Golf: Friendships put to one side for Mortonhall ace Rachael friends become enemies

The 18-year-old Mortonhall member beat Susan Jackson, one of her housemates this week on the Kintyre Peninsula, in yesterday's second round.

And she was up against another one in Fifer Louise Kenney in this morning's quarter-finals, which also featured Craigielaw's Jane Turner.

"Louise and I are really good friends," said Watton. "In fact, I've learnt more from her than possibly any other player over the past couple of years."

Watton and Kenney were team-mates in the Scottish side that ended a long title drought by winning the Women's Home Internationals in Wales last year. Both Watton and Turner, who comes from Penicuik, made it to the last eight in the SLGA's flagship event for the second year running.

"Whatever happens from here, I am proud to have reached the quarter-finals again," said Watton. Against Jackson, she was two down at the turn, got her nose in front after 14 but then lost the 15th after her tee shot spun into a bunker. After halving the 16th in par-3s, Watton won the next after her opponent overshot the green and was then conceded the last for a two-hole success. Turner, the two-time British Universities champion, beat Sara Bishop 2 and 1. All square with four to play, Turner then went 3-2 to win two holes in a row, hitting a 3-iron to 20 feet at the latter and rolling in the putt. Of the other six Lothians players to qualify for the top flight, only North Berwick's Clara Young won her first-round match.

In a clash between the current East Lothian and Midlothian champions, the 14-year-old beat Baberton's Karen Marshall by one hole before going down to title-holder Kelsey MacDonald.

In the consolation Clark Rosebowl, Broomieknowe's Kate McIntosh lost by 2 and 1 to Ailsa Bain of Peebles in the last eight. So, too, did Young's mum Dawn, who lost to 7 and 5 to Monifieth's Heather Munro.