RAYMOND RUSSELL TOP SCOT BUT 11 SHOTS BEHIND LEADER ROBERT DINWIDDIE AT ENGLISH CHALLENGE

FROM NEIL AHERN

nahern@europeantour.com

Raymond Russell was the leading Scot at the English Challenge after a one under par round of 71 moved him to tied 25^th place on three under at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa, outside Colchester, Essex.
The Edinburgh-born man was 11 shots off the lead, which was set by home favourite Robert Dinwiddie, after a round which included three birdies and two bogeys.
On a disappointing day for the Scotsmen, Andrew McArthur carded a one over par 73 to finish the day in tied 43^rd, while Paul Doherty was a shot further back and managed to just scrape the level par cut after a two under par round of 70.
Brothers Elliot and Lloyd Saltman both finished on two over par as they replicated each other’s one over par rounds of 73 to miss the cut, alongside six other Scots including David Law, Callum Macaulay and Jamie McLeary.
Meanwhile, a fascinating battle at the top of the leaderboard continued into the second day as Dinwiddie carded another scintillating 65 to move three shots clear of Welshman Stuart Manley, who signed for a four under par 68.
Dinwiddie and Manley were tied for the lead after the opening day but the Englishman stole a march on his British counterpart after teeing off in the morning groups.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 65 65,

133 S Manley (Wal) 65 68,

136 C Paisley  (Eng) 68 68,

137 D Gaunt (Aus) 72 65, F McGuirk  (Eng) 66 71, J Busby (Eng) 69 68, J Grillon  (Fra) 67 70, M Haines  (Eng) 68 69, M Nixon (Eng) 69 68,

138 E Kofstad (Nor) 70 68, D Whitnell  (Eng) 69 69, B Koepka  (USA) 72 66,

139 N Dougherty  (Eng) 70 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 69, C Moriarty (Irl) 70 69, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 68, M Glauert (Ger) 69 70,

140 F Delamontagne  (Fra) 69 71, J Hansen  (Den) 73 67, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 73 67, L Goddard  (Eng) 71 69, S Benson (Eng) 72 68, R Wingardh (Swe) 70 70, J Little  (Eng) 68 72,

141 R Russell (Sco) 70 71, P Uihlein  (USA) 73 68, J Huldahl (Den) 74 67, M Eliasson (Swe) 71 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 71, J Abbott (Eng) 72 69,

142 J Lima  (Por) 70 72, S Tiley (Eng) 72 70, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 72, T Hatton (Eng) 72 70, S Brown (Eng) 73 69, A Hartø  (Den) 71 71, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 73 69, C Lloyd (Eng) 74 68, K Eriksson (Swe) 74 68, S Grant  (Irl) 69 73, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 71, B Barham (Eng) 73 69,

143 A McArthur  (Sco) 70 73, D Brooks (Eng) 73 70, B Chapellan (Fra) 74 69, A Snobeck  (Fra) 69 74, S Lilly (Eng) 73 70, G Houston (Wal) 74 69, B Stow(am) (Eng) 74 69,

MISSED THE CUT

144 D Küpper (Ger) 75 69, J Walters (RSA) 73 71, A Hortal  (Esp) 75 69, P Doherty (Sco) 74 70, P Reed (Eng) 74 70, D Vancsik (Arg) 75 69, A Ahokas (Fin) 72 72, L Canter (Eng) 78 66, R Wallis (Eng) 74 70, C Monasterio (Arg) 74 70, J Senior (Eng) 73 71, P Archer (Eng) 72 72, T Whitehouse  (Eng) 76 68,

145 A Otaegui  (Esp) 72 73, H Santos  (Por) 71 74, J Palmer (Eng) 71 74, J Gibb (Eng) 68 77, T Cruz  (Por) 71 74, G Clark (Eng) 72 73, J Barnes (Eng) 73 72, C Ford (Eng) 73 72, A Tampion  (Aus) 73 72, J Hepworth (Eng) 73 72,

146 S Bebb (Wal) 76 70, L Saltman (Sco) 73 73, E Saltman  (Sco) 73 73, M Tullo (Chi) 73 73, M Ford (Eng) 73 73, S Pinckney (USA) 72 74, M Lemesurier (Eng) 72 74, L Richard (Bel) 72 74, N Raymond (am) (Eng) 74 72,

147 A Knappe (Ger) 80 67, B Parker  (Eng) 74 73, M Southgate  (Eng) 74 73, N Henriques  (Por) 74 73, B An (Kor) 76 71, S Hodgson (Eng) 75 72, A Maestroni  (Ita) 70 77, F Fritsch  (Ger) 72 75, O Carr (am) (Eng) 73 74,

148 C Hanson (Eng) 76 72, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 69 79, A Bernadet  (Fra) 75 73, N Lemke (Swe) 69 79, J Heath  (Eng) 76 72, A John (Ger) 77 71, D Law (Sco) 79 69, M Delpodio  (Ita) 73 75, B Hemstock (Eng) 75 73, P Dwyer (Eng) 78 70, O Whiteley (Eng) 75 73, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 74 74, R De Sousa (Sui) 73 75, D Wright (Eng) 75 73, G Porteous (am) (Eng) 73 75,

149 C Brazillier  (Fra) 71 78, W Booth  (Sco) 77 72, F De Vries  (Ned) 76 73, A Hansen  (Den) 71 78, J Rask (Swe) 74 75, A Kaleka  (Fra) 77 72, B Fowles (Eng) 74 75, S Buhl (Ger) 76 73, J Dantorp (Swe) 81 68, L Jensen (Den) 75 74, J Doherty  (Sco) 74 75, B Ahlenback (Swe) 73 76, A Perrino  (Ita) 76 73,

150 M Cryer (Eng) 75 75, N Bertasio (Ita) 76 74, J McLeary  (Sco) 79 71, C Macaulay  (Sco) 71 79, S Davis (Eng) 74 76, A Bruschi  (Ita) 72 78, M Brown (Nzl) 78 72, M Haastrup  (Den) 73 77, D Smith (Eng) 73 77,

151 C Russo (Fra) 80 71, R Schneider (Fra) 73 78, T Leon (USA) 74 77, S Engell Andersen  (Ken) 77 74, P Streeter (Eng) 74 77, C Gane (Eng) 75 76, M Madsen  (Den) 75 76,

152 P Fendt (Aut) 77 75, J Parry (Eng) 77 75, B Evans  (Eng) 79 73, J Hiluta (am) (Eng) 78 74,

153 G Dear (Sco) 74 79, S Jacklin (USA) 79 74, T Rice  (Irl) 74 79, S Garcia (Esp) 79 74,

154 F Keenan  (Eng) 81 73, A Velasco (Esp) 79 75, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 77 77

155 N Vanhootegem (Bel) 80 75,

156 B Loughrey (am) (Eng) 86 70,

157 J Kaske (Fin) 81 76, C Goodfellow (Eng) 80 77, P Relecom  (Bel) 76 81,

158 P Kaensche  (Nor) 80 78,

161 D Seymour (Eng) 84 77, G Giddie  (Ken) 85 76,

168 J Svoboda (Cze) 83 85,

** Å Nilsson (Swe) 79 WD, M Higley (Eng) 83 DQ,

HALLBERG PRODUCES ROUND OF THE YEAR TO BE HALFWAY LEADER AT SENIOR OPEN

SENIOR OPEN REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

American Gary Hallberg produced what Bernhard Langer called ‘the round of the year’ to take a three shot lead over the German and Tom Lehman at the halfway mark of The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.

In testing windy conditions at Turnberry, Hallberg, picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c), fired a course record-equalling seven under par 63 for a six under par total of 134.

The 54 year old’s second round was all the more remarkable considering he was five over par through 13 holes on Thursday after taking 40 shots to cover the front nine, before four birdies in the last five holes salvaged a respectable first round of 71.

After his only bogey of the day on the second hole, Hallberg, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, climbed 48 places up the leaderboard, carding an impressive eight birdies in 13 holes.

Playing in the third group to take to the Ailsa Course on Friday morning, when winds were somewhat less prominent than later in the day, Hallberg recovered from an early bogey  when he three putted from the front edge of the green, carding a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth to the seventh holes to make the turn in 33 shots. He then started the back nine with further birdies at the tenth and par three 11th.

Another birdie followed at the 13th, before Hallberg carded perhaps his most impressive three of the day at the 14th.

Having missed the green to the right, one of his only errant shots of the day, Hallberg holed his 40 foot birdie putt from off the green before an eighth birdie of the day at the long 17th helped seal a memorable day for the 1980 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

“When I was five over on the first day after nine holes I thought, I'm not playing that bad,” Hallberg reflected. “I was playing good but I just couldn't get it going. So I hung in there and played a great back nine; I think the 40 helped me because it turned me around mentally to go play aggressively.

“So I played aggressively today, had some great putts go in but I also missed some putts from around six, seven feet today but you can't make them all. It was one of the great days that I've had in many years on the golf course. It was just a pleasure.”

Hallberg will be joined in the final pairing on Saturday by his close friend Lehman, the 1996 Open Champion, whose only birdie of the day came on the 17th hole in a round of 71.

“I don't think you're ever happy in golf when you shoot the worst score you can possibly shoot, which was the case yesterday,” he said.  But you're always really pleased in golf when you seem to shoot the best score you can possibly shoot and that was more the case today. I made a few mistakes out there but by and large, I really got the most I could get out of that round and I am really pleased.”

Lehman shares second place on three under par 137 and with another former World Number One, Langer, who followed his opening round 64 with a three over par 73 in the worst of the conditions in the late afternoon.

Langer was the last man to win The Senior Open Championship on Scottish soil at Carnoustie in 2010, and he remains in a strong position to reclaim the title despite losing a ball en route to a treble bogey seven on the 13th hole.

The two-time Masters Champion paid tribute to Hallberg’s sublime round.

“I think that's the round of the year,” said Langer.  “When I heard that before I started I said, well, that's seven under today, that's like ten or 11 under on a normal, decent day.  That's how good it was.  My hat's off to him.  He played some incredible golf.”

Roger Chapman has been forced to withdraw from The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex due to a neck injury, putting paid to his attempt to become only the second man after Gary Player to complete a Senior Major Grand Slam.
After battling through the pain to contest in a fairy tale three-ball with Tom Watson and Greg Norman in Thursday’s first round, Chapman, who two weeks ago added the US Senior Open crown to the US Senior PGA Championship he won in May, was understandably saddened at having his historic bid derailed.
“I’m just so disappointed because history beckoned and I would love to have equalled Gary Player’s record and I felt like I could have done well round here,” said the Englishman.
“There was so much riding on it but at least I had a shot at doing something.  It's just too bad.  I had a painkiller and an injection about an hour ago and that really hasn't kicked in much, I’m still restricted on the swing.”
Chapman worked hard on Thursday to complete a two over par 72 despite being in some discomfort, but the experience of playing with legendary figures Watson and Norman was one the 53 year old said he wouldn’t forget as he highlighted his new season targets after the withdrawal.
“It was great.  We were chatting down the fairway, it was just like a Sunday morning three-ball! There’s still a lot to play for for me this year, I still want to win the Order of Merit over here, and wouldn't mind winning the Order of Merit over there too.”
Next up for Chapman is the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in two weeks’ time, a tournament he qualified for after the first of his Senior Major successes earlier this year when he captured the US Senior PGA at Harbor Shores in Michigan.
Gary Player remains the only man ever to have won the US Senior PGA Championship, US Senior Open, and The Senior Open Championship in the same season, having completed the extraordinary feat in 1988.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS 

Par 140 (2x70)

134 G Hallberg (USA) 71 63,

137 T Lehman (USA) 66 71, B Langer (Ger) 64 73,

139 D Mast (USA) 66 73, D Frost (RSA) 66 73, P Senior (Aus) 68 71, J Blake (USA) 66 73,

140 F Couples (USA) 72 68, P Fowler (Aus) 68 72, M Allen (USA) 66 74, M McNulty (Irl) 65 75,

141 M Wiebe (USA) 70 71, M Brooks (USA) 70 71, B Lane (Eng) 67 74, B Clampett (USA) 70 71, I Woosnam (Wal) 71 70, J Cook (USA) 69 72,

142 A Gilligan (Aus) 69 73, M Goodes (USA) 69 73, J Huston (USA) 70 72, E Romero (Arg) 68 74, O Browne (USA) 69 73, C Pavin (USA) 70 72, B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 73, D Russell (Eng) 69 73,

 143 C Mason (Eng) 69 74, M Mouland (Wal) 71 72, F Funk (USA) 69 74, C Lu (Tpe) 66 77, L Roberts (USA) 68 75, K Triplett (USA) 69 74, A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 72, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 70 73,

 144 P Jonas (Can) 73 71, R Drummond (Sco) 70 74, D Eger (USA) 74 70, T Watson (USA) 69 75, C Williams (RSA) 71 73, M Calcavecchia (USA) 72 72,

 145 K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 73, L Rinker (USA) 67 78, P Hinton (Eng) 70 75, T Thelen (USA) 73 72, J Hart (USA) 69 76, K Idoki (Jpn) 69 76, J Freeman (USA) 71 74, R Loubser  (RSA) 74 71, L Mize (USA) 71 74, P Wesselingh (Eng) 69 76, D Smyth (Irl) 75 70, M Farry (Fra) 71 74, P Golding (Eng) 70 75,

 146 A Franco (Par) 73 73, J Sluman (USA) 70 76, B Gilder (USA) 72 74, S Pate (USA) 71 75, R Spittle (Can) 72 74, J Edwards (USA) 69 77, J Ross (USA) 75 71, C Lutz (am) (USA) 70 76,

147 T Elliott (Aus) 71 76, D Merriman (Aus) 70 77, M Adcock (USA) 73 74, S Okuda (Jpn) 73 74, T Kite (USA) 74 73, J Quiros (Esp) 71 76, J Haas (USA) 73 74, J Harrison (Eng) 73 74, A Murray (Eng) 69 78,

148 M James (Eng) 74 74, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 72 76, M Cunning (USA) 73 75, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 77, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 76 72, M San Filippo (USA) 72 76, R Haag (am) (USA) 74 74,

MISSED THE CUT
149 B Tway (USA) 69 80, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 75 74, G Norman (Aus) 72 77, S Torrance (Sco) 73 76, A Magee (USA) 71 78, Y Hagawa (Jpn) 73 76, T Eubank (USA) 77 72, A Oldcorn (Sco) 72 77, A Sherborne (Eng) 71 78, P Walton (Irl) 73 76, G Brand (Eng) 72 77, T Johnstone (Zim) 67 82, P Mitchell (Eng) 74 75, M Martin (Esp) 74 75,

150 C Stadler (USA) 70 80, S Lyle (Sco) 72 78, B Lincoln (RSA) 73 77, S Jones (USA) 74 76, E Darcy (Irl) 76 74, J Rutledge (Can) 72 78, B Faxon (USA) 71 79, C Beck (USA) 69 81,

151 S Utley (USA) 72 79, M Harwood (Aus) 74 77, R Fish (Eng) 76 75, K Phillips (Eng) 78 73, R Gibson (Can) 70 81, G Norquist (USA) 71 80, G Ralph (Eng) 75 76,

 152 J Rivero (Esp) 79 73, P Smith (Sco) 72 80, J Sallat (Fra) 71 81, S McAllister (Sco) 75 77, I Aoki (Jpn) 73 79, J Kim (Kor) 74 78, R Roper (Eng) 72 80, A Fernandez (Chi) 74 78, S East (am) (Eng) 72 80,

 153 M McCumber (USA) 75 78, D Cole (Aus) 78 75, D Edwards (USA) 72 81, M Mackenzie (Eng) 72 81, T Armour Iii (USA) 70 83, B Vaughan (USA) 76 77, F Wadsworth (USA) 73 80, C Rocca (Ita) 76 77,

 154 R Davis (Aus) 77 77, R Masters (Eng) 75 79,

 155 S Cipa (Eng) 76 79, D Kestner (USA) 73 82, A Webster (Sco) 77 78, B Cameron (Eng) 78 77, J Buendia (Esp) 76 79,

 156 P Oakley (USA) 73 83,

 157 C Elliott (Sco) 77 80, S McNally (Eng) 77 80, W Grady (Aus) 77 80, C Bolling  (USA) 77 80, G Banister (Aus) 70 87,

 158 W Westner (RSA) 73 85,

 159 D Wettlaufer (Can) 76 83, J Daley (USA) 78 81,

 160 N Sugai (Jpn) 79 81, N Job (Eng) 79 81,

 161 R Kaplan (RSA) 74 87,

 163 T Jacklin (Eng) 80 83,

 167 B Stevens (Eng) 79 88,

 ** R Chapman (Eng) 72 WD,

STEPHEN GRAY FINDS FORM TO WIN £2,231 IN BALGOWNIE PRO-AM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Hayston's Stephen Gray found the form that eluded him earlier in the week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship to win one of the richest one-day events on the Tartan Tour, the £12,162 Grampian Houston Junior Tour Fund pro-am over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club's Balgownie links.
With the rough at its longest for many a year, Gray did well to drop only two shots, at the fourth and the 13th. He cancelled out these slips with birdies at the long second, the fifth, the long sixth and the long 12th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 35 (level).
That earned him the £2,231 first pro prize to boost his season's earnings to £16,390 - well behind his arch-rival in the money table, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) whose £6,500 runner-up prize at Gleneagles raised him to the top of the money table with a total of £22,762.
Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle) and David Orr (Mearns Castle) finished joint second at Balgownie with rounds of 70 to earn £1,570 each.
Walker had six birdies but a double-bogey 6 at the fourth made all the difference in the final analysis.
Orr had four of his five birdies in an outward 32 - the best of the day - but a double bogey 6 at the 16th ruined his victory chance.
Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) led the Norse Ltd team of Andrew Strachan (handicap 9), Jim Harrigan (15) and Bill Strachan (18) to a winning net team total of 13-under-par 58.
Pipped by a shot was the team led by Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel). Stll Graeme and Heather both earned a £200 bonus.

LEADING PRO TOTALS
Par 71
69 Stephen Gray (Hayston) (£2,231)
70 Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), David Orr (Mearns Castle) (£1,570 each)
71 Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), James McKinnon (Irvine (£833 each).
73 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Alan Fleming (North Highland College) (£498 each).
74 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) (£385).
75 Bruce Davidson (River Oaks CC, USA), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Gareth Wright (West Linton), David Patrick (Elie SC), Christopher Kelly (Cawder) (£283 each).
76 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Todd Grassi (USA), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Mark Kerr (unatt), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) (£117 each).
77 Ian Bratton (Newburgh), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Jonathan Lomas (unatt)
78 Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), James McGhee (Duddingston), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
79 Christopher Campbell (Trump International), Michael Mackenzie (Edzell).
80 Ian Buchan (Alford).

GRAY DAY IN BALGOWNIE PRO-AM

GOLF COPY AND SCORES CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON TEL 01224 869782   FEAST OF STEPHEN AT BALGOWNIE   Hayston's Stephen Gray found the form that eluded him earlier in the week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship to win one of the richest one-day events on the Tartan Tour, the £12,162 Grampian Houston Junior Tour Fund pro-am over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club's Balgownie links. With the rough at its longest for many a year, Gray did well to drop only two shots, at the fourth and the 13th. He cancelled out these slips with birdies at the long second, the fifth, the long sixth and the long 12th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 35 (level). That earned him the £2,231 first pro prize to boost his season's earnings to £16,390 - well behind his arch-rival in the money table, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) whose £6,500 runner-up prize at Gleneagles raised him to the top of the money table with a total of £22,762. Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle) and David Orr (Mearns Castle) finished joint second at Balgownie with rounds of 70 to earn £1,570 each. Walker had six birdies but a double-bogey 6 at the fourth made all the difference in the final analysis. Orr had four of his five birdies in an outward 32 - the best of the day - but a double bogey 6 at the 16th ruined his victory chance. Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) led the Norse Ltd team of Andrew Strachan (handicap 9), Jim Harrigan (15) and Bill Strachan (18) to a winning net team total of 13-under-par 58. Pipped by a shot was the team led by Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel). Stll Graeme and Heather both earned a £200 bonus.   GRAMPIAN HOUSTON JUNIOR FUND PRO-AM Royal Aberdeen GC LEADING PRO TOTALS Par 71 69 Stephen Gray (Hayston) (£2,231) 70 Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), David Orr (Mearns Castle) (£1,570 each) 71 Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), James McKinnon (Irvine (£833 each). 73 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Alan Fleming (North Highland College) (£498 each). 74 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) (£385). 75 Bruce Davidson (River Oaks CC, USA), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Gareth Wright (West Linton), David Patrick (Elie SC), Christopher Kelly (Cawder) (£283 each). 76 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Todd Grassi (USA), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Mark Kerr (unatt), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) (£117 each). 77 Ian Bratton (Newburgh), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 78 Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), James McGhee (Duddingston), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle). 79 Christopher Campbell (Trump International), Michael Mackenzie (Edzell). 80 Ian Buchan (Alford).   endss

AWESOME OLESEN EYES SECOND EURO TITLE IN AUSTRIA

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen put himself in pole position to capture his second European Tour title in a stunning season with a round of 68 on the third day of the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.
The 22 year old from Copenhagen established a three-shot lead over his nearest rival, Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, with another flawless display in searing temperatures at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, Austria.
The Sicilian Open Champion, who finished in the top ten at last week’s Open Champion at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, notched four birdies to move to 16 under par and within sight of the €166,660 first prize.
He said: “I didn’t hit the ball as well I did the first two days. But I still had some good opportunities – I could’ve taken a few more, but the fact that I’m feeling slightly disappointed with a  68 is probably a good sign, because it shows how well I’m playing and how high my expectations are.
“The ball was flying a lot further through the air because it was so warm. It got really hot at times – I’m still sweating a little now. It made it a bit tougher, because you had to dry your hands a lot. But I can’t complain, because there was no wind at all so it was a perfect day for scoring, and I saw a few of the guys took advantage and went low. Hopefully I can do the same tomorrow.”
Karlberg is in second place on 13 under par after a round of 66, whilst England’s Richard Bland (68), the French duo of Benjamin Hebert (64) and Thomas Levet (69) and home hero Bernd Wiesberger (67) are one shot back in a tie for third place.

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RUSSELL KNOX MAKES GOOD START TO CANADIAN OPEN

Can Russell Knox make back-to-back cuts on the US PGA Tour?
It's highly likely after the Inverness exile opened the RBC Canadian Open with a two-under-par 68 to be lying joint 24th at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Ancaster, Ontario.
Leading the field with a 62 is American Scott Piercy, a shot ahead of Englishman Greg Owen and another American who has been playing well lately, William McGirt.

LEADERBOARD
Par 70
Players from US unless stated
62 Scott Piercy
63 Greg Owen (England), William McGirt
64 Robert Garrigus
65 Troy Matteson, Bo Van Pelt, Jhonattan Vegas (South America), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa), Vijay Singh (Fiji)

SELECTED SCORES
68 Russell Knox (Scotland) (T24)
69 Brian Davis (England) (T39)
71 Gary Christian (England) (T95)
75 Paul Casey (England) (T144)

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ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT PENNANT LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL

ROYAL ABERDEEN 1 1/2, BANCHORY 3 1/2

Venue: Balgownie
Royal Aberdeen names first

Steve Buchan and Nick Macandrew bt Adam Lindsay and Lee Morrice 3 and 2.

Mike Black and Donald Macandrew lost to David Brand and Lindsay Smart 1 hole.

Roger Laird and Austen Buchan halved with Shaun Strachan and Roy Black.

Graham Webster and Grant Joss lost to Craig Lindsay and Jack Harling 2 holes.

Alan Joss and Colin Shaw lost to Martin Gordon and Ross Gray 4 and 3.