DAVID Howell began in red figures at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after a one-under opening round of 71.

Playing at Kingsbarns, Swindon golfer Howell recorded two birdies to one bogey and is hovering around the 100 mark on the leaderboard at the end of the first day.

Howell will play his second round at St Andrews on Friday before moving onto Carnoustie for his third round on Saturday.

Fellow Wiltshire player Jordan Smith enjoyed a superb first round himself, shooting a bogey-free round of 64 for eight-under at St Andrews.

That has the Bowood player in a tie for second on the leaderboard ahead of his second round at Kingsbarns tomorrow.

Teeing off at the 10th at Kingsbarns Links, near Fife, Howell's day got off to the worst possible start as he posted an opening bogey.

There was no change to his overall score before the turn as eight pars in a row followed as the Broome Manor man closed out his front nine at one-over.

Things took a turn for the better as soon as Howell began his back nine as he recorded back-to-back birdies to climb under par.

However, the 44-year-old was unable to keep the momentum going until the close as it was back to par golf, with seven in a row put down on his scorecard to make for one-under first round total of 71.