Brutal weather conditions meant survival of the fittest – and driest – for qualifiers on the opening day of the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship.
Rain swept across Royal Aberdeen’s Balgownie links all day and although play was barely disrupted the weather conditions meant just getting around was half the achievement.
St Regulus’ Chloe Goadby set the standard with a one-over-par 77, three birdies in the last five holes from the 19-year-old making the most of late chances. Emma Hale, from the Ladies Club at Troon, later matched that opening score.
A shot behind lies Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) , Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart) and Royal Montrose’s Gillian Paton.
Paton has one of the rounds of the day, only three bogeys and nothing worse on her card to finish at two-over.
A quartet of championship favourites are off the pace in the opening round but all are still comfortably within the top 32 that will qualify for Thursday’s first round of matchplay.
Defending champion Ailsa Summers of Carnoustie rescued an 84 thanks to a final hole eagle three but also had three 7s on her card.
Meanwhile two more former champions Clara Young (North Berwick) and Gabriele Macdonald (Craigielaw) and Troon’s Connie Jaffrey were all a stroke worse off after 85s in the tough conditions.
Young, fresh from winning the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews at the weekend, had been well placed coming down the stretch but lost five shots in the last four holes to complete her 85.
