A birdie-birdie finish helped Matt Wallace make an encouraging start to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but Moor Park club-mate Callum Shinkwin has plenty of work to do after a difficult opening day in Scotland.

Wallace, who is partnered by journalist Davis Walsh in the European Tour Pro-Am event, began his challenge with a three-under-par round of 69 at St Andrews’ Old Course to leave him in a share of seventh, two shots off the lead.

Shinkwin is in one of the more high-profile pairings at the three-course event alongside former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, but the Bushey professional has ended day one in a tie for 149th following a four-over-par 76 at Carnoustie.

Having teed off from the tenth, Wallace reached the turn following birdies at the par four 14th and par three 18th.

The 27-year-old’s sole dropped shot came at the par four seventh, but he responded well with birdies at the par three eighth and par four ninth to leave him two adrift of joint leaders Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Dunne.

Shinkwin got his challenge underway at the same time as his club mate, but he was soon on the back foot after a double bogey six at the second.

The 24-year-old retrieved one of these shots with a birdie four at six, but went out in a two-over score of 38 following a bogey four at the eighth.

Three more dropped shots followed on the back nine with bogey fives at 11, 15 and 18, although he did birdie the par five 15th to also come home in 38 shots.

The event sees two competitions run in parallel as players tackle St Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Each professional is partnered with an amateur for the duration of the tournament, with players alternating between the three courses.

While the professionals take part in a strokeplay competition, there is also a Pro-Am event with the best score on each hole from every pair counting.

The field is reduced to 60 professionals including ties, plus the top 20 Pro-Am teams, after the first three days, with Sunday’s final round being staged at St Andrews.