Top Ladies will be missing in action at Tain

THE two top events on the Scottish amateur ladies’ golf circuit this year have suffered contrasting fortunes in terms of entries, writes Martin Dempster.

Next week’s Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship at Troon has attracted a stellar line-up, which is headed by seven members of the Great Britain & Ireland side for the Curtis Cup at Nairn in June.

But the Scottish Closed Championship, which is being staged at Tain in May, has been dealt a double blow due to the absence of both Pamela Pretswell and Louise Kenney.

Prestswell, the sole Scot in the GB&I team to face the Americans, is playing instead in an event on the LET’s developmental circuit as the Bothwell Castle player prepares for a second crack at the Qualifying School next season.

Kenney, last year’s Scottish champion, is not defending her title due to the fact the Pitreavie player can’t get time off work.

Both players are in the Helen Holm field, where they will be joined in next Friday’s first round by Curtis Cup players Charley Hull, Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Bronte Law, Kelly Tidy and Leona Maguire.