Golf: Patrick reckons amateur could win Northern Open

ON-FORM David Patrick, who led the Lothians challenge going into the second round of the Aberdeen Northern Open, won't be surprised if an amateur golfing ace lifts the title at Meldrum House.

The former Mortonhall man shot a three-under-par 67 yesterday to lie just a shot behind eight joint leaders in the prestigious Tartan Tour event.

Patrick's presence on the leaderboard is ominous after he stormed to a seven-shot victory in making a successful defence of the Scottish Young Professionals' Championship at West Lothian last week.

But the former Walker Cup player reckons he'll have to pull out all the stops to add this title to his CV due to the presence of nine of Scotland's top amateurs in the field.

Two of them, Ross Kellett and Greg Paterson, shared the lead after the opening round, with David Law, last year's double Scottish champion, also getting off to a flying start as he matched Patrick's opening effort.

"I would expect one of the amateurs to get very close to winning this week," said Patrick after watching playing partner Kellett bag two eagles in his round.

"They play a lot more than most of us on the Tartan Tour. This week is only my second 72-holer of the season and for Craig Mathieson (the other member of their group] it's his first.

"Yet the amateurs here are probably playing in their 20th 72-holer of the year.

"It's one of the reasons why the top amateurs settle a lot better when they get on to the European Tour than PGA pros."

Patrick, who still lives in the Edinburgh area even though he is attached to Elie, bagged five birdies, the longest of which was a ten-footer at the eighth.

His opening score was matched by Paul McKechnie, with Colin Gillies, another of the players attached to the Braid Hills, firing a 68 along with former Musselburgh pro Fraser Mann.

Lee Harper of Archerfield Links, on 69, also went into the second round handily placed, as did Kingsfield's Mark King and Alan Reid of West Lothian on 70.

Continuing to use a set of clubs that have been cobbled together after his own were stolen in the Capital, Mark Kerr opened with a 71, as did James McGhee of Turnhouse.

Setting the pace along with Kellett and Paterson were Tartan Tour regulars Chris Doak, Chris Kelly, Jason McCreadie and Greig Hutcheon as well as Downfield club pro Ken Hutton and Graeme Brown, who was attached to Marriott Dalmahoy for a spell.