Golf: Catriona Matthew shines in California

CATRIONA MATTHEW took pride of place on a busy day for Lothians golfers around the world.

The Ricoh British Women's Open champion shot an opening 68 in the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California, to lie joint third.

Starting at the tenth, the Archerfield Links star laid the foundations for her score by picking up five birdies in seven holes from the 11th.

On the European Tour, Stephen Gallacher shot a three-under-par 67 to lie in the top ten after the opening round of the Andalucian Open in Malaga.

Gallacher, who has made the cut in his last four events, was just two shots off the lead going into the second round today, with Andrew Coltart (70), Andrew Oldcorn (71), David Drysdale (71) and Richie Ramsay (73) all below him on the leaderboard.

In Africa, Lloyd Saltman recovered from a bad start to give himself a chance of surviving the cut in the Kenya Open in Nairobi. The Aegon player was four-over after five but, helped by three birdies in a row from the seventh, eventually signed for a two-over 73.

Callum Macaulay was two off the lead after a 67, three better than Jamie McLeary. Meanwhile, the opening round of the Xltec Tour event at Whitekirk was abandoned due to fog and was due to be settled today.