8am Round-Up: Sally Watson 2nd alternate for Australian Women's Open

Sally Watson is second alternate for the Australian Women's Open. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The 24-year-old is second alternate for the event, which starts on Thursday, after finishing fifth in today’s 18-hole qualifier at The Grange.

The three spots on offer were all claimed by Koreans - Eunwoo Choi and Eun jeong Seong sharing first place on 69 while Hye-jin Choi beat Australian Robyn Choi in a sudden-death play-off after they both carded 70s.

After a 71, Watson found herself in a play-off with England’s Alexandra Peters and Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer for alternate spots.

That was eventually settled at the fifth extra hole, Watson coming out on top and admitting on Twitter she now had her “fingers crossed” in the hope there could be withdrawals between now and Thursday.

Kelsey MacDonald and Heather MacRae weren’t too far away from getting in the mix as they both carded 73s while Gemma Dryburgh had a 76.

After her withdrawal during the final round of the New Zealand Women’s Open on Sunday due to a b ack injury, Pamela Pretswell didn’t take up her spot in the field.

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Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are set to lock horns in a televised exhibition match under lights during the week of the US Open.

The Associated Press is reporting that the pair will play in the event at Detroit Golf Club on June 7, which is the Tuesday before US Open week at Oakmont outside of Pittsburgh.

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Rain in Spain has left Duncan Stewart needing a final-round “charge” at the inaugural MENA Tour Qualifying School.

Sunday’s opening round at Almenara was scrapped in the middle of the afternoon due to torrential rain and 50mph winds.

That led to the scheduled 54-hole event being reduced to two rounds, with Stewart carding a three-over-par 75 in the first circuit to sit joint-seventh.

Spaniard Javier Gallegos is out in front after a 71, one shot ahead of Englishman David Booth, who won the 2009 Scottish Youths’ Championship at The Roxburghe when he was at Stirling University.

“Well, my idea to come to Spain to get some warm weather competitive practice has not gone to plan,” said Grantown-on-Spey man Stewart.

“I was going quite well - one-over after 11 holes - when play was scrapped and, though dry today, it was still extremely windy with gusts over 40mph.

“I played pretty solid for the most part but was birdie-free. I’m only four behind, so hopefully can make a charge for it tomorrow in the second and final round.”

Glenbervie man Fraser Moore (78) is joint-13th but Michael Stokes and Sam Mcneil, the other two Scots in an 89-strong field, are down near the bottom of the scoreboard after struggling to 90 and 91 respectively.

Sixty cards are up for grabs, with a $13,000 pursue being split between the top 12 while the leading 15 will get their MENA Tour membership paid.