Weather makes for tough test at Loch Lomond

Strong winds and heavy rain made Loch Lomond a fearsome test when the final round of the Barclays Scottish Open began today.

After making birdies at the first three holes Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, lying joint second, dropped eight shots in the next five holes to plunge to nine over par.

Playing partner Richard McEvoy took eight at the long sixth and was eight over for the day as he approached the turn.

It all seemed a world away from the eight under par 63, one outside the course record, that yesterday took Italian Edoardo Molinari into a one-stroke lead over Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke.

It looked a straight fight between them for the title and £500,000 first prize with Molinari’s younger brother Francesco and Swede Peter Hedblom seven shots behind in joint third.

The two Turin golfers were playing partners in the last group with Clarke.