JASON McCREADIE FIRST MAN TO BREAK PAR AT WINDY MURCAR LINKS

 Jason McCreadie, PLGC Northern Open pacemaker with a two-under-par 69. Picture by Andy Forman.

McCREADIE GOES CLEAR WITH A 69

BUT 'I HAD MY SHARE OF LUCK

Buchanan Castle tour pro Jason McCreadie became the first man to get under the testing par of 71 on a windy opening day at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Northern Open championship at Murcar Links.

Winner of this title at Skibo Castle in 2004 and again in 2006, McCreadie shot a two-under-par 69 to open up a three-shot lead over Stephen Craig (Craig Golf 79).

McCreadie who will be 44 on July 30, birdied the first, third, fourth, 12th and 14th with a bogey at the sixth and a double bogey at the seventh.

"I had a fair bit of luck out there. I holed my fourth shot from about 80 yards for a birdie at the long fourth. That could easily have been a double bogey," said Jason who was out in 36 and back in 33..

"I only used my driver once. Once to hit it way right at the fourth and the second time to hit a provisional ball off the same tee.

"After that I just tried to keep the ball in play. I holed a few putts and that helped.

"The dangerous holes are the sixth and eighth with the wind ready to blow you off line. I hit it right and that cost me a bogey at the sixth and then the seventh was a double bogey.

"But I covered the last 11 holes in two under par, thanks to the birdies at the 12th and 14th."

Defending champion James Byrne was blown away to an 84, which included a 9 at the ninth, and, with only the leading 36 and ties to survive the 36-hole cut, the Bangkok-based Banchory man is in danger of not being around at Murcar for the decisive final 36 holes on Thursday.

McCreadie demoted 54-year-old Edinburgh-born Stephen Craig, who lives at Carnock near Dunfermline since his return to Scotland after 30 years in Germany.

Craig, pictured right, shot a 72 by hitting most of the fairways and avoiding the penal round. Choking down on a driver, he steered his ball down the middle most of the time.

"I hit the ball quite solidly and had two birdies and three bogeys. It's tough out there with the wind and the rough but I liked it," said Craig

"I haven't in the Northern Open since 1992, when it was also here at Murcar. I've been over there in Germany since then but I've come back home to get back into playing the game."

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