Archives for 2016

Gabrielle Macdonald out to test her professional credentials

25th November 2016

Craigielaw’s Gabrielle Macdonald will find out over the next four days if she’s ready to make the leap into the professional ranks. The former Scottish Women’s champion is trying her luck as an amateur in the first stage of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at Mohammedia Golf Club in Morocco along two fellow Scots, Jane Turner and Rachel McQueen. “I’m really looking forward to getting started this week, having enjoyed Morocco so far,” said Macdonald. “The course is fun and challenging so should be a good test of golf over the four rounds. “This week will help me decide on what I’m doing in the future. I feel as if I’ve prepared well at home at Craigielaw and with my coach in St Andrews so hopefully the hard work pays off!”

Turner will be hoping to use her LET Access Series experience to pass the test.

Season so far…

10th June 2016

The first half of the season has been positive with some solid performances and lots of progress. Highlights have been finishing 13th in the Irish Ladies Open Strokeplay, 7th in the Welsh Open Strokeplay and finishing runner-up in last week’s Scottish Amateur Championship. My world amateur ranking (wagr) has improved by nearly 500 spots, and I’m currently lying 2nd in the Scottish Golf Order of Merit. In addition to this, I’ve gained great experience by playing in two events on the LET Access Tour. Those events gave me great insight into the professional game, and what it is like to travel and to compete at that level. I know that those experiences will benefit me in the future when I do take the step into the professional game.

I am now back to practicing after some rest and looking forward to my next event which is the British Amateur Championship at Dundonald on the 21st-25th June. Roll on the rest of the season!

Scottish Women’s Close Amateur Championship

5th June 2016

The 2016 Scottish Women’s Close Amateur Championship took place this week at West Kilbride Golf Club. Gabrielle, fresh off shooting -6 on the Old Course in the last round of the St Rule Trophy made a strong start to the week qualifying in T8th position after 2 rounds of strokeplay. Next came the matchplay stages, and Gabrielle faced Turnhouse’s Alison Mcbride in the first round. After a tight game, Gabrielle came out on top, winning by 1 hole. In the last 16, Gabrielle knocked out former Curtis Cup player Eilidh Briggs having not made a bogey to win 4&3. Friday morning’s quarter final saw Gabrielle overcome the top seed Jessica Meek by 2 holes and then go on to beat Tara McTaggart 2&1 in the semi-final.

In the final, Gabrielle faced Ailsa Summers from Carnoustie, a 4th year student at the University of St Andrews, making it a all St Andrews contest. The early advantage went to Ailsa, who won the 2nd and 3rd and was 2 up at the turn. However, Gabrielle fought hard, winning the 11th and 12th to go back to all square. The game was all square going down the 16th, when Summer’s hit her long approach shot close and Gabrielle was unable to match her, losing the hole. Despite 2 solid shots up the par 5 17th, Gabrielle found herself in trouble at the greenside bunker, and Ailsa’s birdie saw her clinch the title. Ailsa became the 102nd Scottish Amateur Champion and thanked those at Carnoustie for all of their support in her speech.

Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship

3rd May 2016

The Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship took place last weekend at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales. The field included Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey who sought to defend her title from last year. On day 1 wintery showers and strong winds made scoring very challenging, and the lowest score was a 77 (+4) from Sinead Sexton. Gabrielle would have been tied for the lead had she not made a triple bogey on the 18th, due to an unfortunate lie in the bunker. Gabrielle’s round of 80 meant she was T9 after round 1.

On day 2, Mehaffey once again showed her skills by shooting 5 under despite tricky conditions. Gabrielle shot 77, and was T8 going into the last day. On the final day, Gabrielle got off to a poor start making double bogeys on the 1st and 6th, however she fought hard and posted 5 birdies to eventually shoot 74 (+1) finishing in a tie for 7th place. Mehaffey’s final round 73, was enough to secure the title for the second year in a row, with Ireland’s Jessica Ross taking 2nd place.

Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay

12th April 2016

The GB&I ladies amateur golf season got underway last weekend with the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship held at the Island Golf Club near Dublin. In extremely tough weather, Gabrielle finished in 13th place after rounds of 80, 75, 84. Ireland’s own Olivia Mehaffey led from Round 1 to eventually win by 8 shots after scores of 69, 75, 79. Gabrielle played some fantastic golf over the 3 rounds, highlighted by her first 6 holes in Round 2, where she started birdie, eagle, eagle, par, birdie! What a flying start! The Scotland team including Gabrielle and Hannah McCook finished in 4th place, with McCook tying for 5th place individually. Gabrielle’s next event is the Scottish Women’s Open Strokeplay or the “Helen Holm” at Troon.

Full list of scores and stories from the tournament can be found at: https://www.golfnet.ie/news/ilgu/1152/mehaffey-masters-the-elements-at-the-island

Gabrielle at the Irish Open Strokeplay Championship

Gabrielle at the Irish Strokeplay Championship — Gabrielle at the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship

R1 Irish Strokeplay — Gabrielle during round 1 of the Irish Strokeplay

Gabrielle teeing of in blustery conditions — Gabrielle teeing off in round 3

2016

7th February 2016

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Portuguese Ladies Amateur Championship 2016

1st February 2016

Gabrielle competed in her first event of the season last week at Montado Golf Resort in Pamela, Portugal. The event attracted a top quality field from all over Europe, and Gabrielle opened with a one under par, 71 to sit inside the top 10. Gabrielle started her second round in torrential rain, making conditions very challenging, and Gabrielle shot 79 falling back into 45th position. On the third day, Gabrielle was 1 under par through 9 holes and eventually shot a 74, making the cut on +8. Gabrielle finished in 40th place after a tough final day, where two holes ruined her scorecard. The event was won by Spain’s Maria Parra on -17. Lots of promising signs for the year ahead!

100th Scottish Amateur Champion, 2014

29th January 2016

In a dramatic conclusion to the 100th Scottish Ladies’ Championship, Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) beat Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) with a par four at the first hole of the sudden-death play-off in the final at Pretwick.
At the 19th, Jaffrey hit her second shot left and had to hit her pitch over a bunker and failed to get up and down while Macdonald, two-putted for victory.
“I’m delighted to win,” said MacDonald, a 21-year-old St Andrews University student. “I was nervous all day and that match was up and down. But it’s a tough course and the match was always going to go one way and then the other. “
In her third year of a geography degree, MacDonald is intending to turn professional sometime in the future. “But it won’t be for a few years,” she said. “At the moment, I just want to enjoy this win.”
On a bright but windy day, 17-year-old Jaffrey made a encouraging start in her attempt to become the youngest ever champion, winning the first hole in par. But MacDonald levelled with a birdie at the long third and then won the fifth and sixth and was still two up at the turn.
Jaffrey, the Scottish Girls’ Champion, launched a fight back with wins at the tenth and 11th and moved one up with a birdie at the long 12th.
But there was another turnaround with MacDonald taking the 13th and moving one up with a terrific birdie at the 16th where she hit a wedge shot to a foot.
At the 17th, it was the Ayrshire girl’s turn to make birdie to draw level and pars at the last sent the final into extra time.
For Jaffrey, it was a disappointing end to the week, but she underlined her promise as she looks forward to heading to a golf scholarship at Kansas State University this autumn.
For both finalists, a summer of golf lies ahead. “I have finished university for the summer,” said the new champion.
“Everyone at the University is so supportive. Kevin Hale is our first team coach and he is great.”
Jaffrey was disappointed but pleased to play her part in a great final. “I just ran out of shots at the end,” she conceded.