Hanson shines on first day at Scotland EuroPro Tour event

Talented golfer Christopher Hanson maintained his fine start to the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour by leading after day one of the latest event.

Hanson, 21, who lives in Huddersfield and represents the Crosland Heath club, fired an excellent six-under first round total of 66 at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Peebles, Scotland.

More than 150 of the best young professionals from Britain, Ireland and Spain were taking part in this tournament with Hanson gaining an early advantage.

He has made the cut in each of the three previous tournaments this season and was on course to do so again after his round, which included seven birdies and one bogey.

This is his second year on the tour and he enjoyed a successful 2006 as he won an event at Bovey Castle, Devon, in August and finished seventh in the order of merit list after winning nearly.

Hanson sits two shots ahead of Neil Walker with three players – Adam Scallon, Tom Haylock (Hertfordshire) and Jeremy Kavanagh (Stoke Park) – on three-under.

Each of the competitors will play a second round tomorrow with the top 50 and ties moving on to the final round on Friday, all vying for victory.

The three players that had won the opening three tournaments of the season were drawn together in the event, which is sponsored by www.matchroompoker.com.

Colm Moriarty (Glasson Golf Hotel) and Brian McElhinney (North West GC), who both come from the Ireland, along with England’s Graeme Clark went out in the same group but suffered mixed fortunes.

Two birdies in the last four holes from Moriarty saw him end on two-under, one-shot ahead of McElhinney. However, Clark produced a disappointing effort of one-over as a triple-bogey eight on the final hole ruined his day and left him needing a good second round to stay in the competition.

Elsewhere, two Scottish players – Paul Doherty and Christopher Campbell (The Carnegie Club) are among 12 players on one-under with Chris Kelly and Neil Henderson (The Glen Golf Club) on level par.