With a back-to-basics approach and his golfing head screwed on, Jason McCreadie made a considered charge to the top of the leaderboard during the opening round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship over the King's course yesterday.
"I played sensibly for a change, hitting lots of fairways and greens," reported the big-hitting Buchanan Castle professional in a simple summing up of his seven-under 64. "It's not a bad wee start."
Heavy overnight rain in Perthshire had softened up the terrain and McCreadie, the national champion in 2008, took advantage with a sustained bombardment which yielded seven birdies in total as well as an eagle on the par-five 10th, where he trundled in a raking putt of 30-feet for his three. The birdie blitz began with a brace at the first and second and ended with two in a row at 17 and 18. McCreadie was not the only one to indulge in the feast.
West Linton's Gareth Wright, fresh from competing in all four rounds of the Open Championship last week, kept the momentum rolling along with a 65 to lurk just a shot off the early pace.
The 31-year-old Welshman, beaten in a play-off for the Scottish PGA title by Chris Doak in 2010, was four-under for his round playing the last and the former British Club Professionals' champion finished with a flourish, knocking an 8-iron into 15-feet and holing the eagle putt.
Craig Ronald, the Scottish champion in 2004, birdied three of his last five holes in a 67 while Graham Fox, who captured the national crown last season with four rounds in the 60s, had to settle for a level-par 71. Greig Hutcheon, last year's Tartan Tour No.1, racked up an eight at the third on his way to 73.
Meanwhile, Bradley Neil will be aiming for a notable matchplay double when he begins his challenge in the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship, which starts today at his home course of Blairgowrie.
The 17-year-old underlined his prowess in the one-to-one format by winning April's Scottish Boys' title while he also helped the Scotland national side to the final of the European Team Championship earlier this month. Neil begins his campaign with a first round tie this afternoon against Grant Minnes of Kirkintilloch.
Grant Forrest, the defending champion who played in the Open at Muirfield, is the top seed in a 256-man field that also includes the 2001 Scottish champion Barry Hume, who is back in the amateur ranks after a stint as a professional.
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