NORTH WEST of Ireland Open: The milk bottles came in of their own volition and, given the choice, so would the majority of competitors at Ballyliffin yesterday morning as 35-m.p.h gusts assailed the Glashedy links, buffeting golfers into submission. Few will forget this year's North West of Ireland Open.

Quintuple, quadruple, triple and a plethora of double bogeys dotted the master scoreboard: only five players finished under par.

Undoubtedly the finest achievement was that of the oldest man in the field, at 45 years of age, Italy's former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca. His one-under-par 71 was wonderfully obdurate in the worst of the weather and definitely the round of the day, even though he shared top spot with Spaniard Jesus Maria Arruti, Massimo Florioli of Italy, Denmark's Allan Hogh and Sweden's Anders Forsbrand.

Rocca won this tournament in a previous incarnation (West of Ireland Golf Classic) at Galway Bay in 1999, his last victory on the European tour.

"Some holes were very hard. When you play a 120-yard five-iron and have to hit the ball very low, it's very difficult. I hit the ball well and swung well. You can hit greens and then have a putt with the wind behind, downhill and it goes like crazy."

The Italian was a staggering four under after 13 holes, but three bogeys in the closing four holes brought him back to the field.

Andrew Coltart's adventures on the 17th summed up the player's difficulties. Having just missed the fairway right, he hit a three-wood further into the rough, a five-iron further in and finally a sandwedge onto the fairway.

Left with 104 yards, he hit an eight-iron 30 yards short of the green into a bunker, and from there knocked it stiff for a one-putt, double bogey seven.

From an Irish perspective, Meath-born, Wexford resident Damien McGrane produced a superb level par 72. Having not dropped a shot for 13 holes, and joint leader at one under - he birdied the 10th - he bogeyed 14, 15 and 16, missing the green on the first and the fairways off the tee on the next two, but finished with a brace of birdies.

"I hit a wedge to four feet on 17 and a nine-iron to eight feet on the last. To be honest it was about strategy out there. You weren't playing for birdies, just trying to get yourself into the right positions to make par."

Tournament golf is about taking opportunities, and Ciaran McMonagle could not be accused of spurning a belated invitation. Initially a reserve for the tournament, he was informed on Wednesday night that a starting berth had materialised, and he certainly maximised his good fortune with a superb, two-over-par, 74.

Prior to arriving at Ballyliffin, McMonagle had played in seven Challenge Tour events, missing four cuts in the last five events, three by just a single stroke. His highest placed finish, 19th in Italy, came in his first tour event and he is currently languishing in 186th place in the standings.

Four bogeys in the opening six holes, offset by just a single birdie, playing in the worst of the conditions, suggested a harrowing round in prospect, but the former Irish Close champion (1999) played the final 12 holes in a wonderful one under the card.

Holing from off the green on the 11th and chipping stone dead for birdie on the par five 13th hauled him back to one over for the tournament. He then bogeyed 16, but demonstrated his fighting qualities by holing an eight-foot putt for par on the home green.

"This is nowhere near the worst conditions in which I have played this course," he said. "I have walked off the 15th green not breaking 90. If I can keep high numbers off the card then I have a chance of making the weekend."

Philip Walton was another to demonstrate his mettle, shooting a three-over 75, a mark he shared with Ashbourne's John Dwyer and Ballyliffin professional Francis Howley.

Stephen Browne and Michael Hoey shot 77s, the former left to rue driving out of bounds for a triple bogey seven at the second, but he showed character in dropping just two further shots.

Hoey played better than his score suggested.

For John Dignam (78), Gary Murphy (78) and Paddy Gribben (79), the situation is not irredeemable, but the same can not be said for Neil Manchip (81) and especially Peter Lawrie (86) and Conor Mallon (86).