REPORT AND SCORES FROM THIS WEEK'S US PGA TOUR EVENT

To read the US PGA Tour website summary of Friday's play in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at The Colonial - where Jason Duffner leads by two at halfway

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Check out the halfway scores and scorecards

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ROGER CHAPMAN, JOHN COOK SHARE US PGA SENIOR CH/P LEAD

England's Roger Chapman and United States' John Cook are sharing the lead after two rounds at Harbour Shores GC, Benton Harbour in Michigan.
Chapman has shot 68-67 for seven-under 135, Cook 69-66.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
Players from US unless stated
135 Roger Chapman (England) 68 67, John Cook 69 66
137 Hale Irwin 71 66.
139 Steve Pate 70 69, Loren Roberts 72 67.

SELECTED SCORES
141 Peter Senior (Australia) 74 67, Bernhard Langer (Germany) 73 68 (T8)
143 Paul Wesselingh (England) 71 72, Mark James (England) 73 70 (T19)
144 Andrew Oldcorn (Scotland) 74 70 (T30)
145 Sandy Lyle (Scotland) 74 71, D J Russell (England) 76 69, Mark Mouland (Wales) 72 73.
146 Gary Wolstenholme (England) 79 67 (T50)
147 Barry Lane (England) 74 73 (T57)

MISSED THE CUT (147 or better qualified)
150 Gordon Brand jun (Scotland) 76 74





TO READ THE REPORT AND VIEW THE SCORES

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McILROY MISSES CUT AND ADMITS HE HADN'T PRACTISED HARD ENOUGH FOR WENTWORTH

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH SPORTS WEBSITE

By JAMES CORRIGAN, at Wentworth
Rory McIlroy missed his second cut here in succession, but credit to him, he refused to miss the point. The young Northern Irishman pointed the finger at himself, admitting: "I've taken my eye off the ball."

The world No1’s nine-over total – some 21 shots off the lead – was embarrassing enough but he actually fought hard to limit the redness on his face.
But for a birdie on the last, McIlroy would have reprised the “80” meltdowns he suffered in the second round of the 2010 Open and in the final round of last year’s Masters.

After throwing a club in anger on Thursday, he did not throw in the towel in the second round. Although he did reveal that as the bogeys and doubles arrived in a disastrous eight-hole run from the eighth, which featured him dropping nine shots, “I was already thinking about next week”.

Yet it was another confession which was more brutally honest. “I did not practise as hard as I might have,” said McIlroy following his 79, his worst round for 15 months.
“I need to work hard and get it back to the level that it was leading into the Masters. I just feel like I’ve lacked competitive rounds.”

Attention will inevitably focus on a pared-back schedule. McIlroy would not be pressed into agreeing that he needs to increase his event count, but the frustration was written all over his countenance.

“It does hurt,” said McIlroy, who a fortnight ago missed his third Sawgrass cut in a row. “It’s not nice to play like this, and it’s not nice to play like these two tournaments in a row.”

In fairness, McIlroy was drawn in by far the worst half. The winds gusted past the 20mph mark for the afternoon starters, while there were benign conditions for the morning groups. But, regardless, this has been such a highly unexpected slump from golf‘s golden boy.
Forget the fact that this was the first time McIlroy missed back-to-back weekends in two years, or that this was his first Missed Cut on European soil in four years and just consider that, as he alluded, he went into Augusta having recorded 12 top-five placings in 13 events. Furthermore, he lost out in a play-off at Quail Hollow two events ago. Like Sawgrass, Wentworth is plainly his discomfort zone.
“I was two under through the first seven on Thursday, one under through seven today, but there is just something about the middle of this course I just can’t get to grips with,” he said.

McIlroy vowed to return as vehemently as he vowed to fix his problems before Memorial starts in Ohio on Thursday and, more pertinently, his defence of the US Open tees off in San Francisco in 19 days' time.

“I just need to hit a lot of balls,” he said. “For that reason maybe it was a good thing I’ve got these two days off to practise to get my game sharp.”
By the time he travels back to America he will very likely have conceded the No 1 tag back to Luke Donald. The Englishman was control personified in his second 68 to stroll to eight under. On most other Wentworth Fridays that would have handed him the halfway lead, but James Morrison’s heroics meant he is a tie for second with David Drysdale, four off the pace.
Morrison’s extraordinary story was retold as the 27 year-old from nearby Chertsey shot a blemish-free 64 to march to 12-under. He should have held up his putter to the crowd as Morrison was a member of the England Under-16 cricket team, playing alongside Alastair Cook, Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara. He took up golf at 16 and in 10 months brought his handicap down from 18 to scratch.
As he was on a cricket scholarship at a private school, he felt compelled to keep playing cricket until he was 18. His last innings for Surrey saw him score 114 (not out) against Middlesex in the age-group county championship.
But golf was his game and in three years on the Tour he has won a title in Madeira and nearly £800,000. His old team-mates might look at their own bank balances and conclude he made the right choice.
“Playing golf is better than standing in a field all day, I can tell you that,” he said.
Donald, himself, was a keen cricketer in his teens. “I was an opening bowler; deadly line and length,” he said. Of course, that last description applies to his short-game and with respect to Morrison, he is the overwhelming favourite to retain his title here this weekend.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ANOTHER REPORT ON THE SECOND DAY'S

PLAY IN THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AND ALSO THE SCOREBOARD

MURCAR LINKS WIN MAITLAND SHIELD FINAL AT BALGOWNIE

Murcar Links added to their long history of foursomes success when they beat neighbours Royal Aberdeen on their home patch, Balgownie links, to win the City of Aberdeen men's foursomes for the Maitland Shield tonight. Overall the margin was Murcar Links by eight holes. Anthony Bews and Clark Brechin, who recently moved from the Portlethen club to join Murcar Links, provided the foundation for the "visitors'" victory. They finished five up on Bill Barclay and Mark Halliday. Bews and Brechin, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, were only one up at the turn but they won five out of the next six holes to ensure that Murcar Links not only won the first string match they won it by a margin that would be decisive overall. There were some high quality play in the second match with Duncan Raitt and former Scotland cap Bryan Innes five under par but "only" two up at the turn on Allan Reith and Donald Macandrew junior. On the inward half it was a case for Murcar of "what we have, we hold," with Raitt and Innes defying their opponents' effort to pull back the deficit. In fact the Murcar pair were able to add another hole to their halfway lead. Result: FINAL Murcar Links bt Royal Aberdeen by eight holes (Anthony Bews and Clark Brechin 5, Bill Barclay and Mark Halliday 0. Duncan Raitt and Bryan Innes 3, Allan Reith and Donald Macandrew jun 0).

MURCAR SENIOR ALISTAIR FIDDES WINS AT MISTY MONTROSE

Murcar Links' Alistair Fiddes' four-stroke first-round lead stood him in good stead over the second and final round as he won the Scottish Seniors Golfing Socity's Spring Meeting competition at misty Montrose by one shot. The haar delayed the start of  play by 50min but Fiddes, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, still had some trouble finding the greens as he added a five-over-par 76 to his first-day 68 for a total of two-over-par 144 which equalled the CSS scores of 71 for the first round and 73 for the second.. Fiddes' eight-shot deterioration allowed the field to close up but none could make up Fiddes' halfway advantage. The closest anyone got was Fraser McCluskey (Royal Burgess) with 72-73 for 145. Third place on 146 was claimed by David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) with a pair of 73s. Scratch winner Alistair Fiddes also had the lowest net total. Playing off three, Alistair had net rounds of 65 and 73 for 138 - four shots ahead of Ian Kerr (Kilmacolm) (7) 74-68. FINAL TOTALS Par 142 (2x71) CSS 71 73 144 Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links) 68 76. 145 Fraser McCloskey (Royal Burgess) 73 72. 146 David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73 73. 147 Derek Murphy (Kinross) 72 75. 148 Graham Bell (Downfield) 74 74, Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 72 76, Ronnie MacLean (Hamilton) 73 75. 149 David Shields (Dunblane New) 79 70. 151 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 74 77, Ian Morrison (Royal Aberdeen) 76 75 152 Robert Smith (Nairn) 78 74. 153 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 74 79, Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 78 75, Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) 79 74, David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 80 73, Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 73 80, George Paterson (Northern) 76 77, Eric Lindsay (Blairgowrie) 72 81, David Logie (Craigiehill) 78 75. LEADING NET TOTALS 138 Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links) (3) 65 73. 142 Ian Kerr (Kilmacolm) (7) 74 68. 143 Ian Morrison (Royal Aberdeen) (4) 72 71, Derek Murphy (Kinross) (2) 70 73. 144 Brian Kidd (Panmure) (6) 73 71, David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) (1) 72 72, Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) (2) 70 74.

SCOTT HENRY FOUR SHOTS OFF THE PACE IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN BELGIUM

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT FROM NEIL AHERN

nahern@europeantour.com

Scott Henry was the leading Scot at the Telenet Trophy in Belgium as the Clydebank man sat just four shots off the lead set by Marco Crespi, thanks to a three under par second round of 68'
Henry (pictured) made light of some tough conditions at Ravenstein Royal Golf Club of Belgium, in Tervuren just outside Brussels, to card six birdies and move to five under par and tied fourth going into the weekend.
The 25 year old started with a birdie at the first before another birdie at the fifth was offset by a bogie at the sixth. He started the back nine just as he began the front with a birdie on the 10^th but two bogeys immediately followed that to put him on level par for the day.

Birdies at the 13^th, 15^th and 16^th, however, put him back in the red and moved him right into contention going into the third day.
Chris Doak was a shot further back after he followed up his three under par opening round of 68 with a one under par 71 to move to tied ninth on four under for the tournament.
Callum Macaulay (-3), Jack Doherty (-2) and Steven O’Hara (+1) have all made it through to the weekend, while Lloyd Saltman, Raymond Russell, David Law, Gavin Dear and Jamie McLeary missed the cut.
Crespi took the outright lead into the weekend after a scorching six under par second round of 65.
That left the Italian two shots clear of John Parry, Olly Whitely and Alexandre Kaleka as first round leader Andy Sullivan struggled to maintain his momentum after an overnight suspension in play meant he finished his first round on the second day of play before teeing off for the second round soon after.
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 142 (2x71)

133 M Crespi  (Ita) 68 65

135 A Kaleka  (Fra) 69 66, J Parry (Eng) 66 69, O Whiteley (Eng) 69 66

137 S Wakefield (Eng) 68 69, A Hortal  (Esp) 72 65, A Perrino  (Ita) 69 68, P Oriol (Esp) 67 70, S Henry  (Sco) 69 68

138 J Lima  (Por) 69 69, C Ford (Eng) 68 70, H Bacher (Aut) 73 65, T Baek (SKor) 67 71, C Aguilar  (Esp) 67 71, C Doak (Sco) 68 70, J Maurer  (Aut) 71 67, J Garcia  (Esp) 70 68

139 K Eriksson (Swe) 69 70, B Barham (Eng) 66 73, S Kim (SKor) 71 68, N Lemke (Swe) 70 69, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 69, A Velasco (Esp) 66 73, C Macaulay  (Sco) 69 70, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 67 72, A Otaegui  (Esp) 73 66,

140 M Korhonen (Fin) 71 69, A Sullivan (Eng) 64 76, M Ford (Eng) 72 68, E Kofstad (Nor) 71 69, B Åkesson (Swe) 69 71, S Walker (Eng) 69 71, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 70, H Joannes  (Bel) 69 71, J Doherty  (Sco) 68 72, D Lokke (Den) 75 65, B Pastore (Ita) 69 71

141 A Hartø  (Den) 69 72, A Bernadet  (Fra) 69 72, J Guerrier  (Fra) 68 73, B An (Kor) 67 74, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 72, C Gane (Eng) 70 71,

142 P Archer (Eng) 71 71, E De La Riva  (Esp) 75 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 71, S Strange (Aus) 72 70, G Houston (Wal) 70 72, A Hansen  (Den) 70 72, P Dwyer (Eng) 71 71, F Fritsch  (Ger) 66 76, S O'Hara  (Sco) 72 70, M Delpodio  (Ita) 68 74, V Riu  (Fra) 67 75, S Tiley (Eng) 73 69, Å Nilsson (Swe) 67 75, A Ahokas (Fin) 72 70, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 71

143 T Ferreira  (RSA) 75 68, L Richard (Bel) 76 67, N Dougherty  (Eng) 72 71, A Tadini (Ita) 71 72, S Davis (Eng) 69 74, C Paisley  (Eng) 69 74, B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 73, S Pinckney (USA) 71 72, C Moriarty (Irl) 72 71, N Ravano (Ita) 73 70, F De Vries  (Ned) 72 71

 MISSED THE CUT

144 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 73 71, A Rota (Ita) 71 73, M Quiros (Esp) 74 70, M Cryer (Eng) 70 74, A Parr (Can) 71 73, A Gee  (Eng) 74 70, F Calmels  (Fra) 72 72, G Stal  (Fra) 72 72, K Borsheim  (Nor) 73 71, C Brazillier  (Fra) 73 71, A Domingo (Esp) 67 77, J Hansen  (Den) 72 72, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 74 70, D Vancsik (Arg) 69 75, A Tampion  (Aus) 72 72

145 S Jeppesen  (Swe) 70 75, L Saltman (Sco) 71 74, M Tullo (Chi) 69 76, S Benson (Eng) 74 71, N Bertasio (Ita) 71 74, R Russell (Sco) 73 72, C Monasterio (Arg) 69 76, M Madsen  (Den) 71 74, B Parker  (Eng) 73 72,

146 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 72 74, R Echenique (Arg) 76 70, R Quiros  (Esp) 73 73, P Relecom  (Bel) 74 72

147 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 68 79, D Brooks (Eng) 69 78, S Piaget  (Mon) 73 74, X Poncelet  (Fra) 73 74, J Granberg  (Fin) 70 77, R Hjelm (Den) 71 76, L Jensen (Den) 71 76, S Grant  (Irl) 71 76, F Delamontagne  (Fra) 73 74, D Law (Sco) 71 76, M Higley (Eng) 75 72, M Nixon (Eng) 72 75, G Watremez (Bel) 74 73, J Gibb (Eng) 71 76

148 G Dear (Sco) 70 78, I Elvira  (Esp) 76 72, T Remkes (Ned) 71 77, F Praegant (Aut) 76 72, B Evans  (Eng) 70 78, R Kakko  (Fin) 70 78, J McLeary  (Sco) 69 79

149 J Relecom (Bel) 72 77, P Erofejeff (Fin) 73 76, S Bebb (Wal) 74 75, A Levy (Fra) 69 80, U Weinhandl (Aut) 73 76, G Monville (Bel) 72 77, R Schneider (Fra) 71 78, B Etchart  (Esp) 74 75, J Huldahl (Den) 71 78, R De Sousa (Sui) 74 75

150 N Meitinger  (Ger) 76 74, B Chapellan (Fra) 73 77, F McGuirk  (Eng) 74 76, M Southgate  (Eng) 78 72, M Boesmans (am) (Bel) 72 78, S De Wispelaere (am) (Bel) 78 72

151 C Mivis  (Bel) 77 74, K Samooja (Fin) 74 77, C Russo (Fra) 73 78,

152 J Clément  (Sui) 76 76

153 D Gaunt (Aus) 71 82, E Johansen  (Nor) 73 80, T Detry (am) (Bel) 76 77,

154 G Bhullar (Ind) 80 74, D Geminiani (Ita) 76 78, S Echikson (am) (Bel) 80 74

155 N Vanhootegem (Bel) 77 78

156 A Kristiansen  (Nor) 79 77, G Seegmuller  (Bel) 77 79, P Rolland (am) (Bel) 77 79

157 A Bossert (Sui) 80 77

158 L Canter (Eng) 80 78, Q De Valensart (Bel) 77 81

161 C Van Wassenhove (am) (Bel) 79 82

165 J Theunis (Bel) 77 88

Withdrew: C Lloyd (Eng) 76 -, A McArthur  (Sco) 77 -

ABERDOUR MAN CRICHTON SPEARHEADS SCOTS IN WALES

Aberdour's Scott Crichton spearheaded the Scottish challenge in the Welsh men's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Prestatyn GC today with a two-under-par 70. That put him in joint third place alongside Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch), three behind leader Luke Jackson (Misterton) with a five-under 72. Conor O'Neil (Pollok) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) were joint sixth on 71 with James Aitken (Alloa) tied 11th on 72 and Brian Soutar (Leven GS) and Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) sharing 17th place on 73. Sam Binninng (Ranfurly Castle) and Scott Gibson (Southerness) were joint 26th on 74, a shot ahead of Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) in a share of 33rd place. Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) was in joint 44th place with a 76. Ross Bell (Downfield) and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) both had 77s. Greg Smail (Criagielaw) and Charlie MacNeal (Troon Welbeck) had 79s. Neil Henderson (Glen), James Hendrick (Pollok) and Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) were all on the 81 mark. Michael Bacigalupo (Craigielaw) had an 82. LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 72 67 Luke Jackson (Misterton). 69 Craig Hinton (Oxfordshire) 70 Richard Bentham (St Pierre), Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch). REST OF SCOTS SCORES 71 Conor O'Neil (Pollok), Fraser McKenna (Balmore). 72 James Aitken (Alloa). 73 Brian Soutar (Leven GS), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon). 74 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle), Scott Gibson (Southerness). 75 Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire). 76 Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen). 77 Ross Bell (Downfield), Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 79 Charlie MacNeal (Troon Welbeck), Greg Smail (Craigielaw). 81 Neil Henderson (Glen), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), James Hendrick (Pollok). 82 Michael Bacigalupo (Craigielaw).

PAUL McKECHNIE MAKES HAY WHILE SUN SHINES AT LOCHWINNOCH

Paul McKechnie won the individual pro top award of £908 with a three-under-par round of 68 in today's Lochwinnodh Golf Club pro-am on a lovely, sunny day in Renfrewshire. The Braid Hills Golf Range tour pro had birdies at the second, ninth, 12th, 13th and 16th with bogeys at the third and 10th in halves of 35 (two under) and 33 (one under). Joint runners-up on 70 were Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), winner of the event last year, and Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle). They each earned $635. Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), who finished joint fourth on 71, led the Young, Wilson and Cunningham Team 5 to victory in the pro-am event with a net score17-under-par 54. His partners were Robert Hood (handicap 10), Alan Wright (7) and Stephen Mallon (18). They won by a shot from the team parnted by Edinburgh Golf Centre pro Craig Gordon. LOCHWINNOCH PRO-AM LEADING PRO SCORES Par 71 68 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) £908. 70 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) £635 each. 71 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Stephen Gray (Hayston), James McKinnon (Irvine) £311 each. 72 Mark King (Kingsfield), Scott Catlin (Greenburn), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Chrisotpehr Currie (Caldwell), James McGhee (Duddingston) £145 each. 73 Gary McFarlane (Clober) £99. 74 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC) £86 each. 75 Derek Watters (Gourock), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) £68 each. 77 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £54. 78 Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie) 80 Gerry Reilly (Lochwinnoch). 82 Scott Clelland (North Lanarkshire Leisure). ends

£800 CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR MARK KERR ON EUROPRO TOUR

A double bogey 6 at the 10th killed any hopes Edinburgh's Mark Kerr might have had of winning the £10,000 first prize in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Bovey Castle, Dartmoor in Devon. But rounds of 66-68-72 for a four-under-par total of 206 saw him finish joint ninth and collect a cheque for £800. Wallace Booth (Comrie) earned £85 with scores of 72-67-70 for one-under 209 and a share of 18th place. On the same mark was Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) with rounds of of 69-68-72 Chris Kelly (Cawder) finished joint 35th on 212 with scores of 69-69-74 for a payslip of £262. Ed Wood (Crow Wood) earned £230 for joint 41st place on 213 with scores of 73-68-72. England's Tyrrell Hatton won the £10,000 prize by three shots with scores of 67-64-67 for 12-under 198. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 210 (3x70) 198 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 67 64 67 (£10,000). 201 Martin LeMesurier (Eng) 64 65 72, Stuart Manley (Wal) 64 64 73 (£3,750 each). 202 Mark Laskey (Wal) 70 64 68 (£1,700). SCOTS TOTALS 206 Mark Kerr 66 68 72 (T9) (£800). 209 Wallace Booth 72 67 70 (T18) (£385). 212 Chris Kelly 69 69 74 (T35) (£262) 213 Ed Wood 73 68 72 (T41) (£230). ends

KELLETT, NICOL BEAT CUT BUT NOT McLEAN IN SLOVENIAN OPEN

Motherwell's Ross Kellett and Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) made it through to Saturday's third and final round of the Alps Tour's Slovenian Open at the unpronounceable Ptuj Golf Club but Peterhead's Philip McLean missed the 36-hole cut by 10 shots. Kellett had four birdies, including the last two holes for a par-matching second round of 71 and a two-under tally of 140. He is joint 10th, eight shots behind the leader by three, England's Chris McDonnell who has had scores of 68-64 for 132. McDonnell has never won as a professional. Nicol had a double bogey 6 at the 10th on his way to a 75 for 147 and is sharing 42nd place on the limit mark for qualifying McLean had a nightmare opening round of 82 with one triple bogey and three double bogeys. A good night's sleep did not improve his situation - he began his second round with a quadruple bogey 8 and finished with a 75 for 157. Players with two-round scores of 147 or better qualified for the final round. SLOVENIAN OPEN Ptuj Golf Club Par 142 (2x71) 132 Chris McDonnell (Eng) 68 64. 135 Jerome Lando Casanova (Fra) 68 67 137 Tom Sherreard (Eng) 70 67. SELECTED SCORES 140 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 69 71, Gareth Shaw (Northern Ireland) 67 73 (T11) 147 Kris Nicol (Scotland) 72 75 (T42) MISSED THE CUT (147 or better qualified) 157 Philip McLean 82 75.   TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS   CLICK HERE

MORRISON FOUR CLEAR AS McILROY, HARRINGTON, McDOWELL MISS THE CUT AT WENTWORTH

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
James Morrison took full advantage of easier morning conditions at sun-drenched Wentworth Club to race into a four-shot halfway lead at the BMW PGA Championship.
Before the wind got up, World No 236 Morrison, who switched to golf after playing for the England youth cricket team alongside current Test stars Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan, added a sparkling 64 to his opening 68.
At 12 under par the 27 year old, who eagled the last from 25 feet,  moved four clear of World No 2 Luke Donald, who won the title at only six under last year, and David Drysdale from Dunbar.
Donald now needs only a top eight finish to regain the World No 1 spo in what would be the sixth change at the top in under three months.
That is because current incumbent Rory McIlroy dropped nine shots in eight holes from the eighth en route to a 79 and a second successive missed cut.
One under par and inside the cut mark after seven holes, the 23-year-old from Holywood near Belfast double bogeyed the next and then had five bogeys in a row.
A par at the short 14th was almost a cause for celebration - he had to get up and down from sand for that - but when he double-bogeyed the next after another bad drive only five players in the 150-strong field were below him.
It needed a two-putt birdie at the par five last for him to break 80.
At the recent Players Championship in Florida McIlroy shot 72 and 76 and missed the cut by four. He was double that amount away from the qualifying mark as he headed away this time."I watched this even before I played golf and it's fantastic - even more so because I'm local," said Morrison, whose wife is expecting their first child in two weeks.
"I played dreadfully here the last two years because I took it so seriously, but I played lovely today. My putter is back, that's the main thing."
Irishman Peter Lawrie, joint overnight leader with Drysdale, added a 71 to stand seven under.
Donald said: "I'm pleased - to be honest, I didn't have total control of the ball, but I'm rolling it well on the greens and that's always a good sign for me."
Just over 24,000 spectators, the second highest Friday attendance following record crowds the previous day, gathered on Wentworth's West Course to witness the action first hand on another glorious day in Surrey.
Morrison had earlier blown away the field by following six birdies with a 25 foot eagle putt on the 539 yard last.
His story is a remarkable one. The 27 year old did not take up golf until he was 16, but went from 18-handicap to scratch in ten months.
That prompted him to give up cricket, despite his final game for Surrey Under-17s being an innings of 114 not out.
"I haven't really looked back," he said.
"Playing golf is better than standing in the field all day."
The money is better too. He has already won over €1,000,000 with his maiden European Tour title coming at the Madeira Islands Open in 2010 - and first prize this weekend is €750,000.
As for what he faces over the closing 36 holes, Morrison, who was joint leader with a round to go in the Alstom Open de France last summer and went in the water on the first two holes, is not getting ahead of himself.
"I expect a lot, but whether I shoot 80 or 65 I'll take what I can from it," he said.
"I desperately, desperately, desperately want to keep going forward and that's my problem sometimes - I'm too eager, too keen, too determined I guess.
"I've been playing great, but been getting in the way of myself. I'm going to do my best and that's all I can do."
Donald is still well in contention for the title, however, after his second successive 68.
World No 3 Lee Westwood, out of bounds with his drive as he followed bogeys on the 15th and 16th with a double bogey 7 at the next, was in severe danger of missing the cut at that point.
But he got up and down from sand on the last for a birdie, a 75 and a one over total that he knew was likely to be just good enough to survive to the weekend.
Among the list of big names who missed the cut, apart from McIlroy, was his Ulsterman colleague Graeme McDowell, double Open champion Padraig Harrington, Rookie of the Year Tom Lewis, Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay who went from 69 to 79 and out with 148.
Paul Lawrie is just inside the top 20, following up a 69 with a steady 71 for 140 which makes him the second best Scot behind Drysdale.
The mercurial Marc Warren followed up his opening 68 with a 76 for 144 to be the fifth best Scot after Drysdale, Lawrie, Scott Jamieson (75 for 143) and Colin Montgomerie (74 for 143)

TO VIEW THE EUROPEAN TOUR'S LIST OF ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS

CLICK HERE

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
132 James Morrison (England) 68 64
136 David Drysdale (Scotland) 66 70, Luke Donald (England) 68 68
137 Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 66 71, Alvaro Quiros (Portugal) 67 70
138 Marcel Siem (Germany) 71 67, Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 68 70, Branden Grace (South Africa) 69 69, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 68 70, Justin Rose (England) 67 71, Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 68 70, Fredrick Andersson Hed (Sweden) 70 68, Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina) 71 67.
139 Edoarado Molinari (Italy) 69 70, Richard Sterne (South Africa) 71 68, Pablo Martin (Spain) 69 70.

SELECTED SCORES
Players from Scotland unless stated
140 Paul Lawrie 69 71 (T17)
141 Ernie Els (South Africa) 68 73 (T25)
143 Colin Montgomerie 69 74, Scott Jamieson 68 75 (T37)
144 Marc Warren 68 76 (T45)

MISSED THE CUT (145) or better to qualify
147 Peter Whiteford 77 70, Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 74 73, Greig Hutcheon 73 74.
148 Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland) 71 77, Tom Lewis (England) 70 78, Richie Ramsay 69 79, Martin Laird 73 75.
151 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 73 78.
152 Stephen Gallacher 72 80.
153 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 74 79.
154 George Murray 72 82.
155 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 76 79, Scott Drummond 77 77
156 David Patrick 77 79.

CHRIS DOAK FOUR SHOTS OFF LEAD AS CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT FIRST ROUND IS COMPLETED

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

By Neil Ahern

nahern@europeantour.com

Chris Doak was just four shots off the lead going into the second round of the Telenet Trophy, after a three under par round of 68 which included seven birdies helped him to tied 14^th place.

An overnight suspension in play meant the final 15 groups were forced to finish their opening rounds on the second day at Ravenstein Royal Golf Club of Belgium, in Tervuren just outside Brussels, with England’s Andy Sullivan out in front after a superb seven under par round of 64.

Doak was able to finish his round before the delay and the Greenock man carded seven birdies in an eventful round, birdieing the tenth hole, his first, before gaining another shot at the par five 13^th.

He paid for a poor tee shot on the 16^th hole, however, and could only manage a double-bogey but he promptly atoned for that error by gaining shots on the 17^th and 18^th. His rollercoaster round continued with bogeys at the first and fourth holes before he finished on a positive with birdies on the fifth, sixth and ninth holes.

“I played solid,” said the 34 year old. “I hit one bad tee shot on the 16^th and it was in one of these big tall trees and I had to drop and I didn’t get up and down. I was good other than a couple of tee shots. It would have been nice if the bogeys turned into pars but I enjoyed it anyway.”

Doak was joined on three under par by Jack Doherty, while Scott Henry, Callum Macaulay and Jamie McLeary were a shot further back after signing for two under par rounds of 69.

Gavin Dear was in tied 44^th spot after a one under par 70, while David Law and Lloyd Saltman finished their first rounds on level par.

COMPLETED FIRST ROUND

Par 71

64 A Sullivan (Eng) ,

66 B Barham (Eng) , F Fritsch  (Ger) , J Parry (Eng) , A Velasco (Esp) ,

67 J Wahlqvist (Swe) , Å Nilsson (Swe) , B An (Kor) , V Riu  (Fra) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , P Oriol (Esp) , A Domingo (Esp) , T Baek (Kor) ,

68 C Doak (Sco) , M Crespi  (Ita) , C Ford (Eng) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , J Guerrier  (Fra) , J Doherty  (Sco) , S Wakefield (Eng) ,

69 D Brooks (Eng) , C Paisley  (Eng) , D Vancsik (Arg) , A Levy (Fra) , S Henry  (Sco) , C Monasterio (Arg) , H Joannes  (Bel) , A Hartø  (Den) , R Karlberg  (Swe) , J McLeary  (Sco) , M Tullo (Chi) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , K Eriksson (Swe) , S Davis (Eng) , A Perrino  (Ita) , O Whiteley (Eng) , B Pastore (Ita) , B Åkesson (Swe) , S Walker (Eng) , J Lima  (Por) , C Macaulay  (Sco) , A Bernadet  (Fra) ,

70 N Lemke (Swe) , M Kieffer (Ger) , J Garcia  (Esp) , B Evans  (Eng) , R Kakko  (Fin) , J Granberg  (Fin) , M Cryer (Eng) , G Houston (Wal) , G Dear (Sco) , A Hansen  (Den) , C Gane (Eng) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , S Jeppesen  (Swe) , M Lafeber (Ned) ,

71 J Gibb (Eng) , J Maurer  (Aut) , D Law (Sco) , L Jensen (Den) , S Pinckney (USA) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , S Grant  (Irl) , E Pepperell (Eng) , R Hjelm (Den) , A Parr (Can) , J Huldahl (Den) , P Dwyer (Eng) , S Kim (Kor) , R Schneider (Fra) , A Tadini (Ita) , E Kofstad (Nor) , D Gaunt (Aus) , P Archer (Eng) , M Korhonen (Fin) , M Madsen  (Den) , A Rota (Ita) , N Bertasio (Ita) , L Saltman (Sco) , T Remkes (Ned) ,

72 F De Vries  (Ned) , S Strange (Aus) , G Monville (Bel) , J Hansen  (Den) , J Relecom (Bel) , G Stal  (Fra) , M Ford (Eng) , A Hortal  (Esp) , F Calmels  (Fra) , A Tampion  (Aus) , M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) , N Dougherty  (Eng) , C Moriarty (Irl) , S O'Hara  (Sco) , A Ahokas (Fin) , M Nixon (Eng) , M Boesmans (am) (Bel) ,

73 C Brazillier  (Fra) , N Ravano (Ita) , H Bacher (Aut) , A Otaegui  (Esp) , K Borsheim  (Nor) , R Russell (Sco) , E Johansen  (Nor) , B Chapellan (Fra) , P Erofejeff (Fin) , X Poncelet  (Fra) , F Delamontagne  (Fra) , B Parker  (Eng) , S Piaget  (Mon) , S Tiley (Eng) , U Weinhandl (Aut) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) , C Russo (Fra) , R Quiros  (Esp) ,

74 K Samooja (Fin) , P Relecom  (Bel) , G Watremez (Bel) , M Quiros (Esp) , S Benson (Eng) , R De Sousa (Sui) , F McGuirk  (Eng) , S Bebb (Wal) , A Gee  (Eng) , B Etchart  (Esp) , R Dinwiddie  (Eng) ,

75 M Higley (Eng) , T Ferreira  (RSA) , E De La Riva  (Esp) , D Lokke (Den) ,

76 J Clément  (Sui) , C Lloyd (Eng) , N Meitinger  (Ger) , R Echenique (Arg) , F Praegant (Aut) , D Geminiani (Ita) , L Richard (Bel) , I Elvira  (Esp) , T Detry (am) (Bel) ,

77 A McArthur  (Sco) , G Seegmuller  (Bel) , C Mivis  (Bel) , N Vanhootegem (Bel) , J Theunis (Bel) , Q De Valensart  (Bel) , P Rolland (am) (Bel) ,

78 M Southgate  (Eng) , S De Wispelaere (am) (Bel) ,

79 A Kristiansen  (Nor) , C Van Wassenhove (am) (Bel) ,

80 G Bhullar (Ind) , A Bossert (Sui) , L Canter (Eng) , S Echikson (am) (Bel) ,

** A Snobeck  (Fra) ,

IN-FORM YOUNG SCOTS BACK IN ACTION AT SCOTTISH HYDRO JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 2 THIS WEEKEND

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

In-form trio Ewan Scott, Bradley Neil and Craig Howie (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) will be out to continue their fine starts to the season when the second event of the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour takes place at The Roxburghe in the Scottish Borders this weekend.

Fifty-two of the country’s Under-18 talents will tee-up on the challenging and respected lay-out near Kelso, with the glorious weather expected to hold for the 72-hole event on Saturday and Sunday.

Scott, a Madras College, St Andrews pupil, was the beaten finalist by Howie in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' championship at Murcar Links in April, but quickly made up for any lingering disappointment by overcoming the conditions and an older field to win the Golf Data Lab Scottish youths' championship at Ladybank less than a fortnight ago.

Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil, pictured lower right by Kenny Smith Photography, has also been impressive, beaten in the quarter-finals by Scott at the PLF Scottish boys' championship and runner-up to him at the Youths.

Bradley also notably defeated South African Amateur champion Brian Soutar to help Perth and Kinross claim Moneygate Scottish area team championship glory last weekend.

Scott, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, currently heads the Scottish Hydro boys’ order of merit rankings, with Neil third and Peebles' Howie sandwiched between. The Borders youngster, who secured the biggest golfing win todate at Murcar Links, will be seeking to continue his strong start to the new season on a lay-out he knows well.

Howie said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of The Roxburghe, having done well there last year, losing a play-off in the (Under-18 division) of the Scottish Faldo Series after I shot 71, 71.

“It's a long course and 36 holes a day will be tough in this heat, although it's nice to finally get some sun on the back.

“’I’m feeling confident after my performances this season and it would great to finish No 1 on the Boys’ Order of Merit and get in the Scotland team.”

Greig Marchbank, of Dumfries and County, was the overall victor of the Boys’ Order of Merit last year and he is also preparing to play in the Borders, together with Liberton’s Anthony Blaney, who shared the honours with Alexander Wilson in the opening Junior Tour event at Gullane.

The likes of Jamie Savage (Cawder), former Scottish Boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock (Barassie)) and Calum Hill (Tantallon) will also fancy their chances, along with Scottish Boys semi-finalist Connar Cook (Caird Park).

The top 30 players and ties will survive the cut on Saturday night, progressing to the final 36 holes on Sunday, over a scenic course that continues to grow in reputation.

The Roxburghe, designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 1997, is a 7,111-yard, par-72 layout which hosted the Scottish Senior Open on the European Senior Tour from 2001-2005. It will join The European Tour Qualifying School Schedule for the first time when it hosts the First Stage from September 11-14.

After investing in junior golf for the next three years, Scottish Hydro is official sponsor of the SGU Boys’ Order of Merit and Junior Tour series. The Boys’ Order of Merit includes three Scottish Hydro Junior Tour events on its schedule in 2012.

Scottish Hydro is already a major supporter of golf in Scotland through their sponsorship of the Scottish Hydro Challenge on The European Challenge Tour and Team Scottish Hydro programme.

Jonny Petrie, Sponsorship Manager for Scottish Hydro, said: “We are looking forward to a great weekend of golf at The Roxburghe, which is a fitting championship test.

“We are keen to help Scotland’s most talented young players come through the ranks and we are hugely excited to be part of the Boys' Order of Merit and Junior Tour series for 2012.”

The SGU Junior Tour was launched in 2004 to provide leading Scottish Boys (Under-18) with additional competitive play on challenging courses; to provide coaching staff and selectors an opportunity to assess players and their development over such venues; and, to provide an appropriate competition structure and added incentive for young players to pursue higher honours.

Previous winners of the Boys’ Order of Merit include Michael Stewart, David Law and Scott Henry, who are all now in the professional ranks.

>> Click here for the draw for Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 2

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association

Week ending 20 May, 2012

1 I Fleming (Auchterderran) 1158.33 points

2 K Lowey (Kirkcaldy) 1095

3 J Henderson (Ladybank) 1016.67

4 M Rickard (Cupar) 983.33

5 N Beattie (St Andrews GC) 964.63

T6 R Kemp (Cupar) 950

T6 M Rooney (Lundin) 950

8 P Taylor (Kirkcaldy) 937.5

9 A Johnston (The Duke’s) 933.33

10 D Waddell (Kirkcaldy) 916.67

T11 S Hill (Leven Th) 908.33

T11 C Mackenzie (Thornton) 908.33

13 A Brown (Cupar) 900

T14 G Walker (Earlsferry Th) 883.33

T14 G Hay (Dunnikier Park) 883.33

16 A Jones (Kirkcaldy) 875

17 D N Watson (Kirkcaldy) 864.29

18 E M Diston (Ladybank) 858.33

19 D G G Begbie (Ladybank) 850

20 M James (Kirkcaldy) 841.67.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and other Area ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

DRUMPELLIER CUP - 36 HOLE SCRATCH MEN'S OPEN, JUNE 10

A Lanarkshire Golf Order of Merit event

At Drumpellier Golf Club, Coatbridge on Sunday, June 10th.

Entry fee £15.Superb prize fund with the winner receiving £300 SGU voucher, down to 8th place of £30 voucher

Wilson Bryson writes:

Drumpellier is one of the best courses in the West of Scotland. It's always in great condition, and has a long list of top amateurs who have won the prestigious event (Charlie Green, Barclay Howard, Steven O’Hara, A D Ferguson, Brian Smith, W S Bryson, Allyn Dick and Dean Robertson to name but a few ).

Entries close: Friday, June 3

For entries please contact:

Tournament administrator             01236 424139       or http://uk.mc877.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=administrator@drumpelliergolfclub.com or http://uk.mc877.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=john.harkess@tesco.net