ADMIRABLE EFFORT FROM CRICHTON TO LEAD SCOTS IN S AFRICA

Aberdour's Scott Crichton is the leading Scot of the 12-strong SGU squad among the field of 144 players after the first qualifying round of the South African men's amateur match-play championship at Johannesburg Country Club today The Fifer, pictured, shot a three-under-par 69  - birdies at the second, 12th, 14th and 15th, one bogey at the 16th - to be joint fifth at halfway in the stroke-play eliminator which will reduce the field to 64 for the match-play stages. Scottish youths champion Ewan Scott (St Andrews), joint fifth in the recent South African stroke-play championship, and Jamie Savage (Cawder) are sharing 12th place on 71. Scott birdied the 12th, 13th and 16th between bogeys at the first and 17th. Savage had four birdies in the first 13 holes.  Balmore's Fraser McKenna highlighted an round of 72 with a four-under-par run with birdies at the 12th and 14th and an eagle 3 sandwiched between at the 13th but he had ruyn up a double bogey 6 at the eighth. McKenna is joint 20th. Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) and Ross Bell (Downfield) both shot 73s for a share of 36th place. Reinstated amateur Graham Gordon (Newmachar), Connor O'Neil (Pollok) and James White (Lundin) are joint 48th on the 74 mark. Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) had a 75 for a share of 66th place. Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) and Michael Daily (Erskine) shot 76s to be joint 79th.  Leading the field is the South African No 1, Haydn Porteous with a six-under 66. SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP Johannesburg Country Club. First qualifying round Players from S Africa unless stated. 66 H Porteous67 A Light, T Tree (Eng)68 P KruseSCOTS' SCORES69 S Crichton (Aberdour) (T5).71 E Scott (St Andrews), J Savage (Cawder) (T12).72 F McKenna (Balmore) (T20).73 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon), R Bell (downfield) (T36).74 G Gordon (Newmachar), C O'Connor (Pollok), J White (Lundin) (T48).75 G Robertson (Glenbervie) (T66)76 M Daily (Erskine), F Moore (Glenbervie) (T79). ends