CHAMPION LAURA MURRAY IN NORTH OF SCOTLAND SEMI-FINALS

LAURA MURRAY ... defending champion at Blairgowrie   By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Scottish champion Laura Murray from Alford, Aberdeenshire has reached the semi-finals in the defence of the North of Scotland women's amateur golf championship over the Blairgowrie Rosemount course. Laura, the No 6 qualifier for the match-play stages, had to fight all the way to beat Megan Clyne (Deeside), home on holiday from a US college, by one hole. In the quarter-finals, Murray, who has also won the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews this season for a second time, was a 5 and 4 winner over Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies). Laura now plays Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir), several times Angus county champion, for a place in the final at 9.03am. In the other semi-final (9.12) it will be 19-year-old leading qualifier Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) against Aberdeenshire champion Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) who has won the North of Scotland title twice - as long ago as 1989 and, more recently, 2001. Chalmers was taken to the 18th green in her quarter-final against Rachael Polson (Peterculter), a student at a Florida university, while Wood had two 5 and 4 wins against Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) and Claire Prouse (Hazlehead). The handicap semi-finals are Isla Moncrieff (Aberfeldy) v Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) and Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) v June Nicol (Inverness). CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND MATCH PLAY RESULTS GIFFORD TROPHY Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) bt Susan Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) 6 and 5. Rachel Polson (Peterculter) bt Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 4 and 3. Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 5 and 4. Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) bt Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 7 and 5. Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) bt Laura Walker (Muckhart) 7 and 6. Laura Murray (Alford) bt Megan Clyde (Deeside) 1 hole. Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt Jacqueline Sneddon  (Alyth) 6 and 4. Emily Aird (Blairgowrie) bt Jackie Brown (Monifieth) 3 and 2. QUARTER-FINALS Chalmers bt Polson 1 hole. Wood bt Prouse 5 and 4. Murray bt Meek 5 and 4. Ramsay bt Aird 2 holes. HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP (Angus Salver) First round Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) (9) bt Mary Robinson (Murcar Links) (15) 2 holes. Isla Moncrieff (Aberfeldy) (10) bt Irene Croal (Callander) (17). Jennifer Saxton (Milnathort) (10) bt Fiona Hay (Deeside) (5) 1 hole. Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) (5) bt Louise Smith (Monifieth) (8) 4 and 3. Nicola Robertson (Dunblane) (6) bt Lynne Tough (Newmachar) (9) 2 and 1 Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) (8) bt Katie Reid (Monifieth) (4) 3 and 2. June Nicol (Inverness) (9) bt Liz Coghill (Royal Dornoch) (10) 2 holes. Janet Henderson (Royal Montrose) (11) bt Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld and Birnam) (7) 2 and 1. QUARTER-FINALS Moncrieff bt Whyte 3 and 2. Seivwight bt Saxton 1 hole. Stewart b Robertson1 hole. Nicol bt Henderson 3 and 1 CONSOLATION COMPETITION CSS 77 Scratch - Gillian Dowling (Inverness) 86. Handicap - Val Purdie (Dunblane) (20) 76; Val Wright (Forres) (15) 77. ends