Winning Midlothian team at Mortonhall - Jane Turner Rachael Watton, Claire MacDonald and Claire Hargan (image by courtesy of Tracy Laughland).

CLAIRE MACDONALD WINS EAST OF

TITLE WITH STROKE OF GENIUS

Gullane's Claire MacDonald, who is also a member at Mortonhall, used her dual local knowledge to win the East of Scotland women's golf championship for the first time at Mortonhall Golf Club today.
On a bright, relatively calm but chilly day, Claire returned a one-under-par 72 (two below the CSS) to win by two strokes from two young Midlothian county team-mates, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall). Rachael's better inward half earned her second scratch prize.
Claire MacDonald was out in two-over-par 39 but came back strongly in three-under-par 33 with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th.
Her birdie at the 11th came into the "believe-it-or-not" category as she drove wide of the fairway and had a terrible lie, awkward stance etc. Somehow or other she managed to get back ball back on to the fairways – and then holed her third shot with a new wedge she has just acquired.
Stroke of luck or stroke of genius? Whatever it was, it probably made the difference between victory and defeat because she looked to be facing a bogey at best at the 11th.
Rachael Hanlon from the St Regulus club, St Andrews won the leading handicap award with a net 71 off four. She had a shot to spare over Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) who was playing off 10. Carol Brown (Mortonhall) took third place with a net 73 off 10.
With Midlothian players finishing 1-2-3 in the scratch returns, hardly surprising that Midlothian won the team trophy ahead of Fife, Stirling & Clackmannan and East Lothian.
They totalled 221, thanks to the efforts of Claire MacDonald 72, Rachael Watton 74, Jane Turner 75 and Claire Hargan 75. Best three scores counted for the team total.
Scotland international Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), a previous winner of the title, had to withdraw because of a commitment to caddie in the Alfred Dunhill Links championship.
LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
Par 73. CSS 74.
72 Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies).
74 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
75 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Alison Davidson (Stirling), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus)
77 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus).
79 Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe).
81 Karen Marshall (Baberton), Ashley Wilton (Ladybank), Kirsten Blackwood (Craigmillar Park).
82 Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe).
83 Carol Brown (Mortonhall), Mhairi Hall (Bathgate).
84 Patricia Smith (Mortonhall).
85 Linda Allan (Falklirk Tryst), Karen Burns (Bathgate).
86 Dorothy Ford (Scotscraig), Linda Grieve (Musselburgh), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park), Lynn Cackett (Broomieknowe).
87 Elinor Blair (North Berwick), Dawn Young (North Berwick).
88 Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park), Louise MacGregor (Falkirk). Emma Bisset (Elie)..
89 Janette Murdie (Newbattle), Alice Archbold (Longniddry).
90 Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park), Monica Fleming (Mortonhall)..
91 Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie), Janet Oswald (Mortonhall).
92 Clara Young (North Berwick).
93 Kate MacIntosh (Broomieknowe), Margaret McFarlane (Bathgate), Caroline McIntosh (Broomieknowe).
94 Hilary Forbes (Merchants of Edinburgh).
96 Catherine Small (Craigielaw), Louise Wells (Prestonfield).
SCRATCH PRIZEWINNERS
72 Claire MacDonald (Gullane).
74 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) better inward half, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw).

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
71 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) (4)
72 Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) (10)
73 Carol Brown (Mortonhall) (10)

TEAM TROPHY
Three from four scores to count.
221 Midlothian (Claire MacDonald 72, Rachael Watton 74, Jane Turner 75, Claire Hargan 75).

233 Fife (Dorothy Ford, Rachel Hanlon, Elaine Moffat, Ashleigh Wilton).
246 Stirling & Clackmannan (Linda Allan, Alison Davidson, Alison Goodwin, Louise MacGregor).
260 East Lothian (Elinor Blair, Linda Grieve, Clara Young, Dawn Young)