Louise Kenney leads SLGA Order of Merit by 350pt

Top 10 in the updated Scottish Ladies Golfing Association women's Order of Merit are:

1 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 3090pt.
2 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 2740pt.
3 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 2375pt
4 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 2355pt.
5 Laura Murray (Alford) 2095pt.
6 Carly Booth (Comrie) 1788pt.
7 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 1551pt.
8 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 1398pt.
9 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 1155pt.
10 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 915pt.

Daisy Dyer wins East Region girls' title by six strokes

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Essex teenager Daisy Dyer set a new course record on her way to a six-shot victory in the inaugural EWGA East Region girls’ championship at The Links, Newmarket.
Daisy, from Chigwell, shot a three under par 69 in the first round, followed by a two-over 74. Her morning score is a new course record following alterations lengthening the course.
The record was one of a string of achievements for Daisy, 18, who is a member of EWGA’s Select South East Squad. It was the first time she had broken 70 in competition and, as this was her last junior event, it meant she signed off in style.
“I am really pleased, I really wanted to win this,” she said.
Her win also marked an impressive return from injury after she sprained her wrist at the British girls’ championship. “Just two days ago I thought I would have to withdraw,” said Daisy.
The runner-up was another Essex youngster, Dulcie Sverdoff of Ballard Gore. She was five-over par gross for the 36 holes – playing off a handicap of 11. Dulcie also won the cup for the best U15 score.
Essex won both team prizes.
Leading gross scores
Par 144 (2x72) CSS 72 71
143 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 69 74.
149 Dulcie Sverdoff (Ballard Gore) 77 72.
150 Chelsey Herbert (Gog Magog) 72 78.
151 Georgia Gilling (Rochford Hundred) 76 75; Steph McEvoy (Old Fold Manor) 74 77.
153 Sophie Hillier (John O’Gaunt) 78 75.
154 Siobhan Pamenter (Upminster) 78 76; Ashleigh Greenham (West Essex) 75 79.
Handicap prizes (net scores)
137 Sophie Hillier (John O’Gaunt) 70 67; Laura Tuttle (Links) 68 69.
140 Fiona Cooper (Bedford & County) 69 71
Teams
Gross
Essex: Daisy Dyer, Dulcie Sverdoff and Georgia Gilling.
Net
Essex: Ashleigh Greenham, Georgina Blackman (Chelmsford), Ashlee Tyrrell (Lords of Rayleigh)
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Teamwork has made a big difference for


Louise Kenney - and there's more to come

From Spencer Henderson
National Junior Coach

Colin.
Thanks for the good article on Louise Kenney (scroll down to read it). She was very complimentary and I am delighted for her this year.
Thought I could maybe add my thoughts for the readers of Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk if you think it is something that may interest them.
I am fortunate enough to work with some very promising girls/ladies such as Louise, Kelsey Macdonald, Rachael Watton and Rebecca Wilson. The close working relationship between the SGU and SLGA means that I can use some of my time to help develop the girls.
They all have a great team supporting them through the SLGA and Institute network who compliment all the work that I do with them.
Although Louise has thanked me for her improvements I believe that it is a professional team around her that has helped her achieve the great results this year. I like to work on the adage that it is easier to improve 10 things 1% than one thing 10%.
Below is the journey Louise has taken over the past two years to make her one of the most consistent performers in Britain this year.
Louise has always been a good player and we decided together to improve her technique to help her gain more length and add some variety to her short game. It has been a two-year process to implement the changes in both long and short game and she has worked extremely hard both on and off the golf course.
She was biomechanically tested, where she had sensors attached to different parts of her body so we could have some objective feedback during her swing. The results were that her power output was quite low, resulting in a loss of distance even on her good strikes.
It may sound quite scientific, however the way things were explained to us both made it very simple as we wanted her body to move as efficiently as possible during the swing, delivering maximum power at impact.
Through the SLGA she has been supported by the Institute from January this year which has undoubtedly helped her to make some of the changes we have implemented.
Karen Young- Lead physiotherapist for golf in the Institute and I looked at Louise's swing together and she identified some tightness and flexibility issues which could affect her ability to make the swing changes.
She initially received remedial physiotherapy for six weeks before commencing a strength and conditioning programme three times a week during the winter. The programme was put in place to increase overall strength but also flexibility which in turn translates to more power in her golf swing.
The strength training is not for the faint-hearted as it is rigorous. However her gains have made it all worthwhile. Louise also does three cardio sessions a week to help her stamina as she can play up to eight rounds in a tournament week.
Once we felt that her swing was taking shape, she had her clubs fitted to her personal specification by Ed Robertson and his team at Applied Golf Technology. This can help not only physically but also mentally knowing that she has the best possible clubs for her swing. She has been in a couple of times further during the season for further check-ups.
At the end of every round she enters her statistics into “Golfdatalab” which allows us to identify any strengths and areas to improve for the next tournament.
Graeme Leslie (developer) has been brilliant and is always available whenever I have questions about her performances.
To assist her swing technique we use swing analysis on my laptop as Louise is a very visual learner and likes to see the improvement that she is making. We also do a lot of feel work during a tournament week so she is focusing mainly on her process. Her practice has become very productive and I encourage her to be very creative around the greens (like my hero Seve), using different clubs for a variety of shots.
As you can see there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes and everyone in the team around her deserves praise for the professional attitude they adopt.
I believe that ultimately it is the desire, commitment, preparation, dedication and attention to detail that dictates who will be successful in making the transition from good amateur to successful professional.
I believe Louise has the potential to play at an even higher level if she keeps improving the 1%’s.
Spencer Henderson
National Junior Coach
DDI: 01334 466486
s.henderson@scottishgolf.org
http://www.scottishgolf.org/

England slam Spain in Under-16 mixed match

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
England’s youngsters hit top form to beat Spain 9-3 in the annual mixed Under-16 international at Heswall.
The combined team was made up of four players representing the English Women’s Golf Association and four from the English Golf Union: Sophie Godley (Lindrick), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Elizabeth Mallett (Sutton Coldfield Ladies’), Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St Annes), Oliver Carr (Heswall), Harry Casey (Enfield), Seb Crookall-Nixon (Workington) and Max Orrin (North Foreland).
Pat Smillie, EWGA’s national junior coach, commented: “We all had a great day and we are really chuffed. The girls started slowly in the foursomes but Bronte Law and Emily Taylor birdied the last hole to snatch a half while the boys won one and halved one.
"In the singles England overpowered Spain, conceding just one point, and all the girls scored well. Elizabeth Mallett was two under, having had five birdies, when she won on the 15th. Bronte Law, who had the toughest match, was also two-under, helped by four birdies, but lost on the last green. Sophie Godley and Emily Taylor also notched up the birdies as they won their games. “The girls were a bit down at lunchtime but they really got their act together and played as they know they can,” said Pat. “The boys also had a great day and won all their singles.”

ENGLAND 9, SPAIN 3

FOURSOMES
Sophie Godley & Elizabeth Mallett lost to Andrea Vilarasau & Luna Sobron 1 hole.
Bronte Law & Emily Taylor halved with Natalia Escuriola & Mar Giminez.
Oliver Carr & Seb Crookall-Nixon bt Eder Mireno Pep Angles 4 and 2.
Harry Casey & Max Orrin halved with Mario Beltran & Rafael Mustienes

SINGLES
Mallett beat Vilarasau 4 and 3.
Law lost to Sobron 2 holes.
Godley bt Escuriola 3 and 2.
Taylor bt Jiminez 4 and 2.
Carr bt Angles 2 and 1.
Crookall-Nixon bt Moreno 1 hole.
Casey beat Mustienes 4 and 3.
Orrin beat Beltran 5 and 3.

Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

Bathgate Ladies Open on Saturday, September 5

Spaces are available in the field for the above tournament.
Entry fee of £8 per person includes sweepstake and Magic 2s.
Scratch and handicap prizes, Bronze and Silver.
On line entry forms click here
Or call Lady Captain Lesley on 07788645794

European women's individual amateur championship

Kylie (70) sharing second place and

Pamela (73) joint eighth on Day 1

Kylie Walker and Pamela Pretswell, top 10 finishers in last week’s British women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship, carried on at Falsterbo, Sweden in the European women’s individual amateur championship where they left off at Royal Aberdeen.
Kylie (Buchanan Castle), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, shot a one-under-par 70 to be sharing second place, one behind pacemaker Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands).
Pamela (Bothwell Castle) returned a 73 to be joint eighth at the end of the opening day.
Majorca-based Lauren Mackin did not do so well as her compatriots. She had a 77 for a share of 33rd place.
The long-hitting Walker deviated from par only five times, which was a sign that she was hitting the fairways again as she did at Balgownie. She birdied the seventh, the long 12th and the long 18th, dropping shots only at the first and 36th in halves of 34 and 36.
Also on the 70 mark was Danielle McVeigh, the six-footer from Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, winner of the British stroke play title last Friday.
Pretswell started with eight pars and then dropped a shot at the ninth to be out in one-over-par 35.
A bogey at the 14th put the Glasgow University student two over par but she got a shot back with a birdie at the 17th before she bogeyed the 18th for her 73.
Mackin wasn’t doing too badly when she got her second birdie of the day at the 12th – the first was at the third – to get her score back to two-over-par. Then she bogeyed four of the last five holes for 40 home and a 77.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (34-37)
69 Karlijn Zaanen (Net) 35-34.
70 Danielle McVeigh (Ire) 32-38, Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 35-35, Louise Larsson (Swe) 35-35, Kylie Walker (Sco) 34-36.
71 Daisy Nielsen (Den) 36-35.
72 Lucie Andrew (Fra) 33-39.
73 Josephine Janson (Swe) 34-39, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 34-39, Maaike Naafs (Net) 35-38, Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 35-38, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) 35-38.
Selected scores:
74 Rachel Jennings (Eng) 36-38 (jt 13th).
76 Holly Clyburn (Eng) 38-38 (jt 25th).
77 Lauren Mackin (Sco) 37-40, Amy Boulden (Wal) 36-41.
78 Sarah Cunningham (Ire) 39-39 (jt 49th).
80 Charlene Reid (Ire) 40-40, Hannah Barwood (Eng) 38-42, Tara Davies (Wal) 38-42 (jt 74th).
83 Aedin Murphy (Ire) 41-42 (jt 105th).
85 Samantha Birks (Wal) 39-46 (122nd of 133)

Gibson is best of Scots on opening

day of Belgian junior week

Southerness 16-year-old Scott Gibson was the best placed of the four Scottish competitors at the end of the first day of the Belgian junior international golf tournament at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Tervuren near Brussels today.
Gibson shot a one-under-par 72 to be one of six players sharing second place in the boys’ section, four shots behind the pacemaker, Dylan Bishart (Netherlands).
Gibson birdied the third, fourth, seventh, eight and 17th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 37 (one over). He had bogeys at the first, second and 14th.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), also 16, is lying joint 17th after a 74 which was highlighted by an eagle 2 at the par-4 14th. That helped to make up for a double bogey 7 at the long fifth and bogeys at the seventh and 16th in halves of 39 and 35.
The leading 60 boys after 54 holes will play the final round.
Girls’ title-holder Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), an 18-year-old student at Stirling University, had a bad run of bogeys on her way to a two-over-par 74, which ut her in joint sixth place, five shots behind leader Isabel Gadea (Germany).
Kelsey bogeyed the ninth, 10th, 15th and 17th, after cancelling out a second-hole bogey with birdies at the long fifth and seventh. A birdie at the 18th saw her home in two-over-par 38.
Rachel Watton (Mortonhall) had a nightmare outward half of seven-over-par 43 on her way to a disappointing opening round of 81. Her only birdie ame at the long 13th and she had a double bogey at the ninth. Rachael is sharing 34th place. Only the leading 30 will survive a third-round cut.

SCOREBOARD
.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Boys
Par 72
67 Dylan Boshart (Net).
71 Scott Gibson (Sco) 34-37, Joachim Brandt Hansen (Den), Raphael Higuet (Bel), Fabian Lohr (Ger), Edouard Amacher (Swi), Thomas Pieters (Bel).
Selected scores:
74 Jack McDonald (Sco) 39-35 (jt 17th).
77 Rory McNamara (Ire) (jt 32nd).
Girls
Par 72
69 Isabel Gadea (Ger).
70 Marianna Causin (Ita).
72 Fanny Cnops (Bel).
73 Camille Richelle (Bel), Laura Sedda (Ita).
Selected scores:
74 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 36-38 (jt 6th).
76 Louise Mernagh (Ire).
77 Louise Coffey (Ire).
81 Rachel Watton (Sco) 43-38 (jt 34th).

Scotland expect to make European senior

semi-finals in Ireland next week

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Defending champions Sweden seek their second successive title when Ireland plays host to the 15 nation European senior women’s amateur team championship at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club from Monday, August 31 to Friday, September 4.
France look likely to be Sweden’s strongest challengers for the title with Virgine Burrus and Cecilia Morgue d’Algue hoping to repeat their successful victories of 2006 and 2007.
Spain’s Vicky Pertierra and Catalina Castillejo should lead their side to a top four finish while Lorna Bennett and Fiona de Vries join a formidable Scottish line-up expecting to make the semi-finals.
Host nation Ireland will be led by close champion Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) while Helen Jones (Strabane), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Phil O’Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown) and Sheena McElroy (Grange) are sure to feature regularly in team captain Roma English’s (Larne) line-ups.
Competitors will play two rounds of 18 holes stroke-play qualifying over the parkland lay-out on Monday and Tuesday. The top eight teams then progress to the top flight of matchplay from Wednesday through to Friday, while the remaining seven teams play for the minor placings. The newly designed Dun Laoghaire course is sure to produce very worthy winners on Friday afternoon as a mixture of men's and women's tees will ensure a challenging test for competitors throughout the week.
With no admission fee, spectators are encouraged to travel and support their national teams, while taking the opportunity to sample Dun Laoghaire’s excellent facilities both on and off the course.
More information on the 2009 European Senior Ladies’ Team Championship, including Live Scoring throughout the event, is available at www.ilgu.ie

Jane Turner (Craigielaw) on Balgownie's 18th fairway in last week's British women's open amateur stroke-play championship. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on it to enlarge.

First full cap for Jane in Scotland team

for women's home internationals

Craigielaw’s Jane Turner, a 19-year-old student at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, is the only new cap in Scotland’s team for the women’s home golf internationals at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire from September 9 to 11.
“Gaining my first full cap was definitely one of my goals for this year, even more so since we are the host nation for the tournament,” said Jane who played for Scotland at Under-18 girls’ level.
“I felt I had to use my performances throughout the season like stepping stones in order to fulfil this goal and I believed I achieved this in what has been my best season todate. Making the Scotland team has been the icing on the cake.
“I think our team is exceptionally strong this year, so hopefully, we will be able to get our hands on the trophy.”
There are two changes in the Scotland line-up compared with the one that finished third behind Wales and England at Wrexham last year. Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), now a professional, and Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) are replaced by Turner and 17-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie) who last played in the home internationals of 2007.
North of Scotland championship winner Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) has been named as first reserve and Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), winner of the Mackie Bowl 36-hole at Gullane by four shots, is the No 2 stand-by. Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) is the third reserve.

Scotland team is:
Carly Booth (Comrie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).
Captain: Lesley Nicholson. Manager: Claire Hargan.

Teams named for Women's Home Internationals

at Irvine Golf Club, September 9 to 11

FROM THE LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The following players will represent their countries in the 2009 Home International Matches at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire from September 9 to 11:

ENGLAND
Captain - Julie Otto
Hannah Barwood (Knowle)
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall)
Charlotte Ellis (Michinhampton)
Nikki Foster (Pleasington)
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton)
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale)
Charlotte Wild (Mere)

IRELAND
Captain - Claire Robinson
Manager - Fiona McComb
Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor)
Sarah Cunningham (Ennis)
Mary Dowling (New Ross)
Niamh Kitching (Claremorris)
Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies)
Aedin Murphy (Carlow)
Gillian O'Leary (Cork)
Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush)

SCOTLAND
Captain - Lesley Nicholson
Manager - Claire Hargan
Carly Booth (Comrie)
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie)
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
Laura Murray (Alford)
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle)
Jane Turner (Craigielaw)
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)

WALES
Captain - Sue Turner
Manager - Anna Hubbard
Samantha Birks (Wolstanton)
Amy Boulden (Maesdu)
Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park)
Katie Bradbury (Cottrell Park)
Tara Davies (Holyhead)
Lucy Gould (Bargoed)
Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath)
Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan)

Reference Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk item about the trend for golf clubs to have women as secretaries/club managers. Scroll down to read it.

From Magi Vass at Tain


Hi Colin
Just to let you know Joanna Bell is the secretary at Tain Golf Club and has been here for six years. Ably assisted by me. We think we are some team but the members might not agree!!

Magi Vass

also
From Margaret Joss at Alford

Here is one more female secretary to add to your list. Alford Golf Club have recently appointed Mrs Julie Alexander as administrator.

Margaret Joss