Paisley day just par for the course

STOCKSFIELD’S Chris Paisley returned to form with a creditable level-par 72 in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Pro-Am Championship at St Andrews.

Playing over the par-72, 7,307-yard Old Course, Paisley looked to have put his recent woes behind him.

Despite being a little nervous on the frst, Paisley played a shot with great precision down the famous first fairway.

He successfully cleared the inviting Swilken Burn, landed safely on the green and, with two putts from 10 feet, opened with a par four.

On the easier nine, not only had his ball striking returned but also his consistency, and at the 397-yard par-four third, he sank a putt from nine feet for an excellent birdie.

From the fourth Paisley looked like his old self with an exemplary run of six successive pars to turn in a creditable one-under-par 35.

After the relatively tranquil par- four 10th, followed by the tricky short 11th, where he made his par, Paisley made a fine five at the 618-yard par-five 14th.

After negotiating the 456-yard par-four 15th there was the first blemish on his card at the 16th, where he miscued his second shot leading to a bogey five.

At the 17th Road Hole he recorded a fine four.

At the 18th, Paisley made a safe par four to return in a one-over par 37.

He said: ”I was very pleased and I would have taken a par round before I started.

“Hopefully I can keep my swing going and if my putter gets hot I may break 70.”