Lloyd Saltman makes progress in Sicilian Open

Lothians ace Lloyd Saltman survived a late wobble to make the cut in the Sicilian Open and gain another foothold on the European Tour.

The Archerfield ace, who has made the cut in his last three events, posted a one-under 70 over a windswept Donnafugata course for a one-over 143 and safely progressed through to the weekend's action.

Boosted by an eagle-three at the seventh, where he holed his bunker shot, Saltman was coasting along until he double-bogeyed the 16th and then spilled a shot on the last when his approach landed under a TV buggy behind the green.

"It was a very tough day but I played very well apart from a couple of rookie mistakes," he said. "It's another cut made and we can now look to the weekend and try to move forward."

Saltman's Lothians colleague Stephen Gallacher also eased through on a 141 after a battling 70. The former Dunhill Links champion recovered from a wretched spell around the turn, where he dropped three shots in two holes, with birdies at 12 and 16 to repair the damage.

Colin Montgomerie posted a bogey-free 69 for a 138 to lead the Scots in a share of ninth behind halfway leader Anthony Wall, who hit a 67 for 133.