GOLF/East of Ireland Championship: It was a monumental effort even allowing for the balmy conditions that prevailed at Co Louth Golf Club yesterday. Noel Fox's amateur course record of 64, nine under the card - it beat the mark of 65 set by the defending champion Ken Kearney in last year's third round - was the outstanding round on a day of excellent scoring in the second round of the East of Ireland Championship.
The cut - 148 or better - was the lowest in the history of the competiton.
The 28-year-old Portmarnock member and Irish international ravaged a course rendered more accommodating by the soft greens and a gentle breeze - even though the latter disappeared midway through his round.
Fox's 64 is a new amateur record for the Baltray links and equals the professional mark set by Eamonn Darcy during the Irish PGA Championship in 2000.
His opening salvo was little short of sensational, covering the first five holes in six under par with four birdies and an eagle three at the 544-yard par five third which he reduced to a drive (circa 380 yards) and seven iron to a little over a foot. Even a scrappy bogey six at the sixth hole failed to stifle his momentum.
He turned at five under and further birdies at the 10th and 11th brought him irresistibly closer to that course record. There was, though, never the slightest manifestation of any pressure on his face or in his rhythm as he provided an exemplary exhibition of course management.
His round was not all about prodigious hitting, a quality for which he is noted, but rather control and intelligence.
He took a variety of irons off various tees to negate potential hazards and was rewarded with excellent position.
"I made some good decisions. It hasn't been my forte in rounds in the past," he said, laughing.
"I knew my iron play was very good so I didn't mind laying back. I just thought it was a really good round of golf, well thought out and well executed."
A birdie on the 15th, the byproduct of a eight iron that came to rest less than foot from the hole, saw him stand on the 18th tee at eight under. A drive of over 330 yards left him with a six iron to the par five.
"I felt very calm but just in case I was a bit excited I hit a six iron. I actually was very calm because it didn't quite get to the front of the green. The worst place to go would have been into the bunkers."
Two putts from a couple of yards off the green guaranteed a birdie and the record. Fox's round surprised very few people, quite simply because he has long been one of Ireland's most talented amateurs.
Last year he shot a 12-under-par 60 in the second round of the Mullingar Scratch Cup, a round that included two bogeys. It proved to be the lowest competitive round of golf in Europe last year either by an amateur or professional. "The 60 was probably a bit more fun," said Fox.
Twice a winner of this event, Fox is also a former West of Ireland and Irish Amateur Strokeplay champion. Poised at 10 under par with 36 holes remaining today, his immediate priority is to claim a third title at Baltray while a mid-term ambition is to make Ireland's first ever Eisenhower team.
Leading the pursuers is Lee Owens, son of Royal Dublin professional Leonard, who shot an excellent 69 for a two-round total of six under par, a mark he shares with Knock's Michael Sinclair (67).
Chris Moriarty (Clandeboye) produced a phenomenal 65 that included nine birdies and a bogey. Having shot a first round 79 he had his bags packed but was one of the 50 qualifiers for today's 36 holes.
Moriarty was seven under after 11 holes and seemed on course to match or better Fox's 64, but could not catch the Dubliner.
How Noel Fox broke the course record
(64, 9 under)
1st (par 4, 433 yards): Birdie - Drive, 7 iron to 15 feet, putt.
2nd (par 5, 482 yards): Birdie - Drive, 5 iron to 30 feet, two putts.
3rd (par 5, 544 yards): Eagle - Drive, 7 iron stone dead, putt.
4th (par 4, 344 yards): Birdie - Drive, lob wedge to eight feet, putt.
5th (par 3, 158 yards): Birdie - 9 iron to six feet, putt.
6th (par five, 531 yards): Bogey - Drive, three wood, wedge, three putts from edge of green.
10th (par four, 398 yards): Birdie - Drive, sand wedge to six feet, putt.
11th: (par five, 481 yards): Birdie - Drive, 6 iron to 25 feet, two putts.
15th (par three, 152 yards): Birdie - 8 iron to 11 inches, putt.
18th: (par five, 541 yards): Birdie - Drive, 6 iron, two putts
