Gibson is best of Scots on opening

day of Belgian junior week

Southerness 16-year-old Scott Gibson was the best placed of the four Scottish competitors at the end of the first day of the Belgian junior international golf tournament at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Tervuren near Brussels today.
Gibson shot a one-under-par 72 to be one of six players sharing second place in the boys’ section, four shots behind the pacemaker, Dylan Bishart (Netherlands).
Gibson birdied the third, fourth, seventh, eight and 17th in halves of 34 (two under par) and 37 (one over). He had bogeys at the first, second and 14th.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), also 16, is lying joint 17th after a 74 which was highlighted by an eagle 2 at the par-4 14th. That helped to make up for a double bogey 7 at the long fifth and bogeys at the seventh and 16th in halves of 39 and 35.
The leading 60 boys after 54 holes will play the final round.
Girls’ title-holder Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), an 18-year-old student at Stirling University, had a bad run of bogeys on her way to a two-over-par 74, which ut her in joint sixth place, five shots behind leader Isabel Gadea (Germany).
Kelsey bogeyed the ninth, 10th, 15th and 17th, after cancelling out a second-hole bogey with birdies at the long fifth and seventh. A birdie at the 18th saw her home in two-over-par 38.
Rachel Watton (Mortonhall) had a nightmare outward half of seven-over-par 43 on her way to a disappointing opening round of 81. Her only birdie ame at the long 13th and she had a double bogey at the ninth. Rachael is sharing 34th place. Only the leading 30 will survive a third-round cut.

SCOREBOARD
.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Boys
Par 72
67 Dylan Boshart (Net).
71 Scott Gibson (Sco) 34-37, Joachim Brandt Hansen (Den), Raphael Higuet (Bel), Fabian Lohr (Ger), Edouard Amacher (Swi), Thomas Pieters (Bel).
Selected scores:
74 Jack McDonald (Sco) 39-35 (jt 17th).
77 Rory McNamara (Ire) (jt 32nd).
Girls
Par 72
69 Isabel Gadea (Ger).
70 Marianna Causin (Ita).
72 Fanny Cnops (Bel).
73 Camille Richelle (Bel), Laura Sedda (Ita).
Selected scores:
74 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 36-38 (jt 6th).
76 Louise Mernagh (Ire).
77 Louise Coffey (Ire).
81 Rachel Watton (Sco) 43-38 (jt 34th).