Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) were among the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages from a starting field of 99 in the Spanish women's open amateur golf championship for the Queen's Cup at La Reserva Golf Club, Cadiz today.
In windy conditions for the second qualifying round, Curtis Cup team candidate Michele actually improved by one shot on the first day with a 76 for 153 to be the 15th seed with a first-round tie against the 18th qualifier, Sonia Cologan (Spain).
Kylie went back from an opening 74 to an 80 but her total of 154 gave her 20th place in the match-play draw. She will play England's experienced international, Kerry Smith, the Waterlooville chef, in the first round.
Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born Manchester Golf Club professional, qualified with a 76 for 153. She will play Josephine Jansson (Sweden).
Other Brits who qualified were Breanne Loucks (Wales), Holly Aitchison (England) and Kerry Smith (England), all on 152, and Sian James (England) on 155.
Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) and Jane Turner (Mortonhall) missed the cut (two on 157 got through, five on the same mark did not). Rachael had a repeat 81 for 162 while Jane had an 81 for 167.
Bad news for the GB&I Curtis Cup team selectors who meet next week to choose the eight to face the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews at the end of May was that only three of their Elite Squad - Thomson, Loucks and Smith - made it through while some of the players regarded as near-certainties for selection failed to qualify in Spain - Liz Bennett (157 but eliminated on a second-round comparison), Naomi Edwards (158) and Florentyna Parker (159).
MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 C Ciganda (Spa) 69 71.
143 C Masson (Ger) 75 68.
145 A Goumard (Fra) 73 72.
156 I Boineau (Fra) 74 72.
149 C Hedwall (Swe) 78 71.
150 E Alonso (Fra) 77 73, A Urchegui (Spa) 74 76.
151 B Buendia (Spa) 77 74, L Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 73 78.
152 B Loucks (Wal) 77 75, H Aitchison (Eng) 76 76, L Mar (Spa) 75 77, K Smith (Eng) 75 77.
153 R Connor (Eng) 77 76, M Thomson (Sco) 77 76, N Jimenez (Spa) 75 78, J Hedwall (Swe) 74 79.
154 S Cologan (Spa) 77 77, J Jansson (Swe) 74 80, K Walker (Sco) 74 80, L Andre (Fra) 74 80.
155 L Henriksson (Fin) 78 77, L Larsson (Swe) 76 79, S James (Eng) 76 79, A Zwanck (Spa) 76 79.
156 M Ricordeau (Fra) 79 77, A Bonetti (Fra) 76 80, S Popov (Ger) 75 81, C Patussi (Ita) 75 81, A Vilatte (Fra) 73 83.
157 C Herbin (Fra) 81 76, L Stempfle (Ger) 80 77 (better second rounds).
MATCH-PLAY QUARTERS
Ciganda v Stempfle, Jimenez v J Hedwall, Gonzalez-Escallon v James, Buendia v Swanck.
C Hedwall v Popov, Mar v Andre, Smith v Walker, Boineau v Patussi.
Goumard v Vilatte, Connor v Jansson, Aitchison v Henriksson, Alonso v Bonetti.
Urchegui v Ricordeau, Loucks v Larsson, Thomson v Cologan, Masson v Herbin.
Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report
Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
