McBain leads qualifiers for East Sussex event

ROYAL Dornoch's Greg McBain topped the standings in the Powerade British Assistants' Championship qualifying round at Auchterarder yesterday.

The former Scottish Assistants' champion birdied four of his first six holes on his way to a six-under 63 and a one-shot victory over West Linton's Gareth Wright. McBain led a group of 17 players into July's national championship at East Sussex where a first prize of 5000 will be on offer.

David Patrick, the reigning Scottish Assistants' champion who finished third in last year's British event, joined the qualifiers after a 70, but Gullane trainee Heather MacRae just missed out with a 72.

Craig Lee's win in the Scottish Wateraid 36-hole Pro-Am has lifted him into second place on the Tartan Tour's order of merit. The former European Tour player, who topped the domestic circuit's rankings last season, has 315 points and is just over three points behind frontrunner Greig Hutcheon, the SPGA No.1 in 2006 and 2007.

Paul McKechnie, the winner of the opening order of merit event of the year at Monifieth last month, sits third on 290.83 with Chris Kelly fourth on 254.17.