Apart from the obvious perils, like being cracked on the head by a stray Titleist, twisting an ankle in the rough or regularly ending up with skint knees as you crumple to the ground in cursing, howling exasperation at the sheer futility of it all, golf tends to be a fairly gentle pursuit.

“I’ve dislocated my shoulder at rugby, broken my arm at football and I'm pretty injury prone so golf is a bit easier on my body,” said Darren Howie, who has been left black and blue by a variety of other sporting endeavours but is very much in the pink here at Monifieth in the Scottish Boys’ Open Strokeplay Championship.

The 17-year-old from Peebles harnessed the tricky conditions to good effect and posted a one-under 70 for a one-over 143 which left him just a shot behind joint leaders, Ingvar Magnusson of Iceland, and Jamie Stewart of Old Ranfurly. It could have been better for Stewart, who was five-under for his round through 14 holes but was left to rue a costly double-bogey on the 17th. His 68, though, was still a fine effort as last year’s Scottish junior No 1 set himself up for a final day shoot-out over the closing 36-holes.

The Howie family, meanwhile, have already had a major junior trophy sitting proudly on the mantelpiece. Darren’s older brother, Craig, won the Scottish Boys’ Matchplay crown at Murcar back in 2012 and the healthy sibling rivalry continues to drive both on. “Whatever he does, I want to do better,” said the youngest of the Howie boys, who made his gains over the first four holes and then reeled off 14 straight pars.

Having won the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy last season, while opening the new campaign with victory on the domestic scene’s Junior Tour the other week, Howie continues to make purposeful strides. While his older brother divided full-time competition with his studies at the University of Stirling, Darren has opted for a strictly golfing education. “I left school after fifth year as I didn’t think there was much point in being there,” admitted Howie, who holds the course record at his home club in the Borders with a nine-under 61. “I would use my study leave to go out to work on my golf instead.”

Howie was joined in the upper echelons by Edinburgh’s Eric McIntosh, the reigning Scottish Boys’ Matchplay champion, who finished with a two-over tally after a 70 which featured a trio of birdies on the first three holes. McIntosh was something of a sporting all-rounder and played cricket for Scotland’s under-15s, rugby for Stewart’s Melville and pro youth football for Livingston. “I had two weeks at Hibernian as well but I preferred the coaches at Livingston,” he noted. The fact he is a Hearts fan may have had something to with that brief stay too.

By his own admission, McIntosh’s victory in the boy’s matchplay a year ago was something of a surprise but he has used that success as a springboard. “That win has made me much more comfortable and less nervous and I have that feeling now that I know I can win,” he said. McIntosh will up the ante this season and will test himself in the senior ranks, with top-level appearances at international gatherings like the Lytham Trophy, the St Andrews Links Trophy and the Amateur Championship, before heading off to start a golf scholarship at Northwestern University in Chicago. A familiar face will greet him in the Windy City in the shape of Edinburgh exile David Inglis, the former British Boys’ champion and Walker Cup player who is now the head coach at Northwestern. “David being there played a part in my decision,” he added.

Recovery of the day came from the 17-year-old German, Tom Bueschges, who posted a bogey-free 68. Given that he opened with an 83, it was quite a salvage operation as he made the cut. “I was more used to the course and had nothing to lose,” said Bueschges, who is part of a team coached by Irishman Michael Bannon, the long-time mentor of Rory McIlroy.

Over at the Girls’ Open Championship at Montrose, meanwhile, Germany’s Hannah Leonie Karg opened up a seven shot lead with a sparkling, course record-equalling seven-under 66 for an eight-under 138.

Karg illuminated her terrific card with eagles at the fifth and 14th as she grabbed the championship by the scruff of the neck. Jillian Farrell of Cardross is the best of the Scots in a share of fourth on 147.