MARTINE POW TO PLAY AS A PROFESSIONAL ON PAUL LAWRIE LADIES TOUR

By COLIN FARQUHARSONColin@scottishgolfview.com Martine Pow, Scottish women's amateur golf champion at Dunbar in 2006, is preparing to make her debut as a professional at the age of 47. She has entered three events so far on the inaugural Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour - at Dalmahoy on April 18 and the North-east double-header at Trump International and Deeside on May 6-7 "Yes, it's not a misprint on the website's list of entries - I have entered the new tour to play as a professional," said Borderer Martine who runs a family scaffolding business.

"I made up my mind to support it and play in it when I first heard the news of about the Paul Lawrie Tour and it being open to lady pros and amateurs with a single-figure handicap but it was never really my intention at the outset to play as a pro.
"However, I thought I might have been in with a shout this year to be chosen by the SLGA to captain Scotland in the women's home internationals or in one of the European team events as I had shown an interest. But this did not happen so I felt it was time to move on.
"I then thought to myself that if I am to enter the Paul Lawrie Trour competitions and pay the same entry fee of £50 whether as a pro or an amateur, why, at my time of life, should I persistently try to lower my handicap and win vouchers when, in fact, I can play for money!"
Martine has been on the Scottish amateur golfing stage for more years than she cares to remember but it was only in 2006 when she won first the Scottish title and then one of the last stagings oI'f the LGU's British women's mid-amateur championship that she showed that she could be a force to be reckoned outwith Border golf.
She won the Selkirk Golf Club women's club championship 11 times, the Borders championship three times and the South of Scotland title on one occasion.
"I'm 47 now but I  consider myself a late bloomer," said Martine with tongue in cheek but she is certainly not going to play on the Paul Lawrie Tour just to make up the numbers.
"As the years rolled by, I never thought about turning pro as I am not big on travel and hotels, particularly abroad, and coping with summer heat on a golf course in foreign countries would not have been my cup of tea," she said.
 "But, a domestic tour on which I could play as a pro has fallen right into my lap. I can travel to all the venues from my home in the Borders of my static caravan in St Amndrews.
"I have spoken to several people - family, friends, coach, caddies - and not one has had a single negative comment to me. My work is very important to me but I can easily to that and play on the Paul Lawrie Tour, at least for this year.
"I am only looking at one year at a time and if there are more 'young' pros coming through, then I will move out of the way and retire gracefully ... I think!"


IT'S not all good news for the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour. 
FIVE players who had entered various events have now withdrawn for a variety of reasons - Katy McNicoll, Pamela Pretswell, Jemma Chalmers, Megan Clyne and Claire-Marie Macaulay.

"We were struggling to hit our target of 30 entries for each event, which kicks in the £3,000 prize fund. Now we are losing players instead of gaining them," said Colin Farquharson with his co-organiser's hat on.
"Where have all the flowers gone? We need them badly."