Team Ireland lie in a share of sixth spot after day one of the European Ladies’ Team Championship at Murhof, Austria while the gents sit in ninth position after day one of the European Amateur Team Championship at the Faldo Course at Bad Saarow, Germany.
The ladies position is largely thanks to the formidable Olivia Mehaffey from Banbridge who fired eight birdies in her seven-under-par 65 to sit on top of the individual standings.
The Arizona State star and current world amateur number 18 has been in great form this season and she’ll be hoping to provide the inspiration for her teammates who sit a full ten shots back from France who lead on 16-under-par.
Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson returned a two-under-par 70 to also heavily contribute with Lauren Walsh one further back after an opening 71, while Lisburn’s Paula Grant nailed a hole-in-one on lucky 13 to come home in level par.
Julie McCarthy (76) and Mairead Martin (79) are the other Irish representatives in Austria.
On the gents side of things unsurprisingly it’s Tramore’s Robin Dawson who’s pointing the way from an Irish perspective. The world amateur number 10 fired seven birdies on the way to his five-under-par 67 to grab a share of 3rd in the individual standings.
That was one shot better than Kinsale’s John Murphy who was the other Irishman to excel on the opening day. Murphy returned six birdies in his four-under 68 to share in 7th spot on the leaderboard.
However in terms of the team event, Ireland have work to do as they sit a full ten strokes behind England who lead on 11-under-par.
Of the other Irish competing, Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty was the only other player to manage parity or better for his round after a 72.
Naas’ Jonathan Yates (75), Hermitage’s Rowan Lester (77) and Castle’s Alex Gleeson (81) complete the Irish representation at the championships.
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