Catriona Matthew cards flawless 65 to lead in Ladies Scottish Open

Published on Friday 19 August 2011 19:28

CATRIONA Matthew may have an eighth professional title triumph in her sights after opening up a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open but the North Berwick woman believes her two daughters, Katie and Sophie, will still have more exciting things on their minds today.

"They'd far rather go for an ice cream," said Matthew, having earlier revealed that the two youngsters, who were present on Thursday, had been absent on the day mum set a new course record with a majestic seven-under-par 65 on the Fidra Links because they were "having better fun on a picnic".

Matthew's flawless second-round effort on the East Lothian coast was one better than overnight leader Hannah Jun's opening score and swept her from four shots behind into a healthy lead over the less experienced American challenger, whose putter went cold as she posted a 73.

"I'm still just as determined to win - I've flown further," insisted Hun with a smile but, in truth, the Californian knows she faces a monumental task in trying to stop Matthew from recording a first win on Scottish soil since she claimed the McDonald's WPGA Championship at Gleneagles in 1998.

The 41-year-old has also won in America (twice), Australia, Brazil, England and Sweden during an outstanding career but never before has she had the opportunity to taste victory at this level so close to home. At a venue where she's an honorary member - a reward for winning the British Women's Open two years ago - to boot.

"That would be great," admitted Matthew, who made a brave bid to secure a second British title triumph at Carnoustie just under a month ago before finishing fifth behind Yani Tseng, then chalked up another top ten the following week in Ireland to all but secure a sixth Solheim Cup appearance back in the Emerald Isle in a few weeks' time.

As the world No 36 made her move yesterday with a seven-birdie effort that put her on nine-under 135, she attracted by far the biggest gallery of the week. A fair chunk of the East Lothian population is likely to cheer her on today and be willing her over the winning line, but the leader is confident she can handle the "added pressure" that will bring.

She's unlikely to be caught - after Hun, the chasing pack is being led by South African Ashleigh Simon and Italian Caroline Afonso, both of whom have six shots to make up on the Scot - if her putter continues to work as well as it did yesterday.

Matthew holed a 15-footer at the tenth, her opening hole, to get in the mood, knocked in a six-footer at the next then sank one from 25 feet at the 14th to reach the turn in 33.She bagged her fourth birdie of the round after getting on in two at the long second, hit a pitching wedge to 12 feet at the next, two-putted the sixth then signed off in style by ramming home a 30-footer at the ninth.

"That's my best score round here as I never take a score in a bounce game and, even if I did, I don't normally play well in those," said Matthew. "I putted well and that makes the difference, turning two or three-under into a really good round.

"My coach, Kevin Craggs, suggested to me last winter that I should go up to the fitting centre at St Andrews to get my putter counter-balanced, which involves weight being put into the top of the shaft, and my putting has definitely been helped by that."

For the second day running, Clare Queen recovered well from a shaky start - she was four-over after six on this occasion but eventually signed for a level-par 72 - and, on one-under, is sitting in a tie for eighth alongside England's Melissa Reid, who made the biggest leap up the leaderboard on the back of a 67.

Three other home players are in a tie for 19th, including Kylie Walker, who birdied four holes in a row from the 16th, her seventh, before undoing some of that good work on her back nine. She signed for a 72 to sit alongside Mhairi McKay (71) and Vikki Laing (72).

Today's leaders, Matthew and Jun, go out at 10.10am.