Ferguson and Macintyre off to promising starts in Turkish Challenge

Stablemates Bob Macintyre and Ewen Ferguson took route 66 to be included in a sevenway tie for the lead after the opening round of the Turkish Airlines Challenge in Belek.

The duo’s six-under-par firstday salvos at Gloria Golf Club set the pace along with Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli, Kiwi Josh Geary, Finland’s Kim Koivu, Englishman Nathan Kimsey and Swede Oscar Lengden.

Oban left-hander Macintyre, who tied for seventh in China earlier in the month in his first start of 2018, made his score by making an eagle and five birdies to go out in 31.

The 21-year-old was on course to claim the outright lead when he birdied the 16th and 17th to get to seven under before dropping a shot at the last. Former Walker Cup man Ferguson, who is also represented by Edinburgh-based Bounce Sport, eagled the 16th to be out in two-under after starting at the tenth before bagging four birdies coming home.

Grant Forrest and Duncan Stewart were next best among ten Scots in the field with oneunder-par 71s.

Elsewhere, Scott Jamieson opened with a five-under-par 67 to sit joint fifth, three off the lead, after the first round of the Volvo China Open on the European Tour.

Homeplayerdaxingjin,who is ranked 1,426th in the world, was the surprise leader at Topwingolf and Country Club, sitting a shot ahead of England’s Matt Wallace and Italy’s Nino Bertasio.

Defending champion Alexander Levy, who also won in Morocco on Sunday, carded a 69, while Hideto Tanihara won a Volvo XC90 for a hole in one on the 16th in his 72.

0 Ewen Ferguson: Pacesetter.