SURPRISE packet Roy Smethurst, the 54 year old amateur from Crewe, pushed aside some of the greats of the Seniors Tour at Royal Portrush yesterday to elbow his way to the top of the leader board after the first round, in the £350,000 British Seniors Championship.
Smethurst, who has been a scratch player for 35 years, handed in a five under par 67 to share the overnight lead with fellow Englishmen Neil Coles and Malcolm Gregson.
But he blew his chance of the outright lead when he three putted the home green to deny himself a 66 and to equal the course record.
"When I saw that I might be leading such greats as Gary Player I became a hit nervous. Things won't go as well tomorrow as they did today when I holed some great pulls and that will not happen again, I'm sure, said the joint leader.
Leading the Irish challenge for the title are Christy O'Connor and Norman Drew, who each posted level par 72s, as did defending champion Brian Barnes.
O'Connor, just short of his 72nd birthday, was two over at the turn, but then hit the birdie trail at the 10th, 12th and 15th.
One shot further back is Liam Higgins from Waterville who suffered a bogey five at the last hole.
