EILIDH versus LOUISE A FINAL WORTH GOING A LONG WAY TO SEE

Eilidh Briggs in action this afternoon in the semi-final against her sister Megan. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Tomorrow morning's 18-hole final of the 97th Scottish women's amateur championship over the Machrihanish links will feature Louise Kenney, who is No 205 in this week's updated Women's World Amateur Rankings, and teenager Eilidh Briggs, who is 1045 in the WWAR.

Forget about these misleading statistics - this has all the makings of an outstanding final, well worth making the trek down the Kintyre peninsula. Set off early though - the final tees off at 9am and Machrihanish is a long drive from anywhere!

After a day of days for 18-year-old Gryffe High School, Bridge of Weir pupil Eilidh Briggs, she meets 28-year-old Dunfermline schoolteacher Louise Kenney for the ultimate prize on the SLGA calendar.

In the morning, Kilmacolm Golf Club member Eilidh ended the reign of 2010 national champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn) with four birdies and one-under-par figures for a 4 and 3 victory over the No 1 seed.

How prophetic for Kelsey to say at lunchtime: "This is Eilidh's day. She played very well. I didn't."

With 21-year-old sister Megan, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency in the semi-final, beating another Renfrewshire player, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), 17,  2 and 1, that set up a “Battle of the Briggs” semi-final in the afternoon – and  Eilidh produced another brilliant performance to beat her sister, the 2009 champion and the No 4 seed this week, by 2 and 1 in a match that more than lived up to expectations.

Eilidh Briggs, winner of the Renfrewshire county championship and the West of Scotland women’s title already this season, has blossomed into star material this early in the season.

With a short game that many a Ladies European Tour pro would love to have, Eilidh was three under par in beating sister Megan by 2 and 1, having covered the first nine holes in an awe-inspiring four under par to be two up on her sister who herself was two under the card for the outward half.

Both girls hardly missed a fairway on the front nine and both seldom missed a putt from inside the six to eight feet range. It was classic stuff over a classic links course.

Two up with five to play, Eilidh survived a late challenge by Megan who won the 14^th with a birdie 3 and the 15^th with a par 3 to Eilidh’s only afternoon bogey. All square now with three to play, Eilidh was able to clinch her place in the final with pars into the wind at the 16^th and 17^th.

Hard luck, Megan to be one under par for 17 holes in a semi-final and not make it to her second final in three years.

“It’s a bitter sweet feeling to beat your sister in the semi-final of the Scottish championship,” said Eilidh. “Of course, I’m really chuffed but I do wish it had been somebody else I had beaten. We are really supportive of each other and I’m sure she’ll be out there rooting for me in the final. My dad Ian will be my caddie again. My mother (Dorothy) doesn't play golf so I don't know if she will walk round."

So why has Eilidh been almost transformed as a golfer since last season when it has to be said she was a Scottish girl international. Now she looks capable of walking into any Scotland women’s team at the age of 18.

“I had my Highers to contend with last year and I feel much more relaxed on the golf course this year now that they are out of the way. Maybe I was a bit headstrong in the past but I’m that year older now and getting a lot more consistent than I used to be,” said Eilidh who, by her own admission, did not play well in the stroke-play start to the week, qualifying 24^th out of 32 for the match-play. Since then, she has been under par in every tie she has played.

Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the No 7 seed, edged out the No 2 qualifier, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) by one hole in the quarter-finals and then scored a 4 and 3 win with one under par figures against Aberdeen student Jane Turner (Craigielaw), the No 6 seed, by 4 and 3 in the semi-final.

It is the third year in a row that Louise, who played on the US college circuit for four years, has reached the final of the “Scottish.”

“I think I will enjoy this one more than I did losing to Megan Briggs in the 2009 final at Southerness and Kelsey MacDonald in last year’s final at Craigielaw. I think I’m more ready for this one than I have been. It would mean so much for me to be Scottish champion.”

Kenney was two up after seven holes against Turner and after a series of halves she played a great six iron into the 13^th green to set up a birdie 3 that put her three up and within sight of victory which came when she came out of a bunker close enough to win the short 15^th and the match.

AILSA BAIN WINS CLARK ROSEBOWL

Former Scottish girls champion Ailsa Bain (Peebles) beat Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) by one hole in an entertaining final to the second flight match-play competition for the Clark Rosebowl. Rachel won the ninth to go two up but the 10^th and 11^th holes were the turning point of the match. Ailsa won them both to square te contest and got a birdie 2 at the short 15^th into the wind to get her nose in front at just the rigt time. The last three holes were halved.

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