SCOTTISH VETS JAMBOREE AT HEXHAM- FINAL REPORT

SVLGA President Emma Wilson, Ellie Whyte (Captain) and Karen Ballantyne (Vice Captain) 

The SVLGA Team have returned home from Hexham with a very positive outlook for the future. This year’s team included 4 new players and like many before them, they quickly got to see what a high standard of golf is played at this event.

We got off to a slow start against the North on Tuesday but each day performance improved as the team got into their stride.
The Miller Stirling Trophy was won by the South. The Tony Moffat runner up trophy was won by the North. Scotland improved on last years placing by finishing third, pipping Midlands into fourth place.

On the first two days, we felt there were a few matches that got away from us with a number of matches going down the 18th. However, every member of the team played their part in the victory on the last day whether playing foursomes or singles.

In the morning foursomes, Alison Davidson, heroine of the winning Curtis Cup team of 1996, partnered by her county teammate Linda Allan set the scene with a terrific win against the Midlands second couple, Sue Spencer and Debbie Warren.

In the afternoon singles, Scottish Senior Champion Elaine Moffat got off to a hot start and secured an excellent victory over former professional golfer Julie Brown. Scottish Veteran Ladies Champion Sheena Wood cruised to a comfortable win against Mary McLaren.

There were many outstanding ‘shots of the day’ not least from Liz Stewart’s winning shot to the 18th against English Senior Amateur Stroke Play champion Helen Lowe.

Liz’s point was invaluable as it gave Alison Davidson the opportunity of clinching the last vital point in her match against Catrin Russell. Alison was 2 up playing the 17th. Catrin rolled in her putt for a birdie 3 but Alison coolly followed her in to give us the winning 5th point. What a performance!

Against tough opposition, Gillian Kyle, Frances Millar and Jennifer Bryans all had close games.

Captain Ellie Whyte and Vice-Captain Karen Ballantyne are already working on some new initiatives to help the squad with their winter training and we hope the team take at least one further step up the ladder next August when the jamboree will be hosted by Midlands Division at Northamptonshire County Golf Club.

Thanks must go to Hexham Golf Club and the committee of the North Vets Association for organising an excellent jamboree.

Thanks go to Karen Ballantyne for the report  SVLGA Website