SOLID START BY SCOTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN'S MASTERS

By Colin Farquharson

Shannon and Gemma in good nick with 71s in first round if the South African Women's Masters

Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne), - pictured left, winner of the Border women's amateur championship in South Africa earlier in the week, stayed in good nick for the start of the South African Women's Masters - open to professionals and amateurs - at San Lameer Country Club today (Thu).

She and West Linton's Gemma Batty both shot one-under-par 71s to be joint sixth behind South African professional Kim Williams, who leads by two with a four-under 68 from four players.

McWilliam birdied the seventh, ninth and 12th and bogeyed the first and 14th.

Batty ruined a round which included birdies at the third, sixth, 10th and 13th with a double bogey 6 at the 12th.

Chloe Goadby (Stirling) is joint 14th on 73. She recovered well after going out in 40, birdieing the long 13th, short 14th and long 17th for 33 home.

Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) finished with a 75 and a share of 24th place after running up a double bogey 6 at the sixth. She birdied two par-3 holes, the fourth and ninth.

Scots professional Jane Turner from the Lothians had a disastrous round of 10-over 82, coming home in 44 shots, including a quadruple bogey 8 at the 18th. Her only birdie came at the sixth and she dropped shots at regular intervals.

SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN'S MASTERS

San Lameer Country Club.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

par 72 Players from S African unless stated

68 K Williams (SAf)(

70 M Bruun (Nor), J Jaxaliyeua (Kazakhstan), L Fuenfstueck (Ger), L Assad.

71 I Samu, N Diamini (Swaziland), S McWilliam (Sco) (am), G Batty (Sco) (am).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

73 C Goadby (am) (T14).

75 H McCook (am) (T24)

82 J Turner (T55)