Aboyne duo part of Scots’ Downfield title defence

Twelve months after winning the event for the first time since 2010, Scotland will now be hoping to make home advantage count in this week’s Women’s Home Internationals at Downfield.

The hosts’ seven-strong line-up includes two Aboyne players, with Kimberley Beveridge earning her just reward for winning the Scottish Women’s Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) in June as she joins Curtis Cup player Shannon Mcwilliam.

Junior Sol heimC up hopeful Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) is also in the side bidding to stage a successful title defence following a 6-3 win over Ireland in last year’s decider at Ballybunion.

St Rule Trophy winner Hazel Mac Gar vie( RoyalTro on ), Penny Brown (Worthing ), Louise Duncan( West Kilbride) and Chloe Go ad by( St Regul us) are the others on duty at the Dundee venue, where the girls’ equivalent is being staged simultaneously.

Leading the hosts into battle in that event are recently-crowned Scottish Girls’ ch amp ionKa ty Alexander( Blair g owrie) and another Aboyne player, Carmen Griffiths, who recently represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Junior Vagliano Tro - phy in June.

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the Boys’ Home International sat Ash burnham in south Wales, Scotland lost 10-5 to Ireland while England hammered Wales 11½-3½.

●Thom as Higson(G lene ag les Hotel) carded a five -under-par 67 to lead by as hot after the openin ground of the Deer Park Master son the Tar tan Tour. Higsonsig ned for seven birdies, including three in a row from the seventh, at the Livingston venue as he set the pace ahead of Paul O’hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure), James Steven (Drumpellier) and Ross Cameron( Salt ire Energy).

● James Morgan and Oliver Sullivan shot matching 66s in the second round to share the lead on twounder after 36 holes in the Faldo Series Scottish qualifier at Brunts field Links.