Calum Hill happy with 'very good start' in wild and windy KLM Open

Calum Hill carded a three-under-par 69 in wild and windy conditions to sit three shots off the clubhouse lead when play was abandoned for the day in the first round of the KLM Open.

The two-time DP World Tour winner eagled the 18th - his ninth hole of the day - at The International in Amsterdam to turn in four under before moving to six under with birdies at the first and third.

Though he then gave two of those shots back over his closing stretch, Hill was still pleased with his day’s work in the Dutch capital.

Calum Hill pictured during day one of the KLM Open at The International in Badhoevedorp in the Netherlands | Getty Images

“I played nice as it’s a difficult course,” he declared. “This is only my second time here, but every round I’ve played it’s been horrible weather and that makes it even harder.

“I started really strong before missing a few shots coming in and dropping a couple but, overall, a very good start.”

As Frenchman Julien Guerrier signed for seven birdies and one bogey to lead in the clubhouse, defending champion Connor Syme had to settle for a 73 after finishing bogey-bogey.

“I actually played a lot better than my score,” said Syme. “I just holed absolutely nothing and, hopefully, over the next few days I can get some putts to drop.”

Englishman wins Northern Open in Lossiemouth

On the HotelPlanner Tour, Marc Warren opened with a four-under 67 to sit three shots off the lead after the first round of the Swiss Challenge at Golf Sempach, Lucerne.

It was a frustrating first round, meanwhile, for Bob MacIntyre in the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio.

Haydn McCullen shows off the Northern Open trophy after his win at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth | The PGA

As four players, including Tommy Fleetwood, set the pace with five-under 67s, MacIntyre signed for a 77 that included three double bogeys. He sits joint-65th heading into the second round.

Closer to home, England’s Haydn McCullen just held on for a one-shot win in the Northern Open after following his opening 59 with a 68 at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth.