Eilidh Watson repeats Ladies' Highland Open victory at Pitlochry

   Prizewinning parade at the Pitlochry Highland Ladies' Open (picture by Kathleen Duncan).

Muckhart's Eilidh Watson, pictured right by Kathleen Duncan, retained the scratch title and the Atholl Cup in the Ladies' Highland Open which ended at Pitlochry Golf Club today (Friday). It was an impressive performance from start to finish by Eilidh who returns to the United States next month for her final year at Stetson University, Florida.
She was the leading qualifier by nine strokes over 36 holes of stroke-play at the start of the week and she beat the second seed, Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe), by 3 and 2 in the final to land the Atholl Cup for the second year in a row.

Watson won the first hole and was never brought back to square by her opponent. Out in an approximate two-over-par 37 and two up, Eilidh went three up with a par at the short 11th and the next four holes were halved to Watson to win on the 16th green.
Only one title was won by a home course player. Louise Kelly, who had beaten Pitlochry clubmate Kay Fleming 3 and 2 in the morning semi-finals, ground out a 2 and 1 victory in the Craigower Trophy (Bronze) final against Rosemary Lindsay (Williamwood).
Young Lauren Pirie (Pitlochry) lost by 2 and 1 to North player Keri McGann (Nairn Dunbar) in the final of the Silver Handicap section. In the semi-finals 14-year-old Pirie had won by 3 and 1 against Gill Punton (Furness) despite a hole in one, with a nine iron,  by the English player at the fourth hole.

Margaret Chalmers, whose home club is Downfield but has also been a member of Pitlochry Golf for many years, travelled through from Dundee to watch the scratch final as she has done ever since she stopped playing in the tournament. She won the trophy 50 years ago! Margaret is pictured left by Kathleen Duncan with the trophy.

TODAY'S RESULTS

Scratch: Atholl Cup

Semi-finals - Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) bt Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 6 and 5, Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) bt Morag Wardrop (Turnhouse) 7 and 6.
Final - Watson bt Fraser 3 and 2.

Silver Handicap: Pecairn Cup

Semi-finals - Lauren Pirie (Pitlochry) (18) bt Gill Punton (Furness) (14) 3 and 1, Keri McGann (Nairn Dunbar) (11) bt Sadie Cavanagh (Seascales) (11) 6 and 4.
Final - McGann bt Pirie 2 and 1.

Bronze: Craigower Trophy

Semi-finals - Rosemary Lindsay (Williamwood) (28) bt Jacky Burnett (Broomieknowe) (24) at 19th, Louise Kelly (Pitlochry) (28) bt Kay Fleming (Pitlochry) (26) 3 and 2.
Final - Kelly bt Lindsay 2 and 1.