Carnoustie golfer bids to join elite company

golf: Summers defends Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship in Aberdeen

Carnoustie golfer Ailsa Summers this week bids to join a handful of players who have won the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship in successive years.

If the 23-year-old is successful in her defence at Royal Aberdeen she will join an elite group, with Anne Laing (20032004), Catriona Matthew (1993-94), Shirley Huggan (1988-89), Gillian Stewart (1983-94) and Belle Robertson (1971-72 and also 1965-66) all retaining the national title.

Summers, whose success last year came at West Kilbride, will gain a place in the Scotland team for the subsequent women’s home internationals.

Summers, who is not a full-time amateur, said: “Match-play is so much just how it goes on the day and I know qualifying for the top 32 is by no means a certainty with some of the others playing so well.

“I wasn’t playing my best coming into the championship week last year and that worked out well. “All I can do is give it my best shot. “It’s always seemed hard for me to know where my game is at – particularly now, in that I don’t play much competitive golf with other things going on in life.

“So, truthfully, I’m not sure how I will go.”

Bad weather is forecast and Royal Aberdeen’s links on a windy day is a test for the best, male or female.

However, in Summers’ favour is the fact that she has a very good match-play record.

Clara Young (North Berwick), champion at Monifieth in 2015, was a mighty impressive winner of the St Rule Trophy in St Andrews at the weekend and if anyone is favourite, it would have to be the University of Missouri student.

The championship tees off today with the first of two stroke-play qualifying rounds over a par-76 course.

Carnoustie golfer Ailsa Summers is looking to repeat her Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship success.