HEATHER MACRAE MAKES DEBUT

AS A PRO IN DE VERE LADIES

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Dunblane’s Heather MacRae, one of the most successful Scotland lady amateur golfers of the past few seasons, has turned professional and will make her debut with her new status in the De Vere Ladies Scottish Championship at The Carrick at Cameron House, starting on Thursday.
Heather, who has her 24th birthday on this coming Sunday, made her big title breakthrough in 2001 when she won the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play title against the favourite, Louise Kenney, at Glenbervie.
Last year, she won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play title and the Welsh women’s open amateur title earlier this season. She finished in the top seven of the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open stroke-play both last year and this year. In 2006, Heather and Jenna won the international team title for Scotland at the Troon event.
Apart from last week’s women’s home internationals at Dunbar, Heather had been a regular member of Scotland teams and girls’ and women’s level for the past decade.
She also played for Great Britain & Ireland against the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy match of two years ago. She was considered unlucky only to be named a reserve for last year’s Curtis Cup match.

She also played successfully on the United States women's college circuit for San Diego State University.
“Turning professional is something I have wanted to do for many years and I have worked hard to try to make it happen,” said Heather.
“I have worked extremely hard this year on my golf and fitness and I feel the time is right for me to make the move over to the professional ranks. To be given the opportunity to start my professional career in Scotland is very exciting for me and my family and I am really excited about teeing it up with some of the best players in Europe this week in the De Vere Ladies Scottish championship.
“My amateur career is something that I am very proud of, having played for Scotland for nine years at various levels, played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy, won the British stroke-play title and, more recently the Welsh stroke-play.
“I have gained a lot of experience which will hopefully help me to make the transition to the pro ranks. I don’t have any sponsors line up yet but hopefully, after getting through the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School later this year it will be easier for me to find some backing.”
Heather will be one of 13 players from Scotland in the field for the De Vere Ladies Scottish championship which is over 54 holes - Thursday-Friday-Saturday.
The others are: Kathryn Imrie, Lynn Kenny, Vikki Laing, Catriona Matthew, Mhairi McKay, Janice Moodie and Clare Queen.
And from the amateur ranks there will be Carly Booth (Comrie), Stirling University student Rachel Cassidy (who is Irish), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) and Scottish champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).