SELECT BAND OF SCOTTISH CHAMPIONS HAVE ALSO WON AT ST ANDREWS

GABRIELLE BIDS FOR QUICK-FIRE 

TITLE DOUBLE IN ST RULE TROPHY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
New Scottish women's amateur golf champion Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, will be bidding this weekend at St Andrews to join the select band of players who have won the prestigious St Rule Trophy a week or so after their national title triumphs.

Because the two events are so close together on the golf calendar, the Scottish champion goes into the 54-hole St Rule Trophy event in good form and those who have chalked up a notable double include Alford's Laura Murray (2012), Heather Stirling (Bridge of Allan) (2002), Anne Laing (1996) and Catriona Matthew (1993-1994).

MacDonald, a 21-year-old student at St Andrews, rated finishing fifth behind last year's St Rule Trophy winner, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), a St Andrews team-mate. as her best golfing performance - until she won the "Scottish" at Portpatrick last Saturday.

The field is not as strong as it might be with the top GB and I players in America for next week's Curtis Cup match but the Gabriella will still have to be at her best to

come out on top after two rounds over the New Course on Saturday and a final 18 holes over the Old Course on Sunday.

It's a new format designed to allow the players who have travelled long distances to St Andrews to get home at a reasonable hour.

Lucy Goddard (Hanbury Manor), who won the Irish women's open amateur stroke-play last weekend and US college student Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), winner of the same title in 2013, and Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro), British women's stroke-play champion in 2012, could be the title favourites but Scots have won five of the last six stagings.

There is no cut and all 60 competitors will play in Sunday's round over the Old Course with the players going out in reverse order in relation to their scores, i.e. the highest will tee off first at 8am and the leaders at 11.20am