Turnhouse a winner as course holds

MIDLOTHIAN and Fife were the two winners on day one of the East Women’s Inter-County event at Turnhouse, where praise was heaped on the condition of the course despite the recent wet weather, writes MARTIN DEMPSTER.

Defending champions Mid proved too strong for Stirling & Clackmannan, while Fife also got off to a flying start at the expense of East Lothian.

Rachael Watton won two matches for Mid as she made her first domestic appearance of the summer since returning home after her first year Denver University. She joined forces with Scotland team-mate Jane Turner to record a thumping win in the morning foursomes then prevailed at the last in the singles.

Leading 2-1 at the halfway stage, Mid secured further points from Claire Hargan, Wendy Nicholson and debutant Hannah Scott in the singles, which saw Turner also secure a half point against Louise MacGregor.

Fife also gained a single-point cushion from the morning match against East Lothian, who had bottom pairing of Lesley Atkinson and May Lou Renton to thank for avoiding a whitewash.

In the other foursomes matches, Barbara Biggart and Susan Penman lost to Fiona Hastie and Susan Jackson, while Lesley Nicholson and Lindsey Garden went down to Elaine Moffat and Lauren Whyte.

Only Susan Penman and teenager Clara Young could muster singles wins for East Lothian, who now face an uphill fight to claim the title and a place in the Scottish finals later in the the year.

Match details

Stirling & Clackmannan 2.5 Midlothian 6.5

Foursomes: L MacGregor and J Bryans lost to J Turner and R Watton 7 and 6; L Allan and E Allison bt K McIntosh and L Fraser 2 and 1; C Cappoci and L Bissett lost to K Marshall and W Nicholson 5 and 4. Singles: MacGregor halved with Turner; M Hall lost to Watton 1 hole; Allan lost to C Hargan 3 and 2; A Goodwin bt Fraser 4 and 2; Allison lost to H Scott 3 and 1; Bryans lost to Nicholson 5 and 3.

East Lothian 3 Fife 6

Foursomes: B Biggart and S Penman lost to F Hastie and S Jackson 4 and 3; L Nicholson and L Garden lost to E Moffat and L Whyte 3 and 1; L Atkinsand M L Renton bt L Bennett and L McKinley 6 and 4. Singles: Atkins lost to Jackson 2 and 1; Penman lost to L Whyte 5 and 4; C Young bt K Sharp 5 and 4; Nicholson lost to R Hanlon two holes; Renton bt Bennett 2 and 1; J Herd lost to Hastie 7 and 5.