The Staysure PGA Seniors Championship got underway on Thursday at Trump International Scotland as high wind speeds increased the difficulty of an already challenging links course with only two players shooting under par.
Some big names have come out to compete for the weekend as three former Ryder Cup captains, five major winners and 12 former Ryder Cup players make up the field.
Representing the Isle of Ireland are former Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley making his third start of the year, Kilkenny’s Gary Murphy, Belfast’s Damian Mooney and Antrim’s Cameron Clarke.
It has been a tough day for the three of the four Irish lads as Gary Murphy sits on +10 leaving the 52-year-old T66 after round one. Cameron Clarke carded a +5 in putting him T30, tied with Paul McGinley on the same score.
Damian Mooney had a very respectable first round, shooting a one-over-par 73, putting the 57-year-old in a six-way tie for sixth after a topsy-turvy round.
Making his first start of the year, Mooney began with an eagle on the par-5 first hole and he closed out the front nine trading birdies for bogeys.
The back nine began with a triple on the par-5 10th but the Lough Erne professional continued to battle the elements to salvage a round that keeps him amongst the top.
Two-time DP World Tour winner Michael Jonzon leads the pack after round one at 2 under, as the 53-year-old worked hard to shoot five birdies – the most out of the star-studded 90-man field.
“I’m very pleased with a 70. It’s a tough course in any condition and with the wind today it’s very challenging. There’s a lot of crosswinds and the fairways are quite narrow in places so if you miss it by only a few yards it’s a lost ball,” said the Swede.
Emphasising the need for a strong mental approach for the week, Jonzon added: “ Even if you don’t make a big mistake, you’re going to drop shots, so you just have to be aware of that from the start and not let it bother you too much.”
He sits one clear of Sean Whiffin, who was the only other player to break par on a day where 30kmh wind gusted across unforgiving the Aberdeenshire dunes.
Local man Paul Lawrie scored well considering the conditions, finishing his round one in T12 as the 1999 Open champion seeks to back up his T14 finish at the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Old Course last weekend with a win on home soil.
“I’m a bit hacked off to get around in two-over when I’ve actually controlled my ball really well today. I’ve just hit a couple of shots that you can’t hit. But overall, I’m pretty happy,” said Lawrie.
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