SCOTTISH OPEN STROKEPLAY - Easton leads Ayrshire challenge after day 1

Stuart Easton (Irvine) leads the Ayrshire title challenge after day one of the Scottish Open Strokeplay at Southerness GC, lying just one stroke off the lead.

In a day when the conditions were unusually calm on the Solway coast, the scoring was excellent and at the conclusion of play it was Scotland's James Wilson who led with a seven under par total of 62.

Stuart Easton returned a 63 to lie in joint second place on 6 under par whilst Jack Broun (Turnberry) also returned a sub par round of 67 )-2) to finish 6th equal after the opening round.

Ruben Lindsay (Ayr Belleisle) had a level par 69 and lies in equal 22nd place along with the majority of the field, right on the projected 2 round cut total.

The three other Ayrshire players in the field have some work to do on day two if they are to make the cut for the final two rounds on Sunday, Prestwick St Nicholas' Sandy Buchanan and Alyx Murray sitting on one over par and two over par respectively and Robbie Muir (Kilmarnock Barassie) three shots further back on five over par.

Play continues on Saturday with the second round before the field is cut for the final two rounds on Sunday.