Golf: Zack aims to join brothers for Open bid

ZACK SALTMAN tees it up at Musselburgh on Monday hoping to join his two older brothers in the final stage of qualifying for next month's Open Championship at St Andrews.

After making the line-up at Turnberry last year, Elliot and Lloyd have avoided regional qualifying phase this time .

But Zack will be among the 120 hopefuls heading to Monktonhall in a bid to move a step closer to a place in the 150th anniversary of the world's oldest major on the Old Course.

This is the final year of Musselburgh's stint as the sole Scottish venue for the regional qualifying. Bruntsfield Links takes over next year for five years.

American Scott Pinckney shot a sizzling 63 to claim top spot at Monktonhall last year and it's another cosmpolitan field this time around.

Players taking part are listed as representing Norway, USA, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Jamaica, Germany, Spain and Singapore.

First off at 7am is Aberdonian Scott Henderson, a former European Tour rookie of the year, and

the last group isn't out until just before 2.30pm.

For many of the Lothians competitors, this is one of the highlights of their season.

They include Murrayfield's Jonnie Cliff, Swanston New's John Gallagher, Craigielaw duo Shaun McAllister and Mark Hillson, Pumpherston's Paul Drake, Lee Harper, who was a Musselburgh member when he won the Scottish Boys' title, and host club pro Norman Huguet.