Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) and Ian Bohane (Lee Valley) are out in front after the opening day of the Irish Mid-Amateur Championship at Nenagh Golf Club.
Both players carded rounds of 72 and 70 to join each other as the only players under par for the tournament thus far.
“My first round started off pretty well,” said Bohane who birdied his 4th and 5th holes. “I had a bit of a sloppy finish this afternoon but generally I hit the ball well, got up and down well and the greens are some of the best I’ve putted on this year.”
The 35-year old has played just a handful of National Championships before but competes regularly on the scratch cup circuit around his local clubs in Cork.
“I finished in the top-10 in the Mallow Scratch Cup this year but missed the cut in the Munster Stroke Play by a shot so it’s been a quiet enough season. We were knocked out of the Senior Cup early too so no joy just yet.”
“I held out well all day really, my putting from inside 10 feet was pretty good so it kept the momentum going. The pins are pretty tricky but you’ve got to stay patient. I’m normally not great at doing that but I somehow managed to do it today!”
Kirby also credits his putting for keeping him high on the leader board, paying particular credit to a recent lesson on the greens.
“I got a putting lesson with a friend of mine a few weeks ago and it’s made a huge difference to be honest. These greens are just scary so if you can’t putt well here you’re in trouble. It was great to come in with a bit of confidence on the greens and I’d be amazed if anyone putted as well as I did today – I held a lot of putts!”
Kirby, a Recruitment Sales Manager, entered this event with little expectation, despite some consistent play during the summer months.
“I’d no expectation to be honest. I’ve been playing quite good this season but I’m also a tennis player and have been playing more tennis than golf recently, but that’s probably why I played well today!”
Bohan and Kirby sit two shots ahead of former North of Ireland Champion Ian Lynch (Rosslare), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) and James McLoughlin (Portumna) who are tied for third on level par .
Irish International Colm Campbell posted two eagles in his second round 69, leaving him four shots off the lead heading into the final round on Sunday.
Full tournament information can be found HERE
Scores after 36 holes
142 P Kirby (Dun Laoghaire), 72, 70; I Bohane (Lee Valley), 72, 70
144 I Lynch (Rosslare), 71, 73; G Dunne (Co. Louth), 71, 73; J McLoughlin (Portumna), 70, 74
145 J Lyons (Galway), 76, 69; F Kennedy (The Island), 76, 69
146 C Campbell (Warrenpoint), 77, 69; E O’Donnell (Tralee), 69, 77
147 T Cleary (Woodstock), 78, 69; C Ryan (Killeen Castle), 75, 72; K McCarthy (Kinsale), 74, 73; S Hogan (Nenagh), 72, 75
148 E Marsden (Tullamore), 78, 70; K Bornemann (Douglas), 75, 73; J Kehoe (Limerick), 74, 74; P Buckley (Cork), 74, 74; E McCormack (Galway), 73, 75; S McGlynn (Portmarnock), 72, 76
149 C Dunphy (Killeen Castle), 79, 70; R Gribben (Warrenpoint), 74, 75; A O’Callaghan (Tralee), 73, 76; J Greene (Portmarnock), 72, 77
150 G Lenehan (Portmarnock), 78, 72; D Shiel (Powerscourt), 76, 74; D King (Powerscourt), 76, 74; T Neenan (Lahinch), 74, 76; M Kelly (Naas), 74, 76; G Callaghan (Co. Louth), 72, 78
151 B Best (Rathmore), 78, 73; B Shally (Dromoland), 77, 74; T O’Connor (Athlone), 74, 77
152 P Murray (Clontarf), 79, 73; J Bernie-Jnr (Athenry), 79, 73; J Murray (Lee Valley), 77, 75; K Stack (Dungarvan), 77, 75; R Leonard (Banbridge), 75, 77; C O’Connor (Corrstown), 75, 77; K Murray (Arklow), 73, 79; M Flanagan (Portumna), 71, 81
NON-QUALIFIERS
153 O Grogan (Moate), 80, 73; T Scroope (Nenagh), 80, 73; D Joyce (Powerscourt), 76, 77
154 A Thomas (Tramore), 80, 74; N Crawford (Mourne), 78, 76; J Galway (Lee Valley), 77, 77; B Lenihan (Ballybunion), 77, 77; A Lynch (Bray), 76, 78; K Crowley (Fota Island), 76, 78
155 M Judge (Stackstown), 79, 76; E Savage (K Club), 78, 77
156 L McMillan (Elmgreen), 82, 74; R Connolly (Grange), 78, 78; D Glynn (Galway Bay), 77, 79; D McDonald (Old Conna), 77, 79
157 D Coyle (Portmarnock), 81, 76; G Wade (Seapoint), 81, 76; J Monaghan (Royal Dublin), 80, 77; B Jackson (Powerscourt), 77, 80
158 S Moloney (Castletroy), 77, 81; D McCormack (Corrstown), 77, 81
159 D Kelleher (Portmarnock), 82, 77; M O’Neill (Coollattin), 74, 85
160 J Cleary (Portumna), 80, 80
162 M Duffy (Naas), 81, 81
163 P Flynn (Tramore), 84, 79; T Corcoran (Carlow), 84, 79; G McKenna (Donaghadee), 82, 81; J McCarthy (Powerscourt), 81, 82; D O’Neill (The Links Portmarnock), 81, 82
165 M Nicholson (Antrim), 79, 86
RTD P Connolly (Killeen Castle)
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