MCLGA Centenary Tri Am

A fantastic day was had by 162 MCLGA members and guests at Duddingston today, continuing our centenary celebrations.



Our Captain and President got the event off to a flying start when they teed off first this morning bright and early, and whizzed round in their buggy, putting their names on all the nearest the hole/ longest drive notices. (Yes it was a Tri Am but they thought they would be different).

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves for the first 6 holes (1 ball counting) and even the next 6 holes were fun with 2 balls counting. But when we all got to all 3 counting the pressure mounted, especially for my team (sorry ladies!). Some great golf was played, with ‘longest drives’ that seemed unreal and ‘nearest pins’ that I am sure must have been placed there ….and unbelievably, two holes in one by Pat Jackson of Kingsknowe at the 6th and Linda Boyle of Harburn at the 14th. Congratulations ladies.

Fun was the name of the game today and lots of laughter could be heard around the course and in the clubhouse. Thanks to everyone who took part, our guests from East Lothian, Fife and Stirling and Clackmannanshire counties and to everyone who helped with the organisation and helped on the desk, especially Karen Ballantyne, Mairi Pollock and Agnes Leslie. Thanks also to Duddingston Golf Club for all their support in running the event.

The results were as follows:




1st Moyra Statham, Lynn Cackett & Sandra Cackett (Broomieknowe) (134)






2nd Pam Williamson, Joan Marshall & Karen Marshall (Baberton) (137)
3rd Linda Allen, Louise MacGregor & Elizabeth Goodwin (Stirling & Clackmannanshire) (138)
4th Sheila McEwan, Dorothy Wilson & Linda Boyle (Harburn) (140)
5th Sheila Keddie, Lyndsey Hunter & Fiona Carlyle (Dalmahoy) (142 bih)


Click here for the sponsored hole prizewinners

Another great Midlothian show.......

........ this time by the juniors!

The East of Scotland Girls' Golfing Association Summer Meeting and Championship were held this week at Kingsknowe Golf Club and a number of the Midlothian Junior Members took part. The Summer Meeting was won by Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) with a fantastic net 67 which was 5 shots below par, 3 under the competition SS and two clear of 2nd place. Heather Tumblety (Duddingston) won the under 18 net prize with a net 72.

Kirsty was joined in the match play stages of the Championship by Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Kate McIntosh (still on a high having seen off Wendy Nicholson in the semi-finals of the Broomieknowe Championship and gone on to beat Sandra Hennessy to claim the title) and Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe). Kirsty met the Summer Meeting scratch winner Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) in the first round and could not quite match the birdies that were being thrown at her. Kate and Gabrielle progressed through to meet each other in the semi-final, Gabrielle having overcome Hannah. That semi-final match went to Kate who found herself dormie 4 up but had to endure a fightback by Gabrielle before finally claiming victory on the 17th hole. The final saw some more great golf as Kate battled against the top qualifier Rachel. Unfortunately it was not to be, and Kate succombed on the 18th green by 2 holes.

Well done girls. It's great to see so many of you playing and playing so well.

Centenary Tri Am Draw

Click HERE for the updated Centenary Tri Am draw for Thursday 9 July 2009. We hope you have a fabulous day! If any team needs to withdraw, please contact MCLGA Vice Captain, Mary Richardson, by telephone on 07850 858608.

From the Captain's Keyboard....

Mikhaila finds Mick to share in her celebrations!

What a fabulous week it has been with Midlothian winning the East Division Inter-County Matches in such style in our Centenary year. The team played superbly well in all of their matches and the support they offered to each other was absolutely fantastic. It was great to see and be part of and we could have asked for nothing more from the girls. Their commitment was no less than 110% and they stepped up to the mark when asked. The atmosphere on the course, in the clubhouse and back at the hotel was relaxed, happy and electric.

Having returned from Falkirk ecstatic but exhausted, I have now regained a little bit of energy and have started turning my thoughts towards the County Finals in September. But before I get on to them, I would like to say a few thank yous.

First of all to the Ladies' Golf Shop for the T-shirts you very kindly sponsored. The girls were all delighted to have some "new kit" and looked fabulous. They looked smart and ready to take on whatever was going to be thrown at them - how could they fail? Secondly, to all of the members who made the trip over to Falkirk to support the girls and/or offer their caddying services and to all those who weren't able to be there but kept in touch through text messages. Your continued commitment to the County team is very much appreciated by all concerned. Thirdly to all the back room team - even spotty Linda who was unable to travel over due to an outbreak of chicken pox on the Thursday night. It is great to have such spirit behind the scenes and Linda on the other end of text messages! Your help and calming abilities were fantastic. The number of times I turned to do something to find that one of you had just beaten me to it was unbelievable. Finally, to the actual Team, what can I say? You all played your hearts out from beginning to end. There was absolutely no let up and you battled away to come up with the goods. Let's do it again in September!!!

Now to the County Finals! As you may be aware they are being held at Baberton Golf Club from Friday 18th - Sunday 20th September. Midlothian is joined by Galloway from the south, Renfrewshire from the west and Northern Counties from, believe it or not, the north. Why not put the dates in your diaries now and come along to support your team? It is absolutely wonderful golf to watch and a great atmosphere to get caught up in. It would be great to see you and I know the team would really appreciate the support. The draw for the finals is:

Day 1: Galloway v Midlothian; Renfrewshire v Northern Counties
Day 2: Midlothian v Renfrewshire; Galloway v Northern Counties
Day 3: Renfrewshire v Galloway; Northern Counties v Midlothian

Scottish Senior Ladies' (Close) Amateur Championships

Congratulations to Fiona Hunter (Baberton) who kept up Midlothian's winning streak this week by becoming the Scottish Senior Ladies' Stroke Play Champion for 2009. Held over the Montgomery Course at Kinross, Fiona scored 153 over the two rounds winning by 1 shot from fellow Midlothian member, Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) and Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie). Noreen was pushed into 3rd place on the better second round score. In the nett aggregate section, Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) was placed 2nd with a nett score of 151.

Fiona and Noreen were joined by fellow County members Fiona de Vries (St Rule) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton) in the match play stages where Noreen progressed to the semi-finals, losing to Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies) by 3&2. The first round losers in the match play stages played in a second flight and, in this, Fiona de Vries lost a very close final to Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) on the 19th hole.

Wee Wonders Championships

The Regional Finals of the Wee Wonders Championships were held on Tuesday on the Craigend Course at the Ladies' Golf Club in Troon. I would like to thank Junior Member Julia Smith's father, Iain, for the following report:

"The 3 Midlothian Juniors who had qualified in different area events played valiantly on a tight Craigend Course (the Ladies' Golf Course) at Troon on Tuesday. It was a very hot day with some fantastic golf being played. Lisa Macpherson came in a brilliant second in her age category (5-8 year olds). In the 9-10 year old age category, Julia Smith popped her flag, after her allotted 36 shots, into the cup on the 8th hole to tie for 3rd place but fell back to 4th place on the better inward half countback. The third junior star, Emma Morrison, kept it going and popped her flag down onto the 7th green."

Well done to all of you - a fantastic effort which shows that Midlothian golf has some very promising up and coming juniors who are already making their names known. I hope you all enjoyed your experience and look forward to hearing all about it next time we meet.

East Division Inter County Matches Day 3

Euphoria reigned for Midlothian on day 3 at Falkirk. Having been brought back down to earth on Tuesday night the team arrived at Carmuirs Golf Club ready and willing to give their all in their final match. Their opponents, Stirling & Clackmannan, had let it be known that they were out to get us and to spoil our intended celebrations. What they hadn't realised was that Midlothian was not letting the situtation get ahead of them and were taking things one step at a time. And so, with each member of the team having been told to bring home a point from their own game and not to worry about anyone else or leave the "point-getting" to anyone else, they took to the course.

Leading the way, yet again, were Jane Turner and Rachael Watton, followed by Karen Marshall and Louise Fraser and, bringing up the rear, Kirsten Blackwood and Claire MacDonald. Having given the supporters' and officials' nerves a rest on Tuesday, they very kindly decided, in the muggy heat of the morning, to bring the worry lines back to the fore before winning at the 17th, 18th and 18th holes respectively.

Thankful of our 3-0 lunchtime lead, the order for the afternoon play was set and, once again, the players were told not to rely on any of their fellow team members to bring in the points. Whether they were, by this time, fed up with the first tee motivational chat or whether it just takes a while to sink in we are not sure, but for once in the week they listened and took off all guns blazing. A great afternoon was had by all on the navy side as scores resounded around the course of Midlothian being 2 up after 7, 4 up after 11, Murray having won in 3 straight sets, dormie 3 up etc etc. Jane brought home the first of the 2 points we needed, closely followed by Claire Hargan and then the rest followed with Wendy getting a half (because her opponent inconsiderately holed her third shot to the par 5 18th), and Karen, Rachael (who in her first Inter-County matches recorded an amazing 6 out of 6 points over the 3 days) and Claire MacD all winning. Victory cheers were heard all around and, thanks to Margaret Rodgers, the celebrations began!

The final day results were:

Morning Foursomes:

Jane Turner & Rachael Watton beat Vicki Stevenson & Lesley Gibb 2&1

Karen Marshall & Louise Fraser beat Louise MacGregor & Elaine Allison 2 up

Kirsten Blackwood & Claire MacDonald beat Linda Allan & Jill Harrison 2 up

Afternoon Singles:

Jane Turner beat Elaine Allison 3&2

Claire Hargan beat Louise MacGregor 2&1

Wendy Nicholson halved with Vicki Stevenson

Karen Marshall beat Claire Capocci 3&2

Rachael Watton beat Mhairi Hall 3&2

Claire MacDonald beat Linda Allan 1 up

Final Standings:

1st Midlothian

2nd Fife

3rd East Lothian

4th Stirling and Clackmannan

Remember to put the 18th-20th September in your diaries and keep it free so that you too can come to support the Midlothian girls as they aim to wind up the officials in the County Finals at Baberton! They are joined in this by Renfrewshire and Galloway and Northern Counties.