Crail, Scotland … Just three players – Connor Syme of Drumoig, Gordon Munro of Fraserburgh and Fraser Davren of Willamwood – managed to break par in the first round on day one of the prestigious Battle Trophy at Crail Golfing Society.
Syme teed-up in bright but cold and windy conditions the acclaimed Gil Hanse course as the reigning Australian Amateur Champion but looking to make amends in letting slip victory at Crail a year ago.
“It was tough out there and condition very different to last year when I shot a 64,” he said.
Conor Syme among three players to break par in the first round of the Battle Trophy.
“So aside from the fifth hole, I was very pleased with my round and looking now to build on that score.”
Syme also is a former Paul Lawrie Foundation 2012 an 2013 Scottish Schoolboys champion and is coached by his father Stuart.
Munro represents the Fraserburgh Golf Club but unlike Crail, heavy overnight snow made the playing of golf impossible and with the club ‘tweeting’ a picture of the snow-bound course.
Gordon Munro pleased with himself after a round of 71. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Munro had been three under par stepping onto the 17th tee and not having dropped a shot.
However, he then proceeded to bogey the closing two holes for his one under par figure.
“It was not how I wanted to finish but then I managed to find every fairway today and that was the key to my round,” said Munro.
And Davren was among the last to complete the first round before heading straight back out following a short luncheon break for round two.
Fraser Davren points to his score of 71 in the first round of the 2016 Battle Trophy.
He capped his round with five birdies, including birdies at 10 and 11, but also had four bogeys.
There is a further three players who posted scores of a level par 72.
They include Ballumbie Castel’s Dan Lawrence, Boat of Garten’s Jordan Shaw and Banchory’s Jack Harling.
GB & I Walker Cup star Grant Forrest is just two shots off the lead and capped his round of 73 by eagling the short downhill par four, 10th hole.
A check of his scorecard shows he went out in 40 but stormed home in 33.
Forrest was not so pleased with his start but walked off happy to have got a few shots back over his inward half.
“I got off to a poor start but the eagle at 10 helped turnaround my effort, so that gives me something to build on,” he said.
“I first played the Craighead course when I was about 12 years old and while I can’t remember much about that visit, the course is in superb condition.”
FOOTNOTE –
The staging of the Battle Trophy is the first of three Gil Hanse designed courses to feature strong this season with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open heading back to Castle Stuart in June and ahead of the Olympic Games in August on the newly-opened Hanse designed layout in Rio de Janiero.
The Craighead Links course was Gil’s first design project outside of the US and with the course being opened in 1998.
