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! 

  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.

Martin Dempster interview.

100th Scottish Amateur Champion 2014, Old Prestwick Gold Club

Gabrielle became the 2015 Scottish Champion of Champions with a victory last Sunday at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club. Gabrielle shot a level par, 71, over the long and tricky links course to win by 2 shots from Louise MacGregor. Gabrielle’s round included 4 birdies and 4 bogeys. The event concluded the 2015 domestic amateur season. Full list of scores are available here: http://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/tour/#/competition/504521/results

Work your heart out, Cordevalle 2015

2 under 69, great day at Olympic Club, California, August 2015

Playing Cordevalle, host of 2016 Ladies US Open

The 2015 Scottish Golf Awards, with more than 600 people attending, was a celebration of the top achievements in the sport last year by the country’s leading golfers.

The guest list included Catriona Matthew and Stephen Gallacher, along with Sam Torrance, Bernard Gallacher, Richie Ramsay, Kylie Walker, Kelsea Macdonald, Sally Watson, Carly Booth, Scott Jamieson and Chris Doak. Gabrielle picked up Order of Merit award on behalf of Connie Jaffray.