Rain takes toll on Northern Open field at Moray
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SCOTLAND’S top golfers have found the going tough in the Northern Open championship at sodden Moray Golf Club.
Torrential rain on the Lossiemouth links has affected scoring in the early groups playing the Tartan Tour event on Tuesday.
However Moray golfers have fared well in the opening round with two local amateurs featuring high up the leaderboard.
Brian Fotheringham from Forres Golf Club cared a five-over-par 76 to sit just two shots behind early leader Louis Gaughan (Bathgate Golf Club).
It could have been even better for Fotheringham, who birdied the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th holes to race to four-under early.
However with the conditions worsening, the Forres golfer bogeyed 7, 9, 10 and 15 to go back to level.
He then double bogeyed the par-4 sixteenth, and finished on a low note with a triple bogey on the 18th.
Latest scores from Northern Open
Graham Murray was one of two amateurs representing home club Moray and he came in with a 78, just one shot ahead of Elgin Golf Club professional Michael McAllan.
All three local golfers scored better than current Tartan Tour leader Scott Henderson (Kings Links Golf Centre) who scored an 80.
Amongst those who did not finish in the Lossiemouth downpour was Neil Fenwick (Dunbar Golf Club) who is currently tied for fourth place on the national order of merit.
Former European Tour players Alastair Forsyth and Stephen McAllister are amongst the star names taking part in the event.
Another high ranking entry is Welshman Gareth Wright who made the cut in the Open Championship a few years ago and is currently tied for fourth in the Tartan Tour ranks.
