Opening 66 keeps Law in frame for Tour step-up

David Law, the SSE Scotish Hydro Challenge champion, made a promising start in the Foshan Open, the penultimate event of the 2018 Challenge Tour season.

The Aberdonian is sitting 11th in the Road to Ras Al Khaimah rankings and needs to finish in the top 15 to join two of his compatriots, Liam Johnston and Grant Forrest, in securing a step up to the European Tour next season.

It was job done for Law on the opening day in China as he opened with a sixunder-par 66 to sit close to the lead, held by England’s Jack Singh Brar.

Callum Hill and Bob Macintyre both opened with 68s, one less than Ewen Ferguson, while Forrest carded a 70 and Scott Henry signed for a 71.

Johnston, meanwhile, had to settle for a 75.

On a day of low scoring at Foshan Golf Club, Singh Brar shot a 63 to lead by two at the end of the first day with Nico Geyger, Oscar Lengden, Dimitrios Papadatos and Callum Tarren all signing for rounds of 65.

“That’s the best round I’ve ever shot,” said the leader. “63, nine under – even I didn’t think I could do that but I’m chuffed.

“I hit it really well today, I don’t think I missed a green. I had a few close chances which I converted as I was seven under through nine and then I tried to build on that.

“It’s quite easy to try and hold back but I knew there would be someone chasing me down at some point so those shots are going to be valuable.

“I think the type of course suits me here. I basically just didn’t hit it long enough last week, whereas here a lot of boys are playing back while I just hit driver. I was actually further up than some of the guys here and on the fairway, which is an advantage. It just suited me a bit more, this golf course.”

Both Geyger and Papadatos were one shot behind Singh Brar going into the final hole, but after the duo both carded bogeys they were forced to settle for ending the day two shots back.