Kris Nicol fights back at St Andrews to keep tabs on Rhys Enoch

Kris Nicol produced a spirited salvage operation over a firm and bouncy New course to tuck himself in among the leaders during round one of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The 26-year-old Walker Cup hopeful from Fraserburgh birdied three of his last five holes in a three-under 68 to lurk two shots behind early leader Rhys Enoch.

Two-under through 12 holes, Nicol's round hit the buffers when he missed the green on the short 13th and racked up a double-bogey but his response to that setback was swift and purposeful.

He holed a 30-footer from off the green for birdie on 14, rolled in a ten-footer for a three on 15 and completed the recovery with a 25-foot birdie putt on 16. "After that double-bogey I was thinking that I'd let a good score go so it was a great way to finish," said Nicol, runner-up in both the Irish Open and the Lytham Trophy last season.

"Unlike last year, I've not had an outstanding finish so far this season and, with the Walker Cup in mind, that has to be the goal in one of these big events."

Welsh youngster Enoch, third in the 2009 Links Trophy, set himself up for another assault on the title with an eight-birdie 66, while Argentine teenager Franco Romero enjoyed an eventful debut at the home of golf with a 67.

The 16-year-old from Rosario made a dicey start with a double-bogey six on the first but, having repaired the damage with an eagle-two on the second, he charged home with a back-nine of five-under 30 to roar through the field.

Kirkhill's Paul Shields, who finished third in last week's Scottish Strokeplay, was making menacing progress at four-under through 13 but he leaked shots at 14, 15, 16 and 17 to drop back to a level-par 71.

Michael Stewart, making his return after six weeks out injured, had to settle for a "rusty" 77.