LAUREN WINS CARNOUSTIE CHALLENGE BY NINE STROKES

Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), last year's Scottish Under-18 girls match-play champion,  has begun the new season with another trophy for her silver collection. On a bitterly cold final day with sleet showers, the St Andrews teenager clinched a runaway victory in the 54-hole Carnoustie Links Girls Challenge tournament  She had rounds of 77, 71 and 70 for a total of 218, winning by nine shots from the select field. Runner-up on 227 was Paige Kemp (Rochford Hundred) and third place went to former Scottish girls champion Lesley Atkins (Gullane) whose closing 68 was the best of the day over a par-63 Buddon course with an SSS of 66. The first round was over the Carnoustie Championship links with the second round played over Carnoustie Burnside. CARNOUSTIE LINKS GIRLS CHALLENGE FINAL TOTALS Par 208 (74-71-63) 218 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 77,71,70 227 Paige Kemp (Rochford Hundred) 80, 77, 70 228 Lesley Atkins (Gullane) 86, 74, 68 231 Rebecca McGeehan (Hummerbachaue) 82, 73, 76 234 Tara McTaggart (Minto) 76, 83, 75, Heather Munro (Monifieth) 88, 70, 76 235 Clara Young (North Berwick) 83, 76, 76 240 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 82, 85, 73 244 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 87, 81, 76 249 Katie McGarva (Troon) 95, 79, 75 251 Emma Greenlees (Dumfries and Galloway) 87, 83, 81 Disq - Connie Jaffray (Troon) DQ, 77, 70  ends