CRAIGIELAW golfer Lloyd Saltman was left cursing a closing-hole bogey for the second time in four days as he narrowly missed out on an Open Championship place in the International Final Qualifier in Singapore today.
The 22-year-old, who had pushed himself into early contention with a one-under 71 yesterday, fired a two-under 70 in round two but his three-under aggregate of 141 left him just a stroke short of a top-four finish needed to secure a trip to Royal Bir
kdale in July.
Saltman had missed the cut by a shot after a bogey on his last hole in the Asian Tour International in Thailand on Saturday and the Lothians ace was to face more 18th-green misery in the Far East today.
Despite a bogey on the opening hole, Saltman got his challenge back on track with birdies at four, five and seven. He spilled another shot at the 11th but further gains at 12 and 15 kept the former Walker Cup star in the hunt.
The par-five 18th would prove costly however and, having taken a six, Saltman just missed out on joining Lam Chi Bing, Angelo Que and Tomohiro Kondo in a play-off for the final two qualifying spots.
Singapore golfer Bing and Que of the Philippines emerged victorious from the resulting shoot-out and will join Danny Chia of Malaysia and Australian Adam Blyth in the Birkdale field.
Asian Tour regular Chia, who played in the 2005 Open at St Andrews, claimed the No.1 qualifying spot with a 69 for a 138 to finish one ahead of Blyth, who surged up the rankings with a closing 66.
Dubai-based Scot Ross Bain, always struggling after a first-round 76, posted a 72 and missed out on 148 while countryman Simon Dunn closed with a 72 for 150. Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies also failed with a 147.
The full article contains 329 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
