ALL THE SCORES AT LANARK TODAY

SCOTTISH GIRLS (close) CHAMPIONSHIP
Lanark Golf Club
Qualifiers for match-play
Par 148 (2x74)
153 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 77 76.
156 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 70, Hannah McCook (Abernethy) 77 79.
159 Sammy Leslie (Westhill) 78 81.
160 Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 82 78, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 75 85.
161 Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus) 83 78, Lesley Atkins (Minto) 82 79, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) 81 80.
162 Lauren Duncan (Banchory) 87 75, Sammy Vass (Tain) 79 83.
163 Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach) 85 78, Sophie Alexander (Deeside) 80 83.
165 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 84 81.
166 Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 82 84.
167 Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich) 83 84, Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 76 91.
168 Rachel Polson (Peterculter) 88 80, Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 85 83, Ailsa Bain (Peebles) 84 84.
169 Jemma Chalmers (Monifieth) 88 81, Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 85 84, Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 84 85.
170 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) 86 84.
171 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 89 82, Tara MacTaggart (Minto) 80 91.
172 Eleanor Tunn (Reay) 89 83, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 89 83, Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) 87 85, Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 87 85
173 Julie Vass (Tain) 87 86.
174 Louise Smith (Monifieth) 88 86 (better second round).
OTHER SCORES
174 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 85 89.
175 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 93 82, Samantha Munro (Aberdour) 90 85, Heather Munro (Monifieth) 86 89.
176 Megan Aird (Strathmore) 87 89.
177 Nicola Taylor (Dunnikier Park) 93 84, Gail Wilson (Monifieth) 90 87, Shannon McGuire (Canmore) 89 88, 177 Megan Clyne (Deeside) 82 95.
178 Fiona Fullerton (Meldrum House) 93 85, Clara Young (North Berwick) 91 87.
179 Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) 92 87, Alexis Hutton (Falkirk Tryst) 90 89, Katie McCracken (Powfoot) 88 91.
180 Keren Ward (Glen) 90 90.
181 Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary CC) 92 89, Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 92 89, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) 88 93, Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies) 88 93.
182 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 93 89, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 91 91, Kirsten MacCallum (Newburgh on Ythan) 87 95, Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 87 95.
184 Lesley Cosh (Cowglen) 91 93.
187 Ashley Ann Alston (Royal Montrose) 89 98.
188 Emma Hale (Troon Bentinck) 90 98.
189 Annabel Niven (Crieff) 95 94.
192 Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie) 104 88.
194 Seren Anderson (Deeside) 101 93, Erin Millar (Pitlochry) 95 99.
196 Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) 105 91.
198 Catherine Small (Craigielaw) 109 89.
199 Abigail Gliksten (Strathaven) 104 95, Amy Taylor (Kirriemuir) 95 104.
200 Lauren D’Ambrosio (Carluke) 99 101.
201 Rachel Irvine (Largs) 104 97.
216 Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) 110 106.
221 Alexandra Qayum (Ranfurly castle) 113 108.
287 Catherine Goodwin (Glenbervie) 156 131.
Retired: Kristina Vannet (Peterculter) 86 -.

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
UPPER HALF
1 Rachel Watton v 32 Louise Smith: 8.30 am.
17 Jill Meldrum v 16 Jennifer Hide.
9 Ailsa Summers v 24 Connie Jaffrey.
25 Gillian Simpson v 8 Lesley Atkins.

5 Gemma Dryburgh v 28 Jordana Graham: 8.58 am
21 Jemma Chalmers v 12 Rachael Taylor.
13 Sophie Alexander v 20 Ailsa Bain.
29 Linsey Stevenson v 4 Sammy Leslie.

LOWER HALF
3 Hanna McCook v 30 Jessica Meek: 9.26 am.
19 Natasha Qayum v 14 Alison Goodwin.
11 Sammy Vass v 22 Mhairi McKay.
27 Eleanor Tunn v 6 Alyson McKechin.

7 Rachel Hanlon v 26 Tara McTaggart: 9.54 am.
23 Kirstin Scott v 10 Lauren Duncan.
15 Gabrielle MacDonald v 18 Rachel Polson.
31 Julie Vass v 2 Eilidh Briggs.

++Afternoon ties at 1.30, 1.42, 1.54, 2.06, 2.18, 2.30, 2.40 & 2.54.

ANSLEY REID SALVER
Upper half
33 Kimberley Beveridge v 48 Kate McIntosh: 10.29am.
41 Megan Clyne v 40 Shannen McGuire.
37 Megan Aird v 44 Claire Prouse.
45 Alexis Hutton v 36 Heather Munro.
Lower half
35 Samantha Munro v 46 Katie McCracken: 10.57 am.
43 Clare Young v 38 Nicola Taylor.
39 Gail Wilson v 42 Fiona Fullerton.
47 Katlyn Kennedy v 34 Katie Reid: 11.18.

+Afternoon ties at 3.15, 3.25, 3.35 & 3.45.

Katherine O'Connor wins Bridget Jackson Bowl

Welsh international player Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton Heath) won the Bridget Jackson Bowl 36-hole open tournament at Handsworth Golf Club, Birmingham today.
She had rounds of 72 and 68 for 140.
Katherine's second round contained five birdies and one bogey.
It is her second big two-round win of the season. She won the Frilford Heath Salver earlier.
We'll have all the totals from Bridget in the morning.

Rachael Watton earns top seed spot

in Scottish girls' match-play

Rachael Watton, 17-year-old Mortonhall member, earned the top seed status in the match-play stages of the Scottish girls (close) amateur championship with a five-over-par total of 153 in the 36-hole qualifying test at Lanark Golf Club today.
Rachael, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had rounds of 77 and 76, birdieing the second, seventh and 12th in her morning round and the fourth, sixth, 11th and 13th in afternoon. She played the last eight holes in two under par to finish three shots clear of Eilidh Briggs (Kilmalcolm), 16-year-old sister of Scottish women’s champion Megan Briggs, and 15-year-old Hannah McCook from Abernethy Golf Club, Nethby Bridge in Inverness-shire.
Eilidh had a roller-coaster first round of 77 which included an eagle 3 at the long 11th and a birdie at the long 14th as well as a double bogey sixth at the fifth. She had nothing better than par in her second round.

The Secret to Golf Success

Check out a website called www.TheSecretToGolfSuccess.com
It is aimed at introducing club golfers to the golf psychology techniques used by the top PGA professionals. The website provides a free report on “The Biggest Mental Error in Golf…And How to Avoid It” as well as monthly E-Bulletins covering mental golf tips and a newly added golf tips Blog at http://thesecrettogolfsuccess.com/blog/.

The website also offers an E-Book and some of the interesting topics covered in the book include:-

• The one philosophy that all great champions have in common.
• How to avoid the common mistake that cost Monty the US Open Championship.
• The crucial importance of “the 40 second sanctuary” and how it has made Tiger Woods mentally “bullet proof".
• How Ernie Els overcame “the little guy on his shoulder” to win the 2002 British Open.
• The crucial difference between the golf practice range and the first tee.
• The common mental mistake that almost lost Fred Couples the 1992 Masters
• Why you should never “avoid” trouble.
• How most golfers make an enemy of their memory.
• How to stop wasting your golf practice time.
• How to use the amazing story of the 4 minute mile to improve golf performance.
• The ideal golf match play mindset.
• The mental tool that has helped Padraig Harrington to make his major breakthrough.

The website owners have also started putting on golf days at Gullane which include a morning “inner game workshop” providing an introduction to the mental game of golf followed by lunch and 18 holes on one of Gullane’s three courses.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALLY

- SHE'S WILD CARD PICK

FOR JUNIOR SOLHEIM

CUP MATCH IN STATES

Curtis Cup teenager Sally Watson, 18 on July 10, has had a super post-birthday present. She has one of European team skipper Carin Koch's six wild-card selections for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup match at Aurora Golf Club, Illinois on August 18 and 19.
Sally, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency in action at Harlech, Wales in the recent Ladies' British open amateur championship, played in the victorious European junior team at Bastaad, Sweden two years ago.
Originally from South Queensferry, Sally is at the Watson family home in Elie on summer holidays from the United States. She has spent the last three years at the David Leadbetter IMG Golf Academy in Bradenton Florida. She will enrol at Tiger Woods' alma mater, Stanford University in California, in August.
The 14-year-old wonder twins from Ireland, Leona and Lisa Maguire are both in the 12-strong line-up. Leona topped the qualifying points table; Lisa was a wild card pick.
Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale), beaten in last year's British girls final at Monifieth, is also a wild card selection. She and Sally Watson are the only British players in the team.
There will be disappointment in Scotland that Comrie's Carly Booth, who had her 17th birthday on June 21, has not been given a wild-card slot but her form this season has been below her best.
Nancy Lopez will captain the United States team which will be announced on July 20.
The event features teams of 12 players from Europe and the USA, playing a two-day match play competition of six four-ball, six foursomes and 12 singles.
The 2009 European PING Junior Solheim Cup team is:

Points Table Qualifiers:
1 Leona Maguire, Ireland.
2 Klara Spilkova, Czech Republic.
3 Ana Fernandez de Mesa, Spain.
4 Johanna Tillström, Sweden.
5 Anna Arese, Spain.
6Tonje Daffinrud, Norway

Wild cards:
1 Sherlyn Popelka, Switzerland
2 Sophia Popov, Germany
3 Lisa Maguire, Ireland
4 Rosanna Crepiat, France
5 Sally Watson, Scotland
6 Kelly Tidy, England

GIRLS' BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SHREYA GHEI will need visa to enter Britain for Girls' British Open championship.

New Delhi girl 'extremly keen to play'

but she is on the LGU waiting list

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Shreya Ghei, who had her 16th birthday on July 6, would like to play in the Girls’ British Open championship at West Lancashire Golf Club from August 10 to 14.
The only trouble is that Shreya is one of a record number of well over 200 girls, almost worldwide, who want to play in the Ladies Golf Union’s flagship tournament for girls who were under-18 years on January 1.
There is only room for 144 to play in the two stroke-play qualifying rounds of the championship so the LGU officials have taken the 144 players with the lowest handicaps from those that have entered.
The cut-off point is 3.5, which is also believed to be a record low for the tournament. Two decades, maybe even only 10 years ago, a player with six or seven of a handicap was guaranteed a place in the prestigious championship. Which underlines how the standard of player at the top-end of girls’ golf, certainly in Europe, has got better and better over the years.
Shreya Gei’s handicap earlier in the season was three which, if she had been able to maintain it, would have got her into the Girls’ British Open championship without a problem. But her handicap has gone up over 3.5, which is why she finds herself at No 11 in the waiting list.
As Susan Simpson, the LGU’s Head of Operations says, “There is usually substantial movement in the waiting list so those who have not gained a place in the field should not be too disappointed just yet. Please note that subsequent handicap changes do not alter a player’s place in this waiting list.”
There is another factor as far as Shreya is concerned that will not apply to majority of those on the waiting list. She lives in New Delhi, India and will need a visa to enter Britain if she is to play in the Girls’ British Open.
Obtaining a visa is not cheap and it can take time so Shreya’s parents will have had to make the decision to go for it and risk losing the outlay should she not come off the waiting list for the West Lancashire tournament.
Shreya has told the LGU: “I am extremely keen to play in the Girls’ British Open and I am hoping that the waiting list will clear for me to be included in the field too. As I have to travel all the way to England from India, I will need to obtain a visa.
Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk contacted Shreya to get some more background details. Here is her reply (in word-perfect English, it has to be said):
“I have been playing golf since the age of about 10. My parents introduced me to the game at that age as they were playing a little bit at that time.
“They had always wanted me to play some kind of sport but I had always refused as I didn’t like any of the ones I had tried, for example tennis, horse rising, basketball, etc.
“However, I developed a penchant for golf from the day I took my first lesson. I actually wanted to play a sport in which I didn’t have to run around and swat much. I guess golf was the closest fit!
“The game of golf became one of my best buddies since then and I think it will remain that way for a long time to come.
“My golfing credentials are:
1 Tied eight in the 107th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Championship in May, 2009.
2 Sixth in the Jakarta World Junior Championship (15-17yrs) in June, 2009.
3 Tenth in the Asia Pacific Juniors (15-17yrs) in Thailand in May 2009.
4 Winner of the 121st Sri Lanark Ladies open amateur championship in 2008.
5 Second in the Punjab Ladies open amateur championship in 2008.
6 Fifth in the Ladies Amateur Merit List for India 2008-2009.
7 Gained the Most Improved Golfer of the Year for season 2008-2009.”

+Entrants from outwith Europe whose handicaps are below 3.5 and are therefore in the field for the Girls' British Open Championship include:

Mary Larsh (+3), River Oaks GC, Edmond, Okalahoma, USA.

Connie Chen (+1),Waterkloof GC, South Africa.

Laetitia Beck (+1), Caesarea GC, Israel.

Charlotte Thomas (scr), Singapore Island Country Club.

Bertine Strauss (1), Rustenburg GC, South Africa.

Yushira Budhram (1), Country Club Johannesburg, South Africa.

Alyson McKechin (75) sets the pace in

Scottish girls' qualifying at Lanark

Elderslie's Alyson McKechin set the clubhouse target of one-over-par 75 in the first qualifying round of the Scottish Under-18 girls (close) amateur championship at Lanark Golf Club today.
Alyson had birdies at the first, long 11th, 13th and 17th which almost offset a double bogey at the sixth and other shots dropped at the long fourth, ninth and short 18th in halves of 41 (three over par) and 34 (two under par).
Lying second among the early first-round returns is Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) with a 76. Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) come next with 77s.
The leading 32 players on the gross scoreboard at the end of 36 holes will go forward to the match-play stages.
EARLY CLUBHOUSE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 74
75 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie).
76 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
77 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Hannah McCook (Abernethy).
78 Sammy Leslie (Westhill).
79 Sammy Vass (Tain).
80 So[phie Alexander (Deeside).
81 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
82 Gemma Druburgh (Beaconsfield), Lesley Atkins (Minto), Gabriella MacDonald (Craigielaw).
83 Jennifer Hide (Royal Norwich), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus).
84 Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Kirstin Scott (Milngavie).
85 Rachael Taylor (Bad Griesbach).
87 Louise McGillivray (Banchory),
89 Gillian Simson (Murrayfield), Jordana Graham (Sotherness).
90 Keren Ward (Glen).
92 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Katlyn Kennedy (Inverrary).
93 Emily Aird (Strathmore).

Jessica Wilcox beat Jamie-Leigh

Voss in Midlands North final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Lincolnshire’s Jessica Wilcox became the first EWGA Midlands North regional champion when she defeated fellow teenager Jamie-Leigh Voss at the 19th hole of the final at Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Blankney Golf Club member Jessica and Jaimie-Leigh (Kirby Muxloe) played the final in heavy rain and both scored impressively in the conditions, each completing 18 holes in an estimated 73. In the semi-finals, Jessica, 17, had defeated Emma Newlove (Notts) 3 and 2 while Jamie-Leigh beat Kimberley Bradley (Cavendish) 2 and 1.
In the qualifying rounds, Jamie-Leigh, 15, set a new course record of 71 and was top seed for the match-play. She also won the Enid Wilson Cup for the best 36-hole total by an under-18 girl. Prize winners:
Champion: Jessica Wilcox (Blankney GC).
Runner-up: Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe).
Aggregate winner: Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) 73 + 71 = 144.
2nd Aggregate: Katie Best (Sherwood) 73 + 73 = 146.
3rd Aggregate: Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) 73 + 74 = 147.
Enid Wilson Cup (leading 36 holes under 18yrs): Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe)144.
Best net 36 holes: Emily Cheshire (Notts) 139.
Best Intermediate: Katie Best (Sherwood) 146
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

CARLY BOOTH & CO ELIMINATED AT THE BERKSHIRE

Jane Turner, Katy

McNicoll qualify

for next stage of

Ricoh Women's

British Open

Twenty six players - including Scottish amateurs Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) have made it through to the Final Qualifying for Ricoh Women's British Open
championship.
Mid-Herts amateur Hannah Burke, who plays the American college circuit as a student at Baylor University, Texas, shared the lead on three-under par 69 alongside former Curtis Cup players and now Ladies European Tour pros Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and Rachel Bell (Ganton) in yesterday's pre-qualifying 18-hole competition at The Berkshire Golf Club.
The Final Qualifying will be played at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire on Monday, July 27.
Ricoh's Women's British Open will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes, also in Lancashire, from July 30 to August 2.
In all, the leading 26 players from the 101-player field returned scores of +1 over par 73 at The Berkshire's Blue Course, in mixed conditions, and made it through to the next stage.
Twenty spots are available into the championship field from Final Qualifying.
championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lancashire from July 30 to August 2.
Jane Turner had a par-matching round of 72 to be joint sixth best among the qualifiers from The Berkshire. Highlight of 19-year-old Jane's scorecard was an eagle 3 at the long 11th. She also birdied the long sixth in halves of 36.
Katy McNicoll, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, an impressive winner of the North of Scotland women's amateur championship at Newmachar last week, hit the limit mark of 73 and it is a tribute to how much the rest of her game has improved that she was able to qualify despite taking as many as 36 putts.
Katy birdied four par-5s, the third, sixth, 11th and 16th, in halves of 37 and 36.
The qualifiers included Rachel Connor, daughter of Manchester Golf Club's Scottish-born professional Brian.
Scots who failed to make the grade included former Scottish amateur champion Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) with a 79, Scotland amateur international Laura Murray (Alford) with an 81, Auchterarder amateur and Scotland cap Emily Ogilvy with an 82, Curtis Cup teenager Carly Booth (Comrie) with a 12-over-par 84 and Mearns Castle Golf Academy coach Karyn Burns with an 86.
Carly, now 17, had a nightmare round of a triple bogey 7 at the 15th and double bogeys at the second, sixth, and 17th in halves of 42. She had one birdie, at the long 15th.
Jenna Wilson had one triple bogey and one double bogey in halves of 39 and 40.
Laura Murray had three double bogeys in halves of 39 and 42.
Emily Ogilvy had one triple bogey and two double bogeys in halves of 42 and 40.
Karyn Burns had halves of 42 and 44.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72
69 Hannah Burke (Mid-Herts) (am), Elizabeth Bennett (Eng), Rachel Bell (Eng).
71 Matia Maffulietti (Ita), Louise Davis (Wal).
72 Ana Larraneta (Spa), Henrietta Zuel (Eng), Claire Coughlan-Ryan (Ire), Jane Turner (Craigielaw) (am), Rachel Connor (Manchester) (am), Kirsty Taylor (Eng), Simi Mehra (India), Rebecca Flood (Aus) (am).
73 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) (am), Anna Rossi (Ita), Jo Clingan (Eng), Lora Fairclough (Eng), Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Ladies) (am), Tara Watters (Muswell Hill) (am), Sahra Hassan (Wal), Hannah Barwood (Knowle) (am), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) (am), Ellie Givens (Blackwell Grange) (am), Sandra Eggermont (Hol), Frederique Seeholzer (Swi), Bing Lim (Malaysia).
MISSED THE CUT
74 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) (am), Corisande Lee (West Lancashire) (am), Laurette Maritz (SAf), Tracey Boyes (Eng) (am), Marousa Polias (Aus), Nicky Henderson (Aus).
75 Kym Larratt (Kibworth) (am), Jo Pritchard (Wal), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) (am), Nathalie David-Mills (Fra), Alex Keighley (Eng), Danielle Masters (Eng), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) (am), Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (am), Charlotte Wild (Mere) (am), Laura Eastwood (Eng), Holly Aitchison (Eng).
76 Kiran Matharu (Eng), Vittoria Valvassori (Ita), Kerry Knowles (Eng), Julie Tvede (Den), Joanne Oliver (Eng), Marian Riordan (Ire), Sally Shayler (Eng) (am), Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Aus), Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) (am), Hannah Jenkins (Cradoc) (am), Caroline Grady (Eng), Caroline Rominger (Swi), Kimberley Crooks (Seaford) (am), Barbara Genuini (Fra).
77 Jutta Degerman (Fin), Jacqueline Hedwall (Swe) (am), Sarah Heath (Eng), Sian James (Eng) (am), Helen Sparrow (Eng), Claire Aitken (Eng), Stephanie Na (Aus), Whitney Wright (US).
78 Tilly Holder (Woburn) (am), Maria Ringdahl (Swe), Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) (am), Anna Maria Milie (Ita), Karen Heywood (Eng), Zuzana Masinova (Cze), Kelly Travers (Eng), Susan Moon (US), Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) (am), Valentine Derrey (Fra) (am), Amy Goodman (Eng), Sandy Lambert (Eng), Lucy Williams (Mid-Herts) (am).
79 Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) (am), Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) (am), Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
80 Tara Delaney (Ire), Caroline Goasguen (Fra), Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) (am), Rachel Adby (Eng), Liza Shervill (Eng).
81 Kirsty Fisher (Eng), Laura Murray (Alford) (am), Maria Tulley (Eng), Clare Durbin (Eng), Marie Allen (Eng), Natalie Lowe (Macclesfield) (am), Cassandra Blaney (US).
82 Sarah Attwood (Eng) (am), Krisztina Fodor (Hun), Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) (am), Kelly Hutcherson (Eng), Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (am).
83 Laure Sibille (Fra).
84 Carly Booth (Comrie) am).
86 Lynne Cummins (Eng), Kary Burns (Mearns Castle), Vanessa Bell (Eng).

SCOTTISH U18 GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Time for new generation of young

stars to make presence felt

No Carly Booth, Sally Watson or Kelsey MacDonald in the field ... it's time for the next generation of potential Under-18 stars to fill the gap in the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship which tees off at Lanark Golf Club today.
Comrie's Carly, who had her 17th birthday last month, is in fact still young enough to play in this championship but did not enter to defend the title she won by beating Kelsey MacDonald in last year's final at Alyth Golf Club.
With no previous winners of the event taking part in the two stroke-play qualifying rounds which will produce 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages, there has to be a new name engraved on the trophy.
Unlike recent years, there is no clear-cut favourite but plenty of contenders if they play to their potential. Girls such as Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Sammy Leslie (Westhill) and Lesley Atkins (Minto), who represented Scotland in last week's European girls' team championship in Finland.
The two reserves for that trip - Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Jill Meldrum of Dullatur - should also be well to the fore.
Lesley already holds one national title, the girls' Under-14s' championship.
Others with more than an outside chance include Hannah McCook (Abernethy), Sammy Vass (Tain), Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) and Annabel Niven (Crieff).
Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) and Megan Duff (Hilton Park) were among those who withdrew yesterday.