Places available for scratch amateurs in Northern Open at Cruden Bay, June 9 to 12

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

There has been such a low entry by professionals for the Northern Open at Cruden Bay from June 9 to 12 that there should be plenty of room for amateurs to play in the event - if they have a handicap of scratch of better.

The Bookless Cup, won in the past by players such as George Murray, now playing on the Challenge Tour, is the trophy at stake for the amateurs.

PGA in Scotland tournament controller Roy Murray thinks that least 10 per cent of the maximum field of 132 for the Northern Open will be amateurs.

Why are the professionals not attracted by one of the Tartan Tour's "majors," at a links venue which is up there with the best of them? 

 Your guess is as good as mine.

Amateurs who wish to compete in the Northern Open should enter by calling the PGA in Scotland office on 01764 661840. The closing date for amateur entries is 5pm on Friday, May 21. 

Those amateurs who are successful in gaining a place in the tournament will be notified early the following week.

  
THE NORTHERN OPEN NUMBERS GAME

a)    There will be 120 spots for PGA Professionals. These will be allocated in order of date of entry.

b)    There will be four spots for Cruden Bay GC invites

c)    There will be eight spots available for Amateurs. These will be open to Amateurs with a handicap of scratch or lower, and will be allocated on the basis of lowest handicap.

 

Once these spaces have been taken, players will be placed on a reserve list for the criteria outlined above for that particular category.

 

In the event of either a) or c) not fulfilling their entries by May 31, then those spaces will be offered to players on the reserve list for the other section.

In other words, if the professionals do not take up their 120 places in the field, then they can be given to amateurs on the waiting list.