Pamela Pretswell is the leading Scot after Round 1 of the British Women's Open Strokeplay

Pamela Pretswell (photo courtesy of Colin Farquharson) - click to enlarge

Curtis Cup Scot Pamela Pretswell kept up her recent good form to finish the opening day of the British Women’s Open Amateur Stroke-Play golf Championship at Tenby, South Wales in a share of fifth place.
The Bothwell Castle GC player from Hamilton, pipped for the Austrian women's title a couple of weeks ago, shot a level par of 72 in windy conditions for the early starters and would have been that bit closer to Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) and Amy Boulden (Maesdu) – joint leaders on 68 – had she not bogeyed the 15th and 18th.
Pamela also ran up a double bogey 6 at the 11th but, on the bright side, she had a bag of five birdies: at the long first, the third, the 10th, the 13th, and the long 14th in halves of 36.
Former Scottish champion Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) all hit the 78 mark.
Alyson McKechin’s effort was a good effort indeed, considering she had a triple bogey 7 at the third and a double bogey 6 at the 18th in halves of 41 and 37.
Majorca-based Scot Lauren Mackin (Past Ranfurly Castle Member) had a 79, one shot ahead of recent Riccarton Rosebowl winner Jane Turner (Craigielaw)who had a horrendous outward half of 43, including a triple bogey 7 at the ninth.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
68 Chrisje De Vries (Ned), Amy Boulden (Maesdu).
70 Gillian O’Leary (Cork).
71 Lara Katzy (Ger).
72 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Laura Chemarin (Fra), Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park).
73 Marion Ricordeau (Fra), Charley Hull (Kettering), Tara Davies (Holyhead), Pia Halbig (Ger).
74 Camilla Hedberg (Spa), Nina Holleder (Ger), Alexandra Bonetti (Fra).
75 Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Julie Yang (Kings Acre), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Liebelei Lawrence (Gre), Ann Lindner (Ger), Klara Spilkova (Cze), Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale).
Selected scores:
77 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
79 Lauren Mackin (Maj).
80 Jane Turner (Craigielaw).
81 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies).
82 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall).
85 Roseanne Niven (Crieff).
87 Laura Murray (Alford).

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report