Hill climbs to share lead with PGA Cup ace

Local amateur Calum Hill is halfway towards a golfing fairytale after earning a share of the lead with PGA pro Gareth Wright following the first round of the £50,000 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Qualifier at North Berwick.

On a day that started in wet and windy conditions but ended in glorious summer sunshine on the East Lothian coast, the duo carded matching seven-under-par 64s to lead the chasing pack by one shot heading into today’s second and final circuit in the new event.

With five spots up for grabs in the £3.25m AAM Scottish Open starting at Gullane on Thursday, Tartan Tour No 1 Greig Hutcheon is also in the mix, sitting joint-third alongside Jamie McLeary and Ross Dixon.

Hill, who is a member of Tantallon and lives the length of a par 5 from the host club, thrilled the locals with his opening salvo on a course he “knows like the back of my hand”.

It wasn’t the 19-year-old’s lowest score on the historic West Links - he once shot 63 in a bounce game - but to produce such an excellent effort in the heat of battle against more experienced pros was an outstanding effort.

Indeed, it was just one shot outside the course record, held jointly by former Masters champion Trevor Immelman and Irishman Colm Moriarty from Open Championship qualifying in 2002.

Hill’s card contained eight birdies, the last of which was witnessed by a large gallery that had followed the local hero over the final few holes.

"I enjoyed it when the crowd started to swell,” said the former Tantallon junior champion, who is at the University of Louisiana Monroe and won his first event on the US college circuit earlier in the year.  

“It was nice to get a cheer when I holed a 15-foot birdie putt at the last.”

West Linton pro Wright, who has qualified for the PGA Cup for the second year in a row, was also pleased with his start, having qualified for the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield on the same course.

“Something like that gives you good memories and it’s a course that really suits my eye,” said the Edinburgh-based Welshman after a flawless opening effort.

“It could have been a ridiculous score,” he added, “because I missed from three feet for an eagle at the eighth and another couple for birdies from inside six feet.”

Dixon, a 29-year-old teaching professional at The Renaissance Club close to Gullane, hit 18 greens in regulation in his bogey-free opening effort.

“I holed a few good ones for birdies - a 35 footer at the third, a 25 footer at the eighth and a 20-footer at the ninth,” reported the Troon man, who is still a member at Barassie but now lives in Edinburgh.

“I’m not thinking about the Scottish Open at the moment, just playing golf and sticking to my game plan. But no doubt that might change overnight.”

Marriott Dalmahoy man McLeary is on course to make amends for agonisingly missing out by a single stroke in the aforementioned Open qualifier two years ago.

“I opened up with a 66 in that, so one better today,” said the recent KPMG Trophy winner on the Challenge Tour.

“If I had putted like that at Gailes this week I’ve have made the Open easily,” he added, referring to the fact he missed out on a play-off by a shot in the final qualifying for this year’s Claret Jug joust at St Andrews.

Hutcheon, the Tartan Tour No 1, roared home in 29, six-under-par, after igniting his challenge with an eagle at the 11th then following it with four birdies.

Gullane head pro Alasdair Good had an 80 but one of his assistants, Keir McNicoll, is still in the hunt to join Rory McIlroy & Co after a 68.

After signing for the three-under effort, he quickly changed into his kilt to attend a wedding near Perth.

“I've missed the ceremony due to the weather delay, which is a pity, but at least I'll be at the reception,” said McNicoll. “I'll be taking it easy, though, as I'm driving back tonight."