Gallagher off to good start at Montrose on Europro

Duddingston’s John Gallagher maintained his recent good form to make the best start among the home contingent as Englishman Craig Farrelly set the pace in the Hotelplanner.com PGA Europro Tour’s Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose Golf Links.

Farrelly carded an eightunder-par 63 to lead by two shots at the Angus venue, where former Scottish Amateur champion Gallagher opened with a 66 to sit joint third in the £46,735 event.

Taking up where he left off when winning a qualifier last Saturday for next week’s SSE Scottish Challange in Aviemore, Gallagher signed for six birdies, three either side of a solitary bogey at the par-4 ninth.

Farrelly started in ferocious form, picking up six shots in his opening six. After also bogeying the ninth, the Yorkshireman picked up a further two birdies on the back nine to cement a cushion heading the second round of the 54-hole tournament.

The 44-year old is no stranger to this scenario after he opened with an impressive 67 at the same venue last year went on to miss the cut.

“I started off very well today,” admitted the leader. “It seemed quite easy for me out there. I gave myself plenty of scoring opportunities on the front nine which I took advantage of.

“However, I’ve got some bad memories on some of those holes from last year so I didn’t get ahead of myself. Taking a bogey on the 9th I thought to myself ‘that’s fine’ and moved on.

“I learned from last year that I can’t put too much pressure on myself on the tough holes. I know when that wind starts switching I used to think I’d have to do things differently but now I realise that actually, sometimes a bogey on those harder holes is potentially a good score.”

Lloyd Saltman opened with a 68, as did Neil Henderson and Craig Ross, while Paul O’hara, a winner on the third-tier circuit at Frilford Heath last month, carded a 69 along with Lawrence Allan and Carnoustie amateur Will Porter.