STRATHMORE BOY'S LATE SLIDE

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STRATHMORE BOY SLIPS OVER LAST SIX HOLES

IN ENGLISH UNDER-14 STROKE-PLAY

Strathmore's Alex Simpson, one of only two Scots in a field of 144 for the English Under-14s' open stroke play championship for the Reid Trophy at Enville Golf Club, Stourbridge in the West Midlands, finished the opening round with a four-over-par 76 and a share of 17th place.

After birdies at the first, second and sixth, young Simpson led the international field and he turned in 33.

But the inward nine cost him 43 shots, the round beginning to unravel with a triple bogey 7 at the 13th followed by bogeys at the 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th - seven shots in all dropped over the last six holes.

Simpson starts the second round of the 54 hole event six shots behind joint leaders Harry Bigham (Redbourn) and France's Thomas Boulanger.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD

par 72

70 Harry Bigham (Redbourn), Thomas Boulanger (Fra)

71 Tadeas Tetak (Slovakia)

73 Hugh Archer (Fra)

SCOTS SCORES

76 Alex Simpson (Strathmore) (T17)

NR Alyx Murray (Troon Wellbeck)

ends