Smyth squanders chance to lead

IRELAND’S Des Smyth blew his chance to lead the field near the end of a long wind-wrecked opening day in the British Open seniors championship over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club’s Balgownie Links yesterday.

The two-time winner on the US Champions Tour this season, and sixth on the American seniors’ money list, recovered from an early double bogey to come to the last hole with his sights on toppling American Loren Roberts, the long-time leader with a one-over-par 72.

Smyth needed to finish with a par four and a 71 to take the lead, even a bogey to share the number one position - but the 52-year-old from Drogheda ran up a double-bogey six.