Ramsay’s early Germany exit

Aberdonian Richie Ramsay was the biggest casualty in the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play in Germany yesterday.

The Scot, seeded second, lost 3&2 to England’s Tom Lewis at the 64-man knockout event being staged this week at the Bad Griesbach Golf Resort.

Defending champion Anthony Wall recorded his seventh straight victory to reach the second round.

He won six matches to claim his second European Tour title at Archerfield Links 12 months ago, 16 years and 204 days after this first in South Africa.

Despite the change of venue, Wall carried on where he left off with a hard-fought victory over fellow Englishman Sam Walker, a last-minute replacement for the injured Kristoffer Broberg.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard was the first player to advance to the last 32, six birdies in a row from the ninth giving him a 6&4 win over American Daniel Im, although Finland’s Mikko Ilonen enjoyed the biggest win, thrashing Mathieu Pavon 8&7.

Tournament host Paul Lawrie needed 20 holes to edge past former Ryder Cup partner Peter Hanson, with Edoardo Molinari beating Robert Karlsson on the 24th hole after losing the 18th to a double bogey.

Top seed Matthew Southgate beat France’s Romain Wattel 3&2 despite breaking his driver 15 minutes before teeing off, the 28-year-old borrowing one from compatriot Chris Paisley, who had earlier beaten Scott Jamieson the 22nd hole.

There were comfortable wins for Walker Cup team-mates Paul Dunne and Ashley Chesters.

Chesters saw off Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia 4&2, while Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson – who secured the winning point at Gleneagles in 2014 – birdied his last four holes to beat American Paul Peterson 2&1.

New Zealand’s Daniel Pearce holds a one-shot lead after the first round of the Fiji International thanks to a brilliant burst of scoring at Natadola Bay.

Pearce began his back nine with an eagle and three straight birdies to open up a three-shot lead before two late bogeys meant he had to settle for an opening six-under-par 66.

Fellow Kiwi Ben Campbell and Australia’s Daniel Valente were Pearce’s nearest challengers on five under, with home favourite and course designer Vijay Singh five shots off the pace following a 71.

Fife golfer Connor Syme won his round of 32 clash at the US Amateur in California yesterday, beating American Ricky Castillo 4&3.

The Drumoig player next meets Norwegian Kristoffer Ventura for a place in the last eight