LIVINGSTON, I PRESUME? GRAEME BROWN LEADS YPs FIELD BY TWO

By  COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Montrose Links' Graeme Brown, a Scotland amateur international in 2004 and before that a US college golf circuit player, has stolen a march on his rivals in the £3,370 Deer Park Young Professionals' 36-hole tournament at Livingston.

Brown, 32,  pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has hit the track running with a fast start for a four-under-par 68 that gives him a two-shot lead at the halfway stage.

The first of his five birdies - at the long second, was cancelled out by his only bogey, at the fourth. After that he settled down to cover the remaining holes in four under par, thanks to birdies every second hole at the turn - thje short 10th, the long 12th, the long 14th and the short 16th.

His nearest rival is 23-year-old Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), winner of the Young Professionals Order of Merit last year. Fenwick's 70 was made up of birdies at the first, long 12th and long 14th and bogeys at the 11th and 17th.

Sharing third place on 72 are David Laing (Craigielaw), whose high was an eagle 3 at the eighth and his low a double bogey 7 at the 15th, and Nairn Dunbar's Malcolm Isaacs.

Emma Fairnie (Gullane), the only girl in the big field, is lying a creditable joint 29th on 78.

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LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72

68 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links).

70 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar).

72 David Laing (Craigielaw), Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).

73 Peter Scanlan (Playsport Golf), Jamie Mackay (North Gailes)0.

74 Joseph McBrearty (Haggs Castle), Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride), Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), Ross McConnachie (Peterculter), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club).

75 Gregor Wright (Ladybank), Ross Leeds (Turnberry), Iain McNab (Dundonald), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries & Galloway), Grant Smith (Gleneagles), Paul Robinson (Largs).

76 Graeme Nethercott (Deeside), Grhaam Forbes (unatt), Michael Mackenzie (Edzell), Cameron West (Scotscraig), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Andrew Rollo (Moray).

77 Paul Betty (Hamilton), Cameron Tortolano (Stirling), Craig Haugh (Linlithgow), James Boyce (Erskine), Sam McLaren (Crieff).

78 Emma Fairnie (Gullane),Craig Armstrong (Burntisland), Gordon Robertgson (Airdrie), Matthew Burt (Helensburgh), Fraser Rummins (Canmore), Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle), Sven Nielsen (Turnberry), Daniel Wood (Hirsel), Fraser Clarke (Newmachar).

Selected other score:

79 Keir McNicoll (Gullane).

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