Greensomes league

The Greensomes league table has now been updated. Apologies that this was omitted during the season.

Junior News

Report from Sharon MacPherson on September 9 hole competition at Swanston:

It was a dry day to start but there was a bit of rain later on. Very wet under foot with some casual water on the course. Only one birdie on the day and it was Lucy Morrison with a great 2 at the 5th. Thanks to Ricky Morrison for collecting the cards as I had to leave sharp.

Results

1st Handicap Emma Morrison 35 (9) 26

2nd Caitlin Turner 46 (18) 28

1st Non handicap Alex Massey 34

2nd Non handicap Lucy Morrison 50

3rd Non handicap Lily Grieve 55

SLGA Adult and Girl Foursomes

Congratulations to Caitlin Turner and her Dad who finished 2nd in Category 3 (19 - 36 handicaps) at the SLGA Adult and Girl Foursomes at Auchterarder Golf Club. And to Lisa McPherson her uncle Douglas (Hunter) who finished 2nd in the pre-handicap section.

SLGA Academy Squad

Many congratulations to Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse) and Eilidh Crawford (Harburn) who have been selected for the SLGA Academy Squad - the national development programme for Scotland’s talented young golfers. Two of only 12 girls in Scotland who have been selected for the first year of this squad. Eilidh has reduced her handicap from 26 to 16 this year and Emily from 14 to 8. A fantastic achievement girls - good luck.

Wee Wonder!

Also belated congratulations to Annabel Thain aged 6, who went to Carnoustie in July to play in the regional qualifier of the Wee Wonders competition. She won her age group of 5-8 year, completing 8 holes of the Buddon Course in 58 shots (and beating her big sister!) Annabel therefore played in the Wee Wonders Grand Final in St Andrews on 27/28 August. She did really well - playing 2 rounds of the Balgove on the Saturday and another 9 holes on the Sunday morning. There were some lovely golfers there and Annabel played some super shots. She completed her 3 rounds in 157 which meant she was 6th overall in her age group. A star for the future!!

Update

There have been lots of things happening over the past week when the webmaster was at the Solheim cup in Ireland, along with quite a few Midlothian members. Congratulations to the European team who were obvioulsy inspired by the Midlothian win at the Scottish County Finals! Its certainly been the year for comebacks. I was lucky to get close enough for this photo of Alison Nicholas as she left the stage with the trophy.

Congratulations to:

Dee Williams (Craigmillar Park) on winning the Silver hole and hole, beating Ray Lynch (Murrayfield) in the final.

Rachael Watton who is now at Denver University, Colorado, making only her second competitive appearance since she moved across the Atlantic, finished T9 in a field of 93 at the Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico.

Fiona Ford (Murrayfield) & Barbara McGregor (Mortonhall who finished 3rd in the Commonwealth Spoons finals and Barbara Duguid & Pat Forsyth (Ravelston) who finished 5th.

The winners of the Greensomes league will be announced soon as there is one re-arranged game still to play.

County Finals 2011 - the story in pictures

Noreeen is Scottish Vets Champion

Congratulations to Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)who won the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golf Association championship at Blairgowrie today. Having qualified as East Vets' Champion, Noreen beat the North champion, Linda Urquhart (Banchory), by 2 and 1 in this afternoon's final over the Lansdowne course, In this morning's semi-finals, Linda Urquhart beat Pitreavie's Linda Dyball (Midland) by 5 and 3 and Noreen Fenton beat Val McKean (Borders) by 4 and 2. Well done Noreen what a great year!

Scottish County Champions 2011

Well we woke up this morning and thought did that really happen? Its just starting to sink in - Midlothian are Scottish County Champions! It was a fantastic 3 days and a real team effort. The players were totally committed, everyone contributed and dug very deeply when it was needed. The caddies were brilliant and the team really appreciate their support, especially in all the inclement weather they had to cope with. The team spirit and commitment was next to none.

Thanks to Vice Captain Caroline who organised all the caddies and the captain, Secretary Agnes who did all the important things like organising all the meals and munchies, and selector Linda for her sound advice and sense of humour.

Thanks also to Lynne and Terry at the Huntingdon Hotel who looked after the team so well, charging batteries, drying out clothes and shoes, and even getting up to make us breakfast at 6.30 am on the final day! They were fantastic and come highly recommneded if you ever want a golfing break in Dumfries!

Results from day 3 v Perth & Kinross

Jane Turner beat Laura Walker 4&2
Kate McIntosh beat Fiona Ramsay 3&2
Wendy Nicholson halved with Steph Crolla
Sal Shepherd halved with Nicola Robertson
Linda Bain lost to Eilidh Watson 5&4
Gabrielle Macdonald halved with Jill Milne

Results from day 3 v Dumfries-shire

Jane Turner lost to Diane Macdonald 2&1
Kate McIntosh beat Jordanna Graham 5&3
Gabrielle Macdonald lost to Lindsay Kirkwood 3&2
Wendy Nicholson halved with Katie McCracken
Kirsten Blackwood lost to Emma Greenlees 3&2
Karen Marshall halved with Rachael Walker

Third time lucky!

We did it! Midlothian are Scottish County Champions 2011! It was a really tense affair. We finished the business against Perth & Kinross this morning by beating them 3.5 - 2.5 in the singles, to clinch the match 6.5 - 2.5. The final match against Dumfrieshire was reduced to six singles only due to the torrential rain and hailstones the day before.

Kate McIntosh had won her match against Jordana Graham but elsewhere things were not going well for most of the afternoon with Dumfrieshire up in 5 of the 6 matches with only a few holes remaining. We only needed one more half point to clinch the title. But Midlothian are made of stern stuff and Wendy Nicholson started her fightback from 5 down to be only 1 down standing on the 18th tee (her comeback including a run of 3 birdies from the 13th). Could we really do it? Memories of Dunfermline came flooding back and Joan Marshall confidently told the captain that Wendy was going to do it. And of course she did with an excellent par on the long par 4 18th and under unbelievable pressure. Karen Marshall, unaware of the situation, except for being told by her captain she needed a half, also came back from three down with 7 holes remaining to seal a second half point on the 18th. What a team!

Despite loosing to Dumfrieshire, this time the points count back went our way as the team had done enough in the previous matches.

Our motto of Yes we can, became Yes we will and then Yes we did!

More to follow and photos after some sleep! Well done girls - a true team effort.

County Finals Day 2

Day 2 started well. It was a nice crisp September morning. Everyone was focused and ready for action. Midlothian were always in control of the foursomes matches against Perth & Kinross. The results were as follows:

Karen Marshall & Wendy Nicholson beat Laura Walker 2&1
Kate McIntosh & Linda Bain beat Steph Crolla & Nicola Robertson 2 up
Gabrielle Macdonald & Kirsten Blackwood beat Jill Milne & Eve Muirhead 5&4

However, just as we were playing our last game on the last green the heavens opened and the Ayrshire and Dumfrieshire teams had to be called off the course. As we had our lunch and waited for the rain to stop, we couldn't believe what we were seeing. Large hailstones were now coming down and the greens had turned white.

The team of greens staff that had been out trying to clear the greens eventually came in as the greens they had just cleared of water were now covered in hailstones.


In the end, we left as our singles games were abandoned for the day. The green staff were trying to clear the last few holes to allow Ayrshire and Dumfrieshire to finish their foursomes games. The plan is to complete our singles games against Perth & Kinross in the morning. The final match against Dumfrieshire will be reduced to 6 singles games only. Its going to be an interesting day (if the course is in fact playable)

County Finals Day 1

Midlothian made a great start to the Scottish County Finals at Dumfries & County Golf Club today by beating Ayrshire 6-3 in the opening day. We won the morning foursomes 2-1 and the afternoon singles 4-2 in torrential rain. There were some interesting situations at times both for players and caddies, with jackets caught in lockers, balls landing on brolleys, insect bites and a few other sticky moments, but all escaped unharmed in the end.

The team fought hard with their usual team spirit in very testing conditions. We play Perth & Kinross tomorrow.

Results:

Wendy Nicholson & Karen Marshall beat Catherine malcolm & Debbie Watt 3&2
Sal Shepherd & Linda Bain lost to Lesley Hendry & Jenny Linklater 2 holes
Jane Turner & Gabrielle Macdonald beat Audrey Thompson & Connie Jaffrey 2 holes

Karen Marshall lost to Catherine Malcolm 2 holes
Kate McIntosh beat Gillian Arnott 5&3
Wendy Nicholson beat Lesley Hendry 3&1
Kirsten Blackwood lost to Jenny Linklater 2&1
Gabrielle Macdonald beat Audret Thompson 4&3
Jane Turner beat Connie Jaffrey 2&1

5 - a - side Leagues 2011

The 5-a-side leagues are now complete. Congratulations to Baberton and Dalmahoy who are the 2011 Division 1 and Divison 2 Champions respectively. Runners up are Craigmillar Park (Division 1) and Glencorse (Division 2). Dalmahoy and Glencorse are therefore promoted to Division 1 and Harburn and Merchants are relegated to Division 2.

Junior Championship 2011

The MCLGA Junior Championship was played today at Ravelston Golf Club. It wasn't raining (well not much compared to recent times) but Hurricane Katia was starting to make her way to Scotland and seemed to be centred on Ravelston. Despite the blistery conditions, some great golf was on display with Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) becoming Midlothian Junior Champion for the first time and Jessica Dalgetty winning the handicap Trophy.

Well done to all the girls who battled through the wind. CSS 72 Reduction only

Scratch winner: Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 79
Runner up: Kirsty Simpson (Elie & Earlsferry) 91
Handicap winner: Jesscia Dalgetty (Glencorse) 83 (11) 72
Runner up:Katherine Fisher (Swanston) 95 (19) 76

Many thanks to Ravelston Golf Club for their kind hospitality and for granting us courtesy of the course.

Draw for Junior Championship

The draw for the Junior Championship which takes place on Sunday 11 September at Ravelston Golf Club is as follows:

12.00 Kate McIntosh & Emily Dalgetty
12.10 Hannah Scott & Jessica Dalgetty
12.20 Kirsty Simpson & Kirsty Burgess
12.30 Heather Laing & Eilidh Crawford
12.40 Emma Morrison & Katherine Fisher
12.50 Julia Smith & Emily Thain
13.00 Sophie Aitchison & Anna Massey

Gibson Cup 2011

Don't forget to enter the Gibson Cup! Entries close soon - in fact 7 September to be exact. You can enter by emailing Anne Brownie. Click HERE to email Anne - she is waiting to hear from you!

For those of you who haven't played in the Gibson Cup before, or haven't played in it for a while, this is a great opportunity to play the Braids golf course in an enjoyable foursomes competition which is sponsored by the Ladies Golf Centre. A foursomes medal round on Saturday 1st October is followed by matchplay on Sunday 2nd for successful competitors whose Saturday scores qualify. All other competitors are eligible for the Consolation Salver (a foursomes Stableford) held on the Sunday morning.

Champion of Champions 2011

It was a lovely day, more like summer than summer, blue skies, a course which was in great condition and a fantastic match. Liz Stewart from Greenburn was taking on Paula McDougal from Ravelston in the final of the Champion of Champions at Royal Burgess.



Paula went ahead immediately with a par at the first and Liz leveled it at the 3rd. They carried on winning hole about until the 10th, where Paula went two up. Liz then won three in a row to go 1 up, then it was all square, then Liz was 1 up ..... you get the picture!



It looked like Liz was about to go 2 up with 2 to play, but an uncharacteristic chip by Liz let Paula back in and they teed off at the 18th all square. Paula drove to the middle of the green and Liz to the front. A fantastic putt by Liz ensured her birdie and although Paula left herself a teaser, she holed it with confidence and off they went up the 19th. Paula won the sudden death play off at the 1st extra hole to end a very close and exciting match, with both players producing some excellent golf.

Many congratulations to both competitors for an excellent final and well done to Paula. Thanks to Anne Brownie for refereeing the final.

Autumn Meeting at Harburn

Autumn Meeting was held at Harburn today and although the entry wasn't great, everyone enjoyed the course, many playing it for the first time. There were a few high scores on some of the holes but equally some great scores as well. There were 12 two's recorded, 3 of them by Claire Hargan (Strathmore) and 2 by Olivia Fulton (Craigmillar Park). Local girl Alison McBride-Rourke posted a great 75 early on in the day, only to be denied by Claire Hargan with a 73. The handicap was won my another local "girl", Margaret Ritchie, with an excellent nett 68.



Results (CSS 72)

1st Scratch & Lady Ford Cup: Claire Hargan (Strathmore) 73

2nd Scratch: Alison McBride-Rourke (Harburn) 75

1st Overall Nett & McIntyre Trophy: Margaret Ritchie (Harburn) 84 (16) 68

2nd Overall Nett: Fiona Ford (Murrayfield) 83 (13) 70

Silver 1st Handicap: Arlene McGarty (Harurn) 77 (5) 72

Silver 2nd handicap: Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 78 (5) 73 bih

Bronze Scratch: Anne McMillan (Kingsknowe) 97

Bronze 1st Handicap: Sheila Hay (Baberton) 100 (23) 77



Many thanks to Harburn for hosting the event, for their kind hospitality and for all the help given by the members on the day.