Duncan in same group as world No 1 Zhang at Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Duncan will have the world No 1 for company when she makes history along with Hannah Darling as the first Scots to tee up in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this week, writes Martin Dempster.

Duncan, the Women’s Amateur champion from West Kilbride,

is in the same group as top-ranked American Rose Zhang for today’s opening round at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta.

The duo will be joined by Sara Kouskova,theworldno27from the Czech Republic, for the first of two rounds at that venue, with the top 30 after 36 holes progressing to Saturday’s final circuit at Augusta National.

Duncan, who sits 49th in the

World Amateur Golf Rankings, and 11th-placed Darling are among 72 players competing in the tournament’s third staging. Broomieknowe’s Darling, who qualified by winning the Girls’ Amateur Championship last year, has Italian Benedetta Moresco and American Latta Stone in her group for the opening round.

Duncan, who recorded a top10finishinlastyear’saigwomlouise en’s Open at Carnoustie, spent lastweekatsagevalleyinsouth Californiawithhercoach,west Kilbride professional Iain Darroch, to get herself acquainted with Us-style courses.

“It is quite early in the season, so it’s a case of thinking about how to play golf again with a card in your hand,” said the Stirling University student. “It’s always difficult getting back intotheswingofthingsafterthe winter, so I think that’s going to be the most difficult part.”

In a recent R&A Student Tour Series event in Spain, Duncan opened with an 80 before adding scores of 74-71 to finish seventh behind fellow Scot Lorna Mcclynmont. “It was good to go to Spain and get all the stupid mistakes out of my system,” she added. “I had a bit of a nightmareinthefirstround,butigot better each round and felt a lot more comfortable in the last round. Hopefully that’s a sign of what’s to come.”

Darling,whoisinherfirstyear at University of South Carolina, is heading into the event in fine form, having finished jointsecond in the recent Valspar Augusta Invitational at Forest Hillsbeforealsoclaimingatop5 spot in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgiagolfcourseonsunday.