LEADER WALKER HAS SIGHTS SET ON FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency
FROM THE HERALD NEWSPAPER
By ELSPETH BURNSIDE
Rachel Walker, of Dumfries and County, played for a host of Scotland teams last year, but the 19-year-old has yet to win a national title.
She has set sights on a breakthrough, though, after posting a 75 to
lead the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the Scottish Ladies'
Amateur Championship at Longniddry.
On a day of tricky conditions – wind, sun, cold, and frequent and very unpleasant heavy showers – Walker made a shaky start but then produced a solid one-over-par round to sneak one ahead of Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Jessica Meek (Carnoustie).
Briggs was still at school when she lost to Louise Kenney in the final at Machrihanish two years ago, while 19-year-old Meek has shown her form alongside the professionals this season. Competing on the Paul Lawrie Ladies' Tour, she has yet to finish outside the top three and heads the Order of Merit.
Last year, Walker played for Scotland in the European Girls' Championship, Girls' and Senior Home Internationals. "It was a big shock to make the senior team," she admitted.
"But it was a real breakthrough. Now I'm looking for my first national title."
Having left school last year, she sees golf as her future. She has a couple of part-time jobs – as a waitress and in a shopping store – but is heading for the United States and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, to take up a sports scholarship in August.
Coached by Kevin Craggs and Stuart Syme, the Dumfries and County professional, her winter practice was aided by inclusion in a Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association trip to Abu Dhabi.
"It was great to get away to the sun in the winter and it really helped my game a lot," she said. "Today, I started with a bogey and then three-putted the second for par, but the weather made it very tough and my putting helped me."
It is only her second attempt at the Scottish Amateur, and she didn't do too shabbily on her debut, losing to eventual winner Laura Murray in the second round at Tain last year.
Meek is also on a gap year before heading to the States and the University of Missouri in August.
"Playing alongside the professionals has been great," she said. "They don't do much wrong and take the birdie chances when they get them."
Briggs is training to be a physical education teacher at Stirling University and hopes to follow in the footsteps of older sister Megan who won the title at Southerness in 2009.
WEDNESDAY TEE TIMES AT LONGNIDDRY
On a day of tricky conditions – wind, sun, cold, and frequent and very unpleasant heavy showers – Walker made a shaky start but then produced a solid one-over-par round to sneak one ahead of Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Jessica Meek (Carnoustie).
Briggs was still at school when she lost to Louise Kenney in the final at Machrihanish two years ago, while 19-year-old Meek has shown her form alongside the professionals this season. Competing on the Paul Lawrie Ladies' Tour, she has yet to finish outside the top three and heads the Order of Merit.
Last year, Walker played for Scotland in the European Girls' Championship, Girls' and Senior Home Internationals. "It was a big shock to make the senior team," she admitted.
"But it was a real breakthrough. Now I'm looking for my first national title."
Having left school last year, she sees golf as her future. She has a couple of part-time jobs – as a waitress and in a shopping store – but is heading for the United States and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, to take up a sports scholarship in August.
Coached by Kevin Craggs and Stuart Syme, the Dumfries and County professional, her winter practice was aided by inclusion in a Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association trip to Abu Dhabi.
"It was great to get away to the sun in the winter and it really helped my game a lot," she said. "Today, I started with a bogey and then three-putted the second for par, but the weather made it very tough and my putting helped me."
It is only her second attempt at the Scottish Amateur, and she didn't do too shabbily on her debut, losing to eventual winner Laura Murray in the second round at Tain last year.
Meek is also on a gap year before heading to the States and the University of Missouri in August.
"Playing alongside the professionals has been great," she said. "They don't do much wrong and take the birdie chances when they get them."
Briggs is training to be a physical education teacher at Stirling University and hopes to follow in the footsteps of older sister Megan who won the title at Southerness in 2009.
WEDNESDAY TEE TIMES AT LONGNIDDRY
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Labels: SLGA
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 8:07:00 am
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