Ponte leads after 18

AIMEE PONTE leads both the scratch and the handicap competitions after the first of two rounds in the Royal Guernsey GC Ladies' Section club championship.

The 15-year-old Channel Islands women's champion shot an excellent opening round of 71 gross, one-under par, which was nine shots better than her nearest challenger in the scratch standings Sue Wellfair.

That score translated into a net 69 for Ponte, who is now down to an exact handicap of 1.6.

Claire Le Page is currently in second place in the handicap standings thanks to a fine 83 net 70.