Lewis Kirton improves to finish

jt 30th in North Carolina

Newmachar's Lewis Kirton (Louisville-Kentucky University) improved 15 places on his overnight position to finish joint 30th in a field of 75 players 40th in a field of 75 players for the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate men's tournament at Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro in North Carolina.

Kirton, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, from Oldmeldrum, had rounds of 77, 74 and 73 for a total of 224 over the long par-72 course of 7,197yd.

He had a triple bogey 6 at the short fourth in his first round in which he also notched three birdies. He managed only three more birdies over the combined second and third rounds but he kept destructive double bogeys off his cards.

On the same 151 mark as Kirton with one round to go, former England boys international Jack Hiluta (South Alabama) from Chelmsford went in the opposite direction from the Scot with a closing round of 80 after earlier rounds of 78 and 73. Hiluta finished on 231 in a tie for 54th place.

Two players finished at the head of the field on 213 - Payne Gniewek (Michigan State) with rounds of 69, 70 and 74, and Max Scodro (Notre Dame with 70, 72 and 71.

Meanwhile in the Charleston Southern Fall Invitational, Banchory's Scott Larkin, a student at the host university, never really got going with rounds of 84, 80 and 81 for a total of 245 and a position of 46th in a field of 50 players at Crowfield Plantation Golf Club, Charleston in South Carolina.

Thomas Todd (Presbyterian College) won with a total of 215 over the par-72, 7026yd course, despite starting the tournament with an 80. He followed that up with sub-par scores of 69 and 66.