PAUL SHIELDS HITS THE HEIGHTS WITH A 61 ... BUT FINISHES SIXTH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Cambuslang's Paul Shields, who finished in sixth place after a career-best opening round of 11-under-par 61 over a course of 7,700 yards, performed best of the six Scots who played in the Gauteng North Open at Pecanwood Golf Club, the first compeititive outing of their SGU-organised trip to South Africa.
Shields, who an eagle, 10 birdies (eight of them in a remarkable outward half) and a bogey in halves of 28 and 33, to surge clear of the first-day field, came down to earth with a bump in the second round when his 75 included a 9 at the par-5 seventh in an outward 42.
But Paul, pictured, steadied up to add last-day scores of 73 and 71 for a creditable eight-under-par total of 280, finishing nine shots behind the winner, Toby Tree , a member of the England boys' squad.
Daniel Kay, the Dunbar player who was beaten finalist in last year's Scottish men's amateur championship, tied for 39th place on 294 with scores of 71, 75, 76 and 72.
Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) scored 69, 73, 75 and 78 for 295 and a share of 44th place.
Aberdour's Scott Crichton finished joint 48th on 296 with rounds of 70, 77, 74 and 75.
Players needed to scored four-over-par 148 or better to survive the halfway cut.
Fraser McKenna (Balmore) (76-73) and Conor O'Neil (Pollok) (75-74) both missed out by one shot on 149 in a huge field of 196 players at a very long course north of Johannesburg.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,700
271 Toby Tree (Eng) 69 66 66 70.
273 Zander Lombard (SAf) 66 68 68 71.
275 Brandon Stone (SAf) 67 72 67 69
SCOTS' SCORES
280 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 61 75 73 71 (6th)
294 Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 71 75 76 72 (T39)
295 Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 69 73 75 78 (T44)
296 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 70 77 74 75 (T48).
MISSED THE CUT (148 or better qualified)
149 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 73, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 74.
Field of 196 players.



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