SIX SCOTS BEAT ULSTER OPEN CUT, BUT 11 SCOTS ON WAY HOME

Six Scots survived the second-round cut on level par 144 but 11 compatriots did not in the PGA EuroPro Tour's Ulster Bank Open at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena. Former Scottish boys match-play champion Paul Doherty, based in South Wales, led the Tartan Army with scores of 69 and 66 for nine-under-par 135 which has him in close-up third place behind Londoner leader Scott Fallon (64-69 for 133) and Bristol's Paul Reed (68-66 for 134). Doherty had seven birdies and one bogey. The Saltman brothers, Elliot and Zack, seemed to be joined at the hip this week. The Archerfield Links pair are shared eight place on 138, both following up opening 71s with 67 each. Elliot had seven birdies, Zack two eagles and three birdies. The other Scots in theory chasing the £10,000 jackpot prize over the final round are Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) and John Gallagher (Swanston),. both on 141, and Wallace Booth (Combrie) on 142. Stewart has scored 71-70, Gallagher 69-72 and Booth 70-72. Ellon's Ross Cameron missed the cut by one with a 70 for 145. Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) shot a second-round 67 but missed the cut by two shots on 146. Former Walker Cup player and past Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) just cannot get his pro career off the launching pad. He missed out with a pair of 74s for 148, the same total as Ed Wood (Crow Wood) (76-71) and Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) (74-74) Craigielaw's Shaun McAllister scored 72-77 for 149, one shot better than James McGhee (Duddingston) (72-78). John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) totalled 154 but would have been happy with a second-round 70, 14 shots better than his first circuit. Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) made a giant leap forward from an opening 84 to a 71 but 155 was still 11 shots too many. Mark Rae (Alyth)  finished on 157 (81-76) and Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) scored 80-78 for 158. Leading second round scores Par 144 (2x72) 133 Scott Fallon (Eng) 64 69. 134 Paul Reed (Eng) 68 66 135 Paul Doherty (Sco) 69 66 OTHER SCOTS SCORES 138 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield) 71 67, Zack Saltman (Archerfield) 71 67 141 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 71 70, John Gallagher (Swanston) 69 72 142 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 70 72 MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified) 145 Ross Cameron (Ellon) 76 72. 146 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 79 67 148 Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 76 72, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 74 74, Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 74 74 149 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 72 77 150 James McGhee (Duddingston) 72 78 154 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 84 70. 155 Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) 84 71 157 Mark Rae (Alyth) 81 76 158 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 80 78.