JAMES BYRNE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SPARK ON US CIRCUIT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.comWalker Cup team candidate James Byrne from Banchory is still looking to set in motion a good sequence of scores on the US college circuit to boost his confidence - and his prospects of selection later this year by the GB and Ireland selectors for the September match against the United States.

In his latest appearance for the Arizona State Univesity squad, the Battle at the Beach, at Pelican Gill Golf Club, California, Byrne had two English students ahead of him in the final placings (on Tuesday, USA time).

He had rounds of 71, 75 and 72 for an eight-over-par total of 218 over the 6,900yd (par 70), which placed him joint 29th in a field of 82. Byrne's form on the American college circuit is something of an enigma. In short, last year's British amateur championship beaten finalist at Muirfield achieves far better results away from the US scene.

Garrick Porteous (Tennessee University), pictured right,  from Bamburgh Castle scored 69, 71 and 71 for a share of 17th place on 215.

Tom Berry (San Diego State University) had rounds of 73, 75 and 68 for 216 and a share of 23rd place.

Darren Renwick (Tennessee University) from Woking did finish behind Byrne - in joint 35th place on 219 with scores of 70, 71 and 78.
Kenneth McCready (San Diego University) from California won the individual honours by two strokes with a seven-under-par total of 203, made up of rounds of 65, 67 and 71.
Arizona State (1073) finished fifth in the team chase behind UCLA (1057), San Diego )10960), Augusta State (1065) and Washington (1066). Tennesee (1077) came sixth and San Diego State (1079) seventh in the field of 13 teams.