GRANTOWN ON SPEY STUDENT AT HEAD OF UNDER-21s' FIELD

HANNAH McCOOK GETS IN PARTY 

MOOD, LEADING WITH four-under 70




By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Stirling student Hannah McCook has her 21st birthday on July 29 but the Grantown on Spey Golf Club member might well have something else to celebrate before then.

 Hannah, from Nethy Bridge, is the tournament leader with a sparkling four-under-par round of 70 in the Scottish Under-21 girls open amateur championship at Alloa Golf Club.
The fact that McCook was able to produce such a good round to lead players like defending champion Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), lying second with a 71 and Lincolnshire lass India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), third with a 72, will be a big boost to the Highlander's confidence.
Only a few weeks ago, she was forced to retire from the world universities championships in Switzerland when a wrist problem that required surgery last year recurred.
But rest has been the best cure and McCook showed she is back at her best with a bogey-free scorecard that had birdies at three par-5 holes, the fifth, ninth and 13th, and also at the par-4 14th in halves of 35.
Meek, on summer holidays after her first year at the University of Missouri, had an erratic start to her three-under 71 ... bogey 6 at the long second, eagle 2 at the par-4 third, bogey 5 at the fourth.
Then Jess, who won this title at Inverness last year, settled down to some consistently good play.
 She covered her last 14 holes in three under par with birdies at three long holes, the ninth, 12th and 16th for halves of 36 and 35t.
India Clyburn, younger sister of Holly, former Curtis Cup player and now a winner on the Ladies European Tour, birdied the first, ninth, 13th, 16th and 18th in halves of 37-35. Bogeys at the fourth, eighth and 15th kept her two off the pace.
Rachel Walker (Dumfries and Co), winner last week of the Dumfries-shire county championship, came storming home in 33 with birdies at the 10th 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th for a 73. Rachel was three over par for the first five holes and four under the card for the last nine.
Scottish champion Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) returned a 73 which keeps her in contention for the final 36 holes. There is no cut.
Gabs birdied the seventh, ninth, 12th and 18th in halves of 36-37.
Hannah and Co kept the home fires burning - there are only two "non-Scots" in the leading nine: Clyburn and Sophie Hausman from Dusseldorf, tied fourth with a 73, the highlight of which was an eagle 3 at the 12th.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 74. CSS 74 Yardage: 5,792
70 H McCook (Grantown on Spey)
71 J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies)
72 I Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
73 R Walker (Dumfries and Co), G MacDonald (Craigielaw), S Hausman (Ger).
74 D Kerr (Roxburghe), K McIntosh (Broomieknowe), A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
76 R Tomlinson (Haydock Park), E Crawford (Harburn), L Watson (Deeside), R Polson (Peterculter)
77 M Clyne (Deeside), C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies)
78 E Healey (West Lancs), K Wright (Stranraer), A Walker (Glenbervie), T Mactaggart (Minto), K Brodie (Strathmore)
79 L Atkins (Gullane), C Munro (Gullane), E Watson (Muckhart).
80 L Downs (Romanby), N Callander (Mill Green). 
81 A Brown (Nairn Dunbar), C Taylor (Nairn), K Scott (Strathaven), H Scott (Broomieknowe) M Richmond (Strathaven).
82 J Allan (Glenbervie), M Cowan (St Medan)
83 J Saxton (Kinross), S Black (Deeside), L MacDonald (Cardross)
84 J Free (Gullane), E O'Connor (Bothwell Castle)
85 A Muirhead (Dubai), N Robertson (Stirling),J Mackintosh (Hazlehead)
86 K Pryde (Deeside), A Qayum (Ranfurly Castle).
87 P Kemp (Boyce Hill), J Farrell (Cardross).
88 K Brown (Strathaven), K Malcolm (Dumfries and Co), E Logie (Buckpool), M Stewart (Murcar Links).
89 E Morrison (Craigmillar Park)
90 E Bryce (Strathaven), L Gilbert (Largs), A Taylor (St Anne's Old Links), H Neilson (Greenburn)
92 J Duncan (Auchterarder)
95 E Glencorse (Millport)
98 L McClymont (Dumbarton)