Golf in brief: PGA| Europro Tour| Tartan Tour

Graham Fox lived up to his name with a cunning display to defy fierce conditions at Blairgowrie and qualify for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship final.

The reigning Scottish PGA champion carded a two-under-par 70 to clinch a one stroke victory over West Lothian’s Alan Reid, who saw his brilliant start of four birdies in five holes evaporate with a run of five bogeys in six through the turn.

Fox built his score in the Peugeot supported event with opening back-to-back birdies and further gains at nine and ten which offset dropped shots at six and eight.

The 35-year-old’s efforts have secured him a maiden appearance in the £78,000 Glenmuir final being staged at De Vere Slaley Hall from 11-14 June. He will be joined by 12 other qualifiers.

TARTAN TOUR: An experienced threesome are sharing the lead heading into the second and final round of the Spey Valley Challenge after no player broke par on the opening day in Aviemore.

Former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre), Jim McKinnon (Irvine) and David Orr (Mearns Castle) lead the way after par-matching 72s on a tough day in the Highlands.

On a tightly bunched leaderboard, no less than eight players are a shot behind the leaders, the group including former Walker Cup player David Patrick (Elie SC) and Hayston’s Stephen Gray, who produced the shot of the day with a hole-in-one at the 16th.

Alongside them on 73 are Greig Hutcheon, Fraser Dunlop, Ken Hutton, Craig Ronald, Stewart Savage and Greg McBain, last year’s Paul Lawrie Invitational winner.

EUROPRO TOUR: Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) is sitting joint third after the first round of the Motocaddy Masters – the opening event on this year’s PGA EuroPro Tour – at Wensum Valley in Norfolk.

On a day when English duo Max Smith (Donnington) and Luke Joy (Broadstone) carded 71s to set the pace, Saltman tucked himself in just behind them after a one under par round that was illuminated by three birdies in the last five holes.

Saltman’s younger brother, Zack, also made a promising start to sit joint seventh with fellow Scot Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) after they shot 74s, with Duddingston’s John Gallagher and Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) the next best amongst a large Scottish contingent on 75.

Rookie Paul Shields is joint 95th after he slipped to an 80.