Hannah Darling makes history for Scottish golf at Augusta National Women's Amateur

Darling, the Girls’ Amateur champion from Broomieknowe in Bonnyrigg, opened with a one-over-par 73 at Champions Retreat Golf Club to lie joint-ninth, just three shots behind the pacesetters, Italy’s Benedetta Moresco and Anna Davis of the US.

On a day when she joined Duncan in becoming the first Scots to tee up in the event, Darling had an adventurous round, signing for a card that contained five birdies but also two double-bogeys and two bogeys.

The second of her double-bogeys came at the par-5 18th, having earlier made gains at the first, ninth, 11th, 15th and 16th holes.

Duncan, the Women’s Amateur champion from West Kilbride, sits joint-59th in the battle to be in the top 30 after two rounds and progress to Saturday’s final circuit at Augusta National.

The Stirling University student made an eagle-2 at the 15th, but that came after she’d run up two 7s, including a triple-bogey at the fourth.

In an event featuring players from 24 countries, Moresco and 16-year-old Davis signed for matching two-under-par 70s to lead the way.

Moresco, No 20 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), birdied the second from close range before rolling in a 15-footer at the next to reach the turn in two-under.

The University of Alabama sophomore was then bogey-free coming home to share the lead in her second appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“It was good out there today. I had really good putts from all around the green,” Moresco said. “Being patient on the golf course. I think that was key.”

Playing in the last group of the day, Davis made the turn at one under par after a birdie the seventh before making a second gain at the 14th.

She dropped her only shot of the day at the next hole but finished with a birdie after her