Lornie ahead with 69 in Scottish PGA championship

Ex-greenkeeper Graeme surprise

leader on Day 1 at Gleneagles

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE:

Former Aberdeen greenkeeper Graeme Lornie fired six birdies and an eagle for a four-under 69 to jump to the top of the leaderboard in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship today.

The 28-year-old, who worked on the greens staff of Royal Aberdeen and Newmachar golf clubs for eight years, is now trying to make a living as one of the pro team at city golf centre & driving range, King's Links, having belatedly begun his pro career at Aspire Golf Centre near Aberdeen's Bridge of Dee.
But four bogeys in five holes from the third threatened to undo a good early start over the PGA Centenary course, when Lornie (picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency) chipped in from 25 feet for an eagle at the second.
He got back on track with gains at the eighth, 10th, 12th, 13th 14th and 16th.
"This is the kind of thing that's been happening to me recently - getting birdies and giving them right back again. At least the bad stuff started early!"
Four players are in a tie for second place - European Tour player Craig Lee, Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Braid Hills pro Paul McKechnie, Challenge Tour player Eddie Thomson from Largs, and Steve Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
Lee admitted to having spent £40,000 on his European Tour activities since last November, with earnings considerably less. But his enthusiasm for the game at that level hasn't diminished.
"I've no regrets. It's a tremendous experience, it's what I've always wanted to do."

Birdies at all five long holes were the key to Scott-Smith's opening round. "I never missed a fairway", said the 34-year-old, who admitted he's been getting not much more than four hours sleep a night after the recent birth of his son, Murray.
A seven-time trier for the European Tour ("my best attempt was in 1996 when I missed it by four shots") he now devotes his time to the club and running as a private concern an adjoining driving range.
McKechnie has always proved himself a formidable player over 72-hole events on the Tartan Tour, and has again set himself up for the rest of the championship.

Under the coaching eye of PGA Scottish Region chairman, Alan White, the pro at Lanark, Paul says "Alan keeps things simple. He doesn't go in for the high-tech video stuff, and I've every confidence in what he's doing."
Another player to highlight the input of a coach was Eddie Thomson. This time the guru in question was Bob Torrance.
"Bob keeps telling me to believe in myself. Keep doing what you're doing and it'll come around."
Thomson missed just two fairways, and finished with a chip-in for an eagle at the 484-yard 18th. Taylor resumed where he left off two week ago - recording two wins and a second place over three successive pro-am days - and looks capable of offering a serious challenge over the remaining 54 holes.

Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
Par 73
69
Graeme Lornie (SCO)
Kings Links
71
Nigel Scott-Smith (SCO)
Palacerigg
Craig Lee (SCO)
Unattached
Paul McKechnie (SCO)
Braid Hills
Edward Thomson (SCO)
Senit Associates
72
Graham Fox (SCO)
East Kilbride
David Orr (SCO)
East Renfrewshire
Scott Henderson (SCO)
Kings Links
Liam Barn (SCO)
Noah's Ark
Craig Everett (SCO)
Caldwell
Steven Taylor (SCO)
Bothwell Castle
73
Samuel Cairns (SCO)
Colville Park
Euan Cameron (SCO)
Hamilton
Jason McCreadie (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
Craig Ronald (SCO)
Carluke
Kenneth Hutton (SCO)
Downfield
74
Stuart Morrison (SCO)
Tain
Scott Morrison (SCO)
Acushnet Europe Ltd
Adam Hunter (SCO)
Mearns Castle Golf Academy
David Patrick (SCO)
Elie

Terry Burgoyne (SCO)
Gotastroms Golf Klubb
Euan Little (SCO)
Co. Tipperary
Chris Doak (SCO)
Unattached
Mark Loftus (SCO)
Cowglen
Stewart Savage (SCO)
Dalmuir
75
Mark Finlayson (SCO)
Edzell
Steven Morgan (SCO)
Westin Turnberry
Chris Kelly (SCO)
Cawder
Alan Purdie (SCO)
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Alan Lockhart (SCO)
Ladybank
Alastair Webster (SCO)
Edzell
Christopher Russell (SCO)
RAW Golf Course Design
Gareth Adrian Wright (WAL)
West Linton
Steven Duncan (SCO)
Balbirnie Park
Jonathan Porteous (SCO)
Craigielaw
76
Stephen Craig (SCO)
Paragon Golf Akademie
Stuart Syme (SCO)
Dumfries & County
Jamie Stevenson (SCO)
Braehead
Colin Gillies (SCO)
Perry Golf
Gordon Law (SCO)
Uphall
Scott Catlin (SCO)
Greenburn
Lindsay Mann (SCO)
Carnoustie
James McKinnon (SCO)
Irvine
James McGhee (SCO)
Turnhouse Golf Club
Robert Arnott (SCO)
Bishopbriggs Golf Range
Jamie Anton (SCO)
Murrayshall
77
Billy Marchbank (SCO)
Crieff
Stephen Gray (SCO)
Hayston
Lee Harper (SCO)
Archerfield Links
Jonny Sharp (SCO)
The Carrick at Cameron House
Andrew Cooper (SCO)
Newmachar
Craig Matheson (SCO)
Falkirk Tryst
Callum Nicoll (SCO)
Prestwick
Dean Robertson (SCO)
Mearns Castle
Kenny Walker (SCO)
Castle Park Golf Club
Tom Buchanan (SCO)
Duddingston
78
Ian Campbell (SCO)
Unattached
Craig Imlah (SCO)
Peebles
Brian Leishman (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Gavin Cook (SCO)
Prestonfield
Mark King (SCO)
Kingsfield Golf Centre
Gary McFarlane (SCO)
Clober
Graeme McInnes (SCO)
Murcar Links
Donald McKay (SCO)
Wellsgreen
Stuart Pardoe (ENG)
Nevada Bobs
79
Brian Mason (SCO)
Drumoig Driving Range
John Robertson (SCO)
Glasgow
Garry Forrester (SCO)
St Andrews Golf School
Ryan Fitzpatrick (SCO)
Inchmarlo
Kenneth Monaghan (SCO)
Bothwell Castle
Alastair MacKenzie (SCO)
Duddingston
Bobby Wallace (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
Alan E Reid (SCO)
West Lothian
Ross Cameron (SCO)
McDonald Ellon
Russell Smith (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Jonnie Cliff (SCO)
Murrayfield
80
Iain Kennedy (SCO)
Mearns Castle
Richard Clark (SCO)
Bruntsfield Links
Andrew Erskine (SCO)
Ratho Park
Ricky Gray (SCO)
Torrance House
Alastair Love (SCO)
Charleton
Kris McGowan (SCO)
Burntisland
Anthony Mackrell (SCO)
East Kilbride
David Park (SCO)
Wishaw
Ian Taylor (SCO)
Drumpellier
Ewan Hogarth (SCO)
Peebles
Kevin McAleer (SCO)
Gleddoch
81
Ian Graham (SCO)
Crow Wood
Greg Rankin (SCO)
Stirling
Greg McFarlane (SCO)
Grangemouth
Jonathan Lomas (SCO)
Unattached
Malcolm Lacey (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Gary Collinson (SCO)
Esporta Dougalston
Kenneth Glen (SCO)
Royal Musselburgh
Murray Urquhart (SCO)
Inverness
Alan Fleming (SCO)
North Highland College
82
Alan Tait (SCO)
Spey Valley
Fraser Pook (SCO)
Aberdour
Martin Goldie (SCO)
Lochgelly
Steven Rettie (SCO)
All Golf Swing Centre
Ken Campbell (SCO)
Machrihanish
Stephen McNally (ENG)
Scottish Institute of Sport
Stewart Whiteford (SCO)
Wellsgreen Golf Range
Stuart Kerr (SCO)
Strathaven
Andrew Jowett (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
83
Bert Mackay (SCO)
Loch Lomond
Anthony Caira (SCO)
Kirkcaldy
Campbell Elliott (SCO)
Haggs Castle
Mark Barnard (SCO)
Inchmarlo
Greg Paxton (SCO)
Ralston
84
Duncan Williamson (SCO)
Kirkhill
John Murray (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Keith Lobban (SCO)
Keith Lobban Golf
Richard Holt (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
James Erskine (SCO)
Portpatrick Dunskey
Michael McAllan (SCO)
Murrayfield
David Thomson (SCO)
Carnegie Club
Stephen Forbes (SCO)
Deaconsbank
85
Matthew Gillingham (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Martin Pottinger (SCO)
North Gailes Golf Centre
Chris McCalman (SCO)
Unattached
Henry Wong (SCO)
Wellsgreen
87
Keith Baxter (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
88
David Boon (SCO)
Edinburgh Golf Shop Ltd
Steven Brown (SCO)
Carnoustie Golf Links
91
Michael Rae (SCO)
Alyth
Craig Donnelly (SCO)
Balbirnie Park
94
Andrew McMahon (SCO)
Grove Golf
Disqualified
Andrew MacRae (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel