Peter Baker, of England, drives for the seventh green at the Catalan Open

Peter Baker, of England, drives for the seventh green at the Catalan Open in Tarragona yesterday. Baker's first-round score of 70 put him five shots off the lead forged by the Scot, Paul Lawrie. The 27-year-old from Aberdeen had nine birdies in his first 16 holes and then reached the green in two at Bonmont's treacherous 569-yard 17th, a hole that had earlier seen Russell Claydon, from Cambridge, take 11. But, in trying to hole his 20-foot eagle attempt, Lawrie knocked the ball four feet past the pin and missed the return. The par five meant he had to settle for a 65 and only a one-stroke advantage over the promising Englishman, 20-year- old David Howell, and the Spanish pair of Domingo Hospital and Fernando Roca.

Photograph: Allsport