Golf:Portstewart's Paul Cutler carded a level par 72 in the opening round of the European Amateur Championship in Finland but it was a disappointing return for the four other Irish players selected by the GUI to compete at Vanajanlinna Golf & Country Club.
Cutler picked up an early birdie at the long second before parring his way to the turn. This year’s Lytham Trophy winner stumbled with bogeys at the 10th and 12th but got back on level terms with a second birdie at the par five 15th.
The 10th ranked player in the world amateur standings was five adrift of the joint overnight lead held by Sweden's Jesper Kennegard and Johann Lopez-Lazaro from France, who both carded 67s.
The Swede could have gone even lower had he not bogeyed his final three holes in a round containing no less than birdies.
Rory Leonard (Banbridge) was next of the Irish after signing for a 75, one better than Cian Curley (Newlands). The Castle’s Dara Lernihan (79) and Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar (80) were way off the pace and already have their work cut out to last all four rounds.
The 72-hole strokeplay event contains 144 of the game’s leading amateurs based on world rankings. The top 60 players and ties advance to the final round after a 54-hole cut.
Previous Irish winners include; Rory McIlroy (2006), Brian McElhinney (2003), Stephen Browne (2001) and Paddy Gribben (1998).