Golf: Rachael Watton passes with honours with exams preying on mind

The 17-year-old Mortonhall member was on course to make the match-play phase in the SLGA's flagship event after carding a three-over-par 76 on a sun-kissed day on the East Lothian coast.

It was a commendable effort, especially when Watton found herself in the company of two members of the Scottish elite squad, Laura Murray and Louise Kenney.

"There I was the wee underdog in the group but I was definitely inspired by playing with the two of them," she said afterwards.

Twelve months ago, at Southerness, Watton secured a place among the 32 qualifiers but was unable to play in the knock-out stage due to exams.

The Firrhill High School pupil is due to sit another test later this week but insists trying to win the top title in Scottish women's golf is her No.1 priority on this occasion.

She got off to a sticky start in her opening round, running up a triple-bogey 7 at the first hole after leaving her second shot in the bunker and then flying the green with her fourth shot.

"After also dropping a shot at the third, it wasn't looking good," admitted Watton but, helped by back-to-back birdies at the ninth and tenth, she recovered well.

"I'm quite happy with that as I thought the scores would be a lot lower in what were perfect weather conditions," she added.

As Alford ace Murray shot a 73 to share the lead with Rachel Hanlon, an 18-year-old member of the St Regulus club in St Andrews, Craigielaw's Jane Turner was also well-placed going into the second and final qualifying round despite feeling she'd had "a poor day at the office."

The British Universities' champion, who reached the semi-finals in this event last year, signed for a 76 as well, admitting her mood had been brightened by birdies at the 16th and 18th, where she got up and down from bunkers on both occasions. "The pin positions were very tight and I made some silly mistakes with second shots," said Turner.

"It was pretty calm out there, though the slight breeze was opposite to the prevailing wind and completely opposite to what it had been in practice."

Broomieknowe's Wendy Nicholson, Clara Young of North Berwick and Gullane's Claire MacDonald all broke 80 to give themselves a good chance of being among the 32 qualifiers at the end of play today.

Nicholson was up among the leaders after covering her first ten holes in one over, then had double-bogeys at both the 11th and 14th before signing off with a birdie at the par-5 18th for a 77.

By contrast, Young was six-over after 12 holes before she had one of the most incredible finishes of the opening day. She birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th but also had a double-bogey 7 at the 16th in her 78.

MacDonald was a shot behind, the main damage on her card being caused by two double-bogeys – at the third and 12th.

Baberton's Karen Marshall had work to do today to be among the qualifiers after an 82, the same score posted by Hannah Scott of Broomieknowe, Dunbar's Noreen Fenton and Fiona De Vries (St Rule).

Scott's clubmate, Kate McIntosh, and Gullane's Lesley Atkins both had 85s in the first match out and soon afterwards found themselves locked away in a room sitting exams.

"I tried not to think about it too much when I was out on the course but it was quite difficult," admitted McIntosh, a fifth-year pupil at Lasswade High School.

For Craigielaw's Gabrielle MacDonald, it proved a disappointing first round. Desperate to do well on her home patch, the Scottish Junior Masters champion had an 86, admitting afterwards: "I just didn't play well at all and really struggled with my irons."