STRONG FINISH POWERS ELLIOT SALTMAN INTO SHARE OF THIRD PLACE

Elliot Saltman has his sights on a flying start to the PGA EuroPro Tour season after a strong finish hoisted him to joint third place at the end of the first day of the Motocaddy Mastgers at Wensum Valley Golf Hotel and Country Club, Norfolk.
The Archerfield Links man shook off a double bogey 6 at the first with a birdie at the third but after a bogey at the fourth he was in the doldrums for a long spell.
Then Saltman went into over drive down the home straight with birdies at the long 14th, the short 15th and long 18th for a one-under-par 72.
Saltman missed out on the Challenge Tour card that comes with finishing in  the top five on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit last year by just £73.
He is one shot behind joint leaders Max Smith (Donnington) and Luke Joy (Broadstone).
Brother Zack is sharing seventh place on 74 with Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel). Zack was on course to join Elliot on the 72 mark until he ran up a double bogey 7 at the 16th.
Another Lothians player, former Scottish amateur champion, John Gallagher (Duddingston) is joint 20th with Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) on 75.
Tartan Tour campaigner Neil Fenwick took 42 shots to come home for a 79 and joint 78th place.
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) was one shot worse with an 80 which included double bogeys at the 15th and 17th. He is sharing 100th place.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill) struggled to return an 80.

The Motocaddy Masters is a 54-hole strokeplay event. The second round will be played on Wednesday after which a cut will be made with the leading 50 players plus ties playing a final 18 holes on Thursday

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
71 M Smith (Donnington), L Joy (Broadstone).
72 E Saltman (Archerfield Links), B Fowler (Wentworth)
73 J Maw (Abbeydale), D Rawluck (The Island).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
74 Z Saltman (Archerfield Links), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) (T7).
75 J Gallagher (Duddingston), Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (T20).
79 N Fenwick (Dunbar) (T78)
80 P McKechnie (Braid Hills), P Shields (Kirkhill)  (T100)
81 M Rae (Pitlochry) (T120).
83 I Redford (St Andrews New) (T137)
86 S Mackie (Dunnikier Park) (T150).
88 C Trahan (Gleneagles) (153rd).
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