JEAN Van de Velde kept alive his hopes of returning to the Open Championship with a two-under-par 70 in final qualifying at Hillside yesterday – and was then promised protection for the second round.
The 42-year-old Frenchman, who has played only three Opens since his unforgettable last-hole collapse at Carnoustie in 1999, complained about the absence of crowd control.
"At the end of the day it's a job here," he said after being told by a Roya
l and Ancient Club official that six marshals would be following his group today.
"It's great that lots of people want to watch, but when they get in the way it's difficult. We couldn't even stand on one tee and my caddie had to sort it out."
Van de Velde's playing partner Danny Willett, the former amateur world No 1, holed from off the green at the last to return a 70 as well and the pair are in a share for third overnight.
Barry Hume pushed himself into contention during the first round at West Lancs. The former Scottish Amateur champion from Renfrew posted a two-under 70 but could have taken a bigger step towards a Royal Birkdale tee-time had he not slipped to a double-bogey on the 18th.
The Scot still finished at the top of the standings, a stroke ahead of the chasing pack in the race for the four qualifying spots.
Edinburgh's former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn, the halfway leader during the 1991 Open at Birkdale, could only muster a 75, while Banchory's teenage amateur James Byrne struggled to a 79.
At Southport & Ainsdale, new Scottish Open Strokeplay champion Wallace Booth fired a one-under 71 to lead the tartan challenge in a share of seventh, five behind Australian Scott Arnold who led with a 66.
Aberdeen's Graham Gordon and Falkirk amateur Colin Mundie opened with 72s but Raymond Russell slumped to a 75. Fife's George Murray fired a two-under 70 at Hillside to lie in a tie for third behind former Walker Cup player Jamie Elson who leads on 67. Cawder's Chris Kelly posted a 71 but former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart had to settle for a 72.
The full article contains 376 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
