County Matches - The Story in Pictures

Midlothian Retain Trophy in Nail-biting Finish

We did it but boy was it tight. This morning did not go well. We lost the foursomes 3-0 to Fife and were really up against it. We got together at lunch time and re-grouped. It was a big ask to win at least 5 singles matches, but we went out with the belief that it was possible, and we would at least go down fighting. Jane Turner, out first, seemed well in control and was 3 up with 3 to play. She gave us all a few anxious moments as she headed down 16, then 17 and finally 18, but came good in the end. Karen Marshall was always up against it playing an in-form Susan Jackson, and eventually lost on the 16th after a great battle. Rachael Watton and Kate McIntosh were always in the driving seat wining their games 5&4 and 4&3 respectively.

It seemed all over - Louise Fraser was 2 down for most of her game and Gabrielle Macdonald 3 down. Word came back that Gabrielle had got one back and we could see her bouncing along with a spring in her step again. Then Louise staged a comeback to be all square playing 18. Surely it wasn't possible was it? When Louise won the 18th all eyes turned to young Gabrielle, who had just squared her match on 15 only to loose the 16th. They think its all over ... came to mind but Gabs had different ideas. She won 17 and standing on the 18th she asked her Captain what the situation was, to be told not to worry about that. But she insisted on knowing and with a look of determination she off she went and won the match!

What a day, what a team! Midlothian Ladies - be very proud of your team. They were fantastic this week and today in particular. They played with passion and determination and we are all back home still in a slight daze, not quite believing what happened out there and that we have managed to win the East Division title for the 3rd year in a row.

Thanks to the Fife team for a fantastic game played in great spirit - we are sorry someone had to loose it. Thanks to Caroline, Linda, Agnes and Janet for all their hard work and support this week and to all the caddies - we couldn't have done it without you all!

Today's Results:
Foursomes
Rachael Watton & Jane Turner lost to Fiona Hastie & Susan Jackson 3&1
Karen Marshall & Wendy Nicholson lost to Elaine Moffat & Karin Sharp 3&1
Claire Hargan & Louise Fraser lost to Lorna Fury & Linda Dyball 2&1

Singles
Jane Turner beat Fiona Hastie 2 holes
Karen Marshall lost to Susan Jackson 3&2
Rachael Watton beat Elaine Moffat 5&4
Louise Fraser beat Rachael Hanlon 1 hole
Kate McIntosh beat Karin Sharp 4&3
Gabrielle Macdonald beat Lorna Fury 1 hole

More pictures to follow after some sleep.

East Division Inter-County Matches Day 2

Well ........... we woke up this morning and went for breakfast. It started to rain. We set off to the club and it rained some more. The greens were already starting to flood so a Captains meeting was convened. SLGA handbooks were consulted and it was agreed that we would put the singles out in the morning as the weather was set to get even worse - we weren't wrong! So a reshuffle was quickly done, phone calls were made and players gathered.The caddies waited 'eagerly' ..... surely they don't expect us to go out in this?


But off we went. The team of greens staff and volunteers worked very hard and kept the course playable (just), but it didn't seem like mid summer's day, more winter day.

Anyway, our team were fantastic and so were our caddies. They knuckled down, dealt superbly with the atrocious conditions and came out 5-1 victors over East Lothian. It was a very gutsy performance (especially by the caddies!).

To cut a long story short, despite the efforts of the greens staff we were unable to play the foursomes matches and so the result stood at 5-1.

Results:
Rachael Watton beat Lesley Nicholson 4&3
Jane Turner beat Fiona Prior 2&1
Karen Marshall beat Susan Penman 5&4
Wendy Nicholson beat Mary Lou Renton 2&1
Claire Hargan lost to Lesley Atkins 4&3
Louise Fraser beat Keren Ward 6&4

In the other match, Fife beat Stirling & Clackmannan 6-0, to set up a title deciding match between Midlothian and Fife, who are currently level on both match and game points. The forecast doesn't look much better for tomorrow so it should be an interesting day.

East Division Inter-County Matches Day 1

Midlothian got off to a flying start today at the East Division Inter-County matches at Dunfermline (Pitfirrane) Golf Club, winning our opening match against Stirling & Clackmmananshire 7-2. We won the morning Foursomes 2-1, with Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall leading the way with a resounding 7&5 win over Lousie MacGregor and Laura Bisset, and Claire Hargan and Louise Fraser beat Linda Allan and Claire Capocci 3&2.

Some fantastic golf was played in the afternoon singles, with Midlothian winning 5-1. Results:

Foursomes
Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall beat Lousie MacGregor and Laura Bisset 7&5
Kate McIntosh & Gabrielle Macdonald lost to Mhairi Hall & Karen Burns 4&3
Claire Hargan and Louise Fraser beat Linda Allan and Claire Capocci 3&2
Singles:
Rachael Watton beat Louise MacGregor 6&5
Jane Turner beat Mhairi Hall 5&3
Claire Hargan beat Karen Burns 1 hole
Louise Fraser lost to Elaine Allison 2&1
Wendy Nicholson beat Laura Bissett 3&2
Karen Marshall beat Linda Allan 1 up

We play East Lothian tomorrow

Your support is needed!

Just a reminder that the East Division Inter-County matches are being held at Dunfermline (Pitfirrane) Golf Club, 20-22 June 2011. Your support would be very welcome.

The schedule is:
Monday 20 v Stirling and Clackmannan: Foursomes start 9.30am and singles at 2.30 pm
Tuesday 21 v East Lothian: Foursomes start 9.50am and singles at 3pm
Wednesday 22 v Fife: Foursomes start 9.00am and singles at 2pm

COME AND SUPPORT YOU TEAM!

Winter Foursomes

The Winter Foursomes is finally complete after a few delays and extensions during that snowy winter. The final was played on Friday night between Moira Kinnear & Fiona Hume (Liberton) and Helen Martin & Maureen Ogilvie (Kingsknowe). With the recent weather we have been having if feels like it's still winter anyway! The final was won by Moira & Fiona. Congratulations! Let summer commence!

Junior Coaching

Just to remind you that there is no monthly junior coaching at the Braids during the months of July and August. Coaching starts again on Sunday 4 September. To book your place for September 2011 to January 2012 please complete this FORM. Places and sessions are allocated on a first come, first served basis. If you are not currently a member you will need to complete a membership form as well. For more information, click on Juniors on the left hand side of this page.

Scottish Girls Entries!

Just to remind you girls that the closing dates for the Scottish Girls Championship and the Scottish Ladies’ Junior Open Stroke Play Championship are on Monday 13 June and Monday 20 June respectively. Entries must be received by 12 noon on the appropriate date.

Entry forms for each of these events as well as further details of the events can be the SLGA website or by clicking on GIRLS & UNDER 21’s

East of Scotland Girls

Girls - don't forget to enter the East of Scotland Girls Golfing Association Summer Meeting/ Championship to be held at Kirkcaldy Golf Club 4/5 July. Entries close on 26 June! You can enter ONLINE

East Girls Win Inter-Divisional Matches

Congratulations to the East of Scotland Girls team who won the inter-divisional matches at Balumbie Castle this weekend. Unfortunately there were no Midlothian girls playing this year - next year! Well done Maggie, Mandy and the girls!

Junior Newsletter

A new Junior Newsletter is now available, keeping you up to date with what's happening with Junior Girls in Midlothian. Click on Newsletters on the left hand side of this page

MCLGA v SUGS

The Borders game was postponed due to snow, the Duddingston game was cancelled due to high winds and falling trees .... what would happen this time? Would the Midlothian team manage to play a friendly match? We need not have worried. The sun shone, the shorts were out and it was 25 degrees! Best night of the year so far (and maybe of the summer) for our annual match against SUGs. We had a fantastic night with lots of great golf and lots of laughs. After dinner the SUGs Captain told us that "this match has been on the go for a very long time." We thought he maybe meant last night's match, as we were stuck behind various overseas visitors and dogs! But he really meant that the SUGs v MCLGA game goes back as far as 1930. No one owned up to having played in the first match.

Due to good negotiation on strokes, the Midlothian team were winners on the night 3.3 to 0.5:

Gabrielle Macdonald & Kate McIntosh halved with Don Reekie & Stephen Govenlock
Karen Marshall & Linda Bain beat Andrew Thompson & Kenny McKay 5&4
Gillian Simpson & Arlene McGarty beat Iain Crawford & Richard Inglis
Hannah Scott & Sal Shepherd beat Richard Muckart & Douglas May 6&5

Thanks to SUGs Captain Richard Muckart and secretary Andrew Thomson for organising a very enjoyable evening.

SLGA East Medal Finals

Congratulations to Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and Barbara Hamilton (Newbattle) who finished 1st and 2nd respectively in the Silver section of the East Division Regional Medal Finals at Pitreavie Golf Club yesterday. Kate won on the better inward half and she also had a hole in one on the way, holing an 8 iron at the 130 yard third hole.

Inter-County Matches 2011

The Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the team to represent Midlothian in the forthcoming East Division Inter-County matches at Dunfermline (Pitfirrane) Golf Club, 20-22 June 2011 is:

Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe)
Claire Hargan (Strathmore)
Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw)
Karen Marshall (Baberton)
Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe)
Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe)
Jane Turner (Craigielaw)
Rachael Watton (Mortonhall)

Travelling reserve: Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse)
2nd reserve: Linda Caine (Dunbar)

We play Stirling and Clackmannan on day 1, East Lothian on day 2 and Fife on day 3. Tee times in the morning are from 9.30am (9am Wednesday) when they play foursomes and the singles matches start from 2.30pm (2pm Wednesday). Support would be very welcome