RACHAEL WATTON SETTING THE PACE IN CALIFORNIA

Scotland international Rachael Watton is leading the field after the first round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club, California.
The Denver University freshman from Edinburgh shot a four-under-par 67 to lead by one shot from Lindy Duncan (Duke), who has been selected by the United States for the 2012 Curtis Cup match at Nairn in June.
Rachael, pictured, birdied the long fifth but cancelled that out with a bogey at the six on her way to a par-matching outward half. From the turn, the Scot turned on the style with birdies at the 10th, 14th, short 15th and 17th for a four-under-par back nine.
Lindy Duncan, whose surname suggests that she has Scottish blood in her veins, birdied the ninth, 10th, 14th and long 15th, dropping shots at the 11th and 13th in halves of 34-35.
A second US Curtis Cup team for Scotland selection, Tiffany Lua, is further down the field.
Watton's Denver team-mate from Ireland, Sarah Faller had a 76 to be joint 36th in a field of 81.

GRANT FORREST OPENS WITH A 75

Grant Forrest, the 2010 Scottish boys' match-play champion and now a student at San Diego University, had a first-round, three-over-par 75 in the San Diego Intercollegiate which has fallen behind schedule at the San Diego Country Club, Chula Vista in California.
The plan was to have the first two rounds on Monday and the third and final round on Tuesday. But, for one reason or another - slow play possibly? - the second round was not completed on Monday and they will be back on the course early Tuesday morning (local California time) to finish that one off.
Then, time for once round the snack table before it's back out on the course again for a shotgun start to the third round.

Of the three Brits in the field of 82, Garrick Porteous (Tennessee University), pictured right, from Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland did best with a 73, one ahead of Tom Berry (San Diego State), pictured below, from Surrey.


Washington players occupy the leading 1-2 positions in the shape of Chris Williams with a 70 over the 7,033yd course and Cheng-Tsung Pan with a 71.