PAUL LAWRIE-BACKED PAIR HAVE MIXED LUCK ON DAY 1 IN SPAIN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Paul Lawrie Foundation's Buchan loons, Philip McLean (Peterhead) and Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol, had mixed fortunes in the four-round European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 tournaments which began at four Spanish venues today. McLean, pictured right, who says he will turn pro when this event is over, made a very good start with a two-under-par 70 to be lying joint seventh at Costa Ballena Golf Club near Cadiz. On the other hand, Nicol, competing at Las Colinas GC, near Alicante, had a three-over-par 74 to be joint 68th at the end of the first day. Roughly the leading 20 and ties from each of the four venues will go forward to the six-round Final Q School at PGA Catalunya, Girona from December 10 to 15. McLean dropped a shot at the second but he did not let that shake his confidence and covered the next 16 holes in three-under-par. He birdied the long eighth, the 13th and the short 16th. Philip is two shots behind the three joint leaders at this venue. A shot ahead of him on 69 and in joint fourth place is another Scot, Jack Doherty but McLean finished the day ahead of Raymond Russell (71), Scott Henry (71), Graham Fox (73), Jamie McLeary (73), Andrew McArthur (73) and Paul McKechnie (74) at Costa Ballena. Nicol shot four birdies - at the long third, short seventh, long 15th and long 18th at Las Colinas, near Alicante - but he had a double bogey 6 at the first and dropped shots at the second, sixth, short 10th, 12th and short 17th. Nicol has been playing so well of late - he won the Alps Tour Qualifying School, then the North-east Alliance at Newburgh-on-Ythan - that it's a shame his form has gone off the boil just when he needed it most. Let's hope it's just a temporary hitch.  Scots ahead of Nicol at Las Colinas are Elliot Saltman (67), Shaun McAllister (.69), Mark Kerr (70) and Chris Kelly (72). Four players share the lead on five-under 66. At El Valle, Fife amateur James White (Lundin) had a six-under 65 to be joint third after covering the inward nine holes in only 30 shots. At the same venue, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) had a 66 - he came back in 31 -  to be joint sixth and Glasgow-born Canadian Alan McLean a 70 for a share of 29th place. At the par-73 La Manga South Course venue, over 7,000yd long off the back tees, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) had a 73 to be joint 35th while Murrayshall's Gavin Dear is in joint 47th place after a 74. Leading first-round scores at four Spanish venues COSTA BALLENA Par 72. Yardage 6,893 68 Wade Ormsby (Aus), Pedro Oriol (Spa), Peter Uihlein (US) (am). 69 Jack Doherty (Sco), Taco Remkes (Net), Sam Hutsby (Eng). Other Scots' scores: 70 Philip McLean (T7). 71 Raymond Russell, Scott Henry (T18). 73 Graham Fox, Jamie McLeary, Andrew McArthur (T37). 74 Paul McKechnie (T62). EL VALLE Par 71. Yardage 6,901 63 Joakim Lagergren (Swe). 64 Floris De Vries (Ne). 65 Mark Laskey (Wal), David J Smith (Eng), James White (Sco) (am). Other Scots' scores: 66 Callum Macaulay (T6). 70 Alan McLean (T29). LAS COLINAS Par 71. Yardage 6874 66 Morten Orum Madsen (Den), Le Rouox Ferreira (SAf), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Benn Barham (Eng), Andres Harto (Den). Scots' scores: 67 Elliot Saltman (T6). 69 Shaun McAllister (T20). 70 Mark Kerr (T27). 72 Chris Kelly (T62). 74 Kris Nicol (T68). LA MANGA SOUTH Par 73. Yardage 7,107 66 Allan Versfeld (SAf), Graeme A Clark (Eng). 67 Sion Bebb (Wal), Andrea Perrino (Ita). Scots' scores: 73 Neil Fenwick (T35). 74 Gavin Dear (T47)