Kathryn Imrie delighted at new Stanford

University post but still smarting over 'rejection'

in Scotland

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Kathryn Imrie, who has just landed a new job as the assistant women's head coach at Stanford University, the alma mater of Tiger Woods in California, has revealed she headed to America to pursue her new career after being rejected in Scotland.
Speaking after signing for a respectable 75 in her first competitive outing for more than a year in the opening round of the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield Links, the 43-year-old former Curtis Cup player from Broughty Ferry said she had come up with a proposal within the last few years to try and help Scottish players make the transition from amateur to professional golf.
An outstanding amateur before going on to taste success on the LPGA Tour and also represent Europe in the Solheim Cup, Imrie wanted to use her experience to try and improve the fortunes of players trying to follow in her footsteps and approached golf officials in Scotland about her proposal.
Kathryn, pictured above by Andy Forman, was given little or no encouragement, though, so decided to take up a post as an instructor at a golf school in Palm Springs and, two years on, has just moved to San Francisco, where she starts as the assistant coach to Caroline O'Connor at Stanford University in less than a month's time.
"It's a great opportunity as Stanford is as good a place as any (to be coaching]. The facilities are amazing, there are eight girls on the team, including (Scottish Curtis Cup player] Sally Watson and I can't wait," said Imrie, who won the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic on the LPGA Tour in 1995.
"This offers more stability and no-one wants me in Scotland. I made a proposition three or four years ago about the transition problem.
"I pointed out there were these wonderful amateurs but they're like deer in headlights when they turn pro. We need to get someone on Tour with them, nurturing them, showing them the ropes and being there, not as an individual coach but to see that they practice after their rounds.
"When you go out there it's hard to be disciplined.
"I was a little disheartened, to be honest, because nothing was ever taken further. I was proposing to be that person that would oversee it. I talked to Judy Murray about it as well. She was helpful in putting ideas together because it worked so well for her in tennis.
Unfortunately, there seem to be lots of organisations but no-one is really doing anything."
Imrie, whose comments will surely be of interest to Graeme Simmers and his fellow board members of the newly-formed company set up to hand out £1 million over the next five years to Scots players making the move into the paid ranks, was understandably pleased with her day's work on the Fidra course at the splendid East Lothian venue.
But for two bogeys in the last three holes, she would have been even closer to leader Trish Johnson, who shot a three-under-par 69 and, with a 61, is also sitting at the top of the team standings in the pro-am event along with Alan Hansen, the former Liverpool and Scotland defender.
Hansen, a low-handicapper, was round in about level-par himself, according to his playing partner, who admitted the event's format had helped her get off to such a good start.
Johnson, who played in a winning European Solheim Cup team at Dalmahoy 18 years ago, leads by a shot from Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands and South African Stacy Lee Bregman, with six of the ten Scots in the field sitting inside the top 20.
Lynn Kenny, who is attached to Archerfield Links, bagged four birdies in a two-under-par back nine of 34 as she carded a 73, the same as Kylie Walker, Mhairi McKay and Krystle Caithness, with Vikki Laing and Pamela Feggans in a group just a shot behind.