EILIDH HOPING TO WIN "HELEN HOLM" OVER HER FAVOURITE LINKS

                     EILIDH BRIGGS ... bidding to be first Scottish winner of "Helen Holm" since

                                           Heather Stirling in 2002. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency  

NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH LADIES

GOLFING ASSOCIATION

Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs names Royal Troon as her favourite course and the +3 handicapper is hoping to start her home season in style over the famous Open Championship links at the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship. 

The 54-hole championship takes place from Friday to Sunday, April 26 to 28 and has attracted players from all over Great Britain and Ireland plus from France, Belgium and Slovenia. 

Following two rounds of 18 holes over Troon Portland on the Friday and Saturday, the top 66 players and ties will qualify for the final round over Royal Troon on the Sunday.   

Briggs finished fifth two years ago and 17th last year, and she said: “I live just 40 minutes from Troon and I grew up watching the 'Helen Holm.' It’s a title I would love to win.”

A second year physical education student at Stirling University, the 19-year-old has already competed in Florida and China this year, but is looking forward to the start of a home stretch that also includes the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Longniddry in May.

“I am really busy with University work at the moment and have exams during the Scottish Ladies,” she said. “But everyone at Stirling is brilliant in helping me organise my schedule.” 

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), who was in the top ten last year, is another leading Scottish hope. The 2010 Scottish Ladies’ Amateur Champion is another Stirling student with a +3 handicap.

Amy Boulden (Conwy) defends the title she won last year and the field includes another two of the Welsh youngster’s victorious 2012 Curtis Cup colleagues from Nairn in Bronte Law (Bramhall) and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell). 

The last Scottish winner was Heather Stirling back in 2002.

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