Golf: Saltman shoots course record to lead by two at Formby Hall

Published on Thursday 20 August 2009 09:55

ELLIOT SALTMAN, with a course-record 65, took pride of place on a great opening day for Lothians players in the Formby Hall Classic in Liverpool.

Playing with his two brothers, Saltman's superb seven-under-par effort earned him a two-shot lead in the tenth event on the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour.

The Aegon player entered the event in fourth spot in the order of merit and laid the foundations to take over at the summit with a brilliant front nine – an eagle at the third followed by three birdies to go out in five-under.

Birdies at the tenth and 13th moved him to seven-under and, although he dropped a shot at the 17th, he notched his sixth birdie of the day at the last. "I knew a round like this was due and I think playing with my brothers might have helped me," said Saltman.

While Lloyd and Zack both face a fight to make the cut after rounds of 75, a number of other Lothians players were up near the top of the leaderboard. Andrew Oldcorn was lying third on 68, closely followed by Mark Kerr (69) and Shaun McAllister (70).

Meanwhile, Dunbar's Emma Fairnie was six shots off the lead after firing a 79 on a tough opening day in the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Aberdeen. Jane Turner (85), Clare Hargan (90) and Gillian Simpson (92) also struggled in the wind.