The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 39

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH MS MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1992 39 LAWN TENNIS German rival Clay king Muster for British looks to French tournaments SPORT 9 RUGBY LEAGUE Schofield drops in to save Leeds By John Whalley A 35-yard drop goal into a strong wind from Garry Schofield in the third minute of injury ensured Leeds' season will be extended by a least another three days as they salvaged an 18-18 draw in their Premiership quarterfinal Warrington yesterday. It was a fitting end to an match with Warrington earning a moral victory after having Des Drummond sent off in firstinjury time for a wild kick at Ellery Hanley as the Great Britain captain was on the ground. Warrington looked to have done enough to have won the game when Ellis went over in the 76th minute. Lyon added his second goal from under the to make the score 18-17 posts, Leeds grateful for Schofield's spectacular strike. Andy Gregory, the Wigan is doubtful for Silk Cut Challenge Cup Final at Wembley after limping out side's 42-16 win over Widnes.

Gregory suffered a of a groin injury recurrence. minutes while taking the kick-off after a Widnes try, and took no further part. Castleford, Wigan's opponents next Saturday, booked their place in the with a 28-18 victory over Wakefield. Graeme Bradley and St John Ellis both scored two tries. Michael Jackson, Wakefield's Great Britain tourist, was sent off in the minute for an alleged high tackle.

Allan Hunte contributed three tries as St Helens turned in a 10-try 52-6 demolition of Halifax. Two men from each side were sent off as Second Division -up Leigh crashed out of the Divisional Premiership to Third Division Batley, 15-6. Paul Topping and substitute Adrian Earner were the Leigh culprits with Steve Parrish and Mark Scott following for Batley. STONES PREMIERSHIP 1st rd CASTLEFORD. 28 18 Castleford Ellis 2, Bradley 2.

Crooks Wakefield Wilson 2, Bagnall. Conway 2, Perry. HT: 8-6. Att: 6,617. ST HELENS 52 HALIFAX.

.6 St Helens Hunte 3, Nickle 2, Connolly 2, Loughlin, Cooper, Riley. Loughlin 6. Halifax Harkin. Pearce. HT: 14-0.

Att: 9,146. WAR RINGTON 18 LEEDS. 18 Warrington Foster, Lyon, Ellis. Lyon 2, Turner. Leeds (11) 18 Divorty, Goulding.

Goulding 3, Schofield. Goulding, Schofield. HT: 8-11. Att: 5,022. 42 16 Wigan Offiah 2, Botica, Betts, Edwards, Dermott.

Botica 9. Widnes Eyres, Currier, Carbert. Devereux 2. HT: 18-12. Att: 12,707.

Draw, semi-finals (May 10): Wigan Leeds or Warrington (Leeds- Warrington replay Wed), St Helens Castleford. DIV PREMIERSHIP 6 BATLEY. .15 Leigh Booth. Blakeley. Batley (6) 15.

Wilkinson, Hanlan. Parrish 2, Gumbs. DG: Parrish. HT: 4-6. Att: 2,320.

LONDON CRUS 14 HUDDERSFIELD 36 Buckley, Deaker. 3. Huddersfield 4. Kenworthy 2. Ht: 4-0.

Att: 1,000. OLDHAM 36 DEWSBURY. 18 Oldham Platt 2, Pachniuk 2, Ranson, Joynt. Platt 6. Dewsbury Haigh, Bailey, Rombo.

Vasey 2, Grahan. HT: 18-6. Att: 2,514. Draw, (May 10): Sheffield Eagles Batley, Oldham London Crusaders. RUGBY SEVENS Millard on rampage for Exiles By Nick Cain LONDON SCOTTISH, having already secured promotion to League One next season, put a further feather in their cap when they ran away with the Worthington National Sevens at Bath yesterday, beating Leicester 38-0 in the final.

The Exiles are comfortably the best exponents of the abbreviated game in England and they proved it by using their expertise to blitz allcomers. Among their victims were last year's holders, Bath, who, fielding a second string, were demolished 34-0. In powerhouse scrum-half David Millard they had the player of the tournament. His strength and speed put him in pole position in the try-scoring stakes with 10. Despite having to retire with an ankle injury two minutes from the end of the final, his form augurs well for Scotland's summer tour of Australia.

Leicester, who had Tony Underwood's blistering pace to thank for their 18-14 victory over Bristol in the semi-finals, had no answer as the Scots blazed their way to victory in front of the crowd. Afterwards Exiles coach Andy Cushing voiced his concern that his side's chances of retaining their Middlesex Sevens title could be prejudiced by the Scottish Rugby Union's insistence that Millard attends a squad session the same weekend. WORTHINGTON Pool Bath 20, Bedford 16-Bedford 6, Wakefield 30-Bath 22, Wakefield 18. Pool Orrell 4, Rugby 14-Rugby 6, London Scottish 34- Orrell 4, London Scottish 24. Pool Harlequins 20, Morley 12-Morley 0, Bristol 46- Harlequins 6, Bristol 34.

Pool Leicester 22, Exeter 6-Exeter 10, Saracens 18 Leicester 26, Saracens 4. Semi-finals: Bath 0, London Scottish 34 Bristol 14, Leicester 18. Final: London Scottish 38, Leicester 0. London Scottish: A Walker, WithersGreen, Brown; Millard, Harold, Appleson, Troup. Tries: Millard (2), Appleson (2), Troup, Walker, Harold; Conversions: Harold (2), Appleson (2), Troup.

Leicester: A Key, Boyle, Poole; Hamilton, Ainscough, Underwood, Hackney. ICE HOCKEY Durham march on by clinching their second double By John IMPORTANT British tournaments such as Manchester could be hit by the addition of an extra pre-Wimbledon grass- event to the men's world tour next year. new championship, to be staged in the German town of Halle, about 60 miles from Hannover, will offer £200,000 in prize money, at least one third more than the Direct Line tournament in Manchester. If it is successful, there plans to almost double this sum in 1994 to tempt the best players. Eight grass courts, one with seating for 5,000, the other with room for 3,000, are to be laid in Halle in the next few months under the direction of former Wimbledon groundsman Jim Thorn.

"He was with us a couple of weeks ago when the ground was first being prepared and will be coming out again five or six times to give general advice," said Gerhard Weber, managing director of Gerry Weber International, the textile company behind the initiative, which is also providing the outfits for Germany's women competitors in the Barcelona Olympics. While it is obviously good for game have top quality crass court tournaments played countries, the new event will not help Manchester's ability to attract leading box office names in the same week. beentil now handful there of have private only grass-courts in Germany, but the success of Boris Becker, Michael Stich and Steffi Graf, who the Weber company clothed for two years, was obviously uppermost in Ralf Weber's mind when he persuaded his father to grab the extra tour week approved by the ATP in March for another grass-court event. This came as a surprise to British officials who were under the impression that the ATP had decided the summer calendar was full and that there were to be no additional events. Lawn Tennis Association director of tournaments Feaver, who met the organisers of the new German challenge at tournament Parsons directors' meeting in Monte the weekend, said: "It all seems to have been done in rush.

"I can see the benefits in terms of increasing the number of pass events, which must also be good for Wimbledon. But to put it in the same week as Manchester and with extra prize money will make my life Richard Evans, European media director for the Tour, said: "We want to ensure that the grass game have continues. the more players opportunity to play on it the more likelihood there is that this will happen. After Rosmalen Dutch tournament that coincides with the Stella Artois at Queen's this is a continuation of that breakthrough. I'm sure no-one in Britain wants to see grass-courts die.

The players don't want either." Although it will probably be at least two or three years before the German courts reach a generally pleasing standard, Gerhard Weber said: "It's very important for us to have courts which are similar to those at Wimbledon to give the players ideal match practice and preparation before they go to England." He said he hoped that the leading German players would practise there between the French Open and Wimbledon and that perhaps, in the long term, even Becker and Stich would consider playing there, hardly a prospect Queen's Club officials would welcome. As for this year, Becker is uncommitted about his plans between the French and Wimbledon. "It all depends how far I go at Roland Garros," he said. Officials of the Stella Artois tournament will keep a wild card open for him as late as possible. Becker and collected their first title together with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Petr Korda and Karel Novacek in Monte Carlo.

"It was a great week. We've already built up a good understanding of what each other is going to do," said Stich. Basuki calls tune By Barry Martin in Kuala Lumpur YAYUK BASUKI, of Indonesia, denied Andrea Strnadova the relief of ending her frustrating chain of defeats in tournament finals when she overwhelmed her 6-3, 6-0 to win the Malaysian Open yesterday. Strnadova has now received the runner-up cheque on five occasions. Basuki fully deserved the second title of her career: she matched the more experienced Czechoslovakian in most areas and enjoyed the extra benefit of superior touch shots that are such a delightful aspect of her game.

But the 21-year-old Indonesian could draw on power as well as finesse in the many high-quality exchanges; her cross-court forehand was almost unplayable and she kept Strnadova under constant pressure with an intimidating serve. Details P40 FOUR weeks before the French Open, Thomas Muster was last night linked with Michael Chang and Jim Courier as the top three players on clay after handsome triumph. in the Monte Carlo Open, writes John Parsons. "He must have a legitimate chance to win the said a disappointingly predictable Aaron Krickstein, who for 100 minutes was on the receiving end of the Austrian's relentless heavy hitting in a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory, worth £100,000. In some respects this was the most heartening triumph for Muster since the accident which nearly ended his career in Key Biscayne on April Fools' Day in 1989.

Although he fought back well enough to finish runnerup here two years ago, take the title in Rome and reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros, there have been more setbacks than successes since then. Muster was forced into nearly a month off after twisting his ankle and arrived Monaco, which is now his home, having won only three matches in three clay court tournaments. Yet round by round his game improved as he began feel the benefit of working his serve, his footwork and his volleying during the latest injury break. Yesterday almost everything came together in perfect harmony. He did not serve as well he would have liked because of a painful, rather than serious tightening of back muscles which began to worry him early in his 7-5, 6-4 semi-final defeat of Arnaud Boetsch.

Yet he was entirely free from other pressures. "I was so loose in my head and my play was just fantastic," said Muster. Muster, eager to play down the French Open forecasting, was particularly delighted by the way he was able to steam in behind formidable forehand approach shots down the line and put away his volleys. Bjorn Borg faces a third consecutive first-round defeat on his comeback this week after being drawn to meet Goran Prpic in the first round in Munich. World No 1 Monica Seles yesterday came back from set down to beat Spain's Aranxta Sanchez Vicario the Spanish Open final Barcelona and win her fifth tournament this year.

Unseeded Marco Meneschincheri (Italy) following 7-6, 6-4 win over Leicester's David Ison in the semi-final, went dethrone Piet Norvall (South Africa), last year's circuit winner, 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the LTA Spring Satellite at Nottingham yesterday. MONTE Final: Muster (Austria) bt A Krickstein (US) 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. LTA SPRING Men's -finals: Meneschincheri (Italy) Ison (Leics) 7-6, 6-4; Norvall (S Africa) bt A Richardson (Lincs) 6-2, 6-3. Final: Meneschincheri bt Norvall 6 -2, 6-2. Women's semi- Humphreys Africa) bt Bernard (Canada) 7-6, 6-0; Lucarelli (France) bt Siddall (Dorset) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

Final: Lucarelli bt Humphreys 6-1. to Celebrations for Wasps Tim Cranston (12) and on Mike Blaisdell after their 7-6 victory INC 12 Picture: PHIL SHEPHARD-LEWIS daals in Panthers feel the as full force of Wasps By Howard Bass Durham Wasps 7 Nottingham Panthers. 6 DURHAM WASPS won the ing on after sustaining a susHeineken Championship pected broken jaw early final for the fourth time in the match when he hit a barsix years at Wembley Arena rier, regained the Panthers' yesterday when they defeated lead soon after, snapping up a Nottingham Panthers 7-6 in a pinpoint pass from Dorion. worthy thriller before a Tim Cranston again levelled. capacity 9,000 crowd.

With two Wasps in the sinCompleting the Heineken bin sitting out penalties, league and championship Terry Kurtenbach put the double for the second succes- Panthers back in front, Dorsive season, the Wasps had to ion again the provider, just be at their best to overcome before the first interval. Britain's next best team, a Cranston and Brebant laid label Nottingham merit as on Durham's third equaliser league up as well as for Stephen Cooper and Blaislosing finalists. dell broke through to put The two sides possess the Wasps ahead for the first time a best defences in Britain but at 4-3. Ashley Tait restored Durham's first choice forward the status quo for the Panin trio proved the telling factor thers but a solo effort from in yesterday. Brebant put Wasps back in Rick Brebant, the season's front before the end of the leading Premier Division second period.

goalscorer, flanked by the Brebant's second, assisted a British international right- by both the Cooper brothers. winger, Ian Cooper, and the separated the teams by more highly experienced Mike than one goal for the only Blaisdell, with some 350 NHL time in the match but Adey appearances to his credit, swiftly reduced the arrears are a formidable front line again. narrowly proved the With only 66 seconds left, Panthers' undoing. Cranston put through Ian It took 92 seconds for Paul Cooper, apparently to finally Adey to strike first for settle the issue, though bt Nottingham, helped by Simon Kurtenbach still found time Hunt and Dan Dorion. to score another for the Stephen Cooper equalised Panthers.

(S four minutes later with a Heineken Ch'ship (Wembley Arena) sizzling long shot from the Durham: Cooper (2), Brebant left wing. (2). ham: Cranston, (2), Blaisdell, I Cooper. (2), Hunt, Notting- Tait. 6-3, Adey Hunt, who carried on play- Period scores: Kurtenbach, SPORTS ROUND -UP ATHLETICS Dope-tested Brunning banned for four years NEAL BRUNNING, the first British athlete to fail a drugs test at a domestic track and field meeting, was banned for four years last night, writes Ken Mays.

The British Athletic Federation's management council confirmed the expected punishment at a meeting in Birmingham. Brunning, 21, an international shot-putter from Blackheath, tested positive for steroids at the national indoor championships in Birmingham in February and subsequently admitted the offence. He is the second British athlete, after pole vaulter Jeff Gutteridge, four years ago, to be banned for failing a drugs Professor Peter Radford, one of Britain's top sprinters during the Sixties, was appointed of the British Athletic Federation as a replacement to Les Jones who died in Italy on March 1. Professor Radford is chairman of the drug advisory board to both the BAF and the Sports Council. The BAF Council meeting confirmed that the United Kingdom cross-country trials will also involve the world championships trials.

MOTO-CROSS SHOOTING Puzar takes Surrey hit Austrian GP Trophy target ALESSANDRO PUZAR, of SURREY regained the Italy, riding a factory- Falconer Trophy yesterday supported Yamaha, won in the annual Purples match yesterday's Austrian 250cc at Bisley by a one point Grand Prix at margin over the British UniSchwanenstaet. versities, who had entered Puzar raced to a comfort- for the first time. Sussex able victory in the opening took third place, a further heat and was tied on 31 seven points clear. points with Britain's James FALCONER TROPHY (Teams of eight Dobb, who won the second at 300, 500 600yds): 1, Surrey 1,159 Coleman 150); 2, British Universities 1,158 heat. (S Kane 147); 3.

Sussex 1,151 (D Hossack But Dobb, 20, from Rip- 149). ley, Derbyshire, was forced Other team 1, London matches 300, 500, 2, 600 Herts of the third heat with 3, Middlesex 1,237. 500 600yds: unspecified mechanical 1, RAF TRC 935; 2, Hereford Worcester problems. 930. Greshamians 300, 500, 600 1088; 2, Stock 1, Exchange Old Details P40 1059; 3, Greshams School 1045.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL Monarchs humbled again as Sacramento surge on THE London Monarchs said farewell to Wembley for this year by losing 31-26 to the Sacramento Surge their fourth defeat in six games, writes Christopher Davies. The Monarchs tested the patience of the 18,653 crowd with a poor performance on defense where the Surge lived up to their name as they swept forward. To add to London's sorrows in their last home game of the season, quarterback Stan Gelbaugh sustained a shoulder injury and was replaced by Fred McNair, while running back Leonard Conley broke his right ankle. McNair rallied his team with second-half touchdown passes to Judd Garrett and Tony Sargent, but Sacramento rarely looked in danger of losing. The Monarchs now face four road games with their play-off hopes kept alive only by the failings other sides.

The Monarchs' scorers were Conley (seven-yard TD run), Garrett (six-yard TD catch), Sargent (five-yard TD catch) and Phil Alexander with two 35-yard field goals. SWIMMING SPEEDWAY Sheppard and Collins out of Muir lift Scots world event TWO wins each for Jean NEIL COLLINS, one of Muir and Alison Sheppard 20 riders seeded through to lifted the Scottish women's the British semi-finals of team into first place at the the World Championship. Eight Nations Contest est which has withdrawn from the ended in Oulu, Finland, yes- competition. terday. But poor results by A former England intertheir men pulled Scotland national, Collins said he down to fourth overall wanted to concentrate on behind the host nation.

his club commitments with Muir won the 100 metres Glasgow, who have won breast- -stroke and 200m only one of seven Gold medley, while Sheppard Cup matches this season, sprinted to first place in the despite being seeded to ride 50m and 100m freestyle. at Cradley Heath next Details P40 Sunday. GOLF CANNES OPEN SENIORS TOUR WOMEN'S GOLF Forsbrand leads Huggett returns to McKay's breezy success Swedish one-two win opening event By Lewine Mair Picture: GARY PRIOR MHAIRI McKAY, 17, the By Richard James ANDERS FORSBRAND, 31, came from two behind with four birdies the last holes to win Credit Lyontine nais Cannes Open at Mougins yesterday and go nearly £50,000 clear of Jose-Maria Olazabal at the top of the Merit. The Swede, who was home in 30 for a 70 and 15-under-par 273, finished a stroke ahead of compatriot PerJohansson (70), with Ryder Cup Scot Colin Montgomerie, after four birdies in a row from the turn, shooting 69 for third place on 276. Fijian Vejay Singh (66) birdied the last three holes to end on 278 and Ian Woosnam was also round in 66 to tie for fifth on 280 with American Peter Teravainen (71) and Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone, whose 62 clipped a stroke off Montgomerie's two-year-old course record and earned him a £10,000 jackpot to go with his £12,500 prize.

0 0 But it was Forsbrand's day. His victory was the ninth by a Swede on the PGA European Tour and his £58,000 prize pushed his season's winnings to almost £180,000 and his career earnings past the career earnings past the £1 million mark. He is the first Swede to top the money list and if he is first or second after the PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 25 he will earn an invitation to the US Open. After starting one ahead, he found himself two behind Johansson with six holes to play after dropping two strokes and to miss a birdie four. Forsputting brand, who birdied four of the last five holes in round three, sank 10-foot putts to birdie the 13th and 14th and picked up more shots at the long 16th and the 18th, where he hit his second to 18 inches.

His aggressive play has given him a runaway lead at the top of the Equity Law Scoring League with 171 birdies and three eagles Tour rounds. in Cannes By Michael Johansson fought him all BRIAN HUGGETT emerged the way and Montgomerie, from an 11-year retirement after missing three cuts in a yesterday win the Gary row on the US Tour, under- Player Anvil Classic at St lined his claim that the expe- Pierre, Chepstow, the first of rience has toughened him up. the European Tour's senior He was level with the two tournaments, when he beat Swedes but a six at 14th, Tommy Horton at the fourth where he hit into water, extra hole of a sudden-death the halted his gallop. His prize, play-off. though, was a handy £21,900.

For the fifth time in an A stroke of good fortune hour, Huggett, 55, playing a sparked Johnstone's record- two-iron every time, made a breaking gallop. At the third three at the 235-yard 18th he pulled his pitch and his ball hole. The last of them was was heading for deep rough just too good for Horton, who until struck an iron stake could not get up and down in and rebounded to within two from the left of the green. three feet of the hole. Earlier, they had tied on Woosnam's 66 included 221, eight over par for the 72 four birdies and two eagles holes, Huggett making up the and before stepping into his four strokes by which he had private plane to fly home for a trailed overnight with a splenfortnight's rest hen conceded: did 71.

It left them a stroke "There are signs swing is ahead of Neil Coles. starting to come All the excitement was, CANNES OPEN (Cannes nevertheless, reserved for the Leading final 273-A scores Forsbrand (GB Ireland (Sweden) unless 65, last hole after both had made stated): 70, 68, 70. 274-P-U Johansson birdie threes at the 17th to (Sweden) 66, 69, 69, 70. 278 276 Singh Montgo- (Fiji) remain locked together. merie 70, 69, 68, 69.

67, 75, 70, 66. 280 Johnstone (Zimba- Neither found the last bwe) 69, 72, 77, 62; Woosnam 74, 68, 72, green from the tee, but Hug66; Teravainen (US) 69, 69, 71, 71. 282 gett got down in two with his Karlsson (Sweden) 71, 69, 70, 72. 283- Claydon 73 69 73. 68; Torrance 71, 74, putter from just short while 68, 70; Gilford 73, 65, 74, 71; Mason Horton chipped and single72, 67, 73, 71; Van der Velde 67, 69, (Holland) 73; putted.

Huggett did not hit 71, 69, 71, 72; Curry 74, Lane 72, 70, 68, 73. green once, either Fit Mediate goes ahead By a Special Correspondent in Greensboro, Carolina ROCCO MEDIATE, leaner and fitter after hip and back problems last season, recorded a third-round 69 for a total of 207 to take the lead in the Greater Greensboro Open. Chip Beck lost his chance to share the lead when he took a two-shot penalty for a rule violation that was captured by the television cameras. Mediate said a fitness programme and treatment for allergies had improved his game. He has lost more than two stones and is taking medication to treat sinus problems.

while lining up his second shot at the 15th. put back, but Beck was penalised after he removed an out stake the damage was done. the Sara Lee Classic in Nashville, Dana Lofland scored a one 71 take ahead a of one-shot Tina lead after two Brandie rounds. Burton She played steadily to go Barrett, and Dawn Coe, of Canada. Cathy Gerring, who finished down the field, suffered first and second degree burns to her face and hands in an accident with flames from an alcohol burner.

Details- P40 Williams then or in extra time, but twice more he got down from off the putting surface and twice from bunkers to earn himself £5,000. Strictly speaking, the honours went more to Horton, who twice found the green in the four extra holes and once also got up and down from a bunkegett had made his last European tournament appearance at St Pierre in 1981 and had played only one full round between December and early April, when he began his preparations for this event. As a Welshman through and through, as well as a former professional at the club before he turned his attention to course architecture, the stage could not have been better set for Huggett. One nevertheless felt for Horton, the victim of one of the sport's tougher penalties when, on the fifth green, his ball was caught by a gust of wind as he was in the process of holing out from no more than six inches. Horton consequently missed and then had to add a one-stroke penalty to take seven -four of them from eight feet after he had come out of a greenside bunker.

GARY PLAYER ANVIL SENIORS CLASSIC (St Pierre, Leading final scores: 221 Huggett 76, 74, 71; Horton 70, 76, 75 (Huggett won at 4th extra hole). 222 -N Coles 73, 74, 75. 224 Butler 71, 75, 78. 225 A Bickerdike 76, 74, 75. 227 -H Muscroft 77, 71, 79.

228 A Skerritt 72, 77, 79. 232 Snell 75, 75, 82; Hutchinson 82, 73, 77; Wyant 80, 76, 76. a 233 Sota (Spain) 80, 77, 76; Kinsella 77, 76, 80; Whitehead 76, 74, 83. 234 Talbot 80, 77, 77; Fidler 80, 78, 76. Robert Watts, a junior at Stoke Poges, added the John Cross Bowl at Worplesdon on Saturday, to his Coronation recent Cup King win at Porters Park.

JOHN CROSS BOWL (Worplesdon): 138 Watts (Stoke Poges) 67, 71, 140 Bland (Bramshott Hill) 69, 71. 142-RJ Scott (Wanstead) 70, 72; JP Jones (Bramley) 69,.73. 143 -R A Coles (Maylands) 73, 70. 144 Good (Shirley Pk) 69, 75. 145 Henderson (Colchester) 75, 70; PJ Benka (Addington) 75, 70; Parkhouse (W Malling) 70, 75.

Daily Telegraph's Young Golfer of 1991, left four Curtis players trailing in her wake to become the youngest winner of the Helen Holm Trophy at Troon yesterday. Scores of 73, 76 and 78 over the wintry weekend saw her finish two strokes ahead of Julie Hall, whose last round was a fighting 72 over the Open links. McKay, described by Tony Jacklin as the most excitingly gifted player since Severiano Ballesteros, always seemed to be on the same wavelength as the whistling wind. Following the advice of her coach, Bob Jamieson, she swung slowly and took her time over every shot. She had a frugal 26 putts in an opening 73 over the Portland course on Saturday to reduce her handicap to plus two.

Two birdies and an eagle in last five holes of her second round left her two shots ahead of Joanne Morley, the British strokeplay champion. Yesterday, with the wind still more of a factor, McKay made her first birdie at the second, and moved away from Morley as the Sale golfer got caught up in sand at the Mhairi McKay. showed her outstanding talent by beating off the challenge of Curtis Cup players Postage Stamp. Hall forced herself into contention by posting a record-equalling 72. but McKay, knowing precisely what she had to do, finished with three glorious pars.

Nothing smacked more of success than the vast teeshot she cracked down the last. Hall's 72 was a classy affair, which took in four birdies, the last of them in front of a window-full of members of Royal Troon. It was certainly a score to make them sit up, for even the Category One men among them had managed nothing lower than an 80 in Saturday's medal. HELEN HOLM TROPHY McKay (Turnberry) 73, 76, 78. 229 Hall (Felixstowe Ferry) 79.

78, 72. 235 -J Moodie (Windyhill) 76, 81, 78; Wright (Dumfries County) 76, 81, 78. 236 -M McKinlay (Blairmore Strone) 76, 81, 79; Higgins (Douglas) 75, 81, 80. 237-E Smith (W Essex) 81, 80, 76; Lambert (Stirling Univ) 78. 77, 82; 239- Edmond (Worplesdon) 77, 83, 79; Dermott (Royal Liverpool) 76.

83, 80; Farquharson (Deeside) 81, 79, 82. 242-- Morley (Sale) 91. AMSTREL GOLD REPORT Get the full race report. All the thrills and spills, colour action and major interviews from this World Cup classic. Plus reports from the Tour of Spain and the Grundig MTB World Cup.

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