Golf: Capital Seniors off to flyer

CAPITAL trio Ian Taylor, Lindsay Gordon and Derek Miller all made promising starts in the Scottish Senior Open Amateur Championship at Pollok.

Royal Burgess man Taylor shot a one-under-par 70 to figure in a five-way share of the lead, the quintet also including Scott MacDonald, a member of the Barnton club as well but playing out of Dunfermline in this event.

Turnhouse stalwart Gordon was among six players a shot off the pace, with Murrayfield man Miller in a group on 72.

Miller, whose son David is a Lothians regular these days, has enjoyed a decent campaign in the Edinburgh Summer League and maintained that form in the opening round of this week's 54-hole event on Glasgow's south side.

Among those alongside him on one-over was Scottish amateur legend Ian Hutcheon, who is bidding for a fourth win in this event.

Meanwhile, a number of Lothians players are through to the knock-out stage of the Scottish Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Fortrose & Rosemarkie on the Black Isle.

Fiona de Vries, with rounds of 75 and 80, tied for second behind leading qualifier Fiona Anderson, while Dunbar's Noreen Fenton, Baberton duo Fiona Hunter and Pamela Williamson, Moira Thomson of Gullane Ladies and Musselburgh's Jane Herd were also among the 16 qualifiers.