Austrian-based Donald Stirling continued his amazing record in the Senior PGA Professional Championship, when for the fourth time in five years, he led the 140-strong field after the opening round.
Playing over a gusty Northants County, the 55-year-old former Bolton pro fired a two-under 68 to lead by two from seniors rookie, Hogan Stott, and Preston's Mike Greenough.
Halves of 34, each one under par, underlined Stirling's consistency - he was second in Tuesday's pro-am with a 69 - and 25-foot putts for birdies at the 14th and 15th ensured clear daylight between himself and the rest of the field.
The holder, Bill Lockie, had a mercurial round of 72 but is still likely to be in the mix come Friday's final round.
Elsewhere, what had all the makings of a contortionist's act in a greenside bunker ended with Staffordshire's Barrie Stevens flailing at the shot then falling back in amazement as his ball floated out on a cushion of sand and rolled 20 feet into the hole.
The 52-year-old from Beau Desert carded a 71, but his histrionics came as early as the 181-yard third hole.
" I had my left leg two feet above my right, and was kneeling on the lip of the bunker. I'd almost decided to try and hit the ball out sideways, it was in such a wretched position.
Anyway, I gave it a go in the rough direction of the hole - and in it went for a birdie two."
Using a broom-handled putter for the first time, Stevens, good enough in his prime to play all four rounds of the 1983 Open at Royal Birkdale, was a master of the greens, holing out confidently all day.
Former PGA Cup player Hogan Stott celebrated his debut among the 50-plus brigade with a level-par 70. The 50-year-old Londoner now plying his trade in Cyprus carved out a round comprising the topsy-turvy figures of three birdies, an eagle and five bogeys.
"It was really tough out there", said Stott, a member of the 2000 PGA Cup team - the club pros' version of the Ryder Cup - which lost narrowly to the USA at Celtic Manor.
Stott left the Laleham club in south London when the owner sold up, and now teaches and helps promote the north Cypriot club, whose members insist it's the best club on the island. With mountain and Med views, who can argue?
Farthingstone's Mike Gallagher, last year's joint runner-up, had an off day, signing for a 76. He burdened himself with four bogeys in the first five holes, and added three more before picking up a solitary birdie at the 460-yard 17th.
27 May, 2009