Lynn Kenny was the leading Scot on two under par 69 after the first round of the Finnair Masters at Helsingin, but the outstanding round was a 65 from Spain’s Beartriz Recari.
 
With seven birdies, Recari led by a stroke from Denmark’s Iben Tinning with the Welsh Solheim Cup player, Becky Brewerton, and Johanna Westerberg tied for third on 67.

Kenny was two over par after four holes, but the Archerfield golfer hit back with four birdies including three in a great second half of three under par 34 and she was tied for 11th place in the 54-hole event.

Pamela Feggans, Michele Thomson and Krystle Caithness were the next best Scots and were all tied for 42nd place on level par, while Vikki Laing and Clare Queen have work to do to make the cut after opening rounds of 75.

Meanwhile in the amateur game, Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)  missed out on the European Team Championship this summer, but the 20-year-old Scottish Champion has been included in Scotland’s team for the Home Internationals at Irvine from September 9-11.

The line-up also includes two Scots from the Vagliano Trophy team – Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).

Unfortunately, Sally Watson, the third tartan member of the Vagliano team, and Roseanne Niven are unavailable due to US university commitments. Sally enrols at Stanford University in California on September 12, while Roseanne is returning for her third year at the nearby Berkeley University  

Th other five members of the Scottish team for Irvine are Carly Booth (Comrie), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and Jane Turner (Craigielaw).

Scotland had a practice match at Irvine against he SGU men’s team in March  - and they are hoping that home advantage could help the side come out tops next month.