LAWRIE (75) FACES UPHILL BATTLE
TO BEAT MADEIRA OPEN CUT

Paul Lawrie faced another uphill battle to beat the halfway cut after a first-round 75 (40-35) in the Madeira Islands Open at Sant da Serra Golf Club.
The Aberdonian should have felt at home because it was a day of wind, rain and cold.
Paul bogeyed the third, fifth, eighth, ninth and 13th and was five over par before he birdied the 16th and 17th to keep his hopes alive.
Steven O'Hara had a 71 (36-35), Euan Little a 73 (35-38). David Drysdale came in later with a 73 (37-36).
Andrew McArthur had a 75 (39-36) and West Linton-based Welshman Gareth Wright a sad 81.
Play was halted at 7.12 pm local time because it was too dark for a handful of players to complete their first rounds, the most notable of which is Italy's rising star, Edoardo Molinari. He is three under par with two holes to play.
Not so notable is former Scottish amateur champion George Murray who is seven over par with three holes to finish on Friday morning.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
66 Ricardo Santos (Por).
67 Peter Baker (Eng), Notah Begay III (US).
68 Robert-Ian Derksen (Net), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Martin Kaymer (Ger).
69 Santiago Luna.
Other scores:
70 Sam Little (Eng), Oliver Wilson (Eng).
72 Oliver Fisher (Eng).

Scottish scores:
71 Steven O'Hara (36-35).
73 Euan Little (35-38), David Drysdale (37-36).
75 Paul Lawrie (40-35), Andrew McArthur (39-36).