By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Stirling University student Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), last year's Scottish girls golf champion, has had to withdraw from the 109th British women's open amateur championship which tees off tomorrow with the first of two stroke-play qualifying rounds at Carnoustie's championship links.
Eilidh, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, explained:
"I am disappointed not to be able to compete, I was really looking forward to my first British as in the past I have had school exams! Especially since it is being held at a great venue I have never had the chance to play," said 19-year-old Eilidh.
"However, I fly out later this week to the world university championships in the Czech Republic as a part of the GB team. Therefore, if I had qualified for the match play at Carnoustie and continued throughout the championship the two would clash, and LGU regulations state you cannot just compete in the stroke-play so therefore I have had to withdraw from the British."
The LGU regulations have tightened up since Musselburgh's Vikki Laing qualfied for the match-play stages but withdrew after the stroke-play because of her sister's wedding - but the Scot was still selected for the upcoming Curtis Cup match.
Last year's Scottish champion and GB and I Vagliano Trophy player Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) has also had to pull out from the Carnoustie field. She has work commitments as a relief teacher.
There was good news for Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth). She was called into the field this morning (Monday) off the waiting list by LGU Head of Golf Operations Susan Simpson.
Local member Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), who won the Northern Ladies Open over the Carnoustie course a couple of weeks ago with a very good scratch round of 73, is still on the waiting list because her handicap is not low enough for an automatic place.
"Anyone who pulls out of the championship before they strike a ball on the day of the first qualifying round (Tuesday) will be replaced if we can do it," said Susan Simpson.
Jessica is fortunate in that she can make herself available, literally, at the first tee much more easily than most on the waiting list.
The highest world-ranked player in the field is 16-year-old Charley Hull (Woburn), No 5, one of the seven remaining GB and I Curtis Cup-winning team members.
Another Woburn Club player, Lauren Taylor, is the defending champion, having been the youngest ever winner at Royal Portrush last year of this championship which was first played in 1893.
CARNOUSTIE EXPERIENCE
Lauren played Carnoustie in the Ricoh Women's British Open last year.
The leading 64 players after the 36-hole stroke-play qualifying test on Tuesday and Wednesday go forward to the match-play stages which reach a climax with the 18-hole final, teeing off at 1pm on Saturday.
The 144 competitors from all over the world will be playing a longer course than the lady pros tackled in last year's Ricoh Women's British Open at Carnoustie.
This week the amateurs are playing a lay-out that measures 6,563yd compared with the 6,490yd over which Yani Tseng won the ladies' pro major.
The par remains the same - 72 - but there are some changes for the Ladies British open amateur championship.
For instance, the 17th is being played as a par-4 instead of a par-5 with the option to move the tee forward, depending on the wind.
The 12th goes the other way for the lady amateurs, from a par-5 to a par-4.
The sixth this week will be played at 511yd, instead of 490yd at the "Ricoh."
So just how difficult in terms of playing par golf are the Carnoustie championship links, whether you are a female amateur or pro?
To get the answer all you have to do is look at the Standard Scratch figure for the ladies - 79. Seven shots higher than the par!
As if a major ladies amateur championship was not enough for the good folk of Carnoustie to cope with, the circus has arrived in town - at a seaside venue adjacent to the course, clubhouse, first tee and practice putting green.
I can predict without fear or favour that some of the competitors will be walking the tightrope come Wednesday evening between making the cut or falling out out of the championship.
ALL TUESDAY TEE TIMES
06.30 Christine Wong (Canada), Karlijn Zaanen (Netherlands), Daniela Holmqvist (Sweden).
06.41 Molle Manon (France), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Ann-Kathrin Lindner (Germany).
06.52 Charlotte Puts (Netherlands), Stefania Avanzo (Italy), Ashley Cramond (Australia).
07.03 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Roberta Roeller (Germany), Jisoo Keel (Canada).
07.14 Justine Dreher (France), Sara Monberg (Denmark), Claire Smith (Silsden).
07.25 Emily Perry (NZ), Emily Childs (US), Myrte Eikenaar (Netherlands).
07.36 Anne Van Dam (Netherlands), Jessica Bradley (Tiverton), Marta Sanz Barrio (Spain).
07.47 Sophia Popov (Germany), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Celine Boutier (France).
07.58 Manon Gidali (France), Amy Boulden (Conwy), Vicki Troeltsch (Germany).
08.09 Tessa De Bruijn (Netherlands), Gemma Clews (Ashton on Mersey), Fanny Vuignier (Switzerland)
08.20 Patricia Sanz Barrios (Spain), Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth)
08.31 Isabel Gabsa (Germany), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), Isabelle Boineau (France).
08.42 Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico), Whitney Hillier (Australia), Sally Watson (Elie and Earlsferry).
08.53 Morgan Thompson (US), Emma Sheffield (Newark), Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir).
09.04 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies), Jacquiline Chang (US), Marina Stuetz (Austria).
09.15 Saana Nuutinen (Finland), Charlotte Wild (Mere), Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis (Netherlands)
09.37 Jerry Lawrence (Rochester), Eugenia Ferrero (Italy), Annika Nykanen (Finland)
09.48 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Rocio Sanchez Lobato (Spain)
09.59 Isabella Deilert (Sweden), Gill Nutter (Formby), Andrea Vilarasau (Spain).
10.10 Louise Gateau Chovelon (France), Gabriella Cowley (West Essex), Laura Murray (Alford).
10.30 Joi Pentin (US), Nikki Foster (Pleasington), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville).
10.41 Nicola Rossler (Germany), Hayley Davis (Ferndown), Elin Arvidsson (Sweden).
10.52 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Emelie Lundstrom (Sweden), Emilie Alonso (France).
11.03 Jess Wilcox (Blankney), Lara Katzy (Germany), Laure Castelain (France). 11.14 Ariane Provot (France), Olivia Winning (Rotherham), Johanna Tillstrom (Sweden).
11.25 Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Anna Christina Kindgren (Colombia).
11.36 Giulia Molinaro (Italy), Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden), Bronte Law (Bramhall).
11.47 Hadas Libman (Israel), Olivia Hullert (Norway), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
11.58 Natalie Lowe (Stiyal), Leigh Whittaker (Germany), Amanda Strang (Sweden).
12.09 Antonia Scherer (Germany), Augusta James (Canada), Perrine Delacour (France).
12.20 Minna Vuorenpaa (Finland), Natalie Will (Sweden), Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak).
12.31 Demi Frances Ruanas (US), Ellie Robinson (Brass Castle), Marita Engzelius (Norway)
12.42 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), Noemi Jimenez (Spain), Nina Holleder (Germany).
12.53 Emma Goddard (Royal Liverpool), Sophia Pauline Zeeb (Germany), Kathleen Griffith (Australia).
13.04 Rosie Davies (US), Krista Bakker (Finland), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).
13.15 Alexandra Bonetti (France), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), Laetitia Beck (Israel).
13.26 Emilee Taylor (Holme Hall), Claudia Chemin (France), Camilla Vik (Norway).
13.37 Nicoline Engstr Skaug (Norway), Bethany Garton (Royal Lytham), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
13,48 Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield), Josephine Janson (Sweden), Adriana Brent (Australia).
13.59 Charlotte Thompson (Channels), Hannah Turland (Tidworth), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
14.10 Karolin Lampert (Germany), Charley Hull (Woburn), Camilla Hedberg (Spain).
14.21 Anna Christenson (US), Noora Tammineen (Finland), Taylor Kim (Canada).
14.32 Meghan Stasi (US), Anna Young (Canada), Susan Jackson (Ladybank).
14.43 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Nina Muehl (Austria), Jo Ee Kok (Singapore).
14.54 Abbey Gittings (Walmley), Jacqueline Williams (US), Paula Grant (Lisburn).
15.05 Rachael Goodall (Heswall), Silvia Banon Ibanez (Spain), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale).
15.16 Brittany Marchand (Canada), Meghan Maclaren (Wellingborough), Alessandra Braida (Italy).
THE BARRY BURNS THAT WINDS IT WAY OVER THE CARNOUSTIE LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
Today's image by Cal Carson Golf Agency
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