ALBERT MACKENZIE LEADING SCOT ON DAY ONE

CARMAN SETS PACE WITH A 67 AT

SENIOR TOUR SCHOOL ON ALGARVE

Englishman Paul Carman set the pace in the first round of the European Senior Tour Qualifying School Stage One, which is being played over three courses at Pestana Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.
Carman fired a three under par 67 at Silves Golf, where 58 players are battling to be in among the top 17 and ties, to lead by two strokes from compatriot Tony Lawrence and Spaniard José Buendia, who both opened with one under par rounds of 69.
There is a six-way share for the lead at Gramacho, where 58 players are competing, with the top 17 and ties progressing through to Final Stage.
Scotland’s Albert Mackenzie (club pro at Saunton GC, Devon), Sweden’s Yngve Nilsson, Canadian pair Keir Smith and Dave Wettlaufer and English duo Tim Giles and David Ray all posted one under rounds of 71 to lead the way after the first round.
At Pestana Vila Sol, where 55 players are competing to be in the top 16 and ties, Englishman Andrew George opened with a one under par round of 71 for a one shot lead over Chuck Milne of the USA, with another American, Jerry Smith, a further shot back in joint third place with Ireland’s John McHenry.
The qualifiers from the First Stage at Pestana Resort will join 22 exempt players for next week’s Final Stage, also played on Portugal’s Algarve at Pestana’s Pinta Course.

MACKENZIE LEADING SCOT AFTER DAY

1 OF SENIOR TOUR Q SCHOOL STAGE 1

Albert Mackenzie, pictured left, was the top Scot at the end of the first day of the European Senior Tour Qualifying School Stage 1, being played over three courses on Portugal's Algarve coastline.
Mackenzie, the club pro at Saunton GC, Devon, shot a one-under-par 71 to figure in six-way tie for the lead at the Gramacho course at Silves.
At the same venue, Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott was joint ninth after a 73.
Terry Burgoyne had a 78 and Campbell Elliott (Haggs castle) a 77 to be joint 23rd.
Downfield's Kenny Hutton and amateur Paul Moultrie were sharing ninth place on five-over 77 at the Vila Sol course, Vilamoura.
Overall, Englishman Paul Carman set the pace with a 67 at Silves.
The leading 17 and ties at Pestana and Gramacho and the leading 16 and ties at Vila Sol  after 36 holes will go forward to next week's Final Stage over four rounds at the Pinta course. They will join 22 players exempt from Stage 1.
Entry fee per player for the Senior Q School is £800 whether or not they get past Stage 1.

EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Stage 1
Algarve, Portugal
LEADING SCORES
PESTANA
Par 70
67 Paul Carman (Eng)
69 Jose Buendia (Spa), Tony Lawrence (Eng)
70 Ernest Kocs (USA), Richard Masters (Eng), Gary Morris (Eng)

SCOTS' SCORES
73 Colin McDonald (T17)
74 Nicky Gold (am) (T22)
78 Mike Lang (T42)

VILA SOL
Par 72
71 Andrew George (Eng)
72 Chuck Milne (USA)
73 John McHenry (Ire), Jerry Smith (USA)
SCOTS' SCORES
77 Kenny Hutton, Paul Moultrie (am) (T9)
83 Steve Craig (35th)

GRAMACHO
Par 72
71 Albert Mackenzie (Sco), Keir Smith (Can), Yngve Nilsson (Swe), Dave Wettlaufer (Can), David Ray (Eng), Tim Giles (Eng)
72 Graham Banister (Aus), Graeme Bell (Eng)
SCOTS' SCORES
73 Robert Arnott (T9)
76 Terry Burgoyne (T18
77 Campbell Elliott (T23)
78 Alan Saddington (T29)
82 Nick Robson (am) (T49).

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