Golf: Crespi takes route 66 to lead in Russia

Italian Marco Crespi stormed to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup thanks to a superb six-under par 66 which left him a shot clear of two fellow winners on the Challenge Tour this year, compatriot Alessandro Tadini and Norway’s Espen Kofstad.

Clydebank’s Scott Henry, Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark, Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson, Mark Tullo of Chile, and Agustin Domingo of Spain were all a shot further back on four under par.

Raymond Russell is handily placed after a 70 but Alastair Forsyth, Chris Doak and Lloyd Saltman all opened with 75s.

Former world No 1 tennis player and home favourite Yavgeny Kafelnikov endured a difficult day as he signed for a seven-over-par round of 79.