McKECHNIE, CALDWELL ONLY PAR-BEATERS IN SPRINT FINAL
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Braid Hills' Paul McKechnie, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, edged a shot ahead of the select field at halfway with a wind-cheating, two-under-par 69 in the Sprint to St Andrews Final over The Duke's Course today.
Only one other player broke the par of 71 - Christopher Currie (Caldwell) whose round of 70 included four birdies in a row from the third.
The field of 35 players - Heather MacRae withdrew - qualified for the 36-hole final through a series of 18-hole competitions.
McKechnie had to build his score before the closing holes which saw far more bogeys than birdies. Paul birdied the short third, long sixth, seventh and long 11th, having bogeyed the second and fhe fifth.
He parred the last seven holes, which was no mean feat, given the conditions.
With next week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship ringing down the curtain on the Tartan Tour season, McKechnie, who is third in the money table with a total of £21,731, could, in theory, still catch Stephen Gray (Hayston), leader with £31,645, by winning the £2,000 prize in the current event and the £8,000 reward next week.
Gray did not qualify for the "Sprint" final.
Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), second in the money table with £23,715, will have to make his move at Gleneagles because an opening 78 in the Sprint to St Andrews leaves him with a lot of ground to make up over Tuesday's final round if he is to make the "Sprint" prize list which stops after the top 15 and ties.
SPRINT TO ST ANDREWS FINAL
The Duke's Course, St Andrews
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
69 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
70 Christopher Currie (Caldwell).
71 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield), Craig Ronald (Carluke).
73 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), David Patrick (Elie SC), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), Gareth Wright (West Linton).
74 Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf).
75 Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston).
76 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie GL), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Graeme Brown (Montrose GL).
77 Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS), Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club).
78 Scott Hendeerson (Kings Links), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), James McKinnon (Irvine), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory.
80 James McGhee (Duddingston).
81 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club).
83 Fraser Clarke (Newmachar), Christopher Russell (Dunbar).
Withdrew - Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel).
Retired - Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club).
TOP SIX IN TARTAN TOUR MONEY TABLE
1 Stephen Gray (Hayston), events 77, £31,645.
2 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), events 60, £25,715.
3 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), events 81, £21,731.
4 Scott Henderson (Kings Links), events 75, £18,869.
5 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR), events 77, £18,554.
6 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), events 87, £18,583.
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Only one other player broke the par of 71 - Christopher Currie (Caldwell) whose round of 70 included four birdies in a row from the third.
The field of 35 players - Heather MacRae withdrew - qualified for the 36-hole final through a series of 18-hole competitions.
McKechnie had to build his score before the closing holes which saw far more bogeys than birdies. Paul birdied the short third, long sixth, seventh and long 11th, having bogeyed the second and fhe fifth.
He parred the last seven holes, which was no mean feat, given the conditions.
With next week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship ringing down the curtain on the Tartan Tour season, McKechnie, who is third in the money table with a total of £21,731, could, in theory, still catch Stephen Gray (Hayston), leader with £31,645, by winning the £2,000 prize in the current event and the £8,000 reward next week.
Gray did not qualify for the "Sprint" final.
Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), second in the money table with £23,715, will have to make his move at Gleneagles because an opening 78 in the Sprint to St Andrews leaves him with a lot of ground to make up over Tuesday's final round if he is to make the "Sprint" prize list which stops after the top 15 and ties.
SPRINT TO ST ANDREWS FINAL
The Duke's Course, St Andrews
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
69 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
70 Christopher Currie (Caldwell).
71 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield), Craig Ronald (Carluke).
73 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), David Patrick (Elie SC), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), Gareth Wright (West Linton).
74 Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf).
75 Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston).
76 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie GL), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Graeme Brown (Montrose GL).
77 Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS), Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club).
78 Scott Hendeerson (Kings Links), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), James McKinnon (Irvine), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory.
80 James McGhee (Duddingston).
81 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club).
83 Fraser Clarke (Newmachar), Christopher Russell (Dunbar).
Withdrew - Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel).
Retired - Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club).
TOP SIX IN TARTAN TOUR MONEY TABLE
1 Stephen Gray (Hayston), events 77, £31,645.
2 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), events 60, £25,715.
3 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), events 81, £21,731.
4 Scott Henderson (Kings Links), events 75, £18,869.
5 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR), events 77, £18,554.
6 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), events 87, £18,583.
Labels: Tartan Tour
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, October 03, 2011
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