SCOTS WOMEN FAIL TO MAKE TOP FLIGHT AT FULFORD

Scotland failed to make the top flight of match-play in the European women's team championship at Fulford GC, Yorkshire.
They finished 10th and go into the Second Flight alongwith the likes of Ireland, Wales and Belgium.
Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh was easily the best on a disappointing second day for the Scot.s She followed up her first-round 73 with a par 72.
Eilidh Briggs slipped back from a 71 to a 75 while Rachael Watton took six more shots with a 78. 
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin could do no better than a 79 and Ailsa Summers again failed to break 80. She returned an 89.
Jess Meek, who had an 84 on Tuesday, improved to a 76.
Denmark outclassed the field with a total of 19-under-par 701 - 31 shots better than second qualifiers Spain. England made it into the top flight in seventh place on 741 - 13 shots better than Scotland.
TOP FLIGHT QUALIFIERS
701 Denmark
732 Spain
739 Netherlands
740 Sweden, Finland
741 England, France
749 Austria
SECOND FLIGHT 
750 Ireland
754 Scotland
757 Belgium, Wales
762 Germany
766 Italy
776 Norway
777 Slovakia 

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Issued 10th July 2013 England in medal hunt at Fulford England successfully battled through a tough day to keep alive their dream of winning a medal in the European ladies’ team championship at Fulford, York. The team finished in sixth place at the end of the 36-hole qualifying – 40 shots adrift of the leaders Denmark, but safely in the top flight of eight teams who go on to contest the medals in the matchplay stages of the tournament. Denmark dominated the qualifying, finishing the stroke play on 19-under par and 31 shots clear of runners-up Spain. The worst score returned by their players today was a one-over 73 - which was discounted – while four of the other team members beat par. But tomorrow’s match play – in which England take on The Netherlands - is a clean slate. “The important thing is just to be in the top flight,” said England captain Emma Brown. “You’ve got to beat everyone to win and we are in there with a chance.” The second round produced more sparkling golf to delight the spectators, whose numbers are thought to be approaching 1000 over two days. Finland’s Oona Vartiainen returned a five-under 67 to lead the individual table on eight-under par, pipping Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden on countback. Oona’s reward is a place in the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters on the Ladies European Tour, which is being played at The Buckinghamshire from July 26-28. Such low scores eluded England’s players today, but they produced some very gritty golf to secure their place in the top flight. At times the team appeared perilously close to the cut-off mark but, on a day of ups and downs, they produced the results they needed. “It was a bit nervy, but we put two strong players at the back and they came up with the goods and turned in a couple of tidy scores,” said Emma. Her backstops were Bronte Law, a member of last year’s winning Curtis Cup team, who came in with a two-over 74, and British champion Georgia Hall (Image © Leaderboard Photography) who birdied the last for 73. Georgia, who hit two great shots to reach the green, emphasised her final putt with an energetic fist-pump – in celebration of halving yesterday’s score on the hole! “I’m happy with 73,” said the 17-year-old European number one. “It was much harder today, it was windier, colder, the ball wasn’t running as much so you had to hit longer clubs to the greens and the pins were much harder. I played well and I was quite steady.” She added: “It’s a different game tomorrow!” Earlier in the day Meghan MacLaren and Hayley Davis both returned rounds of 76. Hayley summed up the fighting spirit of the day when she explained afterwards that she’d struggled with her putting – but nevertheless played the last 10 holes in one-under par.  The final counting score of the day was provided by Sarah-Jane Boyd who returned 78, while Lauren Taylor’s 80 was discounted. England tee off against The Netherlands at 8.10am tomorrow with two foursomes, followed by five singles. Foursomes 08:10 Georgia Hall (Remedy Oak) and Hayley Davis (Ferndown) 08:20 Bronte Law (Bramhall) and Lauren Taylor (Woburn) Singles 14:20 Georgia Hall 14:28 Bronte Law 14:36 Hayley Davis 14:44 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro) 14:52 Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough)  Leading qualifying results: -19 Denmark +12 Spain +19 The Netherlands +20 Sweden +20 Finland +21 England +21 France +29 Austria For full results visit www.englandgolf.org/euro2013 Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193