Golf: Birdies on the back nine help Matthew recover in France

North BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew staged a late rally to post a one-under par 71 and stay well in contention after the opening day of a weather hit Evian Masters in France.

Despite the heavy rain and unusually cool temperatures, England's Karen Stupples managed a five-under par 67 and shared the lead with Sweden's Stirling University graduate, Maria Hjorth, and South Korea's Shin-Ae Ahn. A late starter, Matthew, the only Scot in the field of 81, did have to endure one torrential shower and she struggled over the opening holes, covering the first ten in two-over par. But she then bounced back with great putts for birdies at the 11th and 13th and then nearly holed in one at the short 14th.

Another birdie at the 15th meant she could still stay make bogey at the short 17th and finish on the right side of par. Four off the lead, she was tied for 25th place.

"I've been coming here for years but never really played anything decent so I'm pretty happy with the round," said the 41-year-old who won the Ricoh Women's British Open two years ago and is already looking forward to the final major of the season at Carnoustie next week.

• HOLDER Ian Randall, from Silverknowes, squeezed through at the 18th to finish one up on Duddingston's Gary McDonald and reach tonight's final of the Sir Harry Lauder Golf Trophy at Portobello (5.30pm).

Randall's opponent will be six-times winner Duncan Ireland (Duddingston), who beat Haddington's David Warrinder 6 and 5 with a performance that saw him require just seven putts for the opening six holes. Ireland also achieved an eagle at the third hole. In tonight's final of the Brand Cup for Portobello club qualifiers, Gary Reilly will face Scott Bonyage.