Gabrielle Macdonald
National Women’s Squad pair Gabrielle Macdonald and Hannah McCook are set for further experience in the professional ranks this week.
Among a group of four female amateur golfers who joined their male counterparts at a United Arab Emirates winter training camp for the first time in Abu Dhabi last November, Macdonald and McCook are gaining more experience by teeing up in two Ladies European Tour Access Series events.
All female professional golfers and amateurs aged 18 years of age with a handicap of two or better are eligible for membership of the Access Series, thus giving leading amateurs the opportunity to play at the top level against professionals on a week by week basis.
The first opportunity for the Scots pair on the LET’s development circuit came at the end of March, when Grantown-on-Spey’s McCook, 22, and Macdonald, 23, from Craigelaw competed in the Terre Blanche Ladies Open in France.
The duo are now looking forward to contesting this week’s PGA Halmstad Ladies Open by Haverdal in Sweden, from 19 – 21 May.
“It’s really great to get the opportunity to play this week, I’m really grateful for the invite from the Access Tour and to Scottish Golf for helping sort it out,” said Gabrielle, pictured top. “It’s a great opportunity to play with the pros and gain some further experience.
“By the end of the last Access event I played, I felt quite comfortable in that environment. Obviously, it’s a slight step up, the standard is pretty high, but I have the feeling I can compete at that level.”
Launched in 2010, the vision of the LET Access Series is to provide greater competitive opportunities for women golf professionals who are unable to participate in regular LET events. Macdonald, amateur ranked just outside the world’s top 800, is keen to impress and continue her recent form.
“I feel quite happy with my game, feel I’m making some good progress,” she added. “I was 13th in the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay and then seventh in the Welsh so hopefully I can keep progressing nicely.
“Next after Sweden is the St Rule Trophy in St Andrews and then straight after that is the Scottish Women’s Amateur at West Kilbride. I have a good month ahead of tournaments so I’m looking forward to it. My goal for the year is really that I just want to keep improving and work hard on my game.”
