McALPINE IMPROVES BY FIVE
STROKES IN SECOND ROUND

Scottish amateur champion Kevin McAlpine, pictured right, from Alyth improved by five strokes on his second circuit of the Federica course on Sea Island, Georgia in the prestigious Jones Cup Invitational tournament today.
McAlpine, all at sea on the large, undulating greens in a first-round, eight-over-par 80, looked a little bit happier with himself as he returned a 75 for a 36-hole tally of 155 in this 54-hole event for prospective GB&I and United States Walker Cup team selections for the match at Royal County Down, Northern Ireland later in the year.
McAlpine had only one birdie, at the sixth but bogeys at the first, third, eighth and 11th in halves of 38 and 37.
Russell Knox from Inverness, who gained a place in the field through his Jacksonville University playing record, again did himself less than justice with a repeat 79 for 158.
Knox began his round 5-5-6 (bogey, bogey, double-bogey) and another double bogey at the eighth saw him reach the turn in five-over-par 41.
Russell did birdie the 15th and 18th but that did not cancel out all his homeward bogeys.
US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), who had a first-round 73, started the second day with a double bogey 6 and dropped to four over par for the day when he bogeyed the fifth and sixth.
O'HARA DOUBLE BOGEY AT 2ND
Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) had a double-bogey 6 at the second.
Keir McNicol (Carnoustie) birdied the fourth and sixth but dropped shots at the second and fourth.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), a student at the University of Mississippi, birdied the first but bogeyed the second and third.
Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion Scott Henry (Cardross), who had a 76 in the first round, reached the turn in 38 after bogeying the first three holes. He steadied up to birdie the sixth.
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), the leading Scot on the first day with a one-under-par 71, was among the later starters.
SECOND-R0UND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
Players from US unless stated
154 Jonas Blixt 82 72
155 Alan Bratton 79 76, Jhared Hack 79 75, Kevin McAlpine (Sco) 80 75, Jamie Moul (Eng) 79 76.
156 Gene Elliott 81 75.
157 Kelly Miller 79 78.
158 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 79 79, Russell Knox (Sco) 79 79.
160 Taylor Adams 80 80.