Sherwood Forest's Best makes a merry start

ENGLISH pair Lloyd Best (Sherwood Forrest) and Lewis Fairbairn (Berwick upon Tweed) joined Finish boys international Linus Vaisanen at the top of the leaderboard on four-under par after the opening round of the Scottish boys' stroke-play open golf championship at Craigielaw yesterday.

Best had a superb finish, firing birdies at the closing three holes to post a 67, which was matched by Northumberland's Fairbairn, who sank four birdies in an impressive outward nine of 32. Vaisanen was four-under par through 14 holes but bogeyed the 17th before bouncing back with a fine birdie on the last.

Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County), a member of Scotland's European Boys Team Championship side, led the home contingent in fourth place with a three-under-par 68, taking advantage of calm conditions in the first game out, one shot ahead of the host club's Ewen Donaldson who also played in the opening group of the day.

Grant Forrest, looking to become the first golfer to do the boys' match play and stroke play double since Scott Henry in 2004, got his bid off to a solid start with a two-under par 69 to sit tied fifth, enjoying a strong finish to his round with birdies on the last two holes. Barassie's Jack McDonald, chasing Stephen Gallacher's achievement of two consecutive titles, settled for a one-over par 72.