MURRAY URQUHART'S NORTHERN OPEN

POINTER IN BISHOPBRIGGS PRO-AM

In the last Tartan Tour event before this week's Northern Open, which tees off at Spey Valley golf course on Tuesday, Murray Urquhart, now based at the Dave Thomas-designed Aviemore course, was one of five players who tied on one-under-par 70 at the Bishopbriggs Golf Club pro-am today.

Urquhart, a former winner of the Northern Open and previously playing out of Inverness Golf Club, had his scored matched by Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), David Orr (East Renfrewshire) and Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle).

Each earned £673.

They finished two shots ahead of former Scottish PGA champion Mark Loftus (Cowglen), past British amateur champion Gordon Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie), Craig Ronald (Carluke) and Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design). Each earned £239.34.

There was also a squeaky tight finish to the pro-am team event with the card countback going down to the last six holes.

Winners with a net 58 were Ralston pro Greg Paxton's team of Colin Caldwell (handcap 4), Neil Caldwell (10) and Robert Williamson (13). Also with a net 58 but the "poorer" last six holes, were the Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) team of Chris Miles (6), Mike Maclocia (5) and Colin Chambers (5).

One of the lady amateurs playing in the pro-am, Anne Slater, who plays off a handicap of 12, had a hole in one at the 137yd 14th.

Pro-am results:

Par 71
Leading professionals

70 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Murray Urquhart (Spey Valley), Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) £673.94 each.

72 Mark Loftus (Cowglen), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Gordon Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) £239.34 each.

73 Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs GR), Stephen McNally (Scottish Institute of Sport), James McKinnon (Irvine), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL), Styeven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) £125.96 each.

74 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Gordon Simpson (Hilton Park), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Gordon Law (Uphall), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Greg Paxton (Ralson), Mark King (Kingsfield GC) £60.33 each.

75 Stuart Kerr (Strathaven) £53.76 each.

76 Peter Kerr (Hayston), Keith Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), Garry Forrester (St Andres Golf School), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Colin Gillies Perry Golf), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) £53.76 each.

77 Garry Harvey (Kinross), Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) £53.76 each.

78 Ewan Davie (Dunblane New), Scott Gillespie (Burntisland), Jonathan Lomas (unatt), Alastair MacKenzie (Duddingston), Ian Robertson (unatt) £53.76 each).

79 Scott Morrison (Acushnet Europe Ltd) £53.76.

80 Owen Leslie (Prestonfield), John Ruth (Gary Mitchell Golf) £53.76 each.

81 Alan Fleming (North Highland College) £53.76.

82 Jamie Stevenson (Braehead) £53.76.