Report by Colin Farquharson
Scottish champion Megan Briggs has perhaps not had the respect she has deserved since winning the national title at Southerness in May ... but that may be about to change.
The Kilmacolm 20-year-old student shot a 78 in a 30mph gale at Balgownie today (Wed) to be the leading Scot at the end of the first round of the 72-hole British women's open amateur stroke-play championship.
A six over par score is not generally one to write home about - but a southerly wind which made the inward half a battle for survival meant anyone who had broken 80 deserved a medal.
Ladies Golf Union tournament director Susan Simpson foresaw the problems that players would have even reaching some fairways into the teeth of the wind on the back nine.
"I went out and moved forward quite a few of the tees, some by up to 30 yards, to give the competitors a chance of clearing the rough from some of the tees," said Susan.
The wind was so strong that even downwind, with it at their backs, it was little or no help as pitch-and-runs were being blown through the greens.
Megan did not make the best of starts downwind. She bogeyed the first, the fourth and the sixth. But a birdie 2 at the eighth settled her and she turned in two-over-par 38.
A birdie 3 at the 10th was followed by a double bogey 5 at the short 11th but she was able to limit any more damage on that scale.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
Leading Scores:
FIRST ROUND TOTALS FROM BALGOWNIE
BRITISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.
Par 72. 6,231yd
73 Lucie Andre (France) 34-39.
75 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 37-38.
76 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 37-39, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 35-41, Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 39-37.
77 Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 38-39
78 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 35-43, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 38-40, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 38-40, Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 36-42, Jeanne Metivier (France) 42-36.
Other Scots:
79 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 38-41, Emma Fairnie (Dunbar) 39-40,Laura Murray (Alford) 36-43,
80 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 40-40.
81 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).39-42, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 38-43, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 37-44, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) 38-43.
82 Carly Booth (Comrie) 41-41,
83 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 42-41,
84 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 42-42,
85 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 39-46,
86 Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 40-46,
87 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 39-48,
89 Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 45-44,
90 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 49-41, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 45-45, Tara Davies (Holyhead) 44-46, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 39-51,
91 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 44-47.
95 Donna Pocock (Murcar Links) 48-47, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 47-48,
96 Morag MacPherson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 42-54.
97 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 44-53..
98 Fiona Hay (Deeside) 50-48.
99 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 41-58.
