TAIN'S MARY SMITH IS TOP SCOT IN ROYAL PORTRUSH ENDURANCE TEST
And Mary is already looking forward to next year because this over-50s tournament, normally played over 54 holes, will be hosted next year by Royal Dornoch Golf Club from September 16 to 18.
Mary had two rounds of 85 for 170 over a par-75 course which had a CSS of 79 (reduction only) for both counting rounds ... proof that the weather was awful and the course too long and too tough for the majority over the competitors.
Mary finished joint 15th in a field of 93 - 10 shots behind the 54-year-old Welsh winner Ann West who birdied the last hole to win by a shot on 160 from overnight leader Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) and Sheena McElroy (Ireland).
Fiona De Vries (St Rule) also achieved a creditable top 20 finish with scores of 82 and 89 for 171.
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) finished 32nd on 175 with rounds of 86 and 89 while Mary Smith's sister and clubmate, Ane Ryan tied for 40th place on 177 with rounds of 91 and 86.
SENIOR BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN
Royal Portrush GC, N Ireland
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 150 (2x75) SSS 76 CSS 79 (reduction only) for both rounds
160 Ann Lewis (Royal St David's 78 82
161 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 76 85, Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) 75 86
164 Caroline Berry (Bromborough) 78 86
166 Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest) 84 82.
167 Christina Birke (Sweden) 81 86, Rozalyn Adams (Addington Court) 80 87.
SCOTS' TOTALS
170 Mary Smith (Tain) 85 85 (T15)
171 Fiona De Vries (St Rule) 82 89 (T17)
175 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 86 89 (T32)
177 Anne Ryan (Tain) 91 86 (T40)
179 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 87 92 (T51)
181 Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) 89 92 (T63)
182 Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) 91 91 (T65)
184 May Hughes (Lanark) 90 94, Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 86 98 (T83)
187 Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 91 96 (T83)
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
