Scotland lose to England

Scotland was knocked out of a possible top four position, by "the auld enemy" in the European Senior Ladies' Team Championship today, at Dun Laoghaire Golf Course. They lost by 3.5 - 1.5 on yet another day of fearsome weather when the mere thought of going out must have made them want to run for cover! They were not the only disappointed team since Ireland - the leading qualifier - fell by a similar margin to Germany, the eighth seed. Similarly, Sweden the number two seed lost unexpectedly to Italy with a 3 - 2 margin.

Tomorrow the losing teams play each other to identify the fifth to eighth line-up. Scotland will play the home nation, Ireland, whereas Sweden will clash with France. On Friday the winners and losers of each of these matches will battle it out to determine who will be fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth respectively. So, still plenty to play for.

Our spokesperson in Dun Laoghaire was kind enough to stop drying her hair, to describe the situation in slightly more lurid detail as can be gleaned from mere paper results. She confirmed that this is a monster of a course, very long, very difficult, very windy, very wet!! needing exact placing of the ball. What changes. This surely, we ask, is always the plan. Well apparently, the weather changes. The course is American-style with bunkers and water galore - not just from the sky - and it has been constructed on top of a hill. So not only does one get wet, one sees it coming and one knows what one is in for.

The webmaster happened to comment that four out of our six girls all started their scores on day one with a seven and on day two with a six. Sensing unjust criticism, our spokesperson indignantly explained that even in the terrible conditions that they have endured, on an already long hole, the first tee was from the gents. This required a huge carry to cover water to the right and very little space if one went left - straight not being an option due to arboreal specimens of a blocking nature.

Not complaining - more resigned to the inevitable - our spokesperson further elaborated, on how England ("the auld enemy") in the shape of Janet Melville (playing Fiona de Vries) and Chris Quinn (playing Mary Smith) both sank mid-iron shots from the fairway, which are unquestionably very good shots but are also very lucky ones. Everyone has lucky breaks but there is one country whose lady golfers must spend every night on their knees because this hasn't been the first time by a long shot. Sour grapes? Maybe - but true!!!! We love them really.

Our halved match - Lorna Bennett v Jo Ashmore - was stopped by an official who informed them that the match had been lost (or won depending on your allegiance) and they could pack in (out of the rain) with an honourable half should they wish. Apparently the score was all square at the very long 17th, which required three good woods to the green, but the webmaster is reliably informed Scotland looked very much like taking that hole - unless of course England holed out from the very deep rough in which they were sheltering!!!

It sounds as if they all deserve a medal.

Results (England first)

Chris Stirling and Lucy Newton lost to Heather Anderson and Fiona Hunter 2 and 1

Chris Quinn beat Mary Smith 2 and 1

Janet Melville beat Fiona de Vries 4 and 3

Jo Ashmore halved with Lorna Bennett

Sue Dye beat Moira Thomson 3 and 2


It is to be noted that England played Roz Adams for both rounds in the strokeplay only but substituted her in the matchplay with the fresher Lucy Newton and Chris Stirling who only played one of the two qualifying rounds, the reason for this not being known outwith the tournament itself. This substitution is perfectly in keeping with the rules but of course can only be taken advantage of by teams who registered seven players - which Scotland did not do. Others teams did likewise which in the terrible conditions when players must have been pretty tired, was quite an asset.

Team results:

Ireland lost to Germany 3.5 - 1.5

England beat Scotland 3.5 - 1.5

France lost to Spain 3 - 2

Italy beat Sweden 3 - 2

Good luck tomorrow!