On a dreary day in East Lothian, with the first round curtailed for over two-and-a-half hours due to poor visibility in the mist, local lad Forrest lived up to his top- ranked status with a five-under-par 66.
Walker Cup winner Forrest, who plays out of the nearby Craigielaw club, is the leading player in the 144- man field at world amateur-ranked 28 and carded seven birdies and an eagle in his topsy-turvy round to hit the front late in the day.
Peebles’ Craig Howie, fresh from a second place finish in the equivalent Welsh event, looked set to lead after the former Scottish Boys champion posted a 67, only for Forrest to edge ahead in the 72-hole event with his score recorded shortly after 8:30 p.m.
A five-strong group of players sit on thee-under par, all from different countries, as a global field savor the test around Gullane No 1, last year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open venue.
England’s William Enefer, Charlie Dann from Australia, Pierre Junior Verlaar (Netherlands) and Welsh pair Adam Wilson and Owen Edwards are all sitting in a share of third spot.
Australian Amateur champion Connor Syme is well- placed after a 70, achieved in the hardest rainy conditions at the start of the day, and he explained the challenge.
The Drumoig player said: “It was brutal this morning. It was really misty and it was the rain that gets you soaked. It was a grind from the start.
“But the greens are immaculate and I felt there was a score out there as there are birdies chances. I hit a drive and pitching wedge for eagle into the par-5 12th such was the wind, but on another par-5 I couldn’t get up in two into the wind.”
Nairn teenager Sandy Scott is among a nine-player group on two under par, with a number of first rounds to be completed on Saturday morning.
