Golf: Superb 65 puts Lloyd in control

LLOYD SALTMAN turned on the style to get off to a flying start in the £25,000 Hacienda De Alamo Open, an event on the Hi5 Tour, in Murcia.

The former Open silver medal winner is only playing in the tournament because his European Tour ranking isn't high enough to get into any of the four big-money events on the Middle East Swing.

And he wasted no time stamping his class on proceedings with a seven-under-par 65 that earned him a four-shot lead going into today's second round.

Out in level-par 36, Saltman moved up a gear on the back nine, bagging five birdies in a row from the tenth before adding two more at the 17th and 18th.

Saltman, who is due to return to European Tour action in the Avantha Masters in India in a fortnight's time, has both his brothers for company in Spain this week.

Zack, the youngest of the trio, opened with a respectable 72 to lie in a share of 13th, one shot ahead of Elliot, whose presence in the field at a time when he has been banned by the European Tour didn't seem to create any fuss among other players.

"We had no problems at all," said Hi5 Tour official Nigel German. "Nothing was mentioned and the first round ran like a normal tournament."

Two other Lothians players are competing in Murcia, but Shaun McAllister and John Gallagher were well down the field after rounds of 77 and 78 respectively.