Round 2 of the Spanish

Pamela Williamson was the best Scot in the Spanish Seniors Championship at La Manga. Most of the Scottish players managed to achieve an improvement in the second round - as did the winner, Maria Castillo Dolagaray who scored 72, by far the best score of the tournament - but on the whole scoring was still quite high so it is safe to presume this was a very tricky venue. There will no doubt, be many memories of shots just lost but more of the pleasure in playing in warmer temperatures than the rest of us, still vegetating in front of our firesides.

Results
153 Maria Castillo Dolagaray (81, 72)
159 Maria de Orueta Pemartin (76, 83)
161 Rocio Ruiz de Velasco Colas (79, 82)
166 Diane Williams (86, 80)(joint eighth)

Leading Scottish Scores
170 Pamela Williamson (Baberton)(83,87)(joint 16th)
179 Lesley Johnston (Gullane) (96,83)
180 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) (92, 88)
185 Sue Penman (Gullane) (92,93)
190 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) (96,94)
193 Suzannne Cadden (Cardross) (98, 95)

The webmaster is putting in a special plea for winning scores on the Scottish side next year as the home names are easier and quicker to type.

Round One of Spanish Senior Championship

Pamela Williamson will have been reasonably happy to bring in a score of 83 in Round One of the Spanish Senior Women's Championship at La Manga. She was three ahead of her friend and playing foursomes partner Diane Williams (Canada) and nine strokes better than the nearest Scots, Sue Penman and Jennifer Mack, both on 92. Round 2 is today.

Leading Score
76 Maria de Orueta Pemartin
Leading Scottish Scores
83 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) (joint 13th)
86 Diane Williams (Canada)
92 Sue Penman (Gullane) Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle)
96 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)
98 Suzanne Cadden (cardross)

East Vets Participating in Spanish Seniors

This early season seniors championship in Spain used to boast a fair Scottish entry but of late it has declined in popularity. Often the weather can be a little disappointing. This year it is being played at La Manga. Four East Vets out of an entry from Scotland of only seven are hopefully enjoying a little early sunshine and getting their swings into gear for a successful season.

The first two days were the "Doubles" day 1 a four ball and day 2 the two ball foursomes. For some reason the scores were very much higher throughout the field in the two ball foursomes. the Spanish couple of Catalina Castillego Oriol and Maria Orueto Pemartin won the Doubles Championship with a total of 154. Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and the adopted Scot from Canada, Diane Williams were our leading entry with a joint total of 168

"Doubles" Scores
154 Catalina Castillego Oriol and Maria Orueto Pemartin
Scottish scores
168 Pamela Williamson and Diane Williams (81, 87)
175 Lesley Johnston and Suzanne Cadden (81, 94)
176 Sue Penman and Dorothy Thomson (84, 92)
179 Helen Faulds and Jennifer Mack - West Vets (84, 95)

Karen Ballantyne selected for Scottish Vets Team

At last, with the New Year having been installed for almost six weeks this East Vets site is up and running again and definitely open for business. And what better way to start up than by announcing that an East Vet lady has been selected for the Scottish Vets team. Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) is to play in the annual match against an Irish Senior Select team with the clear and single-minded object of wrestling the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy back from Irish hands. This year, the match is on Irish soil - so all the sweeter to win - and will take place on the Hilton Templepatrick outside Belfast.

The team, captained by Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) and apprentice Noreen Fenton Dunbar(vice-captain) has some changes. Fiona de Vries(Midlands) is hoping for a full return to duties after her curling accident of last year and Anne Ryan (Highland), having had a lean 2011 owing to back problems will both be aiming for inclusion in the Jamboree at the Hirsel in August, but this has been seen as an opportunity to recall Alison Bartlett who shone in the Irish Seniors last year and to introduce Linda Urquhart of North who was runner-up to Noreen Fenton in the Scottish Vets Championship. Noreen indicated last year she was retiring from international participation. The team will hardly be rudderless with the talent it has.

Scotland has a wealth of players in the wings and competition for a place in future vets international games this year will be fierce. So watch this spot.

Scottish Team (in alphabetical order)
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (Midland)
Karen Ballantyne (East)
Alison Bartlett (Highland)
Lorna Bennett (Midland)
May Hughes (West)
Mary Smith (Highland)
Linda Urquhart (North)
Reserves
Anne Ryan (Highland)
Jill Harrison (North)
Alex Glennie (West)