Golf news in brief: Action Jackson hits the front in Telenet

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR: Grant Jackson defied blustery conditions in Brussels to charge into the lead on the opening day of the Telenet Trophy. The Englishman, who was on the books of rugby league side Castleford Tigers before opting for the more sedate career of a professional golfer, was playing in the first group out at 7.30am, but made light of a 5am alarm call to post a superb five under par round of 67 at Royal Waterloo Golf Club.

Jackson is currently one stroke clear of South African Branden Grace, Portugal's Ricardo Santos, Colombian David Vanegas and England's Oliver Whiteley.

McKechnie sees his way clear at Hilton

OPTICAL express pro golf tour: Paul McKechnie eased to victory in the second Optical Express Pro Golf Tour event of the season at Hilton Park last night. The Braid Hills pro, who led by five strokes after day one, closed with a one-over 71 for a five-under 135 to pick up the 1500 top prize. McKechnie, who was three-under after three holes of his second round, slipped to bogeys on his final two holes but still won by three shots from John Gallagher of Swanston and Eastwood's former Scottish PGA champion David Orr.

Rookie Jennings to the fore at Allianz

SLOVAK WOMEN'S OPEN: England's Rachel Jennings carded a five-under-par 67 to take the lead after the first round of the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open in Tale.

The 22-year-old Stoke-on-Trent player, who earned her Ladies European Tour card in December, hit 18 greens in regulation and had 31 putts during her bogey-free round at Gray Bear Golf Club in Slovakia. She took a one-stroke lead over four other players including fellow Staffordshire player Lisa Hall, Holland's Christel Boeljon, Australian Kristie Smith and Tania Elosegui from Spain.

Fife are left high and dry by missing stars

FIFE'S hopes of winning a place in the Scottish women's county golf championship finals in September have been hit by the unavailabity of leading players for the East Division team championship against East Lothian, Midlothian and Stirling & Clackmannan, at Dunfermline Golf Club from 20-22 June.

Christine Steedman, Fife county captain, explained: "For the second year in a row, we are without Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), the new Scottish champion, senior international Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) and Jocelyn Mackie (Ladybank)