The highly anticipated Amateur Championship got underway at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links overnight as Mark Hutson, Daniel Hillier and Luke Brown took on a field of 288 golfers from 38 different countries.
Scotland, the home of golf, provided ample sunshine coupled with a typical strong breeze which created many
challenges for the large field.
Hutson and Hillier stuck together to sit at five-over par for the championship and sit in T143, while Brown got the worst of the conditions to end the day at 14-over. South African Wilco Nienaber leads the field after an impressive round of four-under par.
With just 64 players qualifying for the match play stages of the 123rd Amateur Championship, the Kiwis will all have to fight back tomorrow if they are to make up vital ground. The cutline is hovering around the three-over mark which gives them a chance as only 8 players were under-par all day.
Although Royal Aberdeen was doing its best to eat Hutson alive, he still has a love for links golf and this historic course.
"It was tricky out there today, we had a good four-club wind so that made things very interesting, but its still one of my favourite courses," smiled Hutson.
"It still feels good to be done, it wasnt a great start, but it was nothing disastrous because you can easily get yourself knocked out of it on day one."
Hutson will now head along to the beach to play Murcar links tomorrow evening, while Hillier and Brown look to attack Royal Aberdeen and make a run at the top 64 overnight.
UK TEE TIMES
Daniel Hillier 13:24pm Royal Aberdeen
Luke Brown 07:55am Royal Aberdeen
Mark Hutson 15:41pm Murcar Links
VIDEO: Enjoy your chance to hear from New Zealands number one amateur Daniel Hillier who walks the course with another Kiwi carrying his bag at Royal Aberdeen
Walk the Course: Daniel Hillier video
Follow the Kiwis progress with through our social channels and live scoring available at randa.org throughout the championship.
- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ
