Scots amateurs walk the tightrope at Royal Belfast

Scotland's tartan contingent of nine players in the field for the British girls open amateur golf championship could be reduced to two or three after today's second qualifying round at Royal Belfast Golf Club.

Only the leading 64 players out of 144 starters will go forward to the match-play stages at the tournament and the forecast is that two rounds of 78 might just make it. Overnight, those on the 78 mark are in joint 68th position. That leaves only Scottish girls champion Lesley Atkins of Gullane Ladies and Mortonhall player Rachael Watton - both with five-over-par 75s - and Renfrewshire women's champion Eilidh Briggs of Kilmacolm, who scored 77 - within the "safety zone" barring disasters on the second day.

Hannah McCook (Abernethy) is walking the tightrope on 79 while Rachael Taylor (Hartl Golf Resort, Germany) must improve on her 80 while Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw), 83, and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), both with 84s, have the proverbial mountain to climb.

Gillian Simpson's opening 99 has killed her hopes.

At the other end of the scoreboard, Alexandra Bonetti from Paris leads with a two-under-par 68 (two birdies and 16 pars) by one shot from Musselburgh-based Julie Yang whose 69 was unchallenged from noon until the French girl finished her round at 6.45pm.

The 15-year-old Maguire Curtis Cup twins had mixed luck. Leona had a 72 but Lisa a 79, which was one better than British women's open champion Kelly Tidy from Bolton.