SCOTTISH LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP - Jaffrey leads the way at Prestwick



Connie Jaffrey

Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies ) leads the way with a 73 after round one of the Scottish Ladies Championship at Prestwick on Tuesday 20th May.

(Report from the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association website)

Connie Jaffrey, the Scottish Girls’ Champion, had a superb one under par 73 to head the field after the opening round of the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Prestwick.

The Troon Ladies’ member finished runner-up at the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship last month and she again showed great form to surge into a four shot lead at the halfway stage of the strokeplay qualifying.

But defending champion Alyson McKechin sounded a warning that she is ready to stage a serious defence of the title. The Elderslie golfer lifted the trophy at Longniddry last year and she was tied for second place on 77.

Also on the four over par mark was last year’s beaten finalist, Clara Young (North Berwick), and a former Scottish girl international, Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe).

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) will be heading out to St Louis Country Club to represent GB and Ireland in defence of the Curtis Cup next week and she opened with a solid 78.

Jaffrey, who recently left Kilwinning Academy, had a real mixed bag. She dropped a shot at the first hole and had another three bogeys in the opening half. But she also birdied the third, eighth and ninth.

Another bogey at the start of the inward half put the teenager on two over par but she then had a sparkling run of three birdies in a row from the 11rth and then another at the 15th. It meant she could afford to drop a shot at the 18th and still finish under par. 

After another rounds of strokeplay, the top 32 players qualify for the knock-out stage of the Championship. The next 16 compete for the Clarke Rosebowl. Round 1 CSS 79