Holly Aitchison leaves Scots trailing

Clare Queen was the only Scot in the top 25 as England's Holly Aitchison claimed the outright lead after the opening round of the Deloitte Dutch Ladies' Open at Broekpolder in the Netherlands yesterday.

Aitchison, who has never finished higher than tenth in three seasons on the Ladies' European Tour, had eight birdies in a five-under-par 67 and the 24-year-old led by two shots from Italy's Diana Luna, who won the German Open last month. Luna moved ominously into second, in her first appearance since that triumph in Germany a fortnight ago, with six birdies and three bogeys.

Aitchison credited a new putter for her impressive round, saying: "With the change I felt a lot more confident."

The 24-year-old from Bedford then also revealed the reason she had made the unorthodox decision not to take any practice strokes on the green, adding: "It's instinct more than anything."

Queen, posted a two-over-par 74 and was tied for 24th place and one ahead of Comrie's 18-year-old Carly Booth. Vikki Laing (77), Kylie Walker (78), Lynn Kenny (79), Krystle Caithness (81) and Pamela Feggans (83) are Scots with work to do to make the 36-hole cut.