Louise Fraser pips Rachael Watton

for top Midlothian seeding

Former international-class women's rugby player Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) and Mortonhall junior member Rachael Watton topped the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Midlothian women's county championship at Newbattle Golf Club today.
They both had aggregates of 147 for the 36-hole qualifying contest, Louise coming in with a splendid second round of 70 to match the total of Rachael, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who led by two strokes after a first-round 71.
Louise Fraser's better second round earned her the No 1 seed role.
St Andrews hotelier Fiona De Vries (St Rule), a member of the winning Scotland veterans' team against Ireland at Cruden Bay recently, was the third best qualifier with scores of 73 and 76 for 149.
Former Scotland international Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), bidding to win the Midlothian title for the sixth time in the past seven years, qualified in sixth place with 79 and 75 for 154. Title-holder Rachael Livingston (Musselburgh), who ended Claire's run of five consecutive championships, was unable to defend this year.
QUALIFIERS
147 Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) 77 70, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 71 76.
149 Fiona De Vriews (St Rule) 73 76.
150 Claire MacDonald (Gullane) 76 74.
152 Kirsten Blackwood (Craigmillar Park) 76 76.
154 Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 79 75.
155 Stephanie Crolla (Duddingston) 79 76.
157 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) 79 77.
157 Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) 80 77.
159 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 77 82.
160 Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) 79 81.
164 Susan Rennie (Uphall) 82 82.
165 Karen Marshall (Baberton) 82 83.
166 Linda Caine (Dunbar) 84 82.
167 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield 83 84.
172 Diane Moncrieff (Lochend) 84 88.
FRIDAY'S DRAW
First round match-play
9.0 Fraser v Moncrieff.
9.07 Fenton v Gabrielle Macdonald.
9.15 Blackwood v Rennie.
9.22 Marshall v Claire MacDonald.
9.30 De Vries v Caine.
9.37 Nicholson v Hargan.
9.45 Crolla v McIntosh.
9.52 Simpson v Watton.

B CHAMPIONSHIP
First round
10.0 Helen Warnock (Harburn) v Coleen Derighetti (Lochend.
10.07 Lesley Campbell (Torphin Hills) v Mandy McB ain (New Swanston).
10.15 Pam Townsend (Murrayfield) v Sandra Wilkes (Deder Park).
10.22 Sandra Ashurst (Murrayfield) v Dee Williams (Craigmillar Park).
10.30 Caro9le Mason (Dalmahoy) v Jaci Moriarty (Lochend).
10.37 Mary Davidsdon (Kingsknowe) v Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe).
104.5 Susan Dalrymple (Craigielaw) v Yvonne Blyth (Prestonfield).
10.51 Sue Caton (Kingsknowe) v Margaret Alexander (Baberton).