Tri-Am

Despite the weather, we had a great day last Friday  at the County Tri Am competition which this year was held at Deeside Golf Club. 28 teams took part and there was some excellent scoring with Penny Burrows (Banchory), Gladys Ward (Banchory) and Margaret Ogden (Banchory) the winning team with score of 62.

Margaret Ogden, Penny Burrows and Gladys Ward

 

The longest drives went to Rachel Polson (Kemnay) winning the Silver and Grace Porter (Deeside) the Bronze. Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) was nearest the pin at the 1st for the Silver and Linda Moore (Deeside) the Bronze.  Christine Dallas (Banchory) had the straightest drive at the 11th and Carol Whicher (Kemnay) was nearest the Pin at the 17th with her second shot. Special thanks must go to Jenny Skene the Deeside County Rep and Alison Graham their Lady Captain for all their help both before and during the day and to all the ladies who supported the day and helped make the event such a success and I am sure this will now become a regular event on the County calendar.

Scottish Seniors Women's Championship

In the Scottish Seniors Women’s Championships held at Blairgowrie Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) finished 8th and then qualified for the match play stages which were played over the following 2 days. In the first 2 rounds Sheena beat Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) and Jennifer Bryans (Harburn) to reach the semi -finals when she beat Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) at the 19th. In the final Sheena played Fiona De Vries (St Rule) but unfortunately lost 5&4 however Sheena is to be congratulated on her excellent performance all week.

Fiona De Vries and Sheena Wood
(Photo courtesy of Scottish Golf)

North of Scotland

Aberdeenshire was well represented at the North of Scotland Championships which this year we were hosting at Kemnay.  After the stroke play round on a blustery Monday, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Camila Davies (Dunecht House), Sammy Leslie (Kemnay), Vikki Thom (Kemnay), Megan Robb (Peterculter) and Lauren Whyte (Kemnay) all qualified for the Scratch Knockout stages. However the highlight of the day was Kimberley’s score of three under par 70 which set a new course record.

Kimberley Beveridge

 

Kimberley and Sammy both won their first round matches when unfortunately they had to play each other in the next round and after a tremendous match Kimberley won at the 19th to set up a semi- final match against Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose). The other semi- final was between Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) and Jen Saxton (Muckhart).

 

Semi Finalists Gillian Paton and Kimberley Beveridge

Semi Finalists Eilidh Watson and Jen Saxton

Both matches were closely contested with Eilidh and Gillian winning to set up an exciting final. We were treated to some superb golf which Eilidh won 3&2 to be awarded the Gifford Trophy for the first time.

In the Handicap Knockout competition Linda Bell (Kemnay), Rachel Mathieson (Hazlehead), Morven Adam (Hazlehead), Ann Munro (Kemnay), Mary Robinson (Murcar Links), June Cowie (Cruden Bay), Michelle Finnie (Aberdeen Ladies) and Kim Watt (Aberdeen Ladies) all reached the match play stages and after the first 2 rounds Linda, Michelle and Mary reached the semi- final stages.

Semi Finalists Linda Bell and Joan Cooper

Semi Finalists Michelle Finnie and Mary Robinson

Linda had a good win over Joan Cooper (Forres) 4&2 and Michelle and Mary had a very close match which Mary eventually won at the 21st to set up an Aberdeenshire final, with Linda winning 3&1 to win the Angus Trophy. Congratulations to all our Ladies who qualified for the match play stages. You were all a real credit to your Clubs and Aberdeenshire.

Linda Bell

Eilidh Watson

Kemnay proved a popular venue and was a real test in both stroke and match play conditions and special thanks to all the staff at the club for making us feel so welcome and to Karen, our Secretary for all her hard work in organising such a successful event.

Click here for the scratch matchplay results and here for the handicap results.

The draw for Tuesday’s consolation round can be found by clicking here

We are also organising the Junior North of Scotland Championships on Sunday 20th August at Portlethen Golf Club so we are hoping for a good entry from our Junior County members.

Scottish Girl’s Amateur Championship

Kemnay proved a popular venue and was a real test in both stroke and match play conditions and special thanks to all the staff at the club for making us feel so welcome and to Karen, our Secretary for all her hard work in organising such a successful event. We are also organising the Junior North of Scotland Championships on Sunday 20th August at Portlethen Golf Club so we are hoping for a good entry from our Junior County members. Unfortunately our younger County members were not able to play at Kemnay because they were playing in the Scottish Girl’s Amateur Championship over Drumoig and Scotscraig. After 2 stroke play rounds Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) and Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) all finished in the top 10 to qualify for the match play stages. In winning her first round match against Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle), Shannon had a hole in one with a 5 iron at the sixth hole (148yds). Shannon McWilliam (Photo courtesy of Scottish Golf)

Jasmine also won her first round match to set up a quarter final match against Shannon on Monday morning which Shannon won 6&5 but sadly she then lost her semi -final match to no 2 seed Jillian Farrell (Cardross) 2&1. Carmen has an exciting Summer ahead as she is one of 6 young Scottish golfers to be selected for a trip of a lifetime to this year’s Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa to be part of the hand- over ceremony for the 2019 Solheim Cup coming to Scotland . Carmen will also be part of a Pro- am team competing at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links in August. Another Hazlehead youngster Rachel Mathieson is also heading to the USA at the end of July to play in the US Kid’s Golf Teen World Championships which are being held at Pinehurst, N Carolina. We wish Rachel and Carmen a great trip and I am sure they will be great ambassadors for their clubs and Aberdeenshire County. The Inter Club Lyon Foursomes are being held at Balgownie Links  on Monday 7th / Tuesday  8th August and the closing date for entries is Monday 17th July. Sheila McNaught

County Jamboree

Last weekend the Inter County Jamboree was held at Nairn Golf Club and what a great weekend we all had.

Aberdeenshire was represented by Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Donna Pocock (Kemnay), Sammy Leslie (Kemnay), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead ), Rachel Polson (Kemnay),Molly Stewart (Murcar Links) , Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).  The course was in excellent condition and the girls played some superb golf with birdies the order of the day! I was so proud of the way they conducted themselves both on and off the course and they are a real credit to their clubs and County.

 

Margaret MacNaughtan, Rachel Polson, Molly Stewart, Sheena Wood,
Donna Pocock, Sammy Leslie, Jasmine Mackintosh, Kimberley Beveridge,
Karen Stalker, Ann Smart, Sheila McNaught

On Saturday we beat Angus 5-4. Had a superb win over Northern Counties on Sunday 7 – 2 so the following day was the title decider between ourselves and Perth and Kinross. We won the foursomes 2-1 in the morning but unfortunately we just couldn’t quite get the winning point in the afternoon with P&K winning with the last putt on the 18th green.  I would just like to thank Ann, Margaret, Laura and Karen for all their support and encouragement over the weekend – they really kept me going! -  and to all the Aberdeenshire caddies and  supporters who did a brilliant job – there  was a real ‘Aberdeenshire’ team spirit throughout he whole weekend  and it was great to see so much yellow round the course.

Full results can be found here

Junior Girls

Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) and Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) both played in a Stephen Gallagher order of merit Junior event  held recently at the McDonald Cardrona Golf Club with Jasmine finishing second on 229 with scores of 78,79 and 74 – 2 strokes of the lead.

At the Paul Lawrie Foundation Schools Stroke play competition held at Craibstone Rachel Mathieson (Hazlehead) won the girl’s title with a net 75 and Jennifer Buchanan (Kemnay) was second with a net 77. Rachel was also awarded the 2017 Aberdeen Junior Sports Award at the recent Sports Dinner

Rachel Mathieson

Other Aberdeenshire Juniors are also doing very well – Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) has been selected to play for the Scottish U18 Girl’s team in the forthcoming European Championships being held at St Laurence, Finland and Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) will represent Scotland at the European Young Masters in Oslo, Norway at the end of July

 

Jasmine Mackintosh

Carmen Griffiths

  

British Amateur Championship

In the British Amateur Championships held in Wales Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) again performed well to be the best placed Scot after the qualifying rounds on 7th place. She won her first round tie at the 19th against Ana Pelaez (Spain) before narrowly losing in the next round on the 18th to another Spaniard Ainhoa Olarra. Shannon was an automatic selection for the girl’s side but because of her consistent form in leading events she has been named in the Scottish Women’s team for next months’ European Team Championships in Montado, Portugal. Many congratulations to her on this excellent achievement.

St Rule Championship

Shannon, Kimberley and Jasmine all played in the St Rule Trophy at the start of June and Shannon with a score of 220 (74,69,77) made her 3rd in the U18 Trophy and part of the winning Scottish team which won the overall Team event.

 

Winning Scottish Team - Shannon McWilliam and Hannah McCook

Eilidh Briggs was the other member of the team

(Photo courtesy of Cal Carson Golf)

Scottish Amateur Ladies Championship

Aberdeenshire was well represented in the Scottish Amateur Ladies Championship held at Royal Aberdeen – Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Fiona Seedhouse (Aberdeen Ladies), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Sammy Leslie (Kemnay), Rachel Polson (Kemnay). Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), Lesley Watson (Deeside), Louise Anderson (Duff House), Megan Robb (Peterculter), Molly Stewart (Murcar Links), Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), Morven Adam (Hazlehead), Michelle Finnie (Aberdeen Ladies), Catriona MacDonald (Aberdeen Ladies) and Suzanne Robertson (Fraserburgh).

The first qualifying round was played in horrendous conditions and the second round the next day was cancelled due to strong winds so the match play draw was decided only on one round. Shannon McWillaim (Aboyne), Megan Robb (Peterculter),Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) , Kimberley Beveridge(Aboyne) and Rachel Polson (Kemnay) all qualified for the match play stages with Shannon, Jasmine, Kimberley and Rachel winning their first round ties before being beaten in the afternoon having to play again in very testing weather conditions.   Fiona Seedhouse (Aberdeen Ladies), Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Sammy Leslie (Kemnay) and Louise Anderson (Duff House Royal) all qualified to play in the Clark Rosebowl competition, the championship’s secondary match play competition. After the first days matches Carol and Sammy both reached the semi final and after good wins in the morning by both girls the stage was set for an Aberdeenshire final in the afternoon which Carol won 3and 2. This is Carol’s second Rosebowl success as she won it at Monifieth two years ago.

 

Carol Wilson (Murcar Links)

(Photo courtesy of Cal Carson Golf)

Aberdeenshire County Team for Jamboree

I am delighted to announce the Aberdeenshire team selected to play in the forthcoming Jamboree at Nairn in June is:

Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne)
Sammy Leslie (Kemnay)
Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead)
Donna Pocock  (Kemnay)
Rachel Polson (Kemnay)
Molly Stewart (Murcar Links)
Carol Wilson (Murcar Links)
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies)
Res: Gillian Mackenzie (Banchory)

Kimberley Beveridge	Sammy Leslie	Jasmine Mackintosh	Donna Pocock
Rachel Polson	Molly Stewart	Carol Wilson	Sheena Wood

I am looking forward to our weekend in Nairn and I am sure the girls will do their best to try and retain the trophy they won at Edzell last year.

Watt Duffus

Many congratulations to all the ladies who participated in the 69th Watt Duffus Inter Club Trophy, held this year at Aboyne Golf Club.  23 teams played and it was lovely to see Meldrum House participating for the first time.

There were several excellent scores with Julie Henderson , Murcar Links, producing the round of the day, a gross 72, to win the Mrs J P Kennaway Cup.  Gail Christie Banchory Golf Club, playing off a handicap of 8, played an excellent round of golf to win the Individual Handicap Trophy with a gross 76 nett 68.

Margaret MacNaughtan, Julie Henderson, Gail Christie, Sheila McNaught

 

There was a very clear winners in both the team events with Aboyne making most of home advantage. Aboyne 1 quartet of Shannon McWilliam, Carmen Griffiths, Kimberley Beveridge and Maryla Sime won the Watt Duffus Trophy for the best scratch team total of 227 and Aboyne 2 team of Heather Mackenzie, Georgette Hollingsworth, Fenneke Walter – Sinke and Carmen Eakin won the Handicap Trophy for the best net total of 216

Shannon McWilliam, Sandra Findlay (Aboyne Lady Captain), Kimberley Beveridge,
Maryla Sime, Carmen Griffiths, Georgette Hollingsworth, Heather Mackenzie

 

Our grateful thanks go to Aboyne Golf Club who kindly granted us courtesy of the course and to all the members and staff who made us feel so welcome and helped make it a fantastic day. 

Munross Trophy

The Munross Trophy was played last Sunday at Montrose Links and many congratulations to our County Champion Molly Stewart (Murcar Links)  who played very well to finish 5^th with rounds of 73 and 73 for a total of 146, only 7 shots of the winning score. Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead), Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) ,Vikki Thom (Kemnay), Rachel Mathieson (Hazlehaed), Robyn Galon (Duff House Royal) and Onchitra Veerasakri (Aboyne)  were also involved.

SVLGA Northern Championship

Aberdeenshire was well represented in the SVLGA Northern Championships held recently at Edzell and congratulations to Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) who retained the SVLGA Nothern Championship and to Margaret Parkinson (Deeside) who won the Silver Handicap Championship.

Scottish Golf Junior Tour

Congratulations also to Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) who was crowned ‘Scottish Golf Junior Tour Champion’ at Turnhouse Golf Club with rounds of 80 and 73 in testing conditions,  to win by 4 shots. She then went onto qualify for the Women’s Grand Final by coming second in the Revive Active Scottish women’s regional final (East) at Kirkcaldy Golf Club.

Carmen Griffiths

County Championship

Well the County season is well and truly underway with four county opens successfully completed – Ballater, Aboyne, Banchory and Fraserburgh – and all have been well supported with some excellent scores being produced. Congratulations to all our Prize winners.

A couple of weekends ago, it was the County Championship at Cruden Bay and what a fabulous three days we had. The sun shone and the wind blew and the course was in great condition demanding a very high level of skill and course management in both stroke and match play situations. It proved to be a fantastic venue for the most prestigious event in the calendar. 30 ladies teed off on Friday afternoon with Gillian Mackenzie (Banchory) being the leading qualifier on 79.

Gillian MacKenzie and Margaret MacNaughtan

 

The following day the match play stages in both the Scratch and Handicap sections started (A full list of all the results can be found on the website under competition results). The matches were all closely contested and played in such good spirit and it was obvious to the spectators that all the players were thoroughly enjoying the challenges the course had to offer. On Sunday morning the final of the handicap trophy was between Karen Mackay (Murcar Links) and Catriona MacDonald (Aberdeen Ladies) which Karen won 5&4.

Margaret MacNaughtan, Catriona MacDonald, Karen Mackay and Sheila McNaught

 

The semi –finals of the scratch event were between Donna Pocock (Kemnay) and Fiona Campbell (McDonald Ellon) and Carol Wilson (Murcar Links) and Molly Stewart (Murcar Links).

Donna and Fiona

Molly and Fiona

Both matches finished at the 15th with Fiona and Carol narrowly missing out resulting in the final being played between Donna and Molly. In a close contest both girls played some excellent golf in very testing conditions with Molly managing to win at the 17th to become the 2017 County Champion for the first time. Many congratulations to Molly and all the Ladies who reached to match play stages because we witnessed some tremendous golf over the three days and are so fortunate to have such talent playing in our county competitions.

Molly Stewart
ALCGA Champion

 

 

Sheila McNaught, Fiona Campbell, Donna Pocock,
Molly Stewart, Carol Wilson, Gillian MacKenzie and Margaret MacNaughtan

Click here for the scratch matchplay results and here for the handicap results.

Junior Girls

Our first junior competition of the season was a Stableford held on Sunday 30^th April over the Silverburn Course at Balgownie, with Rachel Mathieson (Hazlehead) winning  with 37points. Our next Junior Medal is on Tuesday 23^rd May at Inverurie at 5.30pm and we would be delighted to see some new faces and increase the numbers of girls playing in our monthly competitions.  Any girl who has a handicap of 35 or less will be made most welcome and if you wish any further details you can either contact myself  (Sheila.mcnaught@btopenworld.com) or our Junior Convenor Donna Pocock on: alcgajuniors@outlook.com

Helen Holm Championship

After 2 rounds over the Portland Course Jasmine and Shannon qualified for the final round on Sunday over Royal Troon’s Open Championship links course with Jasmine lying 58th (75,78) and Shannon (69.70) holding onto 2nd spot just 2 shots of the lead. Both girls had rounds of 75 with Shannon finishing runner up in this prestigious golfing event and she was the leading Scottish player for the second year in a row. Both girls are to be congratulated on their excellent performance over the weekend.

Shannon McWilliam with her runners up medal
(Photo courtesy of Elaine Farquharson-Black)

Scottish U18 Girls’ Open Strokeplay Championship

Aberdeenshire were well represented by Sarah Black (Deeside), Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne), Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) and Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) in the Scottish U18 Girls’ Open Stroke play championship which was played at Montrose Links during the Easter holidays.  After the 3 rounds Carmen finished tied 44^th, Jasmine 28^th and after a poor first round of 79 Shannon finished strongly with rounds of 71, 67 to take the runner up slot on countback.

Mary McKenna Trophy

The Mary McKenna trophy was played at Murcar Links on Sunday 9th / Monday 10th April between Scottish Vets and Irish Vets. Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) halved her foursomes match on Sunday but won her singles match 4&3 to help the team win the trophy for the first time since 2009. Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) is Vice Captain of the SVLGA so both Ladies are to be congratulated on their achievement.

Sheena Wood (back row, right) and Ellie Whyte (front row, left)

Match vs Scottish Vets

An Aberdeenshire select team played the Scottish Vets on Sunday at Murcar Links and had another great day. The sun shone, there was little wind and the course was in fantastic condition.  8 girls were available to play in the match - Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), Carol Wilson (Murcar Links), Vikki Thom (Kemnay), Donna Pocock (Kemnay), Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Sammy Leslie (Kemnay), Louise Anderson (Duff House Royal) and Karen Stalker (Cruden Bay). Although early in the season we witnessed some great golf from both teams and it was a good opportunity for the girls to play some competitive match play golf so early in the season.