SAMMY LESLIE                                                           LAURA MURRAY

Sammy and Laura set to make Scottish

Alliance Championship history

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scotland international Laura Murray (Alford) and Aberdeenshire county champion Sammy Leslie (Westhill) are set to become the first girls ever to play in the Scottish Alliance championship.

The 54-hole event will be played at two North-east courses, Murcar Links and Newburgh on Ythan, from Tuesday to Thursday, October 5 to 7.

"There is nothing in the Scottish Golfers' Alliance constitution to say that girls cannot play in the annual championship but, to the best of my knowledge, this will be the first time that two have entered," said Ron Menzies, secretary of the North-east Alliance who are the organisers of this year's event.

"We have had girls play in North-east Alliances over the years. Laura played regularly last year at our Wednesday meetings and Sammy has joined us for the start of the 2010-11 season."

The girls' participation will not take anything away from the men's prize fund because Opal Services Ltd, which has a connection with the Midlands Alliance, is to sponsor a couple of prize vouchers

Man or woman, you have to have played in at least one district alliance competition before you can play in the Scottish Alliance championship.

There is still room for some entries before the deadline. They can be phoned to Ron Menzies at 01224 780033.