Edinburgh girl Rachael Watton a busy

bee on the international front

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT WEBSITE
By ELSPETH BURNSIDE
FOR most youngsters, the school holidays are a time for rest and relaxation. For Edinburgh golfer Rachael Watton, the next couple of weeks will be packed with the pressure of international competition.
After watching North Berwick's Catriona Matthew lift the British Open title at Royal Lytham & St Anne's, the Mortonhall member was today making her debut at the Girls' Home Internationals at Fairhaven in Lancashire.Next week, she faces double duty at the British Girls' Championship at nearby West Lancs Golf Club. Not only will she be chasing individual honours but she has also been appointed captain of a three-strong Scottish line-up alongside Eilidh Briggs (Kilmalcolm) and Lesley Atkins (Minto) chasing the coveted team trophy.Later in the month, 17-year-old Watton will then carry Scotland's colours overseas at the Belgium Junior International.

"I made my Scottish girls' debut at the European Girls' Championship in Finland last month, and now I'm really looking forward to the Home Internationals," said Watton. "I've recently reduced my handicap to two, and it's great to be playing for Scotland in so many tournaments."

Watton, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who is set to enter her sixth and final year at Firrhill High School, has already shown promise at senior level. Last month, she was the star performer in helping Midlothian win the East Division inter-county team championship at Falkirk.

In the side for the first time, the teenager won all six of her matches and was voted player of the tournament.
She was also the top stroke-play qualifier at the Scottish Girls' Championship at Lanark, and reached the semi-finals of the match-play before losing to eventual winner, Ailsa Bain (Peebles).
Watton caught the golfing bug when she accompanied her father and older sister to practice sessions at the Braid Hills Driving Range and, aged 11, she then joined Baberton Golf Club. She then switched to Mortonhall and has also recently gained membership at Gullane, where she looks forward to honing her links skills on wild, windy days.
A member of the National B squad, she appreciates the input from the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association.
"We have great winter training weekends with coach Kevin Craggs," she said. "For instance, last year we had a weekend at an Army assault course near Carnoustie, that was great fun."
Her personal coach is Spencer Henderson and the future certainly looks bright on the golfing front for the Capital youngster."
I'm going back to school, but sixth year is going to be a chance to fit in a lot of golf," said Watton, who is waiting for her Higher results.
"I'm hoping to study architecture at either Dundee or Glasgow, but want to keep playing golf when I'm at university. I really do want to see how far I can go in the game.
"Turning professional could be an option, but it's far too early to decide. I'll see where it goes."