RACHAEL WATTON WANTS TO PLAY IN HOME INTERNATIONALS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Rachael Watton, who scored her first win on the US women's college golf circuit last week in Alabama, has told the SLGA that she is available for selection and keen to play in the Women's Home Internationals at Cork Golf Club, Ireland from September 4 to 6.

The 19-year-old Denver University freshman student - she will be 20 in June - from Edinburgh played in the title-winning Scotland team at Cardiff in 2010 but, because she had to report early to enrol at Denver last autumn, she was not considered for a place in the team which finished last of four at Hillside last September.

Normally, US colleges are reluctant to release golf scholarship students to return to the UK for such things as the Women's Home Intenationals but Rachael is optimistic.

"Our 2012-2013 university term doesn't start until the first week in September so I wouldn't miss much school to play in the home internationals," she said by E-mail.

"I have said I am available to the SLGA but I need to talk to my coaches about it and see when we have to be back out here as our collegiate season also begins at the start of September.

"I would love to be able to play as the Home Internationals is one of my favourite tournaments and obviously representing Scotland is a huge honour."

Looking back at her personal and Denver team success in the Sun Belt Conference championship, after which she was named Conference Freshman of the Year, Watton said:"It is nice to get my first college win under my belt! I definitely feel my game has improved since I came over here. It's a completely different life, especially trying to juggle school work with golf practice, and it took some getting used to.

"I am lucky that our schedule allows us to play with the top college teams in America and I can compare myself and see where the standard is set.

"My freshman year has been up and down, especially this spring, but I feel like myself and our team have gained momentum to go into regional championships next month and hopefully make it through to the national championships.

"We will most likely be placed in the West regional NCAA tournament which is being played at Colorado National only a half hour drive from the Denver University campus so, hopefully, we will have some home advantage."

MORE US COLLEGE NEWS

Phil Rutherford, a freshman student from Nuneaton at Davis and Elkins College, West Virginia, finished second in a field of 52 at the WJU Invitational at Moundsville Country Club, West Virginia.
Rutherford shot rounds of 74-73 for 147 over a par-70 course of 6,341yd.
He finished four shots behind the winner, Ryan Thomson (WestLiverty University) (71-72 for 143).
Three of Rutherford's team-mates - all from the UK - did quite well in providing the back-up which helped Davis and Elkins win the team title by a single shot from West Liberty University.
Christopher Young, a sophomore student from Cardross), tied for eighth place on 156 with scores of 80-76.
Pat Ferreday, a freshman student fro Bath, tied for 10th place with scores of 80-77 for 157.
Ciar Porciani. a freshman from Ayrshire, shared 15th place on 159 with scores of 80-79.

ABOYNE STUDENT JOINT FIFTH IN IDAHO

Daniel Thompsett from Aboyne, last year's North-east boys champion, finished joint fifth in the Frontier Conference Tournament at Leviston Country Club, Idaho.

Thompsett (pictured) is a student at Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Montana and Thompsett's effort (74-70-74 for 225) helped RMC to win the Frontier Conference title which puts them through to the regional play-offs.

The Aberdeenshire lad finished nine shots behind the winner, Dane Jensen (Westminster College) (70-70-75) but Jensen had a seven-shot winning margin so only two shots between Thompsett and the player who came second.





CHRIS BELL TOP SCOT AT DENNIS, TEXAS

Carnoustie's Chris Bell (Odessa) finished highest of the three Scots in action at the NJCAA District 3 championship at Dennis, Texas.
Bell shot 76-74-73 for a total of 223 and a share of 20th place behind the six-shot winner, Donovan Sanchez (New Mexico Junior College) (64-69-70 for seven-under 203 over a par-70 couse of 6,659yd.
Sean Lawrie from Portlethen and Paul Simpson from Aboyne, both Midland College, Texas students, finished T37 and T41 respectively.
Lawrie shot 75-76-76 for 227, while Simpson scored 76-79-74 for 229.
Luke Richardson (Midland), a sophomore from Essex, just made the top 10, a share of 10th place in fact, with scores of 71-73-74 for 218.
Another English student at Midland, Richard Farmer, a freshman from Brighton scored 77-74-74 for 235 and a T33 finish.
Western Texas won the team title and will advance. For Midland, 6th of the 11 teams, it's the end of the 2011-2012 college season.