Saltmans make it a family affair at Formby Hall

By ANTHONY LEAVER
After becoming the first brothers to play in The Open Championship for 26 years at Turnberry in July, Lloyd and Elliot Saltman will play with younger brother Zack on the PGA EuroPro Tour at Formby Hall, between Southport and Liverpool, this week.
The three brothers will tee off together for the first time on the Tour on Wednesday August 19 – with Challenge Tour regular Lloyd – middle brother of the three – playing his first event on the Tour this year. The 23 year-old won the Silver Medal at the 2005 Open Championship and has played in over a dozen Challenge Tour events this year.
Elliot will be hoping the presence of both siblings can spur him onto cement his position in the top five. The 27 year-old sits in fourth spot in the Order of Merit with three events to go, and strong finishes – or indeed a victory – should secure a coveted top five spot and a Challenge Tour card, and in an interview with The Scotsman, he showed he is fully aware of all the benefits of staying among the leading quintet.
“I’m in a good position (in the Order of Merit) just now and certainly feel I’m playing well enough to stay in the top five between now and the end of the season,” said Elliot. “The players in those positions at the end of August also get to skip the first stage of Tour School – and that would be massive.”
Zack turned pro in January and was instantly signed up by Aegon who represent all three players. He missed out on joining his older brothers at the Open Championship by one stroke but he caddied for Elliot at Turnberry and the talented 20 year-old has gained valuable experience from his eight appearances on the EuroPro Tour so far this season.
The PGA EuroPro tour’s official bookmakers Sky Bet make Elliot 20/1 to win in Liverpool, with Lloyd 40/1 and Zack 400/1, with local man Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) 35/1 for victory. Keenan took the runners-up spot at The Virgin Atlantic 25th Anniversary Classic at Marriot Tudor Park early in August and is 11th in the money list.
Betting prices: http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvEv&id=11907974

Scotsman article: http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Golf-Elliot--back-in.5562751.jp

Scott Grieve (left) and James McGhee who combined well for a competition-winning round of 65 at Old Musselburgh today (Picture by courtesy of Sandy Young of Getty Images).

Turnhouse pair lead qualifiers for PGA

Four-ball final at Forest Pines

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA

Turnhouse Golf Club head professional Scott Grieve celebrated a debut victory with assistant James McGhee in the SkyCaddie PGA Four-ball Championship supported by Sunderland – by putting a shift in back at the club.

Just hours after the pair had led home the field at Musselburgh with a flawless seven-under-par 64, Grieve was back in charge of affairs, having only being elevated to the top job back in March.

But while he came to the aid of the club members, Grieve was able to do so in satisfaction after securing a place in the 54-hole £30,000 final at Lincolnshire’s Forest Pines in October.

“It’s the first time I’ve played in it and I’m pretty sure it is for James too and when I entered I thought it would just be a bit of fun and a opportunity to play with my assistant in a quality event,” said Grieve, who teed off at 7.40am and expected to close the pro shop doors at 7pm.

“Now we’re off to the final and looking forward to giving it a go when we get down there and hopefully playing as well as we did today. We don’t play very much, I’ve not long been made head professional and so I’m busy at the club while James tries to fit in playing with his coaching and his studies.

“But James played very well at Musselburgh, while I came in with a few birdies on the back nine. Importantly we kept the bogeys off the card and when one us was out of the hole the other always came up with a par or birdie.”

The duo were coasting to the final reaching the turn in four-under-par before completing their majestic round with three more on the home stretch.

A total of four teams qualified from Scotland with Keith Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf) and Garry Harvey (Kinross) a shot further back in second place. Third place went to Inchmarlo duo Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Locke, who shot five-under-par.

A play-off was needed for the final spot with travelling companions and Tartan Tour high-fliers Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) and Mark King (Kingsfield) denying Sean O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park) and Michael Rae (Alyth) at the fifth extra hole after they were locked at four-under-par.

QUALIFIERS

Par 71

64 Scott Grieve & James McGhee (Turnhouse)

65 Garry Harvey (Kinross Golf) & Keith Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf).

66 Andrew Locke & Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo).

67 (after play-off) Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) & Mark King (Kingsfield)

DID NOT QUALIFY
67 (after play-off) Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) & Michael Rae (Alyth).

*Full results from the event at Musselburgh can be found under ‘Schedule, Scores and Results’ at http://www.pga.info/PGAFourballChampionship.aspx