FIRST REAL FORM UPSET OF 100TH SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT PRESTWICK

 Lesley Atkins plays her tee shot at the short second hole early in her Round 2 victory over title-holder Alyson McKechin. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

LESLEY TOPPLES CHAMPION ALYSON 

AND PLAYS EILIDH BRIGGS IN LAST 8  


PRESS RELEASE FROM SLGA
By ELSPETH BURNSIDE
Lesley Atkins (Gullane) knocked out defending champion, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), by 2 and 1 to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Ladies’ Championship at Prestwick.
The 19-year-old claimed it was a career best win and her reward is a last eight match against Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs, who will be playing for GB and Ireland in next month’s Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club.
Two down at the turn, Atkins, who is in her first year at Florida International University, drew level at the 14th and then crucially made a birdie at the 16th to edge one ahead. A bogey at the 17th was good enough to win both the hole and the match.
“I was nervous at the start and towards the end,” she admitted. “I’m loving my time in Florida and definitely feel my best golf is yet to come.”
Teenager Connie Jaffrey, the leading strokeplay qualifier, continued an impressive run through to the quarter-finals.
Level par in the first round, the 17-year-old Scottish Girls’ Champion defeated her Troon Ladies’ clubmate Jane Finnie by 6 and 5 and was then three under par in ousting Hannah McCook (Grantown-On-Spey) by 5 and 4 at the last 16 stage.
In the second round, Jaffrey won the first two holes in par and then had a sparkling run – birdie, birdie, eagle – from the seventh to turn for home with the five hole advantage. The three at the ninth was quite straightforward – a drive, rescue club to five feet and a single putt.
In the quarter-finals, Jaffrey will face the 2012 Scottish Girls’ Champion, Lauren Whyte – the St Regulus youngster advanced with a 4 and 2 win over Milngavie’s Nichola Ferguson.
Megan Briggs, the older of the Kilmacolm sisters, kept up her hopes of repeating her 2009 triumph with a comfortable 5 and 3 victory over Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and she now meets Rachel Walker (Dunfries and County).
The last of the quarter-finals is Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie) versus Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), who won an all East Lothian tie 2 and 1 against last year’s beaten finalist, Clara Young (North Berwick).