Defending champion O'Hara leads P&H Championship

Paul O'Hara made the most of some benign conditions on the East Lothian coast to get off to an ominous start in his bid to add another title to an impressive 2017 haul.

The 30-year-old was the first to admit the test couldn't have been easier at The Renaissance Club after setting the pace with a five-under-par 66 in the P&H Championship.

"There was only a one-wind club wind we started and then it died completely," said O'Hara, the defending champion, after securing a narrow advantage in the 54-hole event.

It's already been a season to remember for the North Lanarkshire Leisure-attached player after recording no less than nine victories, including the Northern Open and the Titleist & Footjoy PGA Professional Championship.

"I've been playing pretty consistently all year," added O'Hara, who birdied the second, sixth, seventh, 11th and 16th on the Tom Doak-designed course.

"I think I hit every green today as I can't remember having a chip shot, though that was partly down to the conditions as it can be so tough here in the wind."

Among his closest challengers heading into the second round is Greig Hutcheon, one of Great Britain & Ireland's PGA Cup heroes at Foxhills in Surrey on Sunday.

Overcoming a lack of sleep and an early rise to catch a flight to Edinburgh, the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo man was delighted with his 67.

"I was running on fumes at the end, when I was really tired," admitted Hutcheon, whose effort was matched by one of his playing partners, Cameron Marr of Musselburgh.

"I really enjoyed playing with Greig and we fed off each other out there," said 25-year-old Marr after rising to the occasion to produce one of the best rounds of his career.

Grantown-on-Spey's Gavin Hay maintained his recent good form to open with a 68, tying the earlier efforts of both Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Stewart Savage (Dalmuir).

"Absolutely," replied 51-year-old Savage to being asked if he still relished the chance to take on the Tartan Tour's young guns. 

Caldwell's Chris Currie, the other PGA Cup team member in the field, opened with a 72 after doing well to salvage a 5 at the opening hole.

"I'm very weary and need some sleep," he admitted afterwards, having played in all five sessions over three days for Albert MacKenzie's men against the Americans.