Golf: Veteran Martine proving she still has the Pow factor

The 45-year-old, who is bidding to complete an East Lothian double in the SLGA's flagship event after lifting the title at Dunbar four years ago, shot a second-round 70 for a two-under-par aggregate of 144.

That saw her claim the No.1 seeding for the match-play phase starting today by a shot from Laura Murray, a member of the Scottish elite squad, with Samantha Leslie three shots further adrift in third place.

"Who knows if I can win this week," replied Pow when asked about her chances of repeating that 2006 triumph a few miles down the East Lothian coast.

"I'm enjoying myself and I'm not bothered who I play because I'm not under any pressure whatsoever."

Pow, the ladies' club captain at Selkirk this year, is also a Scotland selector and added: "I'm certainly not trying to play my way into any teams this week."

First up for the Borderer in the knock-out phase was an opening-round tie this morning against Elderslie's Alyson McKechin, one of two players to progress in a four-way play-off.

"I'm not making any mistakes and I am pleased that I decided to change my putter on Sunday," said Pow. "It's a two-ball that I probably last used the year I won the Scottish and today it helped me single-putt the first seven greens."

Seven Lothians players came through the two-round qualifying test, led by Mortonhall's Rachael Watton, who shot a second-round 74 to earn a share of fourth spot on 150.

After Greg Smail, the Craigielaw junior captain, caddied for her in the opening round, Watton had Scottish Boys' champion Grant Forrest carrying her bag yesterday and reaped the rewards.

"Both Greg and Grant have been great, especially as they know the best lines off the tees, and I'm hoping one of them will be able to keep caddying for me, though they've both got a Maths exam on Friday," said the 17-year-old. Craigielaw's Jane Turner was next on the list of local qualifiers, though she headed straight off to practice her pitching after being far from happy with a 77 for 153.

"That wasn't exactly what I was looking for," said Turner, who finished birdie-par-birdie for the second day running. "I wanted to shoot under par today but it was the same as my opening round – my golf was scrappy.

"However, the first aim was to get into the top 32 and hopefully my game can improve as the week goes on.

"In saying that, I don't feel I've been playing poorly as a result of feeling under pressure (due to the event being on her home course]."

Watton was up against Sheila Cuthbertson of Peebles in her first-round match while Turner, a semi-finalist 12 months ago, faced Gillian Monteith of Portpatrick Dunskey.

Baberton's Karen Marshall, with mum Joan pulling her trolley, produced one of the best second-round efforts to make it through, recovering from her opening 82 with a one-over 74.

Her reward was a tie against former winner Elaine Moffat of St Regulus, while Broomieknowe's Wendy Nicholson, who progressed on 158 (77, 81) faced Muckhart's Laura Walker.

Dunbar's Noreen Fenton, who recently won the East Lothian Championship, made it on 160 (82 78), with Nicholson's young clubmate, Kate McIntosh, completing the Lothians contingent on 162 (85 77).

Fenton found herself taking on Ladybank's Susan Jackson this morning, while McIntosh got the chance to test herself against Pitreavie's Louise Kenney, last year's runner-up.

Kenney shot a flawless four-under 69 – the best score over the two days – to finish alongside Watton in the qualifying positions.