Golf: Hickory dickory dock, turn back the clock at Musselburgh

THE clock is being turned back at Royal Musselburgh this weekend as the East Lothian club stages the 2010 Scottish Hickory Open Championship.

"In contrast to other hickory events, which are geared more to collectors and other specialist groups, we are aiming this event at the ordinary club golfer and, to this end, all clubs and a bag are supplied as part of the entry fee," said Royal Musselburgh secretary John Gilmour.

"We are seeking to give the club golfer the opportunity to experience golf as their forebears did."

The event starts with a fourball pairs competition tomorrow, followed by a scratch and singles event on Sunday.

"We are using the original hole cutter, owned by Royal Musselburgh, as the scratch trophy with the winner's name to be engraved on a medal which will be appended to it," added Gilmour. "The first staging of this event last year was a great success with entries from various places throughout the UK and also from abroad."

• LOTHIANS duo Lloyd Saltman and Raymond Russell were both lying within striking distance of the leaders going into the second round SWALEC Wales Challenge on the European Challenge Tour.

Aegon-sponsored Saltman was just two shots off the pace after a opening 70 at the Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort near Cardiff, with Prestonpans man Russell in a group a further shot adrift.

Elliot Saltman had 74, two less than Marriott Dalmahoy-based Jamie McLeary.

• CRAIGIELAW'S Shaun McAllister and Lee Harper of Archerfield Links were among seven Scottish survivors for the last round the Veka Network Open, a PGA EuroPro Tour event, at Slaley Hall.