Scots women have mountain to climb to make top eight in Austria
The Scotland women's team, who gained bronze medals in Spain last year, will be hard pushed to qualify for the top flight of the European women's team championship at Murhof GC in Austria this week.
With Scottish champion Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) listed as a No Return - more likely that she was unable to play for some reason - all five Scots scores counted, which was a pity because Vagliano Trophy player Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Mortonhall teenager Rachael Watton both had seven-over-par 79s.
The Scotland counting scores were:
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) par 72, Megan Briggs 73, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 73, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 79, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 79.
Megan Briggs was going very well indeed when she turned in 34, having birdied the fourth, seventh and eighth, but she took 39 shots for the back nine.
Jane Turner was out in 37 and back in 36.
Kelsey MacDonald had halves of 39 and 40. She had one birdie, one double bogey and six bogeys.
Rachael Watton had halves of 40 and 39.
Pamela Pretswell went out in 35 and back in 37 for her par-matching round, even though she had a double bogey 6 at the third. The G B and A Vagliano Trophy team player birdied the first, sixth, ninth and 14th.
The Scots are lying joint 15th on 376 with Denmark (345) leading the way from Spain (356), Germany (359) and England (363).
Somehow, the Scots have to make up the leeway between them and the team/teams in seventh/eighth place overnight: Sweden and France, both on 367.
Ireland, surprisingly with a very strong team on paper, are back in 12th place on 370.
Wales are 19th of 20.
Spanish champion Camilla Hedberg, who played for the Continent of Europe's winning Vagliano Trophy team at Royal Porthcawl a week or so ago, had the best individual round of five-under-par 67.
Scotland are unlikely to qualify for the top flight of the European girls team championship at Is Molas GC, Sardinia. They are lying 16th in a field of 19 with a first-round, best five from six team total of 400 - 24 shots worse than the team in eighth place overnight, Norway.
Scotland scores were: Elidh Briggs 75, Alyson McKechin 76, Hannah McCook 82, Clara Young 82, Ailsa Summers 85, Lauren Whyte 86 (non-counting).
England's Lauren Taylor, the new British women's champion, had the lowest score of three-under-par 69. She was one of nine players to get under the par of 72.
Finland (361) lead from England (363) and Spain (367). Ireland and Wales, like Scotland, are unlikely to make the top flight of eight. The Irish are lying 15th on 398, the Welsh 17th on 421.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report.
