PAUL OHARA SETS HIGHLAND LINKS

PACE WITH A FOUR-UNDER 67  at NAIRN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul O'Hara, unofficial "player of the year" on the Tartan Tour with 10 wins, some outright, some shared, to his credit, is on the trail of another big-money success.
He leads the 54-hole Highland Links pro-am, which is supported by the Blue Group, with a four-under-par 67 at Nairn, one of three links venues being used for this £55,650 event. The others are Royal Dornoch.
The field of 83 switches courses every day and it is difficult to assess the chances of the leaders, although O'Hara is off to a flying start.
On the overall par scoreboard, Neil Henderson (Renaissance), who also played Nairn today, is lying second with a three under par 68.
Next come Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo), and Gareth Wright (West Linton)), joint leaders with one-under-par 69s at Royal Dornoch.
Said Hutcheon

"It was very windy with heavy rain showers at all courses, I'm led to believe. Many par 4s were tricky 5s! It was a tough day and the weather is to remain pretty tough, I think many teams are already looking forward to the dinner on Wednesday night! A true Highland Links experience. But  rain gloves required ! "

At Castle Stuart, the players certainly found the going  tough. Nobody broke par there. Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil and Germany-based Jonathan Grogan (Wumme) , shared the lead at that venue with level par 72s.
First prize is £8,000 and the top 15 finishers after three rounds will earn four-figure cheques.

ALL THE SCORES

Royal Dornoch
par 70
69 G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo), G Wright (West Linton) 
72 G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch), C Kelly (Stirling), G Hay (Boat of Garten), J Watts (Kingsway), J Levermore (Little Channels), A Forsyth (Mearns Castle).
73 F McKenna (Caldwell), N Walton (Glasgow), A Forrow (Whitecraigs).
74 O Roberts (Archerfield), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), M Patterson (Kilmacolm).
75 A Mackenzie (Saunton), J Savage (Cawder), M Bradley (Notts), D Stein (Ranfurly Castle).
76 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst)
78 G Brown (Montrose Links)
79 L Kelly (Prodream USA), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), S Morrison (Tain).
80 R Menzies (Trump Turnberry)
81 S Murray (Nevada Bob)
82 P Latimer (Felixstowe Ferry).
83 F Thomson (Trump Turnberry)
Nairn
par 71
67 P O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure)
68 N Henderson (Renaissance Club).
70 R O'Neill (Penwortham)
72 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), C Ronald (Carluke)
73 M Urquhart (Nairn), J Ross (Royal Burgess).
74 S Burgess (Nairn)
75 G McBain (Newmachar)
76 P Wardell (North Berwick), D Brunton (Ringway), M Hillson (St Andrews for Golf), L Towler (Telford), S Binning (Mearns Castle).
77 C Currie (Caldwell), Laura Murray (Kippie Lodge), J McCreadie (Largs).
78 G Stewart (Cawder)
79 S Henderson (Kings Links)
82 D Lockhart (Fiddlestick), J Richardson (Hexham)
83 D Grindell (Inverness), M Stubbings (Rockcliffe Hall)
84 M Smith (Stamford).
86 D Thomson (Carnegie Club)
89 A Earlam (Saddleworth).

Castle Stuart
par 72
72 N Fenwick (Dunbar), B Neil (Blairgowrie), J Grogan (Wumme).
74 R Cameron (Saltire Energy)
75 J Lomas (Caprington), L Boston (Stockwood Vale), K Hutton (Downfield), S O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure), C Marr (Musselburgh)
76 D Young (Kingsbarns)
77 R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC), I Colquhoun (Loch Lomond), S Gray (Lanark)
78 A Welsh (Cathkin Braes), S McCabe (Killeen), J McGhee (Swanston New)
79 C McMaster (Downfield), F Cromarty (Nairn), M Stewart (Troon Welbeck), B Craggs (Kingsfield), J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), D Moreland (Doha).
81 N Huguet (Musselburgh)
82 G Nethercott (Deeside), J Massey (Doha), C Lloyd (Kendleshire).
83 L Hancock (unatt), J Henry (Clydebank and Dist), J Erskine (Dumfries and Co).
90 S Swales (Radyr)

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