East of Ireland Championship: It was a case of déjà vu for Mark Campbell as he swept to the top of the leaderboard at the midway point of the Irish Independent-sponsored East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth Golf Club.
None are better versed in the dangers of letting the mind race ahead than the Stackstown golfer, who is studying for a PhD in Psychology.
Last year he enjoyed the same position after 36 holes but scuppered his chances with a poor third round. He may favour a quick chat with Professor Aidan Moran, but with the chastening experience of last time fresh in his mind, he's likely to let experience guide him away from a repeat of that performance.
He goes into today's extended format of two rounds either side of a 45-minute refuelling intermission determined to heed the lessons of 12 months ago. "I blew it in the third round, despite coming back to play well over the final 18 holes," he said.
He established himself at the head of affairs at Baltray with a superb second-round 67 yesterday, five under the card, despite an inauspicious start. "I pulled an eight-iron from the fairway at the first and didn't get up and down; I ended up with a bogey."
Order was restored with a run of four successive birdies that took him to the turn in three under par. The journey home was no less efficient: seven pars with birdies at the 12th and the 15th. He missed just three fairways in the round, and said his score was underpinned by solid ball-striking and an improved short game.
The recent Carlow Scratch Cup winner stands at six under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Hugh Diamond, Gregory Carew and Seán McTernan. Diamond, who spent most of the winter practising in South Africa, shot a 68 that included a lost ball on the eighth hole, his 17th of the round having started on the 10th.
"I was in behind a mound and got a flier out of the rough. It must have flown the green as we couldn't find it. I missed a short putt on the last for birdie."
McTernan (69) is certainly in form as evidenced by his recent second place in the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Carton House. The 23-year-old completed a three-year degree in Sports Management at Toledo University, in Ohio, at Christmas and then headed for Lake Nona, Florida, where he worked at the golf resort part-time to avail of their practice facilities.
He plans to return to Lake Nona for four months next September, concentrating full-time on his golf. His round included an eagle, five birdies and two double bogeys, the latter aberrations coming at the seventh and 15th.
Local golfer Nigel Beirth managed to produce his first sub-70 round in the East of Ireland Championship after 19 years of trying and lies just two behind Campbell. His 68 contained 14 pars and four birdies.
He was due to play an Intermediate Gaelic football match for St Fechin's last night but wisely pulled out of their clash with Rahilly's.
The fine weather meant a low cut at three-over-par 147, but one of those who failed to survive on the limit to play today's final 36 holes was Noel Fox, by virtue of a second round 76.
