BIG IMPROVEMENT BY SCOTS IN MOROCCO BUT ONLY 2 BEAT CUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Despite a stiff breeze, particularly in the afternoon, all five Scots improved their scores considerably on the second day of the EPD Tour's Mogador Open at Essaouira on Morocco's western Atlantic seaboard but only Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) and Aberdeen's David Law survived the cut to the top 40 and ties after 36 holes.

O'Hara, pictured left, jumped from sharing 38th place to joint ninth after a 71 for 149, despite a double bogey 6 at the first.

Northern Open champion Law, now a rookie pro, slashed 14 shots off his first-day effort with a four-birdie, two-under-par 70 for 154, the limit mark for making it through to the final day's play. He is now joint 33rd, having improved 65 places over 18 holes - a great boost for his confidence.

Ellon's Ross Cameron missed the cut by one shot with a four-birdie 74 for 155.

Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and Philip McLean (Peterhead) both failed on 156, Findlay with a 75 and McLean a 74, significant improvement by both Buchan rookies. In fact, it was a day when all five Scots regained their pride in their performance.

Overnight leader Christoph Gunther (Germany) slumped from an opening 68 to an 82 - it's that kind of course, designed by Gary Player, no less.

New leader is Nuno Henriques (Portugal) with rounds of 71 and 72 for 143.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)

143 Nuno Henriques (Por) 71 72.

144 Jerome Lando Casanova (Fra) 74 70.

145 Max Glauert (Ger) 69 76.
Selected score
150 Christoph Gunther (Ger) 68 82 (T12)

SCOTS' SCORES:

148 Paul O'Hara 77 71 (T9).

154 David Law 84 70 (T33).

MISSED THE CUT (154 or better qualified)

155 Ross Cameron 81 74

156 Jordan Findlay 81 75, Philip McLean 82 74.

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HENDERSON LEADING SCOT AT HACIENDA RIQUELME OPEN

North-east pair Scott Henderson (Kings Links) and Banchory's Greig Hutcheon, despite a sore back, were in joint 19th and 26th positions respectively at the end of the first round of this week's Hi5 Pro Tour event, the Hacienda Riquelme Open in south-east Spain today.

Henderson, pictured, shot four birdies but a double bogey 6 at the 16th dragged him down to a one-over-par 73.

Hutcheon's four birdies in a 75 actually included the 16th but he also had a double bogey, at the short 15th, in halves of 36 and 39.

Former Rangers footballer Ian Redford senior had a 79, former Northern Open champion David Thomson an 81 and Andrew Cullen an 84.

Leading the field by three shots is Eddie Pepperell from Abingdon, Oxfordshire. His eight-under 64 included eight birdies and an eagle - a hole in one at the short seventh. 

Pepperell turned pro fairly last year after a stellar amateur career in which he was British boys championship beaten finalist in 2009 and winner of the Portuguese amateur championship in 2011.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72 

64 Eddie Pepperell (Eng)

67 James Ruth (Eng), Roberto Sebastian (Spa).

68 Thomas Norret (Den).

69 Manuel Quiros (Spa).

70 Gary King (Eng), Jeff Winther (Den), Jason Barnes (Eng), William Harrold (Eng), Ryan Newman (Eng).

SCOTS' SCORES

73 Scott Henderson (T19).

75 Greig Hutcheon (T26).

79 Ian Redford senior (T42).

81 David Thomson (T49).

84 Andrew Cullen (T55).

Field of 59 players.
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