ST RULE TROPHY - Day 1

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Ailsa Summers, 19-year-old student from Carnoustie, shaved a stroke off the women's record for the St Andrews' New Course today (Saturday) as she forged clear of the star-studded cosmopolitan field at the end of the first round of the 54-hole St Rule Trophy.


Ailsa Summers --- Angus girls and women's county champion and a Scotland girl international, shot an eight-under-par 67, one under the previous mark set in 2003.
Ailsa had two eagle 3s, seven birdies and, astonishing in a round this low - a double bogey 5 at her second last hole, a par-3.
She reached the turn in three-under 34 with birdies at the first, second, fifth and sixtth, dropping a short at the par-4 fourth.
Coming home, she birdied the 10th, got the first of her eagles at the 12th, birdied the 14th, got eagle No 2 at the 16th, then double bogeyed the short 17th but finished in champion style with a birdie 4 at par-5 18th.
The CSS for the day was 75 which underlines the merit of Summers' round.
She will start Sunday's second and third rounds - both to be played over the Old Course, St Andrews, with a useful lead of four shots from two other students, fellow Scot Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Geordie Ami Storey (Close House), both on 71.
The French, who have sent over one of their strongest squads ever, are poised to make a charge on the second day, possibily spearheaded by the the World No 22 female amateur, Celine Boutier.
But, after an opening 73, she has six shots to make up on Ailsa.
Scottish champion Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), bidding to join the handful of players who have won the "Scottish" and the St Rule in the same year, has a mountain to climb after a first-round 76.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 75. CSS 75.
67 A Summers (Carnoustie).
71 E Briggs (Kilmacolm), A Story (Close House).
72 M De Roey (Belgium), L Castelain (France), M Gidali (France).
73 I Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), G Macdonald (Craigielaw), C Boutier (France), Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle), A Bonetti (France), B Garton (Royal Lytham), E Taylor (Holme Hall).
75 L Goddard (Mid-Herts), S-J Boyd (Truro), E Taylor (Saunton), E Goddard (Royal Liverpool), M Briggs (Kilmacolm). H Munro (Monifieth), S Sexton (Lahinch), C Young (North Berwick).
76 L Whyte (St Regulus), G Bradbury (Cottrell Park), N Haynes (Gosforth Park), S Fuller (Roehampton), A Farrell (Moate), G Clews (Delamere Forest), B Townend (Pleasington), A McKechin (Elderslie).
77 K Beveridge (Aboyne), S Birks (Llandrindod Wells), K Reid (Monifieth), A Knowles (Hickleton), A Provot (France), M Duvernay (France).
78 C Thompson (Channels), L Kenney (Pitreavie), J Van Baarle (Belgium), B Davies (Trentham), A Murphy (Carlow). E Harris (Peel), P Grant (Lisburn), G Batty (St Annes Old Links), J Wilcox (Blankney).
79 B L Buchner (US).
80 C Teixeira (Brazil), L Bailey (Notts).
81 R Adams (Addington Court), J Turner (Craigielaw), C Thompson (Royal Dornoch), L Ball (Matfen Hall), E Watson (Muckhart).
82 R Woodcock (Woodhall Spa)
83 S Jackson (Ladybank), L Warrilow (Lilleshall Hall).
84 J Meek (Carnoustie)
86 N Silva (Brazil)
87 I Helias (France).
91 K Griffiths (Australia)
96 A Colligan (US).

Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report