Greig Hutcheon takes over
as top Scot at Cardrona

By PAUL SYMES, Challenger Tour Press Officer
A final hole birdie from Tyrone Ferreira saw the young South African join England’s Matthew Morris at the top of the leaderboard at the end of Day 2 of the Scottish Challenge.
Despite often attritional conditions at Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club near Peebles, Ferreira – who has finished in the top 20 in his last three Challenge Tour events – posted an eagle 2 in his round of 66 to join Morris on seven under par 135.
The Challenge Tour rookie, who hails from Johannesburg but is currently sharing a house in Manchester with fellow South African Branden Grace, said: “I’m not used to this sort of rain where I come from! It was also quite difficult to see the ball on the last few holes, so I’ve got to be pretty pleased with a 66. I haven’t got a Challenge Tour category, so I need to finish in the top ten here to get into next week’s tournament."
Morris’ return to the fairways after a two-year absence is starting to bear fruit after the Englishman shot a round of 68 for a share of the lead.
Since his maiden Challenge Tour victory at the 2004 Danish Open, a subsequent loss of form and financial difficulties saw Morris don a chauffeur’s cap in a bid to make ends meet. But a top ten finish might persuade the man from Birmingham to resume his golfing career in earnest.
He said: “I thought my win in Denmark in 2004 would really get my career going, but then I struggled with my game. Perhaps I wasn’t mature enough to handle it. But I went away to work on my swing for a couple of years, and it seems to be paying off.
"I worked as a chauffeur for my friend’s law firm in the meantime, which worked out perfectly because it meant I was able to drop my clients off for meetings in the morning and practise all day. I could feel my game together, and I’ve carried that confidence into this week.”
Ferreira and Morris lead by one shot from England’s Seve Benson, the Scandanavian duo of Klas Eriksson and Jeppe Huldahl, and leading Scot Greig Hutcheon (picture above by Cal Carson Golf Agency).
The Aberdeenshire man, who finished second at the Banque Populaire Moroccan Classic earlier in the season, carded four birdies en route to a round of 69.
His compatriot, Banchory amateur James Byrne was unable to reproduce the fireworks of the opening day, but the American college circuit teenager still carded a creditable round of one-over 72 to finish the day joint 10th on four under par 138, three shots off the lead.

LEADING TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
135 T Ferreira (RSA) 69 66, M Morris (Eng) 67 68.
136 S Benson (Eng) 68 68, K Eriksson (Swe) 67 69, J Huldahl (Den) 71 65, G Hutcheon (Sco) 67 69.
137 W Besseling (Ned) 69 68, C Doak (Sco) 67 70, P Streeter (Eng) 69 68.
138 L Bond (Wal) 70 68, T Remkes (Ned) 68 70, C Russell (Eng) 71 67, O Whiteley (Eng) 70 68, J Byrne (Sco) (am) 66 72.
Other halfway totals:
139 G Murray (Sco) 71 69(jt 15th).
140 J Doherty (Sco) 68 72, C Lee (Sco) 70 70 (jt 23rd).
142 S Henry (Sco) (am) 70 72, R Kellett (Sco) (am) 72 70, S O'Hara (Sco) 72 70 (jt 42nd).
143 E Ramsay (Sco) 72 71 (jt 55th)
MISSED THe CUT (143 or better)
All Scots players.
144 D Drysdale 76 68, S Jamieson 73 71, M Loftus 74 70.
145 B Hume 72 73, A Oldcorn 75 70, S McEwan (am) 76 69.
146 P McKechnie 76 70, J McLeary 74 72, L Saltman 76 70.
148 J Gallagher (am) 74 74, S Henderson 78 70, P McLean (am) 73 75, L Kelly 75 73, E Saltman 73 75.
150 M Kerr 76 74, R Russell 80 70.
151 G Brown 77 74.
154 G Lornie 75 79.
159 M Urquhart 77 82.