Canadian soars with opening day albatross

Sam Meek won’t forget his first competitive round in Scotland after recording an albatross in the opening round of the Amateur championship at Royal Aberdeen.

The Canadian is tied second on two under par after the opening day’s play with blustery conditions testing the 288-strong field at the Balgownie course and Murcar Links.

South African Wilco Nienaber leads the way after a four-under 66 at Murcar Links with the top 64 players at the end of play today progressing to the match play stages.

A place in next month’s Open championship at Carnoustie and next year’s Masters at Augusta are among the prizes on offer to the tournament winner.

The shot of the day at the windswept Aberdeen courses belonged to University of Nevada student Meek, who holed his second at the 491-yard par five sixth hole at Royal Aberdeen.

The 19-year-old, who carded a 69, said: “That was my first albatross. I hit a hybrid four iron off the tee and I had 240 yards to go so I took a five iron.

“It was a totally blind shot but it looked good and when people around the green started to jump up and down I figured it had gone in the hole. It was a pretty cool moment.

“It took me to four under through six holes. I had a little scare when I dropped three shots over the first four holes on the back nine and started to go in the wrong direction.

“But sometimes, in the wind, making a bogey can still be pretty good.”

Australian David Micheluzzi was the early clubhouse leader after his opening two under par 69 at Royal Aberdeen before Nienaber shot the low round of the day at Murcar Links.

Viktor Hovland from Norway, the highest ranked player at the tournament at number five in the world, opened with a solid one-under par 70 at Royal Aberdeen.

Turnhouse’s Euan McIntosh is the leading Scot after a solid level par 71 at Royal Aberdeen.

Nairn’s Sandy Scott battled back from a quadruple bogey eight at the 10th and a triple bogey seven at the 11th to shoot a 73 at Murcar, while John Paterson of the New Club in St Andrews double bogeyed the 18th at Royal Aberdeen in his 75.