MALTON AND NORTON rookie golf proffesional Simon Dyson has given him-self a great chance of making tonight's cut in the Open at St Andrew's.

The 22-year-old went round the Old Course in a first round score of level par 72.

Something similar this evening should see him through to the last two stages and guarantee some earnings.

Dyson, who fired two birdies on the opening two holes, reached the turn in 35 shots - one under par.

He dropped another shot at the 13th, but bounced back with a birdie at the follow-ing hole and seemed on course to come in below par until he took a five at the in-famous Road Hole, the 17th.

His drive went to the left of the fairway and gave him very little room to manou-vre with his approach shot.

He did well to keep his nerve at the 18th when he saved par. His wedge to the green ended up in the Valley of Sin, but he produced a brilliant pitch shot which finished inches from the hole for a bril-liant four.

The former Walker Cup star had mixed emotions after his Open debut.

"It was great. I haven't enjoyed a round of golf like that for a long time. The crowds were brilliant.

"I struck the ball well but I am a little disappointed with level par, although if someone had offered that to me at the first tee I'd have taken it."

He added: "I just want to be here on Sat-urday and Sunday - that would be brilliant."

Dyson's scorecard: Hole 1 (par 4), 2 (birdie 3), 3 (birdie 3), 4 (bogey 5), 5 (par 5), 6 (par 4), 7 (par 4), 8 (par 3), 9 (par 4), 10 (par 4), 11 (par 3), 12 (par 4), 13 (bogey 5), 14 (birdie 4), 15 (par 4), 16 (par 4), 17 (bogey 17), 18 (par 4).

Front nine: 35. Back nine: 37. Total: 72

Ernie Els, of South Africa, was the over-night leader with 66, one stroke ahead of American pair Tiger Woods and Steve Flesch.