EDDIE Pepperell got off to a decent start at golf’s British Masters – but a dropped shot at the final hole proved a big frustration.

The Frilford Heath member, who has secured three successive

top-five finishes on the European Tour, ended his opening round on a one-under-par 69 in Newcastle.

Pepperell, from Abingdon, bogeyed the par-five fifth, but hit straight back with a birdie three at the next hole.

He picked up further shots at the tenth and 13th to be in good shape, only for his progress to be halted with a bogey five at the 14th.

Pepperell went back to two-under at the 16th, but a dropped shot on the final hole saw him slip back ahead of Friday’s second round, which sees him tee-off at 1.20pm.