GIMME A COL; GOLF: BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN.

Byline: Bernie McGuire

ANDREW COLTART has again pleaded with Barclays Scottish Open chiefs to hand him an invite - days after sending them a begging letter.

But perhaps the Scot's most persuasive weapon was the fiveunder-par 67 he carved out during the first round of the BMW International Open in Munich yesterday.

Coltart, who is three strokes adrift of leader Retief Goosen, is desperate to play on the Bonnie Banks in a fortnight's time but his lowly Tour ranking means he is not exempt.

Realistically, his only hope is to be awarded a sponsor's invite and he will learn his fate when they meet later today.

And Coltart is praying he wins one.

He said: "You always want to be playing in your national open and being a Scot, there's nothing more satisfying than playing in the Scottish Open. You're playing in front of your family - you're playing in front of your friends and the people who have been supporting you for however long you have been a pro.

"And because it's your national open the dream of getting your name on that trophy is higher than most other events.

"Although I am in a situation because of poor performances, I believe that when we play national opens, players from that country should be considered.

"Hopefully the organisers will see fit to offer me an invite."

A Loch Lomond representative revealed eight players are seeking the two invites remaining.

And he said Coltart has already stated his case by letter.

The spokesman added: "Andrew wrote a very nice letter to Loch Lomond but there is a number of other players who also have asked for an invite." They include fellow Scot and US-based Martin Laird as wellas Frenchman Jean van deVelde. Whatever the tournament offers in golf it's unlikely to be as dramatic and gruesome as the sight PaulMcGinley witnessed in Munich.

The Irishman was playing his second shot on his 16th when a woman, acting as a scorer for his group, slipped on a bridge.

Scream

The middle-aged lady turned to watch McGinley's ball flight but she slipped, falling heavily on her back before breaking her leg.

McGinley, who carded a 68, said:"I had just played a shot into the green and heard this loud scream.

"I thought it was her back she'd broken but it was her leg. It looked awful with the bone sticking out."

Gordon Brand Junior shares the lead after the first round of the PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall.

The Scot shot a three-under 69 and is tied with American John Benda, Paraguay's Angel Franco and South African Jeff Hawkes.

Leaderboard...Leaderboard

64 - R Goosen (Rsa).

66 - R Finch.

67 - J Kingston (Rsa) N Fasth (Swe), P Price, A COLTART, M Lafeber (Ned), D Willett, G Bourdy (Fra), D Lynn, M Fraser (Aus).

68 - B Langer (Ger), S Kjeldsen (Den), A Velasco (Spa), J Sandelin (Swe), R Echenique (Arg), O Fisher, Stephen Dodd, P McGinley, B Lane, T Levet (Fra), H Stenson (Swe).

69 - A Hansen (Den), N Dougherty, B Grace (Rsa), L Oosthuizen (Rsa), Ferrie, S S P Chowrasia (Ind), T Jaidee (Tha), P Broadhurst, F Aguilar (Chi), M Millar (Aus), M Brier (Aut), I van Weerelt (Ned), G Fdez-Castano (Spa).

Other Scots: 70 - C Montgomerie, G Orr, D Drysdale. 71 - C Doak. 72 - A McLean. 75 - R Ramsay, M Warren. 76 - A Forsyth.

CAPTION(S):

GLAS ACT: Coltart looks focused as he fires one away yesterday