HIGHLAND LADIES OPEN FIRST Q ROUND

Title-holder Eilidh Watson leads Pitlochry Ladies Highland Open after first Q round

Eighty-five competitors took part in the first qualifying round of the Highland Ladies Open at Pitlochry. Bathed in glorious sunshine and perfect conditions, scores were higher than one might have thought they would be.

Defending champion Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) posted a two-under-par 70 with local player Kay Knight second on 74, followed by two previous champions in Laura Walker (Muckhart) and Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) on 75.

Fifteen-year-old Mollie O'Brien from Reay GC, playing in her first "Highland" is lying in eighth place on 81.

Elaine Langlands (St Michaels) had a hole in one with a nine-iron at the fourth hole.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Top 16 scratch scores:

70 Eilidh Watson
74 Kay Knight

Defending champion Eilidh Watson (Muckhart),
Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe)
and Laura Walker (Muckhart) before going
out to play their first qualifying round.

75 Laura Walker, Louise Fraser
78 Kate Rorke
79 Claire Capocci
80 Sal Shepherd
81 Mollie O'Brien
82 Isla Moncrieff
83 Deborah Pooley
84 Fiona Armour
85 Morag Wardrop
87 Jenny Collins, Letty Mackinnon
88 Frances McFadzean
89 Christine Fawcett

Bronze handicap leaders

62 Kay Fleming [26]
74 Jean Bates[25], Ann Shepherd [24] 
75 Katherine Haworth[32]
77 Tracey Barr [25]
78 Louise Kelly[28], Maureen Joyce[26], Rosemary Lindsay[28]