ALYSON HAS A FANTASTIC 1ST ROUND AT THE HELEN HOLM

Alyson - Click to enlarge

Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin, (Pictured left ) had a terrific first round at the Helen Holm Stroke play Championship at Troon Portland today. She was out in level par 38 with bogeys at the third and eighth, where she missed the green, and birdies at the sixth and long ninth, and home in 33, one of the best inward halves of the day when players found the second nine generally more difficult.
Alyson birdied the 10th, 12th, 15th, 16th and 18th - What a tremendous finish. Her only shot dropped after the turn was at the 14th where she missed the green. --- What a great round  (5 under the CSS) --- 4 under par to be in 2nd place and only 2 shots behind the leader Ireland's Leona Maguire who is on 6 under. --- WOW ALYSON WHAT A GREAT ROUND 
Eilidh Briggs Renfrewshire's County Champion had a good first round --- She was out in one under par 37 and then unfortunately bogeyed the 11th and 13th, double bogeyed the 14th and then had a terrific finish --- birdie, par, birdie, birdie to end up with her level par round ( 1 under the CSS of 76)--- WELL DONE EILIDH

Former Scottish champion and Renfrewhire County Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), withdrew from the tournament because of university exams pressure.

To read today's full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES AT END OF PLAY
Troon Portland Par 75. Yardage 6,289. CSS 76
69 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell).
71 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie).
72 Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall), Emma Brown (Malton and Norton), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Rachael Goodall (Heswall).
73 Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), Bethany Garton (Royal Lytham), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton)., Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Katharina Soehnlein (Germany).
74 Shelby Smart (Knowle), Jessica Bradley (Tiverton), Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush), Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies),
Others Scots:
75  Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Jane Turner (Craigielaw).
76  Clara Young (North Berwick)
77 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus)
78 Rachael Watton (Mortonhall)
79 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Lesley Atkins (Gullane), Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir), .
81  Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey), Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus), Katie McIntosh (Broomieknowe),  Laura Murray (Alford).
82 Ailsa Bain (Peebles),
83  Jennifer Linklater (Largs), Gillian Scanlon (Hamilton).
84  Gemma Chalmers (Monifieth).
85 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Tara MacTaggart (Minto),  Jordana Graham (Southerness)
89 Samantha Leslie (Westhill).

CLICK HERE FOR ROUND 2 STARTING TIMES - SATURDAY