Penultimate Post on the Scottish Seniors

Scotland are really pulling out all the stops and are through to the finals of the European Senior Ladies Team Championship for the very first time. Despite being severely mauled by German man-eating mosquitoes, which render all exposed skin parts into pink pin-cushions, they have managed to put such aggravations right to the back of the collective mind and focussed on the job in hand. Only one more hurdle to go but what a hurdle and what joy to overcome it! Tomorrow Scotland play England in the final.

The game today, Friday, was always anticipated to be difficult. The Irish are of course old friends and it is an added strain to put personal feelings aside and lay waste - but they managed.

The first point went to Scotland, gained by that great partnership of Moira Thomson and Mary Smith, who although they went three down at a fairly early stage, dug deep and turned the game around beating Phil O'Gormon and Violet Mcbride by 3 and 2. The short-game was impressive.

The next point also went to Scotland. Fiona de Vries, one-time air-port ambassadress, had a rather lean time initially with her putter, which must have greatly surprised her relieved opponent, Valerie Hassett. Fiona however quickly put this bang to rights and arrived at her favourite hole the seventeenth in a winning position. The webmaster now wishes to cancel the personal statement issued by Fiona that this is her "bogey hole" before tomorrow unless of course she plans not to encounter this hole at all. Although their match did indeed finish at this hole, pars were not the order of the day. However still two points on the board.

Lorna Bennett was next on the tee and her match against Pat Doran was a tight one from the beginning to end with very little between them. It could have gone either way until the last couple of holes when Pat took control and unfortunately secured the first point for Ireland.

Heather Anderson was two up on the seventeenth in her match against the very experienced Sheena McElroy. Sheena, being Irish had all the luck accrued to them and a ball destined for deep rough should not have been expected to bounce back out on to the fairway again - but it did. The wise approach to the seventeenth apparently is to play short and avoid the greenside bunkers but both players managed to ignore this course management advice. In spite of this, both came out of the sand handsomely, but Heather was the only one to slot the putt.

Three points for Scotland and a win. Not forgetting Anne Ryan however, who had again pulled the short straw by being drawn against the incredibly fit and in-form Helen Jones. Helen won the tussle by 4 and 3.

England were the favourites againt Switzerland and won by 3 1/2 to 1 1/2, the half being awarded to each of the competitors in the final game between Jo Ashmore and Mimmi Guglielmone. The foursome pairing of Janet Melville and Felicity Christine won by 1 hole. Caroline Marron the English Senior Champion beat Anne Argi easily by 7 and 6. Chris Quinn who has had a great championship performance won also but Sue Dye lost by 1 hole.

The draw has already been announced and is as follows - Scotland first.

Mary Smith and Moira Thomson v Janet Melville and Felicity Christine
Fiona de Vries v Caroline Marron
Lorna Bennett v Chris Quinn
Heather Anderson v Roz Adams
Anne Ryan v Sue Dye

This promises to be a terrific battle tomorrow.

Today's Results (Scotland first)
Mary Smith and Moira Thomson bt Phil O'Gormon and Violet McBride 3 and 2
Fiona de Vries bt Valerie Hassett 3 and 1
Lorna Bennett lost to Pat Doran 2 and 1
Heather Anderson bt Sheena McElroy 2 and 1
Anne Ryan lost to Helen Jones 4 and 3
Scotland 3 - Ireland 2

Janet Melville and Felicity Quinn bt Irene Meier-Boelm and Petra Kronenberg 1 hole
Caroline Marron bt Anne Argi 7 and 6
Chris Quinn bt Marie-Christine de Werra 3 and 1
Sue Dye lost to Carlotta Vannini 1 hole
Jo Ashmore halved with Mimmi Guglielmone
England 3 1/2 - Switzerland 1 1/2