Three Scots survive Berkshire qualifying

TEENAGERS Carly Booth and Gemma Dryburgh, the former a professional, the latter an amateur, and Ladies European Tour pro Clare Queen were the only three Scots to survive the Ricoh Women's British Open pre-qualifying 18-hole competition at The Berkshire Golf Club, Ascot yesterday.

The top 25 and ties in a field of 120 advanced to the final qualifying at Panmure Golf Club on Monday, 25 July. From there, the leading 16 will get into the field for the Women's Open at Carnoustie from July 28-31.

Comrie's Booth and Aberdeen-born Dryburgh, a student at the IMG Leadbetter Academy in Florida, qualified on the par-72 mark. Queen made it through on the limit mark of 74, a tie for 20th place, which led to 30 players in all qualifying for Panmure.

Scots who failed included LPGA Tour player Mhairi McKay who had a 78. Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) missed out with a 75 hwile Heather MacRae, recently moved from Downfield to the Gleneagles PGA staff, failed with a 79, one shot better than former Scottish amateur champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon).

Pamela Feggans (Patna, Ayr) and Gemma Webster (Glasgow) missed out on 79 and 80 respectively. Jane Turner, an amateur international, and Katy McNicoll, a tour pro from Carnoustie, scored 83 and 76 respectively. Top qualifer was Welsh tour pro Sahra Hassan with a four-under-par 68.