SCOTT MACDONALD 13 SHOTS OFF THE PACE IN TITLE DEFENCE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Former Walker Cup player Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) has left himself with a lot of ground to make up if he is to retain the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Irvine Bogside Golf Club, Ayrshire this week. Scott, pictured, returned a 12-over-par score of 83 in the first round of the 54-hole championship for over-55s today (Wed) He trails leader Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 13 strokes. Fulker surged three shots clear of the field with a three-birdie, two-bogey round of one-under-par 70. He bogeyed the long second but got under par with birdies at the seventh and ninth to turn in one-under 35. A bogey at the 17th knocked him down to par but he finished on a high by birdieing the 18th. So who is Robbie Fulker? I am told that is a past captain (2009) of Kilmarnock Barassie ... a former Ayrshire country player and a retired schoolteacher. He has won the Barassie club championship several times, the last in 2010. Two England-based players are among the trio  sharing second place on 73 - Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Charles Banks (Stanon on the Wolds) and Derek Murphy from Kinross. Former champions Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) made solid starts with 74 apiece. LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES Par 71 70 Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie). 73 Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Chalres Banks (Stanton on the Wolds), Derek Murphy (Kinross). 74 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse), Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links), David Brown (Irvine Ravenspark), Bob Humble (Kilspindie), Michael Wigley (Royal North Devon), Fraser McClusky (Royal Burgess), David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), Alan Harrington (Western Gailes), Gordon MacDonald (Callander). 75 Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal), Glyn Rees (Fleetwood), Adrian Donkersley (Gerrards Cross), John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Gordon Mair (Birvine Bogside), Billy Mitchell (Hankley Common), David Smith (Stirling). 76 Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer Spa), John Johnston (Lanark), John Baldwin (Sunningale), Roy Smethurst (Crewe), James Gardner (Broomieknowe), Peter Jamieson (Cathkin Braes). 77 Richard Gray (Cowglen), Mike Wilde (Camberley Heath), Stephen Whymark (Woodbridge), Dave Jessup (Rochester and Cobham Park), Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co), Rich Tolly (US), George Rodaks (Moffat). 78 Jim Watt (Edzell), Keith Morris (Camberley Heath), Tony Stafford (Gleneagles), Keith Bruce (Edzell), Gerry Boobis (Ravelston). 79 Jalil Aman (Grangemouth), David Gillespie (Turnhouse), David Millar (St Andrews New), Steve Rhorer (US), Robert Fox (Royal Lytham), Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), Hugh Kinniburgh (Lanark), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan). 80 Williams Brown (Strathaven), Paul Gault (Westerwood), Denis Martin (Newbiggin), Glyn Hughes (Church Stretton), John Ashton (Prestwck St Nicholas), Alan McEwan (Western Gailes), David Lane (Goring and Streatley), Stephen Ellis (Innellan), Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier), John Willis (Carlisle), Kenneth Thomson (Bramall Park). Selected scores: 82 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead). 83 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline).