ELLIOT SURVIVES PLAY-OFF

AS NINE SCOTS ADVANCE TO

EUROPRO FINAL Q SCHOOL

Craigielaw’s Elliot Saltman, the oldest of the three talented Saltman brothers, came through a six-man play-off to be the ninth Scot among the 37 qualifiers at Fulford Golf Club, York today for next week’s PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.
Saltman (pictured right), still an amateur, and fellow Scots Craig Matheson, the Falkirk Tryst professional, and Garmouth amateur Steve Mann tied on 152 with three Englishmen after 36 holes.
Saltman scored 75 and 77, Mathieson 77 and 75 and Mann 75 and 77.
Three players had to be eliminated in the play-off. Saltman made it through but Mathieson and Mann did not.
Top Scot at this, one of four Stage 1 qualifying venues, was young Inchmarlo Golf Centre assistant professional Paul Cormack. He scored 68 and 72 for joint second place on four-under-par 140, despite starting his second round with three bogeys.
Cormack earned a cheque for £225 behind the venue winner, Irishman Brendan McCarroll who collected £300 for rounds of 66 and 72 for six-under-par 138.

EYEMOUTH AMATEUR MAKES IT
The other Scots to advance from Fulford were Eyemouth amateur Thomas Higson (68-77) and Ricky Gray (Torrance House) (72-73), both on 145, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) (74-72) on 146, Alastair Mackenzie (Liberton) (75-74) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (71-78), both on 149, Chris Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) (73-77) on 150, and Ian Simpson (Fulford) on 151 (78-73).
Scots who were eliminated alongwith Mathieson and Mann were Downfield amateur Robert Taylor on 153 (80-73), Carnoustie’s Lee Vannet (76-78) and David Roger (Windyhill) (77-77), both on 154, Balbirnie Park amateur Gary Page (79-76) on 155, amateur Greg Watson on 157 (83-74) and another amateur, Hamish McAndrew (Marriott Dalmahoy) on 163 with 78 and 85.

FULFORD
Leading qualifiers:
136 B McCarroll (Ireland) 66 72.
140 T Maddison (Castle Eden) 67 73, P Cormack (Inchmarlo) 68 72.
Other Scottish qualifiers:
145 T Higson (Eyemouth) (am) 68 77, R Gray (Torrance House) 72 73.
146 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 72.
149 A Mackenzie (Liberton) 75 74, L Harper (Archerfield Links) 71 78.
150 C Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo) 73 77.
151 I Simpson (Fulford) 78 73.
152 (after play-off) E Saltman (Craigielaw) (am) 75 77.
Scots who failed to qualify:
152 (after play-off) C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst0 77 75, S Mann (Garmouth) 75 77.
153 R Taylor (Downfield) (am) 80 73./
154 L Vannet (Carnoustie) 76 78, D Roger (Windyhill) 77 77.
155 G Page (Balbirnie Park) (am) 79 76.
157 G Watson (Scotland) (am) 83 74.
163 H McAndrew (Marriott Dalmahoy) (am) 78 75.