Andrew Wallace in action in Brazil on his way to a five-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Nick Faldo Series Grand Final (image by Zeca Resendes).

BRAVEHEART WALLACE IS

THE BOY IN BRAZIL

Glenbervie’s Andrew Wallace spreadeagled the field in the first round of the Nick Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil today with a brilliant effort of five-under-par 67 at the Cosa do Sauipe Golf Resort.
Wallace, who lives in Falkirk, never looked back after starting with a birdie. He added five more birdies, including one at the 18th, a perfect finish to a near-perfect round.
With only one bogey on his card, the 19-year-old Scot finished the day five shots clear of three English players on level-par 72 - Andrew Palmer (Chorley) and Steven Brown (Wentworth), joint second behind Wallace in the Under 21 category) and Anglo-Scot Alasdair Dalgliesh, the boys’ Under-18 age group leader.
Wallace commented: “I drove the ball really well and missed only one fairway. I stayed focussed and ignored the heat. It’s completely different playing in Brazil but it’s a brilliant experience. Now I just hope to keep it going and stay five shots ahead for the whole week.”
Other age-group leaders after round one of the 54-hole Grand Final include Rhys Pugh of Wales (boys Under-15) on 73, Brazil’s Rafael Becker (boys’ Under-17) on 76 and Koray Varli from Turkey (boys’ Under-16), also on 76.
Turkey’s Elcin Ulu leads the girls’ Under-18 category with a five-over-par 77, one ahead of the English women’s champion Hannah Barwood from Knowle.

SCOREBOARD TO FOLLOW