Scotland, fielding one of their youngest-ever teams, made a great start to the women's home amateur golf internationals at Dunbar Golf Club today.
They beat Ireland 6-3 after sharing the foursomes 1 1/2-1 1/2 and taking the singles 4 1/2-1 1/2.
England, bidding to win the title for the third year in a row, beat Wales 6-3.
Scotland's line-up, average age just over 18 years, responded well to the pressure. All bar Scottish champion
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) are playing in the home internationals for the first time.
Jenna led by example by winning the top singles 3 and 2 against Irish champion Karen Delaney. Carly Booth, the 16-year-old Comrie player, followed that with a one-hole over over Danielle McVeigh.
Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) lost by 3 and 2 to Tara Delaney, who, alongwith sister Karen had flown back from Kent State University, Ohio to play for their country this week.
Teenagers
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) showed the match-play skills that won them their county titles earlier this season.
Megan got a square match against the experienced Marian Riordan while
Pamela Pretswell won by 3 and 1 against Gillian O'Leary, another very experienced player at this level.
It was left to Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon to produce Scotland's shot of the day to win the final singles against Maura Morrin. Michelle strayed on to the first fairway with her drive off the 18th tee but she hit a glorious toweing eight iron that came to a stop only a foot for a hole ... a birdie 3 that gave her the Aberdeenshire champion a one-hole victory.
Scotland skipper Jayne Smith said:
"I am so proud of them. We have such a young team and they have been fantastic. The team spirit is great. We are taking each day as it comes but I am hoping for more of the same on Thursday."
Welsh player Tara Davies had a hole in one with a nine-iron at the 135yd 16th hole in her singles tie with Rachel Jennings. The ace squared the match which finished on level pegging.
First-day details:
SCOTLAND 6, IRELAND 3
Foursomes: J Wilson, M Thomson halved with K Delaney, T Delaney; L Murray, K MacDonald lost to D McVeigh, M Riordan 1 hole; E Ogilvy, C Booth bt M Morrin, N Kitching 3 and 1 (1 1/2-1 1/2).
Singles: Wilson bt K Delaney 3 and 2, Booth bt McVeigh 1 hole, Ogilvy lost to T Delaney 3 and 2,
M Briggs halved with Riordan,
P Pretswell bt G O'Leary 3 and 1, Thomson bt Morrin 1 hole (4 1/2-1 1/2).
ENGLAND 6, WALES 3
Foursomes; N Edwards, K Smith halved with S Hassan, R H Harries; R Jennings, D Montgomery bt L Hall, L Gould 5 and 4; R Bell, E Bennett lost to S Evans, T Davies 3 and 2 (1 1/2-1 1/2).
Singles: Edwards bt Hassan 2 holes, Bell bt R W Thomas 5 and 4, Bennett bt Hall 3 and 2, Smith lost to Evans 3 and 2, C Aitken halved with Davies, Jennings bt Harries 2 and 1 (4 1/2-1 1/2).
Thanks go to Gillian Kirkwood for the report
