Amateur trio head for Women's Open

Published on Tuesday 10 June 2008 22:56

SEVEN of the eight players in the GB & Ireland Curtis Cup team are in action this week at the British Women's Open amateur golf championship at North Berwick.

Carly Booth, Krystle Caithness and Michele Thomson will represent Scotland in the international team event, staged in conjunction with the stroke-play qualifying rounds. England have Curtis Cup trio Elizabeth Bennett, Jodi Ewart and Florentyna Parker, while Breanne Loucks represents Wales.

Female duo try for Scottish PGA

NICOLA Melville and Antonia Ffinch will attempt to become the first female golfers to play in the Scottish PGA championship when they compete in a pre-qualifying round at the Downfield club in Dundee today. Melville, a trainee pro at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, and her Aberdour counterpart Ffinch have taken advantage of an amendment to the PGA's ten per cent rule to challenge for a place in Scottish professional golf's oldest championship.

Garcia to renew Harrington battle

SERGIO Garcia and Padraig Harrington will do battle on British soil for the first time since their Open duel at Carnoustie last year in the European Open at The London Club in Kent on 3-6 July. Garcia and Harrington will be joined by defending champion Colin Montgomerie and reigning European Tour No 1 Justin Rose for the 2.4million event. The Spaniard will be making his first appearance in Europe since winning the Players Championship in Florida.

McNicoll leaps up amateur rankings

KEIR McNicoll's triumph in the St Andrews Links Trophy last weekend has pushed him up to second on the Scottish Golf Union's order of merit.

He now has 267.5 points and sits behind Wallace Booth, who leads the rankings with 337.50 points.

Standings: 1, W Booth (Comrie) 337.50; 2, K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 267.50; 3, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 247.50; 4, S McEwan (Caprington) 203.00; 5, P O'Hara (Colville Park) 197.50; 6, G Dear (Murrayshall) 170.00; 7, M Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) 170.00; 8, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 145.00; 9, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 142.50; 10>, C Elliot (Carrickvale), S Henry (Cardross) 125.00