UPS AND DOWNS

Alex scored 2 over in the first round yesterday and put himself right back in the hunt in round 4 with birdies on 2,3 and 4 but dropped back down the field and eventually finished tied 26. Great 3 days and  he now heads off to the English under 16's in a confident mood. 

Kirsty and Jasmine won their foursomes match against Slovakia but it wasn't enough as Scotland lost 3.5 to 1.5. She had one more match tomorrow before heading home and will be hoping to pick up another point.

QUICK UPDATE

Alex finished tied 14th today and is only 2 shots off the top 10 and 6 back off the leaders. We wish him all the best for the 2 rounds tomorrow. 

Kirsty will play match play tomorrow in the 2nd Flight as Scotland failed to qualify for the 1st flight. 

Amy asked me along for a practice tonight and delighted to say she is back playing and managed 9 holes with no ill effects, she particularly enjoyed my eagle on the 11th and my birdies on 13 and 15.

Also great to see our newest recruit Emily out practicing on the short game area. 

ALEX SHOWS HIS CLASS

With an early start Alex got his 2nd round underway this morning and after a 3 over par front nine as he said "found something in his swing" and came back in 3 under par, including 4 birdies. A level par 71 gives him a total of 143 which currently has him tied 9th and with the top 40 and tied cut projected at 4 over he can relax and get ready for the final 2 rounds tomorrow. He is currently top Scot and has an Austrian, 4 French, a New Zealander, an Argentinian, a Turk, an Italian and an English boy keeping him company at the top of the leader board.

At Murrayshall yesterday Kirsten banked her first prize money when coming 1st nett in the Girls section of their Junior Open, yet another success.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY FOR STRATHMORE

Alex continued his great run of form at West Lothian today. Playing in the Scottish Boys under 16 Open he shot a 1 over par 72 to finish day one tied 9th and joint top Scot in the field. With the top 40 qualifying for the cut he has played himself into a very strong position. 

At Dunblane Megan lost 3&1 to Laura Walker in the North of Scotland scratch match play but should be proud of her achievement of making the last 16 and taking the match to the 17th.

In Norway at the European Girls Championship Kirsty and the Scottish team finished day one in 10th position. 

Amy visited to tell she had been given the all clear to start playing again and has been fitted with insoles to sort her foot problem and messaged tonight to organise some practice times.

Finally I had the pleasure to meet our 14th new member this season, Emily Dickens. A very warm welcome from us all.

Press report - 

Three Scots in top 10 at Global Golf Post 

Scottish U16 boys' open championship

France's Thomas Boulanger was the first round leader with a three-under-par 68 after a long opening day of action at the Global Golf Post Scottish U16 boys' open championship at West Lothian Golf Club.

The garcon from Cannes-Cougin birdied the first, seventh, 13th and 17th, dropping only one shot, at the second. He leds by one from the far travelled New Zealander with the exotic name of Markopolo Fullepp.

Top Scots, tied ninth on the one-over-par 72 mark are Jake Edgecombe (Baberton), Alex Simpson (Strathmore) and Kirkhill's Lewis Irvine.

Edgecombe had a pair of 2s on his card - at the 11th and 18th short holes. Simpson birdied two par-5 holes, the 12th and 14th, while Irvine had a double bogey 5 at the short 11th.

GLOBAL GOLF POST SCOTTISH U16 BOYS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

West Lothian Golf Club

FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 71. SSS 71. CSS 71

68 T Boulander (Fra)

69 M Fullepp (NZ)

70 M Fernandez de Oliveira (Arg), D Schneider (Aut), W Skipp (Eaglescliffe), B Brown (Hallamshire).

SCOTS' SCORES

71 J Edgecombe (Baberton), A Simpson (Strathmore), L Irvine (Kirkhill) (T9)

NORTH OF SCOTLAND LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Well done Megan who qualified 14th Scratch at Dunblane today and she plays Laura Walker in tomorrow's first round.

Alex heads off to West Lothian tomorrow for the 1st round of the Scottish Boys under 16 Open with a cut for the top 40 and tied after 36 holes on Wednesday.

Kirsty tees it up for Scotland in Norway tomorrow in the first round of the European Team Championship. 

Good luck to all 3.

DIFFERENT CLASS

Alex proved today he is different class by retaining his P&K under 16 Championship at Dunkeld by 10 shots and also won the Summer Meeting against all age groups by 7 shots !!!! His score of 68 was 2 under the CSS and this must surely be a record winning margin and what a tremendous result. Megan shot a superb 79 and was good enough for 4th scratch and she was the best girl by 12 shots. 

What an amazing day again for Strathmore Juniors 

NEXT STOP NORWAY

Sent Kirsty and Hazel a good luck message, great to see 1 current and 1 past junior member heading off to represent Scotland. Couldn't be prouder of what Strathmore Juniors have achieved up to now.