Stephen Gallacher hot on heels of Dougherty

NICK Dougherty did his battered confidence the world of good with an opening seven-under-par 66 at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco as Scotland's Stephen Gallacher kept pace one shot behind.

Home in 30 with an eagle and five birdies, Dougherty, the 27-year-old from Liverpool took a one-stroke lead over Ireland's Peter Lawrie, Gallacher, Italian Francesco Molinari, India's SSP Chowrasia and South Americans Ricardo Gonzalez and Fabrizio Zanotti. What Dougherty took most satisfaction from was the fact that his round came on the tougher Red course at Royal Dar Es Salam. Of the six players just behind him all but Chowrasia were on the much shorter Blue.

From a high of 46th in the world just over two years ago, the three-time European Tour winner has dropped to 120th in the rankings and missed out on the first two world championships this season.

"I've been struggling so much I'm just trying to build some confidence and hit as many good shots as I can," he said. "Thomas Bjorn gave me quite a bit of help yesterday on the range, which meant the world to me obviously, but it's a work in progress.

"Anything under par I would have been happy with, so I was delighted with that. I think seven under is a really, really good score round there. I putted fabulous and I'm delighted with my short game in general, but it's the long game that's concerning me. I've been battling with that for a long time now."

Breaking his driver on the eve of the event did not hold Lawrie back. "The head of the driver came loose during practice. I have a spare, but I'm just not 100 per cent confident with it," he said. "The three-wood's going well, but the Red is long and the driver will have to come out somewhere."

The 104-strong field switch courses today as the pro-am format continues before the top 65 professionals go through to the closing 36 holes on the Red. Lawrie's fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley, playing his first tournament since a sixth knee operation in November, managed only a three over 76 on the Red.

David Drysdale's two-under 71 on the first day ensured a share of 30th place, while Peter Whiteford was one shot further behind. Gary Orr was on one-over after his 74 alongside fellow Scot, Alastair Forsyth. Marc Warren and Richie Ramsey were a shot further back with 75s for two-over-par.

• Elliot Saltman completed a family double in Spain last night when he eased to victory in the Hi5 Pro Tour's Polaris Condado Open in Murcia. The 27-year-old, whose younger brother Lloyd won on the Spanish mini-circuit last week, closed with a one-over 73 in blustery conditions for a two-over 218 and a five shot win over Michael Collins, Brad Clapp, Fredrik Hammarberg and Andreas Hogberg.

Saltman, who was sharing the lead with a round to play, slipped off the top with a three-over front nine but he hit back on the closing stretch and came home in two-under to coast over the winning line. It was the Archerfield pro's second title in the paid game following his breakthrough win on the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2007.

Saltman's younger brother, Zack, signed off with a battling 72 but finished well back on 230.