LATE DRAMA AT ROYAL CO DOWN

JENNA GOES OUT IN PLAY-OFF ….SIX
SCOTS LEFT IN MATCH-PLAY STAGES

Strathaven's Jenna Wilson bogeyed the first hole to lose out in a nerve-racking play-off after 8.30pm last night (Wed) and will be on the sidelines when the match-play stages tee off today in the Ladies British open amateur golf championship over the Royal County Down links in Northern Ireland.
Jenna, a quarter-finalist in the tournament 12 months ago, slumped to a second-round 81 and her total of of 158 for the 36-hole qualifying test put her into an eight-way play-off for the last six spots in the draw.
Miss Wilson, a member of the Ladies Golf Union Elite squad, three-putted for a bogey 4 from a fair distance away from the flag at the short hole used for the play-off.
A Canadian player, Anita Gahir, was the other player eliminated in the play-off.
That left six Scots in the match-play stages - Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Gemma Webster (Hilton Park).
Earlier, just before eight, three times Scottish champion Anne Laing (Vale of Laing) bowed out of the championship in the last group to finish. Anne set off in determined mood to make up for her opening round of six-over-par 81.
But her fightback never materialised. She reached the turn in three-over-par 40 and then stumbled home in 47 for a distrastrous 12 over par score of 87 and a total of 168.
The failure to make it through to the match-play stages might well cost Anne her place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team which will be announced on Saturday afternoon.
Emily Ogilvy, 22-year-old Auchterarder player, was the top Scottish qualifier with rounds of 75 and 77 for two-over-par 152. Emily matched the par of 37 on her outward nine but took 40 for the inward half.
Louise Kenney from Pitreavie was next best Scot with a 77 for 153.
Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Roseanne Niven (Crieff), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) and Gemma Webster (Hilton) also extended their active interest in the championship.
Krystle had a 78 for 155, the same total as another 17-year-old, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) who had an second-round 80. Heather had a 78 for 156 and Gemma an 80 for 157.
Scottish champion Martine Pow (Selkirk) failed to make it on 161 (78-83) The 41-year-old scaffolder dropped five shots over the first four holes with a double bogey 7 at the first, a bogey 5 at the second and a double bogey 5 at the short fourth.
Kylie Walker's disappointing run continued. The Buchanan Castle player had an 81 for 164.
South Queensferry teenager Rebecca Watson (David Leadbetter GA) had an 85 for 165.
Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) started at the 10th and took 45 shots for her first nine holes. She did birdie the first and third but it was too little too late and an 83 for 170 left her well outside the qualifying mark.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) had a 10 at the par-4 second hole in repeating a 92 for 184.
Azahara Munoz, the 18-year-old Spanish girl who won the British girls' open title at Lanark two years ago, claimed the No 1 qualifier spot with scores of 69 and 73 for eight-under-par 142 - one shot ahead of Ireland's Claire Coughlan (Cork), beaten finalist 12 months ago. Claire shot 70 and 73.
ends