County golfer Grant Forrest has an uphill battle to make the cut at The Genesis Scottish Open after a frustrating four-over-par 74 at the Renaissance Club.

Forrest started steady from the 10th tee, making par on the opening four holes before making bogey after a disappointing three-putt from the back of the green on 14 (his 5th).

From there Forrest was battling against himself, even slightly wayward tee-shots were getting punished as the difficult breeze and unforgiving rough made it hard to get the ball close to the pin.

Forrest made two great up and down saves on his 6th and 7th before coming close for birdie on his 8th but would drop another shot on his 9th.

Two-over at the turn he would make back-to-back pars before making a fantastic birdie on the par-five 3rd (his 12th).

He would give the shot straight back however, wild right from the tee and forced to hack out before struggling with he up and down to make bogey.

Another poor tee shot followed on 14 (5th), resulting in another missed green-in-regulation and another bogey to take him back to three over.

Forrest then started to get the putter working, holing two long efforts to save par at 15 (6) and 17 (8), but he would drop another on his last to finish the day on plus four.

Forrest spoke to the Courier about his round and admitted that it was not his day out on the course despite parts of his game feeling good.

He said: “I didn’t play nearly as bad as I scored, it was tricky in the wind and the dodgy lies in the rough it was hard to control your distance.

“Short game and putting wasn’t sharp enough but there was plenty good, it was the best I’ve driven the ball for a long time so we will take that in to tomorrow.

“And just hope I can get the scoring boots on.”

Forrest said that going into tomorrow the main aim is to hole more putts to help him score better.

He said: “Couple of three-putts and I didn’t really hole much – it’s tough to get it close.

“The pins and the breeze, if you are not in the fairway and even if you are sometimes, it’s hard to get it close.

“You’re relying on making some longer putts."

But Forrest was still honoured to play in front of such a massive home crowd, the largest he has ever seen on a Thursday.

Adding that it is “great for the area” economically and amazing to see so many youngsters out and enjoying the golf.

Forrest tees off tomorrow at 1.55pm some way off the leaders with Cameron Tringale currently sitting on nine-under after an incredible 61.