Three Scots progress

CALLUM Macaulay, Alan McLean and Elliot Saltman were the only Scots from an 18-strong contingent to come through the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in southern Spain.

At the end of a tense final day at four venues, Macaulay and McLean shared second spot behind Sweden’s Joakin Lagergren at El Valle, while Saltman also qualified comfortably by securing seventh place at Las Colinas.

Macaulay, the 2008 Scottish Amateur champion, dropped two shots late on in his closing 71 for an 11-under-par total of 273, which was matched by McLean after he finished with a 69.

“I played solidly all week and also kept my emotions in check, which was important,” said Macaulay, who was celebrating his 28th birthday today by making a six-hour drive from Murcia to Girona to prepare for the final stage, which starts on Saturday.

Saltman joined his younger brother, Lloyd, in that field by rounding off a polished performance at Las Colinas with a 69 for a nine-under total of 275.

A total of 81 players progressed, with Scott Henry coming closest to joining his three compatriots. The former Scottish Boys’ champion agonisingly missed out on a play-off for the final spot at Costa Ballena, where he came home in three-under only to fall one shot short on 281.

After being inside the top 20 at the same venue in the opening three rounds, Jack Doherty also missed out after he closed with a 72 for 283, the main damage on his card being a triple-bogey 6 at the sixth.