Top seed Martine Pow, the 45-year-old 2006 champion from Selkirk, had her glory run ended by Renfrewshire's Clare-Marie Carlton from Fereneze.
Clare- Marie was only one up at the turn but, on another warm, almost humid morning, she pulled away from her older opponent on the inward half.
She went two up when Pow three-putted the 11th and then increased her lead to three with a pitch-and-putt birdie 4 at the long 12th.
Pow’s birdie at the 14th was a last gallant bid to turn back the years. But, back to two down, the leading qualifier could make no further inroads and lost the 17th for Clare- Marie to be the first to reach the semi-finals – for the first time – by a 3 and 1 margin with roughly level par golf.
Now Clare-Marie now plays 27-year-old Dunfermline nursery teacher Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) for a place in the final.
Louise Kenney got a measure of revenge over Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) for last year’s 4 and 3 defeat in the final at Southerness by beating the her by one hole.
Megan was two up after six holes but Kenney finished the stronger. She had an eagle 3 at the 11th and birdies at the 12th and 13th to win all three holes, transforming a one-down position to a much healthier one-hole lead. Megan then squared the contest at the short 17th where Louise took a bogey but the Fifer birdied the par-5 18th for a one-hole victory.
Today’s results:
QUARTER-FINALS
Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) beat Martine Pow (Selkirk) 3 and 1.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) beat Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 1 hole.
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) beat Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 1 hole.
Laura Murray (Alford) beat Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 1 hole.
