Not a great turnout for the first of the four qualifying games to find the nine players needed to play the professionals in August.

28 players turned out, and that included the only two ladies to enter.

But, even with a 100-start, both ladies fell at the first hurdle.

With most of the top players on the oche, big names also fell early on but, by the semi-final stage, three Kirkwall and one west mainland player were left standing.

In the first, Derek Firth beat Mal Reid, the west mainland singles champion, and, in the other, Ian Wilkie beat Kevin Gray, the Orkney singles champion.

But in the final, Ian couldn’t handle Derek, and went down 3-0, so both go on to Picky in August.

There were 180s from Robbie Stanger, George Low, Ian Wilkie, Jim Hamilton and Paul Foubister.

High checkouts: 108 Ian Wilkie, who also had a 14-darter; S. Thomson had a 122 finish.

Let’s hope there’s a better turnout for the second qualifier, which is in the Royal Hotel, Stromness, on Friday, June 20, and is open to any player, male or female. Names by 7.30 p.m.