In the only bogey-free round of the day, Derby's James Whatley came in late to record a brilliant four-under 68 to lead after the opening round of the flagship event for Britain and Ireland's top club professionals.
Playing in sunny, calm conditions at Dundonald Links, near Troon in the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, the 26-year-old reaped the reward of hard practice in recent weeks.
"I've been getting into the right mindset", said Whatley. "I'm a lot calmer than I used to be (his wife Rachel is expecting their first child in October), and it makes you realise there's a lot more to life than golf."
One of his goals on the tough Ayrshire course was to try and hit the centre of greens, not go for flags.
"Occasionally you get lucky and the ball finishes up beside a pin." That certainly happened after a beautifully flighted four-iron at the 470-yard 16th, which travelled 204 yards - and nestled two inches from the cup. Whatley is a stroke ahead of Welshman James Lee and Jeremy Robinson from Evesham.
Caerphilly's Lee was in sparkling form. The 40-year-old Welshman fired a three-under 69 after halves and 35 and 34. Lee, a former Kenyan Open champion, said he was desperate to improve on his previous best performance in the event, tied 27th last year at Moortown.
"The key today was trying to keep out of trouble. Three times I found fairway bunkers, and managed to minimise the damage each time."
Undoubtedly his shot of the day came at the 175-yard fourth, where his six-iron tee shot finished 12 inches behind the hole.
Also on 69 was former Walker Cup player, Jeremy Robinson, from Evesham. He gave all the credit for his score to his putter - "I didn't drive the greatest, and got away with a couple of poor efforts off the tee" - and but for a double bogey at the par-four ninth, where his drive was miles offline and then the next found a ditch, he would have been a happier boy.
Andrew Barnett, runner-up in the last two years, again thrust himself into contention with a one-under 71. Based at North Wales Driving Range in the Vale of Clwyd, Barnett fired four birdies and three bogeys. And defending champion, Paul Simpson, is far from out of things after an opening level-par round.
Another Derby player, former champion Paul Wesselingh, is handily placed on 71.The statistically-minded Wesselingh ('I'm 32 under for my last eight rounds') is convinced there's better to come as the week progresses.
"I had five birdies and four bogeys, but I feel I'm just coming onto a game. The worst I can be tonight is maybe a couple off the lead - and there's a long way to go."
17 June, 2009