RALSTON PRO EARNS £500 FOR ONLY SUB-PAR SCORE OF 71

GREG PAXTON HEADS QUALIFIERS FOR

GLENMUIR PGA CH/SHIP AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Ralston's Greg Paxton (pictured) earned £500 for heading the 19 qualifiers from the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Scottish eliminator over the Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie today.
Paxton was the only man to beat par, returning a one-under 71 after a flying start which saw him eagle the par-5 first and birdie the sixth.
He dropped shots at the seventh and 10th and then parred the rest to win the qualifier by a single shot from Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Scott Catlin (Greenburn) and Andrew Fullen (Largs who earned £250 each. 
Crerar was three under par after 11 but bogeyed the 13th, 14th and 15th. Fullen was also three under on the 13tyh tee before bogeying the 13th, 16th and 17th in Lansdowne's testing finish.
Catlin had a double bogey 6 at the second so did well to cover the remaining holes in two under par.
Four players tied on the limit mark of 75 - former PGA Cup player Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Ross Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), Garry Forrester (St Andrews Golf School) and Jonathan Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond).
Only two of them could go forward to the championship from August 5 to. Matheson and Leeds survived the play-off.
GLENMUIR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Scottish Qualifier
Lansdowne Course, Blairgowrie
QUALIFIERS
Par 72
71 G Paxton (Ralston) (£500)
72 A Crerar (Panmure), S Catlin (Greenburn), A Fullen (Largs) (£250 each).
73 A Reid (West Lothian), I Stoddart (Uphall), A J Webster (Edzell), C Everett (Caldwell), S Savage (Dalmuir), G Hardy (Ayr Belleisle), G Law (Uphall), C Morris (Kingsknowe), C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey) (£27 each).
74 F Mann (Carnoustie GC), G McSporran), A Mackrell (Playsport Golf), K Campbell (Machrihanish)
75 (after play-off) C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel).
DID NOT QUALIFY
75 (after play-off) G Forrester (St Andrews Golf School), J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond).
76 D Williamson (Kirkhill), D Nicol (Dundonald Links), P Edgecombe (Forrester Park), N Walton (Glasgow), D Watters (Gourock)
77 A Cooper (Newmachar), I Donaldson (Meldrum House), R Walker (Lundin), D Patrick (Kingsfield), M Shaw (Whitecraigs), M Loftus (Meanrs Castle), G McFarlane (Clober), M Burt (Helensburgh).
78 R Harrower (Boat of Garten), A Brown (Archerfield Links), M Paterson (Kilmacolm), K Phillips (Winterfield), C Armstrong (Burntisland), P Jamieson (Dunblane New), J McBrearty (Haggs Castle).
79 C Tierney (Carrick on Loch Lomond, D Broadfoot (Kirkcudbright), S Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona)
80 R Valentine (Loretto), N Sinclair (Prestwick), C Donnelly (Balbirnie Park), J Porteous (Craigielaw), J McGhee (Bishopbriggs).

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PGA PRESS RELEASE
Ralston Golf Club’s Greg Paxton qualified for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Final at his first attempt after topping the leaderboard at Blairgowrie.
Paisley-based Paxton, 31, won the qualifying event by one shot in difficult conditions.
But he does not drive and only decided to make his debut in the event because Scotland is hosting the showpiece final later this year.
Paxton will join 18 other qualifiers at the £78,700 Peugeot-supported event which will return to Blairgowrie on August 5-8.
But his driving of the golf variety was no problem as he started his day with an eagle at the first before dropping just two more shots on his way to a one under par round of 71.
Paxton pipped Andrew Crerare (Panmure Golf Club),  Scott Catlin (Greenburn Golf Club) and   Andrew Fullen (Largs Golf Club) who finished on level par.
And Paxton, who is a regular on the Tarton Tour, admitted he was delighted to reach the final.
“It’s the first time I’ve entered so it’s really pleased so make the final with a decent round,” he said.
“The reason I haven’t played it before is because I don’t drive, I rely on my father giving me lifts everywhere.
“But this year, I knew the final was in Scotland so if I qualified, I knew I’d be able to play.
“And the fact that it’s back again at Blairgowrie is good for me after winning there. I’ve played there before and know what to expect.”
Paxton admitted he had a couple of blips after getting off to an impressive start at the Perthshire venue.
“I was happy to get down in three on the par five first, but it was cold and windy out there, it wasn’t ideal at all, and I dropped a couple of shots,” he said.
“I just told myself not to do anything stupid and make sure I qualified so I stayed safe on the back nine.
“I’ve made a good start to the year and now I’ve got a final to look forward to which is great.”