Craig Lee savours 'phenomenal' 66 at blustery Newmachar in Scottish Challenge

Not since he flirted with shooting the first sub-60 round on the European Tour in Switzerland nine years ago has Craig Lee lit up a scorecard with so many birdies.

He started his opening round in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge at Newmachar with four on the spin, finished it with three in a row and signed for nine in total.

It was a pity that his card also contained four bogeys, but, nonetheless, a five-under-par 66 was still a fine day’s work from the 45-year-old at the Aberdeenshire venue.

“Didn’t see that start coming,” admitted Lee of an effort that left him in a tie for third as Englishman Nathan Kimsey set the pace in the £230,000 event with a splendid 64 in blustery conditions.

The Stirling man stiffed his approach at the first and second, knocked it to a foot at the third before converting an eight-footer at the fourth in his stunning start.

“Went from thinking about shooting ten-under to level would be all right,” he said of then going on a bogey run for the rest of the front nine before finding his groove again on the inward journey.

“Five-under after five holes would have been a good score; five-under after 18 holes was a phenomenal score,” he added, smiling.

Lee held a European Tour card for five straight seasons, finishing 59th in the Race to Dubai in 2013, when he lost to Thomas Bjorn in a play-off in the European Masters.

These days, the majority of Lee’s time is taken up by a ‘Pros on the Road’ business he set up to provide coaching and club repairs at some of the more remote clubs in Scotland.

“It’s been really good,” he said of a project he’s taken on with genuine enthusiasm. “Latest club to come on board is Traigh in Arisaig, so I can add that visit when I’m going up to Skye. “Falkland in Fife have