Defending champion Elaine Moffat picked up where she left off on day 1 as she secured the strokeplay title at this year’s Scottish Senior Women’s Open Championship.
A solid round of 76 in reasonable conditions saw her finish +2 overall and record a two-shot victory over Aileen Baker of Crail.
Baker posted the best round of the day, 75, to finish on +4 overall. Despite finishing strongly, playing her last 7 holes in -1, she couldn’t quite close the gap on Moffat and had to settle for a runner-up finish.
Speaking to Scottish Golf about her strokeplay victory, Moffat said, “It’s amazing, it’s still sinking in but it’s a really nice feeling.
“It was a hard game of golf and I was really aware that I needed to stay focussed. There was definitely added pressure starting the day with the lead, but in a good way; it made me stay on my toes. I didn’t play my best, but I made good decisions and I’m pleased to have got through it.
It’s something I’ve not won before so it’s lovely to have that under my belt. I’m going to enjoy the moment. I have to thank my coach Mike Rae who has been key in helping me to achieve this.”
On regrouping for the start of the matchplay tomorrow, Moffat continued, “I’ll go home, get all the gear sorted out and once I’ve done that I’ll just try and rest up and get my brain back in the right mode for another day on the golf course.”
Moffat’s nearest challengers at the start of the day, Sandra Jackson of Royal Dornoch and Alison Davidson of Stirling, fell away on day 2, both shooting +8. Both players will now look to regroup going into the knockout stages.
Last year’s beaten finalist, Sheena Wood, recovered from an opening round of 84 to make the matchplay with a solid second round of 78, keeping her hopes of going one better than last year alive.
The biggest leaderboard climb of the day belonged to Murrayfield’s Caroline Steedman, who bounced back from a first round 85 to shoot 76 today and finish in the top 16, having started the day in a tie for 34th.
The tournament will now move to the knockout stages where the top 16 scratch scores will progress to the matchplay, starting tomorrow morning with the cut falling at +14 after the strokeplay with 3 players missing out on their second round scores.
The top 16 net scores from the rest of the field will also now compete in the net matchplay.
LEADING SCOREBOARD
par 148 (2x74) SSS 72 CSS 74 75
150 E Moffat (St Regulus) 74 76
152 A Baker (Crail GS) 77 75
156 M Smith (Tain) 79 77
157 S Jackson (Royal Dornoch) 75 82, A Davidson (Stirling) 75 82.
158 D Jackson (Troon Ladies) 82 76, E Stewart (Greenburn) 80 78, I McKean (Cottesmore) 80 78.
160 S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 82 78, L McKinlay (Dunnikier Park) 81 79
161 C W Steedman (Murrayfield) 85 76, F Miller (Carnoustie Caledonia) 84 77. J Bryans (Harburn) 82 79 K Knight (Pitlochry) 80 81, E Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) 79 82.
162 A Hay (Edzell) 85 77, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 81 81, L Lloyd (Hayston) 80 82, F Hay (Grange and Broughty) 78 84
163 M Hughes (Lanark) 86 77
164 M Wardrop (Turnhouse) 86 78, H Anderson (Blairgowrie) 85 79, A Ryan (Tain) 83 81, S MacLeod (Deeside) 83 81.
165 B S Biggart (North Berwick) 86 79, W Nicholson (Baberton) 84 81, J Brown (Monifieth) 83 82
166 C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 74 72, D Watson (Leven GS) 83 83, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) 82 84, K Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 80 86
168 A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 87 81, L Graham (Carnoustie Ladies) 85 83
170 K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 90 80, L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 88 82, Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 82,88
FOR ALL THE RESULTS -- Click Here
Matchplay Draw 1st Round:
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) v Ann Hay (Edzell)
Iona McKean (Cottesmore Golf and Country Club) v Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies)
Sandra Jackson (Royal Dornoch) v Jennifer Bryans (Harburn)
Alison Davidson (Stirling) v Frances Millar (Carnoustie Caledonia)
Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) v Caroline Steedman (Murrayfield)
Mary Smith (Tain) v Kay Knight (Pitlochry) 1
Liz Stewart (Harburn) v Lorna McKinlay (Dunniker)
Aileen Baker (Crail) v Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies )
Handicap Matchplay 1st round :
May Hughes (Lanark) v Fiona Thorburn (Baberton)
Caroline King (Clober) v Fiona Scott (Bothwell Castle)
Liz Fertacz (Blairgowrie) v Anne Ryan (Tain)
Fiona Hay (Grange and Broughty) v Louise Graham (Carnoustie )
Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) v Fiona Cameron (Cowglen)
Fiona Ross (Glenbervie) v Claire Cappocci (Bridge of Allan)
Shiona Chillas (Panmure) v Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine)
Morag Wardrop (Turnhouse) v Isla McCrone ( Turnhouse)
The top 16 net scores from the rest of the field will also now compete in the net matchplay.
LEADING SCOREBOARD
par 148 (2x74) SSS 72 CSS 74 75
150 E Moffat (St Regulus) 74 76
152 A Baker (Crail GS) 77 75
156 M Smith (Tain) 79 77
157 S Jackson (Royal Dornoch) 75 82, A Davidson (Stirling) 75 82.
158 D Jackson (Troon Ladies) 82 76, E Stewart (Greenburn) 80 78, I McKean (Cottesmore) 80 78.
160 S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 82 78, L McKinlay (Dunnikier Park) 81 79
161 C W Steedman (Murrayfield) 85 76, F Miller (Carnoustie Caledonia) 84 77. J Bryans (Harburn) 82 79 K Knight (Pitlochry) 80 81, E Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies) 79 82.
162 A Hay (Edzell) 85 77, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 81 81, L Lloyd (Hayston) 80 82, F Hay (Grange and Broughty) 78 84
163 M Hughes (Lanark) 86 77
164 M Wardrop (Turnhouse) 86 78, H Anderson (Blairgowrie) 85 79, A Ryan (Tain) 83 81, S MacLeod (Deeside) 83 81.
165 B S Biggart (North Berwick) 86 79, W Nicholson (Baberton) 84 81, J Brown (Monifieth) 83 82
166 C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 74 72, D Watson (Leven GS) 83 83, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) 82 84, K Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 80 86
168 A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 87 81, L Graham (Carnoustie Ladies) 85 83
170 K Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 90 80, L Keohone (Loudoun Gowf) 88 82, Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 82,88
FOR ALL THE RESULTS -- Click Here
Matchplay Draw 1st Round:
Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) v Ann Hay (Edzell)
Iona McKean (Cottesmore Golf and Country Club) v Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies)
Sandra Jackson (Royal Dornoch) v Jennifer Bryans (Harburn)
Alison Davidson (Stirling) v Frances Millar (Carnoustie Caledonia)
Donna Jackson (Troon Ladies) v Caroline Steedman (Murrayfield)
Mary Smith (Tain) v Kay Knight (Pitlochry) 1
Liz Stewart (Harburn) v Lorna McKinlay (Dunniker)
Aileen Baker (Crail) v Ellie Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies )
Handicap Matchplay 1st round :
May Hughes (Lanark) v Fiona Thorburn (Baberton)
Caroline King (Clober) v Fiona Scott (Bothwell Castle)
Liz Fertacz (Blairgowrie) v Anne Ryan (Tain)
Fiona Hay (Grange and Broughty) v Louise Graham (Carnoustie )
Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) v Fiona Cameron (Cowglen)
Fiona Ross (Glenbervie) v Claire Cappocci (Bridge of Allan)
Shiona Chillas (Panmure) v Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine)
Morag Wardrop (Turnhouse) v Isla McCrone ( Turnhouse)