Red-hot shooting as Finn Kakko fires record 63

WIDE fairways, light rough and little wind combined to leave Killarney’s Lackabane course at the mercy of the field in yesterday’s opening round of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge tournament.

Nevertheless, the standard of golf displayed by the young stars on the European Tour's secondary circuit was nothing short of astonishing on a par 72 course measuring more than 7,000 yards.

Leading the way after a nine under par 63 is the 23 year-old Finn Roope Kakko and in establishing a course record for the Donald Steel designed lay-out, he opened up a two stroke advantage over the Scot, Peter Whitefield and Peter Kaensche from Norway.