Scottish Q-school hopefuls shiver in not so sultry Spain

IT SEEMS there is no escape from the big chill. As a host of shivering Scots gathered in north-east Spain yesterday for the start of the six-round marathon that is the European Tour's qualifying school final, freezing temperatures led to major disruptions to round one at PGA Golf de Catalunya in Girona.

Perhaps they could have held the event at the Schawpark golf course in Alloa?

Tee-times were delayed on the Stadium course until high noon with a further 30-minute delay on the neighbouring Tour course before play was halted at that venue for the day just after 1.30pm due to frozen greens. It was all a bit of a scunner, particularly at one of the most tense events of the season, and with the time lost, tournament officials confirmed that the contest will definitely run over into an extra day.

Edinburgh-based Jamie McLeary, the winner of the Scottish Hydro Challenge last season on the Challenge Tour, had played just two holes on the Tour course and it was his approach to the third green that prompted the suspension when his shot careered off the hardened putting surface. "It was minus four when we started and I could hardly see," admitted McLeary. "I've played in conditions a bit like this back home but never out here."

With play on the Tour course halted, the Scottish posse of Raymond Russell, Scott Drummond, Chris Doak, Jack Doherty and Saltman brothers, Lloyd and Elliot, were among a frustrated army of players who were unable to start their rounds. On the Stadium course, where play went on until darkness brought an end to proceedings, Glasgow's Marc Warren and former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart were two of the few who managed to get round all 18 holes.

Warren, a two-time winner on the tour but back at the Q-school after finishing 124th on the rankings, opened his campaign with a solid level-par 72 but Coltart slipped to a three-over 75 while Alastair Forsyth was level-par through 12 when play was stopped. "I know I'm good enough to get through this," said Warren, who will now have a day off today as organisers try to make up time. Australia's Rick Kulacz, a winner on the Asian Tour as a rookie in 2008, grabbed the clubhouse lead with a three-under 69.