ELGA win CONGU handicapping support

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The English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) held their 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, on the 4 December 2003. In excess of 360 ladies (and a hand full of men) were present to witness proceedings. The resolutions proposed by the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) to approve amendments to the rules of the Ladies’ Golf Union included the change from the LGU Handicapping System to the CONGU Unified Handicapping System. The resolutions were significantly supported by the ladies present and the proxy votes received. 595 votes for and 40 votes against resulted in 16.76 ELGA votes for and 1.24 ELGA votes against being taken to the LGU AGM on the 21st January 2004. The ELGA votes will be cast together with the votes from Wales, Scotland and Ireland to determine the overall result.

Mrs Joy Hunter, ELGA Chairman, presented the Order of Merit Award to Emma Duggleby and the Junior Order of Merit award to Kiran Matharu. Joy also presented the Silver Tee Award, won by Sophie Walker, who is currently in Morocco with the GB and I squad and the award was collected by Julia Sales on her behalf.

The ELGA Trust Grand Draw having raised over £17,000 was drawn by Pauline Frazer. Sue Birley, Surrey won the first prize a luxury golf holiday for 2 in Almeria Spain, kindly donated by Tarleton Travel and the European School of golf. Mavis Berry, Sheffield won 2nd prize - 2 season tickets for the 2004 Open Championship at Royal Troon. The third prize was a dishwasher donated by AEG and was won by Sue Hill, Cambridgeshire.

The AGM was deemed to be a success and welcomed in the new Chairman, Mrs Cathy Bowerbank and Mrs Maureen Lockett the new ELGA President. Both ladies are looking forward to 2004, where among other events ELGA will be hosting the European Lady Junior Championships.

Shelley McKevitt wins the New Zealand Amateur Championship

England's Shelley McKevitt (Reading) wins the Lion Foundation women's amateur golf championship at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, following the Commonwealth Tournament where Great Britain finished 4th. The Commonwealth teams stayed in New Zealand for the Championship, creating a strong field which consisted of the best players from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Great Britain.

Shelley McKevitt is the current British Strokeplay champion, the 24 year old beat Australia’s Nikki Garrett 3 and 1 in the 36 hole final. McKevitt held a 4-up lead after 18 holes but Garrett fought to be 2 down after 34 holes, a bogey on the par 3 35th hole ended her hopes.

McKevitt was delighted with the result which she said was the highlight of her career. ``It caps off of a great year for me after winning the British Strokeplay title earlier in the year,''. McKevitt also commented that the performances in New Zealand at the Commonwealth Tournament last week and winning the New Zealand Amateur championship would help her standings towards making the British team for next year's Curtis Cup clash against the United States.

Success for England Amateurs at Ladies European Tour School

Five players from ELGA’s World Class programme who have turned professional within the last twelve months have now achieved their LET cards.

Sarah Heath finished the season 83rd in the Order of Merit and won full playing rights for next year. Rebecca Hudson, Kerry Knowles and Kirsty Fisher returned to the qualifying school They were joined by Alex Keighley who turned professional at the end of the season. They all survived the elimination process and will be competing full time on tour next season. Rebecca Prout will continue to compete on the US Futures Tour.

The World Class Sports Lottery fund will continue to provide all these players with financial support and access to sports science facilities through the English Institute of Sport click.

2003 Order of Merit won by Emma Duggleby, the English Champion with a score of 1144 points.

England wins the Senior Home Internationals

Bridget Jackson captained the England Senior team to victory at the Home Internationals, Whittington Heath Golf Club on 3 October. Earlier in the week England beat Wales 4 – 3 and Scotland 4½ - 2½ and beat Ireland 6 – 1 on the final day. Having won the foursomes 2 – 0 England were looking for 2 points from the singles to win the tournament. Vivien Saunders (Cambridge Meridian) lost to Valerie Hassett by 2 holes, Carole Caldwell (Sunningdale) beat Mary McKenna 1up, Rosalind Page (Came Down) following an uncertain start beat Roma English 3 & 1, Chris Stirling (Meon Valley) beat Anna Moloney 6 & 4 and Christine Watson (Beaconsfield) beat Mary Madden 5 & 4. Ireland became the runners–up, whilst Wales beat Scotland 4-3 to finish third in the table.

Bridget Jackson, who has recently been honoured with an MBE for her contribution to ladies’ golf said “I am absolutely thrilled with the performance, they produced a real team effort which along with the support of Margaret Brooks the team manager culminated in the results we all strived towards”.
click for full LGU results and details.

Sport England Supports English Golf

Sport England has agreed to support English Golf through the Sport England Lottery Fund with up to nearly £1 million of funding over the next 12 months. The English Ladies' Golf Association will receive up to £ 513 000 and EGU up to £450 000 towards their respective training programmes making a total commitment from Sport England of £ 963 000 funding towards their respective World Class Programmes, both designed to identify and train talented golfers to a standard capable of becoming world champions. The grants are a continuation of support which ELGA have been receiving for the past four years and EGU the past two years. Sport England provides the strategic lead for sport in England and is a distributor of lottery funds to sport.

ELGA and EGU launch GolfMark initiative

The English Ladies’ Golf Association and the English Golf Union have joined together to launch a new initiative called ‘Junior GolfMark’. GolfMark is to encourage golf clubs to review the way they cater for juniors and allows them to demonstrate to parents and children that they are junior friendly. The ‘Junior GolfMark’ is a national accreditation scheme that allows golf clubs to measure their commitment to junior golf against national criteria. Golf clubs will be able to display the ‘Junior GolfMark’ logo if they meet the recommended standard and the award will benefit children, clubs and parents/guardians click for more information

Home International 2003 Team

England looked set to retain the 2002 title when they led Ireland 3-0 after the foursomes on the final day. But the Irish team staged a magnificent fight back in the singles, beating England 5-4 and winning the competition overall. The Championship was held at Cruden Bay Golf Club 10 -12 September 2003 click for full LGU results and details.

Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship Englands' Shelley McKevitt (Reading) has won the Ladies' British Open with 75, 79, 81, and 71 a new course record, totalling 306 to become the 2003 Champion.
England win the Nations Cup with a total score of 310, the team: Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton), Fame More (Chesterfield) and Nicola Timmins (Sene Valley) beat joint second teams Spain and Scotland 312. Held at Royal Portrush Golf Club 20 -22 August 2003.

Abraham Trophy Winner 2003

Victoria Harris of Beaconsfield Golf Club wins the Abraham Trophy, this prestigious title is contended by England's most improved girl golfers, in the one day 18 hole final competition. Victoria only just qualified for the final with a 12th place tie. Victoria has a handicap of 10, and puts the win down to an excellent back nine of 36, 1 over par, returning a net 68 beating Georgina Baggot (Cherry Lodge) on countback.

England team win silver at the European Young Masters, Ausberg Golf Club, Germany 24 – 26 July 2003. The 3 round championship took two girls and boys from each country, all under the age of 16 on January 1st. Ben Parker won the gold medal with a closing round of 68, 4 under par for a total of 211, Oliver Fisher was joint 4th , total 215. The English girls were Florentyne Parker (Royal Birkdale) who finished 5th overall, total 224 and Kiran Matharu (Sandmoor), 11th overall with, total 333. Well done to the England Team.

Unified handicapping system

You may have read in the golfing media that the Ladies’ Golf Union and Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) have agreed in principle to a unified handicapping system, if the proposal is accepted the new system will be effective February 2004

MBE awarded to Bridget Jackson

The English Ladies' Golf Association are delighted to announce Bridget Jackson has been honoured with an MBE for her outstanding contribution to English and British Ladies Golf.

Bridget has played golf at the highest level since 1954, having played for England 9 times and been President of ELGA from 1993 - 1995. Bridget is still representing her country today and will Captain the England Team in the Senior Ladies' Home Internationals during October 2003.

Emma Duggleby seals victory at the 2003 Close Trophy

The all Yorkshire final saw Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton) take an early advantage, after a birdie two at the 4th put her 4 up. Naomi Edwards (Ganton), one of Yorkshire's promising young golfers staged a fight back after the turn to reduce the deficit to 1 down after 15. However a waywood drive at the 16th cost her the hole and Emma sealed victory with a birdie two at the 17th.

Marketing Press and PR Officer appointed by ELGA

Clare Tyler has recently joined the ELGA administration team as the Marketing Press and PR Officer. Clare will be based at the Edgbaston Headquarters, she has a wealth of marketing knowledge and experience having previously working in the industrial sector and for the BBC.

Key roles will be to increase the awareness of the association and the core objectives for ladies and junior golf. Initially Clare will be focusing on developing the website and marketing activities further whilst building relationships with sponsors, other golfing bodies and golf clubs alike.

SLGA St Leonards Under 16 Stroke Play Championship

The England number 2 team has won the International Team Event. Kiran Matharu (Sand Moor), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) and Joanne Hodge (Knowle) picture here had a total of 296.

Kelly Hutcherson of Porters' Park, Hertfordshire, reached the Semi Finals of the Spanish Ladies' Amateur Championship at El Saler Golf Club, Valencia, 26 Feb - 2 Mar 03. She lost 3&2 to eventual winner Adriana Zwanck of Spain. Kelly was the only English qualifier, tied 9th place with a 78 & 73. Feb/Mar 03.