EWAN AND SMYTH JOINT LEADING SCOTS AT LYTHAM TROPHY

Ewan Scott continued his good start to the golfing year by posting a two-over-par 72 early on the first day of the Lytham Trophy and was still the leading Scot in joint fourth place as the big field were almost all back in the clubhouse.
Then, among the late finishers, along came another Scot, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) with a 72 and all those on that score eventually were joint fifth at the end of the day.

Scott, from St Andrews, looked like bettering par when he was one-under after an outward 33 with birdies at the fourth and short ninth with only one offsetting bogey, at the short fifth.

But the prevailing wind made the second nine the tougher half for everyone and Scott came home in three-over 33 with shots dropped at the 10th, 11th and 17th.

The conditions became more testing at the day wore on with no afternoon scores troubling the leaders.

Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall) led from early in the day with a two-under-par 68, one ahead of Lancashire's Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale).

Michael Daily (Erskine) shot a 74, the same score as Swiss Stirling student Matthias Eggenberger while another Stirling student, Irishman Cormac Sharvin signed for a 75.

Scott Crighton (Aberdour) and James Ross (Royal Burgess) returned 76s, one ahead of Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) and Anglo-Scot Alasdair Dalgliesh (Haywards Heath).

Former Scottish amateur champion and a reinstated from the pro ranks, Graham Gordon (Newmachar), who had a top 10 finish in this event 12 months ago, looks certain to miss the cut after an opening 84.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) had only slightly better prospects of reaching the last two rounds after returning 81 apiece in the evening play.

LYTHAM TROPHY

Royal Lytham and St Annes

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 70

68 N Kimsey (Woodhall Spa)

69 P Howard (Southport and Ainsdale).

70 N Raymond (Corhampton), K Johannessen (Norway).

72 J Hume (Rathsallagh), E Scott (St Andrews), L Johnson (Kings Lynn), P Kinnear (Formby), A Plant (Rochester and Cobham), M Smyth (Royal Troon).
 

SELECTED SCORES

74 M Daily (Erskine), M Eggenberger (Stirling U) (T15)

75 C Sharvin (Stirling U), N Henderson (Renaissance) (T26)

76 S Crighton (Aberdour), J Ross (Royal Burgess), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) (T38).

77 G Robertson (Glenbervie), A Dalgliesh (Haywards Heath), P Moultrie (Royal Troon), S Borrowman (Dollar) (T55).
78 D Kay (Dunbar) (T65)

79 K McClung (Wigtownshire Co), J White (Lundin), A Dunton (McDonald Ellon), M Clark (Kilmalcolm), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs)(T79).

80 C Howie (Peebles), R Bell (Downfield), A Culverwell (Dunbar) (T99)
81 J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), F McKenna (Balmore), J Savage (Cawder) (T112).

84 G Gordon (Newmachar) (T135).