Golf: Matthew's in good shape

LOTHIANS golfer Catriona Matthew sets out later today in her quest to win a second major when she lines up in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California.

The North Berwick woman made the big breakthrough when winning last season's British Open at Royal Lytham and is in good form going into this week's event at Rancho Mirage.

In only her second competitive outing of the season, Matthew finished in a tie for sixth in last week's Kia Classic at Carlsbad after closing with a 67.

Matthew, who has been working hard on her game at Archerfield Links over the winter, earned $46,961 for that effort and will now be aiming to keep up the good work in the opening major of the women's season.

As has been the case on a lot of occasions in recent years, Matthew and Janice Moodie are the sole Scots in the field for the event at Mission Hills Country Club.

• ROYAL Musselburgh and Castle Park will share the qualifying for this year's Lothians Championship on Saturday, 1 May. The match-play phase is at Royal Burgess on 3-8 May and entries close on 12 April.

• ENTRIES for the Midlothian Women's County Championship, to be held at Prestonfield from 26 April-2 May, close on Friday week. The 36-hole stroke play qualifying takes place on 26 April, with the top 16 scratch scores going through to the match-play.