ABOYNE TEENAGER LYING SECOND IN HELEN HOLM DESPITE DOUBLE BOGEY SIX

Shannon McWilliam

GOLF COPY AND SCORES
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF

Aboyne's Shannon McWilliam, third in the event at the age of 15 in 2015, is lying second, one shot off the pace, with a three-under-par 69 opening round at Troon Portland in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke play championship at the Ayrshire venue.

She birdied the par-5 first and the fifth, then suffered a double bogey 6 at the seventh before a 2 at the short eighth enabled her to turn in one-under-par 35. Shannon, pictured, had a bogey-free inward half of 34 with another 2 at the short 10th and a 4 at the par-5 11th.
McWilliam was the clubhouse leader when she finished but later
Germany's Alexandra Forsterling took the lead with a 68 after bogeying the 13th, 14th and 18th in halves of 32-36.
Alexandra started with an eagle 3 at the par-5 first and then birdied the fifth, seventh, 11th and 12th, at which point she was six under par with six to play. She did get one more birdie, at the long 15th, but the three late bogeys kept her within striking distance of McWilliam.
Twice winner of the "Helen Holm," Olivia Winning (Rotherham) is well in the mix with a 71 (37-34).
There were disappointing scores by Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75, Scottish champion Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 76, former Scottish title-holder Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 78, Gemma Batty (Moffat) 79 and Isobel Wardle (Prestbury) 83.

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
First two rounds Troon Portland, final round Royal Troon.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 72
68 A Forsterling (Ger)
69 S McWilliam (Aboyne).
70 K Lund (Nor)
71 M Hoogeboom (Ned), O Winning (Rotherham), L Grant (Swe), M Lewis (St George's Hill).
72 S Lamb (Clitheroe), H McCook (Grantown on Spey), E Henseleit (Ger), A Krauter (Ger), M Stark (Swe), G Price (Bude and N Cornwall), L Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), C Ryan (Ire), A Linner (Swe).
73 A Fuller (Roehampton), B Moresco (Ita), L-M Humphreys (Stoke by Nayland), A Wilson (Ire), M Martin (Ire), P Grant (Ire), C Casey (Ire), H McGarvie (Troon Ladies).
74 A Laker (Frilford Heath), A Nobilio (Ita), T Mactaggart (Minto), B Garton (Royal Lytham), E Price (Cleobury Mortimer), C Louis (Bel), A J Williamson (Royal Cromer), C Goadby (St Regulus), E Codet (Fra), P Roussin-Bouchard (Fra), J Sepers (Ned), H Screen (Berkhamsted).
75 E Briggs (Kilmacolm), J Ross (Ire), K O'Connor (West Byfleet), C Don (Ita), C Liautier (Fra), J Mackintosh (Hazlehead), H Muse (West Lancs), I Holpfer (Aut), E Hale (Troon Ladies), J Engstrom (Swe), B Wallin (Swe).
76 A Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), A L Otten (Ger), G Paton (Royal Montrose), R Morris (Woodsome Hall).
77 E Slater (Gog Magog), K McIntosh (Broomieknowe), L Brunt (Royal Birkdale), M Garland (Selby), S Sexton (Ire), M Lawrence (Rochester and Cobham), A Fanali (Ita), K Gillum (Lilleshall), M Claisse (Fra), L Bagnoli (Ita).

SELECTED SCORES
78 A Bailey (Kirby Muxloe), E Goodall (Selby), S Fuller (Roehampton), G Macdonald (Craigielaw), K Wright (Stranraer).
79 G Batty (Moffat)
80 S Wood (Drumpellier).
81 L Duncan (West Kilbride).
82 C Taylor (Nairn).
83 I Wardle (Prestbury)