Golf: Saltman set for Challenge this season

LLOYD SALTMAN tees off his season for 'real' in Africa tomorrow and is feeling confident that a big year lies ahead of him.

While the Lothians star has been playing on the Hi5 Tour in Spain over the past few months and also won an event for pros under the age of 26 at home club Archerfield Links, the Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour is what he has been preparing for.

A spot in the field for last month's event in Colombia came too late for Saltman to make the journey to South America but, on this occasion, he knew a few days in advance that he'd climbed off the reserve list for a tournament being played at Muthaiga Golf Club.

"I'm feeling really good about the new season – everything seems to be coming together," said Saltman, who was particularly pleased with his performance in winning on the Hi5 Tour a fortnight ago.

"I know people will look at the fields for those events and say they haven't got strength in depth but the other two players in contention had European and Challenge Tour experience, one of them being Callum Macaulay.

"Last season I got off to a slow start and that cost me, so I am determined not to let the same thing happen again."

On the European Tour, Stephen Gallacher, David Drysdale and Andrew Coltart are joined by Andrew Oldcorn, a former winner, in the Andalucian Open starting tomorrow in Malaga.