David Patrick shares West Lothian lead

David Patrick got the defence of his Scottish Young Professionals' title off to a good start at a windy West Lothian yesterday.

• David Patrick, the defending champion, recovered from an early setback to card a 71 Pic: Andrew Stuart

The former European Challenge Tour champion, aiming to become the first back-to-back winner since Chris Kelly in 2002, posted a battling level-par 71 to share the lead with Terry Mathieson and Malcolm Isaacs.

Two-over after a double-bogey 6 on the third, Patrick steadied the ship with a stream of pars before reeling off birdies at 14 and 16 to repair the earlier damage.

Peter Mitchell and Stuart Williamson lead the chasing pack on 72s while Greg McBain, the 2008 Scottish Young Pros' champion, had a 75.

Heather MacRae finished in the top-20 after a 78 while Oliver Huish, whose dad David won the title back in 1965, opened with a 79.

In Ayrshire, the opening round of the European Tour's qualifying school stage one at Dundonald Links was abandoned due to high winds and heavy rain.

Former Scottish PGA champions Mark Loftus and Chris Kelly, playing in the first three-ball of the day, just managed to finish their rounds before play was suspended at noon.

The conditions did not improve during the afternoon and tour officials finally gave up hope of resuming in the early evening.

Poor weather also disrupted the other stage one shoot-out at Fleesensee in Germany.