McKechnie (68) leads the Tartan Army at Q School Stage 1 at Kelso

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Danny Young from  Perth fared best of the many Scots who lined up at the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 competition at the Roxburghe Hotel course, Kelso, having paid an entry fee of well over £1,000 each.

McKechnie, pictured, shot  a four-under-par 68, which included an eagle 3 at the 14th and birdies at the fifth, eighth and 11th, to be joint third behind Denmark's Rasmus Hjelm who set the pace with a six-under 66.
Young had a 69 for joint sixth place.
Banchory's Chris Robb (Meldrum House), a former Scottish amateur champion, amateur Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) and Peterhead's Ross Cameron are sharing 11th place on 70. Robb and Johnston both had double bogeys on the inward half..
Lawrence Allan (Alva) and Baberton's Paul Fierrier are joint 20th on the 71 mark.
Lloyd Saltman, a one-time star amateur who was tipped to reach the top in the pro game, is as far away as ever from making it to the European Tour. He shot a six-over-par 78 and is T87.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 72
66 R Hjelm (Den)
67 J Colegate (Eng).
68 P McKechnie (Sco), L Clarke (Eng), J Munro (Australia)

OTHER SCOTS
69 D Young (T6)
70 L Johnston, C Robb, R Cameron (T11)
71 L Allan, P Ferrier (T20)
72 E Ferguson, J Gallagher (T30)
74 E Saltman, P McLean, T Higson, J Byrne, E Bradley (T56)
76 S Kiloh (T73)
77 J Ross (T82)
78 L Saltman (T87)
79 C Maclean (T94).
80 A Culverwell (T98)

GOOD START BY CRAIG ROSS IN GERMANY

Kirkhill amateur Craig Ross, the only Scot in the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 event at Fleesensee Golf Club, Germany, made a sound start with a three-under-par 69, four behind the German amateur leader, Jonas Koelbing.

Ross in joint eighth overnight.

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