ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY HALFWAY REPORT AND SCORES

                    Grant Forrest ... Walker Cup place target
FORREST LEADS BY TWO AT HALFWAY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com 
 
Craigielaw's Grant Forrest, the halfway leader by two strokes in the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy, has an outstanding chance to score his biggest win since he captured the Scottish amateur championship at Royal Dornoch two years ago.
The 21-year-old third-year student at San Diego University, California battled through wind and rain to return a great second round of four-under-par 68 over the Old Course today (Saturday).
That followed up a five-under 66 over the New Course on Friday and, at nine-under-par 134, Forrest leads the star-studded field by two strokes.
Forrest's ambition is to be selected for next year's Great Britain and Ireland team for the Walker Cup match against the Americans.

Won three college tournaments this year

"That was brutal out there today. As we got to the turn, we were all dreading having to play the back nine. It was really tough!" said Forrest, the highest rated Scot in the World Amateur Rankings at No. 64, having won four times in all on the US college circuit, including three in the 2013-2014 season.

"I have played solidly all year and just hope to keep it going on Sunday."

 Forrest had birdies at the fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth, 12th and the 13th where he holed
a putt from 50ft.
He had bogeys at the 11th and the Road Hole 17th where he drove into the left semi-rough, but managed to get up to the right front edge of the green in two. He then pitched to 12ft but missed the putt for a par 4.
Overnight leader Gregoire Schoeb (France) slumped from a record-setting 11-under-par 60 over the New Course on Friday to a seven-over 79 over the Old Course in conditions he did not relish.

"That was a very tough back nine with the wind and rain. I hit a lot of bad shots to come back in 43, but it wasn't helped by the rain making the greens a lot slower,"

said the Strasbourg man who has dropped down  to level with the No 2 Scot in the WAGR, Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) (68-71) on 139, five behind the pacemaking Forrest.
The nearest Scots to Forrest are Daniel Kay (Dunbar) (66-71), Irish open amateur stroke play champion Jamie Savage (Cawder) (65-72) and Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm)  (69-68), tied third  on the 137 mark.
Five Scots in the top 10 among this company is good going and there are eight in the leading 12 with 36 holes to go.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) has had a pair of 70s for 140. Also on the three-under mark is Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) (69-71).
Players with two-round aggregates of level par 143 and better qualified for Sunday's final two rounds over the Old Course.
Scots who failed to make it included Scottish champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar)  and James Ross (Royal Burgess), both on 144, and British boys champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) on 147.

The St Andrews Links Trophy has been won 12 times by a Scot since the tournament was introduced in 1989. The roll of houour for Scots reads:
1992 Craig Watson. 1993 Garry Hay. 1994 Barclay Howard. 1995 Graham Rankin. 1996 Barclay Howard. 1998 Craig Watson. 1999 David Patrick
2001 Steven O'Hara. 2002 Simon Mackenzie. 2004 Jamie McLeary. 2005 Lloyd Saltman. 2008 Keir McNicoll.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 143 (71+ 72)
First round New course, par 71. CSS 73
Second round Old course, par 72
Leading 40 and ties qualify for Sunday's third and fourth rounds over Old Course.
134 G Forrest (Craigielaw) 66 68
136 T Koh (NZ) 67 69.
137 D Kay (Dunbar) 66 71, J Savage (Cawder) 65 72, L Van Meijel (Net) 69 68, M Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 68, F Zucchetti (Ita) 64 73, C Sordet (Fra) 66 71.
138 A Murdaca (Aus) 68 70
139 G Schoeb (Fra) 60 78, B Neil (Blairgowrie) 68 71
140 T Beaucousin (Fra) 68 72, D Wasteney (Lindrick) 71 69, J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 70, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 69 71, T Beaucousin (Fra) 68 72, P Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) 70 70, J Taylor (York) 66 74, G Drakeford (Aus) 64 76
141 B Westgate (Trevose) 68 73, J Girao (Por) 69 72, R Whitson (Mourne) 72 69, P Kinnear (Formby) 71 70, M D-Lafon (Fra) 68 73, E Richardson (Rye) 69 72, J Hume (Ire) 67 74.
142 D Brown (Bedale) 70 72, G Hurley (Ire) 69 73, R Evans (Wellingborough) 69 73, A Meronk (Pol) 68 74, C Bezuidenhout (SAf) 70 72, M Fenasse (Fra) 69 73, A Jones (Radyr) 71 71, A Chapman (Windermere) 68 74, M Geddes (Prenton) 67 75, G Marchbank (Thornhil) 71 71
143 S Crookall-Nixon (Silloth-on-Solway) 74 69, L Allan (Alva) 72 71, B Stow (Rushmore) 71 72, R MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 70 73, J Sainz (Spa) 70 73, R Van West (Net) 69 74, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 72, J Bower (Meltham) 71 72, M Eggenberger (Swi) 70 73, T Rowland (Prudhoe) 69 74.

MISSED THE CUT
 (143 and better qualified for Sunday's final two rounds over the Old Course)
144 V  Lange (SAfr) 72 72, L Tomlinson (West Lancs) 73 71, D Young (Craigie Hill) 72 72, J Ross (Royal Burgess) 71 73, M Saunders (Dartford) 71 73, S Borrowman (Dollar0 69 74, R Cannon (Ire) 71 73, T Detry (Bel) 69 75, L Lawrence (SAf) 68 76, C Robb (Meldrum House) 69 75

SELECTED SCORES
145 R O'Donovan (Ire) 70 75, M Young (Longridge) 69 76, T Tree (Goodwood) 74 71, B Edwards (Bigbury) 73 72, S Sharvin (Ire) 72 73, J Allan (Chelmsford) 70 75, C Bull (Eng) 69 76.
146 E Amacher (Swi) 75 71, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 74. R Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 74, A  Plant (Sundridge Park) 72 74, P Dunne (Ire) 72 74, C Ross (Kirkhill) 72 74, J Bush Morlais Castle) 71 75, C Syme (Dumfries and Co) 69 77, J Mullen (Royal North Devon) 72 74, B Wheeler (Purley Downs) 72 74
147 T Le Berre (Fra) 75 72, E Ferguson (Bearsden) 72 75, B Amor (Marlborough) 75 72, C Macneal (Prestwick) 73 74, T Anderson (Brockett Hall) 71 76, N Marsh (Huddersfield) 70 77
149 A Geers (Net) 75 74, J Bunch (Prestwick) 74 75.
150 P Mazier (Fra)    72 78, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 72 78, L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 72 78
151 E Scott (St Andrews) 75 76
152 G B Linder (Swe) 72 79, C Hill (Tantallon) 75 77, J  Newton (Prestbury) 79 73, D Boshart (Net) 77 75.
157 M  Kippen (Enmore Park) 79 78.