Drysdale best of bunch on solid opening day for Scots

David Drysdale started his 18th season on the European Tour with a par-breaking effort in the Honma Hong Kong Open after the four new Scottish card holders on the circuit had all fared reasonably well in tougher morning conditions.

On a windy morning at Fanling, Grant Forrest carded a level-par 70, one less than his three fellow Challenge Tour graduates, Liam Johnston, David Law and Bob Macintyre.

Those scores left the quartet with good chances of making the cut, but it was the more experienced Drysdale who fared best among the Scottish contingent.

Enjoying calmer afternoon weather, the 43-yearold from Cockburnspath opened with a two-under 68 to sit joint ninth, three shots behind pacesetters Aaron Rai, Jason Scrivener and Yusaku Miyazato.

Drysdale birdied the first and fourth before running up a triple-bogey six at the 214-yard fifth hole. However, he repaired the damage with birdies at the 11th, 15th and 17th.

Forrest also birdied the opening hole but then dropped shots at the second, seventh and eighth. Coming home, the 25-year-old from North Berwick birdied the 12th, 13th and 15th but also had a bogey at the 14th. He sits joint 41st while Law, Johnston and Macintyre are in a share of 53rd position.

Aberdonian Law had an eagle at the 13th in the middle of a run that also saw him card a birdie and three bogeys while 22-year-old Oban left-hander Macintyre produced a solid effort that contained a birdie and two bogeys. In contrast, Johnston had a mixed bag of three birdies and four bogeys.

Thailand-based Simon Yates, a sixth player flying the Saltire in the event, opened with a two-over 72 to sit joint 72nd.

Englishman Rai carded an eagle and three birdies to set the pace along with Australian Scrivener and Miyazato of Japan. Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 69, one less than Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia.