CAMPBELL, MITCHELL LEADING

SCOTS ON FIRST DAY OF PGA

EUROPRO TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

Grantown-on-Spey's Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo) and Aberdonian Neil Mitchell, playing out of Murcar Links, were the leading Scots in the huge field for the start of the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.

Campbell, pictured right, playing over the Blue Course, shared the lead with Spaniard Ismael Castillo on two-under-par 69 which had birdies at the first, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th in halves of 35 and 34. Christopher bogeyed the second, third and 18th.

Also over the Blue Course, former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) from Musselburgh, had a 72.
Neil Mitchell shot a two-under-par 71 over the Red Course to be lying ninth equal behind English leader Colin Roope who had a six-under-par 67 to lead by two shots.
Next Scot in the hit parade is Ricky Gray (Torrance House) with a 72 to be sharing 14th place.
Graeme Brown from Montrose in is joint 32nd place with a one-over-par 74.
On 75 - and sharing 48th place - are Calum Nicoll from Prestwick, Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) and the Eyemouth amateur who did so well in the Stage 1 qualifying, Thomson Higson. He is still playing as an amateur by the way.
Scot Jay Taylor - home golf club not listed - had a 76 for be joint 63rd.
Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw), who squeezed through last week's Fulford qualifier in a six-man play-off and turned pro on Monday, had a disappointing four-over 77 to be sharing 74th place.
Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) and Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) had 79 apiece.
Tartan Tour player and former Scottish assistants champion Chris Kelly, eighth in last season's PGA Scottish Region Order of Merit, played well below form to return an 80 and have 106 players ahead of him going into Round Two.

LEADERBOARD

RED COURSE

Par 71
67 Colin Roope (Eng).
69 Richard Beadles (Brampton Park), James Busby (The Shropshire), Jeremy Martin (Richings Park), Tim Rice (Limerick).
70 Alex Smith (Pyle & Kenfig), Neil Vowles (Burton on Trent), Francis McGuirk (Princes).
71 Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links), Matthew Dearden (Wal), Tom Haylock (The Hertfordshire), Sam Osborne (Wentworth), Russell Smith (Sutton Coldfield).
72 Andrew Jones (Ladbrook Park (am), Matthew McGuire (Stoneleigh Deel Park), Paul Lowey (Castletown) (am), Steve Samsome (Kilworth Springs) (am), Ricky Gray (Torrance House), Clive Bowler (Southfield), Robert Bury (East Sussex National).
73 Stephen Dixon (Maltacourt), Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill), Padraig Dooley (Cork), Richard Wheatley (Bingley St Ives), Adam Constable (Cardiff), Craig Humphrey (Basingstoke) (am), Tim Butler (Donnington), Paul Reed (Bristol & Clifton), Mark Staunton (Black Bush), Chris Gray (La Manga), Benjamin Millar (North Oxford) (am).
74 Robert Perrett (Clevedon), Roy Holland (Long Ashton), David Hutton (High Post), Chris Crowder (Eccleston Park), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Terry Brushwood (Hollins Hall), Daniel Perrett (Clevedon), Andy Smith (Chart Hills), Chris Sands (Surrenda Link).
Darren Henley (Stoneham), Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan), David Porter (Wellow), Justin Kehoe (Ire), Stuart Fee (Eng), Gary Cullen (Ire), Liam Clarke (West Middlesex).
Other Scots scores:
75 Callum Nicoll (Prestwick), Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester), Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) (am).
76 Jay Taylor (Sco).
77 Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw).
79 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst0.
80 Chris Kelly (Cawder).

BLUE COURSE

Par 71

69 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo), Ismael Castillo (Spa).

70 Neil Rowlands (Chipping Norton), John Paul (Moor Hall) (am), Todd Nicholson (NZ), John Spagnuloo (The Hertfordshire), Tommy Hunter (Crowlands Heath).

Other Scots scores:

72 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (jt 14th).

73 Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) (jt 24th).

74 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) (jt 33rd).

75 Chris Farr (Bransford), Chris Russell (Dunbar) (jt 48th).

81 Ian Simpson (Fulford) (jt 113th).