Chris Doak contemplates a putt on his way to a superb opening round at Royal Liverpoll (image courtesy of PGA)

Chris Doak spreadeagles PGA Play-offs

field with six-under 66 at Hoylake

Tartan Tour No 1 Chris Doak tamed a wild Royal Liverpool course at Hoylake to take a firm stranglehold after the opening round of the Srixon PGA Play-Offs.

Doak braved hailstones and icy winds to post an unlikely and incredible six-under-par 66 to leave him four shots clear of his nearest rival, George Ryall of The Players Club, Bristol, who was the only other player in the elite field of 21 to break par.

It puts the 30-year-old Greenock ace just one round away from being hailed the PGA’s No 1 player and on course to achieve his ambition of testing himself again Europe’s best players with a further four European Tour invites awaiting him should he hang on to his lead.

Doak is already assured of a place in next year’s BMW PGA Championship, but could add starts at the European, English, Scottish and Welsh Opens as he strives to reach Europe’s top table.

“I definitely want to play full time on the European Tour. That’s the ambition and having the opportunity to get some starts via the play-offs is an added bonus,” he said.

“But I’m not looking too far ahead as I’ve still got a round to go, but this is a good opportunity.”

It will take something special to overhaul Doak after his Herculean round, which yielded five birdies and an eagle at the 16th – the only one of the day.

His impeccable round was marginally tempered with a bogey at the 7th.“It’s a great score,” admitted Doak “It was a case of knuckling down and learning to play the wind. I’ve played in the wind a lot as I grew up on a course on a top of hill so that helped.

"There were a few 20 foot putts in there and I had it close a couple of other times but the greens were phenomenal for this time of year.”

Ryall, the oldest player in the field having turned 50 last month, maintained the form that saw him lift the West Region Order of Merit with a ‘solid’ round of 70 that saw three birdies and just one bogey.

“I’d have taken two-under standing on the first tee,” said Ryall.“There certainly were chances and I left two or three out there on the par fives but it was just solid. It was a tough day but once you’re out there you just get on with it.

“I’ve given myself a chance and I’m looking forward to playing with Chris. I’ve heard a lot about him and obviously he’s a great player. If he plays like he did today it’s going to be impossible to touch him.”

But Ryall, who will make his bid to join the European Seniors Tour next month, will find a number of players - drawn from the top three from the PGA’s seven regions - chasing him down for the second spot, which also opens the doors the European Tour.

Best placed is Ireland’s Eamonn Brady (Clontarf), who had been second reserve after finishing fifth on the Irish Order. He made the most of his chance carding a level par 72 to claim a share of third place with Dudsbury’s Lee Thompson.

Selby’s Nick Ludwell, Chelmsford’s Brett Taylor and St Margaret’s Golf and Country Club’s John Kelly – all of them winners of their respective regions – lie a shot further back at 73.

Chris Doak was only one of three Scots who qualified to play in this end of season shoot-out but neither Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) nor David Orr (East Renfrewshire) was in the same high-flying form as their leading compatriot.

McCreadie had a 74 and Orr an 83.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 72

1 66 Chris Doak (Sco) Unattached.

2 70 George Ryall (Eng) Players Club.

3 72 Eamonn Brady (Ire) Clontarf

3 72 Lee Thompson (Eng) Dudsbury.

5 73 Nick Ludwell (Eng) Selby.

5 73 Brett Taylor (Eng) Chelmsford.

5 73 John Kelly (Ire) St Margaret's.

8 74 Andrew Barnett (Wales) North Wales GR.

8 74 Mark Hooper (Eng) Rayleigh GR

8 74 Paul Wesselingh (Eng) Kedleston Park.

8 74 James Ablett (Eng) Lee-on-the-Solent

8 74 Jason McCreadie (Sco) Buchanan Castle.

13 75 Steven Cowle (Eng) Farnham.

13 75 Cameron Clark (Eng) Moor Hall.

13 75 Philip Walton (Ire) Unattached.

16 76 Jason Levermore (Eng) Clacton.

17 77 Simon Lilly (Eng) Wellingborough.

17 77 Michael McLean (Eng) Limpsfield Chart.

19 78 Alex Belt (Eng) Bridlington Links.

20 81 Edward Goodwin (Eng) Cirencester.

21 83 David Orr (Sco) East Renfrewshire.