Westwood leads by one going into Sunday's final round

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
THE PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
$9.5million prizefund. Winner gets $1.71million
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72
202 Lee Westwood 67 65 70.
203 Robert Allenby 66 70 67.
204 Ben Crane 67 69 68, Lucas Glover 70 65 69, Francesco Molinari 68 65 71.
205 Chris Stroud 70 69 66, Tim Clark (Rsa) 68 71 66, Charley Hoffman 68 68 69, Heath Slocum 67 66 72.
206 Bo Van Pelt 68 69 69.
207 Phil Mickelson 70 71 66, Zach Johnson 70 70 67, Bill Haas 68 69 70, John Rollins 68 69 70.
208 Nick Watney 69 71 68, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 69 70 69, Andres Romero (Arg) 69 70 69, Jimmy Walker 71 69 68, Fred Funk 72 70 66, Paul Goydos 69 68 71, Ryan Moore 67 70 71, Davis Love III 69 68 71, Luke Donald 67 69 72.
209 Adam Scott (Aus) 70 68 71, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 70 69 70, Matt Kuchar 68 71 70, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70 71 68, Chris Couch 74 68 67, Kenny Perry 67 71 71, Hunter Mahan 70 69 70, Sean O'Hair 70 69 70, Boo Weekley 69 72 68, Graeme McDowell 72 65 72, K J Choi 69 68 72, Ryuji Imada 67 66 76.
210 Spencer Levin 71 67 72, J.B. Holmes 66 72 72, Justin Leonard 72 68 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 70 71, Oliver Wilson (Eng) 70 70 70, Troy Matteson 68 71 71, Scott Verplank 71 70 69
211 Bob Estes 70 69 72
212 Jerry Kelly 73 66 73, Tiger Woods 70 71 71, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 72 69 71, Jeff Overton 70 72 70, Alex Prugh 69 73 70, Dustin Johnson 71 71 70, Steve Marino 73 67 72, Jason Bohn 67 74 71
213 John Merrick 70 72 71, Steve Flesch 71 71 71
214 George McNeill 75 67 72, Roland Thatcher 71 68 75, Woody Austin 69 72 73, Ben Curtis 71 68 75, James Nitties (Aus) 70 72 72
215 Jim Furyk 69 73 73
216 J J Henry 68 71 77, Brett Quigley 72 69 75
217 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 69 77, Kevin Stadler 69 70 78, Kris Blanks 71 71 75, Troy Merritt 71 70 76, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 72 76, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 70 75
219 James Driscoll 71 71 77
220 Stephen Ames (Can) 70 71 79.

Raymond Russell stays in front in Brittany

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR
Scotland’s Raymond Russell will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the European Challenge Tour's ALLIANZ Côtes d’Armor Open Bretagne after carding a level par 70 on day three.
The overnight leader, who came fourth in the 1998 Open Championship, relinquished his advantage to Tom Whitehouse earlier in the day, but returned to the top of the leaderboard after the Englishman double bogeyed the last and had to settle for a two under par 68. Russell extended his lead to two shots when he birdied the par four 16th, but a dropped shot at the last cut it back down to one.
Whitehouse is alongside compatriot Sam Walker at seven under for the tournament at Golf Blue Green Pléneuf Val-André, as well as Sweden’s Fredrik Henge and Frenchman Victor Rui.
“I struggled with the greens today,” admitted Russell. “But if you’re still in the lead after a bad day you can’t be too disappointed. I’d rather be one ahead than one behind - the others have got to catch me.
“It’s a shame to finish with a bogey but I hit a bad tee shot, a bad second shot and a bad putt so that doesn’t usually end up with a par.”
Whitehouse said: “I had a slow start then hit a really good tee shot at the seventh and managed an eagle. I holed another good putt at the eighth and I was off and running. I birdied the 11th and 12th and had chances after that but didn’t take them.
“Then at the 18th I was unlucky. I hit a good tee shot which sent the centre of the fairway and kicked dead left into a bunker. I was right up against the face of the bunker and I ended up taking a third shot to get on to the green and three-putting.
“I played well though and I deserved to shoot four or five under. I’m not too disappointed about the last hole because I didn’t really hit a bad shot all day and it’s tricky out there. That’s just golf.”
Henge, a five time winner on the Challenge Tour, recovered spectacularly from illness on day two to burst up the leaderboard, and followed it with a solid round of 68 to stay in contention.
He said: “Yesterday’s round was interesting because I had some bad food the night before and my stomach was upset, but I took a pill after nine holes and played the back nine in six under. I felt a lot better and it’s easy to feel well again when you’re making so many birdies.
“I played alright today, although I got away with a few mistakes and missed a couple of chances. I’m not really surprised the leaders haven’t got far ahead because I know what it’s like to play in the last groups and there is definitely more tension. Today the wind is tough and the course is getting firmer and firmer so it’s not easy out there.”
Home hope Rui, who carded a 69, added: “My long game is very good and so is my putting, but I was very unlucky on the greens today. It would be great to win the tournament and even better if it comes in my home country.”
Another Englishman, Andrew Willey, is one of four players a further shot back at six under after signing for a superb five under par 65. “That was the best I’ve played all week,” said Willey, who carded seven birdies. “Both the bogeys I had were three putts which were a bit silly but apart from that I’m very happy.”
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
202 R Russell (Sco) 67 65 70,
203 V Riu (Fra) 68 66 69, F Henge (Swe) 68 67 68, T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 66 68, S Walker (Eng) 63 70 70,
204 S Lewton (Eng) 66 68 70, F De Vries (Ned) 64 70 70, A Willey (Eng) 69 70 65, L Kennedy (Eng) 65 70 69,
205 C Russo (Fra) 67 69 69, J Arruti (Esp) 65 68 72, A Grenier (Fra) 64 72 69,
206 A Hansen (Den) 69 70 67, P Relecom (Bel) 67 71 68,
207 D Brooks (Eng) 65 70 72, A Blyth (Aus) 69 69 69, F Praegant (Aut) 64 73 70, D Denison (Eng) 67 69 71, E Dubois (Fra) 69 68 70, B Wiesberger (Aut) 72 66 69,
208 J Campillo (Esp) 64 73 71, F Calmels (Fra) 66 70 72, L Jensen (Den) 71 68 69, A Sjöstrand (Swe) 65 70 73, G Murray (Sco) 68 68 72, I Van Weerelt (Ned) 70 68 70, A Bruschi (Ita) 70 65 73, M Zions (Aus) 67 71 70, M Higley (Eng) 69 64 75,
209 A Mellor (Eng) 66 73 70, D Perrier (Fra) 68 69 72, S Davis (Eng) 67 69 73, K Sullivan (Wal) 71 69 69, G Houston (Wal) 70 67 72, G Watremez (Bel) 67 70 72, J Zapata (Arg) 68 70 71, D Wardrop (Eng) 69 71 69,
210 J Abbate (Arg) 70 69 71, S Tiley (Eng) 72 65 73, I Pyman (Eng) 69 68 73, J Garcia (Esp) 65 68 77,
211 T Norret (Den) 70 70 71, J Caldwell (Nir) 69 72 70, S Manley (Wal) 68 71 72, J Billot (Fra) 70 68 73, T Haylock (Eng) 72 68 71, L Bond (Wal) 66 75 70, N Meitinger (Ger) 68 71 72, M Quiros (Esp) 63 76 72,
212 A Marshall (Eng) 71 67 74, R Thuillier (Fra) 66 71 75, J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 69 72, F Fritsch (Ger) 70 71 71
213 T Remkes (Ned) 68 72 73, B Pettersson (Swe) 71 70 72, B Teilleria (Fra) 69 69 75,
214 J Moul (Eng) 69 71 74, B Mason (Eng) 65 72 77,
215 O Floren (Swe) 67 70 78, C Macaulay (Sco) 68 72 75,
217 C Brazillier (Fra) 69 72 76, S Ottosen (Den) 68 73 76, Z Scotland (Eng) 70 71 76,
219 P Golding (Eng) 68 73 78,
220 T Olesen (Den) 71 70 79,
221 N Lemke (Swe) 71 70 80,

Kris Nicol leading Scot in Irish open amateur championship

FROM THE IRISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Moyola Park's Luke Lennox leads the way at the halfway stage of the AIB sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at the Royal Dublin Golf Club.
A pair of 73s in extremely testing conditions leaves Lennox two and three strokes ahead, respectively, of fellow National Panel members Connor Doran (Banbridge) and Alan Dunbar (Rathmore).
The three Ulster players will play in the final group for tomorrow's final 36 holes when they will bid to become the first home winner of this championship since Portmarnock's Noel Fox in 2003.
SCOTSWATCH: Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol, runner-up in the Lytham Trophy in Lancashire last weekend, is over in Ireland this weekend and doing almost as well. He is the leading Scot - joint sixth on 150 (four behind the leader) after 36 holes and will tee off in tomorrow's last two rounds in the second last threesome. In all five Scots survived the halfway cut - David Law, Greg Paterson, Ross Kellett, Paul Shields and Kris Nicol.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
146 L Lennox (Moyola Park) 73 73.
148 C Doran (Banbridge) 73 75.
149 A Dunbar (Rathmore) 74 75, B Loughrey (England) 73 76k D Kernihan (Galgorm Castle) 72 77.
Scots' scores:
150 K Nicol 78 72 (jt 6th).
153 P Shields 80 73, R Kellett 76 77 (jt 13th).
154 G Paterson 79 75 (jt 20th).
155 D Law 79 77 (jt 29th).
Missed the cut:
156 A Culverwell 77 79.
157 S Borrowman 82 75, C Thomson 77 80, F McKenna 79 78.
159 S Binning 78 81.
160 J White 78 82.
161 P McLean 80 81.
163 J Findlay 84 79.
164 C Robb 80 84.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES

DRAW FOR SUNDAY'S ROUNDS
07:30 & 12:30 Nick Grant (Knock), Tommy McGowan (Strandhill), David Law (Scotland).
07:39 & 12:39 Pat Murray (Limerick), Rory Leonard (Banbridge), James Monaghan (The Island) 07:48 & 12:48 Thomas Pieters (Belgium), Paul Dunne (Greystones) Gareth Bohill (Co. Louth) 4 07:57 & 12:57 Thomas Shadbolt (England), Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo) Tiago Rodriques (Portugal).
08:06 & 13:06 James Martin (England) Stephen Moloney (Castletroy) Christopher Mivis (Belgium).
08:15 & 13:15 Michael Durcan (Co. Sligo) Oliver Farr (Wales) Cian Daly (Castletroy).
08:24 & 13:24 Greg Paterson (Scotland) John Morris (Rosslare) Mark Mullen (Wexford)
08:33 & 13:33 Ross Kellett (Scotland) Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint) Josh Evans (England).
08:42 & 13:42 Julien Richelle (Belgium) Paul Shields (Scotland) Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry).
08:51 & 13:51 Jeffrey Hopkins (Skerries) Brendan Walton (The Island) Chris Paisley (England) 09:00 &14:00 Eddie McCormack (Galway) Matthew Southgate (England) Miro Veijalainen (Finland).
09:09 & 14:09 Kris Nicol (Scotland) David Kernohan (Galgorm Castle) Ben Loughrey (England)
09:18 & 14:18 Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) Connor Doran (Banbridge) Luke Lennox (Moyola Park)

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
£6,500 PORTPATRICK PRO-AM
Portpatrick Golf Club, nr Stranraer
PROFESSIONAL SCORES
Par 70
66 Mark King (Kingsfield), Stephen Gray (Hayston).
67 James McGhee (Turnhouse).
68 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
69 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), Thomas Buchanan (Duddingston), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range).
70 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), James McKinnon (Irvine), Colin Gillies (Braid Hills), Scott Henderson (Kings Links).
71 Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 18
72 Edward Thomson (Senit Associates), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy).
73 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Derek Watters (Gourock), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range).
74 Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre).
75 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Graham Fox (East Kilbride).
78 James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey).

LEADING TEAM SCORES
54 Edward Thomson (Senit Associates).
57 James McKinnon (Irvine), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Mark King (Kingsfield).
58 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range).
59 Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle),
Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Graham Fox (East Kilbride).


*Official tour scoring and statistics provided by the Professional Golfers' Association

MORAY AND NAIRN LEAGUE

Moray make great start to title defence

By ROBIN WILSON
Champions Moray Golf club, headed by Kevin Thomson, opened their defence of the G R Thomson Shield in the Moray and Nairn League competition on home turf on Friday night with a 7½ to ½ success over neighbouring rivals Elgin, then followed up today with an equally impressive 7-1 result over Nairn Dunbar to share the overnight lead with Nairn. who are also unbeaten after two games.
Moray meet Forres on Sunday morning and Nairn play Nairn Dunbar. Both are expected to maintain their 100 % records to set up a rousing climax to the weekend when they meet in their final game.
Nairn's two wins arrived against Forres on Thursday night (5½ to 1½) and Elgin this morning (6½ to 1½). In the other ties Nairn Dunbar beat Forres 5-3 and Elgin beat Forres 4½ to 3½.

TODAY'S DETAILS

NAIRN DUNBAR 5, FORRES 3
R Johnstone lost to B Fotheringham 3 and 2.
W Barron bt R Proctor 5 and 4.
B Watson lost to G Stuart 4 and 3.
K Donnelly halved with R McKerron
G Nicoll bt A Robertson 1 hole
F Brown halved with C MacKay
M Britovsek bt J Boon 4 and 3.
C Duffy bt S Maclennan 2 and 1.

ELGIN 1½, NAIRN 6½
N McWilliam lost to F Fotheringham 4 and 3.
S H C Milne lost to N D Hampton 1 hole
M Stepney lost to R Smith 6/4
G Ross lost to G Burnett 3/2
R Copland halved with S Macdonald
D Hector bt A Scott 7 and 6.
S Johnston lost to G Asher 2 and 1.
M O'Neil lost to S Burgess 4 and 3.

MORAY 7, NAIRN DUNBAR 1
G Thomson bt R Johnstone 5 and 4.
M Macleman lost to W. Barron 4 and 3.
G Thomson bt B Watson 5 and 3.
J Matheson bt K Donnelly 4 and 3.
R Sheils bt G Nicoll 8 and 7.
C Stuart bt F Brown 4 and 3.
P McPherson bt M Howitt 3 and 2.
S Little bt H Clunas 3 and 2.

FORRES 3½, ELGIN 4½
B. Fotheringham bt N McWilliam 3 and 2.
R Proctor halved with S H C Milne
G Stuart bt D Hector 3 and 2.
R McKerron bt R Copland 2 and 1.
A Robertson lost to S G Milne 2 and 1.
M Murdoch lost to G Ross 6 and 4.
C MacKay lost to M O'Neil 2 and 1.
8. S. MacLennan lost to B.C.Milne 2/1

Dornoch Forth Leagues

Brora Golf Club, holders of the Dornoch Firth League title, after having played only one game are still in a good position to make a successful defence of the trophy after two shock results at Golspie.
Royal Dornoch opened with a clean sweep 7-0 win over Invergordon, but in the competition where each of the seven individual match games earns a team point, Dornoch were then beaten 7-0 by Tain. Brora took 4.5 points from their one result over Golspie while Dornoch, after two games, share the lead with Tain.
Golspie have 5½ from two, Brora 4½ from one and Invergordon trail at 4 points from two games.


Brora meet Royal Dornoch this morning while Tain can move head with a tie against the hosts. Brora can make up lost ground when they are involved in the three -way match this afternoon against Tain and Invergordon.


Robin

Defending champion Angus Cappi misses halfway cut

Germans first and third at halfway in Golf

Data Lab Scottish Youths Championship

It's Germany first and third after 36 holes of the Golf Data Lab Scottish youths championship over the Monifieth Links. Leader Maximilian Rottluff comes from Hubbelrath and has already finished third in the French boys' open internatonal championship last month.
Glenbervie's Fraser Moore is doing very well to be on 143 (73-70), one shot behind Rottluff who had a marvellous second-round 66 to be on level par 142.
The German player in third place has a strong Scottish connection - Max Walz is a Loretto Golf Academy pupil at the Musselburgh establishment. Max too had a very good second round, his 67 being the second-best score of the day behind Rottluff.
Defending champion Angus Cappi (Carnoustie) missed the cut by seven shots with a 159 two-round tally. Other big names among those sideline was Ian Redford (St Andrews New), beaten finalist in the Scottish boys' match-play championship.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Monifieth Links
Par 142 (2x71)
1 ROTTLUFF, Maximilian (Germany) 76 66 142
2 MOORE, Fraser (Glenbervie) 73 70 143
3 WALZ, Maximilian (Germany) 77 67 144
T4 FAIRBURN, Simon (Torwoodlee) 73 72 145
T4 GIBSON, Scott (Southerness) 72 73 146
T6 McDONALD, Jack (Kilmarnock Barassie) 72 74 146
T6 BREMNER, William (Edzell) 72 74 146
T6 McCLUNG, Kyle (Wigtownshire Co) 72 74 146
T6 BROWN, Scott (Turnberry) 69 77 146
T10 DUNCAN, Graeme (Kingsknowe) 76 71 147
T10 KAY, Daniel (Dunbar) 75 72 147
T10 DAILY, Michael (Erskine) 73 74 147
T10 THAIN, Fraser (West Linton) 72 75 147
T14 SWEENEY, Aaron (Carnoustie 78 70 148
T14 JOHNSTON, Liam (Dumfries & Co) 76 72 148
T14 MORRISSEY, Mark Ireland 75 73 148
T14 WALLACE, Andrew Glenbervie 75 73 148
T14 KEDDIE, Danny Belton Park 75 73 148
T14 SPRAGGS, Patrick Stowmarket 74 74 148
T14 SMAIL, Greg Craigielaw 72 76 148
T21 PALMER, Andrew Chorley 78 71 149
T21 CAMPBELL, Andrew Dumbarton 74 75 149
T21 WELSH, Alan Torrance House 72 77 149
T24 THOMSON, Mark Grange 78 72 150
T24 MCPHEE, Paul (King James VI) 76 74 150
T24 KOLLOSS, Carl (Germany) 76 74 150
T24 LEITMANNSTETTER, Aaron (Germany) 75 75 150
T24 MACANDREW, Nick (Cullen) 75 75 150
T24 HARRISON, Daniel (Crieff) 72 78 150
T30 BROOKS, Jack (Pleasington) 80 71 151
T30 MOMMAERTS, Bertrand Belgium 77 74 151
T30 MILNE, Jordan (Elgin)75 76 151
T30 SMITH, Marc (Troon Welbeck) 74 77 151
T34 ALLAN, Lawrence Alva 79 73 152
T34 STEWART, Greig Crieff 79 73 152
T34 BOYLE, Stuart Harburn 79 73 152
T34 ROBERTS, Graham Eaton 78 74 152
T34 PUTKONEN, Teemu Finland 77 75 152
T34 BOLTON, Sandy Goring & Streatly 76 76 152
T34 RHIND, Jordyn Uphall 74 78 152
T34 SAVAGE, Jamie Cawder 74 78 152
MISSED THE CUT
BARRAS, Simon (Helensburgh) 79 74 153
HOWARD, Mike (Royal Birkdale) 79 74 153
SCOTT, Jack (Deeside) 78 75 153
WIGHTMAN, Scott (Powfoot) 78 75 153
MELVILLE, Iain (Glencorse) 77 76 153
SANT, Jack (Ladbrook Park) 77 76 153
NEIL, Bradley (Blairgowrie) 74 79 153
HARPER, Kristofer (Carnoustie) 82 72 154
AURNHAMMER, Marvin (Germany) 79 75 154
MARCHBANK, Greig (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 78 154
SALMINEN, Tuomas (Finland) 75 79 154
ROSS, Craig (Kirkhill) 75 79 154
STILL, Stefan (Germany) 75 79 154
BACIGALUPO, Michael (Longniddry) 72 82 154
O'NEIL, Conor (Pollok) 81 74 155
REDFORD, Ian (St Andrews New) 80 75 155
DUNTON, Adam (McDonald Ellon) 80 75 155
HUISH, Oliver (North Berwick) 80 75 155
SCOTT, Ewan (St Andrews) 79 76 155
BROWN, Euan (Kilmarnock Barassie) 79 76 155
HOLMES, Kit (Hunstanton 79 76 155
GRANT, Darryn (Renfrew 79 76 155
NELSON, Cameron (Nairn 78 77 155
OROZCO, Jose Maria (Spain 76 79 155
QUAGEBEUR, Robin (Belgium 74 81 155
BLENNERHASSETT, Tom (Marriott Dalmahoy 81 75 156
RAUHALA, Atte (Finland) 81 75 156
FARRELL, Cameron (Cardross) 78 78 156
LAVELLE, Sam (Lancaster) 78 78 156
DEEGAN, Shaun (Craigielaw) 77 79 156
BAIRD, Colin (Bothwell Castle) 77 79 156
YOUNG, Scott (Turnhouse) 77 79 156
STABLES, Scott (St Andrews New) 83 74 157
MERCKX, Dewi (Belgium 81 76 157
HENDRICK, James (Pollok 81 76 157
McGARVEY, Sean (Glencorse 79 78 157
ECHIKSON, Samuel (Belgium 78 79 157
WRIGHT, Jeff Forres 78 79 157
ARTHUR, Jamie Milnathort 78 79 157
LAWRENCE, Dan Ballumbie Castle 77 80 157
STEWART, Calum Brora 82 76 158
DINGWALL, Tom Nairn Dunbar 82 76 158
SMITH, Steven Marriott Dalmahoy 79 79 158
COLBECK, Nigel Moor Allerton 78 80 158
RAMSAY, Derek Elgin 77 81 158
CARR, Oliver Ulverston 76 82 158
GAITTENS, Christopher Fortrose & Rosemarkie 83 76 159
TREASURER, Jamie Inverness 81 78 159
CAPPI, Angus (Carnoustie) 80 79 159
MACKAY, Euan Craigielaw 83 77 160
MORGAN, Lee Newbattle 81 79 160
CRAWFORD, Euan Kirkcaldy 80 80 160
LOW, Chris Tantallon 75 85 160
CAMPBELL, Ryan Grangemouth 87 74 161
PYYKOLA, Henri Finland 82 79 161
CLARKE, Rodger Moray 81 80 161
MARR, Cameron Musselburgh 81 80 161
NEIL, Connor Blairgowrie 81 81 162
EDWARDS, Danny Elgin 81 81 162
VAN DIJK, Menno Netherlands 81 81 162
DAOUST, Sean Belgium 76 86 162
RYAN, David Ealing 86 78 164
GRAHAM, Alistair Crow Wood 85 79 164
SCANLAN, Peter Hamilton 79 85 164
WEST, Cameron Scotscraig 78 86 164
BOWMAN, Grant Monifieth 83 82 165
STEPHEN, Jamie Aberdour 83 82 165
MITCHELL, Reece Downfield 84 82 166
MUNRO, Gordon Fraserburgh 84 82 166
CLARKE, Fraser Westhill 81 85 166
LOCH, Andrew Pumpherston 90 79 169
PENNYCOTT, Malcolm Whiting Bay 85 86 171
KANEV, Michael Royal Musselburgh 84 87 171
HUGHES, Craig Bearsden 86 87 173
Disqualified: BEATTIE, Neil St Andrews 73 -
Disqualified: MÜLLER, Phillip Germany 84 -
Retired: ANDERSON, Josh Leven 79 -
Retired: BYRNE, Daniel Dartford 79 -
Retired: GALLAGHER, David Glasgow 84 -

Lepitschnik surprised to be Alps Tour event leader

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Austrian Peter Lepitschnik, 32, is the most surprised leader of the Alps Tour's Lyonesse Open. He signed for a 67 today to lead by one stroke from Frenchman Alan Bihan and by two strokes from Englishman Benjamin Mannix.
Lepitschnik who ended his playing pro career at the end of last year, is living a amazing week and his feelings he said are a kind of confused:
“It is so strange. I am now assistant teaching pro to make my degree and I just wanted to play tournaments in Austria. I have been working so long on my swing and it is working now! I don't understand. My friends are supporting me. I know that everything can happen on this course. Someone can shoot 62 and grab the win. I will play shot by shot and try to enjoy. Enjoy will be the keyword because it is more or less my last tournament for a while,”said the Austrian.
Lepitschnik is right. There were many low scores today - half of the field shot 69 or under. The race to victory will be a thiller.
Agathe Séron
Gavin Dear is on 212, 10 shots off the pace in joint 31st place with one round to go.
He has improved with each round so far but he would need to sign off with something like a 63 or 64 to make even the top 10.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
202 Peter LEPITSCHNIK (AUT) 70 65 67.
203 Alan BIHAN (FRA) 67 65 71.
204 Benjamin MANNIX (ENG) 71 67 66
205 Jason PALMER (ENG) 67 69 69, Pol BECH (ESP) 65 71 69, Juan PARRON (ESP) 71 65 69. 206 Michael MOSER (AUT) 71 69 66, Adam HODKINSON (ENG) 71 68 67, Fredrik SVANBERG (SWI) 64 73 69, Richard KILPATRICK (NIR) 70 67 69.
207 Farren KEENAN (ENG) 74 68 65, Jason BARNES (ENG) 70 71 66, Lawrence DODD (ENG) 70 69 68, Kim Joon (ITA) 71 68 68, Jason KELLY (NOR) 69 70 68.
208 Juan Antonio BRAGULAT (ESP) 74 67 67, Jurgen MAURER (AUT) 70 71 67, Nilson CABRERA (ITA) 68 72 68, Andrea ZANINI (ITA) 67 73 68, Kenny LE SAGER (FRA) 71 67 70,
Xavier GUZMAN SADABA (ESP) Spain 68 69 71, Carlos BALMASEDA (ESP) 2 64 72.
David ANTONELLI (FRA) 67 67 74.
Selected scores:
212 Gavin DEAR (Murrayshall House Hotel and GC) 73 70 69 (jt 31st).

EUROPEAN TOUR

Swede Hed leads by six with a round to go in Turin

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed, seeking a first European Tour victory at the 245th attempt, will take a commanding six-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the BMW Italian Open in Turin.
Andersson Hed began the day with a one-shot advantage and carded a stunning nine under 63, the lowest score of the week, for a 17 under par total of 199.
Playing partner Miguel Angel Jiménez had been level after 13 holes following five birdies in a row, but the veteran Spaniard bogeyed three of the next four to leave Andersson Hed well clear.
The 38 year old from Halmstad regained his European Tour card after an incredible 14th trip to the Qualifying School last November and has finished fourth in South Africa and seventh in India this season.
"It would mean a lot to get my first win, both for the rankings and for self-confidence," said Andersson Hed, who carded one bogey and ten birdies, including holing a bunker shot on the 17th.
"I have had a couple of chances this year already and hopefully it's third time lucky. Today was fantastic, I don't think I've ever that good in a round of golf before. I don't think I holed more than one putt over ten feet all day."
Jiménez said: "I played well until a very poor second shot for bogey on 14 and then missed the fairway by two inches on the 16th to make another bogey.
"But Fredrik played very well all day and it will be tough to catch him."
Jiménez, winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic earlier this season, still carded a 68 to lie second on 11 under, with Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, Scotland's Peter Whiteford and English duo David Horsey and Chris Wood all a shot further back.
Wood, who finished fifth in The Open Championship as an amateur in 2008 and third as a professional last year at Turnberry - just one shot outside the play-off - was one of four players to card a 65 and said: "I could have shot that score easily on the first two days as well.
"It was very frustrating, I gave myself so many chances and spent a good couple of hours on the putting green after yesterday's round. Today I felt like I could have birdied every hole."
Former Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price, now ranked 1,078th in the world, had earlier admitted he was stunned at how far he had fallen after climbing into a share of tenth place on seven under.
Price made the halfway cut right on the mark of level par, but carded a third round 65, his best score for three years.
The Welshman memorably beat World Number Two Phil Mickelson in the singles at The Belfry in 2002, but has struggled badly recently and recorded just three top-ten finishes in the last five seasons on The European Tour.
The 43 year old from Pontypridd finished 198th on The Race to Dubai last year and has a card courtesy of a place in the top 40 of The European Tour's career money list.
Price, whose last tournament win came in the European Open in 2003, admitted: "I lost the appetite to do the work that you need to do. You think 'Do I really want to make the sacrifices?'
"But I did not expect to pay such a high price for taking my foot off the accelerator."
Teenage prodigy Matteo Manassero, the former amateur star making his professional debut on home soil, was inches away from a hole-in-one on the sixth but eventually had to settle for a round of 72.
That left the 17 year old on four under par, 13 shots off the lead but still inside the top 30 and on course for a healthy first pay cheque.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
199 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 66 63
205 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 68 68
206 Chris Wood 71 70 65, Peter Whiteford 69 71 66, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 70 67 69, David Horsey 68 71 67
207 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 70 67 70
208 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 68 69 71, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 68 69
209 Richie Ramsay 73 71 65, Richard McEvoy 72 72 65, Phillip Price 72 72 65, Graeme Storm 67 73 69
210 Andrew McArthur 73 66 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 70
211 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 73 68 70, Anthony Wall 71 71 69, Steve Webster 72 68 71, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 73 69, David Drysdale 68 74 69, Stephen Dodd 68 74 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 71 66 74
212 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 70 71 71, Andrew Coltart 70 70 72, Matteo Manassero (Ita) 70 70 72, Nick Dougherty 70 74 68, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 71 72, Steven O'Hara 70 74 68, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 73 69, Julien Clement (Swi) 72 70 70, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 72 71 69
213 Ake Nilsson (Rsa) 69 74 70, Joost Luiten (Ned) 73 70 70, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 73 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 76 68 69, Robert Coles 70 71 72, Robert Rock 67 73 73, Paul Lawrie 67 73 73, Alastair Forsyth 71 70 72, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 67 74 72
214 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 71 72, Gary Boyd 75 69 70, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 70 72 72, George Coetzee (Rsa) 72 71 71
215 Jamie Elson 72 72 71, Scott Hend (Aus) 72 71 72, Gareth Maybin 69 72 74, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 69 74, Michele Reale (Ita) 73 69 73, Bradley Dredge 73 69 73
216 Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 73 70 73, Marco Soffietti (Ita) 69 74 73, Peter Baker 70 74 72, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 72 70 74, Benjamin Hebert (Fra) 71 71 74, Mark Brown (Nzl) 72 71 73, Miles Tunnicliff 72 72 72
217 Sven Struver (Ger) 76 68 73, Andrea Pavan (Ita) 76 68 73, Oliver Fisher 69 73 75
218 Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 71 72 75
219 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 70 76, Sam Hutsby 71 73 75
220 David Dixon 71 73 76, Stefano Reale (Ita) 72 72 76
221 Barry Lane 71 72 78
226 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 72 82

Monty to play in Open European International Final Qualifier

Colin Montgomerie will compete in the Open's European International Final Qualifier next month for the first time in six years.
The European Ryder Cup captain, 334th on the world rankings, has submitted his entry for the 36-hole shoot-out at Sunningdale as he chases a place in the 150th anniversary championship at the Old course, St Andrews in July.
Montgomerie, 46, last competed in the IFQ contest in 2004. A year later, the former European No 1 finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in the battle for the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

Raymond Russell leads Challenge Tour event

FROM THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR WEBSITE
Scot Raymond Russell carded a five under par 65 in the second round of the ALLIANZ Côtes d’Armor Open Bretagne to lead by one shot at the halfway stage.
Russell, teeing off from the tenth, started well with two birdies from his first two holes, and picked up more shots and the 15th, 16th and 18th to reach the turn five under for the day. Although he was unable to build on that on the front nine – a birdie at the fifth was cancelled out by a bogey at the third – he stayed one shot in front of overnight co-leader Sam Walker, Jorge Garcia, Marcus Higley and Jesus Maria Arruti.
Manuel Quiros, joint first round leader with Walker at Golf Blue Green Pléneuf Val-André, could not maintain the form which yielded a 63 on day one and dropped down the leaderboard after a 76.
Russell, who finished fourth in the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, said: “I got off to a good start, but having been five under after nine I’m not that happy to be honest. I didn’t really capitalise on the way back in. I didn’t really hit it close enough and missed a couple of putts. I find the front nine more difficult. It’s trickier. But overall I have to be pleased. It’s getting colder and windier out there now so I’m glad to be finished and have the clubhouse lead.”
Englishman Walker signed for a level par 70, recovering well after starting with three straight bogeys, and Garcia, of Spain, had an erratic 68 which included an eagle, four birdies and two double bogeys. Higley had the best round of the day to jump into a share of second place, carding a six under par 64 which included six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
"I was just hitting it well and holing a lot of putts,” said Higley. “I’m just going to have to keep it going over the weekend and hope the weather conditions stay as calm as they have been for the first two rounds.”
Garcia added: “I played very well. I made two double bogeys today which was disappointing because overall I played nicely. I had an eagle though, at the par four fourth. I hit a good drive and then a wedge from 67 metres which went in. It was my first eagle in a professional tournament so I’m happy.”
Another Spaniard, Jorge Campillo, also struggled to match his first round, following up a 64 with a 73 to slip back. “It was terrible today,” he said. “I couldn’t hit it straight and I couldn’t make a putt.”
Frenchman Olivier David provided the highlight of the day with an albatross at the par five 11th, hitting a four iron from 182 metres which landed at the front of the green and rolled in.
Defending champion Lee James did not make the cut after shooting rounds of 79 and 71 to be ten over.
SCOREBOARD TO COME

Lothians golf stalwart Bobby Muir dies aged 62

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Bobby Muir, who won the Lothians Championship in 1975 and was a popular figure at both Broomieknowe and West Linton, has died suddenly at the age of 62.
Muir grew up in Lasswade, where his father owned the Laird & Dog Hotel, and won the Broomieknowe club championship in 1973 and 1974. His good run continued with that Lothians title triumph at Monktonhall, where beat Lothianburn's Harvey Brown by 4 and 3 in the final.
"There was a great Broomieknowe support there that day and we all got soaked to the skin," recalled David Kirkwood, who was Muir's best man and vice versa. "But there was still a major celebration back at the clubhouse."
Muir switched to West Linton after meeting wife Joyce, who played her golf there. The couple celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary at the club last year – the same location as their wedding day function.
A year after joining in 1981, he won the club championship and duly retained the title for the next two years.
Muir ran the West Linton pro shop with Neil Hogg for a spell in 1994 and, for the last five years, was non-playing captain of the West Linton Summer League team.
"Bobby was an institution," added Kirkwood. "He was a straight hitter and had a great short game. He was such an affable bloke and fitted in with the bricks at West Linton after moving there."
His funeral is at 2pm on Wednesday at Mortonhall Crematorium.

Aberdeen Trades Foursomes Scoreboard
Played over Hazlehead No 1 course

FIRST ROUND (continued)

R&C CONTRUCTION bt ABERDEEN PRESS by four holes
C Simpson & R Lamb 4, R Piriei & D Gardiner 0.
J Speirs & E Allan 0, S Campbell, D Walker 0.

NE ELECTRICAL walk-over PLUMBING & HEATING scratched.

ROYAL MAIL 1 bt LUMSDEN SECURITY by 11 holes.
C Gilbert & M Stewart 7, M Wheeeler & A Hay 0.
T Robertson & K Duthie 4, F Lawson & N Forbes 0.

GRAMPIAN FIRE & RESCUE bt TEACHERS by two holes.
D Watson & K Smith 3, J Lamont & R Anderson 0.
G Shearer & K Joss 0, M Will & T Liversedge 1.

ESEP ELMAR bt BAKERS by two holes
R McKenzie & S Hardie 0, J Thomas & C Chambers 0.
A Strath & K Selbie 2, J Borthwick & S Kennedy 0).

SECOND ROUND

INSURANCE bt BANCON CONSTRUCTION by four holes.
D Love & G Walker 0, M Cameron & R Barron 0.
N Henderson & J Moore 4, N Sangster & B Bell 0.