Colin@scottishgolfview.com
When your little sister starts to win golf titles that you previous held and brings her handicap down lower than yours, then it’s time to regain the family bragging rights!
Kilmacolm’s Megan Briggs did not say so in as many words but sibling pressure can be a tremendous motivator The 21-year-old law student at Strathclyde University left her clubs to do the talking at Machrihanish today.
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| Megan - Click to enlarge |
At the end of the first of two stroke-play rounds to produce 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the 97th Scottish women’s amateur championship, it was Megan, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the title-winner at Southerness two years ago, who was heading the field of 87 players with a round of one-under-par 71.
Although the Kintyre links had no defence on a calm day, Megan’s was the only sub-par round but it has to be said there seemed to be far more players breaking 80 than when the championship was last played here in 1990 and 2000 and the legendary “local girl” and six times champion Belle Robertson described the course as “a monster.”
Even the great links courses need bad weather to bear their teeth.
“This is only my second stroke-play round of the year. The first one was in the Renfrewshire county championship (won by younger sister Eilidh),” said Megan.
“I’ve been so busy with my fourth year studies and exams I’ve just not had the time to play golf or practise. So here I am, not really thinking too much about winning the title again but I hole a few putts it’s a sub-par 71.
“Yes, sister Eilidh’s been playing well. She won the County title and the West of Scotland Championship and her handicap’s down to +1.”
Megan admitted that it was a perfect day to be playing Machrihanish with its defences down but straight hitting was still called for.
She holed putts of 10ft and two of 25ft for birdies at the second, third and 10th and her outward alf of two-under-par 35 included a penalty drop out of a plugged lie in the rough at the seventh.
Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) was the next best Renfrewshire Player with a 76 (one over the CSS) followed by Megan's sister Eilidh who had a 77
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Leading 32 after 36 holes to qualify for championship match-play.
Par 72. Yardage 5962. CSS 75
Conditions: Overcast but pleasant, little or no wind.
71 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).
72 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus)..
74 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Elaine Moffat (St Regulus).
75 Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), Laura Murray (Alford), Alyson Davidson (Stirling), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey).
76 Susan Jackson (Ladybank), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
77 Karen Marshall (Baberton), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Jane Turner (Mortonhall), Clara Young (North Berwick).
78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe), Elaine Cuthill (Lanark), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Sara Bishop (Windyhill), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Tara MacTaggart (Minto).
79 Judith Anderson (Hawick), Rachael Taylor (Am Reichswald), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Martine Pow (Selkirk), Kirsten Blackwood (Glencorse), Elaine Allison (Stirling), Charlie Taylor (Royal Dornoch)..
80 Sammy Vass (Tain), Angela Devine (Hamilton), Lesley Barker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Fiona Hay (Deeside).
82 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), Ashley Smith (Monifieth).
83 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
84 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linda Bain (Lochend), Gillian Lockhart (Troon Welbeck).
85 Carol Whyte (Windyhill), Laura McLardy (Duff House Royal), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston).
86 Heather Munro (Monifieth), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay), Lorraine Campbell (Cardross)..
87 Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Jenny Potter (Cathkin Braes), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride), Valerie MacKay (Machrihanish).
88 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes).
89 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), Rosaleen Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay), Lorraine Morrow (Erskine), Eileen Gillespie (Lochend).
90 Ashley Ann Alston (Royal Montrose), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier).
91 Barbara Biggart (North Berwick), Laura McGeachy (Windyhill), Ann Gallacher (Machrihanish), Lindsay Ramsay (Carradale).
92 Pauline Warlow (Cathkin Braes), Dawn Young (North Berwick), Bobbi Waugh (Moor Hall), Tracy Masterton (Windyhill).
93 Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
94 Elizabeth Lees (Hamilton), Elaine Robb (Windyhill).
95 Amanda McBain (Turnhouse).
98 Diane Moncrieff (Lochend).
97 Aileen Hunter (Monifieth), Ruth McIntyre (Windyhill).
100 Lindsay Mathie (Windyhill).
102 Katie Burden (Cambuslang).
103 Ailie MacBrayne (Dunaverty), Gail Campbell (East Kilbride).
105 Muriel Dysart (Cathkin Braes), Maureen Meek (Cathkin Braes).
107 Eleanor Hawkins (Machrihanish).
108 Fiona Macgregor (Thornhill).
