Gidney holds nerve on first day as a pro

The latest player off the Shropshire golf production line swapped the relative comforts of the amateur game for the cut-throat world of professional sport at The Oxfordshire yesterday.

The transition was smooth, an opening one-over-par 73 representing a fine start to his first ever visit to European Tour qualifying school on a brute of a 7,300-yard course which was offered even greater protection by 20mph winds.

And it wasn't simply the score which made the Church Stetton player's efforts so impressive.

His statistics were eye-catching. Using a driver he picked up for the first time a little over a week ago, he missed just two of 14 fairways - and both of those by less than five yards - whilst hitting 13 of 18 greens.

And despite two three-putts on the front nine - his inward half after starting on the 10th - he required the use of his putter a satisfactory 30 times.

Gidney's temperament also looks right for the numerous challenges ahead.

Forming an excellent partnership with Bridgnorth-based caddy Kris Williams, the former Shropshire & Herefordshire first-teamer was composed and controlled throughout.

And when a mid-round blip arrived with four dropped shots in as many holes at the same time as a Tour official was monitoring the group's pace of play, he displayed the mental fortitude to hold his score together.

He had to wait just two holes for his first professional birdie, coming at the 551-yard 11th courtesy of a smart up and down.

Indeed, his first seven holes proved serene progress, adding another birdie at the 232-yard par-three 15th and holing a 20-footer for par at the next.

The first major wobble came at the 606-yard 17th.

After another drive of supreme accuracy into the wind, Gidney's lay-up rescue wood drifted right and was gobbled up by thick rough.

The ball wasn't found and there was relief that no further damage than a double bogey seven was done.

With playing partner Luke Collins also losing a ball at the same hole, a gap opened to the group in front and, somewhat harshly, a rules official arrived to keep tabs on the pair's speed of play.

Briefly Gidney's rhythm was disrupted with further shots going at the 18th - his ninth - and the short second courtesy of a three putt.

But impressively he composed himself. A birdie at the fourth was cancelled out by a dropped shot at the fiendishly difficult 210-yard par three fifth, before he returned to one-over-par by collecting his third par-five birdie at the seventh.

Whatever the remainder of this week and the career brings, Shropshire's latest professional can be proud of his start.

By JAMES GARRISON