ROBIN WILSON REPORTS FOR CARNEGIE SHIELD AT ROYAL DORNOCH

The scratch candidates for the Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch played their first qualifying round on Tuesday without three time winner Andrew Biggadike in their midst.

Californian Biggadike was showing some form coming into Shield and after qualifying for the match play stages of the United States Amateur Championship at the beginning of last week was looking forward to having his biggest supporter, his father Ralf, watch him play through the match-play  rounds. Sadly that did not happen for after a very brief  illness Ralf Biggadike died last Saturday.

Until he retired Ralf Biggadike was a renowned professor at Columbia University, New York, and a member of Royal Dornoch. The family holidayed in Dornoch for many years during Carnegie Week building up many friends. Andrew, his sister and mother still hope to fulfill their holiday to Dornoch at the end of this week and long time friend and club member Sir Gavin Gilbey, is arranging a short memorial service close to the 16th green on Saturday morning to which all friends of the Biggadikes are invited to attend.

Leading Tuesday's first round scores was Swedish golfer Jorg Paulus after a two under par 68. To his level par outward 35 the Swede finished off his round with two birdies for an inward 33.

Last year's losing finalist John Forbes (Inverness) did not finish his round with a flourish,  his only mistake in a previous flawless seventeen holes was an errant drive and lost ball from the final tee  to run up a triple bogey seven for 73. Holder Paul Dolton (Frilford Heath) lies back on 79 and their are two locals on 74, former winner Alex MacDonald and William Short.