Byrne leads Scots at rain-hit Dixie Amateur

Rain, rain and even more rain has reduced the Dixie Amateur Championship - the one that Gavin Dear from Murrayshall won last year - from 72 holes to three rounds at Heron Bay Golf Club, Coral Springs, Florida.
Saturday's scheduled start was washed out. Play did start on Sunday but quite a few players at the tail-end of the field of 175 did not complete their opening rounds because of darkness.
Steve McEwan (Caprington) was one of them.
Leading the field are three Americans and a Swede, the 2007 title-winner David Lingmerth, on five-under-par 67.
James Byrne, from Banchory and Arizona State University, is the leading Scot in joint 21st place with a level par 72.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and Peter Latimer from Muckhart and Guilford College, North Carolina, are sharing 68th place on 76.
There will be a cut after two rounds to the leading 60 and ties and also all those within six strokes of the leading two-round total.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72. Plays from US unless stated
67 Blayne Barber, Luke Guthrie, Hojin Kang, David Lingmerth (Swe).
68 Peter Uihlein, Gregor Main.
Selected scores:
71 Steven Brown (Eng), William Harrold (Eng).
72 James Byrne (Sco) (jt 21st).
76 Ross Kellett (Sco), Peter Latimer (Sco) (jt 68th).
77 Jake Shepherd (Eng) (jt 84th).
Still to finish first round: Steven McEwan (Sco).

REPORT FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE:

As round one of the 79th Dixie Amateur finally got underway the late week rain gave way to cold temperatures and blustery winds. This, combined with no roll and no practice rounds (course was too wet to permit practice), added up to a long day for many.
But even with cloud cover spectators saw the stars come out. With a field that has officially put the Dixie Amateur in the top 20 amateurs tournaments in the world, 2007 Dixie Amateur Champion David Lingmerth of Germany fired a blistering 67 only to be matched by Hojin Kang and Blayne Barber of Florida and Illinios stand-out Luke Guthrie.
Undefeated United States Walker Cup member Peter Uihlein’s 68 puts him in joint second position with local favourite Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs just one shot back at 69. Three players are tied with Thompson,including Louisville standout Aaron Sherry and Junior sensations Cory Whitsett and Alberto Sanchez.
Several players did not finish their round including Bud Cauley and Emiliano Grillo the world’s 3rd and 15th ranked amateurs. Players who did not finish their rounds will tee off at 7am and upon finishing will start their second round at their schedualed tee times. Tee times start at 7:10am off both the 1st and 10th tees and the public is welcome. There is no charge for spectators.