Heather MacRae’s decision to concentrate on making her way systematically to the Ladies European Tour rather than by a quick hit seems to be paying off as she played her way into contention in the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies’ Scottish Open at Archerfield.
The 29-year-old from Dunblane, who became the first woman for nearly 80 years to play in the Scottish PGA Championship in 2009, shot a two-under 70 in her first LET event of the year to lie just two behind the first-round lead set by French star Cassandra Kirkland.
In fair morning conditions the first half of the field in the £190,000 championship made some hay on the Fidra Links, leaving the afternoon wave to battle through strong winds and heavy rain late in the afternoon. Scotland’s No 1 Catriona Matthew is decently placed after a one-under 71, while defending champion Carly Booth is not far away at one-over.
MacRae, who recorded her first pro win on the LET Access Tour in Sweden earlier this year, made a conscious decision this year to stick to the developmental circuit rather than take advantage of invitations into main tour events.
“The first part of last year I played three LET events, four Access and by the time midsummer came I hadn’t played well in any of them and spent a fortune,” she explained.
“This is going to be the only LET event I play this year, which is good because I know I have 13 Access events that I’m going to play and you don’t feel the same pressure when you have a season to play rather than concentrating on one or two events.
“I’m eighth in the order of merit at the moment and got five events to get into the top five.”
The policy was vindicated by her win in May at the Solvesborg Open, sponsored by Sir Nick Faldo’s former caddie Fanny Sunesson.
“It still feels like just a couple of weeks ago, but it’s good to still be able to focus on positive stuff,” she said.
“To be honest the week before Sweden was the first time I had said to myself `am I banging my head against a wall here?’
“It’s nice to go out and know that you can win, to know you’re not wasting your time, and with more opportunities to play, I’m becoming more consistent.”
Previously limited to playing with the men in Tartan Tour events, new opportunities have arisen as Heather’s got vital backing from Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence, who has sponsored a number of Scottish golfers including Paul Lawrie in his early years.
“Stewart’s just a great guy who is keen to help and know’s exactly what’s needed,” she added.
“There’s no doubt getting to play more has helped, with the Access and the Scottish Ladies Tour events.
“I’d like to play the Scottish PGA again one day. I still play a few Tartan Tour events to keep me ticking over in gaps on my schedule and haven’t finished outside the top 15 this year.”
Yesterday just a cold putter stopped her from doing even better, as she took 34 putts while hitting all but two greens in regulation.
Matthew was just pleased to have got round under-par in what was a “three-club wind” at times in the afternoon play.
“It thought it was difficult out there this afternoon, I suppose I didn’t hole much but it was tough to get the ball close and I thought I played pretty well,” she said.
“When we turned into the wind it was pretty strong. I hit a four-iron 160 yards into the 15th and 17 was a three-wood playing about 190.”
Kirkland, who is from Paris but has Scottish roots through her great-grandfather, didn’t bogey a hole in her 68.
“My grandpa is half-Scottish but I’ve no idea from where in Scotland exactly, and I grew up in France,” she said.
Her father is American and her uncle is the former Formula One driver Eddie Cheever.
LET Order of Merit leader Lee-Ann Pace of South Africa returned a three-under 69 alongside veteran Trish Johnson in the late finishers to lie one behind Kirkland while Anne-Lise Caudal birdied the last on the last group on the course to grab a share of second place.
Carly Booth, aiming for just his third cut in 13 events this season, made a solid start with a one-over 73, a double bogey five at the short 13th costing her.
In the pro-am section of the event, former Scotland rugby captain Andy Nicol an 11 handicapper shot a gross 75 to lead.