SALLY WATSON BIRDIES CLINCH STANFORD PLACE IN FINAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfvew.com  Curtis Cup Scot Sally Watson gained her fourth top-20 finish of the 2010-2011 US women's college golf season on Saturday and it was the former South Queensferry player's two late birdies that clinched a place for her California college, Stanford University, in the NCAA women's championship at Bryan, Texas from May 18 to 21. Only the top eight university teams in a field of 24 at the NCAA Women's Division 1 Central Region championship at Warren GC, South Bend, Notre Dame University in Indiana could qualify for the national final and Stanford finished seventh after Sally, who will be 20 on July 7, finished with ever-improving rounds of 76, 75 and 73 for a total of 224 and a share of 14th place in a quality field of 126 players. Watson, pictured in action by Tom Ward Photography, birdied the long second, then had a wobble with bogeys at the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth before she straightened herself out to cover the last 10 holes in two-under-par, highlighted by birdies at the 12th and 18th. She was the only Stanford player in the top 20, which suggests that Tiger Woods' alma mater does not have a strong enough squad to make a show at the climax to the women's college golf season. Watson finished six shots behind Megan McChrystal (Louisiana State) (72-75-71) and Stephanie Kono (UCLA) (74-76-68) who jointly headed the field with two-over-par totals of 218. Tiger Woods' niece Cheyenne Woods, a student at Wake Forest, finish fifth on 221 (756-76-70). UCLA (890) won the regional team title ahead of Louisiana State (894) with Stanford (908) seventh and Wake Forest (909) last of the eight qualifiers.. Duke, once the dominant force on the US women's college golf scene, finished ninth with 913 and missed out on the nationwide championship.  Watson, a member at Elie and Earlsferry Ladies GC, will return to this side of the Atlantic for the British women's open amateur championship at Royal Portrush GC, Northern Ireland from June 7 to 11. Having missed out on selection for the Great Britain and Ireland team of five for the Astor Trophy match-play event against Austalia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa at Fairhaven GC, Lytham St Annes from June 15 to 19, the Scot will be keen to be named as one of the nine-strong GBandI team for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl GC, South Wales, on June 24-25. But Sally has gained only one top 10 placing in 10 tournaments on the US women's college circuit since last September and her Women's World Amateur Ranking has dropped to No. 177. A high finish in the all-star field for the NCAA women's championship could rocket her up the rankings and into the Vagliano team. Watson played in the Curtis Cup matches of 2008 and 2010 and the Vagliano Trophy contest in 2009. + Duke’s great run in the post-season has come to an end. Not only did Duke fail to make it to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 13 years, but the Blue Devils failed to win a tournament all year for the first time in 29 years! A major recruiting drive is called for to put Duke back at the top of the pile. Results: NCAA Division 1 Women's Central Region Warren GC, Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Individuals Par 216 (3x72). Yardage 6208. 218 Megan McChrystal (Louisiana State) 72 75 71, Stephanie Kono (UCLA) 74 76 68 (no play-off). 219 Austin Ernst (Louisiana State) 74 72 73, Emily Tubert (Arkansas) 75 69 75. 221 Cheyenne Woods (Wake Forest) 75 76 70. Selected score: 224 Sally Watson (Stanford) 76 75 73 (T14). Field of 126 players. Teams 890 UCLA 894 Louisiana State Selected scores: 908 Stanford (7th of 24) 909 Wake Forest.(8th) 813 Duke (9th). +Only top eight teams qualified for NCAA championship. SARAH FALLER SIGNS OFF WITH A TOP-20 FINISH FOR DENVER Former English girls champion Ellie Givens from Darlington, a student at Denver University, tied for 37th place in a field of 126 players at the NCAA Division 1 women's West Regional championship at Washington National Golf Club. Ellie, a senior (fourth and final year) student, scored 74, 80 and 74 for a total of 228 over a par-72, 6266yd course. Denver team-mate Sarah Faller, pictured below, from Galway, Ireland shot scores of 74, 73 and 76 for 223 and finished her US college season - Denver failed to make it through to the NCAA championship - with a top 20 finish, tied 16th to be precise but in a huge field. But Sarah is only a junior (third-year) student so she will be back for another season but for Ellie Givens her four years at Denver are coming to a close. Erica Popson (Tennessee) won by five strokes with a total of eight-under-par 208, made up of scores of 68, 69 and 71. Southern California (866) were the top qualifying team for the finals, ahead of Tennessee (876) and two teams on 887, Virginia and UC Davis, whose head coach is Scot Anne Walker from Strathaven. Denver missed out on 920 which placed them 13th in the field of 24 teams.