HEATHER HANGING ON AS PLAY-OFF CONTINUES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Only Heather MacRae, pictured, is surviving - just - of the five Scots who were in the field at Caldy Golf Club today for the Final Qualifying competition of the Ricoh Women's British Open championship at Hoylake, also on the Wirral. Lynn Kenny, with a 77, Kelsey MacDonald (78), Clare Queen (79) and Kylie Walker (82) were eliminated as the leading 21 scorers with rounds of three-over-par 75 or better automatically qualified for the last Major of the women's pro golf season, starting over the Royal Liverpool Golf Club's Hoylake links on Thursday. Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel) was one of 13 players who scored 76 and they set off in a mass play-off after 7pm to decide who would be the four alternates, i.e. reserves to get into the championship should anyone drop out. The battle for the first reserve place came down to a straight fight between MacRae and Louise Larsson (Sweden) after they were the only ones to have birdie 2s at one of the short holes. They played four holes in increasingly ludicrous, pitch-dark conditions. Finally Heather and Louise decided after 8pm that they would take the LGU offer to come off and restart their play-off at 8am tomorrow morning. Heather, who was first off the tee at 8am this morning, was then left to hunt for accommodation because she had only booked in for one night. Finding a room at short notice in Hoylake this week is probably harder than winning a play-off. "I was five over par after only eight holes this morning so I suppose I should be grateful I am still in with a chance of getting through to the championship," said a tired MacRae. "The other side of me says I should have bogeyed one of the play-off holes and it would have solved a lot of the problems, mainly the accommodation one." But, of course, MacRae did not really mean that. She is a fighter through and through and she will give it her best shot at 8am tomorrow morning. SO HERE IS THE PLAY-OFF SITUATION MacRae and Larsson will continue their play-off to decide the Nos 1 and 2 alternate positions at 8am Tuesday morning. Sophie Walker (England) is the No 3 alternate. Jessica Yadlocksky (US) is the No 4 alternate.