LAURA MURRAY IS ABERDEENSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP TOP SEED

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Scotland international Laura Murray (Alford), bounced back from the disappointment of missing the cut in last weekend’s Helen Holm Scottish women’s stroke-play championship at Troon, to earn No 1 seed status in the qualifying round of the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf championship at Murcar Links this evening.
After reaching the turn in three-over-par 37, Laura, pictured, a member of Team Paul Lawrie, stepped up the pace with a huge drive which required only a 52 degree wedge to 8ft and one putt to achieve an eagle 3 at the long 14th, followed by a birdie 3 (four-iron off tee to stay short of the burn, 58 degree wedge to 15ft, one putt) at the 15th.
That helped her get round in two-over 74 (40-34)
Four times county champion Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) had earlier set the clubhouse target of 74 (40-34) but Laura, who has never won the title, relegated her to No 2 seed after a countback that went down to the last six holes.
Defending champion Sammy Leslie (Westhill), struggling to find the pace of the greens, required 45 shots for the outward half but came home in 39 for an 84 to qualify for the match-play.
Biggest surprise among the non-qualifiers was probably young Kimberley Beveridge's failure to make the top 16 with a 95 (47-48), the Aboyne four-handicapper's worst round for some time.


QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
Par 72. CSS 75
SCRATCH
74 L Murray (Alford) 40-34 (better last six holes), S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 40-34.
79 T Seivwright (Deeside) 40-39, C Prouse (Hazlehead) 40-39, D Pocock (Murcar Links) 40-39.
80 C Wilson (Murcar Links) 41-39.
81 K Stalker (Cruden Bay) 44-37, L Urquhart (Banchory) 42-39.
83 S Mathieson (Murcar Links) 43-40, J Harrison (Cruden Bay), L McLardy (Duff House Royal) 41-42.

84 S Leslie (Westhill) 45-39

85 R Polson (Peterculter) 45-40

86 F Hay (Deeside) 44-42, M Johnstone (Murcar Links) .

87 K Vannet (Peterculter) 47-40

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
Saturday: First Round
9.40 L Murray v K Vannet.
9.47 J Harrison v L Urquhart.
9.54 C Prouse v S Leslie.
10.0 R Polson v T Seivwright.
10.08 D Pocock v F Hay.
10.15 L McLardy v C Wilson.
10.22 K Stalker v S Mathieson.
10.29 M Johnstone v S Wood
Quarter-finals from 2.30 onwards
HANDICAP
77 W Robertson (Cruden Bay) (9).
79 L Tough (Newmachar) (10).
80 S Anderson (Murcar Links) (9).
81 K Esslemont (Cruden Bay) (9).
82 L Whyte (Hazlehead) (9).
84 P Wilson (Murcar Links) (6), C Ross (Tarland) (9).
85 S Murray (Murcar Links) (7).
+83 M Miller (Cruden Bay) (14) withdrew from match-play draw

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
10.36 W Robertson v S Murray.
10.43 L Whyte v K Esslemont.
10.50 S Anderson v P Wilson.

10.57 C Ross v L Tough.