Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Opens media day.
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Kelsey MacDonald, Catriona Matthew, Pamela Pretswell, Michele Thomson and USA’s Beth Allen attend Media Day

European Solheim Cup Captain, Catriona Matthew, leads the home challenge as four of Scotland’s finest golfers united today alongside America’s Beth Allen for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open Media Day at The Renaissance Club ahead of the tournament from 8 – 11 August.

The tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the LPGA and Ladies European Tour for the third year running, visits The Renaissance Club for the first time in 2019, just three weeks after the Men’s Scottish Open and is set to feature at least five local hopes.

Matthew, who lives in nearby North Berwick, is a two-time winner of the tournament and will be making her ninth appearance in her National open whilst Kelsey Macdonald also tees it up for the ninth time with her best finish coming in 2016 (T19).

Thomson, who enters as the second-highest ranked Scot in the 2019 LET Order of Merit, is joined by Pamela Pretswell Asher, who returns after 20 months on the side-lines following the birth of her first child and will be looking to re-create the form that saw her finish in fourth place in 2013.

Joining them as an honorary Scot for the day and taking part in an exploding golf ball stunt was Beth Allen. The American, who captured the 2016 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and ‘Player of the Year’ spoils, might hail from California but she has deep-seated Scottish ties having resided in Edinburgh for the last three years.

“I just love this place, Scotland is so magical” said Allen, who is also an Aberdeen Standard Investments ambassador. “Everything about Scottish golf gets me excited. I grew up playing in San Diego where you have to hit it high so playing in Scotland is a very different challenge but one that I enjoy. This will be my eighth consecutive appearance in this event and I’ll be hoping to use some of my knowledge of the area to my advantage this summer.”

The group of players are the latest to confirm participation in the 156-player field, competing for $1.5 million following the confirmation of defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn and reigning Women’s British Open champion, Georgia Hall.

Commenting on the day, Pretswell Asher, said, “It feels good to be back in the golfing fold. The last six months with my daughter Kirsty have been amazing but it feels exciting to be back in familiar territory and I am looking forward to competing against the best players in Scotland and some of the best in the world. I watched last year’s event on the TV and it was scary to see just how good some of the play was. It definitely motivated me to get my game back in good shape to compete this year. The tournament continues to grow and that is testament to the commitment from Aberdeen Standard Investments and Visit Scotland, who help put the spotlight on women’s golf here in Scotland.

Martin Gilbert, Chairman of Aberdeen Standard Investments, said, “I have watched this tournament grow from a National open to what it is today, a world-class golf event. Throughout that growth, we have always maintained the importance of recognising local talent and providing a platform for Scottish players to compete on a major golfing stage. This event is a great opportunity for all involved in our media day to showcase their ability to the world and we hope the Scottish fans get behind them at The Renaissance Club this summer.”

Paul Bush, Director of Events with VisitScotland, said, “We are delighted to support our home-grown talent at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.which is now considered a truly world-class event. It will be interesting to see if any of the Scottish talent here today can do something to turn the head of European Solheim Cup captain, Catriona Matthew, who has been a fantastic ambassador for Scottish golf over the last twenty years.”

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the final Solheim Cup qualifying event for Team Europe with the full team announced at Gleneagles on Monday 12th August. Team Europe captain, Catriona Matthew, will be expecting all Solheim Cup hopefuls to attend.

The 2019 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is FREE ENTRY with fun for all the family both on the course and within the spectator village.

For further championship and spectator information, please visit: https://ladiesscottishopen.com/

or follow us at @LadiesScottish #ASILSO.

The post Catriona Matthew Heads Scottish Challenge at Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open appeared first on Golf North.

Winner Scott Allison driving off the 1st in his final round at Gullane in The Links Cup East Lothian 2019

Scott Allison from Liberton Golf Club in Edinburgh took full advantage of playing on Scottish home soil to secure the silverware at this year’s Links Golf Cup East Lothian, played over four of East Lothian’s finest championship links courses.

Runner-up in the event last year, Allison recorded a total of 142 points over four rounds to lead the field of 108 players and became the first Scottish winner of the event since 2013 when the inaugural competition was staged.

To date no golfer has successfully defended a Links Golf Cup though the 2018 champion, Rob Seabrook of Pyecombe Golf Club in West Sussex, came close with a score of 139 to take second place whilst Tom Nunn of Tudor Park in Kent, City of Newcastle’s Keith Anderson and Phil Bedford of Little Lakes in Worcestershire shared third spot on 138.

One of three females in the field, Kate Docherty from Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland held an impressive seven-shot lead after the first two rounds after opening scores of 39 and 41, but then fell away to finish on 135 points, securing a credible 9^th position and the top spot amongst the ladies.

Gullane No1 – Hole 12

Played this year over the championship links at Gullane No 1, last year’s Scottish Open venue, Gullane No 2, Kilspindie and North Berwick from March 25 to 29, this hugely-popular amateur tournament with its 72-hole Individual Stableford format regularly attracts golfers of all different handicaps from all over the UK in the main.

However it was a team comprised of the only four Germans  in the field – Rudiger Hillert, Alex Schwendinger, Thomas Hoess and Michael Gebhard – who triumphed in the ‘Friends of the Links’ Team Competition sponsored by Mashie with the best three  scores each day making up the final team tally.

Rudiger Hillert with his hickory clubs, playing in The Links Cup East Lothian 2019

To his enduring credit, Rudiger Hillert of Rheintal Golf Club played the entire week with hickory clubs in full vintage golfing attire and finished a notable 13th overall with 133 points which included a fantastic score of 38 at North Berwick.

The Par 3 Challenge sponsored by the HIO-CLUB was won by Colin Murphy of Biggar Golf Club in South Lanarkshire, thanks to his combined scores over eight specially-selected par 3s over the week.

Plans are already under way for next year’s Links Golf Cup East Lothian, run and managed by experienced golf event organisers, Hybrid Golf, with entries for the 2020 event opening soon on www.linksgolfcup.co.uk. Alternatively interest can be registered by emailing andy@hybridgolf.co.uk.

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