Fiona Hunter wins Strokeplay

Fiona Hunter of Baberton successfully managed to add a good second score to her fantastic first round score of yesterday, to win the Scottish Senior ladies' Strokeplay Championship at Kinross today. With a score today of 80 this gave her a total of 153, one stroke clear of Lorna Bennett(Ladybank) Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) and Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie). Lorna Bennett was the runner-up having the best second day score of 74 to add to her 80 in round 1.

Playing a defensive game is not Fiona's favourite but aside from trying to score well, like all the other positively glowing ladies, she found the temperature, humidity and constant threat of thunderstorms a gruelling test. Well done Fiona. Pictures will follow when the webmaster has access to them.

East vets managed to have four ladies in the top sixteen who go forward to the matchplay event tomorrow, these being Fiona Hunter, Noreen Fenton, Moira Thomson and Pamela Williamson (Scottish Vets captain).

East vets leading scores today - please link to west vets or kirkwoodgolf for the full list

153 Fiona Hunter 73,80
154 Noreen Fenton 75,79
161 Moira Thomson 80,81
162 Pamela Williamson 79,83
167 Rita Dee85,82
170 Sue Penman 82,88
177 Karen Ballantyne 84,93
183 Lesley Johnstone 95,88

Matchplay tomorrow

East Vets do well in First Round of Scottish Seniors

Out of a field of over sixty Scottish Senior lady golfers, East Vets can lay claim to a very respectable five in the top sixteen, sixteen being the magic number after Round 2 (Wednesday) which will see the contenders through to the matchplay stage of the competition. After Round 1 the cut off for the top sixteen is 82 - congratulations to Sue Penman of Gullane Ladies - this was you.

The first ladies out at 8.40 were greeted with pretty misty conditions but it was not at all cold or unpleasant - and there was no wind. It did however become increasingly humid and swarms of hungry flies and midges were a bit of a nuisance. Flies have this aptitude for grabbing one's attention by hovering just at eye level in the middle of one's putt. Rounds of four hours were the norm andwith the sun breaking through the slight mist, most ladies were very glad indeed to reach the clubhouse at the eighteenth and see about replenishing all that fluid lost out on the course. The greens were very slow but the course was in excellent condition.

Fiona Hunter of Baberton brought in a pretty fantastic 73 which remained the best for day one.

Leading East Vets Scores:

73 Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
75 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
79 Pamela Williamson (Baberton)
80 Moira Thomson (Gullane ladies)
82 Sue Penman (Gullane Ladies)
84 Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park)
85 Rita Dee (Kingsknowe)
91 Maureen McRobb
90 Mairi Pollock (Craigmillar Park)
95 Lesley Johnston (Gullane Ladies)

At the point of posting this, the times for tomorrow's draw were not available but the CSS had risen to 74 All to play for tomorrow.

Nine East Vets in Scottish Senior Championship at Kinross

Nine East Vet ladies have entered the Scottish Senior Ladies' (Close) Amateur Championship playing over the Montgomery Course, Kinross which starts this Tuesday 30 June. There is a practice round on Monday.

It takes the format of two strokeplay rounds, one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday, the winner of the Strokeplay Championship having the best scratch aggregate of the 36 holes. The top sixteen scratch scores then proceed into the matchplay part of the competition, two rounds on Thursday and the semi-final and final on Friday. The eight losing first round competitors have a second bite at the cherry by being able to compete in the Second Flight Matchplay which so often is every bit as nail-biting as the actual championship.

East Vet representatives and their starting times on Tuesday:

8.50 Pamela Williamson(Baberton)
9.00 Karen Ballantyne(Craigmillar Park), Lesley Johnstone(Gullane Ladies)
9.10 Sue Penman(Gullane Ladies)
9.40 Fiona Hunter(Baberton)
9.50 Noreen Fenton(Dunbar), Moira Thomson(Gullane Ladies)
10.30 Rita Dee(Kingsknowe)
10.50 Maureen McRobb(Kingsknowe)

Good scoring to all and also to Mairi Pollock of Craigmillar Park

Latest Results from Ramsden Cup

Here are the latest results from the third round of the Ramsden Cup - challenger's name showing first:



Liz Mclelland lost to Anne Brownie

May Hardy beat Sheena Crearie

Mary Davidson beat Rita Dee

Ray Lynch beat Sue Caton

Sylvia Cunninghame lost to Norma Richmond

Mhairi Stephen lost to Christine Clarke

Gilly Glen beat Sheila Little

Isobel Hastings beat Sandra Ashurst



Quarter-final draw to be played by July 7th:

Anne Brownie(Lothianburn) v May Hardy(Baberton)

Mary Davidson(Kingsknowe) v Ray Lynch(Murrayfield)

Norma Richmond(Murrayfield) v Christine Clarke(Deer Park)

Gilly Glen(Craigmillar Park) v Isobel Hastings(Murrayfield)

Have a good game.

Moira Wins East Vets Championship Final

Congratulations to Moira on winning the East Vets Championship. Moira Thomson (Gullane, left) and Ruth Brown (Lothianburn, right) played out their final at Haddington on Friday and it was a corker - a really great final. Captain Elise was the main (only) supporter but she certainly got her moneysworth.

Ruth started the way she planned to continue and drew first blood with a birdie 3 at the first hole but Moira retaliated almost immediately with a birdie at the third. Great start! A sign of things to come. Up to the 13th, the game had been very even with only one hole ever in it. Whereas conditions had been difficult with an almost gale-force wind coming straight over the Haddington chimney-pots, making it hard-going playing into the wind, it was an absolute lottery with the wind coming from the rear. By comparison, the tenth hole was almost a haven - emphasis on the 'almost'- being partially sheltered to the left by the trees. Such was the strength of the wind at the 11th, Moira's ball went through the back of the green, but she chipped back and holed the putt to go one up. Back against the elements at the ever-dangerous 12th, where the wind could easily alter the outcome of the hole by stearing an unwary ball to a watery grave, a very respectable half was achieved.

Then followed the diamond in the crown when both players birdied the next three holes. Certainly the wind was helpful at the long 13th and 15th but on the short 14th, it was full-on. Both used rescue woods to the most evil of pin positions - tucked behind the right hand bunker. Driving first, Moira played it safe, dropping the ball about 30 feet from the pin. Ruth then followed but although she gave the green a desultory wave, it trickled off the right hand slope, requiring a chip back on. This she did with a flourish, holing out for a birdie 2 ! Nothing daunted, Moira took up the challenge and proceeded to slot her own ball from 10 yards. A brave putt indeed!

At the 15th, Moira was on the green in two. Ruth chipped on, hitting the pin to stop dead for a gimme. Two putts from Moira produced the half. Still one up at this point, the 16th saw two good drives. Moira's slightly wayward chip went round the back of the green - the pin was to the front - but she calmly chipped back on to 10 feet and proceeded to hole out for yet another half.

The seventeenth, a hole deserving of respect at the best of times, was a little tricky with the fierce assisting wind. In all honesty neither hit the best of tee shot - understandable when possibly caution ruled together with a fair smattering of nerves- aware that a slightly off the mark tee-shot to a lethal right to left sloping green could spell disaster. However both managed to get on the dance floor. Uncharacteristically Ruth three -putted and it was all over. Moira had won 2 and 1. But what a final! Congratulations to both.

Moira is now on track for that Scroggie Cup.