AN ALL SCOTTISH final is a possibility in the British Women's Open Amateur Golf Championship at Cruden Bay tomorrow afternoon.

In the morning's semifinals, 22 year old Glasgow born Mhairi McKay, who will turn professional in a few weeks, will play Maitena Alsuguren, 25, from Strasbourg, while Stirling bank worker Alison Rose faces Becky Morgan, the Welsh girl who lost in last year's final.

McKay lived dangerously in both her third round and quarter final ties. She was four up in the morning against Curtis Cup teammate Karen Stupples from Kent, but sagged so much after that she eventually squeezed through only at the 19th.

And McKay again surged four up in the afternoon, against Welsh champion Eleanor Pilgrim, only to be pegged back to all square with two to play.

"I never get worried in situations like that. That's the worst thing you can do. I blot the bad shots out of my mind and that's what I did when things started to go wrong against Karen and then Eleanor," said McKay.

Her opponent, Martena Alsuguren, toppled top seed and hot favourite Janice Moodie from Windyhill by two holes in the morning. She then completed a notable double with victory by the same margin over the European and world amateur champion Silvia Cavalleri (Italy).

Ireland saw their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time for 12 years were dashed yesterday when Eileen Rose Power slipped to defeat in the third match play round.

The 30 year old Munster champion from Kilkenny went down by 2 and 1 to Welsh champion, Eleanor Pilgrim in a cracking battle.

There was never more than one hole separating the players and when Power, runner up in this year's Irish championship, went one up at the 14th, she became the favourite to go through.

But 20 year old Pilgrim gritted her teeth and won the next three holes, two of them when Power missed short putts - and that was the end of the story.