04/06/12
Scott Henry, one of four players to benefit from Scottish Golf Support Limited (SGSL) funding in 2012, continued his recent progress on the Challenge Tour after an excellent share of third place on the Canary Islands yesterday.
After a 10th place finish last month in Belgium, the Clydebank pro posted his best result of the season in the Fred Olsen Challenge de España, thanks to a closing 64.
At Tecina Golf in La Gomera, Henry finished with a 16-under-par total, just three shots behind Spanish winner Eduardo de la Riva.
The Scot produced a magnificent eagle on the 17th yesterday, but dropped a shot at the 18th to end his hopes of an even higher finish.
Henry banked almost £7,759 – the biggest cheque of his career – and has climbed to 21st place in the Challenge Tour rankings, just a spot behind top Scot Callum Macaulay of Tulliallan, another beneficiary of SGSL funding this year.
The 25-year-old graduated from the Alps Tour last season, where he claimed a maiden professional win in Austria, and is now relishing a first full season on the second-tier Challenge Tour circuit.
Henry, the former Scottish Stroke Play champion and two-time Scottish Boys champion, said: “It’s another good finish. I got a bad break at the last and I’m sure it will even out over the season.”
Round-up
* On the Alps Tour, rookie Motherwell pro Ross Kellett also continued his form in 2012.
The former SGU Men’s Squad player shared third place in the Open de Saint-Francois in Guadeloupe yesterday, finishing at nine-under-par.
Kellett struck rounds of 67, 68, 73 and 67, but still trailed English winner Jack Senior by 12 shots.
Ross has moved to fifth place in the Alps Tour standings as he seeks to graduate up the professional circuits.
* Paul Lawrie’s bid for a second Ryder Cup appearance continued with another top-15 finish on The European Tour at the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
The Aberdonian, whose Foundation sponsor the Scottish Boys Championship, posted a final-round 70 at Celtic Manor for a level par total and a share of 14th, six shots behind winner Thongchai Jaidee.
Lawrie remains second on the European Ryder Cup Points List and fifth in the Race to Dubai rankings.
It was Lawrie’s eighth top-15 finish in a highly productive season. David Drysdale also posted a second successive top-15 on tour to be the top Scot in Wales.
* Elliot Saltman produced a strong closing run of holes to claim joint-second place at the Ulster Bank Open at Ballymena.
The Archerfield Links player fired a 67 to end on 11-under and a tie with Derbyshire’s George Woolgar (69).
Fellow Englishman Paul Reed won the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Galgorm Castle on 12-under. Comrie’s Wallace Booth was joint 15th on five-under after a 69.