Mr 99's flake-out angers Neil

A LEADING Lothians golfer has disputed claims that the player who embarrassed himself in an Open qualifier did not affect others in the field at Musselburgh.

Neil Cunningham, one of the top players at Duddingston, was in the group behind John Spreadborough as he shot a 99 at Monktonhall on Wednesday.

"The R&A said it wasn't an issue because the group in front of us weren't holding up play but we waited on every shot from the fourth onwards with the seventh particularly bad," said Cunningham. That's where Spreadborough ran up a 13, losing three balls off the tee, before also taking an 11 at the 12th hole. "He must have been a 'ringer' because he was nowhere near good enough to be playing," added Cunningham. "We thought someone else had entered and got their mate to play instead."

Despite having to wait over every shot, Cunningham was still in with a chance of qualifying when he came to the last only to run up a costly triple-bogey 7.

"As if that wasn't bad enough, I then read in the Evening News last night that 'Mr 99' parred the last three holes," he fumed.