McMaster leads 17 qualifiers in Crieff

Downfield's Christopher McMaster led the 17 qualifiers for the M and H Scottish PGA Championship following a five-under par score of 66 at Crieff Golf Club on Tuesday.

In the first of two qualifying rounds for the main event over the King's Course, Gleneagles from October 16-19, McMaster topped the class by two strokes from Myles Cunningham (Kings Acre) and Fraser McKenna (Caldwell).

Back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth followed by another at the ninth put McMaster in a strong position heading into the back nine. 

His bogey-free round ended on a high as he birdied both the 17th and 18th to finish on 66, two shots ahead of his nearest rival to earn himself £100.