DANIEL AND LAUREN WIN PLF SCOTTISH SCHOOLS TITLES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries and Galloway) and Lauren Whyte (Fife) won the individual boys’ and girls’ titles at the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish schools golf championships over the two courses at Murrayshall Hotel, near Perth this week.
Daniel and Lauren also spearheaded their areas to victories in the boys’and girls’ team events.
McConnachie was the third Dumfries and Galloway pupil in a row to win the boys’ title following the 2009 and 2010 successes of Scott Gibson.
He had rounds of two-under-par 70 over the No 1 Murrayshall course and three-under-par 66 for the shorter Lynedoch lay-out, adding up to an impressive five-under-par total of 136.
McConnachie won by three shots from Euan Walker (South Ayrshire), who had rounds of 67 and 72 for 139. Jamie Savage (East Dunbartonshire) was third with 75 and 68 for 143.
Lauren Whyte, a St Regulus Club, St Andrews member who did very well in the recent Scottish women’s championship at Machrihanish, had scores of 71 over the Lynedoch course and 72 over the main circuit for a three-over-par total of 143.
She won by one shot from Renfrewshire women’s county champion Eilidh Briggs, a member of Kilmacolm GC, who reached the final of the Scottish women’s championship.
Eilidh had scores of 74 and 70 at Murrayshall for 144, the same total as Aboyne’s Kimberley Beveridge (South Aberdeenshire) who had rounds of 70 and 74. Briggs’ better second round was the tie-breaker in deciding who received the second place prize.
Dumfries and Galloway retained the boys’ team trophy with a total of 442. Their team was Daniel McConnacie, John Innes and Connor Syme.
Scottish Borders (Daniel Flannery, Craig Howie, Callum McNeill) were second with 446 and Falkirk third with 451.
Falkirk’s trio were Ben Craggs, Andrew Wood and Peter Maxwell.
Only two shots separated the first three pairs in the girls’ team championship. Fife won the day with a total of 309, thanks to the sterling efforts of Lauren Whyte and Chloe Goadby.
South Aberdeenshire (Kimberley Beveridge and Shannon McWilliam) were runners-up, only a shot behind on 309, and one stroke further back 309 were the third-placed North Ayrshire pairing of Connie Jaffrey and Mhairi McKay.
The Paul Lawrie Foundation Salver for the best handicap total by a girl was won by Kirsten Pryde (Aberdeen City). Playing off 13, she had net rounds of 65 and 68 for 133.
Runner-up on 137 was Ellie Bryce (South Lanarkshire) with net scores of 68 and 69 off 19.
Molly Stewart (Aberdeen City) came third on 139 with scores off 69 and 70 off 15.


RESULTS

BOYS
Leading individual totals
Par 141 (72 and 69).
136 Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries and Galloway) 70 66.
139 Euan Walker (South Ayrshire) 67 72.
143 Jamie Savage (East Dunbartonsire) 75 68.
Leading team totals
442 Dumfries and Galloway (Daniel McConnachie, John Innes, Connor Syme).
446 Scottish Borders (Daniel Flannery, Craig Howie, Callum NcNeil).
451 Falkirk (Ben Craggs, Andrew Wood, Peter Maxwell).
GIRLS
Leading individual totals
Par 140 (69 and 71).
143 Lauren Whyte (Fife) 71 72.
144 Eilidh Briggs (Renfrewshire) 74 70 (better second round), Kimberley Beveridge (South Aberdeenshire) 70 74.
Leading team totals
308 Fife (Lauren Whyte, Chloe Goadby).
309 South Aberdeenshire (Kimberley Beveridge, Shannon McWilliam).
310 North Ayrshire (Connie Jaffrey, Mhairi McKay).
Paul Lawrie Foundation Salver (girls’ handicap)
133 Kirsten Pryde (Aberdeen City) (13) 65 68.
137 Ellie Bryce (South Lanarkshire) (19) 68 69.
139 Molly Stewart (Aberdeen City) (15) 69 70.