Herne Bay golfer Steven Tiley has made a dream start at the Open Championship, carding a first-round 66 to sit six-under-par as one of the front runners.
Tiley, representing Royal Cinque Ports in Deal, made the perfect start at St Andrews as he birdied the first and he then picked up a shot at both the fifth and sixth holes.
Having not dropped a shot, his day got even better when he birdied the par-four ninth to move to four-under at the turn and begin a serious move up the leaderboard.
Tiley held his nerve on the back-nine, not dropping a single shot and collecting two more birdies to leave himself provisionally in third place, level with early leader John Daly and one shot ahead of Tiger Woods.
Meanwhile, Zane Scotland will also be satisfied with his day’s work after closing on two-under-par, although a late bogey blotted his otherwise faultless round.
The 27-year-old, attached to Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, also birdied the first and picked up another shot at the fifth to move to two-under.
He then made par at the next 10 holes but dropped one at the 17th and looked set to finish day one at the Old Course with a round of 71.
However, he recovered to birdie the last, which was enough to claim a share of 41st place with, among others, Justin Rose, Darren Clarke and defending Open champion Stewart Cink.
Tiley and Scotland do not begin their second rounds until mid-afternoon on Friday, so will know exactly what they need to make the cut.
Visit www.golfforkent.co.uk for the latest news from the Open.
POSTED: 15/07/2010 16:49:08
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: