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FLEETWOOD LEADS MATCH PLAY QUALIFIERS AFTER NORTH BERWICK 65

NEWS RELEASED ISSUED BY THE RandA
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, beaten finalist at Turnberry in the 2008 Amateur Championship, today posted a flawless round of 65 at North Berwick to finish two shots clear of the field after the 36-hole qualifying stage. Formby’s Ian Winstanley, reigning Boys Amateur Champion Tom Lewis and the highest-ranked Scot, James Byrne, shared second place on five-under-par totals of 137.
Fleetwood, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who played for Great Britain and Ireland during last September’s Walker Cup Match at Merion Golf Club, recorded three birdies on the front nine, and a further three coming back to ensure that he will be the man to beat in the match play stages.
“You never know who you’re going to come up against,” said the World Amateur Golf Ranking number 10. “But I’ve played well in the first two rounds and I’m sure people will notice that. I don’t mind who I play, I’ve just got to play well.”
The 19-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals at Formby last year before being beaten by eventual winner Matteo Manassero, is in no doubt about his goals for the Championship.
“I’ve got pretty high expectations. This week, I came here with the expectation of winning it.”
The Lancastrian’s nearest challengers are fellow Englishmen Ian Winstanley and Tom Lewis. Like Fleetwood, Lewis also signed for a bogey-free round. A scrambling 66 at North Berwick was enough for the Welwyn Garden City member to ensure comfortable qualification, while yesterday’s level-par 71 at Muirfield will give him confidence for the rest of the week.
“I felt good yesterday at Muirfield. I felt comfortable there,” he said. “It’s one of the nicest courses I’ve played. It’s a fair course: if you hit a good shot, you’re always going to be rewarded for it.”
Winstanley, meanwhile, followed a 67 yesterday – the joint-best round of the day at North Berwick – with a one-under-par 70 at Muirfield.
“It was brilliant today, I really enjoyed it,” said the former RandA Foundation Scholar. “The greens are just perfect here [at Muirfield] and both courses have provided interesting challenges.”
Completing the trio on 137 was James Byrne, who is hoping to improve on an impressive performance at Formby last year.
“I reached the last 16 last year, and knew I was in with a chance to make the cut this year. I’ve been playing well and always play and putt better at home,” said Banchory’s Byrne.
The round of the day came from Olivier Rozner, the Frenchman coming back in six-under-par 29 to post a course-record-equaling 63 at North Berwick. He now shares the record with Ireland’s Colm Moriarty and 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman, both of whom achieved the feat during Open Championship Local Final Qualifying in 2002.
“It’s amazing,” said Rozner, who qualified on a total of 140, two under par. “There was no problem on the course: driver on the fairway, second shots on the green, and my putting was perfect.
“It’s my first Amateur Championship. My first objective was to make the cut and after, in the match play, we’ll see.”
Other notable players to progress to the match play stages included France’s Romain Wattel, the 2010 Scottish Stroke Play Champion; Kieran Pratt of Australia, whose 68 was the lowest score registered at Muirfield yesterday; Korean Jin Jeong; China’s Mu Hu and Yuki Usami of Japan. 2009 GB&I Walker Cup star and last year’s beaten semi-finalist Stiggy Hodgson also made it through to the last 64.
The top 64 and ties will commence the match play stages of the 2010 Amateur Championship tomorrow. The 36-hole final will be played on Saturday. The winner will receive exemption into the 150th Anniversary Open Championship and a Masters Tournament invitation.

Bolivian of Scots descent to the fore

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
With only four courses – there are double that number in Gullane alone if you include Archerfield, The Renaissance and Luffness New – Bolivia isn't exactly a golfing hotbed.
Yet, hard on the heels of Fernando Gonzalez becoming the South American country's first touring professional, a 20-year-old with Scottish blood is through to the match-play phase in the Amateur Championship at Muirfield.
Sebastian MacLean, an eighth generation descendent of a Scottish sea captain who settled in Peru after his vessel was captured in the mid-1800s, showed some Caledonian courage to card a one-under-par 70 at the Open venue yesterday and, with a level-par total of 142, safely secured his place in the knock-out stage in East Lothian.
MacLean, halfway through a four-year degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati, was introduced to golf by his dad, Percy, a former national squad member and his son's caddy this week.
"I am very proud of my Scottish roots and, ever since I took up golf, it has always been my dream to play over here in the British Amateur," said MacLean, who won the first of 11 national titles at the age of eight and helped Bolivia lift the South American Team Championship for only the second time in 2007.
He left his homeland four years ago so that he could improve on the US college circuit and has his sights set on blazing a trail for Bolivian golf. "At home, where we only have four courses, I was able to learn how to hit a ball but not how to play competitive golf and how to manage my game," said MacLean, a former Atlantic 10 Conference rookie of the year. "I had to leave the country because I couldn't improve any more. There wasn't enough competition or resources to improve my potential.
"I want to be the first Bolivian to do everything in the game and break every record along the way – that's been my motivation. My attitude is that if it comes then it will come from the heart."
MacLean, who is planning to turn professional in two years' time and, with his mother now living in Madrid, would like to play in Europe as well as America, certainly showed heart to extend his stay in Scotland. After a double-bogey 6 at the tenth, he was two-over for the day but holed ten-foot birdie putts at the 12th, 15th and 17th to make it with a stroke to spare.
On a day when the conditions were as benign as they get on the East Lothian coast, Mu Hu, a 20-year-old from Shenzen in China, had a 69 at Muirfield to qualify on 139 which was 21 shots better than his only previous appearance in this event, at Royal St George's in 2006.
Tommy Fleetwood, the runner-up at Turnberry two years ago and a quarter-finalist at Formby 12 months ago, losing to eventual winner Matteo Manassero, led the 73 qualifiers, a bogey-free 65 at North Berwick giving the 19-year-old Englishman, who played in last year's Walker Cup, a seven-under total of 135.
Banchory's James Byrne, the leading Scot in the world rankings, followed his 68 at North Berwick with a 67 at Muirfield, where he birdied the 16th and holed from 30 feet for an eagle-3 at the 17th. That strong finish earned him a share of second spot as a total of ten Scots – double the number from Formby – made it through on this occasion, with the qualifying mark on 143.
Two former Scottish boys' champions, Lundin's James White and Michael Stewart of Troon Welbeck, were on 140 and 141 respectively; Links Trophy runner-up Philip McLean (Peterhead), two-time Scottish boys finalist Paul Shields from Kirkhill, former British boys' champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and Aberdour's Scott Crichton, who was second in the 2009 Scottish youths, all finished on 142; while Craigielaw's Mark Hillson, a quarter-finalist last year, made it on 143 along with Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) and Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle).
Despite trimming 13 shots off his opening effort with a 68 at North Berwick, Tom Mickelson, Phil's younger brother, missed out, as did world No 4 Jonathan Randolph and Scottish internationals David Law, Ross Kellett and Steven McEwan. What they would have given for the round of the day, a course-record equalling 63 at North Berwick from Frenchman Olivier Rozner, who had five 3s in the last six holes to come home in 29 as he bounced back in style from an opening 77.


MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 142 (2x71)

1 FLEETWOOD, Tommy Formby Hall 70 65 135 -7
T2 WINSTANLEY, Ian Formby 67 70 137 -5
T2 BYRNE, James Banchory 68 69 137 -5
T2 LEWIS, Tom Welwyn Garden City 71 66 137 -5
T5 WESTERMANN, Philipp Germany 68 70 138 -4
T5 ENOCH, Rhys Truro 67 71 138 -4
T5 BOYS, Tom Royal Liverpool 72 66 138 -4
T5 COSSINS, Charlie Bath 70 68 138 -4
T5 HEMSTOCK, Billy Teignmouth 73 65 138 -4
T5 CAMPBELL, Ben New Zealand 71 67 138 -4
T11 HU, Mu China 70 69 139 -3
T11 HAKULA, Toni Finland 68 71 139 -3
T11 DUNBAR, Alan Rathmore 68 71 139 -3
T11 PRATT, Kieran Australia 68 71 139 -3
T11 PAVAN, Andrea Italy 70 69 139 -3
T16 NIXON, Matthew Ashton-under-Lyne 70 70 140 -2
T16 FRIESTAD, Are Norway 68 72 140 -2
T16 PAISLEY, Chris Stocksfield 69 71 140 -2
T16 BERTASIO, Nino Italy 71 69 140 -2
T16 ROZNER, Olivier France 77 63 140 -2
T16 USAMI, Yuki Japan 72 68 140 -2
T16 BAUNSOE, Peter Denmark 73 67 140 -2
T16 NORLANDER, Henrik Sweden 69 71 140 -2
T16 FOX, James Portmarnock 72 68 140 -2
T16 WATTEL, Romain France 75 65 140 -2
T16 WHITE, James Lundin 72 68 140 -2
T27 LESPINASSE, Leo France 70 71 141 -1
T27 JAEGER, Stephan Germany 70 71 141 -1
T27 CANTER, Laurie Saltford 68 73 141 -1
T27 CHRISTIE, Alex Tyrrells Wood 69 72 141 -1
T27 BERARDO, Clement France 70 71 141 -1
T27 CUARTERO, Emilio Spain 67 74 141 -1
T27 FEYAERTS, Xavier Belgium 68 73 141 -1
T27 ESPANA, Edouard France 68 73 141 -1
T27 LYKKE-KJELDSEN, Rasmus Denmark 70 71 141 -1
T27 BELL, Jonathan Royal Blackheath 71 70 141 -1
T27 HURST, Jonathan Shaw Hill 69 72 141 -1
T27 HARMSTON, Warren Wentworth 70 71 141 -1
T27 STEWART, Michael Troon Welbeck 67 74 141 -1
T27 CUTLER, Paul Portstewart 71 70 141 -1
T27 HODGSON, Stiggy Sunningdale 73 68 141 -1
T27 SHAKESPEAR, Andrew Five Lakes 70 71 141 -1
T27 JEONG, Jin South Korea 70 71 141 -1
T27 SOUTHGATE, Matthew Thorpe Hall 75 66 141 -1
T45 BUTTACAVOLI, Michael USA 69 73 142 Par
T45 WHITEKILLER, Trent USA 69 73 142 Par
T45 MACLEAN, Sebastian Bolivia 72 70 142 Par
T45 ROCCHI, Mervin France 69 73 142 Par
T45 FINDLAY, Jordan Fraserburgh 71 71 142 Par
T45 CRICHTON, Scott Aberdour 74 68 142 Par
T45 CHING, Alex USA 69 73 142 Par
T45 SZAPPANOS, Alexis Germany 73 69 142 Par
T45 McLEAN, Philip Peterhead 72 70 142 Par
T45 SHIELDS, Paul Kirkhill 70 72 142 Par
T45 SORDET, Clement France 72 70 142 Par
T45 FARR, Oliver Ludlow 74 68 142 Par
T57 WRIGHT, Darren Rowlands Castle 70 73 143 +1
T57 HILLSON, Mark Craigielaw 69 74 143 +1
T57 HABIBI, Amir Rochester & Cobham Park 71 72 143 +1
T57 CARSON, Adam Long Ashton 70 73 143 +1
T57 BURDEN, Toby Hayling 71 72 143 +1
T57 JOIA, Jose Maria Portugal 70 73 143 +1
T57 PATERSON, Greg St Andrews New 75 68 143 +1
T57 MILORO, Mattia Italy 70 73 143 +1
T57 MADSEN, Morten Orum Denmark 72 71 143 +1
T57 HOGAN, Andrew Newlands 75 68 143 +1
T57 RODRIGUES, Tiago Portugal 74 69 143 +1
T57 MOTTA, Leonardo Italy 74 69 143 +1
T57 HARKINS, Chris Ayr Belleisle 71 72 143 +1
T57 BERTHEUSSEN, Elias Norway 73 70 143 +1
T57 CURLEY, Cian Newlands 70 73 143 +1
T57 SALEM, Patricio Peru 73 70 143 +1
T57 SULLIVAN, Andy Nuneaton 70 73 143 +1
NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:
144 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 75 69, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 73 71, Tommy Hart (USA) 72 72..
145 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 72, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 76 69, Steven McEwan (Caprington) 75 70.
146 Ross Bell (Downfield) 72 74, Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) 77 69, James Ross (Royal Burgess) 75 71, Kevin Tway (US) 73 73.
147 Bobby Rushford (Grangemeouth) 73 74, Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 76, Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 73 74, Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 74 73.
148 Neil Henderson (Glen) 71 77, David Law (Hazlehead) 76 72, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 72 76, Jonathan Randolph (US) 74 74.
149 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 74 75, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 75 74, Tim Mickelson (US) 81 68.
150 Craig Elliot (Carrickvale) 78 72, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 76 74.
151 Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) 70 81, Michael Daily (Erskine) 79 72, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 75 76, Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) 79 72.
152 Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) 79 73, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 85 67, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 75 77, Stuart Ballingall (Dunstan Hall) 79 73.
153 Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 74 79, Stephen Speirs (Australia) 78 75.
154 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 79 75.
155 John Miller (Gullane) 78 77, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 80 75.