EMMA Duggleby's bid to land the British Ladies' Golf title got underway in modest fashion after a deluge-delayed start to the event at Lindrick Golf Club.

Play was held up due to heavy rain at the Sheffield-based course, but when it started recently-crowned English champion Duggleby opened the first qualifying round with a four-over par 77, six shots behind the leader, Cheshire's Rachel Adby.

Going into today's final stroke-play round, Malton and Norton GC's Duggleby still headed the North Yorkshire challenge as she was followed by Ganton's Naomi Edwards on 79; Katie Dobson (The Oaks), Sarah Garbutt (Ganton) and Fiona Sanderson (Heworth) all on 80; and Ganton's Rachel Bell on 84.

Meanwhile, professional Simon Dyson returns to the European Tour tomorrow boosted by a family link.

His elder brother Nick, himself a single-handicap player, has agreed to caddy for the Malton and Norton ace in the Aa St Omer Open which begins in France tomorrow.

It will be the first time the brothers have been in harness since the Walker Cup of 1999 in which they helped Great Britain and Ireland to victory over America.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, June 11, 2003