Scottish Golf is aiming to make a new girls’ event build the tradition of the Scottish Boys’ Championship when it launches an open event at Strathmore Golf Centre near Alyth next week.
The Scottish Girls’ Open Strokeplay Championship takes the place of the Scottish Under-16 Girls’ Championship in the calendar but with an under-18 age limit, while remaining open to all-comers.
Entries have been received from nine European countries in the 102-strong field.
The intention is to have a prestigious girls’ event to run at the same time as the boys’ matchplay, the traditional season opener which starts on Monday at Murcar Links.
Strathmore, the host of the under-16 event, continues as the venue for the inaugural championship, played over 54 holes from Wednesday to Friday.
Last year’s winner of the under-16 event, England’s Hollie Muse, will return to Strathmore to contest the new championship, including all six of the England girls’ team that finished in the top 10 last year.
The Scottish challenge from an entry of 42 will be headed by last year’s Scottish Women’s Order of Merit winner Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne).
The 16-year-old top-ranked home player was runner-up to Muse in last year’s Scottish Under-16 Girls’ Championship and has already started the season strongly, winning the opening national Junior Tour event at Forrester Park last weekend.
She said: “I’m very excited as it’s a new competition and it’s being played on one of my favourite courses.
“Hollie (Muse) will be one my biggest rivals at the championship, but we have known each other for years so it’s very much a friendly rivalry.
“I haven’t had too much chance to practice much over the winter due to the flooding in Aboyne, but I am up for the challenge as I won my first event of the year last weekend.
“My golf was good considering my lack of practice and it gave me a chance to assess my weaknesses and improve on my game for this championship.”
Troon Ladies’ Hazel McGarvie, and Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies) are two other leading Scots to look out for.