JASON McCREADIE IN AMONG THE LOW NUMBERS AGAIN

     JASON McCREADIE .. Picture by Andy Forman

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
National champion in 2008, Jason McCreadie has a reputation on the Tartan Tour for scoring low when he gets the ball rolling for him.
The Buchanan Castle tour pro, who will have his 43rd birthday on Tuesday, proved it again with a seven-under-par 64 on a rain-affected first round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship over the King's Course at the Perthshire golf resort.
McCreadie had one eagle (from 30ft at the 10th) and seven birdies of which he had three in the first four holes and another three birdies in the last five holes in halves of 32-32.
"It's not a bad wee start. I played sensibly for a change, hitting lots of fairways and greens," said McCreadie who bogeyed the short fifth and 12th.
"The course is in great nick and the rain has softened it up as it was a bit fiery when I came up for a practice round."
But even a 64 gave Jason, twice winner of the Northern Open, only a one-shot lead at the end of a long day of five-hour rounds.
West Linton-based Welshman Gareth Wright, winner of the Glenmuir PGA club pros' title last year, shot a 65, thanks to a birdie-eagle grandstand finish in halves of 32-33.
Wright, who played all four rounds in this year's Open, had five birdies, three of them before the turn. His only dropped shot was at the 11th.
"I've just carried on playing nicely from last week at Muirfield. I also like everything up here - the course and the resort," said Gareth.
"I was steady all the way round and it's always nice to finish with an eagle, hitting a driver and 8-iron to around 15 feet.
"I lost to Chris Doak at the fourth extra hole in a play-off for this title in 2010 and it would be fantastic if I could win this event - it would be a great honour."
Carluke's Craig Ronald put together a 67 (35-32) by covering the last seven holes in four under par with birdies at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th.
Emma Fairnie (Gullane), only the third female to play in the championship over the last 80 years, kept her nerve to finish with a 78 which was a good effort after reaching the turn in 41 shots, thanks to a double bogey 6 at the third. She birdied the 14th and 18th in 37 for the second nine.
First prize will be in the region of £8,000 or £9,000.


FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (35-36)
64 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle)32-32
 
65 G Wright (West Linton) 33-33
67 C Ronald (Carluke)35-32
69 C Currie (Caldwell)36-33, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle)35-34, J Gallagher (Douglas Park)34-35.
70 S Catlin (Greenburn), S Herald (Mearns Castle), C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey), J McKinnon (Irvine).
71 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), K Hutton (Downfield), G McBain (Gamola Golf), S Henderson (Kings Links), C Kelly (Cawder), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), A Mackrell (Playsport), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy).
72 M Patterson (Kilmacolm), P Wardell (Whitekirk), D Patrick (Kingsfield), K McNicoll (Gullane).
73 G Hutcheon (Banchory), A Reid (West Lothian), C Russell (RAW golf course design), S Lamb (Cardrona), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), A Brown (Archerfield Links), J McGhee (unatt), D Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co), J Lomas (Caprington).
74 D Orr (Mearns Castle), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), P Robinson (Largs), D Wood (Hirsel), T Mathieson (Murcar Links).
75 S Savage (Dalmuir), G Paxton (Ralston), S Gray (Hayston), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), G Brown (Montrose Links), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), R Cameron (Saltire Energy).
76 M Loftus (Mearns Castle), J Cliff (Murrayfield), M Patterson (Cruden Bay), P Wilson (Cawder).
77 A Jowett (Gleneagles Hotel), C Smith (Royal Musselburgh), F Clarke (Newmachar).
78 I Taylor (Drumpellier), Emma Fairnie (Gullane0, M King (Kingsfield), A Duncan (unatt)
79 T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), G Law (Uphall), S O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), R King (Carrick on Loch Lomond).
80 M Murray (Brora), L Vannet (Carnoustie), I Lowdean (Murrayfield)
82 M Robertson (Balmore), G Robertson (Airdrie)
83 M Galley (Gleneagles Hotel).