Kirkistown Castle’s Beth Coulter opened with a level par 73 to lie 11th in the race to make the top 64 qualifiers in 36-hole qualifying for the Women's Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie).

She made three birdies and an eagle three in her first 12 holes before dropping four shots in a three-hole stretch from the 13th.

She ended the day just five strokes behind Scotland’s Hannah Darling, whose five-under 68 gave her a three-stroke lead over 2019 winner Emily Toy.

Curtis Cup star Paula Grant was 37th after a 76, Rebekah Gardener and Sara Byrne 41st and 42nd after 77s, Aine Donegan 75th after an 81 with veteran Laura Webb 84th following her 84.

Detailed scores

The match play stages begin on Wednesday with Saturday’s 36-hole final commencing at 8.30 am. it will air live on The R&A’s YouTube and Facebook channels as well as RandA.org.