Seniors Open Amateur Championship:
Shean Shines in Rain
By Norman Mair
Electronic Telegraph

THE holder, America's William Shean, shared with Canada's Lane Bickel and the former Ireland international, Frank McCarroll, the honour of the lowest round of the day in the Seniors Open Amateur Championship at Gullane. They matched the par of 71 over Gullane 2 on a day of miniature monsoons and a by no means negligible wind.

US Seniors Amateur champion in 1998, the 57-year-old Shean, who has the distinction of holding the 36 and 54-hole records at Pine Valley, bunkered a five-iron at the 13th en route to a double bogey. Nevertheless, it was, overall, a good beginning to his defence. Bickel, who used to wear glasses and dread the rain, was mighty grateful yesterday for the laser treatment which has enabled him to dispense with his spectacles.

On Gullane 1, among the five leaders with three over par 74s, were Jim McKenna, secretary/manager of Ballybunion, and Stan Fischer, a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarter-back. Charlie Green, who won this title six years out of seven, had a 74 on Gullane 2. He is now 68 but his handicap reverted to plus one this season as he cleaned up in various 18-hole events.

Sir Michael Bonallack also had a 74 on the same links having, with some success, given a first outing to an Odyssey broomhandle putter.