Scottish Walker Cup hopeful Kris Nicol was inspired by GB&I captain Nigel Edwards to recover a faltering first round of the St Andrews Links Trophy in good shape.
Round times stretched to five hours 10 minutes, nearly an hour more than the four hours 17 minutes time allotted by officials.
Tom Lewis, another Walker Cup contender, shares third with Nicol after a 68 from the later starters, while New Zealand’s Ben Campbell lies fifth on 69 with two younger Scots, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) and Scott Gibson (Southerness) among those on level par 71s.
Scottish champion Michael Stewart, making his return after six weeks out with tendinitis, shot a six-over 77 and said he was “rusty” but had no pain problems with his wrist.
Euan Scott, the Scottish Boys’ captain from St Andrews who is making his debut in a top-ranked senior amateur event, shot a creditable 75 with par figures for the back nine.
Leading scores:66R Enoch (Truro)67F Romero (Argentina)68K Nicol (Fraserburgh), T Lewis (Welwyn Garden City)69B Campbell (New Zealand)70E Espana (France), R M Gouveia (Portugal)71K Richardson (Australia), S Maclean (Bolivia), M Carnes (USA), C Bounoil (France), J M Joia (Portugal), S Richardson (Boston), M Steiger (Australia), M Bedford (Prestbury), J Frazer (Pennard), S Gibson (Southerness), P Shields (Kirkhill), S Stuart (St Annes Old), D Pearce (New Zealand), T Adcock (The Nevill), G Stal (France), V Flatau (Sweden)72S Binning (Ranfurly Castle), J Findlay (Fraserburgh), C Hinton (The Oxfordshire), J Senior (Heysham), J White (Lundin), J Hurst (Pleasington), G Robertson (Glenbervie), A Christie (Tyrrells Wood), P Latimer (St Andrews New), G Samuels (Leighton Buzzard), D Coupland (Boston)73B Loughrey (Wrag Barn), G Paterson (St Andrews New), F Bergamaschi (Italy), S Hodgson (Sunningdale), R Kind (Netherlands), P Cutler (Portstewart), L Motta (Italy), D Boshart (Netherlands), D Nisbet (Australia), B Soutar (Leven), B Drewitt (Australia), T Hatton (Harleyford)75E Scott (St Andrews), P McLean (Peterhead), K McClung (Wigtownshire County), G Campbell (Blairgowrie)76C O’Neil (Pollok), R Kellett (Colville Park), D Law (Hazlehead)77S Crichton (Aberdour), M Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), M Stewart (Troon Welbeck)79R Bell (Downfield), S Rennie (Drumpellier)80R Coull (Edzell)84G Nicolson (Mortonhall)88P Gault (Westerwood).
The 26-year-old from Fraserburgh had seen a two-under score evaporate as a chip at the short 13th on the New Course brought a double bogey just as Edwards, the hero of the 2001 and 2003 Walker Cup wins and captain at Royal Aberdeen this year, arrived.
Nicol’s response was impressive, with three successive birdies to secure a three-under 68 which left him two behind fellow GB&I squad member Rhys Enoch, third here in 2009 and leading with a five-under 66 in yesterday’s glorious weather.
Franco Romero, a 16-year-old from Argentina, had five birdies in his last seven holes to lie second with a 67, with Nicol the clear leader of the home contingent.
Nicol took advantage of the largely windless morning conditions to lie two-under after 12 before his only error of the day at 13.
“I missed the green and then misjudged the chip to catch the false front and ended up taking five, which was a bit of a blow,” he said.
“I managed to get back on track pretty quickly and the greens were running so fast that if you got a good stroke you could get a run going.”
Nicol holed from the edge from 30 feet at the 14th for birdie, rolled in a 10-footer at the next and tramlined a 25-footer at the 16th to fight his way back to three under, just as Edwards arrived to run the rule over the Scot.
“I was aware Nigel was out there but he’s at every event at the moment, and I’ve been at the last couple of Walker Cup squad get-togethers, including the one at Royal Aberdeen last month,” he added.
“We also played together for two rounds at the Welsh Strokeplay the other week, so I think he’s got a good idea of what I can do.”Six-man squadNicol’s aim is not yet on the Walker Cup place but one on the Scottish six-man squad for the European Team Championships in Portugal in July, which will be key to deciding who plays the USA at Balgownie.
“I want to be sure I’m in that team so the next couple of weeks with this and the Amateur at Hillside will be crucial, and my form is pretty good going into that spell.”
Enoch had eight birdies in his 66 to give a boost to what will be a key year for the 22-year-old, who is based in Cornwall but represents Wales.
Having finished a degree in Tennessee, Rhys can go back to do his Masters or try tour school.
“I’ve got a few options available but I’m just going to try and enjoy the season, and I always love playing here at St Andrews,” said Enoch, who missed the Links Trophy last year due to college commitments.
Romero, no relation to his countryman Eduardo, has already won five homeland events with a 65 on the Doral Blue Monster in Florida on one practice round.
On his first competitive visit to St Andrews, he had an adventurous start but scorched his way down the inward half in 30 strokes to lie second.
Despite near perfect weather, at least before an afternoon breeze, there were no outrageous scores and players obviously had difficulties with the course.
Continued with leading scores…