Gailes record for O’Donovan

Dubliner Richard O’Donovan gave a champagne display at Glasgow Gailes on the Ayrshire coast yesterday to romp into the matchplay stages of the 117th British Amateur Championship.

The 21-year-old East of Ireland champion compiled a sensational amateur course record-equalling five-under par 66.

That followed his highly-creditable 73 at Royal Troon on Monday for a 36-hole total of 139.

That score was sufficient to make him one of the eight seeds for the knock-out phase which begins at Troon today and ends with the 36-hole final on Saturday.

“I actually struggled of the tee but managed to get quite a lot of putts. I got up and down every time I missed a green,” said O’Donovan who added “I have been contesting all season up and around at the top of the leaderboard.”

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan, based for the last seven years in Florida, made it through to the knock-out phase when he posted a 72 at Glasgow Gailes yesterday to add to his 70 at Troon on Monday.

Phelan, studying at the University of North Florida, also started with a birdie three and had another birdie at the sixth but a mess on the 446-yard seventh cost him a double bogey six on his way to the turn in level par 36.

He also came home in 36 – a half which included two bogeys, a birdie and six pars.

Headfort’s Rory Mcnamara came in late in the day with a magnificent 69 at Glasgow Gailes – his round included only one bogey and he had three birdies.

With a 142 aggregate he qualified with something to spare and Walker Cup man Alan Dunbar, the 2009 St Andrews Links Trophy winner also delivered the goods when it really mattered- he fired a 70 improving by four strokes on his Monday score for a 144 aggregate to make progress.

Headfort’s Brian Casey scraped in right on the cut-off mark 145 after several nail-biting hours.

Possibly the biggest hard luck story of the day was told by 17-year-old Gavin Moynihan, the Irish Amateur Champion and McEvoy Trophy holder who played well for 17 holes at Troon, had a nightmare of the other one and missed qualification.

Moynihan who plays hit a wayward drive on the 482-yard 11th,had to take a second ball from the tee and dropped four strokes carding an eight.

For the other 17 holes he played to one over par but that disaster meant he posted a 76 for a 147 aggregate and failed to make it through.

West Waterford’s Gary Hurley improved by two strokes on his Monday showing but still missed out on 148.