Golf: Lloyd Saltman banks on Rome invite

10 October 2009
By NICK RODGER, The Scotsman

LLOYD SALTMAN is hoping his second place finish in the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Partypoker.com International Open last night will not mark the end of his competitive action this season.

The Archerfield ace was pipped to a first major professional title at a wind-ravaged Fairmont St Andrew by Heswall’s Sandeep Grewal at the second play-off hole after both players had finished on four-under aggregates of 212.

Aegon-backed Saltman, 24, is seeking an invitation to the Italian Federation Cup in Rome later this month – the final full-field event on the European Challenge Tour schedule – as he looks to claw himself back into the top 90 on the rankings from his current spot of 94th and gain another crack at the European Tour’s qualifying school.

“We are still trying to get into that field,” said Saltman, who failed to come through stage one of the q-school last month.

“If I can get into the Italian event then it would be a boost as it would give me a chance to improve my ranking and get into that top 90 which would give me another go at tour school.

“If that doesn’t happen then that’s about it for me this year.

“My last few events have been much better but, if I don’t get another start, then I’ll just work hard over the winter, bring a decent game out for next season’s Challenge Tour and keep plugging away.”

Saltman came within touching distance of the £10,000 top prize yesterday but, like his older brother Elliot earlier this season, he was to suffer play-off misery on the third-tier circuit.

With the strong winds sending scores soaring, former England amateur cap Grewal, who was 10 shots off the lead at the start of the day, came barging up the field with a superbly-crafted five-under 67 to set the clubhouse target at four-under.

Saltman battled away against the gusts and had edged to the front with four holes to play but, when he spilled shots at 16 and 17 on his way to a three-over 75, the former Walker Cup star slipped back into a tie at the top and had to go head-to-head with Grewal in the sudden-death shoot-out up the par-five 18th.

The duo both made par at the first time of asking before ending up in a similar position down in a left-hand hollow next to the green with their third shots when they replayed the hole.

After both pitching up, Grewal held his nerve and holed a testing 15-footer for a five before Saltman’s effort from eight-feet to keep the contest alive burned the cup but stayed above ground.

“I just misjudged my third shot and ended up down where he was,” added Saltman, who earned £5000.

“Given how tough the hole was playing it was always likely that things were going to be decided with a par. It’s been a good week but wasn’t to be in the end.”