Golf: Scots seniors draw with Wales in their Crail opener

SCOTLAND'S over-55s golf team, featuring Lothians duo David Gardner and Ian Taylor, had to settle for a share of the spoils against Wales in their opening match at the Senior Home Internationals in Crail yesterday.

The Scots, who won the title the last time the event was held on home soil, at Dunbar in 2006, emerged from a tight tussle with a 4-4 draw.

All-square at 1 points each after the morning foursomes, the hosts edged in front when Scottish Senior No.?1 Tony Stafford beat Keith Stimpson 3 and 1 in the top singles tie. Broomieknowe's Gardner pitched in with a 4 and 3 win over Robert Broad while Edzell's Jim Watt beat Jeff Thomas by a similar margin. But defeats for Royal Burgess man Taylor, Colin Christy and Scottish champion Scott Macdonald saw the Welsh grab a draw.

At windy West Lothian, Capital star David Patrick got the defence of his Scottish Young Professionals' title off to a good start. 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 Dunbar trainee Terry Mathieson and Malcolm Isaacs of Nairn Dunbar

Two-over after a double-bogey six on the third, Patrick steadied with a stream of pars before reeling off birdies at 14 and 16 to repair the earlier damage. Peter Mitchell is one of the players leading the chasing pack on 72, while North Berwick's Oliver Huish opened with a 79.

In England, Craigielaw's Grant Forrest had a first-round 78 in The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament at Royal St George's. The Scottish Boys' champion Forrest is seven shots behind leader Dermot McElroy, who leads by two from 15-year-old Curtis Cup player Leona Maguire.