McKechnie top gun at Deeside birdie-fest
16/09/2015
Paul McKechnie maintained his winning streak by leading the birdie-fest with a six-under-par 64 in the first round of the 54-hole Paul Lawrie Men's Invitational at Deeside Golf Club.
McKechnie, a winner more than once on the Europro Tour and the man in form on the Tartan Tour with wins at Elgin, Drumpellier and Skibo Castle on the trot, had bogey-free halves of 32, studded with birdies at the first, third, fourth, sixth, 14th and 16th.
The Braid Hills Golf Range pro leads by two from nine players in joint second on 66 - Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), David Law (Paul Lawrie GC), Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), Paul Robinson (Largs), Keir McNicoll (Gullane), Jason McCreadie (Largs) and Cawder amateur international Jamie Savage.
Defending champion Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) had a 69 and is tied 20th in the chase for the £8,000 first prize.
The Bieldside par-70 course, even off the back tees, was devoured by the Tartan Tour pros and amateurs as well. With no wind and holding greens, conditions were ideal for low scoring.
By the end of the first day, 27 men in a field of 57 were under the par of 70. Deeside has never seen anything like it, even though 64 has been shot several times in this tournament over the past couple of years.
It's the number of players scoring in the 60s that is impressive.
But a warning to them from Deeside club pro Frank Coutts:
"I wouldn't be surprised if the course bites back - with a little bit of help from the weather - before the end of the third round. I hope so!" said Coutts, who was just short of Walker Cup class in his days as an amateur.
In the Paul Lawrie Ladies Invitational, Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) leads with a one-under 69 by two shots from Kylie Walker (Mar Hall).
Their event is over two rounds and the long-hitting Laura will be hard to peg back.
Alyson McKechin (Paisley), like Murray a former Scottish women's amateur champion, is coming back into that kind of form after a spell in the doldrums and she is sharing third place with Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) on the 72 mark.
