EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

Lloyd Saltman one of four Scots to

beat the cut in Telnet Trophy

From Steve Todd, European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Welshman Stuart Manley has a one-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the Telenet Trophy after recovering from a double bogey on the third hole to post a three under par 69 at Royal Waterloo, near Brussels in Belgium.

Four Scots survived the cut at 145 (one over par) or better - Raymond Russell (141), Andrew McArthur (142), Scott Henry (144) and, hopefully a turning point for him, Lloyd Saltman (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, also on 144.
Manley pitched in with a lob wedge from 90 yards for an eagle on the eighth hole and finished with back-to-back birdies to move to nine under par 135.
Frenchman François Calmels also signed for a 69 to lie a shot behind Manley on eight under par with England’s Andrew Butterfield a further stroke back after shooting an impressive 67, the joint lowest round of the day.
Joint overnight leader Manley, who is playing in his first European Challenge Tour event of the season, admitted he was still not at the top of his game but was happy to be heading into the weekend in such a strong position.
“I played quite nice today but I still had to scramble a lot,” he said. “I played better today but didn’t score as well as the 66 yesterday when I wasn’t happy with my swing.
“I would definitely have taken a 69 before I teed off and it was nice to be out early as I think the wind might get up.
“I had a double bogey on the third when the spotter could see my ball and then a couple of scrambles but the eagle on the eighth came after a bogey and got me back on track as I was one over par at that point.”
The 30 year old from Aberdare entered the Telenet Trophy looking to boost his confidence ahead of next week’s Celtic Manor Wales Open after a slow start to the season on The European Tour but said a victory at Royal Waterloo could see him play more on the Challenge Tour.
“My schedule obviously depends what happens here,” he said. “I’ve not been playing too well at the start of the season and had a couple of weeks off so I came here really to get my game together.
“I played in an event on Monday in Wales against some local professionals and played better and putted really well so that gave me a boost coming here.”
Calmels also felt his 69, played in windy conditions, was better than his opening day 67 and he is looking forward to challenging for his first title at the weekend – after watching his girlfriend Jade Schaeffer capture her own maiden Ladies European Tour win last week.
“I’m hoping I can also win like Jade,” he said. “I knew my first nine today would be hard with the wind so I was pleased to reach the turn level for the day and then I knew I would have birdie chances after that. I was three under for my back nine so I’m happy.
“To be eight under par after the second day is great and I’m hoping for a good weekend. It was a better round today and my long game is very good at the moment.”
England’s Robert Coles, winner in Morocco last month, and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, the highest placed home player, also shot rounds of 67 and will start the weekend in tied fourth and tied ninth respectively.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2 x 72)

+72 players with scores of 145 (+1) or better made the cut.

135 S Manley (Wal) 66 69,
136 F Calmels (Fra) 67 69,
137 A Butterfield (Eng) 70 67,
138 C Rodiles (Esp) 67 71, R Coles (Eng) 71 67,
139 A Tampion (Aus) 71 68, D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 70, S Walker (Eng) 70 69,
140 P Purhonen (Fin) 68 72, P O'Keeffe (Irl) 72 68, R Swane (Ned) 66 74, R McEvoy (Eng) 69 71, N Colsaerts (Bel) 73 67, J Etulain (Arg) 71 69, R Muntz (Ned) 69 71, S Thornton (Irl) 70 70, R Steiner (Aut) 70 70,
141 C Russo (Fra) 74 67, R Russell (Sco) 70 71, M Tullo (Chi) 71 70, B Pettersson (Swe) 71 70, J Clément (Sui) 71 70, M Kramer (Ger) 72 69, J Abbate (Arg) 70 71, G Paddison (Nzl) 68 73,
142 A McArthur (Sco) 70 72, F Praegant (Aut) 68 74, O David (Fra) 70 72, J Arruti (Esp) 69 73, J Ruth (Eng) 71 71,
143 A Bruschi (Ita) 71 72, T Cruz (Por) 76 67, B Evans (Eng) 70 73, C Carranza (Arg) 72 71, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 70, D Griffiths (Eng) 74 69, C Gane (Eng) 68 75,
144 M Morris (Eng) 69 75, J Larsen (Nor) 73 71, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 70 74, J Lima (Por) 73 71, T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 75, T Feyrsinger (Aut) 74 70, N Fox (Irl) 73 71, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 73, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 71 73, J Colomo (Esp) 75 69, C Günther (Ger) 72 72, V Riu (Fra) 69 75, M Wiegele (Aut) 71 73, P Bocian (Swe) 70 74, M Jurgensen (Den) 74 70, A Gee (Eng) 71 73, L Saltman (Sco) 71 73, S Henry (Sco) 70 74, A Hansen (Den) 72 72, D Ulrich (Sui) 72 72,
145 B Etchart (Esp) 75 70, C Suneson (Esp) 77 68, G Shaw (Nir) 70 75, K Brink (Swe) 73 72, A Marshall (Eng) 70 75, A Ahokas (Fin) 73 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 73, C Moriarty (Irl) 73 72, P Gustafsson (Swe) 74 71, R De Sousa (Sui) 73 72, B Hebert (Fra) 77 68, A Haindl (RSA) 76 69, A Högberg (Swe) 73 72, A Wagner (Arg) 71 74, S Robinson (Eng) 71 74,
MISSED THE CUT

146 P Baker (Eng) 73 73, B Miarka (Ger) 73 73, F De Vries (Ned) 74 72, G Molteni (Ita) 69 77, J Moul (Eng) 72 74, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 77 69, E Molinari (Ita) 75 71, C Brazillier (Fra) 73 73, N Joakimides (Fra) 69 77, B Mason (Eng) 73 73, G Watremez (Bel) 71 75, L Brovold (Nor) 78 68, S Bebb (Wal) 74 72, I Pyman (Eng) 73 73, A Zanini (Ita) 72 74, G Gresse (Bel) 75 71, L James (Eng) 75 71,
147 M Cort (Eng) 74 73, P Relecom (Bel) 79 68, N Smith (USA) 75 72, N Meitinger (Ger) 73 74, G Houston (Wal) 72 75, P Whiteford (Sco) 73 74, S Delagrange (Fra) 75 72, L Bond (Wal) 77 70, J Little (Eng) 73 74, A Grenier (Fra) 71 76,
148 J Theunis (Bel) 77 71, J Granberg (Fin) 76 72, D Küpper (Ger) 75 73, J Morrison (Eng) 72 76, M Higley (Eng) 74 74, M Zions (Aus) 73 75, M Haastrup (Den) 74 74, M Rodriguez (Arg) 74 74, M Rominger (Sui) 73 75, D De Vooght (Bel) 73 75, T De Kesel (Bel) 77 71,
149 R Kind (Ned) 74 75, C Monasterio (Arg) 74 75, J Guerrier (Fra) 73 76, J Billot (Fra) 75 74, S Grant (Irl) 75 74, Q De Valensart (Bel) 72 77, D Van Doren (am) (Bel) 76 73, X Feyaerts (am) (Bel) 75 74,
150 N Maestroni (Ita) 77 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 73 77, A Snobeck (Fra) 77 73, J Quesne (Fra) 71 79, F Colombo (Ita) 74 76, G Murray (Sco) 75 75,
151 M McGeady (Irl) 73 78, K Sullivan (Wal) 76 75, G Hutcheon (Sco) 77 74, J Bjerhag (Swe) 77 74, A Bernadet (Fra) 72 79, J Forestier (Fra) 79 72, M Reale (Ita) 77 74, A Murray (Irl) 75 76, 152 T Dykes (Wal) 74 78, K Jorgensen (Den) 77 75, I Garcia (Esp) 78 74, B Wiesberger (Aut) 75 77, R Hie (Ina) 76 76,
153 J Parron (Esp) 75 78, J Relecom (am) (Bel) 75 78, C Mivis (am) (Bel) 78 75,
154 A Willey (Eng) 80 74, T Pieters (am) (Bel) 75 79,
155 T Carolan (Aus) 78 77, Y Benchetrit (Fra) 76 79, M Griffiths (Wal) 77 78, S Reale (Ita) 80 75,
156 M Willems (Bel) 76 80,
157 D Marmion (Eng) 79 78, L Richard (Bel) 75 82, A Mörk (Fra) 78 79,
160 C Lauwers (am) (Bel) 81 79,

** J Zapata (Arg) 73 RETD, M Pilkington (Wal) 83 W/D, R Santos (Por) 74 W/D, A Bossert (Sui) 78 RETD, B Alvarado (Chi) 73 RETD,

Milka Singh and Lorenzo-Vera share

halfway lead in European Open

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Jeev Milkha Singh and Michael Lorenzo-Vera were the halfway leaders at the European Open at the London Club in Kent after both men shot three-under par 69s today to sit eight under for the tournament.
Lorenzo-Vera's fellow Frenchman Christian Cevaer is a shot further back along with England's Anthony Wall.
Wall's playing partner Shane Lowry finished seven over par to miss the cut on his professional debut after winning the Irish Open while Oliver Wilson, Angel Cabrera and John Daly will also miss the weekend.
Singh was out in the afternoon in windy conditions and his 69 was a superb effort, although after chipping in at the short 17th he bogeyed the last.
Not that that was a disgrace. With water down the left there were 6s, 7s and 8s galore - and one of the 6s was by world No 4 Sergio Garcia as he went from two under to level par.
Lorenzo-Vera won the "second division" Challenge Tour two years ago and was second in the China Open last season, but a small boy in Dubai will remember him for something very different - he gave him his whole set of irons at the Desert Classic in January.
"Usually I break the clubs when I am angry, so Raphael Jacquelin told me one day 'Instead of breaking it, just give it'," he said. "The boy asked for an autograph and I said 'I have better for you'. He was a very happy little boy."
The 24-year-old was much more satisfied with his equipment on Friday, not dropping a shot and picking up birdies at the 12th, 16th and fourth for a 69.
Defending champion Ross Fisher missed the cut by one shot as he finished on two-over.
At one over Lee Westwood just survived despite also taking 6 on the 18th - his ninth - and the wind saved Colin Montgomerie too. When he finished on level par at lunchtime the Ryder Cup captain thought he was out, but in the end he made it with one shot to spare.
Eight Scots in all made the cut with 36-hole tallies of one-over-par 145 and better - Chris Doak, leading the Tartan Army on 140, Montgomerie, Gary Orr, David Drysdale, Richie Ramsay, Callum Macaulay, Paul Lawrie and Steven O'Hara.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 69, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 69
137 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 67 70, Anthony Wall 68 69
138 Anders Hansen (Den) 65 73, Jamie Donaldson 68 70, Peter Lawrie 67 71, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 68
139 Peter Hanson (Swe) 66 73, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69 70, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 73
140 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 69 71, Chris Doak 68 72
141 Anton Haig (Rsa) 68 73, Steve Webster 69 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 67 74, Ben Curtis (USA) 68 73, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 71 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 70, Tano Goya (Arg) 69 72, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71 70, Sam Little 66 75, Ross McGowan 70 71, Bradley Dredge 72 69
142 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 69 73, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 68 74, Rory McIlroy 69 73, Chris Wood 69 73, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 75, Shaun Micheel (USA) 71 71, Oliver Fisher 71 71
143 Gary Orr 71 72, Graeme McDowell 70 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 67 76, David Horsey 68 75, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 72, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 68 75, Simon Khan 67 76, Callum Macaulay 71 72, David Drysdale 72 71, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 72, Taco Remkes (Ned) 70 73
144 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 73, Richie Ramsay 74 70, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 75, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 75, Colin Montgomerie 70 74, Branden Grace (Rsa) 69 75, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 74, Graeme Storm 68 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 74, Paul Lawrie 73 71, Markus Brier (Aut) 72 72, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 67 77, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 68 76
145 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 70 75, Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 70 75, Roope Kakko (Fin) 69 76, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 74, Paul Waring 70 75, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 71 74, Steven O'Hara 71 74, Johan Edfors (Swe) 71 74, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 70, Stephen Dodd 75 70, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 69 76, Mark Foster 73 72, Paul McGinley 70 75, Lee Westwood 70 75
MISSED THE CUT
146 Ross Fisher 73 73, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 73 73, David Howell 70 76, John Bickerton 72 74, David Lynn 72 74, Seve Benson 71 75, Richard Finch 74 72, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 72 74, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 71 75
147 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 70 77, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 66 81, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 75 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 75, Danny Willett 72 75, David Frost (Rsa) 74 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 73 74, Wil Besseling (Ned) 73 74, John Daly (USA) 71 76, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 73, Pablo Martin (Spa) 75 72, Richard Bland 70 77, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 72 75, Stephen Gallacher 73 74, Richard Green (Aus) 73 74, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 73
148 Damien McGrane 74 74, Gary Murphy 75 73, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 74 74, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 72 76, Alastair Forsyth 71 77, Nick Dougherty 72 76
149 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 73 76, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 74 75, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 73 76, Benn Barham 73 76, Gareth Maybin 74 75, Oliver Wilson 71 78, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 72 77, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 76 73, Simon Wakefield 71 78, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 73 76, David Dixon 73 76, Phillip Archer 75 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 79
150 Zane Scotland 75 75, Phillip Price 77 73, Scott Drummond 72 78, David Gilford 79 71, Darren Clarke 74 76, Gary Lockerbie 73 77, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 78, Gregory Havret (Fra) 76 74
151 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72 79, Shane Lowry 78 73, Jason McCreadie 76 75, Kenneth Ferrie 76 75, Michael Hoey 73 78, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 75 76
152 Robert Dinwiddie 76 76, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 78 74, Andrew Coltart 75 77, Scott Strange (Aus) 77 75, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 80, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 71 81, Barry Lane 76 76
153 Anthony Kang (USA) 72 81, Lee Slattery 71 82, Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 74 79
154 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 77 77, Marc Warren 79 75, James Ablett 73 81, Peter Senior (Aus) 73 81, Simon Dyson 79 75
155 Robert Rock 74 81, Andrew Oldcorn 76 79, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 80 75, Paul Broadhurst 73 82, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 83
156 Alan McLean 76 80, Mark Brown (Nzl) 77 79, Miles Tunnicliff 72 84, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 76 80
157 Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 79 78, Scott Arnold (Hkg) 79 78, Reinier Saxton (Ned) 84 73
158 Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 74 84

George Ryall wins

Senior title by five

from Bill Lockie

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA
George Ryall underlined his class at Northants County Golf Club today when he outplayed the rest of the field to win the Senior PGA Club Professional Championship by all of five shots.
In his rookie year as a senior, the 50-year-old from Bristol, having begun the day two strokes ahead of defending champion, Bill Lockie, eventually pulled away, thanks to a rampant inward half which gave up four birdies in five holes from the 12th.
That finally added up to a two-under 68 for an aggregate of 208.
“This win means so much to me, especially in my first year as a senior,” said Ryall. “They’re all my peer group or players whom I’ve looked up to for years.”
Another major benefit is the ‘leg-up’ his victory gives him in gaining access to the European Senior Tour – “That’s where I want to be.”
He’ll now tee up with the top elder statesmen of the Continent’s 50-and-over players at Northumberland’s Slaley Hall in a month’s time in the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.
Lockie, partnering the eventual winner, made a robust defence of his title, taking second place on 213 after a final round of 71. The Scot actually wiped out the two-shot gap after the opening hole, where Ryall went through the back of the green, while Lockie chipped in for a birdie.
But Ryall was unstoppable. After two-putting every green from the second to the 11th, he caught fire, hitting the short 12th to 10 feet and holing, laying a sand iron 20 feet past at the next, again deftly despatched, and then at the short 15th sinking a right-to-left curler that must have been all of 45 feet.
Before caution set in on the remaining two holes, he again watched a birdie putt disappear from 15 feet at the uphill, par-4 16th.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
208 George Ryall (Players Club) 73 67 68.
213 Bill Lockie (North Gailes) 72 70 71.
214 Murray White (Penfold Park) 74 69 71.
216 Peter Barber (Didsbury) 73 71 72.
217 John McTear (Mar Hall) 73 72 72.
218 Alan Hemsley (Norfolk) 72 72 74, Donald Stirling (Wien-Sussenbrunn) 68 75 75, Michael Greenough (Ashton & Lea) 70 73 75.
219 Garry Harvey (Kinross Golf) 75 70 74, Peter O'Hagan (PM Corporate) 73 72 74, Mitch Kierstenson (Searle's Leisure) 71 72 76.

Aberdeen City Foursomes for Maitland Shield

FINAL at KINGS LINKS

Caledonian bt Murcar Links at the 20th.

S Finnie & A Doig 3, A Styles & I Galbraith 0.
A Cruickshank & D Gardiner 0, A Bews & N McKinnon 3.

A closing par for Finnie & Doig was good enough to win the hole and for the Caley pair to finish threee up on Styles & Galbraith in the first-string tie.
Murcar Links' second string of Bews and McKinnon were four up playing 17, only for Murcar to drive out of bounds and hand the hole to Caley.
Murcar Links then bogeyed the last, leaving Alex Cruickshank a four-foot putt for victory but he pulled it left. Which meant that three up to either side, cancelled each other out and so the final went into extra holes.
All halved the 19th in par. First match halved second in par. Murcar lost a ball off the second tee in the second match leaving Caley the victors.
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LEFT: Wallace Booth "frustrated" ............................................................ RIGHT: James Byrne: Late disasters

Glasgow teenager

Hendrick up with

the stars after 68

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Pollok teenager James Hendrick, playing the course for only a second time, posted a three-under-par 68 in the early evening to snuggle up alongside Scotland star Gavin Dear in a share of third place at the end of the opening day of the Bidwells Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play championship over the windswept Murcar Links today.
“I’m very happy with that, although a little bit disappointed that I bogeyed the last,” said 18-year-old Rangers supporter James (pictured this evening by Cal Carson Golf Agency) who was not considered good enough to play for Scotland at Under-18 level although he did win the West of Scotland boys stroke-play title last year.
“Ian Kennedy, the Mearns Castle coach, and I have worked very hard on my short game over the winter months and I’m definitely a much better player than I was last year. I feel a lot more confident when I’m on a golf course than I used to be.”
And so Master Hendrick should. On a day when the southeasterly wind off the North Sea blew many big names well over par, he birdied the first, seventh and ninth in a one-bogey, two-under-par 34 for the outward half.
Even turning into the wind did not slow down the Glasgow youngster's progress. Birdies at the 14th and 15th put him to four under par, needing to birdie one of the last three holes to join English teenagers Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Haines in the lead at five-under-par 66.
Hendrick parred the 16th and 17th but his wedge approach at the last went over the green into a tricky lie in a bunker. He did well to get his ball out of the sand at the first attempt but not close enough to save par.
Wallace Booth, watched by Walker Cup skipper Colin Dalgleish, shot a one-over-par 72 to trail teenage selection teenage rivals Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Haines who tamed a very strong wind to share the pole position on five-under 66.
Booth starts Round 2 six shots off the pace but he is definitely not discounting his chances of making a successful defence.
“I’m frustrated because I’m not getting the scores I feel my golf deserves,” said Wallace who got to two under par after eight holes, only to lose his momentum in the wind which made the inward half such a tough proposition.
“I feel as though I am just one good round away from getting my season really going. It’s going to happen soon, I know it will. It could be this weekend …”
Fleetwood from Formby Hall, Lancashire and Kent's Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) are foursomes partners for the England team.
Fleetwood, 18, from Southport was set to spreadeagle the field when he reached the turn in five-under-par 31 with birdies at the third, fourth, sixth , seventh and ninth in a flawless outward half.
"It was a different story into the wind. A real struggle, in fact, and I've got a bad cold, so I was really tired towards the end. I thought I did well to par the last seven holes," said Fleetwood.
Haines, 19-year-old winner of last year's Lytham Trophy and runner-up in last weekend's Welsh open amateur stroke-play reckoned the three short holes were the most difficult on the course.”
"It was so difficult to club yourself correctly to allow for the effects of the cross wind,” he said..
In third place is the leading Scot in the R&A world rankings, 24-year-old Irish open stroke-play champion Gavin Dear from Scone.
The Murrayshall member put together a 68 (34-34) after birdies at the first, fourth and 11th had him three under the card with seven to play. A 6 at the long 14th knocked him back but a birdie at the 15th saw him finish in a score he did not think possible at the start of the day.
“I took a week’s break after the Brabazon Trophy and it has affected me more than I thought it would. I had some kind of bug at the English stroke-play championship so I felt I needed a week with my feet up but picking up the timing again has been difficult, “ said Gavin who plans to turn professional at the end of September.
“I had some horrible practice sessions this past week and I still didn’t feel totally comfortable over the ball today. It was just a question of getting round and not making any silly mistakes. I think I hit two bad shots in the round, at the ninth and the 14th.”
Sandy Bolton, a 17-year-old member of the Cambridgeshire club, Magnolia Park, gave Scotland a third representative in top seven. He shared the 70 mark with Englishmen Richard Smith (Notts) and Dale Whitenell (Five Lakes), winner of the Portuguese open amateur title back in the spring.
The group on level par 71 included the Aberdeenshire pair of Barry Brooks and Nick Robson, who are both members of Meldrum House Golf Club at Oldmeldrum and also work for the same Aberdeen double glazing company.
Brooks turned in 34 with the help of an eagle 2 at the ninth. but dropped shots at the 16th and 17th. Still not a bad performance at all from a 50-year-old who won the Aberdeen Links championship when he wore a younger man's clothes.
Late in a long day's place Fraserburgh Golf Club greenkeeper and many times club champion Kris Nicol came in with a tidy 71 (36-35). He bogeyed the 17th but birdied the 18th.
Banchory’s James Byrne, 20-year-old Arizona State University student, is on the same 72 mark as Wallace Booth and feeling just as frustrated as the title-holder.
The reason is that Byrne had an eagle at the ninth and birdies at the 10th and 11th and was still four under par with four holes to play.
Then it all unravelled quickly. He ran up a double bogey 6 at the 15th after driving into the middle of the fairway.
“I had a wedge in my hand for my approach and finished by three-putting from two feet away,” said James ruefully.
“That kind of knocked the stuffing out of me and I dropped a shot in a bunker at the 16th and took two to get out of sand from a terrible lie in another bunker at the 18th.”
Byrne could yet force his way back into the contention. He shot as low as a course-record 61 in winning the North-east District Open title at Newburgh-on-Ythan last summer. If the wind drops, that kind of score - one lower than Richie Ramsay's record mark in the Scottish Challenge at Murcar Links in 2006 - is definitely on the cards over a 6,500yd course which is short by championship standards these days.
Other Scots on 72 were Scottish schoolboys champion Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), Royal Aberdeen's Mark Halliday, Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), a past Scottish amateur match-play champion and winner of this year's Scottish champion of champions event at Leven, as well as last year's Scottish boys' open stroke-play champion Sam Binning (Sandyhills).
A total of 40 players and ties will survive the cut after 36 holes to contest Sunday's final two rounds.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE END OF PLAY FIRST-ROUND SCORES

End of First Day's Play Murcar Links Scoreboard

BIDWELLS SCOTTISH MEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Murcar Links Golf Club, Aberdeen.
FIRST ROUND
Par 71. CSS 74
66 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 31-35, Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 34-32.
68 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 34-34, James Hendrick (Pollok) 34-34.
70 Richard Smith (Notts) 37-33, Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 34-36, Sandy Bolton (Magnolia Park) 35-35.
71 Jack Senior (Heysham) 37-34, Adrian Ford (SAf) 34-37, Ben Westgate (Trevose) 34-37, Nick Robson (Meldrum House) 35-36, Barry Brooks (Meldrum House) 34-37, Jake Redman (SAf) 35-36, Daniel Jennevret (Swe) 37-34, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 36-35.
72 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 37-35, Liam McGowan (St Andrews New) 36-36, Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) 36-36, Ross Crowe (Westerhope) 34-38, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 35-37, Farren Keenan (Sunningdale) 36-36, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 35-37, James Byrne (Banchory) 34-38, Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 36-36, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 35-37.
73 Dean Yeats (Nigg Bay) 34-39, Bryan Fotheringham (Forres), Luke Goddard (Hendon), David Law (Hazlehead) 36-37, Matt Jager (Aus), Richard Merchant (Werndu), James Ross (Royal Burgess), Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews), Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire), Paul O’Hara (Colville Park), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park), Peter Latimer (St Andrews New), Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn).
74 Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Russell Thornton (US), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Stephen Clark (US), Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie), Steven McEwan (Caprington), Gordon Yates (Hilton Park), Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth).
75 Gary Page (Balbirnie Park), Derik Ferreira (SAf), Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Mattias Nordqvist (Swe), Mark Fensham (SAf), Philip McLean (Peterhead), Paul Betty (Hayston), Duncan Raitt (Murcar Links), Nikolaus Schroeter (Aut), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), Neil McBride (Cowglen).
76 William Bremner (Edzell), David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie), Aaron Sweeney (Carnoustie), Justin Duff (Fraserburgh), Michael Main (Thornton), Jonathan Corke (Rowany), Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle), Bryden MacPherson (Aus), Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Martin Lawrence (Newmachar), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Garry Wood (Crow Wood), Euan McIntosh (Newmachar).
77 Ronnie Brechin (Murcar Links), Sam McLaren (King James VI), Steven Ferreira (SAf), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Steven Buchan (Royal Aberdeen), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Andrew Abercrombie (US), Michael Gray (Lanark), Sebastian MacLean (Bolivia), Brendan Smith (Aus), Todd Adcock (Nevill), William Wilcox (US), Scott Gibson (Southerness), Sean McGarvey (Glencorse), Andrew Campbell (Deeside), Jordan McColl (Scotscraig).
78 Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), Philippo Okan (Ger), James White (Lundin), Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co), Rae Mackie (SAf), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Michael Downes (Mere), Alan Reith (Royal Aberdeen).
79 Daniel Nisbet (Aus), Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links), Paul McFarran (Childwall), Oscar Sharpe (Minchinhampton), Clark Brechin (Portlethen), Billy Main (Murcar Links), Matthew Greig (Bon Accord), Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw), Neil Henderson (Glen), Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), Michael Daily (Erskine), Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay).
80 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar), Anthony Bews (Murcar Links), Ross Bell (Downfield), Marc Gentles (Edzell), Euan Kennedy (Stonehaven), Kromer Kajetan (Aut), George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), John Duff (Newmachar).
81 Neil Dean (Minchinhampton), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton), Nathan Kinch (Aus).
82 Sam Strachan (Inverallochy), Charles Durnian (Fairhaven), Matt Dickson (Gullane), Yubin Jung (SAf), Keith Hird (Murcar Links), Rodger Clarke (Moray).
83 John Godward (McDonald Ellon), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), Paul Williams (Hillside), Joshua Clarke (Royal Montrose).
84 Scott Stewart-Cation (Ladybank).
85 Adrian Styles (Murcar Links).
86 Neil Howitt (Nairn), Fraser Moore (Glenbervie).
NRs Keith Shanks (US), Tom Wilde (Castle Royle).
Disq – Tom Beaumont (Sundridge Park).
+The leading 40 and ties at the end of Saturday's second round will qualify for Sunday's final 36 holes.

Bidwells Scottish open amateur stroke-play

MURCAR LINKS JOINT LEADERS: Tommy Fleetwood (left) & Matt Haines (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

England pair lead from

Gavin Dear in Murcar

Links wind

England foursomes partners Tommy Fleetwood from Formby Hall, Lancashire and Kent's Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) were "playing together" again - at the head of the first-day scoreboard in mid-afternoon on the windswept opening day of the Bidwells Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Murcar Links Golf Club, north of Aberdeen today.
Both clickety-clicked with five-under-par 66s on a day when a strong south-easterly wind coming in off the North Sea made life very difficult on the inward holes, even for a field of this quality.
Fleetwood and Haines, both members of the GB&I Walker Cup team short leet, both felt it was a "three-club wind," meaning that into it, for example, instead of a seven-iron it would have been a four-iron to cover the same distance, and so on.
Fleetwood, 18, from Southport was set to spreadeagle the field when he reached the turn in five-under-par 31 with birdies at the third, fourth, sixth , seventh and ninth in a flawless outward half.
"It was a different story into the wind. A real struggle, in fact, and I've got a bad cold, so I was really tired towards the end. I thought I did well to past the last seven holes," he said.
Fleetwood's only bogey came at the 10th where he pushed his second wide of the green into the wind and couldn't save par. His sixth and last birdie came at the 11th where he pitched to within a foot at this 367yd hole.
Haines, 19-year-old winner of last year's Lytham Trophy and runner-up in last weekend's Welsh open amateur stroke-play, had birdies at the second, fourth, ninth, 11th, 14th and 17th. He too had only one bogey, at the short fifth.
"I reckoned the three short holes were just about the most difficult on the course because it was so difficult to club yourself correctly to allow for the effects of the cross wind," said Haines who was out in 34 and home in 32.
In third place is the leading Scot in the R&A WAGR, 24-year-old Irish open stroke-play champion Gavin Dear (today's picture above by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Scone. The Murrayshall member put together a 68 (34-34) after birdies at the first, fourth and 11th had him three under the card with seven to play. A 6 at the long 14th knocked him back but a birdie at the 15th saw him finish in a score he did not think possible at the start of the day.
Englishman Richard Smith (Notts) was on his own on the 70 mark.
The group on level par 71 included the Meldrum House Golf Club, Oldmeldrum pair of Barry Brooks and Nick Robson, who also work for the same window glazing company in Aberdeen.
Brooks turned in 34 with the help of an eagle 2 at the ninth. but dropped shots at the 16th and 17th. Still not a bad performance at all from a 50-year-old who won the Aberdeen Links championship when he wore a younger man's clothes.
Robson recovered from a bogey at the comparatively simple par-4 opening hole to birdie the second, fourth, eighth and 10th in halves of 35 and 36.

Tim Clark, Stricker, Austin share Texas lead

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
South Africa’s Tim Clark carded a seven under par 63 for a share of the lead after the first round of the US PGA Tour's Crowne Plaza Invitational.
The European Tour member is level with American pairing Steve Stricker and Woody Austin at the top of the leaderboard at Colonial Country Club, Texas.
After four birdies on the way out Clark picked up shots at three consecutive holes from the 14th in a faultless round of golf.
Two time winner of the event Kenny Perry and Fiji’s Vijay Singh are a shot further back.
Last week’s BMW PGA Championship winner Paul Casey and his compatriot and Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter are both going well after matching four under par rounds of 66 for a tie of eighth.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 70
63 Steve Stricker, Woody Austin, Tim Clark (Rsa)
64 Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh (Fij)
65 Sean O'Hair, Jason Day (Aus)
66 Paul Casey (Eng), Kevin Na, Steve Marino, Justin Leonard, Ian Poulter (Eng), Kevin Sutherland
67 Aron Price (Aus), Joe Ogilvie, David Toms, Harrison Frazar, James Nitties (Aus), Mark Wilson, Tommy Armour III, Charlie Wi (Kor), Chad Campbell, Rocco Mediate
68 Brian Gay, Greg Owen (Eng), Derek Fathauer, Dean Wilson, Nicholas Thompson, Stephen Ames (Can), Adam Scott (Aus), John Senden (Aus), Tom Lehman, Kevin Streelman, George McNeill, Mark Calcavecchia, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Jim Furyk, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Ian Baker-finch (Aus), Luke Donald (Eng), Ryan Moore
69 Jeff Overton, Nick O'Hern (Aus), James Driscoll, Matt Bettencourt, Heath Slocum, Danny Lee (Nzl), Justin Rose (Eng), Ryan Palmer, Mike Weir (Can), Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Marc Turnesa, Jason Bohn, Brian Davis (Eng), Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Chris DiMarco, Ted Purdy, Tom Pernice Jnr., Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim
70 Jerry Kelly, Michael Bradley, Bart Bryant, Lucas Glover, Davis Love III, Jeff Quinney, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Matt Kuchar, Greg Kraft, Alex Cejka (Ger), John Rollins, Jeff Maggert, Paul Goydos, Keith Clearwater, Johnson Wagner, Scott Verplank, Briny Baird
71 Vaughn Taylor, Todd Hamilton, Webb Simpson, Ben Crane, Bob Estes, Brett Quigley, Ken Duke, Brandt Jobe, Bo Van Pelt, Matt Weibring, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Tim Herron, John Merrick, Mark Brooks, Steve Flesch, Lee Janzen, Stewart Cink, Richard S Johnson (Swe), J J Henry, J.B. Holmes, Corey Pavin, Rich Beem, Carl Pettersson (Swe)
72 Billy Mayfair, J.P. Hayes, Parker McLachlin, Chez Reavie, Jeff Klauk, Will MacKenzie, Tim Petrovic, Jonathan Byrd
73 D.A. Points, Rodney Pampling (Aus), Charley Hoffman, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Cameron Beckman, Scott Piercy
74 Dudley Hart, Fulton Allem (Rsa), Daniel Chopra (Swe), Y.E. Yang (Kor), Peter Lonard (Aus)
75 Steve Lowery, D.J. Trahan
76 Troy Matteson
79 Bill Lunde