LIMBERING UP FOR RACE TO KINGSBARNS BEGINS IN EARNEST

Strathmore have 4 players already entered out of a field of 22. 

Brad Bannerman
Tod Bannerman
Conor Hughes
Marcus Ryan

All players with full congu handicaps can enter and be part of this years P&K initiative. Lets help make it a success.  

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Tonight at Strathmore we played the City of Perth's combined team of Craigie Hill & Murrayshall and through 6 holes we were down in 3 matches. Michael who was 2 down turned it round with birdies at 9,10 &12 and went on to win 5&3. Alex who was always ahead won 3&2 and Brad who had been 4 up had to hole a 6ft putt on 18 to get a half. Kirsty was all square after 15 but lost 16 & 17 to lose out 2&1 and Tod was heading up the last 1 down. His opponent was first to play into the green and just missed the green to the right pin high, Tod hit a tremendous iron onto the green but the slope took it away from the pin and left him to play first and his putt rolled up to 2ft. His opponent only needed a half but ran his putt from of the green 10ft past and came up short with the return leaving Tod to hole out from 2ft which he duly did and gave the team the 1/2 point needed to secure a 3&2 win and the great escape. Players player of the day was shared between Brad and Tod. With 2 matches remaining against the bottom 2 teams Crieff (away) and Blairgowrie (home) we should easily make the top 4 and need other teams to take points from Muckhart if we are to be seeded 1. The team showed a lot of character tonight and I believe there is no reason why we cannot go all the way this season and know the team believe the same. They were dissappointed tonight because it wasn't 5 v 0 !!               

SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY

Michael Brodie tied 28th at Cardrona in the Stephen Gallacher Foundation trophy today whilst Kirsty Brodie tied 21st in the Munross trophy at Montrose. In the Cash for Kids mixed open at Strathmore Alex Simpson and his partner Laura Walker ran out convincing winners by 4 shots with a gross 68 - superb score.

Next up scratch league match on Tuesday night at home against Craigie Hill/Murrayshall.   

ANOTHER AMAZING DAY

Ben Anderson shot 90, net 55 !!!! (17 below par) to reduce his club handicap from 35 to a full congu of 25 a 10 shot reduction in  one round. He will soon become the latest member of the 80's club and his handicap will tumble even more. I knew this would happen and our scratch league team will soon have a new member. Amy Mitchell reduced her handicap again from 20 to 19 and Alex Simpson took another 0.1 off his handicap.
Michael Brodie made the cut at the 54 hole Stephen Gallacher at Cardrona unfortunately Brad Bannerman missed out. Roll on tomorrow when Michael tries to move up the field and Kirsty Brodie plays in the 36 hole Munross Trophy at Montrose, our best wishes to both of them. 

MATCH PLAY UPDATE FROM SCOTTISH LADIES

Kirsty lost out this morning but should be pleased at taking Lesley Atkins to the 16th hole, this should give her a massive confidence boost for the rest of the season. Not only can she play at this level but now she knows she can also compete. Well done and well deserved because of all the hard work and practice Kirsty puts into her game.
Just had a text from Kirsty saying "although disappointed losing out today I played well and that this weeks scores have got me back down to 5"

PRIZEWINNER KIRSTY

Left to right: Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore), Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Alison Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).

Kirsty won the best net aggregate score at Prestwick in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Ladies Championship. Picture is courtesy of Colin Farquharson. Match play stages commence the morning.  
Full list of prize winners is as follows:

Beddows Memorial Trophy (lowest gross score in first qualifying round) - Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 73.

Runner-up - Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 better inward half
St Andrews Quaich (best net scores in first qualifying round) - Nicholas Ferguson (Milngavie) (2) 76.
Runner-up - Rachael Walker (Dumfries and Co) (1) 77.
Eglinton Quaich (lowest gross team aggregate in first qualifying round) - Kilmacolm 157 (Eilidh Briggs 78, Megan Briggs 79).
Grainger Cup (lowest net team aggregate) - Kilmacolm 161 (Eilidh Briggs (+3) 81, Megan Briggs (+1) 80).
Baby Quaich (lowest individual scratch score in Eglinton Quaich) - Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 better inward half.

Glover 21st Anniversary Cup (lowest gross score in Round 2) - Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 72; runner-up Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 (better last 3)

Lyon Salver (best net score in Round 2) - Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) (3) 74; runner-up Joanne Free (Gullane) (7) 75.

Margaret Scoular-Buchanan Cup (lowest aggregate gross) - Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 149 (73-76)

McInnes Shaw Cup (lowest aggregate net) - Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) (6) 153 (77-76).

St Rule Salver (lowest aggregate gross by Under-21 player) - Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 149 (73-76).

Dunlop Hill Trophy (past champions' gross score Round 2) - Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75.

McNeil Trophy (lowest team gross total Round 1) - Renfrewshire (Eilidh Briggs, Megan Briggs, Nichola Ferguson).

 

DREAM BECOMES REALITY

Kirsty Brodie became our latest record breaker and how. Playing in the Scottish Ladies' (Close) Amateur Championship 2014 at Prestwick, after yesterday's round of 83 she went one better with an 82 and qualified tied 20th for the last 32 knockout stages, the first ever Strathmore member ever to do so. This must rank as one of Strathmore juniors greatest achievements and to qualify as a 14 year old is incredible. 
Knockout stages starts tomorrow and I have told Kirsty just go out with confidence and enjoy herself as the pressure of qualifying is off and in match play anything can happen. Playing match play in Junior Bell, Scratch league for both junior and ladies will stand her in great stead and from here on in everything is a bonus. Expect the unexpected and just play your own game. 

 

 

SCOREBOARD AT PRESTWICK

100th SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire

MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 148 (2x74) CSS 79 (round 1), 78 (round 2)
149 C Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 73 76
153 A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 72
154 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 79 75, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 77, A McKechin (Elderslie) 77 77
155 R Walker (Dumfries and Co) 78 77, C Young (North Berwick) 77 78
156 L Whyte (St Regulus) 81 75
158 N Ferguson (Milngavie) 78 80
159 G MacDonald (Craigielaw) 79 80
161 K Marshall (Baberton) 84 77, L Atkins (Gullane) 84 77
162 R Polson (Peterculter) 81 81, J Graham (Southerness) 81 81, E Moffat (St Regulus) 79 83
164 L MacGregor (Glenbervie) 84 80, H McCook (Grantown on Spey) 84 80, H MacGarvie (Troon Ladies) 82 82, K McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 87
165 S McWilliam (Aboyne) 88 77, K Brodie (Strathmore) 83 82, Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 82 83, N Stephen (Wentworth) 82 83
166 C Thompson (Royal Dornoch) 84 82, K Beveridge (Aboyne) 82 84, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 80 86
167 C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 86 81
168 K Wright (Stranraer) 81 87
169 L D'Ambrosio (Carluke) 89 80, E Watson (Muckhart) 85 84, J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 84 85
170 (after play-off) J Finnie (Troon Ladies) 87 83

MATCH-PLAY DRAW

8.30am

Jaffrey v Finnie

MacGregor v McCook

Ferguson v Thompson

Beveridge v Whyte

McKechin v Wright

Brodie v Atkins

Polson v McWilliam

D'Ambrosio v E Briggs

M Briggs v Watson

McIntosh v Graham

Marshall v Stephen

Robertson v Walker

Young v Sheena Wood

Susan Wood v MacDonald

Moffat v MacGarvie

Meek v Summers

 

        

SCOTTISH LADIES (CLOSE) AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Kirsty Brodie is tied 22nd at the end of day one and should go into day 2 with great confidence knowing that the same again tomorrow would see her qualify for the knock out stages. "Keep thinking positive and dreams can become reality"

100th SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire
Par 74 (38-36)
73 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 39-34
77 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 38-39,
Clara Young (North Berwick) 39-38, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 39-38
78 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 41-37, Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) 42-36, Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie) 39-39
79 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 44-35, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 40-39, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 39-40
80 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 42-38
81 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 42-39, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 42-39, Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 40-41, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 42-39, Katie Wright (Stranraer) 41-40
82 Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Noni Stephen (Wentworth), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Hazel Macgarvie (Troon Ladies)
83 Alison McBride (Harburn), Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore).
84 Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Lesley Atkins (Gullane), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Karen Marshall (Baberton), Louise MacGregor (Glenbervie), Cara Thompson (Royal Dornoch), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ellie Bryce (Strathaven).
85 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe)
86 Jennifer Saxton (Kinross), Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), Gale Macpherson (Loudoun Gowf), Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies), Carol Whyte (Milngavie), Margo Gardner (Linlithgow).
87 Linzi Allan (West Kilbride), Georgia Coughlin (Fairhaven), Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies), Jillian Farrell (Cardross), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Leanne Wilson (Kelso), Lindsay Mathie (Troon Ladies)
88 Sammy Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe), Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), Pat Hutton (Lanark), Katie Malcolm (Dumfries and Co).
89 Lauren D'Ambrosio (Carluke), Joanne Free (Gullane), Tara Mactaggart (Minto), Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle).
90 Nicola Robertson (Stirling), Karen Ferguson (Liberton)
91 Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth), Linda McDougall (Greenock)
92 Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ruth Rankin (Lanark), Kirsten Brown (Strathaven), Sandra Goldie (Eastwood), Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), Lauren Lee (Musselburgh), Stacey Cameron (Gullane Ladies)
93 Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse), Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle), Emma Wilson (Elie and Earlsferry), Katie Scott (Strathaven)
94 Isla Moncrieff (Pitlochry), Gail Thomoson (Ayr Belleisle), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Dawn Young (North Berwick), Diane Moncrieff (Lochend).
95 Heather Munro (Carnoustie Ladies), Emma Caddow (Strathaven), Fiona Scott (Bothwell Castle), Linda Bain (Lochend), Kirsty Burgess (Silverknowes).
96 Rosalind Purdom (Prestwick St Nicholas), Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle), Charlotte Munro (Gullane), Angela Devine (Hamilton), Beth Paterson (Eastwood).
98 Rachael Livingstone (Craigmillar Park), Bobbi Waugh (Moor Hall).
99 Lesley Barker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Alison Melvin-Finch (Hirsel).
100 Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert), Heather Anderson (Troon Ladies)
101 Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk)
102 Suzanne Ireland (Prestonfield)
105 Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Elizabeth Irvine (Alford)
114 Mandy McBain (Turnhouse), Mary Miller (Blairgowrie), Fiona Findlay (Lochend)
115 Lynn Cackett (Broomieknowe).
117 Angela Joss (Alford), Lesley McTaggart (East Kilbride)
122 Rachel Irvine (Largs)
124 Eileen Gillelspie (Lochend)
Withdrew: Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).
No Returns: Fiona Farquharson (King James VI), Elizabeth Hale (Caldwell).

KIRSTY HEADS WEST

Our best wishes go with Kirsty as she plays in the first round of the Scottish Ladies' Amateur Championship at Prestwick from May 20-24.

STRATHMORE PROGRESS IN JUNIOR BELL

Today we hosted King James VI and with a 4 1/2 v 1/2 lead we only needed 1 more point to progress to the knock out stages. Tod Bannerman won 3&2, Marcus Ryan won 1 up and Conor Hughes won 6&5 and with 2 conceded matches the final score was 9 1/2 v 1/2. We look forward to the draw and hopefully a home tie. Conor was voted player of the day.
With Callum Ewan unavailable, Amy Mitchell and Ben Anderson our other squad members and I decided to play a match at the end of the draw and Kirsty Brodie who was down for a practice made up a 4. Sheena Lamond helped with the draw and a boys v girls match took place. Brilliant fun and a 2&1 win for the boys. Again I was impressed both with the result and the standard of play our juniors are achieving. 2014 is just getting better and better.
      

BUSY WEEK WITH A SILVER LINING

Amy Mitchell came along on Monday night to work on her chipping and having spent an hour on playing a variety of different shots with a range of clubs I was convinced she can now go ahead and take her game to another level. Next up was 2 Junior coaching sessions with some really impressive swings. Thursday saw Michael Brodie lead the way in the 2nd club championship qualifier with a gross 74 and Conor Hughes a nett 69 in the handicap section. Friday and Sophie Patterson was delighted to take temporary ownership of one of my old trolleys to assist with her new set of clubs. Saturday and Joshua Davies became our latest junior to take up the club hire scheme and is delighted with his new set.

Then off to Muckhart for our 3rd scratch league match against probably our toughest opponents this year and a great performance ensued. Michael won convincingly 6&5, Brad followed with a 5&4 and we needed something from one of the other 3 matches. Alex was always behind but got it back to 1 down after 10 but his opponent responded and he lost 5&3. Kirsty was 4 down and won 3 holes in a row to get it back to 1 down but lost out 4&2 and Tod who was playing an opponent who the night before had played for the Muckhart's gents scratch league team should be proud of his effort and losing 5&4 was a decent result. With Strathmore and Muckhart being the 2 strongest teams in the county this year we can take a lot of positives out of today's match. Obviously playing at home is a huge advantage and the next time we play them will be on neutral territory and I know our players will be up to the challenge and I believe that we can reverse todays score and am proud of how our team performed today. It rained most of the match but as the say every cloud has a silver lining and it was Amy who provided it with a superb net 68 playing in the Summer league at Strathmore. This reduces her handicap to 20 and takes her into the SILVER division. Well done and the next target is an 18 handicap followed by 14 by the end of the season and there is no reason why it cannot be achieved. Tod asked me to assist with his putting and we did a little work today and with practise I can see Tod become our next single figure handicapper in the near future. Roll on tomorrow and the 2nd leg of our Bell Trophy match.            

JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY BUT WHAT FUN AND WHAT A FUTURE

Our 1st leg match in the Bell Trophy took place today at King James VI. I arrived early and so did our team and we spent an hour and a half on the putting green. Marcus was first up to the challenge and playing the 6 hole course he lost out 4 rounds to 1. Conor was next up and also lost out as did Amy but all 3 of them will be determined to beat me the next time which was the object of the exercise. Callum, Tod and Ben are next !!! Unfortunately King James VI could only field 3 players but allowed us to take up the tee times so Ben Anderson making his debut joined me in taking on Amy and Connor. Tod led the team out and giving away 12 shots secured a great 1/2. Marcus after a shaky start fought back to win 3&2 (for those who haven't played the course before the first tee shot can be daunting if you hit a draw !) Callum won convincingly 9&7 securing a 4 1/2 v 1/2 win and with the home leg to come we will progress to the the next knock out stages. Ben who would have had to play off 28 and I took on Amy and Connor in a better ball match and it turned out to be a cracker. In a closely fought match Ben and I came down the last 1 up and with Ben and Amy stroking the match was finally balanced until Ben holed a 20 footer for a 4 nett 3 to secure the win. Callum was awarded player of the day and rightly so, as Captain he is credit to the section and deserves the respect he has from his team mates. Tod made an excellent speech.
I see so much potential in these youngster and can only see Strathmore juniors becoming stronger and more successful and know that the our future is secure with such talented players.
Next up tomorrow is Amy's chipping and once that's sorted we will need to sit down and discuss new targets again.
If any other players need assistance with any aspect of their game just give me a call. Chipping and PUTTING are my specialities so if anyone wants to lower their scores then let me know. Practice makes perfect and with this part of the game being more than 50% of your scores it's the only way to improve.

SATURDAY'S UPS AND DOWNS

Disappointment for Kirsty Brodie as she lost her last 16 match at P&K ladies match play at Auchterarder on the 19th hole but she should be proud to have made the knock out stages for the first time and her 72 in qualifying had her seeded 4th so a lot of positives to take from the week.
Didn't have to wait long for Amy Mitchell's new driver to prove me right again with a net 71 she is now only 1 shot away from her first target of being a silver division player. 5 shots off her handicap since 19th April !!! Wow.
Marcus Ryan won the Medal today with a net 70 and will soon be seeing another handicap cut.
As Jackie Moran and myself had forgotten to sign up for the ladies and gents competitions we joined the juniors in a team event where the best 2 nett scores counted and Jackies team of Alex Simpson and Conor Hughes returned a score of 142, 2 under par. My team of Amy and Marcus scored 133, 9 under to take the honours. Brilliant fun.
Looking forward now to a trip to King James VI for the first leg of our Bell Trophy match - Brad Bannerman will lead the team out with Marcus, Callum Ewan, Conor, Amy and Ben Anderson who is making his debut.      
            

ANOTHER EXCITING WEEK

Last Saturday Dawn and I hosted an end of season party for Eve Muirhead and were delighted when she told us she had brought her Olympic Bronze medal along, it weighs a ton. She was really pleased to hear how well our juniors were performing and I am sure the inspirational talk she gave us a couple of years ago may have helped. Eve is also a former P&K Ladies County Golf Champion and along with Dawn Butchart, current holder Emily Ogilvy, Laura Walker, Carol Muir and Jillian Milne we had 6 former winners in attendance and our best wishes go to Kirsty Brodie and Dawn who represent Strathmore tomorrow in this years last 16 at Auchterarder..
We welcomed another new member, our 6th this year, when Moya Craig joined and started her coaching tonight. Look forward to seeing her progress and also met up with the others Owen Voice, Cameron Voice, Frankie Kennedy, Jordan Hart and Sophie Patterson who also became our 3rd junior to join the Drumderg club hire scheme.
Last night I joined Marcus Ryan and Conor Hughes and we played the points game. Giving 9 shots to them was a tall order but experience paid off and I am sure that both boys will be reducing their handicaps very soon especially with a bit of short game practise. We had brilliant fun and I was very impressed with their ball striking off the tee but remember the old saying "drive for show but putt for dough" Final score 39,36 &33 - close game.
Amy Mitchell is now ready to take another step forward after she proved to herself tonight that her new driver was a superior club to her old driver - 5 yellow balls on the fairway covered by 10 yds compared to 5 white balls shorter and only one on the short stuff made it simple. She will now be hitting into greens with up to 4 clubs less! Love it when I'm proved right and can't wait to see the results.
Disappointingly we have been conceeded our Bell trophy match by King James VI as they cannot field a full team but we have accepted their invitation to take our squad along for a game on Sunday to give our players the opportunity to play the course and gain vital experience for the future.
I feel momentum building up and can't wait to see what happens next ?
            
         

4th QUALIFIER POSITION CONFIRMED

By scoring 72 only bettered by a 70, 71 and 72 with a better inward half - Kirsty Brodie has been seeded 4th in the last 16 of the P&K ladies match play to take place on Saturday and Sunday this week. She will go into the weekend with confidence and in great form.    

WITHIN A WEEK OF MY PREDICTION KIRSTY BRODIE DOES IT IN STYLE

Got a call today from a very excited Kirsty who had played in the qualifing round of the P&K ladies championship at Auchterarder after she shot a 2 over par 72. I am so pleased for her and the fact she achieved this playing at another course is testament that her game has now moved to a different level. Becoming a category 1 player was a target and being achieved I now know Kirsty will start to believe "Think positive and your dreams can become reality"  The things we worked on the last couple of weeks are certainly paying off and new goals now need to be set, starting with this weekends match play.

Draw below

9.04 S Crolla v L. McGraw

9.12 E Watson v F Ramsay

9.20 N Robertson v K Duncan

9.28 C Muir v K Brodie

9.36 J Saxton v D Butchart

9.44 H Wylie v J Milne

9.52 G Lambie v L Walker

10.00 A Walker v E Ogilvy

 

Good luck to Kirsty and Dawn who both made the last 16.

 

  

KIRSTY BRODIE AND AMY MITCHELL DOUBLE DELIGHT

Both girls did themselves proud yesterday by winning their matches with their partners 7&6 and 5&4 respectively against Fife at Burntisland and helped P&K to a great away win.
Kirsty and Alex Simpson also did well today in the mini foursomes at Pitlochry finishing 3rd.
Michael Brodie played in the Champion of Champions at Blairgowrie today and finished 6th.  

WELL DONE KIRSTY BRODIE AND AMY MITCHELL

Over the last couple of weeks both girls asked me to assist them with aspects of their games they were looking to improve on and I am delighted to report that they have made tremendous progress. Kirsty won the Ladies Barnardo's event with her best score of the season so far reducing her handicap and is now just one good round away from being a category 1 player. Amy has taken 4 shots off her handicap and is now only 2 shots away from becoming a silver division player and has also been selected to represent Perth and Kinross in a match against Fife at Burntisland. I know both girls will achieve their individual goals very soon and new targets will need to be set and worked towards. "Think positive and your dreams can become reality"