Golf: Fiona defends American title

Aug 15 2008 by John Ballard, Dumfries Standard Friday

A FORMER Dumfries golfer is celebrating after defending her title in a competition across the Atlantic.

Fiona Watson took the honours in the West Des Moines City Ladies Championship for the second year running last week – the latest success in her golf career since leaving Dumfries for the United States in 1994.

The 32-year-old, who was a pupil at Noblehill Primary and Dumfries High Schools, went to America when she won a golf scholarship to Iowa State University and even played the sport professionally for a number of years.

Despite living thousands of miles away from home however, Fiona is still an overseas member of Dumfries and County Golf Club - the place where her love for the game began.

Her father, John, said: “Fiona first got involved in golf being a caddy for her dad!

“She really started playing at the age of around 10 or 11 and just took to it quickly, although at the time she did quite a bit of athletics as well as golf.

“She’s a past champion at Dumfries County and Dumfriesshire Ladies Champion, and has done well in America.”

After leaving Iowa State University, Fiona worked in Colorado and North Carolina, but is now based in Des Moines again where she’s a member of the Wakonda Golf and Country Club.