Kelly on course to retain title

Chris Kelly is leading the charge of Fife golfers keen to get their hands on the 2016 Northern Open, currently being played at Royal Dornoch.
Chris Kelly. Picture by Getty Images.Chris Kelly. Picture by Getty Images.
Chris Kelly. Picture by Getty Images.

St Andrews-based Kelly is the reigning champion and was poised to retain his crown, sitting just a stroke off the top of the leaderboard early on Thursday morning.

He wasn’t the only local keen to muscle in on the last day’s action when the tournament teed off.

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Mark Hilson of Kilconquhar is still aiming to make his presence felt after making the cut.

Ryan Delaney of Ladybank failed to make it to the final round.

So it’s all eyes on Kelly and Hilson, with the reigning champ keen to better his opening rounds of 69 and 68, which left him -3, on his way to another title.

He said: “I would have taken three-under at the start, I am just playing away and we’ll see what happens.

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“The golf course is so tough going out you can’t really afford to miss a fairway, but I am quite pleased that I have played nicely for two days.”

The Tartan Tour event at Royal Dornoch is being held at the course as part celebrations to mark 400 years of golf at the Sutherland venue.

And Kelly reckons it’s one of the best the country has to offer.

The St Andrews ace added: “I always enjoy playing on what I think is one of the best courses in Britain.”