THE county is set to host the inaugural Scottish Open qualifier next summer, with the new event confirmed for North Berwick Golf Club following a visit by First Minister Alex Salmond last Wednesday.

Six spots will be up for grabs in the main Aberdeen Asset Management-sponsored event at Gullane when the historic West Links stages a 54-hole shoot-out from July 4 to 6 next year.

However, the Ladies Scottish Open, which takes place at Archerfield Links this weekend, is to move to Ayrshire next year after five years in East Lothian.

Frank Pratt, North Berwick club captain, said: “We are delighted to be the chosen venue for this inaugural pre-qualifying tournament. With the Scottish Open being held at nearby Gullane, this decision further establishes East Lothian as Scotland’s Golf Coast.” The qualifier represents a change in the qualification procedures for the tournament, with players previously having to rely on their European Tour ranking or an invitation to secure a place at the event.

The qualifier at the county course will be exclusively for Scottish players, with the majority being home-based professionals.

Meanwhile, there was further reason to celebrate with the news that Muirfield will also be back under the spotlight next summer, when it plays host to the Scottish Amateur Championship.

In the more immediate future, local golfing fans will have the chance to cheer on North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew, who is defending her title on her home course at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, which gets under way at Archerfield Links today (Friday).

Matthew, who turned 45 on Monday, will be looking to claim her third Ladies Scottish Open title in four years when she begins her defence at her home course.

Matthew is tipped to retain the title at the tournament but she is expected to be pushed hard by several others, including Glasgow’s in-form Kylie Walker.

The tournament’s pro-am format sees 72 amateurs and celebrities tee it up alongside a limited field of 72 of the top female golfers in the world.

The 54-hole tournament is played over three days, coming to its conclusion on Sunday.

However, next year the tournament, which has been hosted at Archerfield since 2010, moves to Dundonald Links in Ayrshire and also change its slot in the calendar, as it will immediately precede the Women’s British Open, mirroring the men’s Scottish Open, which is held the week before The Open Championship.

Alex Salmond said of the move: “The movement of the Ladies Scottish Open will place the tournament in a similar position [to the men’s version] and raises the profile of the women’s game, which is currently flourishing in Scotland.”