PETER Townsend's debut on the European Seniors Tour ended in disappointment with a first round of 78 in the Motor City Seniors Classic at the Warwickshire to be nine shots behind the leader, Ken Fulton, from Canada.

Townsend, the former Portmarnock club professional, said: "I played badly and putted like a donkey."

One of his playing partners was the former Ryder Cup player, Tommy Horton, now the European seniors number one, who said: "Peter was very rusty, but he conducted himself well in difficult conditions."

High winds and bitter cold sent scores soaring, and the best of the nine Irish players were Waterville's Liam Higgins and Irish seniors champion Paul Leonard. They had shared the lead after 12 holes, but both finished on 75.