Neil makes promising start with seven birdies

Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil enjoyed a terrific opening round at the KLM Open in Holland.

The 22-year-old hit seven birdies – including four in five holes on the back nine – to lie two shots off leader Wu Ashun.

Neil was two under at the turn but birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th saw him well positioned ahead of the second round.

Ashun fired a bogey-free 64 to lead the way, but England’s Chris Wood was just one shot behind him after day one.

Wood had set the target at six under in the morning with a blemish-free effort of his own, but Wu made seven birdies in the afternoon to hit the front, with 13 players then in the group at five under.

“I made a great start with five birdies over my front nine,” said Wu.

Bristolian Wood made the European Ryder Cup team in 2016 thanks to a win at the BMW PGA Championship but that was his last victory.

The 30-year-old made birdies on the third, seventh, ninth, 13th, 14th, 15th and was delighted with his putting performance.

“It was perfect out there this morning,” he told europeantour.com.

“The course is in such good condition and the greens are as good as any that we have played all year.

“When that is one of the best parts of your game it is great, especially when you get your eye in and knock a few in like I did today.”

Wu is a two-time winner on the European Tour and he made gains on the fourth, eighth, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 18th.

Neil was joined in joint third place by Englishmen Ashley Chesters, Eddie Pepperell, Aaron Rai, Jordan Smith and Matthew Southgate.

Drumoig’s Connor Syme birdied the first hole as he opened up with a two-under 69.

Aberdonian Richie Ramsay is on 68 alongside Ryder Cup vice-captains Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington.

Scott Jamieson is two over after a 73 while Marc Warren is three shots further back after a round which included double bogeys at the second and 13th.

Bradley Neil is two shots off the lead thanks to seven birdies.