GEMMA DRYBURGH GETS AN INVITE FROM ANNIKA SORENSTAM

Annika Sorenstam and Gemma Dryburgh.

US-based Abedeen teenager Gemma Dryburgh was fortunate to obtain an invite to the Annika Invitational last weekend. The tournament was played over three days on the Tom Watson-designed Independence Course at Reunion in Orlando, Florida, home to Annika’s Golf Academy.
The 72 invitees were the top-rated juniors worldwide. Fifteen countries were represented including Japan, South Africa and Argentina as well as Sweden, France and, of course, Scotland.
The girls were treated to a clinic with Annika as well as media training and health and skin care sessions, all organised by the heavily pregnant Annika and her husband.
The course was set up identically to the LPGA event with very difficult pin positions in the final day and a yardage in excess of 6300 each day.
The tournament was won by French girl, Celine Boutier, one of two of the French national team invited. Celine shot a seven-under-par 65 in her second round and managed to hold on against Doris Chen, the US girls champion from Korea.
A number of Celine’s colleagues in the national team had travelled over with the national coach and mobbed her after the final putt dropped. A big victory for the French girls.
Gemma had an excellent start to the tournament, shooting a one under par 71,which could easily been several shots lower had she taken her chances inside 10 feet. Unfortunately, she three-putted on five holes in her second round for an 80, despite hitting 14 greens in regulation.
Her four-over-par third round 76 left her in the top half of the elite field but somewhat frustrated .
The web link for the event is http://www.ajga.org/MicroSites/index3.asp?TN=201102 .