GWEEDORE'S Ciaran McMonagle grabbed a one-stroke advantage over his international colleague Rory Leonard and another Ulster teenager, Robin Symes after the opening 36 holes in the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Sigma Wireless, at Trim Golf Club yesterday.

Symes, of Shandon Park, had the best round of the day, a superb 68, which repaired the damage of his first round 76.

McMonagle carded rounds of 73 and 70 for three under par 143. Indeed, his second round was quite unusual in that it featured no less than six birdies, four of them in succession from the eighth hole. McMonagle actually covered the stretch from the seventh to the 13th with five threes and one four.