SALTMAN, FINDLAY AND McLEAN CLEAR FIRST ALPS Q HURDLE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) and the North-east pair of Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and Peterhead's Philip McLean have qualified comfortably for next week's Final Stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School in Italy.   In the Stage 1 36-hole eliminator over the Toscana course, Saltman, second overnight, finished joint sixth on level par 142 (69-73) while Findlay, pictured, (72-71) and McLean (73-70) finished joint eighth on 143 of the 48 qualifiers. Saltman had an adventurous round after a double bogey 6 at the second hole. He went on to birdie the long sixth, the short 13th and the long 18th but bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 17th in halves of 37 and 36. Findlay  signed off in style with birdies at the long 15th, short 16th and long 18th to come home in 32 for his second-round 71. McLean, who is still an amateur, had three birdies in a row from the 10th in an inward half of 33 for a one-under-par 70 today. John Henry (Clydebank) missed out by a shot with 81 and 75 for 156 and 49th place. Brother of Scott Henry, who has been a success on the Alps Tour in the regular season past, had an eagle 2 at the 296yd 12th and a birdie at the 17th but against that he had a double bogey 6 at the 10th and single shots dropped at the fourth, fifth, seventh, 14th and 18th in halves of 39 and 36. Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll had scores of 78 and 79 for 157 and joint 51st place. McNicoll bogeyed the first three holes then had a double bogey at the fourth before bogeying the fifth to stand six over par for the day on the sixth tee. He also bogeyed the seventh on his way to a demoralising 43 blows for the outward half. After a double bogey at the 12th, Keir showed a glimpse of his true potential by covering the last six holes in two under par, thanks to birdies at the 16th and 18th. Saltman, Findlay and McLean will be joined in the Final Q School over 54 holes at Toscana and Punta Alta courses from Monday to Wednesday next week  by fellow Scots Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), David Law (Hazlehead), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) who were exempt from the Stage 1 event. Only the leading 35 and ties will gain unconditional places on next year's Alps Tour. Two of the three rounds will be over the Toscana lay-out, including the decisive third round, which will suit Saltman, Findlay and McLean after making the first grade this week over that course. ALPS TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL Stage 1 - Italy LEADING FINAL TOTALS TOSCANA COURSE Par 142 (2x71) 139 Dominque Nouailhac (Fra) 67 72. 140 Adrien Monnier (Fra) (am) 71 69, Jerome Lando Casanova (Fra) 71 79. Scots scores 142 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 69 73 (T6). 143 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 72 71, Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am) 73 70 (T8). Missed the cut (leading 48 qualified) 156 John Henry (Clydebank) 81 75 (49th). 157 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 78 79 (T51). PUNTA ALA COURSE Par 144 (2x72) 143 Anthony Pailler (Fra) 70 73, Enrico De Nitto (Ita) (am) 75 68. 144 Francesco Testa (Ita) (am) 73 71. Selected scores: 146 Jack Clarke (Eng) 71 75. 147 Warren Harmiston (Eng) 73 74, Adam Gray (Eng) 72 75. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE CLICK HERE