29/06/12
Brian Soutar, the South African Amateur champion, leads Scottish hopes going into the final 36 holes of The Brabazon Trophy at Walton Heath this weekend.
The Leven Golfing Society player sits in a share of 18th place after the first two rounds of the English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
In a tough rainy and windy conditions, Soutar has posted a six-over-par halfway total after rounds of 77 and 73. The Fifer trails leader Kevin Phelan (Waterford Castle) by seven shots, with the Irish international the only player in the field under par.
"It was tough at Walton Heath yesterday and if you look at the scoring it was tougher today," said Soutar of the demanding test.
The Brabazon, which has been won by many famous players including Sir Michael Bonallack, Sandy Lyle, Peter McEvoy and Charl Schwartzel in the past, is set for an exciting finish with the top 20 players only separated by a handful of shots.
Next best of the Scots is James Ross of Royal Burgess, who is placed in a tie for 27th after his rounds of 73 and 78 for seven-over-par.
Aberdour’s Scott Crichton, who opened brightly with a 72, followed that score with an 80 to sit at eight-over-par, with Paul Shields of Kirkhill and Adam Dunton (McDonald) one shot worse off to just qualify on the cut mark of nine-over.
Royal Aberdeen’s Scott Larkin missed the cut for the top 60 and ties after his first round 73, a solid score in the conditions, was followed by an 82 for 11-over-par.
>> Click here for full second-round scores from The Brabazon Trophy
Round-up
* Europe claimed three matches and halved three others today, but the United States hold a 10-6 lead entering the final day of the 2012 Palmer Cup, the prestigious college event, at The Royal County Down Golf Club tomorrow.
Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson, the University of Stirling student, is in the home side's ranks thanks to his fine season to date. But the 24-year-old has sadly lost his three matches so far in the fourballs, foursomes and singles. The final round singles matches tee off at 10am tomorrow.
* Only Scott Jamieson and Colin Montgomerie missed the cut from the 12-strong Scottish contingent competing at the Irish Open on The European Tour. Gary Orr leads the tartan challenge in a share of eighth place at eight-under-par, four shots behind the leader, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.
Showing welcome returns to form, Peter Whiteford is at seven-under, with Steven O'Hara placed at six-under. Richie Ramsay and Marc Warren are at -5.
* Edinburgh's Raymond Russell will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Challenge Provincia di Varese after scorching to a four-under-par 66 on day three.
At 14-under-par, the 39-year-old is ahead of Italian Marco Crespi, with whom he shared the second-round lead, while four players – fellow Scot Andrew McArthur, Alessandro Tadini, Peter Uilhein and Daniel Vancsik – are another shot back at 10-under.
“The front nine I played really well and could have shot anything,” said Russell, who has never won on the Challenge Tour but claimed the 1996 Air France Cannes Open on The European Tour.
Russell, who missed almost all of last season with a debilitating virus, added: ”I’m happy and I’m pleased with the way I’m playing.”
* Ross Kellett is lying joint 12th on three-under-par 139 in this weekend's Alps Tour event in France, the Open International de la Mirabelle d'Or at Golf de La Grange aux Ormes.
The Motherwell rookie pro is seven shots off the lead, but Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) and Peterhead's Philip McLean both missed the cut.
* Ian Brotherston, of Dumfries & County, dropped three strokes in his final five holes to miss out on victory in the Welsh Senior Men's Open Championship.
Brotherston finished with a seven-over-par total of 217, three strokes behind Denham's Andrew Stracey and two adrift of John Ambridge of Moor Park.