Portmarnock’s Adam Fahey fired a six-under 66 in the opening strokeplay round of the R&A’s Boys Amateur Championship at County Louth Golf Club, and he’s part of a four-way tie at the top.
The 17-year-old teed off just after midday, and opened with two pars before an eagle on the third kickstarted his charge. Birdies on four, six and eight got him to the turn at -5, but it was much more sedate on the back. After reeling off eight pars, he closed out with a final birdie on the par-5 18th, completing a bogey-free round that has him well on course for the matchplay section which begins after round two.
Fota Island’s John Doyle is next best of the Irish at -3 and sharing 15th, while Mark Cadden of Roganstown is part of a 25-man group at -1 who all share 37th.
Local boy Louis Goodman finds himself tied for 62nd after covering his home course in level-par, while John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) and Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) on +2, Douglas’ Sean Reddy on +3, and Rory Gallagher (+4) and Caolan Coleman (+8) both of Galway Bay have plenty of ground to make up if they’re to see matchplay action.
In the Girls Amateur Championship at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales, Royal Portrush’s Hannah Lee-McNamara lies tied for 32nd on +2, and she’s the only one projected to qualify for matchplay as it stands after round one.
Olivia Costello of Roscommon is just the wrong side of the mark in a share of 72nd at +5, one ahead of another Portrush member in Gemma McMeekin and Molly Campbell of Hollinwell.
Roisin Scanlon had a horror-finish to her round, making back-to-back quadruple bogeys on 16 and 17 to finish on +7, but she’ll take solace in the fact that her 15-hole tally would’ve had her inside the top 10 and she only needs to finish in the top 64 to advance.
Leave a comment