Wright on form after a fine start at foggy Gleneagles

WEST LINTON'S Gareth Wright led the Lothians challenge as almost half the field returned to Gleneagles early this morning to complete their opening rounds in the Johnnie Walker Championship.The Tartan Tour player shot a two-under-par 70 over the PGA Centenary Course to sit in a tie for 21st after play was delayed for nearly two-and-a-half hours due to early-morning fog in Perthshire. Wright, whose dad Ian is the pro at West Linton, secu red his place in the European Tour event through the PGA Scottish Region last year.

But the Welshman is no stranger to playing at this level and he bagged five birdies in producing a splendid opening effort in the £1.4?million event.

"I'm very pleased overall - it's a good start," said Wright, who reckoned a group that included two of his Tartan Tour colleagues - David Patrick and Scott Henderson - had worked in his favour.

"While I won't deny I was feeling nervous on the first tee, I think that was an advantage and if I'm still around for the weekend I might get drawn with a big name then," he added.

Former Mortonhall man Patrick was also going along nicely at one time, having covered his opening 11 holes in three-under. But back-to-back double bogeys led to him having to settle for a 74.

Stephen Gallacher, who just got finished before play was stopped around 8:30pm, signed for the same score after he ran up a quadruple-bogey 8 at the eighth.

The Saltman brothers, Elliot and Lloyd Saltman, both had 73s earlier in the day, while Paul McKechnie and David Drysdale were level-par and three-over respectively as they resumed this morning.

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