McARTHUR BOOSTS CHANCES OF

WINNING PLACE ON EUROPEAN

TOUR NEXT SEASON

By MICHAEL GIBBONS

Challenge Tour Press Officer

Andrew McArthur finished top of the Scots at the European Challenge Tour’s FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge today, taking a share of sixth place at the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort.
The Windyhill professional, pictured right, carded a final round of two under 70 for a seven under par 209 total that secured the 28 year old a cheque for €3,445, moving him to 26th on the Challenge Tour Rankings.

The former Scottish amateur champion now has a real chance of winning a place on the 2008 European Tour as one of the top 20 players on the Challenge Tour money table at the end of the season in October.
Paul Doherty and Jamie McLeary finished in a tie for 29th place on three-under--par 213 in Wales after respective final round scores of 69 and 70.

Craig Lee finished joint 52nd on 216 with a sign-off score of 74.

Andrew Oldcorn withdrew from the final round.

The tournament was reduced from 72 to 54 holes because of the threat of bad weather.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72)

203 C Moriarty (Ire) 68 65 70.

206 F Aguilar (Chi) 70 67 69.

208 G Maybin (Ire) 73 68 67, C Smith (Wal) 69 73 77, L Westerberg (Swe) 75 69 64, J Zapata (Arg) 67 66 75.

Scots scores:

210 A McArthur 68 71 70 (jt 7th).

213 P Doherty 71 73 69, J McLeary 75 68 70 (jt 29th).

216 C Lee 74 68 74 (jt 52nd).