SENIOR PGA CHAMPION KENNY HUTTON HAS A DISAPPOINTING 77

DES SMYTH SETS PACE WITH A 67 AT 

HANDA SENIORS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth holed a snaking 25ft birdie putt on the 18th green to take the early lead at the ISPS Handa Seniors PGA Championship at the Stoke by Nayland Golf, Hotel and Spa today.
Smyth had key-hole surgery to ‘clean up’ a troublesome knee problem a couple of months ago and has not played much golf in the build-up to the new Senior Tour season.
“Maybe that’s the secret – play less golf!” he smiled after signing for a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over 2013 Senior Rookie of the Year, Steen Tinning of Denmark.
Both Smyth and Tinning made four birdies in their first five holes during round one, but while Tinning followed that up with 13 straight pars, Smyth dropped a shot at nine before bouncing back straight away with a sublime chip-in on the tenth.
“I have to admit I would have taken your hand off for a four when I was looking that chip,” said Smyth. 
“But it was one of those days where I got a couple of breaks and when you get those breaks all of a sudden you find yourself leading the tournament.
“It was a very enjoyable day and a great start for me. I honestly had no clue what to expect this week as I haven’t played much since that little procedure on my knee so I am delighted to be in the lead.”
The Irishman is relishing the chance to be one of Paul McGinley’s lieutenants when Europe defend the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September, but he is also looking forward to a summer of playing good golf before he throws himself into The Ryder Cup.
“The Ryder Cup is something so big these days that it is a great honour to be involved and when the Captain asks you for some help as Paul has done with me then it is impossible to say no to that.
“It will be a great experience at Gleneagles but we have a bit of time until then and I would like to go there with a Senior Tour title or two under my belt – that would be very nice indeed.”
FIRST-ROUND SCORES

66 D Smyth (Irl);
67 S Tinning (Den)
68 P Fowler (Aus); S Luna (Esp); M James (Eng); J Smith (USA); P Eales (Eng); M Mouland (Wal); J Sallat (Fra); G Ryall (Eng); A Murray (Eng)
69 C Williams (Eng); J Quiros (Esp)
70 T Thelen (USA); W Grant (Eng); J Spence (Eng); B Cameron (Eng); G Emerson (Eng); A Mackenzie (Sco); G Bell (Eng); T Johnstone (Zim); R Rafferty (NIr); L Carbonetti (Arg)
71 P Linhart (Esp); P Mayo (Wal); G Marks (Eng); B Lane (Eng); R Gibson (Can); G Manson (Aut); M Cunning (USA); C Mason (Eng); C Monasterio (Arg);
72 G Brand Jnr (Sco); P Walton (Irl); G Wolstenholme (Eng); M Mackenzie (Eng); P Wesselingh (Eng); J Remesy (Fra); M Martin (Esp); M Farry (Fra); N Job (Eng); J Bruner (USA); M Bianco (Ita); T Lawrence (Eng)
73 S Bennett (Eng); R Sabarros (Fra); J Carriles (Esp); G Banister (Aus); A Sherborne (Eng); H Buhrmann (RSA); A Webster (Sco); P Golding (Eng); D Russell (Eng); J Harrison (Eng); D O'Sullivan (Irl); S Brown (Eng); A Bossert (Sui); S McAllister (Sco); A Oldcorn (Sco); A Franco (Par)
74 G Rusnak (USA); D Hospital (Esp); S Cipa (Eng); N Ratcliffe (Aus); R Arnott (Sco); K Kelsall (Sco); Z Martinez (USA)
75 B Sharrock (Eng); F Mann (Sco); P Gresswell (Eng); M Wharton (Eng); J Laforce (Can); B White (Eng); T Price (Aus); P Curry (Eng); R Masters (Eng); B Longmuir (Sco)
76 J Mathews (Eng); G Potter (Eng); J Lovell (Eng); A George (Eng); K Spurgeon (Eng); F Illouz (Fra); L Turner (Eng); R Fish (Eng); R Ellis (Eng)
77 J Gould (Eng); R Drummond (Sco); C Johnson (USA); J Pinsent (Eng); K Hutton (Sco); C Grenier (Aut); F Kiddie (Eng); G Davies (Wal); B Larratt (Eng); S Craig (Sco); R Williams (Wal); P Barber (Eng)
78 P Jonas (Can); T Rastall (Eng); M Piñero (Esp); J Hoskison (Eng); M Booth (Eng); M Squire (Eng); S McNally (Eng); R Adams (Eng); M Harwood (Aus);
79 P Way (Eng); P Walker (Eng);
80 K Phillips (Eng), B Marchbank (Sco); B Conser (USA); M McLean (Eng)
81 D Durnian (Eng), V Ross (Eng);
82 J Drummond (Eng), G Brand (Eng);
83 P Mitchell (Eng)
84 M Few (Eng)
87 K Worm (Den)


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS