AYRSHIRE LADIES COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION - Watt remains on course after leading qualifiers

Debbie Watt (Belleisle Ladies), who won the Silver King Trophy as top qualifier on Tuesday, is through to Thursday's semi finals of the Ayrshire ladies County Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie).

Watt, playing in the County Championship for the first time, led the way with 77 in the qualifying round, one ahead of A.L.C.G.A. Honorary member and host club player, Alison Gemmill, who was playing in the championship for the first time in a number of years, and bidding to add to her numerous wins in the event during the 1980's and 1990's.

The qualifiers for the match play stages were:

77 - Debbie Watt (Belleisle ladies)
78 - Alison Gemmill (Kilmarnock Barassie)
80 - Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn), Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies),
Margaret Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie), Morag McQueen (Largs)
81 - Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert)
84 - Greta Smith (Ardeer), Sharon lambie (Troon Ladies)
85 - Morag McPherson (Turnberry)
86 - Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
87 - Gail Thomson (Belleisle Ladies)
88 - Liz Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie)
89 - Rosalyn Purdom (Prestwick St. Nicholas), Jennifer Neilson (West Kilbride)
90 - Liz Keohone (Loudoun)

The first round of the match play took place on Wednesday morning, 20th April. The results were :-

Debbie Watt (Belleisle Ladies) beat Liz Keohone (Loudoun)
3 & 2
Sharon Lambie (Troon Ladies) beat Greta Smith (Ardeer)
at the 19th
Margaret Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Gail Thomson (Belleisle Ladies)
4 & 3
Liz Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies)
3 & 2
Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) beat Rosalyn Purdom (Prestwick St. Nicholas) 4 & 2
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Morag McQueen (Largs)
3 & 2
Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) beat Morag Macpherson (Turnberry)
1 hole
Alison Gemmill (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Jennifer Neilson (West Kilbride)
8 & 6

In the quarter finals on Wednesday afternoon, top qualifier Debbie Watt was pushed all the way by former champion Sharon Lambie, before edging through at the second extra hole, whilst Margaret Rae of the host club secured a meeting with Watt in the last four, with a 3 & 1 win over clubmate Liz Wilson.

The defending champion Alex Glennie, also of the host club, bowed out at the quarter final stage, being defeated 4 & 3 by Routenburn's Lesley Hendry.

In the remaining quarter final, former winners Catherine Malcolm and Alison Gemmill contested a close match, with Malcolm edging through to the semi finals with a final hole win.

Quarter Final Results :-

Watt beat Lambie at the 20th
Rae beat Wilson 3 & 1
Hendry beat Glennie 4 & 3
Malcolm beat Gemmill 1 hole

SEMI FINALS - Thursday 21 April - A.M.

Debbie Watt (Belleisle Ladies)

Vs.

Margaret Rae (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn)

Vs.

Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert)