O'HARA NOW SECOND BEST SCOT IN WAGR

Kris Nicol's win at Peterhead

lifts him 39 places in R&A

World Amateur Rankings

Fraserburgh Golf Club greenkeeper Kris Nicol's victory in the North-east District Open at Peterhead on Sunday has lifted him 39 places in the new list of R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings. Nicol, 25, who beat home-course player Philip McLean in a play-off, is now 775th. McLean has gone up 18 places to No 352. Nicol will be defending the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship at Lossiemouth this coming weekend when McLean will also be in the field. Banchory's James Byrne, who did not defend his title in the North-east District Open, has fallen back from second best Scot behind Murrayshall's Gavin Dear - still 12th - to fourth with Walker Cup reserve Paul O'Hara, ranked 85, now the second leading Scot, ahead of Ross Kellett (91st) and Byrne (93rd). Walker Cup team selection Wallace Booth is the fifth best Scot in 157th position. Scots in updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings (with movement from last week in brackets): 12 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) (0). 85 Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) (+1). 91 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (+4). 93 James Byrne (Banchory) (-10). 157 Wallace Booth (Comrie) (-7). 179 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) (-9). 190 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck (-6). 265 James White (Lundin) (+11). 274 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) (-4). 352 Philip McLean (Peterhead) (+18). 354 David Law (Hazlehead) (+21). 367 Steven McEwan (Caprington) (-3). 377 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) (+17). 379 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) (+2). Other Scots: 502 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) (+2). 508 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) (-1). 579 Peter Latimer (St Andrews) (-1)_. 625 James Ross (Royal Burgess) (+65). 628 Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) (-7). 656 Paul Ferrier (Baberton) (-2). 696 Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) (+7). 775 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (+39). 792 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) (-8). +Kris Nicol is pictured above with his North-east District Open championship trophies. In answer to some readers' queries about why he is holding two trophies - one if the championship trophy, the other is the award for being the leading player from the North-east District. The R&A WAGR leaders are: 1 Nick Taylor (Canada). 2 Morgan Hoffman (US). 3 Matt Hill (Canada). 4 Matteo Manassero (Italy). 5 Rickie Fowler (US). 6 Sam Hutsby (England). 7 Nicol Van Wyk (South Africa). 8 Luke Goddard (England).