ROSS BELL GOES THREE SHOTS CLEAR IN LEVEN GOLD MEDAL

                              ROSS BELL ON THE 18TH TEE AT LEVEN LINKS TODAY (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
The forecast bad weather came early across Fife but not early enough to stop Downfield's Ross Bell surging three shots clear of the field with a superb round of seven-under-par 64 in the first round of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal 72-hole tournament.
First played in 1870, it's the oldest amateur stroke-play competition in the world of golf.
Bell's effort, achieved in dry conditions was only two shots outside the course recored set by Steven McEwan in this tournament in August 2007.
On the horses for courses theory, it should have been no surprise that Ross should score so low over the Leven links. He won the season-opening Scottish Champion of Champions event over four rounds at the same course.
Bell had nine birdies and two bogeys on his excellent scorecard.
He birdied the first, second, sixth, eighth and ninth with a bogey at the fifth in an outward four-under-par 30.
Coming home, Bell birdied the 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th with a bogey at the 15th in three-under 34.
"I hit my irons well and I holed good birdie putts at the 16th and 17th," said the 22-year-old who works part-time in Downfield GC professional Kenneth Hutton's club shop..
At the end of the first round Bell led by three from Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) and Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) with Keith Shanks (Briar Ridge) and Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) sharing fourth place on 68.
+Lee Westwood, the former World No 1, won the Leven Gold Medal in 1993 before he turned pro. This past week Westwood accepted an invitation from the Leven Golfing Society to become a patron of the 11th oldest golf club in the world.

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 Ross Bell (Downfield).
67 Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst), Peter Latimer (St Andrews New).
68 Keith Shanks (Briar Ridge), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon).
69 Darren Gould (Woodhall Spa), Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's), Dan Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle).
70 Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Alex Main (Thornton), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Daniel Kay (Dunbar), Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews).
71 Steven Rennie (Drumpellier), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), Ross Noon (Craigielaw), Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall), Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Fraser Moore (Glenbervie), Myles Cunningham (Longniddry), Graham Robertson (Silverknowes).
72 Greg Smail (Craigielaw), David Mitchell (Leven Thistle), Paul McPhee (King James VI), Stephen Speirs (Portpatrick Dunskey), Brian Erskine (Merchants of Edinburgh), Michael Daily (Erskine), Marc Gentles (St Andrews).
73 James Ross (Royal Burgess), John Laurie (Cowglen), Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar), Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth), Lee Morgan (Swanston), Jordan McColl (Scotscraig), Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire).
74 Alasdair MacLennan (Kings Acre), Craig Deerness (Harburn), Steven Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy).
75 Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes), Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs), James Aitken (Alloa), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), James Hendrick (Pollok), Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), Alan Sutherland (Ladybank).
76 David Oldham (Crail GS), John Duff (Newmachar).
77 Kevin Blyth (Lundin).
78 Alex Moir (Thornton), Conor O'Neil (Pollok), Scott Ritchie (Coringa), Matthew Allen (The Kendleshire), Mark Dickson (Mortonhall).
79 Liam McGown (St Andrews New), Ewan MacGregor (Leven GS), Jamie Stephen (Aberdour).
80 Alister Hain (Ladybank), Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan), Ian Bell (Scotscraig), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie).
81 Hugh Nelson (Kilsyth Lennox), Bryn Rocke (Twin Creeks).
83 David Docherty (Bonnyton).

+The leading 40 and ties after Round 2 qualify for Sunday's third and fourth rounds.