School exams KO Carly Booth

from Southerness title bid

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carly Booth, at the age of 16 going on 17, is a Curtis Cup quality golfer and the Scottish Under-18 girls champion who hopes to be playing on the Ladies European Tour within two or three years, if not before.
But, for the moment, exams at Glenalmond School, Perthshire, where she is a pupil, take priority over everything else – and Carly, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency at the recent "Helen Holm" tournament - will miss the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Southerness Golf Club on the Solway Firth the week after next (May 19 to 23).
“Yes, Carly could not play in the ‘Scottish’ because of exams. She is very disappointed about it,” said her mum Pauline from their home in the Perthshire hills near Comrie tonight.

Carly was not been able to play in the Scottish women's championship because she has been in America for the past few years, first at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida and then in Arizona. Ironically, now that she is in Scotland again, the picture as regards participating in the "Scottish" is not any better!
Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and last year’s St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) are the “backmakers” in the field of 83.
Both Stirling student Kelsey and full-time amateur Kylie play off +3.
Former champion Martine Powe (Selkirk) and new West of Scotland champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) come next with +2 handicaps. Glasgow University student Pamela will be playing in the event for the first time.
The same applies to Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) who has completed four years at Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida. Katy has a +1 handicap.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) is not defending as she is now an LET professional. The player she beat in last year's final at Lossiemouth, Ladybank's Jocelyn Carthew, has not entered.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE TIMES FOR THE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND AT SOUTHERNESS.