Golf: Saltman lies joint second in Spain after strong finish

Lloyd Saltman covered his last 13 holes in six under par to be lying joint second on five-under-par 67 at the end of the first day in the Spanish Hi5 Pro Tour's Fall Series opening event at the Dave Thomas-designed Al Torreal course.

Saltman bogeyed the opening hole, parred his way over the next four holes and then got in the birdie groove. He birdied the sixth and ninth to turn in one-under 35 before adding further birdies at the 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th for 32 home. The Lothians man will start the second round two behind Portuguese leader Tiago Cruz, who fired eight birdies.

Saltman shares second place with three others, including Irishman Ruaidhri McGee and Welshman Kyron Sullivan.

Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay recovered from a double-bogey 6 at the third to return a 70 and share eighth place. Ramsay had birdied the first two holes but gave these shots back with his 6 at the third and a bogey at the fourth. He birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh to turn in two-under-par 32. Another birdie at the 12th put him three under but he bogeyed the 16th for 36 home.

Elliot Saltman is back in 21st place after a 73 which saw him begin with a triple-bogey 7 at the first, a double-bogey 6 at the second and a bogey 4 at the third. But the eldest of the Saltman brothers, all of whom were in the field, then covered his last 13 holes in five under par.

The Doherty brothers had matching 75s, the same score as Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll and Zack Saltman.