It was a blustery 4th of July at Haddington as our semi-finals teed off at 9.30am.

Both matches were very close with both being all square through 9 holes.

In the first match Wendy had a nice up and down from the bunker on 11 to go 1up but then that was answered by Louise winning the 13th. Wendy then went on to win 14 and 15 to go 2up and had a birdie putt on 16 to win the match. However a half in threes meant the match went on with Louise winning 17 and 18 to get back to level. A birdie on the 19th hole meant Louise moved on to the final.

In the second match both players birdied 10 and on 11 Hilary almost holed it from the fairway and birdie was enough to go 1up. Karen then won the 12th and the match remained all square through 15 holes. Hilary won 16 to take a 1up lead, Karen sank a long putt on 17 to extend the match but the hole was conceded and Hilary won 2up.

The final teed off at 2.30pm and the wind had definitely got stronger from the morning.
A quick start from Hilary including a birdie on 2 meant she was 3up through 3 holes.
Both players made par at the short par 3 and then another up and down from the bunker on 5 saw Hilary go 4up.
Louise got one back at 6 but Hilary won the 8th to go back to 4up and then won the 10th with a birdie to go 5up. Louise hung in there and had a birdie putt just slide past the hole on 11 before winning the 12th.
On 14 both players had good drives down the middle of the fairway however Louise missed left and Hilary made the green for a regulation par and a win 5&4.

Also played in the afternoon was the final of the Handicap Championship between Lesley Campbell and Jaci Moriarty.
This was to be a marathon affair!
Jaci went 2up after 4, only for Lesley to use her shot well at 5 to win that hole.Jaci got back to 3 up after 9. Lesley again used her shot well on 12 and played a fabulous approach shot on 13 to get back to 1 down. Jaci had a putt to win the match on the tricky 18th but it lipped out and the match headed up the 19th. The next few holes were hard fought, with Lesley sinking some fantastic putts for halves, and before we knew it the match was going up the 25th hole (and Lesley and her caddie, Caroline Kinnaird, had had to rearrange their dinner booking!)
Fittingly for such a great match Jaci sank a monster putt for par on the 25th hole to win the match.

Well done to all players and caddies, and thanks to those who made it along to spectate and support the players. For more photos from the day please head to the Photos section of this website.

Karen Marshall won the SSWGA Championship at Blairgowrie G.C. this week. On the way to the final she beat Glenda Dewar of Galloway, defending champion Martine Pow of Borders and Lesley Robertson of West.
It was also the 30th anniversary since her mum Joan Marshall also won for East Division, and her victory this week was witnessed by her dad Brian.
The East Division members heartily congratulate Karen on her win.

It was a blustery but dry day at Haddington as the semi-finals of the East Division championship teed off in the morning.
In the first semi-final between Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall it was a tight match with a 1up lead being switched back and forth. Karen was the eventual winner by 2&1 on hole 17.
In the second semi-final between Caroline Steedman and Hilary Laughland, Caroline had a fast start, holing her second shot from the 1st fairway for an eagle 2. Hilary bounced back with some long putts to take control of the match and was 4 up at the turn. Caroline fought back winning holes 11 and 12 but a half on 16 gave Hilary the win 3&2

Despite a slight mix up on the afternoon tee-times (for which I take full responsibility 😬) - the finals teed off slightly later than advertised in similar windy conditions.

The Championship final between Karen Marshall and Hilary Laughland was again very tight with both having a 1 up lead at times in the front 9. Karen was 1up through nine and held that lead until the 13th hole where Hilary had a great shot into the green and got back to all sqaure.
Karen responded with a good putt on 14 to get back to 1 up only for Hilary to make birdie on 15. Karen made her own birdie on the short 16th to go back to one up and a halved hole on 17 saw the final go up the last. With Hilary in the fairway after her second shot and Karen’s ball in the water the match still wasn’t done! Hilary had a lovely approach shot and made an easy par however a great recovery shot from Karen and a single putt was enough to half the hole and win the match 1up.

In the handicap match between Caroline Kinnaird and Denise Mitchell it was a different story with Caroline taking early control of the match to be 4 up after five holes. Denise was not to be deterred though and hung in to be 3 down after nine holes. Denise then continued the fightback on 14 and 15 and managed to get the match back to all square on the tricky par 3 sixteenth. Caroline was not for giving up and sank a tremendous putt on 17 to go 1 up; she did exceptionally well not to be put off by the cat and magpie fighting just off the green whilst she was putting! So our second final of the day was also going up the eighteenth! Caroline proceeded to play a very steady hole and managed a win to finish the match 2 up. (Handicap Match report kindly provided by Fiona Larnach)

As the rain started again we had a quick presentation of trophies - see more images in PHOTOS - and thanks were given to the supporters who came out to watch and to Haddington Golf Course for hosting us again. Until next year!!
Gail M
East Division Captain