Henderson among Northern Open leaders

Scott Henderson knows what it takes to win a Northern Open at Cruden Bay - he's done it before and in a howling gale on the last day to boot!

So the Aberdonian, although a bit longer in the tooth these days, is pleased that there is no one ahead of him after the first day of this year's 72-hole championship at the Buchan links in the shadow of Slains Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

In fact there's a logjam at the top of the leaderboard with Henderson only one of five men sharing the pole position on two-under-par 68. The others are Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Lossiemouth amateur Kyle Godsman, Paul Robinson (Largs) and Gareth Wright (West Linton), who finished joint second in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship last week.

There are another six players breathing down the leaders' necks on 69 - Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), Colin Robinson (Elie Links), Greg Paxton (Ralston), Gleneagles Scottish PGA Professional champion Chris Kelly (unattached) and Tartan Tour No 1 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre)

At this stage of the four-round, £32,500 tournament, it would take a brave punter to put his money on his selection to be first past the winning post.

It might need the return of the high winds that swept the country last week and at the weekend to sort out this Grand National cavalry charge of a leaderboard.

And could you blame Scott Henderson for wishing the gales would return to help him sort them all out again down the home straight as he did a few years back.