S&A man is overtaken

Jul 1 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

SAM STUART won his third Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit title in as many weeks thanks to a blistering second round four-under-par 67 in the Calvert Trophy at Ashton & Lea.

The 20-year-old England player, a member of St Annes Old Links and Chorley, opened with a 73 in wet and windy conditions but the weather was less testing in the afternoon as he reeled in six birdies to beat county colleague Matthew Cox, from Royal Birkdale, by a shot.

Stuart leapfrogged Southport and Ainsdale’s James Robinson to go 80 points clear in the merit table.

SCORES: 140 Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links) 73,67; 141 Matthew Cox (Royal Birkdale) 71,70; 142 Kristian Taylor (Formby) 68,74; 147 Sean Nichols (St Annes Old Links) 72,75; 148 Andrew Terry (Manchester) 76,72, Carl Thompson (Manchester) 76,72, David Holt (Shaw Hill) 75,73, Ryan O’Neill (Haigh Hall) 71,77; 150 Chris Hayes (Ashton & Lea) 76,74, Craig Slattery (Hesketh) 74,76; 151 Lee Smart (Blundell Hills) 76,75; 155 Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park) 77,78

ORDER OF MERIT (after nine events): Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links) 480pts; James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale) 400; Mark Young (Longridge) 385; John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) 300; Steven McGlynn (Blackburn) 265; Kristian Taylor (Formby) 230; Carl Thompson (Manchester) 180; Garry Lacy (Ashton-in-Makerfield) 150; Stephen Hindle (Ellesmere) 125; Kevin Kean (Ashton-on-Mersey) 125