Aboyne's Kimberley Beveridge wins North of 

 Scotland championship

ALISON BARTLETT REPORTS

The new North of Scotland women's champion is 20-year-old Kimberley Beveridge from Aboyne.

She beat US college student Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) by one hole in a very close final at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club.

Watson had beaten top seed Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) in the morning semi-finals while Beveridge had KO'd No 2 seed Laura Walker (Muckhart). Summers beat Beveridge in last year's final.

Kimberley won the handicap title in this tournament as long ago as 2010 when she was 15 years old.

Kimberley reached the turn one up in the final and doubled that advantage when Watson  drove into a bunker at the 12th.

Watson birdied the 13th to get one hole back.

It was Beveridge's excellent short game that won the day.  She holed a 60ft putt from the side of the 16th green to go dormie two  and after losing the 17th to par, the Aberdeenshire county player chipped stone dead from the front of the 18th to win her first North of Scotland championship for the Gifford Trophy.

This year's handicap champion is Susan Ogg of Dunkeld and Birnham. Playing off a handicap of 17, Susan eat local player Anne Mackay, a 20-handicapper, at the 19th.  Susan was on top for much of the match, going as much as four up by the 11th but Anne gradually pulled her back, winning the 12th, and then three in a row from the 15th.  

They halved the short 18th to take the match down the 19th, where Susan's 5 was enough to take the Angus Salver.
+Pictures of winners with trophies by courtesy of Robin Wilson.

RESULTS
SCRATCH
Semi-finals - E Watson (Muckhart) bt A Summers (Carnoustie) 3 and 1, K Beveridge (Aboyne) bt L Walker (Muckhart) 4 and 2.
Final - Beveridge bt Watson 1 hole.
HANDICAP
Semi-finals - S Ogg (Dunkeld and Birnam (17) bt M Robinson (Murcar Ladies) (16) 1 hole; A Mackay (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (20) bt J Darroch (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (22) 1 hole.
Final -  Ogg bt Mackay at 19th,

 Presentation at Fortrose left to right - Eilidh Watson, Pam Gordon, Northern Counties President, Liz Coghill Northern Counties Captain, Phillip Thorn, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club Captain, Kimberley Beveridge, Alison Bartlett, Northern Counties Secretary, Susan Ogg, Leila McWhirr, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Lady Captain, Anne Mackay