Long odds against a Homecoming

Winner in 'Helen Holm'

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only two Scots in the last 16 years have won this weekend's Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon - Lesley Nicholson (1999) and Heather Stirling (2002).
Quite a change from the early days of the tournament which was won by a Scottish player in 15 of its first 16 years after its 1973 inception.
It will take something special over the Friday-Saturday rounds at Troon Portland and the final Sunday 18 holes at the sometimes brutal Royal Troon links from one of the current front-line Scottish amateurs such as Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), joint fourth last year, Laura Murray (Alford), joint 10th, and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), tied 13th, to produce a "Homecoming Winner."
The good news for anyone consider heading for Troon to watch the action is that this is arguably the strongest field ever assembled for the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association's flagship stroke-play tournament.
The field of 91 - there have been eight scratchings since the draw was made - includes the first three players in the Ladies European Amateur rankings. They are all French - Lucie Andre (1), Rosanna Crepiat (2) and Marion Ricordeau (3).
Andre and Crepiat are teenagers who have dominated the first two national open amateur championships. Crepiat won the Portuguese open title with Andre second; Andre won the "Spanish," beating Crepiat in the final.
Throw in the fact that Ricordeau has +4 of a handicap and you realise just what the Scots are up against with only two (Kylie Walker 29th and Carly Booth 61st) ranked in the top 100.
For many West of Scotland golf addicts, the big attraction will be the chance to see at first hand Ireland's "wonder twins," 14-year-old Leona and Lisa Maguire from the Slieve Russell club, Co Cavan.
This is their debut appearance in the "Helen Holm." Both play off +1, they are identical twins and the rate at which they are improving suggests they will make Curtis Cup team history by being selected for next year's match.
Leona won the French Under-21 girls' title a couple of weekends ago. She beat Lisa in the final of the Irish WOMEN'S amateur championship last year while Lisa was first and Leona second in the 2008 European Young Masters' girls' championship. Both were members of the European Junior Ryder Cup team. And these are just some of the highlights from their extraordinary golfing CVs at a tender age.
The eight scratchings are:
Jenny Haggblom (Finland), Laura Harvey (Richmond), Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), Jennifer Linklater (Largs), Addi Shamash (Kirkcudbright), Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen), Jeanne Metivier (France), Laura King (Wales).
TOP TEE TIMES ON FRIDAY
AT TROON PORTLAND
8.40 Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Anne Hakula (Finland).
10.30 Marion Ricordeau (France), Rachel Connor (Manchester), Anna Dahlberg-Soderstrom (Sweden).
10.40 Morgane Bazin de Jessey (France), Naomi Edwards (Ganton), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
10.50 Hannah Barwood (Knowle), Alexandra Bonetti (France), Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc).
11.0 Emilie Alonso (France), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Louise Larsson (Sweden).
11.10 Lucie Andre (France), Carly Booth (Comrie), Emma Brown (Malton & Norton).
11.20 Perrine Delacour (France), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down).
12.40 Charlotte Wild (Mere), Emelie Lundstrom (Sweden), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell).
12.50 Laura Murray (Alford), Amanda Strang (Sweden), Rosanna Crepiat (France).
1.0 Leona Maguire (Slieve Ruissell), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Laura Chemarin (France).
1.10 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Laure Castelain (France).