Lawries in last 16 as Mcdonald chases win

The Lawries – Paul and Craig – are the last Scots standing in the Sunningdale Foursomes as Jack Mcdonald chases a first professional victory on the MENA Tour in Morocco.

Playing in the event for the first time, the Lawries are through to the last 16 in the Surrey event after recording a brace of victories on the second day.

They were 4&2 winners over Jon Baker-odlin and Alex Beckett in the morning before scoring a 5&3 success against Richard Hooper and Mattew Arbourne in the third round.

“We’ve both played lovely so far,” reported Lawrie snr, with the duo now taking on Linn Grant and Martha Lewis and giving them 10 shots.

The two other all-scottish pairings both went out in the last 32. Sandy Lyle and Prestwick amateur James Bunch lost 3&1 to two-time Scottish Challenge winner Jack Senior and Bethany Garton, while Michele Thomson and Ross Cameron fell 3&2 to Graham Powell and Henry Smart.

Mcdonald, meanwhile, is in contention for his first victory on the paid ranks after storming into contention in the MENA Tour’s Casablanca Open.

The Ayrshireman posted a four-under-par 67 in the second round at Palmeraie Country Club to sit just two shots off the lead, held by Englishman Stuart Archibald.

Mcdonald, who turned professional early last year on the back of a promising amateur career, which included a Walker Cup win at Royal Lytham in 2015, birdied the third, fifth, 10th and 17th in a flawless effort.

Three shots off the pace after an opening 69, Danny Kay slipped to seven back following a 73, sitting alongside both Grant Forrest (67) and Daniel Hendry (69) on level par.

Elsewhere, James Byrne is off to a promising start in the Asian Development Tour’s PGM Northpoint Championship The Scot fired a seven-under 65 at Glenmarie G&CC to sit a shot off the lead.