McCreadie and Arnott tie with O'Hara brothers on 63 in PGA Winter Better-ball at Troon Portland




By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Jason McCreadie and Robert Arnott finished joint first with the O'Hara brothers, Paul and Steven, in the PGA in Scotland Winter Four-ball  competition over the Royal Troon Portland course today.
On a bright and breezy day at the Ayrshire links venue, both pairs shot better-ball, nine-under-par 63s over the 6,349yd course. By heading a field of 23 pairs, each partnership earned £380.
McCreadie and Arnott had halves of 30 and 33, highlighted by an eagle 3 at the 15th. They had a better-ball bogey at the sixth.
The O'Haras were out in a better-ball 33 and back in 30.
They finished two shots clear of Derek Watters and Andy Fullen who earned £240.
The most popular score of the day was 66 which was achieved by the eight pairs who finished joint fourth, each pairing earning £47.50.
They included the only girl in the field, Katy McNcill who partnered Louis Gaughan.
Graham Fox and Alan Reid, the better-ball specialists with a formidable winning record, could do no better on this occasion than a tie for 16th place with a four-under 68, which was two shots outwith the prizelist.


PGA IN SCOTLAND WINTER FOUR-BALL COMPETITION
Royal Troon Portland.
BETTER-BALL SCORES
Par 72. Yardage: 6,349.
63 Jason McCreadie and Robert Arnott, Paul and Steven O'Hara (£380 each pairing).
65 Derek Watters and Andy Fullen (£240).
66 Scott Catlin and Craig Ronald, Mark Loftus and Simon Payne, Alastair Love and Iain Colquhoun, Katy McNicoll and Louis Gaughan, David-Ross Nicol and Iain McNab, Mark O'Donnell and Kenny Monaghan, Greg Paxton and Alastair Forsyth, Stewart Savage and Craig Everett (£47.50 each pairing).
67 Stephen Craig and Garry Harvey, Stephen Gray and Campbell Elliott, Paul Robinson and Samuel Binning, Alan White and Chris Kelly.
68 Graham Fox and Alan Reid, Iain Lowdean and Jonnie Cliff, Adam Rolfe and Kieron Stevenson.
70 Callum Beveridge and Cameron Marr.
73 Fraser Thomson and Ricky Hall.
75 Euan Campbell and Jordan J Fraser, Gary McFarlane and Neil Colquhoun, Stuart Houlden and Kenneth McLean.