PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT IN SURREY

Shaun McAllister shares lead with a 68 at Burhill

Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), the 2006 Scottish boys’ stroke-play champion, is back in the limelight as joint leader of this week’s PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Pandora Open, at Burhill Golf Club, Surrey.

Early starter McAllister, pictured below by Cal Carson Golf Agency, posted a four-under-par 68 with birdies at the first, short fourth, long fifth, 10th, long l1th and 13th and the short 18th but bogeys at the third, sixth and 15th to be leader in the clubhouse for some time.

Then in the closing hour or two of play he was joint on the 68 mark by England’s Graham Benson (Leighton Buzzard), Martin Sell (Wrag Barn), Sean Doherty (Bury) and Welshman Tim Dykes (Wrexham).

Two others in the top 20 are Scott Henry (The Carrick at Loch Lomond), once rated one of Scotland’s finest prospects after he had been boys’ match-play champion in 2004 and 2005 and Scottish men’s open stroke-play champion in 2006, and Elliot Saltman (Aegon).

Both returned two-under-par 70s to be among 12 players sharing 11th place. Henry was out in 33 with six pars and birdies at the second, third and fifth but his only deviation from par on an uninspired inward half was a bogey at the 14th.
Henry would have led the field had he been able to procure Saltman’s score of 34 shots for the second nine.
Scott Henry’s brother John, Paul Doherty, Graeme Lawrie, Zack Saltman, Barry Hume and Lee Harper provided a Scotch Corner, tied for 34th place, on 72.
John Gallacher shares 49th place on 73 while Ross Cameron, Craig Lee rubbed shoulders with Ronan Rafferty and Gary Wolstenholme on the 74 mark which placed them joint 69th in the huge field.
Mark Kerr had a 77 (joint 117th), Stephen Clark a 78 (jt 129th), Mark Lawrence and Euan McIntosh, both from Newmachar, 79s (jt 141st), Stephen Duncan an 80 (jt 153rd) and Anglo-Scot Mark Lawrie an 85 which had him joint bottom of the heap on 85.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
68 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), Graham Benson (Eng), Martin Sell (Eng), Sean Doherty (Eng), Tim Dykes (Wal).
69 Jack Clarke (Eng), Lee Clarke (Eng), Michael McGeady (Ire), Nick McCarthy (Eng), Paul O’Hanlon (Ire).
70 Matt Allen (Eng), Daniel Gaunt (Aus), Scott Henry (The Carrick at Loch Lomond), Dan Seymour (Eng), George Cowan (Eng), Gary King (Eng), Matthew Ford (Eng), Alex Belt (Eng), Sean Whiffin (Eng), Jamie Little (Eng), Elliot Saltman (Aegon), Stuart Havelock (Eng).
Selected scores:
72 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), John Henry (Clydebank & Dist), Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Zack Saltman (Aegon), Barry Hume (Haggs Castle), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (jt 34th).
73 John Gallagher (Swanston) (jt 49th).
74 Ronan Rafferty (The Roxburgh), Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy), Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre), Gary Wolstenholme (Eng).
(jt 69th)
77 Mark Kerr (Dalmahoy) (jt 117th)..
78 Stephen Clark (The Carrick at Loch Lomond) (jt 129th).
79 Martin Lawrence (Newmachar), Euan McIntosh (Newmachar) (jt 141st).
80 Stephen Duncan (Carnoustie) (jt 153rd).
85 Mark Lawrie (Royal Wimbledon) (jt 166th).