Sport in Short: Golf

MICHAEL WELCH and Bradley Dredge took the lead at the half-way stage of qualifying for the Amateur Championship yesterday. In storm-force winds the pair compiled matching scores of 73 over Panmure, the easier of the two courses. The defending champion, Gary Wolstenholme, had an 87.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Leading first- round qualifying scores: Carnoustie: 79 R J Bennett (Abbeydale); S Galbraith (US). 80 M F Meehan (US); J Rae (Monifieth). 81 C Watts (Hawkstone Park); G A Crawford (Williamwood); I Garbutt (Wheatley); D P Yates (US). 83 D J Downie (Ladybank); D Paton (Dunnikier Park); H Roberts (Southerndown); G Houston (Flint); M McClung (US); R Larwood (Drayton Park); I Ball (Glen Gorse).

Panmure: 73 B Dredge (Bryn Meadows); M Welch (Hill Valley). 74 G Lawrie (Prestwick St Nicholas). 75 G Robertson (Ravenspark); T Trodd (Langley Park). 76 S Gallacher (Bathgate); C Cevaer (Fr). 77 P Harrington (Stackstown); C Fort (Nelson); S Edgley (Parkstone); H McKibbin (Troon Welbeck). 78 S Dundas (Haggs Castle); G Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie); S Hoffman (Fulwell); B Genese (Stirling).

NEC WORLD SERIES OF GOLF (Akron, Ohio) Leading final-round scores (US unless stated): 273 C Stadler 69 65 69 70. 274 C Pavin 69 71 69 65. 275 F Couples 67 70 70 68. 278 J Cook 70 74 66 68. 280 N Price (Zim) 72 68 68 72; D Peoples 68 70 68 74. 281 A Magee 69 70 71 71; M Calcavecchia 73 71 63 74.

SUN TIMES WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (Chicago) Leading final-round scores (US unless stated): 216 D Mochrie 71 72 73 (won on sixth play- off hole); J Dickinson 73 71 72; B Daniel 71 72 73. 218 C Keggi 73 71 74. 219 B Bunkowsky 74 70 75. 220 J Larsen 76 69 75. 221 M Mallon 74 74 73. 222 S Little 77 70 75; V Skinner 74 70 78.

VOLVO EUROPEAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT (after Murphy's English Open): 1 N Faldo (Eng) 465,319.60; 2 A Forsbrand (Swe) 302,271.18; 3 J-M Olazabal (Sp) 297,126.77; 4 T Johnstone (Zim) 275,247.06; 5 B Langer (Ger) 258,968.32; 6 V Singh (Fiji) 245,291.57; 7 C Montgomerie (Sco) 239,460.25; 8 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 199,295.09; 9 P Senior (Aus) 194,444.66; 10 J Rivero (Sp) 193,062.23; 11 P O'Malley (Aus) 189,205.44; 12 I Woosnam (Wal) 183,973.86; 13 P-U Johansson (Swe) 166,214.01; 14 D Gilford (Eng) 163,024.92; 15 V Fernandez (Arg) 148,172.78; 16 B Lane (Eng) 146,792.58; 17 S Lyle (Sco) 145,032.41; 18 J Spence (Eng) 142,286.53; 19 G Evans (Eng) 139,451.13; 20 A Sherborne (Eng) 137,087.24.