Top five finish for Ashleigh, Lee-Anne

‘I didn’t hit it close enough’ - Ashleigh Simon

THE ‘home of golf’ provided a mixed bag of emotions for South Africa’s top golfers at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland.
Ashleigh Simon started well at the Archerfield Links course but couldn’t maintain her early momentum and eventually finished in a tie for fifth, alongside fellow South African Lee-Anne Pace.

The tournament was won by Scotland’s Catriona Matthew on 15 under par, 10 shots clear of her nearest challenger.
“It was a frustrating week for me. Although I finished joint fifth, which is a good result, I feel I didn’t play my best golf,” she said.
She was very steady and made a lot of pars. In fact, she only had five bogeys during the tournament. “I didn’t hit it close enough to make birdies. My putting needs a bit of work. I’m rolling it well but just not holing many 10 to 15 footers,” she said.

“Obviously you would always like to hit it closer but I’m pretty happy and comfortable going into the next event.”
Tandi Cuningham had a disappointing return, carding three consecutive 78s.
“Yes, at least I can say I am consistent - even if it is consistently bad,” she laughed, trying to see the lighter side of finishing second to last.
She really enjoyed the Archerfield course, saying it suited her eye and game.
“It has the your typical links holes - hard, undulating slopes with that beautiful love grass running along the fairways and also some lovely tree-lined holes. Wind plays a big factor in that par fives become reachable downwind and then become quite challenging into the wind. Then of course, there’s a littering of pot bunkers throughout the course,” she said.
She explained that Acherfield Links is next door to Muirfield, a course she felt privileged to have played, as woman are not allowed on the course.
Stacy Lee Bregman managed a decent enough effort. “I feel like I am getting better with every tournament and that I have been playing better than what my results have shown,” she said.
She had a game with Richard Bevan, who heads up the coaching society of the premiership league.
“He was so nice and played well. It’s always good to play with people like that,” she said.
Looking ahead, she felt her short game needed to improve a bit.
“I have been working hard on that and am really looking forward to Austria which is my next event.”

The next event is the Uniqa Ladies Golf Open, presented by Raiffeisen at Golfclub Fohrenwald, Wiener Neustadt, Austria from September 2 to 4.

SA scores:

Lee-Anne Pace 72 71 71
Ashleigh Simon 69 72 73
Stacy Lee Bregman 73 75 72
Tandi Cuningham 78 78 78