ALYSON McKECHIN AND KATE McINTOSH SHARE UNDER-21s LEAD

Vagliano Trophy team player Kelsey MacDonald will have to play catch-up golf over the next two days if she is to succeed in extending her record sequence of Scottish Under-21 girls stroke-play championship victories to four. The Stirling student and Nairn Dunbar GC member is lying joint eighth at the end of the first round at Cardross Golf Club, four shots behind the two pacemakers on three-under 71, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe). Kelsey did not arrive at her base for this week's tournament until 1am, having competed in the European women's individual amateur championship in the Netherlands. Not surprisingly, Kelsey MacDonald had a roller-coaster round of birdies at the second, 10th, 13th and 18th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, 12th, 16th and 17th  If she can eliminate the negative over the remaining rounds, there are enough positives to make up the lost ground over the remaining 36 holes at Cardross. Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), bound for Denver University in a couple of weeks, is in third place, only one shot off the pace with a 72. Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park) and Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill) are bracketed in fourth place on 73, one shot aead of Tara MacTaggart (Minto). Kate McIntosh had seven birdies but four bogeys while Alyson McKechin had fewer birdies – six – but only three bogeys. Rachael Watton had an eagle at the long 18th., which cancelled out a double bogey 5 at te short 13th. Birdies at the fourth and 13th enabled her to finish the day two under par. . LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES  Par 74 71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe). 72 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall). 73 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick), Alice Boothroyd (Rudding Park), Paige Kemp (Boyce Hill). 74 Tara MacTaggart (Minto). 75 Nichola Ferguson (Clober), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co). 76 Gillian Simpson (Elie and Earlsferry), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), Rachael Taylor (Germany), Louise McGillivray (Banchory), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Linsey Stevenson (Elie and Earlsferry). 77 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), Sophie Myles (Ilkley), Katerina Slukova (Olomouc), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle). 78 Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies). 79 Jordana Graham (Southerness), Katie Reid (Monifieth), Jennifer Potter (Cathkin Braes), Ashley Smith (Monifieth), Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale), Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Charlotte Austwick (Fulford), IKimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway), Lesley Cosh (Cowglen). 80 Emma Clegg (Clitheroe), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Rebecca McGeehan (Germany). 81 Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride). 82 Rebecca Wilson (Grange), Jorden Ferrie (Kirkintilloch), Emily Aird (Blairgowrie), Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton), Emma Hale (Troon Ladies), Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alexandra Tait (St Regulus), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Claire Gadsby (Crieff). 83 Gillian Arnott (Largs), Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies), Heather Munro (Monifieth). 84 Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie). 85 Hannah Mannion (Teeside), India Friswell (Wrexham). 86 Sophie Maguire (St Regulus), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle). 88 Mirren Fraser (Powfoot), Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies). 89 Amelia Taylor (St Annes Old Links), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst), Emily Dalgetty (Glencorse). 90 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly Castle), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie). 91 Emma Kennedy (Paisley), Heather Neilson (Mouse Valley).