Players from Iceland make their mark

Players from Iceland occupy the first two places after the opening round of the Scottish Under-18 boys’ open strokeplay championship at Monifieth Links.

On their first visit to Scotland, 16-yearold Ingaver Magnusson leads with a twounder-par 69, one shot ahead of compatriot Daniel Steinarsson.

Players sharing third place on 73 include Sam Nicholson (Lundin), John Peterson (St Andrews New), Callum Bruce (Duff House Royal), and Liam Currid (Bathgate).

Bruce was heading for at least a share of the overnight lead when he birdied the eighth and ninth in an outward twounder 34. The Banff teenager was still two-under par on the 12th tee but it all went pear-shaped from there in. He bogeyed the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in a 39 for the inward half.

Last year’s Scottish Boys Order of Merit champion Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly) struggled to a three-over-par 74, as he competes in what is likely to be his last boys’ event.

Last year’s Scottish Boys’ match-play champion, Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links), also posted a 74.

Meanwhile, Strathmore’s Kirsty Brodie and Jillian Farrell (Cardross) kept the home fires burning on the opening day of the Scottish Under-18 girls’ open stroke-play golf championship at Montrose Links yesterday. Kristy shares the lead at the head of an international field of 102 with a one-under-par 72 .

She is alongside Germany’s Hannah Karg.

Jillian is in a four-way tie for third on 73.

Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam, one of the favourites, is seeking to recapture the form that earned her selection for the GB&I Junior Vagliano Trophy team a couple of years ago. She had a 79 with no birdies and two double bogeys.

The leading north-east player with a 78 is Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) who had an eagle at the 17th.