THE reconnaissance missions could be frequent.
"I think the people at Dundonald will know me pretty well by the time the event comes round," said Pamela Pretswell as she planned her preparations for next month's Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open over the Ayrshire links. Pretswell continues to make a name for herself, of course, and the good folk at the Irvine course will be well aware of her by now anyway.
With four top-10 finishes from her first six events on the Ladies European Tour this season, the 26-year-old is making impressive strides. It has been very much a case of onwards and upwards since she stepped on to the main circuit three years ago. Pretswell finished 60th on the money list at the end of her rookie campaign in 2013 and moved up to 36th in 2014. The former Curtis Cup player continues to find her feet and is well inside the current top 10.
The next step is that maiden triumph and Pretswell has had a taste of the pressures and pitfalls that are part and parcel of chasing success. She played in the final group of the Turkish Airlines Open recently but saw her title hopes evaporate with a closing 78. It was an eye-opening experience though and the Scot is determined to use it to her benefit and make sure she thrives in that position if it presents itself again. With the Scottish Open and the Women's British Open both taking place on home soil in successive weeks, it would be a good fortnight to flourish.
"Looking back at Turkey, I maybe wasn't quite ready to win," she said. "You need to be prepared to deal with everything. I think it was just nerves that got to me. It was good fun having the cameras there and the different kind of atmosphere that comes from being in among the leaders. But it's about learning how to cope with it all. Cameras are right in your face. I've never noticed that before. In fact, I noticed it more than I thought I would. But I've been there and done it and survived it, so I suppose so it bodes well for next time. Hopefully there is a next time. The Open would be nice."
With her fellow Scot Kylie Walker winning twice last year and the likes of Sally Watson underlining the potential she showed as an amateur, Pretswell is enjoying being part of an upwardly mobile Scottish contingent on the tour.
"Kylie kicked things off last season with two wins and that kind of inspired the rest of us," she said. "It's slowly building. I think we are enjoying each other's company out on the tour and enjoying driving each other on. You grow up with these players and it makes you push yourself a bit more when your peers are doing well."
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