Goadby and Hale cope best in Aberdeen rain

Chloe Goadby (St Regulus Ladies) and Emma Hale (Royal Troon) headed a field of 70 players at the end of one of the wettest first days in living memory at the 103rd Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen.

It was raining when play started at 8.30am and it still had not stopped when play finished in the first qualifying round at 5.30pm.

Not surprisingly, no one managed to equal the par of 76.

Stirling student Goadby, 19, set the clubhouse target of one over 77 before lunchtime and it was only near the end of play that she was joined in the lead by 20-year-old Hale. Shannon Mcwilliam (Aboyne), Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart) and Royal Montrose’s Gillian Paton are sharing third place on 78.

Defending champion Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) had an 84, one better than 2015 winner Clara Young (North Berwick).