HOLDER Adrian Ambler has made a great start to the defence of his Yorkshire Professional Championship at Fulford, York.

He led the first round after shooting six birdies in a six-under par 66.

The Walton player leads the 2000 champion Graham Walker (Barlborough Links) and former Ryder Cup player Gordon J Brand by one shot.

Several North Yorkshire players are still in with a shout as the top 50 qualified for today's second round.

Gary Vickers (Knaresborough) and Dave Padgett (Pannal) were four strokes behind Ambler, while Steve Robinson (Malton and Norton) and Gary Brown (Ganton) were a further shot adrift.

Fulford professional just scraped into the qualifiers on the cut mark of 75, three over par.

Brown had birdies at the 14th and 16th, but then bogeyed the last two holes of an otherwise steady round.

Jamie Ashworth, the Fulford assistant, who missed the cut by one shot last year, had a 74 to qualify.

The major surprise was the failure of Neil Cheetham, the fomer Heworth pro, to get through. He has a 78 to miss by three shots.

Updated: 12:01 Wednesday, July 31, 2002