THE SWEDES HOLD ON TO THE LEAD

 The earlier scores set by Sweden's Torbjorn Halling, the defending champion, Barbro Hjerten and Ewa Krantz to top the respective men's and ladies' overall leader board earlier today, withstood the challenges of the players in Squad 'F' as they completed their second shift.

Four of the six squads have now completed their twelve games and only squads E and D have yet to bowl. They complete their stint Friday afternoon and evening.

Rosario Bellamonte, 68, of Palermo, Sicily (pictured, left) brought the Italians to the fore by coming up into second place behind Halling, joining the '278 Club' by being the third competitor to post that score for the current high game in the men's division. Bellamonte can't remember just how many times he's played the Senior Open, maybe this is the fourth or fifth, according to his interpreter.

Another past champion, Roger Pieters of Belgium, who clinched his title in 2003, is currently in third place.

Top lady on this 'F' Squad was Jan Hodge of England (right) and her score was good enough to hold joint third place alongside Gun Alstrom, also from Sweden, who led the field after the opening squad on Wednesday morning. Hodge holds the second highest scratch average in the ladies' field, but by being a 'youngster' is not entitled to any age bonus, that switches in at the tender age of 57.

After the next two squads have completed play, the men's field will be cut to 72 and the ladies' to 36. Play will commence on Saturday morning with the men qualifying in positions 37-72, rolling four games. Then those men placed 1-36 also play four games, preceding the next cut to 36.

At 14:00, the top 36 ladies also bowl four games and after a further four-game round by the men, both fields will be reduced to 18.

CURRENT STANDINGS:

Current Men's Qualifying Scores

Current Ladies' Qualifying Scores

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For further information, contact Keith Hale: keithhale679@aol.com