Golf: Russell back with a bang on Euro tour

LOTHIANS golfer Raymond Russell was set to swap an Italian Job for a French Connection this week as he targets more golfing glory.

The Prestonpans ace secured a dramatic return to the European Tour at the weekend after sharing 12th spot in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in southern Italy.

Russell, 38, moved up from 21st on the Challenge Tour rankings to 19th - with just the top 20 earning promotion to the main circuit.

As one of the lower qualifiers, Russell , who has fought his way back up the pro ladder after a year out with injury, will have a limited number of starts on the tour. But the 1996 Cannes Open champ is looking to boost his schedule and will compete in this week's Allianz Tour Final in southern France before heading to the European Tour qualifying school in Spain in early December.

"I lead the Allianz Tour's order of merit and the winner of that gets into next year's French Open," said Russell. "It's another opportunity for me and I'll try and make the most of it."

Russell hit a closing 68 for a one-under 283 at San Domenico to squeeze into the top 20 on the money list by just 920.

He added: "I'm very proud of myself for what I've done.

"The most pleasing aspect for me was that I shot a score like that under pressure on the final day. That confirmed to me that, mentally, I can still do it and that is a big thing."

Fife's George Murray and Scott Jamieson of Glasgow were also celebrating at the weekend as they comfortably made the top 20. Murray, who bagged June's Scottish Hydro Challenge, hit a 71 for 283 and finished tenth on the money list.

And Jamieson, who topped last year's EuroPro Tour rankings, made it two promotions in a row as he fired a 70 for 284 which left him 14th on the final order of merit.

Kent's Matt Haines ripped out a 66 for an eight-under 276 and landed the top prize of 45,284 as well as a ticket to the main tour.