Salisbury and Mitchell make the early running

David Salisbury (Three Rivers) and Neil Mitchell (Bury Golf Range) set a searching pace to lead after the first day of the PGA East Region Bowl at Colchester.

The pair opened up with high-class rounds of 66 – four-under-par. That left them a shot clear of David Rickwood (Bishop’s Stortford), with a further stroke back to Michael Moore (Pinner Hill).

Salisbury was among the earlier starters and he set about establishing a strong position on a course he likes.

The Essex man, who finished tied-sixth in the same tournament a year ago, made five birdies in total – four of them coming on his back nine.

Mitchell teed off after midday and played some superb golf, notching six birdies – the last of which came at the final hole as he signed off in style.

Order of Merit leader Darren Charlton (Dunstable Downs) has work to do if he is to contend following a 72 that left him tied 42^nd. Third in the Order of Merit, James Webber (Three Rivers) faces a similar challenge after he also shot two-over-par.

But Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) opened with a 69 and is in prime position to improve on his second spot in the Order of Merit.