HAYSTON/CAWDER O O M CHALLENGE

KEIR McNICOLL LEADS BY TWO AT 

HALFWAY AFTER A FIVE-UNDER 65

Gullane's Keir McNicoll, pictured above, won't be counting his chickens yet but a five-under-par 65 at Hayston for a halfway lead in the Hayston/Cawder Order of Merit Challenge is a strong position in which to be.
Son of a former pro footballer, Dave McNicoll of Dunfermline Athletic, Keir will be kicking himself that he did not get back to the clubhouse without dropping a shot.

He bogeyed Hayston's  17th when a par there would have seen him end the day three shots clear - and that would have proved difficult for Messrs Arnott, Hutcheon and Brown, to name but McNicoll's three closest rivals overnight on the 67 mark.

McNicoll's  65 was highlighted by an eagle 3 at the long second, followed by birdies at the third, seventh, 11th and 15th.

Of the trio on 67, recent winner Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) had the most birdies (six) but also the most bogeys (three).

Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had five birdies but two late bogeys, both at short holes, the 15th and 18th.

Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) had "only" four birdies but he dropped only one shot, 

If Chris Kelly, joint fifth on 68,  starts the second round the way he finished the first then McNicoll may have most to fear from him. Kelly birdied the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th. 
PRIZEMONEY
The top 30 and ties at the end of 36 holes of this £10,000+ tournament, sponsored by Clyde Scaffolding Ltd, will earn prizemoney.
The top 10 awards will be:
1 - £1,500; 2 - £1,200; 3 - £900; 4 - £610; 5 - £455; 6 - £378; 7 - £353; 8 - £329; 9 - £313; 10 - £298.
30th place - £108l

FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Hayston GC (Par 70)

65 K McNicoll (Gullane)

67 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), G Brown (MontroseLinks)

68 L Gaughan (Bathgate), C Kelly (unatt)

69 S Catlin (Greenburn), D Orr (Mearns Castle), S Henderson (Kings Links), C Currie (Caldwell), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), G Wright (West Linton)

70 C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey), S Gray (Hayston), K Hutton (Downfield), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), D Patrick (Kingsfield), G Hay (Nairn Dunbar).

71 J Cliff (Murrayfield), J McKinnon (Irvine), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), G Fox (Clydeway Golf), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC).

72 S Savage (Dalmuir), G Robertson (Airdrie), J Lomas (Caprington), G Hardy (Ayr Belleisle), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), C Gordon (Edinburgh GC). C Tierney (Carrick on Loch Lomond), A Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy)

73 G McFarlane (Clober), G Paxton (Ralston), D Williamson (Kirkhill), R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh), N  Huguet (Royal Musselburgh), J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond)

74 J McGhee (Bishopbriggs), I Stoddart (Uphall), S Herald (Mearns Castle), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), R McConnachie (Peterculter), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), J Fraser (Renaissance).

75 J Gallagher (Douglas Park), A Waugh (Clydebank and Dist), P Malone (Braid Hills), G Mackay (Melville GR), C McManus (Kilmarnock Barassie), C Ronald (Carluke), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), S Craig (Craig Golf)

76 A Hutchison (Douglas Park), J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), R Dixon (Renaissance), T Mathieson (Murcar Links).

77 P Brookes (Pitreavie), C McMaster (Panmure), G Smith (Gleneagles), M Mackenzie (Edzell), A Brown (Archerfield)

78 F Thomson (Turnberry Hotel), R Rushford (Glenbervie)

79 C Boyle (Lanark), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle), M King (Kingsfield), J Porteous (Craigielaw)

80 M Burtt (Helensburgh)

82 N Cameron (Blairgowrie)

87 M Laughtland (Greaves Sports).