LLOYD SALTMAN NOW JOINT 12th AT

ASIAN TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

Rookie professional Lloyd Saltman is "motoring" now as the Asian Tour Final Qualifying School enters its fourth and decisive round on Saturday in Malaysia.

The "Craigielaw Kid" has shot ever-improving rounds of 73, 68 and 67 to be in joint 12th place at eight-under-par 208 after three days of the eliminator to decide the leading 40 players and ties who will gain playing rights for the 2008 Asian Tour.

Lloyd's older brother Elliot is, unfortunately, going the other way. He has scored 70, 71 and 73 for two-under-par 214 and a share of 57th place with Scottish exile Simon Dunn.

The leading 40 and ties are, at the moment, on three-under-par 213 or better. So Elliot and Simon are walking the tightrope in the final round. They need, somehow, to improve their overall position to four-under-par just to be on the safe side. Fingers crossed for them back in Scotland.

Dunfermline exile Ross Bain is bang on the limit mark of three-under 213 after scores of 73, 70 and 70. He is vastly experienced in Asian conditions unlike the Saltman brothers.

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 216 (3 x 72)

200 Ben Leong (Malaysia) 63 66 71.

202 Steven Tan (Malaysia) 71 69 62

204 Wu Ashun (China) 68 68 68, Jerome Delariarte (Philippines) 71 65 68, Steven Tiley (England) 68 67 69.

205 Mark Mouland (Wales) 67 68 70.

Other scores:

208 Lloyd Saltman (Scotland) 73 68 67 (jt 12th).

213 Ross Bain (Scotland) 73 70 70 (jt 40th).

214 Simon Dunn (Scotland) 68 74 72, Elliot Saltman (Scotland) 70 71 73 (jt 57th).

THREE-UNDER-PAR LOOKS LIKE BEING CUT OFF

POINT FOR GAINING ASIAN TOUR CARD

FROM THE ASIAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Kota Kinabalu, December 14: Sabah-born Ben Leong of Malaysia needed to draw on the sort of experience he had gained from playing on the Asian Tour to claw his way back into the lead at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Finals today.
Thanks to a closing eagle in the third round, Leong, who topped the qualifying school last year, battled to a one-under-par 71 for a 12-under-par 200 aggregate to take a two stroke lead over fellow compatriot Steven Tan, going into the final round on Saturday.
Malaysia’s Tan made headlines at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country when he raced back into contention after returning with the day’s best score of 62 while China’s Wu Ashun, Steven Tiley of England and Jerome Delariarte of the Philippines are all tied in third after recording matching 204s.
Leong endured a moderate start when he allowed two costly bogeys on the third and eight holes to set him back for 38 on the turn.
“I endured a sloppy start as I three putted the third and eighth holes. But I managed to bounce back on the back nine with a nice three foot birdie putt on the 13th hole and the eagle on the 18th,” said Leong.
“I am still in the lead but it’s good to see a fellow Malaysian up there too with Steven who ripped it today with a 10 under score. I was a little bit nervous on the front nine and I was pushing too hard but I decided to go on my own pace and it paid off with my good run on my last nine holes,” added Leong.
Tan began the day 11 strokes off the lead but produced one of his best comeback performances highlighted by eight birdies and an eagle.
Tan came out of the blocks in a blistering pace with an opening birdie and continued his rich vein of form by sinking the next hole with an eagle from a difficult approach.
“I birdied the first hole to start and then eagle the next and I was already thinking what’s going on here. It has been coming for a long time. Everything that I did just went right today. When you shoot 62 everything goes well,” said a jubilant Tan.
Rising Chinese hotshot Wu Ashun kept up the pace with the leaders after another steady 204 allowed him to stand a chance of making his maiden appearance on the Asian Tour next season.
“I played very well on my opening front nine and had a steady back-nine. Five birdies against a lone bogey today. I feel that I had a very consistent game today,” said Wu who credits Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit winner Liang Wen-chong as his role model and mentor.
American duo of Roy Moon and Clay Devers were among those right on the bubble in joint 40th position after firing matching 71s for a 213 total at the Sabah Golf and Country Club.
“I played alright but my putting was horrendous. If I can get into a good position and fire a 68 or even a 69 tomorrow, I can secure my place in the top-40. Putting for me will be the key when I tee off tomorrow at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.
“I’ve got to make those 15 footers tomorrow as it is the final charge in securing my full playing rights on the Asian Tour,” said Devers.

About Sabah Golf and Country Club
The Sabah Golf and Country Club is the oldest 18-hole course in the State and it was officially opened for play in 1976. It is highly regarded as one of the top golfing destinations in South East Asia offering undulating fairways and large water hazards which will test every aspect of a golfers game. The course was re-designed by Robert Muir Graves as he turned the jungle into a top class golfing venue. The club called in Nelson & Haworth Golf Architects Pte Ltd in 2003 for re-design work on its greens to ensure that the conditions are kept at its best.

About Sutera Harbour Resort
Sutera Harbour Resort is strategically showcased on the shores of the South China Sea with the majestic Mt. Kinabalu as its backdrop. It is located just 10 minutes away from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and 5minutes into the city centre. Sutera Harbour Resort encompasses the 5-star accommodation of The Pacific Sutera, The Magellan Sutera and Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf & Country Club. Sutera Harbour Resort’s status as a unique leisure attraction is augmented by its affiliation to the North Borneo Railway vintage steam train and the eco-resorts of the five Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.