NORTH OF SCOTLAND WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

IN-FORM KATY v TITLE-HOLDER MICHELE IN

SEMI-FINALS AT MONTROSE LINKS

Carnoustie's Katy McNicoll arrived home too late from Lynn University in Florida to stake a claim for a place in the Scotland team for next week's European Under-21 girls championship.

But the 18-year-old is doing her level best to prove a point to the selectors by her results in the North of Scotland women's amateur championship over the Montrose Links this week..

In Tuesday’s quarter-finals, leading qualifier Katy, whose brother Keir won the Swallow Hotels East of Scotland Open on Sunday, beat Laura Murray (Alford) by 4 and 3 with level par figures.

Laura, 17, is in the Scotland junior team for the Netherlands following the withdrawal of Sally Watson.

Now Miss McNicoll meets another Under-21 cap, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the 18-year-old holder of the North of Scotland title. Michele beat Mary Smith (Tain) by 7 and 6 with par golf after an excellent tie in the morning against Angus champion Mary Summers (Panmure Barry).

Michele won that one by two holes after an inward half in which the better ball was seven under par. Miss Thomson birdied the last to clinch her victory.

Kerri Harper (Inverness) will play Anna Ramsay (Kirriemuir) in the other semi-final. Kerri birdied the ninth to go three up on former Scottish girls champion Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar) who birdied the 10th and 14th to take the tie to the 15th green

Ann Ramsay claimed her place in the last four with a 4 and 3 win over Frances Neish (Murcar Links).

The handicap final will tee at at 2.15pm followed by the scratch final at 2.30 on Wednesday.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Montrose Links

SCRATCH

First round

K McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) bt D Butchart (Strathmore) 5 and 4, L Murray (Alford) bt C Wilson (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, M Smith (Tain) bt J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) 4 and 3, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt M Summers (Panmure Barry) 2 holes.

A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) 2 holes, F Neish (Murcar Links) bt L Smith (Inchmarlo) 4 and 2, L Walker (Nairn Dunbar) bt P Wilson (Murcar Links) 7 and 6, K Harper (Inverness) bt A Hunter (Monifieth) 1 hole.

Quarter-finals

McNicoll bt L Murray 4 and 3, Thomson bt Smith 4 and 3.

Ramsay bt Neish 4 and 3, Harper b Walker 5 and 3.

HANDICAP

First round

J Walker (Royal Montrose) (12) bt F Sinclair (Carnoustie Caledonia) (10) at 19th, M Johnstone (Northern) (8) bt J Griffiths (Comrie) (6) 4 and 3, A Alston (Royal Montrose) (10) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) (4) at 19th, J Henderson (Royal Montrose) (11) bt D McKinnon (McDonald Ellon) (9) 1 hole.

S Vass (Tain) (12) bt D Dewar (Monifieth) (4) at 21st, E Thomson (Aberdeen Ladies) (16) bt S McDonell (Inverness) (16) 2 holes, Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (7) bt A Bowman (McDonald Ellon) (7) 2 and 1, S Murray (Brechin) (4) bt S Tait (Newmachar) (15) 6 and 5.

Quarter-finals

Johnstone bt Walker 7 and 6, Henderson bt Alston 4 and 3.

Vass bt Thomson 6 and 4, Murray bt Jillian Sneddon 3 and 2.

++ Next year’s North of Scotland championship will be hosted by Moray Golf Club at Lossiemouth.

CONSOLATION ROUND AT MONTROSE LINKS

Leading net scores:

Elaine Anderson (Deeside) (24) 70 (bih)

Lynne Warburton (Inverness) (20) 70

Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) (5) 71

Phyllis Sutherland (Ryl Montrose)(14) 71

Leslie Hardie (Abdn Ladies) (10) 73

Shona Cummins (Ryl Montrose)(18) 73