Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil leads

in English Reid Trophy

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The Reid Trophy was taken to Scotland last year and there is a good chance it will remain there after Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil carded a two-under-par 70 to lead after the first round at Hesketh. (Picture © Tom Ward)
Neil has been the Scottish under 14 champion for the past two years and is determined to follow in the footsteps of Ewan Scott, who finished as champion at The Kendleshire this time last year.
Neil, the only player to better par on a day that began wet but which turned dry after lunch, leads by two from Lincolnshire’s Ashton Turner and Miguel Evangelio from Spain and by three from the rest of the field.
“It would mean a lot to follow Ewan as winner of this title,” said Neil. “I made a great start, played solidly and holed a few putts. It would have been even better if I hadn’t lipped out for eagle at the last.”
The 14 year old from Blairgowrie birdied the first two holes but had a shaky spell around the turn. Out in 34, he added another birdie at the tenth only to three putt the 11th.
But his birdie at the last ensured the best round of the day which was dominated by non-English players.
Turner, 14, from Kenwick Park at Louth, was a late starter but signed for four birdies in his 72. The Lincolnshire under 16 champion, had a balanced round, covering both nines in 36 with two birdies on each.
Evangelio, one of a large entry from Spain, is Neil’s nearest challenger after going round in level-par 72 in his first Reid appearance.
The 14 year old four-handicapper from La Rioja had three birdies, all on the back nine after reaching the turn in 38, three over par.
There are two more foreign players, Andreas Halvorsen from Norway and Thomas Gambier from France, among a large group on 73 along with Haydn McCullen from Manchester, who won the under 13 title last year.
Halvorsen, 14, from Larvik, made his score with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15 and would have finished level par but for a bogey at the 17th.
Gambier, 14, from Lille, signed for four birdies but he also ran up two double bogeys to mar his day.
McCullen, who finished tied sixth overall a year ago, reached the turn in two over but grabbed his second birdie at the 15th to stay in touch with the leaders.
Two more Scots, Ben Kinsley, a friend of Scott’s, and Fraser Davren, also finished on 73 along with home players Jack Hermeston from Newcastle upon Tyne, and Midlander Max Martin.
Martin is also leading the chase for the under 13 title.

Click here to read the first-round scoreboard