SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

HOLE IN ONE BY MEGAN CLINCHES PLACE IN

FINAL AGAINST CARLY AT PETERHEAD

It's top seed Carly Booth, 15 years old from Comrie, against 17-year-old Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), pictured right,

the No 3 qualifier, in what could be a classic final of the Scottish girls' championship over Peterhead Golf Club's Craigewan links on Friday morning (tee off 9am).

Megan produced a hole in one at the 16^th in beating the North's last hope, 15-year-old Sammy Vass (Tain), by 2 and 1 in the second semi-final.

Earlier Megan had removed the second last North hope, +1 player Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) in a tight match that went to the last green.

Carly birdied the 16^th and 17^th to clinch a 3 and 1 win over Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) in the first semi-final.

On paper Carly, a +3 player, should be favourite to beat scratch player Megan, but there was precious little between them in the semi-finals. Both were two under par for 17 holes. Carly had four birdies in all, Megan an eagle (the hole in one with a seven-iron at the 136yd 16th) and four birdies.

"I didn't think I played all that well against Pamela, but fortunately well enough to win," said perfectionist Carly.

Megan is an experienced match-player, having won the Renfrewshire women's county title for the past two years.

"No, I won't be nervous. I enjoy playing in championships," said Miss Briggs.

Carly, a junior Ryder Cup player, is bidding to become the first player since Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) in 1998 to win both the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 girls' titles in the same season.

Miss Booth won the latter title by nine strokes at Auchterarder two weeks ago. She won the Scottish Under-16 crown two years ago but she has never won the Under-18 match-play title. She lost in the final of this championship at Tain two years ago.

Here is a brief resume of how the semi-finals went:

CARLY BOOTH v PAMELA PRETSWELL

1st hole: Carly won with par to go one up.

2nd, 3rd & 4th holes: Halved.

5th: Carly sank good putt for a half.

6th: Carly won hole with a birdie to go two up.

7th: Halved.

8th: Carly won hole with birdie to go three up.

9th: Pamela won hole with par. Carly two up at turn.

10th & 11th: Halved.

12th: Carly won with par to go three up.

13th: Pamela won with par to be two down.

14th: Pamela won with parf to be one down.

15th: Halved.

16th: Carly won with birdie to go back to two up.

17th: Carly won hole and match with birdie to go three up.

MEGAN BRIGGS v SAMMY VASS

1st hole: Sammy won with par to go one up.

2nd: Megan won with birdie to square match.

3rd: Halved.

4th: Megan won with birdie to go one up.

5th: Halved.

6th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

7th: Megan pitched and putted to halve hole.

8th: Halved.

9th: Megan won with birdie to go two up.

10th: Megan won this short hole with birdie 2 to go three up.

11th: Halved.

12th: Sammy won hole with a birdie to be two down.

13th: Sammy won hole with a bogey to be one down.

14th Halved.

15th: Halved.

16th: Megan holed her tee shot with a seven-iron at this 136yd par-3 hole to go two up.

17th Halved, leaving Megan winner by 2 and 1.

GABRIELLE WINS ANSLEY REID SALVER

Gabrielle MacDonald, pictured right, 14-year-old Prestonfield player, won the Ansley Reid Salver match-play competition for those who did not qualify for the championship flight. Two down with three to play, Gabriell won the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th for a one-hole win in the final against Ashley Smith (Monifieth).

Thursday's results

Quarter-finals – C Booth (Comrie) bt R Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) 4 and 2, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt E Muirhead (Pitlochry) 4 and 3, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole, S Vass (Tain) bt J Sneddon (Alyth) 4 and 3.

Semi-finals – Booth bt Pretswell 3 and 1, Briggs bt Vass 2 and 1

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ANSLEY REID SALVER

Semi-finals – G MacDonald (Prestonfield) bt H Peebles (Monifieth) 1 hole, A Smith (Monifieth) bt L Duncan (Oldmeldrum) 6 and 5.

Final – MacDonald bt Smith 1 hole.