Thomson dominates again at Northern Counties Women's Championship
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EMERGING with the Mary Benton Trophy as Northern Counties Women’s champion for a fifth time was Royal Dornoch’s Cara Thomson in the final that took place at Nairn Dunbar.
Thomson had won the title on four previous occasions as Cara Gruber, but recently married in St Andrews, it was her first success under her married name.
With two former winners in the field, but excluding last year’s champion Hannah McCook (Grantown-on-Spey), Thomson was a cut above the rest with her extra length advantage from the tee over the demanding women’s course at Nairn Dunbar.
She was, however, not the leading qualifier going into the match play stages, That honour went to ex-champion Mary Smith (Tain), who with a gross 77 was the only player to beat 80 against the women’s par of 75.
Smith’s sister Anne Ryan, who lost the 2011 final, was one of the three semi-finalists which left a Tain and Royal Dornoch last four with Smith facing Thomson, while Ryan took on Dornoch’s Alison Bartlett.
The Tain members were both losers on the 17th green, leaving an all-Dornoch final where just three holes were exchanged over the first 11 played.
On the 11th green, Bartlett showed her first sign of weakness on short putts — a miss from three feet — to go one behind, but she won back the next hole after Thomson drove out of bounds.
Scottish internationalist Bartlett had a chance to go ahead again, but missed from under four feet on the 14th green, before a three putt at the next green meant she now trailed by one.
Thomson eventually secured victory on the 17th, her bogey five enough to clinch the prize as Bartlett was once more found wanting with the putter.
Meanwhile, two Inverness members — June Nicol and Hazel Flynn — made it through to the handicap semi-finals from where the former won through to the final after an extra hole.
Nine handicapper Nicol, however, lost to Barbara Grant (Forres), who won the Chetham Trophy after 17 holes.
There was also an encouraging performance from 15-yearold Abbie Cruden. The Nairn Dunbar member produced a three below nett par 72 to lead the handicap qualifiers, before then making it through to the semi-finals.
* Nairn Golf Club retained the G. R. Thomson Shield after clinching the Moray and Nairn Golf League fixtures title for the third year in succession following wins over Nairn Dunbar, Moray, Forres and Elgin.
KELSEY MacDonald managed to make the cut on her debut as a professional at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open in Antalya.
Opening rounds of 76 and 77 left the 22-year-old four over par, but she recovered with rounds of 72 and 74 to finish one over par and in a share of 31st place
"The National Golf Club course in Turkey was very tough if you did not keep it on the fairways and I was very happy to make cut," said MacDonald.
"Rachel Drummond was a great help to me. She missed the cut and volunteered to caddie for me, which really helped in posting two solid scores.
"All in all, I was very happy with my first tournament as a pro."
Meanwhile, MacDonald will be making her debut in Scotland as a professional in the Paul Lawrie Ladies Tour events at Downfield and Carnoustie (2nd-3rd July), and Blairgowrie and Alyth (11-12th July).
