The leading 30 and ties will earn Tour cards for next year, and the 31-year-old Motherwell ace is in joint 11th place after shooting a 68 for 11-under-par 273. Gary Orr fired a third successive 69 for 275 and a share of 20th place, while Chris Doak is just outside the top 30, tied for 34th after a 72 for 277.

The cut, at 280, was cruel for Calum Macaulay, who carded a 70 to miss out by one shot. Also out are Alastair Forsyth, Scott Drummond, brothers Elliot and Lloyd Saltman, and Alan McLean.

BASKETBALL: Scott Russell, the former Glasgow Rocks guard, is to take the club to court for unpaid wages, five months after being dropped from their plans.

The Scotland inter- nationalist, who left the Kelvin Hall side after four years in the summer, has alleged he is still owed sizeable sums for off-court appearances undertaken for the Rocks community programme.

Russell, now playing for Scottish League side Falkirk Fury, insists his patience has run out with the club's owner, Ian Reid.

"When I was released, I went to them and asked for what I was owed," claimed Russell. "But it has been drawn out for months. I e-mailed Mr Reid and didn't get a response. I e-mailed the management and was told it would be sorted, but I've heard nothing."

Reid, who also heads up sporting charity Scottish Sports Futures, declined to discuss Russell's claims.

"We've asked Scott to put his case via his lawyers," he said. "We await his response."