SCOTTISH SENIORS OPEN

NO HAPPY RETURN TO DALMAHOY
FOR SAM TORRANCE

Things just did not go right for Sam Torrance in the first round of the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open over the East Course at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club today.
The pre-tournament favourite could do no better than a four-over-par 76, which left him sharing 45th place, seven shots behind the Spanish joint leaders, Juan Quiros and Jose Rivero.
Sam, who had been looking forward to returning what had been a happy hunting ground for him in his pre-50 days, certainly does not want to play it again like that in the remainder of this three-round tournament.
He birdied the first hole in both his halves but had bogeys at the fifth, sixth, 11th, 13th, 16th and 18th in halves of 36 (one over par) and 40 (three over).
Sam, coming off a fine win in the PGA Seniors Championship at the start of the week, struggled to control his broom-handled putter in the strong winds that buffeted the competitors.
“I am well behind now,” rued Torrance, who will be looking over his shoulder as Rivero is just €52,000 behind on the Order of Merit. “My putting wasn’t very good. I actually didn’t hit the ball that badly but 36 or 37 putts is not good enough.
“I always struggle in the strong wind with the putter and conditions were very tough today.”

Gallacher began the day with fond memories of Dalmahoy, having won the Scottish PGA there in 1983 and the club championship twice while a junior member, but the only cheer he found in a difficult first round was finishing just before the heavy rains started.

After months away from the golf course, a noticeably rusty Gallacher struggled home in six over par 78 and immediately commented: “I am not expecting to play well and unfortunately I’m living up to my expectations.

“My back is feeling a bit better than it has done but I’ve just not played any golf. At the moment I don’t get down in two if I miss the green. I would not have played if this wasn’t Scotland and Dalmahoy.”
Quiros had a double bogey 6 at the last or else he would have been a clear leader overnight after reaching the turn in 32. He had six birdies in all.
Rivero dropped one shot at the 18th but earlier he had had six birdies in halves of 33 and 36.
Joint top Scots in sixth place were Martin Gray (pictured top right) and Mike Miller, both out in 34 and home in 37, on one-under-par 71. Gray finished top Scot in last year's Senior British Open at Royal Aberdeen.
Gray birdied the first, fourth, 10th and 16th while Miller had birdies at the first, 14th and 16th .
Bill Longmuir had a 75 (38-37) and John Chillas a 77 (34-42). The Aberdonian’s inward half included a double bogey 7 at the 16th .
Bernard Gallacher had a 78 after beginning the day with fond memories of Dalmahoy, having won the Scottish PGA there in 1983 and the club championship twice while a junior member.
The only cheer he found in a difficult first round was finishing just before the heavy rains started.
After months away from the golf course, a noticeably rusty Gallacher struggled to get par figures. “I am not expecting to play well and unfortunately I’m living up to my expectations. My back is feeling a bit better than it has done but I’ve just not played any golf.
"At the moment I don’t get down in two if I miss the green. I would not have played if this wasn’t Scotland and Dalmahoy.”


LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
69 J Quiros (Spa), J Rivero (Spa).
70 N Job (Eng), B Smith (SAf), B Lendzion (US).
71 J Benda (US), M Gray (Sco), M Miller (Sco), I Mosey (Eng), P Oakley (US), G Ralph (Eng), D Creamer (Eng).
72 R Mann (Eng), C Mason (Eng), C Defoy (Wal).
73 G Cali (Ita), D Cambridge (Jam), B Cameron (Eng), T Gale (Aus), B Hardwick (Can), L Higgins (Ire), G Rhodes (Eng), G Townhill (Eng), C Defoy (Wal).
Other scores:
74 E Darcy (Ire), C Maltman (Sco), D J Russell (Eng).
75 B Longmuir (Sco).
76 S Torrance (Sco).
77 J Chillas (Sco).
78 B Gallacher (Sco).
82 S Ellis (Sco) (am).