SIXTEEN PLAYERS SCORE UNDER PAR OF 72 IN FIRST ROUND

BIRDIE-FEST ON CARDS FOR DAY 2

 OF DUDDINGSTON CHALLENGE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The Tartan Tour's 36-hole Duddingston Challenge promises an exciting finish at the Edinburgh venue tomorrow after the first day saw 16 players return scores under the par of 72.

The four leading birdie-shooters were Keir McNicoll (Gullane), Winterfield's Kevin Phillips, Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) who share the halfway lead on four-under 68.

Phillips should have been the clear leader for he birdied the first, second, third, fourth, ninth and 12th to be six under par with six to play. But it started to unravel for the Winterfield pro when he bogeyed the 13th and then double-bogeyed the 16th.

Only a sixth birdie of the round, at the 18th, gave him a share of the pole position.

Arnott also had six birdies, Nicoll and Wright five apiece.

But it is a crowded leaderboard with four strokes spanning the leading 16 and everyone of them fancying his chance of victory if he can pile up the second-round birdies and eliminate the bogeys.

Not all the Tartan Tour stars shared in the birdie-fest. Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had a one-over 73 and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) a 74

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72

68 K McNicoll (Gullane), K Phillips (Winterfield), G Wright (West Linton), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).

69 J Cliff (Murrayfield), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy)

70 S McAllister (Renaissance), S Gray (Hayston), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), R Clarke (Gamola Golf)

71 J McGhee (Bishopbriggs), A Oldcorn (Kings Acre), A Mackrell (Playsport), C Ronald (Carluke), G Hay (Nairn Dunbar), S Henderson (Kings Links)

72 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), G Paxton (Ralston), S Savage (Dalmuir), M Patterson (Kilmacolm)

73 R Munro (Duddingston), R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh), A Brown (Archerfield), G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), C McMaster (Panmure), C Kelly (unatt), C Currie (Caldwell), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles).

74 C Elliott (Haggs Castle), G Mackay (Melville GR), J Fraser (Renaissance), C Munro (Kingsknowe), C Smith (Royal Musselburgh), C Dick (Royal Burgess), P Betty (Hamilton), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), G Fox (Clydeway Golf), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle), A Crera4r (Panmure)

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

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