Scottish Girls (Close) Amateur Championship

Congratulations to Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) who is the leading qualifier in the Scottish Girls (Close) Amateur Championship being played this week at Eyemouth Golf Club. After magnificent rounds of 73 and 71 to be 2 under par, Rachael takes first qualifying position by 11 shots. Also into the match play stages are Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) who finished in 3rd place, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield). The fourth member of Midlothian playing in the SLGA event, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), qualified for the Ansley Reid Salver.

Good luck to all in your matches and I hope the weather improves for you!

Ladies' European Team Championships

Congratulations to the Scottish Ladies' Team, which included MCLGA member Jane Turner (Craigielaw), which won a bronze medal at the European Team Championships being held at La Manga Golf Club in Spain. The Scots qualified in 6th place in the Championship Flight after the 2 stroke play rounds, which set up a first round knock out tie against England. The girls won this by 4 matches to 3 and faced the no. 2 qualifiers, Spain, in the semi-finals. Unfortunately Spain got the better of the Scottish girls and came out on top by 4.5 to 2.5. This forced Scotland into a 3rd place play off against Germany who had qualified in 5th position just 1 stroke ahead of the Scots. After a great show in the morning, the girls headed into the afternoon with a 2-0 lead and it was Jane who brought home the vital point to win the tie and the bronze medal.

SLGA One Day Competitions

I have been asked to remind all MCLGA members about some one-day competitions which the SLGA is running over the next couple of months.

First up is the County Open Meeting at Duff House Royal Golf Club on Tuesday 17 August 2010.
The closing date for this is Monday 26th July. It is open to any lady who is a member of a Scottish Ladies' County Golf Association and both net and scratch prizes are available for both silver and bronze handicap categories. The venue for this year's event is Duff House Royal which is not only celebrating its centenary this year but is a flat, parkland course. However, it is not without its challenges which makes it an excellent day out for golfers of all abilities. Interested? Why not get together with some of your County chums and organise a day out to the event? You also have the option to enter with or without playing partners for this event.

Entries can be obtained from http://www.slga.co.uk/images/stories/entry_forms/com2010.pdf.

Next up is the Scottish Ladies' (Stroke Play) Foursomes at Douglas Park Golf Club on Sunday 29th August 2010
The closing date for this is Monday 2nd August. This event is an 18 hole stroke play foursomes event and is open to teams of two players who are both members of the same club or section affiliated to the SLGA. Please note that there is no need to be a member of a County Association to take part in this event. Each nominated player may play only for the club or section through which she is entered and must be an honorary or full member (including juniors) of that organisiation. Again both scratch and handicap prizes are to be won.

Entries can be found at http://www.slga.co.uk/images/stories/entry_forms/sfsp2010.pdf but please note that, for this event, entries should be made through your club secretary or captain, who will have been sent an entry form already, although may not realise it! Please note that the rules of this competition have been changed and clubs are now entitled to enter more than one team, if they so wish.

Scottish Golf Open Amateur Mixed Foursomes at Haggs Castle Golf Club on Sunday 12th September 2010
The closing date for entry is Monday 16th August. Haggs Castle is another club celebrating its centenary in 2010 so why not find yourself a partner and enter the Scottish Amateur Mixed Foursomes Championship? Again, it is an 18 hole stroke play foursomes competition open to teams of two players (one male and one female) who fulfill the entry criteria. There are both scratch and handicap prizes and teams do not necessarily need to members of the same club.

For more information and entry forms see http://www.slga.co.uk/images/stories/entry_forms/mixed2010.pdf.

And finally, the Adult and Girl Competition at Alloa Golf Club on Sunday 26th September 2010
The closing date for entry is Monday 6th September. This is open to any team consisting of a junior girl (under the age of 18 on the 1st January 2010) and either a male or female adult. The maximum handicap for adults is 28 for gents and 36 for ladies but girls do not have to have a CONGU handicap to enter.

for more information and entry forms see http://www.slga.co.uk/images/stories/entry_forms/adultgirls2010.pdf.

MCLGA Summer Meeting

The draw for the Summer Meeting, being played at Baberton Golf Club on Wednesday 21st July, has now been published on the website. To see the starting times, please click on "summer draw" on the left hand side of the page. Spaces are still available so if you would like a late entry please contact Agnes Leslie either by e-mail or by telephone on 0131 445 2411. You can also turn up on the day and will be put with the first group within your handicap category, should a space become available.

PLEASE remember to bring your handicap certificate with you on the day.

PLEASE also note that MCLGA does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) in ANY of its competitions and, as such, these devices are NOT permitted for use in the Summer Meeting, regardless of whether Baberton has a local rule permitting their use or not. Penalty for breach of this rule will be disqualification.

Please also note that there will be no raffle at the Summer Meeting. Instead, we will be holding a "nearest the pin" competition in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Midlothian "Girls" Triumph in East Vets Ladies Championship

Congratulations to Karen Ballantyne on winning the East Vets Ladies Championship at Haddington today. Karen beat Noreeen Fenton (Dunbar) at the 18th to take the title for the first time. In the semi-finals, Karen beat Ann Brownie (Lothianburn) and Noreen beat Moira Thomson (Gullane).

Well done Karen!

SLGA Junior events

The summer holidays are now in full swing and so is the SLGA golf calendar. With the European Ladies' and Girls' Team Championships currently underway, home soil sees the Scottish Girls' and Boys' U14s Championship being held at Auchterarder Golf Club today, next week brings the Scottish Girls' (Close) Amateur Championship at Eyemouth Golf Club (U18s) and, the week after, the Scottish Ladies' Junior Open Stroke Play Championship at Dunfermline (Pitfirrane) Golf Club (U21s). Good luck to all those taking part - Emma Morrison (Craigmillar Park) in the U14s, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Kate McIntosh, Hannah Scott (both Bromieknowe), Gillian Simpson, Kirsty Simpson (both Murrayfield) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) in the U18s and, together with Jane Turner (Craigielaw), in the U21s.

Disappointment for Midlothian Girls

Unfortunately Kate McIntosh and Gillian Simpson both lost out at the semi-final stage of the East of Scotland Girls Championship at Haddington today after very close matches. Gillian lost to Alison Goodwin (Stirling and Clackmannan) 2&1 and Kate lost to Rachel Hanlon (Fife) on the 18th. However both proved to be excellent caddies in the final which was won by Rachael 2&1. Congratulations to Rachel on retaining the trophy.

The spectators were entertained by great golf, low flying aircraft and a very stange noise coming from the direction of Kate who claimed it was Rachel's trolly - but we're not sure!