GOLF/Digest: Denis O'Sullivan carded a six-under-par 66 to open a one-shot lead after the first round of the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open at The Roxburghe yesterday.
The former Irish amateur international from Cork carded an eagle and five birdies to finish the round a single shot ahead of England's Neil Coles and Denis Durnian.
America's Steve Stull returned a three-under-par 69 to finish the round in fourth place, one shot ahead of compatriot Bill Brask and England's Tommy Horton.
O'Sullivan won twice on the Seniors Tour in both 2000 and 2001, but this season his best performance came when he lost out to Japan's Dragon Taki in a sudden-death play-off at the Bad Ragaz Open in Switzerland.
The Irishman has high hopes of ending that winless run after a round which started with a birdie on the 364-yard par four third hole and a spectacular eagle on the 546-yard par five fifth hole, where he pitched in from about 40 yards below the green.
He dropped a shot on the sixth to go out in 32, but then came storming home with an inward nine of 34 that included birdies at both of the last two holes.
"That was as good a round as I have had for a while," confirmed the 54-year-old. "I have been playing pretty well for the last few weeks but it hasn't quite been happening for me.
"Today was a bit different," he added. "I hit a couple of bad shots but I got away with them and that's what you need if you are going to post a good score."
Coles matched his age for the fourth time in competition with a marvellous round in which he went out in one-under-par 35, but then came home in a four-under-par 32 that included birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 18th.
The Englishman came into the event fresh from finishing tied fourth at last week's European Senior Masters at Woburn Golf & Country Club and will now be intent on extending his record as the oldest man to win on the Seniors Tour.
Coles set a world record when he captured the Lawrence Batley tournament at the age of 67 and 276 days at the end of June, and he would be 67 and 361 days if he were to collect the £22,500 winner's cheque on Sunday.
"I hit a lot of solid shots out there," confirmed Coles, who played in eight Ryder Cups. "I mucked it up a bit coming down the stretch last Sunday so I would love to make amends for that. But at my age it's just nice to be playing. I still love the competition."
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TOUR SCHOOL: Seven Irish players have made it through to the second stage of the European Tour qualifying school after yesterday's fourth and final round on stage one, played at five venues.
At Cheshire's Carden Park, first round leader Michael Hoey, the Walker Cup player from Shandon Park, who broke the course record with a 63 in the first round, closed with a 72 to finish fifth, nine shots behind Australian amateur Marcus Fraser who closed with a 69 to post an impressive 15-under-par total.
Hoey was joined by Athlone's Colm Moriarity (67) and Gary Cullen (74) of Beaverstown.
At Five Lakes, Killarney's Daniel Sugrue fired a 64, which enabled him to finish joint ninth on 277. Paddy Gribben finished sixth after a 68.
At the Wynyard, in Durham, Andrew McCormick (68) of Scrabo and Stephen Browne (73) of Hermitage also qualified.
