Richard Sterne battled windy conditions on the opening day to shoot 71 at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on Thursday morning.
The South African shot out of the blocks with three birdies in the first three holes before dropping a shot at the fourth. He played solidly for the next 13 holes, while a few other players struggled in the breezy conditions at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
The 34-year-old made an unfortunate bogey on his final hole to fall to one-under-par and be in a share of ninth place.The six-time Sunshine Tour winner built his round on the back of excellent consistency as he found 13 out of the 14 fairways and 78% of the greens in regulation.
Joint leaders after the morning session are Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Australia’s Scott Hend, who each compiled rounds of three-under-par 69. Another South African who finished his round in the morning is George Coetzee, who limped around to tap in for a seven-over-par 79.
With tough conditions not easing up, those not finished their rounds and others still to tee off may find an unforgiving Castle Stuart Golf Links in waiting.
