FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Kevin McAlpine, the former double Scottish champion, is handily placed at the halfway stage of The Master Golf Championship at Archerfield Links.
McAlpine, who turned professional towards the end of last year, opened the event for professionals aged 26 and under with a 70 to lie just two shots behind the leader, Dannny Belch.
Ian Gregory is lying third on 72, with Dale Marmion, a former winner on the PGA EuroPro Tour, alongside Stephen Clarke and James Westwood on 73.
Greg McBain, winner of a similar event at the East Lothian venue last October, shot a 74, one better than Turnhouse trainee James McGhee and fellow Scots David Laing and Steven Hume.
Lloyd Saltman, playing over his home course, looked to have left himself with a mountain to climb in today's second round after he could only manage a 77 in his opening round, while younger brother Zack signed for an 80.
In the amateur event, tournament host David Platt was setting the pace, the former England fooball star amassing 35 Stableford points in his first round to lead by a point from Ben Trengove and Liam Jeffrey.

FIRST-ROUND PRO SCORES
Par 72
68 Danny Belch.
70 Kevin McAlpine.
72 Ian Gregory.
73 Stephen Clarke, Dale Marmion, James Westwood.
74 Ryan Riley, Greg McBain.
75 David Laing, James McGhee, Steven Hume.
76 Kenny Monaghan.
77 Lloyd Saltman, Ryan Buckley.
78 Stuart Hemming, Adam Taylor, Ben Brierley.
79 Jon Jones, Adam Partington, Thomas Higson, Graham Neville.
80 Zack Saltman.
81 Ryan O'Neill.
82 Declan Dixon.
84 Stuart Burns, Bobby King.
85 Scott Wilson.
86 Kyle Denham, Steven Mayer.

LEADING AMATEUS
(Stableford format)
35 David Platt
34 Ben Trengrove, Liam Jeffrey.