Golf: Baberton cruise through

BABERTON, the defending champions, made a solid start with a 6 and 5 win over Liberton in the first round of the Edinburgh Women's Inter-Club tournament at Monktonhall last night.

The host club recorded the day's biggest win, a 14 and 10 success over Torphin Hill, while other victors were Broomieknowe, Lothianburn, Prestonfield, Craigmillar Park, Merchants and Kingsknowe. Broomieknowe progressed after Turnhouse had to retire when one of their players sustained an injury.

DAVID DRYSDALE bounced back from his disappointing finish in Spain last weekend to card a four-under-par 68 in the opening round of the BMW Italian Open in Turin. He was lying a shot off the lead, which was being jointly held by former Open champion Paul Lawrie.

RAYMOND RUSSELL closed with four birdies for a three-under-par 67 to sit four shots off the lead after the first round of the Allianz Open Ctes d'Armor Bretagne on the Challenge Tour. Lloyd Saltman had a 70 and Jamie McLeary shot 72.