ROCCA ACE ON HIS WAY TO TWO-SHOT LEAD
IN SCOTTISH SENIORS OPEN AT DALMAHOY


By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Italy's Costantino Rocca holed-in-one during his five-under-par 67 at the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open to lead by two shots from native Scot Ross Drummond after the first round at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club near Edinburgh.
The 50 year-old former Ryder Cup player from Bergamo hit a seven-iron into the par-3, 183yd downwind 17th hole, and he said: “It was a great way to finish what was a good round of golf. The ball landed on the front edge of the green and then bounced up in the air before dropping straight into the hole. It is the 10th ace I’ve had in competition.”
Another former Ryder Cup star, Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy, shares third place with England’s Bob Cameron, Australia’s David Good, Bobby Lincoln (South Africa) and Jose Rivero (Spain) on two under par 70.
Defending champion Sam Torrance dropped a shot when his opening drive hit a tree only 50 yds from the first tee but he recovered to post a one under par 71.
“It was a dreadful start but I played some good golf in the conditions,” said Torrance. “A 71 is five shots better that my opening round last year so I don’t suppose I can complain.”
England’s Carl Mason also shot 71. Mason has won four times this season and needs just £2,600 this week to set a new European Seniors Tour record for earnings for the season.
He dropped a shot at the second hole but then recovered with birdies at the fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th before a double bogey 6 on the 14th stalled his progress up the leaderboard.
“The 6 was a shame but anything around par is a good score in these conditions,” said Mason. “I’m in a good position but will need to play well if I’m going to catch Costantino over the weekend.”
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 C Rocca (Ita)
69 R Drummond (Sco)
70 B Cameron (Eng), E Darcy (Irl), B Lincoln (RSA), D Good (Aus), J Rivero (Esp)
71 G Cali (Ita), R Green (Eng), N Job (Eng), C Mason (Eng), S Owen (Nzl), J Rhodes (Eng), A Sowa (Arg), S Torrance (Sco)
72 T Dill (Aus), D Johnson (US), A Murray (Eng), P Oakley (US), N Ratcliffe (Aus), B Smit (RSA), A Tapie (US)
73 J Bruner (USA), D Cambridge (Jam), A Fernandez (Chl), M Gray (Sco), G Marsh (Aus), M Miller (Sco), D O’Sullivan (Ire), J Quiros (Esp)
74 J Chillas (Sco), D Durnian (Eng), B Longmuir (Sco), I Mosey (Eng), M Poxon (Eng), G Ralph (Eng), K Spurgeon (Eng)
75 J Benda (US), J Bland (RSA), R Carrasco (US), M Foster (Eng), J Heggarty (NIr), B Larratt (Eng), S Martin (Sco), D Merriman (Aus), E Polland (NIr), DJ Russell (Eng)
76 G J Brand (Eng), R Masters (Eng), G Watine (Fra)
77 T Charnley (Eng), T Horton (Eng), T Rastall (Eng), E Rodriguez (Esp), R Weir (Sco)
78 L Carbonetti (Arg), G Encina (Chl), L Higgins (Ire), T Johnstone (Zim), J Mashego (RSA)
79 M Bembridge (Eng), P Dugeny (Fra), J Lapsley (NZ).
80 T Allen (Eng), A Croce (Fra), V Garcia (Esp), G Hopkins (USA), B Lendzion (US)
81 B Malley (US)
82 D Creamer (Eng), P Harrison (Eng).