MHAIRI McKAY AMONG SCOTS IN RICOH W B OPEN PRE-QUALIFIER

FROM THE LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
When Paul Lawrie won the Open championship at Carnoustie in 1999, he first made it through the pre-qualifying stages.
That they can do likewise to gain a place in the Ricoh Women's British Open field over the famous Angus championship links from July 28 to 31 is the spur for 123 hopefuls who will tee it up in the Pre-qualifying round over the Blue Course at The Berkshire Golf Club, Ascot on Monday, July 11.
Only the leading 25 and ties at the end of that 18-hole eliminator will go forward to the Final Qualifying at Panmure Golf Club, near Carnoustie on Monday, July 25. Currently, there will be 16 places in the championship field up for grabs at Panmure.
The field at The Berkshire contains the famous and the not so famous, seasoned professionals and young amateurs.
Scotland's Mhairi McKay, pictured by Andy Forman, who played for Europe in the Solheim Cup matches of 2002 and 2003 (they were played in simultaneous years to get the competition back on to the required biennial schedule), is so keen to play in the Women's Major at Carnoustie that she is coming over from the LPGA Tour to have a crack at the pre-qualifying scramble.
Other experienced pros in the field include compatriots Lynn Kenny, Clare Queen and Heather MacRae, England's Trish Johnson and Ireland's Tara Delaney. Not so experienced but just as well known, Comrie's Carly Booth, is also in the field.
Charley Hull, only 15 and the top-rated British player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and Bronte Law, who also played for Great Britain and Ireland in the recent Junior Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, are in the field as is English girls champion Elizabeth Mallett.


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