Saltman takes form to Kenya

LLOYD Saltman, one of six Scots in the field for the Kenya Open that gets underway today in Nairobi, is ready to hit the ground running on the European Challenge Tour this season.

Last year, in his first full campaign on the circuit, the 24-year-old missed the cut in five of his opening six events and was unable to make up the lost ground as he finished 96th on the order of merit.

However, Saltman has been delighted to see his hard work with coach Colin Brooks pay off with two wins in warm-up events – on the Major Golf Tour at home club Archerfield Links, and on the Hi5 Tour in Spain – and now he's raring to get his Challenge Tour campaign underway.

"I took time to find my feet last year and a poor start cost me when it came to the end of the season," said the former Walker Cup player. "This time around I can't wait to get going and, after getting a couple of starts under my belt, I will be hoping to show what I can do."

Jamie McLeary, winner of last year's Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley, will be bidding to emulate both Craig Maltman (1993) and Mike Miller (1996) by claiming the title in Kenya, where the field also includes Callum Macaulay, Scott Jamieson, Alan McLean and Jack Doherty.