Darling and Dalziel remain on course to defend their titles after progressing at Lossiemouth

Defending champions Hannah Darling and Greg Dalziel both progressed comfortably to the match-play phase in the Xact Scottish Girls and Boys Championships at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth.

Darling, who underlined her star potential by creating history when becoming the youngest girls’ winner at just 13 at Scotscraig a year ago, finished six shots clear of her title rivals after two rounds of stroke-play qualifying.

The Broomieknowe player backed up an opening 67 on the New Course with an equally impressive 70 on the Old Course for a nine-underpar aggregate.

Her nearest challenger was Rachel Foster after the Prestwick St Nicholas player carded six birdies and was bogey-free in signing for a splendid 65 on the New Course.

Dalziel, meanwhile, finished joint-fourth among the 64 qualifiers in the boys’ event after rounds of 67 and 73, which included a triple-bogey 7 at the eighth, for a one-underpar total.

Top spot went to Aidan O’hagan (Old Ranfurly) on five-under (69-67), a shot ahead of the overnight leader from, Ayr Belleisle’s Ruben Lindaay (67-70), with Australia-based Connor Mckinney (Joondalup Country Club) third on two-under.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington returns to his homeland with his sights set firmly on winning his national Open for the second time at this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation.

The 46-year-old, who overcame Bradley Dredge in a playoff to claim victory in the 2007 edition of the event before going to win the Open Championship at Carnoustie later that year, arrives at Ballyliffin intent on adding another title to his 15 European Tour wins.

Although this week will mark the Dubliner’s first visit to the county of Donegal, Harrington believes he can continue his enviable record on links golf courses – which includes his Open Championship victories in 2007 and in 2008, the latter at Royal Birkdale.

“I’m here with the sole purpose of trying to win, that’s for sure,” he declared. “The nature of the game for me now is to win or nothing. I don’t get any enjoyment finishing in the top ten, it is no fun to me.

“Maybe I put myself under too much stress when the gun goes, but outside of that, I’ve shown that if I can get myself into that position, where I have a chance of winning, I only play better down the stretch, but I struggle sometimes getting to that position.”