Fog reduces Craigmillar Park Open to 64 holes

TITLE-DOUBLE CHASER SALTMAN

IS ONE SHOT AHEAD WITH TWO

ROUNDS TO PLAY ON SUNDAY

Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman , pictured right, is on course to become only the third player to achieve victories in both the big early-season tournaments on the Scottish amateur golf circuit.

Last weekend the Craigielaw 21-year-old won the Scottish champion of champions' title at Leven and tomorrow he starts the final two rounds of the Craigmillar Park Open with three bright young prospects, Steven McEwan (Caprington), Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and Scott Henry (Cardross) snapping at his heels.

Fog delayed the start of play by 2 ½ hr at the Edinburgh venue and meant there was not enough time left for all 78 players to complete two 18-hole circuits even though it was a gloriously warm and sunny day after the fog eventually disappeared in mid-morning.

The organisers decided to cut the second round to the first 10 holes on the course.

Saltman's first-round, four-under-par 66 left him three shots behind leader Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), last year's Scottish amateur match-play champion, but the truncated second round was still long enough for Lloyd to turn the tables on Kevin.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Saltman, who credits playing in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships in March with putting an edge on his game a month or two ahead of his usual schedule, got an eagle 2 at the 295yd eighth, and birdies at the first and third with only one bogey, at the fifth.

He returned a score of three-under-par 36 for the 10 holes. That hoisted him to the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 102.

In contract, McAlpine could add only one birdie, at the second, to the nine he achieved in his opening 63, and he bogeyed the first, fourth, fifth and ninth on his way to three-over 42.

Kevin thus sagged into a share of third place on 105 with former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire), Aberdonian Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord), David Miller (Kilmacolm) and North-east of England challenger Craig Wilkinson (Blyth).

Ross Kellett (Colville Park), who finished joint third in the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship behind Scott Henry last year, slipped past that bunch by following up a 66 with 38 for the 10 holes, giving him a six-under-par tally of 103.

McEWAN NARROWS LEAD

Then, in the last three to finish after 8pm, Steven McEwan, the 2005 Scottish boys' stroke-play champion, narrowed the lead to one shot with 65 and 38 for 103 and Scott Henry (Cardross), last year's Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play title-winner, joined Kellett in joint third place with 66 and 38 for 104.

A total of 31 players with 28-hole tallies of 110 or better qualified for Sunday's final two rounds.

Barring a return of the fog, the first players tee off at 8am and 12.30.

The leading groups tee off as follows:

9.23 & 1.53: C Wilkinson & K McAl;ine.

9.30 & 2.0: B Edmond & C Watson.

9.38 & 2.08: D Miller & D Miller.

9.45 & 2.15: S Henry & R Kellett.

9.52 & 2.22: S McEwan & L Saltman.

SECOND-ROUND AGGREGATES

Second round reduced to 10 holes because fog delayed play at start of day.

Par 109 (70+39). CSS 70

102 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 66 36.

103 S McEwan (Caprington) 65 38.

104 R Kellett (Colville Park) 66 38, S Henry (Cardross) 66 38.

105 D Miller (Kilmacolm) 65 40, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 66 39, B Edmond (Bon Accord) 67 38, K McAlpine (Alyth) 63 42, C Wilkinson (Blyth) 65 40, D Miller (Duddingston) 66 39.

106 C Heslip (Monifieth) 71 35, S Armstrong (Turnhouse) 71 35, G Dear (Murrayshall) 67 39, M Kerr (Craigielaw) 69 37.

107 M Clarke (Kilmacolm) 75 32, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 37, A Lynch (Glenbervie) 67 40, S Neilsen (Craigmillar Park) 69 38, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 69 38.

108 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 65 43, P Betty (Hayston) 70 38, G Mitchell (Northern) 70 38.

109 P McLean (Peterhead) 68 41, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 73 36, J King (Glasgow) 71 38, R Bell (Downfield) 70 39.

110 C Swanston (Uphall) 72 38, S Hume (Murrayshall) 71 39, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 37, B Soutar (Leven GS) 71 39.

MISSED CUT

111 R Noon (Longniddry) 71 40, K Reilly (Silverknowes) 74 37, D Yeats (Newmachar) 71 40.

112 S Wilson (Forfar) 73 39, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 39, J Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 73 39, A Main (Thornton) 73 39, M Cameron (Alyth) 71 41, I Munro (Stirling) 72 40, G Robertson (Silverknowes) 71 41..

113 K Smyth (Windyhill) 74 39, S Graham (Blairgowrie) 74 39, K Mail (Craigmillar Park) 71 42, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 74 39, R Anderson (Duddingston) 73 40, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 70 43, S Borrowman (Dollar) 71 42.

114 I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 74 40, K Young (Glencorse) 73 41, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 71 43, M Greig (Bon Accord) 73 41, S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 71 43.

115 A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 72 43, K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 74 41, A Aitlafkih (Ivory Coast) 76 39, R McKnight (Barassie) 73 42.

116 D Henderson (Hamilton) 72 44, B Moore (Largs) 75 41.

117 J White jun (Lundin) 77 40, D Martin (Alyth) 71 46, M Main (Thornton) 74 43.

118 S Mann (Carnoustie) 75 43, D Gillespie (Craigmillar Park) 80 38, C Harper (Lenzie) 74 44.

119 C Colraine (Windyhill) 73 46, D Elder (Carnoustie) 83 38.

120 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 75 45.

122 G Thomson (Moray) 80 42.

124 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 81 43.

Retired during first round: J Gallagher (Swanston), M Buchan (Cruden Bay), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs).Withdrew after first round: B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) 77 -, G Robertson (Ravenspark) 79 -.

No Returns: B Young (Harrison) 74 NR, D Hultson (Dollar) 76 NR, P Logan (Craigmillar Park) 76 NR.