY AT PETERHEAD

It's top seed Carly Booth, 15 years old from Comrie, against 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), pictured right,

the No 3 qualifier, in what could be a classic final of the Scottish girls' championship over Peterhead Golf Club's Craigewan links on Friday morning (tee off 9am).

Megan produced a hole in one at the 16th in beating the North's last hope, 15-year-old Sammy Vass (Tain), by 2 and 1 in the second semi-final.

Earlier Megan had removed the second last North hope, +1 player Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) in a tight match that went to the last green.

Carly birdied the 16th and 17th to clinch a 3 and 1 win over Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) in the first semi-final.

On paper Carly, a +3 player, should be favourite to beat scratch player Megan, but there was precious little between them in the semi-finals. Both were two under par for 17 holes. Carly had four birdies in all, Megan an eagle (the hole in one with a seven-iron at the 136yd 16th) and four birdies.

"I didn't think I played all that well against Pamela, but fortunately well enough to win," said perfectionist Carly.

Megan is an experienced match-player, having won the Renfrewshire women's county title for the past two years.

"No, I won't be nervous. I enjoy playing in championships," said Miss Briggs.

Carly, a junior Ryder Cup player, is bidding to become the first player since Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) in 1998 to win both the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 girls' titles in the same season.

Miss Booth won the latter title by nine strokes at Auchterarder two weeks ago. She won the Scottish Under-16 crown two years ago but she has never won the Under-18 match-play title. She lost in the final of this championship at Tain two years ago.

Here is a brief resume of how the semi-finals went:

CARLY BOOTH v PAMELA PRETSWELL

1st hole: Carly won with par to go one up.

2nd, 3rd & 4th holes: Halved.

5th: Carly sank good putt for a half.

6th: Carly won hole with a birdie to go two up.

7th: Halved.

8th: Carly won hole with birdie to go three up.

9th: Pamela won hole with par. Carly two up at turn.

10th & 11th: Halved.

12th: Carly won with par to go three up.

13th: Pamela won with par to be two down.

14th: Pamela won with parf to be one down.

15th: Halved.

16th: Carly won with birdie to go back to two up.

17th: Carly won hole and match with birdie to go three up.

MEGAN BRIGGS v SAMMY VASS

1st hole: Sammy won with par to go one up.

2nd: Megan won with birdie to square match.

3rd: Halved.

4th: Megan won with birdie to go one up.

5th: Halved.

6th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

7th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

8th: Halved.

9th: Megan won with birdie to go two up.

10th: Megan won this short hole with birdie 2 to go three up.

11th: Halved.

12th: Sammy won hole with a birdie to be two down.

13th: Sammy won hole with a bogey to be one down.

14th Halved.

15th: Halved.

16th: Megan holed her tee shot with a seven-iron at this 136yd par-3 hole to go two up.

17th Halved, leaving Megan winner by 2 and 1.


GABRIELLE WINS ANSLEY REID SALVER

Gabrielle MacDonald, pictured right, 14-year-old Prestonfield player, won the Ansley Reid Salver match-play competition for those who did not qualify for the championship flight. Two down with three to play, Gabriell won the 16th, 17th and 18th for a one-hole win in the final against Ashley Smith (Monifieth).

Thursday's results

Quarter-finals – C Booth (Comrie) bt R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 4 and 2, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt E Muirhead (Pitlochry) 4 and 3, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole, S Vass (Tain) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) 4 and 3.

Semi-finals – Booth bt Pretswell 3 and 1, Briggs bt Vass 2 and 1

.

ANSLEY REID SALVER

Semi-finals – G MacDonald (Prestonfield) bt H Peebles (Monifieth) 1 hole, A Smith (Monifieth) bt L Duncan (Oldmeldrum) 6 and 5.

Final – MacDonald bt Smith 1 hole.

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