CARLY LEADS CHASE TO BRAZIL

BRAZIL, HERE THEY COME

… IF CALUM & Co CAN STAY

AHEAD IN FALDO QUALIFIER

Curtis Cup teenager Carly Booth, Lesley Atkins from Minto, Ellon's Adam Dunton, Scott Young (Turnhouse) and Brora's Calum Stewart need one more good round on Friday to book a seat on the plane to Brazil next month.
At the halfway stage of the Faldo Series' only Scottish qualifying tournament, at the Renaissance Club, Archerfield in East Lothian, they lead their age/sex categories, the winners of whom will win all-expenses-paid trips to the Itanhanga Country Club, Rio de Janeiro for the Faldo Series Grand Final.
Stewart's been there, got the T-shirt, by winning his category last year, which is all the incentive he has needed to lead the Under-16 boys' section, in windy conditions, with a 76 (39-37).
But Calum, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency at this year's Scottish boys' match-play championship at Balgownie, has several boys breathing down his neck.
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) (36-41) and Ross Proctor (Forres) (38-39) are only a shot behind on 77.
Anthony Blaney (Liberton) (39-39), Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County) (39-39) and Ewan Scott (St Andrews) (39-39) are also still well in the mix on the 78 mark.
It's just as tight in the Under-18 boys' section with Scott Young's 73 (35-38) – the best round of the day – giving him only a one shot advantage over former pro footballer's son Ian Redford (St Andrews New) (36-38) with Colin Robinson (Largs) (38-37) just one more shot back in third place.
At Under-21 boys level, it's North-east player Adam Dunton who is setting the pace with a 71. Out in 35, he struggled a bit into the wind to take 41 shots for the inward journey, but all his rivals had the same probems.
Dunton is just a shot ahead of Robert Carson (Dalmahoy) (36-41). Third place is held down by Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) with a 79 (39-40).
In the girls' events, Carly Booth has a four-shot lead in the Under-21s with halves of 36 and 40 for a 76. Her nearest rival is Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham) who had halves of 41 and 39. Jenna made the trip to Brazil last year and finished runner-up to the then English women's champion, Hannah Barwood.
In the girls' Under-16 level, Lesley Atkins (Minto), who played for Scotland's Under-18 team this year, has a five-shot cushion against things going wrong in the second round. Lesley went out in 42 but had an excellent inward half of 36 (four shots better than Carly Booth).
Lesley's nearest challenger is St Andrews' Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) on 83 (41-42) with Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) third on 85 (41-44).
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS

BOYS
Under-21
76 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 35-41.
77 Robert Carson (Dalmahoy) 36-41.
79 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 39-40.
80 James Hendrick (Pollok) 38-42.
84 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 42-42.
Under-18
73 Scott Young (Turnhouse) 35-38.
74 Ian Redford (St Andrews New) 36-38.
75 Colin Robinson (Largs) 38-37.
77 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 38-39, Conor O'Neil (Glasgow) 40-37.
78 Jeff Wright (Forres) 39-39.
79 Jamie Lynch (Falkirk) 35-44, Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 39-40.
80 Jamie Arthur (Milnathort) 39-41.
81 Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 39-42, Grant Carnegie (Dunblane New) 39-42, Jack Thorburn (Forrester Park) 42-39, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 37-44.

Under-16

76 Calum Stewart (Brora) 39-37.

77 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 36-41, Ross Proctor (Forres) 38-39.

78 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 39-39, Liam Johnston (Dumfries & Co) 39-39, Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 39-39.

81 James Steven (Kirkhill) 38-43, Cameron Farrell (Cardross) 40-41, Connor Neil (Blairgowrie) 38-43.

83 Stuart McPherson (Burntisland) 42-41.

84 Andrew Carrell (Peterculter) 42-42, Fraser Lauder (Paisley) 41-43

GIRLS
Under-21
76 Carly Booth (Comrie) 36-40.
80 Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham) 41-39.
83 Mhairi Johnston (Northern) 43-40, Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 39-44.
84 Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 40-44.
Under-16
78 Lesley Atkins (Minto) 42-37.
83 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus) 41-42.
85 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 41-44.
86 Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry) 42-44.
90 Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 45-45.
91 Emily Aird (Strathmore) 48-43.