Musselburgh's  Vikki Laing and Patna's Pamela Feggans were the best of the eight Scots with  confidence-boosting  starts to the nerve-waracking Ladies’ European Tour pre-qualifying at La Manga in Spain.. 

While Paraguay’s Julieta Granada, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour in America, shot a two under par 71 to lead over the South course, Laing and Feggans, who both played on last season’s US Futures Tour, were in joint ninth place on 75.

Kylie Walker and Emily Ogilvy were the next best of the Scots on 78 with Curtis Cup player and Scottish Amateur Champion, Michele Thomson, another shot back on 79.  Karyn Burns was well down the field on 84.

Over the shorter North course, Dutch amateur Christel Boeljon led the way on two under par 69, while Krystle Caithness, another Scot who played in last year’s Curtis Cup, made a tentative start with a 78. Jocelyn Carthew, the beaten finalist in last year’s Scottish Championship, had a horror round of 90.

The players swap courses today and, after 72-holes, the top 62 from the 104-strong field will go forward to next week’s final qualifying at the same venue.