Sammy (16) from Tain is

Lossie giant-killer

You couldn't make up a better, little girl makes good story! But this one is true and it all enfolded on another day which ended in glorious sunshine at Lossiemouth.

Sixteen-year-old championship debutante Sammy Vass from Tain had the kind of day in the 94^th Scottish women's amateur golf tournament she will remember for the rest of her life..

Having squeezed into the 32 match-play qualifiers on Wednesday night by surviving a six-player play-off for the last two places, she began her day of days by toppling her 17-year-old golfing buddy, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) who just happened to be the No 1 seed!

In an amazing match of quality, played by two youngsters at almost break-neck speed by modern standards – 2hr 40min for 18 holes – Kelsey had seven birdies but lost by two holes to Sammy who had "only" four birdies but more winning par figures.

Then Sammy, whose mother Magi was a Scottish junior international in her day, went out again in the afternoon and played almost just well. She reached the last eight at the first attempt by chalking up a 3 and 2 win over former Scottish universities champion Ann Ramsay from Kirriemuir but now living and working in Paisley. Again the pace of the tie was bordering on sprinting – they completed the 16 holes in well under three hours.

This time Sammy Vass (picture above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved) had six birdies against an eagle and three birdies from her opponent.

"This has been the best day of my golfing life. I've never played so well over two rounds. Pity I had to beat Kelsey because we're good pals and she would beat me most days. She's a +2 player and I've got a handicap of three," said Sammy.

And just to round off a eventual day, Sammy, by special arrangement, sat her Higher English examination under strict supervision within the Moray clubhouse just after 5pm.

Kelsey MacDonald and Samantha Leslie (Murcar Links) were two other teenagers in the field who sat Higher English at different days during the day.

Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), the only one in the Lossie field of the four Scots chosen to play in the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of month, reached the last eight after being three down after four holes and two down with five to play against Scottish seniors champion Lorna Bennett (Ladybank). Thomson holed an eight-footer on the last green to win by one hole when Bennett took three from the edge.

Michele now plays the No 2 seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) for a place in the semi-finals.

Michele's Aberdeenshire rival Laura Murray from Alford had an eagle and six pars in winning by 4 and 3 over Kilmacolm teenager Megan Briggs.

Escape of the day was performed by Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle). In the morning first round, she was four down with five holes to play against Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder), last year's beaten finalist. Kylie won all five for a one-hole victory and celebrated her reprieve by firing five-under-par figures at six times Angus champion Mary Summers (Panmure Barry) in recording a 3 and 2 win to enter the quarter-finals

THURSDAY RESULTS

FIRST ROUND MATCH-PLAY

S Vass (Tain) bt K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 2 holes.

A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir) bt S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 2 holes.

K Marshall (Baberton) bt L Hendry (Routenburn) 1 hole.

J Carthew (Ladybank) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 4 and 3.

K Walker (Buchanan Castle) bt E Ogilvy (Auchterarder) 1 hole.

M Summers (Panmure Barry) bt R Livingstone ( Musselburgh Old) 2 and 1.

J Turner (Craigielaw) bt C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 2 and 1.

M Pow (Selkirk) bt E Fairnie (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 7 and 5.

D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt E Moffat (St Regulus) at 19^th.

M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1.

L Murray (Alford) bt P Williamson (Baberton) 7 and 6.

L Bennett (Ladybank) bt C Hargan (Mortonhall) 5 and 4.

M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt K Blackwood (Craigmillar Park) 5 and 3.

C MacDonald (Gullane) bt S Bishop (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.

L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt L McLardy (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.

SECOND ROUND

Vass bt Ramsay 3 and 2.

Carthew bt Marshall 3 and 1.

Walker bt Summers 3 and 2.

Turner bt Pow 2 and 1.

Carlton bt Jackson 6 and 4.

Murray bt M Briggs 4 and 3.

Thomson b t Bennett 1 hole.

Kenney bt C MacDonald 2 and 1.