Paul Lawrie Men's Invitational produces very low first-round scoring

McKechnie (64) top gun at Deeside birdie-fest

and Laura (69) is the leading lady  

         Paul McKechnie on the first tee at Deeside today. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), winner of his last three events, maintained his momentum by leading the birdie-fest with a six-under-par 64 in the first round of the 54-hole Paul Lawrie Men's Invitational on a wind-free day at Deeside Golf Club.
The Bieldside par-70 course, even off the back tees, was devoured by the Tartan Tour pros and amateurs as well. With no wind and holding greens, conditions were ideal for low scoring.
By the end of the first day, 27 men in a field of 57 were under the par of 70. Deeside has never seen anything like it, even though 64 has been shot several times in this tournament over the past couple of years.
It's the number of players scoring in the 60s that is impressive. The other impressive feature of the day was the number of pros using Deeside's excellent short-game practice area, even AFTER their rounds. Perhaps the two things are related?
But a warning to them from Deeside club pro Frank Coutts:
"I wouldn't be surprised if the course bites back - with a little bit of help from the weather - before the end of the third round. I hope so!" said Frank who was just short of Walker Cup class in his days as an amateur.
McKechnie, a winner more than once on the EuroPro Tour and the man in form on the Tartan Tour with wins at Elgin, Drumpellier and Skibo Castle on the trot, had bogey-free halves of 32, studded with birdies at the first, third, fourth, sixth, 14th and 16th.
The Braid Hills Golf Range pro leads by two from NINE players in joint second place on 66 - Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 33-33, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 36-30, David Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 31-35, Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 33-33, Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 34-32, Paul Robinson (Largs) 34-32, Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 32-34, Jason McCreadie (Largs) 36-30 and Cawder amateur international Jamie Savage 34-32.
Defending champion Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) had a 69 and it tied 20th in the chase for the £8,000 first prize.
After Wednesday's second round, the field will be cut to the leading 28 players and ties for  Thursday's final 18 holes.
In the Paul Lawrie Ladies Invitational, no surprise that Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) leads with a one-under 69 by two shots from Kylie Walker (Mar Hall).
Their event is over two rounds and the long-hitting Laura will be hard to peg back. Read the full report on the Ladies Invitational and the starting times for their final round on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
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  THE SCOREBOARD AND ROUND 2 TEE TIMES

                        Greig Hutcheon's first shot in a round of 66. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.


PAUL LAWRIE MEN'S INVITATIONAL
FIRST ROUND
par 70
64 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 
66 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck), C Currie (Caldwell), D Law (Paul Lawrie GC), G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), J Savage (Cawder) (am), P Robinson (Largs), J McCreadie (Largs), K Nicoll (Gullane).
67 J Duff (Newmachar), P Broadhurst (Northants Co), P Shields (Kirkhill)
68 S Locke (Banchory) (am), L Gaughan (Bathgate), C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), C Kelly (unatt), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), R Drummond (unatt) 
69 S Gibson (Southerness) (am), T Mathieson (Murcar Links), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), C Ross (Kirkhill) (am), A Forsyth (Mearns Castle), J Lomas (Caprington), M Patterson (Kilmacolm), C Fyfe (Cawder) (am).
70 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), C Ronald (Carluke), S Henderson (Kings Links), G Hay (Nairn Dunbar), C Macaulay (Tulliallan), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy)
71 R Cameron (Saltire Energy), R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC),  C Marr (Musselburgh), K Ferrie (Matfen Hall), A Oldcorn (Kings Acre), G Forbes (Murcar Links), C Syme (Drumoig) (am), S Gray (Hayston), M Isaacs (Gamola Golf).
72 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC), A Welsh (Cathkin Braes), S Binning (Mearns Castle), S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC), G Brown (Montrose Links), S McLaren (Blairgowrie)
73 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), F Mann (Carnoustie GC)
74 S Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), D Orr (Eastwood).
75 D Kenny (Paul Lawrie GC), A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC).
76 J Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC), K Hutton (Downfield).
80 D Thomson (Carnegie Club) 

SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
08.00  S Henderson, K Ferrie and G Hay.
08.11  A Oldcorn, A Forsyth and C Ross
08.22  S Kiloh, J Lomas and P Robinson
08.33  G Forbes, D Thomson and R Drummond
08.44  C Macaulay, G Brown and  C Syme
08.55  S Gray, J McCreadie and  F Mann

09.06  D Orr, M Patterson and  S McLaren
09.17  P Shields, K McNicoll and C Fyfe
09.28  A Stuart, M Isaacs and M Kerr
09.46  D Kenny, S Lawrie and J Savage
09.57  S Gibson, R Cameron and M Stewart

10.08  K Nicol, S Locke and T Mathieson
10.19  C Currie, S Taylor and J Duff
10.30  A Welsh, J Findlay and L Gaughan
10.41  C Matheson, D Law and R Kellett
10.52  P Broadhurst, P McKechnie and G McBain

11.03  G Hutcheon, C Lawrie and S Binning
11.14  C Ronald, K Hutton and C Marr 
11. 25  C Kelly, P O'Hara and R Arnott