Doherty revels in unprecedented crowd support

THE extent to which Oliver Doherty has captivated the fans, if not the nation, took the organisers of the golf competition at the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links by surprise yesterday when, three times, extra marshals had to be called in to control the crowds who thronged the course as the Special Olympics World Games entered its third day.

Crowds gathered from mid-morning and the gallery swelled throughout the round causing problems for Mark Merrot, England, and Ragnar Olaffson, Iceland, playing alongside the gentle giant from Buncrana who revelled in the support and responded with a round of 86 six shorts better than his opening round on Monday.

At the end of play he remained one shot clear of Merrot, who followed his first round 93 with an 87 to retain