Ayrshire assistant top qualifier

Girvan-based Ciar Porciani (Turnberry Hotel) impressed to take the leading qualifying spot in the Greenburn assistants' match-play championship.

Porciani claimed first place among the 15 qualifiers with a round of four-under-par 67 - one shot ahead of Gullane's Keith McNicoll and three ahead of third-placed Louis Gaughan (Bathgate).

There was a card play-off for those finishing on the 75 mark to produce the precise number of 15 qualifiers. Michael Mackenzie (Edzell), Jordan Gallagher (Douglas Park) and Craig Haugh (Cawder) survived.

Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) was awarded an automatic place in the field of 16 for the two-day championship at Greenburn on June 23-24 as last year's Scottish young professionals champion and winner of the young pros' Order of Merit.