JODY FANAGAN was more than content after an opening round of 76, six over par, in the qualifying stages of the amateur championship at Royal St George's yesterday.

The Irish international from Milltown recovered from a disastrous start that saw him drop three shots at the first hole; but on a day when the winds of up to 30 m.p.h. sent the scores soaring, Fanagan regained his composure to pick up shots at the 3rd, 7th and 14th holes.

He finished the day six shots behind the Australian-born England international Matt Carver, whose level par 70 was a remarkable score in the conditions - and given the recent history of the man.

The 23-year-old was almost paralysed in a horrific road crash two weeks' ago.

He suffered total body paralysis for the first two days after the accident. "The doctor did say there was a chance I might be paralysed for good but thankfully the feeling began to come back gradually," said Carver.

"The strange thing is I still have completely no feeling at all in both my forearms from the elbows down to the wrists. It's weird but it doesn't seem to affect my golf. The doctors have told me it might stay like this or come back gradually over a period of months but I'll just play on."

For Fanagan, a solid performance in today's second qualifying round over the Royal Cinque Ports should see him safely through to the knockout stages.

"I have struggled with my game this season and to be honest, I'm delighted with a 76 in conditions like these," he said.

Fellow Irish international, Bryan Omelia struggled to an 81 at St George's, while on the adjoining Royal Cinque Ports, Irish champion Peter Lawrie and Chris Devlin both returned scores of 83, 11 over par, and face an uphill task to qualify.