Darling and Lindsay shine on first day in Lossiemouth
Hannah Darling was in a class of her own in the opening round of the Xact Scottish Girls’ Championship at Moray, where Ruben Lindsay produced the day’s top effort in the boys’ equivalent.
Darling created history in this event a year ago at Scotscraig as she became its youngest winner at 13, eclipsing Jane Connachan, who was 14 when she claimed the title in 1978.
The Broomieknowe player has already won the inaugural Girls Under-16 Open Championship at Fulford in Yorkshire this season and reproduced that sort of form as she burst out of the blocks in Lossiemouth.
Helped by seven birdies, Darling carded a four-under-par 67 on the New Course, where her effort was five shots better than the next lowest score from Milngavie’s Lorna Mcclymont.
Cameron Neilson (Alvaneu Bad) fared best on the Old Course with a two-over 77, one less than Rachel Foster from Prestwick St Nicholas.
Lindsay, who is a member of Ayr Belleisle but is a product of the Stephen Gallacher Foundation, set the pace in the boys’ event after a four-under 67 on the Old Course.
That six-birdie effort was matched by both defending champion Greg Dalziel (Airdrie) and Cameron Adam (Royal Burgess) on the New Course, though on there 67 represented three-under. Adam bagged six birdies and Dalziel had an eagle and four birdies.
Australia-based Josh Greer, last year’s beaten finalist, is on course to qualify comfortably again for the match-play phase after a 71 on the New Course, as is his fellow Joondalup Country Club member Connor Mckinney following his 70 on the same layout.
The top 64 in the boys’ event and top 16 the in girls’ competition after 36 holes of strokeplay advance to a knockout stage.