Usual suspects make opening charge at Foxhills

There was an air of familiarity at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Foxhills.

It was a north east one-two as Eaglecliffe’s Graeme Bell, ninth last year, led the way, with 2010 runner-up John Harrison of Matfen Hall lying second. It won’t be the only time this season the pair will go head to head having also secured their European Senior Tour cards for 2015.

Bell (above), who admitted this was his main chance of silverware this year, opened his challenge with a three-under-par 70 on the Bernard Hunt course, which marginally edged out the Longcross course for receptive scoring.

But he was left to rue a rogue approach shot at the last that left him nursing a double bogey to close.

“I played good all the way round until the 18^th,” said Bell, who eagled the third and birdied the fifth, 12, 13 and 15 with his only other dropped shot coming with a bogey at the second.

“I hit a good tee shot and hit a good second shot and yet it went out of bounds. I took it back and hit another good shot and that almost went out of bounds again.

“I then managed to duff a chip and hole a chip for a six. There may have been some doom and gloom I think I got away with it as well as it was a definite eight!

“I’m pretty competitive in this age group and I just have to wait and see what happens now. As far as winning something is concerned this year this would be where my best chance is.”

Harrison has had to bide his time for a return to the tournament since his one appearance in 2010, due to being a regular on the European Senior Tour.

But he made up for lost time and expressed his delight at being back competing with his PGA peers.

“I’ve missed playing in this to be honest,” he said.

“Having been a PGA pro all my career you miss not playing in your flagship event, which this is for me so it’s nice to be back.”

Playing the Bernard Hunt course, his return opened with a bogey but Harrison responded instantly with a hat-trick of birdies. He dropped a shot at the eighth but then had a flawless back nine, picking up a shot at the 12^th.

He added: “I played really well and was pleased as it’s the best I’ve played in a while. I putted very poorly and that was down to being a bit rusty.

“My only dropped shots were down to three putts as I hit every fairway and my long game was in really good shape. I felt four or five under was a score I should have shot.”

Nestled just behind was last year’s runner up Albert MacKenzie (Saunton), just back from California in his capacity as PGA Cup vice-captain.

MacKenzie, the only player to chalk up a sub-par round on the Longcross course, was sitting on one-under alongside Roger Tuddenham (Hedge End Golf Centre).

Having missed out on the title 12 months ago, MacKenzie (above) hopes to go one better, especially with the PGA Cup looming.

“I was disappointed at finishing bogey, bogey as I hit two perfect tee shots at 17 and 18 but the second shots were the other side of the spectrum,” he said.

“Given how I hit the ball at the range this morning I’m delighted to be under par because I was not sure what was going to happen out on the course.

“I feel today I’ve got it round without being anywhere near my best.

“As for last year, it was wonderful but it would be lovely with four or five holes to go on Friday to have an opportunity to go one better than last year.

“I think it’s good for the players [in the PGA Cup team], while respecting you as a professional, that they can also see you’re still competitive and trying to win major events so they will look up to you from a playing perspective as well. Given that, it would be wonderful to do well here in PGA Cup year.”

Defending champion Kenny Hutton (Downfield), playing the Bernard Hunt course, opened his defence with a two-over-par 75.

There was also a hole-in-one for Stephen Craig, who was in the first group out. He aced the 180-yard eighth on the Bernhard Hunt course.