McDonald Ellon Golf Club officials line-up with the new Scottish champion, Michele Thomson. Left to right: ladies captain Elaine Shaw, club captain Jim O'Brien, Michele, vice-captain Dave Heap, club tour pro Ross Cameron. And, below, Jim O'Brien presents Michele with her scroll of honorary life membership.

Michele Thomson says she

will probably go to Tour

School at end of season

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Michele Thomson was made a honorary life-time member of McDonald Ellon Golf Club in a little informal ceremony at the club today.

Club captain Jim O'Brien presented the scroll of honorary membership to the 20-year-old who won the 94th Scottish women's amateur championship over the Moray Golf Club Old Course links at Lossiemouth on Saturday.

Also present were McDonald Ellon ladies' captain Elaine Shaw, club vice-captain Dave Heap and Ross Cameron, the club's tournament playing professional who has played a big part in Michele's development into Scottish champion.

Michele's father, oil executive Graham Thomson, meantime based in Abu Dhabi, told "Kirkwoodgolf" "It was Ross Cameron who was instrumental in convincing Michele that there was an alternative to golf in the USA - she cut shot a four-year golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University, Alabama after only six months in December 2006 - and while Michele's full-time coach is Neil Marr of Meldrum House Golf Club, Ross Cameron has continued to provide her with support and advice whenever she feels it necessary.

"I know that Michele feels a little guility that she did not mention Ross's contribution to her success during her winner's speech at Lossiemouth but it was purely a slip in the heat of the moment.

"Ross Cameron actually deserves a lot of credit."

Michele was also interviewed for Scottish Television today. When asked if she would consider turning professional, she said: "I am only 20 and there's plenty of time to turn pro later but I will probably go to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at the end of the season."