WELSH IS LEADING SCOT AT HALFWAY ON ALGARVE

Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes) is the best placed Scot at the halfway stage of the 36-hole Algarve Pro Tour event, the Pinheiros Altos Classic II at the Quinta do Lago course.

Welsh shot a first-round, two-under-par 70 for a share of ninth place in the field of 52 players. He is three shots behind the joint leaders, Irishman Cormac Sharvin, a graduate of Stirling University, and Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo and Hugo Santos.

James Steven (Clydeway Golf) is joint 19th after a 72 while Michael Stokes (Cawder) is sharing 35th place with a 75.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD

par 72

67 C Sharvin (Ire), P Figueiredo (Por), H Santos (Por).

68 A Forster (Eng).

69 R Santos (Por), D Whitnell (Eng), D Dixon (Eng), R Pugh (Wal).

SCOTS' SCORES

70 A Welsh (T9).

72 J Steven (T19)

75 M Stokes (T35).

Field of 52 players.