Syme makes strong start to life as a pro with Warren the leading Scot

Connor Syme got his professional career off to a promising start by upstaging some of his more experienced compatriots in the opening round of the Portugal Masters in Villamoura.

The 23-year-old, who only announced on Monday that he had joined the paid ranks after signing for the management company set up by pop band member Niall Horan, opened with a three-under-par 68.

Syme, one of six GB&I players from the Walker Cup earlier this month making their professional bows in the event, recovered from an early bogey to card five birdies.

That effort left him sitting inside the top 30 on a day when Marc Warren, who is fighting to hang on to his European Tour card, took pride of place among a ten-strong Scottish contingent with a 67.

Duncan Stewart, coming off the back of two successive top-20 finishes, maintained his form by matching Syme’s effort while Paul Lawrie also enjoyed a decent day as he signed for a 69.

Dutchman Joost Luiten and South African George Coetzee set the pace with matching seven-under 64s, while defending champion Padraig Harrington is alonside Warren and another of the professional debutants, Englishman Jack Singh Brar, on four-under.

Elsewhere,2012winnerscott Henry and Grant Forrest were both handily placed after the first round of the Kazakhstan Open, one of the Challenge Tour majors.

The duo opened with fiveunder-par 67s to sit a shot off the lead, held by Englishman Tom Murray and Francesco Laporta of Italy, with Jamie Mclearyastrokefurtherback.

On the ladies’ front, Pamela Pretswell Asher and Michele Thomson both started brightly in the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open at Real Club de Golf Guadalmina.

The pair carded 69 and 70 respectively on the par-72 layout to sit inside the top 20 on a day when home player Carlota Ciganda set the clubhouse target with a 65 before seeing that matched by both England’s Georgia Hall and Diana Luna of Italy.