Binning best by four

Sam Binning (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) led the 13 qualifiers with a sparkling three-under-par 68 at Ranfurly assistants' match-play championship qualifying competition at the Ranfurly Castle venue which will host the main event from August 31 to September 1. 

Binning  finished four clear of a starting field of 38 players, thanks to a card that had birdies at the first, third, 11th, and 16th, with bogeys at the sixth and eighth, in halves of 35 and 33.

His nearest rival was Tom Dingwall (Kemnay) with a 72. 

Seven players finished on the 79 mark and only two could go forward. The Bathgate pair of Louis Gaughan and Irishman Pierce Whelan survived card play-off, Gaughan despite a quadruple bogey eight at the second hole in halves of 42-37.

Whelan was one of four with an inward half of 39 and he prevailed when the countback went down to the closing holes.