East of Scotland Championship

An excellent field of 47 players took part in the East of Scotland Championship held today at Mortonhall Golf Club. After the dreadful gales of yesterday, the organising Committee were delighted that fantastic calm conditions prevailed today - although it was a bit chilly standing on the first tee seeing everyone off this morning! The course was reported to be in great condition with the Midlothian players appearing to cope the best!

Claire MacDonald (Gullane) put her putting woes behind her to record a great score of 72 against the day's CSS of 74 and to become the 2009 East of Scotland Champion. It was a great round in which Claire reached the turn in 39 (2 over par) before turning for home and really putting on the style. After hitting the ball wide at the 11th, she managed to get back onto the fairway before slotting her chip for a birdie 3. This was followed with another birdie at 12 and yet another at 14. Claire won by 2 strokes from both Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) and Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), with Rachael pipping Gabrielle to take second place by virtue of a better inward 9 holes.

The handicap section saw the only non-Midlothian winner of the day with Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus and Fife) claiming 1st place with a net 71. Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) took second place with a net 72, while home player, Carol Brown finished third with a net 73.

In the team event where 3 scores from the 4 nominated players count towards the trophy, again Midlothian came up trumps for the third year running. The team of Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), Claire MacDonald, Rachael Watton and Jane Turner (Craigielaw) returned an aggregate score of 221, winning by 12 shots from Fife. Stirling were third and East Lothian fourth.

Many congratulations to all of the girls and many thanks to Mortonhall Golf Club for kindly agreeing to us using their course for this event and for all the help they and their Council gave to us in getting the day organised.

The results were:

1st scratch: Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies & Midlothian) 72

2nd scratch: Rachael Watton (Mortonhall & Midlothian) 74 (BIH)

3rd scratch: Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw & Midlothian) 74

1st handicap: Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus & Fife)

2nd handicap: Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe & Midlothian)

3rd handicap: Carol Brown (Mortonhall & Midlothian)

Team prize:

1st: Mortonhall (Claire Hargan, Claire MacDonald, Rachael Watton, Jane Turner) 221

2nd: Fife (Dorothy Ford, Rachel Hanlon, Elaine Moffat, Ashleigh Wilton) 233

3rd Strling & Clackmannan (Linda Allan, Alison Davidson, Alison Goodwin, Louise MacGregor) 246

4th East Lothian (Elinor Blair, Linda Grieve, Clara Young, Dawn Young) 260