FITTER AND STRONGER, ALYSON McKECHIN ONE OF FAVOURITES FOR SCOTTISH TITLE

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SLGA

 Could it be a changing of the guard at next week's Scottish Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Longniddry? 

The last three champions – Laura Murray, Louise Kenney and Kelsey MacDonald – are all missing from the line-up so there is the chance for a bunch of youngsters to make their mark at the East Lothian venue from May 14-18.

Teenager Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), pictured, showed the way with a terrific joint runner-up finish at the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship at Troon.

“I’ve been working hard with my coach, Kevin Craggs, over the winter,” said the tall 19-year-old from Paisley. “I’ve also concentrated on getting fitter and stronger and I’m sure that it made a difference at Troon.

“I have never played Longniddry but I intend to have a few practice rounds and I am really looking forward to the Championship. At the moment, I am working part-time at the Glasgow Indoor Golf Centre and I won’t make any decision about turning professional until the end of next season.”

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) is another 19-year-old with eyes on the coveted title.  She was runner-up to Kenney at Machrihanish two years ago and is now a regular in the Scottish team - her older sister Megan won the title at Southerness in 2009.

Eilidh has exams during the “Scottish” but the Physical Education student is determined not to be distracted. “Stirling University has been brilliant in arranging things,” she said.

Even younger is Clara Young – she played for the GB and Ireland Under-16 team two years ago  - and the North Berwick girl, winner of the East Lothian women's county title for a second time this week, will be aiming to lift the title in her home county.

Another relative local is Jane Turner. A member of Craigielaw, she has been a mainstay of the Scottish team for the past couple of years.

Germany-based Fiona Liddell is just 15. But the scratch golfer underlined her potential with a top five finish at the SLGA Under-16 Open Strokeplay Championship at Strathmore in April.

One of her goals is to make the GB and Ireland line-up for the Junior Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe iat Chantilly, France at the end of  June.