CARRICK NEILL SCOTTISH OPEN STROKEPLAY - McDonald best for Ayrshire in joint ninth place

Jack McDonald
Best Ayrshire performer at Moray

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) finished in joint ninth place in the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship at Moray Golf Club at the weekend, the best placed of the ten Ayrshire players who took part in the championship.

McDonald returned a total of 286 (+2) with rounds of 70, 72, 68 & 76, finishing tied ninth with four other player, eight shots behind the winner Marco Penge (Goodwood GC).

Only two other Ayrshire players survived the halfway cut, James Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) finishing tied in fifty second place on 304 (+20) with rounds of 73, 73, 76 & 82, whilst james Bunch (Prestwick) had rounds of 71, 74 & 73, retiring before completion of his fourth round.

The halfway cut fell at 146 and the remaining seven Ayrshire players fell outwith that target.

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) and Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) both opened with good rounds of 71 before crashing out with second round 79's for a 150 total.

Also exiting at the halfway stage were Bruce Caldow of Kilmarnock Barassie (152 - 72, 80), Charlie Macneal of Prestwick) (153 - 75, 76), Stephen Spence of Royal Troon (155 - 77, 78), Stuart Easton of Irvine (157 - 76, 81) and David Wilson of Troon Welbeck (159 - 72, 87).