Scottish Golf defends national champion snub

Scottish Golf has defended the decision to leave Ailsa Summers, the Scottish champion, out of the side for next week's Women's Internationals at Conwy in Wales.

Ailsa Summers won the Scottish Women's Championship at West Kilbride in June

Performance director Steve Paulding said the team had been picked on performances in a series of ranking events, not just the tournament won by Carnoustie Ladies player Summers at West Kilbride in June.

“Ailsa Summers, the reigning Scottish Women’s Amateur champion, was available for selection for the event,” said Paulding in a statement on the Scottish Golf website issued in response to comments about the 22-year-old’s omission from the .

“However, we currently have a good group of players to select from and, on this occasion, we felt other players were stronger, with performances in other ranking events to back that up.

“Although disappointed at not being selected, Ailsa understands that this is no slight on her and that winning the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship does not guarantee selection for the Home Internationals.

“Work commitments restrict Ailsa in being able to practice and compete more regularly and consistently, however we commend her decision to follow her career rather than play full-time golf.

“She maintains the drive and ambition to compete for Scotland in the future and is more than capable of achieving that.

“We have a published selection document which outlines our criteria and I’m comfortable that we have applied the principles within it. Team selections are generally difficult with tough choices to make and players will always be disappointed in being left out.

“However, we always select teams with the aim of winning events with the strongest side possible. There will always be debate, but we believe we have a good track record, evidenced by back-to-back European Men’s Amateur Team Championship successes. As a governing body, we remain committed to raising standards and achieving success at national and international level.”

Scotland team for Ladies’ Home Internationals

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm, 23)

Chloe Goadby (St Regulus, 18)

Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies, 19)

Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies, 22)

Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey, 23)

Heather Munro (Monifieth, 20)

Clara Young (North Berwick, 19)

Scotland team for Girls’ Home Internationals

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride, 16)

Jillian Farrell (Cardross, 16)

Joanne Free (Gullane Ladies, 18)

Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies, 16)

Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead, 16)

Shannon McWilliam, Aboyne, 16)

Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle, 15)