Megan Briggs, Kelsey MacDonald halve great match

Northern Counties, Midlothian

big winners on opening day of

County Finals at Baberton

Northern Counties and Midlothian look to be on a collision course with the title at stake after the opening day of the Scottish women's county golf championship finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh. Midlothian, East Division champions and the favourites with "home field advantage," whipped South title-holders Galloway 8 ½-½ while Northern Counties, the North Division champions, beat Renfrewshire, the West title-holders, by the surprisingly convincing margin of 7 ½-1 1/2 . Saturday's programme sees Galloway play Northern Counties, while Midlothian take on Renfrewshire. Sunday's final should feature a title-decider between Midlothian and Northern Counties – if both win their Saturday matches. Midlothian's strength in depth permitted them the luxury of not bringing in their county champion and former international Claire Hargan as well as the very experienced Wendy Nicholson until the afternoon singles, which gave all eight players in their squad an outing on the first day. Midlothian won the foursomes 2 ½- ½ and the singles 6-0 against Galloway. Teenagers and foursomes partners Jane Turner and Rachael Watton and Kirsten Blackwood were double winners for Midlothian. Northern Counties took the foursomes 2-1 against Renfrewshire before a cracking top singles tie between international team-mates, Scottish champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, and national under-21 champion for the past two years, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) ended in a square match. Between them they had five birdies over the last six holes. Megan was one up one the 18th tee before Kelsey won the last hole to share the honours. Northern Counties then won the remaining five singles with wins by Cara Gruber, senior cap Mary Smith, Jenny Milne, and Northern Counties girls champion Hannah McCook, who birdied the 17th and 18th , and another youngster, Julie Vass. Day 1 results at Baberton: GALLOWAY ½, MIDLOTHIAN 8 ½ Foursomes: Gillian Monteith & Tracy Milligan lost to Jane Turner & Rachael Watton 4 and 3; Christina Meldrum & Sheila McMurtrie halved with Louise Fraser & Karen Marshall; Addi Shamash & Gwen Robson lost to Claire MacDonald & Kirsten Blackwood 7 and 5 (1/2-2 ½). Singles: Monteith lost to Turner 4 and 3, Milligan lost to Claire Hargan 4 and 3, Meldrum lost to Wendy Nicholson 6 and 4, McMurtrie lost to Fraser 1 hole, Shamash lost to Kirsten Blackwood 3 and 2, Robson lost to Watton 3 and 2 (0-6). RENFREWSHIRE 1 ½, NORTHERN COUNTIES 7 ½ Foursomes: Eilidh Briggs & Megan Briggs bt Kelsey MacDonald & Hannah McCook 2 and 1; Liz Stewart & Donna Jackson lost to Cara Gruber & Pam Mackay 4 and 2; Alyson McKechin & Gillian Kyle lost to Mary Smith & Alison Bartlett 4 and 2 (1-2). Singles: Megan Briggs halved with MacDonald, Eilidh Briggs lost to Gruber 2 and 1, Jackson lost to Smith 2 and 1, McKechin lost to Jenny Milne 3 and 2, Kyle lost to McCook 3 and 2, Carol Whyte lost to Julie Vass 3 and 2 (1/2-5 1/2). TO PLAY: Saturday - Galloway v Northern Counties, Midlothian v Renfrewshire. Sunday - Midlothian v Northern Counties, Galloway v Renfrewshire.