Scottish Young Professionals' Championship

MCGHEE LEADS BY FOUR AFTER 66 IN FIRST ROUND AT LETHAM GRANGE Turnhouse’s James McGhee slipped the field with a brilliant effort of seven-under-par 66 in the first round of the 72-hole Scottish young professionals’ golf championship at Letham Grange Hotel & Golf Resort, near Arbroath today (Tuesday). McGhee picked up eight birdies over the par-73 course – at the first, sixth, seventh, ninth, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th in halves of 33 (four under par) and 33 (three under). His only bogey came at the 13th. McGhee posted the clubhouse target early in the day and no one even threatened it. Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) and David Patrick (Elie) got the closest with 70 apiece. Strangely enough, both had double bogey 7s at the 480yd sixth hole. Fenwick had begun with three birdies. He came home in 34, compared with Patrick’s 33. Defending champion Greg McBain (Royal Dornoch) might be pushed to make the leading 40 and ties who will advance after the second round to the final 36 holes. McBain had a 75 with bogeys at the second, seventh, eighth, 16th and 18th. He did birdie the third, 10th and 14th in halves of 39 and 36. SCOREBOARD FIRST ROUND Par 73 66 James McGhee (Turnhouse). 70 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), David Patrick (Elie). 71 Nathan Keast (Duff House Royal), Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar). 72 Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Terry Mathieson (Kings Acre), Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe), Matthew Burt (Helensburgh). 74 Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Alasdair McDonald (Elie). 75 Graham Fox (East Kilbride), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Greg McBain (Royal Dornoch), David Broadfoot (Dumfries & Co), Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), Michael Rae (Alyth), Graeme Fisher (Mearns Castle), Alan Martin (Dunbar). 76 Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Andrew McHardy (Noah's Ark GC), Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Alastair Love (Charleton), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries & Galloway), David Laing (Craigielaw), Oliver Morton (Gullane), Stuart Williamson (Kirkhill). 77 David Blackadder (Kingsbarns), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Bobby Wallace (Bearsden), Nicky Sinclair (Prestwick), Christopher McMaster (Panmure), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry). 78 David Snodgrass (Hilton Park), Ross MacLeod (Greaves Sport), Ross Murdoch (Dumfries & Galloway), Peter Mitchell (Hermitage), Gareth Hardy (Belleisle), Daniel Wood (Eyemouth). 79 Matthew Laughland (Cawder), Michael Baxter (Westerwood), Calum Lawson (Blairgowrie). 80 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), Adam Rolfe (Royal Troon). 81 Michael Mackenzie (Forfar), Paul Hubner (Eastwood), Steven Mann (Newmachar), Sam McLaren (unatt), Paul Gallacher (Dalmuir), Graham Mackay (Prestonfield). 82 Scott Bergin (Royal Musselburgh), Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle), Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs), Stewart Winter (Callander), Alan Stuart (Aspire GC). 83 Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club), Paul Wilson (World of Golf), Mark Bruce (Gullane). 84 Kein Campbell (Balmore), Keil Beveridge (Aboyne), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club). 85 Craig Knowles (Panmure), Stuart McEwing (Montrose), Christopher Boyle (Lanark). 86 Russell McIntyre (Prestonfield), Kris McGowan (Burntisland), Grant Robertson (Lanark), Richard Hyland (Craibstone). 87 Nicola Melville (Old Course Hotel), William Fairfull-Smith (Cowglen). 88 Alan Gibson(Troon Municipal). 89 Sven Nielsen (Turnberry), Stuart Hutchison (Scottish Golf Centre), Iain Stoddart (Uphall). 90 Peter McLachlan (West Kilbride), Ross Dennison (Inverness). 91 Luke Barbour (Cruden Bay). Retired Ewan Hogarth (Peebles). Disqualified Clarke Lutton (Qatar Golf), Duncan Anderson (Ladybank), Ian Rowlands (West Linton), Adam Aitken (Dumfries & Co), Jonathan Holmes (Buchanan Castle).