Round up of Open qualifying news

Zane Scotland, a 16-year-old amateur, hit the heights and plumbed the depths as he continued his bid to become one of the youngest players in the Open today.

Scotland went to the turn in 36 at Downfield near Dundee in the final qualifying round for the Carnoustie tournament, to remain four under par.

The talented teenager shot a first round 69 yesterday but his opening nine holes today were a mixture of good, bad and indifferent after play had been delayed by early morning fog.

Scotland, from Surrey's Woodcote Park, attracted a large gallery as he chalked up three birdies, three bogeys and three pars while temperatures soared into the 80s.

But Scotland's group, including Robert Allenby and Stuart Smith, were warned for slow play after taking two hours 10 minutes for the front nine.

Scotland showed little sign of nerves despite the delayed start and birdied the 425-yard first hole. But he then chalked up successive bogeys before making birdies at the fifth and seventh.

He looked comfortable in the company of the experienced Allenby, who also went to the turn in level par.

Scotland is up with the leading pack going into the back nine but needs to pick up shots to increase his hopes of qualifying.

With conditions ideal, the cut is expected to come at either six or seven under with only 12 players going forward.

The two playing partners's chances of qualifying were slipping away at two over and four over respectively when they putted each other's ball on the sixth green.

The error was not realised until they had driven off on the seventh and so their championship was over.

Gary Wolstenholme, a member of the Britain and Ireland side which won the world amateur team title in Chile last November and also part of the BBC TV commentary team at the Open, failed to follow up his first round 66 on the same course.

Joint second at halfway a stroke behind South African Wayne Westner, Wolstenholme scored only 74 in the second round and at two under had little hope of surviving.

At Montrose Australian Peter Lonard, joint third overnight, added a two under 69 to his opening 66 and then had to wait to see if his seven under aggregate of 135 was good enough.

"I didn't hit it so good, but hopefully it will be make it still," he said.

Scotland picked up two shots on the back nine and finished with 71 and a total of 140, six under par.

That gives him a good chance of qualifying for the Open, although he faces an anxious wait until the rest of the field return to the clubhouse.

Scotland, who will be 17 on Saturday, chalked up a spectacular birdie four at the 14th. He played his drive into the undergrowth and could only hack out. But he lofted a shot high over the trees into a green-side bunker, then sunk his approach.

Scotland was given a rousing reception by the large gallery as he stepped off the 18th green with his dad Bernie.

Scotland was out of luck at the 16th when his putt for a birdie lipped out. He said: "I hope that doesn't cost me dear.

"It was a really good putt but it just jumped out of the hole and I couldn't believe it."

Scotland added: "I always believe that it is best to put your bad shots behind you. I tend not to let things get me down.

"I've been pleased with my form the last two days and I have been striking the ball well. Now it's just a case of waiting to see if I can make the cut."