PROFESSIONALS' DAUGHTERS LIDDELL, FARRELL WITH TROPHIES

• Fiona Liddell (left) and Jillian Farrell with the Ansley Reid Salver. Picture by Elspeth Burnside

GERMANY CALLING! PRO'S DAUGHTER 

FIONA NEW SCOTS GIRLS CHAMPION

By ELSPETH BURNSIDE 
Fiona Liddell, born in Munster, Germany, is the new Scottish Under-18 girls (close) champion after an impressive 2 and 1 win over Heather Munro (Monifieth) in the final at Dumfries and County Golf Club.

Sixteen-year-old Liddell, the No 2 seed, coached by her dad, Falkirk-born Stephen (pictured left by Elspeth Burnside) who has been head pro at GC Schloss Vornholz,  Germany since 1990, showed some real short game wizardry to overcome a dogged opponent who was the No 4 seed.

“This is the best win of my career,” said the delighted new champion. “And I’ll still be young enough to defend the title next year.”

Liddell made a great start. She holed from a putt from off the green at the first to win the hole and was two up after a solid par at the second. 

But Munro hit back with wins at the fourth and another with a birdie at the fifth and they reached the turn all square. 

But Liddell had a great start to the second half. She drove into a greenside bunker at the par tenth and holed from the sand for a spectacular eagle 2. By that stage, Dad could hardly watch. 

Following a string of halves – the long 15th in birdie 4s - Liddell again showed some magic from off the green, holing a chip shot from behind the 15th to go two up. The next two holes were halved in par and the match was over with Fiona three under par and Heather one under at the end of a quality match.

“I was especially pleased to make the shot from the bunker,” said Liddell, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in last year’s Under-16s Junior Vagliano Trophy. Her mother is German but Fiona qualifies to play in SLGA (close) events because her father is Scottish.

“I was having some trouble with my bunker shots earlier in the week and Dad and I worked really hard to sort it out.

“I was sorry to miss the Scottish Ladies’ Championship this year because I was sitting my A levels. But I’ll be finished school next year and then I want to go to  America on a golf scholarship.”

It really was class final that was played mostly in sunshine but also included a heavy mid-round shower. Liddell was three under par for the 17 holes and Munro was one under -  it was the two chip-ins that made the difference.

In the Ainsley Reid Salver it was also a good day for a professional's daughter. Jillian Farrell, whose Dad is the pro at Cardross, won the title with a one hole win over Jennifer Saxton (Kinross). 

SCOTTISH UNDER-18 GIRLS CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP 
Dumfries and County Golf Club. 
Semi-finals
Heather Munro (Monifieth) bt Joanna Free (Gullane) 1 hole
Fiona Liddell (Gutersloh) bt Mirren Fraser (Powfoot) 1 hole
Final
Liddell bt Munro 2 and 1.
Ansley Reid Salver 
 Final
 Jillian Farrell (Cardross) bt Jennifer Saxton (Kinross) 1 hole.