Ramsay, Drysdale leading Scots on 73 at end of first round

FRIDAY BLUES FOR GEORGE
MURRAY AS TOUR
SCHOOL STUTTERS ALONG

The second half of the field completed their first rounds over the New Course at San Roque on the southern end of the Costa del Sol today and the worst-placed Scots are former Scottish amateur champion George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle) – who is still an amateur – and Dean Robertson, the former European Tour pro who has had such a fine season on the Tartan Tour this year.
Murray, pictured right, had a five-over-par 77 on another day when a cold wind was whipping in off the Mediterranean. That put him in a share of 119th place in a field of 156.
Robertson had his disappointing 78 on Thursday. Now he knows he is joint 135th.
Of the Scots who played today, David Drysdale and Eric Ramsay could feel happy with 73 a piece, which has them sharing 38th place on the scoreboard.
Scott Henderson and Euan Little both hit the 74 mark and joined former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur, who played on Thursday, in a share of 57th place.
With the waterlogged Old Course at San Roque out of competitive action until Monday, the first half of the field will undertake their second round on the New Course on Saturday, meaning a return to action for leader (with a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday) Eirik Tage Johansen (Norway) and Patrick Sjöland (Sweden), one of three players sharing second place on 68.
OLIVER FISHER'S GOOD START
The others on 68, left-handed Finn Antti Ahokas, who has turned pro since Stage 1 of the qualifying process, and teenager Walker Cup amateur star Oliver Fisher are among those who have Saturday off and will complete their first 36 holes on the New Course on Sunday.
On Monday, the field will be split between the Old and New Courses to complete round three before swapping courses to complete round four on Tuesday.
A cut to the top 70 and ties will then be made with the qualifiers battling it out for the crucial top 30 places over the final two rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.
A stop-start-stop format for the first four days of such an important competition – important in that is deciding the future of so many players – is hardly desirable but there is absolutely nothing the European Tour organisers could have done about it, short of using one of the many courses in the area as a substitute venue for San Roque Old.

COLLATED FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
San Roque New Course. Par 72

65 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor).
68 Antti Ahokas (Fin), (am) Oliver Fisher (Eng), Patrick Sjoland (Swe).
69 Warren Bennett (Eng), Luise Clavere (Spa), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice).
Scottish scores and positions:
73 David Drysdale, Eric Ramsay (jt 38th).
74 Scott Henderson, Andrew McArthur, Euan Little (jt 57th).
75 Andrew Oldcorn (jt 77th).
77 (am) George Murray (jt 119th).
78 Dean Robertson (jt 135th).