First match of the day teed off at 8.30 a.m. with Clara Young v's Claire Robertson (Carnoustie Ladies Golf Club). Claire got off to a steady start with only two bogeys in the first 9 holes and having holed some lengthy putts to save pars to be 3 up on Clara. The 10th hole was halved in birdies again both players holing 30ft and 25ft putts. Clara managed to get back to being only 1 down with two holes to go but lost the 17th and lost the match 2&1.
Meanwhile our other two girls were performing well in round 1.
Joanne Free took on Emma Hale (Troon Ladies Golf Club) 8th qualifier. Joanne was level par for 14 holes with 3 bogeys and 3 birdies. Emma was 5 over par for 14 holes resulting in a superb 5&4 victory for Joanne.
Charlotte Munro took on Hazel McGarvie (Troon Ladies Golf Club). Both players had a mixture of birdies and bogeys in the front nine holes with Hazel slightly ahead at 1 up. Over the next 3 holes Charlotte had turned the tables and with a birdie on 12 took the lead to be 1 up. Hazel was not giving in easily and matched Charlottes birdie on 13 and won 14 and 15 with pars to get back to 1 up! Charlotte kept the head and with steady pars on 16 and 17 turned the tables once again and won on the 18th with a half in bogeys to win 1 up.
The afternoon quarter finals commenced with the first match between Claire Robertson and Joanne Free. Claire had a very steady front 9 holes being level par. She was 3 up through 7 but Joanne eagled the 8th to turn into the back nine only 2 down. A birdie at 10 and bogey at 11 were good enough to get the score back to all square. Hazel birdied the 12th to go 1 up but a birdie at 14 and a par at 15 got Joanne back to 1 up with 3 to play. The last three holes were halved and Joanne won on the 18th 1 up. This secured her a spot in Fridays semi final.
The last quarter final match out was Charlotte Munro v's Fiona Liddell (Gutersloh Golf Club) a german based Scot. Both players were 4 and 3 over par after 7 holes and with a half in birdies on 8 the scoreline remained A/S. Charlotte lost the 9th with a double bogey and although she parred the next 5 holes she was 3 down due to Liddells birdies on 10 and 12. The match finished on the 15th and Charlottes championship ended with a 4&3 defeat.
Joannes semi final match was against Heather Munro (Monifieth Golf Club). The scorline was very close throughout with the margin never more than 1 up for either player. Heather took the lead on the 3rd with a par to a bogey but after halves in par on the 4th and bogeys on the 5th Joanne got back to A/S with a birdie 2 on the 6th. The 7th and 8th were halved in par 5's and Joanne went 1 up with a par 3 win on the 9th. Three holes later, however, the lead had changed hands again as Heather won the 11th and 12th with a par and birdie. Over holes 13, 14 and 15 Joanne fought back and with a birdie on 13 and pars on 14 and 15 she had moved back to 1 up. The long uphill par 3 16th was halved in good pars which had Joanne looking in good position. Unfortunately a bogey 5 on 17 lost her the hole to go back to A/S and a par on the 18th from Heather was good enough to clinch the match by 1 hole.
Although Joanne will be disappointed in defeat she put up a superb fight and played some very good golf throughout her championship as did Charlotte and Clara. East Lothian Ladies are very proud of their efforts and wish both Joanne and Charlotte good luck at Alloa GC in the Scottish Ladies' Junior Open Stroke Play event 23 - 25 August.
Well done girls!
