Haunting memory spurs Smethurst on

Published on Thursday 7 August 2003 01:00

THE memory of a triple-bogey 7 at the third-last hole, which cost him the British Seniors Men’s Open Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa 12 months ago, does not so much haunt Roy Smethurst but spur him on to grab the title chance the next time it comes around.

It could be as early as this week as the 61-year-old, still playing off plus-one and twice English seniors champion, shot the lowest score in a field of 252 at Blairgowrie.

Smethurst had a four-over 68 at the slightly longer Lansdowne course. The best over Rosemount was a one-under-par 71 by dentist Robert Kulp, one of 53 Americans bidding to be the fourth player in a row from the United States to take the prestigious title for over-55 year olds.

"I’ve been third three times in this championship and last year’s triple-bogey 7 is etched on my heart," Smethurst said after a round that included five birdies in a row from the seventh.

•Graham Rankin, Lorne Kelly and Ross Cameron lie in a share of second place after the opening round of the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Marriot Worsley Park in Manchester.

The Scots trio all posted five-under-par 65s and trail early leaders Michael Bothma, Richard Finch and Matthew King by one shot.

Blairgowrie’s Colin Mitchell is the next best Scot on 70 while former Scottish Assistants’ champion Craig Lee opened with a level-par 71.

•Scotland’s senior ladies stayed on course to retain the Miller Stirling Trophy by beating Midlands 6-2 to be the only team with a 100 per cent record at the end of the second day in the Veteran Ladies Golf Association Area Team Championship at Lilleshall Hall in Shropshire.

South are Scotland’s final opponents. Scotland shared the foursomes with Midlands but singles victories came from Rose Anderson Pam Williamson, Moira Thomson Helen Faulds and Christine McAndrew.

•Scotland put in a creditable performance in the Boys’ Home International Championship at Royal St Davids, Harlech yesterday but still lost 9-6 to Ireland and need to beat Wales today to avoid the wooden spoon for the second successive year.

Crieff golfer Wallace Booth was the outstanding Scottish performer, recording victories in the foursomes and singles.

•Gerry Kelly from Troon won the Scottish blind match-play championship for a seventh time at the King’s Links in Aberdeen yesterday.