Scotland’s back-injury ridden Gary Orr produced his lowest score in four years and on the same Kennemer course to share second place on day one of the KLM Open at Zandvoort.

Orr holed a 45-foot birdie putt at the height of a flash downpour in a five under par 65 to be trailing just a stroke behind Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez who won the event nine years ago.

Gary Orr stands tall on first day of the KLM Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Among the six sharing second with Orr is PGA Tour based Australian Robert Allenby who last played in a Dutch Open in 1994 and was afforded an invitation into the event.

The 46-year old Helensburgh born Orr is contesting just his seventh event this season and only his second since July’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart as he continues to battle back pain.

However Orr again found comfort on the shortest course on this year’s Race to Dubai schedule also in managing six other birdies and two bogeys in his best Tour round since a 64 also on the first day of the 2009 Dutch event.

“I’m delighted as I played steadily and just holed a few really good putts and that kept the scorecard ticking over,” said Orr.

“Kennemer is a nice old style golf course and reminds me very much of some of the Open Championship qualifying venues like Scottscraig and Ladybank, so it’s a good test.

“But I haven’t played a lot this year as my back continues to flare up from time to time, so it’s just been a case of playing when I can and see how it goes.

“I have been working hard on my posture and that seems to stop irritating my back but I’m not saying that’s the cure so I am just taking one day at a time.”

Orr is entered to contest next week’s Italian Open in Turin while he has sought an invitation into the following weeks $5m Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

However given the uncertainty of his back Orr is not sure of teeing up on home soil even if presented with a tee time.

“I haven’t really pressed the Dunhill organisers for an invitation so it will all depend on how I pull up this week and how my back feels,” he admitted.

Scott Jamieson is the next best of the Scots posting a one under par 69 as he looks to lock-in a place in next month’s GB & I Seve Trophy side.

Aberdonian Richie Ramsay shot a one under par 69 and then confirmed he and Prestwick-born caddy Mark Crane are parting after this week’s Dutch event.

The duo has been together for more than four years enjoying success in the 2010 South African Open and last year’s Omega European Masters.

The split is amicable with Crane indicating to the Aberdonian he simply wants a break from caddying.

“Mark and I have talked about it and it’s simply due to personal reasons,” said Ramsay.