OXFORDSHIRE’S Gary Boyd and Adam Wootton more than held their own in the first round of the Open – but it proved a nightmare day for Craig Hinton.

Boyd, from Banbury, and Oxford’s Wootton both carded a one-over-par 71 to share 51st place after the first round of the 140th Championshipat Royal St George’s.

Oxford’s Wootton at one stage was fourth, just three shots off the leader, but a disastrous 13th hole, where he double-bogeyed, saw him drop through the field.

Hinton, from Thame, was unfortunate in that he had the worst of the conditions early on, but his 12 over par 82 saw him bottom of the field after the first day.

Boyd got off to a stunning start with a birdie on the first hole, but bogeys on four and five saw him slip to one over par.

He got back to level with a birdie at seven, and parred the next six holes. He went to one under after a birdie at 14, but dropped a shot on the next.

And another bogey on 18 saw he undo some of his good work, but it was still a promising start.

Whatever happens to Wootton in the future, he will always have the claim to fame of having been fourth in an Open.

Birdies on the par three third and sixth holes – sandwiched by a bogey – saw him go out in 34. A birdie at ten took him to the lofty heights of fourth, before two bad holes somewhat ruined his round.

A bogey at 11 and double-bogey at 13 saw him drop to one over par.

He birdied the 14th, but dropped another shot on 15, before finishing with three pars. Amateur Hinton will want to forget his round.

He dropped shots on the opening two holes, and then shot a four-over par eight on the fourth. Further dropped shots on holes seven, eight, ten, 13, 15 and 18 saw him bottom of the 156-strong field.