Jason Hangs on to Lead - Golf Clothing Journal

A distinct wobble that could have proved unnerving for overnight leader, Jason McCreadie, was partially remedied by a birdie at the final hole, which leaves the 33-year-old Scot still well clear of the field in the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship.

On a day when the wind gusted to 45 miles an hour over the Torrance course at St Andrews Bay, and the choice of some pin positions brought anguish to many of the players, Jason returned a one-over 73 for an aggregate of 137, four strokes clear of Glenn Ralph (Camberley Heath) and Gordon Law (Uphall).

The Stirlingshire player was going along apparently comfortably, as many as seven strokes ahead for a brief period. But near disaster on the short 15th and then the tough par-four 16th meant a loss of five shots. His tee shot at 15 went through the green into desperately thick rough, he could only hack out and then three-putt for a five.

A lost ball off the tee where he took a driver - the wrong club, he reckoned afterwards - meant, almost inevitably, he took three putts from 10 feet for a triple bogey seven. But a brave birdie on the final hole restored some of his confidence, and he now goes into the third round with exactly the same lead as he did last night.

Law and Ralph were both delighted with the way they coped with the windy conditions. Law, this year's Grampian International Freight Northern Open winner, had a solid 73, and the former European Tour player from Surrey was a shot better, and sounding confident about the remaining 36 holes.

Ironically, the only player who beat par on the toughest of days, didn't make the cut, which came at 150 (+6). Neil Colquhoun (Edinburgh Merchants), in the first game out at 7.30am, returned a super 71, one under, but he was undone by a first round 10 strokes worse.

Leading Aggregates:

137 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 64 73

141 G Ralph (Camberley Heath) 69 72, G Law (Uphall) 68 73

142 P Simpson (West Berks) 68 74, S Emery (Boston) 69 73, D McKay (Wellsgreen) 70 72

143 A Webster (Edzell) 70 73, A Hare (Cold Ashby) 71 72, I Keenan (Royal Liverpool) 71 72, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs DR) 70 73, J Harrison (Matfen Hall) 69 74

144 J McTear (unattached) 71 73, M McGuire (John Reay GC) 71 73, M Smith (Erewash Valley) 68 76, T Spence (unattached) 69 75, R Giles (Greenore) 67 77,

145 D Prosser (Shifnal) 70 75, D Mills (Seaford) 71 74, N Ludwell (Selby) 73 72, P Harrison (Woldingham) 70 75, C Ronald (Carluke) 71 74

146 S Henderson (Kings Links) 69 77, B Rimmer (Little Aston) 67 79, M Nichols (unattached) 70 76, J Bevan (Weymouth) 72 74, R Edwards (Lee-on-the-Solent) 70 76