KATY MCNICOLL STRIKES AGAIN ON PAUL LAWRIE LADIES TOUR

Katy McNicoll drives off in the rain and gloomy conditions at Downfield. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Katy McNicoll is proving to be the Inbee Park of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour.

The Carnoustie player scored her third win in a row in today's (Tuesday) event, The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel's Downfield Ladies Challenge.

She shot a two-under-par 71 in unpleasant wet conditions at the Dundee parkland course to head a field of 34 female professionals and single-figure girl amateurs - the strongest  so far on the fledgling tour.

Katy has a perfect record on the circuit. She won her first event at Trump International on May 6 and followed that up the following day by winning the Deeside competition.

And her aggregate for the competitions won her an additional prize.

McNicoll, whose father played Premier Division football for Dunfermline and whose brother Keir is a pro at Gullane, finished two under par despite a pair of 6s, at the par-5 fourth and 11th.

She cancelled them out with birdies at the fifth, seventh 13th and 18th in halves of 35 (one under) and 36 (one under).
Said Katy after her great round:

"Putted very well today. Scrambled the first few holes and then settled down. My caddie, Gus, was a huge help as he worried about which clubs to play and I didn't have anything to do but hit the shots. 

"The course was in fantastic condition and it brought back some fun memories of my amateur days when I played the jamboree here a few years ago. 

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow now and hopefully there will be a few people out watching to support everybody."

Yes, the Paul Lawrie Tour moves on tomorrow (Wednesday) to Katy McNicoll's home town! Can she make it four in a row - as Inbee Park will be attempting in the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews in a few weeks?

Watch this space!

At Downfield, Katy collected the £800 top prizew by one stroke from two amateurs, another Carnoustie youngster, Jess Meek, and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), a Scotland international home for the summer from Denver University.

They both earned £500 prize vouchers.

The success of girl amateurs - and Jess in particular - despite the professional opposition on the Paul Lawrie Tour has been one of the surprises of the circuit. Meek led the tour's Order of Merit into the Downfield event and may still be there once the points have all been added up.  

Meek, who will enrol at an American college next month, had birdies at the seventh and 16th, offset by a solitgary goey at the 14th in halves fo 35-37.

Watton highlighted her halves of 36 with an eagle 3 at the seventh, and birdies at the long fourth and 13th, the par-3 15th and a 2 at the short 16th.

She also had more bogeys that Meek - at the second, eighth, ninth 15th and 16th.

Chrisje de Vries from the Netherlands, winner of the inaugural Paul Lawrie Tour event at Dalmahoy in April, finished a creditable fourth on 73 for a payslip of £325.

Scotland amateur cap Jane Turner (Craigielaw), making her debut as a pro, did well to finish joint fifth on 74 alongside Pamela Feggans and Pamela Pretswell. The trio earned £163 each.

And continuing the good showing by Scottish amateurs, St Rule Trophy winner Ailsa Summers from Carnoustie and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), the Scottish women's amateur champion from Paisley, tied for eighth place on 75 alongside last year's Curtis Cup star and a winner of the Ladies European Tour this year, Holly Clyburn from Lincolnshire. Holly earned £90 and the two amateurs vouchers for the same amount.

THE MARCLIFFE AT PITFODELS HOTEL'S DOWNFIELD LADIES CHALLENGE

Downfield Golf Club, Dundee.

Par 73

71 Katy McNicoll (Sco) £800.

72 Jess Meek (Sco) (am), Rachael Watton (Sco) (am), £500 vouchers each.

73 Chrisje de Vries (Ned) £325

74 Pamela Feggans (Sco), Pamela Pretswell (Sco), Jane Turner (Sco) £163 each.

75 Holly Clyburn (Eng) £90, Ailsa Summers (Sco) (am) £90 voucher, Alyson McKechin (am) £90 voucher.

76 Emma Fairnie (Sco) £65, Lisa Shervill (Eng) £65, Rachel Polson (Sco) (am) £65 voucher.

77 Heather Stirling (Sco), Clare Queen (Sco) £50 each.

78 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco), Martine Pow (Sco), India Clyburn (Eng) (am).

79 Heather MacRae (Sco), Jess Wilcox (Eng) (am).

80 Michele Thomson (Sco), Laura Murray (Sco), Nichola Ferguson (Sco) (am).

81 Lauren Blease (Eng), Kiran Matharu (Eng).

82 Daisy Dyer (Eng).

83 Sheena Wood (Sco) (am)

84 Jemma Chalmers (Sco) (am)

85 Hannah McCook (Sco) (am), Gale MacPherson (Sco) (am).

88 Kate McIntosh (Sco) (am).

90 Katie Reid (Sco) (am).

91 Iona Stephen (Sco) (am).

Retired (ill): Kylie Walker (Sco).