CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

The championship qualifying was held at Newbattle Golf Club today with 22 players competing on a rather dull and cold day. At least everone stayed dry, although a player who shall remain nameless decided to throw herself down the steps at the 17th with her trolley on top!

Rachael Watton led the first round scores with an excellent 71 with Lousie Fraser then posting a superb 70 in the second round. The CSS for both rounds was 71.

The 16 qualifyers are: Louise Fraser (147), Rachael Watton (147), Fiona De Vries (149), Claire MacDonald (150), Kirsten Blackwood (152), Claire Hargan (154), Stephanie Crolla (155), Gabrielle MacDonald (156), Noreen Fenton (157), Kate McIntosh (159), Wendy Nicholson (160), Susan Rennie (164), Karen Marshall (165), Linda Caine (166), Gillian Simpson (167) and Diane Moncrieff (172).

The draw for the match play stages on Friday 1 May and Sunday 3 May is now available on the website by clicking on the "C'ship M-Play" heading on the left hand side of the page.

Jane Turner - What a Year!

Many congratulations to Jane Turner (Craigielaw) who has had a fabulous first year of golf at Robert Gordon University. She won the Scottish Universities Order of Merit title last week having had 2 first place, a third place and a fourth place finish over the season and then headed down to Notts Golf Club this week to compete in the British Universities Stroke-Play Championship. She pulled the field apart with a first round, record equalling, 6 under par (which included 3 bogeys!) and followed that up with 2 more rounds of 2 under par, to win by 5 shots.

Many congratulations from everyone in the County, Jane.

Jane is joined this weekend by Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh), Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) in the SLGA season opening event, the Helen Holm, being held at Troon Portland and Old Courses. Good luck to all the girls.

B-section Championship 2009

The draw for the 2009 "B"-section Championship match-play stages has now been published on the website and can be viewed by clicking on the "B C'ship M-play" link on the left hand side of the page. The first round takes place on Friday 1st May.

Good luck to all those who are involved. I hope your golf is good and you enjoy playing at Newbattle Golf Course.

MCLGA County Championship

The 2009 County Championship is being held at Newbattle Golf Club next week with the "A"-section qualifier being held on Tuesday 27th April and the matchplay stages for both the "A"- and "B"-sections being held on Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd May.

The draw for the qualifying competition is now available on the website by clicking on the "C'ship Q'ing Draw" heading on the left handside of the page. The top 16 scores from this will qualify for the matchplay stages. Please remember to bring your handicap certificate with you on Tuesday.

Good luck to all of those who are playing. Let's hope the good weather continues for another week!

Entry Forms

Forms are now available to download from the website. Just click on the left hand side underneath FIXTURE LIST.

Forms for Junior competitions are available in the JUNIOR GIRLS section.

MCLGA Spring Meeting

100 Ladies turned out yesterday to enjoy the wonderful weather at Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club and to partake in the County Spring Meeting. Our thanks go to Dalmahoy for the use of their course, to the professionals for all their runnning around and handling of the twos sweep and to the bar staff for looking after our needs. Thank you also to Sylvia MacLean and Davina Rocco who helped on the check-in desk in the morning and to Marjory Watson who was around for most of the day. A big thank you also, to all of the ladies who brought along raffle prizes and to those of you who bought a raffle ticket. We managed to raise £85, which will go to the County Juniors.

The results are as follows and congratulations to Gill Whittaker (Merchants) on her terrific score of net 62.

Spring Meeting - Dalmahoy West Course

CSS 70 (counting competition)

Bronze division:

1st handicap: Linda Carter (Torphin Hill): 91 less 22, net 69 (on the better inward half)

1st scratch and CM Park Rosebowl: Mary Davidson (Kingsknowe): 91 (on the better inward half)

Silver division:

1st handicap: Gillian Whittaker (Merchants): 76 less 14, net 62

2nd handicap: Gilly Glen (Craigmillar Park): 80 less 12, net 68 (on the better inward half)

1st scratch and Cormack Slaver: Louise Fraser: 72

2nd scratch: Karen Marshall: 73

Overall:

Best overall net: Gillian Whittaker: 76 less 14, net 62

2nd overall net: Gilly Glen: 80 less 12, net 68 (on the better inward half)

There were 14 twos overall:

Christine Clarke (at the 3rd), Louise Fraser (at the 3rd, 16th and 17th), Ann Hanna (at the 3rd), Barbara Halliday (at the 16th), Jeannetta Jarvis (at the 3rd), Eileen McLauchlan (at the 9th), Lynda Taylor (at the 16th), Helen Warnock (at the 17th), Rachael Watton (at the 3rd), Gill Whittaker (at the 6th and 16th) and Sandra Wilkes (at the 10th).

Thank you to everyone who helped out and supported the Spring Meeting. We hope you enjoyed your day and the course.

The Cuthbertson Cup Team do it again!

Congratulations to the Cuthbertson Cup Team who were triumphant for the 4th successive year in winning the Inter-Counties' Trophy. The team of Gabrielle Macdonald, Kate McIntosh, Gillian Simpson and Rachael Watton (captain), together with reserve Hannah Scott is picture above.

On the most glorious day of 2009, the girls got off to a flying start beating Stirling and Clackmannanshire 4-0 in the morning. The golf was something special and all played superbly well. Birdies were flying about all over the place as the pin was being attacked from each and every angle. It was a real treat to watch some wonderful golf.

The morning results were as follows:

Rachael Watton beat Helen Goodwin 7/5

Gillian Simpson beat Alsion Goodwin 2/1

Gabrielle Macdonald beat Alexis Hutton 5/4

Kate McIntosh beat Jordynn Laird 8/6

In the other match, Fife beat East Lothian by 2.5-1.5 to set up a final between Midlothian and Fife. The afternoon saw the shorts come out and more of the same from the morning. The number of spectators grew and all enjoyed the excitement that the girls gave to us. The match ended in a win for Midlothian by 3 games to 1.

The afternoon results were as follows:

Rachael beat Rachael Hanlon 6/5

Gillian beat Sam Munro 4/3

Gabrielle beat Nicola Taylor 6/4

Kate lost to Lauren Whyte 3/2

The jubilation by the team on the way back to the clubhouse was wonderful. It was great to see not only the support they offered to each other, but the camaraderie that was present between all of the players.

Well done to all of the girls. They produced a great spectacle that was immensely enjoyed by all who were present and a great result!

Congratulations to you all!

Juniors at the Princes Course

While some of us were over sunning ourselves in Fife at the Cuthbertson Cup, there was a great turn out at the Princes Course for the monthly 9-hole competition. 14 girls took part and there were some great scores. Thanks go to Ron Hardy and Sharon MacPherson for organising and running this month's competition.

The results were as follows:

1st handicap: Heather Laing (46-15.5) net 30.5
2nd handicap: Carla Maran (56-18) net 38

1st non-handicap: Sophie Aitchison 49
2nd non-handicap: Kirsten McCorquodale 54 (better last 6)
3rd non-handicap: Julia Smith 54

Points total after month 2 of the runing competition:

Handicap:
Heather Laing - 6 points
Carla Maran - 4 points

Non-handicap:
Kirsten McCorquodale - 6 points
Julia Smith - 6 points
Sophie Aitchison - 4 points
Emma Morrison - 3 points

Well done to everyone who played. Thank you for turning out to play and I hope you enjoyed your rounds.

Winter Foursomes Won by Broomieknowe Couple

Sandra Hennessy and Caroline McIntosh (Broomieknowe) yesterday won the Midlothian Winter Foursomes in a thrilling final. Playing Dorothy Silver and Barbara Duguid (Ravelston) at Ravelston, the pair were 3 down after 9 holes and battled back to win on the 18th hole. Congratulations to Sandra and Caroline.

Junior Spring Meeting

The Junior Spring Meeting was held today at Liberton Golf Club. As well as the 18 hole competition for those girls with handicaps, 8-hole and putting competitions were again held for those without handicaps. The weather was dry and sunny, although a bit chilly and certainly windy. The course was in good condition and the girls seemed to enjoy their games and had several stories to tell. One was how Rachael Watton and Gillian Simpson stood in awe and watched 10-year-old Emma Morrison birdie the first hole.

Our thanks go to all of the parents, grandparents and helpers for being present and helping with the non-handicap competitions, and to Liberton Golf Club for the use of their course and their hospitality. Thank you also to Joan Simpson for organising the day and for giving out the prizes.

The prizewinners, pictured above, were as follows:

1st Scratch: Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 79

2nd Scratch: Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 87

1st Handicap: Katherine Fisher (Baberton) net 75 (better inward half)

2nd Handicap: Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) net 75

1st 8-Hole Competition: Emma Morrison (Craigmillar Park) 58

2nd 8-Hole Competition: Julia Smith (Murrayfield) 61

1st 9-Hole Putting Competition: Eilidh MacKinnon 22 putts (at 2nd play-off hole)

2nd 9-Hole Putting Competition: Caitlin Turner 22 putts

ESGGA Spring Meeting 2009

The East of Scotland Girls' Golfing Association Spring Meeting was held on Monday at Grangemouth Golf Course. Midlothian had 7 entrants, with Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) winning overall scratch with a 79 and Rachael Watton winning the Under 18s net prize, with a net 78.

Centenary TriAm

Don't forget to put your entry in for the Centenary Tri Am to be held at Duddingston Golf Club on Thursday 9 July 2009.
Click HERE to download an entry form.

The closing date for entries is 14 June 2009.

MCLGA Championship

A reminder that the 2009 Championship is being held at Newbattle Golf Club, with the knockout stages for both the main and "B" Section Championships being held on Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd May. The qualifier for the "B" Section Championship (handicaps over 12) takes place on Monday 20th April as part of the County Spring Meeting, while the 2 round qualifier for the main Championship (handicap 12 and under) is being held at Newbattle Golf Club on Tuesday 28th April.

The closing date for the Spring Meeting and therefore the "B" Championship qualifier has passed but late entries or "turn up on the day" entries will be taken. Entries for the main Championship close on Friday 17th April. If you would like to take part in this competition, please send your entries to Agnes Leslie no later that the 17th April. No late entries will be accepted for the main Championship.

Spring Meeting

This year, the Spring Meeting is being held at Dalmahoy Golf & Country Club (West Course). The draw has now been made and can be viewed on the website. Please note that if you would like to enter this, spaces are still available. Please contact Agnes Leslie to add your name or you can turn up on the day and will be put with the first available group within your handicap category. This competition is the qualifying round for the "B" Section Championship, that is for handicaps above 12.

Let's hope the weather holds and we have a good day for the start of the 2009 season.