Former Ryder Cup player Barry Lane, now 52, made a good start to the Open Championship final qualifying event at St Annes Old Links today.
With only three of the 72 players going through to Royal Lytham in a fortnight, Lane shot a four under par 68 in the first of the two rounds. He was two behind early clubhouse leader James Hepworth.
There were competitions at four courses and at West Lancashire near Liverpool there were vastly different fortunes for two ex-British amateur champions.
Yorkshire's Iain Pyman had a three under 69 to share the lead with New Zealand's Steve Alker, but Midlander Warren Bladon had two triple bogeys in an 84 that left him in last place.
Dale Whitnell's four under 68 set the pace at Hillside, while at Southport and Ainsdale 2004 Volvo PGA champion Scott Drummond's one under 71 left him two behind French amateur and local professional Ryan O'Neill.
