Neil 14 shots off the lead after terrible start in Sicily

Bradley Neil made a terrible start to the Rocco Forte Open in Sicily yesterday with his eight over par opening round leaving the Perthshire golfer with the steepest of mountains to climb just to make the half-way cut.

Neil’s 79 featured six bogeys, two double bogeys and three birdies.

Drumoig’s Connor Syme fared a bit better but he too is staring at an early exit after posting a three over par 74.

Meanwhile England’s Ryan Evans overcame tough conditions and a disrupted preparation to claim a share of the lead after the opening day.

Evans was one of just two players not to drop a single shot as strong winds made life difficult for the later starters, the 31-year-old firing four birdies and an eagle to join Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard at the top of the leaderboard on six under par.

Bjerregaard, who had missed four cuts in a row before finishing sixth in the Volvo China Open, carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his opening 65.

Bjerregaard and Evans enjoy a two-shot lead over Spain’s Scott Fernandez, Brazil’s Adilson da Silva and the English trio of Andy Sullivan, Marcus Armitage and Daniel Brooks.

Defending champion Alvaro Quiros struggled to an opening 79.

“We had really tough conditions out there this afternoon, it might be calmer on Friday morning but that doesn’t make it any easier, you still have to go out and play good golf,” said Evans, the world No 284.

“I have played steady this year but nothing spectacular