WILTSHIRE'S golfing trio each had their individual struggles on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland today.

Best placed of the three in the pro-am event after day one was Derry Hill's Jordan Smith, who posted an opening round of 73, one over par at Kingsbarns.

The Bowood player birdied the long third but gave the shot back at the seventh to go to the turn in 36.

A further birdie followed at the 12th, but Smith was unable to follow up as he dropped shots at the 14th and 18th.

Starting on the 10th at Kingsbarns, the round of Swindon's David Howell got off to an inauspicious start as he double-bogeyed his opener.

He quickly got back on the right track with a birdie at the long 12th but then fell foul of the short 15th hole, running up another double bogey.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner, playing alongside actor Hugh Grant in the pro-am team event, responded well again by birdieing the 16th hole but back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th took him to the turn in 40 strokes.

He started his back nine steadily, but then dropped a further shot at the fourth hole before bouncing back with a birdie at the sixth.

However, a bogey at the short eighth dropped him back again as he signed for a five-over-par round of 77.

Cumberwell Park’s Laurie Canter lay four over par after an eventful opening round at St Andrews.

Starting on the 10th, his front nine consisted of three birdies - including the famous Road Hole 17th and 18th - two bogeys and one double bogey but he dropped three more shots on the way home to post an opening-round 76.

Australia's Marcus Fraser led the way after a four-under-par 68 at Carnoustie with defending champion and victorious European Ryder Cup team member Tyrell Hatton was two strokes back.