HEATHER LEADS SCOTS IN BRITISH

STROKE-PLAY AFTER BEING LEFT

OUT OF HOME INTERNATIONALS

It was almost bound to happen, wasn't it? Heather MacRae, dropped from the Scotland line-up for the women's home internationals at Dunbar next month, was far and away the best Scot on the opening day of the British women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Conwy Golf Club, Caernarvonshire today.
The Dunblane player, pictured right, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Thursday, won this tournament two years ago at Nairn and won the Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship earlier this season. She was also a member of the Scotland squad for the European women's team championship in Italy earlier in the summer.

Heather's outward half of two-over-par 39 included a double bogey 5 at the short ninth but also a hat-trick of birdies from the third.
Her inward nine was a thing of beauty with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th and only one bogey, at the short 13th. Her three-under-par 34 inward half was one of the best of the day and put her only three shots behind leader Melissa Reid from Derby, the leading amateur in the Ricoh's Women's British Open and winner of the "Helen Holm" and St Rule Trophy tournaments in Scotland this season.
Heather MacRae apart, it was not a particularly good day for the Scots.

Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), a reserve for Scotland, had a 77 (40-37), thanks to an eagle 3 at the 10th.
Scottish champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) had a 79 (38-41) with an eagle 3 at the ninth but a triple bogey 7 at the last and double bogey 6s at the fourth and 16th.
New Scotland cap Laura Murray (Alford) was also on the 79 mark with halves of 37 and 42. After birdieing the long fifth and eighth, she had double bogeys at the ninth and 11th and a triple bogey 7 at the 16th.
Carly Booth (Comrie) 38-42 and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 43-37 could do no better than 80 apiece, Carly bogeyed five of her last seven holes. Jane Turner (Mortonhall) came in late in the day, also with an 80 (39-40).

Claire MacDonald (Gullane) Ladies was another late finisher with an 81 (40-41).

Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) had halves of 40 and 45 for an 85.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), who had strained a back muscle in taking something out of the boot of her card, had three 7s in halves of 43 and 44 for an 87.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), beaten in this year's Scottish championship final, had an 11 at the par-4 17th, "only" 374yards, in returning an 87 (40-47). Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) also had an 87 with halves of 43 and 44.
Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), just back from the World Student Games in Thailand, had an 89 with halves of 39 and 50.
Alexandra Bushby ran up an 11 at the par-3 13th (167yd) on her way to a 93.

END OF PLAY SCOREBOARD
Par 74
70 M Reid (Chevin).
71 R Jennings (Izaak Walton).
72 E Lyons (West Surrey), N Edwards (Ganton).
73 H MacRae (Dunblane New), F Parker (Royal Birkdale).
74 K Zaanen (Ned).
75 E Cabrera (Spa), M Nivard (Ned), D-C Schreefel (ND).
Other Scots' scores:
77 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old).
79 J Wilson (Strathaven), L Murray (Alford).
80 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), C Booth (Comrie), E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton), L Mackin (Majorca), J Turner (Mortonhall).

81 C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies).

85 G Webster (Hilton Park).

87 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder), C-M Carlton (Stirling University).
89 E Fairnie (Dunbar).

93 A Bushby (Strathmore).