Better day for Ferguson

Australia’s Mike Ferguson enjoyed a signficant upturn in his fortunes when he fired a five-under 66 to open a one-shot lead after the first round of the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship over the Nicklaus course at the De Vere Carden Park resort in Cheshire.

Ferguson, 50, a rookie Seniors Tour professional from Brisbane, and the brother-in-law of the late US Open champion, Payne Stewart, started well with rounds of 72 and 71 at last week’s Senior British Open in Northern Ireland but then had to disqualify himself after realising he had signed for a wrong score in his second round.