JODY FANAGAN, of Milltown, carded a two-under-par round of 66 across the Arran course at Turnberry yesterday to lead the qualifiers into the matchplay stages of the British Amateur Championship.
The 30-year-old, who was the only player to record a 100 per cent record in the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland at Royal Porthcrawl last year, finished on a level par, two-round total of 138. That excellent score placed Fanagan at the head of a field of 288.
Though Fanagan said he was playing conservative golf in order to qualify, he benefitted from a tip from his local caddy. He recorded three birdies and only one bogey across the shorter qualifying course. "I'm not sure if I am happy about being the leading qualifier, as they have a habit of crashing out in the first round of this tournament," he said.
Fanagan was joined by his Leinster team-mate, Peter Lawrie, of University College, Dublin, after the youngster carded a gritty, three-over-par 71 across the same course.
George Paterson, of County Sligo, comfortably made the cutoff mark after posting a six-over-par 76. The head greenkeeper at Rosses Point had four birdies in a level par outward half, but was relieved to finish below 80 as high winds buffeted competitors.
He will not be joined in the first round today by Graham Spring, of Tralee. The 23-year-old full-time amateur added a six-over-par 74 across the Arran course to his opening 79 on the Ailsa to miss out by just a single shot.
Bernhard Langer has yet to confirm his participation in the Murphys Irish Open which takes place at Druids Glen GC on July 4th-7th, although the organisers remain hopeful he will decide to contest a title he last won in 1994.
"We believe Bernard has stepped back to review his schedule and, although we have yet to receive his entry, we have no reason to think he will not be playing, despite the closeness of the tournament," said tournament consultant Paddy Rossi.
Already Ernie Els, the 1994 US Open champion, Europe's Ryder Cup captain Seve Ballesteros, defending champion Sam Torrance, Europe's number one Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam have confirmed they will be competing at Druids Glen, a venue hosting the tournament for the first time but which will also be the venue again next year.
Els, fellow South African Pappas, Australian Bradley Hughes and Gordon Sherry, the Walker Cup star who turned professional just last month, have received sponsors invitations but the remaining wild cards have yet to be handed out.
Meanwhile, Italy and India are to replace Argentina and Taiwan in the 16-team Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews from October 10th-13th. Costantino Rocca's victory in the Volvo PGA championship eight days ago helped to earn the Italians their first call-up since 1992.
