Golf: Bittersweet day for Andrew Oldcorn as he claims joint second in Netherlands

EDINBURGH ace Andrew Oldcorn had mixed feelings after getting off to a promising start in the Van Lanschot Senior Open in the Netherlands.

The Kings Acre touring pro is lying joint second, two shots behind fellow Scot Gordon Brand Jnr, but reckoned his one-over 73 at the Royal Haagsche Golf & Country Club could have been better.

Oldcorn, who finished runner-up to Englishman George Ryall in the inaugural event two years ago, began brightly, opening with a birdie on the first hole and picking up another shot on the seventh hole.

However, he dropped three shots on the back nine to finish the day alongside English pair John Gould and Jeff Hall, Spaniard Domingo Hospital and Australian Terry Price.

“It’s difficult to assess how I feel about that round really because I played so well the front nine and then got on the tenth in two but, as we were walking up, it rolled off the green,” said Oldcorn.

“I then duffed a chip and made a six. I lost a bit of momentum then and started trying to guide my tee shots a bit because of the wind. It was a tough day.”

In Aviemore, the Lothians contingent was heading for mixed fortunes in the Scottish Hydro Challenge after a weather-delayed second round.

Among the morning starters, former winner Jamie McLeary was certain to miss the cut after a 72 for 147. John Gallagher was another heading home early after a 75 left him on nine-over and the same fate was also set to befall Mark Kerr as he neared the end of his second round.

Elliot Saltman, meanwhile, was facing a sweat over his continued participation after a 73 containing a mixed bag of birdies and bogeys put him on level-par, with brother Lloyd just on the right side of the cut mark with a few holes to play.

However, Raymond Russell was heading into the final two rounds and Neil Fenwick was also on course to join him there. Russell, who opened with a flawless 67, had picked up a shot after 15 holes to sit on five under – six behind clubhouse leader Sam Walker, winner of this event’s inaugural staging in 2006.

Fenwick, who was on Dunfermline’s books as a youngster before deciding to pursue a career in professional golf, was also sitting safely inside the cut mark on three-under with seven holes to play.