CHRIS KELLY AND MICHAEL STEWART TOP SCOTS AT CREWE Q

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Tartan Tour player Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Walker Cup hero Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), still an amateur, were the best placed Scots at the end of the first round at Wychwood Park GC, Crewe of the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section B eliminator today. Kelly, pictured, shot a three-under-par 69 to be tied sixth and Stewart a 70 to be joint ninth. Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Elgin exile and former Scottish youths champion Joel Hendry, home from his US base, and Paul Doherty, a past Scottish boys title holder, all hit the par 72 mark. Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) had 74s while Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) both had 75s. Scott Henderson (Kings Links), once upon a time the European Tour Rookie of the Year, had a 76. Benny Ahlenback of Sweden led the way with a brilliant opening eight under par 64. That put him two strokes clear of Englishman Steven Uzzell with two Americans, Dodge Kemmer and Patrick Kidd, handily placed a further shot back on five under par over the Crewe layout. A total of 109 players are taking part, hoping to secure one of the precious tickets to the Second Qualifying Stage which will take place over four courses in Spain in the first week in December and then, if successful, to the Final six-round examination at PGA Catalunya Resort from December 10-16. The top 25 and ties after the fourth round at Wychwood Park on Friday  will progress through to the Second Qualifying Stage. ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES  Par 72 64 B Ahlenback (Swe)  66 S Uzzell (Eng)  67 D Kemmer (US) , P Reed (US)  68 J Dransfield  (Eng) 69 P Kaensche  (Nor), B Martin (Eng), Chris Kelly (Cawder)  70 H Leon (Chi), P Richardson (Eng), G Woolgar (Eng) , R Gildersleeve (US) , A Versfeld (SAf) , S Brown (Eng), G Benson (Eng), K Harper (Eng), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (am), A Cooley  (Eng) (am), J Timmis (Eng) (am).  71 A Shakespear (Eng), D Palm (Swe) , A Laing (Imn) , T Mordt  (SAf) , D Marmion (Eng), A Georgiou (SAf), S Arnold  (Aus) , I Pyman (Eng), J Senior (Eng) 72 D Mooney (Nir), Greig Hutcheon (Sco), N James (Wal), A Stott (Eng) , M Ureta  (Chi) , Duncan Stewart (Sco), A Evans (Eng), J Morgan  (Eng) , D Lloyd (SAf), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Joel Hendry (Sco), S Merry  (Tri) , I Ridgway  (Eng) , J Howarth (Eng) , A Chesters (am) (Eng) , R Bentham (Wal) )(am)  73 D Wardrop  (Eng), Clarke Lutton (Sco), P Grannell (Eng) , J White (Eng), R Wallis (Eng) , A Palmer (Eng) , G Parker (Eng) , K Garwood (Eng) , J Need (Eng) , M McAlpine (Nir) (am), J Bartlett (Eng) (am) 74 Stephen Gray (Hayston), P Maddy (Eng), C Farrelly (Eng), Tom Higson (Sco), R Hearty (Eng), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), C Elliot (Eng) , L Ferreira (SAf)  75 R Tagg (Eng) , A Jones (Eng) , N McCarthy  (Eng) , J Shepherd  (Eng) , Z Scotland  (Eng) , R O'Neill (Eng) , Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links), S Jackson (Eng) , D Coupland (Eng) (am), O Farr (Wal) (am) 76 C Hughes (Nir) , R Oliver (Nir) , B Briscoe (Wal) , R Newman  (Eng) , Scott Henderson (Sco), A Hodkinson (Eng) , Y Ali  (Eng) , S Griffiths (Eng), B Fowles (Eng)  77 N Redfern (Eng) , M Swales (Eng) , S Tooth (Eng) , J Bland (Eng)   78 A Seve Ruia (Eng) , J Burns (Eng) , D Rawluk (Irl) , R Leonard (Eng), R Whitelock  (Eng) , I Winstanley (Eng) , C Durnian (Eng) , A Hogan (Irl) (am)  79 M Pearson (Eng) , J Mason  (Eng) , D James (Eng) , M Armitage (Eng) , A Runcie (Wal) , J McCormick (Eng) (am),  80 J Mumford (Eng) , O Smith (Eng), S Maurits (Ned)   81 N Els (SAf) , M Sparrow (Eng)