SALTMAN OPENING 77 IN BRABAZON TROPHY,
McNICOLL LEADS SCOTS CHALLENGE ON 72

Is Lloyd Saltman's remarkable run of four 72-hole tournament wins in a row about to end? That's the question after the Craigielaw player shot an opening, five-over-par 77 in the Eglish men's open amateur stroke-play championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Forest of Arden, Warwickshire today (Friday).
The answer is not necessarily because Lloyd looked out of the hunt at the halfway stage of last weekend's Irish open amateur stroke-play championship which, of course, he came through to win, thanks to a course record on the Sunday morning.
Saltman, winner of the Brabazon Trophy two years ago, is the only Scot to have won this title in the past 29 years.
The leading Scot at the end of the first round is Keir McNicoll from Carnoustie.
Keir, winner of the East of Scotland Open at Lundin last summer, had a par 72 - two behind the pacemakers, David Horsey (Styal), first off the tee at 7.30am and Frenchman Romain Sneider.
It was not a particularly good day for the Scottish challengers.
Scottish match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) had a 76 - one better than Jonathan King (Glasgow), winner of the West of Scotland Open at Cawder last weekend, and Lloyd Saltman.
Former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell from Blairgowrie had a nightmare 83 - but even worse was Scott Henry (Cardross) with a 15-over-par 87.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 72
70 David Horsey (Styal), Romain Sneider (Fra).
71 Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Rhys Enoch (Truro), Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs), Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye), Romain Bechu (Fra), Adrien Bernadet (Fra).
72 Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland), Sam Haywood (Rotherham), Cedric Scotto (Fra), Sam Foster (Coventry Hearsall), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Sandro Piaget (Swi).
Other scores:
74 Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch).
76 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth).
77 Jonathan King (Glasgow), Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw).
78 Rory McIlroy (Holywood).
83 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie).
87 Scott Henry (Cardross).