Galbraith takes one-stroke lead into final day at St Andrews
John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) driving during the second qualifying round in the 2016 AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at Ballyliffin. Picture by Pat Cashman

John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) driving during the second qualifying round in the 2016 AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at Ballyliffin. Picture by Pat Cashman

Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith will take a one-stroke lead into the final two rounds of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

He carded a one-under 71 over the Old Course at St Andrews to lead on seven-under par 137 from Santeri Lehesmaa (Finland), Ben Ferguson (Australia), Matthew Jordan (Royal Liverpool), Jamie Stewart (Old Course Ranfurly), Claudio Consul (Germany) and David Micheluzzi (Australia).

Eight of the 16 Irish entrants (and four of the six strong GUI party) qualified for the final two rounds over the Old Course on Sunday as the top 40 and ties finished on level par or better.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell showed signs of his best form with a 68 and Tramore’s Robin Dawson posted a 71 to leave them sharing 12th place, three behind Galbraith on four-under par 140.

Naas’ Jonathan Yates (70), Galgorm Castle’s Jordan Hood (71) and Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty (72) are tied for 20th, five off the lead.

As for defending champion Conor O’Rourke from Naas, he's six behind after an up-and-down 71 with Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell (72) a shot further back after squeaking in on the level par cut line.

The Island’s Paul McBride (145) missed the cut by one stroke after rounds of 74 and 71 with Co Sligo’s Sean Flanagan (146) two outside the mark despite a second round 70.

The rest were well off the pace with Rowan Lester, Tiarnan McLarnon and Ronan Mullarney on 149, Alex Gleeson on 153 and Jake Whelan on 154.

St Andrews Links Trophy 2017, St Andrews (Jubilee/Old)

Detailed scores

137 John Ross Galbraith (Ireland/GUI) 66 71

138 Santeri Lehesmaa (Finland) 70 68, Ben Ferguson (Australia) 70 68, Matthew Jordan (Royal Liverpool Golf Club) 70 68, Jamie Stewart (Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club Ltd) 67 71, Claudio Consul (Germany) 67 71, David Micheluzzi (Australia) 67 71 

139 Todd Clements (Braintree Golf Club) 71 68, Alejandro Del Rey González (Spain) 70 69, Kyle McClatchie (South Africa) 70 69, Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) 69 70 

140 Colm Campbell (Ireland/GUI) 72 68, Ben Hutchinson (Howley Hall Golf Club) 70 70, Robin Dawson (Ireland/GUI) 69 71

141 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm Golf Club) 72 69, Jamie Clare (Long Sutton Golf Club) 72 69, Calum Fyfe (Cawder Golf Club) 71 70, Tom Harris (Castletown Golf Club) 70 71, Craig Howie (Peebles Golf Club) 69 72 

142 Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park Golf Club) 76 66, Laird Shepherd (Rye Golf Club) 75 67, David Boote (Walton Heath Golf Club) 73 69, Bailey Gill (Lindrick Golf Club) 72 70, Jonathan Yates (Ireland) 72 70, Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park Golf Club) 72 70, Jordan Hood, (Ireland) 71 71, Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County Golf Club) 71 71, Jack Singh Brar (Remedy Oak Golf Club) 70 72, Caolan Rafferty (Ireland) 70 72, Luke Brown (New Zealand) 69 73, Zach Murray (Australia) 69 73 

143 Stefano Mazzoli (Italy) 73 70, Gian-Marco Petrozzi (Trentham Golf Club) 72 71, Conor O’Rourke (Ireland/GUI) 72 71, Andres Gallegos (Argentina) 72 71, Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten Golf Club) 71 72 

144 Euan Walker (Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club) 74 70, Pavan Sagoo (Ealing Golf Club) 73 71, Mateusz Gradecki (Poland) 73 71, Sam Done (Kenwick Park Golf Club) 73 71, Conor Purcell (Ireland) 72 72, Daniel Brown (Masham Golf Club) 72 72, Andoni Etchenique (France) 71 73, Jack Davidson (Llanwern Golf Club) 71 73, Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor Golf Club) 69 75 

CUT

145 Matt Saulez (South Africa) 74 71, Haydn Barron (Australia) 74 71, Paul McBride (Ireland/GUI) 74 71, Juuso Kahlos (Finland) 73 72, Andrew Wilson (Wynyard Golf Club) 72 73, Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood Golf Club) 72 73, Matias Honkala (Finland) 72 73, 

146 Matthew Lamb (Hexham Golf Club) 78 68, Jamie Li (Bath Golf Club) 77 69, Sami Välimäki (Finland) 77 69, Giacomo Fortini (Italy) 76 70, Andres Schonbaum (Argentina) 76 70, Sean Flanagan (Ireland) 76 70, William Heffernan (Australia) 75 71, Sandy Scott (Nairn Golf Club) 75 71, Owen Edwards (Kendleshire Golf Club (The)) 75 71, Dewi Merckx (Belgium) 74 72, Albert Venter (South Africa) 74 72, George Burns (Williamwood Golf Club) 74 72, Blake Collyer (Australia) 74 72, Min Woo Lee (Australia) 74 72, Harrison Endycott, (Australia) 74 72, Joshua McMahon (Wallasey Golf Club) 72 74, Vitor Londot Lopes (Portugal) 71 75, Jake Burnage (Saunton Golf Club) 71 75, Sean Towndrow (Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club) 70 76 

147 Craig Ross (Kirkhill Golf Club) 78 69, Travis Smyth (Australia) 78 69, Patrick Mullins (Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club) 77 70, Joshua Davies (Celtic Manor Resort) 76 71, Jeff Wright (Forres Golf Club) 76 71, Evan Griffith (Conwy(Caernarvonshire) Golf Club) 76 71, Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon Golf Club) 75 72, Victor Bjorlow (Denmark) 74 73, Lorenzo Scalise (Italy) 72 75, Philp Geerts (Italy)  71 76, Felix Mory (France) 71 76 

148 Dylan Naidoo (South Africa) 77 71, Shae Wools-Cobb (Australia) 76 72, Morten Toft Hansen (Denmark) 75 73, Tom Gandy (Rowany Golf Club) 75 73, Ayoub Lguirati (Morocco) 75 73, William Whiteoak (Shipley Golf Club) 75 73, Giulio Castagnara (Italy) 74 74, John Gough (Castle Royle Golf & Country Club) 74 74, Jack Gaunt (Drayton Park Golf Club) 73 75 

149 Nick Poppleton (Wath Golf Club) 78 71, Keegan De Lange (South Africa) 77 72, Pedro Lencart (Portugal) 77 72, Rowan Lester (Ireland) 76 73, James Grierson (Australia) 76 73, Dylan Perry (Australia) 76 73, Dylan Wu (USA) 76 73, Tiarnan McLarnon (Ireland) 75 74, Greig Marchbank (Thornhill Golf Club) 75 74, Darren Howie (Peebles Golf Club) 75 74, Sigot Lopez (Spain) 74 75, Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society Ltd) 73 76, Graysen Huff (USA) 72 77, Ronan Mullarney (Ireland) 71 78

150 Kyle Harman (Southerndown Golf Club) 77 73, Billy McKenzie (Rowlands Castle Golf Club) 76 74, Franklin Manchest (South Africa) 76 74, Christopher Maclean (Balmore Golf Club Ltd) 76 74, Josh Hilleard (Farrington Golf Club) 76 74, Tim Harry (Vale of Glamorgan Hotel Golf & Spa Resort) 75 75, Blake Windred (Australia) 75 75, Kyle Michel (Australia) 74 76, Jack Pierse (Ireland) 74 76

151 Marcos Montenegro (Argentina) 79 72, Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie Golf Club) 78 73, Rasmus Broholt Lind (Denmark) 78 73, Ryan Chisnall (New Zealand) 77 74, Jovan Rebula (South Africa) 72 79,  

152 Ilari Saulo (Finland) 80 72, Oliver Farrell (Evesham Golf Club) 80 72, Will Porter (Carnoustie Golf Club) 77 75, Adrian Mata Alsdorf (Spain) 76 76, Francesco Donaggio (Italy) 75 77 

153 Manuel Elvira (Spain) 78 75, Ben Chamberlain (Padeswood & Buckley Golf Club) 78 75, Raphael Geissler (Germany) 76 77, Alex Gleeson (Ireland/GUI) 76 77, Rafael Miranda (Ecuador) 76 77, Kyle Godsman (Moray Golf Club) 76 77 

154 Jake Whelan (Ireland) 80 74, Marco H Steyn (South Africa) 78 76, Roelof Koopmans (Netherlands) 78 76, Charlie Dann (Australia) 72 82 

155 George Bloor (Cavendish Golf Club) 78 77, Cameron Shaw (Chevin Golf Club) 76 79, Mark Hutson (New Zealand) 74 81 

157 Edward Shannly (Linlithgow Golf Club) 80 77 

158 Gregory Royston (South Africa) 77 81, James Walker (Oaks Golf Club (The)) 77 81 

160 Alex Henderson (Australia) 80 80, Stefano Ciapparelli (Italy) 79 81 

162 Lucas Becht (Belgium) 80 82 

WD Connor Syme (Drumoig Golf Club) 71 WD