ALL THE SCORES AND NEWS FROM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHI0

         Jess Meek with her haul of silverware from the qualifying rounds.
                           Picture by courtesy of Jean Macintyre
THERE'S NO STOPPING JESS MEEK - NOW SHE EARNS TOP SEEDING AT LONGNIDDRY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
It's all coming up roses for Jess Meek, the 19-year-old Carnoustie Ladies Golf Club member, who continued her brilliant golf form today by earning the No 1 seed spot for the match-play stages of the Scottish women's amateur championship at Longniddry Golf Club, East Lothian.Jess Meek, a full-time student at SRUC Elmwood (formerly Elmwood College) since August 2012 and bound for the University of Missouri this August, shot the tournament-low score of three-under-par 71 in the second qualifying round for a one-under-par total of 147, four strokes clear of the field.
Another great effort to follow on to a second, joint second and a joint third in the first three tournaments among the professionals on the Paul Lawrie Tour whose Order of Merit she leads. Add to that her high finish a couple of weekends ago in the Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play, and it really has been a remarkable few weeks for a young player who has sudden blossomed into arguably the best female amateur in Scotland.
Jess had a bag of five birdies in her 71 (37-34), four of them at par-5 holes which underlines how far she can hit the ball. She had a bogey-free inward half, higlighted by the birdies at the 15th, 17th and 18th to add to the sub-par figures she had picked up at the second and third. 
"I came into the Championship with the goal of qualifying so to lead after the strokeplay is special," said Jess, who prefers to Jessica.  "But it is the match play that really  counts."

Another 19-year-old, overnight leader Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co) was second leading qualifier on 151 after a 76. She three-putted the 18th, her fourth bogey of the back nine after a superb start to the round in which she birdied the first three holes.

Jane Turner (Craigielaw) shot 74 to be the third seed on four over par 152.
"I was much more consistent today," she said after the three birdie round. "Although I am a member at nearby Craigielaw I have not played many times at Longniddry. Maybe just once as a junior.

"I've had a fairly average start to the season so hoping to play better in the match-play."

Jane lost to Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), the ninth qualifier, in the final of the Midlothian county championship at the weekend.

Clara Young (North Berwick), who won the East Lothian women's title for a second time at the weekend although she is still only 16, shot 72 and was joint fourth qualifier on 154 – five birdies and three bogeys.
Clara birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th in great finish. She sat her Human Biology Higher in the morning.

"I've got another three Highers to go but no more this week thank goodness," said the 16-year-old North Berwick High School pupil. "Really pleased with the score." 
Clara will have the bragging rights in the Young household - although it is doubtful ie she will use them! Her mum Dawn, the East Lothian county captain, failed to qualify with rounds of 93 and 100.  A case of knowing what side your bread is buttered on!

The three past champions in the field - Hilary Wardell (Longniddry), Megan Briggs (Kilmacoln) and Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) all made it through to the match-play stages with varying degrees of ease.
Hilary, who won the title at Portpatrick Dunskey in 19995 when her surname was Monaghan, was the sixth best qualifier on 156 (80-76), a good effort by a player who is only playing in the Scottish championship because it is her home course.
"I was sort of bullied into it," said the Mum of two who is married to Whitekirk professional Paul Wardell.
"The goal was to qualify and so now the pressure is off a little.

"Not expecting anything in the matchplay. Have played only one medal this year. Today I was three over par after four holes but dug in and managed to grind out a decent score."
 Jess Meek's first-round opponent will be R and A staffer Claire Hargan (St Regulus), a former Scotland cap and a beaten finalist in the Scottish.
Katie Reid (Monifieth) and Hargan grabbed the 31st and 32nd places in the match-play draw after a four-way sudden-death play-off against Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) and Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies).
Jemma dropped out at the first extra hole. Sheena parred the second hole but was KOd by birdies from both Hargan and Reid.