Tara Watt shot a 3-over 73 to take a four-shot lead after the first round of the Manchester City Women’s Golf Championship on Saturday at the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester. Defending champion Louise Billy is second following a 7-over 77 and Andrea Morrell and Carole LaBranche are tied for third six shots back.

Watt, Billy and Morrell tee off in the last group at 11:03 a.m. today in the final round of the tournament at Intervale Country Club. LaBranche joins Karen McBarron (81) and Elise Thornton (82) in the second-to-last trio.

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Manchester City Women’s Golf Championship
at Derryfield Country Club

1. Tara Watt 73; 2. Louise Billy 77; 3. Andrea Morrell 79; 3. Carole LaBranche 79; 5. Karen McBarron 81; 6. Elise Thornton 82; 7. Roberta Cullity 83; 8. MaryEllen Saint-Laurent 86; 8. Liz Lafferty 86; 8. Christine Szumiesz 86; 8. Terri Warren 86; 12. Bettina Dittrich 89; 12. Lynne Heymans 89; 12. Joanna Teas 89; 15. Peggy Tosi 90; 16. Virginia Sinclair 92; 17. Jackie Sweezy 94; 18. Ingrid Willikens 95; 19. Claudette Weddleton 96; 20. Rachel Poltak 97; 21. Melissa Auclair 98; 22. Eileen Conway 102; 23. JoAnn Carswell 103; 23. Jeanette Billy 103; 25. Irene Rooney 109.