Golf: Mexican lads lead the way

TWO Mexicans set the pace in the oldest boys' age group in the opening rounds of the US Kids Golf European Championship in East Lothian.

Mariano Romero Reynaud shot a 71 over Gullane No.2 to take a one-shot lead in the 15-18's section over his compatriot Jose Manuel Romero.

Playing over the same course, Hendrika Labsch, a young German, shot a 73 to lead the girls' 15-18 age group.

Scoring was even more impressive in the boys' under-14s and under-13s events, which are also being played on Gullane No.2. Playing in the under-14s event, Simon Zack of the Czech Republic shot a 68, as did UK duo Fraser Davren and Robert Macintyre in the under-13s section.

On Gullane No.3, three under-14 girls – Rebecca McGeechan (Germany), Harriet Wilson (UK) and Celia Mansour (France) – had 75s, as did another German competitor, Jana Wuensch, in the under-13s.

Eloise Healey and fellow UK challenger Ella Ofstedahl had 70s over the same course in the under-12s on the same course, while the UK's Lucy Walton and Monet Flores from Guatemala had 68 and 73 in the under-10s and under-11s respectively.

Two Americans lead the boys' events. Ryan Goldfarb from New York hit 76 over on Gullane No.3 in the under-9s, while Dylan Fritz from Las Vegas shot a 35 over nine holes at Longniddry to share top spot in the under-8s with Carlos Phillipe Winsett-Palanca from the Phillipines.

Also at Longniddry, George Leigh (UK) and Wolfgang Glawe of Germany had 32s in the boys' 7 and unders, while Slovenia's Lara Jecnik (8 and unders) shot 33 and South African Wong-ju Son (under-9s) a 34 over nine holes in the girls' events.

Craigielaw staged the remaining three boys' events, with the pacesetters being Czech Republic youngster Matyas Zapletal (72 in the under-10s), the UK's Marco Penge (70 in the under-11s) and compatriot Maxwell Martin (69 in under-12s).