Ladies European Tour Qualifying School starts at La Manga

Kylie Walker, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, in action for Scotland at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire in this year's women's home internationals. Click to enlarge.

Good start by Kylie, Carly but Katy faces fight to survive Round 2 cut

Scots Kylie Walker (72) and Carly Booth (74) both made satisfactory starts today to the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School's Stage 1 three-round eliminator at La Manga.
But compatriot Katy McNicoll, also playing the par-73 longer South Course, ran up two late double bogey 6s for an 83 which means she has a fight on her hands to make the leading 70 and ties who will qualify after Wednesday's second round for the third round.
The Carnoustie player, winner of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Newmachar this year and now a professional, is currently sharing 83rd place.
Kylie, like Carly Booth still an amateur (both are members of the Curtis Cup preliminary squad for the June match in the States, is a veteran of tour schools around the world.

At the start of the year, she competed in the LET Q School, which was held in January. Later she failed to make it at the qualifying schools held by the LPGA Tour and the Futures Tour, both in America.
The long-hitting Buchanan Castle player, who finished second in this year's European women's individual amateur championship, had five birdies today, at the third, long sixth, eighth, long 13th and 14th on the 6,245yd South Course which has a par of 73. She bogeyed the short second, the short fourth, the 11th and the short 12th in halves of 36 (one under) and and 36 (level).
Carly won't 18 until next June and should she get through both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 elimination contests at La Manga, she will need special dispensation from the LET chief executive to play on the LET, although it is unthinkable that she would be told to wait.
Carly's one-over-par 74 today was made up of birdies at third, 16th and long 18th. She bogeyed the first, long sixth, 10th and 15th in halves of 38 (one over) and 36 (level).
The two late birdies reflected the Comrie teenager's degree of concentration and commitment.

Professional's daughter Kristie Smith from Australia reduced the shorter South Course (5,841yd) to 69 strokes (two under par) and, purely on numerical terms, she has a two-stroke advantage over the big field.

Also at two-under-par, after a 71 over the longer North Course, is Galway-born Alison Walshe who played for the United States in the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course. Alison failed to make the grade at the recent LPGA Q School in Florida.