Golf: Par at home sees Atkins through

Lesley ATKINS overcame the pressure of being the home club member to shoot a second-round level-par 73 and squeezed into the top 64 for today's matchplay stage at the British Girls' Championship at Gullane.

Last year's Scottish Girls' Champion had her best score of the year over the No.1 course and her six over par total saw her join another four Scots - Alyson McKechin (level par), Jessica Meek (two over), Eilidh Briggs and Gemma Dryburgh (both five over par) - in the knock-out stage.

As luck would have it, Atkins was drawn against McKechin in the first round.

A golf scholarship student at Loretto in Musselburgh, Atkins started with a bogey and dropped two shots at the fifth. But she made a great comeback with three birdies in row from the 16th and even a five at the par-four last couldn't ruin her day.

"There was a bit more pressure playing on my home course, so it was great to produce such a good score," said Atkins. "I didn't really know what I needed to qualify and was trying not to think about it."

While Atkins was celebrating, North Berwick's Clara Young was left to rue the fact that she hit one shot too many. The cut fell at seven over par 153 and she was one of the unlucky losers on a second-round card countback.

The other Lothians players missing out were Craigielaw's Gabrielle MacDonald and Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) both finishing on 11 over par.