Buoyant Ramsay sets Open target, but Gallacher is out of Race to Dubai

WHILE Richie Ramsay is heading into this week’s Dubai World Championship with a place in next year’s Open in his sights, Stephen Gallacher’s campaign has come to a premature end after he missed out on the season-ending event by just over £3,000.

A closing 68 lifted Gallacher into tie for 35th on level-par in the Hong Kong Open, picking up £12,678 to take his season’s earnings to £428,886.

However, the 37-year-old fell two shots short of the finish he needed to take part in the final circuit in this season’s Race to Dubai, the gap between him and Swede Christian Nilsson, the man who claimed the 60th and last spot, being a mere £3,376.

“I had it going today but it’s one of those things. It’s onwards and upwards and the consolation is that I’ll get an extra week at home with my wife and kids before the start of the new season,” said Gallacher.

The Bathgate man fell out of the top 60 while he was representing Scotland in the World Cup in China, but said he wouldn’t have missed out on that in order to play in the SA Open instead. “Playing in the World Cup was great and it’s not really come down to this week – it was over the 28 events I’ve played in this season,” he added.

It means Scotland will be represented in Dubai by Ramsay, who is up to 26th on the money-list after finishing in a tie for fourth behind Rory McIlroy in Hong Kong, Paul Lawrie and Scott Jamieson.

Ramsay, who has now recorded top-five finishes in three of his last five events, closed with a 66 at Fanling to pick up a cheque for £74,779 and take his season’s earnings to just short of £750,000.

“I was nearly there,” said the 28-year-old Aberdonian. “There were a few putts that shaved the edge. But I was looking for a good week to get some momentum going into Dubai. I had a peek at the money-list and if I can get a bonus of finishing in the top 30 that would get me into the Open, which would be major for me.”

Lawrie jumped one spot to 56th after tying for 46th in Hong Kong, where Jamieson failed to earn a spot but survived a nervous wait to hold on to 59th position.

David Drysdale (103rd) and Marc Warren (113th) both held on to their cards, the former jumping five places after a closing 68 in Hong Kong, where Colin Montgomerie signed off with a 67 to tie for 46th.