Drama unfolded on various counts at Royal Portrush yesterday as Australian Noel Ratcliffe slipped into gear to take the lead at the halfway stage of the rain-lashed and wind-tossed £750,000 British Seniors' Open Championship.
Providing much of the controversy was Liam Higgins who was forced to pencil in a horrendous five-over-par nine at the 12th hole at a time when he was snapping at the heels of the leader at five-under.
Higgins' drive swerved into jungle country and after a search the Kerryman went back to the tee and played what he reckoned was a provisional ball. The first ball was found so Higgins picked up the second and continued with it. "Not right" declared officialdom and Higgins was penalised three shots - two for the second ball off the tee and another for picking it up.
"I'm furious," he slammed after spending 10 minutes arguing his case in the recorder's office with-out luck. "I feel I have been hard done by. In a similar situation at Slaley Hall a different ruling was given. I think I have been wronged."
That ugly nine meant Higgins carded a two-over 74 for the day to finish one under. Remarkably he had two eagles on his card - at the 9th and 17th holes - and two birdies but also suffered a double bogey five at the short 11th.
Further drama was provided by defending champion Brian Barnes who withdrew from the race after hobbling around for a 75. Barnes had been doubtful from the start because of tendon trouble but further complications set in.
"The tendon trouble had cleared up after treatment but my leg was allergic to the bandage and when that was being taken off in the hospital the skin peeled off, as well. It is worse than third degree burns and there is no point in me carring on. That could cause infection," explained the Scot.
Best of the Irish, as only half-a-dozen of the 15 starters survived the cut of 150 (six over), is Paul Leonard. The former Dunmurry Club pro posted a 70 for 10th place at 142 and seven shots behind leader Ratcliffe. He is one shot ahead of Higgins with Gordon Parkhill, David Jones, Kenny Stevenson and Hugh Boyle the others still in the race for the first prize of £58,330.
British OPEN (at Royal Portrush, Gbr & Irl unless stated, (x) denotes amateur): 135 - N Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 65; 138 - G Player (Rsa) 68 70, J Bland (Rsa) 66 72; 139 - D Eichelberger (USA) 68 71; 140 - J Rhodes 69 71; 141 -B Verwey (Rsa) 71 70, B Waites 73 68, T Wargo (USA) 71 70, B Hunt 70 71; 142 - P Leonard 72 70; 143 - T Horton 71 72, R Vucinich (USA), J Fourie (Rsa) 74 69, L Higgins 69 74; 144 - B Huggett 73 71, N Coles 72 72, A Garrido (Spa) 72 72, C Evans (USA) 69 75, G Parkhill 7173,B Irving (USA) 72 72, B Hardwick (Can) 73 71; 145 - L Monroe (USA) 72 73, J Morgan 74 71, M Bembridge 73 72, W Hall (USA) 75 70, D Dalziel (USA) 69 76, J Hudson 69 76, G Burroughs 69 76, C Cook (USA) 74 71, B Barnes 70 75, T Grubb 72 73, S Lancaster (USA) 71 74, G Parslow (Aus) 71 74; 146 - C Defoy 74 72, I Clark 73 73, D Creamer 71 75, T R Jones (USA) 70 76, R Campagnoli (Ita) 75 71, I Richardson 71 75, G Hunt 76 70, B Brask (USA) 75 71; 147 - N Wood 73 74, D Butler 70 77, D Huish 73 74; 148 - D Jones 74 74, M Gregson 72 76, B Menne (USA) 71 77, B Charles (Nzl) 75 73, JM Canizares (Spa) 76 72, A Croce (Ita) 72 76, K Stevenson 75 73, A Quibeuf (Fra) 74 74, B Gray (USA) 76 72, (x) J Marks 74 74; 149 - DeRay Simon (USA) 73 76, R Bernardini (Ita) 73 76, H Flatman 75 74, J Bjornsson (Swe) 74 75, (x) R Smethurst 74 75; 150 - A Kelley (USA) 74 76, L Elder (USA) 76 74, T Britz (Rsa) 76 74, H Tahara (Jpn) 77 73, W Armstrong (USA) 75 75, V Tshabalala (Rsa) 74 76, K Cox (USA) 73 77, A Silverstrone (USA) 78 72, H Inggs (Rsa) 73 77, JM Roca (Spa) 72 78, D Lotz (USA) 75 75, H Boyle 75 75, R Carrasco (USA) 75 75 (x) M Dixon 76 74.
