Joshua Hill leads the Arnott’s East of Ireland Amateur Open by three shots after the opening day at County Louth Golf Club.
The Galgorm Castle star fired a five-under 67 in the afternoon that included six birdies as he held off big names in former champion Stuart Grehan of Beltway, North of Ireland winner Dylan Keating of neighbouring Seapoint, South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane of lahinch and Norway’s Nicolai Rosli.
The 22-year-old who won the Mullingar Scratch Cup in 2022 started quickly with birdies at the second and third. He bounced back from a bogey at the fifth with a birdie at the next before a blistering run of birdies on 12, 14 and 17 opened up a three shot lead by days end.
Thick rough and strong gusts saw Baltray show its teeth and it was reflected in the scoring as just seven of 132 players broke par with 26 players shooting 80 or over.
Local man and Walker Cup star of last year Gavin Tiernan is well placed after a one-under 71 alongside Royal Dublin’s Jack McDonnell in sixth while Caolan Rafferty carded a 72 on his return from injury and sits alongside former Close champion Thomas Abom, David Kitt, James Maginn, Darcy Hogg and James Fox.
Worryingly for the rest of the field, 2015 champion Grehan feels he can go through the gears over the weekend.
“I probably left a good few out there to be perfectly honest, but I played really nice golf,” said Grehan, who played Walker Cup last year too.
“I had a load of chances coming in that I didn’t really take advantage of, but look, I’m playing pretty well, so I’m pretty pleased.”
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