HENRY LEADS BY SIX WITH A ROUND TO GO IN ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

John Henry is almost home and dry in the Scottish Golfers' Alliance championship at Irvine Golf Club.

Leader by two shots after round one, the Clydebank and District pro stretched his advantage to SIX strokes after a 71 for four-under-par 138 in much tougher, windy conditions at the Ayrshire venue.
Henry said after his round:

"Much tougher conditions today with strong winds. Hence the scoring being poorer. 

 "I started with a lost ball up the right gorse at the first and marked up a double bogey right away but managed to get to one under par after 8 holes and parred my way to 17 where I made bogey - a very tough hole today into the wind ! 

  "Looking forward to the final round. The tournament is providing some good preparation for the EuroPro Tour championship in a couple of weeks' time."

With only one round to go, John Duff (Newmachar) and Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) may be the only players with a remote chance of catching Henry if he should slip over the final rounds.

Duff has had rounds of 69 and 75 for 144, a total matched by Johnston's steadier scores of 71 and 73.

Fourth-placed Neil Henderson (Renaissance is eight strokes behind Henry after scores of 71 and 75.

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL ROUND

Par 142 (2x71)

138 J Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 67 71

144 J Duff (Newmachar) 69 75, J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 71 73.

146 N Henderson (Renaissance) 71 75

147 J Mullaney (Dundonald) 72 75

148 K McNicoll (Gullane) 77 71, M Owenson (Gullane) 73 75

149 C Currie (Caldwell) 76 73

150 S Coyle (Cathkin Braes) 72 78

151 S Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 76 75, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 72 79, C MacNeil (Preewstwick) 77 74.

153 M Pennycott (Royal Burgess) 75 78, A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 75 78, P Brookes (Pitreavie) 75 78

155 S Finnie (Caledonian) 78 77

156 A Welsh (Cathkin Braes) 75 81, A Reid (Whitecraigs) 74 82, P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) 82 74

157 R Neill (Drumpellier) 76 81

159 K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC) 79 80, J Sma;lwood (Irvine) 79 80.

160 C Halcrow (Windyhill) 78 82

161 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 78 83.

162 S Gillies (Craigielaw) 81 81

163 N McGarva (Kilmacolm) 80 83, J White (Harrison) 81 82.

164 J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 75 89, G Johnston (Glenbervie) 79 85, V Brown (Golf Ministries) 84 80

165 A Smith (Turriff) 88 77, D Leslie (Bon Accord) 85 80.

166 P Kinloch (Cardross) 86 80, J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 81 85

167 A Forsyth (Drumpellier) 88 79, D A Fleming (Portlethen) 86 81, D J Munro (Kingsknowe) 82 85

169 J Fraser (Paisley) 86 83