Matton leads at windswept Montrose

Sam Matton was the only golfer to complete his opening round under par on day one of the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters.

Such were the conditions that play at 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event was suspended for almost three hours due to the severity of the wind at Montrose Golf Links.

The Wiltshire golfer, based at Bowood Golf Resort, shot a one-under-par 70 and leads by one in the clubhouse from Steve Uzzell (Hornsea Golf Club). Marcus Armitage is one-under in the field through 12 with four golfers level par and yet to complete their opening round.

Daniel Gavins (De Vere Oulton Hall) and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Centre), both winners on Tour already this season, each shot 72 and are two behind.

Play was suspended for two hours 56 minutes in the morning, with balls moving on the greens by over 15 inches in the high winds on Scotland’s east coast.

It means 42 golfers will have to complete their first round on Wednesday morning. The second round will commence as scheduled at 7am with the first round concluding at 7:30am.

Matton was two-under for his front nine after birdies at five, six and eight and moved to three-under with a three at the 14th. However, bogeys on 16 and 17 were his second and third of the round and he signed for a 70, the only player to break par for his first 18.

Uzzell recovered from a bogey-bogey start to sign for a level-par 71 thanks to birdies at eight, nine and 15 after he also bogeyed the 11th.

The leading 50 players plus ties following the second round will make the cut. Thursday’s final 18 will be broadcast four times on Sky Sports HD on Wednesday, September 25.

Spectator entry to the course is free throughout the week and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.