Craig Ronald leads Scots qualifiers to Somerset

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carluke's Craig Ronald headed the 10 qualifiers for the Titleist & Footjoy PGA club professionals' championship by three strokes with a four-under-par round of 68 in chilly but dry conditions for the Scottish qualifying round  at Blairgowrie Golf Club's Lansdowne course.

Ronald, pictured, had an eagle 2 at the 13th and birdies at the first, fourth, 15th and 16th in halves of 34.

The only other player in the field of 40 with a sub-par score was runner-up Alan Stuart (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) with a 71, in which he birdied the first, fifth and 18th.

The other Scottish qualifiers who will head for the 72-hole championship at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, Somerset from June 2 to 5 were: Mark Loftus, Ian Taylor and Craig Everett with 7u2s; Jonathan Cliff, Graeme Brown with 73s, and Martin Huish, Paul Wardell and Patrick Walker on the 74 mark.

This was one of nine regional qualifiers .

QUALIFIERS

Par 72

68 C Ronald (Carluke)

71 A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC)

72 M Loftus (Mearns Castle), I Taylor (Drumpellier), C Everett (Caldwell)

73 J Cliff (Murrayfield), G Brown (Montrose Links)

74 M Huish (North Berwick), P Wardell (North Berwick), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle).

NON-QUALIFIERS

75 F Mann (Carnoustie GC), C Armstrong (Burntisland), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), S Savage (Dalmuir), J Porteous (Craigeielaw).

76 D Watt (St Andrews Links GA), P Edgcombe (Forrester Park)

77 R Neill (Drumpellier), S McLaren (Blairgowrie), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), L Burnett (Mearns Castle)

78 R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh), K Campbell (Machrihanish, A Cooper (Newmachar)

79 C Tierney (Bishopbriggs), L Vannet (Craibstone).

80 P Jamieson (Dunblane New), F Rummins (Canmore), A Mackrell (Playsport Golf), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond), G Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond)

81 N Sinclair (Prestwick), G Cook (Elie Links)

82 R Fyvie (Pumpherston)

83 E Grimes (Carrick on Loch Lomond), R Murdoch (Dumfries & Galloway)

84 O Leslie (Piperdam)

87 P Malone (Braid Hills)

88 R Walker (Lundin)

NR D Nicol (Dundonald Links)

Withdrew: D Williamson (Kirkhill)