FRENCH 1-2 WITH ONE ROUND TO GO IN 

ST RULE TROPHY AT ST ANDREWS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

France's Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, only 15 years old and No 53  in the Women's World Rankings. carries a two-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the St Rule Trophy women's 54-hole tournament at St Andrews.

Over the first two rounds today (Sat) on the New Course, Pauline, pictured left, a stripling of a girl, had rounds of 68 and 71 for an 11-under-par tally of 139.

The third and final round will be over the Old Course which a has a ladies' par of 76, one more than the New Course.

French players have gone close in the past to winning the "St Rule" but have never quite made it. This weekend, however, prospects of a first French victory are strengthened by the fact that Roussin-Bouchard's nearest rival, two behind on 141, is compatriot Anais Meyssonier from the Paris Country Club. She had rounds of 70 and 71.

Joint third overnight are Scotland international and 2014 Curtis Cup player Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Cloe Frankish (Chart Hills). They are bracketed on 142, Eilidh with rounds of 74 and 68, Cloe 72 70.

There are more Scots in the top 10 with 18 holes to go. Jess Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), winner of the title after a play-off against a French rival two years ago, is lying fifth on 143 with scores of 69 and 74.

And a shot behind is a US college student from St Andrews, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), who certainly knows the courses better thanb most in the field. She had a pair of 72s for 144.

The leaders will tee off on Sunday at 11.20am.

ST RULE TROPHY

First two rounds over New Course, St Andrews

SECOND ROUND SCORES

Par 150 (2x75) CSS 75 75

139 P Roussin-Bouchard (Fra) 68 71

141 A Meyssonnier (Fra) 70 71

142 C Frankish (Chart Hills) 72 70, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 74 68

143 J Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) 69 74

144 L Whyte (St Regulus) 72 72, C Liautier (Fra) 76 68, O Winning (Rotherham) 74 70.

145 E Goodall (Selby) 70 75

146 R Walker (Dumfries and Co) 71 75, L Bailey (Kirby Muxloe) 75 71, H Morgan (Hallamshire) 75 71, G Batty (Moffat) 73 73, C Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) 74 72

147 S Giles (St Mellion) 78 69, A Bailey (St Mellion) 78 69, H McCook (Granton on Spey) 78 69, L Van Respaille (Fra) 72 75, I Wardle (Prestbury) 76 71,

148 B Popel (Long Ashton) 74 74, E Slater (Ely City) 73 75

149 E Healey (West Lancs) 75 74, J Hall (Bishop Auckland) 71 78, G Coughlin (St Annes Old Links) 73 76, D Baillieux (Bel) 74 75, D Sverdloff (Orsett) 76 73, R Morris (Woodsome Hall) 76 73.

150 S Lamb (Clitheroe) 75 75, E Codet (Fra) 68 72, L Brunt (Royal Birkdale) 73 77, K Blum (Aus) 73 77

151 E Hale (Troon Ladies), G Paton (Royal Montrose) 75 76.
152 M Bechadergue (Fra) 78 74, S Dutrieux (Wratham Heath) 77 75, B Garton (Royal Lytham) 71 81, Y Chaucheprat (Fra) 77 75.
153 C Salort (Fra) 73 80, E Coleman (Trentham) 72 81, T Mactaggart (Minro) 79 74, K Beveridge (Aboyne) 76 77.
154 C De Corte (Bel) 80 74, C Vik (Norway) 78 76, J Saxton (Muckhart) 79 75,  S Zasio (Fra) 78 76, C Goadby (St Regulus) 79 75.
155 G Clews (Delamere Forest) 75 80.
156 C Hernandez (Can) 82 74, C Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) 77 79, G Daniell (Aus) 81 75
157 O Rague (Fra) 77 80, H Munro (Monifieth) 79 78, B Davies (Wolstanton) 75 82, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 78 79
158 S Jackson (Ladybank) 79 79, Z Woodbrige (Aus) 84 74, G Mundy (Corhampton) 82 76
161 G Macdonald (Craigielaw) 76 85, C Lafourcade (Fra) 77 84
162 O Jackson (Pannal) 78 84