IT was a measure of the havoc wrought on swings and scores that only 17 of the 156-strong field at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open managed to better par yesterday at Dundonald Links.

Even more telling after 36 holes of the £1.2 million tournament is the statistic that as few as six players were in red at halfway after battling winds of up to 30mph.

The most notable casualty was world No. 4 Lydia Ko, the popular Korean-born New Zealander who already has two major titles on her CV at the age of just 20.

She crashed out on nine-over par following a 79, four outside the cut mark, having equalled the second highest score of her glittering professional career.

Having been allotted a 6.45am tee-time, Ko faced the worst of the conditions, leading her to comment: “That was one of the most difficult rounds I have played in my career, physically and mentally.

“These were among the windiest conditions I’ve played in. But when you are playing the Scottish or British Open, the wind is something that you have to take into account.”

Ko, who has only once posted a higher score an 80 in the Women’s British Open in 2014 – hopes to put whatever lessons she has learned into practice next week at Kingbarns when she bids to land a third major title in the form of the British Open.

Even the leading duo of American Cristie Kerr and Australia’s Karrie Webb struggled to cope as they both registered scores over par.

In the event, two-time major winner Kerr, 39, overhauled 42-year-old Webb in a straight reversal of first and second places.

Kerr, a feisty competitor at the best of times, staged a spirited comeback after finding herself four-over-par after 11 holes.

A double bogey at the third was followed by two more dropped shots at six and 11 as Kerr struggled to cope with unfamiliar conditions. But the renowned Solheim Cup battler gritted her teeth and ground out three birdies over the last six holes to post a one-over-par 73.

Webb, 42, was already having an afternoon nap to recover from her early morning exertions following a 4.30am alarm call by the time Kerr set out in marginally easier conditions and was annoyed with herself for giving back shots at the closing two holes for a 75, the former world No. 1 was reasonably philosophical in the circumstances.

“I’m disappointed,” she said, “but if you’d given me four-under after two rounds before I teed off, I would probably have taken it.

“It was really cold first thing and the wind had a lot more strength to it. It never really let up and the first nine holes were really difficult.

“It’s only Friday and there’s a long way to go, but any time you have a chance to win, it’s special.”

Scotland’s Carly Booth was one of those who mastered the conditions to post a sub-par round of 70 to sit just six off the lead on one-over in joint 11th spot.

Booth, 25, from Comrie in Perthshire, reflected: “The wind this morning was crazy, but I played really solid and had 27 putts compared to 35 yesterday. That was the main difference.”

The winner of 2012 Scottish Open winner added: “I’ve worked for the past eight months on improving my bad golf. My good golf is always great, but my bad golf is really bad, so now there’s a massive difference when I’m not playing well, it’s so much better.

“I’ve worked hard on my short game as well, it’s just a general improvement.

“These are two big weeks being back in Scotland, where I won my first tournament, and I’d like to get my hands on this trophy again.”

Booth, one of the most glamorous and bubbly character on the women’s circuit, is also extremely colourful, even down to her pink golf ball.

Her choice of pink means she is certain to be noticed, but she stressed that there are also practical reasons for her abandoning the traditional wee white ball.

“Apart from always knowing which ball is mine now, my stats with it are just as good, if not better than the ball I was using,” she explained. “That’s why I changed, because the readings were better.”

Her playing partner Joanna Klatten produced an even more impressive performance to post a best-of-the-day 68 to move up to level par. The big-hitting Frenchwoman out-drives European Tour counterparts such as Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Jimenez, averaging 279 yards.

Booth is one of four Scots already in the Kingsbarns field – one more than will feature this weekend in Ayrshire after Catriona Matthew and Fife’s Sally Watson scraped through.

Matthew, hoping to be given a Solheim Cup wildcard at the age of 47, made it with a shot to spare on four-over following a second successive 74 while Watson finished on the cut mark, courtesy of a 70.