Golf: Ladies of the Lothians to fore in Wales

Published on Tuesday 7 September 2010 07:14

SCOTLAND'S hopes of winning golf's Women's Home Internationals this week could hinge on a strong Lothians link in Wales.

Lesley Nicholson is captaining the team again, as she did when the Scots were pipped for the title by Wales in Ayrshire 12 months ago. Mortonhall's Clare Hargan, the team manager on that occasion, has since stepped down from the role due to her full-time work commitments these days with the SLGA.

But she's been succeeded by Nicholson's East Lothian colleague Hilary Wardell, who was Hilary Monaghan when she lifted the Scottish title in 1995.

Between them, the pair have bags of experience and they've headed for Wales with high hopes of bringing the Miller Trophy back to Scotland for the first time since 1991.

The eight-strong Scottish team at Whitchurch also includes two Lothians representatives.

Craigielaw's Jane Turner, a member of last year's side, has retained her place for the four-cornered event and she's been joined on this occasion by Rachael Watton, the Mortonhall teenager who is one of the rising stars in Scottish golf.

Also on duty at the Cardiff course are Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and Martine Pow (Selkirk), the latter having earned a recall at the age of 45.

The Scots open their campaign tomorrow against the hosts, face England on Thursday and will still be aiming to be in the title hunt when they take on Ireland on Friday.

MacDonald and Kenney will head into the event on a high after being named along with Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) to represent Scotland in the Espirito Santo Trophy in Argentina at the end of October while Turner has been chosen as the reserve.

"There is absolutely no reason why we can't win the title," said Nicholson, who led the Scots to a bronze medal at this summer's European Championships in Spain.

"This has been a super year for Scotland's amateur women and I think we will do really well in Argentina.

"Kelsey has had an amazing year, Louise won six out of six at the Europeans and Sally has had a hugely successful season on the US college circuit.

"It is a very good team and I think that conditions in Argentina should suit our team."

"This has been a super year for Scotland's amateur women and I think we'll do really well" lesley nicholson