Bad weather seems to be circling the globe at the moment.
Even in that Pacific paradise of Hawii, there has been so much rain that the first round of the US PGA Tour event, the Sony Open championship, at the Waialae Country Club, Honolulu has been postponed until Friday.
This follows the cancellation of the tournament's curtain-raising pro-am on Wednesday because of rain.
Tour officials say the first two rounds will be played Friday and Saturday, with 36 holes played Sunday. The cut will be nearest to 60 players, although everyone in the top 70 will get credit for a cut and get paid.
It is important to finish on Sunday. The next US PGA Tour event is the Bob Hope Classic, a 90-hole tournament that begins Wednesday.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
LEE HARPER MAKES THE CUT AT ASIAN Q SCHOOL STAGE 1
FROM THE ASIAN TOUR WEBSITE
Hua Hin, Thailand: Nadeem Inayat of Pakistan fired a three-under-par 69 to lead the halfway stage of the Qualifying School First Stage at the Springfield Royal Country Club today.
Inayat, who has played competitively in Thailand for approximately 10 years, posted a two-day total of six-under-par 138 to put himself in a strong position of qualifying for the all-important Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage held from January 19 to 22.
Japanese Kenichi Sawada (72) was a stroke back on 139 while Joshua Kelley of the United States shot a 71 for a 143 total, five shots off the lead.
At the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, Jonathan Moore of the United States and Hertzog Landman of South Africa took a share of first place by shooting a 68 and 67 respectively.
The duo held a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Thitiphan Chuayprakong with their two-day total of 138.
Japanese Masamichi Uehira continued his hot form by firing a second successive 67 for a 134 total at the Majestic Creek Golf Resort.
Dion Sirianni of Canada shot a 69 to trail by two shots on 136 while Korean Park Il-Hwan was in third place on a 138 total.
The top-26 and ties from Imperial Lakeview will make it through to the Final Stage with the top-24 and 11 and ties from Majestic Creek Golf Resort and Springfield Royal Country Club respectively.
The top-40 and ties in the Final Stage will then earn their 2011 Asian Tour cards. Players who compete in the Qualifying School will also be eligible for memberships on the Asian Development Tour, the region’s secondary circuit, where a minimum of five tournaments will be staged in the new season.
SCOTSWATCH. Former Scottish boys champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) made the cut comfortably at Imperial Lakeview. The Musselburgh man had a pair of 73s for 146. Aberdeen exile Clarke Lutton qualified at Majestic Creek with two 75s for 150.
But Stephen Clark (The Carrick at Loch Lomond) missed out at Imperial Lakeview with 78 and 81 for 159.
Sandy Mitchell surprisingly qualified at Springfield Royal where he had rounds of 82 and 85 for 167.
SCOREBOARDS
MAJESTIC CREEK
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Masamichi Uehira (Japan) 67 67 leads.
Selected scores:
142 Neil Reilly (England) 71 71.
143 Andrew Raitt (England) 73 70.
145 Niall Turner (Ireland) 74 71.
146 Lee Harper (Scotland) 73 73.
150 Clarke Hutton (Scotland) 75 75.
IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Jonathan Moore (US) 70 68 leads.
Selected scores:
141 Justin Evans (England) 76 65.
143 Sandeep Grewall (England) 70 73.
144 Llewellyn Matthews (Wales) 70 74, Peter Richardson (England) 73 71, Chris Gill (England) 72 72.
146 Ross Canavan (England) 74 72.
147 Jake Amos (England) 74 73.
148 Mark Coppell (England) 73 75.
MISSED THE CUT
151 Richard Carter (England) (amateur) 76 75, Guy Woodman (England) 75 76.
153 Laurence Warne (England) 77 76.
154 Matthew Daley (England) (amateur) 77 77, Nick Pugh (England) 78 76.
158 Justin Brink (Ireland) 80 78.
159 Stephen Clark (Scotland) 78 81.
SPRINGFIELD ROYAL
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nadeem Inayat (Pakistan) 69 69 leads.
Selected scores
153 Andrew Scaife (England) 75 78.
MISSED THE CUT
167 Sandy Mitchell (Scotland) 82 85.
Hua Hin, Thailand: Nadeem Inayat of Pakistan fired a three-under-par 69 to lead the halfway stage of the Qualifying School First Stage at the Springfield Royal Country Club today.
Inayat, who has played competitively in Thailand for approximately 10 years, posted a two-day total of six-under-par 138 to put himself in a strong position of qualifying for the all-important Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage held from January 19 to 22.
Japanese Kenichi Sawada (72) was a stroke back on 139 while Joshua Kelley of the United States shot a 71 for a 143 total, five shots off the lead.
At the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, Jonathan Moore of the United States and Hertzog Landman of South Africa took a share of first place by shooting a 68 and 67 respectively.
The duo held a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Thitiphan Chuayprakong with their two-day total of 138.
Japanese Masamichi Uehira continued his hot form by firing a second successive 67 for a 134 total at the Majestic Creek Golf Resort.
Dion Sirianni of Canada shot a 69 to trail by two shots on 136 while Korean Park Il-Hwan was in third place on a 138 total.
The top-26 and ties from Imperial Lakeview will make it through to the Final Stage with the top-24 and 11 and ties from Majestic Creek Golf Resort and Springfield Royal Country Club respectively.
The top-40 and ties in the Final Stage will then earn their 2011 Asian Tour cards. Players who compete in the Qualifying School will also be eligible for memberships on the Asian Development Tour, the region’s secondary circuit, where a minimum of five tournaments will be staged in the new season.
SCOTSWATCH. Former Scottish boys champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) made the cut comfortably at Imperial Lakeview. The Musselburgh man had a pair of 73s for 146. Aberdeen exile Clarke Lutton qualified at Majestic Creek with two 75s for 150.
But Stephen Clark (The Carrick at Loch Lomond) missed out at Imperial Lakeview with 78 and 81 for 159.
Sandy Mitchell surprisingly qualified at Springfield Royal where he had rounds of 82 and 85 for 167.
SCOREBOARDS
MAJESTIC CREEK
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Masamichi Uehira (Japan) 67 67 leads.
Selected scores:
142 Neil Reilly (England) 71 71.
143 Andrew Raitt (England) 73 70.
145 Niall Turner (Ireland) 74 71.
146 Lee Harper (Scotland) 73 73.
150 Clarke Hutton (Scotland) 75 75.
IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Jonathan Moore (US) 70 68 leads.
Selected scores:
141 Justin Evans (England) 76 65.
143 Sandeep Grewall (England) 70 73.
144 Llewellyn Matthews (Wales) 70 74, Peter Richardson (England) 73 71, Chris Gill (England) 72 72.
146 Ross Canavan (England) 74 72.
147 Jake Amos (England) 74 73.
148 Mark Coppell (England) 73 75.
MISSED THE CUT
151 Richard Carter (England) (amateur) 76 75, Guy Woodman (England) 75 76.
153 Laurence Warne (England) 77 76.
154 Matthew Daley (England) (amateur) 77 77, Nick Pugh (England) 78 76.
158 Justin Brink (Ireland) 80 78.
159 Stephen Clark (Scotland) 78 81.
SPRINGFIELD ROYAL
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Nadeem Inayat (Pakistan) 69 69 leads.
Selected scores
153 Andrew Scaife (England) 75 78.
MISSED THE CUT
167 Sandy Mitchell (Scotland) 82 85.
ROSS BAIN BEST OF SCOTS ON CHALLENGE TOUR OPENER DAY 1
From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul SymesSiddikur Rahman of Bangladesh blasted his way to the summit of the leaderboard with a superb round of five under par 67 on the opening day of the inaugural Gujarat Kensville Challenge, the first event of the 2011 Challenge Tour season.
The Challenge Tour debutant raced into the lead after sprinkling five birdies in a flawless round of golf at Kensville Golf Club in Ahmedabad, India, which was designed by three-time European Tour champion Jeev Milkha Singh. Rahman, starting on the tenth tee, flew out of the blocks with four birdies on the way out, before adding another on the sixth hole to finish two strokes clear of his nearest challengers, England’s Daniel Denison, Austrian Florian Praegant and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos.
“I played two practice rounds and the Pro-Am and hence was primed before the event,” said Rahman. “When I went out, I just thought of keeping the ball on the fairways as there are so many out of bounds on the course.
“It was a combination of good driving and short game that enabled me to keep the bogeys off my card. I hope to sustain my form through the week. And if I win this week, I would prefer to play the Challenge Tour even though I have an Asian Tour card, because ultimately I would like to play on The European Tour.”
Rahman is one of a number of young Bangladeshi players emerging on the international golfing scene, and he believes it is no coincidence that he and his countrymen are developing at a rate of knots, given the junior programme he came through in his homeland.
“My club, Kurmitola Golf Club, has played a crucial role in the development of golf in Bangladesh by initiating a junior development programme and providing enough facilities for them to train. Hence there is a spurt in the number of players playing on the bigger tours.”
The chasing pack is led by Denison, whose career – and indeed life – was in jeopardy after he was involved in a serious car crash in 2007. But having returned to full fitness the young Englishman is rebuilding his career, and will have been encouraged by a round of 69 which was marred only by a double bogey at the par three fifth hole.
Denison was joined on three under par by Santos, whose first gain came at the fourth hole, where he hit a nine iron to four feet and rolled in the putt. That birdie was soon cancelled out by his only blemish of the day at the next hole, where he three-putted from long range.
But the 28 year old made amends after the turn, running up successive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes, courtesy of putts from three and ten feet respectively. Another birdie on the 16th hole, where he pitched his seven iron to ten feet, saw Santos come home in 33 to join Praegant in a share of the lead.
Like Santos, Praegant also took advantage of the shorter back nine to join the Portuguese player in a share of second place. After turning in one over par the Austrian might have feared the worst, but he stormed back with birdies at the tenth, 12th, 14th and 15th holes to surge through the field.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, one of the host nation’s brightest prospects and twice a winner on the Asian Tour, is well in the hunt on two under par, alongside the Scandinavian trio of Sweden’s Klas Eriksson, Norwegian Espen Kofstad and Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup.
SCOTSWATCH: Ross Bain did best of the five Scots in action with a one-under-par 71 (37-34) for a share of ninth place. Craig Lee (38-34) and Callum Macaulay (35-37) camed next, bracketed in 13th place on the 72 mark. But Jack Doherty and Gavin Dear had a nightmare day. Both finished on eight-over-par 80, Doherty with an inward half of 42 and Dear with 41 strokes from the turn. They are sharing 96th place and their chances of beating the halfway cut do not look bright at this stage.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 Rahman Siddikur (Bangladeshi) leads
SCOTS' SCORES71 Ross Bain (37-34) (jt 9th).
72 Craig Lee (38-34), Callum Macaulay (35-37) (jt 13th).
80 Jack Doherty (38-42), Gavin Dear (39-41) (jt 96th).
TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
GEORGE MURRAY (66) BEST OF SCOTS IN JOBURG OPEN
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt share the first round lead at the Joburg Open after both carded faultless nine under par rounds of 62.
Another local, Thomas Aiken, also excelled on the East after his 64 put him a on seven under and left him as the only other player in the top ten to have gotten the more difficult 18 out of the way.
Also on that score was Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka, while eight players were a further stroke back on six under after 65s.
Among them were Britons Stuart Manley, Jamie Elson and Robert Dinwiddie along with Norway's Marius Thorp, Dutchman Floris de Vries and South African trio Peter-Henric McIntyre, Garth Mulroy and Divan van den Heever.
The man they were all chasing was Maritz, who has never won a Tour event and who recently took a break from professional golf due to frustration over his game.
The 33 year old begin with successive birdies, pick up further shots at the sixth and eighth and then conclude with five birdies in his last six holes.
Amongst the highlights of that run were a 15 footer at the 15th and his tee shot at the par three next, which spun to within a foot of the hole.
Maritz admitted that despite suggestions the West Course was easier, he felt otherwise.
He said: "That's what everybody thinks, but over the last few years, I think I've played better on the East Course.
"I think it's because in junior days and amateur days we played a lot of tournaments on that course.
"I think if I can shoot anything close to that tomorrow, I'll be very, very happy."
The Pretoria-born golfer, now based in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he had taken up a club pro role in his time away, added: "I've been working really hard on my short game, it's not my strong point, so I'm just ecstatic, it's just a magical round for me today and I'm over the moon."
Mordt also made a birdie-birdie start on the way to turning in a five under par 31, before collecting four more gains on the back nine.
"My putter got hot on the back nine," he said. "I didn't necessarily hit it that well, but I just holed four long putts in a row, and that helped me out a lot."
Countryman Grace, the clubhouse leader for most of the day, recorded six birdies and an eagle in his round, and conceded that the West Course players had no option but to score low today.
"I thought beforehand that one of the keys was to go low on the west and fortunately I managed to do it today," he said.
"I played really well, I didn't make any mistakes out there and everything went to plan, so I'm pretty pleased with that."
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel had a solid start to the tournament with a 68 on the East Course he birdied the 11th from 12 feet and spun his approach at the 13th to three feet.
One of his playing partners, Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, ended on one under 70, thanks to three successive birdies to finish.
SCOTS' SCORES
Par 71
66 George Murray (34-32) (jt 14ty).
67 David Drysdale (36-31), Marc Warren (34-33) (jt 27th).
70 Alastair Forsyth (36-34), Steven O'Hara (34-36), Scott Jamieson (37-33), Elliot Saltman (34-36) (jt 80th).
71 Lloyd Saltman (37-34) (jt 108th).
78 Scott Drummond (39-39) (jt 203rd).
TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE,
CLICK HERE
Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt share the first round lead at the Joburg Open after both carded faultless nine under par rounds of 62.However, they came on different courses at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, and while Mordt's efforts on the West Course were outstanding, Maritz's on the more difficult East Course were truly sensational.
The two South Africans registered nine birdies each, with Maritz's effort coming on the longer East Course which provided only four of the top 26 players on day one.
They lead by a shot from compatriot Branden Grace, following his 63 early in the day.
This week's co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event is being played over two courses on the first two days, before the cut is made and the final two rounds are played on the testing East lay-out.Another local, Thomas Aiken, also excelled on the East after his 64 put him a on seven under and left him as the only other player in the top ten to have gotten the more difficult 18 out of the way.
Also on that score was Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka, while eight players were a further stroke back on six under after 65s.
Among them were Britons Stuart Manley, Jamie Elson and Robert Dinwiddie along with Norway's Marius Thorp, Dutchman Floris de Vries and South African trio Peter-Henric McIntyre, Garth Mulroy and Divan van den Heever.
The man they were all chasing was Maritz, who has never won a Tour event and who recently took a break from professional golf due to frustration over his game.
The 33 year old begin with successive birdies, pick up further shots at the sixth and eighth and then conclude with five birdies in his last six holes.
Amongst the highlights of that run were a 15 footer at the 15th and his tee shot at the par three next, which spun to within a foot of the hole.
Maritz admitted that despite suggestions the West Course was easier, he felt otherwise.
He said: "That's what everybody thinks, but over the last few years, I think I've played better on the East Course.
"I think it's because in junior days and amateur days we played a lot of tournaments on that course.
"I think if I can shoot anything close to that tomorrow, I'll be very, very happy."
The Pretoria-born golfer, now based in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he had taken up a club pro role in his time away, added: "I've been working really hard on my short game, it's not my strong point, so I'm just ecstatic, it's just a magical round for me today and I'm over the moon."
Mordt also made a birdie-birdie start on the way to turning in a five under par 31, before collecting four more gains on the back nine.
"My putter got hot on the back nine," he said. "I didn't necessarily hit it that well, but I just holed four long putts in a row, and that helped me out a lot."
Countryman Grace, the clubhouse leader for most of the day, recorded six birdies and an eagle in his round, and conceded that the West Course players had no option but to score low today.
"I thought beforehand that one of the keys was to go low on the west and fortunately I managed to do it today," he said.
"I played really well, I didn't make any mistakes out there and everything went to plan, so I'm pretty pleased with that."
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel had a solid start to the tournament with a 68 on the East Course he birdied the 11th from 12 feet and spun his approach at the 13th to three feet.
One of his playing partners, Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, ended on one under 70, thanks to three successive birdies to finish.
SCOTSWATCH: George Murray (pictured above) returned to form with a five-under-par 66 (34-32) which left him in joint 14th place in a field of over 200. He birdied the first, second, 16th, 17th and 18th.
David Drysdale is sharing 27th place with Marc Warren and others on the 67 mark. Drysdale came rattling home in 31 with birdies at the 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th. Warren had halves of 34-33 but will be kicking himself that he did not finish on 66 at least. He bogeyed the 18th.
Alastair Forsyth (36-34), Steven O'Hara (34-36), Scott Jamieson (37-33) and Elliot Saltman (34-36) were among the pack on one-under-par 70.
Lloyd Saltman (37-34) hit the par mark but with so many low scores around, he too will be less than satisfied.
Scott Drummond looks as though he can start packing his suitcase already. He is joint 203rd after a round of 78 (39-39).SCOTS' SCORES
Par 71
66 George Murray (34-32) (jt 14ty).
67 David Drysdale (36-31), Marc Warren (34-33) (jt 27th).
70 Alastair Forsyth (36-34), Steven O'Hara (34-36), Scott Jamieson (37-33), Elliot Saltman (34-36) (jt 80th).
71 Lloyd Saltman (37-34) (jt 108th).
78 Scott Drummond (39-39) (jt 203rd).
TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE,
CLICK HERE
DISQUALIFICATION PROBE: TUESDAY D-DAY FOR ELLIOT SALTMAN
FROM THE HERALDSCOTLAND.COM WEBSITE
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport
By Nick Rodger
Elliot Saltman begins his challenge in the Joburg Open in South Africa today in the knowledge that his European Tour future should finally be decided next week.
The 28-year-old will tee-up at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington aiming to build on his 23rd place finish in last weekend’s Africa Open, but he will also be striving to put the forthcoming meeting with a players’ committee in Abu Dhabi to the back of his mind.
After months of dithering, a hearing to determine what further action, if any, will be taken against Saltman, for the alleged offence of incorrectly marking his ball during a Challenge Tour event last season, will be held in the Middle East on Tuesday.
Saltman was disqualified from the Russian Challenge Cup last September after the incident was reported by his playing partners, but the controversy has rumbled on and reached a peak when the Archerfield player earned his European Tour card at December’s qualifying school.
“I’d asked for this meeting to be held before Christmas, but because of the weather I couldn’t travel down to London,” said Saltman, whose trip to Abu Dhabi will be covered by the tour. “Now this is my chance to put the record straight. It needs to be sorted out, because it’s been a hindrance to me. I just want to get on with doing what I do best, which is playing golf.
“I had my punishment at the time and I thought that would be the end of it, so it has been bothering me. I just want it all straightened out so I can move on.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport
By Nick Rodger
Elliot Saltman begins his challenge in the Joburg Open in South Africa today in the knowledge that his European Tour future should finally be decided next week.
The 28-year-old will tee-up at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington aiming to build on his 23rd place finish in last weekend’s Africa Open, but he will also be striving to put the forthcoming meeting with a players’ committee in Abu Dhabi to the back of his mind.
After months of dithering, a hearing to determine what further action, if any, will be taken against Saltman, for the alleged offence of incorrectly marking his ball during a Challenge Tour event last season, will be held in the Middle East on Tuesday.
Saltman was disqualified from the Russian Challenge Cup last September after the incident was reported by his playing partners, but the controversy has rumbled on and reached a peak when the Archerfield player earned his European Tour card at December’s qualifying school.
“I’d asked for this meeting to be held before Christmas, but because of the weather I couldn’t travel down to London,” said Saltman, whose trip to Abu Dhabi will be covered by the tour. “Now this is my chance to put the record straight. It needs to be sorted out, because it’s been a hindrance to me. I just want to get on with doing what I do best, which is playing golf.
“I had my punishment at the time and I thought that would be the end of it, so it has been bothering me. I just want it all straightened out so I can move on.”
EUROPEAN TOUR AND CHALLENGE TOUR LIVE SCORING
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AUSTRALIAN MASTER OF THE AMATEURS CHAMPIONSHIP
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RUSSELL KNOX LEADS, BRITTANY LINCICOME MISSES CUT
Inverness exilie Russell Knox, a prolific money-winner on the NGA Hooters Tour in America, is off and running again in 2011.
He leads the field after two rounds of this week's event at Deer Island.
LPGA Tour player Brittany Lincicome missed the cut.
Switch over to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ for more details about the Hooters Tour event.
He leads the field after two rounds of this week's event at Deer Island.
LPGA Tour player Brittany Lincicome missed the cut.
Switch over to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ for more details about the Hooters Tour event.
LEE HARPER 73 START AT ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
FROM THE ASIAN TOUR WEBSITE
Hua Hin, Thailand: Frenchman Jean Nicolas Billot got off to a flying start at the Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage by shooting an opening seven-under-par 65 on Wednesday.
Billot, 32, who has won three professional titles, opened up a two-shot lead over Canadian Dion Sirianni and Japanese Masamichi Uehira at the Majestic Creek Golf Resort where the top-24 and ties at the end of four rounds will qualify for the all-important Asian Tour Qualifying School Final stage held from January 19 to 22.
Musselburgh's former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency (a few years ago!), had a 73, also at Majestic Creek, and is lying joint 41st.
Clarke Lutton, originally from Aberdeen, had a 75 and Mar Hall Hotel, Erskine pro Graeme Stewart, a 77.
Another Scot, Stephen Clark, playing out of The Carrick at Loch Lomond, is competing at Imperial Lakeview, one of three venues in use this week. Stephen had a six-over 78 to be back in joint 87th position.
SCOREBOARD
MAJESTIC CREEK
Field of 120 players.
Par 72
66 Jean Nicolas Billot (France) leads.
Selected scores:
71 Neil Reilly (England) (jt 16th).
73 Lee Harper (Scotland), Andrew Raitt (England) (jt 41st).
74 Niall Turner (Ireland) (jt 63rd).
75 Clarke Lutton (Scotland) (jt 64th).
77 Ian Gleadow (England), Graeme Stewart (Scotland) (jt 83rd).
80 Nigel Ayling (England) (jt 102nd).
IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW
Field of 130 players.
Par 72
68 Thitipan Chuayprakong (Thailand) leads.
Selected scores:
70 Sandeep Grewal (England) (jt 2nd).
72 Chris Gill (England) (jt 20th).
73 Mark Coppell (England) (jt 33rd).
74 Ross Canavan (England), Jake Amos (England) (jt 45th).
75 Guy Woodman (England) (jt 54th).
76 Richard Carter (England) (amateur), Justin Evans (England) (jt 64th).
77 Matthew Daley (England) (amateur), Kevin Tilbury (England) (jt 76th).
78 Stephen Clark (Scotland), Nigel Pugh (England) (jt 87th).
SPRINGFIELD
Field of 55 players
Par 72
67 Kenichi Sawaka (Japan) leads.
Selected scores:
74 Darren Robson (England) (jt 15th).
82 Sandy Mitchell (Scotland) (jt 45th).
Billot, 32, who has won three professional titles, opened up a two-shot lead over Canadian Dion Sirianni and Japanese Masamichi Uehira at the Majestic Creek Golf Resort where the top-24 and ties at the end of four rounds will qualify for the all-important Asian Tour Qualifying School Final stage held from January 19 to 22.
Musselburgh's former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency (a few years ago!), had a 73, also at Majestic Creek, and is lying joint 41st.
Clarke Lutton, originally from Aberdeen, had a 75 and Mar Hall Hotel, Erskine pro Graeme Stewart, a 77.
Another Scot, Stephen Clark, playing out of The Carrick at Loch Lomond, is competing at Imperial Lakeview, one of three venues in use this week. Stephen had a six-over 78 to be back in joint 87th position.
SCOREBOARD
MAJESTIC CREEK
Field of 120 players.
Par 72
66 Jean Nicolas Billot (France) leads.
Selected scores:
71 Neil Reilly (England) (jt 16th).
73 Lee Harper (Scotland), Andrew Raitt (England) (jt 41st).
74 Niall Turner (Ireland) (jt 63rd).
75 Clarke Lutton (Scotland) (jt 64th).
77 Ian Gleadow (England), Graeme Stewart (Scotland) (jt 83rd).
80 Nigel Ayling (England) (jt 102nd).
IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW
Field of 130 players.
Par 72
68 Thitipan Chuayprakong (Thailand) leads.
Selected scores:
70 Sandeep Grewal (England) (jt 2nd).
72 Chris Gill (England) (jt 20th).
73 Mark Coppell (England) (jt 33rd).
74 Ross Canavan (England), Jake Amos (England) (jt 45th).
75 Guy Woodman (England) (jt 54th).
76 Richard Carter (England) (amateur), Justin Evans (England) (jt 64th).
77 Matthew Daley (England) (amateur), Kevin Tilbury (England) (jt 76th).
78 Stephen Clark (Scotland), Nigel Pugh (England) (jt 87th).
SPRINGFIELD
Field of 55 players
Par 72
67 Kenichi Sawaka (Japan) leads.
Selected scores:
74 Darren Robson (England) (jt 15th).
82 Sandy Mitchell (Scotland) (jt 45th).