Dylan Keating leads the AIG Irish Men’s Close Championship by two shots at a sun drenched Portumna Golf Club.
Keating carded a six-under-par 66 on his way to the top of the leaderboard and he is bidding to emulate Darren Clarke’s feat of 1990 and win the North and Close double.
The Seapoint man is being chased by Liam Abom of Edmondstown, Dooks’ Conor Hickey and Carton House’s Jordan Boles who carded four under rounds of 68. Then tucked in behind are the big names in Walker Cup hopefuls David Howard and Thomas Higgins with three-under-par rounds of 69. Former West of Ireland champion and recently crowned Mullingar Scratch Cup winner Dylan Holmes is also lurking alongside the duo.
After opening his round with seven successive pars, Keating roared to the top of the leaderboard with six birdies in seven holes.
He rolled in three in a row from the 8th before carding another hat trick of birdies from the 12th. His only blemish came on the 16th but he finished in style with a birdie at the par-3 18th.
Scoring HERE
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