Seven Scots survive first qualifying test

Seven Scots – Peter Smith (Deeside), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Edzell club pro Alastair Webster, David James, Murray White, Iain Parker and Terry Burgoyne – were among the 62 qualifiers yesterday from the European Seniors Qualifying School Stage 1 eliminator on Portugal’s Algarve coastline.

They join 13 exempt players to make a field of 75 for the Final Stage at the Pestana Resort next week, when only six places on the over-50s card will be up for grabs. Those who finish seventh will be rewarded with conditional playing rights.

Former Northern Open champion Smith made the top 20 qualifiers at Gramacho with a second-round par-matching 72 for 149 and joint-17th.

One-time Walker Cup player Mann shot 72-70 for a two-over tally of 142 at Silves where David James (71-66 for 137) tied for second. Iain Parker (74-71) for 145 made it through in joint-16th among the 22 qualifiers from this venue.

Webster shot a pair of 78s for 12-over-par 156 but that was good enough to give him joint-19th place among the 20 qualifiers from Vila Sol, arguably the toughest of the three courses in use.

Terry Burgoyne (74-75 for 149) qualified in joint-fifth at this venue.