KEIR McNICOLL LEADS SCOTS YOUNG PROS

Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll was the +5 amateur whose skill did not transfer to the tour pro ranks ... but joining the Gullane pro staff was possibly the best golfing move he has made. McNicoll has regained his confidence and it showed as he led the field with a three-under-par 68 in the first round of the Scottish Young Professionals championship at West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness. Keir birdied the par-4 third and then three long holes - the fourth, 12th and 14th, dropping only one shot, at the ninth. McNicoll held a three-shot lead until late in the day Englishman Sean Fay (Royal Dornoch) came in with a roller-coaster round of 69. Fay had six birdies - three in each half - but four bogeys, all after the turn. Then Thomas Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), another late finisher, slipped into a share of third place with a 70 which included a five-under-par run from the third to the seventh. He had an eagle 2 at the third, birdies at the long fourth, short sixth and seventh, and another birdie at the 14th. On the debit side, Dingwall had five bogeys. Also on the 70 mark are Malcolm Isaacs, who has moved from Nairn Dunbar to play out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre near Aberdeen, and Paul Betty (Hamilton). Both men had four birdies and three bogeys. Graeme Brown (Montrose), the pre-tournament favourite, shot a 72 for an overnight top-10 placing. The leading 34 at the end of the second round will contest the final 36 holes on Thursday. SCOTTISH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP West Lothian Golf Club. LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES Par 71 68 K McNicoll (Gullane). 69 S Fay (Royal Dornoch) 70 M Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), P Betty (Hamilton), T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar). 71 M Murray (Bearsden GR). 72 D Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie), J McBrearty (Haggs Castle), M Patterson (Kilmacolm), G Brown (Montrose Links), D Laing (Craigielaw), C Marr (Musselburgh). 73 R Satterley (Swanston), A McCabe (Gordon Sherry Golf), G Wright (Ladybank). 74 M Lawrence (Newmachar), C Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle), S Boyle (The Belfry). 75 C Haugh (Linlithgow), I Dean (Murrayfield), CWest (Scotscraig), C Tortolano (Stirling), EMacpherson (Auchterarder), O Huish (North Berwick), R McConnachie (Peterculter), P Robinson (Largs), A MacIntyre (Ranfurly Castle), D Wood (Hirsel), M Shaw (Whitecraigs), M Burtt (Helensburgh). 76 A Burns (Bothwell Castle), F Rummins (Canmore), S Clark (Elie SC), G Smith (Gleneagles), S McLaren (Crieff), R Jack (Dumfries and Galloway), N Sinclair (Prestwick). 77 R Dixon (Renaissance Club), K Moran (Balbirnie Park). 78 E Grimes (Carrick on Loch Lomond), James Mackay (North Gailes), D Snodgrass (Crail), G Hillson (Dunbar), N Christie (Carnoustie). 79 S Bissett (Renaissance Club), R Scarafile (Eastwood), I McNab (Dundonald Links). TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES  CLICK HERE