Lothians round-up: Gabrielle Macdonald is Midlothian Women's champion

Craigielaw's Gabrielle Macdonald is the new Midlothian Women's champion.
Gabrielle Macdonald and her dad, Keith, after her win in the Midlothian Women's ChampionshipGabrielle Macdonald and her dad, Keith, after her win in the Midlothian Women's Championship
Gabrielle Macdonald and her dad, Keith, after her win in the Midlothian Women's Championship

She claimed the title for the first time after beating Kate Rorke of Kingsknowe by 6&5 in the final at Deer Park.

“After playing for Midlothian for a long time, it’s great to be the champion,” admitted Macdonald, runner-up in the 2016 Scottish Women’s.

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After beating Murrayfield’s Caroline Steedman in the last eight, Macdonald then defeated former winner Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) by two holes.

Rorke beat defending champion and clubmate Louise Fraser in the quarter-finals and booked her spot in the final with a 4&2 win over Harburn’s Jennifer Bryans.

• Boys return to May

The Lothians Boys Championship has been restored to an early-season slot this year and entry date for the event at the Braids has been extended to May 15.

Qualifying over 18 holes takes place on May 27, with the match-play phase on May 29 and 31.

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The event is open to all players who are under 18 on the 31 January 2018 with a handicap of 8.4 or better.

Up for grabs is the Spiers Trophy, won in the past by the likes of Ronnie Shade, Bernard Gallacher and Andrew Oldcorn.

• Quartet tee up Pro title tilt

Four Lothians-based pros have teed up a title tilt in this year’s Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.

Ross Leeds (Archerfield Links), Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Range) and Gareth Wright (West Linton) were among 12 players to secure spots in the £78,000 event through a Scottish qualifier at Ladybank.

Former Gullane assistant Keir McNicoll, who is now based at Carnoustie, won that event by two shots to also book his berth at Little Aston on July 24-27.