Tuesday, June 08, 2010

ALYSON , EILIDH AND NATASHA ALL DO WELL IN THE SCOTTISH SHOOLGIRLS STROKEPLAY

GOLF COPY AND SCORES
CREDIT DAVID BEGG SPORTS
QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON

JULIE YANG SLASHES SEVEN STROKES OFF MURRAYSHALL RECORD IN SCHOOLS GOLF

Fourteen-year-old Loretto School, Musselburgh pupil Julie Yang lived up to her billing as a world golf star in the making with an incredible record-slashing round at Murrayshall, near Perth YESTERDAY (Monday).
Competing in the Paul Lawrie Scottish schools golf championships, South Korean-born Julie returned a nine-under-par 64 over the Murrayshall No 1 course, SEVEN strokes better than the previous women’s course record of 71.
She required only 24 putts as she marked up one eagle (at the ninth), nine birdies (first, third, sixth, eighth, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th), and two bogeys (at the seventh and 10th).
“My putting has not been very good since I won the Welsh women’s open title last month but I think these Murrayshall greens were made for me. The speed of them was just perfect,” said Julie who did not have any putts at all at the 16th where she holed a 40ft chip from off the green. Her halves of 32 were five under for the outward journey and four under for the inward half.
Yet the so talented youngster did not get back home from finishing joint fifth in the Irish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship at Dublin at the weekend until midnight on Sunday night and was on the tee at Murrayshall just a few hours later at 8am Monday morning.
Julie had a par-matching round of 69 over the shorter Lynedoch course to give her a nine-under-par total of 133.
“I like Scotland and the golf courses – but not the weather,” said Julie who was transferred from her previous Phoenix, Arizona base to Loretto School by her parents last September so that she could gain valuable experience of European conditions courses with a view to becoming a tour professional as soon as she completes her education.
Although Yang will not be able to play for the Scotland girls team during her four years at Loretto, she is eligible to play for the Scottish schools against the English schools in the annual international at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire in September.
She won the Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolgirls title at the first attempt by 12 shots from Hannah McCook (Highland) who had rounds of 75 and 70 for 145.
Alyson McKechin pipped her Renfrewshire team-mate and county champion Eilidh Briggs for third place. Eilidh had a definite edge with a first-round 70 over the shorter course but she drifted to an 80 over Murrayshall for 150 to finish fourth. Alyson, with a morning 77 and a second-round 71, slipped past into third place on 148.

In the team event only two girls were required to make up a team in their category and Julie Yang and Lesley Atkins, both pupils at Loretto School’s Golf Academy and representing East Lothian schools, won that trophy by 14 shots from runners-up Renfrewshire Alyson McKechin and Eilidh Briggs.
Forth Valley’s Tiffiny Wood and Nicola Robertson finished third.
The girls’ section also had a Paul Lawrie Salver handicap prize for the best net 36-hole aggregate. It was won by Tegan Seivwright (Aberdeen City) with a net total of 134 (65-69) off 11 of a handicap.
Second was Natasha Qayum (Renfrewshire) on 137 (63-74) off seven.
Hannah Scott (City of Aberdeen) came third, after a countback, with 138 (69-69) off seven.
The Scottish schools team of 12 boys and six girls for the match against the English schools at Fairhaven on Monday, September 13 will be finalised by the Scottish Schools Golf Association once they know who is available for selection and who is not. It is roughly based on the leading finishers in the championship at Murrayshall.

PAUL LAWRIE SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Murrayshall House Hotel, near Perth.

GIRLS’ LEADING SCORES (Par 142)

Lynedoch (par 69) first, Murrayshall (par 73) second.
CSS 68 73.
133 Julie Yang (East Lothian) 69 64.
145 Hannah McCook (Highland) 75 70.
148 Alyson McKechin (Renfrewshire) 77 71.
150 Eilidh Briggs (Renfrewshire) 70 80.
151 Lesley Atkins (East Lothian) 74 77, Gabrielle MacDonald (City of Edinburgh) 73 78, Natasha Qayum (Renfrewshire) 70 81.
152 Rachael Watton (City of Edinburgh) 76 76, Hannah Scott (City of Edinburgh) 76 76, Claire Prouse (Aberdeen City) 72 80, Kimberley Beveridge (South Aberdeenshire) 78 74, Gillian Scanlan (South Lanarkshire) 75 77.
153 Kate McIntosh (Midlothian) 78 75, Megan Clyne (Aberdeen City) 78 75, Alison Goodwin (Forth Valley) 73 80.
154 Mhairi McKay (North Ayrshire) 73 81.
155 Ailsa Summers (Dundee City) 77 78, Jessica Meek (Angus) 76 79, Eilidh Watson (Forth Valley) 75 79.
156 Lauren Whyte (Fife) 78 78, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Galloway) 77 79, Hannah Robb (Aberdeen City) 76 80, Rachel Polson (Aberdeen City) 78 78.
158 Linsey Stevenson (Glasgow) 80 78.
159 Shannen McGuire (Fife) 79 80, Katie Reid (Dundee City) 77 82.