LORNA LETS CURTIS CUPPER MICHELE OFF HOOKE

Scottish seniors champion Lorna Bennett from Ladybank almost pulled off the second shock of the day as the 94^th Scottish women's amateur golf championship entered its match-play stages over the Moray club's Old Course links at Lossiemouth today.

In the morning 16-year-old Sammy Vass from Tain, the last of the 32 qualifiers – she had to survive a six-way play-off – toppled one of her best golfing chums, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the 17-year-old top seed, by two holes.

In the afternoon second round ties, Lorna jumped into a three-hole lead after only four holes on Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the only one in the Lossie field of the four Scots who will do duty for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of the month.

Michele hit back after losing the second, third and fourth to a par-eagle-birdie burst by Lorna to win the seventh, eighth and ninth and be square at the turn with successes at four holes

Bennett was not finished yet. She won the 10^th with a par when her much longer-hitting opponent was bunkered but Michele bounced back with a tie-squaring birdie at the 11^th.

The Fifer, a Scotland player and girls team captain in her day, showed no signs of tiring as the sun came out to raise the temperature. Bennett won the 13^th and 14^th to go two up with five to play … and we know what they all say about that position!

"I never thought about two up with five to play never wins, actually, but I did lose the 15^th to a birdie and then I three-putted to lose the 17^th, which meant we were all square going down the last," said Lorna.

"Sadly, for me, I took three to get down from the edge of the 18^th green for a bogey 5 while Michele holed her second putt from about seven feet for a winning par 4 and that was that.

"But I really enjoyed myself, beating Claire Hargan by 5 and 4 in the morning and then giving Michele a good game. In a way I was glad for Scotland with the Curtis Cup match coming up, that Michele was able to win in the end. Maybe it will do her a lot of good, especially if she went on to become champion."

Two Fifers did reach the last eight – Jocelyn Carthew from Ladybank and Louise Kenney, the No 2 seed from Pitreavie.

Jocelyn beat Margaret Tough (Falkirk) by 4 and 3 and then Karen Marshall (Baberton) by 3 and 1. She now plays the giant-killing Sammhy Vass.

Louise Kenney was a 5 and 4 winner in the first round against Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) and then came through a tough tie against Claire MacDonald (Gullane) by 2 and 1.

"I was three up after five holes with a couple of birdies. Then we halved seven holes in a row before I went four up at the 13^th. Claire came back at me by winning the 14^th with a birdie and then the 15^th to cut my lead to two," said Louise.

"We halved the 16^th in par and the 17^th in birdie 4s to finish the match. I really like the Lossiemouth links. I was about one or two under par in the afternoon and I think I am playing as well if not better than when I reached the semi-finals at Dunbar a couple of years ago. Here's hoping anyway!"

Louise Kenney now plays Curtis Cupper Michele Thomson.