Renfrewshire women's county champion Eilidh Briggs, (pictured left) beaten finalist in the Scottish women's championship at Machrihanish in May, lived up to her rating as the pre-tournament favourite by setting the pace with a level par 71 in the first qualifying round of the Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth in Perthshire today.
Eilidh, bound for Stirling University after the summer holidays, had only four pars in an eventful outward half of one-under-par 35. She bogeyed the short third, birdied the fourth, short fifth and sixth and bogeyed the long eighth.
Coming home, the Kilmacolm player bogeyed the 13th and 15th but got her second 2 of the round with a birdie at the short 16th.
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) was a shot behind her with only three deviations from par in halves of 36. She bogeyed the seventh and 11th, birdied the ninth and all the rest were pars.
Alyson McKechin, finished on 76 today when, with two holes to play she had a chance of ending the day in the top three before she bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the 18th for two halves of 38.
Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry) finished on the borderline projected cut of 81
The leading 32 players after tomorrow's second qualifying round will go forward to the match-play stages. Going into the second round there are 34 players on 81 or better which suggests the cut-off mark for the match-play draw will be 162 or 163 ... if there is no dramatic change in the weather.
The 18-hole final will be staged on Saturday morning.
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 71 (36-35). Yardage 5,803
71 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm).
72 Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies).
73 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield).
74 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Lesley Atkins (Gullane), Clara Young (North Berwick).
75 Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Tegan Seivwright (Deeside).
76 Rachael Walker (Dumfries and Co), Heather Munro (Monifieth), Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth), Keren Ward (Glen), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe).
77 Tara MacTaggart (Minto), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies).
78 Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Eleanor Tunn (Reay).
79 Danielle Ker (Roxburghe), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Olivia Borwick (McDonald Ellon).
80 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Hannah Robb (Strathmore). Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch)
81 Megan Clyne (Deeside), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry), Emma Caddow (Strathaven), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne).
PROJECTED CUT-OFF MARK AFTER TWO ROUNDS
82 Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Nicola Robertson (Dunblane New), Molly Stewart (Murcar Links).
83 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies).
84 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies), Rheanna Thom (Alyth), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse).
85 Claire Gadsby (Crieff), Chloe Goadby (St Regulus).
86 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Catherine Small (Gullane Ladies), Rosie Everett (Craigielaw).
87 Eva O'Connor (Bothwell Castle).
88 Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies).
89 Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne).
90 Kirsten Pryde (Deeside), Jessica Dalgetty (Glencorse), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies), Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie).
92 Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore).
94 Emily Glencorse (Millport), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley)
95 Jennifer Allan (Glenbervie).
97 Leanne Wilson (Kelso), Joanne Free (Musselburgh Old).
99 Alexandra Brown (Turnberry).
108 Julie Glencorse (Millport).
Thanks go to Colin farquharson for the report.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website