GOLF DIGEST:SENIORS TOUR: Ireland's Des Smyth is three shots off the lead in the Cleveland Golf-Srixon Scottish Senior Open after a level par opening round 72.
After two birdies in the opening four holes to reach the turn two under par, a double bogey six on the 10th saw the 56 year old slip back at Fairmont St Andrews.
He trails the leading trio of England’s Bob Cameron, Argentine Luis Carbonetti and Scotland’s Ross Drummond, who all carded three-under-par rounds of 69.
Irish pair Eamonn Darcy and Jimmy Heggarty both opened with rounds of 74, while Denis O’Sullivan and Eddie Polland were further down the field after rounds of 78 and 79 respectively.
Sam Torrance, who designed the course, played through the pain barrier to sign for a three over par 75.
The former Ryder Cup Captain has been struggling with a back injury which he said caused him the most pain he had ever felt on a golf course.
“I was screaming every time I hit a shot, it was a nightmare,” said the Scot. “But it’s not over yet. A 65 tomorrow would put me right back in it.”
Fellow former Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam birdied the 18th hole for a 71 to finish in a group of eight players two strokes behind the leading trio.
Drummond, who is still searching for his maiden European Senior Tour title after three second places, posted three birdies after the turn to sign for a 69, the same score as his playing partner Cameron, to match the clubhouse target set earlier by Carbonetti.
“It was a strong finish,” said Drummond. “It was nice to birdie the 14th as I hadn’t been doing anything or taking my chances. I came in strong and that gave me a boost for the final few holes.
“On the 16th I hit a gap wedge to 10ft and holed that for birdie then on the 18th I had a pitch and run to four feet. It was a really nice finish.”
The 52 year old has enjoyed another consistent season on the Senior Tour, with a run of four consecutive top-10 finishes prior to The Senior Open Championship, but he is keen to make his breakthrough at Fairmont St Andrews.
Carbonetti produced his “shot of the year” for an eagle on the ninth hole, holing a sand wedge second shot from 100 yards, to reach the turn in two-under-par 34 after earlier battling to stay in the red with two birdies and two bogeys.
He picked up another shot on the 14th hole and then drained a 10ft putt to save par on the last having tamed the windy conditions at Fairmont St Andrews.
Cameron opened with a bogey after a poor tee shot on the first hole but hit back with four birdies.
He said: “I hit a bad tee shot off the first and then a bad second shot but after that I played steady. The wind was blowing from right to left which suited me as I could shape my drive. I’ve played quite well in the wind this year – I just need to do it consistently over three rounds.”
Australian Peter Senior, a four time winner on The European Tour, made a fine start to his Senior Tour career, carding a 70 to sit one shot behind the leaders.
AMATEUR SENIORS: With a closing two-under-par 68 on The Valley course at Royal Portrush yesterday, Barry Reddan from Co Louth regained the Ulster Seniors Open Championship title, pushing William Davis from Rosslare into second spot.
Reddan wins back the crown after a three-year lapse having won the title at Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh, in 2006.
The former Irish international, covered the front nine in 33 shots yesterday with three birdies sprinkled on his card. He reduced the par four first hole to three strokes, made an excellent two at the short sixth and trimmed the long fourth hole to four blows. However, he lost a shot at the par four fifth to card a two-under-33 over the outward run.
On the back nine, the Co Louth two-handicapper was steady as a rock with seven pars, one birdie and one bogey to pencil in regulation 35. His birdie was at the long 10th hole and his bogey was at the 17th.
Davis had a poor front nine taking four-over-par 39 but his back nine was much better. A birdie four at 10 and a two at the short 15th were his bright moments of the day but a bogey four at the 18th, for a closing 73, left him that tantalising one stroke behind Reddan.
Overnight leader Maurice Kelly (Killeen), who opened with a 68, slumped to a 76 in the second and final round for 144 with Tony Hayes (The K Club) one shot further back.
US TOUR: Chris Riley fired a seven-under-par 63 to claim the lead midway through the second round of the Wyndham Championship.
The American, who started the day in a tie for 11th, claimed seven birdies in a stunning, error-free round, including four over the closing six holes, to put himself 11 under for the Greensboro tournament.
Hot on Rileys heels was Sergio Garcia, who shot 64, which included two eagles, putting him in a tie for second place with first-round leader Bill Haas, two strokes behind Riley.
A further shot back were Americans Kevin Stadler and Boo Weekley, with Jeev M Singh of India and Australias John Senden all carding rounds of 64.
