TRIPLE BOGEY DRAGS LONGMUIR DOWN AT CANNES

By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
A triple bogey 7  on the 17th hole saw Bill Longmuir slip down the leaderboard in the first round of the Cannes Mougins Masters but the Anglo-Scot remains in contention in the European Seniors Tour event in France, four shots behind leading trio Marc Farry, Mike Harwood and Bruce Vaughan.
Longmuir, pictured, had posted seven birdies in his round and was one shot off the pace until the costly error on the penultimate hole meant he had to settle for a two under par round of 70, while compatriot Gordon Brand Jnr is a further shot back after a 71.
Australian Harwood fired four birdies and also eagled the eighth hole en route to his opening 66, while Frenchman Farry matched that total with five birdies and an eagle on the 14th hole as he made a strong start to the defence of his title. Former Senior Open champion Vaughan then joined them at the top of the leaderboard when he birdied the last hole, having been invited to play in the event by co-organiser Farry.
After finishing tied fifth in the Casa Serena Open last week – his best finish of the season since starting the campaign with a share of fourth place in Australia – Farry is feeling confident about his chances of retaining his title.
“It’s not a bad defence so far,” said the 52 year old winner of last year’s Irish Senior Open. “No complaints! I had a so-so start, making an up and down on the first two holes but from that point on I played well.
“I had one bad shot on the 13th when I aimed at the trap with a wedge and the ball never moved so I ended up in the trap but then I stiffed my approach to the next hole to two feet to hole for an eagle and holed two good birdies putts on the next two.
“Overall I’m pleased. It was great conditions for scoring. There is always a bit of pressure when you are defending and organising the tournament but I sank a couple of 25 footers which helped.
“I played very steadily last week which was good preparation for this tournament. This game is a question of confidence and when you get your confidence back you feel like you can shoot low. Last week certainly helped then coming back to a course where I won and feel comfortable on helps as well.”
Andrew Oldcorn is six shots back after an opening 72 and Ross Drummond carded a 73.
Sam Torrance had a day to forget - a 78 which made his joint last but one with compatriot Mike Miller.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
66 M Harwood (Aus), M Farry (Fra), B Vaughan (US) 
68 H Carbonetti (Arg) 
69 A Franco (Par), M Moreno (Esp), J Quiros (Esp), D Merriman (Aus) , D Smyth (Irl)
70 G Ryall (Eng) , N Ratcliffe (Aus), B Lane (Eng), A Sowa (Arg) , F Illouz (Fra) , B Longmuir (Sco), B Cameron (Eng)
71 G Brand Jnr (Sco), C Mason (Eng) , M Mouland (Wal) 
72 D Durnian (Eng) , J Sallat (Fra) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , R Davis (Aus) , P Mitchell (Eng) , A Oldcorn (Sco), C Williams (RSA) , N Job (Eng) , P Fowler (Aus) , C Rocca (Ita) , J Pate (USA) , M Clayton (Aus)
73 A Sherborne (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , R Drummond (Sco) , B Smit (RSA) , G Ralph (Eng) , T Thelen (USA) , D Russell (Eng) , K Tomori (Jpn) 
74 M Cunning (USA) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , J Harrison (Eng) , G Cali (Ita)
75 T Charnley (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , A Forsbrand (Swe) ,
76 P Dugeny (Fra) , I Woosnam (Wal) , J Bruner (USA) , A Fernandez (Chi) , J Gould (Eng) , J Stuart (USA) , M Belsham (Eng) 
78 A Garrido (Esp)
79 M Miller (Sco) , S Torrance (Sco) 
80 D Cambridge (Jam)