The Roxburghe replaces Dundonald Links as Scottish venue for Q-School

Golf Correspondent

Tuesday 14 February 2012

The Roxburghe near Kelso was last night unveiled as one of the new venues for stage one of the European Tour's Qualifying School process this season.

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nick rodger golf correspondent nick.rodger@heraldandtimes.co.uk

The challenging, Dave Thomas-designed Borders course, which played host to the European Senior Tour's Scottish Senior Open for five years from 2001-05, will replace Dundonald Links in Ayrshire as the Scottish stop for the 72-hole stage one shoot-out.

"Bringing the Qualifying School to The Roxburghe is the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes," said Roxburghe ambassador Ronan Rafferty, the former European Tour No.1. "Our long-term aim is to stage a fully fledged European Tour event here, and hosting the first stage is a big step in the right direction." The stage one contest will take place from September 11-14.Meanwhile, Craig Lee has decided to head to India in the hope of gaining a start in this week's Avantha Masters. Lee, who finished eighth in the Africa Open and 17th at the Joburg Open in his first two events of the season, has been in Dubai practicing and will travel to New Delhi after moving up to first reserve. Pamela Pretswell, who failed to graduate to the professional ranks at last month's Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, has decided to retain her amateur status until after next January's Tour School.It means the Hamilton-based 22-year-old will be available for selection for the Curtis Cup at Nairn in June and to spearhead a Scottish bid to provide a home winner of the British Women's Open Amateur Championship at Carnoustie later that month.Scotland's bid to win back the Women's Home Internationals title, at Cork GC in Ireland in September, will be considerably enhanced with Pretswell in the squad."I learned a great deal and although I came away without a tour card, I am certain that the experience will stand me in good stead," said Pretswell, who graduated from Glasgow University last year.Over the past four years, she has divided her time between studies and golf but she no longer has university commitments and plans to have a full year of golf, while also working on a part-time basis."I'm delighted to be selected for the Curtis Cup trial at Nairn next month and will be working hard to try to keep my place in the GB&I team."The last Scot to win the Ladies Golf Union's flagship individual amateur event was Alison (Rose) Davidson in 1997. The venue was Scottish, at Cruden Bay, that time, too, and she beat another Scot, Mhairi McKay, 4&3 in the 18-hole final.

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The Roxburghe replaces Dundonald Links as Scottish venue for Q-School

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