ELLIOT CLOSES UP ON EUROPROTOUR

Elliot Saltman shot an eagle and five birdies in a second-round 66 to muscle his way into contention in this week's PGA EuroProTour event at Collingtree Park, Northampton.

The Lothians player had been trailing the leaders with an opening 71 but he almost closed the gap by moving to five-under-par 137, thanks to blistering halves of 34 and 32.

His eagle came at the 14th and his birdies at the third, sevnth,12th, 13th, 16th and 18th.

But for a couple of shots shed at the 11th and 15th, Saltman  would have been up alongside or even in front of the joint leaders, Englishmen Michael Hempstock (68-67) and Daniel Brooks (69-66) on nine-under-par 135.

Instead Elliot is in joint fourth place alongside another Englishman, Lloyd Kennedy (71-66)..

Aberdonian Graham Gordon fell away from a first-round 68 to a 74 to be in joint 22nd place on 142 alongside Cowal's Lorne Kelly (73-69).

Former Scottish boys match-play champion Paul Doherty is in joint 35th position with 71 and 73 for 144

 

Those with 145 or better for the first 36 holes survived the cut. Quite a few Scots did not.

LEADERBOARD

Par 144

135 Michael Hempstock (Eng) 68 67, Daniel Brooks (Eng) 69 66.

136 Tom Haylock (Eng) 69 67.

137 Elliot Saltman (Sco) 71 66, Lloyd Kennedy (Eng) 71 66.

Also:

142 Graham Gordon (Sco) 68 74, Lorne Kelly (Sco) 73 69 (jt 22nd).

144 Paul Doherty (Sco) 71 73 (jt 35th)

MISSED THE CUT (at 145 or better)

149 Graham Brown 73 76, Steven Mackie 78 71.

150 Jack Dohcerty 74 76, Mark Kerr 74 76.

151 Zack Saltman (am) 77 74, Neil Mitchell 78 73.

152 Jay Taylor 75 77.